cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-E-QI-01: A High-Throughput Quantitative Imaging Method for Immunohistochemistry in Blood Vessels at the Blood-Brain Barrier

Purpose: To develop a simple and high throughput method for the molecular imaging of proteins at the blood-brain barrier using immunohistochemistry quantification. Methods: C57B6 male mice, age 4 months, were exposed to one of four different conditions for 12 hours/day × 2 weeks (a) Sham--exposure to constant air--e.g. 21% oxygen (b) cyclical intermittent hypoxia (CIH) from 21% to 12% (c) CIH from 21% to 10% and (d) CIH from 21% to 5%. Immunohistochemistry was then optimized for proteins GLUT1, p-glycoprotein and CD31 on blood vessels at the bloodbrain barrier. The image data sets of four different conditions were subjected to our image analysis algorithm. Background noise is eliminated using thresholding techniques and blood vessel candidates are delineated using methods based on connected component analysis. Subsequently, relevant features are extracted from the candidate set and are passed through our classification algorithm for capillary identification. We then run a reinforcement algorithm on a subset of images to improve identity classification. This is accomplished by calculating the false positive/negative rate of the subset and feeding these results back to the classification algorithm. We introduce the idea that the gold standard should be computer + human vision. Results: For GLUT1 we analyzed over 5000 images and identified over 400k blood vessels with a false positive rate of 4.1%. For p-glycoprotein we analyzed over 5000 images and identified over 400k blood vessels with a false positive rate of 5%. Conclusion: Our method provides quantitative measurements of proteins on blood vessels at the blood-brain barrier in an objective, reproducible and comparable way using standard immunohistochemistry techniques and bright-field microscopy.
Transient coupling of Ng-CAM expression to NgCAM-dependent calcium signaling during migration of new neurons in the adult songbird brain

Abstract The adult avian forebrain continues to generate neurons from subependymal zone (SZ) precursor cells, whose neuronal progeny migrate into the brain upon radial guide fibers. These neurons express the immunoglobulin-family adhesion molecule NgCAM, and their migration in culture is disrupted by anti-NgCAM Fab. Confocal imaging of adult zebra finch SZ loaded with the calcium indicator fluo-3, as well as ratio imaging with the indicator fura-2, revealed that migrating new neurons responded to microgram amounts of NgCAM with reversible increments in cytosolic calcium. The calcium response to NgCAM antigen was developmentally restricted, in that it was only manifested by neurons for roughly the 3- to 4-day period between 6 and 9 DIV, even though NgCAM expression persisted tonically thereafter. The period during which NgCAM elicited a calcium signal corresponded to the postmitotic age at which new, bipolar neurons leave the adult SZ to enter the brain parenchyma in vivo. Accordingly, the calcium response to NgCAM was largely limited to morphologically bipolar cells. Anti-NgCAM IgG also evoked a neuronal calcium signal over the same restricted period that NgCAM protein exerted its effect. These findings suggest a dynamic coupling and uncoupling of calcium-dependent signal transduction pathways to a stably expressed surface adhesion molecule, whose function in a given neuron may therefore evolve with cellular maturation.
The current state of intraoperative interstitial brachytherapy in lung cancer

Low dose-rate intraoperative brachytherapy allows for a more precise tumor localization of the delivered radiation and its easier adaptation to the tumor shape than it is possible with external radiation. As a result a higher dose is usually delivered to the tumor volume and the damage to the normal lung is less. In an attempt to determine the value of lung brachytherapy we provide in this article a complete review of the evolution of brachytherapy in lung cancer at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, an experience which exceeds 1,000 patients. The use of encapsulated sources of I-125, greatly reduced radiation outside the treatment volume and simplified medical and nursing staff radiation protection. Lung brachytherapy in combination with surgery and postoperative external radiation, improved local tumor control in advanced tumors (from 63% to 76%) with no increase in late pulmonary morbidity, but only a modest survival advantage. The results of brachytherapy in patients with early lung cancer who had limited pulmonary reserve, suggest that intraoperative brachytherapy is an effective alternative treatment option. The limited experience with interstitial brachytherapy under fluoroscopic and CT guidance is encouraging, but needs more investigation.
Nonresonant χ1111(3) obtained by nearly degenerate four-wave mixing using chirped-pulse technology

Picosecond chirped-pulse technology is used to generate two spectrally separate, time-synchronized pulses for χ(3) measurements by nearly degenerate four-wave mixing. Near 1053 nm, nonresonant relative measurements of χ1111(3) are carried out on three model substances, nitrobenzene, α-chloronaphthalene, and 4′-decyloxynaphthyl-1′-(4-decyloxybenzoate). Their χ(3) values are normalized to CS2.
Hypermethylation of miR-203 in endometrial carcinomas

Objectives Aberrant expression of SOX4 in endometrial cancer has been identified and partially was contributed to hypermethylation of miR-129-2. Other miRNAs are suspected to influence SOX 4 as well. The current study seeks to identify other hypermethylated miRNAs that regulate SOX4 in endometrial carcinomas.
The effect of the α-cyano moiety on neighboring group participation by the cyclopropyl group

Abstract H/α-CN rate ratios have been derived for the solvolysis of sulfonate esters of endo-tricyclo[3.2.1.02,4]octan-anti-8-ol and tricyclo[2.2.1.02,6]heptan-3-ol. The role of the α-cyano moiety in the stabilization of highly delocalized cations has been evaluated.
Isentropic zonal average formalism and the near-surface circulation

The isentropic zonal average formalism is extended to include a rigorous treatment of the bottom boundary of the atmosphere. We define a ‘surface zone’, where isentropes in the latitudinal plane are interrupted by the earth's surface. The zonal average equations of motion and their time average in isentropic coordinates are rederived in the presence of the surface zone. Applying the extended formalism to a baroclinic wave model, we show that near-surface equatorward mean flow is driven by eastward surface form drag in isentropic coordinates, which in turn is related to poleward geostrophic potential temperature flux at the surface. A potential vorticity–potential temperature picture of extratropical general circulation dynamics above and within the surface zone is presented. We highlight the importance of poleward mean flow in the upper region of the surface zone and investigate the antisymmetric distribution of mean meridional mass flow about the median potential temperature of surface air. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society.
Stenting versus aggressive medical therapy for intracranial arterial stenosis: more harm than good.

Citation Chimowitz MI, Lynn MJ, Derdeyn CP, Turan TN, Fiorella D, Lane BF, Janis LS, Lutsep HL, Barnwell SL, Waters MF, Hoh BL, Hourihane JM, Levy EI, Alexandrov AV, Harrigan MR, Chiu D, Klucznik RP, Clark JM, McDougall CG, Johnson MD, Pride GL Jr, Torbey MT, Zaidat OO, Rumboldt Z, Cloft HJ, for the SAMMPRIS Trial Investigators. N Engl J Med 2011, 365: 993-1003. PubMed PMID: 21899409. This is available on http://www.pubmed.gov.
Characteristic Study of Vector-controlled Direct-driven Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator in Wind Power Generation

Abstract With the advance of power electronics, direct-driven permanent magnet synchronous generators have drawn increased interest to wind turbine manufacturers due to its advantages over other variable-speed wind turbines. This article studies permanent magnet synchronous generator characteristics under the general d-q control strategy in the rotor-flux-oriented frame so as to benefit the development of advanced permanent magnet synchronous generator control technology. Compared to traditional approaches, the specific features of the article are (1) a steady-state permanent magnet synchronous generator model in a d-q reference frame, (2) a simulation mechanism that reflects the general permanent magnet synchronous generator d-q control strategy, (3) an integrative study that combines generator-converted power with extracted wind power characteristics, and (4) a joint investigation incorporating both steady-state and transient evaluations. Extensive simulation-based analysis is conducted to study how per...
An adaptive polling algorithm with differentiation strategy in IEEE 802.16 multi-hop networks with IEEE 802.11e WLANs

WiMAX with wired infrastructure has been popularly deployed. However, due to the high cost of the construction and the maintenance of the infrastructure, researchers have focused their investigations on IEEE 802.16 wireless multi-hop networks with low cost and high scalability. With IEEE802.11e WLANs, which provide user-level QoS support for WLANs, the multi-hop networks of IEEE 802.16 using DiffServ can provide an excellent network architecture for QoS support. In the multi-hop networks, polling services for the bandwidth request and grant play an important role for a QoS guarantee for IEEE 802.11e clients. Thus, we propose an adaptive polling algorithm with differentiation strategy for unicast and multicast polling services in IEEE 802.16 multi-hop networks with IEEE 802.11e WLANs using DiffServ to provide a QoS guarantee. By simulating the polling algorithm and the DiffServ network architecture using the OPNET Modeler and analyzing bandwidth utilization and the number of clients with rejected bandwidth requests, we show that the novel polling algorithm provides excellent QoS support.
Treadmill ink - enabling continuous pen input on small devices

This paper presents a novel handwriting input user interface (UI)for small portable devices with a touch-enabled screen. This UI includes a writing area on the screen that behaves as a "treadmill" such that electronic ink input is immediately moved from right to left while it is being entered, giving the user the feeling of writing text on a virtual "ticker-tape". This method allows the user to write continuously without running out of writing space, and takes up very little screen real-estate to implement. The UI communicates with a recognition engine capable of recognizing continuously input handwritten text and that can buffer incomplete ink entries. The UI technique described, unlike prior interfaces in which space constraints limit the ability to continuously write on the device screen and thus slow text input, allows the full throughput benefit of continuous text input to be realized within a very small writing space.
Heartphones: Sensor Earphones and Mobile Application for Non-obtrusive Health Monitoring

This paper describes the development and evaluation of wearable sensor earphones coupled with a mobile platform for comfortable assessment of cardiovascular function. Photoplethysmographic sensors were integrated into regular earphones to provide discreet and non-stigmatizing heart rate measurements. Preliminary results indicate that the proposed system has a high degree of accuracy at rest with an average error of 0.63%.
cGMP-Mediated Negative-Feedback Regulation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression by Nitric Oxide

Earlier studies have demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) exerts a fast-acting inhibitory influence on endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) enzymatic activity in isolated vascular tissue preparations. The present study was designed to examine the possible effect of NO on eNOS protein expression in cultured endothelial cells and intact animals. Human coronary endothelial cells were incubated with S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP, an NO donor), oxyhemoglobin (HGB, an NO trapping agent), SNAP plus HGB, or inactive vehicle (control). In other experiments, cells were treated with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor), 1H-[1,2, 4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-2]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor), SNAP plus ODQ, 8-bromo-cGMP (8-Br-cGMP, a cell-permeable cGMP compound), 8-Br-cGMP plus HGB, or inactive vehicle in order to discern the effect of cGMP. The incubations were conducted for 24 hours, and total nitrate plus nitrite production and eNOS protein abundance (Western analysis) were measured. To determine the effect of NO on eNOS expression in vivo, rats were treated with either the NO donor isosorbide dinitrate or placebo by gastric gavage for 48 hours, and aortic eNOS protein expression was examined. The NO donor SNAP markedly depressed, whereas the NO scavenger HGB significantly raised, eNOS protein expression. The downregulatory action of SNAP was completely abrogated by HGB. Phosphodiesterase inhibitor and 8-Br-cGMP downregulated, whereas the guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ upregulated eNOS protein expression. The downregulatory action of SNAP was completely overcome by the guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ, and the upregulatory action of the NO scavenger HGB was abrogated by 8-Br-cGMP. Administration of NO donor resulted in a marked downregulation of aortic eNOS protein expression in intact animals, thus confirming the in vitro findings. NO serves as a negative-feedback regulator of eNOS expression via a cGMP-mediated process.
Topological arrangement of the intracellular membrane fusion machinery.

The topology of the SNARE complex is strictly restricted: of all the possible topological combinations, only one is fusogenic—the topology compatible with both the basal fusion and the SM activatio...
Self-Perceptions, Motivation, and Adjustment in Children with Learning Disabilities A Multiple Group Comparison Study

This study examined the self-perceptions, motivational orientations, and classroom adjustment of children with learning disabilities (LD), matched-IQ non-LD, randomly selected non-LD, and low achieving children. Elementary-age children (N= 148; 37 from each group) completed domain-specific measures of their self-concepts, perceptions of control, and motivation. Teachers rated children on motivational and competence indices and classroom behavioral adjustment. Comparisons among groups indicated that children with LD were lower in perceived cognitive competence and academic self-regulation relative to the nondisabled control groups, but were comparable to the low achieving children. Children with LD were most likely to perceive academic outcomes as controlled by powerful others. No group differences were found for general self-perceptions of control or competence. Teacher ratings of children with LD were more discrepant from those of comparison groups than were self-ratings of children with LD. The results ...
A novel cost-benefit analysis of prophylactic octreotide for pancreatic resections

RESULTS: A total of 29,637 patients had appendicitis, of whom 7,969 (26.9%) had a perforation. By univariate analysis, increased age, obesity, lower hospital volume, and an admission source other than the emergency department were the strongest predictors of perforation. By multivariate analysis, no difference existed in odds of perforation for white patients compared to either black or Hispanic patients. However, compared to privately insured patients, uninsured patients (OR 1.19, 95% C.I. [1.09-1.30], p 0.0003), Medicaid patients (OR 1.24, 95% C.I. [1.13-1.34], p 0.0001) and Medicare patients (OR 1.14, 95% C.I. [1.04,1.26], p 0.007) were more likely to have perforated.
Effect of Node and Beam-Reduction Optimization on the Integral Dose to the Brain for Robotic Radiosurgery Brain Cases

Effect of Node and Beam-Reduction Optimization on the Integral Dose to the Brain for Robotic Radiosurgery Brain Cases B.S. Chera, A. Parikh, J. Carter, T. Zagar, R. Chen, D. Sasaki-Adams, O. Adunka, M. Ewend, and E. Schreiber; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina ChapelHill, Chapel Hill, NC, Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, Department of Otolaryngology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Make It Rain? Retrospection and the Attentive Electorate in the Context of Natural Disasters

Are election outcomes driven by events beyond the control of politicians? Democratic accountability requires that voters make reasonable evaluations of incumbents. Although natural disasters are beyond human control, the response to these eventsistheresponsibilityofelectedofficials.Inacounty-levelanalysisofgubernatorialandpresidentialelectionsfrom1970 to2006,weexaminetheeffectsofweathereventsandgovernmentalresponses.Wefindthatelectoratespunishpresidentsand governors for severe weather damage. However, we find that these effects are dwarfed by the response of attentive electorates to the actions of their officials. When the president rejects a request by the governor for federal assistance, the president is punished and the governor is rewarded at the polls. The electorate is able to separate random events from governmental responses and attribute actions based on the defined roles of these two politicians.
Electron Transfer Reactions in Chemistry: Theory and Experiment (Nobel Lecture)

Since the late 1940s, the field of electron transfer processes has grown enormously, both in chemistry and biology. The development of the field, experimentally and theoretically, as well as its relation to the study of other kinds of chemical reactions, presents to us an intriguing history, one in which many threads have been brought together. In this lecture, some history, recent trends, and my own involvement in this research are described.
Parameter Estimation for Flight Vehicles

The aircraft parameter estimation problem is used to illustrate the utility of parameter estimation, which applies to many engineering and scientific fields. Maximum-likelihood estimation has been used to extract stability and control derivatives from flight data for many years. This paper presents some of the basic concepts of aircraft parameter estimation and briefly surveys the literature in the field. The maximum-likelihood estimator is discussed, and the basic concepts of minimization and estimation are examined for a simple simulated aircraft example. The cost functions that are to be minimized during estimation are defined and discussed. Graphic representations of the cost functions are given to illustrate the minimization process. Finally, the basic concepts are generalized, and estimation from flight data is discussed. Some of the major conclusions for the simulated example are also developed for the analysis of flight data from the F-14 and Space Shuttle vehicles.
Fingerprint indexing based on novel features of minutiae triplets

We are concerned with accurate and efficient indexing of fingerprint images. We present a model-based approach, which efficiently retrieves correct hypotheses using novel features of triangles formed by the triplets of minutiae as the basic representation unit. The triangle features that we use are its angles, handedness, type, direction, and maximum side. Geometric constraints based on other characteristics of minutiae are used to eliminate false correspondences. Experimental results on live-scan fingerprint images of varying quality and NIST special database 4 (NIST-4) show that our indexing approach efficiently narrows down the number of candidate hypotheses in the presence of translation, rotation, scale, shear, occlusion, and clutter. We also perform scientific experiments to compare the performance of our approach with another prominent indexing approach and show that the performance of our approach is better for both the live scan database and the ink based database NIST-4.
Chromosomally integrated retroviral substrates are sensitive indicators of an antibody class switch recombinase-like activity.

The main function of B lymphoid cells is to produce antibodies against an almost infinite variety of antigens which might be harmful to the organism. B cells comprise a clonally diverse population in which each cell has a mono-specific antibody receptor bound to its surface. A foreign antigen encounters its cognate antibody receptor bound to a B cell and, with the cooperation of helper T cells, causes the clonal proliferation and subsequent differentiation of this sub-set of B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells [1].
The synthesis of volatile streptomyces lactones

Abstract A synthetic pathway to the volatile streptomyces lactones has been developed using as a key step sequential addition / alkylation to anions generated from 2, 2-dimethyl-5-methylene-1, 3-dioxane.
Precoded integrated equalization for packet retransmissions

A new ARQ approach is presented to enhance receiver performance for communication systems employing forward error correcting codes in frequency-selective fading wireless environments. This new approach involves a simple modification to the traditional turbo-equalizer by combining multiple precoded ARQ transmissions via integrated channel equalization. This modification provides a computationally efficient receiver that improves frame error rates when compared through simulations with iterative combining of multiple transmissions.
Sexual dimorphism in the effect of nonhabituating stress on neurogenic plasma extravasation

The sympathoadrenal axis contributes to the sexual dimorphism of the inflammatory response. As stress both activates the sympathoadrenal axis and profoundly affects inflammation and inflammatory disease, we evaluated whether stress exerts a sexually dimorphic effect on a major component of the inflammatory response, plasma extravasation. We evaluated the effect of a nonhabituating stress, repeated intermittent sound (30 min/day for 4 days), on neurogenic synovial plasma extravasation, induced by bradykinin in the rat knee joint. Sound stress profoundly inhibited bradykinin-induced plasma extravasation in male rats, but profoundly enhanced it in female rats. These effects took 24 h to fully develop after the last exposure to stress. In gonadectomized males, bradykinin-induced plasma extravasation was lower than intact males, and sound stress now enhanced it, i.e. gonadectomized males were phenotypically like intact females. In gonadectomized females, bradykinin-induced plasma extravasation was greater than in intact adult females, and sound stress still enhanced it. Adrenal enucleation significantly attenuated the effect of sound stress on bradykinin-induced plasma extravasation in both male and female rats. We tested the hypothesis that these effects of sound stress were due to sustained enhanced plasma levels of stress hormones. Corticosterone and epinephrine, only when administered in combination, over five days, produced a qualitatively similar effect as sound stress, i.e. bradykinin-induced plasma extravasation was significantly decreased in males and increased in females. These findings suggest that a combined effect of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal and sympathoadrenal stress axes are responsible for the marked sexual dimorphism in the effect of stress on the inflammatory response.
Lack of gas bladder inflation by the larvae of zebrafish in the absence of an air‐water interface

Compared to a control gas bladder inflation rate of 95·1±1·9%, zebrafish Danio rerio larvae 72 h post-fertilization maintained in closed chambers had an inflation rate of just 19·1±7·7%. Larval survivorship through 10 days in closed chambers (32%) was significantly less than that in open chambers (76%), and the extent of spinal curvature was significantly higher among larvae maintained in closed chambers. Larvae which failed to inflate their gas bladder showed very little change in body length, and had a final dry weight c. 14% of that for control larvae. The small number of larvae with inflated gas bladders found in closed chambers might be attributed to the inadvertent introduction of small bubbles into two replicates. These results indicate that access to an air-water interface is critical for the normal development of zebrafish larvae, but also that a small, submerged, spherical gas volume may to a limited extent be used for initial gas bladder inflation.
Taking MR elastography (MRE) to the microscopic scale (µMRE)

Microscopic resolution MR Elastography (µMRE) could be useful not only in vivo, but also in vitro for assessing the development and differentiation of engineered tissues prior to implantation, as well as for assessing the 3 dimensional viscoelastic properties of biopsied specimens. Using MRE to determine viscoelastic properties of sub-millimeter tissue structure requires that both the MR image and the vibratory shear waves be viewed with tens of microns resolution. Thus, µMRE requires larger imaging gradients, faster gradient switching times and higher acoustic excitation frequencies than clinical MRE. Developments and difficulties faced in pushing the resolution limits of µMRE are reviewed, including challenges in high frequency shear wave actuation, high field image acquisition and reconstruction, and tissue modeling.
The unconditional release of mentally ill offenders from indefinite commitment: a study of Missouri insanity acquittees

Using a database of all Missouri insanity acquittees committed on July 1, 1997 (N = 873) and all insanity acquittees unconditionally released from 1986 through 1997 (N = 193), this study calculated the lengths of commitment and identified variables associated with the unconditional release of insanity acquittees from indefinite commitment by the mental health and criminal justice systems. The study found that 85 percent of insanity acquittees were still under commitment 5 years after acquittal and 76 percent 10 years after acquittal. Factors that decreased the odds of being unconditionally released included never having been married; having a psychotic disorder, a mood disorder, a substance abuse disorder, or mental retardation/borderline intellectual functioning; and having committed a serious crime. These results support achievement of the intended goal of Missouri's insanity acquittee statute, which is to maximize public safety considerations, but have had the unintended effect of increasing the inpatient insanity acquittee population, resulting in fewer resources for voluntary patients.
Definition of Software Quality Evaluation and Measurement Plans: A Reported Experience Inside the Audio-Visual Preservation Context

The digital preservation want to guarantee accessible and usable over time digital audio-visual media content, regardless of the challenges of media failure and technological change. For this aim, the current technologies for digital audio-visual media preservation deal with complex technological, organizational, economic and rights-related issues: ensuring the development and use of high-quality software could be a key factor for their success. The paper reports an experience matured inside the Presto4U project concerning the requirements elicitation corresponding of some functional and non-functional requirements. These have been mapped on some characteristics and sub-characteristics of a quality model and a customized software measurement plans has been implemented. An example of the quality evaluation plans application is also reported.
The Structure and Processes of Ethnicity: Catholic Family Size in Providence, Rhode Island

There is a tendency in demographic research to employ "values" as the explanation of religious and ethnic differentials in family size. A more valuable method of conceptualization has been found by examining the structure of the Irish and Italian ethnic groups and the processes involved in their assimilation. It is found that age at marriage and social class factors are of major importance in understanding the behavior of these two groups. Cross-sectional data collected in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1962 show that Italian family size declines as the result of assimilation. Irish family size increases from lower than that of Italians to being higher. Further research should tell us whether there will be a significant ethnic differential in the use of "artificial" methods of birth control, and, hence, in family size.
Constitution Theory and Metaphysical Neutrality: A Lesson for Ontology?

Soulignant le role pionnier de la theorie des categories de Carnap dans le developpement de l'ontologie analytique, l'A. defend cependant l'independance historique et systematique de la these de la neutralite metaphysique et de la these de l'elimination. Mesurant l'importance de la methodologie de l'«Aufbau» pour les courants constructivistes contemporains, l'A. montre que le principe de neutralite s'appuie chez Carnap sur une conception de la realite comme structure d'invariance, d'une part, et que cette structuralisation menance les aspirations explicatives de la theorie de la constitution, d'autre part.
[125I]calmodulin binding to synaptic plasma membrane from rat brain: kinetic and Arrhenius analysis.

Binding of [125I]calmodulin was characterized in highly purified synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) prepared from rat brain. By Scatchard analysis, the Ca2+-dependent membrane binding of [125I]calmodulin was found to have a Bmax of 284 pmol/mg protein and an apparent affinity with a Kd of 131 nM. Kinetic analysis indicates that at 37°C, the dissociation of [125I]calmodulinmembrane complexes follows first-order reaction and consists of two components: a dissociation constant (k) of 3.7×10−1 min−1 and a half-time (t1/2) of 1.8 min for the fast component, and a k of 4.8×10−2 min−1 and a t1/2 of 14.5 min for the slow component. At 0°C, substantial dissociation still occurred, with a k of 4.5×10−2 min−1 and a t1/2 of 15.3 min for the fast component, and a k of 5.5×10−3 min−1 and a t1/2 of 125.5 min for the slow component. These data on binding affinity and dissociation kinetics are consistent with the notion that SPM can readily and rapidly associated and dissociate calmodulin. In Arrhenius analysis of temperature effects, [125I]calmodulin binding to SPM exhibits a biphasic function, with the transition temperature (Td) estimated to be 23.8°C, suggesting that binding is influenced by lipid phase transition of the membrane. The binding of [125I]calmodulin to the synaptic membrane was found to be increased by corticosterone (10−7–10−6 M), a steroid hormone, and decreased by ethanol (50–200 mM), a centrally acting drug. Our data on the characteristics of calmodulin binding to the SPM provide groundwork for future studies on physiological and pharmacological regulation of calmodulin translocation to and from the plasma membrane in synaptic terminals.
Ovicidal Activity of Methomyl on Eggs of Pest and Beneficial Insects and Mites Associated with Apples in Virginia

Methomyl in seven concentrations ranging from 0.051 to 0.204 kg (AI)/378.5 liters of water was evaluated against eggs of insect and mite pests and beneficial insects associated with apples. Platynota flavedana Clemens (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Aphis spp. and Dysaphis plantaginea (Passerini) (Homoptera: Aphididae), and Argyrotaenia velutinana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) eggs were highly susceptible to the material. Eggs of Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) were less susceptible. Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) eggs were not susceptible. Eggs of beneficial syrphid flies, Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diplera: Cecidomyiidae), Leptothrips mali (Fitch) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), and Stethorus punctum (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were highly susceptible to methomyl. Eggs of Orius insidiosus (Say) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) were less susceptible. Chrysopa spp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) eggs appeared to be unaffected by the chemical.
Paederus dermatitis in a seafarer diagnosed via telemedicine collaboration

Seafarers are traveling workers, subject to unique exposures and generally isolated from adequate medical care. This case report of paederus dermatitis diagnosed at sea highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary diagnostic approach and telecommunication in providing remote medical advice to isolated traveling workers such as seafarers.
Permeability of the rabbit placenta to precipitins and to typhoid agglutinins

In connection with various experiments concerned with the induction of defects in unborn young, it became imperative to determine whether or not, in rabbits, antibodies pass from the mother to the fetus through the placenta. Examination of the literature led only to confusion, since one found such placental transmission in mammals both positively affirmed and vigorously denied. As we have pointed out,' there are various factors that may be responsible for such differences in result, one of the most probable being the fact that the placental relationships of the young to the mother differ much in the different kinds of mammals. Thus, the pig has a diffuse type of placentation in which the chorionic villi are loosely associated with the uterine wall. The carnivora have a somewhat more intimate girdle-like or zonary type. Sheep, cows, and goats have a cotyledonary type in which the chorionic outgrowth comes in contact with the uterine mucosa in a number of separate places. In the rabbit and the guinea-pig, on the other hand, with discordal placenta, the connection between fetus and mother is, as in man, much more intimate. It is a well established fact, moreover, that young mammals2 may acquire antibodies from the milk of an immunized mother or foster mother; hence, to test the matter of placental transmission, all possibility of the young animal having suckled must be excluded.
Development of a Hot-Water Immersion Quarantine Treatment for Hawaiian-Grown ‘Brazilian’ Bananas

A 15-min, 50°C hot-water immersion treatment was developed as an alternative quarantine treatment to ethylene dibromide fumigation for ‘Brazilian’ variety bananas against the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), the melon fly, Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett, and the oriental fruit fly, D. dorsalis Hendel. The hot-water immersion disinfested ‘Brazilian’ variety bananas without detriment to either fruit quality or shelf life.
CITY WATER COMPREHENSIVE UTILIZATION DEPTH DENITROGENATION ENGINEERING RESEARCH AND PROJECT DEMONSTRATION

Analyzes in the city the water comprehensive utilization depth denitrogenation engineering research necessity and the significance,proposed that the aeration biology fluid bed(ABFT) the craft carries on the city the water depth denitrogenation research technical core,has obtained the ABFT craft in HRT1.5 h, designs NH3-N to shoulder 0.6 kgNH3-N/(m3.d),water leakage NH3-N is lower than 1.0 mg/L,NH3-N average elimination rate to reach as high as 95% stably,establishes in the 30 000 m3/d city the water comprehensive utilization demonstration project.
Study on Detecting Methods of Three Kinds of Food-borne Pathogenic Bacteria by Multiplex PCR

Objective To explore a fast,economical and practical multiplex PCR method which can detect three common food-borne bacterial pathogens simultaneously.Methods Three pairs of primers were designed respectively according to invasion protein A(invA,invasion plasmid antigen(ipaH)and thermolabile hemolysin(tlh),284bp,450bp and 606bp fragments was expected to be amplified by PCR.The specific and sensitive experiments were carried out to the amplification of single gene by PCR and Multiplex PCR amplification,and the reaction system were optimized,in order to establish a fast multiplex PCR method which can detect invA,ipaH and tlh simultaneously.Results Through the application of multiplex PCR technology,three common food-borne bacterial pathogens were detected within 16～18 hours from samples of meat products with Salmonella 42 cfu/g,shigella 36cfu/g and Vibrioparahaemolyticus 116cfu/g,which were processed by a series of steps,such as enrichment,DNA extraction,amplification and electrophoresis.The detection of 10 target stains and 15 non-target stains showed that this reaction system have a high specificity.Conclusion A rapid,specific,and sensitive multiplex PCR-based system for detecting Salmonella,shigella and Vibrioparahaemolyticus simultaneously has been initially established,it could be an effective method for detection of the pathogenetic germs for an outbreak of food poisoning.
The Presence of Gonadotropin and Prostaglandin E Receptors in the Cell Membranes of Bovine Corpora Lutea Throughout Pregnancy

These studies revealed that the cell membranes prepared from bovine corpora lutea contain receptors for both human chorionic gonadotropin and prostaglandin E throughout pregnancy. The presence of these receptors correlated well with the earlier findings that the corpus luteum remains functional and responds to gonadotropic stimulation throughout the bovine pregnancy. This contrasts with our earlier findings that human corpora lutea of pregnancy of more than 6 weeks contain very few or no available receptors for human chorionic gonadotropin or prostaglandin E.
75 Prevalence and motivations of sexting behaviour among African American Youth

Statement of purpose Sexting by youth has recently garnered much attention in popular media; and although some prior literature has begun to describe sexting experiences, limited research has been conducted among African American youth. Methods/approach Participants 14–20 years old were screened at an urban Emergency Department based on home address, as part of a larger intervention study. Participants self-administered a computerised survey consisting of validated measures for dating violence (CADRI), substance use (ASSIST), social support (MSPSS), and mindfulness (CAMM). “Sexting,” defined as using digital media (cell phones, social media, etc.) to “send, receive, and post online sexually suggestive (sexy), nude, or nearly nude pictures or video,” was adapted from 6-measures used in prior literature. Bivariate and Multivariate analyses were conducted predicting “Sexting” behaviour Results 335 youth were surveyed; 43.3% reported sexting behaviours/experiences in the past 2 months (55% female, 92% African American, 78% public assistance). Males were more likely to report sending (OR = 1.67) and posting sexually suggestive images of themselves (OR = 2.38), and were more likely to report having someone post these images of them online (OR = 2.22). Most reported sending/posting sexts to flirt (56.6%), with females more likely to endorse this behaviour (73.8%). Regression analyses found that physical dating violence (OR = 2.39), substance use (OR = 2.76), and more time on social network sites (OR = 1.09) were predictive of sexting behaviour; while higher mindfulness scores (OR = 0.97) and more social support (OR = 0.98) were protective against sexting involvement. Conclusions Sexting is common among high-risk youth, and while a youth’s motivation for sexting is often positive, “Sexting” behaviour is also associated with other high-risk behaviours, including dating violence and substance use. Additional research is needed to develop and implement potential interventions. Significance and contributions This study of sexting experiences is the first, to our knowledge, to be conducted in a non-school-based, predominantly African American youth population.
Abstract 52: NF-kB promotes a Warburg metabolic profile in pediatric sarcomas

In contrast to normal cells that use mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation for ATP production in aerobic conditions, many cancer cells depend on glycolysis even in the presence of sufficient oxygen. This process is known as aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect. Recent reports have shown that both the classical and alternative signaling pathways of NF-κB play important roles in controlling the metabolic profile of cancer and normal cells, respectively. However, how these signaling pathways affect the metabolism of pediatric sarcomas has not yet been explored. Here, we show NF-κB activity undergoes a shift in signaling from an alternative to a classical pathway in the genesis of sarcoma subtypes, rhabdomyosarcoma and osteosarcoma. Inhibition of classical NF-κB in sarcoma cells restores alternative signaling, as well as an oxidative metabolic phenotype in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, forced expression of the alternative pathway in rhabdomyosarcoma or in osteosarcoma cells is unable to reverse NF-κB classical activity, suggesting that the activation of the classical pathway in sarcomagenesis dominates over alternative signaling. Furthermore, we observed that inhibition of NF-κB in sarcoma cells reduced the expression of the glycolytic gene, hexokinase 2 (HK2). Through chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, we show that HK2 is a direct NF-κB target. Moreover, deletion of HK2 by using shRNA shifts the metabolic profile in sarcoma cells away from a warburg effect. These findings demonstrate a crucial role for classical NF-κB in sarcomagenesis and suggest that NF-κB metabolically reprograms sarcoma cells by regulating HK2. Citation Format: Yuichi Ijiri, Priya Londhe, Cheryl London, Peter J. Houghton, Denis C. Guttridge. NF-kB promotes a Warburg metabolic profile in pediatric sarcomas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 52.
C-Terminal Structure-Activity Relationships for the Novel Opioid Peptide JVA-901 (Venorphin)

We previously reported a novel kappa opioid receptor antagonist JVA 901, now named venorphin, which was designed as a chimeric construct of a cobra venom tetrapeptide and [D-Ala8]dynorphin A(1–11)NH2 [1]. The N-terminal region of this new peptide exhibits structure-activity relationships (SAR) distinctly different from that of [D-Ala8]dynorphin A(1–11)NH2 [2]. Herein we explore the SAR of the C-terminal region of venorphin.
THE DECLINE OF FOLKWAYS AND MORES

How can we account for the vicissitudes of sociological concepts? In a case study of the subject, I asked myself: what is happening to the concepts of folkways and mores? Acting on the impression that these formulations by William Graham Sumner are on the path to extinction, I looked into possible trends in their use by authors and editors of reference works and certain textbooks (including those for courses on symbolic interactionism). A curious pattern of use became evident: while a few types of works showed no decline over the years, most types showed decreasing use. I offer speculations about the differences. Examination of Sumner's writings in the two areas of social change and human conduct in general reveals probable sources of the observed declines. Moreover, another source is probably certain changes in the social characteristics of sociologists.
Real Career Education Comes from the Liberal Arts

Abstract “When a resolute fellow steps up to that great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find that the beard comes off in his hand, that it was only tied on to scare off timid adventurers.”
A comparison of water sampling and analytical methods in western Lake Erie.

Abstract Monitoring the water quality of large water bodies requires the efforts of many organizations. However, monitoring organizations often use a variety of sampling and/or analytical methods to measure important parameters such as chlorophyll a (chl a) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations that may result in incompatible data sets. In order to assess the compatibility of collection and analytical methods used in Lake Erie, we compared four water sampling methods in side-by-side fashion and conducted a round-robin comparison of field replicates that were analyzed for TP and chl a by several laboratories using several methods. For samples collected under mixing conditions, linear regressions among the four sampling methods resulted in nearly 1-to-1, highly correlated (R2 > 0.90) relationships. The methods were less compatible, however, when surface cyanobacterial scums were present. All TP data reported by the different laboratories were in agreement. Chl a data from 4 of the 6 laboratories were in agreement (
Genetic Twin Studies of Epilepsy Syndromes

The genetics of epilepsy syndromes was studied by an evaluation of 253 twin pairs at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHOLE VESSEL QUANTITATIVE PLAQUE CHARACTERISTICS AND NONINVASIVE FRACTIONAL FLOW RESERVE FROM CORONARY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY

Background: Automated coronary plaque analysis can provide comprehensive assessments of plaque characteristics in individual lesions and entire arteries. Segmental quantitative plaque characteristics have been shown to add to stenosis severity in predicting lesion-specific measures of ischemia using
A Comparison of Escalating Versus Fixed Reinforcement Schedules on Undergraduate Quiz Taking

Drug abstinence studies indicate that escalating reinforcement schedules maintain abstinence for longer periods than fixed reinforcement schedules. The current study evaluated whether escalating reinforcement schedules would maintain more quiz taking than fixed reinforcement schedules. During baseline and for the control group, bonus points were distributed on random days for attending class. Following baseline, students in the fixed reinforcement section received 5 bonus points for each quiz completed while students in the escalating reinforcement received 3 bonus points for the first quiz with an increase of 0 or 1 point for each consecutive quiz completed. Results indicated that the escalating reinforcement schedule maintained quiz taking significantly longer than the fixed reinforcement schedule. The control group took the fewest number of quizzes. Students with good attendance took significantly more quizzes under the escalating reinforcement schedule than students with good attendance exposed to the fixed reinforcement schedule or control condition. This study demonstrates a potential novel application for escalating reinforcement schedules. Results indicate that escalating reinforcement schedules may be successfully applied to academic settings, but more research is needed.
Defining Complexity in the Authoring Process for Adaptive Instruction

Adaptive instruction is computer-based training or education that is tailored to match the difficulty of the content to the states and traits of the learner. Since the individual differences of learners vary widely and contribute greatly to the adaptation decisions by the tutor, adaptive instructional systems (e.g., Intelligent Tutoring Systems – ITSs) need much more content and make many more instructional decisions than non-adaptive instructional systems that instruct all learners only based on their performance level (e.g., low, moderate, high) using identical instructional strategies. Since the authoring of adaptive instruction varies with the complexity of its content and instructional decisions, it is difficult to compare the efficiency of the adaptive instructional authoring tools and methods, and the effort and skill required to use them in the construction of ITSs. This paper puts forth a methodology to assess ITS complexity and operationalize it in an index to enable adaptive instructional scientists to compare authoring tools and methods. The baseline for this initial comparative index is the Generalized Intelligent Framework for Tutoring (GIFT) authoring tools.