cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic dexamethasone treatment and its effects on sensory neuropeptides, pulpal injury reactions and reparative dentin

Initial sensory nerve reactions to dental injuries include terminal sprouting and intensified immunoreactivity for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP); those reactions are reduced at 4 days after injury when rats are treated daily with dexamethasone (DEX) [17]. Here we have analyzed long-term effects of DEX (daily, 0.2 mg/kg) on wound healing, sensory nerve sprouting, and CGRP/SP intensity at 7–14 days after cavity preparation. All DEX treated rats had loss of appetite and stopped growing during the postoperative periods while controls had normal postoperative growth. After 7–14 days, CGRP immunoreactivity OR) was decreased to one-third of normal (P < 0.05) compared to vehicle in both the intact and injured molar pulp, and SP also decreased, but the neuropeptide intensity in adjacent periodontal innervation was not changed. Pulpal injury and inflammation were reduced by DEX treatment, but reparative dentin was formed just as well in the DEX rats as in the vehicle group. When the injured teeth formed fibrous dentin, there was sprouting of nerves towards that matrix, and DEX did not inhibit that reaction. The sprouts could contain intense neuropeptide immunoreactivity in DEX rats even though the CGRP/SP intensity in uninjured pulp was reduced. We conclude that (1) chronic DEX treatment causes a generalized decrease in CGRP and SP neuropeptides in pulpal nerves but not in periodontal ligament; (2) it reduces abscess formation in injured teeth; (3) it does not block reparative dentin formation; and (4) it does not block sprouting of pulpal nerves towards fibrous dentin. The selective loss of pulpal neuropeptides CGRP and SP during dexamethasone treatment may be caused by reduced dental function since there was substantial loss of appetite and chronic weight loss during the 1–2 week treatment periods.
The hermit crab Calcinus tibicen lives commensally on Millepora spp. in St. John, United States Virgin Islands

The present work describes an association between the hermit crab Calcinus tibicen and milleporine hydrocorals on shallow reefs ( 88 % of trials) returned to the same colony of Millepora spp. when removed and placed on adjacent surfaces. Of the C. tibicen found on Millepora spp. during the day, 48 % left their colonies at night, but most subsequently returned to the same colony as shown by the high site fidelity of tagged crabs (51 % over 5 days). A Y-maze experiment conducted in the laboratory suggested that C. tibicen could detect (and move toward) Millepora spp. on a spatial scale of about 30 cm and under a flow speed of about 5 cm s−1. When tethered on algal turf or sand, 45 % of C. tibicen disappeared over 7 days and presumably were eaten, whereas 15 % disappeared when tethered on Millepora spp. These results demonstrate that the association between C. tibicen and Millepora spp. is temporally stable and widespread, and suggest that hermit crabs seek Millepora spp. to secure a daytime refuge from predators. In the absence of negative fitness consequences for Millepora spp., but demonstrable benefits to C. tibicen, we propose that the Calcinus-Millepora association is commensal.
The Church, Social Consciousness, and Protest?

This article examines the relationship between participation in the Catholic Church and the consciousness and protest behavior of the most strategic sector of the Peruvian labor force. It explores two ideal models of church influence: traditional and liberation. Although Liberation Theology has some of its deepest roots in the writings and practice of Peruvian priests, the association between participation in church ritual in general in Peru and the consciousness and behavior of workers suggests that the overall influence of the Peruvian Church is best described by the traditional model. Participation in Church ritual and its associated religiosity increase fatalism, retards concientizacion, reduces protest participation, and integrates workers into the hierarchy and discipline of the industrial enterprise. The article agrees with Gramsci (1971) that the control of consciousness is as significant an area of political struggle as the control of production, and that the two are related. Through its influenc...
Complete metabolic response after definitive radiation therapy for cervical cancer: Patterns and factors predicting for recurrence

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the patterns of failure in patients diagnosed with cervical cancer treated with definitive radiotherapy and who subsequently had complete metabolic response (CMR) seen on early post-therapy (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging. Additionally, we sought to determine what factors predict disease recurrence in this patient population. Methods and materials We reviewed the records of 155 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer from stages IB1 to IVA who were treated with definitive chemoradiation therapy between 2003 and 2011 and had a FDG-PET at 10–16weeks following completion of therapy. One hundred and twelve (72.0%) had CMR on follow-up FDG-PET and comprised the patients in this study. Results The median age of patients with CMR was 51years and the median tumor size 4.9cm. Median follow up was 15months. Of the 112 patients, 11 (9.8%) had a recurrence and six (5.4%) had isolated local recurrences, and five (4.5%) had distant recurrence. Median time to recurrence was 9months. Three-year actuarial disease-free survival and overall survival rates were 78.9% and 88.0% respectively. On Cox regression multivariate analysis, tumor size was predictive of increased risk of local recurrence in these patients with CMR with p Conclusion Patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation had a CMR which demonstrated good clinical outcomes in terms of local control. There were equal numbers of patients suffering local and distant recurrences. In patients with a CMR, only tumor size was an independent predictor for local recurrence.
Sparse-Grid Quadrature $H_\infty $ Filter for Discrete-Time Systems with Uncertain Noise Statistics

In This paper H∞ technique is combined with the recently developed sparse-grid quadrature (SGQ) filtering to improve the accuracy and robustness of the state estimation when the noise statistics is not known a priori. The proposed new SGQ H∞ filter (SGQH∞F) is compared with other H∞ filters via two numerical examples. It is shown that the SGQH∞F is more robust and accurate than the extended H∞ filter, unscented H∞ filter, and cubature H∞ filter. In addition it maintains a close performance to the Gauss-Hermite quadrature (GHQ) H∞ filter but is computationally much more efficient since it uses far fewer quadrature points.
On the Turán number of triple systems

For a family of r-graphs F, the Turan number ex(n, F) is the maximum number of edges in an n vertex r-graph that does not contain any member of F. The Turan density π(F)=limn → ∞ ex(n,F)/(n r) When F is an r-graph, π(F) ≠0, and r > 2, determining π (F) is a notoriously hard problem, even for very simple r-graphs F. For example, when r = 3, the value of π(F) is known for very few (< 10) irreducible r-graphs. Building upon a method developed recently by de Caen and Furedi (J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 78 (2000), 274-276), we determine the Turan densities of several 3-graphs that were not previously known. Using this method, we also give a new proof of a result of Frankl and Furedi (Combinatorica 3 (1983), 341-349) that π(H) =2/9, where H has edges 123,124, 345. Let F (3, 2) be the 3-graph 123, 145, 245, 345, let K-4 be the 3-graph 123,124,234, and let C5 be the 3-graph 123, 234, 345, 451, 512. We prove 4/9 ≤ π(J(3,2)) ≤ ½, π({K-4,C5}) ≤ 10/31 = 0.322581, 0.464 < π(C5) ≤ 2 - √2 < 0.586. The middle result is related to a conjecture of Frankl and Furedi (Discrete Math. 50 (1984) 323-328) that π(K-4) = 2/7 The best known bounds are 2/7≤π(K-4)≤1/3.
Remagnetization and orogenic fluids: testing the hypothesis in the central Appalachians

SUMMARY Palaeomagnetic and geochemical studies on Devonian sedimentary rocks in the Valley and Ridge province in West Virginia indicate that the hypothesized relationship between orogenic fluids and remagnetization is not straightforward. The Helderberg Group, an aquitard, and the Oriskany Formation, a palaeoaquifer, both contain similar, synfolding late Palaeozoic chemical remanent magnetizations (CRMs) residing in magnetite. The results from the Oriskany Formation are consistent with remagnetization by orogenic fluids because the unit contains geochemical evidence for the migration of such fluids. In contrast, there is no geochemical evidence for the widespread migration of orogenic fluids into the Helderberg Group and thus the CRM cannot be related to such fluids. Another remagnetization mechanism, which remains elusive, must be responsible for the CRM in the Helderberg Group.
An experimental brain tumor model in rabbits.

A rabbit brain tumor model is described using transplanted VX-2 carcinoma. The mean survival time after tumor transplantation was 9.3 days, and the reproducibility rate was 90%. In addition, this new model offers significant advantages over previously reported brain tumor models in terms of ease of induction and shortened latency times.
Thirteen-year follow-up of a mandibular implant-supported fixed complete denture in a patient with Sjogren's syndrome: A clinical report

This clinical report describes the treatment and long-term follow-up of a patient with Sjogren's syndrome treated with osseointegrated implants and a mandibular fixed complete denture. The implants and prosthesis have remained stable and functional for 13 years. Implant treatment may, therefore, offer a viable long-term treatment alternative for patients with Sjogren's syndrome.
On spectral methods for variance based sensitivity analysis

Consider a mathematical model with a finite number of random parameters. Variance based sensitivity analysis provides a framework to characterize the contribution of the individual parameters to the total variance of the model response. We consider the spectral methods for variance based sensitivity analysis which utilize representations of square integrable random variables in a generalized polynomial chaos basis. Taking a measure theoretic point of view, we provide a rigorous and at the same time intuitive perspective on the spectral methods for variance based sensitivity analysis. Moreover, we discuss approximation errors incurred by fixing inessential random parameters, when approximating functions with generalized polynomial chaos expansions.
An improved single frequency estimator

A new method for estimating the frequency of a complex sinusoid in complex white Gaussian noise is proposed. Its computational complexity is comparable to Kay's method [1989], but it attains the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) down to lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values. Simulation results are included to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method.
Synthetic Marijuana: A Recent Turmoil in Substance Abuse

As in the rest of the world, marijuana has been one of the most commonly abused psychoactive illicit substances in Turkey. Recent police reports of record amount of marijuana seized and numerous ar...
Carry Chains for Ultra High-Speed SiGe HBT Adders

Adder structures utilizing SiGe Hetero-junction Bipolar Transistor (HBT) digital circuits are examined for use in high clock rate digital applications requiring high-speed integer arithmetic. A 4-gate deep test structure for 32-bit addition using a 210 GHz fT process has been experimentally verified to operate with 37.5 ps delay or 26.7 GHz speed. The paper documents a unique blend of CML and ECL circuit innovations, which is needed to obtain this result. The chip is estimated to have a power-delay product of 109 ps-W at a device temperature of 85°C . A low power design is shown to have a power-delay product of 48 ps-W at 21.7 GHz. Speed-power trade-offs are explored through pure ECL logic and varying current. Additionally, with next generation SiGe HBTs, this work shows that 40 GHz is achievable at slightly above room temperature.
Intraarterial chemotherapy for head and neck cancer, part 1: Theoretical considerations and drug delivery systems

The principal objective of regional chemotherapy is tumor cell kill. The rationale for regional delivery is based on the steep dose/response curve exhibited by most antineoplastic agents. Intraarterial (IA) chemotherapy has the potential advantage of increased drug concentration at the tumor site, decreased systemic drug levels, and continuous tumor cell exposure to an antineoplastic agent. Despite these advantages, the use of IA chemotherapy has not been universally accepted. This is in part due to the difficulties associated with establishing and maintaining arterial access. Considerable improvement in the techniques and efficacy of regional therapy for head and neck cancer will be necessary before there is widespread clinical acceptance. These improvements must be based on anatomic and pharmacologic factors that ensure success of regional therapy. In addition, the development of safe, reliable delivery systems will be necessary. Part 1 of this two-part article will review these factors and discuss delivery systems.
Cholesterol lowering with simvastatin reduced stroke in patients with, or at risk for, vascular disease.

Source Citation Collins R, Armitage J, Parish S, Sleight P, Peto R. Effects of cholesterol-lowering with simvastatin on stroke and other major vascular events in 20 536 people with cerebrovascular ...
More than skin deep: connecting melanocyte pigmentation and angiogenic diseases

Epidemiological studies have identified racial differences in susceptibility to numerous diseases, including several ocular and skin diseases characterized by increased vascular growth. In most cases, the specific mechanisms and genetic variants responsible for these differences have remained elusive. In this issue of the JCI, Adini et al. explore a direct connection between skin pigmentation and susceptibility to angiogenic diseases and identify an extracellular matrix protein that is regulated by melanogenesis and potently modulates angiogenesis.
Positional vertigo biofeedback assist device utilizing fuzzy logic

Biofeedback systems can serve a beneficial purpose for postural balance disorders, in particular Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This disorder can affect anyone at any age, but it can be more problematic with the elderly and has its source in the vestibular organs of the inner ear. BPPV is dependent on the physical position of the patient, particularly the head, which can induce a bout of vertigo. This vertigo could be particularly dangerous while performing such tasks such as driving or operating machinery. In order to assist persons experiencing this disorder, a device which can be placed on the person's head can provide supplemental feedback signals which compensate for missing links in a natural balance coordination mechanism. This device utilizes an off-the-shelf micro-controller and a MEMS based tri-axial accelerometer to monitor the patient's movements in XY plane. Software algorithms incorporate fuzzy logic operation which provides a patient, with positional feedback. In particular, the device allows the patient to differentiate between balance mechanism disturbances and movements associated with regular mobility thus contributing to an enhanced quality of life and safety.
Aspergillus and Fusarium corneal infections are regulated by Th17 cells and IL-17 producing neutrophils

Fusarium and Aspergillus species of mold are major causes of corneal infections in the United States and worldwide, resulting in severe visual impairment and blindness. As there is evidence for T cell responses to these pathogenic fungi in infected individuals, we examined the role of IL-17A (IL-17) and IFN-γ in murine models of fungal keratitis. We found that C57BL/6 mice given intratracheal or s.c. immunization of conidia prior to corneal infection exhibited enhanced fungal killing and lower corneal opacity compared with unimmunized mice. Protective immunity was associated with temporal recruitment of IL-17-producing neutrophils and Th17 and Th1 cells and dependent on production of IL-17 but not IFN-γ. Protection was also impaired in neutrophil-depleted and Rag2(-/-) mice. Together, the results of these studies identify an essential role for IL-17-producing neutrophils and Th17 cells in regulating the growth of fungal hyphae and the severity of corneal disease.
Emotion dysregulation and dyadic conflict in depressed and typical adolescents: Evaluating concordance across psychophysiological and observational measures

a b s t r a c t Many depressed adolescents experience difficulty in regulating their emotions. These emotion regulation difficulties appear to emerge in part from socialization processes within families and then generalize to other contexts. However, emotion dysregulation is typically assessed within the individual, rather than in the social relationships that shape and maintain dysregulation. In this study, we evaluated concord- ance of physiological and observational measures of emotion dysregulation during interpersonal conflict, using a multilevel actor-partner interdependence model (APIM). Participants were 75 mother-daughter dyads, including 50 depressed adolescents with or without a history of self-injury, and 25 typically devel- oping controls. Behavior dysregulation was operationalized as observed aversiveness during a conflict discussion, and physiological dysregulation was indexed by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). Results revealed different patterns of concordance for control versus depressed participants. Controls evidenced a concordant partner (between-person) effect, and showed increased physiological regulation during min- utes when their partner was more aversive. In contrast, clinical dyad members displayed a concordant actor (within-person) effect, becoming simultaneously physiologically and behaviorally dysregulated. Results inform current understanding of emotion dysregulation across multiple levels of analysis. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Time-Dependent Increase in Network Response to Stimulation

This work was funded by National Science Foundation grant CMMI-1300007 (NP received the funding). Publication of this article was funded in part by the George Mason University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund.
The Classical Rationalism of Thucydides

Thucydides is interesting partly as a representative of “classical rationalism,” a type of rationalism that may help us to correct, or at least understand, the limitations of modern rationalism. Interpreters who approach the classical authors with this purpose in mind tend to presume that all classical rationalism is alike, that all the great thinkers of antiquity display a rationalism like that of the Socratics, Plato and Aristotle. The rationalism of the Socratics held that the political world is intrinsically burdened with certain contradictions, that wisdom grasps those contradictions, and resolves them within itself. This is most visible in the Platonic teaching regarding eros: ordinary eros is contradictory, but those contradictions are resolved in philosophic eros and the life of philosophy. I argue that Thucydides fits this pattern in some respects, but he does not hold that the life of wisdom takes up and resolves the contradictions of politics. Rather, it leaves them behind. The life of wisdom is not the culmination or fulfillment of politics; it is a life of immunity from the eros that rules ordinary life.
Two cytochromes P450 catalyze S-heterocyclizations in cabbage phytoalexin biosynthesis

Phytoalexins are abundant in edible crucifers and have important biological activities, yet no dedicated gene for their biosynthesis is known. Here, we report two new cytochromes P450 from Brassica rapa (Chinese cabbage) that catalyze unprecedented S-heterocyclizations in cyclobrassinin and spirobrassinin biosynthesis. Our results provide genetic and biochemical insights into the biosynthesis of a prominent pair of dietary metabolites and have implications for pathway discovery across >20 recently sequenced crucifers.
Roadmap for biomarkers of cancer therapy cardiotoxicity

Contemporary cancer treatment uses multiple modalities such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and radiotherapy. These therapies, often used in combination, are associated with an increased risk of cardiotoxicity, specifically cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Cardiologists and oncologists are faced with the challenge of maximising the clinical benefit from cancer therapy while minimising the risk of early and late-onset cardiotoxicity. The current paradigm for cardiotoxicity detection and management relies primarily upon the assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, LVEF alone is limited in both diagnostic and prognostic ability. There is growing enthusiasm over the identification of newer biomarkers of cardiotoxicity that can detect cardiac injury at earlier stages of disease and could be used as an adjunctive prognostic measure to routine LVEF assessment. Thus, imaging and circulating biomarkers are currently under active investigation for use throughout the continuum of cancer care-for risk stratification of cardiotoxicity prior to treatment, detection of early cardiotoxicity during treatment and diagnosis of late cardiotoxicity in survivorship. Myocardial strain, cardiac troponin and brain natriuretic peptide are the most prominent biomarkers currently being studied, although data on novel circulating biomarkers are emerging.
On the use of kernel approximate Bayesian computation to infer population history

Genetic variation is a product of mutation, recombination and natural selection along with a complex history involving population subdivision, gene flow and changes in population size. Elucidating the evolutionary forces that shape genetic differences among populations is a major objective of evolutionary genetics. Recent advances in high-throughput technology enable genomic data to be obtained from samples at a population-based scale. Further, the growth in computational power has facilitated extensive efforts to develop intensive simulation-based approaches with the aim of analyzing such large-scale data and making inferences about population history. Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) provides a quantitative way to assess the goodness-of-fit of complex models that are based on previous knowledge and to estimate the parameters of interest that produce the observed data. The practical advantage of ABC is the application of Bayesian inference to any model without the need to derive a likelihood function. ABC has rapidly become popular in ecology and evolutionary studies due to the contribution it has made to improving computational efficiency over the past decade. This review provides a brief overview of the background of ABC, including potential biases in estimation due to the assumptions and approximation involved, followed by an in-depth review of one of the recently developed ABCs, "kernel ABC," with an explanation of how to overcome these biases. Finally, the application of kernel ABC to the inference of demographic history is summarized.
Environmental Controls on Coastal Coarse Aerosols: Implications for Microbial Content and Deposition in the Near-Shore Environment

Coarse aerosols (particle diameter (D(p)) > 2 μm) produced in coastal surf zones carry chemical and microbial content to shore, forming a connection between oceanic, atmospheric, and terrestrial systems that is potentially relevant to coastal ecology and human health. In this context, the effects of tidal height, wind speed, and fog on coastal coarse aerosols and microbial content were quantified on the southern coast of Maine, USA. Aerosols at this site displayed clear marine influence and had high concentrations of ecologically relevant nutrients. Coarse aerosol concentrations significantly increased with tidal height (i.e., decreasing distance from waterline), onshore wind speed, and fog presence. As onshore wind speeds rose above 3 m s(-1), the mean half-deposition distance of coarse aerosols increased to an observed maximum of 47.6 ± 10.9 m from the water's edge at wind speeds from 5.5-8 m s(-1). Tidal height and fog presence did not significantly influence total microbial aerosol concentrations but did have a significant effect on culturable microbial aerosol fallout. At low wind speeds, culturable microbial aerosols falling out near-shore decreased by half at a distance of only 1.7 ± 0.4 m from the water's edge, indicating that these microbes may be associated with large coarse aerosols with rapid settling rates.
CW Laser Annealing of Low Dose Implants in GaAs

The possibility of annealing low dose implants (≃ 1013cm−2) in GaAs using a cw scanning laser has been investigated. We have observed that above the threshold of laser-induced damage, a gallium oxide (3-Ga2O3) can be grown at laser scan speeds of 0.5mm/sec. The heat transferred to the substrate during the growth of the oxide is utilized to anneal low dose Si implanted layers. As suggested by sheet electrical measurements, close to complete activation of the implanted species is obtained.
Abstract 683: Toxicity of aerosolized azacytidine (Vidaza) in mice.

Background: Azacytidine, a prototypical demethylation agent, has been approved to treat myelodysplastic syndrome. Commercial azacytidine (Vidaza) is delivered to patients by subcutaneous or intravenous administration. In a previous study, we found that aerosolized azacytidine can 1) inhibit human orthotopic lung cancers in a mouse xenograft model, 2) demethylate several promoters of tumor suppressor genes reported to be hypermethylated in human lung cancer, and 3) be better tolerated and more effective than systemic administration. These studies specifically addressed toxicity associated with aerosolized delivery of Vidaza to the lungs; specifically hematologic and pulmonary toxicity. Methods: Vidaza was dissolved into sterile water for injection and aerosolized in a clinical standard aerosol system. Swiss mice male and female 6/group were restricted into a nose-only exposure system for receiving the aerosol. We treated the mice at 2 different doses, 7.5 mg/m2 daily x 7 days and 2.5 mg/m2 daily x 7 days. Blood, sternum (for bone marrow), and lung were collected at 3 and 6 weeks after the final aerosol treatment. The bone and lung were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and routinely processed to paraffin blocks, sectioned, stained, and evaluated histologically. In a preliminary pharmacokinetic study, azacytidine concentrations in the blood and lung samples from mice receiving 2.5 mg/m2 of aerosolized azacytidine were determined by a MS-HPLC method previously described by others. Results: Neither dose of aerosolized Vidaza resulted in bone marrow changes. A mild pneumonitis was present in lungs from mice treated with 7.5 mg/m2 at 3 weeks but was not evident at six weeks (reversible). No pulmonary toxicity was observed at the 2.5 mg/m2 dose. The preliminary pharmacokinetic study data indicate very low drug concentrations in the blood and much higher concentrations in the lungs. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that low dose aerosolized azacytidine can be safely administered to mice. Reversible pulmonary toxicity (pneumonitis) was observed at 7.5 mg/m2 at 3 weeks post treatment. The recommended starting dose of aerosolized azacytidine in human clinical phase I trial should be 2.5 mg/m2. Supported by NIH grant 5R01CA154755 to Roman Perez-Soler and Yiyu Zou. Citation Format: Xuan Qiu, Rani Sellers, Yuanxin Liang, Bilal Piperdi, Roman Perez-Soler, Yiyu Zou. Toxicity of aerosolized azacytidine (Vidaza) in mice. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 683. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-683
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Students' Sense of Belonging in Computing: An Intersectional Approach

The field of computing is rapidly developing, requiring a strong and diverse labor force. The authors' work assessed the relationship between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students' sense of belonging in computing and thoughts about leaving the field. The results of two studies indicated that among undergraduate students (study 1) and graduate students (study 2), thoughts about leaving a computing program were associated with feeling a low sense of belonging in the computing community. Importantly, women LGBTQ students reported the lowest sense of belonging among all student groups in the samples. These findings suggest in order to capitalize on talent and perspective offered by the LGBTQ community, the field of computing should be especially attentive to LGBTQ students' sense of fit in the computing community.
Editorial: a Very Special Issue.

This issue of The Behavior Analyst (TBA) marks changes for the journal, some of which are reflected in this issue, and others of which are on the temporal horizon. First we have a new editorial team. Second, we have some possible new directions to explore for TBA. Third, we have a new issue of TBA.
Research Advances on Tissue Culture of Davidia involucrata

Research advances on tissue culture of Davidia involucrata were reviewed,including the types of explants,the establishment of asepsis tissue culture system,selections of medium and hormone,rooting method,etc.The prospective study on tissue culture of Davidia involucrata was proposed.
Delayed Valuation: A Reanalysis of Goal Features, “Upward” Complementizer Agreement, and the Mechanics of Case

There are at least four opposing views on the directionality and configuration of Agree relations. In mainstream minimalism, Agree is strictly downward “probing” (Chomsky 2000, 2001; Boskovic 2007; Epstein & Seely 2006), but some recent works argue that Agree always looks upward (Zeijlstra 2012, Wurmbrand 2012). A third perspective takes agreement to follow from the Spec–head configuration (Koopman 2006), and under a fourth proposal, the directionality of Agree varies parametrically (Baker 2008). Although each approach has some empirical support, none achieves the strict conceptual necessity that is a central goal of minimalist theory. I argue, following Epstein's (1999) approach to c-command, that a downward directionality for Agree follows automatically and necessarily from the bottom-to-top construction of syntactic objects. But if a uF does not find any source of valuation in its c-command domain at first Merge, directionality-free matching and delayed valuation are possible up to the point of cyclic Transfer. The approach eliminates several stipulations from agreement theory, deducing that the uFs making goals “active” in Agree relations are simply those that find no match in their c-command domains at Merge.
New Exact Traveling Wave Solutions for Maccari's System

Using polynomial complete discrimination system and elementary integral method, we obtain many new exact traveling wave solutions for Maccari's System.This method is more simpler than others.
What the West could learn from the East: a reflective analysis

AbstractDrawing on Lugones’ ideas of world traveling, Dewey’s notion of education as experience, and Greene’s vision of seeing small/seeing big, this article inquires into lives lived in an Eastern educational milieu with attention reflectively paid to what educators in the West could learn from those in the East. Rather than focusing on mega narratives largely created by policy-makers and derived from accumulations of theory and/or political decision-making, this practical research in the reflective vein takes a ‘big’ look at three ‘small stories’ that emerged in a narrative inquiry we conducted in a Chinese elementary school and imagines their portability to Western educational contexts. Reflective attention is specifically paid to: (1) teaching without words, (2) principal images, and (3) shared responsibility for failure. What these small stories from our narrative inquiry research might disrupt, if introduced to Western educational settings, is especially taken up.
Mystic: Predictive Scheduling for GPU Based Cloud Servers Using Machine Learning

GPUs have become the primary choice of accelerators for high-end data centers and cloud servers, which can host thousands of disparate applications. With the growing demands for GPUs on clusters, there arises a need for efficient co-execution of applications on the same accelerator device. However, the resource contention among co-executing applications causes interference which leads to degradation in execution performance, impacts QoS requirements of applications and lowers overall system throughput. While previous work has proposed techniques for detecting interference, the existing solutions are either developed for CPU clusters, or use static profiling approaches which can be computationally intensive and do not scale well. We present Mystic, an interference-aware scheduler for efficient co-execution of applications on GPU-based clusters and cloud servers. The most important feature of Mystic is the use of learning-based analytical models for detecting interference between applications. We leverage a collaborative filtering framework to characterize an incoming application with respect to the interference it may cause when co-executing with other applications while sharing GPU resources. Mystic identifies the similarities between new applications and the executing applications, and guides the scheduler to minimize the interference and improve system throughput. We train the learning model with 42 CUDA applications, and consider another separate set of 55 diverse, real-world GPU applications for evaluation. Mystic is evaluated on a live GPU cluster with 32 NVIDIA GPUs. Our framework achieves performance guarantees for 90.3% of the evaluated applications. When compared with state-of-the art interference-oblivious schedulers, Mystic improves the system throughput by 27.5% on average, and achieves a 16.3% improvement on average in GPU utilization.
Period 3 gene polymorphism and sleep adaptation to stressful urban environments.

This study's objective was to investigate the relationship between a variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) Period 3 gene (PER3) polymorphism and sleep adaptation to stressful urban environments. Seventy-five (49 female) African American participants (ages 18-35 years) living in neighbourhoods with high rates of violent crime were selected for the study based on converging criteria for good or poor sleep. Categorization of sleep quality was based on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), estimates of typical sleep duration and sleep efficiency. Other assessments included the Fear of Sleep Index (FOSI) and City Stress Inventory (CSI). Whole blood DNA was analysed for the 4 and 5 VNTR alleles using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restrictive enzyme digestion. Fifty-seven per cent of those who were homo- or heterozygous for the 4-repeat allele were poor sleepers versus 25% of those homozygous for the 5-repeat allele; χ2 = 4.17, P = 0.041. In a logistic regression model with all the variables with significant bivariate relationships to sleep quality group, FOSI was the only significant predictor (χ2 = 5.68, P = 0.017). FOSI scores were higher among those with the 4-repeat allele (t = 2.66, P = 0.013). The PER3 4 and 5 VNTR polymorphisms appear to influence sensitivity to the effects of stressful urban environments on sleep. While FOSI was the only variable associated independently with sleep quality category, the candidate vulnerability allele was also associated with greater 'fear of sleep'.
Critical invariant circles in asymmetric and multiharmonic generalized standard maps

Abstract Invariant circles play an important role as barriers to transport in the dynamics of area-preserving maps. KAM theory guarantees the persistence of some circles for near-integrable maps, but far from the integrable case all circles can be destroyed. A standard method for determining the existence or nonexistence of a circle, Greene’s residue criterion, requires the computation of long-period orbits, which can be difficult if the map has no reversing symmetry. We use de la Llave’s quasi-Newton, Fourier-based scheme to numerically compute the conjugacy of a Diophantine circle conjugate to rigid rotation, and the singularity of a norm of a derivative of the conjugacy to predict criticality. We study near-critical conjugacies for families of rotational invariant circles in generalizations of Chirikov’s standard map. A first goal is to obtain evidence to support the long-standing conjecture that when circles breakup they form cantori, as is known for twist maps by Aubry–Mather theory. The location of the largest gaps is compared to the maxima of the potential when anti-integrable theory applies. A second goal is to support the conjecture that locally most robust circles have noble rotation numbers, even when the map is not reversible. We show that relative robustness varies inversely with the discriminant for rotation numbers in quadratic algebraic fields. Finally, we observe that the rotation number of the globally most robust circle generically appears to be a piecewise-constant function in two-parameter families of maps.
Response to "When is pus not pus?"

Thank you for your comment[1][1] on our article.[2][2] Based on the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s (IDSA’s) 2010 guideline[3][3] on when to treat asymptomatic bacteriuria, I disagree with your statement and stand by our publication. “Pyuria accompanying CA-ASB [asymptomatic
Elements of Random Vector Analysis

The definitions, theorems, and example developed herein initiate an extension of elementary deterministic vector analysis to the random case. Generalizations to include dependencies among random variables are easily made and contribute few new insights. However, extensions to a random vector calculus and time dependent vectors would significantly extend the analysis. These elements of a random vector analysis are of fundamental assistance to a reformulation of deterministic mechanics for the random environment in much the sense that McCall suggested for probabilistic models in economics.
Field Experience with Aujeszky’s Disease in the United Kingdom

The incidence of Aujeszky’s disease (AD) in Britain and the clinical signs of disease in East Anglian pig herds are described. Serious respiratory and reproductive symptoms are not a common feature of AD in this region.
Leveraging Peer-to-Peer Networks in Pharmaceutical Marketing

This chapter focuses on the identification of opinion leaders in physician networks as a substantial opportunity for pharmaceutical firms rethinking their business model, and looking for improving resource allocation in order to increase their return on investment. It points out the various challenges and the advantages of identifying regional opinion leaders, especially when it comes to sustained use of branded drugs marketed by pharmaceutical firms. It includes a basic overview of network structure and the formation of physician social networks. This is a growing area of importance for various disciplines such as epidemiology, sociology, economics, and marketing. In this chapter, the reader will get introduced to several models of physician social networks which help isolate and measure the effect of opinion leaders, both self-stated and those identified by patient referral data. The author points out the managerial implications of this stream of research and promising areas of opportunity for deeper analysis for this promising nascent research stream.
Agreement Scores, Ideal Points, and Legislative Polarization

A number of scholars have described a steady increase in ideological polarization between Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress. This research often relies upon ideal point estimation methods that assume legislators are atomistic individuals registering a sincere, independent preference on each roll call vote. Yet scholars who employ social network techniques, such as estimating each legislator’s centrality score, typically assume that legislators’ voting decisions are a consequence of social influences. This paper examines the distinctions between these two approaches. We introduce the agreement score, which measures the extent to which pairs of legislators vote the same way. We demonstrate the relationship between both agreement scores and centrality scores, a common measurement of influence in social network analysis, as well as between centrality scores and ideal point estimates. We then focus the ways in which agreement scores can be used to illuminate theories of legislative polarization for members of the U.S. House from 1967 to 2008. Agreement scores are not only more conducive to the assumptions typically made in social network analysis but also the empirical patterns of these scores are consistent with major explanations of legislative partisanship.
Patient-targeted googling and psychiatric professionals:

ObjectiveThis is a pilot study which assesses the beliefs of psychiatric professionals regarding obtaining patient information via the Internet as well as the frequency with which they do it in a v...
The Church: Intransit and Intransigent

In this essay, I revisit James E. Dittes' first book, The Church in the Way, and discuss its most salient points. Of particular interest is the view that parish ministers should adapt concepts from psychoanalysis for their ministry, especially as concerns the phenomenon of resistant behavior on the part of parishioners. Dittes' central claim is that resistance is a sign of vitality and thus should be embraced and exploited as a resource for ministry. Evaluating that claim alongside the enduring value of the book as a whole, I suggest three ways the work remains contemporarily relevant.
The Effect of Bedside Ultrasound Assistance on Infant Lumbar Puncture: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The reported rate of unsuccessful lumbar puncture (LP) in children (defining no cerebrospinal fluid or obtaining a traumatic puncture) is as high as 40-50%. The traditional technique of LP involves palpation of anatomic landmarks (i.e., superior borders of the posterior iliac crest lie in parallel with the L4 spinous process) followed by a “blind” stick of the selected L3-L4 or L4-L5 interspinous process space. Bedside US possesses the ability to visualize the anatomic landmarks and, in the adult literature, has been shown to reduce the failure rate. Increasing …
Characterization of chelator-mediated recovery of pancreatic islets from barium-stabilized alginate microcapsules.

Introduction Islet recovery from within alginate-based microcapsules is necessary for certain analytical assays like flow cytometry; however, this technology has not been widely characterized. In this study, we explore the ability of EDTA, EGTA, and sodium citrate to induce reverse alginate polymerization via chelation and assess the toxicity of each chelator on pancreatic islets. Methods EDTA, EGTA, and sodium citrate were used to dissolve single-layered Ba2+ alginate encapsulated islets and the rate of capsule breakdown calculated from analysis of imaging data. The effect of chelator exposure on islet viability and recovery was assessed using flow cytometry, while glucose-stimulated insulin release (GSIR) assay was used to measure effects on islet function. Results EGTA demonstrated the most rapid microcapsule dissolving rate followed by EDTA and sodium citrate. Islet recovery was significantly better when encapsulated islets were treated with EDTA than EGTA and Na+ citrate. A decrease in viability and increase in apoptotic cells were observed when encapsulated islets were treated with Na+ citrate compared to islets treated with EDTA and EGTA. Islets treated with EDTA and EGTA demonstrated comparable stimulation index values to non-treated control. Conversely, islets treated with Na+ citrate exhibited significantly decreased SI values compared to control. All chelator groups showed significantly lower insulin secretion than non-treated islets. Conclusion Islet recovery from alginate microcapsule is possible using common chelators like Na+ citrate, EDTA, and EGTA. Chelation of encapsulated islets using EDTA demonstrated the most efficient dissolving capabilities with the least toxicity toward islet recovery and health.
Structural Basis of Acyl-Carrier Protein Interactions in Fatty Acid and Polyketide Biosynthesis

Abstract Fatty acid and polyketide synthases catalyze the same core reactions. They utilize an acyl carrier protein (ACP), a small four-helix bundle protein, to covalently tether all substrates and intermediates. ACP plays an active role, interacting with both tethered substrates and partner enzymes. Research published in the last decade has helped us to further understand the molecular nature of these interactions and highlights the similarities, differences, and specific protein–protein interactions within primary and secondary ACP-dependent biosynthetic pathways. Herein, we outline the role of the ACP in these pathways and focus on what has been learned about protein–substrate and protein–protein complexes and the interactions responsible for their formation. We focus on new advances in molecular tools and their applications to structural biology and metabolic engineering. These developments will guide future efforts to modify ACP-dependent pathways for next-generation therapeutics, biofuels, and fine chemicals.
Normal Social Development

Every human infant is born in a social milieu and his survival, both biological and psychological, is dependent on such an environment. It may therefore be assumed that the capacity to respond to interpersonal cues and to develop social ties is among the important biological endowments of human beings. Although we do not have the necessary genetic information as yet to support such a hypothesis, we may observe seemingly innate tendencies on the part of the infant, which, if not directly causative, can be said to encourage and set the stage for socialization. We do not and cannot know how a human infant might have developed under a radically different set of circumstances, but we do know that even in vastly different forms of societies and with various philosophies of child rearing, the task of socialization of a child begins with the earliest interactions between him and his human environment. These interactions require social receptivity and reciprocity and are dependent on the presence of certain factors in the individual as well as in his surroundings.