cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of simultaneous invasive and noninvasive measurements of pressure gradients in congenital aortic valve stenosis.

Abstract Purpose: Congenital aortic valve stenosis is a common problem in pediatric cardiology. The catheter peak to peak systolic gradient is the accepted standard used for prognosis and intervention, but noninvasive correlation in pediatric patients is frequently associated with underestimation or overestimation of this gradient. The purpose of this study was to compare different noninvasive measurements with simultaneous catheter gradients to identify which best predicts the catheter peak to peak gradient. Methods: Twenty-five simultaneous Doppler and catheter measurements of aortic stenosis gradient were performed in 14 children (all 14 before valvuloplasty and 11 after valvuloplasty). Noninvasive estimates of pressure gradient were compared with catheter measurements with linear regression and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: The Doppler peak instantaneous pressure gradient overestimated the catheter peak to peak gradient but correlated well with the catheter peak instantaneous gradient. The Doppler mean systolic gradient correlated well with the catheter peak to peak gradient at low gradients and underestimated higher catheter gradients but agreed well at all levels with the catheter mean gradient. The modification of a catheter-derived correlation equation produced good correlation with the catheter peak to peak gradient (slope, 1.14; intercept, −1.8; R , 0.92), as did the use of estimated pressure recovery (slope, 1.04; intercept, 5.0; R , 0.94), calculated from a defined fluid mechanic equation. Conclusion: The catheter peak to peak gradient can be accurately estimated noninvasively using estimated pressure recovery or correlation equations incorporating Doppler measurements. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2002;15:1496-1502.)
Diversification and ecosystem services for conservation agriculture: Outcomes from pastures and integrated crop-livestock systems

Conservation agriculturalsystems relyon threeprinciplesto enhance ecosystem services: (1) minimizing soil disturbance, (2) maximizing soil surface cover and (3) stimulating biological activity. In this paper, we explore the concept of diversity and its role in maximizing ecosystem services from managed grasslands and integrated agricultural systems (i.e., integrated crop–livestock–forage systems) at the field and farm level. We also examine trade-offs that may be involved in realizing greater ecosystem services. Previous research on livestock production systems, particularly in pastureland, has shown improvements in herbage productivity and reduced weed invasion with increased forage diversity but little response in terms of animal production. Managing forage diversity in pastureland requires new tools to guide the selection and placement of plant mixtures across a farm according to site suitability and the goals of the producer. Integrated agricultural systems embrace the concept of dynamic cropping systems, which incorporates a long-term strategy of annual crop sequencing that optimizes crop and soil use options to attain production, economic and resource conservation goals by using sound ecological management principles. Integrating dynamic cropping systems with livestock production increases the complexity of management, but also creates synergies among system components that may improve resilience and sustainability while fulfilling multiple ecosystem functions. Diversified conservation agricultural systems can sustain crop and livestock production and provide additional ecosystem services such as soil C storage, efficient nutrient cycling and conservation of biodiversity.
Obtaining Absolute Locations for Quarry Seismicity Using Remote Sensing Data

We obtain absolute locations for 19 clusters of mining-induced seis- micity in southern California by identifying quarries using remote sensing data, in- cluding optical imagery and differential digital elevation models. These seismicity clusters contain 16,574 events from the Southern California Seismic Network from 1984 to 2002, which are flagged as quarry blasts but without any ground-truth lo- cation constraints. Using georeferenced airphotos and satellite radar topography data, we identify the likely sources of these events as quarries that are clearly visible within 1 to 2 km of the seismically determined locations. We then shift the clusters to align with the airphoto images, obtaining an estimated absolute location accuracy of 200 m for the cluster centroids. The improved locations of these explosions should be helpful for constraining regional 3D velocity models.
An adaptive array in a spread-spectrum communication system

This paper describes the integration of an LMS adaptive array into a pseudonoise (PN) coded biphase modulated communication system. The paper explains how these systems my be combined and presents a systems overview of the interaction between the adaptive array and the signaling waveform. An experimental system is described, and typical performance results are presented. The hybrid system requires only very modest spectrum-spreading ratios, such as 5:1, for the adaptive array to null interference. The combined system provides the interference protection of the adaptive array during the code timing acquisition phase as well as after code lockup.
Evaluation of the importance of data pre-processing order when combining feature selection and data sampling

Two problems often encountered in machine learning are class imbalance and high dimensionality. In this paper we compare three different approaches for addressing both problems simultaneously, by applying both data sampling and feature selection. With the first two approaches, sampling is followed by feature selection. In the first approach, the features are selected based on the sampled data, and then the unsampled data is used with just the selected features. The second approach is similar, but the sampled data is used. Finally, with the third approach, feature selection is performed prior to sampling. To compare the approaches, we use seven datasets from different domains, employ nine feature rankers from three different families, apply three sampling techniques, and inject class noise to better simulate real-world datasets. The results show that the second and third approaches are both very good, with the third approach showing a slight (but not statistically significant) lead.
THE TOPOGRAPHY OF LEGAL RECOGNITION OF SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS*

This article categorizes and explains the variety of forms of relationship recognition that have emerged in the United States over the last dozen or so years. Five issues regarding same-sex marital and nonmarital relationship statuses are examined: (1) eligibility, (2) benefits, (3) dissolution, (4) recognition from other jurisdictions, and (5) the intersection of state and federal law. The article then offers various proposals about what states should do in the face of the options that have emerged: (a) states that recognize same-sex marriages and nonmarital relationships should adapt their statutes to recognize “substantially similar” relationships; (b) jurisdictions should adopt statutes that require those who solemnize their relationship in a state to consent to that same state's jurisdiction for purposes of dissolution; and (c) states should adopt provisions that disentangle, to the extent possible, state laws relating to marriage and marriage-like relationships from federal laws relating to marriage. The article also stresses the importance of balancing the benefits of providing people with many options against the value of inter-jurisdictional recognition. Key Points for the Family Court Community: • There is a patchwork of recognition and non-recognition of same-sex and nonmarital relationship statuses in the United States. • There is a surprising lack of uniformity among states that do in some way recognize same-sex and/or nonmarital relationships in regards to: the rights, benefits, and obligations that come with a status, who can register or be recognized under such status, and how a state recognizes same-sex and nonmarital relationships from other jurisdictions (if it recognizes them at all). • The practical implications of this lack of uniformity include confusion and legal problems for those in same-sex marriages and nonmarital relationships; perhaps the most dramatic example is being unable to legally dissolve one's relationship.
Remifentanil use in emergency department patients: initial experience

Introduction This study examines the use of remifentanil, an ultra-short-acting opioid, in emergency department (ED) patients. Methods Chart review of ED patients receiving remifentanil for procedural sedation in an urban general ED. Results 50 patients over a 28-month period with a mean age of 30.6 years (±2.6) were reviewed. Procedures performed included: abscess drainage (13); fracture care (9); thoracostomy (8); lumbar puncture (7); shoulder reduction (3); cardioversion (3) and others (7). Six (12%) cases received additional rescue medications. All procedures were successfully completed in the ED. No complications were recorded but 21 (42%) were admitted for underlying pathology. Conclusion Remifentanil is a safe and effective medication for ED use.
Quantifying foodweb interactions with simultaneous linear equations: stable isotope models of the Truckee River, USA

AbstractAquatic foodweb models for 2 seasons (relatively high- [March] and low-flow [August] conditions) were constructed for 4 reaches on the Truckee River using δ13C and δ15N data from periphyton, macroinvertebrate, and fish samples collected in 2003 and 2004. The models were constructed with isotope values that included measured periphyton signatures and calculated mean isotope values for detritus and seston as basal food sources of each food web. The pseudo-optimization function in Excel’s Solver module was used to minimize the sum of squared error between predicted and observed stable-isotope values while simultaneously solving for diet proportions for all foodweb consumers and estimating δ13C and δ15N trophic enrichment factors. This approach used an underdetermined set of simultaneous linear equations and was tested by running the pseudo-optimization procedure for 500 randomly selected sets of initial conditions. Estimated diet proportions had average standard deviations (SDs) of 0.03 to 0.04‰, and...
ON THE NATURE OF IONS AT THE LIQUID WATER SURFACE

A qualitatively new understanding of the nature of ions at the liquid water surface is emerging. Traditionally, the characterization of liquid surfaces has been limited to macroscopic experimental techniques such as surface tension and electrostatic potential measurements, wherein the microscopic picture then has to be inferred by applying theoretical models. Because the surface tension of electrolyte solutions generally increases with ion concentration, all inorganic ions have been thought to be repelled from the air-water interface, leaving the outermost surface layer essentially devoid of ions. This oversimplified picture has recently been challenged: first by chemical kinetics measurements, then by theoretical molecular dynamics simulations using polarizable models, and most recently by new surface sensitive experimental observations. Here we present an overview of the nature of the interfacial structure of electrolyte solutions and give a detailed description of the new picture that is emerging.
Synergistic activation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression and steroid biosynthesis by retinoids: involvement of cAMP/PKA signaling.

Both retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs) mediate the action of retinoids that play important roles in reproductive development and function, as well as steroidogenesis. Regulation of steroid biosynthesis is principally mediated by the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR); however, the modes of action of retinoids in the regulation of steroidogenesis remain obscure. In this study we demonstrate that all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) enhances StAR expression, but not its phosphorylation (P-StAR), and progesterone production in MA-10 mouse Leydig cells. Activation of the protein kinase A (PKA) cascade, by dibutyrl-cAMP or type I/II PKA analogs, markedly increased retinoid-responsive StAR, P-StAR, and steroid levels. Targeted silencing of endogenous RARα and RXRα, with small interfering RNAs, resulted in decreases in 9-cis RA-stimulated StAR and progesterone levels. Truncation of and mutational alterations in the 5′-flanking region of the StAR gene demonstrated the importance ...
ABSENCE OF A GAP IN THE EXCITATION SPECTRUM (PHONONS) OF ANHARMONIC SOLIDS

Acoustic phonons are the suitably quantized low-lying normal modes of elastic solids. Their energies e(k) are given by e(k)=ħω(k), where the frequencies ω(k) are proportional to k (k=wavevector, or inverse wavelength) and vanish as w=sk (s=speed of sound) in the limit k→0. Here we prove a similar result for a reasonably general class of anharmonic solids, applicable even to such solids as the various He4 phases, H2 molecular solid, etc., which are in the extreme quantum limit. We show that the spectrum of elementary excitations in the harmonic solid provides an upper bound to the spectrum of elementary excitations in the similar anharmonic solid having the same ground state interatomic spring constantsK.
Oxygen barriers that use free radical chemistry

Oxygen barriers made of linoleic acid, ethyl cellulose and a cobalt catalyst can reduce oxygen penetration over 2,000 times compared with an ethyl cellulose barrier of the same thickness. The barrier is effective only when the product of linoleic acid concentration and barrier thickness exceeds a critical value, which is apparently necessary to effectively initiate the reaction. When this condition is met, the time that the barrier is effective can be predicted using a theory that assumes oxygen consumption is diffusion-controlled. Operating in this condition, the barrier is about 70% efficient, that is, about two-thirds for the double bonds available in linoleic acid react with oxygen. The results provide a rationale for the design of better oxygen barriers.
Flow and form in rehabilitation of large-river ecosystems: An example from the Lower Missouri River

Abstract On large, intensively engineered rivers like the Lower Missouri, the template of the physical habitat is determined by the nearly independent interaction of channel form and flow regime. We evaluated the interaction between flow and form by modeling four combinations of modern and historical channel form and modern and historical flow regimes. The analysis used shallow, slow water (shallow-water habitat, SWH, defined as depths between 0 and 1.5 m, and current velocities between 0 and 0.75 m/s) as an indicator of habitat that has been lost on many intensively engineered rivers and one that is thought to be especially important in rearing of young fishes. Two-dimensional hydrodynamic models for modern and historical channels of the Lower Missouri River at Hermann, Missouri, indicate substantial differences between the two channels in total availability and spatial characteristics of SWH. In the modern channel, SWH is maximized at extremely low flows and in overbank flows, whereas the historical channel had substantially more SWH at all discharges and SWH increased with increasing discharge. The historical channel form produced 3–7 times the SWH area of the modern channel regardless of flow regime. The effect of flow regime is evident in increased within-year SWH variability with the natural flow regime, including significant seasonal peaks of SWH associated with spring flooding. Comparison with other reaches along the Lower Missouri River indicates that a) channel form is the dominant control of the availability of habitat even in reaches where the hydrograph is more intensively altered, and b) rehabilitation projects that move toward the historical condition can be successful in increasing topographic diversity and thereby decreasing sensitivity of the availability of habitat to flow regime. The relative efficacy of managing flow and form in creating SWH is useful information toward achieving socially acceptable rehabilitation of the ecosystem in large river systems.
Viral Shedding And Fecal Iga Response After Norwalk Virus Infection

Protection is not conferred by preexposure to Norwalk virus (NV). By use of an ELISA with baculovirus-expressed recombinant NV (rNV) capsid protein, the pattern of NV fecal shedding and the protective effect of rNV-specific fecal IgA (flgA) were investigated in volunteers who were repeatedly challenged with NV. After the first challenge, ill volunteers were significantly more likely than well volunteers to have NV antigen in their stool (P < .05). After challenge, antigen shedding was detected on days 1-13; ill volunteers shed the antigen longer (P = .02). A higher prechallenge rNV-specific flgA geometric mean titer was found in ill compared with well volunteers (P < .05) and in infected versus noninfected volunteers (P < .05). NV shedding was common after infection and was present up to 2 weeks after challenge. Preexisting rNV-specific flgA, like serum IgG, is not protective and may be a marker for symptomatic disease.
Latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears. Surgical technique.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of latissimus dorsi tendon transfer in patients with an irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tear to help determine which patient and anatomic factors affect clinical outcome. METHODS: Fourteen patients with a latissimus dorsi tendon transfer were clinically evaluated with use of the PENN (University of Pennsylvania) shoulder score as well as with quantitative measurement of isometric muscle strength and the range of motion of both shoulders at a minimum of twenty-four months postoperatively. The anatomic results were evaluated with postoperative magnetic resonance imaging and electromyography. RESULTS: Nine patients were satisfied with the outcome, had significant clinical improvement, and reported that they would have the operation again under similar circumstances. The other five patients were dissatisfied with the result and had significantly worse PENN scores, active elevation, and objective measures of strength. Eight of the nine patients with a good clinical result were male, and four of the five with a poor result were female. Patients with a good clinical result had had significantly better preoperative function in active forward flexion and active external rotation compared with the patients with a poor result. The magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated healing of the tendon to the greater tuberosity in twelve patients and equivocal healing in two. There was no significant atrophy of any of the transferred muscles. Electromyography demonstrated clear activity in the transferred latissimus muscle during humeral adduction in all fourteen patients, some electrical activity with active forward elevation in only one patient, and some electrical activity with active external rotation in six of the nine patients with a good clinical result. None of the patients with a poor clinical result demonstrated electrical activity of the transferred muscle with active forward flexion or external rotation. CONCLUSIONS: Synchronous in-phase contraction of the transferred latissimus dorsi is a variable finding following the surgical treatment of irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears, but when it is present it is associated with a better clinical result. Preoperative shoulder function and general strength influence the clinical result. Female patients with poor shoulder function and generalized muscle weakness prior to surgery have a greater likelihood of having a poor clinical result.
Are developmentally exposed C57BL/6 mice insensitive to suppression of TDAR by PFOA?

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is an environmentally persistent fluorinated compound that is present in biological samples worldwide and associated with multisystem toxicity in laboratory animal models. Several studies have reported suppression of T-cell-dependent antibody responses (TDAR) in adult rodent models after 15 or 28 days of exposure. A related compound, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), was reported to suppress TDAR in developmentally exposed mice. The developmental effects of PFOA exposure on TDAR have not been explored; therefore, the objective of our study was to determine if TDAR suppression would occur in developmentally exposed mice. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were given 0, 0.5, or 1 mg PFOA/kg body weight (BW) in drinking water from gestation day (GD) 6 to GD17. At postnatal day (PND) 2, litters/dam were reduced to three males and three females. On PND21, female offspring were weaned and separated and on PND43, they were intravenously immunized with sheep red blood cells. Serum for evaluation ...
The Origin and Transmission of a Series of Plastogene Mutants in Dianthus and Euphorbia.

ECENT demonstrations of the occurrence of DNA and RNA in cytoplasmic organelles ( GIBOR and GRANICK 1964) and the demonstration of segregation and recombination of particulate cytoplasmic factors (SAGER and RAMANIS 1963) have stimulated interest in extranuclear inheritance. The extensive literature on the non-Mendelian inheritance of plastid differences has not contributed substantially to the understanding of the genetics of the cytoplasm: first, because of unsuccessful attempts to fit observations to a single model when there are almost certainly several different systems; and second, because of failure to appreciate the effect of the ontogeny of various tissues of the individual plant and its organs upon the patterns of variegation displayed as a result of somatic segregation of mutant and normal plastids. BURK, STEWART, and DERMEN (1964), on the basis of random segregation of mutant and normal plastids in meristematic cells of the shoot tip and interpretation of the ontogeny of the tissues of the shoot appendages, described many patterns of variegation in tobacco resulting from somatic segregation of a single mutant plastid type. The observation of two series of similar plastid mutants described here suggest a general occurrence of this model of plastid-based inherilance in higher plants. MATERIALS AND METHODS The variegated p3insettias, Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch. described herein were discovered in commercial cultivars which are propagated asexually by stem cuttings and in the seedlings produced in a breeding program. The genetic base of the poinsettia material is very narrow. The breeding program has been based on commercial cultivars derived by bud sports or somatic mutation from only two original seedlings. The variegated carnations were found among seedling populations derived from very diverse parentage of several Dianthus species. Plants of both genera are easily propagated by rooting cuttings of various branches produced from lateral buds formed at the nodes by the elongating apical meristem. The lateral buds from such normal origins develop from and include in their apical meristem the same hierarchy of histogenic layers as occur in the parent stem. Both plants were also propagated from seed. Both genera store enough food in the seeds that albino seedlings germinate, their cotyledons expand, and the young plants survive for several weeks. The distribution of green and white tissues and cells within the variegated plants was determined by macroscopic examination and by observation of fresh, unstained sections with phase and Horticulturist, Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service. This investigation was supported in part by a grant from The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation, Inc. The author is indebted to Dn. HAIG DERMEN for many invaluable discussions of the histogenesis of tissues in the developing shoot.
Real-Time Head Pose Estimation on Mobile Platforms

Many computer vision applications such as augmented reality require head pose estimation. As far as the real-time implementation of head pose estimation on relatively resource limited mobile platforms is concerned, it is required to satisfy real-time constraints while maintaining reasonable head pose estimation accuracy. The introduced head pose estimation approach in this paper is an attempt to meet this objective. The approach consists of the following components: Viola-Jones face detection, color-based face tracking using an online calibration procedure, and head pose estimation using Hu moment features and Fisher linear discriminant. Experimental results running on an actual mobile device are reported exhibiting both the realtime and accuracy aspects of the developed approach.
Event based emotion recognition for realistic non-acted speech

Estimating emotion from speech is an active and ongoing area of research, however most of the literature addresses acted speech and not natural day to day conversational speech. Identifying emotion from the latter is difficult because the emotion expressed by non-actors is not necessarily prominent. In this paper we validate the hypothesis, which is based on the observations that human annotators show large inter and intra person variations in annotating emotions expressed in realistic speech as compared to the acted speech. We propose a method to recognize emotions using the knowledge of events in an interactive voice response setup. The main contribution of the paper is the use of event based knowledge to enhance the identification of emotions in real natural speech.
Modeling of Failure in Aluminum Alloy Braze for a High Temperature Thermoelectric Assembly

The objective of this work is to design a commercially viable thermoelectric generator (TEG) assembly that can be used in passenger vehicles to be able to withstand extreme environmental conditions. Since the operating temperatures of the TEGs can reach temperature levels higher than 500 °C, aluminum braze alloys offer a good high temperature solution for die attach. However, the evolution of fatigue damage in the aluminum braze must be understood in order to ensure an acceptable reliability of the TEG. In this paper, the proposed design of TEG package assembly was evaluated under extreme temperature conditions. Three-dimensional models of full scale TEG were analyzed using finite element analysis (FEA). The failures of aluminum alloy based braze (high temperature form of solder) material in the TEG application was investigated. Low cycle fatigue using direct cyclic approach was considered for the reliability analysis. Continuum damage mechanics approach was used to study the fatigue failure due to power ...
A Comparison between Appendiceal and Nonappendiceal Neuroendocrine Tumors in Children and Young Adults: A Single-institution Experience

BACKGROUND Pediatric neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare tumors. The purpose of this study is to report the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients treated for NET at a single institution. PROCEDURE A retrospective record review. RESULTS There were 33 evaluable patients with median age of 17.9 years (range, 9.9 to 21.9 y) and predominantly females (58%). There were 17 patients with well-differentiated appendiceal NET, whereas 16 were nonappendiceal. Most common nonappendiceal sites were unknown primary (N=6) and pancreas (N=4). Majority of tumors were low grade (N=24, 73%) and small (T1, N=22, 67%). Nonappendiceal tumors were more likely to be larger or high-grade tumors (5/16, 31%), or with metastasis. All appendiceal NET patients underwent curative surgery. All patients who experienced treatment failure had nonappendiceal NET, despite prior chemotherapy in 8 of 9 patients. The 5-year overall survival rates for patients with appendiceal and nonappendiceal NET were 100% and 66% (95% CI, 45%-95%; P=0.006); and 5-year relapse-free survival rate for patients with appendiceal and nonappendiceal NET were 100% and 41% (95% CI, 22%-75%; P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS Well-differentiated appendiceal tumors were the most common pediatric NET and have an excellent prognosis. Better therapies are needed for patients with nonappendiceal NET.
Feature Size and Density Effects in Wet Selective Etching of GaAs/AlAs p-HEMT Structures with Organic Acid - Peroxide Solutions.

Pseudomorphic HEMT (p-HEMT) devices are used in a number of wireless communication applications including power amplifiers in the 17–50 GHz range, low noise amplifiers and switches. Selective wet etching is often used to form the gate regions of these devices to avoid plasma damage associated with dry etching. We have investigated the wet etching of small (8μm to 0.5μm) features with organic acid - hydrogen peroxide solutions. Two acid solutions were used as a selective etchant for GaAs using AlAs etch stop layers in a p-HEMT structure grown by MBE. The etched features were characterized by AFM, SEM, and TEM techniques. The etch depth uniformity and reproducibility were found to depend on a number of factors including feature size, feature density, etching chemistry, agitation and surface tension. When features with a range of size and density were placed in close proximity in a layout we found that the etch rate of the different features was a function of density, size and most importantly the etch chemistry. One etchant solution exhibited a 12% difference in etch rate from the smallest feature to the largest, while another solution exhibited uniform etching of all features regardless of size or density. Both solutions produced specular etched surfaces in GaAs and AlGaAs. However, the AlAs etch stop showed a non-uniform surface morphology after etching. The surface morphology of the AlAs etch stop is one factor that limits the over etch which can be designed into the process. The most important factors to be considered in designing a selective etch process will be presented.
The Punishment of Islamic Sex Crimes in a Modern Legal System: The Islamic Qanun of Aceh, Indonesia

This paper looks at the enactment and enforcement of recent criminal legislation involving sexual morality in the Indonesian province of Aceh. Public discussions of Islamic law relating to crimes focus almost exclusively on the question whether Islamic criminal law shall be enforced and give little if any attention to the question what Islamic criminal law is. This focus on whether rather than what reflects widely assumptions about the nature of Islamic law. Little attention is given to questions about the content or procedures of Islamic criminal law because it is assumed that the law is a fixed and definite essence, and that programs for the implementation of Islamic criminal law simply activate the machinery for the enforcement of the law. An examination of Islamic criminal law in Aceh makes clear that these assumptions are mistaken. The laws enacted in Aceh reflect the influence of a variety of contemporary and historical factors. The laws manifest an evident concern with preserving continuity with the historical tradition of Islamic law. But the legislation also shows the imprint of contemporary influences. The drafters were clearly sensitive to the conditions and concerns of contemporary Aceh and the relevance of modern ideas and institutions to Acehnese society.
Stokes polyhedra for $X$-shaped polyminos

Consider a pair of $\textit{interlacing regular convex polygons}$, each with $2(n + 2)$ vertices, which we will be referring to as $\textit{red}$ and $\textit{black}$ ones. One can place these vertices on the unit circle $|z | = 1$ in the complex plane; the vertices of the red polygon at $\epsilon^{2k}, k = 0, \ldots , 2n − 1$, of the black polygon at $\epsilon^{2k+1}, k = 0, \ldots , 2n − 1$; here $\epsilon = \exp(i \pi /(2n + 2))$. We assign to the vertices of each polygon alternating (within each polygon) signs. Note that all the pairwise intersections of red and black sides are oriented consistently. We declare the corresponding orientation positive.
Thoughts on the Current Situation of the Development of Adult Education in Rural Area

Adult education in rural area should be directed by the scientific outlook on development,with the purpose of serving the "three agricultures",employment and economic development. Furthermore,it should adhere to the principles of "plan urban and rural area as a whole","employment oriented"and"lifelong training",and carry out various types of trainings. Currently,there still exists many difficulties and problems in the rural adult education. Therefore,it's important to promote the standardization of adult colleges in rural areas,construct demonstrating community colleges,open up new peasants training bases,eliminate illiteracy of the elderly,and launch the pre-labor force training. Only in this way,the social and economic development in local area could be supported by the skilled talents.
Generation of iPS Cells from Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Using Episomal Vectors

Peripheral blood is the easy-to-access, minimally invasive, and the most abundant cell source to use for cell reprogramming. The episomal vector is among the best approaches for generating integration-free induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells due to its simplicity and affordability. Here we describe the detailed protocol for the efficient generation of integration-free iPS cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. With this optimized protocol, one can readily generate hundreds of iPS cell colonies from 1 ml of peripheral blood.
pH-Dependent Population Shift Regulates BACE1 Activity and Inhibition.

BACE1, a major therapeutic target for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, functions within a narrow pH range. Despite tremendous effort and progress in the development of BACE1 inhibitors, details of the underlying pH-dependent regulatory mechanism remain unclear. Here we elucidate the pH-dependent conformational mechanism that regulates BACE1 activity using continuous constant-pH molecular dynamics (MD). The simulations reveal that BACE1 mainly occupies three conformational states and that the relative populations of the states shift according to pH. At intermediate pH, when the catalytic dyad is monoprotonated, a binding-competent state is highly populated, while at low and high pH a Tyr-inhibited state is dominant. Our data provide strong evidence supporting conformational selection as a major mechanism for substrate and peptide-inhibitor binding. These new insights, while consistent with experiment, greatly extend the knowledge of BACE1 and have implications for further optimization of inhibitors and un...
Efficiently evaluating skyline queries on RDF databases

Skyline queries are a class of preference queries that compute the pareto-optimal tuples from a set of tuples and are valuable for multicriteria decision making scenarios. While this problem has received significant attention in the context of single relational table, skyline queries over joins of multiple tables that are typical of storage models for RDF data has received much less attention. A naive approach such as a join-first-skyline-later strategy splits the join and skyline computation phases which limit opportunities for optimization. Other existing techniques for multi-relational skyline queries assume storage and indexing techniques that are not typically used with RDF which would require a preprocessing step for data transformation. In this paper, we present an approach for optimizing skyline queries over RDF data stored using a vertically partitioned schema model. It is based on the concept of a "Header Point" which maintains a concise summary of the already visited regions of the data space. This summary allows some fraction of nonskyline tuples to be pruned from advancing to the skyline processing phase, thus reducing the overall cost of expensive dominance checks required in the skyline phase. We further present more aggressive pruning rules that result in the computation of near-complete skylines in significantly less time than the complete algorithm. A comprehensive performance evaluation of different algorithms is presented using datasets with different types of data distributions generated by a benchmark data generator.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus — Basic, Applied, and Clinical Aspects

George C. Tsokos, editor. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: Elsevier Academic Press, 2016, 640 pages, $140 US Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with many clinical manifestations that lead to significant morbidity and mortality. The textbook, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus — Basic, Applied, and Clinical Aspects , was written as a thorough examination of the historic, pathogenetic, clinical, and treatment dimensions of SLE. Each of these topics is …
Janus Kinase (JAK)-2 Does Not Play a Role in Bcr-Abl Signaling in Philadelphia Chromosome (Ph)-Positive (p190) Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Cells.

Novel immunochemotherapy regimens combined with imatinib mesylate (IA) have significantly improved treatment outcome of Ph+ ALL. Nevertheless, most adult patients with Ph+ ALL relapse and succumb to their disease. Recent reports suggested that Jak-2 is engaged in the signaling of Bcr-Abl in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells. Because Jak-2 inhibitory agents are currently investigated in clinical trials, we sought to explore the role of Jak-2 in the signaling of Bcr-Abl in Ph+ ALL assuming that inhibition of Jak-2 might be beneficial in the treatment of Ph+ ALL. To do this, we used our Ph+ (p190) ALL cell lines Z-119 and Z-181 (Estrov et al. J Cell Physiol166: 618, 1996). We chose these cells because in both lines Jak-2 can be activated. Both Z-119 and Z-181 cells express granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptors and GM-CSF activates Jak-2 and stimulates the proliferation of both cell lines. Using a clonogenic assay, we found that IA inhibited the proliferation of these cells at concentrations ranging from 50 to 500 nM. Because Bcr-Abl was found to activate the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-5 in CML cells, we used Western immunoblotting and found that IA inhibited the phosphorylation (p) of STAT5 in a dose-dependent manner in Ph+ ALL cells. To test whether JAk-2 plays a role in Bcr-Abl (p190) signaling we incubated Z-181 cells for 4 hours with or without 50, 100, 250, and 500 nM IA, extracted cellular protein and immunoprecipitated total STAT5 protein. Then, using Western immunoblotting we detected the Bcr-Abl p190 protein in all STAT5 immunoprecipitates and by using specific pSTAT5 antibodies, we demonstrated that IA induced a dose-dependent reduction in the levels of pSTAT5, but not of p190 protein, suggesting that the p190 Bcr-Abl kinase binds to and activates STAT5. Remarkably, neither Jak-2 nor pJak-2 was detected in either immunoprecipitate. To further delineate the role of Jak-2 in Bcr-Abl signaling we extracted protein from Z-181 cells and immunoprecipitated Jak-2. Neither Bcr-Abl nor STAT5 was detected in these immunoprecipitates, confirming that Jak-2 does not bind Bcr-Abl p190 protein and does not participate in the activation of STAT5. Taken together, our data suggest that Bcr-Abl (p190) binds and phosphorylates STAT5 whereas, Jak-2 is not engaged in Bcr-Abl (p190) signaling in Ph+ ALL cells.
Importance of sagittal alignment in spinal deformity

Abstract To maintain proper function and an erect posture, the spine compensates by changing the amount of kyphosis or lordosis at each region. However, in the setting of severe spinal malalignment, the compensatory motion of the spine may be inadequate, and may lead to compensatory spinopelvic and postural changes, which increase energy for standing and ambulation. Sagittal alignment has been shown through numerous studies to affect patient reported outcome scores. The goals of sagittal alignment are SVA
Video use in teacher education: An international survey of practices

Abstract Video use in teacher education can improve teacher/student learning, but teacher educators' extent/uses of video, or what supports or hinders their uses, have not been documented. This study explores these issues. 208 teacher educators’' survey responses regarding their practices across 977 teacher-education courses during one academic year were analyzed using multilevel, multivariate outcome analyses to identify relations between explanatory variables (institutional supports or barriers, teacher-educator characteristics, course attributes, educator beliefs, and video properties) and types of video uses (self-reflection, peer discussion, professor-led discussion, case studies, and multimedia). Findings show often infrequent/unvaried use of video. More frequent/varies video methods are needed.
Association of Tenofovir Use With Risk of Incident Heart Failure in HIV-Infected Patients.

Background The antiretroviral medication, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), is used by most human immunodeficiency virus–infected persons in the United States despite higher risks of chronic kidney disease. Although chronic kidney disease is a strong risk factor for heart failure (HF), the association of TDF with incident HF is unclear. Methods and Results We identified 21 435 human immunodeficiency virus–infected patients in the United States Veterans Health Administration actively using antiretrovirals between 2002 and 2011. We excluded patients with a prior diagnosis of HF. TDF was analyzed categorically (current, past, or never use) and continuously (per year of use). Proportional hazards regression and fully adjusted marginal structural models were used to determine the association of TDF exposure with risk of incident HF after adjustment for demographic, human immunodeficiency virus–related, and cardiovascular risk factors. During follow‐up, 438 incident HF events occurred. Unadjusted 5‐year event rates for current, past, and never users of TDF were 0.9 (95%CI 0.7‐1.1), 1.7 (1.4‐2.2), and 4.5 (3.9‐5.0), respectively. In fully adjusted analyses, HF risk was markedly lower in current TDF users (HR=0.68; 95%CI 0.53‐0.86) compared with never users. Among current TDF users, each additional year of TDF exposure was associated with a 21% lower risk of incident HF (95%CI: 0.68‐0.92). When limited to antiretroviral‐naive patients, HF risk remained lower in current TDF users (HR=0.53; 95%CI 0.36‐0.78) compared to never users. Conclusions Among a large national cohort of human immunodeficiency virus–infected patients, TDF use was strongly associated with lower risk of incident HF. These findings warrant confirmation in other populations, both with TDF and the recently approved tenofovir alafenamide fumarate.
${W}$ -Band Direct-Modulation >20-Gb/s Transmit and Receive Building Blocks in 32-nm SOI CMOS

This paper presents Gb/s-speed circuit building blocks in 32-nm CMOS SOI, for a > 20-Gb/s Cartesian direct-modulation $W$ -band transmitter. Transmitter systems non-idealities and performance limitations are discussed, and circuit design techniques and analyses are presented. The transmitter employs two 2-b high-speed RF digital-to-analog converters driven in quadrature, 20-dB gain $W$ -band LO drivers, and 30-Gb/s high-speed digital retimers and deserializers, and is capable of supporting BPSK/PAM4/QPSK/16-QAM modulation schemes, at a saturated output power $P_{\mathrm{ sat}}$ of +4 dBm. A maximum data rate of 20 Gb/s was achieved when operating in QPSK mode, 4 Gb/s in 16-QAM mode, and 12 Gb/s in both BPSK and PAM4 modes. The chip occupies 1.40.8 mm2 and consumes 110 mW in BPSK/PAM4 modes and 220 mW in QPSK and 16-QAM modes, resulting in the state-of-the-art 9-, 11-, and 55-pJ/b peak efficiencies, respectively. A mixer-first wideband $W$ -band receiver that includes a passive mixer and a wideband transimpedance amplifier is also presented. Measurements of the receiver chip demonstrated its capability to downconvert and amplify highly complex modulated waveforms (> 256-QAM), and at high data rates, up to 60 Gb/s in 64-QAM, which proves the feasibility of building high dynamic-range mm-wave receivers with bandwidth greater than 30 GHz. The receiver chip was also built in 32-nm CMOS SOI, occupying a core area of 0.180.1 mm2
Longitudinal Heart Failure Medication Use and Adherence Following Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation in Privately Insured Patients

Background There are few data describing the longitudinal use of and adherence to heart failure medications following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Methods and Results Using a large US commercial insurance database, patients who received an LVAD ( International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification code 37.66) and survived to hospital discharge without heart transplantation between January 1, 2006, and March 31, 2015, were identified. Heart failure medication use from 3 months before 1‐year post‐LVAD was examined using linked pharmacy claims. Differences in the proportion of patients taking heart failure medications post LVAD compared with pre LVAD were examined using McNemar test. Predictors of post‐LVAD medication use and poor medication adherence (proportion of days covered Conclusions Neurohormonal antagonist use after LVAD was inconsistent, perhaps reflecting uncertainty of therapeutic benefit in this population. Medication adherence post‐LVAD was poor in many patients. Further work is needed to delineate the reasons for nonadherence after LVAD.
The Relationship Between Sacral Slope and Symptomatic Isthmic Spondylolysis in a Cohort of High School Athletes: A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract Background Spondylolysis with and without anterolisthesis is the most common cause of structural back pain in children and adolescents, but few predictive factors have been confirmed. An association between abnormal sacropelvic orientation and both spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis has been supported in the literature. Sacral slope and other sacropelvic measurements are easily accessible variables that could aid clinicians in assessing active adolescents with low back pain, particularly when the diagnosis of spondylolysis is suspected. Objective To examine the relationship between sacral slope and symptomatic spondylolysis in a cohort of active adolescents. Design Case-control retrospective study. Setting Academic outpatient physiatry practice. Patients Seventy-four patients of primarily adolescent age (between 12 and 22 years old) with a chief complaint of low back pain and presence of lateral radiographs of the lumbar spine were enrolled. Cases (n = 37) were defined as subjects with evidence of spondylolysis on both radiograph and magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine. Controls (n = 37) were defined as subjects without spondylolysis. Methods Using a single sagittal radiograph, taken with the patient standing, a fellowship-trained interventional spine physiatrist measured the sacral slope of each subject (angle between the superior plate of S1 and a horizontal reference on sagittal imaging of the lumbosacral spine). Ages and genders were collected from medical records. Main Outcome Measurements The primary outcome was mean sacral slope. Mean sacral slope of cases was compared with mean sacral slope of controls with the Student t -test. Results Ages ranged from 12 to 22 for both groups, with no significant differences in age between the groups (cases: 16.8 ± 2.3 years; controls: 17.7 ± 2.7 years). The patients with spondylolysis (cases) consisted of 29 male and 8 female patients, whereas those without spondylolysis (controls) consisted of 15 male and 21 female patients (gender details for 1 patient were not available). The mean sacral slope among cases was 42.4°, whereas the mean sacral slope among controls was 37.4°. The difference achieved significance ( P = .014). Conclusions The interdependence of positional parameters, such as sacral slope, with anatomic parameters, such as pelvic incidence, can affect lumbar lordosis and therefore upright positioning and loading of the spine. Sacral slope may be an important variable for clinicians to consider when caring for young athletes with low back pain, particularly when the index of suspicion for spondylolysis is high. Level of Evidence IV