cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Respiratory Failure During Respiratory Epidemics and Pandemics: A Narrative Review.

INTRODUCTION: Epidemics and pandemics from zoonotic respiratory viruses, such as the 2019 novel coronavirus, can lead to significant global intensive care burden as patients progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A subset of these patients developed refractory hypoxaemia despite maximal conventional mechanical ventilation and required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This review focuses on considerations for ventilatory strategies, infection control and patient selection related to ECMO for ARDS in a pandemic. We also summarise the experiences with ECMO in previous respiratory pandemics. METHODS: A review of pertinent studies was conducted via a search using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Google Scholar. References of articles were also examined to identify other relevant publications. RESULTS: Since the H1N1 Influenza pandemic in 2009, the use of ECMO for ARDS continues to grow despite limitations in evidence for survival benefit. There is emerging evidence to suggest that lung protective ventilation for ARDS can be further optimised while receiving ECMO so as to minimise ventilator-induced lung injury and subsequent contributions to multi-organ failure. Efforts to improve outcomes should also encompass appropriate infection control measures to reduce co-infections and prevent nosocomial transmission of novel respiratory viruses. Patient selection for ECMO in a pandemic can be challenging. We discuss important ethical considerations and predictive scoring systems that may assist clinical decision-making to optimise resource allocation. CONCLUSION: The role of ECMO in managing ARDS during respiratory pandemics continues to grow. This is supported by efforts to redefine optimal ventilatory strategies, reinforce infection control measures and enhance patient selection.
Hemifacial Spasm as a Rare Clinical Presentation of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Case Report and Literature Review.

Objectives:To report a rare case of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) presenting with hemifacial spasm (HFS) and review the current literature.Methods:Case report and literature review. Th...
Iron(0)-Catalyzed Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Switchgrass: the Effects of Co-Catalysts and Reductive Conditions

The effects of a series of co-catalysts: iron(III)chloride, zinc chloride, sodium borate, acetic acid, oxalic acid, 10% Pd-C, sodium carbonate, and Raney-Ni as well as H2 at 200 psi reductive conditions were studied on the iron(0)-catalyzed hydrothermal liquefaction of switchgrass at 210 °C. The addition 10% (w/w) iron(III)chloride as a co-catalyst in 60% aq. ethanol, without a hydrogen atmosphere enhanced the liquefaction yield from 55.7 ± 1.5 to 67.6 ± 2.5%. The use of Pd/C (5% w/w) and Raney-Ni (5% w/w) as co-catalysts could also enhance the liquefaction yields to 67.0 ± 3.0 and 72.3 ± 1.8% respectively, in reactions carried out under hydrogen atmosphere at 200 psi, in H2O, 210 °C, 24 h. GC-MS analysis of the liquefaction products revealed that C5-C10 range partially oxygenated products are formed and the composition of the liquefaction product depends on the co-catalyst used. The thermogravimetric and FT-IR analysis of liquefaction residues indicated that polysaccharide fraction is mainly liquefied in these iron(0)-catalyzed liquefactions of switchgrass at 210 °C.
Global English and World Englishes From an Evolutionary Perspective: A Rejoinder to Anna Kristina Hultgren

The terms Global English and World Englishes reflect two opposite imperial perspectives. The first highlights the success of the British Empire in spreading the language of England to various corners of the world, whereas the second subverts the race-based hierarchy that the European imperial history has added to the speciation that ensued from the geographical spread of English. Kachru (1982, 2017) captured the prestige-laden stratification that has become associated with this differential evolution of English with the opposition “Inner Circle” vs. “Outer Circle” vs “Expanding Circle”, with the latter two apparently merging into one powerless Circle, while speakers of the Inner Circle claim their varieties to be "native" and the only authentic ones. In this commentary, I capitalize on this historical background to explain why Anna Kristina Hultgren is correct in using the term “Red Herring” to characterize the misidentification of English as the cause of social injustice relative to those who do not use it as a mother tongue.
Risk of Ischemic Stroke after an Inpatient Hospitalization for Transient Ischemic Attack in the United States.

INTRODUCTION A diagnosis of transient ischemic attack (TIA) must be followed by prompt investigation and rapid initiation of measures to prevent stroke. Prior studies evaluating the risk of stroke after TIA were conducted in the emergency room or clinic settings. Experience of patients admitted to the hospital after a TIA is not well known. We sought to assess the early risk of ischemic stroke after inpatient hospitalization for TIA. METHODS We used the 2010-2015 Nationwide Readmissions Database to identify all hospitalizations with the primary discharge diagnosis of TIA and investigated the incidence of ischemic stroke readmissions within 90 days of discharge from the index hospitalization. RESULTS Of 639,569 index TIA admissions discharged alive (mean ± SD age 70.4 ± 14.4 years, 58.7% female), 9,131 (1.4%) were readmitted due to ischemic stroke within 90 days. Male sex, head/neck vessel atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, atrial flutter/fibrillation, previous history of TIA/stroke, illicit drug use, and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score were independently associated with readmissions due to ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke readmissions were associated with excess mortality, discharge disposition other than to home, and elevated cost. CONCLUSIONS Patients hospitalized for TIA have a lower risk of ischemic stroke compared to that reported in the studies based on the emergency room and/or outpatient clinic evaluation. Among these patients, those with cardiovascular comorbidities remain at a higher risk of readmission due to ischemic stroke despite undergoing an inpatient evaluation and should therefore be the target for future preventive strategies.
Predicting cycle-level traffic movements at signalized intersections using machine learning models

Abstract Predicting accurate traffic parameters is fundamental and cost-effective in providing traffic applications with required information. Many studies adopted various parametric and machine learning techniques to predict traffic parameters such as travel time, speed, and traffic volume. Machine learning techniques have achieved promising results in predicting traffic volume. However, the utilized data were mostly aggregated in 5, 10, or 15 min. This study attempts to bridge the research gap by predicting signal cycle-level through and left-turn movements in real-time at signalized intersections. The utilized data were limited to the upstream and downstream intersections at the corridor level. Aiming to achieve this objective, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) models were developed using datsets that contain variables from different number of utilized cycles (4, 6, and 8 cycles). The three models were evaluated by calculating Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The results showed that the performance measures for the three models were close. Meanwhile. the GRU model using variables from six previous cycles outperformed the others. This modelling approach was followed to predict traffic movements for different time horizons (five cycles ahead). The performance measures values were close for the five predicted cycles. It is expected that the model could help in obtaining accurate traffic movement at intersections, which could be used for adjusting adaptive signal timing and improve signal and intersections’ efficiency.
A model to analyze rideshare data to surveil novel strains of SARS-CoV-2

BackgroundThe emergence of novel, potentially vaccine-resistant strains of SARS-CoV-2 poses a serious risk to public health. The interactions between passengers and drivers facilitated by rideshare platforms such as Uber are, essentially, a series of partially standardized, random experiments of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Rideshare companies share data with government health agencies, but no statistical method is available to aggregate these data for the systematic study of the transmission dynamics of COVID-19. MethodsWe develop a proof-of-concept model for the analysis of data from rideshare interactions merged with COVID-19 diagnosis records. Using simulated data with rideshare volumes, disease prevalence, and diagnosis rates based on a large US city, we use the model to test hypotheses about the emergence of viral strains and their transmission characteristics in the presence of non-pharmaceutical interventions and superspreaders. FindingsData from 10 simulated trials of SARS-CoV-2 propagation within the Los Angeles rideshare network resulted in an average of 190,387.1 potentially infectious rideshare interactions. Assuming access to data on 25% of the total estimated infections (Partial Reporting), these interactions resulted in an average of 409.0 diagnosed rideshare infections given our transmission model assumptions. For each of the 10 simulated trials, analysis given Partial Reporting could consistently differentiate between a baseline strain and an emergent, more infectious viral strain, enabling hypothesis testing about transmission characteristics. InterpretationSimulated evaluation of a novel statistical model suggests that rideshare data combined with COVID-19 diagnosis data have the potential to automate continued surveillance of emergent novel strains of SARS-CoV-2 and their transmission characteristics.
Detecting Viruses in Contact Networks with Unreliable Detectors

This paper develops and analyzes optimization models for rapid detection of viruses in large contact networks. In the model, a virus spreads in a stochastic manner over an undirected connected graph, under various assumptions on the spread dynamics. A decision maker must place a limited number of detectors on a subset of the nodes in the graph in order to rapidly detect infection of the nodes by the virus. The objective is to determine the placement of these detectors so as to either maximize the probability of detection within a given time period or minimize the expected time to detection. Previous work in this area assumed that the detectors are perfectly reliable. In this work, it is assumed that the detectors may produce false-negative results. In computational studies, the sample average approximation method is applied to solving the problem using a mixed-integer program and a greedy heuristic. The heuristic is shown to be highly efficient and to produce high-quality solutions. In addition, it is shown that the false-negative effect can sometimes be ignored, without significant loss of solution quality, in the original optimization formulation.
Synthesizing Modular Manipulators For Tasks With Time, Obstacle, And Torque Constraints.

Modular robots can be tailored to achieve specific tasks and rearranged to achieve previously infeasible ones. The challenge is choosing an appropriate design from a large search space. In this work, we describe a framework that automatically synthesizes the design and controls for a serial chain modular manipulator given a task description. The task includes points to be reached in the 3D space, time constraints, a load to be sustained at the end-effector, and obstacles to be avoided in the environment. These specifications are encoded as a constrained optimization in the robot's kinematics and dynamics and, if a solution is found, the formulation returns the specific design and controls to perform the task. Finally, we demonstrate our approach on a complex specification in which the robot navigates a constrained environment while holding an object.
Risk of Serious Infection With Low-dose Glucocorticoids in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Instrumental Variable Analysis.

BACKGROUND Low-dose glucocorticoids are commonly used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Observational studies have found an increased risk of serious infection associated with low-dose glucocorticoids, but concerns about residual confounding remain. METHODS We identified adults with RA on stable immunomodulatory therapy for >6 months receiving no glucocorticoids or ≤5 mg/day using Medicare data from 2006 to 2015. We used provider preference for glucocorticoids as an instrumental variable (IV) to assess associations between low-dose glucocorticoid use and the risk of infection requiring hospitalization using a cause-specific proportional hazards model. RESULTS We identified 163,603 qualifying treatment episodes among 120,656 patients. Glucocorticoids ≤5 mg/day were used by 25,373/81,802 (31.0%) of patients seen by a rheumatologist with low provider preference for glucocorticoids and by 36,087/81,801 (44.1%) of patients seen by a rheumatologist with high provider preference for glucocorticoids (adjusted odds ratio 1.81, 95% confidence interval 1.77, 1.84 for association between provider preference and glucocorticoids). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, opioids, antibiotics, previous emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and infections requiring hospitalization infections were unbalanced with regard to exposure but not to the IV. The incidence of infection requiring hospitalization was 8.0/100 person-years among patients unexposed to glucocorticoids versus 11.7/100 person-years among those exposed. The association between glucocorticoids and infection requiring hospitalization from IV analysis (hazard ratio 1.26 [1.02-1.56]) was similar to results from a standard multivariable model (hazard ratio 1.24 [1.21-1.28]). CONCLUSIONS Among patients with RA on stable immunomodulatory therapy, IV analysis based on provider preference demonstrated an increased risk of infection requiring hospitalization associated with low-dose glucocorticoids, similar to a traditional analysis.
Excitotoxins and Free Radicals

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the roles of excitotoxins and free radicals in the mechanisms of acute brain damage, mainly ischemic injury, trauma, and neurodegenerative disorders including Huntington's, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease. Excitotoxin-induced neuronal damage is mediated by several Ca 2+ mediated pathways. The spectrin and microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP-2) are degraded long before delayed neuronal death in the postischemic brain. Xanthine oxidase and monoamine oxidase are two important enzymes potentially causing free radical-induced brain pathology. Xanthine oxidase is synthesized as xanthine dehydrogenase, which transfers electrons to the electron carrier NAD + . In ischemic conditions, a calcium-dependent protease converts this dehydrogenase to its oxidase form, which transfers electrons to oxygen instead of to NAD + and produces superoxide. Dopamine turnover in dopamine nerve terminals may generate excessive amounts of H 2 O 2 by monoamine oxidase, which has been hypothesized as a possible cause of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. Although free radicals are damaging chemical substances, biological systems have the machinery to defend against this type of injury. Defenses include iron-binding proteins, the metabolic enzymes such as superoxide dismutases (SOD), catalases, or glutathione peroxidases.
Obesity and Colon and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer

Obesity is an established risk factor for colon and postmenopausal breast cancer. This chapter describes the studies that have examined the proposed biological mechanisms linking obesity to these two cancers and the influence of adipose depot locations on the mechanisms. Summary models are presented that focus on adverse abnormalities in inflammation, adipokines, and hormones.
The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran: Rural Revolt and Local Zoroastrianism

Patricia Crone's book is about the Iranian response to the Muslim penetration of the Iranian countryside, the revolts subsequently triggered there and the religious communities that these revolts revealed. The book also describes a complex of religious ideas that, however varied in space and unstable over time, has demonstrated a remarkable persistence in Iran across a period of two millennia. The central thesis is that this complex of ideas has been endemic to the mountain population of Iran and occasionally become epidemic with major consequences for the country, most strikingly in the revolts examined here and in the rise of the Safavids who imposed Shi'ism on Iran. This learned and engaging book by one of the most influential scholars of early Islamic history casts entirely new light on the nature of religion in pre-Islamic Iran and on the persistence of Iranian religious beliefs both outside and inside Islam after the Arab conquest.
Volunteer Involvement in Ex-Offenders' Readjustment: Reducing the Stigma of Imprisonment.

Abstract Ex-offenders face serious problems of stigma and social readjustment. The Exodus Group is a volunteer community agency in Salt Lake City, Utah, that provides emotional and material support for both ex-offenders and their families, and indirectly addresses reintegration and stigma issues. Descriptive statistics are provided to assess the characteristics of recidivists and non-recidivists, and to explain the recidivism rate among ex-offenders who participated in the Exodus program.
Celecoxib for prevention of sporadic colorectal adenomas: Patient selection to optimize efficacy and safety

PL06-01 Celecoxib is a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor used for treatment of severe arthritis and for reduction of colorectal adenoma burden in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. Recent randomized trials also showed that celecoxib reduced formation of sporadic adenomas in patients at risk for colorectal cancer. The Adenoma Prevention with Celecoxib (APC) Trial randomized 2035 patients to receive either placebo, celecoxib 200 mg bid or celecoxib 400 mg bid for 3 years, with a total observation period of 5 years following randomization. A dose-dependent decrease in sporadic adenoma incidence was observed over the 3-year treatment interval. Celecoxib treatment was also associated with an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events. The APC Trial prospectively collected data on patient family history, co-morbid conditions, and concomitant medication use. In addition, participants provided blood and tissue specimens for analyses of factors influencing treatment response and toxicity. We hypothesized (prospectively) that celecoxib efficacy would be influenced by patient medical history, with greatest efficacy observed in those at high cancer risk due to the presence of advanced adenomas at baseline. We also predicted (retrospectively) that patients with a baseline history of cardiovascular disease would be more likely to experience cardiovascular adverse events while taking celecoxib. Genetic variants in the cytochrome p450 2C9 (CYP2C9) enzyme, particularly the I359L allele, are associated with impaired metabolism of celecoxib. Because both efficacy and toxicity of celecoxib were associated with dose in the APC Trial, we hypothesized that these outcomes would also be influenced by CYP2C9 genotype. Specifically, we predicted that APC Trial patients bearing the I359L allele would demonstrate both greater reduction in adenoma incidence and greater risk for cardiovascular toxicity. Our results showed that treatment with celecoxib is associated with a significant reduction in advanced adenoma incidence during a 3 year treatment interval, with efficacy that persisted over a 5 year total observation period. We also found that dose-related benefits and cardiovascular toxicity of celecoxib appear to be modified by genetic variation in its metabolism. References 1. Arber N, Kuwada S, Leshno M, Sjodahl R, Hultcrantz R, Rex D. Sporadic adenomatous polyp regression with exisulind is effective but toxic: A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, dose-response study. Gut 2006;55:367-73. 2. Bertagnolli MM, Eagle CJ, Zauber AG , et al. A randomized trial of celecoxib to prevent sporadic colorectal adenomas. N Engl J Med 2006;355:873-84. 3. Solomon SD, McMurray JJ, Pfeffer MA , et al. Cardiovascular risk associated with celecoxib in a clinical trial for colorectal adenoma prevention . N Engl J Med 2005;352:1071-80.
Exchange Rate Policies for Developing Countries: Some Simple Arguments for Intervention

Exchange-rate strategies may be used to pursue the most varied objectives as instruments of development policy or of structural adjustment. The following article will examine the advantages and disadvantages of a number of exchange-rate policy options.
Some Statistical Process Control Methods for Autocorrelated Data

Traditionally, control charts are developed assuming that the sequence of process observations to which they are applied are uncorrelated. Unfortunately, this assumption is frequently violated in practice. The presence of autocorrelation has a serious i..
Secure computing using cryptographic assurance of execution correctness

Current computing architectures are "inherently insecure" because they are designed to execute ANY arbitrary sequence of instructions. As a result they are subject to subversion by malicious code. Our goal is to produce a cryptographic method of "tamper-proofing" trusted code over a large portion of the software life cycle. We have developed a technique called "faithful execution", to cryptographically protect instruction sequences from subversion. This paper presents an overview of, and the lessons learned from, our implementations of faithful execution in a Java virtual machine prototype and also in a configurable soft-core processor implemented in a field programmable gate array (FPGA).
Examination of national lymph node evaluation practices for adult extremity soft tissue sarcoma

Background and Objectives Lymph node evaluation recommendations for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (ESTS) are absent from national guidelines. Our objectives were (1) to assess rates and predictors of nodal evaluation, and (2) to assess rates and predictors of nodal metastases. Methods ESTS patients from the National Cancer Data Base (2000–2009) were assessed, and regression models were used to identify factors associated with nodal evaluation and metastases. Results Of 27,536 ESTS patients, 1,924 (7%) underwent nodal evaluation, and of these, 290 (15%) had nodal metastases. Nodal evaluation was most frequently performed for rhabdomyosarcoma (15.6%), angiosarcoma (10.0%), clear cell sarcoma (39.3%), epithelioid sarcoma (28.1%), and synovial sarcoma (9.3%). On multivariable analysis, factors associated with nodal evaluation included histologic subtype, tumor size, and grade. Nodal metastasis rates were highest among patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (32.1%), angiosarcoma (24.1%), clear cell sarcoma (27.7%), and epithelioid sarcoma (31.8%). On multivariable analysis, factors associated with nodal metastases included histologic subtype, tumor size, and grade. Conclusions Nodal evaluation rates are highest among certain expected subtypes but are generally low. However, nodal metastasis rates for many histologic subtypes in patients selected for lymph node evaluation may be higher than previously reported. Multi-institutional studies should address nodal evaluation for ESTS. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 110:682–688. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collagen Network and the Mechanical Microenvironment of Cancer Cells

Mechanical interaction between cancer cells and their microenvironment plays a central role in the progression of tumors. In vitro models based on biopolymer networks have been successfully employed to simulate the 3D extracellular matrix (ECM) of tumors. In this review, we focus on type I collagen gel. We describe the hierarchical structural and mechanical properties of type I collagen ECM. We demonstrate that corresponding to the scales of adhesion sites, single cells and cell colonies, the mechanics of the ECM is dominated by single fibers, fiber clusters and rheology of the whole fiber network. In the end, we discuss the limitations of reconstituted type I collagen as in vitro ECM. 关键词:癌细胞,弹性模量,胶原蛋白,微环境 Keyword: cancer cell, elastic modulus, collagen, microenvironment PACS:82.35.Pq, 87.14.em, 87.19.xj,87.16.dm † 通讯作者.E-mail: sunb@physics.oregonstate.edu 电话:1-541-737-8203 1 引 言 癌细胞的微环境是近年来肿瘤研究的热点方向。越来越多的证据表明,肿瘤的形 成,发展和扩散并不是癌细胞独立的行为 (Balkwill, et al., 2012; Allinen, et al., 2004; Friedl & Alexander, 2011; Hanahan & Weinberg, 2000)。细胞 外介质中的各种可溶性生长因子 (Bierie & Moses, 2006),其他细胞分泌释放的 物质 (例如微 RNA (Muhammad, 2014; Soon & Kiaris, 2013)),以及其他种类 的细胞 (Zigrino, et al., 2005; Hua, et al., 2007)都起着直接或间接的作用。 而区别于这些生物化学因素的,是细胞外介质的力学特性 (Ulrich, et al., 2009; Yeung, et al., 2005)。机体力学特性的变化是肿瘤的常见表征之一。以 乳癌为例,癌变组织的弹性模量可以达到正常乳房的 10倍以上 (Lopez, et al., 2011)。这种变化的影响是双向的。一方面,癌细胞力学微环境特性会影响肿瘤的 生理学,增加癌细胞的运动和生长速率,甚至于促进癌细胞转变为更加危险的表 型(phenotype) (Dingal & Discher, 2014; Seewaldt, 2014; Bordeleau, et al., 2014)。 另一方面,肿瘤的发展通常主动伴随着其力学微环境的改变。仍以 乳癌为例,与癌细胞密切相关的 TGF-β生长因子可以激活 fibroblast细胞分泌 过多的胶原纤维,导致乳房密度和硬度的增加 (Barcellos-Hoff & Ravani,
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide species in the horseradish peroxidase–oxidase oscillator

NADH chemistry ancillary to the oscillatory peroxidase–oxidase (PO) reaction has been reexamined. Previously, (NAD)2 has been thought of as a terminal, inert product of the PO reaction. We now show that (NAD)2 is a central reactant in this system. Although we found traces of the dimer after several hours of the PO reaction, no accumulation of the dimer occurred, regardless of the reaction time or the number of oscillations. (NAD)2 can convert horseradish peroxidase (HRP) compound I (CpI) to compound II (CpII) with apparent rate constant (2.7 ± 0.2) × 105 m−1·s−1 and CpII to HRP at 1 × 105 m−1·s−1. Moreover, a reduction of HRP compound III (CpIII) to CpI by (NAD)2 occurs with a rate constant faster than 5 × 106 m−1·s−1. The (NAD)2 reduction of CpIII provides an alternative to the reduction by NAD radical suggested by Yokota and Yamazaki. HRP catalyzes oxidation of α-NADH, not only the β anomer as previously assumed. Rate constants of α- and β-NADH reactions with CpI are (7.4 ± 0.4) × 105 m−1·s−1, and (1.7 ± 0.2) × 105 m−1·s−1, and with CpII are estimated as 5 × 104 m−1·s−1, and 4 × 104 m−1·s−1. Apparent rate constants of reduction of methylene blue (MB) to leuco-methylene blue (MBH) are 3.8 × 104 m−1·s−1 for NADH and 6.4 × 104 m−1·s−1 for NAD dimer, (NAD)2, while reoxidation of MBH proceeds at (2.1 ± 0.2) × 103 m−1·s−1 All the rates were measured in 0.1 m acetate buffer, pH 5.1.
Impairment of autophagy in endothelial cells prevents shear-stress-induced increases in nitric oxide bioavailability1

Autophagy is a lysosomal catabolic process by which cells degrade or recycle their contents to maintain cellular homeostasis, adapt to stress, and respond to disease. Impairment of autophagy in endothelial cells studied under static conditions results in oxidant stress and impaired nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. We tested the hypothesis that vascular autophagy is also important for induction of NO production caused by exposure of endothelial cells to shear stress (i.e., 3 h × ≈20 dyn/cm2). Atg3 is a requisite autophagy pathway mediator. Control cells treated with non-targeting control siRNA showed increased autophagy, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation, and NO production upon exposure to shear stress (p 85% knockdown of Atg3 protein expression (via Atg3 siRNA) exhibited a profound impairment of eNOS phosphorylation, and were incapable of increasing NO in response to shear stress. Moreover, ROS accumulation ...
Neural network learning through optimally conditioned quadratically convergent methods requiring NO LINE SEARCH

Neural network learning algorithms based on conjugate gradient techniques and quasi Newton techniques such as Broyden, DFP, BFGS, and SSVM algorithms require exact or inexact line searches in order to satisfy their convergence criteria. Line searches are very costly and slow down the learning process. This paper presents new neural network learning algorithms based on Hoshino's weak line search technique and Davidon's optimally conditioned line search free technique. Also, a practical method of using these optimization algorithms is presented such that they will avoid getting trapped in local minima for the most part. The global minimization problem is a serious one when quadratically convergent techniques such as quasi Newton methods are used. Furthermore, to display the performance of the proposed learning algorithms, the more practical algorithm based on Davidon's minimization technique is used in conjunction with a cursive handwriting recognition problem. For comparison with other algorithms, also a few small benchmark tests are conducted and reported. >
Treatment of Raw Cotton Fibers with Cellulases for Nonwoven Fabrics

Enzymatic treatment of fabrics is known to have a negative impact on the fabrics' tensile characteristics. The strength loss problems would be more severe in the case of nonwovens, since cellulase ...
Older People and Social Connectedness: How Place and Activities Keep People Engaged

To understand how older adults perceive and navigate their neighborhoods, we examined the implications of activity in their neighborhoods for their health. We interviewed 38 adults (ages 62-85) who lived in San Francisco or Oakland, California. Seven key themes emerged: (1) people express a wide range of expectations for neighborliness, from "we do not bother each other" to "we have keys to each other's houses", (2) social distance between "other" people impede a sense of connection, (3) ethnic differences in living arrangements affect activities and activity locations, (4) people try to stay busy, (5) people able to leave their homes do many activities outside their immediate residential neighborhoods, (6) access to a car is a necessity for most, and (7) it is unusual to plan for the future when mobility might become limited. Multiple locations influence older adults' health, including residential neighborhoods. Older adults value mobility, active lives, and social connections.
Durable Non-Reactive Flame-Retardant Finishes for Cotton

One of the properties of all fiber-reactive, flame-retardant finishes for cottons is reduced fabric tear strength which results in reduced wear life. Decreased mobility within the fabric structure due to cross-linking reactions of the finish is the cause of tear strength losses. Currently available non-reactive finishes have limited durability to laundering. Tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate, combined with small amounts of polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, or acrylic polymers and applied to fabrics or garments from organic solvents, provides flame resistance to cotton fabrics which is durable to 15 accelerated mobile launderings.
Scatter search and star-paths: beyond the genetic metaphor

Scatter search and genetic algorithms have originated from somewhat different traditions and perspectives, yet exhibit features that are strongly complementary. Links between the approaches have increased in recent years as variants of genetic algorithms have been introduced that embody themes in closer harmony with those of scatter search. Some researchers are now beginning to take advantage of these connections by identifying additional ways to incorporate elements of scatter search into genetic algorithm approaches. There remain aspects of the scatter approach that have not been exploited in conjunction with genetic algorithms, yet that provide ways to achieve goals that are basic to the genetic algorithm design. Part of the gap in implementing hybrids of these procedures may derive from relying too literally on the genetic metaphor, which in its narrower interpretation does not readily accommodate the strategic elements underlying scatter search. The theme of this paper is to show there are benefits to be gained by going beyond a perspective constrained too tightly by the connotations of the term “genetic”. We show that the scatter search framework directly leads to processes for combining solutions that exhibit special properties for exploiting combinatorial optimization problems. In the setting of zero-one integer programming, we identify a mapping that gives new ways to create combined solutions, producing constructions calledstar-paths for exploring the zero-one solution space. Star-path trajectories have the special property of lying within regions assured to include optimal solutions. They also can be exploited in association with both cutting plane and extreme point solution approaches. These outcomes motivate a deeper look into current conceptions of appropriate ways to combine solutions, and disclose there are more powerful methods to derive information from these combinations than those traditionally applied.
Light-cone superspace BPS theory

Abstract The BPS bound is formulated in light-cone superspace for the N = 4 super-Yang–Mills theory. As a consequence of the superalgebra all momenta are shown to be expressed as a quadratic form in the relevant supertransformations, and these forms are used to derive the light-cone superspace BPS equations. Finally, the superfield expressions are expanded out to component form, and the Wu–Yang monopole boosted to the infinite momentum frame is shown to be a solution.
Gamma ray cascades in O15

Abstract The gamma rays from the reaction N 14 (p, γ)O 15∗ have been investigated over the proton energy range from 950 to 1560 keV. It is found that the 8.29-MeV level (1060-keV resonance) in O 15 cascades weakly through a level at 7.17 MeV and through the known level at 6.15 MeV, in addition to the transitions already known to the 5.2-MeV levels and the ground state. The radiative widths of the 8.29-MeV level for transitions to the ground state, 5.2-MeV levels, 6.15-MeV level, and 7.17-MeV level are respectively 0.54 eV, 0.33 eV, 0.06 eV and 0.02 eV. The non-resonant production of O 15 in the above proton energy range is almost entirely accounted for by a transition through the 6.79-MeV level in O 15 . At the 8.75-MeV level (1550-keV resonance) the transitions to the ground state, 5.2-MeV states, 6.8-MeV states, and 7.17-MeV state all appear to be weakly resonant.
The Leucyl/Phenylalanyl-tRNA-Protein Transferase OVEREXPRESSION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SUBSTRATE RECOGNITION, DOMAIN STRUCTURE, AND SECONDARY STRUCTURE

Previous work has shown that, in the bacterium Escherichia coli, the aat gene is essential for the degradation of proteins bearing amino-terminal Arg and Lys residues via the N-end rule pathway of protein degradation. We now show that the aat gene encodes directly the leucyl/phenylalanyl-tRNA-protein transferase (L/F-transferase). This enzyme catalyzes the transfer of Leu, Phe, and, less efficiently, Met and Trp, from aminoacyl-tRNAs, to the amino terminus of acceptor proteins. We have used the cloned aat gene to overexpress and purify an affinity tagged L/F-transferase. The recombinant L/F-transferase is as active as the previously purified wild type enzyme and contains no detectable RNA component. We have used the recombinant enzyme to demonstrate that both the solubility and substrate specificity, for aminoacyl-tRNA substrates, of the L/F-transferase are dependent on ionic strength conditions and that the modified nucleotides found in natural tRNAs are not essential for recognition by the enzyme. Limited digestion of the L/F-transferase with trypsin removes the proline rich NH2 terminus of the enzyme identifying a globular core, and circular dichroism demonstrates that the L/F-transferase is predominantly α-helical. Finally, a region of sequence conservation between the L/F-transferase and the NH2-terminal protein acetylases has been identified.
Expression of glucagon sensitivity by transformed MDCK cells normally unresponsive to glucagon: Early commitment to differentiation

A cloned line of canine kidney cells (MDCK) transformed with Harvey murine sarcoma virus, in contrast to the parental, untransformed line, expressed glucagon sensitivity only under controlled culture conditions. The glucagon sensitivity of transformed MDCK cells appeared after 10 days of culture if plated at less than 100,000 cells/dish or after 3 days if cells were plated at greater than 300,000 cells/dish. As there was no effect of conditioned medium from glucagon-sensitive cells on insensitive cells, media components seemed not to be involved in this phenomenon. Glucagon sensitivity appeared more readily in defined as opposed to serum-containing medium. In fact, as little as 2% fetal bovine serum inhibited the expression of glucagon sensitivity when included in defined medium over the course of the experiment. Furthermore, when transformed MDCK cells were exposed to serum for only the first 24 hr of culture, glucagon sensitivity on day 11 was identical to that of cells exposed to serum throughout the entire experiment. In contrast, exposure to serum later in culture (days 4-8) had no inhibitory effect on the expression of glucagon sensitivity on day 11. The data suggest that differentiation, or glucagon sensitivity, occurs when transformed, glucagon-insensitive cells achieve a critical high density and that differentiation is sensitive to inhibition by serum only during the first 24 hr of culture.
Characterization of Two Mst1-Deficient Mouse Models

Mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (Mst1) is a ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinase belonging to the family of Sterile 20-like kinases. MST1 has been inferred to play important roles in apoptosis and in the inhibition of proliferation in mammalian cells. Here, we describe the genetic characterization of Mst1-deficient mice produced by two distinct gene-trap insertions. Animals generated from clone RRT293 exhibit transmission ratio distortion favoring the mutated allele which is amplified with each generation. Inexplicably, while the mutated allele is favored for transmission, its homozygosity is embryonic lethal. By contrast, animals generated from the second Mst1 gene-trap clone, AJ0315, do not show any gross abnormalities. We find that the discrepancy in phenotype is most likely attributable to a second insertion in the RRT293 clone. Thus, a mutation in Mst1 alone does not affect survival. Our results set the stage for identification of the lethal second-site mutation that is paradoxically favored for transmission.
Experimental warming causes rapid loss of plant diversity in New England salt marshes

Anthropogenic climate change is predicted to cause widespread biodiversity loss due to shifts in species' distributions, but these predictions rarely incorporate ecological associations such as zonation. Here, we predict the decline of a diverse assemblage of mid-latitude salt marsh plants, based on an ecosystem warming experiment. In New England salt marshes, a guild of halophytic forbs occupies stressful, waterlogged pannes. At three sites, experimental warming of < 4 degrees C led to diversity declines in pannes and rapid takeover by a competitive dominant, Spartina patens. In Rhode Island, near their southern range limit, pannes were more sensitive to warming than farther north, and panne area also declined in control plots over the three-season experiment. These results suggest that warming will rapidly reduce plant diversity in New England salt marshes by eliminating a high diversity zone. Biodiversity in zoned ecosystems may be more affected by climate-driven shifts in zonation than by individual species' distribution shifts.
ICESat Antarctic elevation data: Preliminary precision and accuracy assessment

[1] Since ‘first light’ on February 20th, 2003, NASA's Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) has derived surface elevations from ∼86°N to 86°S latitude. These unique altimetry data have been acquired in a series of observation periods in repeated track patterns using all three Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) lasers. Here, we focus on Antarctic ice sheet elevation data that were obtained in 2003–2004. We present preliminary precision and accuracy assessments of selected elevation data, and discuss factors impacting elevation change detection. We show that for low slope and clear sky conditions, the precision of GLA12 Laser 2a, Release 21 data is ∼2.1 cm and the relative accuracy of ICESat elevations is ±14 cm based on crossover differences.
Cortical Surface Reconstruction from High-Resolution MR Brain Images

Reconstruction of the cerebral cortex from magnetic resonance (MR) images is an important step in quantitative analysis of the human brain structure, for example, in sulcal morphometry and in studies of cortical thickness. Existing cortical reconstruction approaches are typically optimized for standard resolution (~1 mm) data and are not directly applicable to higher resolution images. A new PDE-based method is presented for the automated cortical reconstruction that is computationally efficient and scales well with grid resolution, and thus is particularly suitable for high-resolution MR images with submillimeter voxel size. The method uses a mathematical model of a field in an inhomogeneous dielectric. This field mapping, similarly to a Laplacian mapping, has nice laminar properties in the cortical layer, and helps to identify the unresolved boundaries between cortical banks in narrow sulci. The pial cortical surface is reconstructed by advection along the field gradient as a geometric deformable model constrained by topology-preserving level set approach. The method's performance is illustrated on exvivo images with 0.25-0.35 mm isotropic voxels. The method is further evaluated by cross-comparison with results of the FreeSurfer software on standard resolution data sets from the OASIS database featuring pairs of repeated scans for 20 healthy young subjects.
Ignition and flame propagation studies with adaptive numerical grids

Abstract A new and efficient numerical method has been developed to calculated time dependent, multidimensional flames. This method adapts the grid in an intelligent or solution dependent fashion so that the physics and chemistry of the flow are properly resolved. The method has the greatest advantages for thin flames, and is always to be preferred in steady flows. For two-dimensional problems the new method of combination with generalized coordinates leads to impressive resolution of ignition and flame propagation phenomena. For the study of ignition and flame propagation about a sphere in constant density separated flow the results showed that the ignition process occurs slightly downstream of the separation point and not at the rear stagnation point. All flame propagation calculations have been completed without problems due to oscillations or numerical viscosity, which are effectively eliminated with this new technique.
Comment: On Advances in Expected Improvement

Statistical optimization is a budding area. One could argue that conventional, nonstatistical, optimization techniques have struggled to port success in local optimization strategies, which leverag...
Emotion Regulation Difficulties, Youth–Adult Relationships, and Suicide Attempts Among High School Students in Underserved Communities

To develop and refine interventions to prevent youth suicide, knowledge is needed about specific processes that reduce risk at a population level. Using a cross-sectional design, the present study tested hypotheses regarding associations between self-reported suicide attempts, emotion regulation difficulties, and positive youth–adult relationships among 7,978 high-school students (48.6 % male, 49.9 % female) in 30 high schools from predominantly rural, low-income communities. 683 students (8.6 %) reported a past-year suicide attempt. Emotion regulation difficulties and a lack of trusted adults at home and school were associated with increased risk for making a past-year suicide attempt, above and beyond the effects of depressive symptoms and demographic factors. The association between emotion regulation difficulties and suicide attempts was modestly lower among students who perceived themselves as having higher levels of trusted adults in the family, consistent with a protective effect. Having a trusted adult in the community (outside of school and family) was associated with fewer suicide attempts in models that controlled only for demographic covariates, but not when taking symptoms of depression into account. These findings point to adolescent emotion regulation and relationships with trusted adults as complementary targets for suicide prevention that merit further intervention studies. Reaching these targets in a broad population of adolescents will require new delivery systems and “option rich” (OR) intervention designs.
A continuous Leontief dynamic input-output model

This paper extends the Leontief dynamic input-output model by incorporating continuous lags, capacity constraints, excess capacity and limits on disinvestment in each sector. These extensions result in “phase changes”, where sectors discretely change from one set of conditions to another. The resulting system of equations is “solved” by numerical methods and applied to the U.S. economy. Projections for the 1952 to 1962 period are compared with actual levels.
Letter by Haft Regarding Article, “High Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation Among Patients With Ischemic Stroke”

Friberg et al1 using Swedish national registry data, have demonstrated that the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with ischemic stroke is much higher than the 15% to 19% previously considered. Diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) is often difficult because it is frequently intermittent, transient, and asymptomatic in the individual patient with stroke. We …
IQ similarity in monozygotic and dizygotic twin children: effects of the same versus different examiners: a research note.

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Revised was administered to two independently identified samples of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin children. Co-twins in the first sample were tested by the same examiner, while co-twins in the second sample were tested by different examiners. IQ intraclass correlations were similar for the two MZ twin samples (.84 and .88), and identical for the two DZ twin samples (.54). The implications of this analysis are discussed with reference to twin study methodology, research on IQ similarity and replication of child development research.
Systems analyst activities and skills in the new millennium

The nature of systems development has continued to undergo change as new technologies emerge and impact the environment in which systems must function. A nationwide survey of systems analysts was conducted to assess what tasks are most important, what skills are most important in completing the tasks, and how the tasks and skills needed may have changed over the last decade. The most important tasks were those associated with traditional systems development, namely defining system scope, objectives, system requirements, as well as assessing the impact of systems and evaluating their performance. Analytical skills were considered the most important skills overall, followed by technical and communication skills. The least important skills overall were interpersonal skills. When compared to results from a similar survey conducted in the early 1990s, the data from the present study revealed that while the most important tasks remained relatively unchanged, a number of shifts occurred in other aspects of the systems analyst's work that reflect changes in the technological environment.