cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mg2+ Dependent Modulation of Striated Muscle Myosin ATPase by Thin Filament Components

While it's been reported that non-muscle myosin such as myosin V can be regulated by Mg2+, striated muscle myosin modulation by Mg2+-concentration dependency, especially in relation to thin filament components, has not been well studied up to now. It has been suggested that ADP release (product release) from myosin V is affected by Mg2+ concentration. Therefore, Mg2+-dependent modulation of striated muscle myosin ATPase was explored in the presence of reconstituted muscle thin filament components, i.e. actin, tropomyosin and troponin. ATPase activity assays and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were employed to understand the mechanisms of ATP hydrolysis by striated muscle myosin and the role of Mg2+ in the enzymatic activity. An NMR technique called Water Ligand-Observed Gradient Spectroscopy (WaterLOGSY) was utilized to probe if the interaction of myosin with ADP (one of the products resulted from ATP hydrolysis) is different depending on Mg2+ concentration as well as the presence of muscle thin filament components. Our WaterLOGSY data demonstrated that this technique is a promising method to monitor ADP binding to myosin head S1 even in the presence of actin filaments and that there was a change in the appearance of peaks between with and without tropomyosin at a low Mg2+ concentration. This set of results indicates that the way by which myosin binds ADP is different depending on the states of thin filaments. Moreover, actomyosin S1 ATPase rate decreased as Mg2+ concentration increased. When tropomyosin was reconstituted in the thin filaments, the ATPase rate decreased more rapidly compared with actomyosin alone. Thus we conclude that Mg2+ plays an important role in striated muscle myosin ATPase and that regulatory components such as tropomyosin modulate Mg2+ dependency of myosin ATPase in the striated muscle.
Material Property Characterization of Costal Cartilage Using AFM Indentation

Costal cartilage is one of the load bearing tissues of the rib cage. Literature on the material characterization of the costal cartilage is limited. Atomic force microscopy has been extremely successful in characterizing the elastic properties of articular cartilage, but no studies have been published on costal cartilage. In this study AFM indentations on human costal cartilage were performed and compared with macro scale indentation data. Spherical beaded tips of three sizes were used for the AFM indentations. The Hertz contact model for spherical indenter was used to analyze the data and obtain the Young’s modulus. The costal cartilage was found to be almost linearly elastic till 600 nm of indentation depth. It was also found that the modulus values decreased with the distance from the junction. The modulus values from macro indentations were found to be 2-fold larger than the AFM indentation modulus.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Reconstruction for chronic scapuloclavicular instability

Seventeen young patients with chronic scapuloclavi cular instability were treated with tendon graft recon struction. Sixteen patients had sustained a Type III and one sustained a Type II injury according to All man's classification (Allman, FL: Fractures and liga mentous injuries of the clavicle and its articulation. J Bone Joint Surg 49A: 774-784, 1967). Both the coracoclavicular ligaments and the ligaments of the acromioclavicular joint were reconstructed. The op eration was performed an average of 7.6 months after injury. The followup was from 8 months to 18 years, averaging 5.1 years. After surgery, 12 patients re turned to heavy or moderately heavy work and eight engaged in athletics. All patients regained normal motion and muscle strength, except for one patient with posttraumatic hemiplegia. None required further surgery. Followup x-ray films showed no instability or degenerative changes.
Nonlinear overtaking optimal control: sufficiency, stability, and approximation

The authors consider infinite-horizon nonlinear optimal control problems with unbounded performance indexes using notions of overtaking optimality. In the framework of optimal control, new sufficient conditions of Caratheodory-Hamilton-Jacobi type for both weak overtaking and overtaking optimality are presented and compared with known results from the calculus of variations setting. Using local structural properties of a related control Hamiltonian, conclusions are drawn on aspects of existence of overtaking and weak overtaking optimal controls, stability of optimal trajectories, and approximation of weak overtaking optimal controls. Both similarities and differences among alternative approaches to overtaking, weak overtaking, and strong optimal control problems are discussed. The formulation and results are illustrated in the classical linear-quadratic tracking problem and in an optimization approach to gain scheduling.
Dynamic power management using machine learning

Dynamic power management (DPM) work proposed to date places inactive components into low power states using a single DPM policy. In contrast, we instead dynamically select among a set of DPM policies with a machine learning algorithm. We leverage the fact that different policies outperform each other under different workloads and devices. Our algorithm adapts to changes in workloads and guarantees quick convergence to the best performing policy for each workload. We performed experiments with a policy set representing state of the art DPM policies on a hard disk drive and a WLAN card. Our results show that our algorithm adapts really well with changing device and workload characteristics and achieves an overall performance comparable to the best performing policy at any point of time.
Inhibition of Dengue Virus Infections in Cell Cultures and in AG129 Mice by a Small Interfering RNA Targeting a Highly Conserved Sequence

The dengue viruses (DENVs) exist as numerous genetic strains that are grouped into four antigenically distinct serotypes. DENV strains from each serotype can cause severe disease and threaten public health in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. No licensed antiviral agent to treat DENV infections is currently available, and there is an acute need for the development of novel therapeutics. We found that a synthetic small interfering RNA (siRNA) (DC-3) targeting the highly conserved 5' cyclization sequence (5'CS) region of the DENV genome reduced, by more than 100-fold, the titers of representative strains from each DENV serotype in vitro. To determine if DC-3 siRNA could inhibit DENV in vivo, an "in vivo-ready" version of DC-3 was synthesized and tested against DENV-2 by using a mouse model of antibody-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE)-induced disease. Compared with the rapid weight loss and 5-day average survival time of the control groups, mice receiving the DC-3 siRNA had an average survival time of 15 days and showed little weight loss for approximately 12 days. DC-3-treated mice also contained significantly less virus than control groups in several tissues at various time points postinfection. These results suggest that exogenously introduced siRNA combined with the endogenous RNA interference processing machinery has the capacity to prevent severe dengue disease. Overall, the data indicate that DC-3 siRNA represents a useful research reagent and has potential as a novel approach to therapeutic intervention against the genetically diverse dengue viruses.
Whither Will They Go? A Global Study of Refugees’ Destinations, 1965–1995

A common public perception in OECD countries suggests that refugees are mostly “economic migrants” in search of a better standard of living. Does the empirical record belie this belief? The authors explore that question within a rationalist approach using aggregate-level data that allow them to explore a variety of other covariates of the choice to seek refuge in one country relative to another. In addition to wages, they consider fear of persecution, culture, and the costs of relocation. The results are at odds with the “bogus refugees” image: the effect of average wages is mediated by proximity such that higher average wages are associated with fewer refugees, except among bordering countries. In addition, refugees seek asylum in neighboring countries, especially those at war with their own country or those experiencing a civil war. Those who seek refuge in countries other than their neighbors follow colonial ties.
Dracunculiasis eradication and the legacy of the smallpox campaign: What's new and innovative? What's old and principled?

Coming on the heels the declaration of smallpox eradication in 1980 was the launch of the dracunculiasis (Guinea worm) eradication program, as a key outcome indicator of the success of the United Nations 1981-1990 International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (IDWSSD). The dracunculiasis eradication campaign has carried on well beyond the close of the IDWSSD largely due to the efforts of President Jimmy Carter and The Carter Center, to assist the national Guinea Worm Eradication Programs in collaboration with partner organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization. Dracunculiasis eradication efforts have as primary tools health education, filter distribution for drinking water filtration, and case containment, all guided by rigorous village based surveillance. Additional tools are treatment of selected water sources with ABATE(R) (temephos) larvicide and provision of protected drinking water supplies. Village volunteers provide monthly reporting of cases (including reports of zero cases). The global campaign has made remarkable progress through both innovation and adherence to eradication principles. Annual cases of dracunculiasis have decreased from 3.5 million in 1986 to less than 2000 in 2010. The challenge is to reach zero cases. The task, so often faced by eradication programs, is to finish the 'final inch' in some of the most difficult places on earth to work. In the case of dracunculiasis, that is the new Republic of South Sudan.
Optimal stochastic control for performance- and stability-robustness

A design method for discrete-time control systems that maintain stability with minimum performance degradation in the presence of a variety of deterministic and stochastic perturbation/disturbances is presented. Deterministic perturbation and modeling errors are represented by maximum deviations from a nominal linear discrete-time system, and stochastic perturbations are modeled by generalization of the sector-bound nonlinearity concept to the stochastic case. Based on the given bounds on deterministic and stochastic perturbations an upper bound on the quadratic performance index, which is useful in assessing the performance deterioration according to the feedback gain used, is found. Then the optimal feedback gain which minimizes this bound on the performance index is derived. In the time-invariant case the existence of a stabilizing property of the bound-optimal controller, which is obtained by minimizing an average cost per stage, is shown. >
Does Truth Exist? Insights From Applied Linguistics for the Rationalism/Postmodern Debate

The question of whether or not truth exists is at the center of the rationalism versus postmodern debate. Noting the difficulty of defining truth, the author uses the principles of linguistics to show that semantic skewing has resulted in the concept of truth being encoded as a noun, while it is really an attribute (true). The introduction of a metaphor—the “hourglass of truth”—enables the author to distinguish the realms of natural truth and spiritual truth. For Christians, these worlds are different, but connected by means of the declaration that Jesus is divine. The author uses this metaphor to illustrate that the conflict between adherents of different faiths is not based on disagreements over natural truth, but rather over different concepts of spiritual truth, and that, therefore, we cannot expect to resolve the differences using the principles of natural truth (such as logic). Finally, the author applies the concept of the hourglass to the rationalism-postmodern debate, and shows that it is possibl...
Cobaltous Chloride-Induced Hypothermia in Mice I: Effect of Pretreatment with Anticholinergic Drugs

The hypothermic response following intraperitoneal doses (6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg) of cobaltous chloride was investigated in Swiss albino mice. The magnitude and duration of rectal temperature depression were dose related. In each case, maximal hypothermia was evident within 30 min after injection. Body temperature depression was noted 30 min after oral, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intravenous, and intracerebral administration of cobaltous chloride. Cobalt was most active when administered intracerebrally, suggesting a central component to the thermolytic response. Rectal temperature depression following cobaltous chloride was dependent on the ambient temperature. The time course of the effect of cobaltous chloride on rectal and cutaneous tail temperature was noted. Cutaneous tail temperature depression occurred throughout the rectal temperature response, suggesting that cobalt may decrease heat production. Pretreatment with atropine sulfate, hexamethonium bromide, or nicotine failed to modify the temperature response to cobalt. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride pretreatment resulted in a partial antagonism of cobalt-induced hypothermia, presumably through a mechanism other than cholinergic blockade.
THE COASE THEOREM: ASSUMPTIONS, APPLICATIONS AND AMBIGUITIES

The consequence is that, whereas the normal way of testing a theory in positive economics is to test its conclusions, the normal way of testing a welfare proposition is to test its assumptions. The significance of this should not be overlooked. In positive economics we often simplify our assumptions as cavalierly as we please, being confident in the knowledge that their appropriateness will be tested when we come to apply the conclusions inherent in them to our observations of the world about us. In welfare economics we can entertain no such confidence. The result is that our assumptions must be scrutinized with care and thoroughness.
Distributional, biological, and nomenclatural notes on Buprestidae (Coleoptera) occurring in the U.S. and Canada

Distributional, biological and nomenclatural notes are presented for 113 species of Buprestidae from the U.S. and Canada in the following 29 genera and subgenera: Acmaeodera (s. str.) Eschscholtz 1829, Acmaeoderopsis Barr 1974, Actenodes Dejean 1833, Agaeocera Saunders 1871, Agrilaxia Kerremans 1903, Agrilus (s. str.) Curtis 1825, Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) Reitter 1911, Anthaxia (Melanthaxia) Richter 1949, Aphanisticus Latreille 1829, Brachys Dejean 1833, Buprestis (s. str.) Linnaeus 1758, Buprestis (Cypriacis) Casey 1909, Buprestis (Knulliobuprestis) Kurosawa 1988, Buprestis (Stereosa) Casey 1909, Chalcophora Dejean 1833, Chrysobothris (s. str.) Eschscholtz 1829, Dicerca (s. str.) Eschscholtz 1829, Hesperorhipis Fall 1920, Mastogenius Solier 1849, Pachyschelus Solier 1833, Paratyndaris (s. str.) Fisher 1919, Paratyndaris (Knulliella) Cobos 1980, Phaenops Dejean 1833, Polycesta (s. str.) Dejean 1833, Polycesta (Arizonica) Cobos 1981, Spectralia Casey 1909, Taphrocerus (s. str.) Solier 1833 and Xenorhipis LeConte 1866. Records include one new record for Canada, 65 new U.S. state records, 52 new larval hosts, 34 new adult hosts and 31 new flower associations. Comments on and corrections to previous literature records for other species are also made, and Agrilus neoprosopidus Knull 1938 is confirmed as a correct original spelling.
A three-dimensional folded dynamic RAM in beam-recrystallized polysilicon

A three-dimensional folded one-transistor dynamic RAM circuit consisting of an access transistor in a beam-recrystallized polysilicon layer above a storage capacitor has been fabricated. Large cell capacitance and low transistor leakage are obtained by use of multiple polysilicon layers and by folding the storage capacitor beneath the access transistor. The resulting storage times are longer than 1 min, several orders of magnitude greater than storage times in a previously published nonfolded dynamic RAM in recrystallized polysilicon [1].
The Productivity Advantage and Global Scope of U.S. Multinational Firms

This paper examines whether the productivity of U.S. business establishments is related to the extent to which their parent firms are globally engaged -- from being an exporter to being a fledgling multinational that has taken a few cautious forays into foreign markets to being a seasoned multinational with extensive foreign operations. Theory suggests that multinationals possess proprietary assets that confer a productivity advantage over their domestically-oriented rivals, and that this advantage is positively correlated with the global scope of a firm's operations. That is, those firms with the greatest productivity advantage are able to absorb the costs and overcome the risks of operating in a wide range of foreign countries, from those where it is relatively riskfree and economical to operate, to those where it is risky, difficult, and costly. This connection between the multinational's widening of its geographic scope of operations and its productivity can be self-reinforcing. Once a multinational has successfully operated in a risky environment, it may benefit from learning effects that can lower the cost and risk of further enlargement of geographic scope. The positive correlation between a firm's global engagement and its level of productivity has already been demonstrated. This paper extends that research by testing whether the correlation holds up when productivity is measured at the level of the individual establishment, rather than at the level of the consolidated business enterprise. It also examines whether the correlation between global engagement and productivity exists in non-manufacturing industries. Finally, it examines whether linkages between the multinational's domestic and foreign operations, in the form of imports of goods by the parent company from its foreign affiliates, enhance the productivity of the multinational's domestic business establishments. The findings confirm the positive correlation between global scope and productivity and demonstrate that it holds for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries. The effect of imports of goods from foreign affiliates on the productivity of the establishments of their parent firm depend on the geographic location of the affiliates: Imports from affiliates in high-income countries tend to be associated with high productivity whereas those from affiliates in low-income countries tend to be associated with low productivity. The study was made possible by combining BEA enterprise-level data on the U.S. operations of U.S. multinational firms with data on all U.S. business establishments collected by the Census Bureau in the U.S. economic census covering 2002.
Restructuring the Social Sciences: Reflections from Harvard's Institute for Quantitative Social Science

The social sciences are undergoing a dramatic transformation from studying problems to solving them; from making do with a small number of sparse data sets to analyzing increasing quantities of diverse, highly informative data; from isolated scholars toiling away on their own to larger scale, collaborative, interdisciplinary, lab-style research teams; and from a purely academic pursuit focused inward to having a major impact on public policy, commerce and industry, other academic fields, and some of the major prob- lems that affect individuals and societies. In the midst of all this productive chaos, we have been building the Institute for Quantitative Social Science at Harvard, a new type of center intended to help foster and respond to these broader developments. We offer here some suggestions from our experiences for the increasing number of other universities that have begun to build similar institutions and for how we might work together to advance social science more generally.
Dynamin-mediated Internalization of Caveolae

The dynamins comprise an expanding family of ubiquitously expressed 100-kD GTPases that have been implicated in severing clathrin-coated pits during receptor-mediated endocytosis. Currently, it is unclear whether the different dynamin isoforms perform redundant functions or participate in distinct endocytic processes. To define the function of dynamin II in mammalian epithelial cells, we have generated and characterized peptide-specific antibodies to domains that either are unique to this isoform or conserved within the dynamin family. When microinjected into cultured hepatocytes these affinity-purified antibodies inhibited clathrin-mediated endocytosis and induced the formation of long plasmalemmal invaginations with attached clathrin-coated pits. In addition, clusters of distinct, nonclathrin-coated, flask-shaped invaginations resembling caveolae accumulated at the plasma membrane of antibody-injected cells. In support of this, caveola-mediated endocytosis of labeled cholera toxin B was inhibited in antibody-injected hepatocytes. Using immunoisolation techniques an anti-dynamin antibody isolated caveolar membranes directly from a hepatocyte postnuclear membrane fraction. Finally, double label immunofluorescence microscopy revealed a striking colocalization between dynamin and the caveolar coat protein caveolin. Thus, functional in vivo studies as well as ultrastructural and biochemical analyses indicate that dynamin mediates both clathrin-dependent endocytosis and the internalization of caveolae in mammalian cells.
Perconditioning and postconditioning: current knowledge, knowledge gaps, barriers to adoption, and future directions.

The broad definition of “conditioning” is the application of a series of alternating intervals of brief ischemia (hypoxia) and reperfusion (reoxygenation) applied in the setting of prolonged ischemia causing myocardial infarction. While the conditioning stimulus is applied before the major (index) ischemic event in ischemic preconditioning, it is applied during the event in perconditioning, and applied after the event (reperfusion) in postconditioning. Studies on perconditioning have only recently demonstrated a reduction in infarct size by remote ischemia applied during transport of heart attack victims to the hospital before percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). The “conditioning” paradigm has been extended to include remote perconditioning and remote postconditioning. However, the biology of perconditioning is virtually unknown. Postconditioning has enjoyed enthusiastic attention from scientists that have done much to demonstrate that the model of triggers, mediators, and effectors used in precon...
Primary Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Hodgkin Disease of the Ileum Complicating Crohn Disease

We describe a case of primary Hodgkin disease of the terminal ileum in a 38-year-old man with Crohn disease of 24 years' duration. The infiltrate was located in an ulcerated fistula involving the terminal ileum and urinary bladder. Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants were characteristically positive for CD15, fascin, and CD30 and showed focal positivity for CD20. Epstein-Barr virus messenger RNA was also detected in the neoplastic cells. Staging revealed no evidence of other lymph node or organ involvement. Although rare, primary gastrointestinal Hodgkin disease arising in the setting of Crohn disease may have a stronger association with Epstein-Barr virus infection than conventional Hodgkin disease.
How to identify trust and reciprocity

This paper uses a three-games (or triadic) design to identify trusting and reciprocating behavior. A large literature on single-game trust and reciprocity experiments is based on the implicit assumption that subjects do not have altruistic or inequality-averse other-regarding preferences. Such experimental designs test compound hypotheses that include the hypothesis that other-regarding preferences do not affect behavior. In contrast, experiments with the triadic design do discriminate between transfers resulting from trust or reciprocity and transfers resulting from other-regarding preferences that are not conditional on the behavior of others. Decomposing trust from altruism and reciprocity from altruism or inequality aversion is critical to obtaining empirical information that can guide the process of constructing models that can increase the empirical validity of game theory.
Finite embedding theorems for partial pairwise balanced designs

Abstract The pair (P, p) is a (partial) (n, b)-PBD if (P, p) isa (partial) pairwise balanced design with the property that |P| = n and each block in p has exactly b elements. The following theorems are proved. Theorem. If (P, p) is an (n, b)-PBD and n > b ⩾ 4, then (P, p) has an isomorphic disjoint mate. (Theorem 2.3) Theorem. Suppose k and b are positive integers and b ⩾ 5. There is a constant C(k, b) such that if (P, p) is an (n, b)-PBD and n > C(k, b), then there exist k mutually disjoint isomorphic mates of (P, p). (Theorem 2.2) Theorem. Suppose k and b are positive integers, k ⩾ 2 and b ⩾ 5. If (P, p1, (P, p2),…, (P, pk) is a collection of partial (|P|, b)-PBD's, there exist k (n, b)-PBD's (X, x1), (X, x2), …, (X, xk) such that (P, p1) is embedded in (X, x1) and for i ≠ j, p1 ∩ p1 = x1 ∩ x1. Additionally the existence of certain collections valuable in embedding is explored. (Theorem 4.10)
ADHD: Does Parenting Style Matter?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition typically arising in childhood, which untreated, can have consequences reaching into adolescence and beyond. Effective pharmacological treatment is available and has become widespread in the West. Outcomes for both the child with ADHD and the parent may be influenced by the nature of interaction between them. The authors of this article aim to review published research examining the interaction between parents and their children with ADHD. A PubMed search was conducted of studies written in English between 2000 and 2007 with the keywords ADHD and parenting. Child ADHD elicits high levels of parental stress and maladaptive parenting. The presence of parental psychopathology is common and influences the parent's response to the child's ADHD symptoms. Optimizing parent-child interaction and parental psychiatric status may improve outcomes for both parent and child.
Bottom–Up-Fabricated Oxide–Metal–Semiconductor Spin-Valve Transistor

Spin-valve transistors (SVTs) employing hot-electron transport through ferromagnetic multilayers have large magnetocurrent (MC), making them a promising magnetic field sensor. However, the assembly technique required for fabricating the necessary semiconductor-metal-semiconductor structure limits their use. We have circumvented this problem with an alternative fabrication technique and show a greater than 300% MC change in SVT devices employing a sputter-deposited zinc oxide (ZnO) semiconductor emitter as hot-electron injector. The compatibility of this process to standard fabrication techniques makes it possible to integrate the SVT into present-day industrial technology.
Neural activation to babyfaced men matches activation to babies

Abstract Behavioral data supports the commonsense view that babies elicit different responses than adults do. Behavioral research also has supported the babyface overgeneralization hypothesis that the adaptive value of responding appropriately to babies produces a tendency for these responses to be overgeneralized to adults whose facial structure resembles babies. Here we show a neural substrate for responses to babies and babyface overgeneralization in the amygdala and the fusiform face area (FFA). Both regions showed greater percentage BOLD signal change compared with fixation when viewing faces of babies or babyfaced men than maturefaced men. Viewing the first two categories also yielded greater effective connectivity between the two regions. Facial qualities previously shown to elicit strong neural activation could not account for the effects. Babyfaced men were distinguished only by their resemblance to babies. The preparedness to respond to infantile facial qualities generalizes to babyfaced men in ...
The Medical Home: Growing Evidence to Support a New Approach to Primary Care

Introduction: A medical home is a patient-centered, multifaceted source of personal primary health care. It is based on a relationship between the patient and physician, formed to improve the patient’s health across a continuum of referrals and services. Primary care organizations, including the American Board of Family Medicine, have promoted the concept as an answer to government agencies seeking political solutions that make quality health care affordable and accessible to all Americans. Methods: Standard literature databases, including PubMed, and Internet sites of numerous professional associations, government agencies, business groups, and private health organizations identified over 200 references, reports, and books evaluating the medical home and patient-centered primary care. Findings: Evaluations of several patient-centered medical home models corroborate earlier findings of improved outcomes and satisfaction. The peer-reviewed literature documents improved quality, reduced errors, and increased satisfaction when patients identify with a primary care medical home. Patient autonomy and choice also contributes to satisfaction. Although industry has funded case management models demonstrating value superior to traditional fee-for-service reimbursement adoption of the medical home as a basis for medical care in the United States, delivery will require effort on the part of providers and incentives to support activities outside of the traditional face-to-face office visit. Conclusions: Evidence from multiple settings and several countries supports the ability of medical homes to advance societal health. A combination of fee-for-service, case management fees, and quality outcome incentives effectively drive higher standards in patient experience and outcomes. Community/ provider boards may be required to safeguard the public interest. (J Am Board Fam Med 2008;21: 427– 440.)
Bringing Warburg to lymphocytes

Ruslan Medzhitov describes a 2002 paper by Craig Thompson and colleagues that brought the concept of Warburg metabolism to lymphocytes.
Investigating the Robustness of Teager Energy Cepstrum Coefficients for Emotion Recognition in Noisy Conditions

This paper investigated the robustness of Teager Energy Cepstrum Coefficient (TECC) in differentiating emotion categories for speech at different White Gaussian noise levels by comparing the performance with MFCC. Experiments involved the normalized squared error measurement, the multi-classes (four classes) emotion classification and the pair-wise emotion classification. This study included four emotion categories (neutral, happy, sad, and happy) from three databases (two English, one German). The result showed that TECC performed equally or outperformed MFCC in both multi-emotion and pair-wise emotion classifications at all noise levels for all three databases. Using TECC features only, up to 89\% for the four-emotion classification and 99\% for the pair-wise emotion classification accuracy rate could be achieved.
Molecular Diagnosis of Bladder and Kidney Cancer

This chapter will review the molecular diagnosis of bladder and kidney cancer. In current clinical practice, early detection and diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma is based on urinary cytology. UroVysion™ bladder cancer fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has become a useful ancillary test in the detection of urothelial carcinoma for initial diagnosis and recurrence; this test is applicable to routine cytologic urine specimens. Multiple studies have shown that UroVysion™ FISH in voided urine and washing specimens can help in patient management due to its superior sensitivity over cytology in certain situations. Within the renal cortex, molecular studies have not achieved routine use; the most widely available tests are used to identify Xp11.2 translocations/TFE fusions for the subclassification of renal cell carcinoma.
The Narrative Rationality of Violent Extremism

Objective This essay explores the narratives that are used to justify terrorist attacks by perpetrators and their supporters. Method The author examines the ways in which narratives rationalizing violence have been constructed and repeated by Islamist extremists and, in the case of Oklahoma City bombing, by McVeigh and other members of the Patriot movement. Results The analysis of these two case studies demonstrates the power of narrative rationality to motivate terrorist acts and suggests narrative counterstrategies are key to undermining that power.
Effects of forest management on soil nitrogen in Pinus radiata stands in the Australian Capital Territory

Abstract Field ammonium and nitrate levels, and nitrogen mineralization and nitrification rates, were determined in the 0–20-cm soil layer in Pinus radiata (D. Don) stands (recently clearcut, young (5 years old) and mature (45 years old) near Canberra (A.C.T.) from 17 November 1981 to 3 May, 1982. Total nitrogen contents in the yellow podzolic soils were low ( 4 -N were
Amino Acid Requirements of Oral Lactobacilli

are presented in this report. Although the amino acid needs of some lactobacilli, particularly the strains suggested for use in microbiological assays, have been studied in considerable detail, the requirements of oral lactobacilli have been relatively neglected. In a general way, however, it is usually supposed that the amino acid requirements of lactobacilli from the mouth are probably as complex as those of lactobacilli used for assays or those from dairy and fermentation sources. Earlier attempts to cultivate oral lactobacilli in simple synthetic mediums uniformly met with failure. During the studies on vitamin requirements it became apparent that protein hydrolyzates were necessary to supply a number of amino acids and that it was advisable to supplement acid hydrolyzates with tryptophane and cystine. Aside from this recognition of the importance of a number of amino acids for oral lacto-
Roosevelt and the Munich Crisis: Insights from Prospect Theory

The use of prospect theory to explain political decision-making challenges the claim of rational choice theory to provide a more convincing account of this behavior. Because President Roosevelt's decision-making during the Munich crisis manifests a number of phenomena associated with prospect theory, including a change in the decision frame and corresponding preference reversal, risk acceptance to avoid loss, and the operation of certainty effects, it affords an opportunity to view these competing claims in the light of an actual historical case. An analysis of Roosevelt's decision-making behavior during the crisis shows that prospect theory does in fact explain it more satisfactorily than does the theory of rational choice. In addition, the analysis suggests that affect may sometimes play a role in causing decision frames to change and raises questions about Janis and Mann's account of the impact of stress on decision-making.
Cost-effectiveness of anti-tumor necrosis factor agents

Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to substantial morbidity, disability and mortality. The development of anti-tumor necrosis factor antibodies from the bench to the bedside over the past 15 years has ushered in the new era of biologic therapies for rheumatic diseases. Etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab have all been approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis on the basis of improved clinical outcomes. Because these treatments, however, are expensive and not uniformly effective, concerns have arisen regarding their cost-effectiveness. This paper reviews the disease burden of rheumatoid arthritis, costs of drug therapy, costs of rheumatoid arthritis and the economics and cost-effectiveness of anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody agents.
Life Quality Assessment in Patients with Vitiligo by SF-36 Health Survey Scale

Objective To investigate and analyse the quality of life of patients with vitiligo. Methods 140 patients with vitiligo were assessed with SF-36 scale.Results The mental component summary(MCS) in SF-36 in vitiligo patients was higher than that of healthy people.The difference was significant(P=0.000).There was no significant difference in the physical component summary (PCS)(P=0.29798). There were differences in the role limitations due to physical health (RP),the general health perceptions (GH),the social functioning (SF),the role limitations due to emotional problems (RE),mental health (MH)(P0.05). Conclution the quality of life of patients with vitiligo is poor than that of the healthy people′s.The difference is significant in MCS,but not in PCS.
Determination of dehydroacetic acid in food by capillary gas chromatography

Objective:To develop a method for the determination of dehydroacetic acid in food by capillary gas chromatography.Methods:The samples were defatted and depoteinized,and added with the hydrochloric acid.Subsequently,ethyl acetate was used to extract dehydroacetic acid,and HP-5 capillary column for separation with FID detector dection.Results:The linear range of the method was 50 μg～1000 μg,the correlation coefficient was 0.9999.The recoveries ranged from 91.4% to 100.2%.With the RSD of 0.9%～2.0%,and the detection limit was 15.0 μg.Conclusion:This method can be applied for the rapid analysis of dehydroacetic acid in food.
Diagnosis and Management of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection

The widespread use of urinary catheters is associated with a rising number of catheter-associated infections (CA-UTI) and the approach to these infections presents a diagnostic challenge due to difficulty in differentiating this entity from catheter-associated asymptomatic bacteriuria (CA-ASB). This article reviews the current literature regarding diagnosis, microbiology, treatment, and prevention of CA-UTIs. Misconceptions surrounding diagnostic technique and indications for testing result in unneeded antimicrobial administration. Due to the substantial burden of CA-UTIs, much emphasis has been placed on prevention and the most successful prevention strategies are aimed at behavioral changes to minimize unnecessary catheterizations. There are significant clinical sequelae of CA-UTIs and they pose a substantial burden on the healthcare system. Clinicians must accurately diagnose and manage CA-UTIs to prevent unnecessary antibiotic use which often leads to increasing antimicrobial resistance. In an effort to prevent CA-UTIs, healthcare systems should focus on prevention of unnecessary urinary catheterizations or prompt removal of urinary catheters once they are no longer indicated.
Improvement in the Precision and Accuracy Of a Commercially Available Insulin Radioimmunoassay Kit

Experience of more than one year with a commercially available insulin kit is reviewed. While the method is adequate as delivered, it suffers from higher than desired nonspecific binding (NSB) values and greater than desired intra-assay and interassay variations. Modifications can be made, however, which will reduce the NSB % and enhance the precision—40% reduction in standard deviation (s.d.) at 70 μ U— and accuracy of the assay. Modifications involve incubation times, pre-cooling tubes before addition of reagents, and changes in technique, making them particularly well suited to small departments without facilities and personnel to do more extensive assay optimization.
The Army in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries

Civil-military relations throughout the history of Haiti reflect the dynamics of the country’s social system and are the outcome of interactions among the government, civil society and the military. The study of the relations among these units can shed light not only on the internal cohesion of each but also on the viability or stability of the political system. In other words, the focus on civil-military relations is a productive angle from which to understand the operation of the Haitian societal system.
Ultra-sensitive determination of silver nanoparticles by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) after hydrophobization-mediated extraction

An innovative and ultra-sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) method that uses a triple-functional surfactant ligand for nanoparticle surface binding, phase transfer and SERS signal reporting was developed for silver nanoparticle (AgNP) detection. The method was able to detect 100 ng L−1 of AgNPs in aqueous samples and 2 μg g−1 AgNPs in wheat plants.
Executable Petri net models for the analysis of metabolic pathways

Computer-assisted simulation of biochemical processes is a means to augment the knowledge about the control mechanisms of such processes in particular organisms. This knowledge can be helpful for the goal-oriented design of drugs. Normally, continuous models (differential equations) are chosen for modelling such processes. The application of discrete event systems such as Petri nets has been restricted in the past to low-level modelling and qualitative analysis. To demonstrate that Petri nets are indeed suitable for simulating metabolic pathways, the glycolysis and citric acid cycle are selected as well-understood examples of enzymatic reaction chains (metabolic pathways). The paper discusses the steps that lead from gaining necessary knowledge about the involved enzymes and substances, to establishing and tuning high-level net models, to performing a series of simulations, and finally to analysing the results. We show that the consistent application of the Petri net view to these tasks has certain advantages, and – using advanced net tools – reasonable simulation times can be achieved.
A pilot study among older adults of the concordance between their self-reports to a health survey and spousal proxy reports on their behalf.

Proxy respondents are frequently used in health surveys, and the proxy is most often the spouse. Longstanding concerns linger, however, about the validity of using spousal proxies, especially for older adults. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the concordance between self-reports and spousal proxy reports to a standard health survey in a small convenience sample of older married couples. We used the Seniors Together in Aging Research (STAR) volunteer registry at the University of Iowa to identify and consent a cross-sectional, convenience sample of 28 married husband and wife couples. Private, personal interviews with each member of the married couple using a detailed health survey based on the 2012 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) instrument were conducted using computer assisted personal interviewing software. Within couples, each wife completed the health survey first for herself and then for her husband, and each husband completed the health survey first for himself and then for his wife. The health survey topics included health ratings, health conditions, mobility, instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), health services use, and preventative services. Percent of agreement and prevalence and bias adjusted kappa statistics (PABAKs) were used to evaluate concordance. PABAK coefficients indicated moderate to excellent concordance (PABAKs >0.60) for most of the IADL, health condition, hospitalization, surgery, preventative service, and mobility questions, but only slight to fair concordance (PABAKs = −0.21 to 0.60) for health ratings, and physician and dental visits. These results do not allay longstanding concerns about the validity of routinely using spousal proxies in health surveys to obtain health ratings or the number of physician and dental visits among older adults. Further research is needed in a nationally representative sample of older couples in which each wife completes the health survey first for herself and then for her husband, each husband completes the health survey first for himself and then for his wife, and both spouses’ Medicare claims are linked to their health survey responses to determine not just the concordance between spousal reports, but the concordance of those survey responses to the medical record.
A comparison of trends in operative approach and postoperative outcomes for colorectal cancer surgery

Abstract Background Data-assessing trends and perioperative outcomes relative to surgical approach for colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery are lacking. We report national trends of CRC surgery and compare postoperative outcomes by surgical approach. Methods A total of 261,886 patients undergoing surgery for CRC were identified using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2009 to 2012. Trends in surgical approach were assessed using the Cochrane–Armitage test of trends. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to compare length of stay (LOS), postoperative complications, and cost by surgical approach. Results At the time of surgery, 57.5% underwent an open procedure, whereas 42.4% underwent either a laparoscopic (39.9%) or robotic (2.5%) colorectal surgery. The use of minimally invasive surgery increased over time (2009 versus 2012: 37.3% versus 46.8%; P Conclusions Patients undergoing minimally invasive colorectal surgery had a lower postoperative morbidity and shorter LOS compared with patients undergoing open colorectal surgery.
Effect of Tin Coverage on Selectivity for Ethane Dehydrogenation over Platinum-Tin Alloys

Periodic, self-consistent generalized gradient approximation (GGA PW-91) density functional theory (DFT) was applied to study the effect of tin coverage in platinum–tin alloys in the dehydrogenation of ethane. Light alkane dehydrogenation to olefins can add significant value to hydrocarbon processes that generate ethane and propane by converting low value commodity fuels to high-value chemical and polymer precursors. Supported Pt catalysts are known to be active but show significant coke formation and deactivation, which can be reduced by alloying with Sn. Model surfaces of substitutional surface alloys of Pt and Sn were constructed with 1/4 and 1/2 of a monolayer of Pt atoms in the surface of fcc Pt(111) replaced by Sn atoms. Potential energy surfaces for all C1 and C2 derivatives from C–H and C–C bond cleavage from ethane were computed with kinetic reaction barriers obtained using the climbing-image nudged elastic band method. While the presence of Sn weakened the binding energies of all species, the ef...
A Framework for the Assessment and Management of Risks in Eastern European and Developing Countries

Human beings and the earth’s ecosystems form a symbiotic relationship such that the impacts to one entity ultimately reflect upon the other. As human influence upon the environment has intensified in response to increasing population and technological reliance, the environment has become increasingly more stressed.