cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Upgrading and restructuring in the global apparel value chain: Why China and Asia are outperforming Mexico and Central America

This article uses the global value chain approach to analyse the upgrading trajectories of leading apparel exporters adapting to the end of textile and apparel quotas and the economic recession. These events have been coupled by the consolidation and reconfiguration of global supply chains. China has been the big winner while other Asian suppliers are expanding their roles, largely at the expense of regional suppliers. One key to Asia’s competitive success vis-a-vis Mexico and Central America has been end market diversification. Regional trade agreements (NAFTA; DR-CAFTA) have provided the latter with preferential access to the US market and ties to brand manufacturers, but they also created a reliance on US exports and have hindered suppliers from developing regional linkages into textile production, apparel design and branding. Growing apparel demand in emerging Asian economies and a regionally integrated production network has allowed Chinese apparel suppliers to upgrade and expand global market share.
Theoretical evaluation of LiGaO 2 for frequency upconversion to ultraviolet

First-principles calculations of the frequency-dependent birefringence, second-harmonic generation, and linear electro-optic response are reported for LiGaO2 (which is transparent to as small as 222 nm). Good agreement is obtained with available experimental data in the visible region of the spectrum. The calculated frequency-dependent nonlinear optical responses are surprisingly constant in the entire energy region below the gap and small in absolute value (of the order of 0.2–1.2 pm/V for the various structures considered). Although the birefringence is insufficient for second-harmonic generation into the ultraviolet, opportunities may exist for sum-frequency generation. Angular phase-matching tuning curves are provided. The reasons for the low values of χ(2) are discussed. It is found to be not very sensitive to the structure and to arise in part from a large degree of cancellation between pure interband and mixed intra- and interband contributions.
Clinical review of glimepiride.

This article reviews the pharmacological and clinical aspects of glimepiride, the latest second-generation sulfonylurea for treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Glimepiride therapy ameliorates the relative insulin secretory deficit found in most patients with Type 2 DM. It is a direct insulin secretagogue; indirectly, it also increases insulin secretion in response to fuels such as glucose. Its action to augment insulin secretion requires binding to a high affinity sulfonylurea receptor, which results in closure of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in the β-cells of the pancreas. The question has been raised whether insulin secretagogues by acting on vascular or myocardial potassium channels may prevent ischaemic preconditioning, a physiological adaptation that could affect the outcome of coronary heart disease, but there is evidence against this concern being applicable to glimepiride. Glimepiride’s antihyperglycaemic efficacy is equal to other secretagogues. It has pharmacokinetic properties that ...
Coherence properties of a mid-infrared frequency comb produced by a degenerate optical parametric oscillator

We show that a broadband mid-infrared frequency comb produced by a degenerate optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is stable and phase locked to the pump. Moreover, the OPO can operate in two phase and two frequency states. In this experiment, two identical OPOs were synchronously pumped by a single 70-fs fiber laser at 1560 nm and produced broadband (>1000-nm-wide) frequency combs centered at 3120 nm. We observed stable interference fringes between the outputs of the OPOs. Also, by fine-tuning the OPO cavity length, the whole frequency comb could be shifted by steps of half the repetition rate. These results prove that sub-harmonic OPOs are suitable candidates for generation of phase-locked frequency combs in mid-IR.
Sexual abuse is associated with obese children and adolescents admitted for psychiatric hospitalization.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between a history of child abuse and obesity among children admitted for psychiatric hospitalization. STUDY DESIGN: The charts of 1434 youth consecutively admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility during a 10-month period were retrospectively analyzed. Rates of physical and sexual abuse, as well as other factors believed to increase the risk of obesity, were compared between children whose body mass index (BMI) percentiles were between 5 and 80 and whose BMI percentiles were >85. RESULTS: After correcting for age, race, gender, and antipsychotic usage, we found that a reported history of sexual abuse was associated with increased probability of being overweight/obese (BMI percentile 85-99) compared with being of typical BMI (aOR 1.41). Reported physical abuse neither increased the risk of obesity nor moderated the association between sexual abuse and increased weight. Antipsychotic treatment and female gender also were associated with increased BMI percentiles, with antipsychotic usage being the only variable associated with increased risk of a BMI percentile >99. CONCLUSIONS: Among youth with significant psychiatric illness, a history of sexual abuse increases the risk of being overweight or obese, an association that warrants further study regarding the temporal relationship between sexual abuse and obesity and may inform future obesity prevention and intervention programs in children. Language: en
A trainable document summarizer

●● ● ● ● To summarize is to reduce in complexity, and hence in length, while retaining some of the essential qualities of the original. This paper focusses on document extracts, a particular kind of computed document summary. Document extracts consisting of roughly 20% of the original cart be as informative as the full text of a document, which suggests that even shorter extracts may be useful indicative summmies. The trends in our results are in agreement with those of Edmundson who used a subjectively weighted combination of features as opposed to training the feature weights using a corpus.
LATERALITY PATTERNS AND VISUAL-MOTOR COORDINATION OF CHILDREN '

This study examined the association between laterality patterns of eye-hand and eye-foot described as congruent or cross-lateral, and visual-motor coordination skill (target throwing and kicking) by 606 4- to 6-yr.-olds. Speculation derived from contemporary reports of hand preference and motor coordination provided the hypothesis that persons exhibiting congruent patterns of eye and limb laterality such as right-eye and hand or right-eye and foot pattern would perform better than peers who exhibited other laterality patterns. To the contrary, this study yielded no significant differences in motor performance between groups with different patterns of preference. In view of past studies and present results, additional inquiry seems warranted before any consensus regarding the association between laterality and motor coordination can be established.
Eye detection in face images for a driver vigilance system

For a driver vigilance system one of the most important problems to be solved is eye detection. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for eye detection that uses both iris geometrical information for determining in the whole image, the region candidate to contain an eye, and the symmetry for selecting the couple of eyes. The novelty of this work is that the algorithm works on complex images without constraints on the background, skin color segmentation and so on. After the first step, a validation algorithm based on a neural classifier has been applied to recognize if the couple of regions correspond effectively to eyes or false positives have been detected. Different experiments have been carried out on images of subjects with different eye colours, some of them wearing glasses. Tests showed robustness with respect to situations such as eyes partially occluded. In particular when applied to images where people have the eyes closed, the proposed algorithm correctly reveals the absence of eyes.
Fabry-Perot fiber sensors with reproducible displacement sensitivities

An all-silica design and silicate bonding are used to demonstrate a Fabry-Perot acoustic fiber sensor for large-scale array applications with a high sensitivity, high thermal stability, and excellent reproducibility in displacement sensitivity (±0.6 dB).
Hadron spectrum with Wilson fermions.

We present results of a high statistics study of the quenched spectrum using Wilson fermions at {beta}=6.0 on 32{sup 3}{times}64 lattices. We calculate the masses of mesons and baryons composed of both degenerate and nondegenerate quarks. Using nondegenerate quark combinations allows us to study baryon mass splittings in detail. We find significant deviations from the lowest order chiral expansion, deviations that are consistent with the expectations of quenched chiral perturbation theory. We find that there is a {approximately}20{percent} systematic error in the extracted value of {ital m}{sub {ital s}}, depending on the meson mass ratio used to set its value. Using the largest estimate of {ital m}{sub {ital s}} we find that the extrapolated octet mass splittings are in agreement with the experimental values, as is {ital M}{sub {Delta}}-{ital M}{sub {ital N}}, while the decuplet splittings are 30{percent} smaller than experiment. Combining our results with data from the GF11 collaboration we find considerable ambiguity in the extrapolation to the continuum limit. Our preferred values are {ital M}{sub {ital N}}/{ital M}{sub {rho}}=1.38(7) and {ital M}{sub {Delta}}/{ital M}{sub {rho}}=1.73(10), suggesting that the quenched approximation is good to only {approximately}10{endash}15{percent}. We also analyze the {ital O}({ital ma}) discretization errors in heavy quark masses.more » {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}« less
Parental Substance Use and Foster Care: Evidence from Two Methamphetamine Supply Shocks

Foster care caseloads have nearly doubled over the last three decades. Parental methamphetamine (meth) use grew significantly during the same period. While child welfare workers and law enforcement claim that parental meth use contributes to foster care growth, the evidence for a causal effect has not been determined. This paper presents the first evidence of a causal effect of meth on foster care admissions using two exogenous supply-side interventions in meth markets from the late 1990s for identification. First, we find that restrictions on meth precursor distribution caused meth use (proxied by white meth self-referred treatment cases) to decline 4.1%. Second, using two-stage least squares, we estimate a positive elasticity of foster care cases with respect to meth use of 1.54. We also estimate elasticities of 1.03 and 1.49 for cases of child neglect and parental abuse, respectively. These results suggest that child welfare policies should be designed specifically for the children of meth-using parents. (JEL I12, J13, K42)
White matter hyperintensities and amyloid are independently associated with entorhinal cortex volume among individuals with mild cognitive impairment

Abstract Background Current hypothetical models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis emphasize the role of β-amyloid (Aβ), tau deposition, and neurodegenerative changes in the mesial temporal lobe, particularly the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus. However, many individuals with clinical AD who come to autopsy also exhibit cerebrovascular disease. The relationship between AD and vascular pathology is unclear, especially whether they represent additive and independent effects on neuronal injury. We used data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) to (1) confirm whether entorhinal cortex and hippocampal volume are associated with memory among individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who are at risk for AD; and (2) determine whether regional white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, a radiological marker of small-vessel cerebrovascular disease, is associated with entorhinal cortex and hippocampal volume independent of putative AD biomarkers in this group. Methods Cognitive test scores, entorhinal cortex volume, hippocampus volume, intracranial volume, and cerebrospinal fluid-derived phosphorylated tau and Aβ1-42 protein levels were measured in 199 subjects with amnestic MCI (mean age = 74.89 ± 7.47). Lobar WMH volumes were derived from T1-, proton-density-, and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans. We examined the association between entorhinal cortex volume and cognition. Next, we examined the association of tau and Aβ1-42 with entorhinal cortex volume and between lobar WMH and entorhinal cortex volume. Finally, tau, Aβ1-42, and regional WMH volumes were entered simultaneously to predict entorhinal cortex volume. We repeated the analyses with hippocampal volume instead of entorhinal cortex volume. The analyses were also repeated with the sample restricted to those MCI patients who transitioned to AD on subsequent ADNI follow-up visits ( n = 86). Results Larger entorhinal cortex volume was associated with better memory but not with performance on a task of executive functioning. Lower levels of Aβ1-42 and higher temporal WMH volumes were associated with smaller entorhinal cortex volume. When entered simultaneously, temporal lobe WMH volume was more reliably associated with entorhinal cortex volume than was Aβ1-42. The findings were similar for hippocampus volume and when the sample was restricted to MCI patients who subsequently transitioned to AD. Conclusions The findings confirm the role of entorhinal cortex and hippocampus volume in influencing memory decline in amnestic MCI, and emphasize that even in this nominally AD prodromal condition, WMH may be influencing regional neurodegeneration.
REBASE—restriction enzymes and methylases

REBASE is a comprehensive database of information about restriction enzymes and their associated methylases, including their recognition and cleavage sites and their commercial availability. Also included is a listing of homing endonucleases. Information from REBASE is available via monthly electronic mailings as well as via anonymous ftp and through the World Wide Web. The REBASE web site, http://www. neb.com/rebase , is where we maintain a web page for every enzyme, reference and supplier. Additionally, there is a search facility, help and NEWS pages, and a complete description of our various services. Specialized files are available that can be used directly by many software packages.
Feature Selection Methods for Improving Protein Structure Prediction with Rosetta

Rosetta is one of the leading algorithms for protein structure prediction today. It is a Monte Carlo energy minimization method requiring many random restarts to find structures with low energy. In this paper we present a resampling technique for structure prediction of small alpha/beta proteins using Rosetta. From an initial round of Rosetta sampling, we learn properties of the energy landscape that guide a subsequent round of sampling toward lower-energy structures. Rather than attempt to fit the full energy landscape, we use feature selection methods—both L1-regularized linear regression and decision trees—to identify structural features that give rise to low energy. We then enrich these structural features in the second sampling round. Results are presented across a benchmark set of nine small alpha/beta proteins demonstrating that our methods seldom impair, and frequently improve, Rosetta's performance.
Quantification of beading intensity in cultured neurons

We present an implemented method for automated quantification of neuronal beading. Beading is the “morphological hallmark” of axonal injury and is present in many neurological disease conditions as well. In vitro models of injury result in beading which has previously been difficult to quantify, and therefore difficult to use as a measurement of the degree of axonal injury. The beading program was designed to quantify beading intensity in single axons and output a unitless beading number that represents the size and number of beads in relation to the length and width of the axon. The program was used to analyze a sample set of images and was successful in demonstrating a quantifiable difference between injured neurons and sham controls. Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess agreement between the number of beads counted by the program and those counted manually.
Comparison of PV system performance-model predictions with measured PV system performance

The U.S. Department of Energy has supported development of the Solar Advisor Model (SAM) to provide a common platform for evaluation of the solar energy technologies being developed with the support of the Department. This report describes a detailed comparison of performance-model calculations within SAM to actual measured PV system performance in order to evaluate the ability of the models to accurately predict PV system energy production. This was accomplished by using measured meteorological and irradiance data as an input to the models, and then comparing model predictions of solar and PV system parameters to measured values from co-located PV arrays. The submodels within SAM which were examined include four radiation models, three module performance models, and an inverter model. The PVWATTS and PVMod models were also evaluated.
Antitobacco media awareness of rural youth compared to suburban and urban youth in Indiana.

ABSTRACT: Purpose: This study examined the awareness and impact of antitobacco media messages among rural, suburban, and urban youth. Method: Self-administered questionnaires were received from 1,622, 1,059, and 1,177 middle school (sixth, seventh, and eighth grade) students in rural, suburban, and urban locations, respectively. Logistic regression compared media awareness and impact among the groups, controlling for grade, gender, race, and smoking behavior. Results: Compared to rural youth, suburban youth were more likely to recall media messages about the dangerous health effects of tobacco use (odds ratio [OR] = 1.94) and have their personal choice to use tobacco affected by the messages (OR = 1.85). Suburban and urban youth more often recalled antitobacco messages (OR = 2.00 and 2.15), reported that the messages made them think about the dangers of tobacco use (OR = 2.02 and 1.47), believed that these ads prevent youth from initiating tobacco use (OR = 3.21 and 1.46) and stop youth from using tobacco (OR = 2.25 and 1.47), and recalled seeing specific campaign television ads (OR = 3.72 and 3.57). Urban youth were more likely to recall specific campaign messages on the radio (OR = 1.58). Neither suburban nor urban youth differed from the rural youth on whether the campaign-specific radio and television ads made them think about not using tobacco. Conclusions: The results support the need for targeting antitobacco media announcements to youth, based on their residence.
Severe dyspnoea in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukaemia on a tyrosine kinase inhibitor

NR (Haematology fellow) : A 78-year-old male patient with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) diagnosed initially in 2011 presented to the haematology clinic with fatigue and dyspnoea at rest and with exertion. His medical history included benign prostatic hyperplasia and a prior diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) with translocation 8;21 (good risk AML) diagnosed in 2009, which was in complete remission after standard cytarabine and daunorubicin induction chemotherapy and cytarabine consolidation chemotherapy, requiring no treatment since January 2010. He had also been a smoker, with a 40 pack-year smoking history, who quit 40 years ago. His chest X-ray and CT from 2012 prior to nilotinib therapy demonstrated no focal airspace disease, no evidence of small airways disease and no pleural effusion (figure 1). In July 2013 prior to this current presentation, he had developed a pleural effusion while receiving dasatinib as a second-line agent because of suboptimal response to imatinib. Pleural fluid analysis at that time demonstrated an exudative effusion with 81% of lymphocyte predominance (395 white blood cells, WBCs) and negative staining and cultures for bacterial, fungal and acid fast bacilli. It was consistent with dasatinib-induced pleural effusion. Dasatinib was switched to nilotinib, and pleural effusion resolved until October 2014 when he presented again with fatigue and dyspnoea to the clinic. Figure 1 There are no focal airspace opacities, no evidence of pleural effusion or thickening. The cardiac silhouette is not enlarged. The pulmonary vessels are slightly distinct. On examination, the patient's heart rate was 82 bpm, blood pressure 115/70 mm Hg, respiratory rate 24 breaths/min, SpO2 94% and temperature 97.3°F. The patient was in mild respiratory distress, actively working to take deep breaths. Respiratory examination was remarkable for poor air entry at the lung bases bilaterally with dullness to percussion to the mid-lung fields posteriorly, right side greater than left. There was no egophony …
Thermodynamics of a nonlinear model for DNA denaturation

We study a model for the dynamical stretching of DNA which uses the stretching of the hydrogen bonds in a basepair as its main variable. We present a statistical mechanical analysis of the denaturation and specific heat curves, obtained with the transfer integral method; discreteness effects are treated exactly by a numerical solution of the transfer integral operator. Second order self-consistent phonon theory agrees with the exact transfer integral results in the low and intermediate temperature range and explains the phonon softening observed in the molecular dynamics simulations. When the temperature approaches the denaturation temperature, the second order self-consistent phonon results deviate significantly from the exact ones, pointing to the fundamental role of nonlinear processes in DNA denaturation.
Development of an assessment for ideational praxis.

KEY WORDS • ideational praxis • pediatric • praxis • sensory integration • sensory processing • Test of Ideational Praxis (TIP)
Machine Learning in Computational Finance

We focus on constructing efficient algorithms for problems arising in applications of machine learning in the field of computational finance. One generally should consider three different facets of designing an algorithm for an artificial intelligence application: (i) Constructing a training dataset; (ii) Developing a training algorithm; (iii) Using side information for avoiding overfitting. The first part of this thesis addresses (i). We consider the problem of finding optimal trading strategies with respect to the total cumulative return, Sterling ratio and two variants of the Sharp Ratio. Knowing what the optimal trades are is necessary for constructing the training dataset for a supervised learning algorithm The contribution in this work is to give efficient (low order polynomial time) algorithms to compute the optimal trading strategy for various profit objectives, and under constraints on the number of trades that can be made. The heart of our algorithms is a new algorithm for maximizing quotients over intervals. The second part of this thesis addresses (ii). The problem of learning often can be considered as the problem of finding a linear separator for two sets of points. When the sets are not separable, we are interested in finding a subset of points such that after removing these points, the remaining points are separable. If we assign a positive weight to every point, then we wish to find a separator set with the minimum possible weight. We provide a combinatorial deterministic algorithm for computing such a minimum separator set in 2 dimensions. The constructed algorithm also provides the leave-one-out error simultaneously. The problem of overfitting training data is well recognized in the machine learning community. Standard approach to deal with this threat is the early stopping of the training algorithm iterations. Usually one monitores another error measure and stops iterations when the associated error starts growing. The associated error can be same error function measured on separate set of datapoints or different error function. Since the associated error measure is somewhat different from the primary, it does not necessary shows monotinical behavior. In order to pinpoint the exact location of the critical point, one can perform shape constrained optimization. Another application of the shape constrained regression arise in the pricing of financial instruments, for example the American put option. Isotonic and unimodal regression are both examples of nonparametric shape constrained regression. In the third part of this work we present efficient algorithms for computing for L ∞, L1 isotonic and unimodal regressions.
Alterations of mitochondria structures and functions during oncogenic transformation by H-ras: Warburg effects revisited

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 4486 Mitochondria are integrators of energy metabolism, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), aging, and the initiation of apoptosis. During carcinogenesis, there is increased glucose uptake and glycolysis in tumor cells. The increased glycolysis in tumor cells, as postulated by Warburg nearly eighty years ago, is due to the compensatory responses to the dysfunctions of mitochondria in cancer cells. While many studies have documented alterations in the mitochondrial genome or function in cancer, there is no direct evidence suggesting the dysfunctions of mitochondria as part of tumorigenesis. In the present studies, we use H-ras-induced transformation of NIH3T3 cells, a well established model for oncogenic transformation, to evaluate the effects of oncogenic transformation on mitochondria. Plasmid pUSE-Hras construct or empty vector pUSE was transformed into NIH3T3 cells respectively to get stable transfected cell clone (H-ras) and pUSE (empty vector). There was increased Ras activation as evidenced by the level of GTP-bound Ras in cells transfected with pUSE-Hras. The expression pattern of 13 mitochondrial encoded genes was analyzed between pUSE and H-ras by RT-PCR and no significant alterations were found. When revealed by Mitotracker Green FM staining, mitochondria were evenly distributed in pUSE cell. In contrast, mitochondria in H-ras transfected cells tended to be aggregated and not evenly distributed. Mitochondria mass was reduced approximately 23% in H-ras transfected cells when compared to vector control. The mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased from 89 ± 3 mV in pUSE cells to 75±3mV in H-ras transfected cells. The activity of citrate synthase, the first enzyme in TCA cycle in motochondria, was significantly decreased from the level of 0.42 umole/ml/min in H-ras transfected cells to that of 0.24 umole/ml/min in vector controls (p < 0.001). There was increased leakiness of mitochondria in H-ras transfected cells, as indicated by the level of citrate synthase activities in cytosol. The respiration of mitochondria, as indicated by oxygen consumption, was decreased in H-ras transfected cells. Oliogomycin, rotenone, or antimycin A effectively inhibited oxygen consumption in pUSE cells but not in H-ras transfected cells. Our data suggest that oncogenic transformation by H-ras in NIH3T3 cells led to profound changes in mitochondria mass, cellular localization, membrane potential, TCA cycle, and respiration. Our studies suggest that alterations in mitochondria are an integral part of cellular transformation induced by oncogenic H-ras that may diminish susceptibility of transformed cells to apoptosis.
Fixed Income Portfolio Management at PIMCO: Bill Gross, the Bond King

The purpose of this case is to provide an introduction to fixed income portfolio management. In addition, the case describes the story of Bill Gross and the founding of PIMCO. Bill Gross continues to work the same schedule since joining PIMCO in 1970; a rigorous and structured workday that begins at 5:30 AM. Gross’ uncanny work ethic and his exemplary ability to focus and obsess over the details prove to be vital to his rise and success at PIMCO and the financial world, gaining him the moniker "The Bond King."
A Content Analysis of Immigration in Traditional, New, and Non-Gateway State Standards for U.S. History and Civics

In this content analysis of state U.S. History and Civics standards, we compared the treatment of immigration across three types of states with differing immigration demographics. Analyzing standards from 18 states from a critical race methodology perspective, our findings indicated three sets of tensions: a unified American story versus local specificity, immigration as a historical versus civic issue, and favorable versus unfavorable tenor of the standards. Through this project, we were able to draw some initial conclusions about the relationship between states’ immigration demographics and social studies standards. Thus, this study builds on the small but growing new gateway state literature and on the content analysis literature related to immigration and the formal social studies curriculum.
Apolipoprotein-mediated removal of cellular cholesterol and phospholipids

It is widely believed that high density lipoprotein (HDL) protects against cardiovascular disease by removing excess cholesterol from cells of the artery wall. Recent cell culture studies have provided evidence that a major pathway for removing cholesterol and phospholipids from cells is mediated by the direct interactions of HDL apolipoproteins (apo) with plasma membrane domains. These interactions efficiently clear cells of excess sterol by targeting for removal pools of cholesterol that feed into the cholesteryl ester cycle. The precursors for this pathway in vivo are likely to be lipid-free or lipid-poor apolipoproteins generated either by dissociation from the surface of HDL particles or by de novo synthesis. Fibroblasts from subjects with a severe HDL deficiency syndrome called Tangier disease have a cellular defect that prevents apolipoproteins from removing both cholesterol and phospholipids from cells. This defect is associated with a near absence of plasma HDL, markedly below normal low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, and the appearance of macrophage foam cells in tissues. Thus, an inability of nascent apoA-I to acquire cellular lipids results in a rapid clearance of apoA-I from the plasma, decreased production and increased clearance of LDL, and sterol deposition in tissue macrophages. Although the molecular properties of this pathway are still poorly understood, these studies imply that the apolipoprotein-mediated pathway for removal of cellular lipids is a major source of plasma cholesterol and phospholipids and plays an important role in clearing excess cholesterol from macrophages in vivo.
Effect of adrenocortical steroids on bone electrolyte metabolism.

SummaryThe effects of adrenocortical hormones on bone electrolyte metabolism have been investigated by 2 series of experiments. In the first, femur sodium and potassium concentrations were compared in normal and adrenalectomized rats. Sodium concentration decreased a significant amount. In the second series, normal rat femurs were compared to femurs from rats given varying amounts of NaCl in the diet and various mineraloactive steroid drugs. In each of these experiments sodium concentration was unchanged and potassium fell an insignificant amount.The authors express their appreciation for the technical assistance of Velam Martin and Frank Piersol.
Political connotation of cooperation of international rivers from Tigris-Euphrates River Dispute in Middle East

The international rivers greatly relate to the international politics.They have significant impact on the regional security,and it is dependent upon the decision-makers' strategic choices of the sovereign countries for the river basins.The profound political connotation of cooperation of international rivers is analyzed from the long-term gaming of Tigris and Euphrates Rivers among the major basin countries in Middle East.The notion of sovereignty,geopolitical rivers and international laws are all important political factors for the cooperation of international rivers.
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: a case report with a negative Ham presumptive test associated with serum properdin deficiency.

1. A case of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) has been presented in which the Ham presumptive test for PNH was negative. 2. The basis for this false negative test and the atypical results of the Ham complete acid hemolysis test for PNH appeared to be due to a loss of the in vitro PNH hemolytic activity of the serum associated with a deficiency of properdin. 3. The acidosis accompanying the renal failure in this patient did not appear to accelerate the hemolytic process, for there was no apparent reduction of hemolytic activity in vivo when the acidosis was corrected by the administration of sodium bicarbonate. 4. The autopsy observations suggest that the protracted deposition of massive quantities of iron in the kidneys may play a robe in the not uncommon occurrence of renal disease in PNH.
CHAPTER 34 – Hormonal, Neural, and Genomic Mechanisms for Female Reproductive Behaviors, Motivation, and Arousal

This chapter discusses hormonal, neural, and genomic mechanisms for female reproductive behaviors, sexual motivation, and arousal through mammalian researches. The female reproductive behavior depends on estrogen and progestins. The behavioral actions of estrogen affect neurons directly rather than through an obligatory pituitary mechanism because estrogen and progesterone can support female reproductive behavior in hypophysectomized ovariectomized rats. In female monkeys, attractivity and proceptivity clearly change according to the stage of the menstrual cycle or the steroid injected, but there is less agreement among results from different laboratories on the effects of steroid hormones on receptivity. The primary sex behavior of female quadrupeds, lordosis, depends on defined physical signals: cutaneous stimuli and estrogens plus progestins. The neural circuit has been worked out; estrogen-dependent transcription in ventromedial hypothalamic cells allows permissive signals to the midbrain central grey, thus enabling the rest of the circuit. In the absence of fear or anxiety-provoking conditions, females under the influence of estrogens plus progestins demonstrate courtship and then mating behaviors. During the normal female cycle, these behavioral components of reproduction are synchronized with ovulation. Thus, with the mediation of estrogens and progestins, the neural, behavioral, and endocrine preparations for reproduction are harmonized.
Implicit Linearization Procedures for Upwind Algorithms

Techniques for constructing implicit numerical algorithms for the 1-D gasdynamic equations are discussed. In particular, numerical schemes utilizing Riemann solver based flux formulas are considered. Methods currently used are shown to have degraded temporal convergence behavior for flows with shock waves. Local time linearization procedures are discussed which approach Newton’s method. Using Roe’s approximate Riemann solver, these methods are extended to high order numerical schemes with flux limiters. Numerical fixed point analysis as well as numerical experiments are presented to verify the theory.
Lensless Digital Holographic Microscopy for Microbe Detection

Microbial life on ocean worlds can be searched for with microscopes capable of tracking 3-dimensional particle motion. Here we discuss several lensless digital holographic microscope designs that can enable micron-scale resolution in very compact packages.
COMPARISONS OF PROXIMAL FEMORAL 3D MORPHOLOGY BETWEEN CHINESE AND CAUCASIAN POPULATIONS

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the proximal femoral morphology between normal Chinese and Caucasian populations by 3D analysis derived from CT data. Materials and Methods 141 anonymous Chinese femoral CT scans (71 male and 70 female) with mean age of 60.1years (range 20–93) and 508 anonymous Caucasian left femoral CT scans (with mean age of 64.8years (range 20–93). The CT scans were segmented and converted to virtual bones using custom CT analytical software. (SOMA™ V.4.0) Femoral Head Offset (FHO) and Femoral Head Position (FHP) were measured from head center to proximal canal central axis and to calcar or 20mm above Lesser Trochanter (LT) respectively. The Femoral neck Anteversion (FA) and Caput-Collum-Diaphyseal (CCD) angles were also measured. The Medial Lateral Widths(MLW n ) of femoral canal were measured at 0, -10, LT, -30, -40, -60, -70 and -100mm levels from calcar. Anterior Posterior Widths (APW n ) were measured at 0, -60 and -100mm levels. The Flare Index (FI) was derived from the ratio of widths at 0 and -60mmor FI=W 0 /W −60 . All measurements were performed in the same settings for both populations. The comparison was analyzed by Student T test. P Results The average FHO and FHP of Chinese were 38.4mm and 25.2mm and were both shorter than 42.1mm and 29.7mm of Caucasian9s, P=2.3E-15 and P=1.7E-10. (Figure 1) CCD angle was 130.3° comparing to 127.7° of Caucasian P=1.5E-05. Chinese FA angle was 15.6° and Caucasian9s was 14.7°, P=0.31. The average MLW 1-8 were 43.1, 34.6, 28.5, 23.8, 20.6, 17, 16.2 and 14.4mm for Chinese and 43.7, 35.0, 28.7, 24.0, 20.6, 16.7, 15.7 and 13.5mm for Caucasian. P=9.4E-02, .32, .47, .50, .93, .20, .02 and 1.7E-05 respectively. (Figure 2) The average APW 1-3 were 35.9, 15.5 and 13.7mm for Chinese and 43.7, 15.2 and 12.5mm for Caucasian. P=4E-62, 0.11 and 7.4E-10. (Figure 3) The total medial/lateral and medial/center FI were 2.5 and 2.8 for Chinese, 2.6 and 2.9 for Caucasian. P=.004 and 4.5E-06. The total anterior/posterior and anterior/center FI were 2.3 and 2.6 for Chinese, 2.9 and 2.5 for Caucasian. P=5.3E-61 and 8.5E-04. Conclusion and Discussion Chinese had significantly lower FHO, FHP, APW calcar , FI medial, M-L and FI A-P ; significantly higher CCD angle and MLW isthmus , APW isthmus and FI anterior than that of Caucasian population. There were no significant differences in FA and MLW from 10mm above to 50mm bellow LT. The average reduction of 3.7mm in FHO and 4.5mm in FHP for Chinese suggests a necessary adjustment of femoral implant neck length designed for Caucasian population. Due to the findings of the similarity in MLW and dissimilarity in APW, the study suggested the M-L fitting stem will fit well for both populations.
Abstract 406: Interaction of T Cells From Non-ischemic Heart Failure Patients With the Activated Vascular Endothelium is Dependent on Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1

Background: Increasing evidence supports a role for inflammation in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure (HF). Our previous studies demonstrate that T cell recruitment to the heart contributes to the progression of non-ischemic pressure overload induced HF. However, clinical data describing T cell dependent mechanisms contributing to the etiology of this disorder remains unknown. We hypothesized that non-ischemic HF activates human T cells resulting in increased adhesion to the vascular endothelium and recruitment to the heart through mechanisms involving specific endothelial adhesion molecules. Methods and Results: We used T cells from non-ischemic HF patients and non-HF controls as well as left ventricular (LV) tissue from end stage HF after LV assisted device (LVAD) support. Using FACS analysis we found that systemic T cells are significantly elevated in HF patients compared to controls (p<0.05), including Th1, Th17, and Treg cells. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that CD3+ and CD4+ T cells infiltrate the LV of HF subjects which were not observed in control. To evaluate the mechanisms through which T cells interact with the vasculature and potentially infiltrate the heart, we used in vitro real time video microscopy under shear flow conditions and found that T cells from HF patients firmly adhered to TNF[[Unsupported Character - Symbol Font ]] activated HUVECS. Further analysis indicated that HF T cells adhered to ICAM-1, but not to VCAM-1 in higher numbers than control T cells. The surface expression levels of the integrin ligands for VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 (VLA-4 and LFA-1 respectively) were similar between both groups, however, HF T cells exhibited a highly polarized phenotype on ICAM-1 (p<0.005 vs control), suggesting LFA-1 is in its high affinity conformation in HF T cells. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that T cells are activated in non-ischemic HF and have high affinity for the activated endothelium through mechanisms involving ICAM-1- LFA-1 adhesion. Future studies will evaluate the mechanisms regulating LFA-1 activation in HF T cells and their contribution to cardiac remodeling.
An Approach to Generating Human-Computer Interfaces from Task Models.

Human-computer interaction (HCI) can often occur in situations unanticipated by designers. As such, usability may not always be maintained or human operators may not be able to achieve task goals. This can result in poor system adoption, decreased productivity, and unsafe operating conditions. Formal methods can be used prove properties about different elements of HCI. Unfortunately, these methods require the creation of formal models of interface designs, a non-standard practice that is prone to modeling error. This work describes an approach (based on L* learning) that is being developed to automatically generate formal human-computer interface designs guaranteed to always adhere to usability properties and support human operator tasks. The paper presents a formulation of this approach and describes plans for its implementation. These are discussed along with avenues for future research.
An Epidemiologic Perspective

The physician’s oath begins with a commitment to risk reduction—primum non nocere. The physician’s responsibility also includes the fundamental duty to relieve suffering whenever possible. Opioids are a powerful and dangerous tool in the therapeutic armamentarium, and like any power tool, untrained and indiscriminate use invites disaster. America’s 20 years experiment of sowing liberal opioid prescriptions for chronic non-cancer pain is reaping us the whirlwind of the opioid epidemic, with over 198,000 people dying from prescription opioids between 1999 and 2015. As public and governmental attention has been drawn to this crisis, many ideas and efforts have been launched in an attempt to reverse the alarming trend of self-destruction. The individual practitioner to whom this book is targeted would do well to avail themselves of basic epidemiologic principles underlying any viable public health effort: 1. Understand and attenuate, if possible, the agent’s virulence. 2. Understand and attenuate, if possible, transmission. 3. Understand and reduce the vulnerability of the host.
Atypical Altered Mental Status in a Toddler.

A 2-year-old girl presented with 2 days of altered mental status (AMS). Symptoms included increased sleepiness, irritability, aggression, decreased oral intake and urine output, as well as weakness and refusal to walk. Her history was negative for fever, cough, rhinorrhea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, seizurelike activity, recent head trauma, or other injuries. There were no known sick contacts or recent travels. She did attend day care. The family reported no medications in the home. In triage, she was afebrile with a pulse of 125 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 21 breaths per minute, blood pressure of 103/79, and oxygen saturation of 100% on room air. On examination, the child was sleepy and difficult to arouse. Her neurologic examination was notable for irritability, delayed response to stimuli, ataxia, and a Glasgow Coma Scale of 14. There were no focal neurologic defects appreciated. ### Question : What are the current recommendations for the evaluation of a child with AMS? ### Discussion AMS is defined as a change in a patient’s awareness of self or how a patient interacts with their environment.1,2 AMS is a complex presenting symptom with a wide range of severity and broad differential that varies by a patient’s age (Table 1). View this table: TABLE 1 Breakdown of Common Causes of Both Transient and Permanent AMS by Age The basics of emergency management (including airway, breathing, and circulation) should guide any initial evaluation. A clinician must then attempt to distinguish between causes for AMS by using a systematic approach for evaluation and diagnostic testing. The mnemonic …
Advances in Cryogenic Principles

During the past 50 years, the use of digital computers has significantly influenced the design and analysis of cryogenic systems. At the time when the first Cryogenic Engineering Conference was held, thermodynamic data were presented in graphical or tabular form (the “steam table” format), whereas thermodynamic data for cryogenic system design is computer generated today. The thermal analysis of cryogenic systems in the 1950s involved analytical solutions, graphical solutions, and relatively simple finite-difference approaches. These approaches have been supplanted by finite-element numerical programs which readily solve complicated thermal problems that could not be solved easily using the methods of the 1950s. In distillation column design, the use of the McCabe–Thiele graphical method for determination of the number of theoretical plates has been replaced by numerical methods that allow consideration of several different components in the feed and product streams.
Introduction to special issue: Cultural processes in psychotherapy

This article introduces the special issue on cultural processes in psychotherapy. The special section was organized to highlight both the clinical and research aspects of the cultural processes in psychotherapy from a variety of different theoretical orientations, perspectives, and methodologies. Additionally, I discuss some ideas for a future culturally focused psychotherapy scholarship. (PsycINFO Database Record
Hybrid Management of the Thoracic Aorta: Extending Proximal Landing Zones

Adequate proximal fixation depends on a length of seal zone (minimum 1.5–2 cm) proximal to the adjacent aortic pathology, radius inner curve, aortic diameter, and graft oversizing (10–20%). Proximal extension of the landing zone to achieve good fixation occasionally requires that the supra-aortic vessels be debranched prior to deployment of a thoracic endoluminal graft. Various extra-thoracic and intra-thoracic debranching procedures combined with an endovascular stent graft are possible to extend the proximal zone without requiring cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest.
Bargaining over family size: The determinants of fertility in Brazil

Understanding how households make fertility decisions is important to implementing effective policy to slow population growth. Most empirical studies of this decision are based on household models in which men and women are assumed to act as if they have the same preferences for the number of children. However, if men and women have different preferences regarding fertility and are more likely to assert their own preferences as their bargaining power in the household increases, policies to lower fertility rates may be more effectively targeted toward one spouse or the other. In this paper, we test the relevance of the single preferences model by investigating whether men and women's nonwage incomes have the same effects on the number of children in the household. We find that while increases in both the man and woman's nonwage income lower the number of children in the household, an equivalent increase in the woman's income has a significantly stronger effect than the man's. In addition, we find that increases in women's nonwage transfer income have the strongest effects on the fertility decisions of women with low levels of education. The most important policy implication of our results is that policies aimed at increasing the incomes of the least-educated women will be the most effective in lowering fertility rates.
Closing the Year with Appreciation to Our Peer Reviewers

We close the thirty-second volume of The American Journal of Distance Education with several articles that cover topics ranging from the use of audio in courses, student peer review, scholarly prod...