cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alpha-1 antitrypsin reduces severity of pseudomonas pneumonia in mice and inhibits epithelial barrier disruption and pseudomonas invasion of respiratory epithelial cells.

Nosocomial pneumonia (NP) is the third most common hospital-acquired infection and the leading cause of death due to hospital-acquired infection in the US. During pneumonia and non-pneumonia severe illness, respiratory tract secretions become enriched with the serine protease neutrophil elastase (NE). Several NE activities promote onset and severity of NP. NE in the airways causes proteolytic tissue damage, augments inflammation, may promote invasion of respiratory epithelium by bacteria, and disrupts respiratory epithelial barrier function. These NE activities culminate in enhanced bacterial replication, impaired gas exchange, fluid intrusion into the airways, and loss of bacterial containment that can result in bacteremia. Therefore, neutralizing NE activity may reduce the frequency and severity of NP. We evaluated human alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), the prototype endogenous NE inhibitor, as a suppressor of bacterial pneumonia and pneumonia-related pathogenesis. In AAT+/+ transgenic mice that express human AAT in lungs, mortality due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aer) pneumonia was reduced 90% compared to non-transgenic control animals. Exogenous human AAT given to non-transgenic mice also significantly reduced P.aer pneumonia mortality. P.aer-infected AAT+/+ mice demonstrated reduced lung tissue damage, decreased bacterial concentrations in lungs and blood, and diminished circulating cytokine concentrations compared to infected non-transgenic mice. In vitro, AAT suppressed P.aer internalization into respiratory epithelial cells and inhibited NE or P.aer-induced disruption of epithelial cell barrier function. The beneficial effects of human AAT in murine P.aer pneumonia raise the possibility of AAT use as a prophylactic treatment for NP in humans, and suggest a role for AAT as an innate immune mediator.
Quantifying the benefits of participating in an industry university research center: An examination of research cost avoidance

The challenges to conducting valid and complete outcome evaluations of cooperative research activities, like the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC) Program, are daunting. The current study tries to make a small but important contribution to this area by attempting to develop quantitative estimates of one center benefit - R&D cost avoidance. Cost avoidance is operationalized as R&D costs industrial members would have incurred but did not, because they participated in university-based industrial consortia, minus the costs of belonging to the consortia. Data were collected from a total of 18 industrial sponsors from three IUCRCs on 35 different research projects. Findings indicate that some firms do avoid R&D costs by participating in an IUCRC but the prevalence of this benefit varies across centers and across firms. The implications of these findings for policy, practice and future research are discussed.
The New Alchemists: How Visionary People Make Something Out of Nothing

This article presents a review of the book “The New Alchemists: How Visionary People Make Something Out of Nothing,” by Charles Handy.
A Sub 1-V Constant $G_{m}$ – $C$ Switched-Capacitor Current Source

A switched-capacitor bias that provides a constant Gm-C characteristic over process and temperature variation is presented. The bias can be adapted for use with subthreshold circuits, or circuits in strong inversion. It uses eight transistors, five switches, and three capacitors, and performs with supply voltages less than 0.9 V. Theoretical output current is derived, and stability analysis is performed. Simulated results showing an op-amp with very consistent pulse response are presented
Skeletal growth lines seen on radiographs of newborn infants: prevalence and possible association with obstetric abnormalities.

Skeletal transverse metaphyseal and vertebral lines, seen frequently on radiographs of infants and children, are usually believed to result from interrupted bone growth. Such lines have not been systematically studied in neonates. Accordingly, I determined the prevalence of growth lines on chest radiographs of newborn infants and assayed the gestational and obstetric abnormalities that occurred with these infants.Chest radiographs were obtained (over a 4-year period) in 3687 neonates within the first 48 hr after birth for clinical indications. A single observer prospectively examined the radiographs for the presence of skeletal lines. When skeletal lines were seen on chest radiographs, lines in the pelvis were also sought when this region was imaged during the first 48 hr after birth. The medical records of affected neonates were reviewed to determine the presence and nature of potential in utero injuries.Skeletal lines were noted on chest radiographs of 200 neonates (5%) and appeared most commonly as "bo...
Anti-angiogenic activity of rPAI-123 and vasa vasorum regression

The vasa vasorum are unique networks of vessels that become angiogenic in response to changes in the vessel wall. Structural studies, using various imaging modalities, show that the vasa vasorum form a plexus of microvessels during the atherosclerotic disease process. The events that stimulate vasa vasorum neovascularization remain unclear. Anti-angiogenic molecules have been shown to inhibit/regress the neovascularization; they provide significant insight into vasa vasorum function, structure, and specific requirements for growth and stability. This review discusses evidence for and against potential stimulators of vasa vasorum neovascularization. Anti-angiogenic rPAI-123, a truncated isoform of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) stimulates a novel pathway for regulating plasmin activity. This mechanism contributes significantly to vasa vasorum regression/collapse and is discussed as a model of regression.
Polynomial matrix whitening and application to the multichannel blind deconvolution problem

A method for whitening a polynomial matrix is described, including the calculation of the eigenvalue polynomials and eigenvector polynomials of an FIR polynomial matrix. The multichannel blind deconvolution problem is briefly described and FIR polynomial matrix whitening is applied to the problem. Benefits of the whitening technique are demonstrated through simulation. Data prewhitening or the use of an exact least squares adaptation is necessary in any problem of moderate complexity. The group theoretic aspects of FIR polynomial matrix algebra are discussed.
La ignota acción de regreso de la Administración en la era de la transparencia, la eficiencia y la responsabilidad

Sumario 1.- Contexto de la accion a analizar 2.- La accion de regreso o repeticion de la Administracion frente a las autoridades y personal a su servicio. Concepto y regulacion actual 3.- Problemas derivados de la actual configuracion de la accion 4.- La accion de regreso en los Proyectos de Ley de Regimen Juridico del Sector Publico y de Ley de Procedimiento Administrativo Comun de las Administraciones Publicas 5.- Propuestas y conclusion
Mobile application development with IBM Worklight and IBM BlueMix

In the past few years, enterprises have evolved in the development of Mobile application. The right tools and processes to support the cross-platform design, development and testing of mobile applications has become a key success factor. Enterprises want the advanced functionality of native applications with the cross-platform flexibility of web applications.
REMEDYING DISCRIMINATION BY COURT ORDER AND AGREEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF QUEENSLAND

Although the vast majority of discrimination complaints are settled outside the court system, very little is known about what they are settled for or how discrimination is being remedied in society. Drawing on settlements from the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission and the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal and decided cases, this paper compares the outcomes parties obtain at settlement with remedies awarded by the tribunal. The study explores the differences between what complainants negotiate prior to hearing compared to what they are likely to be awarded if their complaint is successful. The study shows that while complainants receive lower levels of compensation at conciliation than the tribunal generally awards, they are far more likely to negotiate other terms of settlement, such as an apology, training or changes to policies and procedures, at conciliation. Complainants with a complaint that affects similarly situated individuals can negotiate a wider, systemic remedy early in the process, whereas the tribunal predominantly remedies discrimination with compensation.
Carotid stenosis: current strategies for choosing between medical and surgical management.

The effectiveness of carotid revascularization depends on appropriate patient selection and balancing the expected benefits with the risks of treatment. Exceeding a rate of serious complications (strokes and deaths) of 5% for asymptomatic and 9% for symptomatic patients negates any benefit for carotid endarterectomy. Endovascular techniques such as stent-supported angioplasty will likely change the management approach for some patients with carotid occlusive disease. This paper contains the author’s recommendations for choosing between medical and surgical management of carotid stenosis.
Abstract LB-330: Endogenous T cell responses to lung adenocarcinoma neoantigens delay malignant tumor progression

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Neoantigens derived from somatic mutations in tumors may provide a critical link between the adaptive immune system and cancer. However, it has been difficult to properly recapitulate immune responses against tumor neoantigens in models of the human disease. Here we describe a novel system to induce the expression of potent neoantigens in a genetically engineered mouse model of lung cancer. We show that endogenous T cells respond to and infiltrate tumors, resulting in a significant delay in malignant progression. However, despite continued neoantigen expression, T cell infiltration does not persist and tumors ultimately escape immune attack. In contrast, transplantation of cell lines derived from lung tumors that express neoantigens, even those that have escaped the immune system in their autochthonous setting, or prophylactic vaccination against autochthonous tumors, evoke robust T cell responses that either lead to rapid tumor eradication or selection of tumors that lose neoantigen expression. These results support clinical data that suggest a role for the immune system in cancer suppression rather than prevention. This model provides a valuable system for the optimization of immune therapies that can eradicate human cancers. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-330.
Diffusionsstörung bei Patienten mit Sklerodermie

Klinische, rontgenologische und lungenphysiologische Befunde von 20 Patienten mit systematisierter Sklerose, die im Zeitraum von 1962 bis 1968 untersucht wurden, werden berichtet. 7 Patienten wiesen Zeichen einer Restriktion auf; 2 Patienten hatten eine Obstruktion. Erniedrigung der CO-Single-Breath-Diffusionskapazitat war die am haufigsten festgestellte lungenphysiologische Abnormalitat. Die verschiedenen Mechanismen, die beim pathologischen Ausfall dieses Tests von Bedeutung sein konnen, werden diskutiert. Klinische Symptome erweisen sich als nicht ausreichende Kriterien, den Lungenparenchymbefall festzustellen. Am ehesten korreliert noch das Rontgenbild der Lunge mit den Ergebnissen der Diffusionskapazitat.
Eastchester clapping sign.

A 63-year-old right-handed man with known right carotid artery occlusion developed acute left arm weakness. When asked to clap his hands, he brought the right hand to midline and stopped (figure, A; video). A CT scan demonstrated a right frontal infarction (figure, B, arrow).
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF POSTOPERATIVE MICROFLORA DISORDERS OF GASTROINTESTINAL CARCINOMAS

Objective: To study the diagnosis and treatment of postoperative intestinal microflora disorders of gastrointestinal carcinomas.Method:104 patients were divided into enteral nutrition(EN),parenteral nutrition(PN) and control groups.Results: Among 17 patients with postoperative diarrhea,14 patients in PN group and control group with intestinal microflora disorders were administered with postoperative diarrhea, 14 patients in PN group and control group with intestinal microflora disorders were administered with Bifidobacterium and the symptoms were relieved.Conclusions: EN may prevent the microflora disorders,and Bifidobacterium is helpful in treatment of postoperative intestinal microflora disorders.
EST and the Application in the Pipeline Laying

In this paper,the fundamental and the evaluation flow were analysed,the pipeline of Qingha was evaluated.According the evaluation result,the risk factors of the high risk segments of the pipe were analysed and the risk management advices were proposed.
The road to Monaco

Monte Carlo computation, which began in its modern form in the late 1940s (see Adventures of a Mathematician by Stanislaw Ulam, Scribner, 1976), is now important in many areas of science and technology. In the theory of electron transport in semiconductors, it is made essential by the present refinement and complexity of detail in the microscopic-level description of these materials, and is required also for the phenomena of space and time dependence. In semiconductor device modelling, it competes with a traditional reliance on macroscopic phenomenological equations which are simpler but of debatable applicability. The present book, its title notwithstanding, covers both these aspects and will be of service to physicists and to engineers.
Damage tolerance coupon sizing of composite stiffened panels under impact

The design of aircraft composite stiffened structures subjected to dynamic and impact loadings requires several experimental testing scenarios on the full-size structure. The present paper deals with investigating the feasibility of the use of sub-size test specimens under vertical and lateral impacts on the stiffener free flange based on finite element (FE) models. Simulations were performed on sub-size specimens carefully extracted from the full-size (26.4 × 48.4 × 2.4 in3) impact test panels. The main required specifications of an in-house falling weight impact tester were also determined, discussing the required fixture/jig configuration.
Intensive Care Unit Monitoring After Pharyngeal Flap Surgery: Is It Necessary?

Purpose To assess the incidence of perioperative complications and the utility of intensive care monitoring in patients undergoing posterior pharyngeal flap surgery for velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). Materials and Methods This study was a retrospective evaluation of patients who underwent posterior pharyngeal flap surgery for treatment of VPD and an assessment of the incidence of perioperative complications. Descriptive statistics were computed. Results Over an 18-year period, 145 patients underwent pharyngeal flap surgery for VPD; 133 (91.7%) had complete data and were included as subjects. Mean patient age was 9.4 ± 7.4 years; 50.4% were female. One hundred twenty-six patients (94.7%) had a history of cleft palate. Thirty-four patients (25.5%) had asthma or obstructive sleep apnea. Eighty-three patients (62.4%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for postoperative monitoring. The average length of hospital stay was 1.9 ± 0.9 days (range, 1 to 5 days). There were no incidents of serious postoperative complications, including death, bleeding, flap dehiscence or loss, or airway compromise requiring reintubation. Two patients (1.5%) had perioperative complications related to respiratory issues, one of whom required readmission to the ICU (0.8%). There were no differences in complications between those who were routinely admitted to the ICU and those who went directly to the floor (P = 1.00). There was no association between respiratory comorbidities and complications (P = .06). Conclusion The perioperative complication rate for posterior pharyngeal flap surgery is low (
A Parent-Implemented, Technology-Mediated Approach to Increasing Self-Management Homework Skills in Middle School Students with Autism

Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in secondary school settings (i.e., grades 6-12) typically struggle with multiple academic challenges. Critics have noted that secondary schools traditi...
High-Content Cell Staining

Fluorescence-based cell imaging is an important technology for analyzing various biological processes at cellular and molecular levels [1]. Morphological and functional features in a cell can be labeled with multiple fluorescent probes/reagents, imaged with automated fluorescence microscopes, and quantified with image analysis algorithms [2]. In particular, high-content imaging (HCI) has gained popularity for systematic and accurate evaluation of drug candidates [3, 4] because of its capability to assess specific signals, including changes in the nucleus, organelle structure, protein translocation, oxidative stress, apoptosis/necrosis, mitochondrial impairment, calcium homeostasis, morphology, and phenotype profiling as readouts [2, 4]. Three different types of cell labeling are typically used for HCI assays, which include fluorescent dyes for direct cell staining, antibodies for immunofluorescent labeling, and genetically expressed fluorescent proteins such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) [1, 5]. This chapter summarizes basic cell staining protocols with various fluorescent dyes and antibodies for HCI assays on the micropillar/microwell chip platform.
Power loss model for MHz critical mode power factor correction circuits

Wide bandgap devices (WBGs) allow Power Factor Correction (PFC) circuits to operate at MHz frequency which leads to a better power density. Compared with kHz operation, MHz PFC in critical conduction mode (CrM) yields larger inductor valley current during the switch soft turn-on. Moreover, the input current distortion near grid voltage zero crossing has not been taken into account in the traditional model. As a result, the traditional PFC design tool shows major inaccuracy in switching frequency, inductor current envolopes and power loss estimation. The paper analyzes the problems in the traditional model, and proposes an improved power loss model to aid the design of MHz CrM PFC. Experimental results are shown to prove the accuracy of the proposed model.
Economics of influenza vaccine administration timing for children.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has identified children as a high-risk group for influenza and recommends that children (aged 6 months to 18 years) receive influenza vaccine each year.1,2 The 2009 influenza A(H1N1) (H1N1) pandemic highlights the importance of the timing of influenza vaccination as decision makers have endeavored to get vaccines to priority groups as soon as possible. While the presumption is that earlier vaccination is better so that a child is protected for a greater proportion of the influenza season, studies to date have not quantified how the economic value of vaccination may change with the timing of vaccine administration. Moreover, it is unclear how late in the influenza season vaccination still should be offered. Quantifying how the vaccine's economic value changes with the timing of vaccination may be important for vaccine production, distribution, and administration planning. The 2009 H1N1 pandemic demonstrated the feasibility of manufacturing, delivering, and administering seasonal influenza vaccine by September or October.3 Manufacturers and the supply chain were able to expeditiously produce and distribute seasonal influenza vaccine, despite manufacturing H1N1 influenza vaccine concurrently.4–6 In fact, studies6,7 have shown that in past years more than 70% of seasonal influenza vaccines have been available for administration by October. With evidence suggesting that earlier vaccination is possible, the next question is how much should be invested to ensure timely vaccination? The answer to this question depends in large part on the economic effect of delaying vaccination. Investment could occur all along the supply chain, from the very beginning (eg, investing to expand vaccine production capacity or to use antigen-sparing technology) to the very end (eg, investing to improve access to immunization clinics, school-based programs, health fairs, and healthcare provider visits). To address these issues, we constructed the following 2 sets of computer simulation models for children aged 2 to 18 years: (1) the children's influenza vaccination timing model, to quantify the incremental economic value of vaccinating a child earlier in the influenza season and the incremental cost of delaying vaccination, and (2) the children's monthly influenza vaccination decision model, to determine the cost-effectiveness of vaccinating versus not vaccinating a child for every month of the influenza season.
The Microphysical Roles of Lower-Tropospheric versus Midtropospheric Aerosol Particles in Mature-Stage MCS Precipitation

AbstractSimulations of two leading-line, trailing-stratiform mesoscale convective system (MCS) events that occurred during the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) have been used to understand the relative microphysical impacts of lower- versus midtropospheric aerosol particles (APs) on MCS precipitation. For each MCS event, four simulations were conducted in which the initial vertical location and concentrations of cloud droplet nucleating APs were varied. These simulations were used to determine the precipitation response to AP vertical location. Importantly, the total integrated number and mass of the initial aerosol profiles used in the sensitivity simulations remained constant, such that differences in the simulations could be directly attributable to changes in the vertical location of cloud droplet nucleating APs. These simulations demonstrate that lower-tropospheric APs largely influenced the precipitation response directly rearward of the leading cold pool boundary. However...
Gaze-Evoked Deformations in Optic Nerve Head Drusen: Repetitive Shearing as a Potential Factor in the Visual and Vascular Complications.

Purpose To determine if ocular ductions deform intrapapillary and peripapillary tissues in optic nerve head drusen (ONHD) and to compare these deformations with healthy eyes and eyes with other optic neuropathies. Design Observational case series. Participants Twenty patients with ONHD. Methods Axial rasters of the optic nerve from a spectral-domain OCT device (Cirrus 5000; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc, Dublin, CA) were used to analyze the shape of the peripapillary basement membrane (ppBM) layer in 20 confirmed cases of ONHD. We compared registered images obtained from 2 eye positions: 10° to 15° in adduction and 30° to 40° in abduction. Geometric morphometrics was used to analyze the shape of the ppBM layer defined by placing 10 equidistant landmarks extending 2500 μm on both sides of the basement membrane opening. We also adapted an image strain tracking technique to measure regional intrapapillary strains in 6 patients. Using manually placed nodes on the reference image (in adduction), an iterative, block-matching algorithm is used to determine local displacements between the reference and its paired image in abduction. Displacement vectors were used to calculate the mean shear and effective strain (percent change). Main Outcome Measures Peripapillary shape deformations, intrapapillary shear strains, and effective strains. Results We found a statistically significant difference in the shape of the ppBM layer between abduction and adduction ( P P P Conclusions This study demonstrates that horizontal ocular ductions induce significant shearing deformations of the peripapillary retina and prelaminar intrapapillary tissues. We also found that the deformations in healthy persons are similar in magnitude to ONHD. Based on these findings, we speculate that patients with intrapapillary calcifications exposed to the long-term effects of repetitive shearing (induced by ocular ductions) may contribute to the progressive axonal loss and vascular complications associated with ONHD.
An overall study of a real-time simulator and application of RT-LAB using MATLAB simpowersystems

This paper summarizes the features and advantages of the renowned Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) called OPAL-RT Simulator. Alongside with its applications in the electric power system for the system design, analysis and testing. This comprehensive study also includes a brief description of its software, hardware, I/O system, modeling, Hardware-in-the-Loop and other prospects. Tremendous advancement in the storage capacity and computational speed of the modern computer system has done for the last few decades. Assimilating this advancement, this simulation tool has designed with unique features like real-time model-in-the-loop, Hardware-in-the-loop. Also for moderate operational and maintenance cost, OPAL-RT Simulator has become more prevalent to the researcher. There are immense scopes of experimental research in power systems analysis. This is the prime reasoning for describing the necessity and significance of OPAL-RT simulator in this work. In addition, a semi-simulation experiment of a PV system is presented using RT-LAB software. Two of the most salient tools of OPAL-RT are 1) RT-LAB and 2) ARTEMIS, which were applied in power electronics are also summarized.
Obesity in Older Adults and Strategies for Weight Management

Obesity is defined as an unhealthy excess of body fat, which increases the risk of morbidity and premature mortality. Obesity is a growing concern among adults. It has not only increased in prevalence, but it has also been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Some of its medical risks include hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, and osteoarthritis. More so in older adults, obesity exacerbates the age-related decline in physical function, impairs quality of life, and leads to frailty. The current therapeutic and management tools designed for weight management in older persons include lifestyle intervention (diet, physical activity, and behavior modification), pharmacotherapy, and surgery. Current evidence suggests that weight-management strategies in obese older adults improves physical function, quality of life, and reduces medical complications. The treatment must consider the potential adverse effects of weight loss on bone and muscle mass
31P-MRS Studies of Melanoma Xenografts with Different Metastatic Potential

Previously we reported that three imaging methods, dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), T1ρ-MRI, and ultralow temperature NADH/flavoprotein fluorescence imaging (redox scanning), could differentiate the less metastatic human melanoma cell line A375P from a more metastatic line C8161 growing as mouse xenografts in nude mice (Li LZ et al. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol., 2007, 599:67-78; PNAS, 2009, 106:6608-6613). The more metastatic C8161 tumor was characterized by less blood perfusion/permeability, a more oxidized mitochondrial redox state in the tumor core, and a smaller T1ρ relaxation time constant averaged across the entire tumor section. In the current study, we have further probed the bioenergetic status and tissue microenvironment of these tumors by applying whole tumor phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) to these two xenografts in a vertical bore 9.4-T Varian magnet. The phosphomonoester (PME)/βNTP ratio and intracellular pH value (pHi) were determined. The phosphomonoester (PME)/βNTP was higher in the more metastatic C8161 tumors (n=4) than in the less metastatic A375P tumors (n=4) (p < 0.1). No significant difference between the pHi of C8161 and A375P was observed.
The Integrated Restoration and Protection Strategy of USDA Forest Service Region 1: A Road Map to Improved Planning

Core design components of the Ecosystem Management Decision Support system were used to develop and implement the integrated restoration and protection strategy of the Northern Region of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Scenarios that spatially optimized hazardous fuel reduction, protected developed recreation values, and improved watershed conditions are presented to illustrate how the evaluation and decision modeling capabilities of the decision support system can be used sequentially in both strategic and tactical planning.
Why Don't People Change? What Stops Them from Changing? An Integrative Commentary on the Special Issue on Resistance

This commentary discusses the four papers from the vantage point of a cognitive-developmental view. Psychotherapeutic change involving changes in core cognitive structures is seen as threatening an individual's personal sense of identity as well as security and safety needs. Core cognitive constructs are laid down early via the principle of covariation of events and form the basis of our tacit knowledge base. Subsequent changes in this tacit knowledge is difficult because the core cognitive constructs act like a mental filter to screen in confirming data and screen out disconfirming data. Ambiguous stimuli tend to be interpreted on the basis of preexisting cognitive constructs, even when the match between event and interpretation is not ideal. Several suggestions are given for increasing the probability of changes occurring in core cognitive constructs.
The Grassmann Manifold

Let $$ {C_{N + 1}} = Cx \ldots xC,\;N + 1\,factors $$ (8.1) be the complex number space of N + 1 dimensions. Let GL(N+1, C) be the general linear group in N + 1 complex variables, which we identify with the group of all (N+1) × (N+1) non-singular matrices with complex elements. Suppose GL(n+l,C) acts on CN+1 to the right, as described by $$ \left( {{z^0}, \ldots ,{z^N}} \right) \to \left( {{z^0}, \ldots ,{z^N}} \right)g,\;gGL\left( {n + l,C} \right) $$ (8.2) Among the subgroups of GL(N+1, C) are: (1) the unitary group U(N+1), which consists of all matrices g satisfying $$ {t_{g\bar g}} = I $$ (8.3) where I is the identity matrix; (2) the group GL(k+1, N-k, C), consisting of all non-singular matrices of the form $$ \left( {\underbrace {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} x \\ x \\\end{array}}_{k + 1}\,\underbrace {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} 0 \\ x \\\end{array}}_{N - k}} \right)\,\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {\} \,k + 1} \\ {\} \,N - k} \\\end{array} $$ (8.4) where the elements at the upper-right corner are zero. The group GL(k+l, N-k, C) is the subgroup of all elements of GL(N+1, C) leaving fixed the (k+1)-dimensional subspace of CN+1 spanned by the first k+1 coordinate vectors.
The Dialectics of Christian Interpretation

The Kingdom—PresentF and in another sense the kingdom of heaven into which only he who does what he teaches shall enter. Consequently, where both classes exist, it is the Church as it now is, but where only the one shall exist, it is the Church as it is destined to be when no wicked person shall be in her. Therefore the Church even now is the kingdom of Christ, and the kingdom of heaven. —Augustine, The City of God
MECHANISMS OF RENAL EPITHELIAL TRANSPORT OF PHOSPHATE

Publisher Summary The combination of isolated perfused renal tubules and isolated membrane vesicles has expanded the information available regarding the renal handling of phosphate. This chapter describes the observations made relative to three areas of interest: segmental localization of phosphate reabsorption, functional heterogeneity for phosphate transport, and cellular mechanisms of phosphate reabsorption. It also focuses on the data obtained using the isolated perfused renal tubule technique and the study of membrane vesicles derived from renal brush border material. Proximal phosphate reabsorption occurs by sodium-dependent interactions between intraluminal phosphate and a brush-border membrane component, and that the mobility of this complex is affected by the electrical and chemical gradients across the luminal membrane. Completion of transepithelial movement of phosphate appears to occur via linkage of metabolically dependent sodium extrusion to the pool of intracellular phosphate that is available for transport.
Endoscopic subureteric collagen injection (SCIN): a new alternative treatment of vesicoureteric reflux in children

Endoscopic subureteric injection has become an accepted form of treatment for vesicoureteric reflux in children in selected cases. However, the commonly injected substance Teflon has raised doubts as to its long-term safety. Glutaraldehyde cross-linked bovine collagen, which is not associated with the feared side effects of Teflon (granuloma formation, particle migration), seems to be an adequate replacement. At the Departement of Paediatric Surgery of the Basel University Children's Hospital 54 patients with a total of 82 refluxing units were treated with the subureteric collagen injection (SCIN) in the period between June 88 and August 90; 45 patients were female and 9 were male. The average age at treatment was 4.9 years (2 months– 15.2 years). Micturating cystourethrograms performed 3 months after injection showed disapperance of reflux in 61.3% (49 ureters).If improvement to grade I and II reflux was included, the success rate increased to 77.5%. After two SCIN procedures 77.6% of the ureters became free of reflux. Including improvement to grade I and II reflux, the success rate increased to 83.8%. The mean follow-up time was 11.5 months (2–27 months). Injection-related complications were not observed. Although the overall results were not as good as those after surgical correction of reflux and the long-term effects of the collagen implants are not yet known, SCIN seems to be a simple alternative treatment for vesicoureteric reflux in children.
The Safety Profile of Concurrent Therapy for Multiple Myeloma in the Modern Era

Abstract Purpose The management of multiple myeloma has evolved in the modern era, partially owing to the increasing number of biologic therapeutics. Nonetheless, radiation remains an important treatment in the management of painful lytic lesions from multiple myeloma. The goal of this study is to evaluate the side effect profile of radiation therapy (RT) while patients are concurrently treated with biologic agents. Methods and Materials We conducted a retrospective study based on data collected from patients receiving RT at our institute from 2007 to 2017. A total of 130 patients (279 treatment sites) were included in this study with a median follow-up time of 14 months. Patients were required to be receiving a biological agent at least within 1 month before starting and up to 1 month after RT. Generalized estimating equations with a log link function and binomial distribution were used to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) and compare the side effects between patients with RT alone and RT + biologic agent. Results The median age of all patients in our cohort was 64 years, with 53 men (58.9%) and 37 women (41.1%). The mean Karnofsky performance status score of all cohorts was 80. No significant difference in incidence of acute (PR: 1.33; 95% CI, 0.80-2.22; P = .2660) or subacute (PR: 0.90; 95% CI, 0.49-1.67; P = .7464) toxicities was found between patients with or without biologic agents who were treated concurrently with RT. No significant difference was found in reduction in laboratory values between patients with or without biologic agents treated concurrently with RT for white blood cells (P = .6916), platelets (P = .7779), or hematocrit (P = .0858). Conclusions Our study did not detect any significant toxicity rates from palliative radiation while patients were concurrently treated with biologic agents.
Measurement of Instability of Thin Liquid Films by Synchronized Tri-wavelength Reflection Interferometry Microscope

Film thickness measurement of unstable thin liquid films (TLFs) remains a challenge due to the difficulty in determining the order of fringes prior to the film rupture. In the present work, a synch...
NBWGuard: Realizing Network QoS for Kubernetes

Kubernetes is a very popular and fast-growing container orchestration platform that automates the process of deploying and managing multi-container applications at scale. Users can specify required and maximum values of resources they need for their containers and Kubernetes realizes them by interfacing with lower levels (container runtime which in turn can use OS capabilities) of the stack for enforcing them. Kubernetes supports differentiated QoS classes - Guaranteed, Burstable, and Best-effort - in order of decreasing priority based on the resource size specifications for CPU and memory capacity. This allows many applications to obtain a desired level of QoS (performance isolation and throughput) when CPU or memory capacity management can provide them. However, when workloads may be critically dependent for their performance on another resource, namely network bandwidth, Kubernetes has no means to meet their QoS needs. Networking between pods in Kubernetes is supported with plug-ins and the network resource is not managed directly.In this work, we propose NBWGuard, a design for network bandwidth management and evaluate its implementation. NBWGuard lets Kubernetes manage network bandwidth as a resource (like CPU or memory capacity) while still using plug-ins for realizing the network specification desired by users. Consistent with Kubernetes approach to application QoS based on resource allocation NBWGuard also supports the 3 QoS classes: Guaranteed, Burstable, and Best-effort with respect to network bandwidth. NBWGuard is evaluated with iperf benchmark on real cloud environment, and the evaluation results demonstrate that it is able to provide network bandwidth isolation without impact on overall throughput.
A Microscale Planar Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer

The planar linear ion trap (PLIT) is a version of the two-dimensional linear quadrupole ion trap constructed using two facing dielectric substrates on which electrodes are lithographically patterned. In this article, we present a PLIT that was successfully miniaturized from a radius of 2.5 mm to a microscale radius of 800 μm (a scaling factor of 3.125). The mathematics concerning scaling an ion trap mass spectrometer are demonstrated—including the tradeoff between RF power and pseudopotential well depth. The time average power for the microscale PLIT is, at best, ~ 1/100 that of the PLIT but at a cost of potential well depth of ~ 1/10 the original. Experimental data using toluene/deuterated toluene and isobutylbenze to verify trap performance demonstrated resolutions around 1.5 Da at a pressure of 5.4 × 10−3 Torr. The microscale PLIT was shown to retain resolutions between 2.3 and 2.7 Da at pressures up to 42 × 10−3 Torr while consuming a factor of 3.38 less time average power than the unscaled PLIT.
Mining non-functional requirements from App store reviews

User reviews obtained from mobile application (app) stores contain technical feedback that can be useful for app developers. Recent research has been focused on mining and categorizing such feedback into actionable software maintenance requests, such as bug reports and functional feature requests. However, little attention has been paid to extracting and synthesizing the Non-Functional Requirements (NFRs) expressed in these reviews. NFRs describe a set of high-level quality constraints that a software system should exhibit (e.g., security, performance, usability, and dependability). Meeting these requirements is a key factor for achieving user satisfaction, and ultimately, surviving in the app market. To bridge this gap, in this paper, we present a two-phase study aimed at mining NFRs from user reviews available on mobile app stores. In the first phase, we conduct a qualitative analysis using a dataset of 6,000 user reviews, sampled from a broad range of iOS app categories. Our results show that 40% of the reviews in our dataset signify at least one type of NFRs. The results also show that users in different app categories tend to raise different types of NFRs. In the second phase, we devise an optimized dictionary-based multi-label classification approach to automatically capture NFRs in user reviews. Evaluating the proposed approach over a dataset of 1,100 reviews, sampled from a set of iOS and Android apps, shows that it achieves an average precision of 70% (range [66% - 80%]) and average recall of 86% (range [69% - 98%]).
Relationship between phytoplankton quantity and its environmental factors in wetland of cold regions in spring and summer based on the grey association analysis.

The purpose of this paper was to provide basic information for management and a foundation for the future study in ecosystem dynamics and eutrophication on cold regions wetland based on studying the correlation of phytoplankton quantity and its environmental factors.An investigation on the phytoplankton quantity and environmental factors on Anbanghe wetland,a type of cold region swamp in northeast of China,was conducted during July(summer) 2005 and May(spring) 2006.There were 92 common species occurred in both seasons,among which 37 taxa and 82 taxa were identified in spring and summer,respectively.In spring the average abundance was 268.45×104 ind·L-1,and in summer was 268.45×104 ind·L-1.The temporal distribution of amount was summerspring,and spatial distribution was upstream regiondownstream region,and edge areacore area.The temporal and spatial variation of environmental factors among sampling station and seasons was regular except the diaphaneity and pH.The biggest difference in distribution of environmental factors was PO4-P.The result of grey association analysis showed that the highest value of grey association degree is in PO4-P both in spring and summer.All of these indicated the factor which seriously influenced phytoplankton quantity was phosphate.Thus,it is important to control the phosphate input to maintain ecosystem health of Anbanghe wetland.
Block circulant graphs and the graphs of critical pairs of crowns

In this paper, we provide a natural bijection between a special family of block circulant graphs and the graphs of critical pairs of the posets known as generalized crowns. In particular, every graph in this family of block circulant graphs we investigate has a generating block row that follows a symmetric growth pattern of the all ones matrix. The natural bijection provides an upper bound on the chromatic number for this infinite family of graphs.
Effect size as a tool to identify subpopulations with improved clinical outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancer.

252Background: ASCO defined meaningful trial endpoints in colorectal cancer (CRC) to include OS HR ≤0.67 (Ellis, JCO 2014). This measure is limited in identifying treatment benefit for subgroups fr...
Fractional Decomposition Tree Algorithm: A tool for studying the integrality gap of Integer Programs.

We present a new algorithm, Fractional Decomposition Tree (FDT) for finding a feasible solution for an integer program (IP) where all variables are binary. FDT runs in polynomial time and is guaranteed to find a feasible integer solution provided the integrality gap is bounded. The algorithm gives a construction for Carr and Vempala's theorem that any feasible solution to the IP's linear-programming relaxation, when scaled by the instance integrality gap, dominates a convex combination of feasible solutions. FDT is also a tool for studying the integrality gap of IP formulations. We demonstrate that with experiments studying the integrality gap of two problems: optimally augmenting a tree to a 2-edge-connected graph and finding a minimum-cost 2-edge-connected multi-subgraph (2EC). We also give a simplified algorithm, Dom2IP, that more quickly determines if an instance has an unbounded integrality gap. We show that FDT's speed and approximation quality compare well to that of feasibility pump on moderate-sized instances of the vertex cover problem. For a particular set of hard-to-decompose fractional 2EC solutions, FDT always gave a better integer solution than the best previous approximation algorithm (Christofides).
La transición en disputa: Con uñas y dientes (Paulino Viota, 1978)

espanolResumen: Este trabajo analiza la dimension ideologica del largometraje Con unas y dientes, una reflexion sobre la Transicion espanola (1975-1982) desde una perspectiva marxista. Para ello, se considerara el abandono por parte del autor de sus anteriores posiciones esteticas y la asuncion de codigos genericos convencionales, analizando su construccion narrativa y considerando el contexto cinematografico y politico del momento, asi como la relacion del filme con la labor del Nuevo Frente Critico, principalmente con la vision del colectivo Marta Hernandez sobre los ultimos anos del franquismo y de la revista Contracampo sobre la Transicion. EnglishAbstract: This paper studies the ideological dimension of the film Con unas y dientes, a critical view on the Spanish Transition (1975-1982) from a marxist perspective. For that purpose, the author’s abandonment of his previous aesthetic positions in favor of more conventional generic codes will be considered, analyzing the film’s narrative construction. For this purpose, the cinematographic and political context of the period will be taken on account, as well as the film’s connection with the work of the Nuevo Frente Critico (New Critical Front), mainly the colective Marta Hernandez’s view on the last years of francoism and that of the review Contracampo on Transition.
We are friends? Navigating relationships with undocumented college students as co-researchers in participatory action research

This article focuses on the process of establishing, defining, and making sense of relationships with undocumented college students as co-researchers in participatory action research (PAR). Using m...
A Monte-Carlo Option-Pricing Algorithm for Log-Uniform Jump-Diffusion Model

A reduced European call option pricing formula by risk-neutral valuation is given. It is shown that the European call and put options for jump-diffusion models are worth more than that for the Black-Scholes (diffusion) model with the common parameters. Due to the complexity of the jump-diffusion models, obtaining a closed option pricing formula like that of Black-Scholes is not viable. Instead, a Monte Carlo algorithm is used to compute European option prices. Monte Carlo variance reduction techniques such as both antithetic and control variates are used. The numerical results show that this is a practical, efficient and easily implementable algorithm.
Highly Active Non-PGM Catalysts Prepared from Metal Organic Frameworks

Finding inexpensive alternatives to platinum group metals (PGMs) is essential for reducing the cost of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Numerous materials have been investigated as potential replacements of Pt, of which the transition metal and nitrogen-doped carbon composites (TM/Nx/C) prepared from iron doped zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are among the most active ones in catalyzing the oxygen reduction reaction based on recent studies. In this report, we demonstrate that the catalytic activity of ZIF-based TM/Nx/C composites can be substantially improved through optimization of synthesis and post-treatment processing conditions. Ultimately, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalytic activity must be demonstrated in membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) of fuel cells. The process of preparing MEAs using ZIF-based non-PGM electrocatalysts involves many additional factors which may influence the overall catalytic activity at the fuel cell level. Evaluation of parameters such as catalyst loading and perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer to catalyst ratio were optimized. Our overall efforts to optimize both the catalyst and MEA construction process have yielded impressive ORR activity when tested in a fuel cell system.