cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct printing of micro/nanostructures by femtosecond laser excitation of nanocrystals

Direct writing using single or multiple energized beams (e.g. laser, ion or electron beams) provides high feature resolution (<1μm) compared with other solution-based printing methods (e.g. inkjet printing). There have been extensive researches on micro/nano additive manufacturing methods employing laser (or optical) and ion/electron beams. Many of these processes utilize specially designed photosensitive materials consisting of additives and effective components. Due to the presence of additive (such as polymer and binders), the effective components are relatively low resulting in high threshold for device operation. In order to direct print functional devices at low cost, there has been extensive research on laser processing of pre-synthesized nanomaterials for non-polymer functional device manufacturing. Pre-synthesized nanocrystals can have better control in the stoichiometry and crystallinity. In addition, pre-synthesis process enjoys the flexibility in material choice since a variety of materials can be synthesized. Femtosecond laser assembly and deposition of nanomaterials can be a feasible 3D micro/nano additive manufacturing approach, although mechanisms leading to assembly and deposition have not been fully understood. In this paper, we propose a mechanism for 2D and 3D deposition of nanocrystals by laser excitation with moderate peak intensities(1011-1012 W/cm2). It is postulated that laser induced charging is responsible for the deposition. The scheme paves the way for laser selective electrophoretic deposition as a micro/nanoscale additive manufacturing approach.
CARDINAL: similarity analysis to defeat malware compiler variations

Authors of malicious software, or malware, have a plethora of options when deciding how to protect their code from network defenders and malware analysts. For many static analyses, malware authors do not even need sophisticated obfuscation techniques to bypass detection, simply compiling with different flags or with a different compiler will suffice. We propose a new static analysis called CARDINAL that is tolerant of the differences in binaries introduced by compiling the same source code with different flags or with different compilers. We accomplished this goal by finding an invariant between these differences. The effective invariant we found is the number of arguments to a call, or call parameter cardinality (CPC). We concatenate all CPC’s together per function and input these chains into a Bloom filter. Signatures constructed in this manner can be quickly compared to each other using a Jaccard index to obtain a similarity score. We empirically tested our algorithm on a large corpus of transformed programs and found that using a threshold value of 0.15 for determining a positive or negative match yielded results with a 11% false negative rate and a 11% false positive rate. Overall, we both demonstrate that CPC’s are a telling feature that can increase the efficacy of static malware analyses and point the way forward in static analyses.
Effect of energy source and level, and sex on growth, performance, and carcass characteristics of lambs.

Abstract The objective of the study was to compare ad libitum or restricted access of whole shelled corn (WSC) versus ad libitum alfalfa pellets, and sex of the lamb, on lamb growth and performance. Ewe (n = 48) and wether (n = 48) lambs were blocked by sex and stratified by initial weight to pen. The three diets offered were ad libitum access of a WSC diet, 85% access of ad libitum WSC diet, or an ad libitum access of an alfalfa pellet diet. There were four lambs per pen, and eight replicate pens per dietary treatment. Ewe and wether lambs were removed from the study when pens reached an average weight of 59.0 and 63.5 kg, respectively. Average daily gain (ADG) of lambs offered the ad libitum WSC diet was greater (P
A moral basis for prohibiting performance enhancing drug use in competitive sport

A strong moral reason for prohibiting doping in sport is to be found in the bad choices that would be faced by clean athletes in a sporting world that tolerated doping. The case against doping is n...
Changes in quality of life indicators among Chronic Disease Self-Management Program participants: an examination by race and ethnicity.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in self-reported quality of life indicators among Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) participants from baseline to 6-month followup and compare observed changes by racial and ethnic group. DESIGN: A pre-post evaluation design was employed for this evidence-based chronic disease self-management intervention. Data were collected at baseline and again six months post intervention. SETTING: Using the aging services network and public health system, workshops were hosted in a variety of community settings including senior centers, churches, libraries, and health care settings. PARTICIPANTS: One-hundred thirty-six adults aged > or =50 years residing in Bexar County, Texas. INTERVENTIONS: CDSMP is an evidence-based program created at Stanford University. The program was held one time per week for six consecutive weeks. Each session lasted approximately 150 minutes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Health-related quality of life indicators developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ie, total number of unhealthy physical days, unhealthy mental days). RESULTS: From baseline to 6-month follow-up, significant differences by racial/ethnic group were observed for changes in unhealthy physical days and changes in combined unhealthy days. Hispanic participants showed greatest improvement, followed by African American participants, followed by non-Hispanic White participants. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate health-related quality of life improvements can be sustained months after the conclusion of CDSMP. Given gains seen among minority participants and forthcoming demographic shifts in this Texas region, community-driven interventions should be expanded as part of broader efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in health. ( Ethn Dis. 2013;23[2]:182–188)
The future of family forests in the USA: Near-term intentions to sell or transfer

Land transfer decisions for family forest owners (FFOs) potentially have large consequences for the critical public benefits these lands provide, but what triggers and influences the decisions are just beginning to be understood. The 2013 USA National Woodland Owner Survey provides an unprecedented set of national data to better understand near-term plans to sell or give away forestland either in its entirety or by subdividing. This study uses multinomial logit analysis to explore whether the likelihood of selling or giving away any or all of forestland within 5 years has some systematic relationship to the FFO, land, and urban-rural characteristics. Understanding what drives respondents’ answers to this question provides insight into the characteristics of land and landowners likely associated with land transfer, and potentially where development is likely to occur. The results indicate that FFO, land, and attitudinal characteristics play roles in the plans, but urban-rural characteristics do not. Transfer plans are positively associated with being older, female, having more wooded land, and agreeing that they would sell if offered a reasonable price; transfer plans are negatively associated with high education levels, having a home within 1 mile of the wooded land, and agreement with wanting their wooded land to stay wooded. The marginal effects of the model estimates show that age has one of the greatest impacts on land transfer plans. Results support the need for research coordinating FFO intentions with actual decisions, related to emotional and familial attachments and other life circumstances.
TRPM4 and the Emperor.

One of the great discoveries of the last half-century was that of neuronal “excitotoxicity”. In 1969, John Olney coined the term excitotoxicity to describe the finding that an injection of sodium g...
Tools and Techniques for Importance Sampling

All of the simulation distribution families that we have seen and worked with in this book are some sort of parametric family parameterized by some vector parameter θ. The mean shift method can be thought of as a family of distributions parameterized by the mean shift. The same is true for the variance scaling method. Of course the exponential shifts have the exponential shift parameter. A mixture of m exponential shifts can be thought of as a parametric class where we have the parameters θ 1, θ 2,..., θ m, p 1, p 2,..., p m, where the {θ i } are the (vector) exponential shifts for each element of the mixture and the {p i } are the scalar mixture weights (they must sum to one which implies there are really only m — 1 free mixture weight parameters). The universal simulation distributions (once we select the “covering measure” 7) are characterized by a single scalar parameter. In fact this is their major selling point.
Searches for Galactic Dark Matter Substructure with the Fermi LAT

Large mass-to-light ratios and low astrophysical backgrounds make dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) one of the most promising targets for dark matter (DM) searches via γ rays. We derive robust constraints on the DM annihilation cross section from a combined analysis of ten dSphs. These constraints are applied to super-symmetric DM particle models derived from a phenomenological scan of the MSSM. We derive additional constraints from searches for spatially extended, hard-spectrum γ-ray sources lacking counterparts in other wavelengths, since they may be associated with DM substructures predicted from simulations.
The impact of geologic parameters and water infiltration on the imprinting of 133 Xe

Recent experiments have shown that atmospheric radioxenon passing over a sampling site can be transported into the shallow subsurface by barometric pressure changes. The STOMP simulator is used to examine the impact of seven hydrologic/geologic parameters and water infiltration on the imprinting of radioxenon from a transient plume during two pressure scenarios. The maximum concentration of Xe at a depth of two meters and the time of maximum concentration at that depth were calculated for each parameter set and the most impactful parameters were identified.
Object detection from dynamic scene using joint background modeling and fast deep learning classification

Abstract In this paper, we couple effective dynamic background modeling with fast deep learning classification to develop an accurate scheme for human-animal detection from camera-trap images with cluttered moving objects. We introduce a new block-wise background model, named as Minimum Feature Difference (MFD), to model the variation of the background of the camera-trap sequences and generate the foreground object proposals. We then develop a region proposals verification to reduce the number of false alarms. Finally, we perform complexity-accuracy analysis of DCNN to construct a fast deep learning classification scheme to classify these region proposals into three categories: human, animals, and background patches. The optimized DCNN is able to maintain high level of accuracy while reducing the computational complexity by 14 times, which allows near real-time implementation of the proposed method on CPU machines. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms existing methods on our and Alexander von Humboldt Institute camera-trap datasets in both foreground segmentation and object detection.
Inverse design of long-range intensity correlation in scattering media

We obtain analytical expression for the long-range spatial intensity correlation in a disordered waveguide of an arbitrary shape. Inverting this relationship allows a possibility to manipulate wave transport complimentary to the wavefront shaping.
Comprehensive Molecular Characterization of the Hippo Signaling Pathway in Cancer

Hippo signaling has been recognized as a key tumor suppressor pathway. Here, we perform a comprehensive molecular characterization of 19 Hippo core genes in 9,125 tumor samples across 33 cancer types using multidimensional "omic" data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. We identify somatic drivers among Hippo genes and the related microRNA (miRNA) regulators, and using functional genomic approaches, we experimentally characterize YAP and TAZ mutation effects and miR-590 and miR-200a regulation for TAZ. Hippo pathway activity is best characterized by a YAP/TAZ transcriptional target signature of 22 genes, which shows robust prognostic power across cancer types. Our elastic-net integrated modeling further reveals cancer-type-specific pathway regulators and associated cancer drivers. Our results highlight the importance of Hippo signaling in squamous cell cancers, characterized by frequent amplification of YAP/TAZ, high expression heterogeneity, and significant prognostic patterns. This study represents a systems-biology approach to characterizing key cancer signaling pathways in the post-genomic era.
A Single-Step Gold Nanoparticle–Blood Serum Interaction Assay Reveals Humoral Immunity Development and Immune Status of Animals from Neonates to Adults

A well-developed, functional immune system is paramount to combat harmful attacks from pathogenic organisms and prevent infectious diseases. Newborn animals and humans have only limited immunity up...
How I Met Your Masculinity: Contrasting Male Personas Portrayed on How I Met Your Mother

The ensemble cast of How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014) serves as a social sounding board for myriad masculine performances. The spectrum of masculinities depicted in the show illuminates the ways i...
Structure and vibrational spectra of p-coumaric acid dimers by DFT methods

Abstract We performed a systematic investigation to determine the most accurate DFT functional in the prediction of geometrical parameters and vibrational frequencies for p-coumaric acid (p-CA). For this purpose, we followed a multi-dimensional strategy by performing calculations with 8 DFT functionals for the p-CA dimer with fine and ultrafine grids. We also compared scaled and unscaled harmonic frequencies of p-CA with experimental ones. The unscaled BP86 harmonic frequencies were the most accurate relative to the experimental ones but the BP86 method had the lowest accuracy for the structural parameters. The dispersion-corrected method, wB97XD, showed the best performance for the geometries of the p-CA dimer, though it yielded the highest RMSDs for the vibrational frequencies. We observed that the methods PBE0/def2-TZVP and M06-2X/def2-TZVP, with an ultrafine grid, provided a cost-effective approach which predicted accurately both geometrical parameters and scaled vibrational frequencies of p-CA.
Numerical methods for self-validating computations of probabilities and percentiles in selected distributions using interval analysis

Comparison of algorithms for computing probabilities and percentiles is often carried out In an effort to Identify the best algorithm for various applications. One requirement when conducting comparative studies is some useable source of "satisfactory approximations to correct answers" to use as a basis when making accuracy comparisons. This paper reports success in applying elements of interval analysis to obtain a self-validating computational method for Blvariate Normal Probabilities. Results from applying this method can be used to provide a basis for accuracy studies of algorithms for Blvariate Normal probabilities. A study to compare several methods for computing probabilities over rectangles for this probability distribution, using the self-validated base values, was carried out. The paper reports a choice of best method.
Abdominal Operations After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation and Heart Transplantation.

Abstract Background Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly used to supplant the limited number of orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). The present study aimed to perform a contemporary analysis of emergency abdominal operations after LVAD and OHT at a national level. Methods The 2005-2015 National Impatient Sample, the largest all-payer hospitalization database in the United States, was used to identify all adult patients who had received LVAD or OHT. The primary outcome of interest was the rate of emergency general surgery (EGS), which included laparotomy, small or large bowel resection, peptic ulcer operation, adhesiolysis, and cholecystectomy, during the same hospitalization as LVAD or OHT. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for EGS as well as the association between EGS and mortality in both the LVAD and OHT populations. Results Of the estimated 19,395 OHT and 23,441 LVAD performed, 445 (2.3%) OHT and 719 (3.1%) LVAD patients required EGS. The incidence of EGS in LVAD decreased from 5.4 to 3.3%, whereas it increased among OHT patients from 1.9 to 3.7%, P = 0.003. Occurrence of EGS after OHT and LVAD was associated with significantly higher inpatient risk-adjusted mortality (OHT adjusted odds ratio, 3.0; P = 0.004; LVAD adjusted odds ratio, 2.5; P Conclusions EGS remains an infrequent but high mortality and cost complication of OHT and LVAD. Further investigation of the impact of immunosuppression, anticoagulation, and perfusion strategies on incidence of abdominal complications is warranted.
Cutback management and path dependency: evidence from the two recent recessions

Previous studies have shown that, in response to economic recessions, governments strategically choose certain strategies to cut spending and increase revenues. However, little is known about the f...
Increased RyR2 activity is exacerbated by calcium leak-induced mitochondrial ROS

Cardiac disease is associated with deleterious emission of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mito-ROS), as well as enhanced oxidation and activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release channel, the ryanodine receptor (RyR2). The transfer of Ca2+ from the SR via RyR2 to mitochondria is thought to play a key role in matching increased metabolic demand during stress. In this study, we investigated whether augmented RyR2 activity results in self-imposed exacerbation of SR Ca2+ leak, via altered SR-mitochondrial Ca2+ transfer and elevated mito-ROS emission. Fluorescent indicators and spatially restricted genetic ROS probes revealed that both pharmacologically and genetically enhanced RyR2 activity, in ventricular myocytes from rats and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) mice, respectively, resulted in increased ROS emission under β-adrenergic stimulation. Expression of mitochondrial Ca2+ probe mtRCamp1h revealed diminished net mitochondrial [Ca2+] with enhanced SR Ca2+ leak, accompanied by depolarization of the mitochondrial matrix. While this may serve as a protective mechanism to prevent mitochondrial Ca2+ overload, protection is not complete and enhanced mito-ROS emission resulted in oxidation of RyR2, further amplifying proarrhythmic SR Ca2+ release. Importantly, the effects of augmented RyR2 activity could be attenuated by mitochondrial ROS scavenging, and experiments with dominant-negative paralogs of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) supported the hypothesis that SR-mitochondria Ca2+ transfer is essential for the increase in mito-ROS. We conclude that in a process whereby leak begets leak, augmented RyR2 activity modulates mitochondrial Ca2+ handling, promoting mito-ROS emission and driving further channel activity in a proarrhythmic feedback cycle in the diseased heart.
Even Hard-Sphere Colloidal Suspensions Display Fickian Yet Non-Gaussian Diffusion

We scrutinize three decades of probability density displacement distribution in a simple colloidal suspension with hard-sphere interactions. In this index-matched and density-matched solvent, fluorescent tracer nanoparticles diffuse among matrix particles that are eight times larger, at concentrations from dilute to concentrated, over times up to when the tracer diffuses a few times its size. Displacement distributions of tracers, Gaussian in pure solvent, broaden systematically with increasing obstacle density. The onset of non-Gaussian dynamics is seen in even modestly dilute suspensions, which traditionally would be assumed to follow classic Gaussian expectation. The findings underscore, in agreement with recent studies of more esoteric soft matter systems, the prevalence of non-Gaussian yet Fickian diffusion.
Rating Scale Data and its Utility: Additional Evidence to be Explored in the Medical Education Continuum

The purposes of this study are to assess the utility of self-appraisals and ratings of program directors (PDs) and to introduce new ways to use self-assessed and rating scale data. The data for this study was collected from graduates of our school who were enrolled in different residency programs around the country. The interns and PDs completed a similar set of questions. The correlation between the ratings of the two group was .21. The Cronbach’s alpha of interns and PD surveys were .89 and .97, respectively. The interns consistently rated themselves lower compared to ratings the PDs assigned them. The two groups agreed on the areas of strengths and weaknesses based on their mean ratings and rank-ordering of competencies. This study proposes that lowest mean ratings of measures that appear at the bottom in the rank-ordering be considered as areas that deserve special attention. The results of this study brought validity evidence to the utility of self-appraisals and PD’s ratings of interns.
Imaging of Vascular Anomalies in the Pediatric Musculoskeletal System.

Abstract Vascular anomalies represent a spectrum of commonly encountered pediatric soft tissue masses, ranging from a localized cutaneous “birthmark” to systemic and/or life-threatening entities. Many of these lesions have specific implications for the growing musculoskeletal system, potentially affecting lifelong function. Establishing the correct diagnosis can be challenging, but an awareness of typical radiologic and clinical features of the most common entities will expedite the workup and enable appropriate family counseling and therapeutic implementation. This review will focus on the most commonly encountered vascular anomalies, including neoplasms and malformations, affecting the pediatric musculoskeletal system.
Neural stem cells derived from primitive mesenchymal stem cells reversed disease symptoms and promoted neurogenesis in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mouse model of multiple sclerosis.

Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). MS affects millions of people and causes a great economic and societal burden. There is no cure for MS. We used a novel approach to investigate the therapeutic potential of neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from human primitive mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS. Methods MSCs were differentiated into NSCs, labeled with PKH26, and injected into the tail vein of EAE mice. Neurobehavioral changes in the mice assessed the effect of transplanted cells on the disease process. The animals were sacrificed two weeks following cell transplantation to collect blood, lymphatic, and CNS tissues for analysis. Transplanted cells were tracked in various tissues by flow cytometry. Immune infiltrates were determined and characterized by H&E and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. Levels of immune regulatory cells, Treg and Th17, were analyzed by flow cytometry. Myelination was determined by Luxol fast blue staining and immunostaining. In vivo fate of transplanted cells and expression of inflammation, astrogliosis, myelination, neural, neuroprotection, and neurogenesis markers were investigated by using immunohistochemical and qRT-PCR analysis. Results MSC-derived NSCs expressed specific neural markers, NESTIN, TUJ1, VIMENTIN, and PAX6. NSCs improved EAE symptoms more than MSCs when transplanted in EAE mice. Post-transplantation analyses also showed homing of MSCs and NSCs into the CNS with concomitant induction of an anti-inflammatory response, resulting in reducing immune infiltrates. NSCs also modulated Treg and Th17 cell levels in EAE mice comparable to healthy controls. Luxol fast blue staining showed significant improvement in myelination in treated mice. Further analysis showed that NSCs upregulated genes involved in myelination and neuroprotection but downregulated inflammatory and astrogliosis genes more significantly than MSCs. Importantly, NSCs differentiated into neural derivatives and promoted neurogenesis, possibly by modulating BDNF and FGF signaling pathways. Conclusions NSC transplantation reversed the disease process by inducing an anti-inflammatory response and promoting myelination, neuroprotection, and neurogenesis in EAE disease animals. These promising results provide a basis for clinical studies to treat MS using NSCs derived from primitive MSCs.
Characterization of microbial species in a regenerative bio-filter system for volatile organic compound removal

Effective removal of volatile organic compounds is critical for indoor air quality control. The performance of traditional technologies of volatile organic compound removal is limited by inadequate selection of filter media, poor airflow management inside the cleaning devices, insufficient catalytic reaction surface area, and poor distribution of UV light irradiation. In comparison, the relatively new regenerative air filtration systems use a plant root bed of activated carbon, porous shale pebbles, microbes, and a wet scrubber to remove volatile organic compounds and radon from the air in tightly sealed buildings. To better understand such systems and optimize their performance, the microbes were characterized in a model bio-filter system and their activities in formaldehyde removal were isolated. Golden Pothos was chosen as the model plant, and the microbes from the plant roots and pebbles. By using universal primers to amplify 16S rRNA genes, seven different strains of bacteria were identified belongin...
General equilibrium pricing with information asymmetry

We propose a general equilibrium model for asset pricing that incorporates asymmetric information as the key element determining security prices. In our setting, the concepts of completeness, arbitrage, state price and equivalent martingale measure are extended to the case of asymmetric information. Our model shows that in a so-called quasi-complete market, the agents with differential information can reach an agreement on an universal equilibrium price. The corresponding state price and martingale measure are determined. The key intuition is that agents evaluate consumption choices conditioned on their private information and the public information generated by price. As a consequence, information asymmetry can lead to mispricing as well.
Superresolution imaging of ribosomes and RNA polymerase in live Escherichia coli cells

Quantitative spatial distributions of ribosomes (S2-YFP) and RNA polymerase (RNAP; β'-yGFP) in live Escherichia coli are measured by superresolution fluorescence microscopy. In moderate growth conditions, nucleoid-ribosome segregation is strong, and RNAP localizes to the nucleoid lobes. The mean copy numbers per cell are 4600 RNAPs and 55,000 ribosomes. Only 10-15% of the ribosomes lie within the densest part of the nucleoid lobes, and at most 4% of the RNAPs lie in the two ribosome-rich endcaps. The predominant observed diffusion coefficient of ribosomes is D(ribo) = 0.04 µm(2) s(-1), attributed to free mRNA being translated by one or more 70S ribosomes. We find no clear evidence of subdiffusion, as would arise from tethering of ribosomes to the DNA. The degree of DNA-ribosome segregation strongly suggests that in E. coli most translation occurs on free mRNA transcripts that have diffused into the ribosome-rich regions. Both RNAP and ribosome radial distributions extend to the cytoplasmic membrane, consistent with the transertion hypothesis. However, few if any RNAP copies lie near the membrane of the endcaps. This suggests that if transertion occurs, it exerts a direct radially expanding force on the nucleoid, but not a direct axially expanding force.
Effects of fluoride on caries development and progression using intra-oral models.

This paper reviews the use of Intraoral model systems to help elucidate the role of fluoride and. its mechanism of action in caries prevention. The Intraoral models currently in use were found to be of three general types. The most widely used system has consisted of a removable appliance that relies on the use of dacron gauze or a recessed sample to enhance plaque formation. Similarly, the banding model of Ogaard requires the presence of orthodontic band material to produce a plaque accumulation niche for demineralization, while the crown single-section technique relies mainly on placement of the sections in plaque-retentive areas (below contact points). In general, the models may be used for the assessment of food cariogenicity, an evaluation of de- and re-mineralization, and measurement of fluoride incorporation into enamel or root substrates.On evaluation of lesion initiation and progression in vivo, it is apparent that few non-destructive in vivo techniques are available that offer the sensitivity of...
A note on the nearest neighbor in growth-restricted metrics

In this paper, we give results relevant to sequential and distributed dynamic data structures for finding nearest neighbors in growth-restricted metrics. Our sequential data structure uses linear space, and requires O(log n) queries in expecation and O(log n) queries for lookups with high probability. This improves the results of Karger and Ruhl [4], whose data structure uses O(n log n) space with comparable expected time bounds. This also improves on the time bound of a load-balanced version of algorithm (for dynamic networks) presented in [3].Our algorithm was inspired by the object location data structure developed by Plaxton, Rajaraman and Richa [6], and is similar in structure to the algorithm of Krauthgamer and Lee [5]. It is significantly different that of Karger and Ruhl [4].A distributed version of the algorithm presented here is in use as a part of Tapestry [3, 8], a peer-to-peer object location system based on [6].
Thromboxane modulating agents. 3. 1H-imidazol-1-ylalkyl- and 3-pyridinylalkyl-substituted 3-[2-[(arylsulfonyl)amino]ethyl]benzenepropanoic acid derivatives as dual thromboxane synthase inhibitor/thromboxane receptor antagonists.

The design of a series of dual thromboxane synthase inhibitor/thromboxane receptor antagonists based on a 3-[2-[(arylsulfonyl)amino]ethyl]benzenepropanoic acid thromboxane receptor antagonist template is described. Introduction of a 5-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl), a 5-(3-pyridinylmethyl), or a 5-(3-pyridinyloxy) substituent leads to dual agents with thromboxane synthase inhibitory activity comparable with that of dazmegrel (7). In addition, 3-pyridinylalkyl substituents also make a significant contribution to thromboxane receptor binding. Oral administration of compound 74 (5 mg/kg) to conscious dogs produces long-lasting thromboxane synthase inhibition and thromboxane receptor blockade as measured by inhibition of U46619-induced platelet aggregation ex vivo.
Using financial planning languages for simulation

In recent years, a large number of financial planning languages have been developed that contain capabilities for fixed time interval simulation. These languages and from existing simulation languages in that they are much more English-like, produce "spread sheet" output, have built-in "what if" and other capabilities for sensitivity analysis, and are simple, easy to learn, and easy to communicate with other professionals and management.This tutorial describes the capabilities of these languages for simulation. These capabilities include, among others, means for generating probability distributions, for generating scenarios, for providing statistical outputs on variables as a function of time, and graphical presentation of output distributions. Typical models written in one of these languages, (the Interactive Financial Planning System) are used as illustrations.
Pathology of Malignant and Premalignant Oral Epithelial Lesions

Oral mucous membranes and the surrounding structures are largely composed of stratified squamous epithelium that is supported by a fibrous connective tissue lamina propria and a submucosa of fibroadipose tissue. Minor salivary glands, nerves, and capillaries course abundantly throughout the supporting collagen and fibro-fatty submucosa. Premalignant and malignant lesions arise most frequently from epithelium, and these epithelial lesions ultimately account for 95% of all cancers of the oral cavity. Malignant neoplasia of bone, cartilage, salivary glands, and connective tissue and those of lymphoproliferative derivatives are far less common occurrences in the oral cavity. Malignant neoplasms can and do arise from the tooth germ apparatus, but neoplasms of odontogenic elements are rare and are not included in this discussion.
Evaluation of cluster recovery for small area relative risk models

The analysis of disease risk is often considered via relative risk. The comparison of relative risk estimation methods with “true risk” scenarios has been considered on various occasions. However, there has been little examination of how well competing methods perform when the focus is clustering of risk. In this paper, a simulated evaluation of a range of potential spatial risk models and a range of measures that can be used for (a) cluster goodness of fit, (b) cluster diagnostics are considered. Results suggest that exceedence probability is a poor measure of hot spot clustering because of model dependence, whereas residual-based methods are less model dependent and perform better. Local deviance information criteria measures perform well, but conditional predictive ordinate measures yield a high false positive rate.
A Dynamic Modeling Method of Unsteady Flows in Long Fluid Lines With Turbulent Bulk Velocities

An analytical method is presented to solve the equations of unsteady gas flow in a long tube with turbulent bulk-flow velocity. The nonlinearity of the equations is overcome by judicious choice of integrating variables and by subsequent linearization, allowing integration as an ordinary matrix differential equation. The method yields, in operational form and in terms of pure time-delays, attenuations and other linear operators, a transfer matrix of the fluid line. This result can be directly implemented for line simulation or control applications; the integration process is not affected by changing end-conditions. Maximum accuracy of the resulting dynamic model is obtained for long lines (fl/D ≥ 2.2) and for small percent changes of the bulk-flow velocity along the tube. Adiabatic flow assumption and averaging of fluid properties over a cross section of tube restricts the analysis to turbulent flows and precludes the application of the model to small bulk flows.
Insulin-regulated Aminopeptidase Is a Key Regulator of GLUT4 Trafficking by Controlling the Sorting of GLUT4 from Endosomes to Specialized Insulin-regulated Vesicles

Insulin stimulates glucose uptake by regulating translocation of the GLUT4 glucose transporter from intracellular compartments to the plasma membrane. In the absence of insulin GLUT4 is actively sequestered away from the general endosomes into GLUT4-specialized compartments, thereby controlling the amount of GLUT4 at the plasma membrane. Here, we investigated the role of the aminopeptidase IRAP in GLUT4 trafficking. In unstimulated IRAP knockdown adipocytes, plasma membrane GLUT4 levels are elevated because of increased exocytosis, demonstrating an essential role of IRAP in GLUT4 retention. Current evidence supports the model that AS160 RabGAP, which is required for basal GLUT4 retention, is recruited to GLUT4 compartments via an interaction with IRAP. However, here we show that AS160 recruitment to GLUT4 compartments and AS160 regulation of GLUT4 trafficking were unaffected by IRAP knockdown. These results demonstrate that AS160 is recruited to membranes by an IRAP-independent mechanism. Consistent with a role independent of AS160, we showed that IRAP functions in GLUT4 sorting from endosomes to GLUT4-specialized compartments. This is revealed by the relocalization of GLUT4 to endosomes in IRAP knockdown cells. Although IRAP knockdown has profound effects on GLUT4 traffic, GLUT4 knockdown does not affect IRAP trafficking, demonstrating that IRAP traffics independent of GLUT4. In sum, we show that IRAP is both cargo and a key regulator of the insulin-regulated pathway.
That’s Not My Problem: Convergence and Divergence Between Self- and Other-Identified Problems Among Homeless Adolescents

Mental health symptoms, victimization experiences, and rates of substance use among homeless youth were assessed using typical clinical intake questions and standard questionnaires. Youth were also asked what they regarded as their primary problems. Results indicated that issues likely to concern health professionals, such as past victimization, high rates of substance use, and psychological symptoms, are often not regarded as problems by homeless youth. Also, based on responses to a coping interview, homeless youth indicated that they rarely sought help from mental health professionals, and tended to cope with problems in a variety of other ways. Despite obstacles to the provision of services, many youth indicated a willingness to talk to a counselor about self-identified problems and there were some points of convergence between self- and other-identified problems.
Molecular cloning of a type A chicken corticotropin-releasing factor receptor with high affinity for urotensin I.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is an essential physiological system in many species. CRF, the major neuropeptide regulating ACTH secretion, is highly conserved in its primary sequence. Evolutionary conservation of the CRF sequence suggests that the CRF receptor (CRF-R) complementary DNA and examined its properties. The avian CRF-R complementary DNA encodes a 420-amino acid protein that is 87-88% identical to those of human, rat, and mouse. Most sequence divergence occurs in the putative signal peptide and the extracellular amino-terminus of the receptor. Five additional amino acids are inserted in the amino-terminus of the cCRF-R. When expressed in COS-7 cells, the cCRF-R binds the CRF and urotensin I radioligands with high affinities. Urotensin I competes for binding to the chicken CRF-R, expressed in COS-7 cells, with an apparent affinity 20 times higher than that of CRF. Both urotensin I and sauvagine were more effective in stimulating cAMP accumulation in COS-7 cells transfected with the cCRF...
Mobile Applications as Tools to Support Embodied Learning: Current Practice and Future Directions

Mobile learning mLearning is a rapidly expanding area of educational research. Theorists, researchers, and instructional designers are excited about the potential contributions of mobile technology to the field of education. Mobile tools such as Apple's iPad or Galaxy Tab have sparked this interest based on their ability to provide high-powered computing within a small, extremely portable form factor. Learners are no longer constrained by the desktop or the power cord of a laptop. Unfortunately, much of mLearning research has focused on transferring eLearning on to mobile devices, instead of investigating the unique characteristics of mobile tools that can be used to define mLearning as a distinct type of learning. This paper begins the task of situating mLearning as a distinct type of learning by first considering the theoretical and pedagogical affordances unique to it. Then, the authors transition into a discussion of embodied learning and how the literature related to this field supports the use of mobile tools for educational purposes that go well beyond the deliver of eLearning instructional content. From there, the authors move to a discussion of the logistical challenge of melding mobile tools within formal learning environments. Next, the paper reports the results of an investigation into the current state of mLearning applications and how the majority of these applications fail to leverage the hardware features of mobile tools that can potential result in deeper understanding of concepts and skills. Finally, the authors provide implications and future directions for developers and educators.
Effects of transdermal nicotine on episodic memory in non-smokers with and without schizophrenia.

Rationale Nicotinic agonists may improve attention and memory in humans and may ameliorate some cognitive deficits associated with neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
Ku protein stimulates DNA end joining by mammalian DNA ligases: a direct role for Ku in repair of DNA double‐strand breaks

Ku protein binds to DNA ends and is a cofactor for the DNA-dependent protein kinase. Both of these components are involved in DNA double-strand break repair, but it has not been clear if they function indirectly, by sensing DNA damage and activating other factors, or if they are more directly involved in the processing and rejoining of DNA breaks. We demonstrate that intermolecular ligation of DNA fragments is highly dependent on Ku under conditions designed to mimic those existing in the cell. This effect of Ku is specific to eukaryotic DNA ligases. Ku protein, therefore, has an activity consistent with a direct role in rejoining DNA breaks and independent of DNA-dependent protein kinase.
Stresses around a single underground opening near a traction-free surface

Abstract The influence of a horizontal traction-free surface on the stresses in the near vicinity of a single underground opening is studied by the finite-element method. The distribution of stress around openings of several shapes is calculated for the conditions of plane strain and under gravity loading. It is found that the stresses are sensibly affected by the presence of the traction-free surface. Some observations are derived for the design of openings near the ground surface.
Evidence that Reduced Growth Hormone Secretion Observed in Monosodium Glutamate-Treated Rats Is the Result of a Deficiency in Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor*

The present experiments were designed to examine various aspects of GH secretion in adult male rats given monosodium glutamate (MSG; 4 mg/g BW, sc) during the neonatal period. MSG-treated animals sustained lesions localized to the hypothalamic arcuate nuclei (ARC) and had reduced nasal-anal lengths and body weights. Anterior pituitary (AP) weights were decreased, but AP concentrations of GH and PRL were not significantly altered. Analysis of pulsatile GH secretion showed depressed GH pulses and prolonged GH trough periods. Mean 5-h plasma GH levels were reduced, whereas PRL levels were not affected. Morphine sulfate (MS) at doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/kg induced a prompt rise in GH during the 45 min after drug administration in controls. MSG-treated animals showed a significant rise in GH only with 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg MS. A significant elevation in PRL was found in both control and MSG-treated animals after 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg MS. The pentobarbital-induced rise in GH was also blunted in MSG-treated animals. MSG-treated animals which were administered antisomatostatin serum showed elevated GH trough and mean GH levels, with no apparent effect on GH peak levels. In view of the mechanisms by which MS and pentobarbital act to increase GH secretion, the present data suggest that the GH regulatory deficit observed in MSG-treated rats is due to a relative loss of GH-releasing factor secondary to ARC damage.
salāam tahīyah: greetings from the highlands of Yemen

The North Yemeni speech event of greeting as a rich semiotic act is interesting to analyze from both a linguistic and an anthropological point of view. It is argued that an indexical or pragmatic approach combined with an “interpretive” or symbolic understanding of culture may lead to the most interesting insights into verbal forms and their social meanings. In particular, it is argued that different constructs of the “person” are created in the speech event. [Arabic, ethnography of communication, interpretive anthropology, and self]
The influence of product knowledge and brand name on internal price standards and confidence

This study examines the influence of product knowledge (after adjusting for subjects' brand-specific price knowledge) and brand image (via the brand name) on estimates of internal price standards (i.e., lowest, average, and highest price estimates) for two categories of electronic products. The impact of differing levels of product knowledge on consumers' confidence in their internal price estimates is also studied. The hypothesized effect of brand image on price estimates was greater for novice consumers than for experts for one of the two product categories. In addition, confidence in price estimates was found to be higher for experts than for novices for both product categories. These findings suggest that the relationship between product knowledge and brand image should be considered when studying the impact of external reference price on internal price standards. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Calling 911 during episodes of domestic abuse: What justifies a call for help?

Abstract This preliminary investigation built on the work of Johnson and Sigler (2000), indicating that the public was highly intolerant of wife abuse and increasingly willing to criminalize its occurrence. Videotaped or written scenes containing domestic violence were presented to college students who were asked to indicate the seriousness of each situation, as well as respond to the question, “Is a call to 911 emergency services justified?” The results suggested that these participants were highly intolerant of both physical and nonphysical spousal abuse and that they reliably viewed 911 calls to be justified following scenes with physical violence and no physical injury, as well as scenes with verbal threats, but no physical violence.
JSim, an open-source modeling system for data analysis

JSim is a simulation system for developing models, designing experiments, and evaluating hypotheses on physiological and pharmacological systems through the testing of model solutions against data. It is designed for interactive, iterative manipulation of the model code, handling of multiple data sets and parameter sets, and for making comparisons among different models running simultaneously or separately. Interactive use is supported by a large collection of graphical user interfaces for model writing and compilation diagnostics, defining input functions, model runs, selection of algorithms solving ordinary and partial differential equations, run-time multidimensional graphics, parameter optimization (8 methods), sensitivity analysis, and Monte Carlo simulation for defining confidence ranges. JSim uses Mathematical Modeling Language (MML) a declarative syntax specifying algebraic and differential equations. Imperative constructs written in other languages (MATLAB, FORTRAN, C++, etc.) are accessed through procedure calls. MML syntax is simple, basically defining the parameters and variables, then writing the equations in a straightforward, easily read and understood mathematical form. This makes JSim good for teaching modeling as well as for model analysis for research. For high throughput applications, JSim can be run as a batch job. JSim can automatically translate models from the repositories for Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) and CellML models. Stochastic modeling is supported. MML supports assigning physical units to constants and variables and automates checking dimensional balance as the first step in verification testing. Automatic unit scaling follows, e.g. seconds to minutes, if needed. The JSim Project File sets a standard for reproducible modeling analysis: it includes in one file everything for analyzing a set of experiments: the data, the models, the data fitting, and evaluation of parameter confidence ranges. JSim is open source; it and about 400 human readable open source physiological/biophysical models are available at http://www.physiome.org/jsim/.