cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prostate-derived Ets transcription factor as a favorable prognostic marker in ovarian cancer patients

We have previously shown that ovarian tumors express prostate-derived Ets transcription factor (PDEF). However, the precise role of PDEF in the prognosis of ovarian cancer is unknown. In our study, we report for the first time that expression of PDEF in tumor lesions of patients with ovarian cancer is associated with favorable prognosis. Evaluation of samples from 40 patients with ovarian cancer showed that early stage (IA) and borderline (IIB, III) ovarian tumors expressed higher levels of PDEF mRNA and protein and lower levels of survivin compared to late stage ovarian tumors (IIIC and IV, p < 0.05). Normal ovarian tissues expressed the highest levels of PDEF mRNA and protein when compared to tumor tissues (p < 0.05). A Log-Rank test showed that overall survival of patients with PDEF-positive and survivin-negative ovarian tumors was significantly longer than those with PDEF-negative and survivin-positive tumors (p < 0.01). Forced expression of PDEF in PDEF-negative ovarian tumor cells inhibited tumor cell growth, induced apoptosis, downregulated survivin expression and its promoter activity. Furthermore, treatment of ovarian cancer cells with vitamin D or a selenium compound resulted in re-expression of PDEF, downregulation of survivin, induction of apoptosis and inhibition of tumor cell growth when compared to untreated controls (p < 0.05). Together, these observations showed an inverse correlation between PDEF and survivin expression and suggested that increased PDEF expression along with reduced survivin was associated with prolonged survival of patients with ovarian cancer.
Evaluating Students’ Experience and Satisfaction at a Hospitality and Tourism College Career Fair

This study examined the experience of hospitality students who attended a semi-annual career fair at a large university located in the Southeastern part of the United States. The study assessed students’ perceptions of the value of attending the career fair and predicts what variables may indicate their level of satisfaction in the event. Data were collected through an online survey from 123 students and revealed that students would like to see more available jobs that appeal to them, to meet more industry representatives from various industry segments, and attract a greater variety of employers. Students’ level of satisfaction with the career fair was attributed to current availability of jobs that appeal to them, willingness of employers’ representatives to take their printed resume, and sufficient industry representation of the segment that the students were interested to pursue their careers. Implications for college career fair event planners, students, and recruiters are discussed.
Dissolution Study on Aspirin and α-Glycine Crystals

The broad objective of this research is to better understand the dissolution processes of drug crystals in the molecular level, especially the interactions between solvent molecules and drug molecu...
Training issues associated with the advanced general aviation transportation experiment and the potential for enhanced decision-making using new cockpit displays

The paper provides an overview of AGATE, and specifically work package six 1998 and 1999 activities. Reports on specific activities will include a summary of the results of the 1998 Curriculum and Multi-Function Display efforts. A discussion of 1999 and 2000 activities related to the Curriculum and the Pilots Flight Display will demonstrate the efforts being undertaken to take into consideration the concerns related to human error and safety associated with automated systems in the GA cockpit. The primary goal of AGATE is to establish guidelines, standards, and certification methods for both the airplane and training/certification processes, thus work package six is focused on the training and certification process of the pilot. However, equal attention is paid to human factor and safety issues, especially those surrounding the introduction of a glass cockpit and automation to a general aviation (GA) type aircraft. Of particular concern to work package six are the issues surrounding improved safety systems for the AGATE pilot. Considerable progress is being made within AGATE to develop enhanced MFD and PFD displays for GA aircraft. The paper will explore potential display improvements as they relate to training situational awareness and decision-making.
Sub-1-V design techniques for high-linearity multistage/pipelined analog-to-digital converters

The design of an ultra-low-voltage multistage (two-stage algorithmic) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) employing the opamp-reset switching technique is described. A highly linear input sampling circuit accommodates truly low-voltage sampling from external input signal source. A radix-based digital calibration technique is used to compensate for component mismatches and reduced opamp gain under low supply voltage. The radix-based scheme is based on a half-reference multiplying digital-to-analog converter structure, where the error sources seen by both the reference and input signal paths are made identical for a given stage. The prototype ADC was fabricated in a 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS process. The prototype integrated circuit dissipates 9 mW at 0.9-V supply with an input signal range of 0.9 V/sub p-p/ differential. The calibration of the ADC improves the signal-to-noise-plus-distortion ratio from 40 to 55 dB and the spurious-free dynamic range from 47 to 75 dB.
Psoriasin (S100A7) identified as a biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma using a proteomic approach

A16 Introduction: Epithelial dysplasia is the primary risk factor for oral cancer; however, most dysplastic lesions never progress to cancer. For patients with dysplasia, there are no predictive markers of progression. The goal of this preliminary study is to use proteomics to discover biomarkers for dysplasia progression.Methods: We utilized frozen tissue samples of site matched temporally distinct normal epithelium and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from 1 patient and site matched temporally distinct low grade dysplasia (LGD) and carcinoma in situ (CIS) from another patient. All cases occurred on the tongue. Lesional tissue was microdissected, proteins extracted and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The gels were stained with Colloidal Coomassie and imaged using ImageMaster 2D Platinum software. Comparing gels from LGD and CIS samples, we detected 306 and 360 protein spots respectively. Among them, 196 common spots were matched by location on the gel. For comparison between normal tissue and SCC, 303 and 244 spots were detected respectively where 224 spots were present in both. Using the spot volume as a parameter in ImageMaster 2D Platinum software and limiting the analysis to less than 35 kDa proteins, we identified spots with different protein levels. We performed in-gel trypsin digestion to those protein spots, provisionally identified them by peptide mass fingerprinting (MALDI TOF MS) and confirmed their identification using LC MS/MS.Results: Comparing LGD to CIS: fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP-5), calgranulin B (S100 A9), psoriasin, annexin A2 and galectin-7 were identified to have higher levels of protein in CIS than in LGD. Comparing normal to SCC: superoxide dismutase, alpha-cyrstallin B, creatine kinase, troponins, annexin, calgranulin A (S100 A8), psoriasin and galectin-7 were identified having higher protein levels in SCC than in normal. To confirm and localize differentially regulated proteins, we stained by immunohistochemistry 10 cases of hyperkeratosis, dysplasia, CIS, and SCC for fatty acid binding protein 5 and psoriasin. We found FABP-5 to be highly expressed but without specificity to the different tissue layers. By contrast, psoriasin protein was weakly and focally expressed in normal epithelium but strongly and diffusely expressed in high grade dysplasias and SCC.Discussion: We have used proteomics to identify candidate protein biomarkers involved in progression of dysplasia to SCC. Psoriasin, reported recently to be regulated at transcriptional level in oral SCC cell lines, was identified at high levels in high grade dysplasia and SCC and may be a biomarker of dysplasia progression.
Reforming the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines after Blakely

In Blakely v. Washington, the Supreme Court all but held that juries must find beyond a reasonable doubt facts that raise sentences under sentencing guidelines. This essay, originally prepared as testimony before the United States Sentencing Commission, explores the legal and political hurdles to reforming the federal Sentencing Guidelines. While removing all maxima from the existing guidelines (the so-called Bowman proposal) may work as an interim solution, it also may distort plea-bargaining behavior. Another proposal, to invert the Guidelines by rephrasing all aggravators as mitigators, is too gimmicky and would likely be held unconstitutional. The best long-term solution is to simplify and streamline the Guidelines down to a handful of the most commonly applied enhancements and to broaden sentencing ranges, to allow moderately more flexibility while retaining the Guidelines' binding force. This solution would track the best features of successful state guideline systems. The Commission should add more procedural protections to sentencing and limit but not abolish the relevant-conduct rules. These measures would best restore the balance of plea-bargaining power, empowering appellate and sentencing judges to check unilateral prosecutorial decisions.
Acute Massive Chloral Hydrate Intoxication Treated with Hemodialysis: A Clinical Pharmacokinetic Analysis

A 38-year-old female became comatose and exhibited signs of cardiac toxicity 2 hours after ingestion of approximately 38 Gm chloral hydrate. Hemodialysis was initiated 21 hours after ingestion, using twin coils in series, and was continued for 4.5 hours. Trichloroethanol, the active metabolite of chloral hydrate, was measured in plasma and dialysate. Two hours after ingestion, the plasma level was 330 micrograms/ml (average therapeutic level is 12 micrograms/ml or less). The predialysis level was 216 micrograms/ml and after dialysis declined to 141 micrograms/ml. The pre- and post-plasma half-life values were 35 hours, while on dialysis the half-life was only 6 hours. The average dialysis clearance was 120 ml/minute, and the amount of chloral hydrate removed by dialysis was 5.79 Gm. By the end of dialysis, the patient could respond to verbal commands and was ambulatory 36 hours later. In conclusion, hemodialysis can be a clinically important method of treating chloral hydrate overdose.
Analysis and design of broadband Wireless Power Transmission system via conformal Strongly Coupled Magnetic Resonance

In this paper, a broadband Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) system through novel conformal Strongly Coupled Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) is proposed. Theoretical analysis of the conformal SCMR is studied based on equivalent circuit and system network. Compared with the conventional SCMR system, the novel conformal SCMR system can significantly broaden the bandwidth, achieving more than 7 times of the conventional one. To verify the proposed method, a typical broadband WPT system is fabricated, measured, and compared with simulation result. With large bandwidth and good power transfer efficiency, this design has great potential to be used in various applications.
Comparative embryology of teleostean fishes. I. Development and staging of the american shad, Alosa sapidissima (Wilson, 1811)

A new approach to devising embryological staging systems allows improved phylogenetic comparisons of developmental patterns. As in traditional approaches, morphological features provide the defining criteria for stages, but unlike traditional normal tables, each stage is defined by no more than one or two morphological criteria that are fundamental developmental features of all teleosts. Additional developmental features that occur concurrently with the defining criteria of a stage are treated as variables potentially uncoupled from the defining criteria for that stage. This system is well suited to detect phylogenetic heterochrony and promises to increase our understanding of conserved vs. labile features in teleostean embryology. In this study, I explain the defining criteria for American shad and then make comparisons with other clupeoids. The development of American shad includes 35 stages extending from fertilization to metamorphosis. Comparisons with other clupeoids indicate that the developmental pattern of shad is representative of the early ontogeny of many clupeoids during the embryonic and yolk sac periods and may be conservative for the group. However, several concurrent features, particularly hatching, formation of neuromasts, and opercular development, vary in developmental timing among clupeoids. Comparisons indicate that shad embryos delay the development of these concurrent features relative to other clupeoids. Modifications of the developmental pattern for different species of clupeoids are heterochronic but their phylogenetic and adaptive significance is unknown. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Synthesis of thioester peptides for the incorporation of thioamides into proteins by native chemical ligation

Thioamides can be used as photoswitches, as reporters of local environment, as inhibitors of enzymes, and as fluorescence quenchers. We have recently demonstrated the incorporation of thioamides into polypeptides and proteins using native chemical ligation (NCL). In this protocol, we describe procedures for the synthesis of a thioamide precursor and an NCL-ready thioamide-containing peptide using Dawson's N-acyl-benzimidazolinone (Nbz) process. We include a description of the synthesis by NCL of a thioamide-labeled fragment of the neuronal protein α-synuclein.
A Cloud Fraction versus View Angle Technique for Automatic In-Scene Evaluation of the MISR Cloud Mask

Abstract The Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR), on board the Earth Observing System (EOS) satellite Terra, is the first high-resolution imager to make global, near-simultaneous multispectral and multiangle radiometric measurements of the earth. A standard product of MISR is the radiometric camera-by-camera cloud mask (RCCM), which provides a cloud mask for each of the nine MISR cameras. Validation of the RCCM is ongoing, and in this paper an automatic and efficient technique is described that is being used to flag scenes for which the quality of the RCCM may be suspect, thus allowing rapid convergence toward validation. The technique, herein called the Fθ technique, makes use of the physical relationship that cloudiness increases with viewing obliquity. Where this behavior is not met for a given scene, the Fθ technique flags the scene as potentially problematic. The technique is applied to ∼4 months of MISR data to demonstrate its utility and to identify common problems that exist in version F01...
Newly Formed Massive Stars: Are They Good for the Neighborhood?

Newly formed massive stars (NFMS) are still deeply embedded in the molec­ular cloud cores where they were born. By “massive”, I refer to any star hot enough to produce a detectable HII region (i.e. B3 or hotter). Because of their fast winds and high luminosities, NFMS have a profound effect on the properties of the matter in their neighborhood, however, due to high obscu­ration by dust, they are only observable at IR and radio wavelengths. O and B stars are an extreme population among stars and we will find that the circumstellar medium within a radius ≤ 0.1 pc of a NFMS also has an extreme range of physical properties. For example within this radius, gas kinetic temperatures may range from ~108 to ~ 101 K, densities from~107 to ~ 100 cm-3, and gas velocities relative to the ionizing star from ~2500 to 2-3 km s-1. Such large changes in physical properties over such small distances are also accompanied by strong shocks, sharp changes in ion­ization and equations of state. The literature on individual UC HII regions and massive star formation is extensive and I cannot review even a small fraction of it here. Reviews and articles that summarize many of the main themes of research in this area are: Adams (1993 and references therein), Churchwell (1990; 1991; 1993), Hollenbach et al. (1993;1994), Mac Low et al. (1991), Tenorio-Tagle (1979), Van Buren et al. (1990), Welch (1993), Yorke, Tenorio-Tagle & Bodenheimer (1983), and Yorke (1984; 1993). The remainder of this review will concentrate on recent results or hypotheses that were not covered earlier.
A Question of Context: Directive Use at a Morris Team Meeting.

Studies of speech acts such as directives and of gender and language use have rarely considered the details of the speech context. Comparing men's and women's use of directives at a dance group meeting, I find little difference in the frequency with which they direct others, the targets of their directives, or the types of directives used. Status variations within the group, although more important than gender, still fail to show the primary factors influencing the use of directives. Directive usage cannot be adequately understood without considering the specific contexts in which directives occur. Potentially face-threatening, directives are used most and expressed most strongly when another threat to conversation outweighs the threat of the directive, when the bonds between participants are strong enough to mitigate the threat, or when a high degree of involvement in a conversation renders the threat less potent and encourages the expression of solidarity and interest. (Conversation analysis, directives, gender and language use, speech acts, English)
Doctor of Nursing Practice program evaluation and beyond: capturing the profession's transition to the DNP.

Abstract The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) educational preparation for advanced practice nursing and DNP role development are innovations that require intense scrutiny through formative and summative evaluation. It is imperative to move beyond standard curriculum evaluation approaches to capture the transformation of advanced nursing practice and the profession. The University of Washington School of Nursing designed a comprehensive DNP evaluation plan that focuses on both program effectiveness and the experience of transition as described by faculty and students. The evaluation plan is outlined, and lessons learned regarding data collection, student and faculty participation, and institutional review board approval are discussed. Examples of instruments are included.
Measuring emotion: The self-assessment manikin and the semantic differential

The Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) is a non-verbal pictorial assessment technique that directly measures the pleasure, arousal, and dominance associated with a person's affective reaction to a wide variety of stimuli. In this experiment, we compare reports of affective experience obtained using SAM, which requires only three simple judgments, to the Semantic Differential scale devised by Mehrabian and Russell (An approach to environmental psychology, 1974) which requires 18 different ratings. Subjective reports were measured to a series of pictures that varied in both affective valence and intensity. Correlations across the two rating methods were high both for reports of experienced pleasure and felt arousal. Differences obtained in the dominance dimension of the two instruments suggest that SAM may better track the personal response to an affective stimulus. SAM is an inexpensive, easy method for quickly assessing reports of affective response in many contexts.
Effects of histamine and histamine receptor antagonists on ion transport in rabbit descending colon

The effects of histamine on colonic ion transport were examined in in vitro preparations of rabbit descending colon. Serosal addition of histamine (10(-5) M) produced a transient increase in short-circuit current (Isc) and transepithelial conductance. The Isc response to histamine could be blocked by removing Cl from both bathing solutions, adding furosemide (10(-3) M) to the serosal bathing solution, adding indomethacin to the serosal and mucosal bathing solutions (10(-5) M), or removing Ca from the serosal bathing solution. In addition, the histamine-induced increase in Isc was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by the H1-receptor antagonist diphenhydramine, with a maximal inhibition at 10(-4) M and a half-maximal inhibition at 3 X 10(-7) M. The H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine (10(-3) M) was without effect on the histamine response. Measurement of unidirectional Na, K, and Cl fluxes revealed that serosal addition of diphenhydramine (10(-3) M) reduced basal Isc due to a decrease in mucosal-to-serosal Na flux. Serosal addition of diphenhydramine (10(-3) M) also inhibited the increase in Isc produced by serosal addition of prostaglandin E1, 8-bromo-cAMP, cholera toxin, or the ionophore A23187. Measurement of unidirectional K and Cl fluxes revealed that prostaglandin E1 alone increased serosal-to-mucosal K and Cl fluxes and reduced the mucosal-to-serosal K flux, thereby increasing net K and Cl secretion. Serosal diphenhydramine (10(-3) M) abolished the changes in Cl fluxes produced by prostaglandin E1 and reduced the magnitude of the changes in K fluxes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Metabolic syndrome and nephrolithiasis

Problem: This review focuses on the association between the metabolic syndrome (MS) and nephrolithiasis. Findings: Associations between nephrolithiasis and systemic diseases are recognized, including atherosclerosis, cardiovascular (CV) disease, hypertension (HNT), diabetes mellitus (DM)—composite risk factors grouped as the MS. Kidney stones incidence is increasing in this particularly high risk group. Those with stones are prone to the disease and those with the systemic disease are at risk for stone formation, with the highest incidence in persons with multiple traits of the MS. Pathophysiologic explanations for the increased stone risk related to MS are likely complex and dynamic. Conclusions: Kidney stones disproportionately affect persons with some or all traits of MS. One unifying theory may be of a common systemic malfunction of inflammation and tissue damage as an underlying mechanism, but it is unlikely to be the only mechanistic explanation. Further research is needed to investigate this and other hypotheses that go beyond population based and urine physiochemical studies in order to elucidate the mechanisms behind the individual disease states themselves.
What you C is What You Get: Formalizing Computer Game Criticism

This paper addresses the question: \u201cDo We Need a New Theory in Order to Theorize Computer Games?\u201d To answer this question, I will expand two points. The first involves the \u201cwe\u201d in \u201cdo we need\u201d, the second, the nature of the word theory. My solution involves an emphasis on the key compositional and formal component of computer game construction: programming. The most straightforward answer to the first question is that we are the members of the academy and critical community. Following this simple definition, this paper argues that both groups need to come up with new theoretical models to address computer games, each for their own reasons. Once we articulate these positions, we find that underlying their primary purposes is a position that involves both groups. For the second point, I will make a distinction between theory that is more broadly formal and theory that is cultural. Our answer to the question of whether or not a new theory is needed will change depending on which of these definitions we apply. As a point of departure, my paper responds to a quote from Espen Arseth, which sounds rather pessimistic about early attempts to theorize games by transferring existing models to new media. I agree with some of the spirit of Arseth's quote, but I believe that a properly instituted form of critique can answer many of his concerns, while providing for new modes of critical participation.
Photonic Band Gap Structures: Studies of the Transmission Coefficient

Recently, there has been growing interest in the development of Photonic Band Gap (PBG) materials [1–21]. These are periodic dielectric materials exhibiting frequency regions where electromagnetic (EM) waves cannot propagate. The reason for the interest on PBG materials arises from the possible applications of these materials in several scientific and technical areas such as filters, optical switches, cavities, design of more efficient lasers, etc. [1, 2]. Most of the research effort has been concentrated in the development of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) PBG materials consisting of positive and frequency independent dielectrics [1–18] because, in this case, one can neglect the possible problems related to the absorption [15, 19]. However, there is more recent work on PBG materials constructed from metals [20, 21] which suggests that these metallic structures may be very useful in the low frequency regions. In these regions, the metals become almost perfect reflectors.
An Integrative Review of Postpartum Depression in Rural U.S. Communities

AIM: This study's aim is to synthesize and summarize the literature on postpartum depression (PPD) in U.S. rural populations. BACKGROUND: Internationally, PPD has a high prevalence in rural communities. Although women in rural U.S. communities have higher rates of depression outside of the postpartum time period, little study has been conducted on PPD in U.S. rural populations. It is unknown whether rural women in the United States have high rates of PPD as is common in rural populations internationally. DESIGN: We used integrative literature review using Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) methodology. DATA SOURCES AND METHODS: We searched the databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Academic Search Premier with the words "postpartum depression" or "postnatal depression" and the word "rural." RESULTS: We found 11 articles with empirical data that met the criteria and thus were included in the review. Seven articles were quantitative, two were qualitative, one was mixed methods, and one was a nonexperimental design. Five foci emerged in the literature including (a) screening and prevalence, (b) demographic factors, (c) program creation and implementation, (d) mental health care seeking, and (e) social support. The results suggest that prevalence of PPD may be higher in rural U.S. areas, that implementing PPD prevention and screening programs for rural women is feasible, and that women in rural areas rely on informal networks and may face a stigma for seeking mental health care. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed on PPD in rural U.S. POPULATIONS: Specifically, this research should focus on the mix of variables found throughout this review such as race and income level. Nurses should lead for changes in clinical practice and policy that increase screening and interventions for PPD in rural communities.Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Language: en
The Role of Empathy and Adult Attachment in Predicting Stigma toward Severe and Persistent Mental Illness and other Psychosocial or Health Conditions

Research suggests that empathy may reduce stigma, while adult attachment style may influence empathy. We examined stigma toward schizophrenia and other psychosocial or health concerns. We created vignettes describing a person displaying behavioral problems with different reasons offered for the behavior. Vignettes were followed by stigma items. Participants (N = 347) also completed empathy and adult attachment scales. The most stigma was found with a homelessness vignette, and the least with an Alzheimer's disease vignette. No significant differences in stigma were found between bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or “severe psychological disorder” vignettes. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated a significant main effect for empathy. Interaction terms for empathy and adult attachment did not explain a significant proportion of stigma variance. Results are discussed in terms of mainstream conceptions of these conditions.
Traumatic Brain Injury Alters Cyclic Amp Second Messenger Systems in Rat Brain

Neurochemical alterations related to abnormal agonistreceptor interactions mediate important components of brain pathophysiology associated with TBI (Hayes et al., 1986, in press) The mechanical forces applied to the brain by a traumatic insult may initiate a widespread neuronal depolarization which produces a large non-specific release of neurotransmitters. Membrane depolarization may be a phenomenon common to all forms of mechanical trauma whether focal or generalized and may contribute to long term changes in brain information flow (Hayes et al., 1989). The resulting abnormal activation of receptors could produce changes in intracellular signal transduction pathways resulting in transient, long lasting, or irreversible alterations in cell function. Functional deficits arising from TBI could be similar regardless of whether information flow pathways were disrupted by sublethal disruptions in cell signaling or interrupted by cell death or axotomy (Lyeth at al., 1990).
Constituents' Responses to Descriptive and Substantive Representation in Congress*

Objectives: This article examines whether the descriptive representation of race and ethnicity influences how constituents respond to the substantive representation of their policy preferences. Hypotheses derived from theories of descriptive representation suggest that voters may overestimate policy congruence, or downplay its importance, while evaluating politicians who “look like” them. Methods: A unique sample of black, Hispanic, and white Americans was asked to evaluate a (fictitious) member of the U.S. Congress whose race/ethnicity and policy positions are randomly manipulated. Results: Regardless of their actual policy positions, blacks perceived greater substantive representation from black politicians. Also holding policy congruence constant, whites approved of white politicians at distinctly higher rates. Education moderates this effect, such that less-educated whites respond more negatively to representation by nonwhite legislators. Conclusions: Being represented by someone of the same race can diminish accountability for legislators' substantive records, an important cost of descriptive representation.
Collapse Assessment of Degrading MDOF Structures under Seismic Excitations

Seismic code provisions are now adopting performance-based methodologies, where structures are designed to satisfy multiple performance objectives. Most codes rely on approximate methods to predict the desired seismic demand parameters. Most of these methods are based on simple SDOF models, and do not take into account neither MDOF nor degradation effects, which are major factors influencing structural behavior under earthquake excitations. More importantly, most of these models can not predict collapse explicitly under severe seismic loads. This study presents a newly developed model that incorporates degradation effects into seismic analysis of MDOF structures. A new energy-based approach is used to define several types of degradation effects. Collapse under severe seismic excitations, which is typically due to the formation of structures mechanisms, was modeled in this work through the degrading hysteretic structural behavior along with P-Delta effects due to gravity loads. The model was used to conduct extensive statistical dynamic analysis of different structural systems subjected to a large set of recent earthquake records. To perform this task, finite element models of a series of generic MDOF structures were developed. An ensemble of recent earthquake records was used in the work, and a variety of degrading MDOF structures that cover a wide range of periods, yield values, and levels of degradation were considered. For each MDOF structure, collapse was investigated and inelastic displacement ratios curves were developed in case collapse doesn’t occur. In addition, seismic fragility curves for a collapse criterion were also developed. The findings provide necessary information for the design evaluation phase of a performance-based earthquake design process.
Concept identification as a function of relevance of pretraining and percentage of informative feedback

Concept identification performance as a function of 3 types of verbal pretraining was compared under complete (100%) informative feedback (IF) with performance under reduced IF (75%, 50%, and 25%). The verbal pretraining was either relevant (R), irrelevant (IR) or neutral (C) with respect to the dimensions involved in the concept identification task. It was concluded that (a) R pretraining facilitates concept identification performance, and (b) a reduction in IF to 50% or less degrades concept identification performance.
The Effect of Information Overhead on Perceived Workload and Learning

E-commerce sites today contain variety product information to inform shoppers about a company's products offerings. Although the number of attributes used to describe products depends on the product being described, attributes can be in the hundreds. One of the key business challenges is to maintain the ever increasing product information up-to-date. It is important that data management tools used for these tasks are efficient and easy to use. The present study describes the effect of information overhead on perceived workload. Participants were asked to create 20 different products using four different web prototypes that varied in content density and customization capability. Mean time on task over 20 trials was fit using a power function and perceived workload was collected using NASA Task Load Index. The results obtained indicate that unused information does increase perceived workload and negatively affect performance. Also, that UI customization can help reduce perceived workload and allow users to ...
Constraint Low-Thrust Trajectory Planning in Three-Body Dynamic Models: Fourier Series Approach

In this paper, a systematic method for constructing the low-thrust trajectories in the restricted three-body dynamical model is introduced using a finite fourier series approximation. The dynamic model complexity requires both computational efficiency and efficient programming implementation in the solution strategy; both have been achieved by a new compact state representation. The thrust-coast-thrust segmenting strategy is assumed in this work. The proposed approximation technique enables the feasibility assessment of low-thrust trajectories, especially in the presence of thrust level constraints within complex dynamics. Several examples of low thrust acceleration levels have been considered and analyzed. The resulting approximated trajectories can be used as initial guess for the high-fidelity optimization solvers.
DEA-based Empirical Research on Energy Conservation of China

Energy was the basis of human life,it was also the constraint of the sustainable development of economy.This phenomenon made every nation in the world to pay much more attention to the field of energy.China's "11th Five-Year Plan" put forward a planning framework to achieve quantitative indicator of GDP energy consumption reduced by 20 percent.Energy conservation had risen as a basic national policy.This paper reached two conclusions that China's energy construction was unreasonable and there was great regional difference in China by analyzing present situation and calculating the energy efficiency of China during the period of 2000—2007.
Study on the expression of PTEN in human primary gallbladder carcinoma(HGC)

Objective To study the expression of phosphatase and tensin homology deleted on chromosome ten(PTEN) and analyse its roles in HGC oncogenesis,and to discover good marker for diagnosis and prognosis of HGC.Methods The expression of PTEN mRNA and PTEN protein were examined by in situ hybridization(DNA-RNA) and immunohistochemistry(SP method)respectively in 64 cases of HGC.Twenty-two cases of gallbladder adenoma and 10 cases of chronic cholecystitis were taken as control.Results The positive expression rates of PTEN mRNA and protein in HGC(56.3%,59.4%) were significantly lower than those in gallbladder adenoma (81.8%,90.8%) and chronic cholecystitis(100%,100%),P0.05.Conclusion PTEN may play important role in HGC oncogenesis.The expression of PTEN is related to the differentiation and metastasis of HGC,and may be amarker for prognosis evaluation.
The Molecular Biology of Glutamate Receptors in Rat Taste Buds

Glutamate is an important taste stimulus thought to evoke a distinctive taste, umami. Glutamate may also be a neurotransmitter in taste buds [1]. Several glutamate receptors (GluRs) from the brain have been cloned and sequenced [2]. We postulate that GluRs in taste buds are closely related to those in brain. GluRs fall into four families based on sequence and function: α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA), kainate, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA), and metabotropic. We have used the reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to test for the presence of mRNAs from these families in vallate papillae of rats.
Finite Element Solutions for Turbulent Flow over the NACA 0012 Airfoil

A high-order Petrov–Galerkin finite element scheme is used to compute turbulent flow over a NACA 0012 airfoil at a freestream Mach number of 0.15, an angle of attack of 10 deg, and a Reynolds number based on the airfoil chord of 6 million. Results are obtained on a series of grids available on the NASA Turbulence Modeling Resource Web site and are compared with reference solutions that have been obtained using the FUN3D and CFL3D finite volume solvers on meshes with as many as 14.6 million degrees of freedom. Forces, moments, pressure distributions, skin friction, and profiles of velocity and turbulence working variable for the Spalart–Allmaras turbulence model are compared between the finite element and the finite volume solutions. It is demonstrated that the finite element scheme shows similar results as the finite volume schemes for most of the comparisons, but demonstrates significantly less dissipation of the wake profiles downstream of the airfoil. It is shown that, when the same number of degrees o...
Is Pain Crisis a Cause of Death in Sickle Cell Disease

It has been a matter of controversy as to whether patients with sickle cell disease die of crisis or merely in crisis. The authors reviewed the 74 patients with sickle cell disease autopsied at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. From clinical review, there were 20 (27%) who died with pain crisis, 51 (69%) who died without pain crisis, and 3 (4%) for whom documentation was insufficient. On pathology review, death was attributable to infection in 19 (26%), uremia in 9 (12%), sequestration crisis in 9 (12%), necrotic bone marrow emboli in 7 (9%), and miscellaneous causes in 14 (19%); in 16 (22%) patients no cause of death could be identified. Death was explained in 47/51 (92%) patients without pain crisis; but only in 11/20 (55%, P less than 0.01) patients dying in pain crisis. The disproportionately large number of patients dying in pain crisis with an unexplained cause of death suggests that pain crisis may account for the death of some patients with sickle cell disease.
Late sequelae after cure of childhood cancer.

The great strides in treatment have increased the “survivor population.” However, the child who has survived cancer and its therapy will present a lifelong medical challenge. One never knows whethe...
RNA polymerase II depletion promotes transcription of alternative mRNA species

Cells respond to numerous internal and external stresses, such as heat, cold, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and osmotic pressure changes. In most cases, the primary response to stress is transcriptional induction of genes that assist the cells in tolerating the stress and facilitate the repair of the cellular damage. However, when the transcription machinery itself is stressed, responding by such standard mechanisms may not be possible. In this study, we demonstrate that depletion or inactivation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) changes the preferred polyadenylation site usage for several transcripts, and leads to increased transcription of a specific subset of genes. Surprisingly, depletion of RNA polymerase I (RNAPI) also promotes altered polyadenylation site usage, while depletion of RNA polymerase III (RNAPIII) does not appear to have an impact. Our results demonstrate that stressing the transcription machinery by depleting either RNAPI or RNAPII leads to a novel transcriptional response that results in induction of specific mRNAs and altered polyadenylation of many of the induced transcripts.
A tie-set based approach of Software-Defined Networking for traffic load balancing

This paper proposes a traffic Load Balancing (LB) method to alleviate load concentrations on links for large-scale networks. In this paper, the traffic LB problem is formulated in a graph with unsplittable multi-commodity flows which have fixed attributes and pairs of source and destination. The proposed method calculates combinations of routes that minimize the load factor for each ring structures on a network. Balancing of link load factor in a whole network is achieved by repeating the process of minimization method for each ring structure. Our simulation results show that this method is more effective for larger graphs in terms of the balancing performance. The convergence of this algorithm is also demonstrated empirically.
Familial Perisylvian Polymicrogyria

The clinical presentation and possible mode of inheritance of familial perisylvian polymicrogyria (FPP) are described in twelve affected kindreds presenting at 10 medical centers.
Towards a Game Theoretical Model for Identity Validation in Social Network Sites

Social sites frequently ask for rich sets of user identity properties before granting access. Users are given the freedom to fail to respond to some of these requests, or can choose to submit fake identity properties, so as to reduce the risk of identification, surveillance or observation of any kind. However, this freedom has led to serious security and privacy incidents, due to the role users' identities play in establishing social and privacy settings. In this paper, we take a step toward addressing this open problem, by analyzing the dynamics of social identity verification protocols. We use a game theoretical framework to describe a simple two-player general sum game describing the behavior of a server system (like Face book) that provides utility to users. Users can choose to register a new identity using the true information, false information or no information (and remain anonymous). Likewise, the server may choose to believe and add the prospective social user, believe and yet fail the registration, or do nothing. We show criteria on the relative payoff of providing no information (anonymity) that produce various Nash equilibria. We then show that in the presence of a binding agreement to cooperate, most players will agree to share information. This result is consistent with reality, and suggests that sites that require users to authenticate with identity information should be prepared to provide strong guarantees on privacy in order to ensure that a social contract is maintained and the sites are not damaged. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time an analytical model is developed to study the dynamics underpinning users' registration is social media.
Atomimetic Mechanical Structures with Nonlinear Topological Domain Evolution Kinetics.

A mechanical metamaterial, a simple, periodic mechanical structure, is reported, which reproduces the nonlinear dynamic behavior of materials undergoing phase transitions and domain switching at the structural level. Tunable multistability is exploited to produce switching and transition phenomena whose kinetics are governed by the same Allen–Cahn law commonly used to describe material-level, structural-transition processes. The reported purely elastic mechanical system displays several key features commonly found in atomic- or mesoscale physics of solids. The rotating-mass network shows qualitatively analogous features as, e.g., ferroic ceramics or phase-transforming solids, and the discrete governing equation is shown to approach the phase field equation commonly used to simulate the above processes. This offers untapped opportunities for reproducing material-level, dissipative and diffusive kinetic phenomena at the structural level, which, in turn, invites experimental realization and paves the road for new active, intelligent, or phase-transforming mechanical metamaterials bringing small-scale processes to the macroscopically observable scale.
Immune sensing of fungal cell wall carbohydrates programs immunity to A. fumigatus infection: role of γδ T cells. (MPF6P.662)

The human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus is associated with allergic sensitization and invasive infection in susceptible individuals. How the combined recognition of fungal molecular patterns programs host adaptive immunity is not well understood. Previously, we observed that fungal chitin promotes Th2-skewed immunity and eosinophil recruitment that proved detrimental to fungal clearance in invasive infection. In this study, we further characterized the role of early cytokine and effector cells in chitin derived eosinophil activation. We observed that single aspiration of a high-chitin isolate (Af5517) resulted in a marked increase in early transcription of IL-17A. Furthermore, eosinophil recruitment was not increased in RAG1-/- mice, suggesting that γδ T cells are required for early recognition of conidia-associated chitin. Although IL-17A was not required, the absence of γδ T cells (known to be potent sources of innate IL-17A) resulted in a significant decrease in eosinophil recruitment after single and multiple aspirations of Af5517. Also, fungal strains displaying chitin increased exposure or manipulating cell surface carbohydrate ratio by blockage of β-glucan recognition on receptor level resulted in increased airway eosinophil recruitment suggesting that relative high chitin/low β-glucan recognition leads to increased eosinophil recruitment and Th2 responses that are promoted by early responses of γδ T cells.
Candid Descriptions of the Six Programs

From the outset of the study, it was recognized that detailed descriptions of how numerous methadone maintenance programs operate were needed. Preliminary visits to dozens of sites revealed not only that program characteristics and treatment procedures varied widely among individual programs but that, for the most part, the black box of treatment included a descriptive void as well as research neglect. Furthermore, it was found that city, state, and federal regulations did not reflect what occurred at the programs. At best, these regulations provided rough guidelines to follow; at worst, they were inappropriate or out-of-date bureaucratic rules. In practice, the regulations were often merely heuristic statements about what should be done. Another reason why accurate descriptions seemed necessary was the almost total dearth of publications about how contemporary methadone treatment clinics function, although a few partial program descriptions are available.1–3 The black box of treatment remained closed.
Determinants of Quality in Hospitality Undergraduate Programs

(1996). Determinants of Quality in Hospitality Undergraduate Programs. Hospitality & Tourism Educator: Vol. 8, No. 2-3, pp. 96-103.
Confucianism and Accents: Understanding the Plight of the Asian International Student in the U.S.

Research has shown that international students experience acculturation stress while adjusting to life in the U.S., resolving over time. However, acculturation stress can be exacerbated by several factors, leading to a negative impact on academic performance and general wellness. Asian international students traditionally underutilize counseling services on campuses. This article reviews the literature of the experiences of Asian international students studying in the U.S. The author offers Confucianism as a cultural consideration to explain cross-cultural challenges experienced by Asian international students and their campus community. Suggestions to support Asian international students are made based on findings of the literature review.