cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immune Recognition of Human MHC DR2 Antigen

The human class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens are homologues of the murine Ia antigens. Class II HLA glycoproteins have a limited tissue distribution, being found primarily on the macrophage, dendrite cells, B cells and activated T cells, but they may also be induced on other cell types by interferon-γ (Pober et al, 1983). Class II HLA antigens are composed of a dimer of a heavy (33–35 kDa) a chain and a light (27–29 kDa) B chain (Shackelford et al., 1981). Both the a and B subunits are composed of two extracellular domains, each containing a disulfide loop, with the exception of the N-terminal domain of the a chain. Allelic polymorphism is a characteristic of the B chains of DP and DR (Goyert et al., 1982; van Rood et al., 1976; Giles and Capra, 1985) and of both chains of the DQ molecules (Giles and Capra, 1985; Giles et al., 1985).
Adaptive algorithm for microprocessor based distance relays in smart grid

Power grid reconfiguration requires appropriate intelligent optimization strategy, particularly during power system restoration. The complexity increases to develop strategy for implementing protection scheme taking into consideration the grid reconfiguration. It therefore needs innovative approach to help future power engineers to learn about protection relays in the ever growing complex power grid. In the graduate course “power system protection” at Syracuse University the students study implementation of modern microprocessor based protection relays in accordance to the surrounding system reconfiguration. Students run simulations under different fault conditions to visualize the impact of nature and location of the fault on the external measurements. Using an example of a single phase to ground fault in a transmission line between the two subsystems, students analyze, through simulations, the line impedance detected by the distance relay and develop the requirements for the distance relay parameter settings. In the next step the students study possible reconfiguration scenarios and analyze necessary distance relay parameter adjustments. We note how students perform numerical analysis and develop the requirements for the necessary adaptive changes in the relay algorithm to meet the application specifications, for example, in Zone 1 and Zone 2 transmission line protection when a loss of neutral grounding on one terminal of the transmission line occurs. Through these exercise, students get opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering in performing complex analysis for accurate data interpretation collected with a level of measurement uncertainty. In this article we will present some students works and discuss the effects of the strides we have made to improve the pedagogical aspect of teaching in response to changes in the power industry.
Flavanol-rich cocoa a promising new dietary intervention to reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes?

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease represents the leading cause of the morbidity and mortality associated with type 2 diabetes ([1][1]). Well-established epidemiological data indicate that diabetic patients have a risk of incident myocardial infarction and stroke twice as high as that of the
Stereoselective Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of C1-Epimeric and Desmethyl Monomeric Nuphar Analogues.

A class of monomeric nuphar analogues that are either epimeric at C1 and C1′ or lack the naturally occurring methyl group at those positions were synthesized and evaluated for biological activity. The syntheses feature enantioselective vinylogous Mukaiyama–Mannich (vM–Mannich) reactions catalyzed by chiral phosphoric acids that proceed with excellent diastereoselectivity. Biological assays reveal that both the desmethyl and C1-epimeric monomeric nuphar analogous are able to induce rapid apoptosis.
Implementing International Law: The Worldwide Criminalization of Atrocities in Domestic Legal Systems, 1945-2010

Large bodies of research examine why states construct and ratify international legal agreements. Yet relatively little research assesses under what conditions states are likely to go further and "implement," international law, that is, incorporate international legal rules into domestic laws – a step that is often crucial for making international legal agreements work as they are designed to. This study contributes to our understanding of why and when states make international law part of their domestic law by examining the patterns by which states worldwide have implemented one set of international legal norms, that is, criminal prohibitions against genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Since 1945, about three quarters of the world’s states have adopted a national criminal statue against at least one of these three categories of international crimes. In contrast to explanations for the spread of human rights norms that emphasize the role of bottom-up civil society advocacy, I argue that the implementation of such "anti-atrocity" laws around the world over the past sixty years has largely been the result of choices made by technocratic legal experts who were appointed by governments to lead national criminal code reform projects. Though the desire to implement anti-atrocity norms has not motivated governments to initiate such reforms, these experts nonetheless used their delegated authority to codify norms – like anti-atrocity laws – that they believed embodied how a “modern” criminal code should look. Using event history and an original dataset covering the existence of national criminal laws against genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in every country in the world that has adopted them since 1945, I find strong support for my argument that states that undertake wholesale redesigns of their criminal codes are highly likely to implement anti-atrocity laws, even while controlling for a variety of alternative explanations.
Daily discrimination and binge eating among lesbians: a pilot study

ABSTRACTCross-sectional research has shown that discrimination is associated with increased negative affect and binge eating among lesbian women. However, the relation between discrimination and binge eating on a daily basis has received limited empirical examination. We posit that discrimination can represent a form of aversive self-awareness such that after experiencing discrimination, individuals may become more conscious of society’s negative feelings towards sexual minorities. Participants were recruited through Facebook and LGBT organisations. A sample of 30 lesbian women aged 18–30 who reported binge eating in the past week completed daily measures of discrimination, negative affect, self-awareness and binge eating for 10 days. Hierarchical linear modelling showed that daily discrimination was associated with greater daily negative affect and lowered daily self-awareness. Daily negative affect was associated with reduced self-awareness, which in turn was associated with more binge eating. These res...
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Receipt of Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination among Long-Stay Nursing Home Residents

Objective/Study Question To examine racial/ethnic differences in influenza and pneumococcal vaccination receipt and nonreceipt among nursing home (NH) residents post implementation of federal vaccination policy. Data Sources/Study Setting/Study Design/Data Collection/Extraction Methods An analysis of a merged national cross-sectional dataset containing resident assessment, facility, and community data for years 2010–2013 was conducted. Logistic regressions omitting and including facility fixed effects were used to examine the influence of race and ethnicity (black, Hispanic, white) and black concentration on vaccination status across and within NHs. Principle Findings Vaccination receipt of 107,874 residents in 742 NHs was examined. Blacks were less likely than whites to receive influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations (OR = 0.75; OR = 0.81, respectively, p-values <.001). The likelihood of not being offered the influenza vaccination was greater for blacks (OR=1.25, p = .004) and the likelihood of not being offered the pneumococcal vaccination was greater for Hispanics (OR = 1.65, p = .04) compared to whites. Fixed effects showed that within the same NH, Hispanics were more likely to receive both vaccinations compared to whites (OR=1.22, p = .004 (influenza); OR=1.34, p < .001 (pneumococcal)). Facilities highly concentrated with blacks accounted for large proportions of differences seen in vaccination receipt. Conclusions Racial/ethnic differences remain despite policy changes. Focused strategies aimed at NH personnel and racially segregated NHs are critical to improving vaccination delivery and eliminating disparities in care.
Imagining the Chorus in Augustan Poetry

From archaic Sparta to classical Athens the chorus was a pervasive feature of Greek social and cultural life. Until now, however, its reception in Roman literature and culture has been little appreciated. This book examines how the chorus is reimagined in a brief but crucial period in the history of Latin literature, the early Augustan period from 30 to 10 BCE. It argues that in the work of Horace, Virgil, and Propertius, the language and imagery of the chorus articulate some of their most pressing concerns surrounding social and literary belonging in a rapidly changing Roman world. By re-examining seminal Roman texts such as Horace's Odes and Virgil's Aeneid from this fresh perspective, the book connects the history of musical culture with Augustan poetry's interrogation of fundamental questions surrounding the relationship between individual and community, poet and audience, performance and writing, Greek and Roman, and tradition and innovation.
Patient-derived xenograft cryopreservation and reanimation outcomes are dependent on cryoprotectant type

Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) are being increasingly utilized in preclinical oncologic research. Maintaining large colonies of early generation tumor-bearing mice is impractical and cost-prohibitive. Optimal methods for efficient long-term cryopreservation and subsequent reanimation of PDX tumors are critical to any viable PDX program. We sought to compare the performance of “Standard” and “Specialized” cryoprotectant media on various cryopreservation and reanimation outcomes in PDX tumors. Standard (10% DMSO media) and Specialized (Cryostor®) media were compared between overall and matched PDX tumors. Primary outcome was reanimation engraftment efficiency (REE). Secondary outcomes included time to tumor formation (TTF), time to harvest (TTH), and potential loss of unique PDX lines. Overall 57 unique PDX tumors underwent 484 reanimation engraftment attempts after previous cryopreservation. There were 10 unique PDX tumors cryopreserved with Standard (71 attempts), 40 with Specialized (272 attempts), and 7 with both (141 attempts). Median frozen time of reanimated tumors was 29 weeks (max. 177). Tumor pathology, original primary PDX growth rates, frozen storage times, and number of implantations per PDX model were similar between cryoprotectant groups. Specialized media resulted in superior REE (overall: 82 vs. 39%, p 52 weeks cryostorage: 59 vs. 9%, p < 0.0001), shorter TTF (overall 24 vs. 54 days, p = 0.0051; matched 18 vs. 53 days, p = 0.0013) and shorter TTH (overall: 64 vs. 89 days, p = 0.009; matched: 47 vs. 88 days, p = 0.0005) compared to Standard. Specialized media demonstrated improved REE with extended duration cryostorage (p = 0.048) compared to Standard. Potential loss of unique PDX lines was lower with Specialized media (9 vs. 35%, p = 0.017). In conclusion, cryopreservation with a specialized cryoprotectant appears superior to traditional laboratory-based media and can be performed with reliable reanimation even after extended cryostorage.
Impact of group-singing on older adult health in senior living communities: A pilot study

Abstract Purpose Participating in a group-singing program may be beneficial to healthy aging through engaging in active music-making activities and breathing exercises. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of a 12-week group singing program on cognitive function, lung health and quality of life (QoL) of older adults. Materials and methods A pre and post-test quasi-experimental design evaluated the impact of a group-singing program on older adult health. The intervention consisted of pre-singing exercises, song-singing and learning, and socialization. Classes were 75 min/week for 12 weeks. Inclusion criteria were age ≥60, no self-reported diagnosis of dementia, and able to hear conversations within 2 feet. Participants were recruited from 3 senior living communities. Outcome measures included cognition, lung function, QoL, and program feasibility and acceptability. A paired t-test with 2-sided alpha level at 0.05 was used to test the null hypotheses. Results We enrolled 49 participants (mean age 83.6). Forty-two (86%) completed the posttests and exit survey. At the 12th week there was significant improvement in phonological (p Conclusion A group-singing program with deep breathing training and song-learning may promote memory, language, speech information processing, executive function, and respiratory muscle strength in older adults. The program was feasible and well-accepted. A clinical trial with a larger sample is indicated.
TALKING ABOUT HARASSMENT

In this symposium essay, Professor Schultz argues against the notion that the current rethinking of sexual harassment law represents a backlash against feminist thought. To the contrary, she contends, recent trends linked to the current conception of sexual harassment should be cause for concern among feminist theorists and activists. Sexual harassment law has led courts and commentators to focus obsessively on sexual conduct, while deflecting attention from more common, non-sexual forms of discrimination and abuse. In addition, the emphasis on sexual conduct encourages people to think of harassment as a form of behavioral misconduct in which bad actors engage, rather than as a set of social relations embedded in a larger context of structural workplace inequality. On the one hand, the sexual focus invites inquiry into the sexual history and self-presentation of people who are harassed. On the other hand, it facilitates harassment complaints against people who are viewed as sexually deviant. Feminists need a new model of harassment that avoids these pernicious effects. The current model treats harassment as a way for men to use work to appropriate sex from women. But it is more helpful to see harassment as a way for a group to use sex - and other tools of exclusion - to appropriate work for themselves. In other words, harassment is not so much about securing sex as it is about gendering work.
Roadmaps to Representation: An Experimental Study of How Voter Education Tools Affect Citizen Decision Making

Efforts to educate citizens about the candidates and issues at stake in elections are widespread. These include distributing voter guides describing candidates’ policy views and interactive tools conveying similar information. Do these voter education tools help voters identify candidates who share their policy views? We address this question by conducting survey experiments that randomly assign a nonpartisan voter guide, political party endorsements, a spatial map showing voters their own and the candidates’ ideological positions, or both a spatial map and party endorsements. We find that each type of information strengthens the relationship between voters’ policy views and those of the candidates they choose. These effects are largest for uninformed voters. When spatial maps and party endorsements send conflicting signals, many voters choose candidates with more similar policy views, against their party’s recommendation. These results contribute to debates about citizen competence and demonstrate the efficacy of practical efforts to inform electorates.
Physician referral to a psychologist: Testing alternative behavioral healthcare seeking models.

OBJECTIVE Primary care physicians (PCPs) often refer patients to psychological services, but help-seeking factors in the context of behavioral healthcare referral are understudied. This study examined perceptions of seeking psychological help for depression by comparing alternative structural equation models derived from the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). METHOD Internet survey participants (N = 685 US adults, 77% female, M age = 45) imagined themselves in a vignette scenario in which they are experiencing depression symptoms and encouraged by a PCP to see a psychologist. RESULTS Results supported the indirect model, in which the links between distal help-seeking factors (i.e., self-stigma, symptom recognition, perceived effectiveness of treatment) and intention to follow through on the referral to the psychologist were fully mediated by the more proximal TRA factors (i.e., attitudes, subjective norms, etc). CONCLUSIONS Our findings supported the use of TRA in understanding peoples' intention to seek psychological help for depression when referred by their PCP.
A new quantitative life cycle sustainability assessment framework: Application to integrated energy systems

Abstract There are two dimensions to “sustainability” as it applies to an engineered system: (i) it needs to be designed, operated, and managed such that its environmental impacts and costs are minimal, and, (ii) it ought to be designed and configured in such a way that it is robust to extreme disruptions and shocks posed by natural, manmade, or random events, i.e. be resilient under extreme events. These somewhat conflicting attributes call for a multi-criteria analysis framework. This paper proposes such an assessment framework for engineered systems involving three new location and circumstance-specific sustainability indices that monetize the economic, environmental and resiliency characteristics throughout the lifecycle of the system components. The proposed framework, thus, allows translating sustainability goals into engineering practice, and is applicable to: (i) the design of new systems, (ii) assessing performance of an existing system, (iii) day-to-day scheduling and operation of the system, and (iv) future growth planning. A novel presentation method, called “Sustainability Compass”, is also proposed which allows decision-makers to visually track the direction and magnitude of changes in the individual sustainability indices of different scenarios; this would also allow easier communication with other stakeholders. The proposed methodology and the usefulness of the Sustainability Compass diagram have been illustrated using end-use monitored data for a whole year of operation of a university campus integrated energy system. The results of five alternative energy development scenarios involving a combined heat and power system and solar photovoltaic systems with different penetration levels have been investigated and are reported in this paper.
Aggressive Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas and Carcinomas

Aggressive prolactinomas (PRL-omas) and carcinomas comprise a rare but challenging subset of pituitary tumors. Firstly, the holistic definition that reliably identifies these tumors in a prospective manner remains elusive. Although comprehensive evaluation of patient gender, age, local invasiveness, treatment responses, and histopathological features may be informative to assess the potential for PRL-oma aggressiveness, a definitive diagnosis cannot be made until disease progression is observed despite standard therapy, which typically includes medical and surgical therapy. The failed early diagnosis of these aggressive PRL-omas may delay the initiation of intensive stepwise multimodal treatments and lessen ultimate therapeutic outcomes. Secondly, even though current therapeutic options for aggressive prolactinomas are suboptimal in some cases, due to the rarity of this disease entity, large-scale clinic trials and prospective studies are impractical. Most novel therapies in this subset of tumors are based on case reports or small series, which greatly reduces their validity and limits recommendations. Randomized prospective multicenter studies would be a major advantage to identify reliable predictive diagnostic biomarkers and explore novel efficacious treatment options for these tumors. These could perhaps be conducted on a global basis though funding such an effort is a limiting factor. This chapter provides an overview of current knowledge regarding the various tools used to diagnose aggressive prolactin-secreting tumors and discusses both established and emerging therapeutic options.
Towards scalable perovskite solar modules using blade-coating and rapid thermal processing

Towards scalable manufacturing of perovskite solar panels, high-performance planar p-i-n perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) and modules have been demonstrated with blade-coating and rapid thermal proce...
A Feasibility Study of Urgent Implementation of Cystic Fibrosis Multidisciplinary Telemedicine Clinic in the Face of COVID-19 Pandemic: Single-Center Experience.

Introduction: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major world health problem. All U.S. states have advised their cystic fibrosis (CF) populations to socially isolate. Major health care payors such as Medicare and most private insurance companies have agreed to reimburse health care providers for telemedicine and telephone visits. Methods: The CF adult team at the University of Virginia (UVA) transitioned from face-to-face clinics to multidisciplinary telemedicine clinics by using WebEx® (Cisco Systems, San Jose, CA), a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) compliant platform. Interventions: Patients were contacted before scheduled visits and triaged into: (1) patients eligible for the multidisciplinary telemedicine clinic, (2) patients to be seen in clinic urgently due to acute needs, and (3) stable patients who can be rescheduled at a later time. Ineligible patients for the telemedicine clinic due to lack of access to technology were followed up via telephone. Results: A total of 63 patients were scheduled to be seen in the UVA clinic over 4 weeks, 10 clinic days. Of these patients, 20 (32%) rescheduled their appointment. In addition, 2 patients (3%) were seen in clinic for acute needs and 38 (60%) were seen by the multidisciplinary team through telemedicine. Conclusions: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing a telemedicine clinic process that serves the needs of a multidisciplinary care team is paramount to preserving the CF care model. Through a systematic design and test process, a feasible and sustainable program was created that can be utilized by other multidisciplinary programs to adapt to their context.
ELVIS: A Correlated Light-Field and Digital Holographic Microscope for Field and Laboratory Investigations – Field Demonstration

Following the previous article, here we describe the first field demonstration of the ELVIS system, performed at Newport Beach, CA. We examined ocean water to detect microorganisms using the combined holographic and light-field fluorescence microscope and successfully detected both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The shared field of view provided simultaneous bright-field (amplitude), phase, and fluorescence information from both chlorophyll autofluorescence and acridine orange staining. The entire process was performed in a nearly autonomous manner using a specifically designed sample processing unit (SPU) and custom acquisition software. We also discuss improvements to the system made after the field test that will make it more broadly useful to other types of fluorophores and samples.
High Capacity for Mg2+ Deintercalation in Spinel Vanadium Oxide Nanocrystals

Nonaqueous Mg batteries can theoretically reach high energy density with cost-effective materials, yet no such device to date has performance competitive with Li-ion technologies. A major barrier i...
A 1.3 V Wideband RF-PWM Cartesian Transmitter Employing Analog Outphasing and a Switched-Capacitor Class-D Output Stage

A wideband RF-PWM Cartesian transmitter is introduced that employs a combination of a DLL-based outphasing modulator and a switched-capacitor quadrature class-D power amplifier. A modulator that provides outphasing signals to synthesize RF-PWM without a narrow pulse-width limitation is proposed. The Cartesian transmitter is implemented in a 65-nm CMOS process. The measured peak output power of the transmitter is 15.5 dBm with a 1.3 V supply. The design is verified with digitally-modulated signals with a bandwidth of up to 160 MHz at a carrier frequency of 2 GHz.
A Data Analytics Approach to Persona Development for The Future Mobile Office

The concept of using automated vehicles as mobile workspaces is now emerging. Consequently, the in- vehicle environment of automated vehicles must be redesigned to support user interactions in perf...
Revisiting Subset Selection

In the subset-selection approach to ranking and selection, a decision-maker seeks a subset of simulated systems that contains the best with high probability. We present a new, generalized framework for constructing these subsets and demonstrate that some existing subset-selection procedures are situated within this framework. The subsets are built by calculating, for each system, a minimum standardized discrepancy between the observed performances and the space of problem instances for which that system is the best. A system’s minimum standardized discrepancy is then compared to a cutoff to determine whether the system is included in the subset. We examine the problem of finding the tightest statistically valid cutoff for each system and draw connections between our approach and other subset-selection methodologies. Simulation experiments demonstrate how the screening power and subset size are affected by the choice of standardized discrepancy.
The Value of Business Analytics in China’s Companies : A Statistical Research Based on Firm-Level Surveys

As a growing number of companies emphasize the core focus on analyzing the generated data and hold data-driven decision-making in esteem, quantitative methods and data modeling have been widely used for a variety of purposes in recent years [1]. Although there is no doubt in the great value brought by business analytics, very little attention has been paid to the specific effects from the perspective of the enterprises, nor empirically or statistically verified at a large scale. This prospective study sets out to obtain first-hand data from carefully designed questionnaires and theoretically investigate the impact of business analytics on market performance, work efficiency, and operational costs. This is one of the first attempts to quantitively analyze their relationship and will generate fresh insights into the field of corporate governance and business management. The questionnaires were distributed among 1781 firms in China, which are divided into the control group and experimental group based on their responses. By comparison, the results demonstrate that business analytics gives a big push in enhancing market performance, boosting work efficiency, and reducing operational costs.
Reevaluating the antiquity of the Palmrose site: Collections-based research of an early plank house on the northern Oregon Coast.

Large-scale excavations conducted by Smithsonian Institution archaeologists and avocational archaeologists during the 1960s and 1970s at three sites in Seaside, Oregon, resulted in the recovery of a diverse range of material culture curated by multiple institutions. One site, known as Palmrose (35CLT47), provides compelling evidence for the presence of one of the earliest examples of a rectangular plank house along the Oregon Coast. Previous research suggests habitation of the Palmrose site occurred between 2340 cal BC to cal AD 640. However, recent research highlights significant chronometric hygiene concerns of previously reported radiocarbon dates for the Seaside area, calling into question broader regional chronologies. This paper presents a revised chronology for the Palmrose site based on 12 new accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates of ancient cervid bones. I evaluate these new dates and previously reported radiocarbon dates from the site, applying chronometric hygiene assessments and Bayesian statistics to build a refined chronology for the Palmrose site. Calibration of the 12 AMS radiocarbon dates suggests an initial occupation range from 345−55 cal BC and a terminal occupation range from cal AD 225−340−. Bayesian modeling of the Palmrose sequence suggests initial occupation may have spanned from 195−50 cal BC and the terminal occupation from cal AD 210−255. Modeling suggests the maximum range of occupation may span from 580−55 cal BC to cal AD 210−300 based on the start and end boundary calculations. Bayesian modeling of radiocarbon dates directly associated with the plank house deposits suggests the plank house’s occupation may have spanned from 160−1 cal BC to cal AD 170−320. The new radiocarbon dates significantly constrain the Palmrose habitation and alter regional chronologies.
The effect of genetically modified platelet-derived growth factor-BB over-expressing mesenchymal stromal cells during core decompression for steroid-associated osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rabbits.

BACKGROUND Approximately one third of patients undergoing core decompression (CD) for early-stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) experience progression of the disease, and subsequently require total hip arthroplasty (THA). Thus, identifying adjunctive treatments to optimize bone regeneration during CD is an unmet clinical need. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB plays a central role in cell growth and differentiation. The aim of this study was to characterize mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) that were genetically modified to overexpress PDGF-BB (PDGF-BB-MSCs) in vitro and evaluate their therapeutic effect when injected into the bone tunnel at the time of CD in an in vivo rabbit model of steroid-associated ONFH. METHODS In vitro studies: Rabbit MSCs were transduced with a lentivirus vector carrying the human PDGF-BB gene under the control of either the cytomegalovirus (CMV) or phosphoglycerate (PGK) promoter. The proliferative rate, PDGF-BB expression level, and osteogenic differentiation capacity of unmodified MSCs, CMV-PDGF-BB-MSCs, and PGK-PDGF-BB-MSCs were assessed. In vivo studies: Twenty-four male New Zealand white rabbits received an intramuscular (IM) injection of methylprednisolone 20 mg/kg. Four weeks later, the rabbits were divided into four groups: the CD group, the hydrogel [HG, (a collagen-alginate mixture)] group, the MSC group, and the PGK-PDGF-BB-MSC group. Eight weeks later, the rabbits were sacrificed, their femurs were harvested, and microCT, mechanical testing, and histological analyses were performed. RESULTS In vitro studies: PGK-PDGF-BB-MSCs proliferated more rapidly than unmodified MSCs (P < 0.001) and CMV-PDGF-BB-MSCs (P < 0.05) at days 3 and 7. CMV-PDGF-BB-MSCs demonstrated greater PDGF-BB expression than PGK-PDGF-BB-MSCs (P < 0.01). However, PGK-PDGF-BB-MSCs exhibited greater alkaline phosphatase staining at 14 days (P < 0.01), and osteogenic differentiation at 28 days (P = 0.07) than CMV-PDGF-BB-MSCs. In vivo: The PGK-PDGF-BB-MSC group had a trend towards greater bone mineral density (BMD) than the CD group (P = 0.074). The PGK-PDGF-BB-MSC group demonstrated significantly lower numbers of empty lacunae (P < 0.001), greater osteoclast density (P < 0.01), and greater angiogenesis (P < 0.01) than the other treatment groups. CONCLUSION The use of PGK-PDGF-BB-MSCs as an adjunctive treatment with CD may reduce progression of osteonecrosis and enhance bone regeneration and angiogenesis in the treatment of early-stage ONFH.
The effect of foreign investment on Asian coal power plants

Abstract Asia has built 90% of new coal-fired capacity worldwide in the past 20 years, attracting billions of dollars of foreign investment. This paper explores how such foreign investment has affected the environmental performance of a set of 2108 Asian coal power plants. The findings suggest that foreign-funded power plants are on average 3.4% cleaner in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions intensity than their domestically funded counterparts, with an effect that varies by foreign country, from 8.9% cleaner (South Korea) to 2.0% dirtier (Russia). Better technology (heat rate) explains 96% of this improved environmental performance, while cleaner coal (emission factor) explains the remaining 4%. The environmental performance of foreign-funded coal power plants has only a negligible spillover effect on the performance of domestically funded plants. Although foreign investment slightly reduces CO2 emissions per unit of electricity, overall, it increases global reliance on coal, thus undermining global ambitions to curb greenhouse gases.
How Good is the Strong Coupling Expansion of the Two Dimensional Hubbard Model

Validity of the strong coupling expansion of the two dimensional Hubbard model is questioned. We present evidence of disagreement between the strong coupling expansion and the exact solution of the Hubbard model on small lattices.
Nested relations and recursive queries

Recently, several researchers realized that the modelling capabilities of traditional relational data base systems are rather limited for advanced applications. Among others, two main research areas can be identified: One area of research is concerned with removing the limitation of flat tuples by supporting structured objects instead. Another area of research deals with the limitation of traditional query languages. Already in the late seventies it was proven that so called relationally complete query languages do not allow to express the computation of the transitive closure of a relation. Most researchers solve the problem by introducing some kind of recursion. The work presented in this paper is an attempt to combine both areas of research. It proposes the integration of recursive queries and nested relations by providing a recursion mechanism which can be nested according to the structure of a non first normal form relation. It is shown by examples that this method can be used to formulate queries which are rather cumbersome if only flat relations are used. Especially, in some cases the problem of performing a selection on a recursively defined relation disappears. This question has been the topic of several research papers recently. Moreover, many queries can be formulated in a more natural way than in the world of flat tuples. Therefore, nested recursive queries in combination with non first normal form relations provide a contribution to the problem of modelling complex data.
Sporadic fundic gland polyps with epithelial dysplasia : evidence for preferential targeting for mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli gene.

Gastric fundic gland polyps (FGPs) occur in two distinct clinicopathological scenarios: sporadic and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) associated. FAP-associated FGPs arise through somatic second hit alterations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene and frequently demonstrate epithelial dysplasia (Am J Pathol 2000, 157:747–754). Sporadic FGPs, in contrast, tend to contain β-catenin gene mutations and only infrequently show dysplasia (Am J Pathol 2001, 158:1005–1010). However, sporadic FGPs with dysplasia have not been previously investigated. We studied 13 sporadic FGPs with surface/foveolar low-grade dysplasia or changes indefinite for dysplasia for alterations in the APC/β-catenin pathway, using chromosome 5q allelic loss assays and direct DNA sequencing of the mutation cluster region in exon 15 of APC and the phosphorylation region in exon 3 of β-catenin. In addition, to evaluate for possible additional genetic alterations in FGPs, all cases were evaluated for microsatellite instability using fluorescent-based amplification of a standard panel of five microsatellite markers. Alterations in APC were present in seven (53.8%) FGPs, including two cases with bi-allelic APC inactivation (truncating intragenic mutation plus 5q allelic loss), two cases with APC mutation only, and three cases with 5q allelic loss only. In contrast, only two (15.4%) FGPs contained stabilizing β-catenin mutations. All 13 FGPs were microsatellite stable. These results indicate that sporadic FGPs with dysplasia/indefinite for dysplasia are molecularly similar to FAP-associated FGPs, and are dissimilar to the more common sporadic nondysplastic FGPs. Mutations in APC and β-catenin, despite occurring in the same genetic pathway, show differing biological properties, a phenomenon that has previously been demonstrated in colorectal neoplasms. The lack of microsatellite instability in FGPs in this study and of K-ras mutations in a previous study suggests that secondary genetic alterations are rare in both dysplastic and nondysplastic FGPs.
Chronic sleep fragmentation promotes obesity in young adult mice.

Objectives Short sleep confers a higher risk of obesity in humans. Restricted sleep increases appetite, promotes higher calorie intake from fat and carbohydrate sources, and induces insulin resistance. However, the effects of fragmented sleep (SF), such as occurs in sleep apnea, on body weight, metabolic rates, and adipose tissue distribution are unknown. Methods C57BL/6 mice were exposed to SF for 8 weeks. Their body weight, food consumption, and metabolic expenditure were monitored over time, and their plasma leptin levels measured after exposure to SF for 1 day as well as for 2 weeks. In addition, adipose tissue distribution was assessed at the end of the SF exposure using MRI techniques. Results Chronic SF-induced obesogenic behaviors and increased weight gain in mice by promoting increased caloric intake without changing caloric expenditure. Plasma leptin levels initially decreased and subsequently increased. Furthermore, increases in both visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue volumes occurred. Conclusions These results suggest that SF, a frequent occurrence in many disorders and more specifically in sleep apnea, is a potent inducer of obesity via activation of obesogenic behaviors and possibly leptin resistance, in the absence of global changes in energy expenditure.
Streams and Rivers of North America: Overview, Eastern and Central Basins

This is the first of two articles covering streams and rivers from North America: This article covers 3 of 7 mega-regions: Atlantic Coast, Mississippi River basin, and U.S. Gulf of Mexico. These regions primarily include temperate grassland and deciduous forest, but range from subtropical to subarctic, with northern basins having substantial snow/ice storage from winter precipitation. Atlantic coast and eastern Mississippi River basins begin in the Appalachian Mountains or lowlands and eventually flow through a low relief landscape on their way to the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. They experience substantial precipitation and have relatively high runoff from forested watersheds unless altered by agriculture or urbanization. West of the Mississippi River, grassland streams are naturally stressed by low precipitation and high evapotranspiration and further subjected to excessive water extraction. Rivers draining directly into the Gulf or Lower Mississippi River are mostly subtropical, primarily flowing across low-relief Coastal Plain. There is a gradient of precipitation and runoff from high in the eastern Gulf to low in the western Gulf. All large rivers are strongly regulated and only a few medium-sized rivers are free of dams. Biodiversity is generally high, especially for fish species in the previously nonglaciated portions of the Ohio basin and eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Reflections on Two Decades of Bioethics: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going

The American Journal of Bioethics (AJOB) emerged at a time when bioethics, though still a young discipline, was described by some as at a critical crossroads.1 Commentators noted that bioethics began as a scholarly, reflective, academic enterprise but was increasingly focused on providing practical services to institutions and clients, and worried whether the field could productively and coherently accommodate both bioethics scholars and practitioners.2 Ten years later, bioethics remains a field comprised of some who are primarily scholars, some who are primarily practitioners, and some who are scholar-practitioner hybrids. Bioethics scholarship rests on a foundation of moral philosophy, but also incorporates law, policy studies, empirical studies, analysis of government or international guidelines, standards of practice, case studies, and more. As for most, my perspective of where the field has been and where it is going is colored by my own experiences. My background education is both practice based (nursing) and conceptual (philosophy) – and I consider it a privilege to be a ‘hybrid’ bioethicist- involved in both bioethics practice and bioethics scholarship. For this essay, I chose to discuss 4 short cases to reflect on bioethics over the last decade and speculate about the next decade. Although based on my own experiences, each case has been embellished for clarity and effect. My future scenarios are deliberately optimistic, yet of course, they are simply guesses, an exercise inspired by “Choose your own adventure,” a popular children’s book series that allows the reader to create the story ending.3 It is conceivable, however, that my future predictions are too optimistic and due to constricting resources or shifting societal priorities or values, the growth and influence of bioethics will lose speed. It is also possible that with increasing numbers of certificate, masters, and doctoral programs in bioethics, the future bioethicist will be much more specialized than today; there will be distinct career paths for scholars and practitioners and policy wonks, and ultimately fewer hybrids. Losing some of the rich diversity of perspectives that comes with bioethicists trained in different disciplines would be unfortunate. At the same time, specialization and focused expertise has the advantages of allowing bioethicists to engage and integrate in complex areas of science, health care, and policy. Now for the cases:
Microvessel Organization and Structure in Experimental Brain Tumors: Microvessel Populations with Distinctive Structural and Functional Properties

We studied microvessel organization in five brain tumor models (ENU, MSV, RG-2, S635cl15, and D-54MG) and normal brain, including microvessel diameter (LMVD), intermicrovessel distance (IMVD), microvessel density (MVD), surface area (S(v)), and orientation. LMVD and IMVD were larger and MVD was lower in tumors than normal brain. S(v) in tumors overlapped normal brain values and orientation was random in both tumors and brain. ENU and RG-2 tumors and brain were studied by electron microscopy. Tumor microvessel wall was thicker than that of brain. ENU and normal brain microvessels were continuous and nonfenestrated. RG-2 microvessels contained fenestrations and endothelial gaps; the latter had a maximum major axis of 3.0 microm. Based on anatomic measurements, the pore area of RG-2 tumors was estimated at 7.4 x 10(-6) cm(2) g(-1) from fenestrations and 3.5 x 10(-5) cm(2) g(-1) from endothelial gaps. Increased permeability of RG-2 microvessels to macromolecules is most likely attributable to endothelial gaps. Three microvessel populations may occur in brain tumors: (1) continuous nonfenestrated, (2) continuous fenestrated, and (3) discontinuous (with or without fenestrations). The first group may be unique to brain tumors; the latter two are similar to microvessels found in systemic tumors. Since structure-function properties of brain tumor microvessels will affect drug delivery, studies of microvessel function should be incorporated into clinical trials of brain tumor therapy, especially those using macromolecules.
Pulsed RF Systems for Large Storage Rings

In this note we consider the possibility that by using a pulsed rf system, perhaps a system which operates at a somewhat higher frequency, a substantial reduction can be made in the rf power requirement for the next generation of large storage rings. A large effort over a period of many years has been expended in the attempt to increase the shunt impedance of rf structures for cw systems. Without turning to superconductivity only modest gains in the shunt impedance remain to be made by further detailed adjustments in cell shape. On the other hand, very little effort has as yet gone into the optimization of structures for pulsed systems. The structure parameters to be quoted in this report do not therefore necessarily represent values close to those for an optimum design. It is expected that the system designs set out here can be improved upon with further experimental and theoretical work. 11 refs., 3 figs.
Sexuality education in higher education in the USA: Analysis and implications

Abstract This paper explores the implications of sexuality education for all professionals in higher education. It reviews the history of sexuality education, the current research and the implementation of sexuality education courses and programmes in US schools and colleges. Professional issues including faculty training, ethics and interdisciplinary cooperation are discussed. A theoretical model for human sexuality education in higher education, and philosophical conclusions on the place and purpose of sexuality education in all institutions of higher education, are given.
A dry ice-baited trap for the collection and field storage of hematophagous Diptera.

The described trap was baited with dry ice, the carbon dioxide from which attracted a wide variety of species of Simuliidae, Tabanidae, and Culicidae of the genus Aedes . Attracted in fewer numbers were species of Ceratopogonidae, bloodsucking Muscidae, Chloropidae ( Hippelates ), and mosquitoes of the genera Anopheles, Culex, Culiseta , and Mansonia . Captured Diptera slid, while still alive, into a dry ice chamber, and the frozen collections were removed at 2- to 3-day intervals. Material thus collected furnished information on seasonal occurrence of the Diptera and was suitable for attempted arbovirus isolations.
Immunogenicity and persistence from different 3-dose schedules of live and inactivated polio vaccines in Chinese infants

Abstract Background OPV is the only poliovirus vaccine used in the China EPI system, although IPV is available in the private market. We compared immunigencity and persistence among different schedules of IPV and OPV. Methods 536 Chinese infants were enrolled into 4 groups receiving different schedules administered at 2, 3, and 4 months of age: IPV–OPV–OPV, IPV–IPV–OPV, IPV–IPV–IPV, and OPV–OPV–OPV. The I–I–I group received an 18-month IPV booster dose. Blood samples were collected before the first dose, after the third dose, and at 18 months for all groups, and also after the booster dose for the I–I–I group. Polio neutralizing antibody titers were assessed, and seroprotection rates were calculated after primary immunization and at 18 months of age. Results Before the first dose, GMTs of the 4 groups ranged from 2.96 to 6.89, and seroprotection rates ranged from 17.6% to 54.3%. After 3 doses, the GMT of the I–O–O and I–I–O groups ranged from 901.09 to 1,110.12, and the GMT of the I–I–I group range was 212.02 to 537.52, significantly lower than for the 2 sequential schedules (P Conclusions The sequential schedules achieved high GMTs and seroprotection. The IPV-only schedule achieved high seroprotection but with lower GMTs. Sequential schedules are suitable for China. With the 2 sequential schedules, GMTs remained high at 18 months of age and were not inferior to the OPV-only schedule. Thus, with a sequential schedule, the booster dose could be given at 4 years of age, the same age as the current OPV booster dose.