cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Experiential and Dispositional Factors in Phishing: An Empirical Investigation of the Deceived

Phishing has been a major problem for information systems managers and users for several years now. In 2008, it was estimated that phishing resulted in close to $50 billion in damages to U.S. consumers and businesses. Even so, research has yet to explore many of the reasons why Internet users continue to be exploited. The goal of this paper is to better understand the behavioral factors that may increase one's susceptibility for complying with a phisher's request for personal information. Using past research on deception detection, a research model was developed to help explain compliant phishing responses. The model was tested using a field study in which each participant received a phishing e-mail asking for sensitive information. It was found that four behavioral factors were influential as to whether the phishing e-mails were answered with sensitive information. The paper concludes by suggesting that the behavioral aspect of susceptible users be integrated into the current tools and materials used in antiphishing efforts.
Specificity and sensitivity of the olfactory organ of the zebrafish, Danio rerio

1. The specificity and sensitivity of the olfactory organ of adult zebrafish, Danio rerio, to selected amino acid, bile acid, and steroid odorants were characterized using the electro-olfactogram recording technique. The olfactory organ was responsive to 28 of the 29 odorants tested. 2. All of the 100 microM amino acid and bile acid stimulants elicited a negative-going response that was significantly greater than the response to the artificial fresh-water control. The general pattern of relative stimulatory effectiveness established for the amino acid stimuli was neutral amino acids > basic amino acids > acidic amino acids > imino acids. The general pattern of relative stimulatory effectiveness of 100 microM bile acid stimuli was taurine-conjugated bile acids > glycine-conjugated bile acids approximately non-conjugated bile acids. The responses to the most stimulatory bile acid odorants were up to 40% larger than the responses to the most stimulatory amino acid odorants. 3. The response threshold for cysteine and taurocholic acid, the most stimulatory of the amino acid and bile acid stimuli tested, was approximately 10(-8) M. Females are significantly more sensitive to these odorants than males.
The ‘knotting’ problem in proteins. Loop penetration

Summary The ‘knotting’ problem in proteins is redefined in terms of the more general concept of loop penetration. Disulfide-containing proteins are represented as linear graphs, and it is proposed that proteins with nonplanar graph representations display loop penetrations in their three-dimensional structure. With this argument, it is shown that the occurrence of loop penetration in disulfide-containing proteins is approximately that expected based on the random pairing of sulfhydryl groups. It is argued that loop penetration is not as rare as currently held.
Randomized, double-blind comparative study of intravenous ciprofloxacin versus ceftazidime in the treatment of serious infections

We compared intravenously administered ciprofloxacin with ceftazidime in a randomized, double-blind study. Patients received ciprofloxacin 200 mg intravenously every 12 hours or ceftazidime 2 g intravenously every eight hours, with placebo infusions to maintain blinding. Therapy with metronidazole was added for suspected or documented intra-abdominal infection. Thirty-two of the 57 ciprofloxacin-treated patients were evaluable for determination of efficacy and had 41 bacterial isolates from 34 sites. Thirty-six of the 56 ceftazidime patients were evaluable for determination of efficacy and had 41 bacterial isolates from 38 sites. Seven of 35 bacteremic patients had no identifiable primary focus. The most commonly isolated pathogens were Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Cure rates and bacteriologic eradication rates were comparable. Nine patients did not improve. Patients with treatment failures in the ciprofloxacin group included a quadriplegic patient with relapse of urinary tract infection with bacteremia (K. pneumoniae). Another patient with bacteremia (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), pneumonia (Proteus vulgaris), and urinary tract infection (P. vulgaris, Providencia sp.) died on the first treatment day. The third patient (S. aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia) had a new aspiration pneumonia develop on the third day; the pneumococcus also persisted. Undrained S. pneumoniae empyema caused the fourth ciprofloxacin treatment failure, and the fifth patient had a relapse of S. aureus pneumonia with bacteremia. One ceftazidime-treated patient died of pneumococcal pneumonia on the first day. Another had persistent Staphylococcus epidermidis and Listeria bacteremia despite 48 hours of treatment. Two other patients had pneumonia (S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively) and completed full courses of ceftazidime therapy without improvement. Five patients had pneumococcal bacteremia; four patients were cured: one of two patients in the ciprofloxacin group and three of three patients in the ceftazidime group. Significant increases in the number of platelets (four patients with ciprofloxacin treatment, one patient with ceftazidime treatment) and declines in the number of platelets (one patient with ciprofloxacin treatment, one patient with ceftazidime treatment) were observed. Intravenously administered ciprofloxacin is comparable with ceftazidime and is a safe and effective antibiotic for the treatment of patients with serious infections, including bacteremia.
Knowledge modeling and the creation of El-Tech: a performance support and training system for electronic technicians

Abstract This paper contains a description of a unique approach to the creation of an expert system to provide performance support and training for electronics technicians. The starting point for development of the system was the creation of a semantically rich knowledge model comprised of Concept Maps and other digital media. The knowledge model was used to create the inference part of the system, and then retained to furnish explanation of the inference component's behaviors, and as content for training. The paper starts with a survey of relevant approaches to knowledge elicitation and modeling for performance support, and a review of other systems that have been created to assist with electronics troubleshooting. Following this, El-Tech (Electronic Technician), an expert advisory and training system that was created as part of a joint research effort with the Chief of Naval Education and Training, Pensacola, FL, is described.
ISSUES IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF MENTAL RETARDATION: DIFFERENTIATING AMONG ORGANIC ETIOLOGIES

Many researchers of mental retardation fail to take etiological differences into account, although the value of distinguishing between organic and familial mental retardation has long been discussed. The argument is made that even the two-group approach needs to be extended so that groups with different organic etiologies are studied separately. Taking etiological distinctions into account will allow for more precise research and a better understanding of mental retardation. Evidence for the utility of differentiating retarded persons by etiology is provided by a research review showing examples of behavioral differences between organically retarded groups. It is concluded that such differentiation also has clear implications for intervention.
General Comparison of Power Loss in Single-Layer and Multi-Layer Windings

This paper systematically and generally addresses the question of when a single-layer winding can have lower loss than a multi-layer winding. Two cases for single-layer windings are investigated. First, when very high frequencies require thinner conductor layers or thinner wire than is practical. Second, when the current waveform contains substantial harmonics. We conclude that multi-layer windings typically provide lower loss except when layer thickness constraints prevent the use of a thickness-to-skin-depth ratio less than 1.45. However, with substantial harmonic content, the advantage of multi-layer windings is typically small and is not always worthwhile in practice
Cerebrovascular accidents after percutaneous coronary interventions from 2002 to 2014: Incidence, outcomes, and associated variables.

Background Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and transient ischemic attack (TIA) related to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are relatively rare complications, but they are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Given the evolution of both CVA risk and PCI techniques over time, this study was conducted to evaluate trends in CVA and TIA associated with PCI and to identify variables associated with neurologic events. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing PCI at the Washington Hospital Center between January 2002 and June 2015 were included. Prespecified data were prospectively collected, including baseline and procedural characteristics, in-hospital outcomes, and 1-year mortality. The subjects who had a CVA or TIA during or immediately after PCI were compared with those without procedure-associated CVA or TIA. Results Overall, 25,626 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 65.0 ± 12.4 years, 16,949 (65.2%) were male, and 7,436 (28.6%) were African American. From 2002 to 2015, 110 neurologic events post-PCI were diagnosed (0.43%); this included 86 CVAs (0.34%) and 24 TIAs (0.09%). The annual rate of postprocedural neurologic events was 0.42% ± 0.12%. There were significant changes in baseline risk factors over time, with increasing age, incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Patients with neurologic events were more often African American (43.6% vs 28.6%, P P P P = .03). Acute myocardial infarction (56% vs 30.4%, P P P P = .002) and African American race (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.5-3.9, P P = .09). In-hospital mortality (20.0% vs 1.5%, P P Conclusion Neurologic events post-PCI are associated with markedly worse in-hospital outcomes. The incidence of CVA and TIA post-PCI, however, remained stable over the last 12 years despite an increase in risk factors for CVA.
Concepts for a database system compiler

We propose a very simple formalism based on parameterized types and a rule-based algebra to explain the storage structures and algorithms of database management systems. Implementations of DBMSs are expressed as equations If all functions referenced in the equations have been implemented the software for a DBMS can be synthesized in minutes at little cost, in contrast to current methods where man-years of effort and hundreds of thousands of dollars are required. Our research aims to develop a DBMS counterpart to today's compiler-complier technologies
Cytochrome c oxidase is activated by the oncoprotein Ras and is required for A549 lung adenocarcinoma growth

Background Constitutive activation of Ras in immortalized bronchial epithelial cells increases electron transport chain activity, oxygen consumption and tricarboxylic acid cycling through unknown mechanisms. We hypothesized that members of the Ras family may stimulate respiration by enhancing the expression of the Vb regulatory subunit of cytochrome c oxidase (COX).
Efficient 1-Step Radiolabeling of Monoclonal Antibodies to High Specific Activity with 225Ac for α-Particle Radioimmunotherapy of Cancer

Targeted α-particle radiation using the radioisotope 225Ac is a promising form of therapy for various types of cancer. Historic obstacles to the use of 225Ac have been the difficulty in finding suitable chelators to stably attach it to targeting vehicles such as peptides and monoclonal antibodies, the low specific activities of the products, and the lack of cost-effective radiolabeling procedures. We initially solved the first problem with a procedure involving 2 chemical steps that has been used as a standard in preclinical and clinical studies. However, this procedure involves the loss of 90% of the input 225Ac. A more efficient, economical process is needed to facilitate the more widespread use of 225Ac. Methods: We conjugated representative antibodies with 2 forms of DOTA as well as other chelators as controls. We developed conditions to radiolabel these constructs in 1 chemical step and characterized their stability, immunoreactivity, biodistribution, and therapeutic efficacy in healthy and tumor-bearing mice. Results: DOTA–antibody constructs were labeled to a wide range of specific activities in 1 chemical step at 37°C. Radiochemical yields were approximately 10-fold higher, and specific activities were up to 30-fold higher than with the previous approach. The products retained immunoreactivity and were stable to serum challenge in vitro and in mice. Labeling kinetics of DOTA–antibody constructs linked through a benzyl isothiocyanate linkage were more favorable than those linked through an N-hydroxysuccinimide linkage. Tissue distribution was similar but not identical between the constructs. The constructs produced specific therapeutic responses in a mouse model of acute myeloid leukemia. Conclusion: We have characterized an efficient, 1-step radiolabeling method that produces stable, therapeutically active conjugates of antibodies with 225Ac at high specific activity. We propose that this technology greatly expands the possible clinical applications of 225Ac monoclonal antibodies.
Renovascular hypertension: Etiology and pathophysiology

Evidence from animal studies demonstrates that the renin-angiotensin (ANG II) system and sodium retention play major roles in experimental renovascular hypertension (RVH). Two basic models have been described. In the first, one-clip two-kidney Goldblatt hypertension, the ischemic kidney secretes renin, which leads to increased ANG II formation and hence elevation of blood pressure (BP). As BP rises, sodium excretion by the intact contralateral kidney increases (pressure natriuresis); therefore, there is no sodium retention. In the second, one-clip one-kidney Goldblatt hypertension, the contralateral kidney is removed. In this case the pressure natriuresis can no longer occur, and sodium retention occurs. The ensuing expansion of plasma volume inhibits renin secretion, so that in this model the renin level is normal or low. Following the clipping of the renal artery, renal blood flow and pressure are maintained distal to the stenosis by an ANG II-mediated vasoconstriction. This acts prefrrentially on the efferent glomerular arterioles, so that the ratio of preglomerular to postglomerular resistance is reduced, which helps to maintain glomerular filtration despite the reduced renal perfusion pressure. In the contralateral kidney the afferent arteriolar resistance is increased, probably as a direct result of exposure to the higher intrarenal arterial pressure. ANG II constricts the efferent arterioles in the same way as in the ischemic kidney, so that the ratio of preglomerular to postglomerular resistance is unchanged. When an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor is given, the efferent arterioles vasodilate. In the ischemic kidney this may produce a reduction of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is not seen in the contralateral kidney. Unilateral RVH in humans corresponds closely to the animal model of one-clip two-kidney hypertension. Plasma renin activity is usually high, and converting enzyme inhibitors lower BP effectively. The increased renin is due exclusively to increased secretion of renin by the ischemic kidney, and is completely suppressed in the contralateral kidney. It is not clear whether bilateral RVH corresponds to the one-clip one-kidney model, but there is circumstantial evidence to suggest that both renin and volume factors may be involved. The majority of cases of human RVH are caused by atheroma, which is commonly bilateral, or by fibromuscular dysplasia. The former tends to be associated with atheroma elsewhere in the arterial tree, and often progresses to complete occlusion and renal failure. The latter occurs in younger patients, and almost never progresses to complete occlusion.
An improved region growing algorithm for phase correction in MRI.

Purpose To develop an improved region-growing algorithm for phase correction in MRI. Methods Phase correction in MRI can sometimes be formulated as selecting a vector for each pixel of an image from two candidate vectors so that the orientation of the output is spatially smooth. Existing algorithms may run into difficulty in the presence of high noise, artifacts, or spatially isolated objects. In this study, we developed an improved region-growing algorithm to include the following novel and salient features: 1) automated quality guidance for determining the sequence of region growing, 2) joint consideration of two candidate vectors in selecting the output vector, and 3) automated segmentation during region growing for handling spatially isolated objects. The phase correction algorithm was tested in different body parts of five healthy volunteers at 3.0T and of one healthy volunteer at 1.5T for two-point Dixon water and fat imaging with flexible echo times. Results The algorithm achieved successful phase correction in all the data sets tested, providing improvement in areas of known difficulty, when compared with an algorithm lacking the new features. Conclusion The improved region-growing algorithm can be used for reliable and robust phase correction even when regions of high noise, artifacts, or spatially isolated objects are present in an image. Magn Reson Med, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High speed pulse radiation from switched electrically small antennas

By taking a time domain approach, Wheeler's limit can be understood as the following. As the antenna becomes smaller, the ratio of energy required to be stored in the near field to the energy radiated per period becomes larger. Therefore, the time it takes to replenish the near-field active energy before the antenna can radiate efficiently increases. When the rate of signal becomes higher than the replenishing speed, the radiation cannot follow this signal variation. This causes the signal to be distorted, or radiation efficiency lowered if compensation is applied to decrease the Q. However, with a switch, it is possible to pre-charge the antenna and allow the stored energy turn to radiation immediately. Similar concept has been applied to increase the radiation bandwidth of resonant antennas. The pre-charge process are shown to improve the efficiency on wideband pulse radiation for electrically small antennas. Analytical studies also show that the bandwidth of the radiated pulse, which is controlled by switching, can reach to 100%. However, in practical case, the loss of the switch has an adverse effect on efficiency. To minimize this loss, it is desirable to have low on-resistance, high off-resistance, and fast switching speed. It is expected that the semiconductor technology advancement can lead to practical implementation of the proposed technique in the near future. To validate the concept, a /spl lambda//10 switched dipole antenna operating at 100 MHz is analyzed and simulated with both circuit and full-wave simulators. With a typical set of switch parameters, this technique achieves an efficiency-bandwidth product of 0.105, compared to 0.0013 from traditional design.
Unbundling the Structure of Inertia: Resource Versus Routine Rigidity

I work to unbundle the structure of inertia into two distinct categories: resource rigidity (failure to change resource investment patterns) and routine rigidity (failure to change organizational p...
A predictive model of backscattering at subdiffusion length scales.

We provide a methodology for accurately predicting elastic backscattering radial distributions from random media with two simple empirical models. We apply these models to predict the backscattering based on two classes of scattering phase functions: the Henyey-Greenstein phase function and a generalized two parameter phase function that is derived from the Whittle-Matern correlation function. We demonstrate that the model has excellent agreement over all length scales and has less than 1% error for backscattering at subdiffusion length scales for tissue-relevant optical properties. The presented model is the first available approach for accurately predicting backscattering at length scales significantly smaller than the transport mean free path.
Dynamic splinting for paediatric contracture reduction of the upper limb

BackgroundThis report is based on a case of ‘shaken baby syndrome,’ and clinical manifestations of this injury often include hypertonicity, spasticity and joint contracture. Shaken baby syndrome affects over 1 million children and resembles symptoms of traumatic brain injury.MethodsThe patient was a five-year-old boy who had suffered a traumatic brain injury with right spastic hemiplegia. Over the course of treatment, multiple modalities were used to manage his tone, spasticity and to reduce wrist and elbow contractures, which included Botox® (Allergan Co., Irvine, CA, USA), manual therapy and dynamic splinting as home therapy. The main outcome measured was change in maximal range of motion(s) (ROMs) in the elbow and wrist.ResultsAfter dynamic splinting was initiated, the child's passive ROM increased by 65° in wrist extension and 45° in elbow extension. Ulnar deviation progressed by 15–30°.ConclusionDynamic splinting contributed over 900 hours of end-range, home therapy for wrist extension and 700 hours ...
Helping Each Other: Social Engagement of Elderly Participants in Qualitative Research

The predominant research focus in aging research has been improved outcomes for the frail elderly. This research focus has made a significant impact on care delivery. Unfortunately, it has also resulted in a negative view of aging focusing on losses and problems. A neglected area of research is with the well elderly. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss issues regarding research with well older adults and examine challenges of conducting research in this population. The context of this discussion is the qualitative research study entitled ‘The Aging Experience of Well Elderly Women’. Elderly women in the United States deal with changes in aging by ‘helping others’. During data collection using focus groups, the social engagement that occurred included ‘helping each other’. This social engagement has implications for future directions of research with the well elderly including data collection, analysis and development of effective interventions for health promotion and disease prevention.
Cognitive-behavioral psychology: implications for disaster and terrorism response.

Given the personal and societal costs associated with acute impairment and enduring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the mental health response to disasters is an integral component of disaster response planning. The purpose of this paper is to explore the compatibility between cognitive-behavioral psychology and the disaster mental health model, and explicate how cognitivebehavioral perspectives and intervention methods can enhance the effectiveness of disaster mental health services. It is argued that cognitive-behavioral methods, if matched to the contexts of the disaster and the needs of individuals, will improve efforts to prevent the development of PTSD and other trauma-related problems in survivors of disaster or terrorist events. First, the similarities between models of care underlying both disaster mental health services and cognitive-behavioral therapies are described. Second, examples of prior cognitive-behavioral therapy-informed work with persons exposed to disaster and terrorism are provided, potential cognitive-behavioral therapy applications to disaster and terrorism are explored, and implications of cognitive-behavioral therapy for common challenges in disaster mental health is discussed. Finally, steps that can be taken to integrate cognitive-behavioral therapy into disaster mental health are outlined. The aim is to prompt disaster mental health agencies and workers to consider using cognitive-behavioral therapy to improve services and training, and to motivate cognitive-behavioral researchers and practitioners to develop and support disaster mental health response.
Recombination locations and rates in beef cattle assessed from parent-offspring pairs

Recombination events tend to occur in hotspots and vary in number among individuals. The presence of recombination influences the accuracy of haplotype phasing and the imputation of missing genotypes. Genes that influence genome-wide recombination rate have been discovered in mammals, yeast, and plants. Our aim was to investigate the influence of recombination on haplotype phasing, locate recombination hotspots, scan the genome for Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) and identify candidate genes that influence recombination, and quantify the impact of recombination on the accuracy of genotype imputation in beef cattle. 2775 Angus and 1485 Limousin parent-verified sire/offspring pairs were genotyped with the Illumina BovineSNP50 chip. Haplotype phasing was performed with DAGPHASE and BEAGLE using UMD3.1 assembly SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) coordinates. Recombination events were detected by comparing the two reconstructed chromosomal haplotypes inherited by each offspring with those of their sires. Expected crossover probabilities were estimated assuming no interference and a binomial distribution for the frequency of crossovers. The BayesB approach for genome-wide association analysis implemented in the GenSel software was used to identify genomic regions harboring QTL with large effects on recombination. BEAGLE was used to impute Angus genotypes from a 7K subset to the 50K chip. DAGPHASE was superior to BEAGLE in haplotype phasing, which indicates that linkage information from relatives can improve its accuracy. The estimated genetic length of the 29 bovine autosomes was 3097 cM, with a genome-wide recombination distance averaging 1.23 cM/Mb. 427 and 348 windows containing recombination hotspots were detected in Angus and Limousin, respectively, of which 166 were in common. Several significant SNPs and candidate genes, which influence genome-wide recombination were localized in QTL regions detected in the two breeds. High-recombination rates hinder the accuracy of haplotype phasing and genotype imputation. Small population sizes, inadequate half-sib family sizes, recombination, gene conversion, genotyping errors, and map errors reduce the accuracy of haplotype phasing and genotype imputation. Candidate regions associated with recombination were identified in both breeds. Recombination analysis may improve the accuracy of haplotype phasing and genotype imputation from low- to high-density SNP panels.
Comparison of selenium and sulfur volatilization by dimethylsulfoniopropionate lyase (DMSP) in two marine bacteria and estuarine sediments

The volatile forms of selenium emitted from soils and plants have been identified by others as dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide. Dimethylselenoniopropionate, a possible precursor of dimethylselenide, is the selenium analogue of the common marine osmoprotectant, dimethylsulfoniopropionate. Dimethylselenoniopropionate was organically synthesized from dimethylselenide and acrylate and used in a comparative study with dimethylsulfoniopropionate as a growth substrate, an inducer and substrate for dimethylsulfoniopropionate lyase in two marine bacterial isolates, Alcaligenes sp. strain M3A and Pseudomonas doudoroffii, and in salt marsh sediments and estuarine creek water samples. In P. doudoroffii, the rate of dimethylselenoniopropionate transport into cells was about half that observed with dimethylsulfoniopropionate; Alcaligenes does not take up these molecules. The rate and extent of induction of dimethylsulfoniopropionate lyase in P. doudoroffii at low concentrations of dimethylselenoniopropionate were similar to that of dimethylsulfoniopropionate. In Alcaligenes the low constitutive level of dimethylsulfoniopropionate lyase cleaved dimethylselenoniopropionate into dimethylselenide and acrylate, but induction of dimethylsulfoniopropionate lyase by dimethylselenoniopropionate did not follow. Dimethylsulfoniopropionate lyases from both strains, when induced by dimethylsulfoniopropionate, utilized dimethylselenoniopropionate as a substrate with emission of dimethylselenide. Rates of partially purified dimethylsulfoniopropionate lyase activity with dimethylselenoniopropionate were half those with dimethylsulfoniopropionate. Anoxic salt marsh sediments catalyzed dimethylsulfoniopropionate and dimethylselenoniopropionate degradation at equal rates. In sediments containing high organic matter, both dimethylsulfide and dimethylselenide served as substrates for methanogenesis. These data support the hypothesis that organic selenium molecules can be volatilized by the same biochemical pathways as organic sulfur molecules.
Novel biomimetic scaffold for tendon and ligament tissue engineering

Each year, surgeons repair more than 300,000 injured tendon and ligament (T/L) tissues in the United States alone [1]. Unfortunately, current treatments are limited, resulting in a clinical need for regenerated T/L tissues. Electrospun nanofibers are favorable for tissue engineering applications due to their resemblance in fiber diameter and morphology to extracellular matrix. We propose to utilize this biomimetic feature of nanofibers in the generation of scaffolds that also mimic the macrostructure of natural tissue. We hypothesize that scaffolds that recapitulate natural tissue structure over a range of dimensions will enhance natural tissue regeneration with progenitor cells. Here, we report on the fabrication and initial characterization of a novel biomimetic scaffold that begins to recapitulate the complex structure of a fascicle and endotenon of natural T/L. Electrospinning was employed to generate aligned nanofiber mats that were seeded with progenitor cells and subsequently assembled into a complex construct to represent a fascicle surrounded by the endotenon. The resulting scaffold physically resembled native T/L and demonstrated the ability to support progenitor cell attachment, viability, and proliferation. Currently, studies are underway to characterize the ability for these scaffolds to support and enhance progenitor cell differentiation toward the T/L lineage and demonstrate the use of these novel biomimetic scaffolds for T/L tissue engineering.
The crowding approach to niching in genetic algorithms

A wide range of niching techniques have been investigated in evolutionary and genetic algorithms. In this article, we focus on niching using crowding techniques in the context of what we call local tournament algorithms. In addition to deterministic and probabilistic crowding, the family of local tournament algorithms includes the Metropolis algorithm, simulated annealing, restricted tournament selection, and parallel recombinative simulated annealing. We describe an algorithmic and analytical framework which is applicable to a wide range of crowding algorithms. As an example of utilizing this framework, we present and analyze the probabilistic crowding niching algorithm. Like the closely related deterministic crowding approach, probabilistic crowding is fast, simple, and requires no parameters beyond those of classical genetic algorithms. In probabilistic crowding, subpopulations are maintained reliably, and we show that it is possible to analyze and predict how this maintenance takes place. We also provide novel results for deterministic crowding, show how different crowding replacement rules can be combined in portfolios, and discuss population sizing. Our analysis is backed up by experiments that further increase the understanding of probabilistic crowding.
The Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe Has Two Importin-α Proteins, Imp1p and Cut15p, Which Have Common and Unique Functions in Nucleocytoplasmic Transport and Cell Cycle Progression

The nuclear import of classical nuclear localization signal-containing proteins depends on importin-α transport receptors. In budding yeast there is a single importin-α gene and in higher eukaryotes there are multiple importin-α-like genes, but in fission yeast there are two: the previously characterized cut15 and the more recently identified imp1. Like other importin-α family members, Imp1p supports nuclear protein import in vitro. In contrast to cut15, imp1 is not essential for viability, but imp1Δ mutant cells exhibit a telophase delay and mild temperature-sensitive lethality. Differences in the cellular functions that depend on Imp1p and Cut15p indicate that they each have unique physiological roles. They also have common roles because the imp1Δ and the cut15-85 temperature-sensitive mutations are synthetically lethal; overexpression of cut15 partially suppresses the temperature sensitivity, but not the mitotic delay in imp1Δ cells; and overexpression of imp1 partially suppresses the mitotic defect in cut15-85 cells but not the loss of viability. Both Imp1p and Cut15p are required for the efficient nuclear import of both an SV40 nuclear localization signal-containing reporter protein and the Pap1p component of the stress response MAP kinase pathway. Imp1p and Cut15p are essential for efficient nuclear protein import in S. pombe.
Clinically important interaction between statin drugs and Clostridium difficile toxin

Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD), a common type of antibiotic associated diarrhea, is increasing in frequency and affecting patients outside of traditional populations. At one time CDAD exclusively occurred in hospitalized patients or frail elderly patients receiving antibiotic therapy. It is now occurring more commonly in younger patients who are relatively healthy and may not be receiving antibiotics. Co-factors that might explain this increase incidence and changing demographic are of great public health interest. Recent investigations have identified gastric acid suppression, particularly via proton pump inhibitors, as a risk factor for the development of CDAD by mechanisms which are not entirely clear. C. difficile toxin comes as two major forms that are closely related, toxin A and toxin B and both are able to produce CDAD. These toxins have a glucosyltransferase domain that glucosylates actived Rho, a small GTP binding protein involved in multiple cellular signaling pathways. Glucosylation inactivates Rho and modifies cell cycle, cytoskeletal and inflammatory pathways. The lipid lowering drugs called statins also inhibit Rho but at an earlier step in the Rho pathway. Statins inhibit the isoprenylation of Rho and therefore inhibits membrane anchoring a key step in Rho signaling. We propose that statins potentiate C. difficile toxin effects on colonic epithelium which leads to an increased risk of CDAD. We present preliminary data from a retrospective cohort which demonstrated an increased rate of CDAD in patients receiving statins compared to non-statin controls. The weight of the evidence leads to our hypothesis that statins interact with C difficile toxin A and B causing an increase in the rate and severity of CDAD.
A case of pigmented penile intraepithelial neoplasia: Dermoscopic and clinicohistopathologic analysis

From D Publ Fund Conf Repr D D CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 79-year-old uncircumcised Caucasian male presented to the dermatology clinic complaining of a sensitive rash on his prepuce. Examination revealed an eroded plaque on the dorsum of the prepuce. More proximally, there was an irregular dark blue-black patch with asymmetry and scalloped borders. These changes were observed on a background of erythema (Fig 1).
Analysis of mammographic microcalcifications using gray-level image structure features

At present, mammography associated with clinical breast examination and breast self-examination is the only effective and viable method for mass breast screening. The presence of microcalcifications is one of the primary signs of breast cancer. It is, difficult however, to distinguish between benign and malignant microcalcifications associated with breast cancer. Here, the authors define a set of image structure features for classification of malignancy. Two categories of correlated gray-level image structure features are defined for classification of "difficult-to-diagnose" cases. The first category of features includes second-order histogram statistics-based features representing the global texture and the wavelet decomposition-based features representing the local texture of the microcalcification area of interest. The second category of features represents the first-order gray-level histogram-based statistics of the segmented microcalcification regions and the size, number, and distance features of the segmented microcalcification cluster. Various features in each category were correlated with the biopsy examination results of 191 "difficult-to-diagnose" cases for selection of the best set of features representing the complete gray-level image structure information. The selection of the best features was performed using the multivariate cluster analysis as well as a genetic algorithm (GA)-based search method. The selected features were used for classification using backpropagation neural network and parameteric statistical classifiers. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to compare the neural network-based classification with linear and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifiers. The neural network classifier yielded better results using the combined set of features selected through the GA-based search method for classification of "difficult-to-diagnose" microcalcifications.
Land Policy in the Spanish Southwest, 1846–1891: A Study in Contrasts

In Choosing to discuss land policy in that part of the Spanish Southwest which comprises present central and northern New Mexico and most of southern Colorado, I would appear to be using a model area of the West to demonstrate once again that the Homestead Act and principle were unworkable. In actuality the purpose is to note generally what can happen when an American land system runs into an older and highly different Spanish-Mexican one. As Howard W. Odum has observed, “Here two great culture systems have met and clashed and fused and are still in process of clashing and fusing.”
B-type olivine fabric in the mantle wedge: Insights from high-resolution non-Newtonian subduction zone models

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain trench-parallel shear wave splitting in the mantle wedge of subduction zones. These include 3-D flow effects, parallel melt filled cracks, and B-type olivine fabric. We predict the distribution of Btype and other fabrics with high-resolution thermal and stress models of subduction zones. A composite viscous rheology is used that incorporates wet diffusion creep, wet dislocation creep, and a stress-limiting approximated Peierls creep law. Rheological parameters for dislocation and diffusion creep are based on deformation experiments. The effects of variable viscous coupling between the slab and mantle are explored using kinematic boundary conditions that change along the top of the slab. Two end-member models are observed, which depend on the depth of partial viscous coupling between the slab and mantle: (1) deep partial coupling which gives rise to cold, high-stress conditions in the forearc mantle and high-temperature, low-stress conditions in the arc and back-arc mantle (2) full viscous coupling at the base of a 40 km conducting lid which is characterized by high temperature and low stress. The case with deep partial coupling, which produces a better match with attenuation tomography and heat flow, shows a large region with suitable conditions for B-type fabric in the forearc mantle and a rapid transition toward the back-arc to conditions that are more suitable for A-, C-, or E-type fabrics. Full viscous coupling gives rise to high-temperature, low-stress conditions unsuitable for B-type fabric. Our modeling predicts that the best candidates for regions with B-type fabric are the forearc mantle and a cold 10–15 km layer above the slab. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Heat Survivor Curves of Food-Borne Bacteria Suspended in Commercially Sterilized Whole Milk. I. Salmonellae

Abstract The heat survivor curves at 55, 60, and 62.5C of 8 Salmonella enteritidis serotypes suspended in commercially sterilized whole milk were generally nonlogarithmic. Extensive tailings of curves were obtained which cannot be described by D values (decimal reduction value at a given temperature). The effect of plating medium and of recovery phenomenon on the maximum survival time indicates that a combination of a Salmonella Survival Test with an F value that would describe tailings of survivor curves might give a more comprehensive description of heat resistance of Salmonella in milk.
Construction, enumeration, and optimization of perfect phylogenies on multi-state data

Perfect phylogenies are central to both evolutionary biology and population genetics. We implemented and evaluated algorithms for constructing, counting, and enumerating perfect phylogenies on data with an arbitrary number of states. Ours is the first program to implement the efficient algorithm of Agarwala and Fernandez-Baca (1994) with the speedups and enumeration extensions by Kannan and Warnow (1995). It is written in the C++ language and uses specialized algorithms and datastructures for faster and more compact execution. We have included new extensions to the previously described algorithms. Our software can efficiently construct a phylogeny, determine it's uniqueness, or determine that no phylogeny exists. It can handle input data with missing values and find a largest subset of compatible characters. It can count and enumerate the potentially exponential number of trees that may explain an input dataset. Using dynamic programming, it can find a smallest tree or a tree with maximum edge support. While many of these problems have been shown to be NP hard, our implementations are demonstrably practical for many datasets. Our software can be downloaded at http://wwwcsif.cs.ucdavis.edu/˜gusfield.
Anterior interbody lumbar spine fusion. Analysis of Mayo Clinic series.

A consecutive series of eighty-three patients treated with anterior interbody disc excision and bone-grafting has been presented. A good clinical result was achieved by only 36 per cent of the patients and roentgenographic evidence of fusion at all levels grafted occurred in only 56 per cent. A one-level grafting procedure gave a better chance of fusion (68 per cent) and the lumbosacral interspace became solid slightly more frequently than more cephalad interspaces. Postoperative cast immobilization significantly improved the fusion rate. We concluded that the reported differences in success with this technique are attributable chiefly to the interpretation of clinical and roentgenographic factors by different authors and to the type of patients selected for this procedure. We believe that this technique should be utilized as a salvage procedure only in those infrequent cases in which posterolateral grafting is inadvisable because of infection or unusally extensive scarring.
Non-iterative adaptive optical microscopy using wavefront sensing

This paper will review the development of wide-field and confocal microscopes with wavefront sensing and adaptive optics for correcting refractive aberrations and compensating scattering when imaging through thick tissues (Drosophila embryos and mouse brain tissue). To make wavefront measurements in biological specimens we have modified the laser guide-star techniques used in astronomy for measuring wavefront aberrations that occur as star light passes through Earth’s turbulent atmosphere. Here sodium atoms in Earth’s mesosphere, at an altitude of 95 km, are excited to fluoresce at resonance by a high-power sodium laser. The fluorescent light creates a guide-star reference beacon at the top of the atmosphere that can be used for measuring wavefront aberrations that occur as the light passes through the atmosphere. We have developed a related approach for making wavefront measurements in biological specimens using cellular structures labeled with fluorescent proteins as laser guide-stars. An example is a fluorescently labeled centrosome in a fruit fly embryo or neurons and dendrites in mouse brains. Using adaptive optical microscopy we show that the Strehl ratio, the ratio of the peak intensity of an aberrated point source relative to the diffraction limited image, can be improved by an order of magnitude when imaging deeply into live dynamic specimens, enabling near diffraction limited deep tissue imaging.
Colloidal iron stain for distinguishing open from sealed endocytic vesicles of erythrocytes.

AbstractFerritin-labeled antibodies and lectins have been used to visualize endocytic vesicles in erythrocytes. Distinguishing preformed endocytic vesicles from invaginated plasma membrane has proved difficult especially since antibodies and lectins by themselves induce these changes in membrane configuration. We have used a transmission electron microscope technique (TEM) utilizing positive colloidal iron staining, employing as our model erythrocytes treated with cationic amphipathic drugs. Our technique allows fixation of cells at any point during drug treatment before staining. The membrane lining of unsealed but not of sealed vesicles was coated with electron dense ferric oxide grains. The formation of sealed vesicles is evidence for the fluidity of membranes of the erythrocytes of adults. The data also suggest that the mechanism may not be identical with every cationic amphiphile.
Digital blood flow in normal newborn infant measured colorimetrically.

Summary1. A method for determining digital blood flow after indirect heating in the newborn infant is described. 2. Average digital blood flow in the newborn infant was 0.09 cc/sq cm/min., standard deviation ± 0.03 within the first 48 hours of life. Average flow at 4 to 5 days was 0.13, standard deviation ± 0.04. Average digital blood flow in the adult is 0.29, range 0.25 to 0.38 cc/sq cm/ min.
A single-institution validation of the AJCC staging system for stage IV melanoma

8517 Background: We sought to validate the AJCC staging system for stage IV melanoma in a contemporary, prospective, single- institution cohort and explore additional clinical factors that may infl...
Health Cumulative Deficit Index and Its Validity among the Chinese Elderly

This study shows that the age-sex-specific distribution of health cumulative deficit index(DI) among the Chinese elderly is close to those found in Western countries.Using the data from the Chinese Healthy Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey,this study further finds that the age-sex distribution of DIs converges when DI is created by using different variables available in the survey as long as the variables include few instrumental activities of daily living and few disease variables.The associations between a given individual characteristic and different DIs are similar;and the associations between different DIs and mortality risk tend to be stable.The findings suggest that DI is a valid and robust indicator in measuring overall health and that DI might have a better comparability across populations than other health indicators.
Somebody’s Hedging

The reforms arising from the Great Depression and panics before and since, have created a body of regulations designed to keep together Consumer-Investors and their money.
Hypothyroidism, Motor Clumsiness, and ADHD

The behavioral characteristics of 63 children with early-treated congenital hypothyroidism (CH) were evaluated by parent and teacher ratings and compared to 34 healthy controls (ages 7.5-9.5 yrs) at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.
Mobilizing plasmacytoid dendritic cells

In this issue of Blood , Schroeder et al demonstrate striking mobilization of plasmacytoid dendritic cell progenitors (pre-pDCs) and mature plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) into the vascular compartment along with CD34 + hematopoietic progenitor cells following administration of single-agent plerixafor in sibling donors. 1