cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
STUDIES OF THE CHRONIC INHALATION OF COAL FLY ASH BY RATS

Abstract Respiratory disease-free rats were exposed in two experiments to respirable (mass median aerodynamic diameter MMAD about 2 μ) aerosols of size-classified power plant fly ash at average concentrations of up to 4.2 mg m-3 for 8 h per day for up to 180 consecutive days. The aerosols were characterized with respect to both physical and chemical properties. Immediately after exposure, the animals were evaluated biochemically, morphologically and with other sensitive biological tests to detect effects associated with fly ash inhalation when compared with unexposed controls. Lung burdens of up to 4 mg of ash were found. Macrophages lavaged from lungs of exposed rats were more numerous and yielded more progenitor cell colonies in culture (at the 10% confidence level based on the Mann-Whitney rank-sum test) than from controls. Tracheal mucous glycoprotein secretion was decreased at 7,50 and 90 days of exposure and increased at 180 days. Clumping of fly ash in cells in the lungs was observed. There were no apparent untoward health effects from inhaled fly ash, since the observed differences between exposed and control rats did not constitute an adverse response.
Modeling gelation of egg albumen and ovalbumin

The Flory gelation theory and a new protein gelation model were used to investigate the aggregation reactions of egg albumen and ovalbumin. Results showed that 178 to 267 ovalbumin monomers were required to establish the initial ovalbumin gel at the gel point temperature, 81 o C. The gel point temperature for egg albumen was 72 o C by the Instron and 60 o C by protein solubility. The values of the activation energy rate constants for the formation of the different aggregates in the pre-gel stage suggested that the larger ovalbumin aggregates were more reactive than the smaller ones
How bilayer lipids affect membrane protein activity

Traditionally, studies on the activities of membrane enzymes have focused almost exclusively on the aqueous environment of these proteins. It is now apparent that the lipid bilayer is a major factor in determining how a membrane enzyme functions.
A Generalized Model of the Surface Generation Process in Metal Cutting

Machined surfaces are generated by a variety of processes, each of which produces a surface with its own characteristic topography. A method for the prediction of the topography of the generated surfaces has been developed based on general models of the machine tool's kinematics and a generalized model of deterministic and non-deterministic cutting tool geometries. The model termed the surface-shaping system accounts for not only the nominal or global motions of the machine but also takes into account errors during machining such as tool runout, machine deformation and vibration, as well as higher order motions. Based on the surface shaping system model a computer simulation system has been developed which facilitates the 3D graphical representation and evaluation of the topography of the generated surface.
Restriction fragment length polymorphisms distinguish among accessions ofCeratopteris thalictroides andC. richardii (Parkeriaceae)

We have used cDNA clones as probes on Southern blots to detect restriction fragment length polymorphisms among sevenCeratopteris thalictroides accessions, threeC. richardii accessions, and one putative interspecific hybrid. We found that the stringency of post-hybridization washes was a critical parameter affecting the quality of our blots; even with homologous cDNA sequences low stringency conditions resulted in a smear of signal, but high stringency washes gave blots with distinct bands. Most probes showed hybridization with four or more genomic fragments. Similarities in the number and size of fragments between and within species indicated that (i)C. richardii shows limited polymorphism among accessions tested, (ii)C. thalictroides is highly polymorphic, and (iii) Hawaiian accessions ofC. thalictroides are divergent relative to their continental cohorts and among themselves. The putative interspecific hybrid did not group closely with either of these species.
THE EMISSION OF SLOW POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE MESONS FROM NUCLEAR DISRUPTIONS PRODUCED BY COSMIC RADIATION

Microscopic examination of 76 cc of thick (300 to 1800 microns) nuclear emulsion exposed in the stratosphere has revealed 168 events in which slow mesons are created and terminate their range in the recording medium. Basing the identification of sign on either $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\mu}$ decay or $\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{s}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{r}$ formation at the range terminus, 26 of the ejected particles were ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ mesons and $145{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. The small value of the $\frac{{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}}{{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}}$ ratio is attributed chiefly to the production of the ejected mesons by neutral radiation. The observational frequency of the ejected ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ mesons increases rapidly with star size and is approximately proportional to the square of the excitation energy of the parent star. In two events initiated by charged primaries several slow negative mesons were ejected as the wide angle members of large showers of particles. In general, the energy of the slow mesons is between 0.3 and 40 Mev. Corrected for escape from the emulsion the average frequency of the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ meson production is proportional to ${E}^{0.6}$ for $E\ensuremath{\le}8$ Mev and to ${E}^{2.3}$ for energies between 8 and 40 Mev. Comparison of the data on ejected mesons with that available on cyclotron mesons indicates close similarity in the form of the secondary star spectra, the $\frac{{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}}{{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}}$ ratio and the energy distribution of slow ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ mesons.
Expectancy Motivation Scales for School Principals: Development and Validity Tests

The Principal Expectancy Motivation Scales (PEMS) measure the constructs of expectancy, instrumentality and valence. The PEMS produce separate measures of motivation toward managerial and instructional aspects of the school principal's role and a total motivational score. Construct validity was assessed through factor analyses and tests of several hypothesized relationships with a sample of 140 New Jersey principals. Coefficient alpha estimates ranged from .74 to .91 for the five scales.
Exotic Dance in Baltimore: From Entry to STI/HIV Risk

Research has documented health risks associated with sex work, but few U.S. studies have focused on the exotic dance industry. We undertook this study to describe the factors that influenced women's entry into exotic dance and explored the relation of these forces to their subsequent sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV risk trajectory. Qualitative interviews (N = 25) were conducted with female exotic dancers from June through August 2009. Data were analyzed through Atlas-ti using an inductive approach. Economic vulnerability was the primary force behind women's initiation into the profession. Drug use, physical abuse, and enjoyment of dancing were often concurrent with economic need and provided a further push toward exotic dance. Social networks facilitated entry by normalizing the profession and presenting it as a solution to financial hardship. Characteristics of exotic dance clubs, such as immediate hire and daily pay, attracted women in a state of financial vulnerability. Women's motivations for dancing, including economic vulnerability and drug use practices, shaped their STI/HIV risk once immersed in the club environment, with social networks often facilitating sexual risk behavior. Understanding the factors that drive women to exotic dance and influence risk behavior in the club may assist in the development of targeted harm reduction interventions for exotic dancers.
Paraganglioma with unusual presentation in parotid gland: A diagnostic dilemma in fine needle aspiration

Paragangliomas (PGLs) are uncommon tumors. Although PGLs are known to occur in the head and neck region, especially the carotid body, middle ear, and larynx, involvement of the parotid glands has not been reported. In this article, we report the fine needle aspiration features of tumor in an unusual location, presenting as a parotid gland mass, submitted to pathology for initial diagnosis. The clinical presentation, cytomorphology, and the immunohistochemical features for the diagnosis are described. To our knowledge, this is the first case of paraganglioma of the parotid gland reported in the literature.
Resolution vs. cutting plane solution of inference problems: Some computational experience

Resolvents in the propositional calculus correspond to certain cutting planes in integer programming models of inference problems. We compare the performance of a rudimentary cutting plane algorithm that uses only resolvents as cuts with that of 'set-of-support' resolution on random inference problems. The cutting plane algorithm is orders of magnitude faster on problems in which the premises do not imply the given proposition (i.e., the majority of random problems), and moderately faster on other random problems.
A new method for the atmospheric detection of the nitrate radical (NO3)

Abstract Cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) has been used for the first time to detect the nitrate radical, NO 3 . The NO 3 radical was detected in ambient room air that had been dosed with a precursor of the radical, dinitrogen pentoxide, N 2 O 5 . The absorption spectrum of the NO 3 radical was recorded around its maximum absorbance at 662 nm, confirming that the species observed was the NO 3 radical. The noise-equivalent mixing ratio (i.e. the mixing ratio where the observed signal equals the r.m.s. baseline noise) is 2 pptv in a 30 s averaging period. Experimental improvements are expected to reduce both the acquisition time and lower the detection limit.
Cooperative Professional Development Facilitating the Growth of the Special Education Teacher and the Classroom Teacher

The conflict between special education teachers and classroom teachers has a significant negative impact on the education of mildly handicapped students. The role of consultant has emerged partially as a response to the tensions generated from this conflict. However, standard models of consultation suffer from two weaknesses: In too many cases, they imply a superior-inferior relationship between the special education and classroom teacher, and they are narrowly focused on problem solving. Cooperative professional development is proposed as an adjunct to or substitute for consultation. Cooperative professional development involves small teams of special education and classroom teachers and uses a variety of approaches to enhance their mutual professional growth.
Phonetic learning as a pathway to language: new data and native language magnet theory expanded (NLM-e)

Infants’ speech perception skills show a dual change towards the end of the first year of life. Not only does non-native speech perception decline, as often shown, but native language speech perception skills show improvement, reflecting a facilitative effect of experience with native language. The mechanism underlying change at this point in development, and the relationship between the change in native and non-native speech perception, is of theoretical interest. As shown in new data presented here, at the cusp of this developmental change, infants’ native and non-native phonetic perception skills predict later language ability, but in opposite directions. Better native language skill at 7.5 months of age predicts faster language advancement, whereas better non-native language skill predicts slower advancement. We suggest that native language phonetic performance is indicative of neural commitment to the native language, while non-native phonetic performance reveals uncommitted neural circuitry. This paper has three goals: (i) to review existing models of phonetic perception development, (ii) to present new event-related potential data showing that native and nonnative phonetic perception at 7.5 months of age predicts language growth over the next 2 years, and (iii) to describe a revised version of our previous model, the native language magnet model, expanded (NLM-e). NLM-e incorporates five new principles. Specific testable predictions for future research programmes are described.
A Model of the Phonological Loop: Generalization and Binding

We present a neural network model that shows how the prefrontal cortex, interacting with the basal ganglia, can maintain a sequence of phonological information in activation-based working memory (i.e., the phonological loop). The primary function of this phonological loop may be to transiently encode arbitrary bindings of information necessary for tasks — the combinatorial expressive power of language enables very flexible binding of essentially arbitrary pieces of information. Our model takes advantage of the closed-class nature of phonemes, which allows different neural representations of all possible phonemes at each sequential position to be encoded. To make this work, we suggest that the basal ganglia provide a region-specific update signal that allocates phonemes to the appropriate sequential coding slot. To demonstrate that flexible, arbitrary binding of novel sequences can be supported by this mechanism, we show that the model can generalize to novel sequences after moderate amounts of training.
Virtual displays for 360-degree video

In this paper we describe a novel approach for comparing users' spatial cognition when using different depictions of 360degree video on a traditional 2D display. By using virtual cameras within a game engine and texture mapping of these camera feeds to an arbitrary shape, we were able to offer users a 360-degree interface composed of four 90-degree views, two 180-degree views, or one 360-degree view of the same interactive environment. An example experiment is described using these interfaces. This technique for creating alternative displays of wide-angle video facilitates the exploration of how compressed or fish-eye distortions affect spatial perception of the environment and can benefit the creation of interfaces for surveillance and remote system teleoperation.
Properties of Thermoplastic Splinting Materials

Abstract There are special needs in splinting that should compel therapists to determine the right material for the right job. Optimum splint fabrication requires knowledge and use of the properties of the various materials. To update the current literature two objective tests were performed on representative lowtemperature thermoplastics. Test 1 was a test of the moldability of thermoplastics when heated. Sixteen available samples were heated a set amount of time, hung vertically, and at the same time loaded with a 50-g weight until completely cooled. The materials that stretched the least (from 0% change to 77% change) were from the rubber or rubber-like group of materials. The materials that stretched the most (up to 803% change) were from the more plastic group of materials. In test 2, available samples of materials (36 samples, including 21 different sample products, and duplicates) were tested for fatigue and viscoelastic properties using standard compression cycling methods. Pre- and postfatigue load-cycle curves were generated and compared; elastic and viscous parameters were measured and calculated from the loadcycle curves. Permanent deformation of the test samples ranged from 0% to 86%. Materials that retained their elasticity throughout load cycling exhibited the least permanent deformation. Other materials exhibited large viscous energy-dissipation capacity, yet may have deformed significantly. These test results are just a beginning in developing new understanding of the working char. acteristics of low-temperature thermoplastic materials.
Self-trapping of electromagnetic beams in vacuum supported by QED nonlinear effects

At very high radiation field intensities in vacuum, Maxwell equations need to be modified to account for the QED photon-photon interaction. We show that such modified equations support nondiffracting spatial radiation solitons that propagate for very long distances without changing their shapes. These solitons, and the underlying self-focusing and instability effects, should be observable in the near future.
Kinin b2 receptor mediates induction of cyclooxygenase-2 and is overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Bradykinin has been shown to promote growth and migration of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells via epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation. It has also been reported that bradykinin can cause the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a protumorigenic enzyme, via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in human airway cells. To determine whether COX-2 is up-regulated by bradykinin in HNSCC, the current study investigated bradykinin-induced EGFR transactivation, MAPK activation, and COX-2 expression in human HNSCC cells. Bradykinin induced a concentration- and time-dependent induction of COX-2 protein in HNSCC, which was preceded by phosphorylation of EGFR and MAPK. These effects were abolished by the B2 receptor (B2R) antagonist HOE140 but not by the B1 receptor (B1R) antagonist Lys-[Leu8]des-Arg9-bradykinin. COX-2 induction was accompanied by increased release of prostaglandin E2. No effect of a B1R agonist (des-Arg9-bradykinin) on p-MAPK or COX-2 expression was observed. B2R protein was found to be expressed in all four head and neck cell lines tested. Immunohistochemical analysis and immunoblot analysis revealed that B2R, but not B1R, was significantly overexpressed in HNSCC tumors compared with levels in normal mucosa from the same patient. In HNSCC cells, the bradykinin-induced expression of COX-2 was inhibited by the EGFR kinase inhibitor gefitinib or mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitors (PD98059 or U0126). These results suggest that EGFR and MAPK are required for COX-2 induction by bradykinin. Up-regulation of the B2R in head and neck cancers suggests that this pathway is involved in HNSCC tumorigenesis. (Mol Cancer Res 2008;6(12):1946–56)
Metabolism of Thyroid Hormones in Frogs and Toads

The rate of turnover of 131I-labeled thyroxine and triiodothyronine in adult frogs and toads is temperature-dependent. The similar turnover rates for the 2 hormones and studies of plasma binding by equilibrium dialysis suggest that thyroxinebinding activity in amphibian plasma is low. Moreover, turnover of the hormones is slowed by injection of human plasma into the animal. A search for deiodinating systems in vitro revealed a heat-labile one only in frog skin from certain loci. Heat-stable deiodination proceeds rapidly in muscle and may account for the whole-body turnover of the hormones. Tetraiodothyroacetic acid appears in gut contents and in liver, particularly in toads, and its origin may be the skin which rapidly deaminates and decarboxylates the parent molecule. (Endocrinology 75: 157, 1964)
Smoking correlates among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white adolescents in the US southwest.

We examined smoking correlates among Hispanic and white students in 6–12th grades in small communities in three states in the southwestern United States. Data were collected in 2002 from 8,479 participants, who completed surveys measuring a wide range of potential smoking correlates from individual, family, and peer domains. Logistic regression analyses showed that peer factors were the most robust correlates across both ethnicities and grade groups. An unexpected finding was the posited protective effect of male gender for older white students. Limitations and implications for prevention are discussed. This work was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The future of antibodies as cancer drugs

Targeted therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have proven successful as cancer drugs. To profile products that could be marketed in the future, we examined the current commercial clinical pipeline of mAb candidates for cancer. Our analysis revealed trends toward development of a variety of noncanonical mAbs, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific antibodies, engineered antibodies and antibody fragments and/or domains. We found substantial diversity in the antibody sequence source, isotype, carbohydrate residues, targets and mechanisms of action (MOA). Although well-validated targets, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and CD20, continue to provide opportunities for companies, we found notable trends toward targeting less-well-validated antigens and exploration of innovative MOA such as the generation of anticancer immune responses or recruitment of cytotoxic T cells.
Spontaneous spheroid budding from monolayers: a potential contribution to ovarian cancer dissemination

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecologic cancer, in large part because of its early dissemination and rapid development of chemotherapy resistance. Spheroids are clusters of tumor cells found in the peritoneal fluid of patients that are thought to promote this dissemination. Current models suggest that spheroids form by aggregation of single tumor cells shed from the primary tumor. Here, we demonstrate that spheroids can also form by budding directly as adherent clusters from a monolayer. Formation of budded spheroids correlated with expression of vimentin and lack of cortical E-cadherin. We also found that compared to cells grown in monolayers, cells grown as spheroids acquired progressive resistance to the chemotherapy drugs Paclitaxel and Cisplatin. This resistance could be completely reversed by dissociating the spheroids. Our observations highlight a previously unappreciated mode of spheroid formation that might have implications for tumor dissemination and chemotherapy resistance in patients, and suggest that this resistance might be reversed by spheroid dissociation.
Value structure as a predictor of type of discharge among residential addicts.

Ever since Thomas and Znaniecki (1918) first suggested that the study of attitudes should be the central problem of social psychology, researchers in the area have placed a great deal of emphasis on the theory and measurement of attitude and attitude change. This concentration on attitudes was especially facilitated by a rapid development of methods for measuring attitudes and attitude change. As a result of the availability of measurement techniques and this concentration of emphasis and effort, social psychologists have provided, and are continuing to provide, a large body of literature concerning both attitudes and opinions.
A Physically-Based BSDF for Modeling the Appearance of Paper

We present a novel appearance model for paper. Based on our appearance measurements for matte and glossy paper, we find that paper exhibits a combination of subsurface scattering, specular reflection, retroreflection, and surface sheen. Classic microfacet and simple diffuse reflection models cannot simulate the double-sided appearance of a thin layer. Our novel BSDF model matches our measurements for paper and accounts for both reflection and transmission properties. At the core of the BSDF model is a method for converting a multi-layer subsurface scattering model (BSSRDF) into a BSDF, which allows us to retain physically-based absorption and scattering parameters obtained from the measurements. We also introduce a method for computing the amount of light available for subsurface scattering due to transmission through a rough dielectric surface. Our final model accounts for multiple scattering, single scattering, and surface reflection and is capable of rendering paper with varying levels of roughness and glossiness on both sides.
Generalized ordered logit/partial proportional odds models for ordinal dependent variables

This article describes the gologit2 program for generalized ordered logit models. gologit2 is inspired by Vincent Fu's gologit routine (Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints 8: 160–164) and is backward...
Group Membership Salience and the Movement of Conflict Reconceptualizing The Interaction Among Race, Gender, And Hierarchy

Conflict in and among groups often erupts in surprising and unexpected ways. Building upon extant theory regarding the movement of conflict, the authors posit that conflict gets enacted in distinct...
Fly-By-CDMA wireless & single wire-line technology, a potential solution for Fly-By-Wireless/Less-wire

CDMA wireless technology is a full duplex communication system, and may be the potential wireless solution to operate an aircraft safely. This is an extension of cellular concept. Interference from Wi-Fi will not affect the operation of aircraft since operating frequency is way higher that common frequency band. Single wireline technology supported by CDMA Bus Interface controller (CBIC) can be use as a contingency plan. This technology may not completely eliminate wire connection but will be able to reduce them significantly. Fly-by-CDMA single wireline could be a possible solution for Fly-by-wireless/less wire since orthogonal codes (wireless) and single wire (less-wire) with CBIC will be used instead.
Detection of Measles Virus RNA in Air and Surface Specimens in a Hospital Setting

Measles virus (MeV) is known to be highly contagious, with an infectious period lasting from 4 days before to 4 days after rash onset. An unvaccinated, young, female patient with measles confirmed by direct epidemiologic link was hospitalized on day 5 after rash onset. Environmental samples were collected over the 4-day period of hospitalization in a single room. MeV RNA was detectable in air specimens, on surface specimens, and on respirators on days 5-8 after rash onset. This is the first report of environmental surveillance for MeV, and the results suggest that MeV-infected fomites may be present in healthcare settings.
An online computer science instructional resource

An online system named ProgrammingLand, with a variety of useful features is described. The system is modeled after a museum where the students browse through exhibits. These exhibits provide the content material of lower level computer science classes. Although not obvious to the student, each exhibit visited is recorded and a lesson structure verifies that each student must satisfy certain requirements to complete a lesson. The entire system is learner centered so that the students choose what to do next. In addition interactive objects provide educational experiences and promote active learning. Some lessons provide an assignment that must be completed outside of the system, usually but not limited to programming assignments. The system contains a number of software agents to make it easy to use. It also contains features of a more traditional Learning Management System.The system has been successfully used as a substitute for a textbook and on a more limited basis as a vehicle for fully online, distance education.
Sampling Plans in Insect Pest Management Based on Wald's Sequential Probability Ratio Test

Equations for the stopping boundaries, and operating characteristic (OC) and average sample number (ASN) functions, of Wald's sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) are presented for the binomial, negative binomial, normal, and Poisson distributions. The effects of errors in Wald's OC and ASN equations due to overshooting the decision boundaries, and errors due to truncating, postponing decisions beyond the first stage, and taking more than one observation at each stage of the decision process are discussed. Monte Carlo procedures are used to show that Wald's equations overestimate the true error probabilities and underestimate the true ASN for a two-decision sampling plan based on the negative binomial distribution. A Monte Carlo procedure for modifying the decision boundaries to yield actual OC and ASN functions approximately equal to the desired ones is presented. Monte Carlo procedures are also used to examine the errors in Wald's OC and ASN functions when used to describe the OC and ASN functions of a composite three-decision sampling plan based on two single SPRT's using the negative binomial distribution. Wald's equations, in general, overestimate the true error probabilities and underestimate the true ASN even more for the three-decision case compared with the two-decision case. Recommendations are given as to the seriousness of the errors inherent in Wald's equations in relation to all of the other errors that are associated with the sampling process, and the choice between Wald's and Monte Carlo OC and ASN functions to describe the properties of a sampling plan.
Historical Roots of Confusion Among Beginning Algebra Students: A Newly Discovered Manuscript

and the related freedom of the algebraist. The history of algebra can facilitate students' adjustment to the spirit and direction of not only abstract algebra but contemporary mathematics in general. The perplexed student might find comfort, for example, in the realization that arbitrariness and freedom are youthful additions to mathematics, born of the early nineteenth-century research on abstract algebra and non-Euclidean geometries, and widely accepted only later in the century. Around 1800 there was but one algebra. In this algebra, frequently called universal arithmetic, letters stood for numbers or quantities, and the laws of arithmetic, such as commutativity of addition and multiplication, prevailed. By the middle of the nineteenth century, however, mathematicians had created many different algebras, including the quaternions, whose multiplication is noncommutative. From this perspective, the confused modem algebra student may be a victim of the circumstance of having been born in the twentieth century. Additional solace might be derived from the revelation that bewilderment and occasionally even rejection greeted the original formulation of the symbolical approach to algebra. Thus the perplexed student has historical roots! A study of early objections to symbolical algebra can also shed light on and stimulate discussion of the oft-unvoiced concerns of present-day modern algebra students. This paper offers a newly discovered nineteenth-century manuscript which documents confu- sion as an almost immediate response to the emergence of symbolical algebra in its limited form. (Like modern algebra, early nineteenth-century symbolical algebra admitted undefined entities; unlike modern algebra, symbolical algebra, in its original form, was governed by the laws of arithmetic.) The manuscript is a spoof-play on Augustus De Morgan's Elements of Algebra (5), one of the first undergraduate algebra textbooks to incorporate the symbolical (or limited modem) approach to algebra.
Discussion on the economic adaptability of modern pawnshop from its functions

Since the pawn industry has thrived again,as specially financial institutions which has the commercial nature,its fuction of financing function especially as for the SMEs,is a favorable supplement to the loan service of banks,which play an innegligible part in the process of a new socialist economic construction.And many other fuctions are derived form the pawn industry,which determines that at toda's economic stage the pawn industry is adaptable and indispensable.
Perioperative management of the alcohol-dependent patient

Caring for the problem drinker in the perioperative period is a challenging task. If alcohol abuse is suspected, a careful assessment is indicated before surgery is performed. Both the CAGE and SMAST questionnaires are good screening tools for alcoholism. Preoperative evaluation of alcohol-dependent patients should include a complete blood count, blood urea nitrogen, serum electrolyte levels, creatinine and glucose levels, liver function tests, coagulation studies, an electrocardiogram and a chest radiograph. Smoking cessation and aggressive postoperative respiratory care are especially important for alcoholic patients who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Elective surgery should not be considered in patients with acute hepatitis or cirrhosis, since the operative mortality rate is quite high in these patients. Alcohol withdrawal is managed primarily with benzodiazepines, although clonidine and beta blockers may also be beneficial.
Applying Market Research to a Service Organization: A Case Study of the United Way of Greater Richmond, Virginia

The United Way of Greater Richmond, Virginia recently sponsored a market research project designed to assess the public’s general perceptions of United Way, importance ratings of tasks and services United Way performs, knowledge and attitudes regarding United Way’s performance, donation-related behavior and motives, and demographics. The data, based on 1,120 completed employee questionnaires from 15 major employers, are analyzed relevant to United Way’s future marketing efforts regarding market segmentation, product and service offerings, and promotional or educational programs. Key differences regarding potential and existing contributors to United Way are highlighted based on a profile of those aged 35 or over compared to those under 35.
The Corticotropin Releasing Factor System and Alcohol Consumption

Abstract Excessive alcohol consumption leading to dependence is accompanied by adaptive changes in neurocircuits regulating reward, mood, and stress response. The corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) system is at the helm of these neurocircuits, and is a major contributor to regulation of alcohol use and dependence. Early studies focused on the CRF as a potential mediator of dependence. Recent studies recognize that CRF is not the only player in this process. Ligands of CRF receptors include endogenous peptides urocortins (Ucn1, Ucn2, and Ucn3). Midbrain Ucn1-expressing neurons are selectively activated during alcohol drinking. CRF, acting on CRF1 receptors, regulates alcohol intake, but can do so not in an ethanol-specific way. Ucn1 capable of acting on both CRF1 and CRF2, and Ucn3 acting on CRF2 receptors can regulate alcohol intake and preference, in a drug-specific manner. Future development of therapeutics to combat alcohol dependence would benefit from understanding intricacies of the CRF system.
Online Adaptation for Joint Scene and Object Classification

Recent efforts in computer vision consider joint scene and object classification by exploiting mutual relationships (often termed as context) between them to achieve higher accuracy. On the other hand, there is also a lot of interest in online adaptation of recognition models as new data becomes available. In this paper, we address the problem of how models for joint scene and object classification can be learned online. A major motivation for this approach is to exploit the hierarchical relationships between scenes and objects, represented as a graphical model, in an active learning framework. To select the samples on the graph, which need to be labeled by a human, we use an information theoretic approach that reduces the joint entropy of scene and object variables. This leads to a significant reduction in the amount of manual labeling effort for similar or better performance when compared with a model trained with the full dataset. This is demonstrated through rigorous experimentation on three datasets.
Consistency of Border-Ownership Cells across Artificial Stimuli, Natural Stimuli, and Stimuli with Ambiguous Contours.

Segmentation and recognition of objects in a visual scene are two problems that are hard to solve separately from each other. When segmenting an ambiguous scene, it is helpful to already know the present objects and their shapes. However, for recognizing an object in clutter, one would like to consider its isolated segment alone to avoid confounds from features of other objects. Border-ownership cells (Zhou et al., 2000) appear to play an important role in segmentation, as they signal the side-of-figure of artificial stimuli. The present work explores the role of border-ownership cells in dorsal macaque visual areas V2 and V3 in the segmentation of natural object stimuli and locally ambiguous stimuli. We report two major results. First, compared with previous estimates, we found a smaller percentage of cells that were consistent across artificial stimuli used previously. Second, we found that the average response of those neurons that did respond consistently to the side-of-figure of artificial stimuli also consistently signaled, as a population, the side-of-figure for borders of single faces, occluding faces and, with higher latencies, even stimuli with illusory contours, such as Mooney faces and natural faces completely missing local edge information. In contrast, the local edge or the outlines of the face alone could not always evoke a significant border-ownership signal. Our results underscore that border ownership is coded by a population of cells, and indicate that these cells integrate a variety of cues, including low-level features and global object context, to compute the segmentation of the scene.
Leadership and Ambition

Ambition is the driving motive that propels us to reach beyond what is considered possible. Ambition fuels creativity, design thinking, and an entrepreneurial spirit, and is therefore a powerful leadership quality. Ambitious leaders are focused on performance because they continuously want to reach higher levels for themselves and their companies. Ambition, like so many other qualities, is multifaceted: it can be positive and negative in nature. When pushed too far, ambition can become a problem instead of an advantage. Consequently, it can lead to excessive workaholism, stress, health issues, and a toxic work environment due to intolerance, micromanagement, and excessive control, leading to dissatisfied coworkers. This chapter will discuss the importance of nurturing one’s ambition, but will also underline the reasons why ambition needs to be examined frequently to prevent it from becoming a liability.
Detection of plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) using an optical aptamer-based sensor with a microfluidics capillary interface

This paper reports, for the first time, an optical aptamer-based plant hormone sensor with a microfluidics capillary interface. The ssDNA aptamer-based sensor has better sensitivity with excellent specificity for detecting abscisic acid (ABA) than the ELISA detection kit from Sigma, indicating its potential for screening different plant hormones in a complicated matrix. Additionally, its microfluidics capillary interface allows the samples to be delivered to the sensor automatically without any external pumps, paving a way for its point-of-care application in the field.
Does group membership affect children's judgments of social transgressions?

Abstract Children judge in-group members more favorably than out-group members. They also judge moral transgressions as more serious and more worthy of punishment than conventional transgressions. Here we asked whether children’s judgments of moral and conventional transgressions vary by the group membership of the transgressor (in-group, neutral, out-group, or self). In addition, we asked whether judgments of the transgressions would extend to the transgressors themselves, including cases in which the self was the transgressor. Results show that transgressions committed by out-group members were judged as being more serious and more punish-worthy than those committed by members of other groups. In addition, children judged out-group transgressors more harshly, and the self more leniently, than other group members. Overall, results suggest that group membership does affect judgments of transgressions and transgressors, with out-group members consistently judged the most negatively and the self consistently judged the least negatively. However, when judging the transgressor or the seriousness of the transgression, domain distinctions do persist even as group membership varies. Although, when assigning punishment, domain distinctions persist only when judging the transgressions of out-group members and neutral individuals. These findings demonstrate the powerful effect of group membership on the judgments of both acts and actors, indicating that when judging transgressions children consider not only the moral or conventional status of the act but also the group membership of the actor.
The 6R’s of drug induced nephrotoxicity

Drug induced kidney injury is a frequent adverse event which contributes to morbidity and increased healthcare utilization. Our current knowledge of drug induced kidney disease is limited due to varying definitions of kidney injury, incomplete assessment of concurrent risk factors and lack of long term outcome reporting. Electronic surveillance presents a powerful tool to identify susceptible populations, improve recognition of events and provide decision support on preventative strategies or early intervention in the case of injury. Research in the area of biomarkers for detecting kidney injury and genetic predisposition for this adverse event will enhance detection of injury, identify those susceptible to injury and likely mitigate risk. In this review we will present a 6R framework to identify and mange drug induced kidney injury - risk, recognition, response, renal support, rehabilitation and research.
Investments in children's health and the Kenyan cash transfer for orphans and vulnerable children: evidence from an unconditional cash transfer scheme.

Child mortality is one of the most pressing global health and policy issues in the developing world. The leading drivers of death—pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria—are preventable and treatable. However, these illnesses are exacerbated by a lack of accessible nutrition, water, basic and preventive health services, and sanitary living conditions—all factors which are more likely to disproportionately impact the poor. We examine whether Kenya’s largest social protection impacts children’s incidence of upper respiratory illness. The Kenya Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children was designed to support orphans affected by HIV/AIDS and has covered over 240,000 households as of 2014. Using longitudinal, cluster-randomized program data from 2007 to 2009, we run a generalized linear latent and mixed method estimation model on a sample of children 0–7 years and under-5 years of age. We find that the program is associated with a decrease in illness in children 0–7 years of age (P < 0.05), but found no effects on a stratified sample of under-5 children. Furthermore, no impacts on health care seeking in the event of illness were detected. This study is one of few examining children’s health using data from a large scale unconditional cash transfer program. With the widespread adoption of over 123 cash transfer programs across sub-Saharan Africa, these findings suggest social cash transfer programs are capable of promoting the multidimensional well-being for the world’s most vulnerable populations.
Surgical treatment options in oropharyngeal cancer

Die Therapie des Oropharynxkarzinoms ist traditionell eine Domane der Strahlentherapie. Der Beitrag der Chirurgie liegt dabei vorwiegend in der Entfernung von Residuen bzw. Rezidiven. Je ausgepragter die lokale Tiefeninfiltration oder die regionare Metastasierung, umso hoher wird bei gegebener Operabilitat der Stellenwert einer Resektion im oft mutimodalen Therapiekonzept. Eine "Rettungschirurgie" bei Rezidiven radiochirurgisch behandelter Oropharynxkarzinome kommt allerdings nur einer Minderheit von Patienten zugute. Primar chirurgische Therapien sollten bei gunstigen Rahmenbedingungen daher nicht auser Acht gelassen werden. Chirurgische Zugange zum Oropharynx sind transoral, transmandibular oder transzervikal. Eine primare Resektion, meist mit postoperativer Bestrahlung, hat dort einen zunehmenden Stellenwert, wo sie die Morbiditat reduziert, etwa bei weiterentwickelten transoralen Zugangen. Auch die klassischen Zugange werden durch Mittellinien-Mandibulotomie, marginale Mandibulektomie, plastische Defektrekonstruktion, abgestufte Neck dissection (ND) und logopadische Rehabilitation besser vertragen. Die elektive ND wird selektiv (Levels II–III bis I–IV), die therapeutische ND radikal (modifiziert bei Knoten unter 3 cm) und die posttherapeutische ND individualisiert durchgefuhrt. Chirurgische Therapien bilden bei ausgewahlten Formen des Oropharynxkarzinoms eine interessante Alternative zur Chemoradiotherapie und bei fortgeschrittenen Erkrankungen einen fakultativen, aber wesentlichen Bestandteil multimodaler Therapien.
Abstract 1427: Investigating role of RECQ1 in response to gemcitabine treatment in triple negative breast cancer

The response of cancer cells to therapeutic drugs aimed at causing DNA damage is dependent on proteins that play roles in DNA repair. Single nucleotide polymorphism in RECQ1 (also known as RECQL or RECQL1), a DNA helicase involved in DNA damage and replication stress response, is reported to influence patient’s response to gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer leading to poor survival. Gemcitabine is also used as a chemotherapeutic against triple negative breast cancer; however resistance to gemcitabine is reported. The mechanism by which gemcitabine chemoresistance is obtained is poorly understood. Given the importance of RECQ1 in replication fork restart and it being categorized as a breast cancer susceptibility gene, we wish to investigate the role of RECQ1 in modulating cellular response to gemcitabine in triple negative breast cancer cells. To study RECQ1 functions, we developed isogenic pairs of RECQ1-proficient and RECQ1-deficient cells by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated targeted inactivation of RECQ1 in breast cancer cell lines as in vitro model system. RECQ1-knockout MDA-MB-231 cells displayed reduced cell growth and proliferation, and increased DNA damage as compared to the MDA-MB-231 cells expressing wild type RECQ1. As compared to RECQ1-proficient MDA-MB-231 cells, RECQ1-deficient cells were more sensitive to gemcitabine treatment, incurred significantly greater load of double strand breaks upon gemcitabine treatment, and displayed aberrant cell cycle progression following recovery from gemcitabine treatment. Our ongoing experiments are investigating the detailed mechanism of RECQ1’s role in response to gemcitabine and its implications in therapeutic response. Funding: This work was funded by the NIGMS/NIH grant SC1GM093999 to Sudha Sharma. We also acknowledge support from the NIMHD/NIH award number G12MD007597 and NIA/NIH award number 1R25 AG047843-02. We thank Drs. Ritu Chaudhary, Xiaoling Li and Ashish Lal (NCI) for their help and support. Citation Format: Swetha Parvathaneni, Xing Lu, Sudha Sharma. Investigating role of RECQ1 in response to gemcitabine treatment in triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1427. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1427
Microstructure and strength of a deformation processed Al-20%Sn in situ composite

An Al-20 vol% Sn metal-metal composite was deformation processed by extrusion, swaging, and wire drawing to a total true strain of 7.4, resulting in a microstructure with Sn filaments in an Al matrix. Both the size and spacing of the Sn filaments decreased as deformation processing progressed. The strength of these composites increased exponentially with the reduction in spacing of the Sn filaments. Immediately after deformation, the Sn second phase showed a convoluted, ribbon-shaped filamentary morphology, but the Sn filaments spheroidized during prolonged storage at room temperature. A thermodynamic assessment is presented for this spheroidization phenomenon.