cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Mice to Examine p53 Functions in Cancer, Aging, and Longevity

The p53 tumor suppressor is a multifaceted transcription factor that responds to a diverse array of stresses that include DNA damage and aberrant oncogene signaling. On activation, p53 prevents the emergence of cancer cells by initiating cell cycle arrest, senescence (terminal cell cycle arrest), or apoptosis. Although its role in assuring longevity by suppressing cancer is well established, recent studies obtained largely from genetically engineered mouse models suggest that p53 may regulate longevity and aging. In some contexts, it appears that altered p53 activity may enhance longevity, and in others, it appears to suppress longevity and accelerate aging phenotypes. Here, we discuss how genetically engineered mouse models have been used to explore antiproliferative functions of p53 in cancer suppression and how mouse models with altered aging phenotypes have shed light on how p53 might influence the aging process.
Medical Device Safety and Surgical Dissemination of Unrecognized Uterine Malignancy: Morcellation in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

UNLABELLED There is a risk of dissemination of uterine malignancies during minimally invasive hysterectomies when morcellation is used. Although the technique of uterine power morcellation allows timely removal of large benign tumors through small laparoscopic incisions, there are concerns about iatrogenic spread of cancers and reduced survival for women with preoperatively unrecognized malignancies. This review examines the literature on intraperitoneal spread and implantation of mechanically disrupted malignant tissue, discusses the current diagnostic tools for preoperative assessment of uterine tumors, and summarizes the current recommendations of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. Recommendations include informed consent of the risk of disseminating an otherwise contained malignancy, appropriate preoperative evaluation for malignancy, and development of alternatives to intracorporeal morcellation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Preoperative assessment of uterine masses or abnormal uterine bleeding must include understanding of the limitations of an endometrial biopsy and imaging studies to evaluate the possibility of a uterine malignancy. Minimally invasive surgery using morcellation of benign uterine growths is well established and safe; however, alternative surgical techniques to morcellation must be considered when the malignant potential of a uterine mass is uncertain. Morcellation carries the risk of widespread peritoneal seeding of an unrecognized uterine malignancy. Gynecologic surgeons must weigh the unlikely occurrence of disseminating an undiagnosed uterine sarcoma with the much more common surgical risks of abdominal surgery.
Microelectronic manufacturing engineering curriculum development

The author reviews the current status of semiconductor manufacturing education in US universities and identifies some shortcomings. He describes the development of an initiative in microelectronic manufacturing engineering curriculum that was recently implemented at Florida State University. This program utilizes an interdisciplinary curriculum to address the problems identified by the author. A workshop with representatives from Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) companies, university leaders and SRC managers was held to define appropriate curricula. In addition, a comprehensive independent survey which attempts to assess the current semiconductor industry needs in education is presented. Finally, the lessons learned, including specific recommendations of students, faculty, and industry representatives, are presented. >
DNA damage produced in HaCaT cells by combined fluoranthene exposure and ultraviolet A irradiation.

Fluoranthene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and a principal constituent of PAH-contaminated aquatic systems. In the present study, fluorescein diacetate uptake and the Comet assay were used to assess the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of fluoranthene in HaCaT (human adult low calcium high temperature) cells in the presence or absence of ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. Exposure of cells to 0.1, 0.25, 0.75, 2, and 5 μM fluoranthene alone for 30 min or to 6.1 ± 0.07 J/cm2 UVA alone did not cause cytotoxicity or cellular DNA damage. However, concomitant exposure to both caused a nonlinear dose-response in cytotoxicity to HaCat cells. The same exposure conditions also resulted in a dose-responsive DNA damage in HaCaT cells. Because DNA damage mainly was detected at relatively high levels of cytotoxicity, we cannot rule out the possibility that it occurred as a consequence of cellular toxicity mechanisms. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 44:151–155, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Traffic statistics in a self-organizing cellular telephone system

A novel family of techniques for assigning channels to calls in a cellular mobile telephone system based on real-time measurements of signal strength is introduced. A discussion of the behavior of the system using self-organizing techniques is presented. Results are presented for traffic distribution per channel, traffic distribution per cell site, mean time between handoffs, and mean signal-to-interference ratio. In each case, it is shown that the system behavior is progressive and degrades gracefully with increasing traffic; there is, for example, no threshold behavior in signal-to-interference ratio. This suggests that the concept can be introduced in stages as the traffic demand increases, without abrupt changes in system behavior. >
Managing in a Post-9/11, Post-Katrina World: An Introduction to Disaster-recovery Planning for Technical Communicators

When disaster strikes, helping people survive in the short term is vital but not sufficient. Those touched by a disaster need jobs to pick up their lives again, but jobs do not survive if business hasn't anticipated the possibility of disruption. The companies that survive catastrophic events with minimal negative effect are the ones that have disaster plans to preserve critical data off site and resume operation at a new location, and that have implemented knowledge management practices allowing them to adjust nimbly to the short- or long-term loss of personnel. Technical communicators must be a part of business recovery planning in the event of natural or human-made disaster because they have critical skills to offer and are a vital part of the business
Integration of acoustic and visual speech signals using neural networks

Results from a series of experiments that use neural networks to process the visual speech signals of a male talker are presented. In these preliminary experiments, the results are limited to static images of vowels. It is demonstrated that these networks are able to extract speech information from the visual images and that this information can be used to improve automatic vowel recognition. The structure of speech and its corresponding acoustic and visual signals are reviewed. The specific data that was used in the experiments along with the network architectures and algorithms are described. The results of integrating the visual and auditory signals for vowel recognition in the presence of acoustic noise are presented. >
Voiced-unvoiced-silence classification of speech using neural nets

The authors describe a fast training algorithm for feedforward neural nets and apply it to a two-layer neural network to classify segments of speech as voiced, unvoiced, or silence. The speech classification method is based on features computed for each speech segment and used as input to the network. The network weights are trained using a novel fast training algorithm which uses a quasi-Newton error minimization method with a positive-definite approximation of the Hessian matrix. When used for voiced-unvoiced-silence classification of speech frames, the network performance compares favorably with that of current approaches. >
13C-detected HN(CA)C and HMCMC experiments using a single methyl-reprotonated sample for unambiguous methyl resonance assignment

Methyl groups provide an important source of structural and dynamic information in NMR studies of proteins and their complexes. For this purpose sequence-specific assignments of methyl 1H and 13C resonances are required. In this paper we propose the use of 13C-detected 3D HN(CA)C and HMCMC experiments for assignment of methyl 1H and 13C resonances using a single selectively methyl protonated, perdeuterated and 13C/15N-labeled sample. The high resolution afforded in the 13C directly-detected dimension allows one to rapidly and unambiguously establish correlations between backbone HN strips from the 3D HN(CA)C spectrum and methyl group HmCm strips from the HMCMC spectrum by aligning all possible side-chain carbon chemical shifts and their multiplet splitting patterns. The applicability of these experiments for the assignment of methyl 1H and 13C resonances is demonstrated using the 18.6 kDa B domain of the Escherichia coli mannose transporter (IIBMannose).
Treatment of supracondylar nonunions of the femur with plate fixation and bone graft.

Background: The purpose of this study was to review the results of single and double-plate fixation combined with grafting with bone from the iliac crest performed by one surgeon as treatment for supracondylar nonunion of the femur. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of eighteen adult patients in whom a nonunion of the supracondylar region of the femur had been treated with single or double-plate fixation and autologous bone graft. The average time from the initial treatment of the fracture or the osteotomy to the index repair of the nonunion was fifteen months (range, five to thirty-six months), and nine patients had had a total of fifteen operations between the initial treatment and the repair of the nonunion. Two of these patients had had at least three procedures. Thirteen double plates, four single plates, and one interfragmentary screw were used for fixation of the nonunions, with onlay autologous bone graft used in all patients. The average time from the repair of the nonunion to the latest follow-up examination was twenty-six months (range, six to 120 months). Results: By the time of the latest follow-up examination, all eighteen nonunions had healed. One patient had needed repeat double-plate fixation and autologous bone-grafting to obtain union. Two patients had had the hardware removed because of pain or infection, one patient had had an implanted electrical bone stimulator removed, and one patient had had a quadricepsplasty to treat restricted motion of the knee. There were only three complications. These included one infection, which resolved with irrigation and debridement and the use of antibiotics; loss of motion of one knee; and one malunion. The average range of motion of the knee at the latest follow-up examination was 101 degrees (range, 10 to 135 degrees). Conclusions: Rigid plate fixation and autologous bone-grafting is an effective technique for the treatment of nonunions of the supracondylar region of the femur.
Time Series Evaluation of Radiation Portal Monitor Data for Point Source Detection

The time series of data from a radiation portal monitor (RPM) system are evaluated for the presence of point sources by isolating the contribution of anomalous radiation. Energy-windowed background spectra taken from the RPM are compared with the observed spectra at each time step during a vehicle drive-through. The total signal is turned into a ?spectral distance? index using this method. This provides a time series with reduced systematic fluctuations due to background attenuation by the vehicle, and allows for point source detection by time-series analyses. The anomalous time series is reanalyzed by using a wavelet filter function of similar size to the expected source profile. A number of real drive-through data sets taken at a U.S. port of entry are analyzed in this way. A set of isotopes are injected into the data set, and the resultant ?benign? and ?injected? data sets are analyzed with gross-counting, spectral-ratio, and time-based algorithms. Spectral and time methods together offer a significant increase to detection performance.
Haddock, a Haskell documentation tool

This paper describes Haddock, a tool for automatically generating documentation from Haskell source code. Haddock's unique approach to source code annotations provides a useful separation between the implementation of a library and the interface (and hence also the documentation) of that library, so that as far as possible the documentation annotations in the source code do not affect the programmer's freedom over the structure of the implementation. The internal structure and implementation of Haddock is also discussed.
Modeling foraging behavior of piping plovers to evaluate habitat restoration success

Habitat restoration projects are often deemed successful based on the presence of the target species within the habitat; however, in some cases the restored habitat acts as an ecological trap and does not help to improve the reproductive success of the target species. Understanding wildlife-habitat relationships through precise measurements of animal behavior can identify critical resources that contribute to high quality habitat and improve habitat restoration practice. We evaluated the success of a restored piping plover (Charadrius melodus) breeding habitat in New Jersey, USA. We identified the major factors influencing foraging rates, compared foraging activity budgets over 3 yr at restored and natural habitats, and explored the potential of artificial tidal ponds as a viable restoration alternative. Adult foraging rates were higher in artificial pond and ephemeral pool habitats, during low tide, and after breeding activity ended. Adult foraging rates were impeded by the presence of people and vehicles within 50 m. Chick foraging rates were highest at artificial ponds and bay shores and lowest in dunes and on sand flats. Chick foraging rates were strongly hindered by the presence of corvids and the number of people within 50 m. In addition, at artificial tidal ponds, piping plovers spent more time foraging and less time engaged in defensive behaviors (vigilance, crouching, and fleeing) compared to other potential habitats. Our findings support the hypothesis that artificial tidal ponds are a valuable, perhaps superior, foraging habitat. Future beach restoration projects should include this feature to maximize habitat quality and restoration success. 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Adolescents with clinical type 1 diabetes display reduced red blood cell glucose transporter isoform 1 (GLUT1)

Type 1 diabetic (T1D) adolescent children on insulin therapy suffer episodes of both hyper- and hypoglycemic episodes. Glucose transporter isoform GLUT1 expressed in blood–brain barrier (BBB) and red blood cells (RBC) compensates for perturbed circulating glucose toward protecting the supply to brain and RBCs. We hypothesized that RBC-GLUT1 concentration, as a surrogate for BBB-GLUT1, is altered in T1D children. To test this hypothesis, we measured RBC-GLUT1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in T1D children (n = 72; mean age 15.3 ± 0.2 yr) and control children (CON; n = 11; mean age 15.6 ± 0.9 yr) after 12 h of euglycemia and during a hyperinsulinemic–hypoglycemic clamp with a nadir blood glucose of ˜3.3 mmol/L for 90 min (clamp I) or ˜3 mmol/L for 45 min (clamp II). Reduced baseline RBC-GLUT1 was observed in T1D (2.4 ± 0.17 ng/ng membrane protein); vs. CON (4.2 ± 0.61 ng/ng protein) (p < 0.0001). Additionally, baseline RBC-GLUT1 in T1D negatively correlated with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (R = −0.23, p < 0.05) but not in CON (R = 0.06, p < 0.9). Acute decline in serum glucose to 3.3 mmol/L (90 min) or 3 mmol/L (45 min) did not change baseline RBC-GLUT1 in T1D or CON children. We conclude that reduced RBC-GLUT1 encountered in T1D, with no ability to compensate by increasing during acute hypoglycemia over the durations examined, may demonstrate a vulnerability of impaired RBC glucose transport (serving as a surrogate for BBB), especially in those with the worst control. We speculate that this may contribute to the perturbed cognition seen in T1D adolescents.
A Quick, No Frills Approach to Mouse Genotyping

Mice are extremely powerful mammalian genetic model organisms for basic and medical research, but managing a colony of transgenic mice is time consuming and expensive, many times requiring the help of dedicated technicians. Slow and laborious genotyping procedures add to the hassle. Outsourcing is costly and may not be as fast as desired, especially when setting up time sensitive experiments. Ultrafast genotyping protocols often require real-time PCR instruments and commercial reagents that may not be economical or practical. This protocol, adapted from methods suggested by The Jackson Laboratory, employs a minimalist approach that maximizes convenience by simplifying the tissue digestion/DNA extraction process and using a high-speed electrophoresis system for sample analysis. Genotype PCR results can be obtained in 3 h or less for as many samples as can fit in a PCR machine or can be efficiently handled by a user. Subsequent ethanol or chloroform purified DNA can be used in a standard PCR reaction to roughly identify a homozygous and a hemizygous mouse.
Using Van Valens Procedure In Business Research To Assess Consistent Differences In Multidimensional Variability In Two Or More Groups

Much business research involves comparisons in two or more groups on many dimensions. This paper primarily focuses on demonstrating and providing guidance as to how researchers should approach a multivariate analysis in the comparison of sets of corresponding characteristics in two or more independent groups. In particular, this paper demonstrates the utility of a simple but not widely known procedure developed by Van Valen (1978) that should be employed to test for the significance of differences in overall variability in the sets of corresponding characteristics in two or more groups, a test that enjoys much statistical power in detecting significant subtle group differences when the set of characteristics in one group consistently demonstrates greater variability than the corresponding set of characteristics in the other group(s).
A reinforcement learning algorithm based technique for thermal energy management of a PEM fuel cell power plant

In this paper, a reinforcement learning dynamic programming algorithm (RLDP) has been developed to manage the cogenerated thermal energy and the operation of a PEM fuel cell power plant. The solution methodology is based on selecting the optimal operational schedule of a fuel cell to minimize the total expected cost of generation incurred during a specified schedule period. The optimal operation schedule of the PEM fuel cell power plant is based on estimating the hourly generated electrical power, electrical energy trade with a local utility, and the recovered thermal energy utilization and storage based on electrical and thermal demand. The proposed technique is based on the Q-learning algorithm. At the training stage, the reinforcement learning (RL) is scheduled to explore and learn the Q values using the epsilon greedy policy, and after that, decision making is done using the learned Q values. The proposed algorithm is tested using a 24-hour based electrical and thermal load, the obtained results indicate the viability of the proposed approach.
Tetanus toxoid reactive T lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocytes of 6 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were cultured with tetanus toxoid (TT) and irradiated autologous antigen presenting cells (APC) followed by propagation of the responding T-cells in Interleukin-2 containing medium. TT-reactive cell lines were recovered from 4 of the 6 CSF samples, even though the patients had not been TT booster immunized in recent years. These findings suggest an active circulation of antigen reactive lymphocytes from the systemic immune compartment(s) into the CSF even without recent activation by booster immunization. Since immune reactions to TT are very unlikely to be pathogenic in MS, these findings also indicate that the presence of CSF lymphocytes reactive to a particular antigen does not necessarily imply a causal role.
Surgical video analysis: an emerging tool for improving surgeon performance

Consistent with the emphasis on systems’ approaches that have characterised much of the patient safety movement thus far, most existing efforts aimed at improving surgical safety tend to focus almost exclusively on perioperative care. For example, surgical quality committees spend the lion's share of their time discussing methods of ensuring optimal antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent wound infections or reining in the creative and highly variable ways surgeons use heparin (and its counterparts) to prevent deep venous thrombosis. Unfortunately, many of these initiatives have had only a modest impact on surgical outcomes.1 As a result, there has been growing enthusiasm for targeting the operation itself for improvement.2 Surgical procedures are complex, technical in nature and are particularly vulnerable to human error: outcomes may depend on the individual surgeon's ability to avert or mitigate technical errors. However, very little is known about the impact of surgical skill and technique on patient outcomes. Ironically, this may be attributable to the tendency of patient safety to focus on systems rather than individuals. Two other practical barriers to advancing the study of the contribution of individual technical skill and competence to surgical safety and quality include the following: (1) obtaining data on the details of what happens in the …
Enhanced real-time performance using a secondary bus for cache write-backs

AbstractIn spite of advances to improve cache efficiency, memory access bottlenecks still prevent processors from executing at full speed. This paper introduces the concept of using a secondary bus, connecting the level-2 cache to memory, for retiring cache write-backs. Simulations, using the sim-alpha version of the SimpleScalar tool set, demonstrate the feasibility and possible advantages of such a secondary bus. Based on simulation results, the added secondary bus can decrease queuing delays on the system bus by 75–90% when sufficient write-backs are present. Such reduction in queuing delays offers superior temporal determinacy in real-time environments. Real-time and near real-time embedded applications that depend on intense graphics processing and movement of large blocks of data, such as printer controllers and medical imaging, are prime candidates for applications of the secondary bus. The feasibility of implementing such a secondary bus using a serial line or wireless technology is also discussed.
Prescription Drugs: Continued Rapid Growth

Prescription drug expenditures have come to the forefront of the debate over health care in the United States. While expenditure growth has slowed for the other major sources of health care--hospital services and physician services--prescription drug costs have continued rising at double-digit rates, as they did throughout the 1990s. Consequently, many employers are planning to revise or have revised their drug benefits by changing copayment levels and/or introducing formularies (lists of preferred or covered drugs in a drug benefit plan), or refining those already in use. This article summarizes the latest national health expenditure data on prescription drug expenditures, with a particular focus on the components that have contributed to the growth in these expenditures. In addition, it examines recent features that have been added to employers' drug benefit plans and their prevalence of use. The PDF for the above title, published in the September 2000 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another September 2000 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: "Pension Coverage: Examining CPS Data."
Nutrition of Leptospira canicola. III. Utilization of vitamins and amino acids.

SummaryIt has been shown that the growth of Leptospira canicola on a chemically-defined medium lacking amino acids but supplemented with rabbit serum albumin is stimulated at certain levels of arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid or proline but is inhibited by any one of 16 amino acids at some concentration. The rabbit albumin could not be replaced by a mixture of amino acids simulating the amino acid composition of the albumin determined by microbiological assay. Thiamine was found to be the only vitamin essential for the growth of L. canicola. L. canicola, L. pomona, L. ballum, L. sejroe, and L. icterohaemorrhaiae could be subcultured on a simple medium containing only salts, thiamine, asparagine, and rabbit serum albumin.
5-Fluorouracil resistance in carrot cell cultures : Its use in studying the interaction of the pyrimidine and arginine pathways.

Physiological studies of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant cell line of wild carrot (Daucus carota L.), F5, showed that this variant is also resistant to 5-fluorouridine, but is as sensitive to 6-azauracil as the 5-FU-sensitive parent line, WOO1C. High levels of exogenous uracil, uridine, and thymine are slightly toxic to F5, but not to WOO1C. 5-FU sensitivity in WOO1C cannot be reversed by bases and nucleosides; bases like uracil and thymine even increase 5-FU toxicity. No substantial differences were found in the uptake, incorporation and degradation of WOO1C and F5. Carrot cultures seem to take up 5-FU by rapid diffusion, the kinetics being characteristic of non-saturable uptake, with infinite Km and zero Vmax. The rapid uptake of 5-FU and extensive degradation of bases and nucleosides are probably responsible for the inability of uracil and uridine to reverse the growth inhibition caused by 5-FU in carrot cells while, as shown earlier, phaseolotoxin ((N-phosphosulfamyl)ornithinylalanylhomoarginine), an inhibitor of the arginine biosynthetic enzyme, ornithine transcarbamylase was capable of reducing 5-FU toxicity. F5 callus contained less histidine and arginine than WOO1C. 5-FU increased the endogenous levels of arginine, histidine and aspartate in both lines. The aspartate transcarbamylase of F5 appears to be normal; it is as sensitive to uridine-monophosphate inhibition as that of WOO1C. The 5-FU resistance of F5 was stable in undifferentiated cells, but only 8 out of 50 calli reinitiated from the regenerated plantlets remained resistant to 5-FU. F5 is an aneuploid culture. Five 5-FU-sensitive reinitiated calli that were examined were all diploid whereas of the eight 5-FU-resistant reinitiated calli two became diploid and six remained as aneuploid.
Field Evaluation of an Electrostatic Duster

An electrostatic duster was evaluated by measuring insecticide deposited on sweet corn under field conditions at Tifton, Georgia (1963). The insecticidal dust (2.5 lb 1)1)T/acre) was applied through nozzles either uncharged or positively or negatively charged with 13,200 volts. Samples for residue analysis were taken at several intervals during 174 hr and analyzed by gas chromatography. These residue data were expressed in terms of weight per unit surface area of the plant (μg/dm2). Significant differences (5% level) were obtained among the treatments. The initial concentration of dust on the plants was 57% and 36% greater with positively and negatively charged particles, respectively, than with the uncharged particles. The rate of residue decline with time was essentally the same for all treatments.
Study on the Relationship between Hepatitis B Virus Serum Markers and Content of HBV-DNA in Patients with Hepatitis B of Various Clinical Types

Objective To explore the relationship between hepatitis B virus(HBV) serum markers and content of HBV-DNA in patients with hepatitis B of various clinical types,and to provide evidence for prevention and treatment of hepatitis B.Methods Three hundred and six patients with hepatitis B were enrolled in the study,which including 104 cases of chronic hepatitis B,126 cases of liver cirrhosis and 76 cases of liver cancer.HBV serum markers(HBsAg,anti-HBs,HBeAg,anti-HBe,anti-HBc) were measured by enzyme immunoassay(ELISA) and the content of HBV-DNA was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR(FQ-PCR),and their relationship was analyzed.Results Of 306 cases,patients with positive HBsAg,positive anti-HBe and positive anti-HBc accounted for 47.06%(144/306) while patients with positive HBsAg,positive HBeAg and positive anti-HBc accounted for 20.26%(62/306).The detection rate of patients with positive HBsAg,positive HBeAg and positive anti-HBc,and the content of HBV DNA were significantly higher in chronic hepatitis group than those in other groups(all P0.01);The detection rate of patients with positive HBsAg,positive anti-HBe and positive anti-HBc was significantly lower in chronic hepatitis group than that in other groups(all P0.01).The content of HBV DNA in 62 patients with positive HBsAg,positive HBeAg and positive anti-HBc was significantly higher than that in 144 patients with positive HBsAg,positive anti-HBe and positive anti-HBc(P0.05).Conclusion HBV serum markers in patients with chronic hepatitis are dominated by positive HBsAg,positive anti-HBe and positive anti-HBc while in the patients with liver cirrhosis or hepatic cancer are dominated by positive HBsAg,positive anti-HBe and positive anti-HBc.The content of HBV DNA is higher in the patients with chronic hepatitis than that in the patients with liver cirrhosis or hepatic cancer.The combination detection of HBV serum markers and HBV DNA has great significance in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with hepatitis B.
Application of Probabilistic Collocation Method in the Uncertainty Analysis for Watershed Non-point Source Pollution Modeling

Agricultural non-point source pollution(NPSP)is now a severe problem.Watershed water quality models could provide decision supports for managing NPSP,but their efficiency is limited by significant uncertainty involved in the simulation.Current uncertainty analysis techniques are mainly based on Monte Carlo Simulation(MCS),which are usually associated with high computation costs.In this study,the Probabilistic Collocation Method(PCM)was used to analyze the uncertainty in watershed NPSP modeling.The Diazinon pollution in Newport Bay watershed(USA)was chosen as the case study,and the WARMF model was used.It has been shown that,in many cases,PCM could achieve good uncertainty results comparable to those by traditional MCS,with a much less computational cost.It has also been revealed that management factors could have significant impact on the NPSP modeling and its uncertainty analysis.
Investigation on PPD Test in Primary and Middle School Students in Nyingchi, Tibet

Objective To investigate the situation of tuberculosis(TB) infection in primary and middle school students and to provide scientii c basis for TB prevention and control in Nyingchi. Methods Primary and middle school students in Nyingchi were investigated from 2006 to 2008 using a questionnaire, and purii ed protein derivative(PPD) tests were carried out among the sampling students. Data analysis was conducted by SPSS 13.0. Results In 3 987 included primary and middle students, the positive, strongly positive and overall positive rates of PPD were 11.4%, 5.1%, 16.5%, respectively. Five patients with TB were found in the investigation, and the prevalence was 125.4 per 100 000. h e positive and strongly positive rates were 11.3% and 4.4% in male, 11.5% and 5.7% in female, respectively. h e positive and strongly positive rates were 6.9% and 3.9% in primary school students, 18.8%, 7.1% in middle school students, respectively. Both the positive rate and strongly positive rate in middle school students were higher than those in primary school students(P0.05). h e positive rates in town, village and l oating population were 16.5%, 9.5%, 8.9%, respectively, and their strongly positive rates were 6.1%, 4.8%, 1.4%, respectively. Both the positive rate and strongly positive rate in town were higher than those in village and l oating population(P0.05). h e strongly positive rates in Tibetan, the Han nationality and other ethnic minorities were 5.2%, 4.0%, 6.0%, respectively. h e strongly positive rates in Tibetan and other ethnic minorities were higher than those in the Han nationality(P0.05). Conclusion h e infection and prevalence rate of TB of primary and middle school students in Nyingchi are fairly high. TB prevention and control for the high-risk populations should be strengthened in primary and middle schools in Nyingchi.
Toward a Small Family Ethic

The goal of this final chapter is to fill out a richer picture of the morality of procreation than one that is exhausted by the concepts of duty, obligation and permissibility. Even if it is the case that we are not obligated to have any particular number of children, it is important to realize that we are not necessarily off the moral hook. Although people sometimes talk as though establishing a moral right to act, or establishing the lack of a duty to refrain from acting, entails that the action in question has passed all relevant moral tests, this is an impoverished picture of morality. But if this is true, then we are left with the question: what is it that we can say about actions that do not violate a duty? In fact, I believe that we can say quite a lot—and indeed, that we regularly do say quite a lot. In this chapter, I will argue that including considerations of character, reasons, and praise and blame makes for a more plausible picture of the moral phenomena. In the procreative context, then, it appears that this is uncomfortably relevant, as the decision to have many children (or children at all?) looks potentially able to reveal that one has bad character, that one is insensitive to reasons, and perhaps even that one is blameworthy as a result.
Design for Disassembly, Reuse, and Recycling

Publisher Summary Rapid product development coupled with a consumer appetite for latest models of products have caused consumers to discard outdated products even though they are still operational. Products made with reusable components, retrieved from discarded electronic products, can not only be cheaper but better. Reuse and recycling of electronic products is driven not only by the return on capital concept but also by the return to nature concept. The concept of design for disassembly, reuse, and recycling (DfDRR) is intended for end-of-life (EOL) product management. This chapter discusses the current techniques used for DfDRR. It also explores a variety of “design for” concepts that can guide product designers toward a specific design goal. The chapter explores some product design guidelines, and outlines the steps required for the development of DfDRR. It describes the tools to evaluate product designs, and presents some case examples from the major electronic product manufacturers in the United States and other countries.
Preoperative and adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

The continued favorable results with surgery in early stage lung cancer have led many investigators to use radiation and chemotherapy to reduce the size of unresectable tumors either before or after definitive surgery. Although earlier results with both radiation and chemotherapy have been poor, the newer cisplatin-containing combination chemotherapy regimens have yielded decreased local recurrence rates when used postoperatively following a complete resection and have produced increased complete resection rates when given preoperatively to patients with locally advanced and unresectable non-small cell lung cancer at diagnosis.
Contrasting latitudinal patterns of life-history divergence in two genera of new world thrushes (Turdinae)

Several long-standing hypotheses have been proposed to explain latitudinal patterns of life-history strategies. Here, we test predictions of four such hypotheses (seasonality, food limitation, nest predation and adult survival probability) by examining life-history traits and age-specific mortality rates of several species of thrushes (Turdinae) based on field studies at temperate and tropical sites and data gathered from the literature. Thrushes in the genus Catharus showed the typical pattern of slower life-history strategies in the tropics while co-occuring Turdus thrushes differed much less across latitudes. Seasonality is a broadly accepted hypothesis for latitudinal patterns, but the lack of concordance in latitudinal patterns between co-existing genera that experience the same seasonal patterns suggests seasonality cannot fully explain latitudinal trait variation in thrushes. Nest-predation also could not explain patterns based on our field data and literature data for these two genera. Total feeding rates were similar, and per-nestling feeding rates were higher at tropical latitudes in both genera, suggesting food limitation does not explain trait differences in thrushes. Latitudinal patterns of life histories in these two genera were closely associated with adult survival probability. Thus, our data suggest that environmental influences on adult survival probability may play a particularly strong role in shaping latitudinal patterns of life-history traits. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Professional Development Expectations and Experiences of Tanzanian Teachers: A Participatory Study

The paper proposes a participatory research study with Tanzanian teachers, to better understand how in-service professional development occurs from their perspective. It explores how teachers envision improvements for their professional support structures. The study will employ focus groups and semi-structured interviews to generate dialogue and reflection among participants. Tanzanian schools, though greatly under-resourced, hold the rich capacities of teachers and students. In many foreign aid projects however, schools and teachers are approached with deficit orientations; outsiders diagnose problems and design solutions. These trends among international development organizations discuss and implement education reforms without consideration for the potential role of teachers (Reimers et al. 1996). Instead, the goal becomes creating teacher-proof projects that ignore professional development and teacher input entirely. Inequitable relationships will continue to dictate the ways school reform can happen. Pedagogical renewal can occur when holistic efforts are made to support teachers, including them in the design, implementation and evaluation of reforms. This happens by centering teacher practice and teachers themselves in discussions of improvement, quality and learning (Dembele et al. 2007). This research study aims to address the challenges of teachers with their knowledge of practice at the core of our engagement and work together.
Nevada’s Net Energy Metering Experience: The Making of a Policy Eclipse?

Across the United States, legal and policy treatment of distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) energy is beginning to change. For decades, net energy metering or “net metering” (NEM) served as the leading state-level policy tool to promote distributed solar power in the United States. Over the past several years, however, cracks appeared in the longstanding reign of net metering in the United States. Amidst these changes, Nevada has emerged as a prominent example of a state that implemented significant changes to its net metering policy. In December 2015, the Nevada Public Utility Commission (PUC) unanimously adopted a successor program to its prior NEM scheme. Nevada’s changes were so significant that some have referred to it as “NEM 2.0” — or something entirely different from net, “net billing.”This report addresses the important questions that the developments in Nevada pose about the future of solar power and net metering in the United States. What information and processes led to Nevada’s decision? Was the information that decision-makers considered consistent with best practices and with the information relied on by other states? How does Nevada’s decision compare with other states evaluating changes to their net metering policies? The report puts Nevada’s experience in the context of broader U.S. trends, as well as juxtaposing it with case studies of recent changes to net metering in California and Colorado.
Kidney Disease Measures and Left Ventricular Structure and Function: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

BackgroundHeart failure is one of the most important complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, few studies comprehensively investigated left ventricular (LV) structure and function in...
Resolution of acute hepatitis B-associated aplastic anaemia with antiviral therapy.

A previously healthy 44-year-old woman presented with 3 days of worsening petechial rash, epistaxis and fatigue. Admission labs revealed pancytopenia, low reticulocyte index and elevated liver enzymes. Bone marrow biopsy demonstrated a profoundly hypocellular bone marrow without dysplasia and additional testing demonstrated an acute hepatitis B infection. In the context of an acute hepatitis B infection, elevated liver enzymes and aplastic anaemia, our patient was diagnosed with severe hepatitis-associated aplastic anaemia due to an acute hepatitis B infection. She was initiated on antiviral therapy with tenofovir and briefly received immunosuppressive therapy with a robust sustained improvement in her blood counts. Acute hepatitis B-associated aplastic anaemia is an exceptionally rare presentation of aplastic anaemia. We present acute hepatitis B-associated aplastic anaemia that resolved with antiviral therapy, which to our knowledge is the second such case reported in the literature and the first using tenofovir.
Rejuvenation of the aged neuromuscular junction by exercise

Age-dependent declines in muscle function are observed across species. The loss of mobility resulting from the decline in muscle function represents an important health issue and a key determinant of quality of life for the elderly. It is believed that changes in the structure and function of the neuromuscular junction are important contributors to the observed declines in motor function with increased age. Numerous studies indicate that the aging muscle is an important contributor to the deterioration of the neuromuscular junction but the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving the degeneration of the synapse remain incompletely described. Importantly, growing data from both animal models and humans indicate that exercise can rejuvenate the neuromuscular junction and improve motor function. In this review we will focus on the role of muscle-derived neurotrophin signaling in the rejuvenation of the aged neuromuscular junction in response to exercise.
Time-Lapse Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Imaging by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Analyzing Dynamic Molecular Interactions in the Plasma Membrane of B Cells.

For decades, various Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques have been developed to measure the distance between interacting molecules. FRET imaging by the sensitized acceptor emission method has been widely applied to study the dynamical association between two molecules at a nanometer scale in live cells. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for FRET imaging by sensitized emission using a confocal laser scanning microscope to analyze the interaction of the B cell receptor (BCR) with the Lyn-enriched lipid microdomain on the plasma membrane of live cells upon antigen binding, one of the earliest signaling events in BCR-mediated B cell activation.
Dental prostheses and tooth-related factors.

Objectives This narrative review summarizes the current evidence about the role that the fabrication and presence of dental prostheses and tooth-related factors have on the initiation and progression of gingivitis and periodontitis. Findings Placement of restoration margins within the junctional epithelium and supracrestal connective tissue attachment can be associated with gingival inflammation and, potentially, recession. The presence of fixed prostheses finish lines within the gingival sulcus or the wearing of partial, removable dental prostheses does not cause gingivitis if patients are compliant with self-performed plaque control and periodic maintenance. However, hypersensitivity reactions to the prosthesis dental material can be present. Procedures adopted for the fabrication of dental restorations and fixed prostheses have the potential to cause traumatic loss of periodontal supporting tissues. Tooth anatomic factors, root abnormalities, and fractures can act as plaque-retentive factors and increase the likelihood of gingivitis and periodontitis. Conclusions Tooth anatomic factors, such as root abnormalities and fractures, and tooth relationships in the dental arch and with the opposing dentition can enhance plaque retention. Restoration margins located within the gingival sulcus do not cause gingivitis if patients are compliant with self-performed plaque control and periodic maintenance. Tooth-supported and/or tooth-retained restorations and their design, fabrication, delivery, and materials have often been associated with plaque retention and loss of attachment. Hypersensitivity reactions can occur to dental materials. Restoration margins placed within the junctional epithelium and supracrestal connective tissue attachment can be associated with inflammation and, potentially, recession. However, the evidence in several of the reviewed areas, especially related to the biologic mechanisms by which these factors affect the periodontium, is not conclusive. This highlights the need for additional well-controlled animal studies to elucidate biologic mechanisms, as well as longitudinal prospective human trials. Adequate periodontal assessment and treatment, appropriate instructions, and motivation in self-performed plaque control and compliance to maintenance protocols appear to be the most important factors to limit or avoid potential negative effects on the periodontium caused by fixed and removable prostheses.
The sample that would not clot.

Abstract Background Vitamin K is a vital component within both the intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation cascade as certain factors (II, VII, IX, X and protein C and S) utilize vitamin K as a cofactor during post translational modification. Deficiency of vitamin K can result in the inability to properly form blood clots, both in vivo and in vitro, due to reduced vitamin K dependent factor levels and function. Vitamin K deficiency can result from congenital causes, such as VKOR or CYP2C9 mutations, or acquired causes, such as nutritional deficiencies, antibiotic therapy, or supra-therapeutic warfarin dosing. Results In this case we present a patient with multifactorial vitamin K deficiency (due to nutritional defects and multiple genetic mutations in VKOR and CYP2C9) that was exacerbated by antibiotic and warfarin therapy during her hospital admission. Conclusion This case displays the importance of genetic testing prior to warfarin dosing and the role antibiotics play in the coagulation cascade.
STUDIES OF THE QUANTUM DYNAMICS OF RYDBERG ELECTRONS IN SUPERINTENSE LASER FIELDS USING DISCRETE VARIABLE REPRESENTATIONS

We present calculations on the quantum dynamics of Rydberg states in intense laser fields using a new discrete variable representation adapted to the Coulomb problem to obtain the time-dependent wavefunction. We have observed stabilization against ionization in regimes approximately predicted by the ponderomotive energy criterion of Pont and Shakeshaft. We have analyzed our wavefunctions in terms of the bound and continuum states of the field-free hydrogen atom, and find clear evidence that stabilization is associated with the excitation of very high Rydberg states, which are very stable against ionization, thereby trapping population.