cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of a data mining signal for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and statins detected in FDA's spontaneous adverse event reporting system.

SUMMARY Background We detected disproportionate reporting of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors (statins) in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) spontaneous adverse event (AE) reporting system (AERS). Purpose To describe the original ALS signal and to provide additional context for interpreting the signal by conducting retrospective analyses of data from long-term, placebo-controlled clinical trials of statins. Methods The ALS signal was detected using the multi-item gamma Poisson shrinker (MGPS) algorithm. All AERS cases of ALS reported in association with use of a statin were individually reviewed by two FDA neurologists. Manufacturers of lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin, cerivastatin, and rosuvastatin were requested to provide the number of cases of ALS diagnosed during all of their placebo-controlled statin trials that were at least 6 months in duration. Results There were 91 US and foreign reports of ALS with statins in AERS. The data mining signal scores for ALS and statins ranged from 8.5 to 1.6. Data were obtained from 41 statin clinical trials ranging in duration from 6 months to 5 years and representing approximately 200 000 patient–years of exposure to statin and approximately 200 000 patient–years of exposure to placebo. Nine cases of ALS were reported in statin-treated patients and 10 cases in placebo-treated patients. Conclusions Although we observed a data mining signal for ALS with statins in FDA’s AERS, retrospective analyses of 41 statin clinical trials did not reveal an increased incidence of ALS in subjects treated with a statin compared with placebo. Copyright # 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Do Charters Retain Teachers Differently? Evidence from Elementary Schools in Florida

We analyze patterns of teacher attrition from charter schools and schools in the traditional public sector. Using rich data on students, teachers, and schools in Florida, we estimate teacher effectiveness based on repeated test scores reported at the student level for each teacher over time. Among all teachers, those in charter schools appear more likely to exit the profession than those in the traditional public sector, and in both sectors the least effective teachers are more likely to exit than their more effective counterparts. Few of these relationships appear evident for within- or between-district transfers, and there are no differential relationships between effectiveness and attrition in the charter sector. We interpret these results as indicating that whatever administrative or organizational differences may exist in charter schools, they do not necessarily translate into a discernible difference in the ability to dismiss poorly performing teachers.
Wood retention and transport in tropical, headwater streams, La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

article i nfo Wood in tropical streams has the potential to be more mobile than wood in otherwise similar temperate streams because of the warm and humid conditions that promote decay and the more frequent and flashier floods of the tropics. To test this hypothesis, we monitored all large wood pieces for 2.3 years in 10 50-m- long reaches of old-growth headwater streams in La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Annual wood retention rates for pieces ranged from 0.55 to 0.91 among the sites, and retention rates by volume ranged from 0.67 to 0.99. Assuming steady state wood load, which is reasonable for La Selva, these rates are equivalent to mean residence times of 2.2-10.6 years for pieces, and 3.0-83.2 years for a volume of wood. Calculating mean residence time from the weighted average of retention rates gives an average residence time of 4.9 years for a piece of wood and 6.9 years for a volume of wood. These values are less than those reported for old-growth temperate forests, supporting our hypothesis. Mobility of individual pieces was best predicted by piece length relative to stream width (lr, higher lr led to lower mobility), channel gradient (s, higher s led to higher mobility), and piece integration into the channel (unattached pieces were 2.6 times more mobile than attached, ramp, or bridge pieces). Temporal variation in retention rates was well explained by variation in peak flow. All four of these factors have also been observed to influence mobility in the temperate zone. The higher mobility of wood in our study site relative to the temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest may be explained by the flashy and frequent floods, the high decay rate, or the branching morphology of the native trees; but differentiating the role of these factors, particularly flow and decay, will be complicated by their covariation across climates.
Predictive coding--I

Predictive coding is a procedure for transmitting messages which are sequences of magnitudes. In this coding method, the transmitter and the receiver store past message terms, and from them estimate the value of the next message term. The transmitter transmits, not the message term, but the difference between it and its predicted value. At the receiver this error term is added to the receiver prediction to reproduce the message term. This procedure is defined and messages, prediction, entropy, and ideal coding are discussed to provide a basis for Part II, which will give the mathematical criterion for the best predictor for use in the predictive coding of particular messages, will give examples of such messages, and will show that the error term which is transmitted in predictive coding may always be coded efficiently.
Factitious renal stone as a sign of internal conflict about sexual intercourse in an adolescent

Conflicts about the onset of sexual intercourse have been reported to cause a variety of symptoms. A 16-year-old black female claimed to have passed a stone in her urine. Investigation of her complaints caused some doubt that an organic cause was involved. Social history showed that she had recently begun to have sexual intercourse despite a religious belief that intercourse before marriage was wrong. After an extensive medical work-up, she was discharged with instructions to bring in another stone if passed. A stone subsequently presented by the patient proved to be a piece of lead shot. Those caring for adolescents need to be aware that conflicts about sexual intercourse may present in a number of ways, including urinary-tract complaints.
CD154 and Type-1 Cytokine Response: From Hyper IgM Syndrome to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

CD40 and CD154 (CD40 ligand) are surface molecules that are central to the cross-talk between T cells and antigen-presenting cells. This article reviews the relevance of CD40-CD154 interaction for regulation of interleukin-12/interferon-gamma production in response to Toxoplasma gondii as an example of an intracellular pathogen. The manner in which defects in CD154 signaling contribute to immunosuppression and susceptibility to opportunistic infections in patients with X-linked hyper IgM syndrome and in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection is also discussed.
Effective communication of standard errors and confidence intervals

When reporting estimates and associated standard errors (ses) or confidence intervals (CIs), the standard formats, “estimate (se)” and “estimate (95% CI: [lower, upper]),” can be confusing in text; in tables they hinder comparisons. Furthermore, some readers can misinterpret the CI format as indicating equal support for all reported values. To remedy these deficits, we recommend formats that (1) improve clarity in text and tables and (2) emphasize that an estimate and its associated uncertainty should be “connected at the hip” as a single unit.
Two new replacement policies

Two replacement policies that can be used in deciding whether one should replace or repair a system are investigated. The first is a local policy where a decision is made based on average lifetime per unit cost of repair. The second is a global policy. Mathematical properties of these policies are developed, and some examples show that the two policies can yield different decisions under the same circumstances. >
Theoretical and experimental studies of cavity-backed slot antenna excited by a narrow strip

Theoretical and experimental studies of a cavity-backed slot antenna excited internally by a suspended narrow strip are undertaken. Coupled integral equations are developed to compute the electric field distribution in the slot and the surface current distribution on the strip. The input impedance of the cavity at the feeding point on the strip has been computed theoretically and measured experimentally. The impedance data, being a function of cavity dimension, slot length, strip length, and frequency, can be polyfitted and used to implement a systematic design procedure to construct a planar array of these slots. >
Georadiological Barrier Gamma Attenuation Model for waste containment. II: Model implementation.

Herein, the Georadiological Barrier Gamma Attenuation Model that is developed in Part 1 of this paper, is utilized to estimate the attenuation of gamma (γ) rays by earthen barriers of various thicknesses and material composition. Activities of radioactive isotopes are calculated and coupled with an exponential absorption equation, to estimate γ exit intensities from these georad barriers. The results indicate that γ attenuation by georad barriers is more significantly affected by barrier thickness than by barrier density. A 33% increase in thickness from 15 to 20 cm produces a 50% reduction in emitted γ intensity, while a 33% increase in density from 1.5 to 2.0 g∕ cm3 produces a 19% reduction for a barrier comprising 45% sand, 25% clay, and 30% water (by weight). This model can be used to optimize barrier material mix composition, density, and thickness to increase γ attenuation in emergency response at existing radiologically contaminated sites and during response scenarios.
Mechanical property and residual stress development during cure of a graphite/BMI composite

Residual stresses in composites are developed during processing due to chemical shrinkage of the resin and the thermal mismatch between the constituent materials. How these residual stresses develop during cure is not fully understood. Furthermore, to model their development during cure the effect of cure on composite mechanical properties must be understood. This study addresses such concerns. Warpage of [04/904];T cross-ply specimens was measured to monitor residual stress build-up. Fiber-dominated properties were found to increase moderately with cure extent. Matrix-dominated properties increased significantly and were highly dependent on degree of cure. The curvature development was found to be elastic and could be predicted by laminated plate theory while neglecting chemical shrinkage. Thermal strains were found to remain essentially constant with cure time.
Description of Adult Rolling Movements and Hypothesis of Developmental Sequences

Physical therapists frequently evaluate and teach patients to roll from a supine to a prone position. The purposes of this study were 1) to describe the rolling movements of adults and 2) to determine whether the movement patterns used to roll might represent different developmental steps within three body regions. Thirty-six healthy adult subjects were videotaped during 10 trials of rolling from a supine to a prone position. Written descriptions of each subject's movements were reduced to general categorical descriptions of movement patterns for three body regions (upper extremities, lower extremities, and head and trunk). Stage theory criteria were used in an attempt to order the movement patterns into developmental sequences. The most common combination of movement patterns was used to describe adults' rolling action. Although stage theory criteria were not met, developmental sequences of movement patterns were proposed for the three body regions. Subjects were quite variable in their rolling movements. The most common form of rolling occurred in less than 12% of the subjects' trials. The descriptions of adults' rolling action gathered in this study provide physical therapists with a variety of movement patterns for teaching patients to roll.
Problems of Translating Heterologous Genes in Expression Systems: The Role of tRNA

tRNA can have large effects on the expression and overexpression of heterologous genes in microbial expression systems through reduced translation and errors in amino acid sequences of protein products. Examples are given of large effects on gene expression related to tRNA content and to tRNA base modifications, both of which differ in heterologous expression systems compared to the cells from which the genes originally came. tRNA should be of greater concern in the expression of heterologous genes.
RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SPINNABILITY OF SINGLE-CELL PROTEIN/ADDITIVE MIXTURES

The rheological properties of single-cell protein (SCP) extracted from Torula dried yeast, under a wide range of shear, and the potential for forming a continuous and uniform filament were studied. Additions of various reagents to the extracted SCP were made to investigate their effects on flow behavior and spinnability. A cone-and-plate viscometer was applied to obtain rheological measurements. At higher shear rates, a capillary rheometer was used and the spinnability of these SCP/additive mixtures was observed simultaneously. Among the alkali-modified samples, pH 9 dope containing 20% SCP showed best spinnability with a moderately high apparent viscosity. When the reagents which induce intermolecular linkage were incorporated, the apparent viscosity of the alkali SCP dope changed and also the spinnability. Formaldehyde appeared to affect the dope's behavior most drastically. The formalde-hyde/SCP dope formed a gel-like structure at ambient temperature and rendered the highest apparent viscosity, but was poor in filament forming capability. With the addition of carboxymethyl cellulose or carrageenan, spinnability improved accompanied with a slight increase in the apparent viscosity of the SCP dope.
Cardiothoracic surgery at a crossroads: The impact of disruptive technologic change

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, cardiothoracic surgery is arguably the most successful of all medical specialties. There are effective treatments including transplantation, for almost all cardiac and thoracic diseases that can be performed with low morbidity and mortality. Cardiothoracic surgeons have mastered technical difficulties through innovation, hard work, planning and skill. Yet in the past decade, the primacy of cardiothoracic surgery has been challenged by new technologies. This paper applies business school theories to examine how cardiothoracic surgeons might best respond to such "disruptive technologies". Otherwise well-managed business and industrial enterprises have had difficulty dealing with disruptive technological change because of well-recognized organizational impediments. Cardiothoracic surgeons must understand the characteristics of disruptive technologies and consider organizational changes that will allow the profession to better adapt to them.
β-Cell Failure in Type 2 Diabetes: A Case of Asking Too Much of Too Few?

The islet in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is characterized by a deficit in β-cells, increased β-cell apoptosis, and extracellular amyloid deposits derived from islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). In the absence of longitudinal studies, it is unknown if the low β-cell mass in T2DM precedes diabetes onset (is a risk factor for diabetes) or develops as a consequence of the disease process. Although insulin resistance is a risk factor for T2DM, most individuals who are insulin resistant do not develop diabetes. By inference, an increased β-cell workload results in T2DM in some but not all individuals. We propose that the extent of the β-cell mass that develops during childhood may underlie subsequent successful or failed adaptation to insulin resistance in later life. We propose that a low innate β-cell mass in the face of subsequent insulin resistance may expose β-cells to a burden of insulin and IAPP biosynthetic demand that exceeds the cellular capacity for protein folding and trafficking. If this threshold is crossed, intracellular toxic IAPP membrane permeant oligomers (cylindrins) may form, compromising β-cell function and inducing β-cell apoptosis.
Process-based cost modeling of photonics manufacture: the cost competitiveness of monolithic integration of a 1550-nm DFB laser and an electroabsorptive modulator on an InP platform

The monolithic integration of components holds promise to increase network functionality and reduce packaging expense. Integration also drives down yield due to manufacturing complexity and the compounding of failures across devices. Consensus is lacking on the economically preferred extent of integration. Previous studies on the cost feasibility of integration have used high-level estimation methods. This study instead focuses on accurate-to-industry detail, basing a process-based cost model of device manufacture on data collected from 20 firms across the optoelectronics supply chain. The model presented allows for the definition of process organization, including testing, as well as processing conditions, operational characteristics, and level of automation at each step. This study focuses on the cost implications of integration of a 1550-nm DFB laser with an electroabsorptive modulator on an InP platform. Results show the monolithically integrated design to be more cost competitive over discrete component options regardless of production scale. Dominant cost drivers are packaging, testing, and assembly. Leveraging the technical detail underlying model projections, component alignment, bonding, and metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) are identified as processes where technical improvements are most critical to lowering costs. Such results should encourage exploration of the cost advantages of further integration and focus cost-driven technology development
Effects of Friction Parameters on Completion Times for Sustained Planar Positioning Tasks with a Haptic Interface

Haptic interface devices and teleoperation masters are multiple degree of freedom devices manipulated by an operator to generate real-time motion commands to simulated environments or robot manipulators. In this work we examine the relationship between the simulated friction parameters of a particular spatial positioning master device and the completion times of planar positioning tasks by human operators. It is expected that increasing the Coulomb or viscous friction of the device would tend to increase the completion times of less difficult, quicker positioning tasks and decrease completion times for more difficult fine positioning tasks requiring higher precision from the operator. A common haptic interface device was used to perform continuous sequences of planar positioning tasks. Each trial required 10-12 minutes to complete and consisted of 15 positioning sequences which varied in the size of the target regions and the magnitude and type of simulated friction in the device. With a sample size of 10 test subjects, small effects were generally observed as expected, with the exception of the first 3 to 4 sequences of the trials which are concluded to be an adaptation or learning period for the users during each trial
Ancillary Service Market design and implementation in North America: From theory to practice

This paper discusses the design and implementation of ancillary service markets (ASM) in North America. In a deregulated environment, ancillary service markets are the essential components of modern wholesale electricity markets from both economic and system reliability perspectives. A unified framework for competitive electricity market and grid reliability based on the duality theory is discussed. Experiences of applying the theory of optimization to develop practical optimization- based applications for electricity market operation are shared. Specifically, a summary of the ancillary service markets of several US electricity markets including ISO New England, New York ISO, PJM and Midwest ISO is provided.
Phylogeography and the conservation of coral reef fishes

Here we present a review of how the study of the geographic distribution of genetic lineages (phylogeography) has helped identify management units, evolutionary significant units, cryptic species, and areas of endemism, and how this information can help efforts to achieve effective conservation of coral reefs. These studies have confirmed the major biogeographic barriers that were originally identified by tropical species distributions. Ancient separations, identified primarily with mtDNA sequence comparisons, became apparent between populations on each side of the barriers. The general lack of correlation between pelagic larval duration and genetic connectivity across barriers indicates that life history and ecology can be as influential as oceanography and geography in shaping evolutionary partitions within ocean basins. Hence, conservation strategies require a recognition of ecological hotspots, those areas where habitat heterogeneity promotes speciation, in addition to more traditional approaches based on biogeography. Finally, the emerging field of genomics will add a new dimension to phylogeography, allowing the study of genes that are pertinent to recent and ongoing differentiation, and ultimately providing higher resolution to detect evolutionary significant units that have diverged in an ecological time scale.
Measuring the cataractous lens

Purpose To evaluate the lens thickness, anterior cortex space, nucleus thickness, and posterior cortex space in cataractous eyes and compare them with those in eyes of younger patients with clear lenses. Setting Private practice, Lynwood, California, USA. Design Retrospective observational study. Methods The study evaluated a group of cataractous eyes and compared them with a group of eyes of younger patients with clear lenses. All measurements were performed with a biometer (Lenstar LS 900). Results The cataractous group (200 eyes) had a greater mean lens thickness (4.65 mm ± 0.41 [SD]) than the control group (80 eyes) (4.09 ± 0.33 mm). The mean measured values for the cataractous groups and control groups were 0.84 ± 0.21 mm and 0.35 ± 0.11 mm for anterior cortex space, 3.31 ± 0.25 mm and 3.27 ± 0.27 mm for mean nucleus thickness, and 0.51 ± 0.16 mm and 0.48 ± 0.13 mm for mean posterior cortex space, respectively. Anterior cortex space, nucleus thickness, and posterior cortex space correlated positively with lens thickness ( r = 0.69, r = 0.69, and r = 0.59, respectively). Lens thickness, anterior cortex space, nucleus thickness, and posterior cortex space showed a weak inverse correlation with axial length ( r = 0.06, r = 0.08, r = 0.10, and r = 0.10, respectively) and an inverse correlation with anterior chamber depth ( r = 0.57, r = 0.43, r = 0.42, and r = 0.22, respectively). Lens thickness showed a positive correlation with age ( r = 0.28), as did the anterior cortex space ( r = 0.32) and posterior cortex space ( r = 0.26), but nucleus thickness did not show a positive correlation ( r = 0.02). Conclusion Lens thickness increased with age and with cataract formation and was mostly attributable to an increase in the anterior cortex space. Financial Disclosure Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Interferon induction of gene transcription analyzed by in vivo footprinting.

Abstract The promoters of two interferon-induced genes (the ISG54 and guanylate-binding protein [GBP] genes) have been analyzed in whole cells and in isolated nuclei by using a new genomic sequencing technique. The ISG54 gene contains an interferon-simulating response element (ISRE), earlier shown to be necessary and sufficient for alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) induction, that appeared complexed with proteins in both transcribing and nontranscribing cells. However, the extent of protection and hypersensitivity to DNase I or dimethyl sulfate within the ISRE region was changed upon transcriptional induction, suggesting the binding of different factors in different transcriptional states. In addition to the ISRE, the GBP gene needs a newly recognized DNA element, called the GAS, that partly overlaps the ISRE for full induction by either IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma. This GAS element was transiently protected against DNase I in the nuclei of interferon-treated cells but was not protected at later times when transcription reached maximal levels. Thus, the GAS-binding activity may be necessary only transiently for the initial assembly of a transcription initiation complex on the GBP promoter. Dimethyl sulfate methylation of genomic DNA performed on intact cells showed a characteristic sensitivity over the GAS that correlated with transcription levels and that persisted longer than did DNase I protection over the GAS. These results demonstrate the involvement of the GAS in IFN-alpha and -gamma induction of GBP and suggest the presence of an altered DNA conformation or a small protein in the major groove of the GAS associated with ongoing GBP transcription.
Virtual crossings and a filtration of the triply graded link homology of a link diagram

A filtration of Soergel bimodules by virtual crossing bimodules extends to Rouquier’s complexes associated with braid words. We show that these complexes are invariant up to filtered homotopy with respect to the second Reidemeister move, and the filtration of the triply graded link diagram homology, constructed by Khovanov through the application of the Hochschild homology, is invariant under Markov moves. We also prove that the homotopy equivalence of the complexes of braid words related by the third Reidemeister move violates filtration by at most two units.
Fractal morphology of black carbon aerosol enhances absorption in the thermal infrared wavelengths.

In this Letter, we numerically calculate the mass absorption cross sections (MACs) of black carbon fractal aggregates in the thermal infrared solar spectrum. Compared to equivalent-size spheres, the MAC values of aggregates show a percent enhancement of ≈150 and 400 at small and large length scales, respectively. The absorption properties of aggregates with size parameters >1 surprisingly continued to remain in the Rayleigh optics regime. We explain this phenomenon using the Maxwell–Garnett effective medium theory and the concept of phase shift parameter.
Construction of Latency-Bounded Clock Trees

Clock trees must be constructed to function even under the influence of on-chip variations (OCV). Bounding the latency of a clock tree, i.e., the maximum delay from the tree root to any sequential element, is important because the latency correlates with the maximum magnitude of the skews caused by OCV. In this paper, a latency constraint graph (LCG) that captures the latencies of a set of subtrees and the skew constraints between the subtrees is introduced. The minimum latency of a clock tree that can be constructed from the corresponding subtrees is equal to the (negative of the) length of a shortest path in the LCG, which can be computed in $O(VE)$. Based on the LCG, we propose a framework that consists of a latency-aware clock tree synthesis (CTS) phase and a clock tree optimization (CTO) phase to construct latency-bounded clock trees. When applied to a set of synthesized circuits, the framework is capable of constructing latency-bounded clock trees that have higher yield compared to clock trees constructed in previous studies.
Vagal Body Tumors

Glomic tissue was described in the cervical vagus by Aschoff and Goodhart (1909) and in relation to the ganglion nodosum of the vagus nerve in man by White (1935), with Stout reporting a pigmented malignant paraganglionic tumor of that structure in the same year. No further mention was made of this entity until 1950, when Lattes re-presented Stout’s original case and 2 additional cases of paraganglioma of the nodose ganglion. In this publication he stressed their nonchromaffin nature and tendency to multicentric origin as evidence of a system of nonchromaffin paraganglia or chemoreceptor organs of the head and neck. Subsequently, numerous reports appeared in the world literature of paraganglionic tumors of the cervical vagus nerve. Birrell (1953) proposed the term vagal body tumor, which gained wide acceptance. Other designations that appeared in the literature include: glomus intravagale tumor (Westbury, 1967); tumor of the paraganglion juxtavagale (Stewart et al., 1956); nonchromaffin paraganglioma of the vagus (King, 1955; Harrison et al., 1957); chemodectoma of the glomus intravagale (Perez et al., 1960; Doctor et al., 1965); glomus tumor of the vagal body (Papacharalampous, 1959); paraganglioma of the vagus nerve (Maguda and McCaughan, 1962); tumor of the ganglion nodosum of the vagus nerve (Linn and Proctor, 1956); chemodectoma of the vagus nerve (Kircher, 1967); chemodectoma of the vagal body (Keener, 1959); and vagal nodose body chemodectoma (Ebaugh and Holt, 1967).
Identifying Different Causes of Hyponatremia With Fractional Excretion of Uric Acid

Abstract Background There is controversy over the prevalence of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) and cerebral or renal salt wasting (RSW), 2 syndromes with identical common clinical and laboratory parameters but different therapies. The traditional approach to the hyponatremic patient relies on volume assessment, but there are limitations to this method. Methods We used an algorithm that relies on fractional excretion of urate (FEurate) to evaluate patients with hyponatremia and present 4 illustrative cases. Results Overall, 2 patients had increased FEurate [normal: 4-11%], as is seen in SIADH and RSW. A diagnosis of SIADH was made in 1 patient by correcting the hyponatremia with 1.5% saline and observing a characteristic normalization of an elevated FEurate that is characteristic of SIADH as compared to FEurate being persistently increased in RSW. A patient with T-cell lymphoma had symmetrical leg edema due to lymphomatous obstruction of the inferior vena cava, postural hypotension, pleural effusion, ascites, decreased cardiac output and urine sodium level of 10 mmol/L. Saline-induced excretion of dilute urines and undetectable plasma antidiuretic hormone were consistent with RSW. Furosemide, given for presumed heart failure, induced a profound diuresis that required large volumes of fluid resuscitation. A normal FEurate identified a reset osmostat in a transplant patient with a slowly developing pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. A volume-depleted hyponatremic patient with Addison׳s disease had a low FEurate of 1.4%. Conclusions These illustrative cases suggest that an approach to hyponatremia using FEurate may be a useful alternative to traditional volume-based approaches.
Parsing to learn fine grained rules

The grain size of rules acquired by explanation-based learning may vary widely depending on the size of the training examples. Such variation can cause redundancy among the learned rules and limit their range of applicability. In this paper, we study this problem in the context of LEAP, the "learning apprentice" component of the VEXED circuit design system. LEAP acquires circuit design rules by analyzing and generalizing design steps performed by the user. We show how to reduce the grain size of rules learned by LEAP by using "synthetic parsing" to extract parts of the manual design step not covered by existing design rules and then using LEAP to generalize the extracted parts. A prototype implementation of this technique yields finer grained rules with more coverage. We examine its effects on some problems associated with the explanation-based learning technique used in LEAP.
Synaptogenesis in the Adult CNS – Neocortical Plasticity

In the last decade, in vivo studies of neuronal morphological dynamics in superficial layers of the cerebral cortex have shown that while adult circuits are predominantly stable, both pre- and postsynaptic terminals in the adult cortex maintain a ‘plastic’ capacity for change on a day-to-day basis. This baseline plasticity can be further enhanced by experiential stimuli. As these studies are extended to more cortical areas and different experimental paradigms, and are analyzed with more attention to cell type and location, the rules governing synaptic structural plasticity in the adult are becoming evident.
The influence of patents on science

This paper is a critique of the current US patent system along general consequentialist lines. I present a pro tanto case against it because of its effects on scientific inquiry. The patent system ...
Imaging exciton–polariton transport in MoSe2 waveguides

Imaging reveals properties of exciton–polaritons in MoSe2 waveguides. The exciton–polariton (EP), a half-light and half-matter quasiparticle, is potentially an important element for future photonic and quantum technologies1,2,3,4. It provides both strong light–matter interactions and long-distance propagation that is necessary for applications associated with energy or information transfer. Recently, strongly coupled cavity EPs at room temperature have been demonstrated in van der Waals (vdW) materials due to their strongly bound excitons5,6,7,8,9. Here, we report a nano-optical imaging study of waveguide EPs in MoSe2, a prototypical vdW semiconductor. The measured propagation length of the EPs is sensitive to the excitation photon energy and reaches over 12 µm. The polariton wavelength can be conveniently altered from 600 nm down to 300 nm by controlling the waveguide thickness. Furthermore, we found an intriguing back-bending polariton dispersion close to the exciton resonance. The observed EPs in vdW semiconductors could be useful in future nanophotonic circuits operating in the near-infrared to visible spectral regions.
Genetic Evaluation for Women at Increased Risk

The US Preventative Services Task Force recommends providers perform a risk assessment in order to identify those patients who have a personal and/or family history of cancer that may be associated with a hereditary cancer predisposition. The collection of an accurate, cancer-focused family history is the foundation of this risk assessment. Professional organizations have created guidelines outlining when patients should be referred to a provider with expertise in hereditary cancer genetics for further risk assessment. Debate exists over which health care providers have this expertise and who should ideally provide these services, but most agree that patients and providers are best served when providers collaborate with one another as part of multidisciplinary teams with open communication. The cancer genetic counseling process has been described as a multistep communication process that includes intake, risk assessment, pretest counseling and informed consent, and result disclosure and interpretation. Though the focus of this volume is the management of individuals with BRCA mutations, any current discussion of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer would not be complete without mention of other rare high-penetrance and moderate-penetrance genes that are now included in many routine clinical genetic testing options for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Thus, the available data about these genes will also be summarized.
Topological Evidence of Previously Overlooked Ni+1-H···Ni H-Bonds and Their Contribution to Protein Structure and Stability.

Hydrogen-bonds (H-bonds) between backbone N–H donors and CO acceptors are central to our understanding of protein structure and stability. However, while interactions between backbone N atoms and the N–H of the following residue are also common, they have been ignored as potential H-bonds due to their bent geometry and the assumption that the amide N is a poor H-bond acceptor. Recently, we reported indirect experimental evidence that these interactions constitute functional H-bonds. We now report a combined atoms in molecules and noncovalent interaction theoretical analysis of electron density that unambiguously supports the characterization of these interactions as H-bonds. The calculations further suggest that the Ni+1–H···Ni H-bonds are largely electrostatic in nature and, importantly, that they make a significant contribution to stability. Thus, given their apparently frequent occurrence, Ni+1–H···Ni H-bonds likely make critical, but previously unrecognized, contributions to protein structure and func...
Order Statistics from Independent Exponential Random Variables and the Sum of the Top Order Statistics

Let X (1)<...<X (n) be the order statistics from n independent nonidentically distributed exponential random variables. We investigate the dependence structure of these order statistics, and provide a distributional identity that facilitates their simulation and the study of their moment properties. Next, we consider the partial sum T i=∑ j=i+1 n X (j), 0≥i≥n−1. We obtain an explicit expression for the cdf of T i , exploiting the memoryless property of the exponential distribution. We do this for the identically distributed case as well, and compare the properties of T i under the two settings.
Behavioral Effects of Instruction to Learn: COMMENTS ON PROFESSOR POSTMAN'S PAPER

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the behavioral effects of instruction to learn. The basic problem in the analysis of incidental learning is provided by the nature of the differences in things people do under instructions to learn compared with no instructions to learn when exposed to the same materials. The representational responses are either overt or implicit; if they are implicit they are unarticulated phonemic equivalences of some potentially overt response. The review presented by Professor Postman makes almost no mention of any possible direct effects of motivation in the differences between the conditions of incidental and intentional learning. Professor Postman's conclusion leads to the implication, supported by the analysis of many problems in human learning, including both incidental learning and short-term memory, that variables are effective in controlling the amount and rate of learning to the extent that they control the distribution and frequency of appropriate responses to the stimulus material. The sensory storage system provides opportunity to hold perceived events until processed, but these traces are not wiped out by the events in processing.
A Parametric Optimization of a Single Stage Regenerator Using REGEN 3.2

Regenerative heat exchangers define the crucial design component for high frequency cryocoolers such as Stirling and Pulse Tube refrigerators. To aid in their design, a parametric investigation has been carried out using the NIST code REGEN3.2 to optimize a single-stage regenerator operating with a warm end temperature of 300 K and a cold end temperature that varies between 60 and 80 K. The matrix choice in all the calculations is 400-mesh stainless steel. The optimization has been defined by maximizing the COP as a function of geometry, mass flow, and the phase between the cold-end mass flow and pressure. We have conducted the optimization investigation over a frequency range of 30 — 60 Hz using a constant average pressure of 20 bar and a pressure ratio of 1.2. Regenerator performance—defined by net cooling power, COP and losses—is presented along with the optimized parameters of geometry, mass flux, and phase angle as a function of cold end temperature and frequency in order to provide convenient design charts for single-stage regenerators.
A New Method for Dynamic Fracture Toughness Determination Using Torsion Hopkinson Pressure Bar

A new approach is proposed to determine the dynamic fracture toughness of engineering materials. Although there are well established standard techniques to determine the quasi-static fracture toughness of engineering material, there is still a need for developing experimental techniques to determine the dynamic fracture toughness of materials. Usually an extended quasi-static method is used to determine the dynamic fracture of materials. In most cases, a three point bend specimen is tested using a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus and a quasi-static relation is used to extract the dynamic fracture parameters by assuming the inertia effect is small and negligible. The technique can only works up to a certain low loading rate where the inertia effect is small and negligible, however it fail to satisfy the main assumption at higher strain rate, where the inertia effect is large. In this paper we propose a new methodology which combines an experimental study, where a spiral notch sample loaded under pure torsion, and numerical simulation of the sample. A torsional Hopkinson pressure bar is used to generate the pure torsion load on the spiral specimen. This method exceptionally avoids the inertia effects, which is a major problem in the conventional dynamic three-point bending experiment.
Gynecologic Oncologists' Perceptions of Palliative Care and Associated Barriers: A Survey of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology.

Objectives Gynecologic oncologists frequently care for patients at the end of life with the aid of palliative care (PC) specialists. Our primary objectives were to identify perceived barriers to integrating specialty PC into gynecologic cancer care. Materials and methods Members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. A Likert scale captured perceptions regarding primary and specialty PC, frequent barriers to use of PC, and potential interventions. Results A total of 174 (16%) gynecologic oncologists completed the survey. The majority (75%) agreed or strongly agreed that PC should be integrated into cancer care at diagnosis of advanced or metastatic cancer. The most frequently perceived PC barriers included patients' unrealistic expectations (54%), limited access to specialty PC (25%), poor reimbursement (25%), time constraints (22%), and concern of reducing hope or trust (21%). The most agreed upon potential intervention was increased access to outpatient PC (80%). Conclusions According to this cohort of SGO members, families' or patients' unrealistic expectations are the most frequent barriers to specialty PC. Understanding this communication breakdown is critically important.
Let’s Get Off Our Cell Phones and Hear a Sikh Maxim from Pope Francis

Our obsession to connect virtually with millions has left us terribly impoverished at the personal level. We need to put our cell phones away and engage directly with one another across religions and cultures. With this in mind, Singh proposes an interfaith exercise: bring the first Sikh guru (Nanak 1469–1539) and Pope Francis in conversation with each other. Indeed, the two figures are centuries apart; they come from two totally different parts of the world and belong to two different religious and cultural traditions. And yet, each illuminates the other. Interestingly, Guru Nanak’s poetic verses I grew up on acquire enormous immediacy, meaning, and relevancy through the voice of Pope Francis’s addresses to audiences across the globe. Together, the Sikh guru and the Catholic pontiff open up for us significant new ways of recognizing the past and of being in the present; in the scholarly parlance of comparative religionists, they provide us a rich “reciprocal illumination.”
Atherothrombosis and the NLRP3 inflammasome – endogenous mechanisms of inhibition

Recently, the CANTOS (Canakinumab Anti-Inflammatory Thrombosis Outcomes Study) showed the successful anti-inflammatory benefit of canakinumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1s (IL-1s) toward major cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with a previous myocardial infarction (MI). The magnitude of reduction in MACE was directly attributed to a reduction witnessed in IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) and highlighted the therapeutic potential of selectively targeting IL-1s for atherosclerotic disease, a notion previously introduced in animal models. IL-1s is involved in the downstream activation of the IL-6 receptor, which itself has been previously implicated as a target for atherothrombosis from Mendelian randomization studies. Further support has been garnered with the results of CIRT (Cardiovascular Inflammation Reduction Trial), which showed the inability of low-dose methotrexate to reduce IL-1s, IL-6, or high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) in addition to MACE among patients with prior MI or multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) but with normal hsCRP levels. Therefore, elucidation of therapeutic targets against the IL-1s pathway is of immense interest currently in treating atherothrombosis. Upstream and serving as an activator of IL-1s lies the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome that has been well described in animal models to be activated by cholesterol crystals or hypoxia to promote cleavage and secretion of IL-1s and IL-18 that lead to atherosclerotic deposition in arteries. Given the direct implication of an atherogenic role to the NLRP3 inflammasome in generating these cytokines, NLRP3 inhibitors are of interest with the consideration to move upstream from the initial success of anti-IL-1s therapy. With further discussion of the existing knowledge on the proinflammatory relationship of the NLRP3 inflammasome with atherosclerosis, this review summarizes and critically evaluates the preclinical and interventional findings of endogenous NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition in attempts to elucidate anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and therapeutic targets against atherothrombosis. Further investigation focusing on the endogenous mechanisms of inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome would uncover diagnostic routes from defective means in inflammatory resolution. Specifically, pro-resolving lipid mediators, autophagy, and phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanisms are 3 points of worthy investigation from existing evidence.
Ferromagnetism in chemically synthesized Ce O 2 nanoparticles by Ni doping

This work reports the discovery of room-temperature ferromagnetism in $5\char21{}9\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ sized ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{x}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ nanoparticles $(0.01\ensuremath{\leqslant}x\ensuremath{\leqslant}0.20)$ prepared using a sol-gel based chemical method at room temperature and under ambient conditions. Particle induced x-ray emission studies were used to determine the dopant concentrations. Magnetic measurements of the chemically synthesized ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{x}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ samples at room temperature showed coercivity in the $40\char21{}120\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Oe}$ range, and the saturation magnetization showed a maximum of $1.21\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{memu}∕\mathrm{g}$ ($8.59\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}∕\mathrm{Ni}$ ion) for $x=0.04$. Average crystallite sizes and lattice parameters estimated from x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies showed a gradual decrease with $x$ in the entire doping range, while the lattice strain showed a minimum for $x=0.04$. Optical studies revealed direct band gap energies ranging from $3.23\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}3.99\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ with a minimum for $x=0.04$. A high Curie temperature of ${T}_{C}=665\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ was obtained for $x=0.03$.
PRINT: Prostate cancer intensive, non-cross reactive therapy for CRPC—Early observations of efficacy.

89Background: Optimal sequencing of therapeutic agents in mCRPC remains debated, but the standard approach is to treat with one agent until resistance is met before switching. PRINT explores the ef...