cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using a Retrospective Pretest to Measure Learning in Professional Development Programs

Millions of dollars are spent annually on professional development, and designers of training events recognize they must demonstrate to all stakeholders the value added by these programs. The purpose of this study was to measure the learning that occurred during professional development seminars for community college academic department chairs. The research question was the following: What increases in knowledge and skills did program participants attribute to their training experience? Using Alliger and Janak's model for levels of learning as a conceptual framework, data were collected through a preliminary questionnaire on learning needs, session and overall evaluations, and a retrospective pretest addressing 35 knowledge and skill areas. Statistical analysis of retrospective pretest results for six areas identified by participants as priorities indicated that participants felt learning had occurred as a result of the seminar (significant at .0001 level). The retrospective pretest instrument was deemed ...
Electron cloud and pressure rise simulations for RHIC

Beam induced electron multipacting may be among the main reasons for the vacuum pressure rise when circulating high intensity ion and proton beams in RHIC. Latest simulation results are benchmarked with recent experimental observations for RHIC, and compared to other general computer codes. The influence of the electron multipacting to the vacuum properties is also discussed.
Isolation and characterization of products formed by the action of trypsin on insulin.

An examination of the Sanger structure of insulin (2) reveals that the one lysine and the one arginine in the molecule occur outside of the cystine bridges and in the last eight amino acid residues of the peptide chain having phenylalanine as the NHtterminal residue (B chain). Trypsin would be expected to cleave alanine and the heptapeptide, Gly . Phe . Phe . Tyr . Thr . Pro. Lys, from the molecule leaving a large portion of the molecule, desoctapeptide-insulin, intact. Sanger and Tuppy (3) and later Feitelson and Partridge (4) detected alanine and the heptapeptide on paper chromatograms of the products of tryptic digestion of the oxidized B chain of insulin, Harris and Li (5) obtained the same paper chromatographic pattern from tryptic digestion of crystalline zinc-insulin. Nicol and Smith (6, 7) have reported studies on the isolation of desoctapeptide-insulin (designated DHA-insulin by these investigators). They originally reported that desoctapeptide-insulin was biologically inactive in rabbits (6). However, Nicol recently (7) reported that desoctapeptide-insulin possessed about 15% of the biological activity of insulin in the lowering of the blood sugar of rabbits and also in the uptake of glucose by the rat diaphragm. Our studies were initiated several years ago with the idea of developing procedures for the preparation, isolation, and characterization of desoctapeptide-insulin. We used a somewhat different approach to the problem than that of Nicol and have obtained what appear to be conflicting results with regard to the biological activity of the desoctapeptide-insulin.
Group testing and sparse signal recovery

Traditionally, group testing is a design problem. The goal is to design an optimally efficient set of tests of items such that the test results contain enough information to determine a small subset of items of interest. It has its roots in the statistics community and was originally designed for the selective service during World War II to remove men with syphilis from the draft. It appears in many forms, including coin-weighing problems, experimental designs, and public health. We are interested in both the design of tests and the design of an efficient algorithm that works with the tests to determine the group of interest because many of the same techniques that are useful for designing tests are also used to solve algorithmic problems in compressive sensing, as well as to analyze and recover statistical quantities from streaming data. This article is an expository article, with the purpose of examining the relationship between group testing and compressive sensing, along with their applications and connections to sparse function learning.
CoinFLP: a system for efficient mosaic screening and for visualizing clonal boundaries in Drosophila

Screens in mosaic Drosophila tissues that use chemical mutagenesis have identified many regulators of growth and patterning. Many of the mutant phenotypes observed were contingent upon the presence of both wild-type and mutant cells in the same tissue. More recently, large collections of RNAi lines or cDNAs expressed under Gal4/UAS control have been used to alter gene expression uniformly in specific tissues. However, these newer approaches are not easily combined with the efficient generation of genetic mosaics. The CoinFLP system described here enables mosaic screens in the context of gene knockdown or overexpression by automatically generating a reliable ratio of mutant to wild-type tissue in a developmentally controlled manner. CoinFLP-Gal4 generates mosaic tissues composed of clones of which only a subset expresses Gal4. CoinFLP-LexGAD/Gal4 generates tissues composed of clones that express either Gal4 or LexGAD, thus allowing the study of interactions between different types of genetically manipulated cells. By combining CoinFLP-LexGAD/Gal4 with the split-GFP system GRASP, boundaries between genetically distinct cell populations can be visualized at high resolution.
Nanosilver induces minimal lung toxicity or inflammation in a subacute murine inhalation model

There is increasing interest in the environmental and health consequences of silver nanoparticles as the use of this material becomes widespread. Although human exposure to nanosilver is increasing, only a few studies address possible toxic effect of inhaled nanosilver. The objective of this study was to determine whether very small commercially available nanosilver induces pulmonary toxicity in mice following inhalation exposure. In this study, mice were exposed sub-acutely by inhalation to well-characterized nanosilver (3.3 mg/m3, 4 hours/day, 10 days, 5 ± 2 nm primary size). Toxicity was assessed by enumeration of total and differential cells, determination of total protein, lactate dehydrogenase activity and inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Lungs were evaluated for histopathologic changes and the presence of silver. In contrast to published in vitro studies, minimal inflammatory response or toxicity was found following exposure to nanosilver in our in vivo study. The median retained dose of nanosilver in the lungs measured by inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was 31 μg/g lung (dry weight) immediately after the final exposure, 10 μg/g following exposure and a 3-wk rest period and zero in sham-exposed controls. Dissolution studies showed that nanosilver did not dissolve in solutions mimicking the intracellular or extracellular milieu. Mice exposed to nanosilver showed minimal pulmonary inflammation or cytotoxicity following sub-acute exposures. However, longer term exposures with higher lung burdens of nanosilver are needed to ensure that there are no chronic effects and to evaluate possible translocation to other organs.
Global teamwork for a global resource

OCLC used a team including two software-consulting groups---one in California and the other New York---to build a new production system to produce multilevel, multilingual help and documentation for its FirstSearch service. For translations, the team included translators and reviewers in several countries. The principles for building effective teams across great distances are the same as those when building a team in your own building.
FARA-a framework for adaptive resource allocation in complex real-time systems

The paper introduces FARA, a framework that provides abstractions and mechanisms for building integrated adaptation and resource allocation services in complex real time systems. FARA's design addresses: (1) the specification of the adaptation capabilities of general domain applications with multiple adaptive components; and (2) the control of the adaptation impact on the satisfiability of an application's timing constraints during its transition to targeted steady state. We propose to use of a hierarchical adaptation model, to control the adaptation enactment overhead based on the costs of executing the application specific adaptation procedures, and to reduce the decision overhead by use of effective solutions for mechanisms frequently invoked during the decision process, such as the decision context management and the allocation decision evaluation.
Anticardiolipin antibodies in polymyalgia rheumatica-Giant cell arteritis: Association with severe vascular complications☆

Abstract purpose: We studied a group of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) with or without biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) in order to determine the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) in these disorders and their association with vascular complications. patients and methods: The study consisted of 50 patients, 30 with PMR alone and 20 with associated GCA. Determinations of IgG and IgM aCL by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were done in the patients and in 50 age- and sexmatched healthy control subjects. We also measured von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen, Creactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. results: Twenty-four (48%) of the 50 patients had aCL. Eleven were positive for IgG and five for IgM, whereas eight were positive for both. In the group of patients with PMR alone, only eight (26.6%) had aCL, while 16 of 20 patients (80%) with GCA had these antibodies (p conclusion: This study demonstrates that aCL are prevalent in patients with GCA. These antibodies might imply severe vascular damage and could play an important role in the pathogenesis of the vasculopathy observed in this disease.
Health Insurers’ Financial Performance and Quality Improvement Expenditures in the Affordable Care Act’s Second Year

The Affordable Care Act requires health insurers to rebate any amounts less than 80%–85% of their premiums that they fail to spend on medical claims or quality improvement. This study uses the new comprehensive reporting under this law to examine changes in insurers’ financial performance and differences in their quality improvement expenditures. In the ACA’s second year (2012), insurers’ median medical loss ratios continued to increase and their median administrative cost ratios dropped, producing moderate operating margins in the group markets but a small operating loss in the individual market, at the median. For-profit insurers showed larger changes, in general, than did nonprofits. For quality improvement, insurers reported spending a significantly greater amount per member in their government plans than they did on their self-insured members, with spending on commercial insurance being in between these two extremes. The magnitude and source of these differences varied by corporate ownership.
Classification of malnutrition in cystic fibrosis: implications for evaluating and benchmarking clinical practice performance

BACKGROUND In 2005, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) revised the nutrition classification guidelines to eliminate the use of percentage of ideal body weight (%IBW) to define "nutritional failure"; the CFF also recommended that children with cystic fibrosis maintain a body mass index percentile (BMIp) > or = 50th. OBJECTIVE We assessed the effect of the 2005 CFF nutrition classification guidelines on evaluating the performance of nutritional care practices. DESIGN Data from 14,702 children reported to the 2002 CFF Patient Registry were analyzed to compare malnutrition rates in 113 cystic fibrosis centers in the United States. Nutritional failure was defined according to the 2002 CFF criteria--ie, height < 5th percentile, %IBW < 90%, or BMIp < 10th. "Below BMI goal" was defined according to the 2005 CFF criterion, ie BMIp < 50th. RESULTS Eliminating %IBW resulted in a 6% reduction (from 33% to 27%) in the nutritional failure rate in the United States. The use of BMIp < 50th led to the classification of 57% of children as below the BMI goal. Misclassification of nutritional failure according to %IBW ranged from 1% to 16% among 113 centers and was greater in the centers with a larger proportion of tall patients. After the elimination of %IBW, one-third of centers changed to a different tertile ranking for nutritional failure rates (kappa = 0.50, moderate-to-poor agreement). More than half the centers changed to a different tertile ranking, from nutritional failure to below BMI goal (kappa = 0.22, poor agreement). CONCLUSION Eliminating misclassification by %IBW and implementing the new BMI goal led to profound and unequal changes in malnutrition rates across cystic fibrosis centers.
A dendrochronology program library in R (dplR)

Abstract I present and describe a new software package in the R statistical programming environment for dendrochronology. R is considered the world's pre-eminent open-source statistical computing environment where users can contribute packages, which are freely available on the Internet. The dendrochronology program library in R (dplR) is able to read standard decadal-format files and allows users to perform several standard analyses including interactive detrending, chronology building, and the calculation of standard descriptive statistics. The package can also produce a variety of publication quality plots. The dplR package should make it easier for dendrochronologists to take advantage of R and use it as their primary analytic environment.
Long lasting inhibitors of the gastric H,K-ATPase.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are acid-activated prodrugs that covalently bind to the gastric H,K-ATPase on its luminal surface. Only active pumps can be inhibited. The short plasma residence time of current PPIs prevents inhibition of pumps synthesized or activated after the PPI has disappeared, limiting the degree of acid inhibition even with twice-daily administration. PPIs with a longer residence time should improve acid control. Various K+ competitive inhibitors of the pump are being developed (acid pump antagonists or potassium-competitive acid blockers), with the advantage of complete inhibition of acid secretion independent of pump activity. Early data on these suggest that twice daily administration would improve acid control compared with PPIs.
Simulated Siberian snow cover response to observed Arctic sea ice loss, 1979-2008

[1] The loss of Arctic sea ice has wide-ranging impacts, some of which are readily apparent and some of which remain obscure. For example, recent observational studies suggest that terrestrial snow cover may be affected by decreasing sea ice. Here, we examine a possible causal link between Arctic sea ice and Siberian snow cover during the past 3 decades using a suite of experiments with the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Atmospheric Model version 3. The experiments were designed to isolate the influence of surface conditions within the Arctic Ocean from other forcing agents such as low-latitude sea surface temperatures and direct radiative effects of increasing greenhouse gases. Only those experiments that include the observed evolution of Arctic sea ice and sea surface temperatures result in increased snow depth over Siberia, while those that maintain climatological values for Arctic Ocean conditions result in no snow signal over Siberia. In the former, Siberian precipitation and air temperature both increase, but because surface air temperatures remain below freezing during most months, the snowpack thickens over this region. These results suggest that Arctic Ocean surface forcing is necessary and sufficient to induce a Siberian snow signal, and that other forcings in combination can modulate the strength and geographic extent of the response.
Characterization of aroma compounds in the peel extract of Jabara (Citrus jabara Hort. ex Tanaka)

Volatile compounds in the peel extract of Jabara (Citrus jabara Hort. ex Tanaka), a Japanese sour citrus, have been investigated using GC-FID, GC-MS and GC-olfactometry. The peel extract was obtained by solvent-assisted flavour evaporation after solvent extraction. The GC-FID and GC-MS analyses led to the identification of 49 compounds, including myrcene (46.8%), limonene (28.2%) and γ-terpinene (15.5%) as major constituents. Interestingly, the level of myrcene was much higher than that of limonene known as the main volatile constituent in citrus peel. This specific composition indicated that Jabara was a rare species among citrus fruits. Application of aroma extract dilution analysis revealed 22 odour-active compounds with the flavour dilution (FD) factor ranged from 8 to 16 384, and 19 of these compounds were identified. Myrcene, which showed the highest FD factor of 16 384, was regarded as the most character impact odorant in the Jabara peel extract. It should be noted that (3E,5Z)-1,3,5-undecatriene (FD = 512), (3E,5Z,8Z)-1,3,5,8-undecatetraene (FD = 256), 1,3,5,7-undecatetraene (unknown stereochemistry, FD = 256) and (6Z,8E)-6,8,10-undecatrien-3-one (FD = 16) were detected as potent odorants with green and fruity aroma, despite their trace levels in the extract. In addition to these, 7-methyl-1,6-octadien-3-one, having a metallic and mushroom-like odour, was identified as a further key contributor to the aroma of Jabara peel extract. This novel odorant has been reported for the first time as a volatile constituent in a natural product. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling long-period noise in kinematic GPS applications

We develop and test an algorithm for modeling and removing elevation error in kinematic GPS trajectories in the context of a kinematic GPS survey of the salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. Noise in the kinematic trajectory ranges over 15 cm and is highly autocorrelated, resulting in significant contamination of the topographic signal. We solve for a noise model using crossover differences at trajectory intersections as constraints in a least-squares inversion. Validation of the model using multiple realizations of synthetic/simulated noise shows an average decrease in root-mean-square-error (RMSE) by a factor of four. Applying the model to data from the salar de Uyuni survey, we find that crossover differences drop by a factor of eight (from an RMSE of 5.6 to 0.7 cm), and previously obscured topographic features are revealed in a plan view of the corrected trajectory. We believe that this algorithm can be successfully adapted to other survey methods that employ kinematic GPS for positioning.
Higher Order Chromatin Structures in Maize and Arabidopsis

We are investigating the nature of plant genome domain organization by using DNase I- and topoisomerase II-mediated cleavage to produce domains reflecting higher order chromatin structures. Limited digestion of nuclei with DNase I results in the conversion of the >800 kb genomic DNA to an accumulation of fragments that represents a collection of individual domains of the genome created by preferential cleavage at super-hypersensitive regions. The median size of these fragments is approximately 45 kb in maize and approximately 25 kb in Arabidopsis. Hybridization analyses with specific gene probes revealed that individual genes occupy discrete domains within the distribution created by DNase I. The maize alcohol dehydrogenase Adh1 gene occupies a domain of 90 kb, and the maize general regulatory factor GRF1 gene occupies a domain of 100 kb in length. Arabidopsis Adh was found within two distinct domains of 8.3 and 6.1 kb, whereas an Arabidopsis GRF gene occupies a single domain of 27 kb. The domains created by topoisomerase II-mediated cleavage are identical in size to those created by DNase I. These results imply that the genome is not packaged by means of a random gathering of the genome into domains of indiscriminate length but rather that the genome is gathered into specific domains and that a gene consistently occupies a discrete physical section of the genome. Our proposed model is that these large organizational domains represent the fundamental structural loop domains created by attachment of chromatin to the nuclear matrix at loop basements. These loop domains may be distinct from the domains created by the matrix attachment regions that typically flank smaller, often functionally distinct sections of the genome.
Diffraction transforms in homogeneous birefringent media

The Fresnel–Kirchhoff free-space diffraction transform is generalized to describe paraxial-beam propagation in homogeneous birefringent media, extending Fourier optics to anisotropic homogeneous media. Canonical operator formalism is used for the derivation. The method is applied to designing an optical Fourier transformer in a biaxial crystal.
Count Leo Thun: A Conservative Savior of Educational Reform in the Decade of Neoabsolutism

Since theCounter-Reformation, education in Catholic Europe was in the hands of the church. Over the course of the eighteenth century, various rulers attempted to break this monopoly by increasing secular control over schools. Their record was very uneven. In Habsburg lands, the first significant reforms occurred during the reign of Maria Theresa (1740–80), who stated that “education is, and shall remain for all time, a Politicum,” that is, the business of the state.
Increasing Use of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception to Decrease Unplanned Pregnancy

Unintended pregnancy remains high in the United States, accounting for one-half of pregnancies. Both contraceptive nonuse and imperfect use contribute to unplanned pregnancies. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) have greater efficacy than shorter acting methods. Data from large studies show that unplanned pregnancy rates are lower among women using LARC. However, overall use of LARC is low; of the reproductive age women using contraception, less than 10% are LARC users. Barriers include lack of knowledge and high up-front cost, and prevent more widespread use. Overcoming these barriers and increasing the number of women using LARC will decrease unplanned pregnancies and abortions.
Polymer-Based Prodrugs: Improving Tumor Targeting and the Solubility of Small Molecule Drugs in Cancer Therapy

The majority of anticancer drugs have poor aqueous solubility, produce adverse effects in healthy tissue, and thus impose major limitations on both clinical efficacy and therapeutic safety of cancer chemotherapy. To help circumvent problems associated with solubility, most cancer drugs are now formulated with co-solubilizers. However, these agents often also introduce severe side effects, thereby restricting effective treatment and patient quality of life. A promising approach to addressing problems in anticancer drug solubility and selectivity is their conjugation with polymeric carriers to form polymer-based prodrugs. These polymer-based prodrugs are macromolecular carriers, designed to increase the aqueous solubility of antitumor drugs, can enhance bioavailability. Additionally, polymer-based prodrugs approach exploits unique features of tumor physiology to passively facilitate intratumoral accumulation, and so improve chemodrug pharmacokinetics and pharmacological properties. This review introduces basic concepts of polymer-based prodrugs, provides an overview of currently emerging synthetic, natural, and genetically engineered polymers that now deliver anticancer drugs in preclinical or clinical trials, and highlights their major anticipated applications in anticancer therapies.
Current Controversies in the Management of Colon and Rectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women, after prostate and lung/bronchus in men and breast and lung/bronchus in women. The American Cancer Society (ACS) expects an estimated 136,830 new diagnoses of colon and rectal cancer in 2014. Fortunately, the incidence of colorectal cancer has been decreasing steadily since the mid-1980s. This decrease is most likely related to an increase in screening tests that can identify and allow removal of lesions before they can transform into cancer. The ACS expects an estimated 50,310 deaths from colorectal cancer in 2014, which accounts for 8 % of all cancer deaths in men and 9 % of cancer deaths in women. There has been a similar decrease in mortality since the mid-1980s with a sharper decline in the past decade approaching a 2.5 % decline per year in men and a 3 % decline in women. Colorectal cancer is a highly treatable and frequently curable malignancy when detected early, highlighting the need for improved screening modalities and strategies.
Assessing the efficacy of drugs for the acute treatment of migraine: issues in clinical trial design.

Clinical trials of therapies for acute migraine attacks have evolved over the years from open-label, small observational studies to highly structured randomised, controlled trials. The International Headache Society Committee on Clinical Trials in Migraine developed a tool to guide in designing scientifically sound trials. The proof of effect is best achieved in a clinical trial with: (i) clearly defined objectives; (ii) a well-characterised study population, identified using well-validated diagnostic tools; (iii) proper randomisation and blinding; (iv) inclusion of a placebo arm, with proper balancing of patients receiving placebo and those receiving active drug; (v) adequate study power; and (vi) appropriate statistical methods. Roth narallel and crossover studies may be suitable in clinical trials of antimipraine agents, although the latter are a better choice in patient preference and bioequivalence studies. Although various efficacy measures are used to assess treatment effect, the 2-hour pain free rate (total resolution of pain within 2 hours after an initial moderate to severe headache) is preferred because it is clinically relevant and is relatively ‘placebo-insensitive’. Various migraine surveys have indicated that a rapid onset of therapeutic effect is a highly desirable attribute of an antimigraine drug. Therefore, accurate measurements of treatment effect before 2 hours are becoming increasingly emphasised. Consistency of effect across multiple attacks adds to the understanding of the therapeutic efficacy of a test drug. Finally, preference and satisfaction studies allow us to assess patients’ global impression of a particular treatment, weighing the positive effects on pain and associated symptoms of migraine against potential adverse effects.
Neonatal HSV infection Part II: Obstetric considerations -- a tale of hospitals in two cities (Seattle and Atlanta, USA).

This article presents various aspects of maternal genital and neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 and HSV-2 infection for hospitals in two cities in the USA -- Seattle and Atlanta -- to serve as models for the different subpopulations within developed and developing countries. Reasons are given for the disparity between the increasing rates of genital HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections observed in several areas of the world and the general low rates of newborn herpes noted in sites other than some hospitals in Seattle Atlanta. Cincinnati and Helsinki. A key reason for the disparity appears to be the continuing difficulty in diagnosing maternal genital herpes and neonatal herpes. Contributing factors include the variability in different communities in sexual behaviour patterns and in the rates of maternal genital HSV infection caesarean sections and post-mortem procedures. Unresolved challenges in the obstetric management of genital herpes aimed at preventing neonatal herpes are also presented. (authors)
HIV Pharmacist's Impact on Inpatient Antiretroviral Errors.

Objectives Transitions in care between out-patient and in-patient settings provide ample opportunity for medication errors to occur in HIV-infected patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an HIV pharmacist monitoring service in decreasing antiretroviral medication errors in a large south central teaching hospital in the USA. Methods A retrospective, observational study was conducted to examine the frequency of antiretroviral medication errors in HIV-seropositive patients with hospital admissions between 1 September 2011 and 30 September 2013 at a single tertiary care centre in Oklahoma. Patient assignment to the 12-month pre-intervention and intervention study periods was determined by admission date. Demographic, laboratory, and in-patient medication data were collected. Bivariate analyses were conducted using χ2 analysis with the Yates correction factor for continuity to examine frequencies in specific antiretroviral classes and error categories. A multivariable Poisson regression was employed to examine the frequency of medication errors before and after initiation of the pharmacist service. Results Medication errors were examined in a total of 330 patient admissions during the 2-year study period. A multivariable-adjusted decrease of 73.9% in the number of errors was observed between the pre-intervention and intervention periods (P < 0.001). Patients on protease inhibitor regimens or with impaired renal function had 2.6-fold and 2.8-fold higher numbers of errors, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusions HIV pharmacist monitoring can decrease medication errors in HIV-infected patients as they transition between out-patient and in-patient care. Patients receiving protease inhibitor-based therapy or with renal insufficiency are at higher risk for medication errors upon admission.
Mood, major depression, and fluoxetine response in cigarette smokers.

Objective: Two smoking cessation studies provided venues to 1) look for differences in affective symptoms between cigarette smokers with and without a history ofmajor depression or other psychiatric diagnoses who were not currently depressed and 2) evaluate the efficacy offluoxetine in ameliorating affective symptoms in smokers with a history ofmajor depression but not currently depressed. Method: Part I: Three hundred sixty-eight smokers who enrolled in a smoking cessation treatment study completed baseline self-rating scales. The relationship between the scale scores and a history of major depression and other psychiatric diagnoses was examined. Part II: Thirty-nine smokers with a history ofmajor depression were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind study that examined the utility offluoxetine as an aid to smoking cessation. Self-rated scales were compared at baseline and after 3 weeks of medication treatment before the attempt to quit. Results: A history of major depression had significant main effects across all scale scores; subjects with such a history rated themselves as more symptomatic. The effects ofother psychiatric diagnoses were neither as pervasive nor as robust. There were no differences in baseline scores between the fluoxetine- and placebo-treated groups and no change within the placebo group after 3 weeks. There was significant improvement f rom baseline in several subscale scores for the group treated with fluoxetine. However, comparison ofthe score changes for the placebo and fluoxetine groups did not show a statistically significant difference, which limited the ability to conclude that active treatment was better than placebo. Conclusions: Subjects with a history of major depression, but without current affective illness, reported themselves to be more symptomatic than those without such a history. Furthermore, in a group of smokers with a history of major depression, affective symptoms, without concurrent syndromal illness, may be ameliorated by treatment with fluoxetine. (Am J Psychiatry 1995; 152:398-403)
Protein corona modulation of hepatocyte uptake and molecular mechanisms of gold nanoparticle toxicity.

AbstractProtein corona formation over gold nanoparticles (AuNP) can modulate cellular responses by altering AuNP physicochemical properties. The liver plays an essential role in metabolism, detoxification and elimination of xenobiotics and drugs as well as circulating NP clearance. We investigated human hepatic uptake of 40 and 80 nm AuNP with branched polyethylenimine (BPEI), lipoic acid (LA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) coatings as well as human plasma protein (HP) and human serum albumin (HSA) coronas. AuNP-mediated cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen/reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), and CYP activity in human hepatocytes as well as molecular mechanisms with 40 nm bare and HP BPEI–AuNP were investigated. Time-dependent increase in uptake occurred for all bare AuNP but HP and HSA decreased uptake except for 40 nm HP PEG–AuNP. BPEI–AuNP showed time-and concentration-dependent increase in ROS/RNS which correlated with cytotoxicity at 24 h. HP corona substantially reduced ROS/RNS. The 40 and 80 nm bare, HP o...
Maximum torque-per-current control of induction motors via semidefinite programming

We present a method for finding current waveforms for induction motors that minimize resistive loss while achieving a desired average torque output. Our method is not based on reference-frame theory for electric machines, and therefore directly handles induction motors with asymmetric winding patterns, nonsinusoidally distributed windings, and a general winding connection. We do not explicitly handle torque ripple or voltage constraints. Our method is based on converting the torque control problem to a nonconvex linear-quadratic control problem, which can be solved by using a (tight) semidefinite programming relaxation.
Nonlinear Finite Element Model Updating, Part II: Implementation and Simulation

Linear structural dynamic models are often used to support system design and qualification. Overall, linear models provide an efficient means for conducting design studies and augmenting test data by recovering un-instrumented or un-measurable quantities (e.g. stress). Nevertheless, the use of linear models often adds significant conservatism in design and qualification programs by failing to capture critical mechanisms for energy dissipation. Unfortunately, the use of explicit nonlinear models can require unacceptably large efforts in model development and experimental characterization to account for common nonlinearities such as frictional interfaces, macro-slip, and other complex material behavior. The computational requirements are also greater by orders of magnitude. Conversely, modal models are much more computationally efficient and experimentally have shown the ability to capture typical structural nonlinearity. Thus, this work will seek to use modal nonlinear identification techniques to improve the predictive capability of a finite element structural dynamics model.
Autonomous Agents based Dynamic Distributed (A2D2) Intrusion Detection System

In this paper, we propose a highly-configurable, wellintegrated Autonomous Agents based Dynamic Distributed (A2D2) intrusion detection framework. A2D2 supports a hybrid, integrated and flexible intrusion detection model which consists of a family of intrusion detection agents. Agents can dynamically download and install appropriate modules, signatures and policy files from the central server based on operational requirements.A group key management system is used to provide secure and scalable group communication and group management in A2D2. Flexible intrusion response mechanisms are designed. A data fusion and event analysis engine (mEngine) and an object-based intrusion modeling language (mLanguage) are also designed. Both mEngine and mLanguage are domain-independent.
Mesocosm Studies on the Efficacy of Bioamended Activated Carbon for Treating PCB-Impacted Sediment

This report describes results of a bench-scale treatability study to evaluate the efficacy of bioaugmentation with bioamended activated carbon (AC) for in situ treatment of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) impacted sediments. To this end, the ability of PCB transforming microorganisms to degrade and reduce the overall concentration of PCBs in sediment was determined in 2 L recirculating mesocosms designed to simulate conditions in Abraham’s Creek in Quantico, Virginia. Ten sediment mesocosms were tested for the effects of AC alone, AC with slow release electron donor (cellulose) and different concentrations and combinations of PCB dehalogenating and degrading microorganisms added as bioamendments. A 78% reduction of total PCBs was observed using a cell titer of 5 × 105 Dehalobium chlorocoercia and Paraburkholderia xenovorans cells g–1 sediment with 1.5% AC as a delivery system. Levels of both higher and lower chlorinated congeners were reduced throughout the sediment column indicating that both anaerobic re...
Gene and Cell Therapy for β-Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease with Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs): The Next Frontier

In recent years, breakthroughs in human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) research, namely cellular reprogramming and the emergence of sophisticated genetic engineering technologies, have opened new frontiers for cell and gene therapy. The prospect of using hPSCs, either autologous or histocompatible, as targets of genetic modification and their differentiated progeny as cell products for transplantation, presents a new paradigm of regenerative medicine of potential tremendous value for the treatment of blood disorders, including beta-thalassemia (BT) and sickle cell disease (SCD). Despite advances at a remarkable pace and great promise, many roadblocks remain before clinical translation can be realistically considered. Here we discuss the theoretical advantages of cell therapies utilizing hPSC derivatives, recent proof-of-principle studies and the main challenges towards realizing the potential of hPSC therapies in the clinic.
Association of the muscle hypertrophy locus with carcass traits in beef cattle.

A locus near the centromere of bovine chromosome 2 is responsible for muscle hypertrophy (mh) in cattle. The objectives of this study were to refine the genomic region in which the locus resides and to assess the effects of a single copy of the mh allele on carcass and birth traits. Two half-sib families were developed using a Belgian Blue x MARC III (n = 246) or a Piedmontese x Angus (n = 209) sire. Traits analyzed were calving ease (CE), birth weight (BWT, kg), longissimus rib eye area (REA), retail product yield (RPYD), USDA yield grade (YG), marbling (MAR), fat thickness (FAT), estimated kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (KPH), and longissimus tenderness measured as Warner-Bratzler shear force at 3 (S3) and 14 (S14) d postmortem. Six microsatellites were used to determine the presence or absence of the mh allele and to confirm the location of the locus affecting the traits, which was assessed to be 4 cM from the beginning of the linkage group, with the 95% confidence interval between 2 and 6 cM. Cattle with an mh allele had increased (P .10) for CE, S3, and S14. Allelic differences due to the mh locus were similar for both sources (Belgian Blue or Piedmontese). Individuals inheriting a single mh allele had a leaner, more heavily muscled carcass compared with those inheriting the alternative allele. Thus, mating schemes that maximize production of mh/+ genotypes provide a viable approach for improving carcass composition.
Lachmann practiced humanomics, beyond the dogma of behaviorism

Ludwig Lachmann knew that economists walked on both feet, the quantitative, positivistic one and the qualitative, humanistic one. He was practicing “humanomics” before the word. Decisions about categories are humanistic, as in philosophy, theology, literary study, mathematics (prime number/not), physics (proton/neutron), and economics (monopoly/competition). Then the field measures, if it gets to it. Lachmann understood, for example, that there is a vital distinction between mere reaction to price stimulus (thus De Gustibus) and true, free human action. For example, he was properly hostile to the Northian/Samuelsonian account of institutions as mere rules of the game. And he would have approved of an account of the Great Enrichment 1800 to the present that features language and persuasion and human creativity.
Investor sentiment and market fundamentals: the impact of index investment on energy and metals markets

The academic consensus is that index investment over the recent period of elevated commodity price did not affect returns. This view relies very largely on the analysis of US agricultural future markets for which the CFTC has provided index position data. That conclusion is correct but overlooks evidence that there were strong impacts on energy and metal markets where it is necessary to infer index positions from the agricultural data. Furthermore, these impacts are persistent. I follow Singleton (Management Science, 60, 300–318, 2014) in arguing that the impacts reflect changes in investor sentiment, reflected in changes in risk premia, and not informational advantage.
An Analysis of Potential Ethical Justifications for Mammoth De-extinction And a Call for Empirical Research

We argue that the de-extinction of the mammoth cannot be ethically grounded by duties to the extinct mammoth, to ecosystem health or to individual organisms in ecosystems missing the mammoth. Howev...
How many cores are needed to detect clinically significant prostate cancer on targeted MRI-ultrasound fusion biopsy?

134Background: The optimal number of MRI-US fusion biopsy cores to adequately sample regions of interest (ROI) remains unknown. To better understand the optimal approach to lesion targeting, we aimed to examine the cancer detection rate based on sequential number of cores obtained. Methods: Of 744 patients undergoing MRI-US fusion biopsy between 2012 and 2016 at our institution, we identified 628 men with targets on multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) who underwent targeted and systematic fusion biopsy using the Artemis platform for clinical suspicion (n=465) or known history of PCa (n=163). mpMRI studies were reviewed by genitourinary radiologists using a 3-tiered Likert scale and PI-RADS classification schema. Biopsy was performed by two urologists performing a high volume of fusion biopsies (PS and RD). Cores were taken sequentially from each ROI with an even distribution. The primary outcome was the proportion of high-grade (Gleason ≥3+4) cancers missed on a 2-core lesion biopsy. Results: We biopsied 1,233 R...
From Morbidity and Mortality to Quality Improvement: Effects of a Structured and Interactive Otolaryngology Conference.

ObjectiveMeasure the effects of a structured morbidity and mortality conference format on the attitudes of resident and faculty participants.Study DesignProspective cohort study.SettingOtorhinolary...
Solvent processing of cellulose for effective bioresource utilization

Cellulose, the main constituent of plant biomass, is a unique stereoregular, chiral, biocompatible and reactive polymer that finds many applications. Despite the novel features of cellulose, its full potential as a functional polymer has yet to be realized in part because of the difficulty in dissolving cellulose. Non-derivatizing solvents for cellulose are reviewed here, with a focus on the better studied and more effective aqueous alkali (base) containing solvents, organic solvent systems, and ionic liquids. Recent advances are highlighted on cellulose-solvent interactions and on the mechanism and kinetics of semicrystalline cellulose dissolution. An improved fundamental understanding of molecular interactions (nanoscale), coupled with the biomass dissolution mechanism (microscopic level), can guide the rational selection and (macroscopic) optimization of solvent processing conditions. Opportunities abound for the translation of research fundamentals into the development of industrial solvent-based processes for the efficient production of high value-added polymers and chemicals from sustainable resources.
High-order parameter tuners for the adaptive control of nonlinear systems

A new method of parameter tuning is introduced which generates as outputs not only tuned parameters, but also the first n time derivatives of each parameter, n being a prespecified positive integer. It is shown that the algorithm can be used together with a suitably defined identifier-based parameterized controller to adaptively stabilize any member of a specially structured family of nonlinear systems.
Erectile Dysfunction in Hypertensive Men: Sleep-Related Erections, Penile Blood Flow and Musculovascular Events

To explore how hypertension affects penile erection, we studied erectile hemodynamics during nocturnal penile tumescence in 3 groups of middle-aged men: hypertensive patients with and without erectile dysfunction, and normotensive controls without erectile problems. The hypertensive patients were not taking antihypertensive medication. Evaluations included standard monitoring of penile circumference change as well as noninvasive monitoring of penile segmental pulsatile blood flow and activity in the bulbocavernosus-ischiocavernosus muscles. Variables differed in how they discriminated among groups. Median amplitude of penile blood flow during rapid eye movement sleep differed significantly among all 3 study groups: controls had the highest amplitudes, patients without erectile problems had lower values and patients with erectile complaints had the lowest values. By contrast, standard measures of nocturnal penile tumescence (that is based on penile circumference change during sleep) only distinguished the patients with erectile problems from the 2 other groups. Density of musculovascular event clusters during rapid eye movement sleep (nearly simultaneous muscle activity burst, blood flow burst and circumference pulsation) distinguished the 2 groups of hypertensive men from controls. The sensitivity of the blood flow measure to changes in the hypertensive men without erectile complaints may indicate that the measure can reveal subclinical signs of developing vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.
65 Tracer and Adsorption Techniques in Catalysis

Tracer technique and adsorption techniques are proving of great value in the study of catalytic reactions. Tracers help to elucidate the mechanism by which catalytic reactions take place. Adsorption, in addition to being a vital step in the actual catalytic reaction, can also furnish information relative to the surface area and pore size of porous catalysts. Finally, a new catalytic chromatographic technique seems to offer considerable promise for obtaining rapid surveys of the activities of a number of catalysts, for carrying out tracer experiments on detailed studies of various catalysts, and for obtaining information as to the rapid changes that may occur in the activity of a catalyst when it is first exposed to a reactant. This last information, in turn, may be very useful in helping to obtain information relative to the part played by lattice defectsin the action of different catalysts, and in particular in the action of semiconductor catalysts.
Involving seniors in designing information architecture for the web.

The present study utilized the card sorting technique and cluster analysis to define the best information architecture of Web health information for seniors. Sixteen seniors participated in the card sorting, twenty in the category identification and thirteen in category labeling experiments. Seniors participated in the study tend to group the tested items conceptually at the higher level but tend to group the items based on common words found in the titles at the lower level of the hierarchy. The study also found that user grouping produced more heterogeneous structure than the Dmoz set-up information architecture. Category labels suggested by seniors were observed to be less technical and more easily understood than the Dmoz category labels.
Religion, Governance, and the ‘Peace–Humanitarian–Development Nexus’ in South Sudan

This chapter highlights practices that seek similar outcomes as UN peace operations or otherwise affect the background conditions necessary for their success. Treating South Sudan as an illustrative case study, it demonstrates how the incorporation of religious institutions into global and regional aid-based governance networks enables church-based actors to pursue political, social, and structural interventions critical to UN peace operations. In doing so, this chapter emphasises the impact of religion, aid, and governance on peacebuilding in Africa, with a view toward contributing to discussions about holistic, integrated, and people-centered approaches to sustainable peace.