cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heliothis virescens and H. zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Dosage Effects of Feeding Mixtures of Bacillus thuringiensis and a Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus on Mortality and Growth

Tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), and corn earworm, H. zea (Boddie), were reared on diets containing various concentrations of the multiple-embedded, nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) from H. armigera (Hubner) and Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) ( B.t. ) (HD-1 isolate), both individually and as mixtures. Addition of NPV did not significantly affect the 7-day mortality due to normally lethal concentrations of B.t. , but the addition of B.t. to normally lethal concentrations of NPV reduced mortality. An apparent synergistic relationship occurred between the pathogens at a normally sublethal concentration. H. virescens larvae fed on NPV were smaller at all concentrations tested, but their weight was not related to concentration of the virus. Weight of surviving H. zea larvae was affected only by high concentrations of NPV. Normally sublethal concentrations of B.t. affected larval weight of both species, and the weights were inversely proportional to the concentration of B.t.
Studies of 4 He emission in both fusion-like and inelastic reactions of 340-MeV 40 Ar+ 238 U

The fission-fragment angular correlation technique has been used in conjunction with a position-sensitive avalanche detector to identify the fusion-like and inelastic collisions of 340-MeV40Ar+238U. For each of these two reaction types, we have characterized the correlated4He emission by measuring three-fold coincidences between two fission fragments and the light charged particle. We find an abundance of both evaporation-like and direct4He emission, each of which is associated with both fusion-fission and sequential-fission processes. Several comparison tests of both the coincidence and singles data strongly indicate that very little4He emission is due to evaporation from accelerated fission fragments in this system. The evaporative4He emission appears instead to have a strong contribution originating from the composite system prior to fission. The forward angle4He emissions, characterized by prominent forward-peaking and relatively high energies, suggest an origin associated with the very early stages of the collision.
Effectiveness of Botran and DPX 965 as Growth Inhibitors of Ascosphaera aggregate (Ascosphaeraceae) in the Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee (Hymenoptera: Megachilida)

We examined the correlation among different concentrations of Botran, DPX 965-75%, or DPX 965-50% (incorporated in artificial provision laden with spores of Aseosphaera aggregata Skou), the incidence of chalkbrood, and larval mortality of alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megaehile rotundata (F.). We noted a clear margin of safety between the high concentration that might kill larvae and low concentration needed to achieve substantial fungal control for Botran and DPX 965-75%; concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5% reduced the >90% incidence of chalkbrood to <6% with little effect on larval health. When a concentration at 20% DPX 965-75% was added to provision, prepupal weight was significantly reduced. Prepupal weight also was reduced when Botran was added at ≿2:0.75%.
Employment Variability Under Different Managerial Compensation Systems

Variability in employment levels, particularly when resulting from downsizing and layoffs, has considerable consequences for employees and organizations. Applying strategic compensation and agency ...
Low-speed Aerodynamic Investigations of a Hybrid Wing Body Configuration

Two low-speed static wind tunnel tests and a water tunnel static and dynamic forced-motion test have been conducted on a hybrid wing-body (HWB) twinjet configuration. These tests, in addition to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, have provided a comprehensive dataset of the low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of this nonproprietary configuration. In addition to force and moment measurements, the tests included surface pressures, flow visualization, and off-body particle image velocimetry measurements. This paper will summarize the results of these tests and highlight the data that is available for code comparison or additional analysis.
Discourse on develop static state indicator of the 4135 type diesel oil sump lubricant surface

Analysed the problem of that there is no static state indicator of lubricant surface in the 4135 type diesel oil sump.The author demonstrates and develops to the question.The author explains principle,key technology and trait of the indicator.
Malpractice and malcontent: Analyzing medical complaints in twitter

In this paper we report preliminary results from a study of Twitter to identify patient safety reports, which offer a immediate, untainted, and expansive patient perspective unlike any other mechanism to date for this topic. We identify patient safety related tweets and characterize them by which medical populations caused errors, who reported these errors, what types of errors occurred, and what emotional states were expressed in response. Our long term goal is to incorporate this patient input into the patient safety process to improve the handling and reduce occurrence of error.
Computer-Based Vertebral Tumor Cryoablation Planning and Procedure Simulation Involving Two Cases Using MRI-Visible 3D Printing and Advanced Visualization.

OBJECTIVE. We report the development and use of MRI-compatible and MRI-visible 3D printed models in conjunction with advanced visualization software models to plan and simulate safe access routes to achieve a theoretic zone of cryoablation for percutaneous image-guided treatment of a C7 pedicle osteoid osteoma and an L1 lamina osteoblastoma. Both models altered procedural planning and patient care. CONCLUSION. Patient-specific MRI-visible models can be helpful in planning complex percutaneous image-guided cryoablation procedures.
Single crystal emitter gap for epitaxial Si- and SiGe-base transistors

An epitaxial base bipolar technology has been used for fabrication of graded SiGe-based HBTs (heterojunction bipolar transistors) or Si-base pseudo-HBTs with a self-aligned in-situ doped n-type low-temperature epitaxial (LTE) emitter. The thin LTE emitter provides an EB junction with low tunneling current and low capacitance in a n+ poly/n/p+/n thin base HBT design with very high base doping. The authors report on Si and SiGe devices utilizing a 40 nm P doped LTE emitter with an n+ poly contact and silicided p+ poly extrinsic base contact. Nearly ideal DC characteristics were obtained for a device with a peak base doping concentration of over 1*10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/. 44 GHz f/sub T/ devices with an AC base resistance of only 150 Omega were used to fabricate 24 ps ECL (emitter coupled logic) and 19 ps NTL ring oscillators to demonstrate the performance potential of the structure. >
A Framework for Globalizing the Introductory Marketing Course

(1991). A Framework for Globalizing the Introductory Marketing Course. Marketing Education Review: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 56-61.
Theoretical and experimental manipulation of plasmon-polariton bandgaps at infrared frequencies in indium-tin-oxide nanorod arrays

The artificial plasmon-polariton bandgaps were studied and manipulated at infrared frequencies. The polaritons were facilitated by manifesting the strongly coupled states among electromagnetic wave and the induced electric dipoles in two-dimensional (2D) indium-tin-oxide nanorod arrays (ITO-NRAs).
Design of Debt Covenants and Loan Market Conditions

When a debt covenant is violated the lender has the right to demand immediate repayment of the loan. Using this right, the lender can extract certain concessions from the borrower (manager), which may be inefficient. I propose a theory that explains why, despite this inefficiency, tight and often violated debt covenants may be optimal. In a repeated moral hazard problem combined with an incomplete contract set-up, the debt overhang prevents the manager from exercising optimal effort. I deviate from the standard incomplete contract set-up by allowing outside market participants to observe the uncontractable outcome. I model the manager's outside option as the opportunity to refinance his debt on a competitive loan market. In this situation, the market independently evaluates the manager's performance based on observable parameters. The value of the outside option has an important impact on the covenant design. A strict covenant will severely punish the manager if his outside option is low. If the covenant is violated the lender will have control over the manager's assets and the manager will face a renegotiation game in which the lender has all the bargaining power. In this case a high outside option allows the manager to retain some rents. The manager will exercise effort to increase his chances to have a high outside option.
Responsibility, Autonomy, and the Zygote Argument

In this paper I argue that the distinction between moral responsibility and autonomy can illuminate various debates about the Zygote Argument (as well as the Four-Case argument). Having made this distinction, one can see how these (broadly speaking) manipulation arguments are unsuccessful. Building on previous work, I also argue that this distinction can provide a framework for understanding other important work in agency theory, including that of Harry Frankfurt and Gary Watson.
Discontinuous Frequency Shaping Compensation for Uncertain Dynamic Systems

Abstract New approaches for discontinuous control design which preserve the insensitivity properties of standard discontinuous feedback systems are presented. Discontinuous estimators are imbedded in the feedback loop, while the plant control input is guaranteed to be continuous and arbitrarily smooth.
Hematologic relapse in AL amyloidosis after high-dose melphalan and stem cell transplantation.

To the editor: Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare disease in which an underlying clonal plasma cell population generates aberrant immunoglobulin light chains that misfold and form amyloid fibrils, which are deposited in extracellular tissues and organs, resulting in impairment of vital organ
Immunotherapy: Immune-modified response criteria - an iterative learning process?

Patients with solid tumours can have unusual patterns of response to anticancer immunotherapy, necessitating the adaptation of traditional response criteria. A recent retrospective analysis of data from patients with four different types of solid tumours treated with the anti-programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody atezolizumab confirms the previous experience in patients with melanoma and provides several new insights.
Residually-Complete Graphs

If G is a graph such that the deletion from G of the points in each closed neighborhood results in the complete graph K n , then we say that G is K n -residual. Similarly, if the removal of m consecutive closed neighborhoods yields K n , then G is called m-K n -residual. We determine the minimum order of the m-K n -residual graphs for all m and n . The minimum order of the connected K n -residual graphs is found and all the extremal graphs are specified.
Pitch and Manual Gestures

Gestures and speech parallel or complement each other semantically and pragmatically. Previous studies have postulated a similarly close correlation between intonation and gesture. This study microanalyzed the gestures of three subjects frame by frame and matched the movements with direction of pitch changes for each syllable in 90 intonation groups. The speech was analyzed using spectrographs. Coordinating direction of pitch and manual gesture movements is an option available to speakers, but it is not biologically mandated.
Discovery of ligands for βγ subunits from phage-displayed peptide libraries

Heterotrimeric G protein βγ subunits bind to many different effector proteins.1 The detailed protein–protein interactions involved in βγ binding to these targets are not well understood. One proposed model for interaction between βγ subunits and effectors suggests that each effector may have shared and unique binding sites on the βγ surface. Evidence in favor of this hypothesis is that activation of all effectors is blocked by GDP bound α subunits, yet specific site-directed mutants can be found that block activation of some effectors while having little effect on others.2–3 That unique binding interactions may exist for various effectors suggests that specific ligands could be identified that bind to some of these unique interaction sites and thus specifically inhibit the activation of some effectors by βγ subunits. One method for defining sequences in effectors that bind to βγ subunits has been to use peptides derived from the effectors in competition-based assays of effector activation.4,5 Since βγ subunits bind to peptides derived from various effectors, we reasoned that combinatorial phage-displayed peptide library screening could identify novel ligands for binding to G protein βγ subunits at both common and unique effector interaction sites. One such screen in our hands yielded a family of peptides that further defines the protein requirements for interaction at specific sites on βγ subunits.5a The peptides have a relatively high affinity for βγ subunits and selectively interfere with certain βγ-mediated pathways. The phage bearing the peptides provide a convenient tool for comparing the βγ binding sites of various effectors to determine if they are shared or unique. Ultimately such ligands could lead to the development of specific small-molecule inhibitors of βγ subunit mediated pathways. Many phage display methods have been published elsewhere.6,7 Here we describe many of these methods as they specifically relate to analysis of G protein βγ subunits. These methods also have the potential to be directed toward defining ligands for other signal transduction molecules.
Efficient Density Evaluation for Smooth Kernels

Given a kernel function k(.,.) and a dataset P⊂ R^d, the kernel density function of P at a point xe R^d is equal to KDF_P(x):= 1/|P| Σ_yeP k(x, y). Kernel density evaluation has numerous applications, in scientific computing, statistics, computer vision, machine learning and other fields. In all of them it is necessary to evaluate KDF_P(x) quickly, often for many inputs x and large point-sets P. In this paper we present a collection of algorithms for efficient KDF evaluation under the assumptions that the kernel k is "smooth", i.e. the value changes at most polynomially with the distance. This assumption is satisfied by several well-studied kernels, including the (generalized) t-student kernel and rational quadratic kernel. For smooth kernels, we give a data structure that, after O(dn log (Φ n)/e^2) preprocessing, estimates KDF_P(x) up to a factor of 1 ± e in O(dlog (Φ n)/e^2) time, where Phi; is the aspect ratio. The log(Φn) term can be further replaced by log n under an additional decay condition on k, which is satisfied by the aforementioned examples. We further extend the results in two ways. First, we use low-distortion embeddings to extend the results to kernels defined for spaces other than l_2. The key feature of this reduction is that the distortion of the embedding affects only the running time of the algorithm, not the accuracy of the estimation. As a result, we obtain (1+e)-approximate estimation algorithms for kernels over other l_p norms, Earth-Mover Distance, and other metric spaces. Second, for smooth kernels that are decreasing with distance, we present a general reduction from density estimation to approximate near neighbor in the underlying space. This allows us to construct algorithms for general doubling metrics, as well as alternative algorithms for l_p norms and other spaces.
Distributed Monitoring System for Microservices-Based IoT Middleware System

Microservices based architecture is a promising middleware architecture of Internet of things for its advantages of agility and scalability. However, comparing to the native Service oriented Architecture (SOA), the widespread nature, no matter logically or physically, of this lightweight middleware system has made its organization, tracing and monitoring much harder, which could further compromise the effectiveness and performance. To this end, we design, implement and evaluate a new distributed monitoring system for microservices-based middleware of Internet of Things, which is designed as a cloud native system. This system is featured with supporting Kubernetes orchestration, instrument Java and Spring Cloud framework and owing the ability to obtain the performance metrics from all host and containers in an efficient way. Furthermore, it could collect the trace generated by a call from application frontend to each layered microservices, even fetching logging, and finally store them in a big data system for stream processing or map/reduce. The real implementation based evaluation has demonstrated the effectiveness of this system design.
Taxonomic revision of the New World big-eyed minute litter bug genus Ommatides Uhler (Hemiptera: Schizopteridae).

Hypselosomatinae, the big-eyed minute litter bugs, are diagnosed among Schizopteridae (infraorder Dipsocoromorpha) by the large eye, 4-segmented labium, and distinct wing venation. The group was recovered as sister taxon to all remaining Schizopteridae in recent molecular phylogenetic analyses. Described species diversity of Hypselosomatinae (13 extant genera prior to this study) is greatest in the Old World and in particular the Australian region, while only five monotypic or small genera are currently described from the New World ( Glyptocombus Heidemann, Ommatides Uhler, Williamsocoris Carpintero & Dellape, Hypsohapsis Hoey-Chamberlain & Weirauch, and Hypselosomops Hoey-Chamberlain & Weirauch). Based on examination of 60 specimens of Hypselosomatinae from South America, we here synonymize Ommatides that includes one described species from the Lesser Antilles with the monotypic genus Williamsocoris Carpintero & Dellape from Argentina, describe seven new species of Ommatides ( O. duodentis sp. nov., O. nudus sp. nov., O. parvidentis sp. nov., O. pillcopata sp. nov., O. pristis sp. nov., O. tridentis sp. nov., O. yoderi sp. nov. and O. zanderij sp. nov.) from various locations in South America, and redescribe Ommatides . We provide thorough documentation of morphological features using macroimages, SEM, and line drawings for new taxa and Ommatides insignis Uhler and a distribution map for all currently known New World Hypselosomatinae.
Effects of Unstable and Microbially Contaminated Fuel on Vehicle Operations: A Diesel Fuel Preventive Maintenance Program

During 1983, the Georgia Power Company experienced a problem that appeared to be fuel related. Specifically some of the new light duty trucks equipped with diesel engines began experiencing fuel pump failures and severelyfouled filters. Analysis of fuel specimens from in-ground fuel storage tanks and the fuel filters indicated a high level of microbial activity in both areas and a destabilized fuel, which exhibited a tendency to form insolubles when heated. In addition, water found in some of the in-ground diesel storage tanks was of sufficient quantity to be of great concern. As a result of these findings the following steps were taken: (1) The in-ground diesel fuel storage tank fill pipe area was raised and a new fill pipe cap fitted with a proper seal. (2) Water and microbial sludge were pumped from the system and sampling was done to insure their removal. (3) A biocide and multifunctional fuel stability compound were added to the fuel, and subsequent tests for continuing activity were conducted. (4) A program for continuing preventive maintenance and testing was established for the entire fleet. This paper will deal with the details of the problem, identification of the source, and the corrective action taken.
Prednisone-free maintenance immunosuppression in obese kidney transplant recipients.

Obese transplant recipients (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 ) have decreased posttransplant patient and graft survival compared with their nonobese counterparts. At the same time, many prednisone-related side effects (eg, new-onset diabetes) are similar to those associated with obesity. Using SRTR data, we studied outcomes associated with prednisone-free maintenance immunosuppression (rapid discontinuation of prednisone-RDP). Between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2014, 44 635 first transplant recipients with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 had a first kidney transplant (28 176 DD; 16 459, LD); 12,994 (29%) were discharged from the hospital on a prednisone-free protocol. We compared outcomes to those discharged on a protocol incorporating maintenance prednisone (intention-to-treat analysis). RDP-treated obese first DD recipients had significantly better patient survival (HR, 0.88; CI, 0.81-0.96) and graft survival (HR, 0.93; CI, 0.88-0.99) compared with their counterparts on maintenance immunosuppression. Although not statistically significant, the same trends were seen for LD recipients. For both DD and LD recipients, there was no difference between groups for death-censored graft survival, suggesting that the benefit of RDP was due to improved patient survival. Our findings suggest that kidney transplant recipients with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 benefit from a protocol that incorporates RDP.
Lack of utility of cigarettes per day cutoffs for clinical and laboratory smoking research.

Abstract Background Most clinical and laboratory smoking research studies require that participants smoke at a certain level to be eligible for enrollment. However, there is limited evidence that use of these cutoffs differentiates groups of smokers along clinically meaningful criteria. Methods Using receiver operating characteristic curves, we analyzed data from daily smokers in the National Epidemiologic Study of Alcohol Use and Related Conditions - III (NESARC-III) to examine the utility of smoking rates for determining whether participants met DSM-5 criteria for tobacco use disorder, experienced nicotine withdrawal or had a history of failed quit attempts. We also examined whether relationships between these variables differed as a function of key sample characteristics. Results Smoking rate exhibited a weak relationship with the presence of tobacco use disorder (AUC = 0.664), whether individuals experience nicotine withdrawal (AUC = 0.672) and whether individuals had a history of failed quit attempts (AUC = 0.578). The relationship between smoking rate and a history of failed quit attempts was weaker for women than men (p Conclusions Researchers should consider abandoning the use of smoking rate cutoffs to determine study eligibility. If smoking rate cutoffs are used, a rationale should be presented along with justification for the specific cutoff chosen.
PSPH-D-18-00526: Effect of a dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA-12) on sleep and event-related oscillations in rats exposed to ethanol vapor during adolescence

Sleep difficulties are one of the problems associated with adolescent binge drinking. However, the mechanisms underlying adolescent alcohol-associated sleep disturbances and potential targets for therapy remain under investigated. Orexin receptor antagonists may have therapeutic value in the treatment of insomnia, yet the use of this class of drugs in the treatment of sleep disturbances following adolescent alcohol exposure has not been studied. This study employed a model whereby ethanol vapor exposure occurred for 5 weeks during adolescence (AIE), and waking event-related oscillations (EROs) and EEG sleep were subsequently evaluated in young adult rats. The ability of two doses (10, 30 mg/kg PO) of a dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA-12) to modify sleep, EEG, and EROs was investigated in AIE rats and controls. Adolescent vapor exposure was found to produce a fragmentation of sleep, in young adults, that was partially ameliorated by DORA-12. DORA-12 also produced increases in delta and theta power in waking EROs recorded before sleep, and deeper sleep as indexed by increases in delta and theta power in the sleep EEG in both ethanol and control rats. Rats given DORA-12 also fell asleep faster than vehicle-treated rats as measured by a dose-dependent reduction in the latency to both the first slow wave and REM sleep episodes. This study showed that DORA-12 can affect the sleep disturbance that is associated with a history of adolescent ethanol exposure and also has several other sleep-promoting effects that are equivalent in both ethanol and control rats.
Decentralized Adaptive Optimal Control for Massive Multi-agent Systems Using Mean Field Game with Self-Organizing Neural Networks

In this paper, a decentralized adaptive optimal control based on the Mean Field game and self-organizing neural networks has been developed for multi-agent systems (MAS) with a large population and uncertain dynamics. This design can effectively break "Curse of dimensionality" as well as reduce the computational complexity through appropriately integrating emerging mean-field game theory with self-organizing neural networks based reinforcement learning technique. Firstly, decentralized optimal control for massive multi-agent systems has been formulated as a mean-field game. To obtain the mean-field game solution, coupled Hamiltonian-Jacobian-Bellman (HJB) equation and Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov (FPK) equation needed to be solved simultaneously which is challenging in real-time. Therefore, a novel Actor-Critic-Mass (ACM) structure has been developed along with self-organizing neural networks. In the developed ACM structure, each agent has three neural networks (NN), which is, 1) mass NN that learns the team’s overall behavior via online estimating the solution of Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov (FPK) equation, 2) critic NN that obtains the optimal cost function via learning the Hamiltonian-Jacobian-Bellman (HJB) equation solution along with time. 3) actor NN that estimates the decentralized optimal control by using the critic and mass NNs. To reduce the NNs computational complexity, a self-organizing neural network has been adopted that can adjusting NNs’ architecture based on the NN learning performance as well as the computation cost. Eventually, numerical simulation has been provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed scheme.
A Stochastic Optimization Model for Distributed Static Series Compensator Allocation to Mitigate Transmission Congestion

Due to the integration of new power plants and renewable energy sources, the existing transmission system often experience congestion which increases the overall operating cost. Distributed static series compensator (DSSC) is a type of distributed flexible AC transmission systems (D-FACTS) which can effectively mitigate transmission congestion by phase shifting. This study proposes a scenario-based stochastic optimization model to optimally allocate DSSC modules in transmission systems with an objective of minimizing the overall operating cost considering investment limits, and studies the effectiveness of DSSC in transmission congestion mitigation. The model was implemented on a modified RTS-96 test system, and up to 19.98% of savings in operating cost was achieved using optimally located DSSC modules, which was higher than using conventional FACTS and DSSC modules with pre-determined locations. This validates the effectiveness of the model in terms of optimally allocating DSSC to mitigate transmission congestion.
Latin American State Building in Comparative Perspective: Social Foundations of Institutional Order

1. The difficulties of state building 2. The social foundations of state building in the contemporary era 3. State formation in Chile and Peru: institution building and atrophy in unlikely settings 4. State formation in Argentina and Uruguay: agrarian capitalism, elite conflict, and the construction of cooperation 5. Divergence reinforced: the timing of political inclusion and state strength in Chile and Peru 6. The social question and the state: mass mobilization, suffrage, and institutional development in Argentina and Uruguay 7. Conclusions, implications, and extensions: social foundations, Germany/Prussia, and the limits of contemporary state building Bibliography.
Innovation‐Driven Industry Life Cycles

Popper Industry life cycle (ILC) refers to a collection of theories and frameworks that explain how the major structural characteristics of industries change and identify implications for firm strategy, organization, and survival. Keywords: innovation; product innovation; process innovation; architectural innovation; modular innovation; dominant design; fluid stage; emergence; specific; growth
Appendix B: A Matrix Refresher

This appendix contains sections titled: Matrix Forms Matrix Operations Block Matrix Formulas Functions of Square Matrices Norms Cholesky Decomposition Orthogonal Decompositions of Matrices Quadratic Forms Derivatives of Matrices
Systemic Therapy for Advanced Carcinoid Tumors: Where Do We Go From Here?

Carcinoid tumors are relatively indolent, but the treatment of advanced disease remains a challenge. Liver-directed therapies are a consideration in patients with liver-dominant disease. Somatostatin analogs (SSTa) are routinely used to control hormone-mediated symptoms (carcinoid syndrome), but the identification of systemic agents with antitumor efficacy has proven difficult. Aside from octreotide for small bowel carcinoid (which is associated with delayed progression), no treatment has proven antitumor activity. Chemotherapy seems to be of limited value. The role of interferon is also controversial; it is typically used after failure of octreotide. Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy may have activity in patients with SST receptor-expressing tumors, but randomized controlled trials are lacking. Advances in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying tumor progression have led to the identification of several potential therapeutic targets (including the vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and mammalian target of rapamycin [mTOR] signaling pathways), but none has been definitively validated in carcinoid. Everolimus is associated with a trend toward improved progression-free survival in patients with progressive carcinoid, but is not approved for this indication. Therefore, a serious unmet need remains for additional therapeutic strategies for patients with advanced disease. Several avenues are under study, including the use of novel SSTa; VEGF and mTOR inhibitors; and agents that interfere with insulin growth factor 1 receptor and AKT signaling. Moving forward, optimizing patient selection based on clinical features or biomarkers holds promise for identifying individuals most likely to benefit from therapy.
Modeling recovery time distributions in ultrareliable fault-tolerant systems

A technique for fitting distributions to empirical recovery time data that focuses on the components that dominate system reliability is proposed. The technique uses Goldfarb's conjugate gradient descent search to minimize the L/sup 2/ norm of the error projected in the Laplace transform domain. A new parametric family of distributions is also suggested and is seen to provide uniformly better predictions of system reliability than the standard distributions used for this purpose, i.e. gamma, Weibull, and log normal. Applications to several sets of real recovery time data are provided. >
Glucocerebrosidase Enzyme Activity in GBA1 Mutation Parkinson Disease (P4.042)

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether peripheral glucocerebrosidase (GCase) enzyme activity (activity) is associated with Parkinson Disease (PD) and is a potential marker for glucocerebrosidase (GBA1) mutation PD. BACKGROUND: Monoallelic and biallelic GBA1 mutations are associated with PD. While activity is consistently low in Gaucher Disease (GD), a range of activity among GBA1 mutation carriers exists. Factors increasing PD risk in carriers are not established. It is uncertain whether peripheral activity is abnormal in heterozygous GBA1 mutation PD (GBA+PD+), and whether those with the lowest activity are at greater risk than carriers with higher residual activity. DESIGN/METHODS: GBA+PD+ were compared to idiopathic PD subjects (IPD) ascertained from a Movement Disorder Center, and GBA1 mutation carriers without PD (GBA+PD-), non-mutation controls (controls), and Gaucher homozygotes without PD (GD1) and with PD (GD1-PD), ascertained from a Gaucher Center. Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) participants were screened for the nine most common AJ mutations. Activity from fresh blood was assayed using 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-glucopyranoside. Analysis was done using generalized linear models. RESULTS: GBA+PD+ (n=15) had lower median activity (16.0 nmol/mg protein/hr, interquartile range (IQR) 7.0) compared to IPD (n=8) (28.5, IQR 15.0) (p=0.01), and controls (n=20) (25.5, IQR 9.0) (p=0.02), but greater than GD1 (n=9) (4.5, IQR 2.64) (p<0.01). GBA+PD+ activity was reduced compared to GBA+PD- (n=13) (22.0, IQR 13.0) though not significantly. IPD did not differ from controls. Activity in GBA+PD- compared to GD1 was increased (p<0.01). Activity did not differ between GD1-PD (n=3) (6.4, IQR 5.9) and other GD1. CONCLUSIONS: Activity is decreased in GBA+PD+ compared with IPD and controls suggesting its potential as a peripheral marker. There was a trend towards lower activity in the GBA+PD+ versus GBA+PD-, suggesting lower activity among carriers may be associated with increased PD risk. Larger studies are warranted to determine whether lower activity among carriers identifies those at higher risk for PD. Study Supported by: NIH K02NS073836, Marcled Foundation, Bigglesworth Foundation, ECRIP (RSP) Disclosure: Dr. Ortega has nothing to disclose. Dr. Torres has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boschung has nothing to disclose. Dr. Swan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Soto-Valencia has nothing to disclose. Dr. Barrett has nothing to disclose. Dr. Johannes has nothing to disclose. Dr. Raymond has nothing to disclose. Dr. Severt has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience, Allergan Inc., Merz Pharma, and UCB Pharma. Dr. Severt has received research support from Teva Neuroscience and Merz Pharma. Dr. Shanker has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bressman has received a royalty, liscense fee or contractual rights payment from Athena Diagnostics. Dr. Pastores has nothing to disclose. Dr. Saunders-Pullman has nothing to disclose.
Constrained torsion of prismatic bars

A theory is developed that allows the determination of three-dimensional displacements and stresses within finite length prismatic bars of arbitrary cross-section experiencing restrained torsion. This restraint arises from the twisting of a bar where one of its cross-sections is subject to displacement and slope constraints. The deformations within this bar are represented by an exponentially decaying residual solution superimposed on the classical Saint-Venant solution. Galerkin's method is used to solve the boundary value problem resulting from a simultaneous system of three quadratic eigenproblems subject to the stress free boundary condition due to the traction-free lateral surface of the bar. A three-dimensional finite element model is used for validation.
Retinal Detachment in Pseudophakia

In a series of cataract patients excluding myopic individuals, under age 60 years, and cases in which vitreous loss occurred, retinal detachment was no less frequent after intracapsular cataract extraction and Sputnik iris supported lenses than in controls. Both groups were followed up for a minimum of two years. The detachments predominantly occurred from retinal breaks in areas of the retina that looked normal preoperatively.
Evolution of communication and control for electric grid load management

We discuss the evolving role of communication and control for automatic load management in electric distribution systems. We start by reprising a description of the Athens project - one of the earliest deployed examples of automatic load management at consumers enabled by communication signals. We observe that the use of communication for such systems has gone through distinct phases in its evolution addressing emerging requirements (some mandated by policy) for system reliability. The present day needs for increased smarts in the grid motivate integrated simulations of communications and control with electric grid behavior. We support this argument with a simulation case study illustrating how load management depends on the overlying communication system parameters when it provides frequency regulation in the electric grid.
Exploring the Antecedents and Effects of Brand Images for Television News: An Application of Brand Personality Construct in a Multichannel News Environment

Adopting the construct of “brand personality,” this article examines the news brands of Cable News Network, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, CBS news, NBC news, and ABC news; investigates the factors influencing their brand images; and assesses the consequences of these brand perceptions. Using the news brand personality dimensions of competence, timeliness, and dynamism, it was found that antecedents such as an audience's attitude toward an affiliated television network, perceived importance of anchors, and use of television as a news source help shape the brand personality of a network news product. The perceived brand personality of a news outlet, especially along the dimension of competence, also contributes to an audience's attitude, usage, and loyalty of the news brand. ACCESS TO FULL TEXT
Evaluation of ST segment elevation criteria for the prehospital electrocardiographic diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction

Study objective: To determine retrospectively the diagnostic accuracy of various ECG ST segment elevation criteria for the prehospital ECG diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Design and setting: During a six-month period, paramedics acquired prehospital 12-lead ECGs on adult chest pain patients. Investigations interpreted ECGs independently, retrospectively, and blinded to patient outcome. ECGs were classified as meeting or not meeting the six ST segment elevation criteria regard-less of ECG morphology if the criteria were present in two or more anatomically contiguous leads: 1 mm or more ST segment elevation; 2 mm or more ST segment elevation; 1 mm or more ST segment elevation in the limb leads or 2 mm or more ST segment elevation in the precordial leads; and the first three criteria with the simultaneous presence of reciprocal changes. ECGs that did not meet any ST segment elevation criteria were classified as normal, nonspecific ST/T wave changes, abnormal but not ischemic, and ischemic. Hospital charts were reviewed for final cardiac diagnosis. Type of participant: Four hundred twenty-eight stable adult prehospital chest pain patients in whom paramedics acquired prehospital 12-lead ECGs. Interventions: None. Measurements and main results: Of the 428 cases, 123 (29%) met 1 mm or more ST segment elevation criteria. Sixty-three (51%) of these 123 patients did not have myocardial infarctions. ECG characteristics most frequently associated with these non-myocardial infarction ECGs were left bundle branch block (21%) and left ventricular hypertrophy (33%). The three criteria that required the presence of reciprocal changes had the highest positive predictive values (93% to 95%), with sensitivities ranging from 20% to 33%. The criteria of 1 mm or more ST segment elevation with the simultaneous presence of reciprocal changes had a positive predictive value of 94% and included 18 of the 21 (86%) myocardial infarction patients who had ST segment elevation and received thrombolytic therapy within five hours after hospital arrival. Of the 428 cases, 305 (71%) did not meet any ST segment elevation criteria and had a sensitivity of 81% and a negative predictive value of 49% for the absence of acute myocardial infarction. Conclusion: Fifty-one percent of patients whose prehospital 12-lead ECG met 1 mm or more ST segment elevation criteria had non-myocardial infarction diagnoses. ST segment elevation alone lacks the positive predictive value necessary for reliable prehospital myocardial infarction diagnosis. Inclusion of reciprocal changes in prehospital ECG myocardial infarction criteria improved the positive predictive value to more than 90% and included a significant majority (62% to 86%) of acute myocardial infarction patients with ST segment elevation who received thrombolytic therapy within five hours after hospital arrival. ST segment elevation criteria that include reciprocal changes identify patients who stand to benefit most from early interventional strategies
An age-related increase in resistance to DNA damage-induced apoptotic cell death is associated with development of DNA repair mechanisms

Neurons in the developing brain die via apoptosis after DNA damage, while neurons in the adult brain are generally resistant to these insults. The basis for this resistance is a matter of conjecture. We report here that cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) in culture lose their competence to die in response to DNA damage as a function of time in culture. CGNs at either 1 day in vitro (DIV) or 7 DIV were treated with the DNA damaging agents camptothecin, UV or gamma-irradiation and neuronal survival measured. The younger neurons were effectively killed by these agents, while the older neurons displayed a significant resistance to killing. Neuronal survival did not change with time in culture when cells were treated with C2-ceramide or staurosporine, agents which do not target DNA. The resistance to UV irradiation developed over time in culture and was not due to changes in mitotic rate. Increases in DNA strand breakage, up-regulation of the levels of both p53 and its phosphorylated form and nuclear translocation of p53 were equivalent in both older and younger neurons, indicating a comparable p53 stress response. In addition, we show that treatment of older neurons with pharmacological inhibitors of distinct components of the DNA repair machinery promotes the accumulation of DNA damage and sensitizes these cells to the toxic effects of UV exposure. These data demonstrate that older neurons appear to be more proficient in DNA repair in comparison to their younger counterparts, and that this leads to increased survival after DNA damage.
Global modulation of chromatin dynamics mediated by dephosphorylation of linker histone H1 is necessary for erythroid differentiation

Differentiation of metazoan cells involves dramatic changes in gene expression patterns and proliferative capacity driven primarily by epigenetic mechanisms. Here we used in vivo photobleaching techniques and biochemical assays to investigate the contribution of alterations in chromatin dynamics to the differentiation of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells, a model system for erythroid development. As MEL cells differentiate the binding affinity of all linker histone variants increases, indicative of an overall decrease in chromatin flexibility. Changes in H10 binding properties depend on phosphorylation at one or more of three cyclin-dependent kinase sites. The presence of constructs mimicking constitutively phosphorylated H1 results in a significant inhibition in the acquisition of commitment to terminal cell division and the expression of erythroid-specific properties. These data indicate that the progressive loss of cdk activity associated with MEL cell differentiation leads to the accumulation of dephosphorylated linker histones and restricted chromatin flexibility and that these are necessary events in the progression of erythroid differentiation. We present additional data indicating that the presence of phosphorylated H1 has a dominant effect on the binding behavior of other linker histones and propose a model for the role of linker histone phosphorylation in which these modifications act within the context of assembled chromatin.
Locatability of modified pixels in steganographic images

Payload location using residuals is a successful approach to identify load-carrying pixels provided a large number of stego images are available. Furthermore, each image must have the payload embedded at the same locations. The success of payload location is therefore limited if different keys are used or an adaptive embedding algorithm is used. Given these limitations, the focus of this paper is to locate modified pixels in a single stego image. Given a sufficiently large set of independent binary decision functions, each determines whether a pixel has been modified better than guessing, we show that it is possible to locate modified pixels in a single stego image with low error rate. We construct these functions using existing cover estimators and provide experimental results to support our analysis.
The Electroencephalogram, Blood Flow, and Oxygen Uptake in Rabbit Cerebrum

In the present study, the relationships among electroencephalographic (EEG) amplitude shifts, cerebral blood flow (CBF), and cerebral oxygen uptake (CMRO2) have been characterized in halothane-anes...
An analysis of the response of salamander gills to changes in the oxygen concentration of the medium.

Abstract The effect on the gills of exposing salamander larvae to a series of media of specified oxygen concentration was studied. It was demonstrated that the gills of animals maintained in water having a low concentration of oxygen became very much enlarged, whereas those of animals exposed to a medium of high oxygen concentration became reduced. Detailed counts and measurements of the cells of the gill filaments indicated that these changes were due mainly to changes in the shape of the cells, although differences in the number of cells were also observed. It was demonstrated that the volume of blood in the filaments increased when the concentration of oxygen in the medium was reduced. The suggestion was made that the primary effect of the oxygen concentration of the medium was on the blood pressure and that the changes in the shape of the cells were a secondary result. It was shown that the mitotic activity of the gills was enhanced by reduced oxygen concentration. Depression of mitosis, however, did not necessarily follow exposure to a medium rich in oxygen. It was suggested that the toxic effect of a high oxygen medium resulted in necrosis that in turn set regenerative processes in motion that stimulated mitotic activity.
Electron Dynamics of Passivated Gold Nanocrystals Probed by Subpicosecond Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

The electronic dynamics of gold nanocrystals, passivated by a monolayer of alkylthiol(ate) groups, were studied by transient spectroscopy after excitation with subpicosecond laser pulses. Three solution-phase gold samples with average particle size of 1.9, 2.6, and 3.2 nm with size distribution less than 10% were used. The photoexcitation in the intraband (surface plasmon region) leads to the heating of the conduction electron gas and its subsequent thermalization through electron−electron and electron−phonon interaction. The results are analyzed in terms of the contribution of the equilibrated “hot” electrons to the surface plasmon resonance of gold. A different spectral response was observed for different sizes of gold nanoparticles. The results were compared to the dynamics of the large (30 nm diameter) gold nanocrystals colloidal solution. The size-dependent spectral changes are attributed to the reduction of the density of states for small nanoparticles. The observed variation in the kinetics of the ...
A Practical Guide to the Dual Theorem

A summary of the important variations on the simplex method is presented, with an emphasis placed on the connection between these techniques, the revised simplex method, and the dual theorem. Only elementary matrix algebra is employed to enable the nonmathematician to utilize the various algorithms. Specifically, the dual simplex algorithm, parametric programming, and techniques for additional and secondary constraints, and for upper bounded variables are discussed.