cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human Biliverdin Reductase, a Previously Unknown Activator of Protein Kinase C βII

Abstract Human biliverdin reductase (hBVR), a dual specificity kinase (Ser/Thr/Tyr) is, as protein kinase C (PKC) βII, activated by insulin and free radicals (Miralem, T., Hu, Z., Torno, M. D., Lelli, K. M., and Maines, M. D. (2005) J. Biol. Chem. 280, 17084–17092; Lerner-Marmarosh, N., Shen, J., Torno, M. D., Kravets, A., Hu, Z., and Maines, M. D. (2005) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 102, 7109–7114). Here, by using 293A cells co-transfected with pcDNA3-hBVR and PKC βII plasmids, we report the co-immunoprecipitation of the proteins and co-purification in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) pulldown assay. hBVR and PKC βII, but not the reductase and PKC ζ, transphosphorylated in assay systems supportive of activity of only one of the kinases. PKC βII K371R mutant protein (“kinase-dead”) was also a substrate for hBVR. The reductase increased the Vmax but not the apparent Km values of PKC βII for myelin basic protein; activation was independent of phospholipids and extended to the phosphorylation of S2, a PKC-specific substrate. The increase in substrate phosphorylation was blocked by specific inhibitors of conventional PKCs and attenuated by sihBVR. The effect of the latter could be rescued by subsequent overexpression of hBVR. To a large extent, the activation was a function of the hBVR N-terminal chain of valines and intact ATP-binding site and the cysteine-rich C-terminal segment. The cobalt protoporphyrin-activated hBVR phosphorylated a threonine in a peptide corresponding to the Thr500 in the human PKC βII activation loop. Neither serine nor threonine residues in peptides corresponding to other phosphorylation sites of the PKC βII nor PKC ζ activation loop-derived peptides were substrates. The phosphorylation of Thr500 was confirmed by immunoblotting of hBVR·PKC βII immunocomplex. The potential biological relevance of the hBVR activation of PKC βII was suggested by the finding that in cells transfected with the PKC βII, hBVR augmented phorbol myristate acetate-mediated c-fos expression, and infection with sihBVR attenuated the response. Also, in cells overexpressing hBVR and PKC βII, as well as in untransfected cells, upon treatment with phorbol myristate acetate, the PKC translocated to the plasma membrane and co-localized with hBVR. hBVR activation of PKC βII underscores its potential function in propagation of signals relayed through PKCs.
Ghost Excitonic Insulator Transition in Layered Graphite

Some unusual properties of layered graphite, including a linear energy dependence of the quasiparticle damping and weak ferromagnetism at low doping, are explained as a result of the proximity of a single graphene sheet to the excitonic insulator phase which can be further stabilized in a doped system of many layers stacked in the staggered ( $\mathrm{ABAB}\dots{}$) configuration.
Geometric and variational methods in optical design of reflecting surfaces with prescribed irradiance properties

Numerous optical and electromagnetic applications require numerical design of reflecting surfaces in 3D with capabilities to redirect the input energy flow and reshape the energy radiation intensity of a source into a prescribed output irradiance distribution over a specified target surface. In the geometrical optics approximation, a systematic application of the ray tracing equations and energy conservation law reduces the problem, in many cases, to finding numerical solutions to nonlinear, second order partial differential equations. If the severe limitation of rotational symmetry is not assumed then the resulting equations are very far from being standard and require significant efforts for their theoretical investigation and reliable numerical solution. In recent years a quite general approach combining geometric techniques with methods from calculus of variations has been developed and applied to a rigorous and unified investigation of several classes of such equations. Moreover, this approach allows implementations in provably convergent numerical algorithms. In this paper I outline this approach in the problem of designing a reflecting surface capable of redirecting the energy flow from a point source so that the reflected rays have directions specified in advance as a subset on the far-sphere and the output irradiance density is also pre-specified in advance as a function of the reflected direction. A numerical example illustrating the solution is also presented.
Differentiation dependent expression of tensin and cortactin in chicken osteoclasts

The expression and localization of tensin and cortactin were examined in osteoclast precursors in comparison with isolated osteoclasts on various substrates. Initially, the ability of hen monocytes to differentiate into osteoclasts was evaluated on plastic or glass, and compared to differentiation on bone. Specifically, monocytes were isolated from the medullary bones of egg-laying hens maintained on a Ca-deficient diet. Differentiation was monitored morphologically and by quantitation of the ability to form Howship's lacunae in bone slices or resorb radiolabeled bone particles of 20–53 mm diameter. These cells differentiated into tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive, bone resorbing, multinucleated syncytia in the presence of cytosine-1-β-D-arabinofuranoside in a time dependent manner (day 1–6). Differentiation into osteoclast-like cells was similar whether cultured on plastic, on glass, or on bone. When compared to GAP-DH control levels, tensin and cortctin mRNA levels increased by 7- and 10-fold, respectively, by day 6. Tensin and cortactin protein levels also increased by 6- and 15-fold, respectively, by day 6. Immunofluorescence of differentiating precursors showed that tensin localized between regions of cell to cell contact and colocalized with vinculin in podosomes of osteoclast-like cells and of real osteoclasts. Cortactin immunofluorescence was not detectable in monocytes but localized inside tensin/vinculin podosome structures after fusion into osteoclast-like cells and in freshly isolated osteoclasts. Both tensin and cortactin were associated with attachment complexes used by osteoclast-like cells and osteoclasts to resorb bone. Specifically, punctate cortactin staining was observed inside tensin staining which formed a double ring structure at the membrane/bone interface of resorbing osteoclasts. These data showed that tensin and cortactin can be used as osteoclast differentiation markers, that participate in attachment complexes used to resorb bone, and that tensin may participate in the fusion process of osteoclast precursors. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
OncoLink: a cancer information resource for gynecologic oncologists and the public on the Internet.

Abstract The Internet is a computer network accessible to over 30 million computer users worldwide. By default, it has become the “information superhighway” that is growing at an explosive rate of between 1 and 2 million new users per month. Internet contains thousands of information servers covering a bewildering array of topics. Many provide information of interest to cancer patients and healthcare professionals. Identifying the outstanding “golden” resources from the chaos is difficult. To address this problem and to provide information specific to gynecologic oncology, we developed a cancer information server called “OncoLink” at our institution that is available at no cost 24 hr per day, 7 days per week to all Internet users. OncoLink has two major goals: (1) To provide quality, original content for cancer patients and healthcare professionals and (2) to provide well-organized, consistent access to existing Internet cancer resources. This service may be used by anyone with a Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh, or UNIX computer. The service is rich in multimedia content containing text, pictures, illustrations, sound, and video. The information includes (1) original content written by authors at our institution, (2) original content submitted by authors from other institutions and, (3) publicly available information from other resources. Patient-oriented articles, physician-oriented review articles, and NIH, NCI, and FDA documents are available. All content is reviewed by an Editorial Board prior to posting. We have kept a detailed log file of each time the system has been accessed by an Internet user. OncoLink went online in March 1994. During the first 18 months (542 days) of operation, the service received 4,051,901 requests for information from 105,589 unique Internet addresses worldwide. There is tremendous public and professional demand for online cancer information via the Internet. We feel that the Internet is an outstanding vehicle for providing quality cancer information for gynecologic oncologists other healthcare professionals, and the public.
Thermal metamorphism of primitive meteorites. III - Ten trace elements in Krymka L3 chondrite heated at 400-1000 C

Abstract Ten trace elements were determined by neutron activation analysis in Krymka (L3) chondrite samples heated for 1 week, at 100°C increments, from 400 to 1000°C in a low-pressure environment (initially 10 −5 atm H 2 ). As in other samples studied. Co seems unaffected by heating; ~50% of Cs and Ga are lost only at 1000°C and losses of other elements increase with temperature to extremes of ∼ 25% for Se and 95–99% for Ag, Bi, In, Te, T1 and Zn. Where comparison is possible, ‘open-system’ losses are generally in the order Krymka (L3) > Abee (E4) > Allende (C3). Treating elemental mobilization as representing a kinetic process involving diffusion from spherical grains of uniform size Ag, Bi, In, Te, Tl and Zn are lost from a single host phase or by a single process. This differs from trends shown by many of these elements in Abee and Allende and terrestrial basalt BCR-1. Loss of Tl apparently involves a process with a low activation energy, perhaps desorption. Loss of other elements apparently reflects diffusion-controlled process(es). Trace element contents, patterns of statistically significant interelement relationships, factor analysis and two-element correlation diagrams for unheated and heated Krymka and ‘as-received’ L3-6 chondrites are very different. Thus, significant open-system metamorphism during the genesis of L-group chondrites are not supported by these data. This contrasts sharply with the picture for enstatite chondrites, indicating substantial differences in the origin of various chondritic groups.
Linguistic correlates of self in deceptive oral autobiographical narratives.

Abstract The current study collected orally-delivered autobiographical narratives from a sample of 44 undergraduate students. Participants were asked to produce both deceptive and non-deceptive versions of their narrative to two specific autobiographical question prompts while standing in front of a video camera. Narratives were then analyzed with Coh-Metrix software on 33 indices of linguistic cohesion. Following a Bonferroni correction for the large number of linguistic variables ( p
Inverse scattering for time-varying one-dimensional layered media: algorithms and applications

We formulate and present algorithms and applications for the inverse scattering problem for a one-dimensional layered medium whose reflection coefficients vary with time. We show that given the reflection responses to impulsive plane waves incident on the medium at different times, this problem can be solved either by solving a series of nested non-Toeplitz systems of equations, or by propagating a set of coupled layer-stripping algorithms with reflection coefficients varying in time. All multiple scattering effects are included here. We show that our results reduce to previous results in the special case of time-invariant media. Applications include the two-dimensional (2D) inverse resistivity problem of reconstructing the 2D resistivity of a 2D medium from surface measurements, and the reconstruction of rapidly curing layered media. We also present a time-varying discrete Miura transform linking the time-varying discrete wavesystem inverse scattering problem to a time-varying discrete Schrodinger equation, and a new important feasibility condition on the reflection responses, which seems to be new in the context of the 2D inverse resistivity problem. A numerical example is provided.
Using data envelopment analysis to measure the efficiency of non-profit organizations: A critical evaluation

This study examines the potential effects of variable set expansion and data variations upon the efficiency scores generated using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. It was found that variable set expansion (either through disaggregation of existing variables or addition of new factors) should produce an upward trend in efficiency scores. In addition, ample opportunity exists for ‘decision-making units’ to increase their efficiency scores through manipulation of reported data. In real-world applications of DEA, these problems must be resolved as much as possible (e.g. increased audit of data) in order to improve DEA's practical usefulness and reliability.
On the system capacity of relay-aided Powerline Communications

Powerline Communications (PLC) is a favorable communication technique for many smart grid applications such as AMI and powerline health monitoring. With the existing powerline infrastructure, PLC provides both communication security and ubiquitousness. However, long-distance communication is very challenging in PLC due to its frequency-dependent channel and noise characteristics. To provide reliable communications at long transmission distances, relay communications has been proposed in powerline environments. However the capacity features of relay-aided (RA-) PLC have not been fully investigated. In this paper, we analyze the performance of RA-PLC from an information-theoretic perspective. With empirical channel models, the end-to-end SNR is first computed, and then the optimal carrier frequency and signal bandwidth are determined. Finally, the system capacity is analyzed and numerical results are presented to reveal the features of RA-PLC. Through comparison with the direct-link (DL-) PLC system, the benefits of RA-PLC are also illustrated. In addition, the effects of power allocation and relay location selection on the system capacity are investigated.
Having Concepts: a Brief Refutation of the Twentieth Century

A certain 'pragmatist' view of concept possession has defined the mainstream of Anglophone philosophy of language/mind for decades: namely, that to have the concept C is to be able to distinguish Cs from non-Cs, and/or to recognize the validity of certain C-involving inferences. The present paper offers three arguments why no such account could be viable. An alternative 'Cartesian' view is outlined, according to which having C is being able to think about Cs 'as such'. Some consequences of the proposed paradigm shift are briefly considered.
PorKI: making user PKI safe on machines of heterogeneous trustworthiness

As evidenced by the proliferation of phishing attacks and keystroke loggers, we know that human beings are not well-equipped to make trust decisions about when to use their passwords or other personal credentials. Public key cryptography can reduce this risk of attack, because authentication using PKI is designed to not give away sensitive data. However, using private keys on standard platforms exposes the user to "keyjacking"; mobile users wishing to use keypairs on an unfamiliar and potentially untrusted workstation face even more obstacles. In this paper we present the design and prototype of PorKI, a software application for mobile devices that offers an alternative solution to the portable key problem. Through the use of temporary keypairs, proxy certificates, and wireless protocols, PorKI enables a user to employ her PKI credentials on any Bluetooth-enabled workstation, including those not part of her organization's network, and even those that might be malicious. Moreover, by crafting XACML policy statements that limit the key usage to the workstation's trustworthiness level, and inserting these statements into extensions of the proxy certificates, PorKI provides the user or the relying party with the ability to limit the amount of trust that can be put in the temporary keypair used on that workstation, and thus the scope of a potential compromise
Annual Reproductive Success of Culvert-Dwelling Cliff Swallows in East-Central Texas

Abstract Most studies describing reproductive biology of an avian species provide some measure of annual reproductive success (ARS), frequently reported per nest or per egg. These measurements do not indicate the success of average females in the population. We report conventional measures of reproductive success along with ARS(b), number of broods successfully reared per female, and ARS(k), number of young successfully reared per female. We calculated ARS for four culvert-dwelling Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) colonies in east-central Texas from 1982 to 1985 (n = 1805 nests) and compared our calculations of ARS with those reported for other regions. We analyzed differences in number of fledglings per female to estimate variation in ARS among years and among culverts. In east-central Texas, ARS differed significantly among years and among culverts. We attributed variation in ARS to predation and abiotic factors. Consistent reporting of ARS would facilitate comparisons among populations or speci...
WAVE PACKET THEORY OF SCATTERING. TIME DELAY AND SPREAD

A wave packet theory of scattering is presented in which time delay (or advance) phenomena are discussed. We start from the wave packet: ,P-+JGeia(eiAt+geii1eilrjr)e-iEtJt.dE (G, a, g and {3 being real functions of the energy E.). gexp(i/3) is the scattering amplitude. For elastic scattering it is shown that the observable delay time for incident beams with nearly monochromatic energy E is just half of Wigner's definition of delay time and F. T. Smith's collision lifetime, if the phase a(E) of the incident wave packet is a linear function of energy. How­ ever, this assumption is largely violated under certain experimental conditions; hence the delay time is not always given in terms of the scattering matrix elements only. This fact limits the hope that the S-matrix alone can give a space-time description of collision events_ The general formula of delay time <Jt) has the following form:
Three-dimensional convection of an infinite-Prandtl-number compressible fluid in a basally heated spherical shell

A numerical investigation is made of the effects of compressibility on threedimensional thermal convection in a basally heated, highly viscous fluid spherical shell with an inner to outer radius ratio of approximately 0.55, characteristic of the Earth’s whole mantle. Compressibility is implemented with the anelastic approximation and a hydrostatic adiabatic reference state whose bulk modulus is a linear function of pressure. The compressibilities studied range from Boussinesq cases to compressibilities typical of the Earth’s whole mantle. Compressibility has little effect on the spatial structure of steady convection when the superadiabatic temperature drop across the shell AT,, is comparable to a characteristic adiabatic temperature. When AT,& is approximately an order of magnitude smaller than the adiabatic temperature, compressibility is significant. For all the non-Boussinesq cases, the regular polyhedral convective patterns that exist at large AZ, break down at small AT, into highly irregular patterns ; as AZ, decreases convection becomes penetrative in the upper portion of the shell and is strongly time dependent at Rayleigh numbers only ten times the critical Rayleigh number, (Ra),,. Viscous heating in the compressible solutions is concentrated around the upwelling plumes and is greatest near the top and bottom of the shell. Solutions with regular patterns (and large AEJ remain steady up to fairly high Rayleigh numbers (100(Ra),,), while solutions with irregular convective patterns are time dependent at similar Rayleigh numbers. Compressibility affects the pattern evolution of the irregular solutions, producing fewer upwelling plumes with increasing compressibility.
The use of GPS for vehicle stability control systems

This paper presents a method for using global positioning system (GPS) velocity measurements to improve vehicle lateral stability control systems. GPS can be used to calculate the sideslip angle of a vehicle without knowing the vehicle model. This measurement is combined with other traditional measurements to control the lateral motion of the vehicle. Noise estimates are provided for all measurement systems to allow the sensors to be accurately represented. Additionally, a method to calculate the lateral forces at the tires is presented. It is shown that the tire estimation algorithm performs well outside the linear region of the tire. Results for the controller and force calculations are shown using a nonlinear model to simulate the vehicle and the force calculations are validated with experimental measurements on a test vehicle.
Computer simulations of Coulomb crystallization in a dusty plasma

It has been shown experimentally that under the proper conditions, a dusty plasma system can form an ordered, crystalline state known as a Coulomb or dust crystal. This paper uses a computer simulation to model the behavior of such a system while several parameters are changed independently of one another, something that is experimentally difficult to do. The computer program used is a modified Barnes-Hut tree code known as "Box Tree." Tree codes allow all of the interparticle interactions to be calculated including the medium- and long-range interactions created by distant particles using multipole expansions. The simulation is also used to explore the possibility that the end state of the system may depend (at least in part) on its past history (whether it is initially in a solid or disordered state), or the evolution of /spl kappa/ and /spl Gamma/ themselves. As expected, it is shown that as the coupling parameter increases the amount of order present within a system also increases. Unexpectedly, the simulation also shows that the amount of order present within a dusty plasma system is not necessarily completely determined by /spl Gamma//sub s/ and /spl kappa/.
Thyrotropin-Induced Mitogenesis Is Ras Dependent but Appears To Bypass the Raf-Dependent Cytoplasmic Kinase Cascade

Cellular growth control requires the coordination and integration of multiple signaling pathways which are likely to be activated concomitantly. Mitogenic signaling initiated by thyrotropin (TSH) in thyroid cells seems to require two distinct signaling pathways, a cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent signaling pathway and a Ras-dependent pathway. This is a paradox, since activated cAMP-dependent protein kinase disrupts Ras-dependent signaling induced by growth factors such as epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor. This inhibition may occur by preventing Raf-1 protein kinase from binding to Ras, an event thought to be necessary for the activation of Raf-1 and the subsequent activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinases (MEKs) and MAP kinase (MAPK)/ERKs. Here we report that serum-stimulated hyperphosphorylation of Raf-1 was inhibited by TSH treatment of Wistar rat thyroid cells, indicating that in this cell line, as in other cell types, increases in intracellular cAMP levels inhibit activation of downstream kinases targeted by Ras. Ras-stimulated expression of genes containing AP-1 promoter elements was similarly inhibited by TSH. On the other hand, stimulation of thyroid cells with TSH resulted in stimulation of DNA synthesis which was Ras dependent but both Raf-1 and MEK independent. We also show that Ras-stimulated DNA synthesis required the use of this kinase cascade in untreated quiescent cells but not in TSH-treated cells. These data suggest that in TSH-treated thyroid cells, Ras might be able to signal through effectors other than the well-studied cytoplasmic kinase cascade.
Air gap tuning of patch antenna resonance

An adjustable air gap was proposed in 1984 to tune the resonant frequency of patch antennas. This method was investigated theoretically and experimentally for the case of coaxially fed patch only. The main disadvantage of applying this method to tune the frequency of coaxially fed patches is that the center conductor has to be de-soldered and re-soldered every time the width of the air gap is changed. In this paper, we investigate the air gap tuning of a rectangular patch resonance frequency. The patch is fed using aperture coupling or by a stripline. In both cases, changing the air gap width requires no de-soldering and re-soldering. It is found that for the same ratio of air gap width to substrate thickness, the resonant frequency is changed by similar percentage for all these feeding methods.
Infantile spasms as a cause of acquired perinatal visual loss

Abstract Background: Visual abnormalities have been described in patients with infantile spasms (IS), an epileptic syndrome of early childhood. Methods: We report on 3 children who exhibited cortically mediated visual regression in association with the development of IS. Results: In 1 patient, loss of visual behavior was the presenting complaint. In all patients, visual behavior improved with treatment of seizures. Conclusions: IS are a potentially treatable cause of cortically impaired vision in early childhood. Because visual behavior might improve when the seizures are treated, patients should be referred appropriately. (J AAPOS 2002;6:385-8)
Limits to the Aerosol Indirect Radiative Effect Derived from Observations of Ship Tracks

One-kilometer Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) observations of the effects of ships on low-level clouds off the west coast of the United States are used to derive limits for the degree to which clouds might be altered by increases in anthropogenic aerosols. As ships pass beneath low-level clouds, particles from their plumes serve as condensation nuclei around which new cloud droplets form. The increased droplet concentrations lead to a decrease in droplet sizes. The change in sizes is manifested as an increase in the reflected sunlight observed at 3.7 mm in satellite imagery data. Images at 3.7 mm are used in a semiautomated procedure for identifying polluted portions of clouds and distinguishing them from the nearby unaffected portions. Radiances at 0.64, 3.7, and 11 mm are used to determine visible optical depths, droplet effective radii, and cloud emission temperatures for both the polluted and unpolluted portions. The analysis of several hundred 30-km segments of ship tracks reveals that changes in visible optical depths are about half the values expected, given the changes observed for the droplet radii and assuming cloud liquid water amount remains constant. Simple radiative transfer calculations indicate that the shortfall in the optical depth change is unlikely to be due solely to the absorption by the polluting particles. It is likely that polluted clouds lose liquid water. The equivalent loss is approximately 15%‐20% of the initial cloud liquid water.
Adolescents with diabetes and their parents' perceptions of mental health screening, assessment, and feedback

This study examined adolescents with diabetes and their parents’ reactions to mental health screenings, assessments, and feedback. Most parents and adolescents did not report negative affect, but 15- and 16-year olds and referred adolescents showed greater levels of concern with assessment outcomes. Among those referred to mental health services, parents anticipated barriers in costs, insurance, and lack of qualified providers. Adolescents reported scheduling conflicts, time, and confidentiality concerns. Respondents perceived feedback as an important component of the clinical process and findings indicated a need for clinicians to incorporate psychosocial screenings and feedback in healthcare visits for adolescents with diabetes.
Towards a fast and reliable software implementation of SLI-FLP hybrid computer arithmetic

In this paper we describe a C++ implementation of a hybrid system combining SLI (symmetric level-index) arithmetic and FLP (floating-point) arithmetic. The principal motivation for the work to be presented is to promote the use of SLI arithmetic as a practical framework for scientific computing. This hybrid arithmetic is essentially overflow and underflow free, and its implementation has shown the suitability to be used in real life computations.
Apollos, Hebrews, and Corinth: Bishop Montefiore's Theory Examined

Wide circulation has been given by H. W. Montefiore to a theory, first proposed by H. Appel and later taken up by F. Lo Bue, that the background of Hebrews is to be found in the involvement of Apollos in the cross currents of the Corinthian church. The argument, particularly as formulated by Montefiore, has been generally well-received by scholars and will undoubtedly continue to fascinate readers of his popular commentary. To the present, however, no attempt has been made to subject the hypothesis to any form of searching analysis. This neglect has been unfortunate, since, while prima facie attractive, the foundational assumptions of the theory are questionable. We shall therefore attempt a brief analysis of the argument in the interest of stimulating further discussion.
Analyzing Deviant Cyber Flash Mobs of ISIL on Twitter

Transnational crime organizations and terrorist groups such as, ISIL use social media in a highly sophisticated and coordinated manner to disseminate their propaganda. Various social media platforms, such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, ask.fm, Tumblr, etc. are used by ISIL to recruit, radicalize, and raise funds. By doing so, they have more control on their messages and more assurance that their messages (text, photo, or video) reach many people instantly. Here, we study ISIL’s social media activity (propaganda messages, recruitment messages, etc.) and model their sociotechnical behavior as a manifestation of a deviant cyber flash mob (DCFM) behavior. We operationalize our conceptual model for analyzing DCFM, demonstrate the model’s applicability to real-world setting, evaluate the research using Twitter data, and in doing so, highlight the challenges, contributions, and broader implications of the work. The findings of the research reveal a strategic choice of platforms used by ISIL’s top disseminators for propaganda dissemination. Further, the network activity of ISIL’s top disseminators reflect a well-coordinated organization with designated roles for outreach and intra-organization communications.
Videodensitometric determination of minimum coronary artery luminal diameter before and after angioplasty.

Quantitative measurements of coronary stenoses were made from digital coronary angiograms in 19 patients before and after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Two methods of measurement were compared. Mean stenosis before PTCA was 67 ± 10% by the edge detection method and 67 ± 12% by videodensitometry (difference not significant). After PTCA, the mean stenosis was 32 ± 14% by edge detection and 30 ± 13% by videodensitometry (difference not significant). In addition, a new method was developed to rapidly calculate the absolute minimum luminal area and diameter by videodensitometry. The minimum luminal diameter before PTCA was 1.0 ± 0.5 mm and after PTCA increased to 2.4 ± 0.5 mm (p
Tempest: a substrate for portable parallel programs

The paper describes Tempest, a collection of mechanisms for communication and synchronization in parallel programs. With these mechanisms, authors of compilers, libraries, and application programs can exploit-across a wide range of hardware platforms-the best of shared memory, message passing, and hybrid combinations of the two. Because Tempest provides mechanisms, not policies, programmers can tailor communication to a program's sharing pattern and semantics, rather than restructuring the program to run with the limited communication options offered by existing parallel machines. And since the mechanisms are easily supported on different machines. Tempest provides a portable interface across platforms. The paper describes the Tempest mechanisms, briefly explains how they are used, outlines several implementations on both custom and stock hardware, and presents preliminary performance results that demonstrate the benefits of this approach.
Characterization of the Synaptic Properties of Olfactory Bulb Projections

The olfactory bulb directly projects to several diverse telencephalic structures, but, to date, few studies have investigated the physiological characteristics of most of these areas. As an initial step towards understanding the odor processing functions of these secondary olfactory structures, we recorded evoked field potentials in response to lateral olfactory tract stimulation in vivo in urethane-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats in the following brain structures: anterior olfactory nucleus, ventral and dorsal tenia tecta, olfactory tubercle, anterior and posterior piriform cortex, the anterior cortical nucleus of the amygdala, and lateral entorhinal cortex. Using paired-pulse stimulation with interpulse intervals of 25-1000 ms, we observed facilitation of the response to the second pulse in every structure examined, although the degree of facilitation varied among the target structures. Additionally, pulse train stimulation at three different frequencies (40, 10 and 2 Hz) produced facilitation of evoked field potentials that also varied among target structures. We discuss the potential utility of such short-term facilitation in olfactory processing.
Bone morphogenetic proteins. A review for cranial and maxillofacial surgery

Kodi Azari, MD, John S. Doctor, PhD, Bruce A. Doll, DDS, PhD, Jeffrey O. Hollinger, DDS, PhD* Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Bone Tissue Engineering Center, Carnegie Mellon University, 125 Smith Hall, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Liberal Arts and Sciences Education: Responding to the Challenges of the XXIst Century

Jonathan Becker - Vice President for Academic Affairs Bard College. Address: Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000. E-mail: jbecker@bard.eduThis essay has two primary goals. First, it seeks to define liberal art and sciences as a system of higher education that involves curricular breadth as well as depth, student-centered teaching and academic and administrative structures which facilitate learning. Second, it makes the case for liberal arts and sciences education and why it responds to the demands of the XXIst century. The essay is informed by experiences of liberal arts and sciences education across not only in the United States, where it has found its greatest influence, but by the growing movement to experiments in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Asia. At its core, liberal arts and sciences education is concerned about the development of students and their capacity to learn, to express ideas and communicate effectively, and to adapt to changing circumstances. In countries where vocational training, hyper-specialization and didactic pedagogic approaches dominate higher education, liberal arts and sciences education can offer an alternative that will resonate amongst students and faculty. It is not an easy system to adapt, but for many, the rewards have been well worth the investment.DOI: 10.17323/1814-9545-2015-4-33-61
Synthesis and Receptor Binding Studies of ( ± )l-Iodo-MK-801

The glutamate analogue N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) binds to a subset of glutamate receptors that are coupled to a voltage-sensitive cation channel. This NMDA-linked channel is the likely binding locus of the potent anticonvulsant MK-801. To develop single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) probes of this brain channel, we synthesized (±)l-iodo-MK-801 and (±)l-[125I]iodo-MK-801. The effect of (±)l-iodo-MK-801 on ligand binding to the NMDA-linked glutamate receptor site was assessed using a rat brain homogenate assay. (±)l-Iodo-MK-801 displaced the dissociative anesthetic ligand [3H]N-[l-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine ([3H]TCP) binding with an IC50 of 1 µM, which is a 10-fold lower binding affinity than that of (±)MK-801. In in vivo autoradiographic studies, (±)MK-801 failed to block selective uptake of (±)l-iodo-MK-801 in rat brain. These results suggest that (±)l-iodo-MK-801 may not be a suitable ligand for mapping NMDA-linked glutamate receptor channels.
The effect of obesity on intraoperative complication rates with hysteroscopic compared to laparoscopic sterilization: a retrospective cohort study.

Surgical sterilization is a common method of contraception. There have been few studies evaluating the effect of obesity on procedural complications with either laparoscopic or hysteroscopic methods of sterilization. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of intraoperative complications of hysteroscopic tubal occlusion with laparoscopic tubal ligation among obese and nonobese women. This retrospective cohort study compared women undergoing interval laparoscopic or hysteroscopic sterilization in the operating room between September 2009 and December 2011 at a single hospital. Serious complications included: unintended surgery, uterine perforation, anaphylaxis, blood transfusion, infection requiring antibiotics, hospital admission, fluid overload, myocardial infarction, and venous thromboembolism. Post-operative events included: nausea/vomiting, doctor evaluation or additional pain medication required in the recovery room, and emergency department visit within 2 weeks of surgery. The association between sterilization type and incidence of complications was examined overall, separately by BMI group, and also among patients who received general anesthesia. A total of 433 laparoscopic and 277 hysteroscopic procedures were reviewed. The BMI distribution of the sample was 35 % normal weight, 31 % overweight, and 34 % obese which is comparable to the general US female population. No life-threatening events were identified. Serious complications were similar with 20 (4.6 %) in the laparoscopic group and 11 (4.0 %) in the hysteroscopic group (p = 0.9). The most common serious complications were bleeding from the tube, cervical laceration, and uterine perforation. Although not statistically significant, women with a BMI of 30 or greater had only 1 (1 %) serious complication in the hysteroscopic group compared to 7 (5.2 %) in the laparoscopic group. Postoperative events were increased in the laparoscopic group (16.2 %) compared to the hysteroscopic group (6.9 %), especially among overweight and obese women (p <0.01). Failure to complete the intended bilateral occlusion occurred for 14 women in the hysteroscopic group compared to just one woman in the laparoscopic group (p <0.001). Both laparoscopic and hysteroscopic tubal sterilization are safe with few serious complications based on these data. No cases of laparotomy, blood transfusion, or life-threatening events were identified. There was no difference in serious complication rate by sterilization method. Overweight and obese women were no more likely to experience a serious complication with either method than women with a BMI <25. There were fewer postoperative events (p <0.01) with hysteroscopic sterilization, but far fewer failed laparoscopic procedures (p <0.001). These study findings can be used to enhance sterilization counseling.
Innovative Application of High-and Medium-Pressure Shared Electric Feed Water Pump for 9F Class Gas Turbine Waste Heat Boilers

For Zhejiang Xiaoshan natural gas generation project the waste heat boilers are three-pressure reheated horizontal natural circulation type.Each unit has 2 feed water pumps with 100% capacity,and high-and medium-pressure feed water system share 1 elecfric pump,which is the first time in its class.It simplifies process,reduces equipment costs and energy consumption,however,because of high coupling,mutual influences among high-,medium-and low-pressure systems will cause difficulties in automatic control.Based on practices in startup test,its advantages and disadvantages are summarized and analyzed.Possible optimizations are also proposed.
International Trade in Cultural Products

Although the three global institutions — the ITU, WIPO and UPU — have been the arena for the exercise of power by elite states through laying down the fundamental rules of international communication, the most prominent debates about international power through communication have been in those areas where multilateral institutions have been non-existent and where state sovereignty appears to be least threatened by supranational organizations. These sectors are global news flows, and trade in cultural products: movies, TV shows, books and periodicals, recorded music (phonograms) and international advertising. Here we must revisit the distinction we made in the first chapter between the power of communication and the power of information. News and cultural products can be relayed internationally via shortwave radio and satellite TV, but the power of these forms of communication appeared as an issue in the debates over international telecommunications at the ITU and the UN General Assembly during the 1970s and 1980s. In contrast, the controversies over imbalances in global flows of news and cultural products were also arguments about the power of information, that, of course, related to policies for shortwave and satellite communication, but were also separate questions as well.
Scanning Resonator Microscopy: Integrating Whispering Gallery Mode Sensing with Atomic Force Microscopy

Scanning resonator microscopy (SRM) is developed to integrate whispering gallery mode (WGM) sensing with atomic force microscopy (AFM). The hybrid technique combines the exquisite refractive index sensing of whispering gallery mode resonators with the topography mapping capabilities of AFM. A 45 μm diameter barium titanate microsphere is attached to the end of a conventional AFM cantilever and acts as both a WGM resonator and stylus for mapping surface topography. Calibration plots, taken in contact-mode feedback, show that the WGM spectrum responds to changes in both solution and substrate refractive index. SRM imaging of a glass substrate reveals changes in surface refractive index that correspond to a small, 36 nm high feature measured simultaneously in the contact-mode topography image. Spectral measurements confirm that the contrast arises from refractive index changes and not coupling with sample topography, thus validating the approach. Additional measurements on thin polymer films and protein-coat...
Visceral Leishmaniasis on the Indian Subcontinent: Modelling the Dynamic Relationship between Vector Control Schemes and Vector Life Cycles.

Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease caused by two known vector-borne parasite species (Leishmania donovani, L. infantum), transmitted to man by phlebotomine sand flies (species: Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia), resulting in ≈50,000 human fatalities annually, ≈67% occurring on the Indian subcontinent. Indoor residual spraying is the current method of sand fly control in India, but alternative means of vector control, such as the treatment of livestock with systemic insecticide-based drugs, are being evaluated. We describe an individual-based, stochastic, life-stage-structured model that represents a sand fly vector population within a village in India and simulates the effects of vector control via fipronil-based drugs orally administered to cattle, which target both blood-feeding adults and larvae that feed on host feces. Principle findings Simulation results indicated efficacy of fipronil-based control schemes in reducing sand fly abundance depended on timing of drug applications relative to seasonality of the sand fly life cycle. Taking into account cost-effectiveness and logistical feasibility, two of the most efficacious treatment schemes reduced population peaks occurring from April through August by ≈90% (applications 3 times per year at 2-month intervals initiated in March) and >95% (applications 6 times per year at 2-month intervals initiated in January) relative to no control, with the cumulative number of sand fly days occurring April-August reduced by ≈83% and ≈97%, respectively, and more specifically during the summer months of peak human exposure (June-August) by ≈85% and ≈97%, respectively. Conclusions Our model should prove useful in a priori evaluation of the efficacy of fipronil-based drugs in controlling leishmaniasis on the Indian subcontinent and beyond.
Delphi: A History of the Center of the Ancient World. By Michael Scott. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2014. Pp. xi, 422. $29.95.)

Students taking courses in ancient Greek history quickly learn that the brilliant political experiments in the small polis communities were the key to the Greeks’ inability to transcend the polis’ ...
Bromeliad density correlates with territories in a cooperatively breeding wren, the Band-backed Wren (Campylorhynchus zonatus)

ABSTRACT In many species of animals, the distribution of critical resources underlie the pattern of the animals themselves. However, in areas of apparently abundant resources, it is not clear which resources, if any, are limited. I investigated a possible limitation for a cooperatively breeding wren living in lowland tropical rainforest. I found that the composition of epiphytic foraging substrates, especially the abundance of bromeliads, correlated with the distribution of wren habitation, and were heavily foraged upon. High densities of these bromeliads were found only in gallery forests, suggesting that areas of high bromeliad density may be a limiting factor in dispersal in Band-backed Wrens (Campylorhynchus zonatus).
The Evolving Role of Consumers

The culmination of the changes in health care, motivated in many ways by the rapid evolution of information and communication technologies in parallel with the shift toward increased patient decision making and empowerment, has critical implications for clinical research, from recruitment and participation to, ultimately, successful outcomes. For those who are incapable (or unwilling) to develop the requisite health literacy skills, there is also a tendency to turn to intermediaries for advice. This chapter explores these developments from various perspectives and looks at some foundational issues in health communication as related to health consumerism. The overarching concern is the information environment within which health consumers are immersed and some of the underlying communication issues and emerging technologies contributing to the changing nature of patients’ information world. Not surprisingly, we will see that core findings from communication and behavior research have relevance for our current understanding and future studies of the evolving role of the consumer.
The Rise and Effect of Virtual Modalities and Functions on Organizational Leadership: Tracing Conceptual Boundaries Along the E-Management and E-Leadership Continuum

The massive shift to virtual modalities and functions has changed the context of leadership and organizational structures, and thus how leadership is exercised. To date, the fi elds of e-leadership and e-management, or more generally, virtual leadership, have been unable to make much progress. This exploratory study uses adaptive structuration theory, an approach recommended by Avolio (2001 and 2014), to provide a broad framework that is modifi ed for the fi eld. It uses the multi-method, multi-level approach recommended by structuration theory. Findings regarding three specifi c advanced information technologies (AITs) are discussed, study limitations are provided, and future research opportunities are reviewed.