cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Baseline Algorithm for Face Detection and Tracking in Video

Establishing benchmark datasets, performance metrics and baseline algorithms have considerable research significance in gauging the progress in any application domain. These primarily allow both users and developers to compare the performance of various algorithms on a common platform. In our earlier works, we focused on developing performance metrics and establishing a substantial dataset with ground truth for object detection and tracking tasks (text and face) in two video domains -- broadcast news and meetings. In this paper, we present the results of a face detection and tracking algorithm on broadcast news videos with the objective of establishing a baseline performance for this task-domain pair. The detection algorithm uses a statistical approach that was originally developed by Viola and Jones and later extended by Lienhart. The algorithm uses a feature set that is Haar-like and a cascade of boosted decision tree classifiers as a statistical model. In this work, we used the Intel Open Source Computer Vision Library (OpenCV) implementation of the Haar face detection algorithm. The optimal values for the tunable parameters of this implementation were found through an experimental design strategy commonly used in statistical analyses of industrial processes. Tracking was accomplished as continuous detection with the detected objects in two frames mapped using a greedy algorithm based on the distances between the centroids of bounding boxes. Results on the evaluation set containing 50 sequences (a 2.5 mins.) using the developed performance metrics show good performance of the algorithm reflecting the state-of-the-art which makes it an appropriate choice as the baseline algorithm for the problem.
Evaluation of Leakage From Fume Hoods Using Tracer Gas, Tracer Nanoparticles and Nanopowder Handling Test Methodologies

The most commonly reported control used to minimize workplace exposures to nanomaterials is the chemical fume hood. Studies have shown, however, that significant releases of nanoparticles can occur when materials are handled inside fume hoods. This study evaluated the performance of a new commercially available nano fume hood using three different test protocols. Tracer gas, tracer nanoparticle, and nanopowder handling protocols were used to evaluate the hood. A static test procedure using tracer gas (sulfur hexafluoride) and nanoparticles as well as an active test using an operator handling nanoalumina were conducted. A commercially available particle generator was used to produce sodium chloride tracer nanoparticles. Containment effectiveness was evaluated by sampling both in the breathing zone (BZ) of a mannequin and operator as well as across the hood opening. These containment tests were conducted across a range of hood face velocities (60, 80, and 100 ft/min) and with the room ventilation system tur...
Does ghrelin really matter after bariatric surgery

Does ghrelin really matter after bariatric surgery? Hongchan Lee, M.D.*, Christine Te, M.D., Saji Koshy, M.D., Julio A. Teixeira, M.D., F.A.C.S., F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, M.D., Blandine Laferrere M.D. Division of Bariatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York Obesity Research Center, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases 2 (2006) 538–548
The inducible kinase IKKi is required for IL-17-dependent signaling associated with neutrophilia and pulmonary inflammation

The adaptor Act1 links the interleukin 17 receptor to downstream signaling pathways. Li and colleagues show that phosphorylation of Act1 by the kinase IKKi is necessary for recruitment of the adaptors TRAF2 and TRAF5 and activation of the pathway of mitogen-activated protein kinases.
Host factors in "chromophobe" adenoma of the anterior pituitary: a retrospective study of 464 patients.

Abstract To understand better the pathogenesis of pituitary chromophobe adenoma, we undertook a retrospective study of host factors, sexual function, associated diseases, and natural history. Data were obtained from the records of 464 patients in whom the disease was demonstrated by pathologic, radiographic, laboratory, and clinical means. The patients were drawn from the Presbyterian Hospital and the Neurological Institute of New York City; the study period comprised the years 1930–1964. The definitely positive findings are: peak age of onset 31–60 yr, a startlingly low (3%) prevalence of left-hand preference, a significantly earlier menopause (by 13 yr on average) than controls, a low frequency of marriage and a small number of offspring, the expected association with acromegaly (3.8%) and Cushing's syndrome (1.1%), an unexpectedly high frequency of diabetes mellitus (8.6%), perhaps in part responsible for the prevalence (7.5%) of coronary artery disease, a low rate of occurrence of fibromyomata uteri; the commonest chief complaint being visual symptoms in about two thirds of patients that sooner or later appear in nearly three quarters of the patients; and the much earlier onset (by years) of endocrinel than of neurologic dysfunction—particularly obvious in the form of early menopause. Suggestively positive findings are: a predilection of Jews and Old Americans for the disease, a somewhat low frequency of Rh negative individuals, a slightly early menarche, perhaps a high frequency of duodenal ulcer, and the “conventional” order of appearance of target gland failure—gonadal followed later by thyroidal and adrenocortical deficiency. This “classic” order of events should be viewed with caution because in this series as in earlier reports samples are small and data incomplete. The negative findings are: equal incidence in the two sexes (contrary to a few previous reports), absence of a distinctive physique, and normal frequency of ABO blood group distribution. Statistical analysis of the data demonstrates that large groups of patients are essential for accurate conclusions. Equally necessary are comparable control groups, with respect to era when studied, age, and racial mix. With regard to pathogenesis, the most promising leads to emerge from this study are (1) a careful genetic investigation is warranted to assess the frequent association with diabetes mellitus; and (2) the long period between earliest symptoms, which are usually endocrinel, and the neurologic symptoms that appear years later, suggests the need for a prospective laboratory study of patients suspected of harboring a chromophobe adenoma. Only in this way can one assess the importance of anterior pituitary target gland failure as a primary, not a secondary, event in the pathogenesis of chromophobe adenoma.
Blends of SAN with methyl methacrylate copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitic anhydride

Abstract Copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitic anhydride (4META) were synthesized. The miscibility regions, for blends of these copolymers with styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymers were determined. The miscibility region for MMA–HEMA copolymers is larger than that for MMA–4META copolymers. Interaction energies for monomer unit pairs were calculated from the isothermal miscibility maps using the Flory–Huggins theory combined with the binary interaction model. The experimental phase separation temperatures were found to be similar to the spinodal temperatures predicted from the lattice–fluid theory of Sanchez and Lacombe using these interaction energies.
The combinatorial structure of linear deterministic interference channels

Approximate solutions to some long-standing multi-terminal information theoretic problems, in particular interference channels, have been made possible by study of the corresponding linear deterministic models. Here, we illustrate a combinatorial structure underlying linear deterministic interference channels (LDIC). This enables a systematic design of sum-capacity achievable schemes in a general 2-user LDIC.
Computing Tables for the Tetrachoric Correlation Coefficient

In 1933, Chesire, Saffir, and Thurstone published their Computing Diagrams for the Tetrachoric Correlation Coefficient. Since then there have been few developments to aid the practitioner in a rapid and more accurate calculation of the tetrachoric correlation. The present study describes a set of tables for ease in determining tetrachoric correlations. Entries are provided for all X variable dichotomies and their individual Y variable dichotomies rounded to the nearest five one-hundredths in proportion form. The coefficients have been computed to 3-decimal accuracy. The development of the tables in this manner allows the researcher to determine the correlation within a given sample, as well as for populations in which the base rates differ.
The Lessons We (Don't) Learn: Counterfactual Thinking and Organizational Accountability after a Close Call

We investigate how individuals learn from imagined might-have-been scenarios. We hypothesize that individuals are more likely to learn when they have responded to an event with upward-directed, self-focused counterfactual thoughts, and, additionally, that this learning process is inhibited by accountability to organizational superiors. Support for these hypotheses was obtained in two studies that assessed learning by aviation pilots from the experience of near accidents. Study 1 analyzed counterfactual thoughts and lessons in narrative reports filed by experienced pilots after actual dangerous aviation incidents. Study 2 involved laboratory experiments in which college students operated a flight simulator under different conditions of organizational accountability.
In Vitro Activities of Ravuconazole (BMS-207147) against 541 Clinical Isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans

The in vitro activities of the new triazole, ravuconazole (BMS-207147), were compared to those of fluconazole and itraconazole against 541 clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans. Isolates were obtained from cerebrospinal fluid (396), blood (116), and miscellaneous clinical specimens (29). Overall, ravuconazole (MIC at which 90% of the isolates are inhibited [MIC90], 0.25 μg/ml) was more active than either itraconazole (MIC90, 0.5 μg/ml) or fluconazole (MIC90, 8 μg/ml). Among the isolates inhibited by ≥16 μg of fluconazole/ml, 90.2% were inhibited by ≤1 μg of ravuconazole/ml. On the basis of our findings and the favorable pharmacokinetic properties of ravuconazole, we suggest that ravuconazole may be useful for the treatment of infectious diseases due to C. neoformans and that further clinical studies to confirm these promising in vitro results are warranted.
OFDMA Extension of NS-3 WiMAX Module

An OFDMA TDD model extension of the NS-3 WiMAX module was created. The necessary background in 802.16 WiMAX standards is presented. Additions supporting OFDMA are presented along with the challenges encountered during development. The addition of an extra dimension of sub-channels required new data structures to manage allocations. This required significant changes to portions of the NS-3 WiMAX OFDM schedulers. The model was extended to use the CDMA ranging required by the OFDMA WiMAX standard. Many message structures were extended or added. The basic upload scheduler design from the NS-3 WiMAX model and the enhanced version are extended to work with the OFDMA implementation. The OFDMA model performance of various cases are compared and discussed. Possible extensions and improvements to the current model are offered.
Biphasic Decay of Latently Infected CD4+ T Cells in Acute Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection

Latent infection of resting CD4(+) T cells represents a major barrier to eradication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The establishment and rate of decay of latent HIV-1 in resting CD(+) T cells from 9 acute seroconverters, 7 of whom began to receive highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) shortly after presentation, were studied. Before the initiation of therapy, these patients had very high frequencies of latently infected CD4(+) T cells, with a median frequency of 205 infectious units per million resting CD4(+) T cells. These values are > or =1 log higher than those seen in chronically infected patients who are not undergoing HAART. The number of latently infected cells declined dramatically after initiation of HAART but then tended to level off at a low but stable level. The biphasic decay of latent HIV in resting CD4(+) T cells in acute seroconverters supports current models of pre- and postintegration latency.
Assessing sustainability of Lifestyle Education for Activity Program (LEAP)

Sustained intervention effects are needed for positive health impacts in populations; however, few published examples illustrate methods for assessing sustainability in health promotion programs. This paper describes the methods for assessing sustainability of the Lifestyle Education for Activity Program (LEAP). LEAP was a comprehensive school-based intervention that targeted change in instructional practices and the school environment to promote physical activity (PA) in high school girls. Previous reports indicated that significantly more girls in the intervention compared with control schools reported engaging in vigorous PA, and positive long-term effects on vigorous PA also were observed for girls in schools that most fully implemented and maintained the intervention 3 years following the active intervention. In this paper, the seven steps used to assess sustainability in LEAP are presented; these steps provide a model for assessing sustainability in health promotion programs in other settings. Unique features of the LEAP sustainability model include assessing sustainability of changes in instructional practices and the environment, basing assessment on an essential element framework that defined complete and acceptable delivery at the beginning of the project, using multiple data sources to assess sustainability, and assessing implementation longitudinally.
Stem cell factor and IgE-stimulated murine mast cells produce chemokines (CCL2, CCL17, CCL22) and express chemokine receptors

Objective and design: In the present study we investigated the effect of SCF and/or IgE on histamine, TNF-α and chemokines released from bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) as well as chemokine receptor expression.¶Material and methods: BMMC were derived from femoral bone marrow of CBA/J mice. The purity of BMMC was >98%percnt; after 3 weeks. BMMC (2.5 × 106 cells/well) were incubated in the presence or absence of either SCF, IgE plus DNP or a combination of SCF and IgE for 6 and 18 h. Cell-free supernatants were recovered to measure CC chemokines, TNF-α and histamine release utilizing ELISA assays. CC chemokine family receptors were detected by RT-PCR analysis, and confirmed using functional chemotactic assays.¶Results: Histamine levels were comparable between SCF and IgE stimulated cells, whereas TNF-α production was significantly greater after IgE compared to SCF stimulation. SCF and/or IgE-stimulated BMMC released CC chemokines, CCL22 (MDC), CCL17 (TARC) and CCL2 (MCP-1). Increased mRNA expression of CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, and CCR5 was detected in SCF and IgE-stimulated BMMCs. Functional chemotactic assays confirmed the expression data.¶Conclusion: SCF and IgE can up-regulate the expression of chemokines and chemokine receptors on mast cells. Thus, SCF may play a significant role in their activation and inflammation during allergic responses.¶
200-mA studies in the APS storage ring

The advanced photon source (APS) storage ring is normally operated with 100 mA of beam current. A number of high-current studies were carried out to determine the multibunch instability limits. The longitudinal multibunch instability is dominated by the rf cavity higher-order modes (HOMs), and the coupled-bunch instability (CBI) threshold is bunch-pattern dependent. We can stably store 200 mA with 324 bunches, and the CBI threshold is 245 mA. With 24 bunches, several components are approaching temperature limits above 160 mA, including the HOM dampers. We do not see any CBI at this current. The transverse multibunch instabilities are most likely driven by the resistive wall impedance; there is little evidence that the dipole HOMs contribute. Presently, we rely on the chromaticity to stabilize the transverse multibunch instabilities. When we stored beam up to 245 mA, we used high chromaticity and the beam was transversely stable. The stabilizing chromaticity was studied as a function of current. We can use these experimental results to predict multibunch instability thresholds for various upgrade options, such as smaller-gap or longer ID chambers and the associated increased impedance.
"... And How About Now?": Effects of item redundancy on contextualized self-reports of personality

A common method of studying cross-situational variation in personality involves asking people to describe their behavior in several different contexts. Although this approach is intuitively appealing, it introduces a great deal of redundancy into the measurement process and may affect the interpretation of contextualized self-reports. Specifically, when participants are asked the same questions repeatedly in a single questionnaire, they may be compelled to focus on how their behavior is different. We tested this hypothesis by experimentally manipulating the number of contexts that were included in a measure of role-related personality. In 2 experiments (Study 1 N=377, Study 2 N=524), we found that multiple-role questionnaires produced greater variation in trait levels across roles, larger differences between general and role-specific ratings, and weaker correlations between general and role-specific ratings than single-role questionnaires. These findings illustrate how the measurement process can have an effect on the variability of responses to contextualized self-reports.
Alpha/beta interferon protects adult mice from fatal Sindbis virus infection and is an important determinant of cell and tissue tropism.

Infection of adult 129 Sv/Ev mice with consensus Sindbis virus strain TR339 is subclinical due to an inherent restriction in early virus replication and viremic dissemination. By comparing the pathogenesis of TR339 in 129 Sv/Ev mice and alpha/beta interferon receptor null (IFN-alpha/betaR(-/-)) mice, we have assessed the contribution of IFN-alpha/beta in restricting virus replication and spread and in determining cell and tissue tropism. In adult 129 Sv/Ev mice, subcutaneous inoculation with 100 PFU of TR339 led to extremely low-level virus replication and viremia, with clearance under way by 96 h postinoculation (p.i.). In striking contrast, adult IFN-alpha/betaR(-/-) mice inoculated subcutaneously with 100 PFU of TR339 succumbed to the infection within 84 h. By 24 h p.i. a high-titer serum viremia had seeded infectious virus systemically, coincident with the systemic induction of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-12 (IL-12) p40, IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-6. Replicating virus was located in macrophage-dendritic cell (DC)-like cells at 24 h p.i. in the draining lymph node and in the splenic marginal zone. By 72 h p.i. virus replication was widespread in macrophage-DC-like cells in the spleen, liver, lung, thymus, and kidney and in fibroblast-connective tissue and periosteum, with sporadic neuroinvasion. IFN-alpha/beta-mediated restriction of TR339 infection was mimicked in vitro in peritoneal exudate cells from 129 Sv/Ev versus IFN-alpha/betaR(-/-) mice. Thus, IFN-alpha/beta protects the normal adult host from viral infection by rapidly conferring an antiviral state on otherwise permissive cell types, both locally and systemically. Ablation of the IFN-alpha/beta system alters the apparent cell and tissue tropism of the virus and renders macrophage-DC-lineage cells permissive to infection.
Simulation of Inlet Fogging and Wet-Compression in a Single Stage Compressor Including Erosion Analysis

Gas turbine inlet fog / overspray cooling is considered as a simple and effective method to increase power output. To help understand the water mist transport in the compressor flow passage, this study conducts a computational simulation of wet compression in a single rotor-stator compressor stage using the commercial code, Fluent. A sliding mesh scheme is used to simulate the stator-rotor interaction in a rotating frame. The effect of different heat transfer models and forces (e.g. drags, thermophoretic, Brownian, Saffman’s lift force etc.) are investigated. Models to simulate droplet breakup and coalescence are incorporated to take into consideration the effect of local acceleration and deceleration on water droplet dynamics. Analysis on droplet history (trajectory and size) with stochastic tracking is employed to interpret the mechanism of droplet dynamics under influence of local turbulence, acceleration, diffusion, and body forces. An erosion model is also included. The results show that droplet local slip velocity is noticeably affected by local acceleration and deceleration of the compressor blade, and in turn, the heat transfer and water evaporation rate are affected. Due to the short droplet residence time in the compressor stage, local thermal equilibrium is not always achieved, and the air may not always reach saturation even sufficient amount of liquid mass is in the air. The results also show erosion occurs near the rotor fore-body on the suction side with the present erosion model, which is subject to continuous improvement and further verification. The transient results of different rotor/stator relative positions show low airflow blockage produces more effective compression and higher temperature rise. Different types of droplet boundary conditions show the effect is negligible. NOMENCLATURE C Concentration (kg/m 3 ) cp Specific heat (J/kg-K) D Mass diffusion coefficient (m 2 /s)
The flora of the early Miocene Brandon Lignite, Vermont, USA. VIII. Caldesia (Alismataceae).

Caldesia, a genus of aquatic monocotyledons, is represented by four living species, which are widely distributed in the temperate and tropical Old World. The genus has an extensive Oligocene through Pleistocene fossil record in Eurasia. We survey the morphology of the extant and fossil fruits of the Alismataceae, and provide a detailed review of the morphology and anatomy of living and fossil Caldesia fruits. The latter exhibit substantial similarity, making the recognition of separate species on the basis of fruit morphology difficult. We erect the new species Caldesia brandonianafrom the Early Miocene Brandon Lignite of Vermont primarily on the basis of its geographic isolation; careful revision of all fossil fruiting material of Caldesia might require placement of the Brandon specimens in a more inclusive form species. Together with leaves of Caldesia from the Miocene Clarkia flora of Idaho, this occurrence indicates that Caldesia was in the New World as recently as the Early Miocene.
Emotional Robotics: Tug of War

Emotional communication skills are dominant in biological systems. Although the rules that govern creating and broadcasting emotional cues are inherently complex, their effectiveness makes them attractive for biological systems. Emotional communication requires very low bandwidth and is generally easy to interpret. Despite the advantages of emotional communication, little or no research has explored which emotional cues are the most effective when used by a robot. To study this question, we introduce an interactive environment in which a person can learn the robot’s emotional responses through interaction. We then present a one player game in which a person attempts to attract the robot’s attention, make it move towards and stay close to the person. We further develop this concept into a two player version, in which the players engage in a Tug of War game, competing for the robot’s heart. We propose our system as a potential test bed for human-robot interaction, both for engineers, and clinical psychologists.
An in vitro model of myocardial ischemia utilizing isolated adult rat myocytes

Isolated adult rat myocytes were used to develop an in vitro model of myocardial ischemia. Freshly isolated myocytes were spun into a cell pellet to limit extracellular volume. Excess supernatant was removed and the pellet was covered with mineral oil and incubated in a temperature controlled water bath. After various periods of incubation, cells were analyzed for adenine nucleotide levels, lactate accumulation, rate of cell death, and cell morphology. Adenine nucleotide profiles after 60 min incubation at 37 degrees C showed marked depletion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and large increases in adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenosine, inosine, and lactate and no significant difference in levels of inosine monophosphate. These results are consistent with ischemic conditions. Reduction of the incubation temperature to 34 and 30 degrees C slowed the rate of cell squaring and the onset of cell death. Resuspension of ischemic cells after 30, 45, 60 and 90 min incubation in hypotonic buffer (170 mosmol) to induce acute cell swelling caused an increase in the number of non-viable cells at each time point. Control cells and ischemic cells incubated less than 30 min did not show increases in non-viable cells when subjected to hypotonic swelling. Morphological analysis revealed that isolated myocytes respond to ischemia in a heterogeneous fashion and exhibit changes at both light and electron microscopic levels similar to those seen in other ischemic models. These results indicate that pelleted isolated adult rat myocytes may be a useful in vitro model to study myocardial ischemic cells injury.
A study of conflict in group design activities: implications for computer-supported cooperative work environments

The authors examine one particular aspect of the group process of software design, namely the interpersonal conflict that occurs within a software design team. Structured observations of the conflict that occurred within a set of team meetings that took place during the requirements-definition phase of an actual software development project form the basis for the analysis. It is shown that conflict is a consistent but fairly small percentage of the group interactions. Issues are not resolved in a top-down manner, and general issues such as project goals and overall design approach tend to resurface at later meetings. The implication of these findings for the design of computer-supported cooperative work environments for software design teams is explored. >
A Theory of Conglomerate Mergers: Comment

Professor Mueller in his recent paper presents an explanation of recent corporate acquisitions, especially of the conglomerate variety, that is based on the growth maximization hypothesis.' Overall, I think his study is an imaginative and competent piece of work. However, what I should like to do in this communication is to suggest that some of the recent empirical evidence-scanty, desultory, and unrefined as it is is not entirely consistent with his model. To do so I will make the basic assumption that all managercontrolled firms will be considered to be growth maximizers, whereas all owner-controlled firms are stockholder-welfare maximizers. Inasmuch as this is a simplification of Mueller's position, my results should be discounted by whatever amount the reader thinks it distorts Mueller's model. First of all, it is well known that there have been several empirical attempts, too numerous to go into here, to test the sales maximization hypothesis in general and that the results have not been unduly encouraging for its proponents.2 To be sure, as Mueller indicates, these studies leave a lot to be desired:
Scientific Application Acceleration with Reconfigurable Functional Units

While scientific applications in the past were limited by floating point computations, modern scientific applications use more unstructured formulations. These applications have a significant percentage of integer computation - increasingly a limiting factor in scientific application performance. In real scientific applications employed at Sandia National Labs, integer computations constitute on average 37% of the application operations, forming large and complex dataflow graphs. Reconfigurable functional units (RFUs) are a particularly attractive accelerator for these graphs because they can potentially accelerate many unique graphs with a small amount of additional hardware. In this study, we analyze application traces of Sandia's scientific applications and the SPEC-FP benchmark suite. First we select a set of dataflow graphs to accelerate using the RFU, then we use execution-based simulation to determine the acceleration potential of the applications when using an RFU. On average, a set of 32 or fewer graphs is sufficient to capture the dataflow behavior of 30% of the integer computation, and more than half of Sandia applications show an improvement of 5% or more.
Metamorphosis of the Cranial Capsule and its Appendages in the Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris brassicae

Although the larval head of Pieris brassicae L. differs completely in shape from that of the adult, a study of its metamorphosis has revealed distinct ontogenetic relationships between the two. During metamorphosis certain parts of the larval head are lost and new parts are formed, while the size of other parts is changed. These modifications lead to an alteration in the shape of the head and the relative dimensions of its axes.
Cerebral microenvironment influences expression of the vitronectin gene in astrocytic tumors

Expression of the vitronectin gene was detected in advanced human astrocytoma by in situ hybridization, whereas vitronectin mRNA was undetectable in low grade tumors or in normal adult brain, indicating that vitronectin is a marker of malignant astrocytoma. We established a model of human astrocytoma by transplanting U-251MG human astrocytoma cells intracerebrally into acid mice (C.B.17 severe combined immunodeficient mice). In this model, tumors progressed rapidly and vitronectin mRNA was preferentially detected at the invading tumor margins, i.e. where tumor cells were adjacent to the normal brain tissue. Surprisingly, when U-251MG cells were injected subcutaneously into scid mice, vitronectin mRNA was undetectable throughout the tumor. Moreover, vitronectin mRNA or protein could not be detected among these cells in culture under a wide variety of growth conditions. These findings demonstrate that the cerebral microenvironment influences the expression of the vitronectin gene in malignant astrocytoma. Importantly, the vitronectin binding integrins alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 localized to distinct sites within these tumors, with beta 3 mRNA synthesized among invading cells, and alpha v and beta 5 mRNAs detected throughout the tumor. In vitro, both of these receptors were capable of promoting adhesion and invasion of astrocytoma cells on a vitronectin substratum. These findings implicate the expression of the vitronectin gene as a contributing factor to the biological behavior of astrocytomas within the cerebral microenvironment.
When clusters meet partitions: new density-based methods for circuit decomposition

Top-down partitioning has focused on minimum cut or ratio cut objectives, while bottom-up clustering has focused on density-based objectives. In seeking a more unified perspective, we propose a new sum of densities measure for multi-way circuit decomposition, where the density of a subhypergraph is the ratio of the number of edges to the number of nodes in the subhypergraph. Finding a k-way partition that maximizes the sum of k subhypergraph densities is NP-hard, but an efficient flow-based method can find the optimal (maximum-density) subhypergraph in a given hypergraph. Based on this method, we develop a heuristic which in practice has less than 10% error from an optimal sum of densities decomposition. Other results suggest that density-based heuristics can capture cut-based objectives, whereas the converse would seem difficult. >
Biological Rhythms Workshop IA: molecular basis of rhythms generation.

Current circadian models are based on genetic, biochemical, and structural data that, when combined, provide a comprehensive picture of the molecular basis for rhythms generation. These models describe three basic elements—input pathways, oscillator, and output pathways—to which each molecular component is assigned. The lines between these elements are often blurred because some proteins function in more than one element of the circadian system. The end result of these molecular oscillations is the same in each system (near 24-hour timing), yet the proteins involved, the interactions among those proteins, and the regulatory feedback loops differ. Here, the current models for the molecular basis for rhythms generation are described for the prokaryotic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus as well as the eukaryotic systems Neurospora crassa, Drosophila melanogaster, Arabidopsis thaliana, and mammals (particularly rodents).
Top-Down Predictions in the Cognitive Brain.

The human brain is not a passive organ simply waiting to be activated by external stimuli. Instead, we propose that the brain continuously employs memory of past experiences to interpret sensory information and predict the immediately relevant future. The basic elements of this proposal include analogical mapping, associative representations and the generation of predictions. This review concentrates on visual recognition as the model system for developing and testing ideas about the role and mechanisms of top-down predictions in the brain. We cover relevant behavioral, computational and neural aspects, explore links to emotion and action preparation, and consider clinical implications for schizophrenia and dyslexia. We then discuss the extension of the general principles of this proposal to other cognitive domains.
Analogues between Medical and Industrial Safety Research on Compliance Behavior

Medical care compliance refers to the extent to which a person’s behavior coincides with medical or health advice. The advice is usually in the form of a prescription for the regular use of a medication or a regimen to change a life-style pattern, such as modification of diet, increasing exercise, flossing teeth, and similar activities designed to maintain or restore health.
Does affect matter in naturalistic decision making

Motivation - Research over the past 10-15 years, however, has greatly enhanced our understanding of the ways in which affect or emotion influences how people make decisions, how they process information, how they interact with automation and computers, how they respond to risk, and which outcomes they prefer. Research approach - The purpose of this presentation is to review relevant aspects of the literature on affect and decision making, and to make the argument that NDM researchers need to be cognizant of the potential impact of affect on decision processes. Originality/Value - This presentation gives new insight to the field of Naturalistic Decision Making, which has typically assumed a 'cold' cognitive model and non-emotional, valence neutral cues and information. Take away message - We argue that NDM researchers can describe and predict expert decision making only when they have examined the role of affect and taken it into account.
Toward improved target conformity for two spot scanning proton therapy delivery systems using dynamic collimation.

Purpose: To quantify improvement in target conformity in brain and head and neck tumor treatments resulting from the use of a dynamic collimation system (DCS) with two spot scanning proton therapydelivery systems (universal nozzle, UN, and dedicated nozzle, DN) with median spot sizes of 5.2 and 3.2 mm over a range of energies from 100 to 230 MeV. Methods: Uncollimated and collimated plans were calculated with both UN and DN beam models implemented within our in-house treatment planning system for five brain and ten head and neck datasets in patients previously treated with spot scanning proton therapy. The prescription dose and beam angles from the clinical plans were used for both the UN and DN plans. The average reduction of the mean dose to the 10-mm ring surrounding the target between the uncollimated and collimated plans was calculated for the UN and the DN. Target conformity was analyzed using the mean dose to 1-mm thickness rings surrounding the target at increasing distances ranging from 1 to 10 mm. Results: The average reductions of the 10-mm ring mean dose for the UN and DN plans were 13.7% (95% CI: 11.6%–15.7%; p < 0.0001) and 11.5% (95% CI: 9.5%–13.5%; p < 0.0001) across all brain cases and 7.1% (95% CI: 4.4%–9.8%; p < 0.001) and 6.3% (95% CI: 3.7%–9.0%; p < 0.001), respectively, across all head and neck cases. The collimated UN plans were either more conformal (all brain cases and 60% of the head and neck cases) than or equivalent (40% of the head and neck cases) to the uncollimated DN plans. The collimated DN plans offered the highest conformity. Conclusions: The DCS added either to the UN or DN improved the target conformity. The DCS may be of particular interest for sites with UN systems looking for a more economical solution than upgrading the nozzle to improve the target conformity of their spot scanning proton therapy system.
Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Pederin, Psymberin, and Highly Potent Analogs

The potent cytotoxins pederin and psymberin have been prepared through concise synthetic routes (10 and 14 steps in the longest linear sequences, respectively) that proceed via a late-stage multicomponent approach to construct the N-acyl aminal linkages. This route allowed for the facile preparation of a number of analogs that were designed to explore the importance of the alkoxy group in the N-acyl aminal and functional groups in the two major subunits on biological activity. These analogs, including a pederin/psymberin chimera, were analyzed for their growth inhibitory effects, revealing several new potent cytotoxins and leading to postulates regarding the molecular conformational and hydrogen bonding patterns that are required for biological activity. Second generation analogs have been prepared based on the results of the initial assays and a structure-based model for the binding of these compounds to the ribosome. The growth inhibitory properties of these compounds are reported. These studies show th...
SENSITIVITY OF BLUETONGUE VIRUS TO ETHER AND SODIUM DEOXYCHOLATE.

SummaryIt has been demonstrated that a Cyprus (BT-CV) and a California (BT-8) strain of bluetongue virus are not sensitive to inactivation by treatment with ether and sodium deoxycholate. Two methods for assaying the sensitivity of viruses to sodium deoxycholate in cell cultures are described. Some aspects of these findings are considered in light of what is known of bluetongue as an arthropod-borne virus disease.
A Multistage Decision Model for Salesforce Management

Salesforce decisions consist of a series of interrelated processes including (1) determining the role of personal selling in the organization, (2) allocating selling effort to customers, geographic...
Blood PTA (Factor XI) Levels Following Plasma Infusion.

Summary1. Prophylactic infusion of stored freshly frozen plasma appears to be of hemostatic benefit for tooth extraction in PTA deficiency. 2. Data on the effect of infusion on the blood PTA level are presented. The rate of decline of PTA level suggests a half life of PTA factor in the circulation of approximately 60 hours.
Avoiding artefacts when counting polymerized actin in live cells with LifeAct fused to fluorescent proteins

When tagged with a fluorescent protein, actin is not fully functional, so the LifeAct peptide fused to a fluorescent protein is widely used to localize actin filaments in live cells. However, we find that these fusion proteins have many concentration-dependent effects on actin assembly in vitro and in fission yeast cells. mEGFP-LifeAct inhibits actin assembly during endocytosis as well as assembly and constriction of the cytokinetic contractile ring. Purified mEGFP-LifeAct and LifeAct-mCherry bind actin filaments with Kd values of ∼10 μM. LifeAct-mCherry can promote actin filament nucleation and either promote or inhibit filament elongation. Both separately and together, profilin and formins suppress these effects. LifeAct-mCherry can also promote or inhibit actin filament severing by cofilin. These concentration-dependent effects mean that caution is necessary when overexpressing LifeAct fusion proteins to label actin filaments in cells. Therefore, we used low micromolar concentrations of tagged LifeAct to follow assembly and disassembly of actin filaments in cells. Careful titrations also gave an estimate of a peak of ∼190,000 actin molecules (∼500 μm) in the fission yeast contractile ring. These filaments shorten from ∼500 to ∼100 subunits as the ring constricts.
Importance of Grounding Technology in Analyzing Laboratory

Having a proper and well grounding system is very necessary for laboratorial instruments of running credibility and safety.This article detailed the method of burying,joining and maintenance of the grounding system of analyzing lab.
Residual contaminant in alcohol in Jianshui County

Objective:To investigate the residual contaminant in alcohol produced and sold in Jianshui County during 2007~2008 to provide corresponding preventive measures.Methods:Random sampling was used to obtain 644 samples of alcohol for detection of residual contaminant.Results:The qualified rate was 82.5% in 355 samples of distilled spirit,93.1% in 261 of liquor and 100% in 28 of qualified wine,respectively.Conclusion:There is still contaminant in alcohol produced and sold in Jianshui County and relevant departments should pay close attention on this.
Remote Batch Invocation for SQL Databases.

Batch services are a new approach to distributed computation in which clients send batches of operations for execution on a server and receive hierarchical results sets in response. In this paper we show how batch services provide a simple and powerful interface to relational databases, with support for arbitrary nested queries and bulk updates. One important property of the system is that a single batch statement always generates a constant number of SQL queries, no matter how many nested loops are used.
Gonadotropin responsiveness to ultralow-dose leuprolide acetate administration in baboons

Objective To evaluate the gonadotropin response to ultralow doses of a GnRH agonist, leuprolide acetate (LA). Design Prospective and cross-controlled. Setting Primate research center. Subjects Four reproductive age cycling baboons ( Papio cyanocephalus ). Interventions Three different doses of LA were given intravenously to each animal followed by serial sampling. Main Outcome Measures Response patterns of circulating serum gonadotropin levels. Results All four animals responded to each of the three doses of LA in a dose-dependent fashion. Levels of LH and FSH peaked at 49.5±2.6 mIU/mL and 72.5±3.4 mIU/mL, respectively, for the highest dose studied (0.17 μ g/kg). Levels of LH peaked earlier but were lower than the FSH peak levels. Conclusions Supraphysiological levels of gonadotropins are attained after the administration of ultralow doses of LA. The level of the response is dose-dependent and is in the range that is required to attain controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.
Evaluation and Surveillance Strategies for Patients at Increased Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a leading cause of cancer death due to the typical late stage at diagnosis, which results in few patients being candidates for potentially curative treatment. Although most cases of pancreatic adenocarcinomas are sporadic, 5–10 % may have an underlying hereditary basis. Family history is central to identifying individuals who have an elevated risk of pancreatic cancer and for quantifying their risk. Familial pancreatic cancer is defined as kindred with at least two first-degree relatives with pancreatic cancer. Other genetic syndromes that are associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer include Peutz–Jeghers syndrome, familial atypical multiple mole melanoma, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome, Li–Fraumeni syndrome, and hereditary pancreatitis.
The League’s Legalese (1920)

Following World War I, there now was hope for peace to reign on the earth. The idea of “peace through law” and the call for a “new world order” based on renunciation of use of force became, at least on paper, one of the central reasons for the creation of the League of Nations, the precursor to the present-day United Nations. Yet, the members of the council of allied powers, called the Allied Council, which in the beginning had formed the operational nucleus of the League, were fatigued by years of war. They proved reluctant to commit men and arms to the policing of the world’s festering conflicts. The case of the Russian occupation of northern Persia was one case in point. The futility of Persia’s appeal to the League under Articles 10 and 11 of its charter, known as the Covenant,1 showed not only the organization’s impotence but also that Persia, which had remained neutral during the war, did not figure on the League’s list of priorities.
Primary Intraosseous Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor of the Medial Cuneiform: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors (benign and malignant) usually arise in the soft tissues and are unusual in bone. Intraosseous peripheral nerve sheath tumors are usually benign and constitute approximately 0.2% of all bone tumors. Intraosseous malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are uncommon and usually result from secondary invasion. Only a few cases of primary intraosseous MPNSTs have been reported in published studies, and these were localized mostly in the mandible (approximately 50%) or maxilla, spine, and, occasionally, in the appendicular skeleton. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of primary intraosseous MPNST involving a midtarsal bone (medial cuneiform). The patient was a 62-year-old female who presented with pain and tenderness but without swelling. Imaging revealed nonspecific findings, and the preoperative computed tomography-guided biopsy findings were consistent with MPNST. The patient was treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy, followed by wide local excision and allograft reconstruction. At the final follow-up examination (24 months), the graft had been incorporated without evidence of local recurrence or distant disease. The patient with primary intraosseous MPNST of the medial cuneiform described in the present report presented with nonspecific clinical and radiologic findings. Thus, a high index of suspicion and histopathologic examination, including immunohistochemistry, are necessary for an accurate diagnosis.
Comparison of H2S gas destruction potential using TIO2 nanofibers and nanoparticles

TiO2 nanoparticles and nanofibers have been used to carry out a comparative study of the destruction of H2S gas. Effects of sulphur doping have also been incorporated to assess the maximum destruction potential of the nanomaterials. An analysis has been made in this paper to evaluate and compare the performance of pure and sulphur-doped TiO2 nanoparticles and nanofibers for the destruction of H2S gas using photocatalysis under laboratory conditions. Regression modelling has been performed to ascertain the individual degradation rates of the nanoparticles and nanofibers. In addition, oxidation rates of H2S gas using the nanoparticles and nanofibers have been used to further elucidate our findings. It was observed that the destruction potential of nanofibers was 10 times more as compared to nanoparticles.