cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biomarker Profiling of Bladder Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy. Relevance of Thrombotic and Inflammatory Processes

Abstract Abstract 3405 Introduction: Postsurgical thrombosis represents a serious comorbidity in bladder cancer. Inflammation and hemostatic activation mediators contribute to thrombotic pathogenesis. This study profiled such biomarkers as antiphospholipid antibody, IgG subtype (APA), procoagulant microparticles (MP) and antiglycosaminoglycan antibody (AGA). Thrombin generation profile was also carried out. In addition protein and peptide biomarkers were profiled using SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively using an IRB approved protocol with 134 baseline serum samples collected from patients undergoing radical cystectomy. The samples were banked at −70C and thawed prior to analysis. The normal group was comprised of plasma samples collected from healthy male and female individuals (n=50). The APA were measured with an ELISA for IgG specific antibodies (American diagnostica, Stanford CT). The MP were measured using an anexin capture chromogenic substrate to quantify functional procoagulant activities (Hyphen Biomedical, Paris France). The AGA were measured with a commercially available method with a polysulfonate polymer capture probe for the antibodies (GTI Madison, WI). Thrombin generation studies were carried out by using a fluormetric method (Technoclone). The proteomic profile was analyzed on a GoldChip in the range of 5–150 kDa. Results: In comparison to the normal group, a wide scatter in the cancer group was noted, all of these exhibited a higher prevalence of elevated biomarkers compared to normal. The average MP value was 3.1+5.8nM (range 0.1–34.6nM) with 26 of 134 samples above the normal values which are (2.8+1.1). The average APA value was 6.7+11 (range 4–65nM) with 32 above normal. The average AGA value was 0.22+0.09 (range .01-.8OD) with 10 above normal. The SELDI analysis showed unique biomarkers in the area of 11–12kDa, 15.1–15.4kDa, and 15.8–16.2kDa which were absent in the normal group. The serum samples showed the presence of higher amidolytic activities for serine proteases. The thrombin generation studies in a modified method also showed a higher thrombin generation in the cancer group. Conclusion: The biomarker upregulation suggests that bladder cancer patients have subclinical activation of thrombotic and inflammatory processes. The MP may be generated in cellular damage whereas the APA and AGA suggest vascular endothelial damage and activation. The unique proteomic biomarkers in these patients suggest endogenous protease activation. The increased protease activity and higher thrombin generation suggest a role of microparticles in mediating thrombogenesis. A clinical correlation in the subset with higher markers may provide insight into the biomarker role in prognosis, risk stratification and treatment of bladder cancer. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Effect of geometry and temperature cycle on the reliability of WLCSP solder joints

The wafer level-chip-scale package (WLCSP) is designed to have external dimensions equal to that of the silicon device. This new package type is an extension of flip chip packaging technology to standard surface mount technology. The package has been targeted for low pin count (less than 30) and has high volume applications such as cellular phones, hand-held PDAs, etc. The WL-CSP is typically used without underfill and so solder joint reliability is a prime concern. Thus it is imperative to have a good understanding of the various design parameters of the package that affect the reliability of the solder joint. This paper presents the effect of geometrical parameters such as die size, die thickness, solder joint diameter and height on the reliability of solder joints. The effects of different dwell times, temperature range and ramp rates on the reliability of the solder joints is also studied by applying different temperature cycles to the package. A 16 I/O ADI WLCSP called MicroCSP is used as the primary test vehicle for the thermal cycling tests performed with different ramp/hold profiles. The energy-based model developed by Robert Darveaux is used to assess the reliability of solder joints.
The effects of confidence weighting on test scores and confidence weighting perceptions in the computing curriculum

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of confidence weighting on test scores and to study student perceptions of confidence weighting in a small liberal arts college computing curriculum. The results of the study suggest that confidence weighting does not affect non-weighted (raw) scores, but it does affect confidence-weighted (extended) scores. The results also indicate that students have a generally positive perception of confidence weighting when taking tests. These results and their implications for practice are discussed.
Origins of Combination Therapy for Tuberculosis: Lessons for Future Antimicrobial Development and Application.

Tuberculosis is a global health problem that causes the death of approximately 1.5 million people worldwide each year (WHO, p. 1-126, Global Tuberculosis Report, 2015). Treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis requires combination antimicrobial therapy with a minimum of four antimicrobial agents applied over the course of 6 months. The first instance of combination antimicrobial therapy applied to tuberculosis was the joint use of streptomycin and para-aminosalicylic acid as documented by the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom in 1950. These antimicrobial drugs were the product of many decades of investigation into both organism-derived antibiotics and synthetic chemotherapy and were the first agents in those respective categories to show substantial clinical efficacy and widespread use for tuberculosis. The events leading to the discovery and application of these two agents demonstrate that investments in all aspects of research, from basic science to clinical application, are necessary for the continued success of science in finding treatments for human disease. This observation is especially worth considering given the expanded role that combination therapy may play in combating the current rise in resistance to antimicrobial drugs.
Tracking developmental trajectories on neurocognitive testing in young athletes ages 5–12

Objective Despite increased attention to sports-related concussion, there is a lack of research on younger athletes. The purpose of this study was to establish developmental trajectories on neurocognitive testing in younger athletes ages 5 to 12. Design Pre-Test Only Design. Setting Multi-site study from numerous locations in the Eastern USA and Canada. Participants A total of 788 youth athletes, 73% male, assigned to groups on the basis of age: Ages 5–6 (N=128), Ages 7–8 (N=282), Ages 9–10 (N=284), Ages 11–12 (N=94). Intervention An iPad-based Paediatric version of the ImPACT test was administered individually to participants in a quiet office setting. Outcome measures Accuracy scores were documented on: Word List Learning (Immediate, Delayed, Recognition); and accuracy and timing scores on Design Rotation, Choice Reaction Time, Visual Sequencing and Visual Memory. Main results One-way ANOVAs with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, and Scheffe post-hoc comparisons were conducted between age groups on the dependent measures. All measures showed statistically significant changes (p Conclusions Youth athletes between the ages of 5 and 12 are underrepresented with respect to age-appropriate assessment measures, and these results document the need for developmentally- and age-appropriate measures and normative data, in order to capture neurocognitive change across developmental stages. Competing interests Dr. Schatz serves on the ImPACT Scientific Advisory Board. None.
Health-Related Quality of Life in Pediatric Patients With Demyelinating Diseases: Relevance of Disability, Relapsing Presentation, and Fatigue.

Objective Decreased health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in pediatric patients with multiple sclerosis is established, but little research has examined HRQOL in the broader pediatric demyelinating disease population, and predictors of reduced HRQOL are largely unexplored. We sought to (1) compare generic HRQOL and fatigue of pediatric patients with relapsing (i.e., multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica) versus monophasic demyelinating diseases (i.e., acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, clinically isolated syndrome) and (2) examine the extent to which disability, relapsing disease, and fatigue predict HRQOL. Methods Child and/or parent-proxy reports of generic and fatigue-related HRQOL were collected for 64 pediatric patients with demyelinating diseases. HRQOL of the sample was compared with published healthy child norms. Independent samples t-tests compared HRQOL and fatigue for children with monophasic versus relapsing diseases. Regression analyses examined disability, disease presentation, and fatigue as potential predictors of HRQOL. Results Compared with healthy child norms, generic HRQOL was significantly lower for the demyelinating disorder group, for both child and parent reports across multiple domains. As hypothesized, the relapsing disease group reported lower overall HRQOL and more fatigue than the monophasic group. Disability and relapsing disease predicted lower HRQOL for both parents and children, whereas fatigue was only predictive per the child perspective. Conclusions Children with demyelinating diseases evidence significantly lower HRQOL than healthy peers, supporting need for intervention. Those with relapsing disease appear particularly at risk; targeting disability and fatigue may be fruitful areas for intervention.
Fatigue-Assisted Grain Growth in Al Alloys.

Stress-assisted grain growth at room temperature is known for materials with nanocrystalline grains. For larger grain sizes, the grain growth usually takes place at higher homologous temperatures even under stress. Here we report, for the first time, significant grain growth at room temperature under fatigue loading in microcrystalline grains (≥10 μm) in Al 7075. We demonstrate that this grain growth at room temperature is similar to non-uniform grain growth due to grain rotation and coalescence rather than the thermally and the stress-assisted driven grain growth. We show that the grain growth is associated with the formation of a strong near-Cu {112} texture component as a result of fatigue-assisted deformation. These changes in microstructural features (viz., grain size, grain orientations and texture) are fundamentally important in understanding the cyclic crack induced deformation behavior and for predicting the fatigue lifetime in structural materials.
Thoracolumbar Deformity (Trauma) Surgery Complication

The thoracolumbar junction (T11–L2) is the most common site of traumatic spinal injury comprising over 80% of all spinal trauma. We review a case presentation of a 31-year-old woman who sustained complicated L1 and L2 burst fractures after a fall from 40 feet. She underwent a two-staged anterior-posterior operation. The patient did well then presented 5 years later with a symptomatic tethered cord. We review the strategies for prevention and management of complications following this operation for thoracolumbar trauma.
Understanding Electrochemically Activated Persulfate and Its Application to Ciprofloxacin Abatement

This study offers insight into the roles anodic and cathodic processes play in electrochemically activated persulfate (EAP) and screens EAP as a viable technique for ciprofloxacin degradation in wastewater. Sulfate radical formation at a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and persulfate activation at a graphite cathode were experimentally elucidated using different electrolytes and electrochemical setups. Rapid ciprofloxacin transformation occurred via pseudo-first-order mechanisms with respect to ciprofloxacin in persulfate electrolyte, reaching 84% removal in 120 min using EAP. Transformation pathways were compared to those in nitrate and sulfate electrolytes. Ciprofloxacin removal rates in the electrochemical system were 88% and 33% faster in persulfate than nitrate and sulfate electrolytes, respectively. Total organic carbon removal rates were 93% and 48% faster in persulfate than nitrate and sulfate, respectively. Use of sulfate electrolyte resulted in removal rates 6–7 times faster than those in nitrat...
Atomistic calculations of surface and interfacial energies of Mg17Al12-Mg system

Abstract It is well known that precipitation hardening in magnesium (Mg) alloys is far less effective than in aluminum alloys. Thus, it is important to understand the surface and interfacial structure and energetics between precipitates and matrix. In upscale modeling of magnesium alloys, these energy data are of great significance. In this work, we calculated the surface and interfacial energies of Mg17Al12–Mg system by carefully selecting the surface or interface termination, using atomistic simulations. The results show that, the higher fraction of Mg atoms on the surface, the lower the surface energy of Mg17Al12. The interfacial energy of Mg/Mg17Al12 was calculated in which the Burgers orientation relationship (OR) was satisfied. It was found that the (011)P|(0002)Mg interface has the lowest interfacial energy (248 mJ/m2). Because the Burgers OR breaks when { 10 1 ¯ 2 } twin occurs, which reorients the matrix, the interfacial energy for Mg17Al12 and a { 10 1 ¯ 2 } twin was also calculated. The results show that after twinning, the lowest interfacial energy increases by 244 mJ/m2, and the interface becomes highly incoherent due to the change in orientation relationship between Mg17Al12 and the matrix.
A simple molecular assay differentiates two burrowing mayfly species, Hexagenia limbata and H. rigida (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae), in western Lake Erie

Abstract Burrowing mayflies (Hexagenia spp.) are important indicators of mesotrophic water conditions, and have been studied for several decades in conjunction with the changing trophic status of western Lake Erie. However, most studies on the biology of burrowing mayflies have failed to differentiate between immature H. limbata and H. rigida, the life stages that are most commonly collected. We developed a simple molecular assay to facilitate species-level identification of the two mayflies as an easier alternative to sequencing the COI gene. We analyzed a total of 152 cytochrome c oxidase, subunit I barcoding sequences from the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) for these mayfly species and developed a diagnostic primer set. We tested our primers on 46 random burrowing Lake Erie mayfly nymphs using both conventional PCR and qPCR. Results of the two methods were consistent and unambiguous. Sequencing of the COI barcoding region in the mayflies confirmed that the PCR assays correctly identified mayflies in all cases. Our assay is simple and effective, and will facilitate species-level identification of burrowing mayflies in future studies on their biology where the two species co-occur.
Is there any causality between Islamic banks' return on depositors and conventional banks' deposit interest? Evidence of causality from Bahrain's financial market

Unlike conventional banks' interest payment on deposits, Islamic banks do not pay interest to depositors. What they pay to depositors is called the rate of return to depositors. Does the rate of return of Islamic banks on deposits follow conventional banks' interest rates? This paper empirically investigates the relationship of causality and the causal direction between conventional banks' interest rate and Islamic banks' return applying VEC model. The results of the VAR Granger Causality/Block Exogeneity Wald Tests fail to reject the null hypothesis of bidirectional causality between Islamic banks' rate of return and conventional banks' interest. The pairwise Granger causality also confirms the same results. This suggests that Islamic banks' rate of return and the conventional banks' interest rate are not independent of each other rather they follow each other in the Bahrain financial market.
Preoperative Assessment of the Peroneal Tendons in Lateral Ankle Instability: Examining Clinical Factors, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sensitivity, and Their Relationship

The purpose of our study was to examine the preoperative clinical factors and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings associated with peroneal pathology in chronic lateral ankle instability patients, as well as the clinical factors associated with peroneal lesions being detected on MRI. Peroneal pathology was determined from intraoperative findings. Patients with/without peroneal pathology were compared regarding their preoperative clinical findings. MRI reports were examined to determine the sensitivity of detecting peroneal pathologies. Clinical factors were compared between patients (N = 238) with undetected and detected peroneal lesions on MRI. Conservative treatment, preoperative physical therapy, and lack of a traumatic inciting event were associated with peroneal pathology. MRI had a sensitivity of 61.11% for detecting peroneal pathology. No clinical factors were significantly different between "detected" and "undetected" cases. Certain historical factors were associated with peroneal pathology in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability, and MRI had a high false-negative rate. Surgeons should exercise caution when ruling out peroneal pathology based on preoperative physical examination or MRI.
University of Massachusetts: description of the CIRCUS system as used for MUC-4

CIRCUS is a conceptual analyzer that produces semantic case frame representations for input sentences. Although space does not permit us to give a full technical description of CIRCUS, we will attempt to convey some sense of sentence analysis via CIRCUS. For more details, please consult [2] and [1].
Sarcopenia predicts mortality and adverse outcomes after endovascular aneurysm repair and can be used to risk stratify patients.

Abstract Background Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is currently the most common treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Potential predictors of long-term survival after EVAR include physiologic, functional, and cognitive status, but assessments of these conditions have been difficult to standardize. Objective radiographic findings, such as skeletal muscle atrophy, or sarcopenia, may provide an additional means for selection of patients. This study investigates sarcopenia as a method to predict 1-year survival in patients undergoing EVAR. Methods A single-institution retrospective review was conducted of all patients who underwent elective EVAR from September 2002 to June 2014. Patients with an available periprocedural computed tomography (CT) scan and clinical data were included in the analysis. Normalized total psoas cross-sectional area (nTPA) was measured on axial CT images using the area of the bilateral psoas muscle at the third lumbar vertebral level normalized to the square of patient height. A threshold for optimal estimate of sarcopenia based on nTPA was determined using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Sarcopenia was evaluated as an independent risk predictor using univariate, multivariate, and survival analysis. Results A total of 272 EVAR-treated patients were evaluated, including 237 men and 35 women with a median age of 72 years and mean body mass index of 28.6 kg/m2. There was a significant increase in overall mortality in patients in the lowest quartile of nTPA (Q1, 23.53%; Q2, 13.24%; Q3, 7.35%; Q4, 5.88%; P = .01). The estimated nTPA threshold for increased mortality after EVAR was 500 mm2/m2. Using this threshold, sarcopenia accounted for 57% of the risk effect in our 1-year survival model. Conclusions Sarcopenia can assist in identifying EVAR candidates who are less likely to benefit from surgery. It can be readily evaluated from preoperative CT scans and may be a useful tool in evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysm patients with applications in risk evaluation and telemedicine.
The National Violent Death Reporting System and Police-Involved Firearm Deaths.

The author discusses a study by Conner et al. which uses data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to examine the frequency of fatal shootings by the police and evaluates the quality of NVDRS data for addressing this issue in the U.S.
Immunotherapy for head and neck cancer: where are we now and where are we going?

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a relatively common cancer (1). While many patients with locally advanced disease are cured with some combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, others will develop recurrent/metastatic disease (R/M) and are considered incurable. Cytotoxic chemotherapy has limited efficacy and substantial toxicity in metastatic HNSCC, with a median overall survival of less than a year (2).
Netflix and chill?: Exploring and refining differing motivations in friends with benefits relationships

Previous work on friends with benefits relationships (FWBRs) has demonstrated a need for more specific attention to exploring the motivations for engaging in such relationships. Moreover, recent re...
Devices-as-Services: Rethinking Scalable Service Architectures for the Internet of Things

We investigate a new distributed services model and architecture for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. In particular, we observe that devices at the edge of the network, although resource constrained, are increasingly capable – performing actions (e.g. data analytics, decision support, actuation, control, etc.) in addition to event telemetry. Thus, such devices are better modeled as servers, which applications in the cloud compose for their functionality. We investigate the implications of this “flipped” IoT client-server model, for server discovery, authentication, and resource use. We find that by combining capability-based security with an edge-aware registry, this model can achieve fast response and energy efficiency.
Trends in the surgical treatment of meniscal tears in patients with and without concurrent anterior cruciate ligament tears.

Meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common injuries. The purpose of this study was to determine trends in meniscal repair and meniscectomy both in the presence and absence of AC...
Characterization of LSD1 Expression Within the Murine Eye.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to extend the current understanding of endogenous lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) expression spatially and temporally in the retina. Toward that end, we determined the localization and levels of LSD1 and its substrates H3K4me1 and H3K4me2 (H3K4me1/2) within the murine eye. Methods Immunofluorescent microscopy for LSD1, H3K4me1, and H3K4me2 was conducted on murine formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded eye sections across development in addition to Western immunoblotting to assess localization and protein levels. Results Retinal LSD1 protein levels were highest at postnatal day 7 (P7), whereas its substrates H3K4me1 and H3K4me2 had equally high levels at P2 and P14. Concentrations of all three proteins gradually decreased over developmental time until reaching a basement level of ∼60% of maximum at P36. LSD1 and H3K4me1/2 were expressed uniformly in all retinal progenitor cells. By P36, there was variability in LSD1 expression in the ganglion cell layer, uniform expression in the inner nuclear layer, and dichotomous expression between photoreceptors in the outer nuclear layer. This contrasted with H3K4me1/2 expression, which remained uniform. Additionally, LSD1 was widely expressed in the lens, cornea, and retinal pigment epithelium. Conclusions Consistent with its known role in neuronal differentiation, LSD1 is highly and uniformly expressed throughout all retinal progenitor cells. Variability in LSD1 expression, particularly in photoreceptors, may be indicative of their unique transcriptomes and epigenetic patterns of rods and cones. Murine rod nuclei exhibit LSD1 expression in a ring or shell, rather than throughout the nucleus, consistent with their unique inverted chromatin organization. LSD1 has substantial expression throughout adulthood, especially in cone nuclei. By providing insight into endogenous LSD1 expression, our current findings could directly inform future studies to determine the exact role of Lsd1 in the development and maintenance of specific structures and cell types within the eye.
Non-Innocent Role of Porous Carbon Toward Enhancing C2–3 Products in the Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide

Selectivity for C–C coupled products remains a major challenge for electrochemical CO2 reduction. Herein, we report a facile method by modifying a Cu foil surface with a layer of porous carbon. The...
Long-term Outcomes Following Multiply Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.

Background and aims Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a commonly used therapy for multiply recurrent Clostridioides difficile (mrCDI). By altering the gut microbiota, there is the potential for FMT to impact the risk for cardiometabolic, intestinal or immune-mediated conditions. Likewise, the microbiota disturbance associated with mrCDI could potentially lead to these conditions. We aimed to assess the associations of mrCDI and FMT with cardiometabolic, immune-mediated diseases, and irritable bowel syndrome. Methods This retrospective cohort study using a United States commercial claims database included persons diagnosed with CDI or undergoing FMT. We created 2 pairwise comparisons: mrCDI vs non-mrCDI, and non-mrCDI or mrCDI treated with FMT vs mrCDI without FMT. Results We found no significant association between mrCDI (vs non-mrCDI) and inflammatory bowel disease (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-4.04), rheumatoid arthritis (HR = 0.86; 0.47-1.56), psoriasis (HR = 0.72; 0.23–2.27), diabetes (aHR = 0.97; 0.67-1.40), hypertension (aHR = 1.05; 0.76-1.44), myocardial infarction (aHR = 0.82; 0.63-1.06), stroke (aHR = 0.83; 0.62-1.12), or irritable bowel syndrome (HR = 0.94; 0.61-1.45). Similarly, we found no association of CDI with FMT (vs mrCDI without FMT) and diabetes (aHR = 0.92; 0.27-3.11), hypertension (aHR = 1.41; 0.64-3.15), stroke (aHR = 1.27; 0.69–2.34) or inflammatory bowel syndrome (aHR = 0.80; 0.26–2.46). However, the incidence of myocardial infarction was increased following FMT (aHR = 1.68; 1.01–2.81). Conclusion Relative to those with CDI, persons with mrCDI do not appear to be intrinsically at higher risk of cardiometabolic, immune-mediated diseases, or irritable bowel syndrome. However, those who underwent FMT for CDI had a higher incidence of myocardial infarction. Future studies should assess this association to assess reproducibility.
Adolescent fluoxetine treatment mediates a persistent anxiety-like outcome in female C57BL/6 mice that is ameliorated by fluoxetine re-exposure in adulthood

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether juvenile fluoxetine (FLX) exposure induces long-term changes in baseline responses to anxiety-inducing environments, and if so, whether its re-exposure in adulthood would ameliorate this anxiety-like phenotype. An additional goal was to assess the impact of adolescent FLX pretreatment, and its re-exposure in adulthood, on serotonin transporters (5-HTT) and brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor (BDNF)-related signaling markers (TrkB-ERK1/2-CREB-proBDNF-mBDNF) within the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. To do this, female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to FLX in drinking water during postnatal-days (PD) 35-49. After a 21-day washout-period (PD70), mice were either euthanized (tissue collection) or evaluated on anxiety-related tests (open field, light/dark box, elevated plus-maze). Juvenile FLX history resulted in a persistent avoidance-like profile, along with decreases in BDNF-signaling markers, but not 5-HTTs or TrkB receptors, within both brain regions. Interestingly, FLX re-exposure in adulthood reversed the enduring FLX-induced anxiety-related responses across all behavioral tasks, while restoring ERK2-CREB-proBDNF markers to control levels and increasing mBDNF within the prefrontal cortex, but not the hippocampus. Collectively, these results indicate that adolescent FLX history mediates neurobehavioral adaptations that endure into adulthood, which are indicative of a generalized anxiety-like phenotype, and that this persistent effect is ameliorated by later-life FLX re-exposure, in a prefrontal cortex-specific manner.
Prenatal Stress and Child Health: Immune Models and Mechanisms

The aim of this chapter is to introduce biological and empirical bases for integrating immune mechanisms in the study of how prenatal maternal stress and anxiety may shape child health outcomes. We begin with a general discussion of immune mechanisms and what may be particular about them in the perinatal period for the mother. We then briefly review how immune mechanisms have been considered in the research on prenatal stress and child development, with a particular focus on the developmental programming hypothesis. The limited but growing literature on prenatal maternal stress and anxiety on child immune and immune-related health outcomes is considered and critiqued for what they imply about mechanisms and for how these findings pose new opportunities and challenges for understanding other child outcomes, such as neurodevelopment and metabolic functioning. Throughout, we attend to methodological considerations and highlight some of the more important unresolved matters that require further study.
HeMI: Multi-view Embedding in Heterogeneous Graphs.

Many real-world graphs involve different types of nodes and relations between nodes, being heterogeneous by nature. The representation learning of heterogeneous graphs (HGs) embeds the rich structure and semantics of such graphs into a low-dimensional space and facilitates various data mining tasks, such as node classification, node clustering, and link prediction. In this paper, we propose a self-supervised method that learns HG representations by relying on knowledge exchange and discovery among different HG structural semantics (meta-paths). Specifically, by maximizing the mutual information of meta-path representations, we promote meta-path information fusion and consensus, and ensure that globally shared semantics are encoded. By extensive experiments on node classification, node clustering, and link prediction tasks, we show that the proposed self-supervision both outperforms and improves competing methods by 1% and up to 10% for all tasks.
Right Ventricular Pathobiology

Right ventricular (RV) function is a strong independent determinant of outcomes in a broad range of cardiopulmonary diseases. Despite this recognition, the underlying pathobiology of RV failure remains poorly understood and no RV-specific therapies exist for RV dysfunction. The variable response of RV function to different medical therapies and among etiologies of pulmonary hypertension suggests that elevated afterload is not the sole determinant of RV function. Various molecular mechanisms have been identified that contribute to RV failure. RV ischemia, neurohormonal activation, maladaptive myocardial hypertrophy, metabolic remodeling, and mitochondrial dysfunction are key pathogenic mechanisms that have been demonstrated in both experimental models and humans with RV dysfunction. Genetics may also contribute to RV dysfunction as in heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension and arrhythmogenic RV dysplasia. Metabolic dysregulation and neurohormonal antagonism are currently being tested as RV-specific therapeutic targets in PAH. More detailed understanding of the molecular underpinnings of RV failure will lead to additional therapeutic avenues. Molecular imaging tools such as positron emission tomography may provide a more mechanistic understanding of RV pathophysiology in vivo and allow translation of basic science findings to humans.
The Reciprocal Theorem

Energy or variational methods have an important place in Solid Mechanics both as an alternative to the more direct method of solving the governing partial differential equations and as a means of developing convergent approximations to analytically intractable problems. They are particularly useful in situations where only a restricted set of results is required—for example, if we wish to determine the resultant force on a cross-section or the displacement of a particular point, but are not interested in the full stress and displacement fields. Indeed, such results can often be obtained in closed form for problems in which a solution for the complete fields would be intractable.
Magnetic field induced residual resistivity and anisotropic superconductivity in the linear chain compound, Hg3-σAsF6

The anisotropic metallic state and superconductivity of this quasi-onedimensional linear chain mercury compound are discussed, and the results of studies of the transport, magnetic and optical properties are reviewed.New results on the resistivity and magneto resistivity have been obtained using contactless ac mutual inductance techniques.These data imply a magnetic field induced residual resistivity which appears to go to zero as the field is reduced to zero.Meissner effect measurements of this anisotropic superconductor have been extended to 0. 28 K; below 0. 4 K the flux exclusion becomes complete with X, approaching -( 1/4π ). Magnetization and transport data in the anisotropic superconducting regime below 4. 1 K are discussed in detail with emphasis on the question of the possible role of free mercury.
A machine learning approach to cognitive radar detection

We consider the requirements of cognitive radar detection in the presence of non-Gaussian clutter. A pair of machine learning approaches based on non-linear transformations of order statistics are examined with the goal of adaptively determining the optimal detection threshold within the low sample support regime. The impact of these algorithms on false alarm rate is also considered. It is demonstrated that the adaptive threshold estimate is effective even when the distribution in question is unknown to the machine learning algorithm.
Evaluation of Precipitation Records in Weather Modification Experiments

Publisher Summary One of the key problems encountered in precipitation modification experiments has been the evaluation of their results. Evaluation of modest increases or decreases in surface precipitation resulting from cloud seeding operations is exceedingly difficult because of the great natural variation of precipitation in space and time. This problem has been compounded by the lack of adequate statistical data to define the natural variability characteristics quantitatively. This chapter presents an appraisal of the problems involved in weather modification experiments that result from the space and time distribution characteristics of natural precipitation and the measurement thereof. It focuses on the use of comprehensive studies of precipitation climatology in assessing the magnitude of the verification problem, estimating the potential output from cloud seeding operations, defining in quantitative terms the space and time variability of precipitation, and determining precipitation measurement requirements. An appraisal of several statistical evaluation techniques is made through use of natural precipitation data. Finally, the application of knowledge accumulated from various precipitation studies in the design of a specific precipitation modification experiment is illustrated.
A NOTE ON THE BANACH-MAZUR DISTANCE TO THE CUBE

If X is an n-dimensional normed space, and d denotes the Banach-Mazur distance, then d(X, l ∞ n ) ≤ cn 5/6.
Adaptive unscented Kalman filter (UKF) for acoustic emission (AE) source localization in noisy environment

ABSTRACT This paper proposes an adaptive Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) algorithm for Acoustic Emission (AE) source localization in plate-like structures in noisy environments. Over all, the proposed approach consists of four main stages: 1) feature extraction, 2) sensor selection based on a binary hypothesis testing, 3) sensor weighting based on a well-defined weighting function, and 4) estimation of the AE source based on the UKF. The performance of the proposed algorithm is validated through pencil lead breaks performed on an aluminum plate instrument ed with a sparse array of piezoelectric sensors. To simulate highly noisy environment, two piezoelectric transducers have been used to continually generating high power white noise during testing. Keywords: Acoustic Emission (AE), Adaptive Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF), Binary Hypothesis Test, Lamb waves, inflight structural health monitoring. 1. INTRODUCTION The continual aging of aircraft fleets resulted in new safety requirements and necessitated upgrading the exciting maintenance technologies
Asymptotic Separation of Variables

Abstract We study generalized functions ƒ(x) that admit the asymptotic separation of variables ƒ(λx) ∼ ρ 1 (λ)h 1 (x) + ρ 2 (λ)h 2 (x) + ρ 3 (λ)h 3 (x) + ···, as λ → ∞, where {ρn(λ)} is an asymptotic sequence. Among other results, we show that when the asymptotic separation of variables holds, the terms have to be homogeneous and associated homogeneous generalized functions. The asymptotic expansion of ρ(λx), as λ → ∞, where ρ is a regularly varying function, is also considered.
Specificity of Bacillus subtilis ribonuclease

Abstract 1. 1. A study has been made of the action of Bacillus subtilis RNAase [polyribonucleotide 2-oligonucleotidotransferase (cyclizing) (B. subtilis)] on a number of polynucleotides, oligonucleotides and TMV-RNA. 2. 2. Poly-I is hydrolyzed by the enzyme more rapidly than Poly-A, which in turn is hydrolyzed more rapidly than Poly-U. Poly-C, by comparison, is almost resistant. In each case the nature of the pattern of the hydrolysis products is much the same. Hydrolysis of the polynucleotide to yield mainly cyclic tri- and cyclic dinucleotides proceeds rapidly. The breakdown of the cyclic trinucleotides is a relatively slow process and the hydrolysis of the cyclic dinucleotide to the cyclic mononucleotide end-product is very slow. In the case of the inosinic acid series there is a measurable hydrolysis of the cyclic mononucleotide to 3′-inosinic acid. 3. 3. B. subtilis RNAase hydrolyzes the dinucleotide GpCp more rapidly than it does triadenylic acid, and the dinucleoside monophosphates GpA, GpC, GpG, GpU, IpC and XpC, more rapidly than diadenylic acid. Dinucleoside monophosphates of the type ApA, CpA, UpA, are resistant to the enzyme. 4. 4. Although Poly-G was not available for these studies it is predicted from the above results that Poly-G would be hydrolyzed by B. subtilis RNAase at a far greater rate than any of the other polynucleotides investigated. 5. 5. The chromatographic pattern of the products resulting from the hydrolysis of TMV-RNA by B. subtilis RNAase is consistent with the pattern expected from a knowledge of the behavior of the enzyme towards the model substrates.
Vitamin B12 deficiency in an infant strictly breast-fed by a mother with latent pernicious anemia**

M E G A L O B L A S T I C ANEMIA in ch i l dhood is rare . T h e ma jo r i t y o f r epor t ed cases a r e the resu l t o f a nu t r i t i ona l def ic iency? H e r e i n we desc r ibe a u n i q u e case o f severe v i t a m i n B~2 def ic iency in t he b r ea s t f ed i n f a n t o f a m o t h e r hav ing ne i the r d i e t a ry i d io sync ra sy nor h e m a t o l o g i c abnor mal i ty . T h e poor neuro log ic o u t c o m e u n d e r s c o r e s t he need for ea r ly r ecogn i t ion o f th is d isorder .
A site-directed mutant of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase modeled after native extracellular superoxide dismutase.

The well-studied cytosolic Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) protects against reperfusion injury, although its short (6 min) plasma half-life and negative charge create undesirable pharmacokinetics. We have designed, cloned, and expressed a genetic variant of SOD with altered pharmacological properties. A fusion gene consisting of the entire coding region of human SOD followed by a positively charged carboxy-terminal (C-terminal) “tail” of eight glycine and six arginine residues was constructed. The tail was modeled after the extracellular SOD (EC-SOD) C-terminal 26-amino acid basic peptide. This EC-SOD tail binds to heparin-like proteoglycans on cell surfaces and contributes to the enzyme’s very long (30 h) plasma clearance time. After expression inEscherichia coli, the mutant enzyme was purified and characterized. No differences in specific activity or UV absorption spectrum between the mutant and the native enzyme were found. The thermal stability of the fusion protein was greater than that of native SOD. Although native SOD has no affinity for heparin, the modified enzyme bound to a heparin-agarose column. A “designer” SOD able to bind to cell surfaces may aid in the prevention of superoxide-mediated endothelial damage.
An improved pseudo potential for the two-ion Paul trap

Keeping terms up to second order in the micro motion of two ions stored in a Paul trap we derive an improved two-ion pseudo potential which predicts crystal alignment effects that go beyond a standard pseudo-potential analysis and are supported by numerical evidence. The dynamical predictions can be checked experimentally with existing set-ups.
Effect of uniform magnetic field on packing of magnetizable granular media

Abstract The packing of magnetizable powders is strongly influenced by uniform magnetic fields. At a superficial magnetic flux density of 50 Gauss, the apparent and tapped densities of some powders (in the 50–100 μm size range) are decreased by ∼10% and ∼20%, respectively. This magnetic-field-coupled packing, strongly influenced by particle size and shape, is hysteretic, in that the final packing density depends on when the magnetic field is applied during the tapping. Furthermore, powders made from magnetically hard materials exhibit lower tapped density and lower angle of repose when pre-treated in a strong field (∼1000 G). Strong magnetic interparticle forces which result from local intensification of the field in the contact region between adjacent particles are thought to reduce the packing. The results suggest that a magnetic field can influence powder flows in two ways: an anisotropic inter-particle force (which directly influences cohesion) and a decrease in packing (which influences shear flow).
Applying portfolio theory to global bank lending

Abstract Portfolio theory provides some insights into how a bank should manage its global exposures. Practical application of some of the principles of portfolio analysis is possible if comparable credit ratings are available and if the impact on each loan's rating of likely future events can be assessed. If further restrictive assumptions are made about which quality dimensions of the portfolio are more important (and how much more important), and if judgements can be quantified about what risk-return tradeoffs are acceptable, then it is possible to derive measures to guide exposure and pricing decisions. This article is related to the other papers in this special issue in that country and corporate risk assessment methodologies can provide important inputs into the portfolio analysis. This paper, however, attempts to go beyond the evaluation of risk at the level of individual companies, countries, or other loan customers, and to focus instead on the problem of managing the riskiness of the overall bank loan portfolio.
Public opinion of a stroke clinical trial using exception from informed consent

Acute stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Clinical trials in stroke are challenging because victims often do not have the capacity to provide informed consent, excluding those patients most likely to benefit from the research. We evaluated patient willingness to participate in a hypothetical acute stroke trial using an exception from informed consent. Consecutive patients presenting to four emergency departments (EDs) underwent structured interviews regarding a hypothetical stroke trial using an exception from informed consent. Of 461 (72% of eligible) participants, 55% (95% CI, 50%–59%) were willing to be enrolled in the hypothetical study without giving informed consent. After multivariable analysis, independent predictors of willingness to enroll included Catholic religion (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.17–2.10) and belief that current therapy offers a >50% chance of full recovery (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.05–1.57). There was no difference between the proportion willing to enroll in a cardiac arrest study vs. a stroke study (55% vs. 55%, p = 0.83) Fifty-five percent of ED patients would be willing to be enrolled in a stroke trial using exception from informed consent.
A method of temporomandibular joint roentgenography for serial or mutiple records

1. The inflammatory processes due to traumatic injuries may make the patient’s response to the electric pulp tester unre­ liable. 2. I f arterial bleeding of the pulp is present or can be initiated, there is suffi­ cient indication that the pulp is vital and therefore should respond to treatment. 3. When the pulp is exposed as a re­ sult of trauma, a pulpotomy should be performed as soon after the injury as possible. 4. A crown fabricated with self-cur­ ing resin provides an immediate, tempo­ rary, durable and esthetic protective covering for the materials used in the treatment of these fractures. 5. Calcium hydroxide-methyl cellulose paste provides stimulation to the pulp to form new dentin and protects the dentin and pulp from further irritation. 6. The use of calcium hydroxidemethyl cellulose paste simplifies the tech­ nics employed in pulp capping, pulpotomy and the lining of cavities. 471 Commonwealth Avenue
Threat-Sensitive Responses to Disturbance Cues in Juvenile Convict Cichlids and Rainbow Trout

We conducted laboratory experiments (1) to confirm the existence of a non-injury released disturbance cue in juvenile convict cichlids and rainbow trout, and (2) to determine if cichlids and trout exhibit a graded threat-sensitive antipredator response to varying concentrations of disturbance cues. The results of our first experiment demonstrate that both cichlids and trout exhibit significant antipredator responses (reductions in time spent moving, foraging rate and area use) to the odour of conspecifics that had been exposed to a realistic predator model but not to the odour of undisturbed conspecifics. The results of our second experiment demonstrate that cichlids and trout exhibit reduced time spent moving and foraging rates proportional to the concentration of disturbance cue detected. Together, these results confirm the presence of disturbance cues in cichlids and trout and demonstrate that disturbance cues provide sufficient information to allow for graded threat-sensitive responses.
Calibration of a crop model to irrigated water use using a genetic algorithm

Abstract. Near-term consumption of groundwater for irrigated agriculture in the High Plains Aquifer supports a dynamic bio-socio-economic system, all parts of which will be impacted by a future transition to sustainable usage that matches natural recharge rates. Plants are the foundation of this system and so generic plant models suitable for coupling to representations of other component processes (hydrologic, economic, etc.) are key elements of needed stakeholder decision support systems. This study explores utilization of the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model to serve in this role. Calibration required many facilities of a fully deployed decision support system: geo-referenced databases of crop (corn, sorghum, alfalfa, and soybean), soil, weather, and water-use data (4931 well-years), interfacing heterogeneous software components, and massively parallel processing (3.8×109 model runs). Bootstrap probability distributions for ten model parameters were obtained for each crop by entropy maximization via the genetic algorithm. The relative errors in yield and water estimates based on the parameters are analyzed by crop, the level of aggregation (county- or well-level), and the degree of independence between the data set used for estimation and the data being predicted.