cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-Temperature Photoluminescence of CdSe/CdS Core/Shell Nanoheterostructures

The steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence properties of CdSe/CdS heterostructures are studied as a function of temperature from 300 to 600 K. The emission properties of samples are found to behave similarly to bulk CdSe, with the samples maintaining high color purity and a slightly contracting band gap at elevated temperature. Photoluminescence from CdSe/CdS samples is maintained with high stability over prolonged illumination and multiple heating and cooling cycles. Structures synthesized with variation in the core and the shell dimensions show that the preservation of emission intensity at high temperature depends strongly on the microscopic structure of the samples. For samples synthesized by seeded growth, the size of the CdSe core is highly correlated with the fraction of preserved sample photoluminescence intensity at high temperature. Temperature-dependent lifetime data suggest that the core structure predicts the stability of photoluminescence at elevated temperatures by controlling the radiative rate. The rate of electron capture, for which the volume fraction of the core is a structural proxy, underpins the ability for radiative processes to compete with thermally induced nonradiative decay pathways. Heterostructures synthesized below 200 °C using highly reactive organometallic precursors show markedly lower thermal stability than samples prepared by seeded growth at 360 °C, suggesting that the temperature of nanocrystal synthesis has direct consequences for the thermal stability of photoluminescence.
Spinal cord extracellular microenvironment. Can the changes resulting from trauma be graded

It is now clear that alternatives are available to the standard method of producing spinal injury with the Allen drop technique. We have shown that small groups of animals with predictably consistent mechanical injury descriptors can now be produced for studies of this type. These groups can easily be selected to have minimal or maximal injury results, depending upon this series of mechanical descriptors. In addition, important physiological variables seem to show acute recovery patterns consistent with recovery of function in chronic animals. Since marginal injuries are likely to be more responsive to pharmacological or surgical intervention, a sensible approach would be to design studies in which animals are close to, but not at, some degree of injury from which they will spontaneously recover. Shifts of the acute physiological, chronic behavioral, or histopathological recovery curves would then indicate the potential therapeutic index of different interventions. Only in this way can significant advances be made in the selection of protocols for human trials.
Romanianization versus Germanization

According to the 1930 census, there were 745,421 ethnic Germans in Romania. The majority was located in the former Habsburg provinces of Transylvania, Banat, and Bukovina, in communities that gradually radicalized under the influences of the local “Nationalist Self-Help Movement” and Nazi Germany’s foreign policy.1 These local Germans’ lives changed significantly in 1940. After the territorial shifts that summer only 300,000 still lived in Romania. Many ethnic German men went to Nazi Germany during the war to serve in the Waffen SS units, which created tensions with Ion Antonescu.2 The number of Germans diminished further in the autumn of 1940, as a result of the Romanian-German convention (22 October 1940): while few ethnic Germans from the Banat and Transylvania were repatriated to the Reich, some 76,500 from Southern Bukovina and Dobrogea were repatriated to Germany.3
Recombination in Bacteriophage f1

The bacteriophage f1 is a small, single-stranded DNA-containing phage. The DNA is in a ring form containing about 6000 nucleotides. The phage particle itself is filamentous, does not kill its host cells, and is continuously extruded from the cell surface while the cells continue to grow (Marvin and Hohn, 1969).
Invariant polar bear habitat selection during a period of sea ice loss

Climate change is expected to alter many species' habitat. A species' ability to adjust to these changes is partially determined by their ability to adjust habitat selection preferences to new envi...
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent phosphorylation of specific fat cell membrane proteins by an endogenous membrane-bound protein kinase. Possible involvement in the regulation of insulin-stimulated glucose transport.

Abstract The phosphorylation of specific membrane proteins by an endogenous protein kinase has been studied in purified membrane fractions from rat adipocytes using trichloroacetic acid precipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. The endogenous phosphorylation of two specific membrane proteins is completely dependent on the presence of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and magnesium ions. This phosphorylation occurs very rapidly at 24°, reaching maximal levels at 1 min. The number of sites specifically phosphorylated in the presence of cyclic AMP probably does not exceed 50,000 per fat cell, requiring the use of very high specific activity (10 to 50 Ci per mmole) [γ-32P]ATP for these studies. The minimal molecular weights of the two specifically phosphorylated proteins are about 22,000 and 16,000 as determined by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The same two proteins are phosphorylated when intact fat cells are exposed briefly to low concentrations of exogenous ATP, a process which results in the suppression of the insulin-stimulated rates of d-glucose transport. At least 95 % of the cyclic AMP-dependent 32P incorporated into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable protein is in the form of protein-bound phosphoserine. The concentration of cyclic AMP required for maximal stimulation of phosphorylation is about 1.5 µm. Cyclic guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate has no significant effect unless its concentration is increased to 10-4 m. Phosphorylation is inhibited by calcium ions. The cyclic AMP-stimulated phosphorylation is inhibited by phloretin and by 5'-adenylyl-β, γ-methylene triphosphonate. The specific cyclic AMP-dependent membrane phosphorylation is also found in membranes from cells of obese rats, an insulin-resistant animal. This phosphorylation system, however, cannot be detected in membranes from guinea pig fat cells. The lack of phosphorylation of specific membrane proteins in guinea pig fat cell membranes is correlated with the insulin insensitivity of this tissue to glucose transport (but not lipolysis) and with the inability of ATP to inhibit the slight stimulation which insulin exerts on glucose transport. The possibility is considered that this specific cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylating system is involved in the hormonal regulation of glucose transport and the modulation of insulin sensitivity.
Thermal properties and an improved shape model for near-Earth asteroid (162421) 2000 ET70

Abstract We present thermal properties and an improved shape model for potentially hazardous asteroid (162421) 2000 ET70. In addition to the radar data from 2000 ET70’s apparition in 2012, our model incorporates optical lightcurves and infrared spectra that were not included in the analysis of Naidu et al. (2013, Icarus 226, 323–335). We confirm the general “clenched fist” appearance of the Naidu et al. model, but compared to their model, our best-fit model is about 10% longer along its long principal axis, nearly identical along the intermediate axis, and about 25% shorter along the short axis. We find the asteroid’s dimensions to be 2.9 km × 2.2 km × 1.5 km (with relative uncertainties of about 10%, 15%, and 25%, respectively). With the available data, 2000 ET70’s period and pole position are degenerate with each other. The radar and lightcurve data together constrain the pole direction to fall along an arc that is about twenty-three degrees long and eight degrees wide. Infrared spectra from the NASA InfraRed Telescope Facility (IRTF) provide an additional constraint on the pole. Thermophysical modeling, using our SHERMAN software, shows that only a subset of the pole directions, about twelve degrees of that arc, are compatible with the infrared data. Using all of the available data, we find that 2000 ET70 has a sidereal rotation period of 8.944 h (± 0.009 h) and a north pole direction of ecliptic coordinates ( 52 ∘ , − 60 ∘ ) ± 6 ∘ . The infrared data, acquired over several dates, require that the thermal properties (albedo, thermal inertia, surface roughness) must change across the asteroid’s surface. By incorporating the detailed shape model and spin state into our thermal modeling, the multiple ground-based observations at different viewing geometries have allowed us to constrain the levels of the variations in the surface properties of this asteroid.
Relativity and the Concept of Morality

Evaluation de la conception non-relative de la moralite au fondement du langage et de la pensee morale, developpee par M. Smith dans son ouvrage intitule «The moral problem» (1994). Mesurant la pertinence de l'analyse conceptuelle face aux questions metaethiques, et examinant la conception du jugement moral fondee sur l'idee de raisons normatives, l'A. analyse l'argument des formulations de dicto, l'argument du desaccord et l'argument de l'arbitraire defendus par Smith, d'une part, et rejette sa conclusion sceptique en matiere d'ethique normative, d'autre part
WRC-19 Issues: A Survey

On October 28, 2019, the International Telecommunications Union?s (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) will convene in Geneva for four weeks of multinational deliberations on possible updates to the ITU Radio Regulations (RR). RR is a document setting out the basic international rules of spectrum use and is a treaty between the 193 member nations of the ITU. Such conferences are held every four or five years. This article is the second in a series reviewing the impact of issues on the agenda and their possible impact on radiocommunications spectrum use. The point here is to both inform readers about issues under consideration and to encourage them to get involved in their national process for inputs to the conference.
Characterizing Biomedical Concept Relationships

The importance of biomedical concept relationships and document concept interrelationships are discussed and some of the ways in which concept relationships have been used in information search and retrieval are reviewed. We look at examples of innovative approaches utilizing biomedical concept identification and relationships for improved document and information retrieval and analysis that support knowledge creation and management.
Acute and Prolonged Effects of Vibrating Platform Treatment on Horses: A Pilot Study

Abstract Anecdotal reports suggest using vibrating platforms may improve performance and promote healing in competitive horses. This study tested the hypothesis that physiological parameters are altered with vibration therapy. Detailed musculoskeletal examinations were performed on six Arabian horses (average age = 22 years) by two equine veterinarians specializing in sports medicine to score any lameness (before and after limb flexion) or limited range of joint motion. Stride lengths were also determined at the walk and trot. Age, gender, lameness scores, and stride lengths were used to stratify and pair-match horses on one of two treatments – vibration therapy (VT) or sham control (CO). Horses were re-evaluated (by the same blinded veterinarian) acutely, after one initial 30-minute treatment, and again after 3 weeks, with treatments repeated daily (5 days per week). VT horses stood on a platform vibrating at 50 Hz for 30 minutes, and CO horses stood on an adjacent platform that was not turned on for 30 minutes. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS with horse, treatment, test, and day differences. Findings suggest no differences from pre- to post-treatment between VT and CO groups in any parameters measured (P > .05). Qualitative behavior observations suggested that all VT horses stood calmly and appeared more relaxed throughout the treatment period, while CO horses were comparatively restless. It could be questioned whether this observed change warrants VT treatment given few other measured differences but it could explain the growing belief in the horse industry that the treatment is beneficial.
Optimizing Resource Allocation in a Portfolio of Projects Related to Technology Infusion Using Heuristic and Meta-Heuristic Methods

This paper proposes a method to address the planning and scheduling required to infuse technologies into a portfolio of product development projects. Definitive selection of technologies for infusion cannot be applied without taking into account available resources, time required to mature technologies and the interactions among them. Portfolio selection and the scheduling process have often been treated separately although they are interdependent. This research aims to bridge the gap between portfolio scheduling and technology infusion by considering both with realistic performance dynamics, in which the iterative nature of activities is included in the model. Given these improvements, methods for effectively allocating resources in a portfolio of projects related to technology infusion are recommended. Initially, a heuristic method is proposed based on priority rules. However, as the assumptions of the model are loosened a novel method is suggested that combines Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) approaches. Numerical results indicate that the hybrid meta-heuristic method based on GA-ABC is effective in finding good resource allocations while considering rework. At the same time, results confirm that rework can dramatically affect the projects that comprise the portfolio and therefore rework should be included in these analyses.
Designing the Intervention: Validation, Compliment, and Suggestion

This chapter focuses on planning and delivering feedback to clients. It describes the development of a “three part intervention” that includes validation, compliment, and suggestion components. The suggestions emphasize amplification of emerging solutions that work and interruption of those that do not. The word “intervention” does not imply that there is necessarily anything forceful or intrusive. Sometimes diverse words such as “input,” “summary,” “interpretation,” “response,” “homework,” “feedback,” or “observation” seem to be more appropriate descriptions. An intervention may be more formal and elaborated at the conclusion of a fast session or during a planned termination, but even at the end of a session or in the middle of a course of therapy, there is typically a message of some kind. Usually, this occurs at the conclusion of a session, but this is a flexible guideline. As indicated, therapist input throughout the interview can create reframing. Thus, intervention is not a formal, separate phase; feedback can be provided throughout the session, as part of the ongoing conversation. When input has been provided all along, the things said at the end may primarily summarize or reemphasize messages that are already given.
Role of sulphur atoms on stress relaxation and crack propagation in monolayer MoS2.

We present in-situ transmission electron microscopy of crack propagation in a freestanding monolayer MoS2 and molecular dynamic analysis of the underlying mechanisms. Chemical vapor deposited monolayer MoS2 was transferred from sapphire substrate using interfacial etching for defect and contamination minimization. Atomic resolution imaging shows crack tip atoms sustaining 14.5% strain before bond breaking, while the stress field decays at unprecedented rate of 2.15 GPa A−1. Crack propagation is seen mostly in the zig-zag direction in both model and experiment, suggesting that the mechanics of fracture is not brittle. Our computational model captures the mechanics of the experimental observations on crack propagation in MoS2. While molybdenum atoms carry most of the mechanical load, we show that the sliding motion of weakly bonded sulphur atoms mediate crack tip stress relaxation, which helps the tip sustain very high, localized stress levels.
Language Mapping Using T2-Prepared BOLD Functional MRI in the Presence of Large Susceptibility Artifacts-Initial Results in Patients With Brain Tumor and Epilepsy

At present, presurgical functional mapping is the most prevalent clinical application of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Signal dropouts and distortions caused by susceptibility effects in the current standard echo planar imaging (EPI)-based fMRI images are well-known problems and pose a major hurdle for the application of fMRI in several brain regions, many of which are related to language mapping in presurgical planning. Such artifacts are particularly problematic in patients with previous surgical resection cavities, craniotomy hardware, hemorrhage, and vascular malformation. A recently developed T2-prepared (T2prep) fMRI approach showed negligible distortion and dropouts in the entire brain even in the presence of large susceptibility effects. Here, we present initial results comparing T2prep- and multiband EPI-fMRI scans for presurgical language mapping using a sentence completion task in patients with brain tumor and epilepsy. In all patients scanned, T2prep-fMRI showed minimal image artifacts (distortion and dropout) and greater functional sensitivity than EPI-fMRI around the lesions containing blood products and in air-filled cavities. This enhanced sensitivity in T2prep-fMRI was also evidenced by the fact that functional activation during the sentence completion task was detected with T2prep-fMRI but not with EPI-fMRI in the affected areas with the same statistical threshold, whereas cerebrovascular reactivity during a breath-hold task was preserved in these same regions, implying intact neurovascular coupling in these patients. Although further investigations are required to validate these findings with invasive methods such as direct cortical stimulation mapping as the gold standard, this approach provides an alternative method for performing fMRI in brain regions with large susceptibility effects.
Perinatal diagnosis and management of oropharyngeal fetus in fetu: A case report

Fetus in fetu is an extremely rare congenital anomaly. We describe the perinatal diagnosis and management of a fetus with oropharyngeal and cervical fetus in fetu. High-resolution ultrasonography with 3-dimensional rendering can identify increased risks of airway obstruction in utero. Early identification allows a multidisciplinary team to be assembled for a scheduled ex utero intrapartum treatment procedure.
Structural, Chemical, and Dynamical Frustration: Origins of Superionic Conductivity in closo-Borate Solid Electrolytes

Li2B12H12, Na2B12H12, and their closo-borate relatives exhibit unusually high ionic conductivity, making them attractive as a new class of candidate electrolytes in solid-state Li- and Na-ion batteries. However, further optimization of these materials requires a deeper understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying ultrafast ion conduction. To this end, we use ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and density-functional calculations to explore the motivations for cation diffusion. We find that superionic behavior in Li2B12H12 and Na2B12H12 results from a combination of key structural, chemical, and dynamical factors that introduce intrinsic frustration and disorder. A statistical metric is used to show that the structures exhibit a high density of accessible interstitial sites and site types, which correlates with the flatness of the energy landscape and the observed cation mobility. Furthermore, cations are found to dock to specific anion sites, leading to a competition between the geometric s...
Sampling, Sample Preparation and Analytical Techniques

Very little information has been published on sampling and sample preparation procedures, yet these are paramount to the success of chemostratigraphy as, without good quality data, it is not possible to produce robust﻿ chemostratigraphic schemes. This is especially true of studies involving the analysis of cuttings samples, which have to be washed, sieved, meticulously ‘picked’ and ground prior to analysis. Core and field outcrop samples are simply described and then ground. The principal analytical techniques used to acquire inorganic geochemical data are ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry), ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry) and XRF (X-ray Fluorescence). For the best quality data acquired for the largest number of elements, it is recommended that a combination of ICP-OES and ICP-MS are used. The XRF technique produces data for a lesser number of elements, but can be useful where rapid analysis of samples is required. Irrespective of the analytical technique used to acquire data, however, it is important to check the results for accuracy (closeness of result to ‘known’ values of particular elements), precision (repeatability of results) and detection limits, before the data can be utilized for chemostratigraphic purposes.
Ferroptosis: Death by lipid peroxidation

In 2012, my lab reported that a novel small molecule named erastin activates a form of non-apoptotic cell death that we termed ferroptosis. My lab members and I found that erastin inhibits system xc-, depleting cells of cysteine and glutathione. Subsequently, we discovered that another novel compound, RSL3, directly inhibits glutathione peroxidase 4 to cause the same phenotype of cell death. More recently, we have identified two additional mechanisms for triggering ferroptosis, and several genetic and pharmacological means of inhibiting this form of cell death. We have also found evidence that ferroptosis is involved in numerous degenerative diseases and can be exploited to target some cancers. Finally, recent work in my lab suggests a hypothesis for how ferroptotic cell death is executed.
Interactive and automated debugging for big data analytics

An abundance of data in many disciplines of science, engineering, national security, health care, and business has led to the emerging field of Big Data Analytics that run in a cloud computing environment. To process massive quantities of data in the cloud, developers leverage Data-Intensive Scalable Computing (DISC) systems such as Google's MapReduce, Hadoop, and Spark. Currently, developers do not have easy means to debug DISC applications. The use of cloud computing makes application development feel more like batch jobs and the nature of debugging is therefore post-mortem. Developers of big data applications write code that implements a data processing pipeline and test it on their local workstation with a small sample data, downloaded from a TB-scale data warehouse. They cross fingers and hope that the program works in the expensive production cloud. When a job fails or they get a suspicious result, data scientists spend hours guessing at the source of the error, digging through post-mortem logs. In such cases, the data scientists may want to pinpoint the root cause of errors by investigating a subset of corresponding input records. The vision of my work is to provide interactive, real-time and automated debugging services for big data processing programs in modern DISC systems with minimum performance impact. My work investigates the following research questions in the context of big data analytics: (1) What are the necessary debugging primitives for interactive big data processing? (2) What scalable fault localization algorithms are needed to help the user to localize and characterize the root causes of errors? (3) How can we improve testing efficiency during iterative development of DISC applications by reasoning the semantics of dataflow operators and user-defined functions used inside dataflow operators in tandem? To answer these questions, we synthesize and innovate ideas from software engineering, big data systems, and program analysis, and coordinate innovations across the software stack from the user-facing API all the way down to the systems infrastructure.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality, a competing risk analysis.

Background Current risk factors for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease mortality focus only on overall and respiratory death. We investigated whether risk factors for each specific cause of mortality are different depending on the outcome under consideration. Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients with a clinical diagnosis of COPD, older than 40, greater than 20 pack-years smoking history, and obstructive pattern on spirometry. Collected data included baseline spirometry, comorbidities, medication use, tobacco exposure, severe exacerbations, and cause-specific mortality. Results This 512 patient cohort of heavy smokers included 277 (54.1%) males, was on average 66.4 ± 9.4 years of age and primarily non-Hispanic white, 395 (83.2%). The average FEV1% was 52.1% (SD = 16.9%) and the median COTE score was 2 (IQR: 0-6). A total of 67 deaths were of respiratory causes in 26 patients (38.8%), malignancies in 21 (31.1%), cardiovascular causes in 6 (9%), and from other etiologies in 14 patients (20.1%). COTE index,low predicted FEV1%, and lower body mass index were significant predictors of overall mortality. Predictors of respiratory deaths were significantly impacted by lower FEV1%, history of COPD exacerbations, lower BMI, and higher number of pack-years smoked. Risk factors for all other cause-specific mortality combined included history of malignancy or cardiovascular disease and smoking status. Conclusion Cause-specific mortality risk factors differ in patients with COPD.
Symptom Burden Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in the United States

Objectives To determine the prevalence and impact of common co‐occurring symptoms among community‐dwelling older adults in the United States. Design The National Health and Aging Trends Study is a nationally representative, prospective study with annual data collection between 2011 and 2017. Setting Community‐based, in‐person interviews (survey response rates, 71%–96%). Participants A total of 7,609 community‐dwelling Medicare beneficiaries, 65 years or older. Measurements Symptoms assessed at baseline include pain, fatigue, breathing difficulty, sleeping difficulty, depressed mood, and anxiety. Total symptom count ranged from zero to six. Several outcomes were examined, including grip strength, gait speed, and overall lower‐extremity function as well as incidence of recurrent falls (two or more per year), hospitalization, disability, nursing home admission, and mortality. Results Prevalence of zero, one, two, three, and four or more symptoms was 25.0%, 26.6%, 20.7%, 14.0%, and 13.6%, respectively. Symptom count increased with advancing age and was higher in women than in men. Pain and fatigue were the most common co‐occurring symptoms. Higher symptom count was associated with decreased physical capacity. For example, participants with one, two, three, and four or more symptoms had gait speeds that were 0.04, 0.06, 0.09, and 0.13 m/s slower, respectively, than those with no symptoms, adjusting for specific diseases, total number of diseases, and other potential confounders (P < .001). The risk of several adverse outcomes also increased with greater symptom count. For example, compared with those with no symptoms, the adjusted risk ratios for recurrent falls were 1.48 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30–1.70), 1.54 (95% CI = 1.32–1.80), 1.90 (95% CI = 1.55–2.32), and 2.38 (95% CI = 2.00–2.83) for older adults with one, two, three, and four or more symptoms, respectively. Conclusions Symptoms frequently co‐occur among community‐dwelling older adults and are strongly associated with increased risk of a range of adverse outcomes. Symptoms represent a potential treatment target for improving outcomes and should be systematically captured in health records. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:223–231, 2019.
Corrigendum to “Late MIS 3 stabilization of dunes in the eastern Central Great Plains, USA” [Aeolian Res. 36 (2019) 68–81]

Abstract This corrigendum corrects a cartographic error made in Fig. 1 and an incorrect attribution of credit in the figure caption within ‘Late MIS 3 stabilization of dunes in the eastern Central Great Plains, USA.’ These changes to the Fig. 1 graphic and its caption do not affect the conclusions of the paper.
The penetration of Fasciola hepatica miracidia into the snail host Fossaria bulimoides

Snails of the species Fossaria bulimoides were exposed to miracidia of Fasciola hepatica for given periods of time. The course of penetration was followed by means of scanning electron microscopy. Topographical features of miracidial morphology were studied with emphasis on epidermal plates and body shape. Comparisons are made on the rate of penetration into this snail host.
Clam Spawning & Red Tide: Helping Students Learn the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

The Hardy-Weinberg principle and associated calculations are often challenging for students to learn for three reasons. First, several assumptions need to be understood to correctly apply the principle. Second, a series of calculations are required for proper application. Third, the principle, assumptions, and calculations are often taught separately from students observing population changes over time. We describe a classroom activity in which students investigate how the allele frequencies of soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) populations change over time as a result of environmental disturbances by simulating the effects on population data. These classroom population changes are then compared to authentic research data collected on populations of M. arenaria. This activity was implemented at three institutions in introductory- and senior-level biology courses. Students reported that the activity helped them better understand and apply both the principle and its calculations.
Twenty Years of Economics Curriculum: Trends, Issues, and Transformations?

This is a comprehensive review of literature related to K-12 economics curriculum spanning 20 years, from 1998-2018. The search for literature revealed 18 articles and book chapters in peer-reviewe...
Analysing a Tumultuous Relationship: Turkey and the US in the Middle East

This article analyses the US-Turkish relationship in the Middle East. Washington and Ankara’s policies have clashed in Syria, Iran, Israel, Egypt, the GCC states and Iraq. The two NATO members stro...
Optimization for deep learning: theory and algorithms

When and why can a neural network be successfully trained? This article provides an overview of optimization algorithms and theory for training neural networks. First, we discuss the issue of gradient explosion/vanishing and the more general issue of undesirable spectrum, and then discuss practical solutions including careful initialization and normalization methods. Second, we review generic optimization methods used in training neural networks, such as SGD, adaptive gradient methods and distributed methods, and theoretical results for these algorithms. Third, we review existing research on the global issues of neural network training, including results on bad local minima, mode connectivity, lottery ticket hypothesis and infinite-width analysis.
The Single Administration of a Chromophore Alleviates Neural Defects in Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes and a leading cause of blindness among the working-age population. Diabetic patients often experience functional deficits in dark adaptation, contrast sensitivity, and color perception before any microvascular pathologies on the fundus become detectable. Previous studies showed that the regeneration of 11-cis-retinal and visual pigment is impaired in a type 1 diabetes animal model, which negatively affects visual function at the early stage of DR. Here, Akita mice, type 1 diabetic model, were treated with the visual pigment chromophore, 9-cis-retinal. This treatment rescued a- and b-wave amplitudes of scotopic electroretinography responses, compared with vehicle-treated Akita mice. In addition, the administration of 9-cis-retinal alleviated oxidative stress significantly as shown by reduced 3-nitrotyrosine levels in the retina of Akita mice. Furthermore, the 9-cis-retinal treatment decreased retinal apoptosis as shown by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling and DNA fragment enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Overall, these findings showed that 9-cis-retinal administration restored visual pigment formation and decreased oxidative stress and retinal degeneration, which resulted in improved visual function in diabetic mice, suggesting that chromophore deficiency plays a causative role in visual defects in early DR.
Higher dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equations in anomalous dispersion and normal dispersive regimes: Bright and dark optical solitons

Abstract In this paper, we are concerned with a higher order nonlinear Schrodinger equations existing in the anomalous dispersion regimes and the normal dispersive regimes. Applying the variational iteration method (VIM) we present bright soliton solutions for the anomalous case and dark optical soliton solutions for the normal dispersive regime. We address the constraint conditions that arise from the parameters involved in the model. Other solitonic, singular, and exponential solutions are derived as well.
Hepatic organic anion transporting polypeptides mediate disposition of milk thistle flavonolignans and pharmacokinetic silymarin-drug interactions

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (Asteraceae), commonly known as milk thistle, is a botanical natural product used to self-treat multiple diseases such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). An extract from milk thistle seeds (achenes), termed silymarin, is comprised primarily of several flavonolignans. Systemic concentrations of these flavonolignans can influence the potential biologic effects of silymarin and the risk for pharmacokinetic silymarin-drug interactions. The aims of this research were to determine the roles of organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs/Oatps) in silymarin flavonolignan disposition and in pharmacokinetic silymarin-drug interactions. The seven major flavonolignans from silymarin were determined to be substrates for OATP1B1, OATP1B3, and OATP2B1. Sprague Dawley rats were fed either a control diet or a NASH-inducing diet and administered pitavastatin (OATP/Oatp probe substrate), followed by silymarin via oral gavage. Decreased protein expression of Oatp1b2 and Oatp1a4 in NASH animals increased flavonolignan area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and maximum plasma concentration. The combination of silymarin inhibition of Oatps and NASH-associated decrease in Oatp expression caused an additive increase in plasma pitavastatin AUC in the animals. These data indicate that OATPs/Oatps contribute to flavonolignan cellular uptake and mediate the interaction between silymarin and NASH on pitavastatin systemic exposure.
Analyzing knowledge decay and gender differences on end of program assessment measures: Case of a Mid-South University in the USA

Abstract Assessment of student learning outcomes is a nearly universal process for all academic programs, especially those seeking discipline specific accreditation. Business programs typically devote considerable resources toward measuring and assessing student learning outcomes with the goal of ‘closing the loop’ by making curricula changes to improve student learning outcomes. Most of these assessment efforts utilize relatively small samples of course-level observations and employ little to no statistical framework to derive conclusions. This study seeks to provide programs with a framework that allows institutions to examine student performance on an end of program assessment test for business, the ETS Major Field Test in Business (MFT-B). We examine the relationship between student demographics, course timing, and knowledge decay in the 9 subject areas on the MFT-B by employing a system of simultaneous equations estimated within a seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) framework with data partitioning by gender. The data was collected at a university in the mid-south in the United States of America. Our results indicate that gender and course timing can affect student performance on the MFT-B. These findings indicate that the SUR framework and data partitioning are valuable tools in the assessment and analysis of student learning outcomes.
Chalk It Up to Experience: CEO General Ability and Earnings Management

We provide evidence that firms managed by CEOs with high general ability, or broad experience in their background, are more likely to utilize discretionary accruals and also realize more earnings restatements than CEOs with focused experience. This appears to be a result of transitions to CEOs with high general ability and not simply a selection of these CEOs by firms that utilize discretionary accruals extensively. Cross-sectional variation suggests that the mechanism underlying the increased use of discretionary accruals is generalist CEOs’ increased willingness to bear the risk inherent in managing earnings given their enhanced tolerance for failure stemming from outside career options.
International organizations and cities

As their work has embraced the most critical challenges confronting the contemporary international world, such as climate change, migration, poverty, global health, human rights, and counterterrorism, international organizations (IOs), and particularly the secretariats that are tasked with operationalizing IO mandates and decisions, have resorted more and more to local authorities as part of their strategy to solve global problems. And as local governments have confronted those same problems, they have sought assistance and influence at the international level, including through the work of international organizations. Though these global challenges have existed for decades, and international organizations have worked on them for just as long, international institutions are increasingly recognizing that cities, as cities, serve an important role in solving transnational problems and that cities and international organizations need to work more together to achieve that end. Cities, empowered by their perceived importance and democratic legitimacy, are asserting themselves more and more internationally, individually and collectively, pushing their policy preferences and demanding a seat at the table. The moves toward promoting localized solutions and implementing urban-IO collaboration are growing, but the state-centered structure of the international system, which does not contemplate interactions between cities and IOs unmediated by states, has impeded, though not prevented, such efforts. This chapter will explore the trends that have led international organizations to focus on cities and those that have led cities to look to international organizations. It will then examine the type of city-centric work that international organizations engage in and the types of contingent connections and alliances that exist between organizations and cities. Finally, it will suggest that a shadow system has emerged that allows cities and international organizations to interact and cooperate, albeit unevenly and circumspectly, within an international framework that was not designed for such relations. Established to solve the conundrum produced by the misalignment of functional need and institutional design, the informal system itself presents challenges and provokes questions that require further research.
Multiple Intracellular Peptide Mediators of Insulin Action

This chapter discusses a cluster of insulin mediator peptides that duplicate in vitro the following insulin actions in the cell: (1) inhibit cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)dependent protein kinase, (2) stimulate pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) phosphatase, (3) inhibit hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase, and (4) stimulate glycogen synthase phosphoprotein phosphatase. Also discussed is a post-insulin receptor defect in human leprechaun fibroblast cells that sheds light on the mechanism of action of insulin. Finally, the possible relationship between insulin receptor phosphorylation and mediator formation is considered. It is clear that several mediators of varying molecular size is formed from proteins in the cell membrane following insulin binding to the receptor and that these mediators carry out some of the actions of insulin constituting the pleiotypic program. A model of mediator formation similar to the pro-opiomelanocortin model of peptide hormone formation is proposed. A recent review of this topic has appeared.(1)
Geriatric Cardiology and Blood Pressure

Degenerative disease of the cardiovascular system remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly patient. Coronary artery disease accounts for approximately 40% of all deaths beyond age 55 years.1 An impressive reduction in fatalities due to ischemic heart disease has been seen in the United States during the past 15 years. This favorable statistic applies to both sexes, whites and nonwhites, and patients over 65 years as well. For white males aged 65 to 74 years, the death rate from ischemic heart disease has fallen from 2119 per 100,000 in 1968 to 1642 per 100,000 in 1977.1 A comparable reduction in the incidence of coronary attacks was not seen initially,2 but more recent data suggest that they too are decreasing in number.3 This reduction in mortality is real and there are multifactorial explanations for it. A change in smoking habits, awareness of diet, better physical fitness, newer pharmacologic agents, and interventions such as coronary bypass and angioplasty all play a responsible role. Other therapeutic advances, particularly in the prevention and treatment of rheumatic fever and the surgical treatment of cardiac disease, have increased the lifespan of cardiac patients. Degenerative disease superimposed on preexisting valvular heart disease has resulted in an increasing population of elderly patients with “hybrid” heart disease. Appropriate therapy depends on early recognition of the underlying disease process and an understanding of its pathophysiology. This task is made more difficult because the clinical history is often atypical or the physical signs are masked by the effects of aging on the cardiovascular system.
A survey on security assessment of metering infrastructure in Smart Grid systems

Effective integration of renewable energy resources, energy management and better usage of the high voltage transmission system are major motivating forces for an improved electric grid regularly called the Smart Grid. Along with the soundless features of the Smart Grid, cyber security appears to be a serious issue because many electronic devices are connected via communication networks throughout critical power services, which has a direct impact on the reliability of such a common infrastructure. An assessment of cyber security topics in the Smart Grid is presented in this paper especially, security necessities of AMI, network vulnerabilities, attack countermeasures, secure communication protocols and architectures in the Smart Grid. Cyber-attacks against the power grid may aim to disrupt operations modifying or inserting messages. For example, malicious entities might change the set points at outstation devices, by pretending to be a master device at a control center, and cause instability in the grid. Satisfactory protection contains authenticating both the devices and control commands.
Parallel Multipipe Rendering for Very Large Isosurface Visualization

In exploratory scientific visualization, isosurfaces are typically created with an explicit polygonal representation for the surface using a technique such as Marching Cubes. For even moderate data sets, Marching Cubes can generate an extraordinary number of polygons, which take time to construct and to render. To address the rendering bottleneck, we have developed a multipipe strategy for parallel rendering using a combination of CPUs and parallel graphics adaptors. The multipipe system uses multiple graphics adapters in parallel, the so called SGI Onyx2 Reality Monster. In this paper, we discuss the issues of using the multiple pipes in a Sort-Last fashion which out performs a single graphics adaptor for a surprisingly low number of polygons.
2-Amino-2-methyl-1-propanol as the Alkalizing Agent in an Improved Continuous-Flow Cresolphthalein Complexone Procedure for Calcium in Serum

We describe an improved cresolphthalein complexone procedure for calcium in which diethylamine is replaced by a nontoxic amino alcohol. Advantages of the procedure are increased sensitivity, excellent baseline stability, a more optimum reaction environment (pH 10.0) that eliminates blanking problems, and freedom from interference by magnesium. Values obtained by this method are not significantly different ( P < 0.05) from those obtained by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
Distribution of the number of words with a prescribed frequency and tests of randomness

The goal of this paper is to investigate properties of statistical procedures based on numbers of different patterns by using generating functions for the probabilities of a prescribed number of occurrences of given patterns in a random text. The asymptotic formulae are derived for the expected value of the number of words occurring a given number of times and for the covariance matrix. The form of the optimal linear test based on these statistics is established. These problems appear in testing for the randomness of a string of binary bits, DNA sequencing, source coding, synchronization, quality control protocols, etc. Indeed, the probabilities of repeated (overlapping) patterns are important in information theory (the second-order properties of relative frequencies) and molecular biology problems (finding patterns with unexpectedly low or high frequencies).
Initial Assessment and Management of Complex Forearm Defects

Complex trauma to the forearm often involves significant damage to or loss of bone, muscle, skin, tendons, and neurovascular structures. Treatment focuses on regaining long-term hand function, which is best achieved by combining plastic and orthopedic surgical expertise in a team that includes experienced upper arm rehabilitation therapists. The reconstruction goal is to restore a level of hand function that allows the patient to incorporate the injured hand back into daily activities. We define complex defects as those involving significant segmental loss of one or more tissue types. This article provides a framework by which these often formidable and overwhelming injuries can be approached, and discusses some of the surgical options used to reconstruct complex defects of the forearm.
Evaluation of Ex-Vivo Gene Transfer of Fadd-Dn to Pancreatic Islets.

INTRODUCTION. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease resulting in the destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells of the islets of Langerhans. The transplantation of healthy insulin-producing islets into patients with type 1 diabetes has been pursued for decades as an important treatment modality for this disease. Reproducible success of this approach has been complicated by early loss of transplanted cells due to apoptosis. The clinical utility of allogeneic islet transplantation will be tremendously enhanced if transplanted islets can be genetically engineered to evade pro-apoptotic stimuli at the engraftment site. Non-viral-based vectors such as lipofectants are good candidates to assess the role played by ex-vivo gene transfer of anti-apoptotic genes into primary islets. The aim of this study was to lipofect the dominant negative mutant of FADD (FADD-DN) into murine pancreatic islets to assay the effect of this transgene on islet viability.