cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bayesian Disease Classification Using Copy Number Data

DNA copy number variations (CNVs) have been shown to be associated with cancer development and progression. The detection of these CNVs has the potential to impact the basic knowledge and treatment of many types of cancers, and can play a role in the discovery and development of molecular-based personalized cancer therapies. One of the most common types of high-resolution chromosomal microarrays is array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) methods that assay DNA CNVs across the whole genomic landscape in a single experiment. In this article we propose methods to use aCGH profiles to predict disease states. We employ a Bayesian classification model and treat disease states as outcome, and aCGH profiles as covariates in order to identify significant regions of the genome associated with disease subclasses. We propose a principled two-stage method where we first make inferences on the underlying copy number states associated with the aCGH emissions based on hidden Markov model (HMM) formulations to account for serial dependencies in neighboring probes. Subsequently, we infer associations with disease outcomes, conditional on the copy number states, using Bayesian linear variable selection procedures. The selected probes and their effects are parameters that are useful for predicting the disease categories of any additional individuals on the basis of their aCGH profiles. Using simulated datasets, we investigate the method’s accuracy in detecting disease category. Our methodology is motivated by and applied to a breast cancer dataset consisting of aCGH profiles assayed on patients from multiple disease subtypes.
Distribution of exogenous radiolabeled cholesterol in rat intestine: Effect of dietary fiber

Abstract The distribution of raioactive neutral and acidic steroids in rat intestine was studied forllowing oral administration of 4- 14 C-cholesterol. The influence of dietary fiber was examined in three dietary groups: a commercial ration; a semipurified, fiber-free diet; and the latter diet with cellulose added. The amount of radioactivity remaining in the intestinal tissue and contents 3 days after isotope administration equaled that found in the serum plus liver pool. The distribution of cholesterol-associated radioactivity in the intestines indicated probable incorporation into epithelial cell membranes of the small bowel. Dietary fiber significantly influenced the concentration of radioactive steroids primarily in the large intestine.
Profiling status epilepticus-induced changes in hippocampal RNA expression using high-throughput RNA sequencing

Profiling status epilepticus-induced changes in hippocampal RNA expression using high-throughput RNA sequencing
ON LANDSCAPES IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST

L. MILANO, S. DE MARTINO, F. M. FALES, and G. B. LANFRANCHI, editors, Landscapes: Territories, Frontiers, and Horizons in the Ancient Near East (Part I: Invited Lectures; Part II: Geography and Cultural Landscapes; Part III: Landscape in Ideology, Religion, Literature, and Art). Papers presented to the XLIV Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale. Padova: Sargon srl, 2000. 76 + 254 + 196 pp.
Rapid Assessment of Antibacterial Activity against Mycobacterium ulcerans by Using Recombinant Luminescent Strains

Mycobacterium ulcerans causes Buruli ulcer, an emerging infectious disease for which antimicrobial therapy has only recently proven to be beneficial. The discovery and development of new drugs against M. ulcerans are severely impeded by its very slow growth. Recombinant bioluminescent strains have proven useful in drug development for other mycobacterial infections, but the ability of such strains to discriminate bacteriostatic from bactericidal activity has not been well demonstrated. We engineered recombinant M. ulcerans strains to express luxAB from Vibrio harveyi. In drug susceptibility tests employing a wide range of antimicrobial agents and concentrations, the relative light unit (RLU) count measured in real time was a reliable surrogate marker for CFU counts available 3 months later, indicating utility for the rapid determination of drug susceptibility and discrimination of bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects. A second important finding of this study is that the addition of subinhibitory concentrations of the ATP-binding cassette transporter inhibitor reserpine increases the susceptibility of M. ulcerans to tetracycline and erythromycin, indicating that drug efflux may explain at least part of the intrinsic resistance of M. ulcerans to these agents.
National Survey of Accommodations and Alternate Assessments for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in the United States.

This paper reports the results of the National Survey of Accommodations and Alternate Assessments for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in the United States (National Survey). This study focused on the use of accommodations and alternate assessments in statewide assessments used with students who are deaf or hard of hearing. A total of 258 participants responded to the survey, including 32 representing schools for the deaf, 168 from districtwide/ school programs, and 58 from mainstreamed settings. These schools and programs served a total of nearly 12,000 students who are deaf or hard of hearing nationwide. The most prevalent accommodations used in 2003-2004 statewide standardized assessments in mathematics and reading were extended time, an interpreter for directions, and a separate room for test administration. Read aloud and signed question-response accommodations were often prevalent, used more often for mathematics than in reading assessments. Participants from mainstreamed settings reported a more frequent use of accommodations than those in schools for the deaf or districtwide/school programs. In contrast, schools for the deaf were most likely to have students participate in alternate assessments. The top three alternate assessment formats used across all settings were out-of-level testing, work samples, and portfolios. Using the National Survey results as a starting point, future research will need to investigate the validity of accommodations used with students who are deaf or hard of hearing. In the context of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 accountability policies, the accommodations and alternate assessment formats used with students who are deaf or hard of hearing may result in restrictions in how scores are integrated into state accountability frameworks.
Reliability implications of increased fault currents and breaker failures

Increased power system fault currents impose stresses that may exceed the design rating of circuit breakers installed decades ago. Excessive stresses on the breakers increase their probability of failure. Breaker failures result in multiple simultaneous outages and are major contributors to system unreliability. As a result, it is desirable to quantify the contribution of increased fault currents to breaker failure. We propose a methodology that quantifies the effect of the relative statistical frequency of the different types of faults in the power system (from single-phase to three-phase faults) on the distribution of fault currents for a given circuit breaker and the implications on system reliability. The proposed work is illustrated with the IEEE 24-bus reliability test system where circuit breaker arrangements are explicitly modeled. The proposed methodology provides accurate fault current distributions through breakers (to closely reflect the expected fault conditions in the field) that help identifying common mode failures in cases of breaker failure. Applications of the proposed work include (a) identification of probabilistic models of common mode outages in real time and (b) reliability assessment of overdutied circuit breakers.
Peripheral neuropathy in the Twitcher mouse involves the activation of axonal caspase 3.

Infantile Krabbe disease results in the accumulation of lipid-raft-associated galactosylsphingosine (psychosine), demyelination, neurodegeneration and premature death. Recently, axonopathy has been depicted as a contributing factor in the progression of neurodegeneration in the Twitcher mouse, a bona fide mouse model of Krabbe disease. Analysis of the temporal-expression profile of MBP (myelin basic protein) isoforms showed unexpected increases of the 14, 17 and 18.5 kDa isoforms in the sciatic nerve of 1-week-old Twitcher mice, suggesting an abnormal regulation of the myelination process during early postnatal life in this mutant. Our studies showed an elevated activation of the pro-apoptotic protease caspase 3 in sciatic nerves of 15- and 30-day-old Twitcher mice, in parallel with increasing demyelination. Interestingly, while active caspase 3 was clearly contained in peripheral axons at all ages, we found no evidence of caspase accumulation in the soma of corresponding mutant spinal cord motor neurons....
Using flow control to improve performance of Demand-Assignment Multiple Access systems with performance enhancing proxies

It is widely known that TCP's congestion control algorithm can cause it to under-perform when round trip times and error rates are high. Performance Enhancing Proxies (PEPs) can improve performance by breaking end-to-end TCP connections and using a separate, tuned transport protocol to transit ‘stressed’ links. While PEPs can be tuned to work well when a single pair of PEPs bracket a fixed-rate link, these systems can be difficult to tune when the stressed link has variable bandwidth as in a Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA) scheme, when multiple encrypted enclaves must share the outgoing bandwidth, or when the round trip times vary widely. Previous efforts have shown the effect of using a modified version of the TCP Vegas congestion control algorithm in Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) DAMA systems where bandwidth is allocated based on current queue length and where multiple enclaves must share the outgoing bandwidth. This paper examines the performance of a DAMA based system when the TCP PEP uses flow control between the PEP and the DAMA access terminal. This improves performance by removing an adverse interaction between PEP congestion control and DAMA channel access protocols. We show the effects of employing proxies when the modem provides direct feedback about the amount of data it is willing to consume.
A Combinatorial Chemistry Study of YAG Nucleation

A combinatorial method to screen large numbers of dopants that affect the nucleation of yttrium-aluminum garnet was developed. The method involves heat-treatment of electron-transparent sol-derived thin films on TEM grids, and counting the number and size of nuclei by TEM. Advantages and limitations of the technique are discussed. Preliminary results are presented.
Bis(phenylthio)methane

[3561-67-9] C13H12S2 (MW 232.36) InChI = 1S/C13H12S2/c1-3-7-12(8-4-1)14-11-15-13-9-5-2-6-10-13/h1-10H,11H2 InChIKey = ZHUPZVIALZHGGP-UHFFFAOYSA-N (lithio derivative is formyl anion equivalent2 but chief uses are in synthesis of phenyl vinyl sulfides3 and α-(phenylthio) ketones4) Physical Data: mp 38 °C. Solubility: sol THF, diethyl ether; insol H2O. Form Supplied in: yellow crystals (white when pure). Preparative Methods: all methods begin with benzenethiol (Thiophenol, PhSH). An early approach involved reaction of Diiodomethane with PhSNa (generated from PhSH and NaOH in ethanol).2 Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) has replaced the more expensive CH2I2 in more recent methods either in the presence of triethylamine3 or under phase-transfer conditions with Potassium Carbonate and Benzyltriethylammonium Chloride.5 The hydrogen chloride-catalyzed reaction of benzenethiol with Dimethoxymethane is an effective procedure.6 Purification: recrystallize from petroleum ether. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: irritating to mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract. Precautions should be followed to avoid inhalation, ingestion, contact with the eyes, or absorption through the skin. Stench. Store in a cool dry place. The toxicological properties appear not to have been thoroughly investigated but exposure can cause nausea, headache, and vomiting.
Progressive abandonment and planform changes of the central Platte River in Nebraska, central USA, over historical timeframes

This paper presents data compiled from aerial photography, General Land Office maps (GLOs), and discharge data from the central Platte River in Nebraska that quantify and provide a new understanding of channel evolution and abandonment in a braided stream. Analyses of aerial photographs and GLOs in ArcMap™ show that channel area decreased by an average of 46% from 1938 to 2006 and that channel widths in 1858 were an average of 539% greater than in 2006. Annual discharge during 1942–2006 does not show a clear long-term relationship with the decrease in channel width and area. Rather, stabilization through vegetation of bars and channel banks is cited as the major contributing factor to channel shrinkage and the development of an anabranching system within the boundaries of the 1858 channel. The stabilization of anabranches and the encroachment of vegetation onto banks, abandoned channels, and islands have significantly impacted the riparian ecosys tem as mobile sandy bars gradually disappeared. Annual aerial photographs of the Platte River from 1984 to 2001 show that the river responds to year-to-year changes in mean discharge through the formation and disappearance of in-channel features such as medium-size transverse bars, large transverse bars, open channels, exposed channel surfaces, laterally accreted surfaces, and vegetated channel islands. Vegetated channel islands and stable anabranches also increased during 1984–2009. Significant change has also occurred since the beginning of the twentieth century on the Wood River, a local tributary to the Platte River. The Wood River experienced a long-term increase in sinuosity after it occupied the abandoned North Channel of the Platte River, which last experienced major sediment transport 350 ± 50 years ago, according to an optically stimulated luminescence date. The modern Wood River is also superimposed on a prehistoric meandering pattern with significantly greater meander amplitude. We present the first channel abandonment model to account for the gradual abandonment of the Platte River braided stream system and its evolution from a braided to an anabranching system: in stage 1, the channel prominently features macroform bars comprising downstream-migrating foresets; in stage 2, downstream-migrating dunes are deposited over channel bed features; and in stage 3, there is a shift from a braided stream to a stream dominated by anabranches and only channel bed features (e.g., three-dimensional dunes) are present. Our new model characterizes the features expected to be found in abandoned braided channels, as well as more temporary features that form and are destroyed through successive stages of abandonment.
Feasibility of Nationwide Birth Registry Control Selection in the United States

As random digit dialing becomes increasingly unfeasible for many types of studies, alternative methods for control selection are needed, especially for studies of childhood cancer. US birth registries are an appealing source of young control children because they are population based, provide demographic and pregnancy data for comparison of participants with the study base, and maintain data that enable matching on birth characteristics. Here the authors describe the ability of US birth registries to release information sufficient to locate potential control subjects for two ongoing case-control studies of hepatoblastoma and infant leukemia. The birth registries of 32 states, in which 75.8% of US children 0-5 years of age resided in 2004, agreed to participate in control selection. Data sufficient to track participants and to characterize nonrespondents were available from a majority of registries. These results suggest that birth registries may be used to select controls for studies of rare childhood diseases on a national scale.
Average rate in a M/M/1 processor-sharing queue

We investigate the average rate per job in an open M/M/1 processor-sharing queue. We introduce three definitions of average rate as seen by the system and by each job, and present expressions for each in terms of the system rate and load. We compare the three measures and prove that they are strictly ordered over all loads. We next consider the system rate required to achieve a minimum average rate per job, and prove that it is increasing and convex. Finally, we consider the system rate required to achieve a minimum tail probability on the average rate per job, and present expressions illustrating when the system rate is constrained by the required tail probability.
Health Education and Injury Control: Integrating Approaches

The prevention of injuries, a major public health problem, is of interest to a growing number of public health professionals from a variety of disciplines. Historically, there has been tension between those who propose injury prevention strategies that focus on the adoption of protective behaviors by individuals and those who propose strategies that circumvent the role of individual behavior by providing automatic or passive protection. This tension may be counterproductive to finding comprehensive solutions to injury problems, and a better understanding of the inherent strengths and limitations of each of these approaches is needed. The purposes of this paper are to: (1) describe the arguments over individual liberties and individual behavior that can occur in the design of injury prevention programs; (2) review the principles that typically guide the development of injury control programs and health education programs; and (3) integrate the two most widely used approaches in injury control and health education programs--Haddon's injury countermeasures and Green's PRECEDE framework--into one program planning framework that addresses both behavioral and nonbehavioral components of an injury problem. This unified framework is offered in the hope that its use will facilitate multidisciplinary, comprehensive approaches to developing injury prevention programs that are efficient and effective.
Systolic interpolation architectures for soft-decoding Reed-Solomon codes

We present a systolic algorithm for performing interpolation, a computationally intensive kernel found in algebraic soft-decoding of Reed-Solomon codes. We reformulate the interpolation algorithm, resulting in a systolic interpolation algorithm, which can compute a reduced number of candidate polynomial coefficients. Using the dependence graph of the algorithm, we realize a low-latency interpolation architecture and a high-throughput interpolation architecture. These architectures are compared against previously: proposed architectures for an RS soft-decoder. We derive expressions for the latency of the systolic implementations and show that, for a reasonable hardware constraint, the low-latency systolic implementation reduces latency by 34% for a [255, 239] RS code. For the same code and hardware constraints, the high-throughput implementation, with a block pipelining depth of 5, increases throughput by 68%. In addition, the critical path of both the low-latency and the high-throughput implementation is smaller than that of previously proposed architectures.
TELEPHONE-BASED TREATMENT FOR FAMILY PRACTICE PATIENTS WITH MILD DEPRESSION '

The need for treating milder forms of depression has recently been of increased interest. This was a randomized, controlled study to evaluate the effects of telephone-based problem-solving therapy for mild depression. Comparison groups were a treatment-as-usual group and another group receiving stress-management training by telephone. From 1,742 family practice patients screened for depression, 54 with mild depression entered the study. Treatment was provided by experienced family practice nurses, trained and supervised in the treatments. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression was administered before and after the intervention period, and the Beck Depression Inventory and Duke Health Profile were administered at the end of the intervention period. Of the 36 subjects assigned to the problem-solving and stress-management groups, half dropped out early in the study. Five from the treatment-as-usual group were lost to follow-up. In the remaining subjects, there was a significant decrease in depression scores. There were no significant differences in the amount of decrease between the groups on any scores. The small sample and high dropout rate limit the interpretation of the findings. However, since all subjects tended to improve, regardless of treatment received, mild levels of depression may generally remit even without focal intervention, and watchful waiting may be a reasonable alternative for management.
Ripple current reduction using multi-dimensional sliding mode control for fuel cell DC to DC converter applications

Since a fuel cell power system provides a low voltage output, in the most fuel cell vehicle and its stationary power applications, a step up boost DC/DC converter is required. In this paper, it is presented a design principle of sliding mode control for the current fed full bridge boost DC/DC converter with two different power sources, PEMFC(Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell), and Ultra-Capacitor(UC)systems. Details of the sliding mode controller for the converters were derived and designed with a simple PEMFC and UC model. The proposed control scheme is based on the concept of multi-dimensional sliding mode to provide the desired shifts between phases with the help of an adaptive function for the hysteresis loop in switching elements. The ripple reduction effect in this design is demonstrated by simulation for the DC/DC converter systems under several load conditions.
Requirement for Protein Kinase C Activation in Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor–Induced Human Endothelial Cell Proliferation

The intracellular signaling mechanisms that mediate basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced angiogenesis have not been fully identified. In particular, whether activation of the intracellular enzyme protein kinase C (PKC) is necessary or sufficient for bFGF-induced mitogenesis of human endothelial cells is not clear. Accordingly, the effect of bFGF stimulation on the Ca2+ increase and PKC activity of normal human endothelial cells (HEC) was studied, as was the effect of inhibition of PKC and the distribution of PKC isoenzymes in these cells. The addition of bFGF to cultured HEC increased overall PKC activity in the absence of an increase in intracellular Ca2+ and markedly stimulated their proliferation, as did the addition of PKC-activating phorbol esters. bFGF-induced proliferation was prevented by the PKC inhibitors chelerythrine and H-7 and by downregulation of PKC after prolonged incubation with phorbol esters. In contrast, these inhibitors did not prevent HEC proliferation induced by epidermal growth factor. Because of the failure of bFGF to increase Ca2+, we determined whether bFGF-induced proliferation could be mediated by novel or atypical PKC isoenzymes (which are not regulated by Ca2+). Investigation of the isoenzyme distribution of confluent and subconfluent HEC by immunoblotting, Northern transfer analysis, and polymerase chain reaction of reverse-transcribed RNA revealed the presence of several novel and atypical isoenzymes (PKC-delta, -eta, -theta, and -zeta) as well as small amounts of the conventional (Ca(2+)-regulated) isoenzymes PKC-alpha and -beta. Activation of PKC by bFGF, in the absence of an increase in intracellular Ca2+, suggests that one or more of these Ca(2+)-independent PKC isoenzymes are both necessary and sufficient for HEC proliferation after bFGF.
The Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein is involved in mosquito salivary gland invasion by sporozoites.

Plasmodium sporozoites develop in oocysts on the midgut wall of the mosquito and are released into the hemocoel. Approximately 15–20% of oocyst sporozoites will successfully attach to and invade salivary glands, their target organ. We have previously shown that the major surface protein of sporozoites, the circumsporozoite (CS) protein, binds specifically to salivary glands and not to other mosquito organs exposed to circulating hemolymph. In addition, a peptide from the N-terminal portion of CS protein inhibits binding of the protein to the glands. In this study, we have extended these findings and show that both the protein and the peptide can inhibit sporozoite invasion of salivary glands. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Sequential compression device with thigh-high sleeves supports mean arterial pressure during Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.

Background This study investigated the use of a Sequential Compression Device (SCD) with thigh-high sleeves and a preset pressure of 50 mm Hg that recruits blood from the lower limbs intermittently, as a method to prevent spinal hypotension during elective Caesarean section. Possible association of arterial pressure changes with maternal, fetal, haemodynamic, and anaesthetic factors were studied. Methods Fifty healthy parturients undergoing elective Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were randomly assigned to either SCD (n=25) or control (n=25) groups. A standardized protocol for pre-hydration and anaesthetic technique was followed. Hypotension was defined as a decrease in any mean arterial pressure (MAP) measurement by more than 20% of the baseline MAP. Systolic (SAP), MAP and diastolic (DAP) arterial pressure, pulse pressure (PP), and heart rate (HR) were noted at baseline and every minute after the spinal block until delivery. Results A greater than 20% decrease in MAP occurred in 52% of patients in the SCD group vs 92% in the control group (P=0.004, odds ratio 0.094, 95% CI 0.018–0.488). There were no significant differences in SAP, DAP, HR, and PP between the groups. Conclusion SCD use in conjunction with vasopressor significantly reduced the incidence of a 20% reduction of MAP.
Metabolic syndrome is associated with abnormal left ventricular diastolic function independent of left ventricular mass.

Aim To characterize the extent to which metabolic syndrome criteria predict left ventricular (LV) structure and function. Methods and results Metabolic syndrome criteria were assessed in 607 adults with normal LV function. The cohort was grouped according to the number of criteria satisfied: (1) Absent (0 criteria, n = 110); (2) Pre-Metabolic Syndrome (1–2 criteria, n = 311); and (3) Metabolic Syndrome (≥3 criteria, n = 186). Echocardiography was used to assess LV structure (LV mass) and systolic (LVEF, Vs) and diastolic function, by pulse-wave Doppler (E/A ratio) and tissue Doppler imaging (Ve). LV volumes and LVEF were similar between groups. However, LV mass increased significantly and progressively (LVM/Ht2.7, in g/m2.7: 34.9 ± 6.7, 41.0 ± 9.5, 46.3 ± 11.0, P < 0.001); LV relaxation decreased progressively (Veglobal′, in cm/s: 13.5 ± 2.8, 12.1 ± 3.0, 10.5 ± 2.2, P < 0.001) from Absent to Pre-Metabolic Syndrome to Metabolic Syndrome groups, respectively. Multiple variable analyses showed that diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and triglyceride levels were independent predictors of Ve after adjustment for LV mass. Conclusion Patients with metabolic syndrome have LV diastolic dysfunction independent of LV mass. These functional abnormalities may partially explain the increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with metabolic syndrome.
American students abroad: Negotiation of difference?

This paper considers the ways in which American students' active engagement in local host communities abroad is at risk. Constraining forces include the new demographics of American study abroad, prejudicial attitudes toward international education and sheltered program designs, a research enterprise committed to representing the perspectives of students primarily, and the influence of globalization on communicative practice and habits of thought. To counter these influences, the elements of an activist stance are proposed.
The Meds-Help pharmacy-based intervention increases antipsychotic drug adherence, but not symptoms.

### Question Can the Meds-Help pharmacy-based intervention increase antipsychotic drug adherence in patients with serious mental illness (SMI)? ### Patients 118 patients who had been prescribed antipsychotic medications and with two or more outpatient mental health visits in the 12 months prior to the study. Participants were also required to have: (1) a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective or bipolar disorder; (2) a treatment plan that included long-term antipsychotic treatment; (3) antipsychotic medication possession ratios (MPRs) of less than 0.8 in the prior 12 months; and (4) no clinical contraindications to participation. ### Setting Four Department of Veterans Affair (VA) facilities, USA; November 2002 and September 2005. ### Intervention The pharmacy-based intervention Meds-Help plus usual care or usual care alone. Meds-Help consisted of four components: (1) convenient ‘unit-of-use’ medicine packaging which included all patients' medications to be taken at specific times of the day each day of the week in individual labelled compartments; (2) a medication and packaging education session conducted by a pharmacist; (3) refill reminders mailed 2 weeks before scheduled refill dates; and (4) notification of clinicians when patients failed to fill antipsychotic prescriptions within 7 to 10 days of a fill date. The intervention was in addition to the usual …
The Measurement of Reversible Redox Dependent Post-translational Modifications and Their Regulation of Mitochondrial and Skeletal Muscle Function

Mitochondrial oxidative stress is a common feature of skeletal myopathies across multiple conditions; however, the mechanism by which it contributes to skeletal muscle dysfunction remains controversial. Oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA has received the most attention, yet an important role for reversible redox post-translational modifications (PTMs) in pathophysiology is emerging. The possibility that these PTMs can exert dynamic control of muscle function implicates them as a mechanism contributing to skeletal muscle dysfunction in chronic disease. Herein, we discuss the significance of thiol-based redox dependent modifications to mitochondrial, myofibrillar, and excitation-contraction (EC) coupling proteins with an emphasis on how these changes could alter skeletal muscle performance under chronically stressed conditions. A major barrier to a better mechanistic understanding of the role of reversible redox PTMs in muscle function is the technical challenges associated with accurately measuring the changes of site-specific redox PTMs. Here we will critically review current approaches with an emphasis on sample preparation artifacts, quantitation, and specificity. Despite these challenges, the ability to accurately quantify reversible redox PTMs is critical to understanding the mechanisms by which mitochondrial oxidative stress contributes to skeletal muscle dysfunction in chronic diseases.
Salir Adelante: a feminist ethnographic study of transnational Latina mothers and the practice of resilience

Resilience is a social and cultural learning process that is practiced and achieved by individuals. Positioning resilience as part of individuals’ interactions with people in their community and the use of tools available in their environment allows researchers to identify different possibilities for interventions. This dissertation is a qualitative study, exploring the development of resilience of Latinas both theoretically and methodologically, introducing relevant information regarding both individual actions and collective activities that help these women address conditions of social vulnerability and withstand adversity (Zolli & Healy, 2012; Carter, 2007). Qualitative data provided rich information using transnational Latinas’ own words and lived experiences to convey and describe the ways they recuperate or bounced back from life challenging events. Additionally, through Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) merged with Transnational Feminist Theory, this study demonstrates a concrete method for the analysis of the cultural, historical, and social aspects of the resiliency practices of transnational Latina immigrants to the U.S. Midwest, highlighting the necessity for ethnographic evidence to investigate the phenomenon (Carter, 2007). Furthermore, framing resilience development as an agentive activity from a CHAT perspective provides the opportunity to identify and examine specific motive(s) driving Latinas’ objects of achieving their material and emotional goals.
A Comprehensive Review of the CERES-Wheat, -Maize and -Rice Models’ Performances

Abstract The Crop Environment Resource Synthesis (CERES) models have been developed and utilized for the last 30 years to simulate crop growth in response to climate, soil, genotypes and management across locations throughout the world. We reviewed 215 papers found in the literature that contained field observed data where the CERES models were tested. Over 30 simulated variables of the CERES models have been tested in 43 different countries under various experimental treatments. Across all testing conditions, the CERES models simulated grain yield with a root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 1400 kg/ha (~10% relative error, RE), 1200 kg/ha (~20% RE) and 800 kg/ha (~10% RE) for maize, wheat, and rice, respectively. Phenological development was simulated with less than 7 days difference from the observations in most studies. The CERES models simulated aboveground biomass, harvest index, evapotranspiration, and soil water reasonably well too. The simulations of grain number (up to 4340 root mean square error, RMSE), grain weight (up to 22% error), intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR, up to 0.41 MJ/plant), leaf area index (LAI, 31.9% error), soil temperature (over 10°C difference), and nitrogen (N) dynamics (up to 80% error) were less accurate. In fact the average error of CERES model simulations tends to be higher under marginal crop growing conditions such as extreme heat or cold, water and nutrient deficit conditions.
High Volatility, Negative Correlation, Roth IRA Conversions, and the Codified Economic Substance Doctrine

This paper describes and analyzes an investment strategy that, when combined with simple Roth IRA conversion planning, can substantially reduce the tax costs of Roth conversions. The strategy leverages, through the combination of volatily and negative correlation, the put option feature inherent in Roth IRA recharacterizations. The only significant risk to taxpayers who execute the strategy is that the IRS might assert that the recently codified economic substance doctrine (and its strict liability penalty) applies to disallow the tax benefit. However, the doctrine appears not to be relevant in this context, where Congress has given taxpayers an explicit election to recharacterize Roth IRA conversions. Even if the doctrine were to apply, it would not likely increase current year tax liability.
Multiple Criteria Decision Support Systems on Microcomputers an Application in Production Planning

In this paper we compare four interactive multiple criteria decision support systems on a microcomputer. VIG (Visual Interactive Goal programming) recently developed by Korhonen(1987) is an interactive decision support system providing nondominated solutions to the decision maker. The other three interactive methods considered are contracting cone method (CCM) and interactive Tchebycheff method (ITM) both developed by Steuer, and modified Belenson — Kapur method, which was originally developed by Belenson — Kapur (1973) and modified by the author (Karpak, 1978) to fit the cases where there are alternative solutions. All four of them are applied to a production planning problem in a manufacturing company.
Investigation of the Potential for Human Travel into Deep Space Using Current, or Imminently Available, Technology

Since the inception of space flight no human has yet traveled beyond cislunar space into interplanetary space. The question thus arises: Is it possible to devise a spacecraft capable of sustaining crew in good physical and psychological health in long-duration missions using technologies that are either proven or in an advanced stage of development? Several semesters of space system design classes in the Aerospace Engineering Department at Texas A&M University were challenged to answer that question. Their work culminated in the efforts of the recent senior capstone design class as reported in this paper. Specifically, the class designed a human-crewed spacecraft with the mission to travel to asteroid 99942 (Apophis), gather samples, and return them to earth. Long-term habitability and adequate mobility motivated a number of challenging derived requirements, viz.: 1) maintain artificial gravity at 9.81 kg/m, 2) provide nuclear generation of electric power, 3) use electric propulsion, 4) include the cultivation of on-board food crops, 5) long term radiation protection, and 6) use the circular-restricted-three-body-problem method of trajectory design to develop a low-energy trajectory to 99942 Apophis. This paper will discuss the development and evolution of the spacecraft design including problems that remain and technologies requiring further development.
“Introduction to Seismology” by Peter Shearer

In teaching seismology (to students who may have essentially no prior familiarity with the subject) there has always, in my experience, been a significant gap between the general phenomenological undergraduate-level texts on earthquakes and associated issues and the advanced, terser, and specialized theoretical or applied seismology texts (especially Aki and Richards' Quantitative Seismology, which has tragically gone out of print, but which we all hope will be updated and republished soon!). For me, this situation has necessitated assembling material from a wide variety of sources, including home-grown notes, the peer-reviewed literature, features of my own professors' notes from graduate school, and the Web. It is thus exciting to see a concise and practical survey text …
Calcium‐activated chloride current determines action potential morphology during calcium alternans in atrial myocytes

Key points Cardiac alternans – periodic beat-to-beat alternations in contraction, action potential (AP) morphology or cytosolic calcium transient (CaT) amplitude – is a high risk indicator for cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. However, it remains an unresolved issue whether beat-to-beat alternations in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) or AP morphology are the primary cause of pro-arrhythmic alternans. Here we show that in atria AP alternans occurs secondary to CaT alternans. CaT alternans leads to complex beat-to-beat changes in Ca2+-regulated ion currents that determine alternans of AP morphology. We report the novel finding that alternans of AP morphology is largely sustained by the activity of Ca2+-activated Cl− channels (CaCCs). Suppression of the CaCCs significantly reduces AP alternans, while CaT alternans remains unaffected. The demonstration of a major role of CaCCs in the development of AP alternans opens new possibilities for atrial alternans and arrhythmia prevention. Abstract Cardiac alternans, described as periodic beat-to-beat alternations in contraction, action potential (AP) morphology or cytosolic Ca transient (CaT) amplitude, is a high risk indicator for cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We investigated mechanisms of cardiac alternans in single rabbit atrial myocytes. CaTs were monitored simultaneously with membrane currents or APs recorded with the patch clamp technique. Beat-to-beat alternations of AP morphology and CaT amplitude revealed a strong quantitative correlation. Application of voltage clamp protocols in the form of pre-recorded APs (AP-clamp) during pacing-induced CaT alternans revealed a Ca2+-dependent current consisting of a large outward component (4.78 ± 0.58 pA pF–1 in amplitude) coinciding with AP phases 1 and 2 that was followed by an inward current (−0.42 ± 0.03 pA pF–1; n = 21) during AP repolarization. Approximately 90% of the initial outward current was blocked by substitution of Cl− ions or application of the Cl− channel blocker DIDS identifying it as a Ca2+-activated Cl− current (ICaCC). The prominent AP prolongation at action potential duration at 30% repolarization level during the small alternans CaT was due to reduced ICaCC. Inhibition of Cl− currents abolished AP alternans, but failed to affect CaT alternans, indicating that disturbances in Ca2+ signalling were the primary event leading to alternans, and ICaCC played a decisive role in shaping the beat-to-beat alternations in AP morphology observed during alternans.
Characterizing caching workload of a large commercial Content Delivery Network

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) have emerged as a dominant mechanism to deliver content over the Internet. Despite their importance, to our best knowledge, large-scale analysis of CDN cache performance is lacking in prior literature. A CDN serves many content publishers simultaneously and thus has unique workload characteristics; it typically deals with extremely large content volume and high content diversity from multiple content publishers. CDNs also have unique performance metrics; other than hit ratio, CDNs also need to minimize network and disk load on cache servers. In this paper, we present measurement and analysis of caching workload at a large commercial CDN. Using detailed logs from four geographically distributed CDN cache servers, we analyze over 600 million content requests accounting for more than 1.3 petabytes worth of traffic. We analyze CDN workload from a wide range of perspectives, including request composition, size, popularity, and temporal dynamics. Using real-world logs, we also evaluate cache replacement algorithms, including two enhancements designed based on our CDN workload analysis: N-hit and content-aware caching. The results show that these enhancements achieve substantial performance gains in terms of cache hit ratio, disk load, and origin traffic volume.
A systematic test of cognitive mapping, working-memory, and temporal discontiguity theories of hippocampal function

A completely between-subjects design was used to test three specific hypotheses of hippocampal function: O’Keefe and Nadel’s cognitive mapping theory, Olton’s working-memory theory, and Rawlins’s temporal discontiguity hypothesis. The performance of rats with entorhinal lesions was compared with that of controls on a variety of spatial and nonspatial reference- and working-memory tasks using the same apparatus. The effects of massed versus distributed trials were also investigated. The entorhinal-lesioned animals were impaired on all tests of allocentric localization, regardless of the type of memory tested. The results were entirely consistent with the predictions of cognitive mapping theory, and failed to support the working-memory and temporal discontiguity theories. The results do not rule out the possibility that the cognitive mapping theory might, nevertheless, be a specific case of other, more general theories.
Insurance status affects postoperative morbidity and complication rate after shoulder arthroplasty.

Background Shoulder arthroplasty is an effective procedure for managing patients with shoulder pain secondary to end-stage arthritis. Insurance status has been shown to be a predictor of patient morbidity and mortality. The current study evaluated the effect of patient insurance status on perioperative outcomes after shoulder replacement surgery. Methods Data between 2004 and 2011 were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Analysis included patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty (partial, total, and reverse) procedures determined by International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision procedure codes. The primary outcome was medical and surgical complications occurring during the same hospitalization, with secondary analyses of mortality and hospital charges. Additional analyses using the coarsened exact matching algorithm were performed to assess the influence of insurance type in predicting outcomes. Results A data inquiry identified 103,290 shoulder replacement patients (68,578 Medicare, 27,159 private insurance, 3544 Medicaid/uninsured, 4009 other). The overall complication rate was 17.2% (n = 17,810) and the mortality rate was 0.20% (n = 208). Medicare and Medicaid/uninsured patients had a significantly higher rate of medical, surgical, and overall complications compared with private insurance using the controlled match data. Multivariate regression analysis found that having private insurance was associated with fewer overall medical complications. Conclusion Private insurance payer status is associated with a lower risk of perioperative medical and surgical complications compared with an age- and sex-matched Medicare and Medicaid/uninsured payer status. Mortality was not statistically associated with payer status. Primary insurance payer status should be considered as an independent risk factor during preoperative risk stratification for shoulder arthroplasty procedures.
Symmetries of twist-spun knots

Introduction In his paper [6] Ruberman conjectured that every twist-spun knot is (+)amphicheiral. Our aim is two-fold. First, to show that the twist-spin of a reversible (zinvertible) knot is indeed (+)-amphicheiral. This perhaps explains why Ruberman found so much evidence in favour of his conjecture; in the classical dimension, non-reversible knots are relatively rare. Second, to show that the conjecture fails in general. In §2 we show how symmetries (in the sense of reversibility and amphicheirality) are passed on by twist-spinning. This includes the positive cases of the conjecture mentioned above. Counterexamples are given in §4; the verification uses Theorem 5.4 of [6]. In §3 we prove a result on the Casson-Gordon invariants of satellite knots which we need for this application of Ruberman's theorem. We proved a similar result in [3], but now we are concerned with the ~-invariants of Casson and Gordon rather than the T-invariants. The section below just sets out some notation.
A practical hafnium-oxide memristor model suitable for circuit design and simulation

This paper proposes a practical polynomial model for HfO2 memristor fabricated in-house at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Although there is no shortage of memristor models in the literature, most models are not general and assume specific switching and conduction mechanisms. This is often deemed impractical for circuit designers who wish to develop a model for a specific technology of interest. Thus, circuit designers have sought empirical models that are easily fit to their specific device. The model should be simple, intuitive, and most importantly, fast to converge. The proposed model is based on measurable parameters and matches the experimental data well. The convergence of our model is tested against other models in the literature and shows comparable results. It is also shown that the smoothness of the model around the memristor threshold is critical for fast convergence time.
Revision of the Neotropical water scavenger beetle genus Quadriops Hansen, 1999 (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Acidocerinae).

The genus Quadriops Hansen, 1999 is revised and redescribed. The genus is found to contain six species, including two that are here described as new: Quadriops clusiasp. n. (Brazil, Guyana, Suriname) and Q. acroreiussp. n. (Suriname, French Guiana). Two species are found to be junior subjective synonyms of Q. depressus Hansen, 1999: Q. amazonensis Garcia, 2000, syn. n. and Q. politus Hansen, 1999, syn. n. The male of Q. similaris Hansen, 1999 is described for the first time. New records are provided for Q. dentatus Hansen, 1999, Q. reticulatus Hansen, 1999, and Q. similaris. All species are described and illustrated in detail. Most species are confirmed as having a terrestrial way of life, with several species being found in rotten fruits, sap flows, and dead wood. Furthermore, we discuss ecological trends of the species given their collecting information.