cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Highly smooth minimization of non-smooth problems

We establish improved rates for structured \emph{non-smooth} optimization problems by means of near-optimal higher-order accelerated methods. In particular, given access to a standard oracle model that provides a $p^{th}$ order Taylor expansion of a \emph{smoothed} version of the function, we show how to achieve $\eps$-optimality for the \emph{original} problem in $\tilde{O}_p\pa{\eps^{-\frac{2p+2}{3p+1}}}$ calls to the oracle. Furthermore, when $p=3$, we provide an efficient implementation of the near-optimal accelerated scheme that achieves an $O(\eps^{-4/5})$ iteration complexity, where each iteration requires $\tilde{O}(1)$ calls to a linear system solver. Thus, we go beyond the previous $O(\eps^{-1})$ barrier in terms of $\eps$ dependence, and in the case of $\ell_\infty$ regression and $\ell_1$-SVM, we establish overall improvements for some parameter settings in the moderate-accuracy regime. Our results also lead to improved high-accuracy rates for minimizing a large class of convex quartic polynomials.
Thirty-day outcomes in the operative management of intestinal-cutaneous fistulas: A NSQIP analysis

Abstract Introduction Intestinal-cutaneous fistulas (ICFs) constitute a major surgical challenge. Definitive surgical treatment of ICFs continues to be associated with significant morbidity. The purpose of this study was to utilize a nationwide database to define the morbidity associated with current treatment strategies in the surgical management of ICFs. Methods The 2006–2017 American College of Surgeon National Surgical Quality Improvement datasets (ACS-NSQIP) were used to assess 30-day morbidity and mortality after surgical repair of ICFs. Outcomes for emergent repair were compared to elective repair of ICFs. Results Overall, 4197 patients undergoing ICF-repair were identified. Mean age was 55.9 (SD 15.3). Patients were generally comorbid (62.9% were in ASA class III). The observed in-hospital mortality was 2.3%. However, the observed morbidity rate was 47.3%. Of the observed morbidity, 35.6% was due to post-operative infectious complications (superficial surgical site infections (SSI), deep SSI, organ/space SSI, wound disruption, pneumonia, urinary tract infection (UTI) sepsis or septic shock). The most common infectious complication was sepsis (13.1%). 30-day readmission rate was 15.3% and the 30-day reoperation rate was 11.0%. Emergent repair was associated with a sevenfold increase in mortality (11.9% vs 1.8%, P Conclusion The management of patients with ICFs is complex and is associated with significant morbidity. Half of patients undergoing surgical management of ICFs developed in-hospital complications.
Modeling the role of local crystallographic correlations in microstructures of Ti-6Al-4V using a correlated structure visco-plastic self-consistent polycrystal plasticity formulation

Abstract This paper presents a multi-level crystal plasticity-based simulation framework for modeling mechanical response and microstructure evolution of Ti-6Al-4V with α-lath/lamellar microstructures. The model is a correlated structure visco-plastic self-consistent (CS-VPSC) formulation linking three scales: a single crystals micro-scale, a lath/lamellar colony meso-scale, and a lath/lamellar aggregate macro-scale. A selected hardening law for the evolution of critical resolved shear stress per slip system used in CS-VPSC is phenomenological. However, it adjusts the resistances of basal and prismatic slip systems based on the geometry of slip transfer between adjacent lamellae. Consistent with experimental evidences, the resolved shear stress on the pyramidal slip planes is dependent not only on the stress in the direction of slip but also on the two orthogonal shear stress components and the three normal stress components (non-Schmid effects). Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data in conjunction with a procedure relying on α→β phase transformation is used to construct paired variants of α-laths/lamellae satisfying their local crystallographic correlations. The procedure fits volume fractions of individual laths/lamellae with the experimental EBSD data and selects a distribution of habit planes between adjacent variants with respect to the loading direction. The simulation framework is applied to interpret the deformation behavior in tension and compression along two sample directions of Ti-6Al-4V fabricated via laser powder bed fusion. Moreover, the model is used to simulate texture evolution during rolling of the material to large strains. It is demonstrated that the model is capable of predicting plastic anisotropy/asymmetry and the concomitant texture evolution. While the model reveals a significant effect of habit plane inclination with respect to the loading direction on yield stress, the comparison of the data and model predictions shows that a random distribution of habit planes fits the flow response. It is further inferred that the tension-compression asymmetry arises from the non-Schmid effects.
PD-1-Stimulated T Cell Subsets are Transcriptionally and Functionally Distinct

Ligation of the inhibitory receptor PD-1 on T cells results in the inhibition of numerous cellular functions. Despite the overtly inhibitory outcome of PD-1 signaling, an additional series of functions is activated. We have observed that T cells stimulated through the T cell receptor (TCR) and PD-1 primarily do not proliferate, however, there is a population of cells that proliferates more than through TCR stimulation alone. In this study, we performed flow cytometry analysis and RNA sequencing on individual populations of T cells and discovered that unlike the naive T cells, which were inhibited following PD-1 ligation, the T cells that proliferated more following PD-1 ligation were associated with the effector memory (EM) and central memory (CM) phenotypes. Remarkably, we showed that naive, EM, and CM T cell subsets had distinct gene expression profiles following PD-1 ligation. While in the naive and CM T cells, PD-1-regulated-genes were associated with T cell differentiation and metabolism, in the EM cells the genes regulated by PD-1 were coupled to more specific effector functions. Transcription factor analysis identified STAT1 and STAT2 as key mediators of PD-1-induced gene expression, and patients with low STAT1 and STAT2 expression responded favorably to check point blockade. Altogether, the presence of transcriptionally and functionally distinct T cell populations responsive to PD-1 ligation provide novel insights into the biology of PD-1 and suggest the use of T cell subset-specific approaches to improve the clinical outcome observed following therapeutic PD-1 blockade.
Sigmar1's Molecular, Cellular, and Biological Functions in Regulating Cellular Pathophysiology.

The Sigma 1 receptor (Sigmar1) is a ubiquitously expressed multifunctional inter-organelle signaling chaperone protein playing a diverse role in cellular survival. Recessive mutation in Sigmar1 have been identified as a causative gene for neuronal and neuromuscular disorder. Since the discovery over 40 years ago, Sigmar1 has been shown to contribute to numerous cellular functions, including ion channel regulation, protein quality control, endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial communication, lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, autophagy activation, and involved in cellular survival. Alterations in Sigmar1’s subcellular localization, expression, and signaling has been implicated in the progression of a wide range of diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, ischemic brain injury, cardiovascular diseases, diabetic retinopathy, cancer, and drug addiction. The goal of this review is to summarize the current knowledge of Sigmar1 biology focusing the recent discoveries on Sigmar1’s molecular, cellular, pathophysiological, and biological functions.
Immediate detachment of microneedles by interfacial fracture for sustained delivery of a contraceptive hormone in the skin.

Abstract Despite their high efficacy and safety, long-acting contraceptive methods are underutilized among women in some settings because they usually require injection or implantation by healthcare personnel. Here, we report a self-administrable microneedle (MN) patch for the rapid administration of a sustained-release contraceptive hormone delivery system into the skin that increases the simplicity and reliability of the MN delivery. We developed an immediate microneedle detachment system using a porous patch backing that has sufficient strength during MN insertion into skin under compression, but enables immediate detachment (
Chapter 3 Aerosol-Climate Interactions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the aerosol–climate interactions and is devoted to the direct radiative effects of aerosols. Aerosol layers are composed of submicrometer-sized particles that can be treated independently of the larger particles in clouds in a radiative budget of the Earth's atmosphere. The place of direct radiative forcing by tropospheric aerosols in the overall scheme of aerosol–climate interactions is presented. Any estimates of direct radiative forcing by aerosols can only be translated into a climate response by accepting the verisimilitude of current climate models. The relationship between direct radiative forcing and climate feedbacks determines the role aerosols play in the maintenance of the current radiation balance. Occasionally, natural or anthropogenic events create locally severe aerosol loads that could lead to large climatic perturbations. One example is the springtime Arctic haze that has been studied for several years. Most atmospheric aerosols of anthropogenic origin are sulfates or smoke, which have residence times in the troposphere of about a week; in contrast greenhouse gases have lifetimes of decades to centuries. A reduction in the emission of sulfur-containing gases, which are the primary precursors of sulfate aerosols, would result in an immediate concomitant decrease in the negative shortwave radiative forcing of the climate system.
Multi-variable micro opto-fluidic ring resonator sensing with plasmonic nanoparticle films

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in films of thiolate- and dithianate-monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (MPN) having different monolayers and Au core sizes (4, 5, and 40 nm), and probed at three visible wavelengths near the LSPR maximum, has been exploited to discriminate among 6 vapors with a single sensing film. Arrays of just two MPN films (4- or 5-nm core diameters) were also remarkably selective (> 95% discrimination) even probing each film with just a single wavelength. Initial results obtained from the first MPN-coated microfabricated optofluidic ring resonator sensor (μOFRR) used as a μGC detector are also presented and appear promising.
Employment Market Institutions and Japanese Working Hours

Why do Japanese workers work such long hours? Beginning with a series of cases in the 1950s, Japanese courts drastically curtailed firms' abilities to dismiss workers. As a consequence of the inability to dismiss workers legally, large Japanese firms hired a smaller number of workers than were necessary to fulfill capacity without overtime. Employers rely on the working hours of this undersized cadre of workers, carefully screened to rule out the slothful, as a buffer. In bad times, the size of the work force makes dismissal unnecessary. In good times, workers are forced to work long hours. While these court decisions led to an increase in working hours in the 1950s, recent laws have led to a decrease. In response to interest group demands of the late 1980s and 1990s, Japan passed legislation that directly limits working hours. At the same time, it liberalized rules regarding temporary employees, allowing those persons to serve as the buffer instead of regular employees. As the statutory working-hour limits and market liberalization have taken effect, working hours have decreased.
Macroscopic traffic flow stability for adaptive cruise controlled (ACC) vehicles

In this paper, we discuss a general approach to the macroscopic traffic flow stability analysis of adaptive cruise controlled (ACC) vehicles. We present a macroscopic model with velocity saturation for traffic flow in which each individual vehicle is controlled by an ACC spacing policy. A nonlinear traffic flow stability criterion is investigated using a wavefront expansion technique. Qualitative relationships between traffic flow stability and model parameters are derived for a generalized ACC traffic flow model. The newly derived stability results are in agreement with previously derived results that were obtained using both microscopic and macroscopic models with a constant time headway (CTH) policy. Moreover, the stability results derived in this paper provide sufficient and necessary conditions for ACC traffic flow stability, which can be used to design other ACC spacing policies.
The relationship of maternal antibody levels to post-cesarean section endometritis.

Abstract One hundred eight pneumococal polysaccharide antibody levels were determined by radioimmunoassay preoperatively in 18 patients who underwent elective repeat cesarean section. Eight patients developed post-cesarean section endometritis, and 10 did not. The endometritis group did not vary significantly from the noninfected group in preoperative hematocrit, social status, number of previous pregnancies, maternal and newborn weights, length of operation, and Apgar scores. Mean antibody levels in the endometritis group were significantly lower than those in the control group (49 versus 103 ng/ml; p
Argumentative Reasoning with ABEL

Most formal approaches to argumentative reasoning under uncertainty focus on the analysis of qualitative aspects. An exception is the framework of probabilistic argumentation systems. Its philosophy is to include both qualitative and quantitative aspects through a simple way of combining logic and probability theory. Probabilities are used to weigh arguments for and against particular hypotheses. ABEL is a language that allows to describe probabilistic argumentation systems and corresponding queries about hypotheses. It then returns arguments and counter-arguments with corresponding numerical weights.
A Lyapunov stability proof for nonlinear-stiffness PD control

A stability proof is presented for a nonlinear PD (NPD) controller and third order systems. Nonlinear-stiffness control has been described previously in the literature and experimentally demonstrated; but to date, no stability proof has been given for systems of degree greater than 2 and the case where the stiff gain exceeds the limit established by the circle criterion. The limitation is important because, for this case, the circle criterion is quite conservative and much of the benefit of NPD control comes with gains greater than could previously be proven to be stable. The stability of 3/sup rd/ order systems with nonlinear-stiffness PD control and gains exceeding the circle-criterion limit is established by demonstrating a Lyapunov function. The damping achieved by high-gain NPD control is demonstrated by simulation.
Creative Thinking in Gifted Elementary School Children

A varietyof creatine thinking and problem solving tasks were administered to 233 intellectually gifted second through sixth graders at a special school for the gifted in New York City. The tasks were selected to represent conceptual stages of a total creative problem sloving model Intelligence. achievement, and personality data were also gathered. Findings indicated interesting patterns of growth in creative problem .solving abilities. On the creative thinking tasks a plateau in performance appeared from the fourth grade on, but on the problem solning tasks, growth continued through the sixth grade. Individual variation within the sets of creative thinking and prohlem solving tasks was great, suggesting the need for creativity and problem solving skills training for the gifted.
Measurement of Fidelity of Implementation of Evidence‐Based Practices: Case Example of the IPS Fidelity Scale

[Clin Psychol Sci Prac 18: 126–141, 2011] Advances in the scientific study and dissemination of evidence-based practices (EBPs) require psychometrically valid fidelity scales, which measure adherence to program models. We examined the literature on the Individual Placement and Support Fidelity Scale to illustrate the strengths and limitations of this methodology. We found that this scale had excellent psychometric properties. Nine of 10 studies assessing its predictive validity found positive associations with employment outcomes. Its use in quality improvement was supported by positive reports from seven multisite projects. Although not yet evaluated as an accreditation tool, three states have adopted the scale for reimbursement purposes. Development of valid fidelity scales is necessary for the field to advance. Technical and logistical challenges impede the replication of these findings for other EBPs.
Of Shepherds, Sheep, and the Cross-autocorrelations in Equity Returns

We present an economic mechanism and supportive empirical evidence for the transmission of information between equity securities first documented by Lo and MacKinlay (1990). It is argued that the past returns on stocks held by informed institutional traders will be positively correlated with the contemporaneous returns on stocks held by noninstitutional uninformed traders. Evidence consistent with this hypothesis is then presented. We document that the returns on the portfolio of stocks with the highest level of institutional ownership lead the returns of portfolios of stocks with lower levels of institutional ownership. This effect persists even after firm size is controlled for and is apparent at longer lags than the size-related lag effect documented in Lo and MacKinlay (1990).
Frequency-dependent complex susceptibility of PrCu6 at the nuclear magnetic ordering transition

The frequency-dependent complex susceptibility of PrCu6 has been measured between 2 and 5 mK in the vicinity of the nuclear magnetic ordering transition. Critical slowing at the critical point is indicated by a large loss component at audio frequencies. The real and imaginary components of the impedance of a rod of PrCu6 are consistent with a susceptibility of the Debye form. The relaxation time increases to about 100 µsec as the critical point is approached from higher temperatures.
Optical Amplification of Ligand-Receptor Binding Using Liquid Crystals

Liquid crystals (LCs) were used to amplify and transduce receptor-mediated binding of proteins at surfaces into optical outputs. Spontaneously organized surfaces were designed so that protein molecules, upon binding to ligands hosted on these surfaces, triggered changes in the orientations of 1- to 20-micrometer-thick films of supported LCs, thus corresponding to a reorientation of ∼10 5 to 10 6 mesogens per protein. Binding-induced changes in the intensity of light transmitted through the LC were easily seen with the naked eye and could be further amplified by using surfaces designed so that protein-ligand recognition causes twisted nematic LCs to untwist. This approach to the detection of ligand-receptor binding does not require labeling of the analyte, does not require the use of electroanalytical apparatus, provides a spatial resolution of micrometers, and is sufficiently simple that it may find use in biochemical assays and imaging of spatially resolved chemical libraries.
Thermoelectric measurements on tungsten at ultra low temperatures

Abstract Measurements are reported of the thermoelectric ratio G for three zone-refined tungsten samples at temperatures down to 45 mK. For the purest sample ( R 300K R 0K = 44 000) , G behaves simply and in accord with expectations. For two less pure samples ( R 300K R 0K = 44 000 and 22 000) , G behaves anomalously, becoming increasingly more negative with decreasing temperature down to at least 45 mK. This anomalous behavior is tentatively attributed to trace amounts of iron.
Individualized Instruction: Its Effects upon Achievement and Interest in Beginning College Spanish

its of individualized instruction, descriptions of programs in progress, and hints on the implementation of student-centered curricula abound in the professional literature. In addition to countless journal articles, the entire Britannica Review of Foreign Language Education, Volume II (Lange, 1970) deals with individualization. Subsequent chapters in the series trace the evolution of individualized programs year by year. Between 1971 and 1975 a special section devoted to the topic appeared on a regular basis in Foreign Language Annals. At least six books have been published in the last decade which treat specifically individualized foreign language instruction (Disick, 1975; Grittner and LaLeike, 1973; Logan, 1973; Altman, 1972; Gougher, 1972; Altman and Politzer, 1971). This article describes yet another application of the individualized process in second-language teaching: the success of a continuous progress, mastery-based curriculum entitled Paced Spanish, in use at Purdue University since 1972.
On the Annual Cycle of Equatorial Upwelling in the Central Atlantic Ocean

Abstract The annual cycle of the upper ocean's vertical velocity component (w) on the equator at 28°W is examined by integrating the continuity equation using current meter data from the Seasonal Response of the Equatorial Atlantic Experiment. The annual cycle consists in part of an intense, but brief (∼1 month), upwelling season beginning with the onset of strong easterly wind stress in boreal spring. This upwelling is followed by weaker downwelling during the summer despite the persistence of strong easterly wind stress. The record-length averaged w profile shows that maximum upwelling (0.6 × 10−3 cm s−1) is located slightly above the core of the Equatorial Undercurrent and downwelling is located below the base of the thermocline. The standard deviations are about tenfold the magnitude of the means. Independent evidence supporting these results are that 1) sea surface temperature (SST) is related to w during the springtime changes in easterly wind stress with the observed and computed isotherm displacem...
Exploring population size changes using SNP frequency spectra

Inferring demographic history is an important task in population genetics. Many existing inference methods are based on predefined simplified population models, which are more suitable for hypothesis testing than exploratory analysis. We developed a novel model-flexible method called stairway plot, which infers changes in population size over time using SNP frequency spectra. This method is applicable for whole-genome sequences of hundreds of individuals. Using extensive simulation, we demonstrate the usefulness of the method for inferring demographic history, especially recent changes in population size. We apply the method to the whole-genome sequence data of 9 populations from the 1000 Genomes Project and show a pattern of fluctuations in human populations from 10,000 to 200,000 years ago.
Linked-Stick: Conveying a Physical Experience using a Shape-Shifting Stick

We use sticks as tools for a variety of activities, everything from conducting music to playing sports or even engage in combat. However, these experiences are inherently physical and are poorly conveyed through traditional digital mediums such as video. Linked-Stick is a shape-changing stick that can mirror the movements of another person's stick-shape tool. We explore how this can be used to experience and learn music, sports and fiction in a more authentic manner. Our work attempts to expand the ways in which we interact with and learn to use tools.
Application of Schmidt's method to the calculation of spalding's function and of the skin-friction coefficient in turbulent flow

Abstract : I NTIFIERS: Spalding function. The details of the numerical computation of the so-called Spalding function (ASME 1961, Part II: 39) which occurs in the theory of heat transfer across turbulent boundary layers, are described. The present calculation is confined to the case when the Prandtl number Pr = 1 and when the assumption of a constant turbulent Prandtl number equal to unity can be made. The method used is a modification of E. Schmidt's numerical scheme for the integration of the time-dependent, onedimensional Fourier equation of heat conduction. In the present case, the term which plays the part of thermal diffusivity depends on the analog of the space-coordinate and renders the equation singular at the origin. T e singularity is circumvented by making use of the fact that the temperature profiles must possess zero curvature at the wall. By the use of the Reynolds analogy for turbulent boundary layers it is shown that the prceding calculations can be used to obtain a relation between the skin friction coeffcient and the length Reynolds number for a flat plate wetted by a turbulent boundary layer. The integration is very simple and provides a method of judging the accuracy of D. B. Spalding's law of the wall. This turns out to be reasonably satisfactory. (Author)
A stability index for enzyme deactivations

Abstract An empirical stability index is proposed for single-step and two-step series-type deactivations. The stability index makes more quantitative the effect of different variables or modification on enzyme stability. The stability index increases linearly with reciprocal temperature for soluble alcohol dehydrogenase, α-amylase, human plasma butyrylcholinesterase, and human plasma butyrylcholinesterase in deuterium oxide. Other examples of enzyme modifications and their effect on the stability index are also given.
Alaskan flight trials of a synthetic vision system for instrument landings of a piston twin aircraft

Stanford University has developed a low-cost prototype synthetic vision system and flight tested it onboard general aviation aircraft. The display aids pilots by providing an 'out the window' view, making visualization of the desired flight path a simple task. Predictor symbology provides guidance on straight and curved paths presented in a 'tunnel- in-the-sky' format. Based on commodity PC hardware to achieve low cost, the Tunnel Display system uses differential GPS (typically from Stanford prototype Wide Area Augmentation System hardware) for positioning and GPS-aided inertial sensors for attitude determination. The display has been flown onboard Piper Dakota and Beechcraft Queen Air aircraft at several different locations. This paper describes the system, its development, and flight trials culminating with tests in Alaska during the summer of 1998. Operational experience demonstrated the Tunnel Display's ability to increase flight- path following accuracy and situational awareness while easing the task instrument flying.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Technical Limitations on the Use of Traditional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Evaluation of Mummified Remains: A View From a Hands-On Radiologic Technologist's Perspective.

Noninvasive imaging tools have been the standard in mummy studies for several decades focusing primarily on CT scan technology. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been attempted on mummified tissues on numerous occasions these have met with varying degrees of success. The basic physics of MRI are reviewed here with an emphasis on how the physics limit the success of MRI in mummified tissues. Adjusting MRI parameters can enhance the images produced with a summary table that considers the effect of adjustments within these parameters. Several mummies with varying methods of preservation have been included in this study and MRI images presented and the results are critically assessed. MRI can generate basic images in most tissues even when significantly desiccated. Using an understanding of the essentials of MRI physics, with the adjustment of MRI parameters, the data acquisition process can be enhanced to create the best possible images. When successfully applied, MRI generated images can allow for the resolution of soft tissue differences, especially of collapsed internal organ masses, even in dehydrated mummies that are much less effectively rendered in CT scans. Anat Rec, 298:1116–1124, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electrifying the Imagination

Carlson9s scholarly biography offers a fresh perspective on Tesla, his inventions, and the economic and social contexts of his efforts.
On absorbing sets of structured sparse graph codes

In contrast to the capacity approaching performance of iteratively decoded low-density parity check (LDPC) codes, many practical finite-length LDPC codes exhibit performance degradation, manifested in a so-called error floor. Previous work has linked this phenomenon to the presence of certain combinatorial structures within the Tanner graph representation of the code, termed absorbing sets. Absorbing sets are stable under the bit-flipping operations and have been shown to act as fixed points (“absorbers”) for a wider class of iterative decoding algorithms. Codes often possess absorbing sets whose size is smaller than the minimum distance: the smallest absorbing sets are deemed most detrimental culprits behind the error floor. This paper focuses on the elementary combinatorial bounds of the smallest (candidate) absorbing sets. For certain classes of practical codes we demonstrate the tightness of these bounds and show how can the structure of the code and the structure of the absorbing sets be utilized to increase the size of the smallest absorbing sets without compromising other code properties such as the node degrees and the girth. As such, this work provides a step towards a better code design by taking into account the combinatorial nature of fixed points of iterative decoding algorithms.
Age dependent changes in synaptosome buoyant density.

THE synapse regions of mammalian brain are known to undergo considerable postnatal development1–4. Synaptosomes, which are pinched off nerve ending particles formed during homogenization of brain tissue, retain many of the structural and biochemical characteristics of synapses in situ5,6. As might be expected, the properties of synaptosomes change with brain age. One example, possibly reflecting substantial synapse development, is an apparent increase, as the brain matures, in the buoyant density of the bulk of synaptosomes prepared from rat cerebral cortex7. We have examined this buoyant density shift for two particular classes of synaptosomes, those storing either of the putative neurotransmitters, noradrenaline (NA) or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). We find that GABA-storing synaptosomes do not exhibit the age dependent buoyant density shift observed for catecholamine-storing synaptosomes.
Dose-Response Relationship of Physical Activity to Premature and Total All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Walkers

Purpose To assess the dose-response relationships between cause-specific mortality and exercise energy expenditure in a prospective epidemiological cohort of walkers. Methods The sample consisted of the 8,436 male and 33,586 female participants of the National Walkers' Health Study. Walking energy expenditure was calculated in metabolic equivalents (METs, 1 MET = 3.5 ml O2/kg/min), which were used to divide the cohort into four exercise categories: category 1 (≤1.07 MET-hours/d), category 2 (1.07 to 1.8 MET-hours/d), category 3 (1.8 to 3.6 MET-hours/d), and category 4 (≥3.6 MET-hours/d). Competing risk regression analyses were use to calculate the risk of mortality for categories 2, 3 and 4 relative to category 1. Results 22.9% of the subjects were in category 1, 16.1% in category 2, 33.3% in category 3, and 27.7% in category 4. There were 2,448 deaths during the 9.6 average years of follow-up. Total mortality was 11.2% lower in category 2 (P = 0.04), 32.4% lower in category 3 (P<10−12) and 32.9% lower in category 4 (P = 10−11) than in category 1. For underlying causes of death, the respective risk reductions for categories 2, 3 and 4 were 23.6% (P = 0.008), 35.2% (P<10−5), and 34.9% (P = 0.0001) for cardiovascular disease mortality; 27.8% (P = 0.18), 20.6% (P = 0.07), and 31.4% (P = 0.009) for ischemic heart disease mortality; and 39.4% (P = 0.18), 63.8% (P = 0.005), and 90.6% (P = 0.002) for diabetes mortality when compared to category 1. For all related mortality (i.e., underlying and contributing causes of death combined), the respective risk reductions for categories 2, 3 and 4 were 18.7% (P = 0.22), 42.5% (P = 0.001), and 57.5% (P = 0.0001) for heart failure; 9.4% (P = 0.56), 44.3% (P = 0.0004), and 33.5% (P = 0.02) for hypertensive diseases; 11.5% (P = 0.38), 41.0% (P<10−4), and 35.5% (P = 0.001) for dysrhythmias: and 23.2% (P = 0.13), 45.8% (P = 0.0002), and 41.1% (P = 0.005) for cerebrovascular diseases when compared to category 1. Conclusions There are substantial health benefits to exceeding the current exercise guidelines.
Detection of earth-approaching asteroids in near real time

Computer software, called the Moving Object Detection Program (MODP), is described which detects earth-approaching asteroids in near real time. The software runs on a workstation linked to the output of the drift-scanning CCD camera of the Spacewatch Telescope. MOPD recognizes trailed images, detects motion, and accurately determines angular positions and rates of motion for moving objects in the scan images. The results are obtained a few seconds after the image signals are shifted out of the CCD. During 2 months of trial observations with this system, 304 asteroids were detected down to a limiting apparent magnitude for untrailed images of V = 20.5.
Effects of Recreational Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities

/ The functional diversity of soil microbial communities in heavilyimpacted subalpine campsites and adjacent undisturbed areas was comparedusing the Biolog method of carbon utilization profiles. Principal componentsanalysis of patterns and level of microbial activity indicate that microbialcommunities differentiate in response to disturbance in the top 6 cm of soil,while below 6 cm there were no recognizable differences between disturbed andundisturbed soil communities. Analysis of the factors that differentiate theupper microbial communities between disturbed and undisturbed sites revealedthat the percent of total carbon sources utilized was significantly less inthe disturbed (54%) than in undisturbed areas (95%). Carbonsubstrates important in the discrimination between soil communities includeplant, invertebrate, and microbial derivatives that could not be metabolizedby microbial communities from disturbed sites. Comparisons of totalculturable actinomycetes, bacteria, and fungi reveal no difference in overallnumber of colony forming units (CFU) on disturbed and undisturbed sites, buta marked decrease in actinomycetes on disturbed sites. Biolog andspread-plate data combined indicate a shift in the structure and function ofthe microbial community in campsite soils, which may be a useful indicator ofsoil community disturbance.KEY WORDS: Microbial functional diversity; Anthropogenic disturbance;Recreational impacts; Carbon source profile; Subalpine
Heterogeneous reactions with NaCl in the El Chichon volcanic aerosols

Previous investigations of the effects of the 1982 eruption of the El Chichon volcano could not explain all the observations of changes in O_3, HCl, NO and NO_2 simultaneously without proposing unproven chemical reactions. Since reactions between solid NaCl and gaseous ClNO_3 and N_2O_5 rapidly produce photochemically active chlorine species and solid NaNO_3 in laboratory experiments, we suggest that these reactions could have occurred with the NaCl observed to be present in the El Chichon sulfuric acid aerosols. As a consequence, we predict that HCl should increase substantially, while NO_x should decrease, in agreement with the measurements after the eruption. Ozone should only be slightly affected by these reactions. Reactions between solid NaCl and the acids H_2SO_4 and HNO_3 might prove to be important, but we lack sufficient evidence regarding their efficiency and the presence of HNO_3 in the aerosols to be more conclusive.
Quantification of the Binding Tendencies of Cholestyramine III: Rates of Adsorption of Conjugated Bile Salt Anions onto Cholestyramine as a Function of Added Inorganic Electrolyte Concentration, Temperature, and Agitation Intensity

The in vitro rate of binding of several conjugated bile salt anions to cholestyramine was studied at 37°, alone and in the presence of varying concentrations of sodium chloride. The kinetic studies were conducted under relatively mild agitation conditions to simulate reasonably the in vivo situation existing in the small intestinal lumen. A second-order kinetic model was found to represent the interaction data most suitably. The rate constants for the adsorption process were found to decrease in the presence of increasing concentrations of inorganic electrolyte, the reductive effect being more pronounced with the trihydroxy conjugates than with the dihydroxy derivative. Langmuir affinity constants were found to parallel the apparent second-order rate constants for systems devoid of added inorganic electrolyte. From studies concerning the influence of temperature on the rate of interaction, calculated apparent energies of activation indicated the existence of a substantially lower energy barrier to the binding of the dihydroxy glycine-conjugated derivative, glycodeoxycholate, than for its trihydroxy counterpart, the glycocholate anion. Variation in the intensity of agitation at which the reaction was conducted had a more pronounced effect on the rate of uptake of the glycodeoxycholate anion by the resin than on the glycocholate anion. A log-log relationship was found to exist between the second-order interaction rate constant and the speed of agitation. The results obtained from the temperature and agitation studies suggested that the binding of bile salt anions to cholestyramine apparently occurs by means of a diffusion-controlled process.
An Approach to Data Parametrization in Parametric Cubic Spline Interpolation Problems

Abstract A new approach to the problem of parametrizing data in parametric cubic spline interpolation problems is discussed. Parametrizations 0 = t 0 t 1 t N = 1 of K -dimensional data { z i } i = 0 N , z i = ( z i l ,…, z i k ) are chosen by minimizing ∑ l K ( 1 α l 2 ) ∝ 0 1 ( d 2 θ l dt 2 ) 2 dt , where φ l ( t ) is the natural cubic spline with breakpoints t 0 , t 1 , …, t N satisfying θ l ( t i = z i l , i = 0,…, N , and α l , l = 1,…, K , are positive numbers. This approach yields parametrizations which, by complementing the well-known smoothest interpolation property of natural cubic splines, leads to smoother component functions. The improvements are, in part, evidenced by reduced position overshoots and lower second derivatives. A closed form solution of the problem is derived for one-dimensional data. In higher dimensions the gradient projection method is used to obtain approximate numerical solutions. Geometric curve fitting problems and an example involving the design of a trajectory for a robot manipulator are used to illustrate the method.
The persuasive phase of visualization

Research in visualization often revolves around visualizing information. However, visualization is a process that extends over time from initial exploration to hypothesis confirmation, and even to result presentation. It is rare that the final phases of visualization are solely about information. In this paper we present a more biased kind of visualization, in which there is a message or set of assumptions behind the presentation that is of interest to both the presenter and the viewer, and emphasizes points that the presenter wants to convey to the viewer. This kind of persuasive visualization -- presenting data in a way that emphasizes a point or message -- is not only common in visualization, but also often expected by the viewer. Persuasive visualization is implicit in the deliberate emphasis on interestingness and also in the deliberate use of graphical elements that are processed preattentively by the human visual system, which automatically groups these elements and guiding attention so that they "stand out". We discuss how these ideas have been implemented in the Morpherspective system for automated generation of information graphics.
A short route to a moshe'rs acid precursor via catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD)

Abstract α-Methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl aceuc acid (MTPA) is a valuable derivatiang agent for eiwittiomeric excess determination of alcohols and amines. A short synthesis of a precursor to this compound, based on the asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) reaction is reported.
A Ligand That Is Predicted to Bind Better to Avidin than Biotin: Insights from Computational Fluorine Scanning

The associations between biotin and the homologous proteins avidin and streptavidin are two of the most stable complexes found in nature, mainly because of very favorable van der Waals interactions between the ligand and the ideally preformed cavities of the receptors. Previous work, however, suggested that the large binding free energy in these two systems might be further enhanced by small modifications of the valeric acid side chain of biotin. We present in this study a new approach “computational fluorine scanning” as a means to assess how replacing hydrogen atoms with fluorine atoms in ligands could improve ligand binding free energies to their targets. This method allows us to rapidly evaluate and rank the association constants of these two proteins with biotin molecules that are fluoro-substituted on the valeric acid fragment. Our approach is based on a single molecular dynamics simulation of a reference ligand and the postprocessing of the trajectory, in which the reference is replaced by the muta...
Pain treatment and relief among patients with primary headache subtypes in the ED.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to determine if emergency physicians treat headache subtypes differently and if this difference affects pain relief. Methods This was a prospective observational, institutional review board–approved study of adults undergoing treatment for a primary headache. Before the treatment and 60 minutes after, patients completed a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) describing their pain. Patients also completed a headache diagnosis worksheet that differentiated headache type based on International Headache Society criteria. Treatments were recorded. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, 95% confidence intervals, analysis of variance, and χ 2 tests as appropriate. Results A total of 184 patients were enrolled: 83 (45.1%) with migraine, 61 (33.2%) with migrainous, and 40 (21.7%) with tension-type headaches. There was no difference in the presenting VAS score or treatments of the 3 headache subtypes. The migraine group was most likely to receive any pain medication (78.31%), and the tension group the least likely to receive any pain medication (62.50%). A 50% decrease in VAS was achieved by only 32.5% of the patients. Sumatriptan, followed by droperidol, provided the greatest decrease in VAS scores. Oral and parenteral narcotics provided equivalent pain relief, with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) providing the least pain relief. Conclusion There was no difference in the treatments used or pain relief achieved between migraine, migrainous, and tension-type headaches. The differentiation of primary headache subtypes does not appear to be important to their treatment in the acute setting of the emergency department.
Knock-in human rhodopsin-GFP fusions as mouse models for human disease and targets for gene therapy

The human rhodopsin gene is the locus for numerous alleles linked to the neurodegenerative disease retinitis pigmentosa. To facilitate the study of retinal degeneration and to test reagents designed to alter the structure and function of this gene, we have developed strains of mice whose native rhodopsin gene has been replaced with the corresponding human DNA modified to encode an enhanced GFP fusion at the C terminus of rhodopsin. The human rhodopsin-GFP fusion faithfully mimics the expression and distribution of wild-type rhodopsin in heterozygotes and serves as a sensitive reporter of rod-cell structure and integrity. In homozygotes, however, the gene induces progressive retinal degeneration bearing many of the hallmarks of recessive retinitis pigmentosa. When the gene is flanked by recognition sites for Cre recombinase, protein expression is reduced ≈5-fold despite undiminished mRNA levels, suggesting translation inhibition. GFP-tagged human rhodopsin provides a sensitive method to monitor the development of normal and diseased retinas in dissected samples, and it offers a noninvasive means to observe the progress of retinal degeneration and the efficacy of gene-based therapies in whole animals.
Computer Modeling of Fibrous Structures

During the last century, as scientists and engineers recognized that yarns and textiles were engineering structures, many models were developed to predict performance. The relatively recent develop...
An Examination of First-Year Teachers' Beliefs about Lesson Planning

(1993). An Examination of First-Year Teachers' Beliefs about Lesson Planning. Action in Teacher Education: Vol. 15, National Forces on Teaching and Teacher Education, pp. 63-71.
Translation and rotation-invariant multiscale image registration

With recent advances in bandwidth, sensor resolution, and UAV technology, image data is being collected in large quantities. A fast, automated, accurate method to register images is needed because human analysis of this data is time consuming and inaccurate. Once registered, images can be utilized more effectively. Applications where image registration algorithms are used include super-resolution, target recognition, and computer vision. Recent research involved registering images with translation and rotation differences using one iteration of the redundant discrete wavelet transform (rDWT). We extend this work by creating a new multiscale transform to register images with translation or rotation differences. Our two-dimensional multiscale transform uses lowpass filtering and the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) to mimic the two-dimensional rDWT, providing subbands at various scales while maintaining the desirable properties of the rDWT. Our multiscale transform produces data at integer scales, whereas the rDWT produces results only at dyadic scales. We also impose exclusion zones to create spatial separation between significant coefficients. This added flexibility improves registration accuracy without greatly increasing computational complexity and permits accurate registration. Our algorithm's performance is demonstrated by registering test images at various rotations and translations, in the presence of additive white noise.