cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetic effects of fluvastatin in patients chronically receiving digoxin.

Abstract A double-blind, randomized, crossover study assessed the effects of a single 40-mg dose of fluvastatin on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of digoxin in chronically treated patients. After demonstrating consistent digoxin serum concentrations as part of the inclusion criteria, 18 patients received a single dose of either fluvastatin or placebo, with a 1-week washout period between crossover to the other treatment. For each patient, 14 serum samples were drawn and urine collected over 24 hours; all samples were assayed for digoxin using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The following pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using noncompartmental techniques: area under the curve for 24 hours (AUC 24 ); time to maximum concentration after digoxin (t max ); maximum concentration after digoxin dosing (C max ); concentration at 24 hours after fluvastatin or placebo (C min ); total amount excreted in the urine over 24 hours (U 24 ); and urinary clearance (Cl ren ). The pharmacokinetic data were analyzed for sequence, patient nested with sequence, and period and treatment differences using ANOVA, Schuirmann's two one-sided testing approach, confidence intervals, and power analysis. The AUC 24 , C max , and t max for digoxin were considered bioequivalent with the two treatments. The differences in C max , U 24 , and Cl ren were statistically significant but were not considered to be clinically relevant due to the low magnitude of the difference (
Data Regularization And Redatuming Using Newton's Method

We present a Newton-method approach for regularizing seismic data simultaneous with wavefield extrapolation. Our approach is based on ω− x approximations to forward extrapolation, and to the composition of back extrapolation with the adjoint of back extrapolation. The advantage of this method is that it is robust in the presence of highly irregular trace spacing, and fast computation is achieved.
Photoaffinity labelling of a nuclear matrix nucleoside triphosphatase and its modulation in the acute-phase response

Photoaffinity labelling has been used to identify the major nuclear matrix nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) as a 46 kD polypeptide, which appears to represent the same polypeptide photolabelled in nuclear envelope. Nuclear matrix NTPase and its photolabelling were selectively decreased in the acute phase response of rat liver, which also encompasses decreases (30%) in RNA transport in vitro and nuclear envelope NTPase. These results, and quantitative considerations suggest that the NTPase correlatively linked to RNA transport is not solubilized by detergents; it appears to represent a nuclear matrix component.
Comparison of analog and digital magnification in x-ray fluoroscopy image sequences

Radiologists resort to image magnification in x-ray fluoroscopy to better visualize small interventional devices. Image intensifier (II) systems use analog magnification with x-ray exposure inversely proportional to the area of field of view (FOV) so as to maintain light output for the camera. Flat-panel (FP) detector images can only be magnified using digital interpolation. We quantitatively investigated image quality of digital and analog magnification using a task of detecting a partially deployed stent in simulated x-ray fluoroscopy image sequences. Exposure for FP magnification was varied in an adaptive forced choice experiment so as to match performance with II magnification. II exposure was set at a nominal value of 5.0 (mu) R per frame at 23 cm FOV and using the standard exposure strategy, increased to 9.15 and 13.49 (mu) R per frame at 17 and 14 cm FOV, respectively. Image quality improved 1.44 +/- 0.065 and 1.64 +/- 0.073 times by going to the 17 and 14 cm FOV, respectively. For equivalent image quality, FP required 4.00 +/- 0.30, 9.50 +/- 0.62, and 9.85 +/- 0.64 (mu) R per frame at normal, mag-1 and mag-2, respectively. As compared to II, FP gives significant dose savings of 20 +/- 6% and 27 +/- 5% at the normal and highest magnification modes, respectively. A human-observer model describes results and can be used to predict results for similar acquisition and processing methods.
Strain-induced ferromagnetism in FeAl single crystals

Abstract Cold work can induce a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition in FeAl. The ferromagnetic behavior can be explained in terms of wrong bonding in deformation-induced antiphase boundary tubes. The implications of this mechanism are discussed. The magnetic behavior of single crystal plates of Fe–40Al and Fe–50Al were measured in different orientations both before and after deformation, and after quenching. Fe–40Al single crystal shows a much larger saturation magnetization at room temperature than Fe–50Al single crystal, with increased susceptibility. The results are discussed in terms of the local environment model.
Lepirudin is a safe and effective anticoagulant for patients with heparin-associated antiplatelet antibodies***

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether lepirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is a safe and effective anticoagulant for patients with heparin-associated antiplatelet antibodies (HAAbs). Methods: The charts of HAAb-positive patients who received lepirudin were reviewed. Lepirudin use was analyzed for indication, duration, and effectiveness of anticoagulation, and for adverse events. HAAb presence was determined by platelet aggregation. Results: Eighteen HAAb-positive patients received lepirudin: 9 had previous documentation of HAAb, 6 had thrombocytopenia while receiving heparin; and 3 had HAAb after a thrombotic event. The indications for lepirudin anticoagulation included thromboembolism prophylaxis (5), arterial thromboses (5), pulmonary embolus (3) or deep venous thrombosis (1), and one each for atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, artificial heart valves, and hemodialysis access. The average duration of therapy was 4.04 days. Fifteen patients achieved adequate anticoagulation (activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT] ratio > 2.0) with lepirudin. Seven patients had aPTTs that were sometimes supratherapeutic (aPTT > 100 seconds) but did not bleed. In all patients who had heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, platelet counts were normalized while they received lepirudin. There were two complications: one patient fell and had a calf hematoma (aPTT ratio 3.24), and one patient who received lepirudin during nine separate hospitalizations had epistaxis (aPTT ratio 2.86) during her ninth hospitalization. Another patient received lepirudin during two hospitalizations without an adverse event. Conclusion: Lepirudin is a safe and effective anticoagulant for patients with HAAbs. The platelet counts of all patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia were normalized while they received lepirudin. Careful monitoring of the aPTT and avoidance of trauma while patients are receiving lepirudin are recommended. (J Vasc Surg 2001;34:17-20.)
Pressure dependence of the Curie temperatures of the fcc alloys of Fe with Ni, Pd and Pt☆

Abstract The pressure derivatives of the Curie temperature, Tc, have been measured for fcc alloys of Fe with 25–40 at. % Ni, Pd and Pt. A smooth decrease of -( ∂T c ∂P ) with increasing Tc is observed for the alloys.
Balancing lymphedema risk: Exercise versus deconditioning for breast cancer survivors

Lymphedema, a common and feared negative effect of breast cancer treatment, is generally described by arm swelling and dysfunction. Risk averse clinical recommendations guided survivors to avoid the use of the affected arm. This may lead to deconditioning and, ironically, the very outcome women seek to avoid. Recently published studies run counter to these guidelines.
Handling regression subsets in software modeling

With the ever-increasing emphasis on measurement and data analysis related to software development, there is a continued need to incorporate statistical methods into the activity. Although such methods are employed, numerous statistical tools are ignored. In this article, the use of dummy, or indicator, variables is introduced as one such tool used as a means to incorporate qualitative or categorical data into multiple regression models together with measured or continuous-type data.
Thermal Conductivity Measurements for Simulated PWR Crud

This paper describes a laboratory test program to measure the thermal conductivity of corrosion product deposits on the surface of a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) fuel rod under a variety of thermal hydraulic conditions. This thermal conductivity information is necessary to allow more accurate predictions of fuel rod surface temperatures in the presence of fuel deposits, commonly known as crud.In this paper, a four regime theory and methodology are proposed and utilized for crud thermal conductivity measurements and calculations. The relevant measurements were performed at the Westinghouse Advanced Loop Tester (WALT) facility, which is a single rod crud thermal-hydraulic test loop built at the Westinghouse Science and Technology Center (STC). This facility is described and then selected experiments and calculated results of this study are presented and discussed.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Further studies of the role of opioid receptors in the nigra in the morphine withdrawal syndrome.

Abstract Bilateral injection of naloxone (3.0–30.0 nmol) into the substantia nigra of morphine-dependent rats produced a withdrawal syndrome consisting of wet-dog shakes, teeth chattering, irritability to touch, diarrhea and hypothermia. Intense wet-dog shakes and grooming were observed after intranigral injection of the mu selective antagonist d -Phe-Cys-Try- d -Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH 2 (CTOP, 3.0–30.0 nmol) in morphine-dependent animals. Body temperature after 30.0 nmol CTOP was significantly increased. A significant positive correlation between body temperature and wet-dog shakes was observed in morphine-dependent animals that received CTOP. Intranigral injection of β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA, 10.0 nmol), an irreversible mu antagonist, produced no signs of withdrawal in morphine-dependent animals. However, intranigrat injection of β-FNA (1.0–3.0 nmol) suppressed the antinociceptive effect of the mu-selective agonist, d -Ala 2 , N -Me-Phe 4 ,Gly 5 -ol-enkephalin (DAGO, 1.0 nmol). The withdrawal syndrome produced by CTOP (10.0 nmol) was not suppressed by the administration of U50,488H (10.0 nmol), a kappa agonist, suggesting that the absence of an effect of β-FNA was not due to its kappa agonist activity. Neither the delta-selective antagonist, naltrindole (NTI, 10.0 nmol) nor the kappaselective antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI, 10.0 nmol) produced withdrawal. Only wet-dog shakes were observed when CTOP, NTI and nor-BNI (5 nmol each) were administered together into the nigra. These studies suggest an involvement of mu receptors in the nigra in the wet-dog shakes and thennoregulatory dysfunction that occur during withdrawal of morphine. However, the subtypes ofopioid receptors in the nigra, that mediate the other signs of morphine withdrawal remain obscure.
How much and how often: A model of repeated consumption with endogenous consumption frequency

Abstract We study the consumption pattern for a “repeated good” in which individuals choose both consumption frequency and intensity in response to income, price and setup cost. Results include that increased setup costs reduce frequency and increase intensity, and that the effects of a setup cost increase are qualitatively different from those of a price increase or an income reduction.
A case of atypical diffuse feline fibrotic lung disease

An 11-year-old cat presented for respiratory distress and weight loss. Thoracic radiographs were interpreted as a diffuse bronchointerstitial pattern with bronchiectasis and a mild ventral alveolar pattern on the lateral views. Computed tomography revealed a severe diffuse reticular pattern, relatively hyperattenuating in subpleural regions, with diffuse traction bronchiectasis and some degree of honeycombing. Despite the absence of basal predominance, this pattern was considered to be suggestive of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). Other differentials (other types of interstitial lung disease, infectious pneumonitis, neoplasia, or early edema or hemorrhage) were considered less likely based on history and other test results. The cat was discharged without any treatment, and euthanased 5 months later. Post-mortem histological analysis of the lung revealed end-stage lung, with extensive fibrosis that was more severe in subpleural regions, fibroblastic foci and honeycombing, suggestive of UIP. A probable diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) was made. The diffuse distribution of the lesions was atypical compared with previous tomographic and histologic descriptions of IPF in cats. This case report suggests a heterogeneity of the pulmonary fibrotic disorders in cats that warrants further investigation for better characterization and classification.
An integrated resource planning model for utilities with quantified outage costs

Integrated resource planning (IRP) for electric utilities involves management planning of supply as well as demand at the same time. In this paper, we develop a mixed integer linear programming model for IRP. The two key distinctions of this model are the incorporation of the forced outage cost and the inclusion of power deficit/surplus. The forced outage cost will more accurately reflect the true cost to a utility, and the power deficit/surplus features will more accurately represent the existence of power deficit/surplus in utilities nowadays. A comprehensive numerical example is provided for illustrative purposes.
Cyanoketenes. Stereochemistry of the 2-azetidinones resulting from the cycloadditions of cyanoketenes to formimidates

Tetrahedron Letters No. 11, pp 933 - 936, 1978. CYANOKETENES e STEREOCHEMISTRY FROM THE CYCLOADDITIONS Richard Chambers, DOMa Pergamon Press. Printed in Great Britain. OF THE Z-AZETIDINONES OF CYANOKETENES RESULTING TO FORMIMIDATES Kunert, Louis Hernandez, Jr., Frank Mercer, and Harold W. Moore Department of Chemistry, University of California, (Received in USA 19 November 1977 ; received In the preceding paper’ a synthetic route to chloro-, and 4-protio For those 2-azetidinones containing closely cycloadditions arising from the cycloadditions decoupling techniques, related structural units. data for the P-azetidinones, absorption (C-5) in m was de- as well as some typical alkylcyano- to formimidates to of these adducts to of halocyanoketenes, of the stereo structures. of the individual “C chemical shifts have been made by consideration off-resonance groups reside in a trans relationship. has proven most useful for determination tensities, and iodocyanoketene Reported here are data which show the stereochemistry be that in which the 3-cyano- troscopy bromo-, and methyl), to undergo stereospecific give 2-azetidinones. California in UK for publication 23 January scribed along with the ability of these halocyanoketenes, ketenes (tert-butyl- Irvine, and the comparison cmr spec- The assignments of the relative peak in- of spectra of compounds A summary of the pertinent “C chemical is tabulated in Table 1. shift It is noteworthy that the cyano does not vary by more than 0.3 ppm from 111.6 ppm. tion is consistent with the assumption that these 2-azetidinones This observa- all have the same configura- tion. In view of the invariance of the cyano absorption, of using the “C chemical we chose to investigate the possibility shift of this group as a stereochemical spectra of compounds 3c, 42, 2, 6&, 8a, and 8b were examined. probe. To this end , the “C These compounds were prepared as outlined below and their pertinent &rr data are presented in Table 2. Silica gel chromatography of 2 and% gave samples which were enriched in the E-isomers as determined by the magnitude of the coupling constants of the C-3 and C-4 methine protons in the respective isomers. From these data it is possible to unambiguously assign the up- field cyano resonance to the Zisomer, 112.5 ppm vs 113.1 ppm for 8a. sorptions respective in the E- and Z-iso:ers isomers of 4a and $ I ” respectively, 113.4 ppm vs 113.8 ppm for 2 and It is anticipated that the relative positions of the cyano ab- of ,3x, 2, f%, and 6& should be the same as those for the since a change in the substituent at C-3 (i.e., E-4a *Z-E
Deming's Total Quality Management Movement and the Baskin Robbins Problem Part 1: Is it Time to Go Back to Vanilla?

The movement toward adopting Total Quality Management (TQM) as a working organizational philosophy has reached a critical point. Experience with the implementation of TQM has yielded mixed results. Probably the main reason that the TQM innovation has not been more consistently successful is that, in many cases, it has been misunderstood and implemented more in name only than in a manner true to its principles. Taking the W E. Deming version of TQM as an exemplar, the paradigmatic essence of TQM is described, explained, illustrated, and contrasted with the traditional and dominant rational model of management. Then the issues that distinctively confront the implementation of TQM in the public sector are reviewed. The authors conclude that TQM holds great positive potential for adapting government administration to the requirements of what appears will be a fundamentally different and more demanding future. This is Part I of a two-part article.
Passage to citizenship and the nuances of agency: Latina Battered immigrants

Synopsis Agency has traditionally been equated with resistance and assumed to be universal. More recently, black and postcolonial feminist theories have emphasized contextualizing and differentiating agency with the end goal of uncovering the complex dynamics of oppression and subordination, particularly in matters related to violence against women. In this vein, I share the cases of fifteen Latina immigrant survivors of domestic violence in their search for nonviolence, autonomy, and citizenship at a US legal nonprofit organization in Texas. I show how both legislation and nonprofit organizations created to assist battered immigrants formally and informally frame survivors' agency, which is not only structurally and situationally constrained, but often compliant and unintended. By looking at the nuances of agency in this context, I reveal the ways in which some women are able to negotiate these constraints and complete their citizenship application process successfully, while others, often the most destitute ones, tend to be weeded out of this process.
Multitarget tracking using Gaussian Process Dynamical Model particle filter

We present a particle filter based multitarget tracking method incorporating Gaussian process dynamical model (GPDM) to improve robustness in multitarget tracking. With the Gaussian process dynamical model particle filter (GPDMPF), a high-dimensional target trajectory dataset of the observation space is projected to a low-dimensional latent space in a nonlinear probabilistic manner, which will then be used to classify object trajectories, predict the next motion state, and provide Gaussian process dynamical samples for the particle filter. In addition, appearance models are employed in the particle filter as complimentary features to coordinate data used in GPDM. The simulation results demonstrate that the approach can track more than four targets with reasonable runtime overhead and performance. In addition, it can successfully deal with occasional missing frames and temporary occlusions.
Preconception counseling for adolescent females with type 1 diabetes: the READY-Girls Program.

The American Diabetes Association recommends that women with diabetes of childbearing age receive preconception counseling starting at puberty [1]. Although preconception counseling is built into the care for adolescent females at many pediatric diabetes centers, there are few standardized, diabetes-specific programs. Further, little is known about the efficacy of existing programs as well as their cost-effectiveness. This is critical public health information to have to reduce the risk of complications associated with pregnancy for females with diabetes. Considering this gap in the scientific literature and preconception counseling’s public health relevance, a team of investigators developed and tested a program for adolescent females with type 1 diabetes.
A prospective multivariate analysis of clinical factors associated with pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

Background & Aims: Although acute pouchitis (AP) after ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA) for UC is common and easily treated, chronic pouchitis (CP) remains a difficult management issue. The aim of this study was to identify important clinical risk factors associated with AP or CP. Methods: AP and CP were prospectively assessed, and demographic, disease, and treatment characteristics were tabulated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate associations between AP or CP and potential risk factors. Results: Two hundred IPAA patients were followed for a median of 24 months (range, 3–117 months). Thirty-six patients (18%) developed AP, and 23 patients (12%) developed CP. On univariate analysis, the use of steroids before colectomy and smoking were associated with the development of AP. CP was associated with male gender, smoking, length of follow-up, extraintestinal manifestations, backwash ileitis, and elevated (450×109/L) platelet count. On multivariate analysis, the following risk factors were found to be independently associated with AP: use of steroids before colectomy (odds ratio [OR], 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5–8.9; P = .004) and smoking (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1–5.3; P = .04). CP was directly associated with extraintestinal manifestations (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.1–11.1; P = .03), elevated platelet count (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.1–8.9; P = .03), and increased length of follow-up (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1–1.6; P = .002). Smoking reduced the incidence of CP (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.05–0.74; P = .04). Conclusions: Clinical factors associated with AP included use of steroids before colectomy and smoking. Factors directly related to CP were extraintestinal manifestations, elevated platelet count, and length of follow-up after IPAA. Smoking appears to protect against the development of CP.
Silences in Music are Musical Not Silent: An Exploratory Study of Context Effects on the Experience of Musical Pauses

SILENCES IN MUSIC ARE DISTINGUISHED acoustically along only one dimension: the length of time they occupy. However, like pauses in speech, they are distinguished syntactically along many dimensions, depending on the context in which they occur. In two experiments, one using musical excerpts from commercially available recordings, and the other using simpler constructed excerpts, participants9 reactions to silences were assessed. Participants pressed a button when they heard a period of silence begin and end, moved a slider to indicate perceived changes in musical tension across the course of each excerpt, and answered a series of questions about each silence, including questions about its duration, placement, salience, and metric qualities. Musical context, especially tonal context, affected the response to silence as measured by all three tasks. Specifically, silences following tonal closure were identified more quickly and perceived as less tense than silences following music lacking such closure.
Monocytes Are Recruited From Venules During Arteriogenesis in the Murine Spinotrapezius Ligation Model

Objective— Chronic arterial occlusion results in arteriogenesis of collateral blood vessels. This process has been shown to be dependent on the recruitment of growth-promoting macrophages to remodeling collaterals. However, the potential role of venules in monocyte recruitment during microvascular arteriogenesis is not well demonstrated. First, we aim to document that arteriogenesis occurs in the mouse spinotrapezius ligation model. Then, we investigate the temporal and spatial distribution, as well as proliferation, of monocytes/macrophages recruited to collateral arterioles in response to elevated fluid shear stress. Approach and Results— Laser speckle flowmetry confirmed a postligation increase in blood velocity within collateral arterioles but not within venules. After 72 hours post ligation, collateral arteriole diameters were increased, proliferating cells were identified in vessel walls of shear-activated collaterals, and perivascular CD206 + macrophages demonstrated proliferation. A 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine assay identified proliferation. CD68 + CD206 + cells around collaterals were increased 96%, whereas CX3CR1 (+/GFP) cells were increased 126% in ligated versus sham groups after 72 hours. CX3CR1 (+/GFP) cells were predominately venule associated at 6 hours after ligation; and CX3CR1 (+/GFP hi) cells shifted from venule to arteriole associated between 6 and 72 hours after surgery exclusively in ligated muscle. We report accumulation and extravasation of adhered CX3CR1 (+/GFP) cells in and from venules, but not from arterioles, after ligation. Conclusions— Our results demonstrate that arteriogenesis occurs in the murine spinotrapezius ligation model and implicate postcapillary venules as the site of tissue entry for circulating monocytes. Local proliferation of macrophages is also documented. These data open up questions about the role of arteriole–venule communication during monocyte recruitment.
Control network generator for latency insensitive designs

Creating latency insensitive or asynchronous designs from clocked designs has potential benefits of increased modularity and robustness to variations. Several transformations have been suggested in the literature and each of these require a handshake control network (examples include synchronous elasticization and desynchronization). Numerous implementations of the control network are possible. This paper reports on an algorithm that has been proven to generate an optimal control network consisting of the minimum number of 2-input join and 2-output fork control components. This can substantially reduce the area and power consumption of a system. The algorithm has been implemented in a CAD tool, called CNG. It has been applied to the MiniMIPS processor showing a 14% reduction in the number of control steering units over a hand optimized design in a contemporary work.
Using a model checker to test safety properties

In addition to providing a sound basis for analysis, formal methods can support other development activities; in our case the target is specification-based testing at the system level. We use the formal method of model checking to either generate new test sets or analyze existing test sets with respect to safety properties expressed in a temporal logic. We consider two types of tests: failing tests, in which a system must reject (fail) a specific dangerous action, and passing tests, in which a system must accept (pass) a safe action in a context that also includes a plausible dangerous action. We formalize our notion of dangerous actions with a mutation model for model checking specifications, and we develop coverage criteria to assess test sets. The coverage criteria are based on the logic operators from the Computation Tree Logic (CTL) and encompass the idea of scenarios where a dangerous action is either inevitable (A) or possible (E) as of the next state (X) or at some point in the future (F). We demonstrate the feasibility of our approach with an example.
Optimal acknowledgment pace for maximum throughput over asymmetric satellite links

The acknowledgment (ACK) strategy of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is one of the features that have been modified to improve its performance in asymmetric networks. It has been modified to allow the data-receiver to delay the ACKs for a configurable period of time that is related to its estimate of the round-trip time (RTT). Either a general relationship between optimal ACK frequency and asymmetric channel ratio or a set of optimal ACK frequency values that achieve maximal performance for various asymmetric channel ratios is not available. The paper studies optimal ACK frequency values with respect to channel RTT to achieve the highest throughput over various asymmetric, GEO-satellite links.
Obesity (Sometimes) Matters: The Importance of Context in the Relationship between Obesity and Life Satisfaction.

Previous research has established the negative influence of obesity on subjective well-being. In the present work, the authors use multilevel modeling and Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System data (N = 1,319,340) to examine how this relationship is influenced by the prevalence of obesity in the contexts in which individuals are living and how such relationships vary by gender. The results suggest that some of the influence of obesity on life satisfaction is the result of relative comparison. Implications for both our understanding of the growing “obesity epidemic” and the study of subjective well-being are discussed.
Optimal nonnegative definite approximations of estimated moving average covariance sequences

The problem of finding the closest nonnegative definite moving average covariance sequence to a given estimate which may not be nonnegative definite is considered. An algorithm is developed which is based on a set of constrained minimization problems, each parameterized by the zero frequencies of the spectral density function corresponding to the optimal solution. The algorithm entails first solving a simple minimization problem with linear constraints whose closed-form solution is given by a projection onto a subspace. These solutions lie either outside the set of nonnegative definite sequences, or on its boundary; if the solution lies on the boundary, it is the optimal solution. The problem is considered directly in the space of covariance sequence elements. As a result, the nonlinear maximization step is performed on sets of low dimension. By considering the minimization problem in this space, it is possible to characterize some of the geometrical properties of the optimal solution in terms of the locations of its zero frequencies. >
Functional evolution of nuclear structure

The evolution of the nucleus, the defining feature of eukaryotic cells, was long shrouded in speculation and mystery. There is now strong evidence that nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) and nuclear membranes coevolved with the endomembrane system, and that the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) had fully functional NPCs. Recent studies have identified many components of the nuclear envelope in living Opisthokonts, the eukaryotic supergroup that includes fungi and metazoan animals. These components include diverse chromatin-binding membrane proteins, and membrane proteins with adhesive lumenal domains that may have contributed to the evolution of nuclear membrane architecture. Further discoveries about the nucleoskeleton suggest that the evolution of nuclear structure was tightly coupled to genome partitioning during mitosis.
The effect of prostaglandin E2 on cystine uptake and glutathione synthesis by human lung fibroblasts

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an inflammatory mediator capable of regulating fibroblast cell proliferation, matrix protein production, and system A amino acid transport. System x-c amino acid transport is regulated by electrophilic agents and oxygen. The effect of PGE2 on the x-c system transport of cystine and the synthesis of glutathione by human lung fibroblasts was examined. Preincubation of fibroblast cultures with PGE2 decreased cystine uptake by 42%. Kinetic studies revealed a 42% decrease in the Vmax of the x-c system transporter in PGE2-treated fibroblasts; however, the apparent Km was not affected. The glutathione content of PGE2-treated fibroblasts was decreased by up to 25% of control. These results demonstrate that system x-c transport of cystine is regulated by PGE2 and suggest that the limited availability of intracellular cysteine inhibited glutathione synthesis.
Role of simple biomarkers in predicting fibrosis progression in HCV infection

AIM: To examine the accuracy of the aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) and FIB-4, in predicting longitudinal changes in liver histology in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. METHODS: Patients that underwent repeat liver biopsies at least 1 year apart from 1999 to 2007 were identified. Liver fibrosis was staged on needle core biopsies evaluated by a single expert liver pathologist. Only laboratory values within 3 mo of the liver biopsies were used. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients met the inclusion criteria with 50% stage 1 on initial biopsy, 25% stage 2, and 22% stage 3. Nineteen of 36 (53%) had progression of fibrosis on repeat biopsies, while 16 (44%) showed no change in stage, and one (3%) showed improvement. Patients that showed progression of fibrosis had significantly higher alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels than the group that did not show progression. A significant correlation was seen between change in stage of fibrosis and change in APRI (r² = 0.39, P = 0.00001) and a change in FIB-4 (r² = 0.31, P = 0.00004). A change in APRI (ΔAPRI) of 0.18 had 80% positive predictive value (PPV) and 67% negative predictive value (NPV) for progression of fibrosis. A change in FIB-4 (ΔFIB-4) of 0.39 had 75% PPV and 75% NPV for predicting progression of fibrosis. CONCLUSION: ΔAPRI and ΔFIB-4 parallel changes in fibrosis progression, and could be useful tools for clinicians in following patients with active chronic HCV infection.
Characterization of a partial duplication of the aflatoxin gene cluster in Aspergillus parasiticus ATCC 56775.

A partial duplication of the complete aflatoxin gene cluster containing homologues of aflR-aflJ-adhA-estA-norA-ver1 and omtB was identified from Aspergillus parasiticus ATCC 56775. The genes, verA-avnA-verB-avfA, between ver1 and omtB in the complete gene cluster, however, were not found. One-hybrid assays showed that the duplicated aflR gene (aflR2) encoded a protein that could activate transcription just as that encoded by aflR1, the aflR gene in the complete gene cluster. Two-hybrid assays showed that AFLR2 also interacted with a putative coactivator, AFLJ1, at comparable levels to AFLR1. Deletion of aflR1 resulted in the loss of production of aflatoxin precursors, which suggested that aflR2 could not completely replace the function of aflR1. Point mutations found in adhA2, pre-termination in ver1B and norA2, and a large deletion in omtB2 probably render these duplicated genes to become nonfunctional. A close examination of the history of isolates reported to have a partial duplication suggested that duplication of the aflatoxin cluster is not a prevalent event.
Building a research library for the history of the web

This paper describes the building of a research library for studying the Web, especially research on how the structure and content of the Web change over time. The library is particularly aimed at supporting social scientists for whom the Web is both a fascinating social phenomenon and a mirror on society.The library is built on the collections of the Internet Archive, which has been preserving a crawl of the Web every two months since 1996. The technical challenges in organizing this data for research fall into two categories: high-performance computing to transfer and manage the very large amounts of data, and human-computer interfaces that empower research by non-computer specialists.
Longitudinal change in women’s sexual victimization experiences as a function of alcohol consumption and sexual victimization history: A latent transition analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Women's alcohol consumption and vulnerability to sexual victimization (SV) are linked, but findings regarding the nature and direction of the association are mixed. Some studies have found support for the self-medication hypothesis (i.e., victimized women drink more to alleviate SV-related distress); others have supported routine activity theory (i.e., drinking increases SV vulnerability). In this study, we aimed to clarify the interplay between women's prior SV, typical drinking, and SV experiences prospectively over 1 year. METHOD: Participants (N = 530) completed a baseline survey and weekly follow-up surveys across months 3, 6, 9, and 12. RESULTS: Latent class analysis (LCA) suggested that women could be classified as victimized or nonvictimized at each assessment month; 28% of participants were classified as victimized at 1 or more assessment months. Latent transition analysis (LTA) revealed that childhood sexual abuse and adult SV history each predicted greater likelihood of being victimized during the year. Typical drinking during a given assessment month was associated with (a) greater likelihood of victimized status at that assessment month and (b) greater likelihood of having transitioned into (or remained in) the victimized status since the previous assessment month. Furthermore, victimized status at a given assessment month predicted a higher quantity of subsequent drinking. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate a reciprocal relationship between typical drinking and SV, supporting both the self-medication hypothesis and routine activity theory, and suggesting that hazardous drinking levels may be an important target for both SV vulnerability reduction and interventions for women who have been sexually victimized. ©2016 American Psychological Association Language: en
Initial Health Assessments and HIV Screening under the Affordable Care Act

Author(s): Leibowitz, Arleen A; Garcia-Aguilar, Agustin T; Farrell, Kevin | Abstract: BackgroundThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 156,300 (95% CI 144,100-165,900) Americans living with HIV in 2012 were unaware of their infection. To increase knowledge of HIV status, CDC guidelines seek to make HIV screening a routine part of medical care. This paper examines how routinely California primary care providers test for HIV and how providers' knowledge of California's streamlined testing requirements, use of sexual histories, and having an electronic medical record prompt for HIV testing, relate to test offers.MethodsWe surveyed all ten California health plans offered under health reform's Insurance Exchange (response rate = 50%) and 322 primary care providers to those plans (response rate = 19%) to assess use of HIV screening and risk assessments.ResultsOnly 31.7% of 60 responding providers reported offering HIV tests to all or most new enrollees and only 8.8% offered an HIV test of blood samples all or most of the time despite the California law requiring that providers offer HIV testing of blood samples in primary care settings. Twenty-eight of the 60 providers (46.6%) were unaware that California had reduced barriers to HIV screening by eliminating the requirement for written informed consent and pre-test counseling. HIV screening of new enrollees all or most of the time was reported by 53.1% of the well-informed providers, but only 7.1% of the less informed providers, a difference of 46 percentage points (95% CI: 21.0%-66.5%). Providers who routinely obtained sexual histories were 29 percentage points (95% CI: 0.2%-54.9%) more likely to screen for HIV all or most of the time than those who did not ask sexual histories.ConclusionChanging HIV screening requirements is important, but not sufficient to make HIV testing a routine part of medical care. Provider education to increase knowledge about the changed HIV testing requirements could positively impact testing rates.
The relationship between intimate partner violence and family planning among girls and young women in the Philippines

This study explored the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and family planning among adolescent girls and young women in formal unions in the Philippines. Analyzing a sample (n =1,566) from the 2013 Philippines Demographic and Health Survey, logistic regression models were separately run for current contraception use and unmet need for family planning on recent physical violence (yes/no), recent sexual violence (yes/no), and recent emotional (yes/no). Findings revealed that the odds of using contraception were significantly higher among girls and young women who reported recent physical IPV (OR=1.84; 95% CI=1.13, 2.99; p<0.05) and sexual IPV (OR=2.18; 95% CI=1.17, 4.06; p<0.05). No significant relationship between recent emotional IPV and contraception use was found. Having an unmet need for family planning showed no significant relationship to IPV. The study adds to a growing body of literature revealing a positive association between IPV and contraception use. Findings hold implications for the provision of family planning services for adolescents and young women in response to the recent passage of landmark legislation pertaining to reproductive health in the Philippines, the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act.
The Application of Compromise Solutions to Reporting Games

This is a continuation of Yu’s previous work on the compromise scheme for group decision problems with a new application to reporting games [12]. We first show that the distance parameter p for group regret has the interesting property that as p is increased, individual regrets are more emphasized and the sum of individual utilities resulting from the compromise scheme is decreased. In particular, when p=1, the sum of individual utilities is most emphasized and individual regret is most neglected. We then set up reporting games in the compromise scheme and show the existence of Nash equilibrium point. Finally we introduce new concepts of ‘semioptimality’ and ‘optimality’ to study two special classes of reporting games. We explicitly state and prove the semioptimal and optimal strategies for each player. We also show that ‘simple majority rule’ is a special case of compromise solutions with parameter p = 1, which once again is the one which most neglects the individual regrets in the entire family of compromise solutions.
The zebrafish tailbud contains two independent populations of midline progenitor cells that maintain long-term germ layer plasticity and differentiate in response to local signaling cues

Vertebrate body axis formation depends on a population of bipotential neuromesodermal cells along the posterior wall of the tailbud that make a germ layer decision after gastrulation to form spinal cord and mesoderm. Despite exhibiting germ layer plasticity, these cells never give rise to midline tissues of the notochord, floor plate and dorsal endoderm, raising the question of whether midline tissues also arise from basal posterior progenitors after gastrulation. We show in zebrafish that local posterior signals specify germ layer fate in two basal tailbud midline progenitor populations. Wnt signaling induces notochord within a population of notochord/floor plate bipotential cells through negative transcriptional regulation of sox2. Notch signaling, required for hypochord induction during gastrulation, continues to act in the tailbud to specify hypochord from a notochord/hypochord bipotential cell population. Our results lend strong support to a continuous allocation model of midline tissue formation in zebrafish, and provide an embryological basis for zebrafish and mouse bifurcated notochord phenotypes as well as the rare human congenital split notochord syndrome. We demonstrate developmental equivalency between the tailbud progenitor cell populations. Midline progenitors can be transfated from notochord to somite fate after gastrulation by ectopic expression of msgn1, a master regulator of paraxial mesoderm fate, or if transplanted into the bipotential progenitors that normally give rise to somites. Our results indicate that the entire non-epidermal posterior body is derived from discrete, basal tailbud cell populations. These cells remain receptive to extracellular cues after gastrulation and continue to make basic germ layer decisions.
Studies on dehydration of pineapple using different sugar syrup treatments

The production of pineapple is 1.2 million tonnes (5 th largest) in India. The pineapple is delicious, nutritive fruit and has medicinal properties. Being highly perishable pineapple cannot be stored for longer period at ambient condition and only 10 per cent is being processed. There is greater scope and necessity of developing an appropriate technology for drying of pineapple with long shelf-life. The ripe pineapple was treated at 100°C for 1 min in boiling water to deactivate the enzyme. The blanched fruits were dipped in sucrose, glucose, fructose and invert sugar syrups at 68 0 Brix, for 48hrs for getting desired total soluble solids content. The treated fruits were further dried to 20 per cent moisture in a tray dryer at 60-65°C. Good quality and acceptable dried pineapples could be prepared by using sucrose syrup treatment at 68 0 Brix. Dried pineapples prepared using sucrose syrup and packed in aluminium foil pouch and stored at ambient temperature remained in excellent condition up to 3 months.
Connection of Jones and Mueller Tensors in Second Harmonic Generation and Multi-Photon Fluorescence Measurements.

Despite the rapidly growing use of second harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy, opportunities for relating polarization-dependent measurements back to local structure and molecular orientation are often confounded by losses in polarization purity. In this work, connections linking Mueller tensor and Jones tensor descriptions of polarization-dependent SHG and TPEF are shown to substantially simplify partially depolarized microscopy measurements. These connections were facilitated by the derivation of several new tensor identity relations, based on generalization of established transformations of matrices and vectors. Methods are described for integrating local-frame symmetry and azimuthal rotation angle for simplifying the Mueller tensor. Through simple expressions bridging the Mueller and Jones formalisms, mathematical models for partial depolarization can greatly simplify interpretation of SHG and TPEF measurements to reconstruct the more general Mueller tensors...
Patterns of Empire: Hegemonies and Empires

Other nations in history have fought in foreign lands and remained to occupy and exploit. Americans, following a battle, want nothing more than to return home. – George W. Bush, Speech on the USS Abraham Lincoln (2003) In 1940, Adolph Berle, the undersecretary in the U.S. Department State, penned a prescient passage in his diary. “I have been saying to myself and other people, that the only possible effect of this war would be that the United States would emerge with an imperial power greater than the world had ever seen.” It is unclear what Berle meant exactly by “imperial power.” Most likely, he meant it as the founders of the American Revolution had meant it – that is, sovereign strength or greatness. If so, Berle's statement was on the spot. The United States did emerge from World War II as the world's leading economic and military power. In 1950, its GDP was higher than all of Europe's put together and near equal to Europe's and Russia's combined. The United States was the world's leading exporter and foreign investor. Its financial and industrial strength was matched by its agricultural exports. The United States was “the workshop, bakery, and banker of the world.”