cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calculation of reliability for time-varying loads and resistances

Abstract There are many elements of structural loads and resistances that vary with time. For bridges, the live loads generally increase; that is, the mean of the live load density function increases with time. The resistances may increase, as in the case of concrete curing or timber seasoning; they may also decrease, as in the case of prestressing losses, material deterioration, or timber moisture gain. In calculating reliabilities, the time-varying nature of the above-mentioned elements is often ignored or represented only by a single averaged coefficient. A method is presented for including such important time-dependent elements in the reliability equation. The equation is derived and applied to the reliability analysis of a prestressed concrete bridge girder. The analysis considers the reliability against flexural cracking due to live loads over a 50-year life. Both the concrete compressive strength and the live loads are assumed to increase with time. For the assumed distributions and time relationships the time-reliability equation indicates higher reliabilities than those found by conventional level-III reliability analyses.
Weight Trimming and Propensity Score Weighting

Propensity score weighting is sensitive to model misspecification and outlying weights that can unduly influence results. The authors investigated whether trimming large weights downward can improve the performance of propensity score weighting and whether the benefits of trimming differ by propensity score estimation method. In a simulation study, the authors examined the performance of weight trimming following logistic regression, classification and regression trees (CART), boosted CART, and random forests to estimate propensity score weights. Results indicate that although misspecified logistic regression propensity score models yield increased bias and standard errors, weight trimming following logistic regression can improve the accuracy and precision of final parameter estimates. In contrast, weight trimming did not improve the performance of boosted CART and random forests. The performance of boosted CART and random forests without weight trimming was similar to the best performance obtainable by weight trimmed logistic regression estimated propensity scores. While trimming may be used to optimize propensity score weights estimated using logistic regression, the optimal level of trimming is difficult to determine. These results indicate that although trimming can improve inferences in some settings, in order to consistently improve the performance of propensity score weighting, analysts should focus on the procedures leading to the generation of weights (i.e., proper specification of the propensity score model) rather than relying on ad-hoc methods such as weight trimming.
Further studies on the circadian rhythm in the proliferative activity of mouse intestinal epithelium.

Im Tagesrhythmus der Proliferationstatigkeit von Darmepithelien wurde in drei verschiedenen Parametern um 02.00 Uhr ein Maximum gefunden. Mogliche Mechanismen werden erortert.
Green Urban Political Ecologies: Toward a Better Understanding of Inner-City Environmental Change:

This research uses a Marxist urban political ecology framework to link processes of urban environmental metabolization explicitly to the consumption fund of the built environment. Instead of reinventing the wheel, I argue in this paper that Marxist notions of metabolism are ideal for investigating urban environmental change and the production of uneven urban environments. In so doing, I argue that despite the embeddedness of Harvey's circuits of capital within urban political economy, these connected notions still have a great deal to offer regarding better understanding relations between consumption and metabolization of urban environments. From this theoretical perspective, I investigate urban socionatural metabolization as a function of the broader socioeconomic processes related to urban restructuring within the USA between 1962 and 1993 in the Indianapolis inner-city urban forest. The research examines the relations between changes in household income and changes in urban forest canopy cover. The res...
Diagnosis of the gr/gr Y Chromosome Microdeletion Does Not Help in the Treatment of Infertile American Men

Purpose: The phenotypic effects of the gr/gr partial azoospermia factor c deletion vary geographically and to our knowledge have not been reported in the American population. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of infertile American men with the gr/gr deletion.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data on 1,410 infertile men tested for the gr/gr deletion. We analyzed sperm concentration and the outcome of microdissection testicular sperm extraction with respect to gr/gr status.Results: We identified 73 men with gr/gr deletions, including 43 of 989 (4.3%) with azoospermia, 18 of 317 (5.7%) with severe oligospermia (less than 5 million sperm per ml), 6 of 61 (9.8%) with oligospermia (5 to less than 20 million sperm per ml) and 6 of 43 (14%) infertile men with normospermia (greater than 20 million sperm per ml). A gr/gr deletion correlated with higher sperm production. The gr/gr deletion rate was higher in men with normospermia than in those with a sperm concentration of less than...
Challenging the bioeconomy: The dynamics of collective action in Argentina

Abstract This paper analyzes the local bottom-up dynamics of challenging the growth of a bioeconomy in Argentina. In the last decade, growing controversies and conflict have arisen in the region regarding the adoption of genetically modified crops and the growing use of glyphosate-based herbicides. Even if the industry and the World Health Organization claim that glyphosate is a product of low-toxicity, an increasing body of scientific research shows severe health problems for villagers and farmers. In Argentina, many peasants, neighbors, environmental activists, as well as rural physicians, scientists, agronomic engineers and lawyers have asked for a ban or strict limits on the use of glyphosate-based herbicides. Using a case study, I focus on collective action between 1996 and 2011 aimed at changing “science-based regulations” for the commercialization and use of agrochemicals. I demonstrate that by implementing diverse and innovative collective strategies as well as promoting the creation of new scientific data, affected populations can achieve some degree of influence on decisions regarding risk. Even if social and scientific disagreements over regulatory frameworks for biotechnology in Latin America have been acknowledged in the literature, regulatory science has rarely been thought of as a field of social struggle where social movements can participate and promote change. This is an important contribution to the emerging field of studies focused on political collective action and social movements within science and technology [25] .
Managing the Asymptomatic Carotid Bruit

I is of interest to note the different meanings of the word, bruit, by various medical populations. The word is of French origin and is defined as “an ausculatory sound, usually an abnormal one.” Carotid bruit is defined as “an innocent systolic murmur heard in small children at the root ofthe neck, but not at the aortic area; also any bruit produced by blood flow in a carotid artery.” Therefore, pediatricians consider a carotid bruit to be normal. The French had a great interest in the bruit, describing bruit de diable as a “venous hum,” bruit de moulin as “the splashing sound when fluid and air are present in the pericardial sac,” and bruit de rappel, described by Bouillaud as “a split second heart sound.” With reference to the carotid bruit per se, surgeons have a different point of view from nonsurgeons regarding the connotation of a carotid bruit. Management of the problem in a given patient has changed rapidly during the 25 years that the carotid bruit has been found to be important. Differing programs of management, according to the patient’s setting, characterize today’s care. Management is different for an asymptomatic patient, found for the first time to have a mid-neck systolic bruit at the angle of the jaw, from that ofa patient with a bruit found preparatory to major general or vascular surgery. Both of these situations are different from a bruit found in a patient who is being prepared for cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass. Finally, the situation changes in a patient who has had a carotid endarterectomy, but who has an asymptomatic contralateral lesion with a bruit.
STM study of gold-overlayer formation on C 60 monolayers

Scanning tunneling microscopy was used to study Au-overlayer formation on the first and second monolayers of C[sub 60] on a Au(111) substrate. At 300 K, Au overlayers were clustering on top of the first monolayer of C[sub 60], and the stronger Au-Au bonding did not break the underlying long-range close-packed order of C[sub 60] molecules. However, Au diffused under the second C[sub 60] layer and formed two-dimensional clusters. These clusters provided multiple nucleation sites and the second C[sub 60] monolayer was rearranged around them. As a result, the second monolayer granulated. Bonding between the second monolayer and underlying Au clusters, characterized by charge transfer, was evidence that density of states near the Fermi level became higher. Our real-space images clarified some details presented in a recent photoelectron spectroscopy study.
Design and Operation of Aircraft to Minimize Their Sonic Boom

Means of reducing or eliminating the sonic boom through aerodynamic design or aircraft operation are discussed. These include designing aircraft to minimize or eliminate certain features of the overpressure signature, operating aircraft at slightly supersonic speeds so that the sonic boom does not reach the ground, and seeking reductions through the high-altitude, high-speed flight conditions of hypersonic transports. A simple computer program has been developed that determines the area development of the equivalent body of revolution required to minimize various sonic boom signature parameters.
Niridazole metabolism by rat embryos in vitro.

We report the results of studies on the reductive activation of the schistosomicidal agent, niridazole (NDZ). Intact rat embryos in vitro reduced this compound, generating a stable metabolite in the presence of 5% O2. By contrast, embryo and yolk sac homogenates or liver microsomes appeared to require anaerobiasis. Malformation incidence–specifically, axial asymmetry–showed a strong correlation with nitroreductase activity rates when the latter were modulated by oxygen tension. Data presented here suggest that when embryos are exposed to NDZ under conditions of low oxygen in vitro, redox cycling ensues with molecular oxygen serving to oxidize early reduction products. This process continues, regenerating the parent compound until oxygen is depleted locally. The basis of this localized depletion is unknown, but inability of the immature supply system to replete oxygen or demand by precociously aerobic tissues may be involved. Once local anaerobiasis is attained, further reduction could generate toxic metabolites capable of covalently binding cellular macromolecules. Localized hypoxia represents another potential mechanism of dysmorphogenesis.
A framework for understanding the integration of design methodologies

Software researchers and practitioners have studied and used a number of approaches to integrating major design paradigms in order to improve Software Design Methodologies (SDMs). Software tool developers have developed tools to aid the integration and customization of existing SDM support tools. However, a framework for understanding and guiding various integration and customization processes is still lacking. Because of this users, even with tool support, often fail to systematically integrate SDMs and SDM support tools.In this paper, we define a framework that can be used to understand various SDM integrations and customizations. Through this definition, we describe what kinds of integrations are useful, what difficulties are to be met, and how the integrity of the SDMs can be maintained.
Is Separation of Powers a Remedy for the Resource Curse? Firm Licensing, Corruption and Mining Development in Post-War Kosovo

This article argues that the high levels of corruption and rent-seeking typically observed in resource-rich countries are often caused by a sub-optimal separation of powers amongst state regulators responsible for firm licensing. To establish this point, I develop a transaction cost account of corruption and rent-seeking in mining-sector licensing systems, showing that due to transaction costs different allocations of institutional mandates give rise to differential incentives for corruption and rent-seeking. By critically assessing and elaborating the World Bank's thinking on mining-sector reform, I generate normative prescriptions to optimise the separation of powers in licensing regimes. I also treat this model of corruption and rent-seeking positively and I test it through an empirical case study of Kosovo. In the newly independent Balkan country, recent legal reforms have introduced a sub-optimal allocation of regulatory competences. The structure of transaction costs that resulted explains the growi...
An architecture and algorithms for multi-run clustering

This paper addresses two main challenges for clustering which require extensive human effort: selecting appropriate parameters for an arbitrary clustering algorithm and identifying alternative clusters. We propose an architecture and a concrete system MR-CLEVER for multi-run clustering that integrates active learning with clustering algorithms. The key hypothesis of this work is that better clustering results can be obtained by combining clusters that originate from multiple runs of clustering algorithms. By defining states that represent parameter settings of a clustering algorithm, the proposed architecture actively learns a state utility function. The utility of a parameter setting is assessed based on clustering run-time, quality and novelty of the obtained clusters. Furthermore, the utility function plays an important role in guiding the clustering algorithm to seek novel solutions. Cluster novelty measures are introduced for this purpose. Finally, we also contribute a cluster summarization algorithm that assembles a final clustering as a combination of high-quality clusters originating from multiple runs. Merits of our proposed system are that it is generic and therefore can be used in conjunction with different clustering algorithms, and it reduces human effort for selecting the parameters, for comparing clustering results and for assembling clustering results. We evaluate the proposed system in conjunction with a representative based clustering algorithm namely CLEVER for a challenging data mining task involving an earthquake dataset. The obtained results demonstrate that, in comparison to the best single-run clustering, multi-run clustering discovers solutions of higher quality.
Artificial Zinc(II) Complexes Regulate Cell Cycle and Apoptosis-Related Genes in Tumor Cell Lines

Various proteins involved in transcriptional regulation possess highly selective DNA-binding domains, known as zinc fingers. However, little is known about small-molecule zinc(II) complexes in the regulation of gene expression and programmed cell death. A new family of zinc(II) complexes is reported, which might be useful against human cancer cells. By using template synthesis and in vitro cell-line screening, a set of zinc(II) complexes has been found to induce apoptosis of cancer cells and display single-reagent in vitro cytotoxicity. The method used to synthesize the molecules resulted in "built-in" luminescent behavior. Confocal optical imaging clearly demonstrated penetration through the cell membrane by these metal complexes. We have discovered that C3, the meso-zinc(II) complex is an extremely efficient regulator of the cell cycle and anti-apoptosis genes bcl-2 and bcl-xL. This study provides a new insight into the development of zinc(II) complexes as potential drugs.
Structure determination of disordered organic molecules on surfaces from the Bragg spots of low-energy electron diffraction and total energy calculations

We show that an analysis of the intensity versus energy variation of Bragg spots due to low-energy electron diffraction from a disordered overlayer of molecules on a crystal surface allows a much more convenient method of determining the local adsorption geometries of such molecules than previously analyzed weak diffuse diffraction patterns. For the case of methanol on Pd~111!, we show that the geometry determined by this means from experimental diffraction data is in excellent agreement with the predictions of density functional total energy calculations. The adsorption of organic molecules on surfaces is a phe- nomenon at the core of many processes of far-reaching tech- nological importance in fields ranging from the lubrication of automobile engines to processes of heterogeneous catalysis that underpin much of our industrial civilization. The key to a fundamental understanding of these processes is the nature of the bonding of such molecules to surfaces, which in turn requires the determination of the geometrical relation of the molecules to the surfaces. A standard method of determining the adsorption geom- etry of molecules that form ordered overlayers on surfaces is the analysis of intensity versus beam energy ( I/E) variations of ~mainly! superstructure Bragg diffraction spots from low- energy electron diffraction ~LEED!. Unfortunately, many ad- sorbates do not form ordered layers on crystal surfaces. Rather, they tend to take up arrangements of locally identical geometries relative to the substrate, but with limited ~or non- existent! long-range order. The signature of such surfaces is background ~diffuse! LEED scattering from the disordered overlayer, rather than superstructure Bragg reflections. In such cases, alternative methods such as photoelectron diffraction 1 or x-ray standing wave measurements 2 have been able to determine aspects of the adsorption geometries. How- ever, such techniques require access to synchrotron radiation sources, thus limiting their applicability. Scanning tunneling microscopy ~STM! is also capable of probing the structure of disordered layers but cannot accurately measure bond lengths and angles. It has been shown that diffuse LEED intensities contain enough information to determine the structures of disordered surfaces. 3,4 Although this has proven effective in several cases, 5 experimental difficulties in mea- suring the low background intensities have prevented the widespread use of the technique. We point out in this paper that a much more easily accessible signal for accurately de- termining the structures of such disordered adsorbates is the monitoring of their much stronger effect on the Bragg reflec- tions of the ordered substrate. We demonstrate this idea by determining the adsorption geometry of methanol on Pd~111!. The tilted C-O bond found is confirmed by indepen- dent density functional total energy calculations that also de- termine the positions of the H atoms.
Risk of Thromboembolic Events After Percutaneous Left Atrial Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

Background— In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the risk of thromboembolic events (TEs) is variable and is influenced by the presence and number of comorbid conditions. The effect of percutaneous left atrial radiofrequency ablation (LARFA) of AF on the risk of TEs is unclear. Methods and Results— LARFA was performed in 755 consecutive patients with paroxysmal (n=490) or chronic (n=265) AF. Four hundred eleven patients (56%) had ≥1 risk factor for stroke. All patients were anticoagulated with warfarin for ≥3 months after LARFA. A TE occurred in 7 patients (0.9%) within 2 weeks of LARFA. A late TE occurred 6 to 10 months after ablation in 2 patients (0.2%), 1 of whom still had AF, despite therapeutic anticoagulation in both. Among 522 patients who remained in sinus rhythm after LARFA, warfarin was discontinued in 79% of 256 patients without risk factors and in 68% of 266 patients with ≥1 risk factor. Patients older than 65 years or with a history of stroke were more likely to remain anticoagulated de...
Stem cell‐based composite tissue constructs for regenerative medicine

A major task of contemporary medicine and dentistry is restoration of human tissues and organs lost to diseases and trauma. A decade-long intense effort in tissue engineering has provided the proof of concept for cell-based replacement of a number of individual tissues such as the skin, cartilage, and bone. Recent work in stem cell-based in vivo restoration of multiple tissue phenotypes by composite tissue constructs such as osteochondral and fibro-osseous grafts has demonstrated probable clues for bioengineered replacement of complex anatomical structures consisting of multiple cell lineages such as the synovial joint condyle, tendon-bone complex, bone-ligament junction, and the periodontium. Of greater significance is a tangible contribution by current attempts to restore the structure and function of multitissue structures using cell-based composite tissue constructs to the understanding of ultimate biological restoration of complex organs such as the kidney or liver. The present review focuses on recent advances in stem cell-based composite tissue constructs and attempts to outline challenges for the manipulation of stem cells in tailored biomaterials in alignment with approaches potentially utilizable in regenerative medicine of human tissues and organs.
The Basolateral Targeting Signal of CD147 (EMMPRIN) Consists of a Single Leucine and Is Not Recognized by Retinal Pigment Epithelium

CD147, a type I integral membrane protein of the immunoglobulin superfamily, exhibits reversed polarity in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). CD147 is apical in RPE in contrast to its basolateral localization in extraocular epithelia. This elicited our interest in understanding the basolateral sorting signals of CD147 in prototypic Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The cytoplasmic domain of CD147 has basolateral sorting information but is devoid of well-characterized basolateral signals, such as tyrosine and di-leucine motifs. Hence, we carried out systematic site-directed mutagenesis to delineate basolateral targeting information in CD147. Our detailed analysis identified a single leucine (252) as the basolateral targeting motif in the cytoplasmic tail of CD147. Four amino acids (243-246) N-terminal to leucine 252 are also critical basolateral determinants of CD147, because deletion of these amino acids leads to mistargeting of CD147 to the apical membranes. We ruled out the involvement of adaptor complex 1B (AP1B) in the basolateral trafficking of CD147, because LLC-PK1 cells lacking AP1B, target CD147 basolaterally. At variance with MDCK cells, the human RPE cell line ARPE-19 does not distinguish between CD147 (WT) and CD147 with leucine 252 mutated to alanine and targets both proteins apically. Thus, our study identifies an atypical basolateral motif of CD147, which comprises a single leucine and is not recognized by RPE cells. This unusual basolateral sorting signal will be useful in unraveling the specialized sorting machinery of RPE cells.
Some Aspects of Supersymmetry Breaking

I wish to describe some recent results on breaking of super-symmetry. The work in two dimensions was done with L. Alvarez-Gaume and D. Z. Freedman1, the work on soft breaking in four dimensions was done with L. Girardello2.
Gabapentin and suicide attempts

Purpose On 16 December 2008, FDA issued a class warning for antiepileptic drugs and suicidal thoughts and behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine if the antiepileptic drug gabapentin increases risk of suicide attempt in patients to which it was prescribed for various indications. Methods We conducted a pharmacoepidemiologic study in which suicide attempt rates were compared before and after gabapentin was prescribed. We used the PharMetrics medical claims database to study the relationship between gabapentin and suicide attempts in a cohort of 131 178 patients with a 1-year window of information before and after initial prescription. Patients had diagnoses of epilepsy, pain disorders, bipolar illness, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric disorders. Results Overall, there was no significant difference in suicide attempt rates before (3.48/1000 patient years—PY) versus after (3.45/1000 PY) gabapentin prescription. Pre-prescription suicide attempt rates were five times higher in psychiatric populations compared with non-psychiatric populations leading us to analyze the two groups separately. No drug effect was detected in the non-psychiatric populations. Significant reductions in suicide attempt rates were seen for bipolar disorder (47.85/1000 PY versus 31.46/1000 PY), major depressive disorder (17.30/1000 PY versus 12.66/1000 PY), and other psychiatric disorders (12.84/1000 PY versus 10.14/1000 PY). Person–time analysis revealed an overall significant reduction in suicide attempt rates (2.01/1000 PY on drug versus 2.30/1000 PY off drug). Conclusions This study finds that gabapentin does not increase risk of suicide attempts in non-psychiatric populations and is associated with a reduction in suicide attempt risk in patients with psychiatric disorders. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nursing Informatics and ASPAN: Clinical Decision Support Through the Perianesthesia Data Elements

THE PERIANESTHESIA NURSE is expected to make multiple decisions while caring for patients. The decisions may be benign and require little thought or they may require an immediate response and have life-threatening or life-saving consequences. Invariably, the data and information available to nurses and how they analyze the data are central components of the decision-making process. A federal goal specifying that all patients will have an electronic health record (EHR) within the next four years creates an opportunity for perianesthesia nurses to benefit from advances in clinical decision support systems (CDSS). CDSS applications challenge specialty organizations to become more active in guiding development of Health Information Technology and the EHR for the adequate capture of specialty knowledge and support of specialty practice.
Clinical Evidence Supporting Pharmacogenomic Biomarker Testing Provided in US Food and Drug Administration Drug Labels

Importance Genetic biomarkers that predict a drug’s efficacy or likelihood of toxicity are assuming increasingly important roles in the personalization of pharmacotherapy, but concern exists that evidence that links use of some biomarkers to clinical benefit is insufficient. Nevertheless, information about the use of biomarkers appears in the labels of many prescription drugs, which may add confusion to the clinical decision-making process. Objective To evaluate the evidence that supports pharmacogenomic biomarker testing in drug labels and how frequently testing is recommended. Data Sources Publicly available US Food and Drug Administration databases. Main Outcomes and Measures We identified drug labels that described the use of a biomarker and evaluated whether the label contained or referenced convincing evidence of its clinical validity (ie, the ability to predict phenotype) and clinical utility (ie, the ability to improve clinical outcomes) using guidelines published by the Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention Working Group. We graded the completeness of the citation of supporting studies and determined whether the label recommended incorporation of biomarker test results in therapeutic decision making. Results Of the 119 drug-biomarker combinations, only 43 (36.1%) had labels that provided convincing clinical validity evidence, whereas 18 (15.1%) provided convincing evidence of clinical utility. Sixty-one labels (51.3%) made recommendations about how clinical decisions should be based on the results of a biomarker test; 36 (30.3%) of these contained convincing clinical utility data. A full description of supporting studies was included in 13 labels (10.9%). Conclusions and Relevance Fewer than one-sixth of drug labels contained or referenced convincing evidence of clinical utility of biomarker testing, whereas more than half made recommendations based on biomarker test results. It may be premature to include biomarker testing recommendations in drug labels when convincing data that link testing to patient outcomes do not exist.
Effect of Atmospheric Ammonia on Laying Hen Performance

In periods of extremely cold weather, energy conservation in a pit-type laying house usually results in a restricted ventilation rate and an increase in air pollutants particularly ammonia. Results show that 200 ppm ammonia for 17 days causes a significant loss in percent egg production and the hens lose a significant amount of weight with a reduced feed intake. Although not satisfactory, it appears that lesser amounts of ammonia (100 ppm) can be tolerated for short periods without an immediate drastic loss in laying performance if a choice has to be made between frozen waterers and cold stress versus atmospheric ammonia in the laying house.
An analytical study of heat and mass transfer in multiparticle systems at low Reynolds numbers

This investigation was undertaken to obtain an analytical solution to the problem of predicting particle-to-fluid heat and mass transfer rates in multiparticle systems at low Reynolds numbers. The energy equation based on the free surface model was solved by expanding the fluid temperature distribution in even powers of the spherical angle and by assuming that the fluid properties remain relatively constant with temperature. Solutions were obtained for Peclet numbers between 0.1 and 100 and fractional void volumes between 0.4 and 1.0. They show that the average Nusselt or Sherwood number in a bed of particles is a function of both the fractional void volume and the Peclet number, the effect of Peclet number decreasing as the bed becomes more concentrated in the low Peclet number range. A plot of the results in terms of the j factor vs. the Reynolds number shows good agreement with published experimental mass and heat transfer data and indicates that the j factor is not independent of the Schmidt or Prandtl numbers at low Reynolds number, low Peclet number flow.
Therapeutic Potential of the Translation Inhibitor Silvestrol in Hepatocellular Cancer

Background & Aims Although hepatocellular cancers (HCC) frequently arise in the setting of fibrosis and a hepatic regenerative response requiring new cell growth, therapeutic strategies for these cancers have not targeted protein synthesis. Silvestrol, a rocaglate isolated from Aglaia foveolata, can inhibit protein synthesis by modulating the initiation of translation through the eukaryotic initiation factor 4A. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of silvestrol for HCC. Methods The efficacy of silvestrol was examined using human HCC cells in vitro using an orthotopic tumor cell xenograft model in a fibrotic liver. The impact of silvestrol on the liver was assessed in vivo in wild-type mice. Results Silvestrol inhibited cell growth with an IC50 of 12.5-86 nM in four different HCC cell lines. In vitro, silvestrol increased apoptosis and caspase 3/7 activity accompanied by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased expression of Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL. A synergistic effect was observed when silvestrol was combined with other therapeutic agents, with a dose-reduction index of 3.42-fold with sorafenib and 1.75-fold with rapamycin at a fractional effect of 0.5. In vivo, an antitumor effect was observed with 0.4 mg/kg silvestrol compared to controls after one week, and survival of tumor-bearing mice was improved with a median survival time of 42 and 28 days in the silvestrol and control groups, respectively. The effect on survival was not observed in orthotopic xenografts in non-fibrotic livers. Silvestrol treatment in vivo did not alter liver structure. Conclusions These data identify silvestrol as a novel, structurally unique drug with potent anticancer activity for HCC and support the potential value of targeting initiation of translation in the treatment of HCC.
Numerical processing of dynamic subaperture testing measurements

Subaperture testing is a technique for interferometrically testing optical telescopes with an array of small flats rather than the usual single large flat. Special subaperture testing analysis algorithms are then required to remove the effects of small misalignments of the subaperture flats. Classical subaperture testing theory treats the analysis of measurements or interferograms one frame at a time. This paper covers the case where a series of measurements are taken over a period of time. This paper begins with a description of the static subaperature testing problem and a review of classical solutions. The dynamic subaperture testing problem is then defined as an extention of the static problem. A dynamic subaperture testing numerical processor is presented which incorporates a discrete Kalman filter to exploit the sequential nature of these measurements. The processor is then simplified so that it may be used when subaperture dynamics are not known. Tuning the Kalman filter and simulating interferometer measurements of known aberrations are discussed. The results of tests using these computer simulated measurements show that the new processor is considerably more accurate than any previous method.
Tcf21 regulates the specification and maturation of proepicardial cells

The epicardium is a mesothelial cell layer essential for vertebrate heart development and pertinent for cardiac repair post-injury in the adult. The epicardium initially forms from a dynamic precursor structure, the proepicardial organ, from which cells migrate onto the heart surface. During the initial stage of epicardial development crucial epicardial-derived cell lineages are thought to be determined. Here, we define an essential requirement for transcription factor Tcf21 during early stages of epicardial development in Xenopus, and show that depletion of Tcf21 results in a disruption in proepicardial cell specification and failure to form a mature epithelial epicardium. Using a mass spectrometry-based approach we defined Tcf21 interactions and established its association with proteins that function as transcriptional co-repressors. Furthermore, using an in vivo systems-based approach, we identified a panel of previously unreported proepicardial precursor genes that are persistently expressed in the epicardial layer upon Tcf21 depletion, thereby confirming a primary role for Tcf21 in the correct determination of the proepicardial lineage. Collectively, these studies lead us to propose that Tcf21 functions as a transcriptional repressor to regulate proepicardial cell specification and the correct formation of a mature epithelial epicardium.
Determination of Bond Stress Distribution Coefficient by Maximum Likelihood Method

AbstractTransfer length is a significant parameter in the design of pretensioned concrete members. The estimation of transfer length is typically achieved by measuring concrete strain or strand slip at the member ends. The end slip method is simple and requires little effort, but relies on an empirical formula with an undetermined coefficient (α), which relates to the bond stress distribution. Many studies have proposed appropriate α coefficients; however, the variability in estimating the α coefficient exists between studies depending on the chosen empirical fit. This study gives an estimation of the α coefficient using a probabilistic approach called the maximum likelihood (ML) method. Approximately 600 data points of transfer lengths and strand end slips were measured for 25 pretensioned concrete beams. Strand end slips were measured at release and at 3, 5, 7, 14, and 28 days. Concrete strains were measured at the same period of time using a detachable mechanical strain (DEMEC) gauge to determine the t...
Gasoline from Woody Biomass via Thermochemical Gasification, Methanol Synthesis, and Methanol-to-Gasoline Technologies: A Technoeconomic Analysis

This work describes a technoeconomic analysis of the feasibility of making gasoline using biomass-derived syngas that was completed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The process includes the following steps: (1) biomass gasification of woody residues, which produces a syngas rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (2) syngas cleanup by means of tar reforming and scrubbing, followed by the removal of acid gases; (3) synthesis of methanol from clean syngas by passing it over a copper/zinc oxide/alumina catalyst; (4) conversion of methanol to gasoline using a ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst, first developed by Exxon Mobil as the methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) technology; and (5) multiple gasoline separation and finishing processes. The process was modeled in Aspen Plus, and information taken from the Aspen Plus simulation was used to complete a discounted cash flow rate of return (DCFROR) analysis. The results of the DCFROR, using a poplar wood feedstock cost of $55.89/dry metric tonne ($50.70/dry U.S. to...
Demographics and disease processes of patients seeking second medical hematology/oncology opinions at a tertiary care center in the United States

16018 Background: Second opinions (SO) are common in medical practice. Aside from case series, little evidence exists to demonstrate a clinical benefit associated with SO. Lack of relevant data lim...
Wide-view image system based on Internet of cars

The paper proposed a wide-view image system based on the Internet of cars which compositions information acquisition and fusion.It used a camera and global position system for acquiring image around and the car location information respectively which was transmitted to the server on the information collection stage.On the information fusion stage,firstly,it found the image set suitable for wide-view image using GPS location.Secondly,it constructed wide-view image through a image stitching algorithm based on SURF on the server.Experiments show that the algorithm performs well with high time efficiency.The system is extendable for developing further applications of Internet of cars.
Homelessness and residential instability as covariates of HIV risk behavior among residents of single room occupancy housing

ABSTRACTHomeless and unstably housed individuals are at increased risk for contracting HIV. This study examined multiple indicators of housing instability and their association with HIV risk for a sample of low-income residents living in single room occupancy (SRO) buildings in Chicago (n = 163). In the multivariate analysis, prior homelessness was associated with recent illicit drug use (adjusted odds ratio = 3.14) and self-identifying as homeless was associated with having multiple sexual partners (adjusted odds ratio = 2.99). The number of months participants had lived at the SRO was not significantly associated with any risk behaviors. Results suggest that residential stability and housing histories vary considerably among SRO residents, and that it is critical to use precise definitions to capture multiple dimensions of housing to better understand their potential relationship with HIV risk.
First-principles prediction of the softening of the silicon shock Hugoniot curve

Shock compression of silicon (Si) under extremely high pressures (g100 Mbar) was investigated by using two first-principles methods of orbital-free molecular dynamics (OFMD) and path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC). While pressures from the two methods agree very well, PIMC predicts a second compression maximum because of $1s$ electron ionization that is absent in OFMD calculations since Thomas\char21{}Fermi-based theories lack shell structure. The Kohn-Sham density functional theory is used to calculate the equation of state (EOS) of warm dense silicon for low-pressure loadings ($P$ 100 Mbar). Combining these first-principles EOS results, the principal shock Hugoniot curve of silicon for pressures varying from \ensuremath{\sim}1 Mbar to above \ensuremath{\sim}10 Gbar was derived. We find that silicon is \ensuremath{\sim}20%, or more, softer than what was predicted by widely used EOS models. Existing high-pressure experimental data ($P$ \ensuremath{\approx} 1\char21{}2 Mbar) seem to indicate this softening behavior of Si, which calls for future strong-shock experiments ($P10$ Mbar) to benchmark our results.
Kinetically controlled simplification of a multiresponsive [10 × 10] dynamic imine library

Kinetically controlled self-sorting processes in complex synthetic mixtures represent an important model for behaviours of biological networks, which operate far from equilibrium and without interference among simultaneous metabolic pathways. However, most of the previously reported kinetic self-sorting protocols dealt with small dynamic libraries and a single external stimulus. Here, we report the iterative simplification of a large imine dynamic combinatorial library (DCL) constructed from 10 aldehydes and 10 anilines, under the sequential influence of an oxidant, an adsorbent, and an increase in temperature. Six components of this initial DCL are mechanically isolated and amplified at least three-fold relative to their equilibrium distributions at the outset of the sorting process.
Synthesis and structure of tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenoxide) bis(THF) uranium(IV)

The reaction of UCl4 with KO-2,6-Cl2C6H3 in tetrahydrofuran results in the preparation of the title compound. The six-coordinate complex possesses pseudo-octahedral geometry about uranium, with U-O(phenoxide) bond lengths in the range 2.161(11) to 2.178(10) A and U-O(THF) bond lengths of 2.467(10) and 2.475(11) A. This complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n (a = 11.169(2), b = 11.588(2), c = 35.119(5) A, β = 92.11(1)°, V = 4542.2(13) A3, and Z = 4).
Development and Experimental Evaluation of Concurrent Control of a Robotic Arm and Continuum Manipulator for Osteolytic Lesion Treatment

This letter presents the development and evaluation of concurrent control of a robotic system for less-invasive treatment of osteolytic lesions behind an acetabular implant. This system implements safety constraints including a remote center of motion, virtual walls, and joint limits while operating through the screw holes of the acetabular implant. The formulated linear constrained optimization problem ensures these constraints are satisfied while maintaining precise control of the tip of a Continuum Dexterous Manipulator attached to a positioning robot. Experiments evaluated the performance of the tip control method within an acetabular cup. The controller reliably reached a series of goal points with a mean error of 0.42 mm and a worst-case error of straying 1.0 mm from our path.
Optimal perioperative anesthesia management for gynecologic interstitial brachytherapy

Author(s): Nielsen, Alison A; Liyanage, Tehani A; Leiserowitz, Gary S; Mayadev, Jyoti | Abstract: PurposeTo propose an optimal perioperative pain management clinical care pathway for interstitial brachytherapy for gynecologic cancer based on our interdepartmental experience.Material and methodsWe conducted a retrospective review of 23 women who underwent 32 interstitial brachytherapy procedures for gynecological cancers, analyzing patient demographics, type of anesthetic, medications, postoperative pain scores, adverse events, and delays in discharge. We measured the association of postoperative nausea and/or vomiting (PONV) with hydromorphone use, and postoperative pain scores and total narcotic administration with type of anesthesia.ResultsIn 91% of patients postoperative pain was managed with an epidural infusion plus, as needed (PRN), IV or patient controlled analgesia (PCA) narcotics. The most common postoperative adverse event was PONV (53%), followed by delirium (22%). Hospital discharge was delayed, at least by one night, in 26% of patients. Use of a basal rate on the PCA was associated with all cases of delayed discharge from over-sedation and PONV. The use of 5 mg or more of intravenous (IV) hydromorphone during the first 24-hours postoperatively was associated with PONV (p = 0.01). Use of a basal PCA was associated with delirium (p = 0.03). Postoperative pain scores were not significantly associated with the type of anesthesia.ConclusionsInterstitial gynecologic brachytherapy requires a multidisciplinary effort for optimal perioperative management. Our study outlines the appropriate preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative anesthesia clinical care pathway. Decreased narcotic use during hospitalization and utilization of a patient-directed infusion may decrease side effects and allow for a more efficient hospital discharge.
Law of Spatial Averaging During Endocardial Voltage Mapping: You Can't Trim Out the Fat!

See Article by Samanta et al Since the introduction and widespread application of 3-dimensional electroanatomic mapping, voltage-based displays of the arrhythmogenic substrate have greatly facilitated the practice of scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation. The detection of scar is predicated on a voltage threshold (<1.5 mV) used to differentiate scar from normal tissue.1 However, there has been a resurgence of interest in the fundamental principles of bipolar and unipolar voltage recordings that complicate our oversimplistic classification of low voltage on a binary system, scar or normal.2 Bipolar and unipolar amplitudes are influenced by the orientation of the recording electrode relative to the activation wavefront, which exhibits anisotropic conduction properties relative to fiber orientation and fibrosis. Recordings are necessarily made with instruments or tools, and the size, shape, and spacing of an electrode pair determine the amount of myocardium sampled by the virtual electrode.3 Voltage recordings represent an electrical biopsy, and the electrogram amplitude represents a spatial average of the relative proportion of myocardial mass to fibrosis in a given sample.4 This explains why a higher voltage threshold may be warranted to detect fibrosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The number of viable myocytes that comprise an electrogram with a clinical recording tool remains unknown at present. The field of view may be much larger than the region of interest. The significance of the law of spatial averaging can be appreciated by imagining a bipolar recording with the distal electrode in contact with transmural scar and the proximal electrode in contact with normal myocardium. The resulting voltage does not reflect the exact information from either electrode. Consistent with this consideration, we …
Violence against queer people: Race, class, gender, and the persistence of anti-LGBT discrimination,

Doug Meyer's book Violence Against Queer People: Race, Class, Gender, and the Persistence of Anti-LGBT Discrimination is a concerted effort in favor of more intersectional discussions of topics rel...
A spinning beam subjected to a moving deflection dependent load,: Part I: response and resonance

Abstract The response and resonance of a rotating beam subjected to an axially accelerating distributed line load is studied. The load magnitude is taken to be deflection dependent: that is, to vary according to the deflection of the beam at the contact center; superposed harmonic time dependence is also included. The Timoshenko beam model incorporating gyroscopic effects is used. Two types of load velocity profiles are considered, along with clamped-clamped and pinned-pinned support conditions. Spatial dependence in the beam’s governing equations of motion is satisfied using Galerkin’s method. The resulting time dependent equations are numerically integrated for the transient response of the beam at the load contact center for a variety of cases. Conditions under which the moving force excites the beam into resonance are derived in the general case of load deflection dependence with superposed harmonic dependence. These conditions are found to involve load speed, the frequency of the superposed time dependence, cutting parameters and the beam properties. Resonance plots are presented for a variety of cases.