cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of safety effect estimates obtained from empirical Bayes before-after study, propensity scores-potential outcomes framework, and regression model with cross-sectional data

A variety of different study designs and analysis methods have been used to evaluate the performance of traffic safety countermeasures. The most common study designs and methods include observational before-after studies using the empirical Bayes method and cross-sectional studies using regression models. The propensity scores-potential outcomes framework has recently been proposed as an alternative traffic safety countermeasure evaluation method to address the challenges associated with selection biases that can be part of cross-sectional studies. Crash modification factors derived from the application of all three methods have not yet been compared. This paper compares the results of retrospective, observational evaluations of a traffic safety countermeasure using both before-after and cross-sectional study designs. The paper describes the strengths and limitations of each method, focusing primarily on how each addresses site selection bias, which is a common issue in observational safety studies. The Safety Edge paving technique, which seeks to mitigate crashes related to roadway departure events, is the countermeasure used in the present study to compare the alternative evaluation methods. The results indicated that all three methods yielded results that were consistent with each other and with previous research. The empirical Bayes results had the smallest standard errors. It is concluded that the propensity scores with potential outcomes framework is a viable alternative analysis method to the empirical Bayes before-after study. It should be considered whenever a before-after study is not possible or practical.
High-resolution spectroscopy of small transition metal molecules: recent experimental and theoretical progress on group 5 diatomics

Current understanding of spectroscopy and bonding in group 5 metal dimers is reviewed and new experimental and theoretical data are presented. In particular, density functional calculations on the lowest triplet and the lowest single state of VNb and on the ground state of the singly charged cations V2+, VNb+ and Nb2+ are reported and discussed for the first time.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Polarization in ^3He + ^4He elastic scattering

Results of ^4He elastic scattering from a polarized ^3He target complement recent ^3He double scattering data and provide information for the design of efficient ^3He polarimeters.
Interaction of chronic ethanol exposure and finasteride: sex and strain differences

The neurosteroid allopregnanolone (ALLOP) is a very potent positive modulator of gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors that can modulate ethanol (EtOH) withdrawal. The 5alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride blocks the formation of ALLOP from progesterone and was recently found to reduce some effects of EtOH. Thus, the present studies were conducted to determine the effect of finasteride on chronic EtOH withdrawal severity in male and female C57BL/6 (B6) and DBA/2 (D2) mice. The animals were exposed to 72 h EtOH vapor or air and received four injections of finasteride (50 mg/kg ip) 24 h prior to, and each day of, the EtOH vapor exposure. Upon removal from the inhalation chambers, handling-induced convulsions (HICs) were measured hourly for the first 12 h and then again at 24 h. EtOH withdrawal severity was significantly greater in D2 than in B6 mice. Pretreatment with finasteride significantly decreased EtOH withdrawal severity only in the female D2 mice, produced a nonselective suppressive effect on HIC in male B6 and D2 mice, and did not significantly alter HIC in female B6 mice. Finasteride pretreatment significantly decreased blood EtOH concentration (BEC) upon initiation of withdrawal, suggesting that finasteride may affect withdrawal severity via an alteration in EtOH pharmacokinetics.
Temporally selective attention modulates early perceptual processing: Event-related potential evidence

Some of the most important information we encounter changes so rapidly that our perceptual systems cannot process all of it in detail. Spatially selective attention is critical for perception when more information than can be processed in detail is presented simultaneously at distinct locations. When presented with complex, rapidly changing information, listeners may need to selectively attend to specific times rather than to locations. We present evidence that listeners can direct selective attention to time points that differ by as little as 500 msec, and that doing so improves target detection, affects baseline neural activity preceding stimulus presentation, and modulates auditory evoked potentials at a perceptually early stage. These data demonstrate that attentional modulation of early perceptual processing is temporally precise and that listeners can flexibly allocate temporally selective attention over short intervals, making it a viable mechanism for preferentially processing the most relevant segments in rapidly changing streams.
Super-resolution land cover mapping with indicator geostatistics

Abstract Many satellite images have a coarser spatial resolution than the extent of land cover patterns on the ground, leading to mixed pixels whose composite spectral response consists of responses from multiple land cover classes. Spectral unmixing procedures only determine the fractions of such classes within a coarse pixel without locating them in space. Super-resolution or sub-pixel mapping aims at providing a fine resolution map of class labels, one that displays realistic spatial structure (without artifact discontinuities) and reproduces the coarse resolution fractions. In this paper, existing approaches for super-resolution mapping are placed within an inverse problem framework, and a geostatistical method is proposed for generating alternative synthetic land cover maps at the fine (target) spatial resolution; these super-resolution realizations are consistent with all the information available. More precisely, indicator coKriging is used to approximate the probability that a pixel at the fine spatial resolution belongs to a particular class, given the coarse resolution fractions and (if available) a sparse set of class labels at some informed fine pixels. Such Kriging-derived probabilities are used in sequential indicator simulation to generate synthetic maps of class labels at the fine resolution pixels. This non-iterative and fast simulation procedure yields alternative super-resolution land cover maps that reproduce: (i) the observed coarse fractions, (ii) the fine resolution class labels that might be available, and (iii) the prior structural information encapsulated in a set of indicator variogram models at the fine resolution. A case study is provided to illustrate the proposed methodology using Landsat TM data from SE China.
Numerical investigation of bioconvection of gravitactic microorganisms in an isotropic porous medium

Abstract A new continuum model is formulated for bioconvection in a dilute suspension of swimming, gravitactic microorganisms in a porous medium. “Bioconvection” is the name given to pattern-forming convective motions set up in suspensions of swimming microorganisms. “Gravitaxis” means that microorganisms tend to swim against the gravity. The aim of this paper is to analyze collective behavior and pattern formation in populations of swimming microorganisms. The existence and stability of a two-dimensional plume in a tall, narrow chamber with stress-free sidewalls is investigated. Governing equations include Darcy law as well as microorganism conservation equation. A conservative finite-difference scheme is used to solve these equations numerically.
MO-D-I-611-06: Reduction of Motion Blurring Artifact Using Respiratory Gated CT: A Quantitative Evaluation

Purpose: To develop a technique for reducing respiratory motion blurring artifacts using respiratory-gated CT, and to quantitatively evaluate the artifact reduction. Method and Materials: Similar to electrocardiogram (ECG) gated imaging for the heart, a synthetic sinogram was built from multiple scans intercepting a respiration gated window. A gated CT image was then reconstructed by the filtered back-projection algorithm. CT images of wedge phantoms moving at different speeds, and 13 patients were taken with synchronized respiratory motion measurement. The scanner was operated in cine mode with 100 and 15 scans (0.5 s rotation) acquired consecutively at each couch position for phantoms and patients, respectively. Two error functions were fit to the CT profile across the air-phantom or lung-diaphragm boundaries for a quantitative evaluation of the blurring artifact. Results: The blurring artifact was reduced significantly at the air-phantom boundaries in the gated image. The gated image of phantoms with a motion of 20 mm/s showed similar blurring artifacts as the non-gated image of phantoms with a motion of 10 mm/s. The blurring artifact had a linear relationship with both the speed and the tangent of the wedge angles. The blurring artifacts were also reduced at the lung-diaphragm boundaries for patients. Centers of the two fitted error functions provided a reliable measure of large blurring, and were found equivalent to 25% and 75% locations of the CT profile. Conclusion: The respiratory gated CT imaging reduced the blurring artifacts for both moving phantoms and patients. This technique may be applied for other tomographic imaging modalities that require long imaging times with significant motion blurring artifacts, such as PET.
TRANSIENT EFFECTS ON HEAT CONDUCTION IN SLIDING BODIES

ABSTRACT The finite-element method is used to study transient heat conduction in two bodies sliding over one another with frictional heat generated at the contact interface. Temperature profiles and heat partition distributions are determined for three cases: two-dimensional conduction between two semi-infinite sliding bodies in contact over an infinite strip, three-dimensional conduction between two semi-infinite sliding bodies in contact over a square area, and two-dimensional conduction between a sliding railcar wheel and the rail. For Peclet numbers greater than 10, the two-dimensional model and three-dimensional models were found to give similar results for centerline temperatures and heat partition distributions.
New paradigms in thrombosis: novel mediators and biomarkers platelet RNA transfer

Platelets, anucleated cells with a central role in hemostasis and inflammation, contain messenger RNAs and microRNAs of unknown functionality and clinical relevance. Historically, platelet RNA was viewed as merely a remnant of platelet biogenesis; however, several studies now refute this assumption. Studies have shown that platelets can actively translate RNA to protein and that specific RNA profiles correlate with select human clinical phenotypes. These studies support a more fluid role for platelet RNA in platelet function and disease development. Our lab and others have recently studied the platelet's unique ability to transfer RNA to recipient cells and the effect this transfer has on the recipient cells' functions. This transfer may represent a previously unknown form of vascular cell communication and modulation. Unlike the well-characterized thrombotic properties of platelets, the nature and purpose of platelet RNA transfer has not been determined, partly due to limitations in techniques used to manipulate platelet RNA profiles. Defining the mechanism of RNA transfer and its role in the vascular system will allow for the better understanding of how platelets function in both their traditional thrombotic role and non-traditional functions, potentially having widespread implications in several fields.
Power-law correlations and other models with long-range dependence on a lattice

This paper introduces long-range dependence for a stationary random field on a plane lattice, derives an exact power-law correlation model and other models with long-range dependence on the lattice, and explores the closeconnection between short-range dependent correlation functions and absolutely summable double sequences.
Obesity and Serum High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels Among Elderly Turkish Immigrants in the Netherlands with Type 2 Diabetes

The study examined the associations of anthropometric measures of obesity with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in Turkish immigrants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) living in the Netherlands. A total of 110 participants, physician-diagnosed with T2D, aged 30 years and older were recruited from multiple sources from The Hague, Netherlands. Serum hs-CRP levels were measured with immunoturbidimetric assay. Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) was determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Measures of obesity: body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were determined. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations and multiple linear regressions (MLR) stratified by gender. Hs-CRP was log transformed to achieve normality. Subjects with hs-CRP levels >10 mg/L (n = 17) were excluded from the analysis. Females had a higher BMI (p = 0.007), HC (p < 0.001), and WHtR (p = 0.011) as compared to males. Conversely, males had a higher weight (p = 0.007), and WHR (p < 0.001) than females. MLR showed that after controlling for covariates, log hs-CRP was positively associated with BMI (B = 0.039, SE = 0.019, β = 0.287, p < 0.05), WC (B = 0.025, SE = 0.011, β = 0.332, p < 0.05) and WHtR (B = 4.015, SE = 1.464, β = 0.376, p < 0.01) in females only. Gender-specific associations between obesity measures and hs-CRP level need to be further investigated in the Turkish immigrant population. Hs-CRP assessment may be added as a standard of care for T2D treatment within this population.
A LibGuides presence in a Blackboard environment

Purpose – This paper aims to describe current approaches to and assess the value of placing course‐level research guides generated through LibGuides software into Blackboard learning management system (LMS) shells. It also aims to describe the specific technique of such placement in Blackboard Vista and Blackboard Learn shells.Design/methodology/approach – A link to a library assignment made with LibGuides was embedded as a button in the left‐side navigation bar of the Blackboard shell for an undergraduate communications course. A total of 57 student users responded to a survey on their perceptions of this method of accessing library resources.Findings – The paper reveals that students broadly value access to library resources from a convenient and persistently visible link within their course shell. They demonstrate a strong inclination to use the embedded library resource link first before using other information sources on the open internet.Practical implications – The study supports the placement of l...
The simplified Fermi accelerator in classical and quantum mechanics

We review the simplified classical Fermi acceleration mechanism and construct a quantum counterpart by imposing time-dependent boundary conditions on solutions of the “free” Schrodinger equation at the unit interval. We find similiar dynamical features in the sense that limiting KAM curves, respectively purely singular quasienergy spectrum, exist(s) for sufficiently smooth “wall oscillations” (typically ofC2 type). In addition, we investigate quantum analogs to local approximations of the Fermi map both in its quasiperiodic and irregular phase space regions. In particular, we find pure point q.e. spectrum in the former case and conjecture that “random boundary conditions” are necessary to model a quantum analog to the chaotic regime of the classical accelerator.
Models of lexical decay

Lexical decay is the phenomenon underlying the dating techniques known as "glottochronology" and "lexicostatistics." Much of the contraversial nature of work in this field is the result of extremely imprecise foundations and lack of attention to the underlying statistical and semantic models.A satisfactory semantic model can be found in the concept of semantic atom. Notwithstanding a number of philosophical objections, the semantic atom is an operationally feasible support for a lexicon which is a semantic subset of all possible meanings and at the same time, exhausts the vocabulary of a language. Lexical decay is the process by which the lexical item covering an atom is replaced by another lexical item.Exponential lexical preservation is, in this model, directly analogous to decay phenomena in nuclear physics. Consistency requires that the decay process involved in exponentially preserved vocabularies be a Poisson process. This shows how to form test vocabularies for dating and proves that presently used vocabularies are not correctly formed.Dialectation studies show that historically diverging populations must be modelled by correlated Poisson processes. Definitive statistical treatment of these questions is not possible at this time, but much desirable research can be indicated.
On classes of compactifications which are always singular

Abstract A compactification αX of a locally compact Hausdorff space X is said to be singular if αX β X is a retract of αX. Suppose that S is a class of locally compact, noncompact Hausdorff spaces, and that K is a collection of compact Hausdorff spaces. A general question about the existence of singular compactifications is the following: For what classes S and K is it true that each compactification of X ϵ S having a remainder αX β X ϵ K is singular? In this paper we consider a collection S , which contains the zero-dimensional spaces, and prove, among other things, that in this case K can be taken to be all products of compact metric spaces. In the process we have a variant of the well known result of Sierpinski that in a separable metric space X, a closed subset A having a zero-dimensional complement is a retract of X.
Clinical and radiologic features of fungal diseases of the paranasal sinuses.

Objective To document the clinical and imaging characteristics of fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS). Methods Imaging studies of 28 patients with FRS were retrospectively analyzed, considering the type of fungal disease, location, signal characteristics, bone changes, expansion, and extrasinus extension. Results Acute invasive FRS showed unilateral pacifications of the sinonasal cavity, perisinus fat infiltration and/or bone destruction. Chronic invasive FRS demonstrated masslike hyperattenuating soft tissue, with bony destruction. The soft tissue changes were hypointense on T1 and markedly hypointense on T2-weighted images. In allergic FRS, hyperattenuating soft tissue causing paranasal expansion due to allergic mucin was observed on CT. Fungus ball presented as a hyperattenuating lesion with calcifications within a single sinus. Conclusion The radiological features of each type of FRS are distinctive and should afford a specific diagnosis in the proper clinical setting.
Ecdysis: Neural Orchestration of a Complex Behavioral Performance

Cricket ecdysis (molting) requires continuously changing output in hundreds of motoneurons over a period of several hours, and exhibits considerable plasticity. Despite this complexity, analysis of identified motor units reveals a highly organized three-layered infrastructure, and indicates that the "small system" paradigm currently applied to simple invertebrate motor programs can be extended to much more sophisticated behavioral performances.
Characterization of primary human skeletal muscle cells from multiple commercial sources

There is a significant unmet need for safe, anabolic muscle therapies to treat diseases and conditions associated with severe muscle weakness and frailty. The identification of such therapies requires appropriate cell-based screening assays to select compounds for further development using animal models. Primary human skeletal muscle cells have recently become available from a number of commercial vendors. Such cells may be valuable for studying the mechanisms that direct muscle differentiation, and for identifying and characterizing novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of age- and injury-induced muscle disorders. However, only limited characterization of these cells has been reported to date. Therefore, we have examined four primary human muscle cell preparations from three different vendors for their capacity to differentiate into multinucleated myotubes. Two of the preparations demonstrated robust myotube formation and expressed characteristic markers of muscle differentiation. Furthermore, these myotubes could be induced to undergo morphological atrophy- and hypertrophy-like responses, and atrophy could be blocked with an inhibitor of myostatin signaling, a pathway that is known to negatively regulate muscle mass. Finally, the myotubes were efficiently infected with recombinant adenovirus, providing a tool for genetic modification. Taken together, our results indicate that primary human muscle cells can be a useful system for studying muscle differentiation, and may also provide tools for studying new therapeutic molecules for the treatment of muscle disease.
Conservation analysis of the CydX protein yields insights into small protein identification and evolution

The reliable identification of proteins containing 50 or fewer amino acids is difficult due to the limited information content in short sequences. The 37 amino acid CydX protein in Escherichia coli is a member of the cytochrome bd oxidase complex, an enzyme found throughout Eubacteria. To investigate the extent of CydX conservation and prevalence and evaluate different methods of small protein homologue identification, we surveyed 1095 Eubacteria species for the presence of the small protein. Over 300 homologues were identified, including 80 unannotated genes. The ability of both closely-related and divergent homologues to complement the E. coli ΔcydX mutant supports our identification techniques, and suggests that CydX homologues retain similar function among divergent species. However, sequence analysis of these proteins shows a great degree of variability, with only a few highly-conserved residues. An analysis of the co-variation between CydX homologues and their corresponding cydA and cydB genes shows a close synteny of the small protein with the CydA long Q-loop. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the cydABX operon has undergone horizontal gene transfer, although the cydX gene likely evolved in a progenitor of the Alpha, Beta, and Gammaproteobacteria. Further investigation of cydAB operons identified two additional conserved hypothetical small proteins: CydY encoded in CydAQlong operons that lack cydX, and CydZ encoded in more than 150 CydAQshort operons. This study provides a systematic analysis of bioinformatics techniques required for the unique challenges present in small protein identification and phylogenetic analyses. These results elucidate the prevalence of CydX throughout the Proteobacteria, provide insight into the selection pressure and sequence requirements for CydX function, and suggest a potential functional interaction between the small protein and the CydA Q-loop, an enigmatic domain of the cytochrome bd oxidase complex. Finally, these results identify other conserved small proteins encoded in cytochrome bd oxidase operons, suggesting that small protein subunits may be a more common component of these enzymes than previously thought.
Metastatic epidural spinal cord compression among elderly patients with advanced prostate cancer

Background A recent randomized trial demonstrated that for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC), a complication of advanced prostate cancer, surgical decompression may be more effective than external beam radiation therapy (RT). We investigated predictors of MESCC, its treatment, and its impact on hospital length of stay for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Separation of benzene and toluene from close boiling nonaromatics by extractive distillation

Benzene and toluene are virtually impossible to separate from close boiling nonaromatic hydrocarbons by rectification. Benzene and toluene can be readily separated from similar boiling nonaromatics by using extractive distillation in which the extractive distillation agent is a proper mixture of organic compounds boiling higher than benzene or toluene. A typical extractive distillation agent for benzene is a mixture of phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, and adiponitrile; for toluene, phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, and glycerol triacetate.
Advanced Photon Source undulator beamline tests of a contact-cooled silicon u-shaped monochromator

At the Advanced Photon Source (APS), undulator insertion devices are capable of producing x-ray beams with total power of about 5 kW and normal incidence heat fluxes of about 170 W/mm{sup 2} at 30 m from the source. On beamlines in which the first optical element is a mirror, the reflected beam from the mirror still carries considerable power and power density. Depending on its location, the monochromator downstream of the mirror might be subject to 300 W total power and 5 W/mm{sup 2} normal incidence heat flux. Thus, it is still necessary to carefully design a monochromator that provides acceptable performance under these heat loads. A contact-cooled u-shaped monochromator may be used in this case. The main feature of the u-shaped monochromator is that, by carefully selecting the geometry and cooling locations, is passively corrects for some of the thermally induced crystal distortions. We present experimental and computational results of a contact cooled u-shaped monochromator tested on an APS undulator beamline. The results are encouraging and compare favorably with liquid-gallium internally cooled crystals.
Codependency: predictors and psychometric issues.

This study examined the relationships between codependency and age, gender, self-confidence, autonomy, and succorance, which is the quality of soliciting emotional support from others. The study also tested the validity of the Spann-Fischer Codependency Scale (Fischer, Spann, & Crawford, 1991). Ninety-five undergraduates completed a demographic sheet, the Adjective Check List (Gough & Heilbrun, 1983), the Spann-Fischer Codependency Scale, the Co-Dependents Anonymous Checklist (Whitfield, 1991), and a questionnaire developed for this study based on the work of Hemfelt, Minirth, and Meier (1989). As predicted, codependency was negatively related to self-confidence and positively related to succorance. However, contrary to expectation, a negative relationship between codependency and autonomy was not found. In addition, low self-confidence was the strongest predictor of codependency. Finally, all three measures of codependency were strongly related, attesting to the convergent validity of the Spann-Fischer Codependency Scale. Future studies should further investigate the role of emotional autonomy and codependency and should begin to utilize an experimental approach, making predictions regarding the behavior of codependent and noncodependent persons in experimental situations. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 55: 59–64, 1999.
Connecting Relational Work and Workgroup Context in Caregiving Organizations

Caregiving workers depend on their workgroups for support in handling the relational work with clients that is central to caregiving work. Yet workgroups vary in the effectiveness with which they provide such support. While Tavistock theorists have long discussed this linkage, no systematic model of the relevant workgroup factors has been proposed. This article advances such a model of workgroup-level factors that influence relational work, based on data from case studies of two caregiving workgroups. Four important workgroup-level influences are identified and explored: intragroup support patterns, coordination mechanisms/systems, membership/boundaries, and interdisciplinary roles and relationships.
A fine structural analysis of intercellular junctions in the mouse liver.

Zonulae occludentes and gap junctions were examined both in the intact mouse liver and in a junction-rich membrane fraction from homogenized mouse liver. These preparations were visualized with the techniques of uranyl acetate staining en bloc, staining with colloidal lanthanum, negative staining with phosphotungstate, and freeze-cleaving. The zonula occludens is arranged as a meshwork of branching and anastomosing threadlike contacts sealing the lumen of the bile canaliculus from the liver intercellular space. The gap junction is characterized in section by a 20 A gap between the apposed junctional membrane outer leaflets, and permeation of this space with lanthanum or phosphotungstate reveals a polygonal lattice of subunits with a center-to-center spacing of 90–100 A. Freeze-cleaved gap junctions show a similar lattice. Extraction of junction-rich fractions with 60% aqueous acetone results in a disappearance of the 20 A gap in sectioned pellets and an inability to demonstrate the polygonal lattice with either the freeze-cleave or negative staining techniques. Extraction of the membranes with 50% acetone does not produce this effect. Thin-layer chromatography of the acetone extracts reveals a group of phospholipids in the 60% extract that are not detectable in the 50% extract. Acetone does not cause any detectable change in the structure of the zonula occludens, but the occluding junction becomes leaky to lanthanum following acetone treatment. The effects of other reagents on the junctions are reported.
Abstract LB-322: The senescence-associated Sin3B protein promotes inflammation and pancreatic cancer progression

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is strikingly resistant to conventional therapeutic approaches. We have previously demonstrated that the histone deacetylase associated SIN3B protein is essential for oncogene-induced senescence in cultured cells. Here we report that SIN3B is required for activated KRAS-induced senescence in vivo using a mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Surprisingly, impaired senescence caused by genetic inactivation of Sin3B is associated with delayed PDAC progression, correlating with an impaired inflammatory response. At the molecular level, SIN3B mediates KRAS-induced Il-1a production in a cell autonomous and senescence dependent manner. These results indicate for the first time that senescence-associated inflammation positively correlates with PDAC progression and identify SIN3B as a therapeutic target to inhibit inflammation-driven tumorigenesis. Citation Format: Maite Rielland, David Cantor, Richard Graveline, Cristina Hadju, Lisa Mara, George Miller, Gregory David. The senescence-associated Sin3B protein promotes inflammation and pancreatic cancer progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-322. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-322
An improved WSQ fingerprint image compression algorithm

The wavelet/scalar quantization (WSQ) [1] fingerprint image compression algorithm is effective and has been widely applied to fingerprint image compression. However, WSQ cannot control the compression ratio and its performance on fuzzy images is poor. We propose an improved WSQ fingerprint image compression algorithm to overcome the above shortcomings. Our algorithm uses a mixed quantizer so that the algorithm can treat fuzzy and non-fuzzy fingerprint images separately. In order to control the compression ration, an optimization parameters for a specific compression ratio. The proposed algorithm is compared with the traditional WSQ fingerprint image compression algorithm and the results are encouraging.
Preparation of Buckypaper Supported Pt Catalyst for PEMFC Using a Supercritical Fluid Method

Using a Supercritical Fluid Method Wei Zhu* Chuangchun Zeng, Jim P. Zheng,* Richard Liang, Chuck Zhang, and Ben Wang Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, USA High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI) and Center for Advanced Power Systems, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, USA
The Relation of Change in Maternal Interactive Styles to the Developing Social Competence of Full-Term and Preterm Children

This study evaluated the changing nature of mothers' interactive behaviors to understand alterations in children's social development across 6, 12, 24, and 40 months of age. Social skills were observed during daily activities and toy play in the home for medically high risk (HR; n = 73) and low risk (LR; n = 114) very low birthweight (VLBW) preterm and full-term (FT; n = 112) children. Variations in mothers' responses to children's changing capabilities predicted rates of change in children's social skills. For example, mothers who showed higher levels of maintaining measured across 6 to 40 months had children who displayed greater increases in initiating, but this was more apparent in daily activities than toy play and for the VLBW children compared to the FT children. Those VLBW children at the highest degrees of biological risk displayed faster gains in initiating than the other groups when their mothers provided even greater levels of support. Results demonstrate the importance of using methodologies that test more complex models of growth when evaluating parent-child relations.
On the Nature of X-Ray-Bright, Optically Normal Galaxies

Recent X-ray surveys by Chandra and XMM-Newton have revealed a population of X-ray-bright, optically normal galaxies (XBONGs) at moderate redshifts. We propose that many XBONGs are powered by an inner radiatively inefficient accretion flow (RIAF) plus an outer radiatively efficient thin accretion disk. The absence of optical/UV activity in XBONGs is explained by the truncation of the thin disk near the black hole, while the relatively strong X-ray emission is explained as inverse Compton emission from the hot RIAF. As an example, we show that the spectra of two XBONGs can be fitted fairly well with such a model. By comparing these two sources to other accreting black holes, we argue that XBONGs are intermediate in their characteristics between distant, luminous active galactic nuclei and nearby, low-luminosity nuclei.
Magnetic Susceptibility of Neutron Matter

The magnetic susceptibility of a neutron gas at zero temperature, an idealization of neutron-star matter, is estimated for the realistic, soft-core nucleon-nucleon potential of Reid. For mass densities below twice that of ordinary nuclear matter, there is no sign of a ferromagnetically favorable instability of the normal ground state of the system, the effect of the interactions being to depress the magnetic susceptibility relative to its Fermi-gas value.
LITAF Mediation of Increased TNF-α Secretion from Inflamed Colonic Lamina Propria Macrophages

Dysregulation of TNF-α in lamina propria macrophages (LPM) is a feature of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). LPS-Induced-TNF-Alpha-Factor (LITAF) is a transcription factor that mediates TNF-α expression. To determine whether LITAF participates in the mediation of TNF-α expression in acutely inflamed colonic tissues, we first established the TNBS-induced colonic inflammation model in C57BL/6 mice. LPM were harvested from non-inflamed and inflamed colonic tissue and inflammatory parameters TNF-α and LITAF mRNA and protein levels were measured ex-vivo. LPM from TNBS-treated mice secreted significantly more TNF-α at basal state and in response to LPS than LPM from untreated mice (p<0.05). LITAF mRNA and protein levels were elevated in LPM from TNBS compared with untreated animals and LPS further increased LITAF protein levels in LPM from inflamed tissue (P<0.05). To further confirm the role of LITAF in acutely inflamed colonic tissues, TNBS-induced colonic inflammation was produced in LITAF macrophage specific knockout mice (LITAF mac -/- mice) and compared to wild type (WT) C57BL/6. Twenty four hours following TNBS administration, colonic tissue from LITAF mac -/- mice had less MPO activity and reduced colonic TNF-α mRNA then WT C57BL/6 mice (p<0.05). LPM harvested from LITAF mac -/- secreted significantly less TNF-α in response to LPS than wild type (WT) C57BL/6 (p<0.05). This study provides evidence that LITAF contributes to the regulation of TNF-α in LPM harvested following acute inflammation or LPS treatment paving the way for future work focusing on LITAF inhibitors in the treatment of TNF-α-mediated inflammatory conditions.
Failure to demonstrate therapeutic tachyphylaxis to topically applied steroids in patients with psoriasis.

Background: Tachyphylaxis, defined as a rapidly decreasing response to a physiologically active agent after administration of a few doses, can be well demonstrated in the experimental setting. However, tachyphylaxis in the clinical setting lacks clear demonstration. Objective: Our purpose was to identify dermatologists' perception of the clinical incidence of tachyphylaxis and then design a prospective study that would estimate the clinical incidence of tachyphylaxis. Methods: Clinical and academic dermatologists completed a survey questionnaire about the incidence of tachyphylaxis and the time course to its occurrence. Subjects with plaque psoriasis applied topical corticosteroid twice daily for 12 weeks to their plaques, leaving an isolated plaque untreated for comparison. Plaques were evaluated every 2 weeks. By means of a 9-point scale, an end point for clinical of tachyphylaxis was defined as "an increase in plaque elevation of at least 2 occurring after a detectable decrease in plaque elevation with topical steroid." Results: The survey found that 57% of dermatologists perceived that tachyphylaxis occurred after 8 weeks of therapy with topical corticosteroid. In the 12-week clinical study, none of 32 patients exhibited detectable signs of tachyphylaxis. Conclusion: What accounts for the commonly held belief of tachyphylaxis in the clinical setting may be related to the therapeutic efficacy of topical corticosteroids. Failure of topical corticosteroids to clear psoriasis after an initial improvement may give the impression of tachyphylaxis. The common clinical perception of tachyphylaxis may also be related to issues of compliance outside a study setting or a psoriasis flare unrelated to therapy.
On solutions to min \((X,{\text{ Y}})\mathop = \limits^d aX\) and min \((X,{\text{ Y}})\mathop = \limits^d aX\mathop = \limits^d bY\)

Suppose that the minimum of a pair of independent non-negative random variables X and y has the same distribution, up to a scale factor, as the first of the two random variables. The restricted class of possible distributions for X and Y is identified. If in addition it is required that X and Y have distributions only differing by a scale factor, it is shown under mild regularity conditions that X and Y have Weibull distributions.
Effects of stress and β-funal trexamine pretreatment on morphine analgesia and opioid binding in rats

Abstract This study was essentially an in vivo protection experiment designed to test further the hypothesis that stress induces release of endogenous opioids which then act at opioid receptors. Rats that were either subjected to restraint stress for 1 hr or unstressed were injected ICV with either saline or 2.5 μg of β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA), an irreversible opioid antagonist that alkylates the mu -opioid receptor. Twenty-four hours later, subjects were tested unstressed for morphine analgesia (tail-flick assay) or were sacrificed and opioid binding in brain was determined. [3H]D-Ala2NMePhe4-Gly5(ol) enkephalin (DAGO) served as a specific ligand for mu - opioid receptors, and [3H]-bremazocine as a general ligand for all opioid receptors. Rats injected with saline while stressed were significantly less sensitive to the analgesic action of morphine 24 hr later than were their unstressed counterparts. β-FNA pretreatment attenuated morphine analgesia in an insurmountable manner. Animals pretreated with β-FNA while stressed were significantly more sensitive to the analgesic effect of morphine than were animals that received β-FNA while unstressed, consistent with the hypothesis that stress induces release of endogenous opioids that would protect opioid receptors from alkylation by β-FNA. β-FNA caused small and similar decreases in [3H]- DAGO binding in brain of both stressed and unstressed animals. Stressed rats injected with saline tended to have increased levels of [3H] DAGO and [3H]- bremazocine binding compared to the other groups. This outcome may be relevant to the tolerance to morphine analgesia caused by stress.
The 5′ ends of Escherichia coli lac mRNA

We identified the predominant 5' ends of an mRNA in Escherichia coli to the exact nucleotides. There are four such ends of lac mRNA in fully induced cells. About 70% of the molecules have the reported major in vitro end, A-A-U-U-G (at +1), which is located 38 nucleotides before the A-U-G translation start. Another 15% start with A-U-U-G at +2, and about 8% start with A-U-U-A-G at -52. A fourth class of molecules begin with either A-G, C-A-G, A-C-A-G, or a weak A-C-A-C-A-G (at +24), observed only once. The origins of this latter set (less than or equal to 10% of the total) are not known, but they could represent "ragged" ends of the mRNA when it is degraded to the beginning of the ribosome-protected region of the message. The A-U-U-A-G molecules are probably initiated from an upstream promoter whose position would coincide with the cAMP-CRP DNA binding site for the major promoter.
Initiation and culture of potato tuber callus tissue with picloram.

Callus cultures of 7 potato cultivars were initiated from tuber tissue and maintained on Gelrite-solidified media with 1–20 μM picloram as the only PGR. Ten μM picloram was the optimal concentration for callus induction. By 4–6 weeks after explanting, there was sufficient callus produced for subculture to maintenance media which contained 1–20 μM picloram as the only PGR. When grown in the dark at 25°C, subcultured callus typically increased 10-fold in wet weight in 4–5 weeks. The callus produced was friable and a light grey to cream color. Callus cultures were used to establish cell suspension cultures. Callus and cell suspension cultures have been maintained for over 2 years on the picloram containing media.
Olfactory receptor neuron axon targeting: intrinsic transcriptional control and hierarchical interactions

From insects to mammals, olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) expressing a common olfactory receptor target their axons to specific glomeruli with high precision. Here we show in Drosophila that the POU transcription factor Acj6 controls the axon targeting specificity of a subset of ORN classes, as defined by the olfactory receptors that they express. Of these classes, some require Acj6 cell-autonomously, whereas others require Acj6 cell-nonautonomously. Mosaic analyses show that cooperative targeting occurs between axon terminals of the same ORN classes and that there are hierarchical interactions among different ORN classes. We propose that the precision of ORN axon targeting derives from both intrinsic transcriptional control and extensive axon-axon interactions.
Highly Enantioselective Zirconium-Catalyzed Cyclization of Aminoalkenes

Aminoalkenes are catalytically cyclized in the presence of cyclopentadienylbis(oxazolinyl)borato group 4 complexes {PhB(C5H4)(OxR)2}M(NMe2)2 (M = Ti, Zr, Hf; OxR = 4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazoline, 4S-isopropyl-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxazoline, 4S-tert-butyl-2-oxazoline) at room temperature and below, affording five-, six-, and seven-membered N-heterocyclic amines with enantiomeric excesses of >90% in many cases and up to 99%. Mechanistic investigations of this highly selective system employed synthetic tests, kinetics, and stereochemistry. Secondary aminopentene cyclizations require a primary amine (1–2 equiv vs catalyst). Aminoalkenes are unchanged in the presence of a zirconium monoamido complex {PhB(C5H4)(Ox4S-iPr,Me2)2}Zr(NMe2)Cl or a cyclopentadienylmono(oxazolinyl)borato zirconium diamide {Ph2B(C5H4)(Ox4S-iPr,Me2)}Zr(NMe2)2. Plots of initial rate versus [substrate] show a rate dependence that evolves from first-order at low concentration to zero-order at high concentration, and this is consistent with a reversible...
Components of facial attractiveness.

Terry and Brady (1 ) reported that the relative contribution of a facial component to female undergraduates' self-ratings of their over-all facial attractiveness varied with the type of visual corrective worn. Averaging across this variable, the oral region was the most influential component, followed in order by the eyes, hair, nose, and facial structure (shape and complexion). However, since this order was generated by selfratings, a judge's ratings of the attractiveness of her several components were likely to have been contaminated by each other. A better estimate of the relative influence of a component in over-all facial attractiveness would be afforded from judges' ratings of isolated components of other persons' faces. Subjects, 25 male and 25 female Caucasian undergraduates, were shown two-color, 4X G-in. portrait photographs of 5 males and 5 females of che same race and approximate age as the subjects. One photograph of each pair was removed from its background and glued to a neutral grey file card. The other pair member was dissected into the separate facial components, viz . , mouth, eyes, hair, nose, and facial structure, which were pasted onto similar file cards and coded on the reverse side to permit later matching. The deck of 60 stimuli was presented to the subjects in a shuffled order and subjects checked an appropriate level of a 10-point scale on which "1" represented the lowest level of attractiveness and "10" represented the highest level. Each subject's 10 over-all ratings of attractiveness were correlated with his ratings of the respective components. The higher a coefficient, the more important a component was assumed to be in determining a given subject's rating of over-all attractiveness; hence, the sign or direction of a relationship was ignored. The absolute values of these correlations were then transformed to zs, and an analysis of variance, sex of subject (rnale/female) X component (mouth/eyes/hair/ nose/facial structure), was computed. The F ratios for the sex of subject and the interaction were less than 1.00, whereas the components were significant (F = 5.53, df = 4/192, p < .01). Transforming the average zs back to ss resulted in the following order of importance for the components: mouth ( r = .53), eyes ( r = .44), structure ( r = .43), hair ( r = . 3 4 ) , and nose (s = .31). Except for facial structure, this is precisely the order obtained by averaging Terry and Brady's (1) results. However, facial structure in that study explicitly referred to complexion and shape, whereas here structure was all that remained of the face when the other components were removed. Therefore, this component was not treated comparably in the two studies. This study replicates and extends Terry and Brady's by demonstrating that their order can be generated by perceptions of the isolated components of other persons' faces as well as by self-perceptions.