cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leiomyoma With Extramedullary Hematopoiesis and Intravascular Thrombosis

We report a case of extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) in uterine leiomyoma associated with numerous intravascular thrombi. A 29-year-old female, gravida 0, para 0, presented with heavy vaginal bleeding. Her hematocrit was 22%. She had a documented history of uterine leiomyomata and menorrhagia for a year. Transvaginal ultrasound confirmed the presence of a …
Coded Orbital Angular Momentum Modulation and Multiplexing Enabling Ultra-High-Speed Free-Space Optical Transmission

To simultaneously achieve high throughput and low energy consumption, in this chapter we advocate the use of energy-efficient N-dimensional coded orbital angular momentum (OAM)-based modulation and multiplexing for ultra-high-speed optical transmission over free-space optical (FSO) links. OAM is associated with the azimuthal phase dependence of the complex electric field. Because its eigenvectors are orthogonal, they can be used as basis functions for multidimensional signaling. Because the information capacity is linear in the number of dimensions, we can dramatically improve the overall optical channel capacity through multidimensional signal constellations. On the other hand, energy efficiency can be achieved by properly designing the N-dimensional signal constellation. To deal with time-varying FSO channel conditions, OAM modulation can be combined with rateless coding. Atmospheric turbulence effects can be handled, in addition to FSO-MIMO, through the use of the azimuthal phase correction method, similar to the Gerchberg-Saxton (GS) phase retrieval algorithm. Moreover, distortions introduced by turbulence will be compensated for via adaptive optics approaches. Additionally, LDPC-coded OAM-based free-space optical FSO transmission system is experimentally studied in both the absence and presence of emulator-induced atmospheric turbulence.
Feasibility and reproducibility of liver surface nodularity quantification for the assessment of liver cirrhosis using CT and MRI

Abstract Purpose To assess intra-observer, inter-observer and inter-modality (CT vs. MRI) reproducibility of liver surface nodularity (LSN) scores measured with software used for detection of liver fibrosis. Methods This IRB-approved retrospective study included patients with both abdominal CT and MRI within 6 months of histopathologic sampling. Two independent observers used post-processing software to quantify LSN scores on axial non-contrast CT (NCT), axial contrast-enhanced CT (CECT), axial T2-weighted (T2W) HASTE, and axial and coronal post-gadoxetic acid T1-weighted (T1W) images obtained during the hepatobiliary phase (HBP). Ten slices were used to acquire the LSN scores. Intra-observer, inter-observer, and inter-modality (CT vs. MRI) reproducibility were assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficients of variability (CV). Accuracy for detection of cirrhosis was evaluated for each technique. Results 26 patients (M/F 19/7, mean age 57 years), including 7 with cirrhosis (26.9%), were assessed. Technical failure occurred with NCT (1/23, 4.3%) and T2 HASTE (8/28, 28.6%). Intra-observer reproducibility was excellent for NCT, CECT, axial and coronal T1W HBP [ICC≥0.92, CV≤8%]. Inter-observer reproducibility was also excellent for NCT and CECT (ICC≥0.95, CV≤7.3%) and for coronal T1W HBP (ICC=0.84, CV=5.6%). There was fair to moderate agreement between CT and MRI (ICC 0.20–0.44). There were significant differences in mean LSN scores between non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic patients with NCT (2.6 vs. 4.2, p=0.04) and T1W HBP (3.7 vs. 4.6; p=0.01) images, with AUCs of 0.81 and 0.82, respectively. Conclusions LSN measurement is highly reproducible with NCT and post-contrast T1W HBP on MRI, with different results obtained between CT and MRI.
Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo with solvent repacking: phase coexistence of size–asymmetrical binary Lennard-Jones mixtures

We describe a Monte Carlo method for simulation of vapour–liquid phase coexistence in size-asymmetrical Lennard–Jones (LJ) binary mixtures. The method incorporates the Solvent Repacking Monte Carlo...
On the discrete analog of gamma-Lomax distribution: properties and applications

This article represents how certain types of blockades in any industrial (heavy industries) production, in particular, industrial strikes can be modeled with the proposed discrete probabilistic distribution as a baseline distribution. We considered the number of outbreaks of strikes in the coal mining industry, the vehicle manufacturing industry, and the transpose industry in the UK obtained from Consul (1989). We fitted those data sets with the proposed discrete gamma-Lomax distribution and compared the fit with the discrete generalized Pareto distribution (Consul, 1989). For this purpose, we explore the basic properties of the discrete gamma-Lomax distribution including but not limited to: cumulative distribution, survival, probability mass, quantile and hazard functions, genesis and rth-order moments; consider maximum likelihood estimation under the normal set up as well as under the censored data set scenario. It is observed that the newly proposed model can be useful to describe strikes arising from various types of industries.
Apoptosis: A Target for Anticancer Therapy

Apoptosis, the cell’s natural mechanism for death, is a promising target for anticancer therapy. Both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways use caspases to carry out apoptosis through the cleavage of hundreds of proteins. In cancer, the apoptotic pathway is typically inhibited through a wide variety of means including overexpression of antiapoptotic proteins and under-expression of proapoptotic proteins. Many of these changes cause intrinsic resistance to the most common anticancer therapy, chemotherapy. Promising new anticancer therapies are plant-derived compounds that exhibit anticancer activity through activating the apoptotic pathway.
Functional interplay between extracellular matrix and extracellular matrix-degrading proteinases in the mammary gland: a coordinate system for regulating mammary epithelial function

A critical question in biology is how the organization of epithelial cells is regulated and how tissue-specific gene expression is maintained. It is now evident that, in addition to soluble factors such as hormones and growth factors, the interaction of an epithelial cell with its micro-environment and with adjacent cells is critical in regulating tissue specificity. Earlier studies showed an inductive role of mesenchyme on epithelial growth and organization. In a classic study, Kratchowil (1969) showed that mammary epithelium recombined with salivary mesenchyme developed a growth pattern typical of the salivary rather than the mammary gland, indicating that the inducing mesenchyme had an instructive role in tissue morphogenesis. Based on accumulating literature in the intervening years, it was proposed that the extracellular matrix (ECM) may be an important player in such regulation (Bissell et al., 1982). Many components of the cell microenvironment, including the ECM molecules, have now been defined and characterized (Talhouk et al., 1991a). In addition, recent studies (reviewed by Stoker et al., 1990; Watt, 1991) have described a role for the ECM in directing or maintaining epithelial tissue-specific gene expression in culture.
Effects of hypertension on arterial gene expression and atherosclerosis.

Hypertension may induce major changes in the arterial intima and media which may lead to arterial injury and atherosclerosis. Although the mechanisms involved in these alterations have not been clearly defined, recent studies in our own and other laboratories have demonstrated changes in gene expression of certain growth factors and functionally important proteins in response to blood pressure elevation or to vasoactive agents. This paper reviews these observations and also summarizes some recent data on the effects of antihypertensive drugs on atherogenesis.
Lactose and lactose derivatives.

Lactose is the major carbohydrate in the milk of most mammals, being synthesized in the mammary gland from galactose and glucose. The occurrence of lactose in milk from different mammals is reviewed by Jenness & Sloan (1970) and Jenness & Holt (1987), who reported on work that showed lactose to be absent or very low in the milk from some animals, including sea lions, some seals and opossums. Lactose varies widely in the milk of various mammals. The variation in the lactose content found by Jenness & Sloan (1970) for milk from 21 different mammals is shown in Table1, arranged in order of increasing lactose content. For these animals the lactose content ranged from 2.0% for mink to 7.3% for baboons. On the basis of water content, lactose ranged from 25.4 g/kg water for mink to 84.3 g/kg water for the baboon. There was no consistent relationship between lactose and total solids or lactose and non-fat solids.
Modeling space in an agent-based model of malaria: comparison between non-spatial and spatial models

In agent-based modeling (ABM), an explicit spatial representation may be required in some cases for certain aspects of the system to be modeled more realistically. In this paper, we describe modeling space in a previous agent-based model of malaria. In the new spatial model, all agents (mosquitoes and aquatic habitats) possess explicit spatial information. The habitat locations of mosquitoes are specified according to different spatial patterns, or landscapes. We use three types of landscapes: regular, random, and hybrid. In the spatial context, we describe the modeling aspects of mosquito agents' movement, the event of oviposition (the process of laying eggs), and compare results between the two models (non-spatial and spatial). Ensuring oviposition is modeled accurately, we show that both models are docked. For both models, we investigate the effect of relative sizes of the aquatic habitats. Using different landscapes, we show that vector abundance (VA) remain unchanged. We also show that with same combined carrying capacity, varying the density of habitats in a landscape does not affect the mean population significantly. Finally, we show that when the density of aquatic habitats is constant, the combined carrying capacity drives VA.
Large-Scale Evolutionary Optimization Using Multi-Layer Strategy Differential Evolution

This paper proposes The Multi-Layer Strategies Differential Evolution (MLSDE) algorithm, which finds optimal solutions for large scale problems. To solve large scale problems were grouped different strategies together and applied them to date set. Furthermore, these strategies were applied to selected vectors to strengthen the exploration ability of the algorithm. Extensive computational analysis were also carried out to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm on a set of well-known CEC 2015 benchmark functions. This benchmark was utilized for the assessment and performance evaluation of the proposed algorithm.
Influences of Large Scale Wind/Solar Integration on Distrabution System Transient Stability

In recent years, the construction of distributed energy in China has entered a period of rapid development. The stability influence of large-scale access of distributed generation (DG) to distribution network can't be ignored. Firstly, it analyzes the torque and speed characteristics of double-fed induction generator (DFIG), and it is studied that the influence on the transient stability of distribution network. Secondly, based on the extended equal-area criterion (EEAC), the influence of wind power and photovoltaic (PV) connection on the transient stability of distribution network is theoretically analyzed. The output power of DFIG and PV is equated to the mechanical power of synchronous generator, and the control function of DFIG and PV is considered at the same time. Based on this, the influence of DFIG and PV integration on distribution network transient stability is analyzed. Finally, the correctness of the mechanism analysis is verified by simulation.
Von Anaximander bis Zimzum

Nach dem Primat des Aktiven erscheint der Raum das Ergebnis aktiver Schaffung. Zum Leben brauchen Menschen einen Raum, in dem sie sich als sie selbst entfalten konnen. Dieser Raum entsteht dadurch, dass andere Raum dafur geben.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil's national interpretation process in Ecuador: ‘Fitting’ global standards into local contexts

Abstract National Interpretation (NI) procedures as linked to roundtable environmental governance mechanisms play important roles in the local substantiation and adoption of global standards. In the case of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), these under-examined processes of diffusion which I term, ‘proto-institutional’ procedures', are significant because they introduce global norms to local contexts and assist local actors in making the standards legible. Additionally, they enable local actors to attach meaning to the norms while helping to generate the transformative capacity of the standards. Successful institutionalization is dependent on an appropriate ‘institutional fit’ between the standards and locality, and more importantly, the social processes that facilitate the local legitimation of the standards. However, uneven power dynamics of the institutionalizing processes may cause NI procedures to be organized in such a way where only a few powerful interests are represented. Using the case of the NI process in Ecuador as its focus, this paper examines the extent to which technical, cultural, and political aspects of the RSPO's NI process connect or ‘fit’ with the local context. It argues that proto-institutional procedures can create uneven consensus within adopting contexts, and can thereby reinforce and perpetuate existing patterns of exclusion through their domestic uptake and implementation. Furthermore, the paper argues that more attention should be directed to NI processes as more palm-oil producing countries engage in RSPO certification. The paper concludes with suggestions on how the RSPO's NI process can be improved in order to forge more participative and representative procedures.
“Disguised beyond any possibility of recognition”: The Seaside and the Subversion of Social Norms at Coney Island

This essay directs attention to the original attraction of those amusements outside the city proper: natural landscapes at the edge of cities in which popular amusements were constructed. Here, the heart of subversive possibility was located where the immutable, uncontrollable natural elements interacted with constructed ones. In the case of Coney Island and similar coastal landscapes, this meant the seashore. The beach broke down manufactured limitations, exposing all beachgoers—particularly women—as the same under the sun. I examine the impact that Coney's seashore had on defining class-bound womanhood. I argue that within the island's liminal confines, the beach's natural elements exposed the fallacy that well-off women were naturally cleaner, both physically and morally, than not just men, but also working-class women. Nature trumped the manufactured to sully both the bodies and, metaphorically, the respectability of the women who flocked to Coney. The farther that women ventured toward the ocean, the more the seascape nullified their differences and democratized its allegedly hygienic visitors. This concept normalized in the early twentieth century as city borderlands, primarily the seashore and mountains, introduced possibilities for more porous gender and class identities in urban areas.
A hybrid image processing method for measuring 3D bubble distribution using digital inline holography

Abstract The paper presents a hybrid bubble hologram processing approach for measuring the size and 3D distribution of bubbles over a wide range of size and shape. The proposed method consists of five major steps, including image enhancement, digital reconstruction, small bubble segmentation, large bubble/cluster segmentation, and post-processing. Two different segmentation approaches are proposed to extract the size and the location of bubbles in different size ranges from the 3D reconstructed optical field. Specifically, a small bubble is segmented based on the presence of the prominent intensity minimum in its longitudinal intensity profile, and its depth is determined by the location of the minimum. In contrast, a large bubble/cluster is segmented using a modified watershed segmentation algorithm and its depth is measured through a wavelet-based focus metric. Our processing approach also determines the inclination angle of a large bubble with respect to the hologram recording plane based on the depth variation along its edge on the plane. The accuracy of our processing approach on the measurements of object size and 3D distributions are assessed through synthetic bubble holograms and oil droplet holograms from an experiment separately. In addition, we evaluate the ability of this algorithm to estimate the bubble inclination with respect to the hologram recording plane through measuring a 3D-printed physical target of pillars with different inclination angles. The holographic measurement technique is further implemented to capture the fluctuation of instantaneous gas leakage rate from a ventilated supercavity generated in a water tunnel experiment. Overall, our paper introduces an inexpensive and compact solution for high resolution characterization of bubbles and other particles in multiphase flows from a broad range of applications.
14 – Dynein and Intraflagellar Transport

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a brief background on intraflagellar transport (IFT) and reviews the studies culminating in the identification of the dynein motor that powers retrograde IFT. IFT is the active movement of multi-subunit particles along axonemal doublet microtubules in the space between the outer-doublet microtubules and the membrane of cilia and flagella. Following this, it describes the known subunits of this dynein, discussing their specific functions, and examining how they fit together in the intact motor. Furthermore, it discusses the function of the dynein in recycling IFT proteins and other flagellar components, in transporting signals from the cilium to the cell body, in ciliary maintenance, and so on. Finally, it states that the basic function of cytoplasmic dynein 2 as the motor for retrograde IFT is now well established, and its general molecular architecture can be accurately predicted. However, much remains to be learned about this unique and important dynein. The currently intense focus on investigating ciliary function and assembly (and disassembly) is likely to provide more information on the role of dynein 2 in the transport of specific proteins and signals out of the cilium. Whether dynein 2 functions as a microtubule motor in other places where IFT particles are found besides the cilium is an important question that has yet to be addressed.
Opportunities or Constraints: The Role of Network Closure in Interorganizational Reciprocity

This paper examines the effects of network closure on interorganizational reciprocity. It investigates two levels of network closure, local-level common third parties and group-level network densit...
Urchin Searchin’: Red urchins and drift kelp found at 284 m in the mesophotic zone

Red sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) are kelp-associated ecosystem engineers found in rocky habitats throughout the North Pacific from Baja California, Mexico, to Japan. Red sea urchins depend on kelp detritus, herein ‘drift’, for nutrition; in open coast locations (e.g., California) sea urchin abundance declines precipitously with depth outside the kelp forest owing to a lack of drift and habitat. In the Salish Sea, a region of the Northeast Pacific characterized by steep, glacier-carved rocky reefs, red sea urchins have been reported to 125 m depth. Considering the natural history of this species, we predicted red sea urchins could be found deeper than 125 m in areas with hard substrate and abundant drift. We paired submersible and scuba transects to search for deep red sea urchins and quantified availability of drift to sea urchins from the mesophotic (290 m) to macrophyte zones (90% of rocky shorelines in the Northeast Pacific from Baja California to Alaska, suggesting a major portion of the red sea urchin’s habitat, and natural history, remains to be explored.
Online tool condition monitoring for ultrasonic metal welding via sensor fusion and machine learning

Abstract In ultrasonic metal welding (UMW), tool wear significantly affects the weld quality and tool maintenance constitutes a substantial part of production cost. Thus, tool condition monitoring (TCM) is crucial for UMW. Despite extensive literature focusing on TCM for other manufacturing processes, limited studies are available on TCM for UMW. Existing TCM methods for UMW require offline high-resolution measurement of tool surface profiles, which leads to undesirable production downtime and delayed decision-making. This paper proposes a completely online TCM system for UMW using sensor fusion and machine learning (ML) techniques. A data acquisition (DAQ) system is designed and implemented to obtain in-situ sensing signals during welding processes. A large feature pool is then extracted from the sensing signals. A subset of features are selected and subsequently used by ML-based classification models. A variety of classification models are trained, validated, and tested using experimental data. The best-performing classification models can achieve close to 100% classification accuracy for both training and test datasets. The proposed TCM system not only provides real-time TCM for UMW but also can support optimal decision-making in tool maintenance. The TCM system can be extended to predict remaining useful life (RUL) of tools and integrated with a controller to adjust welding parameters accordingly.
Relaxation of compressive stress in gamma-irradiated Viton™ fluoroelastomer

Abstract We report our study of stress relaxation of Viton™ A hexafluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride co-polymer fluoroelastomer compressed 25% and irradiated at room temperature in air to nominal absorbed doses of 10 – 106 Gy with 1.17 and 1.33 MeV gammas from a cobalt-60 source. Our data show that the true stresses at room temperature in ring samples of Viton™ A fluoroelastomer compressed 25% decline slightly from 1014±93 kPa at zero dose to 996±115 kPa at a dose of 103 Gy, decrease to 967±98 kPa at 104 Gy and then drop sharply to 640±116 kPa at 105 Gy and 157±32 kPa at 106 Gy. We briefly discuss the implications of this data for the integrity of seals in high-radiation environments.
High-resolution mapping of lunar polar hydrogen with a low-resource orbital mission

Abstract Lunar permanently shaded regions (PSRs) are unique solar-system environments. Their low temperatures (
Modeling and Data Evaluation of the WSTF Frictional Heating Test Facility

A data reduction program and ignition model developed for the analysis of data generated by the frictional heating test facility at WSTF is presented. Based on transient temperature data measured from the stationary cylinder, the model can be used to generate an effective friction coefficient, activation energy and reactive flux constant for different metals/alloys at various test conditions. Data of 15 tests conducted for carbon steel are analyzed to illustrate the capability of the present model. The effective friction coefficient is observed to decrease with increasing oxygen pressure, suggesting that the formation of oxide layer and the oxide's lubrication property have important effects on the ignition process for carbon steel. The activation energy is estimated to be 46600 cal/gmole. The reactive flux constant is observed to increase with oxygen pressure, suggesting that either the diffusion of ions through an oxide layer or the adsorption of oxygen at the oxide-gas interface is the primary physical process controlling the ignition. The Pv product (which is the mechanical energy input into the system) required for ignition is shown to first decrease and then increase with oxygen pressure, suggesting that at low oxygen pressure, the reactive flux constant is the important parameter controlling the energy input required for ignition while at high oxygen pressure, the reduction in friction coefficient due to the formation of oxide is the dominant physical process.
Optimal cluster association in two-tiered wireless sensor networks

In this paper, we study the two-tiered wireless sensor network (WSN) architecture and propose the optimal cluster association algorithm for it to maximize the overall network lifetime. A two-tiered WSN is formed by number of small sensor nodes (SNs), powerful application nodes (ANs), and base-stations (BSs, or gateways). SNs capture, encode, and transmit relevant information to ANs, which then send the combined information to BSs. Assuming the locations of the SNs, ANs, and BSs are fixed, we consider how to associate the SNs to ANs such that the network lifetime is maximized while every node meets its bandwidth requirement. When the SNs are homogeneous (e.g., same bandwidth requirement), we give optimal algorithms to maximize the lifetime of the WSNs; when the SNs are heterogeneous, we give a 2-approximation algorithm that produces a network whose lifetime is within 1/2 of the optimum. We also present algorithms to dynamically update the cluster association when the network topology changes. Numerical results are given to demonstrate the efficiency and optimality of the proposed approaches. In simulation study, comparing network lifetime, our algorithm outperforms other heuristics almost twice.
Postgenomic Strategies for Genetic Analysis: Insight from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans

This chapter discusses the choice of genes for study in the postgenomic era. One major limitation of using a host organism as a model for the heterologous expression of a gene of interest in another organism is differences in genetic coding between the two organisms. This problem, for example, exists when using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a host for Candida albicans genes, where the codon CUG specifies leucine in S. cerevisiae but serine in C. albicans; thus, C. albicans proteins may be nonfunctional when translated in S. cerevisiae. The idea of considering several different screens is an extrapolation from the well-accepted idea that many different phenotypes contribute to the virulence of a pathogen. When an insertion mutant is found with a phenotype of interest, it is verified that the insertion itself is the cause of the phenotype by three approaches. First, multiple independent insertion mutant isolates are tested, all of which should have the same phenotype. Second, the insertion mutation is complemented with a clone of the complete ORF and flanking sequences, which should restore a wild-type phenotype. Third, engineered orf Δorf/orf Δ deletion strains are created with two successive transformations rather than an allelic recombination step; the deletion mutant is expected to have a phenotype similar to the initial insertion mutant. A study revealed two different kinds of phenotypic defects, thus suggesting that genetic analysis might contribute to dissection of a biofilm developmental pathway.
IQGAP1 mediates the disruption of adherens junctions to promote Escherichia coli K1 invasion of brain endothelial cells

Summary The transcellular entry of Escherichia coli K1 through human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) is responsible for tight junction disruption, leading to brain oedema in neonatal meningitis. Previous studies demonstrated that outer membrane protein A (OmpA) of E. coli K1 interacts with its receptor, Ecgp96, to induce PKC-α phosphorylation, adherens junction (AJ) disassembly (by dislodging β-catenin from VE-cadherin), and remodelling of actin in HBMEC. We report here that IQGAP1 mediates β-catenin dissociation from AJs to promote actin polymerization required for E. coli K1 invasion of HBMEC. Overexpression of C-terminal truncated IQGAP1 (IQΔC) that cannot bind β-catenin prevents both AJ disruption and E. coli K1 entry. Of note, phospho-PKC-α interacts with the C-terminal portion of Ecgp96 as well as with VE-cadherin after IQGAP1-mediated AJ disassembly. HBMEC overexpressing either C-terminal truncated Ecgp96 (Ecgp96Δ200) or IQΔC upon infection with E. coli showed no interaction ofphospho-PKC-α with Ecgp96. These data indicate that the binding of OmpA to Ecgp96 induces PKC-α phosphorylation and association of phospho-PKC-α with Ecgp96, and then signals IQGAP1 to detach β-catenin from AJs. Subsequently, IQGAP1/β-catenin bound actin translocates to the site of E. coli K1 attachment to promote invasion.
The accuracy of 'power' maps to display curvature data in corneal topography systems.

Purpose. To quantify the error introduced by videokeratographic corneal topography devices in using a paraxial formula to calculate power over the entire corneal surface, including areas removed from the central paraxial region where the formula is known to be invalid. Methods. Corneal refractive power and two paraxial power approximations were computed as a function of distance from the apex for three theoretical surfaces, a sphere and two ellipsoids with 0.3 and 0.5 eccentricities. Color dioptric maps were then theoretically created. Results. For the spherical surface, both curvature-based paraxial power approximations were uniform over the entire surface because curvature is constant. However, the corneal refractive power increased from center to periphery, demonstrating the known phenomenon of spherical aberration. For the ellipsoids, which have been shown to model the human cornea, curvature-based power approximations decreased from center to periphery because the curvature flattens peripherally. However, refractive power increased from center to periphery. The limits of the central paraxial region for these surfaces was shown to be approximately 2 mm in diameter for the paraxial power approximation used by videokeratographic devices to measure 8 mm in diameter. Conclusions. The direct correlation between corneal curvature and power with which clinicians are familiar is not valid in the peripheral regions measured by videokeratographic devices. Topographic devices measure curvature, which should not be interpreted as corneal power except in the central region. A recommendation to device manufacturers is to display "color curvature maps" instead of color dioptric maps, and to label the color bar with curvature values instead of power. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1994;35:3525-3532. Videokeratographic devices for measuring corneal topography are in widespread clinical use for a variety of purposes, including diagnosis and monitoring of keratoconus, planning and evaluating corneal refractive surgeries, fitting contact lenses, and others. The devices are based on Placido ring technology and measure curvature as a function of ring location along meridians in an image of concentric rings that has been reflected from the corneal surface. 1 In 1987, the color-coded map was introduced for data display. 2 It
Combinatorics for Categorical Variables

This chapter provides an overview of categorical variables and rudimentary combinatorics. Datasets gathered in the behavioral, social, and biomedical sciences using survey instruments tend to consist of categorical responses. A categorical variable is defined as a variable that has two or more mutually exclusive groups (or categories) that may or may not have an intrinsic order. There are two types of categorical variables, namely, nominal and ordinal. The distribution of a categorical variable in a population is described using counts (or percentage). Counting rules are defined and illustrated to compute the total possible counts under different scenarios. The empirical binomial distribution is derived using counting rules. Keywords: categorical; nominal; ordinal; counting rules; permutations; combinations
Extension for ground-based testing for large space structures

A major concern for future large space structures is the ability to verify their dynamic characteristics by ground test. This article presents the results of the multiple boundary conditions test (MBCT) approach, which provides a complete ground test of a large structure that will provide, in turn, the data necessary to construct a test-verified final mathematical model. Theoretical studies indicate that this approach can provide a better final model than a ground test of the full-scale very flexible structure in a 1-g field. The approach is demonstrated by a mathematical simulation.
Interactants' Most Intimate Self-disclosure in Interactions with Virtual Humans

Recent studies have shown that virtual humans can facilitate social interactions among people who have difficulty in forming social bonds or help develop their social skills by interaction with virtual practice. Virtual human research tends to focus exclusively on appearance or behavior in assessing agent effectiveness, whereas other studies of human social interaction emphasize aspects of the social context, such as anticipated future interaction (AFI) which has been implicated as a key moderator of people's behavior in virtual interactions. It has been reported that anonymity [2] or interactants' AFI with their interaction partners [4,5] have a critical role in entailing greater self-disclosure. However, no studies of virtual humans have investigated the impact of the combination of interactants' visual appearance and AFI on their social responses, specifically revealing their intimate information. In this study, we examined the impact of different visual realism of virtual humans and interactants' AFI on interactants' self-disclosure, when their anonymity is secured and future interaction may be anticipated.
Mucosal injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion in the piglet intestine: Influences of age and feeding

The pathogenesis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis is unknown, but enteral alimentation, infectious agents, and mesenteric ischemia have been frequently invoked as primary initiators of the disease. To define the vulnerability of the intestinal mucosa to ischemia and reperfusion in the developing piglet, we evaluated changes in mucosal permeability using plasma-to-lumen clearance of chromium 51-labeled ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in the ileum of anesthetized 1-day-, 3-day-, 2-wk-, and 1-mo-old piglets as a function of (a) duration of intestinal ischemia (20, 40, or 60 min of total superior mesenteric artery occlusion), (b) feeding status (fasted or nursed), and (c) composition of luminal perfusate (balanced salt solution vs. predigested cow milk-based formula). Baseline chromium 51-labeled ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid clearance was not significantly altered by ischemia, irrespective of duration, or feeding in all age groups. However, clearances were significantly elevated during reperfusion after 1 h of total intestinal ischemia in all age groups, whether fasted or fed. Reperfusion-induced increases in clearance did not differ among age groups when the bowel lumen was perfused with a balanced salt solution. However, luminal perfusion with formula resulted in higher clearances in 1-day-old piglets compared with all older animals. Thus, the neonatal intestine appears to be more vulnerable to mucosal injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion in the presence of formula than the intestine of older animals.
Free energetics of rigid body association of ubiquitin binding domains: a biochemical model for binding mediated by hydrophobic interaction.

Weak intermolecular interactions, such as hydrophobic associations, underlie numerous biomolecular recognition processes. Ubiquitin is a small protein that represents a biochemical model for exploring thermodynamic signatures of hydrophobic association as it is widely held that a major component of ubiquitin's binding to numerous partners is mediated by hydrophobic regions on both partners. Here, we use atomistic molecular dynamics simulations in conjunction with the Adaptive Biasing Force sampling method to compute potentials of mean force (the reversible work, or free energy, associated with the binding process) to investigate the thermodynamic signature of complexation in this well-studied biochemical model of hydrophobic association. We observe that much like in the case of a purely hydrophobic solute (i.e., graphene, carbon nanotubes), association is favored by entropic contributions from release of water from the interprotein regions. Moreover, association is disfavored by loss of enthalpic interactions, but unlike in the case of purely hydrophobic solutes, in this case protein-water interactions are lost and not compensated for by additional water-water interactions generated upon release of interprotein and moreso, hydration, water. We further find that relative orientations of the proteins that mutually present hydrophobic regions of each protein to its partner are favored over those that do not. In fact, the free energy minimum as predicted by a force field based method recapitulates the experimental NMR solution structure of the complex. Proteins 2014; 82:1453–1468. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Higher levels of GATA3 predict better survival in women with breast cancer

The GATA family members are zinc finger transcription factors involved in cell differentiation and proliferation. GATA3 in particular is necessary for mammary gland maturation, and its loss has been implicated in breast cancer development. Our goal was to validate the ability of GATA3 expression to predict survival in breast cancer patients. Protein expression of GATA3 was analyzed on a high-density tissue microarray consisting of 242 cases of breast cancer. We associated GATA3 expression with patient outcomes and clinicopathologic variables. Expression of GATA3 was significantly increased in breast cancer, in situ lesions, and hyperplastic tissue compared with normal breast tissue. GATA3 expression decreased with increasing tumor grade. Low GATA3 expression was a significant predictor of disease-related death in all patients, as well as in subgroups of estrogen receptor-positive or low-grade patients. In addition, low GATA3 expression correlated with increased tumor size and estrogen and progesterone receptor negativity. GATA3 is an important predictor of disease outcome in breast cancer patients. This finding has been validated in a diverse set of populations. Thus, GATA3 expression has utility as a prognostic indicator in breast cancer.
Pattern recognition of jet fuels: comprehensive GC×GC with ANOVA-based feature selection and principal component analysis

Abstract Two-dimensional comprehensive gas chromatography (GC×GC) is applied to a pattern recognition problem involving classification of jet fuel mixtures. Analysis of variance (ANOVA)-based feature selection is initially used to identify and select chromatographic features relevant to a given classification in two studies. Then, principal component analysis (PCA) was used for pattern recognition classification. In the first study, a 1% volumetric composition change in mixtures of JP-5 and JP-7 jet fuel is readily distinguished. In this first study, the effective combination of GC×GC, ANOVA-based feature selection and PCA is developed and evaluated as a chemical analysis tool. The second study involved the analysis of three samples each of three different jet fuel types, JP-5, JP-8, and JP-TS, as well as blends incorporating two or three jet fuels. Each of the nine jet fuel samples originated from various geographic locations within the United States. These samples were analyzed in order to determine if a classification based on fuel type is possible in the presence of sample variability (due to geographic origin) with GC×GC/pattern recognition analysis. Chromatographic features that are adept at classification of jet fuel type and are not sensitive to geographic origin of the sample were generated for the sample set consisting of the original fuel types as well as mixtures of the three different, original jet fuels. The combination of GC×GC with ANOVA-based feature selection was found to be a useful tool to enhance the chemical selectivity, and thus the classification power of the analytical procedure, when coupled with PCA.
MRI evaluation of RF ablation scarring for atrial fibrillation treatment

This study presents a multi-modality image registration method that evaluates left atrial scarring after radiofrequency (RF) ablation for pulmonary vein (PV) isolation. Our group has recently developed a delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) method with the potential to visualize and monitor non-invasively post-ablation scarring in the left atrium and the PV ostia. We wished to compare the 3D configuration of scarring in the DE-MRI image and the ablation points recorded by electroanatomical mapping (EAM) system, hypothesizing that scarring detected by DE-MRI overlaps with ablation points recorded by the EAM system used in the procedure. Methods and Results: Three data sets, DE-MRI images and pulmonary vein MR angiography (PV-MRA) images, and EAM data (CARTO-XP, Biosense-Webster, Inc., Diamond Bar, CA) from a patient who underwent PV ablation, were used for the multi-modal image registration. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging was performed 38 days after the ablation procedure. PV-MRA and DE-MRI were fused by intensity-based rigid registration. Scar tissue was extracted from the DE-MRI images using multiple threshold values. EAM data was further fused with segmented PV-MRA by the iterative closest point algorithm (ICP). After registration, the distance from PV-MRA to the scar was 2.6 ± 2.1 mm, and from ablation points to the surface of the scar was 2.5 ± 2.3 mm. The fused image demonstrates the 3D relationship between the PV ostia, the scar and the EAM recording of ablation points. Conclusion: Multimodal data fusion indicated that the scar tissue lesion after PV isolation showed good overlap with the ablation points.
Hydrophobic and ionic effects upon the electrophoretic mobilities of the subunits of coupling factor 1 from mitochondria

Abstract A sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-urea polyacrylamide gel system was used to investigate certain properties of the subunits of the beef heart mitochondrial ATPase, (native F1, nF1). By examining the affects of urea concentration and acrylamide concentration upon the electrophoretic mobilities of the polypeptides comprising the nF1 enzyme, we have obtained conditions under which all five subunits are simultaneously resolved when the discontinuous buffer system of Laemmli is used ( U. K. Laemmli (1970) Nature (London) 277 , 680–685). The determination of the apparent molecular weights by analysis of Ferguson plots ( K. A. Ferguson (1964) Metabolism 13 , 985–1002) revealed that the addition of urea to the SDS gels resulted in a decrease in the apparent molecular weight of the β subunit. A dramatic increase in the apparent molecular weight of the δ subunit was also brought about by the presence of urea in the SDS gels. In addition, the apparent molecular weight of both the α and the β subunits was dependent upon the acrylamide concentration used, indicating that these subunits contain either areas highly resistant to denaturation by the combined action of urea and SDS, or covalent modifications leading to anomalous electrophoretic mobility. The results of experiments in which urea analogs were used indicate that the interactions of urea with the β subunit involve the formation of hydrogen bonds between urea and regions of this subunit. On the other hand, the interactions of urea with the δ subunit are primarily of a hydrophobic nature, suggesting that these interactions could involve domains of the δ subunit required for binding of the coupling factor to the mitochondrial membrane.
Hassle free fitness monitoring

Fitness monitoring is a fundamental service in pervasive healthcare, but finding a balance between usability and privacy is a hard challenge. To lessen users' anxieties in privacy concerns, we propose a new way of identification by only utilizing imprecise biometrics and existing information. Our solution is "hassle free" because it maintains the devices' original user interface without adding additional sensors and sacrificing user privacy. We demonstrate this idea with a fitness monitoring system for the healthy individuals in a workplace. The system uses collected physiological information (weight, blood pressure and heart rate) and context information (computer network activity) to identify a user. Our experiments show that we can achieve a correct user identification of up to 87%. We believe that our solution can serve as an easy addition to the simple interfaces of current technology by enhancing them with smart algorithms.
Schizophrenia gene networks and pathways and their applications for novel candidate gene selection.

Background Schizophrenia (SZ) is a heritable, complex mental disorder. We have seen limited success in finding causal genes for schizophrenia from numerous conventional studies. Protein interaction network and pathway-based analysis may provide us an alternative and effective approach to investigating the molecular mechanisms of schizophrenia. Methodology/Principal Findings We selected a list of schizophrenia candidate genes (SZGenes) using a multi-dimensional evidence-based approach. The global network properties of proteins encoded by these SZGenes were explored in the context of the human protein interactome while local network properties were investigated by comparing SZ-specific and cancer-specific networks that were extracted from the human interactome. Relative to cancer genes, we observed that SZGenes tend to have an intermediate degree and an intermediate efficiency on a perturbation spreading throughout the human interactome. This suggested that schizophrenia might have different pathological mechanisms from cancer even though both are complex diseases. We conducted pathway analysis using Ingenuity System and constructed the first schizophrenia molecular network (SMN) based on protein interaction networks, pathways and literature survey. We identified 24 pathways overrepresented in SZGenes and examined their interactions and crosstalk. We observed that these pathways were related to neurodevelopment, immune system, and retinoic X receptor (RXR). Our examination of SMN revealed that schizophrenia is a dynamic process caused by dysregulation of the multiple pathways. Finally, we applied the network/pathway approach to identify novel candidate genes, some of which could be verified by experiments. Conclusions/Significance This study provides the first comprehensive review of the network and pathway characteristics of schizophrenia candidate genes. Our preliminary results suggest that this systems biology approach might prove promising for selection of candidate genes for complex diseases. Our findings have important implications for the molecular mechanisms for schizophrenia and, potentially, other psychiatric disorders.