cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monetized value of the environmental, health and resource externalities of soy biodiesel

Abstract This study monetizes the life cycle environmental damage, human health risk, and resource depletion externalities associated with the production and use of biodiesel fuels from soybean feedstock. Applying a framework that couples life cycle damage measurements with social preferences elicited from a conjoint choice experiment allows for comparison of petrodiesel and biodiesel's external damages. The results of the study reveal that production and consumption of soybean based biodiesels produce improvements in environmental, health and resource impacts of $0.27 per gallon relative to petrodiesel for a 20% blend and $3.14 per gallon for a 100% blend.
Tracking giant folds in a monolayer.

The collapse dynamics of giant folds in a catanionic monolayer at the air−water interface are examined. A monolayer of dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) i...
On the controllability of nonlinear economic systems with delay: The Italian example

The dynamic model of some key economic indicators - the gross national product, GNP, interest rate, R, employment, L, value of capital stock, k, prices, p, and cumulative balance of payment, E - are derived here from mathematical and economic principles. The model is described by a hereditary ordinary differential equation, a nonlinear delay differential pursuit game of neutral type. The quarry control-solidarity or government intervention consists of money supply, M, government budget, net expenditure, taxation, T, exchange rate, e, tariffs, foreign credit fo, distance between trading partners or trading arrangements d, or preferential arrangement. The pursuer control (private initiative) consists of autonomous private consumption, investment, net export, labor productivity, money wage rate w, autonomous money demand m, income autonomous consumption y"1"0. Conditions are established for the variables of the economic indicators to be controllable from one initial function to a terminal function, in particular, employment, national income and prices can be controlled from one arbitrary vector function to another when the controls of the system are subject to scarcity, i.e., to constraints. Conditions for controllability are presented. Our model is tested with data on Italian economy. This paper opens up the hope that full employment, high income growth is compatible with low prices and low inflation, provided the control matrix has full rank, i.e., the existing controls are fully effectively used.
Computational Fluid Dynamics of Aerodynamic Effects for Optimum Number of Wind Turbine Blades

Generally, wind turbines have been constructed with three blades. Early analysis showed that as the number of blades increases, the power of extraction of wind turbines approaches the Betz limit. The increase in power extraction lessens as the blade number increases (greater increase from one to two blades than from two to three blades). The analysis assumed an ideal blade (zero drag) and no interaction between the blades. This paper investigates those two effects using CFD. Analysis of a 2D airfoil (S809) was compared to a finite 3D model. The 3D losses were then determined from those results. A stationary wind turbine model utilizing the analyzed 3D blades was then solved. The model was analyzed with varying the number of blades; the losses of blade interactions and drag effects were included in the efficiency of extracting the available power. It was determined that when analyzing an airfoil or a finite wing the power coefficient of the wind turbine increases, agreeing with previous analysis. However, when a stationary turbine model was analyzed, the power coefficient actually decreases as the number of blades increases.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Thoracic Spine Localization Using Preoperative Placement of Fiducial Markers and Subsequent CT. A Technical Report

Study Design A retrospective case series evaluating the use of fiducial markers with subsequent computed tomography (CT) or CT myelography for intraoperative localization. Objective To evaluate the safety and utility of preoperative fiducial placement, confirmed with CT myelography, for intraoperative localization of thoracic spinal levels. Summary of Background Data Thoracic spine surgery is associated with serious complications, not the least of which is the potential for wrong-level surgery. Intraoperative fluoroscopy is often used but can be unreliable due to the patient's body habitus and anatomical variation. Methods Sixteen patients with thoracic spine pathology requiring surgical intervention underwent preoperative fiducial placement at the pedicle of the level of interest in the interventional radiology suite. CT or CT myelogram was then done to evaluate fiducial location relative to the level of pathology. Surgical treatment followed at a later date in all patients. Results All patients underwent preoperative fiducial placement and CT or CT myelography, which was done on an outpatient basis in 14 of the 16 patients. Intraoperatively, fiducial localization was easily and quickly done with intraoperative fluoroscopy leading to correct localization of spinal level in all cases. All patients had symptomatic improvement following surgery. There were no complications from preoperative localization or operative intervention. Conclusions Preoperative placement of fiducial markers confirmed with a CT or CT myelogram allows for reliable and fast intraoperative localization of the spinal level of interest with minimal risks and potential complications to the patient. In most cases, a noncontrast CT should be sufficient. This should be an equally reliable means of localization while further decreasing potential for complications. CT myelography should be reserved for pathology that is not evident on noncontrast CT. Accuracy of localization is independent of variations in rib number or vertebral segmentation. The technique is a safe, reliable, and rapid means of localizing spinal level during surgery.
Marital Relations in the Jos Plateau of Nigeria: Women's Weapons: The Politics of Domesticity among the Kofyar

Women in Kofyar society appear to have considerable independence and social power though their institutionalized roles in patrilineal kin groups and village politics are minimal, they own little property, they marry virilocally, and they play a subordinate part in religious observances. They do, however, make important economic decisions in allocating their own incomes and labor services. They also have the right to either terminate their marriages or to accept lovers in a socially recognized relationship. With a relatively unimportant sexual division of labor and limited marital and economic control, husbands are able to achieve little domestic authority over their wives. There are some indications that male distinctness and dominance are asserted chiefly, though not entirely successfully, in symbolic terms through sex-segregated rites and ritual injunctions. [West Africa, Kofyar, sex roles, marital stability, divorce]
Sixty years with latent variables and still more to come

Abstract Horst, P., 1992. Sixty years with latent variables and still more to come. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems , 14: 5–21. A brief outline of the development of latent variables from manifest variables is sketched. The origin of Psychometrika and the Psychometric Society is presented. Some of the social philosophy motivating these developments are indicated. A few of the methodological considerations involved in these developments are outlined. The role of computers and computer programs is discussed. Important unresolved issues still undergoing resolution are indicated.
Localized Necking Criterion for Strain-Softening Materials

The paper presents the development of a localized necking criterion based on the singularity of acoustic tensor. This criterion is applicable to materials exhibiting strain-softening behavior. The tensor form of the criterion is deployed in simple mathematical expressions, based on which the forming limit diagrams (FLDs) of strain-softening materials can be determined. At the left-hand side of a FLD, or the negative strain ratio region, a closed-form expression of localized band inclination is derived as a function of the strain-ratio value. At the right-hand side of a FLD, or the positive strain ratio regions, the localized band is assumed to be perpendicular to major strain according to the MK [Marciniak and Kuczynski (1967)] model. On both sides of the FLD, the localized necking criteria are analytically expressed by elements of tangent modulus matrix. For the sake of illustration of the proposed criterion, a special case of localized necking employing associative and isotropic plasticity is presented. The material chosen for the illustration is AA-6061 at an elevated temperature. The proposed criterion is also applicable to the formability of other metals at high temperatures and other strain-softening materials such as rocks.
Gene Curation Software at the Rat Genome Database (RGD)

At model organism databases data is curated for numerous biological categories using various ontologies and vocabularies. The Rat Genome Database (RGD) uses four different ontologies to standardize annotation information for genes and their associations with disease, phenotypes, and pathways. For manual gene curation this is all done in a single user interface of a web-based annotation tool developed at RGD. The same interface can be used for the curation of QTLs and strains. The development of the tool has been achieved through a collaboration of curators and software developers. Features have been tailored to the needs of the curators to allow optimum efficiency of the data entry portion of the curation process. Annotations using the Gene Ontology, Mammalian Phenotype Ontology, Pathway Ontology, and Disease Ontology can be done simultaneously in the same user interface. The search function of the tool has multiple options, giving the curators the opportunity to specify the search according to the immediate need. For ontology terms, gene, QTL, and strain objects the tool searches RGD data tables. For references the tool searches both internal and PubMed reference IDs. If an abstract reference is not already found at RGD, the tool automatically downloads the reference and assigns an RGD ID to it. Data objects, ontology terms, and references can be stored in multiples, providing various options for composing annotations. An editing step allows the composed annotation line to be altered before entering it in the database. The tool displays all current annotations for any gene that is selected. A second editing function is available by hyperlink for any pre-existing annotation displayed in the tool. The curation software has more than doubled literature curation production since replacing spreadsheet curation.
On the error in multivariate polynomial interpolation

Abstract Simple proofs are provided for two properties of a new multivariate polynomial interpolation scheme, due to Amos Ron and the author, and a formula for the interpolation error is derived and discussed.
Guest editors introduction: computer applications in libraries. 1

We are pleased, as editors of this special two-part issue of IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, to present articles that explore a range of computing applications developed to solve library problems. In this first issue, four articles deal with the precomputer era of punched cards, the early development of data structures and standards for library applications (machine-readable cataloging, or MARC), and two important case studies of automated-systems implementation in two major university libraries, Illinois and Toronto.
Household formation, institutions, and economic development: Evidence from imperial Russia

Household formation patterns have been adduced in recent years by historians and other social scientists to account for the economic development of western Europe. The so-called European Marriage Pattern, which prevailed throughout northwest Europe, is viewed as having been particularly conducive to early industrialisation and economic growth. But to what extent were household formation systems exogenous to the broader economic and social context in which they were located? Evidence from nineteenth-century Russia indicates that family systems were influenced by the same variables that determined the shape of the local economy; they were part of a complex web of institutions and thus cannot be viewed as independent determinants of economic development.
PT Symmetry and QCD: Finite Temperature and Density ?

The relevance of PT symmetry to quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the gauge theory of the strong interactions, is explored in the context of finite temperature and density. Two significant problems in QCD are studied: the sign problem of finite-density QCD, and the problem of confinement. It is proven that the effective action for heavy quarks at finite density is PT -symmetric. For the case of 1+1 dimensions, the PT -symmetric Hamiltonian, although not Hermitian, has real eigenvalues for a range of values of the chemical potential µ, solving the sign problem for this model. The effective action for heavy quarks is part of a potentially large class of generalized sine-Gordon models which are non-Hermitian but are PT -symmetric. Generalized sine-Gordon models also occur naturally in gauge theories in which magnetic monopoles lead to confinement. We explore gauge theories where monopoles cause confinement at arbitrarily high temperatures. Several different classes of monopole gases exist, with each class leading to different string tension scaling laws. For one class of monopole gas models, the PT -symmetric affine Toda field theory emerges naturally as the effective theory. This in turn leads to sine-law scaling for string tensions, a behavior consistent with lattice simulations.
Electrical power losses due to acoustic wave generation in repetitive pulsed capacitors

It is shown that mechanical forces induced by electrical fields are important both to the design of high-repetition-rate modulators and to the life of pulse capacitors. The most important parameter pertaining to modulator design is the electrical-to-acoustic power conversion. Tests were conducted in a 80-90 nS, 1000 p.p.s. discharge circuit at the full rated voltage of the capacitor. The acoustic output for mica and film/oil capacitors is largely dependent on the volume material of the case and the winding technique of the particular device. The main influence on the life of the capacitors is the electric-field-induced force. It is found that if impurities or products of electrochemical breakdown have a dielectric constant greater than that of the bulk material, these compounds will be attracted to the high-field regions of a capacitor. >
Is fatigue all in your head? A critical review of the central governor model

The central governor model has recently been proposed as a general model to explain the phenomenon of fatigue. It proposes that the subconscious brain regulates power output (pacing strategy) by modulating motor unit recruitment to preserve whole body homoeostasis and prevent catastrophic physiological failure such as rigor. In this model, the word fatigue is redefined from a term that describes an exercise decline in the ability to produce force and power to one of sensation or emotion. The underpinnings of the central governor model are the refutation of what is described variously as peripheral fatigue, limitations models, and the cardiovascular/anaerobic/catastrophe model. This argument centres on the inability of lactic acid models of fatigue to adequately explain fatigue. In this review, it is argued that a variety of peripheral factors other than lactic acid are known to compromise muscle force and power and that these effects may protect against “catastrophe”. Further, it is shown that a variety of studies indicate that fatigue induced decreases in performance cannot be adequately explained by the central governor model. Instead, it is suggested that the concept of task dependency, in which the mechanisms of fatigue vary depending on the specific exercise stressor, is a more comprehensive and defensible model of fatigue. This model includes aspects of both central and peripheral contributions to fatigue, and the relative importance of each probably varies with the type of exercise.
IX*-ON BEING BORED OUT OF YOUR MIND

The contemporary philosophical debate over practical reasoning—over how one ought to figure out what to do—has been almost entirely focused on whether there is more to it than means-ends reasoning. But a prior and very difficult question has to do with why instrumental deliberation is so important an aspect of our cognitive life (regardless of whether there is anything else). I consider an answer broached by Harry Frankfurt, that having ends is the alternative to being literally bored out of one's mind, and adapt an argument from John Stuart Mill's political and psychological writings to show what more there is to not being bored than just having something to aim for.
Towards Better Semi-Supervised Classification of Malicious Software

Due to the large number of malicious software (malware) and the large variety among them, automated detection and analysis using machine learning techniques have become more and moreimportant for network and computer security.An often encountered scenario in these security applications is that training examples are scarce but unlabeled data are abundant. Semi-supervised learning where both labeled and unlabeled data are used to learn a good model quickly is a natural choice under such condition.We investigate semi-supervised classification for malware categorization.We observed that malware data have specific characteristics and that they are noisy. Off-the-shelf semi-supervised learning may not work well in this case. We proposed a semi supervised approach that addresses the problems with malware data and can provide better classification. We conducted a set of experiments to test and compare our method to others. The experimental results show that semi-supervised classification is a promising direction for malware classification. Our method achieved more than 90% accuracy when there were only a few number of training examples. The results also indicates that modifications are needed to make semi-supervised learning work with malware data. Otherwise, semi-supervised classification may perform worse than classifiers trained on only the labeled data.
Molecular Diagnostics in Esophageal and Gastric Neoplasms

Esophageal carcinoma is the most rapidly increasing tumor in incidence in the United States. It has an established association with a precursor lesion (Barrett esophagus). Gastric carcinoma (GC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the world. The prognosis for patients with advanced stage GC and esophageal carcinoma is poor. Human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER-2) overexpression is seen in gastroesophageal junction carcinoma and a subset of GC. HER-2 overexpressing tumors are eligible for HER-2 targeted therapies, which lead to a better survival in these patients.
Comparison of Immunologic Assays for Detecting Immune Responses in HIV Immunotherapeutic Studies: AIDS Clinical Trials Group Trial A5181

This study was designed to evaluate which of several T-cell-specific, immune response assays are the most relevant in measuring the key characteristics of an effective immune response to HIV-1. Using 5 HIV-1 antigens as stimulants, we assessed lymphocyte proliferation, supernatant gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) cytokine production (CP), single-cell IFN-gamma production by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay, with and without Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (B-LCLs), and intracellular cytokine production (ICC) for IFN-gamma and interleukin 2 (IL-2) by flow cytometry. We used these to compare specimens from HIV-1-infected subjects who were virally suppressed with a stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen (group A) with specimens from subjects not on ART but with HIV-1 viremia of <3,000 copies/ml (group B). The lymphocyte proliferation assay (LPA) did not significantly differentiate between the two groups. Using fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), the CP and ELISPOT assays for IFN-gamma detected the greatest differences between the two groups, specific for three of the five HIV-1 antigens, whereas significant differences were seen only in response to one antigen when cryopreserved cells were used. The strongest correlations were seen between the CP and ELISPOT assays. The ELISPOT B-LCL assay showed a cell concentration-dependent increase in IFN-gamma production compared to that shown by the standard ELISPOT assay but did not differentiate between the groups. In the ICC assay, greater numbers of IFN-gamma-producing T cells were seen in group B, and little or no detectable IL-2 production was seen in both groups. These studies highlight complexities of immunologic monitoring of T-cell responses in multisite clinical trials in HIV infection and outline considerations for optimizing these efforts.
Racial Identity and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Black Heterosexual Men

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between racial identity and risky sexual behaviors among young Black heterosexual men to better inform future HIV prevention interventions. A community sample of 80 self-identified African American heterosexual men aged 18 to 29 years completed an audio computer-assisted self-interview survey. Bivariate analyses were performed to assess the associations among variables related to demographics, racial identity, and sexual behaviors. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were employed to determine the relationship between racial identity and risky sexual behaviors. Results indicate that more positive feelings toward African Americans and positive attitudes toward being Black predicted fewer sexual partners. The centrality of race was associated with a decrease in the odds of having concurrent sexual partners and marginally predicted increased condom use with a main female partner. Findings suggest that future HIV prevention interventio...
Cyclodextrins as Enzyme Models

Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligomers of glucose. They usually contain six, seven, or eight glucose moieties in a cyclic array. We first came upon them after we carried out a considerable amount of kinetics on the enzyme chymotrypsin and had come to the conclusion that the principal binding in the enzyme was a cyclic inclusion complex. We therefore hunted through the literature for a simple example of a cyclic inclusion complex and found that complexes of cyclodextrins had been extensively investigated.1 So our picture of the binding exhibited by chymotrypsin (Figure l)2 was mirrored by complexes shown by α, β and γ-cyclodextrins.3 (Figure 2) The cyclodextrins are not surfactants but can be considered to be simple models of surfactants in the sense that both cyclodextrins and surfactants catalyze enzymatic reactions but cyclodextrins are simpler (and smaller) than surfactants. The structure of cyclodextrins is known completely by X-ray analysis.4 The cyclodextrins bind small organic molecules in a stoichiometric 1:1 manner (especially in aqueous solution) and thus can be thought of as models for both surfactants and enzymes.
The role of vaginal immunoglobulin A in girls with recurrent urinary tract infections.

Abstract: Vaginal immunoglobulin A in girls with recurrent urinary tract infections was significantly lower when compared to an age-matched group of controls who had never experienced bacteriuria. The possible role of deficiencies in vaginal secretory immunoglobulin A leading to recurrent urinary tract infection in this age group is discussed.
Increased tyrosine nitration of the brain in chronic renal insufficiency: reversal by antioxidant therapy and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition.

Abstract . Interaction of reactive oxygen species with nitric oxide promotes nitric oxide inactivation and generation of cytotoxic reactive nitrogen species that attack DNA, lipids, and proteins. Nitration of free tyrosine and tyrosine residues of proteins results in production of nitrotyrosine, which can lead to excitotoxicity and frequently is found in the brain of patients and animals with various degenerative, ischemic, toxic, and other neurologic disorders. According to earlier studies, reactive oxygen species activity is increased and neuronal NO synthase expression in the brain is elevated in animals with chronic renal failure (CRF). It was hypothesized, therefore, that tyrosine nitration must be increased in the uremic brain. This hypothesis was tested, through determination of nitrotyrosine abundance (by Western blot analysis), as well as distribution (by immunohistology), in the cerebrum of rats with CRF 6 wk after 5/6 nephrectomy. The results were compared with those of sham-operated controls and antioxidant (lazaroid)-treated and captopril-treated rats with CRF. Western blot analysis revealed a significant increase in nitrotyrosine abundance in the cerebral cortex of rats with CRF. This was accompanied by an intense nitrotyrosine staining of the neuronal processes, including proximal segments of dendrites, axons, and axon terminals of the cortical neurons. Both antioxidant therapy and captopril administration alleviated oxidative stress (as evidenced by normalization of plasma lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde) and significantly reduced nitrotyrosine abundance in the cerebral cortex of the treated CRF group. In conclusion, CRF resulted in oxidative stress and increased tyrosine nitration in the cerebral cortex. Antioxidant therapy and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition alleviated the CRF-induced oxidative stress and mitigated tyrosine nitration in the rats with CRF.
Reinforcing Information and Technology Literature: The Plattsburg Tip Sheet

La Plattsburgh State University a mis en place un atelier destine a renforcer l'enseignement de la culture de l'information et des competences technologiques dans les cours d'enseignement general. Cet atelier a notamment abouti a la creation d'un tableau de suggestions permettant aux enseignant de reorienter le contenu des activites de classe et des devoirs demandes aux etudiants en fonction de ces nouveaux objectifs.
Watershed events in health-system pharmacy practice.

Three conferences sponsored by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) over the past 26 years are watershed events for our profession. The Hilton Head Conference in 1985 gave us the courage and determination to convince ourselves that pharmacy is a clinical profession.[1][1] The
Within-Group Effect-Size Benchmarks for Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Children and Adolescents

Purpose:This article provides benchmark data on within-group effect sizes from published randomized clinical trials (RCTs) supporting the efficacy of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) for traumatized children.Methods:Within-group effect-size benchmarks for symptoms of trauma, anxiety, and depression were calculated via the Glass approach and adjusted for sample size using Hedges’ g.Results:Overall TF-CBT and control group benchmarks are presented, as well as specific benchmarks for sexual abuse and mixed trauma, and whether included studies utilized intent-to-treat analysis.Discussion:Community practitioners can use these benchmarks as a comparison tool to evaluate whether the way they are adopting or adapting the TF-CBT intervention is satisfactory, needs to be modified, or should be replaced by a different intervention approach. These benchmarks also have potential utility for future implementation research on TF-CBT assessing which service provision conditions are associated with eff...
Distribution Network Reconfiguration for Power Loss Reduction and System Reliability Improvement

A reconfiguration search approach in distribution network based on reliability of system and to minimize the loss of distribution network considering is set up.The optimal method of the minimizing both the average service unavailability index and power loss is described in this paper.The improved genetic algorithm and simulated anneal algorithm are proposed to eliminate infeasible result.Initial population forming based on original network and simulated anneal algorithm operation to self-adapting genetic algorithm is put forward.Test results on RBTS Bus 4 distribution network are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the whole algorithm.
Analysis of Prevalence of Pre-school Children's Injuries and the Status of Their Parents/Guardians' KAP in Huamu Community,Pudong District,Shanghai

[Objective]To identify the prevalence of pre-school children's injuries and the status of their parents/guardians KAP(knowledge,attitude and practice) and to provide the basic information for the prevention.[Methods] The Parents/Guardians were asked to fill in the questionnaires which contained the information of children's injuries during Sept. 2005 and Aug. 2006,and KAP level of Parents/Guardians.[Results] 3089 children in 13 kindergartens in Huamu community and their parents/guardians were included. The results showed the children injury morbidity was 10.94%. The top 3 causes were fall,collision/extrusion and sprain. The rates of choosing the correct answers were greater than 80% in most questions,but only 23.67% among parents/guardians realized that injuries were the leading cause of being disabled and death in children. The prevalence of their injury-related practice was from 44.63% to 86.35%. Among them,less than 50% were dealing with"Locating the power sockets away from kids or covering them", "not to feed kids with whole grapes,hard candies,popcorns,nuts,fresh carrot etc"and"To buckle the safe belt in the front seat when carrying kid".[Conclusion] It was necessary to train the parents/guardians in preventing their children’s injuries.
Flash-Conscious Cache Population for Enterprise Database Workloads.

Host-side flash caching has lately emerged as a suitable and e↵ective means of accelerating enterprise workloads. However, cache management for flash-based caching is di↵erent from traditional DRAM-based caching. A flash cache sits underneath the DRAM cache. Its position in the hierarchy combined with the unique characteristics of flash, calls for a di↵erent cache management solution. Specifically, cache population, an aspect of cache management which is not attributed much importance in DRAM caches, becomes crucial in flash-based caches. In this paper, we first present a performance evaluation of three popular open-source flash cache implementations: flashcache, bcache, and EnhanceIO . We evaluate them under an industry-standard database benchmark and identify their limitations. We demonstrate that several shortcomings are due to sub-optimal cache population. We propose a novel set of techniques for cache population, and present the design of the Scalable Cache Engine (SCE) – a new flash cache solution that incorporates our cache population techniques. We demonstrate that SCE remarkably outperforms the existing open-source solutions: 45% higher throughput, 55% lower latency, 12⇥ faster cache warm-up than flashcache, and 95% less memory usage than EnhanceIO .
Abstract LB-228: Polo-like kinase 4: A potential new target for the management of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent non-cutaneous cancer of males. According to an estimate from the American Cancer Society, it is expected that approximately 180,890 new cases of PCa will be diagnosed and 26,120 PCa-related deaths will occur in the United States in 2016. Therefore, identification of additional molecular target(s) could be useful in designing novel mechanism-based approaches for the prevention and/or therapy of PCa. PLK4 belongs to the polo-like kinase family of serine/threonine protein kinases that localizes to centrioles and regulates centriole duplication during the cell cycle. Essentially, PLK4 is a low abundance suicidal kinase that is known to auto-phosphorylate itself to promote its own destruction to limit centriole duplication once per cell cycle phase. Since centrosome aberrations are frequently seen in cancer, the central role of PLK4 in centriole duplication suggests its significance as a potential target for cancer management. However, the role and functional relevance of PLK4 in PCa development and progression has not been investigated. In this study, we determined the expression profile of PLK4 in PCa using immunohistochemical analysis of multiple tissue microarrays (TMAs) containing a variety of cancerous and benign human prostate tissues. The TMAs were immunostained for PLK4 and the images were scanned and analyzed for protein levels using Aperio ScanScope at 40x magnification. We found a significant upregulation of PLK4 in PCa, compared to benign prostatic tissues. Further, we found a significant upregulation of PLK4 protein and mRNA in human PCa cells, as assessed by western blot and qRT-PCR analyses, respectively. To further assess the relevance of PLK4 overexpression in PCa, we determined the effect of a small molecule inhibitor of PLK4, centrinone-B, on androgen-responsive 22Rν1 and androgen-independent DU145 human PCa cells. Centrinone-B treatment (0, 50, 100 and 200 nM; for 24 and 48 h) resulted in a marked decrease in growth and viability of PCa cells, as assessed i) by CytoTox-Glo™ cytotoxicity assay, and ii) microscopic evaluation of cells following staining with Nuclear Fast Red and Crystal Violet dyes. Further, centrinone-B treatment resulted in a G1 phase cell cycle arrest of human PCa cells. Taken together, our study provides first direct evidence of a pro-proliferative function of PLK4 in PCa. However, additional studies are required to ascertain the relevance of our in vitro findings to in vivo situations in relevant animal models. Citation Format: Chandra K. Singh, Maria Shabbir, Minakshi Nihal, Kenneth A. Iczkowski, Nihal Ahmad. Polo-like kinase 4: A potential new target for the management of prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-228.
Making as the New Colored Pencil: Translating Elementary Curricula into Maker Activities

We present Making activities designed and observed within the formal environment of elementary school classrooms. Using a collaborative curriculum-matching design process with teachers, 8 Maker activities and lesson plans were developed, and implemented in Science and Language Arts classrooms of a school with a large percentage of students from underrepresented populations, over the course of 18 weeks during one semester. Coded videos revealed three categories of Maker activities: those that enabled learning, demonstrated learning, and provided learning of the concept itself. Experiences of teachers and students also revealed eagerness to participate, engagement, and exploration in the activities, as observed in a series of analyses. Other themes include the importance of multi-sensory exploration and ownership of self-constructed apparatuses with electronics. The resulting Maker activities and lesson plans offer strategies for familiarizing students with electronic tools and fostering tinkering while remaining true to the learning standards of the classroom.
Referring Hospitalized Smokers to Outpatient Quit Services: A Randomized Trial.

Introduction Linking outpatient cessation services to bedside counseling for hospitalized smokers can improve long-run quit rates. Adding an assisted referral (AR) offer to a tobacco treatment specialist consult service fits the team approach to care in U.S. hospitals. Design A two-arm patient-randomized trial tested the effectiveness of adding an AR offer to outpatient smoking-cessation services and interactive voice recognition (AR+IVR) follow-up to a usual care (UC) tobacco-cessation consult for hospitalized smokers. Setting/participants Over 24 months (November 2011–November 2013), 898 hospitalized adult smokers interested in quitting smoking were recruited from three large hospitals in the Portland, Oregon, area: an integrated group model HMO ( n =622), a community hospital ( n =195), and an academic health center ( n =81). Intervention Tobacco treatment specialists identified smokers and provided an intensive bedside tobacco use assessment and cessation consultation (UC). AR+IVR recipients also received proactive ARs to available outpatient counseling programs and medications, and linked patients to a tailored IVR telephone follow-up system. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was self-reported 30-day abstinence at 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes included self-reported and continuous abstinence and biochemically confirmed 7-day abstinence at 6 months. Follow-up was completed in September 2014; data were analyzed in 2015. Results A total of 597 and 301 hospitalized smokers were randomized to AR+IVR and UC, respectively. AR+IVR and UC recipients received 19.3 and 17.0 minutes of bedside counseling ( p =0.372), respectively. Most (58%) AR+IVR patients accepted referrals for counseling, 43% accepted medications, and 28% accepted both. Self-reported 30-day abstinence for AR+IVR (17.9%) and UC (17.3%) were not statistically significant ( p =0.569). Differences in 7-day, continuous, and biochemically confirmed abstinence by treatment group also were insignificant, overall and adjusting for site. Conclusions Adding an AR to outpatient counseling and medications did not increase cigarette abstinence at 6 months compared to UC alone.
Fifteen-minute consultation: investigation and management of an infant with stridor.

Stridor is an abnormal sound caused by turbulent airflow through the airway. In an infant under 3 months of age presenting with stridor, there are many different underlying aetiologies. Some key assessment points help to differentiate those patients who can be reassured and monitored versus those requiring referral to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon for further assessment or management. We present a structured approach to guide the clinician through initial assessment, examination and management, including referral to ENT surgery.
Differences in aggressive responses do not contribute to shifts in a sapsucker hybrid zone

ABSTRACT Interspecific interactions, such as aggressive territorial behaviors, can be important in establishing range boundaries, especially in hybrid zones where 2 divergent taxa meet and interbreed. Further, differences in the aggressive responses among hybridizing taxa can be important in moving hybrid zones, especially when there are strong asymmetries in their aggressive interactions. To determine how between-taxon interactions may be contributing to hybrid zone movement between 2 species of sapsucker, we studied an aspect of territory maintenance: aggression toward a territory intruder between species. Using a series of field experiments involving playback and taxidermic mounts, we tested whether Red-naped (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) and Red-breasted (S. ruber) sapsucker differ in their levels of aggressive behavior, thereby influencing the dynamic nature of the hybrid zone between these species. We found that 2 of the 3 aggressive response variables we measured differed between the 2 species. Red-naped ...
Of terrorism and revenue: Why foreign aid exacerbates terrorism in personalist regimes:

States hosting terrorist groups often receive foreign aid from donors who have an interest in reducing the level of terrorism in these countries. However, existing work is inconclusive on the quest...
The design process of a multimodal module that synthesized knowledge across nursing courses

Abstract Background Nursing faculty are being challenged to increase the use of technology in the classroom. Use of technology addresses multiple learning styles, increases student engagement, encourages active learning and improves students' attention. Objectives Evaluate student satisfaction to a faculty designed multimedia teaching strategy. Design Cross sectional design with data collected over six semesters from six cohorts of nursing students. Setting An urban university in the Midwest United States. Participants 154 sophomore generic and accelerated BSN students enrolled in Fundamentals of Nursing; Ninety-nine participants were female (66.9%) and 49 (31.8%) were male. Eighty-three percent were less than 20 years to 30 years in age. Methods A multimedia teaching strategy developed by three faculty integrating narrated case study, questioning and animation of skills and pathophysiology was implemented during the class session on infection control. At the conclusion, questionnaires were distributed to collect evaluation data. Results 120 students (77.9%) stated that the animated pathophysiology helped them understand the pathophysiological processes better than lecture alone. When combined with lecture, 121 students or 78.6% reported a better understanding of the material than if presented as lecture alone. 123 (79.9%) of the students stated that watching the animated video improved their understanding of the lecture content. As stated by one student, "I liked the visualization because it helped me further understand the material." 104 (67.5%) stated that presenting course content from multiple courses into one format facilitated the importance of these courses; “I liked that different aspect[s] of nursing were brought together.” Conclusions Use of multimedia in the classroom engages students in the learning process by actively involving students in the learning process as well as facilitating the delivery of difficult course content. Overall, students voiced a preference for all instructional materials to be presented in an animated format.
Isolation of plant genes by heterologous complementation in Escherichia coli

The earliest successes in the cloning of plant genes were restricted to those genes whose transcripts represented a high proportion of the mRNA population in particular tissues, such as leghemoglobin transcripts in legume nodules and storage protein transcripts in developing seeds. The subsequent cloning of less abundantly expressed genes has been achieved using a variety of specialized and technically demanding strategies. Generally, it involves purification of the protein of interest. Antibodies raised against the purified protein can then be used to screen cDNA expression libraries directly or to immunoprecipitate polysomal RNA, thereby enriching for the desired sequence before cDNA library construction. Alternatively, microsequencing of the protein may allow the synthesis of corresponding DNA oligomers that may be used to prime the specific synthesis of the appropriate cDNAs, or as hybridization probes to screen cDNA and genomic libraries [2].
Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Urogenital pain can have significant effects on the overall wellness of a patient while the underlying pathology may remain obscure despite traditional evidence-based allopathic treatment. CAM approaches offer supplemental relief to those with continued symptoms following traditional Western medical interventions [1]. Increasingly, evidence is available as studies continue to apply scientific method to determine the role of CAM for urogenital pain management within the armamentarium of pain management in the United States. This chapter will provide an overview of the definitions, history, evidence, and role of CAM therapies with the most immediate relevance to the medical professional including acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, yoga, herbal-based treatments, and Reiki therapy in addition to their application to urogenital pain.
Football, the Beast, and the Sovereign: The Politics of Joking Relationships in Spain

As of 2017, Spain is facing the greatest challenge to its post-Franco unity as Catalonia prepares to unilaterally declare independence in spite of a constitutional ban. The crisis of European sover...
Gender Composition and Crew Cohesion During Long-Duration Space Missions

A major factor in the success of future long-duration space missions is the psychosocial functioning of the crew. An individual’s psychological health and well-being has a major impact on how well he or she adapts to the demands of isolation, confinement, and workload associated with complex missions. Although each crewmember possesses a unique combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities that influence their capacity to adapt, in this chapter we argue that mission success also relies on how well an individual functions in the larger social context of the mission. More specifically, interactions between crewmembers, as well as between the crew and ground personnel, play a significant role in the crew’s overall performance. Although many variables affect crew interactions, such as opportunities for personal space and privacy afforded by the spacecraft’s architecture, we contend that the most prominent factor is the crew’s composition. Beyond the size of the crew, the mixture of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and the blend of professional expertise, the most salient crew composition variable is gender.
Controls on eDNA movement in streams: Transport, Retention, and Resuspension

Advances in detection of genetic material from species in aquatic ecosystems, including environmental DNA (eDNA), have improved species monitoring and management. eDNA from target species can readily move in streams and rivers and the goal is to measure it, and with that infer where and how abundant species are, adding great value to delimiting species invasions, monitoring and protecting rare species, and estimating biodiversity. To date, we lack an integrated framework that identifies environmental factors that control eDNA movement in realistic, complex, and heterogeneous flowing waters. To this end, using an empirical approach and a simple conceptual model, we propose a framework of how eDNA is transported, retained, and resuspended in stream systems. Such an understanding of eDNA dispersal in streams will be essential for designing optimized sampling protocols and subsequently estimating biomass or organismal abundance. We also discuss guiding principles for more effective use of eDNA methods, highlighting the necessity of understanding these parameters for use in future predictive modeling of eDNA transport.
Bariatric Surgery and Renal Disease

Current statistics clearly show that obesity has reached epidemic proportions. An aggressive approach to this disease process is therefore necessary. With bariatric surgery being the most effective method available for sustained weight loss, it is not surprising that the number of patients undergoing bariatric procedures has grown exponentially over the past decade. Renal disease is both directly and indirectly associated with obesity. Use of bariatric surgery as a method to reverse or stabilize renal function has shown early promise. Application of bariatric surgery to obese endstage renal disease patients to make them suitable candidates for renal transplantation also shows substantial promise. This chapter focuses on the current status of bariatric surgery and its association with chronic renal disease.
A Lens Array Multi-beam MIMO Testbed for Real-Time mmWave Communication and Sensing

Millimeter-wave (mmW) wireless is a promising technology for meeting the Gigabit rate and millisecond latency requirements of emerging applications. This promise fundamentally rests on the large (GHz) bandwidths and high-gain/high-dimensional beamforming possible at mmW frequencies. While multi-beam multiple input multiple output (MIMO) operation is necessary for achieving spatial multiplexing, existing systems are limited to mechanically pointed horn antennas and single-beam phased arrays of moderate sizes. In this paper, we report the development of a new testbed architecture for multi-beam MIMO communication and sensing at mmW frequencies. The testbed uses a novel lens array for multi-beamforming and data multiplexing. The paper provides a brief overview of the underlying beamspace MIMO framework, and presents initial measurement results to illustrate three key testbed functionalities: directional communication through the lens array; multiuser commmunication; and analysis of the measurement data, including channel measurements.