cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B nuclear localization reduces human E-selectin expression and the systemic inflammatory response

Background-One proinflammatory property observed during endothelial cell activation is the expression of the neutrophil adhesion molecule E-selectin on the surface of endothelial cells. An important regulatory element in endothelial cell E-selectin expression is the nuclear localization of the transcription factor nuclear factor (NK)-KB, which binds to and affects the function of several genes encoding proteins mediating inflammation. Methods and Results-In this study, we investigated the ability of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an agent that inhibits the nuclear localization of NF-KB, to (1) block endothelial cell E-selectin expression in vitro in response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and (2) reduce neutrophil infiltration in a rabbit model of systemic inflammation. As measured with the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, TNF-α, IL-1, and LPS each induced a significant increase in surface expression of E-selectin in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) compared with HUVECs treated with medium alone. In contrast, E-selectin surface expression was blocked in HUVECs pretreated with PDTC before TNF-α, IL- I, or LPS stimulation. NF-KB was present in HUVEC nuclei treated with TNF-α, whereas translocation of NF-KB to the nucleus was absent in TNF-α-treated HUVECs pretreated with PDTC. In vivo, rabbits pretreated with PDTC before LPS infusion showed significantly less neutrophil infiltration in the lungs, liver, and heart compared with animals infused with LPS alone. This correlated with a reduction in E-selectin expression in vivo. Conclusions-Our data suggest that NF-KB regulation of gene expression in the vascular endothelium may be an important cellular mechanism in endothelial cell activation.
Partial hypopituitarism and hyperprolactinemia: successful induction of ovulation with bromocriptine and human menopausal gonadotropins

The case of a patient who developed partial hypopituitarism (hypogonadotropism and growth hormone deficiency) following transsphenoidal removal of a prolactinoma is described. Hypogonadotropism persisted despite restoration of normoprolactinemia with bromocriptine therapy. Successful induction of ovulation with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and bromocriptine suppression of the hyperprolactinemia was carried out, resulting in a pregnancy. The pros and cons of operative and nonoperative management of hyperprolactinemia are discussed.
Structural Modeling of DNA Loops in Lactose-Repressor

It is well known that the structural deformations (stressed states) of DNA molecule play a crucial role in its biological functions including gene expression. For instance, looping in DNA (often mediated by protein binding) is a crucial step in many gene regulatory mechanisms. We use the mechanical rod model of DNA molecules to simulate its structural interactions with proteins (enzymes) during gene expression. Our rod model can simulate the nonlinear dynamics of loop and supercoil formation in DNA on long length scales. The formulation accounts for the structural stiffness of the DNA strand, its intrinsic curvature, chiral (right-handed helical) construction and its physical interactions with the surrounding medium. The simulations of protein-mediated DNA looping illustrate how the mechanical properties of DNA may affect the chemical kinetics of DNA-protein interactions and thereby regulate gene expression.
Higher Total Knee Arthroplasty Revision Rates Among United States Blacks Than Whites: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Reportedly 2% to 5.7% of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) require revision within 5 years. The purpose of this study was to determine whether blacks are at higher risk of TKA revision than whites in the United States. Methods: We performed a systematic review of English-language articles published from 2000 to 2015. Study inclusion criteria were (1) performance of the study in the United States, (2) TKA as the primary procedure studied, (3) a follow-up period at least 2 years, (4) reporting of revision rates, and (5) analysis of patient race as an independent predictor of revision. We then performed a random-effects meta-analysis to calculate a pooled hazard ratio for TKA revision in blacks compared with whites. Results: A total of 4,286 studies were identified and screened by title; 106, by abstract; and 24, by full text. Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Only 4 of the 6 studies could undergo meta-analysis because of overlapping study populations in 3 of them. The meta-analysis represented 451,960 patients who underwent TKA, of whom 28,772 (6.4%) were black. Of the total, 31,568 patients (7.0%) underwent revision surgery. The risk of revision TKA was significantly higher among blacks than whites (pooled hazard ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.20 to 1.58; p < 0.001). Analysis of the 3 studies with overlapping study populations demonstrated discordant results as a result of adjustment compared with non-adjustment for insurance eligibility, a surrogate for socioeconomic status. Conclusions: Blacks in the United States are at higher risk of revision TKA than whites. Socioeconomic status contributed to revision risk and is an important confounder in analyses of race. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Growth of viscoelastic instabilities around linear cylinder arrays

Using a linear array of cylinders in a rectangular microchannel, the development of viscoelastic instabilities at moderate viscoelastic Mach numbers is investigated. Through both flow visualization and pressure drop measurements, instabilities in these channels are shown to start on the downstream face of a cylinder and grow upstream, eventually creating a vortex of slow moving fluid in front of the most upstream cylinder. Previously considered to be independent, it is shown that the downstream and upstream flow patterns all emerge due to the same mechanism related to the creation of secondary flow due to elastic waves. Furthermore, pressure drop measurements show that the relative importance of this phenomenon in terms of the excess pressure drop is mitigated for higher elasticity fluids.
Transgenically altered lignin biosynthesis affects photosynthesis and water relations of field-grown Populus trichocarpa

Abstract Concerns over energy security and environmental sustainability have stimulated interest in development of high-yield, low-lignin trees for bioenergy. Black cottonwood ( Populus trichocarpa ) has been targeted as a potential bioenergy species due to its high productivity, but it is unclear how transgenically altered lignin biosynthesis will affect plant function. We investigated the physiology of two transgenic P. trichocarpa genotypes grown in short rotation woody cropping systems at two sites in southeastern USA: (1) mesic mountain site and (2) warmer, drier Piedmont site. Our results suggest that lignin is fundamental for tree growth and survival in field environments. Lignin deficiency can decrease biochemical photosynthetic processes and interfere with the temperature-response of photosynthesis. Significantly, hydraulic conductivity of transgenic genotypes was 15–25% that of wildtype trees, resulting in decreased leaf-specific whole-plant hydraulic conductance. In the Piedmont, decreased hydraulic efficiency drastically reduced productivity of low-lignin genotypes by 50–70% relative to wildtype. Transgenic trees at the mountain site recovered stem lignin concentrations to levels observed in wildtype trees, but still had severely impaired hydraulic traits, highlighting the major consequences of genetic transformation on whole-plant function. Surprisingly, substantial loss of hydraulic conductivity had only minor effects on productivity at the mesic site and resulted in an alternative advantage for bioenergy systems – lower water consumption. In the hottest month (July), higher intrinsic water use efficiency resulted in total water savings of roughly 1 kg d −1 per transgenic tree without sacrificing productivity. Decreased hydraulic conductivity could therefore be a promising trait for selection of water-efficient genotypes in Populus .
Intimate Partner Violence and PrEP Acceptability Among Low-Income, Young Black Women: Exploring the Mediating Role of Reproductive Coercion

A few studies suggest that women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) are willing to use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but no research has examined mediators of this relationship. The current study used path analysis to examine a phenomenon closely associated with IPV: reproductive coercion, or explicit male behaviors to promote pregnancy of a female partner without her knowledge or against her will. Birth control sabotage and pregnancy coercion—two subtypes of reproductive coercion behaviors—were examined as mediators of the relationship between IPV and PrEP acceptability among a cohort of 147 Black women 18–25 years of age recruited from community-based organizations in an urban city. IPV experiences were indirectly related to PrEP acceptability through birth control sabotage (indirect effect = 0.08; p < 0.05), but not to pregnancy coercion. Findings illustrate the importance of identifying and addressing reproductive coercion when assessing whether PrEP is clinically appropriate and a viable option to prevent HIV among women who experience IPV.
Shining Light on Conflicts of Interest.

Chimonas, DeVito and Rothman (2017) offer a descriptive target article that examines physicians' knowledge of and reaction to the Sunshine Act's Open Payments Database. This program is a federal co...
Inheritance of asymmetry inKrizousacorixa femorata (Guérin)

Krixousacorixa femorata (Guerin), a Mexican corixid, has symmetrical females and asymmetrical dextral or sinistral males. In studying the genetics of this species a sequence of experimental matings is described and the segregation ratios of the progenies analyzed. On the basis of these experiments a hypothesis, adequately explaining the data, is proposed.Exhypothesi the inheritance of the polymorphic characteristic of asymmetry depends upon the allelomorphic series of three genes,D, D 8, andd, of whichD (dextrality) is dominant toD s (sinistrality) which in turn is dominant tod (dextrality). The intermediate member of the series is lethal as a homozygote.
Memory cocktail therapy: a general learning-based framework to optimize dynamic tradeoffs in NVMs

Non-volatile memories (NVMs) have attracted significant interest recently due to their high-density, low static power, and persistence. There are, however, several challenges associated with building practical systems from NVMs, including limited write endurance and long latencies. Researchers have proposed a variety of architectural techniques which can achieve different tradeoffs between lifetime, performance and energy efficiency; however, no individual technique can satisfy requirements for all applications and different objectives. Hence, we propose Memory Cocktail Therapy (MCT), a general learning-based framework that adaptively chooses the best techniques for the current application and objectives.Specifically, MCT performs four procedures to adapt the techniques to various scenarios. First, MCT formulates a high-dimensional configuration space from all different combinations of techniques. Second, MCT selects primary features from the configuration space with lasso regularization. Third, MCT estimates lifetime, performance and energy consumption using lightweight online predictors (eg. quadratic regression and gradient boosting) and a small set of configurations guided by the selected features. Finally, given the estimation of all configurations, MCT selects the optimal configuration based on the user-defined objectives. As a proof of concept, we test MCT’s ability to guarantee different lifetime targets and achieve 95% of maximum performance, while minimizing energy consumption. We find that MCT improves performance by 9.24% and reduces energy by 7.95% compared to the best static configuration. Moreover, the performance of MCT is 94.49% of the ideal configuration with only 5.3% more energy consumption. CCS CONCEPTS • Hardware → Memory and dense storage.
Broccoli sprouts delay prostate cancer formation and decrease prostate cancer severity with a concurrent decrease in HDAC3 protein expression in TRAMP mice.

Background: Cruciferous vegetables have been associated with the chemoprevention of cancer. Epigenetic regulators have been identified as important targets for prostate cancer chemoprevention. Treatment of human prostate cancer cells with sulforaphane (SFN), a chemical from broccoli and broccoli sprouts, inhibits epigenetic regulators such as histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes, but it is not known whether consumption of a diet high in broccoli sprouts impacts epigenetic mechanisms in an in vivo model of prostate cancer. Objective: In the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model, we tested the hypothesis that a broccoli sprout diet suppresses prostate cancer, inhibits HDAC expression, alters histone modifications, and changes the expression of genes regulated by HDACs. Methods: TRAMP mice were fed a 15% broccoli sprout, or control AIN93G diet; tissue samples were collected at 12 and 28 weeks of age. Results: Mice fed broccoli sprouts had detectable levels of SFN metabolites in liver, kidney, colon, and prostate tissues. Broccoli sprouts reduced prostate cancer incidence, and progression to invasive cancer by 11- and 2.4-fold at 12 and 28 weeks of age, respectively. There was a significant decline in HDAC3 protein expression in the epithelial cells of prostate ventral and anterior lobes at 12 weeks. Broccoli sprout consumption also decreased histone H3 lysine 9 tri-methylation in the ventral lobe (12 week), and decreased histone H3 lysine 18 acetylation in all prostate lobes (28 weeks). A decline in p16 mRNA levels, a gene regulated by HDAC3, was associated with broccoli sprouts consumption, but no significant changes were noted at the protein level. Conclusions: Broccoli sprout intake caused a decline in prostate cancer occurrence and HDAC3 protein expression in the prostate, extending prior work that implicated loss of HDAC3/corepressor interactions as a key preventive mechanism by SFN in vivo.
Economic-Statistical Design of X̄ and R or X̄ and S Charts

In this paper we present a comprehensive FORTRAN program that can be used to jointly determine the parameters of X charts used in combination with either R or S charts. The parameters are determined using economic, statistical, or economic- statistical design criteria. The general cost model due to Lorenzen and Vance (1986) is used in economic and economic-statistical designs.
ROLE OF NON-FIBRILLAR COLLAGENS IN MATRIX ASSEMBLIES

Extracellular matrices are composed of macromolecular components that interact to form highly complex supramolecular structures. Among these components are collagen fibrils. The fibrils represent tissue elements of high tensile strength, and their tissue-dependent three-dimensional patterns provide tissues with characteristic mechanical properties. Understanding the molecular composition of collagen fibrils and the interactions that define their specific tissue organization is, therefore, an essential aspect of molecular biomechanics.
U. S. Policy on Spent Fuel Reprocessing: Where did It Come from?

On April 7, 1977, President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States would defer indefinitely the reprocessing of spent nuclear reactor fuel. He stated that after extensive examination of the issues, he had reached the conclusion that this action was necessary to reduce the serious threat of nuclear weapons proliferation, and that by setting this example, the U. S. would encourage other nations to follow its lead.
Thermobarometry Gone Astray

Quantitative thermobarometers require selection of a univariant reaction, consideration of dilutions in all phases and application to fully buffered systems. Empirical thermobarometers include AlIV in chlorite, Al in hornblende, Ti in biotite, phengite barometry and various clay and organic transformations. For the most part they were not evaluated with univariant reactions, buffering phases or corrections for solid or fluid solutions and as a result they are not adequately calibrated.
The Polymer Expansion

There are regimes in statistical physics where the observable quantities admit power series expansions. These expansions, in a suitable parameter range, converge uniformly in the volume, and allow a mathematical definition of all thermodynamic quantities in the infinite volume limit. Thus these expansions are a very powerful tool. They are generally known as cluster expansions.
Gravity Modeling and its Impacts on Location Analysis

Throughout the 20th century, geographers have developed a variety of models that assist public and private entities in locating facilities from factories to emergency services. In the area of retail location analysis, the early gravity models of geographers William J. Reilly and David L. Huff played a pioneering role in delineating retail trade areas and modeling many other kinds of spatial interaction. Their fundamental insight was that customers do not necessarily shop at the closest store, but patronize locations in proportion to the attractiveness of the retail centers and in inverse proportion to their distance. In this chapter, we elucidate the early history, structure, and significance of these models.
Alkaline Quinone Flow Battery with Long Lifetime at pH 12

Summary We demonstrate a long-lifetime, aqueous redox-flow battery that can operate at a pH as low as 12 while maintaining an open-circuit voltage of over 1 V. We functionalized 2,6-dihydroxyanthraquinone (2,6-DHAQ) with highly alkali-soluble carboxylate terminal groups. The resulting negative electrolyte material 4,4′-((9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-diyl)dioxy)dibutyrate (2,6-DBEAQ) was six times more soluble than 2,6-DHAQ at pH 12. Symmetric cell cycling with 2,6-DBEAQ on both sides of the cell demonstrates a capacity fade rate of
Quality of Diabetes Care Among Recent Immigrants to the USA

This study investigated the relationship between immigration status and quality of care for patients with diabetes. We used the Medical Expenditure Panel (MEPS) dataset between 2002 and 2011 to examine the association between quality of care and immigration status. Quality of care was measured by report of dilated eye exam, foot exam, A1C test, an annual doctor’s visit, and having blood pressure checked. Immigration status was defined as US born, non-US born but living in the USA for less than 15 years, and non-US born but living in the USA for more than 15 years. Bivariate analyses were used to compare receiving quality of care and immigration status. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association of immigration status with quality of care, adjusting for demographic and medical variables. Bivariate analyses showed significant differences for all quality of care measures compared to immigration status. However, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities, the only quality of care measures that were significantly associated with immigration status was having blood pressure checked (OR = 0.37 for 15 years compared to US born, p 15 years compared to US born, p = 0.046). After adjustment for socioeconomic and comorbidity factors, blood pressure testing and dilated eye exams were the only measures significantly associated with immigration status. The highest risk was in the first 15 years after entering the USA and should be a target for interventions.
The Organization of Neglect: Limited Liability Companies and Housing Disinvestment:

Sociological accounts of urban disinvestment processes rarely assess how landlords’ variable investment strategies may be facilitated or constrained by the legal environment. Nor do they typically ...
Synthesis, Characterization and studies on photocatalytic and dielectric properties of Copper –Poly (1- Naphthylamine) Nanocomposite

Abstract Copper incorporated Poly 1- Naphthylamine nano composites with high photocatalytic activity has been prepared in a simple one step route .The composite was prepared by the chemical oxidative polymerization of 1-Naphthylamine in nitric acid medium with Ammonium peroxo disulphate in presence of copper ion.The copper incorporation was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction studies and SEM images shows a flake like morphology compared to the morphology of pristine PNA. The prepared composites shows good catalytic activity toward the borohydride assisted reduction of Methylene blue under sun light irradiation .The dielectric permittivity and A.C. conductivity values shows improvement upon copper incorporation.
The Tie Canonical Structure Theorem

The development in the preceding four sections suggests that the state space of an arbitrary m -input, i -output state space linear system is composed of several kinds of states; some states, it would seem, have more influence on the input-output behavior of the system than others. It is the purpose of the present section to formulate this idea precisely. The principal result, which has become known as the Canonical Structure Theorem, was first stated and proved by [Kalman] in the well-known paper [Kalman]; the proof presented here rests heavily on the vector sum and direct sum constructions (c.f. §5) along with the reachability and observability results of §§13–16.
Development assistance for community health workers in 114 low- and middle-income countries, 2007-2017.

Objective To estimate the level and trend of development assistance for community health worker-related projects in low- and middle-income countries between 2007 and 2017. Methods We extracted data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's creditor reporting system on aid funding for projects to support community health workers (CHWs) in 114 countries over 2007-2017. We produced estimates for projects specifically described by relevant keywords and for projects which could include components on CHWs. We analysed the pattern of development assistance by purpose, donors, recipient regions and countries, and trends over time. Findings Between 2007 and 2017, total development assistance targeting CHW projects was around United States dollars (US$) 5 298.02 million, accounting for 2.5% of the US$ 209 277.99 million total development assistance for health. The top three donors (Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the government of Canada and the government of the United States of America) provided a total of US$ 4 350.08 million (82.1%) of development assistance for these projects. Sub-Saharan Africa received a total US$ 3 717.93 million, the largest per capita assistance over 11 years (US$ 0.39; total population: 9 426.25 million). Development assistance to projects that focused on infectious diseases and child and maternal health received most funds during the study period. Conclusion The share of development assistance invested in the CHW projects was small, unstable and decreasing in recent years. More research is needed on tracking government investments in CHW-related projects and assessing the impact of investments on programme effectiveness.
Access-Site Complications in Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Review of Prospective Trials.

BACKGROUND: A shift has occurred in interventional cardiology from transfemoral to transradial access due to a 70%–80% decrease in complications. This shift has not yet taken place in other interventional specialties, perhaps owing to the lack of generalizability of findings in the cardiology data. PURPOSE: Our aim was to assess data from the recent mechanical thrombectomy prospective trials to better understand the access-site complication rate. DATA SOURCES: Articles were systematically sourced from the National Center for Biotechnology Information PubMed archive. STUDY SELECTION: According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, prospective, randomized controlled trials published after 2008 with mention of major and/or minor femoral access-site complications in neuroendovascular mechanical thrombectomies were included. DATA ANALYSIS: Major and minor femoral access-site complications were extracted. A total complication rate was calculated with major access-site complications alone and combined with minor access-site complications. DATA SYNTHESIS: Seven prospective studies of 339 total screened met the inclusion criteria. Eleven major access-site complications were identified in of 660 total interventions, revealing a major access-site complication rate of 1.67% for patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy with transfemoral access. If minor access-site complications were included, 35 total incidents were detected in 763 interventions, resulting in a total complication rate of 4.59%. LIMITATIONS: Multiple unspecified vessel and procedure-related complications were mentioned in the studies. CONCLUSIONS: The overall rate of major access-site complications was 1.67% in this review, which is not low and poses a risk to patients. We suggest further investigation into the feasibility and complication rates of alternative access sites for neurointerventional procedures.
OPTICS: OPTimizing Irrigation Control at Scale

Lawns, also known as turf, cover an estimated 128,000 km2 in North America alone, with landscape requirements representing 30% of freshwater consumed in the residential domain. With this consumption comes a large amount of environmental, economic, and social incentive to make turf irrigation systems as efficient as possible. Recent work introduced the concept of distributed control in irrigation systems, but existing control strategies either do not take advantage of the distributed control, or do not revise the strategy over time in response to collected data. In this work, we introduce OPTICS, a data-driven control strategy that self-improves over time, adapts to the local specific conditions and weather changes, and requires virtually no human input in both setup and maintenance providing a plug-and-play system that requires minimal pre-deployment efforts. In addition to substantial improvements in ease-of-use, we find across 4 weeks of large-scale irrigation system deployment that OPTICS improves system efficiency by 12.0% in comparison to industry best and 3.3% in comparison to academic state of the art. Despite using less water, OPTICS also was found to improve quality of service by a factor of 4.0× compared to industry best and 2.5× compared to academic state of the art.
Holocene temperature and landscape history of southwest Greenland inferred from isotope and geochemical lake sediment proxies

Abstract Terrestrial temperature reconstructions from the ice-free margins of Greenland are critical for constraining the sensitivity of the Greenland ice sheet to past climate change. Numerous investigations have clarified the glacial history of southwest Greenland in recent decades; however, very few local quantitative temperature reconstructions exist as context for changes in the cryosphere. We examine sedimentary records from two lakes south of Nuuk, Greenland (informally named lakes T1 and T2), and investigate millennial scale Holocene climate change using a multi-proxy approach. Changes in X-Ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), δ15N, δ13C and biogenic silica concentrations of bulk lake sediments mark the transition from a marine environment to isolated lakes as relative sea level fell in the early Holocene. δ18O values of subfossil insects (chironomids) from lakes T1 and T2 decreased by 2–3‰ from c. 8.8 ka BP (minimum limiting age for the onset of lacustrine sediment deposition in lake T2; ka BP = thousands of years before 1950) to 1 ka BP. Existing isotope-independent temperature reconstructions from the west coast of Greenland suggest that these changes in δ18O values accompanied gradual cooling of 2–4 °C, concomitant with decreasing summer insolation. There is widespread regional evidence that this cooling resulted in progressive regrowth of local glaciers and of the ice sheet. The regional consensus on the magnitude of this temperature change indicates that the local, modern modeled temperature - precipitation δ18O relationship cannot be used to quantify millennial-scale temperature changes at these sites through the Holocene. This reinforces that studies utilizing δ18O-based proxies to infer temperature change should carefully assess local isotope-temperature relationships over space and time.
Telemedicine for Acute Conditions During COVID-19: A Nationwide Survey Using Crowdsourcing.

Background: COVID-19 has resulted in a rapid and significant adoption of telemedicine for acute conditions. Understanding whether patient demand will last after the pandemic helps providers and pay...
Hannah’s Song: A Foreshadowing of the Magnificat

Although women’s words account for a small portion of biblical scripture, the Bible records two related prayerful songs that were sung by female prophets: the song of Hannah, in the Old Testament, and the Magnificat of Mary, in the New Testament. This essay uses typological methodology to explore the songs’ connections, including their shared literary precedents and nearly identical theological themes. Their fundamental similarities suggest Hannah’s song served as a harbinger of the Magnificat. Hannah and Mary’s shared blessing, divinely ordained motherhood, and their shared inspiration, the Holy Spirit, explain the parallels of their prayerful verses and prophetic utterances, which were of great relevance for both covenants of the Judeo-Christian faith.
A Consistency-Constrained Feature Selection Algorithm with the Steepest Descent Method

This paper proposes a new consistency-based feature selection algorithm, which presents a new balance to the fundamental tradeoff between the quality of outputs of feature selection algorithms and their efficiency. Consistency represents the extent of corrective relevance of features to classification, and hence, consistency-based feature selection algorithms such as INTERACT, LCC and CCC can select relevant features more correctly by taking interaction among features into account. INTERACT and LCC are fast by employing the linear search strategy. By contrast, CCC is slow, since it is based on the complete search strategy, but can output feature subsets of higher quality. The algorithm that we propose in this paper, on the other hand, takes the steepest descent method as the search strategy. Consequently, it can find better solutions than INTERACT and LCC, and simultaneously restrains the increase in computational complexity within a reasonable level: it evaluates $(|{\mathcal F}| + |{\tilde {\mathcal F}}|)(|{\mathcal F}| - |{\tilde {\mathcal F}}| + 1)/2$ feature subsets to output ${\tilde {\mathcal F}}$. We prove effectiveness of the new algorithm through experiments.
Piketty's Capital in the Twenty-First Century: A Review Essay

In his seminal book Capital in the Twenty-first Century,11Thomas Piketty, Capital in the Twenty-First Century (Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2014), 685 pp., $39.95 h...
Exit-site infection in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a review.

Although the ability of CAPD to successfully treat end-stage renal disease is now well established, exitsite infection (ESI) remains a serious cause of morbidity. The objective of this article is t...
The Process of Family Therapy

(1999). The Process of Family Therapy. Marriage & Family Review: Vol. 28, No. 3-4, pp. 191-208.
Contribution of breastfeeding to vitamin A nutrition of infants: a simulation model

OBJECTIVE: To provide information on the potential contribution to vitamin A nutrition in infants of strategies for improving maternal vitamin A status and increasing the consumption of breast milk. METHODS: The contribution of breastfeeding to the vitamin A nutrition of children in eight age groups between 0 and 24 months was simulated under four sets of conditions involving two levels of breast milk consumption with or without maternal vitamin A supplementation. FINDINGS: During the first 6 months, optimal breastfeeding on its own (compared with withholding colostrum and then partially breastfeeding after the first week) was as effective as postpartum maternal supplementation alone, retinol intakes being increased by 59 mug per day and 68 mug per day, respectively. Combined in synergy, these strategies increase retinol intake by 144 mug per day, or 36% of the recommended intake. After 6 months, partial breastfeeding continued to provide a significant proportion of the recommended intakes: 42% from 6-12 months and 61% during the second year. CONCLUSION: Maternal supplementation with a high dose of vitamin A at the time of delivery and the promotion of optimal breastfeeding practices are highly effective strategies for improving vitamin A nutrition in infants and should be strengthened as key components of comprehensive child survival programmes.
Tests for connectivity preservation for parallel reduction operators

Abstract Connectivity preservation is a concern in the design of image processing algorithms for parallel reduction processes like thinning where connected components in 2-D images are reduced to medial axis approximations. Tests and proof techniques, which use local support for their computations, have been presented by Rosenfeld, Ronse and others to prove preservation of connectivity for reduction classes of thinning algorithms. In this paper the earlier Rosenfeld proof techniques are characterized as connectivity preservation tests for rectangular and hexagonal tessellations and simplified versions of these tests are developed. The later Ronse tests are characterized for rectangular and hexagonal tessellations; the Ronse test complexities are evaluated; and relevant equivalences are identified between the Rosenfeld and Ronse test forms. It is shown that forms of the Ronse tests for rectangular and hexagonal tessellations are derivable directly and simply from tests derived from the earlier Rosenfeld proof techniques. Arguments are given to establish under what operator support restrictions these tests are necessary and sufficient proofs for key connectivity preservation properties. Finally, a specific computer-based implementation of the Ronse test is described with extensions for reduction operators with larger supports and with reduction operators using subfields notions; and time performance results are given for this implementation.
Comparison of two high-precision nondestructive measurement methods for evaluating thermal expansion differences in the 8.3-m ultralow-expansion Subaru primary mirror blank

The building blocks for fabricating the 8.3-m Subaru primary mirror blank are ultralow-expansin solid hexagonal units that were subjected to rigorous ultrasonic examination to establish thermal expansion characterization as reported by Hagy [Appl. Opt. 12, 1440 (1973)]. Following assembly of the mirror by fusion and fine annealing, photoelastic analyses at hex-to-hex seals were used to calculate thermal expansion differences. These differences are found to be in excellent agreement with the ultrasonically established differences.
Activity and inhibitor sensitivity of ATPases in the hydrothermal vent tubeworm Riftia pachyptila : a comparative approach

Phosphorylated ATPases may be involved in the effective pH regulation seen in the hydrothermal vent tubeworm Riftia pachyptila. R. pachyptila appears not only to have a large concentration of ATPases, but the main function of these ATPases seems to have shifted from other types of transport, such as Na+ and K+ movement, to the facilitation of H+ elimination. Plume and trophosome ATPase activity for R. pachyptila measured 646.2 ± 29.5 and 481.4 ± 32.0 μmol Pi (inorganic phosphate) g−1 wet wt h−1, respectively. Plume tissue ATPase activity (both mass-specific and protein-specific) in R. pachyptila was higher (between 7% and 55%) than the activity measured in any tissue for 7 other shallow- and deep-living species, in this study. This supports the hypothesis that R. pachyptila regulates acid/base balance via high concentrations of H+-ATPases, including Na+/H+ and K+/H+ exchangers and possibly electrogenic H+-ATPases, as evidenced by a higher total ATPase concentration (646 μmol Pi g−1 wet wt h−1), lesser Na+/K+-ATPase activity (13% of the total, as compared to 20−40% found in other animals), and higher H+-ATPase activity (226–264 μmol Pi g−1wet wt h−1). Overall, R. pachyptila appears to demonstrate elevated ATPase activity, with a greater fraction of the enzymes devoted to proton elimination, in order to effectively control its extracellular pH in the face of processes acting to acidify the internal environment.
Clinical aspects of gastroduodenal ulcer recurrence: an overview.

Duodenal ulcer is a disease characterized by very high rates of recurrence: up to 80% at 1 year, 95% at 2 years. Maintenance therapy will reduce relapse rates. However, when therapy directed against gastric acid is stopped, the slope of the recurrence curve is identical whether therapy is stopped after 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years. This suggests that therapy directed against acid does nothing to change the natural history of ulcer disease. Cytoprotective therapy is equally successful as H2-blockers at healing ulcer or reducing relapse rates, but the time to recurrence is significantly prolonged after either acute or maintenance cytoprotective therapy is stopped. This suggests that cytoprotective therapy has a beneficial effect that does improve the natural history of ulcer disease. The mechanism by which maintenance therapy reduces ulcer relapse could be masking symptoms (analgesic), accelerated healing, or true prevention of ulcer recurrence. By using frequent endoscopic asses...
Task performance as a function of perceived effort performance and performance-reward contingencies☆

The effects of two kinds of expectancies, ability, and the interactions of these variables on the performance of a laboratory task were determined using undergraduate college students as subjects. The two expectancies were: (1) the beliefs that individuals have about whether the expenditure of effort will result in “effective” performance (Expectancy I), and (2) the beliefs that people have concerning whether being an “effective” performer will lead to valued rewards (Expectancy II). Ability proved to be the variable that was most predictive of performance. However, Expectancy I showed a significant linear relationship (p < .05) to performance. Neither the Expectancy II variable nor any of the interactions were significant. It was also demonstrated that individuals who value a reward perform at higher levels than individuals who do not value the reward as much.
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome After Contentious-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation and Change in Platelet Mitochondrial Membrane Potential

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to investigate the change of platelet function and platelet mitochondrial membrane potential in contentious-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD)–implanted heart failure (HF) patients with or without systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Methods and Results We recruited 31 CF-LVAD patients (16 SIRS and 15 non-SIRS) and 11 healthy volunteers as control. Pre- and post-implantation blood samples were collected. We used PFA-100 to test platelet functionality. Mitochondrial potential–sensitive dye was used to detect platelet dysfunction (mitochondrial membrane potential; ΔΨ m ) via flow cytometry. The percentage of depolarized-ΔΨ m platelets was found to be a preexisting condition in all HF patients before CF-LVAD implantation compared with control subjects (10.3 ± 6.3% vs 2.8 ± 2.2%; P P P = .75). Conclusions We identified that platelet function and mitochondrial damage were enhanced in CF-LVAD patients with SIRS. Our findings suggest that depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential is associated with SIRS after CF-LVAD implantation surgery.
Process-Induced Thermal Effect on Packaging Yield of RF MEMS Switches

RF MEMS switches offer significant performance advantages in high frequency RF applications. The switches are actuated by electrostatic force when voltage was applied to the electrodes. Such devices provide high isolation when open and low contact resistance when closed. However, during the packaging process, there are various possible failure modes that may affect the switch yield and performance. The RF MEMS switches were first placed in a package and went through lid seal at 320°C. The assembled packages were then attached to a printed circuit board at 220°C. During the process, some switches failed due to electrical shorting. More interestingly, more failures were observed at the lower temperature of 220°C rather than 320°C. The failure mode was associated with the shorting bar and the cantilever design. Finite element simulations and simplified analytical solutions were used to understand the mechanics driving the behaviors. Simulation results have shown excellent agreement with experimental observations and measurements. Various solutions in package configurations were explored to overcome the hurdles in MEMS packaging and achieve better yield and performance.© 2002 ASME
Radiation therapy of early carcinoma of the breast without mastectomy.

The results of the treatment of 176 patients with early breast cancer, using radiation therapy without mastectomy are reported. The likelihood of local recurrence was 5% for Stage I patients and 7% for Stage II patients. Local control was significantly greater in those patients receiving and iridium implant (1/73 vs. 10/111, P less than .05). The cumulative survival probability at five years is 96% for Stage I and 68% for Stage II. Local control with good cosmetic results is greatly influenced by surgical and radiotherapeutic technique. Gross tumor resection with careful reapproximation of the breast tissue and well-placed incisions facilitates the radiation therapy. Homogeneous external beam radiation to the breast and draining lymph nodes (4500--5000 rads) and supplemental local radiation to the sites of the primary lesion (in this series using interstitial implantation) are recommended.
Formation of (Functionalized) Monolayers and Simultaneous Surface Patterning by Scribing Silicon in the Presence of Alkyl Halides

Alkyl monolayers on silicon are prepared by scribing silicon while it is wet with 1-chloro-, 1-bromo-, and 1-iodoalkanes. The results suggest halogen radical abstraction from 1-haloalkanes and subs...
Delayed Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Promotes Neurogenesis Through Reactive Oxygen Species/Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α/β-Catenin Pathway in Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Rats

Background and Purpose—Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) has been reported to be neuroprotective and to improve neurofunctional outcomes in acute stroke. However, it is not clear whether delayed HBO enhances endogenous neurogenesis and promotes neurofunctional recovery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of delayed HBO therapy on neurogenesis and its potential mechanisms. Methods—One hundred eleven male Sprague–Dawley rats that survived for 7 days from 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion were used. Delayed and multiple HBO were administrated beginning at 7 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion and lasting for 42 days with 3 HBO-free intervals (5 days each). Motor sensory deficits were measured by foot-fault test, and learning and memory abilities were evaluated by Morris water maze. Neurogenesis was examined by double immunostaining of bromodeoxyuridine and doublecortin, bromodeoxyuridine and neuronal nuclei at day 42. For mechanism studies, inhibitors for reactive oxygen...
Temperature Dependent Transient Leakage Currents in Amorphous Silicon Thin Film Transistors

The transient response of a-Si:H thin film transistors (TFT) provides information about gap states in the channel and about the TFT conduction mechanisms. We present results of a detailed parametric study of transient leakage currents in TFTs, extending from 10-3 sec to >100 sec and at temperatures up to 400K. The form of the transient decay depends most notably on the off-state gate voltage, which determines the leakage current mechanism and magnitude. The measurements use chains of many TFTs, such that we can measure dc on/off ratios of >1011. In the sub-threshold region (e.g. Vg~-2V) some samples exhibit non-monotonic decay of the drain current, with a minimum followed by a slow increase to a steady state. Typically this effect is barely visible at room temperature due to the extremely low values of the dc current. Higher temperatures enhance the phenomenon, which has activation energy of about 1 eV for the current magnitude and time constant. We attribute the effect to back-channel electron conduction. This explanation is consistent with the form of the TFT transfer characteristics, and the weak drain-source voltage dependence excludes a contact injection mechanism. At more negative gate off-state voltages, some samples exhibit increasing leakage currents, indicative of hole conduction. These samples feature a monotonically decreasing transient decay with a pronounced drain-source voltage dependence, consistent with contact injection being enhanced by a hole-enriched channel in the high field drain region. Effects of on-state gate pulse width and amplitude are also discussed, as well as the effect of high temperature stress on the TFT transients.
Overexpression of nPKC θ is inhibitory for agrin‐induced nicotinic acetylcholine receptor clustering in C2C12 myotubes

Protein kinase C (PKC) activity has been implicated in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) cluster disruption but the specific PKC isoforms involved have not been identified. We first tested whether phorbol esters, which activate PKCs, regulate agrin-induced nAChR clustering in C(2)C(12) cells. We found that extended phorbol ester treatment (6 hr) increased nAChR clustering by two-fold. This increase correlated in time with downregulation of PKCs, as indicated by the disappearance of cPKC alpha, suggesting that the presence of PKCs is inhibitory for maximal nAChR clustering. To address the question whether nPKC theta, a specific PKC isoform restricted in expression to skeletal muscle and localized to neuromuscular junctions, regulates agrin-induced nAChR cluster formation we overexpressed an nPKC theta -green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein in C(2)C(12) myotubes. The number of nAChR clusters was significantly reduced in nPKC theta-GFP compared to GFP overexpressing myotubes at less-than-maximal clustering concentrations of agrin. These data indicate that nPKC theta activity inhibits nAChR cluster formation. To examine whether nPKC theta activation by phorbol esters regulates agrin-induced nAChR clustering, we treated overexpressing myotubes overnight with maximal agrin concentrations followed by phorbol esters for 1 hr. Phorbol ester treatment reduced preexisting nAChR cluster numbers in nPKC theta-GFP compared to GFP-overexpressing myotubes, suggesting that stimulating nPKC theta activity disrupts nAChR clusters in the presence of maximal clustering concentrations of agrin. Together these findings, that nPKC theta activity inhibits agrin-induced nAChR cluster formation and disrupts preexisting agrin-induced nAChR clusters, suggest that nPKC theta activity is inhibitory for agrin function.
Are We Getting Better or Are They Getting Worse? Draft Position, Strength of Schedule, and Competitive Balance in the National Football League

Monopsonistic labor market institutions, such as amateur drafts and free agency restrictions, are often justified by their competitive balance generating properties. In this paper we reexamine the balancing effect of the amateur draft for the National Football League. We extend an earlier treatment of this issue by Grier and Tollison (J Econ Behav Organ 33:136–149, 1994) by incorporating the unbalanced scheduling policy of the league, relative team payrolls, and team injury rates into our empirical model. We find that the college draft has a quantitatively strong and statistically significant effect on team performance even when incorporating several significant controls.