cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influenza A virus hemagglutinin mutations associated with use of neuraminidase inhibitors correlate with decreased inhibition by anti-influenza antibodies.

Vaccination and the use of neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) are currently the front lines of defense against seasonal influenza. The activity of influenza vaccines and antivirals drugs such as the NAIs can be affected by mutations in the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) protein. Numerous HA substitutions have been identified in nonclinical NAI resistance-selection experiments as well as in clinical specimens from NAI treatment or surveillance studies. These mutations are listed in the prescribing information (package inserts) for FDA-approved NAIs, including oseltamivir, zanamivir, and peramivir. NAI treatment-emergent H1 HA mutations were mapped onto the H1N1 HA1 trimeric crystal structure and most of them localized to the HA antigenic sites predicted to be important for anti-influenza immunity. Recombinant A/California/04/09 (H1N1)-like viruses carrying HA V152I, G155E, S162 N, S183P, and D222G mutations were generated. We then evaluated the impact of these mutations on the immune reactivity and replication potential of the recombinant viruses in a human respiratory epithelial cell line, Calu− 3. We found that the G155E and D222G mutations significantly increased viral titers ~ 13-fold compared to the wild-type virus. The hemagglutination and microneutralization activity of goat and ferret antisera, monoclonal antibodies, and human serum samples raised against pandemic A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses was ~ 100-fold lower against mutants carrying G155E or D222G compared to the wild-type virus. Although the mechanism by which HA mutations emerge during NAI treatment is uncertain, some NAI treatment-emergent HA mutations correlate with decreased immunity to influenza virus.
A Pilot Quality Improvement Project to Reduce Preoperative Fasting Duration in Pediatric Inpatients.

Despite guidelines allowing clear liquids up to 2 hours before anesthesia, preoperative fasting for pediatric inpatients is often unnecessarily prolonged. This delay can lead to prolonged recovery time and increased postoperative pain. Efforts to reduce fasting duration in pediatric surgical patients is an evolving standard in pediatric anesthesiology. The primary aim of this quality improvement project was to reduce the average inpatient fasting duration undergoing anesthesia by 25% within a year of our pilot intervention. Secondary aims included measuring the adoption rate of the intervention and comparing aspiration rates as a balancing measure. Methods At an academic pediatric hospital, we created the preanesthesia diet order, a standardized, clear liquid diet for eligible inpatients undergoing anesthesia to decrease preoperative fasting duration. After implementation in January 2018, a statistical process control chart was used to measure the fasting duration of all eligible inpatients by month, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test assessed differences. A Poisson test was used to determine differences in aspiration rates. Results Over the first year of our pilot intervention, 127 inpatients received the preanesthesia diet. The average fasting duration before its implementation was 12.5 and 5.7 hours postimplementation. The average adoption rate for eligible inpatients was 17.6%, and there was no difference in aspiration rates. Conclusion This quality improvement project demonstrated that a standardized, clear liquid diet on the morning of surgery could reduce preoperative fasting times among pediatric inpatients. The adoption of this pilot intervention was limited, highlighting the challenges of implementing a practice change.
High intratumoral CD8+ T-cell infiltration is associated with improved survival in prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Background A high density of CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is associated with improved survival in multiple cancers, but its prognostic role in prostate cancer remains controversial. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of CD8+ TILs in prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). We hypothesized that elevated density of CD8+ TILs in the RP specimen would correlate with improved clinical outcomes. This information may be helpful for future immunotherapy clinical trial design and treatment selection. Methods Tumor microarrays constructed from 230 patients with localized prostate cancers who underwent RP from 2006 to 2012 at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center were analyzed retrospectively using immunohistochemistry. CD8+ cell density was evaluated using a computerized scoring system. The cohorts were separated by CD8+ TIL density at the 25th percentile (i.e., low Results One hundred and forty-nine (65%) patients had high risk diseases (Gleason >7 or pT3/4). The median follow-up time was 8.4 years. High CD8+ TIL density was associated with improved 5-year overall survival (98% vs. 91%, p = .01) and prostate cancer-specific survival (99% vs. 95%, p = .04) compared with patients with low CD8+ TIL density. There was a trend toward higher 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival and metastasis-free survival in the cohort of patients with high CD8+ TIL density (52% vs. 38% and 86% vs. 73%, respectively), although the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = .18 and p = .05, respectively). In a multivariate analysis high CD8+ TIL density was an independent favorable prognostic factor for overall survival (hazards ratio = 0.38; 95% confidence interval: 0.17-0.87; p = .02). In contrast to the prognostic value of CD8+ TIL density, the CD8+ cell density in the matched normal prostate tissue was not associated with any clinical outcomes. Conclusion Intratumoral CD8+ T-cell infiltration in the RP specimen is independently associated with improved survival after RP in this high-risk prostate cancer cohort. Pre-RP immunomodulation that promotes intratumoral CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell infiltration may be beneficial for this population.
Development of Fully Redispersible Dried Nanocrystals by Using Sucrose Laurate as Stabilizer for Increasing Surface Area and Dissolution Rate of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs.

Abstract There is much interest in converting poorly water-soluble drugs into nanocrystals as they provide extremely high surface area that increases dissolution rate and oral bioavailability. However, nanocrystals are prepared as aqueous suspensions, and once the suspensions are dried for development of solid dosage forms, the nanocrystals agglomerate as large particles to reduce the excess surface energy. For successful development of drug products, it is essential that any agglomeration is reversible, and the dried nanocrystals regain original particle sizes after redispersion in aqueous media. We have established that sucrose laurate serves as a superb stabilizer to ensure complete redispersion of dried nanocrystals in aqueous media with mild agitation. Nanocrystals (150-300 nm) of three neutral drugs (fenofibrate, danazol and probucol) were produced with sucrose laurate by media milling, and suspensions were dried by tray drying under vacuum, spray drying, and lyophilization. Dried solids and their tablets redispersed into original particle sizes spontaneously. Preliminary studies showed that sucrose laurate can also redisperse acidic and basic drugs, indicating its versatile application. Fatty acid ester of another disaccharide, lactose laurate, also performed like sucrose laurate. Thus, we have developed a method of retaining high dissolution rate and, by implication, high bioavailability of nanocrystals from solid formulations.
Short Observation Period and Aggressive Discharge of Patients With Head Injury and Serial CT Scans

Background: Many patients undergo two head computed tomography (CT) scans after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Radiographic progression without clinical deterioration does not usually alter management. Evidence-based guidelines offer potential for limited repeat imaging and safe discharge. This study characterizes patients who had two head CTs in the Emergency Department (ED), determines the change between initial and repeat CTs, and describes timing of repeat scans.Methods: This retrospective series includes all patients with head CTs during the same ED visit at an urban trauma center between May 1st, 2016 and April 30th, 2018. Radiographic interpretation was coded as positive, negative, or equivocal.Results: Of 241 subjects, the number of positive, negative, and equivocal initial CT results were 154, 50, and 37, respectively. On repeat CT, 190 (78.8%) interpretations were congruent with the original scan. Out of the 21.2% of repeat scans that diverged from the original read, 14 (5.8%) showed positive to negative conversion, 1 (.4%) showed positive to equivocal conversion, 2 (.88%) showed negative to positive conversion, 20 (8.3%) showed equivocal to negative conversion, and 14 (5.8%) showed equivocal to positive conversion. Average time between scans was 4.4 hours, and median length of stay was 10.2 hours.Conclusions: In this retrospective review, most repeat CT scans had no new findings. A small percentage converted to positive, rarely altering clinical management. This study demonstrates the need for continued prospective research to update clinical guidelines that could reduce admission and serial CT scanning for mild TBI.
Jesus among the Jews : Representation and Thought

Introduction Neta Stahl 1. A Jewish Reader of Jesus: Mark, the Evangelist Daniel Boyarin 2. The Magical Jesus in Ancient Jewish Literature Michael Swartz 3. Where is Jonah from? Avigdor Shinan 4. Celsus' Jew and the Theological Threat from Christianity Adam Gregerman 5. Abraham Abulafia: A Kabbalist "Son of God" on Jesus and Christianity Moshe Idel 6. From Joshua through Jesus to Simeon bar Yohai: Towards a Typology of Galilean Heroes Elchanan Reiner 7. The Salvation of Jesus and Jewish Messiahs Matt Goldish 8. Jacob Frank and Jesus Christ Pawel Maciejko 9. "Christus secundum spiritum": Spinoza, Jesus and the Infinite Intellect Yitzhak Melamed 10. Harry Austryn Wolfson on the Jews' Reclamation of Jesus Warren Zev Harvey 11. Jesus in Modern Jewish Thought Leora Batnitzky 12. The Crucified Brother: Uri Zvi Greenberg and Jesus Glenda Abramson 13. 'We left Yeshu': On Three Twentieth Century Hebrew Poets' Longing for Jesus" Neta Stahl 14. Jesus of the Sabra Thorns - The figure of Jesus in Israeli Art Amitai Mendelsohn
Ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate as an inexpensive, mild catalyst for the etherification of propargylic alcohols

Abstract Commercial ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate ([FeCp 2 ]PF 6 ) was found to be an efficient catalyst for the etherification of terminal, tertiary propargylic alcohols with primary and secondary alcohols (5 h to 3 days reaction time at 40 °C in CH 2 Cl 2 , 3 mol% catalyst loading). The propargylic ether products were isolated in 90–20% yields. The alcohols and propargylic alcohols were employed in an equimolar amount and no further additives were required. For a purely aromatic propargylic alcohol, the isolated yields were lower than those for a mixed aromatic-aliphatic propargylic alcohol. Through monitoring reactant consumption and product formation over time, we found that the aromatic propargylic alcohol undergoes yield-diminishing Meyer–Schuster rearrangements to the aldehyde more easily than the mixed aromatic-aliphatic propargylic alcohol. The employment of [Fe(Cp) 2 ]PF 6 as a single electron oxidant has the potential to add a new direction in the development of catalysts for the title reaction based on single electron transfer processes.
Experience the ways in which ProofBuilder helps students construct proofs: tutorial presentation

This is a hands-on tutorial giving attendees experience using the program ProofBuilder, which helps students construct proofs. ProofBuilder covers basic Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science: propositional and predicate logic, different proof techniques, number theory (e.g. mod), functions including log2(), sets, summations, time complexity (O(), Θ(), etc.), and counting (combinatorics). This software was written in Java, so it runs on common platforms. A Website provides documentation for ProofBuilder, including sample proofs of material from commonly used textbooks on Discrete Mathematics by Epp, Gersting, and Rosen; the URL is as follows: http://www.cis.gvsu.edu/~mcguire/ProofBuilder/
An evaluation of an algorithm for inductive learning of Bayesian belief networks using simulated data sets

Bayesian learning of belief networks (BLN) is a method for automatically constructing belief networks (BNs) from data using search and Bayesian scoring techniques. K2 is a particular iustantiation of the method that implements a greedy search strategy. To evaluate the accuracy of K2, we randomly generated a number of BNs and for each of those we simulated data sets. K2 was then used to induce the generating BNs from the simulated data. We examine the performance of the program, and the factors that influence it. We also present a simple BN model, developed from our results, which predicts the accuracy of K2, when given various characteristics of the data set.
Lead: Organometallic Chemistry

An update on the organometallic chemistry of lead since 1995 is presented. In particular the exciting chemistry associated with the synthesis, structure and reactivity plumbylenes, diplumbynes and related species are presented. In addition an extensive section on organolead transition metal complexes of is presented, an area not previously covered. Keywords: plumbylenes; diplumbenes; diplumbyne; plumbocene; transition metal lead complexes
Is Serum Total Protein a Useful Predictor of Clinical Johne’s Disease in Dairy Cows that are ELISA-Positive for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis?

ELISA tests are often used to identify cows subclinically infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP). However, they lack diagnostic sensitivity and specificity and are not necessarily useful to predict if or when a subclinically infected cow might develop clinical signs of Johne's disease (CSJD). If producers could predict this, they might cull a cow sooner to avoid economic losses associated with CSJD. A study of one infected herd reported that cows with low serum total protein levels (STP<6. 7 g/dl) in the pre-calving period were at increased risk of culling due to CSJD in the subsequent lactation (Raizman et al, Prev Vet Med 80: 166, 2007). The objective of this study was to describe, for ELISA-positive cows, whether STP, serum albumin (SALB), ELISA SP ratio (ESPR), or level offecal shedding (FS) on ELISA test day are associated with subsequent risk for developing CSJD.
Effects of projectile orientation and surface impact site on the efficiency of projectile excitation in surface-induced dissociation: Protonated diglycine collisions with diamond {1 1 1}

Abstract Classical trajectory simulations are performed for collisions between protonated diglycine (gly 2 -H + ) and a diamond {1 1 1} surface at incident angles θ i of 0° and 45°, with respect to the surface normal, and initial translational energies E i of 35 and 70 eV. The trajectories are analyzed to determine how the orientation angle of the peptide ion and the surface impact site affect the collisional energy transfer. There are two distinct impact points on the surface on which the peptide ion can collide, hydrogen and carbon atoms, denoted as H- and C-sites. While the impact point plays little to no role in determining energy transfer, for θ i = 0° the orientation angle of the peptide has a significant effect on energy transfer. When the peptide ion collides with its backbone vertical to the surface plane and, thus, with a C- or N-terminus approach, the internal energy change is a maximum and the final translational energy and surface internal energy change are at a minimum. When the peptide ion collides horizontally, the opposite occurs. In addition, for vertical collisions more energy is transferred to the peptide ion if the C-terminus first strikes the surface instead of the N-terminus. For non-perpendicular collisions, with θ i = 45°, the energy transfer efficiency is less sensitive to the peptide orientation. Peptide orientation becomes more important as E i is increased.
The multiplicity of weights in nonprimitive pairs of weights

For each type of classical Lie algebra, we list the dominant highest weightsfor which (�;µi) is not a primitive pair and the weight space Vµi has dimension one where µi are the highest long and short roots in each case. These dimension one weight spaces lead to examples of nilmanifolds for which we cannot prove or disprove the density of closed geodesics.
Motif analysis of amphioxus, lamprey and invertebrate estrogen receptors and amphioxus and human estrogen-related receptors: Towards a better understanding of estrogen receptor evolution

Background. The origins of steroid-dependent regulation of the vertebrate estrogen receptor (ER) are poorly understood. Genes with statistically significant sequence similarity to vertebrate ERs have been found in lamprey, a basal vertebrate, and amphioxus, a basal chordate. Motif analysis of these sequences provides an opportunity to investigate early events in the evolution of the ER. Results. We used artificial intelligence-based software to construct twelve motifs specific to the estrogen-binding domain of ERα and ERβ in land vertebrates and teleosts. We mapped these ER-specific motifs onto the sequences of lamprey, amphioxus, invertebrate and selected vertebrate ERs and amphioxus and human estrogen-related receptor (ERR). We find that lamprey ER contains eleven motifs common to ERs in the training set. In contrast, amphioxus ER contains only six motifs. Various invertebrate ERs contain either seven or eight motifs. Unexpectedly, human and amphioxus ERRs contain nine of the twelve motifs, despite extensive sequence divergence during the descent of chordate ERs and ERRs from a common ancestor. We mapped the twelve motifs onto a multiple alignment of human, lamprey and amphioxus ERs, which depicted residues in human ERα that are known to bind estradiol. There is excellent
What Are Hemorrhoids? Anatomy, Classification, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

Because of the natural aversion to the anus, patients and physicians often ascribe virtually any anorectal symptom to "hemorrhoids" without an adequate investigation of other potential causes. This practice may delay appropriate care for other benign anorectal diseases, or worse, delay treatment of a missed malignancy. However, many patients truly suffer from symptomatic hemorrhoids. Although hemorrhoids are normal anatomic structures, they may enlarge, prolapse, bleed, or thrombose. The diagnosis can be made by history, physical examination, anoscopy and/or proctoscopy. Internal hemorrhoids are classified by their degree of prolapse.
Multiloop amplitudes for the bosonic Polyakov string

Abstract We provide a simple formula for multiloop amplitudes of the bosonic, closed oriented Polyakov string (in d = 26) as integrals over moduli space with respect to the Weil-Petersson measure. The integrand consists of Green functions and the determinants of laplacians acting on functions and vectors. We compute these determinants in terms of the lengths of the closed geodesics on the surface. They are finite and different from zero. The one on functions equals the derivative at 1 of the Selberg zeta function. A discussion of lengths of closed geodesics and coordinates for Teichmueller space is given.
Cyclin Y Is a Novel Conserved Cyclin Essential for Development in Drosophila

The Drosophila gene CG14939 encodes a member of a highly conserved family of cyclins, the Y-type cyclins, which have not been functionally characterized in any organism. Here we report the generation and phenotypic characterization of a null mutant of CG14939, which we rename Cyclin Y (CycY). We show that the null mutant, CycY(E8), is homozygous lethal with most mutant animals arresting during pupal development. The mutant exhibits delayed larval growth and major developmental defects during metamorphosis, including impaired gas bubble translocation, head eversion, leg elongation, and adult tissue growth. Heat-shock-induced expression of CycY at different times during development resulted in variable levels of rescue, the timing of which suggests a key function for zygotic CycY during the transition from third instar larvae to prepupae. CycY also plays an essential role during embryogenesis since zygotic null embryos from null mothers fail to hatch into first instar larvae. We provide evidence that the CycY protein (CycY) interacts with Eip63E, a cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) for which no cyclin partner had previously been identified. Like CycY, the Eip63E gene has essential functions during embryogenesis, larval development, and metamorphosis. Our data suggest that CycY/Eip63E form a cyclin/Cdk complex that is essential for several developmental processes.
The impact of a group psychoeducational appointment on women with sexual dysfunction.

Objective There is little evidence to support many treatment modalities for women with sexual dysfunction. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and bibliotherapy are associated with improved sexual outcomes. We evaluated the impact of a group psychoeducational intervention on sexual function outcome measures in women with sexual concerns. Study Design Women with concerns of sexual function were referred to a group sexuality appointment. Before the visit, the women completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Class participants completed the FSFI at 1-, 3-, and 6-months after the intervention to evaluate changes in sexual function. Results Thirty-three women attended the group appointment between January and December 2006. Twenty-five women with an age range from 28-70 years completed a demographic and baseline FSFI questionnaire. All participants showed a baseline FSFI score indicating sexual dysfunction. At least 1 postclass FSFI was completed by 64% of participants. Significant improvement in most FSFI domain scores and the full scale score ( P = .0073) was seen in these women. Conclusion Participating in a group sexuality appointment improved quantitative outcome measures in women with sexual dysfunction. This intervention may provide an effective means for women's health care clinicians with limited time and expertise about sexual function to meet the needs of their patients with sexual concerns.
Surface Charge Density Determination of Single Conical Nanopores based on Normalized Ion Current Rectification

Current rectification is well known in ion transport through nanoscale pores and channel devices. The measured current is affected by both the geometry and fixed interfacial charges of the nanodevices. In this article, an interesting trend is observed in steady-state current–potential measurements using single conical nanopores. A threshold low-conductivity state is observed upon the dilution of electrolyte concentration. Correspondingly, the normalized current at positive bias potentials drastically increases and contributes to different degrees of rectification. This novel trend at opposite bias polarities is employed to differentiate the ion flux affected by the fixed charges at the substrate–solution interface (surface effect), with respect to the constant asymmetric geometry (volume effect). The surface charge density (SCD) of individual nanopores, an important physical parameter that is challenging to measure experimentally and is known to vary from one nanopore to another, is directly quantified by...
Treatment of Paraneoplastic Visual Loss With Intravenous Immunoglobulin: Report of 3 Cases

Background Paraneoplastic visual loss is an autoimmune disorder believed to be caused by the remote effects of cancer on the retina (cancer-associated retinopathy [CAR]) or optic nerve. Both disorders may result in rapid and complete blindness. Spontaneous recovery of vision has not been reported. The serum of patients with CAR contains autoantibodies against recoverin, enolase, or unidentified retinal proteins. Autopsy examination results of eyes of blind patients with CAR show complete absence of the retinal neurons involved in phototransduction. Corticosteroids and plasmapheresis are the only treatment options previously described. Objective To treat paraneoplastic visual loss. Design and Methods Three patients with metastatic cancer developed rapidly progressive loss of vision. The first patient had visual acuity of hand movements in each eye before intravenous immunoglobulin treatment. The second patient had visual acuity of light perception in both eyes. The third patient's visual acuity was 20/400 OD and 20/20 OS. Diagnostic tests included magnetic resonance imaging of the head and cytologic examination of the cerebrospinal fluid to exclude metastasis as the cause of visual loss and then an electroretinogram and serum tests for autoantibodies against retinal antigens to confirm the clinical diagnosis of CAR. Patients 1 and 2 were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (400 mg/kg per day) for 5 days; however, patient 3 received only a single dose due to adverse effects consisting of shortness of breath and itching. Results Within 24 hours of taking the first dose of intravenous immunoglobulin, the visual acuity of patient 1 improved from hand movements only in both eyes to 20/50 OD and 20/200 OS. After the third day of treatment, visual acuity in the left eye further improved to 20/40. Even with the improved acuity, Goldmann visual field perimetry results showed poor responses in both eyes. However, 2 weeks later there was marked visual field improvement, and visual acuity was maintained at 20/50 OD and 20/40 OS. Patient 2 had no improvements and continued to have light perception in both eyes. Patient 3 had improvements in visual field defects but remained 20/400 OD and 20/20 OS. Conclusion Intravenous immunoglobulin may be another treatment option offered to patients with paraneoplastic visual loss in addition to corticosteroids or plasmapheresis because a review of the medical literature has shown no spontaneous improvements of visual function without treatment.
Sponsored ad-based similarity: an approach to mining collective advertiser intelligence

We present a method for mining the intelligence of advertisers to detect product similarities and generate accurate recommendations. In contrast to conventional recommendation algorithms, our approach is completely automated and relies solely on publicly available data, namely, the linking of advertisements with Web content. We present a general framework for leveraging linked advertisements to detect object similarity, and provide experimental evidence that the approach yields useful product recommendations.
Determinants of Human Plasma Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx-3) Expression

Plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx-3) is a selenocysteine-containing protein with antioxidant properties. GPx-3 deficiency has been associated with cardiovascular disease and stroke. The regulation of GPx-3 expression remains largely uncharacterized, however, and we studied its transcriptional and translational determinants in a cultured cell system. In transient transfections of a renal cell line (Caki-2), the published sequence cloned upstream of a luciferase reporter gene produced minimal activity (relative luminescence (RL) = 0.6 +/- 0.4). Rapid amplification of cDNA ends was used to identify a novel transcription start site that is located 233 bp downstream (3') of the published site and that produced a >25-fold increase in transcriptional activity (RL = 16.8 +/- 1.9; p < 0.0001). Analysis of the novel GPx-3 promoter identified Sp-1- and hypoxia-inducible factor-1-binding sites, as well as the redox-sensitive metal response element and antioxidant response element. Hypoxia was identified as a strong transcriptional regulator of GPx-3 expression, in part through the presence of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1-binding site, leading to an almost 3-fold increase in expression levels after 24 h compared with normoxic conditions (normalized RL = 3.5 +/- 0.3 versus 1.2 +/- 0.1; p < 0.001). We also investigated the role of the translational cofactors tRNA(Sec), SECIS-binding protein-2, and SelD (selenophosphate synthetase D) in GPx-3 protein expression. tRNA(Sec) and SelD significantly enhanced GPx-3 expression, whereas SECIS-binding protein-2 showed a trend toward increased expression. These results demonstrate the presence of a novel functional transcription start site for the human GPx-3 gene with a promoter regulated by hypoxia, and identify unique translational determinants of GPx-3 expression.
Association of central obesity with early Carotid intima-media thickening is independent of that from other risk factors

We investigated whether anthropometric measurements or metabolic risk factors correlated more with vascular changes associated with obesity. One hundred never smoking subjects (71 women, 29 men) without vascular events, with blood pressure (BP) <140/90 mm Hg, LDL cholesterol <4 mmol/l, glucose <6.2 mmol/l participated. Anthropometric measurements (body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference (WC) and Waist/height ratio WHTR) and metabolic risk factors (glucose, insulin, lipid and uric acid levels plus BP) were assessed. Subjects underwent vascular measurements (Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) using duplex ultrasonography, vascular stiffness assessment (Augmentation Index) by applanation tonometry and brachial artery reactivity tests). Risk factors were in the ‘normal distribution’. BMI, WHR, WC, WHTR correlated significantly with triglyceride, HDL, LDL, insulin, glucose, uric acid and systolic BP levels (P<0.001). IMT correlated with WHTR, BMI, WC, Glucose (P<0.001), Homoeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) and cholesterol levels (P<0.05). Only Age, WHTR or BMI were significant correlates of IMT in a multivariate analysis (P<0.01) including WHTR or BMI, with age, sex, systolic BP, HDLc and HOMA. Augmentation Index correlated with age (P<0.0001), WHTR and WC (P<0.0005) but with age only in a multivariate analysis. Brachial reactivity did not correlate with any anthropometric or metabolic parameters. Anthropometric cutoff points, (BMI ⩾25, WC ⩾102 cm men, ⩾88 cm women, WHR ⩾0.9 men, ⩾0.8 women and WHTR ⩾0.5 men and women) significantly differentiated normal from abnormal metabolic and vascular measurements. The WHTR ratio ⩾0.5 was as reliable as the BMI cutoff ⩾25 in determining metabolic and vascular abnormalities. BMI and WHTR were strongly associated with 89% agreement (P<0.0001). These results demonstrated that in ‘healthy individuals’, anthropometric parameters and metabolic risk factors correlated with each other, but anthropometric parameters were the only significant correlates of carotid IMT. A waist/height ratio ⩾0.5 predicts both early vascular and metabolic changes. These data support a risk factor independent vasculotrophic effect of obesity.
Local path dependence of U.S. socioeconomic exposure to climate extremes and the vulnerability commitment

Despite improvements in disaster risk management in the United States, a trend toward increasing economic losses from extreme weather events has been observed. This trend has been attributed to growth in socioeconomic exposure to extremes, a process characterized by strong path dependence. To understand the influence of path dependence on past and future losses, an index of potential socioeconomic exposure was developed at the U.S. county level based upon population size and inflation-adjusted wealth proxies. Since 1960, exposure has increased preferentially in the U.S. Southeast (particularly coastal and urban counties) and Southwest relative to the Great Plains and Northeast. Projected changes in exposure from 2009 to 2054 based upon scenarios of future demographic and economic change suggest a long-term commitment to increasing, but spatially heterogeneous, exposure to extremes, independent of climate change. The implications of this path dependence are examined in the context of several natural hazards. Using methods previously reported in the literature, annualized county-level losses from 1960 to 2008 for five climate-related natural hazards were normalized to 2009 values and then scaled based upon projected changes in exposure and two different estimates of the exposure elasticity of losses. Results indicate that losses from extreme events will grow by a factor of 1.3–1.7 and 1.8–3.9 by 2025 and 2050, respectively, with the exposure elasticity representing a major source of uncertainty. The implications of increasing physical vulnerability to extreme weather events for investments in disaster risk management are ultimately contingent upon the normative values of societal actors.
On Mitral Valve Dynamics and its Connection to Early Diastolic Flow

In the field of cardiology, the current ability to accurately detect diastolic dysfunction is unsatisfactory due to the lack of an effective diagnostic index. Isolated indexes obtained from echocardiography are all restricted to a certain aspect of ventricular diastolic function only, and individually cannot be regarded as a global representative for the left heart diastolic function. Due to complexity of cardiac motion, a reliable measure for diastolic performance should be a parameter that independently correlates with several aspects of cardiac function. The presence of trans-mitral vortex ring and its influence on dynamics of the mitral valve is a topic that has been recently received more attention in cardiovascular research. One obvious reason for this attention is to find better solutions to overcome our inability in interpretation of Doppler mitral inflow patterns for distinguishing a normal trans-mitral flow from a pseudonormal pattern. In the present study, we investigated the relationship among the ventricular early pressure drop, trans-mitral thrust as a force generated during diastolic filling and mitral annulus recoil through the index of vortex formation time. As a result, we found that vortex formation time is independently correlated to trans-mitral thrust, minimal ventricular pressure and pressure drop time-constant of isovolumic relaxation phase. Results also showed that trans-mitral thrust is maximized when the non-dimensional vortex formation time is in the range of 4 and 5.5 regardless of the shape of the waveform or the value of the pressure drop time-constant. In conclusion, this study confirms that vortex formation time, a non-dimensional measure for duration of E-wave, can be used as an index to assess diastolic ventricular function.
Evaluation of classical differential cross sections — simplifying methods

Abstract The general evaluation of the classical differential cross section I (≡,φ) requires the determination of the 2 × 2 jacobian∂(θ,φ)/∂( b ,φ), where θ are the final polar and azimuthal scattering angles, b is the impact parameter, and φ is the initial azimuthal angle. It is demostrated here that the cross section can be evaluated from the 1 × 1 jacobian ∂θ/∂ whenever I (θ,φ) is independent of φ, even if θ and φ depend on φ. In addition, a method is suggested for avoiding problems associated with “rainbow” singularities where ∂θ/∂ b = 0.
Bounds for solutions of multipoint boundary value problems

Solutions of an nth order differential inequality with n boundary conditions are compared to solutions of an nth order disconjugate differential equation. It is shown the ratios of certain of these solutions are monotone.
Aspartimide formation in base-driven 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl chemistry

Abstract Aspartimide and its piperidine adduct formed between -Asp-Asn- has been found during an Fmoc-based synthesis of an EGF-like domain in a blood coagulation factor. Model studies with seven susceptible -Asp-X- pentapeptides show that -Asp(Ot-Bu)-Asn(Trt)- and -Asp(Ot-Bu)-Gly- are the most problematic sequences.
Mössbauer studies of Fe(100)/Ag(100) multilayers grown on NaCl(100) by molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract Fe(100)/Ag(100) heterostructures, with varying Fe bilayer thicknesses equal to 3, 6 and 9 monolayers (ML) and a constant Ag bilayer thickness equal to 40 ML, were grown on suitably prepared monocrystalline NaCl(100) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. The multilayer moncrystallinity was verified with in situ reflection high energy electron diffraction. Transmission Mossbauer measurements revealed a perpendicular surface anisotropy for the Fe(100) bilayers at 4.2 K. This behavior is unlike that of Fe(100)/Ag(111) ultrathin films of about the same thickness.
Preoperative chemoradiation for rectal cancer: results of multimodality management and analysis of prognostic factors.

Abstract Background Our goals were to examine the impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiation for rectal cancer on surgical outcomes and to determine prognostic factors predicting improved survival. Methods Retrospective cohort of 56 male and 44 female patients. Results After preoperative chemoradiation, 73% of patients had sphincter-preserving surgery. The 5-year disease-free (DFS) and overall survival rates were 77% and 81%, respectively. Twenty-five percent of patients showed a complete pathologic response. T-level downstaging and pathologic T stage did not correlate with recurrence or survival rates. Pathologic nodal stage was associated with a significant difference in recurrence rates (N 0 19%, N 1 20%, and N 2 75%, P = .038) and DFS (N 0 /N 1 vs. N 2 , 79% vs. 25%, P = .002). Conclusion Neoadjuvant chemoradiation resulted in a high rate of sphincter preservation. Complete pathologic responses after surgery were frequent and although pathologic T stage after surgery did not affect recurrence rates, pathologic nodal response was associated with improved recurrence and survival rates.
Koszul duality in algebraic topology

The most prevalent examples of Koszul duality of operads are the self-duality of the associative operad and the duality between the Lie and commutative operads. At the level of algebras and coalgebras, the former duality was first noticed as such by Moore, as announced in his ICM talk at Nice (Moore in Actes du Congres International des Mathematiciens, Tome 1. Gauthier-Villars, Paris, pp. 335–339, 1971). This particular duality has typically been called Moore duality, and some prefer to call the general phenomenon Koszul–Moore duality. The second duality at the level of algebras was realized in the seminal work of Quillen on rational homotopy theory (Quillen in Ann Math 90(2):205–295, 1969). Our aim in these notes based on our talk at the Luminy workshop on Operads in 2009 is to try to provide some historical, topological context for these two classical algebraic dualities. We first review the original cobar and bar constructions used to study loop spaces and classifying spaces, emphasizing the less-familiar geometry of the cobar construction. Then, after some elementary topology, we state duality between bar and cobar complexes in that setting. Before explaining Quillen’s work, we also share some other ideas—calculations of Cartan–Serre and Milnor–Moore and philosophy of Eckmann–Hilton—which may have influenced him. After stating Quillen’s duality, we share some recent work which relates these constructions to geometry through Hopf invariants and in particular linking phenomena.
Ergogenic aids: An update on ephedra

Ephedra has been used medicinally for thousands of years dating back to ancient Chinese medicine. Since its introduction to Western medicine in the 20th century, ephedra has been used for various ailments. The amphetamine-like activity of ephedra made it a popular supplement for promotion of weight loss and enhancement of athletic performance, despite limited supporting data. With the implementation of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulation of ephedra-containing supplements diminished. As these products became increasingly available, adverse effects associated with their use also increased. These adverse effects are mainly a result of ephedra’s sympathomimetic activity and have been manifested by premature cardiovascular and central nervous system disease. With mounting evidence concerning the unsafe nature of these products, the FDA was able to ban the sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements in April of 2004.
Beyond the Patch: Disturbance Affects Species Abundances in the surrounding Community.

The role of disturbance in community ecology has been studied extensively and is thought to free resources and reset successional sequences at the local scale and create heterogeneity at the regional scale. Most studies have investigated effects on either the disturbed patch or on the entire community, but have generally ignored any effect of or on the community surrounding disturbed patches. We used marine fouling communities to examine the effect of a surrounding community on species abundance within a disturbed patch and the effect of a disturbance on species abundance in the surrounding community. We varied both the magnitude and pattern of disturbance on experimental settlement plates. Settlement plates were dominated by a non-native bryozoan, which may have established because of the large amount of initial space available on plates. Percent covers of species within the patch were affected by the surrounding community, confirming previous studies' predictions about edge effects from the surrounding community on dynamics within a patch. Disturbance resulted in lower percent cover in the surrounding community, but there were no differences between magnitudes or spatial patterns of disturbance. Disturbance lowered population growth rates in the surrounding community, possibly by altering the abiotic environment or species interactions. Following disturbance, the recovery of species within a patch may be affected by species in the surrounding community, but the effects of a disturbance can extend beyond the patch and alter abundances in the surrounding community. The dependence of patch dynamics on the surrounding community and the extended effects of disturbance on the surrounding community, suggest an important feedback of disturbance on patch dynamics indirectly via the surrounding community.
Betraying a certain corruption of mind: how (and how not) to define ‘terrorism’

A common assumption underwriting much counterterrorism activity is that terrorism, by definition, is necessarily morally wrong. One aim of this paper is to challenge this assumption by defending a novel definition of ‘terrorism’ that makes the morality of terrorism a question to be answered by the application of moral theories to specific terrorist acts, rather than by definitional fiat. After surveying definitions of ‘terrorism’ current in the literature and identifying criteria for a more adequate definition, the paper explicates and defends a novel definition of ‘terrorism’ that can ground serious inquiry into the moral status of specific acts of terrorism.
Bridging the semantic gap using Ranking SVM for image retrieval

One of the main challenges for Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) is to achieve meaningful mappings between the high-level semantic concepts and the low-level visual features in images. This paper presents an approach for bridging this semantic gap to improve retrieval quality using the Ranking Support Vector Machine (Ranking SVM) algorithm. Ranking SVM is a supervised learning algorithm which models the relationship between semantic concepts and image features, and performs retrieval at the semantic level. We apply it to the problem of vertebra shape retrieval on a digitized spine x-ray image collection from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II). The experimental results show that the retrieval precision is improved 2.45 – 15.16% using the proposed approach.
Abrasive wear of titanium nitride coatings

Abstract Titanium nitride thin films, deposited by plasma vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD), are commonly used on metal cutting tools. The TiN coating increases cutting tool-life and extends the tool operating range. This paper examines the behavior of PVD TiN on high-speed steel (HSS) substrates under low stress abrasion. High-speed steel bars were coated with TiN by a cathodic arc process and by a magnetron sputtering process. The samples were then tested using the ASTM G65 dry-sand-rubber-wheel abrasive test. The test procedure was modified to make runs of short duration to enable periodic weight loss measurements and examination of the wear scar in a scanning electron microscope. As the coating was harder than the silica abrasive, conventional abrasive behavior did not occur. The silica did not abrade the TiN and did not penetrate the coating through deformation of the substrate and collapse of the coating. Adhesive failure of the coating was not observed. The phenomenon observed, in the scanning electron microscope, was micro-fissuring of the surface, where micro-fissuring is defined as multiple cracks, which are long, narrow and parallel to each other. Macro-particles in the deposited coating, common with cathodic are source PVD processes, acted as initiation sites for micro-fissuring. A mechanism based on the tangential forces imparted to the coating surfaces by the moving silica was formulated through an analysis of the forces on individual silica particles, based on Avery's analysis of the dry-sand-rubber-wheel abrasive wear process. The results indicate that as long as coating integrity is maintained under the flow of abrasive material, the wear rate of the TiN is small.
Perturbation of Burkholder's martingale transform and Monge-Ampère equation

Abstract Given a sequence of martingale differences, Burkholder found the sharp constant for the L p -norm of the corresponding martingale transform. We are able to determine the sharp L p -norm of a small “quadratic perturbation” of the martingale transform in L p . By “quadratic perturbation” of the martingale transform, we mean the L p norm of the square root of the squares of the martingale transform and the original martingale (with a small constant). The problem of perturbation of martingale transform appears naturally if one wants to estimate the linear combination of Riesz transforms (as, for example, in the case of Ahlfors–Beurling operator). Let { d k } k ≥ 0 be a complex martingale difference in L p [ 0 , 1 ] , where 1 p ∞ , and { e k } k ≥ 0 a sequence in { ± 1 } . We obtain the following generalization of Burkholder’s famous result. If τ ∈ [ − 1 2 , 1 2 ] and n ∈ Z + , then ‖ ∑ k = 0 n ( e k τ ) d k ‖ L p ( [ 0 , 1 ] , C 2 ) ≤ ( ( p ∗ − 1 ) 2 + τ 2 ) 1 2 ‖ ∑ k = 0 n d k ‖ L p ( [ 0 , 1 ] , C ) , where ( ( p ∗ − 1 ) 2 + τ 2 ) 1 2 is sharp and p ∗ − 1 = max { p − 1 , 1 p − 1 } . For 2 ≤ p ∞ , the result is also true with the sharp constant for τ ∈ R .
Bifunctional transfer-messenger RNA

Transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA) is a bifunctional RNA that has properties of a tRNA and an mRNA. tmRNA uses these two functions to release ribosomes stalled during translation and target the nascent polypeptides for degradation. This concerted reaction, known as trans-translation, contributes to translational quality control and regulation of gene expression in bacteria. tmRNA is conserved throughout bacteria, and is one of the most abundant RNAs in the cell, suggesting that trans-translation is of fundamental importance for bacterial fitness. Mutants lacking tmRNA activity typically have severe phenotypes, including defects in viability, virulence, and responses to environmental stresses.