cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased Risk of Mortality in Alzheimer's Disease Patients with More Advanced Educational and Occupational Attainment

A reserve hypothesis suggests that clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) begin earlier in individuals with less education. Therefore, patients with less education might survive longer after diagnosis than those with more education. Two hundred forty-six subjects with probable AD were following for 1 to 4 years. There were 78 deaths; 30 deaths occurred in the 127 patients whose education was ≤8 years, while 48 deaths occured in the 119 patients with <8 years of education. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, gender, and clinical dementia rating (CDR) showed that patients with more education had increased mortality (continuous variable: RR = 1.06 for each years of education; 95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.01-1.11; dichotomous variable at 8 yr: RR = 1.76; CI, 1.11-2.77). This observation might at first seem counterintuitve, since groups with lower socioeconomic status are often at greater mortality risk. It implies that at any level of assessed clinical severity, the underlying pathology of AD is more advanced in patients with more education, resulting in shorter duration of diagnosed disease before death. These findings suggest either that education systematically influences global ratings of disease severity or that education provides a reserve against the clinical manifestation of AD pathology.
Reply from M. J. Joyner

The letter concerning my Classical Perspectives on McKloskey & Mitchell (1972) raises important points related to the evolution of ideas in the 1960's and early 1970's about feedback from contracting muscles and the cardiovascular responses to exercise. In general, I agree with many of the comments in the letter and am flattered that a letter was written about my Perspectives. However, I think there are four points I should make in response. First (as noted in the letter), the work of McCloskey & Mitchell was a clear demonstration that the finer afferents in muscle are responsible for initiating pressor response from active muscles. In retrospect this demonstration seems especially key in the subsequent work on the signals, transduction mechanisms, and neural pathways involved in this response. Second, the McCloskey & Mitchell paper has been cited a very large number of times and continues to be cited. Third, Classical Perspectives are limited in length and number of citations so it was not possible to be more thorough. Finally, I appreciate that the author of the letter made the effort to provide me and other readers of The Journal of Physiology with more information about where ideas with such wide ranging physiological implications came from.
Theoretical study of miscibility and glass‐forming trends in mixtures of polystyrene spheres

We present a theoretical study of glass‐forming trends and miscibility in mixtures of polystyrene spheres (‘‘polyballs’’) of different diameters, suspended in an aqueous solution. The polyballs are assumed to be charged and to interact via a Debye–Huckel screened Coulomb potential. The Helmholtz free energy is calculated from a variational principle based on the Gibbs–Bogolyubov inequality, in which a mixture of hard spheres of different diameters is chosen as the reference system. It is found that when the charges of the two types of polyballs are sufficiently different, the variationally determined ratio of hard‐sphere diameters differs substantially, leading to packing difficulties characteristic of glass formation. The experimentally observed range of glass formation corresponds to a ratio of hard‐sphere diameters of 0.8 or less. Calculations of the free energy as a function of concentration indicate that the liquid polyball mixture is stable against the phase separation, even for widely different polyball charges.
High energy phosphate depletion in leaflet matrix cells during processing of cryopreserved cardiac valves.

Preimplantation preparation of cardiac valves includes three major steps: (1) harvesting with accompanying ischemia (warm time from cessation of donor heart beat), (2) antibiotic disinfection, and (3) controlled-rate cryopreservation. To define the interdependent injury effects of these manipulations on leaflet matrix cells and specifically the potential for prolonged harvest-related ischemia to predispose greater injury by the subsequent steps, 96 semilunar valves were harvested from pigs in a manner analogous to human heart valve retrievals and randomly allocated to study groups as follows: 48 control valves were exposed to increasing harvested-related ischemic times, (2, 6, 12, 24 hr) and immersed in liquid nitrogen to arrest metabolic activity (i.e., prior to cryopreservation) and conclude the ischemia; another 48 were similarly harvested, subjected to identical ischemic times, then disinfected in 4°C RPMI medium with standard antibiotics for 24 hr and dimethylsulfoxide cryopreserved at −1°C/min to −170°C (i.e., formal cryopreservation protocol). At thawing, each valve was extracted in 12% trichloroacetic acid and assayed by high performance liquid chromatography for components of the adenine nucleotide pool including ATP, lower energy nucleotides (total adenine nucleotides, [TAN] − [ATP] + [ADP] + [AMP]), adenosine, and the diffusible purines. Results are reported as nanomoles metabolite/milligram of leaflet cell protein (Lowry) and reflect a maintenance of total high energy phosphates in the control groups (5.41 ± 0.29 nmole TAN at 2 hr; 8.34 ± 0.67 nmole TAN at 24 hr), which fell significantly in all cryopreserved groups (1.27 ± 0.33 nmole TAN at 2 hr; 0.34 ± 0.22 nmole TAN at 24 hr). Total adenine nucleotides were significantly more depleted in the cryopreserved leaflets ischemic for 24 hours than in those with shorter antecedent ischemia. ATP was reduced by processing at every ischemic interval (P < 0.05). Conclusions: (1) 24 hours of harvest ischemia alone does not exhaust leaflet cells of either ATP or total adenine nucleotides, (2) “processing” (disinfection + cryopreservation) reduces ATP and total adenine nucleotides at all ischemic times studied, (3) valves ischemic for 24 hr are most sensitive to subsequent processing with amplified reductions in total adenine nucleotides, and (4) even when disinfection-cryopreservation is preceded by 24 hr of harvest ischemia, measurable reserves of high energy phosphate persist.
Do we really need prognostic factors for breast cancer

The role of prognostic factors in optimizing treatment for breast cancer patients has clearly changed with the trend toward general use of adjuvant therapy. Nevertheless, there are at least three situations in which prognostic factors could be helpful. The first is to identify patients whose prognosis is so good that adjuvant therapy after local surgery would not be cost-beneficial. The second is to identify patients whose prognosis is so poor that a more aggressive adjuvant approach would be warranted. The third is to identify patients likely to be responsive or resistant to particular forms of therapy. Here we will discuss all of these situations, together with the appropriate cutpoint analyses and validation of individual prognostic factors and their combination into prognostic indexes which may make the discrimination of patient subsets more reliable.
Book and Media Review: Foundations for Community Health Workers:

This first textbook on, by, and for community health workers (CHW) is long overdue. It adheres to its stated purpose of providing a foundation for the increasing workforce of CHWs. The voices of CHWs are heard throughout. The book is comprehensive in its 592 pages, with 22 chapters, in three sections. Those sections cover the changing world of the community health worker and core competencies for work with clients and with communities. The thoroughness is laudable, but comes at a cost. The length, small font size, and cost of the book might limit its accessibility to its primary intended audience. Overall, this is an essential contribution to the development of the CHW workforce. The reviewers make some recommendations on how to increase accessibility to CHWs.
Uniform distribution of projection data for improved reconstruction quality of 4D EPR imaging

In continuous wave (CW) electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI), high quality of reconstruction in a limited acquisition time is a high priority. It has been shown for the case of 3D EPRI, that a uniform distribution of the projection data generally enhances reconstruction quality. In this work, we have suggested two data acquisition techniques for which the gradient orientations are more evenly distributed over the 4D acquisition space as compared to the existing methods. The first sampling technique is based on equal solid angle partitioning of 4D space, while the second technique is based on Fekete points estimation in 4D to generate a more uniform distribution of data. After acquisition, filtered backprojection (FBP) is applied to carryout the reconstruction in a single stage. The single-stage reconstruction improves the spatial resolution by eliminating the necessity of data interpolation in multi-stage reconstructions. For the proposed data distributions, the simulations and experimental results indicate a higher fidelity to the true object configuration. Using the uniform distribution, we expect about 50% reduction in the acquisition time over the traditional method of equal linear angle acquisition.
The GTP-Binding Domain Revisited

Recently we explored the similarity of several GTP-binding domains using principals developed from newly reported structural features of EF-Tu (1–4). In this study, it was concluded that many GTP-binding proteins contain the following consensus sequence elements (GXXXXGK, DXXG, and NKXD) and that these elements were spaced in one of two patterns: the distance between the first and second consensus elements was either 40 to 80 amino acids or about 150 amino acids while the second and third consensus elements were usually 40 to 80 amino acids apart. An updated presentation of GTP-binding proteins which conform to this general scheme is given in Tables 1, 2, and 3 although additional sequences of the three major families have not been included (EF-Tu and EF-1a; RAS, YP2, and rho; G proteins). Each of these individual families will be the subject of more extensive study in other chapters in this book. In addition, there will be no discussion of a or s tubulin, both GTP-binding proteins, as neither of these proteins contains the three consensus elements.
Comment on Lockwood's Review of THE STRANGLED DEMOCRACY

laborers from other kinds of peasants, and that this "cannot be attributed to ignorance-which somehow makes it worse" (p. 866). The charge is serious because one of the main points of my long introductory essay was to propose, and to work out very carefully, a new approach to the definition of the thorny concept, "peasant," and to do so in such a manner that while these groups would be embraced within the general concept, dimensions are set up which allow very clear distinctions between the different kinds of peasants as so defined. This is made absolutely clear in pages 5-8 where I discuss the advantages of originally including all groups under the general term, and then making sure that they can be distinguished from each other. The advantages of this, as compared with previous approaches, are carefully pointed out, specifically with respect to agricultural laborers. I am in the process of writing a longer piece on this subject, but in the meantime I did feel I wanted to protest against the charge that I failed to make a distinction which I very, very clearly did make and elaborated upon.
Smooth Muscle Cell–Specific Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Overexpression in Apoe−/− Mice Does Not Alter Atherosclerotic Plaque Burden but Increases Features of Plaque Stability

Objective— Growth factors may play a permissive role in atherosclerosis initiation and progression, in part via their promotion of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) accumulation in plaques. However, unstable human plaques often have a relative paucity of VSMC, which has been suggested to contribute to plaque rupture and erosion and to clinical events. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is an endocrine and autocrine/paracrine growth factor that is a mitogen for VSMC, but when infused into Apoe −/− mice it paradoxically reduces atherosclerosis burden. Methods and Results— To determine the effect of stimulation of VSMC growth on atherosclerotic plaque development and to understand mechanisms of IGF-1’s atheroprotective effect, we assessed atherosclerotic plaques in mice overexpressing IGF-1 in smooth muscle cells (SMC) under the control of the α-smooth muscle actin promoter, after backcrossing to the Apoe −/− background (SMP8/ Apoe −/− ). Compared with Apoe −/− mice, these SMP8/ Apoe −/− mice developed a comparable plaque burden after 12 weeks on a Western diet, suggesting that the ability of increased circulating IGF-1 to reduce plaque burden was mediated in large part via non-SMC target cells. However, advanced plaques in SMP8/ Apoe −/− mice displayed several features of plaque stability, including increased fibrous cap area, α-smooth muscle actin–positive SMC and collagen content, and reduced necrotic cores. Conclusion— These findings indicate that stimulation of VSMC IGF-1 signaling does not alter total atherosclerotic plaque burden and may improve atherosclerotic plaque stability.
Improved PASL EPI acquisitions with parallel imaging and unfold

Pulsed Arterial Spin Labeling (PASL) has been shown to be an effective method for quantitatively measuring cerebral blood flow. Quantification errors with PASL may result from patient motion, however, so Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) is commonly used to acquire PASL images due to its high temporal resolution. EPI achieves high temporal resolution through long echo trains, which can result in image distortions due to magnetic field inhomogeneities. Thus, perfusion weighted EPI could be further improved with shorter echo trains and faster image acquisitions. This paper investigates the use of UNFOLD and parallel MR imaging to reduce EPI image acquisition time. We demonstrate how the use of varied sampling patterns and UNFOLD can completely remove the dasiaNyquist ghostspsila that are common in EPI acquisitions. This allows one to greatly improve the effectiveness of parallel imaging in EPI, and to reduce field inhomogeneity artifacts by reducing the echo train length.
RNAi screen identifies a synthetic lethal interaction between PIM1 overexpression and PLK1 inhibition

Purpose: To identify genes whose depletion is detrimental to Pim1-overexpressing prostate cancer cells and to validate this finding in vitro and in vivo . Experimental Design: RNAi screening was used to identify genes whose depletion is detrimental to Pim1-overexpressing cells. Our finding was validated using shRNA or PLK1-specific inhibitor BI 2536. Xenograft studies were performed using both PLK1-knockdown cells and BI 2536 to investigate the effects of PLK1 inhibition on tumorigenesis in Pim1-overexpressing cells. Finally, PLK1 and PIM1 expression patterns in human prostate tumors were examined by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays. Results: We identified the mitotic regulator polo-like kinase (PLK1) as a gene whose depletion is particularly detrimental to the viability of Pim1-overexpressing prostate cancer. Inhibition of PLK1 by shRNA or BI 2536 in Pim1-overexpressing prostate cancer xenograft models resulted in a dramatic inhibition of tumor progression. Notably, Pim1-overexpressing cells were more prone to mitotic arrest followed by apoptosis due to PLK1 inhibition than control cells. Furthermore, inhibition of PLK1 led to the reduction of MYC protein levels both in vitro and in vivo . Our data also suggest that PIM1 and PLK1 physically interact and PIM1 might phosphorylate PLK1. Finally, PLK1 and PIM1 are frequently co-expressed in human prostate tumors, and co-expression of PLK1 and PIM1 was significantly correlated to higher Gleason grades. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that PIM1-overexpressing cancer cells are particularly sensitive to PLK1 inhibition, suggesting that PIM1 might be used as a marker for identifying patients who will benefit from PLK1 inhibitor treatment. Clin Cancer Res; 20(12); 3211–21. ©2014 AACR .
Minimization of detection of symbol-rate spectral lines by delay and multiply receivers

The detectability of the symbol rate of a digitally modulated signal by a delay and multiply receiver is investigated. Two signal pulse types are considered: Nyquist pulses and rectangular pulses. Since many digital transmission systems use rectangular pulse shapes, symbol rate-line detectability is considered for receivers optimized for rectangular pulses. For a receiver configuration that is reasonable for rectangular pulses, it is found that with a Nyquist pulse parameter alpha =0.25, the rate-line signal-to-noise ratio is down about 20 dB from that for a rectangular pulse signal. >
Racial Differences in Predictors of Intensive End-of-Life Care in Patients With Advanced Cancer

Purpose Black patients are more likely than white patients to receive life-prolonging care near death. This study examined predictors of intensive end-of-life (EOL) care for black and white advanced cancer patients. Patients and Methods Three hundred two self-reported black (n = 68) and white (n = 234) patients with stage IV cancer and caregivers participated in a US multisite, prospective, interview-based cohort study from September 2002 to August 2008. Participants were observed until death, a median of 116 days from baseline. Patient-reported baseline predictors included EOL care preference, physician trust, EOL discussion, completion of a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, and religious coping. Caregiver postmortem interviews provided information regarding EOL care received. Intensive EOL care was defined as resuscitation and/or ventilation followed by death in an intensive care unit. Results Although black patients were three times more likely than white patients to receive intensive EOL care (adjusted ...
Pyrosequencing method for genotyping cytochrome P450 CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 enzymes.

The cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 play important roles in drug metabolism (1)(2)(3). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms that have been identified in the genes encoding for these enzymes may contribute to variability in drug response through alterations in metabolism. CYP2C8 expression includes five alleles: CYP2C8*1 (wild type), CYP2C8*2 , CYP2C8*3 (1), CYP2C8*4 (2), and CYP2C8*5 (4). The variant alleles CYP2C8*2 and * 3 have been shown to encode for an enzyme with decreased activity in vitro (1), whereas CYP2C8*4 expression appears to cause decreased CYP2C8 activity (2). The allele frequency of CYP2C8*2 is 0.18 in the African-American population, whereas CYP2C8*3 and CYP2C8*4 are expressed primarily in the Caucasian population at frequencies of 0.13 and 0.075, respectively (1)(2). Thirteen CYP2C9 alleles have been identified to date, and the majority of studies on these have focused on the importance of CYP2C9*2 (5) and CYP2C9*3 (6). CYP2C9*4 is expressed in the Asian population at an allele frequency of 0.02, but does not appear to be expressed in Caucasians or African Americans (7). CYP2C9*5 and * 6 are found primarily in African Americans at frequencies of 0.017 (8) and 0.006 (9), respectively. Blaisdell et al.(10) recently identified variants designated as CYP2C9*7 through * 12 , which have allele frequencies ranging from 0.006 to 0.03 in African populations. The CYP2C9*8 , * 11 , and * 12 alleles have altered in vitro metabolic activities compared with the wild-type allele, CYP2C9*1 (10). Finally, CYP2C9*13 was identified in a Chinese population with an allele frequency of 0.01 and was associated with decreased CYP2C9 activity (11). Given the importance of these enzymes in the metabolism of multiple drugs, a reliable genotyping method …
Study of the fiber/matrix interface in a SiC reinforced titanium alloy using a high resolution field emission Auger microprobe

Using a high-resolution Auger microprobe the chemical structure of the interface in a SiC reinforced titanium alloy has been examined. Only two phases, TiC and Ti5Si3, are identified in the interface. A TiC layer next to the SiC fiber was proven to form a diffusion barrier for titanium. The results aid in the understanding of the fiber surface degradation process during sample production and suggests processes for the further development of these composites.
AN APPROACH TO MODEL ABSTRACTION OF STRESS CORROSION CRACKING DAMAGE IN MANAGEMENT OF SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL AND HIGH-LEVEL WASTE

This paper presents an approach to assess stress corrosion cracking (SCC) damage of a canister for use in confinement management (extended dry storage or geological disposal) of radionuclides from spent nuclear fuel and high-level (radioactive) waste. Localized corrosion, mainly in pitting form and fabrication flaws, were analyzed as a possible precursor to SCC using field/laboratory data. This paper assesses single crack propagation over long time periods and estimates the potential maximum opening area resulting from multiple cracks. This crack propagation model was developed by the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) for disposal under seismic conditions, and it appears to be conservative with respect to radionuclide releases through the opening area. The SNL model could be applied to the weld and various metals for both management applications. The conservative SNL approach could be used to estimate consequences of radionuclides dispersals, if a canister failed as the confinement barrier.
GRAMMAR VIEWED AS A FUNCTIONING PART OF A COGNITIVE SYSTEM

How can grammar be viewed as a functional part of a cognitive system? Given a neural basis for the processing control paradigm of language performance, what roles does "grammar" play? Is there evidence to suggest that grammatical processing can be independent from other aspects of language processing?This paper will focus on these issues and suggest answers within the context of one computational solution. The example model of sentence comprehension, HOPE, is intended to demonstrate both representational considerations for a grammar within such a system as well as to illustrate that by interpreting a grammar as a feedback control mechanism of a "neural-like" process, additional insights into language processing can be obtained.
Constitutive Rhetoric Reconsidered: Constitutive Paradoxes in G. W. Bush's Iraq War Speeches

In the process of trying to create identification between Americans and the Iraqis, making them partners in a democratic founding, President G. W. Bush's Iraq war rhetoric contributed to conditions that were diametrically opposed to democratic transformation. His discourse, grounded in prophetic dualism, created what I refer to as “constitutive” paradoxes that reveal both limitations and reflexive possibilities of constitutive rhetorics.
On the Dayside Thermal Emission of Hot Jupiters

We discuss atmosphere models of HD 209458b in light of the recent dayside flux measurement of HD 209458b's secondary eclipse by Spitzer MIPS at 24 μm. In addition, we present a revised secondary eclipse IRTF upper limit at 2.2 μm that places a stringent constraint on the adjacent H2O absorption band depths. These two measurements are complementary because they are both shaped by H2O absorption and because the former is on the Wien tail of the planet's thermal emission spectrum and the latter is near the thermal emission peak. A wide range of models fit the observational data, confirming our basic understanding of hot Jupiter atmospheric physics. Although a range of models are viable, some models at the hot and cold end of the plausible temperature range can be ruled out. One class of previously unconsidered hot Jupiter atmospheric models that fit the data are those with C/O 1 (as Jupiter may have), which have a significant paucity of H2O compared to solar abundance models with C/O = 0.5. The models indicate that HD 209458b is in a situation intermediate between pure in situ reradiation and very efficient redistribution of heat, one that will require a careful treatment of atmospheric circulation. We discuss how future wavelength- and phase-dependent observations will further constrain the atmospheric circulation regime. In the shorter term, additional planned measurements for HD 209458b, especially Spitzer IRAC photometry, should lift many of the model degeneracies. Multiwavelength IR observations constrain the atmospheric structure and circulation properties of hot Jupiters and thus open a new chapter in quantitative extrasolar planetology.
Using Captioned Media as Mentor Expository Texts

Children ages 2–18 spend between two and four hours per day watching TV, a calculation that is even higher if DVDs, videos and the Internet are included. Although the amount of television watched by today's children has raised concerns about their literacy development, captions could hold a key to turning television into an educational asset. Captions are printed text which represents the audio component of a program and like the audio, reflects the heart of the program's message. Research shows that watching and reading captioned programs increases children's comprehension. Captioned programming and transcripts of documentaries are readily available. They can be used for teaching greater comprehension of expository text structures and as mentor texts for learning to write expository texts.
Light Harvesting and Charge Separation in a π-Conjugated Antenna Polymer Bound to TiO2

This paper describes the photophysical and photoelectrochemical characterization of a light harvesting polychromophore array featuring a polyfluorene backbone with covalently attached Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes (PF-Ru-A), adsorbed on the surface of mesostructured TiO2 (PF-Ru-A//TiO2). The surface adsorbed polymer is characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, providing evidence for the morphology of the surface adsorbed polymer and the mode of binding. Photoexcitation of the Ru(II) complexes bound to the metal oxide surface (proximal) results in electron injection into the conduction band of TiO2, which is then followed by ultrafast hole transfer to the polymer to form oxidized polyfluorene (PF+). More interestingly, chromophores that are not directly bound to the TiO2 interface (distal) that are excited participate in site-to-site energy transfer processes that transport...
Taxonomic Revision of the Moss Genus Lepidopilidium (Pilotrichaceae)1

Abstract Lepidopilidium (Mull. Hal.) Broth. (Pilotrichaceae) consists of mainly epiphytic and epiphyllous, pleurocarpous mosses distributed in the tropical, subtropical, and south temperate regions of Central America, South America, Africa, southern India, and Sri Lanka. The genus is characterized by a moderately to strongly complanate habit; the presence of a moderately to well-developed stem hyalodermis; dimorphic dorsal, ventral, and lateral leaves; prominent double costae; smooth, hexagonal, rhomboidal, or fusiform leaf cells; smooth or papillose setae; collenchymatous exothecial cells; 2-celled stomata; massive annuli; a hookeriaceous-type peristome; and sparsely pilose or glabrous mitrate calyptrae. Six species are taxonomically accepted: L. brevisetum (Hampe) Broth., L. devexum (Mitt.) Broth., L. divaricatum (Dozy & Molk.) Broth., L. furcatum (Thwaites & Mitt.) Broth., L. isleanum (Besch.) Broth., and L. nitens (Hornsch.) Broth., with 19 names newly synonymized. Lepidopilum chenagonii Renauld & Car...
Neural Computing Approach to Shape Change Estimation in Hot Isostatic Pressing

A neural network approach is presented for the estimation of shape change during a Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) process of nickel-based superalloys for near net-shape manufacture. For the HIP process, shrinkage must be estimated accurately; otherwise, the finished piece will need excessive machining and expensive nickelbased alloy powder will be wasted (if overestimated) or the part will be scrapped (if underestimated). Estimating shape change has been a very difficult task in the powder metallurgy industry and approaches range from rules of thumb to sophisticated finite element models. However, the industry still lacks a reliable and general way to accurately estimate final shape. This paper demonstrates that a neural network approach is promising to estimate post-HIP dimensions from a combination of pre-HIP dimensions, powder characteristics and processing information.
Normal fault growth: Evolution of tipline shapes and slip distribution

Descriptions of the 3D geometry of ancient faults suggest that single, continuous normal faults have approximately elliptical tipline shapes, with (sub)horizontal major axes. However, many examples of normal faults are not continuous, but consist of distinct, overstepping segments. Individual segments may have complex shapes as well as a vertical height that exceeds the horizontal length. Where fault segments step laterally, their tiplines are relatively straight and steeply plunging. Tiplines in relays between vertically stepping normal fault segments are also relatively straight, but have a (sub)horizontal attitude. The fault shapes appear strongly related to the presence of neighboring faults and the positions of the fault segments relative to one another.
Toward a virtual neuromuscular control for robust walking in bipedal robots

Walking controllers for bipedal robots have not yet reached human levels of robustness in locomotion. Imitating the human motor control might be an alternative strategy for generating robust locomotion in robots. We seek to control bipedal robots with a specific neuromuscular human walking model proposed previously. Here, we present a virtual neuromuscular controller, VNMC, that emulates this neuromuscular model to generate desired motor torques for a bipedal robot. We test the VNMC on a high-fidelity simulation of the ATRIAS bipedal robot constrained to the sagittal plane. We optimize the control parameters to tolerate maximum ground-height changes, which resulted in ATRIAS walking on a terrain with up to ±7 cm height changes. We further evaluate the robustness of the optimized controller to external and internal disturbances. The optimized VNMC adapts to 90% of random terrains with ground-height changes up to ±2 cm. It endures 95% of ±30 Ns horizontal pushes on the trunk, and 90% of 8 Ns backward and 4 Ns forward impulses on the swing foot throughout the gait cycle. Furthermore, the VNMC is resilient to modeling errors and sensor noise much larger than the equivalent uncertainties in the real robot. The results suggest VNMC as a potential alternative to generate robust locomotion in bipedal robots.
Breast cancer screening among Cambodian American women.

Our aim was to describe and identify factors associated with breast cancer screening among Cambodian American women. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,365 households using bilingual and bicultural interviewers. We found that low proportions of Cambodian American women were up to date on their clinical breast examinations (CBE; 42%) and mammograms (40%). More than 80% of women with female physicians have had at least one prior screening, and 52% have had the tests recently. Women with male Asian American physicians were less likely to have had screening as compared to women with female non-Asian physicians: ever had CBE (odds ratio [OR], 0.26); recent CBE (OR, 0.39); ever had mammogram (OR, 0.36); and recent mammogram (OR, 0.22). Breast cancer screening among Cambodian American women lags behind the general U.S. population. Tailored promotion efforts should address barriers and promote cancer screening by physicians, staff, and organizations serving this population.
MALARIA IN U.S. MILITARY FORCES: A DESCRIPTION OF DEPLOYMENT EXPOSURES FROM 2003 THROUGH 2005

U.S. service members are often deployed to regions endemic for malaria. Preventive measures play an important role in mitigating the risk of disease and adverse effects on mission performance. Currently, a large contingent of U.S. forces is deployed in malarious regions in southeast and southwest Asia. The purpose of this study was to describe malaria cases reported by the tri-service reportable medical events system in terms of exposure (deployment history) and latency of infection. We conducted a retrospective analysis of population health data routinely collected for disease surveillance. All malaria reports received into the Defense Medical Surveillance System by January 3, 2006 with a date of onset between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2005 in which the individual diagnosed is a member of the active or reserve military components linked to personnel and deployment data were analyzed to determine assignment and deployment history. The main outcome measure was the ICD9-CM diagnosis of malaria (Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum, P. ovale, P. malaria, and unspecified malaria) by date of onset and days from exposure. A total of 423 cases of malaria were reported during the study period. The Army (n = 325) and the Marine Corps (n = 46) had the highest number of reported cases. Plasmodium vivax (n = 242) and P. falciparum (n = 92) caused nearly four-fifths of all reported cases. During the period from 2003 through 2005, 34% of deployed cases were exposed to more than one malaria-endemic region. Seventy-four cases had been assigned in the Republic of Korea, and all were present in Korea during the high risk transmission period. Seventy-eight cases had documented service in Afghanistan; only 4 had off-season exposure and no other documented exposures. Sixty cases had documented exposure during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Only six seasonally exposed and six off seasonally exposed OIF cases had no other documented exposure. Fifty percent of Korean cases were diagnosed during an exposure season, and only 3% of Afghan cases were diagnosed during an exposure season. Soldiers in today’s military can be exposed to more than one malaria-endemic region prior to diagnosis. This presents new complexities for disease monitoring and prevention policy development.
Decidual endothelium, Notch1 and TGFβ, gatekeepers for Treg accumulation at the maternal-fetal interface.

Decidual endothelium, Notch1 and TGF β , gatekeepers for Treg accumulation at the maternal–fetal interface
Abciximab in acute ischemic stroke. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Abciximab is a potent parenterally administered platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist. Because this agent has been shown to improve outcomes in coronary artery disease, there is interest to evaluate whether it could improve cerebral perfusion and outcomes after ischemic stroke. This study was designed to evaluate the safety of abciximab in acute ischemic stroke and to obtain pilot efficacy data. METHODS We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation trial. Seventy-four eligible and consenting patients presenting within 24 hours after ischemic stroke onset at 38 study sites were randomly allocated to receive either an escalating dose of abciximab (54 patients) or placebo (20 patients) in a ratio of 3:1. We studied 4 escalating doses of abciximab. Patients underwent a scheduled follow-up head CT scan 24 to 36 hours after the completion of study agent administration to monitor for bleeding complications and were evaluated through 3 months. RESULTS There were no cases of major intracranial hemorrhage. Asymptomatic parenchymal hemorrhages were detected on post-study agent CT in 4 of 54 abciximab patients (7%) and in 1 of 20 placebo patients (5%). Six additional abciximab patients had asymptomatic hemorrhagic lesions detected by unscheduled brain imaging during their follow-up period. Nine of 11 patients with asymptomatic hemorrhage had a baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score >14. At 3 months, there was a trend toward a higher rate of minimal residual disability (Barthel Index > or =95 or modified Rankin scale < or =1) among abciximab patients compared with those who received placebo. CONCLUSIONS Abciximab appears to be safe when administered up to 24 hours after stroke onset, and it might improve functional outcome.
Agreeing to arm Bilateral weapons agreements and the global arms trade

This article assesses the impact of a new form of defense cooperation – formal weapons cooperation agreements, or WCAs – on the global arms trade. WCAs are bilateral framework agreements that establish comprehensive guidelines on the development, production, and exchange of conventional arms. Substantively, WCAs regulate such core areas as procurement and contracting, defense-based research and development, and defense industrial cooperation. These agreements have proliferated dramatically since the mid-1990s. They now number nearly 700, with 30–40 new WCAs signed each year. Newly collected data are used to analyze the effect of WCAs on import and export of conventional weapons. To control for interdependencies in the formation of WCAs, and to account for the mutually endogenous relationship between WCAs and weapons flows, WCAs are modeled as an interdependent network that coevolves with the individual-level arms trade activity of states. The analysis shows that, over the 1995–2010 period, WCAs have signi...
Navier-Stokes Predictions of Aerodynamic Coefficients and Dynamic Derivatives of a 0.50-cal Projectile

m m C C q  = pitch damping moment coefficient sum  m C = pitching moment coefficient derivative  N C = normal force coefficient derivative Cn = side moment coefficient  p n C = Magnus moment coefficient derivative  n C = slope of side moment coefficient with coning rate
RTRB-18SALVAGE FRACTIONATED STEREOTACTIC RE-IRRADIATION (FSRT) FOR PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT HIGH GRADE GLIOMAS PROGRESSED AFTER BEVACIZUMAB TREATMENT

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: Bevacizumab is a commonly used treatment for patients with recurrent high grade glioma (HGG). However, patients who progress through bevacizumab is highly refractory to salvage chemotherapy. This study evaluated the efficacy of fractionated stereotactic re-irradiation (FSRT) for patients with HGG after progression on Bevacizumab. MATERIALS/METHODS: Retrospective review was conducted of HGG patients received salvage FSRT after progression on bevacizumab. A total of 36 patients were identified. FSRT was most commonly delivered in 3.5 Gy fractions to a total dose of 35 Gy. Survival from initial diagnosis, 1st recurrence, and re-irradiation, were utilized as study endpoints. Date of recurrence was defined as the date to radiographic evidence of progression. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. RESULTS: Among the 36 patients, 30 patients had glioblastoma, and 6 patients had anaplastic astrocytoma. There were 17 males and 19 females. The median age at recurrence was 56.5 years (range 37-74). The median Karnofsky Performance Status at recurrence was 80%. The median time from initial bevacizumab treatment to FSRT was 8.6 m (range 2.5 - 32.5 m). The median plan target volume for FSRT was 27.5 cc (range 4.2 - 162.3 cc). With a median follow up of 25.7 m, the overall survival of the patients since initial diagnosis was 25 m. The median overall survival since initiation of bevacizumab was 12 months. The median overall survival from FSRT was 5.1 m. FSRT treatment was well tolerated with no grade III or higher toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Favorable outcomes were observed in patients with recurrent HGG received salvage FSRT after bevacizumab failure. The treatment was well tolerated. Prospective study is warranted to further evaluate the efficacy of salvage FSRT for patients with recurrent HGG failed bevacizumab treatment.
Minireview: Role of genetic changes of faciogenital dysplasia protein 1 in human disease

The FGD1 gene encodes for a guanine exchange factor (GEF) protein that specifically activates the Rho GTPase Cdc42. For cellular migration, Cdc42 is a key molecular switch that regulates cytoskeleton restructuring, gene transcription, cellular morphology, extension, and cell adhesion. In the past decade, germline mutations in the FGD1 gene have been associated with a rare X-linked disorder known as faciogenital dysplasia (FGDY). Malformations are consistent with a loss of cellular migration during embryonic development. Insertion and deletion mutations in FGD1 result in a frameshift causing inactivation of fgd1 protein. Since Cdc42 is a key molecular switch in cytoskeletal restructuring and cell adhesion, the loss of fgd1 is postulated to attenuate Cdc42-mediated cellular migration in embryonic development. In metastatic tumors, Cdc42 modulates migration and invasiveness. Fgd1 overexpression has been found in infiltrating and poorly differentiated breast and invasive prostate tumors. Amplification at Xp11.21, the FGD1 gene locus, has been reported in several cancers. Sequencing analyses in numerous types of cancer have found missense mutations in the FGD1 gene in metastatic tumors. FGDY and cancer studies suggest that the germline and somatic changes downregulate or upregulate the FGD1 gene playing a key role in the development of diseases.
Type A personality and its association with mortality: Considering different analysis approaches of the Bortner Scale

Introduction Type A behaviour pattern (TABP) is defined as the combination of competitive need for achievement, sense of time urgency, aggressiveness, and hostility. Studies raised evidence for an association between TABP and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies on its association with mortality showed contradicting results and used different methods to measure TABP. Objectives/aims Investigating the association between TABP and all-cause, CVD, and all-cancer mortality. Methods We used data of the MONICA and the NRP1A studies that were linked with the Swiss National Cohort (SNC) ( n = 7997). Essentially, the SNC is an anonymous record linkage of census, migration and mortality data. TABP was measured by the Bortner Scale. To determine the all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality risk a Cox regression was performed. Following Edwards et al. (1990), we analysed the Bortner Scale in two different ways: all items and its two dimensions (speed and competitiveness) separately. Results We found a significant association of the Bortner Scale with all-cause mortality in women (adjusted for sociodemographic factors HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00–1.03, additionally adjusted for lifestyle factors–smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, BMI category–1.01, 1.00–1.03). The subscale of competitiveness was associated with all-cause and CVD mortality in women. Interestingly, stratifying for lifestyle variables revealed that the association was only present in those having a healthy lifestyle, e.g. non-smoking or non-hazardous alcohol intake. Conclusions The Bortner Scale and its subscale of competitiveness were associated with mortality in women. In those having great health awareness, this might offer potential for further reduction of mortality risk.
Assessment and Support of Sexual Functioning in 458 Men Seeking Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery

Genital abnormalities may have an impact on sexual identity, sexual functioning, an individual’s relationships, and self-esteem and body image. This article notes the prevalence of sexual difficulty in a population of 458 men divided into four groups: congenital anomaly, degenerative conditions affecting the phallus, trauma, and men requesting cosmetic surgery to their genitalia. It also provides guidelines for assessment and counseling designed to enhance successful and pleasurable sexual functioning in men with genital abnormalities who seek genital reconstructive surgery.
Cord Cystic Cavities: Syringomyelia and Prominent Central Canal

Syringomyelia is the term given to cystic cavities in the spinal cord, most of which are associated with congenital malformations of the craniocervical junction and represent dilation of the central canal of the cord. As such, syrinxes can be considered analogous to hydrocephalus. The exact etiology of syrinx formation remains a subject of debate, but there is ample evidence that they are the result of obstruction of the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid between the intracranial and spinal compartments. The chances that a syrinx will progress over time are much greater when they are associated with a causative lesion (Chiari malformation, tumor, infection, and trauma), but asymptomatic central canal dilation may be a stable incidental finding. Although spinal cord neoplasms are a recognized etiology for syrinx formation, especially in adults, it is not always necessary to administer contrast when evaluating a syrinx for the first time with magnetic resonance imaging.
Consideration of the Factors associated with Institutional Neurosis

This chapter discusses all the factors commonly associated with institutional neurosis. The patient's abnormal responses to the features and events in his life occasioned by illness may be augmented by the unfamiliar and abnormal features and events confronting him in the mental hospital. In most institutions, a minority of unenlightened staff physically assault patients who are not compliant, regarding them as disobedient children and meting out corrective measures that were probably once applied to themselves and which they apply to their own children. Before judging the staff too harshly, it must be remembered that mentally ill and elderly people can be maddening and exasperating, and the chronic shortage of staff in most situations results in the most saintly employees becoming irritable and short-tempered.
Genetic Constraints on the Evolution of Cannibalism in Heliothis virescens

Most theories about the evolution of behavior treat organisms as if they had infinite genetic flexibility. Given a set of ecological circumstances, they predict deterministic, optimal outcomes (Pyke et al. 1977, Maynard Smith 1978). Our knowledge of the complex interactive nature of many population genetic processes, however, predicts some departure from optimal behavior in the real world. Although this problem has often been debated at a theoretical level (Jacob 1977, Lewontin 1978, Gould and Lewontin 1979), detailed empirical studies that are needed to resolve it are lacking.
Reaching a Moving Target: How Local TV Stations are Using Digital Tools to Connect With Generation C

ABSTRACTLocal television in the United States is experiencing dramatic changes due to shifts in viewership and digital technologies. This study examined the extent to which a sample of local television stations in the United States are meeting the demands and needs of Generation C/Millennials through the use of social media, mobile technology, and other online communication tools. The major finding of this study was that television stations have a growing repertoire of social media and other connectivity tools with which to engage their viewers, but that stations in larger markets are making fuller use of interactive technologies.
PCI with drug-eluting stents reduced revascularizations, but not mortality or MI, compared with bare-metal stents.

Source Citation Bonaa KH, Mannsverk J, Wiseth R, et al; NORSTENT Investigators. Drug-eluting or bare-metal stents for coronary artery disease. N Engl J Med. 2016;375:1242-52. 27572953
Decentralized Filtering Algorithms for Interconnected Systems

Abstract In earlier work a recursive filter compatible with decentralized information patterns was developed, and qualitative aspects of the filter performance have been reported in the literature. The primary objective of this paper is to present some quantitative aspects of the filter performance for the case of state estimation in a two-area electric power system. In particular the paper presents a comparison of several "natural" filters having various degrees of decentralization. Among these are: (a) a global dynamics filter, (b) the surely locally unbiased filter presented earlier, and (c) an expanded surely locally unbiased filter.