cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Top ten publications of 2001.

The occasion of Sydney Finegold’s 80th birthday is a time to reflect on the extraordinary life and accomplishments of this giant in the field of infectious diseases. For my contribution to this symposium, my decision was to review the most important publications in the field of infectious diseases for the year 2001. It should be acknowledged from the outset that there is a sparse contribution from those who have worked in the field of anaerobic infections and anaerobic bacteriology. This fact, by itself, is a great accolade to Dr. Finegold. During the early 1960s, he led the campaign to recognize, culture, and treat infections caused by anaerobes. At that time, Bacteroides fragilis was second only to Escherichia coli as a cause of gram-negative bacillary bacteremia at the Mayo Clinic, putrid lung abscesses were referred to as “non-specific lung abscess,” and appendicitis was routinely treated with penicillin plus gentamicin or cephalothin. The campaign led by Dr. Finegold penetrated deeply into the field of medicine. There were multiple symposia, clinical laboratories were persuaded to culture oxygen-sensitive forms, and pharmaceutical companies began testing their drugs for activity against anaerobes in vitro and in vivo. The effort was notably assisted by the introduction of the Gas-Pak jar, which facilitated detection of anaerobes; the taxonomy was finally placed in reasonable order; and clindamycin became a favored drug for management. These events transpired during the period 1965–1975. In retrospect, this is probably one of the most successful campaigns in the history of medicine, and it dramatically altered practice patterns. Dr. Finegold would probably say that it was very much the combined contributions of a large group, but there was never any doubt about its leader, who is a clinician,
When Gender is not Enough: Women Interviewing Women

This article examines two contrasting interviews—with an Anglo and a Puerto Rican woman—and concludes that gender congruence does not help an Anglo interviewer make sense of the working-class, Hispanic woman's account of her marital separation. Both in form and content, her discourse contrasts sharply with an Anglo woman's account. The two women use different narrative genres or forms of telling to communicate their culturally distinctive experiences with marriage. In the case of the Puerto Rican woman, these differences result in major misunderstandings by the interviewer. Applying narrative methods to these interviews shows how closer attention to the voice of the subject can enrich qualitative research.
Re-entrant cavity surface enhancements for immersion cooling of silicon multichip packages

The authors describe the performance of silicon re-entrant cavity structures for enhanced heat removal from substrates used in silicon multichip systems. The heat sink surface consisted of a large array of pyramidal cavities etched into the silicon using standard microelectronic fabrication techniques. Two different re-entrant cavity shapes, simple and complex, were studied. A thin-film resistive heater fabricated on a silicon substrate served as the heat source. Experiments were conducted in a pool of the dielectric liquid, refrigerant-113, which has near zero contact angles with most materials used in electronics fabrication. Tests were run for both saturated and subcooled conditions. The saturated pool boiling heat transfer characteristics of the cavity enhanced surfaces were superior to those of a plain surface, resulting in a substantial decrease in both the temperature overshoot and the incipient boiling heat flux. For the enhanced surfaces, subcooling generally resulted in an increase in incipient boiling heat flux when compared with the saturated conditions. Overall, this heat sink surface shows potential for use in the next generation of silicon multichip packaging for integrated microelectronics. >
THE YOUNG GYMNAST

Gymnastics training develops strength, flexibility, concentration, balance, grace, and speed in young athletes. In terms of hours per week and intensity of practice, the dedication to training at a young age, is unparalleled in most other youth sports. With this dedication comes the risk of injury to the immature musculoskeletal system, and it is our duty to ensure that these risks are minimized. Through adequate safety equipment, supervision, and spotting of difficult techniques, a number of acute injuries may be prevented. Maintenance of balanced flexibility and strength, modification of training to limit pain, and taping or splinting of wrists and ankles may reduce the risk of overuse injuries. Physician who deal with young gymnasts must have an understanding of the inherent risks of the sport to provide prompt diagnoses and appropriate management of injuries. The gymnasium can be a healthy environment as long as the health and safety of the child takes precedence over the success of the gymnast.
The safety of allergenic immunotherapy.

Three types of allergic reactions to subcutaneous injections of allergenic extracts have been observed regularly since introduction of the technique in 19 11’ : (1) transient wheal and erythema at the injection site, (2) local “late-phase” subcutaneous swelling with itching, and (3) anaphylaxis. 2. 3 The minor problems of local reactions may, at the most severe, be managed by a temporary reduction in dose. Anaphylaxis, in contrast, may be fatal and always requires skilled attention, both for treatment and prevention of recurrences. There is essentially no other important safety problem with immunotherapy. The Committee on Safety of Medicines in the United Kingdom, a quasi official body, keeps a registry of adverse reactions to immunotherapy. In October 1986, the Committee published a resume in the British Medical Journal that noted 26 anaphylactic deaths since 1957, five in the preceding 18 months, and ended with the recommendation: “In view of the appreciable risks incurred during treatment, these agents should be used only where facilities for full cardiorespiratory resuscitation are immediately available, and patients should be kept under medical observation for at least two hours after treatment.“4 We find the requirement for 2 hours of observation excessive, and the term “facilities for full cardiorespiratory resuscitation” vague. The statement published by the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology in 1986 is less restrictive, but at the same
Surgical approaches to meningiomas of the lateral ventricles

Abstract Background Intraventricular meningiomas account for 0.5–3% of all intracranial meningiomas. The majority occur in the atrium of the lateral ventricle. Surgical experience with intraventricular meningiomas is rare in the literature, and several surgical approaches exist. Methods Between 1987 and 2007, 13 patients underwent resection of intraventricular meningiomas. All patients had tumors of the lateral ventricles. These patients were retrospectively identified and their records reviewed. Results Eleven tumors were found in the atrium, one in the frontal horn, and one in the body of the lateral ventricle. In 9 of 13 cases, the tumor occurred in the left lateral ventricle. Patients commonly presented with headache and cognitive difficulties. A visual field deficit was noted preoperatively in one patient. Four patients underwent preoperative angiography, but no patients underwent embolization. Gross total resection was achieved in all cases: 6 via a middle temporal gyrus approach, 5 via a superior parietal lobule approach, and 2 via a transcallosal approach. Image-guided stereotaxis was used in 6 cases. Pathology was benign in 12 of 13 cases; atypical features were identified in one case. There was no operative mortality, and no patients showed evidence of recurrence. Postoperatively, 3 patients developed new cognitive-linguistic deficits that subsequently resolved. One of these patients developed a new visual field deficit after surgery. Conclusions Several approaches are available for the surgical treatment of intraventricular meningiomas. Tumor location, extension, and laterality drive the selection algorithm for these approaches. Preoperative angiography is rarely useful, and surgical cure is the rule.
Nickel contamination on MWCNT is related to particle bioactivity but not toxicity in the THP-1 transformed macrophage model

The potential pathogenic effects from exposure to various MWCNT have not been adequately determined. One potential contributing factor to MWCNT bioactivity could be metal contamination that occurs during production. This study examined the toxicity and bioactivity (NLRP3 inflammasome activation), of 24 commercially available MWCNT in a macrophage-like differentiated THP-1 cell line. Inflammasome activation, via IL-1β release, was highly correlated to Ni content. Soluble NiCl2 and insoluble Ni nanopowder were tested in the same model at varying concentrations with no inflammasome activation. Ni-decorated MWCNT were also tested in the THP-1 model and the results also correlated with Ni content. These results demonstrated that Ni content correlated to NLRP3 inflammasome activation, but not toxicity. Taken together, the results suggest that Ni, when fixed to MWCNT, is highly bioactive and potentially proinflammatory. The related mechanism probably involves lysosomal rupture, release of cathepsin B, and NLRP3 activation.
BIOMINERALIZATION OF THE STALKS OF ANTHOPHYSA VEGETANS (CHRYSOPHYCEAE)1

Mineralized stalks of the chryophyte Anthophysa ve-getans (O. F. Muller) Stein were examined by electron microscopy, and the composition of the stalks was determined by energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis. Colonies grown in water from a local lake (Dowdy Lake) had mineralized stalks that were colorless and composed mainly of spherules of calcium phosphate up to 0.7 μm in diameter. The addition of 0.1 mM MnCl2 to the culture medium resulted in deeply orange-brown stalks mineralized primarily with minute granules of a manganese compound. The addition of 0.1 mM FeCl3 to the culture media resulted in light yellow stalks mineralized mainly with small granules of an iron compound. The addition of 0.1 mM MgCl2 or KCl resulted in stalks that were similar in appearance and composition to the colonies grown in culture medium alone. These results show that the composition of the mineralized stalks of A. vegetans is dependent on the elements present in the culture medium. This is also the first time that calcium phosphate has been reported as a mineralization product in the chrysophytes.
A field test of attractant traps for invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in southern Florida

Context. Invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are established over thousands of square kilometres of southern Florida, USA, and consume a wide range of native vertebrates. Few tools are available to control the python population, and none of the available tools have been validated in the field to assess capture success as a proportion of pythons available to be captured. Aims. Our primary aim was to conduct a trap trial for capturing invasive pythons in an area east of Everglades National Park,wheremanypythonshadbeencapturedinpreviousyears,toassesstheefficacyoftrapsforpopulationcontrol.Wealso aimed to compare results of visual surveys with trap capture rates, to determine capture rates of non-target species, and to assess capture rates as a proportion of resident pythons in the study area. Methods.Weconductedamedium-scale(6053trapnights)experimentusingtwotypesofattractanttrapsbaitedwithlive ratsintheFrogPondareaeastofEvergladesNationalPark.Wealsoconductedstandardisedandopportunisticvisualsurveys inthetrappingarea.Followingthetrap trial,theareawasdischarrowedtoexposepythonsandallowcalculationof anindex of the number of resident pythons. Key results. We captured three pythons and 69 individuals of various rodent, amphibian, and reptile species in traps. Eleven pythons were discovered during disc harrowing operations, as were large numbers of rodents. Conclusions. The trap trial captured a relatively small proportion of the pythons that appeared to be present in the study area, although previous research suggests that trap capture rates improve with additional testing of alternative trap designs. Potential negative impacts to non-target species were minimal. Low python capture rates may have been associated with extremely high local prey abundances during the trap experiment. Implications. Results of this trial illustrate many of the challenges in implementing and interpreting results from tests of control tools for large cryptic predators such as Burmese pythons.
In Search of the Technology-Using English Teacher: A Response to Swenson, Rozema, Young, McGrail, and Whitin

This response to“Beliefs about Technology and the Preparation of English Teachers: Beginning the Conversation” (Swenson, Rozema, Young, McGrail, & Whitin, 2005) offers a framework for considering the qualities of the technologyusing English teacher.
The Impact of Community Service Learning Upon the Worldviews of Business Majors Versus Non-Business Majors at an American University

The SERVE Program at Ignatius University seeks to foster the ethical development of its participants by combining academic study of philosophy and theology with a year-long community service project. This study considered the impact of the SERVE Program upon Ignatius University students majoring in business in comparison to students pursuing majors in the liberal arts, education, and nursing. Findings from this study offer insight into the response of business students to ethical content in comparison to students pursuing degrees in other disciplines. Such findings hold significant implications for business school faculty and administrators committed to the civic and ethical development of individuals pursuing careers in business and private industry.
42.8-Gb/s chirp-managed signal transmission over 640-km SSMF with large dispersion tolerance

High-speed transmission at 42.8Gb/s over 640-km SMF-28 with dispersion compensation at 1550nm using a directly modulated chirp-managed laser (CML) has been demonstrated. The large dispersion tolerance has also been probed in this paper.
Gaining Acceptance for Noxious Facilities with Economic Incentives

In recent years considerable controversy has surrounded efforts to site prisons, AIDS treatment centers, and every form of waste disposal facility. While these facilities benefit the majority of the public, they also impose some burden on residents living near the site. Familiar terms such as NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) and LULU (Locally Unwanted Land Use) permeate the media, indicating the strong resistance shown by communities targeted to host these facilities (Popper, 1983). This public opposition is often effective in thwarting projects. For example, since 1980 not a single major new hazardous waste disposal facility has been sited anywhere in the United States, and the outlook does not appear any brighter in the immediate future (Weidenbaum, 1989). The key questions addressed in this chapter are 1) why there is such resistance to siting facilities and 2) whether there are ways that policy makers can reduce the level of resistance to such facilities. The following three examples provide concrete illustrations of the challenges we face in finding locations for siting facilities.
Vasogenic Brain Edema

Vasogenic edema is the most common type of brain edema. It is seen in clinical conditions where the vascular endothelial cells in the brain are selectively injured such as in acute hypertension or lead intoxication or where their function is modified by an infectious process such as in meningitis, encephalitis, and abscess. In many brain tumors, particularly those that are most malignant, the basic structure of the endothelial cells is changed such that they no longer form a blood–brain barrier (BBB) and the resulting highly permeable vessels are capable of producing large amounts of edema. More generalized types of brain injury are also associated with BBB breakdown and vasogenic edema. These include cerebral ischemia, closed or penetrating head injuries, intracerebral hemorrhage, and seizures. One specific and often highly effective therapy for vasogenic edema is steroids. Although the precise mechanisms of action are unknown, they appear to reduce edema formation by reducing the abnormally high vascular permeability in tumors. Based upon work with animal models, this may occur by inducing the endothelium to reacquire the BBB characteristics which are lacking in the microvasculature of brain tumors.
Terahertz Beam Shaping Using Inkjet Printed Plasmonic Structures with Spatially Varying Conductivities

We demonstrate a new technique for controlling the terahertz beam profile. We demonstrate this by fabricating plasmonic structures via inkjet printing that incorporate a spatial variation into the conductivity of the metallic layer.
A Classification of Loculoascomycetes

A classification of the Loculoascomycetes is presented in the form of dichotomous keys to 58 families in eight orders. The families Chaeto-thyriaceae, Fenestellaceae, Parmulariaceae, Phaeosphaeriac...
Yellow fever vaccine. III. Antibody response in monkeys inoculated with a vaccine free from contaminating avian leukosis viruses.

Removal of avian leukosis viruses (ALV), which have contaminated the yellow fever (YF) 17 D vaccine since its development in the middle 1940's, had no effect upon the antigenicity of this vaccine in rhesus monkeys. From results of plaque neutralization tests, the high degree of antigenicity of the 17 D vaccine was confirmed.
Mechanism studies for carcinogenicity of pharmaceuticals

The objectives of carcinogenicity studies are to assess the tumor risk for human use.Mechanism studies are useful to evaluate the relevance of tumor findings in animal for human safety,which integrate assessment of exposure level in animal and human,nature of proposed indication and patient population,and carcinogenicity characteristic of structure-related compounds.Industries and regulatory authorities are trying to identify the mode of action(MOA) for carcinogenicity.The present review discusses several MOA,such as genotoxic mechanism,pharmacologic action related mechanism,phenobarbital-like P450 induction,and species difference in involved tissues.
[Epidemiology of pertussis in adults and related factors in Tianjin, 2005-2014].

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of pertussis in adults and related factors in Tianjin. Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted by using the epidemiological data of pertussis in adults in Tianjin during 2005-2014. The transmission routes of family cluster cases were analyzed. ELISA was conducted to detect pertussis immunity levels in adults aged 18-83 years. Results The pertussis cases in adults accounted for 28.57%(252/882)of the total cases in Tianjin , the annual incidence of pertussis in adults was 0.16/100 000. The highest incidence was 0.46/100 000 in 2013. The age specific proportion of the cases was highest in age group 21-30 years(36.12%, 91/252). Three household transmission routes of pertussis were identified, the major one was adult-to-infant(77.78%,98/126). The parents were the infection sources of 81.64% of infant cases(80/98). Of the 904 study subjects, the average positive rate of antibody against pertussis was 55.20%(95%CI: 51.96%-58.44%). There were significant differences in antibody positive rate among different age groups(P= 0.015), and which had the linear correlation with the reported annual incidence(r=0.98, P=0.003)and showed upward trend(χ2=11.79, P=0.001). Conclusion The study indicated that adults have become the population at high risk for pertussis and the major infection sources for infants in Tianjin. The positive rate of antibody against pertussis was low in adults. It is suggested to conduct pertussis vaccination in adults. Key words: Pertussis; Adults; Epidemiological characteristic; Related Factor
Abstract IA01: Disparities in HPV infection

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical, anal, vaginal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. There is heterogeneity in HPV prevalence across racial and socioeconomic groups as well as by age-cohort. These differences in HPV infection contribute to disparities observed in the rates of HPV-related cancer rates in these groups. This talk reviews what is known about genital, anal, and oral HPV infection, and how infection differs among groups. Reasons for disparities in HPV infection are discussed, including the roles of sexual behavior, sexual network, and co-factors (such as tobacco use). Common questions and answers about HPV infection will be discussed. Citation Format: Gypsyamber D9Souza. Disparities in HPV infection. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr IA01.
Parental behavior and dimensions of adolescent self-evaluation.

The focus of the study is on the relationship between two dimensions of parental behavior: support and control, and the adolescent's self-evaluation. Drawing on sociological theory which stresses the importance of the evaluative behavior of significant others in the development of the individual's selfevaluation, it was hypothesized that both parental support and parental control would be positively related to adolescent self-evaluation. The findings strongly supported the first hypothesis but not the second. Two foci of selfevaluation were identified through factor analysis: Power and Worth, and were found to be relted to support but not control. Both the level of selfevaluation on power and worth and the relationships between the parental and the self variables varied somewhat by social class and by sex of parent and respondent. The findings were interpreted as giving added support to the interactionist proposition, that the self-concept arises through interaction with significant others, by pointing to the behavioral dimension especially salient in this respect, parental support. The study also suggests the importance of focusing on specific contents of self-evaluation, such as power and worth.
An intra-body linear channel model based on neuronal subthreshold stimulation

Intra-body communication networks, where natural biological processes support the realization of links for the transmission, propagation, and reception of information, are at the cutting edge research for the pervasive interconnection of future wearable and implantable devices. In particular, the study of neurons as means to propagate information between these devices is encouraged by their ubiquitous distribution within the body and the existence of well-established techniques for their electrical interfacing. In this paper, a communication system is proposed based on the so-called subthreshold electrical stimulation of a neuron, and the propagation of this stimulation along the neuron length. This stimulation technique does not result in the generation of electrochemical spikes (action potentials), naturally carrying information within the nervous system, thus reducing the interference with the normal body functionalities. The use of subthreshold stimulation allows the analytical formulation of a linear channel model for the proposed communication system by stemming from the quasi-active model of the neuron's membrane from the neurophysiology literature. Numerical results from the developed analytical models are compared to simulation results obtained through the widely-used NEURON software.
Peptide and antibody ligands for renal targeting: nanomedicine strategies for kidney disease

The kidney is one of the body's main filtration organs, and hence, opportunity exists for designing nanomedicine that can naturally accumulate in the kidneys for renal diseases. In addition to traditional physiochemical properties for kidney accumulation, such as size and charge, synthesized nanoparticles can be conjugated with targeting ligands which further home the nanocarriers to cell types of interest. In this review, we highlight key studies that have shown success in utilizing peptide- or antibody-based ligands in nanoparticles to target the glomerulus, podocytes, or renal tubule cells in the kidney. In addition, other ligand candidates which have shown renal affinity, but have not yet been integrated into a nanoparticle are also presented. These studies can provide insight into the design of novel clinical solutions for improved detection, prevention, and treatment of renal diseases using nanomedicine efforts.
PGH2-TxA2-receptor blockade restores vasoreactivity in a new rodent model of genetic hypertension

The purpose of this study was to determine whether activation of prostaglandin H(2)-thromboxane A(2) (PGH(2)-TxA(2)) receptors impedes vasodilation in the in situ peripheral microcirculation of spontaneously hypertensive hamsters, a new rodent model of high-renin genetic hypertension. Using intravital microscopy, we found that vasodilation elicited by suffusion of acetylcholine and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), two neurotransmitters localized in perivascular nerves in the peripheral circulation, on the in situ cheek pouch was significantly attenuated in spontaneously hypertensive hamsters relative to age- and genetically matched normotensive hamsters (P < 0.05). However, nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation was similar in both groups. Pretreatment with SQ-29548, a selective and potent PGH(2)-TxA(2)-receptor antagonist, restored acetylcholine- and VIP-induced vasodilation in spontaneously hypertensive hamsters. SQ-29548 had no significant effects on resting arteriolar diameter and on nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation in both groups. SQ-29548 slightly but significantly potentiated VIP- but not acetylcholine-induced vasodilation in normotensive hamsters. Collectively, these data indicate that activation of PGH(2)-TxA(2) receptors impedes agonist-induced vasodilation in the in situ cheek pouch of spontaneously hypertensive hamsters. We suggest that this model is suitable for studying the role of prostanoids in mediating vasomotor dysfunction observed in genetic hypertension.
Identifying time-delayed gene regulatory networks via an evolvable hierarchical recurrent neural network

The modeling of genetic interactions within a cell is crucial for a basic understanding of physiology and for applied areas such as drug design. Interactions in gene regulatory networks (GRNs) include effects of transcription factors, repressors, small metabolites, and microRNA species. In addition, the effects of regulatory interactions are not always simultaneous, but can occur after a finite time delay, or as a combined outcome of simultaneous and time delayed interactions. Powerful biotechnologies have been rapidly and successfully measuring levels of genetic expression to illuminate different states of biological systems. This has led to an ensuing challenge to improve the identification of specific regulatory mechanisms through regulatory network reconstructions. Solutions to this challenge will ultimately help to spur forward efforts based on the usage of regulatory network reconstructions in systems biology applications. We have developed a hierarchical recurrent neural network (HRNN) that identifies time-delayed gene interactions using time-course data. A customized genetic algorithm (GA) was used to optimize hierarchical connectivity of regulatory genes and a target gene. The proposed design provides a non-fully connected network with the flexibility of using recurrent connections inside the network. These features and the non-linearity of the HRNN facilitate the process of identifying temporal patterns of a GRN. Our HRNN method was implemented with the Python language. It was first evaluated on simulated data representing linear and nonlinear time-delayed gene-gene interaction models across a range of network sizes and variances of noise. We then further demonstrated the capability of our method in reconstructing GRNs of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae synthetic network for in vivo benchmarking of reverse-engineering and modeling approaches (IRMA). We compared the performance of our method to TD-ARACNE, HCC-CLINDE, TSNI and ebdbNet across different network sizes and levels of stochastic noise. We found our HRNN method to be superior in terms of accuracy for nonlinear data sets with higher amounts of noise. The proposed method identifies time-delayed gene-gene interactions of GRNs. The topology-based advancement of our HRNN worked as expected by more effectively modeling nonlinear data sets. As a non-fully connected network, an added benefit to HRNN was how it helped to find the few genes which regulated the target gene over different time delays.
Structural Racism and the Will to Act

In only a few short years, Black Lives Matter has shaped mainstream discourse of racial inequality so as to emphasize the disparate ways our society tends to value certain lives and contributions over others. In this essay, I describe how today's Black liberation movement inspired me to revise a graduate course on race and conflict that directs students to think about how contemporary institutions and social practices determine the value of life at the color line. In the epilogue, I ponder another round of revisions given the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.
Anytime Planning for Decentralized Multirobot Active Information Gathering

This letter considers the problem of reducing uncertainty about a physical process of interest by designing sensing trajectories for a team of robots. This active information gathering problem has applications in environmental monitoring, search and rescue, and security and surveillance. Our previous work developed a search-based planning method for information gathering which prunes uninformative trajectories from the search space while providing suboptimality guarantees and decentralizes the planning across multiple robots via coordinate descent. The novelty of this letter is to demonstrate the practical feasibility of these algorithms in a target tracking scenario featuring three collaborating UAVs and five mobile targets. To achieve this, we relax the previous requirement of having centralized estimation by performing distributed information filtering. We then develop an anytime planning algorithm that progressively reduces the suboptimality of the information gathering plans while respecting real-time constraints. These contributions enable robust and scalable information gathering using a team of agile robots that adapt their cooperation to timing constraints and ad hoc communication without the need for external or centralized computation.
A Note on Global Newton Iteration Over Archimedean and Non-Archimedean Fields

In this paper, we study iterative methods on the coefficients of the rational univariate representation (RUR) of a given algebraic set, called a global Newton iterations. We compare two natural approaches to define locally quadratically convergent iterations: the first one involves Newton iteration applied to the approximate roots individually and then interpolation to find the RUR of these approximate roots; the second one considers the coefficients in the exact RUR as zeroes of a high dimensional map defined by polynomial reduction and applies Newton iteration on this map. We prove that over fields with a p-adic valuation these two approaches give the same iteration function. However, over fields equipped with the usual Archimedean absolute value they are not equivalent. In the latter case, we give explicitly the iteration function for both approaches. Finally, we analyze the parallel complexity of the different versions of the global Newton iteration, compare them, and demonstrate that they can be efficiently computed. The motivation for this study comes from the certification of approximate roots of overdetermined and singular polynomial systems via the recovery of an exact RUR from approximate numerical data.
High-dose radioimmunotherapy of lymphomas

In the past 20 years impressive advances have been made in our ability to cure newly diagnosed patients with intermediate and high-grade non- Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) using anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens [1]. However, few patients with low-grade lymphomas or with relapsed lymphomas of any type are curable with conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Massive doses of chemoradiotherapy in conjunction with autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation are capable of salvaging 10–50% of patients with relapsed lymphomas [2,3], but 5–20% of patients treated in this manner die of transplant-related complications, such as interstitial pneumonia, veno-occlusive disease of the liver, and renal failure [4]. Further escalation of chemoradiotherapy doses beyond those currently used in marrow transplant conditioning regimens (1200–1575 cGy of external beam total body irradiation and 120mg/kg of cyclophosphamide) has not been feasible because of unacceptable regimen-related morbidity and mortality [4]. However, such prohibitive normal organ toxicity might be avoided despite dose escalation if radiation (or chemotherapy) were selectively targeted to tumor sites using monoclonal antibodies recognizing tumor-associated antigens [5]. This approach should theoretically enhance the dose of cytocidal radioactivity delivered to tumor sites, while sparing normal organs from the deleterious consequences of irradiation. Preliminary experiments in animal models have documented the feasibility and efficacy of such an approach [6,7], and two human trials of high-dose radioimmunotherapy with marrow transplantation have been reported [8, 9, 10].
Power Loss in Switched-Capacitor Power Converters: Causes and Analysis

The design of modern switched-capacitor (SC) power converters entails the generation of highly precise and efficient power supply modules, which can operate over a large range of input and output voltage levels and load power demands. The development of a highly efficient power supply should thus involve an in-depth investigation on the various power loss mechanisms in the power stage, gate drive buffers and controller. This is especially critical for the SC power converters designed for self-powered microsystems, wherein the losses could be comparable to the energy harvested and load power demands.
Multicultural Perspectives on the Neuropsychology of Brain Injury Assessment and Rehabilitation

Each year it is estimated that 500,000 new cases of traumatic brain injury occur in the United States resulting in an estimated incidence rate of approximately 200 per 100,000 in the population when they are accounted for in epidemiological studies of hospitalized patients. Further, it is estimated that more than 200,000 people per year suffer continuous symptoms of functional disability as a result of brain injury (Jennett, Snoek, Bond, & Brooks, 1981; Kalsbeek, McLauren, Harris, & Miller, 1981; Kraus, 1978). In data collected from 46,761 households in the 1991 National Health Interview Survey, Sosin, Sniezek, and Thurman (1996) found an estimated 1.5 million individuals who reportedly sustained mild to moderate brain injury and were not hospitalized. The economic drain on families is tremendous. This was demonstrated by Jacobs (1988) who found that 62% of families of those with brain injury who were surveyed in the Los Angeles area reported anywhere between mild financial drain and a situation where all family resources were used to pay for the costs of care. These statistics in combination highlight the vast numbers of individuals who have acquired a brain injury with resultant disability, and who can therefore benefit from services to improve functional abilities and quality of life.
Acknowledging and transcending ‘failure’: lifeworld possibilities and system constraints

In this article, we interrogate the concept of methodological ‘failures’ as they arise during fieldwork, in the process of collecting empirical data. We highlight how the techniques of validity hor...
The Power of Emotional Benefits: Examining the Role of Benefit Focus on Donation Behavior

In donation contexts, many advertising appeals focus on the benefits that those in need will receive as the result of donations. Yet little is known about the effect that benefit information has on...
Abstract 4080: Expansion of CX3CR1+ cytotoxic CD8+ T cells provides a rationale for IL-15 in combination cancer therapy with PD-1 antibody

Introduction: IL-15 has been used in clinical trials with PD-1 antibody to overcome cancer resistance to PD-1 monotherapy in cancer patients. However, it is not clear what T cell population would be expanded to mediate tumor control in IL-15 in combination with PD-1 antibody. We recently found CX3CR1+ cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, which increased in responders compared with non-responders after anti-PD-1 in melanoma patients, demonstrated an increased transcription of CD122 (IL2RB). Since CD122 is a subunit of IL-15 receptor, we hypothesized that IL-15 in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy may have the ability to expand CX3CR1+ cytotoxic CD8+ T cells for tumor control. Methods and findings: To examine whether IL-15 plus anti-PD-1 expand CX3CR1+ cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in tumor tissues, we treated tumor-bearing mice with IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes alone or with PD-1 antibody and measured the frequency of CX3CR1+Granzyme B+ CD8+ T cells. As only the combination therapy induced dramatic tumor regression, we found the highest increase of CX3CR1+Granzyme B+ CD8 T cells in tumor tissues in the group treated with IL-15 plus anti-PD-1 (28.87±3.19% vs. 7.91±1.32%, p Summary: Taken together, we found IL-15 combined with anti-PD-1 therapy has the ability to significantly expand CX3CR1+ cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, however IL-15 alone may have limited ability to significantly expand this effector cell population. Our studies provide a new rational for combination therapy of IL-15 and PD-1 antibody to overcome cancer resistance for patients who did not respond to initial PD-1 therapy. Citation Format: Henan Zhang, Xin Liu, Siyu Cao, Lingling Chen, Susan Harrington, Ying Li, Aaron Mansfield, Sean Park, Yiyi Yan, Roxana Dronca, Haidong Dong. Expansion of CX3CR1+ cytotoxic CD8+ T cells provides a rationale for IL-15 in combination cancer therapy with PD-1 antibody [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4080.
Glucocorticoids regulate adipose tissue protein concentration in a depot- and sex-specific manner.

AbstractPreclinical and clinical findings indicate that glucocorticoids (GC) induce lipid accumulation in visceral depots, while inhibiting lipid stores from subcutaneous depots. Whereas some sugge...
Inelastic seismic response of box-girder bridges due to torsional ground motions

Abstract The torsional components of strong ground motions (TGMs) may result in unanticipated displacement and force demand particularly in highway bridges due to their complex dynamic characteristics. For this purpose, the present study investigates the effects of TGMs on the inelastic seismic response of continuous concrete box-girder highway bridges with seat type abutments. Three-dimensional finite element (3D FE) models of bridges with varying skew angles, number of bent columns, and column height-to-diameter ratios were developed using OpenSees, and a series of nonlinear response history analyses were conducted. Comparison of seismic response of bridges subjected to only translational and both translational and TGMs revealed that TGMs may result in uneven and asymmetric failure of the shear keys. Therefore, deck rotations are significantly amplified due to induced instantaneous eccentricity when deck comes in contact with shear key(s). The amplified impact forces due to TGMs further amplify the deck rotations, which in return result in higher inelastic displacement and force demand. Last but not the least, the induced torsion due to TGM combined with axial-flexure-shear interactions may result in complex failure modes, higher shear stresses, and reduction in lateral deformation and flexural capacity of the bridge columns.
Specific OCRL1 patient mutations differentially impact Lowe Syndrome cellular phenotypes

ABSTRACT Lowe Syndrome (LS) is a lethal genetic disorder caused by mutations in the OCRL1 gene, which encodes the lipid 5’ phosphatase Ocrl1. Patients exhibit a characteristic triad of symptoms including eyes, brain and kidneys abnormalities with renal failure as the most common cause of death. Over 200 OCRL1 mutations have been identified in LS, but their specific impact on cellular processes is unknown. Despite observations of heterogeneity in LS patient symptoms, there is little understanding of the correlation between the genotype of patients and disease and/or cellular phenotypes. Here, we showed that different mutations had diverse effects on protein localization, stability and on triggering LS cellular phenotypes. In addition, mutations in specific domains imparted unique characteristics to the resulting mutated protein. We also propose that some mutations conformationally affect the 5’-phosphatase domain of the protein, resulting in additional phenotypes and loss of activity. This study is the first to show the differential effect of patient 5’-phosphatase mutations on cellular phenotypes and introduces a conformational disease component in LS. This work can provide a framework that can help stratify patients as well as provide a more accurate prognosis depending on the nature and location of the mutation in the OCRL1 gene and its effect on the biochemical activity of Ocrl1.
Universal Conversion Efficiency Scaling with Free-Spectral-Range for Soliton Kerr Combs

We experimentally and theoretically investigate the dependence of the pump-to-comb conversion efficiency of soliton Kerr combs on the cavity free-spectral-range and determine that three different regimes exist with distinct scaling behavior.
Enhanced iceberg discharge in the western North Atlantic during all Heinrich events of the last glaciation

Abstract A series of catastrophic iceberg and meltwater discharges to the North Atlantic, termed Heinrich events, punctuated the last ice age. During Heinrich events, coarse terrigenous debris released from the drifting icebergs was preserved in deep-sea sediments, serving as an indicator of iceberg passage. Quantifying the vertical flux of ice-rafted debris (IRD) in open-ocean settings can resolve questions regarding the timing and spatial variation in ice sheet calving intensity. In this study, 230Thxs-based IRD flux throughout the last glacial period was measured in a deep-sea sediment core from the western North Atlantic, and complemented by data spanning 0-32 ka from a sediment core in the Labrador Sea. The cores were recovered from sites downstream from Hudson Strait, a likely conduit for icebergs calving from the Laurentide ice sheet (LIS). We compare our results with equivalent existing data from the eastern North Atlantic and show that the two cores in our study have higher IRD fluxes during all Heinrich events, notably including events H3 (∼31 ka) and H6 (∼60 ka). This study demonstrates that the LIS played a role in all Heinrich events, and raises the likelihood that a single mechanism can account for the genesis of these events.
Analysis of the relation between quadratic unconstrained binary optimization and the spin-glass ground-state problem

An inherent weakness in a widely used formulation of the Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization problem is revealed when transformed into an Ising spin glass. In the ground state, spins in the glass experience external magnetic fields, many of which are of a sizable magnitude to entirely coerce their spins into alignment, irrespective of any coupling; only a small fraction of spins can resist. Thus, the effective size of this NP-hard combinatorial problem is much smaller than is apparent from the number of variables involved.
Analyzing movies to predict their commercial viability for producers

Upon film premiere, a major form of speculation concerns the relative success of the film. This relativity is in particular regards to the film's original budget, as many a time have big-budget blockbusters been met with exceptional success as met with abject failure. So how does one predict the success of an upcoming film? In this paper, we explored a vast array of film data in an attempt to develop a model that could predict the expected return of an upcoming film. The approach to this development is as follows: First, we began with the MovieLens dataset having common movie attributes along with genome tags per each film. Genome tags give insight into what particular characteristics of the film are most salient. We then included additional features regarding film content, cast/crew, audience perception, budget, and earnings from TMDB, IMDB, and Metacritic websites. Next, we performed exploratory data analysis and engineered a wide range of new features capturing historical information for the available features. Thereafter, we used singular value decomposition (SVD) for dimensionality reduction of the high dimensional features (ex. genome tags). Finally, we built a Random Forest Classifier and performed hyper-parameter tuning to optimize for model accuracy. A future application of our model could be seen in the film industry, allowing production companies to better predict the expected return of their projects based on their envisioned outline for their production procedure, thereby allowing them to revise their plan in an attempt to achieve optimal returns.
An ecological perspective on living with fire in ponderosa pine forests of Oregon and Washington: Resistance, gone but not forgotten

Abstract Wildland fires (WLF) have become more frequent, larger, and severe with greater impacts to society and ecosystems and dramatic increases in firefighting costs. Forests throughout the range of ponderosa pine in Oregon and Washington are jeopardized by the interaction of anomalously dense forest structure, a warming and drying climate, and an expanding human population. These forests evolved with frequent interacting disturbances including low-severity surface fires, droughts, and biological disturbance agents (BDAs). Chronic low-severity disturbances were, and still are, critical to maintaining disturbance resistance, the property of an ecosystem to withstand disturbance while maintaining its structure and ecological function. Restoration of that historical resistance offers multiple social and ecological benefits. Moving forward, we need a shared understanding of the ecology of ponderosa pine forests to appreciate how restoring resistance can reduce the impacts of disturbances. Given contemporary forest conditions, a warming climate, and growing human populations, we predict continued elevation of tree mortality from drought, BDAs, and the large high-severity WLFs that threaten lives and property as well as ecosystem functions and services. We recommend more comprehensive planning to promote greater use of prescribed fire and management of reported fires for ecological benefits, plus increased responsibility and preparedness of local agencies, communities and individual homeowners for WLF and smoke events. Ultimately, by more effectively preparing for fire in the wildland urban interface, and by increasing the resistance of ponderosa pine forests, we can greatly enhance our ability to live with fire and other disturbances.