cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of Volatile Anesthetics in Cardioprotection: a systematic review

This review evaluates the mechanism of volatile anesthetics as cardioprotective agents in both clinical and laboratory research and furthermore assesses possible cardiac side effects upon usage. Cardiac as well as non-cardiac surgery may evoke perioperative adverse events including: ischemia, diverse arrhythmias and reperfusion injury. As volatile anesthetics have cardiovascular effects that can lead to hypotension, clinicians may choose to administer alternative anesthetics to patients with coronary artery disease, particularly if the patient has severe preoperative ischemia or cardiovascular instability. Increasing preclinical evidence demonstrated that administration of inhaled anesthetics - before and during surgery - reduces the degree of ischemia and reperfusion injury to the heart. Recently, this preclinical data has been implemented clinically, and beneficial effects have been found in some studies of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Administration of volatile anesthetic gases was protective for patients undergoing cardiac surgery through manipulation of the potassium ATP (KATP) channel, mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as well as through cytoprotective Akt and extracellular-signal kinases (ERK) pathways. However, as not all studies have demonstrated improved outcomes, the risks for undesirable hemodynamic effects must be weighed against the possible benefits of using volatile anesthetics as a means to provide cardiac protection in patients with coronary artery disease who are undergoing surgery.
Integrating evidence into clinical practice: an alternative to evidence‐based approaches

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has thus far failed to adequately account for the appropriate incorporation of other potential warrants for medical decision making into clinical practice. In particular, EBM has struggled with the value and integration of other kinds of medical knowledge, such as those derived from clinical experience or based on pathophysiologic rationale. The general priority given to empirical evidence derived from clinical research in all EBM approaches is not epistemically tenable. A casuistic alternative to EBM approaches recognizes that five distinct topics, 1) empirical evidence, 2) experiential evidence, 3) pathophysiologic rationale, 4) patient goals and values, and 5) system features are potentially relevant to any clinical decision. No single topic has a general priority over any other and the relative importance of a topic will depend upon the circumstances of the particular case. The skilled clinician must weigh these potentially conflicting evidentiary and non-evidentiary warrants for action, employing both practical and theoretical reasoning, in order to arrive at the best choice for an individual patient.
Detection of Distribution High Impedance Faults Using Burst Noise Signals near 60 HZ

Previous papers have described a method for the detection of arcing fallen distribution primiary conductor faults using the electrical noise in feeder current above 2kHz. While this method provided improved detection of such faults, this high frequency signal often would not propagate past capacitor banks. In the present paper, we describe a technique for the identification of arcing high impedance faults using burst noise signals at frequencies near the power system fundamental and low order harmonics. Arcing generates non-synchronous burst noise signals which approximate white noise, providing a signal which can be differentiated from synchronous power system signals in the frequency bands of interest. The primary advantage of monitoring frequencies near the fundamental is that this arcing fault signal at low frequencies will exhibit little attenuation from capacitor banks or other sources. This paper provides preliminary results that arcing faults can be detected effectively using frequency components below 60 Hz or between low order harmonics of 60 Hz. The technique is demonstrated through analysis of analog signals recorded during numerouis staged utility downed conductor tests.
Uses of the 1980 census for Hispanic health services research

The 1980 Census data provide a valuable resource for health services research on Hispanics. Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in the United States and yet there is a paucity of large-scale empirical research on their health care and access needs. This paper describes how the census can assist in: 1) estimating the overall health care needs of this group, 2) identifying target groups within the Hispanic population who may have special health care problems (e.g., children, elderly, pregnant women, etc.); and 3) using other data sources to improve the quality of studies carried out on Hispanics. It also discusses problems in using the census for Hispanic health services research and some strategies for dealing with these problems.
Rhetoric of warning labels: Human figures in cross-cultural design

Evaluation of warning label design does not always include the perspectives of researchers or graphic designers and legally, warning labels hold no responsibility for changing human behavior. Over the past two decades, much attention to warning label design has come from fields such as human factors, ergonomics, and social psychology, but scholarship on abstract visuals in technical communication is not emphasized. Warning labels use generalized abstract bodies to depict the risk of great and potential hazards, demonstrating a removal from physical reality. This paper will look at warning labels through the lens of abstraction. Abstraction is a non-mimetic form of an object or an idea, and its interpretation greatly depends on the context and culture it is observed in. Arnheim’s theory of abstraction can help designers create effective designs that communicate cross-culturally based on a system of symbols, signs and pictures. The range of abstraction is evident in hybrid warnings that employ both symbols and pictures. Historical uses of warning labels have been subtly reshaped over the years from highly modernized images to ones that contain symbolic images that aid context and understanding of risk. To analyze the way culture shapes warning images, vending machine warnings were analyzed to understand how context and culture affects the abstraction. A selection of wet floor signs was also analyzed for the cultural influences observed in the abstract representations of human figures. Even though the images are standardized, the international images uncovered links between the designs of the warnings and their current usage that suggested they were influenced by prominent art movements during the 20 century. While standardization is the surest way to represent ideas across all audiences, the images analyzed in this paper demonstrate that warning label designers can stretch the boundaries of standard designs. Very few of the images remained constant between signs that demonstrate the same warnings, which suggests that viewers are responding well to localized images.
Heat Transport Enhancement of Monogroove Heat Pipe with Electrohydrodynamic Pumping

The enhancement of the heat transport capacity of a monogroove heat pipe with electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pumping was investigated. The EHD pump was located on the liquid channel in the adiabatic section of the heat pipe. The heat pipe e uid used in all experiments was R-123, a new alternative refrigerant. The two experimental goals were to determine the magnitude of heat transport enhancement that could be achieved using the EHD pump and to demonstrate the controllability and recovery of the heat pipe during dryout. Both were successfully accomplished. Over 100% enhancement in the transport capacity was achieved using the EHD pump operating at 20 kV. This enhancement could be maintained with less than 0.08 W of electric power to the EHD pump. The EHD pump was also able to provide immediate recovery from dryout when the heat pipe had been experiencing progressive evaporator dryout for over 70 min at 400 W.
Using standardized time series to estimate confidence intervals for the difference between two stationary stochastic processes

This paper discusses confidence interval estimation for the difference between the means of two independent, strictly stationary phi-mixing stochastic processes. The confidence intervals are based on "batched" subseries of the two time series and are obtained by using Schruben's standardized time series method. We compare these intervals with the classical result applied to the batch means, and consider different assumptions on the variances and the number of observations. The comparison results show that the four new estimators for each case have asymptotic properties that clearly dominate the classical estimator. Two applications of these intervals are 1 validating stationary discrete event simulation models, and 2 comparing two alternative policies or system designs via simulation.
Crafting a baccalaureate program in software engineering

In the fall of 1996. The Rochester Institute of Technology admitted the first students to its new B.S. program in Software Engineering. The program, which evolved from elective sequences in computer science and computer engineering, is significant for several reasons. First, to the best of our knowledge, it is the only such program offered in the U.S. Second, the program is jointly supported by two colleges of RIT, each with a unique culture, perspective, and mission. Finally, our goal from the outset was to design a curriculum that could be eventually accredited as an engineering program. While the paper briefly outlines the rationale for developing a new, specialized program, the focus is primarily on how the curriculum was developed, what it comprises, and why it is structured the way it is. We hope that others contemplating or actively developing such a program will profit from our experiences.
Association of Ice and River Channel Morphology Determined Using Ground-penetrating Radar in the Kuparuk River, Alaska

Abstract We collected ground-penetrating radar data at 10 sites along the Kuparuk River and its main tributary, the Toolik River, to detect unfrozen water beneath river ice. We used 250 MHz and 500 MHz antennas to image both the ice-water interface and the river channel in late April 2001, when daily high temperatures were consistently below freezing and river ice had attained its maximum seasonal thickness. The presence of water below the river ice appears as a strong, horizontal reflection observed in the radar data and is confirmed by drill hole data. A downstream transition occurs from ice that is frozen to the bed, called bedfast ice, to ice that is floating on unfrozen water, called floating ice. This transition in ice type corresponds to a downstream change in channel size that was detected in previously conducted hydraulic geometry surveys of the Kuparuk River. We propose a conceptual model wherein the downstream transition from bedfast ice to floating ice is responsible for an observed step chang...
Progressive outer retinal necrosis syndrome: successful treatment with a new combination of antiviral drugs.

PURPOSE. To describe a case of progressive outer retinal necrosis syndrome, successfully treated with a new combination of antiviral drugs. METHODS. The patient was treated with a combined therapy of antiviral drugs that includes: intravenous acyclovir 10 mg/kg, three intravitreal injections of foscarnet (1200 µg) and a ganciclovir implant in the right eye. RESULTS. The progressive outer retinal necrosis appeared to response dramatically with the combination of antiviral agents used over a period of 2 weeks with a final visual acuity of 20/80 at 3 months of follow up. CONCLUSIONS. Intravitreal foscarnet combined with IV acyclovir and ganciclovir implant may represent an effective alternative treatment for PORN. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2001; 11: 200-2)
Review of Geothermal and Solar Thermal Power Plants and a Comparative Design Analysis

Thermodynamics indicates that the lower the temperature of a resource, the less energy that could be extracted from it due to lower maximum thermal efficiency. Geothermal resources exist in varying temperatures. The lowest ones (around 120°C), are too small for economic power production. On the other hand, concentrating solar power (CSP) can achieve high temperatures during the day (from 350 to 550°C, based on a Parabolic Trough CSP plant [1]) but once the sun is not shining, that temperature is reduced drastically.Transition to renewable energy systems is an environmentally friendly and potentially rewarding economic decision that society can make nowadays. This paper briefly reviews geothermal and solar thermal based plants in terms of energy growth or decay from one year to another (2012–2013). In addition, an example site location is chosen and the performance of both these types of power plants is analyzed in terms of capacity factor, Thermal Energy Storage (TES) hours, solar multiple, area requirement and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for a given set of environmental conditions. This analysis is performed using the System Advisor Model (SAM), on which simulation of parabolic trough, power tower, linear Fresnel, dish Stirling and geothermal (binary cycle) energy conversion systems are considered. At the same time, the analysis discussed will take place in a further study which will include economic viability for the two technologies running under the same combined cycle.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Exploring a Vision for Sustaining Innovation in African Economies

There is an opportunity for African countries to capitalize on economic gains made in the telecommunication sector over the last decade and self-imposed pressure to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Thus far, African leaders have accepted capacity building and infrastructure development as two responsibilities which, when implemented, should accelerate internal and regional economic growth. But to accelerate development and overcome socioeconomic challenges associated with competing in an information-driven, flat economy, leadership in African governments, businesses and research (academic and nonacademic) must adopt a scalable and sustainable technology transfer agenda designed for multihelix innovation. Such an agenda would allow internal and external stakeholders to benefit from the network of productive information, transactions, and human capital that the continent’s telecommunication operators have accumulated over the decade. With multihelix collaboration, these physical networks could become transformative platforms that make it possible to scale economies, increase security and crop yields, promote human rights and civil liberties, improve health service response, multiply transactions and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), and accelerate intellectual content exports. The convergent telemedia platforms could fuse physical infrastructure with virtual networks, social applications, and human activity to sustainably galvanize innovation, generate opportunities, create value, and change lives. New business models such as pay-as-you-go and residual revenue sharing, which leverage the absence of legacy systems, can facilitate this fusion.
A promising F-18 labeled PET radiotracer (-)-[18F]VAT for assessing the VAChT in vivo

4 Objectives The loss of cholinergic neurons correlates with the severity of cognitive dysfunction in dementias, including AD and PD and other CNS disorders. Vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) is a reliable biomarker for cholinergic neurons. Compound (-)-[18F]VATpossesses high binding potency and selectivity towards VAChT (Ki-VAChT = 0.59 nM, Ki-σ1, σ2 > 10,000 nM). Here we report the radiosynthesis and in vivo evaluation of (-)-[18F]VAT in rodent and nonhuman primates. Methods (-)-[18F]VAT was synthesized by a two-step alkylation of the phenol precursor. Biodistribution studies were performed in male SD rats at 5, 30, 60, and 120 min post injection. MicroPET studies were performed in male cynomolgus monkeys (4-6 Kg) using a microPET Focus 220 scanner. Dosimetry studies were performed in one female and two male monkeys. Results (-)-[18F]VAT was synthesized in high specific activity (>2 Ci/µmol, EOB) and a yield of 30-45% (decay corrected). Biodistribution studies revealed that (-)-[18F]VAT specifically accumulates in VAChT-enriched striatum area: at 60 min, the uptake(s) (ID%/g) in striatum, cortex, hippocampus, thalamus and cerebellum are 0.82, 0.43, 0.42, 0.45 and 0.29 repectively. No significant defluorination was observed. The uptake in striatum versus cerebellum reached 2.8-fold at 60 min post-injection. MicroPET brain imaging studies in nonhuman primates revealed that the striatum has the highest uptake and displayed clear striatum-to-cerebellum contrast (2.6-fold ratio). Dosimetry studies suggested that injection of 20 mCi into humans will not exceed allowable radiation exposure. Conclusions (-)-[18F]VAT is a promising PET tracer for quantifying the expression of VAChT in the brain of animals. These promising in vivo animal results permit us to seek IND and RDRC approval for translational clinical investigation in human subjects. Research Support NIH/NINDS: #NS061025, #NS075527.
X-RAY CONTACT MICROSCOPY

Present day optics, both photon and electron, have been used to produce instruments to image and resolve large objects that are visible with a simple magnifying glass and objects as small as several atomic distances. The optical microscope played a most important role in the early part of this century in the biological field and still does. However, with the development of the electron microscope (EM) in the fifties a new world was opened up in the field of solid state physics and biology. The major limitation of the electron microscope over that of the optical system was that the specimen required special processing. For example samples had to be thinner than 100 nm. Furthermore, the contrast mechanism of the electron with the material were such that biological specimens had to be stained as well. This allowed the electrons to be able to distinguish between two low atomic numbers. Great strides were made in developing specific stains such that when applied to biological specimens they attach themselves to specific sites. This procedure is used to this day with great success. Images of thin sections of almost every known cell have been obtained with the electron microscope. One of the major controversies is over the techniques that are used to prepare the living cell for the EM. Various techniques used today are whole mounts, freeze fracture and critical point drying. We will not go into the details of these techniques but leave this to the reader to obtain a more complete description by M. A. Hayat (1970).
HOST DEFENSE MECHANISMS OF THE PERITONEAL CAVITY AND CONTINUOUS AMBULATORY PERITONEAL DIALYSIS

Clinical and experimental data reviewed in this paper illustrate the perturbations of normal bio logical functions, which may accompany a major technological advance. There is a marked reduction in...
Urease-Mediated Room-Temperature Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Titanium Dioxide

Enzymes are an important class of biological molecules whose specific functionalities can be exploited to perform tasks beyond the reach of conventional chemistry. Because they are operational under environmentally friendly, ambient conditions, the adaptation of these biomacromolecules can potentially be used to replace current energy-intensive and environmentally harsh synthesis methods for materials. Here we used a hydrolytic enzyme, urease, to modify the solution environment around a water-soluble and stable TiO2 precursor to synthesize nanocrystalline titanium dioxide under environmentally benign conditions. This urease-mediated synthesis yields nearly monodisperse TiO2 nanostructures with high surface area that can be utilized for numerous energy-based applications such as low-cost photovoltaics and photocatalysts.
Combinatorial pulsed laser deposition of Fe, Cr, Mn, and Ni-substituted SrTiO3 films on Si substrates.

Combinatorial pulsed laser deposition (CPLD) using two targets was used to produce a range of transition metal-substituted perovskite-structured Sr(Ti1–xMx)O3−δ films on buffered silicon substrates, where M = Fe, Cr, Ni and Mn and x = 0.05–0.5. CPLD produced samples whose composition vs distance fitted a linear combination of the compositions of the two targets. Sr(Ti1–xFex)O3−δ films produced from a pair of perovskite targets (SrTiO3 and SrFeO3 or SrTiO3 and SrTi00.575Fe0.425O3) had properties similar to those of films produced from single targets, showing a single phase microstructure, a saturation magnetization of 0.5 μB/Fe, and a strong out-of-plane magnetoelastic anisotropy at room temperature. Films produced from an SrTiO3 and a metal oxide target consisted of majority perovskite phases with additional metal oxide (or metal in the case of Ni) phases. Films made from SrTiO3 and Fe2O3 targets retained the high magnetic anisotropy of Sr(Ti1–xFex)O3−δ, but had a much higher saturation magnetization than...
Accessing Molecularly Complex Azaborines: Palladium-Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Couplings of Brominated 2,1-Borazaronaphthalenes and Potassium Organotrifluoroborates

Despite their potential applications in both medicinal chemistry and materials science, there have been limited reports on the functionalization of 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes since their discovery in 1959. To access new chemical space and build molecular complexity, the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of brominated 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes has been investigated. The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling proceeds with an array of potassium (hetero)aryltrifluoroborates in high yield with low catalyst loadings under mild reaction conditions. By the use of a high-yielding bromination of various 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes to generate electrophilic azaborine species, a library of 3-(hetero)aryl and 3,6-diaryl-2,1-borazaronaphthalenes has been synthesized.
Relationship between genetic polymorphism of paraoxonase 1 and susceptibility to organophosphorus pesticides poisoning

Paraoxonase 1(PON1)is an important detoxifying enzyme for organophosphorus pesticides.The corresponding gene of PON1 has polymorphisms in both promoter and coding region.In this paper,the polymorphism of PON1 gene and its significance were reviewed.In addition,the relationships among PON1 activity,PON1 gene polymorphism and organophosphorus pesticide poisoning were also discussed.
Research on the improved parasitic penta-band antenna

An improved penta-band planar inverted-F antenna design for mobile devices at those bands of GSM/DCS/PCS/UMTS/HIPERLAN/2 and IEEE 802.11a is presented.The main improvement was to increase the horizontal part of capacitor so as to control bandwidth which covers the interest frequency ranges by coupling,and also multi-frequencies was achieved due to the parasitic stacked elements to the patch correspondingly,resulting in the realization of penta frequencies with S11-10 dB.FDTD method was also used for the antenna simulation,and as well as perfect agreement was achieved with experiments.
How Beneficial is Follow-Up Mammography in Elderly Breast Cancer Survivors?

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the rate of non-palpable cancer detection and benign biopsy rates for follow-up mammograms in elderly breast cancer survivors.
BRAIN LIPIDS: I. QUANTIFICATION AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF CEREBROSIDE SULFATE IN HUMAN CEREBRAL GRAY AND WHITE MATTER.

Cerebroside sulfate was isolated by column chromatography from infant whole brains and adult human cerebral grey and white matter. Fatty acid analyses, performed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), of normal and α-hydroxy fatty acids obtained after hydrolysis revealed that cerebroside sulfate contains long-chain fatty acids ranging from 14–26 carbons both in the normal and hydroxy series. In mature brains, 24:0 and 24:1 were the major fatty acids in both series. Odd-chain fatty acids were present, as well as monounsaturates of both odd- and even-chain fatty acids, but no polyenes were detected. Cerebroside sulfate in the infant brain contained smaller proportions of odd-chain and hydroxy fatty acids when compared with mature brains. Cerebroside sulfate contained smaller proportions of hydroxy acids than cerebroside in each tissue. The fatty acid compositions of cerebroside sulfate from grey and white matter were similar. Comparison of cerebroside and cerebroside sulfate isolated from the same source revealed a similar fatty acid composition for these glycolipids.
Investigating the Refugee Health Disadvantage Among the U.S. Immigrant Population

ABSTRACTMuch health-disparities research focuses on race and ethnicity, but nativity has proved to be a crucial factor in explaining the immigrant health advantage. Foreign-born subgroups with certain immigration statuses, such as refugees, may have an initial disadvantage. Using nationally representative survey data, we explore differences in health outcomes by analyzing two visa category subgroups in the United States: refugees and nonrefugee immigrants. Our findings show that refugees have a significant disadvantage across multiple health outcomes. This suggests that current refugee health-screening practices should be changed to take into account broader issues, such as chronic disease and functional limitation.
Functional Network Dynamics of the Language System

During linguistic processing, a set of brain regions on the lateral surfaces of the left frontal, temporal, and parietal cortices exhibit robust responses. These areas display highly correlated activity while a subject rests or performs a naturalistic language comprehension task, suggesting that they form an integrated functional system. Evidence suggests that this system is spatially and functionally distinct from other systems that support high-level cognition in humans. Yet, how different regions within this system might be recruited dynamically during task performance is not well understood. Here we use network methods, applied to fMRI data collected from 22 human subjects performing a language comprehension task, to reveal the dynamic nature of the language system. We observe the presence of a stable core of brain regions, predominantly located in the left hemisphere, that consistently coactivate with one another. We also observe the presence of a more flexible periphery of brain regions, predominantly located in the right hemisphere, that coactivate with different regions at different times. However, the language functional ROIs in the angular gyrus and the anterior temporal lobe were notable exceptions to this trend. By highlighting the temporal dimension of language processing, these results suggest a trade-off between a region's specialization and its capacity for flexible network reconfiguration.
Carcinoma of the Stomach

We do not see very much gastric cancer in the United States, compared to our colleagues in the Far East and, to some extent, Eastern Europe, Central America, and South America. As a result, we in the United States are not nearly as adept at diagnosis and classification of this disease and have not studied it as comprehensively as, in particular, the Japanese. Cancer in the proximal stomach (in and around the gastroesophageal junction) is dealt with in association with Barrett’s mucosa in the esophagus section of this text. Most of the remaining adenocarcinomas affecting the stomach occur in the distal organ (antrum and pylorus) and the most important etiology/risk factor seems to be infection with Helicobacter pylori, although smoking, certain dietary intake (smoked and salt-preserved foods), and bile reflux have also been implicated. Traditionally, gastric adenocarcinoma has been divided by the Lauren classification into “intestinal type” (ie, cancers that make tubules and/or papillary structures) and “diffuse type” (composed of dyscohesive cells that may have a signet-ring appearance). Using this scheme, a small number of cases have overlap between the patterns, precluding definitive classification. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized five major types of carcinoma (tubular, papillary, mucinous, “poorly cohesive,” and mixed) and there are several other variants that do not fit into either of these classification schemes and which are really rare. Grossly, gastric cancers may appear polypoid, fungating, ulcerating, or infiltrative. Classically, the diffuse type spreads throughout the gastric wall, causing diffuse desmoplasia and giving the stomach a semi-rigid “linitis plastica” (or “leather bottle”) character. This chapter will basically follow the Lauren classification, with an emphasis on biopsy diagnosis and an occasional nod to some of the rare variants.
Active damping of torsional resonance in wind turbine drivetrains

Two mitigation methods for torsional resonance are tested on a 750 kw wind turbine using the NREL software FAST in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. One mitigation method is an active vibration absorber and the other method uses rotor angular acceleration measurements to provide virtual inertia for resonance detuning. The wind turbine representation uses a five mass gearbox model, a PMSG model, and aerodynamic simulation of the tower shadow effect. The two mitigation methods are tested by subjecting them to a frequency scan of wind to demonstrate the resonant condition and its mitigation using the methods. The vibration absorber shows better performance with shaft oscillation reduction than that of the virtual inertia.
Fear generalisation in individuals with high neuroticism: increasing predictability is not necessarily better

ABSTRACTFear generalisation, a process by which conditioned fear spreads to similar but innocuous stimuli, is key in understanding why some individuals feel unsafe in objectively non-threatening situations. Both trait neuroticism and lack of predictability about the likelihood of feared consequences are associated with negative affect in the face of ambiguity and may increase the degree to which fear generalises. Undergraduates (N = 129) with varying degrees of neuroticism were randomised to either high- or low-instructional predictability conditions prior to fear acquisition. A fear generalisation test measured risk ratings and attentional bias on a modified dot-probe paradigm. Among individuals with higher neuroticism, providing instructional predictability did not reduce fear; these individuals reported higher risk and increased attentional bias toward ambiguous stimuli. Overall, for individuals with higher neuroticism, predictability information hurt rather than helped interpretation of ambiguous stim...
On identifying sparse representations of consensus networks

Abstract We consider the problem of identifying optimal sparse graph representations of dense consensus networks. The performance of the sparse representation is characterized by the global performance measure which quantifies the difference between the output of the sparse graph and the output of the original graph. By minimizing the sum of this performance measure and a sparsity-promoting penalty function, the alternating direction method of multipliers identifies sparsity structures that strike a balance between the performance measure and the number of edges in the graph. We then optimize the edge weights of sparse graphs over the identified topologies. Two examples are provided to illustrate the utility of the developed approach.
THE OXIDATION OF ACETALDEHYDE BY RAT HEPATIC, NON-HEPATIC AND TUMOR MITOCHONDRIA

The oxidation of acetaldehyde by mitochondria from liver, kidney, muscle, brain and a hepatocellularcarcinoma was characterized. Various experiments with substrates, ADP and ionophores suggest that with liver and kidney mitochondria, the rate of acetaldehyde oxidation is influenced by the reoxidation of NADH, the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase and the cationic environment. Acetaldehyde oxidation was stimulated by ionophores to a greater extent than by ADP. With brain and muscle mitochondria, acetaldehyde oxidation may be regulated by the activity of an enzyme with a high Km for acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde oxidation by mitochondria from a transplantable hepatocellular carcinoma was 2–3 times greater than that of liver mitochondria, suggesting the possible presence of a more active aldehyde dehydrogenase in the tumor. Compared to other NAD+-dependent substrates, the state 3 oxidation of pyruvate by mitochondria from liver, kidney, brain and muscle was uniquely sensitive to inhibition by physiological concentrations of acetaldehyde.
Using Physics to Help Students Develop Scientiﬁc Habits of Mind

Interactive engagement curricula are successful in helping students develop conceptual understanding of physics principles and solve problems. However, another beneﬁt of actively engaging students in the construction of their physics knowledge is providing them with an opportunity to engage in habitual “thinking like physicists”. Some examples of such thinking are: drawing a sketch before solving any physics problem, subjecting normative statements to experimental testing, evaluating assumptions, or treating each experimental results as an interval. We can help students develop these “habits of mind” if we purposefully and systematically engage them in the processes that mirror the processes in which physicists engage when they construct and apply knowledge. For such engagement to occur, we need to deeply re-conceptualize the role of experiments in physics instruction and their interaction with the theory. However, most importantly, we need to rethink the role of the instructor in the classroom.
Optimality of Ramsey–Euler policy in the stochastic growth model

Abstract For the canonical one sector stochastic optimal growth model, we outline a new set of conditions for a policy function that satisfies the Ramsey–Euler equation to be optimal. An interior Ramsey–Euler policy function is optimal if, and only if, it is continuous or alternatively, if, and only if, both consumption and investment are non-decreasing in output. In particular, we show that under these conditions, the stochastic paths generated by the policy must satisfy the transversality condition; the implication is that in applying our result, one does not need to verify the transversality condition when checking for optimality of a policy function.
Biological Characterization of Antimicrobial Coatings

Continuous research and product development directed at nanotechnology is becoming a very common phenomenon across the spectrum of industry to develop new better performing products for the customer. One of the common problems across various industries is microbial invasion of surfaces, which results in biofilm formation. Biofilm formation on the surface of polymeric surfaces can result in structural damage and is a health hazard in biomedical devices. The spread of infections due to biofilm formation on medical devices remains a challenge in the health-care industry. Researchers have been investigating various approaches to mitigate formation of biofilm on surfaces. Approaches include embedding antimicrobial agents into the surfaces or changing surface morphology and characteristic such that biofilm formation is either delayed or completely inhibited. To confirm the efficacy of such materials a series of tests are designed. These various tests have been used by various researchers in laboratory settings and are discussed in this chapter. Due to the wide range of materials that antimicrobial particles may be incorporated into, none of the tests is applicable for every situation and as a result it is necessary to select the test that best meets the investigator's needs.
Temperate Rocky Reef Fishes

Publisher Summary This chapter considers two classes of potential metapopulation effects on temperate reef fishes: short-term demographic effects and long-term genetic effects. These can also be considered as ecological and evolutionary effects. Demographic effects are those resulting from differences in the dispersal of propagules and the resultant effects on local and regional recruitment and population dynamics. The different types of reef habitat have been described, together with the geological origins of habitats, the fish communities that inhabit them at different depths and latitudes, the present day oceanographic and climatic forces that drive variations in local demography, and the longer term forces such as glaciation and sea level change that may have shaped their genetic legacy. Since many temperate reef species have long life spans, the effects of chance on favorable recruitment events can be quite long lasting for the local populations. A single strong year class can take decades to progress through the population, first as a dominant prey item and then as a dominant predator. The presence of several age groups tends to stabilize the abundance of adults and the species composition of temperate marine communities, and the longevity and persistence of adults may also limit the risk of stochastic extinction of an allele or haplotype.
Planetary Science: Over the edge?

The two Voyager spacecraft are heading beyond the bounds of the Solar System, and Voyager 1 may now have encountered the 'edge' — the termination shock — of the solar wind. But not everyone agrees.
Iron valence and partitioning between post-perovskite and ferropericlase in the Earth’s lowermost mantle

Abstract We use an ab initio based thermodynamic model to study the Fe partitioning (KDPPv-Fp = (Fe/Mg)PPv/(Fe/Mg)Fp)) and Fe3+ concentration in the Al-bearing and Al-free post-perovskite - ferropericlase (PPv-Fp) systems, and results are compared to a similar recent model (Xu et al., 2017) for bridgmanite (Bm). Lower mantle (lower oxygen fugacity) and oxidizing experimental conditions (higher oxygen fugacity) are considered. Under lower mantle conditions, we predict that the Fe3+ concentration in both Al-free and Al-bearing PPv-Fp systems is very limited, due to the Fe3+ and Fe0 recombination and Fe2+ production ( 2 Fe 3 + + Fe 0 → 3 Fe 2 + ). This effect leads to the majority of the total iron in the PPv-Fp systems being Fe2+ and the lowermost mantle is predicted to have little metallic iron. The Fe3+ content in PPv is approximately 3 times smaller than in Bm, which will lead to a large reduction of the amount of metallic iron in the lower mantle below the Bm/PPv transition. We also predict very little Fe in the PPv (KDPPv-Fp = (Fe/Mg)PPv/(Fe/Mg)Fp
Are there any places that students use their heads? Principles of high-quality japanese mathematics instruction

Previous research gives evidence that Japanese mathematics teachers "may have a more detailed and widely shared theory about how to teach effectively" when compared to their U.S. counterparts (Jacobs & Monta, 2002). This study explores the conceptions and cultural scripts of a group of Japanese mathematics teachers by analyzing the conversations between cooperating teachers and student teachers. It describes 6 principles of high-quality instruction that arose in at least half the conversations we analyzed. Each of these principles is examined in detail. Finally, some advantages of having a strong, shared conception of high-quality instruction and focusing on widely applicable instructional principles are presented.
Cancer: A Stem Cell-based Disease?

To understand the complex origin of human cancer, one cannot ignore the adage, “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution” [1]. In view of the fact that current understanding of carcinogenesis involves genetic, developmental, gender, dietary, nutritional-caloric restriction, environmental, life style, and cultural factors, what seems to be missing is not the amassing of more facts but a unifying conceptual framework to integrate all of these factors. (“…those researching the cancer problem will be practicing a dramatically different type of science than we have experienced over the past 25 years. Surely much of this change will be apparent at the technical level. But ultimately, the more fundamental change will be conceptual [2].”) The major concept presented in this review is that carcinogenesis involves the reversible alteration of an embryonic stem cell’s ability to divide asymmetrically will lead to teratomas, whereas the stable irreversible alteration of an adult stem cell’s ability to proliferate asymmetrically will lead carcinomas and sarcomas. An attempt will be made to integrate the (a) multi-stage/multi-mechanism hypothesis; (b) mutation/epigenetic theories, (c) stem cell /de-differentiation or “re-programming” hypotheses; (d) genetic and environmental interaction hypothesis of carcinogenesis; (e) oncogene/tumor suppressor theories; and (f) the homeostatic cell communication mechanisms with the stem cell hypothesis of carcinogenesis and with the biological and cultural evolutionary theories of carcinogenesis.
Uptake of exogenous gangliosides by rat brain synaptosomes.

Synaptosomes incorporated mixed brain gangliosides at a rapid initial rate followed by a slower phase of net movement from the protein-associated fraction into the membrane core. The pattern of incorporated gangliosides reflected the pattern available for incorporation. Intact synaptosomes incorporated ~100 pmol GM1/mg protein. Synaptosomes preincubated with proteolytic enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin, and papain) at different pH values (6.2, 7.4, 7.8) incorporated more exogenous gangliosides than synaptosomes preincubated in buffer alone. This effect was maximal at pH 7.8, though analysis of variance revealed that the proteolytic treatment and pH effects were probably independent processes. Overall uptake of exogenous gangliosides correlated significantly with amount of membrane protein loss, indicating that initial access of exogenous gangliosides to synaptosomal membranes is retarded by cell-surface proteins. These results suggest synaptosomes as a useful alternative to cultured cells for investigating the interaction of gangliosides with other cell surface constituents.
The burn rehabilitation center post-Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion Disaster - A pilot report from Chang-Gung memorial hospital - Taoyuan in Taiwan

Introduction/Background Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) at Linkou is the largest burn center in Taiwan and treated one in every five victims (total 499 victims) in the Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion Disaster since June 27, 2015. In response to meet the social and medical needs for post-burn issues, a Burn Rehabilitation Center was established in CGMH-Taoyuan on November 10, 2015 as a continuation of burn care and social support after this grand-scale tragic in Taiwan. Material and method A Burn Rehabilitation Center for post-acute care completed with multidisciplinary expertise including the plastic surgeon, physiatrist, psychiatrist, physical and occupational therapist were organized. Weekly clinic with rehabilitation exercises and on-site medical discussions were targeted on burn survivors and their family concerns. Results Since November 10, 2015 to December 25, 2017, the Burn Rehabilitation Center of CGMH-Taoyuan had received over two thousand patient visits in over two hundred clinics. Patients whom endured from different burn injuries (explosive flames, scald, chemical and electric burns) and post-reconstruction surgery visited. Overall, the center had provided 1588 and 1688 physical and occupational rehabilitation sessions respectively. Conclusion Although we were acknowledged internationally for the capacity and ability to manage major burn victims in the acute stage, the challenges and medical attention persisted and remained high even two years after the insults. Despite social modernization, sporadic burn insults persisted. The Burn Rehabilitation Center in CGMH-Taoyuan served an important ground and anchor in burn care and reflected a societal need to have effective treatment from acute, subacute to chronic stage.
As-Needed Use of Budesonide Plus Formoterol As Good As Daily Use of Steroid

As-needed use of budesonide/formoterol is as effective as the daily use of maintenance budesonide plus as-needed terbutaline at preventing severe exacerbations, and results in a much lower cumulative steroid dose.
Keeping the School of Pharmacy Connected to the University.

Aside from a small group of standalone institutions, US colleges and schools of pharmacy are components of a larger university. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education Standards 2016 describe the relationship that exists between a school and its university as a combination of connectedness
Detecting Anomalies Among Practice Sites Within Multicenter Trials.

Background: Recent multisite trials reveal striking heterogeneities in results between trial sites. These may be because of population differences indicating different treatment benefits among diff...
The Politics of Cruelty

ABSTRACTThe authoritarian tendencies evident in the Trump campaign and administration are framed by the idea of a “politics of cruelty,“ drawing on Judith Shlkar’s idea of the ”liberalism of fear,”...
Impact of Radiation Dose to the Host Immune System on Tumor Control and Survival for Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Definitive Radiation Therapy.

Purpose The significance of radiation dose to the host immune system during the treatment of stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown, but higher doses were associated with worse tumor control and overall survival (OS) in a secondary analysis of RTOG 0617. In this study, we sought to assess the impact of the estimated dose of radiation to immune cells (EDRIC) on cancer-specific outcomes in an independent cohort of patients treated at our institution. Methods and Materials We retrospectively identified 117 patients with stage III NSCLC treated with definitive fractionated radiation from 2004 to 2017 at a single academic center (median dose of 60 Gy; 60% underwent intensity modulated radiation therapy and 92% received concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy). EDRIC was calculated as a function of the number of radiation fractions and mean doses to the lung, heart, and remaining body based on a model developed by Jin et al. Results Median follow-up was 16 months with 77% of patients followed until death. In the entire population, 5-year OS was 11.2% with a median survival of 17.3 months. Median EDRIC for the entire cohort was 6.1 Gy (range, 2.5-10.0 Gy). A higher EDRIC was correlated with greater risk of grade ≥3 lymphopenia (P = .004). On multivariate analysis including total prescription radiation dose, planning target volume, and chemotherapy utilization, EDRIC was independently associated with OS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.17, P = .03), local progression–free survival (HR 1.17, P = .02), and disease-free survival (HR 1.15, P = .04). The median OS for patients with an EDRIC above 7.3 Gy (fourth quartile) and below 5.1 Gy (first quartile) was 14.3 and 28.2 months, respectively. Conclusions Higher doses of radiation to the immune system were associated with tumor progression and death after the definitive treatment of stage III NSCLC. Tailoring radiation therapy to spare the immune system may be an important future direction to improve outcomes in this population.
Feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of an occupation-focused cognitive self-management program for breast cancer survivors:

IntroductionThe purpose of this research was to assess the feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of a program to support the occupational performance of urban breast cancer survivo...