cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protein kinase C-ζ phosphorylates insulin-responsive aminopeptidase in vitro at Ser-80 and Ser-91

Abstract Insulin-responsive aminopeptidase (IRAP) colocalizes with glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) in adipocytes and is recruited to the plasma membrane in response to insulin. Microinjection of peptides corresponding to the IRAP cytoplasmic domain sequences causes GLUT4 recruitment in adipocytes. Inhibitors of protein kinase C-ζ (PKC-ζ) abolish the insulin-induced GLUT4 recruitment in rat adipocytes. These findings suggest an interesting possibility that PKC-ζ may phosphorylate IRAP, playing a key role in GLUT4/IRAP recruitment. To test this possibility, here we studied the 32 P incorporation into IRAP catalyzed by PKC-ζ in insulin-stimulated cells. There was a small but significant 32 P incorporation into IRAP in rat adipocytes, which was partly abolished upon addition of a PKC-ζ pseudosubstrate, suggesting that PKC-ζ may be responsible in part for the IRAP phosphorylation in adipocytes. PKC-ζ also catalyzed the incorporation of 32 P not only into IRAP in GLUT4 vesicles isolated from rat adipocytes but also into the IRAP cytoplasmic domain inserts in glutathione S-transferase-fusion proteins, demonstrating direct IRAP phosphorylation by PKC-ζ. Reversed-phase HPLC, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, and radiosequencing of the tryptic digests of the 32 P -labeled IRAP fusion proteins identified Ser-80 and Ser-91 as major phosphorylation sites. In GLUT4 vesicles, the 32 P incorporation into IRAP was exclusively localized at a 6.9-kDa tryptic fragment identified as IRAP76–138 and the 32 P labeling at Ser-80 accounted for 80–90% of the total IRAP labeling, suggesting that Ser-80 is the major phosphorylation site in intact IRAP. These findings are consistent with the possibility that the IRAP cytoplasmic domain phosphorylation by PKC-ζ plays a key role in insulin-induced IRAP or GLUT4 recruitment in adipocytes.
Before and after third grade: Longitudinal evidence for the shifting role of socioeconomic status in reading growth

Using longitudinal data on a nationally representative U.S. cohort, this study investigated the relationship between socioeconomic status and students’ reading growth between kindergarten and eighth grade. Piecewise latent growth modeling was used to describe nonlinear growth trajectories in reading during three developmental periods: kindergarten through first grade, first grade through third grade, and third grade through eighth grade. Results indicated that lower child SES was associated with faster rates of reading growth in the primary grades, but with slower rates of growth after third grade. Higher school concentration of students from low-SES backgrounds was also associated with slower rates of growth between third and eighth grade. Findings support increased attention from researchers and educators to reading achievement gaps after third grade.
Modulation of immune homeostasis by commensal bacteria.

Intestinal bacteria form a resident community that has co-evolved with the mammalian host. In addition to playing important roles in digestion and harvesting energy, commensal bacteria are crucial for the proper functioning of mucosal immune defenses. Most of these functions have been attributed to the presence of large numbers of ‘innocuous’ resident bacteria that dilute or occupy niches for intestinal pathogens or induce innate immune responses that sequester bacteria in the lumen, thus quenching excessive activation of the mucosal immune system. However it has recently become obvious that commensal bacteria are not simply beneficial bystanders, but are important modulators of intestinal immune homeostasis and that the composition of the microbiota is a major factor in pre-determining the type and robustness of mucosal immune responses. Here we review specific examples of individual members of the microbiota that modify innate and adaptive immune responses, and we focus on potential mechanisms by which such species-specific signals are generated and transmitted to the host immune system.
Patients welcome the Sickle Cell Disease Mobile Application to Record Symptoms via Technology (SMART).

AbstractThe widespread use of mobile phones among patients provides a unique opportunity for the development of mobile health intervention designed specifically for sickle cell disease, which will improve self-management as well as health care delivery. Our objective was to determine the receptiveness of patients with sickle cell disease to technology and a mobile application (app) designed for sickle cell disease. Phase I included 100 patients who completed a survey inquiring about receptiveness to technology and use of mobile devices to self-manage and communicate with providers. Phase II surveyed 17 additional patients who tested a newly developed sickle cell disease app, to report its usability and utility. In Phase I, on a 0–10 Likert scale where 0 is not comfortable, and 10 is extremely comfortable, 87.0% of participants reported >5 comfort level using a mobile device for health care management. Participants were comfortable with texting (81.0%) and emailing (77.0%) but not with social media (40.0%)...
Land cover classification in multispectral satellite imagery using sparse approximations on learned dictionaries

Techniques for automated feature extraction, including neuroscience-inspired machine vision, are of great interest for landscape characterization and change detection in support of global climate change science and modeling. We present results from an ongoing effort to extend machine vision methodologies to the environmental sciences, using state-of-theart adaptive signal processing, combined with compressive sensing and machine learning techniques. We use a modified Hebbian learning rule to build spectral-textural dictionaries that are tailored for classification. We learn our dictionaries from millions of overlapping multispectral image patches and then use a pursuit search to generate classification features. Land cover labels are automatically generated using CoSA: unsupervised Clustering of Sparse Approximations. We demonstrate our method on multispectral WorldView-2 data from a coastal plain ecosystem in Barrow, Alaska (USA). Our goal is to develop a robust classification methodology that will allow for automated discretization of the landscape into distinct units based on attributes such as vegetation, surface hydrological properties (e.g., soil moisture and inundation), and topographic/geomorphic characteristics. In this paper, we explore learning from both raw multispectral imagery, as well as normalized band difference indexes. We explore a quantitative metric to evaluate the spectral properties of the clusters, in order to potentially aid in assigning land cover categories to the cluster labels.
The role of psychological stress in skin disease.

Background Numerous case reports and studies have suggested that psychological stress may have a role in the onset or exacerbation of a variety of skin diseases.
Approaches and costs for sharing clinical research data.

The generation, dissemination, and sharing of research data are key ingredients in contributing to scientific progress and the public good. Data sharing has been encouraged to facilitate open science within the clinical research enterprise, improve the development of drugs and devices, and benefit public health.1 But sharing data is complex. Investigators generally tend to guard research data to retain ownership and property rights, avoid competition, protect confidentiality and privacy, or avoid misuse by unqualified persons. Sharing research data also comes at a cost to the sharer. This Viewpoint examines some approaches and cost considerations involved in sharing participant-level clinical research data.
Serial suture ligation glossectomy for squamous cell carcinoma in the setting of a massive lymphovascular malformation.

Background We describe a novel surgical technique for resection of squamous cell carcinoma in the setting of a massive tongue lymphovascular malformation (LVM). Methods and Results A 75-year-old man with a history of long-standing massive LVM of the tongue presented with a 4-cm squamous cell carcinoma of the involved oral tongue. Given the aberrant vascular anatomy of this lesion, traditional surgical treatment could not be undertaken. Therefore, serial suture ligation was performed over a 2-week period, allowing complete excision of the squamous cell carcinoma and a large portion of the tongue LVM with minimal morbidity. Return to preoperative functional status was likewise achieved. Conclusion Serial suture ligation glossectomy is a simple and effective technique for treating the uncommon case of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in the setting of a massive LVM. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
Plasma-mediated transfection of RPE

A major obstacle in applying gene therapy to clinical practice is the lack of efficient and safe gene delivery techniques. Viral delivery has encountered a number of serious problems including immunological reactions and malignancy. Non-viral delivery methods (liposomes, sonoporation and electroporation) have either low efficiency in-vivo or produce severe collateral damage to ocular tissues. We discovered that tensile stress greatly increases the susceptibility of cellular membranes to electroporation. For synchronous application of electric field and mechanical stress, both are generated by the electric discharge itself. A pressure wave is produced by rapid vaporization of the medium. To prevent termination of electric current by the vapor cavity it is ionized thus restoring its electric conductivity. For in-vivo experiments with rabbits a plasmid DNA was injected into the subretinal space, and RPE was treated trans-sclerally with an array of microelectodes placed outside the eye. Application of 250-300V and 100-200 μs biphasic pulses via a microelectrode array resulted in efficient transfection of RPE without visible damage to the retina. Gene expression was quantified and monitored using bioluminescence (luciferase) and fluorescence (GFP) imaging. Transfection efficiency of RPE with this new technique exceeded that of standard electroporation by a factor 10,000. Safe and effective non-viral DNA delivery to the mammalian retina may help to materialize the enormous potential of the ocular gene therapy. Future experiments will focus on continued characterization of the safety and efficacy of this method and evaluation of long-term transgene expression in the presence of phiC31 integrase.
An LP/NLP based branch and bound algorithm for convex MINLP optimization problems

Abstract This paper is aimed at improving the solution efficiency of convex MINLP problems in which the bottleneck lies in the combinatorial search for the 0–1 variables. An LP/NLP based branch and bound algorithm is proposed in which the explicit solution of an MILP master problem is avoided at each major iteration. Instead, the master problem is defined dynamically during the tree search to reduce the number of nodes that need to be enumerated. A branch and bound search is conduced to predict lower bounds by solving LP subproblems until feasible integer solutions are found. At these nodes nonlinear programming subproblems are solved, providing upper bounds and new linear approximations which are used to tighten the linear representation of the open nodes in the search tree. To reduce the size of the LP subproblems, new types of linear approximations are proposed which exploit linear substructures in the MINLP problem. Preliminary numerical results on several test problems are reported which show that the expense of solving the MI need to be enumerated, while in most cases the number of NLP subproblems to be solved remains the same.
Some connections of the entorhinal (area 28) and perirhinal (area 35) cortices of the rhesus monkey. III. Efferent connections

Abstract In this investigation the efferent projections of the entorhinal and prorhinal cortices relative to their sites of termination in the hippocampus and fascia dentata were investigated in the rhesus monkey using experimental silver impregnation methods. Contrary to the often cited observations of Lorente de No, all entorhinal areas, including the laterally lying prorhinal cortex, were found to give rise to the perforant pathway, and furthermore, each cytoarchitectonically defined subarea was found to contribute a unique component. These perforant pathway components terminate in distinct regions of the dendritic zones of the fascia dentata granule cell and the hippocampal pyramidal cell. A previously undescribed projection to the prosubiculum and hippocampus has been found to originate from the prorhinal cortex which forms the medial wall of the rhinal sulcus along the lateral-most portion of the entorhinal cortex in the rhesus monkey. These results, in conjunction with our previous observations regarding differential afferents to the entorhinal cortex, indicate that specific afferent and efferent connections characterize each cytoarchitectonically definable subareas of this periallocortical region. Additionally, they indicate that the perforant pathway might be conceptualized as the final link in a multisynaptic series of connections instrumental in providing the hippocampus with potential modality specific and multimodal input.
Protein quality assessment of soy products

Abstract Three chick assays were conducted to compare the protein quality of dehulled soybean meal (SBM; 49.0% CP), soy protein concentrate (SPC; 63.9% CP), functional soy protein isolate (FSPI; 82.4% CP), and edible soy protein isolate (ESPI; 85.0% CP). Weight gain and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were highest for SBM, similar between chicks fed SPC and FSPI, and lowest for chicks fed ESPI. Supplementation with methionine and threonine increased weight gain and PER values of all protein sources and made PER values for FSPI and ESPI similar to those for SBM and SPC. Upon addition of methionine alone, weight gain and PER of all protein sources were increased substantially, and no difference was observed between SPC and ESPI, although weight gain and PER for FSPI was superior to both SPC and ESPI. Upon addition of both methionine and threonine, PER values for FSPI and ESPI were equivalent and were superior to those for SPC. These results indicate that the inferior protein quality of unsupplemented SPC, FSPI, and ESPI relative to SBM results from a decrease in the effective sulfur amino acid and threonine content of the processed soy products.
1α-Hydroxyvitamin D2: A Potent Synthetic Analog of Vitamin D2

A hydroxy analog of vitamin D 2 , 1α-hydroxyvitamin D 2 , has been synthesized and tested for biological activity. This vitamin derivative is active in stimulating intestinal calcium transport and bone calcium mobilization in the rat and exhibits antirachitic activity. Its biopotency is comparable to that of the corresponding vitamin D 3 analog, 1α-hydroxyvitamin D 3 .
Bcl-2 Modulates Telomerase Activity

Apoptosis is a physiological mechanism of cell death that plays an important role in the regulation of tissue homeostasis. The regulation of apoptosis is a complex process and involves a number of gene products including the survival factor Bcl-2, which has been found to be frequently deregulated in human cancers. In addition to deregulation of apoptosis, the process of neoplasia is also believed to be driven by the activation of telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein complex that adds telomeric repeats (hexanucleotide 5'-TTAGGG-3') to the ends of replicating chromosomes. Activation of telomerase has been detected in a vast majority of human cancer cells. Although recent studies have demonstrated the wide occurrence of telomerase activation and Bcl-2 deregulation in human cancer cells, it remains unclear whether there is any linkage between the deregulation of Bcl-2 and telomerase activity in cancer cells. In the studies presented here, we report that the stable overexpression of Bcl-2 in human cancer cells with low Bcl-2 expression was accompanied by increased levels of telomerase activity. In addition, using an IL-2-dependent cytotoxic T-cell line, CTLL-2, we demonstrated that IL-2 deprivation (8 h), which is known to down-regulate Bcl-2 expression, also resulted in concurrent inhibition of telomerase activity in the absence of any detectable apoptosis and accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Re-exposure of IL-2-deprived CTLL-2 cells to the recombinant IL-2 led to the up-regulation of both Bcl-2 expression and telomerase activity. Taken together, these findings establish a close linkage between the modulation of telomerase activity by survival factor Bcl-2, and provide a model to study regulation of telomerase activity by an anti-apoptotic pathway that is widely deregulated in cancer cells.
Thermodynamic Properties (Enthalpy, Bond Energy, Entropy, and Heat Capacity) and Internal Rotor Potentials of Vinyl Alcohol, Methyl Vinyl Ether, and Their Corresponding Radicals

Vinyl alcohols (enols) have been discovered as important intermediates and products in the oxidation and combustion of hydrocarbons, while methyl vinyl ethers are also thought to occur as important combustion intermediates. Vinyl alcohol has been detected in interstellar media, while poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(methyl vinyl ether) are common polymers. The thermochemical property data on these vinyl alcohols and methyl vinyl ethers is important for understanding their stability, reaction paths, and kinetics in atmospheric and thermal hydrocarbon-oxygen systems. Enthalpies , entropies , and heat capacities (C(p)()(T)) are determined for CH(2)=CHOH, C(*)H=CHOH, CH(2)=C(*)OH, CH(2)=CHOCH(3), C(*)H=CHOCH(3), CH(2)=C(*)OCH(3), and CH(2)=CHOC(*)H(2). Molecular structures, vibrational frequencies, , and C(p)(T) are calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) density functional calculation level. Enthalpies are also determined using the composite CBS-Q, CBS-APNO, and G3 methods using isodesmic work reactions to minimize calculation errors. Potential barriers for internal rotors are calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level and used to determine the hindered internal rotational contributions to entropy and heat capacity. The recommended ideal gas phase values calculated in this study are the following (in kcal mol(-1)): -30.0, -28.9 (syn, anti) for CH(2)=CHOH; -25.6, -23.9 for CH(2)=CHOCH(3); 31.3, 33.5 for C(*)H=CHOH; 27.1 for anti-CH(2)=C(*)OH; 35.6, 39.3 for C(*)H=CHOCH(3); 33.5, 32.2 for CH(2)=C(*)OCH(3); 21.3, 22.0 for CH(2)=CHOC(*)H(2). Bond dissociation energies (BDEs) and group additivity contributions are also determined. The BDEs reveal that the O-H, O-CH(3), C-OH, and C-OCH(3) bonds in vinyl alcohol and methyl vinyl ether are similar in energy to those in the aromatic molecules phenol and methyl phenyl ether, being on average around 3 kcal mol(-1) weaker in the vinyl systems. The keto-enol tautomerization enthalpy for the interconversion of vinyl alcohol to acetaldehyde is determined to be -9.7 kcal mol(-1), while the activation energy for this reaction is calculated as 55.9 kcal mol(-1); this is the simplest keto-enol tautomerization and is thought to be important in the reactions of vinyl alcohol. Formation of the formyl methyl radical (vinoxy radical/vinyloxy radical) from both vinyl alcohol and methyl vinyl ether is also shown to be important, and its reactions are discussed briefly.
Inter- and intra-instar food consumption in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica

Food consumption was measured in an insecticide-susceptible (Orlando) and -resistant (Village Green) strain of German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae), throughout each stadium. All instars exhibited a similar pattern of consumption over the course of the instar; consumption was low to moderate at the beginning of each instar, climbed steadily to a maximum near the middle, declined progressively from the mid-instar maximum, and ceased or was minimal several days before the next molt. Consumption ceased or was minimal during the final two to four days of each instar. Cumulative consumption for the six instars was significantly greater in the Village Green strain as compared with the Orlando strain. Village Green nymphs consumed 79.6 ± 0.7 mg of rat chow while Orlando nymphs consumed 63.7 ± 3.4 mg. Total consumption by instar increased significantly with each successive instar in the Village Green strain. In addition, Village Green sixth instar females consumed significantly more food than sixth instar males. A similar trend was observed for the Orlando strain; consumption tended to increase in each successive instar. Relative consumption rate (food consumed/cockroach/instar divided by the mean weight of the instar) was highest in the first two instars and decreased in subsequent instars.
Improved synthesis of 7-dehydrositosterol.

Sitosteryl acetate was brominated in petroleum ether by the gradual addition of N-bromosuccinimide to a refluxing, illuminated solution and dehydrobrominated by the dropwise addition of the bromo derivative to a refluxing solution of collidine in mesitylene to give a 38% yield of 7-dehydrositosteryl acetate.
ABELIAN EXCHANGE MODULES

ABSTRACT Let Mk be a right k-module with endomorphism ring E=End(Mk). We prove that if E is an Abelian exchange ring, then Mk has the full exchange property. We also give an extension of this result in the case E is regular.
A two stage shrinkage testimator for the mean of an exponential distribution

Let X be a random variable having an exponential distribution with unknown mean θ. Further, it is assumed that prior knowledge about θ is available in the form of an initial estimate θ00 of θ. It is proposed to estimate θ by a testimator that is based upon the result of a test of the hypothesis H0: θ = θ0. If H0 is accepted based on the first sample of size n1 we take where the weighting factor l is a function of the test statistic for testing H0. However, if H0 is rejected we obtain a second sample of size n2, and take . Choosing the weighing factor l appropriately, an expression for the mean squared error of is derived and comparisons are made with the variance of a single sample mean. Also an expression for the bias of is derived.
Cystine/glutamate exchange serves as the source for extracellular glutamate: Modifications by repeated cocaine administration

Repeated administration of cocaine lowers the basal extracellular levels of glutamate in the nucleus accumbens as measured by microdialysis. The studies presented reveal that this long-term neuroadaptation elicited by repeated cocaine results from a decrease in the activity of cystine/glutamate exchange.
The Politics of Memory: Native Historical Interpretation in the Colombian Andes

List of illustrations Preface 1. Introduction: interpreting the past PART I: THE CREATION OF A CHIEFLY IDEOLOGY: PAEZ HISTORICAL THOUGHT UNDER SOANISH RULE 2. The rise of the colonial Cacique 3. The birth of the myth: Don Juan Tama y Calambas PART II: FROM COLONY TO REPUBLIC: CACIQUE AND CAUDILLO 4. The chiefdom transformed: the nineteenth century Paez 5. From sharecropper to Caudillo: Manuel Quintin Lame PART III: CONTEMPORARY HISTORICAL VOICES 6. The Cacique reborn: the twentieth century Paez 7. Julio Niquinas, a contemporary Paez historian 8. Conclusion: narrative and image in a textual community.
An algorithm for domain knowledge base acquisition in an intelligent tutoring system: Japanese transliteration rules

Abstract This article describes an algorithm for developing a domain knowledge base that is used in a Japanese language intelligent tutoring system. The domain knowledge represents a model of the expertise that a student must acquire in order to be proficient at reading one of the distinct orthographies of Japanese, known as katakana. Whereas the effort required to memorize the relatively few katakana symbols and their associated pronunciations is not prohibitive, a major difficulty in reading katakana is associated with the phonetic modifications which occur when English words which are transliterated into katakana are made to conform to the more restrictive rules of Japanese phonology. The algorithm described here is able to generate a knowledge base of these phonological transformation rules automatically, that is subsequently used to assess a student's proficiency and then appropriately individualize the student's instruction.
Synthesis and characterization of NiSn dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles.

We report the synthesis and characterization of NiSn dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) with sizes in the range of ∼1.2 nm. These types of materials have potential applications in energy storage, and particles in the 1−3 nm size range are particularly attractive for this use. The NiSn DENs described here contain an average of 147 atoms and are encapsulated within hydrophobic, sixth-generation poly(amidoamine) dendrimers. DENs prepared using four different Ni/Sn ratios, along with monometallic Ni and Sn DENs, are described. To prevent oxidation, the synthesis was carried out under dry conditions in toluene. These bimetallic DENs were characterized by UV−vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicate that the compositions of the nanoparticles reflect the ratio of Ni2+ and Sn2+ used in the first step of the synthesis; the NiSn nanoparticles remain encapsulated within the dendrimers, and when dry the...
Merit: Why Do We Value It?

Analyse de la notion de merite qui fait defaut dans la philosophie politique contemporaine, dominee par les notions de besoin, droits et egalite. Distinguant les termes anglais de merit et desert, le premier designant ce qui est digne d'eloge et de recompenses en general, le second designant la valeur d'une action en particulier, l'A. defend la these d'une meritocratie appliquee a la fois a l'experience humaine et a l'histoire des idees. Examinant les concepts d'utilite et moralite, et definissant la justice comme principe deontologique, l'A. repond aux objections concernant l'existence d'un merite naturel, l'obligation non-absolue de donner aux gens ce qu'ils meritent, l'idee de loterie naturelle, et conclut a l'ideal d'un monde fonde sur une symetrie morale, ou le vertueux serait recompense et le vicieux puni
Fruit removal by hornbills in a semi-evergreen forest of the Indian Eastern Himalaya

We tested the hypothesis that seed size influences which frugivores eat fruits, and the size and nature of disperser assemblages in Pakke Tiger Reserve, India. Four tree species had large seeds (> 18 mm width) that could be handled by birds with large gape widths, while two tree species had smaller seeds (< 7 mm width) falling within the gape size range of many frugivores. We tested whether (1) disperser assemblage and activity reflected seed size, and (2) large-gaped hornbills were more effective at fruit removal of tree species with large seeds, than of those with smaller seeds and many dispersers. Day-long watches were conducted in 2005 at trees of Dysoxylum binectariferum (three in 2005 and nine in 2006), Chisocheton cumingianus (nine), Aglaia spectabilis (seven), Polyalthia simiarum (nine), Litsea monopetala (four) and Cinnamomum bejolghota (two in 2005 and six in 2006) to determine which frugivores visited trees and ate fruit. Disperser visitation and species diversity per tree to species with medium-sized seeds averaged 85 visits and 10 species d−1, contrasted with five visits by one frugivore species to large-seeded tree species. Seed removal rates per tree averaged 486 seeds d−1 from medium-seeded tree species, but 10 seeds d−1 from large-seeded species. Hornbills (Bucerotidae) and Ducula badia (Columbidae) removed large seeds from capsules of Aglaia spectabilis, Chisocheton cumingianus and Dysoxylum binectariferum (Meliaceae). Primates, civets and bats also consumed drupes of large-seeded Polyalthia simiarum (Annonaceae). Anthracoceros albirostris hornbills were important dispersers of Litsea monopetala (Lauraceae), a medium-seeded tree with a large disperser assemblage. Conversely, hornbills were quantitatively inconsequential for Cinnamomum bejolghota (Lauraceae), another medium-seeded tree species with several dispersers. Results suggest that the size and activity of disperser assemblages accurately reflects seed size. While hornbills were quantitatively important dispersers of large-seeded tree species, their effectiveness for trees with small- to medium-sized seeds depended on the tree species.
Ranking and screening multiple criteria alternatives with partial information and use of ordinal and cardinal strength of preferences

This paper consists of three parts: 1) some theories and an efficient algorithm for ranking and screening multicriteria alternatives when there exists partial information on the decision maker's preferences; 2) generation of partial information using variety of methods; and 3) the existence of ordinal and cardinal functions based on and strengths of preferences. We demonstrate that strengths of preference concept can be very effectively used to generate the partial information on preferences. We propose axioms for ordinal and cardinal (measurable) value functions. An algorithm is developed for ranking and screening alternatives when there exists partial information about the preferences and the ordering of alternatives. The proposed algorithm obtains the same information very efficiently while by solving one mathematical programming problem many alternatives can be ranked and screened. Several examples are discussed and results of some computational experiments are reported.
Chain composites under ballistic impact conditions

An existing family of composites of steel chains in resin matrices that exhibit delocalized failure and high levels of energy absorption under static tensile loading has been tested under high-velocity impact conditions. Panels of chain composites were shot with anti-personnel rounds in an instrumented test range. The tests demonstrate that the lockup mechanism operates at strain rates approaching 104 s~1, with delocalized damage extending in several cases from the impact site to the edge of the test panel. Estimates of the energy absorbed per unit volume under impact conditions range from 30 to 75 MJ/m2, approximately 50}60% higher than values measured in static tension for the same composites. The enhancement of energy absorption is tentatively attributed to strengthening of the resin at high strain rates. Implications of the tests for designing ballistic protection are discussed. ( 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Homeomorphisms of Compact Sets in Certain Hausdorff Spaces

We construct a class of Hausdorff spaces (compact and noncompact) with the property that nonempty compact subsets of these spaces that have the same cardinality are homeomorphic. Also, it is shown that these spaces contain compact subsets that are infinite.
Performance comparison of distributed deadlock detection algorithms

A performance evaluation study of two proposed distributed deadlock detection algorithms, the central controller and distributed deadlock detection algorithms, is described. The author examines and reports the magnitude by which these algorithms provide an increase in the throughput, and an increase in the number of blocked, restarted transactions. A performance evaluation model is presented for a distributed database environment. A list of performance parameters and evaluation criteria is included. >
Organic‐polymer thin‐film transistors for active‐matrix flat‐panel displays?

Organic-polymer-based thin-film transistors (OP-TFTs) look very promising for flexible, large-area, and low-cost organic electronics. In this paper, we describe devices based on spin-coated organic polymer that reproducibly exhibit field-effect mobility values around 5×10-3 cm2/V-sec. We also address fabrication, performance, and stability issues that are critical for the use of such devices in active-matrix flat-panel displays.
Glass fibers for optical communications

Glass optical waveguides with attenuations below 20 dB/km have made possible a new approach to optical communications. These glass fibers satisfy requirements for transmission over kilometer lengths with experimental systems utilizing existing devices for sources and detectors. The realization of material and fabrication advances necessary for this accomplishment are the topic of this paper. Basic theoretical principles are introduced in a review fashion. The application of these principles in choice of materials and fabrication is described. Results in fiber performance following this framework are given in a section on evaluation, which includes information capacity, attenuation, and some environmental requirements. Preliminary experiments in bundling and cabling are discussed, followed by concluding remarks.
The HANDDS Program: A Systematic Approach for Addressing Disparities in the Provision of Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

The current paradigm of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) blankets a community with training. Recently, the authors have found that high-risk neighborhoods can be identified, and CPR training can be targeted in the neighborhoods in which it is most needed. This article presents a novel method and pilot implementation trial for the HANDDS (identifying High Arrest Neighborhoods to Decrease Disparities in Survival) program. The authors also seek to describe example methods in which the HANDDS program is being implemented in Denver, Colorado. The HANDDS program uses a simple three-step approach: identify, implement, and evaluate. This systematic conceptual framework uses qualitative and quantitative methods to 1) identify high-risk neighborhoods, 2) understand common barriers to learning and performing CPR in these neighborhoods, and 3) implement and evaluate a train-the-trainer CPR Anytime intervention designed to improve CPR training in these neighborhoods. The HANDDS program is a systematic approach to implementing a community-based CPR training program. Further research is currently being conducted in four large metropolitan U.S. cities to examine whether the results from the HANDDS program can be successfully replicated in other locations.
Buprestapolipus megachelus n. g., n. sp. (Acari: Podapolipidae) from Euchroma gigantea L. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Abstract Buprestapolipus megachelus n. g., n. sp. (Acari: Podapolipidae) is described from Euchroma gigantea L. (Buprestidae) from Prov. Heredia, Costa Rica. Buprestapolipus is compared with related podapolipid genera in which a middorsal aedeagus exists in males and in which adult females have 2 pairs of legs. This is the first record of podapolipid mites from buprestid beetles.
Capsular retraction of the liver in malignant tumor of the biliary tract MRI findings.

Abstract Retraction of the liver capsule adjacent to a hepatic tumor is an unusual feature that has received little attention in radiological literature. We report two patients with pathologically proved malignant tumor of the biliary tract (one cholangiocarcinoma and one gallbladder cancer) in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed retraction of the liver capsule to the tumors. MRI was performed at 1.0 T using a spin-echo (SE) technique, with T1 (TR/TE = 450/15 msec) and T2 (TR/TE = 2000/45 to 90 msec)-weighted images. Capsular retraction was seen on both T1- and T2-weighted SE MRI. Although capsular retraction of the liver adjacent to hepatic tumors is highly suggestive for epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, these two cases confirm that retraction of the liver capsule adjacent to hepatic tumors can be associated with other types of tumor, and especially with malignant tumors of the biliary tract.
v-erbA Oncogene Function in Neoplasia Correlates with Its Ability to Repress Retinoic Acid Receptor Action

The v-erbA oncoprotein of avian erythroblastosis virus is an aberrant version of a thyroid hormone receptor and functions in neoplasia by blocking erythroid differentiation and by modifying the growth properties of fibroblasts. v-erbA has been proposed to represent a novel dominant negative oncogene, acting in the cancer cell by interfering with the actions of its normal cell homologs, the thyroid hormone receptors. We report here that v-erbA can actually interfere with the actions of a variety of members of the steroid/retinoid receptor family and that the ability of v-erbA to act in neoplasia best correlates not with suppression of c-erbA action, but with interference with the retinoic acid receptor response. We suggest that v-erbA may act in neoplasia by promiscuously interfering with a retinoid-mediated differentiation process.
Stories to Communicate Risks about Tobacco: Development of a Brief Scale to Measure Transportation into a Video Story--The ACCE Project.

Objective: To evaluate the construct and criterion validity of the Video Transportation Scale (VTS).Setting: Inpatient service of a safety net hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.Method: We administered the VTS in the context of a randomized controlled trial of a DVD-delivered narrative-based intervention (stories) designed to encourage smoking cessation among hospitalized patients.Results: Factor analysis yielded a two-factor solution relating to engagement and attentional focus. Patients receiving the stories-based intervention had a higher score for engagement than control but stories patients and controls did not differ in reported attentional focus. The engagement factor demonstrated predictive validity in that patients with higher scores were more likely to report quitting smoking at two weeks.Conclusion: The VTS provides a rapid assessment of transportation that can be used in applied settings using video-based narratives.
A Point Mutation within Conserved Region VI of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 DNA Polymerase Confers Altered Drug Sensitivity and Enhances Replication Fidelity

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) DNA polymerase contains several conserved regions within the polymerase domain. The conserved regions I, II, III, V, and VII have been shown to have functional roles in the interaction with deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) and DNA. However, the role of conserved region VI in DNA replication has remained unclear due, in part, to the lack of a well-characterized region VI mutant. In this report, recombinant viruses containing a point mutation (L774F) within the conserved region VI were constructed. These recombinant viruses were more susceptible to aphidicolin and resistant to both foscarnet and acyclovir, compared to the wild-type KOS strain. Marker transfer experiments demonstrated that the L774F mutation conferred the altered drug sensitivities. Furthermore, mutagenesis assays demonstrated that L774F recombinant viruses containing the supF marker gene, which was integrated within the thymidine kinase locus (tk), exhibited increased fidelity of DNA replication. These data indicate that conserved region VI, together with other conserved regions, forms the polymerase active site, has a role in the interaction with deoxyribonucleotides, and regulates DNA replication fidelity. The possible effect of the L774F mutation in altering the polymerase structure and activity is discussed.
Wireless networks, diversity and space-time codes

We apply the idea of space-time coding devised for multiple-antenna systems to the problem of communications over wireless relay networks. A two-stage protocol is used, where in one stage the transmitter sends information and in the other, the relay nodes encode their received signals into a "distributed" linear dispersion code, and then transmit the coded signals to the receiver. We show that for high SNR the proposed system has a diversity of order /spl alpha//sub 0/ min{T, R}, with T the coherence interval, R the number of relay nodes, and /spl alpha//sub 0/ the solution to the equation /spl alpha/ + log/spl alpha//logP = 1 - loglogP/logP, where P is the total transmit power in the network. In particular, we show that the pairwise error probability (PEP) decays no slower than (logP/P)/sup min{T,R}/. Thus, apart from the log P factor and assuming T /spl ges/ R, the system has the same diversity as a multiple-antenna system with R transmit antennas and one receive antenna, which is the same as assuming that the R relay nodes can fully cooperate and have full knowledge of the transmit signal. We further show that for a fixed total transmit power across the entire network, the optimal power allocation is for the transmitter to expend half the power and for the relays to collectively expend the other half. We also show that at low and high SNR, the coding gain is the same as that of multiple-antenna systems. However, at intermediate SNR, it can be quite different. We discuss some of the ramifications of using different space-time codes and finally verify our analysis through the simulation or randomly generated distributed space-time codes.
Ketamine as an Adjuvant for Treatment of Cancer Pain in Children and Adolescents

Abstract In children with advanced stages of cancer, pain control remains inadequate in many patients and a solution to this problem is sorely lacking. Factors related to progression of the primary disease and side-effects of high doses of opioids, the mainstay of pain therapy, contribute to the inadequacy of pain control. In addition, few studies suggest that opioids, by inducing tolerance, having pronociceptive effects and producing hyperalgesia in some patients, can also contribute to inadequacy of pain control. Researchers have shown that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists may have a role in mitigating opioid-induced tolerance and hyperalgesia in adults. However, literature on NMDA antagonists to treat cancer pain in children and adolescents is scarce. We used subanesthetic doses of ketamine to treat 11 children and adolescents who were on high doses of opioids and yet had uncontrolled cancer pain. A low-dose ketamine infusion was administered to all patients to modulate the need for rapidly escalating opioid therapy. We found that in 8 of 11 patients, ketamine infusions used as an adjuvant to opioid analgesia was associated with opioid-sparing effects and apparent improvement in pain control and in the children’s ability to interact with their family. This study suggests that infusions of ketamine may offer a promising therapeutic option in the treatment of appropriately selected children and adolescents with intractable cancer pain. Perspective In many children with advanced stages of cancer, pain control remains inadequate. We used subanesthetic doses of ketamine to treat 11 children and adolescents who were on high doses of opioids and had uncontrolled cancer pain. In the majority of patients, ketamine appeared to improve pain control and to have an opioid-sparing effect.
Estimating Rigid Transformation With Correlated Observations

The problem of finding the rotation and the translation between two sets of corresponded points is known as the rigid transformation estimation problem. It plays a crucial role in many robotic applications such as “simultaneous localization and mapping” (SLAM), surface reconstruction, and inertial sensor calibration. The most widely used solution to this problem is based on performing the singular value decomposition (SVD) over a derived data matrix. A drawback of the SVD method is that it is a least-squares method and thus may fail to take into account the anisotropic and/or correlated noises, which often present in practical applications. A natural variation is to add a matrix weight to the least-squares problem to balance the estimation errors in different measurement directions. However, it becomes difficult to write down a closed form solution in this setup. In this paper, an efficient algorithm is presented to estimate the rigid transformation with correlated observations. The effectiveness of the proposed method is experimentally demonstrated on two robotic applications, namely the point set registration and the inertial sensor localization.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Attitudes toward mental health services among homeless and matched housed youth

ABSTRACTHomeless youth experience high rates of mental health problems yet they under-utilize mental health services. The present study surveyed 56 homeless youth and 97 matched at-risk housed youth on their attitudes toward mental health services, and investigated the link between social support and attitudes. Results showed groups shared similar neutral to positive attitudes. Higher levels of social support were associated with increased positive attitudes toward services. Further analyses found that lesbian/gay/bisexual/questioning youth held more positive attitudes compared to heterosexual youth. Implications of the current study can assist service providers with eliminating barriers and increasing mental health service use.
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Training for Radiology Residents: Lecture Versus Interactive Learning Module.

Rationale and Objectives A prospective randomized study was conducted to assess whether an electronic learning module was as effective as a didactic lecture to teach musculoskeletal ultrasound to radiology residents. Materials and Methods Thirty-three residents were randomized into a module group versus a didactic group. All residents took a written “pretest” to assess baseline knowledge. Subsequently, the 17 residents in the didactic group attended a live didactic session delivered by a subspecialist musculoskeletal radiology faculty member. The 16 residents in the module group completed an electronic learning module that contained similar content to the live didactic session. Finally, all residents completed a written “posttest,” which served as the outcome measure. Results Mean score significantly improved between pre- and posttest by 10.6 ± 11.2% in the didactic group (DG; P = 0.002) and 14.0 ± 8.2% in the module group (MG; P P = 0.4). Mean pretest scores (75.6 ± 9.4% DG and 73.7 ± 9.2% MG, P = 0.6) and posttest scores (86.2 ± 9.7% DG and 87.7 ± 5.2% MG, P = 0.5) were not significantly different. The adjusted mean difference in posttest scores between groups was −1.9% (95% confidence interval: −7.2 to 3.5%). Conclusion If didactic training was better than electonic module training, the difference was relatively small (
Theoretical aspects of mixed volume computation via mixed subdivision

We analyze the computation of mixed volume of tuples of polytopes via fine mixed subdivisions. This method expresses the mixed volume as a sum of easily computable standard volumes of polytopes called mixed cells. Mixed cells play a critically important role in polyhedral homotopy continuation methods, which in turn are a particularly efficient numerical method for the solution of systems of polynomial equations. We provide a complete and selfcontained account of the underlying computational convexity techniques, assuming no background in algebraic geometry.
Analysis on Welding Seam Crack of 300 MW Boiler Reheater Output Pipes

The weld crack of the reheating pipe was analyzed,the flaw cracks along the weld seam line,which is located in the coarse grain zone of heated affected zone.The feasibile suggestions for preventing the crack was proposed again.
Lucerne: Urban Witch Hunters

Lucerne is a lake town, built on the shores of the Reuss river where it enters Lake Lucerne beneath the snowy peak of Mt. Pilatus. In the fifteenth century, as today, images of the city frequently depicted the Kapellbrucke — the covered wooden bridge which stretches across the river near its mouth — and the tower, the Wasserturm, which anchors it midstream. The Wasserturm served double duty as a watchtower to guard the mouth of the Reuss and as an interrogation and torture chamber. Around the same time that the Kapellbrucke was built, during the wars of the late fourteenth century, the citizens of Lucerne built an outer wall, fortifying the steep hill called the Musegg that rises behind the city. Beyond the wall, the steep descending slope of the hill was pasture. With their high vantage, the towers on the Musegg wall made excellent lookout points for fire in the city or for enemies without.1