cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sex differences in cardiovascular function during submaximal exercise in humans

Differences in cardiovascular function between sexes have been documented at rest and maximal exercise. The purpose of this study was to examine the sex differences in cardiovascular function during submaximal constant-load exercise, which is not well understood. Thirty-one male and 33 female subjects completed nine minutes moderate and nine minutes vigorous intensity submaximal exercise (40 and 75% of peak watts determined by maximal exercise test). Measurements included: intra-arterial blood pressure (SBP and DBP), cardiac index (QI), heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO2 )a nd arterial catecholamines (epinephrine = EPI and norepinephrine = NE), and blood gases. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), stroke volume index (SVI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), arterial oxygen content (CaO2), arterial to venous O2 difference (AVO2) and systemic oxygen transport (SOT) were calculated. At rest and during submaximal exercise QI ,S VI, SBP, MAP, NE, CaO2, and SOT were lower in females compared to males. VO2 ,A VO2, EPI were lower in females throughout exercise. When corrected for wattage, females had a higher Q, HR, SV, VO2 and AVO2 despite lower energy expenditure and higher mechanical efficiency. This study demonstrates sex differences in the cardiovascular response to constant-load submaximal exercise. Specifically, females presented limitations in cardiac performance in which they are unable to compensate for reductions in stroke volume through increases in HR, potentially a consequence of a female’s blunted sympathetic response and higher vasodilatory state. Females demonstrated greater cardiac work needed to meet the same external work demand, and relied on increased peripheral oxygen extraction, lower energy expenditure and improvements in mechanical efficiency as compensatory mechanisms.
A discussion of sleep.

The prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of sleep-related disorders often are underestimated. Sleep medicine must draw from the study of multiple disciplines to address adequately the varied causes of sleep-related complaints. Common etiologies include primary sleep cycle disorders and parasomnias, central or peripheral respiratory abnormalities, and epilepsy and movement disorders. Many diagnostic procedures have been developed to aid in the evaluation of sleep-related disorders. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has set guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of many sleep disorders.
4K-6 Noninvasive Estimation of Local Elastic Modulus of Arteries with the Ring Resonance Measurement

Increased stiffness of arteries has recently gained acceptance as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and many other diseases. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is widely used for estimating the stiffness of an artery. However, PWV is an average indicator of artery stiffness between the two measuring points, and therefore does not identify local stiffness. In addition, the thickness of artery is needed to calculate artery elastic modulus. We have discovered that there are certain ring resonance modes of arteries that can be used for measuring local arterial elastic modulus. These modes can be excited by remote "palpation" with selectively placed ultrasonic radiation force. The resulting vibration of artery is measured with optical or Doppler ultrasound methods. Experiments on ring resonance were carried out on femoral arteries of pig in vitro and in vivo. This family of resonances occurs at relatively low frequency, around 375 Hz for the artery in vivo. Estimation of Young's modulus of artery is 112 kPa by the ring frequency 375 Hz without the requirement of the arterial thickness
The safety of levetiracetam

Levetiracetam is an antiepileptic drug approved for use as an adjunct agent in partial-onset seizures in adults and children aged > or = 4 years. It was also approved as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of adults and adolescents aged > or = 12 years with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. A parenteral intravenous formulation has recently become available allowing for its use when oral administration is temporarily not feasible. Available literature has demonstrated and supported that levetiracetam has an acceptable safety profile and this review discusses the safety profile of levetiracetam, with attention to special populations. The most common adverse effects are somnolence, asthenia and dizziness, which usually appear early after initiation of levetiracetam therapy and generally resolve without medication withdrawal. The most serious adverse effects are behavioral in nature and are more common in children and in patients with a prior history of behavioral problems.
Note on a Property of Continuous Arcs

1. In a note in these Proceedings , Mr S. Verblunsky proves the following result: Theorem A. Let C be a continuous arc joining the points (x 1 , y 0 ) and (x 2 , y 0 ), where x 2 > x 1 . Suppose that C does not cross the line y = y 0 . Then, given any positive h 2 − x 1 , there is α y h such that some two points (ξ 1 , y h ), (ξ 2 , y h ), in which y = y h cuts C, satisfy the relation ξ 2 − ξ 1 = h.
A critical role for CD40-CD40 ligand interactions in amplification of the mucosal CD8 T cell response.

The role of CD40 ligand (CD40L) in CD8 T cell activation was assessed by tracking antigen-specific T cells in vivo using both adoptive transfer of T cell receptor transgenic T cells and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I tetramers. Soluble antigen immunization induced entry of CD8 cells into the intestinal mucosa and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) differentiation, whereas CD8 cells in secondary lymphoid tissue proliferated but were not cytolytic. Immunization concurrent with CD40L blockade or in the absence of CD40 demonstrated that accumulation of CD8 T cells in the mucosa was CD40L dependent. Furthermore, activation was mediated through CD40L expressed by the CD8 cells, since inhibition by anti-CD40L monoclonal antibodies occurred after adoptive transfer to CD40L-deficient mice. However, mucosal CD8 T cells in normal and CD40−/− mice were equivalent killers, indicating that CD40L was not required for CTL differentiation. Appearance of virus-specific mucosal, but not splenic, CD8 cells also relied heavily on CD40–CD40L interactions. The mucosal CTL response of transferred CD8 T cells was MHC class II and interleukin 12 independent. The results established a novel pathway of direct CD40L-mediated CD8 T cell activation.
A General Theory of Marketing Ethics

Almost all the theoretical efforts in the area of marketing ethics have been normative, not positive. Th1at is, almost all theoretical works have focused on developing guidelines or rules to assist marketers in their efforts to behave in an ethical fashion. In contrast, the model developed in this article is descriptive, not prescriptive. It attempts to explain the decision-making process for problem situations having ethical con-tent. The article begins with a discussion and evaluation of the two major normative ethical theories in moral philosophy. deontological theories and teleological theories. Although these theories are normative, to the extent that people actually follow their prescriptions, any positive theory of marketing ethics must incorporate them. The article then develops a positive theory of marketing ethics and uses that theory to help explain some of the empirical research that has been conducted in the area of marketing ethics
On Optical Dispersion Formulae

In the half century that elapsed from the time when Cauchy published is memoirs on dispersion, the only measurements of refractive indices that ere available for the test of any theory were confined to the neighbourhood of the visible spectrum. They extended from somewhat beyond 0·2 µ to bout 0·8 µ , i. e. over a range of two octaves. In this range the variation of refractive index for most substances is small, and it is not surprising that, by a proper adjustment of constants, a variety of different formulae may be lade to fit the experimental facts. More recently, however, the range of observations has been immensely extended, so that we now have a large umber of determinations of refractive indices for various wave-lengths extending from less than 0·2 µ to 22·3 µ . With a knowledge extending ever this range of about seven octaves, there is more hope of testing the herits of different dispersion formulae. Accordingly, when, in 1879, Mouton lade the first considerable extension in the direction of great wave-lengths, e found that, with the same number of constants, the formula of Briot represented the facts much better than did the older one of Cauchy, and the same result was reached by Langley in 1884 and 1886. The still more extended observations of Paschen, Rubens, E. F. Nichols, and A. Trowbridge, published at various dates from 1892 to 1897, have shown that Sellmeier’s forrmula n 2 = K + c 1 /(λ2—λ12 +... is the only one of those that have been tried that is in thorough accord with the observed values of the refractive indices over the whole range of the experiments.
A star tracker design for CubeSats

This paper outlines a low-cost, low-power, arc-minute accurate star tracker that is designed for use on a CubeSat. The device is being developed at the University of Texas at Austin for use on two different 3-unit CubeSat missions. The hardware consists of commercial off-the-shelf parts designed for use in industrial machine vision systems and employs a 1024×768 grey-scale charge coupled device (CCD) sensor. The software includes the three standard steps in star tracking: centroiding, star identification, and attitude determination. Centroiding algorithms were developed in-house. The star identification code was adapted from the Pyramid Star Identification technique developed by Mortari. Attitude determination was performed using Markley's singular value decomposition method. The star tracker was then tested with both internal and external simulated star-fields and night-sky tests. The resulting accuracy was on the order of arc-minutes. It was concluded that this system is a viable option for CubeSats looking to improve their attitude determination. Further proof of the system will be obtained when the star tracker flies on the planned CubeSat missions in 2013 or later.
City and County Manager Plans in the South

Municipal government in the South today concerns 11 million people, or about 35 per cent of the region's populations An even larger number of people is affected by the acts of the county governments within whose jurisdiction they must dwell since this unit of government is inclusive locally within the states. The form of local government, therefore, is a concern of no small consequence. Although the South is still predominantly rural and agricultural in outlook and practice, its pattern of governmental needs in many sections reflects the twin facts of increasing industrialization and of concentration of urban population. An important factor in the efforts of southern counties and municipalities to adjust themselves to a changing environment centers in their attempts to achieve an effective and efficient daily performance. Indeed, far more interest has been aroused in administrative processes and procedures than in the more basic factor of structure and organization. Yet it is not without significance that much attention in recent studies in administration has been focused upon the latter. There is an emerging realization that the lack of coordination in the group activity involved in local government accounts for considerable "governmental inefficiency." Signs of this recognition are found in the South in press discussions of local government, various civic programs sponsored by local organizations, and especially in the sharp controversy which surrounds the manager form of government where it is considered. This continuing emphasis upon administrative reorganization, not merely of state governments but of counties and cities as well, is an important and significant develop-
Establishment of a CYP2C19 Genotyping Assay for Clinical Use

Conversion of clopidogrel (Plavix) to its active metabolite is catalyzed largely by the P450 enzyme 2C19 (CYP2C19). Numerous allelic variants of CYP2C19 exist. The *1 allele is considered wild type, whereas the *2 and *3 alleles have no in vivo enzymatic activity. Conversely, the *17 allele has increased expression, resulting in increased clopidogrel activation. Poor metabolizers (\*2/\*2 and \*2/\*3 genotypes) experience higher rates of therapeutic failure. For this reason, we have validated a CYP2C19 genotyping assay for the *1, *2, *3, and *17 alleles. Genomic DNA extracted from 30 deidentified EDTA whole-blood samples from patients was analyzed at 2 independent facilities using specific TaqMan realtime polymerase chain reaction primers and probes. Concordant genotypes were generated on all samples tested. Of the 30 samples, 15 were CYP2C19\*1/\*1, 8 were CYP2C19\*1/\*17, 5 were CYP2C19\*1/\*2, and 2 were CYP2C19\*2/\*17. There were no CYP2C19*3 alleles or \*2/\*2 homozygous genotypes detected. This CYP2C19 genotyping assay is appropriate for clinical testing, demonstrating excellent interlaboratory concordance, enabling the selection of the most effective clopidogrel treatment regimen for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
Restoration of multiple misregistered images

Summary form only given. A stochastic modeling approach to the restoration of misregistered corrupted images of the same scene has been adopted. If a wide-sense stationarity assumption is made on the 2-D continuous version of the image of the scene, it can be seen that individual discrete image samples from this continuous image exhibit similar statistical properties in the spatial domain, i.e. the (auto) covariance matrix defined on each discrete image is identical. The temporal correlation between a pair of discrete images is dictated by the temporal displacement between images and the stochastic model in the continuous domain. This temporal correlation can be expressed in terms of the misregistration of a pair of discrete images and the correlation matrix of the discrete image. Hence, the stochastic model-based approach defines a parametric form of the spatio-temporal correlation matrix, in terms of the spatial model parameters over a single image lattice and the displacement values between different frames. >
Compact slot and dielectric resonator antenna with dual-resonance, broadband characteristics

The goal of this study is to improve the bandwidth of a miniaturized antenna. The proposed technique combines a slot antenna and a dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) to effectively double the available bandwidth without compromising miniaturization or efficiency. With proper design it is observed that the resonance of the slot and that of the dielectric structure itself may be merged to achieve extremely wide bandwidth over which the antenna polarization and radiation pattern are preserved. In addition, using the DRA, a volumetric source, improves the radiation power factor of the radiating slot. A miniaturized antenna figure of merit (MAFM) is defined to simultaneously quantify aspects of miniaturized antenna performance including the degree of miniaturization, efficiency, and bandwidth. Figures for various common types of antennas are given and compared with that of the proposed structures. In order to determine the effects of varying design parameters on bandwidth and matching, sensitivity analysis is carried out using the finite-difference time-domain method. Numerous designs for miniaturized slot-fed dielectric resonator antennas are simulated and bandwidths exceeding 25% are achieved. Two 2.4 GHz antennas are built, characterized, and the results compared with theory.
Low-cost integrated inverted stripline antennas with solid-state devices for commercial applications

Integrated and active integrated antennas are currently increasing in popularity for many system applications. They can meet many commercial system specifications while maintaining antenna performance to produce compact, low-cost products. The inverted stripline configuration was developed to integrate with different solid-state devices like PIN, varactor and Gunn diodes (or transistor devices) for switching, tuning modulation, amplification and oscillating functions in various integrated microwave components. Switching, tuning and oscillating functions have been demonstrated using two- and three-terminal devices. >
Design of a monomeric 23-residue polypeptide with defined tertiary structure.

Small proteins or protein domains generally require disulfide bridges or metal sites for their stabilization. Here it is shown that the ββα architecture of zinc fingers can be reproduced in a 23-residue polypeptide in the absence of metal ions. The sequence was obtained through an iterative design process. A key feature of the final design is the incorporation of a type II' β turn to aid in β-hairpin formation. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis reveals that the α helix and β hairpin are held together by a defined hydrophobic core. The availability of this structural template has implications for the development of functional polypeptides.
Kinematics of a diffuse North America–Pacific–Bering plate boundary in Alaska and western Canada

Inconsistencies between regional seismicity and block tectonic models, the recent recognition of the Bering plate, and the availability of global positioning system data motivated a large-scale kinematic analysis of Alaska and western Canada. We provide a synoptic view of the neotectonics of the region through kinematic modeling of the longterm strain rate and velocity fi eld constrained by geologic and geophysical observations. Our results provide evidence that a wide zone of diffuse deformation defi nes the boundaries between the North America, Pacifi c, and Bering plates, and that the relative motion between these plates may be the source for much of the modern deformation.
Capacity of unprimed CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing V beta 11 receptors to respond to I-E alloantigens in vivo.

Self tolerance induction in the thymus is known to delete T cells expressing certain V beta TCR molecules. In particular, V beta 17a+ and V beta 11+ T cells are selectively deleted in mice expressing H-2 I-E molecules. Although this finding implies that V beta 17a+ and V beta 11+ T cells have specificity for self I-E molecules, studies with V beta 11+ hybridomas prepared from mature lymphocytes taken from I-E- mice have shown that the vast majority of these hybridomas do not display I-E alloreactivity, at least in vitro. To examine whether V beta 11+ T cells are capable of reacting to I-E antigens in vivo, normal unprimed T cells from I-E- B10.A(4R) mice were transferred to irradiated I-E+ B10.A(2R) hosts and harvested from thoracic duct lymph of the recipients at various intervals. The donor T cells recovered in early lymph collections showed no reactivity to the I-E antigens of the host in vitro, presumably as a reflection of selective sequestration of the host-reactive cells in the lymphoid organs. Significantly, the disappearance of functional host-reactive cells from TDL was paralleled by a 90-95% reduction of V beta 11+ CD4+ cells. Blast cells were rare in early lymph collections but accounted for nearly all of the lymph-borne cells by day 3 after transfer. These blast cell populations contained a surprisingly high proportion of V beta 11+ cells, i.e., up to 25% in some experiments. Interestingly, the enrichment for V beta 11+ cells in the blast populations applied to CD8+ cells as well as to CD4+ cells. Collectively, the data suggest that in marked contrast to the failure of V beta 11+ cells to respond to I-E antigens in vitro, a high proportion of normal resting V beta 11+ cells are capable of reacting to I-E alloantigens in vivo.
The multifaceted functions of sirtuins in cancer

The sirtuins (SIRTs; of which there are seven in mammals) are NAD(+)-dependent enzymes that regulate a large number of cellular pathways and forestall the progression of ageing and age-associated diseases. In recent years, the role of sirtuins in cancer biology has become increasingly apparent, and growing evidence demonstrates that sirtuins regulate many processes that go awry in cancer cells, such as cellular metabolism, the regulation of chromatin structure and the maintenance of genomic stability. In this article, we review recent advances in our understanding of how sirtuins affect cancer metabolism, DNA repair and the tumour microenvironment and how activating or inhibiting sirtuins may be important in preventing or treating cancer.
Optical coherence tomography or intravascular ultrasound

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has been an important modality in understanding the in vivo pathophysiology of coronary artery disease and in predicting outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The IVUS features associated with acute coronary syndromes include positive remodeling, large
Activation of autophagy by unfolded proteins during endoplasmic reticulum stress

Endoplasmic reticulum stress is defined as the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum, and is caused by conditions such as heat or agents that cause endoplasmic reticulum stress, including tunicamycin and dithiothreitol. Autophagy, a major pathway for degradation of macromolecules in the vacuole, is activated by these stress agents in a manner dependent on inositol-requiring enzyme 1b (IRE1b), and delivers endoplasmic reticulum fragments to the vacuole for degradation. In this study, we examined the mechanism for activation of autophagy during endoplasmic reticulum stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. The chemical chaperones sodium 4-phenylbutyrate and tauroursodeoxycholic acid were found to reduce tunicamycin- or dithiothreitol-induced autophagy, but not autophagy caused by unrelated stresses. Similarly, over-expression of BINDING IMMUNOGLOBULIN PROTEIN (BIP), encoding a heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) molecular chaperone, reduced autophagy. Autophagy activated by heat stress was also found to be partially dependent on IRE1b and to be inhibited by sodium 4-phenylbutyrate, suggesting that heat-induced autophagy is due to accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Expression in Arabidopsis of the misfolded protein mimics zeolin or a mutated form of carboxypeptidase Y (CPY*) also induced autophagy in an IRE1b-dependent manner. Moreover, zeolin and CPY* partially co-localized with the autophagic body marker GFP-ATG8e, indicating delivery to the vacuole by autophagy. We conclude that accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum is a trigger for autophagy under conditions that cause endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Successful Reconstruction of Asymptomatic Bilateral External Carotid Artery Aneurysms

True aneurysms of the external carotid artery (ECA) are extremely rare with an unknown incidence and natural history. We present the successful operative management of an asymptomatic 65-year-old man found to have bilateral internal carotid artery stenosis and bilateral ECA aneurysms. His bilateral carotid arteries were reconstructed with bifurcated interposition grafts in a staged fashion. The patient recovered without sequelae and continues to be asymptomatic 1 year after reconstruction. We present the operative management of this rare case.
Automated Generation of Large-Scale Repositories of Reusable Artifacts

Identifying reusable artifacts is a labor-intensive process that demands significant input from expert designers. In this research, we propose a methodology for identifying reusable artifacts by examining commonalities and variations in existing designs and demonstrate how the methodology can be scaled with bootstrapped inputs to populate repositories of design fragments. The results demonstrate an approach that may be feasible for automatically generating large-scale repositories of reusable artifacts for conceptual design of information systems.
Interviewing Older Adults: the Accuracy of Factual Information

Using data from a probability sample of adults in a metropolitan area, the accuracy of survey measures was assessed by comparisons to administrative records, census counts, and maps. Some types of information, including birth date and make and year of car, were reported accurately by most respondents, whereas frequent errors were detected for other types of information, including voting behavior, house value, and characteristics of neighbors. Comparisons were made with respect to the relative accuracy of the reports of respondents in three age groups: younger than 60, 60 through 69, and 70 or older. For many measures, no age differences were detected, and for those where age differences were observed, the older respondents were sometimes more accurate than the younger respondents. The potential consequences of measurement error are serious. Evidence to date, however, does not indicate consistently that these problems are any more serious for older respondents than for any other age group.
Incorporation of Iron Impurities at the Anatase TiO_2(001) Surfaces:A DFT study

Base on the periodic density functional theory calculations,the structures,formation energies,band structures and density of states are investigated with iron adsorbed on the surface of TiO2(001),substituted Ti sites of surface and subsurface,and in the vacancies of horizontal and longitudinal.For the comparisons,the band structures and density of states of O vacancy on the surface are calculated also.Our formation energy calculations suggest that the Fe atom prefers to transfer from the adsorbed surface to the vacancy.The analysis of the electronic structure and density of states of the Fe doped configure show that the photocatalytic activities of TiO2(001) is upgraded and becomes better than ones with Ovacancy.
Lgr5+ stem cells and their progeny in mouse epidermis under regimens of exogenous skin carcinogenesis, and their absence in ensuing skin tumors.

// Gerline C. van de Glind 1 , Jacoba J. Out-Luiting 1 , Heggert G. Rebel 1 , Cornelis P. Tensen 1 , Frank R. de Gruijl 1 1 Department of Dermatology, LUMC, Leiden, 2333RC, The Netherlands Correspondence to: Frank R. de Gruijl, email: F.R.de_Gruijl@lumc.nl Cornelis P. Tensen, email: C.P.Tensen@lumc.nl Keywords: stem cells, Lgr5, lineage tracing, UV, skin carcinogenesis Received: March 19, 2016 Accepted: June 27, 2016 Published: July 7, 2016 ABSTRACT Actively proliferating Lgr5+ skin stem cells are found deep in the hair follicle (HF). These cells renew the HF and drive its expansion in anagen phase. Their long residence and continuous mitotic activity make them prime candidates to transform into skin tumor-initiating cells. This was investigated by subjecting Lgr5-EGFP-Ires-CreERT2/R26R-LacZ mice (haired and hairless) to chemical and UV carcinogenic regimens. In the course of these regimens Lgr5+ cells (EGFP+) remained exclusively located in HFs, and in deep-seated cysts of hairless skin. In haired mice, progeny of Lgr5+ stem cells (LacZ+ after a pulse of tamoxifen) appeared in the interfollicular epidermis upon UV-induced sunburn and in TPA-induced hyperplasia. In hairless mice the progeny remained located in deep-seated cysts and in HF remnants. Progeny in hairless skin was only detected interfollicularly at a late stage, in between outgrowing tumors. Lgr5+ stem cells were absent in the ultimate tumor masses, and no tumor appeared to be a (clonal) expansion of Lgr5+ cells (52 tumors with tamoxifen at the start of carcinogenesis, 42 tumors with tamoxifen late during tumor outgrowth). In contrast to CD34/K15+ quiescent bulge stem cells, actively proliferating Lgr5+ stem cells do therefore not appear to be tumor drivers in experimental skin carcinogenesis.
A Chronology of Cavitands

Using selected examples from the literature, we present a review of state-of-the-art cavitand research and application. The topic is introduced with a brief summary of resorcinarenes and the early cavitand work pioneered by Donald Cram. Subsequently, the review is laid out according to cavitand structure: most broadly, functionalization of the 2-position of cavitand framework and the nature of the bridging group used to rigidify the resorcinarene scaffold. More specifically, simple methylene (and equivalent) cavitands are subsumed by considerations of functionalization of the 2-position, whilst subsequent sections deal with velcrands and stereo-selective bridging to form deep-cavity cavitands. For all of the topics, the selected examples are given in chronological order to provide an over-view of the development of this fascinating field.
Discovery and optimization of 3-(4-aryl/heteroarylsulfonyl)piperazin-1-yl)-6-(piperidin-1-yl)pyridazines as novel, CNS penetrant pan-muscarinic antagonists.

Abstract This letter describes the synthesis and structure activity relationship (SAR) studies of structurally novel M 4 antagonists, based on a 3-(4-aryl/heteroarylsulfonyl)piperazin-1-yl)-6-(piperidin-1-yl)pyridazine core, identified from a high-throughput screening campaign. A multi-dimensional optimization effort enhanced potency at human M 4 (hM 4 IC 50 s p = 2.1, K p,uu = 1.1). Despite the absence of the prototypical mAChR antagonist basic or quaternary amine moiety, this series displayed pan-muscarinic antagonist activity across M 1-5 (with 9- to 16-fold functional selectivity at best). This series further expands the chemical diversity of mAChR antagonists.
Growth-Phase Classification Using Backpropagation and Probabilistic Neural Networks

Abstract Backpropagation and probabilistic neural networks were implemented to classify 3 distinct phases of the batch growth-cycle: the lag, exponential and stationary phases. The microorganism used in the study was a recombinant strain of Bacillus subtilis DB428, genetically engineered to increase the production of β-lactamase. To identify the phases, a modified version of the Gompertz model was used. The analysis took into account the fact that the third derivative with respect to time of the growth curve intercepts the time-axis in two places. The fermentation time and the third derivative of the growth curve were used as inputs to the networks. The backpropagation neural network correctly classified 88% of the testing data. The classification index increased to 97% when the data were fed to the probabilistic neural network.
Evolution of Complexity and Neural Topologies

One of the grandest and most intriguing self-organizing systems is nature itself. Whether couched in terms of evolutionary theory (Darwin 1859), information theory (Avery 2003), or thermodynamics and maximum physical entropy (Jaynes 1957a,b; Swenson 1989) natural processes have yielded a remarkable diversity of behavioral and organizational levels of complexity ranging from microbes to man.
Tissue-resident mesenchymal stromal cells: Implications for tissue-specific antifibrotic therapies

Recent scientific findings support the notion that fibrosis is driven by tissue-specific cellular and molecular mechanisms. Analysis of seemingly equivalent mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) populations residing in different organs revealed unique properties and lineage capabilities that vary from one anatomical location to another. We review recently characterized tissue-resident MSC populations with a prominent role in fibrosis and highlight therapeutically relevant molecular pathways regulating their activity in chronic disease.
From Logical Systems to Conceptual Populations

It is hardly news today to report that philosophers of science share a widespread feeling that methods of analysis which have served them well for half a century are reaching the limits of their usefulness. During much of the twentieth century, they have been concentrating on those aspects of science which lend themselves most readily to analysis using the tools of formal logic; they have given detailed, sophisticated accounts of the ways in which the general principles of a natural science are — or might conceivably be — applied to entail statements about its particular phenomena; and they have done much to make clearer the part played in natural science by logical systems. The resulting debate has been complex and on a high level of abstraction: primitive terms, protocol-statements, hypothetico-deductive systems, inductivism … verification, falsification, confirmation, corroboration, refutation …. From year to year the argument has moved on, and the grounds of debate have shifted. It has all been very exciting.
Bond dissociation energies of FeSi, RuSi, OsSi, CoSi, RhSi, IrSi, NiSi, and PtSi

Resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy has been used to investigate the spectra of the diatomic late transition metal silicides, MSi, M = Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, and Pt, in the vicinity of the bond dissociation energy. In these molecules, the density of vibronic states is so large that the spectra appear quasicontinuous in this energy range. When the excitation energy exceeds the ground separated atom limit, however, a new decay process becomes available—molecular dissociation. This occurs so rapidly that the molecule falls apart before it can absorb another photon and be ionized. The result is a sharp drop to the baseline in the ion signal, which we identify as occurring at the thermochemical 0 K bond dissociation energy, D0. On this basis, the measured predissociation thresholds provide D0 = 2.402(3), 4.132(3), 4.516(3), 2.862(3), 4.169(3), 4.952(3), 3.324(3), and 5.325(9) eV for FeSi, RuSi, OsSi, CoSi, RhSi, IrSi, NiSi, and PtSi, respectively. Using thermochemical cycles, the enthalpies of formation of the gaseous MSi molecules are derived as 627(8), 700(10), 799(10), 595(8), 599(8), 636(10), 553(12), and 497(8) kJ/mol for FeSi, RuSi, OsSi, CoSi, RhSi, IrSi, NiSi, and PtSi, respectively. Likewise, combining these results with other data provides the ionization energies of CoSi and NiSi as 7.49(7) and 7.62(7) eV, respectively. Chemical bonding trends among the diatomic transition metal silicides are discussed.
Green alga cultivation with nanofibers as physical adsorbents of carbon dioxide: Evaluation of gas biofixation and macromolecule production.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the biofixation and production of biocompounds by Chlorella fusca LEB 111 cultivated with different concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorbent nanofibers in their free form or retained. Cultures were grown in 15% (v v−1) CO2 with 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 g L−1 nanofibers developed with 10% (w v−1) polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/dimethylformamide (DMF), with or without nanoparticles; retained or not. The addition of 0.1 g L−1 nanofibers with nanoparticles in their free form to the cultures promoted the accumulation of approximately 3 times more carbon in the medium (46.6 mg L−1), a 45% higher biofixation rate (89.2 mg L−1 d−1) and increased carbohydrate production by approximately 2.3% (w w−1) of that observed in cultures grown without nanofibers. Therefore, nanofibers showed promising potential as physical adsorbents of CO2 in the cultivation to increase gas fixation and promote the synthesis of macromolecules.
α-Globin pre-mRNA splicing, revisited

In this issue of Blood, Ji et al have identified a novel regulatory mechanism that ensures proper splicing of human α-globin pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA).
Rapid viability polymerase chain reaction method for detection of Francisella tularensis.

Francisella tularensis, which causes potentially fatal tularemia, has been considered an attractive agent of bioterrorism and biological warfare due to its low infectious dose, reported environmental persistence, and ability to be transmitted to humans via multiple exposure routes. Due to slow growth on even selective culture media, detection of viable F. tularensis from environmental and drinking water samples, usually takes >3 days. Therefore, a rapid viability polymerase chain reaction (RV-PCR) method was developed to detect and identify viable F. tularensis cells in environmental samples. The method uses a change in PCR response during high throughput (48-well) sample incubation in Brain Heart Infusion/Vitox/Fildes/Histidine growth medium to detect viable F. tularensis presence, which is at least two times faster than the current plate culture-based method. Using the method, 101 to 102 live F. tularensis cells were detected in simulated complex sample matrices containing chemical and biological interferences.
Supplier cluster characteristics and innovation outcomes

Abstract The role of suppliers in firms’ innovation processes is well established. Yet understanding of the effect of supplier clusters and their characteristics on firms’ innovation outcomes is lacking. This paper focuses on two important characteristics of supplier clusters—supplier cluster proximity and supplier cluster heterogeneity—and examines their impact on the speed to market of innovations and the type of innovations produced. Using a multi-country dataset, the study shows that supplier proximity improves speed to market of innovations and that greater heterogeneity among supplier clusters decreases the rate of radical innovations of firms. Through a nuanced view of supplier clusters, this research contributes to the literature on clusters and innovations by highlighting the role of supplier clusters.
Developmental arsenic exposure is associated with sex differences in the epigenetic regulation of stress genes in the adult mouse frontal cortex.

Previously, we reported sex-dependent changes to global histone modifications and impairment of executive function in adult mice exposed to moderate levels of arsenic during early development. The present study investigated the effects of developmental arsenic exposure (DAE) on gene specific histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) and tri-methylation (H3K9me3) in the frontal cortex of male and female adult C57BL/6J mice. Dams were exposed to 50ppb arsenic in drinking water prior to and throughout gestation, and until pup weaning; once weened, the pups were given tap water (< 5ppb arsenic) and raised to postnatal day 70. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation and qPCR, we assessed changes in H3K9 regulatory markers and mRNA expression levels of the stress signaling genes, Nr3c1, Crh, Crhr1, Hsd11b1, and Fkbp5. In female DAE mice, H3K9ac association with the Crh promoter was increased and this corresponded with increased Crh mRNA expression. Crhr1 mRNA expression was increased in female DAE mice, while expression was reduced in male DAE mice. DAE resulted in chromatin and mRNA changes associated with decreased glucocorticoid signaling in male but not female frontal cortex: increased H3K9ac association with Fkbp5 and a corresponding increase in Fkbp5 mRNA expression. In addition, there was a decrease of Hsd11b1 mRNA expression in DAE males. These results suggest a sex-dependent response to arsenic during embryonic development leading to different patterns of gene regulation and expression.
A semi‐LASER, single‐voxel spectroscopic sequence with a minimal echo time of 20.1 ms in the human brain at 3 T

An optimized semi-LASER sequence that is capable of acquiring artefact-free data with an echo time (TE) of 20.1 ms on a standard clinical 3 T MR system was developed. Simulations were performed to determine the optimal TEs that minimize the expected Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) as proxy for quantification accuracy of metabolites. Optimized RF pulses, crusher gradients and phase cycling were used to achieve the shortest TE in a semi-LASER sequence to date on a clinical system. Synthetic spectra were simulated using the density matrix formalism for TEs spanning from 20.1 to 220.1 ms. These simulations were used to calculate the expected CRLB for each of the 18 metabolites typically considered in 1 H MRS. High quality spectra were obtained in six healthy volunteers in the prefrontal cortex, which is known for spurious echoes due to its proximity to the paranasal sinuses, and in the parietal-occipital cortex. Spectral transients were sufficient in quality to enable phase and frequency alignment prior to summation over all repetitions. Automated high-quality water suppression was obtained for all voxels without manual adjustment. The shortest TE minimized the CRLB for all brain metabolites except glycine due to its overlap with myo-inositol at this TE. It is also demonstrated that the CRLBs increase rapidly with TE for certain coupled metabolites.
A custom high-stability pulse generator for the test of a novel in-situ magnetic sensor developed to detect radiation damage in undulators

Abstract High-performance analog-to-digital converters (ADC) have been widely applied in many areas of science. For instance, magnetic field measurements based on the Faraday’s induction law require high-precision voltmeters to measure induced voltages. In the context of free-electron lasers technology, the Magnetic Measurements Team at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory proposed a novel in-situ radiation damage detection system (RDDS) for detecting small field variations in undulators. The system measures the flux change in a flexible printed-circuit coil attached to the magnet array during the undulator gap movement. The gap movement changes the magnetic field, which induces a voltage signal in the coil that is measured and integrated with an ADC. Although the system is capable of detecting relative flux changes better than 100 ppm, drift in the ADC’s gain or offset can cause apparent changes in the relative flux. This paper describes the first attempt to developed a high-precision verification circuit to perform ADC testing in the framework of the novel RDDS. The circuit generates a reference voltage pulse with a voltage–time integral relative precision better than 50 ppm for a few hundreds of mVs — the typical order of magnitude measured with the RDDS. The circuit’s design combines a fast and precise switch with a low-noise voltage reference. Long-term measurements allowed statistical analysis and showed that averaging the voltage–time integral of ten pulses gives the required 50 ppm stability. Moreover, reproducibility tests confirmed that the circuit’s output is invariable under small power supply instabilities and equipment shutdown. Instruments and applications designed to quantify the magnetic field by integrating voltage signals may use the pulse generator proposed in this paper for verification purposes.
Racial differences in attitudes to clinical pig organ Xenotransplantation.

Introduction In addition to an organ donor shortage, racial disparities exist at different stages of the transplantation process. Xenotransplantation (XTx) could alleviate these issues. This study describes racial differences in attitudes to XTx among populations who may need a transplant or are transplant recipients. Methods A Likert-scale survey was distributed at outpatient clinics to parents of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and kidney patients on their attitudes to pig organ XTx. Data from these two groups were stratified by race and compared. Results Ninety-seven parents of children with CHD (74.2% White and 25.8% Black) and 148 kidney patients (50% White and 50% Black) responded to our survey. Black kidney patients' acceptance of XTx although high (70%) was lower than White kidney patients (91%; P .003). White kidney patients were more likely to accept XTx if results are similar to allotransplantation (OR 4.14; 95% CI 4.51-11.41), and less likely to be concerned with psychosocial changes when compared to Black kidney patients (receiving a pig organ would change your personality OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.01-0.67 and would change social interaction OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.07-0.78). There were no racial differences in attitudes to XTx among parents of children with CHD. Conclusion There are differences in attitudes to XTx particularly among Black kidney patients. Because kidneys may be the first organ for clinical trials of XTx, future studies that decrease scientific mistrust and XTx concerns among the Black community are needed to prevent disparities in uptake of possible future organ transplant alternatives.
Thirty-Day Unplanned Readmission and Its Effect on 90-Day Mortality in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Partial Hepatectomy

Background : Despite advances of surgical techniques, hepatectomy continues to be potentially dangerous and is associated with postoperative mortality, morbidity and readmission. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of 30-day unplanned readmission on ‘conditional’ 90-day mortality among hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients that underwent partial hepatectomy. Methods : National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried from 2004 to 2012 for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent partial hepatectomy. Thirty-day unplanned readmission rate, and associated risk factors, was determined for 7,696 patients. The association between 30-day unplanned readmission and conditional 90-day mortality was further addressed. Results : The 30-day unplanned readmission rate for patients with HCC that underwent partial hepatectomy was 5.2%. Risk factors associated with 30-day unplanned readmission were sex, race/ethnicity, Charlson-Deyo score, and annual hospital hepatectomy volume. An overall adjusted odds ratio of having conditional 90-day mortality was 2.325 times higher (95% CI 1.643 - 3.219) among patients with a history of 30-day unplanned readmission than those without. This association was dependent on age, sex, race/ethnicity, insurance status, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), liver fibrosis, Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score and annual hospital hepatectomy volume. Conclusion : Efforts in patient care should be taken to reduce 30-day unplanned readmission after partial hepatectomy for patients with HCC to reduce conditional 90-day mortality.
A measure of expectancies for alcohol analgesia: Preliminary factor analysis, reliability, and validity.

Abstract Rates of alcohol consumption are substantially higher among persons with pain, and recent research has focused on elucidating bidirectional pain-alcohol effects. Expectancies for alcohol analgesia could influence the degree to which alcohol confers acute pain-relieving effects, and may amplify the propensity to respond to pain with drinking behavior. However, no validated measures of expectancies for alcohol analgesia are available. Therefore, we developed a five-item measure of Expectancies for Alcohol Analgesia (EAA), which assesses the perceived likelihood that alcohol will reduce pain. The goal of this project was to examine psychometric properties of the EAA among a sample of 273 current alcohol users with chronic pain (Mage = 32.9; 34% female) who completed an online survey of pain and substance use. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results indicated that the hypothesized single-factor structure of the EAA provided good model fit (Bollen-Stine bootstrap p = .13). The EAA also showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.97), and scores were positively associated with quantity/frequency of alcohol use, alcohol outcome expectancies, coping-related drinking motives, and pain severity (ps
Factors influencing noncompletion of radiotherapy among men with localized prostate cancer.

199Background: Treatment non-completion may occur with radiotherapy (RT), especially with protracted treatment courses such as RT for prostate cancer, and may affect the efficacy of RT. For men wit...