cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A case of aggressive motor neuron disease without profound loss of motor neuron cells (P4.4-001)

Objective: We report a case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - ‘fused in sarcoma’(ALS-FUS)subtype with a striking disparity between its clinical manifestation and histopathologic findings. Background: ALS is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in progressive weakness, atrophy, and paralysis of skeletal muscles. It is a clinical syndrome named for its neuropathological hallmark – degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal anterior horns with TDP43 & ubiquitinated inclusions, accompanied by loss of axons in the lateral columns. Design/Methods: We reviewed a case of a29-year-old male who presented with rapidly progressive severe neck weakness, asymmetrical bilateral upper extremity weakness, profound muscle wasting, bulbar dysfunction, and weight loss. Results: Within one year, his speech became unintelligible, he became gastrostomy and tracheostomy/ventilator dependent, and wheelchair bound. Electrophysiology suggested a motor neuron disease. Whole exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous pathogenic variant in the ‘fused in sarcoma gene (FUS), c.1574C>T, p.R525L, which was inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, consistent with the diagnosis of ALS. Autopsy revealed extensive denervation atrophy of skeletal musculature. Surprisingly, there was only mild patchy depletion of motor neurons within the cervical cord anterior horns. TDP43 inclusions was absent. Increased expression of FUS mutation product (cytoplasmic inclusions) was demonstrated within anterior horn neurons of the upper, mid, lower cervical segments, and glial cells. The most prominent finding was a disparity between profound neck muscle weakness, atrophy and relatively low-grade anterior horn cell loss in the cervical cord. Conclusions: This s a case of a rare ALS-FUS subtype with an unusually aggressive clinical course and absent TDP43 inclusion. The disparity between phenotype and relatively preserved motor neuron cell population may suggest a secondary cause of anterior horn cell dysfunction. In addition, we noted increased FUS expression in glial cells, a feature that has not been well documented in such cases. Disclosure: Dr. Liu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wongworawat has nothing to disclose. Dr. Raghavan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rosenfeld has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with MT Pharma, Strongbridge Biopharma, AcuraStem, and Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Rosenfeld has received research support from Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, and MT Pharma.
Using mark-recapture techniques to assess factors affecting survival of fall stocked walleye Sander vitreus in two Iowa lakes

Abstract Stocking walleye Sander virteus is a common management technique to supplement populations where natural reproduction is limited. However, numerous factors can influence the survival of fall stocked walleye including environmental conditions, predation, and stocked walleye total length (TL), condition, and foraging ability. The relative effects of these factors on survival of stocked walleye are challenging to evaluate and rarely assessed simultaneously. Our objective was to determine factors that influence survival rates of stocked fingerling walleye (98−287 mm TL) from stocking until ice cover in two Iowa systems (East Okoboji and West Okoboji) during fall 2015, 2016, and 2017 using mark-recapture techniques. Each fall, roughly 4000 stocked walleye were implanted with passive integrated transponder tags, stocked across both systems, and recaptured via boat electrofishing. Cormack-Jolly-Seber recapture models estimated walleye weekly apparent survival was negatively related to the weekly average proportion of walleye recovered from predator diets (β = −0.89; 95 % credibility interval = −1.74 to −0.03) and positively related to weekly average water temperatures (β = 2.62; 95 % credibility interval = 1.04–4.21). At an average fall water temperature (13.2 ℃), mean walleye apparent survival was 0.83 (95 % credibility interval = 0.75–0.91) when no walleye were recovered from predator diets and declined to 0.54 (95 % credibility interval = 0.28–0.84) when walleye comprised 60 % of predator diets. Between 41–97 % of stocked walleye were lost to apparent mortality from stocking through ice-up and survival was influenced by post-stocking predation rather than walleye body size or condition. Thus, strategies that minimize predation following stocking may result in the greatest improvements in walleye stocking success.
Towards Effective Supply Chain Collaboration: TOC-based Approach to Identify and Address Core Conflicts

To achieve a successful supply chain, it is crucial that all supply chain members collaborate. However, this may be a difficult task to achieve because supply chain collaboration assumes that links are willing to cooperate and that there are no inherent conflicts happening within the supply chain network. In practice, organizations may not want to cooperate. Therefore, this paper identifies and addresses a number of dilemmas that arise when supply chain members involve in collaboration. These include forecasting, pricing, delivery, risk, and sharing of information. In addition, this paper shows how evaporating clouds is used to expose the inherent dilemma of supply chain collaboration. Further, this paper attempts to apply the TOC approach to overcome this core conflict. Specifically, it shows how evaporating clouds can be used as a tool to convince immediate supply chain members that the solution to the supply chain collaboration core conflict arrives in the form of TDD/IDD measures. These collaborative performance metrics, when implemented effectively, help in identifying the constraint(s) and thereby, encourage TOC-based continuous improvement efforts to generate value by increasing revenues and reducing overall costs simultaneously across an SC network.
Are CRISPR Screens Providing the Next Generation of Therapeutic Targets

CRISPR screens combined with molecular and genetic profiling of large panels of cell lines are helping to systematically identify cancer vulnerabilities. These large-scale screens, together with focused in vivo and isogenic cell line screens, have identified a growing number of promising targets and led directly to numerous target-specific drug discovery programs, several of which have reached clinical testing. However, systematic loss-of-function studies are still in their early stages. Genetic redundancy, the limitation of cell line models for many cancer types, and the difficulty of conducting complex in vitro and in vivo screens remain opportunities for discovery. We expect that over the next few years, efforts like the Cancer Dependency Map along with more focused screens will play a significant role in the creation of a roadmap of oncology therapeutic targets.
2 Integration Psychophysics and Cognition

Publisher Summary This chapter describes integration psychophysics and cognition. Integration psychophysics is concerned primarily with relations among sensations or perceptions. Its conceptual base is primarily cognitive within the mental realm. Classical psychophysics has a different conceptual base in relations between the physical stimulus and sensation. This difference in conceptual base leads to fundamental differences at every level of investigation. These differences derive mainly from the two kinds of laws that epitomize these two approaches to psychophysics: psychophysical law and psychocognitive law. In addition, the basic difference between classical psychophysics and integration psychophysics concerns where order and law are sought: psychophysical law in one case and psychocognitive law in the other. Classical psychophysics seeks order at the psycho-physical interface—that is, in relations between physical stimulus energy and psychological sensation. Integration psychophysics, in contrast, is epitomized by search for psychocognitive laws. Of foremost interest are laws that govern the integration of separate sensations into a unitary perception. Such laws typically lie at a stage beyond sensory processing within the mental realm.
Libraries surviving as entrepreneurial organizations: a creative destruction perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight some traditional functions found in academic libraries and apply various business models as an aid to developing an entrepreneurial culture. Due to a combination of environmental pressures, universities are refining their strategic mission to identify “what they do well” or “where they want to be”. Programs that align with the strategic mission of the university get funded, while other less productive, lower impact programs and services are neglected or eliminated. This is essentially a process based on business or financial decisions. Design/methodology/approach – In an attempt to cope with these changes, academic library administrators are assessing library services to insure that they are aligned with their university’s strategic mission. Findings – To successfully develop and sustain this alignment, academic libraries must become “entrepreneurial organizations” where strategic decisions are based on business models, rather than tradition, or more spe...
Real-time classification of in-flight aircraft damage

When there is a sudden equipment malfunction or damage to an aircraft, it is critical to be able to quickly detect and diagnose the problem, so that the pilot can attempt to maintain control of the aircraft and land safely. Methodology is developed for real-time classification of flight trajectories to be able to distinguish between undamaged aircraft and several different situations of damage. Principal components decomposition allows a lower-dimensional representation of three-dimensional trajectories in time. Classification trees provide a computationally efficient approach with sufficient accuracy to be able to detect and classify the different situations quickly. Results are demonstrated using runs from a flight simulator in collaboration with NASA (the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
Accuracy of judgmental extrapolation of time series data: Characteristics, causes, and remediation strategies for forecasting

Abstract This paper links social judgment theory to judgmental forecasting of time series data. Individuals were asked to make forecasts for 18 different time series that were varied systematically on four cues: long-term levels, long-term trends, short-term levels, and the magnitude of the last data point. A model of each individual's judgment policy was constructed to reflect the extent to which each cue influenced the forecasts that were made. Participants were assigned to experimental conditions that varied both the amount of information and the forecasting horizon; “special events” (i.e. discontinuities in the time series) also were introduced. Knowledge and consistency were used as measures of the judgment process, and MPE and MAPE were used as measures of forecast performance. Results suggest that consistency is necessary but not sufficient for the successful application of judgment to forecasting time series data. Information provided for forecasters should make long-term trends explicit, while the task should be limited to more immediate forecasts of one or two steps ahead to reduce recency bias. This paper provides one method of quantifying the contributions and limitations of judgment in forecasting.
Accurate placement of the distal end of a ventriculoatrial shunt with the aid of real-time transesophageal echocardiography: Technical note

Objective Ventriculoatrial (VA) shunts remain a valid option for the treatment of hydrocephalus, especially in patients in whom ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts fail. Correct positioning of the distal end of the catheter in the right atrium is of paramount importance for maintaining shunt patency and reducing the incidence of VA shunt-associated morbidity. The authors present their experience with real-time transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) monitoring for the accurate placement of the distal catheter of a VA shunt. Methods Four patients underwent conversion of a VP shunt to a VA shunt under the guidance of intraoperative fluoroscopy and TEE between May 2003 and December 2004. After induction of general anesthesia, the TEE transducer was advanced into the esophagus. A cervical incision was made and the external jugular vein was visualized. An introducer was passed through an opening in the jugular vein and a guidewire was placed through the introducer. Under continuous TEE guidance, the guidewire was ...
Photocrosslinkable Type-I Collagen for In Situ Material Modification

Hydrogels are attractive materials for use as tissue engineering scaffolds [1]. Natural hydrogels, such as collagen, are both cytocompatible and highly biofunctional. However, they have somewhat constrained material properties and have an inherently large variability in composition due to their biological origin, making them more difficult to work with from an engineering viewpoint[2–4]. Here, we aim to use type 1 collagen — the most abundant protein in the body that maintains excellent cytocompatibility and can self assemble into a fibrillar network — as a base component for a photocrosslinkable biomaterial. One main advantage of this system over previous studies attempting to photocrosslink collagen is that the collagen retains its ability to self assemble, which provides a stable environment into which localized modifications can be made to the stiffness, porosity, and biochemical properties of the hydrogel scaffold. By taking advantage of the spatial control provided by the system, we can create complex 3-dimensional hydrogel scaffolds that have non-homogenous microenvironments.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Numerical simulation of dual-laterolog measurements in the presence of dipping, anisotropic, and invaded rock formations

Modern hydrocarbon development techniques make extensive use of highly deviated and horizontal wells to maximize production and reduce drilling costs. However, many of the existing logging tools and associated interpretation procedures were originally designed for operation in vertical wells. Therefore, it becomes imperative that the response of conventional tools be properly understood when logging through highly deviated wells. In like manner, interpretation procedures need to be adapted for their accurate and reliable use in non-vertical wells. This paper undertakes the numerical simulation of dual-laterolog measurements acquired in 3D logging environments to appraise the reliability of measurement and interpretation procedures in non-conventional wells. Specifically, we consider the following borehole measurement environments: (1) dipping beds penetrated by vertical wells, (2) dipping anisotropic formations, and (3) multiple dipping anisotropic and mud-filtrate invaded formations. It is found that dual-laterolog measurements are chiefly sensitive to the horizontal resistivity even in the case of highly deviated wells. An increase of dip angle causes an increase of apparent resistivity due to the influence of vertical resistivity. In all cases, laterolog apparent resistivity readings will fluctuate between the horizontal resistivity and the geometric mean of horizontal and vertical resistivity. Shoulder-bed effects considerable increase with an increase of dip angle.
Aging Phenomena in Spermatozoa. II. Estrous Cycle Length After Unsuccessful Insemination with Spermatozoa of Varying Age

Abstract A statistical study of the length in days of a total of 159,038 intervals between inseminations following an initial, eventually unsuccessful insemination, classified by the age of the spermatozoa used for that in-insemination (kept at about 4 C for several days after collection), revealed that the proportion of the total returns to service occurring within 24 days or 30 days after insemination increased significantly as the age of the spermatozoa increased from two to five days after collection. This change reflected the decreasing capacity of the spermatozoa to initiate fertilization. Such observations of an increasing proportion of cows displaying an estrous cycle approximately of the normal length, after insemination with aged spermatozoa, have been interpreted by others as indicating that the aging of spermatozoa was associated only with decreasing fertility and not with an increasing incidence of embryonic and early fetal death. However, the longer the spermatozoa were aged before use, the higher the proportion of cows seeming to be pregnant at the time of initial assay which later came back into estrus. It is emphasized that it is this highly significant statistical change in the proportion of apparently pregnant cows which later are in estrus and reinseminated which constitutes the appropriate estimate of faulty embryogenesis in cattle.
A new premixed self-etch adhesive for bonding orthodontic brackets.

Abstract Objective: To determine if a new premixed self-etch adhesive can be used to successfully bond orthodontic brackets to enamel. Materials and Methods: Forty human molars were cleaned, mounted, and randomly divided into two groups. In group 1, 20 teeth were conditioned using the self-etching primer Transbond Plus (3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif). In group 2, 20 teeth were conditioned using a new premixed self-etching adhesive, AdheSE One (Ivoclar Vivadent Inc, Amherst, NY). Both groups were bonded using brackets precoated with a composite adhesive. The teeth were debonded within half an hour following initial bonding using a universal testing machine. After debonding, the enamel surface was examined under 10× magnifications to determine the amount of residual adhesive remaining on the tooth. A Student's t-test was used to compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of the two groups, and the Chi-square test was used to compare the adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores for the two adhesive systems. Results: The ...
Labor Productivity Drivers and Opportunities in the Construction Industry

The study of labor productivity in the construction industry is gaining increasing attention as the industry faces multiple problems related to its workforce. This paper presents the results of a survey instrument applied to determine the relative level of relevance of construction labor productivity drivers and opportunities. Owners, general contractors, electrical contractors, mechanical contractors, consultants, and others participated in this survey. Management skills and manpower issues were identified as the two areas with the greatest potential to affect productivity according to survey respondents. Surprisingly, external factors, which are often cited as a major cause for reduced productivity in the construction industry, were considered to be one of the least relevant productivity drivers. These results suggest that respondents consider the improvement of labor productivity within their reach and control rather than determined by external conditions.
Ameliorating Skin-Homing Receptors on Malignant T Cells with a Fluorosugar Analog of N-acetylglucosamine: P-Selectin Ligand Is a More Sensitive Target than E-Selectin Ligand

Expression of E- and P-selectin ligands is required for T cell entry into skin. Sialyl Lewis X moieties are critical for ligand activity and are elevated on malignant skin-homing T cells. We hypothesize that these glycosylations are selectable targets for treating the dermal tropism associated with cutaneous lymphomas. In this study, we analyzed the efficacy of a novel 4-fluorinated analog of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) on E- and P-selectin ligands expressed by malignant skin-homing T cells. We also examined the specificity of 4-F-GlcNAc (2-acetamido-1,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-4-deoxy-4-fluoro-D-glucopyranose) action by contrasting the effects on sialyl Lewis X expression displayed by P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) with sialylated O-glycans expressed by CD43. Using parallel-plate flow analysis, we found that 4-F-GlcNAc elicited 5-fold more potent inhibition on P-selectin ligand activity than on E-selectin ligand activity. To determine whether glycosylations conferring E- and P-selectin ligand activities were inhibited, we analyzed the expression of sialyl Lewis X and sialyl-fucosylated core 2 O-glycan (CHO-131 antigen), respectively. We found that 4-F-GlcNAc treatment resulted in dose-dependent ablation of sialyl Lewis X and CHO-131 antigen expression on PSGL-1, whereas sialylated O-glycans on CD43 were minimally affected. These results indicate that 4-F-GlcNAc treatment can selectively downregulate the P-selectin ligand activity and potentially prevent dermal dissemination of cutaneous lymphomas.
A radiative-conductive model for the prediction of radiation fog

A conductive-radiative model is used to predict the formation and growth of radiation fog. This is accomplished by solving numerically the heat and mass transport equations in conjunction with an approximate form of the radiative transfer equation. The equations of motion in simplified form are included in the physical system to make use of Blackadar's (1962) formulation of the exchange coefficient of the boundary layer. It is found for a number of hypothetical test cases that the model gives results which appear to represent real physical conditions. One actual situation is tested. Results show that the model reproduces better than qualitatively those parameters which are obtained from routine observations.
Identification of the Lipoprotein Initiating Domain of Apolipoprotein B

We have explored the minimum sequence requirement for the initiation of apolipoprotein B (apoB)-mediated triglyceride-rich lipoprotein assembly. A series of apoB COOH-terminal truncation mutants, spanning a range from apoB34 (amino acid residues 1-1544 of apoB100) to apoB19 (residues 1-862) were transfected into COS cells with and without coexpression of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP). ApoB34, -25, -23, -21, -20.5, and -20.1 underwent efficient conversion to buoyant lipoproteins when coexpressed with MTP. ApoB19.5 (amino acids 1-884) also directed MTP-dependent particle assembly, although at reduced efficiency. When apoB19.5 was truncated by another 22 amino acids to form apoB19, MTP-dependent lipoprotein assembly was abolished. Analysis of the lipid stoichiometry of secreted lipoproteins revealed that all apoB truncation mutants formed spherical particles containing a hydrophobic core. Even highly truncated assembly-competent forms of apoB, such as apoB19.5 and 20.1, formed lipoproteins with surface:core lipid ratios of <1. We conclude that the translation of the first approximately 884 amino acids of apoB completes a domain capable of initiating nascent lipoprotein assembly. The composition of lipids recruited into lipoproteins by this initiating domain is consistent with formation of small emulsion particles, perhaps by simultaneous desorption of both polar and neutral lipids from a saturated bilayer.
Cardiac blood biomarkers in patients receiving thoracic (chemo)radiation.

Summary Cardiotoxicity is a known consequence of thoracic irradiation and there are multiple overlapping risk factors for cardiac disease and thoracic malignancies. In this study, we quantified the impact of thoracic (chemo)radiation on cardiac troponin T (TnT), creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) and aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Thirty patients receiving radiation therapy to the thorax with or without concurrent chemotherapy were evaluated. Serum was collected at baseline, 2 weeks into treatment and at the completion of radiation therapy. TnT, CK-MB and NT-proBNP were quantified using commercially available immunoassays. Cardiac dosimetric parameters and clinical risk factors were examined. In 29 of 30 patients, serum TnT remained undetectable (
Developmental Changes In Within- and Between-Network Connectivity Between Late Childhood and Adulthood

Abstract A number of behavioral changes occur between late childhood and adulthood, including maturation of social cognition, reward receptivity, impulsiveness, risk-taking and cognitive control. Although some of these abilities show linear improvements with age, some abilities may temporarily worsen, reflecting both the restructuring and/or strengthening of connections within some brain systems. The current study uses resting state functional connectivity to examine developmental differences between late childhood and adulthood in task positive (TP) regions, which play a role in cognitive control functions, and task negative (TN) regions, which play a role in social cognition, self-referential, and internally-directed thought. Within the TP network, developmental differences in connectivity were found with the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Within the TN network, developmental differences in connectivity were found with a broad area of the medial prefrontal cortex and the right parahippocampal gyrus. Connections between the two networks also showed significant developmental differences. Stronger anticorrelations were found in the TN maps of the adult group for the right anterior insula/inferior frontal gyrus, bilateral anterior inferior parietal lobule, bilateral superior parietal lobule and an anterior portion of the right posterior cingulate cortex. There was a significant brain–behavior relationship between the strength of anticorrelation in these regions and inhibitory control performance on two Go/No-go tasks suggesting that the development of anticorrelations between late childhood and adulthood supports mature inhibitory control. Overall, maturation of these networks occurred in specific regions which are associated with cognitive control of goal-directed behavior, including those involved in working memory, social cognition, and inhibitory control.
Selective transport by SecA2: an expanding family of customized motor proteins

The SecA2 proteins are a special class of transport-associated ATPases that are related to the SecA component of the general Sec system, and are found in an increasingly large number of Gram-positive bacterial species. The SecA2 substrates are typically linked to the cell wall, but may be lipid-linked, peptidoglycan-linked, or non-covalently associated S-layer proteins. These substrates can have a significant impact on virulence of pathogenic organisms, but may also aid colonization by commensals. The SecA2 orthologues range from being highly similar to their SecA paralogues, to being distinctly different in apparent structure and function. Two broad classes of SecA2 are evident. One transports multiple substrates, and may interact with the general Sec system, or with an as yet unidentified transmembrane channel. The second type transports a single substrate, and is a component of the accessory Sec system, which includes the SecY paralogue SecY2 along with the accessory Sec proteins Asp1-3. Recent studies indicate that the latter three proteins may have a unique role in coordinating post-translational modification of the substrate with transport by SecA2. Comparative functional and phylogenetic analyses suggest that each SecA2 may be uniquely adapted for a specific type of substrate. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein trafficking and secretion in bacteria. Guest Editors: Anastassios Economou and Ross Dalbey.
The dynamical stability of reverberatory neural circuits.

The concept of reverberation proposed by Lorente de No and Hebb is key to understanding strongly recurrent cortical networks. In particular, synaptic reverberation is now viewed as a likely mechanism for the active maintenance of working memory in the prefrontal cortex. Theoretically, this has spurred a debate as to how such a potentially explosive mechanism can provide stable working-memory function given the synaptic and cellular mechanisms at play in the cerebral cortex. We present here new evidence for the participation of NMDA receptors in the stabilization of persistent delay activity in a biophysical network model of conductance-based neurons. We show that the stability of working-memory function, and the required NMDA/AMPA ratio at recurrent excitatory synapses, depend on physiological properties of neurons and synaptic interactions, such as the time constants of excitation and inhibition, mutual inhibition between interneurons, differential NMDA receptor participation at excitatory projections to pyramidal neurons and interneurons, or the presence of slow intrinsic ion currents in pyramidal neurons. We review other mechanisms proposed to enhance the dynamical stability of synaptically generated attractor states of a reverberatory circuit. This recent work represents a necessary and significant step towards testing attractor network models by cortical electrophysiology.
“Cobblestone” renal pelvis Radiographic finding in acute renal vein thrombosis

Abstract The cobblestoned appearance of the infundibuli, pelvis, and ureter are diagnostic retrograde urographic findings in acute renal vein thrombosis. This radiographic change is believed to be due to acute bullous edema.
Spectrophotometry of yeast cells colored alive with acriflavine and other basic dyes

Abstract Yeast cultures were grown in nutrient media containing acriflavine and several other basic dyes. Colored cells thus produced were examined by spectrophotometry in comparison with the original dye solutions. Eight out of ten dyes tested showed, when bound firmly to yeast cells, their absorption maxima displaced to a wavelength region longer than that in the corresponding solutions. Mixtures of acriflavine with some other dyes produced accordingly mix-colored cells, in which two dyes appeared bound side by side. Relationships of the coloring to production of respiration-deficient mutants are discussed.
Estimation of particulate organic carbon in the ocean from space-based polarization lidar measurements

A relationship between depolarization ratio and surface concentration of particulate organic carbon (POC) is developed from the NASA SeaWiFS Bio-optical Archive and Storage System (SeaBASS) in situ measurements and the Cloud- Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) active lidar measurements. This relationship provides an algorithm for estimating global POC from satellite or airborne polarization lidar measurements. Application of this relationship to CALIOP data indicates that the estimates of POC ranges from about 3.3 mg/m 3 within the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre to 1.2×10 3 mg/m 3 in the area near land are in good agreement with Moderate Resolution Imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) POC products. Our results present depolarization ratio as a valuable tool for evaluating global POC predictions in ocean ecosystem. The application of the algorithm to a 7-year of CALIOP depolarization ratio mean values revealed patters of seasonal and interannual variability of POC. By comparing the results averaged over the entire study region and entire season for each year separately, we found that the lowest POC occurred in 2013 and the highest POC occurred in 2008.
Wealth and the effects of founder management among IPO-stage new ventures

IPO underpricing is inherently related to both wealth retention and wealth creation. This paper reviews the relationship between IPO underpricing and wealth, then presents the results of an empirical study of the impact of CEO founder status (i.e., is the CEO also the founder?) on IPO underpricing. Results based on data collected from 368 IPO-stage new ventures suggest that founder management has a positive impact on IPO underpricing, and that the founder management–underpricing relationship is moderated by (a) the IPO market share of the investment banker employed and (b) the proportion of insiders on the IPO firm's board of directors. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dispersion of discrete sample signals within aerosol spray chambers: preliminary investigations

Abstract A barrel-type spray chamber with a baffle system and various other structures were used for characterization of band-broadening phenomena occurring within aerosol spray chambers, with an ICP-AES detector used in this case. Absolute values of aerosol particle size distributions from nebulizer/spray chamber systems were measured and found to be affected by the relative positions of impact surfaces with respect to the nebulizer. Smaller particles, but less total mass was observed as the baffle was moved closer to the nebulizer tip. However, based on measurements herein, it does not appear that particle sizes in any case will be small enough within the spray chamber for diffusion to influence band broadening for the bulk of the aerosol mass, as particularly important for mass sensitive detectors such as ICP-AES, although diffusion is likely to be important to particle number sensitive detectors. Dispersion within the turbulent gas-phase regions of spray chambers appears to be relatively small. Geometries which introduce stagnant gas flow regions appear to have larger effects on band-broadening. The smoke tests utilized in these studies were found to be useful aids for visualization of spray chamber flow phenomena that influence dispersion of discrete signals. Recirculation phenomena can also play a role in band broadening. Recirculation of aerosol re-entrained into the nebulizer jet appears to have an effect on dispersion, as represented by the full width at half maximum values. On the other hand, recirculation renebulization leads to substantial peak tailing.
Starchy legumes in human nutrition, health and culture.

Starchy legumes have been consumed by humans since the earliest practice of agriculture and have been ascribed medicinal and cultural as well as nutritional roles. They are an important component of the diet in the developing countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia where they are especially valuable as a source of dietary protein to complement cereals, starchy roots and tubers. Legumes contain 20–30% protein which is generally rich in lysine and limiting in sulfur amino acids. The nutritional quality of legume protein is limited by the presence of both heat labile and heat stable antinutrients as well as an inherent resistance to digestion of the major globulins. In addition to its nutritional impact, legume protein has been shown to reduce plasma low density lipoprotein when consumed. Legume starch is more slowly digested than starch from cereals and tubers and produces less abrupt changes in plasma glucose and insulin upon ingestion. Starchy legumes are also valuable sources of dietary fiber as well as thiamin and riboflavin. Starchy legumes are a valuable component of a prudent diet, but their consumption is constrained by low yields, the lack of convenient food applications, and flatulence.
Factors Affecting Choice of Surgical Residency Training Program

Abstract Background. A significant problem facing American surgery today is the lack of participation from women and minorities. In 1995 and 1996, 15.1 and 15.8% of United States general surgical residency graduates were women. Of our 71 graduates in the last 12 years, 38% were women. The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing our residents' choice of training program and the reasons why our program has a high percentage of female graduates. Methods. Between 1989 and 2000, 27 women and 44 men completed general surgical training at our university and 44/71 (59%) responded to our survey. The age at residency completion was 34 ± 2.2 years for men and 33.9 ± 2.8 years for women. Fifty-five percent of men and 30% of women went on to fellowship training; and 36% of men and 20% of women are in academia. Results. Factors influencing our graduates' selection of training program are: Only 23% of men had a female faculty as their mentor, whereas 90% of women had a male faculty as their mentor during training. Only 59% of men but 80% of women (P Conclusions. A surgical residency training program with strong leadership, good clinical experience, and high resident morale will equally attract both genders. Women may pay more attention to the program's gender mix and geographic location.
Biologic Basis of Sequential and Combination Therapies for Hormone-Responsive Breast Cancer

Although pharmacologic therapies that reduce or block estrogen signaling are effective treatments of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, acquired resistance to individual drugs can develop. Furthermore, this approach is ineffective as initial therapy for a subgroup of receptor-positive patients. The mechanisms of drug resistance are not completely understood, but the presence of alternative signaling pathways for activating ER response appears to play a significant role. Cross-talk between signaling pathways can activate ERs when conventional ER pathways are blocked or inactivated. For example, signaling via epidermal growth factor or HER-2 receptors, mitogen-activated protein kinases, phosphatidylinositol 3' kinase/protein kinase B, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor can lead to estrogen-independent stimulation of ERs and tumor growth. The discovery that alternative pathways are involved in estrogen signaling has prompted development of newer endocrine therapies, such as aromatase inhibitors and pure estrogen antagonists, with distinct mechanisms for interrupting signal transduction. The existence of multiple pathways may explain the effectiveness of follow-up therapy with a different class of endocrine agents after failure of prior endocrine treatment. Because they do not have the partial agonist activity of tamoxifen that is enhanced by the adaptive hypersensitivity process, these alternative endocrine agents may play an increasingly important role in the treatment of ER-positive breast cancer. Although optimal sequencing of these agents has not been determined and is continuing to evolve, current evidence allows rational recommendations to be made. The multiple pathways involved in activating ERs also provide a rationale for combining endocrine and non-endocrine therapies that block different signaling pathways, which may have synergistic and overlapping interactions.
Prognostic importance of automated ST‐segment monitoring after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Background: Automated ST-segment monitors are widely used in cardiac surgery units. The purpose of this study was to determine if cardiac morbidity and mortality, after CABG surgery, are predicted by ECG ST-segment changes on automated monitors. Method: One hundred patients, who underwent CABG, were included in this prospective study. ST-segment deviations were recorded by an automated ST monitor, in the ICU, for 24 h after surgery. A reversible ST depression of more than 0.1 mV or a ST elevation of more than 0.2 mV and for at least 1 min were considered as significant episodes. Adverse cardiac outcomes were defined as: myocardial infarction (MI), severe left ventricular failure, ventricular fibrillation (VF) and cardiac-related death. Results: Sixty patients (group 1) presented significant episodes of ST deviation (6±5 episodes per patient). Forty patients (group 2) were free from ST changes. Eight patients from group 1 had postoperative adverse cardiac outcomes: 5 MI, 2 VF and 1 cardiac-related death. Patients from group 2 were all free from adverse cardiac outcomes. Automated ST-segment analysis during the first 24 h had a positive predictive value of 13% and a negative predictive value of 100%. Conclusion: Automated ST analysis is a non-invasive, sensitive and very easy-to-use monitoring system to screen patients who may develop myocardial ischemia and cardiac complications after CABG surgery.
Oxidation Inhibitors for Copper and Iron Catalyzed Degradation of Monoethanolamine in CO2 Capture Processes

This study examines the effect of a number of additives on the oxidative degradation of monoethanolamine (MEA) in the presence of dissolved Cu. Additives were selected from three categories: O2 scavengers and reaction inhibitors, chelating agents, and stable salts. Three proprietary inhibitors have been identified that significantly inhibit the rate of degradation at concentrations below 100 mM. Inhibitor A is a stable compound, while Scavengers B and C are stoichiometrically degraded to products that must be removed in an industrial application. Hydroquinone, ascorbic acid, manganese sulfate, and potassium permanganate all increased the rate of oxidative degradation. EDTA (ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid) was an effective chelating agent but lost inhibiting capacity over time. Phosphate was a weak chelating agent. Heat stable salts, including potassium chloride, potassium bromide, and potassium formate, were also ineffective oxidation inhibitors. Potassium formate was the strongest of the stable salts...
Incorporation and fate of specific sperm plasma membrane components following insemination as revealed by ultrastructural immunocytochemistry

Studies have been carried out to 1) further characterize sperm specific plasma membrane polypeptides (33 and 35 kDa) that are recognized by a monoclonal antibody previously described (Longo, 1989) and 2) follow the incorporation and dispersal of these proteins within plasmalemmae of monospermic and polyspermic sea urchin (Arbacia punctulata) eggs and oocytes utilizing immunocytochemical methods at the ultrastructural level of observation. Only sperm labeled when incubated with monoclonal antibody to the 33 and 35 kDa proteins followed by colloidal gold-tagged second antibody. Colloidal gold label was observed on the egg plasma membrane immediately after gamete membrane fusion; the amount and extent of label, i.e., the distance from the site of sperm incorporation, increased with time postinsemination. By 20 min postinsemination approximately one hemisphere of the inseminated egg/oocyte was associated with label. The expanding distribution of colloidal gold label on inseminated eggs and oocytes vs. time reflects the free diffusion of 33 and 35 kDa sperm surface proteins among egg/oocyte plasma membrane components. Label was also found in forming endocytotic vesicles, suggesting that sperm plasma membrane proteins may be internalized.
Rifampicin Inhibits α-Synuclein Fibrillation and Disaggregates Fibrils

The aggregation of α-synuclein in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra is a critical step in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. We show that the antibiotic rifampicin inhibited α-synuclein fibrillation and disaggregated existing fibrils in a concentration-dependent manner. Size-exclusion chromatography data indicated that rifampicin stabilized α-synuclein as both a monomer and soluble oligomers comprised of partially folded α-synuclein. Experiments using aged samples of rifampicin indicated that the most active species in inhibiting fibrillation and disaggregating fibrils is an oxidation product of rifampicin, which was confirmed in experiments under anaerobic conditions. These results indicate that rifampicin-mediated inhibition of α-synuclein fibrillation and disaggregation of fibrils involves preferential stabilization of monomeric and soluble oligomeric forms, and that rifampicin potentially may have therapeutic application for Parkinson's disease.
Video fingerprinting: features for duplicate and similar video detection and query-based video retrieval

A video "fingerprint" is a feature extracted from the video that should represent the video compactly, allowing faster search without compromising the retrieval accuracy. Here, we use a keyframe set to represent a video, motivated by the video summarization approach. We experiment with different features to represent each keyframe with the goal of identifying duplicate and similar videos. Various image processing operations like blurring, gamma correction, JPEG compression, and Gaussian noise addition are applied on the individual video frames to generate duplicate videos. Random and bursty frame drop errors of 20%, 40% and 60% (over the entire video) are also applied to create more noisy "duplicate" videos. The similar videos consist of videos with similar content but with varying camera angles, cuts, and idiosyncrasies that occur during successive retakes of a video. Among the feature sets used for comparison, for duplicate video detection, Compact Fourier-Mellin Transform (CFMT) performs the best while for similar video retrieval, Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) features are found to be better than comparable-dimension features. We also address the problem of retrieval of full-length videos with shorter-length clip queries. For identical feature size, CFMT performs the best for video retrieval.
Dynamics of health behaviours and socioeconomic differences in mortality in the USA

Background To measure the explanatory role of behavioural factors to educational and income disparities in mortality among US adults (ages 25+). Methods Data were from four waves of the American Changing Lives Study (N=3617). There were 1832 deaths between 1986 and 2011. Smoking, physical activity, alcohol and body mass index were examined. Results Those with 0–11 years of schooling had an 88% (95% CI 48% to 139%) increased risk of dying compared to those with 16+years of schooling. Behavioural factors explained 41% (95% CI 26% to 55%) and 50% (95% CI 30% to 70%) of this excess in models that treated behavioural factors as fixed (single point in time) and time varying (repeated), respectively. The lowest income group (bottom 20th centile) had a 209% (95% CI 172% to 256%) increased risk of dying relative to the highest income group (top 40th centile). Behavioural factors explained 24% (fixed, 95% CI 13% to 35%) and 39% (repeated, 95% CI 22% to 56%) of this difference. Analyses of deaths by causes indicated that behavioural factors were more consequential to disparities in cardiovascular mortality, explaining up to 83% of educational differences, compared to cancer and other death causes. Conclusions Behavioural factors are one of a number of factors which explain socioeconomic mortality disparities, but their estimated explanatory role depends on a number of parameters including the socioeconomic status measure examined, the cause of death and age. In this nationally representative sample, findings based on repeated measures did not warrant a re-evaluation of earlier estimates.
An ATPase Component of the Transcription Elongation Complex Is Required for Factor-dependent Transcription Termination by Vaccinia RNA Polymerase

Vaccinia virus RNA polymerase terminates transcription in response to a specific signal UUUUUNU in the nascent transcript. Transduction of this signal to the elongating polymerase requires a virus-encoded termination factor, VTF. The existence of a second termination factor was suggested by the finding that transient exposure of purified elongation complexes to heparin rendered them refractory to VTF-induced termination. Loss of termination competence correlated with the removal of several polypeptide components of the elongation complex. We present the identification of factor X, an activity that restored VTF responsiveness to heparin-stripped ternary complexes. We propose that factor X, which has an associated DNA-dependent ATPase activity, mediates the requirement for ATP hydrolysis during transcription termination.