cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accelerated Gibbs Sampling for Infinite Sparse Factor Analysis

The Indian Buffet Process (IBP) gives a probabilistic model of sparse binary matrices with an unbounded number of columns. This construct can be used, for example, to model a fixed numer of observed data points (rows) associated with an unknown number of latent features (columns). Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods are often used for IBP inference, and in this technical note, we provide a detailed review of the derivations of collapsed and accelerated Gibbs samplers for the linear-Gaussian infinite latent feature model. We also discuss and explain update equations for hyperparameter resampling in a 'full Bayesian' treatment and present a novel slice sampler capable of extending the accelerated Gibbs sampler to the case of infinite sparse factor analysis by allowing the use of real-valued latent features.
Coaxial Flow System for Chemical Cytometry

Over the past decade, chemical cytometry performed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) has become increasingly valuable as a bioanalytical tool to quantify analytes from single cells. However, extensive use of CE-based chemical cytometry has been hindered by the relatively low throughput for the analysis of single adherent cells. In order to overcome the low throughput of CE-based analysis of adherent cells and increase its utility in evaluating cellular attributes, new higher throughput methods are needed. Integration of a coaxial buffer exchange system with CE-based chemical cytometry increased the rate of serial analyses of cells. In the designed system, fluid flow through a tube coaxial to the separation capillary was used to supply electrophoretic buffer to the capillary. This sheath or coaxial fluid was turned off between analysis of cells and on during cell sampling and electrophoresis. Thus, living cells were not exposed to the nonphysiologic electrophoretic buffer prior to lysis. Key parameters of the system such as the relative capillary-sheath positions, buffer flow velocities, and the cell chamber design were optimized. To demonstrate the utility of the system, rat basophilic leukemic cells loaded with Oregon green and fluorescein were serially lysed and loaded into a capillary. Separation of the contents of 20 cells at a rate of 0.5 cells/min was demonstrated.
Congenital hydronephrosis: Correlation of fetal ultrasonographic findings with infant outcome

Although congenital hydronephrosis is a common fetal disorder, ultrasonographic criteria for prenatal diagnosis remain poorly defined. In this study prenatal ultrasonographic findings were correlated with postnatal outcome in 63 fetuses with suspected hydronephrosis. Prenatal ultrasonographic measurements included length, anteroposterior diameter, and transverse diameter of the kidney and renal pelvis, as well as dorsal renal parenchymal thickness. In 45 of the 63 fetuses, hydronephrosis was confirmed postnatally. These infants were divided into two groups on the basis of renal status: (1) abnormal renal function and/or surgery required ( n = 31) and (2) normal renal function with no surgery required ( n = 14). The anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis was the simplest and most sensitive technique for prenatal diagnosis of congenital hydronephrosis, allowing identification of 100% of cases. Postnatal follow-up studies are warranted if an anteroposterior pelvic diameter is ≥4 mm before 33 weeks or ≥7 mm after 33 weeks.
In Search of Architectural Patterns for Software Security

Software architects design by combining and tailoring styles, patterns, and tactics with known properties. A security-relevant research agenda will give architects a principled body of knowledge from which to reason.
The cholinergic nature of the cercal nerve-giant fiber synapse in the sixth abdominal ganglion of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.)

The effects of cholinergic drugs on transmission at the cercal nervegiant fiber synapse in the desheathed sixth abdominal ganglion of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.) were evaluated. When due consideration was given to slow diffusion rates of drugs into the ganglion, and to the enzymic hydrolysis of exogenously applied choline esters by endogenous cholinesterase, the synapse was found to respond in ways consistent with cholinergic transmission. Botulinus toxin, magnesium, and hemicholinium-3, all working presynaptically blocked transmission. Atropine, D-tubocurarine, and hexamethonium produced non-depolarizing blockade at concentrations of 10−7M or 10−6M. Atropine and d-tubocurarine also blocked the action of exogenously applied acetylcholine. Postsynaptic responses were obtained from acetylcholine (10−7M), acetyl s-methyl choline (10−8M), and nicotine (10−8M). The results were discussed with respect to criteria which have been proposed for the indentification of transmitters. It was concluded that considering all of the information available on the cercal nerve-giant fiber synapse, the transmitter is almost certainly Ach.
Marketing of foods of minimal nutritional value to children in schools.

Despite calls for children to lower their consumption of food high in fat and sugar (FHFS) and food of minimal nutritional value (FMNV), such foods are heavily marketed to and consumed by children. A stratified random sample of 313 U.S. primary school officials reported their schools' participation in marketing activities with corporations that sell FHFS and FMNV for the academic year 2003-2004. They also reported whether their schools would be forced to reduce programs if marketing was prohibited and their attitude toward increased regulation of marketing for FHFS and FMNV. According to school officials, 37.7% of primary schools nationwide participated in fundraising, 31.6% participated in incentive programs, and 16.3% participated in exclusive agreements with a corporation that sells FHFS or FMNV. In addition, 87.5% of school officials reported that their schools would not be forced to reduce programs if marketing was prohibited, and 53.7% supported the increased regulation of FHFS and FMNV marketing. These results show that American primary schools participate extensively in corporate-sponsored marketing for foods whose high consumption may lead to obesity and its attendant health risks.
Spectral imaging and passive sampling to investigate particle sources in urban desert regions

Two types of electron microscopy analyses were employed along with geographic information system (GIS) mapping to investigate potential sources of PM2.5 and PM10 (airborne particulate matter smaller than 2.5 and 10 μm, respectively) in two urbanized desert areas known to exhibit PM excursions. Integrated spectral imaging maps were obtained from scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) analyses of 13 filters collected in Imperial Valley, California. Seven were from 24 h PM10 Federal Reference Method (FRM) samplers and six were from PM2.5 FRM samplers. This technique enabled extraction of information from particles collected on complex filter matrices, and indicated that all samples exhibited substantial proportions of crustal particles. Six Imperial PM2.5 and PM10 filters selected from unusually high-PM days exhibited more large particles (2.5–15 and 10–30 μm, respectively) than did filters from low-PM days, and were more consistent with soils analyzed from the region. High winds were present on three of the six high-PM days. One of the high-PM2.5 filters also exhibited substantial fine carbonaceous soot PM, suggesting significant contributions from a combustion source. Computer-controlled SEM/EDS (CCSEM/EDS) was conducted on PM collected with UNC Passive samplers from Phoenix, Arizona. The passive samplers showed good agreement with co-located FRM PM10 and PM2.5 measurements (μg m−3), and also enabled detailed individual particle analysis. The CCSEM/EDS data revealed mostly crustal particles in both the Phoenix fine and coarse PM10 fractions. GIS maps of multiple dust-related parameters confirm that both Imperial Valley and Phoenix possess favorable conditions for airborne crustal PM from natural and anthropogenic sources.
Lamotrigine Protects Hippocampal CA1 Neurons From Ischemic Damage After Cardiac Arrest

Background and Purpose Lamotrigine (LTG) is an anticonvulsant drug whose mechanism of action may involve the inhibition of glutamate release by blocking voltage-dependent sodium channels. Glutamate neurotoxicity may contribute to cerebral ischemic damage after recovery from cardiac arrest. Thus, LTG may prevent the brain damage associated with global cerebral ischemia by reducing the release of glutamate from presynaptic vesicles during the ischemic insult or the early recovery period. Methods LTG was studied in cardiac arrest–induced global cerebral ischemia with reperfusion in rats. In the first set of experiments, LTG (100 mg/kg, PO) was administered before induction of ischemia; and in the second experiment, LTG (10 mg/kg, IV) was given 15 minutes after ischemia and a second dose (10 mg/kg,IV) was given 5 hours later. Results In both experiments LTG reduced the damage to the hippocampal CA1 cell population by greater than 50%. Neuroprotection was not associated with changes in brain temperature or pla...
Ultrasound-Driven Microbubble Oscillation and Translation Within Small Phantom Vessels

Abstract The use of ultrasound radiation force to manipulate microbubbles in blood vessels has attracted recent interest as a method to increase the efficiency of ultrasonic molecular imaging and drug delivery. However, recent studies indicate that microbubble oscillation is diminished within small blood vessels, and therefore we investigate microbubble oscillation and translation within 12 μ m vessels using high-speed photography. With each 0.1- to 1-MPa ultrasound pulse, microbubbles (radius of 1, 1.5 and 2 μ m) within 12 μ m tubes translate 5 to 10 times less than those within 200 μ m tubes. Application of a pulse train with a high pulse repetition frequency displaces bubbles to the wall of 12- and 200- μ m tubes within an interval (∼1 s) that is reasonable for clinical translation. Modeling of coupled oscillation and translation for unconstrained microbubbles, based on a modified Rayleigh-Plesset (RP) and the trajectory equations, is compared with experimental observations and demonstrates agreement for the larger displacements observed within the 200 μ m tubes. This study has implications for contrast-assisted ultrasound applications, aiding the manipulation of targeted microbubbles and for further theoretical understanding of the complex bubble dynamics within constrained vessel. (E-mail: kwferrara@ucdavis.edu )
Continuous improvement in daily work

Summary form only given. The author suggests that one does not have to have an existing problem to improve the quality of something. The technique of continuous improvement in daily work which he discusses can be used to analyze, innovate, and improve administration, service, and manufacturing environments. >
Regulatory elements within the agropine synthase promoter of T-DNA.

DNA sequences involved in the expression of the agropine synthase gene (ags) of T-DNA were identified by analysis of transcriptional activity of promoter mutants in crown gall tumors of sunflower. Precise quantification of activity was achieved using a homologous reference gene as an internal standard. Analysis of 5′-deletion mutants demonstrated the requirement of 314 base pairs of upstream DNA sequences for optimal activity. Five regions involved in transcriptional regulation were identified in the 5′-flanking sequences between positions −74 and −314. Four of these regions make a positive contribution to promoter activity, and the fifth exerts a negative influence. The TATA motif (−26 to −33) and the TATA proximal domain (−74 to −105), which contains two sequences similar to the mammalian CCAAT box, are the major determinants of promoter activity. The two TATA distal domains A and B are separated by a negative element (−166 to −205) which may attenuate promoter strength by distancing the TATA distal domain B (−206 to −314 base pairs) from downstream components of the promoter. The TATA distal domain B contains the a/b repeat first described in the nopaline synthase (nos) promoter and was unable to support transcription in the absence of elements within the TATA proximal domain.
Development of an experimental technique to thermally shock graphites

Abstract A method of producing thermal-shock failures in thin graphite disks has been developed, which permits the ranking of experimental materials on the basis of their resistance to thermal shock. A radio-frequency power source is used to obtain the very large transient thermal gradient for this test. The text apparatus is simple; and results can be obtained quickly with excellent reproducibility. Representative experimental data are presented.
Backward np scattering with a polarized target

The authors have measured the polarization parameter P in neutron-proton elastic scattering near the backward direction, using a polarized proton target. Measurements covered the range of incident neutron moment from 1.0 to 5.5 GeV/c and of four-momentum transfer squared u from -0.005 to -0.5 (GeV/c){sup 2}. Forward going protons were detected by means of a wire-spark-chamber spectrometer. Slow neutrons near 90 deg lab angle were detected in coincidence by means of an array of plastic scintillation counters. P was determined from the change in counting rate I of scattered particles upon reversal of the target polarization P{sub T} according to I = I{sub 0}[l + P(P{sub T} {center_dot} k incident neutron x k final neutron/sin {theta} final neutron)]. They find that P is consistently negative and shows no marked structure as a function of u and of incident momentum. The data roughly follow the simple form P = -0.5 {radical}-u/m{sub p}.
Fixed cell assignment for forward link in broadband wireless networks

This paper proposes a new allocation method, called the fixed cell assignment, which provides wireless Internet access by employing time division multiple access transmission for the forward link in broadband (10 Mbit/s) wireless networks. The system is configured with directional base station antennas and omnidirectional mobile antennas, with each cell divided into six sectors, and sectors numbered in the same order for every cell. Access is controlled based on availability and sector number, and half the sectors in each cell reuse the same spectrum with power control mitigating the effects of co-channel interference. Performance is evaluated using both analytic techniques and computer simulation for the maximum capacity tradeoffs.
Projectivity and duality in a Morita context

The concepts of closed submodule, left and right annihilators are generalised and a necessary and sufficient condition on any Morita context is given so that the duality and projectivity between these sets exist. As a special case, we get Hutchinson's necessary and sufficient condition under a weaker hypothesis on the context
Entrainment of a thalamocortical neuron to periodic sensorimotor signals

In this work we study the dynamics of a 3-dimensional conductance-based model of a single thalamocortical (TC) neuron in response to sensorimotor signals. In particular, we focus on the entrainment of the system to a periodic excitatory signal that alternates between ‘on’ and ‘off’ states lasting for time T1 and T2, respectively. By exploiting invariant sets of the system and their associated invariant fiber bundles that foliate the phase space, we reduce the dynamics to the composition of two 2-dimensional maps, with the two components of one of the maps being simply a uniform shift and a uniform decay. With this reduction in computational complexity, we are able to analyze the model’s response to the excitatory signal while varying T1 and T2 systematically. We find that for fixed T2 but different T1 there exist and in some cases co-exist entrained periodic oscillations with different number of spikes (see Figure ​Figure11 for the case with T2 = 60 milliseconds). For relatively large T2 (above 55 milliseconds) it is also possible that the model responds to the excitatory signal with delayed spikes. Furthermore, we find that the size of the T1 intervals that allow coexistence of different types of entrained oscillations becomes larger as T2 increases. Figure 1 The top panel shows the T1 intervals (with T2 = 60 milliseconds) for the existence of different families of entrained periodic oscillations (green for sub-threshold oscillations, red for 1-spike oscillations, dark blue for 2-spike oscillations, and light ...
Celecoxib analogs that lack COX-2 inhibitory function: preclinical development of novel anticancer drugs.

Celecoxib is an NSAID that was developed as a selective inhibitor of COX-2 and approved by the FDA for the treatment of various forms of arthritis and the management of acute or chronic pain. In addition, it was more recently approved as an oral adjunct to prevent colon cancer development in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and is presently being investigated for its chemotherapeutic potential in the therapy of advanced cancers. However, in laboratory studies it was discovered that celecoxib was able to suppress tumor growth in the absence of any apparent involvement of COX-2, and additional pharmacologic activities associated with this drug were found. Intriguingly, the two pharmacologic effects, inhibition of COX-2 and suppression of tumor growth, were found to reside in different structural aspects of the celecoxib molecule and, therefore, could be separated. This dualism enabled the synthesis of close structural analogs of celecoxib that exhibited increased antitumor potency in the absence...
A method for the determination of dialkyl phosphate residues in urine.

The analysis of urine for dlalkyl phosphate residues provides a measure of mammalian exposure to organophosphate pesticides. A method Is presented for quantitative determination of six alkyl phosphate urinary metabolltes. These metabolltes are as follows: O,O-dimethyl phosphate, O,O-dlethyl phosphate, O,O-dlmethyl phosphorothlonate, O,O-dlmethyl phosphorodlthloate, O,O-dlethyl phosphorthlonate, and O,O-dlethyl phosphorodlthloate. A screening method is also given for a rapid assessment of human exposure. Pentafluorobenzyl bromide Is utilized as the derivatizatlon reagent to form pentafluorobenzyl esters. The reaction products are determined by gas chromatography on routine pesticide columns utilizing the phosphorus specific flame photometric detector. Recoveries of all six dlalkyl phosphates ere greeter than 90% with the minimum level of detection ranging from 0.04 to 0.13 ppm.
Weak unimodality of finite measures, and an application to potential theory of additive Lévy processes

A probability measure μ on R d is called weakly unimodal if there exists a constant κ > 1 such that for all r > 0, (0.1) μ(B(a,r)) ≤ κμ(B(0,r). Here, B(a, r) denotes the l∞-ball centered at a E R d with radius r > 0. In this note, we derive a sufficient condition for weak unimodality of a measure on the Borel subsets of R d . In particular, we use this to prove that every symmetric infinitely divisible distribution is weakly unimodal. This result is then applied to improve some recent results of the authors on capacities and level sets of additive Levy processes.
Computed Tomographic Evaluation of the Cavernous Sinus

In evaluating over 300 patients with sellar and parasellar lesions, the computed tomographic (CT) appearance of the cavernous sinus was studied. Optimal visualization of the cavernous sinus was obtained with continuous contrast enhancement of both axial and coronal tomograms. The coronal projection and reformatted views provided imaging of the cranial nerves within the cavernous sinus. In addition to the physiologic CT appearance of the cavernous sinus, a variety of pathologic conditions are illustrated. CT criteria suggesting an abnormal cavernous sinus are: (1) asymmetry of size; (2) asymmetry of shape, particularly the lateral wall; and (3) focal areas of abnormal density within the sinus.
Physical capital adjustment within Spain : long-run and short-run analysis

This paper considers the adjustment of physical capital within a country in the long run and in the short run. It uses a unique data set on income, labor, human capital, and private and public physical capital in the Spanish regions over the past two decades. In the long run, the movement of physical capital is consistent with its estimated relative rates of return. In the short run, an adverse shock to a region results in a sharp drop in employment and a gradual decline in physical capital; the system returns to its initial capital/labor ratio after four years. The sharp drop in employment is consistent with the view that wages are rigid. The analysis of adjustment in the short run relies on a vector autoregression methodology in which shocks are identified as the interaction between oil prices and the share of manufacturing in a region?s employment.
Views on trying to change the tobacco industry: health justice and marginalisation of tobacco companies

During a film-making project in Malawi in March 2003, I spent the day with a Philip Morris executive visiting tobacco industry-funded social responsibility projects in Malawi.1 Listening to the executive talk to tobacco farmers about the benefits of participation in tree-planting and water-well construction projects showed me the human face of the global tobacco industry. It provided me with an understanding of tobacco companies’ efforts to use sustainable development schemes to keep Malawi economically dependent on tobacco farming, while making it unpopular and difficult for Malawians concerned with health and human rights to oppose an industry that doles out money for development. On the return trip from villages to Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital city, I realised that my encounter with the executive had reinforced my view that tobacco industry activities to promote farmer welfare and sustainable agriculture do have some direct impact on farmers’ livelihoods, such …
Treatment of pityriasis versicolor in the United States

BACKGROUND: Pityriasis versicolor is a common chronic superficial fungal infection of the skin.OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of visits for pityriasis versicolor and to assess how it is currently being treated.METHODS: Data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care survey were used from the years 1990–1999.RESULTS: There were 2.9 million visits per year in which pityriasis (tinea) versicolor was listed as a diagnosis; this corresponds to a visit rate of 110 visits per 100 000 persons per year. Visit rates varied among racial and ethnic groups, with the highest visit rates for black people and American Indians/Eskimos. A total of 76% of the medications listed at visits for pityriasis versicolor are FDA approved for the condition; however, many treatments that were prescribed were not.CONCLUSIONS: Given that as many as one‐quarter of treatments prescribed for this easily treatable condition are inappropriate, continued education of medical practitioners concerning appropr...
Carotid axillary artery bypass: an option following failed open and percutaneous procedures

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting is being employed with increasing frequency for stenosis involving the brachiocephalic circulation. However, the efficacy of these procedures is limited by intimal hyperplasia and subsequent re-stenosis. Long-term results for treating lesions of the subclavian or innominate artery have shown significant re-stenotic rate. Accordingly, carotid-subclavian bypass remains as an important procedure. Alternative methods may still be required, particularly after failure of open re-vascularization and percutaneous techniques. This report describes an underused technique that enables upper extremity revascularization following prior attempts at endovascular and standard open techniques.
Burning monkey-puzzle: native fire ecology and forest management in northern Patagonia

This article outlines the ecological and ethnobotanical characteristics of the monkey-puzzle tree (Araucariaaraucana), a long-lived conifer of great importance to the indigenous population living in and around its range in the southern Andes. The article also considers the pre-Columbian and historical use of indigenous fire technology. Conclusive evidence of indigenous burning is unavailable. However, our knowledge of native fire ecology elsewhere and our understanding of monkey-puzzle's ecological response to fire suggest that indigenous people probably burned in the past to facilitate the growth of monkey-puzzle trees relative to other species. The obstacles to recovering and redeploying a defunct fire-based production strategy include the vulnerable condition of monkey-puzzle stands after decades of intense logging and burning (by non-indigenous settlers), inadequate access to land and resources by the region's indigenous inhabitants, livestock pressure, depletion of game animals that were once hunted with fire, and reluctance by indigenous people to embrace old production strategies that have been supplanted by new ones based on domesticated animals and crop cultivation. Prescribed burns in selected areas offer an effective way to assess the feasibility of indigenous burning as an alternative to more conventional development initiatives.
Microstructure of 2,3 erythro di-isotactic polynorbornene from atomistic simulation

A new RIS model was developed for erythro di-isotactic polynorbornene that included long-range steric interactions that are needed to properly model its conformation. These interactions were included by extracting RIS states from an approximate energy state map for the heptamer of this polymer. The RIS model predicted a novel helix-kink conformation for this polymer in which helices were occasionally disrupted by a backbone kink and a value of approximately 1.9 for the exponent “a” from the Mark‐Houwink‐Sakurada equation at the u condition. These RIS results were consistent with independent single chain Monte Carlo simulations and were also used to generate bulk periodic structures of this polymer. The results of these simulations compare well to both experimental viscometry and wide angle X-ray diffraction results for two polymer samples synthesized using Pd and zirconocene homogeneous polymerization catalysts. These results indicated that the likely stereochemical configuration for polymers produced using these catalysts is the erythro di-isotactic form. They also suggested that polymers of similar structure such as cis poly(t-butyl acetylene) may also adopt this kink-helix conformation. q 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
The value of adult strabismus correction to the patient

Abstract Objectives: To look at the value of adult strabismus correction to the patient, to consider what is known, and to define the challenges and opportunities for helping these patients. Method: The benefits of adult strabismus correction leading to the establishment of binocularity, expansion of visual field, and improved psychosocial health are presented and supported by published studies. Results: Adults with strabismus can benefit from its correction. Conclusion: There is a tremendous need to educate the medical community and the lay public that adults with strabismus can be helped with restoration of their eyes to a position of alignment for normal function. (J AAPOS 2002;6:136-40)
Value associations of emotional faces can modify the anger superiority effect: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence

Although several paradigms have shown that threatening faces are processed preferentially, no study to date has investigated whether this preferential processing can be manipulated by value associations. Using schematic faces, this study was divided into three phases in order to investigate the effects of associating high values with happy faces and low values with angry faces. The baseline phase, in which elicited a shorter RT and a larger N2pc for angry faces than for happy faces, demonstrated that the preferential processing of angry faces could be obtained in the discrimination task. After the training phase, which established associations between different face targets and their respective values, the anger superiority effect remained absent in a subsequent test phase despite the fact that participants clearly understood that no reward (gain) or punishment (loss) would be provided. Our investigation shows that the ‘anger superiority effect’ can be modified by value associations and that the value effect, rather than the impact of endogenous attention, played a more crucial role in manipulating the preferential processing of angry faces.
English Language Proficiency of Immigrants and Refugees in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area

Studies of the determinants of English language ability have generally focused on the largest immigrant groups in the United States. Much less is known about smaller, but significant regional concentrations of immigrants and refugees. This article presents data on four very distinct and understudied groups: Russians, Somalis, Hmong, and Mexicans in the Midwest. We found large differences in English language proficiency across the different national origin groups, even after controlling for background variables. These differences were not attributable to refugee status or to linguistic distance from English. Being Somali, migrating to the United States at a young age and having a college diploma were the best predictors of both spoken and written proficiency. The returns to higher education were particularly noteworthy — respondents with college diplomas were more than 29 times more likely than non-high school graduates to speak English well, and more than 20 times as likely to read well. Women appear to have benefited more than men from completing college in terms of spoken English proficiency since the male-female gap narrows among the highly educated. Length of time in the United States was a good predictor of whether an individual speaks English at home, regardless of age of entry to the country.
Reduction of costs for anemia-management drugs associated with the use of ferric citrate.

BACKGROUND Ferric citrate is a novel phosphate binder which has the potential to reduce usage of erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) and intravenous (IV) iron used for anemia management during hemodialysis (HD) among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Currently, the potential health care cost savings on a national scale due to the use of ferric citrate in ESRD are undetermined. METHODS Per-patient-per-year costs of ESAs (Epogen(®) and Aranesp(®) [Amgen Inc., CA, USA]) and IV iron (Venofer(®) [American Regent, Inc., NY, USA] and Ferrlecit(®) [Sanofi US, Bridgewater, NJ, USA]) were based on RED BOOK™ (Truven Health Analytics New York, NY, USA) costs combined with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) base rate and actual usage in 2011 for the four drugs. The annual number of outpatients undergoing HD in the US was based on frequencies reported by the USRDS (United States Renal Data System). Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis was performed to determine total annual costs and cost reduction based on ferric citrate usage. RESULTS Total annual cost of ESAs and IV iron for anemia management in ESRD determined by Monte Carlo analysis assuming CMS base rate value was 5.127 (3.664-6.260) billion USD. For actual utilization in 2011, total annual cost of ESAs and IV iron was 3.981 (2.780-4.930) billion USD. If ferric citrate usage reduced ESA utilization by 20% and IV iron by 40%, then total cost would be reduced by 21.2% to 4.038 (2.868-4.914) billion USD for the CMS base rate, and by 21.8% to 3.111 (2.148-3.845) billion USD, based on 2011 actual utilization. CONCLUSION It is likely that US health care costs for anemia-management drugs associated with ESRD among HD patients can be reduced by using ferric citrate as a phosphate binder.
Membrane viewpoint on black holes: Properties and evolution of the stretched horizon

This paper derives the ‘‘membrane formalism’’ for black holes. The membrane formalism rewrites the standard mathematical theory of black holes in a language and notation which (we hope) will facilitate research in black-hole astrophysics: The horizon of a black hole is replaced by a surrogate ‘‘stretched horizon,’’ which is viewed as a 2-dimensional membrane that resides in 3-dimensional space and evolves in response to driving forces from the external universe. This membrane, following ideas of Damour and Znajek, is regarded as made from a 2-dimensional viscous fluid that is electrically charged and electrically conducting and has finite entropy and temperature, but cannot conduct heat. The interaction of the stretched horizon with the external universe is described in terms of familiar laws for the horizon’s fluid, e.g., the Navier-Stokes equation, Ohm’s law, a tidal-force equation, and the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Because these laws have familiar forms, they are likely to help astrophysicists understand intuitively and compute quantitatively the behaviors of black holes in complex external environments. Previous papers have developed and elucidated electromagnetic aspects of the membrane formalism for time-independent rotating holes. This paper derives the full formalism for dynamical, evolving holes, with one exception: In its present form the formalism is not equipped to handle horizon caustics, where new generators attach themselves to the horizon.
A model forN classical relativistic particles

A model forN classical relativistic particles with action-at-a-distance interaction is proposed. It is the generalization of previous models for two particles. As in these models the interaction acts instantaneously among the particles in the centre-of-mass frame. There is a universal arbitrary potential, and therefore the system turns out to be only quasi-separable for long-range interactions. However, we find that there is separability for finite-range interactions.
Receptor Modifications in Hedgehog Regulation

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is one of the highly conserved signaling cascades that control cell growth, cell fate, and pattern formation in species ranging from Drosophila to human. Smoothened (Smo), a G-protein-coupled-receptor (GPCR) family protein, serves as a core component to tranduce Hh signal across the cell membrane. Studying how the activity of Smo is regulated is a key to understand how Hh morphegen gradiant differentially induces target gene expression during normal animal development as well as how abnormal Hh signaling activity contributes to various human diseases. In this chapter, we focus on the regulation of Smo by its posttranslational modifications. By reviewing our current knowledge on how Hh ligands dynamically induce phosphorylation and ubiquitination of Smo and how these modifications coordinatedly modulate Smo function and downstream signaling events, we hope to inspire future exploration of comprehensive mechanisms underlying the regulation of Smo.
The mechanical response of the Ni−Ni3Nb eutectic composite: Part I. Monotonic behavior

To understand the mechanical behavior of the Ni−Ni3Nb eutectic composite, it was necessary to determine the operative deformation and fracture mechanisms in the Ni3Nb intermetallic phase. It was found that Ni3Nb deforms primarily by twinning along {112} planes and {011} planes when tension and compression, respectively, are applied parallel to the [100] growth direction. The {112} twins were observed to serve as crack nucleation sites with cracks forming along the twin boundaries. The monotonic response of the Ni−Ni3Nb eutectic composite was investigated with tension and compression tests, metallography, and electron fractography. Room temperature tensile testing of the Ni−Ni3Nb composite revealed this material to be capable of sustaining tensile strains in excess of 11 pct. This large composite ductility was associated with extensive {112} twinning of the Ni3Nb lamellae and subsequent twin boundary cracking. When amassed in sufficient numbers in a given cross-section, these {112} twin boundary fissures initiated composite rupture. The room temperature ultimate tensile and compressive strengths of the alloy were found to be 109 and 235 ksi, respectively.
Model Neural Membrane Droplet Interface Bilayers from Brain Total Lipid Extract for Studying Membrane-Peptide Interactions with Amyloid-β

Droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) are formed using brain total lipid extract (BTLE) to create a synthetic bilayer whose lipid composition mimics that of neural cells. The electrical properties of BTLE DIBs, specifically membrane resistance, capacitance, and rupture potential, are determined and compared to the properties of bilayers formed using DPhPC, the most common lipid within the growing DIB field. There is no significant difference in the resistance or rupture potential of BTLE and DPhPC bilayers, for instance with average nominal resistance over 200 GΩ and rupture potential around 200 mV. In electrical measurements with either DPhPC or BTLE bilayers, applied voltages of up to ±150 mV yield low levels of leakage current. Upon interaction with the pore-forming amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide, both bilayers display sudden significant voltage-dependent increases in conductance with characteristic threshold voltages well below 150 mV. Discrete single-channel type events are observed in the case of Aβ-BTLE whereas disordered fluctuating conductance is observed with Aβ-DPhPC. Circular dichroism is measured for Aβ incubated with BTLE and DPhPC liposomes, as well as pure Aβ, at a range of temperatures over a period of several weeks. Changes in secondary structure of liposome-bound and pure Aβ are significantly affected by both lipid type and temperature. A key finding includes the 100% conversion of Aβ to alpha-helical confirmation within 24 hours when incubated with liposomes (of either type) at physiologically relevant 37°C. The 100% alpha-helical Aβ is maintained for up to 2 weeks at 37°C when incubated with liposomes, although other structures begin to emerge after the 14 day mark. Between 14-31 days after reconstitution, Aβ incubated at 37C with BTLE bilayers displays longer lasting alpha-helical content than DPhPC. At the same temperature, pure Aβ is 100% alpha helical only at the 1 day mark with apparent restructuring from day 2 through day 31. Refrigerated Ab samples do not display 100% alpha-helical structure across the entire 31 day testing period. The differences observed between BTLE and DPhPC in both electrophysiological and spectroscopic experiments may be a result of phase separations or other variations in membrane fluidity that result from the use of a homogeneous total lipid extract. Time and temperature play essential roles in the aggregation and restructuring of potentially toxic Aβ oligomers, and there is motivation for further efforts to elicit the mechanistic differences in interactions of Ab with BTLE compared to DPhPC.
Aphanomycopsis sexualis, a new parasite of midge eggs.

Aphanomycopsis sexualis parasitic in eggs of various midges is illustrated and described. The sporangium of this species consists of a highly branched system of hyphal tubes which fills the egg. Th...
Green Cloverworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Population Dynamics: Pupal Life Table Studies in Iowa Soybeans

Six partial life tables were prepared for pupal green cloverworms (GCW), Plathypena scabra (F.), during 1979 and 1980. Pupal dynamics were characterized by large first-generation densities that declined below detectable levels during generation 2 in 1979, and by small first-generation densities that expanded sevenfold during generation 2 in 1980. The 1979 and 1980 density patterns are characteristic of outbreak and endemic GCW population configurations, respectively. Survivorship during generation 1 was fourfold greater under endemic population levels than under outbreak levels. Pupae were parasitized by 11 primary species. Parasitization represented less than 18% of total 1979 pupal mortality but accounted for 60% of total 1980 mortality. Infections caused by a microsporidian and by the entomogenous fungus Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson accounted for a small portion of total mortality, as did deaths attributed to nonviability. Predation was 2.5 times greater under outbreak levels than under endemic levels during generation 1. A modified key factor analysis indicated that no single mortality component was correlated with changes in total pupal mortality. Regression analyses indicated that Vulgichneumon brevicinctor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) acted in a delayed density dependent manner and that total pupal mortality was density dependent.
Subunit composition of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the central nervous system that contain the NR2D subunit

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is assembled using proteins from two gene families, NR1 and NR2. Although a few studies have examined the composition of NMDA receptors containing NR1, NR2A, and NR2B, the composition of native NMDA receptors that incorporate the NR2D subunit is not known. The goal of the current study was to examine the subunit composition of native NMDA receptors that contain the NR2D subunit in the rat central nervous system by immunoprecipitation of assembled NMDA receptors from rat brain tissues using specific antibodies against NR1, NR2A, NR2B, and NR2D subunits. NMDA receptors were solubilized using either nondenaturing (native) conditions, in which the subunits remain assembled in complexes, or denaturing conditions, in which the NMDA subunits are dissociated from one another. Each of the antibodies selectively and quantitatively immunoprecipitated only the corresponding subunit when the subunits were solubilized using denaturing conditions. In contrast, when NMDA receptors were solubilized under nondenaturing conditions, immunoprecipitation followed by quantitative immunoblot analysis of the resulting pellets show that the majority of the NR2D protein is associated with the NR1 subunit. In addition, the NR2D subunit forms a heteromeric assembly with NR1, as well as with NR2A and/or NR2B subunits, reflecting ternary complex formation. Finally, a binary complex composed of only NR1/NR2D subunits was found in the thalamus but not in the midbrain, where the complexes always contained either NR2A or NR2B, demonstrating that in the central nervous system, different subtypes of NR2D-containing NMDA receptors are present that vary in spatial expression, perhaps indicating distinct physiological and behavioral roles.
Evaluation of the thrombospondin-1 analogue ABT-510 in the APCMin/+ mouse intestinal adenoma model

13545 Background: The extracellular matrix protein Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) affects the angiogenic balance in cancer to suppress tumor growth. Exogenous TSP-1 or the peptide derivative ABT-510 (Abb...
Bootstrapping and Portability in Simulation Design

Despite the existence of a large literature on the use and effectiveness of simulations as part of the active learning pedagogical toolbox, simulations have yet to achieve wide adoption rates among college instructors. One of the principal constraints is time: traditionally, most simulations require extensive time for the faculty to design, prepare, and use in the classroom setting. This article examines two design features of simulations aimed at solving this problem—portability, where simulations are designed as a framework that can be used for different subjects, classes, and disciplines; and bootstrapping, or the tying of the simulation content to commonly known fictional or pop-culture scenarios. Combined, these two features can reduce some of the barriers to simulation use in the classroom. We conclude by illustrating both principles with a sample simulation called “The Trial of Goldilocks.”
Deformation and failure of rock mass around tunnel under high horizon pressure

Under high axial direction horizon pressure,the medium of tunnel model presents multi-layered failure.The fracture shape of enclosing rock mass were studied and the failure of the model medium was proved to be in the patterns of tension and shear.By the hackly rock mass model and the ultimate strain failure criteria,the stress field of the enclosing rock mass was deduced.Contrasted with the test result,the solution was proved to be correct.The analytical result shows that the tension fracture will repeatedly occur under high axial compression stress,causing layered failure,that the geometry of tension fracture goes to roundness gradually,that when a new tension fracture is taking shape,the model is equal to a new tunnel with supporting,and that with the increment of the tunnel radial,the supporting force grows rapidly,which makes the layered failure localized in a certain range.The analytic method can offer valuable reference to protective engineering design in deep.
Hybrid Methods in Experimental Mechanics

Hybrid procedures can be broadly defined as the synthesis of a variety of available methodologies into a composite techinque, which, taken as a whole, is more useful than any of the individal methods. In experimental mechanics, the most common form of hybrid approach is one utilizing both numerical and experimental data to quantify the behavior of a structure. In this paper, the finite element method is combined with laser speckle, holographic interferometry, and photoelasticity and the boundary element method is combined with a new experimental method, digital image correlation, for measuring displacements. These hybrid methods are used to address several problems in mechanics.
PTM Tracker: A system for determining trends of PTM modification sites relative to protein domains

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) increase protein functional diversity by modifying an amino acid at specific locations called modification sites (MSs) in protein. It is believed that domains are being influenced by PTMs at interacting MSs to determine the unique functional changes in protein and, in this scenario, it is likely that the exact position of the MS, relative to the domain, plays a major part in structural changes by PTM influence. In this study, we present a system called “PTM Tracker”, built from two main parts to study the general distances of MS amino acids which are relative to protein functional domains. In the first part, we apply our system to illustrate that unique organisms appear to have distinguishing locations where PTMs may be found in the proteome. These crowded locations of MS sites (called, “neighbourhoods”) are relative to protein domains. We describe how these MS neighbourhoods may be a conserved extension of the already-conserved domain. Since specific protein domain types may be found in diverse proteins, the second part of our system studies MS neighbourhood clusters, relative to user-selected domains. From the study of many different proteins containing the same domain type, we conclude trends to suggest that MS neighbourhoods have specific locations in protein, relative to the domains (where-ever the domain occurs naturally), with which they are likely to interact. We conclude that the study of these distances may help to understand interaction mechanisms and describe types of protein folding requirements.
Kant's Conception of Fine Art

L'A. etudie la conception des beaux-arts chez Kant, tels qu'ils sont definis dans la «Critique de la faculte de juger» a travers les notions de nature, d'art, de beaute libre, de contenu et de forme, et tels qu'ils permettent d'etablir une harmonie entre l'imagination et l'entendement degagee de tout concept et provoquee par la seule perception de l'objet