cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tyrosinase and phenolic pressor amines

Basic to the consideration of the action of tyrosinase on the oxidation of phenolic pressor amines are the observations of Keilin and Mann (16) and of Nelson and his coworkers (17-19) that show that different preparations may vary considerably in their relative actions on monophenols and o-diphenols. Both of these types of activity appear to belong to the same enzyme complex, as they bear a proportionality to the same copper content. However, since the activities vary with the purity and method of purification, each enzyme preparation must be defined in terms of both monophenolase and o-diphenolase activities. This was done in the present studies, and modifications of previously described preparative methods were required to retain a reasonable proportioning of such activities in purified preparations.
Validity of STONE scores in younger patients presenting with suspected uncomplicated renal colic

Abstract Objectives Recent studies have cast doubt on the routine need for emergent computed tomographic (CT) scan in patients with suspected renal colic. A clinical prediction rule, the STONE score, was recently published with the goal of helping clinicians predict obstructive kidney stones in noninfected flank pain patients before CT scan. We sought to examine the validity of this score in younger, noninfected flank pain patients. Methods A secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort study was performed to determine the validity of STONE scores for predicting the outcome of obstructive kidney stone in patients age 18 to 50 years presenting with flank pain suggestive of uncomplicated ureterolithiasis. Validity was measured by calculation of the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and ± likelihood ratios were calculated for various cutoff values. Results Of 134 patients who met inclusion criteria, 56.7% were female, average age was 37 years, and 52% had an obstructing kidney stone by CT scan. The receiver operating characteristic curve for the STONE score had an area under the curve of 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.93) and indicated that a cutoff of greater than or equal to 8 would have a sensitivity of 78.6%, specificity of 84.4%, negative predictive value of 78.3%, positive predictive value of 84.6%, and + likelihood ratio of 4.9. Conclusions This analysis suggests that the STONE score is valid in younger populations. It can aid in determining pretest probability and help inform conversations about the likelihood of the diagnosis of renal colic before imaging, which may be useful for decision making.
Efficacy of Tactile-guided Reversal from Cisatracurium-induced Neuromuscular Block

BackgroundBecause tactile evaluation is the most common form of clinical neuromuscular monitoring, this study examines the relative efficacy of antagonizing residual block at different levels of recovery of the tactile train-of-four (TOF) response.MethodsAnesthesia was induced in 64 adults with 2–5
Sources of error in the psychoeducational diagnosis of children

Abstract A detailed exploration of the role of diagnostic practices is presented, with special attention given to such practices in school psychology. Basic principles related to diagnostic typology and concepts of reliability and validity are reviewed in the context of recent diagnostic decision-making research. Finally, the intrusion and eventual reduction of particular errors of consistency and inconsistency and psychodiagnosis are examined with a view toward improvements in future training and practice.
The Art and Science of 360° Feedback

The article reviews the book “The Art and Science of 360° Feedback,” by Richard Lepsinger and Anntionette D. Lucia.
The late Quaternary climate of coastal California: Evidence for an ice age refugium

The present Mediterranean climate of coastal California is unique in North America and reflects the interaction of several important synoptic controls, principally the North Pacific semipermanent anticyclone, and to a lesser extent the Aleutian low-pressure system and the cool California oceanic current. These synoptic climatic controls, key parts of the global air-sea circulation, were probably operative throughout late Quaternary time as shown by paleoecologic evidence. The thick accumulations of sediments in basins of offshore California indicate that while variable sedimentation regimes reflect changing climatic and oceanographic conditions, the Quaternary climate was probably semiarid as now, even during glacial maxima. Late Quaternary coastal dunes preserve former wind directions and show that prevailing late Quaternary winds were directionally equivalent to modern winds, which are controlled by the North Pacific anticyclone and by interactions between the North Pacific high and the interior basin low. These sand dunes contain buried, datable, carbonate-rich soils. Precipitation then, like the present rainfall regime, was not enough to leach the carbonates from the soils. Charcoal in buried dunes and soils shows that fire was environmentally important throughout the Quaternary, just as it is today. Fossil plants indicate that sclerophyllous vegetation and forest stands of conifers, adapted to a Mediterranean climate, were widely distributed during late Quaternary time. Fossil pollen in the Sierra Nevada indicates the influence of the North Pacific high. The historical precipitation record overlaps a late Holocene tree-ring record permitting extrapolation of the precipitation curve back nearly 600 years. Well-defined wet and dry trends in the precipitation pattern characterized this time span, and provide a possible analog to the earlier Holocene and Pleistocene precipitation regime. The paleoecologic record shows that the late Quaternary climate of coastal California was characterized by regimes similar to those prevailing today. The persistence of a Mediterranean climate in California during the last glaciation contrasts with dramatic climatic changes experienced in glaciated parts of North America. California thus was an Ice Age refugium for animals and cold-sensitive plants.
Ethylhydrazine hydrochloride as a tumor inducer in mice.

The lifetime administration of 0.0125% ethylhydrazine hydrochloride in drinking water to randomly bred Swiss mice, beginning at 7 weeks of age, induced tumors of the lungs and blood vessels. Eighty-eight percent of the treated females and 62% of the treated males developed lung tumors, whereas among the controls, the incidence was 21% in the females and 23% in the males. In addition, the incidence of blood-vessel tumors rose from 5 to 60% in the females and from 6 to 16% in the males, as compared with the controls. The gross and light microscopic investigation of the tumors showed adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the lungs and angiomas and angiosarcomas of the blood vessels of characteristic appearance. This investigation proves for the first time the tumorigenicity of this chemical. The environmental significance of hydrazine derivatives is discussed in the light of the obtained results.
Voltage Dependent Charge Movement in Skeletal Muscle: a Possible Step in Excitation–Contraction Coupling

It is suggested that a link in excitation-contraction coupling involves the movement of a fixed amount of charge free to move between different locations across the membrane.
Cervical Carotid Imaging With a Continuous-Wave Doppler Flowmeter

A noninvasive technique for carotid arteriography using an ultrasonic directional Doppler flowmeter to image the carotid bifurcations is described. The technique uses a position sensing arm to hold the sharply focusing probe and translates the position of arterial flow onto an image storage screen. By multiple manual sweeps across the cervical carotids, a two-dimensional projection of the locus of arterial flow is developed. The probe beam is then applied through the eyelids to assess the posterior orbital ophthalmic flow. The adequacy of the internal carotid circulation and the presence of stenosis and calcified plaques are determined. Experience with the first 60 patients surveyed using the Doppler technique demonstrated a high degree of accuracy and reproducibility. The ultrasonic angiography provided local flow and velocity information that x-ray angiography did not. X-ray angiography is frequently indicated by the ultrasonic findings when risks of x-ray angiography might not otherwise be taken. The technique was found especially sensitive in detecting calcified atherosclerotic plaques and may be used in screening for the stroke-prone patient and following arterial lesions over extended periods of time.
Small-Angle Neutron Scattering of Poly(γ-benzyl l-glutamate) in Deuterated Benzyl Alcohol

Small-angle neutron scattering has been used to study poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate) (PBLG) in deuterated benzyl alcohol (DBA) as the solution is brought from the isotropic phase into the gel phase. The results show that an aggregation of PBLG molecules exists up to 80°C even in the isotropic phase and the size of the aggregate does not change with temperature within the isotropic phase for a given concentration. However, the size of the aggregate increases with concentration or as the gelation threshold is crossed. The measurement of fractal dimension at intermediate length scales of the aggregates in the isotropic phase shows that the aggregates are less dense at higher polymer concentrations. But at lower length scales of ∼50 A, the mesh size of the aggregates in the isotropic phase decreases with increasing polymer concentration. Studies of the fractal dimension of the resultant gels show that the thermal history of the sample in the isotropic phase influences the gel microstructure. The fractal dimension of the PBLG-DBA gel obtained by a step quench procedure is higher than that of a gel obtained by a sudden quench. We have also observed that the local concentration gradients become sharper as the polymer concentration increases in the gel phase.
Saphenectomy in the presence of chronic venous obstruction

Abstract Background: The results of saphenectomy in patients with morphologic and functional obstruction were compared with those in patients without obstruction. Excision of secondary saphenous varices associated with deep venous obstruction has long been considered contraindicated for fear of compromising its collateral contribution. Recent advances in accurate functional assessment of venous obstruction make it possible to test this concept. Methods: Saphenectomy was carried out in 51 limbs without morphologic or functional obstruction and 64 limbs with varying grades of venous obstruction. Significant deep venous obstruction on ascending venography was present in the latter group. Functional assessment of obstruction was based on the arm/foot venous pressure differential technique, outflow fraction measurements, and outflow resistance calculations. Valve reconstruction was carried out in conjunction with saphenectomy in 81% of cases. Results: Saphenectomy was clinically well tolerated in both groups, and there was no difference in outcome as measured by objective tests for obstruction; improvement in reflux and calf venous pump function was largely similar. Among seven limbs with severe preoperative venous obstruction (grade III or IV), five (70%) had significantly improved obstructive grading, presumably as a result of elimination of reflux flow. Conclusions: The traditional admonition against removal of secondary varices should be reexamined. Saphenectomy may be indicated in postthrombotic syndrome with mixed obstruction/reflux. The procedure is clinically well tolerated and without malsequelae. Improvement in reflux parameters without significant worsening of objective measures of obstruction is documented in this group.
Optimal stimulation of a conservative nonlinear oscillator: Classical and quantum-mechanical calculations.

A new method for nonlinear polychromatic resonant stimulation of conservative nonlinear oscillators is introduced. As an example we consider a Morse potential that serves as a model for the HF molecule. Numerical results show that a large energy transfer to such a conservative oscillator is possible under optimal stimulation with small driving fields. This makes selective excitation of specific modes possible. The classically determined optimal force was also applied to the corresponding quantum system, with similar results in energy transfer and dissociation.
Long-distance affair with adrenal GRK2 hangs up heart failure

Modulation of events regulated by α2-adrenergic receptors counteracts heart failure by restoring proper signaling from the adrenal gland to the heart ( pages 315–323 ).
Microstructural characterization of the dispersed phases in Al-Ce-Fe system

Analytical electron microscopy studies were conducted on a rapidly solidified Al-8.8Fe-3.7Ce alloy and arc melted buttons of aluminum rich Al-Fe-Ce alloys to determine the characteristics of the metastable and equilibrium phases. The rapidly solidified alloy consisted of binary and ternary metastable phases in the as-extruded condition. The binary metastable phase was identified to be Al6Fe, while the ternary metastable phases were identified to be Al10Fe2Ce and Al20Fe5Ce. The Al20Fe5Ce was a decagonal quasicrystal while the Al10Fe2Ce phase was determined to have an orthorhombic crystal structure belonging to space group Cmmm, Cmm2, or C222. Microscopy studies of RS alloy and cast buttons annealed at 700 K established the equilibrium phases to be Al13Fe4, Al4Ce, and an Al13Fe3Ce ternary phase which was first identified in the present study. The crystal structure of the equilibrium ternary phase was determined to be orthorhombic with a Cmcm or Cmc2 space group. The details of X-ray microanalysis and convergent beam electron diffraction analysis are described.
A highly active homeobox gene promoter regulated by Ets and Sp1 family members in normal granulosa cells and diverse tumor cell types.

Abstract One mechanism by which normal cells become converted to tumor cells involves the aberrant transcriptional activation of genes that are normally silent. We characterize a promoter that normally exhibits highly tissue- and stage-specific expression but displays ubiquitous expression when cells become immortalized or malignant, regardless of their lineage or tissue origin. This promoter normally drives the expression of thePem homeobox gene in specific cell types in ovary and placenta but is aberrantly expressed in lymphomas, neuroblastomas, retinoblastomas, carcinomas, and sarcomas. By deletion analysis we identified a region between nucleotides −80 and −104 that was absolutely critical for the expression from this distal Pempromoter (Pem Pd). Site-specific mutagenesis and transfection studies revealed that this region contains two consensus Ets sites and a single Sp1 site that were necessary for Pem Pd expression. Gel shift analysis showed that Ets and Sp1 family members bound to these sites. Transfection studies demonstrated that the Ets family members Elf1 and Gabp and the Sp1 family members Sp1 and Sp3 transactivated the Pem Pd. Surprisingly, we found that Sp3 was a more potent activator of the Pem Pdthan was Sp1; this is unusual, because Sp3 is either a weak activator or a repressor of most other promoters. Activation by either Elf1 or Gabp required an intact Sp1 family member binding site, suggesting that Ets and Sp1 family members cooperate to activate Pem Pdtranscription. Expression from the Pem Pd (either transiently transfected or endogenous) depended on the Ras pathway, which could explain both its Ets- and Sp1-dependent expression in normal cells and its aberrant expression in tumor cells, in which ras protooncogenes are frequently mutated. We suggest that the Pem Pd may be a useful model system to understand the molecular mechanism by which a tissue-specific promoter can be corrupted in tumor cells.
Characterization of [3H]dopamine uptake sites and [3H]cocaine recognition sites in primary cultures of mesencephalic neurons during in vitro development.

: [3H]Dopamine uptake and [3H]cocaine binding sites were studied in primary cultures of ventral mesencephalon from 14-day-old rat embryos. Specific binding sites for [3H]cocaine and [3H]mazindol were detected only in intact cell cultures of ventral mesencephalon, and were absent in sonicated, washed membranes prepared from these cell cultures. [3H]Cocaine was not taken up by the cells through an active transport process because [3H]cocaine binding occurred also at 4°C. Moreover, the possibility of [3H]cocaine entering the cells by passive diffusion and ion trapping was also excluded because extensive washing failed to remove [3H]cocaine from the cells. [3H]Cocaine binding was reduced to 6% of control when cells were permeabilized with streptolysin O (0.2 U/ml, 5 min). Taken together, these results suggest that in cultured mesencephalic neurons, [3H]cocaine may enter the cell by passive diffusion and then be sequestered by a cytosolic compartment that is lost in the process of permeabilization or sonication and washing of membrane preparations. Permeabilization of cultured neurons failed to alter the storage of [3H]dopamine. When cells were permeabilized with streptolysin O (0.2 U/ml; 5 min) after [3H]dopamine was taken up, [3H]dopamine was retained by the cells and did not leak into the incubation medium, indicating that [3H]dopamine was stored in sites that could not pass through the perforated membranes. In contrast, [3H]dopamine uptake into already permeabilized cells was reduced by 33%, suggesting that a cytosolic protein that had leaked out may play a functional role in the uptake process. In contrast to striatal membrane preparations of adult rats, [3H]cocaine binding in intact mesencephalic cell cultures was Na+ independent. The expression of [3H]dopamine uptake and [3H]cocaine binding sites appeared to be developmentally linked to neuritic outgrowth, supporting the view that cocaine binding sites may be closely associated with the dopamine transporter.
Occupational Health Hazards in Welders of Palakkad District: An Appraisal

Welding exposes welders to a variety of work-related hazards, which may be deleterious to their health. The awareness of these hazards and the attitude towards them are important factors in the prevention of these hazards among the welders. This study assessed the level of awareness of the hazards, the work-related health complaints and the safety measures employed by the welders in local as well as industrial centers in Palakkad District. The study was carried out at 31 local workshops and 1 industrial center surrounding Palakkad Town. The welders were interviewed using semistructured interviewer-administered questionnaires and the data obtained was analysed and presented as frequency tables and graph. The mean age of subjects was 32.68 ± 27.32 years. The literacy rate was 100%, of which, the school dropouts were 6.3% while, the subjects who completed technical education is only 3%. Despite the awareness of one or more occupational health hazards, the use of full protective devices by the subjects was generally low (10%) and the rate of health complaints was cent percent. The most prevalent health complaints were arc eye injuries (>90%) followed by burns (88%), skin problems (69%), tiredness, sleepiness and muscular weakness (45%), hearing impairment (35%) and respiratory ailments (22%); while the common personal protective equipment used were face shield (90%), helmet (77%), hand gloves (77%) and boots (29%). None of them used any form of ear or respiratory protection. The levels of awareness of occupational hazards and the work-related health problems among the welders though high was not commensurate with the use of safety and protective devices against the hazards. There is therefore need for health and safety education of these workers in order to promote positive health among them.
A multiregional optimization model for allocating trasnportation investments

Abstract This paper presents a multiregional optimization model which explicitly considers the direct and indirect relationships between regional growth and investments in transportation infrastructure. Consumption, demand and investments for each sector and region are derived endogenously. Trade flows are simulated by a gravity function and transportation network investment decisions are represented by 0–1 integer variables. Despite its complex structure the model can be estimated by applying in two stages the Benders Partitioning Algorithm. The model is applied to Greece to obtain a comprehensive investment plan for the transportation system.
Sense of Community within Oxford House Recovery Housing: Impact of Resident Age and Income

The experience of psychological sense of community (PSOC) can play an important role in the substance abuse recovery process. This study explored the relationship between PSOC and setting-level variables of age and income among residents living in Oxford House, a communal, self-governed recovery housing model (n = 70). Age and income variables were not related to an overall PSOC or components such as shared common mission or feelings of reciprocal responsibility. However, both age and income variables were significant predictors of the harmony felt within these houses. The role that PSOC may play in recovery facilities and other co-housing arrangements was discussed, and implications for future research and application were outlined.
Low-cost replicating timing generator for visible and infrared focal plane operation

We describe a low-cost personal computer-based generator designed to produce timing signals needed for the operation of visible or infrared focal plane devices and other electronic systems requiring a large number of complex parallel timing control signals with precise relative phase relationships. The implementation is a high-speed static memory digital board which can be programmed by copying the timing waveforms emanating from a commercial generator (e.g. Pulse Instruments PI-5800A, Interface Technology RS-690, etc.). This simple approach retains most of the desirable features associated with using a commercial timing generator such as flexibility and the use of user-friendly software for timing synthesis. The approach permits the implementation of timing generation to multiple focal plane devices, each operated by a unique local copying and replicating timing board, from timing data synthesized on a central commercial timing generator. As evidenced in our laboratory, this approach has resulted in a lower cost for operating multiple focal plane devices with little loss of flexibility and programmability.
Pharmacologic suppression of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms : A comparison of doxycycline and four chemically modified tetracyclines

Abstract Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) likely contribute to the degradation of medial elastin in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), and tetracycline antibiotics exhibit MMP-inhibiting properties. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of doxycycline and several non–antibiotic chemically modified tetracyclines (CMTs) in a rat model of elastase-induced AAA. Methods: Fifty-two male Wistar rats underwent intraluminal perfusion of the abdominal aorta with porcine pancreatic elastase. The rats then were treated for 7 days with subcutaneous injections of saline solution, different doses of doxycycline, or 1 of 4 different CMTs. The aortic diameters were measured with microcalipers, and the fixed tissues were examined by means of light microscopy. Gelatin zymography was used to assess the MMP activity in the aortic tissue extracts. Results: The mean aortic diameter in the control group increased by 126% ± 14% on day 7 (from 1.57 ± 0.04 mm to 3.54 ± 0.27 mm; P P Conclusion: Tetracycline derivatives suppress the development of AAAs after elastase-induced aortic injury in the rat. The aneurysm-suppressing effects of doxycycline appear to be dose-dependent and distinct from its antibiotic activities, and they coincide with the structural preservation of medial elastin fibers. Further studies are needed to explore the potential of MMP-inhibiting tetracyclines as a novel pharmacologic strategy for the suppression of aortic aneurysms. (J Vasc Surg 1998;28:1082-93.)
Influence of endosome-destabilizing peptides on efficacy of anti-HIV immunotoxins.

The effects on immunotoxin efficacy of fusogenic peptides derived from influenza virus hemagglutinin have been studied. These peptides have an amphipathic nature and change conformation from random at pH 7 to helical at pH 5. Fusogenic peptides are reported to destabilize endosomal membranes, resulting in the release of contents into the cytoplasm. The use of two related fusogenic peptides to enhance the efficacy of anti-HIV immunotoxins is described. The direct toxicity of the peptides was tested on HIV-infected H9/NL4-3 cells. Peptide HA24 was considerably more toxic than HA23. The peptides were mixed with two different immunotoxins. Immunotoxin action was enhanced by both peptides, with HA24 providing greater enhancement than HA23. Immunotoxins were then constructed by coupling HA23 or HA24 to the targeting antibody with disulfide-containing linkers. Peptide HA23 enhanced the activity of the immunotoxin 4−5-fold. Surprisingly, HA24 significantly inhibited immunotoxin activity. Coupling the peptides to ...
Creativity, divergent thinking, and openness to experience.

Test scores of divergent thinking obtained between 1959 and 1972 were correlated with a variety of personality measures administered since 1980. In this sample of 268 men, divergent thinking was consistently associated with self-reports and ratings of openness to experience, but not with neuroticism
PPARγ Signaling Mediates the Evolution, Development, Homeostasis, and Repair of the Lung

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions mediated by soluble growth factors determine the evolution of vertebrate lung physiology, including development, homeostasis, and repair. The final common pathway for all of these positively adaptive properties of the lung is the expression of epithelial parathyroid-hormone-related protein, and its binding to its receptor on the mesenchyme, inducing PPARγ expression by lipofibroblasts. Lipofibroblasts then produce leptin, which binds to alveolar type II cells, stimulating their production of surfactant, which is necessary for both evolutionary and physiologic adaptation to atmospheric oxygen from fish to man. A wide variety of molecular insults disrupt such highly evolved physiologic cell-cell interactions, ranging from overdistention to oxidants, infection, and nicotine, all of which predictably cause loss of mesenchymal peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression and the transdifferentiation of lipofibroblasts to myofibroblasts, the signature cell type for lung fibrosis. By exploiting such deep cell-molecular functional homologies as targets for leveraging lung homeostasis, we have discovered that we can effectively prevent and/or reverse the deleterious effects of these pathogenic agents, demonstrating the utility of evolutionary biology for the prevention and treatment of chronic lung disease. By understanding mechanisms of health and disease as an evolutionary continuum rather than as dissociated processes, we can evolve predictive medicine.
Embarrassed as a Non-Left Professor?

“The overwhelmingly liberal tilt of university professors has been explained by everything from outright bias to higher I.Q. scores. Now new research suggests that critics may have been asking the wrong question. Instead of looking at why most professors are liberal, they should ask why so many liberals—and so few conservatives—want to be professors... Jobs can be typecast in different ways, said Neil Gross and Ethan Fosse, who undertook the study. For instance, less than 6% of nurses today are men. Discrimination against male candidates may be a factor, but the primary reason for the disparity is that most people consider nursing to be a woman’s career, Mr. Gross said. That means not many men aspire to become nurses in the first place—a point made in the recent Lee Daniels film “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.” When John (Lenny Kravitz) asks the 16-year-old Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) and her friends whether they’ve ever seen a male nurse before, all answer no amid giddy laughter.”
Assessment of Hepatic Fibrosis With Magnetic Resonance Elastography

Background & Aims: Accurate detection of hepatic fibrosis is crucial for assessing prognosis and candidacy for treatment in patients with chronic liver disease. Magnetic resonance (MR) elastography, a technique for quantitatively assessing the mechanical properties of soft tissues, has been shown previously to have potential for noninvasively detecting liver fibrosis. The goal of this work was to obtain preliminary estimates of the sensitivity and specificity of the technique in diagnosing liver fibrosis, and to assess its potential for identifying patients who potentially can avoid a biopsy procedure. Methods: MR elastography was performed in 35 normal volunteers and 50 patients with chronic liver disease. MR imaging measurements of hepatic fat to water ratios were obtained to assess the potential for fat infiltration to affect stiffness-based detection of fibrosis. Results: Liver stiffness increased systematically with fibrosis stage. Receiver operating curve analysis showed that, with a shear stiffness cut-off value of 2.93 kilopascals, the predicted sensitivity and specificity for detecting all grades of liver fibrosis is 98% and 99%, respectively. Receiver operating curve analysis also provided evidence that MR elastography can discriminate between patients with moderate and severe fibrosis (grades 2–4) and those with mild fibrosis (sensitivity, 86%; specificity, 85%). Hepatic stiffness does not appear to be influenced by the degree of steatosis. Conclusions: MR elastography is a safe, noninvasive technique with excellent diagnostic accuracy for assessing hepatic fibrosis. Based on the high negative predictive value of MR elastography, an initial clinical application may be to triage patients who are under consideration for biopsy examination to assess possible hepatic fibrosis.
Collaborative opportunistic network coding for persistent data stream in disruptive sensor networks

In an energy-harvesting sensor network for perpetual lifetime, the operation of sensor nodes are synchronized with the energy fluctuations, causing the network connectivity to be disruptive and unstable. The unpredictable network disruptions and challenging communication environments make the traditional communication protocols inefficient and require a new paradigm-shift in design. In this thesis, we address several issues in collaborative data collection and storage in disruptive sensor networks. Our solutions are based on erasure codes and probabilistic network coding operations. The proposed set of algorithms improve data throughput and persistency because they are inherently amenable to probabilistic nature of transmission in wireless networks. Our contributions consist of five parts. First, we propose a collaborative data delivery protocol to exploit multiple energy-synchronized paths based on a new max-flow min-variance algorithm. In consort with this data delivery protocol, a localized TDMA MAC protocol is designed to synchronize nodes' duty-cycles and mitigate media access contentions. Second, we present Opportunistic Network Erasure Coding protocol, to collaboratively collect data in dynamic disruptive networks. ONEC derives the probability distribution of coding degree in each node and enable opportunistic in-network recoding, and guarantee the recovery of original sensor data can be achieved with high probability upon receiving any sufficient amount of encoded packets. Third, we present OnCode, an opportunistic in-network data coding and delivery protocol that provides good quality of services of data delivery under the constraints of energy synchronization. It is resilient to packet loss and network disruptions, and does not require any end-to-end feedback message. Fourth, we present a network Erasure Coding with randomized Power Control (ECPC) mechanism for data persistence in disruptive sensor networks, which only requires each node to perform a single broadcast at each of its several randomly selected power levels. Thus it incurs low communication overhead. Finally, we study an integrated algorithm and protocol middleware to preserve data persistency with heterogeneous disruption probabilities across the network.
Tryptophan synthetase: its charmed history.

Tryptophan synthetase was initially selected as a subject for investigation of the relationship between gene structure and protein structure. Early studies with this enzyme first demonstrated the existence in mutants of immunologically cross-reacting material (CRM) and the restoration of a wild-type enzyme by genetic suppression. Fine structure analyses with E. coli tryptophan synthetase missense mutants proved the colinearity of gene structure and catalytic capabilities of this enzyme have been subjects for numerous studies.
Optimal Minimum Wage in the Classic Labor Supply-and-Demand Paradigm

This article demonstrates that minimum wage laws need not induce unemployment even under the classic labor supply-and-demand paradigm. As a result, minimum wage laws can be welfare-enhancing under the basic labor supply and demand model, suggesting the presence of an optimal minimum wage. We discuss conditions under which the optimal minimum wage level is the subsistence wage level. As a consequence, minimum wages should vary across states or countries with the local subsistence levels.
Effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor on sodium-induced apoptosis in human olfactory neuroepithelial progenitor cells.

Low levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) peptide are linked to the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the BDNF gene (BDNF) have been associated with bipolar illness. Since both elevated intracellular sodium and apoptosis are believed to contribute to cellular dysfunction in bipolar disorder, it is important to determine the effect of exogenous BDNF on apoptosis induced by the high levels of intracellular sodium seen in ill bipolar patients. Human olfactory neuroepithelial progenitor cells were treated with monensin, a sodium ionophore that increases intracellular sodium and leads to apoptosis. Apoptosis was quantified with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for mono- and oligonucleosomes. Elevation of intracellular sodium concentration by monensin induced apoptosis. BDNF 100 ng/mL pretreatment or co-treatment attenuated the monensin-induced apoptosis. Pretreatment with BDNF for 24 h reduced monensin-induced apoptosis by 93%. Co-treatment of BDNF and monensin increased intracellular sodium concentration and reduced apoptosis by 66%. Monensin for 24 h models a process that is believed to occur during ill phases of bipolar illness. Treatment with BDNF greatly attenuates or prevents monensin-induced apoptosis. The functional consequences of BDNF SNPs, known to be associated with bipolar illness, need to be examined.
Rhema: A Real-Time In-Situ Intelligent Interface to Help People with Public Speaking

A large number of people rate public speaking as their top fear. What if these individuals were given an intelligent interface that provides live feedback on their speaking skills? In this paper, we present Rhema, an intelligent user interface for Google Glass to help people with public speaking. The interface automatically detects the speaker's volume and speaking rate in real time and provides feedback during the actual delivery of speech. While designing the interface, we experimented with two different strategies of information delivery: 1) Continuous streams of information, and 2) Sparse delivery of recommendation. We evaluated our interface with 30 native English speakers. Each participant presented three speeches (avg. duration 3 minutes) with 2 different feedback strategies (continuous, sparse) and a baseline (no feeback) in a random order. The participants were significantly more pleased (p
Measuring Early Communication in Spanish Speaking Children: The Communication Complexity Scale in Peru.

Background : There is a great need in the United States to develop presymbolic evaluation tools that are widely available and accurate for individuals that come from a bilingual and/or multicultural setting. The Communication Complexity Scale (CCS) is a measure that evaluates expressive presymbolic communication including gestures, vocalizations and eye gaze. Studying the effectiveness of this tool in a Spanish speaking environment was undertaken to determine the applicability of the CCS with Spanish speaking children. Methods & Procedures : In 2011-2012, researchers from the University of Kansas and Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru (CASP) investigated communication in a cohort of 71 young Spanish speaking children with developmental disabilities and a documented history of self-injurious, stereotyped and aggressive behaviors. Communication was assessed first by parental report with translated versions of the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales (CSBS), a well-known assessment of early communication, and then eleven months later with the CCS. Hypothesis : We hypothesized that the CCS and CSBS measures would be significantly correlated in this population of Spanish speaking children. Outcomes & Results : The CSBS scores from time 1 with a mean participant age of 41 months were determined to have a strong positive relationship to the CCS scores obtained at time 2 with a mean participant age of 52 months. Conclusions & Implications : The CCS is strongly correlated to a widely accepted measure of early communication. These findings support the validity of the Spanish version of the CCS and demonstrate its usefulness for children from another culture and for children in a Spanish speaking environment.
Cost utility of public clinics to increase pneumococcal vaccines in the elderly

Abstract Background: Pneumococcal immunization has been shown to be cost effective, is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and is covered by Medicare. Despite that, over 50% of the population aged ≥65 is not vaccinated, leading to significant mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study is to evaluate the costs and the cost utility of immunization in nontraditional settings (community clinics set up to provide influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations) as a strategy to increase pneumococcal immunization rates. Methods: A cost-utility analysis of public immunization clinics in Monroe County, New York, during the fall of 1998. The study included 1207 adults aged ≥65. Costs of operating the clinics and of vaccine administration were measured. The cost of health sequela and estimates of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were obtained from prior studies. Sensitivity analyses were performed to test several important assumptions. Results: Unlike immunizations in physician offices, immunizations in nontraditional settings are not cost saving. Estimates of incremental cost-utility ratios ranged from $4215 per QALY to $12,617 per QALY, depending on the underlying assumptions of the model. Conclusions: Clinics in nontraditional settings offering pneumococcal immunization have cost-utility ratios near and below those of other recommended vaccines. These results suggest that such clinics should be considered a viable strategy for increasing pneumococcal immunization rates.
NAP (No ALU processor): the great communicator

Abstract Message routing networks are acknowledged to be one of the most critical portions of massively parallel computers. This paper presents a processor chip for use in a massively parallel computer. The programmable approach used in this processor provides enough flexibility to make it a “universal” part for building a wide variety of interconnection networks and routing algorithms. A SIMD control scheme is used to make programming and synchronizing large numbers of processors simple. In the course of designing this processor, we were faced with the decision of which logic operations to implement in an Arithmetic-Logic Unit (ALU); informal design studies showed that it was best to provide none. The processor performs all computations by a sophisticated table lookup mechanism, and has no ALU; it is thus called the No ALU Processor (NAP). Using tables rather than an ALU provides a very flexible instruction set, and in real programs often allows more than one “operation” to be done in one cycle. Benchmarks written for the NAP show that indirect addressing mechanisms can speed many common operations by a factor of about log N on an N-processor machine. We have therefore provided hardware to support indirect addressing, or a Multiple Address Multiple Data operation. In addition, the NAP contains local storage used for flexible instruction decoding: the same instruction can result in different operations on different chips. These two mechanisms allow programmers to write programs for NAP machines easily using SIMD style, and also provide the power of different computations happening simultaneously in different parts of the machine. It is possible to build and efficiently simulate, using NAP chips, a wide variety of communications networks, including hypercubes, butterflies, fat-trees, and networks for computing parallel prefix operations. By this informal measure, the NAP architecture is a universal part for building interconnection networks and running network algorithms.
Spatial ordering and anisotropy in surface stress domains and nanostructural evolution

The role of elastic interaction has been well recognized for various growth modes and nanostructural self-organization on solid surfaces. Examples include spontaneous formation of stress domains in reconstructed surfaces or in-phase-separating monolayers, meandering and bunching of surface steps, and quantum dot formation in heteroepitaxial thin film growth. The long-range spatial ordering in these strain-mediated nanostructural evolution phenomena on solid surfaces is critically dependent on the anisotropy. A universal formulation has been developed to examine the energetically favored orientation with respect to parameters that represent the anisotropy in elasticity and applied stress.
Stresses in semiconductors: Ab initio calculations on Si, Ge, and GaAs.

Explicit formulas for the calculation of stress are presented based on the stress theorem and the local-density-functional approximation. Norm-conserving pseudopotentials are applied in a plane-wave basis for calculations on the semiconductors Si, Ge, and GaAs. Besides the lattice constants and bulk moduli, complete sets of elastic constants are given, together with the optical \ensuremath{\Gamma} phonon frequencies and internal-strain parameter \ensuremath{\zeta}. Electronic charge density structure factors, deformation potentials, and strain-induced splittings of phonons are given, as well as the nonlinear third-order elastic constants. Good agreement with experiment is found throughout, except for persistent deviations from the x-ray diffraction values for \ensuremath{\zeta}.
Political Parties and Labour legislation in Canada and the U.S.

This article shows that structural political and legal factors, better than cultural or economic ones, explain why Canada's workforce is twice as unionized as that of the United States. Its main argument demonstrates that Canada's legal environment is more pro-union due to systematic national differences in party systems and constitutions—i.e., the presence of a social-democratic party and a federalized and parliamentary constitution, versus the U.S.'s separation of powers, more nationalized polity, and absence of a social democratic party.
Using molecular dynamics to map interaction networks in an aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetase

Long-range functional communication is a hallmark of many enzymes that display allostery, or action-at-a-distance. Many aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases can be considered allosteric, in that their trinucleotide anticodons bind the enzyme at a site removed from their catalytic domains. Such is the case with E. coli methionyl-tRNA synthase (MetRS), which recognizes its cognate anticodon using a conserved tryptophan residue 50 A away from the site of tRNA aminoacylation. The lack of details regarding how MetRS and tRNA(Met) interact has limited efforts to deconvolute the long-range communication that occurs in this system. We have used molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate the mobility of wild-type MetRS and a Trp-461 variant shown previously by experiment to be deficient in tRNA aminoacylation. The simulations reveal that MetRS has significant mobility, particularly at structural motifs known to be involved in catalysis. Correlated motions are observed between residues in distant structural motifs, including the active site, zinc binding motif, and anticodon binding domain. Both mobility and correlated motions decrease significantly but not uniformly upon substitution at Trp-461. Mobility of some residues is essentially abolished upon removal of Trp-461, despite being tens of Angstroms away from the site of mutation and solvent exposed. This conserved residue does not simply participate in anticodon binding, as demonstrated experimentally, but appears to mediate the protein's distribution of structural ensembles. Finally, simulations of MetRS indicate that the ligand-free protein samples conformations similar to those observed in crystal structures with substrates and substrate analogs bound. Thus, there are low energetic barriers for MetRS to achieve the substrate-bound conformations previously determined by structural methods.
A distributed outstar network for spatial pattern learning

Abstract The distributed outstar, a generalization of the outstar neural network for spatial pattern learning, is introduced. In the outstar, signals from a source node cause weights to learn and recall arbitrary patterns across a target field of nodes. The distributed outstar replaces the outstar source node with a source field of arbitrarily many nodes, whose activity pattern may be arbitrarily distributed or compressed. Learning proceeds according to a principle of atrophy due to disuse, whereby a path weight decreases in joint proportion to the transmitted path signal and the degree of disuse of the target node. During learning, the total signal to a target node converges toward that node's activity level. Weight changes at a node are apportioned according to the distributed pattern of converging signals Three synaptic transmission functions, a product rule, a capacity rule, and a threshold rule, are examined for this system. The three rules are computationally equivalent when source field activity is maximally compressed, or winner-take-all. When source field activity is distributed, catastrophic forgetting may occur. Only the threshold rule solves this problem. Analysis of spatial pattern learning by distributed codes thereby leads to the conjecture that the unit of long-term memory in such a system is an adaptive threshold, rather than the multiplicative path weight widely used in neural models.