cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perceived stress and resilience in Alzheimer's disease caregivers: Testing moderation and mediation models of social support

Objective: The study examined whether social support functioned as a protective, resilience factor among Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers. Moderation and mediation models were used to test social support amid stress and resilience. Method: A cross-sectional analysis of self-reported data was conducted. Measures of demographics, perceived stress, family support, friend support, overall social support, and resilience were administered to caregiver attendees (N = 229) of two AD caregiver conferences. Hierarchical regression analysis showed the compounded impact of predictors on resilience. Odds ratios generated probability of high resilience given high stress and social supports. Social support moderation and mediation were tested via distinct series of regression equations. Path analyses illustrated effects on the models for significant moderation and/or mediation. Results: Stress negatively influenced and accounted for most variation in resilience. Social support positively influenced resilience, and ca...
Comprehensive message control and assurance with the secure email transport protocol

Conventional email communications suffer from a myriad of vulnerabilities due to the inherent security shortcomings of SMTP. Various attributes of messages may be vulnerable to falsification, interception, and/or modification. Messages face threats from both network intruders as well as legitimate communicating parties. SETP mitigates the threats by combining a variety of security techniques into a unified system that provides the basic properties of privacy, data integrity verification, and non-repudiation. SETP goes beyond these basic assurances and also provides proof of delivery using certified timestamps, and message lifetime control using a custom-designed message key management protocol. The salient feature of SETP is its innovative addressing scheme that allows several email users to share a single transport-level email address and mailbox, providing message flow confidentiality. Every individual user can reliably retrieve their own messages from the mailbox while being restricted from compromising messages destined for any other user.
The TEIES design and objectives: computer mediated communications and tailorability

An overview is presented of the current design of TEIES (Tailorable Electronic Information Exchange System). This system is intended to provide sufficient adaptability to allow it to support a wide range of applications in the areas of collaborative systems and group decision support systems. It is also intended to allow complete integration of communication and information services for users and groups. >
Adverse Effects of Diuretics

Analysis of the available evidence indicates that diuretics do not increase coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality. The multiclinic trials supporting the cardiotoxicity hypothesis are few in number and flawed in design. The majority of the trials, including the well designed trials, indicate no excess of coronary heart disease (CHD) events in diuretic-treated patients compared with those given other drugs or placebo. Recent studies indicate no increase in cardiac arrhythmias after diuretic treatment. Also, although depletion of intracellular potassium and magnesium occurs in patients with congestive heart failure even without diuretics, intracellular concentration of these ions is not significantly reduced by diuretics in patients with uncomplicated hypertension. Modest elevations of serum cholesterol may occur during the first 6 to 12 months of treatment with thiazide diuretics. However, after this time these elevations fall to or below the pretreatment level. The fall may be greater in patients receiving other drugs but the differences are small and their clinical significance is questionable. The incidences of hyperglycaemia and diabetes were only minimally increased in long term clinical trials while the importance of hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance in causing CHD remains unproven in patients. Thiazides remain, therefore, a safe and effective treatment for patients with hypertension.
Redistribution, Hyperproliferation, Activation of Natural Killer Cells and CD8 T Cells, and Cytokine Production During First-in-Human Clinical Trial of Recombinant Human Interleukin-15 in Patients With Cancer

Purpose Interleukin-15 (IL-15) has significant potential in cancer immunotherapy as an activator of antitumor CD8 T and natural killer (NK) cells. The primary objectives of this trial were to determine safety, adverse event profile, dose-limiting toxicity, and maximum-tolerated dose of recombinant human IL-15 (rhIL-15) administered as a daily intravenous bolus infusion for 12 consecutive days in patients with metastatic malignancy. Patients and Methods We performed a first in-human trial of Escherichia coli–produced rhIL-15. Bolus infusions of 3.0, 1.0, and 0.3 μg/kg per day of IL-15 were administered for 12 consecutive days to patients with metastatic malignant melanoma or metastatic renal cell cancer. Results Flow cytometry of peripheral blood lymphocytes revealed dramatic efflux of NK and memory CD8 T cells from the circulating blood within minutes of IL-15 administration, followed by influx and hyperproliferation yielding 10-fold expansions of NK cells that ultimately returned to baseline. Up to 50-fo...
Rate-equation approach to island size distributions and capture numbers in submonolayer irreversible growth

~Received 14 December 2000; revised manuscript received 25 April 2001; published 19 October 2001! We present a quantitative rate-equation approach to irreversible submonolayer growth on a two-dimensional substrate. Our method explicitly takes into account the existence of a denuded ~‘‘capture’’ ! zone around every island and the correlations between the size of an island and the corresponding average capture zone. The evolution of the capture-zone distributions is described by a set of Voronoi-area evolution equations, which are coupled to the usual rate equations for the island densities through local rates of monomer capture. The combined set of equations leads to a fully self-consistent calculation of the size- and coverage-dependent capture numbers. The resulting predictions for the average capture-zone and capture-number distributions are in excellent agreement with experimental results and Monte Carlo simulations. As a result, the corresponding scaled island size distributions and their dependence on coverage and deposition rate are also accurately predicted in the precoalescence regime.
Epithelial Cell Dynamics in Transmissible Gastroenteritis of Neonatal Pigs

Tritiated thymidine was given to pigs that had been exposed to transmissible gastroenteritis virus, and specimens of small intestine for autoradiographic studies were subsequently obtained. There was villous atrophy in the jejunum and ileum, but not duo- denum, of the infected pigs by 48 h after exposure. Rates of migration of epithelial cells were substantially greater, and DNA synthesis occurred at a greater distance from the base of the crypts in the jejunum and ileum of infected than control pigs. Total numbers of labeled cells were two to three times greater in the jejunum and ileum of infected than control pigs. These findings indicate that viral destruction of villous epithelial cells results in an increased rate of cell migration in the jejunum and ileum, which is responsible for the appearance of incompletely differentiated cells on the villi of pigs with transmissible gastroenteritis. The population of epithelial cells that cover villi of the small intestine represents the net effect of constant cell production in crypts, cell migration to villi, and cell loss at villous tips. Deviations from normal production, maturation, or loss of these cells may result in altered villous architecture (7). Transmissible gastroenteritis of swine is an acute viral disease characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and death in newborn pigs. Villous atrophy occurs consistently and is thought to be caused by destruction of villous epithelial cells by virus with an increased rate of cell production that is inadequate to compensate for the loss (lo, 18, 19, 241. Undifferentiated epithelial cells, which are reported to populate villi of the jejunum in this disease (19, 241, may result from either an increased rate of epithelial cell migration or impaired maturation. In the latter case, DNA synthesis may occur randomly in cells outside the normal proliferative zone. This study was
Palliative communications: addressing chemotherapy in patients with advanced cancer

Patients with advanced cancers often endure chemotherapy late in their disease course leading to unnecessary adverse effects, loss of quality of life, and delay in hospice referral. Compassionate and honest communication about the use of chemotherapy can facilitate better patient care. This manuscript will explore communication issues regarding palliative-intent chemotherapy.
A Developmental Analysis of Black Children's Others Concept

Thirty-seven Black children from the first, fourth, and eighth grades were individually administered several measures in order to assess their level of others concept development with respect to Blacks and with respect to Whites. It was hypothesized that Black children's others concept toward Blacks would be more positive than their others concept toward Whites. This hypothesis was not supported. However, the results indicate that others concept development in Black children is a complex process and is age-related. In particular, it was found that Black children's others concept toward the Black group seems to become more positive with age, whereas Black children's others concept toward the White group does not significantly change with age.
Electrical and optical characteristics of cylindrical non-thermal atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma sources

Abstract Two types of cylindrical non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma sources working at atmospheric pressure have been investigated and the electrical and optical characteristics were determined. The configurations compared are ring-and-rod and double-ring. At 30 kHz frequency and 62 W fixed input power, the electrical characteristics: V–I and V–Q Lissajous curves were measured. The capacitances, energies dissipated, and powers consumed for plasma generation have been quantified. Light emission characteristics of the two configurations were also measured at the main discharge region between the electrodes as well as at the afterglow plasma region. The propagation speed of ionization front of afterglow plasma has been estimated to be 0.5–1.3 cm/μs in this experiment.
Outcomes of school-based physical therapy for children with disabilities in the United States

Measures Goal Attainment Scaling • Student’s Individualized Education Program goals were converted into sub-goals using GAS. Researchers categorized goals into posture/mobility, recreation/fitness, self-care, & academic categorizes. PTs identified one primary goal for each student Purpose and Background • In the United States, school-based physical therapy (PT) supports the educational programs of children with disabilities; however minimal evidence exists on effectiveness of school-based PT.1 • Evidence-based practice research methodology2 used in a prospective, multi-site observational study, PT related Physical Tasks & Participation SFA Criterion Score Below -5 n Regressed SFA Criterion Score -5 to +5 n No change SFA Criterion Score Above +5 n Improved
Influence of viscosity and capillary force on the relationship between crack toughness and crack velocity for an acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene plastic in environmental stress cracking liquids

The dependence of crack propagation energy R of an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin on crack velocity was characterized in air and in several organic liquids. In the liquids an abrupt transition in R from a level like that in air down to a level characteristic of the liquid occurred with decreasing crack velocity. The velocity at the transition varied strongly with liquid viscosity. A simple model of each craze at the crack tip as a set of pipes through which liquid flows, driven by capillary force and retarded by viscous drag, serves to predict the transition velocity.
IS project selection: the role of strategic vision and IT governance

The prioritization of information systems projects is a function of the strategic vision of the organization. We develop a model of the IT selection process that is based upon the influence of strategic vision. Strategic vision influences both the type of projects considered, the resources allocated to information systems, and the processes and mechanisms for justifying IT investments. Two of the processes that influence the final project selection are the reporting structure of the IS organization and the involvement of a steering committee for investment prioritization. We suggest that this influences the criteria used to make IT investment decisions.
Conservative Scheduling: Using Predicted Variance to Improve Scheduling Decisions in Dynamic Environments

In heterogeneous and dynamic environments, efficient execution of parallel computations can require mappings of tasks to processors whose performance is both irregular (because of heterogeneity) and time-varying (because of dynamicity). While adaptive domain decomposition techniques have been used to address heterogeneous resource capabilities, temporal variations in those capabilities have seldom been considered. We propose a conservative scheduling policy that uses information about expected future variance in resource capabilities to produce more efficient data mapping decisions. We first present techniques, based on time series predictors that we developed in previous work, for predicting CPU load at some future time point, average CPU load for some future time interval, and variation of CPU load over some future time interval. We then present a family of stochastic scheduling algorithms that exploit such predictions of future availability and variability when making data mapping decisions. Finally, we describe experiments in which we apply our techniques to an astrophysics application. The results of these experiments demonstrate that conservative scheduling can produce execution times that are both significantly faster and less variable than other techniques.
Nervous Rac: DOCK7 Regulation of Axon Formation

Microtubules play an important role in neuronal polarity. In this issue of Neuron, Watabe-Uchida et al. link a novel Rac-mediated pathway that regulates microtubule dynamics to axon formation.
Insider Threat in Database Systems: Preventing Malicious Users' Activities in Databases

Existing database misuse detection systems are not well equipped to identify malicious activities carried out by legitimate users of the system. In this paper we present a model that can prevent malicious insider activities at the database application level. Our model is based on user tasks, each of which maps to several transactions. An implementation-oriented approach is described to validate these tasks as they are executed by authenticated users. Using simulation analysis we demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Effects of Planning and Data Collection Approaches on the Quality of Processed Laser Scanned Data: Lessons Learned

Several tasks in the Architectural, Engineering, Construction and Facility Management (AEC&FM) domain require real-time geospatial information. Traditional measurement methods are widely being replaced by more advanced technologies. 3D laser scanners are increasingly being used for diverse tasks during the lifecycle of a facility. However, a variety of process, environmental, scanner and analysis related factors can affect the quality of laser scanned data. Error sources, particularly those inherent in early stages of the laser scanning process, have not been well-addressed. This paper focuses on the effects of such error sources on the quality of the raw/processed data. Lessons learned through the planning, laser scanning and data processing of a facility are shared. The dataset consists of a total of 68 scans from both indoor and outdoor environments collected through using two different types of scanners. The effects of pre-scan site visits and proactive planning on reducing the consequences of different error sources are illustrated through examples. Lessons learned emphasize the need for formalization of the planning stage of laser scanning process, and data collection approaches for the AEC&FM domain applications, to enhance the quality of the raw/processed data.
Mining Historic Query Trails to Label Long and Rare Search Engine Queries

Web search engines can perform poorly for long queries (i.e., those containing four or more terms), in part because of their high level of query specificity. The automatic assignment of labels to long queries can capture aspects of a user’s search intent that may not be apparent from the terms in the query. This affords search result matching or reranking based on queries and labels rather than the query text alone. Query labels can be derived from interaction logs generated from many users’ search result clicks or from query trails comprising the chain of URLs visited following query submission. However, since long queries are typically rare, they are difficult to label in this way because little or no historic log data exists for them. A subset of these queries may be amenable to labeling by detecting similarities between parts of a long and rare query and the queries which appear in logs. In this article, we present the comparison of four similarity algorithms for the automatic assignment of Open Directory Project category labels to long and rare queries, based solely on matching against similar satisfied query trails extracted from log data. Our findings show that although the similarity-matching algorithms we investigated have tradeoffs in terms of coverage and accuracy, one algorithm that bases similarity on a popular search result ranking function (effectively regarding potentially-similar queries as “documents”) outperforms the others. We find that it is possible to correctly predict the top label better than one in five times, even when no past query trail exactly matches the long and rare query. We show that these labels can be used to reorder top-ranked search results leading to a significant improvement in retrieval performance over baselines that do not utilize query labeling, but instead rank results using content-matching or click-through logs. The outcomes of our research have implications for search providers attempting to provide users with highly-relevant search results for long queries.
A Potential Function Approach to the Flow of Play in Soccer

There is a growing literature on the statistical analysis of data from association-football/soccer games, seasons or groups of seasons. In contrast this paper is concerned with a single play, that is a sequence of successful passes. The play studied contained 25 passes and ended in a goal for Argentina in World Cup 2006. One question addressed is how to describe analytically the spatialtemporal movement of such a particular sequence of passes. The basic data are points in the plane, successively joined by straight lines. The resulting figure represents the trajectory of the moving soccer ball. The approach of this study is to develop a useful potential function, a concept arising from physics and engineering. In particular the potential function leads to a regression model that may be fit directly by linear least squares. The resulting potential function may be used for simple description, summary, comparison, simulation, prediction, model appraisal, bootstrapping, and employed for estimating quantities of interest. The purpose illustrated here is to simulate play in a game where the ball goes back and forth between two teams each having their own potential function.
Development of Quantitative Microscopy-Based Assays for Evaluating Dynamics of Living Cultures of Mouse Spermatogonial Stem/Progenitor Cells

Spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) self-renewal and differentiation are required for continuous production of spermatozoa and long-term fertility. Studying SSCs in vivo remains challenging because SSCs are rare cells and definitive molecular markers for their identification are lacking. The development of a method for propagating SSCs in vitro greatly facilitated analysis of SSCs. The cultured cells grow as clusters of a dynamic mixture of “true” stem cells and differentiating progenitor cells. Cells in the stem/progenitor culture system share many properties with spermatogonia in vivo; however, to fully exploit it as a model for spermatogonial development, new assays are needed that account for the dynamic heterogeneity inherent in the culture system. Here, assays were developed for quantifying dynamics of cultures of stem/progenitor cells that expressed histone-green fluorescent protein (GFP). First, we built on published results showing that cluster formation in vitro reliably predicts the relative number of SSCs. The GFP-based in vitro cluster assay allows quantification of SSCs with significantly fewer resources than a transplantation assay. Second, we compared the dynamics of differentiation in two experimental paradigms by imaging over a 17-day time frame. Finally, we performed short-term live imaging and observed cell migration, coordinated cell proliferation, and cell death resembling that of spermatogonia in the testes. The methods that we present provide a foundation for the use of fluorescent reporters in future microscopy-based high-throughput screens by using living spermatogonial stem/progenitor cultures applicable to toxicology, contraceptive discovery, and identification of regulators of self-renewal and differentiation.
Effect of Hydrogen on Tensile Strength and Ductility of Multi-Pass 304L / 308L Austenitic Stainless Steel Welds

Austenitic stainless steels such as 304L are frequently used for hydrogen service applications due to their excellent resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. However, welds in austenitic stainless steels often contain microstructures that are more susceptible to the presence of hydrogen. This study examines the tensile strength and ductility of a multi-pass gas tungsten arc weld made on 304L cross-rolled plate using 308L weld filler wire. Sub-sized tensile specimens were used to ensure the entire gage section of each tensile specimen consisted of weld metal. Specimens were extracted in both axial and transverse orientations, and at three different depths within the weld (root, center, and top). Yield strength decreased and ductility increased moving from the root to the top of the weld. A subset of specimens was precharged with hydrogen at 138 MPa (20,000 psi) and 300°C prior to testing, resulting in a uniform hydrogen concentration of 7700 appm. The presence of hydrogen resulted in a slight increase in yield and tensile strength and a roughly 50% decrease in tensile elongation and reduction in area, compared to the hydrogen-free properties.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Collaborative filtering with graph information: consistency and scalable methods

Low rank matrix completion plays a fundamental role in collaborative filtering applications, the key idea being that the variables lie in a smaller subspace than the ambient space. Often, additional information about the variables is known, and it is reasonable to assume that incorporating this information will lead to better predictions. We tackle the problem of matrix completion when pairwise relationships among variables are known, via a graph. We formulate and derive a highly efficient, conjugate gradient based alternating minimization scheme that solves optimizations with over 55 million observations up to 2 orders of magnitude faster than state-of-the-art (stochastic) gradient-descent based methods. On the theoretical front, we show that such methods generalize weighted nuclear norm formulations, and derive statistical consistency guarantees. We validate our results on both real and synthetic datasets.
The Public Values of Political Preference

One of the traditionally central characteristics of public administration is its political neutrality. This article examines the connections between public service values and political preferences including party affiliation (Republican/Democrat), ideology (conservative/liberal), and presidential candidate preference (Romney/Obama). The study reports the results of a national survey (n = 1541) that elicits citizen expectations of government and party affiliation, ideological preference, and presidential candidate preference. Using regression analysis and multidimensional scaling, the article explores the empirical connections between public values and political preferences—and the ways in which the value structures of people with different political preferences differ in fundamental ways.
Implications of Similarities in Instructional Design, Learner Interface Design and User Interface Design in Designing a User-Friendly Online Module

The development of a user-friendly online module depends on the inputs, the processes and the outcomes from the user interface design, the learner interface design and the instructional design. The online module includes the user interface design, the learner interface and the instructional design. This chapter would examine the theories behind these three designs. What guidelines can be garnered from the theories of these three designs? How can these guidelines be used to develop a user-friendly online module? In addition, it would examine their similarities and how they can be used to develop a user-friendly online module. Further, the chapter recommended an alignment of the garnered guidelines from the three designs to explore the plausible reasons for the high attrition rate in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC).
Predicting compliance with an information-based residential outdoor water conservation program

Summary Residential water conservation initiatives often involve some form of education or persuasion intended to change the attitudes and behaviors of residential consumers. However, the ability of these instruments to change attitudes toward conservation and their efficacy in affecting water use remains poorly understood. In this investigation the authors examine consumer attitudes toward complying with a persuasive water conservation program, the extent to which those attitudes predict compliance, and the influence of environmental contextual factors on outdoor water use. Results indicate that the persuasive program was successful in developing positive attitudes toward compliance, and that those attitudes predict water use. However, attitudinal variables explain a relatively small proportion of the variance in objectively measured water use behavior. Recommendations for policy are made stressing the importance of understanding both the effects of attitudes and environmental contextual factors in behavior change initiatives in the municipal water sector.
Effect of glycolaldehyde, glyceraldehyde, and related compounds on anaerobic metabolism in the rabbit lens.

SummarySeveral short-chain aliphatic carbonyl compounds inhibited anaerobic metabolism in rabbit lenses. A very potent inhibitor, glycolaldehyde, inhibited lactic acid production and glucose utilization and lowered labile phosphate in the lens. Glycolaldehyde had no appreciable effect on the transport of glucose into the lenses. The effect of glycolaldehyde may have been a direct one or may have occurred through its metabolism to inhibitory oxidation products in the lenses. Glyoxylate and glycollate could not account completely for the inhibitory effects of glycolaldehyde in either intact lenses or in lens homogenates.
Strain estimation of ultrasound images based on modified hybrid deformable model and diffeomorphic non-rigid registration

Objective In order to obtain robust and reliable ultrasound strain images,this paper presents an improved method of strain estimation from 3D ultrasound images by combining 3D hybrid deformable model and diffeomorphic non-rigid registration.Methods First,we use an anisotropic filtering method to filter out noises,and region growing algorithm based on 2D projection to achieve an initial rough segmentation.Then we apply morphologic closing computation for the more precise results of region growing.In the next step,we achieve accurate cardiac segmentation by deforming the 3D deformable model.We choose the result segmented by the first frame image from 3D echocardiography in a cycle to register other sequence images based on diffeomorphic non-rigid registration method,and subsequently calculate the displacement field and estimate the strain state.Results The experiments show that the proposed method is efficient and accurate.Conclusions The strain analysis of the proposed method is consistent with the property of cardiac anatomy,and is helpful in the diagnosis of cardiac diseases.
Study of Application of Composite Insulator on ±800 kV UHVDC Transmission Line

The ±800kV UHVDC project to be constructed in China is faced with two troubles,i.e.,by way of high altitude localities and severe contamination.Even though the hydrophobicity of composite insulators are fully lost,their pollution flashover voltage values are much higher than those of ceramic and glass insulators under the same pollultion extents,so the application of composite insulators in ±800kV UHVDC project is necessary and feasible.To apply composite insulators in UHVDC project,following technical problems,such as the ageing of sheds and housing of composite insulator caused by high alltitude and high UV radiation,long-term mechanical reliability of high load composite insulator and electric field distribution at HV end of composite insulators,should be considered and solved.
Characterization of alpha-adrenergic receptors in human platelets using [3H]clonidine.

Pharmacological studies of human platelets indicate that epinephrine initiates platelet aggregation and secretion by interacting with alpha-adrenergic receptors on the platelet surface. Moreover, direct binding experiments using nonselective antagonists, such as [3H]dihydroergocryptine, indicate a single class of platelet alpha-adrenergic receptors. Thus, we sought to examine the interaction of the alpha2-selective compound, clonidine, with human platelets in both pharmacological and radioligand binding studies. Although clonidine is considered an agonist in some tissues, we found that this compound was a mixed agonist-antagonist for alpha-adrenergic responses in platelets. Furthermore, [3H]clonidine bound to a single class of noncooperative binding sites on platelet membranes. Binding was rapid, reversible, of high affinity (Kd = 24.5 ± 2.1 nM) and low capacity (63.7 ± 4.2 fmoles/mg of protein). Alpha-adrenergic agonists and antagonists competed for [3H]clonidine binding sites with a rank order of potency typical for interaction at an alpha2-adrenergic receptor. The binding of [3H]clonidine was enhanced in the presence of Mg2+ and decreased in the presence of GTP. The total number of [3H]clonidine binding sites was only 18% of the number of [3H]dihydroergocryptine binding sites in platelet membranes. These studies demonstrate that [3H]clonidine, a mixed agonist-antagonist, can be used to identify high-affinity alpha2-adrenergic receptors on human platelets. Because [3H]clonidine sites are regulated by Mg2+ and GTP, these alpha2-adrenergic receptors are likely to be the sites mediating alpha-adrenergic agonist responses in platelets.
Effects of Perfluoropolyalkyl Ethers and Perfluorinated Acids on Crack Growth in Soda-Lime Glass

The growth of cone cracks in soda-lime glass during static loading with a spherical indenter shows that crack growth is accelerated by perfluorinated acids, probably by a stress corrosion mechanism involving reaction between the acids and strained Si-O bonds in the crack-tip region. The strained bonds are not reactive toward perfluoropolyalkyl ether (PFPE) oils under static conditions. In hybrid silicon nitride-steel contacts, acidic products of the degradation of PFPE oils by Lewis acid sites on the steel surfaces may be transported through the crack to the crack-wake region and attack the strained Si-O bonds. These results suggest that PFPE oils may not be the best choice for lubrication of silicon nitride-steel hybrid bearing systems.
Genes of ancient microtubule-stabilizing proteins traveled through pre-Cambrian Echinoidea to advanced life forms of dry land and ended up in the human genome as the fusion oncogenes-oncoproteins eml1/EML1-abl/ABL, and eml4/EML4-alk/ALK

The genes eml1/4 of the Echinodermata microtubule-stabilizing gene product-like 1/4 proteinsEML1/4 of the sea cucumbers (Holothuroidea) traveled through the evolutionary scale up to the human genome. Human cells malignantly transformed by oncogenes abl or alk enlist the protein products EML1/4 for the activation and protection of the gene product oncoproteins ABL or ALK against destruction by ubiquitination, and for gaining virulence and chemotherapy resistance. Neither the abl nor the alk genes act as oncogenes without fusion with another particular gene, such as eml1/4 in this case. A large number of ancient but conserved gene product proteins chaperon, protect and enhance oncoproteins. These mechanisms indicate that ancient cell survival pathways exist conserved in the genomes of advanced multicellular diplo- and triploblastic hosts (including Homo). These genomic pathways are on special occasions constitutively reactivated in extant cells undergoing transformations for survival under adverse circumstances. Extant cells under threat react by re-living scenarios that characterized life forms in the primordial physico-chemical universe. In the clinical practice these cells are recognized as chemoradiotherapy-resistant cancer cells undergoing a process of retrograde immortalization.
Invisible disabilities, visible Service Dogs: the discrimination of Service Dog handlers

This article examines the social experiences of Service Dog handlers using survey data from adult US Service Dog handlers (N = 482). The main research question examined is how disability visibility...
Is cognitive impairment in schizophrenia multidimensional?: implications for assessment and treatment.

Since the earliest conceptions ofschizophrenia, dating back to the 19thcentury, there has been a focus on theheterogeneity of the illness. BothKraepelin and Bleuler agreed thatschizophrenia had many differentvariants or subtypes and that thecondition may be the result of morethan one illness process. Kraepelin’sfocus was on the subtypes ofschizophrenia, describing classicalsubtypes that are still contained inthe DSM today. Blueler focused onthe fact that patients withschizophrenia present with an arrayof different symptoms, even if there iscore pathology reflected by thefundamental symptoms (affect,autism, associations, ambivalence). Since that time, the diversity ofschizophrenia has been investigatedthrough studies of symptomaticstructure, often using factor analysis.Symptoms in schizophrenia generallytend to assort themselves into threedifferent dimensions, includingpsychosis (“reality distortion”),negative symptoms, anddisorganization. This dimensionalstructure is found in both treated anduntreated patients, and the structureof changes during treatment arerelated to the dimensions of symptomsseen in untreated patients. Thus,these dimensions have considerablevalidity and temporal stability.
A transcendental Julia set of dimension 1

We construct a non-polynomial entire function whose Julia set has finite 1-dimensional spherical measure, and hence Hausdorff dimension 1. In 1975, Baker proved the dimension of such a Julia set must be at least 1, but whether this minimum could be attained has remained open until now. Our example also has packing dimension 1, and is the first transcendental Julia set known to have packing dimension strictly less than 2. It is also the first example with a multiply connected wandering domain where the dynamics can be completely described.
Sign Code Development Process: Best Practices

A wide variety of community stakeholders have an interest in ensuring that sign codes are crafted in such a way as to allow for the free flow of speech while preserving community character. These stakeholders may include businesses, sign companies, graphic designers, historic preservationists, traffic safety specialists, environmental quality advocates, and chamber of commerce types, among others. Including interested parties in efforts to develop and revise sign codes can help ensure that the resulting regulation embraces the best available technologies and business practices of the time in an effort to promote the economic vitality of local business districts. This report seeks to: (a) explore best practices in citizen participation practices revolving around the development or amendment of sign codes; (b) to evaluate the experiences of communities who have revised their sign codes in the last 10 years; and (c) to establish best practices for improving the sign code development process.
Aging and Drug Testing in Cultured Normal Human Cells

Several years ago Moorhead and I showed that cultured human cells have a finite capacity for replication in vitro (Hayflick and Moorhead 1961). We showed that embryo-derived fibroblasts which have the greatest capacity for replication in vitro undergo 50 ± 10 population doublings before division ceases in about 10–12 months. We divided these events into three phases. Phase I represents the primary culture; phase II, the active replication period; and phase III, the period when cell replication slows, ceases, and ultimately ends with complete cell degeneration and death.
Training in the nuclear industry

Abstract: This chapter discusses the importance of training in the nuclear industry. Nuclear training is not simply necessary, but imperative for successful operations. At a nuclear facility, managers and employees who are well trained and acutely aware of their roles and responsibilities are the most important keys to both safety and efficiency. Therefore, the primary mission of the nuclear training department is to develop employee knowledge, skills and attitudes to achieve high levels of safety and effectiveness. The responsibilities and purpose of the training department are daunting, but offer many opportunities to promote an effective, efficient and safely operating organization.
IDENTIFICATION OF FIVE HUMAN LYMPHOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS BY DIFFERENTIAL LABELING WITH BACTERIA

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the identification of five human lymphocyte subpopulations by differential labeling with bacteria. Lymphocytes are identified as B or T cells based on differences in membrane properties. B and T cells are primarily differentiated based on their reactions with antibodies or by their ability to bind heterologous erythrocytes. The binding of erythrocytes by lymphocytes appears to be a chance occurrence. In a study described in the chapter, 53 different strains of bacteria of various genuses and species were screened. Heparinized blood was depleted of glass adherent cells, and the lymphocytes were isolated on Ficoll–Hypaque medium. To each sample of lymphocytes, formaldehyde fixed bacteria (200 bacteria per lymphocyte) were added. The mixture was centrifuged at 4°C for 5 min, was resuspended, and was examined under the phase contrast microscope. Thirteen strains of bacteria that bound to lymphocytes were found.
Compounds from Microalgae--Their Influence on the Field of Marine Natural Products

The exploitation of the oceans for new mineral and other resources has only relatively recently become the subject of serious endeavor. The trend has been extended to the pharmaceutical field and the recent surge of interest in natural products from marine organisms has been truly remarkable. Organic chemists have been especially intrigued since many of the compounds isolated have been found to possess new exotic structural features. However, despite the great number of compounds obtained from both marine plants and animals, the fundamental question regarding the true origin of the isolated substances has expectedly been ignored by the majority of chemists.
THE USE OF AUDIO TAPES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL STUDY

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the use of audio tapes for supplemental study, by describing a course, namely, Statistics 150, taught in University of Missouri–Columbia, with the current enrolment of approximately 400 students per semester. There are two general approaches that are taken by departments teaching service courses with large enrollments. One approach is to have a small number of large lecture sections taught by experienced professors with perhaps one meeting per week in smaller recitation groups led by graduate teaching assistants. The other approach is to have many small sections. Due to the larger number of sections, many of these sections are taught by teaching assistants. This University takes the latter approach, having about 17 sections of Statistics 150 each semester. This course is of an intermediate mathematical level so there was an emphasis on problem solving. It was felt that it might be helpful if the students were provided with extra problems to work along with solutions to those problems. It is possible to simply write out solutions to problems, but it is easier to have students follow along step by step when you speak to them. With this in mind, the solutions are tape recorded. Experience has shown that students are willing to listen to a tape if they had trouble working a problem, but if they felt the problem was easy, they just want to check their answer.
Two-level optimization techniques in electric power systems

In this paper a multi-area computer hierarchy particularly adapted to handle the problem of real-time intervention on electric power systems is proposed.
Humans Have a Distributed, Molecular Long-Term Memory

Most memory research has assumed that our long-term memories are somehow retained in our brain, usually by modified synaptic connections. This paper proposes a very different scenario, in which the basic substrate of these memories are molecules which flow within a newly discovered circulatory system similar to our lymph system. Moreover, the information bearing molecules are postulated to be cyclic protein polymers similar to the proteins found in all cell membranes.
Prospects and challenges for clean energy in European Islands.The TILOS paradigm

Abstract The current paper reflects on the challenges faced by European islands with regards to electricity supply, focusing on an island area of major interest, i.e. the Aegean Sea region. In this context, the main problems related to the use of imported oil and the associated high electricity production costs are discussed, together with the prospects of increased exploitation of Renewable Energy Sources (RES). For the latter accomplishment, the main elements of an integrated energy solution are presented, comprising mature RES technologies and more novel aspects, corresponding to energy storage, Demand Side Management and intelligent Energy Management on the basis of advanced forecasting techniques. Moreover, insight and preliminary operational evidence are provided with regards to the application of such an integrated solution on the island of Tilos, in Greece, where the development and test-operation of a pilot smart microgrid and Hybrid Power Station were recently completed, in the context of the TILOS Horizon 2020 Program.
Anomalous structure of MgCO3 liquid and the buoyancy of carbonatite melts

Abstract MgCO3 is one of the most important components of mantle-derived carbonatite melts, and yet also one of the most difficult to study experimentally. Attempts to constrain its thermodynamic properties are hampered by decarbonation, which occurs at only ∼500 °C, far below its metastable 1 bar melting temperature. Molecular dynamic simulations, however, can predict the thermodynamic properties of the MgCO3 liquid component in spite of experimental challenges. Using the recently developed empirical potential model for high-pressure alkaline-earth carbonate liquids ( Hurt and Wolf, 2018 ), we simulate melts in the MgCO3-CaCO3-SrCO3-BaCO3 system from 773 to 2373 K up to 20 GPa. At 1 bar, MgCO3 liquid assumes a novel topology characterized by a 4-fold coordination of the metal cation (Mg) with both the carbonate molecule and oxygen ion; this is distinct from the other alkaline-earth carbonate liquids in which the metal cation is in ∼6- and ∼8-fold coordination with carbonate and oxygen. With increasing pressure, MgCO3 liquid structure becomes progressively more like that of (Ca, Sr, Ba)CO3 liquids with Mg 2 + approaching 6-fold coordination with carbonate groups. The novel network topology of MgCO3 liquid results in a melt that is significantly more buoyant and compressible than other alkaline-earth carbonate liquids. Simulations of mixed MgCO3-bearing melts show that metal cation coordination with O and C is independent of bulk composition. Mixed simulation also reveal that molar volume, compressibility, enthalpy and heat capacity do not mix ideally with (Ca, Sr, Ba)CO3 liquids at 1 bar, a consequence of preferential metal-cation ordering in MgCO3-bearing mixtures. As pressure increases, however, mixing progressively approaches ideality with respect to molar volume, becoming nearly ideal by 12 GPa. The model is further applied to mantle-derived primary carbonatite melts with compositions, temperatures and pressures determined by published phase equilibrium experiments. The voluminous structure of liquid MgCO3 results in a buoyant melt that inhibits a density crossover with the surrounding mantle. Assuming FeCO3 liquid also adopts the same anomalous high-volume structure as MgCO3, we predict that even the most Fe-rich ferrocarbonatites would remain buoyant and be barred from sinking or stagnating in the mantle.
Using pulse oximetry waveforms to detect coarctation of the aorta.

Coarctation of the aorta is a common form of critical congenital heart disease that remains challenging to diagnose prior to clinical deterioration. Despite current screening methods, infants with coarctation may present with life-threatening cardiogenic shock requiring urgent hospitalization and intervention. We sought to improve critical congenital heart disease screening by using a novel pulse oximetry waveform analysis, specifically focused on detection of coarctation of the aorta. Over a 2-year period, we obtained pulse oximetry waveform data on 18 neonates with coarctation of the aorta and 18 age-matched controls hospitalized in the cardiac intensive care unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Patients with coarctation were receiving prostaglandin E1 and had a patent ductus arteriosus. By analyzing discrete features in the waveforms, we identified statistically significant differences in the maximum rate of fall between patients with and without coarctation. This was accentuated when comparing the difference between the upper and lower extremities, with the lower extremities having a shallow slope angle when a coarctation was present (p-value 0.001). Postoperatively, there were still differences in the maximum rate of fall between the repaired coarctation patients and controls; however, these differences normalized when compared with the same individual’s upper vs. lower extremities. Coarctation patients compared to themselves (preoperatively and postoperatively), demonstrated waveform differences between upper and lower extremities that were significantly reduced after successful surgery (p-value 0.028). This screening algorithm had an accuracy of detection of 72% with 0.61 sensitivity and 0.94 specificity. We were able to identify specific features in pulse oximetry waveforms that were able to accurately identify patients with coarctation and further demonstrated that these changes normalized after surgical repair. Pulse oximetry screening for congenital heart disease in neonates may thus be improved by including waveform analysis, aiming to identify coarctation of the aorta prior to critical illness. Further large-scale testing is required to validate this screening model among patients in a newborn nursery setting who are low risk for having coarctation.