cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visual correlation-based image gathering for wireless multimedia sensor networks

In wireless multimedia sensor networks (WMSNs), visual correlation exist among multiple nearby cameras, thus leading to considerable redundancy in the collected images. This paper addresses the problem of timely and efficiently gathering visually correlated images from camera sensors. Towards this, three fundamental problems are considered, namely, MinMax Degree Hub Location (MDHL), Minimum Sum-entropy Camera Assignment (MSCA), and Maximum Lifetime Scheduling (MLS). The MDHL problem aims to find the optimal locations to place the multimedia processing hubs, which operate on different channels for concurrently collecting images from adjacent cameras, such that the number of channels required for frequency reuse is minimized. With the locations of the hubs determined by the MDHL problem, the objective of the MSCA problem is to assign each camera to a hub in such a way that the global compression gain is maximized by jointly encoding the visually correlated images gathered by each hub. At last, given a hub and its associated cameras, the MLS problem targets at designing a schedule for the cameras such that the network lifetime of the cameras is maximized by letting highly correlated cameras perform differential coding on the fly. It is proven in this paper that the MDHL problem is NP-complete, and the others are NP-hard. Consequently, approximation and heuristic algorithms are proposed. Since the designed algorithms only take the camera settings as inputs, they are independent of specific multimedia applications. Experiments and simulations show that the proposed image gathering schemes effectively enhance network throughput and image compression performance.
Glutamate-mediated neuroplasticity in an animal model of self-injurious behaviour

Self-injurious behaviour (SIB) is exhibited by individuals with a broad variety of developmental disorders and genetic abnormalities, including autism and Lesch-Nyhan, Prader-Willi and Rett syndromes. Most research has focused on environmental factors that reinforce SIB, and less is known about the biological basis of this behaviour disorder. However, animal models have been developed to study the neurochemical pathology that underlies SIB. In one model, rats exhibit self-biting after repeated daily administration of moderately high doses of pemoline (100-200mg/kg). Dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission have been implicated in this model. Accordingly, we investigated the role of glutamatergic neurotransmission in pemoline-induced SIB, using the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists MK-801 and memantine. MK-801 is a high affinity antagonist which blocks glutamate-mediated neuroplasticity and behavioural sensitization to other psychostimulants. It lessened the incidence of SIB, the time spent self-injuring, and the area of tissue damage in the pemoline model. Memantine, on the other hand, is a low affinity antagonist which does not disrupt glutamate-mediated neuroplasticity, and it had little if any effect on any measure of pemoline-induced SIB. These results suggest that repeated pemoline administration induces glutamate-mediated neuroplastic changes that lead to the eventual expression of SIB. Further investigation of these changes may reveal specific neurochemical factors that contribute to SIB in this animal model of self-injury.
Accelerated publication 30.2% efficient GaInP/GaAs monolithic two‐terminal tandem concentrator cell

The Ga0.5In0.5P/GaAs monolithic two-terminal tandem cell has been adapted for concentrator operation. the adaptation involves changes in the grid design, top-cell base thickness and top-cell emitter thickness. the prototype concentrator device has demonstrated an efficiency exceeding 30% in the concentration range of 115-260 suns, making this the first two-terminal monolithic cell to exceed 30% efficiency.
Ten Years Later Teachers Reflect on “Perceptions of Beginning Teachers, Their Mentors, and Administrator Regarding Preservice Music Teacher Preparation”

The purpose of this inquiry was to examine the current reflections of experienced teachers on their past perceptions of preservice music teacher preparation as documented in the author’s previous r...
CHLOROPHYLL-QUINONE PHOTOCHEMISTRY IN LIPOSOMES: MECHANISMS OF RADICAL FORMATION AND DECAY*

— Laser flash photolysis has been used to investigate the mechanism of formation and decay of the radical species generated by light-induced electron transfer from chlorophyll a (Chi) triplet to various quinones in egg phosphatidyl choline bilayer vesicles. Chlorophyll triplet quenching by quinone is controlled by diffusion occurring within the bilayer membrane (kq∼ 106M−1 s−1. as compared to ∼ 109 M−1 s−1 in ethanol) and reflects bilayer viscosity. Radical formation via separation of the intermediate ion pair is also inhibited by increased bilayer viscosity. Cooperativity is observed in the radical formation process due to an enhancement of radical separation by electron transfer from semiquinone anion radical to a neighboring quinone molecule. Two modes of radical decay are observed, a rapid (t1/2= 150μ) recombination between Chi and quinone radicals occurring within the bilayer and a much slower (t1/2= 1–100 ms) recombination occurring across the bilayer-water interface. The latter is also cooperative, which accounts for a t1/2 which is dependent upon quinone concentration. The slow decay is only observed with quinones which are not tightly anchored into the bilayer, and is probably the result of electron transfer from semiquinone anion radical formed within the bilayer to a quinone molecule residing at the bilayer-water interface. Direct evidence for such a process has been obtained from experiments in which both ubiquinone and benzoquinone are present simultaneously. With benzo-quinone, approx. 60% of the radical decay occurs via the slow mode. Triplet to radical conversion efficiencies in the bilayer systems are comparable to those obtained in fluid solution (∼ 60%). However, radical recombination, at least for the slow decay mechanism, is considerably retarded.
Bayesian Generalized Linear Models in a Terabyte World

This paper introduces extremely fast approximate inference schemes for Bayesian treatments of dynamic generalized linear models. The approximations are tailored variants of quadrature EP. The first forward pass of this fixed point iteration algorithm can be interpreted as a one-step unscented Kalman filter. For on-line applications this filter can handle tens of thousands of updates a second on a current day desktop machine.
The hemodynamic actions of the antiarrhythmic agent ipazilide fumarate in patients with congestive heart failure

Ipazilide fumarate is an investigational antiarrhythmic agent with Vaughan Williams class I and III actions, including prolongation of both ventricular refractoriness and action potential duration. Because of the frequent use of antiarrhythmic agents in patients with heart failure, we investigated the hemodynamic effects of oral administration of 400, 200, and 100 mg of ipazilide fumarate in 15 patients with congestive heart failure. There was a marked hemodynamic response to ipazilide, with the peak effect noted 2 hours after drug administration. In patients who received 400 mg ipazilide, the mean cardiac index was decreased by 0.5 L/min/m2 at 2 hours (p < 0.05). After 200 and 100 mg ipazilide, the decreases were a more modest 0.3 and 0.1 L/min/m2, respectively. The mean arterial pressure also decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner, although this did not reach statistical significance for any of the doses. Left ventricular filling pressure, right atrial pressure, and heart rate were not altered by ipazilide. Plasma concentrations of ipazilide peaked 90 minutes after administration of 100 or 200 of the drug, but peak concentrations were noted 3 hours after administration of 400 mg. The hemodynamic response correlated with the plasma concentration of ipazilide determined contemporaneously. We conclude that, as with most antiarrhythmic agents, single-dose administration of ipazilide fumarate can cause clinically significant hemodynamic deterioration. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1994) 56, 75–81; doi:10.1038/clpt.1994.103
The utility of surface reflectance for the recognition of upright and inverted faces

The variation among faces can be partitioned into two sources: (a) shape and (b) surface reflectance. To compare the utility of shape and reflectance for face recognition, we created two sets of faces, with individual exemplars differing only by shape in one set and only by reflectance in the other set. Grayscale and full color versions of the stimuli were used in separate experiments; the physical variation between exemplars was equated across the two sets with the grayscale but not the full color stimuli. Subjects performed a matching task in which both the target and distractor were drawn from the same set, so that only shape or only reflectance information could be used to perform the task. With the grayscale stimuli, performance was better in the shape condition, but with the color stimuli, performance was better in the reflectance condition. Inversion of the faces disrupted performance with the shape and reflectance sets about equally, suggesting that the inversion effect is not caused specifically by the spacing of facial features, or even by shape information more generally. These results provide evidence that facial identity is a function of reflectance as well as shape, and place important constraints on explanations of why inversion impairs face recognition. � 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM, AND COMPETENCE

. Peace, justice, and freedom are hard to define, but closely related. Peace has many meanings; an important one is “inclusive peace,” defined by dividing total human activity into war and “not war.” Justice is an elusive concept related to the legitimacy of property and the structure of equality. Freedom “to,”“from,” and “of” have different meanings, all related to the boundaries and legitimacy of property. The market has the virtue of economizing agreement and consensus. The existence of public goods necessitates government. Peace, justice, and freedom are unlikely to be achieved without competence, which fortunately can be learned.
The resolution of approach-avoidance conflict: II. Continuous response measures

The resolution rule from the two-gradient model of approach-avoidance conflict was extended to situations requiring a continuous response measure. College students recommended whether or not someone should bet on each position in problems representing nine different types of approach-avoidance conflicts. The recommendations ranged continuously from +50 to −50. The results showed that the strength of the students’ responses at each point in a conflict was proportional to the net strength of the competing tendencies at that point.
A century of cholesterol and coronaries: from plaques to genes to statins

One-fourth of all deaths in industrialized countries result from coronary heart disease. A century of research has revealed the essential causative agent: cholesterol-carrying low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL is controlled by specific receptors (LDLRs) in liver that remove it from blood. Mutations that eliminate LDLRs raise LDL and cause heart attacks in childhood, whereas mutations that raise LDLRs reduce LDL and diminish heart attacks. If we are to eliminate coronary disease, lowering LDL should be the primary goal. Effective means to achieve this goal are currently available. The key questions are: who to treat, when to treat, and how long to treat.
Comparative changes in radial-bone density of elderly female lacto-ovovegetarians and omnivores.

A 5-y prospective study of the changes in radial-bone mineral density (BMD) of elderly white women (mean age, 81 y) living in four residential communities, including 49 Seventh-day Adventist lactoovovegetarians and 140 omnivores, was undertaken to determine the potential effects of usual dietary calcium in preventing the loss of BMD, measured by single-photon absorptiometry, at two radial sites
W-band single-layer vertical transitions

Vertical single-layer transitions operating at W-band frequencies have been developed. The designs are uniplanar, use electromagnetic coupling, and do not require via holes or air bridges. The first transition uses coplanar-waveguide-mode coupling and results in an insertion loss of better than 0.6 dB over the whole band, with a loss of 0.25 dB from 85 to 110 GHz. The return loss is better than -10 dB from 75 to 110 GHz. The second transition uses microstrip-mode coupling and results in a 0.2-dB insertion loss over the whole W-band. These transitions can prove very useful for millimeter-wave packaging and vertical interconnects.
A spoiling sequence for suppression of residual transverse magnetization

We present a spoiler sequence which substantially eliminates residual transverse magnetization in rapid magnetic resonance imaging. Such magnetization is due to the repetition time TR being on the order of or shorter than the transverse relaxation time T2. This sequence was designed using computer simulation methods to model the slice profile and signal. The spoiler pulse is applied in the slice-selecting direction and the magnitude of the gradient spoiler is incremented with each repetition as an arithmetic series. A finite number of different spoiler amplitudes is repeated with a cycle time several times greater than the anticipated T2. Each spoiler is shown to nullify the residual transverse magnetization from the just-measured signal of the experiment as well as that from preceding repetitions. It is shown experimentally that the spoiler pulse can be as short as 2 ms. This is considerably shorter than existing methods using constant spoiling or phase-tagged spoiling. This sequence was used to acquire T1-weighted images free of the central line artifact of FLASH imaging. Furthermore, images formed with the new spoiled technique are shown to have contrast-to-noise comparable if not superior to standard T1-weighted spin-echo images while taking only a fifth of the scan time.
Distribution of Anthocyanins Delivered from a Bioadhesive Black Raspberry Gel Following Topical Intraoral Application in Normal Healthy Volunteers

Purpose Results from our oral cavity chemoprevention trial demonstrated appreciable interpatient variations regarding chemopreventive efficacy of a freeze dried black raspberry (FBR) gel. We speculated these data reflected individual patient-related differences in absorption, target tissue uptake and local compound metabolism of key FBR compounds (anthocyanins). Accordingly, this study assessed the distribution of anthocyanins from the 10% (w/w) FBR gel in saliva, oral tissues and plasma.
Errors in Second Moments Estimated from Monostatic Doppler Sodar Winds. Part I: Theoretical Description

Abstract We present a theoretical derivation for errors in calculated second moments arising from the temporal and spatial separation between individual wind measurements obtained from three-axis colocated monostatic Doppler sodar systems. The derived relations require as input the sodar monostatic geometric parameters, pulse repetition rate, pulsing sequence, mean wind velocity and an estimate of the turbulence length scale. The model results indicate an optimum monostatic configuration that minimizes the bias due to temporal and spatial separation. A correction for pulse volume averaging is also derived which requires a turbulence length scale and an estimate of the pulse volume diameter. A monostatic technique, based on radar VAD methods, which also minimizes the bias caused by spatial and temporal separations in the sampling volumes, is proposed.
Heterogeneity in Food Demand among Rural Indian Households: The Role of Demographics

Food expenditures, influenced by social, demographic, and economic factors, constitute a significant proportion of the typical rural Indian's household income. Based on cross-sectional household data, this study employs the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System to estimate food demand among rural Indian households. Special attention is given to the rural household's two-stage budgeting in total food expenditure and then to a demand for a specific food item. Conditional and unconditional expenditure and price elasticities for seven food groups are estimated. Results indicate that own-price elasticities for each group are negative ranging from fairly inelastic to elastic range. Expenditure elasticities indicate that food items are a normal necessity to luxury goods. Additionally, socio-demographic factors play a significant role in food consumption patterns. Based on our unconditional expenditure elasticities, we also project food demand from rural Indian households for next two decades. Les depenses alimentaires, qui sont influencees par des facteurs socioeconomiques et demographiques, absorbent une partie considerable du revenu des menages ruraux typiques en Inde. Dans la presente etude, nous avons utilise le modele de demande quasi ideal quadratique pour estimer, a l'aide de donnees transversales sur les menages, la demande alimentaire des menages ruraux en Inde. Nous avons accorde une attention speciale a la budgetisation en deux etapes des depenses alimentaires totales et a la demande d'un produit alimentaire particulier du menage rural. Nous avons estime les depenses conditionnelles et inconditionnelles et l’elasticite-prix de sept groupes alimentaires. Les resultats de notre etude indiquent que l’elasticite-prix de chaque groupe est negative et qu'elle varie de plutot inelastique a divers degres d’elasticite. L’elasticite des depenses indique que les produits alimentaires varient de necessites de base a produits de luxe. Les facteurs sociodemographiques jouent egalement un role important dans les habitudes de consommation alimentaire. D'apres les elasticites des depenses etablies dans notre etude, nous avons estime la demande alimentaire des menages ruraux en Inde pour les deux prochaines decennies.
Incidence and management of bevacizumab associated hypertension in outpatient oncology clinic

e20677 Background: Bevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor is utilized to treat a wide range of cancers. However, clinical trials of bevacizumab reported the incidence of...
On Deconstructing Folk Theory While Developing as a Teacher Educator: A Disorienting Transition as a Reorienting Opportunity

Through a reflexive process of examining data and synthesizing findings from 11 previously conducted self-studies, this book chapter presents a metanarrative that details pivotal features of my professional learning and development as a former classroom teacher making the transition to teacher educator. Specifically this chapter describes how my personal professional journey involved several transformational ‘turns’ that deeply impacted on my developing identity and practice as a teacher educator over the course of the last 10 years. These are discussed in terms of taking a reflective turn, an epistemological turn, an ideological turn, and an instructional turn. By situating the narrative in a cultural psychology theoretical framework, this chapter focuses on explaining what prompted each of the turns, and why they were significant in my process of becoming a teacher educator.
Social carnivores outperform asocial carnivores on an innovative problem

The social intelligence hypothesis proposes that social complexity selects for cognitive complexity. However, the role of social complexity in the evolution of nonsocial cognition remains unresolved, resulting in disparate hypotheses. The domain-specific hypothesis posits that sociality only bolsters cognition associated with social challenges and contends that ecological complexity drives the evolution of nonsocial cognition. Alternatively, the domain-general hypothesis argues that the unmatched selective pressures of sociality favour greater cognitive flexibility and ultimately superior general cognition. We tested these hypotheses through experimental comparisons of nonsocial cognition in social and asocial carnivores: lions, Panthera leo, spotted hyaenas, Crocuta crocuta, leopards, Panthera pardus, and tigers, Panthera tigris. We tested subjects using a technical task, a puzzle-box, designed to test innovation. Social species were more successful innovators than asocial species. We also observed a positive association between sociality, persistence and innovation; social species spent significantly more time engaged in the task, and persistent individuals were more successful in solving the task. Thus, our findings support the domain-general hypothesis; social carnivores outperformed asocial carnivores on an innovative problem.
Large-scale exfoliation of hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets in liquid phase

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), the structure analogue of graphite, has many potential applications owing to its superb thermal, electrical and mechanical properties. In this study, a novel facile mixture solvents strategy (ammonia water solution/isopropyl alcohol) was developed for the preparation of h-BN nanosheets (BNNSs) in large scale, and the results demonstrated the exfoliated BNNSs were very stable in isopropyl alcohol solution. Lewis acid-base interaction was considered to be the mechanism for the exfoliation of h-BN due to the electrondeficient boron atoms. This simple and low cost exfoliation approach could provide a promising platform for preparation and applications of BNNSs in the future.
The Sickling Disorders

The sickling disorders, which are among the most common inherited abnormalities of the hemoglobin molecule, include not only sickle cell trait and sickle cell anemia but also combinations of sickle hemoglobin (HbS) with other structurally abnormal hemoglobins or with thalassemia. Their common denominator is the inheritance of one or two abnormal β-globin genes that code for valine instead of glutamic acid as the sixth amino acid of the β-globin chain of hemoglobin. Clinically they range from the asymptomatic sickle cell trait to the severe and sometimes lifethreatening sickle cell anemia. With our present knowledge of the structure, function, and genetics of the hemoglobin molecule and by the use of relatively simple laboratory tests it is possible to diagnose the disorders precisely and to understand their pathophysiology. The role of the laboratory,fundamental to this process, is emphasized in this review of the more common sickling disorders.
Effectiveness Comparison of Domestic and Imported Fetal Bovine Serums in Cultivation of MDCK Cells and Isolation of Influenza Virus

Objective To compare the effectiveness between a certain domestic brand of fetal bovine serum and an imported one on culturing MDCK cells and isolating influenza viruses.Methods The same batch MDCK cells were cultured under the same conditions except domestic or imported fetal bovine serum,and then the adherent rate and morphology of the cells in the two groups were compared.The cells with good morphology of the two groups were inoculated with the influenza-positive specimens,and then the positive rate and virus titers were compared between the two groups.Results The difference of adherent rate and morphology between the cells in the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=22.76,P0.05) and so was the isolation rate of positive specimens and virus titers (χ2=7.52,P0.05).The imported fetal bovine serum was superior to the domestic one.Conclusions To improve the positive isolation rate of influenza virus,it is suggested to use the imported fetal bovine serum.
Comparison of the periodontal indices and bond failure rate between ceramic brackets and metal brackets

Objective To compare the bond failure rate and periodontal condition between the use of ceramic brackets and metal brackets. Methods Thirty-two patients( 12- 18 years old) were randomly divided into two groups,Group A( ceramic brackets,3M Unitek) and Group B( metal bracket,3M Unitek). Every group was composed of 16 patients. Periodontal indices( PLI,GI and SBI) were examined in both groups before and after 1 and 3 months of treatment. The rate of bond failure was recorded in both groups in 3 months. Results There was no significant difference in periodontal indices( PLI,GI,SBI) between the two brackets before and after 1 and 3 months of treatment( P 0. 05).Between the two brackets,the failure rate was 4. 1% and 5. 3% at the 3rdmonth and there was no significant difference in failure rate( P 0. 05). Conclusion No difference was found in the rate of bond failure and the periodontal status between ceramic brackets and metal brackets.
Study on Chromosome Doubling Technique for Induction of Haploid Plant with Wheat Anther

For the purpose of improving the double efficiency of haploid plant in wheat tissue culture,F1 hybrid combinations of Ji 5006 /9204 and Hesheng No.2 /08004 were used,anther and the tillering nodes of the haploid plants were treated by different concentrations of colchicine,respectively.The anthers processing method was added colchicine with three concentrations of 0.02‰,0.05‰ and 0.10‰ to the culture medium induced by C17.Whereas tillering node of the haploid plants was dipped in 0.20‰,0.50‰,0.75‰ and 1.00‰ colchicine at 5 h and 10 h,respectively.The effects of different concentrations of colchicine and processing methods on chromosome doubling rate were studied.The results indicated that the chromosome doubling rate in the culture medium induced by C17 which added 0.02‰ colchicine was highest,and the chromosome doubling efficiency of F1 hybrid combinations of Ji 5006 /9204 and Hesheng No.2 /08004 were 52.38% and 47.37% respectively.The tillering node was dipped in 0.75‰ colchicine for 5 h with the highest chromosome doubling efficiency,the doubling rate was 65.05%.Although the doubling frequency of anther treatment with colchicine was lower than tillering node treatment,it was less expensive and more convenient.Therefore,it was appropriate method for haploid breeding in the future.
Tibioperoneal Occlusive Disease: A Review of below the Knee Endovascular Therapy in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia

Background Tibioperoneal occlusive disease is one of the most difficult disease processes to successfully treat. Previous studies have attempted to address the outcomes of tibial interventions in this patient population; however, the majority of these study cohorts are composed of patients who have undergone concomitant aortoiliac or femoral procedures. Our objective was to present the outcomes of patients treated with endovascular intervention for isolated below-the-knee atherosclerotic disease causing critical limb ischemia (CLI). Methods We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent isolated endovascular treatment of the below-knee popliteal, tibial, and/or peroneal arteries for CLI (Rutherford class 4–6). Primary outcomes include wound healing, reintervention rates, and amputation-free survival out to 5 years, as well as 1-year primary patency rates. Results 116 patients were identified as having undergone a tibial endovascular intervention. Ninety-two had concomitant aortoiliac or femoropopliteal interventions; after excluding those patients, we identified 24 limbs that were treated for isolated below-knee popliteal, tibial, and/or peroneal occlusive disease using an endovascular modality. 62.5% of limbs had successful wound healing, whereas 37.5% eventually required a major amputation. Mean time to amputation was 514.6 days (standard error: 57.3). Of those patients with successful limb salvage (n = 15), 66.7% required only the index procedure to heal; the remaining 33.3% required a repeat endovascular intervention, an arterial bypass, or a combination to successfully heal. The mean time to reintervention was 780.1 days (standard error: 179.5). The 1-year primary patency rate was 52.6% (n = 19). Conclusions Patients with CLI secondary to isolated below-the-knee atherosclerotic occlusive disease are a difficult population to successfully treat; despite this, these patients benefit from an initial attempt at endovascular limb salvage. In our experience, this approach resulted in a respectable limb salvage rate of 62.5% and did not compromise open surgical solutions in the event of nonhealing.
Monotone covering properties and properties they imply

Abstract We study properties of spaces that were proven in an earlier paper of Chase and Gruenhage (2013) [5] to follow from monotonic metacompactness. We show that all of the results of that earlier paper that follow from the monotonic covering property follow just from these weaker properties. The results we obtain are either strengthenings of earlier results or are new even for the monotonic covering property. In particular, some corollaries are that monotonically countably metacompact spaces are hereditarily metacompact, and separable monotonically countably metacompact spaces are metrizable. It follows that the well-known examples of stratifiable spaces given by McAuley and Ceder are not monotonically countably metacompact; we show that they are not monotonically meta-Lindelof either. Finally, we answer a question of Gartside and Moody by exhibiting a stratifiable space which is monotonically paracompact in the locally finite sense, but not monotonically paracompact in the sense of Gartside and Moody.
Effects of gangliosides GM3 and De-N-acetyl GM3 on epidermal growth factor receptor kinase activity and cell growth

Previously it was reported (Bremer, E.G., Schlessinger, J., and Hakomori, S.-I. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 2434-2440) that ganglioside GM3 inhibited epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated phosphorylation of the EGF receptor in Triton X-100-treated preparations of human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cell membranes. In addition, these authors reported that GM3 inhibited the growth of A431 cells. In contrast, a modified ganglioside, de-N-acetyl GM3, enhanced the EGF-dependent tyrosine kinase activity of the EGF receptor. In this work and in subsequent studies (Hanai, N., Dohi, T., Nores, G. A., and Hakomori, S.-I. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 6296-6301), the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor from A431 cell membranes was assayed in the presence of Triton X-100. In this report, we confirm that GM3 inhibited and de-N-acetyl GM3 stimulated EGF receptor autophosphorylation in the presence of Triton X-100. However, in the absence of detergents, ganglioside GM3 inhibited EGF-stimulated receptor autophosphorylation, whereas de-N-acetyl GM3 had no effect on EGF-stimulated receptor autophosphorylation. The effects of these gangliosides on receptor autophosphorylation were measured in both A431 cell plasma membranes and in 3T3 cell membranes permeabilized to [32P]ATP by a freeze-thaw procedure, in intact A431 cells permeabilized with alamethicin, and in intact A431 cells grown in the presence of [32P]orthophosphate. Thus, the inhibitory effect of GM3 on receptor autophosphorylation was demonstrated in the presence and in the absence of detergent; the stimulatory effect of de-N-acetyl GM3 was observed only in the presence of detergent. We also demonstrate that ganglioside GM3 inhibited EGF-stimulated growth of transfected murine fibroblasts (3T3) that express the gene for human EGF receptor (Velu, T. J., Beguinot, L., Vass, W. C., Zhang, K., Pastan, I., and Lowy, D. R. (1989) J. Cell. Biochem. 39, 153-166). De-N-acetyl ganglioside GM3 had no effect on the growth of these cells. Growth of control fibroblasts, which lack endogenous EGF receptors (Pruss, R. M., and Herschman, H. R. (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 3918-3921), was not affected by the presence of either ganglioside. Similarly, ganglioside GM3, but not de-N-acetyl ganglioside GM3, inhibited the EGF-dependent incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA by transfected fibroblasts. Incorporation of labeled thymidine into DNA of control fibroblasts was not affected by the presence of either ganglioside. These studies indicate that ganglioside GM3, but not its deacetylated analogue, can affect EGF receptor kinase activity in intact membranes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Factors affecting the adsorption of complexed heavy metals on hydrous Al2O3

Factors influencing the adsorption behavior of heavy metals, viz Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Ni(II), onto Al 2 O 3 from aqueous solutions containing complexing ligands were investigated using batch adsoption experiments. For the Cu(II)/NTA/ γ-Al 2 O 3 , system, increasing the system ionic strength reduced Cu adsorption through activity coefficient and surface electrical double layer effects. The presence of alkaline earth cations (Ca(II) and Mg(II)) also reduced Cu removal from solution by lowering the ability of NTA to prevent Cu(OH) 2 precipitation and through specific adsorption to the alumina surface. The adsorption of the heavy metals on Al 2 O 3 from solutions containing NTA followed the sequence: Cu >Zn > Cd > Pb ≈ Ni. Increase in system temperature tended to decrease metal adsorption.
State-of-the-Art Management of the Pediatric IBD Patient

Approximately 20% of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cases present in the pediatric or adolescent age group. Genetics and specific serum immune markers may identify children with more aggressive Crohn’s disease. Both upper and lower endoscopies with biopsies should be performed in pediatric patients suspected of having IBD. Earlier appropriate use of thiopurines, and subsequently biologics, should be considered in patients sick enough to require corticosteroids. Growth failure and defective bone mass accrual are risks specific for this population that are multifactorial in nature and must be correctly identified, quantitated, and treated, when possible. Adherence to prescribed medication regimens is low in the pediatric and adolescent population, especially among children with dysfunctional families or with poor coping strategies.
Clinical Implementation of a Proton Dose Verification System Utilizing a GPU Accelerated Monte Carlo Engine

Abstract Purpose: To develop a clinical infrastructure that allows for routine Monte Carlo dose calculation verification of spot scanning proton treatment plans and includes a simple biological model to aid in normal tissue protection. Materials and Methods: A graphical processing unit accelerated Monte Carlo dose engine was used as the calculation engine for dose verification on spot scanning proton plans. An infrastructure was built around this engine that allows for seamless exporting of treatment plans from the treatment planning system and importing of dose distribution from the Monte Carlo calculation via DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine). An easy-to-use Web-based interface was developed so that the application could be run from any computer. In addition to the standard relative biological effectiveness = 1.1 for proton therapy, a simple linear equation dependent on dose-weighted linear energy transfer was included. This was used to help detect possible high biological dose in c...
Multiple benefit Environmental Policies

There is a running debate in environmental policy circles between regulatory approaches and market-based approaches such as carbon taxes. This debate is resolved here by advocating both, in judicious combination, as the most effective way to deal with the global warming problem and get a number of additional benefits at the same time.
Some aspects of flow in granular materials in hoppers

The main part of the paper is devoted to the description of the localized deformation zones in plane (slow) flow of granular materials from hoppers. Specifically, two types of zones are discussed i...
Comparative Uptake and Cytotoxicity of Anti-Hu and Anti-Ri Antibodies in Rat Cerebellar Slice Cultures (P02.161)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate neuronal uptake and cytotoxicity of anti-Hu and anti-Ri antibodies in organotypic cultures of rat cerebellum. BACKGROUND: The paraneoplastic autoantibodies, anti-Hu and anti-Ri, recognize intracellular antigens present in essentially all neurons. At autopsy, brains of patients with anti-Hu antibody show neuronal destruction. In contrast, anti-Ri antibody is less clearly associated with neuronal death, and patients with anti-Ri antibodies may respond to treatment. The role of antibodies in causing paraneoplastic neurological injury has not been defined. However, we have previously demonstrated that anti-Yo antibodies, associated with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration, accumulate in Purkinje cells in slice cultures of rat cerebellum and that antibody accumulation was followed by cell death. The present study was conducted to determine 1) whether anti-Hu and anti-Ri antibodies are also taken up by neurons in this culture system; 2) whether uptake is restricted to Purkinje cells, and 3) whether uptake of either antibody is followed by cell death. DESIGN/METHODS: Rat cerebellar slice cultures were incubated with either anti-Hu or anti-Ri antibodies and were followed over time. TUNEL and FLICA methods were used to detect apoptosis. The dead cell stain, SYTOX green, was used to detect non-apoptotic cell death. RESULTS: Anti-Hu and anti-Ri antibodies accumulated not only in Purkinje cells but also in multiple other neuronal populations. Accumulation of anti-Hu antibody was followed by apoptosis involving multiple neuronal populations: this became detectable within 72-96 hours. In contrast, as compared to controls, cells accumulating anti-Ri antibodies showed no evidence of apoptosis or necrotic cell death over a period of 200 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Uptake of anti-Hu and anti-Ri antibodies was observed in viable neurons throughout the cerebellum and was not restricted to Purkinje cells. While anti-Hu antibody appears to be specifically cytotoxic, anti-Ri antibody did not affect neuronal viability and may predominantly cause neuronal dysfunction rather than death. Supported by: United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Disclosure: Dr. Greenlee has received personal compensation for activities with American Academy of Neurology and Oliver Maner LLP. Dr. Greenlee has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Medlink. Dr. Clawson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wood has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hill has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tsunoda has nothing to disclose. Dr. Carlson has nothing to disclose.
Carboplatin-pemetrexed in treatment of recurrent/metastatic cancers of the head and neck: Outcomes in oropharyngeal primaries.

e17016 Background: Platinum/5-fluorouracil with cetuximab has shown the best survival in pts with recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN). The purpose of this ...
Acute fatigue predicts sickness absence in the workplace: A 1-year retrospective cohort study in paediatric nurses.

Aims To examine the relationship between fatigue and sickness absence in nurses from a pediatric hospital over 12 months of follow-up. A secondary aim was to identify other work and personal factors that predict sickness absence. Background Sickness absence is often related to worker-fatigue, yet few studies have explored this relationship in nurses despite documented high fatigue levels. Design The study used retrospective cohort design. Methods Baseline data on 40 nurses from an intervention study were linked to absence data using the hospital's attendance records (2012-2013). 6057 work shifts were studied of which 5.2% were absence episodes. Fatigue was measured by the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery scale. The questionnaire included instruments assessing sleep disturbances, workload and personal characteristics. Generalized linear mixed models were used to test the associations between fatigue, work, personal factors and sickness absence, while accounting for non-independency of repeated measures. Results With 1SD increase in acute fatigue scores, nurses were 1.29 times more likely to be absent from work. Factors such as intershift recovery, perceived workload, obstructive sleep apnea and marital status also predicted sickness absence, i.e., with 1SD increase in workload scores, nurses were 1.23 times more likely to be absent from work. Nurses with obstructive sleep apnea had 2 times higher odds of sickness absence. Conclusion Sickness absence is related to acute fatigue in pediatric nurses and to workload. Nursing leaders can monitor these factors to reduce sickness absence and screen for sleep apnea and assist nurses in receiving the appropriate treatments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Wave coupling from the lower to the middle thermosphere: Effects of mean winds and dissipation

Recent observational and modeling evidence has demonstrated that planetary waves can modulate atmospheric tides, and secondary waves arising from their nonlinear interactions are an important source of both temporal and longitude variability in the thermosphere. While significant progress has been made on understanding how this form of vertical coupling occurs, uncertainty still exists on how the horizontal structures of primary and secondary waves evolve with height and the processes responsible for this evolution, in part due to lack of global observations between 120 km and 260 km. In this work we employ a Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Electrodynamics general circulation model simulation covering all of 2009 that is forced by Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications dynamical fields, to assess the relative contribution of zonal mean winds and molecular dissipation on the vertical coupling of the eastward propagating diurnal tide with zonal wave number 3 (DE3), the 3 day ultrafast Kelvin wave, and the secondary waves arising from their nonlinear interaction. By developing and applying a new analytic formulation describing the latitudinal structure of an equatorially trapped wave subject to dissipation and background winds, we show that dissipation is the primary contributor to the broadening of the latitudinal structures with height, while asymmetries in the background wind field are responsible for the distortion of the height-latitude structures.
Study of dark matter and QCD-charged mediators in the quasidegenerate regime

We study a scenario in which the only light new particles are a Majorana fermion dark matter candidate and one or more QCD-charged scalars, which couple to light quarks. This scenario has several interesting phenomenological features if the new particles are nearly degenerate in mass. In particular, LHC searches for the light scalars have reduced sensitivity, since the visible and invisible products tend to be softer. Moreover, dark matter-scalar coannihilation can allow even relatively heavy dark matter candidates to be consistent thermal relics. Finally, the dark matter nucleon scattering cross section is enhanced in the quasidegenerate limit, allowing direct detection experiments to use both spin-independent and spin-dependent scattering to probe regions of parameter space beyond those probed by the LHC. Although this scenario has a broad application, we phrase this study in terms of the minimal supersymmetric standard model, in the limit where the only light sparticles are a binolike dark matter candidate and light-flavored squarks.
Cyclones, Deforestation, and Production of Food Crops in Vietnam

This paper investigated the impacts of cyclones and deforestation which often cause heavy floods during and after the cyclones on production of the three groups of food crops in Vietnam ―cereals, tuber crops, and other crops. Collecting provincial data on the number and intensity of the cyclones that landed in Vietnam, we employed a combination of instrumental variable and seemingly unrelated regression. The results showed that cereals suffered the heaviest loss, tuber crops the second, and other crops the least. We also found that deforestation had negative effects on the production of these food crops, both directly and indirectly by causing heavy flooding during and after a cyclone event.
Introduction to RNA Viruses

RNA viruses replicate their genomes using virally encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). The RNA genome is the template for synthesis of additional RNA strands. During replication of RNA viruses, there are at least three types of RNA that must be synthesized: the genome, a copy of the genome (copy genome), and mRNAs. Some RNA viruses also synthesize copies of subgenomic mRNAs. RdRp is the key player for all of these processes. RdRps of all RNA viruses probably arose from a common ancestor. The RdRp and other proteins required for viral genome synthesis are often called the replicase complex. The replicase complex consists of the set of proteins required to produce infectious genomes. In addition to the RdRp, the replicase complex may contain RNA-helicases (to unwind highly base-paired regions of the RNA genome) and NTPases (to supply energy for the polymerization process). The number of proteins in the replicase complex differs among virus families. There may also be a requirement for host cell proteins. The RNA virus group can be subdivided based on the type of RNA that serves as the genome. Positive or plus (+)-strand RNA viruses have genomes that are functional mRNAs. Their genomes are translated shortly after penetration into the host cell to produce the RdRp (and other viral proteins) required for synthesis of additional viral RNAs. Positive-strand RNA viruses often use large complexes of cellular membranes for genome replication. They actively modify host cell membranes to construct viral replication scaffolds. There are three groups of RNA viruses whose genomes are not mRNAs. They are the negative- or minus-strand RNA viruses, the closely related ambisense RNA viruses, and double-stranded RNA viruses. For each of these groups of viruses, the first synthetic event after genome penetration is transcription. This is accomplished by viral proteins (including the RdRp) that enter cell with the genome.
A plasma miRNA signature for lung cancer early detection.

The early detection of lung cancer continues to be a major clinical challenge. Using whole-transcriptome next-generation sequencing to analyze lung tumor and the matched noncancerous tissues, we previously identified 54 lung cancer-associated microRNAs (miRNAs). The objective of this study was to investigate whether the miRNAs could be used as plasma biomarkers for lung cancer. We determined expressions of the lung tumor-miRNAs in plasma of a development cohort of 180 subjects by using reverse transcription PCR to develop biomarkers. The development cohort included 92 lung cancer patients and 88 cancer-free smokers. We validated the biomarkers in a validation cohort of 64 individuals comprising 34 lung cancer patients and 30 cancer-free smokers. Of the 54 miRNAs, 30 displayed a significant different expression level in plasma of the lung cancer patients vs. cancer-free controls (all P 0.05). The plasma miRNA signature was reproducibly confirmed in the validation cohort. The plasma miRNA signature may provide a blood-based assay for diagnosing lung cancer at the early stage, and thereby reduce the associated mortality and cost.
Precorrection: Preventing Predictable Problem Behaviors in School Settings:

Precorrection is an intervention that is a simple, systematic method of predicting and addressing inappropriate social or academic behaviors. It can be successfully be implemented for students of a...