cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CDK8 Kinase Activity Promotes Glycolysis

Aerobic glycolysis, also known as the Warburg effect, is a hallmark of cancerous tissues. Despite its importance in cancer development, our understanding of mechanisms driving this form of metabolic reprogramming is incomplete. We report here an analysis of colorectal cancer cells engineered to carry a single point mutation in the active site of the Mediator-associated kinase CDK8, creating hypomorphic alleles sensitive to bulky ATP analogs. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CDK8 kinase activity is required for the expression of many components of the glycolytic cascade. CDK8 inhibition impairs glucose transporter expression, glucose uptake, glycolytic capacity and reserve, as well as cell proliferation and anchorage-independent growth, both in normoxia and hypoxia. Importantly, CDK8 impairment sensitizes cells to pharmacological glycolysis inhibition, a result reproduced with Senexin A, a dual inhibitor of CDK8/CDK19. Altogether, these results contribute to our understanding of CDK8 as an oncogene, and they justify investigations to target CDK8 in highly glycolytic tumors.
Latest Innovations in the Treatment of Venous Disease

Venous disease is more common than peripheral arterial disease. Pathophysiologically, venous disease can be associated with obstruction, reflux, or both. A common feature in chronic venous disease is ambulatory venous hypertension. Inflammatory and pro-thrombotic mechanisms can be activated. The current therapies, including compression, ablation, and recanalization are discussed.
Immersive Design Fiction: Using VR to Prototype Speculative Interfaces and Interaction Rituals within a Virtual Storyworld

Immersive design fiction is a novel approach that embeds speculative interactions within a rich virtual reality (VR) storyworld. Immersive design fictions use VR to translate new design opportunities into story-driven, embodied experiences by positioning the participant as a character in a narrative world. This paper presents a case study of an immersive design fiction that depicts a fictionalized reimagining of an industry partner's work practices. This VR experience explores speculative interfaces for creative work and collaboration in the context of a fictional workplace environment. By placing design fictions within rich immersive contexts such as room-scale VR, researchers and practitioners can go beyond prototyping imagined interfaces to also speculate about the interaction rituals and surrounding social context within an experiential storyworld. This approach makes methodological and theoretical contributions to design fiction research by demonstrating a toolkit for exploring and reflecting upon the intersections between speculation, embodiment, and narrative context.
Relationship of objective street quality attributes with youth physical activity: findings from the Healthy Communities Study.

Background Residential environments may significantly influence youth physical activity (PA). However, few studies have examined detailed street quality attributes via observational audits in relation to context-specific PA among youth. Objectives The objective of this study was to explore whether the overall quality of street environments, as well as specific attributes, was associated with neighbourhood-based and street-based PA within a national sample of youth in the Healthy Communities Study. Methods Data were collected from 4616 youth from 130 communities across the USA. Youth PA in the neighbourhood and on the participant's street was captured using 7-d recall interviews. Windshield survey observational audits documented five street quality variables: burned, boarded up or abandoned residential units, litter, overall condition of residences, street type and presence of sidewalks in good condition. Results Youth with no litter on their street reported significantly lower neighbourhood-based PA and youth living on a side street, cul-de-sac, dead-end or one-way street reported greater neighbourhood-based PA. No significant associations were detected for the overall street quality index or with street-based PA. Conclusions Specific street quality attributes may be associated with youth PA. Further research and collaboration between diverse disciplines and agencies should focus on understanding and improving street quality to promote youth PA and health.
Targeted Quantitative Kinome Analysis Identifies PRPS2 as a Promoter for Colorectal Cancer Metastasis

Kinases are among the most important families of enzymes involved in cell signaling. In this study, we employed a recently developed parallel-reaction monitoring (PRM)-based targeted proteomic method to examine the reprogramming of the human kinome during colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. We were able to quantify the relative expression of 299 kinase proteins in a pair of matched primary/metastatic CRC cell lines. We also found that, among the differentially expressed kinases, phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase 2 (PRPS2) promotes the migration and invasion of cultured CRC cells through regulating the activity of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and the expression of E-cadherin. Moreover, we found that the up-regulation of PRPS2 in metastatic CRC cells could be induced by the MYC proto-oncogene. Together, our unbiased kinome profiling approach led to the identification, for the first time, of PRPS2 as a promoter for CRC metastasis.
Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias

Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia involves identifying the mechanism (a focus with abnormal impulse formation or a reentrant circuit), mappin...
Wasserstoff-Dieselmotor mit Direkteinspritzung, hoher Leistungsdichte und geringer Abgasemission: Teil 1: Konzept

In einem von der Bayerischen Forschungsstiftung geforderten Projekt kooperierten die MAN B&W Diesel AG, Augsburg, als Forschungsnehmer mit dem Lehrstuhl A fur Thermodynamik und dem Lehrstuhl fur Verbrennungskraftmaschinen der TU Munchen. Ziel dieser Grundlagenuntersuchung war es, einen Grosdieselmotor mit Wasserstoff-Direkteinspritzung in den Brennraum mit hoher Leistungsdichte und geringen Abgasemissionen zu entwickeln. Die Verbrennung wird dem dieselmotorischen Prinzip entsprechend durch Selbstzundung eingeleitet und der Energietrager Wasserstoff gewahrleistet einen CO2-freien Motorbetrieb.
Looking for “A Kid Like Me”: Teacher Candidates’ Search for Selves in Children’s Literature

ABSTRACTMany preservice and early career teachers in the United States are White, middle class, and female and as such have little firsthand experience working with or growing up in the increasingly diverse population of U.S. schools. As a part of a graduate course in children’s literature, the objective of this study was to understand teacher candidates’ perceptions of what elements of their personal narratives and background were under-represented in children’s literature. Through course experiences and assignments, participants expanded their understanding of diversity, gained new resources for locating books, and developed empathy for their K-5 students.
Aspirin metabolites 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA inhibit cancer cell growth: Implications in colorectal cancer prevention

Although compelling evidence exists on the ability of aspirin to treat colorectal cancer (CRC), and numerous theories and targets have been proposed, a consensus has not been reached regarding its mechanism of action. In this regard, a relatively unexplored area is the role played by aspirin metabolites 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHBA) and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHBA) in its chemopreventive actions. In a previous study, we demonstrated that 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA inhibited CDK1 enzyme activity in vitro. The aim of the present study was to understand the effect of these metabolites on the enzyme activity of all CDKs involved in cell cycle regulation (CDKs 1, 2, 4 and 6) as well as their effect on clonal formation in three different cancer cell lines. Additionally, in silico studies were performed to determine the potential sites of interactions of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA with CDKs. We demonstrated that 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA inhibits CDK-1 enzyme activity beginning at 500 µM, while CDK2 and CDK4 activity was inhibited only at higher concentrations (>750 µM). 2,3-DHBA inhibited CDK6 enzyme activity from 250 µM, while 2,5-DHBA inhibited its activity >750 µM. Colony formation assays showed that 2,5-DHBA was highly effective in inhibiting clonal formation in HCT-116 and HT-29 CRC cell lines (250–500 µM), and in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line (~100 µM). In contrast 2,3-DHBA was effective only in MDA-MB-231 cells (~500 µM). Both aspirin and salicylic acid failed to inhibit all four CDKs and colony formation. Based on the present results, it is suggested that 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA may contribute to the chemopreventive properties of aspirin, possibly through the inhibition of CDKs. The present data and the proposed mechanisms should open new areas for future investigations.
Organizational structure and safety culture: Conceptual and practical challenges

Abstract This essay argues that: (1.) The concepts of both “safety” and “safety culture” are under-developed in organizational analysis. This has led to ambiguity and confusion in our understanding of the causal connection of both to specific elements of organizational structure. (2.) There is more complexity in the link between structure and safety culture as features of organization than might be supposed. The actual content of structural elements such as roles and rules, functional lines and limits of authority, accountability and communication – can themselves require closely supporting cultural norms of acceptance to actually function as formally described. Otherwise a formal organization chart can be a highly misleading picture, as they often are, of actual transactions occurring within a functioning organization. (3.) But the relationship between structure and safety culture can be different in the different phases of (1) the initial change of cultural or sub-culture features that undermine safety, (2) safety culture development and finally, (3) the challenge of the continued maintenance of a safety culture over time in an organization. (4.) Both specific safety management structures and a reinforcing safety culture are essential within an organization to reach across the scope of activities and time frames necessary for reliable safety performance. The implications of these points are explored for both future safety research and regulatory practice concerning organizational structure and safety culture and, ultimately, to connecting both to the improvement of safety performance.
The Streptococcal Protease SpeB Antagonizes the Biofilms of the Human Pathogen Staphylococcus aureus USA300 through Cleavage of the Staphylococcal SdrC Protein.

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A Streptococcus (GAS), is both a pathogen and an asymptomatic colonizer of human hosts and produces a large number of surface-expressed and secreted factors that contribute to a variety of infection outcomes. The GAS-secreted cysteine protease SpeB has been well studied for its effects on the human host; however, despite its broad proteolytic activity, studies on how this factor is utilized in polymicrobial environments are lacking. Here, we utilized various forms of SpeB protease to evaluate its antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties against the clinically important human colonizer Staphylococcus aureus, which occupies niches similar to those of GAS. For our investigation, we used a skin-tropic GAS strain, AP53CovS+, and its isogenic ΔspeB mutant to compare the production and activity of native SpeB protease. We also generated active and inactive forms of recombinant purified SpeB for functional studies. We demonstrate that SpeB exhibits potent biofilm disruption activity at multiple stages of S. aureus biofilm formation. We hypothesized that the surface-expressed adhesin SdrC in S. aureus was cleaved by SpeB, which contributed to the observed biofilm disruption. Indeed, we found that SpeB cleaved recombinant SdrC in vitro and in the context of the full S. aureus biofilm. Our results suggest an understudied role for the broadly proteolytic SpeB as an important factor for GAS colonization and competition with other microorganisms in its niche. IMPORTANCEStreptococcus pyogenes (GAS) causes a range of diseases in humans, ranging from mild to severe, and produces many virulence factors in order to be a successful pathogen. One factor produced by many GAS strains is the protease SpeB, which has been studied for its ability to cleave and degrade human proteins, an important factor in GAS pathogenesis. An understudied aspect of SpeB is the manner in which its broad proteolytic activity affects other microorganisms that co-occupy niches similar to that of GAS. The significance of the research reported herein is the demonstration that SpeB can degrade the biofilms of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, which has important implications for how SpeB may be utilized by GAS to successfully compete in a polymicrobial environment.
Single Sensor Bluetooth Multilateration from Arbitrary Locations

The genesis of Bluetooth heralded a massive influx of tiny, easily produced, data transmitting devices, which due to their low power draw, could be connected to a decent sized battery and transmit data for weeks on end. Now that nearly all phones and computers have this capability built in, it has become useful for any number of reasons to know what type of devices are within an area, and their precise location. Systems have been developed which locate these devices, but only as long as they are within the range of multiple stationary beacons, which, depending on the area wishing to be monitored, may have severe limitations. This paper outlines the development of a system that uses a single sensor to determine the location of Bluetooth devices over any sized area.
Evaluation of Low-Cost Moisture Meters for Wood

Wood moisture meters are needed for a variety of purposes, including home inspections, assessment of water damage, evaluation of firewood, do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, and many more. With an increasing number of flood events, moisture-induced damage to the built environment will become more common. Monitoring of moisture in wood is one of the most important factors in damage assessment and control and thus, aid and guidance for the selection process of a meter is needed. Resistance and dielectric meters are commonly used to estimate the moisture content of wood products. They have become inexpensive and widely available to the public. This study tested the precision and accuracy of eight low-cost handheld moisture meters and compared them to three industrial-grade moisture meters. A general observation of this study is that moisture meters below 0 generally perform well. Differences in accuracy were found among meters. It was observed that meters come with different features, such as a custom density selector and visual elements to enhance the metering experience. These features were not taken into account for the evaluation, since they are difficult to objectively judge.
Is There Evidence for IGF1R-Stimulating Abs in Graves’ Orbitopathy Pathogenesis?

In this review, we summarize the evidence against direct stimulation of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptors (IGF1Rs) by autoantibodies in Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) pathogenesis. We describe a model of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHR)/IGF1R crosstalk and present evidence that observations indicating IGF1R’s role in GO could be explained by this mechanism. We evaluate the evidence for and against IGF1R as a direct target of stimulating IGF1R antibodies (IGF1RAbs) and conclude that GO pathogenesis does not involve directly stimulating IGF1RAbs. We further conclude that the preponderance of evidence supports TSHR as the direct and only target of stimulating autoantibodies in GO and maintain that the TSHR should remain a major target for further development of a medical therapy for GO in concert with drugs that target TSHR/IGF1R crosstalk.
Benefits and Harms of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in a Prospective Cohort of Patients With Cirrhosis

Background & Aims The value of a cancer screening programs is defined by its balance of benefits and harms; however, there are few data evaluating both attributes for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance. We aimed to characterize benefits and harms of HCC surveillance in a large prospective cohort of patients with cirrhosis. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of a clinical trial evaluating HCC surveillance among patients with cirrhosis at a safety-net health system enrolled between December 2014 and July 2015. We quantified surveillance-related benefits, defined as early HCC detection and curative treatment receipt, and physical harms, defined as diagnostic procedures for false positive or indeterminate results, over an 18-month period. Results Of 614 cirrhosis patients with ≥1 surveillance exam, abnormal results were observed in 118 (19.2%) patients. Twenty-six patients developed HCC during follow-up, of whom 16 (61.5%) were detected by surveillance. The proportion of HCC detected at BCLC stage 0/A (62.5% vs 50%, p = .69) and who underwent curative treatment (43.8% vs. 40.0%, p = 1.0) did not significantly differ between surveillance-detected patients and those diagnosed incidentally/symptomatically. Physical harms were observed in 54 (8.8%) patients who underwent surveillance – most of mild severity with only 1 diagnostic CT or MRI and none undergoing invasive testing such as biopsy. Incidental findings on follow-up imaging were found in 40 (6.5%) patients —23 of low clinical importance and 17 medium clinical importance. Conclusions In our cohort of patients with cirrhosis, HCC surveillance was associated with high early tumor detection and minimal physical harms.
Simulation in Pediatric Procedural Sedation

This chapter describes the use of simulation technology and how it can be applied to a sedation-analgesia program. This chapter gives an educational background of simulation in the medical field, describes the types of simulators with respective functionalities, and discusses preventable complications with the goal of improving quality and safety in sedation-analgesia. We will further describe the application of simulation for different domains (clinical, administrative, education-assessment, and team dynamics) as it pertains to sedation-analgesia program. A variety of simulation scenarios are mentioned at the end of this chapter for the readers.
Despite The Binary: Looking for Power outside the Employee Status

In both labor law and employment law, worker power is viewed as a binary. Workers are either classified as “employees” who hold labor and employment law’s preferred protections, or they are not. Excluded workers are traditionally perceived as powerless vis-a-vis the firm’s economic and organizational levers of control. This Article challenges this binary understanding of workplace power by demonstrating how excluded workers can access the same types of legal mechanisms of empowerment as employees do and, under certain conditions, better ones. Excluded workers can and do find legal pathways for gaining workplace power. This Article offers examples of how excluded workers use the law to gain workplace power. The examples are drawn from the struggles of Uber drivers, classified as independent contractors, and of Uber. Through qualitative case studies and analysis of novel legal developments in the regulation of platform companies, the Article demonstrates the gaps that exist in the canonical binary perception. The Article continues by offering a theory of how to fill those gaps by treating the workplace as an arena of group politics in which law plays a crucial role in shaping the available terrain of leverage points and collective capacities of workers. By demonstrating how workers’ power is decoupled from the employee status, this Article offers a novel and more suitable framework in which to analyze the effects of work status on workplace power in the contemporary and future workplace.
Barriers to and Facilitators of Implementing Peer Support Services for Criminal Justice–Involved Individuals

Objective: This study sought to examine perceived barriers to and facilitators of the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of community-based mental health peer support services for crimina...
A Reliable Underwater Computing System

Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks are being used nowadays in ocean and sea environment for monitoring and detecting events or objects of interest. UWSNs suffer from limitation in bandwidth capacity and long propagation delay. Recently, we, a group of researchers at University of Connecticut, proposed new architectures for real-time underwater computing system that can dramatically improve its QoS. These architectures consist of a central computer and master nodes for collecting and processing data. We got inspired by Google which started not long time ago installing their whole data centers in the bottom of oceans in order to reduce the amount of money paid for the cooling system. In this work, we propose new architectures which consist of N number of computers. They mainly aim to increase the reliability of our system. For these architectures, we develop a fault detection and recovery algorithm for the proposed architectures. Hence, reliability of the system is guaranteed. We conduct simulations to show the merit of our proposed work.
The Effects of a Limited Liability Agreement and Audit Firm Size on Bank Loan Officers’ Perceptions of Privately Held Companies’ Creditworthiness

We examine how auditors’ use of limited liability agreements (LLAs) impact perceptions of private company creditworthiness in a 2×2 between-subjects experiment. Ninety-three United States-based bank loan officers evaluate whether LLA clauses and the size of the company’s external auditor impact lending decisions. We use signaling theory to predict, and we find that LLAs decrease perceived creditworthiness, mainly when the company engages a Non-Big4 auditor. We find no difference in perceived creditworthiness when the company employs a Big4 firm, irrespective of including an LLA clause. Supplemental analyses show that lenders perceive that LLA clauses signal higher credit risk and, in turn, decrease perceived creditworthiness. We offer insights into how lenders integrate information about privately held companies into their decisions, which could impact the cost of capital for private companies. Our study should be of interest to preparers and the varied users of financial statements and regulators.
ALDH1B1 Is Crucial for Colon Tumorigenesis by Modulating Wnt/β-Catenin, Notch and PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathways.

In the normal human colon, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1B1 (ALDH1B1) is expressed only at the crypt base, along with stem cells. It is also highly expressed in the human colonic adenocarcinomas. This pattern of expression corresponds closely to that observed for Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity. The present study examines the role of ALDH1B1 in colon tumorigenesis and signalling pathways mediating its effects. In a 3-dimensional spheroid growth model and a nude mouse xenograft tumor model, shRNA-induced suppression of ALDH1B1 expression decreased the number and size of spheroids formed in vitro and the size of xenograft tumors formed in vivo by SW 480 cells. Six binding elements for Wnt/β-catenin signalling transcription factor binding elements (T-cell factor/ lymphoid enhancing factor) were identified in the human ALDH1B1 gene promoter (3 kb) but shown by dual luciferase reporter assay to not be necessary for ALDH1B1 mRNA expression in colon adenocarcinoma cell lines. We examined Wnt-reporter activity and protein/mRNA expression for Wnt, Notch and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Wnt/β-catenin, Notch and PI3K/Akt-signaling pathways were down-regulated in SW 480 cells in which ALDH1B1 expression had been suppressed. In summary, our data demonstrate that ALDH1B1 may promote colon cancer tumorigenesis by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin, Notch and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Selective targeting of ALDH1B1 may represent a novel means to prevent or treat colon cancer.
Field Observations Confirm Laboratory Reports of Defense Responses by Prey Snakes to the Odors of Predatory Snakes

Organisms rely on their senses to obtain information about the biotic and abiotic environment. Snakes are dependent upon their chemical and visual senses in obtaining information about their surroundings (Halpern and Frumin, 1979). The structure largely responsible for gathering much of this information in snakes is the vomeronasal organ, which detects environmental chemicals. Many studies have demonstrated the role of this organ in prey detection/prey trailing for all the major snake groups, however, studies examining the prey’s ability to detect and respond to a potential predator have been confined to a few laboratory experiments and isolated field observations. I report here preliminary experiments on responses of prey snakes, cottonmouth moccasins, to odors of one of their predators, kingsnakes.
ABSOLUTE DYNAMIC TOPOGRAPHY1

Dynamic sections could be made absolute if, between each pair of oceanographic stations, the inclination of any isobaric surface were known with reference to any coextensive geopotential surface. Various methods for accomplishing this measurement are cited with particular emphasis on gravimetric and inertio-optical techniques. An observational procedure is outlined in principle, and the difficulties of such measurements are discussed in the light of recent experiments at sea.
OX40 Complexes with Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase and Protein Kinase B (PKB) To Augment TCR-Dependent PKB Signaling

T lymphocyte activation requires signal 1 from the TCR and signal 2 from costimulatory receptors. For long-lasting immunity, growth and survival signals imparted through the Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) pathway in activated or effector T cells are important, and these can be strongly influenced by signaling from OX40 (CD134), a member of the TNFR superfamily. In the absence of OX40, T cells do not expand efficiently to Ag, and memory formation is impaired. How most costimulatory receptors integrate their signals with those from Ag through the TCR is not clear, including whether OX40 directly recruits PKB or molecules that regulate PKB. We show that OX40 after ligation by OX40L assembled a signaling complex that contained the adapter TNFR-associated factor 2 as well as PKB and its upstream activator phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Recruitment of PKB and PI3K were dependent on TNFR-associated factor 2 and on translocation of OX40 into detergent-insoluble membrane lipid microdomains but independent of TCR engagement. However, OX40 only resulted in strong phosphorylation and functional activation of the PI3K-PKB pathway when Ag was recognized. Therefore, OX40 primarily functions to augment PKB signaling in T cells by enhancing the amount of PI3K and PKB available to the TCR. This highlights a quantitative role of this TNFR family second signal to supplement signal 1.
Are Women Held to a Higher Moral Standard Than Men? Gender Bias Among University Students

This study examines gender bias in ethical decision-making, defined as a difference in the evaluation of the morality of an action depending on the gender of the person performing the action. Results indicate that college student respondents exhibited some degree of gender bias, and that it was especially noticeable among the male respondents. Bias was somewhat more pronounced among liberal arts majors than other business majors, and non- existent among accounting majors. Implications for early-career professional training and business ethics research are discussed.
The Polycentric Character of Business Ethics Decisionmaking in International Contexts

Many ethical issues facing managers of multinational corporations are polycentric problems. That is, they involve a number of distinct centers -- each of which define rights and obligations of a multiplicity of affected parties -- and resolving matters around one center typically creates unpredictable repercussions around one or more of the other centers. Polycentricity is a normative phenomenon especially unsuited for adjudication, often requiring recourse to alternative processes of contract (or reciprocal adjustment) and managerial direction. This study explores how such concerns about the limits of adjudication (and its various moral counterparts) apply to international decisionmaking connected to human rights obligations of multinational companies. The focus is on ethical problems such as controlling child labor in LDCs such as Bangladesh, India and Pakistan; setting wages in developing countries like Honduras; and conducting business transactions with rights-violating regimes, such as the governments of Nigeria and Myanmar.
Temporal analysis of CTC-endothelium interactions during early metastasis

Circulation represents one of the most vulnerable stages of the metastatic cascade. Synchronized expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as well as endothelial cells (ECs) of target organs dynamically regulates CTC-EC adhesion and subsequent extravasation. Due to long time-scales associated with metastatic progression and low concentration of CTCs in blood, understanding of the spatiotemporal expression of CAMS remains elusive. Here, utilizing a lung specific model of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-4175), we demonstrate that transient CTC interactions can prime ECs upregulating their ICAM-1expression in a time-dependent manner. Additionally, MDA-MB-4175 cells bind to the lung endothelium with greater efficiency as compared to HUVECs confirming the organotropic phenotype of metastatic cells. Further identification of the molecular binding partners can provide attractive therapeutic targets for metastasis inhibition.
Adaptive System Sensitive Partitioning of AMR Applications on Heterogeneous Clusters

This paper presents the design and evaluation of an adaptive system sensitive partitioning and load balancing framework for distributed adaptive mesh refinement applications on heterogeneous and dynamic cluster environments. The framework uses system capabilities and current system state to select and tune appropriate partitioning parameters (e.g., partitioning granularity, load per processor) to maximize overall application performance. Furthermore, it uses dynamic load sensing (using NWS) to adapt to the load dynamics in the cluster.
Embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations with silk suture particles prior to stereotactic radiosurgery

Abstract We aimed to determine the long term durability of silk suture and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particle embolization (SPE) of arteriovenous malformations (AVM), and to evaluate the outcomes following multimodality management of AVM with combined SPE and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). A general supposition among neurointerventionalists is that embolization of cerebral AVM with silk sutures and PVA particles does not yield a durable occlusion. We performed a retrospective review of all AVM patients treated at our institution with combined SPE and SRS. After extracting the baseline, embolization and SRS data for each patient, the durability of SPE was determined by evaluating the postembolization recanalization between the last procedural angiogram and the most recent neuroimaging. Four AVM patients who underwent a total of nine SPE procedures through 21 arterial pedicles were included for the analyses. The nidus volumes were 5.8–75 cm 3 and the Spetzler–Martin grades were II and V in one patient and III in two patients. The median degree of devascularization per procedure was 95% volume reduction. Following SRS, one patient remained asymptomatic, two patients improved, and one patient deteriorated due to a latency period AVM hemorrhage. In conclusion, SPE can safely provide durable AVM devascularization, therefore, appropriately selected nidi can be effectively treated with combined SPE and SRS.
Joint source/channel coding for wireless channels

Shannon's (1948) fundamental theorem showing that source coding and channel coding can be separated without any loss of optimality does not apply to general time-varying channels. Since the distortion by the source encoder decreases with the data rate, while the channel errors increase with the data rate, the joint source/channel coding problem reduces to allocating bits in an optimal way between the source and channel encoders as the source and channel vary. The author introduces two additional degrees of freedom by allowing both the transmit power and the data rate to vary, subject to an average power constraint. Under these varying power and rate conditions, he first obtains an expression to minimize the end-to-end distortion of general joint source/channel codes for fading channels. He then proposes an adaptive joint source/channel coded modulation technique. The channel code adapts both the transmission rate and power using variable-rate coded MQAM (on a Rayleigh fading channel). He analytically derives the minimum end-to-end distortion of our joint coding scheme. The solution cannot be obtained in closed form, and therefore requires computer search methods. He also obtains a simple upper bound on the distortion by holding the channel error rate constant. Numerical results for this distortion upper bound as a function of the channel coding gain and error rate are obtained. The optimal power control which achieve this bound is also determined.
Lecithin reversed micelle formation and interactions with p,p′-DDA and kelthane. NMR observations

Abstract The behavior of the reversed micellar system of lecithin in benzene in the presence of water has been investigated using lanthanide NMR shift reagents and two oxygenated chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide systems as both reporter molecules and amphiphilic ligands. Increased solubilization of these hydrocarbons in benzene in the presence of lecithin was observed with concomitant deshielding of aromatic proton signals. The experiments indicate that the deshielding may not be due to interactions with lecithin bound phosphate groups but may be forced electrostatic interactions of an intermolecular type. Negligible solubility of these hydrocarbons in benzene was observed in the presence of lecithin in which the anions associated with choline have been partially replaced with the 2,2- bis (4-chlorophenyl) acetate ion.
Tuning Nanostructure Morphology and Gold Nanoparticle Locking of Multi-Responsive Amphiphilic Diblock Copolymers

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was utilized to prepare multiresponsive, self-assembling amphiphilic poly[(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)x-b-(N-isopropylacrylamide)y] (DMAEMAx-b-NIPAMy). Controlling block lengths, solution pH, and NaCl concentration to elicit changes in the hydrophilic mass fraction resulted in specific morphological changes upon thermally induced assembly. At y = 102 (68 wt % DMAEMA), DMAEMA165-b-NIPAM102 copolymers self-assemble into simple core−shell micelles (58 nm). Increasing y to 202 (48 wt % DMAEMA) leads to a mixture of spherical micelles (78 nm) and worm-like micelles (D = 50−100 nm, L = 400−500 nm). Further increasing y to 435 (36 wt % DMAEMA) produces vesicular structures (179 nm). Significantly, reversible assembly of these nanostructures from the present stimuli-responsive diblock copolymers can be accomplished directly in aqueous media without the necessity of dialysis or manipulation with cosolvents. Additionally, the associated...
Methionyl sulfoxide content and protein-methionine-S-oxide reductase activity in response to water deficits or high temperature

Cellular injury resulting from partially reduced oxygen species (superoxide, peroxides and/or hydroxyl radicals) or singlet oxygen frequently increases during environmental stress. Because protein methionine residues are susceptible to oxidation, we investigated the effects of water-deficit stress and high temperature stress on the content of oxidized methionyl residues [Met(O)] in leaves. Leaf proteins from water-deficit-stressed cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Paymaster HS-26). pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Progress No. 9). wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell. cv. Len) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Norgold M) and from the leaves of high-temperature-stressed pea seedlings were evaluated. The activity of protein methionine-S-oxide reductase (PrMSR). an enzyme responsible for re-reducing oxidized methionyl residues, was also determined. Protein Met(O) content did not change in response to either water-deficit or high temperature stress. PrMSR activity decreased in pea and cotton leaves, remained unchanged in potato leaves and significantly increased in leaves of water-deficit-stressed wheat. The findings demonstrate that these plants have developed protection systems that effectively maintain stable levels of oxidized methionyl residues in leaf proteins despite exposure to severe water and high temperature stress. The findings also suggest that changes in PrMSR activity do not fully account for the observed maintenance of protein methionyl sulfoxide content at constant levels.
Developing teaching resources for reuse and publishing in the CSTC

This seminar will provide information about the Computer Science Teaching Center, focusing on developing contributions. The qualities of materials likely to be accepted after formal review by peers will be covered and the process of submission, review, and acceptance will be discussed. Participants will analyze samples of successful materials.
Service Expansion of Product Firms in the Information Technology Industry: An Empirical Study

The provision of services has become an increasingly important component of the economy of industrialized countries and the revenue stream for many traditional product companies. This is especially true for companies that offer information technology (IT) products. This paper examines factors that are associated with the extent to which IT product companies are able to develop service revenue, which we refer to as service expansion of IT product companies. We identify the characteristics of the product portfolio—specifically, the composition and scope of firm offerings among hardware, application software, and infrastructure software—as key to successful service expansion. We also propose that this relationship is moderated by prior performance of the product business and industry characteristics such as concentration and maturity. Data from IT product vendors spanning five years are used to test the proposed relationships. Overall, this research provides a theoretical foundation for understanding service...
Nanophosphors based on CdSe/ZnS and CdSe/SiO 2 colloidal quantum dots for daylight-quality white LEDs

Properly mixed combination of CdSe/ZnS and CdSe/SiO 2 colloidal quantum dots of different sizes is suggested as a nanophosphor material to be combined with blue InGaN/GaN LEDs for well-balanced color content of white light emission.
A speed and accuracy test of backpropagation and RBF neural networks for small-signal models of active devices

Backpropagation networks are compared to radial basis function (RBF) networks when it comes to small signal modeling RF/microwave active devices. The modeled device is a [email protected] gate width, [email protected] gate length gallium arsenide (GaAs) Metal semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET). It is the authors' intent to prove that RBF networks provide much better performance than backpropagation when it comes to this type of modeling. First, two separate backpropagation networks are created to determine the best training algorithm in terms of convergence speed. Then, the backpropagation network, using its best training algorithm, is compared to the RBF network in terms of speed and accuracy. Simulation results are presented in tables and figures for better understanding. All tests and simulations for the backpropagation and RBF networks are done using Matlab's Neural Network Toolbox.
Transcriptional repression of the neu protooncogene by the adenovirus 5 E1A gene products.

Abstract Amplification/overexpression of the human neu protooncogene has been frequently found in human primary breast and ovarian cancers and is correlated with the number of axillary lymph nodes positive for metastasis in breast cancer patients. Identification of the factors controlling transcription of the neu gene is essential for understanding the mechanisms of neu gene regulation and its role in tumorigenicity. The adenovirus early region 1A (E1A) gene products are pleiotropic transcription regulators of viral and cellular genes and have been identified as a viral suppressor gene for metastasis. Here we demonstrate that transcription of neu can be strongly repressed by the E1A gene products. The 13S and 12S products of E1A gene are effective at repressing neu transcription and the transcriptional repression requires the conserved region 2 of the E1A proteins. The target for E1A repression was localized within a 139-base-pair DNA fragment in the upstream region of the neu promoter. In addition, competition experiments suggest that the sequence TGGAATG, within the 139-base-pair fragment, is an important element for the E1A-induced repression. These results indicate that E1A negatively regulates neu gene expression at the transcriptional level by means of a specific DNA element.
A lower bound for the edit-distance problem under an arbitrary cost function

Abstract The edit distance of two strings is the minimum cost to transform one string into the other by a sequence of deletions, insertions, and replacements. We show that any algorithm that can compute the edit distance of two strings under an arbitrary cost function must take time proportional to n2 under the RAM model of computation, where n is the length of the strings. As a corollary, we observe that the Hunt-Szymanski algorithm for longest common subsequences cannot be extended to solve the general edit-distance problem.
Motivation and contemporary socio-constructivist instructional perspectives

The perspective generally referred to as socio-constructivism is prominent in contemporary educational reform efforts. This article argues for expanded study of the motivational issues presented by new curricular approaches that follow from this perspective. The conflict between the models of motivation that are most influential in education and socio-constructivist perspectives is explored, and newer models of motivation, including explicitly socio-constructivist ones, are described. A review of motivation's treatment in new curricular approaches further illustrates how socio-constructivist perspectives can expand and revise our understanding of classroom motivation. This review also illustrates how the expanded study of motivation might help demonstrate the value of new approaches, and yield important insights that can help advance them. Finally, this review shows h w ubiquitous intrinsically motivating instructional principles may undermine the goals of new curricular approaches, suggesting expanded co...
Classical Theory of Radiation Solutions for the Coulomb Field

Eliezer has contended that the Dirac equations for the motion of a particle in a Coulomb field, when the radiative reaction is included, do not have physically realizable solutions. The problem is reinvestigated and Eliezer's conclusion proved false. Two-dimensional solutions (spirals) are found, which can be described with the exclusive use of integrable functions. One-dimensional solutions (radial trajectories) are found for both a repulsive and an attractive pole. The radial solutions involve distributions (in the sense of Schwartz). A consequence of the solutions is the emission of a strong pulse of radiation when a particle hits an attractive pole or when it leaves a repulsive one. (auth)
REQUIREMENT OF N-TERMINAL CYSTEINES OF PSD-95 FOR PSD-95 MULTIMERIZATION AND TERNARY COMPLEX FORMATION, BUT NOT FOR BINDING TO POTASSIUM CHANNEL KV1.4

The PSD-95 family of PSD-95/Discs large/ZO-1 (PDZ) domain-containing proteins plays a role in the clustering and localization of specific ion channels and receptors at synapses. Previous studies have shown that PSD-95 forms multimers through an N-terminal region (termed the N-segment) and that the multimerization of PSD-95 is critical for its ability to cluster Shaker-type potassium channel Kv1.4 in heterologous cells. We show here that the PSD-95 N-segment functions as a multimerization domain only when located at the N-terminal end of a heterologous protein. A pair of N-terminal cysteines, Cys3 and Cys5, is essential for the ability of PSD-95 to self-associate and to form cell surface clusters with Kv1.4. However, PSD-95 mutants lacking these cysteine residues retain their ability to associate with membranes and to bind to Kv1.4. Unlike wild type PSD-95, the cysteine mutant of PSD-95 cannot form a ternary complex with Kv1.4 and the cell adhesion molecule Fasciclin II. These results suggest that the N-terminal cysteines are essential for PSD-95 multimerization and that multimerization is required for simultaneous binding of multiple membrane protein ligands by PSD-95.
Students Assessment of a Semidirected Internship Program

Abstract Internships can be a valuable experience for geography majors, helping them confirm their choice of an area of emphasis in the discipline, giving them real world experience, and providing contacts that can help them gain full-time employment. This article examines student perception of the relative effectiveness of a semidirected internship program. The program relies on students finding their own internship rather than on programmatic linkages between a department and an employer. Analysis of survey responses of students completing the internship program over a five-year period indicates that students viewed their intern experience very positively, with the least satisfaction related to the level of constructive criticism they received of their work and involvement in discussion of their completed work assignments.
Costs of trail construction and maintenance in the leaf-cutting ant Atta columbica

Leaf-cutting ants of the genus Atta use trunk trails during foraging which may persist for months or years. The time and energy costs of trail construction and maintenance were estimated for colonies of Atta columbica on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, to determine if these costs are likely to constrain new trail construction and promote persistence of existing trails. Large workers 2.2–2.9 mm in headwidth participated in trail-clearing significantly more frequently than typical leaf-carriers, indicating that they may form a distinctive task group within the foraging force. Small litter items were carried off trails, while large ones were cut up before removal, greatly increasing the costs of removing large litter items. The average time cost of removing a kilogram of litter was estimated at 3,359 ant-hours, and energy costs at 4.6 kJ. Colonies maintained trail systems 267 m in length and 16.5 m2 in area, and built an estimated 2.7 km of trail with an area of 134 m2 during a year. Based on litter standing crop and estimates of litterfall rates, total costs to colonies averaged 11,000 ant-days of work and the energy equivalent of 8,000 leaf burdens. These costs are small relative to the number of available workers and rates of mass harvest, suggesting that costs do not significantly constrain trail construction. Instead, trails may persist because they provide access to high-quality resources or because only a few trails are required to fully exploit the foraging territory.
Role of nutrients in the gastrointestinal release of immunoreactive neurotensin

Neurotensin is a brain-gut tridecapeptide. It can be released into the circulation upon ingestion of a meal, or when the jejuno-ileal segment of the human gut is exposed to a mixed meal. Among the various constituents of the products of food digestion, fatty acid is the most potent in stimulating immunoreactive neurotensin release. This response is dose dependent. The physiological role of postprandial changes of circulating neurotensin needs further elucidation.