cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
2C vision game: visual acuity self-testing using mobile devices

This paper explores non-intrusive, engaging, and cost effective mobile health methods to detect and monitor changes in visual acuity caused by diabetic retinopathy (linked to diabetes) and macular degeneration (linked to aging). These prevalent conditions can both lead to blindness if undetected early in their gradual progression. By leveraging mobile computing platforms and sensor technology, a serious game for use by patients at risk for these debilitating conditions is provided to monitor and to alert of any changes in vision in advance of clinical visits. The interface engages users in reading street signs within view, while the software determines the accuracy of the readings and the distance of the signs from the user, and then uses that information to track any changes in the persons vision over time.
Further exploration of Filipino personality structure using the lexical approach: do the big‐five or big‐seven dimensions emerge?:

Filipino college students (N=740) rated their personalities using 502 reasonably familiar terms from a comprehensive taxonomy of Filipino trait adjectives. Using factor analysis, we replicated the ...
Standard apparent reduction potentials for biochemical half reactions as a function of pH and ionic strength.

Abstract Standard apparent reduction potentials are important because they give a more global view of the driving forces for redox reactions than do the standard transformed Gibbs energies of formation of the reactants. This paper emphasizes the effects of pH on biochemical half reactions in the range pH 5 to 9, but it also shows the effect of ionic strength. These effects can be calculated if the pKs of acid groups in the reactants are known in the range pH 4 to 10. Raising the pH decreases the standard apparent reduction potentials of half reactions when it has an effect, and the slope is proportional to minus one times the ratio of the change in binding of hydrogen ions in the half reaction to the number of electrons transferred. These effects are discussed for 19 biochemical reactions. This effect is most striking for the nitrogenase reaction, where the apparent equilibrium constant is proportional to 10−10 pH and is unfavorable for nitrogen fixation above pH 8.
Development of materials with enhanced optical non-linearity by control of ultrastructure

Abstract Copolymers incorporating rigid electroactive moieties and flexible segments have been synthesized in an effort to develop non-linear optical materials which can be processed into optical quality films. A variety of coupling linkages have been employed including ether, ester, amide, imine and azo linkages. Among the most attractive materials examined in this survey are heteroaromatic ladder and tetraazaannulene copolymers which yield optical non-linearities (ratioed to optical loss), χ (3) α of 10 −12 −10 −13 esu cm −1 and have desirable auxiliary properties of high laser damage threshold and fast optical switching (t ps for three-ring copolymer). Electron donating and withdrawing groups are conveniently incorporated and these have been observed to influence optical non-linearity. The copolymer approach yields linear optical spectra characterized by sharp band edges thus optimizing the window of transparency. Finally, it is noted that this approach yields excellent control of solubility and solution viscosity necessary for spin casting in the fabrication of thin films of uniform thickness.
Coordinated observations of two large Leonid meteor fireballs over northern New Mexico, and computer model comparisons

— This paper describes the coordinated results of several sets of measurements of two Leonid meteor fireballs over northern New Mexico at 1:32 and 3:06 MST, respectively, on the night of 1998 November 17. The measurements included visible band photometry on both events, as well as filtered 5890 A all-sky images of the Na airglow. Also, for the 3:06 a.m. event, we obtained an infrasound measurement of the hydrodynamic yield. For the 1:32 a.m. event, we obtained a set of visible band charge-coupled device (CCD) camera images of the meteor train for times extending to 30 min after the initial impact. The measurement results have been combined to derive an optical efficiency for the intense early-time optical flash, and the total explosion yields and masses for both of the meteors. We have also done a set of numerical radiation, hydrodynamic, and chemistry computations to investigate the nature and distribution of the long-lasting airglow. We attribute the brightest visible airglow to atomic O 5577 A line emission, with additional contributions from atomic Na emission and NO2 chemiluminescence. The near-infrared atmospheric bands of molecular O2 should be very strong as well. All of the band emissions are expected to show a hollow limb-brightened structure.
Queueing network model of interactive computing systems

A closed queueing network model with state dependent routing probabilities is developed for the study of interactive computing systems which use swapping as a memory managmnent strategy. An algorithm to obtain an approximate solution of the mathematical model is proposed. Based on meamuements of a dual-processor PDP-10 system, the model is found to be better in predicting the system performance than the classical model without state dependent routing probabilities.
Measurement of Adhesion at Film -Substrate Interfaces by Constant Depth Scratch Testing

Quantitative tests for interfacial adhesion between films and substrates are of critical importance in micro-electronic applications. However, many of the available tests are applicable to a limited array of materials systems, or are experimentally complex. In this paper, a constant depth scratch test, which has been designed to circumvent the limitations associated with currently available tests, is presented along with theoretical developments for the quantification of interfacial shear strength. Because of a fixed scratch geometry, the test is amenable to straightforward analytical formulations unlike other versions of scratch tests. It is unique in its experimental simplicity, and allows evaluation of interface strength as function of position on the sample. Sample outputs from the test based on Cr films on glass substrates are presented.
Red and black tides: Quantitative analysis of water-leaving radiance and perceived color for phytoplankton, colored dissolved organic matter, and suspended sediments

Using field measurements and quantitative modeling, we demonstrate that red coloration of the sea surface is not associated with any particular group of phytoplankton and is strongly dependent on the physiology of the human visual system. Red or brown surface waters can be produced by high concentrations of most types of algae, colored dissolved organic matter, or suspended sediment. Even though light reflected by red tides commonly peaks in the yellow spectral region (570–580 nm), human color perception requires consideration of the entire spectrum of light relative to receptors within the human eye. The color shift from green to red is not due to any special optical properties of the algae but results from an overlap in spectral response of the eye’s red and green cones (centered at 564 and 534 nm, respectively). The spectral peak in light reflected from dense algal blooms coincides with a critical hinge point in color vision (570–580 nm), where fine-scale shifts in the spectral shape of water-leaving radiance due to algal absorption and backscattering properties lead to pronounced variations in the observed color. Of the taxa considered, only Chlorophytes and Prochlorophytes lacked sufficient accessory pigments to produce a red tide. Chlorophyll fluorescence and enhanced near-infrared reflectance (the ‘‘red edge’’) contribute negligibly to the perceived color. Black water events are produced when water is highly absorbing but lacks backscattering constituents.
Infection of primary human fetal astrocytes by human herpesvirus 6

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a lymphotropic betaherpesvirus which productively infects human CD4+ T cells and monocytes. HHV-6 is the etiologic agent for exanthem subitum (roseola), and it is well-known that central nervous system complications occur frequently during the course of HHV-6-associated disease. In addition, HHV-6 has been associated with encephalitis or encephalopathy. However, very little is known about its tropism for neural cells. There are reports that HHV-6 may infect some glial cell lines, but whether it can infect any primary neural cells is not known. Our studies show that both HHV-6A (GS) and HHV-6B (Z-29) can infect highly purified primary fetal astrocytes in vitro. Infected cells showed cytopathic effects, forming giant syncytia. In dual immunofluorescence assays, the infected cells were detected by antibodies against the HHV-6 p41 nuclear antigen and glial fibrillary acidic protein, indicating that the infected cells are indeed astrocytes. PCR and Northern (RNA) blot analyses also confirmed that the astrocytes are infected by HHV-6. The progeny virus did not alter its host range and could reinfect T cells as well as primary astrocytes. These findings suggest that infection of primary human astrocytes may play a role in the neuropathogenesis of HHV-6.
Analysis of insulin-stimulated skeletal muscle glucose uptake in conscious rat using isotopic glucose analogs

An isotopic method was used in conscious rats to determine the roles of glucose transport and the transsarcolemmal glucose gradient (TSGG) in control of basal and insulin-stimulated muscle glucose ...
Aggregation Behavior of the Southern Chinch Bug (Hemiptera: Blissidae)

ABSTRACT The southern chinch bug, Blissus insuhris Barber, forms dense, multigenerational aggregations in St. Augustinegrass lawns leading to grass death from sap feeding. We conducted laboratory bioassays to better understand the signals responsible for the formation and maintenance of southern chinch bug aggregations. In small arena assays, chinch bugs demonstrated a stronger aggregation response over time and aggregated more often on or beneath St. Augustinegrass leaf blades than on or under artificial leaf-like shelters constructed from white or green paper. In Y-tube olfactometer assays, bugs of different age and sex were attracted to volatiles from mixed-sex chinch bug aggregations and showed particular attraction to groups of adult female chinch bugs. Adult males and nymphs were also attracted to adult males. Nymphs were attracted to nymphs and were also more attracted to aggregation volatiles when they could see bugs in the arm of the Y-tube. Adult males were more attracted to short-winged than lo...
Conserved residues in domain Ia are required for the reaction of Escherichia coli DNA ligase with NAD

NAD(+)-dependent DNA ligases are present in all bacteria and are essential for growth. Their unique substrate specificity compared with ATP-dependent human DNA ligases recommends the NAD(+) ligases as targets for the development of new broad-spectrum antibiotics. A plausible strategy for drug discovery is to identify the structural components of bacterial DNA ligase that interact with NAD(+) and then to isolate small molecules that recognize these components and thereby block the binding of NAD(+) to the ligase. The limitation to this strategy is that the structural determinants of NAD(+) specificity are not known. Here we show that reactivity of Escherichia coli DNA ligase (LigA) with NAD(+) requires N-terminal domain Ia, which is unique to, and conserved among, NAD(+) ligases but absent from ATP-dependent ligases. Deletion of domain Ia abolished the sealing of 3'-OH/5'-PO(4) nicks and the reaction with NAD(+) to form ligase-adenylate but had no effect on phosphodiester formation at a preadenylated nick. Alanine substitutions at conserved residues within domain Ia either reduced (His-23, Tyr-35) or abolished (Tyr-22, Asp-32, Asp-36) sealing of a 5'-PO(4) nick and adenylyl transfer from NAD(+) without affecting ligation of pre-formed DNA-adenylate. We suggest that these five side chains comprise a binding site for the nicotinamide mononucleotide moiety of NAD(+). Structure-activity relationships were clarified by conservative substitutions.
Unrestricted migration favours virulent pathogens in experimental metapopulations: evolutionary genetics of a rapacious life history.

Understanding pathogen infectivity and virulence requires combining insights from epidemiology, ecology, evolution and genetics. Although theoretical work in these fields has identified population ...
Exploratory Latent Growth Models in the Structural Equation Modeling Framework

Latent growth modeling is often conducted using a confirmatory approach whereby specific structures of individual change (e.g., linear, quadratic, exponential, etc.) are fit to the observed data, the best fitting model is chosen based on fit statistics and theoretical considerations, and parameters from this model are interpreted. This confirmatory approach is appropriate when a strong theory guides the model fitting process. However, this approach is often also used when there is not a strong theory to guide the model fitting process, which might lead researchers to misrepresent or miss key change characteristics present in their data. We discuss Tuckerized curves (Tucker, 1958, 1966) as an exploratory way of modeling change processes based on principal components analysis and propose an exploratory approach to latent growth modeling whereby minimal constraints are imposed on the structure of within-person change. These methods are applied to longitudinal data on cortisol response during a controlled exp...
Vernier assembly: controlling DNA polymerization via length mismatching

Inspired by the principle of the Vernier scale, length mismatching was used to control the lengths of supramolecular DNA polymers.
Overload Control Mechanisms for Web Servers

Web servers often experience overload situations due to the extremely bursty nature of Internet traffic, popular online events or malicious attacks. Such overload situations significantly affect performance and may result in lost revenue as reported by the recent denial of service attacks. Overload control schemes are well researched and understood in telecommunication systems. However, their use in web servers is currently very limited. Our focus in this paper is to propose effective overload control mechanisms for web servers. An important aspect in overload control is to minimize the work spent on a request which is eventually not serviced due to overload. This paper studies three simple schemes for controlling the load effectively. The first scheme selectively drops incoming requests as they arrive at the server using an intelligent network interface card (NIC). The second scheme provides feedback to a previous node (proxy server or ultimate client) to allow a gapping control that reduces offered load under overload. The third scheme is simply a combination of the two. The experimental results show that even these simple schemes are effective in improving the throughput of the web server by 40% and response time by 70% under heavy overloads, as compared with the case without any overload control.
The Hypertension of Autonomic Failure and Its Treatment

We studied the incidence and severity of supine hypertension in 117 patients with severe primary autonomic failure presenting to a referral center over a 9-year period. Patients were uniformly characterized by disabling orthostatic hypotension, lack of compensatory heart rate increase, abnormal autonomic function tests, and unresponsive plasma norepinephrine. Fifty-four patients had isolated autonomic impairment (pure autonomic failure). Sixty-three patients had central nervous system involvement in addition to autonomic impairment (multiple-system atrophy). Patients were studied off medications, in a metabolic ward, and on a controlled diet containing 150 mEq of sodium. Fifty-six percent of patients had supine diastolic blood pressure > or =90 mm Hg. The prevalence of hypertension was slightly greater in females (63%) than in males (52%). Potential mechanisms responsible for this hypertension were investigated. No correlation was found between blood volume and blood pressure. Similarly, plasma norepinephrine (92+/-15 pg/mL) and plasma renin activity (0.3+/-0.05 ng/mL per hour) were very low in the subset of patients with pure autonomic failure and supine hypertension (mean systolic/diastolic pressure, 177 +/- 6/108 +/- 2 mm Hg, range 167/97 to 219/121). Supine hypertension represents a challenge in the treatment of orthostatic hypotension. We found these patients to be particularly responsive to the hypotensive effects of transdermal nitroglycerin. Doses ranging from 0.025 to 0.1 mg/h decreased systolic blood pressure by 36+/-7 mm Hg and may effectively treat supine hypertension overnight, but the dose should be individualized and used with caution.
Comparison of in-situ and ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis in a micro-reactor system

Abstract In this study, we compared ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis (CP) and in-situ CP of hybrid poplar in a micro-reactor system. When both pyrolysis and catalysis were performed at 700 °C, the carbon yield of olefins was greater for ex-situ CP than for in-situ CP (17.4% vs. 5.4%). On the other hand, in-situ CP produced more aromatic hydrocarbons than ex-situ CP (26.1% vs. 18.9%). The remarkably high yield of olefins from ex-situ CP indicates the potential of exploiting the process to preferentially produce olefins as a primary product from biomass, with aromatics being the secondary products. The carbon yield of carbonaceous residues from ex-situ CP was 18.6% compared to 31.3% for in-situ CP. Substantial carbon was deposited as char during ex-situ CP, which could be easily recovered as by-product, simplifying catalyst regeneration. The effects of catalyst loading, pyrolysis temperature and catalysis temperature on product distributions for ex-situ CP were also investigated. Our results showed that catalyst temperature strongly affected product distribution. While high catalyst temperature enhanced both olefin and aromatic production, yield of olefin increased to a greater extent than did aromatics. Neither pyrolysis temperature nor catalyst loadings had significant effect on product distribution for ex-situ CP.
Evaluating Political Goods and Productivity

Because political evaluation is both inescapable and desirable, it is too important to be left to partial and unexamined criteria. Even the most self-conscious studies of political performance have tended to rely on a limited and incomplete range of standards. We are arguing here for a more comprehensive typology of "political goods," with which both the standards and the performance of specific regimes and ideologies can be compared. Although we cannot, of course, deal with every cultural and structural nuance that may itself be valued, we can attempt to consider explicitly classes of goods that are associated with each of the different levels of analysis of the political system.
Intensive Remedial Identity Work: Responses to Workplace Bullying Trauma and Stigmatization

This study investigates the phenomenon of intensive remedial identity work by exploring responses to the trauma and stigma of adult bullying at work. It analyses the narratives of 20 workers who reported being bullied at work, in which they talk about persistent emotional abuse and their shifting, intensifying identity work in response. The following specifi c questions are explored: (a) what threats to identity does workplace bullying trigger?; (b) what are the types and remedial goals of identity work?; (c) what is the processual nature of this identity work? Analysis resulted in seven inter-related types of identity work: fi rst-and second-level stabilizing, sensemaking, reconciling, repairing, grieving and restructuring. Each of these was associated with specifi c identity threats and a constellation of remedial goals. Comparative analysis among self-narratives suggested that identity work occurred in three approximate phases associated with abuse onset, escalation and cessation. Findings extend understanding of intensive remedial identity work in the face of persistently traumatic and stigmatizing organizational experiences. Key words. intensive remedial identity work; stigma; trauma; workplace bullying Although identity and its relation to organizational life is widely studied in academic research, for the layperson, 'identity only becomes an issue when it is in crisis' (Mercer, 1990: 43). When faced with workplace bullying,
The imp act of cultural and psychological diffe rences on the acceptance of pop-up retail in Taiwan

Pop-up retail is a form of experiential marketing that has expanded in Western societies and is seeing an emergence in Asian societies. Hedonic and utilitarian benefits and individual differences have been found to be important to acceptance of pop-up retail for U.S. consumers. Cultural differences influence consumer responses, therefore, research is needed to understand the factors affecting consumer acceptance of pop-up retail in Asian societies. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the acceptance of pop-up retail among Taiwanese consumers. The present study measured 1) the effects of individual differences (consumer innovativeness, shopping enjoyment, and materialism) on perceived benefits (hedonic benefits as well as utilitarian benefits), 2) the effects of individual differences on attitudes toward pop-up retail, 3) the effects of perceived benefits on attitudes toward pop-up retail, and 4) the effect of attitudes toward pop-up retail on intentions toward pop-up retail. In addition, this study examined the moderating roles of cultural values (interdependent and independent self) on the relationships between individual differences and perceived benefits. Before survey data were collected, a focus group was conducted to 1) ensure the descriptions and images of pop-up retail provided in the survey were effective and understandable, 2) understand the potential benefits offered by pop-up according to Taiwanese consumers, and 3) refine items due to translation problems. A pretest followed the focus group to ensure clarity of the survey. A judgmental sampling approach was used in the formal survey, which is often employed to test the acceptance of new products or marketing strategies by potential customers (e.g., Malhotra, 2007). A paper survey was distributed in class to 1,000 college students in three urban areas—North West Taiwan (Taipei City),
Influences upon the rates and mechanisms of chemical weathering and denudation as determined from watershed studies in Massachusetts

Cadwell Creek, in central Massachusetts, is a small stream that undergoes episodes of lowered pH (acidification) during spring runoff. Mundberry Brook, a stream not far away, shows no such effects. The general hydrogeochemistry of the streams is also distinctly different, although the bedrock and surficial geologic characteristics of the two water sheds are broadly similar. This study examines the weathering processes in the unconfined aquifer, the hydrogeology of the watersheds, and the export of dissolved materials in the stream water to evaluate the reasons for these geochemical differences. The composition of ground water is regulated by processes of silicate weathering and cation exchange. The relative importance of these two mechanisms is approximately the same in both watersheds, as determined from the solution of simultaneous equations based upon likely weathering reactions. However, dissolved silica in ground water shows a better correlation with cations and acid-neutralizing capacity in Cadwell (R 2 > 0.6) than in Mundberry (R 2
Surface Differential Scanning Calorimeter for Evaluation of Evaporative Cooling Efficiency

We developed a Surface Differential Scanning Calorimeter for the quantitative analyses of thermodynamic and heat transfer properties of thin fibrous and porous samples. It has been demonstrated that the calorimeter is capable of measuring cooling power as well as temperature decrease in a reliable and reproducible way. Considering its low cost the equipment can be a valuable option for studying cooling/heating systems in laboratory settings.
Genetic Parameters of Factors Affecting the Biomass Recalcitrance of Douglas Fir Trees

Although forestry residuals provide a potentially abundant source of biomass, Douglas fir is a particularly challenging feedstock to utilize in the biochemical conversion to fuels and value-added chemicals due to its high levels of biomass recalcitrance. A greater understanding of the underlying factors behind highly recalcitrant biomass is critical in overcoming this problem. Building on earlier efforts to establish a protocol and a “recalcitrance factor” for screening the recalcitrance of trees, this study attempts to provide the first look into the genetic factors behind recalcitrance in Douglas fir with the possibility of using selective breeding and tree improvement practices to reduce recalcitrance in future generations of our forest products. Samples from over 250 Douglas fir trees in a second-cycle progeny test were collected and subjected to screening. Samples were subjected to a dilute-acid pretreatment and a subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis procedure, ultimately measuring the raw wood density, pretreatment yield, the holocellulose content of pretreated samples, hydrolyzability, and recalcitrance factor. From these data, the heritability, genetic gains, and genetic correlations were estimated. Based on these results, we predict that modifying recalcitrance in tree improvement may be feasible, but would likely require some additional understanding and improved screening techniques.
Biodistribution and Radiation Dosimetry of the Serotonin Transporter Ligand 11C-DASB Determined from Human Whole-Body PET

11C-Labeled 3-amino-4-(2-dimethylaminomethylphenylsulfanyl)-benzonitrile (DASB) is a selective radioligand for the in vivo quantitation of serotonin transporters (SERTs) using PET. The goal of this study was to provide dosimetry estimates for 11C-DASB based on human whole-body PET. Methods: Dynamic whole-body PET scans were acquired for 7 subjects after the injection of 669 ± 97 MBq (18.1 ± 2.6 mCi) of 11C-DASB. The acquisition for each subject was obtained at 14 time points for a total of 115 min after injection of the radioligand. Regions of interest were placed over compressed planar images of source organs that could be visually identified to generate time–activity curves. Radiation burden to the body was calculated from residence times of these source organs using the MIRDOSE3.1 program. Results: The organs with high radiation burden included the lungs, urinary bladder wall, kidneys, gallbladder wall, heart wall, spleen, and liver. The activity peaked within 10 min after the injection of 11C-DASB for all these organs except two—the excretory organs gallbladder and urinary bladder wall, which had peak activities at 32 and 22 min, respectively. Monoexponential fitting of activity overlying the urinary bladder suggested that approximately 12% of activity was excreted via the urine. Simulations in which the urinary voiding interval was decreased from 4.8 to 0.6 h produced only modest effects on the dose to the urinary bladder wall. With a 2.4-h voiding interval, the calculated effective dose was 6.98 μGy/MBq (25.8 mrem/mCi). Conclusion: The estimated radiation burden of 11C-DASB is relatively modest and would allow multiple PET examinations of the same research subject per year.
Disciplinary convergence: landscape architecture and the spatial design disciplines

Despite resurgent interest in landscape, the viability of landscape architecture has been questioned from within the field. The article positions this uncertainty as a symptom of shifts among the spatial design disciplines, which are enmeshed in a process of appropriation, relinquishment, and overlap of territory. Whereas the convergence of the spatial design disciplines has been interpreted as emblematic of landscape-based trans-disciplinary practice, a more contested cross-disciplinary interaction is identified and explored through analysis of design competition prizes and professional magazines. The discussion focusses on the interactions between architecture and landscape architecture, and considers potential implications for education and practice.
Airport Cities in U.S. Metropolitan Context

Airports have long been a focus of urban planners. Airport cities, one of the three possible means of addressing the need for rapid airport access, are held to have emerged out of the aviation age. Systematic research into their prevalence and nature is lacking. Thus, airport city planning remains an ad hoc process without theoretical or empirical guidelines. Using Census 2000 CTPP data for the 51 most populous U.S. metropolitan areas, the size and composition of airport area employment are placed in the context of three elements of urban form which characterize metropolitan spatial patterns: cones, corridors, and clusters. The areas surrounding major airports support significant aggregations of employment which are, on average, half as large as the corresponding CBDs. Transportation-providing employment is by far the most heavily represented sector. Transportation-supporting employment, especially wholesaling, is also represented. Transportation-using employment, such as producer services, is in nearly as much evidence as it is in other non-CBD urban sub-centers. These results provide a set of grounded expectations for those planning airport area development or re-development.
Trunk Force Development during Static and Dynamic Lifts

Most lifting analyses have used static models to evaluate the loading of the trunk during the performance of work. Recent research has reported many differences in trunk muscle force capability when a wide range of trunk velocities are observed. This study focused upon these differences during slow trunk velocities, which would be expected during a lift. Forty-five subjects were tested for their ability to exert torque about their low back under static and dynamic sagittally symmetric lifting conditions. Trunk muscle electromyography was used as a measure of trunk loading. The results reveal that significantly greater loading occurs under slow dynamic conditions, as compared with static conditions. Hence, static models, which assume quasistatic motion, are not good indicators of dynamic trunk load. A regression model was developed that described trunk loading as a function of trunk angle and velocity. The correlation between torque and muscle electromyography in the erector spinae muscles was also found t...
Community care for the frail elderly: the case of non-professional home care workers.

With the aging of the population there will be a growing demand for non-professional home care workers to augment family caregivers in the care and support of the frail elderly. Despite the present and future importance of these workers, little is known about their job problems and satisfactions and their relationships with clients and their families. This paper resents an overview of what is known about this vital component o home care and suggests policy and research implications.
Expression of stress and virulence genes in Escherichia coli O157:H7 heat shocked in fresh dairy compost.

The purpose of this study was to determine the gene expression of Escherichia coli O157:H7 heat shocked in dairy compost. A two-step real-time PCR assay was used to evaluate the expression of stress and virulence genes in E. coli O157:H7 heat shocked in compost at 47.5°C for 10 min. Heat-shocked E. coli O157:H7 in compost was isolated by using an immunomagnetic bead separation method, followed by total RNA extraction, which was then converted to cDNA by using a commercial kit. E. coli O157:H7 heat shocked in broth served as the media control. In compost, heat shock genes (clpB, dnaK, and groEL) and the alternative sigma factor (rpoH) of E. coli O157:H7 were upregulated (P < 0.05), whereas the expression of trehalose synthesis genes did not change. Virulence genes, such as stx1 and fliC, were upregulated, while genes stx2, eaeA, and hlyA were down-regulated. In the toxin-antitoxin (TA) system, toxin genes, mazF, hipA, and yafQ were upregulated, whereas among antitoxin genes, only dinJ was upregulated (P < ...
Abstract 4857: The role of autophagy in taxane resistant breast cancer models

Treatment with the taxanes (Paclitaxel or Docetaxel) is often the therapy of choice for women with advanced breast cancer. In most cases, the taxanes can arrest cell proliferation at the G2/M phase and cause cell death. However, some tumors develop resistance during the course of treatment, which is a major concern for both patients and physicians. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain how resistance to the taxanes occurs, but this phenomenon remains incompletely understood. We hypothesize that changes in cell death signaling, through apoptotic and non-apoptotic pathways, are responsible for taxane resistance in breast cancer. Using the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line model, we selected cells that are resistant to either Docetaxel (DocR) or Paclitaxel (PacR). Subsequently we studied levels of cell death and the response to IC50 concentrations of these drugs. Given the molecular crosstalk that can occur between cells dying by apoptosis and the autophagy process, Western blots for prosurvival Bcl-2 and NFκB were performed, and these showed reduced expression in the taxane resistant cells compared to the sensitive cell lines. In conjunction with changes in apoptotic markers in the resistant cell lines, there were also changes in autophagy protein markers such as increased expression of cleaved LC3 and a decrease in p62/SQSTM1 expression, particularly in the PacR cells. Beclin-1 and XBP-1 expression, however, were not differentially expressed between the sensitive and both resistant cell lines. Beclin-1 and p62 have been implicated in the regulation of both Bcl-2 and NFκB expression. In order to determine whether the changes in autophagy marker protein expression was an indication of an alternative cell death process or cell survival, proliferation assays were performed with sensitive and resistant cells. Cells were counted after exposure for 7 days with and without 3-Methyladenine, an inhibitor of autophagosome formation. The addition of 3-MA significantly decreased cell number suggesting that autophagy may be a mechanism of cell survival in both taxane resistant models. Given our preliminary data, we propose to further investigate the role of autophagy and other alternative cell death evasion pathways seen in MDA-MB-231 taxane resistant and sensitive breast cancer cells. Our studies aim to improve the understanding of how different mechanisms of cell death evasion contribute to the resistance phenotype. Ultimately our studies may not only improve our understanding of taxane resistance at the bench, but may also provide the framework for formulation of novel therapies that may improve the success of taxane therapy in women with breast cancer in the clinic. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4857.
CD8-positive mantle cell lymphoma : A report of two cases

Two cases of mantle cell lymphoma with a unique CD8+ phenotype are reported. Both patients had disease that was resistant to therapy; one patient had the blastic variant of mantle cell lymphoma. Flow cytometric analysis of bone marrow and cerebrospinal fluid samples revealed a phenotype consistent with mantle cell lymphoma, with the additional finding of CD8 positivity in 40% or more of the tumor cells in both cases. This is the first description of such a finding, and CD8+ mantle cell lymphoma may represent a unique type of B-cell neoplasia. Our findings may be important in the prediction of therapeutic response or in the detection of residual disease after therapy.
Hyphomicrobium neptunium sp. n.

A new species ofHyphomicrobium is described. The organism was isolated from a sample of stored seawater originating from the harbor of Barcelona, Spain. The life cycles and various morphological types are illustrated by photomicrographs. Growth takes place readily on simple peptone media with the addition of a small amount of calcium or magnesium salt, or seawater. The general physiological and cultural characteristics are recorded.
Demographic, Ethnic and Occupational Structure of New Mexico, 1790

Since early times civil and religious authorities of New Spain showed considerable interest in population statistics of New Mexico. Such an interest was directly related to the peculiarities of settlement in the province since the Reconquest, fourteen years after the bloody Indian uprising of 1680. From then on, control over New Mexico could only be sustained with great difficulty—final pacification could not be achieved until the late eighteenth century—for a purely geopolitical reason: keeping New Mexico for the Crown as a defensive bulwark in the northern approaches of New Spain against the penetration of hostile Indians and foreigners. In that sense, the Franciscan missions performed a decisive role in affirming the Spanish occupation of the territory.
Effects of acute and chronic barbiturate administration on synaptosomal calcium accumulation.

Synaptosomes were isolated from four treatment groups of DBA/2J mice: Group I-Control; Group II-7 day tolerant (received dietary phenobarbital, 2.5 mg/g Purina Lab Chow for 7 days); Group III-20 hr withdrawn; and Group IV-7 day recovered (received dietary phenobarbital for 7 days followed by normal diet for 7 days). Pentobarbital (0.45 mM) added in vitro to synaptosomes from control mice significantly depressed (21.4%) potassium depolarized 45Ca++ accumulation but did not significantly alter nondepolarized 45Ca++ uptake or subsequent 45Ca++ efflux. Chronic administration of phenobarbital to mice in the tolerant and withdrawn conditions resulted in behavioral tolerance and subsequent withdrawal symptomatology, but neither KCl-induced 45Ca++ accumulation nor 45Ca++ efflux was significantly altered. In vitro addition of pentobarbital (0.45 mM) to synaptosomes from tolerant mice did not significantly depress KCl-induced 45Ca++ accumulation (8.1%) but did significantly depress KCl-induced 45Ca++ accumulation by synaptosomes from withdrawn mice (15.2%) and recovered mice (16.8%). These data suggest that barbiturates may depress calcium-mediated stimulus-secretion coupling events contributing to central nervous system depression. Further, functional tolerance after chronic barbiturate treatment may result from a membrane adaptation facilitating calcium-mediated secretory functions.
Elevated serum calcitonin associated with an extragonadal seminoma.

AbstractWe describe the first case of elevated serum calcitonin associated with an extragonadal seminoma despite normocalcemia. In addition, we show how serial calcitonin levels were used to monitor response to chemotherapy.
Effect of Cobalt on Reduction Characteristics of Ceria under Ethanol Steam Reforming Conditions: AP-XPS and XANES Studies

The surface and bulk reduction characteristics of bare ceria and ceria with supported cobalt nanoparticles were investigated under ethanol steam reforming conditions using AP-XPS and XANES techniques. Ceria particles were prepared in two different particle sizes, one in nano and the other in micron size (termed CeO2-NP and CeO2-MP), with average particle sizes of 4 and 120 nm, respectively. It was found that particle size affects surface reducibility of ceria particles; smaller particle size leads to a higher extent of surface reduction. Supported cobalt nanoparticles have a significant effect on the surface reducibility of both CeO2-NP and CeO2-MP. Compared to bare ceria particles, the presence of fully oxidized cobalt nanoparticles on the surface of ceria support retards surface reducibility of ceria since reduction of the cobalt oxide phases (Co3O4 and CoO) takes precedence over that of ceria. The degree of reduction of the cobalt phase during ethanol steam reforming determines the effect of cobalt on ...
Demolition and Relocation

This chapter begins with a discussion of the forced shutdown of 24 migrant children schools in Beijing during the summer of 2011. Using the example of one school, I document the series of events that led to the forced demolition of schools in the districts of Daxing, Haidian, and Chaoyang. The actions were followed by the subsequent issue of student relocation. I distinguish two types of schools that were designated by the government for migrant students’ relocation: one was the township public schools and the other was the government-subsidized private-run schools. By the end of that summer, only a small percentage of the students were able to be relocated.
Building Links Between Early Socioeconomic Status, Cognitive Ability, and Math and Science Achievement

The present study examined whether and how socioeconomic status (SES) predicts school achievement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) using structural equation modeling and data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Child Care and Youth Development. The present inquiry addresses gaps in previous research linking SES and STEM achievement in high school. Results indicate that maternal education predicts the child’s early environment, which itself predicts the development of executive function (EF) and language, and thereby, STEM achievement. Moreover, children’s language ability and EF development influenced higher-order cognitive skills, such as relational reasoning, planning, and basic calculation skills. However, only relational reasoning strongly predicted high school math and science achievement, suggesting that relational reasoning, but not planning and calculation skills, was central to STEM thinking and learning.
3D multiphoton fiber-coupled microscopy using adaptable optics for brain imaging

We describe a fiber-coupled miniature microscope with tunable focus using no mechanical parts for two-photon scanning microscopy in thick mouse brain tissue. A frequency-resolved optical grating (FROG) is used to measure the dispersive effects in the fiber-bundle.
Tachyarrhythmias and Bradyarrhythmias: Differential Diagnosis and Initial Management in the Primary Care Office

Tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias are often seen in the outpatient setting. Patients can present minimally symptomatic or in extremis. Accurate diagnosis of the rhythm, plus a detailed clinical history, are critical for best management and optimal outcome. A 12-lead electrocardiogram is the cornerstone for diagnosis. Practitioners must identify patients who need immediate transport to an emergency department versus those who can safely wait for an outpatient specialty referral. This article reviews how to accurately diagnose and differentiate the most common tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias, the associated symptoms, and important concepts for the initial steps in the office management of such arrhythmias.
A Model of the Skin-Electrode Interface for Myoelectric Control Applications

Abstract The use of myoelectric signals for control of prosthetic devices depends on accurate representations of the electrical properties of the skin-electrode interface. This paper presents a simple model of this interface, derived by-regression analysis from experimental data on a number of subjects under a variety of experimental conditions. Both surface and wire electrodes are considered. The resulting models consist of two parallel RC networks whose elements are frequency dependent. The dependence of the resistance and capacitance values on frequency and electrode geometry are obtained and illustrated.
Data-driven energy management architecture for more-electric aircrafts

This paper proposes an attack-resilient ANFIS-DBN based energy management architecture for a hybrid emergency power system of More-Electric Aircrafts (MEAs). Our proposed architecture develops a Deep Belief Network (DBN) stacked Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Interference System (ANFIS)-based method to evaluate the integrity of the power output of the fuel-cell in the fuel-cell based hybrid auxiliary power unit (APU), which is vulnerable to the cyber-attacks and critical for the effective energy management and emergency control. Our ANFIS-DBN-based method achieves the integrity evaluation by leveraging the real-time measures on the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery, power output of the ultra-capacitor and the load profile. In our simulation, we evaluate the performance of our proposed ANFIS-DBN-based method to support the integrity of the Energy Management Strategies (EMSs) used in hybrid emergency power system for more-electric aircrafts by using MATLAB/Simulink. Our simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of our proposed method in effectively evaluating the integrity of critical data and achieving resilient control.
Cocaine-induced pseudo-Wellens' syndrome: a Wellens' phenocopy.

Wellens’ syndrome represents critical occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. Electrocardiographic changes similar to Wellens’ wave are not exceptional to acute coronary occlusion and can also be seen in cardiac and non-cardiac conditions, such as left ventricular hypertrophy, persistent juvenile T wave, bundle branch blocks, cerebral haemorrhage, pulmonary oedema, pulmonary embolism, pheochromocytoma, Takotsubo syndrome, digitalis and cocaine-induced coronary vasospasm. Cocaine-induced pseudo-Wellens’ syndrome should be considered as one of the differentials, since cocaine is used frequently by young adults and can cause left anterior descending coronary vasospasm mimicking Wellens’ syndrome. Initiation of the beta-blocking agent in pseudo-Wellens’ syndrome as a part of acute coronary syndrome management can be disastrous. We illustrated a case of cocaine-induced pseudo-Wellens’ syndrome presented with typical chest pain associated with Wellenoid ECG.
Core principles of evolutionary medicine: A Delphi study.

Background and objectives Evolutionary medicine is a rapidly growing field that uses the principles of evolutionary biology to better understand, prevent and treat disease, and that uses studies of disease to advance basic knowledge in evolutionary biology. Over-arching principles of evolutionary medicine have been described in publications, but our study is the first to systematically elicit core principles from a diverse panel of experts in evolutionary medicine. These principles should be useful to advance recent recommendations made by The Association of American Medical Colleges and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to make evolutionary thinking a core competency for pre-medical education. Methodology The Delphi method was used to elicit and validate a list of core principles for evolutionary medicine. The study included four surveys administered in sequence to 56 expert panelists. The initial open-ended survey created a list of possible core principles; the three subsequent surveys winnowed the list and assessed the accuracy and importance of each principle. Results Fourteen core principles elicited at least 80% of the panelists to agree or strongly agree that they were important core principles for evolutionary medicine. These principles over-lapped with concepts discussed in other articles discussing key concepts in evolutionary medicine. Conclusions and implications This set of core principles will be helpful for researchers and instructors in evolutionary medicine. We recommend that evolutionary medicine instructors use the list of core principles to construct learning goals. Evolutionary medicine is a young field, so this list of core principles will likely change as the field develops further.
Cancer survivorship in the rural U.S. Columbia Pacific: A pilot study.

106Background: We provide the only fully staffed cancer center in the rural Columbia Pacific, serving multiple counties in OR and WA. Rural areas can lack resources to provide comprehensive survivo...