cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular mechanisms of resveratrol (3,4,5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) and its interaction with TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) in androgen-insensitive prostate cancer cells.

Although resveratrol, an active ingredient derived from grapes and red wine, possesses chemopreventive properties against several cancers, the molecular mechanisms by which it inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis have not been clearly understood. Here, we examined the molecular mechanisms of resveratrol and its interactive effects with TRAIL on apoptosis in prostate cancer PC-3 and DU-145 cells. Resveratrol inhibited cell viability and colony formation, and induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Resveratrol downregulated the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL and survivin and upregulated the expression of Bax, Bak, PUMA, Noxa, and Bim, and death receptors (TRAIL-R1/DR4 and TRAIL-R2/DR5). Treatment of prostate cancer cells with resveratrol resulted in generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), translocation of Bax to mitochondria and subsequent drop in mitochondrial membrane potential, release of mitochondrial proteins (cytochrome c, Smac/DIABLO, and AIF) to cytosol, activation of effector caspase-3 and caspase-9, and induction of apoptosis. Resveratrol-induced ROS production, caspase-3 activity and apoptosis were inhibited by N-acetylcysteine. Bax was a major proapoptotic gene mediating the effects of resveratrol as Bax siRNA inhibited resveratrol-induced apoptosis. Resveratrol enhanced the apoptosis-inducing potential of TRAIL, and these effects were inhibited by either dominant negative FADD or caspase-8 siRNA. The combination of resveratrol and TRAIL enhanced the mitochondrial dysfunctions during apoptosis. These properties of resveratrol strongly suggest that it could be used either alone or in combination with TRAIL for the prevention and/or treatment of prostate cancer.
Data Compression of Structural Seismic Responses via Principled Independent Component Analysis

AbstractThis paper proposes a novel lossy data compression scheme for structural seismic responses based on principled (truncated) independent component analysis (PICA). It is first shown that independent component analysis (ICA) is able to transform a multivariate data set into a sparse representation space where is optimal for coding and compression, such that both the intradependencies and interdependencies (i.e., redundant information) between the multichannel data are removed for efficient data compression. Two examples are presented to demonstrate the compression performance of PICA, using the real-measured structural seismic responses from the 1994 Northridge earthquake, of the Fire Command Control (FCC) building and the USC hospital building, respectively. It is compared with the popular wavelet transform coding technique, which is only able to handle single-channel data separately. Results show that PICA achieves dramatically higher compression ratio (CR) than the wavelet method while retaining e...
Orexin A-induced feeding is augmented by caloric challenge

Orexin neurons are stimulated by conditions that are glucoprivic, suggesting that orexin signaling may be increased during nutritional duress. We have previously shown that injection of orexin A (O...
Optimal flow control of a stochastic fluid-flow system

This paper is concerned with the optimal flow control of an ATM switching element in a broadband-integrated services digital network. We model the switching element as a stochastic fluid-flow system with a finite buffer, a constant output rate, and Markov-modulated fluid input. There is a cost of holding fluid and a reward for admitting the fluid to the buffer. We study the optimal flow control policies that minimize the fetal expected discounted cost. We analyze the problem by two different approaches and show that the optimal policy is of the turnpike type with the turnpike levels dependent on the states of the Markov-modulated source. We also state sufficient conditions under which the optimal turnpike levels are monotonic functions of the states of the Markov-modulated source. >
Bis(η^5-Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) Complexes of Niobium and Tantalum

Bent metallocene derivatives having η^5-C_5Me_5 ligands (“permethylmetallocene” derivatives) offer advantages over their η^5-C_5H_5 analogs in that they generally display greater thermal stability and are less prone to dimerize through single-atom bridges. These properties have allowed the development of a rich chemistry of group 3 and 4 d-block and f-block transition metal compounds with pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ancillary ligands. Although permethylniobocene and permethyltantalocene derivatives display reactivities similar to the parent niobocene and tantalocene analogs, their increased electron density at niobium and tantalum, their greater steric crowding, and their higher thermal stabilities offer some advantages in probing fundamental transformations such as α- and β-migratory insertion and elimination processes. Convenient synthetic entry points to these compounds are (η^5-C_5Me_5)_2NbCl_2 and (η^5-C_5Me_5)_2TaCl_2. These compounds can be reduced under dihydrogen to yield (η^5-C_5Me_5)_2MH_3 (M═Nb, Ta), which catalyzes the exchange of molecular hydrogen with benzene-d^6.
Understanding the role of sentiment analysis in contract risk classification

This paper describes a novel approach for identifying IT outsourcing contract renewal risk ahead of contract expiration by taking into account not only client satisfaction survey results (in the form of numeric scores), but also client interview transcripts (in the form of unstructured text). By using machine learning techniques, the interview transcripts are automatically processed to identify important topics of interest along with an associated sentiment for each topic. The output of the sentiment analysis is then used as an input (in addition to client satisfaction survey scores) to classify contract renewal risk. We show that, by using sentiment analysis to transform unstructured textual information into structured input, the classification accuracy of non-renewing contracts, in particular, is substantially enhanced. Moreover, the topics with negative sentiments can shed light on the root causes of problems leading to contract non-renewal.
Property-based design of a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor that reduces glucosylceramide in the brain

Synthesis inhibition is the basis for the treatment of type 1 Gaucher disease by the glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) inhibitor eliglustat tartrate. However, the extended use of eliglustat and related compounds for the treatment of glycosphingolipid storage diseases with CNS manifestations is limited by the lack of brain penetration of this drug. Property modeling around the D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-propanol (PDMP) pharmacophore was employed in a search for compounds of comparable activity against the GCS but lacking P-glycoprotein (MDR1) recognition. Modifications of the carboxamide N-acyl group were made to lower total polar surface area and rotatable bond number. Compounds were screened for inhibition of GCS in crude enzyme and whole cell assays and for MDR1 substrate recognition. One analog, 2-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-N-((1R,2R)-1-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-1-hydroxy-3-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)propan-2-yl)acetamide (CCG-203586), was identified that inhibited GCS at low nanomolar concentrations with little to no apparent recognition by MDR1. Intraperitoneal administration of this compound to mice for 3 days resulted in a significant dose dependent decrease in brain glucosylceramide content, an effect not seen in mice dosed in parallel with eliglustat tartrate.
The Human Computer in Flight Control

It is the unique decision-making ability which makes the human operator particularly suited to accomplish flight control computation. His decisions range from the simplest repetitive determination of control actions, each intended to minimize the error, to complex problems of the sequential reprogramming of all the lower levels of decision which, in totality, comprise his information transduction process. The human sensory-input and motor-output channels must be properly used in order to insure maximum efficiency of the over-all human computer. The perceived noise can only be separated from the signal after the decision-making operation to be performed has been clearly identified. Human noise filter and information handling rate characteristics may be enhanced through the utilization of inherent qualities of the various input and output channels. A brief summary is made of the considerable effort which has been devoted toward the development of mathematical models for human tracking. It is emphasized that the human decision-making ability must be incorporated into the model before a realistic representation can be attained. A stochastic model is considered which is constructed in a heuristic manner, incorporating the decision-making ability. Specific direction is indicated which may yield the most fruitful approach to the mathematical analysis of human flight control computation. This future model would be of great value as a link between the related work in the fields of neurophysiology, biophysics, and psychology. Most important, it should provide a cockpit synthesis technique which will aid the design of future manned aircraft.
Self-Differentiation in Symbolic Interactionism and Psychoanalysis

SINCE THE person-environment in terface was conceptualized as the unique arena for clinical social work, practice wisdom has been the only means to span the chasm be tween psychological and sociological theory in the application of each to practice realities. With the advance ment of the concept of self-differentia tion by current revisionists in the psy choanalytic tradition, notably, Heinz Kohut, Donald W. Winnicott, and Hans W. Loewald, it is now possible to undergird the person-environment conceptualization with an integrated knowledge base that embraces both psychological and social perspectives.
Land Policy in Vietnam: Challenges and Prospects for Constructive Change

Land policy is crucial to Vietnam’s socioeconomic development. Yet, land policy in Vietnam often is short-sighted, resulting in inequities and a form of commons tragedy. In this essay, the author r...
Alluvial pedogenesis in Pleistocene and Holocene Mississippi River deposits: Effects of relative sea-level change

Comparison of Pleistocene and Holocene soils developed in Mississippi River meander-belt deposits in Louisiana illustrates the influence of relative sea-level change on pedogenesis. Holocene and Pleistocene meander belts have similar landscape morphologies, lithofacies, and soil characteristics, and probably formed under similar hydrologic regimes. The Pleistocene Avoyelles Prairie meander belt is now terraced, but it was originally graded to a lower relative sea-level position than the Holocene flood plain. Holocene alluvial soils are generally weakly expressed cumulative profiles with abundant redoximorphic features, and formed on an aggrading flood plain with a shallow fluctuating water table. The soil morphology varies with respect to landscape position and overbank lithofacies. Pleistocene alluvial paleosols show evidence for two stages of pedogenesis. During the first stage of pedogenesis, water-table fluctuations and flood-plain aggradation produced profiles with color mottles, iron and carbonate nodules, and weak B and C horizons, similar to Holocene flood-plain soils. The second stage of pedogenesis occurred after the Avoyelles Prairie was terraced and the regional water table fell a minimum of 30 m. Improved soil drainage created oxidizing and acidic conditions, removed free carbonates, dehydrated iron oxides, and transformed clay minerals. This stage produced Pleistocene profiles with brighter matrix and mottle hues, lower pH values, larger and harder iron nodules, and greater kaolinite contents than comparable Holocene flood-plain soils. The primary influence on regional water- table lowering in the southern Lower Mississippi Valley was relative sea-level fall. Mississippi River flood-plain lowering adjacent to the Avoyelles Prairie most likely occurred between the end of oxygen isotope stage 3 and the maximum period of valley entrenchment, during oxygen isotope stage 2. Water-table fall affected pedogenic processes a minimum of 400 km upvalley of the continental shelf margin. Pleistocene Mississippi River paleosols represent excellent analogs for interpreting ancient alluvial paleosols formed during episodes of base-level fall and valley incision. As fluvial entrenchment terraced the meandering Avoyelles Prairie, a pedogenic threshold was crossed that altered the pathway of chemical weathering. The complexity of a multiple-step pedogenic history also highlights the fact that interpretation of relative profile development as a function of time can be problematic.
Mirror of Time: Temporality and Contemporaneity in the work of Jorge Luis Borges

Borges recognized the cracking facade of modernity and the fragility of its monist absolutisms, its commitment to linearity, and its faith in historical progress. By disavowing the ability of time to be contained within any collective structure of representation, Borges both refutes modernist conceptions of time and offers insight into recent theories of contemporaneity. A contemporaneous reading of Borges opens lucid temporal relationships, challenges assumptions about the affinities between the self and time, allows for the existence of multiple temporal antimonies, and ultimately reveals the contemporaneous relationship between individual sensations of time of the collective structural composition of temporality.
Emerging Signal Processing Techniques in Optical Communications

We review recent advances in all-optical and electronic processing leading to viable solutions for impairments mitigation in high-speed optical communication systems.
Edible Coating Effects on Postharvest Quality of Green Bell Peppers

Green bell pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L., cv. ‘‘Jupiter’’) were coated with a mineral-oil-based coating or a cellulose-based coating. Three different milk-protein-based edible coatings (whey protein isolate, sodium caseinate, and sodium caseinate beeswax emulsion) plasticized with glycerol were also tested. The effects of these coatings were followed by measurement of changes in respiration, internal gases, color, firmness, and water loss during storage at 107C, 80‐85% RH for 20 days. None reduced respiration or affected color. Only the mineral-oil-based coating significantly reduced moisture loss, thus maintaining fruit firmness and thereby prolonging fruit freshness.
Lewis Acidic Behavior of Fluorinated Organomercurials

Owing to their unusual Lewis acidic properties, the coordination chemistry of fluorinated organomercurials is attracting increasing interest. In this review, the authors focus on the synthesis, structures, and properties of neutral Lewis adducts involving fluorinated organomercurials such as (CF3)2Hg, (C6F5)HgCl, (C6F5)2Hg, and [(o-C6F4)Hg]3. While most of these organomercurials form adducts with common Lewis basic organic substrates, [(o-C6F4)Hg]3 also interacts with aromatic hydrocarbons, alkynes, N-heterocycles, and metallocenes to form π-complexes. In some cases, this complexation mode results in the formation of supramolecules with unusual luminescence properties or microporosity.
Frequency and timing of stem removal influence Corylus americana resprout vigor in oak savanna

Shrubs are an important component of many ecosystems, contributing to spatial and resource heterogeneity and adding to life form and species diversity. Many shrub species have adapted to regular disturbances such as fire by resprouting after stem removal. The relative vigor with which shrubs resprout influences post-disturbance size and density of individuals and thus, can alter community structure. However, little is known about how disturbance frequency and seasonality influence resprouting. We studied resprout vigor of the native shrub American hazel (Corylus americana Walter) in oak savanna in Minnesota, USA. We measured resprout growth of individual shrubs in response to the frequency and timing of clipping in relatively open and shaded conditions. We hypothesized that resprouting of C. americana would be negatively related to clip frequency, due to more rapid depletion of stored resources necessary for resprouting, and positively related to light availability. In 12 weeks following a single clipping, shrubs recovered 82% of the lost stem biomass in open savanna, but only 17% in shaded forest. In both open and closed sites, shrubs clipped three times or more resprouted only 10–15% as much biomass as those clipped once. Moreover, the timing of clipping had as large an effect on resprout potential as the number of clipping events, and small differences in timing were important. Plants clipped once in mid or late June or in July regrew 57, 17, and 8% as much biomass, respectively in the six weeks following clipping as those clipped in early June. These results illustrate that both the timing and number of disturbance events within a growing season can strongly influence shrub growth, which can have important implications for ecosystem structure, function, and management.
Male breast cancer: risk factors, biology, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship

Background: The causes, optimal treatments, and medical/psychosocial sequelae of breast cancer in men are poorly understood. Design: A systematic review of the English language literature was conducted to identify studies relevant to male breast cancer between 1987 and 2012 and including at least 20 patients. Searches were carried out on PubMed using the title terms ‘male breast cancer’ or ‘male breast carcinoma’. Results: Relevant published data regarding risk factors, biological characteristics, presentation and prognosis, appropriate evaluation and treatment, and survivorship issues in male breast cancer patients are presented. BRCA2 mutations, age, conditions that alter the estrogen/androgen ratio, and radiation are proven risk factors. Disease biology is distinct in men, but diagnostic approaches and treatments for men are generally extrapolated from those in women due to inadequate research in men. Survivorship issues in men may include sexual and hormonal side-effects of endocrine therapies as well as unique psychosocial impacts of the disease. Conclusion: Further research is needed to address gaps in knowledge pertaining to care of male breast cancer patients and survivors.
Ex utero intrapartum treatment in the management of giant cervical teratomas

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to present the outcome and technical details of the Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment (EXIT) procedure performed in the management of the fetus with a giant cervical teratoma. Methods A retrospective review of the medical records of patients undergoing the EXIT procedure between September 1995 and September 2010 was performed. Results Eighty-seven EXIT procedures were performed. In 20% of cases (17/87), the indication was giant cervical teratoma. There were 10 females and 7 males. Polyhydramnios was present in 82%. Median gestational age at EXIT was 35 weeks (range, 30-39 weeks). Median birth weight was 2.5 kg (range, 1.7-3.7 kg). Access to the airway under placental support was established in all cases via direct laryngoscopy/bronchoscopy in 8 patients (47%) and via surgical exploration (tracheostomy or retrograde intubation) in 9 patients (53%). The mortality rate under placental support was zero. Seven patients had the tumors resected immediately after the EXIT, 6 patients had the resection later, and 4 patients died before resection. The neonatal mortality rate was 23% (4/17 patients). Patients who died had severe pulmonary hypoplasia that resulted from the upward traction by the giant cervical mass on the airway and compression of the lungs against the thoracic apex. Conclusions We conclude that the EXIT procedure continues to be the optimal delivery strategy for patients with prenatally diagnosed giant cervical teratomas and potential airway obstruction at birth. A thorough evaluation of the prenatal images and an experienced multidisciplinary team are key factors for an effective approach to the obstructed fetal airway.
Neonatal Infrared Axillary Thermometry

The authors compared axillary skin temperatures (AT) measured with an infrared (IR) thermometer (Lightouch Neonate, Exergen Corp) with rectal temperatures (RT) in 16 newly born term infants under radiant warmers (RW) and in cribs. Twelve stable, growing premature infants in incubators were also studied. This new device may be useful because of safety and rapid results (1 second), but clinical accuracy is unknown. For term infants, mean (SD) RT-AT difference was 0.1 (0.48) degree C under RW and 0.25 (0.17) degree C 2 hours later in cribs. For premature infants in incubators the mean RT-AT difference was 0.09 (0.16) degree C. Axillary temperatures measured by IR thermometer approximate RT for newly born term infants in cribs and stable premature infants in incubators. For newly born term infants under RW, RT-AT differences vary more widely, limiting clinical usefulness in this setting. The device, the unique age of this population, and the RW environment may play a role.
Building block method: a bottom-up modular synthesis methodology for distributed compliant mechanisms

Abstract. Synthesizing topologies of compliant mechanisms are based on rigid-link kinematic designs or completely automated optimization techniques. These designs yield mechanisms that match the kinematic specifications as a whole, but seldom yield user insight on how each constituent member contributes towards the overall mechanism performance. This paper reviews recent developments in building block based design of compliant mechanisms. A key aspect of such a methodology is formulating a representation of compliance at a (i) single unique point of interest in terms of geometric quantities such as ellipses and vectors, and (ii) relative compliance between distinct input(s) and output(s) in terms of load flow. This geometric representation provides a direct mapping between the mechanism geometry and their behavior, and is used to characterize simple deformable members that form a library of building blocks. The design space spanned by the building block library guides the decomposition of a given problem specification into tractable sub-problems that can be each solved from an entry in the library. The effectiveness of this geometric representation aids user insight in design, and enables discovery of trends and guidelines to obtain practical conceptual designs.
Dissipative Dynamical SystemsPart I: General Theory

The first part of this two-part paper presents a general theory of dissipative dynamical systems. The mathematical model used is a state space model and dissipativeness is defined in terms of an inequality involving the storage function and the supply function. It is shown that the storage function satisfies an a priori inequality: it is bounded from below by the available storage and from above by the required supply. The available storage is the amount of internal storage which may be recovered from the system and the required supply is the amount of supply which has to be delivered to the system in order to transfer it from the state of minimum storage to a given state. These functions are themselves possible storage functions, i.e., they satisfy the dissipation inequality. Moreover, since the class of possible storage functions forms a convex set, there is thus a continuum of possible storage functions ranging from its lower bound, the available storage, to its upper bound, the required supply. The paper then considers interconnected systems. It is shown that dissipative systems which are interconnected via a neutral interconnection constraint define a new dissipative dynamical system and that the sum of the storage functions of the individual subsystems is a storage function for the interconnected system. The stability of dissipative systems is then investigated and it is shown that a point in the state space where the storage function attains a local minimum defines a stable equilibrium and that the storage function is a Lyapunov function for this equilibrium. These results are then applied to several examples. These concepts and results will be applied to linear dynamical systems with quadratic supply rates in the second part of this paper.
Vascular Endothelium and Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a disease complex defined by abnormalities of glucose homeostasis and characterized by a group of chronic complications that affect the function of the eyes (retinopathy), kidneys (nephropathy), peripheral nerves (neuropathy), large blood vessels (atherosclerosis), and microvessels (microangiopathy). Indeed, the vascular dysfunction(s) in diabetes may underlie all of the chronic complications of the disease. These complications account for the vast majority of morbidity and mortality that accompanies diabetes, with atherosclerosis underlying the susceptibility to myocardial infarction and stroke, and the microvascular disease underlying retinopathy, nephropathy, and, perhaps, neuropathy. Diabetes mellitus is divided into two general categories, type I [insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)] and type II [non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)]. The general characteristics of type I and type II diabetes are outlined in Table 1. Both type I and type II patients have similar complications, although the frequency of each complication differs between the two groups, with type I patients having a much greater incidence of microvascular complications (nephropathy and retinopathy) and type II patients having a somewhat higher frequency of microvascular complications that are associated with atherosclerosis. Although the precise etiologies of type I and II diabetes, as well as the causes of the diabetic complications, are not known, abnormalities of the vascular endothelium have been shown to occur early in the disease and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic complications in this complex illness.
Spin asymmetries for vector boson production in polarized p+p collisions

We study the cross section for vector boson (${W}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}/{Z}^{0}/{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{*}$) production in polarized nucleon-nucleon collisions for low transverse momentum of the observed vector boson. For the case where one measures the transverse momentum and azimuthal angle of the vector bosons, we present the cross sections and the associated spin asymmetries in terms of transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions (TMDs) at tree level within the TMD factorization formalism. To assess the feasibility of experimental measurements, we estimate the spin asymmetries for ${W}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}/{Z}^{0}$ boson production in polarized proton-proton collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider by using current knowledge of the relevant TMDs. We find that some of these asymmetries can be sizable if the suppression effect from TMD evolution is not too strong. The $W$ program at RHIC can, thus, test and constrain spin theory by providing unique information on the universality properties of TMDs, TMD evolution, and the nucleon structure. For example, the single transverse spin asymmetries could be used to probe the well-known Sivers function ${f}_{1T}^{\ensuremath{\perp}q}$, as well as the transversal helicity distribution ${g}_{1T}^{q}$ via the parity-violating nature of $W$ production.
DEGRADATION OF LAMINARIA SACCHARINA BY SAPROBIC FUNGI

Eighteen fungi were found on stipe tissue of attached and detached Laminaria saccharina. Healthy stipes and others infected by Phycomelaina laminariae were placed in separate mesh bags, suspended in the water column and examined at three-month intervals for nine months. The species included an oomycete, Petersenia sp. or Atkinsiella sp., a parasite or the ascomata of Phycomelaina laminariae, Bartalinia robillardoides, a coelomycete new to North America and not previously observed from a marine substratum; Zalerion maritimum, a common marine saprobe not previously described from an algal substratum, and Dendryphiella salina, the most commonn fungal invader of macro-algae. The carbon level of detached, suspended stipe tissue increased during the first six months in infected tissues, while the levels in healthy (uninfected) tissues decreased in the first three-month interval and increased during the second three months. Carbon levels decreased in infected and healthy detrital tissues during the last three-month period. Nitrogen increased in infected and healthy detrital tissues during the first six months but decreased during the last three-month period.
Limiting Mechanisms in a Photoconducting Liquid Phthalocyanine

Photoexcitation of a new pure liquid phthalocyanine gives both a strong nonlinear absorption and photoalectrical charge generation. The novel photoelectrical properties of the material lead to plasma formation, an additional limiting mechanism, at moderate fluences.
Photoactive chemicals for antimicrobial textiles

Abstract Applications of photocatalysts and photosensitizers as light-activated antibacterial agents have universally aroused tremendous interest in recent years owing to advantages such as extraordinary antibacterial activity, high controllability, low toxicity, and high availability. The antibacterial function of photosensitive chemicals can be triggered and controlled by light with wavelength in the UVA or visible range (320–700 nm). The generation of reactive oxygen species by light-activated antibacterial agents upon irradiation, such as singlet oxygen (1O2) and hydroxyl radicals (HO ), is responsible for the photo-induced cytotoxicity toward a broad spectrum of microorganisms. The extremely active chemicals initiate nonselective attack on the targets, resulting in irreversible damage to the cell and eventually death. This chapter intends to summarize the current developments in photoactive antibacterial agents along with their applications in textile materials. Fundamental photo-induced antibacterial mechanisms, concerns, and future perspectives are also discussed.
Advances in mandarin broadcast speech recognition

We describe our continuing efforts to improve the UW-SRI-ICSI Mandarin broadcast speech recognizer. We augmented acoustic and language model training data and obtained first results using the broadcast conversation genre. The front end was enhanced using features estimated by multilayer perceptrons, and we incorporated discriminative training techniques such as MPE and fMPE. The decoding architecture was also improved to take advantage of crossadaptation and system combination. The net effect was a 24%-38% relative reduction in character error rates (CER) on a variety of test sets.
Behavioral and Genetic Evidence for GIRK Channels in the CNS: Role in Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Drug Addiction

G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels are widely expressed throughout the brain and mediate the inhibitory effects of many neurotransmitters. As a result, these channels are important for normal CNS function and have also been implicated in Down syndrome, Parkinson's disease, psychiatric disorders, epilepsy, and drug addiction. Knockout mouse models have provided extensive insight into the significance of GIRK channels under these conditions. This review examines the behavioral and genetic evidence from animal models and genetic association studies in humans linking GIRK channels with CNS disorders. We further explore the possibility that subunit-selective modulators and other advanced research tools will be instrumental in establishing the role of individual GIRK subunits in drug addiction and other relevant CNS diseases and in potentially advancing treatment options for these disorders.
What kind of leaders will be successful

The U.S. health care system is fundamentally changing. The pace of change is swift but will vary, depending on regional market forces and state legislative mandates. This complex change is leading to rapid market consolidation of providers and insurers into organizations called "integrated health care systems." There is, as yet, no proven role model that will guarantee success. The purpose of this article is two-fold: To help individuals who see an expanding role for themselves in integrated health care management decide if they have what it is going to take to be successful. To identify individual management training needs by use of a self-evaluation tool. Some of the needed skills can be enhanced by education and experience. However, some are personality and style characteristics that may not be changeable.
Sonographic Evaluation and Diagnosis of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Resulting in Massive Intra-abdominal Ascites

Mesothelioma is most commonly thought of as a pathology of the lungs; however, in rare cases it may develop in other areas of the body. Vague symptoms and lack of visible tumors in the beginning stages of the disease can make this pathology difficult to diagnose when manifesting in locations other than the lungs. This case study presents a rare occurrence of peritoneal mesothelioma. Multiple imaging modalities typically play a role in the diagnosis of this pathology, including sonography and computed tomography. The case report highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic values sonography can offer for such pathology.
The Cancer Secretome

Through rapid advancement of genomics by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and proteomics by Mass Spectrometry (MS) technologies and innovative sampling and bioinformatic strategies a new era of personalized medicine is upon us. Secreted proteins play an important role in tumorigenesis through cell growth, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. As such, the measure of all secreted or shed proteins, referred to as “secretomics”, could be invaluable in terms of identifying early pharmacological or physiological biomarkers associated with cancer diagnosis and progression, of therapeutic response and/or resistance or even in identifying novel druggable protein targets. Most FDA-approved cancer secreted biomarkers are measured by standard immunoassay. There is an emerging rationale that as our understanding of the complexity of tumor biology and microenvironment increases at an accelerated rate, antiquated assays limited to detecting single markers may have narrow applicability and utility in a clinical setting in terms of relevancy to the disease biology and the diversity of a given patient population.
Pipe politics, contested waters: embedded infrastructures of millennial Mumbai

In Pipe Politics, Lisa Bjorkman draws us into the complex hydraulic infrastructure of contemporary Mumbai, to the volatile materialities of its pipes, pumps and valves, and its contentious politics...
Thermal neutron flux characterization at aircraft altitudes with the TinMan detector

Recently, concerns have been raised about thermal neutrons causing single event effects in semiconductor devices. For example, if 10B is present in a semiconductor device, thermal neutron capture reactions can produce several MeV alpha particles. The charge that these alpha particles deposit in a sensitive volume can cause a failure. The number of single event effects from thermal neutrons is the product of the thermal neutron intensity times the thermal neutron failure cross section. This paper presents the status of the thermal neutron flux measurements with the TinMan thermal neutron detector at aircraft altitudes. Thermal neutrons are produced in an airplane when high energy-neutrons, created by the interaction of cosmic rays in the atmosphere, are thermalized in the fuel, the passengers and the airplane itself. Therefore, they are very environment dependent. Airplanes are a particular concern because at aircraft altitudes, the cosmic-ray neutron flux is approximately 300 times the sea-level neutron flux. Therefore, the understanding of the thermal neutron intensity at aircraft altitude is critical for understanding the risks of thermal neutrons to avionics systems. We have designed and built TinMan to measure the thermal neutron environment in prototypical aircraft. The TinMan detector consists of two 3He ionization chambers. One of the 3He ionization chamber is wrapped in a thin layer of cadmium. Because the cadmium shielding attenuates the thermal neutrons, the difference in count rates between these two detectors reflects the number of thermal neutrons detected. We have calibrated the detector prior to the flight, acquired data during several flights in a NASA ER-2 airplane and plan to fly the detector on other NASA experimental aircrafts, which are more prototypical of a large commercial airplane. This paper will present the status of these measurements.
Gender and Minority Achievement Gaps in Science in Eighth Grade: Item Analyses of Nationally Representative Data

In this study, we investigated gender and minority achievement gaps on 8th-grade science items employing a multilevel item response methodology. Both gaps were wider on physics and earth science items than on biology and chemistry items. Larger gender gaps were found on items with specific topics favoring male students than other items, for example, an earth science item requiring visual–spatial ability. Minority students were more likely than White students to score lower on harder constructed-response (CR) items. Some teachers were more likely to reduce minority achievement gaps on easier CR items than other teachers. Implications for instruction in terms of improving visual–spatial awareness, efficacy of female students, and modeling scientific literacy for minority students were discussed.
Current fabrication techniques for ULE and fused silica lightweight mirrors

Fabrication of lightweight mirrors from low expansion glasses can be achieved using several techniques. Lightweighting can be obtained through fabrication of fusion-bonded cores, abrasive waterjetting (AWJ) technology and traditional fixed abrasive grinding. Lightweight cores can then be bonded to mirror plates using high temperature fusion, low temperature fusion, and frit bonding processes. Each mirror fabrication approach offers its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of lightweighting, cost and design flexibility. Each of these factors is discussed, along with Corning's proven size capability for each.
Water and Electrolyte Derangements: Overhydration

Publisher Summary Diuretics, especially thiazide diuretics, are a frequent cause of hyponatremia. Paradoxically, loop diuretics can be important adjuncts in the treatment of acute symptomatic hyponatremia, the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone and diabetes insipidus. Hyponatremia is caused by water retention due to continued water intake, which is more than the ability of the kidneys to excrete electrolyte-free water. The resulting hypotonicity causes water movement into cells, with cell swelling. Swelling of brain cells causes cerebral edema, which results in the neurologic symptoms of hyponatremia. Since brain cells regulate their volume, patients are symptomatic only if the hyponatremia is acute or very severe. Normally, hyponatremia should suppress the secretion of antidiuretic hormone (arginine vasopressin or AVP), decreasing the water permeability of the collecting duct system, allowing the excess water to be excreted. However, AVP release is controlled by both osmotic and nonosmotic stimuli. Therefore, it is helpful to categorize the conditions associated with hyponatremia by the volume status of patients. Thiazides act primarily in the distal convoluted tubule and initial collecting duct to promote hypertonic salt loss. The loss of salt causes volume retention, and AVP induced water retention. The primary treatment of hyponatremia is to correct the underlying cause of impaired water excretion. The treatment of hyponatremia depends primarily on the consciousness of the patient, which is determined by the rate of development of hyponatremia.
Nielsen's Little Room: Its Uses with a Young Blind and Physically Disabled Girl.

Recent investigations of remedies for the extreme passivity shown by some blind children with other impairments have been undertaken by the Danish teacher-therapist Lilli Nielsen. This article pres...
The Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule

The Down syndrome cell adhesion molecules (DSCAMs) are a structurally and functionally conserved family of cell surface receptors that play important roles in nervous system organization. These receptors are expressed on both axons and dendrites where they engage in isoform-specific binding interactions between DSCAM receptors on opposing cell surfaces. Massive alternative splicing of arthropod DSCAM transcripts greatly expands the complexity of the DSCAM family by endowing these organisms with the ability to produce tens of thousands of distinct receptor isoforms that undergo homophilic binding. In addition to homophilic binding, DSCAM extracellular domains serve as receptors for other proteins such as the attractant netrin-1. These diverse interaction properties allow DSCAMs to control a variety of nervous system patterning processes including axon path-finding and targeting, neurite branch segregation, self-recognition, and neurite tiling.
The Influence of Aspect Ratio Distributions on the Thermoelastic Properties of Short-Fiber Reinforced Composite Materials

Short-fiber composites usually exhibit a distribution of fiber aspect ratios. Micromechanics models used for predicting the thermoelastic properties of short-fiber composite systems require a characteristic fiber aspect ratio value as an input parameter, usually taken to be the arithmetic average, ā, of the fiber aspect ratio a. Instead, this paper suggests that a more appropriate parameter is the square-root of the arithmetic average of the reciprocal of the square of the aspect ratio, . Models are presented which relate this measure of the aspect ratio distribution to the thermoelastic behavior.
Cognitive dysfunction associated with biological response modifier therapy.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To review current knowledge regarding the cognitive dysfunction related to administration of biological response modifiers (BRMs), including assessment and nursing intervention. DATA SOURCES: Published studies of cognitive dysfunction in people receiving BRMs, including research based on clinical observation and using pre- and post-treatment measures of cognitive and neurologic function. DATA SYNTHESIS: BRM-associated cognitive dysfunction is a significant clinical problem; however, its mechanisms of action are poorly understood. Clinical observation of patients cognitive and neurologic assessment, and interventions based on presence of premonitory symptomatology are warranted. CONCLUSIONS: Continued research into the causes of this problem and the definition of intervention protocols is needed. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Anticipatory care including assessing for early identification and family involvement in monitoring for changes, performing structured assessment of cognitive function, ensuring patient safety and reorientation, if necessary, and minimizing sleep disturbances.
Small amplitude oscillations of a shape-morphing plate immersed in a viscous fluid near a solid wall

In this paper, we investigate small amplitude oscillations of a thin shape-morphing plate submerged in a quiescent, Newtonian, incompressible, viscous fluid in the vicinity of a solid wall. The plate undergoes prescribed, time-varying shape-morphing deformation in phase with the transverse oscillation, consisting of periodic curvature to an arc of a circle. As the presence of the solid wall in close proximity of the oscillating plate is known to significantly increase hydrodynamic damping on the structure due to squeeze film effects, shape-morphing is considered as a potential strategy to modulate and control hydrodynamic forces, as well as power dissipation. Via a rigorous formulation based on unsteady Stokes equations and the boundary element method, we show that the shape-morphing strategy is effective in reducing hydrodynamic forces on the structure as well as hydrodynamic power dissipation due to viscous effects. Additionally, such a reduction is enhanced as the gap between the oscillating plate and the solid wall is reduced. We present a comprehensive parametric study which investigates the effect of oscillation frequency, gap size, and imposed curvature on the hydrodynamic performance of the system and support our findings with asymptotics from inviscid flow theory and lubrication theory. These findings are of direct interest and applicability in several cantilever-based sensing and actuation systems, such as atomic force microscopy and microelectromechanical systems in liquids.
The Geometric Block Model and Applications

This is a note accompanying an invited talk at the Allerton conference where we summarize our results related to geometric block model (GBM), a random graph model for communities in networks that is based on geometric graphs. The GBM is distinguished from many other community models because of correlated edge formation, which makes GBM less random in nature, but more complicated to analyze. On the algorithmic side, we describe a simple triangle-counting process that performs sequential edge removal from the graph to reveal the communities. The algorithm critically uses the connectivity properties of annulus graphs or vertex-random graphs.
All the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men, but Some of Us Are Brave

In 1982, African American feminists, writers, and educators Gloria T. Hull, Patricia Bell Scott, and Barbara Smith co-edited a foundational volume of essays designed to map a program for African American women’s studies and research on issues ranging from racial bias and sexism, to homophobia entitled: “All the Women Are White, All the Blacks are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave.” For the Fordham Law symposium honoring 100 years of women at Fordham Law School, we now reflect on that volume in relation to African American women’s intersectional gender and race representation in the legal profession.
Draft Genome Sequence of Cyclobacterium marinum Strain Atlantic-IS, Isolated from the Atlantic Slope off the Coast of Virginia, USA.

ABSTRACT Here, we report a draft genome sequence for Cyclobacterium marinum strain Atlantic-IS, isolated from the Atlantic slope off the coast of Virginia. The whole-genome sequence will help us understand its adaptive metabolic responses to diverse C sources in low-nutrient environments.
Tocquevillian Education for Self-Governance

This chapter interprets Tocqueville’s project in Democracy in America and its elaboration by Vincent and Elinor Ostrom as a guide to pedagogy. It argues that those interested in advancing a Tocquevillian vision of society should consider how mores—intellectual and moral habits—are influenced in learning environments, not only by the explicit content of education but also by the “hidden curriculum” implicit in the form that education takes. Not only should education for self-governance promote an understanding of the ethics, economics, and political science of association, it should also promote habits of initiative, responsibility, and cooperation through modes of learning in which the arts of association are actively practiced.