cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancement by heparin of thrombin-induced antithrombin III proteolysis: Its relation to the molecular weight and anticoagulant activity of heparin

Abstract Previous findings indicated that binding of heparin to antithrombin III (AT III) facilitates thrombin-induced proteolysis of the inhibitor. We now studied this property of heparin in regard to its molecular weight and anticoagulant activity. Commercial heparin was resolved on Sephadex G-200 into six fractions of decreasing molecular weight. From each fraction high affinity (HA) heparin was isolated by chromatography on AT III-Sepharose and examined in reaction of α-thrombin with a molar excess of 125I AT III. Proteolysis of the inhibitor was assessed by SDS polyacreylamide gel electrophoresis. In the presence of the HA heparin from 18% to 38% of AT III participating in reaction appeared in the form of inactive 50,000-dalton fragment, as opposed to 7% of AT III fragmented in the absence of heparin. Although the ability to potentiate proteolysis was at its peak in the medium-molecular-size heparin fraction, the amount of degraded inhibitor relative to anticoagulant activity increased with decreasing molecular weight of the polysaccharide. These findings are consistant with the possibility that the ability of bound heparin to facilitate the cleavage of AT III by thrombin is generally less contingent upon secondary characteristics of the polysaccharide than the anticoagulant activity.
Predicting the Time-Temperature Dependent Axial Failure of B/A1 Composites

Experimental and theoretical studies were conducted in order to understand and predict the effects of time, temperature, and stress on the axial failure modes of boron fibers and B/A1 composites. Due to the anelastic nature of boron fiber deformation, it was possible to determine simple creep functions which can be employed to accurately describe creep and fracture stress of as-produced fibers. Analysis of damping and strength data for B/6061 A1 composites indicates that fiber creep effects of creep on fiber fracture are measurably reduced by the composite fabrication process. The creep function appropriate for fibers with B/Al composites was also determined. A fracture theory is presented for predicting the time-temperature dependence of the axial tensile strength for metal matrix composites in general and B/A1 composites in particular.
Endogenous metabolism by sperm in response to altered cellular ATP requirements.

A quantitative description of the relative importance of endogenous metabolism to overall ATP production has not been established for mammalian cells. We report herein results of experiments using sperm (selected because of their simple metabolic potential and absence of biosynthetic pathways) and calorimetry (chosen because it serves as a general monitor of metabolism) to assess the importance of endogenous metabolism to total ATP synthesis under several incubation conditions. In experiments in which sperm were incubated at different temperatures (20 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 30 degrees C or 35 degrees C) and with different substrates (glucose, fructose, lactate, or beta-hydroxybutyrate), endogenous metabolism occurred at a constant rate regardless of the rate of ATP turnover in the cells or the nature of the exogenous substrate available to them. Sperm incubated at 35 degrees C with glycolyzable substrates synthesized more ATP (9 mumol ATP . h-1/10(8) cells) than did sperm incubated with the nonglycolyzable substrate, lactate (6.2 mumol ATP . h-1/10(8) cells). To investigate this substrate-related difference in the rate of ATP synthesis, the motility of sperm incubated at 35 degrees C with glucose or with lactate was determined. The velocities of the sperm incubated with either substrate were identical, indicating that the rates of ATP consumption for support of motility were identical. Most of the additional ATP synthesized by cells with glycolyzable substrates was consumed in the process of substrate cycling of the metabolic intermediates of glucose.
Frequency modulation detection by normally hearing and profoundly hearing-impaired listeners.

The ability of normally hearing and profoundly hearing-impaired subjects to detect frequency modulations was evaluated under conditions where the amplitudes of the test signals were either constant...
Gauge fields, BRS symmetry and the Casimir effect

Abstract The canonical quantization of the photon field in covariant gauge is studied in the presence of static boundaries, on which the field satisfies either “bag” or superconductor boundary conditions. The inclusion of the Fadeev-Popov ghost fields is found to be essential for agreement with Coulomb gauge calculations of the Casimir energy.
Observation of Minimally Symptomatic Inguinal Hernias: Is it More Costly to Wait than to Operate?

Variable/outcomes Antibiotics arm Surgery arm Total costs $16,185.12 $10,560.89 QALYs (cost/QALY) 27.91 ($579.81) 27.85 ($379.24) Hospital length of stay 3 days (range 2-9) 3 days (range 1-8) Time off work 8 days (range 5-10) 11 days (range 10-20) Early failure 6% (range 0-12%) N/A Recurrent appendicitis (1-year) 32% (range 6-35%) N/A Intra-abdominal abscess 0.68% 1.8% Small bowel obstruction 1.9% 5% Death 0.06% 0.17% S96 Surgical Forum Abstracts J Am Coll Surg
COMPONENT COMMONALITY: MODELS WITH PRODUCT-SPECIFIC SERVICE CONSTRAINTS*

Common components are used extensively for reasons including product postponement and expediting new product development. We consider a two-stage assemble-to-order system with two products having uniformly distributed demand, one common component, and product-specific components. We develop optimization models in which the cost-minimizing inventory of the components must be determined and allocated to products in order to meet product-specific service level constraints. We compare two different commonality models based on whether or not the products are prioritized. A distinctive feature of our study is the use of product-specific service levels. We compare our results with models using aggregate service levels.
Single-neuron labeling and chronic cochlear pathology. I. Threshold shift and characteristic-frequency shift

Iontophoretic injections of horseradish peroxidase were used to label single auditory-nerve fibers in cats with permanent, noise-induced or drug-induced threshold shifts. Using these labeling techniques, it was possible to estimate the degree to which the characteristic frequency (CF) of a neuron shifts as its threshold shifts in cases of chronic cochlear pathology. The original CF of an abnormal neuron was estimated by measuring the location of its peripheral terminal along the cochlear spiral and comparing that to data from normal animals on the relation between CF and cochlear location [12]. Data from 25 labeled neurons with estimated threshold shifts varying from 0 to 70 dB suggest that, at least for units with original CF above 1 kHz, the measured CF shifts down as the threshold rises. The largest CF shifts (0.26 to 0.66 octave) were seen in units contacting inner hair cells within 1 mm of cochlear regions in which the entire organ of Corti (including supporting cells) was destroyed. For the abnormal units located more than 1 mm from such regions, the discrepancy between the CF predicted on the basis of fiber location and the CF measured from the tuning curve was less than 0.18 octave even though threshold shifts were comparable in the two groups. Units with the largest CF shifts showed abnormally low slopes on the portion of the tuning curve immediately above CF. This observation suggested a means of identifying abnormal units with significant CF shifts by simple inspection of the tuning curve. The possibility that the degree, and even the direction, of the CF shift varies from high- to low-CF units is discussed.
Mantle flow, melting, and dehydration of the Iceland mantle plume

Abstract Recent studies have shown that the extraction of water from the mantle due to partial melting beneath mid-ocean ridges may increase the viscosity of the residuum by 2–3 orders of magnitude. We examine this rheological effect on mantle flow and melting of a ridge-centered mantle plume using three-dimensional numerical models. Results indicate that the viscosity increase associated with dehydration prevents buoyancy forces from contributing significantly to plume upwelling above the dry solidus. Consequently, upwelling in the primary melting zone is driven passively by plate spreading and melt production rates are substantially lower than predicted by models that do not include the rheological effect of dehydration. Predictions of along-axis crustal thickness, bathymetric, and gravity variations are shown to be consistent with observations at Iceland and along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Furthermore, these predictions result from a model of a plume with relatively high excess temperature (180°C) and narrow radius (100 km) — properties that are consistent with estimates previously inferred from geochemical and seismological observations. Calculations of incompatible trace-element concentrations suggest that observed along-axis geochemical anomalies primarily reflect incompatible element heterogeneity of the plume source.
Impact of childhood inguinal hernia repair in adulthood: A fifty year follow-up

RESULTS: Out of 332 eligible patients, 213 (66%) responded to the survey, accounting for 252 inguinal hernia repairs (174 unilateral, 33 bilateral, and 6 sequential contralateral). All hernias were indirect, more common on the right (Right49%, Left25%, Bilateral26%), and males predominated (90.6%). Five patients (2.3%) had a history of premature birth. High ligation of the sac was performedin90%.Hydrocelectomywasperformedin25(13%)and orchidopexy in 37 (19%). With a median follow-up of 49.2 years (47.2-52.1), a total of 21 (8.3%) repeat groin operations for recurrencewerereported;seven(3%)patientsreportedchronicgroinpain and 10 (4.7%) reported a medical diagnosis of infertility. Orchidopexy at the time of the repair was found to be protective for recurrence (HR0.0, 95% CI 0.0-0.4; p0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The impact of childhood inguinal hernia repairs inadulthoodmaynotbenegligible;arecurrenceof8.3%andchronic groin pain of 3% are significant. Parents and children undergoing an inguinal herniorrhaphy should be informed of these cumulative risks.
Remark on a system of bernays

In [1], Bemays gives an axiomatization of set-theory which represents the furthest development to date of the Zermelo-Frankel-Godel tradition. The purpose of this note is to show that one of his axioms is redundant. Primitives are ∈, set-abstraction (denoted [ x/A(x) ]) and the Hilbert selector (denoted σ). Different styles are used for free variables (a, b,c, …) and bound variables (x, y, z, …) ; both kinds of variables range over both sets and classes. Quantifiers and connectives are classical.
Activity and Regulation of Low Density Lipoprotein Receptors in a Human Hepatoblastoma Cell Line

The responsiveness of low density lipoprotein (LDL) binding and uptake was measured in a human hepatoblastoma cell line, Hep G2. These cells exhibited both saturable, high-affinity and nonsaturable low-affinity components similar to that described for LDL binding in other mammalian cells. In addition, receptor-mediated uptake of [125I]LDL was dependent on the presence of Ca++ and required intact lysine residues in LDL as evidenced by abolition of binding following reductive methylation of LDL. The receptor activity was rapidly responsive to changes made in LDL concentrations in the medium, up-regulating by 200% in the absence of LDL, and down-regulating by 56% in the presence of LDL, both changes occuring within 2 hr. Cholesterol synthesis was estimated by measuring 3-hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity. The activity of this enzyme was also found to increase rapidly in the absence of LDL and decrease rapidly in the presence of LDL in the media. The human cell line Hep G2 possesses an active and responsive receptor for LDL and provides a useful model for the study of liproprotein uptake and metabolism in intact human liver.
Scanning-beam electron microscopy of cell wall-defective staphylococci.

Abstract Staphylococci and their derived wall-defective forms (WDS) were studied with Gram stain, phase microscopy, and the scanning-beam electron microscope. Staphylococci were smooth, spherical, and relatively uniform in size. Stable WDS had corrugated surfaces and were larger; those prepared with lysostaphin were indistinguishable from those prepared with methicillin. During induction of WDS in methicillin-containing hypertonic broth, WDS were first observed after 7 hr of incubation and progressively, thereafter, increased in number. They were larger than the stable WDS and varied more in size and shape. Microscopically, “wisps” were seen to consist of WDS, persistent parent staphylococci, and residual cell membranes.
Zero-inflated and overdispersed: what's one to do?

Zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) and zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) models are recommended for handling excessive zeros in count data. For various reasons, researchers may not address zero inflation. This paper helps educate researchers on (1) the importance of accounting for zero inflation and (2) the consequences of misspecifying the statistical model. Using simulations, we found that when the zero inflation in the data was ignored, estimation was poor and statistically significant findings were missed. When overdispersion within the zero-inflated data was ignored, poor estimation and inflated Type I errors resulted. Recommendations on when to use the ZINB and ZIP models are provided. In an illustration using a two-step model selection procedure (likelihood ratio test and the Vuong test), the ZIP model was correctly identified only when the distributions had moderate means and sample sizes and did not correctly identify the ZINB model or the zero inflation in the ZIP and ZINB distributions.
Correcting Comma Errors in Learner Essays, and Restoring Commas in Newswire Text

While the field of grammatical error detection has progressed over the past few years, one area of particular difficulty for both native and non-native learners of English, comma placement, has been largely ignored. We present a system for comma error correction in English that achieves an average of 89% precision and 25% recall on two corpora of unedited student essays. This system also achieves state-of-the-art performance in the sister task of restoring commas in well-formed text. For both tasks, we show that the use of novel features which encode long-distance information improves upon the more lexically-driven features used in prior work.
User Input in Housing Design: The Interdisciplinary Challenge

A consortium composed of home economists, architects, engineers, and horti culturists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln undertook a project to develop housing designs that would respond to the current and future needs and desires of people living in Nebraska. The consortium hoped to reduce the considerable gap between the thinking of designers and that of the people for whom they design (users) by linking designers with professionals in social sciences. This article contains a discussion of the user evaluation of the designs and the impli cations of these and other findings. From the housing designs created in response to user input, two were selected for user evaluation. A third design (that of a manufactured modular home cur rently on the market in Nebraska) was also included. The results show that the two designs created in response to user input were not, in general, acceptable to these users and that the modular home currently on the market was more ac ceptable. The findings raise some important questions and challenges for hous ing and design professionals.
Low complexity optical DQPSK receiver with enhanced tolerance to transmission impairments

A low complexity DQPSK receiver based on frequency discriminator demodulator is demonstrated experimentally, showing 2x enhanced tolerance to fiber chromatic dispersion, and 4-dB higher nonlinear threshold to Gordon-Mollenauer effect compared with conventional delay-interferometer based receiver.
Testing Rosen's Sequential Elimination Tournament Model Incentives and Player Performance in Professional Tennis

The authors use an extensive and unique data set from the men’s professional tennis circuit to test Rosen’s sequential elimination style tournament model. Specifically, they investigate what effect an increase in prize money differentials between rounds has on the stronger player’s probability of winning the match. This involves estimating a standard probit model utilizing data from 2,632 individual matches over 68 tournaments during the 2001 men’s professional tennis circuit. The results of the study support predictions associated with Rosen’s match play tournament model. Increases in prize money differentials have a positive, statistically significant effect on the stronger player’s probability of winning the match.
Investigation of the total charm-pair cross section in nonresonant e(+)e(-) annihilations at √s =10.5 GeV

We report results from two new methods for measuring the total production of charmed particles in nonresonant e/sup +/e/sup -/ annihilations at ..sqrt..s = 10.5 GeV. The rate for detection of events containing two reconstructed charmed mesons relative to that for events containing one is used to extract information about total charm production independent of decay branching fractions. The value of ..delta..R/sub c//sub c-bar/, the total charm-pair cross section normalized to the pointlike ..mu..-pair cross section, is found to be 1.13/sub -0.13//sup +0.17/ +- 0.09, under an assumption of limited particle correlations. In an independent analysis the inclusive cross section for e/sup +/e/sup -/..-->..qq-bar..-->..e/sup +- /X is measured to be 0.293 +- 0.017 +- 0.017 nb. Using measured relative production rates and semileptonic branching fractions of D/sup 0/ and D/sup +/ mesons and estimates of these quantities for D/sub s/ and ..lambda../sub c/, this is found to correspond to ..delta..R/sub c//sub c-bar/ = 2.07 +- 0.12 +- 0.26. These two measurements are discussed in the context of measurements made by reconstruction of exclusive hadronic decay modes and of theoretical expectations.
Preschoolers use partial letter names to select spellings: Evidence from Portuguese

Two studies examined children's use of letter–name spelling strategies when target phoneme sequences match letter names with different degrees of precision. We examined Portuguese-speaking preschoolers' use of h (which is named /a′ga/ but which never represents those sounds) when spelling words beginning with /ga/ or variants of /ga/. We also looked at use of q (named /ke/) when spelling /ke/ and /ge/. Children sometimes used h for stimuli beginning with /ga/ and /ka/, and q when spelling words and nonwords beginning with /ke/ and /ge/ they did not use these letters when stimuli began with other sequences. Thus, their spellings evinced use of letter-name matches primarily when consonant-vowel sequences matched, such that vowels must be exact but consonants could differ in voicing from the target phoneme.
Cooperative Visibility Maintenance for Leader–Follower Formations in Obstacle Environments

Vision-based formation control of multiple agents, such as mobile robots or fully autonomous cars, has recently received great interest due to its application in robotic networks and automated highways. This paper addresses the cooperative motion coordination of leader-follower formations of nonholonomic mobile robots, under visibility and communication constraints in known polygonal obstacle environments. We initially consider the case of N = 2 agents moving in L-F fashion and propose a feedback control strategy under which L ensures obstacle avoidance for both robots, while F ensures visibility maintenance with L and intervehicle collision avoidance. The derived algorithms are based on set-theoretic methods to guarantee visibility maintenance, dipolar vector fields to maintain the formation shape, and the consideration of the formation as a tractor-trailer system to ensure obstacle avoidance. We furthermore show how the coordination and control design extends to the case of N > 2 agents, and provide simulation results, which demonstrate the efficacy of the control solutions. The proposed algorithms do not require information exchange among robots, but are instead based on information locally available to each agent. In this way, the desired tasks are executed and achieved in a decentralized manner, with each robot taking care of converging to a desired configuration, while maintaining visibility with its target.
Diagnosis of Word-Finding Disorders in Children with Learning Disabilities

This investigation compared the naming abilities of learning disabled children diagnosed as having word-finding problems with learning disabled and normal children assessed as having good expressive language skills. Naming ability was measured on low-and high-frequency nouns in convergent, intrasensory and intersensory naming contexts. Comparisons of word-finding skills between groups, frequency of occurrence, and conditions were made with respect to response time, errors, substitution types, and secondary characteristics. Learning disabled children with word—finding problems manifested significantly more errors, secondary characteristics, longer response times, as well as unique substitution types, while learning disabled children without word-finding problems performed similarly to their normal peers. A diagnostic model for word-finding disorders was recommended.
Evolutionary changes in heat-inducible gene expression in lines of Escherichia coli adapted to high temperature

The involvement of heat-inducible genes, including the heat-shock genes, in the acute response to temperature stress is well established. However, their importance in genetic adaptation to long-ter...
Celebrity Misbehavior in the NBA

I compare and contrast theories of why NBA players misbehave on the court, then test them empirically. I find evidence that earnings are positively correlated with misbehavior and that both absolute and relative salary matter. For instance, a player who is highest paid on his team misbehaves roughly 7% more than one who is second-highest paid, even at the same salary level. This relative effect I interpret as due to lack of good substitutes for top players. I also find some evidence that personal preferences may be important in understanding misbehavior, but no evidence that immaturity or peer effects are important determinants of misbehavior in the NBA.
Enhanced gait recognition using HMM and Vh techniques

Vision-based human identification at a distance in surveillance has recently gained more attentions. Gait has the advantages of being non-invasive and difficult to conceal, and is also the only perceivable biometric at a distance. A novel method for enhancing the gait recognition rate is proposed by combining HMM method and the visual hull method to identify and authenticate the gait of a person. By using polyhedral rendering for visual hull process, the interaction error is reduced due to Kalman filtering. The values between centroid and other identified regions are obtained. The obtained values are in 2D and the HMM technique is used to identify the distance and these values are stored in the database. The advantage of this method is that the value of the centroid is accurate. Hence, authentication is more accurate since most of the distance identification is made with reference to the centroid.
Determination of awareness in patients with severe brain injury using EEG power spectral analysis

Abstract Objective To determine whether EEG spectral analysis could be used to demonstrate awareness in patients with severe brain injury. Methods We recorded EEG from healthy controls and three patients with severe brain injury, ranging from minimally conscious state (MCS) to locked-in-state (LIS), while they were asked to imagine motor and spatial navigation tasks. We assessed EEG spectral differences from 4 to 24 Hz with univariate comparisons (individual frequencies) and multivariate comparisons (patterns across the frequency range). Results In controls, EEG spectral power differed at multiple frequency bands and channels during performance of both tasks compared to a resting baseline. As patterns of signal change were inconsistent between controls, we defined a positive response in patient subjects as consistent spectral changes across task performances. One patient in MCS and one in LIS showed evidence of motor imagery task performance, though with patterns of spectral change different from the controls. Conclusions EEG power spectral analysis demonstrates evidence for performance of mental imagery tasks in healthy controls and patients with severe brain injury. Significance EEG power spectral analysis can be used as a flexible bedside tool to demonstrate awareness in brain-injured patients who are otherwise unable to communicate.
Large-scale relocation of two decades of Northern California seismicity using cross-correlation and double-difference methods

[1] We simultaneously reanalyzed two decades (1984–2003) of the digital seismic archive of Northern California using waveform cross-correlation (CC) and double-difference (DD) methods to improve the resolution in hypocenter locations in the existing earthquake catalog generated at the Northern California Seismic Network (NCSN) by up to three orders of magnitude. We used a combination of 3 billion CC differential times measured from all correlated pairs of events that are separated by less than 5 km and 7 million P wave arrival-time picks listed in the NCSN bulletin. Data were inverted for precise relative locations of 311,273 events using the DD method. The relocated catalog is able to image the fine-scale structure of seismicity associated with active faults and revealed characteristic spatiotemporal structures such as streaks and repeating earthquakes. We found that 90% of the earthquakes have correlated P wave and S wave trains at common stations and that 12% are colocated repeating events. An analysis of the repeating events indicates that uncertainties at the 95% confidence level in the existing network locations are on average 0.7 km laterally and 2 km vertically. Correlation characteristics and relative location improvement are remarkably similar across most of Northern California, implying the general applicability of these techniques to image high-resolution seismicity caused by a variety of plate tectonic and anthropogenic processes. We show that consistent long-term seismic monitoring and data archiving practices are key to increase resolution in existing hypocenter catalogs and to estimate the precise location of future events on a routine basis.
Advances in therapies for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children

Pediatric patients with newly diagnosed, non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) have an excellent overall survival. However, therapy regimens are associated with acute toxicity and late effects. Furthermore, patients with relapsed or refractory disease have relatively few options with proven clinical benefit. Both histologic and molecular differences exist between adult and pediatric NHL preventing simple translation of adult NHL successes into improvements in pediatric NHL treatment. This review summarizes the introduction of targeted therapies into frontline treatments for patients with anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and CD20-positive tumors, with the goal of improving overall survival while limiting both short- and long-term toxicities. In addition, newer approaches that have limited data in children but may have a significant role in how we treat pediatric NHL in the future are reviewed, which include CD19 directed therapy, Notch inhibition, the tri-functional antibody, FBTA05, and EZH2 inhibition.
Regulation, Trade, and Market Power: Agricultural Chemical Markets and Incentives for Biotechnology

Chemical companies generally support environmental regulatory segregation of Canadian and U.S. agricultural chemical markets, apparently because it enables them to practice third-order price discrimination. This study provides new cross-section evidence that suggests that price discrimination is practiced. We consider the potential implications of chemical market segregation for the innovation and adoption of biotechnologies that are linked to chemical use and chemical prices in the context of a two-sector-two-country model solved as a two-stage game. Biotechnology implications of regulatory harmonization that reintegrates the two chemical markets are then examined.
Jetty Harbors of the Pacific Coast

The improvement of harbors on the Pacific Coast of the United States by the jetty system has reached such a stage, and has been so successful at several points where the work is now practically com...
Challenges faced by patients in gout treatment: a qualitative study.

Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis in adults and is associated with negative effect on patient’s quality of life, worker productivity, and health care utilization.1,2 Despite the availability of effective and affordable treatments for lowering serum urate, that is, urate-lowering therapy
Adaptation of the preferred human bouncing pattern toward the metabolically optimal frequency.

Humans often appear to prefer movement patterns that minimize the metabolic energy expenditure of performing a task. However, it is not clear whether this preference is dependent on adaptation to f...
Epidemiological investigation on an outbreak of infectious diarrhea caused by Norovirus in the hotel

[Objective] To analyze the reasons and the epidemiological characteristics of an outbreak of infectious diarrhea in dinner party in a hotel,provide a scientific basis for future prevention and control.[Methods]Based on the field epidemiological investigation,the detection of norovirus nucleic acid was conducted by RT-PCR.[Results]There were 82 cases in this outbreak with the attack rate of 0.82%.Among 24 stool samples collected from patients with diarrhea,7 were positive by RT-PCR nucleic acid detection.The leftovers and 21 environmental samples were negative.[Conclusion]According to the results of field epidemiological investigation and laboratory test,this infectious diarrhea outbreak is caused by Norovirus.
Application of antidepressants in 6 cities of Yangtze River valley during 2006—2008

AIM To analyze the utilization of antidepressants in hospitals of 6 cities of Yangtze River valley during 2006—2008.METHODS The antidepressants used in 157 hospitals of 6 cities of Yangtze River valley during 2006—2008 were analyzed according to the orders of sum and DDDs.RESULTS The total annual cost of the antidepressants in 2008 and 2007 increased by 19.14% and 21.68% compared to the last year respectively,and the total DDDs of 2008 and 2007 increased by 14.85% and 17.12% respectively.Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) occupied more than 50% of the total sum and DDDs,and paroxetine and fluoxetine ranked the highest places.CONCLUSION The utilization of antidepressants increased obviously.SSRIs occupy the predominant position and the market of the new antidepressants such as duloxeti will develop fast.
Photonic-Doppler-Velocimetry, Paraxial-Scalar Diffraction Theory and Simulation

In this report I describe current progress on a paraxial, scalar-field theory suitable for simulating what is measured in Photonic Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) experiments in three dimensions. I have introduced a number of approximations in this work in order to bring the total computation time for one experiment down to around 20 hours. My goals were: to develop an approximate method of calculating the peak frequency in a spectral sideband at an instant of time based on an optical diffraction theory for a moving target, to compare the ‘measured’ velocity to the ‘input’ velocity to gain insights into how and to what precision PDV measures the component of the mass velocity along the optical axis, and to investigate the effects of small amounts of roughness on the measured velocity. This report illustrates the progress I have made in describing how to perform such calculations with a full three dimensional picture including tilted target, tilted mass velocity (not necessarily in the same direction), and small amounts of surface roughness. With the method established for a calculation at one instant of time, measured velocities can be simulated for a sequence of times, similar to the process of sampling velocities in experiments. Improvementsmore » in these methods are certainly possible at hugely increased computational cost. I am hopeful that readers appreciate the insights possible at the current level of approximation.« less
Programmierprojekte für den Roboter

Programmierprojekte fur Roboter haben mehrere Ebenen. Da ist zunachst die Ebene der Maschinenprogrammierung fur die Motorkontrolle. Wir haben die notwendigen Module fur eine PTP-Steuerung eines mehrachsigen Industrieroboters vorgestellt.
Role of Hydroxylase Cofactor in Regulating Dopamine Synthesis: Relevance to Neurological Disorders

Over the past several years there has been an emergence of interest in a possible role of hydroxylase cofactor (tetrahydrobiopterin, BH4) in the pathophysiology of a number of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and dystonia (Yamaguchi et al., 1982; Williams et al, 1980). With the known relationship between dopamine-mediated neurotransmission and Parkinsonism efforts at directly increasing in vivo dopamine synthesis rates in surviving neurons could constitute a successful mode of intervention. Since BH4 is known to support dopamine synthesis and is exclusively localized within aminergic neurons (Levine et al., 1981), increasing endogenous cofactor levels might subsequently lead to increased neurotransmitter synthesis. We investigated this approach by (1) examining the kinetic properties of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) using the natural isomer of the cofactor (2) administering cofactor to primates and monitoring its appearance along with monoamine metabolite levels in CSF (3) administering cofactor to patients with Parkinson’s disease or dystonia.
Economic model predictive control for nonlinear processes incorporating actuator magnitude and rate of change constraints

In this work, we consider nonlinear systems and develop a formulation of Lyapunov-based economic model predictive control (LEMPC) that incorporates actuator magnitude and rate of change constraints on the calculated control actions. Specifically, we formulate LEMPC including maximum and minimum allowable values for the control actions as well as bounds on the differences between the control actions calculated by the LEMPC and the control actions that would be requested if a stabilizing Lyapunov-based controller were used to control the system. This latter constraint is proven to bound the rate of change of the actual process inputs. It is also proven that an LEMPC formulation incorporating such constraints is feasible and ensures closed-loop stability of the process for a sufficiently small controller sampling period. A chemical process example demonstrates that EMPC with input rate of change constraints can improve process economic performance compared with steady-state operation while limiting actuation energy expended.
Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing in ovarian cancer clinical practice: a review of the literature

Until recently our knowledge of a genetic contribution to ovarian cancer focused almost exclusively on mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes. However, through germline and tumor sequencing an understanding of the larger phenomenon of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) has emerged. HRD impairs normal DNA damage repair which results in loss or duplication of chromosomal regions, termed genomic loss of heterozygosity (LOH). The list of inherited mutations associated with ovarian cancer continues to grow with the literature currently suggesting that up to one in four cases will have germline mutations, the majority of which result in HRD. Furthermore, an additional 5–7% of ovarian cancer cases will have somatic HRD. In the near future, patients with germline or somatic HRD will likely be candidates for a growing list of targeted therapies in addition to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, and, as a result, establishing an infrastructure for widespread HRD testing is imperative. The objective of this review article is to focus on the current germline and somatic contributors to ovarian cancer and the state of both germline and somatic HRD testing. For now, germline and somatic tumor testing provide important and non-overlapping clinical information. We will explore a proposed testing strategy using somatic tumor testing as an initial triage whereby those patients found with somatic testing to have HRD gene mutations are referred to genetics to determine if the mutation is germline. This strategy allows for rapid access to genomic information that can guide targeted treatment decisions and reduce the burden on genetic counselors, an often limited resource, who will only see patients with a positive somatic triage test.
Protein ligands for studying ion channel proteins.

Protein toxins from venomous organisms have provided remarkable insights into the structure and mechanism of ion channel proteins ([Kalia et al., 2015][1]). One classic example is the work of Rod MacKinnon, Chris Miller, and their colleagues on the mechanism by which high-conductance calcium-
Perspectives on Evaluation in Financial Education: Landscape, Issues, and Studies.

ABSTRACTThis review discusses the heterogeneity in the effectiveness of financial education programs that occurs because of the unique conditions for programs and methods to evaluate them. The authors define six groups served by financial education: children, youth, college students and young adults, working adults, military personnel, and low-income consumers. They then discuss research and evaluation literature for each group with a critical eye on program purpose, content, and evaluation. They also present findings affecting multiple groups on four issues: student loans, homeownership, retirement planning, and financial advising. The accumulated evidence on the effectiveness of financial education is positive, although the results are nuanced and sometimes limited. The authors argue that understanding this broad landscape in studying financial education is critical for future research and evaluation.
Managed retreat as a response to natural hazard risk

Managed retreat is a potentially important climate change adaptation option, providing an alternative to structural protection or accommodation measures to manage natural hazard risk. However, its application faces challenges given the projected scale of climate-induced displacement and the difficulties of resettlement. We evaluate the drivers, barriers and outcomes of 27 recent cases of managed retreat that have resettled approximately 1.3 million people. A conceptual model based on two key factors—who benefits from retreat and who initiates it—organizes the diverse set of cases into four quadrants. Different sociopolitical dimensions emerge as particularly influential in each quadrant. The model establishes a foundation for understanding and anticipating case-specific complexities. It can be used to unpack the landscape of managed retreat and evaluate its potential future applications. Managed retreat is a potentially important climate change adaptation option. In this article the drivers and outcomes of, and barriers to, 27 recent cases of managed retreat—involving the resettlement of approximately 1.3 million people—are evaluated.
Folate rescues vitamin B12 depletion-induced inhibition of nuclear thymidylate biosynthesis and genome instability

Clinical vitamin B12 deficiency can result in megaloblastic anemia, which results from the inhibition of DNA synthesis by trapping folate cofactors in the form of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-methylTHF) and subsequent inhibition of de novo thymidylate (dTMP) biosynthesis. In the cytosol, vitamin B12 functions in the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine, which regenerates THF from 5-methylTHF. In the nucleus, THF is required for de novo dTMP biosynthesis, but it is not understood how 5-methylTHF accumulation in the cytosol impairs nuclear dTMP biosynthesis. The impact of vitamin B12 depletion on nuclear de novo dTMP biosynthesis was investigated in methionine synthase-null human fibroblast and nitrous oxide-treated HeLa cell models. The nucleus was the most sensitive cellular compartment to 5-methylTHF accumulation, with levels increasing greater than fourfold. Vitamin B12 depletion decreased de novo dTMP biosynthesis capacity by 5-35%, whereas de novo purine synthesis, which occurs in the cytosol, was not affected. Phosphorylated histone H2AX (γH2AX), a marker of DNA double-strand breaks, was increased in vitamin B12 depletion, and this effect was exacerbated by folate depletion. These studies also revealed that 5-formylTHF, a slow, tight-binding inhibitor of serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), was enriched in nuclei, accounting for 35% of folate cofactors, explaining previous observations that nuclear SHMT is not a robust source of one-carbons for de novo dTMP biosynthesis. These findings indicate that a nuclear 5-methylTHF trap occurs in vitamin B12 depletion, which suppresses de novo dTMP biosynthesis and causes DNA damage, accounting for the pathophysiology of megaloblastic anemia observed in vitamin B12 and folate deficiency.
Autonomous robotic system for pipeline integrity inspection

In this paper, we present an external pipeline inspection robotic system capable of detecting the surface defects on above-ground pipelines and modeling their degradation. This system consists of two subsystems, the main base and the sensing system. The main base is a self-driving autonomous ground vehicle (AGV) equipped with Lidar, acoustic sensors and motor encoders, which can track the pipeline on uneven terrains. The sensing system includes two cameras attached to a C-arm, which rotates around the pipe. The two cameras are placed 180° from each other and can take pictures at 90° intervals, allowing the system to analyze the full 360° of the pipe with only half of the rotation as compared to a single camera system. When the C-arm encounters a flange or support, it retracts off the pipe, moves past the obstacle, and extends back to continue taking images. These images are used for defect detection. The detected defect data is then used for modeling the defect degradation and predicting when the defects become critical and require maintenance.
Open Access Research Via Collaborative Educational Blogging: A Case Study from Library & Information Science

This article charts the development of activities for online graduate students in library and information science. Project goals include helping students develop competencies in understanding open access publishing, synthesizing research in the field, and engaging in scholarly communication via collaborative educational blogging. Using a design experiment approach as a research strategy, focus is placed on the design of the collaborative blogging activity, open access research as a knowledge domain, and analyses of four iterations of the project. Findings from this iterative learning design suggest several benefits of implementing collaborative educational blogging activities in distance contexts.
Towards fast and accurate machine learning attacks of feed-forward arbiter PUFs

Utilizing integrated circuits' manufacturing variations to produce responses unique for individual devises, physical unclonable functions (PUFs) are not reproducible even by PUF device manufacturers. However, many PUFs have been reported to be “mathematically reproducible” by machine learning-based modeling methods. The feed-forward arbiter PUFs are among the PUFs which have showed strength [1], [2] against machine learning modeling unless large computation time is used in machine learning process and the feed-forward loops are of a special type. In this paper, we develop a signal delay model for the feed-forward arbiter PUFs, through which efficient and accurate machine learning of the PUF's essential features is made possible. Experimental results show that the new model has led to high accuracy and high efficiency for the prediction of the responses of the PUFs with any type of feed-forward loops, and the high prediction accuracy was measured in terms of average prediction rate over all tested all cases. The high efficiency and high accuracy prediction of responses reported in this paper has revealed a weakness of the feed-forward arbiter PUFs that can be potentially utilized by response-prediction-based malicious software.
Risk of gastrointestinal and hepatic toxicities in patients with metastatic solid tumors treated with cabozantinib: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

208Background: The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathways and the proto-oncogenes MET, KIT and RET were implied in cancer development and progression. Cabozantinib is an oral inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases and hence employed in many solid tumors. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) to determine the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatic toxicities among patients with metastatic solid tumors treated with cabozantinib. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE databases and meeting abstracts from inception to March 2017 were queried. Phase 3 RCTs that mention GI and elevation of liver enzymes as adverse effects were incorporated in the analysis. Mantel-Haenszel method was used to calculate the estimated pooled risk ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI). Random effects model was applied. Results: We included 3 RCTs with a total of 1999 patients treated with cabozantinib for various solid tumors. The study arm used cabozantinib while the c...
Robust state estimation via network partitioning

This paper presents a linear phasor state estimator which maintains robustness against gross errors while remaining computationally efficient. This is achieved by defining as many additional zones as necessary so that any bus in the system will appear as an internal bus with respect to at least one zone. All zones will have their separate state estimators which will run in parallel assuming the availability of a multi-core parallel computing platform. Thus, the overall computation time will be independent of the actual system size, but will be determined by the size of the largest zone. Such an estimator is emulated and tested on a small (30-bus) and a large (2917-bus) test power system.
Earthworm impacts on trace metal (Al, Fe, Mo, Cu, Zn, Pb) exchangeability and uptake by young Acer saccharum and Polystichum acrostichoides

Non-native earthworms are a continued source of environmental change in the northeastern United States that may affect trace metals in the plant-soil system, with largely unknown effects. We assessed earthworm impacts on exchangeable and strong acid extractable (total) concentrations and pools of Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mo, Pb in non-point source polluted, forest soil horizons (Organic, A, and B) and foliar metals concentrations in young (< 3 years) Acer saccharum and Polystichum acrostichoides at four proximal forests in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. We observed decreasing total trace metal Organic horizon pools and increasing total trace metal A horizon concentrations as a function of increasing earthworm biomass. Earthworms had limited effects on exchangeable concentrations in A and B horizons and total metal concentrations in the B horizon. Foliar trace metal concentrations in Acer were better explained by earthworm biomass than soil concentrations but foliar concentrations for Polystichum were poorly predicted by both earthworm biomass and soil metal concentrations. Our results suggest that earthworms can affect trace metal uptake by some plants, but not by increasing soil trace metal exchangeability or from changing soil properties (pH, %SOM, or cation exchange capacity). Instead, non-native earthworms may indirectly alter understory plant uptake of trace metals.