cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Method of isolation, rate of postmortem metabolism, and myosin heavy chain isoform composition influence ATPase activity of isolated porcine myofibrils

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of myofibril isolation procedures and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform composition on myofibrillar ATPase activity as related to postmortem muscle metabolism. Myofibrils from the red (RST) and white (WST) portions of semitendinosus muscles were isolated using two different methods (A and B) at 3 min and 24 h postmortem in control (NS) and electrically stimulated (ES) pork carcasses. Comparison of the relative MyHC isoform profiles between the two different myofibril isolation methods and myosin extracts from the RST and WST at 3 min showed that method B myofibrils were more similar to the myosin extract than method A. Myofibrillar ATPase activity remained constant or increased (P<0.01) from 3 min to 24 h postmortem in NS carcasses and decreased (P<0.0001) in ES carcasses. From the RST, method A myofibrils had higher (P<0.0001) ATPase activity compared to method B across sampling time and carcass treatment. In the WST, method A myofibrils had lower (P<0.01) activity at 3 min, were not different at 24 h in NS carcasses, but had higher (P<0.05) activity at 24 h in ES carcasses versus method B myofibrils. Compared to method B, isolation method A biased the isoform profile of myofibril samples more towards faster MyHC (2A and 2X) in the RST and towards MyHC 2X in the WST. Results suggest that the ATPase activity and MyHC isoform profile of isolated myofibril samples are influenced by method of myofibril isolation, postmortem sampling time, and the rate of postmortem metabolism. Thus, differences in MyHC isoform profile and method of myofibril isolation must be taken into account to determine accurately the relationship between myofibrillar ATPase activity and rate of postmortem metabolism.
Equity, Motivation and Effects of Past Reward on Allocation Decisions

The effects of information about workers' responses to previous payment on subsequent allocation decisions were examined. College students played the role of supervisors who had to set fair pay rates for salesmen, or rates that would motivate high performance. Subjects redressed inequity by giving high pay to improving performers who were previously low paid, and low pay to declining performers who were previously high paid. Subjects instructed to motivate avoided previously ineffective allocations.
Effects of 4-ipomeanol on bovine parainfluenza type 3 virus-induced pneumonia in calves

Previous research has demonstrated that 4-ipomeanol toxicosis can enhance the severity of para-influenza virus-induced pneumonia in mice. The objectives of this study were to determine whether calves are susceptible to 4-ipomeanol-induced enhancement of parainfluenza type 3 viral pneumonia and to determine whether 4-ipomeanol alters pulmonary replication of parainfluenza virus. Male Holstein calves were injected with either 4-ipomeanol (3 mg/kg) or vehicle (polyethylene glycol) 3 days prior to intratracheal inoculation with either parainfluenza virus or sham inoculum of culture medium. Calves in the four treatment groups (ipomeanol-parainfluenza, ipomeanol-medium, vehicle-parainfluenza, and vehicle-medium) were necropsied at 5 days after inoculation with parainfluenza virus or medium. The lungs were studied by correlated methods of light and electron microscopy, digitizing morphometry and pulmonary lavage to quantitate the severity of pneumonia. Pulmonary viral titers were determined, and viral antigen was identified in the lung by immunoperoxidase technique. The calves in the ipomeanol-virus treatment group had over a 9-fold higher (P less than 0.05) volume density of virus-induced interstitial pneumonia than did the calves in the other three treatment groups. This 4-ipomeanol-enhanced viral pneumonia was associated with significantly greater (P less than 0.05) numbers of pulmonary macrophages and neutrophils in the lavage fluid and higher (P less than 0.05) pulmonary titers of pulmonary infectious parainfluenza virus. Four-ipomeanol-enhanced viral pneumonia was characterized in part by extensive hyperplasia of type II alveolar epithelial cells and by dense aggregates of macrophages and neutrophils in alveolar spaces and interalveolar septa. The results indicate that 4-ipomeanol exacerbates interstitial pneumonia in calves induced by bovine parainfluenza type 3 virus.
Synchronous flow management (SFM) principles in the manufacturing of discrete power devices

Harris Semiconductor's Mountaintop, PA facility is incorporating Synchronous Flow Management (SFM) principles in its manufacturing of Discrete Power Devices. Synchronous Flow Management (SFM) is a science of management that addresses the total flow of an organization. When employed, its economic impact is fast, direct, and often enormous. By managing the constraints that control all organizations, the achievement of the "goal" is possible. The goal in all organizations is to make money now and in the future. This paper discusses structural, managerial and behavioral constraints within the Mountaintop facility that had to be identified and controlled to implement a synchronous flow management system. Improvements in operating costs, reduced lead times, improved delivery performance and quality are highlighted.
Error analysis for bi-polar near-field measurement technique

The authors discuss probe position error analysis for bi-polar near-field measurement by computer simulations. Computer simulations are performed using a 21*21 planar array antenna (0.5 lambda spacing). Results on random error and systematic error are presented. >
Corticosteroid-binding globulin in the rat: isolation and studies of its influence on cortisol action in vivo.

Corticosteroid—binding globulin (CBG) was isolated from pooled rat plasma by affinity chromatography. The purified protein migrated as a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Scatchard analysis revealed an equilibrium constant for cortisol of 3.1 X 106 L/M at 37 C and 1.1 binding sites/mole of protein. The induction of hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase activity and the fall in lymphocyte concentration in peripheral blood was measured after the intravenous injection of unbound cortisol or cortisol bound to CBG. The studies reported demonstrate that the presence of CBG affected neither the time course nor the amplitude of the response of these two cortisol—responsive variables. (Endocrinology91: 626, 1972)
Assessing the relationships between stand development and understory vegetation using a 420-year chronosequence

Abstract The large-scale conversion of old forests to tree plantations has made it increasingly important to understand how understory vegetation responds to such landscape changes. For instance, in some forest types a reduction in understory richness and cover is thought to result from the development of canopy closure in plantations, although there is a paucity of empirical data demonstrating this relationship. We used a 420-year forest chronosequence as a case study to assess the relationship between stand age, tree canopy cover and understory vascular plant richness and composition in the Siskiyou Mountains of Oregon. The chronosequence consisted of six young managed (age 7–44) and nine older unmanaged (age 90–427) stands. All stands were similar in underlying geology, slope, elevation, and aspect. We found a non-linear relationship between stand age and richness, in which richness was highest in the youngest stands, reached a low in mid-aged stands (∼55 years), then increased in the oldest stands. We also found that percent tree canopy cover was correlated with total understory cover, richness, diversity, and species composition. In general, young stands were characterized by high shrub and graminoid cover and old stands were characterized by an abundant herb layer. Our work suggests that a major component of our study landscape is currently entering the forest stage (canopy closure) characterized by low levels of vascular plant species richness and cover. We use our results to discuss the potential effects of future forest management on understory plants.
The structure of the chromophore within DsRed, a red fluorescent protein from coral

DsRed, a brilliantly red fluorescent protein, was recently cloned from Discosoma coral by homology to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea. A core question in the biochemistry of DsRed is the mechanism by which the GFP-like 475-nm excitation and 500-nm emission maxima of immature DsRed are red-shifted to the 558-nm excitation and 583-nm emission maxima of mature DsRed. After digestion of mature DsRed with lysyl endopeptidase, high-resolution mass spectra of the purified chromophore-bearing peptide reveal that some of the molecules have lost 2 Da relative to the peptide analogously prepared from a mutant, K83R, that stays green. Tandem mass spectrometry indicates that the bond between the alpha-carbon and nitrogen of Gln-66 has been dehydrogenated in DsRed, extending the GFP chromophore by forming C==N==C==O at the 2-position of the imidazolidinone. This acylimine substituent quantitatively accounts for the red shift according to quantum mechanical calculations. Reversible hydration of the C==N bond in the acylimine would explain why denaturation shifts mature DsRed back to a GFP-like absorbance. The C==N bond hydrolyses upon boiling, explaining why DsRed shows two fragment bands on SDS/PAGE. This assay suggests that conversion from green to red chromophores remains incomplete even after prolonged aging.
PPARγ downregulation by TGFß in fibroblast and impaired expression and function in systemic sclerosis: a novel mechanism for progressive fibrogenesis.

The nuclear orphan receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) is expressed in multiple cell types in addition to adipocytes. Upon its activation by natural ligands such as fatty acids and eicosanoids, or by synthetic agonists such as rosiglitazone, PPAR-γ regulates adipogenesis, glucose uptake and inflammatory responses. Recent studies establish a novel role for PPAR-γ signaling as an endogenous mechanism for regulating transforming growth factor-s (TGF-s)-dependent fibrogenesis. Here, we sought to characterize PPAR-γ function in the prototypic fibrosing disorder systemic sclerosis (SSc), and delineate the factors governing PPAR-γ expression. We report that PPAR-γ levels were markedly diminished in skin and lung biopsies from patients with SSc, and in fibroblasts explanted from the lesional skin. In normal fibroblasts, treatment with TGF-s resulted in a time- and dose-dependent down-regulation of PPAR-γ expression. Inhibition occurred at the transcriptional level and was mediated via canonical Smad signal transduction. Genome-wide expression profiling of SSc skin biopsies revealed a marked attenuation of PPAR-γ levels and transcriptional activity in a subset of patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc, which was correlated with the presence of a "TGF-s responsive gene signature" in these biopsies. Together, these results demonstrate that the expression and function of PPAR-γ are impaired in SSc, and reveal the existence of a reciprocal inhibitory cross-talk between TGF-s activation and PPAR-γ signaling in the context of fibrogenesis. In light of the potent anti-fibrotic effects attributed to PPAR-γ, these observations lead us to propose that excessive TGF-s activity in SSc accounts for impaired PPAR-γ function, which in turn contributes to unchecked fibroblast activation and progressive fibrosis.
A PCR screen identifies a novel, unconventional myosin heavy chain gene (MYO1) in Tetrahymena thermophila

Degenerate primers for two regions of sequence homology in the myosin head domain were used in a polymerase chain reaction screen of Tetrahymena thermophila genomic DNA to amplify a 765 bp fragment that was cloned and sequenced. Based on the presence of conserved, myosin-specific sequences, the 765 bp PCR product was identified as a fragment of a myosin gene, the first to be discovered in ciliated protozoa and herein referred to as MYO1. An inverse polymerase chain reaction strategy was used to obtain additional sequence data that included the entire head domain of MYO1. Alignment of the predicted amino acid sequence of the MYO1 head domain with known myosin sequences identified the ATP-binding site, a phosphorylation site, and other myosin-specific consensus regions. In a northern blot analysis, a 765 bp MYO1-specific probe detected a 6.6 kb transcript under highly stringent hybridization conditions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the predicted protein encoded by MYO1 is not a member of any of the previously defined myosin classes and therefore represents a presumptive new myosin class.
Direct silicon-silicon bonding by electromagnetic induction heating

A novel heating technique, electromagnetic induction heating (EMIH), uses electromagnetic radiation, ranging in frequency from a few megahertz to tens of gigahertz, to volumetrically heat silicon above 1000/spl deg/C in only a few seconds. Typical power requirements fall between 900 to 1300 W for silicon wafers 75 to 100 mm in diameter. This technique has successfully produced direct silicon wafer-to-wafer bonds without the use of an intermediate glue layer. Infrared images indicate void free bonds that could not be delaminated with knife-edge tests. In addition, four pairs of stacked wafers were bonded simultaneously in 5 min, demonstrating the potential for multiwafer bonds and high-throughput batch processing.
Reprogramming immune response with capsid-optimized AAV6 vectors for immunotherapy of cancer

In the current studies we generated novel capsid-optimized adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 6 (AAV6) vectors expressing a tumor-associated antigen, and assessed their ability to activate a protective T-cell response in an animal model. First, we showed that specific mutations in the AAV6 capsid increase the transduction efficiency of these vectors in mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells in vitro for approximately 5-fold compared with the wild-type (WT) AAV6 vectors. Next, we evaluated the ability of the mutant AAV6 vectors to initiate specific T-cell clone proliferation in vivo. Our data indicate that the intramuscular administration of AAV6-S663V+T492V vectors expressing ovalbumin (OVA) led to a strong activation (approximately 9%) of specific T cells in peripheral blood compared with AAV6-WT treated animals (<1%). These OVA-specific T cells have a superior killing ability against mouse prostate cancer cell line RM1 stably expressing the OVA antigen when propagated in vitro. Finally, we evaluated the ability of capsid-optimized AAV6-S663V+T492V vectors to initiate a protective anticancer immune response in vivo. Our results document the suppression of subcutaneous tumor growth in animals immunized with AAV6-S663V+T492V vectors expressing prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) for approximately 4 weeks in comparison with 1 week and 2 weeks for the negative controls, AAV6-EGFP, and AAV6-WT-PAP treated mice, respectively. These studies suggest that successful inhibition of tumor growth in an animal model would set the stage for potential clinical application of the capsid-optimized AAV6-S663V+T492V vectors.
Reversal of secondary pulmonary hypertension by axial and pulsatile mechanical circulatory support

Background Pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic congestive heart failure posses a significant risk of morbidity and death after heart transplantation. Isolated observations suggest that chronic ventricular unloading may lead to normalization of pulmonary pressures and thus render a patient likely to be a heart transplant candidate. Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of 9 heart failure patients with secondary pulmonary hypertension (transpulmonary gradient [TPG] > 15 mm/Hg). Two were treated with a pulsatile left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and 7 with an axial-flow LVAD. Results After LVAD support, mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 39 ± 7 to 31 ± 5 mm Hg, and the TPG decreased from 19 ± 3 to 13 ± 4 mm Hg ( p 15 mm Hg vs those with TPG p = 0.6). This finding was supported by analysis of a large multi-institutional cohort obtained from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database, where no differences in survival were found in the same groups. Conclusions Pulmonary hypertension that is secondary to congestive heart failure, as defined by a TPG > 15 mm Hg can be reversed by the use of pulsatile and axial-flow LVADs; furthermore, post-transplant survival for patients with secondary pulmonary hypertension treated with an LVAD was no different than for those without pulmonary hypertension who received LVAD support.
Una cartografía social del género en educación

Understanding how the concept of gender is dealt with in educational systems requires a holistic comprehension of its actors and spaces. Social mapping helps visualize the many grounds and points of convergence and divergence. This paper highlights both the independent natures of private and public spaces, and the interaction between them. The private sphere (the home) definitely reduces women's possibilities for full citizenship. Dominated by the state and international agencies, the public space promotes a partial remedy - parity in access to schooling - but ignores curricula that
Subtle alterations in breathing and heart rate control in the 5-HT1A receptor knockout mouse in early postnatal development

We hypothesized that absence of the 5-HT1A receptor would negatively affect the development of cardiorespiratory control. In conscious wild type (WT) and 5-HT1A receptor knockout (KO) mice, we meas...
Quantum Dots of InAs/GaSb Type II Superlattice for Infrared Sensing

Throughout the past years, significant progress has been made in Type II (InAs/GaSb) photovoltaic detectors in both LWIR and VLWIR ranges. BLIP performance at 60K for 16μm photovoltaic type II detectors has been successfully demonstrated for the first time. The detectors had a 50% cut-off wavelength of 18.8 μm and a peak current responsivity of 4 A/W at 80K. A peak detectivity of 4.5×1010cm·Hz1/2/W was achieved at 80K at a reverse bias of 110mV. Detectors of cutoff wavelength up to 25μm have been demonstrated at 77K. The great performance of single element detectors appeals us to lower dimensional structures for both higher temperature performance and possible wavelength tunability. Simple calculations show that quantum effects will become significant when the lateral confinement is within tens of nanometers. The variation of applied gate voltage will move the electron and hole energy levels unevenly. The cutoff wavelength of the superlattice will vary accordingly. Auger recombination will also decrease and higher temperature operation becomes possible. In this talk, the latest results will be discussed.
Organizing for Product Development

In this paper, we propose four parameters that determine appropriate organizational structure for a research, development or engineering organization. Examining the positions that an organization occupies on the four parameters will determine relative need for interaction with the market and with supporting technologies as well as the need for coordination among project team members. This, along with the time needed to bring the product to market, can then be translated into an organizational structure, giving proper emphases to each of the three needs.
Design and application of a polyclonal peptide antiserum for the universal detection of leptin protein

An epitope-specific polyclonal antiserum was produced in rabbits immunized against a synthetic 15 amino acid peptide (QRVTGLDFIPGLHPV) derived from the coding sequence reported for the porcine leptin gene (GenBank Accession No. U59894). This peptide contains a core sequence comprised of eight amino acids (GLDFIPGL) that is totally conserved in all leptin proteins studied to date. Purified recombinant human, mouse, rat, pig, and chicken leptin proteins were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and electro-blotted onto PVDF membranes. Western blots were developed employing the leptin-specific peptide antiserum with an alkaline-phosphatase-conjugated anti-rabbit IgG second antibody chromogenic system. The peptide antiserum was found to be highly specific for leptin which exhibited an estimated molecular weight of about 16 kDa for all species analyzed. The sensitivity of the Western blot assay was not sufficient to permit the direct detection of leptin in chicken serum or plasma. However, with this assay we were able to detect native leptin protein in an enriched fraction prepared from chicken plasma using a combination of gel filtration and ion exchange column chromatography. Slot blots indicated a potential application of the immunostaining technique for quantitative analysis of leptin protein. Finally, the peptide antiserum was successfully employed to localize leptin protein by immunohistochemical staining of thin sections prepared from adipose (chicken and pig) and liver (chicken) tissue samples. This study is the first to report a polyclonal peptide antiserum that apparently recognizes intact leptin protein, both native and recombinant, regardless of the species of origin.
Anafora: A Web-based General Purpose Annotation Tool

Anafora is a newly-developed open source web-based text annotation tool built to be lightweight, flexible, easy to use and capable of annotating with a variety of schemas, simple and complex. Anafora allows secure web-based annotation of any plaintext file with both spanned (e.g. named entity or markable) and relation annotations, as well as adjudication for both types of annotation. Anafora offers automatic set assignment and progress-tracking, centralized and human-editable XML annotation schemas, and file-based storage and organization of data in a human-readable single-file XML format.
Big Structures, Small Events, and Large Processes in Economic Geography

The social sciences have tended to look for logics of social processes or of social structures, both of which may be relatively invariant with respect to specific events or may be viewed as determining specific sequences of events. These models are, by virtue of their deep logic, timeless. Most of the recent attempts in social theory to avoid the functionalism and determinism of timeless models have introduced contingency into the structure—events relationship. In this paper I argue, by contrast, that one needs theoretical apparatuses to explain ‘paths taken’ and ‘paths foreclosed’ in concrete events in social life. Small events have a certain theoretical ‘agency’ in the construction of large social processes and the latter, in turn, are the stuff out of which social structures are ultimately made or broken. The case of technological change and industry location is used to illustrate this logic, and its implications for theories of urbanisation are suggested.
The Preparation of Anhydrous Thorium Tetrachloride

Thorium tetrachloride is an important intermediate in the production of thorium metal. The readiness with which the hydrated salt hydrolyzes at high temperatures with its own water of hydration mak...
Structural organization indexes of some cortical formations in the left and right hemispheres of the human brain

W. R. Gowers, Handbuch der Nervenkrankheiten, Bonn (1982), Vol. 1-3. Bratz, Allg. Z. Psychiat., 69, 213-230 (1912). P. D. Polipenko, in: Problems of Psychiatry [in Russian], Kiev (1936), pp. 36-46. O. E. Freierov, in: Problems of Forensic Psychiatry [in Russian], Moscow (1944), Vol. 4, pp. 176-196. I. K. Eyuzln, in: Neuroses [in Russian], Petrozavodsk (1956), pp. 91-99. M. P. Nikltin, Sov. Nevropatol. Psikhiatr. Psikhogig., !, No. II, 159-162 (1934). A. F. Gotslridze, Zh. Nevropatol. Psikhiatr. No. 3-4, 511-518 (1929). A. I. Boldyrev, in: Problems of Psychiatry, 4th edn. [in Russian], Moscow (1960), pp. 170-177. A. I. Boldyrev and E. A. Krivogornitsyna, Zh. Nevropatol. Psikhiatr., No. 12, 18641869 (1975). Pavlovsk Clinical Materials, Vol. 2 [in Russian], Moscow--Leningrad (1955), p. 1934. A. I. Boldyrev, in: Treatment of Epilepsy [in Russian], Leningrad (1974), pp. 16-22.
The Economics of Price Zones and Territorial Restrictions in Gasoline Marketing

We review explanations for two controversial vertical restraints commonly used in gasoline marketing: price zones and territorial restrictions. After a discussion of the relevant empirical and theoretical economics literature, we consider procompetitive and anticompetitive theories behind the practices. Price zones may be one part of a complicated relationship between gasoline marketers and retailers that facilitates efficient risk-sharing, provides optimal incentives for marketers and retailers, and allows marketers to react more quickly to changes in localized retail competition. Alternatively, if gasoline marketers have substantial market power, price zones may facilitate coordination or help deter entry. Territorial restrictions may prevent inefficiencies in distribution and reduce free-riding on investments marketers make in developing networks of retail stations. At the same time, territorial restrictions help marketers maintain price zones (with the same welfare implications), and may, if marketers have substantial market power, facilitate coordination.
Research on Fouling Property and Recovery Method of Oil Contaminated Resin in Condensate Polishing System

In order to understand the fouling characteristics and recovery effect of turbine oil contaminated resin in condensate polishing system,series tests were carried out.The main contents include soaking the cation and anion exchange resin under different temperature(20 ℃,30 ℃,40 ℃)in Turbine Oil 46 of different mass concentrations(30 mg/L,50 mg/L,100 mg/L,300 mg/L、500 mg/L,1 000 mg/L,2 000 mg/L,5 000 mg/L,10 000 mg/L),measuring the changes of working exchange capacity after oil contamination,then recovering and regenerating exchange resin under the same recovery condition,comparing the effects of mass concentration and temperature of oil on the recovery of resin.Meanwhile the comparison test for different recovery solutions was carried out.The test results showed that the fouling of resin increased and the recovery degree decreased with the mass concentration of oil increasing and the time of immersion prolonging;the fouling decreased with the pH value of solution increased;the recovery solution with 10%NaCl+2%NaOH + 0.2%OP-10+3% Na3PO4(the values in front of the chemical formulas are mass fractions)had rather better regeneration efficiency.
Multiple Biochemical Activities of NM23/NDP Kinase in Gene Regulation

NM23/NDPk proteins play critical roles in cancer and development; however, our understanding of the underlying biochemical mechanisms is still limited. This large family of highly conserved proteins are known to participate in many events related to DNA metabolism, including nucleotide binding and nucleoside triphosphate synthesis, DNA binding and transcription, and cleavage of DNA strands via covalent protein-DNA complexes. The chemistry of the DNA-cleavage reaction of NM23-H2/NDPk is characteristic of DNA repair enzymes. Both the DNA cleavage and the NDPk reactions are conserved between E. coli and the human enzymes, and several conserved amino acid side chains involved in catalysis are shared by these reactions. It is proposed here that NM23/NDP kinases are important regulators of gene expression during development and cancer via previously unrecognized roles in DNA repair and recombination, and via previously unrecognized pathways and mechanisms of genetic control.
Cross-disciplinary research as a platform for philosophical research

It is argued that core areas of philosophy can benefit from reflection on cross-disciplinary research (CDR). We start by giving a brief account of CDR, describing its variability and some of the ways in which philosophers can interact with it. We then provide an argument in principle for the conclusion that CDR is philosophically fecund, arguing that since CDR highlights fundamental differences among disciplinary research worldviews, it can be used to motivate new philosophical problems and supply new insights into old problems. We close by providing an argument by example that uses the epistemology of peer disagreement to establish the potential of CDR for core philosophical areas. With this argument, we aim to demonstrate how the complex research contexts that CDR affords can point the way toward important avenues of epistemological research by highlighting potential limitations of key epistemological components, such as peerage and uniqueness.
Runtime Performance Enhancement of a Superpixel Based Saliency Detection Model

Reducing computational cost of image processing for various real time computer and robotic vision tasks, e.g. object recognition and tracking, adaptive compression, content aware image resizing, etc. remains a challenge. Saliency detection is often utilized as a pre-processing step for rapid, parallel, bottom-up processing of low level image features to compute saliency map. Subsequent higher level, complex computer vision tasks can then conveniently focus on identified salient locations for further image processing. Thus, saliency detection has successfully mitigated computational complexity of image processing tasks although processing speed enhancement still remains a desired goal. Recent fast and improved superpixel models are furnishing fresh incentive to employ them in saliency detection models to reduce computational complexity and enhance runtime speed. In this paper, we propose use of the superpixel extraction via energy driven sampling (SEEDS) algorithm to achieve processing speed enhancement in an existing saliency detection model. Evaluation results show that our modified model achieves over 60 % processing speed enhancement while maintaining accuracy comparable to the original model.
Robotic-Assisted Gait Training Therapies for Pediatric Cerebral Palsy: A Review

Background : Children and adolescents with CP experience many types of disability and functional impairment that effect the gait cycle. New robotic gait therapies adapted to pediatric patients provide a safe, highly repetitive, and task-specific therapeutic venue for the rehabilitation and elicitation of a more natural walking gait. While the use of robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) is a relatively novel therapeutic approach to gait therapy, several studies have examined the efficacy of this therapeutic modality in pediatric patients with CP. Purpose : The purpose of this review is to examine the trends in the therapeutic efficacy of utilizing RAGT therapy as a gait restorative modality for children with CP. Results : The present studies show that RAGT therapy may provide multiple therapeutic benefits to children with CP, including statistically significant improvements in gross motor function and multiple gait characteristics. Also, RAGT therapy may be a safe and favorable complement to current physiotherapy regimens. Conclusion : As various degrees of functional improvement are a noticeable trend among all presented studies, further study in this therapeutic technique is warranted, and implementation of similar therapeutic protocol may be valuable to a rehabilitation care plan. The highly repetitive and task-specific nature of RAGT may provide a valuable paradigm for children with CP whom have never learned a normal gait pattern.
Material dependence of hydrogen diffusion: implications for NBTI degradation

Negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) is known to exhibit significant recovery upon removal of the gate voltage. The process dependence of this recovery behavior is studied by using the time slope (n) as the monitor. We observe a systematic variation of n with oxide thickness, nitrogen concentration, and fluorine implantation. Incorporation of the material dependence of the diffusivity within the reaction-diffusion (R-D) framework captures the observed trends. The consequences of this modification are (a) diffusion limitation is shown to arise from diffusion in poly-Si, rather than oxide, (b) a plausible explanation for low-voltage stress induced leakage current (LV-SILC) naturally appears. Important findings are (a) NBTI degradation remains significant at high frequencies, (b) numerical simulations at moderate frequencies can be used to predict circuit impact in the GHz regime, (c) high frequency operation can be modeled as a lower effective DC stress
Molecular dynamics simulations reveal how characteristics of surface and permeant affect permeation events at the surface of soft matter

Molecular dynamics simulations are particularly useful in providing details that permit understanding of phenomena occurring at surfaces, phenomena characterised by surface-sensitive experimental m...
Identifying and quantifying landowner perspectives on integrated flood risk management

Understanding landowner perspectives on flood mitigation is an essential step towards minimizing conflict and ensuring public support and compliance. To illuminate landowner perspectives on flood mitigation and the drivers of those perspectives, we surveyed landowners in the Deerfield River Watershed, Massachusetts (USA). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) shows landowners differentiate between the physical and the policy pathways through which flood mitigation strategies provide protection. Multiple regression analyses indicate landowner support or opposition for each of those pathways is related both to the risks a landowner faces and to their broad worldviews. Lastly, cluster analysis indicates variation in patterns landowner of support or opposition to the physical and policy pathways through which flood mitigation provides protection. Findings point to how issues beyond flood impacts, including understandings of riverine processes, assessments of responsibility, and interpretations of the relationship between government and private property drive landowner perspectives on flood mitigation policies.
A Few Observations on Holocaust Denial and Antisemitism

I begin with a cautionary remark. My observations should not be construed as a suggestion that Holocaust denial is a clear and present danger. Currently it is a small but persistent phenomenon. It is engaged in by disparate groups and individuals. Far more individuals worldwide engage in the study of the Holocaust than engage in its denial. But the latter does, however, have potentially potent implications for the future. This is particularly so because deniers have become exceptionally adept at the use of the Internet. Moreover, the Internet is particularly well suited for the dissemination of conspiracy theories, Holocaust denial among them.1 In these preliminary observations to this volume, I would like to explore the inexorable connection between Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism and argue that denial is nothing other than a form of anti-Semitism. In addition, it contrasts traditional Holocaust denial, which I call “hard-core” denial, with a newer variant, which I call “soft-core” denial. Therefore, I offer my observations not as a cry of alarm, but rather as a call for sustained and serious caution.
KLF4-dependent perivascular cell plasticity mediates pre-metastatic niche formation and metastasis

A deeper understanding of the metastatic process is required for the development of new therapies that improve patient survival. Metastatic tumor cell growth and survival in distant organs is facilitated by the formation of a pre-metastatic niche that is composed of hematopoietic cells, stromal cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). Perivascular cells, including vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) and pericytes, are involved in new vessel formation and in promoting stem cell maintenance and proliferation. Given the well-described plasticity of perivascular cells, we hypothesized that perivascular cells similarly regulate tumor cell fate at metastatic sites. We used perivascular-cell-specific and pericyte-specific lineage-tracing models to trace the fate of perivascular cells in the pre-metastatic and metastatic microenvironments. We show that perivascular cells lose the expression of traditional vSMC and pericyte markers in response to tumor-secreted factors and exhibit increased proliferation, migration and ECM synthesis. Increased expression of the pluripotency gene Klf4 in these phenotypically switched perivascular cells promoted a less differentiated state, characterized by enhanced ECM production, that established a pro-metastatic fibronectin-rich environment. Genetic inactivation of Klf4 in perivascular cells decreased formation of a pre-metastatic niche and metastasis. Our data revealed a previously unidentified role for perivascular cells in pre-metastatic niche formation and uncovered novel strategies for limiting metastasis.
Medical students’ reflections of a posthospital discharge patient visit

Transitions of care is an important part of patient safety that is not often taught in medical schools. As part of a curriculum for patient safety and transitions of care, third-year medical students followed patients they cared for during their inpatient rotations on a posthospital discharge visit. Students answered reflection questions on these visits, which were reviewed at a group debriefing session. The written reflections and oral debriefings were analyzed qualitatively to identify what medical students were able to learn from a posthospital discharge visit. Of the students who visited patients, 265 participated in the debriefing sessions, and their responses were grouped into 7 domains and 33 themes. Students commented most often on the importance of family and caregivers who provided support for the patient after hospitalization. They identified problems specific to the discharge process and factors that helped or hindered transitions, noted new experiences visiting postacute care facilities, and also developed solutions to improve transitions. Postdischarge visits combined with brief reflection writing and debriefing allowed students to better understand difficulties that can be faced in care transitions.
Benchmarking of the R-7 Anisotropic Dispersion Energy Term on the S22 Dimer Test Set.

The effects of including the anisotropic E7 term to the dispersion energy in addition to the leading E6 term are examined by using the effective fragment potential (EFP) method on the S22 test set. In this study, the full anisotropic E7 term is computed whereas the isotropic and spherical approximations are used for the E6 term. It is found that the E7 term is positive for hydrogen-bonded complexes and has a magnitude that can be as large as 50% of E6, giving rise to larger intermolecular distances than those obtained with E6 alone. The large positive value of E7 is analyzed for the hydrogen-bonded uracil dimer; it is found to originate from the large magnitude of the dynamic polarizability tensors as well as the proximity of the LMOs involved in hydrogen bonding. Conversely, E7 tends to be negative for dispersion-dominant complexes, and it has a very small magnitude for such complexes. The optimized geometries for these systems are therefore not greatly affected by the presence of the E7 term. For the mi...
Reprocessing of spent oxide fuel from nuclear power reactors

This chapter introduces open and closed fuel cycles. There are discussions about reprocessing targets and constraints. The separation and purification of uranium and plutonium are described. A complete closed cycle for both uranium and plutonium is set out. Finally, the industrial-scale spent fuel reprocessing strategies for selected countries are given.
Characters and Sets of Primes for Solvable Groups

Given a set π of prime numbers, the π-partial characters of a finite group G are defined as the restrictions of the ordinary characters of G to the π-elements of G. In the case where G is solvable, or even just π-separable, these π-partial characters are under good control and they can be used to prove new results about the ordinary characters of such groups. In these lectures, several of the key results that form the foundation of the theory are presented without proof. These are then used to develop the theory and derive a number of applications.
In Situ Hybridization of Blastomeres from Embryo Biopsy

Recent advances in molecular genetics have improved the sensitivity of methods utilized for genetic diagnosis. Two techniques in particular, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization permit the analysis of the genetic material of a single cell. The sensitivity of PCR is achieved via enzymatic amplification of target DNA sequences by a factor of 105 fold or more.1 In contrast in situ hybridization allows the direct visualization of single genes in metaphase chromosomes or interphase nuclei.2 The micromanipulation of preembryos could allow specific preimplantation diagnosis to be made. Currently, genetic diagnoses are limited to the post implantation period and are performed by chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Embryo biopsy has been performed in animals and humans with resultant liveborn offspring3. Since a broad range of diseases can be diagnosed by PCR or in situ hybridization the technique of in vitro fertilization coupled with preembryo biopsy could provide a mechanism for preimplantation diagnosis.
Surgical Indications and Repairability of Rotator Cuff Tears

Among those conditions causing shoulder pain, rotator cuff disease is the most common pathology; the prevalence of full-thickness rotator cuff tears in the elderly population ranges from 5% to 40%. Because rotator cuff surgical treatment is such an important and common procedure, it surprising that the surgical indications remain nonstandardized and controversial.1,2 Surgical indications, at a fundamental level, involve a comparison of the relative risks and benefits of two different treatment alternatives. In the case of rotator cuff repair, we are dealing primarily with the risks of operative cuff repair versus nonoperative measures. The risks and benefits of both nonoperative and operative treatment have to be considered in order to fully consider treatment indications. Although the benefits of successful operative and nonoperative treatment are well known, the risks of conservative treatment are less apparent but also important to consider.
A simple approximation to the percentiles of the t distribution

A new approximation to the percentiles of the t distribution is presented that is simple and is accurate enough for most practical purposes.
Finding Conserved Patterns in Multilayer Networks

Motivation: Traditional methods often represent complex systems as a single, static, and binary network. These models are inadequate in capturing complex cellular interactions which vary under different conditions as well as over time. Furthermore the same set of molecules can interact in varying patterns across different interactomes. In this paper, we model cellular interactions as a set of network topologies, called multilayer networks. We consider motif counting, one of the most fundamental problems in network analysis. Existing motif counting and identification methods are limited to single network topologies, and thus they cannot be directly applied on multilayer networks. Results: In this paper, we extend the classical network motif identification problem to multilayer networks. We develop an efficient and accurate method to solve this problem. Our results on Escherichia coli (E.coli) transcription regulatory network under different experimental conditions show that our method scales to real networks and more importantly can uncover conserved functional characteristics of genes participating in the network under various conditions with very low false discovery rates.
Semiclassical bound states in a model with chiral symmetry

We discuss semiclassical bound states in a manifestly chiral-symmetric model, the Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model in 2 space-time dimensions. The mass spectrum of the bound states in the theory is found using the semiclassical method of Dashen, Hasslacher, and Neveu. We also discuss the connection between the classical confined solution of the nonlinear Dirac equation and the quantized version of the theory. (AIP)
„Bund“ in der Vulgata aus rechtshistorischer Sicht

An vielen Stellen spricht die Bibel von einem Bund zwischen Gott und den Menschen. Die Vulgata verwendet fur ihre lateinische Ubersetzung der hebraischen und der griechischen Texte Worte wie pactum, foedus, testamentum. Diese Worte sind dem zeitgenossischen Vokabular des romischen Rechts entnommen. Sie drucken Verbindlichkeit und Verlasslichkeit der gottlichen Heilszusage aus.
Remaining Useful Life Estimation of Stator Insulation Using Particle Filter

Accurate prognosis of stator insulation avoids unexpected failures without prematurely removing the machine from operation. In this work, a particle filter is demonstrated to accurately estimate the remaining useful lifetime of stator insulation that is experimentally degraded. The particle filter is shown to provide a prognosis that is robust to different initial conditions and adaptable to a changing rate of degradation in the experimental data. Accuracy and computational effort is compared between the particle filter and an extended Kalman filter algorithm.
Fetal Bovine Collagen Grafts for Repair of Tegmen Defects and Encephaloceles Via Middle Cranial Fossa Approach

To evaluate the use of commercially available allogenic dural graft materials made of fetal bovine collagen, we present an analysis of our case series with use of autologous and allogenic graft mat...
Estimating the Number of Substance Use Disorder Recovery Homes in the United States.

Recovery homes serve as an important resource for individuals in dealing with substance use disorders (SUD). Access to these community-based supports is critical for many individuals exiting inpati...
Human Milk Bacteria: Seeding the Infant Gut?

Human milk harbors its own microbiota, but whether the microbes seed the infant gut and are modified by breastfeeding practices is unresolved. In this issue, Fehr et al. (2020) sequence breastmilk and infant stool samples from mother-infant dyads to investigate the co-occurrence of milk-gut bacteria and the impact of breastfeeding practices.
Theory of field emission from dielectric coated surfaces

This paper presents quantum theory for field emission from dielectric-coated cathode surfaces, and find that a dielectric coating may increase the field emission current.
Multilingual Approaches for Teaching and Learning: From Acknowledging to Capitalizing on Multilingualism in European Mainstream Education: by Kirsch, C., and Duarte, J., New York. Routledge, 2020, $160.00, 978-0-367-18135-2

The present volume Multilingual approaches for teaching and learning: From acknowledging to capitalising on multilingualism in European mainstream education is a compilation of state-of-art researc...
Assignats or Death: Inflationary Finance in Revolutionary France

Between 1794 and 1796, France experienced an unprecedented hyperinflation fueled by an explosion of paper money called the assignat. In September 1795, the French adopted the Constitution of Year III, which we use to demonstrate how changes in the "rules of the game" and in the "political equilibrium" can have important effects on the monetary phenomena that are critical to the study of inflationary finance. We find that the new regime had a structural effect on the demand for money that substantially weakened the link between real money balances and inflation, and that failing to account for this effect results in substantially different estimates of the seigniorage-maximizing rates of inflation. If we ignore this effect, we find that the seigniorage-maximizing rate of inflation was 35% per 10 days, but once we incorporate the effect of the new regime, this rate falls to 19%. Lastly, we also find that the new regime increased the volatility of inflation, suggesting that the previous regime was more effective at anchoring the public's inflation expectations. Taken together, these results lend credence to the constitutional perspective's primary theoretical insight.