cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lateral control strategy for a hypersonic cruise missile

Hypersonic cruise missile always adopts the configuration of waverider body with the restraint of scramjet. As a result, the lateral motion exhibits serious coupling, and the controller design of the lateral lateral system cannot be conducted separately for yaw channel and roll channel. A multiple input and multiple output optimal control method with integrators is presented to design the lateral combined control system for hypersonic cruise missile. A hypersonic cruise missile lateral model is linearized as a multiple input and multiple output plant, which is coupled by kinematics and fin deflection between yaw and roll. In lateral combined controller, the integrators are augmented, respectively, into the loop of roll angle and lateral overload to ensure that the commands are tracked with zero steady-state error. Through simulation, the proposed controller demonstrates good performance in tracking the command of roll angle and lateral overload.
Abstract 127: Phosphorylation of Serum Responsive Factor by p90 Ribosomal S6 Kinase 3 Promotes Concentric Growth of Cardiac Myocytes

p90 Ribosomal S6 Kinase 3 (RSK3) is required for the induction of concentric hypertrophy in hearts subjected to pressure overload and catecholamine infusion, as well as in a model for Noonan Syndro...
Incentivizing Truthful Data Quality for Quality-Aware Mobile Data Crowdsourcing

Mobile data crowdsourcing has found a broad range of applications (e.g., spectrum sensing, environmental monitoring) by leveraging the "wisdom" of a potentially large crowd of "workers" (i.e., mobile users). A key metric of crowdsourcing is data accuracy, which relies on the quality of the participating workers' data (e.g., the probability that the data is equal to the ground truth). However, the data quality of a worker can be its own private information (which the worker learns, e.g., based on its location) that it may have incentive to misreport, which can in turn mislead the crowdsourcing requester about the accuracy of the data. This issue is further complicated by the fact that the worker can also manipulate its effort made in the crowdsourcing task and the data reported to the requester, which can also mislead the requester. In this paper, we devise truthful crowdsourcing mechanisms for Quality, Effort, and Data Elicitation (QEDE), which incentivize strategic workers to truthfully report their private worker quality and data to the requester, and make truthful effort as desired by the requester. The truthful design of the QEDE mechanisms overcomes the lack of ground truth and the coupling in the joint elicitation of worker quality, effort, and data. Under the QEDE mechanisms, we characterize the socially optimal and the requester's optimal task assignments, and analyze their performance. We show that the requester's optimal assignment is determined by the largest "virtual valuation" rather than the highest quality among workers, which depends on the worker's quality and the quality's distribution. We evaluate the QEDE mechanisms using simulations which demonstrate the truthfulness of the mechanisms and the performance of the optimal task assignments.
Factors Associated with Prescribing Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics for Children with Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Ambulatory Care Settings.

Objectives:Broad-spectrum antibiotics are frequently prescribed for children with upper respiratory tract infections (URI). Excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics leads to the emergence of res...
Towards Distributed Web Mining in Net-Enabled Enterprises

In today’s information age, web sites have become an important source for business information collection and analysis. They provide a company abundant information for competitor analysis and business intelligence. Also, web mining on a firm’s intranet can greatly assist a firm’s endeavor in knowledge management of a firm. However, web mining is a complex and resource-consuming process that consists of crawling a large number of web pages and automatically extracting needed information from retrieved pages. Traditionally, web mining systems use dedicated systems with a client-server architecture. This makes it very expensive for an organization, a community or an individual to have their own web mining system. We propose a light-weight distributed web mining system model that makes use of a firm’s available computers in a peer to peer network. The peer to peer network excludes the use of dedicated systems, and the mobile agents here make use of the systems whose resources are readily available to balance the load. A prototype of the distributed web crawling part of the system is implemented to illustrate the feasibility of the concept.
It's Time to Migrate! A Game-Theoretic Framework for Protecting a Multi-Tenant Cloud against Collocation Attacks

We present a novel game-theoretic framework for the Virtual Machine (VM) migration timing problem. In a multi-tenant cloud, a number of VMs are collocated on the same physical machine. This increases the risk of a malicious VM performing side-channel attacks and leaking sensitive information. To this end, this paper develops and analyzes a game-theoretic framework for the timing problem in which the cloud provider decides when to migrate a VM to a different physical machine to reduce the risk of being compromised by a collocated malicious VM. The adversary decides the rate at which she launches new VMs to collocate with the victim VMs. Our formulation captures a data leakage model in which the cost incurred by the cloud provider depends on the duration of collocation as well as the overhead in migration. We establish sufficient conditions for the existence of Nash equilibria for general cost functions, as well as for specific instantiations, and characterize the best response for both players. Our theoretical findings are corroborated with extensive numerical results in various settings.
What to Expect From a Pharmacist Preceptor

Abstract Interactions between preceptors and their interns should result in a productive learning experience. The preceptor's expectations may be different from faculty interactions. How to adapt to experiential education sites, preceptors, and the healthcare team is to be planned well in advance. Understanding the roles and responsibilities of the preceptors and interns is pivotal in establishing a productive relationship.
Maternal BMI‐Increasing Genetic Risk Score and Fetal Weights among Diverse US Ethnic Groups

OBJECTIVE Associations between maternal genetic risk for obesity and fetal weight were examined at the end of the first (13 weeks 6 days), second (27 weeks 6 days), and third (40 weeks 0 days) trimesters of pregnancy among four race/ethnic groups in the US. METHODS For 603 white, 591 black, 535 Hispanic, and 216 Asian women, maternal genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated as the sum of 189 BMI-increasing alleles and was categorized into high or low GRS. Associations between GRS (continuous and categorical) and estimated fetal weight were tested overall and stratified by prepregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain (GWG), and fetal sex. RESULTS High GRS compared with low GRS was associated with increased fetal weight at the end of the second (β: 22.7 g; 95% CI: 2.4-43.1; P = 0.03) and third trimesters (β: 88.3 g; 95% CI: 9.0-167.6; P = 0.03) among Hispanic women. The effect of GRS was stronger among Hispanic women with normal prepregnancy weight, adequate first trimester GWG, or inadequate second trimester GWG (P < 0.05). Among Asian women, high GRS was associated with increased weight among male fetuses but decreased weight among female fetuses (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Maternal obesity genetic risk was associated with fetal weight with potential effect modifications by maternal prepregnancy BMI, GWG, and fetal sex.
2x64 Dual-Polarized Dual-Beam Single-Aperture 28 GHz Phased Array with High Cross-Polarization Rejection for 5G Polarization MIMO

This paper presents a 5G 28-32 GHz 2x64 dual-polarized dual-beam transmit/receive (TRX) phased array. The dual-beam array is based on a SiGe 2x4 TRX dual-beamformer chip with 6 bits of phase control and 25 dB of gain control. The chip can deliver 11-12 dBm/channel in the TX-mode and attains a NF of 4.8 dB in the RX-mode. Sixteen chips are used for the construction of a low-cost PCB-based 2x64 dual-beam array using flip-chip technology. The array PCB encompasses isolated 1:16 dual Wilkinson networks as well integrated microstrip antennas with rotated feeds for beam cross-coupling cancellation. The array demonstrates a measured EIRP at Psat of 52 dBm for each beam and is capable of scanning ±50° in azimuth and ±25° in elevation with > 30 dB cross-polarization rejection. Moreover, simultaneous dual-beam operation is demonstrated with near-ideal patterns and cross-polarization rejection of 30 dB indicating good beam-decoupling in the active state and suitability of this array for 2x2 polarization-MIMO links.
Clinical Reasoning: Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke in the setting of atrial myxoma.

A 23-year-old woman with a medical history of migraines and tobacco use was brought to the emergency department with a 2-hour history of acute onset, right-sided hemiplegia and expressive aphasia. The patient had never experienced similar symptoms in the past. Her migraines occurred 3 times weekly, lasted 1–2 days, and were characterized by photophobia along with bilateral headache of a right-sided predominance. She took acetaminophen and ibuprofen for pain relief. Her family history was significant for a sister with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Metasynthesis of Patients' Perspectives about Reminiscence in Dementia Care.

Dementia is a serious condition that has become a public health priority worldwide. Reminiscence is the process of recollecting personal memories from the distant past. This metasynthesis aims to p...
Latent groups of cybersecurity preparedness in Europe: Sociodemographic factors and country-level contexts

Abstract The increase of people's online presence creates additional cybersecurity threats. Cybersecurity preparedness is increasingly important to minimize and mitigate cybersecurity-related victimization. This study explores how cybersecurity preparedness is shaped by socio-structural factors across thirty European samples. We analyzed survey items measuring purchase behavior, user's security settings, software settings, and trust in websites from the 2014 Eurobarometer (N=26,879). The findings of latent class analysis show three groups based on members’ cybersecurity preparedness: uninformed users, disciplined users, and cautious users. The determinants of cybersecurity preparedness were examined using two-level hierarchical logit modeling. While sociodemographic factors modestly contribute to cybersecurity preparedness at an individual level, country-level economic status (GDP per capita) and cybersecurity preparedness (Global Cybersecurity Index) appear to be significant for individual-level cybersecurity preparedness. In countries with higher cybersecurity preparedness and economic status, individuals tend to show a higher level of cybersecurity preparedness. Implications for government agencies and corporations are discussed.
Herbarium-based phylogenomics reveals that the Andes are a biogeographic barrier for Otoba (Myristicaceae), an ecologically dominant Neotropical tree genus

Abstract • Premise of the study Universal probesets for targeted sequence capture have facilitated phylogenomic research into diverse plant groups with limited genomic resources, including from low-quality DNA typical of herbarium specimens. Here, we leverage the Angiosperms353 loci to infer the first phylogeny of Otoba (Myristicaceae), a Neotropical tree genus that is ecologically dominant in low-to-mid elevation wet forests, exclusively from herbarium specimens. • Methods We use a combination of Angiosperms353 loci, obtained via targeted sequence capture, and plastid sequences to resolve the phylogeny of Otoba using concatenated and species tree methods. We subsequently use this phylogeny to infer biogeography and trait evolution using phylogenetic comparative methods. • Key results Recovery success of loci is correlated with age of herbarium specimens and average annual precipitation. Despite a large amount of missing data, we resolve the phylogeny of Otoba into three major subclades, each structured by geography. We show that Otoba’s crown radiation occurred on the western slopes of the Andes in the late Miocene, and from there, migrated into Central America at least twice; the genus was only able to cross to the eastern slopes of the Andes a single time. Trait evolution has been dynamic across vegetative and reproductive traits, with multiple origins of most discrete traits investigated, including ecologically important aril color. • Conclusions Otoba is recent, rapid radiation whose evolution is tied to landscape change, including Andean uplift, in the northern Neotropics. Its dynamic morphological evolution is consistent with sorting of ancestral traits during recent speciation events. In one of the first herbariomic studies exclusively using herbarium tissue from specimens collected in the wet tropics, this study demonstrates the promise of Angiosperms353 loci in resolving shallow species-level relationships, even from low-quality DNA.
SU(3) flavor breaking in hadronic matrix elements for oscillations

Abstract We present an analysis, using quenched configurations at 6 g 2 = 5.7, 5.85, 6.0, and 6.3 of the matrix element M hl  〈 P hl h γ μ (1−γ 5 )l h γ μ (1−γ 5 )lP hl 〉 for heavy-light pseudoscalar mesons. The results are extrapolated to the physical B meson states, B0 and Bs0. We directly compute the ratio Mbs/Mbd, and obtain the preliminary result Mbs/Mbd = 1.54(13)(32). A precise value of this SU(3) breaking ratio is important for determining Vtd once the mixing parameter ξs for B s 0 − B s 0 is measured experimentally. We also determine values for the corresponding B parameters, Bbs(2GeV) = Bbd(2GeV) = 1.02(13), which we cannot distinguish in the present analysis.
Development of CD133 Targeting Multi-Drug Polymer Micellar Nanoparticles for Glioblastoma - In Vitro Evaluation in Glioblastoma Stem Cells.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant brain tumor with a poor long-term prognosis due to recurrence from highly resistant GBM cancer stem cells (CSCs), for which the current standard of treatment with temozolomide (TMZ) alone will unlikely produce a viable cure. In addition, CSCs regenerate rapidly and overexpress methyl transferase which overrides the DNA-alkylating mechanism of TMZ, leading to resistance. The objective of this research was to apply the concepts of nanotechnology to develop a multi-drug therapy, TMZ and idasanutlin (RG7388, a potent mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) antagonist), loaded in functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) that target the GBM CSC subpopulation, reduce the cell viability and provide possibility of in vivo preclinical imaging. Polymer-micellar NPs composed of poly(styrene-b-ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) were developed by a double emulsion technique loading TMZ and/or RG7388. The NPs were covalently bound to a 15-nucleotide base-pair CD133 aptamer to target the CD133 antigen expressed on the surfaces of GBM CSCs. For diagnostic functionality, the NPs were labelled with radiotracer Zirconium-89 (89Zr). NPs maintained size range less than 100 nm, a low negative charge and exhibited the ability to target and kill the CSC subpopulation when TMZ and RG7388 were used in combination. The targeting function of CD133 aptamer promoted killing in GBM CSCs providing impetus for further development of targeted nanosystems for localized therapy in future in vivo models. This work has provided a potential clinical application for targeting GBM CSCs with simultaneous diagnostic imaging.
Role of the central thalamus in gaze control.

Publisher Summary The sector of the cerebral frontal lobes concerned with the movement of the eyes is known to lie rostrally, somewhat apart from the aligned representation of the movements of other body parts. Similarly, the sources of afferents to the oculomotor and skeletomotor cortical areas are separated in the thalamus. Whereas, the frontal eye field receives its projections from an external crescent of nucleus medialis dorsalis, the motor and premotor strips receive theirs from several nuclei of the ventrolateral. The separation is accented by the interposition of a thick fiber layer: the thalamic internal medullary lamina or IML. This chapter discusses the evidence based on stimulation, lesion, and unit recording experiments that intralaminar cells in the central thalamus are playing a role in gaze shifts and gaze fixation. Guided by the known anatomy of this region and by assumptions on the ultimate destination of the neural signals recorded there, one shall examine how these signals can be utilized. The working hypothesis is that this part of the thalamus operates as a central controller.
Catalytic and Allosteric Properties of Glycerol Kinase from Escherichia coli

Abstract Catalytic and allosteric properties of the normal and of a genetically altered glycerol kinase from Escherichia coli were examined. Normal glycerol kinase exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics for glycerol with an apparent Km of 10 µm. Gel filtration studies indicated that, at saturation, 3.7 moles of [14C]glycerol bound per mole of enzyme, and a dissociation constant of 10 µm was determined by ultrafiltration. The response of reaction velocity to MgATP concentration was not hyperbolic, and double reciprocal plots displayed downward curvature, indicating two apparent Km values of 80 to 100 µm and 400 to 500 µm. The unusual MgATP kinetic data were obtained by two different assay procedures, were observed throughout the course of purification, were the same for different enzyme preparations, and were unchanged by aging of the enzyme. Product inhibition studies suggested an ordered mechanism for the enzyme, with glycerol as the first substrate to bind. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate was a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to both substrates. The response of reaction velocity to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate concentration was slightly sigmoid, maximum inhibition was about 80%, and double reciprocal plots of fractional inhibition against inhibitor concentration indicated an apparent Ki of 0.5 mm. Gel filtration studies showed that, at saturation, 3.5 moles of [14C]fructose 1,6-bisphosphate bound per mole of enzyme, with a dissociation constant of 0.06 mm determined by ultrafiltration. Inhibition by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate was greatly reduced by high pH, high ionic strength, or 0.2 m guanidine hydrochloride, some of which also stimulated enzyme activity. Under such conditions, [14C]fructose 1,6-bisphosphate still bound to the enzyme. A genetically desensitized glycerol kinase was purified to apparent homogeneity. It had a specific activity twice that of the normal enzyme, but was identical in size, charge, and subunit composition. Although the mutant enzyme still bound [14C]fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, it was totally insensitive to inhibition. The mutant enzyme also displayed a nonhyperbolic response to MgATP. Both the normal and mutant glycerol kinases were markedly stabilized against heat inactivation by glycerol, but not by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. In the absence of specific ligands, about 12 sulfhydryl groups per molecule of enzyme reacted with 5,5'-dithiobis(nitro-2-benzoic acid). In the presence of glycerol, only two sulfhydryl groups per molecule reacted with the reagent, while fructose 1,6-bisphosphate had no effect. These results are discussed in terms of the subunit structure of the enzyme and in terms of the mechanism of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate inhibition of glycerol kinase.
EVOLUTION AND INHERITANCE OF EARLY EMBRYONIC PATTERNING IN DROSOPHILA SIMULANS AND D. SECHELLIA

Pattern formation in Drosophila is a widely studied example of a robust developmental system. Such robust systems pose a challenge to adaptive evolution, as they mask variation that selection may otherwise act upon. Yet we find variation in the localization of expression domains (henceforth "stripe allometry") in the pattern formation pathway. Specifically, we characterize differences in the gap genes giant and Kruppel, and the pair-rule gene even-skipped, which differ between the sibling species Drosophila simulans and D. sechellia. In a double-backcross experiment, stripe allometry is consistent with maternal inheritance of stripe positioning and multiple genetic factors, with a distinct genetic basis from embryo length. Embryos produced by F1 and F2 backcross mothers exhibit novel spatial patterns of gene expression relative to the parental species, with no measurable increase in positional variance among individuals. Buffering of novel spatial patterns in the backcross genotypes suggests that robustness need not be disrupted in order for the trait to evolve, and perhaps the system is incapable of evolving to prevent the expression of all genetic variation. This limitation, and the ability of natural selection to act on minute genetic differences that are within the "margin of error" for the buffering mechanism, indicates that developmentally buffered traits can evolve without disruption of robustness.
Mass spectrometric studies at high temperatures—XV: Sublimation pressures of chromium, manganese and iron trifluorides and the heat of dissociation of Fe2F6(g)

Abstract Vapours effusing from Knudsen cells containing CrF3, MnF3 and FeF3 have been analysed mass spectrometrically. Only monomers of CrF3 and MnF3 were observed in the vapour phase, while the mass spectrum of the vapour over FeF3 showed the presence of both monomers and dimers. The sublimation pressures and heats of sublimation of CrF3, MnF3 and FeF3 were measured and the dissociation energy of Fe2F6(g) was determined.
The Political Economy of Green Taxation in OECD Countries

This paper addresses the role of politics in environmental policymaking in OECD countries. The public interest theory of regulation assumes that politicians pursue the public good and employ economically efficient instruments such as Pigouvian taxes to discourage polluting activities. Alternative theories of regulation, however, explain more realistically the environmental policymaking process. The theory developed in this paper argues that the goals of raising revenue and industry competitiveness overwhelm the goal of improving environmental quality when politicians set green taxes. This theory is empirically tested with a political economy model using data on OECD countries. The results suggest that policymakers do not set taxes with a specific concern for the environment, but to generate revenues. The model also demonstrates the concavity of the revenue function with respect to emissions; taxes are raised up to an optimal point beyond which raising them would discourage emissions, and thus revenues. Harmful behavior is not discouraged through the imposition of the taxes, since less healthy populations are taxed less. Emissions generated by industries that are exempted from taxation are offset by the industries that are taxed. When polluting products constitute a high share of the exported products, revenues from environmentally related taxes drop. These results help explaining the lack of environmental orientation of green taxes in the OECD countries.
Just‐in‐time implementation in the public sector: An empirical examination

The effective implementation of just‐in‐time (JIT) in the US public sector is examined in this empirical study. Specifically, the relationships between organizational modification efforts prior to JIT implementation, problems encountered during implementation and JIT success are investigated using a sample of 86 public sector organizations. The results of this research seem to support the notion that JIT, as a form of “managerialism”, has the potential to increase the operational efficiency, service quality and organizational effectiveness of public sector organizations. However, for this potential to be achieved, public sector organizations, like their private sector counterparts, must be willing to modify their procedures and operations. The potential benefits of JIT to public sector organizations are not in doubt. However, the art of designing the right JIT implementation strategy for such organizations is debatable. Therefore, issues related to these concerns are worthy of future research. This study is a modest contribution toward that end.
Kierkegaard and the internet: Existential reflections on education and community

If the rhetorical and economic investment of educators, policy makers and the popular press in the United States is any indication, then unbridled enthusiasm for the introduction of computer mediated communication (CMC) into the educational process is wide-spread. In large part this enthusiasm is rooted in the hope that through the use of Internet-based CMC we may create an expanded community of learners and educators not principally bounded by physical geography. The purpose of this paper is to reflect critically upon whether students and teachers are truly linked together as a ``community'' through the use of Internet-based CMC. The paper uses the writings of Kierkegaard, and Hubert Dreyfus's exploration of Kierkegaardian ideas, to look more closely at the prospects and problems embedded in the use of Internet-based CMC to create ``distributed communities'' of teachers and learners. It is argued that from Kierkegaard's perspective, technologically mediated communications run a serious risk of attenuating interpersonal connectivity. Insofar as interpersonal connectivity is an integral component of education, such attenuation bodes ill for some, and perhaps many instances of Internet-based CMC.
Toward Control of Infectious Disease: Ethical Challenges for a Global Effort

Despite the devastating pandemic of HIV/AIDS that erupted in the early 1980s, despite the failure to eradicate polio and the emergence of resistant forms of tuberculosis that came into focus in the 1990s, and despite newly emerging diseases like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and the fearsome prospect of human-to-human avian flu, it is nevertheless a time of some excitement over prospects for effective control of much of infectious disease. Funded by national and international governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private foundations, and even popular entertainers, large-scale new efforts are under way to address global killers like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, among others. This “marvelous momentum” can be seen as part of a continuing effort from the time of Jenner onward. Extrapolating from this, we explore the notion of a “comprehensive global effort for the eradication, elimination or control of infectious disease,” with particular attention to the ethical issues that arise. This is to “think big” about disease-control efforts that are now often done in piecemeal ways. This chapter identifies five tracks along which such efforts need to be pursued: (1) national and international organizations and the development of collective will; (2) epidemiological and health care infrastructure; (3) scientific development; (4) religious, social, and cultural considerations; (5) legal and social protections for individuals and groups. Each of these poses significant ethical issues which, we argue, should be viewed in a comprehensive way, to ensure that practice, research, and policy in each of these areas understands the person with communicable infectious disease as both victim and (potential) vector.
A Statistical-Empirical Hybrid Approach to Hierarchical Memory Analysis

A hybrid approach that utilizes both statistical techniques and empirical methods seeks to provide more information about the performance of an application. In this paper, we present a general approach to creating hybrid models of this type. We show that for the scientific applications of interest, the scaled performance is somewhat predictable due to the regular characteristics of the measured codes. Furthermore, the resulting method encourages streamlined performance evaluation by determining which analysis steps may provide further insight to code performance.
Consequences of Dust in Damped Lyman-Alpha Systems

Dust has been detected in damped Lyα systems at high redshifts by two independent methods: the reddening of background quasars and the gas-phase depletion of Cr relative to Zn. Both methods give a typical dust-to-gas ratio roughly 10% of that in the Milky Way. Here, we review some of the consequences of these observations. First, the dust in damped Lyα systems causes obscuration and hence incompleteness in optically selected samples of quasars. We estimate that up to 70% of the bright quasars at z = 3 are missing from such samples. Corrections for this bias help to reconcile the ionizing UV background inferred from the proximity effect with that expected from quasars alone. Second, since the existing samples of damped Lyα systems were obtained from the spectra of optically bright quasars, they too must be incomplete. This affects the distribution of HI column densities f (N, z) and, especially, the comoving density Ω hi(z). The bias therefore has implications for the histories of gas consumption, star formation, and metal production in the damped Lyα systems. In particular, it solves a puzzle that has arisen in attempts to understand the chemical evolution in the damped Lyα systems (the “G-dwarf problem”). Third, the dust is likely to absorb most of the Lyα photons produced in the damped Lyα systems and thereby account for the null results of most searches for Lyα emission from them.
Differences in macrophage polarization in allergic inflammation (HYP6P.271)

Lung macrophages (alternatively activated or “M2” macrophages) are critical modulators of the severity of pulmonary inflammation. M2 macrophages differentiate from mature macrophages upon exposure to Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, abundant during allergic lung inflammation. Greater numbers of M2 macrophages were found in the lungs of female mice than male mice and in patients with asthma compared to healthy controls. SOCS1 and SOCS3 are negative regulators that control M1/M2 polarization of macrophages and they may be regulated by estrogen. We hypothesize that monocytes from asthmatic females are more responsive to IL-4/IL-13 than those from asthmatic men and that estrogen increases and androgen diminishes monocyte responses to IL-4 and IL-13. To compare sex differences in IL-4/IL-13 responses in monocytes, we purified and stimulated monocytes from male and female allergic and healthy donors with IL-4 and IL-13. We found high levels of SOCS3 in monocytes from allergic donors compared to healthy controls after IL-4 stimulation. Interestingly, expression of ERα mRNA was higher in allergic compared to healthy human macrophages, whereas ERβ and AR expression was lower. Differences in SOCS induction will provide clues to understanding sensitivity of monocyte-macrophages from allergic individuals to IL-4 and IL-13. The role of ERα, β and AR to IL-4-induced M2 macrophage polarization will help us understand why the prevalence of asthma in adult women is higher than in men.
A geometric regularity from order-restricted statistical inference

In the course of our investigations in statistical inference, we discovered that the following identity is true for all integers k > 3: k l 1k-2 k-1 i(k -j) (k-ly ) =1 E Cos1 . = 600, 2 i=1 j==i+1 (k i) where cos-1 is the principal value of the inverse cosine function. This is an unusual geometric identity because it deals with averages of angles. We will first prove the identity, and then sketch its geometric interpretation and connection to statistical inference.
MP67-02 ABCDE: A RISK SCORE FOR PROLONGED HOSPITALIZATION AMONG PATIENTS UNDERGOING RADICAL CYSTECTOMY

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Prolonged length of stay (pLOS) following radical cystectomy (RC) has been associated with increased perioperative complications, higher healthcare costs, and worse overall survival. We developed a risk score, based on preoperative features, to identify patients at increased risk for pLOS. METHODS: We identified 1533 consecutive patients who underwent RC between 1995 and 2008 at our institution. pLOS was defined as a duration of hospitalization above the 75th percentile ( 10 days). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between preoperative clinicopathologic features and pLOS. A risk score was constructed based on these models, and calibration by decile of predicted probability was evaluated. Postoperative cancerspecific (CSS) and overall (OS) survival were estimated using the Kaplan Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. RESULTS: Median age at RC was 69.2 years (IQR 62.1, 76.1), median Charlson index was 4 (IQR 2, 8), and 217 (14.2%) patients had ECOG 1. A total of 493 (32.2%) patients experienced a pLOS. Patients with pLOS had a significantly lower 5-year OS (48.5% vs 53.9%, p1⁄40.01), but not CSS (61.4% vs 64.2%, p1⁄40.09). A risk score was constructed based on a stepwise multivariable model using preoperative clinicopathologic features, and model-predicted probabilities for pLOS were estimated for each risk score level (Table). Points were assigned for age ( 30 kg/m: 4), Charlson index 3 (2), continent urinary diversion (5), and ECOG 1 (4). Risk score calibration was very good (Figure). CONCLUSIONS: pLOS after RC is associated with inferior OS. We developed a risk score with the mnemonic “ABCDE” to identify patients at increased risk for pLOS. This score may be utilized to improve preoperative counseling, to inform discharge planning, and to individualize perioperative management.
Thioamide substrate probes of metal-substrate interactions in carboxypeptidase A catalysis.

Abstract Three thioamide peptides in which the oxygen atom of the scissile peptide bond is replaced by sulfur (denoted by ( = S)) were synthesized and found to be good, convenient substrates for carboxypeptidase A. The thioamide bond absorbs strongly in the ultraviolet region, and enzymatic hydrolysis is monitored easily using a continuously recording spectrophotometric assay. The reaction follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics with Kcat values of 68, 9.0, and 3.7 sec−1 and Km values of 0.83, 0.81, and 0.53 mM for Z-Ǧlu-Phe(=S)-Phe, Z-Gly-Ala(=S)-Phe, and Z-Phe( = S)-Phe, respectively. Activities of the thioamides and their oxygen amide analogs were determined with a series of metal-substituted carboxypeptidases. The Cd(II), Mn(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) enzymes exhibit 30%–35%, 60%–85%, 150%–190%, and40%–55% of the Zn(II) enzyme activity with the amide substrates; this compares with 240%–970%, 0%–15%, 340%–840%, and 30%–140% of the Zn(II) activity, respectively, with the thioamides. The activity of the Cu(II) and Hg(II) enzymes is less than 3% toward all substrates. Cadmium, a thiophilic metal, yields an enzyme which is exceedingly active with the thioamides; the k cat K m values are 2.4–9.7-fold higher than with Zn(II) carboxypeptidase. In contrast, Mn(II), which has a relatively low affinity for sulfur, yields an enzyme with correspondingly low activity toward the thioamides. The results are consistent with a mechanism for peptide bond hydrolysis in which the metal atom interacts with the substrate carbonyl atom during catalysis.
Software Aided Classic Chinese Poem Composition

The forms of Chinese classic poetry have been developed through thousands years of history and are still current in today's poetry society. A re-classification of the rhyming words, however, is necessary for the classic poetry writing to be done in the new settings of modern Chinese language. In order to maintain the continuation of the poetry forms, computing technology can be used to help the readers as well as poetry writers to check the compliance of poems in accordance to the forms and compose poems without the effort to learn the old grouping of rhyming words. This work will help revive Chinese classic poetry in modern society and promote its writability.
Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes: Can We Stop the Weight Gain with Diabetes?

Many patients with type 2 diabetes also have the metabolic syndrome with its cardinal features of central adiposity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Although there is strong evidence for the importance of tight glycemic control in minimizing the microvascular complications of diabetes, many of the current therapies used for optimizing glycemic control also cause weight gain. With this treatment-induced weight gain, there is a risk of worsening the patient's insulin resistance. Physicians need to be aware of this vicious cycle in their overweight type 2 diabetic patients. This article reviews the strategies currently available to achieve glycemic control while at the same time minimizing weight gain and the associated complications.
Equilibrium method for estimating the first hydrolysis constant of tetravalent plutonium

Six discrete formulas are used to estimate the equilibrium constant of the first hydrolysis reaction of tetravalent plutonium. They apply the pH, the oxidation number, one equilibrium constant, and fractions of two of the plutonium oxidation states. The new formulas are not restricted to the equilibrium condition.
A Modified PDAF Algorithm For Measurement Covariances that Vary within a Time Scan

This paper presents a modified version of the probabilistic data association filter (PDAF) algorithm for single target tracking which allows for measurement covariances to vary within, as well as between, time scans. This modification enhances the ability to track targets in situations where the measurement errors within a time scan are highly variable. The potential for improved tracking is demonstrated by comparing the performance of the modified and the standard algorithm in tracking simulated intensity detector measurements.
Tactile discrimination in the monkey after section of the dorsal funiculus and lateral lemniscus.

Abstract The generally accepted view that tactile discrimination in primates is mediated by the dorsal funiculus or the spinothalamic tract (or both) was examined in this study. The absolute intensity detection threshold for electrical stimuli to the skin of one wrist was mildly and transiently elevated by ipsilateral dorsal funicular section. Lesions of the contralateral lateral lemniscus caused a significantly longer lasting increase in threshold. Discrimination of subtle tactile differences in texture, form, pattern and hardness was unchanged or only slightly affected by single or combined lesions of both afferent systems, despite the fact that the latter markedly attenuated or eliminated cortical evoked responses to skin electrical stimulation. Either a remarkable intrapathway redundancy exists so that a very few residual fibers may mediate these complex discriminations, or other pathways may function vicariously or equipotentially.
Current examples of practical and fundamental applications of DC polarography

Examples of recent applications—applied, analytical, and fundamental are given. For these types of applications, an understanding of at least the number of electrons and protons transferred and the sequences of electron transfers and chemical reactions is essential. Polarography can be used for the determination of the active component in tablets and injection solutions, where it offers speed and sensitivity of the analytical method. Electroactive species can also be determined in heterogeneous systems without pre-separation. This has been taken advantage of in the investigation of reactions of bile salts with heavy metal ions or of binding of pesticides and other toxins on lignin. Polarography can also be used in the investigation of alkaline cleavage of lignin under mild conditions. Kinetics of this cleavage was used as a tool in proving that humic acids are not natural products. Among fundamental applications belong proofs of limited delocalization in groupings >C=N–N=C<, of diprotonation of hydrazones and oximes at the electrode surface, as well as of formation of imines as intermediates in reductions of hydrazones and oximes. Simultaneous determination of benzaldehyde and its hydrazone enabled providing experimental evidence for formation of carbinolamines as reaction intermediates and interpretation of the pH dependence of the equilibrium constant of this reaction. Differences in hydration of three isomeric phthalaldehydes are discussed as well as the covalent hydration of 1,2,4- and 1,3,5-triazines and pyrimidines. The ω,ω,ω-trifluoroacetophenone oxime the C=N bond is covalently hydrated.
Carbohydrate-borate eluents for anion chromatography

Abstract The chromatographic efficiencies of four different carbohydrate-borate eluents at pH values between 8.0 and 9.5 were compared. The carbohydrates studied were gluconate, mannonic acid, glucose and mannitol. The mannonic acid-borate eluent was a efficient as the original gluconate-borate eluent but the glucose-borate and mannitol-borate eluents gave poor results. For each eluent several carbohydrate borate complexes were responsible for the elution of anions.
An approximate model and empirical energy function for solute interactions with a water-phosphatidylcholine interface.

An empirical model of a liquid crystalline (L alpha phase) phosphatidylcholine (PC) bilayer interface is presented along with a function which calculates the position-dependent energy of associated solutes. The model approximates the interface as a gradual two-step transition, the first step being from an aqueous phase to a phase of reduced polarity, but which maintains a high enough concentration of water and/or polar head group moieties to satisfy the hydrogen bond-forming potential of the solute. The second transition is from the hydrogen bonding/low polarity region to an effectively anhydrous hydrocarbon phase. The "interfacial energies" of solutes within this variable medium are calculated based upon atomic positions and atomic parameters describing general polarity and hydrogen bond donor/acceptor propensities. This function was tested for its ability to reproduce experimental water-solvent partitioning energies and water-bilayer partitioning data. In both cases, the experimental data was reproduced fairly well. Energy minimizations carried out on beta-hexyl glucopyranoside led to identification of a global minimum for the interface-associated glycolipid which exhibited glycosidic torsion angles in agreement with prior results (Hare, B.J., K.P. Howard, and J.H. Prestegard. 1993. Biophys. J. 64:392–398). Molecular dynamics simulations carried out upon this same molecule within the simulated interface led to results which were consistent with a number of experimentally based conclusions from previous work, but failed to quantitatively reproduce an available NMR quadrupolar/dipolar coupling data set (Sanders, C.R., and J.H. Prestegard. 1991. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113:1987–1996). The proposed model and functions are readily incorporated into computational energy modeling algorithms and may prove useful in future studies of membrane-associated molecules.
Control of a hydraulic wind power transfer system under disturbances

Hydraulic wind power transfer systems deliver the captured energy by the blades to the generators differently and through an intermediate medium i.e. hydraulic fluid. This paper develops a control system for a nonlinear model of hydraulic wind power transfer systems. To maintain a fixed frequency electrical voltage by the system, the generator should remain at a constant rotational speed. The fluctuating wind speed from the upstream applies considerable disturbances on the system. A controller is designed and implemented to regulate the flow in the proportional valve and as a consequence the generator maintains its constant speed compensating for low wind speed and high wind speed disturbances. The controller is applied to the system by utilizing MATLAB/Simulink.
Fibrinolytic compromise by simultaneous administration of site-directed inhibitors of thrombin.

Newly developed synthetic and recombinant thrombin inhibitors possess strong anticoagulant effects. Despite these effects, interactions of these agents with enzymes in the fibrinolytic network result in the modulation of such proteases as t-PA, u-PA and streptokinase. The inhibitory spectrum of several thrombin inhibitors [D-Phe-Pro-Arg-H (GYKI 14166), D-MePhe-Pro-Arg-H (GYKI 14766), Boc-D-Phe-Pro-Arg-H (GYKI 14451), Ac-D-Phe-Pro-boroArg-OH (DuP 714), recombinant hirudin (r-Hir) and unfractionated porcine mucosal heparin complexed with antithrombin III (Heparin/AT-III)] was studied towards various serine proteases such as tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasmin, plasminogen/streptokinase complex, urokinase and kallikrein. Aprotinin was also studied in the same systems as the thrombin inhibitors. All four tripeptide derivatives were found to inhibit t-PA, plasmin and plasminogen/streptokinase complex at micromolar concentrations (IC50: 0.57 mM - 3.3 μM). Boc-D-Phe-Pro-Arg-H and Ac-D-Phe-Pro-boroArg-OH also inhibited urokinase, while Ac-D-Phe-Pro-boroArg-OH inhibited kallikrein as well (IC50: 0.15 mM - 16 μM). In contrast, r-Hir and Heparin/AT-III did not inhibit any of these enzymes at millimolar concentrations (IC50≥ 1 mM). Aprotinin inhibited plasmin, plasminogen/streptokinase complex and kallikrein at micromolar concentrations (IC50: 3.1-0.85 μM). In a rabbit thrombolysis model, where pre-formed clots are lysed by streptokinase, simultaneous administration of D-MePhe-Pro-Arg-H or Ac-D-Phe-ProboroArg-OH, at concentrations ∼ 1 μmol/kg, I.V. resulted in complete inhibition of the fibrinolytic process. Aprotinin at 0.1 μmol/kg, I.V. produced similar inhibition. These results demonstrate that thrombin inhibitors may exert significant antiprotease actions against various fibrinolytic enzymes.
Mass fragmentation and structure of siphonaxanthin, siphonein and derivatives

High resolution mass spectrometry has been employed to establish the structural formulae of the unique carotenoid pigment siphonaxanthin, its natural ester, siphonein and several derivatives. Siphonaxanthin exhibits a fragmentation reaction that is unusual among carotenoid pigments, namely, the elimination of carbon dioxide, observed as [M - CO2] and [M - (CO2 + H2O)]. This reaction involves the migration of an oxygen atom. Siphonaxanthol, a partially hydrogenated siphonaxanthin, exhibits a similar reaction involving the elimination of carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. From the fragmentation of derivatives of siphonaxanthin, such as the triacetate, the dimethyl ether and siphonaxanthol, and also from the fragmentation of related pigments, such as loroxanthin and fucoxanthin, the unique structural units responsible for the elimination of the carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide have been identified.
Site selective spectroscopy of rare earth doped ThO2

Abstract The individual sites present in ThO 2 doped with Eu 3+ and Er 3+ have been studied by site selective spectroscopy. A cubic site corresponding to a rare earth charge compensated distantly and two sites having local charge compensation have been identified. One of the locally compensated sites is present only at moderate temperature while the other is formed at higher temperatures and is stable to high temperatures. The measurements are related to catalytically excited fluorescence of ThO 2 , previous luminescence measurements, and magnetic resonance experiments that observe the presence of local F _ charge compensation of rare earth dopants.
TOWARD A MODERN MAP OF ROMAN WATER LAW

(1997). TOWARD A MODERN MAP OF ROMAN WATER LAW. Urban Geography: Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 100-105.
Binding of [3H]BAY 58-2667 to purified bovine lung soluble guanylate cyclase by scintillation proximity assay

Background Activation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) by BAY 582667 is independent of nitric oxide (NO) and is potentiated by oxidation or removal of the heme prosthetic group [1]. This compound will displace heme from sGC but only at concentrations several orders of magnitude higher than those which activate the enzyme [2]. Therefore the nature of the interaction of BAY 58-2667 with sGC, the mechanism of activation, and the role of hemedisplacement under physiological conditions is of considerable interest.