cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complex Thoracoscopic Pulmonary Resections for the Treatment of Lung Cancer—A Review

Minimally invasive surgery is increasingly being used in cancer resections. Benefits attributed to minimally invasive surgery include improved functional and oncological outcomes. In keeping with this trend, thoracoscopic lung resections are gaining acceptance amongst thoracic oncologic surgeons. As surgeons become more comfortable with these approaches, more complex resections are being performed through these techniques. This review article summarizes the current state of the art with respect to complex thoracoscopic resections.
Separation and Quantification of HMW Glutenin Subunits by Capillary Electrophoresis

ABSTRACT The use of capillary electrophoresis in SDS (SDS-CE) for separation and quantification of HMW glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) was investigated. HMW-GS were precipitated with 40% acetone from 50% 1-propanol extract of flour under reducing conditions after removal of monomeric proteins with 50% 1-propanol. Poly (ethylene oxide) was used in the running buffer (3% w/v) for SDS-CE. The results indicated that HMW-GS could be well separated by SDS-CE, including subunits 7+8, 7+9, 2+12, 5+10, and 17+18. However, HMW-GS showed delayed migration times compared with molecular weight protein standards. Some HMW-GS were reversed in their mobilities in SDS-CE compared with their mobility and molecular weights by SDS-PAGE. Therefore, the SDS-CE was unsuitable for MW determination of HMW-GS. A linear response was obtained from SDS-CE of a plot of the concentration of HMW-GS of the 40% acetone precipitate versus corrected areas for absorbance at 214 nm. Quantification of HMW-GS for the two biotypes (subunits 5+10 vs. ...
Reactivity of the metal→BX3 dative σ-bond : 1,2-addition reactions of the Fe→BX3 moiety of the ferraboratrane complex [κ4-B(mimbut)3]Fe(CO)2

The ferraboratrane [κ4-B(mimBut)3]Fe(CO)2 (mimBut = 2-mercapto-1-tert-butylimidazolyl), the first example of a complex which possesses a retrodative (i.e., metal-to-ligand) Fe→B bond, is obtained via reaction of the tris(2-mercapto-1-tert-butylimidazolyl)hydroborato complex [TmBut]FeCl with LiCH2SiMe3 followed by treatment with CO. Significantly, [κ4-B(mimBut)3]Fe(CO)2 exhibits novel reactivity towards a variety of reagents that results in eradication of the Fe→B bond via a formal 1,2-addition process and the formation of B-functionalized tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate derivatives, [XTmBut]FeY.
Symmetric fission of 232Th by 14 MeV neutrons

The fission yields of seven nuclides in 14·8 MeV neutron-induced fission of 232Th, mostly in the symmetric fission region are determined radiochemically and the existence of a third peak in this mass-yield curve is confirmed with further evidence.
Proton and neutron radiation effects studies of MOSFET transistors for potential deep-space mission applications

Deep space missions for human and robotic exploration require electronic devices that are tolerant to extend exposure to ionizing radiation, including proton radiation from both galactic cosmic rays and solar protons and energetic neutrons produced by interactions between the primary radiation field and intervening materials. This work presents radiation effects data for two sets of MOSFET transistors of 0.25 and 0.5 micron technologies, including “rad-hard by design” (RHBD) devices such as the Enclosed-LayoutTransistor (ELT), and Active Region Cutout Transistor (ARCT). These devices were exposed to high energy neutrons and protons with doses that are commensurate with long-term deep-space missions. The irradiated devices were evaluated through device failures, shifts in the current-voltage characteristics (I d vs. V g ), changes in the saturation currents as observed in I d -V d , and threshold voltage (V th ) shifts. The postirradiation device characteristics were monitored for several months to study any possible trends in device behavior. Results indicate that ELT devices are more radiation tolerant compared to other devices regardless of gate oxide thickness, and that the 0.25 um technology devices are more tolerant than the 0.5 um technology devices.
Multi-robot cooperative control for monitoring and tracking dynamic plumes

We study robotic tracking of dynamic plume front modeled by the advection-diffusion equation in this paper. Different from existing work purely relying on gra- dient measurement, the transport model of pollution source is explicitly considered in tracking control design. We first study the problem using a single robot and solve the problem in an estimation and control framework. We then extend it to the multi-robot case in a nearest-neighbor communication structure, and have the robots take formation along the plume front. The distributed control is scalable to a large number of robots. Simulation results show satisfactory performances of the proposed method. I. INTRODUCTION The recent deep water horizon oil spill has posed great challenges to both robotics and ocean engineering communi- ties. It took months to estimate the extent of the underwater plume, and the accuracy of these estimates will likely be debated for years to come. The challenges motivate us to consider utilizing advanced robotic techniques to monitor and track the propagation of oil plumes. In this paper, we propose a model-based method to track the dynamic plume front using multi-robot platforms. Existing approaches related to plume tracking can be cate- gorized into three classes: mapping based approach, behavior based approach, and control based approach. In the mapping based approach, a concentration map of the environment is first built, and then plume tracking is conducted based on the obtained map. Representative work includes (1), where a grid map was created to represent the concentration distribution based on data collected by a single robot. In (2) a hidden Markov method (HMM) was employed to map the environment. Similar strategies were applied in (3) to localize a chemical plume source. In (4) the likelihood grid mapping method was extended to map an environment with multiple chemical sources. As it is necessary to scan the environment for mapping, it introduces extra overhead of robot scanning trajectory design, which often makes the map based method time costly. On the contrary, the behavior based approach combines certain elementary behaviors to track an emergent plume. Li et al. in (5) developed bio-inspired chemical plume tracing on an autonomous underwater vehicle us- ing elementary behaviors such as finding plume, tracking- in and tracking-out plume in a subsumption architecture. Social potential fields were used in (6) to coordinate group
Risperidone augmentation for schizophrenia partially responsive to clozapine: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Abstract Rationale Risperidone augmentation of clozapine in refractory schizophrenia has theoretical but only inconsistent support from clinical trials. Objectives To examine if adding risperidone to stable yet symptomatic schizophrenia outpatients on optimized clozapine monotherapy improves psychopathology. Methods We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled parallel-group trial of a fixed dose of 4 mg/day risperidone added for 6 weeks in 24 outpatients with schizophrenia. Results Subjects who received risperidone showed a non-significant decrease in PANSS total score. The PANSS disorganized thought subscale improved significantly (β = − 3.3079, p = 0.047). Conclusions Our trial does not support the routine addition of risperidone to clozapine in refractory schizophrenia patients. However, much larger trials are needed to conclusively settle the question of added efficacy from this combination.
Stem cell-derived erythrocytes as upcoming players in blood transfusion

Background Blood transfusion is current standard-of-care for genetic forms of anemia that would be otherwise lethal and allows implementation of aggressive cytotoxic/surgical therapies developed for numerous types of cancer. In developed countries the blood supply is adequate and sporadically even in excess. However, difficulties exist in finding blood with rare phenotypes to treat alloimmunized patients and the progressive ageing of the human population predicts that blood will become scarce by 2050. These considerations establish the need for the development of techniques to generate cultured red blood cell (cRBCs) as transfusion products. Materials and Methods Recent progress in cell culture techniques is revolutionizing organ replacement therapies. Two new disciplines, cell therapy and tissue engineering, have been developed to generate in vitro therapeutic products for a variety of applications ranging from skin grafts to organ-function repairs. It is currently believed that these advances will eventually allow ex-vivo production of various cell types in numbers so great that, in the case of red cells, would be clinically adequate for transfusion. Results Proof-of-principle in animal models indicate that cRBCs generated from murine embryonic stem cells protect mice from lethal anemia. Conditions to generate small amounts of clinical grade cRBCs have been established and the first-in-man administration of autologous cRBCs perfomed. The results of this trial indicate that cRBCs survive in vivo at least as long as their natural counterpart. Discussion These ground-breaking reports have raised great excitement for clinical evaluation of cRBCs for transfusion. However, skepticism still persist that production of cRBCs in numbers sufficient for transfusion will ever be possible. This paper will discuss diagnostic and clinical goals pursuable with numbers of cRBCs that may be generated with current technology. Conclusion We are confident that development of relevant clinical goals achievable with current technologies will not only improve clinical care in transfusion medicine but will also foster studies to overcome scientific and technical barriers that render transfusion with cRBCs of the general population impractical today.
Dose as a Function of Lung Volume and Planned Treatment Volume in Helical Tomotherapy Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy-Based Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Small Lung Tumors

Purpose: To evaluate the limitations of Hi-Art Helical Tomotherapy (Middleton, WI) stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for lung lesions, and to provide an initial report on patients treated with this method. Stereotactic body radiotherapy was shown to be an effective, well-tolerated treatment for early-stage, non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0236 protocol is currently evaluating three-dimensional conformal SBRT that delivers 60 Gy in three fractions. Methods and Materials: Inverse treatment planning for hypothetical lung gross tumor volumes (GTV) and planned treatment volume (PTV) expansions were performed. We tested the hypothesis that the maximum acceptable dose (MAD) to be delivered to the lesion by SBRT could be predicted by PTV and lung volume. Dose constraints on normal tissue were as designated by the RTOG protocol. Inverse planning was performed to find the maximum tolerated SBRT dose up to 60 Gy. Results: Regression analysis of the data obtained indicated a linear relationship between MAD, PTV, and lung volume. This generated two equations which may be useful predictive tools. Seven patients with Stage I and II NSCLC treated at the University of Virginia with this method tolerated the treatment extremely well, and suffered no greater than grade I toxicity, with no evidence of disease recurrence in follow-up from 2–20 months. Conclusions: Helical tomotherapy SBRT for lung lesions is well-tolerated. In addition, the likely MAD for patients considered for this type of treatment can be predicted by PTV and lung volume.
Away from home meals: associations with biomarkers of chronic disease and dietary intake in American adults, NHANES 2005-2010.

Away from home (AFH) meals are known to be energy-dense and of poor diet quality. Both direct and indirect exposure (for example, neighborhood restaurant density) to AFH meals have been implicated as contributors to higher body weight and adverse health outcomes. To examine the association of frequency of eating AFH and fast-food meals with biomarkers of chronic disease and dietary intake. This cross-sectional study used frequency of AFH and fast-food meal and biomarker data from the NHANES 2005–2010. Information on weekly frequency of AFH and fast-food meals was collected via questionnaire during the household interview. The metabolic biomarkers examined included body mass index (BMI), serum cholesterol (total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)), triglycerides, glycohemoglobin and fasting glucose (n=8314, age⩾20, National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2007–2010). Biomarkers of dietary exposure included serum concentrations of vitamins A, D, E, C, B-6, B-12, folate and carotenoids (n=4162; 2005–2006). Multiple linear and logistic regression methods adjusted for complex survey methodology and covariates. American adults reported a mean of 3.9 (95% confidence interval 3.7, 4.0) AFH and 1.8 (1.6, 1.9) fast-food meals/week. Over 50% of adults reported ⩾3 AFH and >35% reported ⩾2 fast-food meals/week. The mean BMI of more frequent AFH or fast-food meal reporters was higher (Ptrend⩽0.0004). Serum concentrations of total, LDL and HDL-cholesterol were related inversely with frequency of AFH meals (P<0.05). Frequencies of fast-food meals and serum HDL-cholesterol were also related inversely (P=0.0001). Serum concentrations of all examined micronutrients (except vitamin A and lycopene) declined with increasing frequency of AFH meals (P<0.05); women and ⩾50-year olds were at higher risk. Reporters of frequent AFH and fast-food meals had higher BMI and lower concentrations of HDL-cholesterol; however, profiles of other biomarkers did not indicate higher metabolic risk. However, the serum concentrations of nutrients with mostly plant foods as sources declined with increasing AFH meal frequency.
In situ real-time sequential potentiometric determinations of potassium concentrations from three cochlear regions in noise-exposed rats

Double-barrelled potassium selective microelectrodes (K-ISME) were used in situ for real-time sequential determinations of potassium concentrations (CK+) in endolymph, marginal cells and the spiral ligaments of rats exposed to moderate noise at 100 dB for 30 min (NE) and control (CTL) animals. CK+ in NE animals at these sites did not differ significantly when compared to CK+ in CTL animals. However, there was a slight decrease in CK+ in marginal cells in the noise-exposed animals.
Dynamic Integration and Semantic Security Policy Ontology Mapping for Semantic Web Services (SWS)

Agent ontology systems interact with other agents via automated service discovery to share data and provide services on-the-fly. Resources need to be annotated with meta-data so that they can be correctly discovered and invoked. Ontologies provide shared conceptualization of a domain but it's not easy for everyone to agree on the same ontology for a domain. As such, ontology mapping becomes important to achieve compatibility. This is also true for security policies and so a refined algorithm for ontology mapping is very much desired; especially for WS-security. This paper highlights two semantic mapping frameworks for security policy ontologies i.e. SPD Ml framework and the dynamic MAFRA2 framework.
Convolution on homogeneous groups

Abstract Let G be a homogeneous group with homogeneous dimension Q, and let S o denote the space of Schwartz functions on G with all moments vanishing. Let ˆ be the usual Euclidean Fourier transform. For j ∈ R , we let D j ⊆ S ˆ o ′ be the space of J, smooth away from 0, satisfying | ∂ α J ( ξ ) | ⩽ C β | ξ | j − | β | , where both | ξ | and | β | are taken in the homogeneous sense. We characterize D ˇ j , and show that D ˇ j 1 * D ˇ j 2 ⊆ D ˇ j 1 + j 2 as elements of S o ′ . If j 1 , j 2 , j 1 + j 2 > − Q , one can replace S o , S o ′ by S , S ′ in this result. A key ingredient of our proof is a lemma from the fundamental wavelet paper from 1985 by Frazier and Jawerth [4] . We believe that, in turn, our result will be useful in the theory of wavelets on homogeneous groups.
Effect of flower-applied Serenade biofungicide (Bacillus subtilis) on pollination-related variables in rabbiteye blueberry

Application of Serenade, a commercial biofungicide formulation containing the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, to the stigmatic surface of open blueberry Xowers suppresses Xoral infection by the mummy berry fungus Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi. The deliberate targeting of the stigma with the biocontrol agent in this pathosystem prompted us to evaluate potential negative impacts on pollination and pollination-related fruit characteristics. Application of Serenade to the stigmatic surface of detached blueberry Xowers in the laboratory had no eVect (P > 0.05) on the number of pollen tubes entering the style or their growth rates within the stylar canal. There was also no reciprocal eVect, i.e., population dynamics of B. subtilis were unaltered by the presence of pollen. Application of the biocontrol product to open Xowers, regardless of whether it was done 1 day before or immediately prior to pollination, did not impact fruit set or the number of seeds per berry, but marginally (P D 0.048) aVected fruit weight in one of two experimental runs in the greenhouse; fruit weights in the two Serenade timing treatments were signiWcantly diVerent from each other but neither was diVerent from that of the control that received pollen only. In a Weld experiment in which honey bees were utilized to vector the biocontrol product to open Xowers, application of Serenade did not aVect fruit weight but signiWcantly reduced fruit set from 49.1 to 38.1% (P D 0.0382) and seed number to about half of that of the untreated control (P D 0.0109). However, fruit weights and seed numbers in the experiment were low even in treatments receiving no Serenade, indicative of poor pollination overall. Taken together, these results indicate that application of Serenade has no inherently adverse eVects on pollination and associated fruit characteristics, but caution should be exercised in applying this product in conditions otherwise unfavorable for adequate pollination.
A combined trace- and body-fossil approach reveals high-resolution record of oxygen fluctuations in Devonian seas

Black shales deposited in epeiric seas preserve dynamic, bottom-water oxygen conditions as inferred from high-resolution trace- and body-fossil data. Nearly all paleoproxies are imperfect; however, this study utilizes the strength of paleobiological proxies to capture variability in bottom-water oxygen levels through aerobic and anaerobic, as well as dysaerobic (reduced but non-zero oxygen) conditions. Trace- and body-fossil data were collected at high resolution from twelve localities through central and western New York State, United States, exposing Devonian black shales. The combination of relative amount of bioturbation, estimated as ichnofabric index (ii), maximum burrow diameter measurements, and body-fossil species diversity allows relative bottom-water oxygen levels to be interpreted on a millimeter scale. Overall, trace-fossil size and diversity through the dysaerobic zone are much reduced compared with those described from younger strata. The decreased depth of bioturbation compared with younger strata, and resulting reduced overprinting of the sedimentological record by deep burrowing infauna, provide the opportunity for records of high frequency fluctuations in relative oxygen levels to be preserved. The biological signal preserved in these units reveals that bottom-water oxygen levels fluctuated considerably within a narrow stratigraphic range (on a centimeter scale) and that the dysaerobic zone is not temporally stable.
The Effectiveness of Resource Programming

This article reviews the results of 17 studies of resource programs and their effects on the academic achievement and personal-social development of exceptional children. Only those studies which include relevant comparison groups are reviewed. Problems in efficacy research are discussed; many of the limitations of studies of special class placement are applicable to research on resource room programming. Results are not definitive in either domain. In the academic domain, programs for learning-disabled and mildly disturbed children proved generally more effective than programs for retarded children. In the personal-social domain, positive effects of resource programming have not been established. In general, the most carefully designed studies support the effectiveness of resource programming. Finally, the authors recommend the incorporation of formative evaluation procedures into resource program development as a supplement to traditional summative methodology.
Circuit- and Diagnosis-Specific DNA Methylation Changes at γ-Aminobutyric Acid-Related Genes in Postmortem Human Hippocampus in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Importance Dysfunction related to γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)–ergic neurotransmission in the pathophysiology of major psychosis has been well established by the work of multiple groups across several decades, including the widely replicated downregulation ofGAD1. Prior gene expression and network analyses within the human hippocampus implicate a broader network of genes, termed theGAD1 regulatory network, in regulation ofGAD1expression. Several genes within thisGAD1regulatory network show diagnosis- and sector-specific expression changes within the circuitry of the hippocampus, influencing abnormalGAD1expression in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Objective To investigate the hypothesis that aberrant DNA methylation contributes to circuit- and diagnosis-specific abnormal expression ofGAD1 regulatory network genes in psychotic illness. Design, Setting, and Participants This epigenetic association study targetingGAD1regulatory network genes was conducted between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2014. Postmortem human hippocampus tissue samples were obtained from 8 patients with schizophrenia, 8 patients with bipolar disorder, and 8 healthy control participants matched for age, sex, postmortem interval, and other potential confounds from the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts. We extracted DNA from laser-microdissected stratum oriens tissue of cornu ammonis 2/3 (CA2/3) and CA1 postmortem human hippocampus, bisulfite modified it, and assessed it with the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip (Illumina, Inc). The subset of CpG loci associated withGAD1 regulatory network genes was analyzed in R version 3.1.0 software (R Foundation) using the minfi package. Findings were validated using bisulfite pyrosequencing. Main Outcomes and Measures Methylation levels at 1308GAD1 regulatory network–associated CpG loci were assessed both as individual sites to identify differentially methylated positions and by sharing information among colocalized probes to identify differentially methylated regions. Results A total of 146 differentially methylated positions with a false detection rate lower than 0.05 were identified across all 6 groups (2 circuit locations in each of 3 diagnostic categories), and 54 differentially methylated regions withP Conclusions and Relevance This work demonstrates diagnosis- and circuit-specific DNA methylation changes at a subset ofGAD1regulatory network genes in the human hippocampus in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These genes participate in chromatin regulation and cell cycle control, supporting the concept that the established GABAergic dysfunction in these disorders is related to disruption of GABAergic interneuron physiology at specific circuit locations within the human hippocampus.
Scale Invariant Conditional Dependence Measures

In this paper we develop new dependence and conditional dependence measures and provide their estimators. An attractive property of these measures and estimators is that they are invariant to any monotone increasing transformations of the random variables, which is important in many applications including feature selection. Under certain conditions we show the consistency of these estimators, derive upper bounds on their convergence rates, and show that the estimators do not suffer from the curse of dimensionality. However, when the conditions are less restrictive, we derive a lower bound which proves that in the worst case the convergence can be arbitrarily slow similarly to some other estimators. Numerical illustrations demonstrate the applicability of our method.
Depth-Varying Constitutive Properties Observed in an Isothermal Glacier

[1] Detailed three-dimensional in-situ measurements of deformation at depth are used to examine the rheology of a 6 × 106 m3 block of temperate glacier ice. Assuming that the viscosity of this ice is primarily dependent on stress, the relationship between inferred stress and measurements of strain-rate above ∼115 m depth suggest a constitutive relationship with a stress exponent n ∼ 1. Deformation below 115 m is described by a non-linear flow law with a power exponent of approximately 3–4. A sharp transition between the two flow regimes is likely caused by a change in the dominant mechanism from superplastic flow, basal slip, and/or diffusional flow near the surface to dislocation and intragranular deformation at depth.
A West African Replication of the Four Card Problem

Differences in results of the four card problem between language groups have led to the hypothesis that the more precisely one can express a concept in a given language, the easier it will be for subjects to acquire that concept. The Kpelle of Liberia and the Adjukru of the Ivory Coast, however, express inclusive disjunction in approximately the same way, but the Adjukru were found to have much more difficulty acquiring such concepts. Moreover, exclusive disjunction is expressed very precisely and simply in Adjukru, but the acquisition of such concepts was found to be very difficult indeed. The results suggest the inadequacy of the above hypothesis.
Gathering Faculty Teaching Evaluations by In-Class and Online Surveys: Their Effects on Response Rates and Evaluations.

This study compares student evaluations of faculty teaching that were completed in-class with those collected online. The two methods of evaluation were compared on response rates and on evaluation scores. In addition, this study investigates whether treatments or incentives can affect the response to online evaluations. It was found that the response rate to the online survey was generally lower than that to the in-class survey. When a grade incentive was used to encourage response to the online survey, a response rate was achieved that was comparable with that to the in-class survey. Additionally, the study found that online evaluations do not produce significantly different mean evaluation scores than traditional in-class evaluations, even when different incentives are offered to students who are asked to complete online evaluations.
Computational analysis of martensitic thin films using subdivision surfaces

This paper studies numerically the deformation of thin films made of materials undergoing martensitic phase transformations by using subdivision surfaces. These thin films have received interest as potential microactuators, and specifically a tent-like configuration has recently been proposed. In order to model martensitic materials we use a multi-well strain energy combined with an interfacial energy penalizing strain gradients. The study of such configurations requires adequate resolution of inhomogeneous in-plane stretch, out-of-plane deformation and transition regions across which the deformation gradient changes sharply. This paper demonstrates that subdivision surfaces provide an attractive tool in the numerical study of such configurations, and also provides insights into the tent-like deformations.
An interactive web resource for simulation-based learning and teaching for electrophysiology: iCell

Summary form only given. An interactive cell modeling web resource, iCell (http://ssd1.bme.memphis.edu/icell/), was developed as a simulation-based teaching and learning tool for electrophysiology. The web site consists of JAVA applets that present models of various cardiac cells and neurons, and simulation data of their bioelectric activities at the cellular level. Each JAVA-based model allows the user to go through menu options to change model parameters, run and view simulation results. The site also has a glossary section for the scientific terms. iCell has integrated research and education and, has been used as a teaching and learning tool for five graduate courses at the Joint Biomedical Engineering Program of University of Memphis and University of Tennessee. This modeling tool was also used as a collaboration site among our colleagues interested in simulations of cell membrane activities. Scientists from the fields of biosciences, engineering, life sciences and medical sciences in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, England, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Turkey and USA have tested and utilized iCell as a simulation-based teaching, learning and collaboration environment. The platform-independent software, iCell, provides us with an interactive and user-friendly teaching and learning resource, and also a collaboration too for electrophysiology to be shared over the Internet.
Attitudes and Inaction A Case Study of the Manifest Demographics of Urban Water Conservation

The public’s disposition with respect to conservation is predominantly ascertained by surveys. Rarely are these attitudes contrasted directly against manifested behavior from an independent source. This article analyzes the response to a residential urban water conservation program by using municipal water consumption data at the census tract level in San Antonio, Texas. A selection of demographic variables (i.e., income, education, and political affiliation, among others) are analyzed with respect to general consumption response and to voluntary and mandatory measures. These results are contrasted against stated attitudes/preferences by the local population in a survey prior to the program. Results reveal substantial disparities between survey responses and manifested actions. They also indicate that well-accepted patterns of conservation response ascribed to various demographic segments in the survey format need to be more precisely qualified before equating them to performance.
Dictionary design algorithms for vector map compression

Summary form only given. The enormous size of vector maps and limited storage available in hand-held devices motivate the need for data compression techniques. Compression techniques for vector maps can allow PDAs to carry larger subsets of vector maps or free-up memory for other datasets and can also reduce the communication cost of downloading new maps to the PDA, possibly over low-bandwidth wireless channels (e.g. beaming, cell phone modems). We propose the use of clustering techniques (e.g. K-mean clustering) to identify dictionary entries while minimizing errors of approximation for locations of spatial objects in the map. Vectors relative to the first node of a road or relative to the previous node of a road are feed into clustering algorithms. Clustering algorithms take as input a fixed number and generates that many clusters for the given dataset as output. The cluster centroids obtained becomes our dictionary. Based on this dictionary, we encode the vector dataset that we obtained earlier. Since each vector would now be assigned to a particular cluster, that vector would now be represented in terms of a reference to that cluster's centroid entry in the dictionary. We formally show that this proposed dictionary construction approach often yields a lower error of approximation than the error from conventional fixed dictionary techniques.
Arterial and cardiac aging: Major shareholders in cardiovascular disease enterprises. Part III: Cellular and molecular clues to heart and arterial aging

Evidence supporting the hypothesis that age-associated changes in cardiovascular structure/function are implicated in the markedly increased risk for cardiovascular disease in older persons has been presented in the preceding 2 articles in this series.1,2 It follows that therapies to prevent or delay cardiovascular changes that accompany aging may reduce the risk for age-associated cardiovascular diseases. Understanding the nature and effectiveness of such therapies, however, requires an understanding of heart and arterial aging at the cellular and molecular levels. Fortunately, many of the age-associated changes in cardiac and arterial structure or function that have been observed in humans also occur across a wide range of other species. Insights gained from cellular and molecular studies in these animal models may hold clues that will assist in directing future efforts toward developing novel therapies for age-associated arterial and cardiac structural and functional remodeling in humans. Age-associated remodeling of the walls of large arteries of rodents (Table 1) and nonhuman primates is quite similar to that observed in humans and includes luminal dilation, intimal and medial thickening (Figure 1), vascular stiffening, and endothelial dysfunction.3–7 View this table: TABLE 1. Age-Associated Aortic Changes in Rodents Figure 1. A, Morphometric changes in the aortic wall of rats showing significant aortic intimal thickening in old rats (upper), as compared with young rats (lower). m indicates media; a, adventitia. Arrows show the internal elastic lamina. Reprinted from reference 4. B, Representative aortic sections from 2-month, 8-month, and 30-month-old rats stained with an antibody against MMP-2 and MT1-MMP, a tissue activator for MMP-2. The antibody stains brown. L indicates lumen, m, media. Reprinted from reference 7. C, Representative examples of in vivo zymography in aortae of 2-month, 8-month, and 30-month-old rats. Control (left) reactive zymograms (right) and reactive zymograms after coincubation with a reactive buffer. Inset in lower …
Cloning of the Rat Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein-2 Gene and Identification of a Functional Promoter Lacking a TATA Box

We have isolated clones encoding the rat insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) gene and determined its organization and nucleotide sequence. The rat IGFBP-2 gene spans at least 8 kilobases and consists of four exons, each of which contains protein-coding sequences. The amino acid sequences of exons 1, 3, and 4 are 32-50% identical to the corresponding exons of human IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3, and 87-91% identical to those of human IGFBP-2. The 18 cysteines in the mature binding proteins are conserved. Exon 2 shows negligible homology. Primer-extended reverse transcription indicated that the 5' end of IGFBP-2 mRNA is 151 nucleotides up-stream from the translation start site [designated nucleotide (nt) -151]. Consistent with this result, IGFBP-2 mRNA protected a genomic fragment terminating at approximately nt -148, as well as smaller fragments. A 1260 nt fragment containing 1144 nt of 5' flanking region had promoter activity when inserted in the correct orientation into a plasmid containing a promoterless luciferase reporter gene and transiently transfected into BRL-3A rat liver cells, which express IGFBP-2, but not when transfected into H4-II-E cells, which do not express IGFBP-2. The IGFBP-2 gene lacks a TATA box immediately up-stream from the transcription initiation site. It is GC rich (66% between nt -270 and +385) and contains GC boxes that might be recognized by transcription factors Sp1 or ETF. The promoter region contains multiple direct and indirect repeats. One direct repeat contains a variant Sp1 site (-158 to -150) near the consensus Sp1 site at nt -138 to -130. The 5' flanking region also contains motifs that might be recognized by transcription factors AP-1 (Jun/Fos), AP-2, and liver factor B1. The role of these sites in basal and regulated expression of the IGFBP-2 gene remains to be determined.
Improving Developmental Screening in Pediatric Resident Education

Objective. Given that pediatricians cite low competency in developmental screening, this study aims to effectively teach screening to residents. Design. Using a quasiexperimental design, residents received an educational module and one-on-one teaching of 3 validated developmental screeners (Denver II, ASQ [Ages and Stages Questionnaire], and PEDS [Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status]), with subsequent independent use with all 3 screeners with their own continuity patients. Outcome measures included changes in knowledge, skills, and preferences. Results. All residents achieved significantly increased skills with all screeners. They strongly preferred the ASQ (70%), citing that this taught them normal (30.2%) and pathological (27.9%) development while negatively noting time (72.1%), scheduling issues (30.2%), and difficulties with child cooperation (20.9%). Knowledge specifics did not significantly increase. Conclusions. In-depth developmental screening education revealed marked improvement in skill...
Techniques for data hiding

Data hiding, a form of steganography, embeds data into digital media for the purpose of identification, annotation, and copyright. Several constraints affect this process: the quantity of data to be hidden, the need for invariance of these data under conditions where a "host" signal is subject to distortions, e.g., lossy compression, and the degree to which the data must be immune to interception, modification, or removal by a third party. We explore both traditional and novel techniques for addressing the data-hiding process and evaluate these techniques in light of three applications: copyright protection, tamper-proofing, and augmentation data embedding.
NUTRITIONAL, PHYSICAL AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS CHOCOLATE-FLAVORED PEANUT–SOY BEVERAGE FORMULATIONS

Mixture design and pilot-plant scale processing protocol were developed to obtain the best chocolate-flavored peanut–soy beverage formulation. Twenty-eight formulations were evaluated for nutritional (lysine content), physical (viscosity [η], visual stability index [VSI]) and nine sensory (consumer liking) attributes. Lysine contents (mg/g protein) (44.1–57.1) were close to the reference (51.0) and in the desirable range observed for other peanut-based beverages. Higher viscosity indicated lower consumer liking, but lower viscosity resulted in lower VSI. Formulation ♯8 having 43.9% peanut, 36.3% soy protein isolate (SPI) and 19.8% chocolate syrup had the highest consumer liking and the best balance of physical properties (η = 41.5 mPa·s; VSI = 0.99). As compared to commercial chocolate milk (6 = slightly like to 7 = moderately like), it was rated higher for appearance (7.0), color (6.8) and sweetness (6.4). Two SPI formulations (♯6 and ♯7) and a soy flour formulation (♯14) were rated highest for aroma (6.2), color (7.0) and flavor (6.0), respectively.
Differential Response of the Human Renal Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cell Line HK-2 to Shiga Toxin Types 1 and 2

Shiga toxins (Stxs) are expressed by the enteric pathogens Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 and certain serotypes of Escherichia coli. Stx-producing bacteria cause bloody diarrhea with the potential to progress to acute renal failure. Stxs are potent protein synthesis inhibitors and are the primary virulence factors responsible for renal damage that may follow diarrheal disease. We explored the use of the immortalized human proximal tubule epithelial cell line HK-2 as an in vitro model of Stx-induced renal damage. We showed that these cells express abundant membrane Gb(3) and are differentially susceptible to the cytotoxic action of Stxs, being more sensitive to Shiga toxin type 1 (Stx1) than to Stx2. At early time points (24 h), HK-2 cells were significantly more sensitive to Stxs than Vero cells; however, by 72 h, Vero cell monolayers were completely destroyed while some HK-2 cells survived toxin challenge, suggesting that a subpopulation of HK-2 cells are relatively toxin resistant. Fluorescently labeled Stx1 B subunits localized to both lysosomal and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) compartments in HK-2 cells, suggesting that differences in intracellular trafficking may play a role in susceptibility to Stx-mediated cytotoxicity. Although proinflammatory cytokines were not upregulated by toxin challenge, Stx2 selectively induced the expression of two chemokines, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) and MIP-1β. Stx1 and Stx2 differentially activated components of the ER stress response in HK-2 cells. Finally, we demonstrated significant poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage after exposure to Stx1 or Stx2. However, procaspase 3 cleavage was undetectable, suggesting that HK-2 cells may undergo apoptosis in response to Stxs in a caspase 3-independent manner.
Modeling the thermal conductivity of a SiGe segmented nanowire

A Debye model is applied to a simple phonon radiation framework to predict the thermal conductivity of a SiGe segmented nanowire. A gray Matthiessen's rule is used to account for bulk scattering while phonon confinement and wave effects are neglected. When either the diameter D or segment length L is smaller than the bulk phonon mean free path the effective thermal conductivity is reduced significantly. In particular, combining diffuse side walls with the diffuse mismatch interface condition at room temperature the alloy limit of 8.5 W/m-K is surpassed for L<15 nm or D <10 nm.
Laboratory Evaluation of the Toxicity of Systemic Insecticides for Control of Anoplophora glabripennis and Plectrodera scalator (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is one of the most serious nonnative invasive forest insects discovered in North America in recent years. A. glabripennis is regulated by federal quarantines in the United States and Canada and is the subject of eradication programs that involve locating, cutting, and chipping all infested trees. Other control methods are needed to aid in eradication and to form an integrated management program in the event eradication fails. We conducted laboratory bioassays to determine the toxicity of two systemic insecticides, azadirachtin and imidacloprid, for potential control of A. glabripennis and the cottonwood borer, Plectrodera scalator (F.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a closely related native cerambycid. Larvae of both cerambycid species were fed artificial diet with dilutions of azadirachtin or imidacloprid for 14 wk. Both insecticides exhibited strong antifeedant effects and some toxicity against A. glabripennis and P. scalator larvae. For A. glabripennis, the highest larval mortality at the end of the bioassay was 60% for larvae fed artificial diet treated with azadirachtin (50 ppm) or imidacloprid (1.6 ppm). For P. scalator, the highest larval mortality at the end of the bioassay was 100% for larvae fed artificial diet treated with azadirachtin (50 ppm) or imidacloprid (160 ppm). At 14 wk, the LC50 values for P. scalator were 1.58 and 1.78 ppm for azadirachtin and imidacloprid, respectively. Larvae of both species gained weight when fed diet treated with formulation blanks (inert ingredients) or the water control but lost weight when fed diet treated with increasing concentrations of either azadirachtin or imidacloprid. In a separate experiment, A. glabripennis adults were fed maple twigs treated with high and low concentrations of imidacloprid. A. glabripennis adult mortality reached 100% after 13 d on twigs treated with 150 ppm imidacloprid and after 20 d on twigs treated with 15 ppm imidacloprid. There was no visible feeding by A. glabripennis adults on twigs treated at the higher imidacloprid rate, and feeding was significantly reduced for adults placed on twigs treated at the low imidacloprid rate compared with adults on untreated twigs. In summary, imidacloprid and azadirachtin had both antifeedant and toxic effects against A. glabripennis and P. scalator and have potential for use in management programs. Based on our results, the delivery of high and sustained insecticide concentrations will be needed to overcome the antifeedant effects and lengthy lethal time for both larvae and adults exposed to these insecticides.
On Meroitic Nubian Crania, Fordisc 2.0, and Human Biological History

Williams, Belcher, and Armelagos (CA 46:340–46) have reported and discussed the results of a study of Meroitic Period Lower Nubian crania in which, using Fordisc, a forensic identification program, they analyzed 42 crania individually as unknowns in what can be described as a morphometric experiment employing forced allocation (Campbell 1984) that is based on phenetic affinity (McNeil 1978; Cain and Harrison 1960). The results were unexpected in terms of biogeography; the crania were not primarily affiliated with the nearest neighbor (an Egyptian series) but grouped (although not always with strong statistical support) with series from all of the continents and Pacific Oceania and a range of U.S. social census groups. These results deserve further comment with regard to their possible “meanings.” Williams et al. seem to restrict their explanation to invoking the published finding of a greater within-group than between-group craniometric variation in one study and suggesting a role for nongenetic variation caused by the “conditions of growth” during development. They do not fully reconcile their claim that human biological variation is primarily clinal with the results of their study, which indicates a more complex situation. Clearly the demonstration of similarity using multivariate analyses does not always mean identity, close recent common origin, or even origin in an adjacent region. Williams et al. anticipate and effectively refute the criticism that a major flaw of their study is its use of a group not present in the database, noting that a forensic worker can never really know if an individual’s origin population is actually represented in the forensic tool’s database. Technically, however, this criticism is correct and is grounded in the concerns of both forensic science and the best-use parameters of canonical variate or discriminant function analysis when used for identification. The goal of forensics is the actual identification of the unknown with a recognized social group known to law enforcement and not the discovery of relative similarity (phenetic affinity). The aspect of discriminant function analysis relevant to this discussion is its secondary use to minimize the probability of misplacing an unknown object, in this case a cranium, in the nonorigin population (Albrecht 1980). Given the goal of identification (Campbell 1978), the use of
Candidate Venture Capital

Candidate venture capital contributions are large donations given to candidates near the beginning of campaigns in order to provide them with sufficient resources to test their ideas in the campaign marketplace. These contributions can take the form of either large private donations or public grants. Although election law scholars and political scientists disagree a great deal over the aggregate effects of money in politics (and the utility of various reform proposals), they generally agree that early money is particularly valuable to political newcomers — especially when challenging incumbents. While both campaign finance reformers and anti-reformers often pay lip service to the value of early campaign cash, both sides usually offer prescriptions that deal with campaign contributions in an undifferentiated manner. This Article offers a different approach, focusing exclusively on how our campaign finance system might be altered to promote the value of early campaign cash in its own right. Rather than seeking undifferentiated contribution limits (like the typical reformer) or the complete deregulation of private contributions (like the typical anti-reformer), this Article suggests that policymakers might instead tailor campaign finance regulations to reflect the changing value of campaign cash over the course of the typical election cycle. Central to such an approach is a campaign finance system that increases the overall flow of candidate venture capital. In the end, this Article is an attempt to place the element of time at the center of the debate over campaign finance.