cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perinatal loss and infant mental health: An introduction

Why should infant mental health clinicians be interested in perinatal loss? As experts on the meaning of infants to their parents, infant mental health professionals are uniquely suited to appreciate the meaning of loss of an infant. Complexly interwoven factors related to the infant, the parent, and the larger social and historical context affect the meanings of loss for parents. In addition, perinatal losses are thought to have implications for other parent-child relationships in the family, especially infants born subsequent to the loss. This Special Issue of the Infant Mental Health Journal is devoted to clinical and empirical aspects of perinatal loss, in the hope that converging interests in this topic may lead to better questions and clearer answers for the field about the challenges posed by loss of an infant. Pourquoi les cliniciens en psychiatrie infantile devraient-ils s'interesser a la perte perinatale? En tant qu'experts sur la signification qu'ont les enfants pour leurs parents, les professionnels de la psychiatrie infantile se trouvent particulibrement a měme d'appreier la sigmfication de la perte d'un enfant. Des facteurs entremělts avec complexite et lies a l'enfant, le parent et le contexte social et historique plus large affectent les sens de la perte pour les parents. De plus, l'on pense que les pertes perinatales ont des implications quant a d'autres relations parent-enfant dans la famille, surtout pour les enfants nes apres la perte. Ce numero special de l'Infant Mental Health Journal est consacre a des aspects cliniques et empiriques de la perte perinatale, dans I'espoir que l'attention prětte a un tel sujet et les interěts qu'il suscite puissent amener plus de clarte et de precision a la fois dans les questions et les reponses souleves par les defis que pose la perte d'un enfant. Por que han de estar los clinicos de la salud mental interesados en las perdidas perinatales? Siendo los expertos en lo que significan los infantes para los padres, los profesionales de la dud mental estan preparados de forma unica para comprender la perdida de un infante. Entretejidos en forma compleja, los factores relacionados con el infante, los padres y el mas amplio contexto social e historico afectan la significacion que la perdida puede tener para los padres. Adicionalmente, se piensa que las perdidas perinatales tienen implicaciones en otras relaciones entre padres e hijos dentro de la familia, especialmente en aquellos casos de infantes nacidos con posterioridad a la perdida. Este numero especial de la Revista de Salud Mental Infantil esta dedicado a los aspectos clinicos y empiricos que conlleva la perdida perinatal, con la esperanza de que algunos intereses convergentes sobre este tema puedan guiarnos hacia mejores preguntas y mas claras respuestas en el campo de la sicologia clinica sobre el reto que presenta la perdida de un infante.
Polyacrylamide gel analysis of polypeptides in gene transfer cell lines

Differential polypeptide expression in gene transfer cell lines of limited genetic complexity was analyzed as a gene mapping strategy. Subcellular fractionation preceding two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis simplified protein patterns and revealed subcellular location of differentially expressed polypeptides. As a model system, humanMET oncogene polypeptide was identified in gene transfer lines by this approach. Genes encoding five putative human proteins were identified and provisionally assigned to chromosomal region 7q21-31 or to chromosome 1.
Predictors of child protective service contact between birth and age five: An examination of California's 2002 birth cohort

Abstract This study utilizes population-level birth data to describe those children who may be at greatest risk of maltreatment during the first five years of life. Based on a unique dataset constructed by linking California's administrative child welfare data to statewide vital birth records, a cohort study design was employed to track reports of maltreatment involving children born in 2002. Twelve variables captured in the birth record were selected for analysis. Generalized Linear Models were used to estimate adjusted risk ratios (RR) for each independent variable. Predicted probabilities of CPS contact were computed based on the count of risk factors present at birth. Results suggest that many of the associations previously observed between birth variables and subsequent maltreatment have sustained value in foretelling which children will be reported to CPS beyond infancy. Of the 531,035 children born in California in 2002, 14% (74,182) were reported for possible maltreatment before the age of five. Eleven of the twelve birth variables examined presented as significant predictors of contact with child protective services.
Water adsorption and desorption isotherms of silica and alumina mesoporous molecular sieves

Mesoporous molecular sieves of silica, and alumina, and porous materials of titania, zirconia, and niobia were synthesized by cationic and/or neutral templating methods. These porous materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and water adsorption-desorption isotherms. Mesoporous molecular sieves of silica with surface areas of 956 and 1072 m2/g and of alumina with surface area of 407 m2/g were synthesized. The Ti1 Zr and Nb oxide porous materials, however, showed smaller surface areas of 258, 178, and 77 m2/g, respectively, after calcination at 300°C and exhibited only small peaks for mesopores as determined by the pore-size. distributions.
Assessment of PHB with varying hydroxyvalerate content for potential packaging applications

Abstract Poly-(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is biodegradable aliphatic polyester that is produced by a wide range of microorganisms. Basic PHB has relatively high glass transition and melting temperatures. To improve flexibility for potential packaging applications, PHB is synthesized with various co-polymers such as poly-(3-hydroxyvalerate) (HV) leading to a decrease of the glass transitions and melting temperatures. In addition, the HV broadens the processing window since there is improved melt stability at lower processing temperatures. In this study, PHB synthesized with different valerate contents (5%, 12%, and 20%) and varying in molecular weights were characterized. All PHBV materials displayed a glass transition between −10 and 20 °C. The two melting transitions found for Aldrich 5%, 12%, and Tianan 20%, resulted from crystals formed during cooling of the samples. The complex viscosity decreased with increasing temperature due to a decrease in molecular weights of the samples. These results suggest that processing the co-polymer below 160 °C would be beneficial with low screw speed. The mechanical results indicate all PHBV materials had high elastic modulus and flexural strength with low tensile strength and elongation at break. The WVTR results indicated the polymer to be very hydrophilic, resulting in higher water transmission rates.
Effect of human immunodeficiency virus on hepatitis C virus infection among injecting drug users.

To assess the effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) immunosuppression on ongoing hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, CD4 lymphocyte counts and serum concentrations of HCV RNA, HIV RNA, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were evaluated among members of a cohort of injecting drug users (IDUs). With 100 participants randomly selected at various stages of HIV-related immunosuppression, serum HCV RNA concentrations increased with age (P = .007) and were higher in HIV-positive IDUs with 201-500 (P = .026) and 51-200 (P = .004) CD4 cells/mL than in HIV-negative participants. Among 27 HCV-infected IDUs who acquired HIV infection, serum HCV RNA concentrations varied between semiannual visits by a mean of 0.45 logs, increasing by 0.60 logs after HIV seroconversion (P .10). While HIV infection and possibly HIV progression are associated with increased HCV RNA levels, other factors appear to affect biochemical and virologic markers of HCV infection in some dually infected persons.
Authenticity as a mediator of the relation between child maltreatment and negative outcomes for college women

The goal of this cross-sectional study was to determine if authenticity in relationships mediated the relation between early childhood maltreatment and negative outcomes (depression, low self-esteem, and traumatic symptoms). An ethnically diverse sample of female college students (N = 257, M age = 19.74) completed self-report questionnaires related to early childhood maltreatment, negative outcomes, and authenticity in relationships. Approximately 30% of participants experienced childhood maltreatment including physical maltreatment, emotional maltreatment, or both. Results from multiple mediation analyses indicated that, when controlling for physical maltreatment, authenticity in close relationships significantly partially mediated the relation between emotional maltreatment and depression, self-esteem, and traumatic symptoms (p < .05). However, when controlling for emotional maltreatment, physical maltreatment did not significantly predict any of the outcome variables, so physical maltreatment was not s...
Three-dimensional object recognition and pose determination based on combined-edge and surface-shape data

This paper describes a new approach to the classical machine vision problem of 3-D object recognition and pose determination. The process begins by extracting contour edges from a given patterned-light image of an unknown object and postulates an initial object line structure. This line structure is used to guide placement of a set of small surface-attribute- determining windows, called `surface-attribute probes' (SAPs), over the image to determine whether the areas being examined show the presence of one or more intersecting planar or curved regions. The resulting information is used to refine the object line structure, i.e., to determine all face intersections and characterize each face. The process is repeated until no further refinement in region segmentation and surface-attribute determination appears feasible.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Thin Film Electro-Optic Devices for 50 GHz Applications

We have demonstrated mm scale, thin film electro-optic modulator utilizing a photonic crystal structure. By decreasing device length the EO response was greater than 50 GHz. The microwave response of the modulator was measured and simulated.
Scene description: interactive computation of stability with friction

This paper describes a technique for hypothesizing the shape of hidden portions of unknown objects within a pile of such objects, using a dense range image of the pile. The technique employs symmetry, stability, viewpoint independence, and object impenetrability to hypothesize the unknown shape and dimension of each visible object. The process constructs alternative hypotheses, which differ in the way the visible portions of objects are extended into the occluded regions within the scene. To ensure that each interpretation is consistent with the observed range data, the known geometry of the range sensor is used in forming the hypotheses. The final result is one or more hypothesized object configurations, each of which is consistent with both the sensed range data and the physical constraints between objects in contact. For each resulting hypothesis, a free-body analysis is performed to determine if the hypothesized configuration is stable. The hypothesis with the highest stability rating is chosen as the most likely correct interpretation.
The quest for a new vaccine against tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the deadliest human diseases, killing 1,6 million people each year, mostly in developing countries. The vaccine currently used, Bacille Calmette and Guerin (BCG), is effective in preventing the most severe disseminated forms of disease in children and newborns, but its efficacy against active TB in adults has been challenged by several clinical studies. It is a common opinion that only the development of a new and more effective vaccine against TB would significantly ease the pandemic. In the last few years, the search for a new vaccine has gained a new momentum. New live and attenuated strains of M. tuberculosis, improved recombinant BCG strains and subunit vaccines have been tested in preclinical animal models, and some of them showed promising results. Unfortunately, the lack of immunological correlates of protection makes very difficult to anticipate or foresee the efficacy of any of these new vaccines and only phase III clinical trials, that are expected to start in 2009 and last few years, will tell us the real value of these new prophylactic tools. This review highlights the different strategies that are being implemented for the development of an improved vaccine against TB, the rationale behind them and the potential and feasible vaccination schedules that could be implemented.
Reversal of mutator phage Mu integration.

Abstract The temperate bacteriophage Mu causes mutations by inserting its DNA randomly into the genes of its host bacterium Escherichia coli . It is shown here that Mu DNA can be precisely excised from the different integration sites and that as a result wild-type function of the gene into which Mu was inserted is restored. The excision of Mu DNA is observable only if the Mu prophage carries mutations at the X locus. Thus, lac + revertants from six strains, containing heat-inducible prophage Mu cts 62 at different locations in the Z gene of the lac operon, were readily obtained by first introducing the X mutation into Mu cts 62. The lac + revertants produced wild-type β-galactosidase, and no trace of Mu DNA could be detected in them; this indicates that the junction of Mu DNA and host DNA can be specifically recognized. However, the excision of Mu DNA is generally not perfect, because in most cases it does not lead to the wild-type genotype. The function of gene A of Mu appears to be required for excision. Since the lethal functions of Mu are completely blocked in the Mu cts 62 X prophage, the X locus probably has a regulatory function. At least one X mutation is caused by an insertion of about 900 base-pairs in Mu DNA. The discovery of the X mutants opens the way for studying the reversible interaction of the host and Mu chromosomes, and for using Mu to manipulate the host genome in various ways.
Cortical Development and Thalamic Pathology in Schizophrenia

In this article, morphological data suggesting that brain development may be altered in schizophrenia are reviewed in relation to the major events in neural development. In the absence of severe defects in brain structure in individuals with schizophrenia, developmental processes governing the establishment, refinement, and maintenance of connections are potential sites of pathological involvement. Alterations in connectional patterns are likely to result in activity-dependent changes in gene expression for molecules involved in the neurotransmission process, with functional consequences. Loss of cells in the thalamus may be primary or secondary to cortical or other subcortical pathology. Loss of thalamic cells and/or of corticothalamic inputs could lead to disintegration of thought processes by a failure in functional brain states dependent on collective oscillation of large ensembles of cortical and thalamic neurons.
Prediction of Gene Function in Methylthioadenosine Recycling from Regulatory Signals

The S-box transcription termination control system, first identified in Bacillus subtilis, is used for regulation of gene expression in response to methionine availability. The presence of the S-box motif provided the first indication that the ykrTS and ykrWXYZ genes could play a role in recycling of 5′-methylthioadenosine, a by-product of polyamine biosynthesis that can be converted to methionine. In this study we demonstrate a role for the ykrTS and ykrWXYZ gene products in this pathway.
A cryptanalytic method for embedding video watermarks

Digital video watermarking is increasingly important. Video signals are very susceptible to attacks like frame averaging, dropping, swapping, collusion. This paper presents a new video watermarking method. The most important information to be watermarked such as a company's name is hidden in a sequence of statistical data, which is then embedded into each frame. Every segment of the statistical data is typically enough for the key watermark extraction. A very detailed example of this method is given, based on the cryptanalysis. The most important information is used as the key to encrypt a plaintext. The plaintext can be some less important information about the product. The ciphertext is then embedded in the video frames. With statistical knowledge of the English language, we can quickly recover the key. Mathematical analysis and simulation results are given in the paper.
Dietary Sugars Stimulate Fatty Acid Synthesis in Adults

The goal of this study was to determine the magnitude by which acute consumption of fructose in a morning bolus would stimulate lipogenesis (measured by infusion of 13C1-acetate and analysis by GC-MS) immediately and after a subsequent meal. Six healthy subjects [4 men and 2 women; aged (mean +/- SD) 28 +/- 8 y; BMI, 24.3 +/- 2.8 kg/m(2); and serum triacylglycerols (TG), 1.03 +/- 0.32 mmol/L] consumed carbohydrate boluses of sugars (85 g each) in a random and blinded order, followed by a standardized lunch 4 h later. Subjects completed a control test of glucose (100:0) and a mixture of 50:50 glucose:fructose and one of 25:75 (wt:wt). Following the morning boluses, serum glucose and insulin after 100:0 were greater than both other treatments (P < 0.05) and this pattern occurred again after lunch. In the morning, fractional lipogenesis was stimulated when subjects ingested fructose and peaked at 15.9 +/- 5.4% after the 50:50 treatment and at 16.9 +/- 5.2% after the 25:75 treatment, values that were greater than after the 100:0 treatment (7.8 +/- 5.7%; P < 0.02). When fructose was consumed, absolute lipogenesis was 2-fold greater than when it was absent (100:0). Postlunch, serum TG were 11-29% greater than 100:0 and TG-rich lipoprotein-TG concentrations were 76-200% greater after 50:50 and 25:75 were consumed (P < 0.05). The data demonstrate that an early stimulation of lipogenesis after fructose, consumed in a mixture of sugars, augments subsequent postprandial lipemia. The postlunch blood TG elevation was only partially due to carry-over from the morning. Acute intake of fructose stimulates lipogenesis and may create a metabolic milieu that enhances subsequent esterification of fatty acids flowing to the liver to elevate TG synthesis postprandially.
Buying Your Job: Factors Affecting the Success or Failure of Employee Acquisition Attempts

Until recently, North American producers' cooperatives (employee-owned firms) have received scant attention relative to their more numerous European counterparts. While the existing literature on this subject has covered historical description as well as the critical issues of the emergence, political basis, operation, and success of producers' cooperatives, there is considerable disagreement on the circumstances under which some form of worker ownership emerges and little information available on the factors which make worker ownership possible. This paper identifies a number of variables important to the successful acquisition by workers of their own firm and delineates the functions of each variable as a contributor to success. The paper is based on a study of six firms in which the complex process of transferring the ownership of an enterprise to its employees has been attempted.
Correspondence: spatial variations of viscoelastic properties of porcine vitreous humors

Using a microbubble-based acoustic radiation force approach, spatial variations of Young's modulus and shear viscosity of the porcine vitreous humors in two groups-young pigs (6 months old) and mature pigs (2 to 3 years old)-were measured in situ. The measurements in these groups (4 specimens in each group) were performed in several positions along an anterior-to-posterior direction. At each position, microbubbles were generated by focusing a nanosecond pulsed laser beam and the displacement of each microbubble in response to an impulsive acoustic radiation force was measured every 10 μs using a custom-made high-pulse-repetition-frequency ultrasound system. Based on measured dynamics of the microbubble, Young's modulus and shear viscosity at various locations of the vitreous were reconstructed. Young's moduli of the young and mature porcine vitreous at anterior region were the highest, whereas the central region had the lowest values, indicating the clear spatial variations in the vitreous humor elasticity in both groups.
Instantaneous bandwidth for signals and spectrogram

The concept of instantaneous bandwidth, which is an indication of the frequency spread at a given time, is developed. It is shown that the global bandwidth of a signal can naturally be broken up into an AM and an FM contribution and that the AM contribution comes from averaging the instantaneous bandwidth. The instantaneous bandwidth for the spectrogram is derived, and series expansions in terms of the derivatives of the phase are obtained. >
Integrator3, a partner of single-stranded DNA-binding protein 1, participates in the DNA damage response.

Single-stranded DNA-binding protein 1 (SSB1) plays an important role in the DNA damage response and maintenance of genomic stability. Here, by using protein affinity purification, we have identified Integrator3 (INT3) as a novel partner of SSB1. INT3 forms a complex with SSB1 by constitutively interacting with SSB1 regardless of DNA damage. However, following DNA damage, along with SSB1, INT3 relocates to the DNA damage sites and regulates the accumulation of TopBP1 and BRCA1 there. Moreover, INT3 controls DNA damage-induced Chk1 activation and G2/M checkpoint activation. In addition, INT3 is involved in homologous recombination repair by regulating Rad51 foci formation following DNA damage. Taken together, these results demonstrate that INT3 plays a key role in the DNA damage response.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Encodes a Type II Protein Secretion System That Promotes Detrimental Effects on Lung Epithelial Cells

ABSTRACT The Gram-negative bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is increasingly identified as a multidrug-resistant pathogen, being associated with pneumonia, among other infections. Despite this increasing clinical problem, the genetic and molecular basis of S. maltophilia virulence is quite minimally defined. We now report that strain K279a, the first clinical isolate of S. maltophilia to be sequenced, encodes a functional type II protein secretion (T2S) system. Indeed, mutants of K279a that contain a mutation in the xps locus exhibit a loss of at least seven secreted proteins and three proteolytic activities. Unlike culture supernatants from the parental K279a, supernatants from multiple xps mutants also failed to induce the rounding, detachment, and death of A549 cells, a human lung epithelial cell line. Supernatants of the xps mutants were also unable to trigger a massive rearrangement in the host cell9s actin cytoskeleton that was associated with K279a secretion. In all assays, a complemented xpsF mutant behaved as the wild type did, demonstrating that Xps T2S is required for optimal protein secretion and the detrimental effects on host cells. The activities that were defined as being Xps dependent in K279a were evident among other respiratory isolates of S. maltophilia. Utilizing a similar type of genetic analysis, we found that a second T2S system (Gsp) encoded by the K279a genome is cryptic under all of the conditions tested. Overall, this study represents the first examination of T2S in S. maltophilia, and the data obtained indicate that Xps T2S likely plays an important role in S. maltophilia pathogenesis.
Complex assessment of the temporal lability of repolarization

Stochastic fluctuations of IKs in the presence of cell-to-cell uncoupling leads to temporal variability of action potential duration and subsequent early afterdepolarizations, which occur in late phase 2 or phase 3 of the cardiac action potential, could propagate through cardiac tissue and generate ventricular arrhythmias (1;2). However, surface ECG imposes well-recognized limitations for repolarization assessment: dependence on particular ECG lead axis and inaccuracies in the T end detection. In contrast, vectorcardiograms (VCGs) have advantages in their description of repolarization(3). Recently we proposed a novel 3-dimensional (3-D) ECG method to assess temporal repolarization lability(4;5). However, the complexity of spatial T-vector movements over time makes it unlikely that any single method would describe temporal lability of repolarization in full. Therefore, the goal of this study was to develop a comprehensive set of markers of temporal lability of repolarization in a discriminating model.
U.S. census unit population exposures to ambient air pollutants

Progress has been made recently in estimating ambient PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm) and ozone concentrations using various data sources and advanced modeling techniques, which resulted in gridded surfaces. However, epidemiologic and health impact studies often require population exposures to ambient air pollutants to be presented at an appropriate census geographic unit (CGU), where health data are usually available to maintain confidentiality of individual health data. We aim to generate estimates of population exposures to ambient PM2.5 and ozone for U.S. CGUs. We converted 2001-2006 gridded data, generated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for CDC's (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (EPHTN), to census block group (BG) based on spatial proximities between BG and its four nearest grids. We used a bottom-up (fine to coarse) strategy to generate population exposure estimates for larger CGUs by aggregating BG estimates weighted by population distribution. The BG daily estimates were comparable to monitoring data. On average, the estimates deviated by 2 μg/m3 (for PM2.5) and 3 ppb (for ozone) from their corresponding observed values. Population exposures to ambient PM2.5 and ozone varied greatly across the U.S. In 2006, estimates for daily potential population exposure to ambient PM2.5 in west coast states, the northwest and a few areas in the east and estimates for daily potential population exposure to ambient ozone in most of California and a few areas in the east/southeast exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for at least 7 days. These estimates may be useful in assessing health impacts through linkage studies and in communicating with the public and policy makers for potential intervention.
CONTACT: Training a New Generation of Peacebuilders

The new field of peacebuilding has emerged in response to identity-based local and regional conflicts. With this emerging field arises the need to train peacebuilders, those who will carry out the work of conflict prevention and resolution in the next generation. CONTACT, an innovative and person-centered education and training program, is one such response. This article explains the theory and research behind peacebuilding training and the author’s experience with such training, outlining a vision for the future of the field of international conflict resolution.
Morphologic features of prostatic adenocarcinoma on ThinPrep® urinary cytology

Malignant cells of prostatic adenocarcinoma are rarely identified in urine. In most cases, this finding is associated with high stage tumor. Numerous descriptions of the morphology of prostatic adenocarcinoma have been reported using cytocentrifugated specimens. However, no specific morphologic description of prostatic adenocarcinoma in urine using liquid-based cytology has been previously described. Four cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma in urine using ThinPrep® liquid-based preparations were identified between 2002 and 2009 at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. Three patients had either high stage tumor or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis, while the remaining patient had low stage tumor. The morphology of each case was evaluated with specific attention to cell size, nuclear characteristics, nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, and cytoplasmic characteristics. The resulting key features for prostatic adenocarcinoma in urine are clustering, increased nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, and prominent nucleoli. Though typically the presence of prostatic adenocarcinoma in urine implies high stage tumor, cells of lower stage tumors may be seen in urine as well.
Programmable Neural Processing on a Smartdust for Brain-Computer Interfaces

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) offer tremendous promise for improving the quality of life for disabled individuals. BCIs use spike sorting to identify the source of each neural firing. To date, spike sorting has been performed by either using off-chip analysis, which requires a wired connection penetrating the skull to a bulky external power/processing unit, or via custom application-specific integrated circuits that lack the programmability to perform different algorithms and upgrades. In this research, we propose and test the feasibility of performing on-chip, real-time spike sorting on a programmable smartdust, including feature extraction, classification, compression, and wireless transmission. A detailed power/performance tradeoff analysis using DVFS is presented. Our experimental results show that the execution time and power density meet the requirements to perform real-time spike sorting and wireless transmission on a single neural channel.
Immunology-inspired swarm coordination with application to multiple combat UGV systems

Immune system has several interesting and desirable properties such as adaptability, robustness, flexibility, archival memory, and distributed cognition abilities. This paper presents a multi-agent scheme with swarm coordination functions inspired by immune system. It is shown that by using local communication, each agent is able to select its favorite strategy based on distributed sensing, which leads to successful swarm behavior, and performs well even under dynamically changing environment. Furthermore, in the proposed scheme a thymus-like global coordination mechanism called a critic here is introduced to prevent undesirable crowding, thus improving the overall swarming behavior as verified by numerical simulation on a collection of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).
Sensitivity analysis and synthesis of multivariable systems

This paper consists of two main parts. The first part considers the sensitivity analysis of a linear time-invariant multivariable (multiple input-output) system represented by a system of first-order differential equations. Procedures which can be easily programmed on a digital computer are presented for the determination of: (1) the system transfer-function matrix; (2) sensitivity coefficients for the transfer-function matrix in terms of the system parameters. The second part contains a simple procedure for the synthesis of a linear single-variable (single input-output) system for specified characteristic roots. This is also shown to be a general procedure for the reduction of a system to (phase-variable) canonical form. The procedures of Part I and Part II are then applied to the synthesis of a single-variable system for insensitivity to parameter changes.
ATLANTIC OCEAN EQUATORIAL CURRENTS

The circulations of the tropical Atlantic and PaciRc Oceans have much in common because similar trade winds, with similar seasonal Suctuations, prevail over both oceans. The salient features of these circulations are alternating bands of eastwardand westward-Sowing currents in the surface layers (see Figure 1). Fluctuations of the currents in the two oceans have similarities not only on seasonal but even on interannual timescales; the Atlantic has a phenomenon that is the counterpart of El Nin o in the PaciRc. The two oceans also have signiRcant differences. The Atlantic, but not the PaciRc, has a net transport of heat from the southern into the northern hemisphere, mainly because of an intense, cross-equatorial coastal current in the Atlantic, the North Brazil Current. The similarities and differences between the tropical Atlantic and PaciRc (and also the Indian Ocean) are of enormous interest to modelers because they provide invaluable checks on the theories and models that explain and simulate oceanic currents. Those currents play a central role in the Earth’s climate, by inSuencing sea surface temperature patterns for example.
Aggregation of α-synuclein is kinetically controlled by intramolecular diffusion.

We hypothesize that the first step of aggregation of disordered proteins, such as α-synuclein, is controlled by the rate of backbone reconfiguration. When reconfiguration is fast, bimolecular association is not stable, but as reconfiguration slows, association is more stable and subsequent aggregation is faster. To investigate this hypothesis, we have measured the rate of intramolecular diffusion in α-synuclein, a protein involved in Parkinson’s disease, under solvent conditions that accelerate or decelerate aggregation. Using the method of tryptophan-cysteine (Trp-Cys) quenching, the rate of intramolecular contact is measured in four different loops along the chain length. This intrinsically disordered protein is highly diffusive at low temperature at neutral pH, when aggregation is slow, and compacts and diffuses more slowly at high temperature or low pH, when aggregation is rapid. Diffusion also slows with the disease mutation A30P. This work provides unique insights into the earliest steps of α-synuclein aggregation pathway and should provide the basis for the development of drugs that can prevent aggregation at the initial stage.
Many-body Green's function approach to attosecond nonlinear x-ray spectroscopy

Closed expressions are derived for resonant multidimensional x-ray spectroscopy using the quasiparticle nonlinear exciton representation of optical response. This formalism is applied to predict coherent four wave mixing signals which probe single and two-core-hole states. Nonlinear x-ray signals are compactly expressed in terms of one- and two-particle Green's functions which can be obtained from the solution of Hedin-type equations at the $GW$ level.
Studies on Identifying the Binding Sites of Folate and its Derivatives in Lactobacillus Casei Thymidylate Synthase

It was shown that folate and its derivatives have a profound effect on stabilizing thymidylate synthase in vitro and in vivo, as a consequence of ternary formation between the folate, dUMP, or FdUMP, and the synthase. The degree to which complex formation is affected can be revealed qualitatively by circular dichroism and quantitatively by equilibrium dialysis using the Lactobacillus casei synthase. In contrast to the pteroylmonoglutamates, the pteroylpolyglutamates bind to thymidylate synthase in the absence of dUMP, but even their binding affinity is increased greatly by this nucleotide or its analogues. Similarly, treatment of the synthase with carboxypeptidase A prevents the binding of the pteroylmonoglutamates and reduces the binding of the polyglutamates without affecting dUMP binding. The latter does not protect against carboxypeptidase inactivation but does potentiate the protective effect of the pteroylpolyglutamates.
Is the Great Barracuda ( Sphyraena barracuda ) a reef fish or a pelagic fish? The phylogeographic perspective.

Current taxonomy indicates a single global species of the Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) despite differences in color and behavior between Atlantic and Pacific forms. To investigate these differences and qualify the dispersal characteristics of this unique coastal–pelagic teleost (bony fish), we conducted a global phylogeographic survey of 246 specimens from thirteen sampling locations using a 629-base pair fragment of mtDNA cytochrome b. Data indicate high overall gene flow in the Indo-Pacific over large distances (>16,500 km) bridging several biogeographic barriers. The West Atlantic population contains an mtDNA lineage that is divergent from the Indo-Pacific (d = 1.9%), while the East Atlantic (N = 23) has two mutations (d = 0.6%) apart from the Indo-Pacific. While we cannot rule out distinct evolutionary partitions among ocean basins based on behavior, coloration, and near-monophyly between Atlantic and Indo-Pacific subpopulations, more investigation is required before taxonomic status is revised. Overall, the pattern of high global dispersal and connectivity in S. barracuda more closely resembles those reported for large oceanic predators than reef-associated teleosts.
Frequency Semi-Selective Scheduling for a DFT-SOFDM Based Uplink

This paper describes a scheduling technique for the DFT-SOFDM (SC-FDMA) based uplink of the 3GPP LTE standard. Traditionally, scheduling has been either Frequency- Selective (FS), or Frequency Non Selective (FNS). FS scheduling assigns a user to a portion of the channel bandwidth having high channel-quality. At low mobility, FS typically performs much better than FNS, but at the cost of increased channel-quality feedback overhead. A new class of scheduling methods, called Frequency Semi-Selective (FSS) is introduced, and is shown to perform nearly as well as pure FS scheduling, but with reduced feedback overhead. The technique only requires minimum tracking of the channel and one-bit of additional feedback over FNS techniques.
SAGES video classics.

A review of surgical history is always enlightening. To hear presentations and read the words of the innovators who lived through the era of endoscopy and laparoscopy introduction is even more invigorating. In this edition of Surgical Endoscopy, two of our endoscopic innovators have written cogent accounts of their involvement during the early days of endoscopy and laparoscopy. Dr. Ken Forde recognized the advantages of the colonoscope early on for the location of colonic bleeding. Although thought to be a relative contraindication, in the hands of experts, the colonoscope can be a key tool in the identification of colonic bleeding. It is quite appropriate that this account be published in Surgical Endoscopy because of Dr. Forde’s leadership and his love for the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). His original publication in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, read by many gastroenterologists, also gave a clear message that surgeons should be the leaders in endoscopic diagnosis, especially for patients who might need surgical intervention. The second account by Jacques Perissat recounts his early involvement in laparoscopy, especially in recognizing that the gallbladder could be approached safely and that large incisions could be avoided during cholecystectomy. He recounts how he worked with many of the leaders of endoscopy in Europe and progressed from shock wave lithotripsy of gallstones to the removal of gallstones without cholecystectomy. Inevitably, Dr. Perissat recognized that cholecystectomy could be safely performed, and using sound scientific and teaching principles, he became the emissary from Europe to help usher in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. I was fortunate to be in Louisville, Kentucky April 1989 when Dr. Perissat showed the now famous video of his laparoscopic technique. A reprise of this video accompanied his beautiful presentation at the Video Classics session during the SAGES meeting in Phoenix in April 2009. We owe a lot to the giants of endoscopy and laparoscopy. For those who have not been fortunate enough to live through the exciting era during which these techniques were introduced, the opportunity to read the accounts of those seminal events and to see the original videos continues to rekindle that initial excitement.
Predicting changes in hypertension control using electronic health records from a chronic disease management program.

Objective Common chronic diseases such as hypertension are costly and difficult to manage. Our ultimate goal is to use data from electronic health records to predict the risk and timing of deterioration in hypertension control. Towards this goal, this work predicts the transition points at which hypertension is brought into, as well as pushed out of, control. Method In a cohort of 1294 patients with hypertension enrolled in a chronic disease management program at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, patients are modeled as an array of features derived from the clinical domain over time, which are distilled into a core set using an information gain criteria regarding their predictive performance. A model for transition point prediction was then computed using a random forest classifier. Results The most predictive features for transitions in hypertension control status included hypertension assessment patterns, comorbid diagnoses, procedures and medication history. The final random forest model achieved a c -statistic of 0.836 (95% CI 0.830 to 0.842) and an accuracy of 0.773 (95% CI 0.766 to 0.780). Conclusions This study achieved accurate prediction of transition points of hypertension control status, an important first step in the long-term goal of developing personalized hypertension management plans.
A multi-scale perspective of water pulses in dryland ecosystems: climatology and ecohydrology of the western USA

In dryland ecosystems, the timing and magni- tude of precipitation pulses drive many key ecological processes, notably soil water availability for plants and soil microbiota. Plant available water has frequently been viewed simply as incoming precipitation, yet processes at larger scales drive precipitation pulses, and the subsequent transformation of precipitation pulses to plant available water are complex. We provide an overview of the factors that influence the spatial and temporal availability of water to plants and soil biota using examples from western USA drylands. Large spatial- and temporal-scale drivers of regional precipitation patterns include the position of the jet streams and frontal boundaries, the North American Monsoon, El Nino Southern Oscillation events, and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. Topography and orography modify the patterns set up by the larger-scale drivers, resulting in regional patterns (10 2 -10 6 km 2 ) of precipita- tion magnitude, timing, and variation. Together, the large- scale and regional drivers impose important pulsed patterns on long-term precipitation trends at landscape scales, in which most site precipitation is received as small events (<5 mm) and with most of the intervals between events being short (<10 days). The drivers also influence the translation of precipitation events into available water via linkages between soil water content and components of the water budget, including interception, infiltration and runoff, soil evaporation, plant water use and hydraulic redistribution, and seepage below the rooting zone. Soil water content varies not only vertically with depth but also horizontally beneath versus between plants and/or soil crusts in ways that are ecologically important to different plant and crust types. We highlight the importance of considering larger-scale drivers, and their effects on regional patterns; small, frequent precipitation events; and spatio-temporal heterogeneity in soil water content in translating from climatology to precipitation pulses to the dryland ecohydrology of water availability for plants and soil biota.
Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex Deficiency

Abstract Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) deficiencies are inborn errors of carbohydrate metabolism that can profoundly impact the nervous system. Though the presentation can range from fatal neonatal lactic acidosis to ataxia and peripheral neuropathy in otherwise healthy school-age children, global developmental delay, hypotonia, microcephaly, and seizures are common. These nonspecific features can mimic other disorders. Both congenital brain malformations and destructive lesions can be seen. Ventriculomegaly and abnormalities of the corpus callosum are frequently observed, and Leigh syndrome may occur. The biochemical hallmarks are lactic acidemia, elevated pyruvate with a normal lactate-to-pyruvate ratio, and hyperalaninemia. Nearly all cases can be confirmed with combined assaying of PDC activity (in lymphocytes or cultured skin fibroblasts) and PDHA1 sequencing; additional genetic testing may identify the cause of cases due to mutations in other genes. It is increasingly recognized that mutations in genes that do not encode PDC proteins but are related to this pathway can also be implicated in PDC deficiency. The X-linked PDHA1 gene is responsible for the majority of cases, and this inheritance pattern likely accounts for the observation that females tend to have better survival than males, but often at the cost of poorer neurological and cognitive outcomes. PDC is a multiple enzyme complex that catalyzes the production of acetyl-CoA from pyruvate produced by glycolysis. PDC contains three catalytic enzymes, two regulatory enzymes, and a binding protein. It also requires the cofactors thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), lipoic acid, and flavin adenine dinucleotide. While there is no proven effective treatment for PDC deficiency, the ketogenic diet is frequently employed to bypass the block in carbohydrate metabolism. Thiamine (vitamin B1), from which the cofactor TPP is derived, is typically given. Other potential treatments, such as dichloroacetate or phenylbutyrate, are candidates for further study.
The changes of oligodendrocytes induced by anesthesia during brain development.

With the advent of modern techniques, drugs, and monitoring, general anesthesia has come to be considered an unlikely cause of harm, particularly for healthy patients. While this is largely true, newly emerging clinical and laboratory studies have suggested that exposure to anesthetic agents during early childhood may have long-lasting adverse effects on cognitive function. This concern has been the focus of intense study in the field of anesthesia research. A recent high-profile review by Rappaport et al. (2015) concluded that while many questions remain unanswered, there is strong evidence from laboratory studies that commonly used anesthetics interfere with brain development and that clinical studies suggest a correlation between early childhood exposure to these agents and subsequent effects on learning and cognition. The issue is of sufficient public health importance that a public-private partnership known as SmarTots (Strategies for Mitigating Anesthesia-Related Neurotoxicity in Tots) was developed by the FDA to study pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity. The mechanism of injury underlying this phenomenon has yet to be fully elucidated, and there is evidence to suggest that anesthetics may have direct cytotoxic effects on neurons leading to cell death or suppressed neurogenesis (Stratmann et al., 2010) and that they may interfere with key processes in neuronal growth and development that underlie brain circuit development (Wagner et al., 2014).
On the accuracy of Wi-Fi localization using robot and human collected signatures

As one of the most popular ways for Wi-Fi based indoor localization, the received signal strength (RSS) can provide us localization results with accuracy proportional to the quality of Wi-Fi database collection. In this paper, we collected two Wi-Fi databases using human and robot respectively. The experiments are conducted on the 3rd floor of Atwater Kent laboratory. Based on the two databases, we use an offline process to generate Wi-Fi RSS maps which can be used to estimate any arbitrary position. Furthermore, a comparison of the performance of different localization algorithms based on different databases are provided and analyzed.