cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PAC-learning in the presence of adversaries

The existence of evasion attacks during the test phase of machine learning algorithms represents a significant challenge to both their deployment and understanding. These attacks can be carried out by adding imperceptible perturbations to inputs to generate adversarial examples and finding effective defenses and detectors has proven to be difficult. In this paper, we step away from the attack-defense arms race and seek to understand the limits of what can be learned in the presence of an evasion adversary. In particular, we extend the Probably Approximately Correct (PAC)-learning framework to account for the presence of an adversary. We first define corrupted hypothesis classes which arise from standard binary hypothesis classes in the presence of an evasion adversary and derive the Vapnik-Chervonenkis (VC)-dimension for these, denoted as the adversarial VC-dimension. We then show that sample complexity upper bounds from the Fundamental Theorem of Statistical learning can be extended to the case of evasion adversaries, where the sample complexity is controlled by the adversarial VC-dimension. We then explicitly derive the adversarial VC-dimension for halfspace classifiers in the presence of a sample-wise norm-constrained adversary of the type commonly studied for evasion attacks and show that it is the same as the standard VC-dimension, closing an open question. Finally, we prove that the adversarial VC-dimension can be either larger or smaller than the standard VC-dimension depending on the hypothesis class and adversary, making it an interesting object of study in its own right.
Endpoints for regional ecological risk assessments

Ecological risk assessments must have clearly defined endpoints that are socially and biologically relevant, accessible to prediction and measurement, and susceptible to the hazard being assessmed. Most ecological assessments do not have such endpoints, in part because the endpoints of toxicity tests or other measurements of effects are used as assessment endpoints. This article distinguishes assessment and measurement endpoints in terms of their roles in risk assessments and explains how the criteria for their selection differ. It then presents critical discussions of possible assessment and measurement endpoints for regional ecological risk assessments. Finally, the article explains how endpoint selection is affected by the goal of the assessment. Generic goals for regional risk assessment include explanation of observed regional effects, evaluation of an action with regional implications, and evaluation of the state of a region. Currently, population level assessment endpoints such as abundance and range are the most generally useful. For higher levels (ecosystems and regions), data are generally not available and the validity of models has not been demonstrated, and for lower level effects (physiological, and organismal) are not relevant. However, landscape descriptors, material export, and other regional-scale measurement end-points show promise for regional assessments.
Employment Barriers into US Healthcare Management Industry for New Facilities Management College Graduates

ABSTRACT Purpose The purpose of this research is to better understand employment barriers into the healthcare facilities management (FM) industry for new FM college graduates. Design/methodology/ap...
20 – Reactor Safety

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on reactor safety. It is well known that the accumulated fission products in a reactor that has been operating for some time constitute a potential source of radiation hazard. Assurance is needed that the integrity of the fuel is maintained throughout the operating cycle, with negligible release of radioactive materials. This implies limitations on power level and temperature, and adequacy of cooling under all conditions. Fortunately, inherent safety is provided by physical features of the fission chain reaction. The choice of materials, their arrangement, and restrictions on modes of operation give a second level of protection. Devices and structures that minimize the chance of accident and the extent of radiation release in the event of accident are a third line of defense. Finally, nuclear plant location at a distance from centers of high population density results in further protection. The chapter describes the dependence of numbers of neutrons and reactor power on the multiplication factor, which is in turn affected by temperature and control rod absorbers.
Sink strength and dislocation bias of three-dimensional microstructures

Irradiation induces significant changes in the microstructure of structural materials, many of which are driven by the preferential capture of point defects at particular sinks, such as dislocations. To quantify the kinetics of defect absorption at sinks, theoretical models of radiation damage generally rely on the concept of sink strength. However, analytical approaches to estimating the sink strength of dislocations rely, in turn, on a series of geometrical assumptions, idealizing the dislocation network as a series of infinite straight dislocations or isolated loops, often with artificial boundary conditions. In this paper, we use a recently developed technique to quantify point defect capture in three-dimensional dislocation networks. We integrate this technique with discrete dislocation dynamics to analyze the sink strengths of realistic dislocation microstructures consisting of a mixture of edge, screw, and junction segments, complete with an accurate description of the strain fields these microstructures produce and the resultant energetic interactions experienced by point defects. We show that the effective kinetics for absorbing point defects can vary significantly with the arrangement of the microstructure with a strong dependence on the structure and character of its dislocation content and introduce a surrogate model for sink strength which incorporates these effects.
Islet vs pancreas transplantation in nonuremic patients with type 1 diabetes

Abstract Type 1 diabetes represents a significant health-care burden. Both islet and solid organ pancreas transplantation are now established techniques of β-cell replacement therapy to achieve insulin independence. While solid organ transplantation is the current standard, islet transplantation remains a promising option. It offers to establish normoglycemia, protects against hypoglycemia and glycemic lability, and is associated with fewer risks than solid organ pancreas transplant. Islet transplantation is a viable alternative under specific clinical circumstances. Improving success for islet transplantation in terms of insulin independence suggest an important role for islet transplantation if patients are deemed unsuitable for solid organ pancreas transplantation. Although immunosuppression protocols have improved islet transplant outcomes, further work is necessary to optimize the availability of islets for transplant and to improve islet viability once transplanted.
Nonchalant Flight in Tiger Moths (Erebidae: Arctiinae) Is Correlated With Unpalatability

Many aposematic animals are well-known to exhibit generally sluggish movements. However, less is known about their escape responses when under direct threat of predation. In this study, we characterize the anti-bat escape responses of 5 species of tiger moth (Erebidae: Arctiinae), a subfamily of Lepidoptera which possess ultrasound-sensitive ears. These ears act as an early-warning system which can detect the ultrasonic cries of nearby echolocating bats, allowing the moths to enact evasive flight behaviors in an effort to escape predation. We examine the role that unpalatability plays in predicting the likelihood that individuals of a given species will enact escape behaviors in response to predation. We hypothesized that more unpalatable species would be less likely to exhibit escape maneuvers (i.e., more nonchalant) than their less unpalatable counterparts. Our results demonstrate significant interspecific variation in the degree to which tiger moths utilize evasive flight behaviors to escape bat predators as well as in their degree of unpalatability. We provide evidence for the existence of a nonchalance continuum of anti-bat evasive flight response among tiger moths and show that species are arrayed along this continuum based on their relative unpalatability to bat predators. Relatively unpalatable prey more often exhibit nonchalant flight behaviors whereas palatable prey more often employ evasive dives. Our findings demonstrate that the degree to which certain animals are protected by potent chemical defenses can influence the likelihood that they will exhibit evasive escape behaviors. Further, we argue that the bat-moth predator-prey system is an ideal model for future studies of escape behaviors of prey which overcomes some of the limitations inherent to current model systems.
Dialectical Creativity: Sketch-Negate-Create

Dialectical Creativity is the act of formulating a new concept through the original idea (the thesis), developing opposing contradictory ideas (the antithesis), and culminating on a more developed concretized idea that both negates and encompasses both the thesis and the antithesis (the synthesis). Sketching is a fundamental part of ideation. The act of performing ideation with an inherently abstract hand-drawn sketch, complete with messiness, allows the sketcher, through the misinterpretation of their own strokes, to evoke antithetical concepts, enabling the sketcher to quickly develop a creative synthetic idea. In the dialectical process there is a constant tension between creative change and the natural tendency to seek stability. Sketch recognition is the automated understanding of hand drawn diagrams by a computer, and can be used to both enhance creativity and/or idea stability. This paper discusses the Sketch Dialectic and its impact on the field of sketch recognition.
Physicochemical and carbon quantity–quality gradients equally influence bacterial carbon metabolism across an arid riverscape

Although freshwater systems comprise a small portion of land surface, they play a pivotal role in landscape carbon (C) cycling. Carbon processing by heterotrophic bacteria is critical, contributing to ecosystem production and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) processing. Riverine bacterial C metabolism is related to a diversity of factors, including (1) physiochemical conditions and inorganic nutrient concentrations and (2) DOC quality and quantity; however, the relative importance of these factors in influencing C metabolism across arid fluvial networks remains equivocal. This study examined C metabolism by heterotrophic bacterioplankton in the Rio Grande drainage, an arid river network in Texas, USA. We examined spatial variation in physicochemical and inorganic nutrient conditions, bacterial C metabolism, and DOC lability across the drainage and assessed whether variation in bacterial C metabolism was more related to physicochemical–inorganic nutrient conditions or DOC quantity and lability. Across the drainage, hydrology and landscape position influenced physicochemical conditions, bacterial abundance, phytoplankton biomass, and bacterial C metabolism and the proportion of variation in bacterial C metabolism explained by physicochemical/inorganic nutrient and DOC quality–quantity gradients was approximately equal. Bacterial abundance and production were associated with greater NH4+ and DOC concentrations and phytoplankton biomass, whereas bacterial respiration and growth efficiency were driven by DOC color and suspended particulate concentrations. Results indicate that aspects of bacterial C metabolism are influenced by different environmental factors related to autochthonous and allochthonous inputs to riverine systems, which has implications for C transformation, sequestration, and transport to the ocean.
CT-ORG, a new dataset for multiple organ segmentation in computed tomography.

Despite the relative ease of locating organs in the human body, automated organ segmentation has been hindered by the scarcity of labeled training data. Due to the tedium of labeling organ boundaries, most datasets are limited to either a small number of cases or a single organ. Furthermore, many are restricted to specific imaging conditions unrepresentative of clinical practice. To address this need, we developed a diverse dataset of 140 CT scans containing six organ classes: liver, lungs, bladder, kidney, bones and brain. For the lungs and bones, we expedited annotation using unsupervised morphological segmentation algorithms, which were accelerated by 3D Fourier transforms. Demonstrating the utility of the data, we trained a deep neural network which requires only 4.3 s to simultaneously segment all the organs in a case. We also show how to efficiently augment the data to improve model generalization, providing a GPU library for doing so. We hope this dataset and code, available through TCIA, will be useful for training and evaluating organ segmentation models. Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.13055663
Drak2 Does Not Regulate TGF-β Signaling in T Cells.

Drak2 is a serine/threonine kinase expressed highest in T cells and B cells. Drak2-/- mice are resistant to autoimmunity in mouse models of type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Resistance to these diseases occurs, in part, because Drak2 is required for the survival of autoreactive T cells that induce disease. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Drak2 affects T cell survival and autoimmunity are not known. A recent report demonstrated that Drak2 negatively regulated transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in tumor cell lines. Thus, increased TGF-β signaling in the absence of Drak2 may contribute to the resistance to autoimmunity in Drak2-/- mice. Therefore, we examined if Drak2 functioned as a negative regulator of TGF-β signaling in T cells, and whether the enhanced susceptibility to death of Drak2-/- T cells was due to augmented TGF-β signaling. Using several in vitro assays to test TGF-β signaling and T cell function, we found that activation of Smad2 and Smad3, which are downstream of the TGF-β receptor, was similar between wildtype and Drak2-/- T cells. Furthermore, TGF-β-mediated effects on naive T cell proliferation, activated CD8+ T cell survival, and regulatory T cell induction was similar between wildtype and Drak2-/- T cells. Finally, the increased susceptibility to death in the absence of Drak2 was not due to enhanced TGF-β signaling. Together, these data suggest that Drak2 does not function as a negative regulator of TGF-β signaling in primary T cells stimulated in vitro. It is important to investigate and discern potential molecular mechanisms by which Drak2 functions in order to better understand the etiology of autoimmune diseases, as well as to validate the use of Drak2 as a target for therapeutic treatment of these diseases.
"Ownership, Branding and Multiple Audience Concerns: Evidence from Nursing Homes"

Multi-unit ownership and branding are separate decisions and non-consumer audiences can affect both. In this study we distinguish between the branding and chaining decisions of nursing homes, while...
State space mathematical modeling for mechanoelectrical transduction of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) based sensors

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gels have been studied in some detail and exhibit mechanoelectrical transduction properties, making these materials suitable for sensing applications. This study aims to investigate these mechanoelectrical properties through mathematical modeling. A nonlinear gray-box hybrid state space approach can accurately model the mechanoelectrical transduction properties of the PVC gel sensor in both transient and steady state responses. This approach studies multiple nonlinearities in both transient and steady state mechanoelectrical responses such as overshoot variation and signal attenuation. Mechanoelectrical polarity inversion for tensile/compressive loading schemes exhibited in experimental testing is also investigated in the nonlinear model. A simplified linearized model also shows accurate results for the linear region of mechanoelectrical responses in the PVC gel sensors. Further mathematical modeling aims to describe some underlying physics and governing equations of the mechanoelectrical properties of PVC gel sensors.
Relining of infrarenal stent-graft with preloaded modified Gore Excluder for occult endoleak with sac expansion.

Abstract Endoleaks remain one of the most common indications for reintervention after endovascular aortic repair. Occasionally, aneurysm sac expansion will occur in the absence of a visible endoleak or due to endotension. We describe a case of continued sac expansion without an identifiable endoleak after endovascular aortic repair. Technical challenges during the case included a short distance from the renal arteries to the flow divider and a significant metal artifact. These challenges were addressed by shortening the gate of a Gore Excluder (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz) to the desired length. The contralateral gate was preloaded to allow for use of the snare-ride technique for gate cannulation and overcome the metal artifact that was hindering visualization.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the 2021 Otolaryngology Residency Match: Analysis of the Texas STAR Database.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To estimate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the 2021 otolaryngology match with regard to geographic clustering, interview distribution, applicant-reported costs, and matched applicant characteristics. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Survey data from applicants to otolaryngology residency programs were obtained from the Texas Seeking Transparency in Applications to Residency database. Applicant differences between the 2021 match year and prior match years (2018, 2019, and 2020) were analyzed using two-sided t-tests, Chi-square tests, and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: A total of 442 otolaryngology residency applicants responded to the survey, including 329 from the match years 2018 to 2020 and 113 from match year 2021. In 2021, 30.7% of responding applicants reported matching at a program where they had a geographic connection, compared to 40.0% in prior years (P = .139). Matched applicants in 2021 reported attending less interviews than applicants in prior years (mean 12.2 vs. 13.3, P = .040), and 26.1% of responding applicants reported matching at a program where they sent a preference signal. Applicants in the 2021 match reported significantly lower total costs than applicants in prior years (mean difference -$5,496, 95% confidence interval -$6,234 to -$4,759; P < .001). Compared to prior match years, matched applicants in 2021 had no meaningful differences in characteristics such as United States Medical Licensing Exam board scores, clerkship grades, honors society memberships, research output, volunteer experiences, or leadership experiences. CONCLUSION: Based on this sample, there was no evidence of significant interview hoarding or increased geographic clustering in the 2021 otolaryngology match, and the COVID-19 pandemic did not appear to result in significantly different matched applicant characteristics. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 2021.
Basic Concepts about Sleep and Insomnia

In the 1870s, the English physician Richard Caton described spontaneous electrical activity in the brains of animals. The observation of these “feeble currents of the brain” was all the more remarkable in that it was done without the benefit of electronic amplification, which was not available for biological research for another 50 years (Brazier, 1973). Caton went on to observe that these electrical events could be altered by sensory stimulation, anaesthesia, and sleep (Schoenberg, 1974). It was not until 1929 that Hans Berger, a German psychiatrist, recorded similar phenomena from electrodes placed on the scalp of humans. Over the next 10 years, he reported that these recordings, which he referred to as electroencephalograms, changed with age and sensory stimulation, and were abnormal during epileptic seizures. Eight years after Berger’s original observations, Loomis, Harvey, and Hobart (1937) studied the first electroencephalographic recordings during human sleep. They reported that sleep is composed of several discontinuous stages, and speculated that their spontaneous changes were governed by “internal stimuli.” Although the descriptions have evolved over the years, the observation that sleep is composed of several recurring electrophysiologic stages remains an important principle in sleep research.
Cation Fluxes and Permeability Changes Accompanying Bacteriophage Infection of Escherichia coli

Abstract Infection of Escherichia coli by bacteriophage T2 was accompanied by a rapid but transient increase in the rate of loss of small molecules from the bacterial cells. This transient leakage was studied with radioactive labels such as 42K and 28Mg. Bacteriophage-induced leakage was dependent on the ratio of phage to bacteria: the higher the multiplicity of infection, the greater the leakage. No leakage occurred at 4 C [when adsorption proceeds but injection of phage deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is blocked]. Leakage was caused by heavily irradiated phage as well as by normal phage; therefore, the intracellular functioning of the bacteriophage DNA was not required. This conclusion was supported by experiments which showed phage-induced leakage in the presence of chloramphenicol or sodium cyanide. Leakage could be prevented by infecting the bacteria with phage in the presence of high magnesium concentrations. Phage-induced leakage was terminated by a “sealing” reaction, after which potassium turnover by infected and uninfected cells was very similar. The sealing reaction occurred even in the presence of chloramphenicol, suggesting that the sealing is controlled by bacterial and not bacteriophage genes. We were not able to detect any effect of normal bacteriophage infection on the influx (active transport) of potassium and magnesium into the cells.
Conceptualizing Organizational Dimensions of Instructional Supervisory Practice: Implications for Professional Learning Environments in Schools

This study explored the organizational nature of the professional learning environments of teachers, administrators, and other peer professionals in schools. A conceptual model of the organizational structure and effects of instructional supervisory practices was developed to guide the empirical investigation. The model is based on an organizational conception of instructional supervision in which the variety of supervisory behaviors, interactions, and decision making engaged in by school personnel contributes to a unique organizational/supervisory (O/S) climate infusing a school's professional learning environment. Six meaningful dimensions of O/S climate were empirically derived. Climate variable linkages to various indices of school effectiveness were posited and explored using quantitative and qualitative methods. The study's qualitative findings revealed additional school-level, organizational context factors which further explicated the O/S climate and professional learning environment constructs and quantitative supervisory climate/effectiveness linkages identified in the study's original conceptual model.
Controller design based on orthogonal functions

The author presents a method of designing a learning controller based on the representation of the input-output signals by a set of orthogonal functions. Two theorems concerning the learning strategies in the design of the controller are given. They extend the results of S. Arimoto's (1985) betterment processes in the sense that some less restrictive conditions for convergence are needed. Examples are given to illustrate the results. Potential applications to robot manipulator control are noted. >
Complete in vitro maturation of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes

The form of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum is probably the most important infectious disease of man. In tropical Africa alone, where malaria affects almost the entire population, it has been estimated that every year the disease causes the death of 1 million children under 14 yr old1. The mosquito vector of malaria is infected when it ingests mature gametocytes in blood taken from a human carrier of the disease. Development of the parasite continues in the mosquito and culminates with the sporozoite stage, which initiates a new infection when injected by the mosquito into a further human host. Research on P. falciparum sporozoites has been severely limited by a general lack of availability of suitable patients with gametocytes. It was hoped that the recently developed continuous cultivation of P. falciparum2 would solve this, as gametocytes are often produced during cultivation. However, we and others soon found that these gametocytes failed to mature in culture3,4, or at best did so only rarely and unpredictably5–7. We report here that addition of hypoxanthine to the culture medium permits the production of mature, infectious P. falciparum gametocytes on a regular basis.
A critical appraisal of the methods of measuring leak-point pressures in women with stress incontinence

Objective: To determine whether leak-point pressures can be measured using an intravaginal catheter, and to assess whether leak-point pressures are affected by the provocation method, bladder volume, and the presence of a transurethra-intravesicle catheter. Methods: Thirty women with genuine stress incontinence had leak-point pressure studies performed, using both cough and Valsalva maneuvers at specific bladder volumes. Intravaginal pressure measurements were compared with intravesicle pressure measurements. The effect of an 8-Fr transurethral-intravesicle catheter on leak-point pressures was also assessed. Results: Leak-point pressures were demonstrated in all 30 patients by cough and/or Valsalva maneuver. There was no significant difference between intravesicle and intravaginal pressure measurements. Subjects who demonstrated leakpoint pressures by both cough and Valsalva maneuver had significantly higher cough leak-point pressures at all bladder capacities. Seventeen women with measurable Valsalva leak-point pressures at 150 mL bladder capacity had significantly lower pressures at 300 mL, and 15 women had significantly lower leak-point pressures at 400 mL or more. Valsalva maneuver and cough leak-point pressures decreased significantly when the 8-Fr transurethral-intravesicle catheter was removed and the pressures were measured using only an intravaginal catheter. Conclusion: Bladder volume, provocation method, and the presence of a transurethral-intravesicle catheter affect leakpoint pressure measurements. Further standardization of leak-point pressure measurement technique is necessary before determining the clinical applicability of these tests.
The Naturalistic Turn of Orthodox Economics: A Study of Methodological Misunderstanding ∗

Orthodox economics, with its highly formalized theory and mas? sive quantifiable empirical data base, has long prided itself in being the most "scientific" of the social sciences. To qualify as "scientific" has been understood to mean a strict adherence to the methodological canons and goals of the natural sciences. That economics should seek to emulate the natural sciences is understandable. There are
THE RELATIONS OF THE PLASMA MEMBRANE, VITELLINE MEMBRANE, AND JELLY IN THE EGG OF NEREIS LIMBATA

1. The problem of the relation of the plasma membrane to the extraneous coats and cortex of the Nereis egg is discussed in the light of the observations of Lillie, Chambers, and Novikoff. 2. Evidence obtained from experiments with the centrifuge, and by treating eggs with alkaline sodium chloride, indicates that the plasma membrane of the unfertilized egg is external to the jelly precursor granules of the cortex. 3. Experiments with alkaline sodium chloride indicate that the perivitelline space of the fertilized egg is extraovular after jelly extrusion is complete. 4. The cortical behavior (membrane elevation) of the Nereis egg in alkaline sodium chloride and the cortical response (jelly extrusion) following activation of the egg in normal fertilization or parthenogenesis are attributed largely to the properties of the jelly, and presumably, to its reactions with calcium and hydroxyl ions.
The Protestant Weber and the spirit of American sociology

Weber always judged political events on the basis of one thing to which he clung all his life: Intellectual freedom was to him the greatest good, and under no circumstances was he prepared to consider even interests of political power as more important and attainable for the individual. Not for reasons of expediency, but only in the name of conscience does a man have the right to oppose the conscientiously held different beliefs of others. Marianne Weber’
Reconsidering pocketbook voting: An experimental approach

Despite its deep theoretical roots, the idea that voters reward or punish incumbents in national elections for trends in their personal financial circumstances has not fared well when subjected to empirical test. This paper poses an experimental test of the leading explanations for the surprisingly weak showing of pocketbook influences on vote choice. According to certain of these explanations, the answer lies in distinguishing between sociotropic and self-interested economic voting, or between retrospective and prospective economic voting, or between perceptions of economic trends in general and perceptions of the electorally relevant component of these trends. However, expectations based on these explanations are generally not borne out in the laboratory setting. Consistent with the observed pattern of effects, however, is the idea that pocketbook voting displays little independent impact because economic perceptions and attributions are epiphenomena—strongly biased by the voter's preexisting political commitments.
The effect of volume occupancy upon the thermodynamic activity of proteins: some biochemical consequences

The thermodynamic activity of proteins in solution is substantially altered by the addition of unreactive or 'inert' macromolecules occupying more than a few percent of total solution volume. Approximate theoretical models of this effect have been formulated using a simplified geometrical representation of molecular shapes. These models predict that under certain conditions, the structure and function of proteins in physiological media with a high total macromolecular content may be qualitatively different than in dilute solution. Experimental studies of the effect of 'inert' macromolecules on protein structure and/or function are reviewed, and it is found that under favorable circumstances the simplified models can provide a satisfactory semiquantitative description of the data.
Probing the excitation spectrum of a fermi gas in the BCS-BEC crossover regime.

We measure excitation spectra of an ultracold gas of fermionic $^{40}\mathrm{K}$ atoms in the BCS--Bose-Einstein-condensation (BEC) crossover regime. The measurements are performed with a novel spectroscopy that employs a small modulation of the $B$ field close to a Feshbach resonance to give rise to a modulation of the interaction strength. With this method we observe both a collective excitation as well as the dissociation of fermionic atom pairs in the strongly interacting regime. The excitation spectra reveal the binding energy or excitation gap for pairs in the crossover region.
Myocardial infarction without obstructive coronary artery disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW A substantial minority of myocardial infarction (MI) patients have no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) at angiography. Women more commonly have this type of MI, but both sexes are affected. This is not an innocuous problem. Multiple studies have shown 2% death or reinfarction in short-term to mid-term follow-up. RECENT FINDINGS Two large autopsy series confirmed MI without obstructive CAD as a cause of death. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and cardiac MRI (CMR) were studied in patients with MI without obstructive CAD. Plaque rupture was found in nearly 40% and late gadolinium enhancement was seen in nearly 40%, with little overlap in imaging findings. Additional CMR studies in similar patients have shown variable frequencies and patterns of late enhancement, but consistently demonstrate an ability to identify nonischemic causes (myocarditis, infiltrative disease). Ischemic myocardial injury on CMR may be due to plaque rupture but also occurs in patients without plaque rupture. These cases may be caused by vasospasm, embolism, dissection, or branch occlusion. SUMMARY MI without obstructive CAD is a heterogeneous disorder with different mechanisms in different patients. Plaque rupture is common. In the absence of clear demonstration of a nonischemic cause, treatment should include guideline-recommended secondary prevention, including antiplatelet and antiatherosclerotic medications.
The hadronic structure of the photon with emphasis on its two-pion constituent

The hadronic structure of photons is studied by treating the electromagnetic interaction in lowest order. General consequences of this picture and its connection with generalized vector meson dominance for diffractive processes are discussed. Emphasis is given to the dipion constituent which can be regarded approximately as a superposition of two parts: a ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{0}$-meson core and a loose nonresonant two-pion structure. This modification of VMD increases the dipion contribution to the real photon cross section by 10%-20% (of the ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{0}$ part) and to $\ensuremath{\nu}{W}_{2}$ by several percent. The internal spatial structure of this component is shown to shrink as the photon becomes more virtual. Various views of diffractive pion pair photoproduction are reconciled. The Drell process is interpreted in terms of the dipion component and some evidence is given for its presence in inclusive ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$-photoproduction data. Some speculations about the consequences of the spatial size of different photon constituents are given.
Phrase parsing with rule sequence processors: an application to the shared CoNLL task

For several years, chunking has been an integral part of MITRE's approach to information extraction. Our work exploits chunking in two principal ways. First, as part of our extraction system (Alembic) (Aberdeen et al., 1995), the chunker delineates descriptor phrases for entity extraction. Second, as part of our ongoing research in parsing, chunks provide the first level of a stratified approach to syntax - the second level is defined by grammatical relations, much as in the SPARKLE effort (Carroll et al., 1997).
FORWARD-BACKWARD MULTIPLICITY CORRELATIONS IN Au+Au COLLISIONS AT $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200\, {\rm GeV}$

The study of correlations among particles produced in different rapidity regions may provide understanding of the mechanisms of particle production. Correlations that extend over a longer range are observed in hadron-hadron interactions only at higher energies. Results for short and long-range multiplicity correlations (Forward-Backward) are presented for Au+Au collisions at . The growth of long range correlations are observed as a function of the pseudorapidity gap in central Au+Au collisions. The Dual Parton model and Color Glass Condensate phenomenology have been explored to understand the origin of long range correlations.
Reliable optical fiber link for communications in industrial environments

Abstract Reliability of communications on Industrial Plants, operating in a CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) environment is considered as the nervous system of the whole plant operation. Every operation on plant level, is directly or indirectly related to the efficient communication of devices on modern manufacturing plants. In other words, the throughput of products manufactured in a CIM setting is highly dependent on the reliability of communications. Metallic medium such as coax and twisted pair cables provide fairly good service for low data transmission rates. Even though coax cables, can handle high data rates but in actual practice, it is held lower so as to maintain the integrity of data. This is due to different types of electrical noise, like EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) and RFI (Radio Frequency Interference). They have a tendency of creeping into the metallic cable, thereby violating the integrity of transmitted data, which further aggravates at high frequencies. This problem can be alleviated by using optical fiber as the transmission medium [1,2]. This paper is oriented towards the communication problems of small industries with data rate requirement of 2 to 5 Mbps; and are trying to enter the arena of automation, evading large initial investments. The system design can be implemented on MAP (Manufacturing Automation Protocol) or PROWAY networks [5]. The optical system is comprised of an LED (light emitting diode), a multimode fiber with 50 micrometer core diameter and a PIN (P-type, Intrinsic, N-type) photodiode receiver. The analysis is supported by computer simulation results and plots between some important parameters have been demonstrated. The system is implemented on carrierband signalling, however it can be integrated with broadband facility to handle variety of data ranging from video, text, voice and graphics etc. This can be performed by appropriate protocol conversion techniques using bridges and gateways at nodal intersections.
Error optimization of a three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging tagging-based cartilage deformation technique.

Three-dimensional strain fields in articular cartilage subjected to compressive loading can be determined using a recently developed MRI-based cartilage deformation by tag registration technique. The objective of this study was to determine the experimental variables that minimize the technique error, which has not been previously reported. Error (strain bias and precision) was determined using direct experiments and Monte Carlo simulations for four variables: spatial resolution, tag line spacing, applied nominal strain, and number of control points used to describe tag lines in a B-spline model. The important results include the following: (1) bias was not significantly different from zero, (2) precision increased with image resolution and with tag line spacing, (3) precision was independent of applied nominal strain, and (4) error was a minimum (absolute precision = 0.41% strain) for the following values: spatial resolution = 0.05 × 0.05 mm2; tag line spacing = 2.0 mm; control points = 6. With these results the technique can now be used in various applications while minimizing error. Magn Reson Med, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Thermo-mechanical modeling of orthogonal machining process by finite element analysis

Abstract A plane strain finite element method is used with a new material constitutive equation for 1020 steel to simulate orthogonal machining with continuous chip formation. Deformation of the workpiece material is treated as elastic–viscoplastic with isotropic strain hardening, and the numerical solution accounts for coupling between plastic deformation and the temperature field, including treatment of temperature-dependent material properties. To avoid numerical errors associated with large deformation of elements, automatic remeshing is used, with at least 15 rezonings required to achieve a satisfactory solution. Effects of the uncertainty in the constitutive model on the distributions of strain, stress and temperature around the shear zone are presented, and the model is validated by comparing average values of the predicted stress, strain, strain rate and temperature at the shear zone with experimental results. Parametric effects associated with cutting speed and initial work temperature are considered in the simulations.
Estimating the causal effect of beliefs on contributions in repeated public good games

We use instrumental variables for estimating the causal effect of beliefs on contributions in repeated public good games. The effect is about half as large as suggested by ordinary least squares. Thus, we present evidence that beliefs have a causal effect on contributions, but also that beliefs are endogenous. We compare the causal, belief-based model of contributions to alternative models based on matching the previous contributions of others and responding to one’s deviation from the average in the previous round. The causal, belief-based model performs well, indicating that beliefs have a central role in determining contributions.
A higher order method for concentrating the STFT

We present a method for computing the theoretically exact estimate of the instantaneous frequency of a signal from local values of its short time Fourier transform under the assumption that the complex logarithm of the signal is a polynomial in time. We apply the method to the problem of estimating and separating non-stationary components of a multi-component signal. Signal estimation and separation is based on a linear TF model in which the value of the signal at each time is distributed in frequency. This is a significant departure from the conventional nonlinear model in which signal energy is distributed in time and frequency. We further demonstrate by a simple example that IF estimated by the higher order method is significantly better than previously used first order methods.
Reproductive Performance of Broiler Breeders Exposed to Cycling High Temperatures from 17 to 20 Weeks of Age

Abstract Forty male and 240 female broiler breeders were placed in cages within environmental chambers (20 males or 40 females per chamber) at 14 weeks of age. Chamber temperatures were maintained at 21.3 ± 2.5 C, and relative humidity (RH) ranged from 40 to 50%. Ventilation rate was approximately 47.2 liters/sec per chamber, and light was provided from 0600 to 1800 hr. Feed was restricted daily according to industry recommendations, and water was provided ad libitum. From 17 to 20 weeks of age, control (C) chambers were kept at constant 21.0 ± 1.4 C with 45 ± 5% RH, and heat-treated (HT) chambers were cycled from 24.4 ± 5.5 C (45 ± 5% RH) during 1800 to 0800 hr to 36.0 ± 2.8 C (15 ± 5% RH) during 0800 to 1800 hr. Body weights were recorded at biweekly intervals. At 18 and 20 weeks of age, blood samples and rectal body temperatures were obtained randomly from five fasted birds per chamber at 0800 and 1400 hr. From 20 to 60 weeks of age, all birds were kept in individual cages in a conventional fan-ventilated house. Maximum temperature never exceeded 30 C, and average RH was 65.0%. Reproductive parameters were monitored and body weights were obtained at 4-week intervals. There were no significant treatment effects for body weight, body temperature, or differential leukocyte counts. Hematocrits were significantly lower for HT females than controls, and heat treatment did not result in consistent changes in plasma glucose or total proteins. There were no significant differences between C and HT birds for age of sexual maturity, egg production, egg weight and specific gravity, fertility, or semen production except that sperm concentration and percent abnormal sperm were greater in HT males than controls from 28 to 31 weeks of age. Evidently, the conditions of heat treatment used in this study (i.e., cycling high temperature with low RH) were not stressful and did not cause detrimental changes in the subsequent performance of broiler breeders.
Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the α1-antitrypsin gene: Application to prenatal diagnosis

A method for detection of the M and Z alleles of the alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (AAT) gene has been developed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of DNA samples amplified in vitro by the polymerase chain reaction. Amplification of the 90 nucleotides surrounding the Z mutation site with concurrent attachment of a 40 bp GC-rich region yields DNA fragments that are easily and quickly separated by DGGE. Results are consistently attained in 1-2 days, making this one of the most rapid method of diagnosis of AAT deficiency to date. Additionally, the analyses are completed entirely without the use of radioactive probes, thus eliminating the problems and precautions that are inherent with the use of 32P. The simplicity and reliability of this technique make it well suited for routine use in diagnostic laboratories.
Trailing edge flap influence on leading edge vortex flap aerodynamics

A study has been conducted to explore the effects of trailing edge flaps (TEF) on leading edge vortex flap (LEVF) aerodynamics. A variety of LEVF and TEF configurations were tested on flat plate delta wings with leading edge sweep angles of 60 and 75 deg. Results indicated that the well-established vortex flowfield of the 75deg wing was not substantially improved with the deflection of trailing edge flaps. Significant changes were seen to occur to the marginal vortices of the 60-deg wing. For the 60-deg wing with inverted constant chord LEVFs, the deflection of TEFs resulted in substantial increases in lift coefficient at low angles of attack without sacrificing other performance parameters. Also shown is the capability for eliminating the adverse longitudinal characteristics of constant chord LEVFs.
Considerations for optimization and validation of an in vitro PBMC derived T cell assay for immunogenicity prediction of biotherapeutics

An immune response to a biotherapeutic can be induced when the therapeutic is processed and presented by antigen presenting cell to T helper cells. This study evaluates the performance of an in vitro assay that can elicit antigen specific effector T cell responses. Two biotherapeutics with known clinical immunogenicity [FPX1 and FPX2] were assessed for their ability to induce antigen-specific IFN-γ secreting T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The 24 amino acid peptide component of FPX1 elicited an antigen-specific response in 16/34 (47%) individual naive healthy donors. This in vitro effect was consistent with high rate of immunogenicity which was observed when this drug was administered in clinical trials. FPX2 did not induce antigen-specific T cells in vitro, which correlates with the low rate of development of anti-drug antibody responses to this molecule in the clinic. The assay has the potential to predict immunogenicity and help in the selection of biotherapeutics at the early development stage of a clinical candidate.
Studies of the Interaction of Cardiac Lipid Droplets with Mitochondria Using Electron Microscopy

In the United States and many developed countries, obesity is a rising health problem. Obesity is the result of an imbalance in lipid homeostasis and is evidenced by the excessive accumulation of cytoplasmic lipid droplets (CLDs) in cardiac muscles. The CLD is a dynamic organelle that functions in maintaining cellular lipid storage and metabolism [1]. It interacts with various cell organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum, endosomes and mitochondria for lipid transport, storage and beta oxidation to generate energy. To date, only a few lipid droplet-associated proteins have been identified; among these, perilipin proteins are the most abundant. In cardiac myocytes, perilipin 5 has been shown to play a role in the recruitment of mitochondria to CLDs and is a negative regulator of lipolysis [2]. Our ultimate goal is to understand how CLDs in cardiac muscle cooperate, spatially and metabolically with mitochondria and the role of perilipin 5 in the dynamic interactions between these two organelles. Due to the small size of CLDs, electron microscopy (EM) techniques are required to characterize their physical and molecular interactions with mitochondria. However, lipids are prone to be extracted during traditional EM and light microscopy sample processing steps. Using fluorescence microscopy, it has been shown previously that methanol and acetone fixation can induce lipid droplets fusion and alter the size and morphology of CLDs [3]. In the electron microscope, lipid droplets can be seen both as electron dense or electron opaque vacuoles in cells or tissues prepared by different fixation and staining methods. Here we summarize our findings on the effect of various fixation and staining methods on the morphology of CLDs in cardiac muscles.