cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time-dependent evolution of 2D Mueller matrix elements

A novel Monte Carlo simulation algorithm is presented for modeling the time evolution of diffuse light backscattering in a highly turbid medium. The computational approach is based on the Mie scattering theory and uses the Stokes vector-Mueller matrix formalism for simulating the polarized light propagation. We applied the algorithm to calculate a time sequence of 2D Mueller matrices (time resolved two-dimensional polarization patterns) characterizing the temporal evolution of a scattering process in a turbid medium. The generated time-resolved 2D Mueller matrices are compared to time-resolved 2D Mueller matrices obtained experimentally [1].
Considerations for neural network hardware implementations

The requirements for neural network hardware possess unique fabrication difficulties for chip designers. Some of these difficulties involve the rapidly developing state of neural network theory. Another difficulty centers on the complexity of interconnections between neurons. Both semiconductor and optical implementation schemes are reviewed and examined with respect to practical implementation within the next several years. >
Sodium Exposure Induces Stroke in a Genetically Susceptible Model New Insights Into Early-Life Factors Modulating Adult Disease

Much progress has been made since Barker and colleagues first proposed that conditions in utero influence the susceptibility to disease later in life.1 The association between fetal growth retardation and adult hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus has been established by extensive epidemiology.2,3 It has also been recognized that in order to prevent pathogenic programming we need to identify and target specific maternal factors or conditions, and that maternal overnutrition, rather than undernutrition, is prevalent in the Western world. Several such factors have already been established (eg, maternal hypercholesterolemia,4–6 smoking,7 and diabetes mellitus8) and experimental models have been developed in which mechanisms and causal relationships of developmental programming can be investigated. Finally, the influence of maternal or environmental factors on adult disease is now widely accepted, and the expectation of a wave of cardiovascular disease in children of obese, hyperlipidemic, and diabetic mothers has led the US Congress and the National Institutes of Health to place great emphasis on the elucidation of specific risk factors (eg, in the National Children’s Study9). Animal models are key to identifying the mechanisms involved and finding preventive approaches that go beyond simple avoidance of risk during pregnancy or treatment of maternal dysmetabolic conditions. Article p 1501 In this regard, hypertension and stroke lag far behind. Although hypertension is a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease in adults, and fetal exposure to high salt concentrations promotes hypertension in offspring in both salt-sensitive and resistant rat strains,10,11 most of what we know about in utero modulation of hypertensive mechanisms comes from models of maternal hypercholesterolemia or obesity rather than hypertension. For example, maternal hypercholesterolemia and the ensuing increased oxidative stress not only promote atherogenesis but affect endothelial function, probably by interfering with nitric oxide–mediated vascular relaxation.12–14 Furthermore, endothelial …
Rapamycin Rescues ABT-737 Efficacy in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Overexpression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 is observed in the majority of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cases and is associated with resistance to chemotherapy. While targeting Bcl-2 in hematologic malignancies continues to show signs of promise, translating the BH3 mimetic ABT-737 (or ABT-263; navitoclax) to the clinic for solid tumors has remained problematic, with limited single-agent activity in early-phase clinical trials. Here, we used patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of SCLC to study ABT-737 resistance and demonstrated that responses to ABT-737 are short lived and coincide with decreases in HIF-1α-regulated transcripts. Combining the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin with ABT-737 rescued this resistance mechanism, was highly synergistic in vitro, and provided durable tumor regressions in vivo without notable hematologic suppression. In comparison, tumor regressions did not occur when ABT-737 was combined with etoposide, a gold-standard cytotoxic for SCLC therapy. Rapamycin exposure was consistently associated with an increase in the proapoptotic protein BAX, whereas ABT-737 caused dose-dependent decreases in BAX. As ABT-737 triggers programmed cell death in a BAX/BAK-dependent manner, we provide preclinical evidence that the efficacy of ABT-737 as a single agent is self-limiting in SCLC, but the addition of rapamycin can maintain or increase levels of BAX protein and markedly enhance the anticancer efficacy of ABT-737. These data have direct translational implications for SCLC clinical trials.
Host Cell Gene Expression during Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Latency and Reactivation and Effects of Targeting Genes That Are Differentially Expressed in Viral Latency

The existence of reservoirs of cells latently infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major obstacle to the elimination of HIV infection. We studied the changes in cellular gene expression that accompany the reactivation and completion of the lytic viral cycle in cell lines chronically infected with HIV-1. We found that several genes exhibited altered expression in the chronically infected cells compared to the uninfected parental cells prior to induction into lytic replication. A number of gene classes showed increased expression in the chronically infected cells, notably including genes encoding proteasomes, histone deacetylases, and many transcription factors. Following induction of the lytic replication cycle, we observed ordered, time-dependent changes in the cellular gene expression pattern. Approximately 1,740 genes, many of which fall into 385 known pathways, were differentially expressed (P < 0.001), indicating that completion of the HIV replication cycle is associated with distinct, temporally ordered changes in host cell gene expression. Maximum changes were observed in the early and intermediate phases of the lytic replication cycle. Since the changes in gene expression in chronically infected cells suggested that cells latently infected with HIV have a different gene expression profile than corresponding uninfected cells, we studied the expression profiles of three different chronically infected cell lines to determine whether they showed similar changes in common cellular genes and pathways. Thirty-two genes showed significant differential expression in all cell lines studied compared to their uninfected parental cell lines. Notable among them were cdc42 and lyn, which were downregulated and are required for HIV Nef binding and viral replication. Other genes previously unrelated to HIV latency or pathogenesis were also differentially expressed. To determine the effects of targeting products of the genes that were differentially expressed in latently infected cells, we treated the latently infected cells with a proteasome inhibitor, clastolactacystin-beta-lactone (CLBL), and an Egr1 activator, resveratrol. We found that treatment with CLBL and resveratrol stimulated lytic viral replication, suggesting that treatment of cells with agents that target cellular genes differentially expressed in latently infected cells can stimulate lytic replication. These findings may offer new insights into the interaction of the latently infected host cell and HIV and suggest therapeutic approaches for inhibiting HIV infection and for manipulating cells latently infected with HIV so as to trigger lytic replication.
Subject-specific computational modeling of DBS in the PPTg area.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) has been proposed to alleviate medically intractable gait difficulties associated with Parkinson’s disease. Clinical trials have shown somewhat variable outcomes, stemming in part from surgical targeting variability, modulating fiber pathways implicated in side effects, and a general lack of mechanistic understanding of DBS in this brain region. Subject-specific computational models of DBS are a promising tool to investigate the underlying therapy and side effects. In this study, a parkinsonian rhesus macaque was implanted unilaterally with an 8-contact DBS lead in the PPTg region. Fiber tracts adjacent to PPTg, including the oculomotor nerve, central tegmental tract, and superior cerebellar peduncle, were reconstructed from a combination of pre-implant 7T MRI, post-implant CT, and post-mortem histology. These structures were populated with axon models and coupled with a finite element model simulating the voltage distribution in the surrounding neural tissue during stimulation. This study introduces two empirical approaches to evaluate model parameters. First, incremental monopolar cathodic stimulation (20Hz, 90µs pulse width) was evaluated for each electrode, during which a right eyelid flutter was observed at the proximal four contacts (-1.0 to -1.4mA). These current amplitudes followed closely with model predicted activation of the oculomotor nerve when assuming an anisotropic conduction medium. Second, PET imaging was collected OFF-DBS and twice during DBS (two different contacts), which supported the model predicted activation of the central tegmental tract and superior cerebellar peduncle. Together, subject-specific models provide a framework to more precisely predict pathways modulated by DBS.
A Comparison of Diabetes Education Administered Through Telemedicine Versus in Person

OBJECTIVE —To determine whether diabetes education can be provided as effectively through telemedicine technology as through in-person encounters with diabetes nurse and nutrition educators. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —A total of 56 adults with diabetes were randomized to receive diabetes education in person (control group) or via telemedicine (telemedicine group) and were followed prospectively. The education consisted of three consultative visits with diabetes nurse and nutrition educators. The in-person and telemedicine groups were compared using measures of glycemic control (HbA1c) and questionnaires to assess patient satisfaction and psychosocial functioning as related to diabetes. Outcome measures were obtained at baseline, immediately after the completion of diabetes education, and 3 months after the third educational visit. RESULTS —Patient satisfaction was high in the telemedicine group. Problem Areas in Diabetes scale scores improved significantly with diabetes education (adjusted P < 0.05, before vs. immediately after education and 3 months after education), and the attainment of behavior-change goals did not differ between groups. With diabetes education, HbA1c improved from 8.6 ± 1.8% at baseline to 7.8 ± 1.5% immediately after education and 7.8 ± 1.8% 3 months after the third educational visit (unadjusted P < 0.001, P = 0.089 adjusted for BMI and age), with similar changes observed in the telemedicine and in-person groups. CONCLUSIONS —Diabetes education via telemedicine and in person was equally effective in improving glycemic control, and both methods were well accepted by patients. Reduced diabetes-related stress was observed in both groups. These data suggest that telemedicine can be successfully used to provide diabetes education to patients.
CytLEK1 is a regulator of plasma membrane recycling through its interaction with SNAP-25.

SNAP-25 is a component of the SNARE complex that is involved in membrane docking and fusion. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identify a novel interaction between SNAP-25 and cytoplasmic Lek1 (cytLEK1), a protein previously demonstrated to associate with the microtubule network. The binding domains within each protein were defined by yeast two-hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation, and colocalization studies. Confocal analyses reveal a high degree of colocalization between the proteins. In addition, the endogenous proteins can be isolated as a complex by immunoprecipitation. Further analyses demonstrate that cytLEK1 and SNAP-25 colocalize and coprecipitate with Rab11a, myosin Vb, VAMP2, and syntaxin 4, components of the plasma membrane recycling pathway. Overexpression of the SNAP-25–binding domain of cytLEK1, and depletion of endogenous Lek1 alters transferrin trafficking, consistent with a function in vesicle recycling. Taken together, our studies indicate that cytLEK1 is a link between recycling vesicles and the microtubule network through its association with SNAP-25. This interaction may play a key role in the regulation of the recycling endosome pathway.
Proton SEU cross sections derived from heavy-ion test data

Many papers have presented models for estimating proton single event upset (SEU) cross sections from heavy-ion test data, but all rigorous treatments to date are based on the sensitive volume (SV) model for charge collection. Computer simulations have already shown that, excluding devices utilizing physical boundaries for isolation, there is no well-defined SV. A more versatile description of charge collection, which includes the SV model as a special case, utilizes a charge-collection efficiency function that measures the effect that the location of ionization has on collected charge. This paper presents the first rigorous analysis that uses a generic charge collection efficiency function to relate proton to heavy-ion cross sections. The most practical result is an upper bound for proton SEU or single event latchup (SEL) cross sections, which requires no information about the charge-collection efficiency function, except that it exists. In addition, some models previously presented by others are reproduced (or, in one case, extended) by applying the general theory to special cases. The similarities and differences between a variety of models become clear when the models are recognized to be special cases or variations of this general theory.
Academic practice plans have been detrimental to the practice of assisted reproductive technology

The clinical practice of assisted reproductive technology combines cutting-edge medical science and its nearly immediate application to clinical practice, thus epitomizing academic medical practice. However, assisted reproductive technology programs find it difficult to remain within the academic setting, owing to the lack of flexibility of academic practice plans.
Quantifying cerebral changes in adolescence with MRI and deformation based morphometry.

Purpose: To identify and quantify structural changes in the maturing brain between childhood and adolescence. Materials and Methods: Two three-dimensional T1weighted MR volumes of the brain were acquired from eight subjects, 6 to 7 years apart. The subjects were 9 to 12 years old on the first scan and 15 to 19 years old on the second scan. The MR scans were converted to one millimeter isotropic volumes, globally aligned with a rigid transform, inhomogeneity corrected, and nonrigid deformation fields between the aligned volumes were calculated. Masks for brain regions were automatically warped with the deformation fields and volumes of brain regions calculated. Color overlays based on the nonrigid deformation fields were generated to identify local volume changes. Results: Gray matter decreased as much as 60% and white matter increased as much as 250%. The biggest gray matter changes were in the head of the caudates, areas of the putamens, and areas of the thalamus. Some of the biggest white matter changes were in the forceps minor, forceps major, and internal capsule.
State Adoption of Tax Policy New Data and New Insights

This article examines the factors that influence two important areas of state tax policy—the adoption of an income tax as well as whether a state permits deducting federal income taxes against stat...
Impacts of Biological Soil Crust Disturbance and Composition on C and N Loss from Water Erosion

In this study, we conducted rainfall simulation experiments in a cool desert ecosystem to examine the role of biological soil crust disturbance and composition on dissolved and sedi- ment C and N losses. We compared runoff and sediment C and N losses from intact late- successional dark cyanolichen crusts (intact) to both trampled dark crusts (trampled) and dark crusts where the top 1 cm of the soil surface was removed (scraped). In a second experiment, we compared C and N losses in runoff and sediments in early-successional light cyanobacterial crusts (light) to that of intact late-successional dark cyanolichen crusts (dark). A relatively high rainfall intensity of approximately 38 mm per 10-min period was used to ensure that at least some runoff was generated from all plots. Losses of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), and ammonium (NH4 + ) were significantly higher from trampled plots as com- pared to scraped and intact plots. Sediment C and N losses, which made up more than 98% of total nutrient losses in all treatments, were more than 4-fold higher from trampled plots relative to intact plots (sediment C g/m 2 , intact = 0.74, trampled = 3.47; sediment N g/m 2 , in- tact = 0.06, trampled = 0.28). In light crusts, DOC loss was higher relative to dark crusts, but no differences were observed in dissolved N. Higher sediment loss in light crusts relative to dark crusts resulted in 5-fold higher loss of sediment-bound C and N. Total C flux (sedi- ment + dissolved) was on the order of 0.9 and 7.9 g/m 2 for dark and light crusts, respectively. Sediment N concentration in the first minutes after runoff from light crusts was 3-fold higher than the percent N of the top 1 cm of soil, suggesting that even short-term runoff events may have a high potential for N loss due to the movement of sediments highly enriched in N. Total N loss from dark crusts was an order of magnitude lower than light crusts (dark = 0.06 g N/m 2 , light = 0.63 g/m 2 ). Overall, our results from the small plot scale (0.5 m 2 ) suggest that C and N losses are much lower from intact late-successional cyanolichen crusts as compared to recently disturbed or early-successional light cyanobacterial crusts.
Towards a robust ad hoc data correction approach that yields reliable atomic pair distribution functions from powder diffraction data

We examine the equations to obtain atomic pair distribution functions (PDFs) from x-ray, neutron and electron powder diffraction data with a view to obtaining reliable and accurate PDFs from the raw data using a largely ad hoc correction process. We find that this should be possible under certain circumstances that hold, to a reasonably good approximation, in many modern experiments. We describe a variational approach that could be applied to find data correction parameters that is highly automatable and should require little in the way of user inputs yet results in quantitatively reliable PDFs, modulo unknown scale factors that are often not of scientific interest when profile fitting models are applied to the data with scale factor as a parameter. We have worked on a particular implementation of these ideas and demonstrate that it yields PDFs that are of comparable quality to those obtained with the existing x-ray data reduction program PDFgetX2. This opens the door to rapid and highly automated processing of raw data to obtain PDFs.
Voice frequency tone signalling

In the Radio Communication field, the need for selective signalling devices has been recognized for the past several years, and many devices have been developed to satisfy the need. The devices which are described in this paper are the result of market analysis, experiment, and extensive field testing to make a system of voice-frequency, tone-signalling apparatus which fills substantially the need.
From rationalization to reflection: One teacher education law class

This paper describes the struggles of a teacher educator to acknowledge and honor her own liberal bias along with her students' more conservative perspectives as these emerge in an education law class for preservice teachers. It illustrates the author's ongoing transition from rationalization to reflection, as she considers both her students' responses to class assignments on speech and expression rights and end-of-course evaluations, and reflects on the possibility that generational and experiential differences, rather than "resistance," may be behind students' reactions. The author concludes that transparency on the part of the teacher educator is critical to allow (re)consideration of our beliefs in more reflective ways.
Applying Biophotonics Science and Technology in medicine and the life sciences

We present an overview of research at the NSF Center for Biophotonics Science & Technology (CBST) to develop and apply new optical tools and techniques for the advancement of basic science and to address critical challenges in medicine, including cancer, infectious disease, cardiovascular disease, stem cell research, and neuroscience.
Alcohol use as a determinant of HIV risk behaviors among recent Latino immigrants in south Florida.

Information on the association between alcohol use and Latino sexual risk behavior prior to immigrating to the United States is scarce. Given this population's rapid growth, documenting the influence of alcohol use on recent Latino immigrants' (RLI) sexual risk behaviors is essential. Data prior to immigration were retrospectively collected from 527 RLI ages 18–39 years. Quantity and frequency of alcohol use during the 90 days prior to immigration and pre-immigration sexual risk behaviors were measured. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationships. Males, single participants, and participants with higher incomes reported more alcohol use. Higher alcohol use was associated with lower condom use frequency, having sex under the influence, and more sexual partners among all participants. Results point to the importance of creating interventions targeting adult RLI men, given their likelihood to engage in alcohol consumption, sex under the influence of alcohol, and sex with multiple partners without using condoms.
Nannofossil diversity and equitability and fine-fraction δ13C across the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary at Walvis Ridge Leg 74, South Atlantic

Abstract The isotopic composition and diversity of nannofossils were studied in cores from the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Sites 525A, 527, 528, and 529 from the Walvis Ridge, South Atlantic to better understand the changes which occurred across the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary (K/T boundary). The stratigraphic range of the samples is from theArkhangelskiella cymbiformis Zone in the Maastrichtian to theHeliolithus kleinpelli Zone in the Danian. Nannofossil diversity was high (Shannon-Weaver diversity index,H=2.5−3) in the late Cretaceous, but decreased sharply (H≈1) across the K/T boundary. The δ13C values also decrease across the K/T boundary at the four sites, suggesting a reduction in surface productivity in the South Atlantic concomitant with the reduction in diversity. During the Danian, nannofossil diversity and δ13C show some recovery approximately 500–700 k.y. after the boundary event. However, not until 2.5 Ma after the boundary event did diversity become constant. Diversity values similar to those for the late Cretaceous were not attained again in the early Paleocene interval studied. Carbon isotopic compositions similar to those from the Cretaceous were not attained until 4.5 Ma after the K/T event.
Flexible and Efficient Instruction-Grained Run-Time Monitoring Using On-Chip Reconfigurable Fabric

This paper proposes Flex Core, a hybrid processor architecture where an on-chip reconfigurable fabric (FPGA) is tightly coupled with the main processing core. Flex Core provides an efficient platform that can support a broad range of run-time monitoring and bookkeeping techniques. Unlike using custom hardware, which is more efficient but often extremely difficult and expensive to incorporate into a modern microprocessor, the Flex Core architecture allows parallel monitoring and bookkeeping functions to be dynamically added to the processing core and adapt to application needs even after the chip has been fabricated. At the same time, Flex Core is far more efficient than software implementations because its fine-grained reconfigurable architecture closely matches bit level operations of typical monitoring schemes and allows monitoring schemes to operate in parallel to the monitored core. In fact, our experimental results show that monitoring on Flex Core can almost match the performance of full ASIC implementations. To evaluate the Flex Core architecture, we implemented an RTL prototype along with several extensions including uninitialized memory read checking, dynamic information flow tracking, array bound checking, and soft error checking. The prototypes demonstrate that the architecture can support a range of monitoring extensions with different characteristics in an efficient manner. Flex Core takes moderate silicon area and results in far better performance and energy efficiency than software.
SERUM CHANGES FOLLOWING THYROPARATHYROIDECTOMY : STUDIES ON FERMENT ACTION. XXXI.

1. In thyroparathyroidectomized dogs the onset of tetany bears no constant relation to the ferment-antiferment balance of the serum. 2. The serum lipase titer remains at a low level throughout. 3. A progressive increase in non-coagulable nitrogen and proteoses is observed in the serum following the removal of the glands. 4. The amino nitrogen of the serum is usually increased at the time when tetany is most marked.
Modeling Regional Crop Yield and Irrigation Demand Using SMAP Type of Soil Moisture Data

AbstractAgricultural models, such as the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer cropping system model (DSSAT-CSM), have been developed for predicting crop yield at field and regional scales and to provide useful information for water resources management. A potentially valuable input to agricultural models is soil moisture. Presently, no observations of soil moisture exist covering the entire United States at adequate time (daily) and space (~10 km or less) resolutions desired for crop yield assessments. Data products from NASA’s upcoming Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission will fill the gap. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the usefulness of the SMAP soil moisture data in modeling and forecasting crop yields and irrigation amount. A simple, efficient data assimilation algorithm is presented in which the agricultural crop model DSSAT-CSM is constrained to produce modeled crop yield and irrigation amounts that are consistent with SMAP-type data. Numerical experiments demon...
M3B: A Coarse Grain Force Field for Molecular Simulations of Malto-Oligosaccharides and Their Water Mixtures

We derive a chemically realistic coarse grain model and force field for the simulation of malto-oligosaccharides (α(1→4) d-glucans) and their aqueous mixtures. This coarse grain model for carbohydrates (denoted M3B) represents each glucose monomer by three beads while describing the water molecule as a single particle. M3B includes no charges or hydrogen-bonding terms, using only two-body Morse functions to describe long-range forces. The configurations obtained with the M3B model map uniquely and quickly back to a full atomistic description. M3B was parametrized to fit the results from atomistic simulations for the gas phase and amorphous bulk phase of sugars over a wide range of pressures. In particular, we required that the M3B force field provide an accurate representation of such quantities as excluded volume interactions and the distribution of torsional configurations about the intermonomer bonds. We find that M3B leads to a helical structure for polysaccharide chains and predicts left-handed helices to be more stable than right-handed ones, in agreement with the experiments. We find that parallel and antiparallel double-helical bulk structures of malto-oligosaccharides are feasible and of similar energy. The M3B model leads to a glass transition temperature (T_g) for glucose of 296 K in good agreement with experiment (304 K) and a T_g for 12 wt % water−glucose mixtures of 239 K in good agreement with experiment (240 K). These results suggest that these characteristic physical properties of carbohydrates can be described well without the use of explicit hydrogen bonds or electrostatics and also without introducing explicit directional forces in the nonbonded interactions. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with M3B are ∼7000 times faster than fully flexible atomistic simulations, making it practical to study large systems for long times. We expect that M3B will be of use for the study of the structure and dynamics of complex syrups and supercooled carbohydrates solutions.
INTEGRATING PRODUCT DESIGN WITH MANUFACTURING PROCESS DESIGN USING THE ROBUST CONCEPT EXPLORATION METHOD

How can the manufacturability of different product design alternatives be evaluated efficiently during the early stages of concept exploration? The benefits of such integrated product and manufacturing process design are widely recognized and include faster time to market, reduced development costs and production costs, and increased product quality. To reap these benefits fully, however, one must examine product/process trade-offs and cost/schedule/performance trade-offs in the early stages of design. Evaluating production cost and lead time requires detailed simulation or other analysis packages which 1) would be computationally expensive to run for every alternative, and 2) require detailed information that may or may not be available in these early design stages. Our approach is to generate response surfaces that serve as approximations to the analyses packages and use these approximations to identify robust regions of the design space for further exploration. In this paper we present a method for robust product and process exploration and illustrate this method using a simplified example of a machining center processing a single component. We close by discussing the implications of this work for manufacturing outsourcing, designing robust supplier chains, and ultimately designing the manufacturing enterprise itself. 1. OUR FRAME OF REFERENCE Picture if you will a typical product design process. At some point downstream in the process, detailed analysis tools (such as finite element packages and simulation tools) are employed to evaluate feasible design alternatives. Based on these evaluations the design is tweaked and improved until an acceptable solution is found. Although this process of improvement may be rigorous, often the identification of such feasible alternatives is less than precise; a systematic search may be employed, but as often as not it can be a matter of trial and error. It would clearly be beneficial if the entire design space could be explored before committing to a single alternative, and it would also be beneficial to employ the detailed analysis tools in this search. It is this scenario that has motivated our development of the Robust Concept Exploration Method (RCEM), presented in Section 2. What is robust concept exploration? Given that a design space can be defined in terms of a set of variables and their
Control of Giardiasis by Interleukin-17 in Humans and Mice—Are the Questions All Answered?

For years, studies of the immune response to Giardia lamblia infection focused on the production of IgA by infected hosts and antigenic variation by the parasite to escape destruction by this IgA. A new study by Hanevik and colleagues (C. S. Saghaug, S. Sornes, D. Peirasmaki, S. Svard, N. Langeland, and K. Hanevik, Clin Vaccine Immunol 23:11-18, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/CVI.00419-15) highlights the emerging role of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in immunity to this parasite. Along with recent studies of Giardia infections of animals, this work shows that IL-17 appears to be essential for the control of these infections and to be a key factor linking cellular and humoral immune responses.
Gifts and Acquisitions in 24:1

Describes the various family papers that relate to New Jerseyans moving to the western part of the United States, especially those in the Samuel B. How Papers and Thompson Family Papers.
Interstate Variation in Effective Rates for Insurance Premium Taxes

The authors look at recent developments in insurance premium taxation. Between 2000 and 2004, insurance premium tax revenue grew by 43 percent.
The Value of Coronal Image Reconstructions of HRCT using MDCT for the Assessment of Bronchiectasis: Experiment with 64 MDCTs

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the value of coronal image reconstructions of HRCT with using 64 MDCT scans for the assessment of bronchiectasis. Materials and Methods: Chest CT scans (0.6-mm collimation, table speed of 14mm/sec and a rotation time of 0.5 sec) that employed 64 MDCT images (Somatom Sensation 64, Siemens) without contrast media were performed in 56 patients (21 males and 35 females, mean age: 55 years) who displayed hemoptysis. The images were reconstructed with a 1 mm slice thickness in the axial (10 mm apart) and coronal (10 mm apart) planes with using a high frequency algorithm, and they were sent to PACS monitors. The axial images were assessed with and without the coronal images by two radiologists at two separate occasions. The presence of bronchiectasis was decided upon by consensus diagnosis of the two radiologists. The detection rates of bronchiectasis were compared between the readings with using the axial images alone and the readings with using both the axial and coronal images. Results: The detection rate of bronchiectasis was significantly higher with using both the axial and coronal images than with using with axial images alone (82.1%, 46/56 patients Vs 64.3%, 36/56 patients, respectively, p=0.001). The detection rates for all the lobes, except for the superior division of the left upper lobe, were significantly improved with using both the axial and coronal images (RUL; p=0.013, RML; p=0.002, RLL; 0.024, Lt lingular segment; p=0.004, LLL; p=0.018). Conclusion: The coronal images of HRCT with using 64 MDCT improved the detection rate of bronchiectasis in the patients with hemoptysis when they were used in conjunction with the standard axial images. We suggest that HRCT with the coronal images should be obtained for the patients with hemoptysis, despite that the simple chest radiographs are often normal or they have non-specific findings.
Modified Supervised Kernel PCA for Gender Classification

In this work we investigate the problem of gender recognition and develop a novel approach based on Supervised Kernel Principal Components Analysis that demonstrates a significant advantage over more traditional approaches of Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Mixture Discriminant Analysis (MDA), and Support Vector Machines (SVM with RBF-kernel) through 5-fold cross validation. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach for gender recognition, we use FG-NET Aging database, since it contains faces of very young children as well as senior adults. These two subsets of human faces, young children and senior adults, have been shown by prior researchers to be challenging for gender classification. Both simulation and experiment on FG-NET database suggest that the modified supervised manifold learning approach deconvolves high dimensional features into linearly separable projections that can be easily separated with standard techniques.
Psychobiologic predictors of suicide.

Suicide is a significant cause of mortality in patients suffering from major affective disorders, schizophrenia, and alcoholism. Generally, several clinical and psychosocial factors combine to result in suicide. These risk factors have high sensitivity but low specificity; only a small minority of patients who meet risk criteria actually complete suicide. Therefore, clinicians have had great difficulty in assessing suicide risk; more clinically useful risk indicators are crucially needed. Biologic markers such as low cerebrospinal fluid levels of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and related indices of serotonergic function appear to correlate with violent and impulsive suicidal behavior. These and other biologic changes may have predictive value in determining suicide risk, as well as contributing to the formulation of a more complete model to explain suicidal behavior that combines genetic, biologic, psychologic, and social factors. Language: en
Impact broadening, shifting, and asymmetry of the D 1 and D 2 lines of alkali-metal atoms colliding with noble-gas atoms

The Anderson Talman theory of spectral line broadening is used together with potential energy curves calculated at the spin-orbit multi-reference configuration interaction level to compute broadening, shifting, and asymmetry coefficients of the ${D}_{1}$ and ${D}_{2}$ lines of alkali-metal atoms M, as they collide with noble gas atoms N, where $M=\mathrm{K},$ Rb, and Cs, and $N=\mathrm{He}$, Ne, and Ar. Our calculated coefficients are compared to experimental results for a variety of temperatures. In all cases general agreement is observed for the broadening coefficients, while significant disagreement is observed for the shifting coefficients. We also compare our $\mathrm{K}+\mathrm{He}$ broadening and shifting results with fully quantum-mechanical calculations that employ the Baranger theory of collisional line broadening, and we compare our results with other semiclassical calculations. As with the comparison to experiment, closer agreement is observed for the broadening coefficients while the shifting coefficients exhibit significant disagreement. We use the natural variation between the difference potentials of the nine $M+N$ pairs to explore the relationship between potential and line shape as determined by Anderson-Talman theory and develop a picture for the mechanism that underlies the general agreement between theoretical and experimental results on the broadening coefficient and the general disagreement on shifting coefficients.
Assessment of 99mTc-Succimer Residual Activity Using Inert Nonreactive Syringes

It has been widely reported that technetium-99m (99mTc) succimer adsorbs to traditional plastic syringes significantly (up to 50%), often resulting in lower administered dosages than intended and inaccurate dosing. This is especially problematic in the pediatric population. To improve 99mTc succimer dosing, the authors compared the adsorption of 99mTc succimer in two types of syringes: traditional silicone-coated syringes with non-latex rubber on the plunger (Type A), and inert non-reactive syringes with no silicone coating and no rubber on the plunger (Type B). The residual activity comparisons for the two type of syringes was investigated in a controlled laboratory environment and in a clinical department environment. Methods:99mTc succimer kits were compounded according to the manufacturer9s instructions. For the controlled laboratory aspect of the investigation, a series of 99mTc succimer dosages (0.03 - 0.14 MBq) were drawn into 3-mL Type A silicone-coated or Type B inert non-reactive syringes in 1 mL volume. Thirty min, 1hr, 2hr, and 4 hr later, the syringes were assayed in a dose calibrator, and assayed again after being emptied and rinsed with saline. For the clinical department investigation, the authors examined the radiopharmaceutical documentation and data from 129 99mTc succimer dosages administered in a pediatric department, in which 52 were dispensed in the traditional Type A silicone-coated syringes and 77 were dispensed in Type B inert non-reactive syringes. The dosages were assayed immediately before and after injection. Each injection was followed by flushing with saline. Results: The labeling efficiency of the 99mTc succimer kits was more than 95%. In the laboratory setting, residual activity left in the Type B inert non-reactive syringes was 0.73% (SD ± 0.18%), which was significantly lower than the activity left in the traditional Type A silicone-coated syringes (P<0.0001), which was 20.9% (SD ± 5.6%). The extent of adsorption did not change significantly between 30 min and 4 hours of incubation. The clinical data showed that the residual activity was 6.38 % (SD±2.95%) from dosages dispensed in Type B inert non-reactive syringes and 30.6% (SD±12.5%) from dosages dispensed in the traditional Type A silicone-coated syringes (P<0.001). Conclusion: The inert non-reactive syringes have significantly less residual of 99mTc succimer than silicone based syringes, making it possible to accurately administer calculated doses of 99mTc succimer to pediatric patients.
Nonlinear structural equation models for network topology inference

Linear structural equation models (SEMs) have been widely adopted for inference of causal interactions in complex networks. Recent examples include unveiling topologies of hidden causal networks over which processes such as spreading diseases, or rumors propagation. However, these approaches are limited because they assume linear dependence among observable variables. The present paper advocates a more general nonlinear structural equation model based on polynomial expansions, which compensates for possible nonlinear dependencies between network nodes. To this end, a group-sparsity regularized estimator is put forth to leverage the inherent edge sparsity that is present in most real-world networks. A novel computationally-efficient proximal gradient algorithm is developed to estimate the polynomial SEM coefficients, and hence infer the edge structure. Preliminary tests on simulated data demonstrate the effectiveness of the novel approach.
Impact of No-plasma Priming on Post-operative Coagulation With Clinical Condition for Infants After Cardiac Surgery by Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Objective: To evaluate the impact of no-plasma priming on post-operative coagulation with clinical condition for infants after cardiac surgery by cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) in order to assess the effect of Gelofusine for substituting blood product.Methods: A total of 96 pediatric patients with congenital heart disease received elective cardiac surgery in our hospital from 2012-12 to 2013-03 were studied. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups according to different colloids solution in their CPB pump priming. Plasma group, the patients received fresh frozen plasma and Gelofusine group. n=48 in each group. The thromboelastography(TEG) and functional fibrinogen levels were measured before skin incision and 15 min after heparin neutralization, the volume of chest tube drainage, cost of blood product and anticoagulation agent requirement were recorded; the ventilation time, ICU stay and hospitalization time were compared between 2 groups.Results: All patients were recovered and discharged without re-operation for hemostasis. The post-operative R values from TEG were increased in both groups and the results were similar between 2 groups, P0.05. The postoperative maximal amplitude(MA) were slightly higher in Plasma group, P0.05 and the fibrinogen level, fibrinogen contribution to maximal amplitude(MAf) were obviously increased in Plasma group, P0.01. The post-operative bleeding condition, cost of blood product and the prognosis were similar between 2 groups.Conclusion: Fresh frozen plasma may not obviously decrease the post-operative bleeding and the cost of blood product, it had no significant superiority for prognosis. Gelofusine for substituting blood product is recommended for pediatric cardiovascular surgery by CPB.
Applicability of GCMs in head region of Yellow River

The mean monthly temperature,the maximum temperature,the minimum temperature and the monthly precipitation at 24 stations in the head region of Yellow River from 1961 to 1990 and the simulated results by 5 IPCC coupled global models(CCC,CCSR,CSIRO,GFDL and HADL) were employed.The mean perennial value,the uniformity coefficient and the absolute variation were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the various GCMs in simulating the precipitation and climate changes in the head region of Yellow River.The results show that the simulation effectiveness of the various models is different.The GFDL model is the best in simulating precipitation changes of the 5 models.The GFDL and HADL are better in simulating temperature changes.Considering both the precipitation and temperature,the GFDL model is superior to other models and applicable to the evaluation of the climate change in the head region of Yellow River.
National Organization For Women

In 1966, female professionals, civil servants, trade unionists, and academics formed the National Organization for Women (now) as a civil rights organization that would campaign, lobby, and protest on women’s behalf. As its Statement of Purpose makes clear, now’ original priority was the public sphere of jobs and educational discrimination. The urgency of its mission was underscored by the fact that women had not held their own in the past generation, instead losing ground in pay, employment status, and representation in politics, the professions, and higher education. Eventually, now also took up the “personal politics” of sexuality, reproduction, and male violence against women.
An efficient three-dimensional unified projector-backprojector for SPECT reconstruction

A unified projector-backprojector (PBJ) which can easily be adapted for hardware implementation was tested in software for simultaneous compensation of attenuation, scatter, and detector response. The PBJ discretely models the system transform of isotopes distributed within attenuating media as line integrals and convolutions of discrete voxels, obtained using the sampling technique of averaging the photon emission or attenuation distribution over small cubic regions. Each line integral through the voxels is computed by recursion from the entry point of the projection ray intersecting with the voxel array to the exit point. During the recursive tracing, the attenuation factor is obtained, for each voxel, by halving the attenuating length of that voxel and adding to the previously accumulated attenuating length along that projection ray. The detector response and scatter are modeled as a convolution of the voxels with a Gaussian kernel whose shape is a function of distance from the detector, after subtraction of dual-energy-window data. Projecting a chest phantom of 128*128*64 to a 128*64*120 projection array took approximately 1 h on the Stellar computer. The PBJ was implemented into iterative maximum likelihood, maximum a posteriori probability, and filtered backprojection reconstructions. High-quality images were obtained using experimentally acquired projections. >
Structure Determination and Time-Resolved Raman Spectroscopy of Yttrium Ion Exchange into Microporous Titanosilicate ETS-4

The ion exchange of yttrium, one of the five most critical rare-earth elements as outlined by the U.S. Department of Energy, into ETS-4 is a dynamic, multistep ion exchange process. The ion exchange process was followed using in situ time-resolved Raman spectroscopy, and the crystal structures of the pre-exchange and post-exchange forms were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In situ Raman spectroscopy is an ideal tool for this type of study, as it measures the spectral changes that are a result of molecular geometry changes at fast time intervals, even where symmetry and unit volume changes are minimally detected by X-ray diffraction. By tracking the stepwise changes in the peak positions and intensities in the spectra, where we focused primarily on the strong spectral features corresponding to titania quantum wires and three-membered-ring bending and breathing modes, we constructed molecular models to explain the changes in the Raman spectrum during ion exchange. The multistep ion exchange ...