cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A smart hill-climbing algorithm for application server configuration

The overwhelming success of the Web as a mechanism for facilitating information retrieval and for conducting business transactions has ledto an increase in the deployment of complex enterprise applications. These applications typically run on Web Application Servers, which assume the burden of managing many tasks, such as concurrency, memory management, database access, etc., required by these applications. The performance of an Application Server depends heavily on appropriate configuration. Configuration is a difficult and error-prone task dueto the large number of configuration parameters and complex interactions between them. We formulate the problem of finding an optimal configuration for a given application as a black-box optimization problem. We propose a smart hill-climbing algorithm using ideas of importance sampling and Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS). The algorithm is efficient in both searching and random sampling. It consists of estimating a local function, and then, hill-climbing in the steepest descent direction. The algorithm also learns from past searches and restarts in a smart and selective fashion using the idea of importance sampling. We have carried out extensive experiments with an on-line brokerage application running in a WebSphere environment. Empirical results demonstrate that our algorithm is more efficient than and superior to traditional heuristic methods.
Police–Community Relations in a Majority-Black City

Minority racial and ethnic groups often view themselves as targets of abusive treatment at the hands of the police. Although racial variation in public assessments of the police in the United States has been amply documented in past research, less research has explored the sources of these differences at the intersection of demographic, interactional, and ecological levels. This article examines the role of each factor in shaping citizens’ perceptions of police misconduct, racial differences in these perceptions, and the reasons underlying them. The locus of the study is also important. Most research on police–community relations has been conducted in cities whose populations and police departments are majority White in composition, despite the growing number of minority-White cities. The present study draws on data from residents of a majority-Black city with a majority-Black police department: Washington, DC. The findings contribute to our understanding of policing in such underresearched cities.
Efficacy and safety of using perfusion dilatation catheter as initial balloon in coronary angioplasty

The efficacy and safety in using a new low-profile perfusion balloon catheter (PBC) as the initial balloon in percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was assessed retrospectively in 61 patients: 43 males, mean age 62 +/- 12 years. Thirty-three patients (54%) had unstable angina. PTCA was performed using an improved PBC in the following vessels: LAD 40%; CX 21%; RCA 24%. Lesion morphology was: Type A 21%; Type B1 18%; Type B2 40%; Type C 21%. Mean artery size was 3.01 +/- 0.53 mm. Mean PBC size was 3.14 +/- 0.45 mm. The mean number of inflations used was 2.85 +/- 2.0. The mean longest inflation was 415 +/- 213 sec and the total inflation time was 663 +/- 342 sec to a mean maximum pressure atmosphere of 7.85 +/- 2.0 bars. The number of balloons used per procedure was 1.2 +/- 0.44. In 50 patients (82%) only one balloon was used during the PTCA. PTCA was successful (< 50% diameter stenosis without major complications) in 60 patients (98.4%). Mean diameter stenosis at baseline was 82 +/- 9.5% and post-angioplasty 13 +/- 10.6%. A mild intimal tear occurred in 6 patients (9.8%). A stent was implanted in 3 patients (4.9%) due to severe dissection. In hospital reocclusion occurred in one patient (1.6%). There were no deaths or emergency bypass surgery. A low profile PBC is safe and effective as an initial balloon in PTCA. It may reduce the number of balloons used and inflations per procedure.
Luteolin Inhibits Microglia and Alters Hippocampal-Dependent Spatial Working Memory in Aged Mice

A dysregulated overexpression of inflammatory mediators by microglia may facilitate cognitive aging and neurodegeneration. Considerable evidence suggests the flavonoid luteolin has antiinflammatory effects, but its ability to inhibit microglia, reduce inflammatory mediators, and improve hippocampal-dependent learning and memory in aged mice is unknown. In initial studies, pretreatment of BV-2 microglia with luteolin inhibited the induction of inflammatory genes and the release of inflammatory mediators after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Supernatants from LPS-stimulated microglia caused discernible death in Neuro.2a cells. However, treating microglia with luteolin prior to LPS reduced neuronal cell death caused by conditioned supernatants, indicating luteolin was neuroprotective. In subsequent studies, adult (3-6 mo) and aged (22-24 mo) mice were fed control or luteolin (20 mg/d)-supplemented diet for 4 wk and spatial working memory was assessed as were several inflammatory markers in the hippocampus. Aged mice fed control diet exhibited deficits in spatial working memory and expression of inflammatory markers in the hippocampus indicative of increased microglial cell activity. Luteolin consumption improved spatial working memory and restored expression of inflammatory markers in the hippocampus compared with that of young adults. Luteolin did not affect either spatial working memory or inflammatory markers in young adults. Taken together, the current findings suggest dietary luteolin enhanced spatial working memory by mitigating microglial-associated inflammation in the hippocampus. Therefore, luteolin consumption may be beneficial in preventing or treating conditions involving increased microglial cell activity and inflammation.
Computational wear simulation of patellofemoral articular cartilage during in vitro testing

Though changes in normal joint motions and loads (e.g., following anterior cruciate ligament injury) contribute to the development of knee osteoarthritis, the precise mechanism by which these changes induce osteoarthritis remains unknown. As a first step toward identifying this mechanism, this study evaluates computational wear simulations of a patellofemoral joint specimen wear tested on a knee simulator machine. A multibody dynamic model of the specimen mounted in the simulator machine was constructed in commercial computer-aided engineering software. A custom elastic foundation contact model was used to calculate contact pressures and wear on the femoral and patellar articular surfaces using geometry created from laser scan and MR data. Two different wear simulation approaches were investigated--one that wore the surface geometries gradually over a sequence of 10 one-cycle dynamic simulations (termed the "progressive" approach), and one that wore the surface geometries abruptly using results from a single one-cycle dynamic simulation (termed the "non-progressive" approach). The progressive approach with laser scan geometry reproduced the experimentally measured wear depths and areas for both the femur and patella. The less costly non-progressive approach predicted deeper wear depths, especially on the patella, but had little influence on predicted wear areas. Use of MR data for creating the articular and subchondral bone geometry altered wear depth and area predictions by at most 13%. These results suggest that MR-derived geometry may be sufficient for simulating articular cartilage wear in vivo and that a progressive simulation approach may be needed for the patella and tibia since both remain in continuous contact with the femur.
Probing fundamental mechanisms of nitric oxide reactions with metal centers

Studies in this laboratory have been concerned with mapping the chemical proper- ties and mechanisms of NO interactions with hemes and other metal centers. These are mod- els relevant to the mammalian biology of nitric oxide, an important bioregulatory molecule. Presented here will be an overview of flash photolysis kinetics investigations of ferri- and ferro-heme nitrosyl formation in model complexes and several heme proteins. Also described will be ongoing studies of reductive nitrosylation mechanisms involving the reactions of NO with water-soluble Fe(III) porphyrins and ferri-heme proteins and of several Cu(II) model complexes.
“The Cure of Souls is the Art of Arts:” Preaching, Confession, and Catechesis in the Middle Ages

In the European Middle Ages, the area in which the majority of lay Christians came into contact with the so-called institutional Church was pastoral care. Three principle areas of this care were preaching, confession, and catechesis. All three provide a window into popular religious practice, and thus, the study of pastoral care benefitted from the social-historical turn of the 1960s and 1970s and an increased emphasis on “the people.” One of the key aspects of this study of pastoral care has been in investigation of pastoralia, those works of literature meant to help clergy with the cure of souls carry out their tasks. The study of pastoralia begins with the manuscripts, but then aids several different approaches: history of sexuality, feminism, social and cultural history, and history of universities all make abundant use of pastoral literature.
How to Find a Minimum Spanning Tree in Practice

We address the question of theoretical vs. practical behavior of algorithms for the minimum spanning tree problem. We review the factors that influence the actual running time of an algorithm, from choice of language, machine, and compiler, through low-level implementation choices, to purely algorithmic issues. We discuss how to design a careful experimental comparison between various alternatives. Finally, we present some results from an ongoing study in which we are using: multiple languages, compilers, and machines; all the major variants of the comparison-based algorithms; and eight varieties of graphs with sizes of up to 130,000 vertices (in sparse graphs) or 750,000 edges (in dense graphs).
Update on Patellofemoral Arthroplasty

Patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA) has been used for the treatment of isolated patellofemoral arthritis for more than 30 years. Changes in implant design, patient selection, and technical considerations have led to improved short-term and midterm outcomes over the past decade. These outcomes suggest that PFA is a valuable tool for patients with isolated anterior compartment degenerative arthritis, especially in the setting of trochlear dysplasia. PFA may provide benefits over total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for isolated patellofemoral arthritis owing to its preservation of tibiofemoral mechanics, less-invasive nature, and the possibility of conversion to TKA using primary TKA components. This review discusses the indications for implant design considerations, proper patient selection, and technical considerations made during surgery which have resulted in PFA becoming a more reliable and useful tool in the treatment of anterior knee pain because of degenerative arthritis.
On-Line Learning and Optimization for Wireless Video Transmission

In this paper, we address the problem of how to optimize the cross-layer transmission policy for delay-sensitive video streaming over slow-varying flat-fading wireless channels on-line, at transmission time, when the environment dynamics are unknown. We first formulate the cross-layer optimization using a systematic layered Markov decision process (MDP) framework, which complies with the layered architecture of the OSI stack. Subsequently, considering the unknown dynamics of the video sources and underlying wireless channels, we propose a layered real-time dynamic programming (LRTDP) algorithm, which requires no a priori knowledge about the source and network dynamics. LRTDP allows each layer to learn the dynamics on-the-fly, and adjusts its policy autonomously, based on their experienced dynamics as well as limited message exchanges with other layers. Unlike existing cross-layer methods, LRTDP optimizes the cross-layer policy in a layered and on-line fashion, exhibits a low computational complexity, requires limited message exchanges among layers, and is capable to adapt on-the-fly to the experienced environment dynamics. Finally, we prove that LRTDP converges to the optimal cross-layer policy asymptotically. Our numerical experiments show that LRTDP provides comparable performance to the idealized optimal cross-layer solutions based on complete knowledge.
What Makes Us Feel the Best Also Makes Us Feel the Worst: The Emotional Impact of Independent and Interdependent Experiences

Four studies examined the hypothesis that intense emotional experiences are more often centered on interdependent than independent experiences. Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated that when asked to write about emotionally intense events, participants were more likely to write about interdependent than independent experiences. Study 3 provided evidence that these effects were not due to recall effects based on mere exposure. Finally, Study 4 demonstrated that when asked to write about the most positive and negative interdependent and independent experiences of their lives and then rate their impact, participants were more likely to indicate that interdependent experiences had more emotional impact than independent experiences. Study 4 also provided evidence that the extent to which an experience fostered belonging motivations predicted the emotional impact of that event. Implications of the current research in terms of the need to belong and research on motivation and appraisal theories of emotion are discussed.
Analysis of parasitic effects for pin diode SPDT switch

A comparison of insertion loss between a conventional clockwise and a proposed counter-clockwise SiGe pin diode SPDT switch based on an analysis of parasitic effects is presented. In a silicon-based process, the counter-clockwise switch is analytically demonstrated to have lower insertion loss than the clockwise switch owing to the alleviation of parasitic effects. Measurement data show good agreement with the presented analysis.
Potassium methyl siliconate‐treated pulp fibers and their effects on wood plastic composites: Water sorption and dimensional stability

Potassium methyl siliconate (PMS) was investigated as a new nano modifier of wood fiber and wood flour to improve the compatibility between the fiber/flour and the plastic matrix in fiber reinforced plastic composites. Before injection molding, bleached and brown pulp fibers and mixed species wood flour were pretreated in PMS solutions. The morphology of the treated and untreated fiber and flour, the compatibility of PMS-treated fiber and flour with polyethylene (PE), and the water sorption and volumetric swell of PMS-treated fiber/flour plastic composites in a long-term soaking test were evaluated. Fiber and flour treated with PMS increased the compatibility between the fiber/flour and the PE matrix. The increased compatibility of PMS-treated fiber and flour with the matrix contributed to the reduction of water sorption and, thus, increased dimensional stability. For all composites, water sorption and volumetric swell of fiber/four plastic composites decreased as the ratio of fiber to flour increased.
Further studies of congenital hypotrichosis in Hereford cattle

Summary Histopathological skin changes in 22 hypotrichotic Hereford calves revealed initial changes in the anagen phase of the hair cycle, characterized by trichohyalin granules in Huxley's layer. The catagen phase and not the telogen phase had trichohyalin granule remnants from the anagen phase and was negative for microdroplets and trichohyalin. Zusammenfassung Weitere Untersuchungen uber die kongenitale Hypotrichosis bei Hereford-Rindern Histopathologische Untersuchungen an Hautveranderungen von 22 hypotrichen Hereford-Kalbern ergaben initiale Veranderungen in der anagenen Phase des Haarzyklus. Charakteristisch waren Trichohyalingranula in der Huxleyschen Schicht. Uberreste von Trichohyalingranula liesen sich noch in der catagenen Phase, nicht aber in der telogenen Phase, nachweisen. Die catagene Phase war negativ hinsichtlich Mikrotropfchen von Trichohyalin. Resume Autres recherches sur l'hypotrichose congenitale chez des bovins Hereford Des recherches histopathologiques sur des lesions de la peau de 22 veaux Herford souffrant d'hypotrichose ont montre des lesions initiales dans la phase anagene du cycle capillaire. Des granulations de trichohyaline dans la couche de Huxley furent caracteristiques. Des graces de granulations de trichohyaline ont ete encore mises en evidence dans la phase catagene, mais pas dans la phase telogene. Il n'y a pas eu de microgouttelettes de trichohyaline dans la phase catagene. Resumen Estudios mas amplios sobre la hipotricosis congenita en los vacunos Hereford Con los estudios histopatologicos efectuados en modificaciones cutaneas de 22 terneros hipotricoticos de la raza Hereford se mostraron lesiones iniciales en la fase anagena del ciclo capilar, caracterizadas por granulaciones de tricohialina en la capa de Huxley. Restos de granulaciones de tricohialina se pudieron poner aun en evidencia en la fase catagena, pero no en la fase telogena. La fase catagena era negativa con respecto a microgotitas de tricohialina.
Piezo-based milliactuator on a partially etched suspension

This paper describes a piezo-based "moving-suspension" secondary actuator (called milliactuator) which provides increased servo bandwidth and reduced track-misregistration in a hard disk drive. The milliactuator comprises a pair of piezo-elements driving a relatively thick loadbeam that is partially etched in selected areas to form a honeycomb like structure. Partial etching allows more freedom in optimizing mass and stiffness to enhance the milliactuator dynamics. For a 18 mm (swage to dimple) milliactuator head gimbal assembly (HGA) with load/unload tab, we were able to achieve a first torsion frequency (T1) of 6 kHz. In a prototype drive populated with milliactuators, a new dual stage servo algorithm resulted in 60% higher bandwidth (0 dB open-loop crossover) compared to without the milliactuator. Further modifications to the milliactuator along with improvements in sampling rate and computational time could allow up to 100% higher servo bandwidth. The benefits and limitations of milliactuators are also discussed. The milliactuator provides a low cost, enhanced performance solution for high track densities.
A flexible OS-based approach for characterizing solid-state disk endurance

The performance and power benefits of Flash memory have paved its adoption in mass storage devices in the form of Solid-State Disks (SSDs). Despite these benefits, Flash memory's limited write endurance remains a big impediment to its wide adoption in the enterprise server market. Existing research efforts have mostly focused on proposing various mechanisms and algorithms to improve SSD's performance and reliability. However, there is still a lack of flexible tools that allow characterizing SSD endurance (i.e., wear-out behavior) and investigating its impact on applications without affecting the lifetime of the real SSD device. To address this issue, SolidSim, a kernel-level simulator has been enhanced with capabilities to simulate state-of-the-art wear-leveling, garbage-collection and other advanced internal management techniques of an SSD. These extensions have further increased SolidSim's flexibility to study both SSD performance and endurance characteristics. Our approach allows investigating these characteristics without requiring any changes to applications or gathering any workload traces. The paper presents insights into wear-out behavior including logical, physical and translation characteristics, and correlates them with application behavior and SSD life-times using a set of representative workloads.
Trial Balance Sheet

N INE month's teaching in a language program of the A.S.T.P. should be enough to render at least a preliminary judgment of the carry-over into civilian teaching that may be expected. Nine months is also a complete term for languages and there is probably no one who has worked closely with such a program who would not temper the first enthusiasm that came from observing one, two, or three months' work, and which was reflected in exaggerated form in the popular reviews and press. Many instructors had a sense of working with something hitherto untried in language teaching and were not slow to sense that completely comparable conditions would never exist in civilian teaching. Everyone wondered, what, if anything, new would be found in the way of teaching methods. There should be by now answers to all the points suggested above--and some others not indicated. What follows are some of these answers.
Introduction: The use of animal research in developing treatments for human motor disorders: brain-computer interfaces and the regeneration of damaged brain circuits.

This issue of the ILAR Journal is devoted to animal models of human movement disorders. It is not possible to cover this vast topic in a few short articles, but we hope that the contributing researchers’ descriptions of research models and results will inform, guide, and promote further research on motor disorders. The research field is broad because so much of the nervous system relates to motor function. It is sometimes said that animals have brains because they move faster than plants. Being able to move about clearly puts a premium on having a large brain that can analyze and use both previous experience and ongoing sensory information in order to guide and control motor systems and thus produce skillful and productive behaviors. For humans in particular, our large, complex brains allow a range of skilled performances that greatly exceeds that of any other mammal. We can especially marvel at the performance of our most accomplished musicians and athletes. The ability to develop these skills, which frequently require years of devoted, specialized practice, indicates that general-purpose brain circuits can be rewired through use in order to perfect a variety of specific motor feats. This same flexibility in the use of brain circuits enables us to compensate to various extents for brain injuries, and thereby maintain capabilities as brain impairments progress or recover capabilities lost after injuries. Animal research that is relevant to the treatment of human motor disorders is of several types:
Disparity in management of diabetes and coronary heart disease risk factors by sex in DCCT/EDIC.

Diabet. Med. 27, 451–458 (2010) Abstract Aims Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Sex disparity in the treatment of modifiable CHD risk factors in patients with Type 2 diabetes has been reported previously; however, there is little comparable information in Type 1 diabetes. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 1153 subjects with Type 1 diabetes in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC) cohort to compare achievement of metabolic and CHD risk factor goals and use of recommended risk factor interventions between the sexes. Results Women were less likely than men to achieve glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 3.4 mmol/l (39% vs. 60%, P < 0.05). Conclusions In Type 1 diabetes, women report lower frequency than men in the use of interventions that decrease CHD risk. These findings are consistent with reports in the Type 2 diabetic population, showing that risk-reducing measures are underused in women with diabetes.
Augmentation of baroreflex-mediated bradycardia in conscious pregnant rats

The goal of the present study was to examine baroreflex control of heart rate during pregnancy in chronically instrumented unrestrained rats. The same rats (n = 6) were studied before conception, again on gestational days 5, 12, and 19, and last on postpartum day 6; thus each rat served as its own control. Time control experiments were also conducted in a separate group of virgin rats (n = 7). Resting mean arterial pressure decreased by 10 mmHg on gestational day 19 (P less than 0.01 vs. prepregnant), and heart rate significantly increased by approximately 10% relative to time control rats. Dose-response curves were constructed for methoxamine and sodium nitroprusside comparing the various dosages with systemic pressor and depressor responses, respectively. The dose-response relationship for methoxamine was shifted to the right in gravid rats of 19 gestational days (P less than 0.03 vs. prepregnant), indicating an attenuation of alpha-adrenergic receptor-mediated pressor responsiveness. In contrast, depressor responses to sodium nitroprusside were not significantly altered in pregnancy. Baroreflex-mediated bradycardia was unchanged until gestational day 19, when enhanced bradycardia responses to methoxamine were observed. Baroreflex-mediated tachycardic responses elicited by sodium nitroprusside were not affected at any stage of pregnancy. Baroreflex control of heart rate did not change significantly with either increases or decreases of blood pressure in time control experiments. We conclude that during late pregnancy in conscious rats 1) resting blood pressure decreases and heart rate increases, 2) systemic pressor responses to methoxamine are diminished, and 3) baroreflex-mediated bradycardia is enhanced.
Airway management following repair of cervical tracheal injuries: A retrospective, multicenter study

BACKGROUND Optimal airway management following repair of cervical tracheal injuries is unknown. This study aimed to determine the optimal airway strategy following cervical tracheal injury repair. METHODS Patients with cervical tracheal injuries admitted from January 2000 to January 2014 at seven US Level I trauma centers were identified. Patients were grouped depending on postoperative airway management: immediate or early extubation (≤24 hours, EXT), prolonged intubation (>24 hours, INT), and immediate tracheostomy (TRACH). Following univariate analysis, a multivariate model was then developed to evaluate for surgical site infection (SSI) and intensive care unit-free and ventilator-free days, comparing INT and TRACH with EXT as the reference. RESULTS A total of 120 cervical tracheal injuries were treated at seven Level I trauma centers. Ten patients were excluded for incomplete data, and seven died within 24 hours of admission, leaving 103 patients included in the study. Patients were grouped based on airway management: 40 (39%) in the EXT, 30 (29%) in the INT, and 33 (32%) in the TRACH group. There were no differences in demographics or injury mechanism. The INT and TRACH groups were more severely injured than the EXT group (median Injury Severity Score [ISS]: INT, 25; TRACH, 17 vs. EXT, 16; p < 0.01). Despite a higher SSI rate (TRACH, 21% vs. INT, 13% vs. EXT, 2%; p = 0.11), the TRACH group had a lower mortality rate (TRACH, 0% vs. INT, 13% vs. EXT, 0%, p < 0.01) and more ventilator-free days compared with the INT cohort. On multivariate analysis, tracheostomy was associated with an increased risk in the odds of SSI (odds ratio, 9.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-67.95) compared with both EXT and INT, while INT was associated with fewer ventilator-free days (correlation coefficient, -9.24; 95% confidence interval, -12.30 to -6.18) compared with both EXT and TRACH. CONCLUSION In patients with a cervical tracheal injury, immediate or early extubation was common and safe. However, among those with more severe injuries, immediate tracheostomy versus prolonged intubation presents a risk-benefit decision. Immediate tracheostomy is associated with increased risk of SSI, while prolonged intubation is associated with higher risk of mortality and fewer ventilator-free days. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level IV.
The development of gluconeogenesis in rat liver: experiments in vivo.

1. The injection of substrate amounts of lactate into newborn rats produced an increase in the concentration of phosphoenolpyruvate in liver. Similar experiments with foetal rats showed no increase in phosphoenolpyruvate concentration although pyruvate formation was observed. 2. The administration of pyruvate to foetal rats was also without effect on the hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate concentration, although a 20-fold increase in this was observed when pyruvate was injected into newborn animals. 3. Analogous experiments with aspartate produced qualitatively similar differences between foetal and newborn rats. 4. When [14C]-lactate, -pyruvate or -aspartate was injected into foetal or newborn rats incorporation of radioactivity into liver glucose was observed only in the newborn animals. 5. Lactate/pyruvate ratios of 213 in foetal liver and 13·5 in the livers of newborn rats indicated a relatively reduced environment in the cytosol of foetal liver. This difference in redox state was illustrated experimentally by a greater conversion of pyruvate into lactate and an increased formation of malate in foetal liver. 6. Although both the substrate-loading and tracer experiments indicated a block in gluconeogenesis in foetal liver at the stage of conversion of oxaloacetate into phosphoenolpyruvate, gluconeogenesis was also hindered by a highly reduced environment.
Internet-Based Assessment

Internet-based assessments became a part of research methodology in the 1990s as the Internet moved into mainstream use. Originally met with skepticism, there is evidence that data collected with this methodology are valid, and these methods are now used to collect data in a variety of studies. The advantages of Internet-based assessments include reduced burden for both participants and researchers, greater disclosure from individuals, and better access to hard-to-reach populations including isolated older adults. As technology advances, these types of assessments are evolving beyond personal computers to deployment using mobile devices. Keywords: assessment; Internet; technology
Abstract LB-31: A snapshot of the expression signature of androgen receptor splicing variants and their distinctive transcriptional activities

Objectives: Multiple androgen receptor (AR) splicing variants implicated in ligand-independent AR signaling have been characterized. These variants are expressed in hormone naive prostate cancers, and elevated in castration-resistant prostate cancers (CRPC), supporting their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for advanced prostate cancer. The diversity and complexity of AR splicing variants however are not fully understood, raising the need to generate a comprehensive expression signature of AR variants, and to address the relative importance of the individual variants that may confer the castration resistant phenotype. Methodology: A modified RNA amplification method, termed selective linear amplification of sense RNA (SLASR), was developed to amplify all AR transcripts containing AR exon 3. Amplified AR transcripts from CRPC specimens were profiled using expression microarrays with probes tiled across the human AR gene locus. Primers corresponding to novel expression peaks in the AR locus were designed to amplify and decode the splicing junctions. Coding sequences for a subset of selected AR variants were cloned into expression vectors and assessed for their transcriptional activities. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to determine their in vivo expression patterns in an expanded set of clinical specimens. Preliminary data: Tiling microarray results revealed a molecular portrait of both canonical and cryptic AR exons across the human AR locus. In addition to expression peaks in AR intron 3, a novel AR exon, termed exon 9, was discovered. Exon 9 was spliced into multiple novel AR variants. Different AR splicing variants were functionally distinctive, with some demonstrating constitutive activity while others were conditionally active. Conditionally active AR-Vs may activate AR signaling depending on the cellular context. AR variant functions however did not appear to depend on the full-length AR. AR variants demonstrated patterns of expression change in clinical prostate tumor specimens consistent with their role in castration-resistant progression. This study provided the first unbiased snapshot of the AR variant signature consisting of multiple AR variants with distinctive functional properties. Our results suggest that some AR variants previously considered to be inactive may confer the castration resistance phenotype depending on the cellular context. If further confirmed, the aggregate function of multiple AR variants may compensate for the low abundance of individual variants in clinical specimens relative to the full-length AR. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-31. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-31
Reduced-order modelling of unsteady small-disturbance flows using a frequency-domain proper orthogonal decomposition technique

A new method for constructing reduced-order models (ROM) of unsteady small-disturbance flows is presented. The reduced-order models are constructed using basis vectors determined from the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of an ensemble of small-disturbance frequencydomain solutions. Each of the individual frequency-domain solutions is computed using an efficient time-linearized flow solver. We show that reduced-order models can be constructed using just a handful of POD basis vectors, producing low-order but highly accurate models of the unsteady flow over a wide range of frequencies. In this paper, we apply the POD/ROM technique to compute the unsteady aerodynamic and aeroelastic behavior of an isolated nansonic airfoil, and to a two-dimensional cascade of airfoils. Nomenclature A = matrix defining homogeneous part of discretized aerodynamic operator A = reduced-order form of A. b = airfoil semi-chord b = vector defining inhomogeneous part of discretized aerodynamic operator Ba, B1 = matrices relating airfoil motion h and h to b c c
Abstract LB-311: Combinatorial logic over breast cancer control modules predicts survival and chemotherapy response of ISPY1 breast cancer patients (CALGB 150007/150012; ACRIN 6657)

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Background : Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease. Clinically useful predictors for breast cancer management may therefore need to consider the variety of molecular processes that can impact chemotherapy response and survival. With the growing database of gene expression data, it is now possible to deduce co-expression modules active in breast cancer subpopulations. Viewed from a combinatorial perspective supporting ‘OR’ and ‘AND’ reasoning, the activities of these modules might provide insights into breast cancer biology and form the basis for improved predictors. Methods : We assembled 74 breast-cancer related gene expression datasets containing ∼5,500 samples altogether. Per dataset, we identified genes with bimodal expression analyzed using mixture-model clustering to ultimately find gene groups that are consistently co-regulated across multiple datasets. We scored the AFFY U133 ISPY1 dataset (117 pts) for module expression, and explored the relationships between module state, chemotherapy response, patient outcome, receptor status, intrinsic subtype, and other signatures. To derive logical functions consisting of nested ‘AND’ and ‘OR’ gates relating module expression to clinical variables, we discretized the module scores and applied a methodology in the spirit of Karnaugh maps for digital circuit design. Results : Our meta-analysis identified 11 modules ranging in size from ∼5–200 genes. The expression level of some modules were associated with known molecular markers such as intrinsic subtype or wound signature scores, whereas others – three immune related modules, two ECM related modules, a mixed immune/ECM module, and a small module encoding histones – do not. Disease free survival of patients with triple negative disease is predicted (p=1.93e-08) by the logical function fDFS_TN =[ER_module>LOW] OR [TN_Immune_ECM=HIGH] OR [(AURK/PROLIF_module=HIGH) AND ((Histone_module>LOW) OR (TN_Immune_ECM=HIGH)], where TN_Immune_ECM is a composite function over the three immune modules and the immune/ECM hybrid module. The best predictor of chemo-sensitivity for triple negatives is a hybrid over subtype and module state, fRCB01_TN =Subtype_basal AND TN\_immune\_ECM, correctly classifying 95% of the RCB01 sensitives and 90% of the RCBIII resistants. Conclusion : In triple negatives, high proliferation can be rescued by immune/ECM upregulation, though neither immune rescue nor low RCB is necessary for survival if the estrogen module is even slightly upregulated or if the histone module is high. Similar analyses of ER/Pr+ and Her2+ patients demonstrate receptor-subtype specificity in the logic predicting response. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-311. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-311
RESPONSE TO SELECTION ON AUTOGAMY IN PHLOX

Two cycles of artificial selection were performed to increase autogamous fruiting in two wild populations of the self-incompatible Phlox drummondii, to decrease autogamous fruiting in two wild populations of the self-compatible Phlox cuspidata, and to both increase and decrease autogamous fruiting in a cultivar of P. drummondii which is pseudo-self-compatible. The breeding systems were determined to be genetically quite flexible, independent of inbreeding depression and other genetic phenomena which could hinder a breeding system shift. This is especially true for increasing autogamy. Self-pollen-pistil compatibility seems to be the single character affected by selection. Based on the continuous variation in both autogamy and self-compatibility, we suggest that the change has been due to genes which modify the self-incompatibility reaction rather than to the simple segregation of alleles at the S-locus.
Finding Entanglement Points in Simulated Polymer Melts

There are two complementary views of entanglement in polymer melts: a continuous tube confining transverse motions of a given chain and discrete binary entanglement points with neighboring chains. The discrete view is implicit in chain-shrinking studies of simulated entangled melts, while our recent isoconfigurational ensemble (ICE) technique determines a continuous primitive path and confining potential. Here, we reconcile these competing views by identifying points of close contact along the ICE primitive path in an entangled ring polymer melt. We set a minimum distance criterion such that the number of close contacts is equal to the number of entanglement strands, which gives on average about two nearby entanglement points acting on any primitive path segment, a sensible result. We show that both the continuous primitive path and the discrete close contacts are long-lived for ring melts, for which topological confinement effects are expected to be permanent.
Dynamic Simulation Modelling for Evaluating Water Quality Response to Agricultural BMP Implementation

Dynamic simulation modelling (DSM) is a computer modelling technique that promotes description of complex natural systems, such as watersheds and BMP systems. When DSM is accomplished in an object oriented programming framework, modelling is highly interactive. The Field Phosphorus Model (FPM) was created with STELLA ® II, an object oriented DSM programming environment FPM is based on sophisticated accounting of all annual inputs and outputs of phosphorus for a farm field and simulates, on a yearly basis, patterns of phosphorus export from farm fields used for manure management on dairy farms. Model inputs include atmospheric deposition, manure application and chemical fertilizer; outputs include surface runoff, crop harvest, and movement into deeper soil layers. Using two BMP scenarios, the implications for long-term phosphorus export levels from the field to surface and ground waters are discussed. Changes in the land treatment or BMP levels on the field results in a lag time between when the BMP is implemented and when the full impact on phosphorus export is seen. The Field Phosphorus Model suggests that the simultaneous reduction of long-term phosphorus output to surface and ground waters is accomplished by implementation of BMP9s that limit the input of phosphorus to the field.
Metatranscriptomics: Eavesdropping on Complex Microbial Communities

At any moment, an estimated 1030 bacterial and archaeal genes are mediating essential ecological processes throughout the world. The new field of metatranscriptomics, using an approach that sequences microbial genes expressed within intact natural communities, allows us to understand microbial gene expression patterns. It is now feasible to deeply sequence the assortment of microbial community transcripts from a particular time and place, whether from bacteria, archaea, or small eukaryotes in the ocean, the soil, or the human gut. Putting aside the challenge of correctly assigning functions to the mRNAs being sequenced, the scientific promise of identifying all the processes simultaneously mediated by an undisturbed microbial assemblage is apparent. Essentially, we can eavesdrop on microbial ecology.
Estrategias textuales frente a la catástrofe: Milico (2007) de José Miguel Varas

ABSTRACTThe representation of violence has never been an easy task for literature—especially when it comes to narrating traumatic events born out of a dictatorship. The primary objective of this essay is to explore the aesthetics of horror and violence in Milico (2007), a novel that deals directly with the Chilean dictatorship (1973–89). Milico’s particularity and strength come from the heterogeneity of its aesthetic resources—which, ultimately, point to a desire to do justice to the representation of traumatic events. The result is the presence of a multitude of discourse strategies that search to grasp the unrepresentable nature of horror itself.
Studies on Lymphocytes. II. The Production of Lymphocytosis by Intravenous Heparin in Calves

1. Intravenous commercial heparin produces a lymphocytosis in the calf. The effect is not due to the preservative commonly present in heparin. 2. The lymphocytosis is mediated to a great extent by an increased input of lymphocytes into the blood via the thoracic duct. 3. The necessity of considering, plus controlling the heparin effect on blood lymphocyte levels and on the output of thoracic duct lymphocytes in all studies on lymphocyte production, migration and behavior, is discussed and emphasized.
Language Disorder and Polymicrogyria

The co-occurrence of developmental language disorder and reading impairment in members of three families with perisylvian polymicrogyria is reported from the State University of Campinas, and University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Why we should(n’t) be discretionists about free will

One of the projects Shaun Nichols takes up in Bound is to provide a folk psychological diagnosis of the problem of free will. As part of this diagnosis, Nichols suggests that the dispute between eliminativists (those who claim free will does not exist) and preservationists (those who claim free will does exist) depends to some extent on assumptions about the way ‘free will’ refers. In light of this, he argues that we might have good reason to accept a discretionary view of free will. Here, I will focus on teasing out some of the more fine-grained features of the discretionary view Nichols proposes. In so doing I will challenge the idea that there is a tenable strategy for consistently preserving two main features of the view: (1) that eliminativists and preservationists can both speak truly, and (2) that the apparent disagreement between them can be diffused by appealing to the role that different practical interests play in the context of utterance. I will conclude with some suggestive remarks on how the spirit of the discretionary view Nichols offers might still be preserved despite the challenge I raise, and why there are good reasons to pursue this kind of view further.
Trends in Smoking Among Hispanic Women in California Relationship to English Language Use

Background Research has shown that Hispanic women who speak mostly English have higher smoking rates than those who speak mostly another language. It is unknown how differences in smoking by English language use among adult Hispanic women in California have changed in recent years. Methods We compared current daily (100 or more cigarettes in lifetime, now smokes daily) and current nondaily (100 or more cigarettes in lifetime, now smokes some days) smoking prevalence for adult Hispanic women by English language use at home from population-based, random-digit-dialed California Tobacco Surveys in 1996 ( n =1406, 74% response rate [RR]); 1999 ( n =1379, 69% RR), and 2002 ( n =2912, 64% RR). Results Current smoking prevalence was at least twice as high among those who speak mostly English compared to those who speak mostly another language in every survey year (1996: 14.7% vs 6.1%; 1999: 14.6% vs 6.1%; 2002: 11.7% vs 4.9%) with the ratio staying constant (2.4:1). There was a decline in current nondaily smoking among those who speak mostly English by 2002 (1996 and 1999 prevalence: ∼6%, 2002: ∼4%), but no declines in current daily smoking for either language-use group. Conclusions There has been no reduction in the English-language–use gap in smoking among Hispanic women in California. There has been a significant decline in current nondaily smoking prevalence among women who speak mostly English, but no significant reduction in current daily smoking for either language-use group. It appears that not much progress has been made in California in reducing daily smoking prevalence among Hispanic women at the population level. Smoking prevention and cessation efforts among Hispanic women remain a priority.