cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Run-time control flow authentication: an assessment on contemporary x86 platforms

We propose and experimentally evaluate a technique of authenticating the execution of a program through the continuous run-time validation of control flow. Control flow authentication is useful in detecting security violations that alter the normal flow of control at run time through techniques such as call stack smashing, return and jump-oriented programming. Our technique relies on the use of existing support for branch tracing in contemporary processors, typified by the branch trace store (BTS) mechanism of contemporary Intel x86 server Platforms. In contrast to existing techniques that require code modification, either statically or at run-time, our technique requires no modifications to the binaries, thus preserving binary compatibility. In this paper, we demonstrate how the existing hardware support for branch tracing can be used to perform control flow validation covering each and every executed control flow instruction in an application or the kernel as they run. Although the performance overhead for full and continuous control flow authentication for an entire application is significant, we show how the technique can be used judiciously to selectively perform full and continuous control flow validation of critical functions with a tolerable overhead. As an example of this selective approach, we show how our technique detects security compromises introduced by kernel rootkits with a tolerable overhead.
Medical and economic impact of autoimmune hepatitis

AIH is a chronic liver disease that has been associated with hepatic failure and death in the absence of liver transplantation. As a result, AIH imparts significant medical and economic burdens on affected patients and health care delivery systems, respectively. The use of accepted methodologies for outcomes and health services research has identified emerging information on the epidemiology and natural history, HRQoL, and resource utilization for similar autoimmune chronic liver diseases such as PBC and PSC. Similar efforts are needed in AIH, and they are supported on the basis of existing data which suggest similar levels of disease burden compared to PBC and PSC. As a result, the ability to plan for disease management strategies in AIH that require the allocation of scarce resources will be feasible.
THE MALE BULBOURETHRAL SLING PROCEDURE FOR POST-RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY INCONTINENCE

AbstractPurpose: We evaluate the efficacy of the male bulbourethral sling procedure in the treatment of post-radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 64 consecutive men with severe post-prostatectomy incontinence who underwent the male bulbourethral sling procedure at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Stanford University Hospital. Preoperatively 50% of the patients were completely incontinent (diapers, clamps or condom catheter), and the remainder required a mean of 4.7 pads per day. Data were collected by chart review, patient interviews at followup appointments and telephone interviews. Median followup was 18.1 months (mean 22.4, range 6.5 to 53.8).Results: Following a single sling procedure 36 patients (56%) became dry, and 5 (8%) were significantly improved. In 17 patients 23 retightening procedures were performed, which decreased the median followup to 16 months and increased the success rate to 75% (67% cured, 8% improved). The revision, erosion a...
Clinical and Electrographic Features of Epileptic Spasms Persisting Beyond the Second Year of Life

Summary: Purpose: Few reports detailing the electroclinical features of epileptic spasms persisting beyond infancy have been published. We sought to characterize this unique population further. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and video-EEG data on 26 patients (4–17 years; mean, 93 months) with a confirmed diagnosis of epileptic spasms and who were evaluated at our tertiary referral center between 1993 and 2000. Results: In half of our cases, epileptic spasms were associated with disorders of neuronal migration, severe perinatal asphyxia, and genetic anomalies. Interictal EEGs showed generalized slowing in the majority of patients, and a slow-wave transient followed by an attenuation of the background amplitude was the most common ictal EEG pattern associated with an epileptic spasm (19 cases). Other seizure types (number of cases in parentheses) included tonic seizures with or without a preceding spasm (13), partial seizures (11), myoclonic seizures (11), generalized tonic–clonic seizures (six), atypical absence seizures (two), and atonic seizures (one). Cases with a more organized EEG background (especially with frequencies ≥7 Hz) were more likely to have better cognition. Continued disorganization of the EEG background and persistence of hypsarrhythmia were associated with poor developmental outcome. Conclusions: Patients with epileptic spasms persisting beyond age 2 years constitute a truly refractory population, one that should be better recognized by clinicians. Interestingly, although many therapies resulted in a >50% reduction in seizures, neither neurocognitive function nor quality of life was substantially improved with intervention. The interictal EEG background is the most helpful in predicting neurologic outcome.
Uniaxial Plasmon Coupling through Longitudinal Self-Assembly of Gold Nanorods

We report a new paradigm for tuning the optical properties of gold nanorods by organizing them longitudinally, using thioalkylcarboxylic acid based bifunctional molecules. The rationale behind the selection of the bifunctional molecule is based on the fact that the thiol group binds to the ends of the nanorods, which further assembles in a longitudinal fashion through cooperative hydrogen bonding between the carboxylic groups. A generalized procedure for uniaxial plasmon coupling through longitudinal self-assembly of Au nanorods, initially to dimers and further to linear assemblies, is presented. Uniaxial modulation of interplasmon coupling through stepwise self-assembly of Au nanorods will have application in nanoelectronics and plasmonics.
Structural snapshots along the reaction pathway of Yersinia pestis RipA, a putative butyryl-CoA transferase.

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of bubonic plague, is able to survive in both extracellular and intracellular environments within the human host, although its intracellular survival within macrophages is poorly understood. A novel Y. pestis three-gene rip (required for intracellular proliferation) operon, and in particular ripA, has been shown to be essential for survival and replication in interferon γ-induced macrophages. RipA was previously characterized as a putative butyryl-CoA transferase proposed to yield butyrate, a known anti-inflammatory shown to lower macrophage-produced NO levels. RipA belongs to the family I CoA transferases, which share structural homology, a conserved catalytic glutamate which forms a covalent CoA-thioester intermediate and a flexible loop adjacent to the active site known as the G(V/I)G loop. Here, functional and structural analyses of several RipA mutants are presented in an effort to dissect the CoA transferase mechanism of RipA. In particular, E61V, M31G and F60M RipA mutants show increased butyryl-CoA transferase activities when compared with wild-type RipA. Furthermore, the X-ray crystal structures of E61V, M31G and F60M RipA mutants, when compared with the wild-type RipA structure, reveal important conformational changes orchestrated by a conserved acyl-group binding-pocket phenyl­alanine, Phe85, and the G(V/I)G loop. Binary structures of M31G RipA and F60M RipA with two distinct CoA substrate conformations are also presented. Taken together, these data provide CoA transferase reaction snapshots of an open apo RipA, a closed glutamyl-anhydride intermediate and an open CoA-thioester intermediate. Furthermore, biochemical analyses support essential roles for both the catalytic glutamate and the flexible G(V/I)G loop along the reaction pathway, although further research is required to fully understand the function of the acyl-group binding pocket in substrate specificity.
Cancer: A metabolic metamorphosis.

Mutations in the enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase lead to the accumulation of a metabolite that seems to promote cancer by influencing the epigenetic status of cells. But the effects are reversible, hinting at therapeutic targets.
Activation of the Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathway in A Rat Model of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion.

PURPOSE. Apoptosis is known to play a role in cell death in transient retinal ischemia. Little is known about the specific molecular pathways involved. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate a rat model of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) that simulates the clinical features of CRAO in humans and to elucidate whether the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway is involved. METHODS. CRAO was induced in the central retinal artery by intravenous injection of rose bengal and green laser irradiation of the artery. CRAO was documented at 1, 3, 6, and 24 hours after laser irradiation. Changes in Bax (proapoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein), cytochrome c, and caspase-9 cleavage in the cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of neural retinal tissues were measured by Western blot analysis. Apoptosis within the retina was examined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). RESULTS. Complete CRAO was induced; however, occlusion became incomplete with spontaneous reperfusion of branch arteries, starting at 3 hours after laser irradiation. Only one or two branch arteries remained occluded at the 24-hour time point. Time-dependent, apoptotic changes were observed in inner and outer retinal cell layers. Western blot analysis revealed mitochondrial translocation of Bax from the cytoplasm, starting at 3 hours and peaking at 6 hours after laser irradiation. This translocation was accompanied by cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c and cleavage of caspase-9. CONCLUSIONS. This model is highly relevant to clinical manifestations of CRAO and is an ideal animal model for research. These findings indicate the activation of the mitochondrial pathway in ischemic retina induced by CRAO. The model provides a better understanding of ischemia-induced retinal apoptosis. Antiapoptosis therapy directly targeting the mitochondrial pathway in CRAO or other retinal ischemic diseases may be beneficial.
Response of Cercopithecus aethiops to cholera vibrio lipopolysaccharide and psychological stress.

Abstract 5 African green monkeys were exposed to mental stress for 2 weeks, during which they were immunized with Watanabe's lipopolysaccharide antigen prepared from an El Tor vibrio. 5 other animals were vaccinated with the same agent but were not exposed to stress. The El Tor haemolysin-inhibitory and the vibriocidal activities of the sera of the monkeys in both groups did not show significant differences, and the formation of agglutinins and coproantibodies, and the capability of the serum to neutralize the toxigenicity of the vibrios, in animals under stress, developed more slowly than in the control group. C. aethiops proved a feasible experimental animal for the study of antibody responses after the injection of a vibrio lipopolysaccharide.
The Mass Media and Youth Culture

The immediate, direct influences of the mass media upon individuals are obscure. Here, the author argues that indirect effects are substantial, but that research upon them has only begun.
THE RESOLUTION-BASED INTERNATIONAL AGENCY*

. The resolution is a convenient vehicle, alternative to the cumbersome procedure of treaty-making, whereby an already established international organization—itself treaty-based—may create entities which, in turn, are corporate beings. Structurally they very much resemble each other. Functionally they are similar in their direct involvement in international relations, though they establish contact with governments and private parties in different ways. Through research and debate they may seek consensus in a particular area. More typically, they may render tangible benefits: a benefit for the taking, or a conditional benefit, the latter affording leverage on fellow actors in the international system. They may also perform governmental functions, with or without territorial jurisdiction.
Generalized expectations modeling in macroeconometrics

Abstract The Generalized Expectations Model (GEM) representation is introduced as a medium for the development of econometric models involving expectational variables. Motivation is provided by viewing the various expectation formation processes of economics as special cases of a more general representation. This representation is shown to result in a form of state space model where the states relate to the expectations while the output equations represent the behavioral relations. When coupled with Kalman filtering techniques, a powerful empirical tool results which possesses the ability to simultaneously estimate: (1) the structural model; (2) the expectation formation mechanism; and (3) the time series of expectations. Both unstable expectations and non-stationary stochastic shocks are permitted. An example using a monetary model of hyperinflation illustrates the salient features of modeling with the GEM representation.
The needs of families of infants discharged home with continuous oxygen therapy.

Forty‐four parents of 48 infants who had been discharged home with continuous oxygen therapy described their experiences, needs, and resources in a semistructured interview. In addition, 20 professionals in contact with these infants were interviewed to determine their perceptions of discharge preparations, teaching, relief care, coordination of medical care, and expertise of community professionals regarding high‐risk infants on oxygen. Both the professionals and parents reported a need for improved discharge teaching and community support services. Researchers concluded that individual needs must be considered in arranging supportive interventions, as needs vary across families, time, and geographic locations.
A Chronological History of the International Conference on Cryptococcus and Cryptococcosis (ICCC), an Invaluable Forum for Growth of the Cryptococcal Research Field and Clinical Practice

Cryptococcologists meet every 3 years to present their new research data and discuss the current state of cryptococcosis therapy at the International Conference on Cryptococcus and Cryptococcosis (ICCC). The ICCC has served as a unique forum where mycologists could interact and share their research data in a setting exclusively devoted to the study of Cryptococcus and cryptococcosis. This article presents an historical perspective on the ICCC meetings, beginning with the first ICCC that was held in Jerusalem, Israel in 1989. Subsequent ICCC meetings have grown, in terms of attendance and submitted abstracts. The history of the ICCC serves as a testimony to the remarkable progress that has been made in our basic understanding of the molecular biology, biochemistry, ecology, and taxonomy of Cryptococcus as well as the epidemiology, immunology, clinical manifestations, and treatment for cryptococcosis.
ApoE-directed therapeutics rapidly clear β-amyloid and reverse deficits in AD mouse models.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with impaired clearance of β-amyloid (Aβ) from the brain, a process normally facilitated by apolipoprotein E (apoE). ApoE expression is transcriptionally induced through the action of the nuclear receptors peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor gamma and liver X receptors in coordination with retinoid X receptors (RXRs). Oral administration of the RXR agonist bexarotene to a mouse model of AD resulted in enhanced clearance of soluble Aβ within hours in an apoE-dependent manner. Aβ plaque area was reduced more than 50% within just 72 hours. Furthermore, bexarotene stimulated the rapid reversal of cognitive, social, and olfactory deficits and improved neural circuit function. Thus, RXR activation stimulates physiological Aβ clearance mechanisms, resulting in the rapid reversal of a broad range of Aβ-induced deficits.
Smoking areas on school grounds: are we encouraging teenagers to smoke?

In the United States, smoking has been identified as a major health hazard for the past 20 years. This study attempts to determine the relationship between the availability of a smoking area on school grounds, the incidence of smoking among teenagers, and the number of cigarettes smoked per day by teenagers. A questionnaire was administered to the target population and a matched control group at two suburban high schools, similar in size and socioeconomic status. One of the two schools provided a smoking area for students. The findings suggest a possible relationship between providing a smoking area for students and an increase in the number of teenage smokers. The findings also indicate a possible decrease in teenage, male smokers. Our findings should prompt health professionals, educators, and parents to ask, "Are we encouraging our teenagers to smoke?"
A Backtrack Procedure for Isomorphism of Directed Graphs

A reasonably efficient procedure for testing pairs of directed graphs for isomorphism is important in information retrieval and other application fields in which structured data have to be matched. One such procedure, a backtrack procedure based on a representation of directed graphs by linear formulas, is described. A procedure for finding a partial subdigraph of a digraph that is isomorphic to a given digraph is also described.
Dosimetric evaluation between megavoltage cone-beam computed tomography and body mass index for intracranial, thoracic, and pelvic localization.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate radiation dose for organs at risk (OAR) within the cranium, thorax, and pelvis from megavoltage cone-beam computed tomography (MV-CBCT). Using a clinical treatment planning system, CBCT doses were calculated from 60 patient datasets using 27.4 × 27.4 cm 2 field size and 200° arc length. The body mass indices (BMIs) for these patients range from 17.2–48.4 kg/m 2 . A total of 60 CBCT plans were created and calculated with heterogeneity corrections, with monitor units (MU) that varied from 8, 4, and 2 MU per plan. The isocenters of these plans were placed at defined anatomical structures. The maximum dose, dose to the isocenter, and mean dose to the selected critical organs were analyzed. The study found that maximum and isocenter doses were weakly associated with BMI, but linearly associated with the total MU. Average maximum/isocenter doses in the cranium were 10.0 (± 0.18)/7.0 (± 0.08) cGy, 5.0 (± 0.09)/3.5 (± 0.05) cGy, and 2.5 (± .04)/1.8 (± 0.05) cGy for 8, 4, and 2 MU, respectively. Similar trends but slightly larger maximum/isocenter doses were found in the thoracic and pelvic regions. For the cranial region, the average mean doses with a total of 8 MU to the eye, lens, and brain were 9.7 (± 0.12) cGy, 9.1 (± 0.16) cGy, and 7.2 (± 0.10) cGy, respectively. For the thoracic region, the average mean doses to the lung, heart, and spinal cord were 6.6 (± 0.05) cGy, 6.9 (± 1.2) cGy, and 4.7 (± 0.8) cGy, respectively. For the pelvic region, the average mean dose to the femoral heads was 6.4 (± 1.1) cGy. The MV-CBCT doses were linearly associated with the total MU but weakly dependent on patients' BMIs. Daily MV-CBCT has a cumulative effect on the total body dose and critical organs, which should be carefully considered for clinical impacts.
ON THE MECHANISM OF HAIR GROWTH STIMULATION IN WOUND HEALING.

Abstract Removal of a portion of the skin on the dorsum of mice without surgical intervention has been accomplished by allowing subcutaneously inoculated Ehrlich ascites tumor to invade and replace the overlying skin. Loss of a portion of the skin by this procedure does not result in the stimulation of growth of the surrounding resting hair follicles, as normally occurs after the surgical removal of a piece of skin. Evidence is presented that the lack of hair growth stimulation after loss of skin mass by tumor invasion is not due to the presence of the tumor affecting the competence of the resting hair follicles to respond to growth-promoting stimuli. We conclude that the loss of skin mass by itself, is not a sufficient stimulus for triggering the growth of resting hair follicles. Therefore it is suggested that hair growth stimulation in wound healing is due not to loss of skin mass, but probably to the release of a substance(s) from the wound. In mice of the same sex and age, bearing wounds of similar size and in a similar position, wide variations occur in the time of appearance, amount, rate, and pattern of hair growth stimulation. It is suggested that the variations in these parameters are due more to differences in the competence of the responding resting hair follicles than to differences in the amounts of substances released by the wounds.
CD40-Independent Engagement of Mammalian hsp70 by Antigen-Presenting Cells

CD40 has been suggested previously to be a receptor for mammalian murine hsc73 (hsp70). We have examined, in vitro and in vivo, the role of CD40 in the interaction of murine dendritic cells and macrophages with hsp70, using several independent parameters including cell surface binding, translocation of NF-kappaB, stimulation of release of TNF-alpha, representation of hsp70-chaperoned peptides, and priming of CD8(+) T cells. The various consequences of hsp70-APC interaction were compared between CD40(+/+) and CD40(-/-) mice and were found to be identical in kinetics and magnitude. These data strongly indicate that all known effects of mammalian hsp70 on APCs are mediated in a CD40-independent manner. In light of the earlier demonstration that mycobacterial hsp70 binds murine CD40 and stimulates the APCs through it, our data indicate that CD40 can discriminate between self and mycobacterial hsp70 and is thus a receptor for patterns associated with microbial pathogens.
The Lie That Heals: The Ethics of Giving Placebos

The 170-year-long debate in the medical literature about the ethics of prescribing placebos in medical therapeutics needs to be reevaluated in light of recent placebo research and improved understanding of the placebo effect as an integral part of the doctor-patient relationship. It has traditionally been assumed that deception is an indispensible component of successful placebo use. Therefore, placebos have been attacked because they are deceptive, and defended on the grounds that the deception is illusory or that the beneficent intentions of the physician justify the deception. However, a proper understanding of the placebo effect shows that deception need play no essential role in eliciting this powerful therapeutic modality; physicians can see nondeceptive means to promote a positive placebo response in their patients.
A molecular genetic approach to vision Research: Crystallin gene expression in the lens

Recent work from our laboratory on the molecular genetics of the lens crystallins is reviewed briefly. Examples of how cDNA and genomic clones have been used for investigating the structure and expression of lens genes are described. Present evidence indicates that two inherited cataracts in mice may be associated with specific defects in crystallin gene expression. We anticipate that molecular genetic investigations in vision and ophthalmology will advance our basic understanding of the eye, reveal the basis of hereditary defects in the visual system, and contribute to our knowledge of the eukarvotic genome.
Twinkle twinkle little stone: utilizing color Doppler in emergency ultrasound diagnosis of a ureterovesicular stone

A case of a 43-year-old woman presenting with acute left flank pain is reported. Point-of-care ultrasound utilizing color Doppler revealed a twinkling artifact at the left ureterovesicular junction, consistent with a ureterovesicular stone. The sonographic findings and significance of the twinkling artifact are described.
Scale and frequency of natural disturbances in the northeastern US: implications for early successional forest habitats and regional age distributions

Recent declines in the amount of habitat suitable for early successional wildlife in the northeastern US have prompted public land managers to consider establishing minimum levels of young forest, based on the natural range of variation, in order to maintain viable populations of these species. In this paper, we review evidence on the frequency, severity, and scale of natural disturbances in four major forest regions of the northeastern US. Using six independent lines of evidence, we examined the influence of natural disturbances in presettlement and modern times. In situations where estimates of annual disturbance rates were available, we estimated the regional age distribution of forest stands based on the assumption of random spatial pattern of disturbance. Available evidence suggests a gradient of generally decreasing disturbance frequency from coastal regions to the interior uplands and mountains. The proportion of the presettlement landscape in seedling‐sapling forest habitat (1‐15 years old) ranged from 1 to 3% in northern hardwood forests (Fagus‐Betula‐Acer‐Tsuga) of the interior uplands to possibly >10% in coastal pine‐oak (Pinus‐Quercus) barrens. Within a region, variability in the amount of young forest is not well known, but upper slopes and ridges generally had the highest disturbance frequency and severity. Comparison of line transect data of the presettlement land surveys with modern plot surveys suggests that present-day amounts of young forests in northern hardwood and spruce‐hardwood forests in some regions may be several times higher than in presettlement times. In coastal oak forests and pine‐oak barrens, the amount of young forests and open woodlands may be less because of reduced fire frequency. # 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
EFFECTS OF ACETYLCHOLINE ON RESTING AND ACTION POTENTIALS, AND ON CONTRACTILE FORCE IN THE VENTRICLE OF DOLABELLA AURICULARIA

SUMMARY Acetylcholine (2 x io" 8 to 2 x io~ 8 M) depolarized the isolated ventricle of Dolabella auricularia. The depolarization was accompanied by a negatively inotropic effect from 2 x io~* M to 2 x io~* M, and by a positively tonotropic effect from 2 x io~* M to 2 x icr 3 M. The interaction of acetylcholine and 5-hydroxytryptamine was studied by artificially prolonging the plateau of the cardiac action potential by treatment with 5-HT. Acetylcholine had the effect of shortening the plateau established by 5-hydroxytryptamine. Force was reduced correspondingly.
Extraction of Weibull parameters from fiber bundle experiments through Fourier deconvolution

Weibull parameters extracted from tests of 75 mm Kevlar bundles by Fourier deconvolution produced average Weibull parameters of ma 22:2 and 10a 0:0284; which indicate that filament interactions concentrated the failures over a smaller range of strain. A bundle with filaments varying from 75 to 76.1 mm in length failed with a load‐displacement energy 14% higher than found with uniform filament length. Weibull parameters of ma 12:3 and 10a 0:0305 indicate that filament interactions were reduced and parameters corresponding to single filament testing were obtained rapidly. q 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
In‐the‐Money Warrant Extensions

This paper examines the warrant price and stock price reactions to the extension of the expiration date of in-the-money warrants. The warrant prices increase significantly in response to the announcement, consistent with option pricing theory. Shareholders experience no significant abnormal returns at the announcement, contrary to the conjecture that an extension will transfer wealth from shareholders. There is support for the idea that firms extend warrant life because the existing assets' cash flow obviates the need for additional financing. The data show that both the stocks and the warrants perform poorly in the month following the extension announcement.
Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI): A potential non-invasive imaging tool for characterizing ischemic brain injury?

Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a new high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tool that uses the paramagnetic susceptibility effects of deoxygenated blood to study the intracranial venous vasculature. We present SWI imaging findings in two children who suffered from acute arterial ischemia. Various patterns of normal/altered venous drainage could be identified. Our case study suggests that SWI assisted mapping of the regional changes of the cerebral venous drainage and correlation with diffusion weighted MRI may identify critically perfused brain at risk for infarct progression. Prospective studies are mandatory to further validate the value of SWI.
Multiscale FEM Modeling of Vascular Tone: From Membrane Currents to Vessel Mechanics

Regulation of vascular tone is a complex process that remains poorly understood. Here, we present our recent efforts for the development of physiologically realistic models of arterial segments for the analysis of vasoreactivity in health and disease. Multiscale modeling integrates intracellular and cell membrane components into whole-cell models of calcium and membrane potential dynamics. Single-cell models of vascular cells are combined into a multicellular model of the vascular wall, and vessel wall biomechanics are integrated with calcium dynamics in the smooth muscle layer. At each scale, continuum models using finite element method can account for spatial heterogeneity in calcium signaling and for nonuniform deformations of a vessel segment. The outlined approach can be used to investigate cellular mechanisms underlying altered vasoreactivity in hypertension.
The value and limitations of long-term nucleoside antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B

Clinical trials of lamivudine, the first oral nucleoside analogue approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, began in the early 1990s, and a substantial cohort of patients has emerged in whom treatment was continued for half a decade or longer. Patients in the early clinical experience with lamivudine, many of whom had already failed to respond to interferon, had no other options for treatment, and the early experience with lamivudine did not disappoint. Treatment with this new agent was very well tolerated, indistinguishable in side effects from treatment with placebo, and a year of treatment was associated with histologic, virologic, serologic, and biochemical improvement [1–6]. Moreover, unlike interferon, lamivudine was found to be effective in patients with high-level HBV DNA, in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, and in patients who had undergone liver transplantation for end-stage liver disease associated with chronic hepatitis B [7–15]. Recently, lamivudine treatment was shown to slow clinical progression, even suggested to prevent the emergence of hepatocellular carcinoma, in patients with advanced fibrosis (60% of whom were cirrhotic) [16]. In short, during its ‘reign’ as the only oral antiviral approved for treatment of chronic hepatitis B, lamivudine improved the clinical and virological status of patients with chronic hepatitis B and saved many lives. When antiviral therapy with interferon and lamivudine was being developed, the initial therapeutic focus fell upon patients with highly replicative, wild-type, HBeAg-reactive chronic hepatitis B. In this population treated with lamivudine, histologic necroinflammatory activity improved in more than half, progression of fibrosis was
Optimal Planning to Include Storage Devices in Power Systems

It is difficult to forecast renewable energy resources due to their variability. High uncertainty of the resources increases the concern about the reliable operation of the electric power system. Storage devices have been considered a candidate to control variable energy resources, and most studies on storage devices are performed in the economic dispatch. Therefore, electric power adequacy may be an issue. In this paper, a new approach in the optimal power flow framework is proposed for deploying storage devices, and the feasibility and economic impact analyses are discussed.
Principle and experiment of vibrating suction method for wall-climbing robot

This paper presents a new suction method used for wall-climbing robots. The basic idea of this method is that the vacuum can be generated inside a suction cup attaching on a surface, if the suction cup is directly driven by a periodically vibrating force. In this paper, two types of vibrating forces are proposed, one in sinusoidal mode, and the another in square wave mode. Based on Bernoulli’s equation, it is found that the vacuum degree in the suction cup is mainly determined by two parameters of the vibrating forces, namely the amplitude and frequency. To verify the validity of the analyses, an experimental platform was developed, and a series of vibrating experiments were performed. The results indicate that the vibrating suction method can definitely produce continuous vacuum, and also verify the basic relationship between the vacuum degree and the two vibrating force parameters. The minimum average air pressure of the two vibrating modes were also compared. Finally, the feasibility of the vibrating suction method was basically testified on a caterpillar wall-climbing robot.
Boosting with stumps for predicting transcription start sites

Promoter prediction is a difficult but important problem in gene finding, and it is critical for elucidating the regulation of gene expression. We introduce a new promoter prediction program, CoreBoost, which applies a boosting technique with stumps to select important small-scale as well as large-scale features. CoreBoost improves greatly on locating transcription start sites. We also demonstrate that by further utilizing some tissue-specific information, better accuracy can be achieved.
Cardiorespiratory fitness attenuates risk for major adverse cardiac events in hyperlipidemic men and women independent of statin therapy: The Henry Ford ExercIse Testing Project

Aims We sought to evaluate the effect of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in predicting mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and revascularization in patients with hyperlipidemia after stratification by gender and statin therapy. Methods and results This retrospective cohort study included 33,204 patients with hyperlipidemia (57 ± 12 years old, 56% men, 25% black) who underwent physician-referred treadmill stress testing at the Henry Ford Health System from 1991 to 2009. Patients were stratified by gender, baseline statin therapy, and estimated metabolic equivalents from stress testing. We computed hazard ratios using Cox regression models after adjusting for demographics, cardiac risk factors, comorbidities, pertinent medications, interaction terms, and indication for stress testing. Results There were 4,851 deaths, 1,962 MIs, and 2,686 revascularizations over a median follow-up of 10.3 years. In men and women not on statin therapy and men and women on statin therapy, each 1-metabolic equivalent increment in CRF was associated with hazard ratios of 0.86 (95% CI 0.85-0.88), 0.83 (95% CI 0.81-0.85), 0.85 (95% CI 0.83-0.87), and 0.84 (95% CI 0.81-0.87) for mortality; 0.93 (95% CI 0.90-0.96), 0.87 (95% CI 0.83-0.91), 0.89 (95% CI 0.86-0.92), and 0.90 (95% CI 0.86-0.95) for MI; and 0.91 (95% CI 0.88-0.93), 0.87 (95% CI 0.83-0.91), 0.89 (95% CI 0.87-0.92), and 0.90 (95% CI 0.86-0.94) for revascularization, respectively. No significant interactions were observed between CRF and statin therapy ( P > .23). Conclusion Higher CRF attenuated risk for mortality, MI, and revascularization independent of gender and statin therapy in patients with hyperlipidemia. These results reinforce the prognostic value of CRF and support greater promotion of CRF in this patient population.
New insights into the hydrostratigraphy of the High Plains aquifer from three-dimensional visualizations based on well records

Regional aquifers in thick sequences of continentally derived heterolithic deposits, such as the High Plains of the North American Great Plains, are diffi cult to characterize hydrostratigraphically because of their framework complexity and the lack of highquality subsurface information from drill cores and geophysical logs. However, using a database of carefully evaluated drillers’ and sample logs and commercially available visualization software, it is possible to qualitatively characterize these complex frameworks based on the concept of relative permeability. Relative permeability is the permeable fraction of a deposit expressed as a percentage of its total thickness. In this methodology, uncemented coarse and fi ne sediments are arbitrarily set at relative permeabilities of 100% and 0%, respectively, with allowances made for log entries containing descriptions of mixed lithologies, heterolithic strata, and cementation. To better understand the arrangement of high- and low-permeability domains within the High Plains aquifer, a pilot study was undertaken in southwest Kansas to create three-dimensional visualizations of relative permeability using a database of >3000 logs. Aggregate relative permeability ranges up to 99% with a mean of 51%. Laterally traceable, thick domains of >80% relative permeability embedded within a lower relative permeability matrix strongly suggest that preferred pathways for lateral and vertical water transmission exist within the aquifer. Similarly, domains with relative permeabilities of <45% are traceable laterally over appreciable distances in the subsurface and probably act as leaky confi ning layers. This study shows that the aquifer does not consist solely of local, randomly distributed, hydrostratigraphic units, as suggested by previous studies.
Moving a D.A. System from Development to Production

The problems of mov ing a design automation system from the development phase to the production usage are always numerous, varied, and continuing. Lawrence Livermore Laboratory is a research laboratory, and design automation supports engineering design and fabrication in a slightly different fashion than for a high- volume commercial shop. Jobs are characterized by being quite varied in requirements, requiring fast turnaround, having very low production quantities, having few design constraints, and, in general, place the requirement on the DA system to be very fleK ible and at the same time to be responsive to requests made on the system by the users. Yet, the problems of making a DA system production ready in the above situation is probably very similar to the problems encountered in other environments. In the following, I will describe some of the d ifficulties we have faced in the past year in moving a printed circuit board layout DA system from a research and development stage to a production usage.
Hacia una redefinición del feminismo y de los estudios de género en el siglo XXI

Introduccion al Numero especial: "Hacia una redefinicion del feminismo y los estudios de genero en el siglo XXI" Introduction to the Special Issue: "Toward a Redefinition of Feminism and Gender Studies in the Twenty-First Century" Editoras invitadas / Guest editors: Margaret G. Frohlich Ana Corbalan
Nehru’s legacy in Kashmir: Why a plebiscite never happened

ABSTRACTAs the dispute over Kashmir broke out in 1947, a plebiscite of the people of the state offered a mutually acceptable and ostensibly fair path out of the imbroglio. Critics have often laid the blame on Nehru, and the territory’s salience to India, for why a plebiscite was never held. Based on primary documentation, this article makes the case that it was not a lack of commitment to the formula, but rather Nehru’s deeply held strategic and reputational fears that motivated, first, the setting of what Delhi saw as firm but fair pre-conditions, and after the conclusion of the US-Pakistan military pact in 1954, the complete rejection of the plebiscite option.
Multilevel Coding for the Full-Duplex Relay Channel

The overwhelming majority of the large literature on coding for the relay channel has been dedicated to the low-SNR regime (binary signaling) and the half- duplex scenario. For non-binary full-duplex signaling, important challenges remain in the simultaneous design of coded modulation at the source and relay. Part of the difficulty is to design the codes with the requisite correlation prescribed by theory. This paper proposes a systematic code design methodology for the relay channel via multilevel coding (MLC). The main difficulty was that a straightforward extension of the chain rule MLC decomposition, as was previously used in the point to-point MLC, would result in many dependencies between the coded layers of the source and relay. A key contribution of this paper is showing that MLC joint source/relay code design can be implemented via standard binary code design procedures. Specifically, we outline a design process where the correlation between the source and relay codes are implemented purely via pairwise correlations between the binary codes of source and relay at each layer, without any other inter-layer correlations. Moreover, a specific design example is provided via a simple XOR operation on two conventionally designed codes. Numerical results show excellent performance for the proposed scheme.
Medial arch strain after lateral column lengthening: an in vitro study.

Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction with concomitant progressive flatfoot deformity is associated with ligamentous failure along the medial arch. Lateral column lengthening is being used alone and in combination with other procedures with the expectation that it contributes to restoring and maintaining the arch. The primary objective of this study was to examine the effect of lateral column lengthening on medial arch strain. A secondary objective was to examine the effect of subtalar, talonavicular, double and triple fusions on medial arch strain. Whole cadaver feet were subjected to vertical loads while in a plantigrade position. Spring ligament length was monitored using liquid metal displacement gauges. Two outcomes were examined: the length of the ligament and the change in length of the ligament per unit of applied load. Ligament length was unchanged after lateral column lengthening. Ligament length was decreased after talonavicular, double and triple arthrodeses, consistent with the ligament being p...
Protecting the Well Intended: When Group Interdependence Leads to Greater Corruption

This paper examines the idea that people protect group serving members who engage in corrupt acts to benefit the group. People who define themselves interdependently with their groups expect group members to be motivated by collective gain and as a result, are more likely to protect those who engage in corrupt behaviors that benefit the group. We find that participants who define themselves interdependently with groups (Study 2a) as well as those who are primed with an interdependent mindset (Study 2b) expect group members to be motivated by collective gain. In Study 3 and Study 4, results show that participants primed with an interdependent mindset are less likely to punish corrupt members who benefit the group when they are motivated by collective gain than participants primed with an independent mindset. We discuss the implications of these findings for the emergence and sustenance of corruption in interdependent and collectivistic groups.
PLIF imaging of the supersonic reactive flows around projectiles in an expansion tube

We report qualitative planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging experiments of supersonic reactive flows over a wedge test-body in an expansion tube. Both hydrogen-based and ethylene-based reactive mixtures were investigated in this work. Ongoing facility characterization efforts investigated three different freestream conditions, Moo = 6.7, 5.2, and 4.2. These conditions were used in an initial investigation of combustion modes around a 40°half-angle wedge. In several cases, shock-induced combustion was observed a finite distance behind the non-reacting oblique shock wave. However, in the case of the most sensitive mixture, an oblique detonation wave was observed in which the shock wave and combustion front were fully coupled.
Memory conjunction clusters: Influence of familiarity and recollection

In the memory conjunction paradigm, the number of times that constituents of conjunction lures were studied and the method of presentation were varied. In two experiments, participants were presented with eight parent items that could be recombined at test to form a conjunction lure. The constituents that were shared between the parent items and the conjunction lures were either presented in the same words (e.g., blackmail and jailbird presented four times each for the conjunction lure blackbird) or in different words (e.g., the targets footstool, footlocker, foothill, footbridge, baseball, softball, basketball, and golfball for the conjunction lure football). In both experiments, rates of false recognition were higher in the Different condition as opposed to the Same condition. These results provide evidence that participants in the Same condition were able to utilise a recall-to-reject strategy by remembering the repeatedly presented parent word. In the Different condition, participants were not able to utilise that strategy and instead relied on the familiarity of the repeatedly presented constituents which led to higher rates of false recognition.
ML314: A Biased Neurotensin Receptor Ligand for Methamphetamine Abuse

Pharmacological treatment for methamphetamine addiction will provide important societal benefits. Neurotensin receptor NTR1 and dopamine receptor distributions coincide in brain areas regulating methamphetamine-associated reward, and neurotensin peptides produce behaviors opposing psychostimulants. Therefore, undesirable methamphetamine-associated activities should be treatable with druggable NTR1 agonists, but no such FDA-approved therapeutics exist. We address this limitation with proof-of-concept data for ML314, a small-molecule, brain penetrant, β-arrestin biased, NTR1 agonist. ML314 attenuates amphetamine-like hyperlocomotion in dopamine transporter knockout mice, and in C57BL/6J mice it attenuates methamphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion, potentiates the psychostimulant inhibitory effects of a ghrelin antagonist, and reduces methamphetamine-associated conditioned place preference. In rats, ML314 blocks methamphetamine self-administration. ML314 acts as an allosteric enhancer of endogenous neurotensin, unmasking stoichiometric numbers of hidden NTR1 binding sites in transfected-cell membranes or mouse striatal membranes, while additionally supporting NTR1 endocytosis in cells in the absence of NT peptide. These results indicate ML314 is a viable, preclinical lead for methamphetamine abuse treatment and support an allosteric model of G protein-coupled receptor signaling.