cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Putting People in the Picture: Building Requirements Gathering, Design Specification and Communication Skills with Video Scenarios

Students entering the corporate sphere, particularly in client-facing positions, find themselves in a world of ambiguity that needs to be analyzed, clarified, and effectively described and communicated in order to transform real-world problems into real-world computing solutions. Navigating this world involves skills ranging from requirements gathering and creative thinking through high-level design and communication. Academic programming experience is frequently based on assignments that are pre-defined in specific, unambiguous language. This approach leaves a skills gap in translating amorphous, ambiguous problem scenarios into specifications. Video scenarios are a flexible, ready-to-use tool to aid in developing the skills needed to fill this gap. The short videos show individuals discussing or experiencing situations for which they need computing assistance. However, the situations are presented in ways that are ambiguous, open-ended, and sometimes contradictory. Students must utilize critical listening, observation, and thinking skills to define the problem the characters are experiencing and design potential solutions. Video scenarios can be easily used to develop requirements gathering, design specification, and communication skills in classes ranging from general education through capstone seminars. They are particularly well suited for software engineering and design courses, including those in certificate programs. By putting a face on a problem, video scenarios highlight the role of the user and provide a setting for developing user stories, use cases, and interaction skills integral to agile development. Student feedback from using video scenarios in a software engineering course is also presented. Videos and materials are available at http://youtube.com/virt-university.
Canagliflozin increases adenoma burden in female APCMin/+ mice

Summary The diabetes drug canagliflozin acts primarily by inhibiting glucose reuptake by the sodium glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) in the kidney proximal tubule, thereby lowering serum glucose levels. Canagliflozin also acts on SGLT1, a related transporter responsible for glucose uptake in the small intestine and more distal kidney tubules. Several cancers overexpress SGLT1 and SGLT2, where these transporters fuel tumor metabolism. A recent study by NIA’s Interventions Testing Program (ITP) showed that canagliflozin treatment extends lifespan in male mice. Since cancer is the major cause of death in most mouse strains, including the UM-HET3 strain used by the ITP, this observation suggests that canagliflozin might exert anti-cancer effects in this context. Here, we treated a commonly-used mouse neoplasia model -- the intestinal adenoma-prone APCMin/+ strain -- with canagliflozin, to test the effects of drug treatment on tumor burden. Surprisingly, canagliflozin increased the total area of intestine involved by adenomas, an effect that was most marked in the distal intestine and in female mice. Immunohistochemical analysis suggested that canagliflozin may not influence adenoma growth via direct SGLT1/2 inhibition in neoplastic cells themselves. Instead, our results are most consistent with a model whereby canagliflozin aggravates adenoma development by altering the anatomic distribution of intestinal glucose absorption, as evidenced by increases in postprandial GLP-1 levels consistent with delayed glucose absorption. Our results suggest that canagliflozin exacerbates adenomatosis in the APCMin/+ model via complex, cell-non-autonomous mechanisms, and hint that sex differences in incretin responses may underlie differential effects of this drug on lifespan.
‘Mad agency’, reflections on Goya's ‘The Madhouse’

We must remain open to revising and expanding the important but incompletely understood philosophical categories of agency and responsibility in light of what can be learned from atypical states and behaviour. A reflection on images - here, Goya's great Madhouse scene, and photographs of Mad Pride events since the 1980s - is shown to provide assistance towards this end.
Regulation of the meta Cleavage Pathway for Benzoate Oxidation by Pseudomonas putida

Catechol or 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde cannot participate as functional inducers of the meta pathway for benzoate metabolism in Pseudomonas putida. Induction of the first two enzymes of the pathway must be mediated by benzoate, or its analogues, as primary substrate.
Novel Algorithms for Robust Registration of Fiducials in CT and MRI

In this paper we present several numerical algorithms for registering fiducials in planar CT or MRI images to their corresponding three-dimensional locations. The unique strength of these methods is their ability to robustly handle incomplete fiducials patterns, even in extreme cases when as much as one third of the fiducial data is missing from the images. We compare the effectiveness of these algorithms in terms of flops and robustness on actual CT data sets.
A comparison of turbulent thermal convection between conditions of constant temperature and constant heat flux boundaries

High resolution direct numerical simulations of two-dimensional Rayleigh- Benard convection are used to study the influence of temperature boundary conditions on turbulent heat transport. The extreme cases of fixed heat flux and fixed temperature both display power law scaling Nu ≈ 0.138×Ra.285 with a scaling exponent indistinguishable from 2/7 =.2857 … above Ra = 107 up to the highest Rayleigh number measured, Ra = 1010. This work [1] was supported in part by NSF Awards PHY-0555324 and SCREMS-0619492.
Increased ocular blood flow and 125I-albumin permeation in galactose-fed rats: inhibition by sorbinil.

125I-Albumin permeation and blood flow (assessed with 15 micron, 85Sr-labelled microspheres) were determined in the retina, choroid, anterior uvea, and brain of male Sprague-Dawley rats fed diets containing 50% dextrin (control) or 50% galactose. Blood flow was increased in the retina, choroid, and anterior uvea but not in the brain of rats fed galactose for 3 weeks and 3 months versus controls, and was normalized by sorbinil (an inhibitor of aldose reductase) in the 3-week group. After 8 months of galactose feeding, blood flow was reduced to normal levels in the retina and was slightly below normal in the choroid; blood flow remained elevated in the anterior uvea but was significantly lower than that observed at 3 weeks and at 3 months. In rats fed galactose for 8 months, sorbinil completely normalized blood flow in the choroid, and decreased, but did not normalize, blood flow in the anterior uvea. 125I-Albumin permeation was increased in the retina, choroid, and anterior uvea of rats fed 50% galactose for 3 weeks, 3 months, and 8 months versus controls, but was unchanged in the brain. Sorbinil normalized 125I-albumin permeation in all three ocular tissues in 8-month galactose-fed rats. Polyol levels were increased significantly inmore » all three ocular tissues of 3-week galactose-fed rats; sorbinil markedly decreased, but did not normalize, polyol levels in all three tissues.« less
Projecting a Gridded Population of the World Using Ratio Methods of Trend Extrapolation

The availability of geographic information systems (GIS) and increasingly detailed data on human population spatial distribution has provided new authority to world population density maps, which are becoming indispensable for many environmental and socioeconomic studies. Some researchers in these fields have expressed interest in high-resolution maps capturing the most likely spatial impacts of near-term population projections, but little theoretical work has been applied to the development of such maps. We have applied two simple trend extrapolation methods at the subnational scale to a 1995 map of global population distribution and projected it to 2025, consistent with 2025 national population totals projected by the United Nations. The problems encountered are described and our best solutions to them are presented. We compare our subnational projections to the US Census Bureau state projections as a test of the relative accuracy of simple trend extrapolations compared with more complex cohort-component modeling.
A TWT grid modulator for MTI radar transmitters

The design of HV (high-voltage) pulse circuitry using series connected HV MOSFETs is traced from the development of the basic switching module through integration into a TWT (traveling wave tube) modulator. The modulator deck floats at the -45.5 kV TWT cathode potential and supplies filament power and control grid pulses directly to dual TWTs. Prime power is 115 VAC, 70 Hz, single phase. Control signals, start and stop pulses and fault signals are transmitted via a multichannel fiber optic link. RF stability measurements made on the transmitter have confirmed the adequacy of the modulator design. >
Whole-central nervous system functional imaging in larval Drosophila

Understanding how the brain works in tight concert with the rest of the central nervous system (CNS) hinges upon knowledge of coordinated activity patterns across the whole CNS. We present a method for measuring activity in an entire, non-transparent CNS with high spatiotemporal resolution. We combine a light-sheet microscope capable of simultaneous multi-view imaging at volumetric speeds 25-fold faster than the state-of-the-art, a whole-CNS imaging assay for the isolated Drosophila larval CNS and a computational framework for analysing multi-view, whole-CNS calcium imaging data. We image both brain and ventral nerve cord, covering the entire CNS at 2 or 5 Hz with two- or one-photon excitation, respectively. By mapping network activity during fictive behaviours and quantitatively comparing high-resolution whole-CNS activity maps across individuals, we predict functional connections between CNS regions and reveal neurons in the brain that identify type and temporal state of motor programs executed in the ventral nerve cord.
The role of thoracoscopy in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease.

A study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic lung biopsy for interstitial lung disease. The relation between operative findings, pathologic findings, and preoperative computed tomographic scan findings was examined. Twenty-six patients, 10 male and 16 female, underwent thoracoscopic lung resection to diagnose interstitial lung disease. Sixteen patients were outpatients for an elective procedure; 10 were inpatients including 2 who were ventilator dependent. The mean length of operation was 54 minutes and the mean length of chest tube duration, 1.3 days. There were no deaths. Staphylococcal pneumonia developed in 1 patient postoperatively. One patient with systemic pulmonary hypertension was ventilator dependent for 48 hours. A double-lumen endotracheal tube was used in all but 2 patients. Twelve-millimeter trocar ports were used to allow easy interchange of staplers and endoscopic instruments. Biopsy of at least two lobes was performed in each patient with resection of a piece of grossly abnormal lung. A single chest tube was left routinely. The pathologic diagnosis was usual interstitial pneumonitis in 7 patients. Four patients had interstitial fibrosis and 4, granulomas. Three patients had diffuse alveolar damage and 3, Wegener's granulomatosis. Two patients had bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia. One patient each had lymphangioleiomyomatosis, eosinophilic granuloma, and cytomegalovirus. Sixteen patients underwent preoperative computed tomographic scanning. The scans were assessed by 2 radiologists who were blinded to the surgical results. Computed tomography accurately predicted the site of disease in most instances. Four patients had at least one lobe with no evidence of disease on computed tomography but with interstitial lung disease found at thoracoscopy. One of these patients had no evidence of disease on computed tomographic scans. Thoracoscopy allows selective biopsy of multiple lung segments, thereby increasing the diagnostic yield in interstitial lung disease.
A Role for NF-κB Essential Modifier/IκB Kinase-γ (NEMO/IKKγ) Ubiquitination in the Activation of the IκB Kinase Complex by Tumor Necrosis Factor-α

NEMO (NF-κB essential modifier)/IKKγ (IκB kinase-γ) is required for the activation of the IκB kinase complex (IKK) by inflammatory stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). Here we show that TNF-α stimulates the ubiquitination of NEMO in a manner that does not appear to target it for degradation and that is impaired by mutations in the NEMO zinc finger. Mutations of the zinc finger are found in patients with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency (HED-ID) and lead to the impairment of TNF-α-stimulated IKK phosphorylation and activation. In addition, the ubiquitination of NEMO is mediated by c-IAP1, an inhibitor of apoptosis protein that is a component of the TNF receptor signaling complex. Thus, the ubiquitination of NEMO mediated by c-IAP1 likely plays an important role in the activation of IKK by TNF-α. Also, defective NEMO ubiquitination may be responsible for the impaired cellular NF-κB signaling found in patients with HED-ID.
State policy decisions in the 1990s with implications for the financial well-being of later-life families.

Abstract This study explores trends and patterns in states' policy decisions affecting the economic well-being of later-life individuals and families in the United States in recent decades, focusing on the 1990s. Rules were selected from the areas of inheritance, estate taxes, homestead exemptions, Medicaid eligibility, estate recovery, and filial responsibility. Results indicate an increasing use of a broad definition of family, one implying that spouses, the nuclear family, extended kin, step-relations, and sometimes in-laws constitute an ongoing collective whose members share economic resources and risks over their lives and beyond. Despite this global trend, states varied in their rules addressing intrafamilial financial obligations and families' accountability to states. While some seemed interested in facilitating the conservation of familial resources, others seemed willing to minimize public assistance while coercing kin into accepting financial responsibility for one another. Research was suggest...
Permethrin Spot‐On Toxicoses in Cats

Summary Spot-on insecticides are becoming a popular type of flea control for pets. Spot-on products available include those containing fipronil, imidicloprid, methoprene, and permethrin. Currently, over 15 brands of permethrin spot-on products are labeled for “use in dogs only.” These products contain high concentrations (45–65%) of permethrin insecticide and are becoming a very popular choice for flea and tick control for dogs. Cats are highly sensitive to permethrin and inappropriate or accidental application of these products would be fatal. Though they have a wise margin of safety when used appropriately on dogs, even small amount of permethrin spot-on products can cause severe clinical signs in cats. Indications of this species sensitivity have been documented by the National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC). In most cases, the owner applied the concentrated permethrin-containing poduct to cats accidentally or intentionally. In some situations, the exposure seems to have resulted when the product was used on the dog and cats were playing with dog. (ASPCA, NAPCC, Unpublished data, 1995–1997).
Probability Density Function of Underwater Bomb Trajectory Deviation Due to Stochastic Ocean Surface Slope

Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement and Control, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, in press
Celia receives 2005 Hydrology Award

Michael A. Celia received the Hydrology Award on 5 December 2005, which was presented by the Hydrology Section at the 2005 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, Calif.
Association between serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors/CA 125 and disease progression in patients with epithelial ovarian malignancy: a gynecologic oncology group study.

BACKGROUND A prospective study was undertaken within the Gynecologic Oncology Group to determine whether serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors I (sTNFR-I) and II (sTNFR-II), alone or in combination with CA 125, were associated with clinicopathologic characteristics or outcome in patients with epithelial ovarian malignancies. METHODS Quantitative immunoassays were performed on valid pretreatment serum specimens obtained from patients with epithelial ovarian malignancies to assess levels of sTNFR-I, sTNFR-II, and CA 125. The authors then analyzed the results of these immunoassays for potential correlations with clinicopathologic characteristics and outcome. RESULTS The median age of the 139 women evaluated was 59 years. Seventy-eight percent had Stage III or IV disease, and 58% had serous carcinomas. sTNFR-II was associated with age (P = 0.013), and CA 125 was associated with histologic subtype (P = 0.0009). In addition, sTNFR-I (P = 0.037) and CA 125 (P < 0.0001) were associated with extent of disease. After adjusting for patient age, histologic subtype, and extent of disease, all three biomarkers were predictive of progression-free survival, but not overall survival, when the combination was included in the model. The authors observed a 51% reduction (hazard ratio [HR], 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24–0.99), a 2.9-fold increase (HR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.15–7.20), and a 22% increase (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.99–1.51) in the risk of progression for each unit increase in the log-transformed levels of sTNFR-I, sTNFR-II, and CA 125, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The observations made in the current study—that among patients with low or high CA 125 levels, those with high sTNFR-I levels and low sTNFR-II levels had the lowest risk, that patients with low-low or high-high sTNFR-I and sTNFR-II levels, respectively, had an intermediate risk, and that patients with low sTNFR-I levels and high sTNFR-II levels had the highest risk of progression—suggested the potential value of simultaneous assessment of all three biomarkers in patients with epithelial ovarian malignancies. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
The invariance of anchor points obtained by magnitude estimation and pair-comparison treatment of complete ranks scaling procedures: An empirical comparison and implications for validity of measurement

This article examined the invariance of results from magnitude estimation and pair-comparison treatment of complete ranks scaling procedures and explored whether roughly interval measurement is achieved by these methods. Magnitude estimation and ranking questionnaires were administered to the same set of 116 college students, and their responses were used to scale sets of 20 and 10 frequency expressions, respectively. A comparison of the results obtained with those from two earlier studies indicated that magnitude estimation scaling produced fairly invariant anchor points which appear to attain at least roughly equal interval measurement, whereas pair-comparison treatment of complete ranks did not. Implications for validity of measurement are briefly discussed.
Query paradigm to discover the relation between text and images

This paper studies the relation between images and text in image databases. An analysis of this relation results in the definition of three distinct query modalities: (1) linguistic scenario: images are part of a whole including a self-contained linguistic discourse, and their meaning derives form their interaction with the linguistic discourse. A typical case of this scenario is constituted by images on the World Wide Web; (2) closed world scenario: images are defined in a limited domain, and their meaning is anchored by conventions and norms in that domain; (3) user scenario: the linguistic discourse is provided by the user. This is the case of highly interactive systems with relevance feedback. This paper deals with image databases of the first type. It shows how the relation between images and text can be inferred, and exploited for search. The paper develops a similarity model in which the similarity between two images is given by both their visual similarity and the similarity of the attached words. Both the visual and textural similarity can be manipulated by the user through the two windows of the interface.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparative phase characteristics of induced and intrinsic alpha activity

The phase characteristics of intrinsic alpha activity and of the alpha activity induced by slowly repeated flashes (i.e., rhythmic after-waves) have been compared. The EEG recordings from a midline 5-electrode array from the mid-occiput to the vertex for nine adult subjects were analyzed by averaging; for study of the induced rhythmic waves, the computer was triggered by the stimuli, and for delineation of the intrinsic alpha activity, the computer was triggered in relation to the background alpha at the occipital electrode. Although for most of the subjects the waves tended to lead (i.e., to peak progressively earlier) at the more anterior locations on the scalp, for both the induced and intrinsic alpha activity waves, in comparison with those at the occiput, there was considerable variation in this regard, both for a particular subject and among different subjects, and no close parallel between induced and intrinsic activity emerged with respect to phase characteristics along the electrode array. Comparison of the amplitude characteristics of the averaged curves for the intrinsic alpha activity with those for the flash-induced alpha activity indicated that the generators giving rise to the flash-induced alpha activity at the different points along the electrode array are synchronized to a greater degree than are those that give rise to the intrinsic alpha activity. The amplitude of the induced alpha activity was generally largest for intermediate flash intensities, but otherwise the characteristics of the induced and of the background alpha activity appeared to exhibit no systematic dependence on the flash intensity. These results are discussed in relation to possible generator mechanisms and function of the induced and intrinsic alpha activity.
A Micromechanical Model for the Fiber Bridging of Macro-Cracks in Composite Plates

Recent experimental studies on the propagation of transverse cracks in composites have shown that fiber bridging is frequently present, and can be considered as the cause of increased toughness. This paper presents a model that is capable of quantifying this effect and explaining the decrease in the crack growth rate in either a monotonic or a cyclic load profile. Both Modes I and II are considered. The model is based on the elastic loading of a fiber located on the macro-crack face close to the tip and under dominantly plane strain conditions. Two fundamental cases of fiber bridging configurations are distinguished, namely when the fiber-matrix interface is intact and when the fiber-matrix interface has partially failed. Following the single fiber analysis, the model is extended to the case of multiple fibers bridging the faces of the macro-crack. The analysis is for generally anisotropic material and the fiber lines are at arbitrary angles. Results are presented for the case of an orthotropic material with unidirectional fibers perpendicular to the crack faces. Specifically, the reduction in the stress intensity factor (relative to the nominal value) is investigated for the glass fibers in a glass/epoxy composite system. The effects of fiber debonding and pullout with friction as well as fiber breaking are accounted for in the analysis, and results with respect to a parameter representing the fiber-matrix interface friction are presented. Results are also presented regarding the partial or full fracture of the fiber bridging zone. The model can also be used to analyze the phenomenon of fiber nesting, which is similar to fiber bridging, and occurs with growing delaminations.
Adenomyosis in the baboon is associated with primary infertility.

Objective To determine whether an association exists between the histopathologic diagnosis of adenomyosis and infertility in a population of captive baboons. Design Case-control study. Setting Southwest National Primate Research Center. Animal(s) Necropsy records of 37 baboons diagnosed with adenomyosis uteri and 38 baboons with normal uterine histology. Intervention(s) None. Main outcome measure(s) χ 2 analysis of the association between adenomyosis, primary infertility, and the presence of coexisting endometriosis. Result(s) Endometriosis was associated with the presence of adenomyosis (OR = 31.5, 95% CI 4.2–1,348). There was a trend toward an association of endometriosis with the presence of lifelong infertility, but this correlation did not quite achieve statistical significance (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 0.9–15.8). Adenomyosis was associated with the presence of lifelong infertility (OR = 20.6, 95% CI 2.7–897). This association was maintained when cases of coexisting endometriosis (n = 17) were excluded (OR = 20.1, 95% CI 2.1–921). Conclusion(s) Adenomyosis is strongly associated with lifelong primary infertility in the baboon, even in the absence of coexisting endometriosis.
Characteristics of children in residential treatment programs: Findings and clinical implications

Each year a large number of children with emotional and behavioral problems are placed in residential treatment facilities. Without adequate descriptions of these children, proper placement, treatment, and outcome evaluation cannot be realized. This article presents descriptive data on 211 children placed in several residential treatment programs in the state of Alabama. Characteristics of these children were obtained from standardized questionnaires completed by supervisory staff members in the facilities. These findings, as well as issues relevant to clinical practice, are presented.
An equilibrial process zone in polymeric materials

A process zone at the tip of a fatigue crack grown in polymeric materials has been widely reported. A new method that treats the process zone as an allotropically transformed material is employed for the prediction of the process-zone size. A specific energy of material transformation as well as transformation stress and draw ratio are determined from an independent test on polymer drawing. The prediction of the model with no adjustable parameters appears to be in a good agreement with the experimentally observed process zone for various polyethylenes and polycarbonate.
Animal Models for Investigating Intestinal Drug Absorption: Various Antibiotics

Among the most commonly used methods for studying intestinal drug absorption are the in vitro everted rat gut and the in situ rat intestinal loop. The methods were compared employing various penicillins, cephalosporins, and tetracyclines. Steady-state and, particularly, initial drug clearances across the everted rat gut and the in situ absorption data were not always in agreement. A comparison of these results with antibiotic absorption data in man demonstrated rank-order agreement between absorption from the in situ intestinal loop and human GI absorption. Based on present observations, the in situ intestinal loop of the rat appears suitable as an animal model for predicting human drug absorption.
Volatile C 1 –C 8 organic compounds in macroalgae

Small amounts of C1–C8 volatile organic compounds were found in macroalgae in concentrations high enough (generally in the range of 1–400 times those in sediments) to suggest that the seaweeds are a source for some of the volatile organic compounds identified in recent marine sediments. The types of compounds identified1–4 include alkanes, alkenes, aldehydes, ketones, furans, and sulphides. Both the light hydrocarbons and the volatile functionalized organic compounds are believed to originate from living organisms and from both biological and chemical low-temperature reactions in the sediments. Understanding their mechanism of formation may help in deciphering the thermal and biological history of the sediments. Traces of some of these compounds can be produced from bacterial degradation of naturally occurring terpenoids5. We consider here their occurrence in algae.
The evolution of combination therapy of genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma in children: a preliminary report.

Abstract Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in patients under 20 years of age. As the therapeutic efficacy of combination therapy has improved, less damaging surgical procedures have become necessary. In this paper the authors describe the evolution of a treatment policy developed at the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy (JCRT), the Sidney Farber Cancer Center (SFCC) and the Children's Hospital Medical Center (CHMC) from 1971 to 1975. Treatment results indicated that eight of nine children with pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma were without evidence of disease after conservative surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Analysis of failure, functional and cosmetic results and complications are described.
The Great Evaluation Team Debacle

An essay about MS implementation in a company producing tomato products and problems with the size and number of variables involved.
Comparison of drug treatment histories of single and multiple drug abusers in detox

This study was undertaken to determine differences in previous treatment patterns in individuals currently using different numbers of substances. Medical records of 1198 inpatient detoxification (detox) admissions were analyzed. Numbers of past admissions to completed detox, methadone, or other types of drug abuse treatment were totaled and ranked to determine most frequent type. Within gender, treatment histories of single and multiple drug abusers usually do not differ. The one exception is male multiple drug abusers ages 26-30, who show increased admissions. Possible explanations are that men do not seek treatment before developing medical complications of addiction or until external factors influence admission. There were differences in treatment histories between genders in multiple drug abusers only. Before age 30, women reported increased treatment of certain types. Possible explanations are that treatment priority is given to women who are, or may be, pregnant. Also, younger men may not enter or complete treatment. Previous treatment history may influence many behaviors. The results of this study delineate several valuable indicators for assessing past history.
Heavy quark radiative energy loss in QCD matter

Abstract Heavy quark medium induced radiative energy loss is derived to all orders in opacity, (L/λg)n. The analytic expression generalizes the GLV opacity expansion for massless quanta to heavy quarks with mass M in a QCD plasma with a gluon dispersion characterized by an asymptotic plasmon mass, m g =gT/ 2 . Remarkably, we find that the general result is obtained by simply shifting all frequencies in the GLV series by (mg2+x2M2)/(2xE). Numerical evaluation of the first order in opacity energy loss shows that both charm and bottom energy losses are much closer to the incoherent radiation limit than light partons in nuclear collisions at both RHIC and LHC energies. However, the radiation lengths of heavy quarks remain large compared to nuclear dimensions and hence high pT heavy quark production is volume rather than surface dominated.
The specific binding of ricin and its polypeptide chains to rat liver ribosomes and ribosomal subunits

Abstract Ricin from Ricinus communis was isolated and the binding of 3 H-reductively alkylated or 125 I-iodinated ricin was studied by incubating the toxic protein with ribosomes and isolating the ricin-ribosome complex by centrifugation. Neither of the labeled ricin derivatives nor 3 H-labeled A chain bound Escherichia coli ribosomes, but both bound rat liver ribosomes in a reproducible manner. 3 H-labeled ricin bound in a ratio of 1 mol/mol of ribosomes with a dissociation constant of 3 μ m as calculated from a Scatchard plot. Similarly, 3 H-labeled B chain isolated from ricin also bound in a one-to-one complex with a dissociation constant of 1 μ m . The binding of ricin and ricin B chain was sensitive to lactose, while the binding of reduced ricin or ricin A chain was not prevented by lactose. Reduced 125 I-labeled ricin in the presence of lactose and 3 H-labeled A chain bound with a ratio of 2 mol/mol of ribosomes. It was further demonstrated that 3 H-labeled ricin A chain bound only to the 60S ribosomal subunit and not to the 40S ribosomal subunit. The dissociation constant for the binding was 2 μ m both in the presence and absence of lactose and 2 mol of A chain were bound per mole of 60S ribosomal subunit.
Comparison of rank-based vs. score-based aggregation for ensemble gene selection

Gene selection is an essential step in much bioinformatics research in order to handle the thousands or tens of thousands of gene expression levels generated by gene microarrays. It is especially important that this gene selection is robust and will produce consistent results even in the face of changes to the dataset. Ensemble gene selection can help improve robustness, by combining gene rankings from multiple gene selection techniques into a single gene subset. Typically this is performed by performing multiple runs of feature (gene) selection, finding each gene's rank within the different runs, and aggregating these ranks into a final ranked list. However, another option exists: instead of performing the ranking on each list and then aggregating, the raw scores produced by the gene ranking algorithms (which would normally be compared to generate a ranking) are aggregated directly, and these aggregate scores are used to create a final ranking. This potentially results in a different final ranking, since adjacent genes (e.g., those with no genes in between them) which are particularly close to or far from one another will be treated as such. Also, score aggregation can help reduce computation time due to the ranking step only taking place once, rather than separately for each list being aggregated. In this experiment, we use eleven DNA microarray datasets and nine univariate feature selection techniques, along with twelve feature subset sizes, to demonstrate these two approaches on a commonly used aggregation technique: mean aggregation. The results show that for seven of the nine feature selection techniques, we see strong similarity between the two approaches, but the feature subsets are not identical. However, two of the techniques do show high levels of diversity between the two approaches. This allows us to state that further research is required in order to determine the abilities of the two approaches.
You, Me, or Her: Leaders’ Perceptions of Responsibility for Increasing Gender Diversity in STEM Departments

We examined how university leaders described what and who needed to change in order to increase the representation of female faculty in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) departments. Thirty-one (28 men and 3 women) STEM departmental chairs and deans at a large, public university participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were examined using both qualitative and quantitative procedures. Analysis focused on participants’ descriptions of responsibility for changes related to gender equity. Using the distinction of high versus low responsibility, themes were examined for their qualitative characteristics as well as their frequency. Leaders who exhibited high personal responsibility most frequently saw themselves as needing to change and also named their male colleagues as concurrently responsible for diversity. Conversely, leaders who exhibited low personal responsibility most frequently described female faculty as responsible and described women’s attitudes and their “choice” to have a ...
MHC Class II Presentation of Human Acetylcholine Receptor inMyasthenia gravis: Binding of Synthetic Gamma Subunit Sequences to DR Molecules

Abstract Embryonic muscle acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is composed of four subunits—α,β,γ andδ. Upon innervation, the γ subunit is substituted by a homologous ϵ subunit. Embryonic muscle AChR might be the original autoantigen in Myasthenia gravis (MG) because it is expressed in the thymus, where the anti-AChR response might start, as well as in adult extrinsic ocular muscles, which are a preferential target in MG. MG patients have antibodies specific for embryonic AChR and CD4 + T cells, which recognize epitopes on the γ subunit, in association with DR molecules. In the present study, we investigated the binding to several purified DR molecules (DRB10101, DRB10201, DRB10401 and DRB10701) of overlapping synthetic peptides, screening the human γ subunit sequence. Binding of the peptides to the DR molecules was determined from their ability to compete with radiolabelled peptide probes for binding to purified DR molecules. All peptides which were recognized by CD4 + cells bound to the relevant DR molecule. On the other hand, some AChR peptides not recognized by CD4 + cells of MG patients bound well to one or more DR molecules. In terms of relative ability to bind to the DR molecules tested, the γ subunit behaved like an exogenous antigen: some AChR peptide sequences uniquely bound one DR molecule, others bound several DR alleles, while others did not bind any of the DR molecules tested.
On the modified Westergaard equations for certain plane crack problems.

An error in Westergaard's equation for a certain class of plane crack problems, originally pointed out by Sih, is briefly discussed. The source of the difficulty is traced to an oversight in an earlier work by MacGregor, upon whose work Westergaard based his equations. Several examples of interest illustrating the consequences of the necessary correction to these equations are given.
Arginine, mitochondrial arginase, and the control of carbamyl phosphate synthesis

Abstract It has been proposed that arginine may stimulate urea synthesis in vivo by activating amino acid acetyltransferase and thereby increasing the mitochondrial content of acetylglutamate ( K. Shigesada, K. Aoyagi, and M. Tatibana, 1978 , Eur. J. Biochem.85, 385–391); the latter compound activates carbamyl phosphate synthetase (ammonia), the first enzyme in the pathway of urea synthesis. The following findings are relevant in evaluating the significance of this hypothetical control mechanism, (i) Rat liver mitochondria isolated in buffered mannitol contain significant arginase activity. Most of that activity is released from mitochondria suspended in 150 m m KCl; approximately 10% of the arginase remains bound after two washings with 150 m m KCl. The arginase of KCl-washed mitochondria is associated with the outer membrane and is not solubilized by disruption of the mitochondria with digitonin; small fractions of this arginase are solubilized by washing the outer membrane fragments with 150 m m KCl. (ii) The Km values for arginine of the arginase of unwashed and KCl-washed mitochondria, determined at pH 7.4 and 9.5, are in the range of values reported for liver microsomal arginase. Like the latter, mitochondrial arginase is more active at pH 9.5 than at 7.4. Using fresh preparations, mitochondrial arginase activity is not increased by preincubation with 50 m m MnCl2 at pH 7.4. (iii) With 2 m m arginine, the velocity of ornithine generation by mitochondrial arginase is sufficient to maintain high rates of citrulline synthesis from HCO3− and ammonia; the velocities of citrulline synthesis obtained using 2 m m initial arginine and 2 mM initial ornithine were identical. (iv) Preincubation of mitochondria with glutamate, pyruvate (as a source of acetyl CoA), and 0.1 m m or 1 m m arginine increases carbamyl phosphate synthesis 11 and 29%, respectively, over controls containing only glutamate and pyruvate. Since the lowest arginine concentration used (0.1 m m ) is two- to five-fold above that found in liver in vivo, the postulated stimulation by arginine of urea synthesis by way of the activation of amino acid acetyltransferase is likely to be minimal.
Theoretical intensities of Fe xiv in the solar EUV spectrum

Equilibrium population of Fexiv levels in coronal conditions was calculated including configurations 3s23p, 3s3p2, 3s23d, 3p3, 3s3p3d, 3s24s, 3s24p, 3s24d, 3s24f. Relative populations of selected levels are given in Table VII. Figure 1 shows the dependence of relative intensities of the strongest lines on electron density. Certain line ratios can be used for the determination of Ne.E.g., at T=2 × 106K and with a dilution factor 0.4, the intensity ratio of λ211.3 and λ219.0 changes by a factor of 65 if Neincreases from 107 to 1011 (Table VIII). Cascades from the 3s3p3d and 3p3 configurations are important in the population of some levels of 3s3p2 (Table VI). A possibility of identification of additional lines in the solar spectrum is indicated.
Indirect measurement of dynamic force transmitted by a nonlinear hydraulic mount under sinusoidal excitation with focus on super-harmonics

Direct measurement of forces is not practical in many real-life applications since the interfacial conditions may change. Thus indirect force estimation methods must be developed though they pose special difficulty for nonlinear mounts or isolators. The hydraulic engine mount is examined as an illustrative example in this article since it exhibits spectrally varying and amplitude-sensitive parameters. First, we propose linear time-invariant, nonlinear and quasi-linear fluid and mechanical system models. Second, models are utilized to predict the transmitted force time history under sinusoidal excitation conditions given measured (or calculated) motion and/or internal pressure time histories. Experimental data from the non-resonant dynamic stiffness test is investigated in both time and frequency domains. In particular, the super-harmonic contents in fluid chamber pressure and force time histories are investigated using both measurements and mathematical models. This paper examines several alternate indirect schemes for estimating dynamic forces and highlights their strengths. The quasi-linear model with effective system parameters, say in terms of force to pressure or force to motion transfer functions, is found to correlate well with measured dynamic forces though linear and nonlinear models could be employed as well.
Differential Regulation of D1 Dopamine Receptor‐ and of A2a Adenosine Receptor‐Stimulated Adenylyl Cyclase by μ‐, δ1‐, and δ2‐Opioid Agonists in Rat Caudate Putamen

Inhibition and stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by opioid and D1 dopamine or A2a adenosine agonists, respectively, were characterized in the caudate putamen of rats. D1 dopamine receptors have been reported to be localized preferentially on striatonigral neurons and A2a adenosine receptors on striatopallidal neurons. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of mu-[Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-(N-Me)Phe-Gly-ol (DAMGO)], delta 1-[Tyr-D-Pen-Gly-Phe-D-Pen (DPDPE)], and delta 2- ([D-Ala2]deltorphin-II [DT-II]) opioid agonists on the D1 dopamine receptor- and A2a adenosine receptor-stimulated adenylyl cyclase in membranes from rat caudate putamen. The results show that DAMGO, DPDPE, and DT-II inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase [selectively antagonized by D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (CTOP; mu antagonist), 7-benzylidenenaltrexone (BNTX; delta 1 antagonist), and naltriben (NTB; delta 2 antagonist), respectively], but only mu- and delta 2-opioid agonists inhibit D1 dopamine-stimulated adenylyl cyclase (antagonized by CTOP and NTB, respectively). Furthermore, DT-II and DPDPE inhibit A2a adenosine-stimulated adenylyl cyclase (antagonized by NTB and BNTX, respectively), whereas DAMGO did not inhibit A2a adenosine-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity. These results suggest that mu-, delta 1-, and delta 2-opioid receptors display differential localization and provide neurochemical evidence suggesting the differential location of the delta 1 and delta 2 subtypes. mu-Opioid receptors may be preferentially expressed by striatonigral neurons, delta 1-by striatopallidal neurons, and delta 2-by these two striatal efferent neuron populations.
Chromium, tungsten, iron, and ruthenium complexes of the 4-membered ring diazene 3,4-diazatricyclo[4.2.1.02,5]non-3-ene

Abstract The 4-membered ring diazene 3,4-diazatricyclo[4.2.1.0 2,5 ]non-3-ene (dtn) reacts with Cr and W carbonyls to give the complexes M(CO) 5 (dtn))(Ia,b), [M(CO) 5 ] 2 (dtn) (IIa,b), M(CO) 4 (dtn) 2 (IIIa,b), [M(CO) 4 ] 2 (dtn) 2 (IVa,b), and [M(CO) 3 ] 2 (dtn) 3 (Va,b) where a = Cr and b = W. 1 H and 13 C NMR provide evidence that compounds III-V each exist in the predicted two isomeric forms and full assignment of the resonances is made for all but the Va 13 C spectrum. Fe 2 (CO) 9 reacts with dtn to give Fe(CO) 4 (dtn) (Ic) and Fe 3 (CO) 9 (dtn) (VIIIc). It is argued that steric effects from the hydrocarbon portion, notably C(9), of dtn prevents formation of the normally stable diiron complexes Fe 2 (CO) 6 (dtn) (VIc) and Fe 2 (CO) 7 (dtn) (VIIc). Ru 3 (CO) 12 and dtn react to form only Ru 3 CO) 9 (dtn) (VIIId). Variable temperature 13 C NMR studies reveal CO scramblingin VIIIc and VIIId at room temperature, which ceases at low temperature. Results for the dtn complexes are compared with results for another 4-membered ring diazene ligand as well as with results for 3−, 5−, and 6-membered ring diazenes.
Evolution of virtual reality [Medicine]

Although original applications in virtual reality (VR) for medicine pertained to the planning of surgeries, efforts have now shifted to the use of data fusion, i.e. to fuse virtual patients onto real patients as a navigational aid in surgery. Eventually, medical care with multiple professionals will be provided in a shared virtual environment that incorporates shared decision making for an actual surgical intervention or a rehearsal. The major applications of virtual reality in surgery can be divided into three areas: virtual humans for training, the fusion of virtual humans with real humans for performing surgery, and virtual telemedicine shared decision environments for training of multiple players. The applications pertaining to the realisation of virtual reality in medicine can be categorised into two areas: generic models and patient specific models.
Hunter Perceptions of Similarity and Trust in Wildlife Agencies and Personal Risk Associated with Chronic Wasting Disease

Theory suggests that risk perceptions are influenced by trust in managing agencies. Shared goals and values (i.e., perceived similarity) are foundations of trust. This article examines the extent to which hunters perceive personal health risks associated with chronic wasting disease (CWD) (e.g., become ill from CWD) and the influence of perceived similarity and trust in state wildlife agencies as determinants of risk. Data were obtained from surveys (n = 9567) of resident and nonresident deer and elk hunters in eight states. Structural equation models showed that across all strata, hunters' perceptions of similarity with agencies positively influenced trust in agencies to manage CWD, explaining up to 49% of the variance in trust. Hunters who trusted agencies perceived less risk associated with CWD, but trust only explained up to 8% of the variance in risk. Hunters perceived similarity with and trust in wildlife agencies, but still perceived risks associated with CWD.