cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Death of the Elector Max Joseph and Austrian Occupation of Bavaria

On the eighth of December 1777, the Elector Max Joseph was on his way to church in his capital city of Munich. As his carriage passed the clock-tower in the Kaufingerstrasse, the bell-mechanism of the clock suddenly began to run wild. Before it had run out, seventy-seven strokes had been counted. The elector remarked to those with him in the carriage that this was to be taken as a sign that his own life had run down.1 Indeed, just a few days thereafter he was set upon by his last illness. To be sure, at first it was not regarded as grave, although his fifteen doctors could not agree upon a diagnosis. Some thought it was a catarrh; others attributed his symptoms to his imagination. 2 On the sixteenth the Imperial agent, Buttner, could write Prince Kaunitz that the Elector was not doing at all badly, that performances had not been cancelled in Munich, and that it was expected that he would be fully recovered within a week. 3 It was ordered that two golden medals be struck to commemorate Max Joseph’s recovery, but again there was an ill omen: one of them broke in the casting. 4 Within a day or two of this misfortune the Elector had suffered a relapse and now it was clear to even the most obtuse of his many physicians what the true nature of his illness was. The Elector was suffering from small-pox, and even, it seemed, from one of the most virulent strains of that awful disease.
Bounds on complex polarizabilities and a new perspective on scattering by a lossy inclusion

Here, we obtain explicit formulas for bounds on the complex electrical polarizability at a given frequency of an inclusion with known volume that follow directly from the quasistatic bounds of Bergman and Milton on the effective complex dielectric constant of a two-phase medium. We also describe how analogous bounds on the orientationally averaged bulk and shear polarizabilities at a given frequency can be obtained from bounds on the effective complex bulk and shear moduli of a two-phase medium obtained by Milton, Gibiansky, and Berryman, using the quasistatic variational principles of Cherkaev and Gibiansky. We also show how the polarizability problem and the acoustic scattering problem can both be reformulated in an abstract setting as ``$Y$ problems.'' In the acoustic scattering context, to avoid explicit introduction of the Sommerfeld radiation condition, we introduce auxiliary fields at infinity and an appropriate ``constitutive law'' there, which forces the Sommerfeld radiation condition to hold. As a consequence, we obtain minimization variational principles for acoustic scattering that can be used to obtain bounds on the complex backwards scattering amplitude. Some explicit elementary bounds are given.
User Errors in the Use of the Structured Query Language (SQL)

SQL (Structured Query Language) is the industry standard for querying databases. Unfortunately, users commit many errors when using SQL. To understand the causes of user errors, the author analyzed the task of query writing while considering the characteristics of human cognition. This analysis revealed multiple cognitive causes of a frequent and troublesome error, join clause omission. This error not only wastes users' time for error correction, but it also returns answers from the database that may be undetectably wrong.The cognitive causes of this onerous error were tested experimentally, and that experiment revealed that the four possible causes of join clause omission all contributed to the error. Specifically, the frequency of this error increased because 1)some people never learned the procedure, 2)an explicit clue to write the “join clause” was absent from the problem statement, 3)the load on working memory caused by writing intervening clauses made the users forget to include the “join clause,” a...
Artificial neural network modelling of ATTR amyloidosis: is now the time?

Over the past 10 years, ATTR amyloidosis has been the target of six placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials for novel drug development. In addition to establishing the beneficial effects of t...
Leveraging LSTM for rapid intensifications prediction of tropical cyclones

Abstract. Tropical cyclones (TCs) usually cause severe damages and destructions. TC intensity forecasting helps people prepare for the extreme weather and could save lives and properties. Rapid Intensifications (RI) of TCs are the major error sources of TC intensity forecasting. A large number of factors, such as sea surface temperature and wind shear, affect the RI processes of TCs. Quite a lot of work have been done to identify the combination of conditions most favorable to RI. In this study, deep learning method is utilized to combine conditions for RI prediction of TCs. Experiments show that the long short-term memory (LSTM) network provides the ability to leverage past conditions to predict TC rapid intensifications.
For Pragmatic Romanticism in Law and Dispute Resolution: Reflections on Galanter's Remarkably Realistic Analysis of Why the Have-Nots Come Out Behind

The 1960s was a time of great hope for Americans seeking to redress historic injustices and make a better world. This was the context in which Marc Galanter wrote his classic article, Why the Haves Come Out Ahead. Based on a remarkably realistic analysis of the mechanisms advantaging the “haves” in society, he provided a cautionary analysis of potential strategies that are more and less likely to help “have-nots.” Inspirational images of advocates like Ralph Nader created unrealistic expectations of the potential for more law, courts, and lawyers to promote social progress. Galanter argued that while these factors could be useful in such efforts, organizing “one-shotters” (the “have-nots”) into repeat-players (the “haves”) was key. Without this transformation of the parties, repeat-players generally would be able to thwart one-shotters’ legal strategies. Based on this analysis, he suggested plausible strategies for helping have-nots. He essentially cautioned against what Carrie Menkel-Meadow later called “litigation romanticism.” She favors romanticism about some things, including the legal system, and argued that “to love an idea or institution realistically we need to see the object of our love as it really is.” This chapter applies this same perspective to ADR romantics, calling on us to see our beloved ADR as it really is. It argues that we should not abandon our idealistic hopes but rather we should be very pragmatic about understanding the real world and potential strategies to make it better.
A wrapped multi-label classifier for the automatic diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Background AD is the most frequent neurodegenerative disease, severely impacting our society. Early diagnosis and prognosis are challenging tasks in the management of AD patients. New method We implemented a machine-learning classifier for the automatic early diagnosis and prognosis of AD by means of features extracted, selected and optimized from structural MRI brain images. The classifier was designed to perform multi-label automatic classification into the following four classes: HC, ncMCI, cMCI, and AD. Results From our analyses, it emerged that MMSE and hippocampus-related measures must be included as primary measures in automatic-classification systems for both the early diagnosis and the prognosis of AD. The voting scheme mainly based on the binary-classification performances on the different four groups is the best choice to model the multi-label decision function for AD, when compared with a simple majority-vote scheme or with a scheme aimed at discriminating patients with high vs low risk of conversion to AD and therapy addressing. Comparison with existing method(s) The accuracies of our binary classifications were higher than or comparable to previously published methods. An improvement is needed on the approach we used to combine binary-classification outputs to obtain the final multi-label classification. Conclusions The performance of multi-label automatic-classification systems strongly depends on the choice of the voting scheme used for combining binary-classification labels.
A Tale of Three Cities: Urban Space in the Crack Novels (1995–1997)

In 1994, Mexico entered the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the result was the establishment of neoliberal policies that altered in a significant way the social, political and economic environment. These changes were widely reflected in a new urban landscape. The Crack was the prominent group in Mexican narrative during the nineties, and its novels portrayed these urban changes in an apocalyptic tone. Regalado-Lopez evaluates the apocalyptic representation of the city in three novels, La paz de los sepulcros by Jorge Volpi (1995), Memoria de los dias by Pedro Angel Palou (1995) and El dia del huron by Ricardo Chavez Castaneda (1997). The points of departure are bibliographic sources on the concepts of the Latin American city, urban transformation and studies on contemporary Mexican literature.
Effects of Ventricular Assist Device Therapies on Renal Function

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have become an established treatment option for advanced heart failure (HF) refractory to conventional medical therapy. LVAD implantation restores cardiac output, improving hemodynamics and reversing neurohormonal dysregulation. The effect of LVAD support on renal pathophysiology is complex and not well understood. Renal dysfunction (RD) occurs commonly in HF patients. Many develop cardiorenal syndrome (CRS), which is often alleviated following LVAD implantation, while others suffer postimplantation acute kidney injury (AKI). Kidney function following LVAD implantation is an important determinant of clinical outcome, and the presence of RD in LVAD recipients is associated with higher mortality, decreased chances of cardiac transplantation, and risk of requiring long-term dialysis. As the number of LVAD recipients grow and live longer with destination therapy, it is critical to understand the cumulative impact of long-term LVAD support on kidney function. This chapter discusses the effects of LVAD on renal pathophysiology and describes the various renal outcomes of patients following LVAD implantation. Clinical recommendations are made in respect of LVAD candidates who have RD.
Laboratory and Field Investigation of Biological Control for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae))

Conservation biological control manipulates habitat characteristics to enhance natural enemy populations and ultimately reduce pest density. These practices can be most effective early in the growing season when pest populations are low. Early season predator impacts on these pests can include both direct consumption of herbivores and non-consumptive effects such as superfluous killing, both of which provide pest suppression. We combined laboratory feeding trials, and a field cage experiment with molecular gut-content analysis to explore the effects of striped lynx spiders (Oxyopes salticus Hentz) on brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys (Stal)). The laboratory feeding trials revealed that lynx spiders did attack stink bugs but that stink bug DNA had a short DNA detectability half-life within lynx spider guts. To simulate field conditions where these two species could interact in both early and late season, we manipulated the density and relative abundance of stink bug nymphs and adults in the presence and absence of lynx spiders. There was no effect of treatment on recovery of either adult stink bugs or nymphs. Although dead stink bugs were recovered, we found no evidence of consumption through molecular gut-content analysis. Contrary to expectations that generalist predators would have the greatest impact on pests early in the growing season, our results suggest that lynx spiders are unlikely to exert substantial early season control. Biological control might be most effective when utilizing multiple predator species as part of a complex of natural enemies, so spiders acting in concert with other generalist predators could be capable of suppressing pest populations.
The Undiscovered Country: An Analysis of the Nature of the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:35–58:

In 1 Corinthians 15:35–58, Paul combats disagreement in the Corinthian church over the nature of the resurrection. Paul’s argument for the physicality of the resurrection, and his location of the i...
Sampling Devices for Indoor Allergen Exposure: Pros and Cons

To review current indoor allergen sampling devices, including devices to measure allergen in reservoir and airborne dust, and personal sampling devices, with attention to sampling rationale and major indoor allergen size and characteristics. While reservoir dust vacuuming samples and airborne dust volumetric air sampling remain popular techniques, recent literature describes sampling using furnace filters and ion-charging devices, both which help to eliminate the need for trained staff; however, variable correlation with reservoir dust and volumetric air sampling has been described. Personal sampling devices include intra-nasal samples and personal volumetric air samples. While these devices may offer better estimates of breathable allergens, they are worn for short periods of time and can be cumbersome. Reservoir dust sampling is inexpensive and is possible for families to perform. Airborne dust sampling can be more expensive and may better quantify cat, dog, and mouse allergen exposure. Personal sampling devices may offer a better representation of breathable air.
The Scene of Foreplay: Theater, Labor and Leisure in 1960s New York

Giulia Palladini’s excellent book begins with a series of verbal snapshots. Holding open the door to a dressing room, a fun house, a loft past midnight, she shows us a figure disrobing, or caught m...
Autofluorescence imaging of parathyroid glands: An assessment of potential indications.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to determine both the accuracy of near infrared fluorescence imaging to detect parathyroid glands and the potential indications of near infrared fluorescence imaging in thyroid and parathyroid surgery by correlating the autofluorescence signature with the pathologic specimen. Methods This was an institutional review board-approved, prospective study of patients undergoing thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy with near infrared fluorescence imaging. Each specimen sent to pathology was inspected with near infrared fluorescence imaging and predicted to be either parathyroid or non-parathyroid tissue by its autofluorescence signature and then correlated with the pathologic findings. Results Autofluorescence was demonstrated to be present in 98% of the parathyroid glands, with 23% identified correctly with infrared based on the autofluorescence signature before visual identification by the surgeon. There were 550 specimens that were imaged with autofluorescence and then sent to pathology. For these samples, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values to predict parathyroid tissue were 98.5%, 97.2%, 95.1%, and 99.1%. In 5% of the total thyroidectomy specimens, incidentally resected parathyroid glands were identified with autofluorescence, leading to their subsequent reimplantation. In patients with parathyroid disease and negative preoperative localization, 21% of abnormal glands were recognized with autofluorescence before visual identification by the surgeon. Conclusion Although the ability of infrared autofluorescence to confirm the presence of parathyroid tissue within surgical specimens was high, its power to find parathyroid glands in situ before visual recognition by surgeons was low. These advantages and limitations should be kept in mind when incorporating this technology into an endocrine surgical practice. Once a parathyroid seems to have been identified by the surgeon or tissue that looks like a parathyroid gland is identified, the autofluorescence signature is a very accurate assurance of parathyroid tissue.
A Game Based Intervention to Promote HPV Vaccination among Adolescents

This paper presents the development process and preliminary result of testing a game-based intervention aimed at promoting human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination among adolescents aged 11–14. Guided by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) which explains the mechanism of desired behavioral outcomes through theoretical mediators (knowledge, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, facilitators & barriers), our transdisciplinary team use an iterative process to develop a game in partnership with Family Advisory Board (FAB) consisting of 4 parent-boy pairs, and 4 parent-girl pairs. We test the prototype of the game with half of the FAB to examine gender, developmental and cultural appropriateness of the game content, readability, physical characteristics of the avatars, and reward mechanisms in the game. The design of the game addresses several constraints commonly faced by interventions implemented in clinical settings. It describes the strategies that can be used to overcome these constraints and provides guidance for future development and proliferation of such interventions for other vaccines.
Symptom Sequelae Following Violence Against Youth With Disabilities

The objective of this study was to examine the physical and mental health impact of violence against youth with and without disabilities. We analyzed data from the National Crime Victimization Surv...
CHAPTER 27 – TUBULIN IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

In the mammalian brain, tubulin is the major protein and microtubules are major organelles. Neurite outgrowth, axoplasmic transport and synaptic function are thought to be dependent upon microtubule integrity. Studies of microtubule structure and function relationship, and the control mechanism of tubulin expression shed light on more complicated neuronal functions, as described in the following review.
High-Frequency Jet Ventilation in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Failure.

Background High-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) is primarily used in premature neonates; however, its use in pediatric patients with acute respiratory failure has been reported. The objective of this study is to evaluate HFJV use in the pediatric critical care setting. We hypothesized that HFJV would be associated with improvements in oxygenation and ventilation. Methods: Medical records of all subjects who received HFJV in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a quaternary care center between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Premature infants who not been discharged home were excluded as were those in whom HFJV was started while on ECMO. Data on demographics, pulmonary mechanics, gas exchange, and outcomes were extracted and analyzed using chi-squared testing for categorical variables, non-parametric testing for continuous variables, and a linear effects model to evaluate gas exchange over time. Results: 35 subjects (median 2.9 months, 5.2 kg) were included. Prior to HFJV initiation, median oxygenation index (OI) was 11.3 (7.2-16.9), and P/F 133 (91.3-190.0), pH 7.18 (IQR: 7.11-7.27), PaCO2 64 (52-87) mmHg, PaO2 74 (64-125) mmHg, For subjects still on HFJV (n=25)4-6 hours after initiation, there was no significant change in OI, P/F or PaO2 whereas pH increased (p=0.001) and PaCO2 decreased (p=0.001). For those remaining on HFJV for over 72 hours (n=12), the linear effects model revealed no differences over 72 hours for OI, P/F, PaCO2, or mPaw but there was a decrease in FiO2, whereas pH and PaO2 increased. There were no. Nine (26%) did not survive and non-survivors had higher PIM2 scores (p=0.01), were more likely to be immunocompromised (p=0.01), were less likely to have a documented infection (p=0.02), and had lower airway resistance (p=0.024). Conclusions: HFJV was associated with improved ventilation among subjects able to remain on HFJV but had no significant effect on oxygenation.
Predicting mesoscale spectral thermal conductivity using advanced deterministic phonon transport techniques

Abstract We present a review, demonstration, and simulation of phonon transport for the purposes of predicting materials performance at the mesoscale. We focus primarily on the development and implementation of a unified methodology to enable predictive heat transport. We report on the current state of the art as it pertains to deterministic phonon transport methodologies, discussing various topics concerning phonons. In application, we focus on the self-adjoint angular flux (SAAF) formulation of the Boltzmann transport equation for phonons, and develop the spatial, angular, and material property discretization required to accurately simulate the predictive physics of heat transport in dielectrics. We discuss thermal interfacial resistance and present our formulation of the diffuse mismatch model for simulating phonon interactions at internal boundaries. We recently developed a deterministic, spectral phonon transport method for predicting effective thermal conductivity (κeff), using Bose–Einstein source terms coupled through an average material temperature. This method provides a way of obtaining temperature using the linearized Boltzmann transport equation, without the necessary nonlinear outer iteration on temperature used in many approaches. Our thermal conductivity and heat flux results are consistent with existing research. We introduce a closure term to the phonon transport system which acts as a redistribution function for the total energy of the system and serves as an indicator of the amount of nonequilibrium behavior occurring in the system. We predict thermal conductivity and equilibrium temperature distributions in homogeneous and heterogeneous materials using data generated by ab initio density functional theory methods. We employ polarization, density of states and full dispersion spectra to resolve thermal conductivity with numerous angular and spatial discretizations. The equations associated with this method are solved via a modification of traditional source iteration. We compare the performance of source iteration applied to an existing uncoupled, traditional SAAF method to our new method and comment on the iterative performance of each. We observe ballistic and diffusive phonon scattering as acoustic thickness of the domain changes, and are able to make comparisons between the accuracy and efficiency of both methods.
[Re]claiming “Inclusive Education” toward Cohesion in Educational Reform: Disability Studies Unravels the Myth of the Normal Child:

Background/ContextThis article calls attention to the restrictive notions of inclusive education promulgated within the discourse of special education in the United States and asserts the value of ...
The Impact of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy on End-Stage Liver Disease Among Individuals with Chronic Hepatitis C and Substance Use Disorders.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Our aim was to evaluate the impact of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on decompensated cirrhosis (DCC) and HCC in patients with chronic HCV and substance use disorder (SUD) compared with those without an SUD. APPROACH AND RESULTS This retrospective cohort study used the MarketScan database (2013-2018) to identify 29,228 patients with chronic HCV, where 22% (n = 6,385) had ≥1 SUD diagnosis. The inverse probability of treatment weighted multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare the risk of developing DCC and HCC. Among the those who were noncirrhotic, treatment reduced the DCC risk among SUD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.13; 95% CI, 0.06-0.30) and non-SUD (aHR 0.11; 95% CI, 0.07-0.18), whereas the risk for HCC was not reduced for the SUD group (aHR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.33-2.48). For those with cirrhosis, compared with patients who were untreated, treatment reduced the HCC risk among SUD (aHR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.13-0.88) and non-SUD (aHR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.25-0.65), whereas the risk for DCC was not reduced for the SUD group (aHR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.37-1.13). Among patients with cirrhosis who were untreated, the SUD group had a higher risk of DCC (aHR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.03-2.24) and HCC (aHR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.05-2.72) compared with non-SUD group. CONCLUSIONS Among the HCV SUD group, DAA treatment reduced the risk of DCC but not HCC for those who were noncirrhotic, whereas DAA treatment reduced the risk of HCC but not DCC for those with cirrhosis. Among the nontreated, patients with an SUD had a significantly higher risk of DCC and HCC compared with those without an SUD. Thus, DAA treatment should be considered for all patients with HCV and an SUD while also addressing the SUD.
A transmissive concentrator photovoltaic module with cells directly cooled by silicone oil for solar cogeneration systems

Abstract Hybrid concentrator photovoltaic-thermal systems can cogenerate electricity and heat by beam-splitting incoming concentrated light onto photovoltaic cells and a thermal receiver to increase total conversion efficiency and potentially reduce system cost. To demonstrate this, we have designed and prototyped a transmissive spectrum-splitting concentrator photovoltaic module that maximizes solar energy conversion by utilizing the entire solar spectrum. Visible light is collected using infrared-transmissive triple-junction photovoltaic cells to achieve an in-band module efficiency of 43.3% for light of wavelength λ 873 nm is transmitted through for collection by a thermal receiver. During testing on a dual-axis tracked parabolic concentrator dish at up to 166 suns, cell temperatures were maintained at 119 °C or below via a novel active cooling method. This cooling system strictly flows silicone oil directly across both sides of the cells, without inhibiting optical transmission, as verified through experimentation and simulation. The module was validated outdoors for 572 sun·hrs, and achieved a maximum thermal receiver temperature of 180 °C. 86.1% of incident solar power is collected at 166 suns average concentration collectively among the electrical, cooling, and thermal receiver subsystems. The remaining 13.9% is lost to mirror reflectivity, dish shadowing, receiver reflection, and thermal losses. The ability to directly cool the cells with an inert silicone oil offers the potential for reduced system cost relative to previous transmissive hybrid concentrator photovoltaic-thermal systems, including microfluidic-cooled designs. This solar cogeneration capability is valuable in a wide range of commercial and industrial applications.
Longitudinal characterization of mastitis causing pathogens previously identified as "other Streptococcal species", including Lactococcus

The objective of this study was to compare bacteriological cure, risk of recurrent mastitis, and longevity within the herd among different GPCN organisms on 5 farms in northern New York.
A transpedicular approach to complex ventrally situated thoracic intradural extramedullary tumors: technique, indications, and multiinstitutional case series.

Objective Ventrally situated thoracic intradural extramedullary tumors are surgically challenging and difficult to access, and they may be complicated by extensive adhesions and calcifications. Selecting an approach for adequate ventral access is key to complete resection and optimization of outcomes. The authors present a case series of patients who underwent resection of ventral thoracic intradural extramedullary tumors and discuss indications and considerations for this technique. Additionally, they describe the use of a posterolateral transpedicular approach for resection of ventral thoracic intradural extramedullary tumors compared with other techniques, and they summarize the literature supporting its application. Methods From May 2017 to August 2020, 5 patients with ventral thoracic intradural extramedullary tumors underwent resection at one of the two academic institutions. Results Patient ages ranged from 47 to 75 (mean 63.4) years. All tumors were diagnosed as meningiomas or schwannomas by histological examination. Three of the 5 patients had evidence of partial or extensive tumor calcification. Four of the 5 patients underwent an initial posterolateral transpedicular approach for resection, with positive radiographic and clinical outcomes from surgery. One patient initially underwent an unsuccessful traditional direct posterior approach and required additional resection 2 years later after interval disease progression. There were no postoperative wound infections, CSF leaks, or other complications related to the transpedicular approach. Conclusions Posterolateral transpedicular tumor resection is a safe technique for the treatment of complex ventrally situated thoracic intradural extramedullary tumors compared with the direct posterior approach. Anecdotally, this approach appears to be particularly beneficial in patients with calcified tumors.
Guide Catheter Selection in Patients with Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

There is a high prevalence of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). With indications expanding toward treating younger patients with lower-risk profiles, more and more patients post TAVR will inevitably require coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention. This chapter provides a practical guide on accessing coronary arteries in patients with TAVR valves.
CBX8 interacts with chromatin PTEN and is involved in regulating mitotic progression.

OBJECTIVES Besides its role in regulating phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) signalling in the cytosol, PTEN also has a nuclear function. In this study, we attempted to understand the mechanism of chromatin PTEN in suppressing chromosomal instability during cell division. MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunocoprecipitation, ectopic expression, and deletional analyses were used to identify the physical interaction between Chromobox Homolog protein 8 (CBX8) and PTEN, as well as the functional domain(s) of PTEN mediating the interaction. Cell synchronization followed by immunoblotting was employed to study cell cycle regulation of CBX8 and the functional interaction between chromatin PTEN and CBX8. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were used to study the role of PTEN and CBX8 in modulating histone epigenetic markers during the cell cycle. RESULTS Polycomb group (PcG) proteins including CBXs function to repress gene expression in a wide range of organisms including mammals. We recently showed that PTEN interacted with CBX8, a component of Polycomb Repressing Complex 1 (PRC1), and that CBX8 co-localized with PTEN in the nucleus. CBX8 levels were high, coinciding with its phosphorylation in mitosis. Phosphorylation of CBX8 was associated with monoubiquitinated PTEN and phosphorylated-BubR1 on chromatin. Moreover, CBX8 played an important role in cell proliferation and mitotic progression. Significantly, downregulation of either PTEN or CBX8 induced H3K27Me3 epigenetic marker in mitotic cells. CONCLUSION CBX8 is a new component that physically interacts with chromatin PTEN, playing an important role in regulating mitotic progression.
Amyloid imaging: from benchtop to bedside.

Tremendous efforts have been made in the search for a cure or effective treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) to develop therapies aimed at halting or reversing amyloid plaque deposition in the brain. This necessitates in vivo detection and quantification of amyloid plaques in the brain for efficacy evaluation of anti‐amyloid therapies. For this purpose, a wide array of amyloid‐imaging probes has been developed, mainly for in vivo studies based on positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography. This review provides a full account of the development of amyloid‐imaging agents. The in vitro binding properties and in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles of all amyloid‐imaging agents so far reported are comprehensively and uniquely surveyed. Emphasis is placed on the development of small‐molecule probes based on amyloid dyes, such as Congo red and thioflavin T. Compared to large biomolecules, these small‐molecule probes have been systematically investigated through extensive structure activity relationship studies. Many of the probes show favorable properties for in vivo studies. As a result, three lead compounds, termed PIB (Pittsburgh‐Compound B, [11C]6‐OH‐BTA‐1), FDDNP (2‐(1‐[6‐[(2‐[18F]fluoroethyl)(methyl)amino]‐2‐naphthyl]ethylidene)malononitrile), and SB‐13 (4‐N‐methylamino‐4′‐hydroxystilbene), have been identified and evaluated in human subjects. Preliminary studies have indicated that these lead compounds exhibit a characteristic retention in AD subjects that is consistent with the AD pathology, thus proving the concept that amyloid deposits in the brain can be readily detected and quantified in vivo. The progress to date paves the way for further investigation in various aspects of AD research. Once developed, these amyloid‐imaging agents could be used as biomarkers to aid in early and definitive diagnosis of AD, facilitate drug discovery and development, and allow pathophysiological studies of the disease mechanism. Furthermore, the success in the development of amyloid‐imaging agents helps with the development of imaging agents for in vivo studies of other AD pathologies in particular and of neurodegenerative disorders in general.
Solid Metal Induced Embrittlement of Metals.

ABSTRACT Many ductile metals in intimate contact with thin coatings of low melting solid metal which exhibit liquid metal embrittlement, also manifest severe embrittlement when tested at temperatures below the melting point of the coating. A significant decrease in stress, strain, and reduction-in-area occurs at fracture. Fracture propagates fast, but at a rate which is one or two orders of magnitude slower than that in liquid metal environments. Fracture occurs by brittle intergranular or transcrystalline mode with multiple cracks and branching. This new phenomena is known as solid metal induced embrittlement of metals (SMIE). SMIE also occurs when the embrittling metal is present as an internal environment in the base metal such as inclusions. This paper describes the occurrence of SMIE in metals and alloys used in industry and presents results of recent investigations. It describes the effects of time, temperature, and stress on SMIE. It discusses the occurrence, the mechanisms of SMIE, and its similarity to LME. This new phenomena must be considered while investigating environmentally induced failure or failure analysis of metals and alloys.
Enthalpic Contribution to Protein Stability: Insights from Atom-Based Calculations and Statistical Mechanics

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses published analyses of protein stability based on model compound data and outlines the assumptions that have been made. The enthalpy of protein folding is considered and a thermodynamic cycle is used to relate the measurements to quantities that can be calculated. The focus is on the enthalpy of denaturation because it is most directly accessible to calculations. The experiments and analysis of Privalov and co-workers, particularly which of Makhatadze and Privalov are considered in detail because these measurements provide the most complete results on the thermodynamics of proteins. The estimates of internal van der Waals and hydrogen bonding contributions to the enthalpy difference between the native and denatured states of the protein are compared with the calculations of the van der Waals and electrostatic terms (the latter includes hydrogen bonding) from an atom-based model. Statistical mechanical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations are used to estimate the difference in solvation enthalpy, as well as the free energy, of the native and unfolded states.
Vitamin A and Protein Synthesis by Rat Intestinal Mucosa

Abstract Vitamin A deficiency caused a marked decrease in the number of goblet cells in the small intestine of the rat but no other morphological changes were revealed by electron microscopy. RNA and protein concentrations remained unaffected. Large polyribosomes could be isolated from the mucosa after the common bile duct was ligated. No differences were found in polyribosome stability or the protein-synthesizing activity of free polyribosomes from mucosa of vitamin A-deficient or pair fed normal rats. Rough endoplasmic reticulum, on the other hand, showed a decrease in uptake of a labeled amino acid into protein (to less than one-half of the normal level) under conditions of vitamin A deficiency. The lesion was located in the pH 5 fraction by "crossing-over" experiments, that is, by incubating normal rough endoplasmic reticulum with deficient pH 5 fraction and deficient rough endoplasmic reticulum with normal pH 5 fraction. The mucosal lesion occurs at a very early stage of the deficiency, before the weight plateau stage; however, it was not observable in liver. It is concluded that protein synthesis by membrane-bound but not by free polyribosomes of intestinal mucosa is depressed under conditions of vitamin A deficiency and that the vitamin is therefore involved, directly or indirectly, in protein synthesis at the translational level.
A Structured Sensitivity Analysis for a Markov Model of Accounts Receivable

We develop algebraic methods for a general sensitivity analysis of the classic Cyert-Davidson-Thompson model of a system of accounts receivable, and use the resulting analytical relationships to investigate the stability of estimates for the losses from doubtful accounts (bad debts) and the present value of interest income generated by charges to the accounts. The limits of applicability of our results are examined by means of a comprehensive numerical analysis of the realizable values of the coefficients in the derived relationships from a four-state model. It was found that neither bad debt losses nor interest income are overly sensitive, in general, to changes in the probabilities of transition between the account age categories, but that some of these probabilities are more critical than others. It was also found that a given percentage increase in the new charge growth rate usually produces approximately the same percentage decrease in the bad debt loss rate.
Distributed program checking: a paradigm for building self-stabilizing distributed protocols

The notion of distributed program checking as a means of making a distributed algorithm self-stabilizing is explored. A compiler that converts a deterministic synchronous protocol pi for static networks into a self-stabilizing version of pi for dynamic networks is described. If T/sub pi / is the time complexity of pi and D is a bound on the diameter of the final network, the compiled version of pi stabilizes in time O(D+T/sub pi /) and has the same space complexity as pi . The general method achieves efficient results for many specific noninteractive tasks. For instance, solutions for the shortest paths and spanning tree problems take O(D) to stabilize, an improvement over the previous best time of O(D/sup 2/). >
Fascial arthroplasty of the knee.

In an analysis of thirty-seven arthroplasties of the knee, there were eleven good results (30 per cent.), eight fair results (22 per cent.), and eighteen failures (48 per cent.). Particularly poor candidates for arthroplasty have been those patients with polyarticular ankylosis resulting from atrophic arthritis. Ankylosis due to extension of an osteomyelitic process about the knee joint gave similarly poor results. The most favorable results from the operation were obtained in cases where the knee joint was involved secondarily by a blood-borne infection. Concerning the operative technique, the medial parapatellar incision combined with Campbell's method of joint reconstruction was adopted as the procedure of choice. The importance of resecting adequate bone for maintaining the new joint space, accurate modeling of the opposing articular surfaces for joint alignment, and retaining the lateral capsular and ligamentous structures for stability cannot be emphasized too highly. The postoperative complications which most frequently led to failure were the reactivation of the arthritic or infectious process and infection introduced by the operative procedure. From the analysis of the above cases, it is apparent that a new joint of sufficient mobility and stability, with freedom from pain, is not a constant result. However, the unusual benefits derived from a successfully mobilized knee make the operation of arthroplasty of great value in the carefully selected cases of ankylosis. The operation should be advised only after the patient has been made aware of its limitations.
The influence of various α-alkyl and α-hydroxyalkyl substituents on the stability of dipeptides in dilute alkali

Abstract The stability of alkyl dipeptides in dilute alkali is a function of the size of the substituents attached to the α-carbon atoms. When the various substituents are listed according to their stabilizing effects, the following order is obtained: CH2CH(CH3)2 ⩾ CH(CH3)2 > CH2CH3 > CH3 > H. The relative alkaline stability of serine and threonine dipeptides depends upon the position of the CH(OH)R″ group in NH2CH(R′)CONHCH(R)COO−. In the R-position, the hydroxyalkyl group facilitates hydrolysis, while in the R′-position, hydrolysis is impeded. In dilute alkali, L,L-seryl dipeptides of alkyl-substituted amino acids have been found to generate D,L-diastereomers.
An adaptive learning approach to the identification of structural and mechanical systems

Abstract The identification of parameters in models of structural and mechanical systems is an important problem. The usual approaches are successive approximation schemes which require good initial guesses for rapid convergence. This paper shows how such initial approximations may be obtained. Notions from the field of artificial neural networks are used. In fact, new adaptive schemes for learning are presented and used in parameter estimation for both linear and nonlinear systems.
Primary de novo adenocarcinoma of the colon measuring 8 mm in diameter with lymph node metastases. Report of a case.

Colonic adenocarcinomas measuring less than 10 mm are rare. Herein, we report a carcinoma measuring 8 mm in diameter associated with subserosal extension through a “locusminorisresistentiae” and metastases to lymph nodes, an association not previously reported. No residual adenomatous tissue was found, suggesting ade novocarcinoma.
Brain acetylcholinesterase activity and optomotor behavior in bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus exposed to different concentrations of diazinon

AbstractOrganophosphorus pesticides inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity to varying degrees in different species of fish. Estimation of AChE activity is a useful tool for establishing the degree of pollution caused by these pesticides. Behavioral changes are very good and sensitive indicators of any chemical pollution. Changes in the optomotor behavior are easily quantifiable. Therefore estimation of AChE activity and changes in the optomotor response are taken as criteria to study the effects of different concentrations (15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 μ g/l) of diazinon, an organophosphorus compound, in bluegill Sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus. The fish were exposed for a period of 24 hours.In this study, AChE activity showed a significant decline above an exposure concentration of 45 μ g/l exposure concentration. In the case of optomotor behavior, a decline in the scores of the “following” responses of the fish was noticed from an exposure concentration of 30 μg/1. It seems that a behavioral bioassay is mor...
Assessment of online patient education materials from major ophthalmologic associations.

Importance Patients are increasingly using the Internet to supplement finding medical information, which can be complex and requires a high level of reading comprehension. Online ophthalmologic materials from major ophthalmologic associations should be written at an appropriate reading level. Objectives To assess ophthalmologic online patient education materials (PEMs) on ophthalmologic association websites and to determine whether they are above the reading level recommended by the American Medical Association and National Institutes of Health. Design, Setting, and Participants Descriptive and correlational design. Patient education materials from major ophthalmology websites were downloaded from June 1, 2014, through June 30, 2014, and assessed for level of readability using 10 scales. The Flesch Reading Ease test, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook test, Coleman-Liau Index, Gunning Fog Index, New Fog Count, New Dale-Chall Readability Formula, FORCAST scale, Raygor Readability Estimate Graph, and Fry Readability Graph were used. Text from each article was pasted into Microsoft Word and analyzed using the software Readability Studio professional edition version 2012.1 for Windows. Main Outcomes and Measures Flesch Reading Ease score, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook grade, Coleman-Liau Index score, Gunning Fog Index score, New Fog Count, New Dale-Chall Readability Formula score, FORCAST score, Raygor Readability Estimate Graph score, and Fry Readability Graph score. Results Three hundred thirty-nine online PEMs were assessed. The mean Flesch Reading Ease score was 40.7 (range, 17.0-51.0), which correlates with a difficult level of reading. The mean readability grade levels ranged as follows: 10.4 to 12.6 for the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level; 12.9 to 17.7 for the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook test; 11.4 to 15.8 for the Coleman-Liau Index; 12.4 to 18.7 for the Gunning Fog Index; 8.2 to 16.0 for the New Fog Count; 11.2 to 16.0 for the New Dale-Chall Readability Formula; 10.9 to 12.5 for the FORCAST scale; 11.0 to 17.0 for the Raygor Readability Estimate Graph; and 12.0 to 17.0 for the Fry Readability Graph. Analysis of variance demonstrated a significant difference ( P Conclusions and Relevance Online PEMs on major ophthalmologic association websites are written well above the recommended reading level. Consideration should be given to revision of these materials to allow greater comprehension among a wider audience.
Addressing Human Vulnerability to Climate Change: Toward a 'No Regrets' Approach

This paper presents and applies a conceptual framework to address human vulnerability to climate change. Drawing upon social risk management and asset-based approaches, the conceptual framework provides a unifying lens to examine links between risks, adaptation, and vulnerability. The result is an integrated approach to increase the capacity of society to manage climate risks with a view to reduce the vulnerability of households and maintain or increase the opportunities for sustainable development. We identify 'no-regrets' adaptation interventions, meaning actions that generate net social benefits under all future scenarios of climate change and impacts. We also make the case for greater external support for community-based adaptation, discuss the role of social protection, and propose a research agenda.
Modeling the benefits of cross-training to address the nursing shortage

Abstract This paper seeks to offer insight into cross training strategies that could be effective in aiding in alleviating the nurse shortage issue and its potential to negatively impact on patient safety and mortality. We develop optimization models to evaluate the benefits of cross-training, in particular chaining practices, on nurse workforce planning under stochastic demand, and determine the optimal allocation of both regular and cross-trained staff at a minimum cost. We demonstrate the benefits of cross-training in terms of a reduction in the total number of nurses required to satisfy demand across multiple departments as well as from an economic (i.e. overall cost savings) perspective, while simultaneously meeting the hospitals service and quality of care requirements. In particular, the results indicate that cross-training strategies could help with optimal utilization of constrained nursing resources and thereby limit the negative implications of the growing nurse shortage crisis.
Asymptotic behavior of a class of non-autonomous degenerate parabolic equations

Abstract We investigate the asymptotic behavior of solutions of a class of non-autonomous degenerate parabolic equations on R n with unbounded external forcing terms. The existence of a pullback global attractor is proved in L 2 ( R n ) ⋂ L p ( R n ) ⋂ W 1 , r ( R n ) for any p ≥ r ≥ 2 .