cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Review article: the safety and efficacy of alosetron, a 5‐HT3 receptor antagonist, in female irritable bowel syndrome patients

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal-related conditions. In this review, the safety and efficacy of alosetron, a potent and selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, in the treatment of IBS are discussed. Alosetron has been shown to produce statistically significant improvements in abdominal pain, stool consistency, stool frequency and urgency in female IBS patients. By contrast, no consistent improvement has been seen in male IBS patients treated with alosetron. The only adverse event of note with alosetron was constipation, and this represents a class effect of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. In conclusion, alosetron is a safe and effective treatment for female IBS patients.
Issues with object orientation in verifying safety-critical systems

Primus Epicrm is an all-new integrated avionics system for business, regional and general aviation. Honeywell International Inc. follows the Object Oriented paradigm and the programming language C+ +for certain software components on systems developed for the PRIMUS EPIC system. While C++ programming language offers several advantages, it also has several features that can make it undesirable for use in airborne systems. The, Object Orientation concept has several features that, if not controlled properly, can lead to unknown configurations of object code and unverified code. This is highly undesirable for avionics software that needs certification involving statement and code coverage. This paper highlights the issues with C++ certification for avionics and provides solutions for some of the issues.
Validation of a Hand/Wrist Electromechanical Goniometer

This paper describes a new hand/wrist electromechanical goniometer that measures wrist angle, velocity, and acceleration in the radial/ulnar and flexion/extension planes. The research objectives of this paper were to validate the angle and motion measures from this goniometer. The results of this research show that the coefficient of variation of the angle measured by the goniometer and the angle measured by a video-based Motion Analysis system was 3%. By smoothing the voltage data three times in software, the goniometer estimated well the velocity and acceleration measures under controlled dynamic conditions. Three smoothing repetitions appear to be the best smoothing regimen for the goniometer because it reduced signal noise while still maintaining the sensitivity of the velocity and acceleration output. Overall, the goniometer is an easy-to-use, accurate system of measuring wrist angle and motion. This goniometer will be used to build a database of wrist motion in industrial tasks.
Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Oxygen Adsorbate and Electrode Work Function on Carbon-Nanotube Field-Effect Transistors

The effect of electrode work function (WF) on the device resistance of carbon-nanotube field-effect transistors (CNT-FETs) is less significant than that of device surface chemistry, specifically interactions with molecular oxygen adsorbate. Experimental results are based on over 130 individual devices with electrode WFs varying from 4.17 to 5.21 eV that were tested under standard-atmosphere, ultrahigh-vacuum, and pure-oxygen environments. Oxygen decreased device resistance by an average of 56% and altered majority charge carriers regardless of electrode metal. Variations in CNT-FET performance based on electrode material appeared more closely associated with crystallization and oxidation states than WF.
NATIONAL CANCER PROGRAM INTERFACING WITH GOVERNMENTAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROGRAMS IN PROBLEMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CANCER

1. BACKGROUND Systematic epidemiological studies including environmental monitoring, whether directed toward the general population or workers exposed to carcinogens, provides mounting evidence that cancer may have its genesis in the environment (1,2). Based on this contention, some authorities have attempted to compute the percentage of (otal cancers that may be environmentally induced; some estimates being in the range of 80 to 90 percent (1,3). Others discount these numerical exercises, indicating that genetic factors and viral alterations of DNA may be basic to ultimate effects that become visible through chemical or physical agents (4). Consequently, it is perhaps more plausible to assume that a large component of total cancers environmentally induced is preventable. The potential for exposure to chemical, physical, and biological agents or to exogenous and endogenous chemicals, and/or metabolites, is most extensive. It is estimated that there are about four million chemicals in the universe, with an annual increase in the repository of several thousand new ones (2). Of course, with respect to specific chemicals, the human population may only potentially be confronted with a few thousand. The agents in the cancerinducing environment may involve contaminants in air, water, and diet, exposures to drugs and industrial chemicals, physical stress agents [radiation such as solar, nuclear, or gamma, and inhaled particulates (asbestos)], and natural toxins such as fungal and plant toxins (2). The International
Near-infrared, laser-induced fluorescence detection for DNA sequencing applications

Laser-induced fluorescence detection has become the detection strategy of choice in many large-scale DNA sequencing applications due to its ease of Implementation, sensitivity and the ability to identify the constituent bases of DNA in a single separation lane when the probes used have a distinct spectral characteristic. While the common strategy is to use fluorescent dyes which show absorption and emission properties in the visible region (400-600 nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum, our efforts have been directed toward developing near-IR (700-1000 nm) fluorescence as a viable detection strategy for DNA sequencing. In this paper, we discuss our results concerning the use of near-IR fluorescence detection for DNA sequencing carried out in a capillary gel column, where the capillary column has an internal diameter of 75 /spl mu/m, and the loading level of DNA onto this column is in the nL regime, requiring ultra-sensitive detection. In addition, we discuss our efforts toward the development of a highly efficient, single lane, single fluor, base-calling strategy using lifetime discrimination of heavy-atom modified near-IR dyes. The dyes developed for this application contain an intramolecular heavy atom (halogen) on a remote section of the chromophore, resulting in a perturbation in the fluorescence lifetime without altering the absorption or emission maximum of the base chromophore. This will allow the dye series to be excited with a single laser with the fluorescence processed on a single detector and the identity of the terminal base accomplished via lifetime discrimination. In order to effectively carry out lifetime measurements during capillary electrophoretic separation of the oligonucleotides, a simple solid-state time-correlated single photon counting instrument was constructed.
Flavonoid Phytoalexin-Dependent Resistance to Anthracnose Leaf Blight Requires a Functional yellow seed1 in Sorghum bicolor

In Sorghum bicolor, a group of phytoalexins are induced at the site of infection by Colletotrichum sublineolum, the anthracnose fungus. These compounds, classified as 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, have structural similarities to the precursors of phlobaphenes. Sorghum yellow seed1 (y1) encodes a MYB transcription factor that regulates phlobaphene biosynthesis. Using the candystripe1 transposon mutagenesis system in sorghum, we have isolated functional revertants as well as loss-of-function alleles of y1. These near-isogenic lines of sorghum show that, compared to functionally revertant alleles, loss of y1 lines do not accumulate phlobaphenes. Molecular characterization of two null y1 alleles shows a partial internal deletion in the y1 sequence. These null alleles, designated as y1-ww1 and y1-ww4, do not accumulate 3-deoxyanthocyanidins when challenged with the nonpathogenic fungus Cochliobolus heterostrophus. Further, as compared to the wild-type allele, both y1-ww1 and y1-ww4 show greater susceptibility to the pathogenic fungus C. sublineolum. In fungal-inoculated wild-type seedlings, y1 and its target flavonoid structural genes are coordinately expressed. However, in y1-ww1 and y1-ww4 seedlings where y1 is not expressed, steady-state transcripts of its target genes could not be detected. Cosegregation analysis showed that the functional y1 gene is genetically linked with resistance to C. sublineolum. Overall results demonstrate that the accumulation of sorghum 3-deoxyanthocyanidin phytoalexins and resistance to C. sublineolum in sorghum require a functional y1 gene.
Coming to terms

Abstract The assimilation model is a theory of psychological change that depicts the self as a community of internal voices, composed of traces of the person's experiences. The model suggests that disconnection of certain voices from the community underlies many forms of psychopathology and psychological distress. Such problematic voices may be assimilated through psychotherapeutic dialogue by building meaning bridges. Meaning bridges are signs (e.g., words, images, gestures, narratives) that have similar meaning to author and addressee, that is, to the signs’ producer and recipient, which may be different people or interacting internal voices. Building meaning bridges is thus a process of coming to terms with problematic voices, which reduces distress and gives access to experiential resources within the self. This article describes and illustrates meaning bridges, voices, signs, and associated concepts as elaborated in a program of research on the assimilation model.
Effect of Commercial Adjuvants on Vegetable Crop Fungicide Coverage, Absorption, and Efficacy

Gent, D. H., Schwartz, H. F., and Nissen, S. J. 2003. Effect of commercial adjuvants on vegetable crop fungicide coverage, absorption, and efficacy. Plant Dis. 87:591-597. The addition of an appropriate adjuvant with foliar fungicide can significantly improve coverage, absorption, and efficacy. Laboratory and field studies evaluated coverage, absorption, and efficacy of commercial adjuvants with diverse chemistries on multiple host–pathogen systems. Organosilicone-based adjuvants improved coverage by 26 to 38% compared with a latex spreader-sticker and water. Significant crop by coverage interaction effects were also detected. The organosilicone/methylated seed oil-based adjuvant, Aero Dyne-Amic, significantly improved total [14C]azoxystrobin absorption on onion and potato by 30 and 21%, respectively, compared with water. The spreader-sticker, Bond, improved [ 14 C]azoxystrobin absorption on onion and dry bean by 41 and 39%, respectively, compared with water. In experimental field plots, dry bean rust incidence was reduced by 52% when Kinetic or Latron AG-98 was added to maneb compared with maneb alone. The area under the potato early blight disease progress curve was reduced 29, 24, or 21% when Kinetic, Bond, or Latron AG-98 was added to maneb, respectively, compared with maneb applications alone. Additional keywords: Allium cepa, Alternaria solani, Phaseolus vulgaris, Solanum tuberosum, surfactant, Uromyces appendiculatus
A tangible approach to time management

Information work generally occurs within a multitasking environment with attention focused on the computer screen, constant task switching and frequent interruptions. In this environment, software-based task management techniques may blend in too much to be optimally effective. The Time Machine is proposed as a physical interface distinctly separated from the task environment with real-world manifestations of arbitrary concepts of tasks and time, while providing constant visibility of status through an ambient display for self-reflection. The Time Machine aims to promote distributed cognition and utilize the stage-based model of personal informatics and the Pomodoro technique toward productive and enjoyable task management.
IFR transport experiments on the SuperIBEX accelerator

Conducting cells filled with neutral gas at pressures below 100 mTorr (Ion Focus Regime) provide a simple and effective method for the transport and conditioning of intense relativistic electron beams (IREBs). Experiments performed on the SuperIBEX accelerator (5 MeV, 100 kA, 40 ns PWHM) show that desired output beam profiles can be effectively generated through the manipulation of cell geometry, gas pressure and species, and input beam emittance and current. The cells also provide some beam centering and sweep damping. The beam profiles are measured using a concentric segmented Faraday collector (SFC), EMACON 500 streak camera, and a four-frame, ultra-fast, gated optical imaging system (GOI).
Serial Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injections Slow the Progression of Radiation Maculopathy Following Iodine-125 Plaque Radiotherapy.

Background and Objective: To assess the outcomes of intravitreal bevacizumab injection in the management of radiation maculopathy secondary to plaque radiotherapy, and to identify optimal treatment strategies. Study Design: A retrospective review of all choroidal melanoma patients at one referral center who were treated with plaque radiotherapy, subsequently developed radiation maculopathy, and received intravitreal bevacizumab. Results: A total of 31 patients were identified. The mean visual acuity decreased three Snellen lines in the year leading up to the first bevacizumab injection. After initiating injection therapy, the mean visual acuity remained stable for 9 months. The change in visual acuity of patients who received injections within 90 days of previous injections was significantly better than the visual acuity of those who received injections more than 90 days apart ( p=0.0003). Patients who demonstrated late-phase macular leakage on fluorescein angiography at the time of the first bevacizumab injection had better long-term visual acuity outcomes than patients who had no evidence of macular leakage (average of one line improvement of vision vs. ten line loss of vision, p=0.03). Conclusions: Intravitreal bevacizumab injection was effective in stabilizing visual acuity in patients with radiation maculopathy. Patients benefited most from injections administered every 90 days or sooner. Fluorescein angiography can help identify patients who will respond favorably to treatment.
Association of Y Balance Test Reach Asymmetry and Injury in Division I Athletes

AB Purpose: The Y balance test (YBT) is a screen of dynamic balance requiring stance leg balance while the contralateral leg reaches in anterior (ANT), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL) directions. YBT has been proposed as a screen for injury risk; however, limited research has examined the association between YBT and injury. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between YBT (asymmetry and composite score (CS)) and noncontact injury in a sample of Division I (DI) college athletes from multiple sports. Methods: DI college athletes were screened with the YBT during the preparticipation examination to determine asymmetry (absolute difference between legs in ANT, PL, and PM) and CS (summed average of right/left ANT, PL, and PM normalized to leg length). Participants were followed throughout the sport season, and noncontact injuries requiring athletic training staff intervention were recorded for analysis. Demographic variables between injured and uninjured athletes were assessed with independent t-tests. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves determined optimal cut points for predicting injury on the basis of CS and asymmetry. CS was analyzed as a continuous variable, as ROC curves were unable to maximize sensitivity and specificity. Logistic regression models adjusted for sport and previous injury determined the odds of injury on the basis of asymmetry and CS. Results: One hundred and eighty-four participants were included in analysis; 81 were injured. ROC curves determined asymmetry >4 cm (sensitivity, 59%; specificity, 72%) as the optimal cut point for predicting injury. Only ANT asymmetry was significantly associated with noncontact injury (odds ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-4.76). Conclusions: ANT asymmetry >4 cm was associated with increased risk of noncontact injury. CS in this sample of DI athletes was not associated with increased risk of injury.
Abstract 2765: Targeting both ornithine decarboxylase and polyamine transport inhibits tumor growth in neuroblastoma.

Background: Neuroblastoma (NB) is associated with MYCN oncogene amplification occurring in approximately 30% of NBs and is associated with poor prognosis. MYCN is linked to a number of genes including ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis. ODC expression is elevated in NB. Alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an ODC inhibitor, is currently being used in a Phase I clinical trial for treatment of NB. However, cancer cells treated with DFMO may overcome their polyamine depletion by the uptake of polyamines from extracellular sources. A novel polyamine transport inhibitor, AMXT-1501, has not yet been tested on NB. We proposed that inhibiting ODC with DFMO, coupled with polyamine transport inhibition by AMXT-1501, would result in increased NB growth inhibition. Methods: Single and combination drug treatments were conducted on three NB cell lines in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model in vivo. Cell viability was measured using Calcein AM fluorescent assay. Real-time cell proliferation was measured using the xCELLigence system. Western blot analysis was used to measure cleaved and full PARP, cleaved and full caspase 3, phosphorylated Rb and MYCN levels. ATP level per cell was measured using CyQuant fluorescent DNA assay combined with the Cell Titer GLO luminescent cell viability assay. Reverse-phase HPLC was used to measure polyamine levels in cells. Results: DFMO IC 50 values ranged from 20.76 to 33.3 mM, and AMXT-1501 IC 50 values ranged from 14.13 to 17.72 μM in NB cell lines. Low dose combination treatment (2.5 μM AMXT-1501, 2.5 mM DFMO) synergistically inhibited cell viability and proliferation in vitro. Combination treatment decreased MYCN expression and resulted in hypophosphorylation of pRb, suggesting cell growth inhibition. Increased expression of cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase 3 in combination-treated cells starting at 48 hours suggested apoptosis. The combination treatment resulted in intracellular polyamine pool depletion and decreased intracellular ATP. The combination treatment also significantly reduced tumor size in NB xenograft mice in vivo. Conclusion: Given the current lack of effective therapies for relapsed/refractory NB patients and the preclinical effectiveness of DFMO with AMXT-1501, this combination treatment provides promising preclinical results. DFMO and AMXT-1501 may be a potential new therapy for children with NB. Citation Format: Ann M. Kendzicky, Ping Zhao, Katherine Samal, Lisette P. Yco, Heather McClung, Eugene W. Gerner, Andre S. Bachmann, Giselle L. Sholler. Targeting both ornithine decarboxylase and polyamine transport inhibits tumor growth in neuroblastoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2765. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2765
Using Phase Retrieval to Obtain the Complete Spatio-Temporal Intensity and Phase of Ultrashort Pulses

Using a Gerchberg-Saxton-like phase retrieval algorithm, we recover the spatial phase from spatio-temporal measurements of focusing ultrashort pulses made using an unstable interferometer.
A homogeneous gallium(III) compound selectively catalyzes the epoxidation of alkenes.

We demonstrate that a simple gallium(III) complex, [Ga(phen)2Cl2]Cl (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), can serve as a homogeneous catalyst for the epoxidation of alkenes. The olefin epoxidations proceed...
Getting Coherent about Coherence: A Rejoinder to McKinney and Roof

In their reply to my article, McKinney and Roof (1994) make explicit their view, implied in their book American Mainline Religion (1987), that "Protestantism has come to mean little more than an indication of what one is not: not Catholic, not Jewish, not Muslim, not 'nothing"' (754). They suggest further, if I understand them correctly, that the personal content of the coherence I discovered in Protestant switching behavior is really resentment resentment at the postwar loss of disproportionate power and prestige. Leaving aside the oxymoronic character of the argument that Protestantism is a residual category because it is "not 'nothing,"' the knowledge that Protestants are motivated by resentment will certainly come as news to many Protestants. It would surely enlighten those switchers who, when asked (e.g., in the 1988 GSS) their reasons for switching denominations, report such things as the influence of spouse, family, and friends; geographic relocation; and even theological change; but have never mentioned resentment. Actually, if I understand them properly, McKinney and Roof seem to suggest that resentment against the competition, who have taken their members and influence, binds denominational identity, not frays it. This remarkable speculation is put forth in spite of the fact that, as McKinney and Roof have well documented, the "competition" for any Protestant group is overwhelmingly other Protestant groups (if my analysis is correct, other most similar Protestant groups). While some (liberal, Northern) groups have lost members and influence, others (conservative, Southern) have gained. Resentment may (though I doubt it) be the content of coherence among the former, but what about the latter? McKinney and Roof would have us believe that Baptists or Mormons or the Assemblies of God (all were included in their analysis, and mine) resent their increased membership and legitimacy. After all, the notion of an "antidisestablishmentarianist switcher" is also a type of oxymoron. McKinney and Roof's attempt to decompose or "read back" the character of religious institutions into the personal characteristics of their participants or their analysts is, in fact, a good example of the kind of category errors that I tried to expose in my article. One could with as much justification, and just as inaccurately, speculate that sociologists of religion are concerned to argue for the marginality of Protestantism because they resented
Investigation on role stress and its influencing factors among clinical pediatric nursing teachers

Objective: To investigate clinical pediatric nursing teachers' role stress and its influencing factors. Methods: Totally 107 pediatric nursing teachers in a children's tertiary grade A hospital in Beijing were enrolled by convenience sampling method, and were investigated with clinical nursing teachers' role stress scale. Results: Of all these clinical pediatric nursing teachers, 48.59% experienced at least moderate role stress, among which 14.95% got severe pressure. Age, interest in nursing profession, whether issued by the school syllabus and familiarity with syllabus were the main influencing factors of their role stress. Conclusion: Clinical pediatric nursing teachers have role stress generally. Pediatric nursing teachers and managers should pay attention to increase their interest in nursing profession, enhance instruction on syllabus and support older nursing teachers in order to relieve clinical pediatric nursing teachers' role stress.
Epidemic Situation of Notifiable Diseases in Qiannan Prefecture From 1957 to 2005

Objective To analyze endemic characteristics and situation of notifiable diseases in Qiannan Prefecture of Guizhou Province from 1957-2005 so as to provide scientific basis.Method Information of epidemic and investigation report on special topic were collected from 1957-2005 in the whole prefecture.The epidemiologic description and analysis methods were applied in the study.Results 2 618 244 cases of 20 kinds of infectious diseases were reported in the prefecture from 1957-2005,with an average morbidity of 2 064/105,and fatality rate of 1.01%.Before 1980s, the morbidity of infectious disease was higher and quite irregular, then gradually presented a decline,and dropped to the lowest in history of the prefecture after 2000.Conclusion After 1980s, the morbidity of infectious disease presented gently posture, but the diseases spectrum revealed certain change. In middle of 1990s, AIDS had been reported and present increase situation in the prefecture.The results indicated control measures should be adjusted.
Cooperative Wireless Technologies in Tri-Network Convergence

Cooperative wireless technology,especially cross-layer cooperative architecture,will contribute to tri-network convergence.This paper proposes cooperative technology that provides primary return channel and network-level automatic repeat request(ARQ) as well as user and service-oriented transmission by means of unified resource management and coordination.Cooperative technology improves coverage quality and allows for dynamic spectrum sharing through cooperative relay.It also provides a more effective coordination mechanism for tri-network convergence—which creates a new service experience and is suited to the development of diverse new services.
Learning to “Know Oneself” Through an Intellectual Genogram: A New Approach to Analyzing Academic Careers

The field of management relies on a variety of disciplines (such as economics, sociology, psychology, and anthropology) to develop its theories. Given this diversity in disciplines underlying the m...
Seeing the Light

AbstractThe very name of the art form we call “theatre” is derived from the Greek word theatron: “a place for seeing.” The visual aspect of theatre is paramount. Unless they see the unfolding action, the audience’s experience is limited to a “theatre of the mind” or radio drama. Lighting became necessary after the performances moved indoors and has evolved as a design discipline in the last century with the advent of electric lighting and control. Lighting designers must communicate how they see the lighting for theatrical moments to a diverse team of theatrical artists who may or may not be able to visualize the elusive qualities of lighting.
Phenytoin and Neuropsychological Performance

A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment of young adults (mean age 32) before and after treatment with phenytoin (PHT) for a 5 year study period is reported from the Regional Epilepsy Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.
Parent’s Influence on Children’s Cannabis Use

Abstract The influence of parents’ behavior on their children’s cannabis use is the focus of this chapter. Cannabis is the most common illicit drug used by adolescents in the United States. Despite massive expenditures on prevention, cannabis usage rates among adolescents have remained stable over the last decade, and recent trends have shown a slight uptick in the number of 12–17 year olds experimenting with cannabis. Parental behaviors can attenuate usage. Research on factors that enhance positive parental effects is reviewed.
A universal kinematic analysis of geared mechanisms

A methodology for the kinematic analysis of planetary gear trains is presented. First, a definition for the gear train entity (GTE) is introduced, using the planet gears as the dividing element. Second, it is shown that the speed ratio of a GTE can simply be expressed symbolically in terms of its planet gear ratios. Then, for any planetary configuration, however complex, a single governing kinematic equation is developed, which then is manipulated to determine all possible overall speed ratios. Algebraic expressions for the speed ratios, of any GTE and/or planetary gear mechanism, can be obtained in terms of the teeth numbers, easily. Finally, three examples are presented; one includes a complicated fifteen-link PGT, to illustrate the simplicity of the method, the other compares the results of a bevel gear train with those of previous study.
Molecular Analysis of A Gene That Affects Extracellular Polysaccharide Production and Virulence in Pseudomonas Solanacearum

Pseudomonas solanacearum, agent of bacterial wilt, spontaneously gives rise to nonmucoid avirulent mutants under certain culture conditions. These mutants are affected in several traits including extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production which results in altered colony morphology. An 8 kb DNA fragment isolated from a genomic library of such a mutant (strain B1) closely mimics the spontaneous shift in phenotype when it is introduced into a wild-type strain K60 in a low-copy number plasmid (pLAFR3). A functional DNA region called epsR of at least lkb was established by saturation mutagenesis; maxicell experiments in E. coli indicated that a 25 kDa protein is the probable gene product (Huang and Sequeira, 1990). We report here on the isolation of the corresponding wild type epsR region and show by functional assay and sequencing that both units (isolated from either B1 or K60 strains) are capable of reproducing the phenotypic shift and that their nucleotide sequences are identical. Analysis of the coding capacity of the potential open reading frames suggests that translation of the epsR gene might not begin at a normal methionine initiation codon.
Embodied Being: Examining Tool Use in Digital Storytelling

In this interconnection of embodied being and environing world, what happens in the interface is what’s important. At least that is the way a phenomenological perspective takes shape. Ihde, 2002, p. 8. We are embodied beings. Our flesh, our manner of being in the world as an intertwining of perceiver and perceived is a notion that makes it possible for us to articulate the human body with respect to its ontological dimensionality and the claim it has within the lived world. This claiming is our being-in-the-world and it is situated in the understanding of the Self. This fleshly schema called the body is a “opening and clearing, in the multi- dimensional field of Being, for it articulates the embodiment-character of our responsiveness and elicits its potential for development on the basis of our initial, most primordial sense of Being-in-the-world.” (Lakoff & Johnson, 1999, p. 62) . As such, our everyday life takes place within this opening and clearing of personal space and personal movement. In this Being in the World, through history, humans have told oral then written stories to solidify culture and share knowledge for the future. Our Being-in-the-world comes through story. A different part of Being also intertwines with technology. When story and technology meet, digital stories are born. This theoretical reflection aims to connect the philosophy of technology and new media theory to clarify the role of digital processes in the storytelling, and explore the notion of techne. A variety of perspectives work to shed light on the phenomenological notion called Being- in-the-world-with-technology. Latour (2005) Giltrow (2002) Ihde (2002) and Orlikowski (2001) contribute to unpacking the interaction and relationship between humans and technology to identify the materials artifacts, characteristics of human agents, and context. This reflection aims to flesh out new media perspectives about digital storytelling through the phenomenological work of Gadamer, Heidegger, Ihde, Leder, Merleau Ponty, with concepts of mediation, mediatization, embodiment, motility, praxis, context, and aesthetic stance toward techne .
Curve skeletonization using minimum-cost path

Abstract Skeletonization produces a compact representation of an object that reduces its dimensionality by one. In three dimensions, skeletons include both surface and curve structures. However, depending upon the primary aim of an application, especially those involving elongated objects, often, mere curve structures are sufficient to represent essential geometric and topologic features in an object. A skeleton that includes only curve structures is referred to as a curve skeletonization. This chapter reviews various definitions of a curve skeleton and different computational approaches. Conventional curve skeletonization algorithms using the principle of Blum's grassfire transform, often, produce unwanted spurious branches caused by boundary irregularities, digital effects, and other artifacts. Besides reviewing definitions and algorithms of curve skeletonization, a comprehensive solution using a minimum-cost path approach is described, and various important and related issues, e.g., centeredness of minimum-cost paths, collision impact, skeletal branch significance, etc. are discussed. A practical and efficient algorithm for the minimum-cost path based curve skeletonization is presented, and several applications are discussed.
Abstract P014: Oxidative Stress Mediated Regulation of Antioxidants in Cardiac Progenitor Cells

Cardiac diseases are the leading causes of death throughout the world and transplantation of endogenous myocardial progenitor population with robust cardiovascular lineage differentiation potential is a promising therapeutic strategy. Therefore, in vitro expansion and transplantation of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) is currently in early clinical testing as a potential treatment for severe cardiac dysfunction. However, poor survival and engraftment of cells is one of the major limitations of cell transplantation therapy. Oxidative stress is increased in the ischemic myocardium and indirect inferences suggest the vulnerability of CPCs to oxidative stress. In this study, we show that in vitro, resident c-kit positive CPCs isolated from rat myocardium are significantly (p<0.05) resistant to superoxide-induced apoptosis compared to cardiomyocytes as analyzed by the number of sub-G1 population following xanthine/xanthine oxidase treatment. Interestingly, CPCs have two to four fold higher basal SOD1 and SOD2 ...
The new school advantage? Examining the effects of strategic new school openings on student achievement

Abstract This paper examines the effects of strategic new school openings (SNSOs) on student achievement at brand new (“relief”) campuses built to alleviate overcrowding at neighboring “feeder” campuses in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). We focus on a subset of schools involved in LAUSD's Public School Choice Initiative (PSCI), which aimed to increase high quality school options by awarding management of newly-constructed relief schools to diverse operators based on innovative and evidence-based school plans and autonomies from district policies. We employ a Comparative Interrupted Time Series approach using administrative student-level data that tracks students for 10 years, following students in the first (1.0) and second (2.0) cohorts of PSCI schools for three and two years of implementation, respectively. We find that relief school openings had negative start-up effects on student achievement, but led to improved achievement in subsequent years of PSCI. We find suggestive evidence that improvements made to the reform after the first round of relief school openings helped Cohort 2.0 schools perform significantly better than Cohort 1.0 schools.
Forest response to rising CO2 drives zonally asymmetric rainfall change over tropical land

Understanding how anthropogenic CO2 emissions will influence future precipitation is critical for sustainably managing ecosystems, particularly for drought-sensitive tropical forests. Although tropical precipitation change remains uncertain, nearly all models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 predict a strengthening zonal precipitation asymmetry by 2100, with relative increases over Asian and African tropical forests and decreases over South American forests. Here we show that the plant physiological response to increasing CO2 is a primary mechanism responsible for this pattern. Applying a simulation design in the Community Earth System Model in which CO2 increases are isolated over individual continents, we demonstrate that different circulation, moisture and stability changes arise over each continent due to declines in stomatal conductance and transpiration. The sum of local atmospheric responses over individual continents explains the pan-tropical precipitation asymmetry. Our analysis suggests that South American forests may be more vulnerable to rising CO2 than Asian or African forests.
Efficacy of activated persulfate in inactivating Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes.

Abstract Concerns have been on the rise regarding the use of chlorine-based sanitizers for fresh produce sanitation due to the production of toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs). This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of activated persulfate in inactivating Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in pure culture. The objectives were to study the effect of persulfate to activator ratios and determine the major contributing radical in pathogen inactivation. A five-strain cocktail of each pathogen was treated with sodium persulfate activated by ferrous sulfate or sodium hydroxide for 60 s or 120 s. Non-selective agars supplemented with sodium pyruvate were used for pathogen enumeration. The steady-state concentrations of free radicals were quantified using HPLC-DAD. Radical scavengers (tert-butanol, isopropanol, and benzoquinone) were used to determine the major contributing radical in pathogen inactivation. The results showed more than 7 log CFU/mL reductions can be achieved in 120 s for both pathogens at appropriate activation conditions. For ferrous activation, the persulfate to ferrous ratio played an important role in the overall inactivation efficacy. The maximum pathogen reduction (7.77 log CFU/mL for E. coli O157:H7 and 7.25 log CFU/mL for L. monocytogenes) was achieved at persulfate to ferrous molar ratio of 1:0.33 when the initial persulfate concentration was set at 40 mmol/L. Further increase or decrease of ferrous ratio always leads to lower pathogen reductions. For alkaline activation, the inactivation efficacy increased with more initial sodium hydroxide. The maximum reduction was achieved at 40 mmol/L persulfate with 30 mmol/L sodium hydroxide for E. coli O157:H7 (6.21 log CFU/mL reduction) and at 500 mmol/L persulfate with 350 mmol/L sodium hydroxide for L. monocytogenes (8.64 log CFU/mL reduction). Also, persulfate activated by sodium hydroxide always achieved significantly (P
The bcl-2 gene is rearranged in many diffuse B-cell lymphomas

Southern blotting was used to detect rearrangement of the bcl-2 gene in 104 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma subclassified by the Working Formulation, 24 cases of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and 14 cases of T cell malignancy. Earlier workers reported rearrangement of this gene (located on chromosome 18) in a major fraction of follicular lymphomas, lymphomas in which a 14;18 chromosome translocation is frequently observed. In the present study, bcl-2 was rearranged in 30% (11 of 37) of follicular lymphomas and 19% (11 of 58) of diffuse lymphomas of follicle center cell lineage. In 18 of 19 samples studied, the rearranged bcl-2 fragment also hybridized with a probe for the joining region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene located on chromosome 14, indicating a 14;18 translocation. In lymphomas not derived from follicle center cells, ie, diffuse lymphomas of small B lymphocytes, B-CLL and T cell neoplasms, the bcl-2 gene was always in germline configuration. The frequent rearrangement of bcl-2 in a variety of B cell lymphomas of diffuse morphology (small cleaved cell, large cell, small noncleaved cell and immunoblastic) is noteworthy.
Neurons that Participate in Several Behaviors

The pyloric and gastric mill rhythms of the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) were thought to be independently generated by separate groups of neurons with only weak coupling between neurons of the two networks. However, we now report that neurons which are integral components of the pyloric central pattern generating (CPG) network can become rhythmically active in the gastric rhythm, while elements of the gastric CPG can play a role in pyloric pattern generation. This flexibility in neuron motor output provides the network with many different outputs from a small set of neurons.
Pathophysiology, Associations, and Consequences of Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders (CRSDs) are a family of sleep disorders that result from a mismatch between the body's endogenous clock and the 24-h environmental and sleep–wake schedule. CRSDs are associated with significant psychological, physiological, and social consequences, ranging from minor social impact to serious medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and neurological disorder. The degree to which a CRSD affects the individual depends greatly on the level of malsynchronization of the circadian system with requirements and schedules of daily living. This article discusses the pathophysiology, associations, and consequences of the six major CRSDs currently recognized in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders .
From the Editor in Chief: Do You Know How to Get to Carnegie Hall?

Service abstraction is a wonderful concept, but it provides only a painfully limiting interaction quality. Someday, we might include in our software curriculum the principle that the foundation of intermodule communications is context-based conversation.
An Introduction to Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

Cognitive-behavior therapy has its roots in the resurgent interest in cognition that swept psychology during the late 1960s and early 1970s. This period served as the focal point for a shift in research psychology from a radical behavioral perspective to one emphasizing cognitively mediated processes (Kanfer, 1978; Mahoney, 1974). Broadly speaking, this shift involved the adopting by psychology of the “information-processing” perspective as the dominant metatheoretical approach to research. This perspective emphasizes the higher mental processes such as observational learning, thinking, language use, and problem solving. Within this perspective, humans are understood as actively seeking and processing environmental stimuli, rather than as passive recipients of environmental consequences. Human behavior is seen as originating from the processing of both internal and external information (Ingram & Kendall, 1986). Of central importance to the clinician is the impact this model has had on our ability to explore cognitions, affect, and behavior, particularly the interrelationships of these three variables as they contribute to both psychopathology and the therapeutic process.
NICU Nurses' Suggestions for Improving End-of-Life Care Obstacles

Abstract Background Neonatal deaths (infants less than 28 days old) account for two thirds (66.7%) of all infant deaths with most occurring in an ICU setting. NICU nurses are frequently involved in end-of-life (EOL) care and face unique obstacles. Objective The objective of this study was to obtain NICU nurses’ suggestions for improving obstacles in EOL care in NICUs. Methods Suggestions were obtained through mailed survey research in qualitative study design. Returned surveys yielded 121 nurse respondents who gave a total of 138 suggestions. Results A total of 10 cohesive themes were identified: (1) environmental design issues, (2) improved communication between healthcare teams, (3) ending futile care earlier, (4) realistic and honest physician communications to families, (5) providing a “good death,” (6) improved nurse staffing, (7) need for EOL education, (8) earlier entry into hospice/palliative care, (9) availability of ancillary staff, and (10) allowing parents more time to prepare for death. Conclusions Despite the variety of obstacles encountered in providing EOL care to dying infants and their families, NICU nurses can influence environmental factors, help improve communication, and use self-assessment tools to identify current EOL care practices.
Reye's syndrome: The effect of patient serum on mitochondrial respiration in vitro

Abstract Serum from patients with Reye's Syndrome stimulated state 4 respiration in isolated rat liver mitochondria. Inhibitors of specific mitochondrial functions were tested as potential antagonists of the stimulatory effect of RS serum. Oligomycin, ruthenium red, rotenone and antimycin A were all ineffective in preventing the increase in state 4 respiration, but KCN completely abolished all respiratory activity in the presence of RS serum. We conclude that the putative serum factor stimulates respiration by directly or indirectly interacting with the electron transport chain at a point beyond site II.
Linking Sfl1 Regulation of Hyphal Development to Stress Response Kinases in Candida albicans.

Candida albicans is an important human pathogen responsible for causing both superficial and systemic infections. Its ability to switch from the yeast form to the hyphal growth form is required for its pathogenicity. Acidic pH inhibits hyphal initiation, but the nature of the mechanism for this inhibition is not completely clear. We show that acidic pH represses hyphal initiation independently of the temperature- and farnesol-mediated Nrg1 downregulation. Using a collection of transcription factor deletion mutants, we observed that the sfl1 mutant induced hyphae in acidic pH but not in farnesol at 37°C. Furthermore, transcription of hyphal regulators BRG1 and UME6 was not induced in wild-type (WT) cells but was induced in the sfl1 mutant during hyphal induction in acidic pH. Using the same screening conditions with the collection of kinase mutants, we found that deletions of the core stress response mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase HOG1 and its kinase PBS2, the cell wall stress MAP kinase MKC1, and the calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase CMK1 allowed hyphal initiation in acidic pH. Furthermore, Hog1 phosphorylation induced by high osmotic stress also retarded hyphal initiation, and the effect was abolished in the sfl1 and three kinase mutants but was enhanced in the phosphatase mutant ptp2 ptp3 We also found functional associations among Cmk1, Hog1, and Sfl1 for cation stress. Our study results suggest that robust hyphal initiation requires downregulation of both Nrg1 and Sfl1 transcriptional repressors as well as timely BRG1 expression. Acidic pH and cationic stress retard hyphal initiation via the stress-responsive kinases and Sfl1.IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is a commensal as well as a pathogen of humans. C. albicans is able to mount a cellular response to a diverse range of external stimuli in the host and switch reversibly between the yeast and hyphal growth forms. Hyphal development is a key virulence determinant. Here, we studied how C. albicans senses different environmental signals to control its growth forms. Our study results suggest that robust hyphal development requires downregulation of two transcriptional repressors, Nrg1 and Sfl1. Acidic pH or cationic stress inhibits hyphal formation via stress-responsive kinases and Sfl1.
Will Increasing Tariffs on China Really Bring the Manufacturing Plants Back to the U.S.

This paper investigates whether the recent rise in tariffs on goods produced in China will lead processing trade manufacturing plants now located in China to delocate to the U.S. By using a hypothe...
Adverse reactions after inoculation of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine and their treatment principles

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine belongs to category Ⅱ vaccine in China.Safety of Hib vaccine is good,and incidence rate of adverse reactions after Hib vaccination is low.Normal reactions after Hib vaccination include local redness,swelling and pain,and mild fever,etc.These symptoms can disappear spontaneously without treatment.Abnormal reactions after Hib vaccination include local blisters and suppuration,systemic allergic rashes and purpura,gastrointestinal reactions,and emotional abnormality,etc.These abnormal reactions can be recovered well after proper treatment. Key words: Haemophilus influenzae type b; Vaccines,conjugate; Adverse reaction; Treatment principle