cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Review of Classical Chebyshev Polynomial Splines

In this chapter we review the notion and an elementary construction of the Chebyshev perfect spline T n of degree r + 1 with n - r ≥ 0 knots and n + 1 points of alternance on the interval [0, 1]. Relying on the Rolle theorem or an application of Fredholm kernels, we give two proofs of extremality of Chebyshev perfect splines of the problem $$ {{f}^{{(m)}}}(0) \to \sup ,\quad f \in W_{\infty }^{{r + 1}}[0,1],\quad {{\left\| f \right\|}_{{\mathbb{C}\left[ {0,1} \right]}}}{{\rho }_{n}}: = {{\left\| {{{T}_{n}}} \right\|}_{{\mathbb{C}\left[ {0,1} \right]}}}, $$ for all 0 < m ≤ r. Then, we discuss the possibility of application of these two methods to the solution of the corresponding problem in W r H ω. In Section 4.5 we discuss the elementary proof of the original exact Kolmogorov inequalities for intermediate derivatives due to A. S. Cavaretta [18]. Finally, we derive some special technical results of the general theory of perfect splines employed in the proof of the main results of the paper.
Full waveform seismic inversion using a distributed system of computers: Research Articles

The aim of seismic waveform inversion is to estimate the elastic properties of the Earth's subsurface layers from recordings of seismic waveform data. This is usually accomplished by using constrained optimization often based on very simplistic assumptions. Full waveform inversion uses a more accurate wave propagation model but is extremely difficult to use for routine analysis and interpretation. This is because computational difficulties arise due to: (1) strong nonlinearity of the inverse problem; (2) extreme ill-posedness; and (3) large dimensions of data and model spaces. We show that some of these difficulties can be overcome by using: (1) an improved forward problem solver and efficient technique to generate sensitivity matrix; (2) an iteration adaptive regularized truncated Gauss–Newton technique; (3) an efficient technique for matrix–matrix and matrix–vector multiplication; and (4) a parallel programming implementation with a distributed system of processors. We use a message-passing interface in the parallel programming environment. We present inversion results for synthetic and field data, and a performance analysis of our parallel implementation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Biochemical Nickel(I) State Supports Nucleophilic Alkyl Addition: A Roadmap for Methyl Reactivity in Acetyl Coenzyme A Synthase.

Nickel-containing enzymes such as methyl coenzyme M reductase (MCR) and carbon monoxide dehydrogenase/acetyl coenzyme A synthase (CODH/ACS) play a critical role in global energy conversion reactions, with significant contributions to carbon-centered processes. These enzymes are implied to cycle through a series of nickel-based organometallic intermediates during catalysis, though identification of these intermediates remains challenging. In this work, we have developed and characterized a nickel-containing metalloprotein that models the methyl-bound organometallic intermediates proposed in the native enzymes. Using a nickel(I)-substituted azurin mutant, we demonstrate that alkyl binding occurs via nucleophilic addition of methyl iodide as a methyl donor. The paramagnetic NiIII-CH3 species initially generated can be rapidly reduced to a high-spin NiII-CH3 species in the presence of exogenous reducing agent, following a reaction sequence analogous to that proposed for ACS. These two distinct bioorganometall...
Abstract 2456: NetZen: A comprehensive network-based pathway and target discovery platform

BACKGROUND: Success in precision medicine depends on the ability to accurately and rapidly identify master regulators of critical gene subnetworks. To achieve this goal requires a seamless computational target discovery platform that integrates global network visualization with identification of master regulatory subnetworks (MRS) and their key influencers. METHODS: We have created NetZen - a computer cluster-capable computational suite allowing for 1) robust network generation with million edges; 2) network-based MRS identification; 3) hierarchical analysis with automated annotations; and 4) whole-network 3D visualization of all 20,000 genes. To identify cancer MRS, we applied NetZen to expression datasets of tumors and normal tissues, tumor-initiating cells (TICs), non-TIC cancer cells, and normal stem and non-stem cells from TCGA, GEO and internal sources. For validation, we introduced these subnetworks in normal cells to recapitulate TIC phenotypes in vivo or disrupted them in patients-derived TICs and mouse xenografts (PDX). To identify MRS of mortality, we applied NetZen to survival data in TCGA. RESULTS: Networks of 28 human cancers were generated, integrating transcriptomics, microRNAs, proteomics, and clinical data. For cancers with TIC datasets, we identified TIC-specific MRS with clear-cut hierarchy controlling immune surveillance, EMT and developmental functions. Interestingly, in some cancers, the immune subnetwork including immune checkpoints was entirely encompassed in the developmental subnetwork. We present representative validation on glioblastoma TIC (GIC) MRS with features common in other cancers’ TICs. Exogenous introduction of this subnetwork in normal astrocytes forced them to become GICs and form tumors in mice. Disrupting this subnetwork in 10 independent PDXs profoundly blunted tumor growth and prolonged survival. Lastly, we present detailed MRS of mortality analysis of multiple cancer types and identify common pathways directly influencing outcomes. DISCUSSION: NetZen provides a complete solution to big data analysis by effortlessly processing million-edge hierarchical networks with biological insights through automated annotations. The findings that the immune and developmental subnetworks were intimately linked suggest that immune escape by TICs is intrinsic of cellular transformation rather than a product of selection. Lastly, detailed network hierarchy provides a logical roadmap for cancer therapeutic development. Citation Format: Son Le, Alberto Riva, Changwang Deng, David D. Tran. NetZen: A comprehensive network-based pathway and target discovery platform [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2456.
Computational Evidence for Kinetically Controlled Radical Coupling during Lignification

Lignin is an alkyl–aromatic biopolymer that, despite its abundance, is underutilized as a renewable feedstock because of its highly complex structure. An approach to overcome this challenge that has gained prominence in recent years leverages the plasticity and malleability of lignin biosynthesis to tune lignin structure in planta through genetic approaches. An improved understanding of lignin biosynthesis can thus provide fundamental insights critical for the development of effective tailoring and valorization strategies. Although it is widely accepted that lignin monomers and growing chains are oxidized enzymatically into radicals that then undergo kinetically controlled coupling in planta, direct experimental evidence has been scarce because of the difficulty of exactly replicating in planta lignification conditions. Here, we computationally investigate a set of radical reactions representative of lignin biosynthesis. We show that, contrary to the notion that radical coupling reactions are usually barr...
P61. Preoperative PHQ-2 scoring predicts patient satisfaction and return to work up to one-year after lumbar fusion: a two-year analysis from the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC)

BACKGROUND CONTEXT While back pain is associated with depression, there are few studies assessing whether preoperative depression can affect outcomes after lumbar spine surgery. PURPOSE We sought to identify the relationship between a positive PHQ-2, which is predictive of depression, and patient satisfaction, return to work, and achieving ODI MCID up to 2 years after lumbar fusion. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Prospective cohort. PATIENT SAMPLE The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) is a prospective multicenter quality improvement collaborative. Currently there are more than 26 different hospitals involved, and more than 20,000 patients receiving surgery from both neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons. OUTCOME MEASURES Patient satisfaction, return to work, and achieving ODI MCID up to 2 years after lumbar fusion. METHODS Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed; variables tested include age, gender, race, PMH, preoperative diagnosis (disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, etc), preoperative symptoms (axial pain, radicular pain, etc), severity of surgery, and preoperative opioid usage. Patient satisfaction was measured by the NASS patient satisfaction index. A positive PHQ-2 score is ≥3, which has a 82.9% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity in detecting major depressive disorder. RESULTS A total of 8,585 lumbar fusion patients were analyzed. Multivariate analysis was performed. Patients with a positive PHQ-2 score were less likely to be satisfied after lumbar fusion at 90-days (OR 0.93, p CONCLUSIONS A multivariate analysis from a large, multicenter, prospective database on lumbar fusion patients was performed. We find that PHQ-2, which is a simple and accurate screening tool for depression, predicts and inability to return to work and worse satisfaction up to 2 years after lumbar fusion. Depression is a treatable condition, and so in the same way that patients are medically optimized before surgery to decrease postoperative morbidity, then perhaps patients should have preoperative psychiatric optimization to improve postoperative functional outcomes. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.
Climate Change Views, Energy Policy Support, and Personal Action in the Intermountain West: The Anti-Reflexivity Effect

Reducing the environmental impacts of energy production and consumption is part of addressing climate change. Prior research finds political-economic factors shape climate change views, perceptions...
Estimator bias and efficiency for adaptive cluster sampling with order statistics and a stopping rule

Practical problems facing adaptive cluster sampling with order statistics (acsord) are explored using Monte Carlo simulation for three simulated fish populations and two known waterfowl populations. First, properties of an unbiased Hansen-Hurwitz (HH) estimator and a biased alternative Horvitz-Thompson (HT) estimator are evaluated. An increase in the level of population aggregation or the initial sample size increases the efficiencies of the two acsord estimators. For less aggregated fish populations, the efficiencies decrease as the order statistic parameter r (the number of units about which adaptive sampling is carried out) increases; for the highly aggregated fish and waterfowl populations, they increase with r. Acsord is almost always more efficient than simple random sampling for the highly aggregated populations. Positive bias is observed for the HT estimator, with the maximum bias usually occurring at small values of r. Secondly, a stopping rule at the Sth iteration of adaptive sampling beyond the initial sampling unit was applied to the acsord design to limit the otherwise open-ended sampling effort. The stopping rule induces relatively high positive bias to the HH estimator if the level of the population aggregation is high, the stopping level S is small, and r is large. The bias of HT is not very sensitive to the stopping rule and its bias is often reduced by the stopping rule at smaller values of r. For more aggregated populations, the stopping rule often reduces the efficiencies of the estimators compared to the non-stopping-rule scheme, but acsord still remains more efficient than simple random sampling. Despite its bias and lack of theoretical grounding, the HT estimator is usually more efficient than the HH estimator. In the stopping rule case, the HT estimator is preferable, because its bias is less sensitive to the stopping level.
2-μm-Compatible AlInAsSb Avalanche Photodiodes

The 2-μm optical window has recently become an area of great interest for imaging and LIDAR applications due to improved ranging capability and eye safety compared to common telecommunications wavelengths. Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) operating in this spectrum are highly desirable, as their intrinsic gain offers increased sensitivity over traditional photodiodes, further improving receiver sensitivity. HgCdTe, InAs, and InSb, as well as various superlattice materials have been used for this purpose, however, the combination of high electric field and narrow-bandgap absorber yields high dark current. As a result, these APDs are operated at cryogenic temperatures to suppress recombination mechanisms. At the high electric fields required for impact ionization, narrow bandgap materials are also susceptible to band-to-band tunneling, which cannot be suppressed by cooling. The separate absorption, charge, and multiplication (SACM) APD was designed to address this challenge by reducing the electric field in the absorber while maintaining sufficiently high enough field in the multiplication region for impact ionization [1] . This design spatially separates the absorption and multiplication layers, controlling the electric field in the absorber and multiplication layers through an intermediate charge layer. SACM APDs have been widely deployed in the InGaAs/InP and InGaAs/InAlAs materials systems for use in near-infrared telecommunications applications.
Real-time Grinding Wheel Condition Monitoring Using Linear Imaging Sensor

Abstract Grinding is a widely used process in precision finishing of machined part surfaces. Grinding wheels, the key component of the grinding process, consist of a mixture of abrasive grains and bonding materials with or without a metal core. During the grinding process, the grits are either removed or broken on the wheel surface due to multiple mechanisms. Such tool wear on grinding wheel determines the quality of the ground surface as well as the part dimension accuracy and machining efficiency. This work presents a new method to monitor the health status of the grinding wheel using linear Charge-coupled Device (CCD) sensor, which captures one-dimensional grayscale images of the grinding wheel surface. The statistical features were extracted from the sensor data to estimate the present tool wear. Compared to general camera imaging method, the proposed approach is able to achieve high speed sampling with the CCD sensor to scan across the width of wheel in milliseconds, which enables the method a potential solution for monitoring the wheel condition in real-time. The method was tested by capturing surface images of a silicon carbide wheel on a commercial grinding machine. Statistical features such as standard deviation, kurtosis, and entropy were extracted from the grayscale color intensity of the image data and compared to the measured wheel life represented by the counted grinding cycles. The statistical features were fused by an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model to estimate the life of the grinding wheel. Experimental results show a good match between the estimated and true wheel life with an average error less than 5%.
The Dimensionality of Cosponsorship Behavior in the House of Representatives

Legislative stability exists in the House of Representatives, but there is not a consensus on whether this stability is produced by a Preference Induced Equilibrium (PIE), which predict that if preferences are unidimensional an equilibrium can be found at the position of the median legislator, or a Structure Induced Equilibrium (SIE), which predicts that multidimensional legislative preferences must be constrained by institutions to produce stable outcomes. While both explanations predict that roll-call behavior will be unidimensional, they make competing predictions for less constrained behavior such as cosponsorship behavior. By relying on Bayesian item-response methods that allow for the assessment of dimensionality of both cosponsorship behavior and roll-call behavior on a comparable scale--which has been problematic in the past--I provide evidence in support of a SIE in the House. While roll-call behavior is unidimensional, only around 30% of cosponsorship behavior is explained by the first dimension of legislative preferences.
Asbestos and Transfection

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights the effects of asbestos and methods to study these effects. It also reviews the results of investigations on the effects of asbestos on cells. These investigations include studies in humans, laboratory rodents, and cell cultures. The studies in cell cultures have been especially important in the areas of cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, transforming activity, and mutagenicity of different varieties of asbestos. Asbestos is a family of fibrous silicate minerals. Asbestos can mediate transfection of cell cultures. The varieties of asbestos fall into two major groups: (1) the serpentine asbestos or chrysotile group and (2) the amphibole group. Most of the asbestos of commerce is chrysotile asbestos. A basic unit of structure in both of these groups is the tetrahedron composed of a central atom of silicon and an atom of oxygen at each of the four corners. Some of these oxygens can be shared by similar adjacent tetrahedra. Quantitative comparison of two asbestos varieties with six classical facilitators showed both asbestos varieties to be of intermediate rank in transfection facilitation.
An interdisciplinary street outreach program to engage vulnerable neighbors in care

Those experiencing poverty, homelessness, or behavioral health disorders are difficult to engage and maintain in health care services. These vulnerable populations experience unique barriers to engagement in health care services, which fuel health inequity. We need innovative approaches to address this need. This paper discusses the reciprocal relationship between a community center and a local university, which led to a street outreach program that provides a dynamic interprofessional experience for nursing, medical, and social work students and helps connect vulnerable populations to care. Over 12 weeks, students interacted with 127 neighbors. The most common interventions used were as follows: support and encouragement, health teaching, providing medical supplies, and/or referrals to the community center to meet with case management and/or attend the nurse-run public health clinic. The encounters often resulted in neighbors' goals being met, neighbors' planning to use the community outreach center (COC) in the future, and neighbors leaving the encounter with a plan to manage their health.
Federalism, Harm, and the Politics of Leal v. Texas

Humberto Leal Garcia, a Mexican national who had lived in the United States since the age of two, was convicted and sentenced to death in Texas for brutally raping and killing sixteen-year-old Adria Sauceda in 1994. In 2011, he asked the United States Supreme Court to stay his execution because Texas officials had not given him access to the Mexican Consulate, in violation of an international treaty. His case ignited a brief but powerful storm of controversy that went beyond his legal claims and ventured into the arena of politics, placing even some conservative instincts about constitutional politics at odds with each other – notably, presidential claims of American foreign policy interests against federalism-based claims about the ability of States to administer their own criminal justice system without federal interference. In this short article, I endeavor to explain why, although the President’s political claims were legitimate, the Court’s ultimate decision to deny Leal relief correctly rejected reliance on a hypothetical legislative enactment and properly weighed the competing assertions of harm by vindicating the strength of the State’s capital prosecution. The weight of the guilt and punishment phase evidence proved significant, even in light of the asserted federal interests, and consular access would not have altered the outcome of Leal’s trial or sentencing. This weighing of the competing harms is consistent with both the pending legislation upon which Leal relied and with existing jurisprudence that protects State criminal law authority and interests.
Shoulder surgery using combined regional and general anesthesia versus regional anesthesia and deep sedation with a non-invasive positive pressure system: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background There are benefits to choosing deep sedation over general anesthesia as an intraoperative anesthetic for shoulder surgery. Deep sedation, however, may be challenging in patients with risk factors for hypoxemia. Methods We conducted a retrospective case control study comparing patients who underwent shoulder surgery using deep sedation and interscalene block versus general anesthesia and cervical paravertebral or interscalene block. A non-invasive positive pressure system (SuperNO2VA mask; Vyaire Medical, Mettawa, IL, USA) was utilized as an airway adjunct in patients undergoing deep sedation. Results Sixty patients were included in the study (20 patients with block with sedation and 40 patients with general anesthesia). No patient who received deep sedation required conversion to general anesthesia or additional airway support measures. Induction- and emergence-related anesthesia times were lower for those who received deep sedation than those who received general anesthesia (39 [CI 31–48] vs 17 [CI 8–27] minutes; p Conclusions This retrospective study showed that non-invasive positive pressure ventilation facilitated the performance of deep sedation for shoulder surgery with an interscalene block for both shoulder arthroscopic procedures and shoulder arthroplasty. This technique was associated with avoidance of mechanical ventilation, decreased anesthesia time, use of vasopressors, and need for urinary catheter placement.
Characterizing Immune Mediated Cytopenias Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Pediatric Non-Malignant Disorders

Background Immune mediated cytopenias (IMC) – isolated or combined hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia - are increasingly recognized as potentially serious complications following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for non-malignant disorders (NMD). However, IMC incidence, severity, response to therapy, and risk factors are not well defined. Methods Pediatric patients undergoing HCT for NMD between 2010 and 2017 at a single institution were identified, excluding those experiencing graft failure or death prior to day +100. Demographics and HCT characteristics were obtained from a prospectively-maintained database. A retrospective chart review identified cases of IMC with positive direct Coombs test, anti-platelet antibody, and/or anti-granulocyte antibody; and documented treatment and response. IMC severity was defined by months to resolution: mild (0-3), moderate (3-6), or severe (>6). Results Of 271 NMD HCT recipients, 52 (19%) exhibited IMC at a median of 130 days post-HCT (range, 30-279); 23 (44% of cases) had multiple cell lines affected. IMC disease was mild, moderate, or severe in 44%, 25%, and 31%, respectively, with no deaths attributed to IMC. For those with moderate or severe IMC, all received steroid therapy, with a response rate of 34%. An average of 2.0 unique agents were used to achieve IMC resolution, at a median of 117 days (range 17 – 639). Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant associations between IMC and younger age at HCT (median 3.7 vs. 7.0 years, p Conclusion Immune mediated cytopenias following HCT for NMD in a large pediatric cohort was common at 19%, with limited steroid responsiveness, use of multiple immunosuppressive agents and duration of therapy exceeding 3 months for the majority affected. Patient and transplant characteristics associated with IMC were consistent with previous reports, though we expand these findings with observation of declining donor T-lymphoid chimerism and CD4 counts by day +100, prior to median onset of IMC. While, the pathogenesis of IMC post-HCT for NMD remains elusive, further research may identify approaches to prevent this HCT complication.
What Is Narrative Possibility

Abstract In this paper I offer a new account of narrative possibility that I call the “ecological approach.” I situate it relative to alternative “metaphysical” and “epistemological” approaches, and argue that it has advantages in comparison. It saves some of the important insights from each, but serves the purposes of narrative explanation better than either, specifically because it delimits the explanatory modal space of narrative explanation correctly, whereas the others do not.
Contextualizing the Relationship Between Borderlands and Political Violence: A Dynamic Space-Time Analysis in North and West Africa

This paper examines the role of borderlands in contemporary armed conflicts in North and West Africa. Borderlands are important to the legitimacy and security of states because of their association...
Beta-Lactam Antibiotic Discrimination Using a Macromolecular Sensor in Water at Neutral pH.

Penicillins and cephalosporins belong to the β-lactam antibiotic family, which accounts for more than half of the world market for antibiotics. Misuse of antibiotics harms human health and the environment. Here, we describe an easy, fast, and sensitive optical method for the sensing and discrimination of two penicillin and five cephalosporin antibiotics in buffered water at pH 7.4, using fifth-generation poly (amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers and calcein, a commercially available macromolecular polyelectrolyte and a fluorescent dye, respectively. In aqueous solution at pH 7.4, the dendrimer and dye self-assemble to form a sensor that interacts with carboxylate-containing antibiotics through electrostatic interaction, monitored through changes in the dye’s spectroscopic properties. This response was captured through absorbance, fluorescence emission, and fluorescence anisotropy. The resulting data set was processed through linear discriminant analysis (LDA), a common pattern-base recognition method, for the differentiation of cephalosporins and penicillins. By pre-hydrolysis of the β-lactam rings under basic conditions, we were able to increase the charge density of the analytes, allowing us to discriminate the seven analytes at a concentration of 5 mM, with a limit of discrimination of 1 mM.
A Phase I trial of B-cell depletion with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus

We have tested whether the removal of B cells could suppress the manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets the pan-B-cell marker CD20. Administration of this biologic causes profound depletion of B cells from the peripheral blood for periods of several months. Rituximab has been shown to be efficacious against B-cell malignancies, particularly non-Hodgkins B-cell lymphoma. To begin to determine whether B-cell depletion with rituximab in SLE could be of benefit, we have initiated a phase I safety trial in 12 patients. Patients with SLE with moderate disease activity who had failed at least one cytotoxic drug were eligible for treatment. Nine patients have been entered to date. The first two patients received a low, subtherapeutic dose, but six of the next seven patients received the full approved regimen of 375 mg/m2 once a week for four doses. The first two patients developed human antichimeric antibodies, but the next five patients tested did not. The first patient showed an unusual post-infusion reaction, including bradycardia. The other patients tolerated their infusions well. The first five patients who received the full regimen had > 95% depletion of B cells from their peripheral blood 4 weeks after the final dose of rituximab. All patients had lower SLE disease activity index scores after treatment. Three patients with rash and alopecia had improvement. Patient 3 was particularly striking. She had had a recent history of serious renal, pulmonary and infectious complications, treated with cyclophosphamide and high-dose steroids. After rituximab, patient 3 showed the disappearance of activated T cells from the peripheral blood. One year post rituximab treatment she remains off steroids and cytotoxics, and clinically quiescent. The patient's B cells have now returned, with lower levels of CD27 and CD86 than before treatment, and her T cells are still largely unactivated. These uncontrolled data suggest that rituximab is well tolerated in SLE and that it may have some therapeutic benefit. A controlled trial with appropriate outcomes will be necessary to prove whether this approach is indeed efficacious.
Liposome-encapsulated superoxide dismutase mimetic: theranostic potential of an MR detectable and neuroprotective agent

Endogenous manganese based superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) provides the primary defense against excess production of potentially toxic superoxide anion (O2 (-) ). M40401 is a synthetic enzyme mimetic that has a catalytic activity rate exceeding that of the native SOD enzymes. The presence of a paramagnetic Mn(II) cation in M40401 suggests that the delivery and spatial distribution of this enzyme mimetic in vivo may be directly detectible using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, the cardiotoxicity of Mn(II) severely limits the use of free M40401 in living systems. To deliver M40401 in vivo in amounts sufficient for MRI detection and to limit potential cardiotoxicity, we encapsulated M40401 into 170 nm liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine and PEGylated phosphatidylethanolamine to achieve extended circulation in the bloodstream. The obtained liposomes efficiently catalyzed superoxide dismutation in vitro. Using 3 T MRI we investigated the biokinetics of liposome-encapsulated M40401 in mice and found that, in addition to catalyzing superoxide dismutation in vitro, M40401 caused differential and region-specific enhancement of mouse brain after systemic administration. Thus, liposome encapsulated M40401 is an ideal candidate for development as a theranostic compound useful for simultaneous MRI-mediated tracking of delivery as well as for neuroprotective treatment of ischemic brain.
Integrated scientific workflow management for the Emulab network testbed

The main forces that shaped current network testbeds were the needs for realism and scale. Now that several testbeds support large and complex experiments, management of experimentation processes and results has become more difficult and a barrier to high-quality systems research. The popularity of network testbeds means that new tools for managing experiment workflows, addressing the ready-made base of testbed users, can have important and significant impacts. We are now evolving Emulab, our large and popular network testbed, to support experiments that are organized around scientific workflows. This paper summarizes the opportunities in this area, the new approaches we are taking, our implementation in progress, and the challenges in adapting scientific workflow concepts for testbed-based research. With our system, we expect to demonstrate that a network testbed with integrated scientific workflow management can be an important tool to aid research in networking and distributed systems.
Protecting privacy of topology in consensus networks

Consider a set of agents implementing the discrete time consensus algorithm. At each time step, all agents also transmit their states to a central estimator that wishes to identify the underlying topology and eigenvalues of the network. It does so by using a nonlinear least squares (NLS) algorithm to identify the state evolution matrix used in the consensus algorithm. We present a mechanism to protect the differential privacy of this topology from an eavesdropper who may have unauthorized access to the estimator. In this mechanism, every agent purposely adds noise to its measurements before transmission to the estimator. The noise is designed to ensure that the eavesdropper cannot uniquely identify the topology with a specified confidence level. Numerical results are presented to describe the corresponding trade-off in estimation accuracy as a function of the level of differential privacy achieved.
On the Patterson–Sullivan Measure for Geometrically Finite Groups Acting on Complex or Quaternionic Hyperbolic Space

The goal of this paper is to provide a tool, the Global Measure Formula, that will facilitate the study of the limit set of discrete geometrically finite groups of isometries of the rank one symmetric spaces. We consider the shadow of a ball from a fixed reference point onto the boundary, and prove a formula that describes the measure of the shadow in terms of the center of the shadowed ball, generalizing a result from real hyperbolic geometry.
Heterogeneous households and firms in an urban model with open space and agglomeration economies

This paper develops a model with heterogeneous households and firms that can locate anywhere in the city. The main features of the model are household preferences for open space which depend on distance to the greenbelts at the city periphery, and agglomeration economies for firms. Numerical results show equilibrium location patterns, rents, and wages under different model specifications. Under most conditions, monocentric location patterns (where there is a higher concentration of firms in the centre zones compared to surrounding zones) are observed, but duocentric location patterns for firms can emerge if both open space values and travel costs are high.
Orbital and spin magnetic dipole strength in a shell model calculation with ΔN = 2 excitations. 8Be

Abstract The magnetic dipole strength and energy-weighted strength distribution is calculated in 8 Be, as well as the separate orbit and spin parts. All ΔN = 2 excitations over and above (and including) the configuration 0s 4 0p 4 are included. The interaction has a central, two-body spin-orbit and a tensor part. The energy-independent and energy-weighted orbital strength distribution is remarkably insensitive to the presence or ansence of the spin-orbit or tensor interaction — not so the spin strength. The energy-weighted strength distribution can be divided into a low energy and a high energy part. The high energy orbital part is somewhat less but close to the low energy part. There is a wide plateau separating the low energy part from the high energy part.
B cell-intrinsic mTOR signaling regulates the generation of germinal center B cells (IRM8P.716)

Germinal centers (GCs) are sites enriched for proliferative B cells undergoing class switch, somatic hypermutation, and selection for clones expressing high-affinity antigen-specific receptors. GCs are a main source of long-lived plasma cells (PCs) and memory B cells, and many B-lineage cancers including multiple myeloma (MM), a malignancy of PCs, also originate in GCs. However, little is known about the biochemical pathways regulating GC B cells or GC-derived effectors. Thus, we sought to define the role of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/threonine kinase known to regulate several biochemical pathways needed for cell growth, division, and survival, in the maintenance of GC B cells and GC-derived cells. To address the role of mTOR in GC B cell generation, we treated NP-CGG-immunized mice with rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor. Rapamycin treatment caused a near-complete loss of NP-specific GC B cells in the spleen, and a selective reduction of newly formed bone marrow PCs. We next generated Raptor f/f x CD20-ER-Cre mice to induce B cell-specific deletion of the mTOR-requisite protein Raptor; Raptor deletion caused the ablation of antigen-specific GCs, as well as secondary antibody responses mediated by memory B cells. The data indicate that GC B cells utilize mTOR signaling to regulate metabolic pathways required for cell division and/or survival. Future studies will address the notion that malignant PCs responsible for MM must be replenished by ongoing GC responses.
The early evolution of titanosauriform sauropod dinosaurs

Titanosauriformes was a globally distributed, long-lived clade of dinosaurs that contains both the largest and smallest known sauropods. These common and diverse megaherbivores evolved a suite of cranial and locomotory specializations perhaps related to their near-ubiquity in Mesozoic ecosystems. In an effort to understand the phylogenetic relationships of their early (Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous) members, this paper presents a lower-level cladistic analysis of basal titanosauriforms in which 25 ingroup and three outgroup taxa were scored for 119 characters. Analysis of these characters resulted in the recovery of three main clades: Brachiosauridae, a cosmopolitan mix of Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous sauropods, Euhelopodidae, a clade of mid-Cretaceous East Asian sauropods, and Titanosauria, a large Cretaceous clade made up of mostly Gondwanan genera. Several putative brachiosaurids were instead found to represent non-titanosauriforms or more derived taxa, and no support for a Laurasia-wide clade of titanosauriforms was found. This analysis establishes robust synapomorphies for many titanosauriform subclades. A re-evaluation of the phylogenetic affinities of fragmentary taxa based on these synapomorphies found no body fossil evidence for titanosaurs before the middle Cretaceous (Aptian), in contrast to previous reports of Middle and Late Jurassic forms. Purported titanosaur track-ways from the Middle Jurassic either indicate a substantial ghost lineage for the group or – more likely – represent non-titanosaurs. Titanosauriform palaeobiogeographical history is the result of several factors including differential extinction and dispersal. This study provides a foundation for future study of basal titanosauriform phylogeny and the origins of Titanosauria. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 166, 624–671.
Interictal High Frequency Oscillations in an Animal Model of Infantile Spasms

While infantile spasms is the most common catastrophic epilepsy of infancy and early-childhood, very little is known about the basic mechanisms responsible for this devastating disorder. In experiments reported here, spasms were induced in rats by the chronic infusion of TTX into the neocortex beginning on postnatal day 10–12. Studies of focal epilepsy suggest that high frequency EEG oscillations (HFOs) occur interictally at sites that are most likely responsible for seizure generation. Thus, our goal was to determine if HFOs occurred and where they occurred in cortex in the TTX model. We also undertook multiunit recordings to begin to analyze the basic mechanisms responsible for HFOs. Our results show that HFOs occur most frequently during hypsarrhythmia and NREM sleep and are most prominent contralateral to the TTX infusion site in the homotopic cortex and anterior to this region in frontal cortex. While HFOs were largest and most frequent in these contralateral regions, they were also commonly recorded synchronously across multiple and widely-spaced recordings sites. The amplitude and spatial distribution of interictal HFOs were found to be very similar to the high frequency bursts seen at seizure onset. However, the latter differed from the interictal events in that the high frequency activity was more intense at seizure onset. Microwire recordings showed that neuronal unit firing increased abruptly with the generation of HFOs. A similar increase in neuronal firing occurred at the onset of the ictal events. Taken together, results suggest that neocortical networks are abnormally excitable, particularly contralateral to TTX infusion, and that these abnormalities are not restricted to small areas of cortex. Multiunit firing coincident with HFOs are fully consistent with a neocortical hyperexcitability hypothesis particularly since they both occur at seizure onset.
Comparison of Public Safety Provider Injury Rates

Introduction. During normal operations, public safety personnel may become injured, leading them to seek medical care and possible time off. Examining the nature and patterns of injury may help to identify preventive health measures for all public safety personnel and address specific needs of each discipline based on actual risk. Objective. To determine the types and severity of injuries encountered by public safety personnel during routine work conditions within a single urban population. Methods. De-identified workers' compensation data for emergency medical services (EMS), fire, and police providers from one urban center between January 1, 2005, and May 31, 2007, were examined. Data included type of injury, severity of injury, and date of event. Severity was categorized as follows: lost time (type 1), medical evaluation (type 2), report only (type 3), restricted duty (type 4), and not reported (type 5). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a pairwise t-test between groups with a Bonferroni correction was ...
Dementia and cognitive impairment are not associated with earlier mortality after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Background: Studies have shown varying results with regard to risk factors for mortality after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). Objectives: To examine the time to death in patients with dementia or significant cognitive impairment (SCI) due to neurologic injury who had undergone PEG compared with patients without either of these diagnoses, and to examine risk factors for 30-day mortality after PEG. Methods: Patients who had undergone PEG over a 2-year period were identified. Local medical records and the Social Security Death Index were reviewed to ascertain the patients' age, gender, serum albumin, diagnoses, presence or absence of dementia or SCI, presence or absence of complications related to PEG, and length of survival after PEG. The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was calculated based on the medical diagnoses at the time of PEG. Results: One hundred ninety patients were identified. Forty-five carried a diagnosis of dementia and/or SCI compared with 145 who did not. Median survival of pati...
Determinants of leptin gene expression in fat depots of lean mice

The relationship of leptin gene expression to adipocyte volume was investigated in lean 10-wk-old male C57BL/6J mice. mRNA levels for leptin, insulin receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, and tumor ne...
The development and deployment of a ground-based, laser-induced fluorescence instrument for the in situ detection of iodine monoxide radicals

High abundances of iodine monoxide (IO) are known to exist and to participate in local photochemistry of the marine boundary layer. Of particular interest are the roles IO plays in the formation of new particles in coastal marine environments and in depletion episodes of ozone and mercury in the Arctic polar spring. This paper describes a ground-based instrument that measures IO at mixing ratios less than one part in 1012. The IO radical is measured by detecting laser-induced fluorescence at wavelengths longer that 500 nm. Tunable visible light is used to pump the A2Π3/2 (v′ = 2) ← X2Π3/2 (v″ = 0) transition of IO near 445 nm. The laser light is produced by a solid-state, Nd:YAG-pumped Ti:Sapphire laser at 5 kHz repetition rate. The laser-induced fluorescence instrument performs reliably with very high signal-to-noise ratios (>10) achieved in short integration times (<1 min). The observations from a validation deployment to the Shoals Marine Lab on Appledore Island, ME are presented and are broadly consistent with in situ observations from European Coastal Sites. Mixing ratios ranged from the instrumental detection limit (<1 pptv) to 10 pptv. These data represent the first in situ point measurements of IO in North America.
Korean ethnic education in Japanese public schools

Korean ethnic education in Japanese public schools has played an important role in the persistence of Korean ethnicity in Japan. In Osaka Prefecture, it began as an educational movement at the end of the 1960s. Japanese and Korean activists who led the movement had different political commitments and developed two approaches. Those interested in Korean homeland politics stressed the importance of teaching the ethnic culture of the homeland and tried to develop an ethno-national identity among Korean children. Those involved in civil rights politics in the context of Japan focused on the problem of ethnic discrimination and facilitated the formation of a political subjectivity among Korean children. The old practice of Korean ethnic education is a form of multicultural education and provides many useful ideas for today's multiculturalist teachers in Japan, who are dealing with children of newcomer foreigners.
Examination of gender bias in the evaluation and treatment of angina pectoris by cardiologists

One hundred fifty-eight patients (76 men and 82 women) presenting to an outpatient cardiology clinic with a new complaint of angina were prospectively followed to determine if there was a gender bias in the management of suspected coronary artery disease when physicians trained in cardiology managed their care. Overall, there were no differences in the percentage of women who underwent noninvasive evaluation, invasive evaluation, and treatment of suspected coronary artery disease compared with men.
Cu/ZnO(0001̄) and ZnOx/Cu(111): Model catalysts for methanol synthesis

Abstract In an attempt to understand the relative importance of the various constituents of copper-zinc oxide catalysts for methanol synthesis (2H 2 + CO → H 3 COH), we have prepared and characterized a number of single-crystal surface structures of Cu-ZnO. The model catalysts have also been tested in terms of their activity for methanol synthesis. The growth of vapor-deposited Cu overlayers on a ZnO(0001) (O face) single crystal has been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), He + ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). The results are consistent with a growth model in which, at room temperature, the first monolayer spreads uniformly across the surface in a p(1 × 1) structure. As more Cu is added, thick Cu(111) islands grow and these are separated by large regions of the p(1 × 1)-Cu monolayer. The Cu(111) islands are rotationally aligned with the ZnO substrate, and at high enough coverages grow together to cover the ZnO. Increasing temperature favors more agglomeration. A clean Cu(111) crystal and one containing a ZnO x ( x ⋍ 3) monolayer were also studied. None of these model catalysts gave rates of methanol production which were measurable in our present experimental limits (TOF −3 molecules site −1 s −1 ) at 500–600 K and CO + H 2 pressures up to 1500 Torr. Under these “reaction” conditions, the Cu in direct contact with ZnO may be slightly oxidized; all the other Cu is completely metallic. The Cu does not change its character between deposition and reaction conditions, even if heavily oxidized to CuO in between. The addition of CO 2 at very high levels under reaction conditions does not change the character of a Cu(111) model catalyst surface, and no surface oxygen is ever observable after treatment under reaction conditions.