cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of dietary β-glucan levels on the growth response and efficacy of Streptococcus iniae vaccine in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract A feeding study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary β-glucan levels on growth performance, immune responses and resistance of immunized and non-immunized Nile tilapia to Streptococcus iniae challenge. Fish were fed a 32% protein commercial diet supplemented with 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg β-glucan for 14 weeks. After 10 weeks of feeding, neither immunization, β-glucan nor their interaction affected weight gain and survival. Feed efficiency ratio (FER) of fish fed the 100 and 200-mg β-glucan diets was slightly but significantly lower than those of the group fed the 50-mg β-glucan diet, but these values did not differ from that of the control (0 mg β-glucan diet). Average percent mortality (PM) decreased and relative percent survival (RPS) increased in fish immunized with the S . iniae ARS-98-60 vaccine. Dietary levels of β-glucan and the interaction between dietary levels of β-glucan and immunization had no effect on PM and RPS. Serum lysozyme activity at 14 days post-challenge (PC) significantly decreased in fish fed the highest dietary β-glucan level but was not affected by immunization and the interaction between β-glucan and immunization. Specific antibody levels 21 days post-booster immunization (PBI) and 14 days PC were not affected by dietary β-glucan and the interaction between β-glucan and immunization These parameters, however, were significantly enhanced by immunization with S. iniae vaccine, leading to increase protection against S. iniae infection. Dietary levels of β-glucan had no effect on stimulating the S. iniae -specific antibody response and resistance of Nile tilapia against S. iniae infection.
Margins, Liquidity, and the Cost of Hedging*

Recent financial reforms, such as the Dodd-Frank Act in the U.S. and the European Market Infrastructure Regulation, encourage greater use of clearing and therefore increased margining of derivative trades. They also impose margining requirements on noncleared derivative trades. Such requirements have sparked a debate about whether a margin mandate increases the cost of hedging by nonfinancial corporations—the so-called end-users of derivatives. The authors argue that it does not. They show that a nonmargined derivative is equivalent to a package of (1) a margined derivative and (2) a contingent line of credit. The main effect of a margin mandate is to require that this package be marketed as two distinct products. But it does not change the total financing or capital required to hedge. Nor does it raise the cost to banks or other dealers of offering the package, at least not directly. Nevertheless, there may be indirect effects if, for example, the clearing mandate succeeds in lowering total counterparty exposures and therefore systemic risk. Although the authors do not explore these effects, they do offer one explanation for the popularity of over-the-counter, and thus noncleared, derivatives: accounting rules and bank regulations that treat the implicit lines-of-credit embedded in nonmargined derivatives differently from explicit lines of credit used to fund margins.
Effect of Light Intensity and Photoperiod on Live Performance, Heterophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, and Processing Yields of Broilers

This study investigated effects of light intensity and photoperiod on live and processing performance and physiological stress of broilers. One hundred broilers were housed in each of 12 rooms, provided 23L:1D with 3 footcandles (FC) of intensity to 8 d, and then subjected to the following treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement: either 1 FC (1FC) or 0.1 FC (0.1FC) from 8 to 49 d and either 23L:1D from 8 to 49 d (23L) or 18L:6D from 8 to 43 d followed by 23L:1D from 43 to 49 d (18L). At 40 d, blood samples were drawn and heterophil:lymphocyte ratios determined. At 49 d, 16 birds from each room were processed to determine weights and yields. There were interaction effects on BW from 29 to 49 d. At 29 d, BW was reduced by either 18L or 0.1FC treatments. At 43 d, BW was greatest in 1FC-23L, reduced in 1FC-18L and 0.1FC-23L, and intermediate in the 0.1FC-18L treatment. At 49 d, BW of 1FC-23L and 0.1FC-18L were similar and greater than those of 1FC-18L and 0.1FC-23L treatments. Feed consumption was reduced by 18L treatment from 15 to 29 d and the 0.1FC treatment at 15 d. Feed conversion and mortality were not affected by treatments. The 0.1FC treatment decreased uniformity at 15 d. Heterophil:lymphocyte ratios averaged about 0.45 and were not affected by treatments. Carcass yield and tender weight were reduced by the 0.1FC treatment, whereas whole breast yield was reduced by the 18L treatment. There were interaction effects on whole breast weight and fillet weight and yield, which were reduced by either the 18L or 0.1FC treatments. These results indicate that although the combination of 18L:6D and 0.1FC may result in broiler live performance comparable to that achieved with 23L:1D and 1FC, and no combination of the photoperiods and intensities tested caused physiological stress, breast meat is generally reduced by either 18L:6D or 0.1FC.
Practical psychotherapy: borderline personality disorder: the importance of establishing a treatment framework.

The American Psychiatric Association’s treatment guideline for borderline personality disorder will be published shortly, following a major effort that began with an action in early 1998 by the board of trustees. The workgroup that developed the guideline, of which I am a member, started with an exhaustive literature search, explored clinical and research findings, and discussed parallel and disparate viewpoints during weekly conference calls. Two parameters of treating borderline patients are very clear: a specific treatment framework must be established, and psychotherapy is a necessary feature of the treatment. The treatment framework includes discussion and clarification of the goals of treatment and the expected roles of the patient and therapist in achieving these goals. Treatment goals such as symptom reduction, improved relationships, and ability to maintain constancy at work should be made explicit. The tasks of the patient, including self-reports of important issues, inner thoughts, dysfunction, and anticipated behavior are elucidated. The clinician’s role, which includes providing understanding, consistency, and empathic feedback designed to help the patient achieve the goals, must be understood. A clear plan for the time and place of meetings, the handling of emergencies, and billing and payment is also an important aspect of this framework. These recommendations are deceptively clear and simple. The actual process of achieving the goals is seldom clear and rarely simple, and establishing the framework is a major ongoing challenge in the therapeutic work. To begin with, the first contact with the patient may be attended by a sense of urgency and by rapidly escalating chaos. Such a situation was recently described to me by a psychiatric resident as we rushed to meetings. “I don’t know quite what to do,” the resident said. “I just saw this woman who had missed her scheduled new patient evaluation and who arrived today without an appointment. I had only 20 minutes to see her, and she had all sorts of symptoms—anxiety, dysthymia, panic. She doesn’t want medication, and she doesn’t want group therapy. When I told her I could see her only briefly, she became angry and upset and called me a pill pusher. I promised to telephone her and arrange a time when we could meet, but I don’t know what to do to help her! Do you think she’s a
The complete primary structure elucidation of Aspergillus ficuum (niger), pH 6.0, optimum acid phosphatase by Edman degradation.

Abstract The primary structure of the Aspergillus ficuum (niger) NRRL 3135 extracellular, pH 6.0, optimum acid phosphatase (E.C.3.1.3.2) was elucidated by gas phase sequencing. It was deduced by sequence overlap of peptides obtained from trypsin, chymotrypsin, clostripain, and cyanogen bromide digests of the pyridylethylated protein. The mature, active protein is composed of 583 amino acids, including 13 glycosylated Asn residues. The unglycosylated protein has a MW of 64,245-KDa and a pl of 4.97. Two putative metal binding sites were identified in the molecule. This enzyme may represent a special class of high molecular weight acid phosphatase, since it lacks the active site sequence RHGXRXP and shows no significant homology with known acid phosphatases containing this active site. Homology to human type 5 and A.niger APases was detected, however.
Statistical approach to X-ray CT imaging and its applications in image analysis. II. A new stochastic model-based image segmentation technique for X-ray CT image

For pt.I, see ibid., vol.11, no.1, p.53.61 (1992). Based on the statistical properties of X-ray CT imaging given in pt.I, an unsupervised stochastic model-based image segmentation technique for X-ray CT images is presented. This technique utilizes the finite normal mixture distribution and the underlying Gaussian random field (GRF) as the stochastic image model. The number of image classes in the observed image is detected by information theoretical criteria (AIC or MDL). The parameters of the model are estimated by expectation-maximization (EM) and classification-maximization (CM) algorithms. Image segmentation is performed by a Bayesian classifier. Results from the use of simulated and real X-ray computerized tomography (CT) image data are presented to demonstrate the promise and effectiveness of the proposed technique. >
Das Transkulturelle im Ethnischen finden. Grenzverschiebungen arabischer und jüdischer Ethnizität in Brasilien

That Arabs and Jews are part of a single group transcending religion and region of origin is surprising at first glance. Yet in Brazil there is a deep and well developed popular and elite conception of Jews and Arabs as one „people“ with a set of common characteristics, who are a single people more similar than different. This chapter treats categories like „immigrant“ and „foreigner“ as imbued with positive national identity characteristics that naturalize some Brazilians via their foreignness. It analyzes why Arabs and Jews (along with Japanese) are often glossed as the „best“ Brazilians because of their immigrant status.
Geopolitics of the Kaliningrad Exclave and Enclave: Russian and EU Perspectives

Two U.S. political geographers examine a range of geopolitical issues associated with the shifting sovereignty of Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast (a part of the former German province of East Prussia) during the 20th century, as well as the region's evolving geopolitical status as a consequence of the European Union's enlargement to embrace Poland and Lithuania. They argue that Kaliningrad today can be considered a "double" borderland, situated simultaneously on the European Union's border with Russia as well as physically separated from Russia, its home country, by the surrounding land boundaries of EU states. Although technically neither an exclave nor an enclave, they posit that in many ways it resembles both, and as such presents a unique set of problems for economic development and interstate relations.
Identification of a Natural Viral RNA Motif That Optimizes Sensing of Viral RNA by RIG-I

Stimulation of the antiviral response depends on the sensing of viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by specialized cellular proteins. During infection with RNA viruses, 5=-di- or -triphosphates accompanying specific single or double-stranded RNA motifs trigger signaling of intracellular RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) and initiate the antiviral re- sponse. Although these molecular signatures are present during the replication of many viruses, it is unknown whether they are sufficient for strong activation of RLRs during infection. Immunostimulatory defective viral genomes (iDVGs) from Sendai virus (SeV) are among the most potent natural viral triggers of antiviral immunity. Here we describe an RNA motif (DVG70-114) that is essential for the potent immunostimulatory activity of 5=-triphosphate-containing SeV iDVGs. DVG70-114enhances viral sensing by the host cell independently of the long stretches of complementary RNAflanking the iDVGs, and it retains its stimulatory potential when transferred to otherwise inert viral RNA. In vitro analysis showed that DVG 70-114 augments the binding of RIG-I to viral RNA and promotes enhanced RIG-I polymerization, thereby facilitating the onset of the antiviral response. Together, our results define a new natural viral PAMP enhancer motif that promotes viral recognition by RLRs and confers potent immu- nostimulatory activity to viral RNA. IMPORTANCE A discrete group of molecular motifs, including 5=-triphosphates associated with double-stranded RNA, have been identified as essential for the triggering of antiviral immunity. Most RNA viruses expose these motifs during their replication; however, successful viruses normally evade immune recognition and replicate to high levels before detection, indicating that unknown factors drive antiviral immunity. DVGs from SeV are among the most potent natural viral stimuli of the antiviral response known to date. These studies define a new natural viral motif present in DVGs that maximizes viral recognition by the intracellular sensor RIG-I, allowing fast and strong antiviral responses even in the presence of viral-encoded immune antagonists. This motif can be harnessed to increase the immunostimulatory potential of otherwise inert viral RNAs and represents a novel immunostimulatory enhancer that could be used in the development of vaccine adjuvants and antivirals.
Energy-Efficient Abundant-Data Computing: The N3XT 1,000x

Next-generation information technologies will process unprecedented amounts of loosely structured data that overwhelm existing computing systems. N3XT improves the energy efficiency of abundant-data applications 1,000-fold by using new logic and memory technologies, 3D integration with fine-grained connectivity, and new architectures for computation immersed in memory.
Policy Colloquium Notes: Empowering Data-Driven Innovation - Co-convened by Google and O’Reilly Media at Google’s Mountain View Campus

On April 30, 2012, approximately 30 experts from a variety of domains — academia, large companies, start-ups, government, NGOs — came together to discuss policy issues that affect and will affect data-driven innovation in the coming years. The colloquium was run under Chatham House rules so that attendees would feel free to contribute their thoughts and expertise to the event. Table recorders during breakout sessions kept notes and our facilitator recorded notes during post-breakout discussions among the whole group. This document is a compilation of all notes from the event.
The phenotypic interdependence of the musculoskeletal characters of the mandibular arch in mice

Evidence from studies of craniofacial anomalies and the evolutionary transition from reptiles to mammals suggests that the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), bony zygomatic arch, middle ear ossicles and mandibular muscle pattern may form a correlated suite of characters. To test the degree of phenotypic interdependence among these features, mandibular arch defects were analysed in prenatal mice. Retinoic palmitate was administered to pregnant mice on day 8.7 to produce test foetuses with malformations of the mandibular arch. A rating scale was developed for each of the four characters so that numerical values could be assigned to each phenotype encountered. Control animals were used to establish normal phenotypes for each character which were assigned a value of 1. Data from each test age, 16, 18 and 19 days postconception, were pooled and Spearmann rank correlation coefficients between each of the traits were calculated. Coefficients (R) range from a high of 0.87, between the TMJ and zygomatic arch, to a low of 0.67 between the zygomatic arch and the mandibular musculature showing highly significant correlations (P less than 0.0001) among all characters. Therefore, the data suggest that the musculoskeletal features of the mandibular arch are phenotypically interdependent during development.
Comparative cost-effectiveness of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in secondary prevention of acute myocardial infarction

The cost-effectiveness of each of the six hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors currently available was studied. For a cohort of patients between the ages of 60 and 85 years with coronary heart disease (CHD) who were taking atorvastatin, cerivastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, or simvastatin, the number of survivors, the annual direct cost per survivor, and the annual indirect cost saving per survivor associated with the predicted reduction in the rate of nonfatal myocardial infarction recurrences were projected. Percent reductions in excess mortality due to CHD were derived from the relative risks of cardiac mortality in treatment versus control groups in the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Doses necessary to provide a long-term 35.57% reduction in low-density- lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, as seen in 4S, were estimated. One-way sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the importance of the baseline assumptions. The cost per year of life saved ranged from $5,421 with atorvastatin to $15,073 with lovastatin. The patient's age at time of diagnosis of CHD had a major impact on the cost-effectiveness of the drugs; cost-effectiveness per year of life saved was higher for older patients than younger patients. The six currently marketed HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors varied widely in cost and effectiveness in producing reductions in the LDL-cholesterol concentrations that have been shown to prevent recurrent MI; there was an approximately threefold difference in the cost per year of life saved between the most cost-effective and least cost-effective agents.
Structurally Similar Triphenylphosphine-Stabilized Undecagolds, Au11(PPh3)7Cl3 and [Au11(PPh3)8Cl2]Cl, Exhibit Distinct Ligand Exchange Pathways with Glutathione

Ligand exchange is frequently used to introduce new functional groups on the surface of inorganic nanoparticles or clusters while preserving the core size. For one of the smallest clusters, triphenylphosphine (TPP)-stabilized undecagold, there are conflicting reports in the literature regarding whether core size is retained or significant growth occurs during exchange with thiol ligands. During an investigation of these differences in reactivity, two distinct forms of undecagold were isolated. The X-ray structures of the two forms, Au11(PPh3)7Cl3 and [Au11(PPh3)8Cl2]Cl, differ only in the number of TPP ligands bound to the core. Syntheses were developed to produce each of the two forms, and their spectroscopic features correlated with the structures. Ligand exchange on [Au11(PPh3)8Cl2]Cl yields only small clusters, whereas exchange on Au11(PPh3)7Cl3 (or mixtures of the two forms) yields the larger Au25 cluster. The distinctive features in the optical spectra of the two forms made it possible to evaluate w...
Demystifying Menstrual Synchrony: Women's Subjective Beliefs About Bleeding in Tandem With Other Women

Despite the empirical uncertainty about the existence of menstrual synchrony (i.e., the phenomenon where some women's menstrual cycles synchronize when they live in close proximity with one another), the persistence of beliefs in its existence permeate popular and medical discourses. Although there is a substantial body of scientific work on whether or not menstrual synchrony exists, far less work has examined why women believe in menstrual synchrony and the reasons they attribute to its existence (or not). Qualitative data from semistructured interviews with a diverse community sample of 20 women (mean age = 35.35, SD = 12.01) living in a large Southwestern U.S. city from a range of age, race, class, and sexual orientation backgrounds (40% women of color, 20% lesbian, 20% bisexual) were collected to examine beliefs about menstrual synchrony. Results revealed that women overwhelmingly endorsed the occurrence of menstrual synchrony both for themselves (90%) and for other women (95%). Four themes were assoc...
Optimal Leverage and Investment Under Uncertainty

This paper studies the effects of changes in uncertainty on optimal leverage and investment in a dynamic firm-financing model in which firms have access to complete markets subject to collateral constraints. Entrepreneurs finance projects with their net worth and by issuing state-contingent securities, which have to be collateralized with physical capital. An increase in uncertainty leads to deleveraging, as entrepreneurs reduce their demand for external financing to be able to hedge the larger shocks. Initially deleveraging leads to a drop in investment. Investment recovers as entrepreneurs build up net worth and transition into an environment with high uncertainty. Changes in uncertainty have large quantitative effects on optimal leverage and investment dynamics. Financial innovation amplifies the effects of uncertainty shocks.
Immunotherapy of murine transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder using alpha and gamma interferon in combination with other forms of immunotherapy.

Abstract BCG immunotherapy is very effective in the treatment of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, but its significant toxicity may limit its use in some patients. In an effort to find less toxic and potentially more effective treatments we investigated the possible immunotherapeutic potential of combinations of Alpha Interferon (1000 IU) and Gamma Interferon (500 IU) with bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) (107 cfu), Interleukin-2 (4000 IU), and Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (50 μg.) in the MBT2 murine bladder cancer model. Significant reductions (p
Vagueness, Degrees, and Gradable Predicates

This is a draft of a chapter for a book, Modification, in preparation for the Cambridge University Press series Key Topics in Semantics and Pragmatics. The full manuscript is also available as a single document on my website, as are some additional chapters. The book is something between a textbook for people who already have a basic background in semantics and a survey of work in the area. For a fuller explanation of its purpose and scope, consult chapter 1 in the full manuscript. Broken links, marked with ??, are to other chapters not included in this document. (You can avoid this by looking at the full manuscript.) Comments would be extremely helpful, so please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any, even very minor ones.
The perils of holding elections in a limited access order: analysis of Afghanistan’s experience in 2014

AbstractThis paper explores the process and outcome of Afghanistan’s 2014 presidential election from a limited access social order perspective, building on the influential work of Douglass North and colleagues on violence and social orders. Under the threat of postelection violence, nontransparent, internationally overseen bargaining led to a negotiated result that accommodated the runner-up in the initial vote count by creating a new high-level government position and giving him a share in ministerial nominations. Applying the North et al. framework and related analysis, the paper discusses the contradictions, clashes, and perverse effects that can arise when democratic institutional forms such as elections are imposed on a limited access order, especially a fragile one like Afghanistan. It argues for modest expectations and longer time horizons, focusing less on each individual election and more on developing effective political institutions (including not least robust political parties), avoiding inter...
Mesenteric Malperfusion: The Insidious, Dreadful Enemy

Mesenteric malperfusion is associated with a poor prognosis. Stent grafting to treat acute type B dissection with malperfusion has been widely accepted. The standard approach for acute type A dissection is central repair. However, mesenteric ischemia may continue to deteriorate. Can an algorithm with fenestration first approach improve the outcomes?
Guidance and attitude control of rockets with fixed impulsive forces

A novel approach to motion control of rockets using impulsive forces with fixed amplitude and duration is introduced. Continuous control laws are developed for guidance and attitude control of rigid bodies followed by the derivation of equivalent discrete time fixed amplitude and duration impulses normally provided by thrusters. The approach is then applied to a rocket guidance and attitude control problem with measurement errors, feedback time delay and random initial pose errors. Monte Carlo simulations are used to validate the controller performance with limited number of both reusable and single-use thrusters.
Electrochemical etching of Ti2AlC to Ti2CTx (MXene) in low-concentration hydrochloric acid solution

In this study, we successfully demonstrate the electrochemical etching of Al from porous Ti2AlC electrodes in dilute hydrochloric acid to form a layer of Ti2CTx MXene on Ti2AlC. This is the first report on etching of the A layer from the MAX phase in a fluoride-free solution as a less hazardous method to process and handle MXenes. In addition, these MXenes possess only –Cl terminal groups, as well as the common ones, such as –O and –OH. However, electrochemical etching can also result in subsequent over-etching of parent MAX phases to carbide-derived carbon (CDC). We propose a core–shell model to explain electrochemical etching of Ti2AlC to Ti2CTx and CDC. The proposed model suggests that a careful balance in etching parameters is needed to produce MXenes while avoiding over-etching. Our electrochemical approach expands the possible range of both etching techniques and resulting MXene compositions.
Full-wave analysis of time of arrival based localization with polarization diversity

We investigate a time of arrival based localization technique for nodes deployed in complex GPS-challenged environments. The proposed technique exploits spatial and polarization diversity via anchors equipped with polarization diversity antennas operating at low frequencies. Empirically derived effective dielectric constants are used for penetration delay compensation. Our full-wave simulations of a complex scene suggest that sub-meter localization error can be achieved, with low-power transmission at upper HF and lower VHF bands.
Contesting Water Rights from “Below”

This chapter focuses on three cases of local struggles contesting the rights to water and resisting privatization: two of these cases are in India, Tarun Bharat Sangh and the Plachimada struggle and the third involves a coalition of citizens in Stockton, California. The economic dimension of globalization has involved specific attempts by the state to privatize resources and assume that markets will balance the supply, demand, and prices of resources that are viewed by people as a common property resource. This chapter discusses water as a resource that has increasingly been privatized by the state, prompting community-based collective resistance to such policies. Such resistance also involves conflicts within communities because of differential water needs that may be rooted in class and/or caste differences. Community groups—village, town, and/or urban based—have resisted environmental degradation and access as well as control over local sources of water. For instance, in the late 1990s, the Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS) movement in Rajasthan (northwestern India) engaged in the regeneration of the Arvari River and the rejuvenation of traditional systems for water harvesting. By holding a water ‘parliament’ twice a year to settle disputes and conflicts pertaining to control over water resources and the use of pasture land, TBS has attempted to promote democratic governance of scarce water resources. This collective initiative in a developing country like India has similarities to the case of the Concerned Citizens’ Coalition of Stockton (CCCS) in California, which engaged in protesting the privatization of the municipal water supply. Although TBS engaged in mobilizing people in rural areas and CCCS was urban-based, their goals were similar as they challenged privatization and demanded a ‘say’ in who controlled water resources. However, it is essential to acknowledge the role of TBS as a non-governmental organization (NGO), which adds an additional dimension to the local-transnational nexus in challenges to water rights. Unlike the CCCS and TBS, the Plachimada (Kerala state, India) struggle predominantly by Adivasis has involved the conservation of existing resources and protests against the excessive utilization of groundwater by the Coca-Cola Company. As they experienced the depletion of their water resources, local residents came together in 2002 without any formal organization or leader. The local panchayat pursued a policy that differed from that of the Kerala state government and the national government’s agenda to attract and support private investment of all forms. This also shows that the multi-layered structure of state institutions can enable local protests.
Six-Year Changes in Physical Activity and the Risk of Incident Heart Failure: ARIC Study

Background —Higher physical activity (PA) is associated with lower heart failure (HF) risk. However, the impact of changes in PA on HF risk is unknown. Methods —We evaluated 11,351 ARIC participants (mean age 60 years) who attended Visit 3 (1993-95) and did not have a history of cardiovascular disease. Exercise PA was assessed using a modified Baecke questionnaire and categorized according to American Heart Association guidelines as recommended, intermediate, or poor. We used Cox regression models to characterize the association of 6-year changes in PA between the first (1987-1989) and third ARIC visits and HF risk. Results —During a median of 19 years of follow-up, there were 1,750 HF events. Compared to those with poor activity at both visits, the lowest HF risk was seen for those with persistently recommended activity (HR 0.69; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.80). However, those whose PA increased from poor to recommended also had reduced HF risk (HR 0.77; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.93). Among participants with poor baseline activity, each 1-SD higher PA at 6 years (512.5 METS*minutes/week; corresponding to approximately 30 minutes of brisk walking 4 times per week) was associated with significantly lower future HF risk (HR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.82, 0.96). Conclusions —While maintaining recommended activity levels is associated with the lowest HF risk, initiating and increasing PA, even in late middle age, are also linked to lower HF risk. Augmenting PA may be an important component of strategies to prevent HF.
Non-monotonic reasoning using dempster's rule

Rich's suggestion that the arcs of semantic nets be labelled so as to reflect confidence in the properties they represent is investigated in greater detail. If these confidences are thought of as ranges of acceptable probabilities, existing statistical methods can be used effectively to combine them. The framework developed also seems to be a natural one in which to describe higher levels of deduction, such as "reasoning about reasoning".
TRANSITION METAL MEDIATED CARBON-CARBON BOND FORMATIONS: A GENERAL, PARTIALLY CHEMO-, REGIO-, AND STEREOSPECIFIC SYNTHESIS OF ANNELATED CYCLOHEXADIENES FROM ACYCLIC STARTING MATERIALS

Abstract The cobalt complex n5-cyclopentadienyldicarbonylcobalt effects the stoichiometric and chemospecific cyclization of α,δ,ω-diyneenes to complexed tricyclic cyclohexadienes, and of α,ω-enynes with monoacetylenes to complexed bicyclic cyclohexadienes. In several cases stereoselectivity is observed of the newly formed chiral center relative to the cobalt atom. The stereochemistry of the double bond is retained in the product, and in the case of unsymmetrical monoacetylenes the cyclization proceeds regioselectively. The free ligands may be prepared by treatment of the complexes with cupric chloride, or by running the reaction with catalytic amounts of bis(triphenyl-phosphine)dicarbonyl nickel. The complexed as well as the free ligands may be further functionalized broadening the scope of the synthetic method.
Information System Requirements

Clinical databases have been used in cardiovascular medicine at leading institutions such as Duke University for over 25 years (1). In recent years clinical databases have become much more popular for a variety of reasons. The first issue to consider when deciding on whether to develop a clinical database in an institution or cooperatively between institutions is the reason for having the database in the first place. Failure to articulate the reason for the database may resultin the development of a database that will not meet the needs of the institution or cooperative group.Another critical point when considering databases is to identify the primary unit for analysis. Generally in clinical databases this is a patient. Remarkably, large databases have been developed in which a patient cannot be recognized. Databases require careful design and adequate resources. A sloppy design and inadequate resources generally will result in a database that cannot be maintained. Finally, dedication to accurate and complete data collection is essential. Each of these issues, as well as several others, will be considered in detail.
CHROMATOGRAPHY | Light Scattering Detectors

This article describes light scattering detectors, both evaporative and liquid light scattering detectors. This material highlights the critical components of light scattering detectors, provides theory as well as examples of applications where light scattering detectors are relevant in separation science.
ADS/CFT and Cosmological Singularities

In String Theory dynamical space-time is an emergent phenomenon. One manifestation of this is the holographic correspondence, where a field theory with no dynamical metric is dual to a theory containing gravity in higher number of dimensions. In these lectures I describe an attempt to understand space-like singularities and regions of large curvature where Einstein equations break down in terms of the dual gauge theory, and investigate whether the gauge theory can provide a continuation of time evolution beyond this region.
The Midlife Financial Squeeze: Intergenerational Transfers of Financial Resources Within Aging Families

Due to demographic changes such as increased longevity and decreased family size, midlife adults can now expect to spend more years relating to both ascendant and descendent generations sharing co-biographical experiences (Soldo 1996; Uhlenberg 1996 Bengtson et al. 1990). Intergenerational family relations are becoming increasingly important to Americans in response to these demographic shifts (Bengtson 2001). We must seek to understand “families as context” – that is, as dynamic units with members who age concurrently and share co-biographical experiences – rather than examining the isolated life course patterns of individuals (Davey et al. 2005; Hagestad 2003). Studying “families as context” suggests that intergenerational financial exchanges deserve closer attention as concerns rise about job security, postsecondary education costs, retirement savings, and public support programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
‘A nobleman should be clean and smell good’: olfactory visuality and haptic space in Aleksei Gherman Sr.’s Hard To Be A God

ABSTRACTThis article expands on existing scholarship concerning the olfactory aesthetics of the filmmaker Aleksei Gherman Sr. (1938–2013). Critics have argued that Gherman odorizes his moving images to probe his spectators’ memories of the Soviet past. Given the unique spatial properties of stench, however, Gherman’s onscreen evocation of smell cannot only be conceived temporally, but must also be theorized spatially. This article puts Gherman’s filmography into dialogue with contemporary smell theory to interrogate how his pungent aesthetics effect the production of cinematic space. It reveals a phenomenological correspondence between smell and cinema in that both virtually and emotionally transport the seemingly stationary smeller/spectator to otherwise inaccessible spatiotemporalities. If Gherman’s earlier work whisks his audiences back to the redolent sites of Stalinism, his last film, Hard to Be a God (2014), launches viewers into the foul-smelling cosmos. Its putrid smellscape, unlike those of Gherm...
Using Dice Towers in an Introductory Physics Lab

In tabletop games involving dice, it is important to ensure randomness of the dice rolls and to protect other gaming elements from being scattered by rolling dice. One way of ensuring random rolls and protecting gaming elements is to drop dice into a dice-rolling tower (“dice tower”). A dice tower is usually small (20 cm by 20 cm) and made of foam board or wood and contains various obstacles (ramps, pegs, etc.) for the dice to collide with in a confined environment. With the rising popularity of tabletop gaming and the importance of engaging students with design projects, the process of designing, building, and testing a dice tower can be the basis of various interesting physics lab activities. Here, we discuss the basics of dice tower design and construction, present the results of a few simple experiments that our students have conducted using dice towers, and outline some of the physics principles that a dice tower can be used to illustrate.
Exploring Machine Learning Techniques to Improve Peptide Identification

Proteotypic peptides are the peptides in protein sequences that can be confidently observed by mass-spectrometry based proteomics. In recent years, there has been an increased effort to use proteotypic peptide prediction to improve the accuracy of peptide identification. These investigations compile various physicochemical peptide features to identify whether peptides are proteotypic. Here we describe our method for the selection, reduction and evaluation of physicochemical features for proteotypic peptide prediction. We performed feature selection on a published set of features and identified six features as the most significant. To highlight the effectiveness of our reduced feature set, we trained three machine learning algorithms (support vector machines, random forests, and XGBoost) as proteotypic peptide identifiers. Importantly, for larger data sets, the random forests and XGBoost algorithms trained faster than the support vector machine, as solving the support vector machine objective function requires quadratic programming. Our three classifiers had similar if not better prediction accuracy when compared to other proteotypic peptide predictors on the same data sets.
Switching between bacteriostatic and bactericidal antimicrobials for retreatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) relapses is associated with an increased frequency of resistant pathogen isolation from veterinary diagnostic laboratory submissions

Abstract Although 90% of BRD relapses are reported to receive retreatment with a different class of antimicrobial, studies examining the impact of antimicrobial selection (i.e. bactericidal or bacteriostatic) on retreatment outcomes and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are deficient in the published literature. A survey was conducted to determine the association between antimicrobial class selection for retreatment of BRD relapses on antimicrobial susceptibility of Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somni. Pathogens were isolated from samples submitted to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory from January 2013 to December 2015. A total of 781 isolates with corresponding animal case histories, including treatment protocols, were included in the analysis. Original susceptibility testing of these isolates for ceftiofur, danofloxacin, enrofloxacin, florfenicol, oxytetracycline, spectinomycin, tilmicosin, and tulathromycin was performed using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Data were analyzed using a Bayesian approach to evaluate whether retreatment with antimicrobials of different mechanistic classes (bactericidal or bacteriostatic) increased the probability of resistant BRD pathogen isolation in calves. The posterior distribution we calculated suggests that an increased number of treatments is associated with a greater probability of isolates resistant to at least one antimicrobial. In addition, the frequency of resistant M. haemolytica isolates was greater with retreatment using antimicrobials of different mechanistic classes than retreatment with the same class. Specifically, treatment protocols using a bacteriostatic drug first followed by retreatment with a bactericidal drug was associated with a higher frequency of resistant BRD pathogen isolation. This effect was more profound with specific treatment combinations; tulathromycin (bacteriostatic) followed by ceftiofur (bactericidal) was associated with the highest probability of resistant isolates among all antimicrobial combinations. These findings suggest that the selection of antimicrobial mechanistic class for retreatment of BRD should be considered as part of an antimicrobial stewardship program.
Subclass and Allotype Differences in Human γG Immunoglobulins Reflected by the Amino Acid Sequence of Fc Glycopeptides

Publisher Summary Human γG subclasses have been characterized by their antigenic distinctiveness and more recently by amino acid sequence data of the C-terminal octadecapeptide and of the region surrounding cysteine residues. Fc glycopeptide is easily isolated and has a known position in the heavy chain. This chapter, thus, discusses a study of this peptide on material isolated from representative myeloma proteins of the four subclasses to obtain further data regarding the structural differences between the γG subclasses. Glycopeptides were isolated from tryptic digests of intact myeloma proteins or Fc fragments by paper chromatography and high voltage electrophoresis. The chapter presents a table to show amino acid composition of the glycopeptides isolated from 18 representative myeloma proteins of the four γG subclasses and the major allotypic variants therein, as well as the composition of the glycopeptide obtained from the Fc fragment of normal γG
Robustifying genomic classifiers to batch effects via ensemble learning

Genomic data are often produced in batches due to practical restrictions, which may lead to unwanted variation in data caused by discrepancies across processing batches. Such "batch effects" often have negative impact on downstream biological analysis and need careful consideration. In practice, batch effects are usually addressed by specifically designed software, which merge the data from different batches, then estimate batch effects and remove them from the data. Here we focus on classification and prediction problems, and propose a different strategy based on ensemble learning. We first develop prediction models within each batch, then integrate them through ensemble weighting methods. In contrast to the typical approach of removing batch effects from the merged data, our method integrates predictions rather than data. We provide a systematic comparison between these two strategies, using studies targeting diverse populations infected with tuberculosis. In one study, we simulated increasing levels of heterogeneity across random subsets of the study, which we treat as simulated batches. We then use the two methods to develop a genomic classifier for the binary indicator of disease status. We evaluate the accuracy of prediction in another independent study targeting a different population cohort. We observed a turning point in the level of heterogeneity, after which our strategy of integrating predictions yields better discrimination in independent validation than the traditional method of integrating the data. These observations provide practical guidelines for handling batch effects in the development and evaluation of genomic classifiers.
Factibilidad de análisis biomolecular en base a la metilación del promotor de O6-metilguanina-ADN metiltransferasa mediante técnica de PCR anidado en glioblastoma multiforme en el Hospital Carlos Van Buren, Chile

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most frequent subtype of gliomas in adults, with a poor survival rate after diagnosis. Without treatment, the mean survival time doesn’t exceed 3 months after diagnosis, increasing up to 12 to 15 months if the optimal treatment is given, including surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy using temozolomide. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility to do a biomolecular analysis of histological samples at Carlos Van Buren Hospital using nested PCR technique to determine methylation of MGMT promoter between 2010 and 2014. As an dditional objective, we pretended to evaluate the correlation between mean survival time and MGMT promoter methylation status. The MGMT methylation status was studied in twelve samples, achieving a 57,1% amplification success. An 83,3% was found in a non-methyl ated status, with 9.2 months of mean survival time, in contrast to 21 months in the methylated group (p = 0.15). We concluded that nested PCR technique is feasible to do in our center, requiring prospective studies to evaluate a predictive value, although an increased mean survival time after diagnosis and methylated status was related.
Pneumatic Coiling Actuator Inspired by the Awns of Erodium cicutarium.

This study examines the coiling and uncoiling motions of a soft pneumatic actuator inspired by the awn tissue of {\it Erodium cicutarium}. These tissues have embedded cellulose fibers distributed in a {\it tilted} helical pattern, which induces hygroscopic coiling and uncoiling in response to the daily changes in ambient humidity. Such sophisticated motions can eventually ``drill'' the seed at the tip of awn tissue into the soil: a drill bit in the plant kingdom. Through finite element simulation and experimental testing, this study examines a soft pneumatic actuator that has a similar reinforcing fiber layout to the Erodium plant tissue. This actuator, in essence, is a thin-walled elastomeric cylinder covered by tilted helical Kevlar fibers. Upon internal pressurization, it can exhibit a coiling motion by a combination of simultaneous twisting, bending, and extension. Parametric analyses show that the coiling motion characteristics are directly related to the geometry of tilted helical fibers. Notably, a moderate tilt in the reinforcing helical fiber leads to many coils of small radius, while a significant tilt gives fewer coils of larger radius. The results of this study can offer guidelines for constructing plant-inspired robotic manipulators that can achieve complicated motions with simple designs.