cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Operator Dependent Interpolation in Algebraic Multigrid

Algebraic multigrid (AMG) methods are based on algebraically defined multigrid components of which, in particular, a proper definition of interpolation is important for obtaining fast and robust convergence. This is because AMG convergence crucially depends on how well the range of interpolation approximates the range of the smoothing operator used. On the basis of various experiments, we will demonstrate the dependency of convergence on the interpolation operator. A simple improvement by means of a Jacobi relaxation step, applied to the interpolation, is shown to considerably enhance convergence and robustness. Relaxation of interpolation can also be used to improve the performance of algebraic multigrid approaches which are based on accelerated coarsening strategies. Finally, in a parallel environment, the use of local relaxation of interpolation (only along processor boundaries) may be used to stabilize convergence.
Targeting Vulnerabilities in Successive Cell Cycle Stages to Induce Death of PI3K-Activated Basal-Like Breast Cancer Cells

Frequent mutation of PI3K pathway genes in human tumors has stimulated large investments in therapeutic drugs targeting this pathway but clinical successes have been rare. As a result, many cancers with high PI3K pathway activity are still treated with conventional chemotherapy. By systematically analyzing responses of basal-like breast cancer cells to PI3K pathway inhibitors, we show that one drug, Torin2, is unusually effective because it inhibits both mTOR and PI3K-like kinases (PIKKs). Experiments with Torin2 and combinations of selective kinase inhibitors demonstrate that submaximal G1/S inhibition, increased S phase replication stress, and single-stranded DNA in mitosis are all involved in cell killing. Combination therapy with inhibitors of signal transduction kinases conventionally targets simultaneously active pathways. Our studies of Torin2 show that favorable combinatorial drug effects can also result from targeting successive cell cycle vulnerabilities, eliciting a cascade of deleterious effects that culminates in mitotic errors and death.
Attributable Failure of First-line Cancer Treatment and Incremental Costs Associated With Smoking by Patients With Cancer

Importance Previous studies have shown that continued smoking among patients with cancer can increase overall and cancer-specific mortality, risk for second primary cancer, and risk for toxic effects of cancer treatment. To our knowledge, there have been no efforts to estimate additional costs for cancer treatment attributed to smoking. Objective To model attributable incremental costs of subsequent cancer treatment associated with continued smoking by patients with cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants For this economic evaluation, a model was developed in 2018 using data from a 2014 US Surgeon General’s report that considered expected failure rates of first-line cancer treatment in nonsmoking patients, smoking prevalence, odds ratio of first-line cancer treatment failure attributed to smoking compared with nonsmoking, and cost of cancer treatment after failure of first-line cancer treatment. Main Outcomes and Measures Attributable failures of first-line cancer treatment and incremental cost for subsequent treatment associated with continued smoking among patients with cancer. Results Attributable treatment failures were higher under conditions in which high first-line cure rates were expected in nonsmoking patients compared with conditions in which low cure rates were expected. Peak attributable failures occurred under the conditions in which expected cure rates among nonsmoking patients ranged from 50% to 65%. Under the conditions of a 30% expected treatment failure rate among nonsmoking patients, 20% smoking prevalence, 60% increased risk of failure of first-line cancer treatment, and $100 000 mean added cost of treating a first-line cancer treatment failure, the additional incremental cost per 1000 total patients was estimated to be $2.1 million, reflecting an additional cost of $10 678 per smoking patient. Extrapolation of cost to 1.6 million patients with cancer diagnosed annually reflects a potential $3.4 billion in incremental cost. Conclusions and Relevance The findings suggest that continued smoking among patients with cancer and the increase in attributable first-line cancer treatment failure is associated with significant incremental costs for subsequent cancer treatments. Additional work appears to be needed to identify optimal methods to mitigate these incremental costs.
Effect of therapeutic GAS6/AXL inhibition of tumor and stromal cells on DNA damage and response to chemotherapy in ovarian cancer.

e14676Background: Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death due to gynecologic malignancy. Biomarkers to predict chemoresponse and novel therapies to target these proteins would be practice chan...
Surgical treatment of coronary arteriosclerosis by the saphenous vein graft technique

Generally, editorials are written to present personal views on a specific subject. With few exceptions, they seldom add to scientific knowledge. Usually, the author is more preoccupied with flaunting his rhetoric and literary style than in concentrating on basic facts. One suspects that many editorials are written in a moment of “ideal inspiration,” perhaps on a weekend evening, sitting comfortably on a sofa, sipping a favorite cocktail, and looking out the window at a beautiful sunset. Medicine is less and less romantic and more and more mathematical. Critical analyses and hard data are required to substantiate any claims, medical or surgical. The surgical results of the “overworked” surgical team at the Cleveland Clinic are under continuous scrutiny and appraisal by a dedicated group of clinical cardiologists; significant conclusions have been reached in regard to the proper selection and evaluation of a surgical procedure.
The Impact of Democracy on Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1982–2012

Does democracy promote economic growth? There is still an ongoing debate over the economic implications of democracy, and this question has gained critical importance particularly in the African context, where a wave of democratization in the early 1990s coincided with the start of a new era of rapid economic growth. In this paper, we revisit this important topic and argue that the existing literature is inadequate in distinguishing the effects of regime transitions and democratic consolidation on economic growth. Through the analysis of the latest economic and political data, which include up to 43 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for the period of 1982- 2012, we find strong evidence that democracy is positively associated with economic growth, and that this 'democratic advantage' is more pronounced for those African countries that have remained democratic for longer periods of time. Our findings call for more nuanced studies that carefully distinguish potentially divergent effects of regime transitions and democratic consolidation on economic growth.
Additional Symmetries of the Zakharov—Shabat Hierarchy, String Equaion and Isomonodromy

Isomonodromic deformations are nothing but symmetries of the Zakharov–Shabat (isospectral) hierarchy, both the basic ones (belonging to the hierarchy) and additionally, restricted to the submanifold of solutions to the string equation.
Long-term rates of bladder dysfunction after decompression in patients with cauda equina syndrome.

Abstract BACKGROUND CONTEXT Cauda equina syndrome (CES) occurs due to compression of the lumbar and sacral nerve roots and is considered a surgical emergency. Although the condition is relatively rare, the associated morbidity can be devastating to patients. While substantial research has been conducted on the timing of treatment, the literature regarding long-term rates of bladder dysfunction in CES patients is scarce. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to identify long-term rates of bladder dysfunction in CES patients and to compare those rates to non-CES patients who underwent similar spinal decompression. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective database study. PATIENT SAMPLE The CES cohort was comprised of 2,362 patients who underwent decompression surgery following CES diagnosis with a 5-year follow-up. These patients were matched to 9,448 non-CES control patients who underwent spinal decompression without a diagnosis of CES. OUTCOME MEASURES Diagnosis of bladder dysfunction, surgical procedure to address bladder dysfunction METHODS Using the national insurance claims database, PearlDiver, CES patients who underwent decompression surgery were identified and 1:4 matched to non-CES patients who underwent similar spinal decompression surgery. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year rates of progression to a bladder dysfunction diagnosis and surgical intervention to manage bladder dysfunction were recorded. The CES and non-CES groups were compared with univariate testing, and an analysis of risk factors for bladder dysfunction was performed with multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 2,362 CES patients who underwent decompression surgery were identified and matched to 9,448 non-CES control patients. After 5 years, CES patients had a 10%–12% increased absolute risk of continued bladder dysfunction and a 0.7%–0.9% increased absolute risk of undergoing a surgical procedure for bladder dysfunction, as compared to matched non-CES patients. Multivariate analysis controlling for age, sex, obesity, tobacco use, and diabetes, identified CES as independently associated with increased 5-year risk for bladder dysfunction diagnosis (odds ratio [OR]: 1.72; 95% confidence interaval [CI] 1.56–1.89; p CONCLUSIONS Understanding the long-term risk for bladder dysfunction in CES patients is important for the future care and counseling of patients. Compared to non-CES patients who underwent similar spinal decompression, CES patients were observed to have a significantly higher long-term likelihood for both bladder dysfunction diagnosis and urologic surgical procedure.
WT1 expression associated with platinum-sensitivity and improved progression-free survival in uterine serous carcinoma

Objectives: Wilms tumor gene 1 (WT1) expression is a hallmark of ovarian serous carcinoma (OSC) and considered to be diagnostic marker of these tumors, differentiating them from uterine serous carcinoma (USC), traditionally thought to rarely express WT1. However, recent data indicates a significant percentage of USC may express WT1, limiting its use as a differentiating marker between these two tumors. Additionally, the clinical implications of WT1 positivity in USC remain unclear. Methods: A multicenter retrospective analysis of patients with USC was conducted from 2000 - 2019. Inclusion criteria were patients who had undergone comprehensive surgical staging/tumor debulking with archival tissue available for WT1 assessment via immunohistochemistry (IHC). Platinum-sensitive patients were defined as those recurring >6 months from last platinum-based chemotherapy. Differences in the frequencies of stage, race, chemosensitivity and sites of disease recurrence were identified using Pearson's chi-square test. Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Multivariate analysis (MVA) was performed using Cox proportional hazards model. Results: WT1 status was evaluated in 61 patients with USC. 13 (21.3%) were positive for WT1 by IHC. Of these 61 patients, 56 had follow-up information available for review and were included in final analysis. The mean age was 67-years and the majority of patients were African American (97%). Stage distribution included 32% stage I, 5% stage II, 25% stage III and 38% stage IV. The majority of patients were designated as platinum-sensitive (63%). 36 (64%) patients recurred during the study period, 8 (62%) of the WT1 positive and 28 (65%) of the WT1 negative cohort. The most common location of recurrence was the abdomen followed by the pelvis and extra-abdominopelvic sites. There was no difference in the stage (p=0.158), race (p=0.227) or distribution of recurrence sites (p=0.581) between WT1 positive and WT1 negative tumors. Platinum-sensitivity was significantly improved in WT1 positive (92.3%) vs. WT1 negative tumors (55.8%) (p=0.016). For the entire cohort, the median PFS was 20 months and the median OS was 29 months. The median PFS and OS did not differ significantly based on WT1 status (p=0.544 and p=0.759, respectively). However, we did observe a trend towards improved PFS among WT1 positive tumors (21 vs. 16 months, respectively). On MVA, stage (p Download : Download high-res image (147KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions: WT1 positivity is observed in over 20% of USC, limiting its utility to differentiating OSC and USC. Additionally, WT1 status holds prognostic significance as expression was associated with improved platinum-sensitivity and a clinically significant 5-month improvement in PFS.
Altamar Brands, Llc: A Growth Journey

This case will work well in Entrepreneurship electives or in Executive Education courses dealing with challenges faced by start-up enterprises. When W. L. Lyons Brown started Altamar Brands in 2005, he wanted to develop new brands or partner with ones that had achieved commercial acceptance and then make use of his skills and capital to scale them to build a portfolio of “boutique” category leaders. Revenue for 2008 was negatively affected by the financial crisis and the resulting economic downturn that led to lower consumer spending. By 2010, Brown's entrepreneurial venture had devoured $17 million in capital with operating losses totaling $16 million. He was faced with a situation that required him to make a big decision. Should he liquidate Altamar Brands? Excerpt UVA-ENT-0197 Rev. Oct. 22, 2013 ALTAMAR BRANDS, LLC: A GROWTH JOURNEY W. L. Lyons Brown III, a fifth-generation heir to the Brown-Forman wine and spirits empire that included the iconic brands of Jack Daniels, Southern Comfort, Canadian Mist, and Early Times, sat in his Southern California office one morning in January 2010 looking out at the Pacific Ocean and mentally retracing the entrepreneurial steps he had taken since starting Altamar Brands (Altamar) in 2005. When he started Altamar, Brown wanted to develop new brands or partner with ones that had achieved commercial acceptance and then make use of his skills and capital to scale them to build a portfolio of “boutique” category leaders. He had instant access to the byzantine U.S. liquor distribution system, and he knew how to build brands within it. He theorized that such partnerships would give him access to great brands without having to build distilleries or to age product while offering his partners his sales, marketing skills, and the strong distribution relationships built by his family over three generations since the repeal of prohibition. He also thought that developing equity partnerships was much more cash efficient for a start-up. . . .
What to do about the leaky gut

### Key messages The potential role of ‘leaky gut’ or reduced barrier function with increased intestinal permeability has been considered an important factor in intestinal and extraintestinal diseases. Reversing the impairment of barrier function in diseases associated with mucosal damage may be necessary but may not be sufficient to reverse the disease pathogenesis as in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or coeliac disease. In these diseases, the underlying immune dysfunction is likely to be a significant factor in perpetuating the disease. Nevertheless, gastrointestinal and extraintestinal diseases that are not associated with predominant inflammation in the small intestine or colon have drawn attention to the potential role of reduced barrier function in disease pathogenesis. These illnesses range from eosinophilic esophagitis to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and to diverse neuropsychiatric diseases, as summarised elsewhere.1 There are also diverse systemic consequences associated with gut barrier dysfunction including increased inflammation or oxidative stress and decreased insulin sensitivity affecting tissues or organs such as the liver, fat, skeletal, muscle …
“A Previous Instance”—Yamamoto and the Uses of Precedent

When questions have been raised about targeted killing—that is, about our practice of hunting down and killing terrorist suspects identified by name— defenders of the practice often bring up the case of the 1943 killing of Japanese Admiral Yamamoto, the architect of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and they cite it as a “precedent.” Now the first meaning given to the word “precedent” in the Oxford English Dictionary is “a previous instance taken as an example or rule by which to be guided in similar cases or circumstances; an example by which a comparable subsequent act may be justified.” Can this apply to the Yamamoto killing? In what way can a single instance like this from almost 80 years ago contribute anything to the permissibility of a highly controversial practice today? If the Yamamoto attack is a precedent, it is a non-judicial precedent and its invocation invites us to consider how precedent operates outside the framework of judicial decision. Beyond that, we must also ask what kind of justificatory work a single instance can do in normative argument? Does it justify by being a shining example of the rightfulness of actions of this sort? Or does it justify by beginning a line of analogical conduct that increases in its justifiability the longer it goes on?
Concerning Water By Itself

§ 180. Water is a fire-quenching liquid, which by itself has neither color nor taste. This definition applies readily to the purest water that nature produces, although it [the water] is not always free from foreign substances; but it can be purified through distillation, but nevertheless still contains some earth, which can finally be separated by evaporation in a closed vessel, albeit imperfectly.
Raising Xenopus in the laboratory.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview of raising Xenopus in the laboratory. Xenopus laevis is well suited to the laboratory, perhaps because it survives and proliferates in a variety of nonfastidious conditions in the wild. Many laboratories have raised X. Laevis and the procedures vary greatly, probably reflecting the animal's tolerance. Whenever a few researchers in one area expect to use X. Laevis as a main experimental animal for a period of years, it is worth their making a joint effort to raise them. The chapter also explains the various equipments required for the experiment, such as tanks. Large tanks are used to minimize the equipment needed to change water automatically. Water quality is examined and infectious diseases are also overviewed. Animals captured in South Africa or Southern California contain a number of parasites (for example, nematodes, trematodes, and protozoa), and generally it is advisable not to mix these animals with ones raised in the laboratory, which tend to be parasite free. As general precautions against the spread of diseases, it is recommended that water never be mixed between tanks and that live aquatic food organisms be avoided as they may carry disease organisms.
Economically destabilizing electric power markets for profit

Electric generators and distributors, in many cases no longer vertically integrated with guaranteed customers and suppliers, are starting to compete to sell and buy electricity. It is not at all clear, though, that current wholesale electricity markets produce economically optimal or efficient results. In fact, anecdotal evidence to the contrary has continually arisen. The purpose of this article, then, is to introduce market analysts to the study of model agent driven power market auctions. In particular, scenarios are examined where some of the players attempt to profit by intentionally driving market prices and creating economic instabilities. A double auction market of electricity is modeled, and different scenarios for malicious activities from the sellers' side are considered. The results of simulating using genetic algorithms and the Roth/Erv leaning algorithm are summarized. It is shown that under commonly found circumstances some of the players can significantly influence the market for profit (their own). It is also noticed that structural market power exists when the uniform pricing algorithm is selected. It is also noticed that the buyers are very disadvantaged if they are not able to hide their valuation for the commodity.
Competitive Strategies of Biotechnology Firms: Implications for U.S. Agriculture

The agricultural biotechnology industry has evolved from a focus on outstanding science to a more mature phase where firms focus on new-term products and building businesses. Understanding complex relationships and distribution channels and a global perspective are crucial to commercialization. Yet, leading-edge technology and early identification of key traits will be critical to developing superior products that ensure competitiveness in the marketplace. Monsanto is organizing around a life sciences model where seed, crop chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food ingredient businesses will exploit mutual synergies driven by basic science and discovery.
An ex‐post comparative analysis of SME formation in Brazil and Mexico: Towards a research agenda

Purpose – This study seeks to compare and contrast the contexts and processes of the formation and development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Brazil and Mexico. Additionally, a research agenda is defined based on information generated by various sources regarding the initial stages of enterprise formation.Design/methodology/approach – This research paper uses data collected from a 2002 study conducted by the Inter‐American Development Bank, along with institutional reports and academic literature, in order to perform a comparative analysis on the gestation and early development of SMEs in Brazil and Mexico.Findings – This analysis of prior research studies indicates that emerging economies like Brazil and Mexico face enormous social and economic challenges that have in turn slowed down the efficiency and effectiveness of SME support programs. In addition, the differences found in the institutional, socio‐cultural, and economic context of Brazil and Mexico reveal that governments and entrepreneu...
Alternatives for Small Farm Survival: Government Policies Versus the Free Market: Discussion

The topic of the relationship between sustainability and farm structure, including the role of government, is extremely timely. It is so timely, in fact, that economists have significantly more questions about these relationships than we do answers. Farm policy, with its emphasis on commodity production, is clearly at a turning point; perhaps this is the most critical time since the basic policies were established some 60 years ago. The llveeten and Amponsah paper makes a contribution to our understanding of this sea of change in the policy arena and the likely impacts on small farms, Sustainability is often viewed as having three dimensions: economic, environmental, and social. It could be argued that the greatest justification for government involvement exists in the environmental area. Markets should guide the economic choices, and the role of government in providing strong social direction is controversial. On the other hand, strong private markets do not exist, by definition, in the environmental arena-and public opinion polls have consistently shown that the public is concerned about environmental quality.
Manifold and transfer subspace learning for cross-domain vehicle recognition in dynamic systems

Transfer Subspace Learning has gained recent popularity in the literature for its ability to perform cross-dataset and cross-domain object recognition — enablers for data fusion. The ability to leverage existing data without the need for additional data collections is attractive for Automatic Target Recognition applications. For Automatic Target Recognition (or object assessment) applications, Transfer Subspace Learning is a game changer for dynamic systems, as it enables the incorporation of sparse and dynamically collected data into existing systems that utilize large, dense databases. A baseline Transfer Subspace Learning technique is the Transfer Fisher's Linear Discriminative Analysis, an approach based on Bregman divergence-based regularization. This paper modifies the implementation of the Transfer Fisher's Linear Discriminative Analysis technique by combining it with Manifold Learning and adjusting it to allow for a more systematic search of tuning parameters. Specifically, the Diffusion Map approach is utilized, a Manifold Learning approach based on heat diffusion. The modified technique is then utilized for cross-data and cross-domain electro-optical vehicle recognition.
Bortz v. Suzuki (Translation and Commentary)

Plaintiff successfully sued defendant, who shooed her away from his jewelry store. In a lengthy opinion, the judge cited the Racial Discrimination Convention to hold the defendant liable for emotional distress damages, and gave a long historical account of the rise of human rights and racial discrimination. This is the first in a long line of racial discrimination cases in the private sphere.
Microcanonical Transfer Matrix and Yang-Lee Zeros of the Q -State Potts Model

The Q-state Potts model in two dimensions is very fertile ground for the investigation of phase transitions and critical phenomena. For Q = 2 and 3 there is a second order phase transition between Q ferromagnetic ordered states and a disordered state. For Q = 4 the transition is also second order, but the usual critical behavior is modified by strong logarithmic corrections. For Q > 4 the transition is first order, with Q = 5 exhibiting weak first order behavior and a very large correlation length at the critical point.
Burnout Research in Social Services

The six articles in this special issue on burnout are critically reviewed. The shortcomings of these articles, both conceptual and empirical, limit the contributions that this special issue can make to our understanding of burnout.
The value of clustering in distributed estimation for sensor networks

Energy efficiency, low latency, high estimation accuracy, and fast convergence are important goals in distributed estimation algorithms for sensor networks. One approach that adds flexibility in achieving these goals is clustering. In this paper, we extend the framework of distributed estimation by allowing clustering amongst the nodes. The general class of distributed in-cluster algorithms considered includes the distributed in-network algorithm, recently proposed by Rabbatand Nowak (2004), as a special case. The distributed parameter estimation problem is posed as a convex optimization problem involving a social cost function and data from the sensor nodes. An in-cluster algorithm is then derived using the incremental subgradient method. Sensors in each cluster successively update a cluster parameter estimate based on local data, which is then passed on to a fusion center for further processing. We also prove convergence results for the distributed in-cluster algorithm, and provide simulations for least squares and robust estimation.
Teriparatide Therapy and Reduced Postoperative Hospitalization for Postsurgical Hypoparathyroidism

Importance Up to 20% of patients undergoing thyroidectomy develop hypocalcemia after surgery. Although usually transient, severe symptomatic hypocalcemia may occur. Teriparatide acetate (recombinant human parathyroid hormone 1-34) therapy can rapidly raise calcium levels. Objective To test the hypothesis that teriparatide therapy in patients with postthyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism would expedite relief of symptomatic hypocalcemia and reduce the duration of hospitalization compared with standard treatment. Design, Setting, and Participants Case series of all hospitalized patients 18 years or older treated with teriparatide for symptomatic postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia occurring immediately after thyroidectomy at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, between January 1, 2008, and June 30, 2014. A secondary analysis was performed with matched control and cohort groups having postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia of similar degree who received standard treatment only. Participants included 8 hospitalized patients who received teriparatide therapy after 24 hours of standard treatment (cases) and eight control patients selected from a cohort of 1193 thyroidectomies were matched for age, sex, body mass index, and nadir calcium levels. Intervention Teriparatide acetate therapy (20 µg twice daily) subcutaneously for 1 week, with the option of continuing at 20 µg/d for up to 3 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures Safety, symptom resolution, calcium supplementation, and duration of hospitalization. Results Among the 16 case and control patients the median nadir calcium level was 7.1 mg/dL in both groups. Most patients underwent thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer. Teriparatide therapy was safe, with no adverse events noted, and completely eliminated symptomatic hypocalcemia in all treated patients within 24 hours of initiation. Hospital discharge occurred at a median of 1.0 day (interquartile range, 1.0-1.0 day) after teriparatide therapy initiation among cases vs 2.5 days (interquartile range, 1.8-3.0 days) after the equivalent clinical point was reached in controls ( P = .01). This value was 2.0 days in the source cohort ( P = .02). On hospital discharge, patients had similar calcium levels. Six months after surgery, all patients treated with teriparatide showed partial or complete parathyroid recovery. Calcium supplementation and calcium levels were comparable between the groups. Conclusions and Relevance In this pilot study, teriparatide therapy in patients with postthyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism was safe, rapidly eliminated hypocalcemic symptoms, and likely reduced the duration of hospitalization. Given the limitations of this small study, a large-scale randomized trial is needed to verify these results and to assess the long-term effect of teriparatide therapy on clinical outcomes.
The Increasing Dominance of Teams in Production of Knowledge

We have used 19.9 million papers over 5 decades and 2.1 million patents to demonstrate that teams increasingly dominate solo authors in the production of knowledge. Research is increasingly done in teams across nearly all fields. Teams typically produce more frequently cited research than individuals do, and this advantage has been increasing over time. Teams now also produce the exceptionally high-impact research, even where that distinction was once the domain of solo authors. These results are detailed for sciences and engineering, social sciences, arts and humanities, and patents, suggesting that the process of knowledge creation has fundamentally changed.
Computation of the Structure-Dependent pKa Shifts in a Polypentapeptide of the Poly[fv(IPGVG), fE(IPGEG)] Family

We report the results of a theoretical study intended to elucidate the molecular basis of the effect of hydrophobicity on the pKa's of ionizable groups in polypeptides and proteins. In particular, we have focused on a polypentapeptide of a family associated with the process of free energy transduction. Our theoretical calculations, carried out by using a conformational search method in combination with a fast multigrid boundary element method to solve the Poisson equation, led to results that are in good agreement with the experimental observations.
Full diversity distributed space-time trellis codes for asynchronous cooperative communications

In current cooperative communication schemes, to achieve cooperative diversity, synchronization between terminals is usually assumed, which may not be practical since each terminal has its own local oscillator. In this paper, based on the stack construction proposed by Hammons and El Gamal, we first construct a family of space-time trellis codes for BPSK modulation scheme that is characterized to possess the full cooperative diversity order without the synchronization assumption. We then generalize this family of space-time trellis codes from BPSK to higher order QAM and PSK modulation schemes based on the unified construction proposed by Lu and Kumar. And also, simplified decoding methods are discussed. Simulation results are given to illustrate the performance of the newly proposed codes
Polar Process and World Climate (A Brief Overview)

A review is presented of events relating polar regions to the world climate, the mechanisms of sea ice and polar ice sheets, and of two theories of the Pleistocene Ice Ages. The sea ice which varies over time scales of one or two years and the polar ice sheets with time changes measured in tens or hundreds of thousands of years introduce two distinct time constants into global time changes; the yearly Arctic sea ice variations affect northern Europe and have some effect over the entire Northern Hemisphere; the ice-albedo coupling in the polar ice sheets is involved in major climatic events such as the Pleistocene ice ages. It is concluded that climate problems require a global approach including the atmosphere, the oceans, and the cryosphere.
Towards optimization of a human-inspired heuristic for solving explore-exploit problems

Motivated by models of human decision making, we consider a heuristic solution for explore-exploit problems. In a numerical example we show that, with appropriate parameter values, the algorithm performs well. However, the parameters of the algorithm trade off exploration against exploitation in a complicated way so that finding the optimal parameter values is not obvious. We show that the optimal parameter values can be analytically computed in some cases and prove that suboptimal parameter tunings can provide robustness to modeling error. The analytic results suggest a feedback control law for dynamically optimizing parameters.
Catalyst Preparation Variables That Affect the Creation of Active Sites for HDS on Co/Mo/Al2O3Catalytic Materials

In a recent paper, the authors demonstrated that the intensity of a specific peak (pK {approximately} 6) in proton affinity distributions (PADs) measured for a series of Co-Mo/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts could be correlated to the variation in HDS activity within the series. PADs access information about species on the catalyst`s surface from analyses of proton binding data collected using potentiometric titration. If the species determined at the solid/aqueous interface are present after catalyst activation and are active during catalytic testing, then this methodology can provide a simple, surface sensitive procedure for catalysts characterization which should correlate with other characterization techniques. To test this hypothesis the authors provide herein results from more conventional catalyst characterization techniques in order to corroborate the PAD results. The techniques of temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and laser Raman spectroscopy were used to provide additional characterization of Co-Mo/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts in their oxide state. PADs were obtained for this catalyst system in their oxide and sulfided states. The HDS activity for each member of this series was measured using hydrosulfurization of thiophene as a test reaction. The effect of cobalt loading, molybdenum content, presulfidation conditions, and pH during catalyst preparation were the variables used.more » Based on the experimental data the author`s propose that the active site for HDS activity is a Co-Mo interaction species consisting of molybdate octahedra and a dispersed Co which could also be octahedrally coordinated. This species can be transformed reversibly during the process of sulfidation and reoxidation and its formation is controlled by pH. 48 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.« less
A novel indicator plant to test the hypersensitivity of phytopathogenic bacteria

Hypersensitive response is an important, definitive test to separate plant pathogenic bacteria from saprophytes. The current standard protocol uses tobacco and four o'clock plants as indicators for Gram negative and Gram positive phytopathogenic bacteria, respectively, and inoculation is accomplished by infiltrating bacterial suspensions into intact leaves. Both plants, especially the four o'clock, have thin leaves which make inoculation difficult, sometimes leading to inaccurate tests. Here we propose the use of Sedum hybridum as an alternative indicator plant. Sedum plants are readily available, easy to propagate and fast growing. Their leaves are much thicker, thus infiltration of a bacterial suspension is easier compared to tobacco and four o'clock. Additionally, sedum plants can be used universally to test both Gram negative and Gram positive phytopathogenic bacteria.
Life cycle assessment perspectives on delivering an infant in the US

This study introduces life cycle assessment as a tool to analyze one aspect of sustainability in healthcare: the birth of a baby. The process life cycle assessment case study presented evaluates two common procedures in a hospital, a cesarean section and a vaginal birth. This case study was conducted at Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which delivers over 10,000 infants per year. The results show that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), waste disposal, and the production of the disposable custom packs comprise a large percentage of the environmental impacts. Applying the life cycle assessment tool to medical procedures allows hospital decision makers to target and guide efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of healthcare procedures.
Septal dislocation for endoscopic access of the anterolateral maxillary sinus and infratemporal fossa.

BackgroundTransnasal approaches to the anterolateral maxillary sinus and infratemporal fossa are challenging with traditional endoscopic techniques and instrumentation. Additional access in the ant...
Box Net for Collection of Juvenile Salmonids from Turbine Intake Gatewells at John Day Dam

Abstract A large box net was constructed to capture migrating juvenile salmonids from turbine intake gatewells at hydroelectric dams. This net, operated at John Day Dam on the Columbia River, caught an average of 97.3% of the fall chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha smolts present in the gatewells. The net is presently being used at other hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River system.
Pediatric Crohn disease presenting as appendicitis: differentiating features from typical appendicitis.

BACKGROUND The initial presentation of Crohn disease (CD) may mimic acute appendicitis, and preoperative clues may aid in recognizing patients at risk for CD. METHODS A retrospective case control study of patients presenting over 10 years compared control patients with appendicitis versus patients presenting with appendicitis who ultimately developed CD. We matched 10 patients of the same age, gender, and perforated versus nonperforated appendicitis status for each of the CD patients. Demographic, laboratory, and clinical data were compared. Additionally, appendectomy specimens of CD patients were genotyped for common NOD2 (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2) mutations. RESULTS Of 2718 patients treated for appendicitis, 8 subsequently developed CD. Compared to the matched controls, CD patients were found to have lower hemoglobin (10.4 + 1.0 vs. 13.3 + 0.2, p < 0.0001) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (72.5 + 3.4 vs. 84.1 + 0.5, p < 0.0001) values, and higher platelets values (444.8 + 42.2 vs. 275.6 + 8.0, p < 0.0001) at initial presentation. Anthropometric z-scores, length of stay, and antibiotic therapy duration did not significantly differ between groups. The NOD2 mutation frequency (25%) was consistent with the currently described CD population. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative findings of a low hemoglobin level and MCV count, and a high platelet count in a child presenting with appendicitis warrant further evaluation for CD, as prompt diagnosis allows for optimal treatment and quality of life for these patients.
Phonon attenuation in amorphous solids studied by picosecond ultrasonics

We have used a picosecond optical technique to measure the attenuation {alpha} of longitudinal-acoustic phonons in several disordered solids. We find a universal {alpha}{approximately}{nu}{sup 2} behavior for frequencies {nu} up to 320 GHz and for temperatures between 80 and 300 K. Within this temperature range the phonon attenuation increases by a factor of between 2 and 3 with increasing temperature for the amorphous polymers poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(styrene), and poly(ethyl methacrylate), and for the metallic glass TiNi. We discuss our results in relation to current theories of high-frequency vibrations in glasses and thermal conduction. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Embedded Plasmonic Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector

In order to lessen the strain of cooling requirements on mid-infrared detectors, reducing the volume of the detecting medium is one promising solution. It is necessary to augment the absorption (quantum efficiency) lost when shrinking the detector volume. We present a Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector with a plasmonic structure embedded within and around the detection media. This device has a self-aligned plasmonic-hole array designed for 8µm wavelength and a planar top contact to the array of detector material. This arrangement has an expected field enhancement of an order of magnitude and lends itself to making a Focal Plane Array.
Mechanical Design of Robotic In Vivo Wheeled Mobility

A new approach to laparoscopic surgery involves placing a robot completely within the patient. These in vivo robots are then able to provide visual feedback and task assistance that would otherwise require additional incisions. Wheeled in vivo robots can provide a mobile platform for cameras, graspers, and other sensory devices that assist in laparoscopy. Development of wheeled in vivo mobile robots was achieved through a design process that included modeling, finite element analysis (FEA), bench top testing, and animal tests. Laboratory testing using a wheel test platform identified a helical wheel design as the best candidate. Finite element simulations were then used to better understand how changing the helical wheel geometric parameters affected drawbar force. Several prototype mobile robots were then developed based on these results. The drawbar forces of these robots were measured in the laboratory to confirm the FEA results. Finally, these robots were successfully tested during animal surgeries.
Combined effects of fatigue and decision making on female lower limb landing postures: central and peripheral contributions to ACL injury risk

Abstract Background In spite of ongoing prevention developments, anterior cruciate ligament injury rates and the associated sex-disparity have remained, suggesting an incomplete understanding of the injury mechanism. While both fatigue and decision making are known in isolation to directly impact anterior cruciate ligament injury risk, their combined manifestations remain unknown. We thus examined the combined effects of fatigue and decision making on lower limb kinematics during sports relevant landings. Methods Twenty five female National College Athletic Association athletes had initial contact and peak stance phase 3D lower limb joint kinematics quantified during anticipated and unanticipated single (left and right) leg landings, both before and during the accumulation of fatigue. Jump direction was governed by light stimuli activated prior to and during the pre-land phase of respective anticipated and unanticipated trials. To induce fatigue, subjects performed repetitive squat (n = 5) and randomly ordered jump sequences, until squats were no longer possible. Subject-based measures of each dependent factor were then calculated across pre-fatigue trials, and for those denoting 100% and 50% fatigue, and submitted to a 3-way mixed design analysis of covariance to test for the main effects of fatigue time, decision and leg. Findings Fatigue caused significant increases in initial contact hip extension and internal rotation, and in peak stance knee abduction and internal rotation and ankle supination angles. Fatigue-induced increases in initial contact hip rotations and in peak knee abduction angle were also significantly more pronounced during unanticipated compared to anticipated landings. Interpretation The integrative effects of fatigue and decision making may represent a worst case scenario in terms of anterior cruciate ligament injury risk during dynamic single leg landings, by perpetuating substantial degradation and overload of central control mechanisms.
Automatic generation control: Decentralized area-wise optimal solution

Abstract A decentralized scheme is proposed for the design of automatic generation control (AGC) for interconnected power systems. This scheme uses the natural structural properties of interconnected power systems and gives a new method for decentralized AGC regulator design, using the existing theory of proportional-plus-integral linear regulators applied to each individual power area. It is shown that a decentralized design, based upon the expansion-contraction theory of large-scale systems with overlapping and modified linear regulators with incomplete subsystem feedback, is suitable to handle the design of AGC regulators for present-day interconnected power systems. The resulting AGC retains the autonomous area control concept and load distribution property of conventional AGC regulators, while at the same time allows for improved transients and stability margins for interconnected areas. The application of this decentralized AGC scheme is illustrated on a 17th-order model of a two-area interconnected power system.
Transparency in Bank Risk Modeling: A Solution to the Conundrum of Bank Regulation

After financial disasters, financial risk models are often blamed for failing to provide adequate warning. The author argues that, in many cases, the models provided accurate warnings but were ignored by market participants who did not like what they said. The financial crisis of 2008–2009 was not the first time this has happened. The author describes similar but smaller debacles in 1994 and 1998 that had their roots in financial innovation that took place a decade earlier. In both cases, risk models warned that volatile securities would become impossible to hedge; but rather than exiting those positions as they should have done, some market participants simply ignored the flashing warning lights. Some current financial risk models have proven to be quite robust. Large commercial banks have mined their internal data to create empirical models of default probability that forecast accurately out of sample. Default models based on contingent claims analysis have been available for years, including some that use continuously-traded equity and equity options prices. Hybrid models that combine empirical data-mining and forward-looking market-based signals have been shown to provide reliable early warning signals about corporate credit risk. The author recommends making banks' data bases and risk models freely available to regulators, ratings agencies, and independent analysts. When provided with access to the findings of independent efforts to measure the riskiness of bank portfolios, public scrutiny and third-party analysis would compel bank senior management to improve risk measurement and increase transparency. Banks would benefit by restoring market confidence in the quality of their books. Making risk models transparent could also help break the present impasse between regulators and financial intermediaries. It may be possible for markets to establish a standard for credit risk that is more robust and more trustworthy than the ratings-based system that fell into disrepute after the 2008 crisis. This would be preferable to the present thrust of bank regulation, which proposes to apply the severest standards to bank ownership of risk, and threatens to dampen economic growth.