cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calcium binding to plasma membranes from normal and SV40 transformed hamster lymphocytes.

AbstractThe calcium binding properties of isolated plasma membranes from normal and SV40 transformed hamster lymphocytes were compared over the Ca2+ concentration range of 10−5M to 5 × 10−3M and at physiological ionic strength. At all Ca2+ concentrations, normal membranes bound more Ca2+ than tumor membranes; at blood Ca2+ levels (1–2 mM) plasma membranes of normal cells bind twice as much as membranes from tumor cells. Normal plasma membranes demonstrated positive cooperative Ca2+ binding whereas tumor membranes displayed non-interacting Ca2+-binding sites. Ca2+ binding to both membranes was insensitive to Mg2+ (0.1 to 2.5 mM). A pH shift from 7 to 6 resulted in a 70% decrease of normal membrane-bound Ca2+ compared to a 40% decrease observed with tumor membranes. Extracellular surface Ca2+ binding to intact cells was also studied after a 72-hour equilibration of cells with 45Ca2+ and with ethylene-glycol-bis-(β-amino-ethyl ether) N, N′-tetraacetate chelation as marker for surface Ca2+. Tumor cell surface...
Tunneling conductance in superconductor/ferromagnet junctions : Self-consistent approach

We evaluate the tunneling conductance of clean ferromagnet/superconductor junctions via a fully self-consistent numerical solution of the microscopic Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations. We present results for a relevant range of values of the Fermi wave-vector mismatch (FWM), the spin polarization, and the interfacial scattering strength. For nonzero spin polarization, the conductance curves vary nonmonotonically with FWM. The FWM dependence of our results is stronger than that previously found in non-self-consistent calculations since, in the self-consistent case, the effective scattering potential near the interface depends on the FWM. The dependence on interfacial scattering is monotonic. These results confirm that it is impossible to characterize both the FWM and the interfacial scattering by a single effective parameter and that analysis of experimental data via the use of such one-parameter models is unreliable.
Teaching experiences using algorithm visualization in 1st year computer science

There has been a great deal of recent activity in integrating algorithm visualization courseware into the first year computer science course (CS1 and CS2). At the University of the District of Columbia, the authors became interested in this area as a means of improving student performance in their first year course. The authors have developed visualization courseware to both add more structure to the lab and to enhance lectures. In the lab, students interact with the module individually. The student may explore the module or may be responding to a written set of directions. Sometimes the lab is used by the instructor to specify a problem. In other cases the module takes students through the steps needed to solve a problem. One result of this effort has been the development and use of a PC-based simulated robot environment to introduce students to programming. >
Image encryption for secure Internet multimedia applications

Internet multimedia applications have become very, popular. Valuable multimedia content such as digital images, however, is vulnerable to unauthorized access while in storage and during transmission over a network. Streaming digital images also require high network bandwidth for transmission. For effective image transmission over the Internet, therefore, both security and bandwidth issues must be considered. We present a novel scheme, which combines the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) for image compression and block cipher Data Encryption Standard (DES) for image encryption. The simulation results indicate that our proposed method enhances the security for image transmission over the Internet as well as improves the transmission rate.
The Lebesgue Integral

The standard approach to the Lebesgue integral is based on measure theory. One first develops a substantial amount of measure theory and then defines the Lebesgue integral in terms of measure. This makes the theory of the integral more complicated and unnecessarily increases the level of abstraction. In this book we are going to follow the approach used in An Introduction to Analysis: From Number to Integral by Jan Mikusinski and Piotr Mikusinski. In that book the Lebesgue integral in ℝ is defined directly without mentioning measure theory.
Identification and Characterization of Human Cytochrome P450 Isoforms Interacting with Pimozide

Using human liver microsomes (HLMs) and recombinant human cytochrome P450 (CYP450) isoforms, we identified the major route of pimozide metabolism, the CYP450 isoforms involved, and documented the inhibitory effect of pimozide on CYP450 isoforms. Pimozide was predominantly N-dealkylated to 1,3-dihydro-1-(4-piperidinyl)-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (DHPBI). The formation rate of DHPBI showed biphasic kinetics in HLMs, which suggests the participation of at least two activities. These were characterized as high-affinity (K(m1) and Vmax1) and low-affinity (K(m2) and Vmax2) components. The ratio of Vmax1 (14 pmol/min/mg protein)/K(m1) (0.73 microM) was 5.2 times higher than the ratio of Vmax2 (244 pmol/min/mg protein)/K(m2) (34 microM). K(m2) was 91 times higher than K(m1). The formation rate of DHPBI from 25 microM pimozide in nine human livers correlated significantly with the catalytic activity of CYP3A (Spearman r = 0.79, P = .028), but not with other isoforms. Potent inhibition of DHPBI formation from 10 microM pimozide was observed with ketoconazole (88%), troleandomycin (79%), furafylline (48%) and a combination of furafylline and ketoconazole (96%). Recombinant human CYP3A4 catalyzed DHPBI formation from 10 microM pimozide at the highest rate (V = 2.2 +/- 0.89 pmol/min/pmol P450) followed by CYP1A2 (V = 0.23 +/- 0.08 pmol/min/pmol P450), but other isoforms tested did not. The K(m) values derived with recombinant CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 were 5.7 microM and 36.1 microM, respectively. Pimozide itself was a potent inhibitor of CYP2D6 in HLMs when preincubated for 15 min (Ki = 0.75 +/- 0.98 microM) and a moderate inhibitor of CYP3A (Ki = 76.7 +/- 34.5 microM), with no significant effect on other isoforms tested. Our results suggest that pimozide metabolism is catalyzed mainly by CYP3A, but CYP1A2 also contributes. Pimozide metabolism is likely to be subject to interindividual variability in CYP3A and CYP1A2 expression and to drug interactions involving these isoforms. Pimozide itself may inhibit the metabolism of drugs that are substrates of CYP2D6.
Critical Issues Facing School Principals

The purpose of this study was to further extend research initially conducted in 2003 pertaining to the critical issues K-12 principals address on a daily basis. The study involved surveying school principals within the state of Mississippi to discover the critical issues they identified, the significance level of these issues, and the rationale behind the top ranked critical issue as identified by each principal. Findings indicated several changes in rank order of the issues, but accountability was once again noted as the most critical issue. A chi-square and Cramer’s V treatments suggested no statistically significant relationship between the independent variables, gender, age, school level, administrative experience, education system and highest degree, and the dependent variable, critical issue. Moreover, data indicated school safety was considered less critical than several other issues.
Ex Vivo Evidence for the Contribution of Hemodynamic Shear Stress Abnormalities to the Early Pathogenesis of Calcific Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease

The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital cardiac anomaly and is frequently associated with calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). The most prevalent type-I morphology, which results from left-/right-coronary cusp fusion, generates different hemodynamics than a tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). While valvular calcification has been linked to genetic and atherogenic predispositions, hemodynamic abnormalities are increasingly pointed as potential pathogenic contributors. In particular, the wall shear stress (WSS) produced by blood flow on the leaflets regulates homeostasis in the TAV. In contrast, WSS alterations cause valve dysfunction and disease. While such observations support the existence of synergies between valvular hemodynamics and biology, the role played by BAV WSS in valvular calcification remains unknown. The objective of this study was to isolate the acute effects of native BAV WSS abnormalities on CAVD pathogenesis. Porcine aortic valve leaflets were subjected ex vivo to the native WSS experienced by TAV and type-I BAV leaflets for 48 hours. Immunostaining, immunoblotting and zymography were performed to characterize endothelial activation, pro-inflammatory paracrine signaling, extracellular matrix remodeling and markers involved in valvular interstitial cell activation and osteogenesis. While TAV and non-coronary BAV leaflet WSS essentially maintained valvular homeostasis, fused BAV leaflet WSS promoted fibrosa endothelial activation, paracrine signaling (2.4-fold and 3.7-fold increase in BMP-4 and TGF-β1, respectively, relative to fresh controls), catabolic enzyme secretion (6.3-fold, 16.8-fold, 11.7-fold, 16.7-fold and 5.5-fold increase in MMP-2, MMP-9, cathepsin L, cathepsin S and TIMP-2, respectively) and activity (1.7-fold and 2.4-fold increase in MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity, respectively), and bone matrix synthesis (5-fold increase in osteocalcin). In contrast, BAV WSS did not significantly affect α-SMA and Runx2 expressions and TIMP/MMP ratio. This study demonstrates the key role played by BAV hemodynamic abnormalities in CAVD pathogenesis and suggests the dependence of BAV vulnerability to calcification on the local degree of WSS abnormality.
The Cell-Rounding Activity of the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Matrix Protein Is due to the Induction of Cell Death

The matrix (M) protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) expressed in the absence of other viral components causes many of the cytopathic effects of VSV, including an inhibition of host gene expression and the induction of cell rounding. It was recently shown that M protein also induces apoptosis in the absence of other viral components. This raises the possibility that the activation of apoptotic pathways causes the inhibition of host gene expression and cell rounding by M protein. To test this hypothesis, host gene expression and cell rounding were analyzed after the transfection of M mRNA into HeLa cells stably overexpressing Bcl-2 (HeLa-Bcl-2 cells). We have shown previously that Bcl-2 inhibits M-protein-induced apoptosis. Here, we show that activation of the apoptotic pathways downstream of Bcl-2 is not required for the inhibition of host gene expression by M protein. In contrast, overexpression of Bcl-2 inhibited cell rounding induced by M protein, indicating that apoptotic pathways downstream of Bcl-2 are required for the cell-rounding activities of M protein.
Information storage and retrieval using macromolecules as storage media

To store information at extremely high-density and data-rate, we propose to adapt, integrate, and extend the techniques developed by chemists and molecular biologists for the purpose of manipulating biological and other macromolecules.
Limited possibility for quantifying mean particle size by logarithmic light-scattering spectroscopy

Recent studies have shown that the slope of logarithmic scattering spectroscopy of a turbid medium is related to the sizes of the scattering particles within the turbid medium. Mie theory can be used to generate a logarithmic plot of the reduced-scattering coefficient versus wavelength. According to Nilsson et al. [Appl. Opt. 37, 1256 (1998)], the slope value of a linear fit of the logarithmic scattering spectroscopy between 600 and 1050 nm can be used for direct determination of particle size. We performed similar calculations using the Rayleigh-Gans approximation and obtained an analogous overall shape with additional sinusoidal features. Our calculations indicate a possible relationship between the slope and the particle size when the size is used to calculate the slope, namely, in the forward calculation. However, because of the sinusoidal pattern, the inverse calculation to obtain the particle size from the slope may be applied only for particles with a radius of 0.13 microm, with the slope of logarithmic scattering spectroscopy within 650-1050 nm.
Effect of tympanostomy tube surface on occlusion.

Abstract Objective Premature tympanostomy tube (TT) occlusion frequently leads to TT replacement surgery. TT surface preparations have been suggested as a means of reducing TT occlusion. The purpose of this study is to determine if commercial TT compositions or surface preparations impact the rate of TT occlusion using an in vitro model. Methods Commercial TTs composed of titanium, fluoroplastic, and silicone, as well as human serum albumin coated titanium, phosphorylcholine coated fluoroplastic, and polyvinylpyrrolidone coated silicone TTs, were tested for occlusion development in a previously validated in vitro model that simulates middle ear air and mucus flow. Results Time to occlusion was longer with all coated TTs relative to all uncoated TTs (p = 0.038). Polyvinylpyrrolidone coated silicone TTs had the lowest rate of occlusion and improvement relative to silicone (36% vs. 70%). Time to occlusion was longer in all coated TTs, but individually, none reached statistical significance. Conclusion TT composition and surface preparations do not dramatically impact the development of TT occlusion. All tested surface coatings seem to delay TT occlusion in this in vitro model. In vivo testing will be necessary to validate these findings.
Co-integration of InGaAs n- and SiGe p-MOSFETs into digital CMOS circuits using hybrid dual-channel ETXOI substrates

We demonstrate for the first time a dense co-integration of co-planar nano-scaled SiGe p-FETs and InGaAs n-FETs. This result is based on hybrid substrates containing extremely-thin SiGe and InGaAs layers on insulators (ETXOI). We first show that such hybrid substrates can be fabricated by direct wafer bonding with stacked high-mobility layers thinner than 8nm. A process flow is presented that allows us to fabricate n- and p-channel field effect transistors with ultra-thin body and BOX (UTBB-FET) on the same wafer. Gate lengths down to 40nm produced at sub-μm gate-pitch are achieved. Working CMOS inverters are obtained using a common front-end which confirms the viability of this integration scheme for hybrid high-mobility dual-channel CMOS. We also highlight that back-biasing technique for Vt tuning can still be used despite the dualchannel structure, as implemented in standard ETSOI circuits.
Perfectionism, Pies and the Politics of Job Qualifications

This paper was part of a roundtable discussion of Joseph Fishkin's book "Bottlenecks: A New Theory of Equal Opportunity" at the 2014 Midwest Political Science Association Conference. In the review I encourage Fishkin to recognize the rich perfectionism underlying his bottleneck theory of equal opportunity and to say more about how society should determine which bottlenecks are most appropriate to target.
Abstract 19831: In Vivo Molecular Imaging of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes in a Murine Myocardial Injury Model via a Safe Harbor Integration of a Reporter Gene

Background: Clinical application of pluripotent stem cells and their tissue specific derivatives will require in vivo monitoring of engraftment and systemic distribution following transplantation. Clinical translation of molecular imaging, employing reporter gene (RG) technology, requires site-specific transgene insertion at safe harbor loci, such as AAVS1. Hypothesis: Zinc finger nuclease (ZFN)-mediated integration of a RG into the AAVS1 locus in human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (hESCs and iPSCs) will allow monitoring of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hCMs and iCMs) in host myocardium. Methods and Results: ZFN technology was used to integrate a triple fusion RG, containing firefly luciferase (BLI), red fluorescent protein (RFP) and herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (PET), under regulation of a constitutive ubiquitin promoter, into the AAVS1 locus of hESCs and iPSCs. hESCs and iPSCs monoclonal lines were then differentiated into hCMs and iCMs, respectively, under chemically defined conditions using CHIR and IWR small molecules to modulate Wnt pathway activity. Co-localization of cardiac phenotype and striated morphology was readily observed (Fig. A). Site-specific integration was confirmed by southern blot analysis. RG expression by BLI was maintained successfully over 3 months in vitro. The hCMs (n=6) and iCMs (n=1) were transplanted into murine myocardial injury model. Four weeks post-injury, LVEF was better preserved in all cell-treated vs. PBS-treated mice (26.50 ± 2.325 (N=6) vs. 15.40 ± 4.600 (N=3), p Conclusion: This study demonstrates the successful use of ZFN-edited cells to confirm the engraftment of hCMs and iCMs. ZFN technology enables targeted site-specific insertion of RGs to allow clinical translation of molecular imaging in cell therapy.
Autoantibody-Mediated Sensory Polyneuropathy Associated with Indolent B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A Report of Two Cases

Background and purpose Abnormalities of the peripheral nervous system occur in 5% of patients with lymphoma. Polyneuropathy has not been described in patients with mantle-cell and marginal-zone B-cell lymphomas. Case report Two elderly patients with indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma developed a progressive sensory polyneuropathy that was associated with serum autoantibodies directed against asialosyl/sialosyl gangliosides and myelin-associated glycoprotein/sulfated glucuronyl paragloboside, respectively, which are peripheral-nerve antigens. The oligoclonal pattern of these antibodies hinted at a lymphoma-induced immune dysregulation. The neuropathy stabilized clinically during treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin G. B-cell lymphoma was managed with a "watchful waiting" approach. Conclusions The concept of antigen-specific, immune-mediated neuropathy associated with slow-growing lymphoma of mature B-cells may be underrecognized. The principle of treating the illness underlying neuropathy may not be always indicated or necessary if risk-benefit and cost-benefit analyses are taken into account.
Design and Experimental Investigation of a Compact Circularly Polarized Integrated Filtering Antenna for Wearable Biotelemetric Devices

A compact circularly polarized (CP) integrated filtering antenna is reported for wearable biotelemetric devices in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. The design is based on a mutual synthesis of a CP patch antenna connected to a bandpass filter composed of coupled stripline open-loop resonators, which provides an integrated low-profile radiating and filtering module with a compact form factor of $0.44\lambda_{0}\times 0.44\lambda_{0}\times 0.04\lambda_{0}$ . The optimized filtering antenna is fabricated and measured, achieving an $S_{11} , an axial ratio of less than 3 dB and gain higher than 3.5 dBi in the targeted ISM band. With the integrated filtering functionality, the antenna exhibits good out-of-band rejection over an ultra-wide frequency range of 1–6 GHz . Further full-wave simulations and experiments were carried out, verifying that the proposed filtering antenna maintains these desirable properties even when mounted in close proximity to the human body at different positions. The stable impedance performance and the simultaneous wide axial ratio and radiated power beam widths make it an ideal candidate as a wearable antenna for off-body communications. The additional integrated filtering functionality further improves utility by greatly reducing interference and crosstalk with other existing wireless systems.
Benthic soft-bodied algae as bioindicators of stream water quality

This review presents the state-of-the-art of benthic soft-bodied algae as biondicators of stream and river water quality, with emphasis on bioassessments set by the legislation (e.g. , European Water Framework Directive, USA Clean Water Act) to promote the restoration and ensure ecological sustainability of water resources. The advantages and shortcomings of a variety of bioassessment field and laboratory methods for algae are discussed. The increasing use of soft-bodied algae in biotic indices to assess individual anthropogenic stressors, and in multimetric indices of biotic integrity to evaluate ecological condition in streams is summarized. Rapid microscopic and molecular approaches for inferring nutrient supply with heterocystous cyanobacteria and other sensitive algae are proposed. The need of better understanding of soft-bodied algae as bioindicators is discussed and suggestions are made for obtaining meaningful bioassessment information with cost-efficient efforts.
Occupational Profile: Marga de Bruijn, mother/home maker, occupational Therapist, Quilt Maker to Quilt Artist

This interview was my second visit to the home of Marga de Bruijn, a mother, occupational therapist, and dedicated quilt‐maker. Marga has lived and worked in the North arolina communities of Durham and Chapel Hill most of her adult life, after growing up in The Netherlands. Her story is about transition and continuity, her adoption of quilt making as part of these transitions, and the growth of that occupation to become a central part of her life.
Conjugation of N-allylnormorphine by liver slices.

Conclusions1. N-Allylnormorphine can be estimated by the use of the Snell and Snell reagent, for a change in the alkyl group on the nitrogen does not change the intensity of the color produced. 2. N-Allylmrmorphine is oonjugated by surviving liver slim at the same rate as is morphine. In two and onehalf hours, about 75% of the two compounds is conjugated. 3. Because conjugation of the two compounds proceeds at essentially the same rate and the effective blocking dose of N-allylnormorphine is small, the latter compound must be more firmly fixed to the receptor site than is morphine.
Sarah E. Johnson. Staging Women and the Soul-Body Dynamic in Early Modern England . Farnam: Ashgate, 2014. Pp 185.

This review considers Staging Women and the Soul-Body Dynamic in Early Modern England by Sarah E. Johnson.
TCSL and Its Influence on Development of Overseas Students' Education

Language is an important tool for man to exchange information and communicate and more importantly,is the carrier of international communication.TCSL is a necessary step for overseas students studying in China without which they can't learn and live smoothly.Therefore,TCSL is important to the development of overseas students' education.The relationship between them is close.If we want to improve our overseas students' education,we should pay more attention to the TSCL.So we should establish a team of excellent teachers to ensure the quality of the education of overseas students.
MO-FG-207B-02: Breast

State-of-the-Art in Radiomics in Radiology and Radiation Oncology Radiomics is the science of converting medical images into mineable data, data that are descriptive of “phenotypes,” which may provide diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic information. Genomics is the science of sequencing and analyzing the function and structure of genomes; the complete set of DNA in a single cell of an organism. In turn, imaging genomics (or radiogenomics) is concerned with the correlation between image-based features, as determined by radiomics, and gene expression, as determined by genomics. Imaging genomics arose from decades of work in at least three key areas: 1) sequencing of the human genome, 2) quantitative imaging, computer-aided diagnosis, therapy prognostics, and assessment of therapy response in preclinical and clinical research and practice; and 3) data science, including the burgeoning areas of genomics, preclinical and population-based disease modeling, individualized medicine, and big data. Imaging genomics may answer important questions in medicine by correlating validated, quantitative image phenotypes (through validated imaging biomarkers) with clinical data, histopathologic data, molecular classifications, genomic assays, and treatment outcomes. This approach could address some of the greatest health burdens, including cancer, cardiac disease, and arthritis. Participants will discuss the state-of-the-art of radiomics across multiple disease sites and modalities. Aspects of the presentations will include how to improve the quality of image-based phenotypes of normal and diseased tissue, how to better determine the relationships between these phenotypes and the underlying biology associated with the images, and how to create predictive models using the image-based phenotypes. Topics will also include: 1) creating, archiving, curating and sharing ultra-large datasets (“big data”); 2) standardizing image acquisition and processing methods; 3) standardizing and validating phenotype extraction methods and classifier designs; and 4) using high-throughput, robust, and validated phenotyping systems. H. Aerts, NIH; NCIH. Li, This research was funded in part by the University of Chicago Dean Bridge Fund,and by NCI U24-CA143848-05, P50- CA58223 Breast SPORE program. Hui Li received royalties from Hologic.W. Lu, This work was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute Grants R01CA172638.
Semilinear Expressions for Transport Coefficients

Diffusion Coefficients and Thermal Conductivities The heat flow and ambipolar diffusion equations that contain the higher-order transport effects, such as thermal diffusion and diffusion thermal heat flow, are presented in Section 5.14. The transport coefficients that appear in these equations have been calculated using both the linear (4.129a–g) and semilinear (4.132a,b) collision terms. Here, the more general semilinear transport coefficients are presented, which are valid for arbitrarily large temperature differences between the interacting species. These coefficients reduce to the linear coefficients in the limit of small temperature differences, i.e., when ( T s − T t )/T st ≪ l. The general expressions for the ion and neutral heat flows are summarized as follows where subscripts s and t refer to either ion or neutral species. The thermal conductivities and diffusion thermal coefficients in equations (I.1) and (I.2) are given by where Note that a simple change of subscripts in equations (1.3) to (1.10) yields the other transport coefficients that are needed.
ADMM ⊇ projective dynamics: fast simulation of general constitutive models

We apply the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) optimization algorithm to implicit time integration of elastic bodies, and show that the resulting method closely relates to the recently proposed projective dynamics algorithm. However, as ADMM is a general-purpose optimization algorithm applicable to a broad range of objective functions, it permits the use of nonlinear constitutive models and hard constraints while retaining the speed, parallelizability, and robustness of projective dynamics. We demonstrate these benefits on several examples that include cloth, collisions, and volumetric deformable bodies with nonlinear elasticity.
Hazard Characteristics and Patterns of Environmental Injustice: Household-Level Determinants of Environmental Risk in Miami, Florida

Limited systematic comparative knowledge exists about patterns of environmental injustices in exposure to varied natural and technological hazards. To address this gap, we examine how hazard characteristics (i.e., punctuated event/suddenness of onset, frequency/magnitude, and divisibility) influence relationships between race/ethnicity, nativity, socioeconomic status (SES), older age, housing tenure, and residential hazard exposure. Sociodemographic data come from a random sample survey of 602 residents of the tricounty Miami Metropolitan Statistical Area (Florida). Hazard exposure was measured using spatial data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Air Toxics Assessment, and the Emergency Response Notification System. We specified generalized estimating equations (GEEs)-which account for sociospatial clustering-predicting 100-year flood risk, acute chemical accidental releases, and chronic cancer risk from air toxics from all and on-road mobile sources. We found that for punctuated, sudden onset events, some socially advantaged people were significantly at risk. Racial/ethnic minority variables were significant predictors of greater exposure to the three technological hazards, while higher SES was associated with 100-year flood risk exposure. Black and foreign-born Hispanic residents, and white and U.S.-born Hispanic residents, shared nearly identical risk profiles. Results demonstrate the complexities found in human-hazard associations and the roles of hazard characteristics in shaping disparate risk patterns.
The Royal Irish Constabulary: a short history and genealogical guide with a select list of medal awards and casualties

This is the revised and expanded edition of the work originally published in 1997 and contains a wealth of new information about decorations, further services and casualty lists. It is not the only...
GAR: An efficient and scalable graph-based activity regularization for semi-supervised learning

Abstract In this paper, we propose a novel graph-based approach for semi-supervised learning problems, which considers an adaptive adjacency of the examples throughout the unsupervised portion of the training. Adjacency of the examples is inferred using the predictions of a neural network model which is first initialized by a supervised pretraining. These predictions are then updated according to a novel unsupervised objective which regularizes another adjacency, now linking the output nodes. Regularizing the adjacency of the output nodes, inferred from the predictions of the network, creates an easier optimization problem and ultimately provides that the predictions of the network turn into the optimal embedding. Ultimately, the proposed framework provides an effective and scalable graph-based solution which is natural to the operational mechanism of deep neural networks. Our results show comparable performance with state-of-the-art generative approaches for semi-supervised learning on an easier-to-train, low-cost framework.
Evolving brains in evolving environments

The spectacular and headline-grabbing recent successes in deep learning have made little or no use of evolutionary algorithms. Has this left Darwin turning in his grave, like one of the Earthworms he was so fond of studying? Or is he flying high, like a Galapagos Finch, safe in the knowledge that the inferior land-borne creatures below him will soon reach the edge of their harsh island and realize that, to go any further without drowning, they will need evolution?We will discuss and illustrate two ways in which evolution may be on the critical path to Artificial General Intelligence, AGI. On the environment side, highly connected ecosystems of evolving agents --- such as the environments within which our own intelligence evolved --- may provide a 'natural curriculum' that naturally optimizes the nature and magnitude of the learning challenge presented to each of the agents in those ecosystems. If so, simulations of virtual ecosystems could become an efficient engine of innovation in AI. On the brain side, evolutionary algorithms and deep learning interact in various ways, e.g. searching over hyperparameters, copying weights in neural networks can contribute to continual learning, evolution can control which parts of giant neural networks learn, neural networks can learn mutation operators, reward functions can be evolved, and diversity maintenance mechanisms can be applied to reinforcement learning.
Primary and Secondary Sources of Gas-Phase Organic Acids from Diesel Exhaust

Organic acids have primary and secondary sources in the atmosphere, impact ecosystem health, and are useful metrics for identifying gaps in organic oxidation chemistry through model-measurement comparisons. We photooxidized (OH oxidation) primary emissions from diesel and biodiesel fuel types under two engine loads in an oxidative flow reactor. formic, butyric, and propanoic acids, but not methacrylic acid, have primary and secondary sources. Emission factors for these gas-phase acids varied from 0.3–8.4 mg kg–1 fuel. Secondary chemistry enhanced these emissions by 1.1 (load) to 4.4 (idle) × after two OH-equivalent days. The relative enhancement in secondary organic acids in idle versus loaded conditions was due to increased precursor emissions, not faster reaction rates. Increased hydrocarbon emissions in idle conditions due to less complete combustion (associated with less oxidized gas-phase molecules) correlated to higher primary organic acid emissions. The lack of correlation between organic aerosol a...
Benefits and drawbacks of determining reproductive histories for black bears (Ursus americanus) from cementum annuli techniques

Recruitment is difficult to estimate but is essential for determining population trend. Recruitment in bears can be estimated from patterns in width of cementum annuli that indicate years with cubs. We evaluated reproductive history estimates from cementum annuli of 19 101 black bears (Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780) collected over 20 years to determine the benefits and drawbacks of this technique for management agencies. The technique only worked to estimate reproductive histories for 25% of submitted samples, and 49% of samples with estimates contained uncertain litters. Whether uncertain litters were counted or not caused significant variation in estimates of age at first litter, number of litters per female, and interbirth intervals. Hence, naive treatment of uncertain litters may bias analyses. A data set we optimized to reduce bias showed that litters per female ranged from 0 to 12, mean interbirth interval was 2.07 years, and both increased as females aged. Large samples of teeth collected from harv...
The Seasonal Variability of Surgical Site Infections in Knee and Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Surgical site infections (SSIs) after total knee (TKA) and total hip (THA) arthroplasty are devastating to patients and costly to healthcare systems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the seasonality of TKA and THA SSIs at a national level. Methods All data were extracted from the National Readmission Database for 2013 and 2014. Patients were included if they had undergone TKA or THA. We modeled the odds of having a primary diagnosis of SSI as a function of discharge date by month, payer status, hospital size, and various patient co-morbidities. SSI status was defined as patients who were readmitted to the hospital with a primary diagnosis of SSI within 30 days of their arthroplasty procedure. Results There were 760,283 procedures (TKA 424,104, THA 336,179) in our sample. Our models indicate that SSI risk was highest for patients discharged from their surgery in June and lowest for December discharges. For TKA, the odds of a 30-day readmission for SSI were 30.5% higher at the peak compared to the nadir time (95% confidence interval [CI] 20-42). For THA, the seasonal increase in SSI was 19% (95% CI 9-30). Compared to Medicare, patients with Medicaid as the primary payer had a 49% higher odds of 30-day SSI after TKA (95% CI 32-68). Conclusion SSIs following TKA and THA are seasonal peaking in summer months. Payer status was also a significant risk factor for SSIs. Future studies should investigate potential factors that could relate to the associations demonstrated in this study.
Defining Incidence and Risk Factors for Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infections in an Outpatient Adult Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Program.

Abstract Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) patients are at an increased risk of developing central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) due to prolonged periods of myelosuppression, immunosuppression, and indwelling catheter days. CLABSIs are among the most serious complications in HCT recipients and can lead to prolonged hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions, lengthy antimicrobial therapies, and increased mortality. There is a lack of data regarding the incidence and risk factors associated with the development of CLABSIs in the HCT population undergoing outpatient transplantation. This was a single-center, retrospective analysis of adult patients who underwent allogeneic HCT between July 2012 and July 2016 in an outpatient transplant unit at a tertiary academic medical center. The primary outcome was the cumulative incidence of CLABSIs from the date of central line placement through the first 100 days post-transplantation. Secondary outcomes included risk factors for CLABSI, number of hospitalizations due to CLABSI, mortality rate at 6 months post-transplantation, and the cumulative incidence, speciation, and presence of multidrug resistance in identified microorganisms. Three hundred fifty-nine patients underwent allogeneic HCT at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and 352 were included for analysis. The cumulative incidence of CLABSIs was 9%, with the majority occurring within the first 30 days post HCT (67%). The use of a matched unrelated donor (MUD) and/or haploidentical donor (odds ratio, 3.993; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.329 to 12.001; P = .0136) and use of an ablative conditioning regimen (odds ratio, 2.394; 95% CI, 1.052 to 5.446; P = .0374) were independently associated with development of a CLABSI on multivariate analysis. The most common organism implicated in CLABSI was Staphylococcus epidermidis (34%). Patients who developed a CLABSI had an almost 5 times higher risk of mortality at 6 months post-transplantation compared with patients who did not develop a CLABSI (hazard ratio, 4.932; 95% CI, 2.463 to 9.878; P
Social Network Change Detection

Abstract : Changes in observed social networks may signal an underlying change within an organization, and may even predict significant events or behaviors. The breakdown of a team's effectiveness, the emergence of informal leaders, or the preparation of an attack by a clandestine network may all be associated with changes in the patterns of interactions between group members. The ability to systematically, statistically, effectively and efficiently detect these changes has the potential to enable the anticipation of change, provide early warning of change, and enable faster response to change. By applying statistical process control techniques to social networks we can detect changes in these networks. Herein we describe this methodology and then illustrate it using three data sets. The first deals with the email communications among graduate students. The second is the perceived connections among members of al Qaeda based on open source data. The results indicate that this approach is able to detect change even with the high levels of uncertainty inherent in these data.
Preoperative Evaluation of Bleeding

Bleeding is a major complication of surgical procedures. Bleeding leads to poor surgical outcomes, prolonged hospital stays, and increased postoperative complications (fluid overload, infections, etc.). Careful screening of patients preoperatively may identify patients who are at a higher risk of bleeding and may prevent further complications through a preoperative treatment plan. Most operative bleeding complications are due to a failure of local control in the operative field. A thorough preoperative evaluation can prevent many bleeding complications during surgery.
Cs adsorption on Bi 2 Se 3

Author(s): Zhu, H; Zhou, W; Yarmoff, JA | Abstract: Bi 2 Se 3 is a topological insulator whose unique properties result from topological surface states (TSS) in the band gap. The adsorption of Cs onto a Bi 2 Se 3 surface is investigated by low energy ion scattering and work function measurements. Much of the deposited Cs quickly diffuses to the step edges forming one-dimensional chains of positively charged adatoms, along with some deposition on the terraces. The work function decreases until a coverage of 0.1 ML is reached, beyond which it increases slightly. The minimum in the work function is due to depolarization of the dipoles induced when the concentration of adatoms in the chains reaches a critical value. A slow diffusion of adsorbed Cs from the terraces to the step edges is also marked by changes in the neutralization of scattered Na + and work function over time. The spatial distribution of the conductive charges in the TSS, which are primarily positioned between the first and second atomic layers, is confirmed by comparison of the neutralization of Na + scattered from Bi and Se.
Effects of Signalization at Rural Intersections Considering the Elderly Driving Population

The main objective of this study is to quantify the safety impacts of signalization at Florida’s rural three-leg and four-leg stop-controlled intersections by estimating crash modification factors....
Targeting glutamine-addiction and overcoming CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The dysregulation of Fbxo4-cyclin D1 axis occurs at high frequency in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), where it promotes ESCC development and progression. However, defining a therapeutic vulnerability that results from this dysregulation has remained elusive. Here we demonstrate that Rb and mTORC1 contribute to Gln-addiction upon the dysregulation of the Fbxo4-cyclin D1 axis, which leads to the reprogramming of cellular metabolism. This reprogramming is characterized by reduced energy production and increased sensitivity of ESCC cells to combined treatment with CB-839 (glutaminase 1 inhibitor) plus metformin/phenformin. Of additional importance, this combined treatment has potent efficacy in ESCC cells with acquired resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors in vitro and in xenograft tumors. Our findings reveal a molecular basis for cancer therapy through targeting glutaminolysis and mitochondrial respiration in ESCC with dysregulated Fbxo4-cyclin D1 axis as well as cancers resistant to CDK4/6 inhibitors.
Motivation in multiple sclerosis cognitive fatigue: An experimental approach.

Introduction: Cognitive fatigue is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). Recent research has implicated dopaminergic pathways originating in the basal ganglia as neurological correlates of c...
Proteomics and Metabolomics in Kidney Disease, including Insights into Etiology, Treatment, and Prevention.

In this review of the application of proteomics and metabolomics to kidney disease research, we review key concepts, highlight illustrative examples, and outline future directions. The proteome and metabolome reflect the influence of environmental exposures in addition to genetic coding. Circulating levels of proteins and metabolites are dynamic and modifiable, and thus amenable to therapeutic targeting. Design and analytic considerations in proteomics and metabolomics studies should be tailored to the investigator’s goals. For the identification of clinical biomarkers, adjustment for all potential confounding variables, particularly GFR, and strict significance thresholds are warranted. However, this approach has the potential to obscure biologic signals and can be overly conservative given the high degree of intercorrelation within the proteome and metabolome. Mass spectrometry, often coupled to up-front chromatographic separation techniques, is a major workhorse in both proteomics and metabolomics. High-throughput antibody- and aptamer-based proteomic platforms have emerged as additional, powerful approaches to assay the proteome. As the breadth of coverage for these methodologies continues to expand, machine learning tools and pathway analyses can help select the molecules of greatest interest and categorize them in distinct biologic themes. Studies to date have already made a substantial effect, for example elucidating target antigens in membranous nephropathy, identifying a signature of urinary peptides that adds prognostic information to urinary albumin in CKD, implicating circulating inflammatory proteins as potential mediators of diabetic nephropathy, demonstrating the key role of the microbiome in the uremic milieu, and highlighting kidney bioenergetics as a modifiable factor in AKI. Additional studies are required to replicate and expand on these findings in independent cohorts. Further, more work is needed to understand the longitudinal trajectory of select protein and metabolite markers, perform transomics analyses within merged datasets, and incorporate more kidney tissue–based investigation.
Gas temperature and boundary layer thickness measurements of an inert mixture using filtered broadband natural species emission (Part I)

Abstract A new experimental methodology to simultaneously measure gas temperature and boundary layer thickness was developed and explained for the first time in this work. The new methodology is based on the line-of-sight broadband filtered natural infrared emission of species and it solves one of the main challenges of using the broadband spectroscopy to measure gas temperatures: quantification of the absorption of the core gas infrared emission due to the cold boundary layer on the optical access of combustion systems. To evaluate and validate the new methodology, it was applied to measure the gas temperature and boundary layer thickness of a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen using Rapid Compression Machine RCM). High-speed infrared cameras with two filters at wavelength ranges of 3.329 to 3.629 μm and 4.069 to 4.445 μm were used to measure the filtered natural emission of methane and carbon dioxide during the post-compression period. Measured gas temperatures at two conditions were compared with the modeled temperature calculated using the isentropic compression equation. Excellent agreement, within 1%, was reached between modeled and measured gas temperatures.
Understanding the Well-Being of Recent College Graduates: Income is not Enough

ABSTRACTGiven difficult economic times experienced during the Great Recession and the years following, coupled with the rising cost of higher education, there is increasing pressure by federal and ...
Increased rates of eating disorders and their symptoms in women with major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders

Background Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) have increased rates of major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders. Yet, few studies have investigated rates of EDs and their symptoms in individuals presenting with MDD/anxiety disorders. Identifying potential disordered eating in people with MDD/anxiety disorders is important because even subclinical disordered eating is associated with reduced quality of life, and undiagnosed eating pathology may hinder treatment progress for both MDD/anxiety disorders and comorbid EDs. Method We compared rates of EDs (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and other specified feeding and eating disorders) and their symptoms in 130 women with, and 405 women without, lifetime MDD or an anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia, or post-traumatic stress disorder) recruited from the population-based Michigan State University Twin Registry. Lifetime ED and MDD/anxiety diagnoses, and lifetime clinically significant disordered eating behaviors (e.g., binge eating, excessive exercise) were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). Results Among participants with lifetime MDD or any anxiety disorder, 13% met criteria for a lifetime ED and 39% reported engaging in at least one lifetime clinically significant disordered eating behavior (e.g., binge eating) on the SCID. In contrast, only 3% of participants without a history of MDD/an anxiety disorder met criteria for a lifetime ED, and only 11% reported lifetime clinically significant disordered eating behavior. Discussion Our findings suggest that women with MDD and anxiety disorders have elevated rates of EDs, and it is therefore imperative to screen for disordered eating in these populations.