cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Childhood religious affiliation and alcohol use and abuse across the lifespan in alcohol-dependent men

The current study examined the relationship between childhood religious affiliation and alcohol use across the life span. A sample of 931 men (average age of 51) from the Vietnam Era Twin Registry, which includes an overrepresentation of alcohol-dependent men, completed the Lifetime Drinking History interview, which assessed drinking across the life span. Childhood religious affiliation was obtained from the men's spouse/partner. Affiliations were subdivided into four categories: nonreligious, accommodating (religions that are relatively more accepting of the larger culture), differentiating (religions that set themselves apart from the larger culture), and Catholic. Differences in a variety of alcohol use variables by religious affiliation were examined, as well as the protective effect of childhood religious affiliation on three alcohol use variables at 5-year intervals from age 20 to age 50. Significant differences were found for abstinence, regular drinking, and current quantity-frequency (QFI) scores, with individuals in differentiating religions having the highest rates of abstinence/nonregular drinking and the lowest consumption levels. When examining QFI and alcohol dependence symptoms and diagnoses over time, the nonreligious group had more alcohol use than the religious groups, with the differentiating affiliations showing the least alcohol use. The differences between affiliations were not always significant, but the consistent pattern suggests that childhood religious affiliation may continue to affect alcohol use even into adulthood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Seismic Wave Propagation In 3D Randomly-heterogeneous Elastic Media

Three-dimensional (3D) seismic wave propagation within a randomly-heterogeneous, isotropic elastic medium is simulated with an explicit, time-domain, finite-difference (FD) algorithm based on the velocity-stress system of elastodynamics. Geologically realistic earth models, containing spatially-correlated random variations in material properties, are readily generated with a wavenumber-domain algorithm. Calculated synthetic seismic data clearly show numerous effects associated with scattering of compressional, shear, and surface waves by the randomly distributed perturbations.
A video disc oriented educational system

One of the challenging fields of computer science is the computer graphics field which, because of its relatively high cost, has not been used extensively for educational purposes. Recent hardware developments in the graphics technology and price breakthroughs in digital equipment are beginning to influence the educational uses of computer graphics. If “a picture is worth a thousand words” and if the cost is not at this ratio, one can provide the student, not necessarily of computer sciences, with the possibility of a continuous interaction in which the student can see the results of his decision and thus allows him to experiment and practice with ideas not completely understood yet.This paper presents a design for an interactive educational system incorporating the recent development of the video-disc.
Genetic evidence for the offsite transport of E. coli associated with land application of Class B biosolids on agricultural fields.

Abstract The land-application of Class B biosolids is tightly regulated to allow for natural attenuation of co-applied pathogens. Since many agricultural fields that receive biosolids are artificially drained through subsurface tiles, it is possible that under scenarios of excessive drainage associated with heavy rainfall events, co-applied pathogens might be carried offsite to contaminate nearby surface waters. To address this concern, we used genetic as well as traditional methods to investigate the impact of rainfall on the offsite drainage of Escherichia coli from agricultural fields during biosolids application. Water samples from field drain tiles and a reference field (no biosolids applied) were collected pre-, during and post-biosolids application, while samples of applied biosolids were collected on site during application. The samples were analyzed for E. coli -density and community- and isolate‐fingerprinting to assess the genetic link between E. coli in drainage water and those co-applied with biosolids. In contrast to E. coli densities present in the reference field drainage, our results revealed that post-application drainage water collected from biosolids treated fields contained significantly higher E. coli densities following heavy rainfall events, as compared to light rainfall events. Also, in contrast to the reference field, heavy rainfall correlated significantly with increased similarity of E. coli community fingerprints occurring in biosolids to those draining from treated field. Fingerprinting of individual E. coli revealed a high similarity (> 94%) between some isolates collected from biosolids and post-application drainage water. Using a combination of enumeration and genetic typing methods, we show that heavy rainfall following biosolids application to agricultural fields induced the offsite transport of biosolids-associated E. coli , potentially compromising the quality of water draining through the watershed.
Comparative Prevalence and Severity of Emphysema and Bronchitis at Autopsy in Cotton Mill Workers vs Controls

INTERNATiONAL CONFERENCE ON BYSSINOSIS 49S CN, ed), London: Pergamon Press, 1966:69-74 13 Rosen H. A modified ninhydrin colorimetric analysis for amino acids. Arch Biochem Biophys 1957; 67:10-15 14 Stipanovic RO, Wakelyn PJ, Bell AA. Lacinileme C, A revised structure, and lacinilene C 7-methyl ether from Gossypium bracts. Phytochem 1975; 14:1041-43 15 Jeffs PW, Lynn DC. Isolation and structure of 1Hydroxy-7-methoxy-4-isopropyl-1, 6-dimethyl-2( 1H )naphthalenone from cotton. J Org Chem 1975; 40: 2958-60 16 McCormick JP, Pachlatko JP, Schafer TR: Total synthesis of lacinilene C methyl ether, a probable byssinotic agent. Tetrahed Lett 1978; 42:3993-94 17 Rylander R, Imbus HR, Suh MW. Bacterial contamination of cotton as an indicator of respiratory effects among card room workers. Br J Indust Med 1979; 36: 299-304 18 Noweir MH, El-Sadik YM, El-Dakhakhny AA, Osman HA. Dust exposure in manual flax processing in Egypt. Br J md Med 1975; 32:147-54 19 Bouhuys A, Schoenberg JB, Beck GJ, Schilhing ESF. Epidemiology of chronic lung disease in a cotton mill community. Lung 1977; 154:187-86 20 Bouhuys A, Beck CJ, Schoenberg JB. Priorities in prevention of chronic lung diseases. Lung 1979; 156:129-48 21 Lundin C, Ringquist TR. Effects of histamine on pulmonary ventilation in man. Clin Sci 1960; 19:79-94 22 Schachter EN, Brown 5, Zuskin E, Buck M, Kolach B, Bouhuys A. Airway reactivity in cotton bract induced bronchospasm. Am Rev Resp Dis (in press)
An Evaluation of Model-Based Stator Resistance Estimation for Induction Motor Stator Winding Temperature Monitoring

Summary form only given, as follows. In this paper, the feasibility of using an estimate of the stator resistance (R/sub s/) as an indicator of stator winding temperature (T/sub s/) is evaluated. The advantages of resistance-based temperature monitoring over conventional thermal model-based methods are presented. Since obtaining an accurate estimate of R/sub s/ is critical for this approach, an investigation of existing R/sub s/ estimation schemes, and an analysis showing the sensitivity of model-based R/sub s/ estimation due to the uncertainties in motor parameters and variables, are given. It is shown that R/sub s/ estimation is difficult during high-speed operation, because estimated R/sub s/ becomes sensitive to errors in motor electrical parameters and variables, as the input excitation frequency (speed) increases. A new R/sub s/ estimation scheme for the purpose of monitoring the temperature in steady state is proposed. Experimental results on a line-connected induction machine verify the validity of the proposed method and the analysis.
In Vivo Expression and Immunoadjuvancy of a Mutant of Heat-Labile Enterotoxin of Escherichia coli in Vaccine and Vector Strains of Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae secretes cholera toxin (CT) and the closely related heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) of Escherichia coli, the latter when expressed in V. cholerae. Both toxins are also potent immunoadjuvants. Mutant LT molecules that retain immunoadjuvant properties while possessing markedly diminished enterotoxic activities when expressed by E. coli have been developed. One such mutant LT molecule has the substitution of a glycine residue for arginine-192 [LT(R192G)]. Live attenuated strains of V. cholerae that have been used both as V. cholerae vaccines and as vectors for inducing mucosal and systemic immune responses directed against expressed heterologous antigens have been developed. In order to ascertain whether LT(R192G) can act as an immunoadjuvant when expressed in vivo by V. cholerae, we introduced a plasmid (pCS95) expressing this molecule into three vaccine strains of V. cholerae, Peru2, ETR3, and JRB14; the latter two strains contain genes encoding different heterologous antigens in the chromosome of the vaccine vectors. We found that LT(R192G) was expressed from pCS95 in vitro by both E. coli and V. cholerae strains but that LT(R192G) was detectable in the supernatant fraction of V. cholerae cultures only. In order to assess potential immunoadjuvanticity, groups of germfree mice were inoculated with the three V. cholerae vaccine strains alone and compared to groups inoculated with the V. cholerae vaccine strains supplemented with purified CT as an oral immunoadjuvant or V. cholerae vaccine strains expressing LT(R192G) from pCS95. We found that mice continued to pass stool containing V. cholerae strains with pCS95 for at least 4 days after oral inoculation, the last day evaluated. We found that inoculation with V. cholerae vaccine strains containing pCS95 resulted in anti-LT(R192G) immune responses, confirming in vivo expression. We were unable to detect immune responses directed against the heterologous antigens expressed at low levels in any group of animals, including animals that received purified CT as an immunoadjuvant. We were, however, able to measure increased vibriocidal immune responses against vaccine strains in animals that received V. cholerae vaccine strains expressing LT(R192G) from pCS95 compared to the responses in animals that received V. cholerae vaccine strains alone. These results demonstrate that mutant LT molecules can be expressed in vivo by attenuated vaccine strains of V. cholerae and that such expression can result in an immunoadjuvant effect.
Association between C-reactive protein and cognitive deficits in elderly men and women: a meta-analysis.

Background: Certain risk factors for cognitive decline appear modifiable. A potentially modifiable marker of inflammation, C-reactive protein may be associated with cognitive deficits, although not all studies have found a relationship between C-reactive protein and cognitive ability. Further, few research papers have examined whether gender may affect any association between C-reactive protein and cognitive deficit.Methods: To better understand the association between C-reactive protein, cognitive deficit, and gender in elderly people, we meta-analyzed cross-sectional studies that reported cognitive ability assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination or an equivalent measure, C-reactive protein concentrations, and gender.Results: While we identified no studies containing only male subjects, the two identified studies containing both female and male subjects (n = 2,525) showed an effect size for cognition of −0.1809 (95% confidence interval, −0.2652 to −0.0967, p = 0.000025) between high and low C-reactive-protein groups. In contrast, the two identified studies containing only female subjects (n = 1,754) showed an effect size for cognition of 0.0345 (95% confidence interval, −0.0594 to 0.1285, not significant).Conclusions: In the context of a small number of source studies and lack of an all-male group, these results suggest that any association between C-reactive protein and cognitive deficits may be stronger in elderly men than in elderly women.
A study of PRSA sub-cycles

This paper discusses sub-cycles in a pseudo-random sequence of arrays (PRSA). Sub-cycles are generated by using a linear feedback shift register with a non-primitive characteristic polynomial in the core of the PRSA generator. Some properties of the sub-cycles are stated and proved. Examples are used to further clarify the ideas presented. Computer-generated results are also included.
Amino acid binding by the Class I aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases: Role for a conserved proline in the signature sequence

Although partial or complete three-dimensional structures are known for three Class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, the amino acid-binding sites in these proteins remain poorly characterized. To explore the methionine binding site of Escherichia coli methionyl-tRNA synthetase, we chose to study a specific, randomly generated methionine auxotroph that contains a mutant methionyl-tRNA synthetase whose defect is manifested in an elevated Km for methionine (Barker, D.G., Ebel, J.-P., Jakes, R.C., & Bruton, C.J., 1982, Eur. J. Biochem. 127, 449-457), and employed the polymerase chain reaction to sequence this mutant synthetase directly. We identified a Pro 14 to Ser replacement (P14S), which accounts for a greater than 300-fold elevation in Km for methionine and has little effect on either the Km for ATP or the kcat of the amino acid activation reaction. This mutation destabilizes the protein in vivo, which may partly account for the observed auxotrophy. The altered proline is found in the "signature sequence" of the Class I synthetases and is conserved. This sequence motif is 1 of 2 found in the 10 Class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and, in the known structures, it is in the nucleotide-binding fold as part of a loop between the end of a beta-strand and the start of an alpha-helix. The phenotype of the mutant and the stability and affinity for methionine of the wild-type and mutant enzymes are influenced by the amino acid that is 25 residues beyond the C-terminus of the signature sequence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A novel paradigm for providing improved care to chronic patients in cardiac intensive care unit.

Objective Evaluate the impact of chronic cardiac care team (CCCT) on hospital course of patients, their families, and nursing staff. Design Retrospective observational study in children with hospital stay of ≥6 weeks in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) at a tertiary care children's hospital. Before and after care, survey of the nurses and patients family was also performed. Results The CCCT provided care for 68 patients of which 44 survived to discharge. Median age at admission was 19 days (range 0–20.6 years); 18 (26%) were admitted at birth. Cardiac diagnosis included single ventricle in 27, heart failure/cardiac transplantation in 37, others in 6. The CCCT was involved in follow-up for vitamin and endocrine deficiencies, updating immunization status, optimizing nutritional intake, growth parameters, assess feeding issues, and providing end-of-life discussions in all those who died. One year after implementation, 85% nurses indicated improved understanding of patient problems, 57% reported improved working relationship with families, and 87% reported improved team communication. Family survey indicated that implementation of the model led to significantly improved opinion of parents in their ability to participate in the plan of care (28% vs. 70%, P = 0.019) and better relationship with the CICU staff caring for their child (57% vs. 100%, P = 0.008). Conclusion The CCCT provides a new team-based paradigm for improving continuity of care in chronic CICU patients by supplementing medical care and facilitates end-of-life discussions. The CCCT bridges communication gap between CICU staff and families.
Observations of Rossby waves linked to convection over the eastern tropical Pacific

Rossby wave activity propagating into the eastern tropical Pacific from the midlatitudes during northern winter is examined in some detail. These waves are associated with the intrusion of high potential vorticity air into low latitudes, and they modulate cloudiness, stability, and vertical motion in the vicinity of the ITCZ. In the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere the horizontal phase and group propagation of the wave activity are qualitatively like those of a nondivergent barotropic Rossby wave. As the waves move equatorward, they become more shallow and propagate upward into the stratosphere. The horizontal and vertical propagation is consistent with the tilts of the waves, the large-scale three-dimensional background flow, and with the signatures of momentum and heat fluxes associated with the wave activity. In the lower troposphere, paired cyclonic anomalies on either side of the equator accompany the upper level wave activity to the west of the ITCZ cloudiness signal. These waves amplify following the peak in the ITCZ cloudiness and propagate westward along the equator. This suggests that the upper-level wave activity, and possibly the associated convective heating, can trigger the excitation of the equatorially trapped Rossby modes. The transient wave activity appears to be a crucial component of the momentum balance of the eastern tropical Pacific circulation. There is substantial interannual variability in the wave activity, consistent with observed changes in the large-scale basic state associated with the Southern Oscillation.
Unidirectional photodamage of pheophytin in photosynthesis

The primary reactions in photosynthesis take place in the reaction centers surrounded by light harvesting complexes (Blankenship, 2002; Diner and Rappaport, 2002; Frank and Brudvig, 2004). There are two types of photosynthetic reaction centers. The type I reaction center has iron-sulfur cluster as stable electron acceptor, such as photosystem I complexes, green bacterial and heliobacterial reaction centers, and the type II uses quinone as stable electron acceptor including photosystem II and purple bacterial reaction centers. The electron transfer in type II reaction center in unidirectional via the L-subunit of the reaction centers (Maroti et al., 1985; Hoerber et al., 1986; Martin et al., 1986; Michel-Beyerle et al., 1988). However, the electron transfer in the type I reaction center is different from that in the type II centers, which is bidirectionational (Guergova-Kuras et al., 2001; Li et al., 2006). The three dimensional structures of both types of reaction centers were determined at atomic resolution (Jordan et al., 2001; Ferreira et al., 2004; Loll et al., 2005; Amunts et al., 2007; Umena et al., 2011). The electron transfer pathways in both types of reaction centers are well established (Van Grondelle, 1985; Schatz et al., 1988; Fleming and van Grondelle, 1997; Dekker and Van Grondelle, 2000; Gobets and van Grondelle, 2001; Seibert and Wasielewski, 2003; Van Grondelle and Novoderezhkin, 2006). The primary electron donor in the reaction centers is a pair of chlorophyll molecules, and pheophytin is the primary electron acceptor (Klimov et al., 1977; Holzwarth et al., 2006).
Magnet Plunging System for the Bevatron External Proton Beam

As part of a recent 9.6-million-dollar improvement and modernization program, an external proton beam was created for the Bevatron. During the period 1960 to 1963, the equipment necessary to produce this beam was designed, fabricated, and installed. The first external beam emerged from the Bevatron in February 1963.
N,N-Substituted n-Alkanesulfonamides as Repellents for the Yellowfever Mosquito and the German Cockroach

Three alkanesulfonamides derived from nitrogen-containing heterocyclics showed promise as repellents vs. the yellowfever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.), when they were tested on clothing. In skin tests vs. A. aegypti with 20–25% ethanolic solutions, 1 of the 3, 1-(butylsulfonyl)pyrrolidine, was as effective as the standard, deet. Against German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), 1-(butylsulfonyl) piperidine gave 97–100% protection for at least 14 days.
Valles Caldera workshop

A Continental Scientific Drilling Project (CSDP) Workshop, attended by 87 scientists, focusing on the Valles caldera was hosted by the Department of Energy and the Los Alamos National Laboratory, on October 5–7, 1982, in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The caldera, a large, Quaternary magmahydrothermal system, lies at the intersection of the Rio Grande rift and the Jemez lineament in north-central New Mexico and is a prime site for the first deep drill holes. One major objective of CSDP is to develop a broad scientific understanding of the roots of an active hydrothermal system associated with recent igneous intrusion. Surface geological, geophysical, geochemical, and hydrological data, along with information from shallow exploratory drillholes, will be used in the process of interactive development and testing of models and hypotheses for such systems. Ultimately, deep drilling will be essential to provide direct sampling of fluids and rocks at depth and to measure directly the critical in situ physical parameters. Thus, deep drilling research becomes an integral and necessary component in the synthesis, refinement, and verification of three-dimensional models of hydrothermal-magma systems and processes.
Application of principal base parameter analysis to design of adaptive robot controllers

The feasibility of using principal base parameter analysis (PBPA) as an aid in the design and tuning of adaptive model-based controllers for industrial manipulators is investigated. Results from PBPA are utilized to select the minimal size of the adaptive parameter vector and to develop a less heuristic procedure for controller tuning. The design procedure is illustrated by a simple two link example and then extended to the first three links of a PUMA-560. Experimental analysis contrasted with an adaptive model-based control (AMBC) design augmented with PBPA to a completely heuristic procedure used in previous research. The incorporation of PBPA into the AMBC design minimized the computational complexity while reducing the time and expertise necessary to tune the controller for satisfactory tracking efficacy. >
RETINOIC ACID INCREASES AMOUNT OF PHOSPHORYLATED RAF; ECTOPIC EXPRESSION OF cFMS REVEALS THAT RETINOIC ACID-INDUCED DIFFERENTIATION IS MORE STRONGLY DEPENDENT ON ERK2 SIGNALING THAN INDUCED G0 ARREST IS

Abstract Retinoic acid is known to cause the myeloid differentiation and G1/0 cell cycle arrest of HL-60 cells in a process that requires mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal regulated kinase (MEK)-dependent extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK)2 activation. It has also been shown that ectopic expression of cFMS, a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-family transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, enhances retinoic acid-induced differentiation and G1/0 arrest. The mechanism of how the retinoic acid and cFMS signaling pathways intersect is not known. The present data show that the ectopic expression of cFMS results in the differential loss of sensitivity of retinoic acid-induced differentiation or G1/0 arrest to inhibition of ERK2 activation. PD98059 was used to inhibit MEK and consequently ERK2. In wild-type HL-60 cells, PD98059 blocked retinoic acid-induced differentiation; but in cFMS stable transfectants, PD98059 only attenuated the induced differentiation, with the resulting response ...
Development of Nanostructured and Nanoparticle Dispersion-Reinforced Metallic Systems - Progress and Challenges

Investigations on nanostructured metallic systems have shown that exceptional property enhancements are potentially achievable through structural refinement to the nano-scale. While dramatic property improvements have been reported on these materials in the past, significant technical challenges exist in processing, as well as in retention of microstructural stability and useful properties at elevated temperatures. This presentation will summarize the key challenges in developing nanostructured metallic systems, and highlight our progress and selected successes in the understanding of structure-property relationships in bulk nanostructures as well as nanostructured multilayered systems. Work in nanoparticle dispersion-strengthened metallic systems will also be highlighted in this presentation.
The Metaphysical Consequences of Counterfactual Skepticism

A series of recent arguments purport to show that most counterfactuals of the form if A had happened then C would have happened are not true. These arguments pose a challenge to those of us who think that counterfactual discourse is a useful part of ordinary conversation, of philosophical reasoning, and of scientific inquiry. Either we find a way to revise the semantics for counterfactuals in order to avoid these arguments, or we find a way to ensure that the relevant counterfactuals, while not true, are still assertible. I argue that regardless of which of these two strategies we choose, the natural ways of implementing these strategies all share a surprising consequence: they commit us to a particular metaphysical view about chance.
Supports for Vocabulary Instruction in Early Language and Literacy Methods Textbooks

The goal of this study was to examine the extent to which the content and recommendations in recently published early language and literacy methods textbooks may support early childhood teachers in learning to provide vocabulary instruction for young children. We completed a content analysis of 9 textbooks with coding at the sentence level. Although coverage of vocabulary ranged broadly across textbooks, overall this analysis revealed that only 3.5% of the content in these textbooks addressed vocabulary. The primary instructional method for vocabulary suggested in these textbooks was introducing word meanings to children. There was little coverage of word selection, review and practice, or progress monitoring of vocabulary. Few sentences addressed implicit supports for vocabulary development such as creating a high-quality oral language environment. These findings suggest that early language and literacy methods textbooks provide limited supports for early childhood teachers in learning to provide vocabul...
It made my life a little easier: Primary care providers’ beliefs and attitudes about using opioid treatment agreements

Objective: To understand primary care providers (PCPs)’ experiences, beliefs, and attitudes about using opioid treatment agreements (OTAs) for patients with chronic pain. Design: Qualitative research study. Participants: Twenty-eight internists and family medicine physicians at two health centers. Approach: Semistructured telephone interviews, informed by the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction. Themes were analyzed using a Grounded Theory approach, and similarities and differences in themes were examined among OTA adopters, nonadopters, and selective adopters. Results: Participants were 64 percent female and 68 percent white, and practiced for a mean of 9.5 years. Adoption of OTAs varied: seven were adopters, five were nonadopters, and 16 were selective adopters. OTA adoption reflected PCPs’ beliefs and attitudes in the following three thematic categories: 1) perceived effect of OTA use on the therapeutic alliance, 2) beliefs about the utility of OTAs for patients or providers, and 3) perception of patients’ risk for opioid misuse. PCPs commonly believed that OTAs were useful for physician self-protection, but few believed that they prevent opioid misuse. Selective adopters expressed ambivalent beliefs and made decisions about OTA use for individual patients based on both observed data and a subjective sense of each patient’s risk for misuse. Conclusions: Substantial variability in PCP use of OTAs reflects differences in PCP beliefs and attitudes. Research to understand the impact of OTA use on providers, patients, and the therapeutic alliance is urgently needed to guide best practices.
Contemporary considerations in exercise ECG testing.

Despite the promises of new technologies, ECG use is increasing and its clinical applications are diversifying.
National Brand Advertising and Monopolistic Competition

T HIS is a study of the effects of advertising on monopolistic competition; of whether or not growth in concentration of production is related in any way to growth in advertising.1 This is not a study of the relation of the size of plants or firms in industry to advertising. Size qua size is not the point of interest. Size is of interest only if it gives control. Of course it is possible, as Dr. Willard L. Thorp pointed out in his testimony before the Temporary National Economic Committee "that in many industries you can't have concentration unless you have size (but) it is perfectly possible and probably true in many cases that we have small enterprises whose position in their own market is stronger than that of many of the larger enterprises in their market.... We have a group of cases in the patents field where, by definition and Government aid, you have complete dominance of a particular product by the holder of the patent, if it happens not to have been licensed so that others can produce it. In that case your single enterprise is the sole producer as a result of its patent right."2
Characteristics of Pelvic Lymph Node Metastases in Prostatic Adenocarcinoma: A Study of 83 Cases

Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is currently the most accurate staging modality for lymph node metastases in prostate adenocarcinoma. There is no consensus on the optimal sampling method of PLND specimens among pathologists. This study analyzed the effectiveness of the submission of entire adipose tissue in 451 cases and its impact on total lymph node yield and detection of positive lymph nodes. The sizes of metastatic foci and positive lymph nodes in 83 cases were also studied. Submission of entire adipose tissue increased the lymph node yield and positive lymph node detection by 36.7 % and 1.99 %, respectively. Three cases had positive lymph nodes exclusively in adipose tissue. Of the patients examined, 68% had the largest positive lymph node, <1 cm. In conclusion, it was noted that metastases from prostate cancer were frequently small and seen within small lymph nodes. Submission of entire adipose tissue substantially increased the lymph node yield, but its impact on the detection of additional positive lymph nodes was low. Submission of the entire adipose tissue may be considered as an option in patients with high-risk factors for lymph node metastases.
A performance comparison of automatic detection schemes in wide-area aerial imagery

Accurate and efficient detection of vehicles in wide-area aerial imagery is a fundamental task in understanding the automobile traffic patterns in an urban environment so as to help regulate the traffic flow. Vehicles with varying shapes and sizes, background clutter, occlusion, low-resolution and noise in the acquired images make the automatic detection of vehicles a challenging task. We present the performance analysis of six object detection algorithms for moving vehicle detection in low-resolution aerial image sequences. We compare the automatic detection results with manual detection, and evaluate the performance of the six object detection algorithms via several metrics.
Locked-rotor current of line-start permanent magnet motors with asymmetric magnetic circuit structure in rotor surface

In order to study the influence of asymmetric magnetic circuit structure in rotor surface on locked-rotor currents of line-start permanent magnet(LSPM) motors,taking a 22kW PM motor as an example,the characteristics of locked-rotor currents,considering asymmetric structure in rotor surface and additional saturation of magnetic circuit,were systematically studied by means of time-stepping finite element(T-S FEM).It is found that,as d-axis of rotor pole coincides with the axis of one phase,the current RMS value of this phase is about 10% higher than the other two phases and the difference between positive and negative amplitudes is close to 10%.Then,the reason of the above phenomena are also revealed,that is,asymmetric structure in rotor surface mainly leads to the asymmetric three-phase locked-rotor currents,and additional saturation caused by permanent magnet mainly results in unequal value of positive and negative amplitude.The correctness is verified through comparison of tested locked-rotor currents.
Experimental Research of Live Working on ±660 kV Double Circuit DC Transmission Line on the Same Tower

In order to determine the technical requirements of the safety distance,the complex gap,the working mode and the safety protection etc.for live working on ± 660 kV double circuit DC transmission line on the same tower,based on the practice ±660 kV transmission line project,the maximum operating over-voltage level for live working on the line was obtain through simulation calculation and simulation experiments.Based on these,the minimum approach distance on ± 660 kV double circuit AC transmission line on the same tower at different altitudes were determined through the 1:1 ratio scale simulated tower,including the altitudes of 500,1000,1500 and 2000 m.The minimum complex gap of entering equal potential has got at the same time.Otherwise the electric field intensity on live working human-body surface and the energy traverse human-body when potential is shifting are simulated and calculated,and the main parameter requirement of the screen clothes was presented.The results of this experimental investigation provide technical support and reference for live working on 660 kV double circuit DC transmission line on the same tower.
A Novel Control Approach for Protection of Multiterminal VSC-Based HVDC Transmission System Against DC Faults

Overall performance of the voltage source converters (VSCs) has improved during the recent years. Improvement of the VSCs along with the attractive features of the VSC-based high-voltage direct current (HVdc) transmission systems over the thyristor-based HVdc transmission systems make it possible to build multiterminal VSC HVdc transmission systems. However, the VSCs are vulnerable against dc-side faults and a method needs to be employed to interrupt the dc fault current. In this paper, three different configurations of solid-state dc circuit breakers (CB) for protection purposes are studied. Moreover, a new control method to protect the VSCs against the dc-side fault is proposed. The new method makes it possible to interrupt the dc fault current with the existing ac breakers on the ac-side or with the lower rating solid-state (SS) direct current circuit breakers (DCCBs). The performance of the SS DCCBs and the proposed method are studied using real-time digital simulator.
Semiautomated Ventilation Defect Quantification in Exercise-induced Bronchoconstriction Using Hyperpolarized Helium-3 Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Repeatability Study.

Rationale and Objectives This study aimed to compare the performance of a semiautomated ventilation defect segmentation approach, adaptive K -means, with manual segmentation of hyperpolarized helium-3 magnetic resonance imaging in subjects with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). Materials and Methods Six subjects with EIB underwent hyperpolarized helium-3 magnetic resonance imaging and spirometry tests at baseline, post exercise, and recovery over two separate visits. Ventilation defects were analyzed by two methods. First, two independent readers manually segmented ventilation defects. Second, defects were quantified by an adaptive K -means method that corrected for coil sensitivity, applied a vesselness filter to estimate pulmonary vasculature, and segmented defects adaptively based on the overall low-intensity signals in the lungs. These two methods were then compared in four aspects: (1) ventilation defect percent (VDP) measurements, (2) correlation between spirometric measures and measured VDP, (3) regional VDP variations pre- and post exercise challenge, and (4) Dice coefficient for spatial agreement. Results The adaptive K -means method was ~5 times faster, and the measured VDP bias was under 2%. The correlation between predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second over forced vital capacity and VDP measured by adaptive K -means ( ρ = −0.64, P 0.0001) and by the manual method ( ρ = −0.63, P 0.0001) yielded almost identical 95% confidence intervals. Neither method of measuring VDP indicated apical/basal or anterior dependence in this small study cohort. Conclusions Compared to the manual method, the adaptive K -means method provided faster, reproducible, comparable measures of VDP in EIB and may be applied to a variety of lung diseases.
Portland Looks at International Benchmarks

Representatives of Oregon, Washington, Sweden, Taiwan, Canada, Washington D.C., Texas, North Carolina, and Hawaii gathered in Portland for two days of case studies and moderated group discussions to explore best practices for integrating technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, and economic development efforts for sustainable growth.
Preclinical medical student observations associated with later professionalism concerns.

AbstractPurpose: Professionalism is a core physician competency and identifying students at risk for poor professional development early in their careers may allow for mentoring. This study identified indicators in the preclinical years associated with later professionalism concerns.Methods: A retrospective analysis of observable indicators in the preclinical and clinical years was conducted using two classes of students (n = 226). Relationships between five potential indicators of poor professionalism in the preclinical years and observations related to professional concerns in the clinical years were analyzed.Results: Fifty-three medical students were identified with at least one preclinical indicator and one professionalism concern during the clinical years. Two observable preclinical indicators were significantly correlated with unprofessional conduct during the clinical years: Three or more absences from attendance-required sessions (odds ratio 4.47; p=.006) and negative peer assessment (odds ratio 3...
Metastatic Brain Tumors

Stereotactic radiosurgery has developed an increasingly important role in the management of brain metastases. However, its use has also sparked controversy about the appropriate treatment for patients with brain metastases. Studies have shown benefits of SRS as sole treatment, as adjuvant therapy after surgery, as an adjunct to WBRT, and as salvage treatment after WBRT. Retrospective studies suggest that patients treated with SRS or surgery have comparable outcomes. RTOG 9508 provides level 1 evidence of a survival benefit of SRS and WBRT compared with WBRT alone for patients with a single lesion. For patients with more than one lesion, the use of SRS and WBRT should be considered based on performance status, extent and activity of extracranial disease, and steroid use. More recently, the omission of WBRT has been advocated by concerns of the potential risks of cognitive decline with WBRT and apparent lack of survival benefit of additional WBRT. Surgical resection followed by SRS boost exhibits good local control for single brain metastasis. The potential cognitive side effects of WBRT must be balanced against the risk for increased distant brain metastases and the cost of more frequent follow-up scans when treating brain metastases with SRS alone. A recent phase III trial has shown benefit in cognition for patients undergoing WBRT who take memantine. As the prognosis improves for cancer patients, the challenge of increasing progression free survival while limiting cognitive decline and other side effects will continue to make the management of brain metastases controversial.
An efficient parallel implementation of a light-weight data privacy method for mobile cloud users

Cloud computing provides an opportunity to users to outsource their data and applications. However, data privacy is one of the key challenges for the users who are outsourcing data on some transparent cloud servers. Data encryption is the best option to protect users' data privacy on the cloud. However, computation overheads of encryption methods could be expensive to some small computing machines, such as mobile or IoT devices with limited resources, such as battery. In our previous study, we developed a light-weight Data Privacy Method (DPM) based on a chaos system that uses a Pseudo Random Permutation (PRP) to scramble the content of original data. Although the nature of PRP is against parallelization, we provide an efficient parallel algorithm to scramble a file while the file splits into multiple chunks. The parallel DPM avoids an adversary to access the original data (e.g., by using a brute-force attack), when the size of each scrambled data is large enough. In this paper, we accelerate DPM on a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) by using NVIDIA CUDA platform for implementation. We assess the generated shuffle addresses from pseudo-random and the distribution of randomness when the computation on data is parallelized on a multiple GPU-cores. A set of rigorous evaluation results shows that the parallel DPM provides a superior performance over tradition DPM when the most time consuming of native CUDA parallel functions have monitored. We also perform a security analysis of parallel DPM to ensure it is secure and it is a cost effective model to protect users' data privacy in a cloud environment.
ANALISIS KEMAMPUAN GURU MENGELOLA PEMBELAJARAN TEMATIK MENURUT KURIKULUM 2013 DI SD NEGERI 1 SOPAI KABUPATEN TORAJA UTARA

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mendeskripsikan kemampuan guru mengelola pembelajaran tematik terpadu menurut kurikulum 2013 di SDN 1 Sopai. Jenis penelitian ini adalah kualitatif deskriptif yang dipadukan dengan kuantitatif. Subjek dalam penelitian ini adalah guru VA dan VB.Instrumen yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini terdiri atas instrumen utama yakni peneliti sendiri dan instrumen pendukung yaitu lembar observasi perencanaan pembelajaran, lembar observasi pelaksanaan pembelajaran, dan pedoman wawancara. Hasil penelitian ini adalah (1) subjek penelitian mampu menyusun perencanan pembelajaran dengan maksimal (2) subjek penelitian mampu melaksananakan pembelajaran tematik terpadu dengan pendekatan saintifik dengan maksimal (3) subjek penelitian mampu melaksananakan penilaian pembelajaran menurut kurikulum 2013 dengan maksimal. Kata kunci : Pengelolaan pembelajaran, pembelajaran tematik, kurikulum 2013
Third‐Person Effect: Basic Concept

The third-person effect is a phenomenon that often occurs when individuals are exposed to a socially undesirable or persuasive message. Its basis lies in the individual's perception that the message will not have a negative effect on the self but that others may be negatively influenced. Thus, the individual may act to prohibit others from exposure to the message. The converse situation also occurs: Exposure to a prosocial message may be perceived to have more influence on the self than on others. Keywords: perception; persuasive communication; relationships
Small business development: immigrants’ access to loan capital

AbstractAlthough immigrant entrepreneurs have accounted for a significant growth in small businesses in the United States over the past decades, we still have limited information on how immigrants access loan capital to seed their new ventures and grow established businesses. This study seeks to shed light on availability of loan programs for immigrant entrepreneurs and better identify potential obstacles these immigrants experience in funding. The findings show that immigrant business owners experience issues with accessing capital due to lack of knowledge about available resources, technical difficulties, and reluctance to obtain loans from financial institutions. The loan providers also identified key constraints such as language barriers and trust issues. This study suggests that government entities as well as other loan providers need to improve communication as well as accessibility to loan programs in order to bridge the resource disparity for immigrant entrepreneurs in accessing loan capital.
Evidence for the Chemical Nature of Capping in CdSe Nanoparticles

The CdSe nanocrystals were grown by TOPO (trioctyl phosphine oxide)capping method using CdO as a precursor. CdSe nanoparticles of size 30-40 A have been prepared at different Cd:Se ratios. Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) analysis was used on a variety of CdSe nanocrystallites to study the surface structure. Our EXAFS results show that TOPO binds to the CdSe particles via Cd-O bond and not through the Se-O bond. Use of excess Cd initially (Cd : Se = 2 : 1), caps the CdSe particles with an extra layer of Cd. This extra cap renders further stability to the particles against oxidation and light, as is evident from the more stable emission properties of these particles. However, when the excess Cd is not present as in the case of Cd : Se = 1 : 1, then the particles are less stable to oxidation and light.
Rapid urbanization and the need for sustainable transportation policies in Jakarta

Not only is Jakarta the largest metropolitan area in Southeast Asia, it is the also one of the most dynamic, though beset with most of the urban problems experienced in twenty-first century Southeast Asia. Batavia, colonial capital of the Netherland Indies in the first half of the 20th century was a small urban area of approximately 150,000 residents. In the second half, Batavia became Jakarta, the 28 million megacity capital of independent Indonesia. Among many urban problems, one major problem plagued Jakarta in the last two decades is traffic congestions. This paper discusses the extent to which rapid urbanization in Jakarta has contributed to the need for sustainable transportation policies in Jakarta. The development of MRT could be viable solutions to alleviate the acute traffic jams in Jakarta. Jakarta will need to implement other innovative sustainable transportation policies including promoting active live through more walking and bicycling, carpool matching services, shuttle services, telecommuting and downzoning in downtown areas.
Examples and Learning Systems

Any system that learns or adapts — whether well- or ill-defined, man or machine — must have examples, experiences, and data on which to base its learning or adaptation. Too often, however, the examples that form the basis of learning are taken for granted. This paper will concentrate on the examples as a study in their own right.
Binding Characteristics of Two Oxytocin Variants and Vasopressin at Oxytocin Receptors from Four Primate Species with Different Social Behavior Patterns

A clade of New World monkeys (NWMs) exhibits considerable diversity in both oxytocin (OT) ligand and oxytocin receptor (OTR) structure. Most notable is the variant Pro8-OT, with proline instead of leucine at the eighth position, resulting in a rigid bend in the peptide backbone. A higher proportion of species that express Pro8-OT also engage in biparental care and social monogamy. When marmosets (genus Callithrix), a biparental and monogamous Pro8-OT NWM species, are administered the ancestral Leu8-OT, there is no change in social behavior compared with saline treatment. However, when Pro8-OT is administered, marmosets’ sociosexual and prosocial behaviors are altered. The studies here tested the hypothesis that OTR binding affinities and OT-induced intracellular Ca2+ potencies would favor the native OT ligand in OTRs from four primate species, each representing a unique combination of ancestral lineage, breeding system, and native OT ligand: humans (Leu8-OT, monogamous, apes), macaques (Leu8-OT, nonmonogamous, Old World monkey), marmosets (Pro8-OT, monogamous, NWM), and titi monkeys (Leu8-OT, monogamous, NWM). OTRs were expressed in immortalized Chinese hamster ovary cells and tested for intact-cell binding affinities for Pro8-OT, Leu8-OT, and arginine vasopressin (AVP), as well as intracellular Ca2+ signaling after stimulation with Pro8-OT, Leu8-OT, and AVP. Contrary to our hypothesis, Pro8-OT bound at modestly higher affinities and stimulated calcium signaling at modestly higher potencies compared with Leu8-OT in all four primate OTRs. Thus, differences downstream from a ligand-receptor binding event are more likely to explain the different behavioral responses to these two ligands.