cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Joint Optimal Channel Probing and Transmission in Collocated Wireless Networks

We consider a collocated wireless network where all links contend for a given channel and each link can hear others' transmissions. Due to channel fading, the link condition corresponding to a successful channel probing could be either good or bad. In the latter case, further channel probing may lead to better channel conditions, which in turn yields higher throughput. There is clearly a tradeoff between the throughput gain from better channel conditions and the cost for further channel probing. The desired tradeoff can be achieved by choosing the optimal stopping time for channel probing and the transmission rate, in the sense of maximizing the overall average throughput. Using optimal stopping theory, we show that the joint optimal channel probing and transmission (JOCPT) strategy is a pure threshold policy, and interestingly, the threshold turns out to be the optimal average throughput, which is the solution to a fixed point equation. Since the optimal throughput usually cannot be obtained in closed form, we derive a lower bound and an upper bound on the optimal throughput, and devise an iterative algorithm to compute it. Finally, we use numerical examples to show that significant throughput gain can be achieved by the JOCPT strategy.
Novel on-chip Through-Silicon-Via Wilkinson power divider

On-chip Wilkinson power dividers are used in MMW circuit designs such as phased array antenna systems. This paper presents a novel on-chip MMW Through-Silicon-Via (TSV) Wilkinson power divider. HFSS simulations of the TSV Wilkinson power divider in a 130 nm BiCMOS technology revealed insertion loss per λ/4 “arm” of 0.9 dB at 60 GHz with both return loss and isolation better than 18 dB at 60 GHz and good matching in both signal phase and amplitude at the two outputs.
Bionic ankle–foot prosthesis normalizes walking gait for persons with leg amputation

Over time, leg prostheses have improved in design, but have been incapable of actively adapting to different walking velocities in a manner comparable to a biological limb. People with a leg amputation using such commercially available passive-elastic prostheses require significantly more metabolic energy to walk at the same velocities, prefer to walk slower and have abnormal biomechanics compared with non-amputees. A bionic prosthesis has been developed that emulates the function of a biological ankle during level-ground walking, specifically providing the net positive work required for a range of walking velocities. We compared metabolic energy costs, preferred velocities and biomechanical patterns of seven people with a unilateral transtibial amputation using the bionic prosthesis and using their own passive-elastic prosthesis to those of seven non-amputees during level-ground walking. Compared with using a passive-elastic prosthesis, using the bionic prosthesis decreased metabolic cost by 8 per cent, increased trailing prosthetic leg mechanical work by 57 per cent and decreased the leading biological leg mechanical work by 10 per cent, on average, across walking velocities of 0.75–1.75 m s−1 and increased preferred walking velocity by 23 per cent. Using the bionic prosthesis resulted in metabolic energy costs, preferred walking velocities and biomechanical patterns that were not significantly different from people without an amputation.
Combinatorial Optimization in Rapidly Mutating Drug-Resistant Viruses

Resistance to chemicals is a common current problem in many pests and pathogens that formerly were controlled by chemicals. An extreme case occurs in rapidly mutating viruses such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), where the emergence of selective drug resistance within an individual patient may become an important factor in treatment choice. The HIV patient subpopulation that already has experienced at least one treatment failure due to drug resistance is considered more challenging to treat because the treatment options have been reduced. A triply nested combinatorial optimization problem occurs in computational attempts to optimize HIV patient treatment protocol (drug regimen) with respect to drug resistance, given a set of HIV genetic sequences from the patient. In this paper the optimization problem is characterized, and the objects involved are represented computationally. An implemented branch-and-bound algorithm that computes a solution to the problem is described and proved correct. Data shown includes empirical timing results on representative patient data, example clinical output, and summary statistics from an initial small-scale human clinical trial.
Computational Model of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ : The Effects of Contact Inhibition on Pattern Formation

The computational model presented in this paper focuses on modeling ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is the most commonly detected preinvasive form of breast cancer. The model aims to understand the biological mechanisms and resultant growth dynamics of DCIS. The cellular automaton model based on observed phenotypic characteristics of DCIS emphasize the important role of contact inhibition on lesion pattern formation. Computer simulations resembled the cribriform, micropapillary, solid, and comedo patterns of DCIS. The model has led to insights about the progression of the preinvasive disease such as possible explanations for coexisting micropapillary and cribriform patterns commonly found through histological analyses.
Gramene database in 2010: updates and extensions

Now in its 10th year, the Gramene database (http://www.gramene.org) has grown from its primary focus on rice, the first fully-sequenced grass genome, to become a resource for major model and crop plants including Arabidopsis, Brachypodium, maize, sorghum, poplar and grape in addition to several species of rice. Gramene began with the addition of an Ensembl genome browser and has expanded in the last decade to become a robust resource for plant genomics hosting a wide array of data sets including quantitative trait loci (QTL), metabolic pathways, genetic diversity, genes, proteins, germplasm, literature, ontologies and a fully-structured markers and sequences database integrated with genome browsers and maps from various published studies (genetic, physical, bin, etc.). In addition, Gramene now hosts a variety of web services including a Distributed Annotation Server (DAS), BLAST and a public MySQL database. Twice a year, Gramene releases a major build of the database and makes interim releases to correct errors or to make important updates to software and/or data.
The effect of intrinsic magnetic properties on permanent magnet repulsion

Magnetic repulsion is currently under active consideration as a means for providing quiet, frictionless suspension for future tracked ground transportation vehicles and for providing high-reliability, long-lived, friction-free bearings for unique new devices and components. Analytical and experimental results indicate that the superior intrinsic magnetic properties of certain members of a new class of permanent magnet materials, the rare-earth-cobalts (including PrCo 5 and SmCo5), have intrinsic magnetic properties that make them outstanding candidates for such applications. Experimental results verify analytical predictions that repulsive force characteristics of permanent magnet pairs are critically dependent on intrinsic magnetic properties. The repulsive force is shown to be proportional to the product of the magnetizations MM' of the opposing magnets, which, in turn, depend on the magnetization versus demagnetizing field ( M versus H ) characteristics of the magnets. It is predicted that magnets will produce repulsive force in total demagnetizing fields less than their intrinsic coercive force |H T | M H c ; i.e., their intrinsic coercive force can be considered the limiting field value for repulsion operation. Permanent magnet materials suitable for repulsion applications include the barium ferrites and platinum cobalt as well as the rare-earth-cobalts. The intrinsic characteristics of the Alnicos make them unsuitable for repulsion applications. Experiments show that PrCo 5 magnets having twice the residual magnetization M r of oriented barium ferrite magnets of similar size and shape produce four times the repulsive force. PrCo 5 magnets with maximum theoretical magnetization would provide about eleven times the repulsive force of similar barium ferrite magnets.
Molecular Interactions of Cells with Antibody and Complement: Influence of Metabolic and Physical Properties of the Target on the Outcome of Humoral Immune Attack

The discovery of complement emerged from the observations of Buchner (1839a,b,c), Von Fodor (1886, 1887), and Nuttal (1888) that guinea pig serum had bacteriocidal activity. Bordet (1895) subsequently demonstrated that the bacteriocidal activity of serum required the cooperation of a thermostabile substance, antibody, and a thermolabile substance, complement (C). Since then it has been shown that C is capable of interacting with and killing protozoa (Anziano et al., 1972), viruses (Almeida et al.,1972), erythrocytes (Kabat and Mayer, 1961; Rapp and Borsos, 1970), and nucleated cells (Green et al., 1959b; Green and Goldberg, 1960; Humphrey and Dourmashkin, 1969). In addition, complement activity has been detected in the sera of many mammalian species as well as in sera of lower vertebrates (Bellow, 1977).
ROP Gtpase–Dependent Dynamics of Tip-Localized F-Actin Controls Tip Growth in Pollen Tubes

Tip-growing pollen tubes provide a useful model system to study polar growth. Although roles for tip-focused calcium gradient and tip-localized Rho-family GTPase in pollen tube growth is established, the existence and function of tip-localized F-actin have been controversial. Using the green fluorescent protein–tagged actin-binding domain of mouse talin, we found a dynamic form of tip-localized F-actin in tobacco pollen tubes, termed short actin bundles (SABs). The dynamics of SABs during polar growth in pollen tubes is regulated by Rop1At, a Rop GTPase belonging to the Rho family. When overexpressed, Rop1At transformed SAB into a network of fine filaments and induced a transverse actin band behind the tip, leading to depolarized growth. These changes were due to ectopic Rop1At localization to the apical region of the plasma membrane and were suppressed by guanine dissociation inhibitor overexpression, which removed ectopically localized Rop1At. Rop GTPase–activating protein (RopGAP1) overexpression, or Latrunculin B treatments, also recovered normal actin organization and tip growth in Rop1At-overexpressing tubes. Moreover, overexpression of RopGAP1 alone disrupted SABs and inhibited growth. Finally, SAB oscillates and appears at the tip before growth. Together, these results indicate that the dynamics of tip actin are essential for tip growth and provide the first direct evidence to link Rho GTPase to actin organization in controlling cell polarity and polar growth in plants.
Interparental Conflict, Parenting, and Childhood Depression in a Diverse Urban Population: The Role of General Cognitive Style

Research on the mechanisms by which interparental conflict (IPC) affects child depression suggests that both parenting and children's conflict appraisals play important roles, but few studies have explored the role of general cognitive style or included both parenting and cognitions in the same design. Moreover, the effects of IPC on minority children are not well understood. In this longitudinal study, parenting was examined as a mediator of the relation between increasing IPC and change in depression. General cognitive style was included as a moderator. The combined influence of parenting and cognitions was also explored. A racially and ethnically diverse sample of 88 fifth and sixth graders from two urban schools reported their cognitive style, depressive symptoms, and perceptions of conflict and parenting at two time points separated by one year. Parental warmth/rejection mediated the relation between IPC and depression, and general cognitive style acted as a moderator. Parenting, cognitive style, and IPC did not significantly interact to predict change in depression over time. Findings indicate that both parenting and children's general cognitive style play a role in understanding the impact of increasing IPC on children's well-being.
Open Pulmonary Biopsy: Nineteen-Year Experience with 416 Consecutive Operations

Four hundred and sixteen open pulmonary biopsies through limited thoracotomies are reported. Tissue sufficient for diagnosis was obtained in all cases. Case selection, operative technique, spectrum of diagnoses, complications, and comparisons with other techniques are defined. Diagnoses by category were as follows: occupational, 105 patients (25 percent); neoplastic disease, 80 patients (19 percent); specific histologic diagnosis, (ie, sarcoidosis), 70 patients (17 percent); specific infection, 23 patients (6 percent); vascular diagnosis, 16 patients (4 percent); and nonspecific pulmonary disease, 122 patients (29 percent). Pneumothorax, minor in most cases, was the most common complication. It occurred in 97 (23 percent) of the patients, but only 24 (6 percent) required the placement of a chest tube. Pleural effusion occurred in 106 patients (25 percent) and was minor. Hemothorax occurred in two (0.5 percent) and superficial wound infection in three (0.7 percent). Overall mortality was 4.5 percent (19 patients). Only two deaths (0.4 percent) were related to the procedure. Open pulmonary biopsy remains our diagnostic method of choice in diffuse lung disease of undetermined etiology.
Segmentation of heterogeneous blob objects through voting and level set formulation

Blob-like structures occur often in nature, where they aid in cueing and the pre-attentive process. These structures often overlap, form perceptual boundaries, and are heterogeneous in shape, size, and intensity. In this paper, voting, Voronoi tessellation, and level set methods are combined to delineate blob-like structures. Voting and subsequent Voronoi tessellation provide the initial condition and the boundary constraints for each blob, while curve evolution through level set formulation provides refined segmentation of each blob within the Voronoi region. The paper concludes with the application of the proposed method to a dataset produced from cell based fluorescence assays and stellar data.
The United States and the Pacific: History of a Frontier. By Jean Heffer. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2002. Pp. xii, 509. $ 48.95.

Jean Heffer's book is a translation from a French edition published in 1995 in the collection L'Evolution de l'humanitA© by Editions Albin Michel. The work is a synthesis of United States history in the Pacific.The author uses the concept of a dynamic frontier moving from the American shores to Asia. Heffer considers the Pacific Ocean, â€œas it is usually defined by oceanologists, i.e., ending at the Bering Strait in the north and including the seas along the Asian continent in the west, from the Sea of Okhotsk to the Java Sea, and washing the eastern coast of Australiaâ€ (p. 5). This choice avoids the customary pitfalls of studies that ignore some of the identifiable regions that form part of the Pacific.
Differential effects of ribosomal proteins and Mg2+ ions on a conformational switch during 30S ribosome 5′-domain assembly

Ribosomal protein S4 nucleates assembly of the 30S ribosome 5' and central domains, which is crucial for the survival of cells. Protein S4 changes the structure of its 16S rRNA binding site, passing through a non-native intermediate complex before forming native S4-rRNA contacts. Ensemble FRET was used to measure the thermodynamic stability of non-native and native S4 complexes in the presence of Mg(2+) ions and other 5'-domain proteins. Equilibrium titrations of Cy3-labeled 5'-domain RNA with Cy5-labeled protein S4 showed that Mg(2+) ions preferentially stabilize the native S4-rRNA complex. In contrast, ribosomal proteins S20 and S16 act by destabilizing the non-native S4-rRNA complex. The full cooperative switch to the native complex requires S4, S16, and S20 and is achieved to a lesser degree by S4 and S16. The resulting thermodynamic model for assembly of the 30S body illustrates how ribosomal proteins selectively bias the equilibrium between alternative rRNA conformations, increasing the cooperativity of rRNA folding beyond what can be achieved by Mg(2+) ions alone.
Problems in Pricing

Five carefully constructed problems illustrate the concepts of second-market discounting, price skimming, limit pricing, random discounting, premium pricing, and bundling.
Books Be Gone! Reducing an Academic Library's Print Collection by Half to Meet Strategic Planning Initiatives and Participate in a Joint Library Resource-Sharing Facility

ABSTRACTWhat happens when an academic library's print collection is reduced by half to meet strategic planning goals? The library at the University of Texas (UT) at Tyler joined a shared resources facility—the Joint Library Facility (JLF)—that uses a resource-in-common (RIC) model. The current article describes UT Tyler library's massive weeding project and decision to participate in the JLF as a result of strategic planning initiatives, explains the RIC model along with the JLF, outlines some pros and cons of participation in the JLF/RIC model, and reviews what was learned from the experience.
Bis(phosphine)cobalt dialkyl complexes for directed catalytic alkene hydrogenation

Planar, low-spin cobalt(II) dialkyl complexes bearing bidentate phosphine ligands, (P–P)Co(CH2SiMe3)2, are active for the hydrogenation of geminal and 1,2-disubstituted alkenes. Hydrogenation of more hindered internal and endocyclic trisubstituted alkenes was achieved through hydroxyl group activation, an approach that also enables directed hydrogenations to yield contrasteric isomers of cyclic alkanes.
Mental health stigma: Theory, developmental issues, and research priorities.

Mental health stigma is arguably the fundamental issue in the entire mental health field, including developmental psychopathology, given its impact on every participant in the enterprise: scientists, clinicians, social theorists, policymakers, and those contending with mental disorder as well as their many associates. This chapter synthesizes core findings in mental health stigma research and articulates strategies to strengthen its explanatory and applied reach. Specifically, topics include theoretical perspectives on stigma (including social psychological and evolutionary approaches), historical accounts, empirical and cultural evidence for stigma, intersecting developmental themes, future research directions, and strategies to overcome mental health stigma. The chapter includes an integrative theoretical model, incorporating the vantage point of the social perceiver (the person doing the stigmatizing) and the target (the experiencer) of that stigma. It is concluded that although stigma processes may be universal—given evidence that stigma is pancultural and even evolutionarily wired into the mind/brain as an “us” versus “them” module—it can nevertheless be meaningfully reduced. Stigma reduction efforts must consist of multilevel interventions that leverage psychological, family, community, and policy factors. Keywords: discrimination; evolutionary; contact; social cognition; attribution; prejudice; mental health stigma
Effect of Overhead Spray and Brush Roller Treatment on the Survival of Pectobacterium and Salmonella on Tomato Surfaces

Overhead spray and brush roller (OSBR) treatment has been shown to remove significantly more Salmonella from tomato surfaces than flume treatment. However, OSBR is not widely used in tomato packing facilities compared with other commodities, and little is known about whether brushing causes microabrasions or other physical damage. Bacteria such as Pectobacterium, a soft rot–producing plant pathogen, and Salmonella, a human pathogen, show increased survival and growth on damaged tomato surfaces. This study evaluated whether OSBR treatment had a negative effect on the safety and/or marketability of tomatoes by examining its effect on Pectobacterium and Salmonella survival. Pectobacterium survival was evaluated on inoculated tomatoes that were OSBR treated with water or sanitizer (100 ppm of NaOCl, 5 ppm of ClO2, or 80 ppm of peracetic acid). A 15-s OSBR treatment using water or sanitizer achieved a 3-log CFU/ml reduction in Pectobacterium levels. Survival of Pectobacterium and Salmonella on OSBR-treated, un...
Substance Use as a Mediator of the Association Between Demographics, Suicide Attempt History, and Future Suicide Attempts in Emergency Department Patients

Abstract. Background: Identification of factors that predict and protect against attempted suicide are critical for the development of effective suicide prevention and intervention programs. Aims: To examine whether substance use mediates the association between demographic characteristics, suicide attempt history, and reports of a suicide attempt within 12 months after screening positive for active suicidal ideation or behavior during the index emergency department (ED) visit. Method: Data were collected during the first two phases of the Emergency Department Safety Assessment and Follow-up Evaluation (ED-SAFE) study. Data collection included baseline interview; 6- and 12-month chart reviews; and 6-, 12-, 24-, 36-, and 52-week telephone follow-up assessments. Structural equation modeling was used. All p values were two-tailed, with p < .05 considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 874 subjects, 195 (22%) reported a suicide attempt within 12 months after the index ED visit. Of participants ...
Cytopathologic features of clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma: A recently described variant to be considered in the differential diagnosis of clear cell renal epithelial neoplasms.

BACKGROUND Clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma (CCPRCC) is a distinctive variant of renal cell carcinoma that has been formally adopted by the new Word Health Organization classification. An emerging consensus has documented its particularly indolent course and emphasized its separation from conventional clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) for treatment planning. CCPRCC features in cytologic preparations have not been studied. METHODS This study retrospectively identified a series of CCPRCCs that had cytology samples before the histopathologic diagnosis and reviewed corresponding cytologic materials, including aspirate smears, cell block materials, touch preparations, and core biopsy samples. The identified clinicopathologic and cytologic features were tabulated. RESULTS Five cases of CCPRCC with cytopathologic materials were identified from 4 women and 1 man aged 34 to 70 years (2 with end-stage renal disease), and the sampled lesions were 1.8 to 11.0 cm. The original cytopathologic diagnostic considerations ranged from atypical cyst-lining cells to angiomyolipoma to CCRCC and CCPRCC. The aspirate and touch preparation samples showed scant cellularity with scattered sheets and clusters of small, bland epithelial cells (much smaller than admixed renal tubular cells) with optically clear cytoplasm (lacking conspicuous cytoplasmic vacuolization) and small, grade 1 nuclei. The cell block materials and the core biopsy samples showed cyst walls with prominent myomatous stroma lined by low-grade epithelium with optically clear cytoplasm, inverse nuclear polarization, and a characteristic cytokeratin 7–positive/carbonic anhydrase IX–positive phenotype. Three cases were treated with resection, 1 case was treated with ablation, and 1 case was under surveillance. CONCLUSIONS CCPRCC demonstrates recognizable cytomorphologic features and merits consideration in the cytologic differential diagnosis for kidney lesions. With increasing experience, more conservative management may be contemplated. Cancer Cytopathol 2016. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Histone H4 stimulates glucose transport activity in rat skeletal muscle

We investigated the effects of purified histone H4 on glucose transport activity in rat soleus and flexor digitorum brevis muscles. Histone H4, at concentrations up to 11.8 microM, increased 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake in a dose-dependent fashion. However, at concentrations higher than 11.8 microM, H4 caused a decrease in 2-DG uptake from the maximum, suggesting a secondary inhibitory action of this compound. The maximal effect of H4 on 2-DG uptake was not additive to the maximal effect of insulin. Moreover, 2-DG uptake in the presence of both H4 and insulin was significantly lower than the 2-DG uptake in the presence of insulin alone. The maximal effect of H4 on stimulation of 2-DG uptake was neither additive nor inhibitory to the maximal effects of the intracellularly acting insulin mimetics sodium vanadate or H2O2. It was, on the other hand, additive to the maximal effects of muscle contractions. Also, in contrast with the effects of H4 on insulin-stimulated 2-DG uptake, H4 did not inhibit insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)-stimulated 2-DG uptake, as the maximal effects of H4 and IGF-I were additive. Scatchard analysis of the binding of 125I-insulin in the absence or presence of histone H4 revealed that H4 increased the specific binding of insulin without affecting receptor affinity. These data suggest that H4 interacts with the insulin, rather than the hypoxia/contraction, pathway for activation of glucose transport in muscle tissue, and that H4 acts either directly or indirectly to increase the number of insulin receptors at the surface of the muscle cell. This interaction does not appear to occur with the similar, although distinct, IGF-I receptor. These studies may provide additional insight into the complex signal-transduction systems of insulin action.
Correction: Design of noncentrosymmetric perovskites from centric and acentric basic building units

Correction for ‘Design of noncentrosymmetric perovskites from centric and acentric basic building units’ by Joshua Young et al., J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4, 4016–4027.
Should We Limit Innings Pitched After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Major League Baseball Pitchers

Background:Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) has become a common procedure among Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers. It is unclear if a limit on innings pitched after UCLR should be instituted to prevent revision UCLR.Hypothesis:Number of innings pitched and number of pitches thrown after UCLR will not affect whether a pitcher requires a revision UCLR.Study Design:Descriptive laboratory study.Methods:All MLB pitchers between 1974 and 2015 who pitched at least 1 full season after UCLR were included in this study. Pitch counts and innings pitched for the first full season after UCLR as well as total pitch count and total innings pitched were recorded. Pitch counts and innings pitched were compared among players who required revision UCLR and those who did not.Results:Overall, 154 pitchers were included. Of these, 135 pitchers did not require revision UCLR while 19 underwent revision UCLR. No significant difference existed between pitchers who underwent revision UCLR and those who did not whe...
Demonstrative Pronouns: A Source of Definite Articles in History

This chapter discusses the emergence of the definite article in the Romance languages, a topic focal to Romance linguistics for a long while (see, e.g. Bouvier 1972; Garrido 1988; Lapesa 1979; Renzi 1976; Trager 1932; Vaananen 1987). I offer an up-to-date explanation in terms of grammaticalization theory (Heine et al. 1991) and discourse analysis as well as other linguistic devices (statistical, structural, and functional analysis, iconicity, and naturalness).
Exploring Engineered Complex Adaptive Systems of Systems

Abstract The rise of automation in many systems; and technology ubiquity in general, present some complex operational environments that require highly collaborative Complex Adaptive Systems of Systems (CASoS) solutions. This paper describes the need to engineer CASoS and explores how they may be applied to address complex problems. This effort builds on a developing body of knowledge in complex systems and focuses on understanding characteristics and measures of CASoS with an ultimate goal on developing engineered CASoS. The implications of deeper CASoS understanding hold potential for more effective future responses to naturally-occurring and adversarial CASoS. Thus, there stands much to gain in increasing this body of knowledge.
EduFeed: A Social Feed to Engage Preliterate Children in Educational Activities

In this work, we present EduFeed, a system that enables preliterate children to explore an algorithmically-mediated social feed of learning exercises, select activities to engage in, and share them with their peers. We deployed EduFeed as a technology probe to three classrooms of ESL students in the first year of elementary school in India who had limited English literacy and limited experience with touchscreen technology. We found that children were able to self-direct their engagement with the system and were initially motivated by digital sharing, while social context surrounding the system in physical space was also important. Based on our design and probe deployment, we reflect on issues relevant to adapting the social feed paradigm to this context, such as ranking algorithms, physicality, immediacy, and bridging physical and digital collaborative experiences.
Effect of a randomised 12-week resistance training programme on muscular strength, cross-sectional area and muscle quality in women having undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a 12-week resistance training programme on fat-free mass (FFM), muscle cross-sectional area, muscular strength and muscle quality in women who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Participants were 16 women (mean age = 44.9 ± 10.2 years) from bariatric surgical groups who were randomly assigned into either a control or an intervention group. Air displacement plethysmography measured FFM and magnetic resonance imaging measured quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area and whole thigh muscle cross-sectional area. Muscular strength and quality was assessed using an estimated 1-Repetition Maximum assessment. All measurements were collected twice, at baseline and at a 12-week follow-up. There were significantly greater improvements in leg press strength (mean differences = 55.4%, P < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 2.4), leg extension strength (mean differences = 18.0%, P = 0.014, Cohen’s d = 0.86) and leg press muscle quality (mean differences = 54.5%, P <...
Testing stimulus protocols in retinal-prosthesis patients

Retinal prostheses have demonstrated the capability to give blind patients the ability to detect motion and locate large objects. High-resolution retinal prostheses require precise activation of retinal cells to elicit a small visual phosphine that can serve as a building block to make patterns. Each electrode should activate only nearby cells, however patients receiving single electrode stimulation often report a streak-shaped phosphene rather than a focal spot. It is important to investigate stimulus paradigms that will provide better control over the spatial patterns of activation. During this study a 55 year old patient implanted with the Argus II system on August 2015 was tested with single electrode stimulation and pattern stimulation experiments. Tasks were performed using Argus II normal parameters.
A random field-based method to estimate convergence of apparent properties in computational homogenization

Abstract This work addresses the challenge of efficiently determining the representative volume size in computational homogenization by exploiting the requirement that mechanical response quantities are statistically homogeneous and ergodic random fields. The proposed computational homogenization approach focuses on empirically determining the autocorrelation functions of output response quantities through post processing finite element analyses. Once the autocorrelation functions are known, only trivial computations are needed to determine the variance of apparent properties as a function of domain size without any additional finite element computation by utilizing a simple formula relating the autocorrelation function to the variance of spatially averaged quantities. This approach improves upon the current established approach by circumventing the need to analyze numerous successively larger domains in order to determine convergence of apparent properties, which can be computationally prohibitive. Furthermore, similar previous analytical expressions for the variance of apparent properties are asymptotic with respect to domain size while the expression in the proposed approach is exact. After presenting the formulation, the method is first demonstrated for a one-dimensional bar model where analytical expressions can be derived. Then the approach is demonstrated on two numerical examples: (1) a plane strain, linear elastic domain with a lognormal random field describing its compliance, and (2) a stochastic polycrystalline microstructure of a Nickel super alloy having a crystal plasticity model for its constitutive law.
Abundant heterotopic bone formation following use of rhBMP-2 in the treatment of acetabular bone defects during revision hip arthroplasty.

Abstract Revision hip arthroplasty in the setting of periacetabular bone loss presents a significant challenge, as options for restoring bone loss are limited. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 may offer a solution by promoting bone growth to restore bone stock before implant reimplantation. Here we present a case of a patient with a periprosthetic acetabulum fracture, resulting in pelvic discontinuity as the result of significant periacetabular bone loss. Using a staged approach, periacetabular bone stock was nearly entirely reconstituted using recombinant BMPs and allograft, which resulted in stable fixation, but with abundant heterotopic bone formation. Recombinant BMP-2 offers a useful tool for restoring bone stock in complex hip arthroplasty revision cases with periacetabular bone loss; however, caution must be used as overabundant bone growth as heterotopic ossification may result.
Barrier Penetration and Exponential Decay in the Stark Effect

Let \(H = - \Delta + V + F{x_1} with V\left( x \right) = - \int {\frac{{\rho \left( y \right)}}{{\left| {x - y} \right|}}} {d^3}y\) and ρ a Gaussian charge distribution. Let ψ be an eigenvector of -Δ+V with negative eigenvalue. Among our results we show that for F ≠ 0, (ψ,e-itHψ) decays exponentially at a rate governed by the positions of the resonances of H. This exponential decay is in marked contrast to “conventional” atomic resonances for which power law decay is the rule.
Abstract 3911: Targeting the EphA2-ligand binding domain for the design of innovative cancer therapeutics

Eph receptors are the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases, and are involved in regulating several cellular processes, including cell migration, and angiogenesis. Among the Eph family, EphA2 has attracted great interest as it is overexpressed in several tumor types such as melanoma, breast, prostate, lung, colon, and ovarian cancers, and it is also implicated in various aspects of oncogenesis (proliferation, tumor angiogenesis, cell adhesion, migration and metastasis). Thus, EphA2 is a promising direct chemotherapeutic target and several trials are ongoing targeting its kinase domain. In addition, due to its ability to endocytose upon activation, EphA2 could also be used as a carrier of cytotoxic agents, particularly in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) or peptidomimetic-drug conjugates (PDCs), using agonistic agents that target its extracellular ligand binding domain (LBD). Hence, potent and selective EphA2-LBD targeting ADCs or PDCs may lead to a decrease in off-target cytotoxicity while maximizing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. Recently, a 12-mer agonistic peptide (YSAYPDSVPMMS, termed YSA in short) targeting EphA2-LBD with modest affinity has been identified by a phage display. YSA binding leads to EphA2 activation and internalization. Accordingly, we developed an innovative anti-triazole linker for the synthesis of EphA2-targeting peptide-drug conjugates to avoid the compatibility problems of disulfide and hydrazine linkers typical of ADCs. Using this strategy, our laboratory initially coupled the YSA peptide with an azide linker-derived taxane (paclitaxel, PTX), generating the desired YSA-PTX conjugate. Additional and more recent studies with a mildly improved EphA2-targeting agent, named 123B9, were also reported by our laboratory and tested in cellular and in vivo models of prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and melanoma. While these studies clearly suggest that YSA and 123B9 are capable of targeting cytotoxic agents to EphA2-expressing tumor cells, the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of the targeting agents need to be improved to translate these studies into potential new therapies. Our central hypotheses are that by using structure-based design strategies, and leveraging on our previous preliminary data, it should be possible to derive novel YSA or 123B9 derivatives with nanomolar potency against the receptor. In addition, we will show that such agents could be used to prevent cancer cell migration in several solid tumors including breast, prostate, pancreatic and melanomas when used as single agents. Citation Format: Parima Udompholkul, Luca Gambini, Ahmed F. Salem, Carlo Baggio, Maurizio Pellecchia. Targeting the EphA2-ligand binding domain for the design of innovative cancer therapeutics [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3911.
The tectonically controlled San Gabriel Channel–Lobe Transition Zone, Catalina Basin, Southern California Borderland

Abstract High-resolution geophysical data across the Catalina Basin, offshore southern California, USA, reveal a complex channel–lobe transition zone (CLTZ) and provide an opportunity to characterize an entire seafloor CLTZ in a tectonically active and confined-basin setting. The seafloor morphology, distribution of depositional and erosional features, and location of depocenters in the CLTZ are controlled by shifting confinement and seafloor gradient related to inherited basement structures, active faults, and basin margins. Below a Holocene hemipelagic drape, the Catalina Basin is dominated by CLTZ and lobe sedimentation from the San Gabriel Channel, with lesser accumulations from local sediment sources limited to basin margins. The San Gabriel Channel is structurally confined as it enters the Catalina Basin and appears unable to avulse; it continues into the basin as a channel that rapidly widens, decreases in relief, and becomes scoured at its margins. A CLTZ is imaged between the confined San Gabriel channel and its terminal lobes deposited > 50 km into the basin. Narrow, apparently disconnected channels with knickpoints occur throughout the proximal and mid-CLTZ and are concentrated near basement highs and basin-bounding Quaternary-active dextral strike-slip faults. A field of small-scale erosional crescent-shaped scours (∼ 100 m length, ∼ 200 m width, up to ∼ 10 m relief across ∼ 30 km2 region) occurs above a partially buried basement high that creates perturbations in seafloor gradient. Likewise, above a buried basement structure that locally increases seafloor gradient (up to 0.4°), the distal CLTZ may contain sediment waves (∼ 2–4 m wave height and ∼ 200–300 m wavelength) that are smaller than many other CLTZ examples. This study of the San Gabriel CLTZ in Catalina Basin provides high-resolution geophysical data coverage of a complete CLTZ and illustrates a tectonically controlled end-member CLTZ from the modern seafloor.
Proceedings of the 32nd ACM SIGPLAN-SIGACT symposium on Principles of programming languages

This volume contains the papers presented at POPL'05, The Thirty-Second Annual ACM SIGPLAN-SIGACT Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages. The POPL conference is a forum for the discussion of fundamental principles and important innovations in programming languages and systems. This year's conference is in Long Beach, California.The call for papers for the conference gave separate deadlines for brief abstracts and for the corresponding papers, one week apart in July 2004. We received 211 abstracts and 172 papers. We expect that we would have received an even higher number of papers had we been more lenient in enforcing the deadlines. Two of the papers were subsequently withdrawn. The submissions were handled with Microsoft's Conference Management Toolkit, kindly administered for us at Microsoft. Each submission was assigned to at least three members of the program committee. In many cases, reviews were solicited from outside experts. The program committee discussed the submissions electronically and then during a meeting at Stanford University on September 9 and 10, 2004. Each submission was judged on its perceived importance, originality, clarity, and appropriateness to the expected audience. The program committee selected 31 papers for presentation. Because of the format of the conference and the high number of submissions, many good papers could not be included in the conference program.Although submissions were read and evaluated, the papers that appear in this volume may differ in form and contents from the corresponding submissions. Indeed, these papers may incorporate improvements suggested by the program committee; those improvements and other changes have not been subject to further review. In this and other respects, the conference selection process does not constitute a full review. It is expected that many of the papers printed here will be revised and submitted to refereed archival journals for publication.In addition to the contributed papers, the POPL'05 program includes lectures by Pat Hanrahan, Rob Pike, and Peter Selinger. The program committee invited them to speak with the goal of complementing the contributed presentations and enhancing the program. We are delighted that they could accept.
Excited States of One-Electron Oxidized Guanine-Cytosine Base Pair Radicals: A Time Dependent Density Functional Theory Study

One-electron oxidized guanine (G•+) in DNA generates several short-lived intermediate radicals via proton transfer reactions resulting in the formation of neutral guanine radicals. The identification of these radicals in DNA is of fundamental interest to understand the early stages of DNA damage. Herein, we used time-dependent density functional theory (TD-ωB97XD-PCM/6-31G(3df,p)) to calculate the vertical excitation energies of one-electron oxidized G and G-cytosine (C) base pair in various protonation states: G•+, G(N1-H)•, and G(N2-H)•, as well as G•+-C, G(N1-H)•-(H+)C, G(N1-H)•-(N4-H+)C), G(N1-H)•-C, and G(N2-H)•-C in aqueous phase. The calculated UV-vis spectra of these radicals are in good agreement with the experiment for the G radical species when the calculated values are red-shifted by 40-70 nm. The present calculations show that the lowest energy transitions of proton transfer species (G(N1-H)•-(H+)C, G(N1-H)•-(N4-H+)C, and G(N1-H)•-C) are substantially red-shifted in comparison to the spectrum of G•+-C. The calculated spectrum of G(N2-H)•-C shows intense absorption (high oscillator strength), which matches the strong absorption in the experimental spectra of G(N2-H)• at 600 nm. The present calculations predict the lowest charge transfer transition of C → G•+ is π → π* in nature and lies in the UV region (3.4-4.3 eV) with small oscillator strength.
Degenerative Lesions in Rat Sciatic Nerves After Local Injections of Methylprednisolone in Sterile Aqueous Suspension

Rat sciatic nerves were exposed to injections of methylprednisolone acetate suspension (MPAS), the suspension vehicle without methylprednisolone, a local anesthetic (chloroprocaine 1%), and repeated needle punctures. The nerves were taken for histological study and compared with untreated controls. Nerves treated with the methylprednisolone suspension and its sterile vehicle showed similar incidence and severity of patchy degenerative changes, including demyelination, axonal disorganization, and endoneurial collagen formation. These findings suggest that repeated injections of MPAS near a peripheral nerve may cause nerve damage.
Tailored crosslinking of Poly(ethylene oxide) enables mechanical robustness and improved sodium-ion conductivity

Abstract Sodium-based energy storage systems are promising candidates for electric vehicles and grid-level energy storage applications. The advancement of sodium-based energy storage systems relies on the development of high performance sodium-ion conducting electrolytes and membranes that exhibit high ionic conductivity and mechanical stability. A crosslinked poly(ethylene oxide) based polymer electrolyte was developed that demonstrates high ionic conductivity, as well as excellent mechanical stability over a wide temperature range. Ionic conductivities up to 2.0 × 10−4 S/cm at 20 °C and 7.1 × 10−4 S/cm at 70 °C are achieved for the plasticized membrane, almost four orders of magnitude greater than that of the non-plasticized membrane. The membranes are mechanically robust, and the storage modulus of the membrane is maintained at ∼1 MPa from −20 to 180 °C even with the addition of plasticizer. This study provides a synthesis approach towards the design of highly ion conducting, mechanically robust gel polymer electrolytes for Na-ion batteries, non-aqueous flow batteries, and many other applications.
Gender differences in the relationship between land ownership and managerial rights: Implications for intrahousehold farm labor allocation

Abstract Recent research has increased interest in the intersection of land tenure and gender roles in African agriculture. While formalization of land ownership has been found to have important gender impacts, time use and management remain critical to both the productivity of agricultural operations as well as the welfare of household members. Thus, it is important to understand how gender intersects with the relationship between the ownership and operation of plots. We use plot level data from nationally representative household surveys in Ethiopia and Malawi to characterize the structure (sole male; sole female; or joint) and domain (plot ownership; plot management; or output management) of control over land in each household. We then answer the following research questions: 1) are there any gender gaps in the degrees of the concordance among different domains of controls? and 2) how does the structure of ownership and managerial rights affect labor allocations on plots? We find that for both males and females, sole managerial rights are most likely to occur in plots owned exclusively by either gender. However, on jointly owned plots, instances of sole planting rights are almost exclusively male. We also find that while females supply more of their own labor to plots they control, the pattern of own-gender bias in labor allocation varies with each structure-domain combination. The heterogeneity suggests gender inequality analyses related to land rights are sensitive to the choice of domain of control.
Is God a Woman

A reading of the Song which does not include a note on its traditional mystical interpretation would not be complete. And so, in this chapter, I suggest an alternative mystical reading of our Song. While traditional mystical readings have interpreted our Song as playing out the deeper drama of a romance between God (the man) and his people (the woman), I suggest in this chapter that God is better embodied by the woman of our Song than by the man. Doing this, however, reveals a whole new facet of the persona of God. No more endowed with the traditional male traits of aggressivity, power and control, we meet, through the traits of this African woman, a passionate, reckless, yet shy God.
An Examination of Sport Participation Tracking and Adult Physical Activity for Participants of the Michigan State University Motor Performance Study

ABSTRACTResearch tracking sport participation from youth to adulthood is relatively rare, as is research that tracks youth sport participation with regard to adult physical activity (PA) levels, es...