cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of sucralfate on gastric permeability in an ex vivo model of stress-related mucosal disease in dogs

BACKGROUND Sucralfate is a gastroprotectant with no known systemic effects. The efficacy of sucralfate for prevention and treatment of stress-related mucosal diseases (SRMD) in dogs is unknown. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES To develop a canine ex vivo model of SRMD and to determine the effect of sucralfate on mucosal barrier function in this model. ANIMALS Gastric antral mucosa was collected immediately postmortem from 29 random-source apparently healthy dogs euthanized at a local animal control facility. METHODS Randomized experimental trial. Sucralfate (100 mg/mL) was applied to ex vivo canine gastric mucosa concurrent with and after acid injury. Barrier function was assessed by measurement of transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and radiolabeled mannitol flux. RESULTS Application of acidified Ringers solution to the mucosal side of gastric antrum caused a reduction in gastric barrier function, and washout of acidified Ringers solution allowed recovery of barrier function (TER: 34.0 ± 2.8% of control at maximum injury, 71.3 ± 5.5% at recovery, P < .001). Sucralfate application at the time of injury or after injury significantly hastened recovery of barrier function (TER: 118.0 ± 15.2% of control at maximum injury, P < .001 and 111.0 ± 15.5% at recovery, P = .35). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Sucralfate appeared effective at restoring defects in gastric barrier function induced by acid and accelerating repair of tissues subjected to acid in this model, suggesting that sucralfate could have utility for the treatment and prevention of SRMD in dogs.
An approach for local net-load ramp rate control using integrated energy storage based on least square error minimization technique

This paper proposes an error minimization technique based active power management solution for net-load ramp rate control using integrated energy storage systems in a power distribution system. The proposed approach locally control the net-load ramp rate with an intention to minimize the timing imbalance of load peak and Photo-Voltaic (PV) generation at the distributed PV farms. The cumulative effect of such control with multiple energy storage is the overall reduction in the risk of over-generation in conventional generation units due to Behind-The-Meter (BTM) distributed PV farms. Methodology is applied on 4000 nodes non-aggregated model of distribution feeder in North Carolina. Results showed successful co-ordination between net-load control and other required applications. Energy storage system sizing trade-off is also discussed.
Pyelovesicostomy as a form of urinary reconstruction in renal transplantation.

AbstractThe development of ureteral obstruction or ureteral fistula formation in the renal transplant recipient usually requires surgical repair. This involves reconnecting the donor ureter to either the recipient ureter (ureteroureterostomy) or bladder (ureteroneocystostomy), or creating an anastomosis between the renal pelvis and recipient native ureter (pyeloureterostomy). Occasionally, the donor or recipient ureter is absent, necrotic or diseased so that a ureteroureterostomy, ureteroneocystostomy or pyeloureteral anastomosis cannot be performed.In 8 such cases we have performed a direct anastomosis between the donor renal pelvis and recipient bladder (pyelovesicostomy) with a followup of between 2 months and 11 years. In all 8 patients there has been no deterioration in renal function attributed to obstruction at the anastomotic site or to the free reflux between the bladder and renal pelvis. Because of the excellent shortterm and long-term results of pyelovesicostomy, this procedure should be consid...
Chapter 21 – Krylov Subspace Methods

This chapter presents iterative methods for the solution of large, sparse, systems. It begins by describing the CRS format for the representation of a sparse matrix. Following this is a detailed development of the conjugate gradient method. The approach is to first develop the method of steepest descent and then show how it can be improved, leading to the conjugate gradient algorithm (CG). A convergence result is stated but not proved. Preconditioning is introduced, and two methods for preconditioning CG are presented: incomplete Cholesky and SSOR. Examples are provided to illustrate the need for preconditioning CG. A Krylov subspace is defined, and it is shown that CG is actually a Krylov subspace method. The Arnoldi decomposition is developed using a Krylov subspace along with Gram-Schmidt orthonormalization. It is applied to implement the general minimum residual method (GMRES). Incomplete LU factorization is described and used to create a preconditioned version of GMRES. The Lanczos method is derived for large, sparse, symmetric matrices and used to develop the minimum residual method to solve symmetric indefinite problems. The need for reorthogonalization is described for the Lanczos decomposition. A table provides a map of how to approach the solution of large, sparse systems. Poisson’s equation is reviewed, and it is shown that it can be solved using preconditioned conjugate gradient. Its matrix is block tridiagonal. The chapter ends with a discussion of the biharmonic equation, a fourth order partial differential equation with a block pentadiagonal coefficient matrix. The finite difference equations must be solved using preconditioned conjugate gradient.
Diffuse microglial proliferation after global ischemia in a patient with aplastic bone marrow.

Abundant proliferation of cells having the histologic and tinctorial features of microglia, were seen in the brain of 34-year-old man who suffered cardiac arrest 10 days before death and whose bone marrow was nearly totally depleted of white-blood-cell precursors. It is suggested, that in adult human brains there are native microglial precursors which can take on a phagocytic function. Therefore, brain macrophages do not have to originate from circulating monocytes, as suggested by some animal studies.
Intracellular Calcium Mediating the Actions of Adenosine at Neuromuscular Junctions

This review summarizes the experimental evidence that adenosine derivatives inhibit acetylcho-line release by reducing the intracellular calcium affinity for a strategic component of the secretory apparatus in motor nerve endings. Theoretical curves based upon the calcium receptor model of evoked acetylcholine secretion are provided in support of this notion. The results described also suggest that acetylcholine release need not occur at the active zone to be inhibited by adenosine.
B CELL LYMPHOMA LINES AS POTENTIAL MODELS FOR THE STUDY OF B CELL SUBPOPULATIONS

ABSTRACT The surface characteristics of a panel of BALB/c lymphomas have been examined. It was found that these in vitro cell lines express different surface immunoglobulin classes and several other B cell markers (Ia and LyM antigens, Fc (IgG) receptors), suggesting that they represent different B cell subpopulations. Three different cell lines were selected for further investigation of the possible relationship between Fc (IgG) receptors and alloantigens on their surface. Three different patterns of inhibition by the alloantisera tested (anti-Ia, anti-H-2D and anti-LyM) were observed. Preliminary data suggest that these inhibitions are not due only to Fc portions of the alloantibodies. These cell lines may be useful as models of distinct B cell subpopulations.
RECENT WORK IN ELASTIC STABILITY

The first part of the lecture will cover observations bearing on the question of when elasticity theory might reasonably be used to explore stability problems in cases where viscous or thermal effects may play an important role. The remainder will be devoted to description of some of what has been learned about formulations of and comparisons between the various criteria for elastic stability.
Affinity Ultrafiltration and Affinity Precipitation Using a Water-Soluble Complex of Poly(vinyl Alcohol) and Cibacron Blue F3GA

Two applications using anthraquinone dyes for protein separation and purification are presented. In both cases, Cibacron Blue F3GA is attached to water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol) to facilitate a homogeneous binding to the protein. To effect precipitation, the poly-dye’s solubility can be altered either via binding to a multimeric protein, or via independent control of the polymer solubility. In the case of ultrafiltration, the poly-dye provides sufficient size to prevent the target protein from entering the UF membrane. These early results indicate that PVA is a good polymer for UF, but that the precipitation poly-dye is not correctly formulated.
Hannay's hoop beyond asymptotics.

Certain systems do not completely return to themselves when a subsystem moves through a closed circuit in physical or parameter space. A geometric phase, known classically as Hannay’s angle and quantum mechanically as Berry’s phase, quantifies such anholonomy. We study the classical example of a bead sliding frictionlessly on a slowly rotating hoop. We elucidate how forces in the inertial frame and pseudo-forces in the rotating frame shift the bead. We then computationally generalize the effect to arbitrary—not necessarily adiabatic—motions. We thereby extend the study of this classical geometric phase from theory to experiment via computation, as we realize the dynamics with a simple apparatus of wet ice cylinders sliding on a polished metal plate in 3D printed plastic channels.
Phosphorylation status of peptide monolayers modulates hydrogen bonding and orientations of nematic liquid crystals

ABSTRACTWe report on the azimuthal orientations of nematic liquid crystals (LCs) on monolayers of dipeptides and tripeptides containing cysteine (C) and either tyrosine (Y), serine (S) or threonine (T). Measurements performed with 5CB and TL205 (with and without doping with trimethylamine), and dipeptide monolayers in which we removed the –OH groups of CY, CS or CT, led us to conclude that hydrogen bonding strongly influences LC orientations on CY but not CS or CT monolayers. Chemical force microscopy and cyclic voltammetry support the hypothesis that intra-monolayer hydrogen bonding within monolayers of CS and CT occurs preferentially to hydrogen bonding with 5CB. In contrast, the orientations of the LCs on tripeptide monolayers of CAY, CAS or CAT, where A is alanine, were all influenced by hydrogen bonding, consistent with a decrease in surface density of tripeptides (as compared to dipeptides; supported by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and increase in hydrogen bonding with the LC overlayer. Phospho...
Low-Dimensional Density Ratio Estimation for Covariate Shift Correction.

Covariate shift is a prevalent setting for supervised learning in the wild when the training and test data are drawn from different time periods, different but related domains, or via different sampling strategies. This paper addresses a transfer learning setting, with covariate shift between source and target domains. Most existing methods for correcting covariate shift exploit density ratios of the features to reweight the source-domain data, and when the features are high-dimensional, the estimated density ratios may suffer large estimation variances, leading to poor performance of prediction under covariate shift. In this work, we investigate the dependence of covariate shift correction performance on the dimensionality of the features, and propose a correction method that finds a low-dimensional representation of the features, which takes into account feature relevant to the target $Y$, and exploits the density ratio of this representation for importance reweighting. We discuss the factors that affect the performance of our method, and demonstrate its capabilities on both pseudo-real data and real-world applications.
Cerebral Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage: A Review.

Importance Although spontaneous intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) accounts for less than 20% of cases of stroke, it continues to be associated with the highest mortality of all forms of stroke and substantial morbidity rates. Observations Early identification and management of IPH is crucial. Blood pressure control, reversal of associated coagulopathy, care in a dedicated stroke unit, and identification of secondary etiologies are essential to optimizing outcomes. Surgical management of hydrocephalus and space occupying hemorrhage in the posterior fossa are accepted forms of treatment. Modern advances in minimally invasive surgical management of primary, supratentorial IPH are being explored in randomized trials. Hemorrhagic arteriovenous malformations and cavernous malformations are surgically excised if accessible, while hemorrhagic dural arteriovenous fistulas and distal/mycotic aneurysms are often managed with embolization if feasible. Conclusions and relevance IPH remains a considerable source of neurological morbidity and mortality. Rapid identification, medical management, and neurosurgical management, when indicated, are essential to facilitate recovery. There is ongoing evaluation of minimally invasive approaches for evacuation of primary IPH and evolution of surgical and endovascular techniques in the management of lesions leading to secondary IPH.
Stars in the Night Sky: iPSC-Cardiomyocytes Return the Patient Context to Drug Screening.

iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes have the potential to revolutionize the discovery of new medicines for serious heart conditions; however, heart failure remains a major cause of mortality worldwide. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Fiedler et al. (2019) describe using iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes to screen new chemical entities, discovering a small molecule for ischemic injury.
Companies’ Initial Estimates and Disclosures of the One-Time Transition Tax Imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

We use the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as a setting to offer new insights into companies’ tax accruals and disclosures. Specifically, we examine the properties of companies’ estimates of the transition tax on foreign earnings and related voluntary disclosures. We exploit the one-year measurement period during which companies could adjust their initial transition tax estimates. We find companies with political access record smaller measurement period adjustments and provide more extensive voluntary disclosures. Companies whose auditors had more capacity at year-end record smaller adjustments. However, we find no difference in adjustments or disclosure for companies that previously disclosed an estimated tax on foreign earnings compared to companies that claimed the calculation was impracticable. Finally, we find companies with incentives to manage external perceptions that they pay their “fair share” of tax are more likely to overstate their initial transition tax estimates.
Arnold-Chiari Malformation

Arnold-Chiari malformation is commonly recognized by its primary features of ponto-cerebellar dysgenesis. However, other brain anomalies form equally important components of this disorder. The ponto-cerebellar dysgenesis is characterized by failure of the pontine flexure to develop and by caudal herniation through the foramen magnum of the inferior cerebellum and other posterior fossa structures (fourth ventricle, medulla oblongata).
Accurate and rapid background estimation in single-molecule localization microscopy using the deep neural network BGnet

Background fluorescence, especially when it exhibits undesired spatial features, is a primary factor for reduced image quality in optical microscopy. Structured background is particularly detrimental when analyzing single-molecule images for 3-dimensional localization microscopy or single-molecule tracking. Here, we introduce BGnet, a deep neural network with a U-net-type architecture, as a general method to rapidly estimate the background underlying the image of a point source with excellent accuracy, even when point-spread function (PSF) engineering is in use to create complex PSF shapes. We trained BGnet to extract the background from images of various PSFs and show that the identification is accurate for a wide range of different interfering background structures constructed from many spatial frequencies. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the obtained background-corrected PSF images, for both simulated and experimental data, lead to a substantial improvement in localization precision. Finally, we verify that structured background estimation with BGnet results in higher quality of superresolution reconstructions of biological structures.
Kink Dynamics in a Nonlinear Beam Model

Abstract In this paper, we study the single kink and the kink-antikink collisions of a nonlinear beam equation bearing a fourth-derivative term. We numerically explore some of the key characteristics of the single kink both in its standing wave and in its traveling wave form. A point of emphasis is the study of kink-antikink collisions, exploring the critical velocity for single-bounce (and separation) and infinite-bounce (where the kink and antikink trap each other) windows. The relevant phenomenology turns out to be dramatically different than that of the corresponding nonlinear Klein-Gordon (i.e., ϕ 4 ) model. Our computations show that for small initial velocities, the kink and antikink reflect nearly elastically without colliding. For an intermediate interval of velocities, the two waves trap each other, while for large speeds a single inelastic collision between them takes place. Lastly, we briefly touch upon the use of collective coordinates (CC) method and their predictions of the relevant phenomenology. When one degree of freedom is used in the CC approach, the results match well the numerical ones for small values of initial velocity. However, for bigger values of initial velocity, it is inferred that more degrees of freedom need to be self-consistently included in order to capture the collision phenomenology.
Changing Organizational Social Context to Support Evidence-Based Practice Implementation: A Conceptual and Empirical Review

This chapter provides a conceptual and empirical review of research on organizational social context in implementation science with an emphasis on randomized controlled trials that target organizational culture, organizational climate, or strategic implementation climate to improve EBP adoption, implementation, or sustainment in behavioral health settings. The review addresses four questions: (1) what empirically supported models exist to conceptualize organizational social context and its relation to EBP implementation, (2) what evidence is there that organizational social context can be changed by implementation strategies, (3) what evidence is there that implementation strategies that target organizational social context positively influence implementation outcomes, and (4) what evidence is there that improvement in organizational social context contributes to improved implementation outcomes? Our review of 1357 articles identified 9 randomized trials that tested an implementation strategy that targeted organizational social context to improve the implementation of EBPs in a behavioral health setting. Results of these trials indicate (a) organizational culture and climate are malleable features of the work environment that can be changed by implementation strategies, (b) context-focused implementation strategies have positive effects on implementation outcomes, and (c) preliminary evidence indicates that improvement in organizational social context contributes to improved implementation outcomes. The chapter concludes with implications for implementation practice and directions for future research.
Safety of ACE-I and ARB Medications in COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Inpatients and Outpatients in California

Introduction There is significant interest in the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and concern over potential adverse effects since these medications upregulate the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 host cell entry receptor ACE2. Recent studies on ACE-I and ARB in COVID-19 were limited by excluding outpatients, excluding patients by age, analyzing ACE-I and ARB together, imputing missing data, and/or diagnosing COVID-19 by chest computed tomography without definitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), all of which are addressed here. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of 1023 COVID-19 patients diagnosed by RT-PCR at Stanford Hospital through April 8, 2020 with a minimum follow-up time of 14 days to investigate the association between ACE-I or ARB use with outcomes. Results Use of ACE-I or ARB medications was not associated with increased risk of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, or death. Compared to patients with charted past medical history, there was a lower risk of hospitalization for patients on ACE-I (odds ratio (OR) 0.43; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.19-0.97; P = 0.0426) and ARB (OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.17-0.90; P = 0.0270). Compared to patients with hypertension not on ACE-I or ARB, patients on ARB medications had a lower risk of hospitalization (OR 0.09; 95% CI 0.01-0.88; P = 0.0381). Conclusions These findings suggest that the use of ACE-I and ARB is not associated with adverse outcomes and may be associated with improved outcomes in COVID-19, which is immediately relevant to care of the many patients on these medications.
Two-dimensional and multi-channel feature detection algorithm for the CALIPSO lidar measurements

Abstract. In this paper, we describe a new two-dimensional and multi-channel feature detection algorithm (2D-McDA) and demonstrate its application to lidar backscatter measurements from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) mission. Unlike previous layer detection schemes, this context-sensitive feature finder algorithm is applied to a 2-D lidar “scene”, i.e., to the image formed by many successive lidar profiles. Features are identified when an extended and contiguous 2-D region of enhanced backscatter signal rises significantly above the expected “clear air” value. Using an iterated 2-D feature detection algorithm dramatically improves the fine details of feature shapes and can accurately identify previously undetected layers (e.g., subvisible cirrus) that are very thin vertically but horizontally persistent. Because the algorithm looks for contiguous 2-D patterns using successively lower detection thresholds, it reports strongly scattering features separately from weakly scattering features, thus potentially offering improved discrimination of juxtaposed cloud and aerosol layers. Moreover, the 2-D detection algorithm uses the backscatter signals from all available channels: 532 nm parallel, 532 nm perpendicular and 1064 nm total. Since the backscatter from some aerosol or cloud particle types can be more pronounced in one channel than another, simultaneously assessing the signals from all channels greatly improves the layer detection. For example, ice particles in subvisible cirrus strongly depolarize the lidar signal and, consequently, are easier to detect in the 532 nm perpendicular channel. Use of the 1064 nm channel greatly improves the detection of dense smoke layers, because smoke extinction at 532 nm is much larger than at 1064 nm, and hence the range-dependent reduction in lidar signals due to attenuation occurs much faster at 532 nm than at 1064 nm. Moreover, the photomultiplier tubes used at 532 nm are known to generate artifacts in an extended area below highly reflective liquid clouds, introducing false detections that artificially lower the apparent cloud base altitude, i.e., the cloud base when the cloud is transparent or the level of complete attenuation of the lidar signal when it is opaque. By adding the information available in the 1064 nm channel, this new algorithm can better identify the true apparent cloud base altitudes of such clouds.
Epigenome-wide association study for atrazine induced transgenerational DNA methylation and histone retention sperm epigenetic biomarkers for disease

Atrazine is a common agricultural herbicide previously shown to promote epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease to subsequent generations. The current study was designed as an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) to identify transgenerational sperm disease associated differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs) and differential histone retention regions (DHRs). Gestating female F0 generation rats were transiently exposed to atrazine during the period of embryonic gonadal sex determination, and then subsequent F1, F2, and F3 generations obtained in the absence of any continued exposure. The transgenerational F3 generation males were assessed for disease and sperm collected for epigenetic analysis. Pathology was observed in pubertal onset and for testis disease, prostate disease, kidney disease, lean pathology, and multiple disease. For these pathologies, sufficient numbers of individual males with only a single specific disease were identified. The sperm DNA and chromatin were isolated from adult one-year animals with the specific diseases and analyzed for DMRs with methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) sequencing and DHRs with histone chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) sequencing. Transgenerational F3 generation males with or without disease were compared to identify the disease specific epimutation biomarkers. All pathologies were found to have disease specific DMRs and DHRs which were found to predominantly be distinct for each disease. No common DMRs or DHRs were found among all the pathologies. Epimutation gene associations were identified and found to correlate to previously known disease linked genes. This is one of the first observations of potential sperm disease biomarkers for histone retention sites. Although further studies with expanded animal numbers are required, the current study provides evidence the EWAS analysis is effective for the identification of potential pathology epimutation biomarkers for disease susceptibility.
Domestic Manufacturing Deduction: Does State Conformity Increase Employment Growth?

Using a two stage least squares regression with panel data on 46 U.S. states from 2006 to 2013, we examine the association between states’ adoption of the domestic manufacturing deduction (DMD) and employment growth. We also investigate whether the relative certainty provided by the state tax policy structure moderates this association. States can structure their income tax to automatically incorporate federal tax provisions (rolling conformity) or incorporate as of a specified date (fixed conformity). We find a positive association between state adoption of the DMD and manufacturing employment growth in rolling conformity state-years. These results highlight certainty in state tax policy-making as an important determinant of the efficacy of tax policies designed to boost economic outcomes. In a free enterprise system, it is important for policymakers to realize that economic consequences of state tax policies depend on the relative certainty that states will conform to federal tax laws.
Calcium Signaling Derangement and Disease Development and Progression.

The importance of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) in regulating integral biological functions such as cell division, cell motility, autophagy, apoptosis and gene transcription through its capacity as a ubiquitous second messenger is clear [...]
The impact of a teaching staff availability on educational process and OR efficiency in academic hospital

Abstract Background: The hospital's survival is dependent upon its ability to generate revenue. Operating room (OR) plays a vital role in a hospital's financial health by producing over 40% of its revenue. However, OR efficiency and productivity with their potential to increase returns can vary significantly between academic and private practice settings. The academic OR often lacks the managerial flexibility of private practices, limiting opportunity and maneuverability for initiatives. When the relative rigidity of academic practice is combined with the inherent time requirements and delays associated with the graduate medical education process, the task of improving OR efficiency and productivity in academic institutions becomes challenging. The aim of the study is to evaluate a teaching staff routine of intraoperative availability as a factor of influence on OR efficiency and productivity. Methods: In this prospective observational study, the authors analyzed a breakdown of the perioperative timeline of 100 general surgical cases performed at a tertiary academic medical center in Bronx, New York looking for critical factors affecting both educational contact time and OR efficiency. Results: The analysis revealed that the presence of the attending surgeon and anesthesiologist in the OR prior to the induction of anesthesia and at the time of wound closure increases educational contact time for the respective trainees and decreases non-operative time by approximately 20%. The immediate availability of teaching faculty at these two critical timepoints effectively decreases the overall case duration while increasing teaching contact time but shown to have minimal efficacy to prevent delays or improve conventional turn-over time. Conclusion: The reduced duration of the surgical procedure directly improves OR efficiency and through the potential reduction in overtime costs, it could also be a way to enhance a healthcare institution's financial bottom line.
A Behavioral Perspective on Media Selection.

This paper indulges a long-standing urge to present a behavioral, response-oriented view of media selection to a media audience which, in the main, is messageor stimulus-oriented. The paper begins with a description of some of the shortcomings to be found in literature on media selection, then goes on to offer a behavioral orientation to media selection. Although it represents a personal statement, the paper shares some of the views held by other practitioners and researchers in the field of instructional design. Because the purpose of this paper is not to review the literature but to present a particular point of view, other accounts of either the stimulus-oriented or the response-oriented variety are not referenced. Some of the behavioral views presented have appeared previously in partial form and in separate publications (Gropper & Glasgow, 1971; Gropper 1973, 1974, and 1975). This paper is an attempt to bring them together.
Sliding Mode Control of an Exothermic Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor

A continuous action state-feedback sliding mode controller (SMC) is developed for nonlinear systems under the influence of disturbances not in the span of control input space. Constraints are imposed on the control action and its rate of change. These developments are then applied to the design of a SMC system to maintain a constant outlet product concentration in an exothermic continuous stirred tank reactor (ECSTR). Robustness with respect to model uncertainties of the example reactor control system is demostrated. System performance is analyzed for set-point regulation, Damkohler number variations and disturbance rejection. Simulations demonstrate fast and safe control.
Chapter 4 Heuristic approaches to combinatorial optimization

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an intuitive understanding of the reasoning behind the choice of two heuristic search techniques, the genetic algorithm (GA) and simulated annealing (SA), to optimize the reservoir engineering problem. The existing production wells are identified by black circles. Now suppose that the optimization problem is to identify the subset of the five prospective injection locations which will maximize the productivity of the field, defined perhaps as the field's Net Present Value (NPV). The discretization of the decision variable is not done to simplify the problem. To the contrary, discretization actually complicates the optimization problem by making it difficult to apply the most efficient and powerful search techniques. Rather, the discretization is tolerated when it is the most natural representation of the real-world problem to be solved.
Effects of multiple yeast rad3 mutant alleles on UV sensitivity, mutability, and mitotic recombination.

Abstract A yeast strain was constructed that had a disruption of the chromosomal RAD3 gene and carried a series of centromeric plasmids with defined mutations in this gene. Using this isogenic collection, we examined sensitivity to UV radiation, spontaneous and UV radiation-induced mutagenesis, and mitotic recombination. Several alleles resulted in a marked increase in UV sensitivity. Most of these alleles were found to carry mutations located in consensus motifs for DNA helicases. Other alleles caused a modest or no increase in UV sensitivity and carried mutations in regions of the Rad3 polypeptide that are apparently not conserved. This correlation suggests that the DNA helicase activity of Rad3 protein is required for nucleotide excision repair of DNA. Some rad3 alleles conferred a marked increase in the frequency of spontaneous mutagenesis, including nonsuppressor reversion of the lys2-1 ochre mutation. These alleles also showed a good correlation with conserved DNA helicase domains, suggesting that the Rad3 DNA helicase also plays a role in the fidelity of DNA synthesis or postreplicative mismatch correction. Several rad3 mutator alleles also resulted in increased levels of mitotic recombination. Increased spontaneous mutagenesis and mitotic recombination are characteristic features of the Rem- phenotype. However, in contrast to the prototypic Rem- phenotype, the rad3 mutator alleles identified in this study did not confer inviability in the presence of mutations in the RAD50 or RAD52 gene required for strand break repair of DNA.
The contravariant form on singular vectors of a projective arrangement

We define the flag space and space of singular vectors for an arrangement A of hyperplanes in projective space equipped with a system of weights a: A → ℂ We show that the contravariant bilinear form of the corresponding weighted central arrangement induces a well-defined form on the space of singular vectors of the projectivization. If ∑H∊A a(H) = 0, this form is naturally isomorphic to the restriction to the space of singular vectors of the contravariant form of any affine arrangement obtained from A by dehomogenizing with respect to one of its hyperplanes.
Courts vs. the Political Branches: Immigration "Reform" and the Battle for the Future of Immigration Law

When the topic of immigration reform is discussed, the focus is usually on the efforts of the political branches, particularly Congress. The role of the judiciary is typically ignored or mischaracterized. In this Article, Professor Slocum discusses the role of the judiciary with regard to immigration reform and argues that the judiciary's efforts in one area of immigration law in particular, judicial and administrative review, have been largely underestimated. Through various methods, the judiciary has thwarted many of the efforts of the political branches to reform judicial and administrative review by precluding or diminishing review. While significant, the judiciary's efforts are not completely satisfying for two reasons. First, the judiciary's decisions have rested on nonconstitutional grounds, leaving areas of judicial and administrative review in need of further reform. Second, the judiciary's primary focus on judicial and administrative review has ignored the equally fundamental ways in which immigration law fails to conform to the rule of law.
Learning from Myself: Avatars and Educational Video Games

This research explores which conditions for video game play are more effective in producing outcomes such as knowledge retained, involvement, behavioral intention, enjoyment, and self-efficacy. Additionally, given that identification with a model increases positive learning results and given the history of avatar use showing that people tend to idealize themselves in avatar form, expectations are that an ideal-self avatar would yield the greatest learning outcomes, followed by real-self avatar (both conditions that offer extreme identification), and lastly the third-party avatar. Self-efficacy was higher in the enactive condition. The ideal self condition resulted in the highest levels of involvement and enjoyment of game, learning, and avatar, indicating that the ideal-self avatar may have the stronger relationship with these variables.
Comparing main diagonal entries in normalized confusion matrices: a bootstrapping approach

When assessing map accuracy, it is typical to compare results from different classifiers that operated on the same image data set. While conditional kappa allows individual matrix categories to be analyzed with respect to either inclusion or exclusion error rates, conditional kappa is not used to compare individual matrix categories with respect to both rates concurrently. When this concurrent comparison is desired, the matrices are typically normalized and then examined on a cell-by-cell basis by inspection. While no parametric test of significance exists for such a cell-by-cell examination, sampling distributions for these main diagonal entries can be estimated by bootstrapping, allowing inferences to be made about the population. In this research, one procedure for assessing the statistical significance of normalized matrix cells on the main diagonal is described.
Estimation of phytoplankton decomposition rates using two-stage continuous flow studies

Abstract A two-stage continuous flow (TSCF) system was used to quantify phytoplankton decomposition rates and to characterize the decay process as a function of phytoplankton species, phytoplankton physiological state, and the presence and character of a decomposer community. A TSCF system allowed a steady-state phytoplankton culture, grown in the first stage, to be the feed to a darkened second stage decomposition culture. A mass balance on the phytoplankton biomass in the second stage quantitatively assessed the magnitude of the decomposition rate. The results of 12 experimental runs revealed that the relative order of decay rates among three phytoplankton species tested was Microcystis (blue-green) >Asterionella (diatom) >Scenedesmus (green). The results also suggest a strong dependence of decay rates on the presence and origin of the decomposer community in the second stage. A decomposer community originating from a hypereutrophic lake accounted for higher decay rates than did an inoculum from mesotrophic waters of Lake Ontario. Phytoplankton cultures not receiving a poser inoculum exhibited low decay rates indicative of endogenous respiration. Finally, two concurrently run TSCF experiments, where the only difference was the dilution rate in the lit first stage, illustrated that sub-optimal growth rates of phytoplankton result in a stress condition that renders the population more susceptable to death and decomposition.
Smooth Transitions in Texture-based Simplification

We are investigating techniques for providing smooth transitions when simplifying large, static geometric models with texture-based representations (or impostors). Traditionally, textures have been used to replace complex geometry, for example the books on a shelf or the complex foliage on a tree. Using textures in a more general manner is a relatively new area of research. The key idea is that 2D image textures can be used to temporarily represent 3D geometry. Rendering speed is increased if a replacement texture can be used for several frames, since textures can be rendered quickly and independently of model complexity. Because a texture is only correct from a single viewpoint, visual discontinuities, such as misalignment with adjacent geometry, begin to appear as the texture is used from other viewpoints. Previous approaches have controlled these errors by re-rendering the textures often or providing a large set of precomputed textures. We have improved upon these methods by developing algorithms for: (a) providing continuous imagery across borders between geometry and sampled textures at all times; (b) providing smooth dynamic transitions between geometry and texture.
Rare earth screens for panoramic radiography

Six panoramic radiographs, each made with a different screen/film combination, were compared for "periapical visibility" by fourteen dentists. Two combinations (a par-speed and a high-speed) used calcium tungstate screens, and three used rare earth screen systems four times faster than par-speed. One other combination consisted of a single rare earth screen plus a single-coated detail film. The radiographs produced by the faster rare earth screen/film combinations were found to be similar in quality to those produced by calcium tungstate screens. Rare earth screens could be used for panoramic radiography while maintaining quality and reducing exposure.
Demand for an Undergraduate Education in the Agricultural Sciences

Undergaduate enrollments in the agricultural and natural resource sciences (AGNR) declined during the 1980s. The present study sought to analyze factors affecting the drop in demand for an AGNR education. Two time-series pooled models were employed: a household production function (HPF) variant and a Mincerian human capital form. The HPF variant offers the empirical advantage of a price expression that accounts for changes in AGNR demand beyond significant wealth, structural, regional, and gender effects. High opportunity costs of AGNR careers stalled demand during the 1980s—a problem that may persist for some AGNR career areas.
Impact of fraction size on lung radiation toxicity: hypofractionation may be beneficial in dose escalation of radiotherapy for lung cancers.

Purpose To assess how fraction size impacts lung radiation toxicity and therapeutic ratio in treatment of lung cancers. Methods and Materials The relative damaged volume (RDV) of lung was used as the endpoint in the comparison of various fractionation schemes with the same normalized total dose (NTD) to the tumor. The RDV was computed from the biologically corrected lung dose–volume histogram (DVH), with an α/β ratio of 3 and 10 for lung and tumor, respectively. Two different (linear and S-shaped) local dose-effect models that incorporated the concept of a threshold dose effect with a single parameter D L50 (dose at 50% local dose effect) were used to convert the DVH into the RDV. The comparison was conducted using four representative DVHs at different NTD and D L50 values. Results The RDV decreased with increasing dose/fraction when the NTD was larger than a critical dose (D CR ) and increased when the NTD was less than D CR . The D CR was 32–50 Gy and 58–87 Gy for a small tumor (11 cm 3 ) for the linear and S-shaped local dose-effect models, respectively, when D L50 was 20–30 Gy. The D CR was 66–97 Gy and 66–99 Gy, respectively, for a large tumor (266 cm 3 ). Hypofractionation was preferred for small tumors and higher NTDs, and conventional fractionation was better for large tumors and lower NTDs. Hypofractionation might be beneficial for intermediate-sized tumors when NTD=80–90 Gy, especially if the D L50 is small (20 Gy). Conclusion This computational study demonstrated that hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy is a better regimen than conventional fractionation in lung cancer patients with small tumors and high doses, because it generates lower RDV when the tumor NTD is kept unchanged.
Heart and kidneys: sharing more than just blood.

Purpose of review To describe the relationship of renal disease and metabolic syndrome with cardiovascular disease and explore the role of toxic solutes retained due to renal impairment as mediators of cardiovascular risk. Recent findings Metabolic syndrome and chronic kidney disease are related. Chronic kidney disease is partly caused by, but also mediates, some of the adverse effects of metabolic syndrome. Uremic toxins with potent effects have been identified. Examples include the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethyl arginine – this substance accumulates as renal function declines and has a strong relationship with cardiovascular events and mortality in a variety of populations. The effect of asymmetric dimethyl arginine in causing arterial stiffness, a phenomenon which has been linked with risk of vascular disease, offers a mechanistic explanation for the importance of this substance. Summary A pathophysiology that links renal impairment with cardiovascular risk has long been suspected and is being elucidated through the effects of uremic toxins.
Production and Properties of Deproteinized Whey Powders

Abstract Spray drying the deproteinized fraction from ultrafiltered whey was investigated, and the effects of processing on the distribution and loss of nutritional components were determined. Concentrates ranging from 30 to 66% solids were prepared and tested for the effects of solids, temperature, viscosity, and lactose crystallization on drying. Concentrates between 40 and 50% solids were readily spray dried whereas concentrates above 50% failed to dry. Attempts to obtain maximum lactose crystallization prior to drying did not prove beneficial. Acidity of the permeate was not a major factor in establishing drying capability. Foamspray drying with air injection at the rate of 28 to 56 lites/min produced a free flowing powder with moisture content of 1 to 3%. Twelve lots of cottage cheese permeate were dried without appreciable difficulty. Powders were moderately hygroscopic and usually contained less than 1.5% moisture. No loss of nutritional components, e.g., amino acids, minerals, and vitamins, was caused by drying.
Uncoupling between Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Downstream Signals Defines Resistance to the Antiproliferative Effect of Gefitinib in Bladder Cancer Cells

Activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and downstream signaling pathways, such as phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt and Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), have been implicated in causing resistance to EGFR-targeted therapy in solid tumors, including the urogenital tumors. To investigate the mechanism of resistance to EGFR inhibition in bladder cancer, we compared EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (Gefitinib, Iressa, ZD1839) with respect to its inhibitory effects on three kinases situated downstream of EGFR: MAPK, Akt, and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). We found that the resistance to the antiproliferative effects of gefitinib, in vitro as well as in vivo in nude mice models, was associated with uncoupling between EGFR and MAPK inhibition, and that GSK-3β activation and degradation of its target cyclin D1 were indicators of a high cell sensitivity to gefitinib. Further analysis of one phenotypic sensitive (253J B-V) and resistant (UM-UC13) cell lines revealed that platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRβ) activation was responsible for short circuiting the EGFR/MAPK pathway for mitogenic stimuli. However, invasion as well as actin dynamics were efficiently reduced by EGFR inhibition in UM-UC13. Chemical disruption of signaling pathways or of PDGFR kinase activity significantly reduced the inactive pool of cellular GSK-3β in UM-UC13 cells. In conclusion, our data show that the uncoupling of EGFR with mitogenic pathways can cause resistance to EGFR inhibition in bladder cancer. Although this uncoupling may arise through different mechanisms, we suggest that the resistance of bladder cancer cells to EGFR blockade can be predicted early in the course of treatment by measuring the activation of GSK-3β and of nuclear cyclin D1.