cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Simplified Version of the Tomography Problem Can Help to Estimate the Errors of Indirect Measurements

ABSTRACT In many real-life situations, it is very difficult or even impossible to directly measure the quantity y in which weare interested: e.g., we cannot directly measure a distance to a distant galaxy or the amount of oil in a given well. Since we cannot measure such quantities direcUy, we can measure them indirecily: by first measuring some relatingquantities x1 , . . . , x , and then by using the known relation between x2 and y to reconstruct the value of the desired quantity y.In practice, it is often very important to estimate the error of the resulting indirect measurement. In this paper,we show that in a natural statistical setting, the problem of estimating the error of indirect measurement can be formulated as a simplified (finitedimensional) version of a tomography problem (reconstructing an image from itsprojections). in this paper, we use the ideas of invariance (natural in statistical setting) to find the optimal algorithm forsolving this simplified tomography problem, and thus, for solving the statistical problem of error estimation forindirect measurements.Keywords: Tomography, error estimation, indirect measurement
Quorum-sensing control in Staphylococci -- a target for antimicrobial drug therapy?

Today, we find ourselves in an urgent need for novel antibacterial drugs, as many important human pathogens have acquired multiple antibiotic resistance factors. Among those, Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis play a major role as the leading sources of nosocomial infections. Recently, it has been suggested to develop therapeutics that attack bacterial virulence rather than kill bacteria. Such drugs are called “antipathogenic” and are believed to reduce the development of antibiotic resistance. Specifically, cell-density-dependent gene regulation (quorum-sensing) in bacteria has been proposed as a potential target. While promising reports exist about quorum-sensing blockers in gram-negative bacteria, the use of the staphylococcal quorum-sensing system as a drug target is now seen in an increasingly critical way. Inhibition of quorum-sensing in Staphylococcus has been shown to enhance biofilm formation. Furthermore, down-regulation or mutation of the Staphylococcus quorum-sensing system increases bacterial persistence in device-related infection, suggesting that interference with quorum-sensing would enhance rather than suppress this important type of staphylococcal disease. The chemical nature and biological function of another proposed staphylococcal quorum-sensing inhibitor, named “RIP”, are insufficiently characterized. Targeting quorum-sensing systems might in principle constitute a reasonable way to find novel antibacterial drugs. However, as outlined here, this approach requires careful investigation in every specific pathogen and type of infection.
Repair of the UL21 locus in pseudorabies virus Bartha enhances the kinetics of retrograde, transneuronal infection in vitro and in vivo.

The attenuated pseudorabies virus (PRV) strain Bartha contains several characterized mutations that affect its virulence and ability to spread through neural circuits. This strain contains a small genomic deletion that abrogates anterograde spread and is widely used as a retrograde-restricted neural circuit tracer. Previous studies showed that the retrograde-directed spread of PRV Bartha is slower than that of wild-type PRV. We used compartmented neuronal cultures to characterize the retrograde defect and identify the genetic basis of the phenotype. PRV Bartha is not impaired in retrograde axonal transport, but transneuronal spread among neurons is diminished. Repair of the U L 21 locus with wild-type sequence restored efficient transneuronal spread both in vitro and in vivo. It is likely that mutations in the Bartha U L 21 gene confer defects that affect infectious particle production, causing a delay in spread to presynaptic neurons and amplification of infection. These events manifest as slower kinetics of retrograde viral spread in a neural circuit.
Hydralazine-induced lupus syndrome presenting with large pericardial effusion

### Learning Point for Clinicians Hydralazine-induced lupus syndrome is uncommon, but timely diagnosis is needed in life-threatening illnesses. Severe organ involvement is exceedingly rare; however, pericardial tamponade has been reported. Patients on chronic hydralazine should be monitored for signs and symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosis periodically. If they develop HILS, immediate discontinuation of hydralazine is warranted to prevent serious complications. Hydralazine-induced lupus syndrome (HILS) was first reported in 1953.1 The syndrome occurs in 5–10% of patients taking hydralazine, presenting with arthralgia, myalgia, fever and serositis. Severe cardiac involvement is rare, and only three cases of tamponade were reported.1–3 We describe an unusual case of impending cardiac tamponade in a patient taking hydralazine and coumadin. A 68-year-old female presented with exertional dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain of 1 week duration. The pain …
Johnston receives Revelle Medal

Harold S.Johnston was awarded the Roger Revelle Medal at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, which was held on December 8, 1998, in San Francisco, California. The medal recognizes sustained and continued superior contributions to the science of climate dynamics and to predictions of expected climate changes.
Ultrastructural analysis of [3H]thymidine-labeled cells in the rat utricular macula.

Ototoxic drugs stimulate cell proliferation in adult rat vestibular sensory epithelia, as does the infusion of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF) plus insulin. We sought to determine whether new hair cells can be regenerated by means of a mitotic pathway. Previously, studies have shown that the nuclei of some newly generated cells are located in the lumenal half of the sensory epithelium, suggesting that some may be newly generated sensory hair cells. The aim of this study was to examine the ultrastructural characteristics of newly proliferated cells after TGF stimulation and/or aminoglycoside damage in the utricular sensory epithelium of the adult rat. The cell proliferation marker tritiated-thymidine was infused, with or without TGF plus insulin, into the inner ears of normal or aminoglycoside-damaged rats for 3 or 7 days by means of osmotic pumps. Autoradiographic techniques and light microscopy were used to identify cells synthesizing DNA. Sections with labeled cells were re-embedded, processed for transmission electron microscopy, and the ultrastructural characteristics of the labeled cells were examined. The following five classes of tritiated-thymidine labeled cells were identified in the sensory epithelium: (1) labeled cells with synaptic specializations that appeared to be newly generated hair cells, (2) labeled supporting cells, (3) labeled leukocytes, (4) labeled cells that we have classified as “active cells” in that they are relatively nondescript but contain massive numbers of polyribosomes, and (5) labeled degenerating hair cells. These findings suggest that new hair cells can be generated in situ by means of a mitotic mechanism in the vestibular sensory epithelium of adult mammals. J. Comp. Neurol. 463:177‐195, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Indexing terms: hair cell regeneration; vestibular; growth factor; inner ear
Takayasu's arteritis with associated aortic insufficiency and coronary ostial obliteration.

Purpose: To describe the presentation, assessment, and management of Takayasu's arteritis (TA), a rare vascular condition exhibited predominantly in females in their second and third decades of life. Data sources: Thorough review of current scientific literature was obtained from electronic databases and medical journals (CINAHL and PubMed). A case study is presented to illustrate TA, which was reviewed and approved by the Human Subjects Committee for the release of protected health information. Conclusions: Clinical presentation of TA varies depending on the location of vessel involvement. Diagnosis is challenging because of the complex pathogenesis of TA. The chronic nature of TA requires ongoing evaluation and adjustment of medication regimens. The patient's quality of life is improved with maintenance of TA in a quiescent state. Implications for Practice: Presentation of a young woman with symptoms suggestive of vascular inflammatory changes should prompt consideration of TA within the differential diagnosis.
Losses of Energy and Nitrogen in Drying Excreta of Hens

Abstract IN ENERGY and nitrogen balance studies, which are two of the main criteria of the nutritive value of a poultry feed, errors may result from losses of energy and nitrogen from excreta due to drying. These losses can be avoided by determining the energy and nitrogen in fresh instead of dry samples of excreta. A highly significant loss of energy and nitrogen due to drying of cattle feces was reported by Kleiber et al. (1936) and Colovos et al. (1957). Such a loss has not been established for chicken excreta. In research with poultry to determine the nutritive value of feedstuffs, gross energy usually is determined by burning dried excreta in a bomb calorimeter. Protein generally is determined on dried samples by the Kjeldahl method. EXPERIMENTAL Excreta samples obtained from 24 White Leghorn hens were used in this study to determine the possible loss of energy and nitrogen due to…
NSAIDs and cancer prevention: targets downstream of COX-2.

AbstractPreclinical and clinical studies have clearly shown a benefit of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use in reducing cancer risk. However, the adverse gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects associated with NSAIDs and COX-2 selective inhibitors (coxibs) have provoked more scrutiny of the precise role of specific downstream mediators in the prostaglandin (PG) signaling cascade. NSAIDs and coxibs inhibit PG biosynthesis. One of the PGs produced at high levels in the tumor microenvironment is PGE2, which is thought to play a major role in cancer progression. Thus, a better understanding of PGE2 signaling could enable identification of novel and safer therapeutic targets downstream of the cyclooxygenase enzymes. We review the emerging molecular mechanisms by which COX-2–derived PGE2 is involved in cancer progression and delineate potential opportunities for development of novel pharmacologic approaches utilizing this pathway.
Information and Entropy Econometrics - A Review and Synthesis

The overall objectives of this review and synthesis are to study the basics of information-theoretic methods in econometrics, to examine the connecting theme among these methods, and to provide a more detailed summary and synthesis of the sub-class of methods that treat the observed sample moments as stochastic. Within the above objectives, this review focuses on studying the inter-connection between information theory, estimation, and inference. To achieve these objectives, it provides a detailed survey of information-theoretic concepts and quantities used within econometrics. It also illustrates the use of these concepts and quantities within the subfield of information and entropy econometrics while paying special attention to the interpretation of these quantities. The relationships between information-theoretic estimators and traditional estimators are discussed throughout the survey. This synthesis shows that in many cases information-theoretic concepts can be incorporated within the traditional likelihood approach and provide additional insights into the data processing and the resulting inference.
Robustness analysis of slow learning in Iterative Learning Control systems

This paper examines robust stability and robust transient growth in Iterative Learning Control (ILC). It is well known that small perturbations in system dynamics can result in very large transient growth of some ILC systems. Even larger perturbations can result in instability. One ad hoc technique commonly employed to improve robustness is to slow the learning rate by reducing the learning filter gain or lowpass filtering the error signal. Here, pseudospectra analysis is used to analyze the robustness of ILC algorithms with slow learning. It is found that robustness bounds can be increased and transient growth decreased with decreasing learning gain. This result provides a new theoretical foundation for tuning approaches for improving robustness.
Thin Amorphous Films for Power Magnetic Components

We provide an analysis of the high frequency (1 - 10 MHz) experimental loss data of thin film magnetic material with a goal to provide guidance in achieving better efficiency of thin film magnetic devices. We show that in the case of ultra-thin crystalline material (permalloy), the loss is dominated by classical eddy current loss, which may be difficult to reduce by any known techniques. However, in case of ultra-thin amorphous films we show that the loss is dominated by excess eddy current loss component. This loss component can be suppressed by the well known method of induced anisotropy and, thus, we suggest the use of ultra-thin amorphous thin films with an induced anisotropy to improve the efficiencies of thin film magnetic devices. We also briefly review devices that have been built using thin films materials as well as other quasi-planar technologies. New experimental work is suggested.
Propofol versus thiamylal-enflurane anesthesia for outpatient laparoscopy

Abstract Study Objective: To determine whether propofol anesthesia differs from thiamylal-enflurane anesthesia in induction characteristics, intraoperative hemodynamics, post-operative side effects, and postoperative psychomotor function recovery. Design: A randomized, double-blind, two-group study. Setting: A large university hospital with gynecologic outpatient operations performed in an integrated operating room suite. Patients: Sixty adult women (ASA physical status I or II) undergoing an outpatient gynecologic laparoscopic operation with an anesthesia time of approximately 60 minutes. Interventions : No pharmacologic premedication. Pretreatment with intravenous droperidol 0.6 mg and sufentanil 0.2 μg/kg before induction of anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with either thiamylal 4 mglkg (Group 1) or propofol 2.5 mglkg (Group 2). Anesthesia was maintained with either nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and enflurane, 2–0.5% inspired concentrations; (Group 1) or with a continuous infusion of propofol 200–100 μg/kg/min and N 2 O (Group 2). Measurements and Main Results: In psychomotor function tests (Trieger dot test and p-deletion test) administered preoperatively and postoperatively, no difference was found between the groups. No difference was found in induction time, although significantly more patients reported pain after the propofol injection, or in intraoperative hemodynamics (mean arterial pressure and heart rate). Immediate recovery time (emergence from anesthesia) and intermediate recovery time (ambulation, oral intake, and discharge time) were significantly shorter after propofol anesthesia. Fewer postoperative side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, were reported after propofol anesthesia. Conclusions: Induction and maintenance of anesthesia with propofol were comparable to those with thiamylal-enflurane, except patients experienced more pain on injection after propofol. Both immediate and intermediate recovery were more rapid after opofol anesthesia compared with enflurane-based anesthesia.
MY ROLE IN THE DISCOVERY AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE ENTEROVIRUSES

▪ Abstract The enteroviruses constitute one of the genera of the picornavirus family. The genus includes the polioviruses, the coxsackieviruses, and the echoviruses of humans, plus a number of enteroviruses of lower animals (e.g. monkeys, cattle, pigs, mice). Over 100 serotypes are recognized, of which the first to be discovered were the polioviruses. It was my good fortune to have been a scientist during the golden age of virology, when new techniques were being introduced into the field. These often led to the discovery of new viruses. This article details the isolation of the enteroviruses, their recognition as a separate genus of Picornaviridae, and my role in the process. Poliovirus, the most hazardous of the group, is almost gone from the world, but the other enteroviruses will be with us for some time. Several members of the Committee dealing with these agents—Enders, Sabin, Dalldorf, Syverton—have passed on, but the work of this Committee to which I was privileged to contribute will live long.
Pathogenesis of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy involves anatomic changes in retinal vessels and neuroglia. The pathogenetic mechanism responsible for retinopathy is imperfectly understood, but much of the mechanism is apparently reproduced by experimental diabetes in animals and by chronic elevation of blood galactose in nondiabetic animals. The evidence that retinopathy is a consequence of excessive blood sugars and their sequelae is consistent with a demonstrated inhibition of retinopathy by strict glycemic control in diabetic dogs. However, retinopathy in the dog model has shown a tendency to resist intervention by strict control. Biochemical and pathophysiological sequelae of hyperglycemia possibly critical to the development of retinopathy in humans and animal models are being studied in many laboratories. Retinopathy occurs in experimental galactosemia in the absence of the renal hypertrophy, mesangial expansion, and glomerular obliteration typical of diabetes in humans and dogs, implying that retinopathy and nephropathy differ appreciably in pathogenesis.
A combined effect of two Alzheimer's risk genes on medial temporal activity during executive attention in young adults

A recent history of failed clinical trials suggests that waiting until even the early stages of onset of Alzheimer 0s disease may be too late for effective treatment, pointing to the importance of early intervention in young people. Early intervention will require markers of Alzheimer 0 s risk that track with genotype but are capable of responding to treatment. Here, we sought to identify a functional MRI signature of combined Alzheimer 0 s risk imparted by two genetic risk factors. We used a task of executive attention during fMRI in participants genotyped for two Alzheimer 0 s risk alleles: APOE-e4 and CLU-C. Executive attention is a sensitive indicator of the progression of Alzheimer 0s even in the early stages of
Structure and dynamics of dust in streaming plasma: dust molecules, strings, and Crystals

In a plasma with ions streaming at a uniform velocity /spl sim/c/sub s/, dust grains can be accurately modeled as particles interacting via the dynamically-screened Coulomb interaction, calculated from linear response theory for the plasma. This force is nonreciprocal, i.e., action does not equal reaction, which has remarkable dynamical consequences. We show that up to four grains can form a stable self-bound molecule, which propels itself upstream against the ion flow. Stable equilibria are also found for pairs of grains confined in harmonic or quartic external potentials. For two grains in an anharmonic potential, or for three or more grains in any potential, there is no conserved quantity and self-excited oscillations can occur. In general, there are multiple equilibria, hysteresis occurs as parameters are varied, and it is not possible to distinguish ground and excited states. We show how the organizational and dynamical principles that govern the behavior of few-grain and low-dimensional systems also elucidate the more complex dynamics of crystals.
Using scripts and script-fading procedures to promote bids for joint attention by young children with autism

Abstract A multiple-probe design across participants assessed the efficacy of using audiotaped scripts to promote the joint attention responses of young children with autism. A one-word script (“See”) was presented on button-activated voice recorders; recorders were attached to toys and photographs that were placed in areas of the school not typically used for instructional activities. Children were taught to activate the recorders, point to pictures and toys, orient toward a conversation partner, and say the script. After they reliably made these responses, scripts were removed from the recorders and then recorders were removed. All three children learned to make bids for joint attention and after the scripts were faded, bids for joint attention maintained and generalized to untrained materials and to non-training settings.
A toolkit to design adaptable user interfaces in ubiquitous computing environments

We describe an architecture to support the rapid development of software applications for mobile devices that can discover and adapt to resources in the environment of the user. To narrow the scope of our research, we focus on media-oriented applications involving the rendering, capture and control of pictures, audio or video. Inspired by the success of software component models, we introduce the concept of adaptive components. An adaptive component is a reusable building block that can discover and adapt to a dynamically changing context to deliver a generic interface functionality. Examples of such functionalities include the capture or playback of various types of media and the control of media services via physical user interfaces or graphical ones. We detail an early implementation of our architecture using Visual C#, UPnP and the Web presence manager distributed platform. We present how we used this implementation to create a simple media rendering service.
The innovation is in the minds

The brain is an amazingly complex and efficient machine. While it may not be considered "general purpose" in terms of its computational capabilities, it performs a set of functions such as feature extraction, classification, synthesis, recognition, learning, and higher-order decision-making amazingly well. Unfortunately the dynamic behavior of the brain at large is still marginally understood. One of the major charters in the neuroscience community for the next decade is to create a dynamic map of the brain (as articulated by the Obama administration in the US). Doing so will require the most advanced imaging capabilities operating at the scale of 10's of microns. Recent advances in microscopic sensing, processing and communications are leading to brain-machine interfaces that may be able to observe thousands if not millions of active neurons in vivo. These nanomorphic systems represent the frontier in miniaturization and integration of electronic information processing systems. This whole effort may in turn have some interesting repercussions on how information-processing systems themselves are conceived in the nanoscale regime. Neuro-inspired processing presents an attractive alternative to the classical Von-Neumann computing paradigm in deeply scaled regimes: it thrives on randomness and variability, processing is performed in the continuous or discrete domains, and massive parallelism, major redundancy and adaptivity are of essence. Computational paradigms inspired by neural information processing hence may lead to energy-efficient, low-cost, dense and/or reliable implementations of the functions the brain excels at. In this presentation, we will explore both sides of this neuroscience-information technology interaction. One thing is for sure - the joint future will be exciting.
Application of the roundtable on sustainable biofuels method to regional differences in nitrous oxide emissions for the rapeseed hydrotreated renewable jet life cycle

Abstract Hydrotreated Renewable Jet (HRJ) fuel has increasingly become important for the aviation sector to address energy security and climate change mitigation. Rapeseed ( Brassica Napus ) is a favored candidate feedstock for HRJ because of its high quality oil content and agroeconomic benefit to replace the fallow period in wheat/fallow rotations. We conducted research to evaluate regional differences in nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions for rapeseed cultivation in several counties in 10 states in the United States (U.S.). The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) methodology was applied, and results were compared to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines. In this study, yield, nitrogen fertilizer rate, and types were held constant for all locations in order to understand the similarities and differences in the RSB and IPCC methods for estimating N 2 O emissions. From the results, the RSB-calculated N 2 O emissions varied for different U.S. states, though regional differences were very small, 0.72–0.73 kg N 2 O Mg −1 seed, while N 2 O emissions from IPCC method were the same for all sites, 0.87 kg N 2 O Mg −1 seed. The difference between the RSB and IPCC methods is caused by the indirect N 2 O emissions from ammonia emissions and nitrate leaching. However, the influence of indirect effect is relatively small compared to overall N 2 O emissions. The utilization of the RSB method may not be justified for estimating regional variations in N 2 O emissions. As a consequence, the preliminary greenhouse gas (GHG) of rapeseed HRJ fuel using the RSB method in several locations had small differences in result, 42.7–43.0 g CO 2 eq/MJ compared to 45.9 g CO 2 eq/MJ using the IPCC method.
Performance assessment of an opto-fluidic phantom mimicking porcine liver parenchyma

An implantable, optical oxygenation and perfusion sensor to monitor liver transplants during the two-week period following the transplant procedure is currently being developed. In order to minimize the number of animal experiments required for this research, a phantom that mimics the optical, anatomical, and physiologic flow properties of liver parenchyma is being developed as well. In this work, the suitability of this phantom for liver parenchyma perfusion research was evaluated by direct comparison of phantom perfusion data with data collected from in vivo porcine studies, both using the same prototype perfusion sensor. In vitro perfusion and occlusion experiments were performed on a single-layer and on a three-layer phantom perfused with a dye solution possessing the absorption properties of oxygenated hemoglobin. While both phantoms exhibited response patterns similar to the liver parenchyma, the signal measured from the multilayer phantom was three times higher than the single layer phantom and approximately 21 percent more sensitive to in vitro changes in perfusion. Although the multilayer phantom replicated the in vivo flow patterns more closely, the data suggests that both phantoms can be used in vitro to facilitate sensor design.
New Method of Givens Rotations for Triangularization of Square Matrices

This paper describes a new method of QR-decomposition of square nonsingular matrices (real or complex) by the Givens rotations through the unitary discrete heap transforms. This transforms can be defined by a different path, or the order of processing components of input data, which leads to different realizations of the QR-decomposition. The heap transforms are fast, because of a simple form of decomposition of their matrices. The direct calculation of the N-point discrete heap transform requires no more than 5(N-1) multiplications, 2(N-1) additions, plus 3(N-1) trigonometric operations. The QR-decomposition of the square matrix N × N uses about 4/3N3 multiplications and N(N-1)/2 square roots. This number varies depending on the path of the heap transform, and it is shown that “the optimal path” allows for significant reduction of number of operations in QR-decomposition. The heap transform and its matrix can be described analytically, and therefore, this transform can also be applied to the QR-decomposition of complex matrices.
Electrical leakage at low-K polyimide/TEOS interface

The effect of low-K polymer passivation on electrical leakage was investigated to evaluate the reliability of polymer integration on device wafers. Polyimide passivation over Al(0.5% Cu) interconnects inlaid in TEOS increases the intralevel leakage current mainly along the polyimide/TEOS interface. Moisture absorbed in the polyimide further increases the inter facial as well as bulk leakages. These findings emphasize the importance of separating interconnects from direct contact with polyimide/TEOS interfaces to alleviate electrical isolation problems in multilevel interconnect architecture that employs low-K polymer dielectrics.
Reduced chilling tolerance in elongating cucumber seedling radicles is related to their reduced antioxidant enzyme and DPPH-radical scavenging activity.

Cucumber seedling radicles become more chilling sensitive as they elongate. Chilling seedlings with radicles 20 mm long for 48 h at 2.5°C inhibited subsequent growth by 36%, while it reduced the growth of 70 mm-long radicles by 63%. Although the growth rate of non-chilled cucumber radicles at 25°C is constant from 20 to 80 mm, tissue viability [i.e. reduction of TTC (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) to formazan] and DPPH (α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity of apical tissue declines as radicles elongate from 20 to 80 mm in length. TTC reduction, DPPH-radical scavenging activity and protein content of apical tissue were higher in 20 than in 70 mm radicles immediately after chilling and after an additional 48 h of growth at 25°C. Catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX; EC 1.11.1.11) activity was higher in the apical tissue of 20 than in 70 mm radicles before chilling. Immediately after chilling and after an additional 48 h at 25°C, superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.6.4.2), and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX; EC 1.11.1.7) activity increased more rapidly in 70 mm radicles than in 20 mm radicles (SOD, GR, and GPX activity in 70 mm radicles was 1.5-, 1.9- and 8.6-fold higher, respectively, than in 20 mm radicles). However, APX and CAT activity in 20 mm radicles were always higher than in 70 mm radicles. Growth after chilling enhanced the activity of all antioxidant enzymes compared to that found in non-chilled tissue; however, CAT activity in 70 mm radicles did not recover to levels found in non-chilled tissue. Higher levels of CAT, APX and DPPH-radical scavenging activity are correlated with higher chilling tolerance of 20 mm-long cucumber radicles compared to 70 mm-long radicles.
Organizational Factors that Influence E-Learning Development and Implementation in the Corporate Context.

In the context of Autoparts, a multinational manufacturer for automotive electronics, Lotus Notes was employed to create an e-learning system. This system was titled “Using Notes for Case-based Learning Environments” (UNCLE). The UNCLE project attempted to encapsulate knowledge and understanding of those organizational factors that might influence e-learning development and implementation in a corporate context. Based on the findings of this study, and our reflections on these findings, we define that an e-learning system consists of four critical components: (1) corporate learners with certain prerequisites (people) to carry out (2) learning tasks (process) using (3) e-learning technology (technology) in an (4) organizational context (organization). This study further suggested that e-learning is a sociotechnical change process like any technology adoptions, and proposed a systemic framework for exploring and making the most of various sociotechnical factors. Further studies are suggested to investigate the interrelationships among these four components and various sociotechnical factors.
Melatonin and Its Role in Lower Urinary Tract Function: An Article Review

This article reviewed the results of studies done on animals that assessed effects of melatonin on bladder function. Melatonin does not change strip relaxation on its own. However, pre-treatment with melatonin decreases contractile responses induced by phenylephrine, acetylcholine, bethanechol and KCl in a dose-dependent manner. The contractile responses induced by the direct calcium channel openers are significantly decreased by melatonin pre-treatment. It also binds to Ca2+-activated calmodulin, and prevents it from activating myosin light-chain kinase. It may have direct effects on ion channels which are responsible for regulating bladder contraction. Its other mode of action on bladder occurs via the brain GABAA receptor. Melatonin is an antioxidant. In bladder, treatment with melatonin prevents elevations in malondialdehyde levels, reverses changes in glutathione levels, and decreases myeloperoxidase levels compared with oxidative injury. It can normalize age induced bladder dysfunction through its antioxidant effects, inhibiting smooth muscle contractility directly and restoring impaired contractility via normalization of Ca2+ handling and sensitizations pathways. It attenuates the severity of cystitis and inflammation. Mast cell proliferation and activation are increased in cystitis, but decrease by melatonin treatment. Also, there is a decrease in expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines after melatonin treatment.
Two-level screening designs derived from binary nonlinear codes

Abstract Nonregular fractional factorial designs can provide economical designs in screening experiments. In this paper, two criteria are proposed for evaluating the projectivity and uniformity properties of projections onto active factors in two-level nonregular fractional factorial designs. Moreover, two-level nonregular fractional factorial designs derived from binary nonlinear codes with 12, 24, 32 and 40 codewords and various lengths are evaluated using the new criteria. Such designs are also evaluated under the known E ( s 2 ) criterion for optimal designs in screening experiments, and are compared to Plackett–Burman designs or to projections of Plackett–Burman designs. Results show that some binary nonlinear codes can provide useful two-level nonregular fractional factorial designs in screening experiments. A search method is proposed for finding good designs with a large number of factors, starting from a good design with the same number of runs but with a smaller number of factors.
Tripartite mutualism: Facilitation or trade-offs between rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbionts of legume hosts

UNLABELLED • PREMISE OF THE STUDY Multiple mutualist effects (MMEs) are common in nature, yet we lack a predictive understanding of how two mutualists on the same host will influence each other and whether these effects will be positive or negative. Leguminous plants maintain root symbioses with two nutritional mutualists: rhizobia that fix atmospheric nitrogen and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that increase phosphorus uptake. Both symbionts receive plant carbon, and host genetic networks that regulate colonization are partially shared by both symbioses; whether these factors generate trade-offs or facilitation between rhizobial and AMF symbionts of legumes is not well known.• METHODS We evaluated host allocation to each symbiont in three settings. First, in situ in a remnant prairie, then in a greenhouse experiment with multiple plant populations, and finally under manipulated rhizobium densities in the greenhouse.• KEY RESULTS In the remnant prairie, rhizobium nodule number and colonization of AMF were positively correlated, and plants with increased nodule number had higher fitness in the field, generating indirect selection on the colonization of AMF. In the greenhouse experiment, allocation to each symbiont was genetically variable among populations, with some suggestion that rhizobium and AMF colonization are positively genetically correlated. Finally, increasing the number of rhizobia in the soil decreased AMF colonization.• CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that trade-offs between plant colonization by rhizobia and AMF are context dependent and might not be common under field conditions, but that physiological and/or genetic drivers couple these two symbioses in nature.
Differential increased expression of oxidative stress modulatory enzymes in breast cancer cells by tocotrienols

B26 Tocotrienols, a subclass of vitamin E compounds, display potent anticancer and apoptotic activity with little or no effect on normal cell growth and function. However, little if any attempt has been made to examine its influence on carcinogenesis, which often are inhibited by protective phase II and antioxidant enzymes. Determining the chemopreventive mechanism of tocotrienols will provide essential information necessary for understanding the potential health benefits of these compounds in reducing the risk of breast cancer in women. The primary aim of this study is to test the potential chemoprotective effects of tocotrienols by studying the relationship between antioxidant-enzyme defence responses and cellular growth suppression in human MCF-7 (estrogen receptor-positive) and MDA-MB-231 (estrogen receptor-negative) breast cancer cells. Comparing the effects of α-, γ-, and δ-tocotrienols on breast cancer cell proliferation, we observed that γ- and δ-tocotrienols significantly induced stronger growth inhibition in both cell lines at 10 µM concentration and α-tocotrienol had no effect on the growth of breast caner cells at tested concentrations. Hence, further studies are conducted using 10 µM concentrations. The expression and activity of antioxidant defenses were assessed using Western blot analysis and biochemical assays, respectively. In MDA-MB-231 cells, δ-tocotrienol was significantly more effective in increasing the expression of thioredoxin and glutathione peroxidase than α- or γ-tocotrienols. All three tocotrienols had no effect on the expression and activity of superoxide dismutase in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. In MCF-7 cells, a moderate decrease in the expression of catalase was observed by α- and γ-tocotrienol treatment, but no difference in the expression of catalase was seen in MDAMB-231 cells. In MCF-7 cells, the activity of phase 2 detoxifying enzyme, glutathione-S-transferase was significantly induced by γ- and δ-tocotrienol, but the activity or expression of quinone reductase 1 was not altered by tocotrienols. The effects of tocotrienols on Nrf2 and KEAP1 expression were also examined by Western blot analysis. In MDA-MB-231 cells, treatment with α-, γ- and δ-tocotrienol lead to 2.6-, 1.9 and 3.2-fold increase, respectively, in Nrf2 protein level with concomitant decrease in KEAP1 expression. In MCF-7 cells, no significant changes in Nrf2 and KEAP1 levels were detected. The induction of antioxidant defence responses and phase 2 enzymes is more pronounced in the estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-231 cells, wherein response is prominent with γ- and δ-tocotrienol treatment. These studies demonstrate for the first time that the ability of a specific form of tocotrienols selectively regulates the Nrf2-KEAP1 system, which in turn induces the expression of cytoprotective genes. (Supported by a grant BCTR0600943 from the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation)
Ability of Early Literacy Measures to Predict Future State Assessment Performance

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which early literacy measures administered in kindergarten and Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) measures administered in Grade 1 are related to and predict future state reading assessment performances up to 7 years later. Results indicated that early literacy and ORF performances were significantly and moderately related to performances in Grades 3, 5, and 7. Grade 3 achievement was best predicted by ORF, followed by Phoneme Segmentation Fluency (PSF), and then Initial Sound Fluency (ISF). After controlling for the effects of previous state assessment scores in Grade 3, additional significant variance in Grade 5 performance was accounted for by ORF. Finally, after controlling for the effects of Grades 5 and 3 state assessment performances, early literacy and ORF measures did not significantly predict Grade 7 achievement. Discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for theory and practice, as well as limitations and directions for future research.
Adrenal Weights in Tumor-Bearing Rats.

ConclusionThe presence of the hypophysis is necessary to adrenal hypertrophy in animals hearing Walker So. 256 tumor. This finding suggests that the pituitary may be essential to any adrenal cortex hypertrophy. Either certain toxins or metabolic processes sensitize the adrenal tissues to the pituitary adrenotropic hormone or they act directly on the hypophysis itself to cause an increased output of this substance. Work is now in progress to determine which process is involved.
Photochemical Reactivity of Titania Films on BaTiO3 Substrates: Origin of Spatial Selectivity

Titania films, 15−100 nm thick, have been grown on BaTiO3 substrates and used to photochemically reduce Ag+ to Ag0 and oxidize Pb2+ to Pb4+ under ultraviolet illumination. Atomic force microscopy was used to show that the reactions are spatially selective and that the pattern of products on the film surface reproduces the pattern of products on the bare substrate. The influence of the substrate on the pattern of reactants is diminished as the film thickness increases and is quenched when the film is donor-doped with Nb. The results indicate that for thin (15 nm) films, dipolar fields from the ferroelectric domains cause carriers generated in the substrate to travel through the film to react on the surface.
Isolation of a gonadotropin (PMEG) from pregnant mare endometrial cups: comparison with PMSG.

SummaryThe gonadotropin (PMEG) in pregnant mare endometrial cups was purified and compared to pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). Purification methodology applicable to PMSG was employed. In vivo and in vitro assays for FSH and LH were used to evaluate PMEG preparations. In all cases, lower activities (11-54%) were observed with PMEG compared to PMSG. Antiserum raised in rabbits against PMSG cross-reacts fully with PMEG in agar double diffusion tests. The amino acid composition of PMEG is similar to PMSG, but amino terminal group analyses show PMEG preparations to be more heterogeneous than PMSG. The carbohydrate composition of all PMEG preparations examined was considerably less (13-30%) than found in PMSG (45%).
Multiple on-off solenoid valve control for a launch vehicle propellant tank pressurization system

Pressure control inside the propellant tanks of a pump-fed space launch vehicle is almost always a flight-critical task. Pressures are commonly controlled by admitting helium from high pressure reservoirs into the propellant tank free volumes, or ullages. Controlled pressures must often satisfy the competing needs of engine net positive suction head, flight dynamic pressures, tank structural stability, and tank Maximum Expected Operating Pressure (MEOP). Helium flows are usually governed by either regulators, proportional valves, or on-off solenoid valves implementing relay logic leading to control limit cycles. A new control scheme using on-off solenoid valves to approximate the performance of a proportional flow control valve has been synthesized for both stages of a space launch vehicle. This control system uses the same valves required by a competing limit cycle system but significantly improves system robustness in the face of system uncertainties, including initial engine outflo,w rates, ullage volumes, and helium-to-propellant heat transfer rates. Simulations indicate ullage pressures can be maintained within a 5 psi band at all times, despite the slow.25 Hz data communication rate assumed for this vehicle. Further, the control logic provides a simple way to incorporate additional feedback signals such as engine pressure into the control loop to further improve tracking accuracy.
RTRB-16COCHLEAR RADIATION DOSE IS ASSOCIATED WITH DECREASED HEARING PRESERVATION FOR VESTIBULAR SCHWANNOMA PATIENTS TREATED WITH RADIOSURGERY

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy has emerged as an effective alternative treatment modality for vestibular schwannomas (VS) to achieve tumor control and hearing preservation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the radiation delivered to the cochlea during stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) and to determine its effect on hearing preservation. METHODS: Patients receiving SRS or SRT treatment for VS at UCLA from 2009 to 2013 were analyzed for clinical and hearing outcomes. The dosimetric data to the cochlea volume was associated with the hearing outcome of patients. Patients treated with SRS received a marginal dose of 12 Gy, and patients treated with SRT received a marginal dose of 50.4 Gy delivered through 28 fractions. Statistical analysis was completed using 2-tailed, Mann-Whitney U test with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS 40 patients underwent either SRS or SRT for vestibular schwannoma with a mean follow-up of 23.2 months. The mean total radiation dose delivered to the cochlea volume ranged from 4.0 to 11.9 Gy (median: 8.7 Gy) for SRS treatment and 30.2 to 51.4 Gy (median: 44.8 Gy) for SRT treatment. Hearing was preserved in 60% of SRS patients and in 63% of SRT patients. The cochlea received statistically significantly more radiation in patients with decreased hearing in SRS (p = 0.031), but not in SRT (p = 0.097). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that increased cochlear radiation dose is significantly associated with decreased rates of hearing preservation following SRS treatment but not with SRT treatment. Irradiation of cochlear structures may be a critically important aspect of radiosurgery treatment that warrants careful evaluation in the radiation treatment of vestibular schwannomas. Future prospective studies with randomization may further validate this data.
A learning algorithm and its applications to the quantum neural network model

A quantum neural network model and its learning algorithm are presented.According to the information processing mode of the biology neuron and the quantum computing theory,we first propose a quantum neuron model which includes weighting,aggregating,activating,and prompting.Secondly,the quantum neural network model based on quantum neuron is constructed in which both the input and the output are real vectors and both the linked weight and the activation value are qubits.Using gradient descent algorithm,we also propose a super-linearly convergent learning algorithm of the quantum neural network.Finally,the availability of the approach is illustrated by two application examples of pattern recognition and function approximation.
Pancreatic fluid collections: diagnosis and endoscopic management.

Abstract Pancreatitis may be acute or chronic, mild or severe. Acute necrotizing pancreatitis remains the most serious form of acute pancreatitis and accounts for the majority of complications. Although there is an established nomenclature for pancreatitis and pancreatic fluid collections, such as pancreatic pseudocysts, it is not widely understood or recognized by gastroenterologists. Because the management options for the treatment of pancreatic fluid collections continues to evolve with an increased use of endoscopic therapy, gastroenterologists will be increasingly called on to treat patients with pancreatitis and its complications. This article addresses and summarizes pancreatic fluid collections and their management, with an emphasis on endoscopic drainage.
Recovery guarantees for MIMO radar using multi-frequency LFM waveform

We present a multi-input and multi-output (MIMO) radar system concept employing low-complexity, structured multi-tone modulated chirp waveforms for joint range and angle of arrival estimation with formal recovery guarantees. Previously structured random block Toeplitz and Circulant matrices that result from using random waveforms in time delay and angle of arrival estimation in the MIMO setting have been shown to yield recovery guarantees. However, the corresponding transmitter and receiver structures have high complexity and sampling rate requirements. Our proposed compressive MIMO system uses a set of structured waveforms with much fewer random elements and features a simplified receiver structure with an analog mixer followed by a uniform sampler operating at sub-Nyquist rate. For a scene consisting of a sparse set of targets, we present recovery guarantees for the resulting structured measurement matrix for a sufficiently large number of modulated tones per transmitter.