cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seeing Quantum Fractals

If you have been fortunate enough to have been on a flight that lands near a beautiful sunny coastline, you will no doubt have taken in the scenery on the way down, and perhaps even marveled at the winding of the shore into the horizon. What you may not have realized is that the coastline is actually a fractal—an object that appears the same at all length scales (perhaps only statistically). Fractals actually abound in nature: Galaxies, clouds, mountains, trees, and broccoli are all familiar examples. But fractals can occur in the quantum realm as well, even though they have never been observed there, until, perhaps, now. On page 665 of this issue, Richardella et al. ( 1 ) report direct measurements of quantum mechanical electron waves that indicate that they may also possess a fractal nature.
Techniques for Graph Analytics on Big Data

Graphs enjoy profound importance because of their versatility and expressivity. They can be effectively used to represent social networks, web search engines and genome sequencing. The field of graph pattern matching has been of significant importance and has wide-spread applications. Conceptually, we want to find subgraphs that match a pattern in a given graph. Much work has been done in this field with solutions like Subgraph Isomorphism and Regular Expression matching. With Big Data, scientists are frequently running into massive graphs that have amplified the challenge that this area poses. We study the speedup and communication behavior of three distributed algorithms for inexact graph pattern matching. We also study the impact of different graph partitionings on runtime and network I/O. Our extensive results show that the algorithms exhibit excellent scalable behavior and min-cut partitioning can lead to improved performance under some circumstances, and can drastically reduce the network traffic as well.
Blood pressure management in the kidney transplant recipient

Hypertension is extremely common after kidney transplantation. It has been observed in up to 80% to 90% of patients. The etiologies are multifactorial but, in large part, rest with the native kidneys, concomitant immunosuppressant drugs, and behavioral factors that promote the development of higher levels of blood pressure, including obesity, salt intake, smoking, and alcohol consumption. There is a direct relationship between kidney allograft failure and level of systolic blood pressure during follow-up. Patients with a systolic blood pressure greater than 180 mmHg have 2-fold greater risk of loss of graft function compared with patients with systolics of less than 140 mmHg. A similar pattern exists for diastolic blood pressure. Some investigators have also demonstrated that higher levels of blood pressure also correlate with an increased risk of acute graft rejection, particularly in African Americans. What is not known is whether more effective control of arterial pressure in the transplant patient will reduce the likelihood of graft loss and improve survival. No prospective outcome trials have ever been performed. However, it is likely, given the marked success of better control of blood pressure in nontransplant patients in reducing cardiovascular death and the rate of progression of kidney disease, that similar benefits will be appreciated in the transplant patient. Given the greater cardiovascular burden in the kidney transplant recipient because of the presence, in many cases, of diabetes and hypertension, perhaps even more risk reduction may be realized with incremental reductions in blood pressure. Preferred treatment strategies for lowering blood pressure depends on the mechanism of action and medical comorbidity. Drugs that block the renin-angiotensin system should be preferentially considered because they may have similar advantages in delaying progressive loss of allograft function, much in the same way they have proven benefits in protecting native kidney function. Treating blood pressure in the kidney transplant recipient is a complicated process because patients are already on multiple medications and many will need 3 to 5 antihypertensive drugs to achieve optimal control of blood pressure, which should preferably be below 130/80 mmHg.
NONLINEAR TRANSVERSE VIBRATIONS OF ORTHOTROPIC CYLINDRICAL SHELLS

h,a,l qQ p i,j Nonlinear transverse vibrations of elastic orthotropic shells are investigated using von Karman-Tsien equations generalized to dynamic and orthotropic case. The deflection function is chosen in a simple separable form and the stress function is determined from the compatibility equation. The governing equation for the time function is derived by Galerkin's procedure, and its solution discussed for two types of orthotropy and for the isotropic case. A sharp decrease of the period of nonlinear vibrations with an increasing amplitude is corroborated, the mode pattern influencing the period more than the degree of anisotropy . Parenthetically, the influence of anisotropy on free linear vibrations and on the buckling under normal pressure is discussed.
Complementarity and symmetry in social relationships of nonhuman primates

The paper examinesBateson’s idea that social relationships can be described according to the degree that behavior is symmetric (mutual) or complementary (non-mutual). It was suggested that in primates complementary relationships are most typical and stable.Bateson’s definitions were quantified and applied to observations of paired rhesus females, showing that familiar dyads had complementary relationships, probably reflecting social status, while unfamiliar dyads had symmetric relationships.
Localizing Damage in the Cervical Facet Capsular Ligament With Image-Based Multiscale Models

Excessive soft tissue loading can produce pathophysiological changes in the absence of tissue failure or visible injury [1]. In these cases, strain has often been used as a metric to infer the location of damage and define tissue tolerances due to a lack of any other means to detect injury. A recent study of the human facet capsular ligament identified localized anomalous collagen fiber realignment prior to gross failure by correlating fiber alignment vectors derived from quantitative polarized light imaging [1]. The onset of anomalous fiber realignment was strongly associated with a decrease in tissue stiffness in that study, suggesting the occurrence of damage, but the location of this putative damage did not correspond to the location of maximum principal strain. The disconnect between maximum strain and the location of damage may be explained by the heterogeneous structural organization of the facet capsular ligament. By employing image-based multiscale computational models, which account for the local fiber alignment of the tissue, we hypothesized that estimates of the tissue stress field may predict the development of microstructural damage that occurs outside of the location of maximum strain. In this study, multi-scale fiber network models were compared to the experimentally-derived strain fields during facet capsular ligament loading up to the detection of anomalous fiber realignment to begin to understand the relationships between macroscopic tissue loading, collagen fiber reorganization, and the development of initial localized microstructural damage.© 2010 ASME
Prevalence of urinary incontinence symptoms among black, white, and Hispanic women.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of urinary incontinence symptoms among black, white, and Hispanic women. METHODS: Women attending our gynecologic clinic were asked to complete a survey. The survey asked: “Do you lose urine when you cough, sneeze, lift, jump, or get up from a bed or chair? Do you wear a pad or protective undergarment because you lose urine when you cough, sneeze, lift, jump, or get up from a bed or chair? Do you urinate more than once every hour during the day? Does the urge to urinate wake you from your sleep more than twice most nights? Do you lose urine less than 5 minutes after you feel the urge to urinate more than once per week?” RESULTS: Seven hundred ninety-nine black, 932 white, and 639 Hispanic women completed the survey. More white women reported urinary incontinence than did black or Hispanic women (41% versus 31% versus 30%, P < .001) because of their higher prevalence of stress incontinence symptoms (39% versus 27% versus 24%, P < .001). The percentage of women who had urge incontinence symptoms was very similar between the three groups (19% versus 16% versus 16%, P = .214). More black and white women reported mixed incontinence than Hispanic women (14% versus 15% versus 9%, P < .001). More black women had frequency and nocturia than the other two groups (31% and 35% versus 19% and 19% versus 25% and 26%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of incontinence symptoms is significantly different among black, Hispanic, and white women.
The effect of manipulating task difficulty on error-related negativity in individuals with obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Previous research has found that individuals with obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms show larger error-related negativity (ERN) and correct-response negativity (CRN) amplitudes than controls. Task difficulty was manipulated during a flanker task and a probabilistic learning task to determine the effect of difficulty on ERN and CRN amplitudes in those with high or low levels of OC symptoms. Increasing task difficulty during a flanker task attenuated ERN amplitudes and enhanced CRN amplitudes. Although larger ERN amplitudes were found in the high OC group compared to the low OC group during the easy flanker task, this group difference was no longer apparent during the difficult version of the flanker task. Increasing difficulty during the probabilistic learning task had no effect on group differences in ERN or CRN amplitudes. The results of this study suggest that the hyperactive error-monitoring activity associated with OC symptoms depends on the difficulty and type of task performed.
Diagnosis of urolithiasis and rate of spontaneous passage during pregnancy.

Purpose: Due to imaging limitations little is known about the true rate of spontaneous stone passage during pregnancy. We evaluated the accuracy of urolithiasis diagnosis during pregnancy and the rate of spontaneous passage.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients diagnosed with urolithiasis during pregnancy from 1997 to 2009. Patients were evaluated for a confirmed stone event, defined as a stone visualized on imaging or at surgery, or passed with visualization.Results: We identified 112 women diagnosed with urolithiasis during pregnancy, including 5 with multiple episodes for a total of 117 events. Stones were visualized by imaging in 63 of 117 events. Another 22 patients without imaging confirmation passed a stone spontaneously. In 1 patient the stone was diagnosed at surgical removal during pregnancy and postpartum imaging identified another 4 patients. Thus, 90 of 117 events (77%) represented confirmed stones. Of the 90 patients 27 (30%) underwent temporizing or defi...
A Typology of Heart Failure Self-Care Management in Non-Elders

Background: Heart failure (HF) self-care is extremely challenging and few people master it. Self-care was defined as an active, cognitive process in which persons engage for the purpose of maintaining their health (maintenance) and managing symptoms (management).Aim: To examine the contribution of attitudes, self-efficacy, and cognition to HF self-care management.Methods: In this mixed methods study, 41 individuals (63.4% male, 68.3% Caucasian, mean age 49.17 (10.51) years, 58.5% NYHA III, median ejection fraction 30%) were interviewed and completed instruments on HF self-care, cognition, and physical functioning. Content analysis of narrative data revealed themes of self-care management practices, attitudes and self-efficacy towards self-care. Non-parametric tests assessed differences based on the types identified in the content analysis.Results: A self-care typology was constructed from the data: experts, novices and inconsistent. There were statistically significant differences (p = 0.001) in self-care...
In situ observations of HO2 and OH obtained on the NASA ER‐2 in the high‐ClO conditions of the 1999/2000 Arctic polar vortex

[1] Extensive observations of OH and HO2 obtained aboard the NASA ER-2 inside the Arctic polar vortex during the SAGE III Ozone loss and Validation Experiment (SOLVE) provide the opportunity to identify and test interferences during the measurement of HO2 in the presence of high concentrations of ClO. In-flight calibrations are consistent with small interferences from CH3O2 (8%) and from ClO (3%) to the total signal on average inside the vortex. Measurements of HO2, OH, ClO, and O3 are used with rate constants derived from laboratory measurements to test the consistency of the reactions that control HO2/OH. Inside the vortex the calculated HO2/OH under predicts the observed HO2/OH by 7% with the JPL-00 rate constants and over-predicts the observations by 23% when recent laboratory rates are used. Measurements of HO2 and ClO are used to calculate ozone loss rates and concentrations of HOCl with uncertainties determined from the analysis of HO2/OH. The calculated concentration of HOCl is 52−28+50 pptv, or 0.07 × ClO on average in the vortex. The ozone loss rate from the two cycles controlled by HO2 + ClO is ∼1.5−0.5+1.2 ppbv d−1 in early March.
Temperature effects on supercritical carbon dioxide extractions of hydrocarbons from geological samples

The extraction of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons from New Albany Shale by supercritical carbon dioxide at different extraction temperatures is described. The main goal of this work was to determine the effect of the temperature on the extraction process (i.e. relative extraction rate and efficiency). The data suggest that temperature changes of 20 and 40 degrees for the relatively moderate extraction temperatures tested (55, 75, and 95°C), can have significant effects on both relative extraction rates and yields. While lower molecular weight aromatics presented exponential extraction profiles, similar to those of the aliphatic hydrocarbons, higher molecular weight aromatics, such as the phenanthrenes, showed a linear extraction profile. This behavior cannot be explained by solubility differences in the supercritical fluid alone, and are, therefore, most likely based on differences in the speciation of the hydrocarbons within the sample matrix. Extractions at elevated temperatures (300°C) resulted in significant increments in the relative recoveries of all compounds, but particularly for the aromatic hydrocarbons. This may be caused by structural rearrangement of the sample matrix with subsequent release of trapped hydrocarbons and possibly by C-S and S-S bond breakage.
Recurrent Stent Fracture in the Right Coronary Artery

An 83-year-old female presented in 2007 with an inferiorST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), acceleratedjunctional rhythm, and cardiogenic shock. She hadundergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) tothe ostium of the right coronary artery (RCA) in 2000,with deployment of a 4.0/15mm NIRoyal bare-metal stent(BMS;BostonScientiﬁcScimed,Inc.,Natick,MA), withoutcomplication (Figure1). The patient was asymptomaticuntil 2004, when she began to have angina. At thattime, coronary angiography revealed a fracture of theRCA stent and 90% stenosis at the ostium of the RCA.Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed with a3.5/18mmTaxuspaclitaxel-elutingstent(BostonScientiﬁcScimed, Inc., Natick, MA) deployed across the priorfractured stent. The procedure was uncomplicated andimmediatepostprocedureangiographyrevealednoresidualappearanceof stentfracture(Figure2).On presentation to our institution in 2007 with inferiorSTEMI, the patient underwent emergent coronary angiog-raphy, which revealedocclusionof the proximalRCA, withvisible thrombus and stent fracture of the prior RCA stent(Figure3A). The stenosis in the RCA was crossed witha guide wire with difﬁculty and the lesion was dilatedwith serial balloon inﬂations. Intravascular ultrasound wasperformed, which conﬁrmed an area of stent separationand revealed signiﬁcantresidual stenosis in the previouslystented segment (Figure3B). Therefore, the lesion wasstented with a 3.5/23mm Multi-link Vision BMS (AbbottVascular, Abbott Park, IL) spanning the 2 previously frac-turedstents.Theﬁnalangiogramdemonstrated0%residualstenosis and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI)grade3 ﬂow (Figure3C).The patient was transferred to the coronary intensivecare unit for further managementand discharged home infavorablecondition16days later. She has had no recurrentangina over 18 months of follow-up. Lifelong clopidogreltherapyis planned.
SU‐E‐T‐498: Comparison of Inter‐Fraction Setup Uncertainty of Two Commercially‐ Available, Cranial Immobilization Masks Using KV‐CBCT and ExacTrac® Imaging Systems

Purpose: The 3‐point thermoplastic Orfit mask and BrainLAB stereotactic mask provide immobilization of the head in fractionated radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to compare the setup accuracy of these two masks using pre‐treatment kV‐CBCT and ExacTrac®. Methods: Both BrainLab and Orfit masks are currently used in our institution. The BrainLab mask is a two‐part masking system custom fitted to the front and back of the patient's head. This mask is used in conjunction with the ExacTrac‐based patient positioning. The Orfit 3‐point mask is shaped to the patient's head similarly but also encompassing the superior aspect of the head. As part of our current setup procedure for patients immobilized by Orfit mask, daily portal images and weekly kV‐CBCT image sets are acquired pre‐treatment. In this study, kV‐CBCT data from 6 Orfit patients (122 fractions) fixated with the Orfit mask and ExacTrac data from 11 patients (153 fractions) immobilized by the BrainLab mask were retrospectively analyzed. Daily patient positioning was evaluated as the translations between the pre‐treatment and reference image after fusion registration. Results: The mean inter‐fraction displacements in 3D were 2.7±1.4 mm (max=6.4mm) and 3.3± 1.8 mm (max=7.9mm) for Orfit and BrainLab groups, respectively. The mean displacement and systematic setup uncertainty for the Orfit patients were − 0.3±1.0, −1.0±1.4, and −1.0±1.3 mm in the lateral, superior‐inferior and anterior‐posterior directions, respectively. For the BrainLab patients, the mean and systematic setup uncertainties were 0.2±0.8, −1.3±1.8, and − 0.9±2.5 mm in the lateral, anterior‐posterior and superior‐inferior directions, respectively. Conclusions: Both masks showed comparable performance in term of setup uncertainty. Daily image guidance is recommended with either immobilization system to optimize the accuracy of setup.
Fitting multiple bell curves stably and accurately to a time series as applied to Hubbert cycles or other phenomena

Bell curves are applicable to understanding many observations and measurements across the sciences. Relating Gaussian curves to data is a common because of its relation to both the Central Limit Theorem and to random error. Similarly, fitting logistic derivatives to oil or other non-renewable resource production is common practice. Fitting bell curves to a time series is an inherently non-linear problem requiring initial estimates of the parameters describing the bell-curves. Poor estimates lead to instability and divergent solutions. Fitting to a cumulative curve improves stability, but at the expense of accuracy of the final solution. Jointly fitting multiple bell curves is superior to extraction of curves one at a time, but further exacerbates the non-linearity. Including both the cumulative data and the bell-curve data within the inversion, can exploit the greater stability of the cumulative fit and the greater accuracy of a direct fit. The algorithm presented here inverts for multiple bells by combining cumulative and direct fits to exploit the best features of both. The versatility and accuracy of the algorithm are demonstrated using two different Earth Science examples: a seismo-volcanic sequence recorded by a hydrophone array moored to the seafloor and US coal production. The MatLab function used here for joint curve determination is included in the online manuscript complementary material.
Anthropic predictions for neutrino masses

It is argued that small values of the neutrino masses may be due to anthropic selection effects. If this is the case, then the combined mass of the three neutrino species is expected to be {approx}1 eV, neutrinos causing a non-negligible suppression of galaxy formation.
Alternative modalities of adenovirus-mediated gene expression in hippocampal neurons cultured on microisland substrate

Previously, we have used CsCl gradient-purified recombinant adenovirus (AdV) to successfully transfer genes into hippocampal neurons cultured on microisland substrate. Here, we report that purification of AdV particles is not required and efficient gene expression can be achieved using either crude AdV lysates or HEK 293 cells infected with AdV. The advantages of the simplified procedure are greatly reduced preparation time and reduced requirements for equipment and expertise.
Eltrombopag as steroid sparing therapy for immune thrombocytopenic purpura in systemic lupus erythematosus.

BackgroundEltrombopag activates the thrombopoietin (TPO) surface receptor on the megakaryocyte, which increases the production of platelets, and rapidly improves circulating platelet numbers in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). This allows for rapid tapering and/or cessation of corticosteroid therapy. Less is known about the platelet response to this drug in ITP associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsA retrospective review was performed of the clinical course of three consecutive patients, each with SLE-associated ITP who were initially treated with corticosteroids or other immunomodulatory therapy. These patients were treated with eltrombopag at the DMC Center for Bleeding Disorders and Thrombosis. Eltrombopag was administered according the package insert, with an initial dose of 50 mg daily, with weekly, then monthly monitoring of platelet counts and dose adjustments. Some immunomodulatory agents (e.g. hydroxychloroquine) were continued to control non hematologic SL...
Optimized dynamical decoupling via genetic algorithms

We utilize genetic algorithms aided by simulated annealing to find optimal dynamical decoupling (DD) sequences for a single-qubit system subjected to a general decoherence model under a variety of control pulse conditions. We focus on the case of sequences with equal pulse intervals and perform the optimization with respect to pulse type and order. In this manner, we obtain robust DD sequences, first in the limit of ideal pulses, then when including pulse imperfections such as finite-pulse duration and qubit rotation (flip-angle) errors. Although our optimization is numerical, we identify a deterministic structure that underlies the top-performing sequences. We use this structure to devise DD sequences which outperform previously designed concatenated DD (CDD) and quadratic DD (QDD) sequences in the presence of pulse errors. We explain our findings using time-dependent perturbation theory and provide a detailed scaling analysis of the optimal sequences.
Distributed Bayesian hypothesis testing in sensor networks

We consider the scenario of N distributed noisy sensors observing a single event. The sensors are distributed and can only exchange messages through a network. The sensor network is modelled by means of a graph, which captures the connectivity of different sensor nodes in the network. The task is to arrive at a consensus about the event after exchanging such messages. The focus of this paper is twofold: a) characterize conditions for reaching a consensus; b) derive conditions for when the consensus converges to the centralized MAP estimate. The novelty of the paper lies in applying belief propagation as a message passing strategy to solve a distributed hypothesis testing problem for a pre-specified network connectivity. We show that the message evolution can be re-formulated as the evolution of a linear dynamical system, which is primarily characterized by network connectivity. This leads to a fundamental understanding of as to which network topologies naturally lend themselves to consensus building and conflict avoidance.
Memory enhancement of classical fear conditioning by post-training injections of corticosterone in rats.

Abstract There is extensive evidence that post-training administration of the adrenocortical hormone corticosterone facilitates memory consolidation processes in a variety of contextual and spatial-dependent learning situations. The present experiments examine whether corticosterone can modulate memory of auditory-cue classical fear conditioning, a learning task that is not contingent on contextual or spatial representations. Male Sprague–Dawley rats received three pairings of a single-frequency auditory stimulus and footshock, followed immediately by a post-training subcutaneous injection of either corticosterone (1.0 or 3.0 mg/kg) or vehicle. Retention was tested 24 h later in a novel test chamber and suppression of ongoing motor behavior served as the measure of conditioned fear. Corticosterone dose-dependently facilitated suppression of motor activity during the 10-s presentation of the auditory cue. As corticosterone administration did not alter responding after unpaired presentations of tone and shock, tone alone, shock alone or absence of tone/shock, the findings indicated that corticosterone selectively facilitated memory of the tone–shock association. Furthermore, injections of corticosterone given 3 h after training did not alter motor activity during retention testing, demonstrating that corticosterone enhanced time-dependent memory consolidation processes. These findings provide evidence that corticosterone modulates the consolidation of memory for auditory-cue classical fear conditioning and are consistent with a wealth of data indicating that glucocorticoids can modulate a wide variety of emotionally influenced memories.
USE of outdoor freshwater pond microcosms: II. Responses of biota to pyridaben

The effects of pyridaben, an insecticide-miticide on zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and fish were studied in outdoor freshwater microcosms using an analysis of variance design with three chemical concentrations (0.34, 3.4, 34.0 micrograms/L) and one untreated control randomized among 24 tanks. Each treatment was replicated six times. Monitoring was conducted during an 11-month baseline phase followed by a total of three months for treatment and posttreatment phases. Two applications of a wettable powder formulation were sprayed directly below the water surface with a 30-d interval between treatments. Copepoda adult abundance was significantly reduced at 34.0 micrograms/L but recovery occurred within 6 weeks after application. Abundance of copepoda nauplii was significantly reduced at 3.4 and 34.0 micrograms/L, after applications one and two; effects were more severe at 34.0 micrograms/L, and recovery was more rapid at 3.4 micrograms/L. Abundance of Rotifera was reduced at 34.0 micrograms/L, after applications one and two, and recovery occurred within 8 weeks for all groups except Polyarthra and Keratella. Of the most abundant Cladocera, abundance of Alona was not significantly affected and abundance of Latonopsis was significantly reduced at 34.0 micrograms/L, after applications one and two, but recovery occurred within 6 weeks. Abundance of Latonopsis also was significantly reduced at 3.4 micrograms/L, after applications one and two, but recovery occurred within 2 weeks. A significant decrease occurred in the abundances of Cnidaria, Insecta, and Hydracarina at 34.0 micrograms/L, only after application one. Pyridaben was toxic to bluegill at 34.0 micrograms/L, but was not acutely toxic at the laboratory 96-h LC50 concentration (approximately 3.4 micrograms/L).
Reference history, page size, and migration daemons in local/remote architectures

We address the problem of paged main memory management in the local/remote architecture subclass of shared memory multiprocessors. We consider the case where the operating system has primary responsibility and uses page migration as its main tool. We identify some of the key issues with respect to architectural support (reference history maintenance, and page size), and operating system mechanism (duration between daemon passes, and number of migration daemons).The experiments were conducted using software implemented page tables on 32-node BBN Butterfly Plus™. Several numeral programs with both synthetic and real data were used as the workload. The primary conclusion is that for the cases considered migration was at best marginally effective. On the other hand, practical migration mechanisms were robust and never significantly degraded performance. The specific results include: 1) Referenced bits with aging can closely approximate Usage fields, 2) larger page sizes are beneficial except when the page is large enough to include locality sets of two processes, and 3) multiple migration daemons can be useful.Only small regions of the space of architectural, system, and workload parameters were explored. Further investigation of other parameter combinations is clearly warranted.
Impact of Writing Proficiency and Writing Center Participation on Academic Performance

This paper uses quantitative methods to show the impact of university writing centers on first-year business seminar students’ writing. Results indicate that students’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors positively influence the likelihood that a student visits the center. Students’ grades on writing assignments were significantly higher for students who visited the writing center but only for students who scored in the top 40th percentile of the grade distribution. Finally, the study shows that increasing students’ ability to write effectively is an important factor in retaining them at the university.
Outcomes of patients with rejection post-polyomavirus nephropathy.

Abstract Introduction We sought to determine the effects of rejection in renal transplant recipients with polyomavirus nephropathy (PVN). Methods SCr, biopsy findings, BKV serum and urine loads (Taqman PCR), and BKV antibody titers (HA inhibition assay) were analyzed by two-sample median tests and z tests in 11 patients with median follow-up of 7.3 (2.0 to 31.5) months post-PVN. All patients underwent immunosuppression reduction (ISR) as PVN treatment. Results Post-PVN, 3 (27%) patients had five rejection episodes, with 80% being mild. Median time to rejection was 18 (2 to 60) weeks. One hundred percent of patients who experienced post-PVN rejection also experienced rejection pre-PVN. Rejection episode treatments consisted of: none in one, increased tacrolimus in two, IVIG in one, IVIG and increased tacrolimus in one. Median viral loads in patients with post-PVN rejection versus those without rejection were not different in serum (2.01 × 10 4 vs 9.00 × 10 4 BKV copies/mL; P = .22) or urine (5.37 × 10 5 vs 8.93 × 10 6 BKV copies/mL; P = .28). Median BKV antibody titers were slightly lower (16384 vs 32768 HA units; P = .02) and median SCr values were significantly higher (2.7 vs 1.9 mg/dL, P = .0003) in patients who had experienced post-PVN rejection. Graft losses occurred in one rejection-free patient (chronic allograft nephropathy) and in one patient who experienced multiple acute rejection episodes, humoral rejection, and worsening PVN. Conclusions Patients who experience rejection prior to PVN are at high risk of developing rejection post-ISR and post-PVN; however, low graft loss rates may still be achieved.
Protecting secret data from insider attacks

We consider defenses against confidentiality and integrity attacks on data following break-ins, or so-called intrusion resistant storage technologies. We investigate the problem of protecting secret data, assuming an attacker is inside a target network or has compromised a system. We give a definition of the problem area, and propose a solution, VAST, that uses large, structured files to improve the secure storage of valuable or secret data. Each secret has its multiple shares randomly distributed in an extremely large file. Random decoy shares and the lack of usable identification information prevent selective copying or analysis of the file. No single part of the file yields useful information in isolation from the rest. The file’s size and structure therefore present an enormous additional hurdle to attackers attempting to transfer, steal or analyze the data. The system also has the remarkable property of healing itself after malicious corruption, thereby preserving both the confidentiality and integrity of the data.
Design and Evaluation of a Diagrammatic Notation to Aid in the Understanding of Concurrency Concepts

It is generally accepted that concurrency can be difficult for students to reason about. While some studies provide insight into the nature of these difficulties [6], work remains to be done in understanding the aspects of learning about concurrency that are most difficult, and in developing approaches to dealing with this problem. We have conducted instructor interviews and an observational study of students, identified several key difficulties that students encounter, and developed a diagram that we believe will be an aid to understanding and problem-solving. We present the diagram and results of an initial user evaluation.
The role of institutional change in post‐Communist transition

Examines the role of institutional change in post‐Communist transition, notably in the sequence of transformations. Explains the reasons for the strategic role of institutional change, the major elements of such change, a rationale explaining why, to create maximum effect, these changes should occur early in the sequencing process, prior to liberalization, marketization, stabilization or economic restructuring and substantial privatization. Theoretical analysis is employed with supporting empirical illustrations.
Depolarisation by solid hydrometeors

Scattering by snow and ice crystals are possible causes of depolarisation along satellite paths. It is believed that ice crystals aligned by atmospheric electrostatic fields are a prime but not exclusive cause of such depolarisation.
Long-term functional results of selective treatment of hand burns

Four hundred seventy-eight patients with hand burns (786 hands) were treated at the burn service of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Long-term evaluation showed that early incision and immediate autografting of deep second degree, mixed second and third degree, and third degree full-thickness hand burns resulted in 93 percent, 95 percent, and 93 percent, respectively, excellent to good functional results. There was no significant differences in results in patients with superficial second degree burns treated nonsurgically with silver nitrate dressings and early physical therapy compared with results in patients with deep second degree, mixed second and third degree, and third degree hand burns treated with early excision and grafting. No patient with fourth degree burns had excellent to good results. Permanent damage was related to extent of original injury to the extensor tendons and joint capsules. On the basis of this broad experience, it is believed that all burned hands judged unlikely to heal within 3 weeks will benefit from early excision and grafting by experienced surgical personnel.
Computing and communicating statistics in sensor networks

This paper presents the computing and communicating statistics in sensor networks. A deterministic sequence of message passing between sensors, result in the vector of function values being, communicated to the fusion center, for any combination of individual measurement vectors. A wireless communication model using protocols is also discussed.
Barriers to the Appropriate Clinical Use of Medications That Improve the Cognitive Deficits of Schizophrenia

A high priority has been placed on developing medications to treat the cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia, but less attention has been given to planning for appropriate use of these medications in practice. The cognitive deficits of schizophrenia present several complexities as a treatment target that may limit a clinician's ability to prescribe cognitive enhancers to the patients who need them and to monitor for improvements in outcomes. In this review the neuropsychological evidence regarding cognition and functioning is discussed with a view toward how this evidence might guide clinicians' prescribing practices. Three challenges regarding the use of cognitive enhancers in schizophrenia are discussed. First, laboratory constructs of cognition are not equivalent to cognitive skills and behaviors seen in the clinic. The evidence generated in clinical trials of cognitive enhancers may have uncertain ecological validity. Second, objective scores on cognitive tests often do not match clinicians' and patients' perceptions of cognitive deficits. Mismatch between objective and subjective assessments of cognition may complicate the monitoring of medication. Third, although reductions in disability are desired outcomes of cognitive enhancement, clinicians may not be able to rely on assessments of patients' functional status to determine whether cognition medications are effective. In summary, data on the clinical meaning of neuropsychological constructs, careful selection of outcome measures for randomized clinical trials, and effectiveness trials could help ensure that cognition-enhancing medications can be appropriately prescribed in usual practice settings to the patients who can benefit from them.
Intermedia transfer factors for modeling the enviromental impact of air pollution from industrial sources

Abstract Toxic contaminants emitted to the atmosphere may be transformed and/or transported to other enviromental media such as water, soil, and biota. Many models have been developed to assess the impact of these emissions on human health and ecosystems. These models require input of chemical-specific parameters called intermedia transfer factors (ITFs). This study focuses on assessing the accuracy of ITFs used in modeling the enviromental impact of benzene, 2,3,7,8-TCDD and hexavalent chromium because these chemicals pose significant health risks and are widely emitted from various industrial processes. Many of the IFTs cited in the literature were estimated rather than measured which highlights the need for employing the most accurate estimation techniques available. This study can be used to refine the health risk assessment approach for identifying major enviromental hazards caused by industrial emissions and thus elucidating effective control strategies.
Induced Innovation in Non-Hydro Renewable Technologies: The E ffec ts of Energy Prices and Federal Spending

Our society’s reliance on fossil fuels has many negative results, including compromised national security and foreign relations as well as environmental damage. Many see technology as the key to an improved energy future, and in particular the development of new, cleaner renewable energy sources. The question then remains how to stimulate such technological innovation. In this study, I use U.S. patent data from 1970 to 2001, along with historic energy prices and federal spending data to see the affect energy price and R&D spending have on innovation in the non-hydro renewable energy industries – solar, wind, geothermal, oceanic, and fuel cell. Using a simple regression, I found a very strong, positive relationship between both R&D spending and energy price on innovation in the non-hydro renewable energy industries. This suggests that a policy intended to stimulate renewable energy innovation could do so either through increased federal R&D spending, or by increasing energy prices through taxation or other means. This article is available in Undergraduate Economic Review: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/uer/vol4/iss1/13
The Toll-like receptor 5 agonist entolimod suppresses hepatic metastases in a murine model of ocular melanoma via an NK cell-dependent mechanism

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary cancer of the eye in adults and progresses to metastatic disease predominantly of the liver in ~50% of patients. In these cases, life expectancy averages just 9 months due to the lack of effective treatment options. The Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) agonist entolimod (former name CBLB502) rapidly activates TLR5-NF-κB signaling in hepatocytes and suppresses growth of both TLR5-expressing and non-expressing tumors in the liver through mobilization and activation of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms. The goal of this study was to explore the potential of entolimod as an immunotherapeutic agent against hepatic metastasis of UM using the TLR5-positive B16LS9 mouse model of ocular melanoma. Mice were given seven subcutaneous injections of vehicle or entolimod given 72 h apart started one day before, on the same day or three days after intraocular injection of B16LS9 cells. All tested regimens of entolimod treatment resulted in significantly reduced B16LS9 metastasis to the liver. Entolimod induced mobilization of natural killer (NK) cells to the liver and stimulated their maturation, differentiation and activation. Antibody-mediated depletion of NK cells from mice abrogated entolimod's antimetastatic activity in the liver and eliminated the entolimod-elicited in vitro cytotoxic activity of hepatic lymphocytes against B16LS9 cells. These results provide pre-clinical evidence of entolimod's efficacy against hepatometastasis of UM and support its further development as an anticancer immunotherapeutic drug.
The Relationship of the Distribution of Dissolved Selenium IV and VI in Three Oceans to Physical and Biological Processes

Over 500 determinations each of selenium IV and selenium VI have been made on ocean water samples collected from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. All three oceans show similar distributions for both oxidation states which resembles those of the nutrients phosphate and silicate. Pacific and Indian ocean samples show selenium IV values of 50 pmol/1 in surface waters rising to 790 pmol/1 in deep waters and selenium VI values of 500 pmol/1 in surface waters rising to 1400 pmol/1 in deep waters. Atlantic ocean concentrations are 30–40% lower.
Consciousness isn’t all-or-none: Evidence for partial awareness during the attentional blink

Alternative views of the nature of consciousness posit that awareness of an object is either an all-or-none phenomenon or that awareness can be partial, occurring independently for different levels of representation. The all-or-none hypothesis predicts that when one feature of an object is identified, all other features should be consciously accessible. The partial awareness hypothesis predicts that one feature may reach consciousness while others do not. These competing predictions were tested in two experiments that presented two targets within a central stream of letters. We used the attentional blink evoked by the first target to assess consciousness for two different features of the second target. The results provide evidence that there can be a severe impairment in conscious access to one feature even when another feature is accurately reported. This behavioral evidence supports the partial awareness hypothesis, showing that consciousness of different features of the same object can be dissociated.
Examining the relationship between self-esteem and extrinsic career success among NLSY79 young adult respondents

This study tested the theory of a relationship between self-esteem and extrinsic career success, using data taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79ch). Answers were sought as to whether a relationship exists between self-esteem and extrinsic career success, and whether self-esteem in combination with job satisfaction also exhibited a relationship with extrinsic career success. Simple regressions were run for single variable tests, and multiple regressions for multivariate tests. Self-esteem in simple regressions did reliably impact extrinsic career success, whereas job satisfaction as a coefficient failed to do so. Education was found instead to be far more impactful. Additional research to identify further predictors of this success from similar longitudinal data would be advantageous for predicting career path.
Occupant Kinematics and Impact Biomechanics

This paper describes the kinematics of the driver and the front seat passenger of an automobile that is involved in four crash configurations; namely that of frontal, side and rear impact, and in rollovers. In each case, the associated biomechanical injury mechanisms are discussed involving body parts from head to foot. The effects of various restraint systems are considered, including their potential for causing injuries that are different from those they were designed to prevent. It is concluded that the present restraints are doing a good job for frontal impact but more needs to be done in side impact protection, for rearend crashes and in rollovers.
Modulation of the Neonatal IGA Response to Enteric Antigens by Maternal Antibody

Two unique features of adult gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) relative to other secondary systemic lymphoid tissues are the presence of chronic germinal center reactions (GCR) in the Peyer’s patches (PP) and the vast numbers of plasma cells in the gut lamina propria (LP). This steady state of activation presumably results from continuous exposure to novel environmental enteric antigens, attested by the observation that germ free (GF) mice lack PP GCR and have few LP IgA plasma cells.1 When adult GF mice are removed from their sterile environment, they are rapidly colonized by a diverse microbial flora,2 inducing both PP GCR and the population of LP with IgA plasma cells. Likewise, a similar variety of microbes is established in the gut of newborn mice once they leave the sterile uterine environment at birth.3 Nevertheless, despite the fact that by 7–10 days age neonatal PP structurally resemble the immunocompetent PP of adult GF mice, suckling mice lack PP GCR and contain few LP IgA plasma cells until they are weaned at 3– weeks age.4 Why suckling mice are initially unresponsive to their burgeoning microbial flora is still unresolved.
Midvale Community Lead Study

AbstractThe primary objective of this study was to ascertain whether children living in close proximity to mill tailings and a former lead smelter site were currently exhibiting elevated blood lead (PbB) concentrations. To address this issue, the mean PbB for community children and the relationship between PbB and the proximity of the child's residence to the site was estimated. A secondary objective was to identify and quantify accessible lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) in the environment (e.g. Pb in soil, dust, paint and water or As in soil and dust). A third objective was to test for association between specific sources of environmental Pb and PbB and to estimate the relative contribution of these proximate sources of lead to the children's PbB. The data analytic methods allowed estimation of both direct and indirect impact of environmentally accessible Pb. The average PbB level of all children screened in Midvale was 5.2 μg dL−1. Three percent exceeded 15 μg dL−1; 12.7% exceeded 10 μg dL−1. Pb-based house ...