cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Marital strategies for regulating exposure to HIV.

In a setting where the transmission of HIV occurs primarily through heterosexual contact and where no cure or vaccine is available, behavioral change is imperative for containing the epidemic. Abstinence, faithfulness, and condom use most often receive attention in this regard. In contrast, this article treats marriage as a resource for HIV risk management via mechanisms of positive selection (partner choice) and negative selection (divorce of an adulterous spouse). Retrospective marriage histories and panel data provide the evidence for this study, and results indicate that men and women in Malawi increasingly turned to union-based risk-avoidance strategies during the period that the threat of HIV/AIDS materialized. Although both sexes strategize in a similar fashion, men are better equipped than women to deploy these strategies to their advantage. The article concludes with reflections on the long-term and population-level implications of these coping mechanisms.
Nitrous oxide measurements in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean

In March 1976 the first N 2 O measurements were made in the sea water and marine air of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean during a cruise from San Diego, California, to San Martin, Peru. Continuous measurements of N 2 O in the marine atmosphere were made throughout the duration of the cruise. The tropospheric mixing ratio was 332 ± 9 p.p.b. v/v N 2 O. The concentration of N 2 O in the marine air appeared to show a direct relationship to the N 2 O concentration in the surface sea water, with the highest N 2 O mixing ratios over regions which were highly supersaturated, off the coasts of Baja California and Peru, and in the equatorial upwelling region. The surface sea water samples were generally supersaturated with N 2 O, with an average saturation of 145% relative to the marine atmosphere. The average flux of N 2 O from the surface sea water into the atmosphere was 0.5 × 10 -12 g N 2 O cm -2 s -1 . Only one surface sea water sample showed significant undersaturation; the other 28 surface water samples were approximately saturated or supersaturated. Water samples were also collected down to depths of 300 m during seven hydrocast stations. The stations showed two distinct distribution patterns for N 2 O concentration versus depth for the region between the surface and 300 m. At five of the seven stations the N 2 O concentration increased rapidly from the surface to a depth of 100 m, and then remained relatively constant down to the maximum depth of 300 m. At the other two stations the N 2 O concentration showed the same rapid increase between the surface and 75–100 m, but then the N 2 O concentration decreased in the next 50–75 m until the concentration of N 2 O at 150 m was lower than that found at the surface. At these two stations the water from 150 m to 300 m was just saturated or undersaturated with N 2 O with respect to the atmosphere. These two stations were located in the oxygen-deficient region off the coast of Mexico, which suggests that the low N 2 O concentrations below the thermocline may be due to denitrification. However, stations in the oxygen-deficient region off the coast of Peru showed considerable N 2 O supersaturation at all depths. Recent results indicate that the role of N 2 O in the nitrogen cycle of the ocean may be more complex than has previously been suggested. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1980.tb01722.x
A mosquito-specific protein family includes candidate receptors for malaria sporozoite invasion of salivary glands.

Summary We describe a previously unrecognized protein fam- ily from Aedes and Anopheles mosquitoes, here named SGS proteins. There are no SGS homologues in Drosophila or other eukaryotes, but SGS presence in two mosquito genera suggests that the protein family is widespread among mosquitoes. Ae. aegypti aaSGS1 mRNA and protein are salivary gland specific, and protein is localized in the basal lamina covering the anatomical regions that are preferen- tially invaded by malaria sporozoites. Anti-aaSGS1 antibodies inhibited sporozoite invasion into the salivary glands in vivo , confirming aaSGS1 as a candidate sporozoite receptor. By homology to aaSGS1 we identified the complete complement of four SGS genes in An. gambiae , which were not rec- ognized in the genome annotation. Two An. gambiae SGS genes display salivary gland specific expres- sion like aaSGS1 . Bioinformatic analysis predicts that SGS proteins possess heparin-binding domains, and have among the highest density of tyrosine sul- phation sites of all An. gambiae proteins. The major sporozoite surface proteins (CS and TRAP) also bind heparin, and interact with sulphoconjugates during liver cell invasion. Thus, we speculate that sporozoite invasion of mosquito salivary glands and subse- quently the vertebrate liver may share similar mech- anisms based on sulphation. Phylogenomic analysis suggests that an SGS ancestor was involved in a lateral gene transfer.
Optimal sensor deployment for fault-tolerant smart grids

This study aims to present an optimal sensor deployment procedure that ensures robust and unique localization of line faults appearing in smart grids. In analogy to synchronized sensor networks in wireless communications, we initially model the grid as a wired mesh network, in which nodes are connected through power lines. Based on the topology of the network and distance measurements among electrical nodes, a fault-localization technique is then established. The method relies on recorded time-of-arrival (ToA) measurements at nodes which are equipped with synchronized sensors. Identification of the location for any fault is achieved via sensors which are deployed in a minimal fashion. Measurement errors on synchronized sensors are also handled with the successful application of a bad data processing technique. The performance of the overall algorithm is realized through an implementation on a 57-node power grid.
Financial and economic data management using Semantic Web technologies

In the domains of Finance and Economics, interacting with large amounts of data from heterogeneous sources is a common and critical task for both academic researchers and industrial practitioners. As the "Big Data" trend is sweeping through academia, enterprises and governments with large amounts of data from various new sources, it results in tremendous potential opportunities to extract values from it, such as automatically discovering novel patterns which would be impossible with small samples from a single data source. Meanwhile, complicated by the connectivity and interdependence of the world's markets, corporations and financial instruments, significant challenges have been posted for efficiently managing relevant datasets which would be used to facilitate scientific discoveries and support business decisions. This tutorial demonstrates an approach to address the data interchange challenges by illustrating how the Semantic Web technologies can be used in interacting with financial and economic data. We first introduce an incremental data organization model based on the Resource Description Framework (RDF), and then show the processes of data collecting, adding structures as well as domain knowledge and linking across different data sources. In keeping with CIFEr's practical spirit, this tutorial gives participants hand-on experience of using SPARQL to query large datasets in RDF, and analyzing the results with R through examples such as retrieving textual data from the New York Times and studying corporations' lobbying behaviors.
Wafer scale integration (WSI) of programmable gate arrays (PGA's)

Wafer scale integration of memories by row and column repair follows a well established path developed in industry for the repair of large DRAM's. Rows and columns in these memories can be diagnosed and those found faulty can be replaced by spares. If the entire wafer of dies can be fully repaired then all the cells on the wafer may be interconnected using artwork for chip to chip wiring which is the same on all wafers. What one would like is a similar approach which could be applied to logic circuits. Traditionally, however, logic is viewed as being inherently less regular than memory. This paper addresses one approach to accomplishing WSI based on a highly regular, restructurable logic component known as Programmable Gate Array (PGA), which is also known as a Logic Component Array (LCA). >
Optimization of system reliability robustness using accelerated degradation testing

This paper investigates a 3-step procedure for system optimization regarding the reliability robustness through accelerated degradation testing (ADT) experiments. The proposed procedure for the optimization of reliability robustness is important and realistic in that it considers reliability prediction and its refinement, and determines a reliable system design with the highest robustness against the uncertain operating conditions. The design procedure is demonstrated using an example of a brake system design.
Breast Cancer Experience of the Molecular Tumor Board at the University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center

Multidisciplinary molecular tumor boards may help optimize the management of patients with advanced, heavily pretreated breast cancer who have undergone genomic testing.
Deep brain stimulation for dystonia

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective surgical treatment for medication-refractory movement disorders, and has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treatment of dystonia. The success of DBS in the treatment of dystonia depends on our understanding of the anatomy and physiology of this disorder and close collaboration between neurosurgeons, neurologists, clinical neurophysiologists, neuroradiologists and neuropsychologists. Currently, pallidal DBS is an established treatment option for medically refractive dystonia. This review is intended to provide a comprehensive review of the use of DBS for dystonia, focusing mainly on the surgical aspects, clinical outcome, MRI findings and side effects of DBS.
On the alleged impossibility of Bayesian Coherentism

The success of Bovens and Hartmann’s recent “impossibility result” against Bayesian Coherentism relies upon the adoption of a specific set of ceteris paribus conditions. In this paper, I argue that these conditions are not clearly appropriate; certain proposed coherence measures motivate different such conditions and also call for the rejection of at least one of Bovens and Hartmann’s conditions. I show that there exist sets of intuitively plausible ceteris paribus conditions that allow one to sidestep the impossibility result. This shifts the debate from the merits of the impossibility result itself to the underlying choice of ceteris paribus conditions.
Artificial Personhood: Nursing Ethics in a Medical World

Artificial persons are those who speak and act for others. Nurses speak and act for patients as well as for physicians and institutions, or, more aptly, institutionalized medicine. Yet, acting for institutionalized medicine can be harmful to nurses, due to the psychological experience of moral distress and the loss of integrity of their practice. This paper illustrates the harm to nurses as expressed in narratives of their practice, and suggests some initial steps we might take in resisting the artificial personhood imposed by institutionalized medicine.
Expansion of the human μ-opioid receptor gene architecture: novel functional variants

The mu-opioid receptor (OPRM1) is the principal receptor target for both endogenous and exogenous opioid analgesics. There are substantial individual differences in human responses to painful stimuli and to opiate drugs that are attributed to genetic variations in OPRM1. In searching for new functional variants, we employed comparative genome analysis and obtained evidence for the existence of an expanded human OPRM1 gene locus with new promoters, alternative exons and regulatory elements. Examination of polymorphisms within the human OPRM1 gene locus identified strong association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs563649 and individual variations in pain perception. SNP rs563649 is located within a structurally conserved internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in the 5'-UTR of a novel exon 13-containing OPRM1 isoforms (MOR-1K) and affects both mRNA levels and translation efficiency of these variants. Furthermore, rs563649 exhibits very strong linkage disequilibrium throughout the entire OPRM1 gene locus and thus affects the functional contribution of the corresponding haplotype that includes other functional OPRM1 SNPs. Our results provide evidence for an essential role for MOR-1K isoforms in nociceptive signaling and suggest that genetic variations in alternative OPRM1 isoforms may contribute to individual differences in opiate responses.
Cognitive, Metacognitive, and Motivational Aspects of Problem Solving

This article examines the role of cognitive, metacognitive, and motivational skills in problem solving. Cognitive skills include instructional objectives, components in a learning hierarchy, and components in information processing. Metacognitive skills include strategies for reading comprehension, writing, and mathematics. Motivational skills include motivation based on interest, self-efficacy, and attributions. All three kinds of skills are required for successful problem solving in academic settings.
Some Consequences of Turnover: A Work Unit Analysis

In response to the recommendation that researchers examine the consequences of turnover instead of merely its determinants, we test nine hypotheses about how the turnover rate in organization work units influences integration, centralization, promotional opportunities, instrumental communication, job satisfaction, and behavioral commitment. Data from 115 work units in five organizations are studied using a longitudinal design which measures the impact of the work unit turnover rate for 8 months on the changes in the six variables over the 8-month period. After introducing numerous controls, turnover is found to have a net negative effect on instrumental communication and behavioral commitment. Implications for future research are discussed.
Copy, Paste, and Cloned Notes in Electronic Health Records

The modern medical record is not only used by providers to record nuances of patient care, but also is a document that must withstand the scrutiny of insurance payers and legal review. Medical documentation has evolved with the rapid growth in the use of electronic health records (EHRs). The medical software industry has created new tools and more efficient ways to document patient care encounters and record results of diagnostic testing. While these techniques have resulted in efficiencies and improvements in patient care and provider documentation, they have also created a host of new problems, including authorship attribution, data integrity, and regulatory concerns over the accuracy and medical necessity of billed services. Policies to guide provider documentation in EHRs have been developed by institutions and payers with the goal of reducing patient care risks as well as preventing fraud and abuse. In this article, we describe the major content-importing technologies that are commonly used in EHR documentation as well as the benefits and risks associated with their use. We have also reviewed a number of institutional policies and offer some best practice recommendations.
Dimensions Underlying Problem Behaviors, Emotions, and Related Psychosocial Factors in Early and Middle Adolescents

The study investigated the relationships of problem behaviors, emotions, and psychosocial factors. Self-report measures of the variables were obtained from 711 junior high school students from 12 to 16 years of age. A multidimensional scaling (MDS) of the data identified a three-dimensional model "positive coping resources/negative coping re-sources," "rebellion from adult norms/conformity to adult norms," and "secretive! obvious") that fit both for males and for females and accounted for 85% of the variance in the data. The model suggested that males who do not have positive coping resources (adult support inside or outside of the family and high self-esteem) may externalize (act out) their problems whereasfemales who lack positive coping resources may internalize their problems and report depressive symptoms. Intervening with these adolescents to increase their positive coping resources, particularly supportive adults in their environment, may assist them to limit their internalizing and externalizing b...
The Commercialization of Space in Science Fiction Movies: The Key to Sustainability or the Road to a Capitalist Dystopia?

A capitalist dystopia tied to space commercialization, which depicts companies effectively supplanting the state and instituting company policy with complete disregard to the rights or needs of individuals, has been a pervasive thread in science fiction movies. Underlying such representations are fears of the loss of individuality as a result of the disappearance of the state, as well as of those mechanisms that tie the relationship between individuals and their governments. Such depictions vary widely from the generally held view in the space policy community that the commercialization of space is a needed and welcome goal to achieve sustainability and that it is directly tied to increasing the benefits of space. Most notably, these contradict the complex interdependence of governments and private companies involved in space. In this paper I characterize these two diverging trends of thoughts to illustrate the distance between one conception and the other. Drawing from literature on science fiction and dystopia, and using examples from the current debate regarding U.S. space policy, I demonstrate that the narrative depicted in science fiction can have a marked impact on the attitudes of the public toward specific policies. Such distinct perceptions are a valid representation of a link between space and society. Awareness of these narratives is important to address concerns over specific policies, as well as a way to bridge the gap between the public and the space policy community.
The Speed of Information Propagation in Large Wireless Networks

This paper investigates the speed limit of information propagation in large wireless networks, which provides fundamental understanding of the fastest information transportation and delivery that a wireless network is able to accommodate. We show that there is a unified speed upper bound for broadcast and unicast communications in large wireless networks. When network connectivity and successful packet delivery are considered, this speed upper bound is a function of node density. As this bound is unreachable with finite node density, we also quantify the gap between the actually achieved speed and the desired upper bound, which converges to zero exponentially as the node density increases to infinity.
Blind channel estimation for space-time coded WCDMA

A new blind channel estimation technique is proposed for space-time coded wideband CDMA systems using aperiodic and possibly multirate spreading codes. Using a decorrelating front end, the received signal is projected onto a subspace from which channel parameters can be estimated up to a rotational ambiguity. Exploiting the subspace structure of the WCDMA signaling and the orthogonality of the unitary space-time codes, the proposed algorithm provides a blind channel estimate via least squares. A new identifiability condition is established under the assumption that the system is not heavily loaded. The mean square error of the estimated channel is compared with the Cramer-Rao bound, and the bit error rate (BER) performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with that of differential schemes.
What is an Attractive Industry

Business Portfolio Planning techniques often suggest that firms should invest in industries with high profitability, high growth, or other attractive characteristics. Critiquing this view, we suggest that the same factors which lead to high profitability in an industry may cause its inefficient participants to earn lower profits. Higher growth, on the other hand, may benefit inefficient firms while reducing the gains of efficient competitors. The paper offers theory and evidence to support this view of performance dependencies for the special case of diversified firms.
Application of nonlinear dynamics and chaos to ferroresonance in distribution systems

Ferroresonant overvoltages or undervoltages can occur in cable-fed power transformer installations when single phase switching or interrupting is practiced. This paper identifies the ferroresonant circuit as a nonlinear dynamical system. Analysis and classification methods are presented which provide new insight into the global behavior of ferroresonance. The concepts presented offer potential for progress in the areas of transformer model development and evaluation, analysis and prediction of ferroresonance, and distribution system design and operation. Measurements from a typical five-legged core transformer installation are used to illustrate the application of nonlinear dynamics and chaotic systems to the problem of ferroresonance. >
Acetabular component revision using a porous tantalum biomaterial: a case series.

Biologic ingrowth can be difficult to achieve in acetabular component revision, especially in cases with significant bone loss. The purpose of this study was to review our clinical results of acetabular component revisions in patients with significant bone loss using a porous tantalum biomaterial. This is a retrospective review of 25 patients. There were 16 females and 9 males with a mean age of 71.7 ± 10.54 years. The mean follow up was 39 ± 11.09 months (range, 28-55 months). All patients in this series had combined segmental and cavitary bone loss, Paprosky type 2 or type 3. Of 22 patients in this series, 21 had a well-fixed and functioning implant at latest follow up. All 21 patients developed ingrowth along the tantalum surface despite compromised host bone. There were no cases of dislocation or aseptic loosening. Porous tantalum appears to be a promising material for use in revision hip arthroplasty to facilitate biologic ingrowth in patients with acetabular bone loss.
A Comparison of Five Whole-Body PET Scanners by Scanning Hoffman Brain Phantom

We compared the performance of three PET/CT scanners from GE, the CTI ECAT EXACT HR+, and the prototype MDAPET camera using the Hoffman brain phantom. GE cameras were the new BGO based Discovery STE PET/CT (DSTE), the LYSO based Discovery RX PET/CT (DRX), and the BGO based Discovery ST PET/CT (DST). All of these cameras are based on block design where each block is an array of many crystals. Each crystal is 4.7 times 6.3 times 30 mm for DSTE, 4.2 times 6.2 times 30 mm for DRX, 6.3 times 6.3 times 30 mm for DST, 4.39 times 4.05 times 30 mm for EXACT HR+, and 2.7 times 2.8 times 15 mm for MDAPET in transaxial, axial, and radial directions, respectively. MDAPET has smaller axial FOV of 3.8 cm compared to other four cameras with axial FOV of 15.5 to 15.7 cm. All data were taken in 3D mode. For three GE cameras CT data were used for attenuation correction, for HR+ transmission data were used, and for MDAPET attenuation corrections were calculated. For each camera, data were processed using manufacturer-supplied software and the default image reconstruction parameters. Images were evaluated by visual comparison of PET images with corresponding CT images and phantom true pattern by human observers, and also by comparing profiles running through similar image slices. All cameras reproduced the main structures of the Hoffman brain phantom; however, there were differences in reproduction of the fine structures of the phantom and there were also differences in profiles. DRX and DSTE cameras performed slightly better in comparison to DST and there were no significant differences between their results and HR+ in terms of spatial resolution. Overall, the fine structures of the brain phantom were best observed in images acquired with MDAPET camera which has smaller BGO crystals.
Competitive Intelligence Task Analysis And Retrieval: An End-User Approach

The Internet, as one of the major resources for competitive intelligence (CI), not only provides a large amount of public data but also exposes a variety of business relations that may not otherwise be well-known. However, finding such information can be tedious and time-consuming for end-users without proper tools or expertise. In this paper, we examine the nature of CI tasks, classify and decompose them based on a task complexity theory, and propose norms for a context-based approach to retrieve CI data. We developed a meta-search engine called Competitive Intelligence Task Analysis and Retrieval (CITAR) to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach. The present study provides a framework to further explore the relationships among CI tasks, interactive search, and context-based search systems design.
Permissive and obligatory roles of NO in cerebrovascular responses to hypercapnia and acetylcholine

Inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis attenuates the hypercapnic cerebrovasodilation or the increases in cerebral blood flow (CBF) produced by acetylcholine (ACh), either topically applied or endogenously released in neocortex by stimulation of the basal forebrain cholinergic system. We investigated whether exogenous administration of NO, using NO donors, can reverse the attenuation of these responses by NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors. In halothane-anesthetized, ventilated rats the frontoparietal cortex was exposed and superfused with Ringer. CBF was monitored at the super fusion site by laser-Doppler flowmetry. The basal forebrain was stimulated (100 microA; 50 Hz) with microelectrodes stereotaxically implanted. Superfusion with the NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA; 1 mM) reduced resting CBF (-38 +/- 2%; mean +/- SE) and attenuated the vasodilation elicited by hypercapnia (Pco2, 50-60 mmHg; -79 +/- 3%), ACh (10 microM; -83 +/- 7%), or basal forebrain stimulation (-44 +/- 2%) (P 0.05 from Ringer) and reversed the attenuation of the response to hypercapnia (P > 0.05 from Ringer). However, SIN-1 or SNAP failed to reverse the attenuation of the response to basal forebrain stimulation or topical ACh (P > 0.05 from L-NNA). After L-NNA, the NO-independent vasodilator papaverine (n = 4) reestablished resting CBF (P > 0.05 from Ringer) but failed to restore the hypercapnic vasodilation (P > 0.05 from L-NNA). The attenuation of hypercapnic response by the neuronal NOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazole was counteracted only partially by SIN-1 (n = 4) or 8-BrcGMP (n = 4). The data support the hypothesis that the vasodilation elicited by hypercapnia requires resting levels of NO for its expression, whereas the response to endogenous or exogenous ACh depends on agonist-induced NOS activation. In hypercapnia NO may act as a permissive factor by facilitating the action of other vasodilators, whereas in the vascular response initiated by ACh NO is likely to be the major mediator of smooth muscle relaxation.
Trends in Financial Support for Water Pollution Control

The trend in Federal support of municipal waste-treatment construction is toward larger annual appropriations with higher levels of support for states providing matching funds. States should enact parallel grant-in-aid legislation to take full advantage of Federal aid in the future and maintain an influential position in water-pollution control. Rapid movement toward financial assistance for industrial waste treatment is not anticipated unless the current study by the Secretary of the Interior should add to the momentum. Effluent charges are considered unlikely if industry responds favorably to its responsibilities for water-pollution control.
Comparison of Recombination Dynamics in CH3NH3PbBr3 and CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Films: Influence of Exciton Binding Energy

Understanding carrier recombination in semiconductors is a critical component when developing practical applications. Here we measure and compare the monomolecular, bimolecular, and trimolecular (Auger) recombination rate constants of CH3NH3PbBr3 and CH3NH3PbI3. The monomolecular and bimolecular recombination rate constants for both samples are limited by trap-assisted recombination. The bimolecular recombination rate constant for CH3NH3PbBr3 is ∼3.3 times larger than that for CH3NH3PbI3 and both are in line with that found for radiative recombination in other direct-gap semiconductors. The Auger recombination rate constant is 4 times larger in lead-bromide-based perovskite compared with lead-iodide-based perovskite and does not follow the reduced Auger rate when the bandgap increases. The increased Auger recombination rate, which is enhanced by Coulomb interactions, can be ascribed to the larger exciton binding energy, ∼40 meV, in CH3NH3PbBr3 compared with ∼13 meV in CH3NH3PbI3.
Hepatitis G Virus RNA and Hepatitis G Virus-E2 Antibodies in Dutch Hemophilia Patients in Relation to Transfusion History

The prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV)-RNA and HGV-E2 antibodies was studied in a cohort of Dutch hemophilia patients in relation to clotting products used, age, and coinfection with hepatitis C. Between 1991 and 1995, blood samples were taken from 294 patients with hemophilia A, B, or von Willebrand disease. From each patient one fresh frozen sample was tested for HGV cDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and HCV cDNA PCR. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) tests were performed on plasma samples of all patients. The presence of HGV-E2 antibodies was tested on plasma samples from a subset of 169 patients representing all age groups. Based on the origin and viral safety of the products used, three subgroups of patients were distinguished. Group A: patients who used viral noninactivated factors derived from small and large donor pools; group B: patients who used factors prepared with inadequate viral inactivation techniques derived from small and large donor pools; and group C: patients treated only with optimally viral inactivated large pool clotting factor or recombinant clotting factor concentrate. The prevalence of HGV-RNA was 18%. In group A patients the prevalence was 71%, in group B 50%, and in group C 6%. When related to age, the highest prevalence of HGV-RNA (35%) was seen in patients born between 1980 and 1989. The prevalence of HGV-E2 antibodies increased with age. Of HGV-RNA-negative patients born before 1950, 96% tested positive. HGV viremia did not affect ALT levels, neither in HCV-RNA positive nor in HCV-RNA negative patients. HGV infection is frequently seen in patients with hemophilia. In older age groups a lower rate of HGV-RNA positivity is seen coinciding with a higher rate of antienvelope antibodies.
Aerodynamic-Dynamic Interaction and Longitudinal Stability of Hovering MAVs/Insects

The dynamic stability of flapping micro-air-vehicles is mainly dictated by the contribution of the body motion to the aerodynamic loads driving this motion. This contribution is, in general, relatively small when compared to that of wing flapping. As such, it is usually neglected in aerodynamic/aeroelastic analysis and optimization. However, it is essential in assessing the dynamic stability of the body motion. In this work, we derive a complete nonlinear aerodynamic-dynamic model for the longitudinal flight of micro-air vehicles that accounts for the effects of the body motion on the aerodynamic loads. The averaging theorem is then used to assess the dynamic stability of such nonlinear time periodic system. The stability of five insects is characterized. The effects of the vehicle design parameters, such as flapping frequency; amplitude; and hinge location, on the flight stability are discussed.
Akut-symptomatische epileptische Anfälle: Inzidenz, Prognose und Aspekte der antiepileptischen Behandlung

Akut-symptomatische Anfalle sind epileptische Anfalle, die in engem zeitlichen Zusammenhang mit einer akuten ZNS-Schadigung auftreten. Zahlen zur Inzidenz akut-symptomatischer Anfalle liegen fur die verschiedenen Arten von ZNS-Schadigungen wie zerebrale Ischamie, intrazerebrale Blutung usw. vor. Nach einer neueren Studie haben beispielsweise 6,3% der Patienten nach einem Schlaganfall akut-symptomatische Anfalle, fur zerebrale Venen- und Sinusthrombosen werden Zahlen von uber 30% genannt. Auch Risikofaktoren sind mittlerweile gut charakterisiert, z. B. hamorrhagische Infarkte oder kortikale Beteiligung. Allerdings ist die Frage, ob eine medikamentose antiepileptische Behandlung nach akut symptomatischen Anfallen sinnvoll ist und wenn ja, mit welchem Medikament oder mit welchen Medikamenten und fur welche Zeit, noch nicht geklart. Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt einen Uberblick uber die vorhandenen Daten.
Demystifying self-regulated learning

E-mail: dettori@itd.cnr.it This paper argues that self-regulation is an essential competence that all learners should develop, not only to successfully deal with the challenges and exploit the benefits of the current cultural and technological context, but also to go successfully though formal education and develop their own learning and intellectual potential. The paper also claims that its implementation is not so difficult and demanding as the complexity of its theoretical framework might induce one to think.
Abstract 4160: miR-34a as a radio sensitizer of triple negative breast cancer.

Introduction: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is known to be relatively resistant to radiation therapy resulting in a comparatively higher rates of locoregional recurrence compared with non-TNBC patients. The mechanisms behind this relative radio resistance remain unknown. The goal of this study is to investigate the role of three miRNAs namely, miR-34a, miR-21, and miR-210, which are implicated in DNA damage-repair process, in the response of TNBC cell lines to radiation therapy. Methods: Seven TNBC breast cancer cell lines were used for the study. The levels of miR-34a, miR-21 and miR-210 were evaluated by taqman- based quantitative PCR assay. These cells were exposed to 2 Gy radiation dose and colonogenic survival was assessed after about 2 weeks. Survival fraction after 2 Gy (SF2), which is the ratio of number of cell colonies formed after 2 Gy radiation vs. the number of cell colonies with out radiation, was determined. The SF2 factor is a reliable index to measure radio sensitivity, greater the SF2 factor more radio resistant the cells are. Results: The SF2 value of the TNBC cells varied from 0.31 to 0.74 with MDA-MB-468, HCC-70 being the most radio sensitive cell lines and MDA-MB-436, BT-20 being the most radio resistant cell lines. MDA-MB- 231, BT-549 and Hs 578T were found to be moderately radio resistant breast cancer lines. The oncomiR -21 expression levels in these 7 TNBC cell lines varied from 0.85 to 4.18 fold with a very poor correlation with SF2 (r2=0.08). The oncomiR 210 levels varied from 0.49 to 9.19 fold and also did not exhibit any correlation with radio resistance in TNBC cells (r2= 0.141). Whereas the tumor suppressor miR, miR-34a expression showed an inverse correlation with radio resistance (r2=0.8) in TNBC cells. The radio resistant cell line (e.g., MDA-MB-436, SF2 = 0.74) expressed significantly low levels of miR-34a (0.016 fold) relative to miR -34a levels (set as 1) in HCC 70, which was found to be a radiosensitive cell line with SF2 of 0.309. Conclusions: Our preliminary data indicates that miR 34a may play a role in the response of TNBC cells to radiotherapy. Citation Format: Anjana Bhardwaj, Nivetha Ganesan, David Molkentine, Uma Raju, Isabelle Bedrosian. miR-34a as a radio sensitizer of triple negative breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4160. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4160
Septooptic Dysplasia with an Associated Arachnoid Cyst.

A 4-week-old male infant presented with hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and hyperbilirubinemia. His medical history was remarkable for hydrocephalus secondary to an arachnoid cyst, intermittent hypoglycemia, hypothermia, and poor feeding requiring nasogastric tube for nutrition. Physical exam revealed retrognathia, mild hypotonia, micropenis, and clinodactyly. Ophthalmologic exam demonstrated bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). Laboratory data confirmed inadequate cortisol and growth hormone response to hypoglycemia, a low thyroxine level, and direct hyperbilirubinemia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain confirmed the known history of arachnoid cyst with hydrocephalus but also revealed anterior pituitary hypoplasia, absence of the posterior pituitary bright spot, a thin pituitary stalk, and bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia. A diagnosis of septooptic dysplasia (SOD) was made. Hormone replacement with hydrocortisone and levothyroxine was started with improvement in the infant’s glycemic control, thermoregulation, feeding, and cholestasis. This case reinforces the importance of careful physical examination and laboratory review in a patient with known history of arachnoid cyst which has been previously described as an associated feature of optic nerve hypoplasia and hypopituitarism.
Impaired Right Ventricular–Pulmonary Arterial Coupling and Effect of Sildenafil in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction An Ancillary Analysis From the Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibition to Improve Clinical Status And Exercise Capacity in Diastolic Heart Failure (RELAX) Trial

Background— Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction (RVD) is a poor prognostic factor in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The physiological perturbations associated with RVD or RV function indexed to load (RV–pulmonary arterial [PA] coupling) in HFpEF have not been defined. HFpEF patients with marked impairment in RV–PA coupling may be uniquely sensitive to sildenafil. Methods and Results— In a subset of HFpEF patients enrolled in the Phosphodiesteas-5 Inhibition to Improve Clinical Status And Exercise Capacity in Diastolic Heart Failure (RELAX) trial, physiological variables and therapeutic effect of sildenafil were examined relative to the severity of RVD (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion [TAPSE]) and according to impairment in RV–PA coupling (TAPSE/pulmonary artery systolic pressure) ratio. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation and diuretic use, n-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide levels, renal dysfunction, neurohumoral activation, myocardial necrosis and fibrosis biomarkers, and the severity of diastolic dysfunction all increased with severity of RVD. Peak oxygen consumption decreased and ventilatory inefficiency (VE/VCO2 slope) increased with increasing severity of RVD. Many but not all physiological derangements were more closely associated with the TAPSE/pulmonary artery systolic pressure ratio. Compared with placebo, at 24 weeks, TAPSE decreased, and peak oxygen consumption and VE/CO2 slope were unchanged with sildenafil. There was no interaction between RV–PA coupling and treatment effect, and sildenafil did not improve TAPSE, peak oxygen consumption, or VE/VCO2 in patients with pulmonary hypertension and RVD. Conclusions— HFpEF patients with RVD and impaired RV–PA coupling have more advanced heart failure. In RELAX patients with RVD and impaired RV–PA coupling, sildenafil did not improve RV function, exercise capacity, or ventilatory efficiency. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: . Unique identifier: [NCT00763867][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00763867&atom=%2Fcirchf%2F9%2F4%2Fe002729.atom
TLR Activation By MSC Derived Extracellular Vesicles Drives Myeloid Commitment

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) are responsive to paracrine signaling in the bone marrow microenvironment. We recently showed that leukemia derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) directly regulate HSPC in the leukemic niche and confer a net loss of progenitor function in part through direct action of a highly abundant miRNA on the hematopoietic transcription factor c-Myb. These observations motivated us to explore the potential regulation of HSPC by EVs present during steady state hematopoiesis in the unperturbed bone marrow. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) comprise a diverse set of cells secreting supportive factors central to the maintenance of HSPC. We systematically characterized EVs released by murine MSCs as a candidate population and demonstrated that EVs themselves carry cytokines, predominantly interleukin (IL) -1, -2, -4,-6 and -17A, as well as G-CSF and Interferon g. As a functional corollary, we found that MSC EVs led to preferential granulocyte and monocyte differentiation in co-culture with C-kit enriched HSPCs, when compared to vesicle free condition (termed S100 ). These observations were further supported by the expansion of KSL (c-kit + ,Sca-1 + ,lin - ) and MPP2-4 (CD48 + , CD150 +/- ) progenitor populations. To determine the in vivo relevance of these findings we performed a series of competitive transplantation experiments, that demonstrated that MSC-EV exposed HSPCs outperformed HSPCs cultured with EV depleted media, with striking advantage in early, but a significant deficit in later (week 16) myeloid recovery, compared to the S100 condition. These observations were broadly consistent with recent evidence for HSPC regulation by toll like receptors (TLRs) and we confirmed that the observed deficit in progenitor phenotypes was partially reversed in MSC-EV co-cultures with HSPCs from animals with genetic disruption of TLR4 or MyD88. EV-TLR engagement further induced a NF-kB response with downstream transcriptional activation of canonical transcriptional targets (STAT1, IRF1, -9) and significantly upregulated the release of IL-3, -6, IFNg, and G-CSF in exposed WT HSPC, compared with S100. Finally, we performed deconvolution microscopy studies of co-cultured HSPC and demonstrated the Pearson9s spatial correlation between fluorescently tagged MSC-EV and TLR4 as well as the early and late endosomal marker proteins, Rab5 and Rab7, respectively. We conclude that MSC-derived EV trafficking of TLR contributes to the homeostatic regulation of HSPCs in the bone marrow microenvironment as a mechanism of tonic regulation of hematopoiesis. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Greedy algorithms for the single-demand facility location problem

Abstract In this note, we give greedy approximation algorithms for the single-demand facility location problem inspired by the greedy algorithms for the min-knapsack problem originally given by Gens and Levner (1979) and later analyzed by Csirik et al. (1991). The simplest algorithm is a 2-approximation algorithm running in O ( n log n ) time; in general, we give a k + 1 k -approximation algorithm running in O ( n k log n ) time.
A View from the Gallery

After prattling along for many pages, it seems appropriate to hear what experts in the field of electronic books have to say about the future of electronic books and ePublishing. The experts were selected based on their involvement and experience in the industry. Key among the selection were these factors: people who had opinions to express that represented not the talking head opinions you hear or see on television or read in magazines but people who have perspective as well as vision and perhaps equally important, a sense of humor.
Single-molecule sensing in a hybrid photonic-plasmonic nanocavity (Conference Presentation)

Fluorescence imaging provides a powerful approach to study fundamental life processes and has become an integral part of the toolbox for biologists. In order to study molecular interactions, single molecule imaging approaches require labeling the molecules with fluorescent reporters. The influence of these fluorescent labels to the molecular interactions have been unknown. In this talk, I will present a hybrid photonic-plasmonic nano-device as a new tool to study molecular interactions at the single molecule level. By coupling a single plasmonic nanoantenna with photonic crystal nanocavity, we can achieve both high quality factor and ultra-small mode volume, thus pushing the detection limit to the single molecule level while keeping the local heating effect at a negligible level.
Modeling the psychological antecedents to tourists’ pro-sustainable behaviors: an application of the value-belief-norm model

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the psychological mechanisms underpinning tourists’ voluntary adoption of behaviors that minimize harm to environments and communities that support tourism is critical for the sustainability of the industry. In this study, we examined the internal attributes that lead tourists to adopt three dimensions of pro-sustainable behavior drawing on the value-belief-norm model. We hypothesized that pro-sustainable behavior is reflected in three dimensions of intent related to behaviors that reduce environmental impacts, the consumption of local goods and services, and a willingness to sacrifice time and money to choose sustainable options. Additionally, hypothesized behavior to be a function of altruistic values, beliefs and Personal Norms. Data were drawn from a panel of active US tourists (N = 623). The hypothesized model predicting pro-sustainable behavior was tested using structural equation modeling techniques. Results demonstrate that the model adequately fit the data, and that Personal...
Cannabinoids and Gastrointestinal Motility: Pharmacology, Clinical Effects and Potential Therapeutics in Humans

The objective of this article is to increase the awareness of gastroenterologists to the effects of cannabinoids on gastrointestinal motility, as gastroenterologists are likely to encounter patients who are taking cannabinoids, or those with dysmotility that may be associated with cannabinoid mechanisms. The non-selective cannabinoid agonist, dronabinol, retards gastric emptying and inhibits colonic tone and phasic pressure activity. In addition to the well-recognized manifestations of cannabinoid hyperemesis, cannabinoid mechanisms result in human and animal models of gastrointestinal and colonic dysmotility. Decreased enteric FAAH activity is associated with colonic inertia in slow transit constipation and, conversely, the orphan G-protein coupled receptor, GPR55, is overexpressed in streptozotocin-induced gastroparesis, suggesting it is involved in inhibition of antral motility. Experimental therapies in gastrointestinal motility and functional disorders are focused predominantly on pain relief mediated through cannabinoid 2 receptors or inhibition of DAGLα to normalize colonic transit. In summary, cannabinoid mechanisms and pharmacology are relevant to the current and future practice of clinical gastroenterology.