cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract T P363: Blood-Brain Barrier Damage in Vascular Risk Factor Associated White Matter Disease

Background: Vascular risk factor associated white matter disease (WMD), or leukoaraiosis, has been shown to demonstrate blood brain barrier damage (BBB) in patients with vascular dementia even when not detectable with standard clinical T1 post-contrast imaging. Purpose: We sought to study the prevalence of white matter BBB damage in a population of patients admitted to an inpatient stroke service. Methods: MRI scans of patients admitted for TIA or stroke were reviewed for evidence of confluent WMD in the centrum semiovale (CSO). To be included in the study patients must also have undergone a successful DSC image acquisition, also known as perfusion weighted image (PWI). The source images of the PWI were analyzed to generate blood-brain permeability images (BBPI) as described in a previous publication (Leigh et al, PLOS One 2012). The CSO in the first image above the lateral ventricles was used in each patient to generate BBPI measures. The pre-injection images of the PWI are T2* weighted and were therefore used to outline the area of confluent T2 signal change bilaterally. No acute strokes were present in any CSO analyzed as confirmed on DWI. The mean percent leakage (MPL) of contrast was calculated for each patient. A threshold of 2% of cerebral blood volume (CBV) was used to differentiate BBB damage from noise. Results: 20 patients were included in the study, 8 were female, with a mean age of 65 years. The diagnosis was stroke in 15 patients and TIA in 5 patients. The location of the strokes were 5 pons, 3 basil ganglia, 3 periventricular, 1 thalamus, 1 cerebellar, 1 PCA, and 1 embolic shower. Of the 20 patients, 11 stroke patients and 3 TIA patients demonstrated BBB damage. The MPL ranged from 2.1% to 23.7% with an average value of 6.9% (of CBV). The MPL was even higher for the TIA group (12.2%) than for the for the stroke group (5.4%), although this difference failed to reach significance (p=0.056) . Conclusions: In patients admitted for stroke evaluation, BBB damage in confluent WMD is common. The relevance of this finding remains unclear. However there appears to be a trend towards increased BBB damage in patients who present with events that do not localize to an acute stroke; further research should be directed at establishing the clinical implications of BBB damage in this population.
Analysis of Epidemic Trend of Syphilis in Heping District of Shenyang City from 2004 to 2009

[Objective]To understand the morbidity intensity and infection trend of syphilis in Heping Distict of Shenyang City,and provide accurate basis for making prevention and control plan of syphilis.[Methods]Descriptive epidemiological method was adopted to analyze the related epidemic data of syphilis. [Results]During 2004 - 2009,the average annual incidence of syphilis was 38. 53 /100 000,the difference of incidence between years was significant; the seasonal peak was not obvious; the sex ratio of male to female was 1. 22 ∶ 1,the difference was significant; in the occupation distribution,people conducting housework and waiting for jobs accounted for 33. 16% ; patients aged 20 ～ 49 years accounted for 66. 11% .[Conclusion]It is necessary to strengthen the hygienic propaganda and the health education,to enhance prevention awareness and levels among population to against syphilis,and to implement comprehensive intervention,so as to ultimately reduces the risk factors for syphilis spread.
TCKs and Other Cross-Cultural Kids

The goal of this article is to increase awareness and understanding of third culture kids (TCKs).-children who spend all or part of their child/teen years outside their passport country because of a parent's employment abroad. They are introduced as one example of Cross Cultural Kid (CCK) and compared with other children who are socialized in an international context-immigrant children and children of cross-national couples. The origin and meaning of the term TCK, now generally applied to all children of expatriate parents, is described.Variations in TCK childhood experiences are discussed along with overarching questions of belonging and home common to all TCKs. Difficulties associated with reentry to the passport country-grief and loss, hidden immigrant, belonging and home-are related to the need to find a meaningful group identity. American TCKs are compared with TCKs from other countries, with special attention to Japanese kikoku shijo.
Editorial: What to Take From TREAT?

The TREAT Registry is an updated submission of the 5-year follow-up of Crohn's disease patients from community and academic centers in North America treated with or without infliximab. Over 6,000 patients were followed for risks of mortality and serious infections. Similar to data presented after nearly 2 years of follow-up, mortality was similar for infliximab- and other-treatment-only patients. Infliximab, corticosteroids and narcotics were associated with increased risks of serious infections. Data presented is similar from data reported for controlled trials and observational series in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
CT colonography: examination prerequisites

CT colonography is likely to play an important role in colorectal cancer screening. The ability of this new technique to detect colorectal polyps and cancer is predicated on an optimally cleansed and distended colon. Whereas the most common reported colonic cleansing regimen employed for CT colonography is polyethylene glycol lavage solution, saline cathartics such as sodium phosphate and magnesium citrate offer the advantage of a drier cleansed colon. Positive labeling of residual stool and fluid combined with electronic substraction of tagged material is under investigation. This new technique would eliminate purgative bowel cleansing and increase patient acceptance of CT colonography. Colonic distention is easily and reliably achieved with atmospheric air, although carbon dioxide is being evaluated as a more comfortable alternative. The use of antispasmodics for CT colonography is controversial. Glucagon is no longer used at centers where a clear benefit has not been found. Intravenous contrast may be useful in a specific subset of patients undergoing CT colonography, although it is doubtful that it will be used routinely for CT colonography.
SimpleSBML: A Python package for creating and editing SBML models

Summary: In this technical report we describe a simple extension to python-libSBML that allows users of Python to more easily construct SBML based models. The most commonly used package for constructing SBML models in Python is python-libSBML based on the C/C++ library libSBML. python-libSBML supports a comprehensive set of model types, but is difficult for new users to learn and requires long scripts to create even the simplest models. We present SimpleSBML, a package that allows users to add species, parameters, reactions, events, and rules to a libSBML model with only one command for each. Models can be exported to SBML format, and SBML files can be imported and converted to SimpleSBML commands that creates each element in a new model. This allows users to create new models and edit existing models for use with other software. Accessibility and Implementation: SimpleSBML is publicly available and licensed under the liberal Apache 2.0 open source license. It supports SBML levels 2 and 3. Its only dependency is libSBML. It is supported on Windows and Mac OS X. All code has been deposited at the GitHub site: https://github.com/sys-bio/simplesbml Contact: carolc24@u.washington.edu or hsauro@u.washington.edu Supplementary information: Documentation and download is available at sys-bio.github.io/simplesbml.
Facies distribution and taphonomy of echinoids from the Fort Payne Formation (late osagean, early Viséan, Mississippian) of Kentucky

Abstract. Paleozoic echinoids are exceptionally rare, and little is known of their paleoenvironmental distribution. The echinoid fauna of the Fort Payne Formation (Late Osagean, Early Visean) of south-central Kentucky is documented. Four genera, ?Archaeocidaris, Lepidocidaris, ?Lepidesthes, and an unidentified lepidocentrid, were recovered and represent three different families. This fauna, and their associated paleoenvironments, give important new insights into the facies distribution of Paleozoic echinoids and the taphonomic biases that affect this distribution. Lepidocidaris is known from the green shale facies, which comprises the core of Fort Payne's carbonate buildups. ?Archaeocidaris and the lepidocentrid are known from the wackestone buildups and crinoidal packstone buildups. ?Lepidesthes is also known from crinoidal packstone and wackestone buildups, which argues against a semi-infaunal life mode for this taxon. All relatively semiarticulated echinoids were known from autochthonous facies, wherea...
Transmyocardial Revascularization Using CO2 Lasers in Ischemic Heart Disease

While the modern armamentarium for the treatment of ischemic heart disease includes ever-improving pharmaceutical therapies, percutaneous interventions, and coronary artery bypass grafting, standard modalities are not always sufficient in the treatment of advanced disease. Indeed, the number of patients with symptomatic chronic disease continues to rise in the United States – likely due to advancements in medical therapy. As a result of this challenge, researchers have long sought to develop alternative strategies to more traditional revascularization techniques. In the 1990s transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) emerged as an effective treatment modality for patients with severe coronary disease not amenable to conventional therapy. Although the specific mechanisms leading to reperfusion and symptom relief remain controversial, studies have shown laser therapy to significantly improve angina in select patient groups, rendering it an important therapeutic option in the treatment of severe coronary artery disease.
Deng Xiaoping: A Leadership Case Study

TEACHING THE COMPLEXITY OF LEADERSHIP “Hence a prince who wants to keep his post must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.”(1) This timeless, albeit amoral, advice that Niccolo Machiavelli offered 500 years ago is very difficult for undergraduate students of leadership to appreciate. Attempting to bridge this gap, the authors have written a case about and from the perspective of Deng Xiaoping (considered by many to have been the most successful leader of modern China). The three part case also includes appendices to aid the student in understanding the context in which Deng led China, as well as teaching notes to guide the instructor. (1) The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli (Translated by Robert M. Adams, UCLA), W.W. Norton, 1977
Stabilization mechanisms in the evolution of thin liquid-films

In recent years, there has been great interest in using control theory to alter the stability regimes of fluid systems. A flow property is measured at a point and relayed back to a control that alt...
Reprofiled anthelmintics abate hypervirulent stationary-phase Clostridium difficile

Prolonged use of broad-spectrum antibiotics disrupts the indigenous gut microbiota, which consequently enables toxigenic Clostridium difficile species to proliferate and cause infection. The burden of C. difficile infections was exacerbated with the outbreak of hypervirulent strains that produce copious amounts of enterotoxins and spores. In recent past, membrane-active agents have generated a surge of interest due to their bactericidal property with a low propensity for resistance. In this study, we capitalized on the antimicrobial property and low oral bioavailability of salicylanilide anthelmintics (closantel, rafoxanide, niclosamide, oxyclozanide) to target the gut pathogen. By broth microdilution techniques, we determined the MIC values of the anthelmintics against 16 C. difficile isolates of defined PCR-ribotype. The anthelmintics broadly inhibited C. difficile growth in vitro via a membrane depolarization mechanism. Interestingly, the salicylanilides were bactericidal against logarithmic- and stationary-phase cultures of the BI/NAP1/027 strain 4118. The salicylanilides were poorly active against select gut commensals (Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species), and were non-hemolytic and non-toxic to mammalian cell lines HepG2 and HEK 293T/17 within the range of their in vitro MICs and MBCs. The salicylanilide anthelmintics exhibit desirable properties for repositioning as anti-C. difficile agents.
Language Education in Cameroon: From the Colonial Era to the 21st Century

Language multiplicity is an easily perceptible trait among African countries. With the exception of a dozen countries with two primary languages,1 and another seven countries with three primary languages,2 the remaining two-thirds of Africa’s nations are awash with languages, including colonial and contact ones. However, the choice of which language to use for formal education was never that of the speakers, but of colonial administrators, based on economic and political interests, or cultural or religious/ ethnocentric biases. For similar reasons, colonial languages were introduced either to supplant indigenous ones, or indigenous languages were introduced to supplant their indigenous counterparts, or some languages were suppressed altogether.3 In sum, the language situation in sub-Saharan Africa has had a checkered history and has not properly served the peoples due to many factors, including European imperialism, colonialism, and a myopic vision by post-colonial leaders. Okrah imputes the responsibility for failed educational reforms in Africa partially on poor pedagogical leadership, fiscal strain, and lack of parental cooperation (2003, p. 13). A UNESCO study has established that investing beyond primary education to secondary and tertiary education is economically rewarding over the long haul, and, inversely, countries whose budgetary allocations for education have been only a pittance have been left at the bottom of the pile. This correlation under girds Makulu’s (1971) position that “African education needs not the luxury of unproductive, philosophically oriented education but education that will produce men and women that will help in the exploitation of the technical coming of age of Africa in the task of nation building” (Okrah, 2003, p. 18). A people’s social, economic, or political advancement is a function of its educational advancement. That symbiotic relationship (investment in education and
The Broker-Dealer's Role in the Detection and Prevention of Elderly Financial Exploitation

An estimated one million elders a year lose nearly $3 billion due to financial abuse, and the problem is expected to grow because the U.S. population is aging. Although federal and state regulators have long recognized the role that broker-dealers and investment advisers can play in identifying, preventing and reporting financial abuse, there is no uniform approach or set of standards. Instead, the current landscape is an evolving patchwork quilt of federal and state law, pending rule proposals to address discrete issues, recommended (but not required) steps from regulators and best practices implemented by individual firms. This article will review this evolving landscape and proposed regulatory reforms that can significantly impact elder financial exploitation.
Identification of NAD+ capped mRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

RNAs besides tRNA and rRNA contain chemical modifications, including the recently described 5′ nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) RNA in bacteria. Whether 5′ NAD-RNA exists in eukaryotes remains unknown. We demonstrate that 5′ NAD-RNA is found on subsets of nuclear and mitochondrial encoded mRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. NAD-mRNA appears to be produced cotranscriptionally because NAD-RNA is also found on pre-mRNAs, and only on mitochondrial transcripts that are not 5′ end processed. These results define an additional 5′ RNA cap structure in eukaryotes and raise the possibility that this 5′ NAD+ cap could modulate RNA stability and translation on specific subclasses of mRNAs.
Vitamin D Supplementation and DNA Methylation Patterns during Pregnancy and Lactation in Mothers and Infants

The purpose of this study was to identify the temporal influence of maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on DNA methylation in mothers and infants. In this double blind...
Correlation of Crtc1/3-Maml2 fusion status, grade and survival in mucoepidermoid carcinoma

Abstract Objective Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant tumor of the salivary glands. Tumor stage and grade have historically been important predictors of survival. An oncogenic CRTC1- or CRTC3-MAML2 gene fusion has been identified in a number of MECs. Historically, these gene fusions have been associated with lower grade tumors and better survival. However, reported gene fusion rates and prognosis varies widely across studies, and have not controlled for tumor grade. We sought to identify gene fusion rates and outcomes in our cohort of MEC patients. Materials and methods An IRB-approved retrospective cohort of patients with MEC was identified at the University of Michigan. Clinical, histologic, and outcome data was collected from medical records. RNA was isolated from formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tumor sections, and qRT-PCR was performed to identify CRTC1/3-MAML2 gene fusions. Sanger sequencing of qRT-PCR products was used to confirm gene fusions. Results Overall, 90 patient MEC tumors were collected (58 low-grade, 25 intermediate-grade, and 7 high-grade). Gene fusions were identified in 59% (53/90) of tumors. On univariate and bivariate analysis, fusion status did not significantly associate with grade or survival. Conclusion We have identified a high rate of CRTC1/3-MAML2 gene fusions in a large cohort of MEC. We do not identify any correlation between fusion status with tumor grade or survival. These findings suggest further characterization of MECs is needed before considering the CRTC1/3-MAML2 gene fusion as a prognostic biomarker. Additional genetic drivers may account for survival and grade in MECs.
Sub-Micron Electrical Interconnection Enabled Ultra-High I/O Density Wafer Level SiP Integration

To improve the latency and bandwidth performance for future high performance computing application, a sub-micron electrical interconnection composed of metal capping layer with sub-micron thickness on typical copper CMP (chemical mechanical polish) BEOL (back-end of line) structure is demonstrated, and the corresponding metal deposition including Ni, Pd, Au using electro-less technique are reported in this study. In this structure, sub-micron size metal pads in the present copper BEOL technology are formed utilizing electroless deposition and significantly simplify the current litho-based "bumping" processes and is cost-effective in production. With this structure, I/O density is shown to be higher than 106/cm2, and the improvement in chip embedded passive device is achieved. Moreover, a polymer based material as the protection underfill was performed to evaluate the sub-micron gap filling feasibility. Besides, a wet chemical bond formation for chip stacking technology is proposed with a simple cost-effective joint structure (Cu pad-Metal-Cu pad) and an electroless deposition process with low processing temperature (70 °C) was utilized. This study demonstrated the electroless bond formation, which consists of pre-aligned die stacking with adhesive spacers and subsequent wet chemical electroless plating process to form joints between top tier and bottom tier Cu pads.
Development, Validation, and Dissemination of a Breast Cancer Recurrence Detection and Timing Informatics Algorithm.

Background This study developed, validated, and disseminated a generalizable informatics algorithm for detecting breast cancer recurrence and timing using a gold standard measure of recurrence coupled with data derived from a readily available common data model that pools health insurance claims and electronic health records data. Methods The algorithm has two parts: to detect the presence of recurrence and to estimate the timing of recurrence. The primary data source was the Cancer Research Network Virtual Data Warehouse (VDW). Sixteen potential indicators of recurrence were considered for model development. The final recurrence detection and timing models were determined, respectively, by maximizing the area under the ROC curve (AUROC) and minimizing average absolute error. Detection and timing algorithms were validated using VDW data in comparison with a gold standard recurrence capture from a third site in which recurrences were validated through chart review. Performance of this algorithm, stratified by stage at diagnosis, was compared with other published algorithms. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results Detection model AUROCs were 0.939 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.917 to 0.955) in the training data set (n = 3370) and 0.956 (95% CI = 0.944 to 0.971) and 0.900 (95% CI = 0.872 to 0.928), respectively, in the two validation data sets (n = 3370 and 3961, respectively). Timing models yielded average absolute prediction errors of 12.6% (95% CI = 10.5% to 14.5%) in the training data and 11.7% (95% CI = 9.9% to 13.5%) and 10.8% (95% CI = 9.6% to 12.2%) in the validation data sets, respectively, and were statistically significantly lower by 12.6% (95% CI = 8.8% to 16.5%, P < .001) than those estimated using previously reported timing algorithms. Similar covariates were included in both detection and timing algorithms but differed substantially from previous studies. Conclusions Valid and reliable detection of recurrence using data derived from electronic medical records and insurance claims is feasible. These tools will enable extensive, novel research on quality, effectiveness, and outcomes for breast cancer patients and those who develop recurrence.
Stimulating curiosity and the ability to formulate technical questions in an electric circuits course using the question formulation technique (QFT)

One of the key goals as an educator is to stimulate the curiosity of students in order to instill a desire to further explore and learn the subject matter outside of the classroom. Another important goal, often underemphasized, is to enhance the student's ability to formulate questions relevant to the subject matter. In this paper, we describe a technique, called the Question Formulation Technique (QFT), which is well established in the K-12 environment, and elaborate on several ways in which QFT may be utilized to stimulate curiosity and hone question formulation ability in a core undergraduate engineering course, Electric Circuits. While many of the details of the QFT implementations are specific to the Electric Circuits course, the essential elements may easily be extrapolated to any core engineering course.
Algorithms under the Reign of Probability

This Think Piece situates algorithmic uncertainty as a heightened revival of an earlier social commitment to probabilistic knowing emergent in the interwar period. As a critical site for interdisciplinary exchange, mapping out uncertainty practices and models makes visible the social dimensions and impacts of certainty politics.
Impact of a carbon source and stress conditions on some properties of xanthan gum produced by Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae

Abstract The main goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of using crude glycerol (CG) for either total or partial replacement of sucrose (S) as a carbon source in the cultivation of Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae IBSBF 1230. It also investigated the effects of alkali stress on the production and some rheological, thermal and emulsifying properties of xanthan gum. X. campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae IBSBF 1230 grew and produced xanthan in the presence of the impurities of CG. Alkali stress increased xanthan gum production by 133.80%, 73.69% and 164.86% when S, CG and a mixture of both (SCG), respectively, were used. The rheological behavior was similar to xanthan produced with different carbon sources. However, initial viscosity was higher with S (637 cP), followed by SCG (279 cP) and CG (60 cP). The lowest values were obtained with gum recovery following the alkali stress. Emulsification indexes of almost all vegetable oils were higher when the gum produced after the alkali stress was used. As the DSC curves showed different profiles, changes may have occurred in the structure of the polysaccharide due to changes in the carbon source and cultivation.
Chemical Properties of Biochemical Relevance

The chemistry of the lanthanides, unlike their biochemistry, has been extensively reviewed. Several books have been written on this subject (e.g., Vickery, 1953; Spedding and Daane, 1961), and numerous reviews exist (e.g., Moeller, 1973; Morris, 1976). In addition, many standard textbooks on inorganic chemistry have good sections on the lanthanides (e.g., Phillips and Williams, 1966; Cotton and Wilkinson, 1980). It is neither possible nor necessary to discuss all aspects of lanthanide chemistry in this chapter. Instead, those properties of the lanthanides which are most pertinent to their biochemical interactions will be reviewed. Particular attention will be paid to their similarities to Ca2+, as this forms the basis for many of the biochemical studies which employ lanthanides. The strategy of substituting Ca2+ by Ln3+ ions in biological systems owes much of its theoretical basis and development to R.J.P. Williams (Vallee and Williams, 1968; Williams, 1970; Williams, 1979). Such an approach has proved valuable because of the irony whereby Ca2+, biologically one of the most important metal ions, is chemically one of the least informative. The lanthanides, on the other hand, lend themselves to a number of analytical, investigative techniques (Chapter 3). The approach has proved an extremely successful one and is largely responsible for the sustained interest in lanthanide biochemistry.
The Princeton University Geniza Project: Using the Internet for Jewish and Islamic Research

When the Bar-Ilan Global Jewish Database won the Israel Prize in 2007, Yaacov Choueka, one of its principal architects, and his colleagues, gained well deserved recognition for this momentous achievement in the field of computational linguistics and Jewish studies. The present essay in his honor describes another computational project in which Yaacov has taken interest, the Princeton Geniza Project (PGP).
Inelastic response of confined aluminium oxide under dynamic loading conditions

Previous efforts to explore the compressive strength of ceramics as a function of confining pressure at high strain rates have been limited by the maximum hydrostatic pressure that could be achieved within the experimental apparatus. An alternate procedure, using an autofrettaged confinement ring, has been designed to achieve higher confining pressures. A 6.2 GPa stress pulse, of approximately 20 μs duration, was used to load a 99.5% pure cylindrical aluminium oxide specimen under a hydrostatic load of approximately 650 MPa. The specimen remained intact and showed no evidence of fracture under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), however, showed extensive evidence of plastic flow; the microcracks that were observed were associated with dislocation arrays. Static and dynamic yield strengths as a function of strain rate are compared.
Approaches to Nonconvex Variational Problems of Mechanics

This paper reviews recent developments of mathematical methods for nonconvex variational problems of mechanics, particularly, problems of optimal layouts of material in a heterogeneous medium. These problems are characterized by locally unstable solutions which are interpreted as optimal microstructured media. We discuss variational formulations of these problems, properties of their solutions and several approaches to address them: minimizing sequences and the technique of laminates, laminate closures, and the differential scheme; necessary conditions by structural variations and minimal extension technique; the lower bounds and bounds for the variety of effective tensors. Several examples are presented. Particularly, the bound for the tensor of thermal expansion coefficients is found. Special attention is paid to the use of duality for reformulation of minimax problems as minimal ones.
Hepatitis C virus associated membranous glomerulonephritis

Hepatitis C virus infection has been associated with a variety of extrahepatic disorders. We report four patients with membranous glomerulonephritis and hepatitis C virus infection. In contrast to patients previously reported with HCV infection and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, these patients have normal or minimally reduced complement levels and no evidence of rheumatoid factor or cryoglobulinemia. A liver biopsy in one patient was consistent with chronic active hepatitis although liver enzymes were only minimally elevated and coagulation studies normal. Three patients were treated with alpha-interferon with some success. Treatment with alpha-interferon may have a beneficial effect in reducing proteinuria and improving liver function and may be related to the ability of interferon to suppress viremia. Future studies need to focus on clarifying the role of the virus in causing glomerular disease and improving dosing strategies for alpha-interferon. Randomized, controlled studies need to be performed to determine whether the beneficial effect of alpha interferon is significant, and if so, if it is superior to conventional therapies.
Random signal modeling and parametric spectral estimation

This chapter explores random signal modeling and explains parametric spectral estimation. The preceding analyses of properties of random signals are focused upon estimating the first and second-order stochastic characteristics of time series and their spectral density composition. More detailed information about a time series can be obtained if the time series itself can be modeled. In addition, its power spectrum can be obtained from the model. This approach has gained wide interest in the past several decades with new algorithms being developed. The chapter discusses the model development. Model development is based upon the fact that signal points are interrelated and this interrelatedness can be expressed by the autocorrelation function. It explains the random data modeling approach, which models signals based upon the notion of linear prediction when the autocorrelation function is unknown. The definition and properties of power spectral density estimation are described in the chapter. Finally, the chapter concludes by presenting a comparison of the applicability of nonparametric and parametric methods for estimating power spectra. In the nonparametric approach the magnitude of the power spectral density is being calculated at every harmonic frequency. However, in the parametric approach only several parameters are being calculated and the spectrum from the model is used.
Relationship of size constancy to selected measures of motor ability.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between size constancy (a form of perceptual organization) and selected motor skills. Significant rank-difference correlation coefficients were obtained between size constancy scores and measures of leg power, dynamic balance, and total body agility. These findings suggest the need for investigations pertaining to the effect of perceptual attitudes on motor learning and the manner in which perceptual-motor behavior is patterned according to spatial and temporal requirements of the environment
Wind turbine blade composite materials - End of life treatment methods

Abstract It is indisputable that wind offers environmentally friendly energy. This does not mean that there is absence of environmental impact generated from manufacture, service and decommissioning. The future projections for expansion of this industry strengthens the need for optimization in all facets, considering their total life cycle as the main tool. Composite materials are commonly used in wind turbines due to their excellent mechanical properties, matched by low weight. Albeit, the recycling technologies of such materials is limited primarily because of the lack of markets. Novel concepts must be generated in improvement of manufacturing processes so as to efficiently reuse reclaimed fibres while in tandem improving their quality.
Connectivity of Wireless Sensor Networks Secured by the Heterogeneous Random Pairwise Key Predistribution Scheme

We investigate the connectivity of wireless sensor networks secured by the heterogeneous random pairwise key predistribution scheme. In contrast to the homogeneous scheme proposed by Chan et al., where each node is paired (offline) with K other nodes chosen uniformly at random; herein, each node is classified as class-1 with probability µ or class-2 with probability 1 - µ, for 0 1 (respectively, K 2 ) other nodes selected uniformly at random. We consider the particular case when K 1 = 1 and K 2 = K. The heterogeneous random pairwise scheme induces an inhomogeneous random K-out graph H(n; µ, K n ), where n denotes the number of nodes and Kn denotes a scaling of K with respect to the network size n. Hence, establishing the connectivity of wireless sensor networks secured by the heterogeneous random pairwise scheme maps to deriving conditions on how to scale Kn with respect to the network size n such that the graph is connected with high probability as n tends to infinity. With K 1 = 1, we show that i) when Kn = K for all n = 2,3, … for a positive, finite integer K with K ≥ 2, the resulting graph is not connected with a positive probability. In this case, we derive a tight upper bound on the probability of connectivity and verify the results via simulations. Moreover, ii) we prove that when K n is chosen such that $lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}K_{n}=\infty$ , the graph is connected with high probability as n tends to infinity.
PFA(S) and countable tightness

Abstract Todorcevic introduced the forcing axiom PFA(S) and established many consequences. We contribute to this project. In particular, we consider status under PFA(S) of two important consequences of PFA concerning spaces of countable tightness. We prove that the existence of a Souslin tree does not imply the existence of a compact non-sequential space of countable tightness. We contrast this with M.E. Rudin's result that the existence of a Souslin tree does imply the existence of an S-space (and the later improvement by Dahrough to a compact S-space). On the other hand, PFA(S) implies there is a first-countable perfect pre-image of ω 1 that contains no copies of ω 1 .
Original Wonder: An Irigarayan Reading of the Genesis Cosmology

Human beings, modern and ancient alike, are ever attentive to origins; where we come from enables us to understand who we are, and to conceive of who we might become. Luce Irigaray’s most recent work, To Be Born, is concerned precisely with this question of beginnings. As she writes, “unveiling the mystery of our origin is probably the thing that most motivates our quests and plans” (To Be Born, p. v).
Solubilization and hydrophobic immobilization assay of a cAMP binding protein from Dictyosteliumdiscoideum plasma membranes

Abstract A cAMP binding site present on isolated plasma membranes of aggregation-competent D. discoideum cells has been solubilized with the nonionic detergent Emulphogene BC-720. An assay has been developed based on the principle of hydrophobic chromatography, in which the detergent solubilized cAMP binding protein is immobilized on alkyl-agarose beads at low detergent concentration. This allows the necessary rapid separation of bound and free [ 3 H]-cAMP by filtration of the beads. The kinetics and nucleotide specificity of the detergent solubilized cAMP binding protein are comparable to those of the cAMP chemotactic receptor on intact cells and plasma membranes. The alkyl-agarose bead assay may have general utility for the assay of detergent solubilized membrane receptors.
Extent of resection and survival for oligodendroglioma: a U.S. population-based study

National guidelines recommend maximal safe resection of low-grade and high-grade oligodendrogliomas. However, there is no level 1 evidence to support these guidelines, and recent retrospective studies on the topic have yielded mixed results. To assess the association between extent of resection (EOR) and survival for oligodendrogliomas in the general U.S. population. Cases diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) Program and retrospectively analyzed for treatment, prognostic factors, and survival times. Cases that did not undergo tumor de-bulking surgery (e.g. no surgery or biopsy alone) were compared to subtotal resection (resection) and gross-total resection (GTR). The primary end-points were overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS). An external validation cohort with 1p/19q-codeleted tumors was creating using the TCGA and GSE16011 datasets. 3135 Cases were included in the final analysis. The 75% survival time (75ST) and 5-year survival rates were 47 months and 70.8%, respectively. Subtotal resection (STR, 75ST = 50 months) and GTR (75ST = 61 months) were associated with improved survival times compared to cases that did not undergo surgical debulking (75ST = 20 months, P < 0.001 for both), with reduced hazard ratios (HRs) after controlling for other factors (HR 0.81 [0.68–0.97] and HR 0.65 [0.54–0.79], respectively). GTR was associated with improved OS in both low-grade and anaplastic oligodendroglioma subgroups (HR 0.74 [0.58–0.95], HR 0.60 [0.44–0.82], respectively) while STR fell short of significance in the subgroup analysis. All findings were corroborated by multivariable analysis of CSS and externally validated in a cohort of patients with 1p19q-codeleted tumors. Greater EOR is associated with improved survival in oligodendrogliomas. Our findings in this U.S. population-based cohort support national guidelines.
Direct sensitivity analysis for ignition delay times

Abstract The sensitivity coefficients of ignition delay time with respect to chemical kinetic rate parameters is traditionally calculated using a brute force approach wherein the number of initial value problems solved is no fewer than the number of rate parameters. By reformulating the underlying initial value problem as a boundary value problem, it is shown that the sensitivity coefficients can be extracted directly, accelerating thus the computational time by at least an order of magnitude. This has far reaching consequences in kinetic model development and optimization, especially when a large number of rate constants are involved.
Fitness scale-4 item (FS4) to predict six-month postoperative mortality of cancer patients aged 75.

11542Background: We have been prospectively collecting Geriatric Assessment (GA) data on patients aged 75+ undergoing oncologic surgery at a single institution. We aimed to to determine if a fitnes...
A pilot exploratory study comparing the King-Devick test (KDT) during and between migraine attacks.

BackgroundThe King-Devick test is a timed rapid number naming task that involves complex cerebral functions. The objective of this pilot exploratory study is to determine whether there is a differe...
Is Big Data the New Stethoscope? Perils of Digital Phenotyping to Address Mental Illness

Advances in applications of artificial intelligence and the use of data analytics technology in biomedicine are creating optimism, as many believe these technologies will fill the need-availability gap by increasing resources for mental health care. One resource considered especially promising is smartphone psychotherapy chatbots, i.e., artificially intelligent bots that offer cognitive behavior therapy to their users with the aim of helping them improve their mental health. While a number of studies have highlighted the positive outcomes of using smartphone psychotherapy chatbots to handle various anxiety related problems no conclusive data illustrate their effectiveness or warrant their use in mental illness diagnosis and treatment settings. Yet smartphone psychotherapy is highly endorsed by experts in the field of mental health research. In this paper, I focus on the specific features of smartphone psychotherapy chatbots intended for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and criticize three popular promises; i.e., (i) they enable early diagnosis and intervention through digital phenotyping; (ii) they defy the stigma of mental illness diagnosis and treatment; (iii) they offer increased access to mental health treatment globally. Going against the popular enthusiasm, I argue smartphone psychotherapy chatbots have epistemic and ethical limitations in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. In light of these, I encourage researchers, clinicians, policy makers, patients, and caregivers to pause before jumping on the artificial intelligence bandwagon to seek solutions for mental illness on the grounds of these three promises.
POSITIVE INVARIANCE OF CLOSED SETS FOR SYSTEMS OF DELAY-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the positive invariance of closed sets for systems of delay-differential equations. It presents an assumption where {X,〈,〉} is a complete real inner produce space and R is the real line. CB denotes the set of functions continuous and bounded on (−∞, 0] to X, and for φ ∈ CB, the chapter presents a definition of ∥ φ ∥ = sup{φ(s) | s ≤ 0}. Then, {CB, ∥ ∥} is a Banach space over the reals. f(t,φ) denotes a function on R × CB to X, x(t) being a function continuous on (−∞, T) to X where T ≤ ∞. For fixed t < T, xt denotes the function x(t + s), s ≤ 0. If t0 < T, x(t) is a solution of x'(t) = f(t,xt). The chapter also discusses the outer normal.
Analysis of Random Wave Interaction with Cylinders using Extremal Statistical Methods

Abstract Long slender cylindrical structures are widely used in offshore structural designs. Their interactions with random waves are very complicated and it is extremely difficult to model their motions in a direct analytical approach. Accurate characterization of the observed extreme values in their response behavior is of vital importance for the safety of the designed structure. In this study a general statistical methodology based on generalized extreme value (GEV) family of distributions is formulated for the characterization of both laboratory and field data associated with the wave-cylinder interactions in random waves. An iterative process is developed to determine the most appropriate block size and the corresponding statistical model for the block maxima constructed from the time series of the target variable. The model's capability to fit the data is assessed using the Anderson-Darling (AD) test criterion, visually with quantile plots and histograms. Special attention is paid to the quality of fit in the upper tail of the distribution, which corresponds to the data points of the extreme statistical events. Case studies are performed that investigate the performance of the statistical methodology in characterizing the measured data from two industrial scale model basin test programs. The first case study addresses data on the in-line interactions of closely spaced deep-water cylinder arrays for two- and three-cylinder configurations and the second considers the VIV response amplitudes of a slender horizontal cylinder. In both test programs the random seaways were generated using JONSWAP wave amplitude spectrum. The effectiveness of this statistical methodology in characterizing the response behavior observed in the model basin experimental data is discussed in detail using both tabular and graphical interpretations.
Effect of single atom Platinum (Pt) doping and facet dependent on the electronic structure and light absorption of Lanthanum Titanium Oxide (La2Ti2O7): A Density Functional Theory study

Abstract Charge generation and separation are two key processes for semiconductor photocatalysis. Here, we use Pt as a single atom catalyst to systematically examine the facet-dependent electronic band structure and light absorption of the layered perovskite-type wide-gap semiconductor, lanthanum titanium oxide (La2Ti2O7, LTO) by means of density functional theory simulations. It is found that single Pt atom doping of different LTO surfaces (here, (100), (101) and (001)) can not only create states in the bandgap that would promote the formation of recombination centers, but also shift the optical absorption edge to the visible region. Interestingly, the Pt doping forms a heterojunction, with the valence band maximum consisting of Pt states and the conduction band minimum consisting of LTO states, respectively. To study the facet dependent surface activity, acetic acid (CH3COOH) was used as a model molecule to investigate the adsorption and charge transfer on the (101), (100) and (001) Pt-LTO surface facets. The results show that the (101) facet could enable stronger adsorption of CH3COOH by promoting more electron transfer during the interfacial interaction. Our theoretical findings aim to promote the design and optimization of the single atom catalysts (SACs) for photocatalytic applications and other broad catalysis systems.
Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 (MCT1) mediates succinate export in the retina

Purpose: Succinate is exported by the retina and imported by eyecup tissue. The transporter(s) mediating this process have not yet been identified. Recent studies showed that Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 (MCT1) can transport succinate across plasma membranes in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) both express multiple MCT isoforms including MCT1. We tested the hypothesis that MCTs facilitate retinal succinate export and RPE succinate import. Methods: We assessed retinal succinate export and eyecup succinate import in short term ex vivo culture using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We test the dependence of succinate export and import on pH, proton ionophores, conventional MCT substrates, and the MCT inhibitors AZD3965, AR-C155858, and diclofenac. Results: Succinate exits retinal tissue through MCT1 but does not enter RPE through MCT1 or any other MCT. Intracellular succinate levels are a contributing factor that determines if an MCT1-expressing tissue will export succinate. Conclusions: MCT1 facilitates export of succinate from retinas. An unidentified, non-MCT transporter facilitates import of succinate into RPE.
Stars, Peripheral Scientists, and Equations: The Case of M. N. Saha

Peripheral actors rarely make an appearance in the general story of scientific practice, and their work in science is usually viewed as somewhat derivative of the practices of the main community. Contrary to this received model, here I argue that the peripheral contexts of science can be quite important and reveal novel conduits to creative scientific thinking. Not only can such contexts offer us a new window into how contributory expertise in science could be born amid difficult circumstances, they also allow us to see how new scientific communities could be founded during such encounters. Using case studies of M. N. Saha and other physicists in early twentieth-century India, I argue that such modest practices begin when peripheral protagonists seek to initiate new trading zones with the established centers of science. The resulting exchanges can give rise to new breakthroughs and conceptual changes in scientific practice. Such peripheral breakthroughs can be studied cognitively, giving us newer models of scientific practice as well as creating a new kind of self-image for such scientists.