cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spectrum analyzers today and tomorrow: part 1 towards filterbanks-enabled real-time spectrum analysis

This is Part 1 of a two-part article on spectrum analyzer technology and the future capabilities enabled by introducing filterbanks. A spectrum analyzer (SA) is the primary tool for studying the spectral composition of many electrical, acoustic or optical waveforms. It displays a power spectrum over a given frequency range, changing the display as the properties of the signal change. Today, it is an essential element of the engineer's toolbox. In this part, we will start by reviewing SA architectures in an historical perspective. The architectures and working principles of swept based and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)-based SAs are discussed. Then, we zoom in on the so-called Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers (RTSA) and discuss the more significant performance criteria as a function of the measurement problem at hand. In the last section, we discuss several applications made possible by RTSA. The extension of RTSA with filterbanks is the main topic of Part 2 of this article which will appear in the December 2013 issue of the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Magazine.
Characteristics and Sources of Carbonaceous, Ionic, and Isotopic Species of Wintertime Atmospheric Aerosols in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

To investigate the air pollution from aerosols in Kathmandu during winter, bulk aerosol samples were collected during winter 2007-2008 to characterize carbonaceous and ionic species and carbon and nitrogen isotopes. This study illustrates the applications of carbon and nitrogen isotope data for characterizing aerosols and their implications for identifying sources that were inconsistent with the results for the carbonaceous and ionic aerosols. Mean concentrations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) in Kathmandu during the period were 20.02±6.59 (1σ), 4.48±1.17, and 10.09±3.64 μgC/m^3, respectively. Elemental carbon and OC were correlated (R^2=0.56), likely indicating common sources for both species, as well as for the precursors that led to the formation of secondary organic carbon (SOC). The mean estimated SOC contribution to OC was 31%, suggesting that local emission is more important than transport and processing during winter in Kathmandu. On average, 50% of the OC was water soluble, and the correlation of SOC with WSOC (R^2=0.66) suggests that the majority of SOC and some primary organic carbon (POC) were water soluble in Kathmandu. The mean δ^13C of -25.74±0.19‰ observed in aerosols of Kathmandu confirms consistent anthropogenic sources such as fossil fuel combustion. Heavier carbon also was observed to be associated with the water-soluble fraction of OC in aerosols. The mean δ^15N of 9.45±0.87‰ suggests the limited influence of biomass burning and its strong correlation with crustal cations Ca(superscript 2+) (R^2=0.74, p＜0.05) and Mg(superscript 2+) (R^2=0.71, p＜0.05) indicates distant sources. Principal component analysis revealed four major sources/pathways for particles: local and vehicular emissions, secondary gas-to-particle conversion, aqueous processing, and dust transport, each explaining~39, 23, 11, and 9% of the variance.
Cognitive therapy for depressed adults with comorbid social phobia

Abstract Background Evidence suggests that comorbid depression influences the outcome of cognitive–behavioral treatment for patients presenting with social phobia. Little is known, however, about the influence of comorbid social phobia on the response to cognitive therapy (CT) for depression among adults presenting with recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD). These analyses seek to clarify this relationship. Methods Patients (N = 156) with recurrent DSM-IV MDD entered CT (20% also met DSM-IV criteria for social phobia). Every week during the course of CT, clinicians assessed depressive symptoms and patients completed self-report instruments measuring severity of depression and anxiety. Results At presentation, outpatients with comorbid social phobia reported greater levels of depressive symptoms and clinicians rated their impairment as more severe, compared to their counterparts without social phobia. Patients with or without comorbid social phobia did not differ significantly in (1) attrition rates; (2) response or sustained remission rates; (3) time to response or sustained remission; or (4) rate of improvement in symptoms of depression or anxiety. Limitations The lack of domain-specific measures limits inference with respect to the improvements in social anxiety that occur with CT of depression. Conclusions These findings introduce the hypothesis that CT for depression may be flexible enough to treat the depressive symptoms of patients presenting with MDD who also suffer from social phobia.
Specific Heat of Gold-Zinc Alloys below 3 °K

The electronic specific heat is found to initially increase on adding zinc to gold, in agreement with recent work of Clune and Green who relate this behavior to changes in the electron-phonon enhancement factor superimposed on a rigid-band model. The results for a 7.5-at.%-Zn alloy were stable against drastic changes in heat treatment, whereas those for a 10-at.% alloy were very dependent on heat treatment. It is therefore postulated that the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-phase region extends only to \ensuremath{\sim} 9 at.% at room temperature, contrary to recent phase diagrams. The results at 10 at.% Zn also suggest that very slow cooling retains a large part of the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ phase, but quenching produces the ordered phase. A possible explanation is that the high lattice-vacancy concentration immediately after quenching facilitates atomic movement.
Treatment of the layer temperature-gradient problem in band-model emission codes.

An approximate method for rapid and reasonably accurate sublayer integration in band-model-based radiative transfer codes is described. The method is based on a five-parameter, second-order Pade approximation to the molecular equivalent width that is a function of a single variable, the molecular weak-line optical depth τm. Three of the parameters are determined by boundary conditions at τm = 0 and τm = ∞. The other two parameters are obtained with an error-minimization fit to the molecular equivalent width at two points along the curve of growth. This process can be applied sequentially to all adjacent pairs of points along the entire curve of growth to yield the total path radiance. Sample calculations are performed for representative curves of growth: exponential, Lorentz, and Doppler. It is shown that for atmospheric radiative flux and cooling-rate calculations this approach will yield results to within approximately 0.2% of fully converged calculations.
Digitally Assisted Analog Integrated Circuits: Closing the gap between analog and digital

In past decades, “Moore’s law”1 has governed the revolution in microelectronics. Through continuous advancements in device and fabrication technology, the industry has maintained exponential progress rates in transistor miniaturization and integration density. As a result, microchips have become cheaper, faster, more complex, and more power efficient.
Journeys in Cultural Competency: Pre-Service U.S. Teachers in Mexico Study-Abroad Programs

This study investigated pre-service and credentialed teachers at 2 universities in the Southwestern United States (N = 24), who participated in education-abroad programs in Mexico over 1 summer. This study examined the literature within a framework for developing cultural competence to describe and understand students' experiences. Following a discussion of research methodology, emergent themes are reported and discussed within the frameworks presented. The study concludes with a discussion of changes in teacher preparation programs required or recommended to improve academic achievement among English language learners of Mexican descent in U.S. schools.
Linking Society and Environment: A Multilevel Model of Shifting Wildlife Value Orientations in the Western United States*

Objective. Studies of attitudes and values can make important contributions to emerging multi-level, interdisciplinary approaches to environmental problems. We test a multi-level model using data from a 19-state study on public thoughts toward wildlife in the western United States. Methods. Data were collected via mail survey administered to residents in each state. Results. Data support (1) a micro model that proposes values are oriented by two contrasting ideologies—domination versus mutualism—and that these different value orientations lead to different attitudes and behaviors toward wildlife; and (2) a macro model that links forces of modernization (income, education, urbanization) to a population-level shift from domination to mutualism value orientations. Conclusions. Such a shift would stimulate behavioral, ecological, and institutional effects that are critical in shaping society-environment interactions. Findings suggest that examining human thought processes in relation to broader social and environmental factors holds great promise in extending the application of the social sciences.
Cpt-cAMP activates human epithelial sodium channels via relieving self-inhibition.

External Na+ self-inhibition is an intrinsic feature of epithelial sodium channels (ENaC). Cpt-cAMP regulates heterologous guinea pig but not rat αβγ ENaC in a ligand-gated manner. We hypothesized that cpt-cAMP may eliminate the self-inhibition of human ENaC thereby open channels. Regulation of self-inhibition by this compound in oocytes was analyzed using the two-electrode voltage clamp and Ussing chamber setups. External cpt-cAMP stimulated human but not rat and murine αβγ ENaC in a dose- and external Na+ concentration-dependent fashion. Intriguingly, cpt-cAMP activated human δβγ more potently than αβγ channels, suggesting that structural diversity in ectoloop between human α, δ, and those ENaC of other species determines the stimulating effects of cpt-cAMP. Cpt-cAMP increased the ratio of stationary and maximal currents. Mutants having abolished self-inhibition (βΔV348 and γH233R) almost completely eliminated cpt-cAMP mediated activation of ENaC. On the other hand, mutants both enhancing self-inhibition and elevating cpt-cAMP sensitivity increased the stimulating effects of the compound. This compound, however, could not activate already fully opened channels, e.g., degenerin mutation (αβS520Cγ) and the proteolytically cleaved ENaC by plasmin. Cpt-cAMP activated native ENaC to the same extent as that for heterologous ENaC in human lung epithelial cells. Our data demonstrate that cpt-cAMP, a broadly used PKA activator, stimulates human αβγ and δβγ ENaC channels by relieving self-inhibition.
Congenital urethral scrotal fistula

Abstract A patient with the unusual anomaly of a congenital urethral scrotal fistula presenting as a scrotal abscess is reported. This represents the fifth such case reported.
Comparative lipid biochemistry--I. Phosphatides of invertebrates (Porifera to Chordata).

Abstract 1. 1.The qualitative lipid pattern of 46 invertebrates representing 11 phyla was examined by paper chromatographic techniques. 2. 2. The phosphatides common to this group of animals included phosphatidyl ethanolamine and ethanolamine plasmalogen, lecithin with a small lecithin plasmalogen component, monophospho-inositide and polyglycerol-phosphatide. 3. 3. Specific variations were observed in this pattern: (1) Serine plasmalogen (readily isolated from oyster) was a prominent component of molluscs and to a lesser extent of leeches, hydra and planaria. (2) The polyglycerolphosphatide appeared to consist of two components in crayfish. (3) There were two inositide components in Aranea and in two enchinoderms. (4) Blood-fed leeches were characterized by a phosphatidic acid plasmalogen. (5) The phosphatide patterns of several developmental stages of cockroach, fruit fly, meal worm and dragon fly were also examined.
A redetermination of the integrated intensity of the 15 micron bands of carbon dioxide

Abstract The integrated intensity of the 15 micron bands of carbon dioxide at room temperature was determined by the self-broadening technique using gas pressures up to 10 atm. Great care was taken to eliminate stray light and to measure the geometric cell length at every pressure. A value of 200 ± 10 cm −2 atm −1 was obtained.
β-Core Fragment Is a Major Form of Immunoreactive Urinary Chorionic Gonadotropin in Human Pregnancy*

A small mol wt fragment of the β-subunit of hCG (β-core fragment) is present in the urine, but not the serum, of pregnant women. We evaluated the relative proportions of this immunoreactive, but biologically inactive, fragment in urine from 15 women at different stages of pregnancy. Freshly voided urine was ultrafiltered and concentrated, and the molecular species of immunoreactive hCG were separated by Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. All urine samples contained the β-core fragment, which eluted after the a-subunit of hCG. This fragment lacked the carboxy-terminal epitope of hCG, was inactive as an in vitro bioassay, and adsorbed to Concanavalin-A. The β-core fragment was a major form the immunoreactive hCG in urine throughout pregnancy and accounted for over 90% of the immunoreactive hCG in urine from midpregnancy. The excretion pattern of the β-core fragment can account for the low biological to immunological ratio of urinary hCG that occurs at different stages of pregnancy
Spatial Tools for Managing Personal Information Collections

Dynapad is a development environment designed to support research prototyping of multiscale workspaces. In this paper we describe applications designed to facilitate visual access to and spatial organization of digital photo collections and personal libraries of PDF documents. The research objective is to explore a generalization of the notion of a "pile" as a foundation for a versatile suite of tools to provide unobtrusive assistance for organizing collections and other sensemaking activities. We detail the architecture underlying the applications, explain how it supports diverse functionality and interaction styles, and abstract a set of principles for designing spatial tools.
Antislavery Debates: Tides of Historiography in Slavery and Antislavery

This article reviews the changes in historical writing about slavery and the slave trade over the last 50 years.
Developing the Practical Test Standards and the Curriculum to use to train AGATE (Advanced General Aviation Transportation Experiment) pilots: some of the challenges

The NASA (National Aerospace and Space Agency) SATS (Small Aircraft Transportation System) program is working toward "taking the superhuman stigma out of being a pilot" and developing an air transportation system that will allow anyone to "climb in, select a destination, turn the key, and go." Part of the overall goal of the program is to make flight training more affordable by using teaching and learning technology to reduce ground training time and actual training time spent in the airplane in flight. This part of the SATS program is called AGATE (Advanced General Aviation Training Experiment). In order to accomplish both of these goals some innovative changes must be made in the way pilots are trained at present. A training experiment is being conducted at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for the purpose of investigating some of the ways to accomplish the AGATE goals. The experiment is being conducted using conventional airplane and flight instrument technology. The prime focus is to find out how effective a training course is that combines the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Private Pilot and Instrument Pilot Curricula into one, integrated course. This is the first step in the process. The results so far have shown that this combination of curricula is effective and that potential exists to reduce training costs and flight time during training. The next phase of the experiment is to use the SATS airplane and the SATS ground support system in place of conventional airplanes and ground support during the training process. This paper will examine two of the changes required in the current pilot training program as the transition to the SATS airplane and ground support system is developed and implemented. Two documents provide most of the objectives and standards for the current course of training for a person to successfully pass the written and practical test to become an FAA certificated Private Pilot with an Instrument Rating. They are the FAA Practical Test Standards and the Curriculum requirements stated in the CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) title 14 FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) part 61. These two documents will provide the basis for the discussion that follows.
Cerebrovascular Disease of Young Adults in a Mississippi Teaching Hospital

Two hundred and seven consecutive inpatients aged 15 to 50 with cerebrovascular disease at the University of Mississippi Medical Center were studied and followed up for an average of two and one-half years. Most of the patients arrived in the hospital in the acute stage of their disease. There was a rising trend for the onset of strokes with age in general, but this varied for different types of cerebrovascular disease. The diagnoses are detailed by age, race, and sex, and the prognosis is given for each subgroup. Patients with cerebral thrombosis or transient ischemic attacks had the best prognosis in this age group and thus are ideal candidates for rehabilitation and detailed study. The incidence of hypertension, concomitant major illnesses and laboratory abnormalities is given for each subgroup. The prognosis of patients in each subgroup is related to their initial motor deficit and level of consciousness.
Target delivery in a microfluidic immunosensor.

Abstract A study is presented that examines the effect of microfluidic mixing elements on direct and sandwich assays performed in microchannels. Patterned grooves were embossed in the top of microchannels made in PDMS using soft lithography. The grooves redirected the fluid flowing in the channel, enhancing delivery of the target from the bulk fluid to the surface and preventing the formation of a depletion layer at the surface. Comparing assays in grooved and plain channels demonstrated that the mixers improved assay results by 26–46%. A computational flow analysis showed that the grooves caused virtual particles in the bulk flow to come close to the surface (∼11 μm) which is consistent with the signal increase seen experimentally. Direct assays for several concentrations of CY5-labeled biotin were performed in the microchannels. The mixers also improved signal intensity in sandwich assays for botulinum toxin which required mixing of the reagents as well as the direction of the target to the surface.
The Effects of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies and Curriculum-Based Measurement on the Mathematics Performance of Secondary Students with Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of peer-assisted learning strategies (PALS) and curriculum-based measurement (CBM) on the mathematics performance of secondary students with disabilities. Ten classes with 92 students in Grades 9 through 12 participated. All students were significantly below grade level and received mathematics instruction in self-contained resource rooms. Classrooms were randomly assigned to PALS/CBM or the classroom mathematics program (control). PALS/CBM was implemented twice weekly and CBM was conducted weekly for 15 weeks. PALS/CBM students improved their computation math skills significantly more than control students, but no significant difference was found on concepts/application math skills. On questionnaires, teachers and students indicated that they (a) liked using PALS, (b) felt PALS was helpful in increasing mathematics skills, (c) thought CBM graphs increased motivation to work hard in math, and (d) would like to participate in PALS/CBM again. Results are ...
EFFECT OF WHOLE BODY VIBRATION ON HUMAN PERFORMANCE.

The effects of whole-body vibration at frequencies of 5, 7, and 11 c/s from 25–35 per cent of the human tolerance levels (defined by amplitude levels within each frequency) are to seriously reduce operator efficiency in performing tasks representative of those encountered in aerospace flight. Within the limits of the vibration conditions studied, the following conclusions were drawn from the research: (1) Decrements in vertical tracking performance ranged from 34 to 14 per cent. (2) Decrements in horizontal tracking performance ranged from 10 to 48 per cent. (3) The magnitude of the tracking performance decrements was related to the magnitude of integrated absolute Gz (output) measured at the sternum. (4) More procedural errors were committed under vibration than under static conditions.
Airborne Radar Signal Density Measurements

This paper presents radar signal density measurements for several areas of the United States, together with a correlation of theory and experimental evidence. The results indicate that the average number of pulses per second received from large radar deployments at various signal levels and altitudes can be predicted to within a factor of two over a 50-db dynamic range. Two methods are discussed for reducing interference in future electronic systems by use of signal density predictions.
Dissecting the phenotypes of Dravet syndrome by gene deletion

Neurological and psychiatric syndromes often have multiple disease traits, yet it is unknown how such multi-faceted deficits arise from single mutations. Haploinsufficiency of the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.1 causes Dravet syndrome, an intractable childhood-onset epilepsy with hyperactivity, cognitive deficit, autistic-like behaviours, and premature death. Deletion of Nav1.1 channels selectively impairs excitability of GABAergic interneurons. We studied mice having selective deletion of Nav1.1 in parvalbumin- or somatostatin-expressing interneurons. In brain slices, these deletions cause increased threshold for action potential generation, impaired action potential firing in trains, and reduced amplification of postsynaptic potentials in those interneurons. Selective deletion of Nav1.1 in parvalbumin- or somatostatin-expressing interneurons increases susceptibility to thermally-induced seizures, which are strikingly prolonged when Nav1.1 is deleted in both interneuron types. Mice with global haploinsufficiency of Nav1.1 display autistic-like behaviours, hyperactivity and cognitive impairment. Haploinsufficiency of Nav1.1 in parvalbumin-expressing interneurons causes autistic-like behaviours, but not hyperactivity, whereas haploinsufficiency in somatostatin-expressing interneurons causes hyperactivity without autistic-like behaviours. Heterozygous deletion in both interneuron types is required to impair long-term spatial memory in context-dependent fear conditioning, without affecting short-term spatial learning or memory. Thus, the multi-faceted phenotypes of Dravet syndrome can be genetically dissected, revealing synergy in causing epilepsy, premature death and deficits in long-term spatial memory, but interneuron-specific effects on hyperactivity and autistic-like behaviours. These results show that multiple disease traits can arise from similar functional deficits in specific interneuron types.
Slow Ono-Newtonian Flow in a Zone of Separation

Slow motions of purely viscous fluids in a two-dimensional conduit expansion are investigated using a finite-difference numerical scheme. The important concepts in the general theory leading to the governing differential equations of the flow are briefly discussed, and the equations are reduced to a convenient form for numerical solution. Contours of stream function, vorticity, and viscosity function in the zone of separation are compared for different values of the flow behavior index, which vary from the shear-thinning, pseudoplastic, range to the shear-thickening, dilatant, range, at four values of the generalized Reynolds number: 0, 16, 32, and 48. The results of the investigation indicate that for the separated flow of power-law fluids, shear-thinning fluids develop shorter, less intense, and more viscous eddies than do shear-thickening fluids at the same Reynolds number. It is also found that the influence of the flow behavior index is different for creeping flows than for flows at higher Reynolds numbers, i.e., at R = 0 the deviation of the eddy characteristics from Newtonian behavior is greater than at higher values of the Reynolds number.
Exploring Complex Chalcogenides for Thermoelectric Applications

Our research on ternary / quaternary chalcogenides for thermoelectric applications has lead to the identification of new interesting compounds and better understanding of the chemistry and physical properties of complex chalcogenides. The chemical, geometric, electronic diversity and flexibility has been well demonstrated in BaBiSe3 and Sr4Bi6Se13 type compounds. This presents both a challenge and more opportunity in controlling and optimizing the thermoelectric properties of these complex chalcogenides, compared with elemental and binary compounds. The importance of multivalley band structure in thermoelectric materials is emphasized. Only compounds with high crystal symmetry have the possibility of having a large number of degenerate valleys in the conduction bands or peaks in the valence bands, respectively. However, most of the complex chalcogenides crystallize in low crystal symmetry. An Edisonian method of exploratory synthesis and characterization may be the working approach to find good thermoelectric materials with ZT higher than 4.
Delayed Hemorrhage After Treatment of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs)

Objective The risk of delayed hemorrhage occurring greater than 2 years after treatment in brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) rarely is reported. In this study, we compare the risk of delayed hemorrhage across different treatment modalities. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of treated patients with a single intracranial AVM seen at our institution from 1990 to 2013. Delayed hemorrhage was defined as hemorrhage occurring at least 2 years after last treatment. Survival analysis was used to assess risk of delayed hemorrhage by treatment modalities. Results Our study included 420 patients. Spetzler-Martin grades were as follows: I (12.6%), II (36.2%), III (32.6%), IV (15.0%), and V (3.6%). Average follow-up time is 5.1 years. Twenty-two patients (5.2%) were found to have 28 delayed hemorrhages. Average interval between last treatment and delayed hemorrhage was 7.6 years, with the longest being 24.2 years. Proportions of delayed hemorrhages by treatment modalities were as follows: surgery ± embolization (group I, 9.1%), radiosurgery ± embolization (group II, 63.6%), embolization only (group III, 22.7%), and surgery + radiosurgery ± embolization (group IV, 4.5%). Annualized hemorrhage risk after 2 years for each treatment group was as follows: group I (0.4%), group II (1.2%), group III (3.7%), and group IV (1.7%). Survival analysis demonstrated lowest risk of delayed hemorrhage for group 1 (P Conclusions This study is the first to compare the risk of delayed hemorrhage across different treatment modalities. Surgical resection is associated with the lowest risk for delayed hemorrhage compared with other treatment modalities. Patients with partially embolized AVMs should seek timely definitive treatment to decrease the risk of delayed hemorrhage.
Synthesis of angiotensinogen by renin-containing neuroblastomas

Angiotensinogen in plasma is of hepatic origin, but many organs possess the ability to synthesize this protein because messenger RNA for angiotensinogen is widely distributed in the body. The cell types responsible for the extrahepatic synthesis of angiotensinogen remain to be identified. To examine whether renin-containing cells synthesize angiotensinogen, we have utilized a polyclonal antibody to angiotensinogen and immunoprecipitated metabolically labeled cells of two neuroblastomas known to contain renin. The results indicate that the cell line Neuro 2a synthesizes and releases a protein with a molecular mass of 57 kDa that is specifically recognized by the angiotensinogen antibody, indicating that Neuro 2a synthesizes angiotensinogen. Similarly, the cell line NB41A3 was also found to synthesize a protein specifically recognized by the antibody to angiotensinogen.
Differential Effects on N2 Binding and Reduction, HD Formation, and Azide Reduction with α-195His- and α-191Gln-Substituted MoFe Proteins of Azotobacter vinelandii Nitrogenase†

In contrast to the wild-type MoFe protein, neither the α-195Asn nor the α-191Lys MoFe protein catalyzed N2 reduction to NH3, when complemented with wild-type Fe protein. However, N2 was bound by the α-195Asn MoFe protein and inhibited the reduction of both protons and C2H2. The α-191Lys MoFe protein did not interact with N2. With the α-195Asn MoFe protein, the N2-induced inhibition of substrate reduction was reversed by removing the N2. Surprisingly, even though added H2 also relieved N2 inhibition of substrate reduction, the α-195Asn MoFe protein did not catalyze HD formation under a N2/D2 atmosphere. This observation is the first indication that these two reactions have different chemical origins, prompting a revision of the current hypothesis that these two reactions are consequences of the same nitrogenase chemistry. A rationale that accounts for the dichotomy of the two reactions is presented. The two altered MoFe proteins also responded quite differently to azide. It was a poor substrate for both bu...
Abstract 3846: Pleiotrophin in the tumor microenvironment induces expression of VEGFR2 on macrophages and promotes an anti-inflammatory phenotype

Macrophages are an abundant immune cell in the tumor microenvironment that contribute to tumor growth and metastasis. Macrophage recruitment into tumors is mediated by multiple cytokines, including vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF). We are interested in investigating the effects of VEGF inhibition on macrophages and other stromal cells within the tumor. We demonstrated recently that macrophages (systemic and tumor associated) in tumor-bearing animals express VEGFR2 in contrast to macrophages from non tumor-bearing animals. Furthermore, we found that selective inhibition of VEGFR2 inhibits macrophage infiltration into tumors in vivo. These results demonstrate that when VEGFR2 is expressed on macrophages it is the dominant receptor driving VEGF-induced migration in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, we found that the cytokine pleiotrophin (PTN) is sufficient to induce VEGFR2 expression on macrophages. PTN is expressed by many human breast cancer cells (e.g., MDA-MB-231) and the majority of human primary breast tumors. However, the connection between PTN and macrophage phenotype is still unexplored. Macrophages can be divided into two functional sub-types: M1 or classically activated macrophages and M2 or alternatively activated macrophages. M1 macrophages are powerful effector cells that produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and are capable of destroying tumor cells. In contrast, M2 macrophages inhibit the inflammatory response and promote tumor growth and angiogenesis. We employed the MMTV-PyMT transgenic, spontaneous breast cancer model to characterize PTN expression, immune cell infiltration, and immune cell function during the course of tumor progression. We found that PTN levels correlate with VEGFR2 + macrophage and M2 macrophage levels, which all peak during the transition from hyperplasia to early malignancy. Whereas, MDSC and T reg levels as well as levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-1β peak during the early carcinoma stage. We identified that PTN not only induces VEGFR2 expression by macrophages but also promotes an M2 phenotype in vitro. In addition, we have evidence that VEGF can modulate the level of PTN expression through VEGFR1. These results suggest a mechanism through which anti-VEGF therapy modulates PTN and M2 macrophage levels in vivo. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that PTN is a critical cytokine involved in breast tumor progression through promotion of a VEGFR2 + , M2 macrophage phenotype in the tumor microenvironment. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3846.
The automorphisms of an algebraically closed field

It is well known that the complex number field has infinitely many automorphisms. Moreover, it seems to be part of the folklore that the family of all automorphisms of the complex field has cardinality 2c, where c = 2ℵo. In this article the following generalization of this fact is proved: If k is any algebraically closed field then the family of all automorphisms of k has cardinality 2card k . The complex field has infinite transcendency degree over its prime subfield. For fields of this type the proof is accomplished by essentially permuting the elements in a transcendency basis and extending each permutation to an automorphism of the field.
Book Review: Guardians of Finance Making Regulators Work for Us

Guardians of Finance is a rare book which addresses the question of where were the regulators, Guardians, when the financial crisis occurred in a clear and balanced manner. The Guardians have largely escaped criticism by cloaking themselves behind a convenient narrative. Under this view, the Guardians were powerless to stop the crisis which represented an accidental event. Furthermore, they allege if only granted additional powers, for example the Dodd Frank Act (DFA), future accidents would be eliminated. Even though it is difficult to envision what powers regulators lacked that could have stopped the crisis. The often blamed Glass-Steagall Act repeal is shown to be a red herring as the crisis occurred in countries which did not have a Glass-Steagall to repeal. This book, like their 2006 book Rethinking Bank Regulation: Till Angels Govern may be uncomfortable for both those on the right and left given its balance. The book, however, is not about blame, but about the accountability needed to achieve real progress. Essentially, you cannot learn if you do not understand.
Configuration and function of cold-chain equipment for expanded program on immunization in Baoshan District of Shanghai

Objective To explore the configuration and function of cold-chain equipment for expanded program on immunization in Baoshan District of Shanghai,and to provide basis for the configuration and updating of cold-chain equipment.Methods In December 2011,we conducted an investigation on cold-chain equipment status and monitoring data of vaccine titer from 2008to 2010.Results There were two cold storages,one refrigerated truck,146ordinary refrigerators,and 57refrigerated bags,all of which were able to normal operation.The volume of cold chain equipment was larger than requirements in each unit.All units had cold chain management system and equipment files.Polio vaccine and measles vaccine titer met the requirements from 2008to 2010.Conclusions The existing cold chain equipment for storage and transportation meet the requirements,and can ensure the normal functioning of the cold-chain system.
Refocusing Recusals: How the Bias Blind Spot Affects Disqualifications Disputes and Should Reshape Recusal Reform

In recent years a number of high-profile disqualification decisions by jurists in both the federal and state courts have caught the attention of the legal community and the public at large. Each of these disqualification cases is different in respect of the underlying causes of action and the type of relationships or other facts that suggest possible judicial bias. But in each case, the jurist whose impartiality was challenged was the person who, at least initially, decided whether s/he was biased and in each case the request to step aside was denied – often with no satisfactory explanation and few, if any, other procedural protections. While in some cases the jurist may be guilty of a less then honest response to the recusal request, in most cases the judge/justice likely is genuinely–though perhaps naively convinced of his impartiality. Still, most of these decisions to remain on the case have been met with dismay by the litigants, scorn and ridicule from the media and the public at large and, at best, skepticism from many within the legal academy.These reactions to the jurists’ decisions they are not disqualified reflect a disconnect between the way the challenged jurist perceives his own bias often his introspection convinces him that he is being fair and the perception of others who assess his conduct and usually are less sanguine about the jurist’s impartiality. This asymmetry between perceptions of bias in self and others is confirmed by recent research in cognition and social psychology that reveals we all suffer from a “bias blind spot.” In addition, the recent studies reveal that such lopsidedness in perceptions of bias explains the increasingly confrontational atmosphere that surrounds high stakes disqualification disputes and the debate about recusal reform. This article aims to refocus the recusal debate by using the Caperton case to explain how the bias blind spot affects disqualification decisions made in specific cases and the public’s confidence in impartiality of the judiciary as a whole. In addition, this article examines how this asymmetry in perceptions and misperceptions of bias in others infects the narrative of the recusal reform debate thereby making it more difficult to reach consensus on the substantive standard and procedural rules to be applied. Thus, this article suggests that if we understand the affect the bias blind spot has on disqualification decisions we will be better able to propose the right recusal reforms in order to avoid biased outcomes in specific litigation and preserve the public confidence in the judiciary as a whole.
Medical staff: privileging and credentialing

There is a need to understand the purpose and process of credentialing, privileging, and staff membership. This understanding promotes accurate language, proper usage, and meaningful dialogue. Physicians can benefit by reviewing these terms and their meanings.
Analysis and Validation of High-Resolution Wind From ASCAT

The standard ocean wind product from the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) is retrieved on a 12.5-km grid. Ultrahigh-resolution (UHR) processing enables ASCAT wind retrieval on a high-resolution 1.25-km grid. Ideally, such a high-resolution grid allows for improved analysis of winds with high spatial variability, such as those in near-coastal regions and storms. This paper provides an analysis and validation of ASCAT UHR wind estimates to evaluate its spatial resolution and accuracy. This is done via a comparison with two other sources: buoy-measured winds in coastal regions and winds estimated from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data over the open ocean. Near-coastal ocean measurements may be contaminated by nearby land, introducing a wind speed bias in the retrieved winds. To enable near-coastal UHR wind retrieval, we use a land contribution ratio (LCR) approach to discard ASCAT measurements with high land contamination before UHR processing and wind retrieval. Through a comparison with near-coastal buoy winds, we find that the LCR approach is appropriate for precisely controlling the tradeoff between land contamination and spatial coverage near land. We find that the resolution of the UHR data is improved over the 25-km wind product to 10 km, and likely down to 4 km in some cases. In comparing SAR and UHR winds, we find that both products have common fine-scale features and have derivative fields that match well and that the UHR product matches better the expected spectral properties of ocean winds.
Teachers and Research on Teaching

Is research done by teachers real research? Isn’t it too subjective? What good is it if the findings change with every classroom or every teacher? Aren’t teachers there just to teach the content? These are not uncommon questions that traditional researchers, policy makers, preservice and inservice teachers themselves raise.
Positive and negative symptoms of Schizophrenia as predictors of length of Military service : a retrospective study

Forty-three chronic schizophrenic veterans had negative symptom, positive symptom, and smooth pursuit eye movement evaluations to determine if the severity of impairment in these dimensions could retrospectively predict their length of military service. For the entire patient group, there was a strong trend for severity of negative symptoms to predict the length of military service (p = 0.055). However, different associations for these variables emerged when the patients were divided into groups with more or less than 2 years of service. The length of military service might serve as a type of "filter" that meaningfully separates out different subtypes of schizophrenic veterans.
NOx reduction by propene in an oxidizing atmosphere over Cu-ZrO2

Air pollution by NO is a serious problem. An attractive way of NO x abatement is to reduce NO by hydrocarbon in an oxidizing atmosphere. Currently the best catalytic system to achieve this reduction is transition metals exchanged ZSM-5. Unfortunately these catalysts have problems with hydrothermal stability. A possible solution to this is to find oxidic systems that are active for the hydrocarbon reduction of NO in an oxidizing atmosphere.
Detecting Arbitrary Oriented Text in the Wild with a Visual Attention Model

Text embedded in images provides important semantic information about a scene and its content. Detecting text in an unconstrained environment is a challenging task because of the many fonts, sizes, backgrounds, and alignments of the characters. We present a novel attention model for detecting arbitrary oriented and curved scene text. Inspired by the attention mechanisms in the human visual system, our model utilizes a spatial glimpse network to processes the attended area and deploys a recurrent neural network that aggregates the information over time to determine the attention movement. Combining this with an off-the-shelf region proposal method, the model achieves the state-of-the-art performance on the highly cited ICDAR2013 dataset, and the MSRA-TD500 dataset which contains arbitrary oriented text.
Failure of Plain Concrete under Combined Stresses

The initial phase of an investigation of the failure of plain concrete under combined stresses is presented. Previous investigations of the failure of plain concrete revealed that the correlation o...
A Branch-and-Bound Framework for Unsupervised Common Event Discovery

Event discovery aims to discover a temporal segment of interest, such as human behavior, actions or activities. Most approaches to event discovery within or between time series use supervised learning. This becomes problematic when relevant event labels are unknown, are difficult to detect, or not all possible combinations of events have been anticipated. To overcome these problems, this paper explores Common Event Discovery (CED), a new problem that aims to discover common events of variable-length segments in an unsupervised manner. A potential solution to CED is searching over all possible pairs of segments, which would incur a prohibitive quartic cost. In this paper, we propose an efficient branch-and-bound (B&B) framework that avoids exhaustive search while guaranteeing a globally optimal solution. To this end, we derive novel bounding functions for various commonality measures and provide extensions to multiple commonality discovery and accelerated search. The B&B framework takes as input any multidimensional signal that can be quantified into histograms. A generalization of the framework can be readily applied to discover events at the same or different times (synchrony and event commonality, respectively). We consider extensions to video search and supervised event detection. The effectiveness of the B&B framework is evaluated in motion capture of deliberate behavior and in video of spontaneous facial behavior in diverse interpersonal contexts: interviews, small groups of young adults, and parent-infant face-to-face interaction.
The Interaction between the Third Type III Domain from Fibronectin and Anastellin Involves β-Strand Exchange

Anastellin is a small recombinant fragment derived from the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin; it comprises the first type III (FN3) domain without the two N-terminal β-strands. It inhibits angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis in mouse models and requires endogenous fibronectin for its in vivo anti-angiogenic activity. It binds to fibronectin in vitro and converts the soluble protein to insoluble fibrils that structurally and functionally resemble fibronectin fibrils deposited in the extracellular matrix by cells. Anastellin binds to several FN3 domains in fibronectin, but how it interacts with these domains and why the interactions lead to aggregation of fibronectin are not well understood. In this work, we investigated the interaction between anastellin and the third FN3 domain (3FN3) from fibronectin. We show that anastellin binds with high affinity to a peptide comprising the two N-terminal β-strands from 3FN3, and we present here the structure of the resulting complex. The peptide and an...
Nutrient Composition of Raw, Dry-Roasted, and Skin-On Cashew Nuts

Cashew nuts are the second most popular tree nut in the US with sales growing at a rate of 7% per annum. The highest quality cashew nuts are traditionally whole, oil-roasted, and devoid of skins. The development of a technique to remove the caustic cashew nut shell liquid from cashews and leave the skins intact allows for the production of novel cashew products including skin-on or “wrapped” in addition to raw and dry roasted products. This study investigated the nutritional characteristics of these newer cashew products. These products were found to contain bioactive compounds including mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, arginine, magnesium, tocopherols, and phenolic compounds. All the types of cashews exhibited higher levels of phytosterols than the amounts reported for other tree nuts. The skin-on cashews had higher levels of phenolic compounds compared to the other cashew varieties tested, indicating additional health benefits of consuming cashew nuts with skins.
Craniocerebral Trauma in Children

The nervous system is the primary means by which the human organism communicates with the environment. Trauma to the nervous system in children often results in complex morphological, biochemical, and physiological disturbances. Not surprisingly, such disruption compromises adaptational potential. This is evidenced at the psychological level of analysis as cognitive deficits, emotional dysregulation, motivational difficulties, and interpersonal maladjustment in school, at home, and in the social macroenvironment.