cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of value functions in environmental decisions

Value functions are devices that allow discrete analyses of environmental impacts to be reconciled to a single quantitative scale of preference. The values obtained can then be “weighted” and combined into measures of the relative desirability of policy alternatives. However, for this methodology to be valid, the set of impacts used must satisfy a number of conditions; and whether or not these are met depends on how the impacts are selected and characterized. This paper generalizes instances where the conditions may be violated and how they may be resolved, and concludes with a few thoughts on how the methodology might be adapted to the routine of bureaucracy.
Superconvergence and Sum Rules for the Optical Constants

A systematic procedure is given for the derivation of sum rules for the optical constants of material media from dispersion relations, in analogy with superconvergence techniques of high-energy physics. In addition to the well-known $f$-sum rules, a number of new sum rules are obtained for the refractive index, the dielectric tensor, and its inverse. In particular, it is shown that the average value of the real refractive index over the whole frequency spectrum is equal to unity. The physical implications of the new results are discussed in connection with the dispersion of optical constants, with the effect of external perturbations, and with the theory of natural optical activity.
A Theo-Politics of the (Im)proper: Jacques Derrida vis-à-vis Graham Ward

AbstractScholars from a variety of disciplines have questioned the adequacy of secular liberal democracy as a model for the socio-political, leading to a number of responses. This article examines and critiques the socio-political proposal of the theologian Graham Ward, who argues that theological communities provide the only means of exceeding the play of commodified surfaces in the cultural context of advanced capitalism. The difficulty is that, due to the metaphysical structure around which Ward constructs his theo-political edifice, his proposal leads to a dangerous form of identity politics. The critique of Ward's position is drawn from the thought of Jacques Derrida, who also questions the adequacy of secular liberal democracy. Derrida's religious formulation of the "tout autre" (wholly other) disrupts the metaphysical closure postulated by Ward and leads to an alternative socio-political vision. In contrast to Ward, Derrida's model of the theo-political is defined by the disruption of identity poli...
Rapid Prototyping a Collections-based Mobile Wayfinding Application

Abstract This research presents the results of a project that investigated how students use a library developed mobile app to locate books in the library. The study employed a methodology of formative evaluation so that the development of the mobile app would be informed by user preferences for next generation wayfinding systems. A key finding is the importance of gathering ongoing user feedback for designing useful and used mobile academic library applications. Elements and data points to include in future mobile interfaces are discussed.
The C. elegans tailless/Tlx homolog nhr-67 regulates a stage-specific program of linker cell migration in male gonadogenesis

Cell migration is a common event during organogenesis, yet little is known about how migration is temporally coordinated with organ development. We are investigating stage-specific programs of cell migration using the linker cell (LC), a migratory cell crucial for male gonadogenesis of C. elegans. During the L3 and L4 larval stages of wild-type males, the LC undergoes changes in its position along the migratory route, in transcriptional regulation of the unc-5 netrin receptor and zmp-1 zinc matrix metalloprotease, and in cell morphology. We have identified the tailless homolog nhr-67 as a cell-autonomous, stage-specific regulator of timing in LC migration programs. In nhr-67-deficient animals, each of the L3 and L4 stage changes is either severely delayed or never occurs, yet LC development before the early L3 stage or after the mid-L4 stage occurs with normal timing. We propose that there is a basal migration program utilized throughout LC migration that is modified by stage-specific regulators such as nhr-67.
Polarization influence of excited state absorption on the performance of Cr4+:YAG laser

Abstract The polarization dependence of the excited-state absorption (ESA) on the gain of the Cr 4+ :YAG medium is described. Using laser efficiency data, the emission and ESA cross-section for σ- and π-polarization at 1450 nm are determined. Due to excitation of the two types of Cr 4+ oriented centers in Cr 4+ :YAG for unpolarized pumping, the effective ESA cross-section σ ESAu = σ 1π + σ 1σ = 1.6 × 10 −19 cm 2 is obtained. The effective ESA cross-section for linearly polarized pumping, with direction of the electric vector along the S 4 local symmetry axis, is σ ESAp = σ 1π = 0.8 × 10 −19 cm 2 .
Using a zebrafish Danio rerio model system to study NOTCH1-induced T-cell leukaemia

Notch receptors are a family of cell-surface proteins that regulate cell fate decisions and growth control. Human NOTCH1 gain-of-function mutations–deletions have been found in c. 60% of patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL). Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms by which dysregulated Notch-signalling induces leukaemia is of importance and may reveal novel targets for the development of more effective therapies. Zebrafish, Danio rerio, is an ideal model system to use for forward genetic screens to uncover pathways critical for transformation. Danio rerio also have the capacity for small molecule screening for drug discovery. rag2-ICN1-EGFP transgenic fish have been created that develop a T-cell leukaemia, and these fish are now being used in genetic modifier screens.
Current management of choroid plexus carcinomas

Choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC) is a World Health Organization (WHO) grade III brain tumor with a poor prognosis that occurs mainly in children. Gross total resection of CPC is highly recommended and is associated with improved overall survival, although it is often associated with increased morbidity. The use of adjuvant therapies has yet to be standardized, although evidence suggests that for patients with incompletely resected CPCs, a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be beneficial. The use of radiation therapy for younger children (<3 years old) with CPC, however, is not recommended, due to the potential negative neurological sequelae associated with radiation to the developing brain. Given that the majority of CPC patients are young children, questions regarding optimal radiation dose, chemotherapy agents, and how to combine these two adjuvant treatment modalities to achieve the best outcomes remain unanswered. In this paper we summarize the current management of CPC in the literature. Further studies are needed to standardize the treatment paradigm for this malignant brain tumor.
The permeability of hydrogen in bulk palladium at elevated temperatures and pressures

Abstract The permeability of hydrogen in bulk palladium membranes (approximately 1-mm thickness) was determined for the first time at conditions of simultaneously elevated temperature (623–1173 K) and hydrogen pressure (0.1×106 to 2.76×106 Pa). When the hydrogen partial pressure exponent value was constrained to a value of 0.5, the permeability was described by an Arrhenius-type relation where the pre-exponential constant and activation energy for this correlation were 1.92×10−7 mol/(m s Pa0.50) and 13.81 kJ/mol, respectively. These Arrhenius values were in good agreement with prior low-pressure correlations. However, the hydrogen flux results of this study were most accurately represented by an Arrhenius permeability expression where 3.21×10−8 mol/(m s Pa0.62), 13.41 kJ/mol, and 0.62 represent the pre-exponential constant, activation energy of permeation and permeability driving force, respectively. Although the partial pressure exponent value of 0.62 was slightly greater than the commonly accepted value of 0.5 (atmospheric and sub-atmospheric pressure studies), the optimal exponent value in this study decreased as the upper limit of pressure employed in the database was reduced. Therefore, the deviation in the partial pressure exponent with increasing hydrogen pressure may be attributed to variances in the product of the diffusion coefficient and Sieverts constant at elevated pressures.
Intrinsic and impurity infrared absorption in As2Se3 glass

Abstract A quantitative study of infrared absorption in the 250–4000 cm −1 region of As 2 Se 3 glasses doped with small amounts of As 2 O 3 or purified by various procedures has been carried out with particular attention to absorption in the wavelength regions of the CO 2 and CO lasers. The dependence of the relative intensities of the oxide impurity bands in the 650–1340 cm −1 region on the total amount of As 2 O 3 added to the glass indicates the existence of three distinct oxide-impurity species. A number of higher-frequency impurity bands which are due to the presence of hydrogen in the glass and whose intensities are highly dependent on the glass-melting conditions have been observed and classified. Intrinsic multiphonon absorption in the 400–1100 cm −1 region has been interpreted in terms of combination and overtone bands of the two highest-frequency fundamental vibrational modes. Absorption coefficients of As 2 Se 3 glass in the 920–1090 cm −1 CO 2 laser region are limited by intrinsic multiphonon absorption to values of around 10 −2 cm −1 . The lowest absorption coefficients measured in the 1700–2000 cm −1 CO laser region were around 2 × 10 −3 cm −1 and may contain contributions from hydrogen-impurity bands.
Environmental aspects of ethanol derived from no-tilled corn grain: nonrenewable energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

Abstract Nonrenewable energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with ethanol (a liquid fuel) derived from corn grain produced in selected counties in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin are presented. Corn is cultivated under no-tillage practice (without plowing). The system boundaries include corn production, ethanol production, and the end use of ethanol as a fuel in a midsize passenger car. The environmental burdens in multi-output biorefinery processes (e.g., corn dry milling and wet milling) are allocated to the ethanol product and its various coproducts by the system expansion allocation approach. The nonrenewable energy requirement for producing 1 kg of ethanol is approximately 13.4–21.5 MJ (based on lower heating value), depending on corn milling technologies employed. Thus, the net energy value of ethanol is positive; the energy consumed in ethanol production is less than the energy content of the ethanol (26.8 MJ kg −1 ). In the GHG emissions analysis, nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions from soil and soil organic carbon levels under corn cultivation in each county are estimated by the DAYCENT model. Carbon sequestration rates range from 377 to 681 kg C ha −1 year −1 and N 2 O emissions from soil are 0.5–2.8 kg N ha −1 year −1 under no-till conditions. The GHG emissions assigned to 1 kg of ethanol are 260–922 g CO 2 eq. under no-tillage. Using ethanol (E85) fuel in a midsize passenger vehicle can reduce GHG emissions by 41–61% km −1 driven, compared to gasoline-fueled vehicles. Using ethanol as a vehicle fuel, therefore, has the potential to reduce nonrenewable energy consumption and GHG emissions.
Natural Control of Cereal Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) by Entomopathogenic Fungi (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) and Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae and Encyrtidae) on Irrigated Spring Wheat in Southwestern Idaho

Data on the natural control of cereal aphids, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker), and Sitobion avenae (F.), by entomophthoralean fungi and hymenopterous parasitoids on furrow-irrigated spring wheat in southwestern Idaho are presented. The important fungi involved were Pandora neoaphidis (Remaudire & Hennebert) Humber and Conidiobolus spp., including C. obscurus (Hall and Dunn) Remaudire, C. thromboides Drechsler, and C. coronatus (Constantin) Batko. During 1986–1989, M. dirhodum and S. avenae populations usually reached or exceeded economic levels. D. noxia did not enter the region until late June 1987. It was the first aphid found infesting the crop in 1988 and reached high densities that summer but was not found in 1989, perhaps because of mortality during an extremely cold winter. Fungal infection occurred ≍2,3, and 6 wk after colonization of the crop by M. dirhodum, S. avenae , and D. noxia, respectively. Epizootics occurred each summer but usually after the crop was damaged by large aphid populations. An exception occurred during 1987 when M. dirhodum and S. avenae populations were effectively suppressed by mycoses, apparently enhanced by unusually frequent rainfall during late May and June. M. dirhodum experienced much higher mortality from fungal infection than did S. avenae and D. noxia. P. neoaphidis was the dominant fungus infecting M. dirhodum and D. noxia, whereas Conidiobolus spp. were most important on S. avenae. Entomophthora chromaphidis Burger & Swain and two Zoophthora species sporadically infected cereal aphids. Parasitoids, mainly Aphidius ervi Haliday for S. avenae and M. dirhodum and Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) for D. noxia, usually attacked cereal aphids earlier than the fungi but were less influential during the decline of host populations. Multiple regression and correlation analysis indicated that mycoses and parasitoids made significant contributions to the reduction of peak populations of each aphid species compared with the influence of crop maturation. Weak correlation between fungal infection and host density and climatic factors ( r2 ranging from 0.35 to 0.53) was found. Development of fungal infection seemed to be better correlated with host density than with climatic factors. Precipitation was more associated with fungal infection of S. avenae, which inhabits upper portions of the host crop, but had little effect on that of M. dirhodum and D. noxia, which inhabit more humid microenvironments. No other climatic factors were significantly correlated with fungal infection. A hypothesis is proposed that the site on a wheat plant typically occupied by an aphid species influences the development of mycoses.
An unrealistic parser

A parser for natural language is proposed which, (a) concentrates on methodological procedures rather than grammatical details of a natural language; (b) is based on the claim that in order to exploit the full power of computers, models of human language processing should not necessarily be designed to simulate human behavior; and (c) is designed for the advanced technology of the computers of the future. the parser is a component of a language understanding machine which is only represented in a sketch in this article.
Statistical shear lag model - unraveling the size effect in hierarchical composites.

Numerous experimental and computational studies have established that the hierarchical structures encountered in natural materials, such as the brick-and-mortar structure observed in sea shells, are essential for achieving defect tolerance. Due to this hierarchy, the mechanical properties of natural materials have a different size dependence compared to that of typical engineered materials. This study aimed to explore size effects on the strength of bio-inspired staggered hierarchical composites and to define the influence of the geometry of constituents in their outstanding defect tolerance capability. A statistical shear lag model is derived by extending the classical shear lag model to account for the statistics of the constituents’ strength. A general solution emerges from rigorous mathematical derivations, unifying the various empirical formulations for the fundamental link length used in previous statistical models. The model shows that the staggered arrangement of constituents grants composites a unique size effect on mechanical strength in contrast to homogenous continuous materials. The model is applied to hierarchical yarns consisting of double-walled carbon nanotube bundles to assess its predictive capabilities for novel synthetic materials. Interestingly, the model predicts that yarn gauge length does not significantly influence the yarn strength, in close agreement with experimental observations.
"The Strength of Issues: Using Multiple Measures to Gauge Preference Stability, Ideological Constraint, and Issue Voting"

A venerable supposition of American survey research is that the vast majority of voters have incoherent and unstable preferences about political issues, which in turn have little impact on vote choice. We demonstrate that these findings are manifestations of measurement error associated with individual survey items. First, we show that averaging a large number of survey items on the same broadly defined issue area—for example, government involvement in the economy, or moral issues—eliminates a large amount of measurement error and reveals issue preferences that are well structured and stable. This stability increases steadily as the number of survey items increases and can approach that of party identification. Second, we show that once measurement error has been reduced through the use of multiple measures, issue preferences have much greater explanatory power in models of presidential vote choice, again approaching that of party identification.
Dominant Individuals and Unethical Decisions: The Role of Moral Disengagement and Self-Control

Although research shows that individual social dominance orientation (SDO) is positively associated with unethical behavior, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the relationship. Buildi...
What Makes Municipal Councils Effective?: An Empirical Analysis of How Council Members Perceive Their Group Interactions and Processes

Although local government scholars acknowledge the centrality of the municipal council to overall government performance, the literature provides limited guidance regarding how those councils can i...
The mechanics of the knee joint in relation to normal walking.

Abstract Experimental measurements of normal walking were taken using male and female subjects. The mechanics of the knee joint were simplified and defined in mathematical terms. By considering the normal knee joint to function according to the mechanical principals thus defined, the forces transmitted by the joint were calculated from the experimental data. The general mechanical concepts of knee action are outlined and the assumptions made in defining the joint ‘model’ described. The results obtained are presented and discussed in relation to the assumptions made.
Phosphatidic acid-mediated regulation of neutrophil plasma membrane CD45-phosphotyrosine phosphatase.

Abstract CD45-phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) constitutes the major portion of the PTPase activity within plasma membranes of neutrophilic leukocytes, where it regulates signals leading to functional activation. We have previously demonstrated that the catalytic component of neutrophil plasma membrane CD45-PTPase is regulated by a cytosolic inactivator which itself is attenuated upon cellular stimulation, allowing enzyme translocated from granule stores to express full activity. The present study investigated mechanisms of cytosolic inactivator attenuation. Preincubation of plasma membranes of stimulated neutrophils with cytosol from resting cells resulted in a rapid loss of membrane-associated PTPase activity. Phosphatidic acid had no direct effect on plasma membrane PTPase activity but blunted in a dose dependent manner the effects of the PTPase inactivator. Inactivator attenuation was not observed with equivalent concentrations of either diacylglycerol or lysophosphatidic acid. Optimal attenuation of inactivator activity was obtained with long chain, soluble ligands, such as dicapryl phosphatidic acid. Inhibitors of neutrophil plasma membrane ecto-phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase did not block inactivator attenuation, suggesting that phosphatidic acid and not one of its metabolites was the entity responsible. In conclusion, neutrophil plasma membrane PTPase is dynamically regulated by a cytosolic inactivator, the inhibition of which may potentiate the effects of PTPase translocated during cellular stimulation. Phosphatidic acid generated as a consequence of cellular stimulation may mediate this inhibition and thereby regulate the effects of tyrosine kinases activated during the initial phases of cell stimulation.
Patient experience in outpatient pediatric otolaryngology.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Patient experience scores are emerging as a key measure of healthcare quality. This report evaluated differences in outpatient otolaryngology patient satisfaction scores by age. Study Design: Patient-level analysis of Press Ganey Medical Practice surveys completed by otolaryngology patients or parents in 2010. Methods: Surveys were grouped by child (<18 years old) or adult age. Children were evaluated in three subgroups (0–5 years, 6–12 years, and 13–17 years). The survey contains 29 items, which comprise six service domains of access, visit, nursing, provider, personal issues, and assessment. Comparison of mean scores was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis rank test for nonparametric data. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate association of age with receipt of highest scores (HI-SCORES) in each domain. Results: Of 44,010 surveys analyzed, 5,996 (13.6%) were pediatric. The majority of children were 18; P = .0001) and increased with age. Multivariate analysis showed that children were less likely than adults to give HI-SCORES overall (odds ratio, 0.81, 95% confidence interval, 0.76-0.86; P < .001) and in all domains (P = .0001) except for provider. Conclusions: Compared to adults, satisfaction is lower in all service domains except care provider for pediatric otolaryngology patients, and is lowest for younger children. Otolaryngologists should consider the unique needs of the child and family to improve overall patient experience.
Effect of CNS-depressants, dexamethasone and growth hormone on the response to growth hormone-releasing factor.

Highly purified growth hormonereleasing factor (GRF) was given to rats; pretreated with reserpine, chlorpromazine, pentobarbital-morphine, dexamethasone and growth hormone (GH). Only the last named prevented depletion of GH in the recipients’ pituitaries. This may suggest that GRF releases GH by a direct action on the pituitary and that the level of GH in blood may be a factor taking part either directly or indirectly in regulating release of GH from the pituitary. (Endocrinology 81: 1410,1967)
Subcortical locus of temporal coupling in the bimanual movements of a callosotomy patient

The timing of repetitive movements was assessed in a callosotomy patient under unimanual and bimanual conditions. Similar to neurologically healthy individuals, the patient exhibited strong temporal coupling in the bimanual condition. Moreover, for both the left and right hands, within-hand temporal variability was reduced in the bimanual condition compared to the unimanual conditions. This bimanual advantage is hypothesized to reflect the temporal integration of separable timing signals, one associated with the left hand and one associated with the right hand (Helmuth, L. L., & Ivry, R. B. (1996). When two hands are better than one: Reduced timing variability during bimanual movements. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 2, 278‐293). The fact that it persists following callosotomy is inconsistent with models that attribute bimanual coordination in these patients to the control of a single hemisphere. Rather, the results suggest that motor commands from the two hemispheres are integrated subcortically. ” 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
A Model of Clinical Supervision for Preservice Professionals in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education.

The authors present a model of clinical supervision to guide preservice professionals embarking on a career in early intervention and early childhood special education. Established models of clinic...
Resilience and Stereotyping: The Experiences of Native American Elders

Purpose: The lived experiences of Native American elders regarding the effects of stereotypes on resilience were examined. Method: This qualitative study emphasized culturally compatible methods of traditional storytelling and featured interpretive analysis. Results: Themes revealed were the following: (a) having the ability to successfully bridge cultures fostered resilience and inspired self-confidence, (b) a strong sense of identity was a core element of resilience, (c) being responsible and accountable inspired a sense of pride, (d) educational attainment and employment fostered resilience, and (e) cultural resilience was a key component when confronting stereotypes. Although stereotyping has had profound effects, these first Americans have taken the best of both worlds and successfully integrated them to live successful, well-adjusted lives. Discussion: These findings suggest that disparities in mental and physical health could be addressed by building on the unique foundation of cultural resilience ...
Role of Melatonin and Dopamine in the Regulation of Retinal Circadian Rhythms

Melatonin and dopamine are two important players in the regulation of many physiological functions within the body. These neurohormones are also involved in the regulation of retinal physiology and its pathophysiology. Several studies have shown that melatonin synthesis in the retina primarily occurs during the night, whereas dopamine synthesis occurs during the day. We now know that melatonin and dopamine play opposing roles in the regulation of retinal physiology and visual processing in mammals; dopamine functions as a signal for light adaptation, while melatonin has dark-adaptive effects. This reciprocal feedback loop is believed to be a critical component of the regulation of circadian rhythms in the eye. Melatonin and dopamine exert their influence(s) by binding to G-protein-coupled receptors that are expressed by many different cells in the vertebrate retina. Although during the last 20 years we have acquired a substantial knowledge on the role of melatonin and dopamine in many different animal models, a clear role for the melatonin and dopamine systems in human retina is still missing. It is our hope that future genomic studies will be performed on human populations with ocular diseases to determine if polymorphisms in genes encoding enzymes—or receptors—involved in the melatonin and dopamine systems are associated with specific visual disorders.
Renin-angiotensin system and hemangioblast development from human embryonic stem cells

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) offer the opportunity to create a novel source of blood cells for transfusion, transplantation and cancer immunotherapy. Identification of sequential progenitors leading to blood development, as well as a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms of hematopoietic lineage specification and diversification from hESCs, will be critical to advance technologies for large-scale production of blood cells and in vitro generation of hematopoietic stem cells. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that hematopoiesis, both in vivo during embryogenesis and in vitro from hESCs, is initiated from hemangioblasts; cells with the potential to generate both hematopoietic and endothelial cells. However, the phenotypic and functional properties of hemangioblasts remain largely unknown. The paper from Zambidis et al. is the first demonstration that hemangioblasts generated from hESCs express angiotensin-converting enzyme (CD143). More importantly, the current study demonstrates that the renin-angiotensin system plays a critical role in the hemangioblast fate decision to produce either blood or endothelial cells. These findings could be exploited for developing novel cellular and drug therapies for hematological and vascular diseases.
The neural basis of reversible sentence comprehension: Evidence from voxel-based lesion symptom mapping in aphasia

We explored the neural basis of reversible sentence comprehension in a large group of aphasic patients (n = 79). Voxel-based lesion symptom mapping revealed a significant association between damage in temporo-parietal cortex and impaired sentence comprehension. This association remained after we controlled for phonological working memory. We hypothesize that this region plays an important role in the thematic or what-where processing of sentences. In contrast, we detected weak or no association between reversible sentence comprehension and the ventrolateral pFC, which includes Broca's area, even for syntactically complex sentences. This casts doubt on theories that presuppose a critical role for this region in syntactic computations.
Potential for Geologic Records of Coseismic Uplift and Megathrust Rupture along the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica

ABSTRACT Spotila, J.A.; Marshall, J.; DePew, K.; Prince, P.S., and Kennedy, L., 2016. Potential for geologic records of coseismic uplift and megathrust rupture along the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. This study presents the first paleoseismic investigation of the Middle America subduction zone at the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. This megathrust has been intensely studied over the past decade using a range of geologic and geophysical techniques, and it experienced interplate rupture in 2012 (moment magnitude 7.6). Despite many factors that could hinder preservation of a paleoseismic record in this coastal environment, including complex deposition in a tropical mangrove setting, this reconnaissance identifies two sites where stratigraphic evidence may record relative sea-level changes associated with Holocene earthquakes. Although more work is required to better constrain the timing and nature of these events, this study suggests that the Tamarindo and Playa Carrillo estuaries contain possible paleoseismic...
SGX70393 inhibits the T315I mutant of Bcr-Abl kinase and pre-empts drug resistance when combined with nilotinib or dasatinib

A259 Overview: Bcr-AblT315I is resistant to all currently available kinase inhibitors. We report that SGX70393 is a potent, azapyridine-based inhibitor of native and T315I-mutant Bcr-Abl kinase. Furthermore, combining SGX70393 with nilotinib or dasatinib completely abrogates emergence of resistant subclones, including Bcr-AblT315I, in a cell-based screen. Methods: We assessed the efficacy of SGX70393 in cellular and biochemical assays against a panel of Bcr-Abl kinase domain (KD) mutants: (M244V, G250E, Q252H, Y253F, Y253H, E255K, E255V, F311L, T315A, T315I, F317L, M351T, F359V, V379I, L387M, H396P, or H396R). Colony formation assays were carried out with murine bone marrow cells expressing Bcr-Abl or Bcr-AblT315I and toxicity was assessed in colony forming assays of normal human mononuclear cells. SGX70393 was also evaluated in a xenograft mouse model using Ba/F3 Bcr-AblT315I cells and in cellular tyrosine phosphorylation assays with primary human Bcr-AblT315I cells. The resistance profile of SGX70393 was also evaluated alone and in combination with imatinib, nilotinib, or dasatinib using a recently developed accelerated, cell-based mutagenesis assay [Bradeen, et al. Blood (2006) 108:2232-38]. Results:SGX70393 inhibited growth of cells expressing Bcr-AblT315I (IC50: 7.3 nM) or native Bcr-Abl (IC50: 12 nM). Sensitivity of Bcr-Abl mutants to SGX70393 partitioned into three categories: high (IC50 500 nM: G250E, Y253F, E255V, F317L). Colony formation by murine bone marrow cells expressing Bcr-AblT315I was reduced by SGX70393 while no toxicity was observed in colony forming assays of normal human or murine mononuclear cells treated with SGX70393. A cell-based mutagenesis screen for Bcr-Abl kinase domain escape mutants emerging in the presence of SGX70393 revealed that four previously reported Bcr-Abl mutations account for almost all resistance. Results from experiments using SGX70393 in combination with imatinib, nilotinib and dasatinib suggest significant further reductions of resistant clones. Remarkably, outgrowth of resistant clones was completely suppressed when SGX70393 was used in combination with nilotinib or dasatinib. Conclusions:SGX70393 is a potent inhibitor of native and T315I mutant Bcr-Abl, with coverage extending to most clinically relevant mutants except those in the P-loop and F317. Outgrowth of Bcr-AblT315I is reported to be a common mechanism of resistance to dasatinib and nilotinib. As such, an effective Bcr-AblT315I inhibitor will be necessary to re-establish response in these relapsed patients. In addition, a Bcr-AblT315I inhibitor is likely to become a critical component of Abl kinase inhibitor combinations administered up-front to delay emergence of drug resistance in patients with advanced disease. Our pre-clinical findings suggest that SGX70393 in dual combination with nilotinib or dasatinib has the potential to prevent outgrowth of any known escape mutant, thus eliminating kinase inhibitor resistance.
Quarterly Patterns in Momentum and Reversal in the U.S. Stock Market: The Consequences of Tax-Loss Sales and Window Dressing

Active investment managers have strong incentives to simultaneously realize tax losses and window dress taxable portfolios at the end of each calendar quarter. As a result, stocks with capital losses experience negative abnormal returns during the third months of quarters. During the years after the passage of Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act in 1982, the lion’s share of returns of momentum strategies is earned in these stocks, and at the ends of calendar quarters. Since 1982, reversals of monthly returns appear only in the first months of quarters, and only at times when the aggregate value of capital losses is large. These turn-of-the-quarter patterns in momentum and reversals are now larger, after the IRS rules regarding taxes on capital gains have tightened, and they are strong in big and liquid stocks, as well as in small and illiquid stocks. The patterns indicate that momentum and reversal are due in part to institutional features of the stock market, including tax rules and reporting practices of active managers.
Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with low GABA and high glutamate in the insular cortex.

The insular cortex is injured in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and responds inappropriately to autonomic challenges, suggesting neural reorganization. The objective of this study was to assess whether the neural changes might result from γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate alterations. We studied 14 OSA patients [mean age ± standard deviation (SD): 47.5 ± 10.5 years; nine male; apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): 29.5 ± 15.6 events h(-1) ] and 22 healthy participants (47.5 ± 10.1 years; 11 male), using magnetic resonance spectroscopy to detect GABA and glutamate levels in insular cortices. We localized the cortices with anatomical scans, and measured neurochemical levels from anterior to mid-regions. Left and right anterior insular cortices showed lower GABA and higher glutamate in OSA versus healthy subjects [GABA left: OSA n = 6: 0.36 ± 0.10 (mean ± SD), healthy n = 5: 0.62 ± 0.18; P < 0.05), right: OSA n = 11: 0.27 ± 0.09, healthy n = 14: 0.45 ± 0.16; P < 0.05; glutamate left: OSA n = 6: 1.61 ± 0.32, healthy n = 8: 0.94 ± 0.34; P < 0.05, right: OSA n = 14: 1.26 ± 0.28, healthy n = 19: 1.02 ± 0.28; P < 0.05]. GABA and glutamate levels were correlated only within the healthy group in the left insula (r: -0.9, P < 0.05). The altered anterior insular levels of GABA and glutamate may modify integration and projections to autonomic areas, contributing to the impaired cardiovascular regulation in OSA.
Data science for social good 2014 KDD highlights

As the premier international forum for data science, data mining, knowledge discovery and big data, the ACM SIGKDD Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD) brings together researchers and practitioners from academia, industry, and government to share their ideas, research results and experiences. Partnered with Bloomberg, it celebrated its 20th years in 2014 with the theme “Data Science for Social Good”. The breadth of topics covered in the 2014 research program is truly comprehensive and nicely balanced among social and information networks, data mining for social good, graph mining, statistical techniques for big data, topic modeling, recommender systems, data streams, scalable methods, Web mining, clustering, feature selection, applications to health care and medicine, public safety, advertising, social analytics, personalization, workforce analytics, health, and many more.
Beam Annealing of Ion-Implanted Gaas and Inp

A scanned cw Nd:YAG laser was used to anneal ion-implanted GaAs and InP wafers. Measurements show that electrical activation is greater for p-type than for n-type dopants in GaAs, while in InP, the opposite is observed. A simple Fermi-level pinning model is presented to explain not only the electrical properties we have measured, but also those observed by other workers. We have fabricated GaAs and InP solar cells with junctions formed by ion implantation followed by laser annealing. The GaAs cells have much better conversion efficiencies than the InP cells, and this difference can be explained in terms of the model.
International market entry strategies of enterprises

With the development of global economy integration,enterprises' desire to enter international market is getting stronger.In order to study international market entry strategies of enterprises,this paper classifies the strategies and carries out analysis on each strategy.Based on that,it puts forward methods to reduce the risks of failure of international market entry strategies and analyzes the profit of choosing international market entry strategies.
Research on protection countermeasure of drinking water source of Yuqiao reservoir in Tianjin

Yuqiao reservoir,as one of the most important sources of drinking water for Tianjin,is nearly impaired as the concentration of TN and TP hard to meet water quality standards,and needs to adopt significant measures to relieve the pollution loading pressure.The paper performed an analysis on practice scenario implementations for water quality improvement in Yuqiao Reservoir,based on a general consideration for drinking water source environment protection.Firstly,GWLF(generalized watershed loading function) model was used for identifying pollution sources and estimating load source apportionment around the reservoir watershed.Secondly,the paper put forward several measures as practice scenario based on the concepts and methods of BMP(best management practice) and LID(lower impact development),as well as some circumstances of the reservoir.Thirdly,using BATHTUB model,the environmental benefits facing water quality for each scenario implementation were calculated and evaluated.Finally,the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process was used in comparing the alternative scenarios above by scoring each practice to gather an integrative conclusion of BMP for a decision support suggestion.
Dynamic respiratory responses to preoptic/anterior hypothalamic warming in the sleeping cat

Timing and amplitude characteristics of diaphragmatic muscle activity following bilateral local warming of the preoptic area/anterior hypothalamic region (POAH) were studied during sleep in free-moving, intact adult cats. Warming of the POAH increased local brain temperature by 1.4-3.7 degrees C and elicited thermal tachypnea (panting) during quiet sleep (QS). Following transition to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the tachypnea, initially induced by warming during QS, diminished, but respiratory rates remained above baseline REM levels, and an intermittent pattern of faster and slower breathing rates developed. In QS, tachypnea resulted primarily from a decline in inspiratory time (TI), whereas in REM sleep, reduction in expiratory time (TE) was more prominent. Although diaphragmatic electromyographic amplitude decreased by 40% during panting in QS, the much higher respiratory rates (+350%) resulted in apparent increases in relative ventilation and inspiratory drive. A less pronounced respiratory rate change (+46%) emerged during REM sleep, resulting in no significant changes in ventilation and inspiratory drive in response to warming in that state. The results suggest that descending thermal influences on respiratory patterning differ between QS and REM states in both overall respiratory rate and on relative TI and TE, and thus do not affect inspiratory drive exclusively.
Measuring Association Among Qualitative Variables for Brand Preference Testing: An Information Theoretic Approach

Analyses of qualitative variables are pervasive in marketing literature. This paper presents a measure of association known as the information theoretic covariability coefficient (Abrahamse and van Bueren 1980) for analysing association among qualitative variables. A well known data set, on brand preference for detergents which was studied earlier by a number of researchers, is adapted in order to illustrate the usefulness and importance of the proposed method to marketing researchers and practitioners.
Intervention and Assessment of Spelling Skills in LD Classrooms

Spelling is a prerequisite for good writing and spelling can also aid in improving vocabulary and reading comprehension. Good spellers are almost always good readers. However, a majority of children with Learning Disability (LD) have problems with spelling and yet, research on spelling instruction is lacking compared to research on reading instruction; perhaps due to several misconceptions about the development, assessment, and instruction of spelling English words. After providing an overview of the myths and realities about English spelling, this chapter discusses what teachers in LD classrooms should know about the current research on the instruction and assessment of spelling. The role of dialect in spelling and the influence of orthography of first language on spelling English words as well as the teacher preparation in spelling is also outlined. It is concluded that spelling is a window on a person’s knowledge about words and spelling English words requires an understanding of phonological, morphological, and orthographic factors of written language.
Human-computer cooperative problem-solving in supervisory control

In the supervisory control of a highly automated system, the human operator must manage information and activities in a complex, dynamic environment. This thesis explores the concept of a computer-based, "intelligent" operator's associate system as a means of providing context-sensitive, real-time aiding support to the human supervisory controller. First, a theory of human-computer cooperative problem solving is proposed that prescribes the requirements for an effective operator's associate. Based on the theory and the results of a case study, the design of an operator's associate for satellite ground control is described. The resulting system, the Georgia Tech Mission Operations Cooperative Assistant (GT-MOCA), was implemented in the context of an interactive, real-time simulation of the Mission Operations Room environment at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. GT-MOCA provides task management, information management, and system visualization support for the human operator. This thesis provides a detailed description of GT-MOCA's operator modeling methodology, knowledge structures, and user interface. The results of an experimental evaluation of GT-MOCA by Flight Operations Team analysts at NASA Goddard are given, and show that GT-MOCA successfully addressed many of the issues in providing real-time support for human operators in the Mission Operations Room.
CLOUDS AND FOG | Stratus and Stratocumulus

Stratus and stratocumulus clouds are two dominant types of low stratiform cloud that together cover 30% of the Earth's surface. Both are thin boundary layer clouds that frequently occur as the sole cloud type under conditions of large-scale subsidence and strong lower-tropospheric static stability, but they can also exist mixed with higher clouds during disturbed periods. Stratocumulus are convective clouds driven largely by the emission of infrared radiation from cloud top and from latent heat release. Stratus, on the other hand, are largely free of convective overturning. Both are typically very thin clouds that can extend horizontally for large distances. Stratocumulus frequently produce light precipitation often in the form of drizzle. Because they strongly reflect solar radiation, stratus and stratocumulus exert an important impact on climate.
Mechanical behavior and microstructural analysis of NiTi-40Au shape memory alloys exhibiting work output above 400 °C

Abstract Substituting Ni with Au in NiTi leads to dramatic increases in transformation temperatures, meeting one of the requirements for a viable high temperature actuator material. Consequently, four alloys containing between 49 and 51 at.% Ti, a fixed 40 at.% Au, and balance Ni, were prepared and investigated in detail using load-biased thermal cycling (LBTC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS). LBTC experiments demonstrated work output well above 400 °C, with full recovery up to 100 MPa. The alloys exhibit minimal variation in shape memory properties despite the relatively large composition range from Ti-lean to Ti-rich, in stark contrast to most other NiTi-based systems, which demonstrate extreme compositional sensitivity. Electron beam analysis revealed the presence of two types of secondary phases present in all compositions, which are subsequently characterized. Differences in secondary phase content as a function of alloy composition is shown to have a moderating effect on the transforming matrix composition - an important asset for this alloy system - potentially easing processing requirements and opening up shape memory alloys to new fabrication techniques. Unrecovered strain during cycling at higher loads is analyzed from a theoretical perspective to gain insight into the mechanisms of defect formation responsible for functional fatigue.
Piriformis Syndrome and Pudendal Neuralgia

Piriformis syndrome and pudendal neuralgia are two common entities in the realm of urogenital pain. While they may be not very common or even thought of as causes of urogenital pain, if they are not identified and treated properly they can cause prolonged pain. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the basic anatomy and physiology of the piriformis muscle and pudendal nerve and to overview the diagnosis and treatment of the above two syndromes, ranging from conservative management to interventional techniques. By the end of this chapter one should be able to identify a patient with either piriformis syndrome or pudendal neuralgia. By developing an understanding of these two syndromes, the clinician should be able to add them on their differential diagnosis when encountering a patient with urogenital pain.
Hybrid Supervisory Control in Intelligent Autonomous Systems

Abstract It is shown that the quest for autonomy in engineering systems leads to intelligent control and to approaches that combine methodologies from the control, computing and communication networks areas and to hybrid system methodologies. The area of hybrid dynamical systems is of particular importance to intelligent control and several approaches to modeling and control of such systems are briefly discussed, with emphasis on supervisory control approaches that are based on discrete abstractions.