cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kidney Transplant Outcomes from Donation after Circulatory Death Donors of Advanced Age

BACKGROUND Continued comparison of kidney transplant outcomes between older DCD and donation after brain death (DBD) donors is needed to safely expand the deceased donor pool. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using the UNOS/OPTN transplant registry from donors >50 years old between 1994 and 2016. Donor age was stratified into 4 groups: 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, and >65 years old. Rates of delayed graft function (DGF) and primary non-function (PNF) were compared. Multivariable Cox regression models were constructed to identify factors associated with time to graft failure. RESULTS The DCD donors within each age group had fewer comorbidities than the DBD donors. Graft survival for DCD kidneys was equivalent or superior to DBD kidneys in all donor age groups. DGF rates were significantly greater for DCD kidneys in all age groups. PNF rates across all groups were similar. In multivariable analysis, DCD status was not independently associated with time to all-cause graft failure in the 50-54 donor age group (HR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.93-1.13), 55-59 donor age group (HR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.96-1.19), or 60-64 donor age group (HR = 1.135, 95% CI = 0.97-1.32). CONCLUSION Kidneys from carefully selected older DCD donors, particularly ages 50-64, are a potential means to safely expand the deceased donor pool.
Caspases from scleractinian coral show unique regulatory features

Coral reefs are experiencing precipitous declines around the globe with coral diseases and temperature-induced bleaching being primary drivers of these declines. Regulation of apoptotic cell death is an important component in the coral stress response. Although cnidaria are known to contain complex apoptotic signaling pathways, similar to those in vertebrates, the mechanisms leading to cell death are largely unexplored. We identified and characterized two caspases each from Orbicella faveolata, a disease-sensitive reef-building coral, and Porites astreoides, a disease-resistant reef-building coral. The caspases are predicted homologs of the human executioner caspases-3 and -7, but OfCasp3a (Orbicella faveolata caspase-3a) and PaCasp7a (Porites astreoides caspase-7a), which we show to be DXXDases, contain an N-terminal caspase activation/recruitment domain (CARD) similar to human initiator/inflammatory caspases. OfCasp3b (Orbicella faveolata caspase-3b) and PaCasp3 (Porites astreoides caspase-3), which we show to be VXXDases, have short pro-domains, like human executioner caspases. Our biochemical analyses suggest a mechanism in coral which differs from that of humans, where the CARD-containing DXXDase is activated on death platforms but the protease does not directly activate the VXXDase. The first X-ray crystal structure of a coral caspase, of PaCasp7a determined at 1.57 A resolution, reveals a conserved fold and an N-terminal peptide bound near the active site that may serve as a regulatory exosite. The binding pocket has been observed in initiator caspases of other species. These results suggest mechanisms for the evolution of substrate selection while maintaining common activation mechanisms of CARD-mediated dimerization.
Preclinical evaluation of the anti-tumor activity of pralatrexate in high-risk neuroblastoma cells

Introduction Pralatrexate is a folate analogue inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase exhibiting high affinity for reduced folate carrier-1 with antineoplastic and immunosuppressive activities, similar to methotrexate. Despite advances in multi-modality treatment strategies, the survival rates for children with high-risk neuroblastoma have failed to improve. Therefore, the intense research continues in order to identify the ideal novel agent or combination of chemotherapy drugs to treat high-risk neuroblastoma. Materials and methods Four human neuroblastoma cell lines were used to determine IC50 values of select chemotherapy agents. Antiproliferative effects of pralatrexate were assessed by adherent and non-adherent colony formation assays. Cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry and immunoblotting. PDX tissue culture was used to assess ex vivo efficacy. Results Treatment with pralatrexate in all four neuroblastoma cell lines blocked cell growth in 2D and 3D culture conditions in a time-dependent manner. The potency of pralatrexate was ten-fold stronger than methotrexate, as measured by IC50. Pralatrexate-induced apoptosis was confirmed by caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. MYCN and SLC19A1 mRNA expressions were decreased with pralatrexate in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells. Conclusions Pralatrexate demonstrated effective inhibition of cell growth and viability. The higher potency of pralatrexate compared to methotrexate, a drug with high levels of toxicity, suggests pralatrexate may be a safer alternative to methotrexate as an effective chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.
Targeted Endodontic Microsurgery: Implications of the Greater Palatine Artery.

Abstract Introduction Targeted Endodontic Microsurgery (TEMS) combines trephine burs and 3D-printed guides to make flapless maxillary palatal root-end surgery possible. This study assessed the location of the greater palatine artery (GPA), the relationship of the GPA to maxillary molar root ends, and the feasibility of flapless palatal-approach TEMS. Methods Three endodontists analyzed 250 cone-beam computed tomographic images of maxillary molars for (1) transition morphology between the hard palate and the alveolar process adjacent to first and second molars as an indication of the most likely location of the GPA, (2) the superior-inferior relationship between the GPA and root ends, and (3) the feasibility of palatal-approach TEMS. Results Palatal transition morphology included 20% Spine, 72% Bridge, and 8% Smooth. GPA position as related to palatal root ends was classified as 34% superior, 40% adjacent, and 21% inferior. Five percent of classifications were undefined. TEMS was deemed feasible for 47% of maxillary first molars and 52% of second molars, and was significantly more feasible with GPAs superior to palatal root ends. Reasons for infeasibility included GPA proximity and unfavorable resection angle or level. Maxillary first molar palatal roots were 11.13 ± 2.68 mm from the greater palatine foramen (GPF) and 2.37 ± 1.46 mm from the GPA. Second molar palatal roots were 4.94 ± 2.55 mm from the GPF and 2.53 ± 1.77 mm from the GPA. Conclusions Palatal transition morphology and GPA position adjacent to maxillary molars, as manifested in cone-beam computed tomographic coronal views, suggested maxillary palatal root TEMS could be accomplished with a 2-mm safety margin in 47% of first molars and 52% of second molars. Historical paradigms that do not consider flapless palatal surgical approaches may need to be revised.
Detecting and Analyzing Power System Disturbances in PMU Data with the Open-Source Archive Walker Tool

As the number of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) deployed in power systems increases, so do the archives of synchrophasor measurements stored by utilities. Significant value can be extracted from these archives by using them to support studies such as frequency response analysis, small-signal stability analysis, and power plant model validation. To better enable utilities to perform these studies, the open-source Archive Walker tool was developed. This tool examines PMU data for grid disturbances and periods of interest. Once identified, the data can be further analyzed inside Archive Walker or exported to specialty tools. In this paper, the various disturbance detectors available in Archive Walker are described, and its interactions with other openly-available tools are highlighted.
Data Security and Malware Detection in Cloud Storage Services

Cloud storage systems facilitate a platform to store and manage cyberspace data for a wide range of applications. In cloud storage connected to the Internet, a large amount of data is uploaded and accessed by numerous users. Thus, security and privacy of data is of utmost importance to end users regardless of the nature of the data being stored in clouds. After outlining the development of cutting-edge of cloud storage systems, we elaborate data security issues in cloud storage. We pay particular attention to malware detection techniques customized for cloud storage. The overarching goal of our solution is to guarantee that data are malware free in cloud storage prior to being accessed by end users. Inspired by the architecture of cloud storage, we propose a popularity-aware malware detection strategy to enhance the security of cloud storage systems by protecting high-risk data. Data risk is gauged through popularity, because popular data deserve high priority when it comes to access frequencies. Our proposed technique speculates data popularity, which is an avenue to prioritize data objects amid time-consuming malware detection procedures. Our technique is conducive to keeping malware at bay when popular data are frequently accessed by clients.
Paraneoplastic Hypoglycemia Leading to Insulin Independence in a Patient With Type 1 Diabetes.

Abstract Objective Non–islet cell tumor hypoglycemia (NICTH) is an uncommon paraneoplastic syndrome associated with mesenchymal neoplasms such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). We report the case of a patient with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and recurrent GIST who not only required discontinuation of insulin therapy but also required continuous parenteral glucose infusions to prevent hypoglycemia. Methods A 59-year-old woman with a 24-year history of T1D and recurrent GIST presented with frequent episodes of symptomatic hypoglycemia despite continuous reductions in her insulin therapy. Laboratory workup revealed undetectable insulin and C-peptide, low insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 1, normal IGF-2, and an elevated IGF-2:IGF-1 ratio. Medical management with prednisone alone and, later, in combination with octreotide did not reduce hypoglycemic episodes. Eventually, during hospitalization for severe hypoglycemia, she was treated and discharged with continuous intravenous dextrose infusion. She ultimately required around-the-clock glucose infusions, which helped her maintain what she believed was an acceptable quality of life during her remaining weeks. Discussion NICTH is characterized by excessive tumor production of IGF-2 or pro-IGF-2, leading to unrestricted glucose uptake in peripheral tissues and hypoglycemia. A diagnosis of NICTH can be made on the basis of low IGF-1 levels in the plasma with normal or elevated IGF-2. Tumor resection is the most definitive treatment for NICTH. Conclusion This patient with T1D presented with resistant hypoglycemia due to recurrence of an enlarging GIST. She required discontinuation of all insulin therapy and continuous dextrose infusions to maintain euglycemia.
Monte Carlo Simulations of Localized Transitions

In this chapter we discuss fixed time interval MC simulations of luminescence signals produced by localized transitions in the TLT and LT models. Examples of R codes are provided for TL, CW-IRSL, and LM-IRSL signals in the excited state tunneling (EST) model, and the MC results are compared with the analytical Kitis–Pagonis equations (KP-CW, KP-TL). The R codes also provide estimates for the stochastic coefficients of variation CV% for a variety of processes. This chapter concludes with a MC simulation for the LT model.
How Effective Is the Use of Analogies in Science Textbooks

Science instructors and textbook authors often use analogies – both oral and textual – to help students learn new concepts. Textual analogies, in particular, are an omnipresent learning resource that students can consult when a teacher is not available to make new information more understandable. Additionally, because textbook authors can devote time and thought to constructing them, textual analogies have the potential of being more complete and explicit than oral analogies. However, research shows that many textual analogies are not explained appropriately or in enough detail to be helpful to students. In this chapter, I review the research literature about the use of analogies in science textbooks, focusing on the potential learning effects of textual analogies and the factors related to effective analogy use. I then summarize the results of several published analyses of analogy use in science textbooks and describe two classroom teaching models that could be used to promote the effective use of analogies in science textbooks.
Quantum tunneling and the activated chemisorption of methane on tungsten: Comment on ‘activated chemisorption of methane and tunneling’ by T.-C. Lo and G. Ehrlich

Abstract Results of recent experimental studies on the dissociative chemisorption of CH 4 and CD 4 on W(211) were previously concluded to be inconsistent with earlier proposed quantum tunneling models. In this Letter we re-analyze the experimental results and show them to be entirely consistent with a tunneling mechanism. We also show that the reported inconsistency arises from the use of an oversimplified model for the tunneling transmission coefficient.
Do States Bargain Over Investor-State Dispute Settlement? Or, Toward Greater Collaboration in the Study of Bilateral Investment Treaties

In this Symposium Essay I argue that social scientists interested in the empirical study of law-related phenomena should take greater advantage of opportunities to collaborate with traditionally trained legal experts. Legal experts can play a critical role in improving the quality of social scientific understandings and operationalizations of law. The legal expert’s role should be considered as substantial and important to the research enterprise, as it entails the verification that the social scientist’s observations of law meaningfully capture the ideas contained in the theoretical concepts of interest. I illustrate my argument by reference to a recent empirical study by two political scientists that examines the extent to which states bargain over investorstate dispute settlement provisions in bilateral investment treaties. * © 2013 JWY. Jason Webb Yackee, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin Law School. I may be contacted at jason.yackee@alumni.duke.edu. I received helpful input from participants in the University of Wisconsin Law School Junior Faculty Seminar; the 2012 London School of Economics Workshop on the Political Economy of Investment Treaties; the 2013 symposium of the Santa Clara Journal of International Law; and the International Law and International Relations Colloquium at Cornell University. Professors Alexandra Huneeus, Howard Erlanger, and Peter Katzenstein provided especially helpful advice. 12 SANTA CLARA JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 277 (2013) 278 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Accidental cardiac puncture during right heart catheterization.

Four instances of accidental puncture of the heart during venous cardiac catheterization are described. Two of these punctures were of right auricular appendages, and two were of thick hypertrophied right ventricles. All instances were in infants less than 4 months old. In two cases death occurred as the direct result of the accident, in one the accident was the precipitating cause, while in the fourth case there was no recognition of the episode and the evidence was discovered accidentally at surgery several weeks later. Some possible causal factors were subjected to experimental study. It is concluded that persistence in catheter manipulation plays a considerable role and must be tempered by judgment of the patient9s needs. Excessive stiffness of the catheter must be avoided in selection and sterilization. The small infant especially presents the risk of catheter puncture because of the short distance between the point of application of force and its point of contact with the heart. The infant also has a very narrow "venous sleeve" through which the catheter is passed, thereby producing more rigidity by extrinsic support. Thus the possibility of cardiac puncture is an important reason for deferring catheterization at least beyond the age of 6 months if possible. If it must be performed early, it should be with concern and preparation for this eventuality. If puncture is recognized, the catheter tip should be left in the pericardial sac until the wound is surgically closed.
Vibration and human performance

VIBRATION RESEARCH IS REVIEWED FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF HOW THIS ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS AFFECTS DIFFERENT TYPES OF HUMAN PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES. THE OSCILLATORY MOTIONS NORMALLY CALLED VIBRATION RANGE FROM 1 - 30 HZ., AND THE MOTION MAY BE EITHER SINUSOIDAL OR RANDOM. IN TERMS OF SUBJECTIVE DISCOMFORT, THE LOWEST TOLERANCE LEVEL FOR VIBRATION OCCURS AT ABOUT 5 HZ., THE FREQUENCY AT WHICH RESONANCE OF LARGE BODY ORGANS IS MOST SEVERE. VISUAL ACUITY IS SEVERELY IMPAIRED BY VIBRATION FREQUENCIES IN THE RANGE OF 10 - 25 HZ. MANUAL TRACKING CAPABILITY IS MOST SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY VIBRATIONS AT 5 HZ. AND BELOW, AS ARE OTHER MOTOR CAPACITIES. TASKS INVOLVING PRIMARILY CENTRAL NEURAL PROCESSES, SUCH AS REACTION TIME, MONITORING, AND PATTERN RECOGNITION, ARE HIGHLY RESISTANT TO THE EFFECTS OF VIBRATION. /AUTHOR/
The Individual Amt: Problems and Potential Solutions

Originally targeted at high-income households, the individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) is now on the verge of switching from a "class" tax to a "mass" tax. Under current law, the AMT will encroach dramatically on the middle-class over the next decade and will become the de facto tax system for upper-income households. These changes occur because of the non-indexation of the AMT for inflation and the tax cuts enacted in 2001. The trends are troubling because the AMT is notoriously complex, its effects on efficiency and equity are questionable, and its underlying purpose is controversial. This paper provides information on the AMT, its economic effects, and options for policy reform, and is intended to help inform the debate and the eventual reforms that will be required in the near future.
Use of HEp-2 cells for improved isolation and passage of Chlamydia pneumoniae.

Chlamydia pneumoniae has proved to be difficult to isolate and propagate in cell culture. We compared the growth of three strains of C. pneumoniae, TW-183 and two clinical isolates from Brooklyn, N.Y., in five cell lines, including HeLa 229, McCoy, HL, HEp-2, and HTED, an immortalized human tracheal cell line. HEp-2 was the most sensitive cell line tested. When 10-fold dilutions of three C. pneumoniae strains at known titers were inoculated into the different cell lines, the mean number of inclusion-forming units per milliliter was 1 to 2 log units higher in the HEp-2 than in the other cell lines. This difference was statistically significant. Omission of pretreatment with DEAE-dextran resulted in larger inclusions than those seen in pretreated cells, with the exception of McCoy and HTED cells. Retrieval of clinical specimens previously cultured on HeLa 229 cells and comparison of mean inclusion counts in fresh clinical specimens simultaneously inoculated on HeLa 229 and HEp-2 cells suggested that culture in HEp-2 cells may require only the initial inoculation and one passage, compared with three to four passages, as required by culture in HeLa 229 cells.
Monotonic Regression: Basic

Monotone regression is a technique for finding the best fitting monotone function in a scatterplot. We discuss Kruskal's up-and-down blocks algorithm. Keywords: monotone regression; optimal scaling; multidimensional scaling
MCM-41 impregnated with active metal sites: Synthesis, characterization, and ammonia adsorption

Abstract Active metal sites incorporated into nanoporous materials have shown potential as novel catalytic adsorbents for the removal of toxic industrial chemicals from air. This work explores the effects of the metal cation, anion, metal oxidation state, pH, solubility, and drying temperature on the ammonia capacity of MCM-41-impregnated samples. The nitrates, chlorides, sulfates, and carbonates of zinc, copper, and iron have been successfully impregnated using a solution method into a mesoporous silica material and characterized via XRD, XPS, adsorption isotherms, and ammonia capacity. The conditioning temperature was found to have a major impact on the ammonia capacity of the impregnated samples. At both 120 °C and 250 °C, the metal type and anion type were determined to be statistically significant predictors of ammonia capacity and the pH and metal oxidation state were not. The solubility of the metal salt in water was also determined to be an ammonia capacity predictor. Overall, ZnCl2 was found to be most effective at enhancing the ammonia capacity; consequently, this metal salt was analyzed in more detail. Impregnation amounts from 20 to 50 wt% ZnCl2 in MCM-41 gave high ammonia capacities. The highest capacity achieved was 8.8 mol ammonia/kg adsorbent, which is more than four times the capacity of the base, unimpregnated MCM-41 material.
Resiliency against victimization: Results from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health

Investigating the causes of why individuals desist from, or are resilient to, delinquency, crime, and other problem behaviors has captured the interests of scholars. Within the context of criminology, much of this research focused on resiliency against offending; that is, understanding how and why some individuals within high-risk environments do not engage in serious criminal offenses. The extant scholarship, however, has not fully explored the effects protective factors might have on fostering resiliency against victimization. Using a sample of respondents drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this study investigated how individual protective factors and the accumulation of protective factors contribute to the explanation of resiliency against victimization. Analysis of the data revealed that commitment to school was the only statistically significant independent predictor of resiliency for at risk-individuals. Additional analyses indicated that a protective factor index measuring the accumulation of protection was significant across multiple measures of resiliency. The policy and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
Langerhans' cell histiocytosis of the thymus associated with multilocular thymic cyst.

Though Langerhans' cells are a normal component of the thymus, the pathologic entity of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) occurs very uncommonly in this organ. The few reports of thymic LCH are nearly all in children or young adults and may or may not be associated with extrathymic clinical disease. Although radiographic descriptions of cyst formation in the thymus in association with LCH have been reported, no examples to our knowledge of thymic LCH have been reported in association with multilocular thymic cyst (MTC). We report a case of thymic LCH in association with an asymptomatic multilocular thymic cyst which was discovered as part of cardiothoracic surgery in a middle-aged man. To our knowledge, this is the first example of MTC occurring in association with thymic LCH. HUM PATHOL 31:1532-1535.
Composition control of InGaAsP in metalorganic chemical vapor deposition using tertiarybutylphosphine and tertiarybutylarsine

Abstract The incorporation of source elements in the low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition of InGaAsP quaternary compounds using tertiarybutylphosphine (TBP) and tertiarybutylarsine (TBA) has been investigated. Measurement of the specific heat of TBP and TBA allows the absolute delivery rates of reactants to be controlled accurately to achieve a wide range of V/III ratios. The analysis of the quaternary composition shows that the incorporation of group III elements is determined solely by their delivery rate, independent of the group V composition. Meanwhile, the group V sublattice composition at typical growth temperatures is determined by a single parameter – the TBP/III ratio. The incorporation efficiency of TBA relative to TBP increases and then saturates as the TBP/III ratio increases. A model is proposed based on the balance between enhancement of the decomposition of TBA in the presence of t-butyl or PHn (n=1 or 2) radicals and its suppression by the presence of group III radicals.
A Novel Approach to Phase Equilibria Predictions Using Ab Initio Methods

Molecular orbital ab initio calculations have been used to compute interaction energies between pairs of molecules in a large molecular cluster. These energies are then used as the interaction energy parameters in the widely used Wilson and UNIQUAC activity coefficient models. Low-pressure vapor−liquid equilibria predictions based on the calculated parameters have been computed for binary systems of water with methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, formic acid, acetic acid, acetone, acetonitrile, acetaldehyde, and m-methylformamide. Excellent predictions are obtained with the UNIQUAC model, whereas poor results are found with the Wilson model. In several cases, our predictions are also superior to those obtained from UNIFAC. In addition, using the same parameters and the UNIQUAC model, high-pressure vapor−liquid equilibria predictions were made using the Peng−Robinson−Stryjek−Vera equation of state and the Wong−Sandler mixing rule for methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, and acetone separately with water. T...
Precursors of the major end products of aerobic metabolism of Brochothrix thermosphacta

To further our understanding of off-odour production by Brochothrix thermosphacta, the nature and origins of its end products have been compared during aerobic growth in complex and in minimal, defined medium. In complex medium glucose is the major precursor of acetoin and acetic acid but alanine may be an additional minor source. Isobutyric, isovaleric (3-methylbutyric) and 2-methylbutyric acids are derived exclusively from valine, leucine and isoleucine, respectively. In minimal defined medium although the same end products are produced they are all derived from glucose.
Teaching computer security

This paper provides advice on how to create a first course on computer and network security. It is based on the author's teaching of such a course in a small college setting. The main emphasis is on a set of lab exercises that provide students with practical experience appropriate to the course.
Decreased intracellular superoxide levels activate Sindbis virus-induced apoptosis.

Infection of many cultured cell types with Sindbis virus (SV), an alphavirus, triggers apoptosis through a commonly utilized caspase activation pathway. However, the upstream signals by which SV activates downstream apoptotic effectors, including caspases, remain unclear. Here we report that in AT-3 prostate carcinoma cells, SV infection decreases superoxide (O⨪2) levels within minutes of infection as monitored by an aconitase activity assay. This SV-induced decrease in O⨪2 levels appears to activate or modulate cell death, as a recombinant SV expressing the O⨪2 scavenging enzyme, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD), potentiates SV-induced apoptosis. A recombinant SV expressing a mutant form of SOD, which has reduced SOD activity, has no effect. The potentiation of SV-induced apoptosis by wild type SOD is because of its ability to scavenge intracellular O⨪2 rather than its ability to promote the generation of hydrogen peroxide. Pyruvate, a peroxide scavenger, does not affect the ability of wild type SOD to potentiate cell death; and increasing the intracellular catalase activity via a recombinant SV vector has no effect on SV-induced apoptosis. Moreover, increasing intracellular O⨪2 by treatment of 3T3 cells with paraquat protects them from SV-induced death. Altogether, our results suggest that SV may activate apoptosis by reducing intracellular superoxide levels and define a novel redox signaling pathway by which viruses can trigger cell death.
Natural decision theory: a general formalism for the analysis of evolved characteristics.

Abstract Classical Decision Theory, a mature and highly developed theory of rational choice, can be applied within evolutionary biology to the question of what traits an organism ought “rationally” to adopt, given that it wants to maximize its fitness. In this way the powerful formalism of decision theory can be brought to bear on the problem of how to predict which characters will be favored by natural selection, or to explain why certain characters have been so favored. Under some circumstances the classical theory of decision can be applied as it stands to an evolutionary problem simply by substituting an appropriate measure of biological fitness for the decision-theoretic concept of “utility”. Under other circumstances, however, it is necessary to extend the classical rules of decision in certain new directions. The result is a family of decision calculi of which the classical is only one. The name “Natural Decision Theory” is proposed for this extended class of biologically relevant decision methods. The decision tree method of diagramming an evolutionary decision situation is illustrated for the classical and three non-classical decision criteria, and is suggested as a potential means of gaining new insights into evolutionary forces.
An Extraordinary Transition in a Minimal Adaptive Network of Introverts and Extroverts

Abstract We study a minimal adaptive network involving two populations, modeling the behavior of extreme introverts (I) and extroverts (E). When chosen to update, an I simply cuts one of its links at random while an E adds a link to any other yet-to-be-connected individual (node). In the steady state, the active links in the system are obviously only the cross-links between the I's and the E's. With no free parameters other than the numbers of each population (NI, NE), this minimal model displays remarkable properties: Through simulations using O(10)-O(1000) nodes, we ﬁnd that the typical number of cross-links (X) ﬂuctuates surprisingly close to the minimum or the maximum allowed values, depending on whether NI > NE or otherwise. At the transition point (i.e., NI = NE), the fraction X/(NINE) wanders across a substantial part of the unit interval, much like a pure random walk conﬁned between two walls. Since this system can be mapped to a NINE Ising model with spin ﬂip dynamics, we note that such ﬂuctuations are far greater than those in the standard Ising model (at either ﬁrst or second order transitions). Thus, we refer to the case here as an “extraordinary transition.” Thanks to the restoration of detailed balance and the existence of a “Hamiltonian,” several qualitative aspects of these remarkable phenomena can be understood analytically
Costs in design of scheduling algorithms: a study on branch-and-bound methodology

This paper relates empirical results on changes in algorithm computational requirements when the algorithm incorporated varying amounts of initialization effort in the form of dominance or other fathoming conditions to increase its speed. The findings are derived from experimentation with three branch-and-bound based, single-processor, scheduling algorithms where initialization effort is progressively increased. Although increase in initialization cost did always reduce number of iterations required, or nodes searched, the net CPU time did not always reduce. In fact, additional computational requirements for preparation of the iterative process, in certain cases, have been more than the realized savings in computational requirements from them. The paper cautions algorithm designers about mixing the two costs. It is recommended that designers have sufficient interaction with the type of scheduling problems to be solved with the algorithm under design before finalizing the mix of these costs.
Islamist Moderation and the Resilience of Gender: Turkey's Persistent Paradox

Abstract As Islamists engage in ideological moderation, they tend to move away from doctrinaire positions on the economy and foreign policy. However, this activity is less apparent with respect to issues regarding women. What explains this variation? Using the Justice and Development Party (JDP) of Turkey as a case study, this essay discusses how and why Islamist groups characteristically resist moderation concerning gender, contending that this resilience stems from three inter‐related factors. First, women have become the symbol of Islamist movements, making gender more resistant to change as opposed to peripheral issues. Second, the JDP seems to have interests in portraying itself as resistant to change since it strategically uses this conservatism to keep in touch with its traditional base. Third, a patriarchal party structure places male values and interests above those of females and reconstructs femininity as pertaining to family by making references to religious texts, custom and tradition. Althou...
The use of visible light spectroscopy to measure tissue oxygenation in free flap reconstruction

The loss of a free flap is a feared complication for both the surgeon and the patient. Early recognition of vascular compromise has been shown to provide the best chance for flap salvage. The ideal monitoring technique for perioperative free flap ischemia would be noninvasive, continuous, and reliable. Visible light spectroscopy (VLS) was evaluated as a new method for predicting ischemia in microvascular cutaneous soft tissue free flaps. In an Institutional Review Board-approved prospective trial, 12 patients were monitored after free flap reconstructions. The tissue hemoglobin oxygen saturation (StO (2)) and total hemoglobin concentration (THB) of 12 flaps were continuously monitored using VLS for 72 hours postoperatively. Out of these 12 flaps 11 were transplanted successfully and 1 flap loss occurred. The StO (2 )was 48.99% and the THB was 46.74% for the 12 flaps. There was no significant difference in these values among the flaps. For the single flap loss, the device accurately reflected the ischemic drop in StO (2) indicating drastic tissue ischemia at 6 hours postoperatively before the disappearance of implantable Doppler signals or clinical signs of flap compromise. VLS, a continuous, noninvasive, and localized method to monitor oxygenation, appeared to predict early ischemic complications after free flap reconstruction.
Regulation of ventricular contraction. Influence of cardiac sympathetic and vagal nerve stimulation on atrial and ventricular dynamics.

At constant heart rates, efferent stimulation of the vagus nerve and of the left stellate ganglion revealed the following: 1. Vagal stimulation exerts a profound depressant effect on the strength of the atrial contraction and can thereby influence ventricular filling and ventricular stroke work; it elevates mean atrial pressure at any given level of ventricular stroke work. This occurs under experimental conditions wherein the vagal stimulation used does not produce an alteration in the performance characteristics of the ventricle. The effects of vagal stimulation are blocked by atropine. 2. Stellate ganglion stimulation or norepinephrine infusion augments the strength of atrial contraction and thus the atrial contribution to ventricular filling. The augmented atrial contraction takes place in a shorter period of time. 3. Stellate ganglion stimulation or norepinephrine infusion increases the external stroke work and power produced by the ventricle from any given mean atrial pressure and from any given end-diastolic pressure or fiber length.4. There is a family of curves representing the relation between end-diastolic fiber length and stroke work, as well as a family of curves representing the relation between mean atrial or end-diastolic pressure and stroke work.5. When taken together with the well-known sympathetic and parasympathetic effects on heart rate, the above data are believed to comprise a reasonably comprehensive description of the means available to the central nervous system for directly inducing acute changes in the activity of the heart.
CLIPS - a powerful development and delivery expert system tool

Abstract Much of the attention in large expert systems has been on LISP based systems. Several problems that are inherent in LISP based systems include: limited availability of LISP machines and LISP languages on conventional computers; low portability; and restricted capability for integration with other languages, particularly data base systems. To facilitate the delivery of expert systems, the Artificial Intelligence Section of the Mission Planning and Analysis Division at NASA/Johnson Space Center has developed an expert system tool called CLIPS which provides high portability and ease of integration with most external computer languages.
DECREASED TRANSENDOTHELIAL CELL MIGRATION IN NEONATES IS ASSOCIATED WITH DELAYED EXPRESSION OF P-SELECTION. ▴ 1754

DECREASED TRANSENDOTHELIAL CELL MIGRATION IN NEONATES IS ASSOCIATED WITH DELAYED EXPRESSION OF P-SELECTION. ▴ 1754
Studies of the effects of 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine on the formation of adenovirus type 2 virions and the synthesis of virus-induced polypeptides

Abstract The antiviral activity of 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine (IdUrd) on human adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) was examined. The loss of infectivity, resulting from the presence of IdUrd in the medium, was greater than either the decrease in the number of viral particles produced or the increase in yield of incomplete particles. A “new” species of viral particle with a lower buoyant density than other known incomplete particles was identified at the higher concentrations of IdUrd tested. In the presence of 10 μg/ml of IdUrd, the specific infectivity of the complete particles was 0.04 per cent that of control. No difference in mobilities or molar ratios of the structural proteins derived from these completed virions was detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The buoyant density of the viral DNA derived from virions grown in the presence of IdUrd was higher in CsCl than that of control viral DNA, although both samples of DNA sedimented at the same rate in neutral and alkaline sucrose density gradients. The loss of infectivity after replication in media supplemented with IdUrd is associated not only with a reduced yield in total particles formed and an enhanced formation of incomplete particles, but also with the production of noninfectious substituted complete virions. The biosynthesis of virus-induced polypeptides in the presence or absence of IdUrd was analyzed. No apparent inhibition of early virus-induced proteins was detected even at very high doses of the analog. On the other hand, the synthesis of late viral proteins was inhibited markedly; the degree of inhibition was related directly to the concentration of IdUrd in the medium. Our studies suggest that IdUrd exerts its antiviral effect after incorporation into viral progeny DNA. The loss in the biological integrity of such substituted DNA molecules is not accompanied by fragmentation. The molecular basis for the inhibitory effect of IdUrd on the replication of Ad2 remains to be elucidated.
AfterMath: The Work of Proof in the Age of Human–Machine Collaboration

ABSTRACTDuring the 1970s and 1980s, a team of Automated Theorem Proving researchers at the Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago developed the Automated Reasoning Assistant, or AURA, to assist human users in the search for mathematical proofs. The resulting hybrid humans+AURA system developed the capacity to make novel contributions to pure mathematics by very untraditional means. This essay traces how these unconventional contributions were made and made possible through negotiations between the humans and the AURA at Argonne and the transformation in mathematical intuition they produced. At play in these negotiations were experimental practices, nonhumans, and nonmathematical modes of knowing. This story invites an earnest engagement between historians of mathematics and scholars in the history of science and science studies interested in experimental practice, material culture, and the roles of nonhumans in knowledge making.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Heparin is one of the most frequently prescribed medications in the United States with more than 1 trillion units being used each year. However, some patients who receive heparin may have development of a rare but severe complication called heparininduced thrombocytopenia, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. This syndrome is a clinical event in which the use of heparin results in thrombocytopenia, venous or arterial thrombosis, and, less commonly, bleeding. The exact mechanism of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is not clearly understood, but an immune-mediated response to heparin resulting in platelet consumption is the most widely accepted theory. The main treatment is discontinuation of heparin therapy; however, alternative treatments are discussed. The critical role nurses play in the early detection and prevention of the complications of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is addressed. Assessment of all patients receiving any form of heparin therapy is emphasized.
IL-4 suppresses very late antigen-4 expression which is required for therapeutic Th1 T-cell trafficking into tumors.

Murine CD4+ T cells cultured under type 1 polarizing conditions selectively express significantly higher levels of the very late antigen (VLA)-4 and VLA-6 integrins when compared with T cells cultured under type 2 or nonpolarizing (type 0) conditions. This difference appears due to the action of int
Transition of acousto-optics into electronic combat (EC) systems

A need for very high probability of detection in modern passive Electronic Combat systems has stimulated development of receivers with ever-wider bandwidths. As receiver bandwidths increase, some portions of the RF spectrum will begin to have a probability of signal overlap approaching unity. Wideband receivers, when operating in these environments with increasing signal densities and new modern modulation techniques, must incorporate computationally intensive algorithms within the receiver architecture to ensure reliable performance. Acousto-optic processing subsystems offer a real- time solution to several of the computationally intensive signal processing functions required in wideband EW systems. The status of the Electronic Warfare Channelize, an acousto-optic subsystems that is being developed by DARPA with the Naval Research Laboratory for the military will be discussed in this paper.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Synthesis of hematite and maghemite nanotubes and study of their applications in neuroscience and drug delivery

This report discusses our work on synthesis of hematite and maghemite nanotubes, analysis of their biocompatibility with pheochromocytoma cells (PC12 cells), and study of their applications in the culture of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and the delivery of ibuprofen sodium salt (ISS) drug model. Two methods, template-assisted thermal decomposition method and hydrothermal method, were used for synthesizing hematite nanotubes, and maghemite nanotubes were obtained from the synthesized hematite nanotubes by thermal treatment. The crystalline, morphology and magnetic properties of the hematite and maghemite nanotubes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. The biocompatibility of the synthesized hematite nanotubes was confirmed by the survival and differentiation of PC12 cells in the presence of the hematite nanotubes coupled to nerve growth factor (NGF). To study the combined effects of the presence of magnetic nanotubes and external magnetic fields on neurite growth, laminin was coupled to hematite and maghemite nanotubes, and DRG neurons were cultured in the presence of the treated nanotubes with the application of external magnetic fields. It was found that neurons can better tolerate external magnetic fields when magnetic nanotubes were present. Close contacts between nanotubes and filopodia that were observed under SEM showed that the nanotubes and the growing neurites interacted readily. The drug loading and release capabilities of hematite nanotubes synthesized by hydrothermal method were tested by using ibuprofen sodium salt (ISS) as a drug model. Our experimental results indicate that hematite and maghemite nanotubes have good biocompatibility with neurons, could be used in regulating neurite growth, and are promising vehicles for drug delivery.
Effect of Design Parameters on the Performance of Thermal Energy Storage Systems

This paper describes simulation-based results of a large-scale investigation of a commercial cooling plant including a thermal energy storage system. A cooling plant with an ice-on-coil system with external melt and a reciprocating compressor operating in a large office building was analyzed under four different control strategies. Optimal control as the strategy that minimizes the total operating cost (demand and energy charges) served as a benchmark to assess the performance of the three conventional controls. However, all control strategies depend on properly selected design parameters. The storage and chiller capacities as the primary design parameters were varied over a wide range and the dependence of the system’s cost saving performance on these parameters was evaluated.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Machiavellianism and spontaneous cheating in competition

Abstract Seventy-two undergraduates were assigned to groups defined by the combinations of the factors opportunity to cheat (yes, no), type of competition (personal, impersonal), and subject Machiavellianism (high, low). As predicted, cheating occurred in the opportunity to cheat, impersonal competition, high Mach group and in the opportunity to cheat, personal competition, low Mach group, extending the results of previous Machiavellianism research from situations in which cheating was explicitly encouraged by another person to a situation in which cheating was undertaken at the subject's own initiative.
Solution properties of some pentafluorides and oxide tetrafluorides in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride

Abstract Solutions of transition metal pentafluorides, MF 5 , M = Nb, Ta, Mo, Re and Os, and oxide tetrafluorides, M OF 4 , M = Mo, W and Re, in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride have been prepared. The conductivity and Raman spectrum of the solutions have been recorded. The conductimetric measurements indicate that all the compounds are relatively weak fluoride ion acceptors; the order of Lewis acid strength is OsF 5 > ReF 5 > TaF 5 > MoF 5 > NbF 5 ⪢ ReOF 4 > WOF 4 > MoOF 4 . None of the solutions contained sufficient amounts of MF 6 − or M OF 5 − ions to detect by Raman spectroscopy. The data obtained in this study are discussed, together with similar existing data on other pentafluoride-hydrogen fluoride solutions.
Power, prosperity and social choice: A review

Mancur Olson's book, The Rise and Decline of Nations [45], used ideas from his earlier Logic of Collective Action [44] to argue that entrenched interest groups in a polity could induce economic sclerosis, or slow growth. These ideas seemed relevant to the perceived relative decline of the U.S. and Britain during the 1970's. Five years later, Paul Kennedy's The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers [27] proposed a more general “declinist” argument, that a great power such as the USA would engage in fiscal irrationality through increasing military expenditure, thus hastening its own decline. Neither of these two declinist arguments seem applicable to the situation of the new millennium. Olson's last book, Power and Prosperity [46], published posthumously in 2000, attempted a more general theoretical analysis of the necessary and sufficient causes of prosperity and growth. For Olson only “securely democratic societies” could be conducive to long-lived individual rights to property and contract, but democracy itself need not be sufficient for the protection of rights. This review attempts to further develop Olson's logic on the connection between prosperity and liberty, by exploring insights derived from William Riker's interpretation of U.S. federalism [51], from the contribution of Douglass North and Barry Weingast [43] to neo-institutional economic theory, and from recent work on war and fiscal responsibility by Ferguson [20, 21] and Stasavage [70, 71].