cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Higher Serum Concentrations of Dietary Antioxidants are Associated with Lower Levels of Inflammatory Biomarkers during the Year after Hip Fracture

Summary Background & aims Chronic inflammation impairs recovery among the 1.6 million people who suffer from hip fracture annually. Vitamin E and the carotenoids are two classes of dietary antioxidants with profound anti-inflammatory effects, and the goal of this study was to assess whether higher post-fracture concentrations of these antioxidants were associated with lower levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and the soluble receptor for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (sTNF-αR1), two common markers of inflammation. Methods Serum concentrations of the dietary antioxidants and inflammatory markers were assessed at baseline and 2, 6, and 12 month follow-up visits among 148 hip fracture patients from The Baltimore Hip Studies. Generalized estimating equations modeled the relationship between baseline and time-varying antioxidant concentrations and inflammatory markers. Results Higher post-fracture concentrations of vitamin E and the carotenoids were associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers. Associations were strongest at baseline, particularly between the α-tocopherol form of vitamin E and sTNF-αR1 (p = 0.05) and total carotenoids and both sTNF-αR1(p = 0.01) and IL-6 (p = 0.05). Higher baseline and time-varying α-carotene and time-varying lutein concentrations were also associated with lower sTNF-αR1 at all post-fracture visits (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest that a clinical trial increasing post-fracture intake of vitamin E and the carotenoids may be warranted.
Higher-order predistortion linearisation using cascaded lower-order nonlinearities

A technique for realising nonlinear functions of order ≥5 using cascaded third-order nonlinear functions is described. The technique can be used to efficiently generate higher-order nonlinearities for predistortion linearisation applications. The use of two cascaded third-order functions is experimentally demonstrated to be comparable to a fifth-order implementation in performance.
White Bluesman: The influence and career of Paul Butterfield

(1989). White Bluesman: The influence and career of Paul Butterfield. Popular Music and Society: Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 39-45.
Thermal Sensitivity of Hypoxic Responses in Neocortical Brain Slices

Summary: Electrophysiological responses to transient hypoxia were studied in neocortical brain slices from adult gerbils. Evoked responses and direct current (DC) potentials were recorded in layer III of the parietal cortex under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The excitatory synaptic component of the evoked waveform was identified by its sensitivity to calcium and 6,7-dinitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX). Under normoxic conditions, hypothermia reduced excitatory synaptic responses in a temperature-dependent manner. Under hypoxic conditions, hypothermia prolonged the delays to synaptic loss and hypoxic depolarization in a temperature-dependent manner. Synaptic recovery following a fixed period under hypoxic depolarization was greatly enhanced when hypoxia was administered at reduced temperature. The findings demonstrate that evoked responses are reduced under hypothermic conditions, but that these responses are sustained for a longer period of time during hypoxia. The data suggest that hypothermia protects against hypoxic damage to excitatory synaptic mechanisms in the neocortex both by prolonging the delay to hypoxic depolarization, and by extending the period of hypoxic depolarization that can be tolerated.
An integration factor method for stochastic and stiff reaction-diffusion systems

Stochastic effects are often present in the biochemical systems involving reactions and diffusions. When the reactions are stiff, existing numerical methods for stochastic reaction diffusion equations require either very small time steps for any explicit schemes or solving large nonlinear systems at each time step for the implicit schemes. Here we present a class of semi-implicit integration factor methods that treat the diffusion term exactly and reaction implicitly for a system of stochastic reaction-diffusion equations. Our linear stability analysis shows the advantage of such methods for both small and large amplitudes of noise. Direct use of the method to solving several linear and nonlinear stochastic reaction-diffusion equations demonstrates good accuracy, efficiency, and stability properties. This new class of methods, which are easy to implement, will have broader applications in solving stochastic reaction-diffusion equations arising from models in biology and physical sciences.
Object-oriented Programming Paradigms for Molecular Modeling

This paper discusses the application of object-oriented programming (OOP) design concepts to the development of molecular simulation code. A number of new languages such as Fortran 90 (F90) have been developed over the last decade that support the OOP design philosophy. We briefly describe the salient features of F90 and some basic object-oriented design principles. As an illustration of the design concepts we implement a general interface in F90 for calculating pairwise interactions that can be extended easily to any number of different forcefield models. The ideas presented here are used in the development of a mu ltipurpose si mulation c ode, named Music. An example of the use of Music for grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations of flexible sorbate molecules in zeolites is given. The example illustrates how OOP allowed existing code for molecular dynamics and GCMC to be easily combined to perform hybrid GCMC simulations with minimal coding effort.
The effectiveness of combining in shared memory parallel computers in the presence of “hot spots”

Concurrent requests to a shared variable by many processors on a shared memory machine obviously create contention, which seems to become serious enough to stall the whole machine as the machine size grows. To alleviate the contention, restricted combining, in which two requests can be combined into a single request at a 2 x 2 switch, was suggested for the NYU Ultracomputer. We study the effectiveness of combining by considering several schemes under the nonuniform traffic model used by Pfister and Norton. Although restricted combining has been claimed as an effective way of allowing concurrent requests, in practice we witness a serious contention that can cripple the performance if the machine size is ''large''. Restricted combining seems to be too severe a restriction. The number of requests that can be combined at a switch turns out to be an important factor in the effectiveness of combining. Even a ''slight'' increase in the number of requests combined at a switch can resolve the problem. 15 refs., 5 figs.
Market Conditions and Profitability of Proprietary Trading by Futures Floor Traders: Performance Persistence or Mutation Under Stress

This article depicts a complete picture of the profitability of proprietary trading by professional floor traders in four futures contract markets during 1995. Evidence shows a heterogeneous group in that more than one-third of them actually lost money in their proprietary trading. On average, only about 15 of them made annual profits of more than $100,000. Regression results show that proprietary volume increases as the market gets more volatile. However, it is only during the intermediate volatile market days that proprietary traders on the floor take the greatest advantage of these noise traders. During the most volatile market days, the informational advantage or trading skill by proprietary traders does not transform into greater trading profits. Furthermore, the support is mixed for the hypothesis that dual trading has a positive effect on dual traders9 profitability.
Age-related distance esotropia--fusional amplitudes and clinical course.

AbstractBackground: Age-related distance esotropia (ARDET) is a form of acquired strabismus that affects elderly patients and manifests as an esotropia greater with distance fixation. Limited information exists regarding fusional amplitudes and deficient divergence in this disorder.Methods: In this retrospective study, patient characteristics, ocular alignment and motility, and clinical course of patients with ARDET were recorded. Fusional amplitudes were analyzed to assess whether deficient divergence was present in patients with ARDET.Results: Twenty patients with ARDET were identified. Median age was 77.5 years (range, 59 to 89 years) and median best-corrected visual acuity was 20/25. Median esotropia angle with distance fixation was 5.5Δ (range, 2 to 18Δ); median angle with near fixation was esotropia 2.5Δ (range, exotropia 3Δ to esotropia 13Δ). Fusional divergence amplitudes were decreased in all but two patients. The median amplitude with distance fixation was 4.5Δ for break (range, 1 to 11Δ) and 2Δ...
Sustained Activation of Akt and Erk1/2 Is Required for Coxiella burnetii Antiapoptotic Activity

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that directs biogenesis of a lysosome-like, parasitophorous vacuole in mammalian cells. We recently reported that C. burnetii inhibits apoptotic cell death in macrophages, presumably as a mechanism to sustain the host for completion of its lengthy infectious cycle. In the current study, we further investigated C. burnetii manipulation of host cell signaling and apoptosis by examining the effect of C. burnetii infection on activation of 15 host proteins involved in stress responses, cytokine production, and apoptosis. C. burnetii infection of THP-1 human macrophage-like cells caused increased levels of phosphorylated c-Jun, Hsp27, Jun N-terminal protein kinase, and p38 at 2 h postinfection (hpi), and this activation rapidly decreased to near basal levels by 24 hpi. The prosurvival kinases Akt and Erk1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2) were also activated at 2 to 6 hpi; however, the phosphorylation of these proteins increased coincident with C. burnetii replication through at least 72 hpi. Sustained phosphorylation of Akt and Erk1/2 was abolished by treatment of infected cells with rifampin, indicating their activation is a C. burnetii-directed event requiring pathogen RNA synthesis. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of Akt or Erk1/2 significantly decreased C. burnetii antiapoptotic activity. Collectively, these results indicate the importance of C. burnetii modulation of host signaling and demonstrate a critical role for Akt and Erk1/2 in successful intracellular parasitism and maintenance of host cell viability.
Neuropathology Standards What Constitutes an Optimal Histomorphologic Evaluation of the Nervous System in General Toxicity Studies

The identification of neurotoxicity is a critical issue in drug development, and toxicologic pathologists play an important role in this effort. Neuropathology is a specialized area of toxicologic ...
Sex of Spouse Abuse Offender and Directionality of Abuse as Predictors of Personal Distress, Interpersonal Functioning, and Perceptions of Family Climate

This study examines perceptions of personal distress, interpersonal functioning and family climate reported by men and women involved in unidirectional versus bidirectional spouse abuse. Participants were 7253 offenders treated by the USAF Family Advocacy Program from 1988 to 1996. Over a quarter of the sample is female and included among them were both unidirectional and bidirectional offenders. Grouping factors for the analysis are gender, directionality of aggression, history of abuse in childhood, history of recidivism, and severity of aggression. Females and offenders raised in abusive homes reported more negative perceptions across the measured spheres. Unidirectional abusers reported more personal distress, but bidirectional abuse had more conflicted family climates. Few differences were noted in offenders' perceptions based on the severity of their abuse or their history of repeat offenses. Tests for interactions yielded no reliable pattern indicating that grouping factors were related to outcomes in an additive fashion.
Selective zirconium dioxide-based enrichment of phosphorylated peptides for mass spectrometric analysis.

Due to the dynamic nature and low stoichiometry of protein phosphorylation, enrichment of phosphorylated peptides from proteolytic mixtures is often necessary prior to their characterization by mass spectrometry. Several phosphopeptide isolation strategies have been presented in the literature, including immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. However, that technique suffers from poor selectivity and reproducibility. Recently, titanium dioxide-based columns have been successfully employed for phosphopeptide enrichment by several research groups. Here, we present, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of the utility of zirconium dioxide microtips for phosphopeptide isolation prior to mass spectrometric analysis. These microtips display similar overall performance as TiO2 microtips. However, more selective isolation of singly phosphorylated peptides was observed with ZrO2 compared to TiO2 whereas TiO2 preferentially enriched multiply phosphorylated peptides. Thus, these two chromatographic materi...
Nonlocal Constitutive Model for Simulating Localized Damage and Fracture of Viscoplastic Solids under High Energy Impacts

Developing and applying theoretical and computational models that guide the development of design criteria and fabrication processes of high impact/ballistic-resistant material are essential. However, as soon as material failure dominates a deformation process, the material increasingly displays strain softening (localization) and the finite element computations are considerably affected by the mesh size and alignment and gives non-physical descriptions of the damaged regions and failure of solids. This study is concerned with the development of a novel coupled thermo-hypoelasto, thermo-viscoplastic, and thermo-viscodamage constitutive model within the laws of thermodynamics in which implicit and explicit intrinsic material length scale parameters are incorporated through the nonlocal gradient-dependent viscoplasticity and viscodamage constitutive equations. In this current model, the Laplacian of the effective viscoplastic strain rate and its coefficient, which introduces a missing length scale parameter, enter the constitutive equations besides the local effective viscoplastic strain. It is shown through simulating plugging fracture in ballistic penetration of high-strength steel circular plates by hardened blunt-nose cylindrical steel projectiles that the Laplacian coefficient parameter plays the role of a localization limiter during the penetration and perforation processes allowing one to obtain meaningful values for the ballistic limit velocity (or perforation resistance) independent of the finite element mesh density. For the corresponding local model, on the other hand, the ballistic limit continuously decreases as the mesh density increases and does not converge even for the finest mesh.
Accelerated Life Test Planning With Independent Weibull Competing Risks

This article studies the planning of accelerated life tests (ALT) in the presence of competing risks. The time to failure due to a specific risk is described by a Weibull model. These failure times of risks are assumed to be s-independent, and the minimum of these times is the life of the product under test. Expressions for the Fisher information matrix, often used in ALT planning, are presented. Minimum asymptotic variance of estimators and determinant-based criteria are discussed, and related to goals of testing. The proposed method is applied to the planning of ALT of Class-B insulation of motorettes.
Delay discounting of cocaine by rhesus monkeys.

The present, subjective value of a reinforcer typically decreases as a function of the delay to its receipt, a phenomenon termed delay discounting. Delay discounting, which is assumed to reflect impulsivity, is hypothesized to play an important role in drug abuse. The present study examined delay discounting of cocaine injections by rhesus monkeys. Subjects were studied on a discrete-trials task in which they chose between 2 doses of cocaine: a smaller, immediate dose and a larger, delayed dose. The immediate dose varied between 0.012 and 0.4 mg/kg/ injection, whereas the delayed dose was always 0.2 mg/kg/injection and was delivered after a delay that varied between 0 and 300 s in different conditions. At each delay, the point at which a monkey chose the immediate and delayed doses equally often (i.e., the ED50) provided a measure of the present, subjective value of the delayed dose. Dose‐response functions for the immediate dose shifted to the left as delay increased. The amount of the immediate dose predicted to be equal in subjective value to the delayed dose decreased as a function of the delay, and hyperbolic discounting functions provided good fits to the data (median R 2 .86). The current approach may provide the basis for an animal model of the effect of delay on the subjective value of drugs of abuse.
Reading Sensations: Understanding the Process of Distinguishing `Fine' from `Sick':

Sensations form the bases of our recognition that we are well, or, alternatively, that something is wrong. What is the process which transforms a sensation into a symptom? In this article, I draw on fieldwork from Lombok, Indonesia to propose a model of the processes through which sensations become symptoms. Perceptional and interpretive decisions regarding what sensations need to be attended to as potential symptoms may be the result of personal awareness of cultural ideas about vulnerability, sensation duration, and interference with activities. The interpretation of sensations is always tentative, conditional on further cultural information regarding whether the sensation should be constructed into a symptom. I conclude by suggesting a model of the processes through which sensations are interpreted, become pathologized, and are socially legitimated.
Pilot Study of Rosiglitazone Therapy in Women with Breast Cancer: Effects of Short-term Therapy on Tumor Tissue and Serum Markers

Purpose: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a steroid nuclear receptor that is activated by natural compounds such as specific fatty acids and synthetic drugs such as thiazolidinedione antidiabetic agents. Expressed in normal and malignant mammary epithelial cells, activation of PPARγ is associated with antiproliferative effects on human breast cancer cells in preclinical studies. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that PPARγ ligand therapy might inhibit tumor growth and progression in human breast cancer. Experimental Design: We conducted a pilot trial of short-term (2-6 weeks) treatment with the thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone in 38 women with early-stage (T is -T 2 , N 0-1 , M 0 ) breast cancer, administered between the time of diagnostic biopsy and definitive surgery. Results: Short-term treatment with rosiglitazone (8 mg/d) did not elicit significant effects on breast tumor cell proliferation using Ki67 expression as a measure of cell proliferation and surrogate marker of tumor growth and progression. In pretreatment tumors notable for nuclear expression of PPARγ by immunohistochemistry, down-regulation of nuclear PPARγ expression occurred following rosiglitazone administration ( P = 0.005). No PPARG mutations were identified, and the incidence of P12A and H446H polymorphisms did not differ relative to U.S. controls ( P = 0.5). Treatment with rosiglitazone resulted in increased serum adiponectin ( P P = 0.005), and increased insulin sensitivity ( P = 0.004). Rosiglitazone was well tolerated without serious adverse events. Conclusion: Our data indicate that short-term rosiglitazone therapy in early-stage breast cancer patients leads to local and systemic effects on PPARγ signaling that may be relevant to breast cancer.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria in women, young and old.

Historically, pulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) occurred primarily in older white men, usually with a history of smoking, and frequently alcohol abuse, who had a pre-existing structural lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis (TB), or pulmonary fibrosis [1–4]. These patients presented with a progressive upper lobe fibrocavitary disease often mimicking TB and had a high yield of organisms on sputum examination. Later, the spectrum of pulmonary NTM disease was expanded to patients without known predisposing conditions (ie, structural lung disease or defects in immunity). In 1989, Prince et al studied 119 patients with pulmonary disease caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and described 21 patients (18%) who had no known traditional predisposing conditions (mean age of 66; 81% female; 86% Caucasian; 62% life-time nonsmokers) [5]. Similarly Reich et al reported an increasing proportion of otherwise healthy individuals diagnosed with pulmonary MAC infection (17 of 29 patients, or 59%) [4]. Shortly thereafter in 1992, a clinical syndrome consisting of features that include pulmonary infiltrates, involvement of the lingula or middle lobe, the absence of predisposing pulmonary disease, and the exclusivity to female patients was described. This entity is termed Lady Windermere syndrome (LWS) after the character in Oscar Wilde’s Victorian-era play Lady Windermere’s Fan as her fastidious behavior and voluntary suppression of cough may have been responsible for the inability to clear airway secretions and, in turn, predisposed to this infection [6]. Since then, this ‘‘nonclassical’’ form of pulmonary NTM infection in middle-aged women has been reported in subsequent publications in the United States [7–11] and Japan [12–15] by both academic and community pulmonary physicians. In spite of these reported studies, there is little awareness and understanding of this disease by physicians in general. In fact, those patients with NTM recovered from sputum specimens are often suspected of being HIVpositive until proven otherwise. Our knowledge of the pathophysiology of this disease lags even farther behind. This article, based on currently available literature, will attempt to characterize the clinical presentation, including radiographic, physiologic, and histopathologic abnormalities, to elucidate some gender-specific pathogenesis and to address some problematic issues in treatment of Lady Windermere syndrome, primarily caused by MAC, in comparison with the ‘‘classic’’ NTM pulmonary disease.
Spectrum allocation in tiered cellular networks

Two-tier networks, comprising a conventional cellular network overlaid with shorter range hotspots (e.g. femtocells, distributed antennas, or wired relays), offer an economically viable way to improve cellular system capacity. The capacity-limiting factor in such networks is interference. The cross-tier interference between macrocells and femtocells can suffocate the capacity due to the near-far problem, so in practice hotspots should use a different frequency channel than the potentially nearby high-power macrocell users. Centralized or coordinated frequency planning, which is difficult and inefficient even in conventional cellular networks, is all but impossible in a two-tier network. This paper proposes and analyzes an optimum decentralized spectrum allocation policy for two-tier networks that employ frequency division multiple access (including OFDMA). The proposed allocation is optimal in terms of area spectral efficiency (ASE), and is subjected to a sensible quality of service (QoS) requirement, which guarantees that both macrocell and femtocell users attain at least a prescribed data rate. Results show the dependence of this allocation on the QoS requirement, hotspot density and the co-channel interference from the macrocell and femtocells. Design interpretations are provided.
Dynamic mechanical properties of moderately concentrated polystyrene solutions

The storage (G′) and loss (G″) shear moduli have been measured in the frequency range from 0.04 to 630 Hz for solutions of narrow distribution polystyrenes with molecular weights (M) 19,800 to 860,000, and a few of poly(vinyl acetate), M = 240,000. The concentration (c) range was 0.014–0.40 g/ml and the viscosities of the solvents (diethyl phthalate and chlorinated diphenyls) ranged from 0.12 to 70 poise. Data at different temperatures (0–40°C) were combined by the method of reduced variables. Two types of behavior departing from the usual frequency dependence describable by the Rouse-Zimm-Tschoegl theories were observed. First, for M ≅ 20,000, the ratio (G″ − ωηs)/G′ in the neighborhood of ωτ1 = 1 was abnormally large and the steady-state compliance J was abnormally small, especially at the lowest concentrations studied. Here ω is circular frequency, ηs solvent viscosity, and τ1 terminal relaxation time. Related anomalies have been observed by others in undiluted polymers at still lower molecular weights. Second, at the highest concentrations and molecular weights, a “crossover” region of the logarithmic frequency scale appeared in which G″ − ωηs < G′. The width of this region is a linear function of log c; the frequency dependence under these conditions can be represented by a sequence of Rouse relaxation times grafted on to a sequence of Zimm relaxation times. For each molecular weight, the terminal relaxation time τ1 was approximately a single function of c for different solvents of widely different ηs. At lower concentrations, τ1 was close to the Rouse prediction of 6ηM/π2cRT, where η is the steady-flow viscosity; but at higher concentrations, τ1 was proportional to η/c2 and corresponded, according to a recent theory of Graessley, to an average molecular weight of 20,000 between entanglement coupling points in the undiluted polymer.
Validation of a Medium-Throughput Electrophysiological Assay for KCNQ2/3 Channel Enhancers Using IonWorks HT

Enhancers of KCNQ channels are known to be effective in chronic pain models. To discover novel enhancers of KCNQ channels, the authors developed a medium-throughput electrophysiological assay by using the IonWorks platform. Screening of 20 CHOK1 clones stably expressing KCNQ2/3 was performed on the IonWorks HT until the best clone (judged from seal rate, current level, and stability) was obtained. The KCNQ2/3 current amplitude in the cells was found to increase from 60 ± 15 pA to 473 ± 80 pA (at –10 mV), and the expression rate was increased by 56% when the cells were incubated at 27 °C overnight. The clone used for compound screening had a seal rate of greater than 90% and an overall success rate of greater than 70%. The voltage step protocol (hold cells at –80 mV and depolarize to –10 mV for 1 s) was designed to provide moderate current but still allow for pharmacological current enhancement. EC 50 s were generated from 8-point concentration-response curves with a control compound on each plate using compounds that were also tested with conventional patch clamp. The authors found that there was a very good correlation (R 2 > 0.9) between the 2 assays, thus demonstrating the highly predictive nature of the IonWorks assay. (Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2007;1059-1067)
Plant allometry: is there a grand unifying theory?

The study of size and its biological consequences – called allometry – has fascinated biologists for centuries. Recent advances in this area of study have stimulated a renewed interest in these scaling phenomena, especially in terms of the search for mechanistic explanations that transcend mere descriptive phenomenology. These advances are reviewed in the context of plant biology. Allometric derivations are presented that predict how annual growth in total body biomass is partitioned to construct new leaf, stem, and root tissues at the level of an individual plant. Derivations are also presented to predict annual reproductive effort and to predict how the biomass of body parts changes as a function of the number of plants per unit area in communities. The predictions emerging from these derivations are then examined empirically by comparing predicted and observed scaling exponents for each relationship using a world-wide data compendium gathered from the primary literature. These comparisons provide strong statistical support for each of the allometric predictions. This support is taken as evidence that a general unifying allometric theory for plant biology is near at hand. Nevertheless, the validation of this theory requires much additional work and raises a number of procedural and conceptual concerns that must be resolved before a single ‘global’ theory is accepted.
Optimization of task allocation in a cluster-based sensor network

Sensor networks have recently gained a lot of attention from the research community. Sensors are significantly resource-constrained devices and last till the depletion of their batteries. Sensor networks typically have a large number of nodes. To ensure scalability sensor networks are often partitioned into clusters, each managed by a cluster head (gateway). Efficient management of a sensor network for extending the lifetime of the network is among the prominent areas of research in this domain. While most of the previous research focused on the optimal use of sensor's energy, very little attention has been paid to the efficiency of energy usage at the gateway. Tasks need to be allocated to gateways in such a way that maximizes the life of these cluster-heads and eventually the whole network. In this paper, we present an optimization scheme for task allocation to gateways. The task allocation problem is modeled as a zero-one nonlinear program. Simulation results show that substantial energy savings can be obtained with the proposed method.
Comparison of the Outcome of Porcine Bioprosthetic Versus Mechanical Prosthetic Replacement of the Tricuspid Valve in the Ebstein Anomaly

Our objective was to determine the relative merits of using a bioprosthetic porcine valve (BPV) versus a mechanical valve (MechV) when tricuspid valve (TV) replacement is required in patients with Ebstein anomaly. From 1972 to 2006, 333 patients received a BPV and 45 received a MechV. Patient records were reviewed, vital status ascertained, and all patients not known to be deceased were mailed a medical questionnaire or contacted by telephone. Early mortality was not statistically higher for patients who had a MechV (11%) than for those who had a BPV (5%) inserted in the TV position (p = 0.173). The only independent preoperative predictor of operative mortality was moderate to severe left ventricular dysfunction (odds ratio 3.1, p = 0.03); 20-year survival was better in patients who had a BPV (75%) than for those who had a MechV (43%, p = 0.003). On multivariate analysis, after adjusting for ablation of accessory pathways, sinus rhythm at dismissal, and concomitant repair of pulmonary valve stenosis, a BPV remained a predictor of late survival (hazard ratio 0.42, p = 0.004). Survival free of reoperation on the TV at 20 years postoperatively was similar for patients who had a MechV (49%) compared with those who had a BPV (42%) inserted (p = 0.941). A greater percentage of patients who had a MechV reported endocarditis (12% vs 2%), bleeding requiring hospitalization (6% vs 3%), and thrombosis (12% vs 6%); however, none of these differences were statistically significant. In conclusion, a BPV in the tricuspid position was an independent predictor of improved survival. This may be related to the higher incidence of bleeding and thrombotic complications in the patients with MechVs or may be related to differences between the 2 groups. A BPV may offer superior late survival when compared with a MechV when TV replacement is required in patients with Ebstein anomaly, but patient selection must be individualized.
Resolution of Syncope With Treatment of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common disorder associated with obesity and related health problems. Although treatment of sleep apnea may relieve some autonomic symptoms, it is currently unknown whether treatment of sleep apnea is specifically associated with the resolution of orthostatism and syncope. Herein we describe a 73-year-old man who had recurrent episodes of syncope. An extensive work-up, including cardiac and neurologic consultations, failed to identify the cause. An objective sleep evaluation led to the diagnosis of sleep apnea. Accordingly, the patient was treated with continuous positive airway pressure, which resolved the syncopal episodes. This case report generates a potentially important hypothesis that recurrent syncope may be effectively treated, in part, by correcting apnea. In patients with recurrent syncope of unknown etiology, a diagnosis of sleep apnea should be considered.
Integrated assessment modeling of energy consumption behavior and carbon emissions

This paper describes elements of an integrated modeling approach to human behavior and energy consumption. Developing a sustainable society is a key aspect of international security, and understanding the areas where consumption and carbon emissions can be reduced is essential. We employ statistical analysis of residential energy consumption in the US and other countries to describe the underlying patterns of energy use, and provide international comparisons at an aggregate level.
A versatile dE/dx detector for heavy mass nuclear particles☆

Abstract We report herein a significant development in the art of heavy fragment (heavy nucleus) particle detection and identification. Recent improvements in the thin film detector have made it possible to achieve an output pulse responding to the energy loss, ΔE , experienced by the heavy fragment in traversing the scintillator film. Typically, for 252 Cf fission fragment energy losses of about 10%, a clear separation between the light and heavy fragment ΔE signals is observed. In recording the ΔE spectrum, peak-to-valley ratios greater than 5:1 are obtained in the best cases. Exploratory experiments on light fragments clearly show the different energy losses experienced by 3 He and 4 He ions of comparable energies. The signal response (when thicker scintillator films are used) to total energy loss of alpha particles and fission fragments is reported. A preliminary view of the response of the new detector to accelerated 127 I ions is also shown. The possible use of these detectors as particle identifiers of heavy mass nuclei is discussed and an attendant wide range of experiments is outlined to which these ΔE detectors might profitably be applied.
An integrated approach to fuzzy learning vector quantization and fuzzy c-means clustering

Derives an interpretation for a family of competitive learning algorithms and investigates their relationship to fuzzy c-means and fuzzy learning vector quantization. These algorithms map a set of feature vectors into a set of prototypes associated with a competitive network that performs unsupervised learning. Derivation of the new algorithms is accomplished by minimizing an average generalized distance between the feature vectors and prototypes using gradient descent. A close relationship between the resulting algorithms and fuzzy c-means is revealed by investigating the functionals involved. It is also shown that the fuzzy c-means and fuzzy learning vector quantization algorithms are related to the proposed algorithms if the learning rate at each iteration is selected to satisfy a certain condition.
Localizing time-varying periodicities in symbolic sequences

A novel approach is presented for the detection and localization of changing periodicities in symbolic sequences. Various symbolic sequences like DNA can be modelled as stochastic processes that exhibit time-varying cyclostation- arity. The coding regions of the DNA, for instance, exhibit statistical periodicity with period three. The complexity-regularized maximum-likelihood estimates are developed in this paper for the statistical period of symbolic sequences. The changing periodicities along the sequence are discovered by using sliding windows. A cumulative sum test is also presented to detect the change points. The formulation in this paper avoids any kind of numerical mapping for the symbolic DNA sequences and does not impose any algebraic structure.
Evidence for Two Modes of Synergistic Induction of Apoptosis by Mapatumumab and Oxaliplatin in Combination with Hyperthermia in Human Colon Cancer Cells

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world-- the main cause of death from colorectal cancer is hepatic metastases, which can be treated with isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP). Searching for the most clinically relevant approaches for treating colorectal metastatic disease by isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP), we developed the application of oxaliplatin concomitantly with hyperthermia and humanized death receptor 4 (DR4) antibody mapatumumab (Mapa), and investigated the molecular mechanisms of this multimodality treatment in human colon cancer cell lines CX-1 and HCT116 as well as human colon cancer stem cells Tu-12, Tu-21 and Tu-22. We showed here, in this study, that the synergistic effect of the multimodality treatment-induced apoptosis was caspase dependent and activated death signaling via both the extrinsic apoptotic pathway and the intrinsic pathway. Death signaling was activated by c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling which led to Bcl-xL phosphorylation at serine 62, decreasing the anti-apoptotic activity of Bcl-xL, which contributed to the intrinsic pathway. The downregulation of cellular FLICE inhibitory protein long isoform (c-FLIPL) in the extrinsic pathway was accomplished through ubiquitination at lysine residue (K) 195 and protein synthesis inhibition. Overexpression of c-FLIPL mutant (K195R) and Bcl-xL mutant (S62A) completely abrogated the synergistic effect. The successful outcome of this study supports the application of multimodality strategy to patients with colorectal hepatic metastases who fail to respond to standard chemoradiotherapy that predominantly targets the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.
Fabrication of Polymeric Visual Decoys for the Male Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Through a bioreplication approach, we have fabricated artificial visual decoys for the invasive species Agrilus planipennis—commonly known as the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The mating behavior of this species involves an overflying EAB male pouncing on an EAB female at rest on an ash leaflet before copulating. The male spots the female on the leaflet by visually detecting the iridescent green color of the female’s elytra. As rearing EAB and then deploying dead females as decoys for trapping is both arduous and inconvenient, we decided to fabricate artificial decoys. We used a dead female to make a negative die of nickel and a positive die of epoxy. Decoys were then made by first depositing a quarter-wave-stack Bragg reflector on a polymer sheet and then stamping it with a pair of matched negative and positive dies to take the shape of the upper surface of an EAB female. As nearly 100 artificial decoys were fabricated from just one EAB female, this bioreplication process is industrially scalable. Preliminary results from a field trapping test are indicative of success.
Academic Underachievement Among the Gifted: Students' Perceptions of Factors that Reverse the Pattern

Underachievement among the gifted has been a focus of research for over 35 years. With few exceptions, studies of interventions for gifted underachievers have demonstrated only limited success. Thi...
A pilot study to assess benefit of atrial rhythm control after cardiac resynchronization therapy and atrioventricular node ablation

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is frequently comorbid in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and suppression is typically difficult. Herein, we sought to understand the benefit of atrial rhythm control in the setting of ventricular rate and regularity control induced by atrioventricular node (AVN) ablation. Methods Fifty-two patients with heart failure, persistent AF, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction <35%, and left bundle branch block underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) + AVN ablation, and were randomized to one of the following groups: (1) Atrial Rhythm Control (ARC); (2) AF. Patients were subsequently followed for up to 1 year. Results Similar numbers of patients in each group were lost to follow-up or have withdrawn (ARC two; AF three). Rhythm control in four patients in the ARC group was inadequate. Among the remaining patients, the incidence of death (ARC=1, AF=2) or left ventricular assist device +/− transplantation (ARC=2, AF=1) were similar. Among the remaining patients (ARC 16, AF 19), at 1 year, there were no significant differences in CRT response rate, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure survey score, 6-minute hall walk distance, ventricular tachyarrhythmia occurrence, or LV dimensions. A significantly higher hospital encounter rate among ARC patients was attributable to efforts to maintain uniform atrial rhythm. Conclusions In this pilot study, no incremental benefit for ARC was apparent. A larger study will be necessary to adequately examine these issues.
The Watermark Evaluation Testbed (WET): new functionalities

While Digital Watermarking has received much attention within the academic community and private sector in recent years, it is still a relatively young technology. As such, there are few accepted tools and metrics that can be used to validate the performance claims asserted by members of the research community and evaluate the suitability of a watermarking technique for specific applications. This lack of a universally adopted set of metrics and methods has motivated us to develop a web-based digital watermark evaluation system known as the Watermark Evaluation Testbed or WET. This system has undergone several improvements since its inception. The ultimate goal of this work has been to develop a platform, where any watermarking researcher can test not only the performance of known techniques, but also their own techniques. This goal has been reached by the latest version of the system. New tools and concepts have been designed to achieve the desired objectives. This paper describes the new features of WET. Moreover, we also summarize the development process of the entire project as well as introduce new directions for future work.
Environmental change and fishery management in the northern Persian Gulf.

Approximately 52% of the 380,000 tons of fish landings in Iran come from the northern Persian Gulf, with a total of 108,000 fishermen and 8900 fishing vessels (2003 data). The fishery in the region is very important for the local economy, but the major problems facing the Iranian fisheries are an uncertain availability of fish and over-fishing. The Persian Gulf is a sensitive marine ecosystem. The Gulf is a partially enclosed sea with an average depth of 35 metres and replacement of waters take some three to five years. Environmental factors have a major effect on fish stocks and fisheries in such a sensitive ecosystem. This study examines the influence of environmental changes in water temperature, rainfall, wind and sea level pressure on fish stocks in the northern Persian Gulf and estimates the maximum sustainable yields for fisheries management. Multivariate data and surplus production bio-economic models with environmental parameters are used to determine optimal harvest and forecasting. The study fo...
An advanced engine thermal management system: nonlinear control and test

Internal combustion engine thermal management system functionality can be enhanced through the introduction of smart thermostat valves and variable speed electric pumps and fans. The traditional automotive cooling system components include a wax based thermostat valve and crankshaft driven water pump. However, servo-motor driven valves, pumps, and fans can better regulate the engine's coolant fluid flow to realize fuel economy gains and tailpipe emission reductions. To study these cooling system actuators, with accompanying nonlinear control strategy, a scale experimental system has been fabricated which features a smart valve, electric coolant pump, radiator with electric fan, and immersion heater. In this paper, mathematical models will be presented to describe the system's behavior. A nonlinear controller will then be designed for transient temperature tracking. Representative experimental results are presented and discussed to demonstrate the smart valve's operation in maintaining the temperature within a neighborhood of the target value for various scenarios including highway mode, full power with load disturbance, and quick heat.
Mutually-Reactive, Fluorogenic Hydrocyanine/Quinone Reporter Pairs for In-Solution Biosensing via Nanodroplet Association.

Mutually reactive, fluorogenic molecules are presented as a simple and novel technique for in-solution biosensing. The hypothesis behind this work was that aggregating droplets into close proximity would cause rapid mixing of their contents. To take advantage of this effect, a novel pair of fluorogenic redox molecules were designed to remain in lipid-stabilized oil droplets but mix once aggregated. First, the hydrophobic cyanine dye 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) was reduced with sodium borohydride to form a nonfluorescent analog (HDiI). Hydrophobic quinone derivatives were then screened as oxidizing agents, and it was found that p-fluoranil oxidized nonfluorescent HDiI back to fluorescent DiI. Next, HDiI and p-fluoranil were loaded into NEOBEE oil nanodroplets of average diameter 600 nm that were stabilized by a monolayer of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE)-polyethylene glycol (PEG), and DSP...
Data Mining for Cancer Biomarkers with Raman Spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy has the potential to play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer as a unique type of biomarker technology. Raman spectra can provide a collective picture of the overall composition of biological samples as well as highly sensitive, targeting of specific biomolecular moieties depending upon the application. In the field of Oncology, Raman Spectroscopy can help in the identification of biomarkers for use in drug discovery, cancer-risk assessment, histopathology, and in vivo clinical applications. Continued advancements to data analysis techniques could prove vital in realization of such biomedical applications. This chapter provides a brief overview of some of the more common data analysis methods as well as outlines several of the technical challenges encountered in the implementation of these methods. The development of standardized data techniques with incorporation into fully functional integrated software platforms will also be necessary for clinical applications in future.
Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Adsorption of Cr(VI) on Nano Magnetic NiFe Particles in an Aqueous Solution

Magnetic nano materials were known as high adsorption properties Nano-structural Ni2.33Fe alloy was successfully prepared by hydrothermal method and was used to remove CrO42- ions from aqueous solution. The results show that the equilibrium adsorption quantity increased with the increase of initial CrO42- concentration and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were successfully used for fitting the kinetic data. Webb Maurice diffusion model shows adsorption was controlled by external mass transfer followed by internal particle diffusion mass transfer. And the fitting degree of the Langmuir isotherm and the experimental data was quite high. And the Freundlich isotherm also fitted well.
Designing a Private Remedies System for Antitrust Cases: Lessons Learned from the US Experience

The author makes various suggestions regarding an EU system of private remedies, which would not incorporate the problems he experienced in private practice in the United States.