cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of knowledge-based systems in wind engineering

Abstract An overview of basic concepts and techniques necessary to develop expert systems is presented. The knowledge elicitation process and knowledge representation schemes are discussed. We demonstrate that knowledge-based systems can offer intelligent assistance to designers and planners in accomplishing a wide spectrum of tasks requiring wind engineering expertise. We present an example of an expert system under development. Specifically, object-oriented and rule-based representations are used to encode knowledge about the serviceability of high-rise buildings. The resulting prototype expert system assists structural engineers in the preliminary design of building by eliminating those design that would be unsuitable based on human comfort criteria. We conclude that expert systems can be used to effectively advance the state-of-the-art in wind engineering.
One-time graded doses of vitamin A to weanling piglets enhance hepatic retinol but do not always prevent vitamin A deficiency.

Background:VitaminAsupplementsareadministeredtoinfantsin developing countries at immunization contacts; doses of 50 000 IU vitamin A are recommended. Doses of 100 000 IU are given to children aged 0.5–1 y. The efficacy of these doses has not been adequately determined. Objective: We aimed to quantify liver vitamin A after the administration of vitamin A doses to piglets. Piglets are a good model for infants because of their similar size, gastrointestinal anatomy, and vitamin A requirements. Design: Castrated male piglets born to sows fed a vitamin A–depleted diet throughout 1 (parity A) or 3 (parity B) pregnancy and lactation cycles were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 4 oral vitamin A doses (ie, 0, 25 000, 50 000, or 100 000 IU) at weaning (days 9–14). A vitamin A–depleted diet was fed until the piglets were killed on day 10. Serum retinol was measured on days 1, 2, 4, 7, and 10. The modified relative dose response was measured before supplementation and at the time of killing, and liver vitamin A concentration was measured. Results: In both parities, 25 000 IU did not result in a mean liver retinol reserve 0.07 mol/g liver (the deficiency cutoff). The 50 000-IU dose increased mean reserves above 0.07mol/g only in parity A. Liver vitamin A reserves with the 100 000-IU treatment were only 5% above those with the 50 000-IU treatment. The modifiedrelativedose-responsetestreflecteddifferencesinlivervitamin A stores in parity B, and the 0-IU group differed significantly from the 100 000-IU group (P 0.011). Conclusion:Thispigletmodelsuggeststhat,forsupplementationto infants6 mo old, a 50 000-IU dose is likely to be more efficacious in mitigating deficiency than is a 25 000-IU dose. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;86:1045–53.
A Class of Kharitonov Regions for Robust Stability of Linear Uncertain Systems

In this paper the Kharitonov's Theorems [1,2] are generalized to the problem of so-called Kharitonov regions for robust stability of linear uncertain systems. Given a polytope of (characteristic) polynomials P and a stability region D in the complex plane, P is called D-stable if the zeros of every polynomial in P are interior to D. It is of interest to know whether D is a Kharitonov region, that is, whether the D-stability of the vertices of P implies the D-stability of P. A simple approach is developed which unifies and generalizes many known results on this problem.
Robot-Assisted Ureteral Reconstruction Using Buccal Mucosa.

Objective To describe the technique of robotic buccal mucosa graft ureteroplasty as a minimally invasive alternative method of ureteral reconstruction for proximal or multifocal ureteral strictures not amenable to primary anastomosis. Methods Between October 2013 and May 2014, we performed robotic-assisted ureteral reconstruction using buccal mucosa grafts in four patients (mean age 41.5, range 23-67). The indication for surgery was a proximal or multifocal stricture not amenable to ureteroureterostomy or ureteropyelostomy. Buccal mucosa grafts were harvested to be the length of the strictured segment and 1 cm in width and placed in the ureter as an anterior or posterior onlay. Follow up was performed with diuretic renogram at least 3 months postoperatively and renal ultrasound as well as clinical assessment of symptoms. Results All 4 patients underwent successful robotic-assisted reconstruction of the ureter using buccal mucosa graft. There were no intraoperative complications. At a median follow up of 15.5 months (range 10.7-18.6), there has been 100% success. Conclusion Robotic buccal mucosa graft ureteroplasty is a feasible option for reconstruction of proximal or multifocal ureteral strictures that are not amenable to primary anastomosis and it avoids the morbidity of alternative procedures.
Are all low molecular weight heparins equivalent in the management of venous thromboembolism

Low molecular weight heparins are replacing unfractionated heparin in a number of clinical indications because of their improved subcutaneous bioavailability and more predictable antithrombotic res...
Recurrent Parotitis in Childhood

Recurrent parotitis is characterized by a cyclic swelling of the parotid glands associated with discomfort and/or pain in the absence of external inflammatory changes or progression to frank suppuration. Recurrent parotitis is hardly a common problem, but when it does present itself, it is most perplexing. Its etiology and the pathogenesis remain an enigma and, as a consequence, consensus on proper management is still lacking.
Joint Action Models

One of the simplest forms of data is the dichotomous indication of whether or not a specific event occurs, categorized as “responses” and “nonresponses,” respectively. In some settings, there may be two classification schemes or qualitative factorizations examined for their mutual effect on the response. Alternatively, the differential response of two or more populations with respect to a single classification variable may be of interest. This article presents some basic models and methods for assessing the joint action in such dual-factor studies with dichotomous data. Keywords: synergy; binary data; antagonism; simple independent action; simple similar action
Ischemic Colitis with Type I Interferons Used in the Treatment of Hepatitis C and Multiple Sclerosis: An Evaluation from the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System and Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVETo better characterize the association between type I interferons and ischemic colitis (IC) in patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and multiple sclerosis (MS), by analyzing reports submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) and the published literature.DATA SOURCESA total of 2,562,390 reports of adverse events between January 2003 and June 2011 were downloaded from the FDA AERS. A literature review was performed on PubMed (January 1966–August 2012) using the MeSH terms interferon or interferon alfa or interferon beta and ischemic colitis separated by the Boolean operator “and” between the first 3 terms and the last term. Additional literature was identified by conducting a hand search of the reference list of the published literature identified in the initial search.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTIONCases were restricted to those with an indication of HCV or MS, a primary suspect drug of a type I interferon, and a reaction of IC. Full-length r...
Effects of serotonergic compounds on aqueous humor dynamics in monkeys

Purpose. The effects of several serotonergic agonists on aqueous humor formation (AHF), total outflow facility (OF) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were investigated in living cynomolgus monkeys. Methods. We determined the effect of a single topical unilateral 300 µg or 3 mg dose of the 5-HT agonists serotonin, 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT), sumatripan, gepirone, and 8-hydroxy-2(di-n-propylaminotetralin) (8-OH-DPAT) and a 450 µg dose of flesinoxan on IOP (Goldmann applanation tonometry), AHF (scanning ocular fluorophotometry) and total OF (8-OH-DPAT only, topically and intracamerally). Results. Serotonin, 5-CT, sumatripan or gepirone had no significant effect on IOP or AHF. 8-OH-DPAT caused an AHF increase of ~70% over 6 hr in both ipsilateral drug- and contralateral vehicle-treated eyes, but no significant change in IOP compared with baseline measured on a separate occasion in the same animals. 8-OH-DPAT did not increase protein levels or rate of entry of systemically administered fluorescein in the ante...
Dose dependent effect of statins on postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery among patients treated with beta blockers

Previous studies on the effects of Statins in preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery have shown conflicting results. Whether statins prevent AF in patients treated with postoperative beta blockers and whether the statin-effect is dose related are unknown. We retrospectively studied 1936 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (n = 1493) or valve surgery (n = 443) at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. All patients were in sinus rhythm before the surgery. Postoperative beta blockers were administered routinely (92% within 24 hours postoperatively). Mean age was 66+10 years and 68% of the patients were taking Statins. Postoperative AF occurred in 588 (30%) patients and led to longer length of stay in the intensive care unit versus those without AF (5.1+7.6 days versus 2.5+2.3 days, p 20 mg daily had a 36% reduction in the risk of postoperative AF (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.6; p = 0.03) in comparison to those taking lower dosages. Among cardiac surgery patients treated with postoperative beta blockers Statin treatment reduces the incidence of postoperative AF when used at higher dosages
rRNA gene silencing and nucleolar dominance: Insights into a chromosome-scale epigenetic on/off switch

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene transcription accounts for most of the RNA in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. In eukaryotes, there are hundreds (to thousands) of rRNA genes tandemly repeated head-to-tail within nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) that span millions of basepairs. These nucleolar rRNA genes are transcribed by RNA Polymerase I (Pol I) and their expression is regulated according to the physiological need for ribosomes. Regulation occurs at several levels, one of which is an epigenetic on/off switch that controls the number of active rRNA genes. Additional mechanisms then fine-tune transcription initiation and elongation rates to dictate the total amount of rRNA produced per gene. In this review, we focus on the DNA and histone modifications that comprise the epigenetic on/off switch. In both plants and animals, this system is important for controlling the dosage of active rRNA genes. The dosage control system is also responsible for the chromatin-mediated silencing of one parental set of rRNA genes in genetic hybrids, a large-scale epigenetic phenomenon known as nucleolar dominance.
MBE Growth of GaAs on Si: Problems and Progress

Several fundamental problems are reviewed that must be solved if GaAs on Si growth is to be achieved with device-quality already close to the GaAs/Si interface, rather than relying on thick buffer layers: (a) antiphase disorder, (b) interface charge and cross-doping, and (c) misfit dislocations. An extensive discussion is given of the mechanism by which antiphase disorder is suppressed on (100)-oriented substrates
Chronic myopathy induced by repeated bupivacaine injections

The effect of recurrent cycles of muscle fiber degeneration-regeneration was studied by repeated bupivacaine injections into the rat anterior tibial muscle. Injections of 0.6 ml of 0.75% bupivacaine were performed weekly for 6 months. The rats were allowed to recover for another 2 months and then killed. Histological and histochemical stains showed striking changes, including marked variability in fiber size, numerous internal nuclei, extensive fiber splitting and many whorled fibers. Combined staining for end-plate cholinesterase and terminal axons showed a markedly enlarged zone of terminal innervation. These findings suggest that the observed morphological changes usually attributed to a primary myopathic process may instead be the manifestations of impaired and incomplete regeneration occurring after cycles of degeneration-regeneration.
Overview of the Scalable Communications Core

The scalable communications core (SCC) is a power- and area-efficient solution for physical layer (PHY) and lower MAC processing of concurrent multiple wireless protocols. Our architecture consists of coarse-grained, heterogeneous, programmable accelerators connected via a packet-switched 3-ary 2-cube network on chip (NoC). The combination of the accelerators, which were developed for key communications kernels, and the NoC results in an architecture that is flexible for multiple protocols, extensible for future standards and scalable to support multiple simultaneous streams.
Frequency of E-Cigarette Use and Cigarette Smoking by American Students in 2014

Introduction High school students' electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use rose rapidly in 2014, to levels higher than cigarette smoking, which declined significantly. This study assesses how frequency of e-cigarette use is associated with students' smoking status. Methods Using Monitoring the Future data in 2015, this study evaluated the association between students' smoking and frequency of 30-day e-cigarette use in 2014, focusing on high school seniors. Previous research has considered only whether e-cigarettes were used at all during the past month. Results Non-smokers were far less likely than smokers to have used an e-cigarette ( p p p =0.99). Because most students have never smoked, never smokers constituted 25% of all seniors who used an e-cigarette. Among tenth- and eighth-graders, 43% and 48% of past-month e-cigarette users had never smoked. Conclusions Non-smoking high school students are highly unlikely to use e-cigarettes; among those who do, most used them only on 1–2 of the past 30 days. By contrast, current smokers are likely to use e-cigarettes and on many more days. It is unclear whether students' e-cigarette use represents short-term experimentation or future sustained use, and whether it will eventually increase or decrease youth smoking and nicotine addiction. More sophisticated research methods, employing better data, will be essential to unravel the mystery that is the e-cigarette phenomenon.
Are Inactive Renins in Plasma and Kidney Related to Prorenin

The availability of elegant studies examining in vitro RNA translation of renin's message, the cDNA sequence of mouse-renin messenger RNA, and the complete amino acid sequence of active renin reveals the biosynthetic pathway of this enzyme. This pathway proceeds in a series of steps that correspond to the common mode of synthesis of secreted proteins. This information must now be correlated with a profusion of observations concerning inactive forms of renin that are found in kidney and other tissues in far higher concentration than the active enzyme in human plasma. At this time, in spite of great efforts on the part of many laboratories, the connection between the inactive renins of tissue or plasma and renin's biosynthetic precursors is unknown. Furthermore, the physiologic and pathophysiologic roles that inactive renins play, if any, have not been defined.
Pool boiling enhancement through bubble induced convective liquid flow in feeder microchannels

Bubbles departing from the nucleation sites induce a liquid flow from the bulk to the heated surface during pool boiling. Alternating the nucleating regions with non-nucleating regions facilitates separate liquid-vapor pathways for departing vapor bubbles and returning liquid. We explored an additional enhancement through liquid feeder channels on the heater surface directing the returning liquid towards the nucleating region. The nucleating bubbles were confined to the nucleating region as the returning liquid flow induced strong convective currents over the non-nucleating regions. In the best performing configuration, the nucleating regions were 0.5 mm wide, separated by non-nucleating regions of width 2.125 mm, which corresponded to the bubble departure diameter. The non-nucleating regions contained 0.5 mm wide feeder channels directing liquid towards the nucleating region. High speed images indicated distinct vapor columns over the nucleating regions with liquid channeled through the feeder channels. ...
Poder e violência nas letras das musicas dos Arianos Bravos: Uma estratégias de comunicação para recrutamento e formação de identidade coletiva no Movimento da Força Branca

0 0 1 146 798 UNIVERSITYOF FLORIDA 14 4 940 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE A analise de conteudo qualitativa das letras de uma das bandas de skinheads racistas mais populares dos Estados Unidos, os Arianos Bravos (Angry Aryans), foi realizado para avaliar as tematicas usadas para recrutar e formar uma identidade coletiva para o Movimento da Forca Branca (White Power Movement). Os resultados indicam que as letras pintam as minorias etnicas e homossexuais como inferiores e subumanos, e junto com os brancos skinheads nao-racistas, como opressivos e uma ameaca para a raca branca. Os Angry Aryans usam letras de musicas como uma estrategia de comunicacao para se queixar, intimidar, e promover a violencia. Consequentemente, uma ideologia de violencia e odeio e justificada atraves de uma visao dos brancos como vitimas e a risco de extincao. A Teoria da Convergencia Simbolica (TCS) nos ajuda a entender a formacao de uma identidade coletiva de medo e odeio criada por meio a marginalizacao e a mentiras.
The Building Game: From Enumerative Combinatorics to Conformational Diffusion

We study a discrete attachment model for the self-assembly of polyhedra called the building game. We investigate two distinct aspects of the model: (i) enumerative combinatorics of the intermediate states and (ii) a notion of Brownian motion for the polyhedral linkage defined by each intermediate that we term conformational diffusion. The combinatorial configuration space of the model is computed for the Platonic, Archimedean, and Catalan solids of up to 30 faces, and several novel enumerative results are generated. These represent the most exhaustive computations of this nature to date. We further extend the building game to include geometric information. The combinatorial structure of each intermediate yields a systems of constraints specifying a polyhedral linkage and its moduli space. We use a random walk to simulate a reflected Brownian motion in each moduli space. Empirical statistics of the random walk may be used to define the rates of transition for a Markov process modeling the process of self-assembly.
An integrated optical coherence microscopy imaging and optical stimulation system for optogenetic pacing in Drosophila melanogaster(Conference Presentation)

Electrical stimulation is the clinical standard for cardiac pacing. Although highly effective in controlling cardiac rhythm, the invasive nature, non-specificity to cardiac tissues and possible tissue damage limits its applications. Optogenetic pacing of the heart is a promising alternative, which is non-invasive and more specific, has high spatial and temporal precision, and avoids the shortcomings in electrical stimulation. Drosophila melanogaster, which is a powerful model organism with orthologs of nearly 75% of human disease genes, has not been studied for optogenetic pacing in the heart. Here, we developed a non-invasive integrated optical pacing and optical coherence microscopy (OCM) imaging system to control the heart rhythm of Drosophila at different developmental stages using light. The OCM system is capable of providing high imaging speed (130 frames/s) and ultrahigh imaging resolutions (1.5 μm and 3.9 μm for axial and transverse resolutions, respectively). A light-sensitive pacemaker was developed in Drosophila by specifically expressing the light-gated cation channel, channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) in transgenic Drosophila heart. We achieved non-invasive and specific optical control of the Drosophila heart rhythm throughout the fly’s life cycle (larva, pupa, and adult) by stimulating the heart with 475 nm pulsed laser light. Heart response to stimulation pulses was monitored non-invasively with OCM. This integrated non-invasive optogenetic control and in vivo imaging technique provides a novel platform for performing research studies in developmental cardiology. © (2016) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Regulation and Optimization of the Design of QimingxingExperimental Facility Utilizing MCNP Code

Qimingxing Experimental Facility is designed to validate principle of Accelerator Driven Systems(ADS).Monte Carlo Code(MCNP) is used to carry out K eff calculations.The thickness of thermal zone and the pitch of fuel rods in thermal zone are optimized.Calculation results show that the optimized design can meet the K eff requirement of the facility.
THE EVOLUTION OF SKILL FORMATION IN GERMANY

The German case provides a good point of departure for a study of the politics of skill formation. Germany has long been considered exemplary for its vocational training system, which even despite current strains (discussed in Chapter 5) continues to attract large numbers of German youth and to produce an abundance of high-quality skills (Streeck 1992b; Culpepper and Finegold 1999; Green and Sakamoto 2001: 73). Since the turn of the century, observers from abroad have looked to the German training model as a source of ideas and inspiration (see, for example, Cooley 1912; and, more recently, Reich 1991). This chapter examines the genesis and early evolution of the German system. As we will see, this system was not created “of a piece” but rather, evolved as successive layers were patched on to a rudimentary framework developed at the end of the nineteenth century. The critical legislative innovation around which the whole system was constructed was passed by an authoritarian government, initiated and originally conceived as part of a deeply conservative political strategy aimed mostly against the country's nascent organized labor movement. This chapter begins to track the processes through which this system evolved subsequently into what is now considered a pillar of social partnership between labor and capital in Germany today. To preview the argument: The crucial starting point in Germany was the survival of an independent artisanal sector, formally (and legally) endowed with rights to regulate training and to certify skills.
P062 Evaluation of HLA-DP T-cell epitope (TCE) matching algorithm for selecting donors BMT/HSCT

Objective To determine the clinical validity of determining permissible or non-permissible HLA-DP Mismatch in the graft vs host direction and host vs graft direction for DP Mismatched BMT/HSCT. Methods The HLA-DP permissiveness is based on the TCE (T cell epitope) into 3 groups based on their immunogenicity or the cross reactivity of T cells allo-reactive to the HLA-DP allele as to: highly immunogenic; moderately immunogenic; and low immunogenicity [DPB1 T-Cell Epitope Algorithm v2.0 (2015–04)]. A retrospective study of 31 patients who underwent BMT/HSCT from a related or unrelated donor with whom they had a DP mismatch was done. High resolution typing by Sequence based typing was used to determine the DP alleles of the recipient and donor. The data was compiled and using the algorithm, the expected outcome was determined. The expected outcome was then compared with the clinical outcome. The results were analyzed under the following potential outcomes- transplant related mortality, GVHD, HVGD and relapse. Results Out of the 31 patients studied, the algorithm classified 15 pairs to be permissive (DP-P) and 16 non permissive (DP-NP). In the DP-NP transplants, 9 out of 16 patients were expected to develop aGVHD and 7/16 was expected to develop HVGD. In reality, 2 died due to TRM. Of the remaining 14, 6 developed GVHD and 6 developed HVHD, and 2 (15%) had relapse. In the DP-P transplants, the expected outcome was 0% TRM, 0%GVHD and, 0% HVGD. However, 2/15 (13%) died due to TRM, 7/13 (54%) developed aGVHD, 2/13 (15%) developed an HVGD with an average engraftment of 91%. The severity of aGVHD was less compared to what was observed in Non-Permissive mismatch. Among the 13 patients, 8 (61%) had relapse. Conclusions With this very limited analysis, it appears that the DP Mismatch Algorithm based on TCE seems to hold true regarding DP-NP mismatch. The DP-P mismatches had high relapse, and less severe aGVHD compared to DP-NP. The algorithm is worth exploring and we need more multi center retrospective and prospective evaluations. Ref.: Crivello P, et al. Transplantation Biol Blood Marrow Transplant (2015) 21:233–41.
Towards surgeon-authored VR training: the scene-development cycle.

Abstract Enabling surgeon-educators to themselves create virtual reality (VR) training units promises greater variety, specialization, and relevance of the units. This paper describes a software bridge that semi-automates the scene-generation cycle, a key bottleneck in authoring, modeling, and developing VR units. Augmenting an open source modeling environment with physical behavior attachment and collision specifications yields single-click testing of the full force-feedback enabled anatomical scene.
Interruptions Reduce Performance across All Levels of Signal Detection When Estimations of Confidence are Highest

When people are highly confident in their memory of a particular event, it is likely that the accuracy of that memory is also high. However, research has shown that the relationship between confidence and memory accuracy changes under certain circumstances. Interruptions, for instance, have been shown to change this relationship (Zish, Hassanzadeh, McMurry, & Trafton, 2015). The present study sought to determine the response behavior associated with this change. Results indicated that the change in the relationship between memory and confidence is characterized by a decrease in the rate of hits and an increase in the rate of false alarms. Thus, interruptions disrupt the relationship between memory and confidence by reducing sensitivity across all levels of signal detection.
Trial-Based Functional Analyses as Basis for Elopement Intervention

Few studies have connected functional analysis (FA) outcomes to function-based interventions for elopement. We conducted 2 trial-based FAs of the elopement of a 10-year-old boy diagnosed with autism. During the first, latency-to-elopement was the primary dependent variable. During the second, we tra
Brazil and the Belo Monte Dam: “The Amazon Is Ours”

The fourth-largest hydroelectric plant in the world, the Belo Monte dam, on the Xingu River, a tributary of the Amazon in northern Brazil, requires the flooding of rainforest and agricultural areas, as well as the resettlement of thousands of residents, and has been the source of substantial controversy. In press reports, the authors find a reliance on official sources and a focus on the conflict between the local residents and the government and consortium. This case study reveals the ways in which local politics are interpreted and transformed into the national by regional and national media, and how indigenous communities’ perspectives and views are regarded in economically booming Brazil, even as they are linked to international environmental networks and have popular support at home. It also reveals how media strategies from non-state actors shape coverage.
Experimental assessment of an RFID-based crack sensor for steel structures

The use of welded steel cover plates had been a common design practice to increase beam section capacity in regions of high moment for decades. Many steel girder bridges with cover plates are still in service. Steel girder bridges are subject to cyclic loading, which can initiate crack formation at the toe of the weld and reduce beam capacity. Thus, timely detection of fatigue cracks is of utmost importance in steel girder bridge monitoring. To date, crack monitoring methods using in-house radio frequency identification (RFID)-based sensors have been developed to complement visual inspection and provide quantitative information of damage level. Offering similar properties at a reduced cost, commercial ultra-high frequency (UHF) passive RFID tags have been identified as a more financially viable option for pervasive crack monitoring using a dense array of sensors. This paper presents a study on damage sensitivity of low-cost commercial UHF RFID tags for crack detection and monitoring on metallic structures. Using backscatter power as a parameter for damage identification, a crack sensing system has been developed for single and multiple tag configurations for increased sensing pervasiveness. The effect on backscatter power of the existence and stage of crack propagation has been successfully characterized. For further automation of crack detection, a damage index based on the variation of backscatter power has also been established. The tested commercial RFID-based crack sensor contributes to the usage of this technology on steel girder bridges.
Proteomics and metabolomics in ageing research: From biomarkers to systems biology

Age is the single greatest risk factor for a wide range of diseases, and as the mean age of human populations grows steadily older, the impact of this risk factor grows as well. Laboratory studies on the basic biology of ageing have shed light on numerous genetic pathways that have strong effects on lifespan. However, we still do not know the degree to which the pathways that affect ageing in the lab also influence variation in rates of ageing and age-related disease in human populations. Similarly, despite considerable effort, we have yet to identify reliable and reproducible 'biomarkers', which are predictors of one's biological as opposed to chronological age. One challenge lies in the enormous mechanistic distance between genotype and downstream ageing phenotypes. Here, we consider the power of studying 'endophenotypes' in the context of ageing. Endophenotypes are the various molecular domains that exist at intermediate levels of organization between the genotype and phenotype. We focus our attention specifically on proteins and metabolites. Proteomic and metabolomic profiling has the potential to help identify the underlying causal mechanisms that link genotype to phenotype. We present a brief review of proteomics and metabolomics in ageing research with a focus on the potential of a systems biology and network-centric perspective in geroscience. While network analyses to study ageing utilizing proteomics and metabolomics are in their infancy, they may be the powerful model needed to discover underlying biological processes that influence natural variation in ageing, age-related disease, and longevity.
The JAK2V617F-bearing vascular niche promotes clonal expansion in myeloproliferative neoplasms

The acquired kinase mutation JAK2V617F plays a central role in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). However, the mechanisms responsible for the malignant hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) expansion seen in patients with MPNs are not fully understood, limiting the effectiveness of current treatment. Endothelial cells (ECs) are an essential component of the hematopoietic niche, and they have been shown to express the JAK2V617F mutation in patients with MPNs. We show that the JAK2V617F-bearing vascular niche promotes the expansion of the JAK2V617F HSPCs in preference to JAK2WT HSPCs, potentially contributing to poor donor cell engraftment and disease relapse following stem cell transplantation. The expression of Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12) and stem cell factor (SCF) were upregulated in JAK2V617F-bearing ECs compared to wild-type ECs, potentially accounting for this observation. We further identify that the thrombopoietin (TPO)/MPL signaling pathway is critical for the altered vascular niche function. A better understanding of how the vascular niche contributes to HSPC expansion and MPN development is essential for the design of more effective therapeutic strategies for patients with MPNs.
PLASTICITY | LTP and Kindling: Phenomena of Activity-Dependent Plasticity Influencing Memory and Epilepsy

Kindling and LTP are examples of activity-dependent brain plasticity that have received considerable attention as models of epilepsy and memory. These phenomena of plasticity were first recognized nearly 40 years ago, when the adult brain was still generally regarded as ‘hard-wired’ with only limited capacity for adaptation, alteration, and reorganization of function. The observations of kindling and LTP were among the first evidence that neurons and networks in the brain can undergo long-lasting functional alterations in response to neural activity, not only during development but also in adulthood. Kindling and LTP are examples of activity-dependent plasticity that can be distinguished operationally by differences in induction protocols and by the acute and long-term consequences of their induction. Interestingly, studies examining the relationship of these distinct forms of activity-dependent plasticity provide substantial evidence that activity-dependent alterations in synaptic efficacy – such as long-term potentiation (LTP) or long-term depression (LTD) – can influence susceptibility to network synchronization, seizure generation, and epileptogenesis in neural circuitry.
The push for a place in the crowd

Cells change shape and volume when they divide — not a simple task, especially when they are confined by surrounding tissue. Experiments now reveal that hydrostatic pressure changes generate the pushing forces that cells need to create space for division.
ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE LEARNING MODEL ON MATHEMATICS PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITIES TO CLASS VIII STUDENT AT MTSN MODEL MAKASSAR

The research aims to describe the influence of MMP learning model with problem solving approach on mathematics problem solving approach on mathematics problem solving abilities to class VIII students at MTsN Model Makassar. The research is eksperimen research. The populations of the research were all of students in class VIII.4 as experiment class and class VIII.6 as control class chosen by using simple random sampling technique. The data were collected by using instrument namely learning implementasion observation sheet, student’ activities observation sheet, and problem solving ability test. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential analysis. The result of the research reveal that the students’ activities in experiment class in learning are in learning are in active category with the mean score 3.53 while the students’ activities in control class in learning are inactive category with the mean score 2.53. Mathematics problem solving deviation standard 9.01, and classical completnes level 92%, while Mathematics problem solving abilities of students in control class are in high category with the mean 72.65, and deviation standard 5.55, and classical completeness level 53%. In general, it can be concluded that Missoury Mathematics Project learning model has positive influence on Mathematics problem solving abilities of class VIII at MTsN Model Makassar
Thermally-healable network solids of sulfur-crosslinked poly(4-allyloxystyrene)

Network polymers of sulfur and poly(4-allyloxystyrene), PAOSx (x = percent by mass sulfur, where x is varied from 10–99), were prepared by reaction between poly(4-allyloxystyrene) with thermal homolytic ring-opened S8 in a thiol-ene-type reaction. The extent to which sulfur content and crosslinking influence thermal/mechanical properties was assessed. Network materials having sulfur content below 50% were found to be thermosets, whereas those having >90% sulfur content are thermally healable and remeltable. DSC analysis revealed that low sulfur-content materials exhibited neither a Tg nor a Tm from −50 to 140 °C, whereas higher sulfur content materials featured Tg or Tm values that scale with the amount of sulfur. DSC data also revealed that sulfur-rich domains of PAOS90 are comprised of sulfur-crosslinked organic polymers and amorphous sulfur, whereas, sulfur-rich domains in PAOS99 are comprised largely of α-sulfur (orthorhombic sulfur). These conclusions are further corroborated by CS2-extraction and analysis of extractable/non-extractable fractions. Calculations based on TGA, FT-IR, H2S trapping experiments, CS2-extractable mass, and elemental combustion microanalysis data were used to assess the relative percentages of free and crosslinked sulfur and average number of S atoms per crosslink. Dynamic mechanical analyses indicate high storage moduli for PAOS90 and PAOS99 (on the order of 3 and 6 GPa at −37 °C, respectively), with a mechanical Tg between −17 °C and 5 °C. A PAOS99 sample retains its full initial mechanical strength after at least 12 pulverization-thermal healing cycles, making it a candidate for facile repair and recyclability.
Identifying temporal patterns in trauma admissions: Informing resource allocation

Author(s): Stonko, David P; Dennis, Bradley M; Callcut, Rachael A; Betzold, Richard D; Smith, Michael C; Medvecz, Andrew J; Guillamondegui, Oscar D | Abstract: BackgroundIncreased knowledge of the temporal patterns in the distribution of trauma admissions could be beneficial to staffing and resource allocation efforts. However, little work has been done to understand how this distribution varies based on patient acuity, trauma mechanism or need for intervention. We hypothesize that temporal patterns exist in the distribution of trauma admissions, and that deep patterns exist when traumas are analyzed by their type and severity.Study designWe conducted a cross-sectional observational study of adult patient flow at a level one trauma center over three years, 7/1/2013-6/30/2016. Primary thermal injuries were excluded. Frequency analysis was performed for patients grouped by ED disposition and mechanism against timing of admission; in subgroup analysis additional exclusion criteria were imposed.Results10,684 trauma contacts were analyzed. Trauma contacts were more frequent on Saturdays and Sundays than on weekdays (pl0.001). Peak arrival time was centered around evening shift change (6-7pm), but differed based on ED disposition: OR and ICU or Step-Down admissions (p = 0.0007), OR and floor admissions (pl0.0001), and ICU or Step-Down and floor admissions (pl0.0001). Step-Down and ICU arrival times (p = 0.42) were not different. Penetrating injuries peaked later than blunt (pl0.0001). Trauma varies throughout the year; we establish a high incidence trauma season (April to late October). Different mechanisms have varying dependence upon season; Motorcycle crashes (MCCs) have the greatest dependence.ConclusionWe identify new patterns in the temporal and seasonal variation of trauma and of specific mechanisms of injury, including the novel findings that 1) penetrating trauma tends to present at later times than blunt, and 2) critically ill patients requiring an OR tend to present later than those who are less acute and require an ICU or Step-Down unit. These patients present later than those who are admitted to the floor. Penetrating trauma patients arriving later than blunt may be the underlying reason why operative patients arrive later than other patients.
Flavored tobacco use is associated with dual and poly tobacco use among adolescents.

Abstract Objectives This study examines the relationships between flavored tobacco use and single, dual, and poly tobacco product use, among adolescents. Given the increased use of flavored tobacco products, it is vital to understand if flavored products are associated with dual and poly tobacco product use. Methods Data were obtained from the 2017 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Participants were 2042 adolescent past 30-day tobacco users. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between flavored tobacco use and past 30-day single, dual, and poly (three or more) tobacco product use. Two analyses were conducted using different categories as referent groups to allow for a comprehensive examination of the relationship between all groups. Covariates included sex, grade level, race/ethnicity and exposure to tobacco marketing. Results Approximately half of all adolescent tobacco users (45.7%) reported use of more than one product. The majority of adolescent tobacco users reported using flavors (69.4%). Flavored tobacco use was significantly correlated with a greater risk of dual (RRR: 2.09) and poly (RRR: 5.54) tobacco use, relative to single product use, controlling for covariates. Similarly, flavored tobacco use was significantly correlated with a greater risk of poly (RRR: 2.66) tobacco use, relative to dual tobacco use, controlling for covariates. Conclusions A positive relationship was observed for flavored tobacco use and multiple tobacco product use. Findings suggest the need to consider stronger regulations of flavored tobacco products. Similarly, as most adolescent tobacco users reported using flavors, findings suggest the need to emphasize flavored tobacco use in prevention and education programs.
Optimizing fluid therapy in shock.

Purpose of reviewShock, best defined as acute circulatory failure is classified into four major groups, namely hypovolemic, cardiogenic, obstructive, and distributive (vasodilatory). The purpose of this review is to provide a practical approach to fluid optimization in patients with the four types o
The Foundations of Real-World Economics: What Every Student Needs to Know

John Komlos has written a unique and thought-stirring book that exposes students to alternative views on every microeconomic and macroeconomic subject found in encyclopedic principles textbooks, ha...
Learning from Mom and Pop: "Making Do" in Design

There is an art in “making do.” Making do is a vernacular phrase heard frequently in the Southeast United States, especially in lower socioeconomic households. It means “making ends meet” when money is tight by using the resources on hand. We investigate the design of making do by small businesses in such contexts by analyzing their business signage. A trained designer may pass by these “mom and pop” shops and find the signage to be merely novel, but we find that there is much more to learn. We complete a case series analysis of mom and pop signage using in-depth methods, including autoethnographic accounts of each author’s lived experience with mom and pop signageand a subsequent content analysis using visual grounded theory methods in a highly reflexive approach. We discover three main themes in play: “radical resourcefulness,” “authenticity/humanity,” and the “amateur aesthetic.” Radical resourcefulness is a dramatic shift in use and reuse of materials. A design may be considered “authentic” or have a visible connection to “humanity” when viewers can see evidence of the human hand or human decision-making in the design artifact. Amateur aesthetic, is a term applied to untrained "designers" who transform readily available materials to achieve their design goals. Each of these themes is especially relevant to disciplines such as communications and marketing, illuminating possibilities of community partnership and collaboration. At the same time, approaching the significance of mom and pop signage in this way provides insights for the professional design discipline as a whole, presenting opportunities for new interdisciplinary research, teaching, and service.
Foundations of Multivariate Functional Approximation for Scientific Data

The size and complexity of scientific data are rapidly outpacing our ability to manage, analyze, visualize, and draw conclusions from the results. One way to streamline scientific data processing is to transform the data model to one that is not only more efficient but that facilitates analytical reasoning. To this end, we are investigating modeling discrete scientific data by a functional basis representation based on a tensor product of nonuniform rational B-spline functions (NURBS). The functional model is an approximation that is more efficient to communicate, store, and analyze than the original form, while having geometric and analytic properties making it useful for further analysis without translating back to the discrete form. This paper presents four main contributions. The first is modeling in high dimensions, not just curves or surfaces but volumes and hyper-volumes. The second is an adaptive algorithm that adds knots and control points until the maximum error is below a threshold set by the user. The adaptive algorithm also works in high dimensions. The third is precise evaluation of values and high-order derivatives anywhere in the domain, again in high-dimensional space. The fourth contribution is parallelization on high-performance supercomputers. We evaluate our model using both synthetic and actual scientific datasets.
Simulation Planning Using Component Based Cost Model

Successful simulations for scientific discovery on high-performance computing platforms require careful planning, including verification of specific application configuration and runtime parameters, estimation of resource requirements, and steering and monitoring of the simulation. However, simulation planning is an aspect of scientific computing that is extremely sparse in available literature or training. In this paper we focus on the resource management aspect of such planning through formulation of a component-based cost model. We illustrate the methodology and formulation through FLASH, a highly configurable simulation code used in multiple scientific domains.
Impact of atrial arrhythmia on survival in adults with tetralogy of Fallot.

Background Atrial arrhythmia is a late complication after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair, but arrhythmia outcomes data are limited. Objectives The purpose of the study was to describe atrial arrhythmia presentations, outcomes of antiarrhythmic therapy, and impact of arrhythmia on transplant-free survival. Methods We reviewed the MACHD (Mayo Adult Congenital Heart Disease) Registry and identified 113 patients (age 49 ± 13 years) with documented arrhythmia, and 302 patients without history of arrhythmia, 1990-2017. We classified arrhythmias into atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter/tachycardia based on the rhythm on the first abnormal electrocardiogram. Results At the time of first documented arrhythmia, 58(51%) had atrial fibrillation while 55(49%) had atrial flutter/tachycardia. Of the 113 patients, 14(12%) received rhythm control with class I/III antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD), 79(70%) had direct current cardioversion, 9(8%) received rate control with class II/IV AAD, and 11(10%) received only anticoagulation. Successful cardioversion occurred in 100(89%) patients, and arrhythmia recurrence rate was 16 per 100 patient-years. The multivariate risk factors for death and/or heart transplant were atrial fibrillation (HR 1.94, CI 1.10-3.15, P = .031) and older age (HR 1.63, CI 1.12-2.43, P = .019) per 5 year increment. Conclusions Atrial fibrillation, but not atrial flutter, was associated with reduced survival in our repaired TOF cohort. Further studies are required to determine if more aggressive antiarrhythmic therapy will improve survival in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Signatures of Biologically Driven Hemicellulose Modification Quantified by Analytical Pyrolysis Coupled with Multidimensional Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

Biomass storage conditions are a major source of feedstock quality variability that impact downstream preprocessing, feeding, handling, and conversion into biofuels, chemicals and products. Microbi...