cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Late progression of renal pathology and cyst enlargement is reduced by rapamycin in a mouse model of nephronophthisis

Because the size of renal cysts in the native kidneys of patients with ADPKD who have been transplanted was found to be reduced when rapamycin was the immunosuppressant, we tested the involvement of the mTOR pathway in cyst enlargement. Here, male pcy mice, with mutation in one of the nephronophthisis genes, were treated with rapamycin at an early (6 to12 weeks of age) or a later (20 to 30 weeks of age) disease stage by means of slow-release pellets containing placebo or rapamycin. Effectiveness of the rapamycin dose and delivery was shown by the inhibition of insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of p70S6K, a marker of mTOR activity, in skeletal muscle. Early treatment did not affect initial cyst development but when started late, there was a significant reduction in the rate of cyst enlargement, kidney fibrosis, and the progressive loss of renal function as measured by blood urea nitrogen. Kidneys of the mice treated through 30 weeks of age tended to be smaller and have less fibrosis compared with those of untreated or placebo-treated pcy/pcy mice at 20 weeks when treatment was initiated. Our study shows that rapamycin can prevent the late- but not the early-stage progression of renal pathology and deterioration of renal functional in this model of nephronophthisis, presumably by inhibiting mTOR activity.
Correlation between perchloric‐acid‐soluble serum proteins, cellular immunity and tumor‐cell burden

Several in vitro-cultured neoplastic cells, particularly human mammary carcinoma and malignant melanoma cells, shed or secrete glycoproteins which are tumorspecific. These compounds contain N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA), and they differ from the bulk of serum proteins and glycoproteins in being soluble in perchloric acid. The present studies examined the relation between perchloric acid soluble serum proteins (PA-proteins), and N-acetylneuraminic acid (PA-NANA) and the number of R3230 AdCa implanted into syngeneic Fischer rats. A graded number of R3230 AdCa cells from a mammary rat adenocarcinoma was implanted into separate groups (20 rats/group) of imbred 12- to 16-week-old female Fischer rats. At 0, 24,48, 72, 196 h, and at 6, 9, 12, 15 and 21 days after tumor cell implantation, blood was examined for protein and NANA levels, and spleen cells for migration inhibition. Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase (VCN)-treated formalinized tumor cells were used as the antigen. Animals which received 100 R3230 AdCa cells/animal showed a progressive increase in PA-proteins and PA-NANA 48 h after implanting the tumor cells. The serum PA-protein and PA-NANA levels were time-dependent and increased with the number of implanted tumor cells. Maximum levels were found in sera from blood drawn 196 h or later from animals which received 1,000 tumor cells/rat or more. At 72 h or more after tumor cell implantation, spleen cells from animals which received 100 or more R3230 AdCa cells per animal were inhibited on contact with VCN-treated formalinized R3230 AdCa cells. The magnitude of inhibition increased with time and with number of implanted tumor cells. A maximum of 85% inhibition was attained with spleens from animals 196 h after implantation of 100 R3230 AdCa cell/animal, or from animals 72 h after implantation of 103 or 104 R3230 AdCa cells/animal.
Cavitating pulmonary infarction in nephrotic syndrome

A 6-year-old boy was admitted with anasarca due to relapse of nephrotic syndrome, non-productive cough, and dyspnea on exertion. On the 8th hospital day he manifested severe right shoulder and chest pain. A nodular opacity in the right lung that transformed into a cavitating lesion was documented by computerized axial tomography. Surgical biopsy of the affected area of the lung documented infarction due to pulmonary embolism. This case highlights the need to consider pulmonary embolism in the evualation of nephrotic children with a cavitating pulmonary lesion.
SIGNALING VIA THE CD2 RECEPTOR ENHANCES HTLV-1 REPLICATION IN T LYMPHOCYTES

Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is considered the etiologic agent of adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma and several chronic progressive immune-mediated diseases. Approximately 1-4% of infected individuals develop disease, generally decades following infection. Increased proviral transcription, mediated by the viral 40-kDa trans-activating protein, Tax, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of HTLV-1-associated diseases. Since the HTLV-1 promoter contains sequences responsive to cyclic AMP and protein kinase C, we hypothesized that lymphocyte activation signals initiated through the TCR/CD3 complex or CD2 receptor promote viral replication in HTLV-1-infected lymphocytes. We demonstrate that mAbs directed against the CD2, but not the CD3 receptor increase viral p24 capsid protein 1.5- to 5.7-fold in CD2/CD3+ HTLV-1-infected cell culture supernatants. Northern blot analysis demonstrated a 2.5- to 4-fold increase in all species of viral mRNA following CD2 cross-linking of OSP2/4 cells, an immortalized HTLV-1 cell line. Consistent with transcriptional regulation, reporter gene activity increased approximately 11-fold in CD2-stimulated Jurkat T cells cotransfected with a Tax-expressing plasmid and a CAT reporter gene construct under control of the HTLV-1 promoter. These data suggest a possible physiologic mechanism, whereby CD2-mediated cell adhesion and lymphocyte activation may promote viral transcription in infected lymphocytes.
An argument for archiving Facebook as a heterogeneous personal store

A decade ago, the locus of activity for our digital belongings---photos, email, videos, documents, and the like---was on our personal computers. Now the situation is different. Not only is personal media born-digital, it may also spend its entire life stored online in social media services and cloud stores, and locally on portable devices. Studies have revealed that most people lack the requisite skills to archive their digital belongings, regardless of where they are stored; furthermore people value the context offered by these large-scale, socially intertwined online stores. So why not archive the contents of a major social media service like Facebook to ensure the permanence of a meaningful portion of peoples' personal digital belongings? Rather than being delighted by this idea, participants in a study of digital ownership have expressed squeamishness about institutional efforts to archive social media: Facebook is not only viewed as private and vulnerable to violations of content ownership, but also as lacking long-term value. However, measures such as data embargoes, aggregation, and permissions mitigate participants' fears and objections to some extent. In this paper, we will use an example of biographical research, coupled with the results of a recent study, to argue that Facebook should be archived by a public institution.
Observation of Magnetic Ordering for Layered (2-D) Potassium Diruthenium Tetracarbonate, K3[RuII/III2(O2CO)4]: A Rare Second Row Transition Metal-based Magnet

The detailed magnetic behavior of K3[Ru2(CO3)4]·xH2O (x = 2) reveals that it has a 2-K magnetization at 5 T of 11 125 emu Oe/mol, a 50-Oe coercive field, and a remnant magnetization of 670 emu Oe/mol. It magnetically orders as a canted ferrimagnet below 4.2 K, and is a rare example of a magnetically ordered material based on a second row transition metal. The magnetic ordering confirms that the S ≠ 0 M(II) site that bridges the layers in previously reported HxK1−xMII−[RuII/III2(CO3)4](H2O)y(MeOH)z (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mg) does not contribute to the magnetic behavior that leads to magnetic ordering.
Stimulated nodulation of soybeans by Rhizobium japonicum mutant (B-14075) that catabolizes the conversion of tryptophan to indol-3yl-acetic acid

Abstract Nodulations of Glycine max L. seedlings by parental Rhizobium japonicum (USDA strain 26) and a tryptophan catabolic mutant (tan 4b, NRRL strain B-14075) were evaluated for effectiveness. Seedlings grown in plastic pouches were compared based on increases in root weight (wt.), nodule volume (vol.) and acetylene-reducing (AR) activity. The tan 4b mutant, which can produce extracellular indol-3yl-acetic (IAA) and indol-3yl-pyruvic (IPA) acids asymbiotically, enhanced nodulation significantly. Nodulation by strain 26 was most effective when a basal nutrient was supplemented with sucrose, CaCO 3 , EDTA, nicotinic acid and glutamate. In contrast, effective nodulation by tan 4b did not require an exogenous glutamate (0.34 mM)-nicotinate (81 μM) combination. Like strain 26 inoculum supplemented with exogenous IAA (0.1 mM), taproot formation associated with unsupplemented tan 4b was inhibited by exposure to direct light.
Puzzle Imaging: Using Large-Scale Dimensionality Reduction Algorithms for Localization

Current high-resolution imaging techniques require an intact sample that preserves spatial relationships. We here present a novel approach, “puzzle imaging,” that allows imaging a spatially scrambled sample. This technique takes many spatially disordered samples, and then pieces them back together using local properties embedded within the sample. We show that puzzle imaging can efficiently produce high-resolution images using dimensionality reduction algorithms. We demonstrate the theoretical capabilities of puzzle imaging in three biological scenarios, showing that (1) relatively precise 3-dimensional brain imaging is possible; (2) the physical structure of a neural network can often be recovered based only on the neural connectivity matrix; and (3) a chemical map could be reproduced using bacteria with chemosensitive DNA and conjugative transfer. The ability to reconstruct scrambled images promises to enable imaging based on DNA sequencing of homogenized tissue samples.
A Waveguide to Unenclosed Coplanar Waveguide Transition

A transition from rectangular waveguide to unenclosed coplanar waveguide (CPW) is designed and tested at W -band. Full-wave finite-element analysis is applied to the design and optimization trends are shown for the critical parameters. A stepped-impedance filter suppresses a parasitic mode, which is generated as the circuit emerges from the waveguide block, and a rejection of -20 dB is achieved. A back-to-back structure is used to characterize the performance of the transition and an insertion loss of 1.6 dB from 75 to 100 GHz is measured. Removing line losses, a single transition insertion loss of 0.46 dB is obtained.
Direct feedback of androgens: localized effects of intrapituitary implants of androgens on gonadotrophic cells and hormone stores.

In orchidectomized rats, unilateral intrapituitary implants of micropellets containing 85% testosterone propionate (TP), 85% dihydrotestosterone benzoate (DHTB), or 2½( or 5% 7α-methyl-19-nortestosterone acetate (7αMe) acted to; 1) reverse castration cell development and 2) increase intrapituitary FSH/LH ratios (either by lowering LH or by increasing pituitary FSH concentration, or both). The effects were localized: histological changes were restricted to regions contiguous to the implants, changes in LH and FSH were more pronounced ipsilaterally than contralaterally, and accessory sex organs (seminal vesicles and ventral prostate glands) remained completely or virtually unstimulated. Similarly placed micropellets containing cholesterol or progesterone had no significant effect. Subcutaneous implantation of 3, 6, or 9 androgenic pellets failed to produce intrapituitary changes, even if enough androgen was released to stimulate the sex accessories. Subcutaneous injection of larger amounts of these androgen...
Recognition confidence scoring and its use in speech understanding systems

In this paper we present an approach to recognition confidence scoring and a set of techniques for integrating confidence scores into the understanding and dialogue components of a speech understanding system. The recognition component uses a multi-tiered approach where confidence scores are computed at the phonetic, word, and utterance levels. The scores are produced by extracting confidence features from the computation of the recognition hypotheses and processing these features using an accept/reject classifier for word and utterance hypotheses. The scores generated by the confidence classifier can then be passed on to the language understanding and dialogue modeling components of the system. In these components the confidence scores can be combined with linguistic scores and pragmatic constraints before the system makes a final decision about the appropriate action to be taken. To evaluate the system, experiments were conducted using the jupiter weather information system. An evaluation of the confidence classifier at the word-level shows that the system detects 66% of the recognizer?s errors with a false detection rate on correctly recognized words of only 5%. An evaluation was also performed at the understanding level using key-value pair concept error rate as the evaluation metric. When confidence scores were integrated into the understanding component of the system, a relative reduction of 35% in concept error rate was achieved.
Microscopic colitis is not associated with cholecystectomy or appendectomy.

Background Microscopic colitis is a common cause of chronic watery diarrhea of unknown origin. Some patients develop diarrhea after cholecystectomy, and some patients with microscopic colitis have evidence of bile acid malabsorption. However, the association between cholecystectomy and microscopic colitis has not been studied. A protective effect of appendectomy on the development of ulcerative colitis also has been reported, but its relationship with microscopic colitis has not been studied. The aim of this study was to assess cholecystectomy and appendectomy as potential risk factors for the development of microscopic colitis in a nested case-control study. Materials and methods Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we identified all Olmsted County (Minnesota) residents with an initial diagnosis of microscopic colitis between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 2001. Rates of antecedent cholecystectomy or appendectomy in patients with microscopic colitis were compared with age-, gender-, and calendar year-matched community controls through conditional logistic regression. Results Microscopic colitis was identified in 130 cases. Cholecystectomy preceded the diagnosis of microscopic colitis in 12 cases (9%) compared with 17 (13%) in the control group (odds ratio [OR] 0.7; 95% CI 0.3-1.5). Appendectomy preceded the diagnosis of microscopic colitis in 39 subjects (30%) compared with 28 (22%) in the control group (OR 1.6; 95% CI 0.9-2.7). Similar results were obtained when the analysis was restricted to microscopic colitis subtype (lymphocytic colitis or collagenous colitis). Conclusions In this population-based nested case-control study, no significant association was seen between cholecystectomy or appendectomy and the development of microscopic colitis or its subtypes.
Peddling policy: street vending in historical and contemporary contest

Focuses on street vending in Chicago, in the USA, taking a historical perspective. Shows how it was used to alleviate unemployment in the volatile progressive era but then became mired in complaints about corruption and vice. Uses a case study of an entrepreneurial Mexican family and highlights the wisdom of earlier days by showing how street vending offers a series of choices that are different from the choices made by larger forms only in that they are more accessible to the poor.
The Effects of a Fluency Intervention Program on the Fluency and Comprehension Outcomes of Middle-School Students with Severe Reading Deficits

Despite advances in the science of teaching reading, there still exists a small percentage of students who fail to make the expected progress in reading-related skills, notwithstanding attempts at intervention. Even if these struggling readers learn to decode adequately, fluency remains a problem for many, and little is known about the effectiveness of fluency interventions for older students with severe reading deficits. This study used a randomized experimental design to test the efficacy of a fluency intervention program on the word-identification and reading-comprehension outcomes of 60 middle-school students with severe reading delays. Results showed that students in the experimental group made more progress on standardized tests of reading fluency than students in the control group. No gains were seen in reading comprehension.
Whither the Arctic 2009? Further developments

This note updates the author's paper with the title ‘Whither the Arctic? Conflict or cooperation in the circumpolar north’. published in the last issue of this journal (Young 2009). Particular attention is paid to the policy issues arising from the ongoing and rapid changes unfolding in the Arctic.
Hierarchical coarse-grained stream compilation for software defined radio

Software Defined Radio (SDR) is an emerging embedded domain where the physical layer of wireless protocols is implemented in software rather than the traditional application specific hardware. The operation throughput requirements of current third-generation (3G) wireless protocols are an order of magnitude higher than the capabilities of modern DSP processors. Due to this steep performance requirement, heterogeneous multiprocessor system-on-chip designs have been proposed to support SDR. Given the difficulty in compiling traditional digital signal processors, these new multiprocessor architectures provide even greater challenges for the programmers and compilers. In this paper, we utilize a hierarchical dataflow programming model, referred to as SPIR, that is designed for modeling SDR applications. We then present a coarse-grained data ow compilation strategy that assigns a SDR protocol's DSP kernels onto multiple processors, allocates memory buffers, and determines an execution schedule that meets a prescribed throughput. Unlike traditional approaches, coarse-grained compilation exploits task-level parallelism by scheduling concurrent DSP kernels instead of instructions. Because of the streaming nature of SDR protocols, we adapted an existing instruction-level software pipelining technique, modulo scheduling, for coarse-grained compilation. Our compilation methodology is able to generate parallel code that achieves near linear speedup on a SDR multiprocessor system.
Electrochemical Kinetics and Performance of Layered Composite Cathode Material Li(Li0.2Ni0.2Mn0.6)O2

Lithium-rich, manganese-rich (LMR) layered composite cathode material Li[Li0.2Ni0.2Mn0.6]O2 has been successfully prepared by a co-precipitation method and its structure is confirmed by XRD characterization. The material delivers a high discharge capacity of 281 mAh g-1, when charged and discharged at a low current density of 10 mA g-1. However, significant increase of cell polarization and decrease of discharge capacity are observed at voltages below 3.5 V with increasing current densities. Galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) analysis demonstrates that lithium ion intercalation/de-intercalation reactions in this material are kinetically controlled by Li2MnO3 and its activated MnO2 component. The relationship between the electrochemical kinetics and rate performance as well as cycling stability has been systematically investigated. High discharge capacity of 149 mAh g-1 can be achieved at 10 C charge rate and C/10 discharge rate. The result demonstrates that the Li2MnO3 based material could withstand high charge rate (except initial activation process), which is very promising for practical applications. A lower discharge current density is preferred to overcome the kinetic barrier of lithium ion intercalation into MnO2 component, in order to achieve higher discharge capacity even at high charge rates.
A simulation-IP based tool for patient admission services in a multi-specialty outpatient clinic

In this paper, we develop a framework that integrates a discrete-event simulation model and integer programming (IP) model for patient admission planning and the intermediate term allocation of resource capacities. Two types of patients are considered in this study: new and existing. The simulation model is used to find the best balance between new and existing patients arriving to each appointment time period during the day. New patients require more time to complete their admission processes and for visiting with a doctor. The IP produces an optimal calendar schedule for the doctors, i.e. the best appointment time for each doctor to see new patients. We report on computational results based on a real clinic, historical data, and both patient and management performance measures.
Blinded comparison of preoperative duplex ultrasound scanning and contrast arteriography for planning revascularization at the level of the tibia

Abstract Purpose We examined whether preoperative duplex ultrasound scanning (DU) could replace contrast material–enhanced arteriography (CA) in selecting the recipient artery of tibial or peroneal artery bypass grafts. Methods In patients who underwent tibial or peroneal artery bypass grafting because of critical ischemia, images were obtained of the lower extremity arterial circulation with both DU and CA. Vascular surgeons, blinded to the operation performed, reviewed either DU or CA images for arterial visualization and patency. The tibial or peroneal artery best suited to receive the bypass graft was selected by surgeons using only data from either DU or CA images. This selection was compared with the artery actually used at bypass surgery. Results Preoperative DU and CA data for 40 lower extremities in 38 patients undergoing bypass grafting at the level of the tibia provided 110 arteries: 38 anterior tibial arteries, 32 peroneal arteries, and 40 posterior tibial arteries. Ten arteries (8 peroneal, 2 anterior tibial) were not identified with DU, and 1 artery (anterior tibial) was not identified with CA. DU enabled prediction of the artery actually used in 88% of patients (35 of 40), whereas CA enabled prediction of the artery actually used in 93% of patients (37 of 40; P = .59). Duplicate findings at DU and CA enabled selection of 85% of arteries actually used (95% confidence interval, 71%-93%). Arteries used for bypass grafting had significantly higher peak systolic velocity (35 cm/s vs 25 cm/s; P = .04), higher end-diastolic velocity (15 cm/s vs 9 cm/s; P = .005), and greater diameter (2.4 mm vs 1.7 mm; P = .003) compared with arteries not selected for bypass grafting. Conclusion Findings at DU and CA typically agree when used to select tibial or peroneal arteries for bypass grafting. With DU there is occasional difficulty in identification of the peroneal artery, but selection of the actual artery used is accurate. Peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, and diameter characteristics correlate with arteriographic criteria for tibial bypass target artery selection. If DU enables adequate identification of a target artery for bypass grafting, and especially if the peroneal artery is seen, findings at CA are not likely to alter bypass execution.
Rhabdoid Tumor of the Kidney in The National Wilms' Tumor Study: Age at Diagnosis As a Prognostic Factor

Purpose The objective of this study is to determine prognostic factors in rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (RTK), including both demographic and treatment variables. Patients and Methods A total of 142 patients studied on National Wilms' Tumor Studies 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were analyzed. Patients were enrolled between the years 1969 and 2002. Variables examined included sex, age of diagnosis, tumor stage, presence of CNS lesions, as well as treatment variables, including the use of doxorubicin and/or radiotherapy (RT). Results No survival differences were observed between males and females, between those treated with or without doxorubicin, or with or without RT. Patients with tumors of lower stage had an overall survival rate of 41.8%, whereas, tumors of higher stage were associated with a 15.9% survival (P < .001). A highly significant difference in survival was noted when patients were stratified according to age of diagnosis. Survival at 4 years in infants under 6 months of age at diagnosis was 8.8%, whereas,...
Inhomogeneous distribution of a rigid fibre undergoing rectilinear flow between parallel walls at high Péclet numbers

We use slender-body theory to simulate a rigid fibre within simple shear flow and parabolic flow at zero Reynolds number and high Peclet numbers (weak Brownian motion). Hydrodynamic interactions of bulk fibres with the bounding walls are included using previously developed methods (Harlen, Sundararajakumar & Koch, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 388, 1999, pp. 355–388; Butler & Shaqfeh, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 468, 2002, pp. 205–237). We also extend a previous analytic theory (Park, Bricker & Butler, Phys. Rev. E, vol. 76, 2007, 04081) predicting the centre-of-mass distribution of rigid fibre suspensions undergoing rectilinear flow near a wall to compare the steady and transient distributions. The distributions obtained by the simulation and theory are in good agreement at sufficiently high shear rates, validating approximations made in the theory which predicts a net migration of the rigid fibres away from the walls due to a hydrodynamic lift force. The effect of the inhomogeneous distribution on the effective stress is also investigated.
Lepton-lepton and lepton-jet correlations at the z-resonance. New particle production vs. standard- model processes

We study lepton-lepton and lepton-jet correlations (2-particle inclusive structure functions) as a possibly effective way to test the standard model and to probe new physics. The longitudinal, Wl, and single (double) helicity-flip amplitudes,Wδ(Wδ δ), are very small in the standard model. Nonvanishing of these structure functions signals new physics. The dependence of the correlation functions on the opening angle θ12 of the two detected particles is studied in detail for various scenarios of new particle production. The effective differentiation of new phenomena from standard-model results achievable by the combined use of kinematic and dynamic features of the underlying mechanisms is emphasized.
XML Data Warehousing

Data warehousing is an important application of database technology. Even though XML is ubiquitous and there are many XML databases, there are almost no XML data warehouses today. This thesis overcomes two of the many barriers towards accomplishing this goal—by representing and manipulating efficiently multiple hierarchies within an XML database used as a warehouse. XML format is flexible, and permits the graceful representation of heterogeneous data. However, it is limited in that it assumes there is a single perfect hierarchy in which the data can be organized. When the information to be represented naturally has multiple dimensions, as in data warehouses, fundamental tensions appear in the modeling and schema design. Data represented as deep trees is often un-normalized, leading to update anomalies, while normalized data tends to be shallow, resulting in heavy use of expensive value-based joins. As a solution, we propose an evolutionary and novel extension of the standard one-dimensional XML data model into a multi-dimensional model, called the Multi-Colored Trees (MCT) logical data model. MCT permits trees with multi-colored nodes to signify participation in multiple dimensions. We have developed algorithms to transform design specifications given as ER diagrams into MCT schemas. These MCT schemas satisfy various desirable properties, such as node normal form, edge normal form, and association recoverability. Experimental studies with warehousing data show that the schemas we designed in MCT have many benefits over conventional XML schemas, including query efficiency, query expression ease, and update anomaly avoidance. Even after modeling issues are resolved, we still have to consider issues of efficient implementation. We extend bitmap join indices to the XML context, and demonstrate experimentally their benefit for typical queries, including those with low cardinality or high selectivity. We also consider the data cube, a core warehouse analysis operator involving aggregations along multiple dimensions, and show that it cannot readily be expressed or evaluated for XML data. Specifically, XML data is not always summarizable because of missing and repeated sub-elements. We define an XML version of the OLAP cube operator, and appropriately extend relational cube computation algorithms.
Mixed H2/H∞ Observer-Based LPV Control of a Hydraulic Engine Cam Phasing Actuator

In this paper, a series of closed-loop system identification tests was performed for a variable valve timing cam phaser system on a test bench to obtain a family of linear models for an array of engine speeds and oil pressures. Using engine speed and oil pressure as the system parameters, the family of linear models was translated into a linear parameter varying (LPV) system. The engine speed and oil pressure can be measured in real-time by these sensors equipped on the engine, thus allowing their use as scheduling parameters. An observer-based gain-scheduling controller for the obtained LPV system is then designed based on the numerically efficient convex optimization or linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique. Test bench results show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Novel Extrusion Punch Design for Improved Lubrication and Punch Ejection

The extreme surface expansion and pressures observed during the backward extrusion process can have adverse effects on the surface of the workpiece and the life of the punches used in the process. After the forming process is complete, the ejection of the punch can further damage the part surface and reduce tool life because the pressures on the land of the punch remain quite high. The research presented in this investigation aims to reduce or eliminate the galling and surface damage for the backward extrusion process by creating a new class of punch which can create the opportunity for lubrication transport to the area underneath the punch and lessen the damaging conditions during punch ejection. The proposed tooling divides the traditional punch into two pieces, a hollow punch body and an insert with micro channels for lubrication transport. The tooling was developed and used in a series of tests to determine the benefits of the new punch. Preliminary data shows that the extrusion loads for proposed punch are similar to the conventional punch, but the surface finish is significantly enhanced using the modified punch design and the galling is minimized. Furthermore, there is a marked reduction in the ejection load required to remove the punch from the part after forming.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Seismic quiescence precursor to the 1983 Kaoiki (MS = 6.6), Hawaii, earthquake

A remarkable seismicity rate decrease of 65 per cent occurred in most of the aftershock volume 2.4 yr before the 1983 Kaoiki MS = 6.6 main shock. If the background seismicity rate (1978 to mid-1981) is extrapolated to the time of the main shock, more than 300 earthquakes of ML ≧ 1.8 are missing because of the quiescence. Subvolumes measuring 5.5 km on a side, and located within the aftershock zone, showed seismicity rate decreases ranging from 0 to 90 per cent. The volume of no change had dimensions of approximately 10 × 3 km. It contained the main shock hypocenter, and was located near the center of the 10 km radius aftershock area. The seismic quiescence in different subvolumes of the aftershock volume surrounding this central nonquiet zone varied somewhat in starting time, amount of rate decrease, and statistical significance. According to the standard deviate z-test, the reported rate decrease is the most pronounced example of precursory quiescence defined to date. The seismicity pattern before the 1983 Kaoiki shock conformed to the quiescence hypothesis proposed on the basis of the precursors to the 1975 Hawaii main shock: no quiescence was observed within the immediate surrounding of the hypocenter, while strong rate decreases occurred in most of the rest of the main shock source volume. It is thus hypothesized that major asperities which contain high stress levels, and from which main ruptures can emanate, may be recognizable as volumes of constant seismicity rate within surrounding volumes of quiescence, provided that decreases of seismicity rate as a function of time can be defined quantitatively.
Hepatic imaging following intra-arterial embolotherapy

To discuss guidelines and salient imaging findings of solid tumors treated with common intra-arterial procedures used in interventional oncology. A meticulous literature search of PubMed-indexed articles was conducted. Key words included “imaging + embolization,” “imaging + TACE,” “imaging + radioembolization,” “imaging + Y90,” “mRECIST,” and “EASL.” Representative post-treatment cross-sectional images were obtained from past cases in this institution. Intra-arterial therapy (IAT) in interventional oncology includes bland embolization, chemoembolization, and radioembolization. Solid tumors of the liver are the primary focus of these procedures. Cross-sectional CT and/or MR are the main modalities used to image tumors after treatment. Traditional size-based response criteria (WHO and RECIST) alone are of limited utility in determining response to IAT; tumoral necrosis and enhancement must be considered. Specifically for HCC, the EASL and mRECIST guidelines are becoming widely adopted response criteria to assess these factors. DWI, FDG-PET, and CEUS are modalities that play an adjunctive but controversial role. Radiologists must be aware that the different forms of intra-arterial therapy yield characteristic findings on cross-sectional imaging. Knowledge of these findings is integral to accurate assessment of tumor response and progression.
Optical phase noise from atmospheric fluctuations and its impact on optical time-frequency transfer

The time of flight for a laser beam through the atmosphere will fluctuate as the path-averaged index of refraction varies with atmospheric turbulence, air temperature, and pressure. We measure these fluctuations by transmitting optical pulses from a frequency comb across a 2-km horizontal path and detecting variations in their time of flight through linear optical sampling. This technique is capable of continuous measurements, with femtosecond resolution, over time scales of many hours despite turbulence-induced signal fading. The power spectral density for the time of flight, or equivalently for the optical phase, follows a simple power-law response of $\ensuremath{\propto}$${f}^{\ensuremath{-}2.3}$ measured down to Fourier frequencies, $f$, of 100 \ensuremath{\mu}Hz. There is no evidence of a roll-off at low frequencies associated with an outer scale for turbulence. Both of these results depart from the predictions of turbulence theory, but are consistent with some other results in the literature. We discuss the implications for the stability and accuracy of one-way optical time-frequency transfer.
Hydrogenation Refining vs. Efficiencies of Spray Oils Against Citrus Red Mite Eggs and California Red Scale

Four types of oils typifying naphthenic Vs. paraffinic composition at comparable and different viscosity and distillation ranges were prepared as pairs, one refined by solvent extraction to 92 U.R. and the other given an additional treatment of mild hydrogenation. Each oil was used with each of 2 emulsifiers in laboratory dosage-mortality spray trials against eggs of citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor), and adult female California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell). The LD95 values were calculated by a computer using the maximum likelihood solution of probit analysis. Efficiencies of the oils treated with extraction plus mild hydrogenation are as good as those of the comparable oils refined by solvent extraction alone. The efficiency of the oils formulated with the oil-soluble emulsifier was distinctly better against citrus red mite eggs than that of the same oils applied with blood albumin spreader, and the data indicate that the emulsifier may have a role in the performance of spray oils against California red scale.
Erratum to: Bayesian active clustering with pairwise constraints

Erratum to: Chapter 15 in: A. Appice et al. (Eds.) Machine Learning and Knowledge Discovery in Databases DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-23528-8_15
Monitoring and analysis of endemic fluorosis of drinking water type in Heilongjiang province in 2014

Objective To analyze endemic fluorosis of drinking water type in Heilongjiang province, and provide basis for comprehensive prevention and control measures and evaluation. Methods According to related national programs, 21village(Tun) were randomly selected from seven counties based on water fluoride content,and the fluoride content in drinking-water were detected and dental fluorosis was checked out. Results Ten villages carried out the water improvement project,seven of which has water fluoride content of under 1.2mg/L and three of which hae water fluoride content between 1.2mg/L to 2.0mg/L. Nine cases of dental fluorosis were found in 287 children aged 8-12 years old with a prevalence rate of 3.1%.Eleven villages haven't the water improvement project, and 9 of them has water fluoride content between 1.2mg/L to 2.0mg/L,one village with the content over 2.0mg/L less 4.0mg/L and one village with water fluoride content of over 4.0mg/L. 42 cases of fluorosis were found out among 219 children aged 8 to 12 years old with dental fluorosis prevalence rate of 19%. There are statistically significant different in dental fluorosis( χ2=28.40,P 0.01).Conclusion The water improvement project has obvious effect in controling the endemic fluorosis epidemic.
Scalable and energy efficient computer vision for text translation

Developments in cloud computing and smart phone technology have opened the door for many unique applications to be created. One of such applications is the ability to allow users to use computer vision with a camera on their phone to translate foreign signs into their native language. However, early adopters of this technology are far from optimal when it comes to features and robustness of their apps. Exploring options for optimizing allocation of resources and maximizing features of these apps can greatly improve the technology for users and distributors alike. In this paper we introduce a scalable and energy efficient computer vision protocol for the text translation to reduce power consumption, improving the data usage, and accuracy of translation. Our proposed idea is based on a camera driven process algorithm and an energy-efficient model to improve energy efficiency and provide the scalability support for foreign language translation. To validate the proposed idea, a Java based platform is developed. Furthermore, the performance of our application is test and compared with other applications of the same purpose. In the testing process, we randomly selected the set of words between languages. Our results demonstrate that our proposed energy efficient and scalable application showed much better performance than existing applications including google App.
Gelsolin is an endogenous inhibitor of syncytiotrophoblast extracellular vesicle shedding in pregnancy

Abstract Background Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-specific inflammatory disorder, is characterized by high levels of anti-angiogenic protein, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1), in the maternal circulation. sFlt1 producing molecular machinery is present in syncytiotrophoblast extracellular vesicles that are released by the placenta into maternal plasma during normal pregnancy, a process greatly accelerated in preeclampsia. We hypothesized that syncytiotrophoblast extracellular vesicles exposes cytoplasmic actin to plasma resulting in depletion of plasma gelsolin (pGSN), an abundant plasma protein that scavenges circulating actin and other pro-inflammatory mediators. Objective To test whether pGSN levels would be lower in preeclampsia and to assess whether recombinant human plasma gelsolin (rhpGSN) may promote placental health by decreasing shedding of syncytiotrophoblast extracellular vesicles. Methods We tested pGSN levels in third trimester plasma samples from women with preeclampsia and non-hypertensive pregnancies. We then assessed whether rhpGSN may act as a negative regulator of syncytial shedding in placental explant culture and dynamic mechanical stretch studies. Results pGSN levels fall in late pregnancy and decline further in preeclampsia patients. Recombinant human pGSN (rhpGSN) at 100 μg/ml limits spontaneous syncytiotrophoblast vesicle release and sFlt1 protein dissemination by normal placental explants. Higher rhpGSN doses (500 μg/ml) also limit syncytiotrophoblast vesicle and sFlt1 dissemination from preeclamptic placental explants. rhpGSN also mitigates syncytiotrophoblast vesicle during dynamic mechanical stretch. Conclusions 1) pGSN, an anti-inflammatory factor of maternal origin is reduced in preeclampsia and may contribute to disease progression and 2) exogenous rhpGSN supplementation can limit the dissemination of toxic syncytiotrophoblast vesicle that characterizes the disease state.
Interactividad en sitios web de medios: buscando nuevas formas de diálogo con sus usuarios

Currently the media have made many new tools on their websites in order to broaden the dialogue with its users, a feature that has been called interactivity. The objective of this research is to describe the interactive resources of Chilean media websites. The analysis was conducted at 20 sites using a pattern of six dimensions with interactive forms which are today using identified. The findings indicate that digital media Chileans are expanding the possibilities of dialogue with users on social media, especially Twitter and Facebook, and the mediauser interaction is monological, that is to say, from the media to the user, but with very low feedback.
Empathy, Contractual Ethics, and Justification

To this point, I have shown that empathy makes a valuable epistemic contribution to producing sensitive understanding of others, and that it can play an important instrumental role in enabling moral deliberation as it is defined in a variety of ethical theories. I now turn to examining empathy’s role in contractual ethical theories in particular, specifically, those of John Rawls, John Harsanyi and David Gauthier. Contractual ethical theories are distinct from other normative ethical theories because they are based on the idea of rational agreement through a kind of social contract, and seek the public justification of moral principles. Public justification involves showing that an action, principle, or practice is reasonable because a variety of people have reasons in favor of that action, principle, or practice. My aim here is to show that contract theories model different types of perspective-taking empathy and empathetic deliberation. This means contract theories express the reasoning of empathetic deliberation, in that they provide a rationale for agreement to moral or political principles that takes into account a variety of perspectives, or points of view that are thought to be irreconcilable. Insofar as contract theories seek to express the reasoning of a variety of perspectives, they seek what could be called both public justification and interpersonal justification.
Aerology of Tropical Storms

One of the earliest controversies that arose in regard to tropical storms concerned their vertical extent. Some writers claimed that disturbances disappeared at heights as low as 3 km—that people standing on high mountain tops could look down on the violent cyclonic whirls beneath them. They believed that the cirrus motion at upper levels remained undisturbed and indicated the direction in which the cyclone was moving. Others insisted that hurricanes must reach to great heights, 10 km or more. They thought that cirrus radiated in all directions from the storms and used the change of direction of cirrus movement with time to locate position and track of centers.
Peptide Inhibitors of α-Amylase Based on Tendamistat: Synthesis and Kinetic Studies

Tendamistat is a tight-binding pseudo-irreversible inhibitor of mammalian α-amylases with a KI value of 9 • 10–12 M [1,2]. The crystal structure of the α-amylase-Tenda-mistat complex has been elucidated by X-ray techniques and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy [3,4], revealing that only 15 of the 74 amino acids in the inhibitor (in 4 segments, shown below) actually interact directly with the enzyme binding site via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic and electrostatic forces [5]. Our goal was to design smaller analogs of Tendamistat, which might be less immunogenic.
Prevalence of Antiphospholipid Anitbodies in Idiopathic Venous Thromboembolism.

The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA), which include lupus anticoagulant (LA) and anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA), increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Although, the association demonstrated between LA and VTE is strong, that between ACA and VTE is weak with the exception of high titers. This suggestion has been that this may be related to the induction of ACA by acute illness. This may be the explanation for the widely varying frequency of ACA positivity in patients with acute VTE in the current medical literature. The prevalence of LA in patients with acute VTE is more consistent but the value of testing for ACA and LA at presentation of acute VTE remains unknown. We routinely test all idiopathic VTE patients at presentation for LA and ACA. It had been our impression that most positive results revert to normal with subsequent testing. We sough to test this hypothesis. The objective was to determine the prevalence of abnormal LA and ACA results and the frequency of subsequent normalization in patients presenting with a first idiopathic venous thromboembolic event. A retrospective chart review was conducted at the Thrombosis Unit at the Ottawa Hospital. 278 charts of unrelated, consecutive patients with idiopathic VTE were reviewed. 232 patients with single idiopathic venous thromboembolic events with documented LA and ACA results were included. The patients were divided into two groups based on the time between the acute VTE and initial APLA test. The frequency of abnormal LA and ACA on initial and repeat tests was determined in each group. 170 and 177 patients were screened for LA and ACA within one month of the acute VTE. On initial tests, LA and ACA were detected in 14.1% and 7.9% of patients, respectively. However, LA and ACA were present in only 1.2% and 1.7% of patients, respectively, on subsequent tests. In patients screened more than one month after an acute VTE 3.8% of the 52 patients had evidence of LA on initial testing and all were positive on repeat tests. ACA were present in 8% of patients on initial tests and in 6% (75% of the initial positive results) of patients on subsequent tests. A high frequency of positive LA and ACA tests results is observed when these tests are performed at the time of presentation of acute VTE. Repeat testing beyond one month from presentation demonstrates most of the results return to normal suggesting false positive results are common at presentation. However, when the tests are performed one month or longer after the acute VTE, the frequency of positive APLA test is much lower and false positives are uncommon. Screening for APLA should not be performed until at least one month after the diagnosis of idiopathic.