cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Desensitization of beta-adrenergic receptors in adipocytes causes increased insulin sensitivity of glucose transport.

To determine the effect of desensitization of adipocyte beta-adrenergic receptors on insulin sensitivity, rats were continuously infused with isoproterenol (50 or 100 micrograms.kg-1.h-1) for 3 day...
The Expectancies in Public Sector Venture Assistance

This article uses expectancy theory as a framework for explaining how public sector venture assistance organizations affect venture creation. Public sector venture assistance organizations can posi...
Access to a pair of ambiphilic phosphine–borane regioisomers by rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration

Lewis basic substrates, such as vinylphosphines and enamines, can be problematic for transition-metal catalysed hydrofunctionalization reactions due to their propensity to ligate and deactivate transition-metal catalysts as well as form direct Lewis adducts with reaction partners. While exploring rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration of diphenylvinylphosphine with pinacolborane, we found that a high degree of regiocontrol could be achieved without the need to diminish the Lewis basicity of the phosphine by oxidation or prior-protection. At slightly elevated temperature, a high yield of the previously unreported branched regioisomer, 1-pinacolatoborono-1-diphenylphosphinoethane, was achieved with regioselectivity greater than 10 : 1 using [Rh(COD)Cl]2 as the catalyst and AgOTf as a catalytic additive. Inversion of regioselectivity occurred at low temperature and high yield of the linear regioisomer was observed. Subsequent functionalization of the new branched phosphine–boronic ester and its coordination to rhodium were also investigated.
Soil aluminum distribution in the near-stream zone at the Bear Brook watershed in Maine

Near-stream and upslope soil chemical properties were analyzed to infer linkages between soil and surface water chemistry atthe Bear Brook Watershed in Maine [BBWM]. Organic and mineral soil samples were collected along six 20 m transects perpendicular to the stream and one 200 m transect parallel tothe stream. O horizon soils immediately adjacent to the streamhad a significantly higher pH (4.20) and lower soil organic matter percentage (54%) than upslope O horizons (3.84 and 76%,respectively). Additionally, near-stream O horizon soils hadsignificantly higher concentrations of water-soluble Al (2.7 ×),exchangeable Al (2.3 ×), and organically-bound Al (3.9 ×) andsignificantly lower concentrations of exchangeable Ca (0.4 ×) than O horizons upslope. These results suggest that Al can accumulate in non-hydric near-stream zone soils at this site. Mobilization of labile Al from near-stream zone soils duringhydrologic events could play a key role in explaining controls on Al in stream water at BBWM.
Effect of furosemide and intravenous normal saline fluid load upon the renal resistive index in nonobstructed kidneys in children

AbstractRecent literature has shown that relative to baseline the renal resistive index remains unchanged in nonobstructed kidneys and increases in obstructed kidneys after administration of furosemide. To our knowledge the effect upon the renal resistive index of furosemide administered in conjunction with intravenous normal saline fluid load has not been reported. We evaluated the renal resistive index in 13 nonobstructed kidneys in 8 children 6 to 18 years old before and after furosemide and intravenous normal saline fluid load. The mean resistive index decreased from baseline (mean decrease was 0.06 ± 0.06 standard deviation), with the observation of a resistive index decrease significant to p <0.005. It appears likely that the combination of an intravenous normal saline fluid load and furosemide caused the resistive index decrease, since a decrease was not observed with furosemide alone; however, these results cannot exclude the possibility that the resistive index decrease was due to the intravenous...
The Vocation of Ministry: Grief, Groans, and Grace

In this essay, I focus on James Dittes' Minister on the Spot (1970) which addresses the inherent conflicts in the vocation of ministry in the form of a meditation (complete with scriptural texts) and When the People Say No: Conflict and the Call to Ministry (1979) which continues the examination of resistance begun in Minister on the Spot. Resistance, the clash of the people's expectations with the minister's, is the occasion for ministry.
Use of Portland Cement and Polymer Fibers to Stabilize Very High Moisture Content Fine-Grained Soils

Very high moisture content fine-grained soils are plentiful in wetlands, river basins, and after floods. They can be problematic and require disposal facilities to be constructed in some instances. Any means of handling or re-using these materials is potentially appealing. Using chemical stabilization (e.g., Portland cement) can enhance strength, but the resulting product can be brittle. Adding polymer fibers as a secondary stabilizer can add noticeable ductility while offering at least some strength and stiffness benefits. Two fiber types and Portland cement were mixed into three soils with varying properties at elevated moisture content and tested for shear strength via: (1) unconfined compression (UC), and (2) with hand-held gages. Fiber-reinforced and non-fiber-reinforced specimens were compared in terms of shear strength, elastic modulus, and ductility. Fiber addition, in general, increased shear strength, and the level of increase was affected by soil organic content. Ductility was considerably improved by fiber addition. Correlations were developed by soil type so that conservative elastic modulus values could be calculated from shear strength, and it was observed that fibers increased elastic moduli values.
Reliability and validity of measurements of cervical retraction strength obtained with a hand-held dynamometer.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the reliability and validity of measurements of cervical retraction strength obtained with a hand held dynamometer (HHD) from healthy adults.Ba...
Translational Proteomics: Driving Biomarker Discovery in the Clinical Laboratory.

Despite variability in disease surveillance statistics, malaria is widely considered a global public health concern because it causes high rates of morbidity and death, particularly in populations from developing or low- to middle-income countries. In recent years, substantial effort has been made through international collaborations to reduce the global burden and ultimately eradicate the presence of malaria. Optimization of diagnostic assays for malaria remains central to this effort and may help address the need for improved epidemiologic surveillance, population-based screening, and targeted antimalarial treatment campaigns. A recent article published in Science Translational Medicine (1) describes a novel biomarker present in human saliva that detects Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. The authors report on the discovery of 35 parasite biomarkers by leveraging mass spectrometry and proteomic profiling. Following …
3D printed coaxial nozzles for the extrusion of hydrogel tubes toward modeling vascular endothelium

Engineered tubular constructs made from soft biomaterials are employed in a myriad of applications in biomedical science. Potential uses of these constructs range from vascular grafts to conduits for enabling perfusion of engineered tissues and organs. The fabrication of standalone tubes or complex perfusable constructs from biofunctional materials, including hydrogels, via rapid and readily accessible routes is desirable. Here we report a methodology in which customized coaxial nozzles are 3D printed using commercially available stereolithography (SLA) 3D printers. These nozzles can be used for the fabrication of hydrogel tubes via coextrusion of two shear-thinning hydrogels: an unmodified Pluronic® F-127 (F127) hydrogel and an F127-bisurethane methacrylate (F127-BUM) hydrogel. We demonstrate that different nozzle geometries can be modeled via computer-aided design and 3D printed in order to generate tubes or coaxial filaments with different cross-sectional geometries. We were able to fabricate tubes with luminal diameters or wall thicknesses as small as ∼150 μm. Finally, we show that these tubes can be functionalized with collagen I to enable cell adhesion, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells can be cultured on the luminal surfaces of these tubes to yield tubular endothelial monolayers. Our approach could enable the rapid fabrication of biofunctional hydrogel conduits which can ultimately be utilized for engineering in vitro models of tubular biological structures.
Quantification of Ammonia Emissions With High Spatial Resolution Thermal Infrared Observations From the Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES) Airborne Instrument

Thermal infrared spectra can provide unique information on atmospheric ammonia enhancements, including those produced by agricultural, industrial, and biomass burning sources. In this work, we develop and test a quantitative ammonia retrieval algorithm using data from the airborne hyperspectral thermal emission spectrometer (HyTES) instrument over diverse targets, including persistent ammonia sources, such as cattle feedlots and a power plant, as well as a small, smoldering wildfire. Although no formal validation was possible due to lack of collocated observations, the HyTES ammonia values over feedlots in the California San Joaquin Valley are shown to be consistent within the estimated retrieval uncertainty of $\sim$ 20%–50% with in situ ammonia values collected over the same facilities during the 2013 DISCOVER-AQ field campaign. HyTES also observed meter-scale thermal hot spots associated with a small wildfire in Northern Arizona, which was determined to coincide with the emission of free ammonia, presumed to originate from the fire. This very localized emission source, not visible from satellite sensors, could be resolved in HyTES imagery. The ammonia enhancement immediately downwind from the smoldering fire, before the free ammonia reacted to form aerosols, was found to be distinguishable from the background with values three to ten times smaller than ammonia enhancements from the power plant and cattle feedlots, respectively. High-resolution detection and quantification of ammonia over nonpersistent sources like wildfires from HyTES shows that it is a powerful tool that can be used to improve regional scale fire emission inventories by accounting for the presence of temporally short ammonia processes.
Systemic chemotherapy and survival in patients with metastatic low-grade appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND Appendiceal cancer is a rare malignancy that exhibits a wide range of histology and treatment response. Given the rarity and heterogeneous nature of the disease, it has been difficult to define optimal treatment strategies. Our goal is to examine the association between use of systemic chemotherapy and survival in patients with metastatic low-grade mucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma. METHODS The National Cancer Database (2004-2015) was queried, and patients with mucinous, grade 1, stage IV appendiceal adenocarcinoma were identified. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival, and a Cox regression model was used to identify predictors of survival. RESULTS Six hundred and thirty-nine patients were identified. Five-year overall survival (OS) for patients undergoing no chemotherapy vs chemotherapy was 52.9% and 61.3%, respectively. After adjusting with Cox proportional hazards model, chemotherapy was not associated with OS (HR:1.1, 95% CI:0.82-1.40, P = 0.61). Patients who underwent surgical resection (HR:0.40, 95% CI:0.28-0.57, P < .001) or were female (HR:0.61, 95% CI:0.5-0.8, P < .001) had improved survival in adjusted analysis. CONCLUSIONS There is no association between undergoing chemotherapy and OS in this cohort of patients with stage IV low-grade mucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma. Development of national treatment guidelines is urgently needed for more consistency in the management of patients with appendiceal cancers.
Universality in Numerical Computation with Random Data: Case Studies, Analytical Results and Some Speculations

We discuss various universality aspects of numerical computations using standard algorithms. These aspects include empirical observations and rigorous results. We also make various speculations about computation in a broader sense.
Phase I immunotherapy trial using glioblastoma apoptotic body-pulsed dendritic cells.

2546 Background: We recently reported that tumor cell vaccines cultured in 5% oxygen (O2) had enhanced the immunogenicity relative to those grown in standard atmospheric O2. In order to develop an ...
Generation of Distinct Patterns of Rheumatoid Arthritis Autoantigens by Peptidylarginine Deiminase Types 2 and 4 During Perforin-Induced Cell Damage.

Objective To address the independent roles of peptidylarginine deiminase type 2 (PAD2) and PAD4 in generating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) autoantigens by using a system that mimics intracellular citrullination in the RA joint. Methods PAD2- or PAD4-expressing 293T cells and mock-transfected cells were used as targets in cytotoxic assays using lymphokine-activated killer cells, cytotoxic YT cell granule contents, or purified human perforin. Protein citrullination and autoantigen production were determined by immunoblotting using the anti-modified citrulline-Senshu method and RA sera (n = 30), respectively. Results RA sera recognized at least 3 categories of autoantigens in PAD-expressing target cells killed by the cytotoxic lymphocyte granule-induced death pathway. These included: 1) autoantigens targeted in their native form, 2) citrullinated antigens, and 3) antigens cleaved by cytotoxic proteases (e.g., granzymes). Interestingly, although target cells expressing PAD2 or PAD4 showed prominent hypercitrullination of a broad range of proteins during cytotoxic granule-induced cell damage, autoantibodies in RA sera targeted only a very limited number of antigens in hypercitrullinated cells. Furthermore, RA sera showed distinct reactivities to autoantigens generated by PAD2 or PAD4. Conclusion The cytotoxic granule-induced death pathway has the capacity to modify antigens by inducing hypercitrullination and antigen cleavage in target cells. Interestingly, among a large number of citrullinated proteins generated by PAD2 and PAD4 in cells, only a few are likely involved in the production of autoantibodies in RA.
The Vibration Behavior of Sub‐Micrometer Gas Vesicles in Response to Acoustic Excitation Determined via Laser Doppler Vibrometry

The ability to monitor sub‐micrometer gas vesicles' (GVs) vibration behavior to nonlinear buckling and collapse using laser Doppler vibrometry is reported, providing a precise noncontact technique for monitoring the motion of sub‐micrometer objects. The fundamental and first harmonic resonance frequencies of the vesicles are found to be 1.024 and 1.710 GHz, respectively. An interparticle resonance is furthermore identified at ≈300 MHz, inversely dependent upon the agglomerated GV size of around 615 nm. Most importantly, the vesicles amplify and broaden input acoustic signals at far lower frequencies—for example, 7 MHz—associated with medical and industrial applications, and they are found to transition from a linear to nonlinear response at 150 kPa and to collapse at 350 kPa or greater.
Random walk on the Poincaré disk induced by a group of Möbius transformations.

We consider a discrete-time random motion, Markov chain on the Poincare disk. In the basic variant of the model a particle moves along certain circular arcs within the disk, its location is determined by a composition of random Mobius transformations. We exploit an isomorphism between the underlying group of Mobius transformations and ℝ to study the random motion through its relation to a one-dimensional random walk. More specifically, we show that key geometric characteristics of the random motion, such as Busemann functions and bipolar coordinates evaluated at its location, and hyperbolic distance from the origin, can be either explicitly computed or approximated in terms of the random walk. We also consider a variant of the model where the motion is not confined to a single arc, but rather the particle switches between arcs of a parabolic pencil of circles at random times.
Translation of forms of address from Portuguese to Turkish through English: The case of José Saramago’s A Jangada de Pedra

The study of forms of address in translation is a type of register analysis that provides an interesting insight into the way specific linguistic patterns are transferred from one language to another. This article explores how the forms of address are rendered in the Turkish translation of A Jangada de Pedra (1986) by the Portuguese author Jose Saramago. Paratextual and textual analyses demon­strate that this work has been translated into Turkish through the English translation of the book, and that the English translation has influenced the choices of the Turkish translator. The findings of the study seem to support the hypothesis that using a mediating language/text that lacks similar forms of address as the ultimate source and the target languages/texts can cause shifts in tenor, which results in a different reading of interpersonal relationships between fictional characters in the target text.
Generation mean analysis of inheritance of insensitivity to ozone injury in two crosses of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The inheritance of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) foliar insensitivity to ozone (03) was studied using generation mean analyses (GMA) as the genetic design. The following GMAs were evaluated: ‘Bush Blue Lake (BBL) 290’ x PI 304833, and ‘BBL 254’ x PI 300657. The six populations (P,, P2, F,, F2, F, x P,, and F, x P2) comprising a GMA from each cross were planted in 15 cm plastic pots as a randomized complete block design with three replications. When unifoliate leaves were about two-third expanded and maximally sensitive to 03 they were fumigated with non-filtered ambient (NF) + 0.06 ppm 03 concentration in open top field-fumigation chambers. Data on percent leaf 03 injury were recorded. The mean rated values of the incidence of O, injury in the F, generation were lower than the mid-parent values in both crosses, suggesting that insensitivity may be dominant over sensitivity. A genetic model with additive-dominance effects was fitted to generation means in ‘BBL 290’ x PI 304833, and ‘BBL 254’ x PI 300657 and...
Radiobiological Principles Underlying Stereotactic Radiation Therapy

We review the radiobiological principles underlying stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) and their clinical applications to single- and multi-fraction radiotherapy—both for malignant tumors, benign tumors, and vascular disorders. The classic radiobiological phenomena of repair, reoxygenation, and repopulation (the three Rs) are discussed, as well as their relationship to cell death, a clearly important mechanism by which radiotherapy produces both tumor control and normal tissue complications. Mechanistic models of radiotherapeutic response are useful for calculating isoeffect relationships for alternate fractionation schemes and for understanding the underlying biophysical mechanisms of radiation response. The linear–quadratic (LQ) formalism, which models the three Rs, is now almost universally used for isoeffect calculations of different fractionation and protraction schemes. While other radiobiological mechanisms at high doses per fraction have been shown in the laboratory, there is to date no clinical evidence of their relevance to SRT response, and the LQ model appears to be appropriate for use at all the doses and fractionation schemes of relevance to SRT. Rather than new biological mechanisms, recent analyses of clinical data suggest that the great success of SRT is primarily related to its improved conformal dose delivery that permits significant escalation of the biologically effective doses.
PDE-5 inhibition and sexual response: pharmacological mechanisms and clinical outcomes.

Phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are a new class of vasoactive drugs that have been developed for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). The mechanism of action involves active inhibition of the PDE-5 enzyme and resulting increase in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and smooth muscle relaxation in the penis. Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is a potent and selective PDE-5 inhibitor, which is the first drug in this class to be approved for treatment of ED. More than 10 million men worldwide have been treated with this drug. Sildenafil has been shown to be generally effective in the treatment of ED, although the degree of efficacy varies according to the etiology and severity of the disorder. The drug is well tolerated, with relatively few contraindications (e.g., nitrates) and safety risks. The cardiovascular effects of sildenafil, in particular, have been extensively investigated. The results of recent studies suggest that sildenafil may have an additional role in the treatment of other male and female sexual disorders, such as premature ejaculation and female sexual arousal disorder, although results to date are inconclusive. Two additional agents in this class (tadalafil [Cialis], vardenafil [Levitra]) have been developed recently and are under regulatory review. Tadalafil is a long-acting PDE-5 inhibitor, which is effective for up to 36 hr in the majority of men. Vardenafil has a similar duration of action to sildenafil, but is more potent and selective biochemically. Both drugs appear to be generally safe and well tolerated, with a similar side-effect profile to sildenafil. There are no controlled comparison studies to date. Despite the overall effectiveness of PDE-5 inhibitors in the treatment of ED, significant psychological and interpersonal issues need to be addressed in their clinical use. The potential impact on societal attitudes toward sexuality and sexual dysfunction also warrants consideration.
Synthesis of asynchronous circuits-testing unique circuit behavior of signal transition graphs

An important work related to the synthesis of asynchronous circuits from a signal transition graph (STG) specification is studied in this paper. The work is to test the satisfaction of one-token restriction. The one-token restriction is essential for an STG to avoid possible ambiguity in a behavioral specification. A graph reduction method which uses five reduction operations: series, parallel, unique-cycle, group-collapse, and conflict-block reductions, is proposed to achieve the task. Experimental results show that our proposed techniques are also very efficient for STGs of very large sizes.
Preprototype of an automated microbial detection and identification system: a developmental investigation.

The AutoMicrobic System is an automated, computerized instrument that uses highly selective media and an optical system for detection, enumeration, and identification of bacteria and some yeasts in 13 h. A preprototype instrument (AutoMicrobic System-1) and its urine culture kit (Identi-Pak), developed for the detection, enumeration, and identification of eight species or groups of bacteria and of Candida species and Torulopsis glabrata in urine specimens, was evaluated during its development. An overall agreement of approximately 90% between the preprototype instrument and conventional (manual) culture methods has been obtained both with 1,473 seeded (simulated) and 1,688 clinical (mono- or polymicrobial) specimens containing 70,000 (or more) colony-forming units per ml of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella-Enterobacter species, Proteus species, Citrobacter freundii, Serratia species, group D enterococci, or yeasts (Candida species and T. glabrata). Lower agreements in identification were obtained with Pseudomonas aeruginosa-containing (average of 75% in clinical specimens) and Staphylococcus aureus-containing (76%) specimens. Comparison of specimens tested simultaneously in two preprototype systems resulted in ⋜4% disagreement; true negativity agreements in all specimen groups tested were at least 94%. Among problems remaining are adaptation of system for specimens other than urine, improvement of sensitivity for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, and standardization of manual methods used for comparison and validation.
Absolutely continuous Jacobi operators

We show (among other results) that a symmetric Jacobi matrix whose diagonal is the zero sequence and whose super-diagonal h n > 0 satisfies h 2n-1 = h 2n , h k ≤ h k+1 and 0 < b ≤ h 2k+1 /k+1 ≤ h 2k /k has purely absolutely continuous spectrum when considered as a self-adjoint operator on l 2 (N).
Sex pheromone mimics of the American cockroach.

DURING an investigation of several essential oil preparations for juvenile hormone activity1, we discovered that a volatile component(s) in several coniferyl needle distillates stimulated apparent sexual excitement in male American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana (L.). The response, consisting of movement, wing flutter, extended abdomen and attempted copulation, was behaviourally identical to that elicited by the natural sex pheromone of this insect2 and in marked contrast to the behaviour (hyperactivity) induced by exposure to highly irritating chemicals such as amyl acetate.
Mechanistic insight into acetylcholinesterase inhibition and acute toxicity of organophosphorus compounds: a molecular modeling study.

Acute toxicity of organophosphorus (OP) compounds results mainly from irreversible acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition; however OP toxicity frequently hinges on prior biotransformations that pro...
Principals and job satisfaction

Building principals, as well as most educators, are typically satisfied with their overall jobs. However, some specific aspects of work are not rated as favorably as others. This study investigated the relationship of factors, such as gender, size of enrollment, and years of experience, to principalship job satisfaction. A survey sample of American midwestern elementary, middle, and senior high school principals responded to the Principals Job Satisfaction Survey (PJSS). The PJSS was based on Herzberg’s Motivation‐Hygiene Theory. Eight components of job satisfaction were compared with four principalship descriptive variables. PJSS was mailed to 500 principals and 226 survey forms were returned and useable, which resulted in a 45.2 percent return rate. Chi‐square analyses revealed the relationships and differences between the independent and dependent variables. It was found that American midwestern principals were generally satisfied with their current job, colleagues/co‐workers and level of responsibility. However, they were less satisfied with their pay, opportunities for advancement, and fringe benefits.
Laser welding: state of the art review

Since its initial development, the laser has been hailed as a potentially useful welding tool for a variety of applications. The scope for technical and commercial laser welding applications has increased greatly since the development of multikilowatt CW CO2 lasers around 1970. The laser’s capability of generating a power density greater than 106 watts/cm2 is a primary factor in establishing its potential for welding. Numerous experiments have shown that the laser permits high-quality precision weld joints rivaled only by electron beam. This article will present the state of the art of laser welding by reviewing recent work in the field.
A compact time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer for high‐flux cosmic dust analysis

[1] Time-of-flight mass spectrometers on spacecraft are the most direct method for determining chemical composition of cosmic dust grains. Miniaturization of these instruments presents many challenges. Larger space-charge effects, greater deviations from the paraxial approximation, and various ion-optical aberrations negatively affect mass resolution in small time-of-flight instruments. We report on the building and testing of an instrument design that may reduce these effects. In addition to a linear reflectron, ions pass through a ring aperture that transmits only those ions with transverse velocity components that fall within a specific range. This novel design focuses ions onto a detector with greatly reduced spherical aberration. Space-charge effects and the effects of impact plate cratering and grid scatter are also reduced using this design. Controlled impacts of iron microparticles at several km/s demonstrate instrument performance. This instrument is suited for characterization of cosmic dust in regions of very high dust flux, such as a comet flyby, and it may also have practical laboratory or field applications.
Relationship Between Headaches and Depression

Previous research has documented the therapeutic effects of antidepressant medications on chronic headaches, implying the etiological role of depression in some headache. Clinical experience indicates patients suffering from chronic headaches frequently become depressed because of the refractory head pain. The current study demonstrated that reduction of headaches leads to reduction of depression, implying the etiological role of headaches in depression. The need to further clarify the relation between depression and headaches is emphasized.
Accelerator-rich CMPs: From concept to real hardware

Application-specific accelerators provide 10-100× improvement in power efficiency over general-purpose processors. The accelerator-rich architectures are especially promising. This work discusses a prototype of accelerator-rich CMPs (PARC). During our development of PARC in real hardware, we encountered a set of technical challenges and proposed corresponding solutions. First, we provided system IPs that serve a sea of accelerators to transfer data between userspace and accelerator memories without cache overhead. Second, we designed a dedicated interconnect between accelerators and memories to enable memory sharing. Third, we implemented an accelerator manager to virtualize accelerator resources for users. Finally, we developed an automated flow with a number of IP templates and customizable interfaces to a C-based synthesis flow to enable rapid design and update of PARC. We implemented PARC in a Virtex-6 FPGA chip with integration of platform-specific peripherals and booting of unmodified Linux. Experimental results show that PARC can fully exploit the energy benefits of accelerators at little system overhead.
Beyond endocytosis: LRP function in cell migration, proliferation and vascular permeability.

Summary. The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor related protein (LRP1 or LRP) is a large endocytic receptor widely expressed in several tissues and known to play roles in areas as diverse as lipoprotein metabolism, degradation of proteases, activation of lysosomal enzymes and cellular entry of bacterial toxins and viruses. This member of the LDL receptor superfamily is constitutively endocytosed from the membrane and recycled back to the cell surface. Its many functions were long thought to involve its ability to bind over 30 different ligands and deliver them to lysosomes for degradation. However, LRP has since been shown to interact with scaffolding and signaling proteins via its intracellular domain in a phosphorylation-dependent manner and to function as a co-receptor partnering with other cell surface or integral membrane proteins. This multi-talented receptor has been implicated in regulation of platelet derived growth factor receptor activity, integrin maturation and recycling, and focal adhesion disassembly. These functions may account for recent studies identifying LRP's role in protection of the vasculature, regulation of cell migration, and modulation of the integrity of the blood–brain barrier.
Split-Match-Aggregate SMA algorithm: integrating sidewalk data with transportation network data in GIS

Sidewalk geodata are essential to understand walking behavior. However, such geodata are scarce, only available at the local jurisdiction and not at the regional level. If they exist, the data are stored in geometric representational formats without network characteristics such as sidewalk connectivity and completeness. This article presents the Split-Match-Aggregate SMA algorithm, which automatically conflates sidewalk information from secondary geometric sidewalk data to existing street network data. The algorithm uses three parameters to determine geometric relationships between sidewalk and street segments: the distance between streets and sidewalk segments; the angle between sidewalk and street segments; and the difference between the lengths of matched sidewalk and street segments. The SMA algorithm was applied in urban King County, WA, to 13 jurisdictions’ secondary sidewalk geodata. Parameter values were determined based on agreement rates between results obtained from 72 pre-specified parameter combinations and those of a trained geographic information systems GIS analyst using a randomly selected 5% of the 79,928 street segments as a parameter-development sample. The algorithm performed best when the distances between sidewalk and street segments were 12 m or less, their angles were 25° or less, and the tolerance was set to 18 m, showing an excellent agreement rate of 96.5%. The SMA algorithm was applied to classify sidewalks in the entire study area and it successfully updated sidewalk coverage information on the existing regional-level street network data. The algorithm can be applied for conflating attributes between associated, but geometrically misaligned line data sets in GIS.
The use of design descriptions in automated diagnosis

Abstract This paper describes a device-independent diagnostic program called dart. dart differs from previous approaches to diagnosis taken in the Artificial Intelligence community in that it works directly from design descriptions rather than mycin -like symptom-fault rules. dart differs from previous approaches to diagnosis taken in the design-automation community in that it is more general and in many cases more efficient. dart uses a device-independent language for describing devices and a device-independent inference procedure for diagnosis. The resulting generality allows it to be applied to a wide class of devices ranging from digital logic to nuclear reactors. Although this generality engenders some computational overhead on small problems, it facilitates the use of multiple design descriptions and thereby makes possible combinatoric savings that more than offsets this overhead on problems of realistic size.
Metal-Decorated Silica Nanowires: An Active Surface-Enhanced Raman Substrate for Cancer Biomarker Detection

Controlling the annealing kinetics of metal-ion-implanted silicon resulted in the evolution of metallic nanoclusters in dielectric silica nanowires in a single heat treatment. This metallic nanocluster/dielectric nanowire composite serves as an excellent surface-enhanced Raman (SER) substrate, exhibiting a sensitivity of 1 × 107 toward Interleukin-10, a cancer biomarker, with high spatial resolution. The new SER configuration also separates the plasmon phenomenon of the adsorbate molecules from the electronic resonances of the substrate. Implementation of such a generic configuration on silicon (Si) would facilitate a wide variety of applications, which include integrated microRaman on chip, a multimodal sensing platform for biodiagnostics, and a sensitizing medium for enriching the optical activity of erbium (Er).
The rise of renters and renting in Texas colonias

Abstract Owner-occupied housing is the norm in the low-income, informal settlements along the US–Mexico border known as colonias . As a result, renters and renting have been largely overlooked by both scholars and policymakers. Using GIS technology and data provided by the US Census Bureau from 2000 to 2011, this article is the first to 1) document the growth of renting in these settlements in recent years and the nature and extent of the rental market, and 2) explore important differences between owner and renter households and the myriad ways in which colonia renters are more vulnerable than homeowners. The results suggest that renting in colonias is largely informal and occurs primarily in single-unit homes, many of which were built via self-help by the owner and have since been converted to rental property. As a result of these findings, it is argued that renting in colonias more closely resembles the rental market in informal settlements throughout the developing world than it does the rental market elsewhere in Texas, and thus the rise of renting in colonias presents unique challenges that merit attention by both scholars and policymakers. The article concludes by drawing upon insights from research on renting in the developing world in order to highlight key policy priorities regarding renting in colonias .
Slave executions in the United States: A descriptive analysis of social and historical factors

Abstract Virtually no death penalty research has focused on slave executions in the United States. To correct for this deficiency, this article constructs a descriptive profile of slave executions using M. Watt Espy's index of executions in the United States—better known as The Espy File. The construction of a descriptive profile of slave executions is important because analyses of capital punishment in the United States have not delineated the socio-historical relevance of slavery to the execution of blacks. As an augmentation to the research record regarding the general population of executed prisoners, the profile documents the date, method, and jurisdiction of execution, the criminal offense for which the prisoner was executed, and whether the execution involved compensation paid to the slave owner. The descriptive profile suggests that slave executions are associated with the institutionalization of slavery; a correspondence between geographical regionalization and the execution of slaves; that execution was a means of punishing slaves for participation in slave revolts; and that slave executions are directly related to prohibitions against miscegenation.
Cutaneous lesions in cryofibrinogenemia

Intolerance au froid et purpura cutane avec erytheme et gonflement au niveau de plusieurs doigts et orteils chez une enfant de 2 ans 1/2 associes a une augmentation du cryofibrinogene sanguin. Amelioration spontanee
A text of two titles: Kant’s ‘A renewed attempt to answer the question: “Is the human race continually improving?’’’

Abstract The essay, ‘A renewed attempt to answer the question: “Is the human race continually improving?”’ appeared as Part II of Kant’s 1798 publication, The conflict of the faculties , where it was subordinated under a second title: ‘The conflict of the philosophy faculty with the faculty of law’. How did this new situation (and title) affects the meaning of the essay? My argument considers first, the conflict of the faculty of philosophy with the faculty of law; second, the earlier philosophy of history Kant had developed; and, finally, the revision of this position in ‘A renewed attempt’. The situation of his argument in the contest between the philosophical and the legal faculties points to other veins of argumentation in Kant’s political theory, particularly his appeal to a principle of publicity, but they hardly achieve the theoretical clarity or the systematic centrality they should command. They are displaced in the quest for prediction of the future history of mankind. The question of human progress exceeds the frame of the coordination of the university, and the main question must remain: what was new in Kant’s approach to the question of human progress, and was it in fact an enhancement of his philosophy of history? In those terms, ‘A renewed attempt’ must be regarded a distinct failure. Its innovations prove problematic. Its retreats and equivocations, moreover, threaten to undermine the grander vision of Kant’s philosophical history and his political theory, entangling them in an unacceptably theological recourse.
Ultrasound contrast agents for prostate imaging and biopsy

Abstract Transrectal gray scale ultrasound (TRUS)–directed prostate biopsy is the standard technique used to diagnose prostate cancer. While prostate cancer can often be detected as a hypoechoic lesion, the ability to differentiate malignant foci based on TRUS imaging lacks sufficient sensitivity and specificity to use the ultrasound image alone to direct the biopsy. To compensate for these limitations, increasing the numbers of prostate biopsies from the standard six to 10–12 or more has been advocated. Enhanced TRUS techniques such as color Doppler have also been investigated but are not particularly useful in most patients. The use of ultrasound contrast agents is a new approach to identify malignant lesions in the prostate. These agents contain microbubbles that are administered intravenously and can enhance standard gray scale and Doppler images of the prostate. Altered vascular anatomy around malignant lesions is thought to be the reason that these contrast agents enhance the detection of cancer. Ultrasound contrast agents offer the potential to allow more targeted biopsy of the prostate and improve accuracy in the diagnosis of cancer.
Treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma in pediatric patients

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare and often aggressive malignancy, mostly affecting asbestos exposed adults. We present four pediatric peritoneal cases treated with a cisplatin-based doublet regimen, the standard of care in the systemic therapy of adult mesothelioma. Treatment was well tolerated, and three of these patients have achieved long-term survival. The fathers of three of the patients worked in the construction industry and may have been the source of indirect asbestos exposure. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:127–129. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Enterprise Resource Planning: A Trio of Resources

Abstract Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems offer a better way to help manage and improve plant and business processes. As processing plants turn increasingly to ERP to run operations, they must use a trio of technology resources to control ERP systems. This trio of resources – standards, ERP software such as SAP, and middleware or third-party software – is integrating the plant floor to the business floor to make ERP a success.
Exploring Music Intervention With Restrained Patients

Roy's Adaptation Model is used in a case study approach to begin examining the potential of music intervention in hospitalized, restrained patients. Restraints were removed during the time in which the patient listened to a musical tape through a headset. Mr. D, presented in this case study, was one of the 30 medical-surgical patients who participated. His observable positive behaviors increased from 10 during the preintervention period to 12 during the musical intervention. Mr. D displayed no negative behaviors during the entire study period.
SU-GG-J-164: Real-Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Guidance and Thermal Modeling to Focus Hyperthermia Delivery

Purpose: Hyperthermia is an effective adjuvant modality for treatment of locally advanced cancer. However, focusing heat in the tumor using an external microwave applicator can be difficult, due to electromagnetic wave reflections at tissue interfaces. We present a methodology to steer heating towards the desired focus in real‐time, using MR thermal images for feedback. Method and Materials: The treatment control platform is based on repeated MR proton resonance frequency shift thermal imaging of the treatment volume over the course of the treatment. A cylindrical applicator with 4 independent pairs of dipole patch antennas (140MHz) is used as a heat source. The control process consists of iteratively constructing and updating a model for the heated object. At each iteration, the current model is employed to compute the optimal antenna settings (settings that the model predicts to focus heating in the target). These settings are applied to obtain the next thermal image, which is utilized in the next iteration to update the model. Thus, the algorithm progressively steers focusing while updating the model. We report on the convergence efficiency of the algorithm and importance of prior system knowledge (pretreatment simulations). Results: The experiments conducted on a cylindrical muscle‐equivalent phantom demonstrated that, for the 4‐antenna applicator, 16 iterations were sufficient to converge to the optimal thermal coverage of tumor. If prior knowledge was used, only 12 iterations were necessary to reach convergence from a starting focus that is positionally rotated 90° with respect to the desired focus. For a smaller positional rotation of 50°, 3 iterations were sufficient for convergence. The ratio of tumor to normal tissue heating after convergence improved by a factor of 3–6, compared to the initial ratio. Conclusion: Real‐time adaptive thermal modeling enables fast convergence to the optimal treatment of the patient and corrects for dynamic system changes.
Childhood and adolescent sexual abuse and subsequent sexual risk behavior: Evidence from controlled studies, methodological critique, and suggestions for research

Childhood and adolescent sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with a wide variety of adverse psychological and health outcomes, including negative sexual health outcomes. In this paper, we review the literature investigating the relation between CSA and subsequent sexual risk behaviors among men and women. Previous research has found a relatively consistent association between CSA and higher rates of sexual risk behaviors, particularly sex trading, more sexual partners, and an earlier age of first intercourse. However, there are a number of limitations to this research, including lack of a consistent definition of CSA, failure to investigate gender as a moderator, and possible confounding of the CSA experience with some of the sexual behavior outcome variables. Further, although there appears to be an association between CSA and later sexual risk behavior, researchers have not established whether this association is causal. Suggestions for future research and implications for clinical practice are discussed.
A closed- versus open-set measure of speech discrimination in normally hearing young and elderly adults.

This investigation sought to determine whether the pattern of performance differed between young and elderly normally hearing adults on a closed v. open-set discrimination task. The California Consonant Test was administered at 32 dB SL (re: SRT) to 20 young and 20 elderly normally hearing subjects under two conditions: one which required subjects to mark their response on a multiple choice answer form; and a second which required subjects to provide a one-word written response on a blank answer form. The only significant difference occurred within the young group between conditions (closed-set, open-set). The young group's speech discrimination was significantly better in the closed-set condition then in the open-set condition. No other differences were significant. The results question the concept of phonemic regression as a concomitant of ageing.
Trace detection of NO 2 using cavity ring-down spectroscopy and a diode laser

A violet multi-mode diode laser and cavity ring-down spectroscopy were used to detect trace amounts of NO 2 . The laser excites multiple cavity modes, simplifying the detector alignment and making it less susceptible to vibration.
Sub/Supraependymal Axonal Net in the Brains of Sharks and Probable Targets in Parasynaptic Relationship

A sub/supraependymal system of varicose axons in the tectal midline ridge formation of shark brains is described. Lengths of axons and their terminals are seen freestanding in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as well as in close contiguity with the large CSF-contacting and supraependymal mesencephalic trigeminal neurons of the midline ridge formation. The relationship of axonal varicosities and terminals to both CSF and supraependymal somata is such as to suggest a nonsynaptic association. This finding is discussed in the context of its utility in testing the concept of parasynaptic modulation in vertebrate brains. The topographical arrangement described is one in which the essential operational elements of parasynaptic activity can be identified in a neuronal assemblage whose functional association is known.