cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 15: Comparative Effectiveness of Coronary Angioplasty and Bypass Surgery Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Introduction. The outcomes of CABG and PCI for the treatment of patients with multivessel CAD have been compared in several randomized trials (RCTs). A pooled analysis of 10 RCTs showed that diabetes and age significantly modified the effect of CABG on mortality. It is uncertain whether in routine practice the effect of CABG on mortality is modified by clinical characteristics. Hypothesis. The comparative effectiveness of CABG vs. PCI on mortality is modified by baseline clinical factors. Methods. We identified Medicare beneficiaries 66 and older with Parts A and B coverage who received either multivessel CABG or multivessel PCI between 1992 and 2008. We developed a propensity score for CABG vs. PCI treatment, and matched patients from the same year with diabetes, and age with one year on propensity score within 0.01. Mortality over five years was assessed in the matched patients with Cox models and treatment-by-covariate interactions were tested. Results. We matched 105,612 patients, with an average age of 75 years, 42% female, 92% white, and 33% with diabetes. Five-year survival was 74.7% after CABG, 71.8% after PCI, with an overall CABG:PCI adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.90. (95% confidence limits, 0.88-0.93). There was a significantly greater reduction of mortality by CABG for patients (Figure) with male sex (HR 0.88 vs. 0.94, interaction p=0.009), diabetes (HR 0.87 vs. 0.93, p=0.02), tobacco use (HR 0.82 vs. 0.92, p=0.0004), heart failure (HR 0.86 vs. 0.92, p=0.03), and procedures performed prior to 2004 (HR 0.88 vs. 0.94, p=0.008). The interaction of age with treatment was not signficaint, but all patients were aged 66 years or greater. Results were consistent whether examined as hazard ratios, differences in five-year survival, or life-years added. Conclusion. The comparative effectiveness of CABG and PCI on mortality varies significantly according to baseline clinical factors. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Wavelet transform of reactor power transients

The feasibility of employing wavelet transforms for feature extraction during reactor power transients is investigated in this work. This summary describes applications of a discrete wavelet transform to power transients in the University of Arizona TRIGA reactor, initiated by step reactivity insertions. Analysis shows that the transform results in a compact representation of the reactor's behavior. The significant features of the transients are contained in relatively few coefficients. The on-line windowed wavelet transform is implemented by an efficient algorithm and wavelet patterns under different translation are obtained. The compact wavelet representation can then be used for transient identification. >
Mind Perception and Individual Differences: A Replication and Extension

Mind perception involves attributing higher functional abilities to others (e.g., saying a dog feels pain). The relationships between mind perception and psychopathology—autism, psychopathy, and sc...
Market Structures in East Asia: Why Selling to Some Countries Are So Difficult?**Adopted from Li, S. 2009. Managing international business in relation-based versus rule-based countries. New York, NY: Business Expert Press.

Customer service quality varies greatly from country to country. This chapter begins by discussing differences in customer service quality between communist and capitalistic societies. It then reviews market structure and why it differs between rule-based countries such as the United States and relation-based countries such as China. It also compares trade flows between rule-based and relation-based countries, and discusses barriers of selling in relation-based countries.
Protection against HIV Acquisition in the RV144 Trial

Differences of opinion regarding whether there may, or may not, have been protective efficacy in the RV144 vaccine trial have important societal implications.
Inspector Error Models: An Empirical Investigation

A considerable amount of recent effort in the field of statistical quality control has been devoted to the analysis of the effects of inspector error on various quality control techniques. These an...
Snowflake: An efficient hardware accelerator for convolutional neural networks

Deep learning is becoming increasingly popular for a wide variety of applications including object detection, classification, semantic segmentation and natural language processing. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are a type of deep neural network that achieve high accuracy for these tasks. CNNs are hierarchical mathematical models comprising billions of operations to produce an output. The high computational complexity combined with the inherent parallelism in these models makes them an excellent target for custom accelerators. In this work we present Snowflake, a scalable, efficient low-power accelerator that is agnostic to CNN architectures. Our design is able to achieve an average computational efficiency of 91% which is significantly higher than comparable architectures. We implemented Snowflake on a Xilinx Zynq XC7Z045 APSoC. On this platform, Snowflake is capable of achieving 128 G-ops/s while consuming 9.48 W of power. Snowflake achieves a throughput and energy efficiency of 98 frames per second and 10.3 frames per joule, respectively, on AlexNet and 34 frames per second and 3.6 frames per joule on GoogLeNet.
The future of process metallurgy

Process metallurgists—cast adrift by the materials engineers and ignored by the chemicals—are still needed and should be trained to complement, rather than conflict with, allied fields.
Genome-Wide Somatic Copy Number Alterations and Mutations in High-Grade Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia.

To obtain a better understanding of the genetic alterations of high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PanIN), we performed whole-genome copy number analysis by using single nucleotide polymorphism microarrays and targeted next-generation sequencing of 11 microdissected HG-PanIN and two low-grade PanIN lesions associated with HG-PanIN. HG-PanIN mutation profiles were compared with those of their associated invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. All PanIN lesions harbored somatic KRAS mutations. The most common copy number losses in the HG-PanIN were at the CDKN2A (9p21), TP53 (17p13), and SMAD4 (18q21) loci. Chromosomal losses in HG-PanIN were also found at 6p25–p24, 6q11–q27, 12q24, and 17q23–q24. Biallelic inactivation of CDKN2A and TP53 was detected in five of eight and in three of eight evaluable PanIN lesions, respectively. None of the HG-PanIN lesions had SMAD4 mutations or homozygous deletion. Copy number gains were noted at the MYC (8q24) and CCNE1 (19q12) loci and at 1q25–q31. Four HG-PanINs and one low-grade PanIN harbored chromothripsis-like regions. Five of seven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas evaluated had additional mutations that were not found in their associated HG-PanIN. HG-PanIN harbors widespread copy number alterations and commonly shows evidence of biallelic inactivation of CDKN2A and TP53 but not SMAD4. Chromothripsis events contribute to the copy number alterations of HG-PanIN.
Modeling the Relationship between Water Level, Wild Rice Abundance, and Waterfowl Abundance at a Central North American Wetland

Recent evidence suggests wild rice (Zizania palustris), an important resource for migrating waterfowl, is declining in parts of central North America, providing motivation to rigorously quantify the relationship between waterfowl and wild rice. A hierarchical mixed-effects model was applied to data on waterfowl abundance for 16 species, wild rice stem density, and two measures of water depth (true water depth at vegetation sampling locations and water surface elevation). Results provide evidence for an effect of true water depth (TWD) on wild rice abundance (posterior mean estimate for TWD coefficient, βTWD = 0.92, 95% confidence interval = 0.11—1.74), but not for an effect of wild rice stem density or water surface elevation on local waterfowl abundance (posterior mean values for relevant parameters overlapped 0). Refined protocols for sampling design and more consistent sampling frequency to increase data quality should be pursued to overcome issues that may have obfuscated relationships evaluated here.
Whither an International Issue: The Columbia River Treaty, the Canada/US Border, and the Curious Case of Libby, MT

ABSTRACTInternational borders are an integral component of multilevel governance theorizing in other parts of the world, mainly Europe. This is seldom the focus for theorizing or explicating events...
Rural gentrification and networks of capital accumulation—A case study of Jackson, Wyoming:

A spatial reorganization of agriculture has been underway throughout the 20th century, and this reorganization has accelerated in the context of neoliberal trade arrangements such as NAFTA and the ...
Associations between Use of Antimalarial Medications and Health among U.S. Veterans of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Mefloquine (Lariam®; Roche Holding AG, Basel, Switzerland) has been linked to acute neuropsychiatric side effects. This is a concern for U.S. veterans who may have used mefloquine during recent Southwest Asia deployments. Using data from the National Health Study for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans, a population-based study of U.S. veterans who served between 2001 and 2008, we investigated associations between self-reported use of antimalarial medications and overall physical and mental health (MH) using the twelve-item short form, and with other MH outcomes using the post-traumatic stress disorder Checklist-17 and the Patient Health Questionnaire (anxiety, major depression, and self-harm). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine associations between health measures and seven antimalarial drug categories: any antimalarial, mefloquine, chloroquine, doxycycline, primaquine, mefloquine plus any other antimalarial, and any other antimalarial or antimalarial combination while adjusting for the effects of deployment and combat exposure. Data from 19,487 veterans showed that although antimalarial use was generally associated with higher odds of negative health outcomes, once deployment and combat exposure were added to the multivariable models, the associations with each of the MH outcomes became attenuated. A positive trend was observed between combat exposure intensity and prevalence of the five MH outcomes. No significant associations were found between mefloquine and MH measures. These data suggest that the poor physical and MH outcomes reported in this study population are largely because of combat deployment exposure.
Is human herpesvirus 6 linked to kikuchi-fujimoto disease? The importance of consistent molecular and serologic analysis.

Background Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, also called histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a self-limiting lymphadenopathy of unknown cause. The patient often presents with fever, malaise, and lymphadenopathy primarily involving the cervical lymph nodes. Laboratory findings are nonspecific, and the diagnosis is established by identifying characteristic pathologic features from lymph node biopsy. The etiologic agent has been proposed to be of viral origin; specifically, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) has been implicated. Methods The clinical, histologic, serologic, and molecular data from 471 cases of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease reported between 1982 and 2001 and their relationship to HHV-6 were reviewed. Results Thirty-two of the 471 patients in this review were tested for HHV-6 serology; all 32 had elevated titers for HHV-6. One hundred twelve patients with lymphadenopathies, including histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, tested positive for HHV-6 by polymerase chain reaction. In situ hybridization results were positive in 41 cases. Conclusion This review illustrates the necessity for consistent molecular and serologic analysis.
COMMON-LAW RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

When should religious objectors get exemptions from generally applicable laws? For years, the two competing answers were "when courts say so, as a matter of constitutional law" (Sherbert v. Verner and Wisconsin v. Yoder) and "only when legislatures say so, as a matter of specific statutory provision" (Employment Division v. Smith). The federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act and its more recent state equivalents have been billed as ways of restoring the first model of "constitutional exemptions." This article argues, though, that the RFRAs actually implement a third model -- a "common-law" exemption approach in which exemption decisions are made initially by courts but are ultimately revisable by legislatures -- and that this approach is actually normatively superior to both of the other models. The article - explains how state RFRAs differ from the Sherbert regime; - explains how they track the traditional common-law development of other subconstitutional claims of right; - argues that this insulates state RFRAs from some of the criticisms of the Sherbert regime levied by Smith; - suggests that drafters of state RFRAs should abandon their current reliance on the "strict scrutiny" test; - argues that viewing religious exemption claims through a common-law lens helps show the fallacy of the Sherbert constitutional exemption framework; - suggests that the "common-law" rights model might be profitably applied to rights claims even outside the religious freedom context.
The War on Error: A New and Different Approach to Human Performance

As the author states, errors and their consequences are the products of internal and external conditions that can be seen and controlled in advance by people operating in real-time environments armed with the right body of knowledge, tools, and techniques. He explains that everybody has a personal fingerprint of error and tends to make the same kinds of mistakes. After they understand what their personal error pattern is, error control is a matter of learning new information and applying a new set of tools. The author suggests that the phrase “to err is human” should be replaced by “to improve is human.”
Overview of Clinical Monitoring

Monitoring can aid in diagnosis and treatment. Historically, monitoring has progressed from physical observation to technological innovation. Fundamental physical principles both guide and limit the design and scope of monitors. Without a therapeutic intervention and an understanding of what exactly is being monitored and how, the impact of any monitoring is lessened. Computers have enabled real-time processing of data to assist our treatment.
On the Navier–Stokes equations in scaling-invariant spaces in any dimension

We study the Navier–Stokes equations with a dissipative term that is generalized through a fractional Laplacian in any dimension higher than two. We extend the horizontal Biot–Savart law beyond dimension three. Using the anisotropic Littlewood–Paley theory with which we distinguish the first two directions from the rest, we obtain a blow-up criteria for its solution in norms which are invariant under the rescaling of these equations. The proof goes through for the classical Navier–Stokes equations if dimension is three, four or five. We also give heuristics and partial results toward further improvement
Diagnosis and Medical Management of Other Esophageal Motility Disorders

The esophagus moves food and liquid from the oropharynx to the stomach. Efficient transport by the esophageal contents requires coordinated contractions that moves contents out of the esophagus and keeps gastric contents from excessively refluxing into the esophagus. Disruption of these esophageal peristalitc contractions limits movement of esophageal contents and may cause sensations of dysphagia and chest pain. Esophageal motility disorders are categorized according to their abnormal manometric patterns. Common causes of esophageal motility disorders excluding achalasia in this chapter.
The Milky Way's halo and subhaloes in self-interacting dark matter

Author(s): Robles, VH; Kelley, T; Bullock, JS; Kaplinghat, M | Abstract: We perform high-resolution simulations of an MW-like galaxy in a self-interacting cold dark matter model with elastic cross-section over mass of 1 cm2 g−1 (SIDM) and compare to a model without self-interactions (CDM). We run our simulations with and without a time-dependent embedded potential to capture effects of the baryonic disc and bulge contributions. The CDM and SIDM simulations with the embedded baryonic potential exhibit remarkably similar host halo profiles, subhalo abundances, and radial distributions within the virial radius. The SIDM host halo is denser in the centre than the CDM host and has no discernible core, in sharp contrast to the case without the baryonic potential (core size ∼7 kpc). The most massive subhaloes (with Vpeak g 20 km s−1) in our SIDM simulations, expected to host the classical satellite galaxies, have density profiles that are less dense than their CDM analogues at radii less than 500 pc but the deviation diminishes for less massive subhaloes. With the baryonic potential included in the CDM and SIDM simulations, the most massive subhaloes do not display the too-big-to-fail problem. However, the least dense among the massive subhaloes in both these simulations tend to have the smallest pericenter values, a trend that is not apparent among the bright MW satellite galaxies.
Ending student mistreatment: early successes and continuing challenges

Problem: Student mistreatment represents an ongoing challenge for US medical schools. Students experiencing mistreatment may become marginalized and cynical, and they have higher rates of burnout, depression and substance use disorders. Although numerous attempts to eliminate mistreatment have been proposed, best practices remain elusive. We formed a unique student-faculty collaboration (the Ending Mistreatment Task Force) that allowed all voices to be heard and enabled identification of five interventions to reduce mistreatment.Intervention: The EMTF developed and implemented five key interventions: 1) a shared mistreatment definition; 2) measures to increase faculty accountability, including adding professionalism expectations to faculty members' contracts and performance reviews; 3) a Professionalism Office to respond promptly to students' reports of mistreatment and provide feedback to faculty; 4) tools to help teachers provide authentic learning environments for students, while addressing generational misunderstandings; and 5) student-produced videos, helping faculty understand the impact of mistreatment as seen through students' eyes.Context: These interventions occurred at one medical school where mistreatment reports were consistently above national averages.Impact: Over 6 years, the interventions helped reduce the rate of student-reported mistreatment by 36% compared with a 4% decline across all US medical schools.Lessons: The collaborations between students and faculty helped each party identify unexpected misunderstandings and challenges. We learned that students want hard questions, although faculty are often afraid to challenge students for fear of offending them or being reported. We clarified differences between mistreatment and sub-optimal learning environments and openly discussed the pervasive opinion that 'some' mistreatment is important for learning. We also identified ongoing challenges, including the need to solicit residents' perspectives regarding mistreatment and develop proper responses to disrespectful comments directed at patients, family and colleagues. The collaboration reinforced students' and faculty members' shared commitment to upholding a respectful learning and clinical care environment and ending mistreatment.
New Brain Research on Emotion and Feeling: Dramatic Implications for Music Education.

This paper was conceived with music, and music education , in mind. However, it applies equally, with appropriate adaptations, to each and every art and to each and every field of art education. I hope those of you not in music education will make the needed alterations as you engage with this material, so that its full applicability can be attained. The last sentence, then, can be read as "I am suggesting that there may very well be a defensible consilience of our biology and our devotion to the arts in education.
Examination of abiotic cofactor assembly in photosynthetic biomimetics: site-specific stereoselectivity in the conjugation of a ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine) photosensitizer to a multi-heme protein.

To understand design principles for assembling photosynthetic biohybrids that incorporate precisely-controlled sites for electron injection into redox enzyme cofactor arrays, we investigated the influence of chirality in assembly of the photosensitizer ruthenium(II)bis(2,2′-bipyridine)(4-bromomethyl-4′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridine), Ru(bpy)2(Br-bpy), when covalently conjugated to cysteine residues introduced by site-directed mutagenesis in the triheme periplasmic cytochrome A (PpcA) as a model biohybrid system. For two investigated conjugates that show ultrafast electron transfer, A23C-Ru and K29C-Ru, analysis by circular dichroism spectroscopy, CD, demonstrated site-specific chiral discrimination as a factor emerging from the close association between [Ru(bpy)3]2+ and heme cofactors. CD analysis showed the A23C-Ru and K29C-Ru conjugates to have distinct, but opposite, stereoselectivity for the Λ and Δ-Ru(bpy)2(Br-bpy) enantiomers, with enantiomeric excesses of 33.1% and 65.6%, respectively. In contrast, Ru(bpy)2(Br-bpy) conjugation to a protein site with high flexibility, represented by the E39C-Ru construct, exhibited a nearly negligible chiral selectivity, measured by an enantiomeric excess of 4.2% for the Λ enantiomer. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that site-specific stereoselectivity reflects steric constraints at the conjugating sites and that a high degree of chiral selectivity correlates to reduced structural disorder for [Ru(bpy)3]2+ in the linked assembly. This work identifies chiral discrimination as means to achieve site-specific, precise geometric positioning of introduced photosensitizers relative to the heme cofactors in manner that mimics the tuning of cofactors in photosynthesis.
A Testbed for Data Routing in Low-Power WSNs using DV-Hop Based Trajectory Encoding Algorithm

Trajectory-based routing is a common data forwarding protocol while collecting sensor data during a disaster or in a battlefield for situation-awareness. However, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have limitations in available bandwidth and energy. The trajectory-based routing protocols could reduce redundant broadcasting to save energy and bandwidth significantly. In this demo, we will demonstrate the working of a DV-Hop (Distance Vector Hop) based trajectory encoding algorithm using virtual coordinates rather than using GPS data. Using the proposed trajectory based routing protocol, we achieve energy savings, reduced latency, reliability, better coverage, while routing data from a source node to a mobile sink.
Chapter 10 – Cerebral Autoregulation

The human brain is by far the most expensive organ in terms of energy expenditure in the whole body, characterized by high metabolic activity with fine regulatory mechanisms, defined as cerebral autoregulation, to ensure adequate energy substrates supply in register with brain activity. The classic, long-term steady-state or static, cerebral autoregulation denotes that cerebral blood flow is independent of the changes of mean arterial blood pressure within a wide range of blood pressure. The recent dynamic approach allows differentiation of the cerebral autoregulation response to fluctuations in beat-to-beat blood pressure of different magnitudes and durations. The mechanisms of cerebral autoregulation remain poorly understood. It is clear that cerebral autoregulation is multifactorial phenomenon of the cerebral circulation, including myogenic, autonomic, and metabolic mechanisms. Harnessing cerebral autoregulation as a basis for therapy remains mostly conceptual. There is increasing evidence that multimodality monitoring of cerebral autoregulation might aid prognostication and help identify optimal cerebral perfusion pressure level in patients of ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury. In the future, such monitoring may facilitate patients-specific control of cerebral autoregulation, hence, improve outcome of different neurological diseases.
Real time visualization of cancer cell death, survival and proliferation using fluorochrome-transfected cells in an IncuCyte ® imaging system.

Cancer immunotherapy is a rapidly advancing and viable approach to treating cancer along with more traditional forms of therapy. Real-time cell analysis technologies that examine the dynamic interactions between cancer cells and the cells of the immune system are becoming more important for assessment of novel therapeutics. In this report, we use the IncuCyte® imaging system to study the killing potential of various immune cells on cancer cell lines. The IncuCyte® system tracks living cells, labeled by a red fluorescent protein, and cell death, as indicated by the caspase-3/7 reagent, which generates a green fluorescent signal upon activation of apoptotic pathways. Despite the power of this approach, obtaining commercially fluorescent cancer cell lines is expensive and limited in the range of cell lines that are available. To overcome this barrier, we developed an inexpensive method using a lentiviral construct expressing nuclear localized mKate2 red fluorescent protein to stably label cancer cells. We demonstrate that this method is effective in labeling a wide variety of cell lines, allowing for analyses of different cancers as well as different cell lines of the same type of cancer.
Spatio-Temporal Measurement of Super-Fluorescence from Light Filaments in Air

Using a streak camera, we measure the spatial profile of fluorescence emission of from a filament in air. The delay is inversely proportional to the density of the excited states contributing in collective emission.
Fostering heterogeneous engineering through whole-class design work

Background: Design problems have long attracted researchers’ attention for their potential to provide authentic learning opportunities. While we have methods for supporting students to learn throug...
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): A Clinician’s Perspective Aortic Stenosis: Natural and Unnatural (Treated) History

Symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) is a fatal illness with only one cure, aortic valve replacement. Over the past 40 years the etiology of AS has changed from congenital and rheumatic causes to that of atherosclerotic inflammatory calcific disease. As the etiology of the disease has changed so has the age of onset changed, now often occurring in seventh, eighth and ninth decades of life. With age comes age-related comorbidities that increase the risk of surgery of preclude it all together, until now relegating the patient to an AS-related death.
An Examination of Competitive Anxiety and Self-Confidence among College Varsity Athletes: 大學代表隊選手之競賽焦慮與自信的檢驗研究

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in English; abstract also in Chinese. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between competitive anxiety and self-confidence among collegiate varsity athletes. Participants were 96 athletes from a university in the United States, and their sport affiliations included baseball, volleyball, softball, track and field, and gymnastics. The following four questionnaires were administered to the participants: Competitive State Anxiety Inventroy-2, State Sport-Confidence Inventory, Sport Competition Anxiety Test for Adults, and Trait Sport-Confidence Inventory. Data were analyzed by Pearson product-moment correlations. Results showed that athletes who possessed a low level of competitive trait anxiety on a regular practice day tended to have low levels of cognitive state anxiety and somatic state anxiety, as well as high levels of state self-confidence and state sport­-confidence on a competition day. In addition, athletes who possessed a high level of trait sport-confidence on a regular practice day tended to have low levels of cognitive state anxiety and somatic state anxiety, and high levels of state self­-confidence and state sport-confidence on a competition day. The present investigation also found that cognitive state anxiety and somatic state anxiety were the predictors to estimate athletes’ self-confidence and performance. 本文旨在檢驗大學生運動員的競賽焦慮與自信之間的相關聯繫，研究對象為美國一所大學的九十六名大學生運動員，他們所在的運動隊包括壘球、排球、棒球、田徑和體操。四個調查問卷(其中兩個用於測量競賽焦慮，兩個用來調查運動員的自信心)被用來收集數據。並採用佩爾森運動相關係數檢驗法對數據進行了分析。結果表明:在正常訓練日裡具有低水平特質性競賽焦慮的運動員傾向於在競賽之日具有低水平的認知性焦慮和軀體性焦慮，但具有較高水平的狀態運動性自信心。而在正常的訓練日具 有高水平的特質性運動自信心的運動員傾向於在競賽之日具有低水平的認知性焦慮與軀體性焦慮。本研究也證實了認知性焦慮與軀體性焦慮為兩項預測運動員自信心與競技表現的有效指示。
Analyzing Sex Differences in Huntington’s Disease using Enroll-HD (5360)

Objective: This study was designed to analyze sex-dependent differences in manifest HD patients from the Enroll HD database. Background: Neurodegenerative diseases are influenced by a multitude of factors from genetics to the geographic environment. While much is known about the genetics of Huntington’s disease (HD), sex-dependent differences in outcomes for this particular disease have not been fully uncovered. Other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease have been shown to have clear sex-dependent differences in disease prevalence and onset. Interpretation of these differences has an important role in optimizing treatment and better understanding disease mechanism in HD. Design/Methods: Longitudinal study data from baseline and follow-up visits of manifest HD patients (N=8,043) from the Enroll-HD database were analyzed. Linear mixed models were used to assess differences between males and females regarding the motor, behavioral, and cognitive functioning over a series of four annual visits. Results: Manifest HD patients showed significant sex-dependent differences in motor and depressive symptoms. While both sexes showed worsening motor and depressive symptoms over the course of 4 annual visits, female patients with HD consistently presented with more severe motor and depressive symptoms than males (p We did not find any difference between male and female patients with HD regarding age at clinical HD diagnosis or the number of CAG repeats. Also, there were no differences between males and females when we evaluated cognitive performance and severity of apathy, irritability/aggressive, psychosis and executive function scores as measured by the Problem Behaviors Assessment – Short (PBA-s) over the four visits. Conclusions: Our analyses suggest that females overall have worse motor and depressive symptoms than males in the course of HD progression. The importance of continuing to identify sex differences in disease phenotype, progression, and neuropathology is critical for further advancing our understanding of and treatment for individuals with HD. Disclosure: Dr. Furr-Stimming has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Amneal, Medscape. Dr. Furr-Stimming has received research support from Roche/Genetech Pharmaceuticals, Vaccinex, Uniqure.Dr. Hentosh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zhu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Furr has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pessoa Rocha has nothing to disclose.
Prospective Prediction of Depression and Anxiety by Integrating Negative Emotionality and Cognitive Vulnerabilities in Children and Adolescents

Negative emotionality (NE) and multiple cognitive vulnerabilities (CVs) (negative inferential style, brooding, self-criticism, dependency, dysfunctional attitudes) independently predict internalizing outcomes. The present study examined whether NE and CVs could be structurally integrated into a common factor reflecting shared variance across risks, and specific factors reflecting unique variance in risks. We evaluated the validity and utility of this integrated model via prospective prediction of future depression and anxiety compared to alternative models (NE and CVs individually, a correlated factor model). Youth from a large community sample (N = 571; M = 13.58 years old; 55% girls, 44% boys) reported on NE and CVs. Depression and anxiety symptoms based on youth report, and disorder onset based on youth and caregiver diagnostic interviews were assessed over a 1½ years follow-up. Results supported a structural model including a general NE-CV dimension and specific dimensions for NE, common cognitive risk, negative inferential style, and brooding; model invariance was obtained from late childhood through late adolescence and for girls and boys. The integrated general NE-CV factor more consistently and strongly predicted future depressive (β = 0.58) and anxiety (β = 0.56) symptoms, and onsets of depression (OR = 1.81) and anxiety (OR = 2.23) relative to NE and CV risk dimensions across alternative models (ps < .01). The general NE-CV dimension represents an important means to efficiently represent transdiagnostic risk for internalizing outcomes among youth.
Alternative sensitivity analyses for regression estimates of treatment effects to unobserved confounding in binary and survival data

Estimates of treatment effects in non-experimental studies are subject to bias owing to unobserved confounding. It is desirable to assess the sensitivity of an estimated treatment effect to a hypothetical unmeasured confounder, U. A commonly used approach to sensitivity analysis requires two parameters: one parameter relates U to the treatment and the other relates it to the outcome. The method uses a simple algebraic formula with these two parameters to relate the true treatment effect to the apparent treatment effect, obtained from a reduced model without U. This formula approximately holds for logistic and proportional hazards models, which are frequently used to model binary and survival outcomes. This approximation works with an assumption that the absolute regression coefficient for the unmeasured confounder is small. Therefore, when the unmeasured confounding is relatively large, the formula will not perform well. In this article, we propose alternative sensitivity analysis methods for binary and survival outcomes. We develop sensitivity analysis formulas for treatment effect estimates under probit and additive hazard models, which are alternatives to the logistic and proportional hazards models, respectively. The proposed formulae hold without any approximations. We also discuss a method to postulate reasonable values of the sensitivity parameters using the observed covariates. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed formulae perform well for moderate and severe unmeasured confounding even when the model used for the sensitivity analysis is moderately mis-specified. The practical utility of the approach is illustrated in two example studies.
Effects of an Amino-Terminal Fragment of Substance P on Brain Dopamine and Serotonin Metabolism

Central or peripheral administration of substance P (SP) produces a number of effects on behavior. In mice, SP decreases isolation-induced aggressive [1] and nociceptive [2] behaviors. SP alters several measures of spontaneous motor behavior in rats and mice [3]. Intraventricular (ICIT) SP dramatically enhances groaning and scratching behavior in mice [4], but not rats [5], while locomotion, sniffing and hindlimb rearing behavior are enhanced in both species [6,7].
Response of Torsionally Excited Foundations

Investigated herein are two aspects of the response of a rigid massless foundation of circular plane which is supported at the surface of a homogeneous elastic half space and is excited by a torque about an axis normal to the foundation. A simple discrete model, characterized by frequency-independent parameters, has been presented for a torsionally-excited circular foundation supported at the surface of an elastic half space. In addition, closed form expressions have been presented for the impulse response functions of the system. The response functions considered include the rotation associated with a unit impulsive torque, and the torque associated with a unit impulsive rotation. With the aid of these functions, the response of the system to an arbitrary excitation and the force associated with a prescribed response may be evaluated by direct integration in the time domain.
Surveillance metrics sensitivity study.

In September of 2009, a Tri-Lab team was formed to develop a set of metrics relating to the NNSA nuclear weapon surveillance program. The purpose of the metrics was to develop a more quantitative and/or qualitative metric(s) describing the results of realized or non-realized surveillance activities on our confidence in reporting reliability and assessing the stockpile. As a part of this effort, a statistical sub-team investigated various techniques and developed a complementary set of statistical metrics that could serve as a foundation for characterizing aspects of meeting the surveillance program objectives. The metrics are a combination of tolerance limit calculations and power calculations, intending to answer level-of-confidence type questions with respect to the ability to detect certain undesirable behaviors (catastrophic defects, margin insufficiency defects, and deviations from a model). Note that the metrics are not intended to gauge product performance but instead the adequacy of surveillance. This report gives a short description of four metrics types that were explored and the results of a sensitivity study conducted to investigate their behavior for various inputs. The results of the sensitivity study can be used to set the risk parameters that specify the level of stockpile problem that the surveillance program shouldmore » be addressing.« less
Ultrafast field-polarization dynamics in an optically pumped semiconductor microcavity laser

Summary form only given. The polarization properties of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL) originate in the change of electron total angular momentum J/sub z/ projected along the vertical axis for transitions from the conduction to the valence band. For quantum wells, J/sub z/=/spl plusmn/1/2 for the conduction band, and J/sub z/=/spl plusmn/3/2 for the heavy hole valence band, the highest energy valence band in unstrained quantum wells. The dipole allowed transitions are between J/sub z/=-1/2 and J/sub z/=-3/2 producing right circularly polarized light and between J/sub z/=+1/2 and J/sub z/=+3/2 producing left circularly polarized light. In CW, electrically pumped VCSELs, polarization states and fluctuations are well described by a model based on these transitions (San Miguel et al, 1995). We are investigating the polarization properties of VCSELs optically pumped with ultrashort pulses (<1 ps) which allows us to control the relative population of the angular momentum states and monitor the development of the intensity, noise, and correlations of the polarized-modes as a function of time.
Calculation of Spall Damage Accumulation in Ductile Metals

In this article we review a theory of viscoplastic flow with spall damage accumulation, and describe its incorporation into a computer code for solving problems of propagation of plane waves of uniaxial strain. Solutions for plate-impact problems covering the range of sample thickness and impact velocity normally encountered in experimental investigations are discussed and shown to be in qualitative accord with observation. Calculated results are successfully interpreted in terms of existing spall criteria, indicating again the qualitative agreement of the new results with prior experience. These comparisons provide an indication of the range of validity of the simpler criteria.
Princípios filosóficos e pedagógicos da educação a distância no Unilasalle

O presente artigo tem por objeto discutir e divulgar os principios filosoficos e pedagogicos da Educacao a Distância do Unilasalle. Entre os principios pedagogicos privilegiados neste trabalho, destacamos os principios da: construcao, interacao, equilibracao, mediacao, cooperacao e autonomia. Palavras-Chave: Principios filosoficos e pedagogicos da educacao a distância, informatica da educacao, educacao a distância. Abstract: This article presents the philosophical and pedagogical principles of Distance Education at Unilasalle. The principles are focused on construction, interaction, balance, mediation, cooperation and autonomy. Keywords: Philosophical and pedagogical principles, informatics in education, distance education.
A finite difference method for analyzing the compression of poro-viscoelastic media

The progress of compression of a water saturated porous medium is derivable from the equation of continuity,Darcy's law, and an appropriate effective stressdilation relationship. Theories of secondary consolidation assume that the effective stress-dilatation relationship is time-dependent. One form of this type of characterization is a system of linear viscoelastic models. The system chosen consists of an elastic element in series with an arbitrary number ofKelvin units. The formulation of this system is a differential-integral equation. The integral portions of the equation are a series of convolution integrals. A finite difference scheme is developed in which the single governing differential-integral equation is broken up into a system of equations of the heat conduction andEuler types. A stability theorem is proved.
The Amino Acid Sequence of Cytochrome b5

Abstract Calf liver microsomal apocytochrome b5 was hydrolyzed with chymotrypsin and the resulting peptides were resolved on a Dowex 1 column. The isolation and partial amino acid sequences of the 10 chymotryptic peptides are described. The total amino acid composition of these peptides is equal to the sum of the residues present in the tryptic peptides. On the basis of the data obtained for the chymotryptic peptides the order of the tryptic peptides was established. This information, combined with the known sequences of the tryptic peptides, provided sufficient evidence to construct a unique amino acid sequence for the 85 amino acid residues in cytochrome b5.
A comparison of hard filters and soft evidence for answer typing in watson

Questions often explicitly request a particular type of answer. One popular approach to answering natural language questions involves filtering candidate answers based on precompiled lists of instances of common answer types (e.g., countries, animals, foods, etc.). Such a strategy is poorly suited to an open domain in which there is an extremely broad range of types of answers, and the most frequently occurring types cover only a small fraction of all answers. In this paper we present an alternative approach called TyCor, that employs soft filtering of candidates using multiple strategies and sources. We find that TyCor significantly outperforms a single-source, single-strategy hard filtering approach, demonstrating both that multi-source multi-strategy outperforms a single source, single strategy, and that its fault tolerance yields significantly better performance than a hard filter.
Prospects of β-Secretase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

β-Secretase continues to be an attractive drug discovery target for the therapeutic intervention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This enzyme plays a critical role in the production of neurotoxic β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides in the brain. Over the years, extensive research efforts have led to the development of many promising classes of inhibitors against this protease. Many small-molecule, peptidomimetic, and nonpeptide β-secretase inhibitors have now overcome the key challenging development hurdles such as selectivity and brain penetration. A number of inhibitors have also shown further promise in reducing brain Aβ and rescuing cognitive decline in animal models. Recently, several β-secretase inhibitors have entered into preclinical and phase I studies, and at least one of these inhibitors has advanced to phase II/III human trials. The outlook on β-secretase inhibitor drugs for the treatment of AD patients is discussed herein.
Quantitative analysis of herpes simplex virus type 1-specific memory B cells generated by different routes of infection

We compared the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV)-specific memory B cell (MBC) populations generated by footpad and intranasal infection in mice. Both routes of infection generated transient antibody-secreting cell responses in the draining lymph nodes and spleen, and sustained circulating IgG. HSV-specific IgG MBCs, analyzed by limiting dilution assay approximately 8 weeks after infection, were distributed in a range of lymph nodes and in the spleen and Peyer's patches. Overall, the route of infection had little effect on the MBC frequency in each anatomical location. Interestingly, after both routes of infection there was a trend towards preferential MBC accumulation in the mediastinal lymph node. Intravaginal challenge of mice primed by footpad or intranasal infection generated similar secondary IgG responses. Our findings indicate that the widespread dispersion of MBCs to lymphoid tissues throughout the body is largely independent of the route of infection, but may be influenced by tissue-specific factors.
Electron stimulated decomposition of fluorocarbons on amorphous hydrogenated carbon ( a -CH x ) overcoats used in data storage media

The electron-induced surface chemistry of perfluoropolyalkylether (PFPE) lubricants on a-CHx films has been probed by studying the impact of free electrons on perfluorodiethylether, (CF3CF2)2O, and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, CF3CH2OH, as models of the chemical functionality of PFPE lubricants such as Fomblin Zdol. Electron-stimulated decomposition of (CF3CF2)2O and CF3CH2OH on fresh and oxidized a-CHx is observed when the sample is unbiased and in the presence of 70 eV free electrons. Electron-induced decomposition is indicated by the deposition of fluorine onto the surface of the a-CHx film following desorption of molecular (CF3CF2)2O and CF3CH2OH by heating in front of a mass spectrometer. Biasing the sample to −80 V successfully eliminates the decomposition by preventing the impingement of electrons onto the surface. The electron-stimulated decomposition of PFPE lubricants may contribute to lubricant decomposition during normal drive operation.
Analysis of the excess Inter-Arrival Time distribution

A critical element in relieving airport capacity constraints is to minimize longitudinal spacing between aircraft pairs that are in-trail on final approach. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has defined minimum separation standards that controllers need to follow when directing arrivals during instrument meteorological conditions. Excess Inter-Arrival Time (IAT) between arrivals may occur in addition to the FAA minimum separation standards. This excess time could be due to a number of factors including speed variations between the two aircraft in the arrival pair, pilot techniques, wind speeds and conservative air traffic management. The spacing and distribution of excess IAT between aircraft in instrument approach conditions is an important factor when modeling airport capacities.
Field results from a combined metal/GPR developmental handheld mine detector known as Balanced Bridge

Realistic field evaluations on the performance of hand-held mine detectors has until recently been limited to large bulky commercial test equipment instrumental with a network analyzer and computer controls. The Army's Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate's Mine Detection Branch has just recently successfully completed field performance evaluations of new hand-held sensors at the Close-In Man Portable Mine Detector (CIMMD) Advanced Technology Demonstrations (ATD). Described in this paper will be one of the hand-held mine detector technologies evaluated at the CIMMD ATD and it's associated measured field performance results.