cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preparation of accelerator targets by painting

Abstract From 1969 to 1978 approximately 400 fission foils, for use in fission ionization chambers, were produced at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) by painting metal substrates with multiple coats of fissionable isotopes. Areal densities as great as 2.0 mg/cm 2 were obtained with excellent adhesion. With care, the variation in uniformity of the coating can be kept to less than ± 10%. This painting technique has been successful in depositing high-purity isotopes of thorium, protactinium, uranium, neptunium, plutonium, americium, and curium on metal substrates made of beryllium, aluminum, copper, and nickel. Most of the foils were produced for use in high-accuracy fission cross-section measurements conducted at the LLNL 100 MeV electron linear accelerator from 1973 to 1978. The cost of this painting technique is estimated to be approximately one tenth the cost of producing foils by evaporation, electrodeposition, or sputtering techniques. In addition, the painting technique is highly efficient (>90%), thereby minimizing waste of the available fissionable material. This fact is of great importance where only small amounts of high-purity isotopes are available.
A common variant of the AMPD1 gene predicts improved cardiovascular survival in Patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract OBJECTIVE We tested whether a common AMPD1 gene variant is associated with improved cardiovascular (CV) survival in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). BACKGROUND Reduced activity of adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) may increase production of adenosine, a cardioprotective agent. A common, nonsense, point variant of the AMPD1 gene (C34T) results in enzymatic inactivity and has been associated with prolonged survival in heart failure. METHODS Blood was collected from 367 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction amplification and restriction enzyme digestion, resulting in allele-specific fragments. Coronary artery disease was defined as ≥70% stenosis of ≥1 coronary artery. Patients were followed prospectively for up to 4.8 years. Survival statistics compared hetero- (+/−) or homozygotic (−/−) carriers with noncarriers. RESULTS Patients were 66 ± 10 years old; 79% were men; 22.6% were heterozygous and 1.9% homozygous for the variant AMPD1(−) allele. During a mean of 3.5 ± 1.0 years, 52 patients (14.2%) died, 37 (10.1%) of CV causes. Cardiovascular mortality was 4.4% (4/90) in AMPD1(−) allele carriers compared with 11.9% (33/277) in noncarriers (p = 0.046). In multiple variable regression analysis, only age (hazard ratio, 1.11/year, p CONCLUSIONS Carriage of a common variant of the AMPD1 gene was associated with improved CV survival in patients with angiographically documented CAD. The dysfunctional AMPD1(−) allele may lead to increased cardiac adenosine and increased cardioprotection during ischemic events. Adenosine monophosphate deaminase-1 genotyping should be further explored in CAD for prognostic, mechanistic and therapeutic insights.
Unit Root Quantile Autoregression Inference

We study statistical inference in quantile autoregression models when the largest autoregressive coefficient may be unity. The limiting distribution of a quantile autoregression estimator and its t-statistic is derived. The asymptotic distribution is not the conventional Dickey–Fuller distribution, but rather a linear combination of the Dickey–Fuller distribution and the standard normal, with the weight determined by the correlation coefficient of related time series. Inference methods based on the estimator are investigated asymptotically. Monte Carlo results indicate that the new inference procedures have power gains over the conventional least squares-based unit root tests in the presence of non-Gaussian disturbances. An empirical application of the model to U. S. macroeconomic time series data further illustrates the potential of the new approach.
Tongue replantation in an animal model.

Although the tongue is not a vital organ in sustaining life, it may be a vital organ in sustaining the will to live in many people. As carcinoma of the tongue represents the majority of the 30,000 oral cavity cancers diagnosed per year in the United States, many patients face the potential consequences of resection of part or all of the tongue for cure. To date, reconstructive options do not restore optimal tongue function including articulation, swallowing, taste, or sensation. With the ultimate goal of improving tongue reconstruction, we report on a successfully performed autograft transplantation of the tongue in an animal model. Before undertaking allograft transplantation of the tongue, an autograft tongue transplant would be attempted to identify the feasibility of such a procedure and to determine the similarity of an animal model with human techniques. The dog's neck, tongue, and oral anatomy represent an excellent animal model for tongue reconstruction. This procedure can be performed successfully in an animal model. The only previously published replantation of the tongue involved the reattachment of the anterior portion of a human tongue after physical trauma. To our knowledge, the enclosed report represents the first successful total excision and replantation of the tongue in either a human or animal model.
Over-expression of S. cerevisiae G1 cyclins restores the viability of alg1 N-glycosylation mutants.

In budding yeast, one of three G1 cyclins is required for progression though START, when cells commit to a further round of cell division. We have identified mutations in ALG1 (ERC14), a gene required for N-glycosylation, which are inviable in a cln1 cln2 background but are rescued by over-expression of CLNs. CLN1 and CLN2 are much more efficient than CLN3 in rescuing the erc14-1 allele. The erc14-1 allele results in a significant N-glycosylation defect, and no rescue of this defect by CLN1 over-expression was detected. These data suggest that CLN over-expression could be allowing cells to live with lower levels of N-glycosylation, possibly by overcoming a checkpoint sensitive to N-glycosylation capacity. A plasmidsuppressor of alg1, PSA1, encodes a 361 amino-acid protein with homology to NDP-hexose pyrophosphorylases, the enzymes that catalyze the formation of activated sugar nucleotides. PSA1 is an essential gene, and PSA1 transcription is nearly co-ordinately regulated with CLN2 transcription, peaking near START. Co-ordinate regulation of glycosylation, sugar nucleotide metabolism, and cell-cycle progression through G1 may be a feature that ensures adequate cell-wall precursors are present before bud emergence.
Relationship of DAT1 and adult ADHD to task-positive and task-negative working memory networks

Abstract Alterations in working memory, default-mode network (DMN), and dopamine transporter have all been proposed as endophenotypes for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite evidence that these systems are interrelated, their relationship to each other has never been studied in the context of ADHD. In order to understand the potential mediating effects of task-positive and task-negative networks between DAT1 and diagnosis, we tested effects of genotype and diagnosis on regions of positive and negative BOLD signal change (as measured with fMRI) in 53 adults with ADHD and 38 control subjects during a working memory task. We also examined the relationship of these responses to ADHD symptoms. Our results yielded four principal findings: 1) association of the DAT1 9R allele with adult ADHD, 2) marginal DAT1 association with task-related suppression in left medial PFC, 3) marginal genotype×diagnosis interaction in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, and 4) correlation of DMN suppression to ADHD symptoms. These findings replicate the association of the 9R allele with adult ADHD. Further, we show that DMN suppression is likely linked to DAT1 and to severity of inattention in ADHD. DMN may therefore be a target of DAT1 effects, and lie on the path between the gene and inattention in ADHD.
Optical and modulated optical investigation of the semiconductor-oxide-electrolyte interface in GaAs☆

Abstract Using a high sensitivity rotating light-pipe reflectometer, we have studied the anodization and dissolution process for GaAs oxide films in situ using a tartaric acid/glycol/water electrolyte. Different stages in the oxidation-dissolution process can be easily identified, and the film thickness can be calibrated interferometrically in situ. In conjunction with this study, we have investigated the electrolyte electroreflectance spectra of GaAs in the vicinity of the E 0 transition (direct gap at k = 0), and have observed a pronounced excitonic feature which is very sensitive to surface fields. We have identified this effect as a type of interference phenomenon within the semiconductor depletion region. This feature and the observed Franz-Keldysh oscillations are thus used to optically study the surface electric fields and interface states, with and without an oxide layer.
Communication of Adults with Learning Disabilities: Self and Others' Perceptions.

Abstract This study investigated perceptions of the communication performance of 31 young adults with severe learning disabilities enrolled in a vacational-education program. Communication assessment questionnaires, designed to rate communication skills of these students, were completed by the students themselves and vocational educators. These questionnaires included items in the areas of comprehension, verbal expression, social communication, and problem solving. Overall, the student's perceptions of their own communication performance were remarkably similar to those of the vocational educators. However, students perceived their communicative performance as less problematic than did others. Of the four areas pertinent to communication, students and vocational educators perceived problem solving as most difficult. Implications of these findings are discussed with reference to the development of assessment procedures for adults with learning disabilities.
Cross-talk between subchondral bone and articular cartilage in osteoarthritis

The interest in the relationship between articular cartilage and the structural and functional properties of peri-articular bone relates to the intimate contact that exists between these tissues in diarthrodial joints. Much of the interest and continuing controversy regarding the relationship between these tissues dates back to the original suggestion by Radin and Rose that alterations in the mechanical properties of subchondral bone could adversely affect the functional state of chondrocytes and the integrity of the overlying cartilage. They hypothesized that the deterioration in articular cartilage associated with the osteoarthritic process was secondary to an initial increase in subchondral bone stiffness induced by repetitive mechanical loading. Numerous approaches have been used to establish that the changes in periarticular bone occur very early in the development of OA. Although chondrocytes also have the capacity to modulate their functional state in response to loading, the capacity of these cells to repair and modify their surrounding extracellular matrix is relatively limited in comparison to the adjacent subchondral bone. This differential adaptive capacity likely underlies the more rapid appearance of detectable skeletal changes in OA in comparison to the articular cartilage. Given the intimate mechanical and biological interaction between the articular cartilage and subchondral bone it is likely that alterations in the composition and/or structural organization of either tissue will modulate the properties and function of the other joint component. An additional factor that affects the interaction between these tissues is the gradual expansion of the zone of calcified cartilage and advancement of the tidemark that occurs with aging and progression of OA and contributes to overall thinning of the articular cartilage. The precise mechanisms involved in this process have not been definitively established and could include the release of pro-angiogenic factors from chondrocytes in the deep zones of the articular cartilage that have undergone hypertrophy and/or the influences of microcracks that have initiated focal remodeling in the calcified cartilage in an attempt to repair the microdamage. In addition, this process markedly increases the mechanical stresses in the deep zones of the cartilage matrix, which likely contributes to the acceleration in OA cartilage deterioration. In summary, there is the need for further studies to define the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the interaction between subchondral bone and articular cartilage and for applying this information to the development of therapeutic interventions to improve the outcomes in patients with OA.
Terrorist attacks and uncertainty reduction: Media use after September 11

Major acts of terrorism, like all public crises, instigate patterns of information seeking among the general public. These patterns of information seeking are consistent with previous research in social psychology, suggesting that in times of great fear, confusion or uncertainty, there is a fundamental need to acquire information that may be useful in restoring some sense of normality. Using survey data collected in three major American cities, the current study sought to examine whether or not this type of uncertainty reduction process occurred in the days following September 11. In addition to exploring the relationship between media use and uncertainty reduction, additional analyses explored the perceived usefulness of the news media in alleviating stress, and differences in these responses between men and women. The results do not support the predicted relationship between media use and uncertainty reduction; however differences between the sexes emerged in both response patterns and media preferences...
Detection and Monitoring of Vasospasm and Delayed Cerebral Ischemia: A Review and Assessment of the Literature

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage can be evaluated using clinical assessment, non-invasive and invasive techniques. An electronic literature search was conducted on English-language articles investigating DCI in human subjects with subarachnoid hemorrhage. A total of 31 relevant papers were identified evaluating the role of clinical assessment, transcranial Doppler, computed tomographic angiography, and computed tomographic perfusion. Clinical assessment by bedside evaluations is limited, especially in patients initially in poorer clinical condition or who are receiving sedative medication for whom deterioration may be more difficult to identify. Transcranial Doppler is a useful screening tool for middle cerebral artery vasospasm, with less utility in evaluating other intracranial vessels. Computed tomographic angiography correlates well with digital subtraction angiography. Computed tomographic perfusion may help predict DCI when used early or identify DCI when used later.
Developmental Biology of Mammalian Melanocytes

The developmental biology of mammalian cutaneous melanocytes spans the entire life cycle from embryo to senescent adult. This review focuses on the inelanocytes of the epidermis. Recent studies on neonatal mice indicate that melanoblasts of neural crest origin differentiate into epidermal melanocytes in response to signals provided by the local tissue environment, which may incorporate melanocyte-stimulating hormone and other hormones of pituitary origin in its action. In mice, there is a rapid disappearance of active epidermal melanocytes from the haired general body (trunk) skin during the 1st mo of life. Since active epidermal melanocytes persist in the relatively hairless skin of the appendages, some action of the local tissue environment is indicated here as well. An age-dependent decline in epiderrnal melanocytes occurs in humans over a period of many years. The fate of these melanocytes and the cause of their decline in humans and mice are not known. Several lines of evidence indicate that at least some melanocytes persist in an inactive form and may be stimulated to produce melanin on exposure to ultraviolet light. The local tissue environment influences not only the ability of epiderinal melanocytes to synthesize melanin but also the types of pigment-bearing bodies (melanosomes) that they manufacture. In recessive yellow mice, for example, pheomelanosome-like bodies are synthesized by epidermal melanocytes whereas those of the dermis produce eumelanosomes. The changes observed during the clinical course of human piebaldism and vitiligo indicate that studies on age-dependent modifications in normal mouse and human epidermal melanocytes are essential for an understanding of these and other pigmentary disorders.
Utility of Heel Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry in Diagnosing Osteoporosis

Abstract Although peripheral dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements have been found to predict fractures in population studies of white subjects, little is known about their utility in other races and in patients with greater risk of fracture. In a cross-sectional study of 874 women referred for bone mineral density (BMD) testing, we examined the utility of heel BMD in African-American (AA) compared with Caucasian (CA) women and in women using glucocorticoids. The ability of heel T-score to predict central osteoporosis was similar in AA and CA women (odds ratio [OR] per 1 unit decrease in T-score of 2.79 [95% confidence interval {CI} 2.16–3.60] and 3.15 [95% CI 2.53–3.92], respectively). The association between heel T-score and prevalent vertebral fractures was also similar in the 2 groups (OR 1.46 [95% CI 1.15–1.85] in AA and 1.42 [95% CI 1.16–1.74] in CA). In women using glucocorticoids heel T-score was better than central T-score in predicting vertebral fractures (OR 1.38 [95% CI 1.03–1.85] and 1.22 [95% CI 0.86–1.73], respectively). We conclude that in a multiracial referral population heel BMD predicts central osteoporosis and prevalent vertebral fractures equally well in AA as in CA women and may be better than central BMD in assessing fragility in glucocorticoid users.
A Comprehensive Model for Assessing Service‐Learning and Community‐University Partnerships

A global approach to assessing service-learning initiatives provides data to demonstrate that learning is taking place and to refine these initiatives so that they can be even more successful in the future.
Artificial Neural Network-Based Flow Regime Classification Techniques for Gas-Liquid-Fiber Three-Phase Flows

The feasibility of a transportable artificial neural network (ANN)–based technique for the classification of flow regimes in three phase gas/liquid/pulp fiber systems, using pressure signals as input, was demonstrated in this study. Both supervised and unsupervised neural network models were applied for implementing regime classification. Data obtained in a vertical column (1.8m high and 5.08cm in diameter) were used, and a supervised ANN was designed and successfully tested that used some characteristics of the power density spectrum of the recorded signals of a pressure sensor as input. The developed ANN showed encouraging transportability. An ANN-based method was also developed for adjusting the processed signals of one sensor before feeding them as input to an ANN that had been trained based on data from another similar sensor. The method further improved transportability. The objectivity of the experimentally-identified flow regimes and their transition conditions was verified by the application of a Kohonen self-organizing neural network.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Iterative path integral formulation of equilibrium correlation functions for quantum dissipative systems

We present an iterative path integral algorithm for computing multitime correlation functions of a quantum system coupled to a dissipative bath of harmonic oscillators. By splitting the Boltzmann operator into two parts and reordering the propagators in the expression for canonical correlation functions, we are able to transform the evolution time contour into a symmetric one so that a forward propagation and a backward one are specified. Because the memory induced by the bath through the Feynman–Vernon influence functional decays rapidly in the complex time plane, long-time correlations are negligible. Taking advantage of this fact, we show that the correlation function can be obtained via an iterative procedure. The method is used to calculate three-time correlation functions of a dissipative two-level system.
Feasibility analysis of using data filtering as a security measure in mobile Ad hoc networks

MANETS are used in a variety of applications today ranging from military communications networks to emergency response team networks. Their dynamic network topology is one of the greatest strength in employing MANETS, but invites many opportunities for cyber security attacks as computational power for these systems is always a viable resource. This paper documents a study where a MATLAB simulation of a replay attack on a single MANET device was developed and found that a common architectural component in MANET devices, sensor data filtering, could feasibly be used to detect the attack. A running average filter was modeled along with a noisy sensor signal, and the filter responded very rapidly to the attack on the simulated device.
Use of cost and accuracy measures in forecasting method selection: a physical distribution example

Abstract A difficult inventory control decision is that encountered by electronics warehouses which must stock a large variety of items in a rapidly changing, high cost industry. Electronic component distributors face high variability in demand, a lack of sufficient historical data and short product life cycles. The selection of accurate forecasting techniques for such a data set is of major importance. Four forecasting approaches were tested. They include single exponential smoothing with different smoothing constants as well as double exponential smoothing, adaptive response rate exponential smoothing and median of the historical data as the forecast The selection process requires the utilization of an appropriate metric. In this study, in addition to the traditional accuracy metric an added criterion, the use of an asymmetric economic measure of forecasting accuracy is proposed and tested. The forecasting methods utilized accuracy and economic measures, with a large data set. The different measures yie...
Almost periodic events generated by random flows

Under suitable conditions, a measurable action of a semigroup S on a probability space $(\varOmega,\mathcal {F},\mu )$ generates various σ-fields reflecting the dynamical properties of the associated representation of S and containing the information provided by certain subspaces of $\mathcal {L}^{1}(\mu )$ determined by the representation. For example, the functions in $\mathcal {L}^{1}(\mu )$ with norm relatively compact orbits under S are precisely the $\mathcal {L}^{1}$ functions that are measurable with respect to the σ-field of almost periodic events. In the special case of a measure-preserving action, the minimal projection operator associated with the action is a conditional expectation with respect to this σ-field, leading to a result on transformation of martingales. The unifying construct throughout the paper is the weakly almost periodic compactification of S, a powerful tool that provides a convenient platform to study operator semigroups associated with the action.
Therapeutic modalities for the management of cerebral vasospasm: timing of endovascular options.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if a window of time could be defined during which angioplasty would be most effective in reversing neurological decline and ultimately improving outcome. METHODS: Of a group of 466 patients, 93 underwent endovascular management of clinical vasospasm that was medically refractory. Eighty-four of the 93 patients were available for follow-up for at least 6 months. All patients underwent mechanical angioplasty using compliant microballoon systems and, if distal spasm was present, the administration of papaverine. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients underwent endovascular management within a 2-hour window, and 33 patients underwent treatment more than 2 hours after the development of their symptoms. Compared with the group treated more than 2 hours after neurological decline (P < 0.01; X 2 = 8.02), the group that underwent endovascular management within a 2-hour window after the development of symptoms demonstrated sustained clinical improvement. CONCLUSION: When a patient develops symptomatic vasospasm and is unresponsive to traditional measures of critical care management, angioplasty may be effective in improving the patient's neurological status if this procedure is performed as early as possible. The results indicate that a 2-hour window may exist for restoration of blood flow to ultimately improve the patient's outcome.
Subsecond Multisection CT of Regional Pulmonary Ventilation

Abstract Rationale and Objectives To evaluate the adequacy of multibreath and single-breath stable xenon gas techniques to measure regional ventilation during cardiac-gated, high-speed, multisection imaging, the authors carried out a series of studies using electron-beam computed tomography (CT) and a recently introduced subsecond multisection spiral CT scanner. Materials and Methods In four anesthetized pigs, the authors implemented single-breath and/or dynamic multibreath wash-in and washout protocols with respiratory- and cardiac-gated image acquisition. The effects of varying tidal volume and inspiratory flow rate were evaluated independently. Scanning was done at end expiration to avoid artifacts from partial volumed conducting airways, which are filled with inspired gas concentration during inspiration. Results A single breath of 100% xenon provides adequate enhancement in the lung parenchyma (mean, 32 HU ± 1.85 [standard error]) and should not cause unwanted side effects (mean xenon concentration in lung periphery, 21%). The single-breath method is suitable for studies requiring only short periods of apnea. Using the multibreath method, in dependent portions of the lung, there was close agreement between measured changes and predictions based on the xenon calibration data. More than 10 breaths were needed to clear tracer from poorly ventilated areas, and some nondependent regions demonstrated apparently “linear” rather than exponential clearance curves, possibly reflecting longer washout times. Analysis of wash-in and washout curves revealed vertical ventilation gradients and, at higher inspiratory flow rates, redistribution of ventilation to areas of the lung with greater pathway conductance. Conclusion With careful attention to lung volume and use of cardiac gating, it is now possible to correlate lung structure with function to a degree heretofore not possible.
Organizational constraints and possibilities regarding codes of conduct

This chapter addresses such topics as organizational principles underlying the development and functioning of codes, organizational constraints to the promulgation of codes, and organizational possibilities for the development of codes of conduct in higher education.
A comparison of simple tests to distinguish cerebrospinal fluid from saline

This prospective study was undertaken to determine if anesthesiologists of different levels of training, using simple tests, can distinguish cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from saline. Thirty-two anaesthetists, divided into four groups, dependent upon levels of training, participated in the study. Each was asked to distinguish saline from an artificial CSF solution using four different tests: tactile temperature, glucose strip, pH strip, and turbidity when mixed with thiopental. Participants identified cerebrospinal fluid correctly with 84% accuracy using the temperature test, 97% using the glucose test, 91 % using the pH test, and 50% using the thiopentone test. More than half of the participants guessed while using the thiopentone test, and those who did not guess were only 47% accurate. Level of training made no difference in distinguishing CSF from saline. No one test was 100% reliable. Clinical utility of the thiopentone test appears to be limited. The temperature, glucose, and pH tests, when used together, appear to be a useful way of distinguishing CSF from saline.
Sum frequency generation spectroscopy and double-layer capacitance studies of the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide-platinum interface.

The orientation of the cation and the anion of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide at the platinum−liquid interface, using sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy is reported. Sum frequency spectra at two different polarizations and different potentials are recorded, and analysis of polarization-dependent spectra is performed to estimate the orientation of the dicyanamide anion and the alkyl and ring moieties in the cation as a function of the potential applied to the platinum electrode. In addition, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are conducted. A model of the double-layer structure at the electrified interface is presented from the analysis of capacitance and SFG data.
Influence of Interconnect-Channel Shape on Heat and Mass Transfer in Anode-Supported Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

The debate on inculcating effective design engineering learning – its fundamental conceptualization, application of theoretical constructs to model physical devices/systems, and development of tools for solving unstructured problems – and associated critical thinking has primarily focused on curricula issues. Little effort has been made to understand the cognitive underpinning of students that lends to success in this direction. This paper presents the findings of a transverse study to assess learning styles of undergraduate mechanical engineering students and their perceptions about design engineering. Survey results from a batch of sophomores and seniors are analyzed to ascertain: (i) aspects of learning styles that are conducive to design comprehension, and (ii) perceptions about design engineering that aid or impede such learning.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Haploinsufficiency of MYBPC3 exacerbates the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in heterozygous mice

Mutations in MYBPC3, the gene encoding cardiac myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C), account for ~40% of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) cases. Most pathological MYBPC3 mutations encode truncated protein products not found in tissue. Reduced protein levels occur in symptomatic heterozygous human HCM carriers, suggesting haploinsufficiency as an underlying mechanism of disease. However, we do not know if reduced cMyBP-C content results from, or initiates the development of HCM. In previous studies, heterozygous (HET) mice with a MYBPC3 C'-terminal truncation mutation and normal cMyBP-C levels show altered contractile function prior to any overt hypertrophy. Therefore, this study aimed to test whether haploinsufficiency occurs, with decreased cMyBP-C content, following cardiac stress and whether the functional impairment in HET MYBPC3 hearts leads to worsened disease progression. To address these questions, transverse aortic constriction (TAC) was performed on three-month-old wild-type (WT) and HET MYBPC3-truncation mutant mice and then characterized at 4 and 12weeks post-surgery. HET-TAC mice showed increased hypertrophy and reduced ejection fraction compared to WT-TAC mice. At 4weeks post-surgery, HET myofilaments showed significantly reduced cMyBP-C content. Functionally, HET-TAC cardiomyocytes showed impaired force generation, higher Ca(2+) sensitivity, and blunted length-dependent increase in force generation. RNA sequencing revealed several differentially regulated genes between HET and WT groups, including regulators of remodeling and hypertrophic response. Collectively, these results demonstrate that haploinsufficiency occurs in HET MYBPC3 mutant carriers following stress, causing, in turn, reduced cMyBP-C content and exacerbating the development of dysfunction at myofilament and whole-heart levels.
Intelligent edge enhancement using multilayer neural network based on multi-valued neurons

In this paper, we solve the edge enhancement problem using an intelligent approach. We use a multilayer neural network based on multi-valued neurons (MLMVN) as an intelligent edge enhancer. The problem of neural edge enhancement using a classical multilayer feedforward neural network (MLF) was already considered by some authors. Since MLMVN significantly outperforms MLF in terms of learning speed, number of parameters employed, and generalization capability, it is very attractive to apply it for solving the edge enhancement problem. The main result which is presented in the paper, is the proven ability of MLMVN to enhance edges corresponding to a certain edge detection operator. Moreover, it is possible to enhance edges on noisy images ignoring a noisy texture. It is shown that to learn any edge detection operator using MLMVN, only a single image is required for learning purposes. The most important conclusion is that a neural network can learn different edge detection operators from a single example and then process those images that did not participate in the learning process detecting edges specifically corresponding to the learned operator with a high accuracy.
Acute iodine ingestion increases intrathyroidal glutathione

In genetically predisposed individuals, autoimmune lymphocytic thyroiditis (LT) is potentiated by excess dietary iodine (I). There have been data which suggest that oxidative stress may have a role in iodine-induced LT. These in vivo studies were undertaken to examine the effect of iodine on intrathyroidal levels of the potent antioxidant glutathione (GSH) and see if the thyroids of LT-prone BB/Wor rats have aberrant GSH responses after iodine-loading. LT-prone BB/Wor, non LT-prone BB/Wor and Wistar rats were randomized to receive either 0.05% I (as Nal) or tap water. Thyroid and liver homogenates were assayed individually for GSH. Following the administration of 0.05% iodine water overnight, all of the animals demonstrated a rise in intrathyroidal GSH regardless of LT-proneness. To determine whether this was a dose-dependent response, Wis rats were randomized to receive tap, 0.0125%, 0.025%, 0.05%, or 0.075% I, overnight. Intrathyroidal GSH levels rose with increasing iodine concentrations peaking at 0.025% I. Hepatic GSH levels were unaltered by iodine treatment. Ten days of 0.05% I water did not result in any difference between the GSH levels of thyroids from treated and control rats. Frozen sections of the thyroids and livers from iodine-treated rats were compared to tap-water controls after staining with Mercury Orange for GSH and Schiffs reagent for evidence of lipid peroxidation. Iodine-treated thyroids had an apparent shift of GSH staining from the apical border to the cytoplasm. However, there was no Schiffs staining indicative of lipid peroxidation in the iodine-treated thyroids. These results show that acute iodine loads increase intrathyroidal GSH and LT-prone rats do not have an inherent deficit in this response. Therefore, we conclude that there is no role for oxidative damage in iodine-induced LT. We propose that GSH has a role in intrathyroidal iodine metabolism and thyroid hormone synthesis.
AMPK signaling: a targetable tumor suppressor pathway?

Commentary to: AMPK as a therapeutic target in renal cell carcinoma Jennifer Woodard, Sonali Joshi, Benoit Viollet, Nissim Hay and Leonidas C. Platanias
What can e‐learning do for university libraries?

This paper outlines the benefits to be gained from applying e‐learning approaches to information literacy activity in university libraries. While openly championing the advantages of e‐learning, the disadvantages of e‐learning are also clearly set out, and ways of dealing with these disadvantages suggested. A practical example of an e‐learning package for the promotion of information literacy is analysed and conclusions are drawn.
Dialysis of bovine semen and its effect on fresh and freeze-thawed spermatozoa

The effect of the removal of the low-molecular-weight fraction (LMWF, less than 12,000-14,000 Da) from the seminal plasma present in extended semen by dialysis and by centrifugation (1,376g for 20 min at 5 degrees C) were compared with the current methods of freezing bovine semen. Significantly higher sperm post-thaw motility (P less than 0.05) was obtained in the dialyzed samples than with the other two methods. The appropriate time and temperature for dialysis of semen was also studied. Semen aliquots were dialyzed (1:50, retentate:dialysate) for 30 min, 1 or 2 hr at 5 degrees C, and during the cooling process from 37 to 5 degrees C over a 2-hr period. Superior sperm motility (P less than 0.05) in prefreeze and post-thawed samples was observed when semen was dialyzed for 1 or 2 hr during the cooling process as compared with that of semen dialyzed at 5 degrees C. A third experiment was conducted to establish the effect of the use of dialysis bags of different molecular weight cutoffs (MWCO) on sperm motility. Semen samples were dialyzed (1:50) during the cooling process in dialysis bags of 1,000, 3,500, 6,000-8,000, 12,000-14,000, 25,000, and 50,000 MWCO. No statistical differences (P greater than 0.05) in sperm post-thaw motility were found after evaluation of the number of cells that passed through the Sephadex filter and all the dialyzed values obtained were significantly (P less than 0.05) superior to the results obtained with no dialysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cellular network model with hand off delays

Cellular architecture uses cells within which the transmission between a user and the radio stations can occur. The cell size depends on the transmission range of the stations and on the number of users. With the growing demand for cellular services, the number of users can increase that will affect the quality of services and impact the cell size. This paper proposes a model for a cellular architecture. The model allows for calculation of waiting and hand off times in the network for mobile users. The results of the experiments show that the number of channels per user, call time, and the percentage of mobile users in the cells have significant impact on the performance of cellular network.
Anti-inflammatory treatment increases angiogenesis during early fracture healing

Objectives Both inflammation and angiogenesis are crucial for normal fracture healing. The goal of this work was to determine how anti-inflammatory treatment affects angiogenesis during early stages of fracture repair.
Effects of temperature on the atomic structure of synthetic calcium–silicate–deuterate gels: A neutron pair distribution function investigation

Abstract Due to the nanocrystallinity of the calcium–silicate–hydrate (C–S–H) gel in ordinary Portland cement-based paste combined with the presence of nanoscale heterogeneities such as varying calcium-to-silicon ratios and incorporation of aluminum in the structure, standard characterization techniques fail to fully capture the complex atomic structure and nanoscale morphology of this important binder phase. Here, neutron pair distribution function (PDF) analysis is applied to a range of deuterated C–S–H gels with varying Ca/Si ratios (denoted C–S–D). In situ temperature measurements reveal that the local atomic bonding environments in C–S–D gel undergo large structural rearrangements due to exposure to elevated temperature (above ~ 200 °C), including the collapse of the C–S–D gel interlayer spacing to 9.6 A and the emergence of a disordered dicalcium silicate phase (similar to larnite). At lower elevated temperatures, the atom–atom correlations are dominated by scattering from deuterium atoms and therefore can be used to quantify the dehydration kinetics.
EMPATH: Face, Emotion, and Gender Recognition Using Holons

The dimensionality of a set of 160 face images of 10 male and 10 female subjects is reduced from 4096 to 40 via an autoencoder network. The extracted features do not correspond to the features used in previous face recognition systems (Kanade, 1973), such as ratios of distances between facial elements. Rather, they are whole-face features we call holons. The holons are given to 1 and 2 layer back propagation networks that are trained to classify the input features for identity, feigned emotional state and gender. The automatically extracted holons provide a sufficient basis for all of the gender discriminations, 99% of the identity discriminations and several of the emotion discriminations among the training set. Network and human judgements of the emotions are compared, and it is found that the networks tend to confuse more distant emotions than humans do.
Mechanisms regulating enhanced human leukocyte antigen class II-mediated CD4 T cell recognition of human B-cell lymphoma by resveratrol

Malignant B-cells express measurable levels of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II proteins, but often escape immune recognition by CD4 � T cells. Resveratrol (Resv) has been the focus of numerous investigations due to its potential chemopreventive and anti-cancer eff ects, but it has never been tested in the regulation of immune components in B-cell tumors. Here, we show for the fi rst time that Resv treatment enhances HLA class II-mediated immune detection of B-cell lymphomas by altering immune components and class II presentation in tumor cells. Resv treatment induced an up-regulation of both classical and non-classical HLA class II proteins (DR and DM) in B-lymphoma cells. Resv also altered endolysosomal cathepsins (Cat S, B and D) and a thiol reductase (GILT), increasing HLA class II-mediated antigen (Ag) processing in B-cell lymphomas and their subsequent recognition by CD4 � T cells. Mechanistic study demonstrated that Resv treatment activated the recycling class II pathway of Ag presentation through up-regulation of Rab 4B protein expression in B-lymphoma cells. These fi ndings suggest that HLA class II-mediated immune recognition of malignant B-cells can be improved by Resv treatment, thus encouraging its potential use in chemoimmunotherapy of B-cell lymphoma.
1 Principles of Evidence-Based Imaging

The standard medical education in Western medicine has emphasized skills and knowledge learned from experts, particularly those encountered in the course of postgraduate medical education, and through national publications and meetings. This reliance on experts, referred to by Dr. Paul Gerber of Dartmouth Medical School as “eminence-based medicine” (1), is based on the construct that the individual practitioner, particularly a specialist devoting extensive time to a given discipline, can arrive at the best approach to a problem through his or her experience. The practitioner builds up an experience base over years and digests information from national experts who have a greater base of experience due to their focus in a particular area. The evidence-based imaging (EBI) paradigm, in contradistinction, is based on the precept that a single practitioner cannot through experience alone arrive at an unbiased assessment of the best course of action. Assessment of appropriate medical care should instead be derived through evidence-based process. The role of the practitioner, then, is not simply to accept information from an expert, but rather to assimilate and critically assess the research evidence that exists in the literature to guide a clinical decision (2–4).
The Holocaust and the Modernization of Gender: A Historiographical Essay

Zygmunt Bauman's book, Modernity and the Holocaust, argues that the Holocaust was not an aberration from modernity, but rather the most extreme symptom of a distinctively modern pathology. Women are conspicuously absent from this indictment of modernity; Bauman, a socilogist, mentions neither gender as an issue nor women as individuals. This gap in Bauman's text is in fact full of meaning, for the absence of women as persons does not preclude the hidden presence of gender as a category of analysis. I shall use the absence and presence of gender in Bauman's text as a starting point for an examination of the historiography of women and gender and its relevance for our understanding of the Holocaust. First, I will tease out the hidden, gendered implications of Bauman's theory; second, I will look at the ways in which recent feminist scholarship has approached the question of women's responsibility for the Holocaust. Finally, I shall suggest that a consideration of the cultural construction of gender, as explored by recent scholarship in many fields, is necessary to our understanding of the historical and ethical concerns that Bauman and others have raised.
Biodegradable Magnesium Alloys: A Review of Material Development and Applications

Magnesium based alloys possess a natural ability to biodegrade due to corrosion when placed within aqueous substances, which is promising for cardiovascular and orthopedic medical device applications. These materials can serve as a temporary scaffold when placed in vivo, which is desirable for treatments when temporary supportive structures are required to assist in the wound healing process. The nature of these materials to degrade is attributed to the high oxidative corrosion rates of magnesium. In this review, a summary is presented for magnesium material development, biocorrosion characteristics, as well as a biological translation for these results.
Tests of Branch Splitting and Branch-Splitting Independence in Allais Paradoxes with Positive and Mixed Consequences.

Abstract Four experiments with 1391 participants compared descriptive models of risky decision making. The first replicated and extended evidence refuting cumulative prospect theory (CPT) as an explanation of Allais paradoxes. The second and third experiments used a new design to unconfound tests of upper and lower coalescing, which allows tests of branch-splitting independence. Violations of upper coalescing were observed, contrary to an idempotent, lower gains decomposition utility (LGDU) model, but consistent with a transfer of attention exchange (TAX) model. Violations of restricted branch independence refute subjectively weighted utility (SWU), including “stripped” prospect theory. There were also small but significant violations of branch-splitting independence, contrary to SWU but consistent with TAX. The fourth experiment used a new design to test a model in which a gamble’s utility is expected utility plus entropy. This model can be rejected because there were significant effects of whether the upper or lower branch is split with equal entropy. Comparing specific numerical models, TAX fit better than LGDU or SWU, which fit better than CPT. Discrepancies from TAX (as fit to previous data) were observed when the number of branches in the two gambles within a choice differed. In these cases, people tend to select the gamble with the greater number of branches leading to favorable consequences.
Analyses of Load Stealing Models Based on Families of Differential Equations

In this paper we analyze the limiting behavior of several randomized work stealing algorithms in a dynamic setting. Our models represent the limiting behavior of systems as the number of processors grows to infinity using differential equations. The advantages of this approach include the ability to model a large variety of systems and to provide accurate numerical approximations of system behavior even when the number of processors is relatively small. We show how this approach can yield significant intuition about the behavior of work stealing algorithms in realistic settings.
Effect of dispersion on surface interactions of cobalt(II) octaethylporphyrin monolayer on Au(111) and HOPG(0001) substrates: a comparative first principles study

Correction for ‘Effect of dispersion on surface interactions of cobalt(II) octaethylporphyrin monolayer on Au(111) and HOPG(0001) substrates: a comparative first principles study’ by Bhaskar Chilukuri et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 14096–14107.