cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Host acceptance behaviour of Colorado potato beetle larvae influenced by potato glandular trichomes

. In no-choice tests, larvae of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), avoided contact with, and were less frequently observed feeding on, excised foliage of the resistant wild potato Solanum berthaultii Hawkes than on leaves of the cultivated potato, S.tuberosum L. For older larvae, reduced feeding was a consequence of less frequent contact with S.berthaultii leaves. However, first instars appeared unable to penetrate the adhesive barrier presented by glandular trichomes of S. berthaultii, and those that remained on the leaflets fed less often than did first instars on S. tuberosum. Removal of the trichome barrier by wiping leaflets with tissue paper did not attenuate the apparent repellent effect of S. berthaulti foliage, but led to increased incidence of feeding by first instars. Inhibition of larval feeding may therefore rely on a mechanical barrier provided by the glandular trichomes of S.berthaultii.
Large Adjustable-Speed Wind- Tunnel Drive

PROPELLER-drive equipment for use in wind-tunnel work, where airplane model testing is involved, presented no unusual problems until the advent of the present national emergency. The emergency stressed the importance of research work in airplane design, necessitating the application of the largest motor drive so far considered where a fixed frequency supply provided the energy source. Tunnels are now in operation or in the process of construction, powered by drives rated up to 40,000 horsepower. The primary condition for all such drives is variable or adjustable speed over at least a 6 to 1 range, with a large number of speed-control points and accurate speed regulation.
T-cell immunosenescence: lessons learned from mouse models of aging

It is well established that increasing age is associated with a decreased capacity of the immune system to mediate effective immune responses to vaccination and invading pathogens. Because of the inherent limitations of conducting experiments in humans, much of what we have learned is owed to the utility of experimental mouse models of aging. Recent studies performed in the mouse have demonstrated mechanisms responsible for age-related declines in the function of CD4+ and CD8+ cells. This review describes key findings regarding age-related defects in T-cell function and discusses the impact these defects have on vaccine efficacy and immunity.
Workshop: Graph compression approaches in assembly

Using a probabilistic data structure to store DNA assembly graphs results in a significant memory savings over other methods. As long as the Bloom filter remains below a specific false positive rate, it remains possible to traverse the graph. Using a Bloom filter has many applications in metagenomics, mRNAseq, read filtering, and error correction. We are currently exploring these possibilities and more.
Energy transfer in atom condensation on a crystal

Abstract The condensation of single atoms on a Lennard-Jones fcc (111) plane has been studied by molecular dynamics to probe the factors affecting transient diffusion. Condensing atoms are found to localize rapidly, primarily because of the efficient transfer of energy during the first impact. Subsequent behavior is dictated by the exact point of impact. Head-on collisions with surface atoms are less effective than collisions at binding sites, as the rebound energy returned to the adatom after the first impact is larger. A new picture of the condensation mechanism, in terms of the correlation between point of impact, rebound energy, and mobility is presented.
Fiber-optic analog-to-NRZ binary conversion

A novel photonic analog-to-binary converter based on the first-order asynchronous delta-sigma modulation (ADSM) has been theoretically investigated and experimentally demonstrated. A fiber-optic prototype ADSM system is constructed and characterized. Delta-sigma modulation is a straightforward approach to A/D conversion because in this case an external clocking is not required and demodulation can be simply performed via a low-pass filtering process. To improve signal-to-noise ratio and thus system ENOB, a non-interferometric optical implementation has been constructed. The ADSM is comprised of three photonic devices: an inverted output photonic leaky integrator, bistable quantizer, and positive corrective feedback. The photonic integrator which is a recirculating loop performs the oversampling of an analog input using the cross-gain modulation in an SOA. We will show that the photonic ADSM produces an inverted non-return-to-zero (NRZ) pulse-density modulated output describing an input analog signal. This fiber-optic ADSM converts up to 7.6 MHz analog input at about 30 MS/s and effective ENOB of 6.
Joule heating and phonon transport in silicon MOSFETs

This work examines the generation of heat in silicon MOSFETs using self-consistent Monte Carlo device simulation with full electron bandstructure and a full phonon dispersion computed from the Adiabatic Bond Charge model. We devise an efficient algorithm for the inclusion of full phonon dispersion in order to account for anisotropy and details of heat transport with great accuracy. We compute the density-of-states (DOS) and the lattice thermal energy numerically and use them to generate maps of local temperatures in a representative small-channel MOSFET device. Our results show that most heat is dissipated in the form of optical g-type phonons in a small region in the drain, and that the heat flows in a preferred direction aligned with the flow of the electron current. We also show that the distribution of generated phonons in energy closely follows the phonon DOS.
How Luria and Vinogradova's theory on the dynamics of the semantic systems could explain an unusual case of lexical comprehension disorders

Abstract According to Luria and Vinogradova (1959) the relationships among different words may change in various physiological and pathological conditions. In normal subjects, and in patients with mild or moderate forms of brain damage, a dominant position is assumed by words semantically related to the target. On the contrary, in patients with severe language impairment the dominance of the more complex semantic connections disappear and the simpler sound connections remain preeminent. This theory allowed us to explain the unusual pattern of lexical comprehension errors shown by our patient G.P., affected by a severe form of slowly progressive aphasia. On word-picture matching tasks this patient showed a strong tendency to point more to the phonological distractors than to the semantic distractors, in spite of a massive anomia and of a spared capacity to apprehend the phonological shape of words. This unusual form of lexical comprehension disorder was explained by assuming: (a) that G.P. could covertly e...
File-system development with stackable layers

Filing services have experienced a number of innovations in recent years, but many of these promising ideas have failed to enter into broad use. One reason is that current filing environments present several barriers to new development. For example, file systems today typically stand alone instead of building on the work of others, and support of new filing services often requires changes that invalidate existing work.Stackable file-system design addresses these issues in several ways. Complex filing services are constructed from layer “building blocks,” each of which may be provided by independent parties. There are no syntactic constraints to layer order, and layers can occupy different address spaces, allowing very flexible layer configuration. Independent layer evolution and development are supported by an extensible interface bounding each layer.This paper discusses stackable layering in detail and presents design techniques it enables. We describe an implementation providing these facilities that exhibits very high performance. By lowering barriers to new filing design, stackable layering offers the potential of broad third-party file-system development not feasible today.
Confidence Intervals for the Product of Two Binomial Parameters

Abstract Many more-or-less reasonable solutions to the problem of statistical estimation of the product P 1 P 2 of two binomial parameters by confidence intervals can be given. After specializing to the case where P 1 and P 2 are much less than 1 and to estimation by “one-sided” intervals it is shown that a unique solution is obtained when one assumes a certain set of inequalities and then requires the intervals to be as short as possible. Tables of intervals for 90 and 95 per cent confidence levels are presented based on reasonable sets of inequalities and on a Poisson approximation to the binomial. * I wish to thank Mr. J. M. Wiesen for suggesting this problem.
Gabapentin's anti-nausea and anti-emetic effects: a review.

Gabapentin’s main clinical use is in the treatment of neuropathic pain where its binding to neuronal alpha-2/delta subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) is critical to its mechanism of action. Over the past 10 years, there have been several reports of gabapentin also having anti-nausea and anti-emetic effects in conditions including postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). In this report, a MEDLINE electronic search was performed, and relevant citations were reviewed and classified by level of evidence; a grade of recommendation was then assigned for gabapentin’s use for each studied indication. Out of 33 clinical trials reviewed, 12 assessed nausea and/or vomiting (N/V) associated with gabapentin therapy as primary outcome measures. These 12 studies provided a Grade A recommendation for gabapentin use in treating PONV, a Grade B recommendation for use in treating CINV, and a Grade C recommendation for use in treating HG. Further research is needed to confirm these initial promising results, which implicate the alpha-2/delta VGCC subunit as a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of several N/V-associated clinical conditions.
Do sleep complaints predict persistent fatigue in older adults

Objectives To examine the association between sleep complaints, use of sleep-promoting medications, and persistent severe fatigue (PSF). Design Analysis of data from the National Health Aging Trends Study. Setting Contiguous United States. Participants A representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older. Measurements Difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty staying asleep, use of sleep-promoting medications, demographic characteristics, presence of pain, use of pain medications, depression, chronic medical disease, physical activity level, and Short Physical Performance Battery score measured at baseline. The outcome of interest was PSF (fatigue that limits daily activities reported at baseline and 12-month follow-up). Results Of 8,245 participants at baseline, 7,075 completed 12-month follow-up; 31% reported severe fatigue at baseline and 31% at follow-up, and 19% reported PSF. In a logistic regression model, difficulty staying asleep some nights (odds ratio (OR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08–1.60) and most nights or every night (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.09–1.79) and use of sleep-promoting medications most nights or every night (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.08–1.67) independently predicted PSF. Conclusion The results indicate greater risk of PSF in older adults with difficulty staying asleep and those who use sleep-promoting medications. These findings underscore the significance of sleep problems and present potential targets for interventional studies that aim to improve fatigue in older adults.
Comparative hemodynamic effects of placebo and oral isosorbide dinitrate in patients with significant coronary artery disease.

Abstract Comparative hemodynamic effects of placebo and 10 mg. of oral isosorbide dinitrate were studied in patients with significant coronary artery disease (≥ 75 per cent lumen narrowing) proved angiographically. Isosorbide dinitrate or placebo was given to eight and 10 patients, respectively, in a double-blind fashion. Cardiac performance at rest and during supine leg exercise was evaluated before and 60 minutes after drug administration. In the resting state, isosorbide dinitrate compared to placebo significantly reduced the left ventricular (systolic and diastolic), mean pulmonary artery and mean aortic pressures, cardiac index, stroke index, left ventricular work index, stroke work index, and mean systolic ejection rate. Isosorbide dinitrate also significantly reduced left ventricular (systolic and diastolic) and mean pulmonary artery pressures during exercise. This study indicates that 10 mg. of isosorbide dinitrate has a significant influence on ischemic left ventricular dysfunction 60 minutes after its oral administration.
Active messenger: e-mail filtering and delivery in a heterogeneous network

Active Messenger (AM) is a software agent that dynamically filters and routes e-mail to a variety of wired and wireless delivery channels, monitoring a message's progress through various channels over time. Its goal is to ensure that desired messages always reach the subscriber, while decreasing message volume when the user is less reachable through location awareness. AM acts as a proxy, hiding the identity of the multiple device addresses at which the subscriber may be found and caches channels to guarantee seamless information delivery in a heterogeneous network. Our previous experience with mobile messaging influenced the initial requirements and design of AM. We describe the operation and evolution of AM to meet changing user needs, and how our own communication patterns and expectations have changed as we relied increasingly on mobile delivery.
Coverage of the degloved thumb with twin neurovascular island flaps: a case report

A simple and useful method is described for resurfacing a distal phalanx of the degloved thumb with twin neurovascular island flaps from the ulnar and radial aspects of the middle and ring fingers respectively. It provides protective sensation and an acceptable cosmetic result.
The use of fibrin glue in the healing of skin flaps.

Abstract Purpose: To determine whether the use of fibrin glue has an impact on wound drainage created in an animal model. Materials and Methods: Fibrin glue was prepared from single-donation autologous phlebotomy before surgery. Bilateral skin flaps were raised over the parotid gland in 10 rabbits. After exposure of the parotid, fibrin glue was applied on one side using an atomizer. The opposite side was treated with normal saline. Self-suction drains were placed under each flap and the wounds closed. Drainage was recorded daily for 7 days. Results: Drainage differed significantly (P = .001) between the two sides on the first postoperative day and subsequent days. The average drainage on the fibrin-glue-treated side was 2.1 mL on the first day and 0.5 mL on subsequent days. On the nontreated side, the average output was 13.4 mL on the first day and 4.6 mL on subsequent days. Conclusions: This preliminary animal investigation showed that fibrin glue treatment decreased wound drainage. It is hoped that this concept may be applied to commonly performed head and neck procedures in which large flaps are elevated and large potential spaces are created. By decreasing the amount of drainage, fibrin glue has the potential to improve coaptation of flaps and minimize potential for seroma and hematoma formation. In some cases, the use of closed suction drains may be shortened and possibly eliminated, with shorter length of hospitalization.
Measuring Episodic Memory Across the Lifespan: NIH Toolbox Picture Sequence Memory Test

Episodic memory is one of the most important cognitive domains that involves acquiring, storing and recalling new information. In this article, we describe a new measure developed for the NIH Toolbox, called the Picture Sequence Memory Test (PSMT) that is the first to examine episodic memory across the age range from 3 to 85. We describe the development of the measure and present validation data for ages 20 to 85. The PSMT involves presentation of sequences of pictured objects and activities in a fixed order on a computer screen and simultaneously verbally described, that the participant must remember and then reproduce over three learning trials. The results indicate good test-retest reliability and construct validity. Performance is strongly related to well-established "gold standard" measures of episodic memory and, as expected, much less well correlated with those of a measure of vocabulary. It shows clear decline with aging in parallel with a gold standard summary measure and relates to several other demographic factors and to self-reported general health status. The PSMT appears to be a reliable and valid test of episodic memory for adults, a finding similar to those found for the same measure with children.
CAD data visualization for machining simulation using the STEP standard

There is a need for the integration of computer-aided design (CAD) information with manufacturing models, such as machining process simulation models, upstream with concurrent engineering activities. Because it is often difficult to interface various CAD formats with such applications, there is a need to standardize input file formats, which then can be used by any module that has the appropriate interface. The STEP standard is a very useful standard for the neutral file format specification. The present work describes in detail the building of a STEP parser for the Application Protocol for Configuration Controlled Design of 3-D mechanical parts (AP203). Such a STEP parser is complemented with a visualization front end in the form of a Java applet, which is used to display the STEP entities in 3-D within a web browser over the Internet. The current work outlines a generic framework for a STEP parser module. Its use in the design and development of CAD-based process engineering applications is illustrated by example of a CAD interface to a machining process simulation program, which requires the workpiece CAD information, namely the surface geometry, to be machined to determine chip loads and hence cutting forces. The applicability of the STEP parser in the building of a CAD database cataloging system is also discussed.
Four-Year Enterprise PACS Support Trend Analysis

While health care facilities recognize the need for dedicated picture archiving and communication system (PACS) staff at the time of the initial implementation of PACS, they often do not plan accordingly for ongoing or increasing PACS support needs as a PACS matures. This article reviews trends in a health care system’s PACS support data over 4 years to show how PACS support needs evolve over time. PACS support items were logged and categorized over this period and were used by the health care system to become more proactive in system support and adjust staffing levels accordingly. This article details how PACS support needs change over the life of a PACS installation and can be used as a model for health care facilities planning for future PACS support needs.
A Pediatrics-Based Instrument for Assessing Resident Education in Evidence-Based Practice

Objective The principles of evidence-based practice (EBP) are a mandated component of the pediatric residency curriculum; however, a pediatrics-based assessment tool validated with pediatric residents does not exist. Methods We designed an assessment instrument composed of items in 4 categories: 1) demographics; 2) comfort level; 3) self-reported practice of EBP; and 4) EBP knowledge. This last section required participants to identify best evidence and most appropriate study design by using pediatric-based scenarios, develop searchable questions, and use existing published research to address diagnostic and treatment issues. Four groups completed the instrument: preclinical medical students (MS-2), incoming pediatric interns (PGY-1), incoming second- and third-year pediatric residents (PGY2-3), and expert tutors (expert). We determined internal consistency, interrater reliability, content validity, item difficulty, and construct validity. Results Fifty-six subjects completed tests (MS-2, n=13; PGY-1, n=13; PGY2-3, n=22; expert, n=8). Internal reliability was good, with Cronbach's α = .80. Interrater reliability was high (κ = 0.94). Items were free of floor or ceiling effects. Comfort level and self-reported practice of EBP increased with expertise level and prior EBP experience ( P P Conclusions We have developed a reliable and valid instrument to assess knowledge and skill in EBP taught to pediatric residents. This instrument can aid pediatric educators in monitoring the impact of the EBP curriculum.
Focus+context display and navigation techniques for enhancing radial, space-filling hierarchy visualizations

Radial, space-filling visualizations can be useful for depicting information hierarchies, but they suffer from one major problem. As the hierarchy grows in size, many items become small, peripheral slices that are difficult to distinguish. We have developed three visualization/interaction techniques that provide flexible browsing of the display. The techniques allow viewers to examine the small items in detail while providing context within the entire information hierarchy. Additionally, smooth transitions between views help users maintain orientation within the complete information space.
Accurate confidence intervals in regression analyses of non-normal data

A linear model in which random errors are distributed independently and identically according to an arbitrary continuous distribution is assumed. Second- and third-order accurate confidence intervals for regression parameters are constructed from Charlier differential series expansions of approximately pivotal quantities around Student’s t distribution. Simulation verifies that small sample performance of the intervals surpasses that of conventional asymptotic intervals and equals or surpasses that of bootstrap percentile-t and bootstrap percentile-|t| intervals under mild to marked departure from normality.
A critical comparison of Davis' Principles of Plastic Surgery with Gillies' Plastic Surgery of the face

Summary Introduction The second decade of the 20th century saw the publication of two landmark books - John Staige Davis' Plastic Surgery its Principles and Practice published in Philadelphia in 1919 and Major Harold Gillies' Plastic Surgery of the Face published in the United Kingdom early 1920. The aim of this paper is to compare the books critically as scholarly achievements in their time and note their present day relevance. Material and Methods Copies of both books are available online having been scanned by Google and Microsoft. They were analyzed with Acrobat software for key words. A senior plastic surgeon with over 30 years of clinical experience reviewed both books for current relevance. Key results Davis' book was more comprehensive as it encompassed reconstructive plastic surgery from head to toe while Gillies' book focused on the face. Davis' book contained a bibliography over 2000 references, while Gillies' book had one reference. Despite Davis's title containing the word ‘Principles', Gillies' book not only mentioned principles almost five times as often, but almost all of Gillies' principles remain relevant 90 years later. Furthermore, the quality of Gillies' post-operative results are far outshines to Davis'. Conclusion While Davis' book demonstrates his honesty and scholarship, now it is as interesting as a historical curiosity. Gillies' book remains valuable as it shows his originality and the continued relevance of his principles.
New diagnostic and technical aspects of fetal phonocardiography

A new generation of instruments designed to record the fetal phonocardiogram is discussed, as are new methods of time-domain and frequency-domain processing of the fetal phonocardiogram. Using these techniques, detailed information can be obtained about both fetal and maternal cardiovascular conditions.
Carry over from previous year environmental conditions alters dominance hierarchy in a prairie plant community

Aims To determine if an experimentally applied anomalous weather year could have effects on species composition and community structure that would carry over into the following year. Methods We conducted a field experiment applying two levels of temperature (ambient and +4C) and two levels of precipitation (ambient and doubled) and followed cover of plant species during the treatment year and one post-treatment year. Data analysis included ordination analysis, examination of species frequency distributions and comparison of cover of functional groups and individual species. Important Findings A drought during the summer and fall of the treatment year resulted in significant differences in community structure between the 2 years. C3 and winter annual species were depressed in the spring of the second year following the dry autumn. Species richness and legume cover increased in the second, wetter, year. Treatments caused no overall differences in community structure but did alter the dominance hierarchy of species among treatments as well as years. Warming decreased relative cover of winter annuals and early spring-flowering species but increased other annuals. Warming and double precipitation together increased cover of C4 perennial graminoids. In particular, the warming and precipitation treatments both increased the abundance of Andropogon gerardii, not individually altering the dominance hierarchy but together nearly doubling the relative cover of A.gerardii, making it the most abundant species in the combined treatment, while the cover of Bromus arvensis, the former dominant, decreased by 25%. The following year, Andropogon relative cover increased further in the former warmed plots, becoming dominant in both the formerly warmed and warmed plus double precipitation treatments. The year following treatments also saw an increase in relative cover of summer-blooming species in the formerly warmed plots and differences among the former treatments in species richness of functional groups. If the effects of one anomalous year on plant abundance can carry over into the following year, several warm years could have a significant impact on plant community structure.
Mechanisms for Torrential Rain Associated with the Mei-Yu Development during SCSMEX 1998

A case of torrential precipitation associated with the mei-yu front, an Asian summer monsoon system east of the Tibetan Plateau, is studied using the coupled fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University‐NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5) and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Parameterization for Land‐Atmosphere‐Cloud Exchange model. The impact of both remote and local sources of water vapor on the location and intensity of mei-yu precipitation are studied by numerical experiments. The results demonstrate that the main source of water vapor for this heavy precipitation event over the Yangtze River Valley is the Bay of Bengal. Moisture is transported by a southwesterly low-level jet (LLJ) southeast of the Tibetan Plateau. Although the LLJ is largely manipulated by large-scale forcing, the mesoscale circulation that results from mei-yu condensational heating acts to increase the maximum wind speed of the jet. The condensation-induced local circulation strengthens the moisture transport in the LLJ, providing a positive feedback that sustains the mei-yu precipitation system. Precipitation recycling increases the total precipitation in the Yangtze River Valley only slightly, but it tends to shift the maximum rainfall center toward the warmer side of the mei-yu rain belt. This shift is due to the pronounced increase in atmospheric moisture and decrease in surface temperature over the warm side of the rain belt.
Overdoses among friends: Drug users are willing to administer naloxone to others

The distribution of naloxone to heroin users is a suggested intervention to reduce overdose and death rates. However, the level of willingness of drug users to administer this medication to others is unclear. Drug users recruited from the community between January 2002 and January 2004 completed a structured interview that assessed topics including drug use, overdose history, and attitudes toward using overdose remedies to assist others. Of the 329 drug users, 82% had used heroin and 64.3% reported that they had injected drugs. Nearly two thirds (64.6%) said that they had witnessed a drug overdose and more than one third (34.6%) had experienced an accidental drug overdose. Most participants (88.5%) said that they would be willing to administer a medication to another drug user in the event of an overdose. Participants who had used heroin (p = .024), had injected drugs (p = .022), had witnessed a drug overdose (p = .001), or had a history of one or more accidental drug overdoses (p = .009) were significantly more willing to treat a companion who had overdosed. Drug users were willing to use naloxone in the event of a friend's overdose. Specific drug use and overdose histories were associated with the greatest willingness to administer naloxone.
Coronavirus and Influenza Virus Proteolytic Priming Takes Place in Tetraspanin-Enriched Membrane Microdomains

ABSTRACT Coronaviruses (CoVs) and low-pathogenicity influenza A viruses (LP IAVs) depend on target cell proteases to cleave their viral glycoproteins and prime them for virus-cell membrane fusion. Several proteases cluster into tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs), suggesting that TEMs are preferred virus entry portals. Here we found that several CoV receptors and virus-priming proteases were indeed present in TEMs. Isolated TEMs, when mixed with CoV and LP IAV pseudoparticles, cleaved viral fusion proteins to fusion-primed fragments and potentiated viral transductions. That entering viruses utilize TEMs as a protease source was further confirmed using tetraspanin antibodies and tetraspanin short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs). Tetraspanin antibodies inhibited CoV and LP IAV infections, but their virus-blocking activities were overcome by expressing excess TEM-associated proteases. Similarly, cells with reduced levels of the tetraspanin CD9 resisted CoV pseudoparticle transductions but were made susceptible by overproducing TEM-associated proteases. These findings indicated that antibodies and CD9 depletions interfere with viral proteolytic priming in ways that are overcome by surplus proteases. TEMs appear to be exploited by some CoVs and LP IAVs for appropriate coengagement with cell receptors and proteases. IMPORTANCE Enveloped viruses use their surface glycoproteins to catalyze membrane fusion, an essential cell entry step. Host cell components prime these viral surface glycoproteins to catalyze membrane fusion at specific times and places during virus cell entry. Among these priming components are proteases, which cleave viral surface glycoproteins, unleashing them to refold in ways that catalyze virus-cell membrane fusions. For some enveloped viruses, these proteases are known to reside on target cell surfaces. This research focuses on coronavirus and influenza A virus cell entry and identifies TEMs as sites of viral proteolysis, thereby defining subcellular locations of virus priming with greater precision. Implications of these findings extend to the use of virus entry antagonists, such as protease inhibitors, which might be most effective when localized to these microdomains.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae MPT5 and SSD1 Function in Parallel Pathways to Promote Cell Wall Integrity

Yeast MPT5 (UTH4) is a limiting component for longevity. We show here that MPT5 also functions to promote cell wall integrity. Loss of Mpt5p results in phenotypes associated with a weakened cell wall, including sorbitol-remedial temperature sensitivity and sensitivities to calcofluor white and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Additionally, we find that mutation of MPT5, in the absence of SSD1-V, is lethal in combination with loss of either Ccr4p or Swi4p. These synthetic lethal interactions are suppressed by the SSD1-V allele. Furthermore, we have provided evidence that the short life span caused by loss of Mpt5p is due to a weakened cell wall. This cell wall defect may be the result of abnormal chitin biosynthesis or accumulation. These analyses have defined three genetic pathways that function in parallel to promote cell integrity: an Mpt5p-containing pathway, an Ssd1p-containing pathway, and a Pkc1p-dependent pathway. This work also provides evidence that post-transcriptional regulation is likely to be important both for maintaining cell integrity and for promoting longevity.
OPTIMAL CONSTANT PRICE POLICY FOR PERISHABLE ASSET YIELD MANAGEMENT

Perishable asset yield management has wide applications in airlines seat inventory control, rental car and hotel room reservations. In contrast to the research on optimal dynamic pricing that has taken place in the past decade, we examine the practical merit of a constant price policy. This means a single price is applied to an item throughout the sales cycle.. We present procedures to identify the optimal constant price for two different applications. In the first, there is full dilution and in the second there is no dilution (dilution is when a customer that is willing to pay a high price is satisfied at a low price). We also propose a more flexible constant price policy (hybrid method) in which prices can be changed at discrete intervals and we present a method for its optimal policy. Furthermore, this hybrid method is capable of incorporating the costs associated with price change explicitly.
The Rationale behind Small Food Store Interventions in Low-Income Urban Neighborhoods: Insights from New Orleans

Environmental approaches to the obesity problem in the US have garnered favor due to growing evidence that changes to the environment are at the root of the epidemic. Low-income urban neighborhoods, where obesity rates are disproportionately high, typically lack supermarkets yet have a high density of small food stores. This may increase the risk for unhealthy diets and obesity for neighborhood residents, because small stores carry mostly energy-dense foods and few fruits and vegetables. This paper pulls together various studies and pilot work conducted in New Orleans to explore the rationale behind small store interventions. Many low-income residents in New Orleans live within walking distance of small food stores and shop at them frequently. Marketing research has documented that changes to in-store shelf space and displays of specific foods affect the sales of these foods. Initiatives in New Orleans and elsewhere have demonstrated some success with improving healthy food availability in small stores, and an intercept survey of customers at small stores suggests that customers would purchase more fruits and vegetables if available. Efforts to encourage small store operators to offer a healthier mix of foods may, in the end, depend on the profitability of such changes. Evidence from a typical small store in New Orleans indicates that a greater percentage of gross profits come from snack foods and beverages than from fruits and vegetables. More research is needed to better understand the financial operations of small food stores and whether altering the mix of foods is economically feasible.
Dextranomer/hyaluronic acid bladder neck injection for persistent outlet incompetency after sling procedures in children with neurogenic urinary incontinence

Abstract Purpose We report outcomes after dextranomer/hyaluronic acid (Dx/HA) bladder neck injection for persistent outlet incompetency despite prior sling or Leadbetter/Mitchell bladder neck revision plus sling (LMS) in children with neurogenic urinary incontinence. Methods Consecutive patients with outlet incompetency after sling (n = 17) or LMS (n = 9) underwent a maximum of 2 Dx/HA injections. Antegrade and/or retrograde endoscopy was used to access the bladder outlet, and injection done in quadrants to achieve visual mucosal coaptation. Outcomes were described as either “dry”, not requiring pads, or “wet”. Results There were 24 children with follow-up after injection, of which 9 (38%) were initially dry and 15 (62%) remained wet. Of the 9 dry patients, 4 had recurrent incontinence at a mean of 16 months while 5 remained dry at a mean of 27 months. Second injections were done in a total of 14 children, with 1 dry at 39 months. Of all 24 children, up to 2 injections resulted in 6 (25%) dry patients, while the remainder was wet at last follow-up. Gender, initial outlet surgery, pre-injection pad use, injection technique, and volume injected did not predict outcomes. Conclusions Dx/HA bladder neck injection resulted in dryness in 25% of patients in this series after failed sling or LMS. Second injections after either initial failure or success achieved dryness in only 7%, and are no longer recommended.
Riddle of Biofilm Resistance

A biofilm is a population of cells growing on a surface and enclosed in an exopolysaccharide matrix. Biofilms are notoriously difficult to eradicate and are a source of many recalcitrant infections. The nature of bacterial biofilm resistance to antimicrobials is the subject of the present minireview. Pathogenic yeast such as Candida albicans also form recalcitrant biofilms, and this topic has recently been reviewed (5). Resistance is an ability of a microorganism to grow in the presence of an elevated level of an antimicrobial. In short, a strain for which the MIC is increased is resistant. By this conventional criterion, biofilm cells do not necessarily show increased resistance. With some exceptions, biofilm cells do not grow better than planktonic cells in the presence of a broad range of antimicrobials. This is evident from examination of susceptibility data in the biofilm literature (33). However, in most biofilm susceptibility studies, only survival of cells in a preformed biofilm rather than the ability of a biofilm to grow is recorded. Accordingly, the reported “resistance” describes an increased resistance of cells to killing. This is indeed what biofilms are good at: they are not easily eradicated by cidal antimicrobials. The ability of antimicrobials to inhibit biofilm growth indicates that they are able to diffuse through the biofilm and act normally against their targets. Why, then, do biofilm cells not die? This is the crux of the problem and the riddle that needs to be solved.
Selection criteria for local excision with or without adjuvant radiation therapy for rectal cancer

As an alternative to radical surgery, local excision with or without adjuvant pelvic radiation therapy has been used in selected patients with rectal cancer. To determine which clinical and pathologic features can predict the presence of positive lymph nodes (LN+), a retrospective review of 168 patients who underwent potentially curative surgery for rectosigmoid and rectal cancer was performed. By univariate analysis, tumor penetration, grade, and histology were significant predictive features. This was confirmed by logistic regression analysis. The incidence of LN+ increased with increasing tumor penetration (T1, 0%; T2, 28%; T3, 36%; T4, 53%; P = 0.04), grade of adenocarcinoma (well-differentiated, 0%; moderately differentiated, 30%; poorly differentiated, 50%; P = 0.07, [borderline significance]), and the presence of any colloid histology (pure adenocarcinoma, 30%; total colloid, 52%; P = 0.04). Using 2 X 2 contingency tables, the presence of blood vessel invasion (BVI), lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI), vascular invasion (VI), total colloid histology, and high grade further increased the incidence of LN+ with increasing tumor penetration. Regardless of tumor size, grade, histology, BVI, LVI, or VI, none of the nine patients with Stage T1 tumors or the seven with well-differentiated adenocarcinomas had LN+. For this group, local excision alone is recommended. The incidence of LN+ was greater than or equal to 19% in all other categories. For this group of patients, if there is no evidence of gross tumor in the pelvis, then a local excision plus adjuvant pelvic radiation may be an alternative to radical surgery.
The role of heterogeneity in contact timing and duration in network models of influenza spread in schools

Influenza poses a significant health threat to children, and schools may play a critical role in community outbreaks. Mathematical outbreak models require assumptions about contact rates and patterns among students, but the level of temporal granularity required to produce reliable results is unclear. We collected objective contact data from students aged 5-14 at an elementary school and middle school in the state of Utah, USA, and paired those data with a novel, data-based model of influenza transmission in schools. Our simulations produced within-school transmission averages consistent with published estimates. We compared simulated outbreaks over the full resolution dynamic network with simulations on networks with averaged representations of contact timing and duration. For both schools, averaging the timing of contacts over one or two school days caused average outbreak sizes to increase by 1-8%. Averaging both contact timing and pairwise contact durations caused average outbreak sizes to increase by 10% at the middle school and 72% at the elementary school. Averaging contact durations separately across within-class and between-class contacts reduced the increase for the elementary school to 5%. Thus, the effect of ignoring details about contact timing and duration in school contact networks on outbreak size modelling can vary across different schools.
Integration of Visual Perception in Dialogue Understanding for Virtual Humans in Multi-Party interaction

While the dialogue functions of speech in two-party dialogue have been extensively studied, there has been much less work on either multi-party communication, multimodal communication, and especially vision in a multi-party face-to-face setting. In this paper we report on one such effort to apply state of the art real-time visual processing to enhance a dialogue model of multi-party communication. We are concerned with situations in which there are at least three parties involved in conversation (at least one of whom is a human participant and at least one of whom is a virtual human). We focus on the visual behaviors of head orientation, head nods and head shakes, and examine how these behaviors influence several aspects of a multi-layer dialogue model, including addressee identification, turn-taking, referent identification, social affiliation, grounding, and question answering. We describe the extensions to the dialogue model and the implemented techniques for recognizing these behaviors and their impact on the dialogue models in real time, in realistic conversational settings from people participating in dialogue with virtual humans. We present several case studies (with accompanying videos) of dialogue fragments of the virtual agents with and without the recognition of these behaviors. Future work involves detailed studies on both the context recognition rates for this task as well as overall subjective impact on user satisfaction and dialogue efficiency.
Episode-specific drinking-to-cope motivation and next-day stress-reactivity

Background: Research consistently shows drinking-to-cope (DTC) motivation is uniquely associated with drinking-related problems. We furthered this line of research by examining whether DTC motivation is predictive of processes indicative of poor emotion regulation. Specifically, we tested whether nighttime levels of episode-specific DTC motivation, controlling for drinking level, were associated with intensified affective reactions to stress the following day (i.e. stress-reactivity). Design and Methods: We used a micro-longitudinal design to test this hypothesis in two college student samples from demographically distinct institutions: a large, rural state university (N = 1421; 54% female) and an urban historically Black college/university (N = 452; 59% female). Results: In both samples the within-person association between daily stress and negative affect on days following drinking episodes was stronger in the positive direction when previous night's drinking was characterized by relatively higher level...
Human platelet-derived mitogens. I. Identification of insulinlike growth factors I and II by purification and N alpha amino acid sequence analysis

Human platelet lysates contained potent mitogenic activities for MCF-7 human breast-cancer cells in serum-free-defined media. Because these activities were not replaced by known platelet mitogens, such as platelet-derived growth factor or transforming growth factor beta, we sought to identify the breast cancer cell mitogens by purification and N alpha amino-acid sequencing. Acetic acid extracts of outdated human platelets were concentrated by ammonium sulfate precipitation and fractionated on Sephadex G-50 and Bio-Gel P-10 columns in 0.5 mol/L acetic acid. Two major activities were resolved by molecular sieve methods and fractionated further by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Purifications (70,000 to 870,000-fold) were accomplished yielding mol wt 7,400 products that were homogeneous as determined by iodination, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and autoradiography. The factors were identified as insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) and II (IGF-II) and truncated IGF-I by N alpha amino acid microsequencing. In dose-response experiments, platelet-derived IGF-I and IGF-II promoted multiple divisions of the MCF-7 cells with ED50 values of 12 and 100 pg/mL, respectively. The specific activities and other bioassay characteristics of platelet-derived IGF-I and IGF-II were similar to those of recombinant-produced human growth factors. This is the first report of the purification of insulinlike growth factors from human platelet lysates.
Efficient variable selection in support vector machines via the alternating direction method of multipliers

The support vector machine (SVM) is a widely used tool for classification. Although commonly understood as a method of finding the maximum-margin hyperplane, it can also be formulated as a regularized function estimation problem, corresponding to a hinge loss function plus an l2-norm regulation term. The doubly regularized support vector machine (DrSVM) is a variant of the standard SVM, which introduces an additional l1-norm regularization term on the fitted coefficients. The combined l1 and l2 regularization, termed elastic net penalty, has the property of achieving simultaneous variable selection and margin-maximization within a single framework. However, because of the nondifferentiability of both the loss function and the regularization term, there is no efficient method available to solve DrSVM for large-scale problems. Here we develop an efficient algorithm based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) to solve the optimization problem in DrSVM. The utility of the method is illustrated using both simulated and real-world data.
Standoff explosive detection and hyperspectral imaging using coherent anti-stokes raman spectroscopy

Real-time standoff explosive detection is demonstrated using collinear backscattered Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS). Nanograms of trace explosives are identified in milliseconds from more than 5m. Hyperspectral imaging is obtained with point and Line-CARS.