cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Long-Acting Beta-Agonists Increase the Risk of Fatal or Near-Fatal Asthma in Children? A Case-Control Study

S U N D A Y 309 Comparison of Ipratropium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate Chlorofluorocarbon Metered-Dose Inhaler and Albuterol Hydrofluoroalkane Metered-Dose Inhaler in a Crossover Trial in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Asthma E. R. Bleecker, W. W. Busse, J. F. Donohue, S. Garfinkel, T. Lystig, R. C. Manuel, R. Schlenker-Herceg, R. A. Wise; Wake Forest University Center of Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. RATIONALE: Compare the efficacy and safety of Combivent CFC MDI (CVT) to albuterol HFA MDI (ALB) in a multicenter, randomized study including a 4-week, 2-way crossover double-blind treatment phase. We hypothesized that albuterol and ipratropium bromide produce better bronchodilation than albuterol alone in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma. METHODS: Patients were randomized to two treatment sequences: CVT/ ALB or ALB/CVT. OnDays 1 and 29 of each period, serial spirometry was performed after clinic administration of study drug. Between clinic visits patients used studymedication ‘‘as needed’’ for relief. The co-primary endpoints were FEV1 area under the curve (AUC0-6h) above test-day baseline and peak FEV1 response after 4 weeks. Treatment effects were analyzed using repeated measures mixed-effects models. RESULTS: 226 patients were randomized: age 47 years, 43% men, postbronchodilator FEV1 2.56 L (78% predicted), and Asthma Control Questionnaire score 2.5. Estimated changes (mL) in peak FEV1 were 357 for ALB and 434 for CVT (delta577, p<0.0001). Estimated changes (mL) in FEV1 AUC0-6h were 167 for ALB and 252 for CVT (delta585, p<0.0001). Treatment differences favoring CVT were observed at every post-dose timepoint, ranging from 50-115 mL (6h, 4h) [all p<0.01]. 68 patients (29.2%) experienced adverse events. These were generally balanced between groups. More patients reported ‘‘cough’’ related to study drug CVT (11) compared to ALB (1). More asthma exacerbations were reported in CVT (6) than in ALB group (3); none of these were serious. CONCLUSIONS: CVT was safely used to provide improved acute bronchodilation over albuterol alone, after four weeks of ‘‘as-needed’’ use for symptom relief.
Calcific Aortic Stenosis: Lessons Learned from Experimental and Clinical Studies

Calcific aortic stenosis is the most common indication for surgical valve replacement in the United States. For years this disease has been described as a passive degenerative process during which serum calcium attaches to the valve surface and binds to the leaflet to form nodules. Therefore, surgical treatment of this disease has been the approach toward relieving outflow obstruction in these patients. Recent studies demonstrate an association between atherosclerosis and its risk factors for aortic valve disease. In 2008, there are increasing number of epidemiology and experimental studies to provide evidence that this disease process is not a passive phenomena. There is an active cellular process that develops within the valve leaflet and causes a regulated bone formation to develop. If the atherosclerotic hypothesis is important in the initiation of aortic stenosis, then treatments used in slowing the progression of atherosclerosis may be effective in patients with aortic valve disease. This review will discuss the pathogenesis and the potential for medical therapy in the management of patients with calcific aortic stenosis by examining the lessons provided from the experimental research.
Air-Side Flow and Heat Transfer in Compact Heat Exchangers: A Discussion of Enhancement Mechanisms

The behavior of air flows in complex heat exchanger passages is reviewed with a focus on the heat transfer effects of boundary-layer development, turbulence, spanwise and streamwise vortices, and wake management. Each of these flow features is discussed for the plain, wavy, and interrupted passages found in contemporary compact heat exchanger designs. Results from the literature are used to help explain the role of these mechanisms in heat transfer enhancement strategies.
Tree configuration games for distributed stream mining systems

We consider the problem of configuring classifier trees in distributed stream mining system. The configuration involves selecting appropriate false-alarm detection tradeoffs for each classifier to minimize end-to-end penalty in terms of misclassification cost. We model this as a tree configuration game and design solutions, where individual classifiers select their operating points to maximize a local utility. We derive appropriate misclassification cost coefficients for intermediate classifiers, and determine the information that needs to be exchanged across classifiers, in order to successfully design the game. We analytically show that there is a unique pure strategy Nash equilibrium in operating points, which guarantees a convergence of the proposed approach. We evaluate the performance of our algorithm on an application for sports scene classification, and compare against centralized solutions. We show that our algorithm results in better performance than the centralized solution on average. Moreover, the algorithm approaches the optimal solution asymptotically with increasing number of actions per classifier.
The dynamic effects of localized magnetic moments on nuclear spins in metallic systems

Abstract The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate of the nonmagnetic species in intermetallic compounds and alloys that possess localized moments is discussed in terms of the generalized dynamic susceptibility of the conduction electrons. The dynamic susceptibility is calculated from an interaction between conduction electrons obtained by Kim, who used a canonical transformation to eliminate (to second order) the s−f(s−d) exchange interaction between conduction electrons and localized spins. The electron interaction obtained leads to a repulsion between electrons of opposite spins in the vicinity of the Fermi surface. The calculated nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate has the form 1 T 1 = 1 T 1K + 1 T 1f , where 1 T 1K is the Korringa relaxation rate and 1 T 1f is the relaxation rate due to the interaction between conduction electrons. The temperature dependence of T1f is discussed for several cases. For intermetallic compounds based on a rare earth or an actinide element combined with a non-transition element, results for both Knight shift and T1 are consistent with a large density of states at the Fermi level and a small (negative) effective s-f interaction.
A Polymeric Nanoparticle Encapsulated Small Molecule Inhibitor of Hedgehog Signaling (NanoHHI) Bypasses Secondary Mutational Resistance to Smoothened Antagonists

Aberrant activation of the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is one of the most prevalent abnormalities in human cancer. Tumors with cell autonomous Hh activation (e.g., medulloblastomas) can acquire secondary mutations at the Smoothened (Smo) antagonist binding pocket, which render them refractory to conventional Hh inhibitors. A class of Hh pathway inhibitors (HPI) has been identified that block signaling downstream of Smo; one of these compounds, HPI-1, is a potent antagonist of the Hh transcription factor Gli1 and functions independent of upstream components in the pathway. Systemic administration of HPI-1 is challenging due to its minimal aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability. We engineered a polymeric nanoparticle from [poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid); (PLGA)] conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG), encapsulating HPI-1 (NanoHHI). NanoHHI particles have an average diameter of approximately 60 nm, forms uniform aqueous suspension, and improved systemic bioavailability compared with the parent compound. In contrast to the prototype targeted Smo antagonist, HhAntag (Genentech), NanoHHI markedly inhibits the growth of allografts derived from Ptch −/+; Trp53 −/− mouse medulloblastomas that harbor a Smo D477G binding site mutation ( P < 0.001), which is accompanied by significant downregulation of m Gli1 as well as bona fide Hh target genes ( Akna , Cltb , and Olig2 ). Notably, NanoHHI combined with gemcitabine also significantly impedes the growth of orthotopic Pa03C pancreatic cancer xenografts that have a ligand-dependent, paracrine mechanism of Hh activation when compared with gemcitabine alone. No demonstrable hematologic or biochemical abnormalities were observed with NanoHHI administration. NanoHHI should be amenable to clinical translation in settings where tumors acquire mutational resistance to current Smo antagonists. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(1); 165–73. ©2011 AACR .
Noise-enhanced clustering and competitive learning algorithms

Noise can provably speed up convergence in many centroid-based clustering algorithms. This includes the popular k-means clustering algorithm. The clustering noise benefit follows from the general noise benefit for the expectation-maximization algorithm because many clustering algorithms are special cases of the expectation-maximization algorithm. Simulations show that noise also speeds up convergence in stochastic unsupervised competitive learning, supervised competitive learning, and differential competitive learning.
Using elemental ratios of calcium and strontium to track calcium availability in the freshwater zooplankton Daphnia pulicaria

[1] The assimilation of elements by an organism is dependent on both the environmental availability of the element and the processes of the organism. For some elements, organisms have a challenging time discriminating between nearly identical chemical analogs, for example, calcium and strontium. We tested the hypothesis that in environments where a desired element is scarce, the organism will assimilate a chemically similar analog at an increased rate. Populations of Daphnia pulicaria were manipulated using a microcosm in situ experiment and the results of that experiment tested with a field survey. Experimental results indicated a correlation between higher environmental calcium concentration and lower [Sr]/[Ca] ratios (R2 = 0.91, p < 0.05), suggesting that Daphnia in high calcium environments will assimilate more calcium relative to strontium. Field survey results across eight lakes confirmed that as lake calcium concentration increased, the value of [Sr]/[Ca] between the organism and the lake water decreased (R2 = 0.60, p < 0.05). Measurement of the elemental ratio of major and trace element analogs within organisms compared to their environments may be a useful tool for measuring the relative bioavailability of the major element, and provide insight into elemental limitation in other calcifying aquatic invertebrates.
Comparison of the Broth Microdilution (BMD) Method of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing with the 24-Hour CLSI BMD Method for Testing Susceptibility of Candida Species to Fluconazole, Posaconazole, and Voriconazole by Use of Epidemiological Cutoff Values

The antifungal broth microdilution (BMD) method of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) was compared with CLSI BMD method M27-A3 for fluconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole susceptibility testing of 1,056 isolates of Candida. The isolates were obtained in 2009 from more than 60 centers worldwide and included 560 isolates of C. albicans, 175 of C. glabrata, 162 of C. parapsilosis, 124 of C. tropicalis, and 35 of C. krusei. The overall essential agreement (EA) between EUCAST and CLSI results ranged from 96.9% (voriconazole) to 98.6% (fluconazole). The categorical agreement (CA) between methods and species of Candida was assessed using previously determined epidemiological cutoff values (ECVs). The ECVs (expressed as μg/ml) for fluconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole, respectively, were as follows: 0.12, 0.06, and 0.03 for C. albicans; 32, 2, and 0.5 for C. glabrata; 2, 0.25, and 0.12 for C. parapsilosis; 2, 0.12, and 0.06 for C. tropicalis; 64, 0.5, and 0.5 for C. krusei. Excellent CA was observed for all comparisons between the EUCAST and CLSI results for fluconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole, respectively, for each species: 98.9%, 93.6%, and 98.6% for C. albicans; 96.0%, 98.9%, and 93.7% for C. glabrata; 90.8%, 98.1%, and 98.1% for C. parapsilosis; 99.2%, 99.2%, and 96.8% for C. tropicalis; 97.1%, 97.1%, and 97.1% for C. krusei. We demonstrate high levels of EA and CA between the CLSI and EUCAST BMD methods for testing of triazoles against Candida when the MICs were determined after 24 h and ECVs were used to differentiate wild-type (WT) from non-WT strains. These results provide additional data in favor of the harmonization of these two methods.
Amanita thiersii is a saprotrophic fungus expanding its range in the United States.

Although most species in the genus Amanita form ectomycorrhizal associations, a few are reported to be saprotrophs living in grassland habitats. Little is known about the ecology and distribution o...
Ensemble Machine Methods for DNA Binding

We introduce three ensemble machine learning methods for analysis of biological DNA binding by transcription factors (TFs). The goal is to identify both TF target genes and their binding motifs. Subspace-valued weak learners (formed from an ensemble of different motif finding algorithms) combine candidate motifs as probability weight matrices (PWM), which are then translated into subspaces of a DNA k-mer (string) feature space. Assessing and then integrating highly informative subspaces by machine methods gives more reliable target classification and motif prediction. We compare these target identification methods with probability weight matrix (PWM) rescanning and use of support vector machines on the full k-mer space of the yeast S. cerevisiae. This method, SVMotif-PWM, can significantly improve accuracy in computational identification of TF targets. The software is publicly available at http://cagt10.bu.edu/SVMotif .
Legal Writing in the Practice-Ready Law School

Noting that the legal-writing courses are the most important courses in law school, the author urges that law schools strengthen their legal-writing programs to make students ready to practice law when they graduate.
Comparison of arc tracking tests in various aerospace environments

Momentary short-circuit arcs between a polyimide insulated wire with defective insulation and another conductor may cause pyrolization of the insulation resulting in a conductive path capable of sustaining the arc. These sustained arcs may propagate along the wires or to neighboring wires leading to complete failure of the wire bundle. Wire insulation susceptibility to arc tracking may be dependent on its environment. Because of all wire insulation types tested to date arc track, a test procedure has been developed to compact different insulation types with respect to their arc tracking susceptibility. This test procedure is presented along with a comparison of arc tracking in the following three environments: (1) air at atmospheric pressure and 1 gravitational (g) force; (2) vacuum (2.67/spl times/10/sup -3/ Pa) and 1 g; and (3) air at atmospheric pressure and microgravity (<0.04 g).
New concepts concerning prostate cancer screening.

Prostate Cancer (CaP) is rapidly becoming a worldwide health issue. While CaP mortality has decreased in recent years, coincident with the widespread use of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening, it remains the most common solid tumor in men and is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The frequency of CaP is growing not only in western cultures, but also its incidence is dramatically increasing in eastern nations. Recently, examination of data from long-term trials and follow up has cast a shadow on the effectiveness of employing PSA as a primary screening tool for CaP. In this review, we not only summarize opinions from this examination and synthesize recommendations from several groups that suggest strategies for utilizing PSA as a tool, but also call for research into biomarkers for CaP diagnosis and disease progression. We also describe our recent work that identified a smooth muscle contractile protein in prostate epithelia, namely smooth muscle gamma actin, and indicate...
Fully automated segmentation of long-axis MRI Strain-Encoded (SENC) images using active shape model (ASM)

Myocardial strain is an important measure used for assessing regional function, which could help in detecting myocardial infarction as well as following up with patients with heart diseases. MRI Strain-Encoding technique (SENC) produces strain values throughout the cardiac cycle. SENC has proved to be one of the few techniques that can quantify right ventricle (RV) regional function. However, SENC images suffer from low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In this paper we present a fully automatic method to detect, segment, and track the myocardium throughout the cardiac cycle using prior knowledge of the shape of the 4-champers long-axis (LA) view. Our detection algorithm has a success rate of 91% (33/36 cases). The dice similarity coefficient was 0.81 ± 0.07 and 0.71 ± 0.15 for the left ventricle-septum (LV-SEP) and RV respectively, yielding a high correlation R ≥ 0.91 between strain values measured from automatic and manual segmentation.
Estimation of trip generation in Mexico City, Mexico, with spatial effects and urban densities

Coefficients for work, shopping, and school trip generation models are presented for Mexico City, Mexico. These results were generated for the first stage of a four-stage model that was built for the city for 1994, the most recent year for which data are available. Because no complete urban transportation model that incorporated behavioral aspects of urban travel could be found at the time of this study, these estimates are the first results of their kind to be published in the literature for recent years. Attempts to account for spatial processes have not been undertaken as a general rule in transportation modeling. Therefore, there is a bias in coefficients estimated without taking spatial autocorrelation into account when spatially defined data are used. To address this peculiarity, spatial regression was used instead of the traditional ordinary least-squares estimation method. Trip generation is normally defined on a per capita or per household basis. Surprisingly, these results show that models specified for trip generation densities (trips per unit of area) were as good as or better than more traditional specifications in explaining trip generation. The implication of these findings could potentially be of importance in other cities.
Models of musical instruments from Chua's circuit with time delay

We study a new version of Chua's circuit where the linear elements are replaced by a delay line. We show that this circuit is a model of an interesting class of musical instruments, namely, those, like the clarinet, consisting of a massless reed coupled to a passive linear system. The properties and behaviors of this circuit are studied with or without a filter in the feedback loop. In particular, the oscillation conditions are determined, and the respective role of the nonlinearity and of the linear elements are explained. Real-time simulations of the time-delayed Chua's circuit on a digital workstation makes possible easy experimentation with signals and sounds. A surprisingly rich and novel family of periodic and chaotic musical sounds has been obtained. The audification of the local properties of the parameter space permits easy determination of very complex structures that could not be computed analytically and would be difficult to determine by other methods. >
Solvent-free preparation of ionic liquids using a household microwave oven

An efficient solventless protocol for the preparation of a wide variety of ionic liq- uids is described, which requires a simple exposure of admixed 1-methylimidazole and alkyl halides to microwave irradiation in open glass containers. The details of this clean process using a common household microwave oven, which exploits the newer inverter technology system for better power attenuation, are described. The characterization and thermal stabili- ty data on selected ionic liquids and their potential applications are summarized.
Ten-year outcome after rapid discontinuation of prednisone in adult primary kidney transplantation.

Summary Background and objectives Rapid discontinuation of prednisone after kidney transplantation potentially allows for minimization of steroid-related side effects. Although intermediate-term data with rapid discontinuation of prednisone have been promising, concern still exists regarding long-term outcomes. The 10-year experience is reported herein. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Between October 1, 1999 and December 31, 2010, 1241 adult primary kidney transplants (791 living donor and 450 deceased donor) were performed using a protocol in which prednisone is discontinued after postoperative day 5. The 10-year actuarial recipient and graft survival rates and prednisone-related side effects were studied. Results Ten-year actuarial patient survival was 71% for living donor transplants and 62% for deceased donor transplants; 10-year graft survival was 61% for living donor transplants and 51% for deceased donor transplants, and was comparable to 10-year Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients national data. Ten-year death-censored graft survival was 79% for living donor transplants and 80% for deceased donor transplants. Ten-year acute rejection rates were 25% for deceased donor transplants and 31% for living donor transplants; 10-year chronic rejection (interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy) rates were 39% for deceased donor transplants and 47% for living donor transplants. For nondiabetic recipients of living donor or deceased donor allografts, the incidence of new-onset diabetes was significantly lower than in historical controls on prednisone (P Conclusions Prednisone-related side effects can be minimized in a protocol incorporating rapid discontinuation of prednisone for maintenance immunosuppression. Ten-year patient and graft outcomes remain acceptable.
Particle trajectories on hillslopes: Implications for particle age and 10Be structure

Many geomorphic systems act as conveyor belts onto which material is loaded at a particular rate, and is transported in one direction toward another system that serves as a sink. As the material travels, it ages, it changes in grain size, it accumulates cosmogenic radionuclides, it adsorbs or releases nutrients, and it weathers. Here I address the hillslope conveyor. As many geochemical processes are depth-dependent, the depth history of a particle becomes important to know. I calculate soil particle trajectories in the horizontal -depth plane and address three cases, one in which horizontal speeds decline exponentially with depth, a second in which they are uniform with depth, and a third in which horizontal speeds are also uniform but all profile values are vertically well-mixed. Vertical speeds are governed by continuity in an incompressible medium, and by the boundary condition of zero vertical particle speed at the soil surface. Particle trajectories must therefore become surface-parallel at the surface. Knowledge of soil particle trajectories allows calculation of residence times and concentration profiles of 10Be in the soil. The results inform strategies for interpretation of nuclide concentrations in soils and stream sediments, and for inference of transport rate profiles. In all steady cases, the particle age and 10Be structure is uniform with distance from the divide. When significant vertical gradients in horizontal speed occur, the patterns of particle age and of 10Be concentration are dominated by the depth scale of the transport process. In unmixed cases, the particle age and 10Be concentration in near-surface samples can greatly exceed the vertically averaged values, reflecting the fact that the vertical speeds of particles slow dramatically as they near the surface. In cases in which horizontal speed varies significantly with depth, the vertically averaged concentration of 10Be within the soil can significantly under-predict the mean 10Be concentration of sediment delivered to the channel. Proper averaging requires weighting by particle speed. These results provide the backdrop for addressing chemical evolution of soil on a hillslope.
Food Habits of the Federally Threatened Leopard Darter (Percina pantherina)

We examined food habits of the federally threatened leopard darter in six rivers in southeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Arkansas using guts collected from 1994 to 1997. The families Baetidae and Chironomidae were the most common food items selected by leopard darters. In general, leopard darters are selecting food items that are relatively common in the environment; thus, food availability may not be a factor limiting abundance.
Prenatal consultation for foetal anomalies requiring surgery

Abstract Background During prenatal screening of pregnant women, foetal anomalies requiring surgery may be diagnosed. Healthcare providers should have a basic knowledge of these diseases, including their workup, comorbidities, prognosis, treatment options and any considerations that need to be made in planning for birth. Aim This article aims to provide this information by summarising the most recent literature for some of the most commonly diagnosed foetal anomalies requiring surgical correction. Methods English language studies on prenatal diagnostic modalities, abdominal wall defects, congenital diaphragmatic hernias, surgical conditions leading to airway compromise, hydrops fetalis, intestinal obstruction and abdominal cysts were retrieved from the PubMed database. Findings The most recent and relevant literature is summarised regarding the above listed paediatric conditions. The incidence and prevalence (when available), prognosis, workup, common comorbidities, foetal interventions and special birth considerations (when applicable), and postnatal surgical treatment options are reviewed. Conclusions Healthcare providers will occasionally encounter foetal anomalies which may require surgery while performing prenatal screening. They may need to provide early counselling to expectant parents to inform their expectations. When indicated, referrals should be made to a foetal care centre for prenatal consultation. For conditions which may cause danger or distress to the foetus in the immediate postnatal period, preparations should be made to ensure sufficient resources are available at the location of birth.
Absolute Rovibrational Intensities for theX 1 Σ + v=3 ← 0 Band of 12C16O Obtained with Kitt Peak and BOMEM FTS Instruments

This work was initiated to compare absolute line intensities retrieved with the Kitt Peak FTS and Ames BOMEM FTS.
Distribution and natural history of some birds from the departments of San Martin and Amazonas, northern Peru

Ornithological surveys were conducted during 1983 in northern Peru at three sites in Dpto. San Martin, and at one site in Dpto. Amazonas. New localities and natural history observations are reported for the following species: Touit stictoptera, Otus guatemalae, Chaetura egregia, Phaethornis koepckeae, Urosticte benjamini, Heliangelis regalis, Phyllomyias burmeisteri, Hemitriccus rufigularis, Myiophobus phoenicomitra, Oxyruncus cristatus, and Henicorhina leucoptera. Campylopterus villaviscensio is reported from Peru for the first time, and the first known nest of Contopus nigrescens is described. Two appendices report the relative abundance of all species recorded from the four sites.
Rationality and Nonhuman Animal Rights

During my graduate studies at Colorado State University, I enthusiastically enrolled in a Nonhuman Animal rights philosophy seminar in the hopes of broadening my sociological knowledge of Nonhuman Animal issues in preparation for my upcoming dissertation work. In this course, we explored ethical theories and the various weak justifications employed to defend the human exploitation of other animals. We debated the role of cognition, capacity for suffering, and death as harm. We deconstructed the immorality of vivisection, speciesist agricultural systems, and exploitative relationships with companion animals. In short, we were taught that Nonhuman Animals matter.
A UML and MLN based approach to implementing a networking laboratory on a scalable Linux cluster

The teaching of a practical laboratory component of certain computer science courses such as networking has, in the past, required dedicated laboratories, isolated from the campus networking infrastructure. During the past few years, virtualization has emerged as a practical alternative to this resource-intensive and very limiting solution. User-Mode Linux (UML) is a virtualization technology that offers many advantages; MLN is an application that allows implementation of predefined or student-designed virtual networks of arbitrary complexity. We discuss the use of these tools on a low-cost, scalable load-balancing Linux cluster, illustrating how our implementation fulfills necessary and desirable goals for an effective networking lab.
MAPK p38 antagonism as a novel method of inhibiting lymphoid immune suppression in polymicrobial sepsis

Although studies indicate that a shift from a Th1 to a Th2 response contributes to a marked suppression of cell-mediated immunity during sepsis, the mechanism by which this occurs remains unknown. ...
Modifiable Risk Factors of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The causative factors for AMD have not been elucidated, but disease development is likely a combined result of gene vulnerability interacting with predisposing and often modifiable risk factors. Many studies have linked AMD to the effects of oxidative stress. Several of the risk factors discussed below are thought to further increase oxidative damage and/or limit the retina’s ability to repair. While inferences can be made about the effect of many of these modifiable risk factors, additional studies are necessary before definitive recommendations are possible.
A two-stage robust transmission expansion planning approach with multi-band uncertainty set

This paper proposes a robust optimization method for the transmission expansion planning (TEP) while considering uncertainties of renewable energy and load via a multi-band uncertainty set formulation. In order to handle future uncertainty from renewable energy integration and demand fluctuation, robust optimization has been studied extensively to immune the transmission expansion plan against the worst uncertainty realization. However, the traditional single-band robust model yields overly conservative and economic inefficient solution. The proposed multi-band model, with higher resolution among multiple narrower bands, can model the uncertainty set more accurately with historical information and mitigate solution conservativeness. Considering the two-stage structure, a solution procedure by combining Benders decomposition (BD) and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) condition is proposed for solving the robust optimization based TEP problem. Numerical studies verify the effectiveness of the proposed robust TEP approach for enhancing uncertainty modeling capabilities and mitigating the conservativeness of robust TEP solution.
The reputation-management industry and the prospects for a “right to be forgotten” in the US

AbstractOnline speech platforms present novel risks to privacy and reputation. There are situations in which unique kinds of harm can indeed occur but where the law applies imperfectly. Yet legal expansions like the European “Right to Be Forgotten” would contradict several well-established tenets of American free speech law. This paper argues that the reputation-management industry (RMI) represents one set of solutions in the absence of an American Right to Be Forgotten. The RMI counsels assiduous self-monitoring, search engine optimized promotion of one’s own preferred content, and negotiation for voluntary removal by content hosts. This approach arguably helps to address the informational distortions than can be created by true accounts of unseemly conduct and mob-like expressions of vitriolic opinion online. It likewise helps to mitigate the concern that readers will form inaccurate or unduly harsh judgments based on cursory examination of search results.The RMI thus in some ways addresses the underlyi...
Chemical synthesis of polysaccharides and polysaccharide mimetics

Abstract Polysaccharides are ubiquitous in nature, and play many critical roles in biology. As such, the synthesis of polysaccharides and of polymers mimicking the structure or function of polysaccharides is of keen interest in order to reveal structure-function relationships and to prepare biocompatible and biodegradable materials for research and commercial applications. Recent developments in polymerization methodologies are enabling the synthesis of polysaccharides and polysaccharide mimetics with a variety of structures and architectures. While there have been significant advances in overcoming the difficulties in controlling the regioselectivity and stereospecificity of glycosidic bond formation during polymerization, the development of efficient synthetic routes with general applicability to stereoregular and structurally complex polysaccharides remains a challenge. This review comprehensively describes the chemical polymerization methods to synthesize polysaccharides with different compositions and architectures (linear, branched, and hyperbranched) and the synthetic procedures to polysaccharide mimetics possessing, for example, amine linkages, amide linkages, and carbonate linkages. It begins with a discussion of the challenges and strategies for the synthesis of polysaccharides. We highlight the complexity observed in theses macromolecules due to the number and variety of stereo- and regio-types of glycosidic linkages present between monosaccharide residues. With regards to polysaccharide mimetics, we focus on polymers displaying important structural features present in natural polysaccharides, such as a rigid polymer backbone containing heterocyclic ring structures, short linkages with less than three atoms, as well as multiple hydroxyl groups. Both condensation polymerization and ring-opening polymerization are used to prepare linear polysaccharides, branched polysaccharides, hyperbranched polysaccharides, non- O -glycosidic linked polysaccharide mimetics, and pseudopolysaccharides. The review concludes with reflections and suggestions for future directions of investigation.
System of systems architecture feasibility analysis to support tradespace exploration

The exploration of a system of systems (SoS) tradespace is made much more efficient and effective with a method to first automatically screen a large number of SoS designs for feasibility. This is because not every combination of constituent systems is capable of forming a viable SoS, much less form a SoS that exhibits the desired emergent behavior(s). The SoS Architecture Feasibility Assessment Model (SoS-AFAM) assesses the feasibility of the physical communications, process, and organizational architectures of a SoS. The model applies algorithms based on the minimum requirements for viability relevant to all SoS such as connectivity and completeness. We present a case study to demonstrate how the algorithm can greatly prune the SoS tradespace of infeasible SoS design points, which can increase the efficiency of design exploration.
New Research on the Late Prehistoric Coastal Polities of Northern Peru

Previously, the Chimu empire was thought to have dominated the north coast of Peru during the Late Intermediate period, virtually to the exclusion of other polities. However, new research on sites from this period has not only changed perspectives on the Chimu, but also shed light on two other important coastal polities: the Lambayeque/Sican and the Casma, providing insights with the potential to reshape our understanding of the development of urbanism and the Andean state. This article presents a critical summary of recent literature, fieldwork, and discoveries. Analyses of these new data address a wide range of topics that can be loosely grouped into four major areas: complexity in political organization and the geopolitical landscape, variations in the urban environment, the intensification of trade and exchange, and dynamic expressions of religion and ideology. The latest interpretation of the north coast Late Intermediate period is a story of three major, competing polities that were eventually subsumed under one.
Development of a silicon limitation inducible expression system for recombinant protein production in the centric diatoms Thalassiosira pseudonana and Cyclotella cryptica.

An inducible promoter for recombinant protein expression provides substantial benefits because under induction conditions cellular energy and metabolic capability can be directed into protein synthesis. The most widely used inducible promoter for diatoms is for nitrate reductase, however, nitrogen metabolism is tied into diverse aspects of cellular function, and the induction response is not necessarily robust. Silicon limitation offers a means to eliminate energy and metabolic flux into cell division processes, with little other detrimental effect on cellular function, and a protein expression system that works under those conditions could be advantageous. In this study, we evaluate a number of promoters for recombinant protein expression induced by silicon limitation and repressed by the presence of silicon in the diatoms Thalassiosira pseudonana and Cyclotella cryptica. In addition to silicon limitation, we describe additional strategies to elevate recombinant protein expression level, including inclusion of the 5′ fragment of the coding region of the native gene and reducing carbon flow into ancillary processes of pigment synthesis and formation of photosynthetic storage products. We achieved yields of eGFP to 1.8% of total soluble protein in C. cryptica, which is about 3.6-fold higher than that obtained with chloroplast expression and ninefold higher than nuclear expression in another well-established algal system. Our studies demonstrate that the combination of inducible promoter and other strategies can result in robust expression of recombinant protein in a nuclear-based expression system in diatoms under silicon limited conditions, separating the protein expression regime from growth processes and improving overall recombinant protein yields.
Reduced-order structure-preserving model for parallel-connected three-phase grid-tied inverters

Next-generation power networks will contain large numbers of grid-connected inverters satisfying a significant fraction of system load. Since each inverter model has a relatively large number of dynamic states, it is impractical to analyze complex system models where the full dynamics of each inverter are retained. To address this challenge, we derive a reduced-order structure-preserving model for parallel-connected grid-tied three-phase inverters. Here, each inverter in the system is assumed to have a full-bridge topology, LCL filter at the point of common coupling, and the control architecture for each inverter includes a current controller, a power controller, and a phase-locked loop for grid synchronization. We outline a structure-preserving reduced-order inverter model with lumped parameters for the setting where the parallel inverters are each designed such that the filter components and controller gains scale linearly with the power rating. By structure preserving, we mean that the reduced-order three-phase inverter model is also composed of an LCL filter, a power controller, current controller, and PLL. We show that the system of parallel inverters can be modeled exactly as one aggregated inverter unit and this equivalent model has the same number of dynamical states as any individual inverter in the system. Numerical simulations validate the reduced-order model.
Analysis of single-cell genome sequences of bacteria and archaea

Single-cell genome sequencing of individual archaeal and bacterial cells is a vital approach to decipher the genetic makeup of uncultured microorganisms. With this review, we describe single-cell genome analysis with a focus on the unique properties of single-cell sequence data and with emphasis on quality assessment and assurance.
The Fisher Effect: A Cross Country Empirical Analysis

Much has been written of the Fisher Effect in the past half century. Theoretically, real rates of interest remain unaffected as nominal interest rates absorb any variations in expected inflation. It is unclear whether Fisher (1930) believed the relationship to be one-to-one as his original hypothesis failed to mention a specific magnitude. Scholars such as Darby (1975) and Feldstein (1976) argue that the relationship is greater than one-to-one, while others such as Mundell (1963) and Tobin (1965) argue that the true relationship is less than one-to-one. Regardless of the absolute size of the coefficient of the independent variable, most studies confirm a statistically significant positive relationship between measured inflation and the nominal interest rate. The great preponderance of these studies analyze the relationship of inflation and nominal interest rates within a given economy. The present study joins a significantly shorter list of efforts to measure the extent of the Fisher Effect across countries. Evidence from some of these studies suggests the presence of the full Fisher Effect across a large number of countries.
Diabetes Mellitus (Metabolic Acidosis and Potassium Balance)

: The first dehydration in diabetic hyperglycemia is a tissue dehydration. Acute hyperosmolarity redistributes K+ and Mg++ out of cells. Metabolic acidoses which do not increase the anion gap (i.e., mineral acidoses), have a tendency to promote hyperkalemia. The K+ and H+ concentrations of blood generally increase and decrease together in metabolic acid-base disturbances. Insulin, epinephrine, and aldosterone promote K+ movement into cells. Mg++ loss from cells reduces activity of the Na+/K+-ATPase. Aldosterone promotes both H+ and K+ secretion into the distal renal tubular filtrate. Ketone body anions (KB−s) can eventually displace Cl− from extracellular fluid. Metabolic acidosis may either reduce or enhance urinary K+ excretion, depending upon the duration of the disturbance.
Polarized Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) FT-IR Spectra of Oriented Alkanoates

Oriented multilayers formed on a solid surface by alkanoates with different mono- and divalent counterions were investigated by polarized ATR FT-IR spectroscopy. In the alkali laurates the alkyl chains are tilted by 30–40° relative to the bilayer normal Sodium laurate forms a different subcell structure compared to that in the potassium, rubidium and cesium laurates. In calcium and cadmium laurate the chain tilt is less than 20°. Furthermore, due to the chelating capacity of the divalent ions, the plane of the carboxylate group is inclined by 30–40° relative to the bilayer normal Magnesium laurate does not form ordered multilayers on the solid surface.
Spectral Signatures and Spatial Coherence of Bound and Unbound Polarons in P3HT Films: Theory Versus Experiment

The origin of the mid-infrared (IR) spectral features for hole absorption in doped poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) films is investigated theoretically and experimentally. Using a Holstein-style Hamil...
Validity of Effective Field Theory Dark Matter Models at the LHC

There are different approaches to search for Dark Matter (DM) at the LHC. One strategy is to assume theoretically well-motivated complete models that provide a DM candidate, such as SUSY (introduced in Chap. 4) or extra dimensions. The searches are optimised to target specific decay scenarios and final states that are expected for these models. The characteristics of these final states might depend on specific choices made for the model parameters. Most importantly, the interpretation of the experimental results and the conclusions drawn from them strongly depend on the specific model and its details. This model dependence might be reduced by the use of Simplified Models that capture only parts of the model characteristics, as in the case for the Stop Analsysis that is presented in Chap. 9. The price to pay for more generality is always a loss of completeness.
Framework for Simulating and Rem,/Oving Rain in Stereo-Image Videos

We present an implementation of a rain simulation and rain removal framework, which is based on video streams captured with a stereo camera system. This framework can be used to study the effect of rain on vision-based systems in the automotive domain, including obstacle detection, vehicles tracking and traffic sign recognition. We also present testing techniques, to verify the performance of rain simulation/removal systems, and quantify the closeness of de-rained image to the original rain-free image.
Evidence for the impacts of agroforestry on agricultural productivity, ecosystem services, and human well-being in high-income countries: a systematic map protocol

Agroforestry bridges the gap that often separates agriculture and forestry by building integrated systems that address both environmental and socio-economic objectives. Agroforestry can improve the resiliency of agricultural systems and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Existing research suggests that integrating trees on farms can prevent environmental degradation, improve agricultural productivity, increase carbon sequestration, generate cleaner water, and support healthy soil and healthy ecosystems while providing stable incomes and other benefits to human welfare. Although these claims are becoming more widely accepted as the body of agroforestry research increases, systematic understanding of the evidence supporting them remains lacking for high-income countries. This systematic map will address this research need by providing a tool for identifying and visualizing the existing evidence demonstrating the impacts of agroforestry practices and interventions on agricultural productivity, ecosystem services, and human well-being. The results will be useful for informing policy decisions and future research by making the evidence easily accessible and highlighting the gaps in knowledge as well as areas with enough evidence to conduct systematic reviews. This systematic map will identify, collect, display, and describe available evidence on the impacts of agroforestry on agricultural productivity, ecosystem services, and human well-being in high-income countries. The search strategy will cover 5 primary databases and 24 organizational websites using a pre-defined search string designed to capture studies relating agroforestry practices and interventions to outcomes in high-income countries. The searches will all be conducted in English. We will screen the identified studies for inclusion or exclusion in stages, first on title and abstract and then on full-text. We will collect data from studies included at the full-text stage to form the map and associated database. For inclusion, the study in question must assess the impacts of the deliberate promotion and/or actual integration of woody perennials (trees, shrubs, palms, bamboos, etc.) on the same land management unit as agricultural crops and/or animals.
The Second U.S.A. Mathematical Olympiad

(1974). The Second U.S.A. Mathematical Olympiad. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 81, No. 3, pp. 252-255.