cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Critique of the NYSE's Director Independence Listing Standards

Under the New York Stock Exchange's (NYSE) aegis, a blue ribbon panel has proposed new listing standards that would, inter alia, significantly increase the role of independent directors in public corporations. Despite the considerable hullabaloo surrounding the report's release, however, the report's recommendations in fact consist of little more than the warmed-over rejects of past corporate governance "reform" initiatives. This essay critiques the key director independence provisions of the NYSE Committee's report. The essay argues that those proposals are not supported by the evidence on director performance and, moreover, adopt an undesirable one size fits all approach. Firms have unique needs and should be free -- as state law now allows -- to develop unique accountability mechanisms carefully tailored for the firm's special needs. The SEC should not be further empowered to use its "raised eyebrow" regulatory powers as a vehicle to federalize corporate law. For all of these reasons, the NYSE should reject the Committee's proposals and leave development of corporate governance to state law and market forces.
Protein Kinase C Upregulates Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 and Leukocyte-Endothelium Interactions in Hyperglycemia via Activation of Endothelial Expressed Calpain

Objective— We tested the hypothesis of a role for the calcium-dependent protease calpain in the endothelial dysfunction induced by hyperglycemic activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Methods and Results— Chronic hyperglycemia with insulin deficiency (type 1 diabetes) was induced in rats by streptozotocin. Total PKC and calpain activities, along with activity and expression level of the 2 endothelial-expressed calpains isoforms, μ- and m-calpain, were measured in vascular tissue homogenates by enzymatic assays and Western blot analysis, respectively. Intravital microscopy was used to measure and correlate leukocyte-endothelium interactions with calpain activity in the microcirculation. Expression levels and endothelial localization of the inflammatory adhesion molecule intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were studied by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence, respectively. The mechanistic role of hyperglycemia alone in the process of PKC-induced calpain activation and actions was also investigated. We found that in the type 1 diabetic vasculature, PKC selectively upregulates the activity of the μ-calpain isoform. Mechanistic studies confirmed a role for hyperglycemia and PKCβ in this process. The functional implications of PKC-induced calpain activation were upregulation of endothelial expressed intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and leukocyte-endothelium interactions. Conclusion— Our results uncover the role of μ-calpain in the endothelial dysfunction of PKC. Calpain may represent a novel molecular target for the treatment of PKC-associated diabetic vascular disease.
The Drosophila Fragile X Gene Negatively Regulates Neuronal Elaboration and Synaptic Differentiation

Abstract Fragile X Syndrome (FraX) is the most common form of inherited mental retardation. The disease is caused by the silencing of the fragile X mental retardation 1 ( fmr1 ) gene, which encodes the RNA binding translational regulator FMRP [1–4]. In FraX patients and fmr1 knockout mice, loss of FMRP causes denser and morphologically altered postsynaptic dendritic spines [5–7]. Previously, we established a Drosophila FraX model and showed that dFMRP acts as a negative translational regulator of Futsch/MAP1B and negatively regulates synaptic branching and structural elaboration in the peripheral neuromuscular junction (NMJ) [8]. Here, we investigate the role of dFMRP in the central brain, focusing on the mushroom body (MB), the learning and memory center [9, 10]. In MB neurons, dFMRP bidirectionally regulates multiple levels of structural architecture, including process formation from the soma, dendritic elaboration, axonal branching, and synaptogenesis. Drosophila fmr1 ( dfmr ) null mutant neurons display more complex architecture, including overgrowth, overbranching, and abnormal synapse formation. In contrast, dFMRP overexpression simplifies neuronal structure, causing undergrowth, underbranching, and loss of synapse differentiation. Studies of ultrastructural dfmr mutant neurons reveal enlarged and irregular synaptic boutons with dense accumulation of synaptic vesicles. Taken together, these data show that dFMRP is a potent negative regulator of neuronal architecture and synaptic differentiation in both peripheral and central nervous systems.
Co-training for predicting emotions with spoken dialogue data

Natural Language Processing applications often require large amounts of annotated training data, which are expensive to obtain. In this paper we investigate the applicability of Co-training to train classifiers that predict emotions in spoken dialogues. In order to do so, we have first applied the wrapper approach with Forward Selection and Naive Bayes, to reduce the dimensionality of our feature set. Our results show that Co-training can be highly effective when a good set of features are chosen.
Follistatin promotes adipocyte differentiation, browning, and energy metabolism

Follistatin (Fst) functions to bind and neutralize the activity of members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily. Fst has a well-established role in skeletal muscle, but we detected significant Fst expression levels in interscapular brown and subcutaneous white adipose tissue, and further investigated its role in adipocyte biology. Fst expression was induced during adipogenic differentiation of mouse brown preadipocytes and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) as well as in cold-induced brown adipose tissue from mice. In differentiated MEFs from Fst KO mice, the induction of brown adipocyte proteins including uncoupling protein 1, PR domain containing 16, and PPAR gamma coactivator-1α was attenuated, but could be rescued by treatment with recombinant FST. Furthermore, Fst enhanced thermogenic gene expression in differentiated mouse brown adipocytes and MEF cultures from both WT and Fst KO groups, suggesting that Fst produced by adipocytes may act in a paracrine manner. Our microarray gene expression profiling of WT and Fst KO MEFs during adipogenic differentiation identified several genes implicated in lipid and energy metabolism that were significantly downregulated in Fst KO MEFs. Furthermore, Fst treatment significantly increases cellular respiration in Fst-deficient cells. Our results implicate a novel role of Fst in the induction of brown adipocyte character and regulation of energy metabolism.
Structural and productivity change in US agriculture, 1950–1982

This paper tests whether structural change in US agriculture is an important channel to TFP growth and evaluates the relative impact of (i) public research and education policies, (ii) private R&D and market forces, and (iii) government farm programs on structural change. We specify a structural econometric model, fit it to US state aggregate data, 1953–1982, and use the associated reduced-form model to perform counter-factual policy simulations. The findings include: structural change is a channel to TFP growth in both crop and livestock subsector, i.e. specialization, size, and part-time farming do impact TFP, holding other variables constant. Public R&D and education have been at least as important as private R&D and market forces for changing livestock specialization, farm size, and farmers’ off-farm work participation over the study period, but private R&D and market forces have been relatively more important for crop specialization. Changes in farm commodity programs had little impact on farm structure over these study period. Overall, we conclude that if public R&D and education policies had been unchanged at their 1950 values over 1950–1982, major structural changes in US agriculture would have occurred anyway. The forces of private R&D and market forces were at work, including a decline in the price of machinery services and agricultural chemicals, relative to the farm wage.
Fenretinide-induced apoptosis of Huh-7 hepatocellular carcinoma is retinoic acid receptor β dependent

Background Retinoids are used to treat several types of cancer; however, their effects on liver cancer have not been fully characterized. To investigate the therapeutic potential of retinoids on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the present study evaluates the apoptotic effect of a panel of natural and synthetic retinoids in three human HCC cell lines as well as explores the underlying mechanisms.
On synthesizing systolic arrays from recurrence equations with linear dependencies

We present a technique for synthesizing systolic architectures from Recurrence Equations. A class of such equations (Recurrence Equations with Linear Dependencies) is defined and the problem of mapping such equations onto a two dimensional architecture is studied. We show that such a mapping is provided by means of a linear allocation and timing function. An important result is that under such a mapping the dependencies remain linear. After obtaining a two-dimensional architecture by applying such a mapping, a systolic array can be derived if the communication can be spatially and temporally localized. We show that a simple test consisting of finding the zeroes of a matrix is sufficient to determine whether this localization can be achieved by pipelining and give a construction that generates the array when such a pipelining is possible. The technique is illustrated by automatically deriving a well known systolic array for factoring a band matrix into lower and upper triangular factors.
Rapacuronium recovery characteristics and infusion requirements during inhalation versus propofol‐based anaesthesia

We examined the effect of four maintenance anaesthetics on the neuromuscular blocking activity and spontaneous recovery characteristics after a short-term infusion of rapacuronium. Eighty ASA I–III adult patients undergoing elective surgery were studied at four centres. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol 1.5–2.5 mg kg−1 and fentanyl 1–2 μg kg−1, followed by a bolus of rapacuronium 1.5 mg kg−1. The patients were randomized to receive either desflurane (2–4% end-tidal, ET), sevoflurane (0.75–1.5% ET), isoflurane (0.4–0.8% ET), or a propofol infusion (75–150 μg kg−1 min−1) for maintenance of anaesthesia in combination with nitrous oxide (60–70%) in oxygen. When the first twitch (T1) of a train-of-four stimulus (using the TOF Guard® accelerometer) returned to 5%, an infusion of rapacuronium was started at 3 mg kg−1 h−1 and adjusted to maintain T1/T0 at 10%. The duration of infusion lasted between 45 and 60 min, and the average infusion rates of rapacuronium were similar in all groups, ranging from 1.6 to 2.5 mg kg−1 h−1. There were no significant differences among the groups in the times for T1/T0 to return to 25%, 75% or 90%, or for T4/T1 to return to 70% and 80% upon discontinuation of the infusion. When potent inhalation anaesthetics are used in clinically relevant concentrations for maintenance of anaesthesia, the neuromuscular recovery profile of rapacuronium administered as a variable-rate infusion for up to 1 h is similar to that found with a propofol-based anaesthetic technique.
Augmented Rififylin Is a Risk Factor Linked to Aberrant Cardiomyocyte Function, Short-QT Interval and Hypertension

Using congenic strains of the Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rat introgressed with genomic segments from the normotensive Lewis rat, a blood pressure quantitative trait locus was previously mapped within 104 kb on chromosome 10. The goal of the current study was to conduct extensive phenotypic studies and to further fine-map this locus. At 14 weeks of age, the blood pressure of the congenic rats fed a low-salt diet was significantly higher by 47 mm Hg (P<0.001) compared with that of the S rat. A time-course study showed that the blood pressure effect was significant from very young ages of 50 to 52 days (13 mm Hg; P<0.01). The congenic strain implanted with electrocardiography transmitters demonstrated shorter-QT intervals and increased heart rate compared with S rats (P<0.01). The average survival of the congenic strain was shorter (134 days) compared with the S rat (175 days; P<0.0007). The critical region was narrowed to <42.5 kb containing 171 variants and a single gene, rififylin. Both the mRNA and protein levels of rififylin were significantly higher in the hearts of the congenic strain. Overexpression of rififylin is known to delay endocytic recycling. Endocytic recycling of fluorescently labeled holotransferrin from cardiomyocytes of the congenic strain was slower than that of S rats (P<0.01). Frequency of cardiomyocyte beats in the congenic strain (62±9 bpm) was significantly higher than that of the S rat (24±6 bpm; P<0.001). Taken together, our study provides evidence to suggest that early perturbations in endocytic recycling caused by the overexpression of Rffl is a novel physiological mechanism potentially underlying the development of hypertension.
Inhibition of rat parotid ecto-ATPase activity

Abstract The inhibitory profile of several known and suspected ecto-ATPase inhibitors was compared on ecto-ATPase activity in rat parotid plasma membranes. Those chemicals with high IC50 (above 130 μM) were the nucleotides α,β-methylene ATP, β,γ-methylene ATP, 2-methylthio ATP, inosine triphosphate, 5′-p-fluorosulphonylbenzoyladenosine, the sulphonates, 1-amino-2-naphthol-4-sulphonic acid, Coomassie brilliant blue G, and the stilbene disulphonates, DIDS and SITS. Those agents with low IC50 were: Coomassie brilliant blue R (114 μM), ATPγS (49 μM), suramin (72 μM) and Reactive blue 2 (28 μM). The last three inhibitors have similar potencies as inhibitors of ATP hydrolysis by whole parotid acinar cells. ARL67156, a selective inhibitor of ecto-ATPase, had an IC50 of approx. 120 μM. Suramin displayed non-competitive inhibition of ecto-ATPase whereas the inhibitory effects of ATPγS and Reactive blue 2 were curvilinear on Dixon plots. These results define the effects of various agents on ecto-ATPase in an exocrine tissue that has been shown to respond to extracellular ATP.
A simple two-switch cycloconverter for variable frequency low speed applications

A two-switch cycloconverter circuit that converts single-phase alternating current into an effective three-phase alternating current is presented. Since this design features only two bidirectional switches, it has a simple and inexpensive construction. The design requires a control circuit, which assures that the average output voltage on its two switches is sinusoidal with a 60 degrees difference in phase. The results of some simulation studies and an experimental model of the two-switch cycloconverter are discussed. Some problems and potential areas of circuit improvement are presented. >
Writing in the margins: Brazilian hip-hop as an educational project

Hip-hop culture's force as part of globalization in the fields of economics, popular aesthetics, and identity politics has been well documented. However, its articulation to educational practices has received less attention. This article draws upon fieldwork conducted in 1999 and 2002 in a youth correctional facility to analyze how state institutional practices mediate hip-hop's educational project in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This analysis historicizes culture and education as they pertain to popular culture and the state in urban Brazil, and evaluates hip-hop's pedagogical force in the local workshop setting.
Homeomorphic Manifold Analysis (HMA): Untangling Complex Manifolds

Abstract Many problems in the fields of computer vision deal with image data that is embedded in very high-dimensional spaces. However, a typical assumption behind many algorithms is that the data lie on a low-dimensional manifold. Modeling the visual manifolds is quite challenging. Typically, image manifolds are neither smooth nor differentiable. This chapter presents the theory and applications of the concept of homeomorphic manifold analysis (HMA). Given a set of topologically equivalent manifolds, HMA models the variation in their geometries in the space of functions that map between a topologically equivalent common representation and each of them. This setting is suitable to different problems in visual learning. In particular, this chapter focuses on the applications of the framework to modeling the manifold of human motion in the image space.
Agile way of educating

We have investigated whether Agile practices can be applied as a pedagogical approach to derive benefit in the areas of encouraging students to take responsibility for their learning (self managed learning), continuous improvement through reflection, alternative approaches for grading, increased engagement by learners, and more effective data collection and assessment of outcomes. Agile is an umbrella term for values, principles and practices applied to the process of software development. The Agile movement has aimed to develop a new and better culture within the software development community and has seen an increased rate of adoption within corporate settings. The goal of this workshop is to help participants explore how Agile development, a management technique borne out of the software industry, can not only change the way that students engage in project-based and team-based course projects, but also transform the way that we educate our students.
Calcium and free radicals in hypoxia/reoxygenation injury of renal epithelial cells

Hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R) generate oxygen free radicals that result in renal cell injury. We tested the roles of calcium and calmodulin in mediating xanthine oxidase-derived oxygen free radical production during H/R. Lowering extracellular Ca2+ attenuated lethal cell injury. H/R increased superoxide radical production over basal levels, whereas removing extracellular Ca2+ before hypoxia decreased superoxide radical production to basal levels. Pretreatment with either 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride or thapsigargin, to inhibit release or deplete stores of intracellular Ca2+, did not affect injury following H/R. Ionomycin increased lactate dehydrogenase release during H/R but did not increase superoxide radical to levels greater than that observed for H/R alone. The calmodulin inhibitors trifluoperazine, calmidazolium, or N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide decreased cell injury to varying degrees. Trifluoperazine also decreased superoxide radical production during H/R and was shown to inhibit the conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase. Cell injury and superoxide radical production correlated with cytosolic free Ca2+ during H/R as determined with the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluoroprobe indo 1. Cytosolic free Ca2+ increased slightly during hypoxia and showed a dramatic increase as soon as cells were reoxygenated. Cells incubated in a Ca(2+)-free medium actually showed a small decrease in intracellular Ca2+ despite H/R. In summary, Ca2+ derived from extracellular sources promoted superoxide radical production and renal cell injury by a calmodulin-dependent conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase, a major source of oxygen free radicals during H/R.
Spin groups of super metrics and a theorem of Rogers

Abstract We derive the canonical forms of super Riemannian metrics and the local isometry groups of such metrics. For certain super metrics we also compute the simply connected covering groups of the local isometry groups and interpret these as local spin groups of the super metric. Super metrics define reductions O S g of the relevant frame bundle. When principal bundles S ˜ g exist with structure group the simply connected covering group G of the structure group of O S g , representations of G define vector bundles associated to S ˜ g whose sections are “spinor fields” associated with the super metric g . Using a generalization of a Theorem of Rogers, which is itself one of the main results of this paper, we show that for super metrics we call body reducible, each such simply connected covering group G is a super Lie group with a conventional super Lie algebra as its corresponding super Lie algebra. Some of our results were known to DeWitt (1984) using formal Grassmann series and others were known by Rogers using finitely many Grassmann generators and passing to a direct limit. We work exclusively in the category of G ∞ supermanifolds with G ∞ mappings. Our supernumbers are infinite series of products of Grassmann generators subject to convergence in the l 1 norm introduced by Rogers (1980, 2007).
Growth Response of Lactobacillus casei (ATCC 7469) to Riboflavin, FMN, and FAD.

SummaryThe growth responses, measured turbidimetrically, of Lactobacillus casei (ATCC 7469) to riboflavin, FMN, and FAD differ significantly from each other. In the assay of acid extracts of tissues for flavin content, the use of FMN, as the standard, is recommended.
EFFECT OF HYPERTONIC MANNITOL ON ACCUMULATION RATE AND DISTRIBUTION OF ALBUMIN IN THE RENAL PAPILLA.

SummaryMeasurements were made of the size of the exchangeable albumin pool and the plasma flow rate in the papilla of dogs during hypertonic mannitol diuresis. The former, in ml plasma/100 g tissue, was determined by comparison of labeled albumin in the papilla with that in peripheral plasma. The latter was computed by determining the I131 albumin accumulation rate in ml plasma/0.25 min/100 g tissue. The results were compared with similar studies made in hydropenic dogs.The data are interpreted to support the concept of an extravascular location of albumin in the renal papilla. In addition, it appears that the reported washout of the osmolality gradient and the increased average velocity of plasma flow in this region are probably due to increased reabsorption of fluid into the vasa recta rather than to an increase in inflow of blood to the medulla.
MELK inhibitor, novel molecular targeted therapeutics for human cancer stem cells.

(2013). MELK inhibitor, novel molecular targeted therapeutics for human cancer stem cells. Cell Cycle: Vol. 12, No. 11, pp. 1655-1656.
Abstract 5007: Delineating human fetal CNS stem cell hierarchy reveals a progenitor cell of origin for human Gliobastoma Multiforme.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most common and highly aggressive human brain tumor. Even with great advancement of surgical procedures and treatment regimens with radiation and chemotherapy, malignant gliomas remain incurable. This is due to their resistance to all conventional therapies and the diffuse infiltrative nature of the tumor cells, which makes complete tumor resection impossible. One of the major difficulties for the identification of the cell of origin for gliomas is the complex cellular composition of this disease. It is now hypothesized that the different subtypes of high-grade glioma may have different cell of origin and in mouse models it has been shown that the cell of origin resides within the progenitor populations. In order to identify the cell of origin we decided to first dissect out the various stages of CNS stem cell differentiation. After testing a panel of 34 antibodies to prospectively isolate neurospheres forming cells from human fetal brain tissue we identified a panel of four antibodies (i.e CD15, Notch1, EGFR, and CD90). Subpopulations of cells derived after FACS were analyzed for single cell lineage potency and the ability to generate neurospheres. Using an in-vitro limiting dilution assay, we ascertained that double-positive (DP; CD15+Notch1+EGFR-CD90-)) populations have the highest frequency of self-renewing cells, followed by quadruple-positive (QP) populations (CD15+Notch1+EGFR-CD90-). In-vitro differentiation assays reveal both DP and QP to be multipotent in nature however serial passaging showed that only the DP cells have a consistent self-renewing capacity, whereas QP derived cells were unable to survive after 5-6 passages. In glioma samples however we observed by limiting dilution and serial passaging assays that the tumorsphere forming frequency was predominant in the QP population and not in the DP populations. Furthermore the GBM derived DP cells serially passaged if grown under normal neural stem cell growth condition suggesting that this population is still at a pre-malignant state. In-vivo tumorigenic assay via orthotopic implation of as few as a 1000 cells into mouse brain showed significantly higher tumor formation from the QP cells and not in the DP cells. Taken together our data suggests the presence of “normal” or pre-malignant stem cells in glioblastoma, which suggests a possible mechanism of relapse. These pre-malignant cells could comprise a cellular reservoir that may need to be targeted for future therapies. Citation Format: Siddhartha S. Mitra, Sharareh Gholamin, Abdullah Feroze, Samuel H. Cheshier, Irving L. Weissman. Delineating human fetal CNS stem cell hierarchy reveals a progenitor cell of origin for human Gliobastoma Multiforme. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5007. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5007
Investigation of Inhibitory Potency of BHQ Derivatives as SERCA Inhibitors to use as Potential Drugs as well as Tools to Study the SERCA Function: Binding Free Energy Computation using FEP/MD Simulations

Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase (SERCA) is an integral membrane C2+ ion pump that play a vital role in skeletal muscle contraction/relaxation and signal transduction by pumping Ca2+ ions into intracellular storage compartments while transporting protons in the opposite direction. Most SERCA inhibitors bind to its E2 conformation, thereby blocking the conformational change to the E1 form, which is a step necessary for the catalytic cycle. We investigate the interactions between SERCA and its highly potent allosteric inhibitor: di-tert butylhydroquinone (BHQ) and its derivatives with diverse chemical and structural groups, using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We effectively simulate the ligand bound active spherical region with explicit molecular dynamics while the rest of the system is treated with implicit solvent model known as generalized boundary solvent potential (GSBP). Our goal is to compute the absolute binding free energy of BHQ derivatives by using the all-atom free energy perturbation molecular dynamics (FEP/MD) simulations. This FEP/MD method involve a sequence of intermediate alchemical steps that restrain the translation, orientation, and conformation of the ligand as well as sequential steps during which the ligand-surrounding interactions are turned “on” and “off”. These features are implemented to improve the accuracy and enhance the convergence of the free energy calculations. The force field for the BHQ derivatives are automatically generated by the CHARMM additive CGenFF force field and later optimized by using quantum computations to obtain a good compatibility with the CHARMM force field, which simulates biopolymers effectively. BHQ ligand structure files are obtained from PDB without modification. Information gained from these simulations will guide the future synthesis of novel compounds with improved properties for SERCA inhibition.
Rapid and/or nondestructive quality evaluation methods for potatoes

Several non-invasive techniques, studied for quality evaluation of potatoes, are reviewed.The application of non-destructive methods on potato sorting are discussed in detail.Quality estimation studies of French fries and chips via electronic measurements are discussed.Discussion of the state of art commercially available systems potato sorting systems is provided.Possibility of applying emerging technologies in potatoes postharvest and industry is studied. Potato, with its several processed products, has a major rank on the human diet in many countries. Among electronic-based methods that have been used for tracking and rapidly measuring the quality attributes of raw and processed potatoes (more specifically: French fry and chip), and which are reviewed herein, vision and spectroscopic systems have shown the most promising applicability, robustness, and stable performance. Detection of external and internal defects associated with potatoes during harvesting and handling operations has been made possible using nondestructive techniques. Commercial electronic systems used for sorting potato tubers and products are being incorporated into the potato industry and are included and discussed in detail related to operation theories and performance. The need for healthy food requires more attention for detecting harmful chemicals in fried products such as acrylamide which itself demands continuous tracking of sugar during storage and in French fries or chips which encourages the need for constitute-based sorting for potatoes. Hyperspectral imaging is one of the most recently emerging tools and provides advantages of vision and spectroscopic systems and can be used, after speeding up image acquisition time, in prediction of processing-related constituents as well as defects detection. Moreover other noninvasive techniques, such as NMR and X-ray CT, have shown the potential for successful application in quality monitoring of fruits and vegetables with expected possibility for application in potatoes.
Feeding America’s Cities: Putting Food on the Table in the Twenty-First Century

Food is a major preoccupation of all animals, and people are no exception. The number of magazines, whole sections of newspapers, and shows on television attest to our delight in food and cooking. An incredible diversity of restaurants, with many celebrity chefs, offer their services in the U.S. today. There are probably more people who know who Emeril or Rachel Ray are than could name a majority of the justices on the U.S. Supreme Court or a single Nobel Prize winner.
Predictors of Liver Transplant Patient Survival.

Objective:Liver transplantation is a costly and risky procedure, representing 25 050 procedures worldwide in 2013, with 6729 procedures performed in the United States in 2014. Considering the scarc...
Ernst Jockers, Soziale Polarität in Goethes Klassik: Philadelphia: The Author, 1942. Pp. II, 67

(1944). Ernst Jockers, Soziale Polaritat in Goethes Klassik. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 157-157.
Novel Browning Agents, Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Potentials of Brown Adipose Tissue

Nonshivering thermogenesis is the process of biological heat production in mammals and is primarily mediated by brown adipose tissue (BAT). Through ubiquitous expression of uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) on the mitochondrial inner membrane, BAT displays uncoupling of fuel combustion and ATP production in order to dissipate energy as heat. Because of its crucial role in regulating energy homeostasis, ongoing exploration of BAT has emphasized its therapeutic potential in addressing the global epidemics of obesity and diabetes. The recent appreciation that adult humans possess functional BAT strengthens this prospect. Furthermore, it has been identified that there are both classical brown adipocytes residing in dedicated BAT depots and “beige” adipocytes residing in white adipose tissue depots that can acquire BAT-like characteristics in response to environmental cues. This review aims to provide a brief overview of BAT research and summarize recent findings concerning the physiological, cellular, and developmental characteristics of brown adipocytes. In addition, some key genetic, molecular, and pharmacologic targets of BAT/Beige cells that have been reported to have therapeutic potential to combat obesity will be discussed.
The Role of Imaging in Clinical Stroke Scales That Predict Functional Outcome: A Systematic Review.

Background and Purpose:Numerous stroke scales have been developed to predict functional outcomes following acute ischemic stroke. The goal of this study was to summarize functional outcome scores in stroke that incorporate neuroimaging with those that don’t incorporate neuroimaging.Methods:Searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and the Cochrane Library Database from inception to January 23, 2015. Additional records were identified by employing the “Cited by” and “View References” features in Scopus. We included studies that described stroke prognosis models or scoring systems that predict functional outcome based on clinical and/or imaging data available on presentation. Score performance was evaluated based on area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).Results:A total of 3300 articles were screened, yielding 14 scores that met inclusion criteria. Half (7) of the scores included neuroimaging as a predictor variable. Neuroimaging parameters included infarct size on magnetic...
Towards a framework for selection of supervisory control for commercial buildings: HVAC system energy efficiency

This paper develops and utilizes an optimization based framework to investigate the maximal energy efficiency potentially attainable by HVAC system operation in a non-predictive context. Performance is evaluated relative to the existing state of the art set-point reset strategies. The expected efficiency increase driven by operation constraints relaxations is evaluated.
In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization of Premixed PMMA-CaP Composite Bone Cements

Acrylic bone cements, although successful in the field of orthopedics, suffer from a lack of bioactivity, not truly integrating with surrounding bone. Bioactive fixation is expected to enhance cement performance because of the natural interlocking and bonding with bone, which can improve the augmentative potential of the material in applications such as vertebroplasty (VP). In a recent study, two composite cements (PMMA-hydroxyapatite and PMMA-brushite) showed promising results demonstrating no deterioration in rheological and mechanical properties after CaP filler addition. In this study, the dynamic properties of the cements were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The hypothesis was that these composite cements will provide osseointegration around the implanted cement and increase new bone formation, thus decreasing the risk of bone structural failure. The effects of CaP elution were thus analyzed in vitro using these cements. Mass-loss, pore formation, and mechanical changes were tracked after cement i...
P14 Therapeutic benefit of mepolizumab in the national institute of health and care excellence (nice) sub-population– a post-hoc meta-analysis of phase iib/iii trials

Rationale NICE provide evidence-based recommendations and guidance to the NHS regarding newly licensed drugs. Positive guidance for the use of mepolizumab, an anti IL-5 mAb, was issued for adults with severe refractory eosinophilic asthma in a sub-population who 1) have had eosinophils of ≥300 cells per microlitre (0.30 × 10 9 /L) within the previous twelve months, and 2) have had ≥4 asthma exacerbations needing systemic corticosteroids in the previous 12 months, or have had continuous oral corticosteroids (of at least the equivalent of prednisolone 5 mg/day) for six months previously. A post-hoc meta-analysis of 3 pivotal phase III studies was done to inform healthcare professionals’ understanding of mepolizumab’s efficacy in this subgroup. Methods Three randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled studies (DREAM [NCT01000506], MENSA [NCT01691521], SIRIUS [NCT01691508]), using the licensed 100 mg SC dose or the bioequivalent 75 mg IV dose of mepolizumab, were identified. Both treatment arms were combined for analysis purposes. Data for key outcome measures (exacerbations, asthma control, and health-related quality of life) included within these trials was analysed in the sub-population and combined using the inverse-variance method. Data from SIRIUS was included in a sensitivity analysis due to differences in design and inclusion criteria from DREAM and MENSA. Results 228 patients were included in the meta-analysis from DREAM and MENSA, 289 including SIRIUS. The mean patient age was 52.1 and 51.4 years, respectively, with a respective 60% and 61% female. In the meta-analysis of the UK NICE-specific subpopulation of DREAM and MENSA, a 53% (95% CI: 0.36, 0.62; p Conclusion In the NICE sub-population, mepolizumab showed clinically meaningful and statistically significant effectiveness. These Results aim to inform UK healthcare professionals’ understanding of the likely treatment effect of mepolizumab in this sub-population. Funding GSK (NCT01000506, NCT01691521, NCT01691508).
Flipping Tech-Enhanced, Content-Based EAP Courses with Online Content

Emerging technology is now providing tremendous learning content online, which allows more diverse and interactive content-based EAP instructions at universities. In the article (Han 2015), I demonstrate that Strayer’s (2007) tech-advanced theoretical framework of flipped learning is an ideal platform where Nation’s (2007) four strands approach can be effectively implemented in ESL settings. As a “platform for successful language learning,” the course resulted in “the significant development of learner autonomy” (Han 2015, p. 98). Based on this experience, I attempted to flip my content-based EAP course at an American liberal arts college in Spring 2014 by using high-quality online content. I observed positive student learning outcomes which resulted in the significant development of content and language mastery among the students, as well as learner autonomy. By sharing the course structure, content, and its implementation, this chapter aims to provide practical suggestions that can be implemented immediately to current content-based EAP programs in higher education settings.
Individual Versus Ecological Analyses

Analyses of disease maps frequently require the use of an ecological approach, partially because aggregates of cases allow such measures as rates to be computed. In addition, group averages of individual measures often are more readily available, tend to reduce impacts of measurement error, and help to preserve the confidentiality of individuals in each aggregation group. Given this context, the resulting problematic issue concerns drawing sound inferences about individuals from such grouped data. The general drawback to this type of inference is known as the ecological fallacy: most often a difference exists between an ecological regression and the regression based upon individuals underlying it (i.e., aggregate-level relationships do not necessarily hold at the individual level).
Integrating Corporate Social Responsibility Awareness Into a Retail Management Course

Both students and industry are demanding that marketing instructors incorporate discussions of environmental and social responsibility into their courses. Marketing educators play a critical role i...
Integrated Scheduling and Control in Discrete-time with Dynamic Parameters and Constraints

Abstract Integrated scheduling and control (SC) seeks to unify the objectives of the various layers of optimization in manufacturing. This work investigates combining scheduling and control using a nonlinear discrete-time formulation, utilizing the full nonlinear process model throughout the entire horizon. This discrete-time form lends itself to optimization with time-dependent constraints and costs. An approach to combined SC is presented, along with sample pseudo-binary variable functions to ease the computational burden of this approach. An initialization strategy using feedback linearization, nonlinear model predictive control, and continuous-time scheduling optimization is presented. The formulation is applied with a generic continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) system in open-loop simulations over a 48-h horizon and a sample closed-loop implementation. The value of time-based parameters is demonstrated by applying cooling constraints and dynamic energy costs of a sample diurnal cycle, enabling demand response via combined scheduling and control.
The natural history of untreated microprolactinomas

The development of radioimmunoassay (RIA) for prolactin (PRL) and sensitive high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) has resulted in documentation of large numbers of microprolactinomas (microPRL). To try to define the rate and prevalence of tumor growth, the authors performed serial HRCT scans in 38 untreated patients, an average of 31.7 months apart. In no patient, including two patients with exuberant rises in PRL, was there any evidence of subtle tumor growth. The authors conclude that the majority of patients with microPRL have a benign course, with tumor growth occurring, if at all, over a period of years.
Self-Organizing ITL Principles for Unsupervised Learning

Chapter 1 presented a synopsis of information theory to understand its foundations and how it affected the field of communication systems. In a nutshell, mutual information characterizes the fundamental compromise of maximum rate for error-free information transmission (the channel capacity theorem) as well as the minimal information that needs to be sent for a given distortion (the rate distortion theorem). In essence given the statistical knowledge of the data and these theorems the optimal communication system emerges, or self-organizes from the data.
T Helper Differentiation Proceeds Through Stat1-Dependent, Stat4-Dependent and Stat4-Independent Phases

The effort to understand Th1 and Th2 development has included defining the specific signals that determine phenotype fate upon primary T cell activation by antigen. Numerous parameters of T cell activation appear to influence the overall balance of Th1/Th2 phenotype development, including the antigen presenting cells (APCs) used for T cell priming (Chang et al. 1990), antigen dose (Parish and Liew 1972; Hosken et al. 1995; Murray et al. 1992; Constant et al. 1995), antigen structure or particularly the affinity for the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and T cell receptor (TCR) (Murray et al. 1992; Pfeiffer et al. 1991), levels of costimulation during T cell priming (Freeman et al. 1995; Lenschow et al. 1995; Kuchroo et al. 1995), genetic background (Murphy et al. 1994; Kubin et al. 1994), pathogen-derived materials, and cytokines present in the priming milieu (Le Gros et al. 1990; Swain et al. 1990, 1991; Sadick et al. 1990; Maggi et al. 1992; Manetti et al. 1993; Seder et al. 1993; Sypek et al. 1993; Chatelain et al. 1992; Belosevic et al. 1989; Hsieh et al. 1995; Howard 1986; Heinzel et al. 1989; Scott et al. 1988; Locksley and Scott 1991). While any of these parameters can alter the overall Th1/Th2 developmental balance, some appear to act directly to deliver final Thl/Th2 inducing signals to the T cell, while others appear to act indirectly, for example through modifying APC function, other innate immune cell activity, or the levels of Thl/Th2 inducing cytokines. The cytokines interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-4 act directly on receptors expressed by activated T cells, through specific STAT factors, to deliver direct differentiation-inducing signals (Kaplan et al. 1996a,b; Thierfelder et al. 1996). IL-4 activation of Stat6 is necessary for IL-4-induced Th2 phenotype development (Le Gros et al. 1990; Swain et al. 1990; Maggi et al. 1992; Chatelain et al. 1992; Kaplan et al. 1996a; Kopf et al. 1993; Kuhn et al. 1991; Betz and Fox 1990; Hou et al. 1994; Quelle et al. 1995; Shimoda et al. 1996; Takeda et al. 1996), and IL-12 activation of Stat4 is necessary for Th1 development (Kaplan et al. 1996b; Thierfelder et al. 1996; Jacobson et al. 1995; Bacon et al. 1995; Mattner et al. 1996; Magram et al. 1996; Szabo et al. 1995). While the molecular downstream targets of Stat6 and Stat4 for Th1/Th2 development are currently unknown, at present these two factors are the most proximal known signals controlling phenotype. It is unresolved at present through what mechanisms non-cytokine parameters influence Th1/Th2 balance, although it is likely that some may act by altering the initial levels of IL-4, IL-12 or interferon (IFN)-γ available to T cells during primary activation. Whether partial signaling through the TCR acts directly to induce Thl/Th2 developmental signals is an open issue at present. Changing antigen dose can cause apparent changes in phenotype development in vitro (Hosken et al. 1995). However, this effect was lost when IL-4 was neutralized, suggesting that cytokines are dominant in the hierarchy of these parameters.
In situ near infrared evanescent wave examination of surfactant adsorption on silica optical fibers

The use of composite materials has increased considerably in the past 30 years. However, many of the molecular level processes occurring in the interfacial region have yet to be investigated. In this regard, an in situ Fourier transform near infrared technique has been demonstrated herein. This technique utilizes a seven-fiber bundle to examine monolayer and sub-monolayer level surfactant adsorption at the silica optical fiber/solution interface. It is felt that this technique will greatly increase the knowledge of the processes involved in the improvement of mechanical properties of silane treated composites.
Anger, Aggression, and Violence in Love Triangles

Motives for anger and aggression in love triangles are discussed and then examined using homicide data and survey data from college students. We find that love triangles are a more important motive when females commit homicide than when males commit homicide. Females usually kill their lover while males usually kill their rival. Male attacks on male rivals reflect identity concerns, according to the college student data. Anger at both the partner and rival also depends on the assignment of blame. The aggrieved party may attack the partner or rival in order to gain retribution or deter future episodes.
Fetal hypothalamic transplants in the third ventricle of the adult rat brain. Correlative scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

Blocks of anterior hypothalamus were transplanted from 19 day-old fetuses of Wistar/Lewis rats into the third ventricle of adult male Brattleboro rats. Physiological changes in graft recipients and in sham-operated animals were monitored daily. Twenty days after surgery, the graft recipients and shamoperated animals were killed and their brains examined by correlative scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Host animals that exhibited both decreased polydipsia and increased urine concentration were found to have viable grafts within the third ventricle. The observed physiological changes suggested that synthesis and release of vasopressin occurred in the transplanted neurons. Grafts were well vascularized by vessels arising from the host hypothalamus. Neurons, with perikarya ranging from 8 to 30 μm in diameter, glial cells, and neurites were located throughout the transplants. A neurohemal contact zone, similar to that normally seen in the median eminence, could not be demonstrated in the grafts. The absence of complete glial and ependymal barriers indicates a relatively close association between cells in the transplants and the cerebrospinal fluid. A large increase in supraependymal neurons and their processes, including an eruption of neurons through the floor of the third ventricle in one animal, was observed in graft recipients but not in shamoperated animals.
What Are Our Goals in Teaching Research Methods to Public Administrators

AbstractThis essay argues against traditional topic-oriented research methods courses and focuses instead on one of our most important goals: the outcomes desired in public administrators' on-the-j...
X-Ray Scattering and Imaging Studies of Electrode Structure and Dynamics.

We will review structures and dynamics of electrode interfaces studied in situ using x-ray scattering and imaging techniques. The examples cover single-crystal and nanocrystal structures relevant to electrocatalytic activities, anodic oxidation and corrosion, aqueous dissolution reactions, surface reconstructions, and surface modifications by under potential deposition. The x-ray techniques include the widely used traditional surface x-ray scattering, such as crystal truncation rods and x-ray reflectivity, as well as recently developed resonance surface scattering, coherent surface x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy, coherent x-ray Bragg diffraction imaging, and surface ptychography. Results relevant to various electrochemical phenomena will be highlighted.