cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Periodic Estrogen Receptor-Beta Activation: A Novel Approach to Prevent Ischemic Brain Damage

In women, the risk for cerebral ischemia climbs rapidly after menopause. At menopause, production of ovarian hormones; i.e., progesterone and estrogen, slowly diminishes. Estrogen has been suggested to confer natural protection to premenopausal women from ischemic stroke and some of its debilitating consequences. This notion is also strongly supported by laboratory studies showing that a continuous chronic 17β-estradiol (E2; a potent estrogen) regimen protects brain from ischemic injury. However, concerns regarding the safety of the continuous intake of E2 were raised by the failed translation to the clinic. Recent studies demonstrated that repetitive periodic E2 pretreatments, in contrast to continuous E2 treatment, provided neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia in ovariectomized rats. Periodic E2 pretreatment protects hippocampal neurons through activation of estrogen receptor subtype beta (ER-β). Apart from neuroprotection, periodic activation of ER-β in ovariectomized rats significantly improves hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. Difficulties in learning and memory loss are the major consequence of ischemic brain damage. Periodic ER-β agonist pretreatment may provide pharmacological access to a protective state against ischemic stroke and its debilitating consequences. The use of ER-β-selective agonists constitutes a safer target for future research than ER-α agonist or E2, inasmuch as it lacks the ability to stimulate the proliferation of breast or endometrial tissue. In this review, we highlight ER-β signaling as a guide for future translational research to reduce cognitive decline and cerebral ischemia incidents/impact in post-menopausal women, while avoiding the side effects produced by chronic E2 treatment.
Footwear alterations and bracing as treatments for knee osteoarthritis.

Purpose of reviewThe biomechanical aspects of gait and the impact of alignment have been recognized as important in the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Improving malalignment and altering the dynamic forces on the involved compartment of the knee during gait have the potential to
Can an item response theory-based pain item bank enhance measurement precision?

were female. The majority (92%) had NSCLC and the remainder (8%) had SCLC. Among NSCLC patients, 51%, 12%, 24%, and 14% had stage I, II, III, or IV disease, respectively, and 69% of the SCLC patients had limited stage disease. Smoking status was unknown in 9 patients (<O.l%), 180 (18%) were never smokers, 591 (57%) were former smokers, and 248 (24%) were current smokers at diagnosis. None of the never smokers reported smoking at follow-up. Among former smokers, 562 (95%) remained abstinent; however, 29 patients (5%) relapsed to smoking (relapsed former smokers). Among current smokers, 173 (70%) had quit smoking at the time of the follow-up assessment (abstinent smokers); however, 75 (30%) continued to smoke at the time of their follow-up assessment (persistent smokers). The adjusted mean (SD) total LCSS score for the never and persistent smokers were 17.6 (4.02) and 28.7 (5.09), respectively (P < 0.001); the former smokers (abstinent and relapsed) had adjusted mean total LCSS scores similar to those of the never smokers, with 19.8 (4.12) and 18.1 (5.14), respectively The abstinent smokers had an adjusted mean total LCSS score of 22.1 (4.03). We will describe the adjusted scores for the individual LCSS items at the meeting. No dose responses were found between the number of cigarettes smoked per day or the total pack-years of use and the adjusted mean LCSS scores; strengths and limitations will also be discussed at the meeting. CONCLUSION: Current cigarette smoking does have an impact on QOL as measured with the LCSS among patients with lung cancer. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: This research was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant CA-90628 and The Fraternal Order of the Eagles Cancer Grant Fund. Dr. Ping Yang is supported by National Institutes of Health Grant CA-84354.
Thermal performance of mechanical seals with textured side-wall

Abstract Experimental measurements and numerical simulations are presented to show the effectiveness of cooling of a mechanical seal's active surface by means of cylindrically shaped dimples engraved circumferentially on the outside diameter of the mating ring. The working fluid is propylene glycol solution (70% in water by volume) and the flush rate is 107 cm 3 /s. A commercially available CFD code (FLUENT) is employed to numerically confirm the experimental measurements, and the numerical and experimental results are in agreement. Results of this study demonstrate the heat augmentation effectiveness of surface texture techniques on the mechanical seals.
Effects of different buffer species on partition coefficients of drugs used in quantitative structure-activity relationships.

A study was conducted in which the same organic solvent, 1-octanol, and different buffer systems were used to obtain intercorrelations among log Pcorr values given by log P (octanol–water) = a log P (octanol–buffer) + b, where a and b are different constants for the different systems used. The range of a was 0.418–1.156 and that of b was -1.962–1.176 for the four buffer systems examined. Only with neutral drugs was the slope (a) close to 1.0 and the intercept (b) close to 0.0 for the three buffer systems studied. For acidic drugs, only 1-octanol–phosphate buffer gave a 1:1 correlation with 1-octanol–water partition coefficients. Acetate and bicarbonate buffer systems gave different correlations. For basic drugs, none of the three systems examined gave a 1:1 correlation with 1-octanol–water partition coefficients.
Radial artery patency

The benefit of a graft or stent is dependent on persistent patency. After a false start in the 1970s, the radial artery (RA) enjoyed rapid and widespread adaptation following its reintroduction in 1992 [1]. The Parisian experience, where it began on both occasions and spans 20 years from the second start, is herein reported [2, in this issue]. The authors report angiographic follow-up in 351/819 patients having 548 conventional and 205 computed tomography (CT) angiograms. Patency has disappointed by not equaling that of the left internal thoracic artery (ITA) to the left anterior descending (LAD) (95.5% but is a respectable 82.8% at 7 years and similar to that from Rome and Melbourne) [3, 4]. It is well known that target vessel influences patency and usually the RA is grafted to a vessel other than the LAD which is associated with best patency. When the diagonal was the target, RA patency was 93.1% (95/102) [2]. Our unpublished data of the RA as a T-graft to the LAD, diagonal or ramus artery revealed patency of 94% (15/16) at a mean of 10.2 years. Free ITA patency, 80% (49/55), was not different from the RA [2]. Patency for the RA was improved by sequential anastomosis to 91.2% (52/57) from 82.0% (469/572) (p = 0.08) for single anastomosis [2]. Asymptomatic patients had significantly better patency – 88.1%, (347/394) than did those with symptomatic ischemia 74.0% (174/235) (p < 0.001) as the indication for angiography [2]. Most graft failures occurred in the first year beyond which the linear attrition rate was about 0.37% per year. Importantly, there was no evidence for graft atherosclerosis [2] nor in the other two reports [3, 4] or in our unpublished observations to 15.7 years. Although RA patency is no better than for vein grafts, it is likely that this will change in the second decade of observation as graft atherosclerosis develops. How or should we utilize the RA in the future? It has several advantages over the ITA including length, concomitant harvest, less fragility, and reduced sternal infection if combined with one ITA, but the liabilities of spasm and vulnerability to competitive flow. In many instances, the RA falls in line behind the right ITA but there are instances (obese diabetic, morbid obesity, chest wall concerns, and reoperation) where the RA may be preferable. Harvesting is easier and leg-wound complications are avoided if RA is substituted for vein in obese patients where either conduit is otherwise an option including the older patient. Fractional flow reserve is routinely obtained by our cardiologists to assess lesions which are not high grade and only those lesions having a gradient are considered for RA grafting [5]. I continue to selectively use the RA as a T-graft for circumflex and right coronaries but do not graft the posterior descending artery for a right coronary lesion of <90%.
Copper(II)–human amylin complex protects pancreatic cells from amylin toxicity

Human amylin-derived oligomers and aggregates are believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition to amylin-evoked cell attrition, T2DM is often accompanied by elevated serum copper levels. Although previous studies have shown that human amylin, in the course of its aggregation, produces hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in solution, and that this process is exacerbated in the presence of copper(II) ions (Cu2+), very little is known about the mechanism of interaction between Cu2+ and amylin in pancreatic β-cells, including its pathological significance. Hence, in this study we investigated the mechanism by which Cu2+ and human amylin catalyze formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells and in vitro, and examined the modulatory effect of Cu2+ on amylin aggregation and toxicity in pancreatic rat insulinoma (RIN-m5F) β-cells. Our results indicate that Cu2+ interacts with human and rat amylin to form metalo-peptide complexes with low aggregative and oxidative properties. Human and non-amyloidogenic rat amylin produced minute (nM) amounts of H2O2, the accumulation of which was slightly enhanced in the presence of Cu2+. In a marked contrast to human and rat amylin, and in the presence of the reducing agents glutathione and ascorbate, Cu2+ produced μM concentrations of H2O2 surpassing the amylin effect by several fold. The current study shows that human and rat amylin not only produce but also quench H2O2, and that human but not rat amylin significantly decreases the amount of H2O2 in solution produced by Cu2+ and glutathione. Similarly, human amylin was found to also decrease hydroxyl radical formation elicited by Cu2+ and glutathione. Furthermore, Cu2+ mitigated the toxic effect of human amylin by inhibiting activation of pro-apoptotic caspase-3 and stress-kinase signaling pathways in rat pancreatic insulinoma cells in part by stabilizing human amylin in its native conformational state. This sacrificial quenching of metal-catalyzed ROS by human amylin and copper's anti-aggregative and anti-apoptotic properties suggest a novel and protective role for the copper–amylin complex.
Spoken web: using voice as an accessibility tool for disadvantaged people in developing regions

The traditional notion of accessibility is primarily focused on people with different kinds of physical or mental disabilities. Most efforts are spent in developing technologies to help overcome these disabilities. However, in recent times, new kinds of disabilities, namely illiteracy and un-affordability have gained lot of attention in the context of building technologies and solutions for developing regions. Close to 80% of world's population does not have access to Internet whereas mobile phones have rapidly achieved high penetration even in various remote areas. Spoken Web has emerged as an alternate web for the underprivileged by breaking the barriers of illiteracy, affordability and local languages. It enables ordinary telephone subscribers to create, deploy and offer customized voice-driven applications through a simple voice-based interface accessible from affordable, commercial telephony devices. In this paper, we present an overview of the Spoken Web technology, its capabilities and various kinds of applications it enables. We further briefly present a few case studies and give a view of research efforts spurned by this technology.
Incorporating prior beliefs about selection bias into the analysis of randomized trials with missing outcomes.

SUMMARY In randomized studies with missing outcomes, non-identifiable assumptions are required to hold for valid data analysis. As a result, statisticians have been advocating the use of sensitivity analysis to evaluate the effect of varying asssumptions on study conclusions. While this approach may be useful in assessing the sensitivity of treatment comparisons to missing data assumptions, it may be dissatisfying to some researchers/decision makers because a single summary is not provided. In this paper, we present a fully Bayesian methodology that allows the investigator to draw a ‘single’ conclusion by formally incorporating prior beliefs about non-identifiable, yet interpretable, selection bias parameters. Our Bayesian model provides robustness to prior specification of the distributional form of the continuous outcomes.
Image processing operators and transforms generated by a set of multidimensional neural lattices that use the central limit

A set of neural lattices based on the central limit theorem is described. Each of the lattices generates in parallel a set of multiple scale Gaussian smoothings of their input arrays. The recursive smoothing principle of the lattices can be extended to any dimension. In addition, the lattices can generate a variety of multiple scale operators such as Canny's edge detectors, Laplacians of Gaussians, and multi-dimensional Fourier and Gabor transforms. >
High performance computing of line of sight viewshed

In this paper we present our recent research and development work for multicore computing of Line of Sight (LoS) on the Cell Broadband Engine (CBE) processors. LoS can be found in many applications where real-time high performance computing is required. We will describe an efficient LoS multi-core parallel computing algorithm, including the data partition and computation load allocation strategies to fully utilize the CBE's computational resources for efficient LoS viewshed parallel computing. In addition, we will also illustrate a successive fast transpose algorithm to prepare the input data for efficient Single-Instruction-Multiple-Data (SIMD) operations. Furthermore, we describe the data input and output (I/O) management scheme to reduce the (I/O) latency in Direct-Memory-Access (DMA) data fetching and storing operations. The performance evaluation of our LoS viewshed computing scheme over an area of interest (AOI) with more than 4.19 million points has shown that our parallel computing algorithm on CBE takes less than 25.5 ms, which is several orders of magnitude faster than the available commercial systems.
Social network diagnostics: a tool for monitoring group interventions

Background Many behavioral interventions designed to improve health outcomes are delivered in group settings. To date, however, group interventions have not been evaluated to determine if the groups generate interaction among members and how changes in group interaction may affect program outcomes at the individual or group level.
Asynchronous vertical migration and bimodal distribution of motile phytoplankton

Some motile phytoplankton have the capability to exploit deep sources of nutrients in a vertical migration cycle: photosynthesis in the near-surface layer, transit to depth, uptake of the limiting nutrient and transit back to the surface layer. If all four steps can be completed within 24 h, then migrations can be synchronized to the day/night cycle to maximize photosynthetic efficiency. Alternatively, if physiological, behavioral or environmental factors make it impossible for the cycle to be completed in 24 h, then migration may be asynchronous. Many observations of phytoplankton reveal bimodal vertical distributions of organisms, with maxima near the surface and the nutricline. We demonstrate how bimodal vertical distributions of phytoplankton may be symptomatic of asynchronous vertical migration using a Lagrangian Ensemble numerical model. We simulate vertical migration of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium fundyense in conditions similar to those in the Gulf of Maine, where bimodal distributions of A. fundyense have been observed. Migration is regulated by internal nutritional state—organisms swim down toward the nitracline when depleted of nitrogen, and return to the surface after nutrient uptake. We test the sensitivity of the results to growth rate, nitrogen uptake rate and swimming speed, and find that organism distributions can be bimodal or unimodal depending on conditions. Finally, we develop an analytical estimate for population distribution based on organism characteristics and nutricline depth.
A three‐component portable seismometer designed for the evaluation of ground‐motions

The seismometers described are of the mechanical type—period two to three seconds—with electromagnetic damping, using high mechanical magnification of the excellent “bow-string” type introduced by Gordon Taylor, and optical registration. Special film of high resolving power and great latitude, and a simple and efficient optical system enable an unusually fine trace to be obtained, readable to about one-thousandth inch if desired. The vertical instrument incorporates La Coste's recent suggestions. Very high static magnifications (over 100,000) are obtainable so that the practical limitations in sensitivity are imposed by the unavoidable background disturbances. Provision for the automatic testing of the instrumental constants is incorporated in the design.
HDL Metabolism in HDL Deficiency Associated with Familial Hypertriglyeridemia: Effect of Treatment with Gemfibrozil

Plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) and their major proteins — apolipoprotein (apo) AI and apo All — are subnormal in most patients with familial hypertriglyceridemia. However, the pathophysiology of low plasma apo AI and apo All is unclear. The kinetic parameters (turnover) of HDL apo AI and apo All were studied in six lean patients with primary HDL deficiency associated with familial hypertriglyc eridemia and normolipidemic healthy controls. The radioactivity decay curve of 125I labelled HDL was used for assessment of kinetics. Mean plasma apo AI and apo All were significantly lower (p<0.001) in patients than normals (70.4± 2.7 v 106.9± 7.0; 24.2 ± 1.6 v 39.2 ± 0.9 mg/dl, respectively). The mean fractional catabolic rates (FCR) obtained from plasma 125I-HDL, apo AI, apo All radioactivity decay curves and by Berson and Yalow’s method (urine/plasma radioactivity ratios) were significantly greater (p< 0.05) in patients than in controls (0.387 v 0.299; 0.391 v 0.309; 0.361 v 0.275; 0.272 v 0.207/ d; respectively) . The synthetic rates (SR of apo AI and apo All were significantly lower in patients than in controls (11.12 v 14.17 mg/ kg body weight/d. p < 0 . 05; 3.53 v 4 . 68 mg/kg body weight/d, p < 0.05, respectively) . Each patient was also investigated for HDL and triglyceride metabolism immediately before and after 8 wk of gemfibrozil (1200 mg/d) treatment. Gemfibrozil significantly increased plasma HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein (apo) AI, and apo All by 36%, 29%, and 38% from baseline, respectively. Plasma TG decreased by 54%. Gemfibrozil increased synthetic rates of apo AI and apo All by 27% and 34%, respectively, without changing the FCR. Stimulation of apo AI and apo All synthesis by gemfibrozil was associated with the appearance in plasma of smaller (and heavier) HDL particles as assessed by gradient gel electrophoresis and HDL composition. Postheparin extra-hepatic lipoprotein lipase activity increased significantly by 25% after gemfibrozil, and was associated with the appearance in plasma of smaller very low density lipoprotein particles whose apo CIII:CII ratio was decreased. Hepatic triglyceride lipase was unchanged by treatment.
User-friendly LabView tool to study effects of partial shading on PV characteristics

A photovoltaic (PV) array performance depends on various operating conditions. Solar irradiation is considered the most important factor. The shading on PV array can result from passing clouds, trees, utility, telephone poles, or neighboring buildings. It causes not only power losses, but also increases non-linearity of V-I characteristics of PV array. This phenomenon has been studied in many research works using different software packages. In this paper, user-friendly LabView tool is proposed to simulate effects of PV shading on its characteristics. Simulation results are verified through different case studies.
Driving in Snow: Effect of Headlamp Color at Mesopic and Photopic Light Levels

This paper discusses the evidence that yellow headlights might be less distracting and glaring than white headlights when driving during snowfall at night. Yellow headlights appear to reduce the negative effects of backscattered light during night driving, and during a snowfall.
A high-density coupled-magnetic-film memory array

A high-density coupled-hard-axis (CHA) destructive readout (DRO) magnetic-film device which yields storage density ≥ 6400 cells per square inch and drive currents compatible with ICs is described. A thin word line design is unique in that its own resistance is used as its termination. This thin word line design permits word line grouping on the substrate level resulting in larger spaced fan-out connections. Its relatively easy manufacturing process as batch fabricated arrays, compared with other comparable high-density memory devices, makes it attractive economically. Extensive experimental data has been obtained as to the disturb margins, signal levels, and keeper effect. In the evaluation of the device performance, the worst case disturb conditions are always applied. At operating conditions, signal levels are in the 2-mV range, disturb margins are ± 35 percent for the unipolar case, and ≥ 50 percent for the bipolar case. Domain-pattern studies were also made to gain further understanding of the device performance and stability relative to its magnetic structure.
Identification of protein disulfide isomerase as an endothelial hypoxic stress protein

Endothelial cells (EC) exposed to hypoxia upregulate a unique set of five stress proteins. These proteins are upregulated in human and bovine aortic and pulmonary artery EC and are distinct from he...
Wavelet ANOVA and fMRI

We propose Wavelet ANOVA, a simple general-purpose statistical method for analysis of signals and images. We emphasize the application of the method to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Wavelet ANOVA combines the false discovery rate approach to multiple comparisons with block wavelet thresholding and linear statistical models. We discuss the relationship of Wavelet ANOVA to a similar method of Ruttimann, et al. We illustrate the application of Wavelet ANOVA to analysis of an fMRI data set.
Low amniotic fluid volume is poorly identified in singleton and twin pregnancies using the 2 x 2 cm pocket technique of the biophysical profile.

Background. This study was done to determine the accuracy of the 2 x 2 cm pocket identifying low amniotic fluid (AF) volume in singleton and twin pregnancies. Methods. The AF volume was evaluated by ultrasonography for the presence of a 2 x 2 cm pocket before amniocentesis. The actual AF volume was then determined by a diazo-dye reaction with subsequent spectrophotometric analysis using paraminohippurate. Results. The AF volume was low in 21 of the 79 singleton pregnancies and normal in 47; hydramnios was present in 11. Among amniotic sacs of the 60 twin pairs, oligohydramnios was found in 33 amniotic sacs. normal AF volume in 80 sacs, and high volume in 7. An AF pocket smaller than 2 x 2 cm was identified in only 3 of the 79 singleton pregnancies and in only 2 of the 120 twin amniotic sacs. Conclusions. Judging AF volume on the basis of a 2 x 2 cm pocket misses more than 90% of cases of oligohydramnios in singletons and twins.
Mothers’ Involuntary Job Loss and Children’s Academic Achievement

Using matched mother-child data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, I examine the impact of mothers’ involuntary job loss on children’s academic achievement. Single mothers’ job displacement affects children’s math and reading test scores negatively and statistically significantly in the short run. Displacement of married mothers has no impact on their children’s test scores. The decline in income and a worsening of child’s behavioral problems are two channels through which single mothers’ job loss impacts test scores.
Wikipedia's Politics of Exclusion: Gender, Epistemology, and Feminist Rhetorical (In)action

Abstract Compositionists have celebrated Wikipedia as a space that privileges collaborative, public writing and complicates traditional notions of authorship and revision. Yet, this scholarship has not considered the implications of Wikipedia's “gender gap”—the highly disproportionate number of male editors over female editors. In this article, I explore how Wikipedia functions as a rhetorical discourse community whose conventions exclude and silence feminist ways of knowing and writing. Drawing on textual analysis of Wikipedia's editorial policies, as well as interviews with female users, I argue that Wikipedia's insistence on separating embodied subjectivity from the production of knowledge limits the site's ability to facilitate any substantial, subversive feminist rhetorical action. These limitations, I suggest, should inform a critical pedagogical approach to Wikipedia.
Is the Formation of Poly-CO2 Stabilized by Lewis Base Moieties in N- and S-Doped Porous Carbon?

The polymerization of CO2 by Lewis basic moieties has been recently proposed to account for the high adsorption ability of N and S-doped porous carbon materials formed from the pyrolysis of sulfur or nitrogen containing polymers in the presence of KOH. Ab initio calculations performed on the ideal CO2 tetramer complex LB-(CO2)4 (LB = NH3, H2O, H2S) showed no propensity for stabilization. A weak association is observed using Lewis acid species bound to oxygen (LA = H+, AlF3, AlH3, B4O6); however, the combination of a Lewis acid and base does allow for the formation of polymerized CO2 (i.e., LB-C(O)O-[C(O)O]n-C(O)O-LA). While the presence of acid moieties in porous carbon is well known, and borate species are experimentally observed in KOH activated porous carbon materials, the low stability of the oligomers calculated herein, is insufficient to explain the reported poly-CO2.
Episodic Fever and Neutropenia in a 22-Year-Old Male

Patient: 22-year-old African-American male Chief Complaint: Episodic fevers History of Present Illness: The patient has experienced episodic fevers regularly for the past 6 months. Initially, the fevers occurred 4–6 weeks apart but have been increasing in frequency in the past 2 months. Each episode reportedly lasts about 3 days, with the fever peaking around 103°F. The fever is accompanied by muscle pain and occasionally sore throat, chills, and night sweats. There is no associated nausea, vomiting, or lymphadenopathy. During the previous 3 weeks, the patient reported a decreased appetite and an unintended weight loss of 10–20 pounds. The fevers typically resolved with acetaminophen, and the patient recently completed several courses of amoxicillin. Past Medical History: The patient was hospitalized approximately 3 weeks prior to this presentation for similar symptoms. At that time, he was noted to have a significantly reduced absolute neutrophil count, which recovered with supportive care. Since his discharge, he has had weekly complete blood counts, all of which have been normal. Social History: The patient is a smoker and drinks rarely. He denies substance abuse issues or recreational drug use. Family History: Non-contributory. Vital Signs: Temperature, 99°F; heart rate, 82 beats per minute; respiratory rate, 16 per minute; blood pressure, 160/80 mmHg. Skin: No rash. Lymph Nodes: No significant submandibular, cervical, or supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. Pulmonary: Clear to auscultation. Principal Laboratory Findings: See Table 1 and Image 1. 1. What are this patient’s most striking clinical and laboratory findings? 2. What are the possible causes/conditions that could explain the clinical and laboratory findings? 3. What additional studies would be appropriate to define the cause of this patient’s clinical and laboratory findings? 4. What is this patient’s most likely diagnosis? 5. What is the molecular pathogenesis of this patient’s disease? 6. How is this patient’s condition typically treated? 1. The most striking findings are …
Jamming Resource Management of Advanced Airborne Integrated Radio Frequency Systems

To study resource management of integrated radio frequency system onboard advanced fighters for "single-to-multiple" jamming,a systematic scheme of radar/jamming based on active phased array antenna was analyzed,and a model for threat level evaluation was built up by means of multi-attribute decision-making.The jamming task requirement model was established based on the given threat threshold,and time division multiplexing mode was used for jamming multiple targets.An adaptive dynamic resource allocation method was proposed.Two criterions of jamming resource management were proposed,the minimum mean deviation of threat-level and the minimum deviation of highest threat-level.Combined with the algorithm of radar resource management,the method can be used to realize the integrated management of radar and jamming resources as well.Computer simulation indicated that the adaptive method of resource management could optimize the dynamic allocation of jamming resources.
Fabrication of High Rigidity Micro Deformable Mirror Based on PZT Thick-Film Actuator

A PZT thick-film actuated micro deformable mirror(DM) was designed and fabricated.The continuous single-crystal silicon membrane was supported and deformed by 61-element PZT actuators.In order to improve the mirror's stroke and operating bandwidth,an optimum structural design was accomplished.According to the optimization results a micro DM based on 61-element PZT actuators was trial-fabricated using the silicon micro-machining technology.The optimized thickness of the mirror,the PZT layer and the supporting layer is 100 μm,60 μm and 60 μm,respectively.The space between actuators is 5 mm and the effective aperture is 40 mm.After the fabrication,the micro DM was measured and characterized.The deformation of the micro DM is 2.84 μm and the bandwidth of the frequency response is over 10 kHz under a driving voltage of 100 V.It is also shown that the PZT-thick-film actuated micro DM has high rigidity,which is beneficial to the improvement of the initial flatness of the micro DM.
The reconstruction of I_f channels in mouse mesenchymal stem cells with mHCN4

Objective To study the transfection and functional expression of mHCN4 gene in mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs). Methods Bone marrow was collected from 2-month-old Kunming mice by flushing femurs and tibias with complete medium constituted of DMEM-LG. Cells were plated in a Petri dish at a density of 1×106 cells/cm2. After 24 hours, non-adherent cells were removed by two to three washes with PBS, adherent cells were further cultured in complete medium and retrieved by trypsinisation and immuno-depleted of granulo-monocytic cells using a biotinylated antibody against CD11b. CD11b-negative cells were subsequently seeded on human fibronectin-coated Petri dishes. pMSCV-mHCN4-EGFP and pMSCV-EGFP retrovirus vectors were constructed by enzymatic reconnection of target segments from vectors pUC18, pcDNA3-mHCN4, pIRES2-EGFP and pMSCV-puro. The stably expressed packaging cell clones were collected by transfecting PT67 packaging cell with different constructed vectors, transfected 3rd generation of mMSCs,purified by puromycin, and finally examined the positively transfected cells with whole-cell patch clamp experiments. Results Transfection ratio for mMSCs was 10%~20%.The recorded hyperpolarization-activated inward current (I_f) from mHCN4 target gene after 3rd day transfection had obvious time dependency. The half-maximum activated voltage of I_f was -99±5.8 mV, activation time constant was 451±61 ms at -140 mV. The current was very sensitive to CsCl. The control cells didn′t show the current at the same clamp voltage. Conclusion The functional I_f channels can be reconstructed in mMSCs transfected with mHCN4 gene. The mMSCs modified with mHCN4 gene maybe a source of effective biological pacemaker cells.
CBT Effective for Chronic Insomnia.

A five-component approach to changing patients' beliefs and behaviors surrounding sleep is effective, at least in the short term, in getting persons to fall asleep and stay asleep, although total sleep time is not increased.
Predicting future physical injury in sports: it's a complicated dynamic system

What does sport injury risk have to do with weather forecasting and predicting who will be the next President of the USA? Everything! The commonalities are that each occurs within a dynamic system. If you know how dynamic systems work, you will better predict sports injuries. A dynamic system is an environment that depends on internal and external factors to attain stability.1 Organisms/participants/traits within a dynamic system adapt and change when factors within the system change. Scientists routinely predict risk in a variety of dynamic systems such as weather, political forecasting and projecting traffic fatalities. Ideally, the modelling for each forecasting model involves sophisticated statistical assessment, complex/multiple simulation studies, allowances of time-related changes and distinctly large sample sizes. What about sports injuries? Predictive models used in dynamic systems identify predictors in a changing environment, in which outcomes are influenced by both the baseline characteristics (the predictors) and external environmental mediators (other factors, unaccounted for at baseline). Sports injuries occur within a dynamic system and our attempts at predicting injury have ignored the dynamic nature of the system (eg, changes in strength or accounting for factors such as physical contact injuries). We assumed that baseline characteristics such as strength, balance and flexibility would predict an injurious event, independent of their internally driven change and often independent …
What Do We Really Know about the Role of Microorganisms in Iron Sulfide Mineral Formation

Iron sulfide mineralization in low-temperature systems is a result of biotic and abiotic processes, though the delineation between these two modes of formation is not always straightforward. Here we review the role of microorganisms in the precipitation of extracellular iron sulfide minerals. We summarize the evidence that links sulfur-metabolizing microorganisms and sulfide minerals in nature and we present a critical overview of laboratory-based studies of the nucleation and growth of iron sulfide minerals in microbial cultures. We discuss whether biologically derived minerals are distinguishable from abiotic minerals, possessing attributes that are uniquely diagnostic of biomineralization. These inquiries have revealed the need for additional thorough, mechanistic and high-resolution studies to understand microbially mediated formation of a variety of sulfide minerals across a range of natural environments.
Energy and basal metabolism

It seems appropriate to begin our discussion of nutrients with that concept to which all matter is related; namely, energy. Currently there is a controversy as to whether the kilo-calorie or the joule is the proper unit of energy measurement in the metric system. Rather than concerning ourselves with units, we shall simply use the generic term ‘energy’. Therefore, what you may have heard referred to as the ‘caloric content’ of a food shall be referred to here as its ‘energy content’.
Dynamic linear programming games with risk-averse players

Motivated by situations in which independent agents wish to cooperate in some uncertain endeavor over time, we study dynamic linear programming games, which generalize classical linear production games to multi-period settings under uncertainty. We specifically consider that players may have risk-averse attitudes towards uncertainty, and model this risk aversion using coherent conditional risk measures. For this setting, we study the strong sequential core, a natural extension of the core to dynamic settings. We characterize the strong sequential core as the set of allocations that satisfy a particular finite set of inequalities that depend on an auxiliary optimization model, and then leverage this characterization to establish sufficient conditions for emptiness and non-emptiness. Qualitatively, whereas the strong sequential core is always non-empty when players are risk-neutral, our results indicate that cooperation in the presence of risk aversion is much more difficult. We illustrate this with an application to cooperative newsvendor games, where we find that cooperation is possible when it least benefits players, and may be impossible when it offers more benefit.
Introduction: So Close, and Yet So Far

The audience for whom this is written is a very specific one: people born in 1982 or later, who have spent all or most of their lives in the USA, and who are disturbed by the continued entrenchment of the injustices which the Left has historically opposed—capitalist exploitation and oppression, racism, xenophobic nationalism, colonialism, patriarchy, militarism. And I write especially for those who come from The Place of Good Intentions (i.e., Suburbia), for it is from this particular vantage point, more than any other, that nothing seems possible. You watch the so-called Arab Spring from afar and wonder whether it can happen here, or, if not, what might be possible? You see little cause for hope.2 And yet you continue, as long as you can sustain the energy. You know that sometime, sometime, something has got to give. We cannot stay in Afghanistan forever. Can we? Is the future just so many iterations of capitalism, and nothing else, from here on down?3 And if the answer is yes, what is to be done?
122 Optimizing charge transfer through G-quadruplex

The G-quadruplex is a quadruple helical form of nucleic acids that contains only the guanine (G) base in the quadruplex, while other bases can appear in loops. The unit constituent is the G-tetrad,...
Pseudo-Phosphorylation Mediated Rescue of R58Q-Linked Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Phenotype

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by ventricular hypertrophy, myofibrillar disarray and often caused by mutations in genes encoding for major sarcomeric proteins. This study is focused on Arginine to Glutamine substitution (R58Q) in the ventricular myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) resulting in a malignant hypertrophic phenotype. We previously showed a mutation-induced decrease in the endogenous level of cardiac RLC phosphorylation in R58Q mice, resulting in compromised communication between the functional regions of the RLC and affecting the interaction of myosin and actin and cardiac muscle contraction. In this report we explored the therapeutic potential of pseudo-phosphorylation, in which Aspartic Acid is replaced for phosphorylatable Serine-15 (S15D) in the R58Q background. In vitro actin-activated myosin ATPase activity was assessed using S15D-R58Q and R58Q vs. WT reconstituted porcine cardiac myosin. R58Q largely decreased maximal ATPase activity, Vmax (∼30% lower) compared to WT. S15D-R58Q rescued the maximal ATPase activity to the WT level. The Michaelis–Menten constant (in μM) for R58Q (Km=4.04±0.45) was significantly increased compared to WT (Km=1.68±0.19), suggesting that a higher concentration of actin is needed to activate cross-bridges. S15D-R58Q-RLC showed a small but significant increase in Km (2.56±0.32), compared with WT. Steady-state acto-myosin binding was studied using fluorescently labelled actin to quantify the dissociation constants (Kd) and stoichiometry of binding (n) between myosin and actin in the absence of nucleotide. Binding of WT-RLC to actin was strong (Kd value =5.5 nM, n=0.89). A large decrease in binding (∼67-fold increase in Kd) was observed for R58Q-RLC. Kd of S15D-R58Q-RLC was only slightly increased (∼3-fold) compared with WT indicating a rescue in binding affinity by pseudo-phosphorylated RLC mutant. Our findings on S15D-R58Q support the idea that myosin phosphorylation may have important translational applications for the treatment of RLC induced hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Supported by NIH-HL123255 (DSC).
After Big Data Failed: The Enduring Allure of Numbers in the Wake of the 2016 US Election

When widespread polling failed to accurately predict the 2016 US presidential election, producers and consumers of data didn’t abandon faith in numbers. Instead, they have reconfigured their relationships with big data. Producers are formulating redemption narratives, blaming specific datasets or poor interpretation, and the broader reception looks similar. Seeking an explanation for Trump’s unexpected victory, news audiences are calling out failed pre-election polling numbers, while at the same time embracing empirically dubious exit polls. This Critical Engagement piece argues that Science and Technology Studies scholarship has prepared us to see that polling errors would not undo the prestige and power of quantitative methods, but rather reveal the intensity of our attachment to data as a readily available arbiter. We show that data’s ambivalent qualities make it a durable ground for claims-making, with the capacity to be mobilized to do different kinds of work: blame, exoneration, and broader sense-making.
Abstract 239: A Field Synopsis of the Role of Race in Clinical Prediction Models for Cardiovascular Disease

Introduction: Race and ethnicity-based differences and disparities have been noted in cardiovascular disease (CVD), including inequalities in access to care and differences in genetics and pharmacokinetics that affect response to treatment and development of clinical outcomes. Risk scores commonly used in CVD prevention, such as the Pooled Cohort Equation, include terms for race, yet to date there has been no systematic evaluation of the role of race and ethnicity in clinical prediction models (CPMs). To better understand the potential impact of race-specific clinical decisions encouraged by these models, we conducted a field synopsis of the role of race and ethnicity in CPMs for CVD. Methods: We identified CPMs in the Tufts PACE CPM Database, a systematic review of CVD-related CPMs published from 1/1990-3/2015. We report the proportion of models including the effect of race or ethnicity on CVD incidence or prognosis, summarize the directionality of the effects of race (harm or protection), and explore factors influencing the inclusion of race. Results: Out of 908 CPMs with CVD as either an index condition or outcome, only 24 (3%) contained a coefficient for race, ethnicity or a combination of race and ethnicity, or presented race-stratified equations. Among the overall group of CVD-related models, the racial or ethnic composition of the underlying model development cohort was reported for only 1 out of every 5 models (168/908 models (19%)), but was reported in the majority of models that included race (22/24 (92%)). Among models where the racial composition of the cohort was reported, the proportion of patients of white race was the same (79%) in models that included race vs. excluded race. The inclusion of race/ethnicity as a covariate or stratification variable was more common in models predicting incident CVD versus prognosis for patients with known CVD (9/126 (7%) versus 15/782 (2%), respectively, p Conclusions: Race/ethnicity is rarely included in CVD-related CPMs, although racial and ethnic differences in outcome risk have been documented for many conditions, and several commonly used CPMs include race. Model development from cohorts including greater numbers of non-white patients may uncover additional or more consistent racial/ethnic effects.
In silico and functional evaluation of PTH1R mutations found in patients with primary failure of eruption (PFE).

Objectives The genetic basis of PFE (OMIM ID: 125350) was interrogated using molecular functional studies. PFE is a disorder that results in a poor prognosis in the eruption of teeth and by extension, in treatment with a continuous archwire. We tested the hypothesis that PTH1R mutations result in loss of function due to altered protein structure to determine (i) the fate of a functional PTH1R mutation and (ii) the resulting PTH1R protein structure of each functional mutation. Methods We used immunofluorescence assay of COS7 cells that were transfected with either the WT or 1092delG PTH1R mutation sequence to compare the fate of the expressed protein. We also performed in silico analysis of the WT PTH1R and four different functional PTH1R mutations RESULTS: Functional studies (IFA) showed a variation in expression between the WT and mutant PTH1R. Further, in silico analysis showed structural differences between WT and mutant PTH1R proteins, particularly in the regions of the 3rd intracellular loop and the 6th transmembrane domain required for efficient PTH1R function. Conclusion PTH1R mutations identified in PFE likely result from diminished function due to truncation of the protein, lack of efficient G-protein interactions and putatively attenuated signal transduction. By identifying the mode of protein dysfunction, scientist-clinicians are better prepared to recognize and thereby develop improved methods of treatment, starting at the molecular level.
Wilson, Samuel Alexander Kinnier

Samuel Alexander Kinnier Wilson (1878–1937) was a British neurologist who is eponymously recognized for his description of hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson's disease). In 1920, he became the founding editor of the Journal of Neurology and Psychopathology , which later became the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry . In 1925 he gave the Croonian Lectures for the Royal College of Physicians, On some Disorders of Motility and of Muscle Tone. His classic two-volume textbook, Neurology (1940), was published posthumously.
Contentious dialogue: University presidential response and the 2016 U.S. presidential election

ABSTRACTIn recent years, technology has made it possible, and at times critical, for college and university presidents to increase their campus-wide public communication. However, there is little research that analyses these frequent and timely presidential communications. Using grounded theory, this study took steps to fill this gap by analysing the unprecedented response campuses had to the 2016 United States presidential election of Donald Trump. The analysis focused on the responses of presidents from the fifty state flagship universities and found emergent themes of unity, contentious election, negative event, university values, civil dialogue, services offered, and emotional rhetoric, while also finding significance in whether the letters were sent proactively or reactively.
Symmetry in Feminist Economics

This paper takes the strains of symmetry as the starting point for an exploration of different stages in feminist economics. The first stage involves symmetry among men and women. The second stage concerns the breaking down of the privileged position of male economists over female ones. The third stage moves to the level of male and female analysts of economics. The paper connects these stages with efforts to establish symmetry in economics in general and macroeconomics in particular. These endeavors encounter serious obstacles that may be removed with the help of feminist economics. Therefore, the paper argues, there are not only ontological and epistemological reasons for seeking symmetry, but also strategic and political ones.
The Technology Imperative

The title of this book is The Management of Medical Technology. This is a three-part construct that includes: management, medical, and technology. We begin by examining the third component of the construct: technology.