cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Duplicate File Names-A Novel Steganographic Data Hiding Technique

Data hiding has been an integral part of human society from the very early days dating back to BC. It has played its role for both good and bad purposes. First instances of data hiding dates back to 440 B.C. and has been cited in several works as one of the first known and recorded use of steganography. Several complicated Steganographic techniques have been proposed in the past decade to deceive the detection mechanisms. Steganalysis has also been one of the corner stones of research in the recent past to thwart such attempts of the adversary to subterfuge detection. In this paper we present a novel, simple, and easy to implement data hiding technique for hiding files with duplicate names. The proposed file hiding technique Duplicate File Names uses an innocuous file as the cover medium exploiting its name and reputation as a good file. This vulnerability was first discovered on a Windows 98 machine with DOS 6.1. We have tested this vulnerability on several different file systems to confirm that the vulnerability exists across file systems and not specific to older Windows file systems. Finally, we have discussed using this method for legitimate data hiding as well as detecting when employed for illegitimate data hiding.
Transgenic Carrot (Daucus carota L.)

Carrot is a member of the Umbelliferae, a large family that includes parsley, parsnip, celery, fennel, anise, dill, cumin, and coriander as just some of the better known vegetables and spices that make up this economically important family. The Daucus genus comprises over 60 species. Carrot is a biennial with only a few annual forms known and is diploid with nine pairs of chromosomes. Carrot is thought to have originated from the area now known as Afghanistan (Mackevic 1929) from where it spread to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe during the tenth to fifteenth centuries, to China in the fourteenth century, Japan in the seventeenth century, and brought to the New World with the first English settlers (Banga 1957, 1963). It is now grown throughout the world and is one of the ten most important vegetables in the US. The commercial carrot has an orange-colored flesh resulting from its high carotene content but its selection originated in the Netherlands in the seventeenth century from the anthocyanin-containing carrot of the Near East (Ammirato 1986). The present day commercial varieties, of which there are over 400, all derive from this narrow genetic base.
Using differentiated feedback to improve performance in introductory statistics

ABSTRACTIn this study, we applied the regulatory focus theory to design a feedback intervention to promote learning in an introductory statistics course at a Midwestern public university in the USA. In total, 67 students were randomly assigned to receive feedback that either fitted or not fitted their regulatory focus. Through the analysis of covariance, we found that students in the fit condition had better performance than the non-fit condition, and there was a significant interaction between the individual’s regulatory focus and the type of feedback received. Further analysis showed that this interaction was significant only for the middle-performing students, but not for the lower or higher achievers. Findings from this study have implications for feedback design in higher education classrooms.
Ramanujan’s Last Letter to Hardy

In one of the most enigmatic, important, and influential mathematical letters in the history of mathematics, written to Hardy on January 12, 1920, Ramanujan mistily described his theory of mock theta functions. For nearly a century, mathematicians have been attempting to penetrate into the meanings of the letter’s assertions. Although enormous progress has been made in fitting Ramanujan’s claims into contemporary mathematics, a dark curtain has not allowed us to view what is really on stage, i.e., Ramanujan’s thoughts behind his discoveries.
A hybrid method to estimate the full parametric hazard model

In this paper, we propose a hybrid method to estimate the baseline hazard for Cox proportional hazard model. In the proposed method, the nonparametric estimate of the survival function by Kaplan Me...
Broadband topological slow light through higher momentum-space winding

Slow-light waveguides can strongly enhance light-matter interaction, but suffer from a narrow bandwidth, increased backscattering, and Anderson localization. Edge states in photonic topological insulators resist backscattering and localization, but typically cross the bulk band gap over a single Brillouin zone, meaning that slow group velocity implies narrow-band operation. Here we show theoretically that this can be circumvented via an edge termination that causes the edge state to wind many times around the Brillouin zone, making it both slow and broadband.
Delirium Knowledge, Self-Confidence, and Attitude in Pediatric Intensive Care Nurses.

Abstract Purpose A diagnosis of delirium places a critically ill child at risk of increased morbidity/mortality. Although delirium is common in critically ill children, only 2% of pediatric intensive care units (PICU) screen for delirium. The impediments to screening include knowledge deficits regarding delirium and delirium screening tools. The purpose of this improvement science project was two-fold. The first was to implement delirium screening in a PICU. The second was to evaluate the impact of multifaceted education on PICU nurses' delirium knowledge, self-confidence and attitude towards delirium. Design & method A series of three plan-do-study-act cycles (PDSA) were used to implement this practice change. Multifaceted education was provided during the PDSA cycles. Two questionnaires were used to assess for changes in delirium knowledge, self-confidence and attitude towards delirium among PICU nurses. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for data analysis. Results Forty-two PICU nurses completed a questionnaire measuring delirium knowledge, self-confidence, and attitude during each PDSA cycle. A significant increase in delirium knowledge, self-confidence, and attitude towards delirium was found after education (p = .003; p Conclusion & practice implications Multifaceted education is a successful tool in improving nurses' knowledge, self-confidence and attitude regarding delirium. The use of PDSA cycles is a practical systematic method to improve quality of care. Improving knowledge, self-confidence and attitude have the potential to mitigate adverse effects of delirium in the critically ill child.
Enhancing the Ensemble of Exemplar-SVMs for Binary Classification Using Concurrent Selection and Ensemble Learning

Support Vector Machines (SVMs) have become one of the most common and popular machine learning tools for classification, pattern recognition, and object detection. The accelerating requirement for processing SVM yields the implementation of an SVM algorithm on the hardware. In general, the training phase for SVM is performed using software. The SVM algorithm is implemented on the hardware through the parameters generated from the training phase. Hence, training time and hardware overhead are two significant metrics to consider when improving SVM. In this paper, we propose a innovative model of SVM called Highly Parallel SVM (HPSVM) for binary classification. The HPSVM is capable of saving training time and hardware overhead while simultaneously maintaining good classification accuracy. The idea of the HPSVM is to perform the newly proposed Concurrent Gaussian Selection for picking significant training data to learn an ensemble of linear classifiers for approximation of the complicated classifier. By doing so, training time and hardware cost can be tremendously reduced. The experimental results show that, compared to the proposed parallel SVM, Ensemble of Exemplar-SVMs, the HPSVM achieves 3x training time reduction and reduces hardware cost by about 6x while slightly improving the classification accuracy.
NMR Line Shapes in Molecular Mechanisms with Ligand Binding and Multiple Conformers

Interactions of ligands with biological macromolecules are sensitively detected through changes of chemical shifts and line shapes of the NMR signals. This paper reports a mathematical analysis and simulations of NMR line shapes expected in titrations when ligand binding is coupled to multiple isomerization transitions. Such molecular mechanisms may correspond to ligand binding by intrinsically disordered proteins or by autoinhibited enzymes. Based on the simulation results, we anticipate several specific effects that may be observed in practice. First, the presence of non-binding conformers of the receptor molecule leads to a remarkable broadening in the binding transition even if the exchange between binding and non-binding conformers is very slow. Second, the ligand-binding mechanisms involving induced fit are expected to demonstrate deceptively decelerated exchange regimes even when the underlying kinetics are very fast. Conversely, the observation of fast-exchange shifting resonances with modest line-broadening ("marching peaks") in practical NMR titrations may involve conformational selection transitions but less likely to be observed for the induced fit. Finally, in auto-inhibited molecules that open to form multiple binding-competent conformers, the fast dynamics of opening/closing transition are capable of masking the true kinetics of inter-conversion among transiently open forms of the receptor.
Exposure to Violence and Sleep Inadequacies among Men and Women Living in a Shelter Setting.

Background Exposure to violence may explain sleep inadequacies reported by homeless adults, with women being potentially more susceptible to violence and sleep disturbances than men. This study examined the association between violence and sleep inadequacies among homeless adults and explored differences by sex. Methods Adult participants were recruited from a shelter (N=194; 71.1% men, Mage = 43.8±12.2). Participants self-reported victimization and/or witnessing violence (mugging, fight, and/or sexual assault) at the shelter, sleep duration (over an average 24 hours), insufficient sleep (days without sufficient rest/sleep), and unintentional daytime sleep (days with unintentional sleep) in the past month. Linear regressions were used to estimate associations between violence and sleep inadequacies, controlling for sex, age, race, months homeless, and depression. Moderation by sex was examined via an interaction term following mean-centering of variables. Results Overall, 20.6% of participants (n=40) reported victimization since moving to the shelter. In the last month, participants reported witnessing an average of 2.9±5.1 acts of violence. Over the same timeframe, participants reported 6.9±2.0 hours of sleep nightly, 11.2±10.7 days of insufficient sleep, and 6.2±8.8 days with unintentional daytime sleep. In adjusted analyses, witnessing violence was associated with insufficient sleep (p=.001). Men and women differed only in age and race in unadjusted analyses; sex was not a significant moderator of any association between violence and sleep in adjusted analyses. Conclusions Links between witnessing violence and sleep inadequacies should be considered in shelter health promotion efforts. Successful efforts to minimize violence may reduce insufficient sleep amongst both sexes.
CHAPTER 10 – Logic Programming

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on logic programming, which is closely related to PROLOG. Logic programming constitutes the theoretical framework of PROLOG. This close connection led to the adoption of logic programming as the basis for the influential Japanese Fifth Generation Project. The power of logic programming stems from two reasons. First, it is an extremely simple formalism. It also relies on mathematical logic, which developed its own methods and techniques and which provides a rigorous mathematical framework. The chapter presents a self-contained introduction to the theory of logic programming. It also discusses the causal dependence between various concepts and notions and presents the notion of SLD-resolution, which is central to the subject of logic programming.
Prevalent strains of pathogens with antibiotic resistance isolated from patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia in pediatric intensive care unit

Objective To study the pathogenic bacteria strains with drug-resistance prevailing in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP)in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit(PICU)in order to provide a reasonable guidance to the clinical use of suitable antibiotics.Method A retrospective clinical study in 46 patients with VAP was carried out in PICU of Wuhan Children's Hospital between January 2008 and June 2010.The prevalent strains of the pathogenic bacteria with drug-resistance isolated from lower respiratory tract by aspiration were analyzed.Results In total,119 pathogenic microbial strains were isolated including Gram-negative bacilli(G-,65.55%),fungi(21.01%)and Gram-positive cocci(G+,13.45%).Among pathogens,the most common pathogenic strains were Acinetobacter baummannii, Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumoniae,candida albicans and coagulase-negative staphylococci.Antibiotic susceptibility tests indicated that the situation of the multiple drug-resistances to antibiotics found in G- and G+ Was serious. Most of G- were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, amikacin, imipenem, meropenem,cefoperazone-sulbaetam and piperacillin-tazobactam.The G+ cocci were 100% susceptibility to vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid.Fungi were almost sensitive to all the anti-funaus agents. Conclusions The oredominant oathogens of VAP were G- bacilli,and their multiple drug-resistances to antibiotics were the serious problems.The monitoring of the drugresistance should be emphasized, and the option of antibiotics should depend on the antibiotic sensitivity test. Key words: Pediatric; Intensive care unit(ICU); Ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP); Pathogen; Drug-resistance; Retrospective clinical study
Theory of mind development in impoverished U.S. children and six cross-cultural comparisons

Abstract Prior literature demonstrates a reliable progression of ToM development during early childhood; however, cross-cultural studies have found a different progression of ToM development, and few studies have investigated whether this progression is generalizable to children in poverty. The current study examined ToM development in 106 3- to 5-year-old children enrolled in urban, low-income preschool programs in the U.S. Children completed a 5-task ToM battery. Parents provided family demographic information. Results demonstrated that economically disadvantaged preschool children do not develop ToM capacities in the same sequence as their affluent peers. Comparisons were then made with six samples reported in previous studies; children here showed a difference in age of mastery for some, but not all, aspects of ToM, compared with affluent U.S. children, and moreover show greater similarity with low-income children worldwide. These findings add to our understanding of specific environmental influences on ToM development in early childhood.
Lessons from an older sibling: Social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility

Given the similarities that exist between two constructs—corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social entrepreneurship (SE)—we examine how CSR literature can inform the SE literature. We argue ...
Quality of life in maltreated children and adult survivors of child maltreatment: a systematic review

PURPOSE: To review data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with childhood trauma, including psychological maltreatment, physical maltreatment, sexual abuse, and neglect. METHODS: The literature search was conducted with pre-defined keywords using the following electronic bibliographic databases: EMBASE, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsyINFO, PSYNDEX, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Further databases were searched for relevant dissertations. Study selection and data extraction were completed by two independent reviewers. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 1568 entries. Nineteen articles met all inclusion criteria and were retained for further analysis. FINDINGS quite consistently showed significant negative associations between child maltreatment and both self- and proxy-rated HRQoL. Effect sizes range from small to large. Number of types of maltreatment and HRQoL were found to be negatively related. CONCLUSION: Data on HRQoL for maltreated children are still rare. Studies often investigate adult survivors of child maltreatment. Considering HRQoL in children and adolescents who suffered maltreatment would allow the planning of effective interventions and the evaluation of treatments to improve HRQoL of these children. Language: en
The analyses of fluorescently labeled biomolecules using ultraviolet-wavelength fluorophore-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (UV FALDI-MS)

Abstract It was demonstrated recently that peptides labeled with fluorescent dyes on the N-terminus can be softly ionized using a visible-wavelength laser, and analyzed by fluorophore-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (FALDI-MS) without the addition of a matrix [32] . In this study, UV FALDI-MS was used to analyze fluorescently labeled peptides and proteins as well as an oligosaccharide and a lipid sample that were fluorescently labeled. The results obtained demonstrate that FALDI-MS is applicable to various types of biomolecules and fluorophores, and can be performed using UV laser-based LDI-MS instruments. UV FALDI-MS/MS confirms that N-terminal labeling of peptides with dyes such as rhodamine B and carboxyfluorescein contributes to favorable formation of a and b ions upon fragmentation of fluorescently labeled peptides by laser-induced dissociation (LID). Moreover, UV FALDI-MS enables soft ionization of fluorescently labeled proteins such as insulin and cytochrome C in the absence of a matrix. Additionally, a protocol for efficient labeling of peptides and proteins with coumarin for subsequent FALDI and MALDI-MS analyses is presented.
Real-time imaging of plasma membrane deformations reveals pre-fusion membrane curvature changes and a role for dynamin in the regulation of fusion pore expansion.

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 661–671. Abstract Assays for real-time investigation of exocytosis typically measure what is released from the granule. From this, inferences are made about the dynamics of membrane remodeling as fusion progresses from start to finish. We have recently undertaken a different approach to investigate the fusion process, by focusing not primarily on the granule, but rather its partner in exocytosis – the plasma membrane. We have been guided by the idea that biochemical interactions between the granule and plasma membranes before and during fusion, cause changes in membrane conformation. To enable study of membrane conformation, a novel imaging technique was developed combining polarized excitation of an oriented membrane probe 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (diI) with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (pTIRFM). Because this technique measures changes in membrane conformation (or deformations) directly, its usefulness persists even after granule cargo reporter (catecholamine, or protein), is no longer present. In this mini-review, we first summarize the workings of pTIRFM. We then discuss the application of the technique to investigate deformations in the membrane preceding fusion, and later, during fusion pore expansion. Finally, we discuss how expansion of the fusion pore may be regulated by the GTPase activity of dynamin.
An early look at XQuery API for Java™ (XQJ)

In Feb. 2004, the period for submitting Last Call Working Draft comments for most parts of the XQuery specification came to a close. While there is still a great deal of work to be done to make XQuery a W3C Recommendation, the documents have become more stable with each public release. In this column we'd like to provide an initial look at the XQuery API for Java™ (XQJ), a project that is taking place within the Java Community Process (JCP).
Identification of defects in glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor biosynthesis in the Thy-1 expression mutants

A number of eukaryotic proteins are anchored to the membrane by glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI), of which the core structure is conserved from protozoan to mammalian cells. Here, we used a panel of thymoma mutants, which synthesize Thy-1 but cannot express it on the cell surface, to study the GPI biosynthetic pathway in mammalian cells. These mutants have been assigned into six complementation classes (A, B, C, E, F, H) by the technique of somatic cell hybridization. Using a combination of metabolic labeling and chemical/enzymatic tests, the biosynthetic defects were mapped to four different steps. Class A, C, and H mutants cannot transfer N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) to a phosphatidylinositol acceptor, suggesting that the first step of GPI synthesis is regulated by at least three genes. The Class E mutant does not synthesize dolichol-phosphate-mannose, the donor for the first mannose residue transferred to the GPI core, and thus cannot form any mannose-containing GPI precursors. Class B and F mutants are defective in the addition of the third mannose residue or ethanolamine phosphate, respectively, to the elongating GPI core. Our findings have implications for the biosynthesis and attachment of the mammalian GPI anchor.
The Fourth Amendment & Terrorism

The important questions we need to ask and to answer B in the perilous times in which we live B is whether the Fourth Amendment applies in the same fashion not just to run of the mill criminals, but also to terrorists and suspected terrorists, individuals who are committing or who have committed B or who may be poised to commit B acts aimed at the destruction of extremely large numbers of people? Professor Burkoff argues that we can protect ourselves from cataclysmic threats of this sort and still maintain a fair and objective application of Fourth Amendment doctrine that respects our constitutional history. The Fourth Amendment applies to every search and seizure (including arrests) made by American law enforcement authorities or their agents. But the Fourth Amendment does and must apply as well in a way that includes unblindered sensitivity to and awareness of the context in which the law enforcement activities in question arise. Indeed, it must apply in this way if we are to be able to respond appropriately and effectively to the threats that now imperil us.
Estimating reliability in simulation experiments

In all simulations containing random phenomena, the investigator wishes to estimate the reliability of his results. This study describes several approaches and suggests an easily implemented two-stage procedure.
Lactobacillus-Mediated Priming of the Respiratory Mucosa Protects against Lethal Pneumovirus Infection

The inflammatory response to respiratory virus infection can be complex and refractory to standard therapy. Lactobacilli, when targeted to the respiratory epithelium, are highly effective at suppressing virus-induced inflammation and protecting against lethal disease. Specifically, wild-type mice primed via intranasal inoculation with live or heat-inactivated Lactobacillus plantarum or Lactobacillus reuteri were completely protected against lethal infection with the virulent rodent pathogen, pneumonia virus of mice; significant protection (60% survival) persisted for at least 13 wk. Protection was not unique to Lactobacillus species, and it was also observed in response to priming with nonpathogenic Gram-positive Listeria innocua. Priming with live lactobacilli resulted in diminished granulocyte recruitment, diminished expression of multiple proinflammatory cytokines (CXCL10, CXCL1, CCL2, and TNF), and reduced virus recovery, although we have demonstrated clearly that absolute virus titer does not predict clinical outcome. Lactobacillus priming also resulted in prolonged survival and protection against the lethal sequelae of pneumonia virus of mice infection in MyD88 gene-deleted (MyD88(-/-)) mice, suggesting that the protective mechanisms may be TLR-independent. Most intriguing, virus recovery and cytokine expression patterns in Lactobacillus-primed MyD88(-/-) mice were indistinguishable from those observed in control-primed MyD88(-/-) counterparts. In summary, we have identified and characterized an effective Lactobacillus-mediated innate immune shield, which may ultimately serve as critical and long-term protection against infection in the absence of specific antiviral vaccines.
Unsupervised Exercise and Mobility Loss in Peripheral Artery Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Methods and Results-—One hundred ninety-four PAD participants were randomized. During months 1 to 6, the intervention group met weekly with other PAD participants and a facilitator. Group support and self-regulatory skills were used to help participants adhere to walking exercise. Ninety-percent of exercise was conducted at or near home. The control group attended weekly lectures. During months 6 to 12, each group received telephone contact only. Primary outcomes have been reported. Here we compare changes in exploratory outcomes of mobility loss (the inability to climb a flight of stairs or walk one-quarter mile without assistance), walking velocity, and the Short Physical Performance Battery. Compared to controls, fewer participants randomized to the intervention experienced mobility loss at 6-month follow-up: 6.3% versus 26.5%, P=0.002, odds ratio=0.19 (95% CI=0.06 to 0.58) and at 12-month follow-up: 5.2% versus 18.5%, P=0.029, odds ratio=0.24 (95% CI=0.06 to 0.97). The intervention improved fast-paced 4-m walking velocity at 6-month follow-up (P=0.005) and the Short Physical Performance Battery at 12-month follow-up (P=0.027), compared to controls. Conclusions-—In exploratory analyses, a group-mediated cognitive behavioral intervention promoting unsupervised walking exercise prevented mobility loss and improved functioning at 6- and 12-month follow-up in PAD patients. Clinical Trial Registration-—URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00693940. (J Am Heart Assoc. 2015;4: e001659 doi: 10.1161/JAHA.114.001659)
Motor Neurons and Motor Columns of the Anterior Spinal Cord of Salamanders: Posthatching Development and Phylogenetic Distribution

The posthatching development of rostral (1st-4th) spinal motor neurons was studied in ten species of salamanders, using horseradish peroxidase and cobaltic lysine tracing techniques. Development of sp
Unidentate vs bidentate acyl coordination: reactions of high-spin iron(II) alkyls with carbon monoxide and the crystal structure of the bidentate acyl Fe(η2-COC6H2Me3)Br(CO)(dippe)

Quand des derives FeRX(dippe) sont carbonyles, on obtient des especes acylees Fe(η 2 -COCH 2 CMe 3 )X(CO)(dippe) (X=Cl, Br). La carboxylation du Fe-mesityl donne le complexe du titre
Effect of low Reynolds number turbulence amplification on the Galileo probe flowfield

The amplification of turbulence at low Reynolds numbers is analyzed as it affects the Jupiter-entry flowfield, surface-heating rate, and mass-loss rate of the 335-kg Galileo probe now being designed. The constant k(2) in the Clauser-Klebanoff outer law of the two-layer algebraic eddy-viscosity model of Cebeci (1970), as used in earlier models of the Galileo flowfield (Moss and Simmonds, 1982), is modified to increase at low Reynolds numbers, as found experimentally by Varner and Adams (1980). Calculations were performed for peak heating conditions (at 49.13 sec of entry), using a turbulent Prandtl number of 0.9 and turbulent Lewis numbers (LeT) of 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2. The low-Reynolds-number effect is found to produce mass-loss-ratio increases of from 4 to 50 percent, while an LeT of 1.2 produced an increase of from 4 to 10 percent as compared to an LeT of 1.0. While these findings are based on experimental data obtained under conditions somewhat different from those probably present on Jupiter, their importance for a conservative probe design is stressed.
Low-Frequency Water Volume Transport Through the Midsection of Green Bay, Lake Michigan, Calculated From Current and Temperature Observations

Abstract Moorings with current meters and temperature recorders were deployed along a mid-bay transect on either side of Chambers Island in Green Bay from September 1988 to October 1989. Daily transport estimates calculated from the current, temperature, and wind data, show temporal and spatial variability. Net summer transport during stratification west of Chambers Island was out of the lower bay (350 m 3 s −1 ) in the epilimnion, into the lower bay (900 m 3 s −l ) in the hypolimnion, and out of the lower bay (320 m 3 s −1 ) through the passage east of the island. The residence time for the lower bay is reduced to less than 1 year using the above transport compared to a water balance estimate of over 3 years. During the mid-September to May isothermal period, a horizontal transport gradient existed. Under the solid ice cover of winter, transport variability was significantly reduced and was uniformly out of the lower bay (500 m 3 s −1 ). Fluctuations in daily transport were often large (up to 2 × 10 4 m 3 s −1 ). The temporal and spatial variability of the water volume transport suggests that material mass fluxes between lower and upper Green Bay will be similarly dependent.
Autocrine and Paracrine Regulation of Myocardial Cell Growth in Vitro The TGFβ Paradigm.

Over the past few years, there has been an increasing appreciation of the role that growth factors/cytokines play in cardiac growth/development and the myocardial response to injury. This has derived, at least in part, from two observations: (a) that a number of these factors are expressed in response to myocardial stress, and (b) that some of these factors can stimulate myocardial growth in culture along with the characteristic set of gene products that are associated with hypertrophy in vivo. Virtually all of the cells that make up the adult myocardium have at one time or another been reported to either be the source, the site of action, or both, of many of these cytokines. Although the cell specificity of cytokine production is not critical to the understanding of the complex nature of intracardiac cell-cell interactions as a mechanism of cardiac growth/development, this distinction does have some importance as myocardial cell culture gains increased popularity in the research community. Because there are no true cardiac muscle cell lines, all of the myocyte cultures used in these studies are, in essence, "cocultures" of cardiac myocytes and nonmyocytes (predominantly fibroblasts), with absolute numbers of these "contaminating" cells a function of plated cell density. As such, the cell specificity of some substances on myocardial cell growth and transcriptional program (of both myocytes and fibroblasts) is not always clear. This makes the critical examination of the expression (and effects) of these growth-promoting substances in culture of particular importance with attention to the specific culture conditions employed. The complexity of the situation in the heart is compounded by the observation that many of these substances have differential effects on the individual myocardial cell types and can induce the expression of other cytokines/cytokine receptors by these cells. In this report, the investigations published to date on the autocrine/paracrine effects of these factors on myocardial cell growth in culture are reviewed. The complexity of the subject is illustrated with the findings from our laboratory investigating one of the cytokines with growth-promoting effects on myocardial cells in culture, transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ). © 1996, Elsevier Science Inc. (Trends Cardiovasc Med 1996;6:217-226).
Etiology and treatment of growth retardation in children with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease: a historical perspective

Dramatic changes have occurred in our understanding of the etiology of the growth retardation associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) during the past 50 years. Significant interest has been focused on preventing and/or correcting the growth retardation because of the emergence of the dual therapeutic modalities of dialysis and renal transplantation to prolong the lives of infants, children, and adolescents afflicted with CKD and ESRD. These efforts have resulted in a significant improvement in the height Z-score over the past two decades of children with CKD and ESRD. This has had a salutary impact on the final adult height of such children which should hopefully lead to an enhanced quality of life in the future. This report addresses the progress that has been made in the management of growth retardation in the pediatric population with CKD and ESRD.
Normjonesia danieli , a New Genus and Species of Nannastacid Cumacean (Malacostraca: Peracarida) from the Southwest Florida Continental Shelf

Abstract The nannastacid cumacean, Normjonesia danieli, n. g., n. sp., is described from a depth of 88 m on the Southwest Florida shelf in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. The new genus appears to have its closest affinities with Campylaspis Sars and Cubanocuma Bacescu and Muradian, also known from the shallow waters of the Caribbean Sea. A combination of characters, including: (1) the apparent lack of terminal aesthetes on antenna 1; (2) the absence of exopods on the female; (3) the presence of 5 pairs of exopods on the male; and (4) the presence of long terminal setae on the third maxilliped, distinguishes Normjonesia from the other known genera of the family Nannastacidae.
Facilitating adoption of informatics and meaningful use of electronic health records with nursing faculty

800x600 Objective: This educational development project focused on increasing nursing faculty adoption of informatics and nursing student use of electronic health records (EHRs) to foster meaningful use in an academic setting. The primary aims of the project were: to increase knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) of nursing faculty about informatics and EHRs; and to increase student use of EHRs in on-campus labs. The secondary goal was to enhance faculty adoption and pedagogical incorporation of informatics into the nursing curriculum. Methods: A one-group pre-test/post-test program evaluation design was used to survey the impact of a series of seminars and national consultants’ presentations to faculty regarding their knowledge, skills, and attitudes about informatics and the use of EHRs. This project occurred over an academic year at a health science center school of nursing. Results: Pre/post matched pair means survey scores showed faculty experienced an increase in both knowledge and skills about informatics and technologies, and had slightly more favorable attitudes about EHRs and informatics at year end. Nursing student use of EHRs in the clinical laboratory also increased. Limitations to this small scale evaluation pilot were survey design and need for more intensive education with a specific informatics/EHR content-focused faculty task force. Conclusions: Nursing faculty adoption of informatics and early meaningful use of EHRs requires organizational responsiveness, faculty incentives, equipment purchases, and expert consultants to foster faculty development and student learning in state-of-the-art on-campus labs. Replication of this program development would benefit other schools of nursing. Normal 0 7.8 磅 0 2 false false false EN-US ZH-CN X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Association between lunate morphology and carpal collapse patterns in scaphoid nonunions.

Purpose Type I lunates have a single distal facet for articulation with the capitate; type II lunates have an additional (medial) hamate facet on the distal articular surface. We retrospectively reviewed a series of patients with scaphoid nonunions to determine if there was an association between lunate morphology and the degree of carpal instability observed. Association between lunate morphology and the location of the scaphoid fracture (proximal or waist) was also investigated. Methods Radiographs were evaluated for 45 patients with established scaphoid nonunions. Lunate morphology, scaphoid fracture location, and radiolunate angle were determined. Results Type I lunates were present in 21 patients. Of these, 15 were found to have a dorsal intercalated segment instability pattern (radiolunate angle greater than 15°). By contrast, only 4 of the patients with type II lunates exhibited this pattern of instability. No significant association was found between lunate morphology and the scaphoid fracture location. Conclusions Type II lunate morphology is associated with significantly decreased incidence of dorsal intercalated segment instability (DISI) deformity in cases of established scaphoid nonunion (p = .0002). Lunate morphology, however, was not significantly associated with the location of the scaphoid fracture in these cases (p = .19). Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic IV.
Group Differences in Fairness Perceptions and Decision Making in Voting Rights Cases

Participants recruited from one Historically Black University (HBU) and two predominantly White higher-education institutions evaluated and decided simulated voting rights case summaries in which the plaintiff was either a racially-defined (African American) or a nonracially-defined (farmers) minority group. Contrary to social identity and social justice findings of an in-group bias, the present study showed greater support at all institutions for the voting rights of the African Americans than for the rural farmers, and the greatest support for both minority groups was found at the HBU. Perceived evidence strength was a better predictor of decisions than perceived unfairness, and both of these predictor variables completely mediated the effects of institution-type and involvement of a racially-defined group on decisions.
Compatible Dictyostelium mucoroides nuclear plasmids Dmp1 and Dmp2 both belong to the Ddp1 plasmid family.

Abstract Dictyostelium mucoroides plasmids Dmp1 and Dmp2 are naturally occurring compatible members of the Dictyostelium Ddp1 plasmid family found in the same wild isolate strain. The nucleotide sequences of Dmp1 (5983 bp) and Dmp2 (6018 bp) are 74% identical and each carries open reading frames (ORFs) similar to the G1 and G5 ORFs of the Dictyostelium discoideum plasmid Ddp1. The predicted protein product of the Ddp1 G1 ORF is 49% similar to that of the Dmp1 G1-like ORF and 52% similar to that of the Dmp2 G1-like ORF. For the G5 and G5-like ORFs the corresponding values are 47 and 43%, respectively. The G1 and G5 ORFs of Ddp1 are transcribed during both vegetative growth and development of the asexual fruiting body. The G1-like ORF of Dmp2 is expressed in vegetative and developing cells, while that of Dmp1 appears to be expressed mostly in developing cells. The G5-like ORFs of Dmp1 and Dmp2 are expressed in both vegetative and developing cells. Dmp1 and Dmp2 differ from Ddp1 in (I) lacking homologs for the Ddp1 G2/G3/D4, G4/D5, D1/D3, and D2 ORFs; (2) containing multiple copies of a 173 bp direct repeat; and (3) having a different orientation of the G1 ORF relative to the G5 ORF. These findings suggest that the basic replicon unit of the Ddp1 plasmid family is composed of an origin of replication coupled to G1-like and G5-like genes. The additional ORFs and direct repeat elements in Ddp1, Dmp1, and Dmp2 may provide accessory functions beneficial to plasmid maintenance. Shuttle vectors based on Dmp1 or Dmp2 replicate in D. discoideum transformants.
Assessment of binge eating in overweight youth using a questionnaire version of the Child Eating Disorder Examination with instructions

Objective—Existing self-report methods for assessing eating disorder symptoms in youth do not adequately measure binge eating and lack sufficient psychometric support. The Youth Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (YEDE-Q), a self-report version of the Child Eating Disorder Examination (ChEDE), was designed to assess the spectrum of eating disorder psychopathology in youth. Method—The YEDE-Q was compared to the ChEDE and the Questionnaire for Eating and Weight Patterns-Adolescent version (QEWP-A) in a sample of 35 overweight adolescents aged 12 to 17. Results—The YEDE-Q showed significant agreement (p < .001) with the ChEDE on all four subscale scores, the global score, and measurement of objective bulimic episodes. The YEDE-Q and the QEWP-A showed significant agreement (p < .001) on the measurement of shape and weight concerns. Conclusion—The YEDE-Q appears promising in the assessment of eating-related pathology in overweight adolescents, but remains in need of validation in children and eating disorder populations.
Physical, chemical, and immunochemical studies of apolipoprotein A-I from pigeon plasma high density lipoproteins.

Abstract Pigeon plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) were isolated by ultracentrifugation between the densities of 1.063 and 1.21 g/ml. Gel filtration of delipidated HDL in 5 M guanidine-HCl on Sephadex G-150 yielded a major fraction which eluted at the same position as human apolipoprotein A-I isolated from HDL. In SDS-gel electrophoresis, the isolated apolipoprotein co-migrated with human apolipoprotein A-I with a molecular weight of approx. 28000. The amino acid composition was similar to the apolipoprotein A-I isolated from human and hen plasma. The isolated apolipoprotein from pigeon plasma had therefore been designated as apolipoprotein A-I. As judged by circular dichroism (CD), the apolipoprotein A-I displayed a maximum mean residue ellipticity of approx. −28 000 at 222 nm while at concentrations greater than 0.2 mg/ml. Calculations of α-helicial content gave values of 85%. Lowering the concentration of apolipoprotein A-I was found to concomitantly decrease the ellipticity (absolute value) suggesting that there was some conformational change when the apolipoprotein A-I concentration varied. The isolated pigeon apolipoprotein A-I was found bound to the phospholipid (dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine) and there was no significant conformational change upon lipid binding as judged by CD. Under the same experimental conditions, human apolipoprotein A-I exhibited a drastic conformational change by increasing its helicity in the presence of phospholipid. The helical content of human apolipoprotein A-I was increased from 48 to 85%. This finding suggests that the apolipoprotein may not necessarily increase its helical content during lipid binding. Moreover, immunochemical studies showed that rabbit antiserum prepared against pigeon apolipoprotein A-I could partially react with human apolipoprotein A-I as determined by quantitative radioimmunoassay.
Classical transport theory and hard thermal loops in the quark-gluon plasma.

Classical transport theory for colored particles is investigated and employed to derive the hard thermal loops of QCD. A formal construction of phasespace for color degrees of freedom is presented. The gauge invariance of the non-Abelian Vlasov equations is verified and used as a guiding principle in our approximation scheme. We then derive the generating functional of hard thermal loops from a constraint satisfied at leading-order by the color current. This derivation is more direct than alternative ones based on perturbative quantum field theory, and shows that hard thermal effects in hot QCD are essentially classical. As an illustration, we analyze color polarization in the QCD plasma.
Stochastic Damage Model for Brittle Materials Subjected to Monotonic Loading

A one-dimensional stochastic micromechanical model is developed for brittle materials subjected to monotonic uniaxial loading. The material is represented by a set of brittle linear-elastic springs of equal stiffness that are joined in parallel. The failure strengths of the springs are modeled as either a discrete or a continuous correlated random field. The statistics of the random force-displacement and damage-displacement functions are analytically derived for the structural element. The stochastic model is shown to be capable of representing the experimentally observed scatter in the structural response. To demonstrate the validity of the model, comparisons are made with experimental data for uniaxial compressive tests on concrete specimens. The present model is shown to offer a viable alternative to empirical methods proposed in the literature for exploring the statistical behavior of brittle materials.
Frequency of HER2 Heterogeneity by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization According to CAP Expert Panel Recommendations

In 2009, a College of American Pathologists expert panel published supplemental HER2 testing recommendations suggesting that cases with between 5% and 50% individual cells amplified by fluorescence in situ hybridization be reported as “heterogeneous for HER2 gene amplification.” We examined the implications of applying these recommendations to clinical practice in 1,329 consecutive breast cancer cases. By ratio criteria, 23.2% of cases met the proposed criteria for heterogeneity, of which 81.6% were not amplified and 15.5% were equivocal by standard criteria. In contrast, the proposed criteria based on HER2 signals per cell classified only 6.5% of cases as heterogeneous, of which only 8% (7/87) were not amplified and 79% (69/87) were equivocal by standard criteria. These results show that the 2 proposed criteria sets are not equivalent and that the ratio-based definition results in large numbers of nonamplified cases being classified as heterogeneous. Further definition of optimal criteria with clinical relevance is needed before HER2 heterogeneity reporting is adopted in routine practice.
Composition of Normal and Pathological Cutaneous Elastin

ELASTIN, a fibrous protein invariably associated with collagen1,2, has been quantitatively measured in a variety of mammalian tissues3,4. The amino-acid composition of elastin prepared from various animal sources including aorta5, lung6 and ligamentum nuchae7 has been reported and the elastin content of human dermis has been determined8,9. The purpose of this work was to determine tho amino-acid composition of human dermal elastin and compare it with that of the elastin-like proteins found in increased amounts in chronically sun-damaged skin (actinic elastosis) and pseudoxanthoma elasticum8.
gRICH68 and gRICH70 Are 2′,3′-Cyclic-nucleotide 3′-Phosphodiesterases Induced during Goldfish Optic Nerve Regeneration

Biochemical characterization of changes in gene expression that accompany optic nerve regeneration has led to the identification of proteins that may play key roles in the regeneration process. In this report, a cDNA encoding gRICH70, a novel isoform of the regeneration-induced gRICH68 protein, has been identified and characterized in goldfish. Both gRICH68 and gRICH70 show significant homology (34-36%) to mammalian 2′,3′-cyclic-nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterases (CNPases), hence the name oldfish egeneration-nduced NPase omolog (gRICH). The predicted 431-amino acid gRICH70 protein is 88% homologous to gRICH68, and the retinal mRNA for gRICH70 is coordinately induced with gRICH68 mRNA during optic nerve regeneration. Enzymatic analysis of recombinant proteins confirms that both gRICH proteins possess CNPase activity. Despite the relatively limited sequence homology, the kinetic constants obtained suggest that both gRICH proteins are at least as efficient as recombinant mouse CNP1 in catalyzing the hydrolysis of 2′,3′-cAMP. Immunoprecipitation studies indicate that gRICH proteins are responsible for the majority of the CNPase activity detected in regenerating goldfish retinas. The evidence presented demonstrates that gRICH68 and gRICH70 correspond to a previously described doublet of acidic proteins that are selectively induced in the goldfish retina during optic nerve regeneration. Thus, CNPase enzyme activity is implicated for the first time in the process of nerve regeneration.