cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lack of Association Between Iris Color and Primary Iris Cysts

A case-control study of 78 white patients with primary cysts of the iris was undertaken. Two control groups were established for comparison with the subjects. Contingency tables were used to evaluate the distribution of iris color among subjects and controls. Statistical testing (χ 2 ) indicated no significant association of iris color with the presence of a primary iris cyst (P>.05). These results indicated that primary iris cysts do not exhibit the association with light iris color previously documented for iris melanocytic lesions.
MicroRNA-21 is overexpressed in human cholangiocarcinoma and regulates programmed cell death 4 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are aggressive cancers, with high mortality and poor survival rates. Only radical surgery offers patients some hope of cure; however, most patients are not surgical candidates because of late diagnosis secondary to relatively poor accuracy of diagnostic means. MicroRNAs (miRs) are involved in every cancer examined, but they have not been evaluated in primary CCA. In this study, miR arrays were performed on five primary CCAs and five normal bile duct specimens (NBDs). Several miRs were dysregulated and miR-21 was overexpressed in CCAs. miR-21 differential expression in these 10 specimens was verified by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). To validate these findings, qRT-PCR for miR-21 was then performed on 18 additional primary CCAs and 12 normal liver specimens. MiR-21 was 95% sensitive and 100% specific in distinguishing between CCA and normal tissues, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.995. Inhibitors of miR-21 increased protein levels of programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3 (TIMP3). Notably, messenger RNA levels of TIMP3 were significantly lower in CCAs than in normals. Conclusions: MiR-21 is overexpressed in human CCAs. Furthermore, miR-21 may be oncogenic, at least in part, by inhibiting PDCD4 and TIMP3. Finally, these data suggest that TIMP3 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene in the biliary tree. (HEPATOLOGY 2009.)
Synthesis and antimicrobial testing of 2-amino-6-hydroxymethyl-4-(3H)pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidinone

Synthesis of 2-amino-6-hydroxymethyl-4-(3H)pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidinone (5) from 2-amino-6-methyl-4-(3H)-pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidinone (2) was accomplished by selenium dioxide oxidation of 2 to the aldehyde 4 followed by sodium borohydride reduction. Compound 2 was available in four steps from 5-aminouracil or in two steps from 5-nitroisocytosine (3a). Catalytic reduction of 4 or 5 gave a mixture of 2-amino-6-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4-(3H)pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidinone (6a) and the 6-hydroxymethyl compound 6b. These compounds showed only weak inhibitory activity in the coupled reactions catalyzed by 7,8-dihydro-6-hydroxymethylpterin pyrophosphokinase and 7,8-dihydropteroate synthetase from E. Coli. No significant antibacterial activity was observed.
Isolation of paramyxovirus glycoproteins. Association of both hemagglutinating and neuraminidase activities with the larger SV5 glycoprotein.

A method has been developed for the isolation of the glycoproteins of the parainfluenza virus SV5 using the nonionic detergent Triton X-100. Full recovery of hemagglutinating and neuraminidase activities was obtained. By rate zonal centrifugation in sucrose gradients containing 1% Triton X-100 and 0.5 M or 1 M potassium chloride, it was possible to separate the two glycoproteins. Under these conditions, the sedimentation coefficient of the larger glycoprotein, virus protein 2, was 8.9 S and that of the smaller glycoprotein, virus protein 4, was 6.7 S. Each of the proteins aggregated when the detergent and KCl were removed, and the appearance of the aggregates differed with the two proteins. Both hemagglutinating and neuraminidase activities were found to be associated with protein 2; protein 4 exhibited neither activity. The results suggest that in this paramyxovirus both hemagglutinating and neuraminidase activities reside on a single glycoprotein. The biological function of the smaller SV5 glycoprotein remains to be determined.
Analysis of glioblastoma tumor coverage by oncolytic virus-loaded neural stem cells using MRI-based tracking and histological reconstruction

In preclinical studies, neural stem cell (NSC)-based delivery of oncolytic virus has shown great promise in the treatment of malignant glioma. Ensuring the success of this therapy will require critical evaluation of the spatial distribution of virus after NSC transplantation. In this study, the patient-derived GBM43 human glioma line was established in the brain of athymic nude mice, followed by the administration of NSCs loaded with conditionally replicating oncolytic adenovirus (NSC-CRAd-S-pk7). We determined the tumor coverage potential of oncolytic adenovirus by examining NSC distribution using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and by three-dimensional reconstruction from ex vivo tissue specimens. We demonstrate that unmodified NSCs and NSC-CRAd-S-pk7 exhibit a similar distribution pattern with most prominent localization occurring at the tumor margins. We were further able to visualize the accumulation of these cells at tumor sites via T2-weighted MR imaging as well as the spread of viral particles using immunofluorescence. Our analyses reveal that a single administration of oncolytic virus-loaded NSCs allows for up to 31% coverage of intracranial tumors. Such results provide valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of this novel viral delivery platform.
Syndrome of intradiscal lumbar herniation. Clinical presentation and management.

Abstract A syndrome of intradiscal lumbar herniation not associated with nerve root compression is described. The patients have a history similar to that seen in classic disk herniation, except the paresthesias and pain are “referred” roughly in a dermatomal distribution. On examination, limitation of range of motion of the back secondary to muscle spasm is noted; however, a positive straight leg-raising test result is not. Objective neurological findings are much less obvious than with radiculopathy. These patients may have “weakness” from lack of effort on their part during the examination. There is noted asymmetry in appropriate reflexes and also in the sensory examination. Standard imaging examinations are equivocal. If explored surgically, the findings are relatively unimpressive. These patients, if correctly identified, may be candidates for percutaneous nuclectomy.
The Relationship between Total Area Divergence and Convective Precipitation in South Florida

Abstract Total area divergence is related to area rainfall using data collected during the Florida Area Cumulus Experiment (FACE) 1975 field experiment over a network that covered 1440 km2. A convergence event is defined as a monotonic decrease in total area divergence of more than 25×10−6 s−1 for more than ten minutes. This change in total area divergence is related to the total amount of area rainfall considered to be associated with the convergence event. For 121 convergence events during July and August 1975, a correlation coefficient of −0.59 is found between change in convergence and rainfall amount. When the ensemble is subdivided, it is found that for slow moving convective systems, or when low-level winds are weak, there is twice the amount of rainfall per convergence event. When middle-level (850–500 mb) relative humidity is in the range 50–65%, the correlation coefficient between convergence and rainfall is −0.81. Data are also partitioned according to stability and buoyancy. Convective outflow...
Principles and practices for communicating route knowledge

A series of experiments was conducted to examine the effect of several principle-based practices hypothesized as being important in communicating route knowledge. Results indicated that remembering and following route directions were facilitated by the practice of (a) presenting the directions in correct temporal–spatial order, consistent with the principle of natural order, (b) concentrating information in statements concerned with choice points, consistent with the principle of referential determinacy, and, to some extent, (c) using spatial designations with which most listeners are facile, consistent with the principle of mutual knowledge. In all studies, women had more difficulty than men in following the route from verbal directions. Possible avenues for explaining this sex-related difference are suggested. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of The Personal Strengths Program on Self-Determination Levels of College Students With LD and/or ADHD

This study investigates the impact of The Personal Strengths Program (PSP) on seven college students with learning disabilities and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (LD/ADHD) using a multiple baseline design. Students with LD/ADHD experience increased challenges in school settings and decreased post-secondary outcomes when compared with their peers without disabilities. Research has indicated that students who are able to transition into post-secondary settings successfully often have higher levels of self-determination than those who do not transition as successfully. PSP is grounded in effective teaching practices for students with LD/ADHD, self-determination, and positive psychology. It utilizes guided cognitive strategy instruction to assist students in identifying and using their strengths to achieve their goals related to their academic classes. Results were mixed, but do suggest there is some effect from participating in PSP on self-determination levels. Implications for students with LD...
Inhibition of Prolyl Endopeptidase by Synthetic Peptide Fragments of Human β-Casein

It has been suggested that peptide inhibitors of prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) may act as anti-amnestic agents. In the hope of finding PEP inhibitors in milk proteins, we synthesized a total of 37 human beta-casein peptide fragments containing proline residues. It was found that the peptides with PEP inhibition activity in vitro were located in the region of amino acid residues 49-59 of human beta-casein. The most potent inhibitor was Ile-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Val-Glu-Pro-Ile (IC50 = 8 microM).
Adherence to Clinical Guidelines for Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain in Patients with Substance Use Disorder

BACKGROUND Patients with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) have high rates of substance use disorders (SUD). SUD complicates pain treatment and may lead to worse outcomes. However, little information is available describing adherence to opioid treatment guidelines for CNCP generally, or guideline adherence for patients with comorbid SUD.
Studies of the inhibition of dopamine β hydroxylase by thiono-sulfur containing compounds

Abstract The inhibitory effect of several thione and thioether compounds on dopamine β hydroxylase has been examined. Carbon disulfide and propylthioracil inhibited the enzyme competitively and showed a Ki of 1.1 × 10 −4 and 1.0 × 10 −4 M, respectively. Dialysis reversed the inhibition but N-ethylmaleimide did not. The thioethers methionine, benzylmethyl sulfide, thiazole and 2-amino-thiazole had no inhibotory effect on enzymatic activity. No evidence of oxidative metabolism of the thione inhibitors by dopamine β hydroxylase could be detected.
Infection with Toxoplasma gondii results in dysregulation of the host cell cycle

Mammalian cells infected with Toxoplasma gondii are characterized by a profound reprogramming of gene expression. We examined whether such transcriptional responses were linked to changes in the cell cycle of the host. Human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) in the G(0)/G(1) phase of the cell cycle were infected with T. gondii and FACS analysis of DNA content was performed. Cell cycle profiles revealed a promotion into the S phase followed by an arrest towards the G(2)/M boundary with infection. This response was markedly different from that of growth factor stimulation which caused cell cycle entry and completion. Transcriptional profiles of T. gondii-infected HFF showed sustained increases in transcripts associated with a G(1)/S transition and DNA synthesis coupled to an abrogation of cell cycle regulators critical in G(2)/M transition relative to growth factor stimulation. These divergent responses correlated with a distinct temporal modulation of the critical cell cycle regulator kinase ERK by infection. While the kinetics of ERK phosphorylation by EGF showed rapid and sustained activation, infected cells displayed an oscillatory pattern of activation. Our results suggest that T. gondii infection induces and maintains a 'proliferation response' in the infected cell which may fulfill critical growth requirements of the parasite during intracellular residence.
A state personal income tax simulation model

A simple econometric model of a state personal income tax is presented. The model is designed for economies subject to rapid population increase by means of a double log specification of an average tax schedule. Various tests are presented to validate the model. It is then incorporated into a full econometric model and the revenue and general equilibrium effects of two types of tax cut are considered. It is found that changes in state personal income tax rate schedules and deduction provisions have significant general equilibrium effects on open economies and these result in substantial induced revenue impacts.
Diversity of Rhizobium leguminosarum from Pea Fields in Washington State

Rhizobia-mediated biological nitrogen (N) fixation in legumes contributes to yield potential in these crops and also provides residual fertilizer to subsequent cereals. Our objectives were to collect isolates of Rhizobium leguminosarum from several pea fields in Washington, examine genetic diversity among these isolates and several commercial isolates of R. leguminosarum, and compare genetically distinct isolates for their ability to fix N in a range of pea hosts. Seventy-nine isolates were collected from pea root from four noninoculated pea fields. Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers generated by PCR were used to discriminate among isolates. Isolates fell into 17 clusters with robust bootstrap support values. Nearly half of the isolates fell into a single large cluster, but smaller clusters were also detected for isolates from all four field locations. The majority of commercial isolates fell into a distinct cluster. Four genetically distinct isolates were compared for their efficiency in fixing N in a greenhouse experiment. Host plant variety effects were significant for plant biomass due to N fixation and also for the quantity of N fixed per variety. Significant effects of R. leguminosarum isolates were observed for the quantity of N fixed per isolate, plant biomass, and the quantity of N per plant.
Dynamic Task-Oriented Online Discussion for Student Learning: A Practical Model

A dynamic, task-oriented online discussion model for deep learning in distance education is described and illustrated in this article. Information, methods, and cognition, three general learning processes, provide the foundation on which the model is based. Three types of online discussion are prescribed; flexible peer, structured topic, and collaborative task discussion. The discussion types are paired with tasks encouraging students to build on their adoptive learning, promoting adaptive learning and challenging their cognitive abilities, resulting in deep learning. The online discussion model was applied during two semesters of an online multimedia design for instruction graduate-level course. The strategies for creating dynamic discussion serve to facilitate online interactions among diverse learners and assist in the design of assignments for effective interactions. The model proposed and the strategies for dynamic task-oriented discussion provide an online learning environment in which students learn beyond the course goal.
Frankfurt Book Fair 2011 – a sampling of panel discussions and lectures

Purpose – This article is a conference report of the Frankfurt Book Fair, compiled so that those not in attendance can read about some of the structured discussions that were programmed.Design/methodology/approach – The author attended lectures and discussions and took notes.Findings – There are many technological changes on the horizon for the publishing industry, which in turn will affect how readers and researchers will access information.Originality/value – If you couldn't attend the Frankfurt Book Fair, this conference report will allow you to read about some of the opinions on technology expressed by leaders in the publishing industry.
Exploration and protection of Europa's biosphere: implications of permeable ice.

Abstract Europa has become a high-priority objective for exploration because it may harbor life. Strategic planning for its exploration has been predicated on an extreme model in which the expected oceanic biosphere lies under a thick ice crust, buried too deep to be reached in the foreseeable future, which would beg the question of whether other active satellites might be more realistic objectives. However, Europa's ice may in fact be permeable, with very different implications for the possibilities for life and for mission planning. A biosphere may extend up to near the surface, making life far more readily accessible to exploration while at the same time making it vulnerable to contamination. The chances of finding life on Europa are substantially improved while the need for planetary protection becomes essential. The new National Research Council planetary protection study will need to go beyond its current mandate if meaningful standards are to be put in place. Key Words: Europa—Planetary protection—...
The effects of azathioprine on experimentally induced immune complex renal disease in rabbits

Abstract To evaluate the effects of azathioprine on immune complex renal disease, soluble complexes of BSA-rabbit anti-BSA were injected into 5 groups of rabbits. Groups I, II and III received daily injections of azathioprine 1 mo prior to the administration of complexes. Group II continued to receive drug therapy for 1 subsequent mo. Groups IV and V received soluble complexes only. The groups were sacrificed at different intervals, and the kidneys were evaluated for morphologic and immunopathologic changes. Serologic and urinary protein studies were also done. No beneficial effects of therapy were noted on the development of glomerulonephritis in any experimental group. Continuous therapy appeared to have an adverse effect on the course of the glomerular lesions, with 44% of the continuously treated animals developing moderate disease as opposed to 5% of the pretreated and 7.1% of the control rabbits. The incidence of anaphylactic shock was diminished in the azathioprine treated animals. Immunohistologic localization of rabbit IgG was present in most animals, while B 1 C was virtually absent. The presence of BSA was variable but notably absent in the long term azathioprine treated rabbits.
Ligation of the lactosylceramide receptor (CDw17) promotes neutrophil migration

Abstract Introduction: B-Glucan, a β-(1–3) linked glucose polymer, enhances neutrophil anti-infective activity by binding to specific receptors including the lectin site of the CR3 integrin (CD11b/CD18) and the glycosphingolipid lactosylceramide. B-glucan promotes neutrophil chemotaxis towards fMLP and C5a. Enhancement of neutrophil migration to fMLP occurs via CR3 through a p38 dependent mechanism. We investigated the mechanism by which β-glucan promotes neutrophil chemotaxis towards C5a. Methods: Migration was assessed by serum agarose overlay technique using chambered slides precoated or not with β-glucan (100μg/ml). Migration of human neutrophils at 37 C for 2 hours was established towards C5a (10 pmol) using PBS as control. Antibody blocking experiments included neutrophil pretreatment with mAbs specific for CR3 or for CDw17. In some experimental groups neutrophils were treated with the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 (10mM) prior to assay. The number of chemotaxing cells was quantified by microscopy. Results: The anti-CDw17 mAb but not anti-CR3 mAb obviated the β-glucan promotion. This finding indicates that lactosylceramide is the β-glucan receptor that mediates enhanced chemotaxis towards C5a. Non-specific isotype antibodies did not affect neutrophil migration. Further, p38-inhibited neutrophils did not demonstrate enhanced migration to C5a in the presence of β-glucan. Conclusions: Ligation of lactosylceramide by β-glucan promoted neutrophil chemotaxis towards C5a signaling through a p38 dependent pathway. This is the first demonstration of the involvement of lactosylceramide in neutrophil chemotaxis. This receptor may prove to be a novel therapeutic target in enhancing neutrophil anti-infective activity.
The climatology of soil moisture, evaporation, and non-moisture stress days for corn in Iowa☆

Abstract A method of considering the interaction upon the corn crop of potential evapotranspiration, soil moisture, and the ease with which the plant available water can be extracted is examined for possible use in regional agricultural planning. The climatology of the number of non-moisture stress days in a critical corn phenological period is prepared for four stations in Iowa. The climatology of the input variables soil moisture under corn, evaporation, and precipitation—is also presented for the four areas. With the non-stress day climatology it is shown that the area receiving the higher average precipitation paradoxically suffered the higher frequency of unfavorable weather and reduced corn yields due to moisture stress.
Near-Infrared Observations of Hot Spots in the Circumnuclear Rings of NGC 2997 and NGC 6951

Near-infrared observations of NGC 2997 and NGC 6951 reveal complete rings of symmetrically placed hot spots, which are star-forming complexes. The masses of the complexes range from a few times 104 to a few times 105 M? in both galaxies. The regular hot-spot spacings of about 200 pc in a ring 55 pc thick in NGC 2997 and 380 pc in a ring 150 pc thick in NGC 6951 are consistent with formation by a large-scale gravitational instability in the rings. Visual extinction is estimated to be up to 3 mag around the ring in NGC 2997 and up to 5 mag in NGC 6951, as dust lanes spiral in and cross the ring. Hubble Space Telescope observations reveal smaller super?star clusters within the large complexes. These clusters have power-law luminosity functions with an exponent of approximately -2 in both galaxy rings, the same as for star-forming complexes in the disks of normal spiral galaxies.
A regression method for strength comparisons in children

A method to estimate means and variance of strength based on anthropometric data is presented. The method is applied using a database of 10 lower extremity strength measures recorded from 48 typically developing children with a handheld dynamometer. Seven anthropometric variables are considered, and the combination of height and BMI is determined as a set of variables best suited to model these muscle groups. This regression scheme accounts for 45-58% of the observed variance. A clinical example illustrating the utility of the method is presented.
Early Nonperiodic Transitions in Couette Flow

Experimental evidence is presented which shows that couette flow has several transitions at quite low Reynolds numbers compared to the Taylor transition ($\frac{R}{{R}_{c}}\ensuremath{\approx}1$) which exhibit increased degrees of freedom, line broadening, extra broad-band noise, loss of spatial coherence, and hysteresis. The visual signature of these transitions has been identified as dislocations in the cell structure.
Health-system pharmacists’ role in improving immunization rates

Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines against the deadly illnesses of influenza and pneumococcal disease, immunization rates continue to fall short of national public health goals. Alarmingly, tens of millions of American adults who have an indication for pneumococcal vaccine do
Activation of nitric oxide synthase gene expression by hypoxia in central and peripheral neurons

Abstract In the present study we examined the effects of hypobaric hypoxia on neuronal (n) and endothelial (e) nitric oxide synthase (NOS) gene expression in the central and peripheral nervous system. Adult rats were exposed either to normoxia (room air) or to hypobaric hypoxia (0.4 atm) for 4, 12 or 24 h and cerebellum and nodose ganglion representing the central and peripheral neurons, respectively, were removed. Messenger RNAs encoding n- and eNOS as well as β-actin were analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Hypoxia increased nNOS mRNA expression with maximal changes occurring after 12 h wherein mRNA levels were increased by 10.4±1.3 and 2±0.4 fold in nodose ganglion and cerebellum, respectively. Hypoxia, on the other hand, had no significant effect on eNOS and β-actin mRNA levels. Analysis of nNOS protein and enzyme activity showed near doubling of these variables in both tissues after 24 h of hypoxia, indicating that nNOS protein levels are increased and that the protein is functionally active. These observations demonstrate that 12–24 h of hypobaric hypoxia selectively activates nNOS gene expression, which is reflected in an increase in nNOS protein in central and peripheral neurons. It is suggested that up-regulation of nNOS leads to increased generation of nitric oxide, which in turn may contribute to the readjustments of cardio-respiratory systems during the early stages of chronic hypoxia.
Facilitation of parental behavior in ring doves by systemic or intracranial injections of prolactin.

Abstract Systemic administration of ovine prolactin (PRL) has been previously reported to stimulate parental feeding behavior toward 7-day-old foster squabs by nonbreeding ring doves with previous breeding experience. The first of the present experiments reexamined this claim in experienced, nonbreeding birds given test squabs of different ages. Each visually isolated male and female dove was given twice-daily subcutaneous injections of ovine PRL or vehicle for 7 days and then tested for parental responses toward a single 1–3, 6–8, or 11- to 13-day-old foster squab. Prolactin significantly increased the incidence or frequency of parental regurgitation-feeding episodes in tests with all three squab age groups and, in addition, increased the incidence of parental feeding invitations (squab-oriented bill openings) in tests with 6- to 8-day-old squabs. A second study explored the degree to which PRL can act directly on the central nervous system to facilitate parental activity in the absence of peripheral cues generated from PRL-induced changes in other target organs, such as those associated with crop sac growth and distension. In this experiment, 6- to 8-day-old test squabs were used to determine if parental behavior is enhanced by twice-daily intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of PRL in doses below those required to stimulate peripheral target organs. Injection schedules and behavior testing procedures were the same as those used in Experiment 1. However, half of the ICV PRL-treated and ICV vehicle-treated birds were food deprived for 16 hr before and during the test in order to control for PRL-induced hyperphagia and resulting crop sac distension, which could confound the results by generating peripheral stimuli conducive to the display of regurgitation-feeding behavior. Intracranial injections of prolactin significantly increased the incidence of feeding behavior, parental feeding invitations, and crouching or sitting in the nest in food-deprived doves but not in freely fed animals. Empty crop sac weights of freely fed and food-deprived PRL-treated birds were not increased above control values, thus indicating that ICV PRL treatment did not result in significant stimulation of peripheral target organs. These results demonstrate a facilitative action of PRL on regurgitation-feeding responses and associated parental behaviors that is not restricted to squabs of one particular age range. They also indicate that PRL is capable of acting directly on the brain to promote these activities in the absence of PRL-induced changes in the crop sac and other peripheral target organs.
Chemical zoning in wolframite from San Cristobal, Peru

Fifty wolframite crystals from San Cristobal (Peru) were analysed with the electron microprobe for Fe, Mn, and W. Detailed studies of several samples reveal complex compositional zoning within individual crystals. One sample contains two crystals with contrasting zoning: one crystal has a high-Fe core and an Fe-poor rim, whereas the other has an Fe-poor core and a high-Fe rim. This suggests that these two crystals formed at different moments and that the wolframite composition did not change monotonically with time. The full range of wolframite compositions measured is from 28 to 97 mol% ferberite (FeWO4). Although a range of 59 mol% was determined for one sample, the average range for all fifty samples is 10 mol%. Samples with average compositions in the range of 84–92 mol% ferberite have relatively small compositional variations, whereas those with average compositions in the range of 61–84 mol% are quite variable. On a vertical longitudinal section of the Main Vein of San Cristobal it appears that the low ferberite values correspond spatially with high tungsten grades. The iron content of the wolframite goes through a minimum across its depositional interval. This may be due to a change in the Fe/Mn ratio of the mineralizing solution with either distance or time.
Image matching with distinctive visual vocabulary

In this paper we propose an image indexing and matching algorithm that relies on selecting distinctive high dimensional features. In contrast with conventional techniques that treated all features equally, we claim that one can benefit significantly from focusing on distinctive features. We propose a bag-of-words algorithm that combines the feature distinctiveness in visual vocabulary generation. Our approach compares favorably with the state of the art in image matching tasks on the University of Kentucky Recognition Benchmark dataset and on an indoor localization dataset. We also show that our approach scales up more gracefully on a large scale Flickr dataset.
Endothelial contraction and monolayer hyperpermeability are regulated by Src kinase

Endothelial monolayer hyperpermeability is regulated by a myosin light chain phosphorylation (MLCP)-dependent contractile mechanism. In this study, we tested the role of Src-dependent tyrosine phos...
Modeling Of Space Station Electric Power System With EMTP

The authors provide an introduction to using the electromagnetic transients (EMTP) program to model aerospace power system components. A brief general overview of EMTP is presented. The modeling of the dc/dc converter unit in the space station electric power system is described as an illustration.
Space-efficient online computation of quantile summaries

An ∈-approximate quantile summary of a sequence of N elements is a data structure that can answer quantile queries about the sequence to within a precision of ∈N.We present a new online algorithm for computing∈-approximate quantile summaries of very large data sequences. The algorithm has a worst-case space requirement of O(1÷∈ log(∈N)). This improves upon the previous best result of O(1÷∈ log2(∈N)). Moreover, in contrast to earlier deterministic algorithms, our algorithm does not require a priori knowledge of the length of the input sequence.Finally, the actual space bounds obtained on experimental data are significantly better than the worst case guarantees of our algorithm as well as the observed space requirements of earlier algorithms.
Paleogeography and the Source of Sediments of the Triassic Basin, New Jersey, by K-Ar Dating

The detrital phases of sedimentary rocks are found to retain their Ar 40 /K 40 ratio during weathering and sedimentation cycles. Therefore, under favorable sedimentary conditions, where the authigenic components are negligible, K-Ar isotopic measurements on bulk sedimentary rocks can be useful in tracing the detrital material to their source rocks. K-Ar measurements on the Upper Triassic Newark group of red sandstones and shales in New Jersey demonstrate that more than one source contributed to the filling of the Triassic basin.
We are what we do.

This excerpt was created in the absence of an abstract. After being asked to deliver this most prestigious lectureship (Figure), one of the first things I did was look at the list of previous Mary McMillan Lecturers. Looking at the cast that preceded me, I was nothing short of awestruck. I graduated from my entry-level [professional] physical therapy training in 1979 and attended my first APTA annual conference in 1980. I vividly remember attending Florence Kendall's Mary McMillan address.1 I have not missed many McMillan Lectures since then. In fact, I can count on one hand those I have missed. My fondest memories of these lectures involve the highly spirited debate about some of the more pressing issues of our time. Suffice it to say that you [McMillan Lecturers] did not always agree about these issues. Why should we be surprised that this group would have differences of opinion?
The OmniTread OT-4 serpentine robot

Serpentine robots are slender, multi-segmented vehicles designed to provide greater mobility than conventional wheeled or tracked robots. Serpentine robots are thus ideally suited for urban search and rescue, mine rescue, military intelligence gathering, and for surveillance and inspection tasks in hazardous and hard-to-reach environments. One such serpentine robot, developed at the University of Michigan, is the "OmniTread OT-4" [Borenstein et al., 2007]. The OT-4, shown in Figure 1, can climb over obstacles that are much higher than the robot itself, propel itself inside pipes of different diameters, and traverse even the most difficult terrain, such as rocks or the rubble of a collapsed structure.
Double-stranded RNA unwinding and modifying activity is detected ubiquitously in primary tissues and cell lines.

Abstract A double-stranded RNA unwinding and modifying activity was found to be present in a wide range of tissues and cell types. The level of activity did not vary significantly with respect to the state of cell differentiation, cell cycle, or transformation. Thus, the unwinding and modifying activity, localized in the nucleus in somatic cells and capable of converting many adenosine residues to inosine, appears to be one of the housekeeping genes.
EFFECTS OF A CHANGING ORGANIZATIONAL ECOLOGY ON RACIAL DISPARITIES IN INFANT MORTALITY

For a seven-year period, the disparity in birth outcomes between Blacks and non-Hispanic Whites in one Wisconsin county closed for reasons not epidemiologically explainable. Examination of the ecology of organizations offered promise for considering the environmental factors influencing African American mothers and birth outcomes during this time. Qualitative analysis of interview data from representatives of health, social service, and advocacy organizations in the county focused on three themes: organizational and network change, organizational philosophies and orientations, and organizational coordination and competition. Results suggest that organizations collaborated variably during this time as adaptations to a changing ecology of funding, political influence, and dominant philosophical orientations. Peak levels of organizational collaborations fostered systems-level orientations to relational, community-centered work and coordinated, holistic service provision for underserved mothers and families. Ecological factors promoting collaboration among organizations, and the development of an interorganizational collaborative in particular, influenced further system changes with implications for birth outcomes. Additional analyses discuss systems-level implications for interorganizational endeavors from the lens of organizational ecology. C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Non-Lambertian Reflectance Modeling and Shape Recovery of Faces Using Tensor Splines

Modeling illumination effects and pose variations of a face is of fundamental importance in the field of facial image analysis. Most of the conventional techniques that simultaneously address both of these problems work with the Lambertian assumption and thus fall short of accurately capturing the complex intensity variation that the facial images exhibit or recovering their 3D shape in the presence of specularities and cast shadows. In this paper, we present a novel Tensor-Spline-based framework for facial image analysis. We show that, using this framework, the facial apparent BRDF field can be accurately estimated while seamlessly accounting for cast shadows and specularities. Further, using local neighborhood information, the same framework can be exploited to recover the 3D shape of the face (to handle pose variation). We quantitatively validate the accuracy of the Tensor Spline model using a more general model based on the mixture of single-lobed spherical functions. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique by presenting extensive experimental results for face relighting, 3D shape recovery, and face recognition using the Extended Yale B and CMU PIE benchmark data sets.
Distributed and Interactive Simulations Operating at Large Scale for Transcontinental Expeimentation

This paper addresses the use of emerging technologies to respond to the increasing needs for larger and more sophisticated agent-based simulations of urban areas. The U.S. Joint Forces Command has found it useful to seek out and apply technologies largely developed for academic research in the physical sciences. The use of these techniques in transcontinentally distributed, interactive experimentation has been shown to be effective and stable and the analyses of the data find parallels in the behavioral sciences. The authors relate their decade and a half experience in implementing high performance computing hardware, software and user inter-face architectures. These have enabled heretofore unachievable results. They focus on three advances: the use of general purpose graphics processing units as computing accelerators, the efficiencies derived from implementing interest managed routers in distributed systems, and the benefits of effective data management for the voluminous information.
THE EFFECT OF SOMATOSTATIN AND ENKEPHALIN ON ION TRANSPORT IN THE INTESTINE

SRIF and enkephalin stimulate net Na and C1 absorption in the rabbit ileum and appear to do so primarily by stimulating the coupled influx of Na and C1 across the brush border membrane. The stimulatory effect of enkephalin on ion transport is blocked by verapamil and Ca-free solution, indirectly indicating that enkephalin may work as a Ca-channel blocker. The resultant lowering in cytosolic calcium level stimulates Na and C1 absorption. SRIF was able to block the effect of cyclic AMP-dependent and cyclic AMP-independent secretogogues in the rat colon without affecting cyclic AMP levels suggesting that it is inhibiting a distal step in the secretory pathway, probably involving a final common pathway. SRIF infusion blocked diarrhea in a patient with the carcinoid syndrome, indicating that it may be therapeutically useful in the treatment of secretory diarrheas. The antidiarrheal effect of opiates is probably due in part to their effect on electrolyte absorption, rather than an effect solely on intestinal motility.
A Survey of Geosensor Networks: Advances in Dynamic Environmental Monitoring

In the recent decade, several technology trends have influenced the field of geosciences in significant ways. The first trend is the more readily available technology of ubiquitous wireless communication networks and progress in the development of low-power, short-range radio-based communication networks, the miniaturization of computing and storage platforms as well as the development of novel microsensors and sensor materials. All three trends have changed the type of dynamic environmental phenomena that can be detected, monitored and reacted to. Another important aspect is the real-time data delivery of novel platforms today. In this paper, I will survey the field of geosensor networks, and mainly focus on the technology of small-scale geosensor networks, example applications and their feasibility and lessons learnt as well as the current research questions posed by using this technology today. Furthermore, my objective is to investigate how this technology can be embedded in the current landscape of intelligent sensor platforms in the geosciences and identify its place and purpose.
Isodicentric Philadelphia chromosomes in imatinib mesylate (Gleevec)-resistant patients

Amplification/duplication of the BCR-ABL gene has been found to be one of the key factors leading to drug resistance to imatinib mesylate (IM). In the present study, we used G-banding to identify the presence of de novo identical isodicentric chromosomes in IM-resistant patients. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis on interphase nuclei confirmed the heterogeneity and amplification of the fused BCR-ABL gene. FISH analysis superimposed on G-banding confirmed the presence of isodicentric Philadelphia chromosomes. The impact of the isodicentric Philadelphia chromosomes on genomic instability, heterogeneity, and amplification of the Philadelphia chromosomes in IM-resistant patients is discussed.
Mutagenic Deimmunization of Diphtheria Toxin for Use in Biologic Drug Development.

Background: Targeted toxins require multiple treatments and therefore must be deimmunized. We report a method of protein deimmunization based on the point mutation of highly hydrophilic R, K, D, E, and Q amino acids on the molecular surface of truncated diphtheria-toxin (DT390). Methods: Based on their surface position derived from an X-ray-crystallographic model, residues were chosen for point mutation that were located in prominent positions on the molecular surface and away from the catalytic site. Mice were immunized with a targeted toxin containing either a mutated DT390 containing seven critical point mutations or the non-mutated parental toxin form. Results: Serum analysis revealed a significant 90% reduction in anti-toxin antibodies in mice immunized with the mutant, but not the parental drug form despite multiple immunizations. The experiment was repeated in a second strain of mice with a different MHC-haplotype to address whether point mutation removed T or B cell epitopes. Findings were identical indicating that B cell epitopes were eliminated from DT. The mutant drug form lost only minimal activity in vitro as well as in vivo. Conclusion: These findings indicate that this method may be effective for deimmunizing of other proteins and that discovery of a deimmunized form of DT may lead to the development of more effective targeted toxin.
Feedback control of three-bead achiral robotic microswimmers

In this paper, we demonstrate the feedback control of the three-bead achiral microswimmers in simulation and experiment. The achiral microswimmers are controlled wirelessly using magnetic fields with the ability to swim in bulk fluid. The achirality of the microswimmer introduces unknown handedness of the microswimmer resulting in uncertainty in swimming direction. We use a combination of rotating and static magnetic fields generated from an approximate Helmholtz coil system to overcome such uncertainty. We estimate a quantitative kinematic model based on data fitting of experimental data and design the vision-based feedback control for the microswimmers using the estimated kinematic model. Through simulation and experiments, we show that the feedback control law can move an achiral microswimmer from any initial conditions to a target pose.
Brugada syndrome: manifest, concealed, “asymptomatic,” suspected and simulated

In the 2001 edition of the textbook Heart Disease [(1)][1]Brugada syndrome is defined as a “distinct form of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (VF) in which patients have right bundle branch block (RBBB) and ST elevation in the anterior precordial leads without evidence of structural heart
Advances in mass spectrometry-based clinical biomarker discovery

The greatest unmet needs in biomarker discovery are those discoveries that lead to the development of clinical diagnostic tests. These clinical diagnostic tests can provide early intervention when a patient would present otherwise healthy (e.g., cancer or cardiovascular disease) and aid clinical decision making with improved clinical outcomes. The past two decades have seen significant technological improvements in the analytical capabilities of mass spectrometers. Mass spectrometers are unique in that they can directly analyze any biological molecule susceptible to ionization. The biological studies of human metabolites and proteins using contemporary mass spectrometry technology (metabolomics and proteomics, respectively) has been ongoing for over a decade. Some of these studies have resulted in exciting insights into human biology. However, relatively few biomarkers have been translated into clinical tests. This review will discuss some key technological developments that have occurred over this time with an emphasis on technologies that will create new avenues for biomarker discovery.
Room Temperature Oxidation of Iron at Low Pressures

Abstract The oxidation at 300° K of high purity iron surfaces prepared under ultra-high-vacuum conditions was studied using ellipsometry to measure film thickness. By working at low oxygen pressures (between 10−7 and 10−4 torr) it was found that the early stages of the oxidation process followed a linear growth law with rate being proportional to the pressure. This behavior is in agreement with a picture proposed by Cabrera. The sticking probability of oxygen in the pressure range studied was of the order of 5 × 10−3 Traces of water vapor lowered the limiting film thickness approached in the latter, nonlinear, oxidation stage to 18 A from the 26 A found at all pressures for dry oxygen.
Analysis of intergranular impurity concentration and the effects on the ductility of copper shaped charge jets

Shaped charge liners (SCLs) are thin-walled metallic cones that are explosively driven to high pressures and strain rates. From a metallurgical point of view, the SCLs provide an excellent experimental test bed to evaluate the influence of microstructure on high strain rate deformation and failure. In this work, a geometrical analysis based on an assumed tetrakaidecahedron grain shape is applied to determine the relationship between grain size, overall impurity content, and ductility of the liners. The measured parameter for ductility in this case is the break-up time for sulfur-doped, oxygen-free electronic (ofe) copper SCLs after they are explosively driven. The calculations determine the number of impurity atoms as a function of grain size, the number of available sites at the intercrystalline defects, and the intercrystalline impurity concentration. Recent experiments have shown that larger grain size liners with low impurity contents exhibit better ductility than smaller grain size liners with higher impurity concentrations, which is contrary to conventional wisdom that the liner ductility scales directly with grain size or impurity content alone. Within the range of grain sizes and bulk impurity contents in this study, the analysis suggests that the quadruple nodes and triple lines are saturated with impurities. Over this same range of impurities and grain sizes, only a fraction of a monolayer of impurities exists at the grain boundaries if all boundaries are assumed to be equally susceptible to sulfur segregation. Modification of the analysis by assuming partitioning of the sulfur only to crystallographically random boundaries, however, suggests that there is a correlation between the jet break-up time and the transition to complete monolayer coverage of such boundaries.
Popular song and popular grammar, poetry and metalanguage

(1986). Popular song and popular grammar, poetry and metalanguage. WORD: Vol. 37, Second UTA Conference on Linguistics and the Humanities, pp. 45-75.