cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autophagy Is Increased in Postmortem Brains of Persons With HIV-1-Associated Encephalitis

Background. Autophagy is critical to maintaining cell homeostasis and is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. This research examined the role of autophagy in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)‐ associated encephalitis, the pathologic hallmark of neuroAIDS. Methods. The frontal cortex from 32 HIV-infected persons (12 without evidence HIV-1 encephalitis or clinical signs of central nervous system impairment and 20 with histopathological findings of HIV-1 encephalitis) and 8 persons without HIV infection and any neuropathology were examined postmortem. Green fluorescent proteinlabeled (GFP) light chain 3 (LC3)‐expressing neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells treated with gp120 from CXCR4 and CCR5 viruses were also examined. Autophagic markers were assessed by means of Western blot analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and confocal microscopy. Results. Autophagic proteins Beclin 1, Autophagy-related gene (Atg)-5, Atg-7, and LC3-II were significantly increased in brains with HIV-1 encephalitis (P , .05). These findings were confirmed by TEM and immunostaining of brain tissue. Additionally, levels of autophagic proteins and autophagosomes were increased in neuronal cells treated with both CXCR4- or CCR5-tropic HIV-1 gp120. No increase in the level of autophagy was observed in the brains of HIV-infected persons without HIV-1 encephalitis compared with the level in brains of HIV-uninfected persons.
Multipoint dissolution specification and acceptance sampling rule based on profile modeling and principal component analysis

In dissolution testing, multiple dissolution measurements at specific time points are needed in quality control when the compliance of the product requires controlled dissolution throughout the time course. The dissolution specification based on general multivariate confidence region was proposed by Chen and Tsong (8). This paper presents two alternative procedures when the dissolution profile consists of important measurements at more than 4 time points. In the first procedure, when the dissolution profile can be described by a physical curve through modeling, the dissolution specification is developed based on the confidence region of the parameters of the physical curve. In the second procedure, the principal components (PCS) as the linear combinations of the dissolution measurements are identified and dissolution specification is set based by the confidence intervals of the values of principal components. In both approaches the specification can be set at lower dimensions than the general multivariate confidence region approach. A single-stage acceptance rule can be used in both approaches by first projecting the dissolution values of each tablet in the new testing batch onto the determined parameters axes (through modeling in modeling approach and through projection on the selected PCS in principal component approach). Then check if the projections of the new tablet fall within the specifications. Finally, count the number of tablets that fall outside the specification limits and reject the batch if the proportion of out-of-specification tablet is high and accept the lot for release if the proportion is low.
Ultraviolet light therapy for atopic dermatitis

Editorial commentDr Lawrence Khoo and Dr Charles Taylor have reviewed the literature concerning ultraviolet light therapy for atopic dermatitis including conventional broad-band UVB, UVA, UVA-1 and narrow-band UVB. They have also examined the evidence for treatment of eczema with PUVA and ambient sunlight. This detailed review serves to bring residents and trainees up-to-date with the various phototherapies used to treat atopic eczema and in particular places narrow-band UVB firmly within this repertoire of therapies. Narrow-band UVB phototherapy has moved from being a research based phototherapy offered in a small number of specialized photodermatology units in Europe to being widely available in phototherapy units throughout the world. This rapid development is a reflection of the obvious efficacy of narrow-band UVB in the treatment of psoriasis and has close parallels with the development of PUVA. As with PUVA there is now accumulating evidence that narrow-band UVB phototherapy has a role in the treatm...
Media coverage of off-label promotion: a content analysis of US newspapers.

Abstract Background Promotion of drugs for off-label use is newsworthy, because it is an illegal but all too common strategy used by pharmaceutical companies. The print media are an important source of information about coverage of off-label promotion of drugs and devices and can influence public perceptions of the practice. Objectives Print media coverage of off-label promotion during the years 1990-2008 were described and quantified. The primary themes and general tones relating to off-label promotion articles were evaluated. General concerns associated with off-label promotion and complaints about specific brand name drugs were also identified. Methods Content analyses of the top 6 US newspapers were conducted over the period of 1990-2008 to analyze the media coverage given to off-label promotion of drugs and devices. Headlines and full text of articles were analyzed for primary themes and tones of the coverage. Intercoder reliability tests were performed on all the study variables. Results One hundred and one articles were identified meeting the study inclusion criteria. Coverage varied by newspaper. The Wall Street Journal had the most coverage on the topic (45%), and USA Today and Chicago Tribune had the least coverage (5%). Overall, most of the stories sampled were deemed to have a negative tone in coverage (77%), focusing mainly on lawsuits against drug companies for promoting their drugs for off-label uses. Pfizer's Neurontin ® (Pfizer Inc., New York, NY 10017, USA) and Johnson & Johnson's Retin-A ® (Orthoneutrogena, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA) received the most media attention. Conclusion The news media helps shape public understanding of promotional practices of pharmaceutical companies and their potential benefits and harms. This study suggests that print media coverage is generally negative about off-label promotion, focusing on legal actions taken against drug companies and the negative consequences of such promotional practices.
Nucleic Acid-Based Immune System: the Antiviral Potential of Mammalian RNA Silencing

The discovery of a highly conserved cellular machinery that can regulate gene expression in response to double-stranded RNA may revolutionize mammalian virology. This revolution promises not only a deeper understanding of host-pathogen interactions and a novel set of experimental tools to explore the mechanism of viral replication but may also yield new therapeutic approaches. Even though the field of RNA silencing (or RNA interference [RNAi]) as applied to mammalian viruses is barely a year old, there is already enough material to appreciate its importance and to discuss its implications. Since an impressive number of excellent reviews on RNAi have been published recently (25, 27, 62), here we emphasize mammalian RNA silencing as it concerns one of its (presumably) natural targets, viruses.
Industrial Policy: Conservative, Liberal and Radical Views

Books reviewed in this articles: Barry Bluestone and Bennett Harrison, The Deindustrialization of America Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Fiscal 1982 Budget Revisions Ira C. Magaziner and Robert B. Reich, Minding America's Business; The Decline and Rise of the American Economy Robert B. Reich, The Next American Frontier
ESTPiper - a web-based analysis pipeline for expressed sequence tags

Background EST sequencing projects are increasing in scale and scope as the genome sequencing technologies migrate from core sequencing centers to individual research laboratories. Effectively, generating EST data is no longer a bottleneck for investigators. However, processing large amounts of EST data remains a non-trivial challenge for many. Web-based EST analysis tools are proving to be the most convenient option for biologists when performing their analysis, so these tools must continuously improve on their utility to keep in step with the growing needs of research communities. We have developed a web-based EST analysis pipeline called ESTPiper, which streamlines typical large-scale EST analysis components.
A cosmic trip: 25 years of cosmogenic nuclides in geology

Terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides, produced by secondary cosmic-ray interactions in the atmosphere and in situ within minerals in the shallow lithosphere, are widely used to date surface exposure of rocks and sediments, to estimate erosion and weathering rates, and to date sediment deposition or burial. Their use has transformed geomorphology and Quaternary geology, for the first time allowing landforms to be dated and denudation rates to be measured over soil-forming time scales. The application of cosmogenic nuclides to geology began soon after the invention of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) in 1977 and increased dramatically with the measurement of in situ–produced nuclides in mineral grains near Earth’s surface in the 1980s. The past 25 yr have witnessed the development of cosmogenic nuclides from their initial detection to their prevalence today as a standard geochronological and geochemical tool. This review covers the major developments of the past 25 yr by comparing the state of the field in 1988 with that of today, and by identifying key advances in that period that moved the field forward. We emphasize the most commonly used in situ–produced nuclides measured by AMS for geological applications, but we also discuss other nuclides where their applications overlap. Our review covers AMS instrumentation, cosmogenic nuclide production rates, the methods of surface exposure dating, measurement of erosion and weathering, and burial dating, and meteoric 10 Be. —In memoriam: Devendra Lal (1929–2012), whose vision inspired the field.
Cross-Sectional Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy of CdTe/CdS Solar Cells: Effects of Etching and Back-Contact Processes

We investigated the effects of the etching processes using bromine and nitric-phosphoric acid solutions, as well as of Cu, in the bulk electrical conductivity of CdTe/CdS solar cells using conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM). Although the etching process can create a conductive layer on the surface of the CdTe, the layer is very shallow. In contrast, the addition of a thin layer of Cu to the surface creates a conductive layer inside the CdTe that is not uniform in depth, is concentrated at grains boundaries, and may short circuit the device if the CdTe is too thin. The etching process facilitates the Cu diffusion and results in thicker conductive layers. The existence of this inhomogeneous conductive layer directly affects the current transport and is probably the reason for needing thick CdTe in these devices.
Spectrophotometric determination of palladium with thiomalic acid

Abstract A procedure has been developed for the ultraviolet spectrophotometric determination of palladium II with thiomalic acid. Maximum absorbance of the yellow organo-palladium complex, PdR 2 , is at 350 mμ; the optimum pH range is 1.1 to 2.6. The colour reaction is instantaneous and the complex is stable for several days. Temperature variation over the range 15° to 35° has no significant effect. The coloured complex obeys Beer's law and the practical sensitivity of the reaction is 0.05 ppm of palladium. Tolerances to a number of ions have been established and palladium has been determined in a variety of synthetic samples with good precision and accuracy.
Energy storage characteristics of a new rechargeable solid oxide iron–air battery

Cost effective and large scale energy storage is critical to renewable energy integration and smart-grid energy infrastructure. Rechargeable batteries have great potential to become a class of cost effective technology suited for large scale energy storage. In this paper, we report the energy storage characteristics of a newly developed rechargeable solid oxide iron–air battery. Investigations of the battery’s performance under various current densities and cycle durations show that iron utilization plays a determining role in storage capacity and round-trip efficiency. Further studies of the battery's cycle life reveal a unique charge-cycle originated degradation mechanism that can be interpreted by a combined vapor-phase transport and electrochemical condensation model. Overall, the energy capacity of the new solid oxide iron–air storage battery should be properly balanced with the round-trip efficiency at optimized iron utilization.
Relevance of vitamin D in reproduction

The steroid hormone vitamin D is historically recognized for its relevance to bone health and calcium homeostasis. Recent years have witnessed a shift in focus to non-skeletal benefits of vitamin D; in this latter context, an accruing body of literature attests to a relevance of vitamin D to reproductive physiology. This article reviews the existing data about the diverse and previously underappreciated roles for vitamin D in reproductive health. A large body of available literature suggests that vitamin D deficiency may be detrimental to reproductive biology. However, given that our appreciation of vitamin D's role in reproductive physiology is almost entirely shaped by 'associative' studies and that data based on prospective interventional trials are limited, these concepts remain predominantly conjectural. Exact mechanisms whereby vitamin D may participate in the regulation of reproductive physiology remain far from clear. This review underscores a need for appropriately designed intervention trials to address the existing knowledge gaps and to delineate the specific roles of vitamin D signaling in reproductive biology.
Convex Clustering with Exemplar-Based Models

Clustering is often formulated as the maximum likelihood estimation of a mixture model that explains the data. The EM algorithm widely used to solve the resulting optimization problem is inherently a gradient-descent method and is sensitive to initialization. The resulting solution is a local optimum in the neighborhood of the initial guess. This sensitivity to initialization presents a significant challenge in clustering large data sets into many clusters. In this paper, we present a different approach to approximate mixture fitting for clustering. We introduce an exemplar-based likelihood function that approximates the exact likelihood. This formulation leads to a convex minimization problem and an efficient algorithm with guaranteed convergence to the globally optimal solution. The resulting clustering can be thought of as a probabilistic mapping of the data points to the set of exemplars that minimizes the average distance and the information-theoretic cost of mapping. We present experimental results illustrating the performance of our algorithm and its comparison with the conventional approach to mixture model clustering.
First-order statistics of optical near fields

The first-order statistical properties of the intensity in the close proximity of highly scattering, randomly inhomogeneous media were investigated. The situations examined encompass both Gaussian and non-Gaussian statistics of homogeneous and inhomogeneous components of the field.
Markets Nurture Relationships: Changing Relationship Patterns of Japanese GTCs in the Post-bubble Era

Japanese General Trading Companies (GTCs) have faced significant changes in their business environment, with more open markets and more internationally experienced trading partners. We investigate here some of the specific contractual changes that the firms have made in order to respond to, and more importantly take advantage of, the changed environment. The literature in economics, organization theory and political science has paid insufficient attention to the effects of change on the nature of business relationships. Firms are usually modelled as able to change very quickly, or alternatively—and sometimes simultaneously—incapable of adjusting to new environments. GTCs can use the change to craft new relationships and, however imperfectly, adjust to the new environment. Their accumulated relation-specific information is the source of flexibility. Using information from two sets of interviews of trading company managers, we show that seemingly out-of-date relationships can have embedded in them information-based resources that allow these institutions to take advantage of new situations. Newly developed and more open markets can paradoxically lead to new and even more complex trading company relationships. Markets and hierarchies are not always substitutes. Trading firms use their ‘out-of-date’ relationship and information resources in the new environment as well.
Tolypocladium inflatum is the anamorph of Cordyceps subsessilis

A collection of Cordyceps subsessilis is doc- umented. Axenic cultures of single part ascospores produced an anamorph attributable to the common soil hyphomycete Tolypocladium inflatum (= T ni- veum). Efrapeptins were identified in culture filtrates of the anamorph. The efrapeptin profile of the C. subsessilis anamorph was found to be similar to that
What’s in a Word? Building Program Loyalty through Social Media Communication

Customer loyalty is paramount for hospitality businesses, and social media communication is becoming a powerful way to increase touchpoints with customers. However, scant research evaluates the imp...
Durable efficacy of adjuvant radiation therapy for prostate cancer: will the benefit last?

Radical prostatectomy can be an effective therapy for men with organ-confined disease. However, extension beyond the confines of the prostate (pT3) can be found in many men, and this is often associated with long-term prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure. Not all patients will progress with pT3 disease. The identification of additional adverse prognostic features (high Gleason score, PSA greater than 10 ng/mL, and seminal vesical invasion) can help identify those men at highest risk of progression following definitive surgery. The role of postoperative therapy in patients with high-risk features is often controversial. The lack of long-term survival benefit, toxicity, and cost are often cited. We reviewed our experience with a unified approach to this patient population and performed matched-pair analysis of patients with similar adverse prognostic features treated with and without postoperative radiation therapy. For our series, the results indicate that the addition of adjuvant radiation therapy is associated with a significantly reduced risk of PSA recurrence, The 5-year bNED rate after adjuvant radiation therapy was 89% (95% Cl: 76% to 100%) compared with 55% (95% Cl: 34% to 79%) after surgery alone (P = .002). This benefit also appears to hold true for men with pathological involvement of their seminal vesicles. A dose-response curve was observed with improved disease control above a level of 61.2 Gy. Appropriate patient selection and delivery of an adequate dose of radiation can improve the PSA recurrence of most patients with pT3 disease.
Requirements Definition for ORNL Trusted Corridors Project

The ORNL Trusted Corridors Project has several other names: SensorNet Transportation Pilot; Identification and Monitoring of Radiation (in commerce) Shipments (IMR(ic)S); and Southeastern Transportation Corridor Pilot (SETCP). The project involves acquisition and analysis of transportation data at two mobile and three fixed inspection stations in five states (Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington DC). Collaborators include the State Police organizations that are responsible for highway safety, law enforcement, and incident response. The three states with fixed weigh-station deployments (KY, SC, TN) are interested in coordination of this effort for highway safety, law enforcement, and sorting/targeting/interdiction of potentially non-compliant vehicles/persons/cargo. The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is interested in these deployments, as a Pilot test (SETCP) to identify Improvised Nuclear Devices (INDs) in highway transport. However, the level of DNDO integration among these state deployments is presently uncertain. Moreover, DHS issues are considered secondary by the states, which perceive this work as an opportunity to leverage these (new) dual-use technologies for state needs. In addition, present experience shows that radiation detectors alone cannot detect DHS-identified IND threats. Continued SETCP success depends on the level of integration of current state/local police operations withmore » the new DHS task of detecting IND threats, in addition to emergency preparedness and homeland security. This document describes the enabling components for continued SETCP development and success, including: sensors and their use at existing deployments (Section 1); personnel training (Section 2); concept of operations (Section 3); knowledge discovery from the copious data (Section 4); smart data collection, integration and database development, advanced algorithms for multiple sensors, and network communications (Section 5); and harmonization of local, state, and Federal procedures and protocols (Section 6).« less
Einführung in das Thema

Dieses Buch soll Ihnen dabei helfen, Ihre Projektarbeit effizient zu gestalten und zu einem richtig guten Ergebnis zu bringen. Als praktischer Leitfaden orientiert es sich an den typischen Aufgabenstellungen und Ablaufen, wie sie Ihnen an Universitaten und Hochschulen begegnen, unabhangig von Ihrem Studiengang.
What Matters in School Choice Tie-breakings?: How Competition Guides Design

School districts that adopt the Deferred Acceptance (DA) mechanism to assign students to schools face the tradeoff between fairness and efficiency when selecting how to exogenously break ties among equivalent students. We analyze a model with random generated preferences for students and compare two tie-breaking rules: a single lottery (STB) and DA with a separate lottery for each school (MTB). We consider three different notions for this comparison: stochastic dominance of rank distributions, variance of students' ranks, and number of Pareto improving pairs (pairs of students whom would be better off by swapping their positions). We identify that the balance between supply and demand is the determinant factor in these comparisons. When there is a shortage of seats, the rank distribution under STB stochastically dominates the rank distribution under MTB, and also, has a smaller variance. In addition, MTB creates ``many'' Pareto improving pairs, while STB creates none. When there is a surplus of seats, we show that neither random assignment under these mechanisms stochastically dominates the other, variance of the rank distribution is lower under MTB, and MTB generates few Pareto improving pairs. Our findings imply that ``popular" schools should use a single common lottery to break ties. Finally, numerical experiments using NYC school choice data confirm our predictions.
Religiosity in the Films of Ingmar Bergman

We have been examining some particular ways in which the modern world challenges our ability to find meaning. Antonioni’s films suggest that a culture shaped by money and industry has left little resources with which individuals can build a meaningful life. Similar observations can be found throughout the arts, philosophy, and behavioral science; and these cultural conditions are precisely what make existentialism so compelling to contemporary thinking persons. These are also conditions that have ramifications beyond the ability of persons to engage one another, of course. Religion and morality are two areas directly impacted; and since these are typically sources of meaning in themselves, it’s not surprising that this impact exacerbates the problem with meaninglessness. Both topics get considerable attention from existentialist philosophers, but the deep effect that they have on individuals at the personal level means there is concern across many disciplines, filmmaking not least. In this chapter we will focus on religiosity, and in the next, morality.
Spectroscopic Determination of Leaf Nitrogen Concentration and Mass Per Area in Sweet Corn and Snap Bean

Rapid nondestructive measurements at leaf level of nitrogen concentration (%N) and leaf mass per area (LMA) are needed to improve crop simulation model development and calibration, and better understanding of in-season N management. Many contact reflectance-based techniques for %N and LMA estimations require calibration across species, cultivars, growing stages, and cultural practices. Narrowband (hyperspectral) reflectance spectroscopy, in combination with partial least square regression (PLSR) models, offers improved performance over vegetation indices derived from standard linear regression analysis with simple ratios or combined formulas. Little research on the application of contact spectroscopy data and PLSR techniques has been conducted for sweet corn (Zea mays L.) and snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). In this study, we sought to determine the optimum wavelength ranges for %N and LMA estimations and to develop and evaluate spectroscopic models in estimating %N and LMA in the two species. Best PLSR predictions utilized 1500 to 2400 nm for %N estimations and 450 to 2400 nm for LMA estimations in both species, with high averaged coefficient of determination (R²) values (0.90–0.95 for cross-validation, 0.52–0.71 for external validation) and low root mean square error (RMSE, reported as percentage of sample data range) (4.59–5.67% for cross-validation, 9.50–18.46% for external validation). The results indicate that narrowband reflectance spectroscopy (450–2500 nm) combined with PLSR analysis is a promising method for rapid and nondestructive estimates of %N and LMA at leaf level in sweet corn and snap bean across growth stages, N management, and years.
VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS–A REVIEW1

This review presents current information on the taxonomic position, biochemical characteristics, distribution, isolation and identification procedures, pathogenicity, and serology of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. In the past, V. parahaemolyticus was associated primarily with outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Japan caused by consumption of seafoods and other salted foods. In recent years, this organism has been isolated from marine environments and seafoods in many countries, including the United States. In addition to gastroenteritis, some strains may cause localized tissue infections in humans and cause death of crab and shrimp. In the United States, V. parahaemolyticus has been incriminated in unconfirmed outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with consumption of shellfish. Isolation procedures based on direct plating of food homogenates on selective media with or without prior enrichment in broth media are available. Suspect colonies are confirmed by biochemical tests and fluorescent antibody technique. Al...
Shaping the new man: youth training regimes in Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, by Alessio Ponzio

In his introduction to Shaping the New Man, which is part of George L. Mosse’s Series in Modern European Cultural and Intellectual History, Alessio Ponzio indicates that his book is inspired by Mos...
Bone marrow microenvironment–derived signals induce Mcl-1 dependence in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is highly dependent on the bone marrow microenvironment until progressing to very advanced extramedullary stages of the disease such as plasma cell leukemia. Stromal cells in the bone marrow secrete a variety of cytokines that promote plasma cell survival by regulating antiapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family including Mcl-1, Bcl-xL, and Bcl-2. Although the antiapoptotic protein on which a cell depends is typically consistent among normal cells of a particular phenotype, Bcl-2 family dependence is highly heterogeneous in multiple myeloma. Although normal plasma cells and most multiple myeloma cells require Mcl-1 for survival, a subset of myeloma is codependent on Bcl-2 and/or Bcl-xL. We investigated the role of the bone marrow microenvironment in determining Bcl-2 family dependence in multiple myeloma. We used the Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitor ABT-737 to study the factors regulating whether myeloma is Mcl-1 dependent, and thus resistant to ABT-737–induced apoptosis, or Bcl-2/Bcl-xL codependent, and thus sensitive to ABT-737. We demonstrate that bone marrow stroma is capable of inducing Mcl-1 dependence through the production of the plasma cell survival cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). IL-6 upregulates Mcl-1 transcription in a STAT3-dependent manner, although this occurred in a minority of the cells tested. In all cells, IL-6 treatment results in posttranslational modification of the proapoptotic protein Bim. Phosphorylation of Bim shifts its binding from Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL to Mcl-1, an effect reversed by MEK inhibition. Blocking IL-6 or downstream signaling restored Bcl-2/Bcl-xL dependence and may therefore represent a clinically useful strategy to enhance the activity of Bcl-2 inhibitors.
Actinomyces-Related Tubo-Ovarian Abscess in a Poorly Controlled Type II Diabetic With a Copper Intrauterine Device

ABSTRACT Background: The historic association of Actinomyces israelii infection with intrauterine devices (IUDs) has long been recognized. In recent years, the risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease with a copper or levonorgestrel IUD has been less than 1% in women who are low risk for sexually transmitted infections. IUD-related pelvic infections secondary to actinomyces have largely vanished from contemporary practice. Case: A 49-year-old using a copper IUD for contraception with poorly controlled type II diabetes mellitus was admitted for suspected tubo-ovarian abscess on the basis of abdominopelvic pain, leukocytosis, and computed tomography findings. After she was treated with intravenous and outpatient antibiotics with clinical improvement, repeat imaging 1 month later revealed a persistent complex left adnexal mass. Tumor markers were negative but given the persistence and complex nature of the mass, surgical management was recommended. A robotic-assisted hysterectomy with bilateral salping...
An Analysis of Persistent Memory Use with WHISPER

Emerging non-volatile memory (NVM) technologies promise durability with read and write latencies comparable to volatile memory (DRAM). We define Persistent Memory (PM) as NVM accessed with byte addressability at low latency via normal memory instructions. Persistent-memory applications ensure the consistency of persistent data by inserting ordering points between writes to PM allowing the construction of higher-level transaction mechanisms. An epoch is a set of writes to PM between ordering points.To put systems research in PM on a firmer footing, we developed and analyzed a PM benchmark suite called WHISPER (Wisconsin-HP Labs Suite for Persistence) that comprises ten PM applications we gathered to cover all current interfaces to PM. A quantitative analysis reveals several insights: (a) only 4% of writes in PM-aware applications are to PM and the rest are to volatile memory, (b) software transactions are often implemented with 5 to 50 ordering points (c) 75% of epochs update exactly one 64B cache line, (d) 80% of epochs from the same thread depend on previous epochs from the same thread, while few epochs depend on epochs from other threads.Based on our analysis, we propose the Hands-off Persistence System (HOPS) to track updates to PM in hardware. Current hardware design requires applications to force data to PM as each epoch ends. HOPS provides high-level ISA primitives for applications to express durability and ordering constraints separately and enforces them automatically, while achieving 24.3% better performance over current approaches to persistence.
Homeowner purchase of insurance for hurricane-induced wind and flood damage

Understanding the circumstances under which homeowners will purchase insurance is critical to creating an effective insurance market for hurricane wind and flood loss. This paper contributes to the empirical literature on the subject through an analysis of survey data for homeowners in North Carolina. We develop separate mixed logit models for flood insurance and wind insurance purchasing decisions. The analysis uses stated preference data on the influence of premium and deductible to address some limitations of revealed preference data in which it is difficult to fully decouple effects of premium, deductible, risk, and coverage limit, and mandatory purchase requirements. The results for flood insurance and wind insurance are similar. We find evidence that the following are all significant and associated with higher probability of purchasing insurance—lower premium, lower deductible, more recent previous hurricane experience, location in a floodplain or closer to the coast, higher income, and younger homeowners. However, demand is relatively inelastic with respect to premium and deductible, and the willingness to pay for a $1 reduction in deductible varies throughout the population with some willing to pay more than $1, a behavioral anomaly. The recency of the last hurricane experience is more influential for homeowners who experienced damage than for homeowners who did not. Results suggest that insurance purchase and home retrofits are complements, not substitutes. Finally, the paper presents statistical models that can be used to predict insurance penetration rates for a region under different premium levels.
The Rape of Nanking: Historiographical Perspectives from Japan and China

The Nanking massacre, which is often considered one of the most vicious atrocities committed by the Japanese during the Asian-Pacific War, has stirred up much emotion and controversy in East Asian History. 1 This type of extreme controversy creates several different aspects of the history and historiography of the event as it is viewed in both China and Japan. The efforts of both countries to use the incident as either an ideological tool or for nationalist mobilization have affected the historiographical approaches to the topic as well. 2 A brief summary of the event and the numbers that are associated as well as the positions of Japan and China internationally, will set the stage for the diverse historiographical approaches to the Rape of Nanking over the sixty five years since the attack.
Drawing on the archive: using Actor-Network Theory to study historical scenography

ABSTRACTScholarship on historical scenography has traditionally been limited to studies of extant designs and descriptions, and though wider artistic contexts are often considered, even these broader views tend to overlook connections to seemingly unrelated artistic works or ostensibly non-theatrical issues. In this article, I propose that adding Actor-Network Theory to the range of methodologies deployed in the study of scenography will provide a way to connect it to a larger context and suggest new ways of looking at historical material. Using a drawing by Florentine scenographer Baccio del Bianco for a production at the court of King Philip IV of Spain as a small-scale case study, this article demonstrates the application of the methodology of Actor-Network Theory to a specific work of scenography. In so doing, it suggests a range of possible connections for the drawing beyond its immediate production circumstances and obvious artistic antecedents that bring the work into contact with other social, pol...
Some Challenges of Deep Mining

Abstract An increased global supply of minerals is essential to meet the needs and expectations of a rapidly rising world population. This implies extraction from greater depths. Autonomous mining systems, developed through sustained RD to establish the mechanics basis for the empirical rules now used in rock engineering and their validity for the prediction of rock mass behavior beyond current experience; and to use the discrete element method (DEM) in the optimization of deep mine design. For the first time, mining—and rock engineering—will have its own mechanics-based “laboratory.” This promises to be a major tool in future planning for effective mining at depth. The paper concludes with a discussion of an opportunity to demonstrate the application of DEM and SRM procedures as a laboratory, by back-analysis of mining methods used over the 80-year history of the Mount Lyell Copper Mine in Tasmania.
Abstract 17430: Abnormal Excitation-contraction Coupling Gain in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFPEF) Can be Rescued by Cardiosphere-derived Stem Cells

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is a major public health problem refractory to conventional therapy. Previously-studied models of HFPEF were often unverified hemodynamically, leading to confusing results. Recently, Gallet et al ( JACC BTS , 2016) showed that a phenotype-verified model of HFPEF, the Dahl Salt-sensitive (DS) rat fed high salt, can be rescued by cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs). We used the same model to test the hypothesis that excitation-contraction (EC) coupling gain is decreased in HFPEF and restored by CDCs. We recorded membrane current and simultaneous intracellular calcium (Ca) dynamics in enzymatically-isolated patch clamped ventricular myocytes from control, HFPEF and CDC-treated HFPEF rats. Voltage protocols and solutions were designed to isolate L-type Ca current. We used the fluorescent Ca indicator fluo-4 AM (10 μM) and a Leica SP5 laser scanning confocal microscope to record Ca and cell shortening. All recordings were preceded by prepulses to achieve steady-state sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) load. We found that the L-type Ca current amplitude (normalized for capacitance) was unchanged in HFPEF. However, the corresponding Ca transient amplitude was significantly decreased (by 22%, P 90 1.7x, P et al . The changes in EC coupling gain may be explained in part by disruption of the EC coupling microdomain associated with loss of the t-tubule protein cBIN1 (cardiac isoform of bridging integrator 1) and reduced local expression of Ca v 1.2 and RyR, changes that are rescued by CDCs. We conclude that 1) reduced EC coupling gain and increased myofilament Ca responsiveness are prominent features of the cellular defects in myocytes isolated from phenotype-verified HFPEF, and 2) CDCs are an effective means for reversing these changes, consistent with their hemodynamic benefit in this model.
Cameras Show Sciurids Visiting White-Headed Woodpecker Nests Without Depredating Contents

Abstract In western North America, rodents in the family Sciuridae are considered woodpecker nest predators and management to reduce sciurid habitat has been suggested. However, there have been few actual observations of woodpecker nest predation. In 2014, we used passive infrared cameras in an attempt to identify nest predators for white-headed woodpeckers Picoides albolarvatus in Washington. We monitored 17 nests for 4,296 observer-hours and were surprised to document 33 cases in which two putative nest predators—chipmunks Tamias spp. and Douglas squirrels Tamiasciurus douglasii—visited but did not depredate nests. Most nests visited by these rodents were successful (71.4%) and no eggs or nestlings were lost to predation (no partial depredations). Future studies using continuous video surveillance at nests would help identify nest predators of white-headed woodpecker and quantify proportions of nests depredated by different species.
Statistical hypothesis testing formulations for U.S. environmental regulatory standards for ozone

Environmental regulatory standards are intended to protect human health and environmental welfare. Current standards are based on scientific and policy considerations but appear to lack rigorous statistical foundations and may have unintended regulatory consequences. We examine current and proposed U.S. environmental regulatory standards for ozone from the standpoint of their formulation and performance within a statistical hypothesis testing framework. We illustrate that the standards can be regarded as representing constraints on a percentile of the ozone distribution, where the percentile involved depends on the defined length of ozone season and the constraint is stricter in regions with greater variability. A hypothesis testing framework allows consideration of error rates (probability of false declaration of violation and compliance) and we show that the existing statistics on which the standards are based can be improved upon in terms of bias and variance. Our analyses also raise issues relating to network design and the possibilities of defining a regionally based standard that acknowledges and accounts for spatial and temporal variability in the ozone distribution.
Work-in-Progress: Runtime Requirements Monitoring for State-based Hardware

This paper presents a requirements-driven methodology enabling efficient runtime monitoring of hardware in embedded systems. We present a novel method for extracting hardware verification requirements from state-based hardware models to construct a hierarchical runtime monitoring graph (HRMG) that can be efficiently used at runtime to verify correctness.
Flexural strength of denture base acrylic resins processed by conventional and CAD-CAM methods.

Abstract Statement of problem High flexural strength is one of the desirable properties for denture base resins, yet only few studies have evaluated the physical properties of newer denture bases such as computer-aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) milled products. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the flexural strength of 3 different types of denture base resins: compression molded, injection molded, and CAD-CAM milled. Material and methods Three groups (n=10) of acrylic denture base resins were tested: injection molded, compression molded, and CAD-CAM milled resin. ISO-compliant, rectangular specimens were fabricated (64×10×3.3 mm) (n=30). Specimens were stored in water for 1 week, and flexural strength was measured by using a 3-point bend test until failure. The Student t test was used to evaluate differences in the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity among specimen groups. The Bonferroni formula was used to set significance at α=.017 to account for multiple comparisons among the 3 groups. Results The flexural strength of the CAD-CAM milled group was significantly higher than that of the other 2 groups (P Conclusions CAD-CAM milled denture bases may be a useful alternative to conventionally processed denture bases in situations where increased resistance to flexural strength is needed.
An Asymptotic Form for the Stieltjes Constants (Gamma K)(A) and for A Sum S(Gamma)(N) Appearing Under the Li Criterion

We present several asymptotic analyses for quantities associated with the Riemann and Hurwitz zeta functions. We first determine the leading asymptotic behavior of the Stieltjes constants γk(a). These constants appear in the regular part of the Laurent expansion of the Hurwitz zeta function. We then use asymptotic results for the Laguerre polynomials Lαn to investigate a certain sum Sγ(n) involving the constants γk(1) that appears in application of the Li criterion for the Riemann hypothesis. We confirm the sublinear growth of Sγ(n)+n, which is consistent with the validity of the Riemann hypothesis.
Graft Selection in Posterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery

Graft selection for posterior cruciate ligament (PCL ) injuries is controversial and remains an active area of orthopedic research. The type of ligament graft selected by a surgeon for PCL reconstruction is an important determinant in the clinical management and outcome of these patients. The need to appropriately select a graft while managing the individual concerns of well-informed patients necessitates a broad understanding of the variety of graft options available for PCL reconstruction. In this chapter, the medically relevant differences among the many graft options currently utilized in PCL reconstruction will be reviewed. Common autografts, along with their benefits, drawbacks, and harvesting techniques will be reviewed. In addition, various commercially available tissue allografts will be reviewed with regard to their origin, mechanical properties, and processing. Other important aspects that pertain to allografts including information concerning the commercial procurement, regulatory parameters, and clinical safety will also be addressed, with the goal of providing physicians with a fund of knowledge that will allow them to critically assess which PCL graft is best suited for the expectations of their patient.
Science, God, and the cosmos: Science both erodes (via logic) and promotes (via awe) belief in God

Abstract Science and analytical thinking have been linked with atheism. We propose dual pathways whereby scientific engagement may have paradoxical effects on belief in God. Logical aspects of science, associated with analytical thinking, are associated with unbelief. However, people can also be awed by scientific information, and awe is associated with feelings of self-transcendence and belief in a mystical God. An exploratory study (supplemental material; N = 322) and Study 1 (N = 490) demonstrated that people interested in science often hold abstract (but not personal) representations of God. This effect was mediated by a predisposition to feel awe. In Studies 2 and 3 (combined N = 570), people experimentally exposed to awe-inspiring scientific content were more likely than control participants to endorse abstract God representations. These findings suggest that scientific engagement does not always erode belief in God. Instead, science-inspired awe can increase representations of God as a mystical cosmic force or as being beyond imagination.
Quantitative EEG Changes Correlate With Post-Clamp Ischemia During Carotid Endarterectomy.

Introduction EEG monitoring is a critical tool for identifying cerebral ischemia during carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Quantitative EEG can be used to supplement visual EEG review, but which measures best predict post-clamp ischemia is unclear. Purpose To determine which quantitative EEG parameters reliably detect intraoperative ischemia during CEA. Methods The authors identified patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy at Columbia University Medical Center from 2007 to 2014 with intraoperative EEG monitoring. Two masked physicians reviewed these EEGs retrospectively and determined whether there was post-clamp ischemia, categorizing patients into (1) ischemic-change and (2) no-ischemic-change groups. The authors then studied the performance of a battery of quantitative EEG measures (alpha, beta, theta, and delta power bands, alpha-delta ratio, beta-delta ratio, amplitude-integrated EEG, and 90% spectral edge frequency) against physician review as the gold standard. Results Of 118 patients, 15 were included in the ischemic-change group and 103 in the no-ischemic-change group. Ipsilateral post-clamp trough values of all the quantitative EEG measures assessed were significantly decreased for patients in the ischemic-change group. Decreases in alpha, beta, and theta power of 52.1%, 41.6%, and 36.4% or greater, respectively, were most predictive of post-clamp ischemia. Conclusions Quantitative EEG monitoring during carotid endarterectomy, in addition to visual EEG monitoring, may improve the detection of cerebral ischemia and thus result in fewer perioperative strokes.
Conclusion: Mainstreaming and Marginalizing Digital Games

The conclusion weaves the threads of the preceding chapters’ arguments together, emphasizing the diverse ways digital leisure culture enables young people to confront or escape from the challenges of contemporary urban life, both its successes and, more importantly, its failures. In particular, the concluding chapter considers the larger political implications and limitations of affective attachments to digital games and media, both within China and beyond. As games become more mainstream, and the marginalization felt by gamers bleeds into a general sense of dissatisfaction with China’s increasingly stratified society of winners and losers, have digital media also lost some of their efficacy as political tools? In answering this question, this chapter probes the dividing line between digital activities that push for change and those may make individuals more complacent in their everyday conditions.