cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8) in equine placenta during pregnancy and placentitis.

Abstract Placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8) is one of the placenta-regulatory genes which is highly conserved among eutherian mammals. However, little is known about its expression in equine placenta (chorioallantois; CA and endometrium; EN) during normal and abnormal pregnancy. Therefore, the current study was designed to 1) elucidate the expression of PLAC8 in equine embryonic membranes during the preimplantation period, 2) characterize the expression profile of PLAC8 in equine CA (45d, 4mo, 6mo, 10 mo, 11 mo and postpartum) and EN (14d, 4mo, 6mo, 10 mo, and 11 mo) obtained from pregnant mares (n = 4/timepoint), as well as, d14 non-pregnant EN (n = 4), and 3) investigate the expression profile of PLAC8 in ascending placentitis (n = 5) and in nocardioform placentitis (n = 6) in comparison to normal CA. In the preimplantation period, PLAC8 mRNA was not abundant in the trophectoderm of d8 equine embryo and d14 conceptus, while it was abundant later in d 30, 31, 34, and 45 chorion. In normal pregnancy, PLAC8 mRNA expression in CA at 45 d gradually decline to reach nadir at 6mo before gradually increasing to its peak at 11mo and postpartum CA. The mRNA expression of PLAC8 was significantly upregulated in CA from mares with ascending and nocardioform placentitis compared to control mares. Immunohistochemistry revealed that PLAC8 is localized in equine chorionic epithelium and immune cells. Our results revealed that PLAC8 expression in equine chorion is dynamic during pregnancy and is regulated in an implantation-dependent manner. Moreover, PLAC8 is implicated in the immune response in CA during equine ascending placentitis and nocardioform placentitis.
Multiple Functional Solutions During Flightless to Flight-Capable Transitions

The evolution of avian flight is one of the great transformations in vertebrate history, marked by striking anatomical changes that presumably help meet the demands of aerial locomotion. These changes did not occur simultaneously, and are challenging to decipher. Although extinct theropods are most often compared to adult birds, studies show that developing birds can uniquely address certain challenges and provide powerful insights into the evolution of avian flight: unlike adults, immature birds have rudimentary, somewhat “dinosaur-like” flight apparatuses and can reveal relationships between form, function, performance, and behavior during flightless to flight-capable transitions. Here, we focus on the musculoskeletal apparatus and use CT scans coupled with a three-dimensional musculoskeletal modeling approach to analyze how ontogenetic changes in skeletal anatomy influence muscle size, leverage, orientation, and corresponding function during the development of flight in a precocial ground bird (Alectoris chukar). Our results demonstrate that immature and adult birds use different functional solutions to execute similar locomotor behaviors: in spite of dramatic changes in skeletal morphology, muscle paths and subsequent functions are largely maintained through ontogeny, because shifts in one bone are offset by changes in others. These findings help provide a viable mechanism for how extinct winged theropods with rudimentary pectoral skeletons might have achieved bird-like behaviors before acquiring fully bird-like anatomies. These findings also emphasize the importance of a holistic, whole-body perspective, and the need for extant validation of extinct behaviors and performance. As empirical studies on locomotor ontogeny accumulate, it is becoming apparent that traditional, isolated interpretations of skeletal anatomy mask the reality that integrated whole systems function in frequently unexpected yet effective ways. Collaborative and integrative efforts that address this challenge will surely strengthen our exploration of life and its evolutionary history.
Coloring the distance graph in three dimensions

Let Gn be the graph on n-dimensional Euclidean space connecting points of rational Euclidean distance. It is consistent relative to an inaccessible cardinal that ZF+DC holds and G3 has countable chromatic number, yet G4 has uncountable chromatic number.
A crystal plasticity finite element model embedding strain-rate sensitivities inherent to deformation mechanisms: Application to alloy AZ31

Abstract The fundamental power-law relationship representing the flow rule in crystal visco-plasticity ensures uniqueness in the selection of slip systems accommodating imposed plastic strain-rates. The power-law relationship also introduces an artificially high strain-rate sensitivity in crystal plasticity simulations, unless a high value of the power-law exponent is used. However, the use of high values for the exponent is limited by numerical tractability. This paper presents a numerical method implemented in a crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) model for embedding any value of the power-law exponent reflecting the true material strain-rate sensitivity. Importantly, the method does not increase computation time involved in the simulations. The enhanced CPFE model is used to interpret and predict a complex strain-rate sensitive response and microstructural evolution of AZ31 Mg alloy. Measured values of strain-rate sensitivity for slip and twinning modes are used in the simulations. Calculations show that the model successfully captures the phenomena pertaining to the effect of changing applied strain-rate on the mechanical response including flow stress and evolution of texture and twinning for a broad range of strain-rates ranging from 10−3 s−1 to 103 s−1 and loading orientations in tension and compression. It is shown that such predictions are a consequence of not only relative amounts of slip and twinning activities driven by a set of accurately characterized hardening law parameters but also values of the strain-rate sensitivities inherent to individual deformation mechanisms. Besides, the model validates the measured strain-rate dependency of deformation mechanisms while accurately reproducing the mechanical data. Hence, the model can be used to verify and further refine or infer measured strain-rate sensitivity per deformation mechanism by reproducing experimental data.
Breast cancer in young women: Imaging and clinical course

The purpose of this study was to characterize presenting imaging findings in women younger than 40 diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the context of pathology and clinical course. Retrospective chart and imaging reviews were performed in patients under 40 diagnosed with breast cancer between July 1, 2004, and December 31, 2013. Patient demographic, imaging, pathology, and clinical data were collected. Overall and recurrence-free survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate Cox proportional hazards models were performed to identify factors associated with recurrence-free survival. Our study cohort consisted of 110 patients with invasive mammary carcinoma. One hundred one (91.8%) presented with a palpable mass. The mean size of all lesions on imaging was 3.5 cm ± 2.9 cm. Malignant calcifications were present in 54 (49.1%) cases. Imaging demonstrated multifocal or multicentric disease in 45 (40.9%) cases. Seventy four (67.3%) cancers were high grade. Luminal genomic subtypes were the most common (n = 61, 55.5%). At presentation, 4 (3.6%) patients had bilateral malignancy and 8 (7.3%) patients had distant metastatic disease. Ninety seven (88.2%) underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 67 (60.9%) underwent radiation therapy. Seventy five (68.2%) of the patients underwent mastectomy. The restricted mean time to recurrence was 9.01 years (standard error 3.162 months). ER positivity was associated with compromised recurrence-free survival. The overall survival rate was 0.962 at 10 years. Young patients diagnosed with breast cancer typically present with advanced breast imaging findings and undergo aggressive treatment. Recurrence often occurs >5 years from diagnosis, and ER positive subtypes are at increased risk for recurrence.
Self-Destruction and the Natural World

Finite animal being is an imaginary lure that disguises the cut of signification that denaturalises the subject and renders it excessive. When we treat the subject as a natural being and regard it in terms of its evolutionary biology, we necessarily miss this excess. This imaginary conception of human animality increasingly befuddles us today. Instead of conceiving ourselves as human animals, we should grasp that human animality serves as a lure for how subjectivity actually functions. The image of the human animal enables us to disavow the excess of subjectivity that the subjection to the signifier produces and hides the trauma inherent in this excess.
The Chemistry of Isatin

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews developments in the field of isatin from 1944 to late 1974. The most frequently used synthesis of isatins is the Sandmeyer procedure, which involves the formation of an isonitrosoacetanilide from an aniline, chloral hydrate, and hydroxylamine. The isonitrosoacetanilide is converted into the isatin on treatment with sulfuric acid, or less frequently polyphosphoric. The Sandmeyer method has been used with di- and trisubstituted aniline to prepare di- and tri-substituted isatins. Isatin sodium or potassium salts react with dimethyl and dieth sulfate, a variety of alkyl halides, acyl halides, and anhydrides to give N-alkyl and N-acylisatins. N-substitutcd isatins have also been prepared by reactions of some of the compounds that were described earlier. A number of reactions that do not reasonably fit in other categories are included in this chapter. A number of complexes of isatin and metal salts have been reported. Extensive studies have been reported on infrared vibrational frequency correlations of isatin and a variety of substituted isatin. A number of studies of the ultraviolet absorption spectra of isatins have appeared. The most frequently reported oxidation reaction of isatins is the oxidation with alkaline hydrogen peroxide to give anthranilic acids. This procedure has been both as a proof of structure of isatins and as a method of synthesis of anthranilic acids. A wide variety of substituted isatins has reacted with hydroxylamine to give isatin-3-oximes. The cyclizations of certain 2-substituted isatin derivatives were studied so as to compare them with the above cyclizations. The chapter closes with a discussion on polymers.
Methylmercury in Flood-Control Impoundments and Natural Waters of Northwestern Minnesota, 1997–99

We studied methylmercury (MeHg) and totalmercury (HgT) in impounded and natural surface waters innorthwestern Minnesota, in settings ranging from agriculturalto undeveloped. In a recently constructed (1995) permanent-pool impoundment, MeHg levels typically increased from inflowto outflow during 1997; this trend broke down from late 1998 toearly 1999. MeHg levels in the outflow reached seasonal maximain mid-summer (maximum of 1.0 ng L-1 in July 1997) andlate-winter (maximum of 6.6 ng L-1 in February 1999), andare comparable to high levels observed in new hydroelectricreservoirs in Canada. Spring and autumn MeHg levels weretypically about 0.1–0.2 ng L-1. Overall, MeHg levels inboth the inflow (a ditch that drains peatlands) and outflowwere significantly higher than in three nearby referencenatural lakes. Eleven older permanent-pool impoundments andsix natural lakes in northwestern Minnesota were sampled fivetimes. The impoundments typically had higher MeHg levels(0.071–8.36 ng L-1) than natural lakes. Five of six lakesMeHg levels typical of uncontaminated lakes (0.014–1.04 ngL-1) with highest levels in late winter, whereas ahypereutrophic lake had high levels (0.37–3.67 ng L-1)with highest levels in mid-summer. Seven temporary-poolimpoundments were sampled during summer high-flow events. Temporary-pool impoundments that retained water for about 10–15days after innundation yielded pronounced increases in MeHgfrom inflow to outflow, in one case reaching 4.6 ng L-1,which was about 2 ng L-1 greater than the mean inflowconcentration during the runoff event.
Minority band gap and magnetic properties of Co 2 (Fe, Mn)Z (Z=A1, Ga, Si, Ge) in the context of CPP-GMR transport

Recently, it has been demonstrated that CPP-GMR can be significantly boosted by incorporating new ferromagnetic (FM) full Heulser alloy into spin valve nano-structures[1-4]. Experimental results for two types of non-magnetic spacers (i) (100) textured Ag in combination with FM full Heusler alloys Co 2 MnSi, Co 2 Fe(Si-Al) [1], Co 2 (Mn-Fe)Si (70 % MR and DRA of about 12 mW-mm2) [2] and (ii) non-magnetic Heusler alloy spacers with Co 2 MnGe (MR of about 7 % and DRA of about 4.0 mW-mm2) [3,4] have been recently reported.
Automated state and dynamics estimation in dynamically mismodeled systems with information from optimal control policies

While observation sets for an individual object in orbit can be quite data-sparse, the sheer number of objects in orbit makes the tracking problem as a whole data-rich. As such it is infeasible for humans to process these measurements manually. While orbit determination procedures are largely automated the resulting solutions can be quite poor when the assumed dynamics are flawed due to mismodeled perturbations or unmodeled active maneuvers. This paper presents an automated version of the Optimal Control Based Estimator (OCBE) as applied to problems in the field of Space Situational Awareness. The OCBE algorithm supplements a state and dynamic estimation process with information from optimal control policies to create an estimator that is robust to dynamic mismodeling. This estimator is made adaptive through a maneuver detection based approach resulting in an algorithm that automatically estimates the system's state, detects dynamic mismodeling, and reconstructs that mismodeling. Along with a derivation and discussion of this algorithm, numerical simulations are provided to demonstrate this algorithm's ability to accurately track a spacecraft with mismodeled dynamics while simultaneously detecting and reconstructing those mismodelings.
Adversary-aware IP address randomization for proactive agility against sophisticated attackers

Network reconnaissance of IP addresses and ports is prerequisite to many host and network attacks. Meanwhile, static configurations of networks and hosts simplify this adversarial reconnaissance. In this paper, we present a novel proactive-adaptive defense technique that turns end-hosts into untraceable moving targets, and establishes dynamics into static systems by monitoring the adversarial behavior and reconfiguring the addresses of network hosts adaptively. This adaptability is achieved by discovering hazardous network ranges and addresses and evacuating network hosts from them quickly. Our approach maximizes adaptability by (1) using fast and accurate hypothesis testing for characterization of adversarial behavior, and (2) achieving a very fast IP randomization (i.e., update) rate through separating randomization from end-hosts and managing it via network appliances. The architecture and protocols of our approach can be transparently deployed on legacy networks, as well as software-defined networks. Our extensive analysis and evaluation show that by adaptive distortion of adversarial reconnaissance, our approach slows down the attack and increases its detectability, thus significantly raising the bar against stealthy scanning, major classes of evasive scanning and worm propagation, as well as targeted (hacking) attacks.
The Anatomy of Political Theory: A Typology Based on Narrative Structure

The riot of approaches, paradigms, theories and principles propounded by political theorists has become, as Isaiah Berlin memorably observed, a scandal that seems to call the status of the entire sub-discipline into question. What seems troubling is not only the deep differences between theories, but the cognitive gaps that often render discussion and argument amongst theorists unilluminating. This paper argues that political theory is less chaotic than it may initially appear, and that its fragmentation is correspondingly less scandalous than is sometimes argued; not only can the various theories be exhaustively and illuminatingly classified into four basic categories, but the sub-discipline's shifting center of gravity can also be correspondingly tracked over time. A common denominator of all theories is that they tell a story of how politics has been and should be practiced: they all rely on a narrative of politics. This paper adapts Northrop Frye's system of classification from the Anatomy of Criticism to twentieth century political theories, analyzing their narrative structures in terms of two criteria: the structure they attribute to our moral universe (monist or pluralist) and the type of political change they suggest can best reconcile us to it (progressive or conservative). The interaction of these criteria produces four basic categories of political theory: (1) romantic (monist-progressive), (2) ironic (monist-conservative), (3) comic (pluralist-progressive), and (4) tragic (pluralist-conservative). This essay argues that the center of gravity in political theory today is romantic, but that it is shadowed by parasitic ironic critiques and confronted by a growing challenge from tragic theories. Moreover, the cognitive gaps are concentrated in arguments across these categories (rather than within them). Finally, the question of dominance will be determined by which category develops (through internal argument) the most attractive and insightful account of our moral life, rather than according to any particular line of argument across categories. The result of this analysis is an intuitively appealing typology that captures both where and why political theories diverge foundationally, and correspondingly where cognitive gaps arise, and finally why their presence does not undermine the importance of political theory or the possibility of progress within it.
Insect-mediated nitrogen dynamics in decomposing wood

1. Wood decomposition is characterised by complex and poorly understood nitrogen (N) dynamics with unclear implications for forest nutrient cycling and productivity. Wood-dwelling microbes have developed unique strategies for coping with the N limitations imposed by their substrate, including the translocation of N into wood by cord-forming fungi and the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) by bacteria and Archaea. 2. By accelerating the release of nutrients immobilised in fungal tissues and promoting N2 fixation by free-living and endosymbiotic prokaryotes, saproxylic insects have the potential to influence N dynamics in forests. 3. Prokaryotes capable of fixing N2 appear to be commonplace among wood-feeding insects, with published records from three orders (Blattodea, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera), 13 families, 33 genera and at least 60 species. These organisms appear to play a significant role in the N economies of their hosts and represent a widespread solution to surviving on a diet of wood. 4. While agricultural research has demonstrated the role that termites and other insects can play in enhancing crop yields, the importance of saproxylic insects to forest productivity remains unexplored.
Detached-Eddy Simulation: Current Status and Perspectives

Detached-Eddy Simulation (DES) is a hybrid technique proposed in 1997 as a numerically feasible and plausibly accurate approach for predicting massively separated flows. Since its inception the method has been applied to a range of configurations including simple shapes such as cylinders, spheres and aircraft forebodies, in addition to complex geometries including fighter aircraft. The accuracy of DES predictions has typically been far superior to that of steady or unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes methods while at the same time avoiding the Reynolds-number limitations that plague Large-Eddy Simulation. Based on research performed to date, the method appears sound and responds well to the type of boundary layer separation (i.e., laminar or turbulent), and to grid refinement. However, it is possible to degrade predictions using a grid density that is both too fine for RANS and too coarse for LES. Examples of applications of the technique are presented, along with a summary of some of the important findings and directions for future research.
Atmospheric stability varying wind shear coefficients to improve wind resource extrapolation: A temporal analysis

Abstract Based on a 3-year (2011–2013) dataset of 10-min records collected at 10, 20, 40, and 80 m from the met mast of Cabauw, a time-varying investigation of the wind shear coefficient (WSC) relationship with atmospheric stability was addressed. WSC interdaily and interannual variability was analysed according to a 2-D combined representation, which confirmed a clear oval-shaped “solar shadow” caused by solar warming observed during diurnal unstable hours, and large WSCs occurring under strong stable conditions during the summer nights. Three different power law based approaches were compared to extrapolate wind resource to the turbine hub height according to the following WSC settings: (i) site's previously measured overall yearly average; (ii) site's previously measured stability-varying yearly averages; (iii) 10-min theoretically predicted values by applying the Panofsky and Dutton (PD) model. The latter proved to be the finest approach, providing extrapolated wind resource biased by 1–5% and energy yield by 5.51–10.57%, and showing the highest accuracy occurring under the most frequent (and most energetic) neutral conditions, when Weibull distribution's tail including the highest wind speed bins is particularly finely reproduced. This work confirmed how instrumental availability of detailed information on site's atmospheric stability classification is for wind energy studies.
Candidate Multilinear Maps

From the Preface Cryptography seems like “black magic.” enabling tasks that often seem paradoxical or simply just impossible. Like the space explorers, cryptographers often wonder, “what are the boundaries of this world of 'black magic'?” This work lays one of the founding stones in furthering our understanding of these edges. In it, Garg describes plausible lattice-based constructions with properties that approximate the sought-after multilinear maps in hard-discrete-logarithm groups. The security of his constructions relies on seemingly hard problems in ideal lattices, which can be viewed as extensions of the assumed hardness of the NTRU function. These new constructions radically enhance the cryptography tool set and open a floodgate of applications. We present a survey of these applications. This book is based on Sanjam Garg's PhD thesis, which was an extended version of a paper titled “Candidate Multilinear Maps from Ideal Lattices,” co-authored with Craig Gentry and Shai Halevi. His original thesis won the 2013 ACM Dissertation Award.
Validation of a fecal glucocorticoid metabolite assay to assess stress in the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus).

The budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) is a small parrot native to Australia that is commonly held in zoos, laboratories, and private homes. Assessment of budgerigar stress levels would aid welfare monitoring and improve our understanding of their biology. Analyzing fecal glucocorticoid metabolites provides a noninvasive method to measure stress levels in birds. For this method to be reliable, the antibody to be used in an immunoassay must be carefully selected for each species, and validation must be performed. A common limitation in many existing assays is the inability to accurately detect variable fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in minute quantities of feces, requiring small samples to be combined. We have developed a double antibody radioimmunoassay protocol based on a commercially available 125I-corticosterone radioimmunoassay kit for use in detecting fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in small quantities (<20 mg) of budgerigar droppings. The assay was validated pharmacologically with an adrenocorticotropic hormone challenge and with oral administration of corticosterone. Our validation has demonstrated our assay is both sensitive and a reliable approach to noninvasive monitoring of stress in budgerigars. Zoo Biol. 32:112-116, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Engine Oil Additive Effects on the Deterioration of a Stoichiometric Emissions Control (C-4) System

Phosphorus, originating from Che commonly used engine oil additive zinc dialkyldithio-phosphate (ZDP), contributed to the deteriora tion in the performance of a stoichiometric emissions control system. Data obtained from a series of 200-hour engine-dynamometer tests suggest two separate means for phosphorus-induced system deterioration: reduced CO, N0x, and HC conversion efficiencies due to catalyst poisoning; increased oxygen sensor rich-to-lean response time and altered oxygen sensor output voltage due to sensor contamination. The presence of an alkaline metal detergent in the ZDP-contalning engine oil resulted in less deterioration of converter HC efficiency, but had no effect on the other system performance parameters.
Artificial life techniques for market data mining and emulation

Summary form only given as follows. Techniques from the area of artificial life include artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms, and genetic programming. These techniques have been applied to build expert system models of expert actions such as market trading. These expert system models are then the starting point of emulating market behavior. Interesting market behavior detection includes market power, price leadership, market share, market chaos and market clearing problems. Recent research to identify techniques to sabotage market activity has been started to identify techniques to jam market clearing as well as to exhibit localized market power.
Clinical usefulness of risk-stratified outcome analysis in cardiac surgery in New Jersey

Background. The results of aortocoronary bypass grafting are under increasing scrutiny by the Health Care Financing Agency, health maintenance organizations, and the news media. Surgeons and hospital administrators are concerned that erroneous conclusions may be drawn from raw outcome data, which do not reflect the patient's preoperative condition. It is our contention that any realistic comparison of results among surgeons or institutions must take that condition into account through a process of risk management. Methods. We have developed a statistical model for risk stratification based on data compiled systematically at the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center since 1980. Univariate analysis and stepwise logistic regression are used to identify the most significant risk factors and determine the appropriate weight for each. Our original risk stratification system has now been updated by eliminating the optional fields and reweighting the variables. This has reduced the subjective input and improved the accuracy. Results. Use of the modified system shows good correlation between expected and observed outcomes at our institution and in other cases reported to the New Jersey Department of Health. It has improved the results especially in high-risk cases: in total, a group of 5,336 patients have been assessed by the modified system: the expected mortality overall was 7.2% and the observed mortality was 5.4%. In 1,280 high-risk patients, ie, those with an expected mortality of greater than 11%, the expected mortality was 16.2% and the observed mortality was 12.3%. Conclusions. Our results suggest a decline in length of hospital stay and beneficial changes in operative procedures. They also indicate that exclusion of high-risk cases will result in only minimal financial savings, perhaps less than 2%.
Immigration: perspectives from receiving countries.

The author examines the issue of international migration from the standpoint of receiving countries. He attempts "to understand how and why migrant-receiving countries respond as they do and to suggest some of the new issues in international migration that arise in a world in which the supply of would-be migrants and refugees is now greater than receiving countries are willing to accept." (EXCERPT)
Probabilistic analysis of an algorithm to compute TCP packet round-trip time for intrusion detection

Estimating the length of a connection chain is challenging and critical in detecting stepping-stone intrusion. In this paper, we propose a novel method, called standard deviation-based clustering approach (SDBA), to estimate the length of an interactive connection chain by computing round-trip time (RTT). SDBA takes advantage of RTTs distribution and inter-arrival distribution of ''send'' packets. We prove that the probability of making a correct selection of RTT through SDBA is bounded by 1-(1/q^2), where q is a number related to standard deviation of RTTs distribution and send packets inter-arrival distribution. Experimental results showed that SDBA can compete against the best known algorithm in packet-matching rate and accuracy. This paper also presents the restrictions of SDBA.
Shock induces a long-lasting elevation of blood glucose in Aplysia.

Glucose, and not trehalose, was found to be the main blood sugar inAplysia californica. Changes in blood glucose in response to stress produced by electric shock were measured in blood obtained both from animals dissected within ten minutes of shocking and from catheterized animals at various intervals, up to two and a half hours after the shock. Electric shock increased blood glucose levels. The rise in blood sugar continued as long as two and a half hours after shock.
Modeling Studies of Eddies in the Leeuwin Current: The Role of Thermal Forcing

Abstract A high resolution, multilevel, primitive equation (PE) model is used to investigate the generation and stability of the Leeuwin Current and eddies off the west coast of Australia. Two numerical experiments are conducted to investigate the roles of the Indian Ocean temperature field and the North West (NW) Shelf waters in generating both the current and eddies. In the first experiment an alongshore temperature gradient, typical of the Indian Ocean temperature field, is imposed, while in the second experiment the additional effects of the NW Shelf waters are considered. In the first experiment, the meridional Indian Ocean temperature gradient is sufficient to drive a poleward surface flow (the Leeuwin Current) and an equatorial undercurrent. The surface flow is augmented by onshore geostrophic flow and accelerates downstream. In the second experiment, the inclusion of the NW Shelf waters completely dominates in the NW Shelf equatorial source region. The effects of the NW Shelf waters weaken away fr...
Optimized iteration strategies and data management considerations for fast reactor finite difference diffusion theory codes

Optimized iteration methods for the solution of large-scale fast reactor finite difference diffusion theory calculations are presented, along with their theoretical basis. The computational and dat...
Sound Shredding: Privacy Preserved Audio Sensing

Sound provides valuable information about a mobile user's activity and environment. With the increasing large market penetration of smart phones, recording sound from mobile phones' microphones and processing the sound information either on mobile devices or in the cloud opens a window to a large variety of mobile applications that are context-aware and behavior-aware. On the other hand, sound sensing has the potential risk of compromising users' privacy. Security attacks by malicious software running on smart phones can obtain in-band and out-of-band sound information to infer the content of users' conversation. In this paper, we propose two simple yet highly effective methods called {\em sound shredding} and {\em sound subsampling}. Sound shredding mutates the raw sound frames randomly just like paper shredding and sound subsampling randomly drops sound frames without storing them. The resulting mutated sound recording makes it difficult to recover the text content of the original sound recording, yet we show that some acoustic features are preserved which retains the accuracy of context recognition.
Differential amnestic effects produced by electrical stimulation of the caudate nucleus and nonspecific thalamic system.

Abstract Cats were trained to enter a small compartment and eat from a metal food dish. After repeated training trials, they received an aversive mouthshock while eating, followed in 4 sec or 5 min by low intensity, low-frequency electrical stimulation of the nonspecific thalamus or caudate nucleus. When tested 24 hr later, the animals that had received nonspecific thalamic stimulation consistently showed amnesia for the mouthshock, while only half the animals that received caudate nucleus stimulation showed amnesia. The data, in combination with data from parallel studies, suggest that the nonspecific thalamus, amygdala and hippocampus are all critical for processing aversive information into a long-term memory store.
Computer-Generated Building Data: Topological Information

Traditionally, complex data models are developed to completely describe constructed facilities. These data models could be significantly simplified if the amount of information to be represented is reduced to basic or primitive data, from which more complex data can be deduced and extracted as required. This paper describes a building design framework developed in a solid modeling platform that is capable of automatically generating complex building information to support various aspects of building design. The topological relationships between building components are used as illustrative examples to demonstrate the practicality of the proposed system. A number of algorithms to deduce the topological information are also described.
Carbohydrate source influences gelatinase production by mouse astrocytes in vitro

Molecular mediators of ischemic brain injury include intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), involved in the alteration of blood-brain barrier permeability and induced in astroglial cultures by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Hyperglycemia is known to aggravate in vivo ischemic brain damage, while treatment with sorbitol shows benefit in reducing vasogenic brain edema. This study investigated whether a culture medium carbohydrate source could alter the astrocyte production of MMP-9 and ICAM-1 in vitro. The growth of astrocytes in 12.5 mM glucose, 25 mM glucose, or 25 mM sorbitol for 14 days did not alter cellular release of lactate dehydrogenase, uptake of Trypan blue, or surface expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). ICAM-1 levels were similar in astrocytes grown in glucose or sorbitol both under basal conditions and after TNF-alpha stimulation for 48 h. In contrast, levels of proMMP-9 released from astrocytes cultured for 14 days in 25 mM sorbitol reached only 55-28% of those obtained from cultures in 25 mM glucose after stimulation with 1,000 U/ml (P = 0.05) or 5,000 U/ml (P < 0.025) TNF-alpha, respectively. Limiting the duration of pre-stimulation sorbitol exposure to 48 h resulted in lower proMMP-9 levels than in glucose cultures after 5,000, but not 1,000, U/ml TNF-alpha, and differences were not significant when sorbitol exposure was further reduced to 24 h. Incubation in mixed glucose/sorbitol media did not affect the release of proMMP-9. These findings suggest that MMP-9 production may be increased in astrocytes as a consequence of glucose metabolism, which can be avoided by growth in sorbitol alone.
Restoration or Transformation? Trapos versus NGOs in the Democratization of the Philippines

When the philippines returned to democratic rule in 1986, two images emerged of the new democracy that were vastly different and often hard to reconcile with each other. On the one hand, many observers commented on the great extent to which the new democracy appeared merely to restore the country's previous democratic regime from between 1946 and the establishment of martial law in 1972 (Anderson 1988; McCoy 1994, 19; Wurfel 1988, 323). In this earlier democratic period, traditional political clans dominated the country's policy-making institutions and successfully blocked equity-enhancing reforms. Over the course of these decades, elite-dominated parties mastered the politics of clientelism, in which local power brokers delivered vote blocs to national politicians in exchange for the granting of particularistic favors and the blocking of progressive legislation. Fears of a restoration in the mid-1980s appeared well founded, both in the significant presence in the reopened legislature of the country's most powerful economic elites and in the resistance to agrarian and other reforms by the new president, Corazon Aquino, herself a member of a prominent land-owning family. In many respects, democratization in the 1980s marked the return to power of traditional politicians, or trapos, as they are popularly called, a word that also means “dishrag” in the Tagalog language.
Clinical significance of late gadolinium enhancement in patients<20 years of age with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging is associated with adverse events in adults with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC). However, limited data exist on the extent and clinical significance of LGE in the pediatric population. In 30 patients (aged 14.1 ± 3.2 years) with clinically diagnosed HC who underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging from 2007 to 2012, segments with hypertrophy and LGE were identified by 2 experienced readers blinded to outcome. Radial, circumferential, and longitudinal strains were evaluated using feature tracking software. The composite outcome was defined as cardiac death, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator discharge. LGE was present in 17 of 30 patients (57%), all in a midmyocardial pattern, with median 3 segments per patient (interquartile range [IQR] 2 to 5). No LGE was detected in patients without phenotypic hypertrophy. Segments with LGE had decreased radial (basal segments 20.7% vs 70.9%, p = 0.01), circumferential (basal segments −23.2% vs −29.3%, p = 0.04), and longitudinal strains (basal segments −13.8% vs −20.9%, p = 0.04). After median follow-up of 26.9 months (IQR 7.5 to 34.3), 7 patients who had an adverse outcome (5 ventricular tachycardia, 1 appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator discharge, and 1 death) had more segments of LGE (median 4, IQR 2 to 7 vs 0, IQR 0 to 2, p = 0.01). One patient without LGE had ventricular tachycardia on exercise test. In conclusion, LGE occurs in a similar pattern in pediatric patients with HC as in adults, associated with hypertrophy, decreased myocardial strain, and adverse clinical outcomes. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to evaluate the rate of development of LGE and relation to outcomes in a larger cohort.
A computer simulation model of the cost-effectiveness of routine Staphylococcus aureus screening and decolonization among lung and heart-lung transplant recipients.

Our objective was to model the cost-effectiveness and economic value of routine peri-operative Staphylococcus aureus screening and decolonization of lung and heart-lung transplant recipients from hospital and third-party payer perspectives. We used clinical data from 596 lung and heart-lung transplant recipients to develop a model in TreeAge Pro 2009 (Williamsport, MA, USA). Sensitivity analyses varied S. aureus colonization rate (5–15 %), probability of infection if colonized (10–30 %), and decolonization efficacy (25–90 %). Data were collected from the Cardiothoracic Transplant Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Consecutive lung and heart-lung transplant recipients from January 2006 to December 2010 were enrolled retrospectively. Baseline rates of S. aureus colonization, infection and decolonization efficacy were 9.6 %, 36.7 %, and 31.9 %, respectively. Screening and decolonization was economically dominant for all scenarios tested, providing more cost savings and health benefits than no screening. Savings per case averted (2012 $US) ranged from $73,567 to $133,157 (hospital perspective) and $10,748 to $16,723 (third party payer perspective), varying with the probability of colonization, infection, and decolonization efficacy. Using our clinical data, screening and decolonization led to cost savings per case averted of $240,602 (hospital perspective) and averted 6.7 S. aureus infections (4.3 MRSA and 2.4 MSSA); 89 patients needed to be screened to prevent one S. aureus infection. Our data support routine S. aureus screening and decolonization of lung and heart-lung transplant patients. The economic value of screening and decolonization was greater than in previous models of other surgical populations.
Current Issues in the Management of Bacterial Respiratory Tract Disease: The Challenge of Antibacterial Resistance

The worldwide burden of respiratory tract disease is enormous. Resistance to penicillins, macrolides, and cephalosporins is now detected among the leading bacterial pathogens that cause respiratory tract infections (RTIs)-Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. The increasing role of atypical/intracellular pathogens (eg, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila) in RTIs, as well as their increase in antibiotic resistance prevalence, continues to be of great concern. More recently introduced treatment options for RTIs include the newer respiratory fluoroquinolones, along with the macrolides and azalides. Although these agents demonstrate good activity against common respiratory pathogens, reduced susceptibility to these agents has been reported. The ketolides are recently developed antibacterial agents with targeted-spectrum activity against common respiratory tract pathogens, including atypical/intracellular pathogens, and a low potential for inducing resistance. These promising new drugs have shown in vitro and in vivo efficacy in the treatment of community-acquired RTIs, such as community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, and acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis.
Molecular definition and characterization of recombinant bovine CB8 and CB10: immunogenicity and arthritogenicity.

Abstract Theoretically, the ability to produce recombinant type II collagen (CII) peptide fragments in a prokaryotic expression system would be extremely useful for preparing adequate amounts of CII peptides suitable for therapeutic uses. Bacteria do not contain the enzymes involved in the extensive posttranslational modifications that occur during the biosynthesis of CII, such as the hydroxylation of prolyl and lysyl residues and glycosylation of hydroxylysyl residues. As these posttranslational modifications may play a role in the immune and arthritogenic response to CII, it was unclear whether collagen expressed in Escherichia coli would be immunologically comparable to tissue-derived CII. Therefore, we prepared recombinant proteins for CB8 and CB10 by cloning CB8 (CII 403–551) and CB10 (CII 552–897) genes from bovine chondrocytes by RT-PCR technique and expressing them in an E. coli expression system. Characterization of these recombinant proteins revealed that both rCB8 and rCB10 stimulated T cell proliferation in a T cell determinant-specific manner. The T cells from mice immunized with rCB8 respond specifically to a synthetic peptide, CII 445–453, the CB8 T cell determinant. Conversely, rCB10-primed T cells respond strongly to CII 610–618, the CB10 T cell determinant. Recombinant CB8-induced autoantibodies that bound to mouse CB8 as effectively and in the same topographic distribution as tissue-derived CB8. Finally, when rCB8 and rCB10 proteins were used to immunize B10.RIII (H-2 r ) mice, rCB8 induced arthritis in 33% of the mice, very similar to the incidence induced by tissue-derived CB8 peptide. As was found to be the case with tissue-derived CB10, rCB10 was completely ineffective in inducing arthritis. Pathological changes of arthritic joints in the mice immunized with rCB8 were similar to those observed in mice immunized with tissue-derived CB8. Thus, these recombinant CII peptides expressed in E. coli can induce an effective immunologic response and suggest that functionally useful CII peptides can be generated by the prokaryotic expression system.
Total synthesis and biochemical characterization of mirror image barnase.

In this study we synthesized and characterized mirror image barnase (B. amyloliquefaciens ribonuclease). D-Barnase was identical to L-barnase, when analyzed by liquid chromatography and mass-spectrometry. Proteolysis of the mirror image enzyme revealed that in contrast to its native counterpart, D-barnase was completely stable to digestive proteases. In enzymatic assays, D-barnase had the reciprocal chiral specificity and was fully active towards mirror image substrates. Interestingly, D-barnase also hydrolyzed the substrate of the native chirality, albeit 4000 times less efficiently. This effect was further confirmed by digesting a native 112-mer RNA with the enzyme. Additional studies revealed that barnase accommodates a range of substrates with various chiralities, but the prime requirement for guanosine remains. These studies point toward using mirror image enzymes as modern agents in biotechnology.
Pain scores: are the numbers adding up to quality patient care and improved pain control?

In 2001, the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) introduced a series of compliance guidelines designed to improve pain care. JCAHO acknowledged that freedom from pain is a patient right, and proposed specific requirements to improve pain assessment, and to monitor treatment. A major requirement for conformity to these guidelines was the need for health care institutions to establish a monitoring system to assess pain at appropriate intervals, and to document the effectiveness of treatment. To adhere to the guidelines, most health care organizations have adopted the use of one or more pain scales to be included along with the standard patient vital signs, hence, the concept of pain as the 5th vital sign. Like most pain specialists, I welcomed the much needed attention being directed at improving the recognition and treatment of our patient's pain. In the perioperative pain patient, this effort has proven advantageous by insuring that pain complaints will be taken more seriously, and has resulted in standards that require a patient's pain be controlled prior to discharge from the postanesthesia care unit, as documented by specific pain scale values. Unfortunately, the value of pain scales may vary considerably in their meaning and value in different patients, and in different care settings. For example, in the postanesthesia care unit, a location where pain may …
The Engineering Test Facility

The vehicle by which the fusion program would move into the engineering testing phase of fusion power development is designated the Engineering Test Facility (ETF). The ETF would provide a test-bed for reactor components in the fusion environment. In order to initiate preliminary planning for the ETF decision, the Office of Fusion Energy established the ETF Design Center activity to prepare the design of the ETF. This paper describes the design status of the ETF.
Kinetic control in the acid-catalyzed isomerization of -2-,vinyl-1,6-dimethylbicyclo[4.3.O]non-2-en-7-one

Abstract The acid-catalyzed isomerization of the title compound (2) to the thermodynamically-favored Z isomer 4 proceeds first to the E-isomer 3.