cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A ‘task-centric approach’ to professional development: enhancing and sustaining mathematics teachers’ ability to implement cognitively challenging mathematical tasks

In this article, we describe a task-centric approach to professional development for mathematics teachers in which teachers’ learning experiences are focused on the selection and implementation of cognitively challenging mathematical tasks. We examined teachers’ selection and implementation of cognitively challenging tasks at three points in time: before and after their participation in the professional development initiative and during a follow-up data collection 2 years later. Data included instructional tasks, samples of student work, and classroom observations, and were compared between the time points to identify changes in teachers’ task selection and implementation and to determine whether these changes were sustained over time. Results indicate that teachers increased and sustained their ability to select high-level instructional tasks and to maintain the level of cognitive demand during instruction. All teachers, however, did not exhibit this pattern. Portraits of teachers who continued to select and enact tasks at a high level are contrasted with those who did not, and factors are identified to account for teachers’ current practices.
Systemic Insecticides as Soil Treatments for Control of the Mimosa Webworm, Homadaula albizziae

The mimosa webworm, Homadaula albizziae Clarke, was found in Kentucky by 1950, and is now statewide in distribution. Most of its damage is directed at ornamental plantings of mimosa and locust. Experimental work in control began in 1957. In August, 60 moraine locust trees were sprayed once with dieldrin, malathion or toxaphene emulsion concentrates, Toxaphene was the most effective measured by larval counts made 6 days after application, but by September it was difficult to distinguish treated from untreated trees. In 1950, the systemic insecticides phorate and demeton in one early season application were tested on locust, using three techniques. Trunk implantation of concentrates, applied directly or encapsulated into holes bored into the trunk gave variable results. Soil injections applied with n hydraulic sprayer using 20 gallons of spray mixture in four to six probes within 3 feet of the tree trunk were effective when the dose was 80 grams of material per 3-inch tree, Foliar applications of demeton and phorate were effective, but. one application was not sufficient to keep the trees free of infestation for the whole season. In 1960, granulated Di-Syston® ( O,O -diethyt S -2-(ethylthio) ethyl phosphorodithioate) and phorate applied to the soil and 10-foot circle around the tree, worked lightly into the soil and then watered, gave effective control, as did the emulsion concentrate of phorate sprinkled around the tree in a 10-foot circle, Control of three generations of this insect was achieved, An abundant supply of water is probably required for effectiveness, Placing thc materials into holes in the ground under the limbspread proved ineffective. Spray treatments alone or combined with granules did not add to the effectiveness, Tests of foliage 5 months after application of Di-Syston and phorate to soil gave strong cholinesterase inhibition.
The polyvagal theory: phylogenetic substrates of a social nervous system

The evolution of the autonomic nervous system provides an organizing principle to interpret the adaptive significance of physiological responses in promoting social behavior. According to the polyvagal theory, the well-documented phylogenetic shift in neural regulation of the autonomic nervous system passes through three global stages, each with an associated behavioral strategy. The first stage is characterized by a primitive unmyelinated visceral vagus that fosters digestion and responds to threat by depressing metabolic activity. Behaviorally, the first stage is associated with immobilization behaviors. The second stage is characterized by the sympathetic nervous system that is capable of increasing metabolic output and inhibiting the visceral vagus to foster mobilization behaviors necessary for 'fight or flight'. The third stage, unique to mammals, is characterized by a myelinated vagus that can rapidly regulate cardiac output to foster engagement and disengagement with the environment. The mammalian vagus is neuroanatomically linked to the cranial nerves that regulate social engagement via facial expression and vocalization. As the autonomic nervous system changed through the process of evolution, so did the interplay between the autonomic nervous system and the other physiological systems that respond to stress, including the cortex, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the neuropeptides of oxytocin and vasopressin, and the immune system. From this phylogenetic orientation, the polyvagal theory proposes a biological basis for social behavior and an intervention strategy to enhance positive social behavior.
A Note on optimal allocation of work in stochastic assembly systems

Abstract We consider the problem of work allocation in stochastic assembly systems so as to maximize throughput. A recent study showed that unbalancing the work allocation in the direction of assigning less work to assembly and more to component fabrication improves the expected throughput rate. The computational results showed that, for certain process time distributions, the expected throughput rate could go up with an increase in the number of components. This result contradicts the design-for-assembly practice of minimizing the number of components. This paper provides analytical insights into the effect of the number of components and process time distributions on the expected throughput rate. We then present a more realistic assembly system where the results resemble the design-for-assembly practice.
Cost-benefit analysis of first-generation antihistamines in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Background: The majority of individuals with allergic rhinitis in the US take first-generation antihistamines (FGAs). Although FGAs have been proven effective in alleviating allergic rhinitis symptoms, they have been associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle, aviation and occupational injuries and deaths, reduced productivity and impaired learning. Objective: The objective of this analysis was to quantify the total costs and benefits of FGA use in the US from the societal perspective. Methods: We used a decision-analytic model to quantify the annual societal costs and benefits of treatment with FGAs compared with the hypothetical alternative of no treatment for the population of individuals with allergic rhinitis and taking FGAs in the US in 2001. The benefit associated with FGA use was estimated using the willingness-to-pay framework and projected to the US population using published estimates of the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. The costs of FGA-associated sedation included lost productivity and the direct and indirect cost of unintentional injuries (including motor vehicle, occupational, public and home injuries and fatalities). The incidence of injuries and fatalities associated with FGA use was estimated using the risk of injury attributable to the sedatory effects of FGAs in the allergic rhinitis population. To evaluate uncertainty in the model assumptions, a probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted using Bayesian second-order Monte Carlo simulation. Costs and benefits are expressed in 2001 US dollars, using a 3% discount rate. Results: Based on current utilisation, the total societal benefit (95% credible interval) associated with the use of FGAs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis was $US7.7 billion ($US1.3 billion to $US21 billion). The societal cost of purchasing FGAs was only $US697 million. However, the societal cost of FGA-associated sedation was $US11.3 billion ($US2.4 billion to $US50.8 billion). The annual societal net benefit of FGA use for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in the US was −$US4.2 billion (-$US36 billion to +$US0.296 billion). The net benefit was negative in 97% of the 10 000 Monte Carlo simulations. Conclusions: The societal benefits of FGA use in alleviating the symptoms of allergic rhinitis are significant. However, based on the assumptions, probability distributions and parameter estimate ranges used in the current model, it is very likely that the costs associated with sedation exceed the benefits of FGA use in the US. The cost of FGA-associated sedation is comparable to estimates of the cost of all medical care expenditures on respiratory conditions in the US ($US12.1 billion to $US31.3 billion) [1996 values] and provides compelling evidence of the economic burden of sedation associated with FGA use.
Ultrastructural evidence for the participation of Langerhans cells in cutaneous photoaging processes: a quantitative comparative study

Abstract Langerhans cells were studied comparatively by electron microscopy in order to explore their possible participation in cutaneous photoaging processes in chronically photodamaged preauricular skin and in paired sun-protected postauricular sites of 25 Caucasian women aged 56–76 years. The characteristic ultrastructural features of Langerhans cells in photodamaged skin compared to those in sun-protected skin were as follows: (1) a significant decrease in the density of Langerhans cells and Birbeck granules, and an increase in the number of indeterminate cells, (2) an inversely proportional relationship between intraepidermal density of Langerhans cells and the severity of epidermal photodamage, (3) frequent apposition of Langerhans cells to vacuolar structures of photodamaged keratinocytes, (4) predominant distribution of Langerhans cells in the lower epidermis, (5) degenerative changes suggesting direct cellular damage, without evidence of apoptosis, (6) a strong correlation of the number of degenerated Langerhans cells with the degree of epidermal photodamage, (7) loss of dendritic processes, (8) direct contact of Langerhans cells with melanocytes suggesting interaction between these two types of cells, (9) juxtaposition of Langerhans cells and lymphocytes in the epidermis. These results suggest marked qualitative and quantitative ultrastructural differences in Langerhans cells between photodamaged and intrinsically aged skin and the positive involvement of Langerhans cells in the processes of cutaneous photoaging.
Computerized cognitive training interventions to improve neuropsychological outcomes: evidence and future directions

Age-related cognitive decline is common and may affect memory, orientation, attention, abstract thinking and perception, which may lead to substantial difficulties and disabilities in everyday life. Much evidence suggests that computerized cognitive training interventions may mitigate decline by improving neuropsychological outcomes in older adults, but there is clearly a need for large-scale, methodologically rigorous comparative effectiveness trials in the area. This article underscores that need and reviews eight trials that met a set of predetermined criteria before highlighting two novel and complementary analytic methods - big data analytics and network meta-analysis - that may be used to facilitate decisions regarding which cognitive training programs should serve as candidate interventions for large comparative effectiveness trials.
Psychometric properties of two measures of intrinsic motivation.

Considering its seeming relevance to mental retardation, intrinsic motivation does not appear to have received the attention that it merits from workers in this field (Siegel, 1979). One reason for its relative neglect may be that the global nature of the construct has made assessment difficult. Many measures are in fact available (McReynolds, 1971), but not all of them are suitable for retarded individuals, and even those that seem appropriate have not been fully exploited. The purpose of the present study was to examine some psychometric properties of two promising measures, the Maze Test (Howard, 1961; Howard & Diesenhaus, 1965) and the Which-to-Discuss Test (Maw & Maw, 1961, 1962). To our knowledge, only the former has previously been used with retarded children (Harter & Zigler, 1974). The Maze Test, purportedly a measure of stimulus-seeking behavior, consists of five presentations of a simple paper-and-pencil maze that is to be completed by drawing a line along any of the alternate paths from the starting point to the goal. There are no blind alleys and all the paths are equally correct, so that the solution of the mazes does not constitute a problem. Subjects may vary their routes through the maze on successive presentations, or they may repeat their initial route. Scoring is in terms of the' number of segments traversed on a particular presentation that differ from the segments traversed on the immediately preceding presentation. The Which-to-Discuss Test, purportedly a measure of curiosity, consists of pairs of geometric figures and symbols, with one figure in each pair more balanced or familiar than the other. For example, two squares are shown; the
Statistical analysis of 4-year observations of aerosol sizes in a semi-rural continental environment

Abstract We have made long-term observations of particle size distributions in a semi-rural continental environment of the United States (Kent, Ohio) over a 4-year period, to investigate the seasonal trend of new particle formation (NPF). NPF events occurred throughout the year, but more frequently during the spring (∼40%) and fall (∼32%) than in the summer (∼19%) and winter (∼17%). The particle nucleation rates were also highest in the spring (with the median and standard deviation value of 6.8 ± 1.3 cm−3 s−1) and lowest in the winter (1.0 ± 0.9 cm−3 s−1). Particle growth rates were highest in the summer (6.4 ± 0.4 nm h−1) and lowest in the winter (4.2 ± 0.3 nm h−1), a trend different from nucleation rates, indicating that different chemical species may be involved in particle nucleation and growth processes. Backward trajectory calculations show that NPF events were often associated with air masses originated from the east–southeast where numerous large size power plants are located, containing high sulfur dioxide (SO2). The NPF events in general had lower relative humidity, lower surface area of pre-existing particles, and higher solar radiation.
Gene transfer for the therapy of erectile dysfunction: progress in the 21st century

Gene transfer represents the next potential era of advancement in medicine for the prevention of the effects of aging or for treatment of genetic or acquired disease. For gene transfer to be a practical successor to today's oral and minimally invasive therapies, the product must have a high safety profile and a long duration of effectiveness to correct the need for on-demand administration. Several types of vectors have been used in preclinicals studies, but because of widely publicized adverse events, progress using viral vectors in humans has been limited. There is a current phase I human trial using naked DNA as the vector with the maxi-K gene to modify cellular contractility. Preliminary results in the safety trial thus far have shown no treatment-related adverse events, no transfer to the semen, and the possibility of efficacy in one participant.
Biologic Factors in the Sexual Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus

The probability that any single episode of genital-genital or anogenital sexual intercourse will result in transmission of HIV may be determined by multiple biologic factors of the infectious person, the virus itself, and the exposed susceptible person. Some of these factors are known or suspected (figure 1), and they may explain observed differences in the sexual transmission of HIV in different parts of the world, notably in Africa, where genital ulcerative disease is probably influencing the epidemiology of HIV. Several studies have shown that infection in partners of HIV-infected persons is not determined solely by numbers of sexual encounters; on the contrary, HIV-infected partners have usually had fewer sexual encounters with infectious mates than have noninfected partners. Thus, sexually active persons should be cautioned that, to our knowledge, there are no nonsusceptible persons and that any single unprotected sexual encounter may lead to HIV transmission. Research into biologic factors that modulate HIV transmission continues to be hampered by difficulties in identifying HIV transmitters and nontransmitters, infective and noninfective variants of HIV (if the latter exist in vivo), and persons relatively more or less susceptible to HIV infection. However, as the number of partner studies and the number of those enrolled in them increase, a progressively clearer idea of the biologic determinants of sexual transmission of HIV should emerge.
Systematics of two-wave mixing in a photorefractive polymer

The high-performance photorefractive polymer composite PVK:PDCST:BBP:C60 is investigated in detail by use of optical two-wave mixing characterization measurements in conjunction with the grating translation technique for determination of the photorefractive phase shift. A large effective trap density of Neff=1.5×1017 cm-3 is estimated from the dependence of the phase shift on the grating spacing and the applied electric field. The theory of orientational enhancement is successfully used to explain the observed photorefractive response, and in this low-glass-transition temperature system the modulation of the refractive index is shown to stem primarily from the spatial modulation of the birefringence.
The Dynamics of Suspended Solid Particles in a Two-Stage Gas Turbine

Gas turbine engines operating in dusty environments are exposed to erosion and performance deterioration. In order to provide the basis for calculating the erosion and performance deterioration of turbines using pulverized coal, an investigation is undertaken to determine the three-dimensional particle trajectories in a two-stage turbine. The solution takes into account the influence of variation in the three-dimensional flow field. The change in particle momentum due to their collision with the turbine blades and casings is modeled using empirical equations derived from experimental laser-Doppler velocimetry (LDV) measurements. The results show the three-dimensional trajectory characteristics of the solid particles relative to the turbine blades. The results also show that the particle distributions in the flow field are determined by particle–blade impacts. The results obtained from this study indicate the turbine blade locations which are subjected to more blade impacts and hence more erosion damage.
SHOULD DESIGNERS WORRY ABOUT MARKET SYSTEMS

Engineering approaches for optimizing designs withi n a market context generally take the perspective of a single producer, asking what design and price point will m aximize producer profit predicted by consumer choice simula tions. These approaches treat competitors and retailers as fixed or nonexistent, and they take business-oriented detail s, such as the structure of distribution channels, as separate iss ues that can be addressed post hoc by other disciplines. It is well established that the structure of market systems influences optimal product pricing. In this paper, we investigate whether two types of these structures also influenc e optimal product design decisions; specifically, 1) consumer heterogeneity and 2) distribution channels. We firs t model firms as players in a profit-seeking game that compete on product attributes and prices. We then model the interactio ns of manufacturers and retailers in Nash competition und er alternative market structures and compare the equil ibrium conditions for each case. We find that when consumers are modeled as homogeneous in their preferences, optimal design can be decoupled from the game, and design decisions can be made without regard to price, competition, or chann el structure. However, when consumer preferences are heterogeneous, the behavior of competitors and retailers is key to det ermining which designs are profitable. We examine the extent of this effect in a vehicle design case study from the lite rature and find that the presence of heterogeneity leads different market structures to imply significantly different profit- maximizing designs.
Symbolic time-series analysis for anomaly detection in mechanical systems

This paper examines the efficacy of a novel method for anomaly detection in mechanical systems, which makes use of a hidden Markov model, derived from the time-series data of pertinent measurement(s). The core concept of the anomaly detection method is symbolic time-series analysis that is built upon the principles of Automata Theory, Information Theory, and Pattern Recognition. The performance of this method is compared with that of other existing pattern-recognition techniques from the perspective of early detection of small fatigue cracks in ductile alloy structures. The experimental apparatus, on which the anomaly detection method is tested, is a multi-degree-of-freedom mass-beam structure excited by oscillatory motion of two electromagnetic shakers. The evolution of fatigue crack damage at one or more failure sites are detected from symbolic time-series analysis of displacement sensor signals
Another way to say harmonic

It is known that solutions of -Δ∞u = -Σ n i,j=1 u xi u xj u xjxj = 0, that is, the ∞-harmonic functions, are exactly those functions having a comparison property with respect to the family of translates of the radial solutions G(x) = a|x|. We establish a more difficult linear result: a function in R n is harmonic if it has the comparison property with respect to sums of n translates of the radial harmonic functions G(x) = a|x| 2-n for n ¬= 2 and G(x) = b ln(|x|) for n = 2. An attempt to generalize these results for -Δ∞u = 0 (p = ∞) and -Δu = 0 (p = 2) to the general p-Laplacian leads to the fascinating discovery that certain sums of translates of radial p-superharmonic functions are again p-superharmonic. Mystery remains: the class of p-superharmonic functions so constructed for p ¬∈ {2,∞} does not suffice to characterize p-subharmonic functions.
Optical, Electrical and Lifetime Characterization of In-Grown Stacking Faults in 4H-SiC

Here we present optical beam induced current, electroluminescence, time resolved photoluminescence and current-voltage measurements on several 4H-SiC PiN diodes containing in-grown stacking faults (IGSFs). These defects were observed to act as either current shorts, creating a direct electrical contact between the p+ and n+ layers, or as a current barrier. Carrier lifetime measurements verify that the change in behavior is indeed associated with changes in the conductivity of the material in the vicinity of the defect and not due to local changes in the carrier lifetime. The IGSFs discussed here appear to differ from those previously discussed in the literature and may constitute a new, multi-layered IGSF.
Reverse engineering of legacy systems: a path toward success

This paper addresses the question of whether the reverse engineering of legacy systems is doomed to failure. Our position is that the answer is highly dependent on the specific goals of the reverse engineering process. We argue that while most reverse engineering efforts may well fail to achieve the traditional goal of automatically extracted complete specifications suitable for forward engineering, they are likely to succeed on the more modest goal of automatically extracting partial specifications that can augmented by system-assisted human understanders.
Coherence resonance in excitable and oscillatory systems: The essential role of slow and fast dynamics

Stochastic noise of an appropriate amplitude can maximize the coherence of the dynamics of certain types of excitable systems via a phenomenon known as coherence resonance (CR). In this paper we demonstrate, using a simple excitable system, the mechanism underlying the generation of CR. Using analytical expressions for the spectral density of the system's dynamics, we show that CR relies on the coexistence of fast and slow motions. We also show that the same mechanism of CR holds in the oscillatory regime, and we examine how CR depends on both the excitability of the system and the nonuniformity of the motion.
Detecting Associations between Early-Life DDT Exposures and Childhood Growth Patterns: A Novel Statistical Approach

It has been hypothesized that environmental exposures at key development periods such as in utero play a role in childhood growth and obesity. To investigate whether in utero exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolite, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDE), is associated with childhood physical growth, we took a novel statistical approach to analyze data from the CHAMACOS cohort study. To model heterogeneity in the growth patterns, we used a finite mixture model in combination with a data transformation to characterize body mass index (BMI) with four groups and estimated the association between exposure and group membership. In boys, higher maternal concentrations of DDT and DDE during pregnancy are associated with a BMI growth pattern that is stable until about age five followed by increased growth through age nine. In contrast, higher maternal DDT exposure during pregnancy is associated with a flat, relatively stable growth pattern in girls. This study suggests that in utero exposure to DDT and DDE may be associated with childhood BMI growth patterns, not just BMI level, and both the magnitude of exposure and sex may impact the relationship.
Low-angle light scattering of ionotropic gels

Low-angle light-scattering patterns were obtained on ionotropic gels formed by the diffusion of Ca++ into a polygalacturonate sol. Near the sol–gel boundary, diffraction patterns were obtained which indicated organized structures with repeating units of 1100, 250, and 12.5 μ. Microscopic investigations confirmed that at this gel boundary capillaries run parallel to each other and perpendicular to the direction of diffusion. The diameter of capillaries was 12 μ while their length was in the 1000 μ range. Short interconnecting capillaries were about 200–300 μ in length. Inside the gel, in the more highly crosslinked parts, a disorientation occurs during the aging process with the partial disappearance of capillaries. However, at the gel–sol and gel–semipermeable membrane boundaries, the highly organized structures remain even during prolonged aging. The kinetics of the gel formation was also investigated.
The effect of eccentricity on the contrast response function of multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEPs)

mfVEPs were recorded with a 22° radius, 60 sector pattern reversal dartboard stimulus (VERIS) at six contrast levels (10%, 25%, 35%, 50%, 75%, 95%). Contrast response functions (CRFs) based on response amplitudes were adequately described by a simple hyperbolic function. The effect of reducing contrast on the amplitude was most apparent in the central 1° radius, which had a C50 (contrast at 50% of the maximum response) in excess of 50%, compared to values for C50 in more eccentric regions that were 30% or lower. Mean latency increased 6 (±0.7SE) ms from the highest to the lowest contrast tested, and did not vary significantly with eccentricity.
Chemical speciation and toxicity of metals assessed by three bioluminescence-based assays using marine organisms.

Metal toxicity is a function of the biology of the target organism and the chemical speciation of the metal. The toxicity of 11 metals was assessed with three cell-based bioassays based on marine organisms: the bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum of the Microtox® bioassay, an environmental strain of P. phosphoreum, and photocytes isolated from the brittlestar Ophiopsila californica. Metal speciation was calculated for three commonly used media: NaCl-based Microtox® bioassay medium, artificial seawater glycerol, and artificial seawater. Decreased bioluminescence was considered a proxy for cell toxicity. In all three assays the elements Cd and Hg exhibited similar speciation as well as similar toxicity profiles. The element Cu was toxic in all three assays despite different metal speciation for the P. phosphoreum bioassay. The element Ag was toxic to both bacterial strains but not to photocytes despite a similar chemical speciation for all three assays. In general, the Microtox® bioassay was sensitive to all metals (except Pb), whereas the photocytes were the least sensitive to the metals. The heightened response of the Microtox® bioassay probably resulted from a combination of the limited complexing power of the medium and the greater sensitivity of the bacterial strain. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 19: 161–178, 2004.
Successful Correction of All Mechanical Complications of Ischemic Heart Disease in the Same Patient

Extensive surgery for all of the mechanical complications of ischemic heart disease is feasible with early diagnosiss, catheterization, and aggressive medical and surgical therapy. A patient is reported who, after recovering from cardiogenic shock, required a coronary bypass, closure of ventricular septal defects, mitral valve replacement, aneurysmectomy, and temporary pacemaker wires. The outcome was successful.
P300 inhibition enhances gemcitabine-induced apoptosis of pancreatic cancer.

// Hiroaki Ono 1 , Marc D. Basson 2 , Hiromichi Ito 1 1 Department of Surgery, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, Lansing, MI, USA 2 Departments of Surgery, Basic Science and Pathology, University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA Correspondence to: Hiromichi Ito, email: Hiromichi.Ito@hc.msu.edu Keywords: p300, gemcitabine, histone acetyl transferase, DNA damage repair, pancreatic cancer Received: February 13, 2016 Accepted: May 17, 2016 Published: June 17, 2016 ABSTRACT The transcriptional cofactor p300 has histone acetyltransferase activity (HAT) and has been reported to participate in chromatin remodeling and DNA repair. We hypothesized that targeting p300 can enhance the cytotoxicity of gemcitabine, which induces pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis by damaging DNA. Expression of p300 was confirmed in pancreatic cancer cell lines and human pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissues by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. When pancreatic cancer cells were treated with gemcitabine, p300 was recruited to chromatin within 24 hours, indicating the role in response to DNA damage. When p300 was gene-silenced with siRNA, histone acetylation was substantially reduced and pancreatic cancer cells were sensitized to gemcitabine. The selective p300 HAT inhibitor C646 similarly decreased histone acetylation, increased gemcitabine-induced apoptosis and thus enhanced the cytotoxicity of gemcitabine on pancreatic cancer cells. These findings indicate that p300 contributes to chemo-resistance of pancreatic cancer against gemcitabine and suggest that p300 and its HAT activity may be a potential therapeutic target to improve outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Investigation of row and column permutations for lossless compression of images

The focus of our present study is on exploring the use of permutation techniques to achieve better compression gains in lossless image compression. As invertible functions, permutations are suitable for use in lossless image compression. In this study, we investigate the problem of determining an optimal permutation of rows or columns of images to improve the standard lossless compression algorithms, such as JPEG. We first recast an optimal permutation as a Hamiltonian circuit problem of an appropriate complete graph. Then we use the Lin-Kernighan heuristic algorithm for the symmetric Traveling Salesman Problem to compute the desired circuit. We include performance results of our proposed algorithm on a set of test images.
Histone adduction and its functional impact on epigenetics

Bioactive electrophiles generated from the oxidation of endogenous and exogenous compounds are a contributing factor in numerous disease states. Their toxicity is largely attributed to the covalent modification of cellular nucleophiles, including protein and DNA. With regard to protein modification, the side-chains of Cys, His, Lys, and Arg residues are critical targets. This results in the generation of undesired protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) that can trigger dire cellular consequences. Notably, histones are Lys- and Arg-rich proteins, providing a fertile source for adduction by both exogenous and endogenous electrophiles. The regulation of histone PTMs plays a critical role in the regulation of chromatin structure and thus gene expression. This perspective focuses on the role of electrophilic protein adduction within the context of chromatin and its potential consequences on cellular law and order.
Eco-body: A Biological Anthropology for Technological Evolution

This body of work explores the transformation of the human body, both physically and mentally as increased reliance upon electronic technology forces conditions of artificial that replace the “natural”. This fundamental shift in stimuli becomes a tipping point in evolution.
Non-Invasive Characterization of Metabolic Drug Effects on Breast Cancer Cell Spheroids Using Two-Photon Excited Fluorescence Microscopy

We report a non-invasive method, which quantifies optical redox ratio and mitochondrial organization via two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy, and apply it to the characterization of metabolic drug effects on breast cancer cell spheroids.
Differences between Metabolically Healthy vs Unhealthy Obese Children and Adolescents

Abstract Obesity is on the rise worldwide. An obesity subtype, metabolically healthy obese (MHO), is resilient to unfavorable metabolic and cardiovascular effects. Factors predicting MHO phenotype are not well characterized. We aimed to identify MHO and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) children and adolescents with respect to metabolic factors, and to find predictors of MHO subtype. A retrospective chart review was done on children, ages 4–19 years, 99% African–American/Caribbean, with BMI ≥95th %tile. MUO was defined as meeting ≥1 of the following: fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dl, HbA1c >5.6%, BP ≥90th %tile, TG ≥150 mg/dl, or HDL
A Spurious Warming Trend in the NMME Equatorial Pacific SST Hindcasts

Using seasonal hindcasts of six different models participating in the North American Multimodel Ensemble project, the trend of the predicted sea surface temperature (SST) in the tropical Pacific for 1982–2014 at each lead month and its temporal evolution with respect to the lead month are investigated for all individual models. Since the coupled models are initialized with the observed ocean, atmosphere, land states from observation-based reanalysis, some of them using their own data assimilation process, one would expect that the observed SST trend is reasonably well captured in their seasonal predictions. However, although the observed SST features a weak-cooling trend for the 33-year period with La Nina-like spatial pattern in the tropical central-eastern Pacific all year round, it is demonstrated that all models having a time-dependent realistic concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) display a warming trend in the equatorial Pacific that amplifies as the lead-time increases. In addition, these models’ behaviors are nearly independent of the starting month of the hindcasts although the growth rates of the trend vary with the lead month. This key characteristic of the forecasted SST trend in the equatorial Pacific is also identified in the NCAR CCSM3 hindcasts that have the GHG concentration for a fixed year. This suggests that a global warming forcing may not play a significant role in generating the spurious warming trend of the coupled models’ SST hindcasts in the tropical Pacific. This model SST trend in the tropical central-eastern Pacific, which is opposite to the observed one, causes a developing El Nino-like warming bias in the forecasted SST with its peak in boreal winter. Its implications for seasonal prediction are discussed.
Recent progress in understanding high temperature dynamical properties and fragility in metallic liquids, and their connection with atomic structure

The advent of containerless processing techniques has opened the possibility of high quality measurements of equilibrium and metastable liquids. This review focuses on the structure and dynamics of metallic liquids at high temperature. A clear connection between structure, viscosity, and fragility has emerged from recent containerless experiments and molecular dynamics simulation studies. The temperature-dependent changes of liquid structures are smaller for the stronger liquids. The onset of cooperativity usually occurs above the liquidus temperature at a characteristic temperature TA, where the dynamics change from Arrhenius to non-Arrhenius behavior; this is accompanied by the onset of development of more spatially extended structural order in the liquids. Several metrics for fragility, consistent with the traditional fragility parameter, can be developed from the structural and dynamical properties at high temperature. It is becoming increasingly evident from theory and experiments that the fundamental properties that determine fragility are the repulsive part of the interatomic potential and the anharmonicity.
Interleukin 1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein (ST2) is a Potential Biomarker for Cardiomyopathy in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare, fatal X-linked disorder characterized by the lack of dystrophin, a key sarcolemma muscle protein. Cardiac failure is a significant cause of death in DMD subjects. The purpose of our research was to identify potential cardiac serum biomarkers associated with DMD cardiomyopathy. This is an observational, case-controlled study using subjects from the CINRG DMD natural history study with cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction (EF) <55%; shortening fraction (SF) <28%), subjects without cardiomyopathy (EF ≥ 55%; SF ≥ 28%) compared to normal healthy volunteer subjects. The DMD with cardiomyopathy group had significantly lower average EF and SF (EF = 45 ± 10/SF = 25 ± 2%) than the DMD without cardiomyopathy group (EF = 58 ± 5% and SF = 32 ± 3%; p < 0.01). Among a selected set of potential biomarkers for cardiomyopathy (MMP9, BNP, GAL3, CRP, LEP, TNC, TLR4 and ST2) we validated ST2 as significantly elevated in the serum of DMD cardiomyopathy group (35,798 ± 4884 pg/mL) compared to normal controls (9940 ± 2680 pg/mL; p < 0.01; n = 6). Matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) levels were found significantly increased in both DMD groups compared to controls (p < 0.01). No significant differences were seen in BNP, GAL3, CRP, LEP, TNC or TLR4 levels. Increased ST2 levels were found in serum of DMD subjects compared to healthy volunteers and further elevated in DMD subjects with cardiomyopathy. Future studies correlating cardiomyopathy with ST2 levels may allow for improved non-invasive monitoring of cardiac disease in DMD subjects.
A Lifetime of Research in Integrative Physiology

We are deeply conscious of the honor afforded us by the organizers of this symposium.It is one of the happiest events of our lives and one to which our thoughts will return again and again. First we must offer our heartfelt thanks to those who made this meeting possible: to Marc Kaufman and Tissa Kappagoda, who were responsible for the nuts and bolts organization and who shouldered the heaviest burden: to John Longhurst, who gave it strong support and provided the roof over our heads: to the pharmaceutical companies listed in the front of this volume, whose financial backing made the symposium possible: and to the many friends who have joined us here at UC Davis, and whose scientific contributions and lively discussions, have ensured its success.
GLOBALIZATION, DECENTRALIZATION, AND EQUITY

As English has spread through globalization, it has become a de facto lingua franca. Because adequate English competency is now considered a “global literacy skill”, nations see it as essential if they seek to compete in the global market. As global university rankings, the drive for fiscal resources, and the international mobility of students become more common and significant among universities worldwide, training in English plays an increasingly important role in higher education systems.
The hippocampal contribution to "learning and memory": information retrieval and comparison.

The effects of limbic system after-discharges and ablation upon learning were investigated in 113 adult cats. Learning tasks consisted of active and passive avoidance and pattern and size discrimination. Limbic system after-discharges interfered with performance in learned-avoidance and size-discrimination paradigms. Discharges implicating the ventral hippocampus were the most effective in producing performance decrements; dorsal hippocampal discharges were least effective. The greater the involvement of brain-stem structures by propagated activity, the greater the decrement. There was no motor impairment. Size-discrimination response is impaired to a greater degree than shockavoidance response during limbic discharges. The degree of impairment is in part a function of the type of sensory stimulus and response contingency used.
Task scheduling for GPU accelerated OLAP systems

Processing data related to business intelligence is an ever important and complex task set. One approach to answering multi-faceted analytical queries quickly is online analytical processing, or OLAP. OLAP allows for quick query response times thanks to its use of n-dimensional models referred to as OLAP cubes. As with all data laden systems, OLAP systems are dealing with ever-increasing dimensionality of the data cube while expecting system responsiveness to be maintained. As queries become more complex and the dimensionality of the cube grows ever larger, runtime required to aggregate queries increases. To coalesce these requirements, without impacting the apparent dimensionality of the cube, an agile method for reporting must be found. In this paper we propose a task-scheduling algorithm for GPU accelerated OLAP systems. This scheduling algorithm looks to balance the GPU and CPU load to meet a minimally acceptable completion time for OLAP queries. A partial in memory cube is formed using highest-level general queries. To ensure fast response time of aggregations, the cube is restricted in dimensionality. If a query requires data outside of the dimensional cube, or the time to search the cube is greater than the time to execute a raw aggregation, the task is scheduled on the GPU for processing. Our evaluation of the heterogeneous task scheduler shows a performance increase of 8.5x over a CPU only OLAP system.
Automatic Detection of Feature Interactions Using Symbolic Analysis and Evolutionary Computation

Ensuring acceptable and safe behavior is paramount for high-assurance systems. However, independently-developed features often exhibit overlapping, yet conflicting behavior termed feature interactions. This paper introduces Phorcys, a design-time approach for detecting unwanted failures caused by n-way feature interactions at the requirements level using both symbolic analysis and evolutionary computation. Unlike previous n-way feature interaction detection approaches that look for each unique unwanted interactions, Phorcys analyzes each feature for its ability to cause unwanted behavior, including failures. By using a combination of symbolic analysis and evolutionary computation, Phorcys is able to identify multiple counterexamples, thus providing more guidance for mitigation (e.g., revising specifications, adding constraints, etc.). To the best of the authors' knowledge, Phorcys is the only technique to detect failures caused by n-way feature interactions using a combination of symbolic analysis and evolutionary computation. We illustrate our approach by applying Phorcys to an industry-based automotive braking system comprising multiple subsystems.
Semi-Automated Extraction of Crohns Disease MR Imaging Markers using a 3D Residual CNN with Distance Prior.

We propose a 3D residual convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm with an integrated distance prior for segmenting the small bowel lumen and wall to enable extraction of pediatric Crohns disease (pCD) imaging markers from T1-weighted contrast-enhanced MR images. Our proposed segmentation framework enables, for the first time, to quantitatively assess luminal narrowing and dilation in CD aimed at optimizing surgical decisions as well as analyzing bowel wall thickness and tissue enhancement for assessment of response to therapy. Given seed points along the bowel lumen, the proposed algorithm automatically extracts 3D image patches centered on these points and a distance map from the interpolated centerline. These 3D patches and corresponding distance map are jointly used by the proposed residual CNN architecture to segment the lumen and the wall, and to extract imaging markers. Due to lack of available training data, we also propose a novel and efficient semi-automated segmentation algorithm based on graph-cuts technique as well as a software tool for quickly editing labeled data that was used to train our proposed CNN model. The method which is based on curved planar reformation of the small bowel is also useful for visualizing, manually refining, and measuring pCD imaging markers. In preliminary experiments, our CNN network obtained Dice coefficients of \(75\pm 18\%\), \(81\pm 8\%\) and \(97\pm 2\%\) for the lumen, wall and background, respectively.
Surface degradation mechanisms in precipitation-hardened high-entropy alloys

Design of high-entropy alloys with complex microstructures presents a unique opportunity to combine the best of solid solution strengthening and precipitation hardening. These alloys are potentially disruptive for several high-performance applications including aerospace, oil and gas, nuclear industry, and next-generation tribology. This study presents the thermo-mechanical treatment, microstructural evolution, and surface degradation resistance in precipitation hardenable Al0.3Cu0.3Ti0.2CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy. The heat-treated alloy consisted of fine precipitates of L12 and L21, strengthening the face-centered cubic solid solution matrix. Potentiodynamic polarization showed nano-galvanic coupling between the intermetallic particles and the matrix. Phase-specific nano-indentation showed that hard intermetallic particles caused three-body wear and higher friction values during sliding wear. The microstructure was correlated with processing conditions and resulting surface degradation resistance using transmission electron microscopy imaging and analysis. Hardening high-entropy alloys by introducing precipitates negatively effects corrosion resistance. A team led by Rajarshi Banerjee at the University of North Texas designed a new high entropy alloy, Al0.3Cu0.3Ti0.2CoCrFeNi, whose composition promoted precipitation strengthening of nanometer-scale L12 intermetallics as well as copper clusters. By using cold rolling and annealing at different times and temperatures, the alloys ranged from a solid solution to an alloy with two different types of intermetallics. This caused two different types of corrosion patterns: the more traditional large pits, and basket-weave elongated pits resulting from the galvanic coupling between the two intermetallic phases. These hard intermetallic phases were also dislodged during sliding, contributing to increased wear. Better understanding the corrosion and wear of high-entropy alloys may hasten their industrial implementation.
Possible GoLytely-Associated Cardiac Arrest: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Purpose:To report a case of sudden cardiac arrest possibly associated with the administration of GoLytely® (polyethylene glycol 3350 and electrolytes).Summary:A 60-year-old male with a history of h...