cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A study of orthonormal multi-wavelets

Abstract A general scheme for constructing symmetric and/or antisymmetric compactly supported orthonormal multi-scaling functions and multi-wavelets is introduced. The main emphasis is on maximum order of polynomial-reproduction by the scaling functions, or equivalently maximum number of vanishing moments for the corresponding wavelets; particularly for those that have small supports and those that satisfy certain Hermite interpolating conditions. As an application, we recover the Geronimo-Hardin-Massopust multi-scaling function without using fractal interpolation, and consequently the corresponding Strang-Strela multi-wavelet. Explicit formulations of the two-scale relations and polynomial-reproduction identities for the scaling functions with supports [0,2] and [0,3] and multiplicity 2 as well as their corresponding multi-wavelet are also derived by following our general constructive scheme.
The Addictive Personality.

The term addictive personality needs to be retired permanently from use by the alcohol and drug (AOD) treatment field. The term engenders confusion and misunderstanding and undermines our ability t...
Evaluation of Carpet Appearance Loss: Structural Factors:

Changes in carpet appearance brought about by the mechanics of wear may be evaluated with respect to changes in heterogeneous image properties, e.g., periodicity. This paper discusses changes brought about in texture periodicity and compares the results with subjective human evaluation. The influences of structural variables on performance are measured using these techniques.
Conjunctive Explanations in Cost Variance Investigation: Experimental Replications and Extensions

This study examined conjunctive explanations of cost variances. Two experiments were conducted in order to examine the effect of conjunctive or joint explanatory variables upon cost variance investigation decisions. These variables included the representativeness of the hypothesized explanatory variables; the inter-causality that existed between the explanatory factors; the perceived rarity of the explanation; and the multiplicity of explanatory variables related to the variance under investigation. Experiment 1 indicated significant main effects and insignificant interaction effects for representativeness and inter-causality upon investigation judgments. Experiment 2 revealed no significant effect for event rarity but a significant effect for multiplicity of explanatory factors. The results suggest that certain characteristics of conjunctive explanations do affect cost variance investigation decisions.
Using MODIS data to study the relation between climatic spatial variability and vegetation phenology in northern high latitudes

We investigated methods to identify phenological transition dates and the linkage between phenology and spatial climatic variation in North America between 30.5/spl deg/N and 70/spl deg/N utilizing Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. The results show a clear trend in which vegetation greenup gradually migrated northward from 38/spl deg/N to 70/spl deg/N starting in late March, and dormancy spread southward from late September. The observed pattern in phenology was significantly associated with both mean annual temperature and incoming solar radiation. Spatial analysis revealed that the date of greenup advanced by roughly 2.4 days, while the onset of dormancy was delayed by 1.8 days, for each one-degree increase in mean annual temperature.
Leptin regulates pulsatile luteinizing hormone and growth hormone secretion in the sheep.

Administration of leptin during reduced nutrition improves reproductive activity in several monogastric species and reverses GH suppression in rodents. Whether leptin is a nutritional signal regulating neuroendocrine control of pituitary function in ruminant species is unclear. The present study examined the control of pulsatile LH and GH secretion in sheep. We determined whether exogenous leptin could prevent either the suppression of pulsatile LH secretion or the enhancement of GH secretion that occur during fasting. Recombinant human met-leptin (rhmet-leptin; 50 mg/kg BW; n 5 8) or vehicle (n 5 7) was administered sc every 8 h during a 78-h fast to estrogentreated, castrated yearling males. LH and GH were measured in blood samples collected every 15 min for 6 h before fasting and during the last 6ho ffasting. Leptin was measured both by a universal leptin assay and by an assay specific for ovine leptin. During the fast, endogenous plasma leptin fell from 1.49 6 0.16 to 1.03 6 0.13 ng/ml. The average concentration of rhmet-leptin 8 h after leptin administration was 18.0 ng/ml. During fasting, plasma insulin, glucose, and insulin-like growth factor I levels declined, and nonesterified fatty acid concentrations increased similarly in vehicle-treated and leptintreated animals. In vehicle-treated animals, LH pulse frequency declined markedly during fasting (5.6 6 0.5 vs. 1.1 6 0.5 pulses/6 h; fed vs. fasting; P , 0.0001). Leptin treatment prevented the fall in LH pulse frequency (5.0 6 0.4 vs. 4.9 6 0.4 pulses/6 h; P 5 0.6). Neither fasting nor leptin administration altered GH pulse frequency. Fasting produced a modest increase in mean concentrations of circulating GH in control animals (2.4 6 0.5 vs. 3.4 6 0.6 ng/ml; P 5 0.04), whereas there was a much greater increase in GH during leptin treatment (2.7 6 0.6 vs. 8.6 6 1.6 ng/ml; P 5 0.0001). GH pulse amplitudes were also increased by fasting in control (P 5 0.04) and leptin-treated sheep (P 5 0.007). The finding that exogenous rhmet-leptin regulates LH and GH secretion in sheep indicates that this fat-derived hormone conveys information about nutrition to mechanisms controlling neuroendocrine function in ruminants. (Endocrinology 141: 3965‐3975, 2000)
A hypercube-based optical interconnection network: a solution to the scalability requirements for massively parallel computers

An important issue in the design of interconnection networks for massively parallel computers is scalability. Size-scalability refers to the property that the number of nodes in the network can be increased with negligible effect on the existing configuration and generation-scalability implies that the communication capabilities of a network should be large enough to support the evolution of processing elements through generations. The lack of size-scalability has limited the use of certain types of interconnection networks (e.g. hypercube) in the area of massively parallel computing. The authors present a new optical interconnection network, called an Optical Multi-Mesh Hypercube (OMMH), which is both size- and generation-scalable while combining positive features of both the hypercube (small diameter, high connectivity, symmetry, simple routing, and fault tolerance) and the mesh (constant node degree and scalability) networks. Also presented is a three-dimensional optical implementation methodology of the OMMH network. >
A GAUGE INVARIANT ACTION IN TOPOLOGICAL QUANTUM FIELD THEORY

A gauge invariant lagrangian whose BRST gauge fixing corresponds to the theory recently proposed by Witten in the framework of topological quantum field theory is presented. The solutions to the field equations corresponding to this lagrangian consist of self-dual Yang-Mills fields.
Primary leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava: A 2-institution analysis of outcomes

Background Approximately 300 cases of leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava (IVC) have been reported in the literature to date. In this study, we combined the experience from 2 institutions to provide additional clinical outcomes data. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis from 1984 to 2009 that included 17 patients treated between the 2 institutions. Clinicopathologic data, surgical and adjuvant therapy, and survival outcomes were obtained. Results The median age of patients in the study was 48 years. The tumor location was infrarenal in 8 patients, juxtarenal in 6, and suprahepatic in 2 patients; 7 patients had high-grade tumors. All patients underwent complete resection; the IVC was repaired primarily in 5 patients, ligated in 5, and reconstructed with a prosthetic tube graft in 7 patients. There was no perioperative mortality; 6 patients had complications. Median follow-up was 49 months; median survival had not been reached when this paper was written. The 5-year overall and disease -free survival were 56% and 37%, respectively. Of the 17 patients, 10 experienced disease recurrence and underwent numerous treatment modalities for these recurrences. Conclusion Aggressive resection of primary leiomyosarcoma of the IVC can be performed safely and result in long-term survival, irrespective of IVC management. Despite high recurrence rates, no consensus yet exists regarding adjuvant treatment.
Structure of an antigenic teichoic acid shared by clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium

A shared antigenic teichoic acid, previously found to be a surface capsule-like polysaccharide, was isolated from clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis and vancomycin-resistant E. faecium. It was composed of glucose, glycerol, and phosphate as determined by chemical and GC-MS analysis. The repeating-unit structure was elucidated by a series of 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR spectroscopy to be the following: [formula: see text]
Targeting the MAGE A3 antigen in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and one of the most aggressive known malignancies. New and innovative advances in treatment are desperately needed. One promising area of investigational treatment for pancreatic cancer involves the use of immunotherapy. The development of immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer has been hampered by difficulty in generating tumor-reactive lymphocytes from resected specimens and by a lack of appropriate target antigens expressed on tumor cells. Innovative strategies have been developed with the use of peripheral blood lymphocytes that are genetically engineered to express T-cell receptors targeting common tumor antigens, including cancer-testis antigens, such as the MAGE-A3 antigen. Cancer-testis antigens pose excellent targets for immunotherapy because they are expressed in cancer and in the testis, an immune-privileged site, but have limited expression in normal tissue. An additional advantage in targeting cancer-testis antigens for immunotherapy is that their expression can be selectively up-regulated in tumor cells via epigenetic regulation with chromatin remodeling agents. Current interest in targeting cancer-testis antigens in pancreatic cancer is well-founded because cancer-testis antigens have been shown to be expressed in pancreatic cancer as potential targets for therapy. In our studies, we validated the expression pattern of cancer-testis antigens in resected specimens of pancreatic cancer and tested the hypothesis that treatment of pancreatic cancer cells with chromatin remodeling agents would render them more sensitive to antigen-specific T lymphocytes. We focused predominately on the MAGE-A3 antigen because it is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer, and several immunotherapeutic strategies are in clinical trials targeting this specific antigen. The results of these studies have important translational implications and provide the rationale for combined treatment with chromatin remodeling agents and immunotherapeutic approaches for pancreatic cancer.
The variable role of slab-derived fluids in the generation of a suite of primitive calc-alkaline lavas from the Southernmost Cascades, California

The compositional continuum observed in primitive calc-alkaline lavas erupted from small volcanoes across t}te southemmost Cascade arc is lnoduced by the introduction of a variable proportion of slab-derived fluid itrto the superjacent peridotite layer of the mantle wedge. Magnas derived from fluid-rich sources are erupted primarily in the foremc and are characterized by Sr and Pb enrichment (prinitive mantle-normalized Sr/P > 5.5), depletions of Ta and Nb, low incompatible-element abundances, and MORB-like Sr and Pb isotopic ratios. Magnas derived from fluid-poor sources are erupted primarily in the arc axis and behind the arc, and are characterized by weak enrichment in Sr [l.0 < (Sr/P),v < 1.3], weak depletions in Ta aad M, highsr incompatible-element abundances, and OIB-like Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic ratios. Fluxing the mantle wedge above the subducting slab with Hzo-rich fluid stabilizes amphibole and emiches the wedge peridotites in incompatible elements, particularly unradiogenic Sr and Pb. The hydrated amphibole-bearing portion ofthe mantle wedge is downdragged beneath the forearc, where its solidus is exceeded yielding melts that are enriched in Sr and Pb, and depleted in Ta and Nb (reflecting both high Sr and Pb relative to Ta and Nb in the fluid, and the greater compatibility ofTa and Nb in amphibole compared to other silicate phases in the wedge). A steady decrease ofthe fluid-contributed geochemical signature away from the trench is produced by the progressive dehydration of tle downdragged portion of the mantle wedge witl depth, resulting from melt extraction and increased temperature at tle slab-wedge interface. lnverse correlation between incompatible-element abundances and the size of the fluid-confiibuted geochemical signature is generated by melting of more depleted peridotites, rather than by significant differences in the degree of melting. High-(Sr/P)ri' lavas of the forearc are generated by melting of a MORB-source-like peridotite that has been fluxed with a greater proportion of slab-derived flui{ and low (Sr/P)rv lavas of the arc axis are produced by melting of an OlB-source-like peridotite in the presence of a smaller proportion of slab-derived fluid. This study documents the contol that a slab-derived fluid can have on incompatible element and isotopic systematics of arc magmas by 1) the addition of incompatible elements to the wedge, 2) the stabilization of hydrous phases in the wedge, and 3) the lowering of peridotite solidi. Kewords: Cascade arc, calc-alkaline, primitive lav4 slab-derived fluid, Sr enrichmen! Califomia.
Plates, planets, and phase changes: 50 years of petrology

Three advances of the previous half-century fundamentally altered petrology, along with the rest of the Earth sciences. Planetary exploration, plate tectonics, and a plethora of new tools all changed the way we understand, and the way we explore, our natural world. And yet the same large questions in petrology remain the same large questions. We now have more information and understanding, but we still wish to know the following. How do we account for the variety of rock types that are found? What does the variety and distribution of these materials in time and space tell us? Have there been secular changes to these patterns, and are there future implications? This review examines these bigger questions in the context of our new understandings and suggests the extent to which these questions have been answered. We now do know how the early evolution of planets can proceed from examples other than Earth, how the broad rock cycle of the present plate tectonic regime of Earth works, how the lithosphere atmosphere hydrosphere and biosphere have some connections to each other, and how our resources depend on all these things. We have learned that small planets, whose early histories have not been erased, go through a wholesale igneous processing essentially coeval with their formation. By inference, this also happened to Earth. The early differentiation on a small planet produces observable basaltic rock types—and produces little else besides a residue and a planetary core. In contrast, the larger Earth’s preservation of its original differentiation products has been eroded by continued activity which still involves extensive basaltic volcanism with further reprocessing through plate tectonic cycles to form continents and cratons. We also now have a good understanding of the pressure-induced phase changes that are responsible for the Earth’s mantle’s seismic layered structure. It is unclear the extent to which this layered seismic structure corresponds to chemical layering as well as to mineralogical layering. Earth’s transition zone, lower, and upper mantles may not have the same composition. It is possible that still larger exoplanets might be expected to develop additional modes of activity with emphasis on additional phase changes producing more internal layering and differentiation.
Sonography of the teres minor: A study of cadavers

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study was to evaluate in cadavers the ability of highresolution sonography to identify both the normal tendinous insertion and tears of the teres minor.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The teres minor insertion in five cadaveric shoulders was imaged, and methylene blue dye was injected into both the superior and inferior margins of the teres minor insertion by experienced musculoskeletal radiologists using a 10-5–MHz linear array transducer. Afterward, posterior shoulder dissection was performed. In another group of 11 cadaveric shoulders, an artificial tear was created at the teres minor insertion in six shoulders, and a sham procedure was performed in the remaining five shoulders arthroscopically. After arthroscopy, the teres minor insertion of each shoulder was imaged, and the accuracy of sonography for detecting a tear was evaluated.RESULTS. The dye was injected correctly into both the superior and inferior margins of the teres minor insertion in all five cadaveric shoulders. All s...
An MMIC amplifier for automatic level control applications

An automatic gain control amplifier for automatically leveled output power, broadband, swept-frequency applications to 3 GHz has been developed. Consisting of a variable- pi attenuator, four additive-gain amplifier stages, a temperature-compensated peak detector, and an output buffer, the amplifier features a maximum leveled gain of 22 dB, a gain control range of 25 dB good input and output matches to 50 Omega , and suppressed second-harmonic distortion. It operates with +or-6-V power supplies and dissipates approximately 800 mW. >
Effects of lysine and threonine fortification of bread during gestation and lactation on offspring brain lipid development.

– Offspring brain lipid development has been studied following the amino acid fortification of wheat diet fed to pregnant and lactating rats. Comparisons are made with a 13% casein diet which contains a similar quantity of protein of known high quality, with a 26% casein diet, and with a standard laboratory diet. Increased maternal energy intake was found, particularly during lactation, with protein quality improvement. Offspring of mothers receiving the unsupplemented bread diet had lower total brain cholesterol, phospholipid, cerebroside-sulfatide, and (for 4 of the 5 other diets) ganglioside-NANA levels in comparison to offspring whose mothers received the other diets. Brain cerebroside-sulfatide and cholesterol concentrations were also lower in the offspring whose mothers received the unsupplemented bread, suggesting impaired myelin formation. Phospholipid and ganglioside-NANA concentrations were not lower. Fortification of the bread diet with lysine resulted in increases in both the total levels and concentrations of cerebroside-sulfatide and cholesterol. When both lysine and threonine were added, the cerebroside-sulfatide and cholesterol levels and concentrations were similar to or greater than values for the two casein diets and the standard laboratory diet. The 26% casein diet did not result in higher lipid values than obtained with the 13% casein diet. This study demonstrates the adequacy of amino acid supplementation of a maternal cereal protein diet in allowing normal offspring brain lipid development.
VLSI implementation of a vector quantization processor

Summary form only given. This presentation contains a discussion of the needs for a hardware Vector Quantization processor and the trade-offs involved in its design and implementation. The Codebook Processor Chip (CPC16) is a VQ processor capable of finding a full-search best match on sixteen codevectors in parallel. Maximum vector size is 625 samples. Full search of larger codebooks is possible by cascading several chips in parallel. Tree search and multi-stage searches are possible by cascading multiple chips in series in a pipeline structure. >
Agroforestry management affects coffee pests contingent on season and developmental stage

Management of vegetational diversity in agroecosystems is a potentially regulat- ing factor of pest population dynamics and may affect developmental stages in different ways. 2 We investigated the population dynamics of red spider mites, coffee leaf miners, and coffee berry borers in three management types of coffee agroforests: increas- ing plant diversity from a few shade tree species (simple-shade agroforests), inter- mediate-shade tree species (complex-shade agroforests) to high-shade tree species (abandoned coffee agroforests) in Ecuador. Furthermore, we studied how changes in agroforestry management affect population stage structure of each coffee pest. 3 Our results show that agroforestry management affected seasonal patterns of cof- fee pests in that higher densities of red spider mites were observed from August to December, coffee leaf miners from December to February, and coffee berry borers from May to July. Moreover, specific developmental stages of red spider mites, coffee leaf miners, and coffee berry borers differed in their responses to agroforestry management. During all stages, red spider mite reached higher den- sities in simple-shade agroforests compared with complex-shade and abandoned agroforests. Meanwhile, coffee leaf miner densities decreased from simple-shade to complex-shade and abandoned agroforests, but only for larvae, not pupae. Similarly, only coffee berry borer adults (but not eggs, larvae and pupae) demon- strated a response to agroforestry management. Environmental variables charac- terizing each agroforestry type proved to be important drivers of pest population densities in the field. 4 We emphasize the importance of considering seasonal differences and population structure while investigating arthropod responses to different habitat types because responses change with time and developmental stages.
Optimal cell generation for dual independent layout styles

Many optimization algorithms have been proposed for layout styles which are dual dependent: that is, the optimization for the layout of the n-transistor network of a CMOS complex gate is dependent on, the p-transistor network and vice versa. A two-stage linear-time optimization algorithm for dual independent layout styles is presented. The first stage is based on a tree representation of the complex gate. This tree representation allows complete flexibility in transistor order and takes complete advantage of the concept of delayed binding. The optimization goal is identical to the Euler pathed optimization algorithms metal-metal matrix (M/sup 3/) layout style, and examples of generated layouts are shown. Starting from a switching expression, the proposed algorithm always produces an optimal solution in terms of the number of diffusion breaks, which includes an optimal transistor representation for the switching expression (first stage), and an optimal gate sequence to traverse this transistor circuit (second stage). >
Retroactive Interference and Amount of Original Learning in Verbal and Motor Tasks

Abstract Earlier work has indicated that the relationship between amount of original learning (OL) and the subsequent retroactive inhibition (RI) was negative for verbal tasks and positive for motor tasks. The data from three earlier studies were reanalyzed and, when RI was measured as the mean decrement in performance in all studies, the relationship between OL and RI was positive for both motor and verbal tasks. However, relative RI score produced differences among the various findings, and an explanation was provided in terms of ceiling effects for the tasks. This reanalysis seems to indicate that a single theory of forgetting can be explanatory for both motor and verbal responding.
Finding Rosie: Documenting the World War II Home Front Experience of the American West through Oral History

This article describes an ongoing oral history project with the Regional Oral History Office (ROHO) of The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley. It explains how the team frames its research, understands the audience for oral histories, details how individuals are selected for interviews, and outlines the project's various new initiatives.
INVESTIGATIONS OF CHEMICAL BASIS OF ZINC-CALCIUM-PHYTATE INTERACTION IN BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS.

SummaryThe effect of Ca on Zn incorporation into phytate in 2 solvent systems (pH 2.5 and pH 6 +) was investigated in a series of 5 experiments. It was found that in both solvent systems at wide Zn: Ca ratios, Ca enhanced the incorporation or adsorption of Zn into phytate and at narrow Zn: Ca ratios, Ca decreased Zn incorporation into phytate. The findings offer a rational explanation of biological observations concerning Zn-Ca effects in the presence of phytate.
Application of Latent Semantic Analysis for Conceptual Cost Estimates: Assessment in the Construction Industry

Conceptual cost estimates represent the first benchmark upon which owners define their financial capability of performing a construction project. Consequently, the accuracy and quality assessments of these estimates are crucial. This paper proposes an automated conceptual cost estimate assessment model through Latent semantic Analysis (LSA). The use of LSA in the construction industry has rarely been implemented, which deprives this industry from utilizing its strengths to facilitate decision making. The research methodology adopted (1) utilizes data from a set of completed construction projects; (2) proposes an automated LSA model for the assessment of conceptual cost estimates based on error ranges; and (3) compares the attained outcomes to previous researches in the literature review. The outcomes of the current research illustrate that LSA modeling performs accurately in assessing conceptual cost estimate making it a powerful tool for construction decision making.
Weekend vs. Weekday Admissions for Cholangitis Requiring an ERCP: Comparison of Outcomes in a National Cohort.

OBJECTIVES:There has been increasing medical literature showing worse outcomes in patients admitted for medical and surgical conditions on the weekend. This has been termed the weekend effect. Little is known whether this weekend effect occurs for patients with cholangitis who require endoscopic ret
Remarks on External Features of Tadarida femorosacca

The pocketed freetail bat, Tadarida femorosacca (Merriam), is commonly described as similar to the Mexican freetail bat, Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana (Saussure), but larger. In fact, except for uncommonly recorded phalangeal and cranial measurements (Shamel, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 78 (19): 1–27, 1931), the …
The South and the Reconstruction of American Politics

HE conflict between the forces of change and continuity in the southern part of the United States today is strikingly apparent in the region's politics.' Although economic and social changes have contributed most notably to the South's recent transformation, it is clear that political affairs below the Potomac have been significantly altered during the last decade and a half. It appears not only that political practices within the region will be vastly different in the future but also that the changes now taking place will be profoundly important for American politics as a whole. The elements responsible for change in the recent South are numerous and complex, but three factors should be emphasized in considering the evolution of southern politics since World War II. In the first place, federal intervention and the pressure of the national party system have steadily eroded the foundations of the South's political solidarity. Secondly, the industrialization, urbanization, and diversification of the regional economy have had a significant impact upon the course of southern politics. Finally, the movement for Negro rights, encompassing as it does the emergence of a compelling national issue, the Negro's political activation, and his own remarkable leadership, is having a far-reaching effect. In some respects, of course, the emerging South is the product of developments that antedate the Great Depression and the New Deal. Early in the twentieth century a strong bifactionalism emerged along liberal-conservative lines, an important middle-of-the-road progressivism appeared with an urban leadership and philosophy, and a significant farm movement
Pilot study of nasal expiratory positive airway pressure devices for the treatment of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Study Objectives:Alternative therapies for childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are needed as OSAS may persist despite adenotonsillectomy, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP...
Determination of indol-3-acetic acid in vegetable by ion chromatography

Objective: An ICS method was applied to simultaneously determine indol-3-acetic acid in vedetable.Methods:The method was based on ICS separation under the condition of isocratic eluent with 0~20 mmol/L KOH and flow rate of 1.0 ml/min by using of the IonPAC AS11 analytical column and suppressed conductivity detector.Results:It was showed that this method has good linear relativity(r=0.9990) and good precision(RSD%5.0).The samples′average recoveries were 88.3%～101% and the detection limit were 0.10 μg/g.Conclusion:The method is simple,fast and of high sensitivity and precise results.This method can be applied widely and suitable for trace analysis of Indol-3-acetic acid in vegetables.
Numerical Investigation of Diagonals in Miter Gates: Looking for the Optimum Prestressing

AbstractThis article presents a proposed methodology to acquire optimum prestressing on diagonals in miter gates. The study uses three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulation of miter gates that includes all the geometrical details of the most commonly used miter gates. The simulation is used to attain vertical and lateral displacements at the miter end when the gate is mitered and in the operation for different prestressing forces. The simulation results allow the development of design curves that are used to obtain the optimum prestressing loading. These design curves can also be used to verify that the displacements of a gate are within tolerances for existing levels of prestressing. The analyses are compared with the existing criteria. The comparison shows that the miter gate leaf is not limited to only one prestressing combination, as prescribed by the design criteria, but several prestressing combinations evaluated from the numerical experiments can also provide the adequate torsional capacity. Furthe...
Phase II study of MLN8237 (Alisertib) in advanced/metastatic sarcoma

ABSTRACT Background Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is commonly overexpressed in sarcoma. The inhibition of AURKA by shRNA or by a specific AURKA inhibitor blocks in vitro proliferation of multiple sarcoma subtypes. MLN8237 (alisertib) is a novel oral adenosine triphosphate-competitive AURKA inhibitor. Patients and methods This Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program-sponsored phase II study of alisertib was conducted through the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (A091102). Patients were enrolled into histology-defined cohorts: (i) liposarcoma, (ii) leiomyosarcoma, (iii) undifferentiated sarcoma, (iv) malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, or (v) other. Treatment was alisertib 50 mg PO b.i.d. d1–d7 every 21 days. The primary end point was response rate; progression-free survival (PFS) was secondary. One response in the first 9 patients expanded enrollment in a cohort to 24 using a Simon two-stage design. Results Seventy-two patients were enrolled at 24 sites [12 LPS, 10 LMS, 11 US, 10 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), 29 Other]. The median age was 55 years; 54% were male; 58%/38%/4% were ECOG PS 0/1/2. One PR expanded enrollment to the second stage in the other sarcoma cohort. The histology-specific cohorts ceased at the first stage. There were two confirmed PRs in the other cohort (both angiosarcoma) and one unconfirmed PR in dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma. Twelve-week PFS was 73% (LPS), 44% (LMS), 36% (US), 60% (MPNST), and 38% (Other). Grade 3–4 adverse events: oral mucositis (12%), anemia (14%), platelet count decreased (14%), leukopenia (22%), and neutropenia (42%). Conclusions Alisertib was well tolerated. Occasional responses, yet prolonged stable disease, were observed. Although failing to meet the primary RR end point, PFS was promising. Trial registration ID NCT01653028.
Optimization of Melt Treatment for Austenitic Steel Grain Refinement

Refinement of the as-cast grain structure of austenitic steels requires the presence of active solid nuclei during solidification. These nuclei can be formed in situ in the liquid alloy by promoting reactions between transition metals (Ti, Zr, Nb, and Hf) and metalloid elements (C, S, O, and N) dissolved in the melt. Using thermodynamic simulations, experiments were designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a predicted sequence of reactions targeted to form precipitates that could act as active nuclei for grain refinement in austenitic steel castings. Melt additions performed to promote the sequential precipitation of titanium nitride (TiN) onto previously formed spinel (Al2MgO4) inclusions in the melt resulted in a significant refinement of the as-cast grain structure in heavy section Cr-Ni-Mo stainless steel castings. A refined as-cast structure consisting of an inner fine-equiaxed grain structure and outer columnar dendrite zone structure of limited length was achieved in experimental castings. The sequential of precipitation of TiN onto Al2MgO4 was confirmed using automated SEM/EDX and TEM analyses.
The implications of American chestnut reintroduction on landscape dynamics and carbon storage

In the eastern United States, American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was historically a major component of forest communities, but was functionally extirpated in the early 20th century by an introduced pathogen, chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica). Because chestnut is fast-growing, long-lived, and resistant to decay, restoration of American chestnut using blight-resistant stock could have the potential to increase carbon sequestration or storage in forested landscapes. However, carbon dynamics are also affected by interspecific competition, succession, natural disturbance, and forest management activities, and it is unknown how chestnut restoration might interact with these other processes. We used the PnET-Succession extension of the LANDIS-II forest landscape model to study the implications of chestnut restoration on forest composition and carbon storage in the context of other disturbances, including timber harvest and insect pest outbreaks. Our results imply that it could take a millennium or more for chestnut to fully occupy landscapes without aggressive restoration efforts. When successful, chestnut restoration activities displaced other species approximately in proportion to their abundance on the landscape, rather than replacing a single species or genus (e.g., Quercus). Insect pests increased the rate of chestnut colonization by reducing the abundance of competitors, and also had a dominant effect on carbon dynamics. Although chestnut is fast-growing, moderately shade-tolerant, and decomposes very slowly, our results suggest that it can only modestly increase the carbon storage potential of eastern forests. However, our results also demonstrate that compositional changes in forest communities can have noticeable effects on biomass accumulation, even with the large uncertainties introduced by invasive pests.
Frailty Syndrome and Risk of Sepsis in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Cohort

Background:Frailty is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in older persons. We sought to characterize the associations between the frailty syndrome and long-term risk of sepsis in a l...
Images From Astronomical Speckle Data: Weighted Shift-and-Add Analysis

We have applied a variant of the Shift-and-Add algorithm originally developed by Lynds, Worden & Harvey to astronomical speckle interferometric data. A set of impulses corresponding in location and magnitude to the local maxima in each specklegram is generated and used to obtain an average speckle by means of a Wiener-type filter deconvolution procedure. This technique yields diffraction limited images which appear to be self calibrating for seeing effects. Realistic point spread functions have been obtained for a number of telescopes at different wavelengths and results are also presented for the resolved red supergiant Alpha Orionis. The limiting signal-to-noise of the technique as indicated by the results presented here suggests a dynamic range of ~6 stellar magnitudes with no evidence of residual seeing effects.
Molecular Mechanisms of the R61T Mutation in Apolipoprotein E4: A Dynamic Rescue

The apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) gene is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). With respect to the other common isoforms of this protein (ApoE2 and ApoE3), ApoE4 is characterized by lower stability that underlies the formation of a stable interaction between the protein's N- and C-terminal domains. AD-related cellular dysfunctions have been linked to this ApoE4 misfolded state. In this regard, it has been reported that the mutation R61T is able to rescue the deleterious cellular effects of ApoE4 by preventing the formation of the misfolded intermediate state. However, a clear description of the structural features at the basis of the R61T-ApoE4 mutant's protective effect is still missing. Recently, using extensive molecular dynamics simulations, we have identified a structural model of an ApoE4 misfolded intermediate state. Building on our previous work, here we explore the dynamical changes induced by the R61T mutation in the ApoE4 native and misfolded states. Notably, we do not observe any local changes in the domains in the R61T-ApoE4 system, rather a general loss of correlated movements in the entire protein structure. More specifically, we detect increased dynamics in the hinge region, which is essential for ApoE4 domain-domain interaction. Consistent with previously reported data on altered phospholipid and receptor binding, we hypothesize that mutations destabilizing the ApoE4 intermediate state change hinge region dynamics, which propagates to distal functional regions of the protein and modifies ApoE4's functional properties. This unique behavior of the ApoE4 hinge region provides, to our knowledge, a novel understanding of ApoE4's role in AD.
Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) and the digital economy: Challenges and issues

The digital economy, undoubtedly, has contributed to the immense task of clearly identifying, ascertaining, and accounting for sources, rationales, and audit trails relating to tax transactions. This is not only evident owing to difficulties associated with cross-border transaction regulations which govern different jurisdictions as well as the enforcement of such regulations, but also in respect of risks associated with the present global financial environment – all having generated from the rise in automation, increased and improved sophisticated technologies, globalization, and conglomeration. This chapter not only seeks to highlight the extent, contribution, and significance of the digital economy in respect of those risks associated with base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) but also amongst other aims and objectives to recommend measures whereby regulations can be better enforced as a means of addressing practices associated with BEPS.
Editor’s choice: Selected online learning resources: Conferences, journals/magazines/newsletters, useful web sites and web articles, Books/book chapters/reports, and journal articles

Abstract The Editor-In-Chief of The Internet and Higher Education (IHE) has compiled a number of resources that may be useful for those researchers, teachers, administrators, or students who wish to locate information about the field of online learning and the uses of the Internet for instructional delivery. Resources are organized into several categories.
How Children Learn to Be Healthy: The Social Ecology of Children's Health Socialization

Children's health attitudes, behavior, and health status are affected by the environment in which children are reared. This environment enables or constrains child health behavior and status (Richter et al., 2000). Some aspects of this perspective on children's health have been researched; others have not. My examination of this research focuses on three issues: socioeconomic status, families' impact on the emotional climate of children's lives, and the impact of parents' health on children's health. Socioeconomic Status Demographic status, specifically socioeconomic status, has traditionally been the focus of efforts to describe and predict children's health (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2000a; DiLiberti, 2000; Hertzman, 1999). However, social class is not an explanatory variable, and in most cases it merely describes parents and children who vary in health attitudes, behavior, and actual health. In this book, in contrast to its traditional use, social class is conceptualized as a proxy for a broad set of environmental characteristics that may be associated with children's health socialization in health-enhancing or health-constraining conditions. Recent statistics indicate that more children in the United States are living in poverty than in any recent period. More than one-quarter of American children under age 6 are living in poverty, although nearly three in five poor children have working parents (National Center for Children in Poverty, 1995). Adults and children of higher social class usually have access to better health services, use them more frequently, and have better health (Adler et al., 1994; Aylward, 1992).
Behavioral Effects of Antimitotic Agents Administered during Neurogenesis

The agents to be discussed in this chapter were among the first to be identified as behavioral teratogens. Their effects on behavior have been reviewed several times, most recently by Vorhees and Butcher (1982). Therefore, to say something new on the subject, it is necessary to elaborate on other aspects of the effects of these agents. This is not an inappropriate theme because, unlike some behavioral teratogens, these first attracted attention because of their ability to cause gross malformations and/or specific brain pathology. Of course, evidence of long-lasting injury to the developing brain is available for many agents, including ethanol (Abel, Jacobson, & Sherwin, 1983; Barnes & Walker, 1981), diazepam (Simmons, Kellogg, & Miller, 1984), and methylmercury (Sager, Aschner, & Rodier, 1984), but for antimitotics, we have more than a list of pathological changes observed after treatment. We have some insight into the nature of the initial injury, into the variables determining its characteristics, and into its expression in morphology and function in adults. With this information, some of the effects of antimitotic agents are orderly and predictable—words that can rarely be applied in teratology.
Problematizing Notions of Critical Thinking with Preservice Teachers: A Self-Study Imparting Critical Thinking Strategies to Preservice Teachers: A Self-Study

ABSTRACTCritical thinking remains a challenge for students even at the undergraduate level. In this article, I describes how he utilized the tenets of self-study to explore introducing critical thinking instructional strategies to preservice teachers. Frustrated and curious, I attempted to better understand the group’s reluctance to using these methods with their own elementary students during internship. To collect and triangulate my data, I asked the preservice teachers to respond to weekly electronic surveys, engaged in focus groups with them, kept reflection notes, and presented his dilemmas and findings to colleagues. Using a narrative analytical process, I uncovered assumptions that affected my relationship and results with the teachers and questioned identities held by himself and the preservice teachers as possibly being unhealthy. The need to consider how the instruction of critical thinking is presented to preservice teachers as well as studying ways to support positive, empowering identify form...
Stroke During Pregnancy

Stroke is a neurological emergency that carries a risk of morbidity and mortality. Normal physiologic changes associated with pregnancy, combined with pathophysiologic processes unique to pregnancy, predispose women to develop stroke during pregnancy and the postpartum period. In this review, stroke and other vasculopathies in the pregnant females are examined. A discussion of the symptoms and clinical presentation of stroke is provided, as well as the current guideline for treatment of stroke in pregnancy.
Recursive Bayesian Human Intent Recognition in Shared-Control Robotics

Effective human-robot collaboration in shared control requires reasoning about the intentions of the human user. In this work, we present a mathematical formulation for human intent recognition during assistive teleoperation under shared autonomy. Our recursive Bayesian filtering approach models and fuses multiple non-verbal observations to probabilistically reason about the intended goal of the user. In addition to contextual observations, we model and incorporate the human agent's behavior as goal-directed actions with adjustable rationality to inform the underlying intent. We examine human inference on robot motion and furthermore validate our approach with a human subjects study that evaluates autonomy intent inference performance under a variety of goal scenarios and tasks, by novice subjects. Results show that our approach outperforms existing solutions and demonstrates that the probabilistic fusion of multiple observations improves intent inference and performance for shared-control operation.
Traumatic ocular lens dislocation.

Abstract Introduction Ocular lens dislocation is a relatively rare and difficult to diagnose disorder. Computed tomography often confirms the diagnosis, however may be unavailable in resource limited settings. Bedside ultrasound offers an alternative method of diagnosis which is rapid, inexpensive, and relatively easy. Case A 59-year-old man presented with a complaint of decreased vision in his right eye after being assaulted. Exam was remarkable for decreased visual acuity and increased intraocular pressure. Maxillofacial and brain CT as well as bedside ultrasound demonstrated a posteriorly dislocated ocular lens. The patient’s intraocular pressures were medically managed and he was discharged with close follow-up with ophthalmology. Conclusion Ocular lens dislocation may be easily diagnosed with ultrasound. Direction of lens dislocation dictates management, however posterior dislocations may be amenable to outpatient management.
Injuries of the Biceps and Superior Labral Complex in Overhead Athletes

To summarize the current anatomy, biomechanics, presentation, treatment, and outcomes of injuries to the biceps and superior labral complex in overhead athletes. The biceps and superior labral complex is composed of anatomically distinct zones. The inability to accurately diagnose biceps lesions contributes to continued morbidity especially as arthroscopy and advanced imaging fail to fully evaluate the entire course of the biceps tendon. Superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) repair, long head of biceps tenodesis, and tenotomy are the most common operative techniques for surgical treatment of biceps-labral complex (BLC) pathology. Labral repair in overhead athletes has resulted in mixed outcomes for athletes and is best indicated for patients under age 40 years old. Injuries to the BLC are potentially challenging injuries to diagnose and treat, particularly in the overhead athlete. SLAP repair remains the treatment of choice for high-level overhead athletes and patients younger than 40 years of age, while biceps tenodesis and tenotomy are preferred for older patients.