cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improvement of PSO Algorithm and Its Application on Secondary Speed Regulation

To eliminate the deteriorating effect of parameter changes and coupling disturbances on the rotational speed control system with secondary regulation,a kind of PID controller based on the Particle Swarm Optimization(PSO)algorithms is designed and another kind of PID controller based on the Adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization(APSO-PID)algorithm is realized through improvement.In addition,the difference between PSO-PID and APSO-PID in the application of the secondary regulation rotational speed control system is compared through carrying on MATLAB simulation.The result shows that the APSO-PID controller improves optimization ability greatly and reduces the probability of the algorithm involving in partial optimization.It can improve the control performance of the rotational speed control system with secondary regulation to a great extent.
Patient-controlled analgesia

Introduction to patient-controlled analgesia PCA as a clinical program the pain management team logistical and economic issues.
Self-compensating the effect of defect generation in advanced CMOS substrates

Time-dependent degradation of transistor parameters is one of the major reliability concerns in current CMOS technologies. Transistor parameters, e.g. threshold voltage, drain current, etc. change due to the formation of defects at the oxide/Si interface; as well as due to charge trapping into defects present within the bulk of the dielectric (e.g., electron trapping for NMOS and hole trapping for PMOS). Device designers often feel that process modifications cannot adequately address such reliability problems without adversely affecting performance metrics. Thus the traditional option has been to operate transistors with an extra guard band voltage, so that regardless of the magnitude of variability or time-dependent parametric shifts, the transistors drivability or drain current remains above certain minimum value. In this paper, we discuss the possibility of self-compensation of parametric degradation (and associated threshold voltage shift) due to interface and oxide defects that might occur at advanced substrates such as strained-Si or III–V materials. We illustrate how these substrate technologies - currently only being studied for performance improvement - can also be engineered to compensate for defect-related threshold voltage shift, with the possibility of reducing the guard-band voltage. Moreover, we demonstrate the viability of the proposed concept of self-compensation using advanced substrates both at the device level, as well as in the circuit level.
Historical Ecology and the Explanation of Diversity: Amazonian Case Studies

Historical ecology is a research program concerned with the effects of interactions between humans and the environment. These interactions are understood as forms of landscape transformation. Species diversity is one of the principal foci in the historical–ecological study of landscape transformation. In conservation biology, humans are usually not considered to effect increases in diversity except as consequences of secondary succession and the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, if at all. In the study of Amazonia, evidence suggests that humans not only changed forest composition as a result of extensive agriculture (secondary landscape transformation) but also built environments that supported forests that were otherwise nonexistent before human intervention. Human intervention can also account for the existence of some “forest-dependent” species. In light of past human activities and the ensuing effects of these on Amazonian forests, historical ecology provides a working model of explanation of alpha diversity that is more complete than alternative models, including vicariance biogeography, refuge theory, and environmental gradients, when taken in isolation.
Imaging and Management of Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury.

Appropriate screening criteria and imaging guidelines are described for blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI)—a rare but potentially devastating finding in patients with generalized trauma or direct cervical and craniofacial injury—and clinical and follow-up imaging implications of specific BCVI injury grades are examined
The Bordetella bronchiseptica nic locus encodes a nicotinic acid degradation pathway and the 6‐hydroxynicotinate‐responsive regulator BpsR

The classical Bordetella species use amino acids as carbon sources and can catabolize organic acids and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. They are also auxotrophic for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) pathway precursors such as nicotinic acid. Bordetellae have a putative nicotinate catabolism gene locus highly similar to that characterized in Pseudomonas putida KT2440. This study determined the distribution of the nic genes among Bordetella species and analyzed the regulation of this nicotinic acid degradation system. Transcription of the Bordetella bronchiseptica nicC gene was repressed by the NicR ortholog, BpsR, previously shown to regulate extracellular polysaccharide synthesis genes. nicC expression was derepressed by nicotinic acid or by the first product of the degradation pathway, 6-hydroxynicotinic acid, which was shown to be the inducer. Results using mutants with either a hyperactivated pathway or an inactivated pathway showed a marked effect on growth on nicotinic acid that indicated this degradation pathway influences NAD biosynthesis. Pathway dysregulation also affected Bordetella BvgAS-mediated virulence gene regulation, demonstrating that fluctuation of intracellular nicotinic acid pools impacts Bvg phase transition responses.
Rapid Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition of SixGe1-x Alloys on Si and SiO2 and New Applications of SixGe1-x Alloys in Advanced Mosfet Processes

In this work, low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) of SixGe1-x on Si and SiO2 has been considered for new applications in future ultra large scale integration (ULSI) technologies. Depositions were performed in a lamp heated cold-wall rapid thermal processor (rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition -RTCVD) using thermal decomposition of GeH4 and SiH2Cl2 in a carrier gas of H2. The process is a relatively low temperature/high throughput processes suitable to single wafer manufacturing. In this paper, we review potential applications of SixGe1-x in future MOS processes. Specifically, SixGe1-x has been considered for two new applications : i) Formation of ultra-shallow junctions in silicon using selectively deposited and implanted polycrystalline SixGe1-x as a diffusion source, ii) Formation of MOS gate structures with SixGe1-x gate electrodes for lower dopant activation temperatures and better threshold control.
The Development of a Facility to Analyze and Synthesize Genes and Proteins

The development of recombinant DNA techniques, monoclonal antibody techniques and microchemical instrumentation has revolutionized modern biology. These biotechnologies operate in a synergistic fashion to expand enormously the repertoire of biological problems that can be effectively approached. Moreover, they have had a profound impact on shortening the time between fundamental observations and their application to human physiology and medicine. In this paper we describe a selection of ongoing projects in our laboratory to develop additional or improved components for the microchemical facility.
Reliability and validity of EMS dispatch code-based categorization of emergency patients for syndromic surveillance.

RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF EMS DISPATCH CODE-BASED CATEGORIZATION OF EMERGENCY PATIENTS FOR SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE March 28, 2008 A retrospective study involving the secondary analysis of public health surveillance records was undertaken to characterize the reliability and validity of an EMS dispatch data-based scheme for assigning emergency patients to surveillance syndromes in relation to two other schemes, one based on hospital ED clinicians' manual categorization according to patients' chief complaint and clinical presentation, and one based on ICD-9 coded hospital ED diagnoses. Comparisons of a sample of individual emergency patients' syndrome assignments according to the EMS versus each of the two hospital categorization schemes were made by matching EMS run records to their corresponding emergency department patient encounter records. This new, linked dataset was analyzed to assess the level of agreement beyond chance between the three possible pairs of syndrome categorization schemes in assigning patients to a respiratory or non-respiratory syndrome and to a gastrointestinal or nongastrointestinal syndrome. Cohen's kappa statistics were used to measure chance-adjusted agreement between categorization schemes (raters). Z-tests and a chi-square-like test based on the variance of the kappa statistic were used
Vitamin D3 and Retinoid-Mediated Inhibition of Leukemic Cells

An attractive therapeutic goal in the treatment of acute leukemias is to induce relatively immature and rapidly growing malignant cells to undergo differentiation towards a more mature quiescent phenotype. Various agents have been considered for the potential to initiate this process. Two related compounds that have potent differentiation-inducing activities in many cell types are the seco-steroid hormones vitamin D3 and retinoids. These compounds bind to specific nuclear receptors that act as ligand inducible transcription factors and thereby initiate a cascade of genomic responses that include inhibition of proliferation and promotion of differentiation. Alltrans retinoic acid has proved remarkably successful in the clinical treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. The use of vitamin D3 analogs and conformationally restricted retinoids have resulted in many advances in the understanding of the cellular and molecular biology of these potent compounds. Many of these developments have great clinical potential for the treatment of myeloid proliferative disorders.
Pembrolizumab with or without vismodegib in treating metastatic or unresectable basal cell skin cancer.

TPS9593Background: Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are the most common cancer in humans and have increased > 75% in the past two decades, with > 28,000 cases of advanced or metastatic diseases per yea...
Kinetics coming into focus: single-molecule microscopy of riboswitch dynamics.

Riboswitches are dynamic RNA motifs that are mostly embedded in the 5ʹ-untranslated regions of bacterial mRNAs, where they regulate gene expression transcriptionally or translationally by undergoin...
Four New Species of Promalactis Meyrick, 1908 (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) from Northwestern Thailand

Four new Promalactis (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) are described herein from Mae Yom National Park, Lamphum Province, in northwestern Thailand, and include: Promalactis faithyella, P. dispar, P. duocaulis, and P.ungula. Images of imagos and digital illustrations of all male genitalia are included. Female genitalia are included as available.
Do Athletic Experiences Lead to Desirable Workplace Motivation? A Proposed Exploratory Framework

With an increasing level of attention given to the concept of motivation in the workforce, anecdotal evidence suggests that many employers have a preference towards hiring individuals with athletic backgrounds. While only limited research, at best, has studied this phenomenon to demonstrate any empirically supported framework of why former high school or college athletes may be perceived as more ideal employees, the following proposes a logical path forward to begin to empirically test the accuracy of the belief that sport participants and athletes could make better employees by specifically studying the transfer of a person’s motivational outlook from the athletic experience to the workplace.
4D cardiac electromechanical activation imaging.

Abstract Cardiac abnormalities, a major cause of morbidity and mortality, affect millions of people worldwide. Despite the urgent clinical need for early diagnosis, there is currently no noninvasive technique that can infer to the electrical function of the whole heart in 3D and thereby localize abnormalities at the point of care. Here we present a new method for noninvasive 4D mapping of the cardiac electromechanical activity in a single heartbeat for heart disease characterization such as arrhythmia and infarction. Our novel technique captures the 3D activation wave of the heart in vivo using high volume-rate (500 volumes per second) ultrasound with a 32 × 32 matrix array. Electromechanical activation maps are first presented in a normal and infarcted cardiac model in silico and in canine heart during pacing and re-entrant ventricular tachycardia in vivo. Noninvasive 4D electromechanical activation mapping in a healthy volunteer and a heart failure patient are also determined. The technique described herein allows for direct, simultaneous and noninvasive visualization of electromechanical activation in 3D, which provides complementary information on myocardial viability and/or abnormality to clinical imaging.
Characterization of feruloyl esterases in maize pollen

Ferulic acid esterases have been identified and partially purified from maize pollen. Results suggest that maize pollen FAEs may play an important role in pollen fertilization. A critical step in maize (Zea mays) seed production involves fertilization of the ovule by pollen, a process that relies on ability of the pollen tube to grow through the highly structured and feruloylated arabinoxylan/cellulose-rich tissue of the silk and stigma. It is known that different cell wall hydrolases are present on the surface of pollen. An important hydrolase reported to date is an endo-xylanase (ZmXYN1). We report presence and characterization of another hydrolase, ferulic acid esterase (FAE), in maize pollen. Using a combination of biochemical approaches, these FAEs were partially purified and characterized with respect to their biochemical properties and putative sequences. Maize pollen FAEs were shown to be expressed early during pollen development, to release significant amounts of both monomeric and dimeric ferulates esterified from maize silks and other grass cell walls, and to synergize with an externally applied fungal endo-1,4-β-xylanase on the release of cell wall ferulates and diferulates. Preliminary analysis of maize silk cell walls following pollination, showed a significant reduction of esterified ferulates up to 96 h following pollination, compared to unpollinated silks. These results suggest that maize pollen FAEs may play an important biological role in pollen fertilization and possibly in seed production.
Perceptions and Behaviors of Indigenous Populations Regarding Illegal Use of Protected Area Resources in East Africa's Mountain Gorilla Landscape.

Illegal activities and use of park resources are the main challenges facing mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) conservation and the protection of their habitats in the East Africa’s Greater Virunga Transboundary Landscape (GVTL). Indigenous residents around GVTL are considered the primary illegal users of park resources. Despite this, there is limited understanding of the current and past perceptions of indigenous residents living in communities adjacent to two GVTL parks; Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. Equally, there is also limited understanding regarding the actual incidences of illegal activities inside both parks. This paper addresses these gaps. Perception data were collected from indigenous residents living adjacent to both parks. Further, Ranger-based Monitoring (RbM) data from both parks were analyzed to determine actual numbers and types of illegal activities over the 9-year period. Interestingly, findings indicated that residents perceived the prevalence of illegal activities to be decreasing across GVTL. To the contrary, RbM findings indicated that the number of actual illegal activities was increasing significantly, particularly in Volcanoes National Park. The discrepancy found between the two perspectives provides for a discussion of the social biases potentially present in these data, and their implications for management. Results also illuminated the subsistence-related nature of most illegal behaviors and suggest that to reduce illegal activities and local dependency on park resources, park management must work with communities and support them in tapping into alternative livelihoods and finding ways to address community household subsistence needs.
Simulating Effects of Non-Isothermal Flow on Reactive Transport of Radionuclides Originating from an Underground Nuclear Test

Temperature can significantly affect radionuclide transport behavior. In simulation of radionuclide transport originating from an underground nuclear test, temperature effects from residual test heat include non-isothermal groundwater flow behavior (e.g. convection cells), increased dissolution rates of melt glass containing refractory radionuclides, changes in water chemistry, and, in turn, changes in radionuclide sorption behavior. The low-yield (0.75 kiloton) Cambric underground nuclear test situated in alluvium below the water table offers unique perspectives on radionuclide transport in groundwater. The Cambric test was followed by extensive post-test characterization of the radionuclide source term and a 16-year pumping-induced radionuclide migration experiment that captured more mobile radionuclides in groundwater. Discharge of pumped groundwater caused inadvertent recirculation of radionuclides through a 220-m thick vadose zone to the water table and below, including partial re-capture in the pumping well. Non-isothermal flow simulations indicate test-related heat persists at Cambric for about 10 years and induces limited thermal convection of groundwater. The test heat has relatively little impact on mobilizing radionuclides compared to subsequent pumping effects. However, our reactive transport models indicate test-related heat can raise melt glass dissolution rates up to 10{sup 4} faster than at ambient temperatures depending on pH and species activities. Non-isothermal flow simulations indicate that these elevated glass dissolution rates largely decrease within 1 year. Thermally-induced increases in fluid velocity may also significantly increase rates of melt glass dissolution by changing the fluid chemistry in contact with the dissolving glass.
When Phonological Neighborhood Density both Facilitates and Impedes: Age of Acquisition and Name Agreement Interact with Phonological Neighborhood during Word Production

The number of similar-sounding words that a target word has, or its Phonological Neighborhood Density (PND), has been shown to influence word production. However, reported results are sometimes inconsistent, with studies showing facilitation, inhibition, and null effects of phonological neighbors. These mixed results may be due to the influence of other factors beyond PND. We investigated the potential interactions between a broad measure of PND (bPND), and age of acquisition (AoA), frequency, and name agreement in order to see if the effect of bPND varies as a function of these three variables. We examined the effect of bPND on the latency of picture naming and observed significant interactions between bPND and AoA such that bPND facilitated lexical retrieval for words that were acquired early, but inhibited retrieval for words acquired later in life. We hypothesize that lexical retrieval difficulty ultimately depends on the activation level of the target word's phonological representations relative to the activation levels of its neighbors' phonological representations. When phonological features of the target word are weakly activated (i.e., late AoA), and bPND is high, the neighbors' activation may overshadow the target's, impeding target retrieval. However, when the target's phonological representation is strongly activated, the activation of the neighbors might not exceed that of the target, thereby supporting phonological retrieval. We also observed interactions between bPND and name agreement such that increasing bPND led to faster reaction times (RTs), particularly when name agreement was lower, suggesting that bPND may also facilitate word retrieval when lexical competition is high.
“I just went into it assuming that I wouldn't be able to have the full experience”: Understanding the Accessibility of Virtual Reality for People with Limited Mobility

Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to transform many aspects of our daily lives, including work, entertainment, communication, and education. However, there has been little research into understanding the usability of VR for people with mobility limitations. In this paper, we present the results of an exploration to understand the accessibility of VR for people with limited mobility. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 people with limited mobility about their thoughts on, and experiences with, VR systems. We identified 7 barriers related to the physical accessibility of VR devices that people with limited mobility might encounter, ranging from the initial setup of a VR system to keeping VR controllers in view of cameras embedded in VR headsets. We also elicited potential improvements to VR systems that would address some accessibility concerns. Based on our findings, we discuss the importance of considering the abilities of people with limited mobility when designing VR systems, as the abilities of many participants did not match the assumptions embedded in the design of current VR systems.
Abstract 1186: Relationships between health literacy, having a cancer care coordinator, and long-term health-related quality of life among cancer survivors

Care coordination has been identified as a strategy to reduce challenges navigating the healthcare system for cancer patients. The objective of this study was to assess the association between cancer patients having a cancer care coordinator during their treatment and their long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after treatment, and whether this association differs by level of health literacy. A population-based sample of patients diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer in 2015 were recruited from the Iowa Cancer Registry and invited by mail to participate in an online survey conducted in 2017-2018 (N=369). Survey and Registry data were analyzed using linear regression to model the association between having a cancer care coordinator during active treatment with post-treatment physical or mental HRQoL, a mean of 2.7 years later, by varying levels of health literacy while controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors.Most patients (81%) reported having one individual coordinating their cancer care. Overall, having a care coordinator was not significantly associated with physical HRQoL (p=0.113). However, patients (20%) with low health literacy, who had a care coordinator, had significantly higher physical HRQoL scores (mean difference 5.0, p=0.022), while those with medium (29%) and high (51%) health literacy, did not (p=0.223, and p=0.864, respectively). Mental HRQoL scores were not associated with the presence of a care coordinator overall or when stratified by health literacy level. Findings suggested care coordinators improved post-treatment physical HRQoL, particularly for patients with low health literacy. Care coordinators may be beneficial to patients struggling to navigate the complex healthcare system during cancer treatment. Future research should focus on the mechanisms by which care coordination affects post-treatment HRQoL. Citation Format: Natalie J. Del Vecchio, Mary Charlton, Natoshia Askelson, Knute Carter, Elizabeth Chrischilles, Charles Lynch. Relationships between health literacy, having a cancer care coordinator, and long-term health-related quality of life among cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1186.
Coaching for Continuous Improvement.

Since 2015, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has provided schools across the state with access to highly skilled instructional coaches. Primarily working in rural settings, these coaches provide a voluntary, integrated coaching model that focuses on building sustainable systems. Coaches provide a range of services, including systems design, strategic planning support, whole-team professional learning, professional learning community (PLC) LC facilitation, and fidelity monitoring. This article describes the theory of action for KDE’s Continuous Improvement Coaching program, presents two case studies of rural elementary schools who utilized the program, and discusses the key features of the program and its relevance for rural schools.
Distal Radius Fracture Fixation in the Elderly

Abstract Fractures of the distal radius are increasingly common, resulting in a cost of $170 million to Medicare alone. They represent the most common fracture of the upper extremity and are the second most common fracture overall in women > 60 years of age. With increasing life expectancy in most societies, the incidence of distal radius fractures (DRFs) has been steadily increasing over the past 40 years, particularly in the elderly population (defined as patients > 65 years of age). The lifetime risk of a Caucasian woman > 60 sustaining a DRF is 15% (compared to 2% for men). Thus, the injury burden imposed by fractures of the distal radius on society, particularly the elderly population, looms large. Radiographic parameters for operative vs nonoperative treatment have been well established for patients 65 years of age. As clinical information continues to evolve, identifying evidence-based, cost-conscious practices will be essential for the sustainability of health systems worldwide.
Humanitarian Response to Disasters with Funding Uncertainty: Alleviating Deprivation with Bridge Finance

Agencies that provide relief to disaster survivors raise funds from diversified sources, such as foundations, private donors, and lenders. The output of a relief operation, such as lives saved, is a function of several factors: disaster intensity, relief agency's effectiveness, and the size of donor fund. In an uncertain funding environment with delays, a stop‐gap loan can help decrease deprivation at the onset of disaster. When funding materializes, surplus fund net of loan and interest facilitates a second relief operation. We analyze a multistage framework in a game‐theoretic context to study the decisions of the parties involved: relief agency (loan sought and effectiveness), lender (interest rate), and donor (funding level). We find that the size of loan increases in funding delay, even though the lender increases interest rate. The donor increases funding to ensure a larger fund availability (net of loan and interest). While the uncertainty in funding delay motivates the relief agency to seek a larger loan, we find that the maximum number of survivors receiving aid decreases. In case of logistics delays, we find that the speed of response decreases in disaster intensity, enabling a larger number of survivors to receive aid as the cost of logistics decreases. It also increases the loan size and donor funding. However, the relief agency fails to cover all survivors if the disaster intensity is large as the response speed does not decrease below a threshold.
The History of Pediatric and Adult Hearing Screening.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To document the history of hearing seeing in children and adults. STUDY DESIGN A literature search in all languages was carried out with the terms of hearing screening from the following sources: Pub Med, Science Direct, World Catalog, Index Medicus, Google scholar, Google Books, National Library of Medicine, Welcome historical library and The Library of Congress. METHODS The primary sources consisting of books, scientific reports, public documents, governmental reports, and other written material were analyzed to document the history of hearing screening. RESULTS The concept of screening for medical conditions that, when found, could influence some form of the outcome of the malady came about during the end of 19th century. The first applications of screening were to circumscribe populations, schoolchildren, military personnel, and railroad employees. During the first half of the 20th century, screening programs were extended to similar populations and were able to be expanded on the basis of the improved technology of hearing testing. The concept of universal screening was first applied to the inborn errors of metabolism of newborn infants and particularly the assessment of phenylketonuria in 1963 by Guthrie and Susi. A limited use of this technique has been the detection of genes resulting in hearing loss. The use of a form of hearing testing either observational or physiological as a screen for all newborns was first articulated by Larry Fisch in 1957 and by the end of the 20th century newborn infant screening for hearing loss became the standard almost every nation worldwide. CONCLUSIONS Hearing screening for newborn infants is utilized worldwide, schoolchildren less so and for adults many industrial workers and military service undergo hearing screening, but this is not a general practice for screening the elderly. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 131:S1-S25, 2021.
An experimental study of demand response effect of a multi-building portfolio

Demand response (DR) can effectively balance the contradiction between power supply and demand and promote the integration of renewable energy into the grid by changing the end user's power demand curve through control strategies. Relevant research has begun to pay attention to the important role of building users in demand response. The current experimental research on building demand response is only focused on single building, because the experiment of simultaneous demand response for multiple buildings is restricted by various external factors. However, the load of a single building is relatively small compared to the entire power grid, so the building needs to be involved in the demand response project in the form of a building group. This paper reports on an experimental research on the demand response effect of a building group composed of 10 office buildings, based on the Shanghai demand response pilot experiment. Firstly, the basic information of each building of the building group is introduced, and the scheduling process of the demand response experiment of the buildings is demonstrated; Secondly, the demand response baseline method used in this paper is detailed; this is followed by analyzing the demand response effect of each building and the building group on the day of the demand response experiment. The experimental results revealed that the average load reduction rate of the entire building group during the demand response period was about 8.44%, and each building had a relatively obvious load reduction.
Parameter estimation for discretely sampled stochastic heat equation driven by space-only noise

Abstract We derive consistent and asymptotically normal estimators for the drift and volatility parameters of the stochastic heat equation driven by an additive space-only white noise when the solution is sampled discretely in the physical domain. We consider both the full space and the bounded domain. We establish the exact spatial regularity of the solution, which in turn, using power-variation arguments, allows building the desired estimators. We show that naive approximations of the derivatives appearing in the power-variation based estimators may create nontrivial biases, which we compute explicitly. The proofs are rooted in Malliavin–Stein’s method.
Fine-tuning in Federated Learning: a simple but tough-to-beat baseline.

We study the performance of federated learning algorithms and their variants in an asymptotic framework. Our starting point is the formulation of federated learning as a multi-criterion objective, where the goal is to minimize each client's loss using information from all of the clients. We analyze a linear regression model, where, for a given client, we theoretically compare the performance of various algorithms in the high-dimensional asymptotic limit. This asymptotic multi-criterion approach naturally models the high-dimensional, many-device nature of federated learning and suggests that personalization is central to federated learning. In this paper, we investigate how some sophisticated personalization algorithms fare against simple fine-tuning baselines. In particular, our theory suggests that Federated Averaging with client fine-tuning is competitive than more intricate meta-learning and proximal-regularized approaches. In addition to being conceptually simpler, our fine-tuning-based methods are computationally more efficient than their competitors. We corroborate our theoretical claims with extensive experiments on federated versions of the EMNIST, CIFAR-100, Shakespeare, and Stack Overflow datasets.
Kinetics of human pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase in l-thioproline metabolism

l-Thioproline (l-thiazolidine-4-carboxylate, l-T4C) is a cyclic sulfur-containing analog of l-proline found in multiple kingdoms of life. The oxidation of l-T4C leads to l-cysteine formation in bacteria, plants, mammals, and protozoa. The conversion of l-T4C to l-Cys in bacterial cell lysates has been attributed to proline dehydrogenase and l-Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) reductase (PYCR) enzymes but detailed kinetic studies have not been conducted. Here, we characterize the dehydrogenase activity of human PYCR isozymes 1 and 2 with l-T4C using NAD(P)+ as the hydride acceptor. Both PYCRs exhibit significant l-T4C dehydrogenase activity; however, PYCR2 displays nearly tenfold higher catalytic efficiency (136 M−1 s−1) than PYCR1 (13.7 M−1 s−1). Interestingly, no activity was observed with either l-Pro or the analog dl-thiazolidine-2-carboxylate, indicating that the sulfur at the 4-position is critical for PYCRs to utilize l-T4C as a substrate. Inhibition kinetics show that l-Pro is a competitive inhibitor of PYCR1 $$\left({K_{IC}^{app}}=15.7 \,{\rm mM} \right)$$ with respect to l-T4C, consistent with these ligands occupying the same binding site. We also confirm by mass spectrometry that l-T4C oxidation by PYCRs leads to cysteine product formation. Our results suggest a new enzyme function for human PYCRs in the metabolism of l-T4C.
Leaders and managers: Essential skills required within higher education

As the leaders of today's higher educational institutions create and enhance their vision to meet the needs of the changing student population into the twenty-first century, the skills and attributes required are also changing. This article provides an overview of those skills and attributes viewed as valuable in this changing environment, such as encouraging reflective backtalk and the ability to see the long view; the roles (e.g., figurehead, leader, and liaison) and relationships (both internal and external to the institution) in which the leaders are engaged; governance and organizational structures of colleges and universities (particularly in the United States); the culture, values, and vision of these institutions; and strategic planning and financial management processes required. It is imperative that the leaders and managers of our higher educational institutions embrace all their roles, share responsibility with formal and informal leaders from faculty and staff groups, and recognize and embrace change.
High-frequency attenuation of the cone ERG and ON-response deficits in X-linked retinoschisis.

PURPOSE. Individuals with X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) show a comparatively greater reduction of the ON response than the OFF response of the electroretinogram (ERG) of the cone system. At high temporal frequencies, they also show a marked attenuation of the flicker ERG that has been attributed to an abnormal cone photoreceptor response. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the high-frequency response attenuation contributes to the abnormal ERG ON response in XLRS. METHODS. Light-adapted ERGs were recorded from three patients with XLRS and from three control subjects, by using rapid-on and rapid-off sawtooth flicker to emphasize ON and OFF responses, respectively, and by using low-pass sawtooth flicker, from which the high temporal frequencies had been removed to mimic the high-frequency attenuation in XLRS. RESULTS. For the control subjects, removing the high stimulus frequencies reduced the amplitude of the b-wave component of the ()N response but had little effect on the amplitude of the d-wave component of the OFF response. In the patients with XLRS, the b-wave component of the ON response was already diminished using the full sawtooth stimulus, and removing the higher stimulus frequencies had no further effect. Patients' ERG responses to the 16-Hz stimulus fundamental alone were also abnormal, in that an initial response component normally present in the ERG was absent. CONCLUSIONS. The overall pattern of findings indicates that two factors contribute to the preferential ON-response deficit in XLRS: first, a high-frequency attenuation of the cone photoreceptor response that effectively produces a low-pass stimulus for the postreceptoral pathway and that affects the ON response more than the OFF response and, second, a relatively greater attenuation of the ON- than of the OFF-bipolar cell response that is evident in the aberrant response to the sawtooth fundamental.
Reduction of retinaldehyde bound to cellular retinol-binding protein (type II) by microsomes from rat small intestine.

Cellular retinol-binding protein, type II (CRBP (II], an abundant protein of the rat small intestine, has recently been shown to be able to bind retinaldehyde in addition to retinol (MacDonald, P.N., and Ong, D. E. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 10550-10556). Retinaldehyde is produced in the intestine by oxidative cleavage of beta-carotene. The next step in the intestinal metabolism of vitamin A is the reduction of retinaldehyde to retinol which is then esterified for incorporation into chylomicrons. In the present study retinaldehyde bound to CRBP(II) was found to be available for reduction by microsomal preparations from rat small intestinal mucosa. The microsomal activity was about 8 times greater than the activity observed for an equal amount of cytosolic protein. Retinaldehyde reduction utilized either NADH or NADPH as cofactor, with NADH being slightly more effective. The apparent Km for retinaldehyde-CRBP(II) was 0.5 microM, and the Vmax was approximately 300 pmol/min/mg protein, a rate more than sufficient for the needs of the animal. The product retinol remained complexed to CRBP(II). The microsomal enzyme activity reduced free and bound retinaldehyde to approximately the same extent, although the aldehyde function of retinaldehyde bound to CRBP(II) was less accessible to chemical reducing agents than that of free retinaldehyde. Retinol bound to CRBP(II) could not be oxidized by the microsomal activity in the presence of NAD+, while free retinol or retinol bound to bovine serum albumin was oxidized to retinaldehyde. The more favorable reduction versus oxidation of retinoid bound to CRBP(II) consequently favored the reaction known to be required for the ultimate conversion of beta-carotene to retinyl esters for export from the gut.
Proof of the Incompleteness Theorem

Godel proved the incompleteness theorem by constructing, for any rea-sonable proof system, a sentence of number theory φ that asserts its own unprovability in that system: $$ \varphi \;is\;true \Leftrightarrow \varphi \;is\;not\;provable$$ (39.1)
The capacity of the human iliotibial band to store elastic energy during running.

The human iliotibial band (ITB) is a poorly understood fascial structure that may contribute to energy savings during locomotion. This study evaluated the capacity of the ITB to store and release elastic energy during running, at speeds ranging from 2–5 m/s, using a model that characterizes the three-dimensional musculoskeletal geometry of the human lower limb and the force–length properties of the ITB, tensor fascia lata (TFL), and gluteus maximus (GMax). The model was based on detailed analyses of muscle architecture, dissections of 3-D anatomy, and measurements of the muscles' moment arms about the hip and knee in five cadaveric specimens. The model was used, in combination with measured joint kinematics and published EMG recordings, to estimate the forces and corresponding strains in the ITB during running. We found that forces generated by TFL and GMax during running stretch the ITB substantially, resulting in energy storage. Anterior and posterior regions of the ITB muscle–tendon units (MTUs) show distinct length change patterns, in part due to different moment arms at the hip and knee. The posterior ITB MTU likely stores more energy than the anterior ITB MTU because it transmits larger muscle forces. We estimate that the ITB stores about 1 J of energy per stride during slow running and 7 J during fast running, which represents approximately 14% of the energy stored in the Achilles tendon at a comparable speed. This previously unrecognized mechanism for storing elastic energy may be an adaptation to increase human locomotor economy.
Reconstruction of the Distal Oblique Bundle of the Interosseous Membrane: A Technique to Restore Distal Radioulnar Joint Stability

The distal radioulnar ligament reconstruction is a technique that may be used for distal radioulnar joint instability without arthritis and failed nonsurgical management; clinical results demonstrate resolved or improved stability. Recent literature has focused on the distal oblique bundle of the interosseous membrane and its contributions to stability. This article describes a technically simple surgical technique to reconstruct the distal oblique bundle and restore distal radioulnar joint stability.
Targeted delivery of human pro-apoptotic enzymes to tumor cells: In vitro studies describing a novel class of recombinant highly cytotoxic agents

The serine protease granzyme B (GrB, 25 kDa) can initiate apoptosis by multiple mechanisms including directly activating caspases, inducing DNA fragmentation, activating the mitochondrial death pathway, and directly cleaving the nuclear matrix. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a recombinant antibody could deliver sufficient amounts of GrB to target cells to generate an apoptotic signal. The gene sequence encoding GrB was attached to the single-chain anti-melanoma antibody scFvMEL (anti-gp240) via a flexible (G4S) tether. The 53-kDa GrB/scFvMEL fusion protein was expressed in bacteria and purified by metal affinity chromatography. Western blotting confirmed presence of both scFvMEL and GrB proteins. The fusion construct displayed intact GrB enzymatic activity (specific activity = 2.6 × 105 units/μmol) similar to native GrB (specific activity = 4.8 × 105 units/μmol). The construct bound specifically to human A375-M melanoma cells and delivered GrB to the cytosol as assessed by confocal microscopy. Against log-phase melanoma cells, GrB/scFvMEL demonstrated an IC50 of 20 nm and minimal cytotoxicity to non-target cells at doses of up to 1 μm. Coadministration of exogenous perforin (PFN) to cells resulted in a slight increase in the cytotoxic effects of the GrB/scFvMEL construct on A375 target cells and a significant increase in cytotoxicity to SKBR3 (non-target) cells. The cytotoxic effects of this fusion construct on target cells were similar to those of the previously described MEL sFv/rGel fusion toxin (IC50 ∼20 nm). The construct produced impressive apoptotic effects by 8 h after treatment of target cells. Mediation of the apoptotic effects of GrB/scFvMEL included caspase-3 cleavage and release of cytochrome c into the cytosolic compartment from the mitochondrial compartment. These studies demonstrate that delivery of the human pro-apoptotic pathway enzyme GrB to tumor cells may have significant therapeutic potential for cancer treatment and represents a new class of targeted therapeutic agents with a defined mechanism of action.
Radiation-induced Hyperpyrexia in Rabbits

THE response of rabbits to 25,000–50,000 r. radiation exposure is death within 3–4 hr.1. Even at lower levels of radiation exposure to 600–1,000 r. a shock like death occurs in a few animals within 24–48 hr.2. However, other biological responses which occur more consistently at these lower radiation dose-levels are depression of the white cell count and reduction in bone marrow activity3. This investigation presents evidence that a rise of body temperature is also a regular effect of acute radiation exposure in rabbits.
The S. cerevisiae Mag1 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase modulates susceptibility to homologous recombination

Abstract DNA glycosylases, such as the Mag1 3-methyladenine (3MeA) DNA glycosylase, initiate the base excision repair (BER) pathway by removing damaged bases to create abasic apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites that are subsequently repaired by downstream BER enzymes. Although unrepaired base damage may be mutagenic or recombinogenic, BER intermediates (e.g. AP sites and strand breaks) may also be problematic. To investigate the molecular basis for methylation-induced homologous recombination events in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, spontaneous and methylation-induced recombination were studied in strains with varied MAG1 expression levels. We show that cells lacking Mag1 have increased susceptibility to methylation-induced recombination, and that disruption of nucleotide excision repair (NER; rad4) in mag1 cells increases cellular susceptibility to these events. Furthermore, expression of Escherichia coli Tag 3MeA DNA glycosylase suppresses recombination events, providing strong evidence that unrepaired 3MeA lesions induce recombination. Disruption of REV3 (required for polymerase ζ (Pol ζ)) in mag1 rad4 cells causes increased susceptibility to methylation-induced toxicity and recombination, suggesting that Pol ζ can replicate past 3MeAs. However, at subtoxic levels of methylation damage, disruption of REV3 suppresses methylation-induced recombination, indicating that the effects of Pol ζ on recombination are highly dose-dependent. We also show that overproduction of Mag1 can increase the levels of spontaneous recombination, presumably due to increased levels of BER intermediates. However, additional APN1 endonuclease expression or disruption of REV3 does not affect MAG1-induced recombination, suggesting that downstream BER intermediates (e.g. single strand breaks) are responsible for MAG1-induced recombination, rather than uncleaved AP sites. Thus, too little Mag1 sensitizes cells to methylation-induced recombination, while too much Mag1 can put cells at risk of recombination induced by single strand breaks formed during BER.