cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Ruthless Critique of Everything Existing: Frederick Douglass and the Architectonic of African American Radicalism

This study argues that Frederick Douglass articulated a distinctively radical rhetorical stance that searched for a passage through the epistemological antimonies of transcendence and immanence; the ideological antimonies of structure and agency; and the performative antimonies of the actually existing and the utopian. He did so by offering a radical critique of the dominant rhetorical traditions of his time—that of Puritan rhetoric, Lockean liberalism, and herrenvolk Republicanism. Specifically, Douglass challenged the metaphysical presuppositions of Puritanism, demonstrated the contradictions of Lockean liberalism's social contract, and offered a trenchant critique of herrenvolk Republicanism's mobocracy.
CONTRASTING RAINFALL PATTERNS IN THE UPPER MIDDLE WEST

ABSTRACT August, 1975 and 1976, featured strongly contrasting rainfall regimes in the midwestern United States. Both the severe drought of 1976 and the record surpluses of 1975 were related to repetitive, but different, circulations in the middle troposphere which ultimately governed the amount of moist air available to disturbances crossing the Middle West. Moist air overlay the southern half of the eastern United States during much of August, 1975, and was repeatedly drawn northward and extracted by passing Middle Western disturbances, but stronger, more persistent polar anticyclones in 1976 limited the northward penetration of moist air.
Autoantibodies to the high-affinity IgE receptor in chronic urticaria: how important are they?

Purpose of reviewEighty to 90% of patients with chronic urticaria have no specific external cause for their disease, which is therefore labeled ‘chronic idiopathic urticaria’. We now know, however, that as many as 30–50% of patients have evidence of an autoantibody to the high-affinity receptor for
Modulatory role for prolactin in the elevation of striatal dopamine receptor density induced by chronic treatment with dopamine receptor antagonists.

Abstract The chronic administration of haloperidol (HAL), domperidone (DOM), or sulpiride (SUL) increased the density of striatal dopamine (DA) receptors in intact but not in hypophysectomized (Hypox) male rats. This effect was independent of changes in body weights of the rats and of the drugs' abilities to produce cataleptic behavior. All treatments of intact rats increased serum rat prolactin (rPRL) concentrations, while Hypox rats had rPRL levels equivalent to zero. At the doses used in these studies, the striatal DA receptor densities were increased only if the rPRL levels were also increased. Chronic cysteamine (CYS) treatment decreased body weight gain, acutely decreased cataleptic behavior to HAL, decreased serum rPRL levels, and prevented the increase in serum rPRL levels due to HAL administration. While CYS itself did not alter striatal DA receptor density, it prevented the increase in density associated with the chronic administration of HAL (1 mg/kg). Since CYS decreased rPRL levels, these results lend further support to the hypothesis that rPRL (and prolactin in general) is a pituitary hormone with modulatory action on the increase in striatal DA receptor density.
Does preoperative topical antimicrobial scrub reduce positive surgical site culture rates in men undergoing artificial urinary sphincter placement

Purpose: We determined if the incidence of a perioperative surgical site-positive culture was reduced by a 5-day topical antimicrobial scrub before implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter.Materials and Methods: A single surgeon prospective cohort study was conducted of 100 consecutive artificial urinary sphincter implants placed between May 2003 and November 2005. We compared 50 men who performed preoperative topical antimicrobial scrub with 4% chlorhexidine to the abdominal site and perineal site with 50 men who used their normal hygiene (soap and water). All received povidone-iodine skin disinfection before incision, and bacterial cultures of the abdominal and perineal sites were collected immediately after skin disinfection and after artificial urinary sphincter implantation. Baseline comparisons between groups were done with the Wilcoxon rank sum and Fisher exact tests. Predictors of positive culture were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: The causes of inconti...
A polynomial algorithm for a one machine batching problem

A problem of batching identical jobs on a single machine is studied. Constant processing times and batch setup times are assumed. An algorithm is presented to minimize the sum over all jobs of the batched completion times, and shown to run in time polynomial in the logarithms of the problem parameters.
Variations of blood flow at optic nerve head induced by sinusoidal flicker stimulation in cats.

1. The present investigation explored, in thirty-four anaesthetized cats, the blood flow changes at the optic nerve head elicited by sinusoidally modulated photic stimuli. 2. The stimuli were achromatic, diffuse and had 30 deg diameter field size; the stimulus frequency was varied from 0 to 100 Hz, modulation depth from 0 to 100% and mean retinal illuminance up to 50,000 trolands (td); the blood flow was measured with a near-infrared (810 nm) laser Doppler flowmeter. 3. At various frequencies, modulation depths and mean retinal illuminance, sinusoidal flicker stimulation always caused an increase in blood flow at the optic nerve head relative to steady stimulation. 4. The frequency response and temporal contrast sensitivity function of the blood flow changes had a bandpass shape; the high-frequency slope of the frequency response was 3 decades (dec) per decade and that of the temporal contrast sensitivity function was 1.7 dec per dec, close to the slope for cat ‘on’ ganglion cells (2.6 dec per dec). 5. In most cats, the magnitude of the increase in blood flow was a sigmoidal function of modulation depth; in the remainder, the relationship was close to linear. 6. The threshold of blood flow changes varied with respect to mean retinal illuminance similar to Ferry-Porter's law and the photopic linear slope was 50 Hz dec-1. 7. In comparison with reported psychophysical and electrophysiological responses elicited by similar stimulations, the results of the present study resemble more those obtained from ganglion cells than those from electroretinograms, visual-evoked potentials and psychophysics. It is suggested that the blood flow changes at the optic nerve head are induced by the activity of ganglion cells.
Mother-child interactions in ADHD and comparison boys: relationships with overt and covert externalizing behavior.

Reciprocal relationships between child characteristics and such familial factors as parental psychopathology and interaction style with the child characterize the development and maintenance of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as its comorbidity with antisocial behavior. Our goal was to ascertain the ability of negative maternal behavior exhibited during mothers-on interactions to predict independently observed overt and covert externalizing behavior in the child, controlling for current maternal symptomatology and the boy's acting out behavior during the interaction. Participants were 49 boys with ADHD and 37 comparison boys, aged 6 to 12 years. Hierarchical multiple-regression analyses revealed that, even with maternal psychopathology and child negativity with the mother partialed, maternal negative behaviors predicted both observed noncompliance exhibited in class and play settings and laboratory stealing. Stealing was predicted from maternal negativity even with child interactional compliance controlled. Differential predictions of noncompliance were revealed in ADHD versus comparison families, yet similar patterns emerged for stealing within each group. Results are discussed in light of the high risk for antisocial behavior in ADHD children.
Thirty years of atomic and electronic structure determination of surfaces of tetrahedrally coordinated compound semiconductors

Abstract Surface Science has evolved considerably since the early 1960's. Experimental and theoretical techniques pioneered twenty to thirty years ago have been developed into sophisticated tools which today allow systematic and almost routine determinations of atomic geometries, electronic structures, chemical compositions and surface energies of semiconductor surfaces. In this article, I review the part of the history of this work devoted to tetrahedrally coordinated compound semiconductor surfaces.
Laparoscopic fundoplication in children with previous abdominal surgery

Abstract Background/Purpose: In our institution, many children requiring antireflux surgery for gastroesophageal reflux have had previous abdominal surgery, usually gastrostomy tube or ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement. The authors review their laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) experience in children with previous abdominal surgery assessing surgical outcome. Methods: A total of 82 consecutive LNFs performed at our institution between January 1996 and September 1998 were reviewed. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 32 months (average, 8.9 months). LNF was performed without dividing short gastric vessels (Rosetti modification) through a standard 5-port technique. Results: A total of 26 of 82 patients (31.7%) had previous abdominal surgery and were divided into 2 groups: gastrostomy (n = 17) and VP shunt (n = 11) with 2 crossovers. A total of 14 of 17 (82.3%) in the gastrostomy group had percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement versus 3 of 17 (17.6%) by open technique (open). Four patients in the VP group had multiple surgeries (range, 1 to 10, average, 2.3). LNF was completed in 25 of 26 (96.2%). One operation was converted to an open procedure because of severe adhesions. In 13 of 17 (76.5%) the previous gastrostomy was not taken down. In 4 of 17 (23.5%), the gastrostomy was taken down to complete the procedure: 2 of 3 (66.7%) of the open group versus 2 of 14 (14.3%) of the PEG group. All 11 (100%) of the VP group had successful LNF. Two of 11 (18.2%) had shunt dysfunction at 2 months (shunt infection) and 4 months (clogged distal shunt), respectively. There have been no cases of recurrent reflux, and all gastrostomies and VP shunts were functional at the time of this report. Conclusions: Previous abdominal surgery is common in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease requiring an antireflux procedure. The authors conclude from these preliminary results that laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication can be performed safely with minimal morbidity and excellent functional results in children with gastrostomies or ventriculoperitoneal shunts. J Pediatr Surg 35:334-337. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Thaumasite formation in stabilized coal combustion by-products

Abstract The by-products of the desulfurization process in a spray drier usually contain a mixture of hannebachite (CaSO3·1/2H2O), gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O), and the finer fraction of the fly ash. This material was mixed with an additional fly ash and stabilized by adding about 3 wt% lime kiln dust (LKD). The stabilized product was used either as a structural fill or was left in the storage yard for several years. Samples extracted from these sites were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analytical results show the formation of thaumasite (Ca3Si(OH)6(CO3)(SO4)·12H2O), ettringite (Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12·26H2O), and an intermediate phase with varying chemical composition of calcium, aluminum, silicon, and sulfur.
Multiscale principal components analysis for image local orientation estimation

This paper presents an image local orientation estimation method, which is based on a combination of two already well-known techniques: the principal component analysis (PCA) and the multiscale pyramid decomposition. The PCA analysis is applied to find the maximum likelihood (ML) estimate of the local orientation. The proposed technique is shown to enjoy excellent robustness against noise. We present both simulated and real image examples to demonstrate the proposed technique.
Roger Nicoll Tackles Learning/Disabilities

Roger Nicoll was doubly honored by the Society for Neuroscience this year. He was awarded the Ralph W.
The effects of reverse-bias emitter-base stress on the cryogenic operation of advanced UHV/CVD Si- and SiGe-base bipolar transistors

This paper demonstrates for the first time that hot carrier injection resulting from reverse-bias emitter-base (EB) stress at 300 K can result in significant shifts in the low-temperature electrical characteristics of epitaxially grown Si- and SiGe-base bipolar transistors. At low injection, the observed temperature dependence of the stress-induced base current leakage is attributed to a Poole-Frenkel field-enhanced tunneling mechanism. We have also observed for the first time a minor enhancement of the low temperature collector current after EB stress at 300 K. This enhancement in the collector current is attributed to a slight modification in the emitter-to-base space-charge-region via stress-induced trapped-charge located at or near the spacer oxide separating the emitter-base contact regions.
Oil and the Macroeconomy Revisited

The relationship between oil price shocks and U.S. macroeconomic fluctuations advocated by Hamilton (1983) broke down in the 1980s amidst a new regime of highly volatile oil price movements. Several authors have argued that asymmetric and nonlinear transformations of oil prices restore that relationship, and thus that the economy responds asymmetrically and nonlinearly to oil price shocks. In this paper, I show that this is only part of the story: the two leading such transformations do not in fact Granger cause output or unemployment in the post-1980 period without further refinements, and they derive much of their apparent success from data in the 1950s. If output is expressed in year-over-year changes, which are smoother than the usual quarterly changes, and the equations exclude variables like interest rates and inflation, then asymmetric and nonlinear oil prices predict output, but not unemployment, while the real level of oil prices predicts unemployment, but not output. I interpret this evidence as supportive of significant oil price effects on the macroeconomy which a) are at relatively low frequencies, b) are indirect, through variables like interest rates and inflation, c) can induce departures from Okun's law, and d) changed qualitatively around 1980.
Active and dynamic information fusion for multisensor systems with dynamic bayesian networks

Many information fusion applications are often characterized by a high degree of complexity because: 1) data are often acquired from sensors of different modalities and with different degrees of uncertainty; 2) decisions must be made efficiently; and 3) the world situation evolves over time. To address these issues, we propose an information fusion framework based on dynamic Bayesian networks to provide active, dynamic, purposive and sufficing information fusion in order to arrive at a reliable conclusion with reasonable time and limited resources. The proposed framework is suited to applications where the decision must be made efficiently from dynamically available information of diverse and disparate sources.
Analysis of Competitiveness of Freight Tricycle Delivery Services in Urban Areas

This research analyzed the competitiveness of freight tricycles, low-capacity freight delivery vehicles, as compared with diesel vans in urban areas. Freight tricycles, also known as electric-assisted trikes, are low-emission vehicles powered by a combination of human effort and an electric engine. This research developed a cost model that incorporated vehicle ownership and operation models as well as logistics constraints such as time windows, cargo capacity, fuel consumption, and energy use. Unlike previous research efforts, the model was tailored to the unique characteristics of freight tricycles and diesel van deliveries in urban areas. The model was used to analyze the competitiveness of freight tricycles against diesel-powered delivery vans. Cost breakeven points and elasticity for several vehicles and route-related variables were estimated. Results provided new insights on the last-mile delivery characteristics and logistical constraints that could affect tricycle competitiveness. Freight tricycle ...
Fluorosulfuric Acid–Antimony(V) Fluoride

[23854-38-8] F6HO3SSb (MW 316.83) InChI = 1S/FHO3S.5FH.Sb/c1-5(2,3)4;;;;;;/h(H,2,3,4);5*1H;/q;;;;;;+5/p-5 InChIKey = QNDPUZFBWUBSNH-UHFFFAOYSA-I (a strong conjugate Bronsted–Lewis superacid system1 widely used for the generation of stable carbocations and as catalyst and reagent for alkylation, isomerization, rearrangement, cyclization, oxyfunctionalization, formylation, sulfonation, and fluorosulfonation) Alternate Name: Magic Acid®. Physical Data: HSO3F: mp −89.0 °C; bp 162.7 °C; d 1.743 g cm−3. SbF5: bp 149.5 °C; d 2.993 g cm−3. Solubility: sol SO2ClF, liquid SO2; solubilizes most organic compounds that are potential proton acceptors. Form Supplied in: colorless liquid; commercially available. Preparative Methods: HSO3F–SbF5 is prepared by mixing Fluorosulfuric Acid and Antimony(V) Fluoride at rt under dry nitrogen or argon atmosphere. The commercially available Magic Acid is a 50:50 mol % mixture of the two components. Magic Acid diluted in fluorosulfuric acid to various extents is also available. Commercial Magic Acid generally contains some HF in the form of conjugate acid. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: Magic Acid is highly toxic, moisture sensitive, and corrosive, and should always be handled in a fume hood with proper protection. Glass is attacked by Magic Acid very slowly when moisture is excluded. Therefore, glassware may be used for handling and carrying out reactions involving Magic Acid. Teflon containers are recommended for long-term laboratory storage of Magic Acid.
Risk Assessment to Predict Arterial and Venous Events in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Atherosclerosis and venous thromboembolism (VTE) share common risk factors. We set to assess the strength of the association between atherosclerosis risk factors and disease manifestation, and VTE, in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. We pooled data from 6 global randomized controlled trials assessing coronary stenting (ENDEAVOR and SIRIUS programs), developed separate risk scores to predict major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs: cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and stroke) and VTE, and compared their performance. The 5-year rates of MACCE and VTE were 10.8% and 2.04%, respectively. Selected predictors for MACCE performed equally well in predicting VTE (area under the receiver–operating characteristic curve [AUC] 0.651 vs 0.672), and selected predictors for VTE performed equally well in predicting MACCE (AUC 0.699 vs 0.620). Ejection fraction and age were associated with both MACCE and VTE. These findings support the concept of ove...
Dual-Mode Capacitive Proximity Sensor for Robot Application: Implementation of Tactile and Proximity Sensing Capability on a Single Polymer Platform Using Shared Electrodes

In this paper, we report a flexible dual-mode capacitive sensor for robot applications which has two sensing capabilities in a single platform; tactile and proximity sensing capability. The sensor consists of a mechanical structure based on PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) and a mesh of multiple copper electrode strips. The mesh is composed of 16 top and 16 bottom copper strips crossed each other to form a 16 times 16 capacitor array. The proposed sensor is able to switch its function from tactile sensing to proximity sensing or vice versa by reconfiguring the connection of electrodes. The tactile sensing capability has been demonstrated already and reported in our previous paper (Lee et al.,, 2006); therefore, in this paper, we will demonstrate the feasibility of the proximity sensing capability and the dual-mode operation of the proposed sensor in detail. The capacitance change caused by an approaching object has been estimated through simulation of multiple two-dimensional models as an initial study. The measured data have shown similar trends with the simulation results. We tested various materials from conducting metals to a human hand for proximity measurement. The fabricated sensor could detect a human hand at a distance up to 17 cm away from the sensor. We also have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of dual-mode operation of the proposed sensor in real-time exploiting a custom designed PCB, a data acquisition pad, and Labview software.
Flumazenil reversal of sublingual triazolam: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

ABSTRACT Background Incremental sublingual (SL) dosing of triazolam has emerged as a popular sedation technique. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated the technique's safety or efficacy. Given its popularity, an easily administered rescue strategy is needed. Methods The authors conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial to investigate how intraoral submucosal flumazenil (0.2 milligram) attenuates central nervous system depression produced by incremental SL dosing of triazolam (three doses of 0.25 mg across 90 minutes) in 14 adults. The authors assessed outcomes by using the Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (OAA/S) scale, bispectral index (BIS) and physiological monitoring. Results The OAA/S and BIS scores increased after the flumazenil injection at the 30-minute observation point, but they were not sustained. Six hours after the initial dose of triazolam had been administered (four hours after the flumazenil or placebo challenge), all patients could be discharged from the dental clinic. Conclusions Deep sedation from incremental SL dosing of triazolam is incompletely reversed by a single intraoral injection of flumazenil. The reversal did not persist. The authors discharged the patients from the dental clinic at 360 minutes. Clinical Implications A single intraoral injection of flumazenil (0.2 mg) cannot immediately reverse oversedation with triazolam. A higher dose might be effective. Reversal for the purpose of discharging the patient early is neither appropriate nor safe.
Effect of prostatic edema on CT-based postimplant dosimetry

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the magnitude of edema after prostate brachytherapy and its effect on the CT-based postimplant dosimetry based on the sequential CT scans using dose-volume histograms, dose conformity, and homogeneity indices in patients with prostate cancer. Methods and Materials: CT scans were obtained for 25 patients who underwent prostate brachytherapy with 125 I or 103 Pd before implant and postimplant Day 1, Day 7, and Day 28. The prostate, rectum, and bladder volumes on each scan were contoured by the same physician. Posttreatment dose distributions were generated using FOCUS (CMS Inc., St. Louis, MO) brachytherapy planning software. Dose calculations were based on TG43 formalism. Dose-volume histograms for target, rectum, and bladder were created for all patients, and the quality of the implants was analyzed using the dose conformity indices: CT-based target volumes ratios, TVR 1 and TVR 2 ; dose homogeneity indices, DHI 1 , DHI 2 , and DNR ; dose coverage index, CI ; the percentage of the prostate volume enclosed by 100%, 90%, and 80% of the prescription dose: V 100 , V 90 , and V 80 ; the volume of the rectum covered by 100%, 80%, and 70% of the prescription dose; and the dose covering 90% of the prostate volume ( D 90 ). Results: The prostate volume increased between the prescan and the implant Day 1 scans and then decreased between Day 1 and Day 28 scans. The average increase in prostate volume was 30% between the prescan and implant Day 1 scans for the 25 cases evaluated. The prostate volume decreased 20% between the Day 1 and Day 28 scans. The preplan dose coverage to the periphery of the prostate was 100% for all cases evaluated. V 100 increased from an average of 77% to 85% between the Day 1 and Day 28 scans, respectively. On average, D 90 increased from 84% for Day 1 to 93% for Day 28. The average TVR 1 , TVR 2 , and CI were 1.99, 2.28, and 0.87, respectively, based on the Day 28 scans. The average DHI 1 , DHI 2 , and DNR were 0.52, 0.46, and 0.48, respectively, based on the Day 28 scans. Conclusions: The decrease in prostate volume from Day 1 to Day 28 after the implant markedly improved the prescription dose covering the prostate from 77% to 85%. Day 28 prostate volumes were still about 10% larger than the preimplant CT volumes for the 25 cases evaluated. Postimplant dosimetry using dose conformity and homogeneity indices is dependent on the timing of CT studies, as a result of changing prostate volumes from edema.
Capaciflector sensor imaging and ranging applications for robot control

One basic robotics task is to position a robot tool point over the geometric center of a symmetric object. This paper presents a fully autonomous control command development technique of linear complexity that solves the robot tool point centering and alignment problem. It is based on non-visual sensor imaging and starts with only a partial image of the target in its field of view. A new capacitive proximity and imaging sensor, called a capaciflector, is being used to obtain 2D discrete images of objects with moderate surface complexity. Considered are spacecraft parts whose imaged surfaces are flat with a simple geometrical shape such as a solid rectangle or a circle.
The Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Care among Adult and Adolescent Females in the United States, 2008-2012

Abstract Objective We sought to determine epidemiological patterns in diagnoses of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and prevalence among females by age, race/ethnicity and transmission category, and essential steps in the continuum of HIV care. Methods Using data from the National HIV Surveillance System, we estimated the number of females aged 13 years or older diagnosed with HIV infection in 2008 through 2012 and living with HIV at the end of 2011 in the United States. We determined percentages of females linked to care, retained in care, and virally suppressed in 18 jurisdictions with complete reporting of CD4 and viral load test results. Results From 2008 to 2012, the estimated rate of HIV diagnoses among females decreased from 9.3 to 6.9 per 100,000 (−7.1% per year; 95% confidence interval [CI], −7.9, −6.3). In 2012, the diagnosis rate was highest among Blacks/African Americans (35.7), followed by Hispanics or Latinos (6.4), and Native Hawaiian Other Pacific Islander (5.1), and lowest among Whites (1.8). Most females diagnosed in 2012 were linked to care within 3 months of diagnosis (82.5%). About one-half (52.4%) of females living with HIV in 2011 received ongoing care in 2011 and 44.3% had a suppressed viral load. Viral suppression was lower among American Indian/Alaska Native (29.7%) and Black/African American (41.6%) compared with White females (46.5%). The percentage in care and with viral suppression was lower among younger compared with older females. Conclusion HIV diagnoses continue to decrease among females; however, disparities exist in HIV burden and viral suppression. Improvements in care and treatment outcomes are needed for all women with particular emphasis on younger women.
Doppler Velocity Log theory and preliminary considerations for design and construction

Doppler Velocity Logs (DVLs) are devices that have considerable and widespread use in maritime applications. They can be used to provide velocity information, with respect to the sea floor, about the vehicle on which they are mounted. The principle which they use to provide this information is, as their name suggests, the Doppler shifting of acoustic signals. This paper seeks to describe the potential accuracy of a DVL as a function of both design and environmental parameters. It takes a two-stage approach in doing so. The first stage is to find the accuracy of a single acoustic beam based on some particular method (in this case: Non-Linear Least Squares parameter estimation). The second step is to find the resulting accuracy of a multi-beam DVL based on the results acquired in the first step. This paper serves as a precursor to designing and building a “DIY” DVL. It's intent is to provide information about some of the design decisions required to achieve a certain accuracy. The paper's methods are more or less independent of the specific methods used in industry, as that information is largely proprietary. The paper is divided in to three parts. The first part is an introduction to the use, capabilities, and functionality of DVLs. The second part concerns the accuracy and simulation of a single acoustic beam of a DVL. The third part discusses the accuracy of a full multibeam configuration as a function of the second.
Sparse recovery with partial support and signal value knowledge and applications in dynamic MRI

In this work, we study the problem of reconstructing a sparse signal from a limited number of its linear projections when the following knowledge is available. (1) We are given partial, and partly erroneous, knowledge of the signal’s support, denoted by T . (2) We are also given an erroneous estimate of the signal values on T . Alternatively, in recursive reconstruction applications, like real-time dynamic MRI, one can use the support estimate and the signal value estimate from the previous time instant. We presented algorithms by modifying Compressive Sensing (CS) using the partly erroneous support and also the erroneous signal estimate for both noiseless and noisy measurements. The idea of our proposed solution is to solve a convex relaxation of the following problem: find the signal that is sparsest outside the set T , while being “close enough” to signal estimate on T and satisfying the data constraint. We obtain sufficient conditions for exact reconstruction using modified-CS and regularized modified-BP. These are much weaker than those needed for CS when the size of the unknown part of the support is small compared to the support size. We also propose solutions modified-BPDN and regularized modified-BPDN for noisy measurements using the similar idea. We obtain the computable and tighter bounds without any sufficient conditions for the reconstruction error. Simulation comparisons for both sparse and compressible signals are shown. In this work, we also study the application of CS based approaches for blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast functional MR imaging (fMRI). In particular, we show, via exhaustive experiments on actual MR scanner data for brain fMRI, that our recently proposed approach for recursive reconstruction of sparse signal sequences, modifiedCS-residual, outperforms other existing CS based approaches.
Direct induction of autophagy by Atg1 inhibits cell growth and induces apoptotic cell death

Summary Background To survive starvation and other forms of stress, eukaryotic cells undergo a lysosomal process of cytoplasmic degradation known as autophagy. Autophagy has been implicated in a number of cellular and developmental processes, including cell-growth control and programmed cell death. However, direct evidence of a causal role for autophagy in these processes is lacking, resulting in part from the pleiotropic effects of signaling molecules such as TOR that regulate autophagy. Here, we circumvent this difficulty by directly manipulating autophagy rates in Drosophila through the autophagy-specific protein kinase Atg1. Results We find that overexpression of Atg1 is sufficient to induce high levels of autophagy, the first such demonstration among wild-type Atg proteins. In contrast to findings in yeast, induction of autophagy by Atg1 is dependent on its kinase activity. We find that cells with high levels of Atg1-induced autophagy are rapidly eliminated, demonstrating that autophagy is capable of inducing cell death. However, this cell death is caspase dependent and displays DNA fragmentation, suggesting that autophagy represents an alternative induction of apoptosis, rather than a distinct form of cell death. In addition, we demonstrate that Atg1-induced autophagy strongly inhibits cell growth and that Atg1 mutant cells have a relative growth advantage under conditions of reduced TOR signaling. Finally, we show that Atg1 expression results in negative feedback on the activity of TOR itself. Conclusions Our results reveal a central role for Atg1 in mounting a coordinated autophagic response and demonstrate that autophagy has the capacity to induce cell death. Furthermore, this work identifies autophagy as a critical mechanism by which inhibition of TOR signaling leads to reduced cell growth.
Twenty Years Already

With this issue JASN completes its 20th year of continuous publication. JASN 's origin was no accident. Many members of the American Society of Nephrology had long sought to compete in the scientific and clinical marketplace of ideas and, …
Lodging Velocity for an Emergent Aquatic Plant in Open Channels

Vegetation can impede flow in open channels. The control of vegetation by hydraulic means is a nonchemical approach that can be attractive. To control the vegetation, the calculation of the lodging velocity (velocity at which the plant stem breaks) is an important parameter. A theoretical method is developed here for a single stem fully exposed to the flow, assuming that the drag force is the sole failure-inducing force. Results are compared to field results and the trends analyzed. The comparison and field visual observations may indicate that vortex shedding (not accounted for in the model) could be the dominant failure-inducing force, and not the drag force, as assumed.
Olanzapine for nausea and vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting are often encountered in palliative care patients. Multiple medications are available to provide relief. However, several drug combinations are usually used to treat emesis. Current research has identified several receptors that trigger nausea and vomiting, hence the difficulty of using only 1 medication to provide relief. Olanzapine is a drug approved for treatment of schizophrenia and mania. It blocks multiple neurotransmitters dopaminergic, serotonergic, adrenergic (α1), histaminergic, and muscarinic receptors. Most of these receptors are also involved in causing emesis. Studies have shown that olanzapine could be used to treat nausea and vomiting with promising results.
Of Summonses, Required Record and Artificial Entities: Liberating the IRS from Itself

Excluding underground income such as drugs, gambling, and prostitution, the tax gap in the United States is conservatively estimated at $350 billion per year. Artificial entities account for only 3% of all audits conducted by the Internal Revenue Service but 80.1% of underreporting of income. In order to bridge the tax gap, disclosure of information is necessary to maintain effective levels of voluntary compliance. More effective disclosure can and should be accomplished through the expanded use of the summons authority of the Internal Revenue Service to compel the production of documents of artificial entities that are required to be maintained by statute. Moreover, in circumstances in which documents are non-existent at the time of the issuance of a summons, such documents should be created in response to a summons as long as those documents are otherwise required records under the Internal Revenue Code to justify a particular tax return position. Twenty years ago, the Supreme Court invited the Internal Revenue Service to require artificial entities to create documents not previously in existence if the documents are required to be maintained to substantiate the correctness of a tax liability as required by statute. For twenty years, the Internal Revenue Service has ignored the invitation. Based on the declining levels of voluntary compliance and its corresponding decline in the integrity of the tax system, it is appropriate for the Internal Revenue Service to end its self-imposed restriction.
Growing evidence that maternal gestational diabetes increases risk of autism in offspring

ABSTRACT FROM: Xiang AH, Wang X, Martinez MP, et al . Association of maternal diabetes with autism in offspring. JAMA 2015;313:1425–34. Maternal gestational diabetes has been identified in several prior studies as being associated with elevated risk for autism spectrum disorder in offspring.1–4 Maternal gestational diabetes has also been previously associated with impaired language development in offspring.5 Maternal obesity, another indicator of the metabolic syndrome, has been associated with offspring autism in a prior study.3 No studies have examined the timing of the onset of maternal gestational diabetes with respect to autism risk in offspring. This retrospective cohort study used medical record and birth certificate data from a racially and ethnically diverse health maintenance organisation to examine the association of pre-existing maternal type 2 diabetes and maternal gestational diabetes with …
Duration of improved insulin sensitivity after high intensity exercise in young overweight men

Insulin resistance, an impaired ability of the tissues to respond to insulin, is a prevalent health concern in the U.S., with 8.3% of the population diagnosed with diabetes. Numerous studies have found exercise programs increase insulin sensitivity, but research on the effects of high intensity interval training on insulin sensitivity is limited. Of those studies, few have observed the length of the effect of a single bout of high intensity interval training (HIT) on insulin sensitivity to determine the minimal exercise time and frequency that stimulates improved insulin sensitivity. Purpose: This study investigated the length of the effect of a single bout of HIT on insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in young overweight/obese males. Methods: Ten overweight/obese men aged 20.9 ± 2.0 y participated. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed five d prior to the exercise trial to determine basal insulin sensitivity. Participants completed eight 30-s intervals with 4 min recovery between each (HIT). Two, three and four d post-exercise, OGTTs were performed. Results. The IG index was significantly lower 48 h post-exercise compared to baseline (10128 ± 3910 vs 4867 ± 2080, P=0.013) demonstrating improved insulin sensitivity, but was not significantly different from baseline at 72 h ( + ) or 96 h ( + ) post-exercise. Plasma glucose concentration was significantly lower at 60 min during the OGTT 72 h (7.1 ± 0.7 vs 8.2 ± 0.6, P =0.033) and 96 h (6.9 ± 0.7 vs 8.2 ± 0.6, P =0.023) post-exercise, but was not significantly different from baseline at 48 h post-exercise. Conclusion. An acute bout of 8 x 30 s high intensity interval exercise results in significantly improved plasma glucose concentrations at 60 min during an OGTT at 72 and 96 h post-exercise. A single bout of HIT improves insulin sensitivity for 48 h in sedentary, overweight/obese young men.
Stochastic approximation for regulating circadian cycles, a precision medicine viewpoint

Circadian cycles and other self-regulatory biological processes are the result of complex interactions between gene expression and molecular interactions. In this paper we study a Petri net model of the circadian clock and use gradient estimation methods for finding optimal input rates. The significance of our research is the potential early identification of pathologies caused by aberrant cycles, and the discovery of those rates that are of main importance for the control of the cycles, enabling specific cures for people, in accordance with personalized (or precision) medicine. We use SPSA to drive the simulation to the optimal rates that result in a desired period, then propose a surrogate model for gradient estimation that evaluates the exact gradient for an "aggregate" system described by ODEs. Our hybrid model for gradient estimation addresses the high-dimensionality problem and can potentially increase the efficiency of the optimization method by at least one order of magnitude.
The individual

In his address at the AIEE Winter General Meeting, President Coover emphasizes the need for more guidance in the initial education of the individual. The contribution made by the individual to the arts and to society thus will be greatly enhanced
Memory Rehabilitation: Integrating Theory and Practice, by Barbara A. Wilson

The book Memory Rehabilitation by Barbara A. Wilson is a must read for any professional or paraprofessional who is planning on working with patients who have memory impairments, especially as a res...
Viral interactions with the blood-brain barrier: old dog, new tricks

Brain endothelial cells form a unique cellular structure known as the tight junction to regulate the exchanges between the blood and the parenchyma by limiting the paracellular diffusion of blood-borne substance. Together with the restricted pathway of transcytosis, the tight junction in the brain endothelial cells provides the central nervous system (CNS) with effective protection against both the foreign pathogens and the host immune cells, which is also termed the "blood-brain barrier." The blood-brain barrier is particularly important for defending against neurotropic viral infections that have become a major source of diseases worldwide. Many neurotropic viruses are able to cross the BBB and infect the CNS through very poorly understood processes. This review focuses upon the structural and functional changes of the brain endothelial tight junction in response to viral infections in the CNS and how the tight junction changes may be studied with advanced imaging and recording approaches to reveal novel processes used by the viruses to cross the barrier system. Additional emphasis is placed upon new countermeasures that can act directly upon the tight junction to improve the pathogen clearance and minimize the inflammatory damage.
Protoplast formation as the mechanism for immune lysis of Vibrio cholerae.

SummaryIt is shown that cholera vibrio is converted to a protoplast-like, osmotically fragile form in the presence of specific antibody and complement. When osmotic protection is provided by 0.5 m lactose in the reaction mixture, the bacteria are protected from the vibriocidal effect of antibody and complement. Protection is conferred during the course of the reaction as indicated by cessation of killing when lactose is added; and disappears with onset of the vibriocidal reaction when osmotic protection is removed by dilution of the lactose-containing reaction mixture. In view of the apparent intimate relationship between the vibriocidal reaction and osmotic fragility, and the substantial identity of the rates of killing and protoplast formation, it is suggested that the primary consequence of the antigen-antibody-complement union is the formation of osmotically fragile, protoplast-like forms to give, in the absence of osmotic protection, the vibriocidal and vibriolytic reactions as secondary phenomena.
The clinical characteristic analysis of different types of neonatal septicemia

Objective To study the clinical characteristic and causative pathogens of early-onset neonatal sepsis(EONS) and late-onset sepsis neonatal(LONS)in order to provide guidance for early diagnosis and treatment. Methods Clinical data,results of blood and blood culture results of 133 neonates of neonatology department in Shenzhen children′s hospital from June 2008 to July 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were divided into EONS group and LONS group according to the onset time.Clinical feature of two groups was compared. Results Gestational age,gestational weight of EONS group was larger than that of LONS group respectively,the incidence rate of preterm children and low birth weight children in EONS group was lower than that in LONS group respectively,the incidence rate of premature rupture of membranes and amniotic fluid contamination in EONS group was higher than that in LONS group respectively,with statistical difference(P0.05).The incidence rate of apnea,feeding intolerance,fester sex meningitis,necrotizing enterocolitis,thrombocytopenia in EONS group was lower than that in LONS group respectively,the incidence of septic shock in EONS group was higher than that in LONS group,with statistical difference(P 0.05).The most common pathogens bacteria in LONS group were Coagulase-negative staphylococcus,Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia, but the major pathogens bacteria in EONS group were Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumonia and Group B Streptococci. Conclusion LONS usually occurs in premature and low birth weight infants,EONS occurs in full-term infants in patients with premature rupture of membranes,amniotic fluid contamination.Two groups of children with septicemia have difference in bacteria and pathogenic clinical manifestation,laboratory examination.It can guide the early clinical diagnosis and treatment according to the different characteristics.
Pharmacokinetic parameters and its significances in central nervous system

It is popularly accept that blood-brain barrier affects drug transport and distribution.Pharmacokinetic parameters will help us predict the pharmacological action,drug-interactions and adverse reaction.This article reviewed the major pharmacokinetic parameters in central nervous system,such as PS product(permeability surface area product),Kin or CLin(influx clearance into the brain),Kout or CLout(efflux clearance from the brain),T1/2eq,in(intrinsic brain equilibrium half-life),%ID/g(percent of injected dose per gram brain),Kp,uu(unbound brain/unbound plasma concentration ratio at steady state),Vu,brain(apparent volume of distribution in brain),T1/2,brain(half time in brain).These parameters describe the aspects of blood-brain permeability and the rate and extent of brain drug delivery.
An analysis on difficulty in starting internal combustion engines and its removal

The causes for the difficulty in starting internal combustion engines are system atically analysed and corresponding removal methods are presented, which may be used as a reference for the technical personnel engaged in car and internal combustion engine power stations maintenance.
Bleomycin-induced pulmonary injury in mice deficient in SPARC

SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) is a component of the matrix that appears to regulate tissue remodeling. There is evidence that it accumulates in the lung in the setting of pu...
Application of intensive inner building wireless coverage system

The study has proved that using one intensive inner building wireless coverage system to cover all frequency from 400MHz to 2500MHz is realizable if the system devices compatible with the characteristic parameters.Find out characteristic parameters of POI(Point of Interface) and filter for intensive inner building wireless coverage system by analyzing various types of interference,such as spurious emission,receiver blocking and intermodulation.Indoor signal leakage and signal switching are analyzed as well as interference analysis at the same time.
Inhibition of drug metabolism. 3. Inhibition of hexobarbital metabolism in the intact rat and in the isolated perfused liver by 2-diethylaminoethyl 2,2-diphenylvalerate HC1 (SKF 525-A) and its N-deethylated derivatives.

SKF 525-A and its secondary and primary amine analogs, 2-ethylaminoethyl 2,2-diphenylvalerate HCl (SKF 8742-A) and 2-aminoethyl 2,2-diphenylvalerate HBr (AEDV), were compared for their effects on (a) the rate of hexobarbital metabolism in the intact rat, (b) hexobarbital sleeping time, and (c) rate of hexobarbital metabolism by the isolated perfused liver. The three compounds were found to be equipotent inhibitors by all three measurements. However, when the time interval between the injections of the inhibitor and the hexobarbital was increased from 45 min to 5 hr, SKF 525-A prolonged sleeping time longer than SKF 8742-A, and SKF 8742-A was more effective than AEDV. These results are interpreted to support the view that N-dealkylation plays an important role in the inhibition of drug metabolism by SKF 525-A.