cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Ubiquitous e

Texts on elementary matrix theory, e.g. [1], usually mention the following three methods for computation of the determinant of an n by n matrix A = [ai,]: (a) Direct computation using the definition via permutations; (b) reduction by Gaussian elimination; and (c) expansion by minors. If we let a computation mean any addition, subtraction, multiplication or division (excluding those used in the determination of the signs), then it is easy to see that (a) requires n! n I computations. Many texts, e.g. [2], show that (b) requires 2n3/3 n2/2 + 5n/6 I computations. These are used to compare the efficiency of (a) and (b), with the conclusion that (b) requires fewer computations for n >2. Here we wish to derive an explicit formula for the number of computations required by (c). Instead of just stating and proving the result, we will exhibit the process used to derive the formula so that the reader can share in the surprise of discovery. Calculation of the determinant by expansion by the first row uses the equation det A = a,,A + al2A,2+ * * * + alnA ni where the A,, are the appropriate cofactors. If we denote by Nn the number of computations required by method (c), then calculation of a cofactor requires Nn-l computations. Once these are found, there are then n multiplications and n I additions to perform. This yields the recursion formula
SIMULATION MODEL FOR STORM SURGE PROBABILITIES

Storm surge and its Impact on the coastal regions have been of interest to many researchers and engineers for a long time. Deterministic models based on classical hydrodynamics can be used for reliable predictions only for short terms, e.g. up to 24 hours for which the characteristics of the storm can be projected accurately. Long-term predictions, on the other hand, is a statistical problem due to the random nature of the storms. Such long-term prediction is becoming increasingly important as the coastal regions are rapidly developed into residential, recreational and industrial areas. One of the first statistical studies on coastal storm surge predictions was published in 1961 by Wemelsfelder who used a Poisson probability law to fit the observed high tide data at Hook of Holland. From this fitted law, risk curves for long-term in years can be constructed for design purposes. In 1970 Yang et al applied the extreme value model to fit storm surge data for Atlantic City, New Jersey and Breakwater Harbor, Delaware. This so-called "purely" statistical method is sound in concept and simple to use. It has some serious limitations, however. First, it requires a collection of long term data (say 100 years for reliable design predictions) which is difficult to obtain in general. Secondly, the prediction for one location is not valid in general for other locations even when they are not far apart. To overcome the first limitation on the unavailability of long-term data at least partially, it is recognized that although storm tide data is limited, the general meteorological data is relatively abundant, so that more data on storm tide can be derived from meteorological data (wind field) via a hydrodynamic analysis. The analysis, of course, involves a general coastal area and consequently, the spatial variation of the storm tide can be predicted and the limitation on the location can be removed also. These observations lead to the concept of a combined statistical and hydrodynamic model which takes into account both the randomness of the long-term meteorological data and the physics of the storm surge.
Improvement of Bacterial Blight Resistance of II-32B by Molecular Marker-Assisted Selection

Rice bacterial blight(BB) is one of the most destructive diseases of rice. In this study, IRBBL23 was used as the donor of resistant gene Xa23 and Ⅱ-32B as a recurrent parent. Progenies were detected with CP02662 a closely linked marker. Combined by methods of field resistance test and marker-assisted selection, 6resistant lines were obtained. The length of disease is between 0.34~1.34 cm. The recovery genetic background was analyzed by 178 SSR primers evenly distributed over the whole genome. 6 resistant improved maintainer lines were obtained with the rate of recovery of genetic background from 96% to 100%. Basically recovered to the recurrent parental genotype.
Ending cyber coercion: Computer network attack, exploitation and the case of North Korea

ABSTRACTThe use of coercive instruments of statecraft and military power to affect changes in strategic behavior is a common feature of international politics. Recently, a variety of state and sub-state actors have attempted to utilize cyber instruments of disruption and intrusion to bring about favorable outcomes. This article notes that digital instruments for coercion offer limited potential for effective compellent effect in world affairs. Nevertheless, as the case of North Korea's 2015 hack and (attempted) manipulation of Sony demonstrates, coercion using cyber weapons of intrusion and disruption is possible under particular conditions. In describing these conditions, I argue that the limits of cyber coercion should be seen more as a function of relevant social and institutional context than of the current state of technological possibilities. Technology certainly determines parameters of coercive interaction between actors, but success—and thus most determinants of strategic decisions surrounding cy...
OntoPhoto and the Role of Ontology in Organizing Knowledge

This article is concerned with ontology and its applications in Knowledge Organization (KO) activities. Connec- tions are drawn between efforts in artificial intelligence (AI) to capture the meaning of information and make it accessible to machines and the efforts made in libraries to use KO tools in machine-based record building and search and retrieval systems. The practices used in AI that are of interest here include ontology and ontology-based knowledge representation. In this article their applications in KO are directed towards a particularly problematic document type—the photograph. There are two argu- ments motivating this article. First, ontology-based KO systems that join AI techniques with library cataloging practices make it possible to utilize higher levels of expressivity when describing photographs. Second, KO systems for photographs that are capable of reasoning over concepts and relationships can potentially provide richer, more relevant search results than systems utilizing word-matching alone.
Vertebral Metastasis as the Initial Manifestation of Colon Cancer

Oncology guidelines currently recommend against performing colonoscopies in the workup of adenocarcinoma of unknown primary unless colonic malignancy is otherwise suggested by clinical signs or symptoms. We present 2 cases of metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma that presented only with neurologic symptoms from vertebral metastasis. Although bony metastases are a rare presentation of colon cancer and colonoscopy is not warranted in the initial workup of adenocarcinoma of unknown primary, we describe these cases as a reminder that bony metastases do not rule out a colon cancer diagnosis.
Cascaded downconversion interface to the telecom band for single-photon-level signals at 650 nm

We present a device for two-stage frequency conversion of a 650 nm signal to the telecom band with low excess noise and low required pump power. We observed 99% depletion for each stage.
Rac1 inhibition to sensitize triple negative breast cancer to EGFR inhibition.

1084 Background: Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) a subtype of breast cancer with the poorest prognosis lacks expression of estrogen progesterone receptors and does not overexpress HER2. Curren...
Linking Dynamic Fracture to Microstructural Processes

Dynamic fracture and quasi-static fracture have traditionally been studied by different communities, and correspondingly different terminologies have evolved. Nevertheless, the basic phenomenology is the same for all loading rates: nucleation, growth, and coalescence of microscopic voids or cracks. Successful prediction of the degree of micro structural failure produced by a given loading history thus requires an understanding of the kinetics of the microstructural failure processes. To attain this understanding will require the combination of three separate capabilities: (1) experiments with controlled stress and strain amplitudes and durations followed by posttest quantitative characterization of micro structural damage, (2) analytical models of the microstructural void or crack kinetics, and (3) computer codes to exercise the resulting, highly nonlinear, constitutive relations in numerical simulations of experiments that produce varying degrees of microstructural damage. This paper reviews the current status in developing and combining the above three capabilities. Some speculations are also made regarding future directions in linking continuum fracture behavior to microstructural material properties.
STIM1 (c)AMPs up melanogenesis

STIM1 and STIM2 are endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ sensors that serve multi‐faceted roles in signal transduction in a wide variety of different cell types. In this issue of The EMBO Journal , Motiani et al define and characterize the ability of STIM1 to control cAMP generation in a new context, melanin production (Motiani et al , 2018), offering new insights into the physiological role of STIM1.
Fatherlessness: Implications for God's Word, Church, and World:

The implications of fatherless families—be they single-mother households, same-sex marriages, or matriarchal cultures—has too often been a neglected (perhaps avoided) topic within the context of th...
Sphingosine 1‐Phosphate Receptor 1 Signaling Maintains Endothelial Cell Barrier Function and Protects Against Immune Complex–Induced Vascular Injury

Objective Immune complex (IC) deposition activates polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), increases vascular permeability, and leads to organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. The bioactive lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), acting via S1P receptor 1 (S1P1 ), is a key regulator of endothelial cell (EC) barrier function. This study was undertaken to investigate whether augmenting EC integrity via S1P1 signaling attenuates inflammatory injury mediated by ICs. Methods In vitro barrier function was assessed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing. Phosphorylation of myosin light chain 2 (p-MLC-2) and VE-cadherin staining in HUVECs were assessed by immunofluorescence. A reverse Arthus reaction (RAR) was induced in the skin and lungs of mice with S1P1 deleted from ECs (S1P1 EC-knockout [ECKO] mice) and mice treated with S1P1 agonists and antagonists. Results S1P1 agonists prevented loss of barrier function in HUVECs treated with IC-activated PMNs. S1P1 ECKO and wild-type (WT) mice treated with S1P1 antagonists had amplified RAR, whereas specific S1P1 agonists attenuated skin and lung RAR in WT mice. ApoM-Fc, a novel S1P chaperone, mitigated EC cell barrier dysfunction induced by activated PMNs in vitro and attenuated lung RAR. Expression levels of p-MLC-2 and disruption of VE-cadherin, each representing manifestations of cell contraction and destabilization of adherens junctions, respectively, that were induced by activated PMNs, were markedly reduced by treatment with S1P1 agonists and ApoM-Fc. Conclusion Our findings indicate that S1P1 signaling in ECs modulates vascular responses to IC deposition. S1P1 agonists and ApoM-Fc enhance the EC barrier, limit leukocyte escape from capillaries, and provide protection against inflammatory injury. The S1P/S1P1 axis is a newly identified target to attenuate tissue responses to IC deposition and mitigate end-organ damage.
Physician Light Therapy

As the days shorten and the winter season approaches, sleep specialists may encounter an increasing prevalence of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Some studies indicate that light therapy may be effective in these situations.1 Light therapy might also reset the circadian clock. Physicians are susceptible to sleep-wake cycle disorders, especially in the immediate post-call period. Furthermore, given the increasing socioeconomic problems in medical care, depression is not uncommon in a busy practicing clinician. With the advent of digital radiography, office x-ray view boxes are becoming increasingly less used. We would like to suggest a use for these items, which are now “collecting dust.” A brief investigation into the light output of a standard 4-panel x-ray box present in a typical pulmonologist's office indicates that, per panel, these boxes (American Medical Corporation Model No. 704D) put out 3460 luminescence or lux units. For a 4-panel unit, this would be the equivalent of 13,840 lux units. A commonly prescribed light therapy illuminator from Hammacher Schlemmer Model No. 66468 has an output of 10,000 lux units. We would like to suggest that physicians turn on their dormant x-ray boxes, even though they are viewing their films on digital discs and arrange their office desks close to these viewing panels in order to reset their biologic clocks post-call and also as a preventative and/or therapeutic strategy for SAD. We speculate that this might improve physician mood, patient care and overall satisfaction with the medical profession.
New wrinkle on deubiquitination in B-cell lymphoma.

In this issue of Blood, Hussain et al1 shed light on the mechanism by which the deubiquitinating hydrolase, UCH1L, promotes MYC-driven neoplasms of mature B cells and plasma cells. The new findings solve the long-standing conundrum of UCH1L’s ability to maintain high-level protein synthesis despite inhibiting its positive upstream regulator, mTORC1.
Photochemical Mechanisms Responsible for the Versatile Application of Naphthalimides and Naphthaldiimides in Biological Systems

Despite the number and variety of their biological applications, the mechanisms of action of the photoactive naphthalenic imides have not yet been fully elucidated. In order to provide mechanistic insight, the photochemistry of several N-substituted 1,8-naphthalimides (NI) and 1,4,5,8-naphthaldiimides (NDI) has been studied using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy and by laser flash photolysis (λexc = 355 nm). The lowest singlet state (S1) is mainly ππ* in nature for NI whereas nπ* character predominates for the NDI. This difference exerts a profound effect on subsequent reaction mechanisms: upon irradiation, only the NDI molecules can undergo intramolecular γ hydrogen abstraction. In the case of NP-III, a bishydroperoxy NDI derivative, this photoprocess (Φ = 0.03) leads to concomitant formation of an oxygen-centered radical (e = 21 600 M-1 cm-1 at 465 nm in acetonitrile) and release of the hydroxyl radical (•OH). All the compounds studied produce the triplet state (in acetonitrile, eT ≈ 10 500−11 ...
A Creation Operator for Spinons in One Dimension

We propose a definition for a creation operator for the spinon, the fractional statistics elementary excitation of the Haldane-Shastry model, and give numerical and analytical evidence that our operator creates a single spinon with nearly unit amplitude in the ISE model. We then discuss how the operator is useful in more general contexts such as studying the underlying spinons of other spin chain models, like the XXX- and XY-model, and of the one dimensional Hubbard model.
Outcomes of Older Women With Hormone Receptor-Positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer Treated With a CDK4/6 Inhibitor and an Aromatase Inhibitor: An FDA Pooled Analysis.

PURPOSEMany older women will be treated with a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor and an aromatase inhibitor (AI), given US Food and Drug Administration approval of three agents in this...
Advanced Techniques for Specimen Extraction During Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

Natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) during laparoscopic colorectal surgery will be the way forward to avoid abdominal wall incisions and reduce access trauma. Avoidance of extraction site laparotomy is the most important characteristic of NOSE. The specimen is delivered via a natural orifice, and the anastomosis is created intracorporeally. Benefits of NOSE-procedures are less pain, lower analgesia requirements, faster recovery, shorter hospital stay, better cosmetic results, and lower incisional hernia rates. This chapter will focus on transrectal and transanal NOSE-techniques.
Trilayer model in design of W/C multilayer mirrors with a small period thickness

In the design of a W/C multilayer mirror, we applied a trilayer model to consider the interdiffusion of tungsten and carbon on the W-on-C interface and investigated the first Bragg angle and its reflectivity. As the interdiffusion thickness of a W/C multilayer mirror increased, the first Bragg angle and the reflected X-ray energy increased. However, as the period thickness of the W/C multilayer mirror increased, the effects of the interdiffusion became less pronounced. The criteria for the use of either the bilayer or the trilayer models for the design of W/C multilayer mirrors were presented for various period thicknesses. The trilayer model would be useful for the design of multilayer mirrors with a small period thickness of less than approximately 4.0 nm at an interdiffusion of 0.28 nm.
Growth Performance and Nutrient Composition of Mealworms (Tenebrio Molitor) Fed on Fresh Plant Materials-Supplemented Diets.

Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) have a great potential to serve as a sustainable food source for humans due to their favorable nutrient profile and low environmental impact. Feed formulation and optimization are important for mealworm production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of fresh plant materials-supplemented diets on the growth performance and nutritional value of mealworms. Mealworm larvae were grown on wheat bran or wheat bran enriched with carrot, orange, or red cabbage for four weeks. Larval and pupal survival, growth rate, pupating rate, duration of pupal stage, proximate composition, reducing power, metal chelating activity, and radical scavenging activity of the mealworms were analyzed. Dietary supplementation with fresh plant materials did not result in significant changes in mealworm survival, development, proximate composition, or antioxidant activities. However, mealworm larvae fed on carrot-, orange-, and red cabbage-supplemented diets had improved growth rates, and were 40%–46% heavier in week four than those fed on wheat bran only, indicating the supplementation resulted in an increased production efficiency of mealworm larvae. Our findings may help optimize the diet formulation for mealworm mass production.
MYOCARDIAL DYNAMICS AND RIGHT HEART PRESSURES CORRELATION AFTER HEART TRANSPLANTATION

Intracardiac and pulmonary artery (PA) pressures are currently assessed by cardiac catheterization (CC). Tissue phase mapping (TPM) is a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) 2D phase contrast technique for 3-directional myocardial velocity calculation. This study aims to verify correlations between LV/
Autonomous Fire Resistance Evaluation

AbstractThe structural fire engineering community has been slowly evolving over the past few decades. While we continue to favor a classical stand toward evaluating fire resistance of structures th...
Standardized regression-based clinical change score cutoffs for normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Presently, for patients presenting with suspected Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) who undergo temporary drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) there is no defined model to differentiate chance improvement form clinical significance change at the individual patient level. To address this lack of information we computed standard regression based clinical change models for the 10 Meter Walk Test, Timed Up & Go, Dual Timed Up & Go, 6-Minute Walk Test, Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Symbol Digit Modalities using data from patients with suspected NPH that underwent temporary drainage of CSF. These clinically significant change modes can classify clinically significant improvement following temporary drainage of CSF at the individual patient level. This allows for physicians to differentiate a clinically significant improvement in symptoms from chance improvement. Data was collected from 323 patients, over the age of 60, with suspected NPH that underwent temporary drainage of CSF with corresponding gait and cognitive testing. McSweeney Standardized Regression Based Clinical Change Models were computed for standard gait and cognitive measures: Timed Up & Go, Dual Timed Up & Go, 10 Meter Walk Test, MiniBESTest, 6-Minute Walk Test, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Symbol Digit Modalities Test. To assess the discriminate validity of the measures we used correlations, Chi2, and regression analyses. The clinical change models explained 69–91.8% of the variability in post-drain performance (p < 0.001). As patient scores became more impaired, the percent change required for improvement to be clinically significant increased for all measures. We found that the measures were not discriminate, the Timed Up & Go was highly related to the 10 Meter Walk Test (r = 0.85, R2 = 0.769–0.738, p < 0.001), MiniBESTest (r = − 0.67, R2 = 0.589–0.734, p < 0.001), and 6 Minute Walk Test (r = − 0.77, R2 = 0.71–0.734, p < 0.001). Standardized Regression Based Clinically Significant Change Models allow for physicians to use an evidence-based approach to differentiate clinically significant change from chance improvement at the individual patient level. The Timed Up & Go was shown to be predictive of detailed measures of gait velocity, balance, and endurance.
Toward a Theodicy of the Body: Liturgy and Explanation:

This essay examines recent attempts to remake the enterprise of theodicy. Both Eleonore Stump and David Burrell analyze the story of Job in an attempt to move theodicy beyond the mode of explanatio...
Expanding the Scope of the Visit: Which Patient-initiated Additional Concerns Receive Help?

This study examines patient-initiated additional concern presentations in general surgery visits to assess which factors contribute to them getting “helped.” Concern presentations were analyzed for...
The use of adjuvant radiation therapy in male breast cancer and its impact on outcomes.

BACKGROUND Male breast cancer (MBC) accounts for 1% of all breast cancers and there is a paucity of data on factors impacting the treatment strategies and outcomes. We sought to use a large national database to examine trends and predictors of the use of adjuvant radiation (Adj-RT), as well as any association with outcome. METHODS We queried the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for patients with stages I-III MBC treated with surgery (breast conservation surgery-BCS or mastectomy-MS) within 180 days of diagnosis (years 2004-2015). Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of adj-RT receipt. Multivariable Cox regression evaluated predictors of survival. Propensity matching for adj-RT was used to account for indication biases. RESULTS We identified 6,217 patients meeting the eligibility criteria (1457 BCS vs. 4760 MS). The majority of patients were Caucasian (85%) and in an age range of 50-80 years (74%). Although adj-RT was omitted for 30% of BCS patients, the utilization was higher compared to MS (OR=26, p-value=0.001). The predictors of adj-RT use included African-American race, more advanced stage, higher grade, presence of lymphovascular invasion, and ER/Her-2 positivity for the entire cohort and increased age, urban location and higher income for BCS. Adj-RT was associated with lower mortality in the propensity matched model (overall HR for BCS=0.28, p-value<0.001; overall HR for MS=0.62, p-value=0.001). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that while adj-RT after BCS is associated with decreased mortality in MBC patients, adj-RT is omitted in up to a third of cases of MBC after BCS despite being standard of care.
Populism and the Past: Restoring, Retaining, and Redeeming the Nation

Populism and nationalism have been described as major threats to democracy. But ambiguities linger over their conceptual boundaries and overlaps. This article develops a typology of nationalist narratives to historically situate the recent global rise of populist nationalism. Specifically, we identify three common types of historical experience with empire that have shaped contemporary expressions of nationalism by populist leaders: imperial power, where a nation’s forerunner was the leading polity in a regional or global empire; imperial subject, where a nation was ruled and dominated by an imperial power, and imperial holdout, where a nation battled off imperial encroachments with relative success. Collective memories of these divergent imperial experiences are associated with three distinct types of nationalist narratives today: restorative nationalism in former imperial powers, redemptive nationalism in former imperial subjects, and retentive nationalism in former imperial holdouts. We illustrate this typology in three major cases of twenty-first-century populism: Turkey under Erdogan, the Philippines under Duterte, and Thailand under Thaksin. We tentatively contend that restorative nationalism is an especially likely conduit for greater political disruptions at home and abroad.
Infrequent STI Testing in New York City Among High Risk Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals Interested In Self- and Partner-Testing.

Testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains low among sexual and gender minority populations. We assessed STI testing history using a retrospective survey among 129 HIV-negative cisgender men who have sex with men (cMSM) and transgender women who have sex with men (tWSM) who were at high risk for STI acquisition. All participants were enrolled in a parent study on self- and partner-testing for HIV and syphilis, and reported condomless anal intercourse with multiple partners during the prior 3 months. We additionally used bivariate tests to evaluate participants' STI testing by their history of using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). One-in-seven respondents (n = 18) reported having never tested for an STI, one-quarter (n = 33) had not tested in the past year, and two-thirds (n = 83) had never used PrEP. PrEP-naive respondents were less likely to report recent STI testing (47% vs. 85%). "Routine doctor's visit" was the most prevalent reason for testing, but was less common among PrEP-naive respondents (83% vs. 100%). Testing was remarkably low given the sample's high risk of HIV and STI infection. Findings suggest that STI testing is more frequent among those who have ever used PrEP, but the risk of selection bias warrants evaluation in a larger probability sample.
Social reinforcement in psychotherapy.

Conditioning operates importantly in psychotherapy through a number of major mechanisms, one of the least recognized of which is direct behavioral shaping through social reinforcement and punishment. The case presented illustrates the operation of this mechanism in rather pure culture. The case was ideally suited to the use of behavioral shaping as a therapeutic technique. The patient, who had been unable to work or comfortably leave home for 17 years, was treated successfully in a total of approximately ten hours of patient-therapist contact. A four-year follow-up is presented, together with discussion of the importance of this behavioral dimension as it operates generally in psychotherapy.
Target-Date Mutual Funds

Because target-date funds are one of the three approved default options for many retirement plans, their popularity is likely to increase. Target-date funds usually have an aggressive equity exposure for young investors and become increasingly conservative as the workers approach retirement. This shift is commonly referred to as a fund’s “glide path.” In this chapter, target-date funds are described, research is reviewed, and the theoretical basis for their design is examined. Evidence of the performance of target-date funds during retirement years is provided, guidelines for their selection are given, and suggestions for future research are made.
Empirical Adequacy and Virtue Ethics

Situationists contend that virtue ethics is empirically inadequate. However, it is my contention that there is much confusion over what “empirical adequacy” or “empirical inadequacy” actually means in this context. My aim in this paper is to clarify the meanings of empirical adequacy in order to see to what extent virtue ethics might fail to meet this standard. I argue that the situationists frequently misconstrue the empirical commitments of virtue ethics. More importantly, depending on what we mean by empirical adequacy, either virtue ethics has no need to be empirically adequate or where it does have such a need, the psychological evidence fails to show that it is empirically inadequate. An additional contribution the paper intends to make is to provide a more detailed discussion of the explanatory nature of virtue ethics.
Interferon-α augments the clinical efficacy of regulatory T cell depletion in ovarian cancer through direct and indirect T cell effects (VAC3P.941)

Tregs blunt anti-tumor immunity, and their depletion effectively treats tumor in mouse cancer models. However, Treg depletion in human trials is only partially effective. In our phase II ovarian cancer trial, denileukin diftitox (DT) effected significant Treg depletion in blood and the tumor microenvironment but did not produce significant clinical efficacy. Interferon-α is not an effective ovarian cancer treatment, but we show here that it significantly augments immune and clinical DT-mediated Treg depletion efficacy in human ovarian cancer. In a mouse ovarian cancer model, DT modestly improved anti-tumor immunity and survival. Interferon-α alone did not alter Treg numbers or function, but boosted CD8+ T cell anti-tumor immunity. Interferon-α plus DT significantly prolonged mouse survival over either individual agent. Using type I IFNR-/- mice that cannot mediate interferon-α signals, we showed that interferon-α directly boosted CD8+ T cell function independent of CD4+ T cell help, and in combination with DT reduced Treg function (without further numerical reduction) through indirect effects on tumor microenvironmental dendritic cells. When three ovarian cancer patients failed DT alone, two experienced immunologic and clinical benefit by adding pegylated interferon-α2a, with manageable toxicities. These studies demonstrate novel immune and clinical interferon-α anti-cancer benefits that augment Treg depletion using FDA-approved agents for rapid clinical translation.
Kinetics of the Mating-Specific Aggregation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Procedures are described for obtaining efficient mating (zygote formation) in the heterothallic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The methods separate operationally the initial, mating-specific aggregation from subsequent steps in conjugation. This cell-cell interaction has been characterized. The data support the conclusions that (i) aggregation in liquid suspension is a random collision process, and (ii) only non-budded cells participate in aggregation. A mathematical model for the kinetics of aggregation in liquid suspension has been developed which is in good agreement with the experimental data.
High-performance distributed objects over system area networks

In this paper, we describe an approach to build high-performance, commercial distributed object systems over system area networks (SANs) with user-level networking. The specific platforms we use in this study are the Virtual Interface Architecture (VIA) and Microsoft's Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM). We give a detailed functional and performance analysis of DCOM and apply optimizations at several layers to take full advantage of modern high-speed networks. Our optimizations preserve the full set of DCOM features including security, alternative threading models, and Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS). Through extensive runtime, transport and marshaling optimization, our system achieves round-trip latencies of 72 microseconds for DCOM calls and 174 microseconds for MTS calls, and an application bandwidth of 86.1 megabytes per second. We also examine the performance gains in real applications.
Modeling a western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), maturation delay and resistance evolution in Bt corn

BACKGROUND Emergence delay and female-skewed sex ratios among adults of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Bt corn have been reported in field studies. The authors used a simulation model to study the effect of a maturation delay and a female-skewed sex ratio for D. v. virgifera emerging from Bt corn on the evolution of Bt resistance. RESULTS The effect of skewed toxin mortality in one sex on evolution of Bt resistance was insignificant. An emergence delay among resistant beetles from Bt corn slowed resistance evolution. A shift in the time of emergence for homozygous susceptible beetles from Bt corn did not have a significant effect on the evolution of Bt resistance in D. v. virgifera. CONCLUSION This simulation study suggested that skewed toxin mortality in one sex and an emergence delay for beetles in Bt corn are not major concerns for managing resistance by D. v. virgifera to single-toxin or pyramided Bt corn. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Histories of sexual victimization in patients with irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease

This study confirms the previously studied findings by using a more rigorous methodology concerning the association of sexual victimization history and irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. Structured psychiatric and sexual trauma interviews were given to 28 patients with irritable bowel syndrome and 19 inflammatory bowel disease, and the prevalence rates of sexual victimization in the 2 groups were compared. A logistic regression analysis was performed to summarize the differences between patients who had severe trauma and those who had none, and to account for intercorrelations among the study variables. Results showed that patients with irritable bowel syndrome were more likely to have a history of previous sexual victimization. The odd ratios for current and lifetime psychiatric disorders in the 9 patients who had experienced severe forms of victimization showed that they were at significantly greater risk for affective, anxiety, and somatoform disorders as well as substance abuse and sexual dysfunction. It was also demonstrated that the best predictors of having experienced severe forms of victimization were gender, the number of medically unexplained physical symptoms, and self-reported anxiety and hostility. This study suggests that irritable bowel syndrome may be part of a chronic adjustment to previous sexual victimization in some patients. Language: en
Topology simplification method based on switch multiplexing technique to deliver DC-DC-AC converters for microgrid applications

This paper presents a topology derivation method based on switch multiplexing to simplify the configuration of multi-port power electronics interface (MPEI) for DC microgrid applications. In order to achieve reliability and efficiency enhancement of MPEI, the configuration of MPEI is to be optimized according to multiple objectives especially the characteristic of all the ports. Firstly, MPEI is separated and summarized as two basic units of bi-directional power transfer. Subsequently, by combining the basic units and multiplexing switches, the switch number in the overall system can be reduced. This, in turns increases power density and affordability. Meanwhile the system efficiency could be improved in some applications by using the proposed topologies. After the topology deduction, the work conditions for all kinds of topologies are introduced briefly which can guide the selection of various configurations. At last, the feasibility of some derived topologies is verified with experimental results.
Meiotic Behavior of Asymmetric Dyads in the Male Drosophila

Crossing over in the interstitial region of the heterozygous V(4) translocation in Drosophila melanogaster generates asymmetric dyads each consisting of a shorter and a longer chromatid. It was shown previously that in the female the shorter is recovered preferentially (Zimmering 1955); the present work suggests that the same occurs in the male as well. The mechanism in the female is envisioned as involving the non-random inclusion of the shorter chromatid into the functional egg (Novitski 1951); in the male, the two formal possibilities appear to be (1) that some proportion of sperm carrying the longer chromatid derived from an asymmetric dyad undergoes dysfunction, or (2) the longer chromatid is preferentially included into regularly-produced nonfunctional sperm, the nonfunctionality set up at the second division and distinguishing second division daughter cells.
Making sense of HDAC2 mutations in colon cancer.

The function of the class I histone deacetylase, HDAC2, in drug response and progression of colorectal tumorigenesis has been the subject of intense investigation, although contrasting effects have recently been reported.1-3 HDAC2 is a transcriptional co-repressor that interacts with a number of transcription factors. Upon recruitment to promoter regions, HDAC2 mediates transcriptional repression by inducing local histone deacetylation and remodelling chromatin into a confirmation less permissive for transcription. Additionally, HDAC2 can catalyze the deacetylation of transcription factors themselves, modifying their transcriptional activity.4
LINES OF COMMUNICATION, RECRUITMENT MECHANISMS, AND THE GREAT MIGRATION OF 1916-1918*

Over 400,000 blacks left the isolated and economically backward southern United States for the North between 1916 and 1918. This paper analyzes how migrants found out about opportunities in the North and why they left when they did. I examine four lines of communication: (1) labor agents; (2) family and friends; (3) service organizations; and (4) ethnic presses. I conclude that lines of communication occur in successive stages. They influence both the character of migrant populations and the interconnection between the individual decision to migrate and structural migratory pressures. These findings have important implications for the comparative study of internal and international labor migrations over time.
Lupus and the central nervous system

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are recognized to occur in a significant percentage of systemic lupus erythematosus patients and to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in lupus. Recent findings regarding the clinical presentation, diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment of neuropsychiatric lupus
Trimethyltin increases interleukin (IL)-lα, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α mRNA levels in rat hippocampus

Abstract Within the central nervous system (CNS), cytokines are thought to have active roles in pathophysiological changes seen in various neurological diseases and trauma. The present study was undertaken to examine the early response of pro-inflammatory cytokines following exposure to a specific neurotoxicant (trimethyltin; TMT). mRNA levels for interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α were measured in the hippocampus of adult male Long-Evans hooded rats following an acute injection of trimethyltin hydroxide (8 mg TMT/kg body weight). At various times following exposure (6 h to 8 days), hippocampal tissues were excised and relative changes in cytokine mRNA levels were assessed by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction. IL-1α, IL-6 and TNFa mRNA levels in the hippocampus increased within 6 h and remained elevated for 8 days. Quantitative analysis of mRNA transcripts revealed a two-fold increase in both IL-6 and TNFa within 6 h and a continued elevation of TNFa to 9-fold by 12 h. Within 96 h, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) mRNA levels were elevated in the hippocampus. Histological examination showed sparse individual neuronal necrosis at this time in both the pyramidal and granule cell regions with no increase in astrocyte GFAP immunoreactivity. However, an early, 24 h, response of microglial cells was indicated by increased lectin binding. This morphological profile progressed over time to a profound neuronal loss in the CA3-4 granule cell layer and marked astrocyte hypertrophy. The onset of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression appears to be temporally associated with histological evidence of elevated microglia in the hippocampus. It is proposed that microglia and pro-inflammatory cytokines play a modulatory role in the early stages of TMT-induced neurotoxicity.
A Superfast Structured Solver for Toeplitz Linear Systems via Randomized Sampling

We propose a superfast solver for Toeplitz linear systems based on rank structured matrix methods and randomized sampling. The solver uses displacement equations to transform a Toeplitz matrix $T$ ...
Representation and Education: reply to McKenzie

(2002). Representation and Education: reply to McKenzie. Educational Philosophy and Theory: Vol. 34, No. 3, pp. 353-356.
Dynamic Material Behavior Modeling Using Internal State Variable Plasticity and Its Application in Hard Machining Simulations

Work materials experience large strains, high strain rates, high temperatures, and complex loading histories in machining. The problem of how to accurately model dynamic material behavior, including the adiabatic effect is essential to understand a hard machining process. Several conventional constitutive models have often been used to approximate flow stress in machining analysis and simulations. The empirical or semi-empirical conventional models lack mechanisms for incorporating isotropic/kinematic hardening, recovery, and loading history effects. In this study, the material constants of AISI 52100 steel (62 HRc) were determined for both the Internal State Variable (ISV) plasticity model and the conventional Johnson-Cook (JC) model. The material constants were obtained by fitting the ISV and JC models using nonlinear least square methods to same baseline test data at different strains, strain rates, and temperatures. Both models are capable of modeling strain hardening and thermal softening phenomena. However, the ISV model can also accommodate the adiabatic and recovery effects, while the JC model is isothermal. Based on the method of design of experiment, FEA simulations and corresponding cutting tests were performed using the cutting tool with a 20 deg chamfer angle. The predicted chip morphology using the ISV model is consistent with the measured chips, while the JC model is not. The predicted temperatures can be qualitatively verified by the subsurface microstructure. In addition, the ISV model gave larger subsurface von Mises stress, plastic strain, and temperature compared with those by the JC model.
On the potential x 2N and the correspondence principle

Eigenenergies and frequencies are obtained for a particle oscillating in the potential (1/2)k N × 2N , wherek is a constant,x is displacement, andN is a real number. These potentials include the harmonic oscillator (N = 1) and the square well (N = ∞). Then th eigenenergy has the formA N n λ(N) , whereλ(N) = 2N/(N + 1), andA N is independent ofn. Application is made to the correspondence principle for the potentialsN > 1 and it is concluded the classical continuum is not obtained in Bohr's limitn → ∞. Complete correspondence is attained in Planck's limith → 0, so that for these configurations the limitsh → 0 andn → ∞ are not equivalent. A classical analysis of these potentials is included which reveals the relation log E (ν/ν N ) = (N − 1)/2N between frequencyv and energyE, where the constantν N is independent ofE.
Initial Evaluation of [18F]DCFPyL for Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-Targeted PET Imaging of Prostate Cancer

Purpose Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a recognized target for imaging prostate cancer. Here we present initial safety, biodistribution, and radiation dosimetry results with [18F]DCFPyL, a second-generation fluorine-18-labeled small-molecule PSMA inhibitor, in patients with prostate cancer.
Estimating smile intensity

We compare methods for the automatic analysis of spontaneous smiles.We test if binary-trained classifiers can be used for smile intensity estimation.We test if intensity-trained classifiers can be used for binary smile detection.Intensity-training outperformed binary-training for both detection and estimation.These results suggest that the collection of intensity ground truth is essential. Both the occurrence and intensity of facial expressions are critical to what the face reveals. While much progress has been made toward the automatic detection of facial expression occurrence, controversy exists about how to estimate expression intensity. The most straight-forward approach is to train multiclass or regression models using intensity ground truth. However, collecting intensity ground truth is even more time consuming and expensive than collecting binary ground truth. As a shortcut, some researchers have proposed using the decision values of binary-trained maximum margin classifiers as a proxy for expression intensity. We provide empirical evidence that this heuristic is flawed in practice as well as in theory. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts when it comes to estimating smile intensity: researchers must take the time to collect and train on intensity ground truth. However, if they do so, high reliability with expert human coders can be achieved. Intensity-trained multiclass and regression models outperformed binary-trained classifier decision values on smile intensity estimation across multiple databases and methods for feature extraction and dimensionality reduction. Multiclass models even outperformed binary-trained classifiers on smile occurrence detection.
Kinetic mechanism and quaternary structure of Aminobacter aminovorans nadh: Flavin oxidoreductase: An unusual flavin reductase with bound flavin

The homodimeric NADH:flavin oxidoreductase from Aminobacter aminovorans is an NADH-specific flavin reductase herein designated FRD(Aa). FRD(Aa) was characterized with respect to purification yields, thermal stability, isoelectric point, molar absorption coefficient, and effects of phosphate buffer strength and pH on activity. Evidence from this work favors the classification of FRD(Aa) as a flavin cofactor-utilizing class I flavin reductase. The isolated native FRD(Aa) contained about 0.5 bound riboflavin-5'-phosphate (FMN) per enzyme monomer, but one bound flavin cofactor per monomer was obtainable in the presence of excess FMN or riboflavin. In addition, FRD(Aa) holoenzyme also utilized FMN, riboflavin, or FAD as a substrate. Steady-state kinetic results of substrate titrations, dead-end inhibition by AMP and lumichrome, and product inhibition by NAD(+) indicated an ordered sequential mechanism with NADH as the first binding substrate and reduced FMN as the first leaving product. This is contrary to the ping-pong mechanism shown by other class I flavin reductases. The FMN bound to the native FRD(Aa) can be fully reduced by NADH and subsequently reoxidized by oxygen. No NADH binding was detected using 90 microM FRD(Aa) apoenzyme and 300 microM NADH. All results favor the interpretation that the bound FMN was a cofactor rather than a substrate. It is highly unusual that a flavin reductase using a sequential mechanism would require a flavin cofactor to facilitate redox exchange between NADH and a flavin substrate. FRD(Aa) exhibited a monomer-dimer equilibrium with a K(d) of 2.7 microM. Similarities and differences between FRD(Aa) and certain flavin reductases are discussed.