cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
UVB-induced melanogenesis may be mediated through the MSH-receptor system

Ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) elicits an increase in melanin production in mammalian skin. The mechanisms regulating this process are not understood, although it is well documented that there is an increase in the number of melanin-producing melanocytes. The melanotropins (MSH) are a family of peptides that increase the melanin content of melanocytes through an interaction with high affinity receptors. We have obtained evidence that the effects of UVB on melanogenesis may be mediated through an increase in MSH receptor activity on melanocytes. First, exposure of Cloudman S91 mouse melanoma cells to UVB resulted in increased binding of 125I-MSH to cells within 24 h. In five separate experiments, UVB-irradiated cultures displayed 2-10-fold increases in MSH binding capacity over that of unirradiated control cultures (optimum doses 10-20 mJ/cm2). Second, UVB and MSH potentiated one another in promoting cutaneous melanogenesis in both mice and guinea pigs. In the areas of guinea pig skin that received both UVB and MSH, there was a fivefold increase in active melanocytes/mm2 over the sum of active melanocytes/mm2 in areas receiving either MSH or UVB separately. Our results suggest that UVB light causes an increase in MSH receptor activity on cutaneous melanocytes, thus increasing cellular responsiveness to MSH. Implicit in this mechanism is a transduction of radiant energy into chemical energy during the process of UVB-induced melanogenesis.
US Marines, Miskitos and the Hunt for Sandino: the Río Coco Patrol in 1928

Among historians of the US Marine Corps, Major-General Merritt A. (‘Red Mike’) Edson's Rio Coco Patrol is well known.1 His expedition up Nicaragua's Coco River in 1928 represented a significant step forward in what the US military would later call ‘riverine’ operations. The mission also made the career of a young officer who would lead one of the Raider Battalions in the Second World War and receive the Medal of Honor for his participation in the campaign to capture Guadalcanal.
CPA firms' marketing strategies: The important role of alumni relations programs

An accounting firm’s alumni can play an important role in the firm’s marketing strategy. Our study examines (1) how frequently accounting firms use various means of communicating with their alumni and (2) the effectiveness of alternative means of communication in terms of their association with alumni’s actions to benefit their former firm. Using data collected from CPA firm alumni through responses to a questionnaire survey, we find that alumni who have had more personal forms of contact are more likely to benefit their former firm. We also find that early contacts are important for establishing communication channels between the firm and its alumni. Moreover, contacts by former colleagues and supervisors seem the most effective.
SpectroCam-10: a 10-μm spectrograph/camera for the Hale Telescope

SpectroCam-10 is a 10 micrometers spectrograph and camera built at Cornell University as a facility instrument for the 200 inch Hale telescope. The instrument is optimized for operation from (lambda) equals 8 to 13 micrometers in three modes: a medium-resolution spectrography (R equals (lambda) /(Delta) (lambda) approximately equals 2000), a low-resolution spectrography (R approximately equals 100), and a camera with diffraction limited (0.5 arcsec) spatial resolution. An optical flat and two reflection gratings mounted on a cryogenic rotating mechanism allow rapid switching between modes. The detector is a Rockwell 128 X 128 Si:As Back Illuminated Blocked Impurity Band array. We discuss the design and operation of the instrument, and present some scientific results from our early observing runs at Palomar.
Forbidding and enforcing on graphs

We define classes of graphs based on forbidding and enforcing boundary conditions. Forbidding conditions prevent a graph to have certain combinations of subgraphs and enforcing conditions impose certain subgraph structures. We say that a class of graphs is an fe-class if the class can be defined through forbidding and enforcing conditions (fe-system). We investigate properties of fe-systems and characterize familiar classes of graphs such as paths and cycles, trees, bi-partite, complete, Eulerian, and k-regular graphs as fe-classes.
Accelerated Conditions for Stability Assessment of Bulk and Formulated Cefaclor Monohydrate

ABSTRACTThe stability of cefaclor monohydrate drug substance and formulated products was studied under accelerated conditions in order to provide a rapid indication of differences that might result from a change in manufacturing process or source of the sample. The USP stability-indicating related substances assay was used to assess the extent of sample degradation. An Arrhenius study of drug substance stability from 45 to 70°C predicted a degradation rate consistent with that observed in room-temperature studies. Qualitative degradation profiles of samples held at 65° C for 2 weeks were also very similar to those of samples held at room temperature for 2 years. Based on these results, additional studies were conducted at 65°Cfor 2 weeks. on drug substance and formulated product samples. Stability differences were observed among some capsule formulations that had also exhibited real time differences. In some studies, rapid degradation after 5 days was observed at 65 °C followed by a slower rate from 5 to ...
Effects of habitat on clutch size of ornate tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus

ABSTRACT. Clutch size is an important determinant of female reproductive success in reptiles. Although female body size explains much variation in clutch size, other important factors include differences in food availability, predation risk, morphology, and demography. Ornate tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus, display extensive variation in life history traits, including clutch size. Tree lizards primarily use 2 distinct habitat types—trees and rock surfaces—which influence both the performance and morphology of this species and may affect life history traits such as clutch size. As food availability, microclimate, and, potentially, predator escape probabilities differ between these 2 habitats, I predicted that tree- and rockdwelling lizards would allocate resources toward clutch size differently. Clutch size variation was compared among 15 populations of U. ornatus sampled from the different habitat types. Urosaurus ornatus individuals living on trees had significantly larger clutches than those living on ...
Morphology and Evolution of the Large Magellanic Cloud Planetary Nebulae

The LMC is ideal for studying the coevolution of planetary nebulae (PNs) and their central stars in that the debilitating uncertainties of the Galactic PN distance scale and selection biases from attenuation by interstellar dust do not apply. We present images and analyze slitless spectra that were obtained in a survey of Large Magellanic Cloud PNs. These data on 29 targets were obtained with the Hubble Space T elescope (HST ) using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. The data permit us to determine the nebular dimensions and morphology in the monochromatic light of several emission lines, including those that have traditionally been used for morphological studies in the Galaxy : Ha ,[ NII] j6583, and [O III] j5007, plus others of varying ionization including [O I], He I, and [S II]. Together with the 31 resolved LMC PNs for which monochromatic images exist in the HST archive, these data show that the incidence of nonsymmetric nebulae, including bipolar nebulae (which is an indicator of Population I ancestry in the Galaxy), is signiÐcantly higher than that reported for the Galaxy. The onset of asymmetric features appears even in very young nebulae (with dynamical ages of D1400 yr), suggesting that at least the gross features of the nebular morphology may be more closely tied to PN formation and that subsequent shaping of the expanding envelope by the radiation Ðeld and wind from the central star may play the lesser role of amplifying these gross features. There is some evidence of evolution between two morphological types in the sense that bipolar core nebulae may evolve to pure bipolars late in the PN lifetime. Subject headings : Magellanic Clouds E planetary nebulae : general E stars : evolution
Knowledge management in organizations: examining the interaction between technologies, techniques, and people

Argues that the knowledge management process can be categorized into knowledge creation, knowledge validation, knowledge presentation, knowledge distribution, and knowledge application activities. To capitalize on knowledge, an organization must be swift in balancing its knowledge management activities. In general, such a balancing act requires changes in organizational culture, technologies, and techniques. A number of organizations believe that by focusing exclusively on people, technologies, or techniques, they can manage knowledge. However, that exclusive focus on people, technologies, or techniques does not enable a firm to sustain its competitive advantages. It is, rather, the interaction between technology, techniques, and people that allow an organization to manage its knowledge effectively. By creating a nurturing and “learning‐by‐doing” kind of environment, an organization can sustain its competitive advantages.
Acoustic signatures of submicron contrast agents

Previous studies have revealed that hard-shelled submicron contrast agents exhibit large relative expansions and strong acoustical echoes that can be observed experimentally, and predicted by theoretical simulations. In this paper, we study harmonic imaging and pulse-pair imaging techniques designed to assist in the differentiation of these contrast agents from tissue. For harmonic imaging, we apply a high-sensitivity, narrowband strategy that differentiates the microbubble from tissue based on the generation of strong harmonic echoes. For pulse-pair imaging, we apply high spatial resolution, wideband strategies using phase inversion, which relies on the frequency differences observed in response to phase-inverted pulses, and signal subtraction, which takes advantage of the amplitude differences in response to identical pulses. The bubble-to-phantom signal amplitude ratio in the absence of motion approaches 20 dB using phase inversion and 30 dB using signal subtraction; both techniques are robust for tip to 50 /spl mu/m of simulated motion. With the experience gained in these studies, we hope to advance the development of multi-pulse or shaped-pulse techniques that are optimized for specific clinical applications.
Distributed Scheduling and Routing in Underwater Wireless Networks

Several underwater network characteristics, including long propagation delays and a bandwidth dependent on distance, provide unique challenges to protocol designers. In this paper we present STUMP-WR, a distributed routing and channel scheduling protocol, designed for heavily loaded underwater networks. STUMP-WR selects and schedules links using a distributed algorithm to overlap communications by leveraging the long propagation delays. Through simulation we show that STUMP-WR outperforms previously proposed channel access protocols for underwater networks by achieving higher throughput and lower energy consumption per bit delivered at nearly all traffic rates. We also determine the effect of using CDMA on protocol operation.
Test-Retest Reliability of the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale:

Test-retest reliabilities of the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale over 1- and 5-wk. intervals were examined for two samples of students, 73 boys and 88 girls in regular sixth, seventh and eighth grade classrooms (11 yr. to 14 yr). For raw scores the test-retest Pearson r was .88 (1-wk.) and .77 (5-wk.), indicating good reliability. For both samples there was a small difference between test (12.2 for 1-wk. sample; 11.4 for 5-wk. sample) and retest (11.2 for 1-wk. sample; 9.8 for 5-wk. sample) mean raw scores. Implications for test use are discussed.
Three power-aware routing algorithms for sensor networks

Summary This paper discusses online power-aware routing in large wireless ad hoc networks (especially sensor networks) for applications in which the message sequence is not known. We seek to optimize the lifetime of the network. We show that online power-aware routing does not have a constant competitive ratio to the off-line optimal algorithm. We develop an approximation algorithm called max –min zPmin that has a good empirical competitive ratio. To ensure scalability, we introduce a second online algorithm for power-aware routing. This hierarchical algorithm is called zone-based routing. Our experiments show that its performance is quite good. Finally, we describe a distributed version of this algorithm that does not depend on any centralization. Copyright  2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetic Identification of Adenovirus Type 5 Genes That Influence Viral Spread

The mechanisms that control cell-to-cell spread of human adenoviruses (Ad) are not well understood. Two early viral proteins, E1B-19K and E3-ADP, appear to have opposing effects since viral mutants that are individually deficient in E1B-19K produce large plaques (G. Chinnadurai, Cell 33:759-766, 1983), while mutants deficient in E3-ADP produce small plaques (A. E. Tollefson et al., J. Virol. 70:2296-2306, 1996) on infected cell monolayers. We have used a genetic strategy to identify different viral genes that influence adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) spread in an epithelial cancer cell line. An Ad5 mutant (dl327; lacking most of the E3 region) with the restricted-spread (small-plaque) phenotype was randomly mutagenized with UV, and 27 large-plaque (lp) mutants were isolated. A combination of analyses of viral proteins and genomic DNA sequences have indicated that 23 mutants contained lesions in the E1B region affecting either 19K or both 19K and 55K proteins. Four other lp mutants contained lesions in early regions E1A and E4, in the early L1 region that codes for the i-leader protein, and in late regions that code for the viral structural proteins, penton base, and fiber. Our results suggest that the requirement of E3-ADP for Ad spread could be readily compensated for by abrogation of the functions of E1B-19K and provide genetic evidence that these two viral proteins influence viral spread in opposing manners. In addition to E1B and E3 proteins, other early and late proteins that regulate viral replication and infectivity also influence lateral viral spread. Our studies have identified novel mutations that could be exploited in designing efficient oncolytic Ad vectors.
Optimal Shape Design of Steadily Loaded Journal Bearings using Genetic Algorithms

This paper describes an implementation of a genetic algorithm scheme suitable to the optimal shape design of finite-width, isoviscous, fluid film journal bearings under steady load and steady journal rotation. Assuming perfect journal cylindricity, the optimization objective is to determine the circumferential variation of sleeve geometry that maximizes bearing load capacity, subject to specified minimum film thickness. Particular emphasis is placed on the selection of the number of design variables, chromosomes per generation, crossover and mutation probabilities, and the number of generations that promote convergence to one or more optimal designs. Optimal film thickness specifications obtained using this genetic algorithm are found to be generally superior to random search methods and comparable with previously published results based on traditional optimization strategies. For finite-width bearings, optimal bearing geometry is found to offer a small improvement in load capacity and a substantial improvement in oil flow over purely cylindrical designs.
Mapping local retardance in birefringent samples using polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography

We proposed a method to extract depth-resolved local retardance in birefringent samples from conventional polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PSOCT) that uses one circularly polarized incident light. Despite the wide use of such PSOCT systems in characterizing birefringent samples, the measured cumulative retardance does not represent the true cumulative retardance when optical axis varies with depth. A Jones calculus based algorithm was designed to derive the local depth-resolved retardance from conventional cumulative PSOCT results. The algorithm was tested in samples with homogeneous optical axis as well as samples with depth-dependent optical axis.
Optical mapping of the isolated coronary-perfused human sinus node.

Objectives We sought to confirm our hypothesis that the human sinoatrial node (SAN) is functionally insulated from the surrounding atrial myocardium except for several exit pathways that electrically bridge the nodal tissue and atrial myocardium. Background The site of origin and pattern of excitation within the human SAN has not been directly mapped. Methods The SAN was optically mapped in coronary-perfused preparations from nonfailing human hearts (n = 4, age 54 ± 15 years) using the dye Di-4-ANBDQBS and blebbistatin. The SAN 3-dimensional structure was reconstructed using histology. Results Optical recordings from the SAN had diastolic depolarization and multiple upstroke components, which corresponded to the separate excitations of the SAN and atrial layers. Excitation originated in the middle of the SAN (66 ± 17 beats/min), and then spread slowly (1 to 18 cm/s) and anisotropically. After a 82 ± 17 ms conduction delay within the SAN, the atrial myocardium was excited via superior, middle, and/or inferior sinoatrial conduction pathways. Atrial excitation was initiated 9.4 ± 4.2 mm from the leading pacemaker site. The oval 14.3 ± 1.5 mm × 6.7 ± 1.6 mm × 1.0 ± 0.2 mm SAN structure was functionally insulated from the atrium by connective tissue, fat, and coronary arteries, except for these pathways. Conclusions These data demonstrated for the first time, to our knowledge, the location of the leading SAN pacemaker site, the pattern of excitation within the human SAN, and the conduction pathways into the right atrium. The existence of these pathways explains why, even during normal sinus rhythm, atrial breakthroughs could arise from a region parallel to the crista terminalis that is significantly larger (26.1 ± 7.9 mm) than the area of the anatomically defined SAN.
Transformation of lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus requires only one-fourth of the viral genome.

Abstract Inactivation studies were performed to measure the target sizes of three Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) -associated functions: (i) transformation of lymphocytes; (ii) stimulation of cell DNA synthesis in lymphocytes; and (iii) induction of the EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) expression in lymphocytes. The target size of the plaque-forming function of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was studied in parallel and was used as a standard for comparison with the measured target sizes. When ionizing irradiation was used as an inactivating agent, the target size of EBV transforming function was found to be as large as that determined for the plaque-forming function of HSV-1. A similar size was measured for the EBV function required to stimulate cell DNA synthesis. In contrast, the target size of the viral function needed for induction of EBNA expression was found to be only 35% of that observed for HSV-1 plaque-forming function. Inactivation studies were also performed using the chemical mutagen, N-acetoxyacetylaminofluorene. The target size measured using this agent for the transforming function of EBV was about 25% of that determined for plaque-forming function of HSV-1. This result indicates that only a portion of the viral DNA encodes information necessary for the initiation and maintenance of transformation by EBV.
Recurrent neural equalization for communication channels in impulsive noise environments

In some communication systems, the transmitted signal is contaminated by impulsive noise with a non-Gaussian distribution. Non-Gaussian noise causes significant performance degradation to communication receivers. In this paper, we apply a recurrent neural equalizer to impulsive noise channels, for which the performance of neural network equalizers has never been evaluated. This new application is motivated from the fact that the unscented Kalman filter (UKF), which is suited for training of the recurrent neural equalizer, provides a higher accuracy than the extended Kalman filter (EKF) in capturing the statistical characteristics for non-Gaussian random variables. The performance of the recurrent neural equalizer is evaluated for impulsive noise channels through Monte Carlo simulations. The results support the superiority of the UKF to the EKF in compensating the effect of non-Gaussian impulsive noise.
Profound First-Degree Atrioventricular Block: A 30-Year Study

We report the findings in a 60-year-old patient with a 30-year history of profound first-degree heart block with no associated cardiac abnormalities. The sinus node and the His-Purkinje system were normal. The time for atrioventricular nodal conduction was prolonged, with normal refractoriness both before and after administration of atropine, suggesting that the atrioventricular node may be lengthened, although electrically normal.
Molecular Properties of Post-Mortem Muscle. I. Myofibrillar Nucleosidetriphosphatase Activity of Bovine Muscle

SUMMARY— A study was made of the nucleosidetriphosphatase (NTPase) activities of myofibrils isolated from pre-rigor, rigor, and post-rigor bovine semitendinosus and psoas muscles with three different extracting solutions: 1) 0.25M sucrose, 1 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 0.05M trischydroxy-methyl)-aminomethane (Tris), pH 7.6; 2) 0.15M KCI, 1 mM EDTA, O.OSM Tris, pH 7.6; and 3) 50% glycerol, 1mM EDTA, 0.05M Tris, pH 7.6. Post-mortem storage was at 2 and 16°C. By 6 hr post-mortem, the Ca++- and Mg++-modified adenosine-triphosphatase (ATPase) activities at an ionic strength (I-/2) of 0.18 had increased 20–50% over the O-time level. An increase in Ca++-modified ATPase of Γ/2 = 0.52 was also found. The Mg++-modified inosinetriphosphatase (ITPase) at Γ/2 = 0.18 increased with post-mortem time, but the Cat+-modified ITPase at Γ/2 = 0.18 did not change. The Ca++-modified ITPase activity at Γ/2 = 0.52 increased for the first 24 hr post-mortem, but after 312 hr post-mortem, it had decreased back to the O-time level. No differences in NTPase activities were found between the semitendinosus and the psoas muscles or between post-mortem storage at 2 and 16°. Use of sucrose or KCI extracting solutions gave the most consistent NTPase results. The low Mg++-modified NTPase activity at Γ/2 = 0.52 suggests that it is possible to dissociate thick and thin filaments from rigor muscle through the use of 5mM ATP or ITP. The fact that NTPase activities in the presence of certain modifiers did not change with post-mortem time suggests that the increased NTPase activities did not result from a proteolytic loss of part of the enzyme molecule, causing an increased activity per unit of protein. Mg++-modified ATPase activities in the presence of a Ca++ chelator indicated that tropomyosin, the most sensitive of the three myofibrillar proteins to proteolytic degradation, had not undergone significant proteolysis, even after 312 hr post-mortem.
Parallel incremental graph partitioning using linear programming

Partitioning graphs into equally large groups of nodes while minimizing the number of edges between different groups is an extremely important problem in parallel computing. For instance, efficiently parallelizing several scientific and engineering applications requires the partitioning of data or tasks among processors such that the computational load on each node is roughly the same, while communication is minimized. Obtaining exact solutions is computationally intractable, since graph-partitioning is an NP-complete.For a large class of irregular and adaptive data parallel applications (such as adaptive meshes), the computational structure changes from one phase to another in an incremental fashion. In incremental graph-partitioning problems the partitioning of the graph needs to be updated as the graph changes over time; a small number of nodes or edges may be added or deleted at any given instant.In this paper we use a linear programming-based method to solve the incremental graph partitioning problem. All the steps used by our method are inherently parallel and hence our approach can be easily parallelized. By using an initial solution for the graph partitions derived from recursive spectral bisection-based methods, our methods can achieve repartitioning at considerably lower cost than can be obtained by applying recursive spectral bisection from scratch. Further, the quality of the partitioning achieved is comparable to that achieved by applying recursive spectral bisection to the incremental graphs from scratch.
Linguistic and metalinguistic intuitions in the philosophy of language

Machery et al. (2004) reported some preliminary evidence that intuitions about reference vary within and across cultures, and they argued that if real, such variation would have significant philosophical implications (see also Mallon et al. 2009). In a recent article, Genoveva Marti (2009) argues that the type of intuitions examined by Machery and colleagues (‘metalinguistic intuitions’) is evidentially irrelevant for identifying the correct theory of reference, and she concludes that the variation in the relevant intuitions about reference within and across cultures has not been established.
Troublesome Crystal Structures: Prevention, Detection, and Resolution

A large number of incorrect crystal structures is being published today. These structures are proving to be a particular problem to those of us who are interested in comparing structural moieties found in the databases in order to develop structure-property relationships. Problems can reside in the input data, e.g., wrong unit cell or low quality intensity data, or in the structural model, e.g., wrong space group or atom types. Many of the common mistakes are, however, relatively easy to detect and thus should be preventable; at the very least, suspicious structures can be flagged, if not by the authors then by the referees and, ultimately, the crystallographic databases. This article describes some of the more common mistakes and their effects on the resulting structures, lists a series of tests that can be used to detect incorrect structures, and makes a strong plea for the publication of higher quality structures.
Effect of Nitrogen-containing Dietary Supplements on the Mating Success of Sterile Males of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract In Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) programs, mass-reared males of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), are maintained on a sugar-agar diet before their release into the environment. Several studies suggest that nitrogenous dietary supplements improve the mating competitiveness of the sterile males, thus increasing the cost effectiveness of SIT. Other research, however, has not supported this notion. Here, we further investigate the potential usefulness of nitrogen-containing diet additives by examining the effect of 4 different nitrogenous materials--yeast hydrolysate, urea, whey protein, and honey--on the mating success of sterile C. capitata males. These materials were mixed directly with the sugar-agar diet in varying concentrations (1, 5, or 10%). Trials conducted in outdoor field-cages generated 2 consistent results across all diets: (1) neither the type nor concentration of nitrogenous material used elevated the mating success of sterile males above that observed for ...
Covalently Attached Liquids: Instant Omniphobic Surfaces with Unprecedented Repellency

Recent strategies to prepare “omniphobic” surfaces have demonstrated that minimizing contact angle hysteresis (CAH) is the key criterion for effectiveness. CAH is affected by chemistry and topography defects at the molecular and higher levels, thus most surfaces exhibit significant CAH. Preparative methods for stable coatings on smooth substrates with negligible CAH (<2°) for a broad range of liquids have not been reported. In this work, we describe a simple and rapid procedure to prepare omniphobic surfaces that are stable under pressure and durable at elevated temperatures. Consistent with theory, they exhibit sliding angles that decrease with liquid surface tension. Slippery omniphobic covalently attached liquid (SOCAL) surfaces are obtained through acid-catalyzed graft polycondensation of dimethyldimethoxysilane. The smooth, stable, and temperature-resistant coatings show extremely low CAH (≤1°) and low sliding angles for liquids that span surface tensions from 78.2 to 18.4 mN m−1.
Self-Determination in the Palestine Context

The conflict between Hamas and the PLO-affiliated Palestinian parties has raised anew the question of self-determination, and what it means in regard to the conflicting claims to territory in Israel/Palestine. Self-determination emerged as a concept in the international community in the early twentieth century. Whether it remained a political idea only, or whether it became solidified as a norm of international law has been contested. The better side of this argument is that self-determination became accepted as a legal norm, through recognition of it by states and by international organizations.
Getting to Know Administrative Decisions

Administrative decisions don't get much attention in law schools. Written for Student Lawyer magazine, this column helps students become familiar with administrative decisions -- what they are, why they're important and how to research them.
Determination of enthalpies of formation of energetic molecules with composite quantum chemical methods

Abstract We report gas-phase enthalpies of formation for the set of energetic molecules NTO, DADE, LLM-105, TNT, RDX, TATB, HMX, and PETN using the G2, G3, G4, and ccCA-PS3 quantum composite methods. Calculations for HMX and PETN hitherto represent the largest molecules attempted with these methods. G3 and G4 calculations are typically close to one another, with a larger difference found between these methods and ccCA-PS3. Although there is significant uncertainty in experimental values, the mean absolute deviation between the average experimental value and calculations are 12, 6, 7, and 3 kcal/mol for G2, G3, G4, and ccCA-PS3, respectively.
What every nurse needs to know about ... juvenile firesetters. A report of the Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Project.

With the number of juvenile firesetters growing each year and the amount of psychological and financial damage they create, it is essential that clinical professionals are aware of the characteristics surrounding juveniles who set fires. This study had two primary purposes: to educate nurses and mental health practitioners about the etiology and treatment of juvenile firesetters and to discuss a number of exploratory predictors, including age, gender, aggression, internalizing behaviors, level of deviancy, family dynamics, and sociability. Certain individual and environmental characteristics relate to varying levels of damage caused by the fire and the presence or absence of recidivistic behaviors. Firesetters are a group widely seen in the general population but not often identified or studied by clinical professionals. Therefore, this article has implications for the clinical practice of nurse practitioners and others who come into contact with this clinical population.
Addressing Information Literacy through Student-Centered Learning

This case study describes several courses that resulted from a teaching partnership between an instructional technologist/professor and a librarian that evolved over several semesters, and the information literacy implications of the course formats. In order to increase student engagement, active learning and inquiry-based learning techniques were incorporated into the courses. By designing the courses in this manner, information literacy was addressed in various ways throughout the courses. This paper will provide some background on the instructors’ approach and inspirations, discuss some specifics of the courses, and relate the information literacy outcomes.
Potential Therapeutic Use of BDNF or NT-4/5 in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases

A growing body of evidence has revealed that the neuropathologies of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases reflect numerous system atrophies, rather than singular deficits of ldopaminergic or cholinergic neurons, respectively (see Agid et al, 1987 and Reisberg, 1983 for reviews). Both diseases can eventually result in losses of catecholaminergic, indoleaminergic, cholinergic, and peptidergic neurons but vary in the degree to which these cell groups are affected, particularly at early stages. Research efforts have focused on the identification of common mechanisms contributing to these conditions, as well as determinations of growth factor responsiveness of the affected neuronal populations. The present report summarizes in vitro and in vivo evidence that two members of the neurotrophin family of growth factors, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5), support the survival or maturation of phenotypic markers in rat neuronal populations that correspond to those severely affected in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. BDNF also promotes the expression of at least several of the neuropeptides that are also decreased in Alzheimer’s disease (Nawa et al, 1993; Croll et al, 1993). The present review, however, will survey the more extensive information currently available for the in vivo and in vitro actions of BDNF or NT-4/5 on monoaminergic, cholinergic, and GABAergic neurotransmitters.
Developments in Practice

‘How do we understand that which we seek to act upon?’ Theory puts things which we see or know or hypothesise about into a system in order to make sense of what otherwise would be inscrutable in order to spot gaps and biases, and also to challenge the illusion that we know answers which we do not yet have. Some people become very uneasy by the fact of multiple points of view or the absence of complete agreement. They choose one point of view and they seek to destroy or denigrate all others. Or they may repudiate all concepts and use only intuition, common sense it's called. I suppose that the middle ground might be meriting our attention. I don't think that in our complex field of human relations and services to parents and children that it is very easy to simplify. You remember the comment There's a solution to all human problems. It's neat, and it's obvious and it's wrong'.
Interferon Regulatory Factor 6 Has a Protective Role in the Host Response to Endotoxic Shock

Interferon Regulatory Factor (IRF) 6, a member of the IRF family, is essential for epidermal and orofacial embryonic development. Irf6 is strongly expressed in keratinocytes, in which it regulates epidermal proliferation, differentiation, and migration. A recent role for Irf6 in Toll-like receptor 2-dependent chemokine gene expression was also reported in an epithelial cell line. However, a function for Irf6 in innate immune cells was not previously reported. In the present study, we investigated the expression and function of Irf6 in bone marrow-derived neutrophils and macrophages. We show here, using a conditional knockout of Irf6 in lysosymeM expressing cells, that Irf6 is required for resistance to LPS-induced endotoxic shock. In addition, Irf6-deficient bone marrow-derived neutrophils exhibited increased chemotactic index and velocity compared with wild-type cells in vitro. TLR4-specific KC and IL6 secretions were upregulated in Irf6-deficient bone marrow-derived macrophages in vitro. These cells also exhibited an increased level of phosphorylated IkBa. Collectively, our findings suggest a role for Irf6 in the resistance to endotoxic shock due to NFk-B-mediated alteration of cytokine production.
Construction Cost and Duration Uncertainty Model: Application to High-Speed Rail Line Project

AbstractTransportation construction projects are often plagued by cost overruns and delays. Applying contingencies and estimating risks at the project level often do not capture the multiple uncertainties in the construction process of large transportation projects. Thus, there is a need for innovative approaches and tools to avoid large construction cost and duration overruns. To counteract such underestimations, a construction model and an uncertainty model are developed. In the construction model, the construction of the four main types of structures in rail lines (tunnels, viaducts, cuts, and embankments) is modeled bottom-up from the single activity to the entire rail line. In the uncertainty model, three sources of uncertainty (variability in the construction process, correlations between the costs of repeated activities, and disruptive events) are modeled jointly at the level of the single activity. In a Monte Carlo simulation environment, these uncertainties are propagated to the total constructio...
Probable vasovagal reaction following cystocentesis in two cats

Case summaryThis case report describes an acute reaction, thought to be vagally mediated, in two cats immediately following cystocentesis. Both cats were being evaluated for feline idiopathic cystitis and developed bradycardia, hypersalivation, urination and weakness after a blind cystocentesis. Both cats recovered uneventfully with supportive care.Relevance and novel informationA vagally mediated response may occur in cats after cystocentesis, which is a common procedure performed by veterinary professionals in cats. This response may be very profound and dramatic. Affected cats will likely make an uneventful recovery. This vagally mediated response to cystocentesis, though reported by word of mouth among veterinarians, has not been described in the literature. This is the first documentation of its occurrence in cats.
Readability of Online Patient Educational Resources Found on NCI-Designated Cancer Center Web Sites

BACKGROUND The NIH and Department of Health & Human Services recommend online patient information (OPI) be written at a sixth grade level. We used a panel of readability analyses to assess OPI from NCI-Designated Cancer Center (NCIDCC) Web sites. METHODS Cancer.gov was used to identify 68 NCIDCC Web sites from which we collected both general OPI and OPI specific to breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers. This text was analyzed by 10 commonly used readability tests: the New Dale-Chall Readability Formula, Flesch Reading Ease scale, Flesch-Kinaid Grade Level, FORCAST scale, Fry Readability Graph, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook test, Gunning Frequency of Gobbledygook index, New Fog Count, Raygor Readability Estimate Graph, and Coleman-Liau Index. We tested the hypothesis that the readability of NCIDCC OPI was written at the sixth grade level. Secondary analyses were performed to compare readability of OPI between comprehensive and noncomprehensive centers, by region, and to OPI produced by the American Cancer Society (ACS). RESULTS A mean of 30,507 words from 40 comprehensive and 18 noncomprehensive NCIDCCs was analyzed (7 nonclinical and 3 without appropriate OPI were excluded). Using a composite grade level score, the mean readability score of 12.46 (ie, college level: 95% CI, 12.13-12.79) was significantly greater than the target grade level of 6 (middle-school: P<.001). No difference between comprehensive and noncomprehensive centers was identified. Regional differences were identified in 4 of the 10 readability metrics (P<.05). ACS OPI provides easier language, at the seventh to ninth grade level, across all tests (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS OPI from NCIDCC Web sites is more complex than recommended for the average patient.
Methods and Measures of Behavior in the Diagnosis of Autism and Related Disorders

In the past 5 years, diagnostic schemes for autism and related psychiatric disorders have become increasingly sophisticated. However, within these diagnostic frameworks, no specific assessment procedures have been prescribed. On the other hand, work has continued in the development of empirically rooted instruments for the diagnosis and screening of autism and related disorders. The need for diagnostic methods and instruments that incorporate current diagnostic criteria, that use methods specifically aimed at gleaning information about the communicative and social deficits associated with autism, and that differentiate autism from related disorders is discussed. Two new instruments that attempt to fill this need, the Autism Diagnostic Interview and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, are briefly described.
Text Simplification and User Experience

Research provides ample evidence of the impact web page design has on comprehension; and that Generation Y users are impatient and dislike reading text. Yet there has been little research that focuses on content, in particular to examine the impact of text simplification on younger users' processing of textual information. To address this need, we report the initial steps of a larger research effort that focuses on developing a set of guidelines for designing simple and effective text passages. Specifically, we compiled a set of existing plain language rules and tested its effectiveness of conveying information to Generation Y users. The results suggest the compiled set of rules can serve as an appropriate tool for designing textual passages to reduce cognitive effort and improve readability of textual content for Generation Y users. Also, the results show that eye tracking serves as an excellent objective measurement for examining the effectiveness of text simplification.
Abstract 2733: Development of novel monoclonal antibodies for a cyclic DNA adduct derived from oxidation of ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs) play a role in certain human cancers. The oxidation of PUFAs produces reactive α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (enals) that can modify DNA producing mutagenic lesions. Of particular interest, 7-(1′,2′-dihydroxyheptyl)-1,N6- ethenodeoxyadenosine (DHHedA) is a novel DNA adduct in vitro and in vivo derived from lipid peroxidation of ω-6 PUFAs. Despite its recent identification in vivo, the role of DHHedA in tumorigenesis is not yet known. Previously, the endogenously formed DHHedA was detected by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Due to its low levels in vivo (1-30 adducts/109 DNA bases), a relatively high quantity of DNA is needed for its detection and quantification. In this study we developed a monoclonal antibody against DHHedA in order to detect and quantify this adduct in cells and tissues. Two antigens were synthesized by conjugating activated hapten: 5′-carboxy-7-(1′,2′-dihydroxyheptyl) adenosine (5′-carboxy DHHeA) to BSA and KLH carrier proteins. KLH-conjugated hapten was used for mice immunization, whereas BSA-based hapten was used to test for an immune response. After immunization and several screenings, 6 monoclonal cell lines were chosen for further tests. Normal and competitive ELISA was performed to characterize the antibodies from all cell lines. Competitive ELISA revealed no cross-reactivity towards normal nucleosides and α- and γ-OHPdG, the cyclic 1,N2-propano adduct derived from acrolein, and 8-oxo-dG for all of the tested antibodies. However, we observed a weak ( Citation Format: Marcin Dyba, Brandon Da Silva, Jishen Pan, Fung-Lung Chung. Development of novel monoclonal antibodies for a cyclic DNA adduct derived from oxidation of ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2733. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2733
Postconcussive symptoms, PTSD, and medical disease burden in treatment-seeking OEF/OIF/OND Veterans

ABSTRACT Introduction: The most common psychological and cognitive sequelae associated with deployments to Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) are mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). High rates of PTSD are often observed among Veterans with a history of mTBI, and persistent postconcussive symptoms commonly endorsed after mTBI are known to be associated with PTSD. Therefore, this study examined whether PTSD mediates relations between postconcussive symptoms and 2 indices of medical disease burden: 1) the number of disease categories positive for a diagnosis, or system disease burden, and 2) total number of physical diagnoses, or cumulative disease burden. Materials and Methods: Participants were 91 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn Veterans seeking treatment at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center who screened positive for mTBI and later attended a follow-up Polytrauma clinic evaluation for ne...
Thoracic Facet Pain/Medial Branch Blocks

64490: zygapophyseal joint (or nerves innervating that joint) with image guidance, cervical or thoracic; single level
Moving to Measures That Matter and Motivate Change

Baker and Chassin present 4 criteria to assess outcome measures. The editorialists discuss these criteria and the need for fairness and precision in measurement and to reduce burden from measures t...
Posterior Distributions for Multivariate Normal Parameters

CORNISH (1961), following an earlier suggestion of Fisher (1954), has derived a joint fiducial distribution of the means of a p-variate normal distribution. The hyperellipsoidal fiducial region on the means given by this distribution is not the same as that given by the confidence region based on Hotelling's T2. In most earlier examples of differences between fiducial and confidence intervals, the disagreement has been obscured either by uncertainty as to the existence of a confidence interval based only on sufficient statistics, as in the Behrens-Fisher problem, or by the existence of two or more fiducial solutions, as in the ratio of two normal means. But the present disagreement is unequivocal since the confidence region is well defined and no other fiducial region has yet been produced to confound the issue. We have thought it of interest to examine this disagreement from the point of view of Bayes, using a prior distribution with an adjustable parameter, v. This examination leads to a posterior distribution of the means which reduces to the Fisher-Cornish density (F-C) for v = 2 and to what we will call the Hotelling density (H) for v = p + 1 (Section 2). We have investigated the effect of a choice of v on the marginal distribution of a single mean and on the marginal distribution of the elements of the covariance matrix (Section 3). The main result here is that there is no value of v that will lead to both Student's density as a marginal density for a single mean and Hotelling's density as the joint density for all the means. We also demonstrate that the posterior distribution of the elements of the covariance matrix in the bivariate case is different from the corresponding fiducial distribution for all values of v. Assuming we have N>p observations from a p-variate normal distribution with vector mean ,u' = (p1, ..., ,up) and covariance matrix E = {orij}, we then calculate from the observations the sample vector mean x' = (R, ..., p) and the sample covariance matrix S = {sj}, where