cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Suppress Phagolysosome Activation in Macrophages.

Purpose The eye is an immune-privileged microenvironment that has adapted several mechanisms of immune regulation to prevent inflammation. One of these potential mechanisms is retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) altering phagocytosis in macrophages. Methods The conditioned media of RPE eyecups from eyes of healthy mice and mice with experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) were used to treat primary macrophage phagocytizing pHrodo bacterial bioparticles. In addition, the neuropeptides were depleted from the conditioned media of healthy RPE eyecups and used to treat phagocytizing macrophages. The conditioned media from healthy and EAU RPE eyecups were assayed for IL-6, and IL-6 was added to the healthy conditioned media, and neutralized in the EAU conditioned media. The macrophages were treated with the conditioned media and assayed for fluorescence. The macrophages were imaged, and the fluorescence intensity, relative to active phagolysosomes, was measured. Also, the macrophages were assayed using fluorescent viability dye staining. Results The conditioned media from healthy, but not from EAU RPE eyecups suppressed phagolysosome activation. Depletion of the neuropeptides alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and neuropeptide Y from the healthy RPE eyecup conditioned media resulted in macrophage death. In the EAU RPE eyecup conditioned media was 0.96 ± 0.18 ng/mL of IL-6, and when neutralized the conditioned media suppressed phagolysosome activation. Conclusions The healthy RPE through soluble molecules, including alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and neuropeptide Y, suppresses the activation of the phagolysosome in macrophages. In EAU, the IL-6 produced by the RPE promotes the activation of phagolysosomes in macrophages. These results demonstrate that under healthy conditions, RPE promotes an altered pathway of phagocytized material in macrophages with implications on antigen processing and clearance.
Sensor Triggered Replacement of Spare Parts: Customer Service Process Innovation

Customer services hold an increasingly dynamic and crucial role in today’s highly competitive world. It is also one of the important factors that enable companies to sustain their competitive advantage. The purpose of this study is to develop a basic model of customer service process automation, which will support the spare parts replacement procedure. The idea is to use sensors for identifying the condition of spare parts in real time and initiate an automated replacement process at the right time. A conceptual model of an integrated customer service process automation, derived from a case study, is illustrated, which emphasizes the significance of information exchange between business processes and communication between supply chain collaborators. The suggested changes for the model aim to improve the service level, machine and part life, design of the part and also to reduce human errors during ordering process, overall cost and inventory level.
The Impact of Substance Use on Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among HIV-Infected Women in the United States.

Research is scant regarding differential effects of specific types of recreational drugs use on antiretroviral therapy adherence among women, particularly to single-tablet regimens (STR). This is increasingly important in the context of marijuana legalization. We examined the effects of self-reported substance use on suboptimal (<95%) adherence in the Women’s Interagency HIV Study, 2003–2014. Among 1799 HIV-infected women, the most prevalent substance used was marijuana. In multivariable Poisson GEE regression, substance use overall was significantly associated with suboptimal adherence (adjusted prevalence ratio, aPR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.10–1.32), adjusting for STR use, socio-demographic, behavioral, and clinical factors. Among STR users, compared to no drug use, substance use overall remained detrimental to ART adherence (aPR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.24–2.09); specifically, both marijuana (aPR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.11–1.97) and other drug use (aPR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.29–2.70) predicted suboptimal adherence. These findings highlight the need to intervene with drug-using women taking antiretroviral therapy to maintain effective adherence.
Comparison of three methods for the methylation of aliphatic and aromatic compounds.

Rationale: Methylation protocols commonly call for acidic, hot conditions that are known to promote organic ^1H/^2H exchange in aromatic and aliphatic C—H bonds. Here we tested two such commonly-used methods and compared a third that avoids these acidic conditions, to quantify isotope effects with each method and to directly determine acidic-exchange rates relevant to experimental conditions. Methods: We compared acidic and non-acidic methylation approaches catalyzed by hydrochloric acid, acetyl chloride and EDCI (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide) / DMAP (4-dimethylaminopyridine) respectively. These were applied to two analytes: phthalic acid (an aromatic) and octacosanoic acid (an aliphatic). We analyzed yield by gas chromatography flame ionization (GC/FID) and hydrogen and carbon isotopic composition by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS). We quantified the ^1H/^2H exchange rate on dimethyl phthalate under acidic conditions with proton nuclear magnetic resonance (^1H-NMR) measurements. Results: The δ^2H and δ^(13)C values and yield were equivalent among the three methods for methyl octacosanoate. The two acidic methods resulted in comparable yield and isotopic composition of dimethyl phthalate; however, the non-acidic method resulted in lower δ^2H and δ^(13)C values perhaps due to low yields. Concerns over acid-catalyzed ^1H/^2H exchange are unwarranted as the effect was trivial over a 12-hour reaction time. Conclusions: We find product isolation yield and evaporation to be the main concerns in the accurate determination of isotopic composition. ^1H/^2H exchange reactions are too slow to cause measurable isotope fractionation over the typical duration and reaction conditions used in methylation. Thus, we are able to recommend continued use of acidic catalysts in such methylation reactions for both aliphatic and aromatic compounds.
A method for improving high-insertion-loss measurements with a vector network analyzer

We present a method for improving high-insertion-loss measurements with a calibrated vector network analyzer (VNA) requiring only two additional pieces of hardware. By utilizing an amplifier and an attenuator, and measuring wave-parameters rather than scattering-parameters, we are able to increase the dynamic range of our measurements while decreasing uncertainties due to the noise floor of the VNA. We compare the results of our technique to standard methods for insertion-loss values up to 110 dB.
Fabrication of phosphonic acid films on nitinol nanoparticles by dynamic covalent assembly

Abstract Nitinol (NiTi) nanoparticles are a valuable metal alloy due to many unique properties that allow for medical applications. NiTi nanoparticles have the potential to form nanofluids, which can advance the thermal conductivity of fluids by controlling the surface functionalization through chemical attachment of organic acids to the surface to form self-assembled alkylphosphonate films. In this study, phosphonic functional head groups such as 16-phosphonohexadecanoic acid, octadecylphosphonic acid, and 12-aminododecylphosphonic acid were used to form an ordered and strongly chemically bounded film on the NiTi nanopowder. The surface of the NiTi nanoparticles was modified in order to tailor the chemical and physical properties to the desired application. The modified NiTi nanoparticles were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and 31P solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance. The interfacial bonding was identified by spectroscopic data suggesting the phosphonic head group adsorbs in a mixed bidentate/monodentate binding motif on the NiTi nanoparticles. Dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed the particle sizes. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to examine the phase transitions. Zeta potential determination as a function of pH was examined to investigate the surface properties of charged nanoparticles. The influence of environmental stability of the surface modifications was also assessed.
Race, religion and identity: Arab Christians in the United States

AbstractIn social terms Arab American Christians lie both inside and outside the category of ‘white’ by race. Seemingly ‘white’ via their religious affiliation with the majority and non-white through their Arab and Middle Eastern backgrounds, at times they have access to privilege and power, and at other times face discrimination as non-white and foreign. In this study, there was a connection between those who identified as white, age, and residence in the wealthy suburbs of Virginia and Maryland. The younger generation of professionals who live in the city of Washington DC, as well as activists and academics, tended to be more ambiguous about their own perceived whiteness. Women and men faced differing challenges from prevailing stereotypes of Arabs and gendered expectations of race. The term ‘ancient Christian’ was used to denote a non-Muslim identity and claim an original Christianity located in the Middle East.
Anatomical Collections as the Anthropological Other: Some Considerations

Skeletal studies of anatomical collections are foundational to the scientific conceptualizations of race that remain at the center of discussions and debates about genes, health, and identity. However, they do not factor into these discussions as a historical or contemporary point of reference. I argue that this is largely due to continued investments in the production of scientific knowledge, which includes a naturalized positioning of anatomical remains as always-already research subjects. Black feminist theory and critiques of science are used to redress this shortcoming by opening up space to theorize anatomical remains in ways that belie artificial separations between the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and the arts.
Gender-Inclusive Design: Sense of Belonging and Bias in Web Interfaces

We interact with dozens of web interfaces on a daily basis, making inclusive web design practices more important than ever. This paper investigates the impacts of web interface design on ambient belonging, or the sense of belonging to a community or culture. Our experiment deployed two content-identical webpages for an introductory computer science course, differing only in aesthetic features such that one was perceived as masculine while the other was gender-neutral. Our results confirm that young women exposed to the masculine page are negatively affected, reporting significantly less ambient belonging, interest in the course and in studying computer science broadly. They also experience significantly more concern about others' perception of their gender relative to young women exposed to the neutral page, while no similar effect is seen in young men. These results suggest that gender biases can be triggered by web design, highlighting the need for inclusive user interface design for the web.
Short-Duration Rapid Chilling of Mastectomy Specimens Does Not Interfere With Breast Cancer Biomarker and Molecular Testing.

Context.— A thorough gross examination of specimens for breast cancer requires the tissue to be very thinly sectioned, which is often difficult in large mastectomy samples. We have implemented rapi...
Elastomeric Vascular Prostheses

We have been investigating the effect of chemical structure and surface properties of synthetic polymers on the coagulation of blood. The ultimate goal of these studies is the development of satisfactory prostheses to replace damaged veins, bypass obstructed arteries of small diameter (less than 6 mm) and for use in aortocoronary surgery. Currently, the surgeon is forced to use autogenous tissue such as the saphenous vein in these situations because of the lack of good synthetic polymer prostheses. Although the results using autogenous saphenous veins are very good, this method has certain disadvantages. Some patients (10 to 25%) do not have satisfactory veins either because of prior removal, disease (varicosities), or because the vein is of inadequate size. Even with patients having satisfactory veins, one has to contend with the problem of limited quantity and a significant increase in operating time. The presently available synthetic polymer prostheses are made from relatively thrombogenic polymers (Teflon and Dacron). These materials show patency rates of less than 50% at diameters smaller than 6 mm. Therefore, the development of a successful, small diameter synthetic polymer prosthesis is of utmost importance to both the patient and the surgeon.
Circulation Deduced from Aerosol Data Averaged by Season and Phase of the Quasibiennial Oscillation

Aerosol measurements obtained from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiments (SAGE I and II), for the periods 1979–81 and 1984–91, are averaged by season and by the phase of the quasibiennial oscillation (QBO). Largest values of aerosol extinction ratio are found in the tropical lower stratosphere. Latitude-altitude distributions suggest the existence of an upper and a lower transport regime out of this tropical reservoir. Above 25 km upward detrainment occurs more readily in the subtropics during summer and fall. Detrainment pole-ward and downward occurs within ~5 kilometers above the tropopause most readily during the austral winter and spring and during the boreal fall, winter and spring. Ascent associated with QBO easterly shear favors detrainment in the upper regime, while relative descent and poleward spreading during QBO westerly shear favors detrainment in the lower regime.
Reproductive Advantages in Sequential Drosophila Pseudoobscura Matings

Frequency dependent mating occurs when the proportion of matings among different genotypes (or phenotypes) depends on the proportion of genotypes present in the population. In many, but not all, experimental Drosophila populations, the minority genotype is favored in mating at the expense of the more common genotype (Ehrman and Probber, 1978 for review). This rare male advantage has been reported in eight Drosophila species (D. immigrans, D. melanogaster, D. pseudo-obscura, D. persimilis, D. willistoni, D. tropicalis, D. equinoxialis, and D. funebris) as well as among other insects, such as Tribolium castaneum (Sinnock, 1970) and Mormoniella (Grant et al., 1974). The advantages conferred by being rare may result in an increase in genotype frequency until this frequency dependent advantage disappears. Such a mechanism may help to maintain assorted alleles and genetic polymorphisms in natural populations and therefore be of evolutionary importance. While rare males show an advantage in the laboratory, we know little about the fates of rare males in natural populations (Crumpacker et al., 1977).
Interactive Structure Learning with Structural Query-by-Committee

In this work, we introduce interactive structure learning, a framework that unifies many different interactive learning tasks. We present a generalization of the query-by-committee active learning algorithm for this setting, and we study its consistency and rate of convergence, both theoretically and empirically, with and without noise.
Hypoxic stabilization of mRNA is HIF-independent but requires mtROS

Tissue ischemia can arise in response to numerous physiologic and pathologic conditions. The cellular response to decreased perfusion, most notably a decrease in glucose and oxygen, is important for cellular survival. In response to oxygen deprivation or hypoxia, one of the key response elements is hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) and a key protein induced by hypoxia is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Under hypoxia, we and others have reported an increase in the half-life of VEGF and other hypoxia related mRNAs including MYC and CYR61; however, the mediator of this response has yet to be identified. For this study, we sought to determine if HIF-mediated transcriptional activity is involved in the mRNA stabilization induced by hypoxia. HEK293T or C6 cells were cultured in either normoxic or hypoxic (1% oxygen) conditions in the presence of 1 g/L glucose for all experiments. Pharmacological treatments were used to mimic hypoxia (desferroxamine, dimethyloxaloglutamate, CoCl2), inhibit mitochondrial respiration (rotenone, myxothiazol), scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS; ebselen), or generate mitochondrial ROS (antimycin A). siRNAs were used to knock down components of the HIF transcriptional apparatus. mRNA half-life was determined via actinomycin D decay and real time PCR and western blotting was used to determine mRNA and protein levels respectively. Treatment of HEK293T or C6 cells with hypoxic mimetics, desferroxamine, dimethyloxaloglutamate, or CoCl2 showed similar induction of HIF compared to hypoxia treatment, however, in contrast to hypoxia, the mimetics caused no significant increase in VEGF, MYC or CYR61 mRNA half-life. Knockdown of HIF-alpha or ARNT via siRNA also had no effect on hypoxic mRNA stabilization. Interestingly, treatment of HEK293T cells with the mitochondrial inhibitors rotenone and myxothiazol, or the glutathione peroxidase mimetic ebselen did prevent the hypoxic stabilization of VEGF, MYC, and CYR61, suggesting a role for mtROS in the process. Additionally, treatment with antimycin A, which has been shown to generate mtROS, was able to drive the normoxic stabilization of these mRNAs. Overall these data suggest that hypoxic mRNA stabilization is independent of HIF transcriptional activity but requires mtROS.
Endovascular Thrombectomy, Platelet Count, and Intracranial Hemorrhage.

Background Intracranial hemorrhage can be a devastating complication of endovascular thrombectomy (ET) after acute ischemic stroke increasing disability and mortality. Patients with low platelet count were excluded from major ET trials. This study explores the association between platelet count and intracranial hemorrhage after ET. Methods A retrospective review of patients undergoing ET for anterior circulation large vessel occlusions at a single comprehensive stroke center between January 2015 and February 2018 was performed. Demographic and clinical information including National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, intravenous tissue plasminogen activator administration, ASPECTS, platelet count, international normalized ratio, time from symptom onset to recanalization, and modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score were analyzed. Radiological imaging and clinical course in the hospital was evaluated to identify parenchymal hemorrhage and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted. Results A total of 555 patients underwent ET and 43% were male. The mean age and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score were 71 ± 14 years and 17 ± 6, respectively. Parenchymal hemorrhage-2 and sICH (European-Australian Cooperative Acute Stroke Study-III criteria) were noted in 9.7% and 5.8% patients, respectively. Rates of sICH in patients with platelet count Conclusions Risk of sICH after ET is low and comparable in patients with low and normal platelet counts. Low platelets should not exclude patients from undergoing intra-arterial therapy.
Does Fair Trade Coffee Help the Poor? Evidence from Costa Rica and Guatemala

Proponents of Fair Trade claim it improves the lives of farmers in developing countries by providing them a higher sale price for their crops, allowing for a higher standard of living, and offering the opportunity to escape the vulnerability of poverty. Drawing on field work conducted in Costa Rica and Guatemala, the author examines the observed effects of Fair Trade and finds it is unclear whether Fair Trade actually delivers on its promise. Rather, it may actually harm the long-term interests of small farmers in high-cost production areas. Some small farmers adopt Fair Trade primarily because it provides a cheap way to hedge against swings in market prices that would otherwise be unavailable to the poor. In other words, when the institutional environment does not provide the conditions for the development of complex contractual arrangements for all producers, Fair Trade can be a useful institutional surrogate. In the long run, however, Fair Trade represents, at best, a Band-Aid solution to the problems a deficient institutional structure creates in coffee-producing countries. Reforming the institutional framework to foster entrepreneurship and trade can better address the main problems Fair Trade attempts to resolve, such as low pay for the poorest segment of the population and the erratic business cycle.
Multiple input design for real-time parameter estimation in the frequency domain

A method for designing multiple inputs for real-time dynamic system identification in the frequency domain was developed and demonstrated. The designed inputs are mutually orthogonal in both the time and frequency domains, with reduced peak factors to provide good information content for relatively small amplitude excursions. The inputs are designed for selected frequency ranges, and therefore do not require a priori models. The experiment design approach was applied to identify linear dynamic models for the F-15 ACTIVE aircraft, which has multiple control effectors.
Protocol Proxy: An FTE-based covert channel

Abstract In a hostile network environment, users must communicate without being detected. This involves blending in with the existing traffic. In some cases, a higher degree of secrecy is required. We present a proof-of-concept format transforming encryption (FTE)-based covert channel for tunneling TCP traffic through protected static protocols. Protected static protocols are UDP-based protocols with variable fields that cannot be blocked without collateral damage, such as power grid failures. We (1) convert TCP traffic to UDP traffic, (2) introduce observation-based FTE, and (3) model interpacket timing with a deterministic Hidden Markov Model (HMM). The resulting Protocol Proxy has a very low probability of detection and is an alternative to current covert channels. We tunnel a TCP session through a UDP protocol and guarantee delivery. Observation-based FTE ensures traffic cannot be detected by traditional rule-based analysis or DPI. A deterministic HMM ensures the Protocol Proxy accurately models interpacket timing to avoid detection by side-channel analysis. Finally, the choice of a protected static protocol foils stateful protocol analysis and causes collateral damage with false positives.
银屑病和特应性皮炎免疫发病机制进展

Kevin D Cooper教授于2006年应邀参加第九届中日皮肤科会议,其后又应中华医学会北京、浙江、上海皮肤科学会的邀请作题为"Cutaneous immunity in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis"的报告,现编译如下。
Pseudocholinesterase Deficiency - Is Succinylcholine Still Needed to Facilitate Endotracheal Intubation?

Pseudocholinesterase (butyrylcholinesterase) deficiency is an inherited or acquired condition in which the serum pseudocholinesterase levels are absent or lower than normal. The enzyme is produced by the liver; decreased levels of the enzyme in an individual cause increased sensitivity to anesthetic agents, like succinylcholine and mivacurium. Pseudocholinesterase deficiency is caused by butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) gene mutation, a gene that provides instructions for making the pseudocholinesterase enzyme. Succinylcholine is a depolarizing muscle relaxant that provides a quicker onset and a brief duration of muscle relaxation during general anesthesia. In this article, we would like to discuss a case report of prolonged intubation and ventilation in a patient with pseudocholinesterase deficiency and the necessity of succinylcholine during intubation in comparison to possible alternatives (rocuronium).
Experimentally Analyzing Diverse Antenna Placements and Orientations for UAV Communications

A vast array of potential applications is emerging for drones and other devices to collaborate from disaster relief and search and rescue missions to smart agriculture and IoT systems. As drones move across multiple altitudes, they must have the ability to communicate across any direction in a three-dimensional (3D) space. However, due to the heterogeneous nature of the drone body and its interaction with the mounted antennas, different antenna positions on the drone can result in variations in the radiation pattern. While there have been a fair number of airborne communication works, few consider the role that antenna positioning has on the resulting transmission along the azimuth and elevation planes. In this work, we study the effects of the drone body and various antenna placements on the radiation pattern and fading of drone-based channels. Through systematic anechoic chamber and in-field measurements, we show that the drone body alters the radiation pattern of the mounted antennas, rendering the common assumption of a constant azimuth radiation pattern invalid. In addition, the body increases polarization mixing of drone-based channels, resulting in significant degradation of the cross-polarization discrimination (XPD). Hence, we propose using effective radiation pattern and XPD values instead of relying on measurements and/or assumptions that disregard drone-antenna interaction. We then analyze the shadowing and losses associated with the drone body for many antenna setups at various elevation angles and show that when mounted on the opposite side from the ground transmitter, shadowing increases with relatively-higher drone elevations. To account for these body-induced effects, we introduce rotational loss that results in better prediction results of the large-scale fading behavior compared to conventional models that neglect these body effects. Then, we analyze the small-scale fading for various antenna setups and show that the Rician K-factor is strongly dependent on elevation for polarization-matched vertical links, while it is approximately flat for cross-polarized links. To do so, we conduct a set of drone-to-drone (DtD) experiments at high altitudes with no surrounding reflectors and compare results to those obtained by our ground-to-drone (GtD) measurements. We find that, while at low elevations the ground can reduce the K-factor by 10 dB, at higher elevations, small-scale fading is dominated by the antennas, not the ground.
What's Happening in Your Head: Overcoming Our Assumptions to Work Better Together.

Introduction It is crucial that residents learn in environments that are psychologically safe and free of morale-harming rumors. This workshop introduced the Ladder of Inference as a means for prog...
Intubating with a Bougie

The Bougie is an invaluable tool that should be readily available when planning to intubate a patient. It is often included in a code bag and a crash cart where intubations outside of the operating room can be challenging. Like all airway devices, it requires practice in a controlled setting so that in the event of an unanticipated difficult airway, the anesthesiologist can deftly use it to secure an airway. This chapter discusses indications and instructions for intubating with a Bougie.
Serum metabolic profile of postoperative acute kidney injury following infant cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass

We sought to determine differences in the circulating metabolic profile of infants with or without acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiothoracic surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We performed a secondary analysis of preoperative and 24-h postoperative serum samples from infants ≤ 120 days old undergoing CPB. Metabolic profiling of the serum samples was performed by targeted analysis of 165 serum metabolites via tandem mass spectrometry. We then compared infants who did or did not develop AKI in the first 72 h postoperatively to determine global differences in the preoperative and 24-h metabolic profiles in addition to specific differences in individual metabolites. A total of 57 infants were included in the study. Six infants (11%) developed KDIGO stage 2/3 AKI and 13 (23%) developed stage 1 AKI. The preoperative metabolic profile did not differentiate between infants with or without AKI. Infants with severe AKI could be moderately distinguished from infants without AKI by their 24-h metabolic profile, while infants with stage 1 AKI segregated into two groups, overlapping with either the no AKI or severe AKI groups. Differences in these 24-h metabolic profiles were driven by 21 metabolites significant at an adjusted false discovery rate of < 0.05. Prominently altered pathways include purine, methionine, and kynurenine/nicotinamide metabolism. Moderate-to-severe AKI after infant cardiac surgery is associated with changes in the serum metabolome, including prominent changes to purine, methionine, and kynurenine/nicotinamide metabolism. A portion of infants with mild AKI demonstrated similar metabolic changes, suggesting a potential role for metabolic analysis in the evaluation of lower stage injury.
Pregnancy toxemia and metabolic changes of transition in small ruminants

The objective of the presentation is to reacquaint the practitioner to pregnancy toxemia of small ruminants, and provide an in-depth discussion of metabolic alterations that lead to and are diagnostic for the disease process. Pregnancy toxemia is one of the most common metabolic diseases of small ruminants. The gravid uterus consumes significant glucose in late pregnancy, especially with multiple fetuses, placing the dam in a state of energy imbalance. Subsequent fat mobilization initiates a cascade of events that may ultimately lead to deranged metabolism and clinical disease. Ensuring the diet can adequately provide sufficient energy and protein to support fetal development is the cornerstone of disease prevention. Addressing issues of dietary fiber content and dry matter intake are as important as energy or protein density. Monitoring of dietary composition and animal blood metabolites can be a part of the overall flock health program to prevent significant disease consequences.
Learning To Describe Player Form in The MLB.

Major League Baseball (MLB) has a storied history of using statistics to better understand and discuss the game of baseball, with an entire discipline of statistics dedicated to the craft, known as sabermetrics. At their core, all sabermetrics seek to quantify some aspect of the game, often a specific aspect of a player's skill set - such as a batter's ability to drive in runs (RBI) or a pitcher's ability to keep batters from reaching base (WHIP). While useful, such statistics are fundamentally limited by the fact that they are derived from an account of what happened on the field, not how it happened. As a first step towards alleviating this shortcoming, we present a novel, contrastive learning-based framework for describing player form in the MLB. We use form to refer to the way in which a player has impacted the course of play in their recent appearances. Concretely, a player's form is described by a 72-dimensional vector. By comparing clusters of players resulting from our form representations and those resulting from traditional abermetrics, we demonstrate that our form representations contain information about how players impact the course of play, not present in traditional, publicly available statistics. We believe these embeddings could be utilized to predict both in-game and game-level events, such as the result of an at-bat or the winner of a game.
Bernstein spaces, sampling, and Riesz-Boas interpolation formulas in Mellin Analysis

The goal of the paper is to consider Bernstein-Mellin subspaces in the Lebesgue-Mellin spaces and establishing for functions in these subspaces new sampling theorems and Riesz-Boas high-order interpolation formulas.
Uniform Distribution and Densities on Locally Compact Abelian Groups

In this paper we shall discuss the uniform distribution of a sequence on a locally compact Abelian group and the notion of a density on the same kind of group, and describe a number of results about them that have recently been obtained, and the relationship between the two.
Which Image Pairs Will Cosegment Well? Predicting Partners for Cosegmentation

Cosegmentation methods segment multiple related images jointly, exploiting their shared appearance to generate more robust foreground models. While existing approaches assume that an oracle will specify which pairs of images are amenable to cosegmentation, in many scenarios such external information may be difficult to obtain. This is problematic, since coupling the “wrong” images for segmentation—even images of the same object class—can actually deteriorate performance relative to single-image segmentation. Rather than manually specify partner images for cosegmentation, we propose to automatically predict which images will cosegment well together. We develop a learning-to-rank approach that identifies good partners, based on paired descriptors capturing the images’ amenability to joint segmentation. We compare our approach to alternative methods for partnering images, including basic image similarity, and show the advantages on two challenging datasets.
Two formulae for inverse Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials in S_n

1. IntroductionKazhdan-Lusztig (KL) polynomials were introduced by Kazhdan and Lusztig in[12] in their study of the representations of Hecke algebras of Coxeter groups. Sincethen, these polynomials have been discovered to have many important interpreta-tions in the context of Lie theory and Schubert varieties (see [9, 12, 13]). However,their combinatorial structure is far from clear even though numerous people haveresults in speciﬁc cases (see [2] for an overview of such results). In this paper wegive explicit formulae for the KL polynomials P
The Left in the Detroit Labour Movement

The role of communists in the history of the North American Labor movement has always been controversial. In recent years some balance has been restored to that history by the growing body of work by and about Communists who were middle-level leaders in the CIO unions and a few studies that deal more broadly with their activities. Balanced, of course, does not mean less controversial. It simply means that more information and more points of view are being made available. Christopher Johnson's biography of Maurice Sugar is a solid piece of work that fills a major gap in the history of the United Automobile Workers (UAW). Sugar grew up in northern Michigan and studied law at the University of Michigan before World War I. At the university he joined the socialist movement, becoming essentially a Debsian socialist. He served time in prison for his opposition to the war (failure to register for the draft). After the war, with the rightward movement of the Socialist Party, he left the Party and generally gravitated toward the Communists, although Johnson makes a convincing case that he never joined the CP and was organizationally independent. He was, from the start, a lawyer for the labour movement and remained that for most of the rest of his life. He gained a substantial reputation among Detroit unions for his abilities and his fairness. He was able to take advantage of whatever technicalities the law allowed but he was not simply a technician. His loyalty to the labour movement was widely respected. In the 1930s he became chief counsel for the UAW and remained in that post until fired by Walter Reuther on his accession to power. He was associated with the Addes-CP caucus and was a major advisor to what was then called the "left wing" in the union. Johnson's description of Sugar's union activities and legal battles make fascinating reading. There are, however, certain limitations to Johnson's book. The
Community, State, and Market on the North Atlantic Rim: Challenges to Modernity in the Fisheries

Community, State, and Market on the North Atlantic Rim: Challenges to Modernity in the Fisheries. Richard Apostle. Gene Barrett. Petter Holm. Svein Jentoft. Leigh Mazany. Bonnie McCay. and Knut Mikalsen. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1998.
Seismic risk analysis based on a quadratic magnitude-frequency law

Abstract The quadratic log frequency versus magnitude relationship is introduced into analytical engineering seismic risk analysis. The analytical risk relationships remain in closed form, and risk analysis remains easily amenable to computer implementation. The availability of both a quadratic relationship and a truncation point or upper bound on the magnitude (or epicentral intensity) permits relatively detailed representation of the large magnitude-low frequency region of the distribution. This region has an important influence on high intensity-low risk site conditions, which are of frequent engineering interest. At lower site intensities, the influence of the quadratic versus a linear form is apparently not significant.
Acoustically modulated speckle imaging of biological tissues.

A video laser speckle imaging technique yields images with contrast based on the mechanical properties of a tissue. Fluctuations of laser speckle patterns induced by acoustically driving the tissue at various frequencies in the 0–30-Hz range encode the mechanical strain of the tissue. At each acoustic frequency and within the camera acquisition time, each camera pixel integrates a temporally fluctuating speckle intensity whose variance encodes the mechanical strain in response to the acoustic modulation. The magnitude and the frequency dependence of this strain provide mechanical information about the tissue and are the contrast mechanism for images.
Effect of aureomycin on hepatic utilization of labeled body fat in rats.

SummaryAdministration of 5 mg Aureomycin to rats, the body fat of which had been labeled previously with C14-tripalmitin did not result in accumulation of excessive C14 activity in hepatic fatty acids. The amount and radioactivity of total fatty acids of carcass and of intestine were likewise similar in experimental and control animals. These findings are discussed in relation to the observation that Aureomycin causes an increase in incorporation of C14-acetate into hepatic fatty acids of rats. A 4-day metabolic balance study showed that from 81 to 93% of the fed tripalmitin was absorbed.
No Strategy is an Island to Itself: China First-Mover and Other FDI Strategies’ Interaction Effects

The first-mover strategy for foreign investment is examined to determine under what conditions a significant effect exists when it is combined with other foreign investment strategies like partner selection, geographical market focus, joint-venture control, and resource commitment strategies. Using official audited data and survey data from Sichuan, the results reveal that there are significant interaction effects. The interaction effects can eliminate first-mover advantage, create a first-mover effect that previously didnâ€™t exist, or change the direction of the effect. Consequently, the author argues that it is better to analyze strategies as a set that is formed by a series of strategic decisions made by managers as they establish foreign joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries.
H - and He in a uniform magnetic field: Ground-state wave functions, energies, and binding energies for fields below 10 9 G

Wave functions, energies, and binding energies for the lowest singlet states of ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and He in uniform magnetic fields $Bl{10}^{9}$ G are calculated using an adiabatic approximation in hyperspherical coordinates. In computing the angular part of the wave functions, a coupled expansion in one-electron oblate spheroidal angle functions is used. In addition to contracting the two-electron wave function radially, the magnetic field is found to distort the angular part of the wave function mainly by reducing the $\mathrm{ss}^{1}S$ character of the state and replacing it with an $\mathrm{sd}^{1}D$ character. Results for energies and binding energies are comparable with those obtained in variational calculations. In order to compute the binding energies of ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and He we have also calculated the binding energies of the ground states of H and ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ in uniform magnetic fields $Bl{10}^{9}$ G using the adiabatic oblate-spheroidal-coordinate method of Starace and Webster.
Anticytokine therapy in non-rheumatoid arthritis indications in 2009.

Purpose of review To review the current uses of antitumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) therapies for non-rheumatoid arthritis inflammatory joint diseases. Emphasis is given to important questions regarding long-term use of anti-TNFalpha therapies. Recent findings TNFalpha blockade is one of the anticytokine therapies with major impact in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis among the inflammatory joint diseases. As a result of the impressive response to TNFalpha inhibitors, new agents continue to be developed and a few are currently being tested in phase III trials. The evaluation of a potential relationship between inflammation and structural damage in ankylosing spondylitis has been an important focus of recent studies and will likely result in a better understanding and use of anti-TNFalpha therapy. Other aspects of treatment such as long-term safety and selection of patients who will likely have a major response have been evaluated in recent studies and will continue to be important topics in future research. Summary As TNFalpha inhibitors have been a major advance in the treatment of a number of inflammatory joint diseases and have been widely available in clinical practice, future research will need to continuously assess longitudinal efficacy and safety.
Update on novel agents in renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a disease with a variable natural history, sometimes presenting with a very indolent course and other times with an aggressive clinical course and unusual sites of metastasis. Surgical resection for stage I–III tumors represents the standard of care and is the only curative option available to patients. However, 40–50% of patients develop metastatic disease. Prior to the advent of targeted therapy, cytokine therapy was the only treatment for RCC. The administration of high-dose, bolus IL-2 has historically produced consistent, durable responses in a small percentage of patients with advanced RCC. The use of IFN-α is currently limited to combination therapies. Multiple new agents targeting the VEGF pathway have been tested and approved, including sunitinib, sorafenib and bevacizumab, with others waiting in the wings. In the majority of cases these drugs induce disease stabilization with eventual disease progression. Hence additional new pathways are being targeted and studied....
Biochemical Basis of Flour Properties in Bread Wheats. I. Effects of Variation in the Quantity and Size Distribution of Polymeric Protein

Abstract Relationships between the amount and size distribution of polymeric protein, as measured by size-exclusion HPLC (SE-HPLC), and flour properties were evaluated in four diverse sets of bread wheats representing recombinant inbred lines and cultivars. The recombinant inbred lines and a cultivar set were each grown at two different locations giving widely different flour proteins levels. The percentage of total polymeric protein (SE-HPLC peak 1) in protein or flour showed variable (insignificant to significant) relationships with flour properties, particularly dough strength as measured by the Brabender Extensograph (maximum resistance) and the National Mixograph (peak dough development time). On the other hand, the portion of the total polymeric protein unextractable in 0·5% SDS solution (i.e per cent unextractable polymeric protein in total polymeric protein) was very strongly positively correlated with dough strength properties in each of these sets, and accounted for the variation in these parameters to a much greater degree than did the per cent total polymeric protein in protein or in flour. SE-HPLC showed that the unextractable polymeric protein contained a significantly greater proportion of larger polymers (≥ 158k) than its extractable counterpart. Scanning of SDS-PAGE patterns of reduced-extractable and -unextractable polymeric protein fractions (peak 1 protein), indicated that the unextractable fraction had a significantly higher ratio of high Mr to low Mr glutenin subunits than the extractable fraction, suggesting that the molecular size distribution is shifted to higher molecular sizes as this ratio increases. Since the measurements of the relative size distributions of polymeric protein (per cent unextractable polymeric protein in total polymeric protein) or of total protein (relative amount of unextractable polymeric protein in total protein) also showed a wide genetic variance, and were independent of growth environment, they provide a reliable biochemical criterion for predicting dough strength of wheat on the basis of genetic differences in breeding programs. SE-HPLC provides a simple and an objective test for measuring the relative size distributions of the polymeric or total protein in wheat.
Do all obsessive-compulsive disorder subtypes respond to medication?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children is strikingly similar in clinical presentation and treatment responsiveness to OCD in adults. While treatment is commonly effective for OCD not all subtypes of OCD are similarly responsive to treatment. Numerous studies describe the differential responsiveness of OCD subtypes to pharmacological treatment in adults, yet few such studies exist in pediatric OCD. This manuscript reviews the extant literature that addresses differential response of OCD subtypes to medication intervention. Specific OCD subtypes can be derived utilizing the following strategies: symptom factor analysis, comorbidity latent class analysis, concurrent internalizing disorders, concurrent externalizing disorders, tic-related subtype and early-onset subtype are reviewed in relation to data on differential pharmacotherapy response. Only externalizing disorders moderate treatment response in pediatric OCD. Specifically, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorde...
The mechanism of biliary excretion of α1‐acid glycoprotein in the rat: Evidence for a molecular weight‐dependent, nonreceptor‐mediated pathway

The transport of human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein from the circulation to the bile has been studied in the rat. Biliary excretion was proportional to the i.v. injected dose, and the percentage excreted remained constant. The amount excreted in the bile (over 4 hr) was inversely related to the rate of hepatic (hepatocyte) uptake and the galactose receptor which is specific for asialo glycoproteins was not involved. Reinjection of the glycoprotein excreted in bile resulted in a similar proportion of the dose being reexcreted, suggesting that a subset of the glycoprotein is not selected for excretion in bile. Transit times from blood to bile for glucagon, insulin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, fetuin, albumin, and carcinoembryonic antigen were directly related to their molecular weights. Removal of sialic acid from the asialo glycoproteins did not affect these transit times. Possible mechanisms for the biliary excretion of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein are discussed.