cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ustekinumab for the Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis Response to Conway and Molloy

We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the letter by Conway and Molloy regarding our recent manuscript entitled "Ustekinumab for the treatment of giant cell arteritis" [1]. Our results demonstrated that ustekinumab (UST) administered every 8 weeks was well tolerated but did not prevent disease relapse in a significant proportion of giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients when used in combination with 6 months of prednisone. We acknowledge that a small sample size and the lack of a control group are important limitations of our study and agree with Conway and Molloy that further research is needed to assess the utility of UST more definitively in GCA.
On the Comparative Study of Prediction Accuracy for Credit Card Fraud Detection wWith Imbalanced Classifications

Credit card fraud is one of the critical issues due to its significant losses to both financial institutions and individuals in the society. The accurate detection and prevention of fraudulent activities are necessary to protect financial institutions and individuals. This paper performs a comparative experimental study to detect credit card frauds, as well as to tackle the imbalance classification problem by applying different machine learning algorithms for handling imbalanced datasets. Our study shows that there is no need to process imbalance dataset by applying resampling techniques to measure the performance of our classifiers and it is sufficient to measure the performance through the three-performance measurements (Accuracy, Sensitivity, and Area Under Precision/Recall Curve (PRC)) to prove the accuracy of the prediction of classification. Finally, by handling imbalanced classifications with imbalance datasets, one can minimize the number of false alarms, reduce damages to financial institutions and individuals, increase accurate for fraud detection, and decrease the occurrence of fraud cases using machine learning techniques.
Implementation of a Ventilator Weaning Pathway Reduces Duration of Mechanical Ventilation

Background: The CHOP pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) mechanically ventilates approximately 500 patients for > 24 h each year. Mechanical ventilation, while a life-saving therapy, introduces potential for infection, lung injury, and increased sedation. Prolonged intubation can also unnecessarily extend ICU and hospital length of stay. Ventilator weaning protocols and protocolized extubation readiness testing shorten the length of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay when applied to appropriate patients. Methods: In 2015, a multidisciplinary PICU team of respiratory therapists (RTs) and physicians developed and implemented a ventilator weaning protocol. The team reconvened in July of 2017 to increase pathway utilization with a SMART aim: to increase pathway utilization from 35% to above 50% by December 2017. With increased utilization, the team hoped to reduce duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay. Multidisciplinary educational interventions and clinical supports using the electronic health record (EHR) were utilized to increase pathway use. RTs, physicians, and nurses were educated through screensavers, and presentations at monthly division meetings. An EHR workbench report was developed to provide RTs with a list of eligible pathway patients to discuss on rounds. New flowsheet rows were added to RT documentation to identify reasons for delaying ventilation weaning and help initiate conversations about appropriate ventilation weaning decisions. Results: These interventions increased pathway utilization to above 50%, which has been sustained since December 2017. The mean time from criteria for pathway enrollment to extubation was shorter in those placed on the pathway (101 h vs 147 h). In addition, the total length of mechanical ventilation for patients on the pathway was lower (5. 2 days) compared to those who qualify but were not enrolled on the pathway (6.8 days). Despite this reduction, re-intubation rates have remained unchanged. Conclusions: We demonstrate increased utilization of the Ventilator Weaning Pathway through iterative improvements in pathway education and utilization of EHR tools. Increased utilization of the pathway also led to decreased length of mechanical ventilation without increasing re-intubation rates. Ongoing work is necessary to continue to further decrease length of mechanical extubation, time from extubation readiness to actual extubation, and ICU length of stay.
Viral Variants and Vaccinations: If We Can Change the COVID-19 Vaccine, Should We?

Abstract As we close in on one year since the COVID-19 pandemic began, hope has been placed on bringing the virus under control through mass administration of recently developed vaccines. Unfortunately, newly emerged, fast-spreading strains of COVID-19 threaten to undermine progress by interfering with vaccine efficacy. While a long-term solution to this challenge would be to develop vaccines that simultaneously target multiple different COVID-19 variants, this approach faces both developmental and regulatory hurdles. A simpler option would be to switch the target of the current vaccine to better match the newest viral variant. I use a stochastic simulation to determine when it is better to target a newly emerged viral variant and when it is better to target the dominant but potentially less transmissible strain. My simulation results suggest that it is almost always better to target the faster spreading strain, even when the initial prevalence of this variant is much lower. In scenarios where targeting the slower spreading variant is best, all vaccination strategies perform relatively well, meaning that the choice of vaccination strategy has a small effect on public health outcomes. In scenarios where targeting the faster spreading variant is best, use of vaccines against the faster spreading viral variant can save many lives. My results provide ‘rule of thumb’ guidance for those making critical decisions about vaccine formulation over the coming months.
DYNAMAP: Dyna mic Algorithm Map ping Framework for Low Latency CNN Inference

Most of the existing work on FPGA acceleration of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) focuses on employing a single strategy (algorithm, dataflow, etc.) across all the layers. Such an approach does not achieve optimal latency on complex and deep CNNs. Emerging CNNs have diverse per-layer computation characteristics including parallelism, arithmetic intensity, locality, and memory footprint. Per-layer strategy selection and fine-grained tuning are required to achieve low end-to-end latency. However, specialized hardware modules dedicated to each layer limit the per-layer utilization and adversely affect end-to-end latency. In this paper, we address these problems by an algorithm-architecture co-optimization framework, DYNAMAP, consisting of (1) a unified hardware overlay that can be reused across layers, supporting dynamic mapping of all three families of popular convolution algorithms, and further allowing flexible dataflow switching to maximize hardware utilization for each layer; (2) a novel software Design Space Exploration (DSE) flow that customizes the hardware overlay and chooses optimal strategy mapping. We show that the algorithm mapping space increases exponentially with network depth, and while the optimal algorithm selection problem is NP-hard in general, by exploiting the series-parallel structure of CNN models, we demonstrate a polynomial-time solution for optimal algorithm mapping. DYNAMAP is optimized for any CNN, including those having diverse computation and memory requirements across the layers. We demonstrate DYNAMAP using two state-of-the-art CNNs - GoogleNet and Inception-V4. The generated accelerators achieve up to 2.8x and 1.4x speedups, respectively, wrt inference latency compared with the state-of-the-art FPGA implementations.
Effects of parallel electric and magnetic fields on Rydberg excitons in buckled two-dimensional materials

We study direct and indirect magnetoexcitons in Rydberg states in monolayers and double-layer heterostructures of Xenes (silicene, germanene, and stanene) in external parallel electric and magnetic fields applied perpendicular to the monolayer and heterostructure. We calculate binding energies of magnetoexcitons for the Rydberg states, $1s$, $2s$, $3s$, and $4s$ by numerical integration of the Schr\"odinger equation using the Rytova-Keldysh potential for direct and both the Rytova-Keldysh and Coulomb potentials for indirect magnetoexcitons, respectively. The latter allows understanding a role of screening in Xenes. In the external perpendicular electric field, the buckled structure of the Xene monolayers leads to the appearance of potential difference between sublattices allowing us to tune electron and hole masses and, therefore, the binding energies and diamagnetic coefficients (DMCs) of magnetoexcitons. We report the energy contribution from electric and magnetic fields to the binding energies and DMCs. The tunability of the energy contribution of direct and indirect magnetoexcitons by electric and magnetic fields is demonstrated. It is also shown that DMCs of direct excitons can be tuned by the electric field, and the DMCs of indirect magnetoexcitons can be tuned by the electric field and manipulated by the number of hBN layers, therefore allowing the possibility of electronic devices design that can be controlled by external electric and magnetic fields and the number of hBN layers. The calculations of the binding energies and DMCs of magnetoexcitons in Xenes monolayers and heterostructures can be compared with the experimental results when they are available.
Distribution and photosynthetic assimilation of rosulate aroid epiphytes in a Costa Rican lowland rainforest

Abstract Relatively few studies are available to characterize the distribution, abundance and ecophysiology of aroid epiphytes, distinct from aroid hemiepiphytes which are more common and abundant. The rosulate growth form is restricted to a relatively small number of aroid species. Field and experimental growth studies and ecophysiological measurements on rosulate aroids were carried out at La Selva Biological Station in the premontane rainforest of the Atlantic lowlands of Costa Rica. Rosulate aroids occur in habitats from forest understory to high canopy, and from old growth wet forest to secondary forest in Costa Rica. The distribution of rosulate and acaulescent aroid epiphytes were determined in multiple stands of old growth and secondary tropical forests at La Selva. Anthurium upalense and Philodendron wendlandii exhibited a preference for upper canopies on trees over 50 cm dbh where irradiance levels are high for much of the day. Anthurium consobrinum and A. bakeri occurred lower in the canopy in more shaded positions. To evaluate how these habitat preferences are related to plant traits, controlled shadehouse growth experiments were conducted to characterize species response to different ambient light environments. We applied conditions of high light (50% full sun), medium light (10% full sun), and low light (2% full sun) to simulate a gradient of canopy and understory light environments. Anthurium consobrinum and A. bakeri exhibited photosynthetic traits characteristic of shade-adapted understory epiphytes. In contrast, A. upalense and Ph. wendlandii, typically high canopy species, had maximum photosynthetic rates of 10.5 and 8.7 µmol m−2 s−1, respectively, higher than those previously reported for other vascular epiphytes. The variability in distribution of epiphytic aroids in Costa Rican premontane rainforest is consistent with their diversity of ecological and ecophysiological traits demonstrating adaptation to diverse canopy habitats in this aroid growth form.
Panel: Online Learning, The Educators Experiences

Much has been researched and written about the trials and techniques of imparting education to students in technical fields like Information Technology via online learning. Even more work has been done about the students experiences in online courses. What this panel is hoping to engender is to start a discussion about online learning from the teachers' point of view, their trials and tribulations. It is our hope to start a discussion with the attendees and be able to share our triumphs, failures, theories, tools, approaches and fears. Attendees need no personal experience in online teaching, just a curiosity of what the endeavor might be like. Attendees with personal experience might find others with similar experiences, commiserate and hopefully find new pathways forward together.
Comparison Analysis of Accessible Features Built into Operating Systems

More than 1 billion people are considered to have disabilities. And to help them, software companies are delivering products and services that allow people to have equal access to information technology. Nowadays accessibility features are built-in in every operating system and almost every device and software companies race to make them more useful and flexible. In most cases, accessibility is companies core consideration from the earliest stages of product design through release. The aim of the article is to present a comparative analysis of accessible features built into operating systems and the services of three leading software producers Apple, Microsoft, and Google. Assistive features were categorized into vision (1), hearing (2), motion (3), and cognitive (4).
Isolation of vacuolar membrane H(+)-ATPase-deficient yeast mutants; the VMA5 and VMA4 genes are essential for assembly and activity of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase.

The vacuolar membrane H(+)-ATPase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a multisubunit enzyme complex composed of an integral membrane V0 sector, and a peripherally associated V1 sector. Deletion of one of several structural genes for vacuolar H(+)-ATPase subunits was previously demonstrated to prevent proper assembly of the remaining V1 subunits onto the vacuolar membrane (Kane, P.M., Kuehn, M.C., Howald-Stevenson, I., and Stevens, T.H. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 447-454). A genetic screen was designed to identify new genes whose products were essential for the synthesis, assembly, and/or function of the yeast vacuolar H(+)-ATPase. Mutants were identified based on phenotypes associated with vacuolar membrane H(+)-ATPase loss of function (vma), including an inability to grow on media buffered at neutral pH. Representatives in five complementation groups were identified, including four novel mutant vma5, vma21, vma22, and vma23, all of which were defective in vacuolar ATPase enzyme activity. We report here the characterization of two genes, VMA4 and VMA5, that encode peripheral subunits of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase. We determined that VMA5 encodes the 42-kDa subunit of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase. The VMA4 gene, originally described by Foury (Foury, F. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 18554-18560), was determined to encode the 27-kDa subunit of the purified yeast vacuolar H(+)-ATPase. Characterization of the vma5 and vma4 mutants revealed that the 42- and 27-kDa subunits are essential for the assembly of the peripheral membrane portion of the H(+)-ATPase onto the vacuolar membrane.
Searching a russian document collection using english, chinese and japanese queries

This UC Berkeley project experimented with English and German topics for bilingual retrieval from the CLEF Russian news collection with comparison to Russian → Russian monolingual retrieval. In CLEF 2004 we also experimented with Chinese and Japanese as topic languages, using English as the ‘pivot' language. For bilingual retrieval our approaches were query translation (for English as a topic language) and ‘fast' document translation from Russian to English (for Chinese and Japanese translated to English as the topic language). Chinese and Japanese topic retrieval significantly underperformed English → Russian retrieval because of the ‘double translation' loss of effectiveness.
Effects of Remarriage Following Divorce on the Academic Achievement of Children.

Most educational leaders are aware of the added academic challenges that children of divorce from single-parent homes face. However, there has been an assumption among educators and the American public that parental remarriage benefits children academically. Therefore, educational researchers and theorists have given almost no exhortations for teachers and principals about sensitizing themselves to the needs of children of divorce from reconstituted families. Using the 1988 National Educational Longitudinal Survey data set, this study matched students by family structure, race, and socioeconomic status. The results indicate that children of divorce from reconstituted families score no higher and often even lower in academic achievement than children of divorce from single-parent families. Therefore, the assumption by many educators that children of divorce from reconstituted families are better off academically than children of divorce from single-parent families is not supported.
1‐Methyl‐3‐p‐Tolyltriazene and its Use in the Esterification of Acids

1-Methyl-3-p-tolyltriazene and its use in the esterification of acids product: 1-Methyl-3-p-tolyltriazene product: methyl 3,5-dinitrobenzoate byproduct: 1,5-di-p-tolyl-3-methyl-1,4-pentazadiene Keywords: diazotization, coupling reactions (retention of N2); esterification, of substituted monobasic acids; 1-methyl-3-p-tolyltriazene, potential explosive
A CTCF Code for 3D Genome Architecture

The architectural protein CTCF plays a complex role in decoding the functional output of the genome. Guo et al. now show that the orientation of a CTCF site restricts its choice of interacting partner, thus creating a code that predicts the three-dimensional organization of the genome. We propose a DNA extrusion model to account for orientation-specific loop formation.
Loss of coxsackie and adenovirus receptor expression is associated with features of aggressive bladder cancer

Abstract Objectives To examine whether loss of coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) expression is associated with bladder cancer characteristics and clinical outcomes and with expression of p53 and E-cadherin. Low levels of CAR are associated with decreased efficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene transduction of bladder transitional cell carcinoma. Methods Immunohistochemical staining for CAR and p53 was carried out on tissue microarrays from 62 patients who had undergone radical cystectomy. We also examined 30 specimens for E-cadherin expression. Results CAR expression was lost in 17 (27%) of 62 tumors. Loss of CAR expression was associated with metastases to regional lymph nodes ( P = 0.049), muscle-invasive disease ( P = 0.025), grade 3 disease ( P = 0.038), altered p53 status ( P = 0.041), and loss of E-cadherin expression ( P = 0.042). With a median follow-up of 60 months, loss of CAR expression was associated with decreased bladder cancer-specific survival ( P = 0.029) but not disease progression. When adjusted for the effects of standard pathologic features, only lymph node metastasis was associated with bladder transitional cell carcinoma progression and mortality. Conclusions Loss of CAR expression is associated with established markers of biologically aggressive bladder transitional cell carcinoma. The association of CAR with E-cadherin and p53 suggests a potential role for CAR in the regulation of urothelium integrity and the cell cycle.
Life History's History: Subjects Foretold:

This article considers three different issues that pertain to life history research—where the author, the "I," fits into the text, where the Other fits into the project, and how we represent the Ot...
A semi-automatic algorithm for measurement of basement membrane thickness in kidneys in electron microscopy images

In this paper, we present a semi-automatic algorithm for measurement of the glomerular basement membrane thickness in electron microscopy kidney images. A string of sparsely spaced points are manually inputted along the central line of the basement membrane (lamina densa) to be measured. The gaps between successive input points are lineally interpolated. A nonlinear mapping is applied to straighten the curved central line. Two distance functions of edges to the central line are constructed. The smooth envelope lines are obtained by repetitive applications of a linear low-pass filtering followed by a comparing and selecting process. The boundaries of the glomerular basement membrane are obtained from the inverse mapping of the envelope functions. The average basement membrane thickness is estimated as the ratio of the basement membrane area to the length of the central line.
Assay of molybdena/alumina catalysts by oxygen chemisorption

The chemisorption technique used by Parekh and Weller was improved to extend to less extensively reduced catalysts which exhibits a large amount of chemisorption. Pulses of oxygen in helium were passed over the catalyst at 78/sup 0/K to saturation and the reversibly adsorbed fraction desorbed by heating to 195/sup 0/K and retained in a silica trap at 78/sup 0/K for determination. Application of this method to molybdena catalysts whose degree of reduction was characterized showed that oxygen chemisorption was linearly related to anion vacancies and to the rate of propylene hydrogenation. The oxygen chemisorption vs. anion vacancy plot did not go through the origin, as apparently the first vacancies formed in the reduction are inactive for oxygen chemisorption.
The replication of mouse skin epidermal DNA to which is bound 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene.

Abstract Experiments were carried out to determine in the intact mouse whether or not mouse skin epidermal DNA to which the polycyclic hydrocarbon DMBA was bound could serve as a template for further DNA replication. Mice which were treated topically with [3H]7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene ([3H]DMBA) received 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in order to incorporate BUdR into replicating DNA which was stimulated to undergo synthesis one or two days later. Epidermal DNA was put on a neutral CsCl gradient and binding of [3H]DMBA was found to both replicated and non-replicated DNA. Separation of the BUdR substituted and non-substituted parental strands of newly replicated DNA an on alkaline CsCl, Cs2SO4 gradient showed that the great majority of DMBA was bound to parental strand DNA. The possibility that [3H]DMBA binding was taking place at the same time that labeling with BUdR occurred was eliminated. Thus, these experiments showed that in the intact mouse, skin epidermal DNA to which DMBA is bound can serve as a template for further DNA synthesis.
A public trust: libraries and data curation

Purpose – This article aims to describe a curatorial role for libraries regarding data and other digital objects supplemental to published papers. Design/methodology/approach – The article focuses on an undergraduate project that incorporates a data management component as part of a larger protocol. Findings – The article finds that instructors value partnering with librarians, especially in cases where digital object description and management are required. Originality/value – The article provides a case study of a faculty/librarian collaboration that supports pedagogical and data management principles.
Amelioration of Age-Related Deficits in the Stimulation of Synapsin Phosphorylation

Abstract In a previous report we demonstrated that aged (24–26 month) rats have deficits in long-term potentiation, a form of synaptic enhancement that is dependent on protein phosphorylation (Moore et al., Hippocampus, 3:57–66; 1993). In the present study we demonstrate that aged rats have a deficit in the phosphorylation of the synaptic vesicle associated protein synapsin I. Specifically, aged animals exhibit defective phorbol ester-induced stimulation of synapsin phosphorylation at its calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II sites. We also examined the effects of caloric restriction and antioxidant therapy on this age-related deficit. We found that either life-long caloric restriction or treatment with 16 mg/kg N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN) for 2 weeks can at least partially ameliorate the age-related deficit in the phorbol ester stimulation of synapsin phosphorylation.
Postpartum partner support, demand-withdraw communication, and maternal stress

The weeks following the birth of a child can be stressful for new mothers. Maternal stress may be increased when mothers are dissatisfied with instrumental partner support (e.g., division of childcare duties and family decision-making power). The purpose of the current study was to determine if there is an association between dissatisfaction with partner support and maternal stress in the postpartum period, and to examine whether that association is mediated by demand-withdraw communication between partners. Participants were 49 women who completed questionnaires about satisfaction with partner support, female demand/male withdraw communication in their relationship, and their own perceived stress approximately 8 weeks after giving birth. Findings support the hypothesis that demand-withdraw communication mediates the association between dissatisfaction with partner support and maternal stress. This finding suggests that fathers' withdrawal in the context of mothers' requests for discussion or change appears to be associated with increased levels of maternal stress.
Collaboration and the Small Community: Arthur Morgan and the Mitraniketan Project in Kerala

(2003). Collaboration and the Small Community: Arthur Morgan and the Mitraniketan Project in Kerala1. The Historian: Vol. 65, No. 3, pp. 643-664.
The Wheels of Misfortune A Time Series Analysis of Bicycle Accidents on a College Campus

This research is an evaluation of the impact of engineering and policy interventions on bicycle accidents occurring on the campus of the University of California'at Santa Barbara between October 1970 and March 1977. The number of bike accidents per day were regressed on 15 predictor variables including the engineering and policy innovations. Generalized least squares estimation procedures were used to adjust for serial correlation. None of the bikeway modifications were found to have been effective in reducing bicycle accidents on the campus.
Induction of cadmium-thionein in mouse tumor cells.

Abstract Copper and zinc concentrations (per milligram of protein) in the liver of control mice were 18 and 57% lower, respectively, than in liver of animals bearing subcutaneous tumors originally derived from a hepatoma. Zinc in both tumor and liver was associated with a fraction identified as zinc-thionein by gel filtration. Tumor-bearing mice treated with cadmium (1 μg of CdCl2/g) accumulated the metal mostly in liver, and more than 90% of the liver cadmium was bound to cadmium-thionein after 24 hr. Some cadmium was present in the tumors as well. Although the metal content of the tumors was dependent on the route of administration (ip or sc), a constant fraction (approximately 50%) was associated with cadmiun-thionein. When primary cultures of tumor cells were exposed to cadmium (0.25 μg/ml), the cells incorporated the metal into a fraction identified as cadmiumthionein by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The appearance of cadmiumthionein in tumor cells was accompanied by the incorporation of radioactive cysteine into this protein indicating de novo synthesis of thionein in tumor cells upon cadmium exposure.
In vitro activity of MC-352, a new 16-membered macrolide.

Abstract The in vitro activity of MC-352, 3,4'-dideoxy-5-O-mycaminosyltylonolide, was compared with those of erythromycin, clarithromycin, and rokitamycin. The MC-352 MIC90 (MIC for 90% of isolates) for erythromycin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis was less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml, similar to those of the other agents. The MC-352 MIC50 for erythromycin-resistant S. aureus was 2 micrograms/ml, similar to that of rokitamycin. The MC-352 MIC90 (0.12 micrograms/ml) for Streptococcus pyogenes was similar to those of erythromycin and clarithromycin and superior to that of rokitamycin, and the MC-352 MIC90 for group B, C, and G streptococci was 0.25 microgram/ml. MC-352 and clarithromycin had an MIC90 of 0.12 microgram/ml for Streptococcus pneumoniae. Erythromycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis was inhibited by MC-352 at 1 microgram/ml, but the MIC for constitutively erythromycin-resistant isolates was greater than 16 micrograms/ml. Legionella pneumophila was inhibited by less than or equal to 0.25 microgram/ml. MC-352 was the most active agent against Bacteroides fragilis, with an MIC90 of 8 micrograms/ml, and was more active than the other agents against Haemophilus influenzae, with an MIC90 of 4 micrograms/ml. Moraxella spp. were inhibited by MC-352 at less than or equal to 0.25 microgram/ml. The MIC90 for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Serratia spp. was greater than or equal to 32 micrograms/ml. MC-352 was bactericidal for S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae, and its activity was not altered by human serum.
An encryption system in assembly language: a game-like project for novice programmers

This case study discusses the incorporation of encryption systems development into the educational journey of undergraduate computer science or game development majors. We discuss the experience of first semester Daniel Webster College sophomores who attempted to develop the German WWII ENIGMA encryption system in assembly language. By incorporating a real world encryption system project into a beginning computer architecture class students become deeply immersed in numbering systems, hardware logic design, operating system services and, of course instruction set architectures. Of necessity, they also must refine and develop their programming skills to an extraordinary degree. During the past seven years we have found that most students can develop a complete software version of the complex and amazing ENIGMA encryption system. We outline in this paper the strategy that seems to lead to a successful outcome for most students.
Characterization of natural fiber surfaces and natural fiber composites

Abstract Experiments have been performed to further the development of natural fiber reinforced composites as a replacement for glass fiber composites. Untreated and treated surfaces of natural fibers were characterized using FTIR, XPS, and ESEM. Changes in the peaks in the FTIR spectrum at 1730, 1625 and 1239 cm −1 indicated that the alkali treatment removes hemicellulose and lignin from natural fiber surfaces. ESEM indicated the presence of silane on treated hemp and kenaf. XPS shows that hemp has a lower O/C ratio than kenaf. Water absorption experiments were also conducted to determine saturation mass gain. Alkali treated fiber composites absorbed more water than silane treated or untreated composites. The natural fiber composites absorbed more water than the glass fiber composites. Hemp composites, in general, performed worse in flexural testing than kenaf composites.
Healing of Myocardial Infarcts in Dogs

Background Early reperfusion salvages ischemic myocardium and limits myocardial infarct size. However, the effects of late reperfusion, after the possibility for limitation of infarct size has passed, have not been completely elucidated. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect of reperfusion after 6 hours of ischemia on the rate of infarct healing and on the size and geometry of the resulting scars, as determined by gross and microscopic quantification. Methods and Results Myocardial infarcts were produced in anesthetized, open-chest dogs by occlusion of the circumflex coronary artery. They either were reperfused by removal of the occluding snare or were nonreperfused. The animals were allowed to recover for either 4 days, 2 weeks, or 6 weeks. At these times, infarct size, infarct dimensions (wall thickness and circumferential extent), and the proportion of infarct occupied by necrotic myocardium versus granulation tissue (evolving scar) were measured. At 4 days, infarcts were swollen in bot...
Politics of Cinema in Hashemite Iraq

AbstractHashemite Iraq was better integrated into the global cinema that other Arab countries. Baghdad audiences loved film noir, and the US succeeded in displacing the UK as a source of newsreels, as well. During the Cold War’s first decade, Hollywood continued to pump inexpensive productions and aged celluloid through Iraq, including films made under US government contracts. Local viewers responded thoughtfully to such films, engaging themes such as responsibility and guilt. Against this general background, specific allegations that testing of weapons delivery systems for germ warfare continued after the end of the Korean War, are assessed in the light that public health authorities reported a series of outbreaks of meningitis among audiences in Baghdad cinemas.
On the malleable nature of product meaning in China

While we know that consumers can hold varying meanings for products depending on context, the source of the variation is not clear. We investigate the source of malleable meanings in the Chinese context, as Chinese consumers are especially likely to hold multiple meanings for the same product. We discover that meanings can be inherently malleable, as opposed to one “true” meaning being altered by situational variables, and that the overwhelming importance of interpersonal relationships and the cultural categories that become salient in varying contexts are what allows incongruent meanings to be held non-problematically in the Chinese context. This suggests that in China, marketing communications can be difficult to craft because consumer interpretations will be contextually driven, and that social relationships should be emphasized. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance analysis of dynamic adjustment of TDD uplink-downlink configurations in outdoor picocell LTE networks

The dynamic adjustment of TDD UL-DL configurations to the instantaneous traffic conditions at small cells (e.g. Pico cells) in heterogeneous LTE networks can be used to further optimize the system performance. The dynamic adaptation of TDD configuration may result in opposite transmission directions in the neighboring cells and thus cause BS-BS and UE-UE inter-cell interference that may significantly affect the overall system performance. To avoid this problem all homogeneous Macro cell TDD deployments typically operate synchronously. However in heterogeneous networks low power small cells are rather isolated from each other in terms of mutual interference and thus can be considered as candidates for dynamic TDD adaptation. In this paper we investigate the possibility of using dynamic adjustments of TDD UL-DL configurations in application to outdoor Pico cell deployments. In particular, we show the feasibility of using opposite DL and UL transmission directions in neighboring Pico cells in terms of interference environment. Furthermore we evaluate the performance benefits from traffic adaptation in LTE TDD networks where cells can dynamically select TDD configuration and show that substantial gains in packet throughput performance may be achieved comparing to the traditional synchronous TDD networks.
Human parainfluenza virus type I (HPIV1) vaccine candidates designed by reverse genetics are attenuated and efficacious in African green monkeys

Abstract A set of recombinant, live attenuated human parainfluenza virus type 1 (rHPIV1) vaccine candidates was evaluated for attenuation, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy in African green monkeys (AGMs). Temperature sensitive (ts) and non-ts attenuating (att) mutations in the P/C and L genes were introduced individually or in various combinations into rHPIV1, including the CR84G and HNT553A mutations identified in the present work and the CF170S, LY942A, and LL992C mutations identified previously. The rHPIV1 vaccine candidates exhibited a spectrum of attenuation in AGMs. One genetically and phenotypically stable vaccine candidate, rCR84G/F170SLY942A/L992C, was attenuated and efficacious in AGMs and is a promising live attenuated intranasal HPIV1 vaccine candidate suitable for clinical evaluation.
Accuracy of aggregate data in distributed project settings: Model, analysis and implications

We examine the management of data accuracy in inter-organizational data exchanges using the context of distributed software projects. Organizations typically manage projects by outsourcing portions of the project to partners. Managing a portfolio of such projects requires sharing data regarding the status of work-in-progress residing with the partners and estimates of these projects' completion times. Portfolio managers use these data to assign projects to be outsourced to partners. These data are rarely accurate. Unless these data are filtered, inaccuracies can lead to myopic and expensive sourcing decisions. We develop a model that uses project-status data to identify an optimal assignment of projects to be outsourced. This model permits corruption of project-status data. We use this model to compute the costs of using perfect versus inaccurate project-status data and show that the costs of deviation from optimal are sizable when the inaccuracy in the data is significant. We further propose a filter to correct inaccurate project-status data and generate an estimate of true progress. With this filter, depending on the relative magnitudes of errors, we show that accuracy of project-status data can be improved and the associated economic benefit is significant. We illustrate the improvement in accuracy and associated economic benefit by instantiating the model and the filter. We further elaborate on how the model parameters may be estimated and used in practice.
Subsemble: an ensemble method for combining subset-specific algorithm fits

Ensemble methods using the same underlying algorithm trained on different subsets of observations have recently received increased attention as practical prediction tools for massive datasets. We propose Subsemble: a general subset ensemble prediction method, which can be used for small, moderate, or large datasets. Subsemble partitions the full dataset into subsets of observations, fits a specified underlying algorithm on each subset, and uses a clever form of V-fold cross-validation to output a prediction function that combines the subset-specific fits. We give an oracle result that provides a theoretical performance guarantee for Subsemble. Through simulations, we demonstrate that Subsemble can be a beneficial tool for small to moderate sized datasets, and often has better prediction performance than the underlying algorithm fit just once on the full dataset. We also describe how to include Subsemble as a candidate in a SuperLearner library, providing a practical way to evaluate the performance of Subsemlbe relative to the underlying algorithm fit just once on the full dataset.
Selective Translocation of the Bordetella pertussis Adenylate Cyclase Toxin across the Basolateral Membranes of Polarized Epithelial Cells

The catalytic domain of Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) translocates directly across the plasma membrane of mammalian cells to induce toxicity by the production of cAMP. Here, we use electrophysiology to examine the translocation of toxin into polarized epithelial cells that model the mucosal surfaces of the host. We find that both polarized T84 cell monolayers and human airway epithelial cultures respond to nanomolar concentrations of ACT when applied to basolateral membranes, with little or no response to toxin applied apically. The induction of toxicity is rapid and fully explained by increases in intracellular cAMP, consistent with toxin translocation directly across the basolateral membrane. Intoxication of T84 cells occurs in the absence of CD11b/CD18 or evidence of another specific membrane receptor, and it is not dependent on post-translational acylation of the toxin or on host cell membrane potential, both previously reported to be required for toxin action. Thus, elements of the basolateral membrane render epithelial cells highly sensitive to the entry of ACT in the absence of a specific receptor for toxin binding.
Differential Use of Transcription Activation Function 2 Domain of the Vitamin D Receptor by 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and Its A Ring-Modified Analogs

Analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3) can be used to elucidate details of vitamin D receptor (VDR) activation. The A ring-modified analog, (TN-2) has 15-fold less affinity for VDR, but its transcriptional activity is diminished 1000-fold. Likewise, the ability of TN-2 to induce a protease- resistant conformation in VDR is 1/1000 that of 1,25D3. The stability of the VDR-TN-2 complexes is also significantly lower than VDR-1,25D3 complexes. Mapping the VDR-binding site of TN-2 showed that it had a significantly greater requirement for transcription activation function 2 (AF-2) residues than 1,25D3 did. These results suggest that the increased requirement for AF-2 residues that was induced by the A ring modifications is associated with diminished receptor activation. To determine whether restoring the potency of TN-2 by additional structural modifications would change the requirements for AF-2 residues, we synthesized hybrid analogs with 1β-hydroxymethyl-3-epi groups and with dimethyl groups at positio...
High temperature, shock tube CO2-transmission measurements at 4·25μ

Abstract Shock tube infrared transmission measurements are described for argon diluted CO2 at 4·25μ over a wavelength interval of 0·043μ for the temperature range between 1500 and 3500°K and CO2-mole fractions between 0·026 and 0·1 at constant path length, l = 7·62 cm. It is shown that the ratio of average equivalent width to mean line spacing is independent of total pressure (0·5-2 atm) and that the transmission data do not follow Lambert-Beer's law. The dependence of the ratio of average equivalent width to mean line spacing on normalized optical depth is expressed by a function which corresponds to a statistical model with an infinite number of pressure broadened Lorentz lines with an exponential line intensity distribution function. Absorption coefficient and emissivity data derived from the measurements show good agreement with hot gas cell and supersonic burner measurements, aa well as with calculations based upon statistical models. It is shown that, over the range of temperatures and total pressures employed, the CO2-concentration can be determined within better than 10 per cent from the analytical representation of the data for mole fractions ranging from 0·026 to 0·1.
Predicting prolonged fetal heart rate deceleration following intrathecal fentanyl/bupivacaine.

Background: Intrathecal opioids for labor analgesia are occasionally associated with fetal heart rate abnormalities. We wanted to identify risk factors for this occurrence. Methods: The fetal tracings of 151 consecutive patients were reviewed for the period including 30 min before and 60 min after combined spinal-epidural analgesia using intrathecal bupivacaine with fentanyl. Their progress of labor at injection was also recorded. Results: Lack of fetal head engagement (odds ratio 5.5, 95% CI 2.1-14.2) and the presence of variable fetal heart rate decelerations (odds ratio 3.6, 95% CI 1.6-8.4) were associated with prolonged fetal heart rate deceleration after combined spinal-epidural analgesia. Conclusion: This case-control study suggests that if the fetal head is not engaged or if the fetus is experiencing variable decelerations, there is an increased risk of prolonged fetal heart rate deceleration following intrathecal fentanyl/bupivacaine. This finding must now be confirmed in a cohort study.
Severe retinopathy in a child with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Abstract Purpose We present the first reported case of a condition similar to retinopathy of prematurity in a full-term patient with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Design Interventional case report. Methods We describe the clinical presentation and surgical treatment of a male baby with severe retinopathy and retinal detachments. Results The clinical course of this baby was similar to retinopathy of prematurity. The patient had areas of avascular retina, significant retinal neovascularization, fibrous proliferation, and tractional detachment. One eye had a totally detached retina; the other had functional vision after the retina was reattached by several vitreoretinal surgeries, including the use of intraocular silicone oil. Conclusions This cyanotic condition can cause a retinopathy with chronic retinal neovascularization and retinal detachments. Permanent surgical retinal reattachment is difficult in the presence of neovascular activity that leads to intravitreous cicatrization.
Use-definition chains with applications

Methods of compile-time program analysis for automatic code optimization usually include control flow analysis, in which possible execution flow paths are modeled, and data flow analysis, in which data relatiohsips are modeled. One representation of data relations in a program, via use-definition chains, is examined in the light of a particular example problem-the global elimination of ''useless'' computation. Two elimination algorithms which use differently organized use-definition chains are presented and compared for space complexity on two pathologically different families of flow graphs. Algorithms to compute chains of both varieties are also developed.
Quantum-mechanical derivation of the equations of motion for Davydov solitons.

The equations of the Davydov model, which describe energy propagation along linear-chain molecules by a soliton mechanism, have heretofore been derived by a combination of quantum-mechanical and classical techniques. We give here a derivation which is completely based on quantum mechanics.
Performance measures for dynamic signal detection

Abstract For more than half a century, experimental studies of various kinds of detection and discrimination behavior have tended to rely on the simple, two-stage statistical decision model known as signal detection theory. An apparent weakness of this classical framework is its assumption that making a decision is equivalent to choosing a decision criterion or boundary to map perceptual or evidence states to a binary classification response. This static representation leads to several fundamental mispredictions about qualitative properties of discrimination, each of which is characteristic of a dynamic detection process. In this article, we show that there is a robust solution to a second class of problems introduced originally by detection theorists, but later mostly abandoned — the problem of estimating the detectability of the signal when the decision process is sequential. In an empirical application, a detectability statistic defined on a crude description of the temporal dynamics of the detection process is shown to be roughly constant under manipulations of both response preference and response speed. The estimated stringency of the stopping condition decreased in conjunction with a decrease in signal strength in time, consistent with the hypothesis that sensory information is retrieved from a decaying memory store. The analysis also makes it possible to estimate the bivariate distribution of the sensory and non-sensory components of the response time.
Asthma and allergic inflammation

Studies of the initiation and maintenance of asthma and allergic inflammation implicate dysregulated interactions between mucosal epithelia and innate immune cells as the underlying cause of these disorders. The similarities of these responses with mucosal responses to parasitic intestinal worms may reveal pathways relevant to the perplexing rise of these chronic inflammatory disorders.