cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cloning of full‐length zebrafish dcc and expression analysis during embryonic and early larval development

Members of the DCC family play key roles in axon guidance in vertebrates as well as invertebrates. In zebrafish, only a short partial sequence of the dcc gene has been reported to date. Here, we report the cloning of full-length zebrafish dcc. Zebrafish DCC shares the typical structure of the DCC subgroup of the immunoglobulin superfamily, consisting of four immunoglobulin and six fibronectin-type III repeats in the extracellular domain, a single transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain with three conserved motifs. As a first step toward studying the function of dcc, we analyzed its sequence and characterized its expression pattern during embryonic and larval development. dcc is expressed highly in brain and spinal cord, but distinct staining was also observed in developing pectoral fins, pancreas, intestine, and heart. Thus, dcc may play roles not only in axon guidance, but in morphogenesis and functioning of these organs as well.
Interaction of gatifloxacin with efflux transporters: A possible mechanism for drug resistance

The purpose of the study is to screen the interactions of fourth generation fluoroquinolone-gatifloxacin with efflux pumps, i.e., P-gp, MRP2 and BCRP. Mechanism of gatifloxacin interaction with efflux transporters may explain its acquired resistance. Such clarification may lead to the development of strategies to overcome efflux and enhance its bioavailability at target site. This process will aid in the reduction of dose volume, further eliminating the chances of systemic toxicity from topical gatifloxacin eye drops. MDCK cell lines transfected with the targeted efflux transporters were used for this study. [(14)C] Erythromycin was selected as a model substrate for P-gp and MRP2 whereas Hoechst 33342 was employed as a substrate for BCRP. Uptake and transport studies of these substrates were performed in the presence of gatifloxacin to delineate its interaction with efflux transporters. Further the efflux ratio in the presence of gatifloxacin was calculated from bidirectional transport studies. The concentration of [(14)C] erythromycin and Hoechst 33342 was measured using scintillation counter and fluorescence plate reader, respectively. A concentration dependent inhibition effect in the presence of gatifloxacin was revealed on [(14)C] erythromycin uptake. The efflux ratio (BL-AP/AP-BL) of substrates was found to approach unity at higher gatifloxacin concentrations. Increased concentration of gatifloxacin did not elevate uptake of Hoechst 33342. All these studies were validated with known inhibitors as positive control. Uptake and transport studies support the hypothesis that gatifloxacin is a substrate for P-gp, MRP2 but not for BCRP. Possible interactions of gatifloxacin with P-gp and MRP2 may be a possible mechanism for acquired resistance of gatifloxacin. This information can be further extended to design prodrugs or formulations in order to prevent development of acquired resistance and improve therapeutic efficacy with its reduction in side effects.
An experimental investigation into dynamic fracture: II. Microstructural aspects

This is the second of a series of four papers in which problems of dynamic crack propagation are examined experimentally in large, thin sheets of Homalite 100 simulating crack growth in an unbounded plate. In the first paper crack initiation resulting from stress wave loading to the crack tip and crack arrest were investigated. It was found that for increasing rates of loading in the micro second range, the stress intensity required for initiation rises markedly. Crack arrest occurs abruptly without any deceleration phase at a stress intensity below that value which causes initiation under quasi-static loading.
Comparative Analysis and Evaluation of Botnet Command and Control Models

Global Internet threats have undergone a profound transformation from attacks designed solely to disable infrastructure to those that also target people and organizations. At the center of many of these attacks are collections of compromised computers, or Botnets, remotely controlled by the attackers, and whose members are located in homes, schools, businesses, and governments around the world. This paper provides a brief look at how existing botnet research, the evolution and future of botnets, as well as a comparative analysis of the various bot communication methods and investigate their associated benefits and weaknesses. We propose a contemporary Multi Server Cnc topology in which only bots with static global IP addresses are eligible as candidates for being in the peer list. This design ensures that the peer list in each bot has long life time making it geographically optimized.
Communication requirements for crash avoidance

Safety applications are a driving force behind VANET deployment. Automobile manufacturers, government organizations, and consortia of the two have been investigating using VANETs for safety applications. Though VANETs are in large part designed for safety applications, researchers do not yet know the communication requirements of VANET safety messages. As a result, protocol designers have relied on generic network success metrics, such as packet delivery ratio, to evaluate their protocols. However, a more useful metric is the ability of currently proposed VANET schemes (e.g., for authentication, power control, etc.) to allow vehicles to receive safety messages and warn their drivers sufficiently in advance of an accident so that the driver can avoid the accident. Besides the basic safety message service, researchers have proposed other VANET mechanisms and services including mix zones [2, 5] and silent periods [18, 8, 17] to enhance vehicle privacy, intelligent transportation systems [24], and commercial applications [12]. However, these applications face a similar question: will a VANET be able to support these services and still achieve the safety goals for which the VANET was designed?Previous attempts at answering the above questions have been made using small test beds without any collisions and using vehicle kinematics and message reception probabilities. However, each of these approaches lack the realism (i.e., actual crashes) and scale that VANETs will have. In this paper, we present our results from simulating two vehicular safety applications. We simulated crash scenarios and determined the probability that vehicles could avoid the crashes. Additionally, we measured the communication requirements needed for those probabilities.
An immunofluorescent analysis of lectin binding to normal and regenerating skeletal muscle of rat

Ten different fluorescein-conjugated lectins of various known sugar specificities were used to study cell surface glycoconjugates of normal and regenerating rat skeletal muscle. In normal muscle, Canavalia ensiformis agglutinin, Triticum vulgaris agglutinin (wheat germ agglutinin, WGA), Ricinus communis agglutinin-I, and Maclura pomifera agglutinin bound strongly to the endomysial region of the myofibers. No binding was observed in the cytoplasm of the myofibers. Other lectins (Dolichos biflorus agglutinin, Griffonia simplifolia agglutinin I and II, Ulex europaeus agglutinin, Arachis hypogaea agglutinin, Glycine max agglutinin) bound very poorly or not at all in the normal muscle. Skeletal muscle degeneration and regeneration was induced by autotransplantation of the extensor digitorum longus muscle. In the transplanted muscles, the endomysial lectin binding of the degenerating myofibers became weak and lacked continuity, indicating a breakdown of the endomysium. Of all the lectins tested, only WGA revealed intense binding in the myogenic zone of regenerating muscle. As the regeneration progressed, this WGA binding became restricted to the new endomysium. In completely regenerated muscle, binding of all lectins was similar to that seen in normal muscle. The specific binding of WGA to the myogenic zone may be important in identifying factors or glycoconjugates, which constitute a favorable environment for skeletal muscle regeneration.
Functional profile of the isolated uremic nephron: Intrinsic adaptation of phosphate transport in the rabbit proximal tubule

The maintenance of phosphate homeostasis in uremia appears to be governed both by parathyroid hormone (PTH) and by PTH-independent adaptations in renal tubular function. The relative contributions of these two mechanisms that control phosphate excretion by the diseased kidney have been difficult to define in intact animals. The present study was designed to examine the nature of the adaptation of phosphate handling by the proximal tubule of subtotally nephrectomized, uremic rabbits in vitro. Euparathyroid and hyperparathyroid uremic rabbits were studied. Tubular sensitivity to PTH was examined in vitro. The dose-response relationship between bath PTH concentration and inhibition of lumen-to-bath phosphate flux (Jp-lb) in isolated perfused proximal straight tubules (PSTs) revealed that PTH sensitivity was increased in the euparathyroid uremic rabbits and was decreased in hyperparathyroid uremic rabbits. The dose-response to dibutyryl cAMP was the same as normal in both uremic groups. These data strongly suggest the existence of a receptor-mediated adaptation in the effects of PTH on the uremic proximal tubule. In addition to an altered PTH-sensitivity the uremic PST also exhibited an alteration in the basal rate of phosphate transport studied in the presence of normal rabbit serum. Although net volume flux across the PST increased in both uremic groups as a possible consequence of hypertrophy, net phosphate flux per unit length was unchanged. Considering the increase of luminal area in these tubules, net phosphate flux per unit reabsorptive surface area was actually decreased. This dissociation is supportive of the existence of an intrinsic tubular adaptation which is independent of the size of the tubule per se. These studies indicate that there is an intrinsic adaptation of the basal rate of phosphate transport by the uremic rabbit proximal tubule and that the sensitivity of the tubule to PTH is altered. The data are strongly suggestive of an increase in the number of PTH receptors in the proximal tubule of the euparathyroid uremic rabbit and suggest that "down regulation" or persistent occupancy of these receptors occurs when hyperparathyroidism supervenes.
Method of Sampling Seaward Migrations of Juvenile Salmon

Abstract A new method of sampling seaward migrations of juvenile Pacific salmon was designed and operated in the lower Quinault River, Washington. This method was used successfully to sample smolts of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), yearling coho salmon (O. kisutch), and fry of chum salmon (O. keta) during 1974. The sampling apparatus consisted of a net with a submersible live tank that was sent rapidly above water to any desired location across the river, immersed, and fished by means of a supporting cable and two driven lines which were operated from one shore. An automobile with gypsyheads bolted to the rear wheels supplied mechanical power and flood lighting of the river during nighttime operation. The apparatus was relatively inexpensive and easy for one person to operate.
A Stochastic Differential Equation Model with Jumps for Fractional Advection and Dispersion

The path of a tracer particle through a porous medium is typically modeled by a stochastic differential equation (SDE) driven by Brownian noise. This model may not be adequate for highly heterogeneous media. This paper extends the model to a general SDE driven by a Levy noise. Particle paths follow a Markov process with long jumps. Their transition probability density solves a forward equation derived here via pseudo-differential operator theory and Fourier analysis. In particular, the SDE with stable driving noise has a space-fractional advection-dispersion equation (fADE) with variable coefficients as the forward equation. This result provides a stochastic solution to anomalous diffusion models, and a solid mathematical foundation for particle tracking codes already in use for fractional advection equations.
A numerical model of circulation in a continental shelf-silled fjord coupled system

A numerical model of continental shelf-silled fjord coupled systems was constructed motivated by the great range of oxic and anoxic fjord deep water conditions, and bottom water renewal processes found in silled estuaries. The model is a cross-sectional, time dependent, non-linear, finite-difference model that includes friction, stratification and topography but assumes no longshore propagation or advection. While the model is of a general nature, this study considers a specific case of a high latitude subarctic fjord opening on to the Gulf of Alaska shelf. The experiments simulating fjord circulation focus on bottom water renewal, include modeling the inflow of denser shelf water over the sill into the fjord basin by both static (initial conditions) and dynamic processes (freshwater inflow and long-fjord winds inside the fjord, and longshore winds on the adjacent shelf). The results of the modeling experiments suggest that Coriolis force should be considered in modeling narrow fjord basins. Winds within the fjord are important in the surface circulation but in the statified case, have little effect on deep circulation. The effect of freshwater inflow to Resurrection Bay is shown to be minimal. Meteorological forcing of hydrographic conditions on the adjacent shelf (coastal upwelling and downwelling) greatly affects fjord wide circulation, especially bottom water circulation and renewal. The results suggest that deep-water renewal is nearly continuous year around although the driving forces (e.g. wind driven coastal upwelling and downwelling) and associated results (e.g. variations in hydrography) are strongly seasonal. Comparison of hydrographic, meteorological and current data from the Resurrection Bay-continental shelf system with the model results show agreement.
Mechanisms of size control.

Abstract The study of organ size control is a discipline of developmental biology that is largely unexplored. Although the size of an organ or organism depends largely on cell numbers and cell size, studies have found that the simple deregulation of cell proliferation or cell growth does not necessarily lead to changes in organ size. Recent genetic screens in Drosophila suggest that mutations that do affect organ size can be classified into three broad categories on the basis of their underlying effects: patterning, proliferation, and growth. Overall, experimental data suggest that organ size might be regulated by a ‘total mass checkpoint’ mechanism which functions to link the regulation of cell size and cell proliferation. The mechanisms of organ size control could also be critical targets for evolutionary events or disease processes such as tumorigenesis.
USE OF SCROTAL SKIN TO COVER CUTANEOUS DEFECTS RESULTING FROM PALLIATIVE LYMPH NODE DISSECTIONS IN GROIN AND SUPRAPUBIC AREA

Scrotal skin was employed to cover skin defects resulting from palliative groin and suprapubic dissections designed to remove large masses of tumor which had eroded the skin. This technique provides a simple and effective alternative to more complex procedures using rotational skin and myocutaneous flaps to achieve primary skin closure in similar circumstances.
Prolonged somatostatin pretreatment desensitizes somatostatin's inhibition of receptor-mediated release of adrenocorticotropin hormone and sensitizes adenylate cyclase.

Addition of somatostatin-14 (SRIF) inhibits corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP formation and ACTH release from tumor cells of themouse anterior pituitary (AtT–20/Dl6–16). After long-term pretreatment of these cells with SRIF, the ability of SRIF to inhibit CRFand forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation or ACTH secretion is markedly reduced. SRIF pretreatment also increases the formation of cyclic AMP in response to forskolin. This increase is delayed in onset, slow to recover,and blocked by the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. SRIF pretreatment did not affect basal cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels or phosphodiesterase activity. It is proposed that prolonged treatment of AtT–20cells with SRIF desensitizes SRIF receptors and induces a compensatory sensitization of adenylate cyclase through a process requiring protein synthesis.
alpha-Fetoprotein: studies of tumor-associated antigen cytotoxicity in mouse hepatoma BW7756.

Abstract Mouse hepatoma BW7756, a primary hepatocellular carcinoma of spontaneous origin, has been presently employed as a tumor cell model for the in vitro study of tumor-associated antigen (TAA) cytotoxicity. α-Fetoprotein (AFP) of hepatoma origin and its homologous rabbit antisera, both with and without complement, were utilized in the TAA cytotoxic reaction. The cell killing effect, demonstrated by a cytotoxic antibody assay, was not complement dependent; however, the addition of extrinsic complement potentiated the cytotoxic effect. The target cell specificity of the anti-AFP serum for the target cells was demonstrated by the substitution of mouse leukemia L 1210 cells in lieu of the hepatoma cells. In addition, rabbit anti-AFP serum fractionated into its γ-globulin components retained 90% of its cytotoxic properties. Cytotoxic activity of the antiserum could not be abrogated by absorption with normal mouse cells and repetitive washings of the tumor cells failed to diminish the cytotoxicity. Incubation of the tumor cells in mouse tumor postexcision sera was capable of inhibiting the cytotoxic effect. Finally, immuno-fluorescent localization studies revealed that AFP resided at the cell surface as well as in the cytoplasm of mouse hepatoma cells. The supposition that AFP is membrane-associated with regard to the mouse hepatoma cell is intrinsic to the present report.
A Peculiar Result and a Fanciful Hypothesis Regarding l-Arginine

To the Editor: In the January 2003 issue of this Journal, Chen et al1 observed that l-arginine supplementation did not affect lesion formation in the hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E knockout mice, and it negated the protective effect that iNOS gene deficiency has in this model. Their findings are discordant with those observed in most other hypercholesterolemic models in which the administration of supplemental l-arginine improves vasodilation, increases endothelial synthesis of NO, reduces the generation of superoxide anion, suppresses the activation of oxidant sensitive transcriptional proteins, and reduces monocyte adhesion, infiltration, and lesion formation.2–7⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓ In most hypercholesterolemic models, l-arginine appears to be rate-limiting for the synthesis of NO. This may be due to increases in plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA, an endogenous NOS inhibitor), expression of tissue arginase, or NO synthase uncoupling.8–10⇓⇓ Attempting to explain the results of Chen et al, in his editorial Loscalzo11 proposes the fanciful hypothesis that supplemental l-arginine could increase plasma levels of homocyst(e)ine, a substance known to induce endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Unfortunately, this hypothesis lacks any mechanistic basis or experimental support. Loscalzo notes correctly that l-arginine is a precursor for guanidinoacetate (GAA), a reaction catalyzed by l-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT). The methylation of GAA by s-adenosylmethionine yields creatine and …
Counting Trash in Poker

On a regular basis, faculty members from the University of North Dakota (UND) get together to relax and socialize, that is, play poker. This paper grew out of an occurrence at one of our games. First, we cover the necessary background material and then describe how this work came about. Next we discuss poker with hands of two or three cards and show that they are not natural for the standard 52-card poker deck or any possible deck variation. Finally we investigate poker hands with 4 or more cards and determine all deck parameters that lead to interesting games. You might use one of these variations to add spice to your regular poker night.
Neuron-specific enolase-like immunoreactivity in inner hair cells but not outer hair cells in the guinea pig organ of Corti

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) has been localized only in neurons and cells with characteristics of neurons. The immunocytochemical localization of NSE was examined in guinea pig cochleae to determine if hair cells, which have some neuronal characteristics, would show NSE-like immunoreactive labeling. NSE-like immunoreactivity was seen in inner hair cells but not in outer hair cells. This is the first report of NSE-like immunoreactivity in a receptor cell. NSE-like immunoreactivity was also seen in efferent fibers and terminals and in both type I and type II spiral ganglion cells. The finding of NSE-like immunoreactivity in inner but not outer cells adds to the number of differences found between them and may be related to differences in function and action.
CD8(+) T-cell homeostasis after infection: setting the 'curve'.

Antigen (Ag)-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses exhibit remarkably similar kinetics after different types of infection. Starting from levels that are virtually undetectable in vivo, pathogen-specific naive CD8(+) T cells are precisely regulated to go through rapid expansion and contraction (death) phases, achieving memory levels of Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells that are maintained for the life of the host. However, the exact mechanisms used to achieve appropriate and reproducible CD8(+) T-cell homeostasis in response to diverse pathogens remain to be determined. The possibility that early events after infection regulate major features of Ag-specific CD8(+) T-cell homeostasis will be discussed here.
Radiation tolerance of the spinal cord previously-damaged by tumor and operation: Long term neurological improvement and time-dose-volume relationships after irradiation of intraspinal gliomas

Of 26 patients with intramedullary spinal cord gliomas (9 astrocytomas, 5 glioblastomas, 12 ependymomas) seen at the Massachusetts General Hospital from 1962--1980, 24 were irradiated (21 initially and 3 after post-surgical recurrence). Those 19 patients who survived at least 1 year after completion of irradiation were evaluated for post-irradiation neurological changes. No patient developed radiation myelopathy. Return to a permanently and completely normal neurological status occurred for 33/51 (65%) of pre-irradiation neurological deficits. The major cause of post-irradiation neurological deterioration was tumor recurrence. Although 18/19 patients had their thoracic or lumbar spinal cords irradiated, each with field sizes greater than 10 cm, spinal cord doses approaching, equalling, or occasionally exceeding various definitions of spinal cord tolerance were tolerated well without evidence of radiation myelopathy. Spinal cords of patients with intramedullary gliomas, often with major neurological deficits prior to irradiation, may be treated safely to doses approaching or equalling spinal cord tolerance levels. These doses are expected to locally control most ependymomas and astrocytomas without an increased risk of radiation myelopathy. Caution should be observed if doses higher than this are contemplated in an attempt to cure a glioblastoma, because the 5% tolerance level of the damaged spinal cord remains to be defined.
Basal-like breast cancer: update on clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features.

Context.—Basal-like breast carcinoma (BLBC) is a distinct molecular subtype of breast carcinoma identified through gene expression profiling studies. Objective.—To provide the clinical background, ...
Majority World Health Care Traditions Intersect Indigenous and Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Consider the case (Mpofu, 2003) in which an 8‐year‐old African child with early‐onset conduct disorder was believed by his family to be “acting out” because his departed mother’s spirit had not bee...
Screening and evaluation of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems in patients presenting with upper extremity impairments.

Abstract Narrative Review Given the prevalence of cardiovascular and pulmonary (CV-P) disease, it is likely that a substantial portion of patients seeking services from hand therapists have diagnosed or yet to be diagnosed disease in one or both of these systems. Pain originating from these systems is more common in the chest, shoulder, and scapular regions, but both systems can refer pain into the medial aspect of the forearm and hand. Pancoast's tumors of the lung, myocardial ischemia, and myocardial infarction are examples of specific pathologies capable of referring pain into these upper extremity regions. Another concern for the hand therapist is that upper extremity exercise is more stressful on the cardiovascular system than lower extremity exercise. Because of this, hand therapists need to be able to recognize when to discontinue or modify exercise interventions based on inappropriate cardiovascular system responses. Thus, the purpose of this review is to present 1) screening for potential pathology in the CV-P systems, 2) methods typically available to hand therapists for monitoring these systems, 3) criteria that indicate the need for therapy modification or medical referral, and 4) symptomatology of some common cardiac and pulmonary pathologic conditions the hand therapist may encounter. Level of Evidence 5.
Distribution of gelatinous fibers in seedling roots of living cycads

UNLABELLED • PREMISE OF THE STUDY The presence of gelatinous (tension) fibers (GFs) in the roots of two extant cycadales (Cycas and Zamia) in a recent publication raises interesting issues of GF distribution in seed plants. An immediate question that arises from this discovery is whether GFs occur consistently in the radicle of all extant cycad genera and therefore might have a similar role in root contraction. We present results of a survey of nursery-grown material of all 10 genera.• METHODS We sequentially sectioned seedling root material and used simple staining and histochemical methods to follow anatomical changes along the radicle of all 10 genera.• KEY RESULTS We found GFs in nine genera; Stangeria appears to be the only genus without them. In all genera, there is a wide variation in the number of GFs and also variation in the development of thickened, fleshy roots. "Tertiary expansion" is a useful term to describe late cell division and enlargement of both primary and secondary parenchyma, the latter produced by the vascular cambium. Certain other histological features can be diagnostically useful at the generic level.• CONCLUSIONS The functional interpretation of GFs as being wholly responsible for apparent tissue contraction is now somewhat compromised, especially as distortion of tracheary elements by changes in dimensions of parenchyma cells can falsely suggest root contraction when it may not occur. These preliminary results point the way to a more precise investigation of study material grown in more uniform environments using advanced technological methods.
A Multiscale Adaptive Network Model of Motion Computation in Primates

We demonstrate a multiscale adaptive network model of motion computation in primate area MT. The model consists of two stages: (1) local velocities are measured across multiple spatio-temporal channels, and (2) the optical flow field is computed by a network of direction-selective neurons at multiple spatial resolutions. This model embeds the computational efficiency of Multigrid algorithms within a parallel network as well as adaptively computes the most reliable estimate of the flow field across different spatial scales. Our model neurons show the same nonclassical receptive field properties as Allman's type I MT neurons. Since local velocities are measured across multiple channels, various channels often provide conflicting measurements to the network. We have incorporated a veto scheme for conflict resolution. This mechanism provides a novel explanation for the spatial frequency dependency of the psychophysical phenomenon called Motion Capture.
COMPUTERIZED SYSTEMS FOR COLLECTING REAL-TIME OBSERVATIONAL DATA

Advances in computer technology have led to the development of a number of semiautomated systems for collecting real-time observational data. We conducted a survey of 15 developers of computerized systems and summarized the features of each system. Many of these systems have incorporated laptop or handheld computers as well as bar-code scanners. Most systems used IBM-compatible (DOS or Windows) software, although a few were designed for either the MacOS or some other operating system. The range in prices started from free to more complete systems costing over $1,500. Data analysis programs were included with most programs; however, only about a third of the systems included a program to compute interobserver agreement.
Web-based course information system supporting accreditation

An outcome-based assessment process has become a critical aspect of accreditation and program evolution in many universities. Transitioning to outcome- based processes pushes universities to document, coordinate, and maintain additional information. While these processes can improve course and program offerings, the added burden of managing the process and maintaining additional documentation stresses resources in most departments. This paper discusses a web-based database driven software system called Course Information System supporting Accreditation (CISA) developed for the Division of Computing Studies at Arizona State University to facilitate accreditation process by maintaining course and program objective/outcome information together with relationships among this descriptive information. Web pages provide public and password-protected user interfaces for viewing and maintaining course information, program information and the relationships among this information. The paper does not presume specific measures, but it does suggest an approach that works well with typical academic roles and responsibilities. The paper also describes the software design of our system, together with the technologies used in its implementation, in a manner supporting others who wish to adopt the system.
Node Immunization on Large Graphs: Theory and Algorithms

Given a large graph, like a computer communication network, which $k$ nodes should we immunize (or monitor, or remove), to make it as robust as possible against a computer virus attack? This problem, referred to as the node immunization problem, is the core building block in many high-impact applications, ranging from public health, cybersecurity to viral marketing. A central component in node immunization is to find the best $k$ bridges of a given graph. In this setting, we typically want to determine the relative importance of a node (or a set of nodes) within the graph, for example, how valuable (as a bridge) a person or a group of persons is in a social network. First of all, we propose a novel ‘bridging’ score $\Delta \lambda$ , inspired by immunology, and we show that its results agree with intuition for several realistic settings. Since the straightforward way to compute $\Delta \lambda$ is computationally intractable, we then focus on the computational issues and propose a surprisingly efficient way ( $O(nk^2+m)$ ) to estimate it. Experimental results on real graphs show that (1) the proposed ‘bridging’ score gives mining results consistent with intuition; and (2) the proposed fast solution is up to seven orders of magnitude faster than straightforward alternatives.
The Small Business Institute Program" High Impact Entrepreneurship Education

Small, entrepreneurial, and family businesses have long been regarded as important contributors to the growth of a nation "s business activity and development. as well as a significant driving force in the nation "s overall economic health and stability. As such. business schools are becoming increasingly aware of the need to develop programs which are: I) tailored to the specific needs of students who represent the next generation of small, entrepreneurial, and family business owners; and 2) focused on the needs of the firm owners themselves. In recent years, business schools Worldwide have begun to develop, refine, and implement faculty-directed, student-based consulting programs as a teaching/learning tool in their undergraduate and MBA programs to address this dual need This paper traces the past, present and future path of one such program: the highly successful faculty-guided, student-based Small Business Institute™ (SB/) field case consultation program. The role of the Small Business Institute Directors' Association (SB/DA) is also discussed in terms of it role in facilitating the ongoing impact of entrepreneurship education as we head into the 2 I st century.
Understanding and effectively addressing breast cancer in African American women: unpacking the social context.

Black women have a higher incidence of breast cancer before the age of 40 years, more severe disease at all ages, and an elevated mortality risk in comparison with white women. There is limited understanding of the contribution of social factors to these patterns. Elucidating the role of the social determinants of health in breast cancer disparities requires greater attention to how risk factors for breast cancer unfold over the lifecourse and to the complex ways in which socioeconomic status and racism shape exposure to psychosocial, physical, chemical, and other individual and community-level assaults that increase the risk of breast cancer. Research that takes seriously the social context in which black women live is also needed to maximize the opportunities to prevent breast cancer in this underserved group. Cancer 2016;122:2138-49. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Screening for Celiac Disease in a Pediatric Primary Care Setting

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy in genetically predisposed individuals triggered by the ingestion of gluten. The prevalence in adults in the United States is increasing. Despite recognition of asymptomatic patients that benefit from screening and improved diagnostics, the majority of patients remain undiagnosed. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of CD in at-risk and not-at-risk pediatric patients in a primary care practice routinely screening for CD. The records of 2325 pediatric patients who underwent serological testing with immunoglobulin A tissue transglutaminase (tTG) during a 5-year period were reviewed. Patients were categorized as at-risk or not-at-risk for CD. The prevalence of CD in at-risk patients was 1:26, the prevalence of CD in not-at-risk patients was 1:111. Our results suggest that the prevalence of CD in children approximates that of US adults and that the true prevalence in children without known risk factors may be increasing.
Obstructive jaundice in autoimmune pancreatitis can be safely treated with corticosteroids alone without biliary stenting

Abstract Objective Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) responds dramatically to corticosteroids treatment. We reviewed our experience to determine the safety and effectiveness of treating obstructive jaundice in definitive AIP with corticosteroids alone without biliary stenting. Methods From our AIP database, we retrospectively identified type 1 AIP subjects whose jaundice was treated with corticosteroids alone without biliary stenting. Their medical records were reviewed and clinical data were evaluated to determine the outcomes. Results Fifteen AIP subjects (87% male, mean age 68.4 years) were treated with corticosteroids at initial presentation (n = 8), first (n = 5) or subsequent (n = 2) relapse. Mean values (upper limit of normal, ULN) of liver tests prior to corticosteroids were aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 203.5u/l (4 × ULN), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 325.8u/l (6 × ULN), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 567.4u/l (5 × ULN), and total bilirubin (TB) 5.9 mg/dl (5.9 × ULN). At first follow-up (mean 4 days) the decrease was 54.9% for AST, 51.6% for ALT, 33% for ALP and 47.2% for TB (all p 1.5 × ULN, 1/15 had ALP > 1.5 × ULN, 1/15 had TB > 1.5 × ULN. No patient required biliary stent placement, or developed cholangitis or other infectious complications during steroid treatment. Conclusion Under the supervision of an experienced pancreatologist and with close monitoring of patients, obstructive jaundice secondary to definitive AIP can be safely and effectively managed with corticosteroids alone, without the need for biliary stenting.
Computational Analysis of the Ultra Compact Combustor

In an effort to increase thrust per weight ratio and decrease pollutant emissions of jet engines, a circumferentially burning Ultra Compact Combustor(UCC) with a Cavity-in-aCavity design has been developed. A numerical analysis of this design has been conducted and compared with experimental results to verify the numerical model which was then used to optimize the design of the UCC cycle/components. A commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) package was used throughout the process to model the flow and combustion process through the combustor. The CFD results compared favorably with the experimental results over a wide range of inlet pressures and temperatures, as well as pressure drops and equivalence ratios, to serve as a validation of the CFD model. The CFD model has been verified through a wide range of conditions and two alternative physical configurations of the UCC have been modeled. The first configuration consisted of an increased outflow area while the second tested the impact of maintaining mass flow rate into the cavity while decreasing the velocity. These various configurations were compared as an initial step leading to an optimization the design, using emissions indices and pressure drop values as comparison parameters. Results of this analysis are the first step in producing an optimized UCC design. They indicate that increasing the outflow area will not have a substantial effect on the pressure drop and may actually decrease the combustor efficiency. It was also determined that a significant decrease in the cavity circumferential velocity effectively reduces the pressure drop over the combustor but has the negative impact of increasing the pollutant emissions substantially.
Digital Image Processing: Towards Bayesian image analysis

Many of the tasks encountered in image processing can be considered as problems in statistical inference. In particular, they fit naturally into a subjectivist Bayesian framework. In this paper, we describe the Bayesian approach to image analysis. Numerical examples are not included but can be found among the references, in the previous Special Issue of this Journal and elsewhere. It is argued that the Bayesian approach, still in its infancy, has considerable potential for future development.
Whistleblower or Traitor: Edward Snowden, Daniel Ellsberg and the Power of Media Celebrity

During the spring and summer of 2013, an American citizen drew international attention after deliberately leaking to journalists classified documents pertaining to the operations of the National Security Agency. Edward Snowden soon became a polarizing figure; privacy advocates hailed him a hero and government officials labeled him a criminal. Snowden fled the U.S. for Hong Kong, where he stayed for a couple weeks before flying to Russia. After a one-month ordeal in which he remained in legal limbo, Snowden was granted temporary asylum by the Russian government. Snowdenâs case – correctly or not – drew comparisons to Daniel Ellsberg, another American citizen who more than 40 years ago handed over to journalists classified documents pertaining to the U.S. war effort in Vietnam. The “Pentagon Papers” case led to Ellsberg being called a hero by those people and groups that saw U.S. military policies as failed and a traitor by those people and groups that believed undermining the military effort was akin to treason. Charged with multiple crimes, Ellsberg walked out of court a free man after all charges against him were dismissed by a judge. Today, Ellsberg remains in the U.S. (something Snowden refused to do), and he is still speaking out on government efforts to hide information from the American people. This paper suggests that Ellsberg was viewed more as an “American” figure while Snowden was seen as an “international” figure. And the changing media environment – brought on by economic and technological forces – over the past couple decades explains why. This paper argues that the transformation of media agencies that must focus more on audience expectations, global commercial pressures and personality-driven information ensured news agencies paid more attention to Snowden the person rather than his actions. In short, media capitalized on him as a person so as to ensure the largest possible audiences for their stories.
The organization of societal conflicts by pavement ants Tetramorium caespitum : an agent-based model of amine-mediated decision making.

Ant colonies self-organize to solve complex problems despite the simplicity of an individual ant’s brain. Pavement ant Tetramorium caespitum colonies must solve the problem of defending the territory that they patrol in search of energetically rich forage. When members of 2 colonies randomly interact at the territory boundary a decision to fight occurs when: 1) there is a mismatch in nestmate recognition cues and 2) each ant has a recent history of high interaction rates with nestmate ants. Instead of fighting, some ants will decide to recruit more workers from the nest to the fighting location, and in this way a positive feedback mediates the development of colony wide wars. In ants, the monoamines serotonin (5-HT) and octopamine (OA) modulate many behaviors associated with colony organization and in particular behaviors associated with nestmate recognition and aggression. In this article, we develop and explore an agent-based model that conceptualizes how individual changes in brain concentrations of 5-HT and OA, paired with a simple threshold-based decision rule, can lead to the development of colony wide warfare. Model simulations do lead to the development of warfare with 91% of ants fighting at the end of 1 h. When conducting a sensitivity analysis, we determined that uncertainty in monoamine concentration signal decay influences the behavior of the model more than uncertainty in the decision-making rule or density. We conclude that pavement ant behavior is consistent with the detection of interaction rate through a single timed interval rather than integration of multiple interactions.
Techniques of Proximal Root Reconstruction and Outcomes Following Repair of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

BACKGROUND The goal of this study was to compare the early and late outcomes of different techniques of proximal root reconstruction during the repair of acute Type A aortic dissection, including aortic valve (AV) resuspension, aortic valve replacement (AVR), and a root replacement procedure. METHODS All patients who underwent acute Type A aortic dissection repair between January 2000 and October 2010 at four academic institutions were compiled from each institution's Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database. This included 189 patients who underwent a concomitant aortic valve (AV) procedure; 111, 21, and 57 patients underwent AV resuspension, AVR, and the Bentall procedure, respectively. The median age of patients undergoing a root replacement procedure was significantly younger than the other two groups. Early clinical outcomes and 10-year actuarial survival rates were compared. Trends in outcomes and surgical techniques throughout the duration of the study were also analyzed. RESULTS The operative mortality rates were 17%, 29%, and 18%, for AV resuspension, AVR, and root replacement, respectively. Operative mortality (p = 0.459) was comparable between groups. Hemorrhage related re-exploration did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.182); however, root replacement procedures tended to have decreased rates of bleeding when compared to AVR (p = 0.067). The 10-year actuarial survival rates for the AV resuspension, Bentall, and AVR groups were 72%, 56%, and 36%, respectively (log-rank p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS The 10-year actuarial survival was significantly lower in those receiving AVR compared to those receiving root replacement procedures or AV resuspension. Operative mortality was comparable between the three groups.
A point cloud model and its data organization of mine tunnel

Regarding the visualization effect of 3Dpoint cloud data of mine tunnel,this paper proposed a multi-resolution model of massive 3Ddata and its data organization based on the extended quadtree and the consideration of visualization effect.By researching the multi-resolution LOD selection algorithm in detail,it developed a plug-in of the point cloud data layer by using Visual Studio 2005and MapGIS TDE for displaying the model.The experiments proved that this method could quickly establish the model to meet the visualization requirements of mass 3Dpoint cloud data of mine tunnel.
Die Bedeutung des Schlafs für gesunde Alkoholkonsumenten und alkoholabhängige Patienten

This article deals with the effects of alcohol on sleep and sleep EEG of healthy individuals and alcohol-dependent patients during different phases of alcohol dependency. Healthy individuals initially experience an improvement in sleep, although a greater quantity of alcohol can lead to problems of sleep maintenance during the second half of the night. Pre-existing sleep deprivation or sleep restriction potentiates the effects of alcohol. Alcohol-dependent patients are found to be more prone to sleep problems than healthy individuals, which can facilitate the development of alcoholism. These patients experience difficulty falling asleep and suffer from a reduced total sleep time during all phases of the disorder, often accompanied by other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea syndrome or periodic leg movements during sleep. Certain predictors for the risk of relapse in abstinent alcoholics have been identified. Neurobiological findings in sleep and alcohol dependency are discussed. The cholinergic-aminergic reciprocal interaction model of REM and non-REM sleep regulation is significant in this context. Therapeutic implications are discussed.
Einstein and the atomic clock

The anniversary of Einstein's death on 18 April 1955 brings back the memory of a chat we had with him shortly before he died. It is a tale that began just before the US entered the Second World War, when I I Rabi and collaborators at Columbia University developed a method known as atomic beam magnetic resonance (ABMR). The high precision of ABMR immediately suggested a fundamental application: the laboratory measurement of gravitational red-shift, which Einstein had predicted back in 1907. The idea was to compare the times kept by these "atomic clocks" at two points in a varying gravitational field. As Norman Ramsey, who was then one of Rabi's graduate students, recollects, the plan was to put one clock on the top of a mountain and one at the bottom of a mine shaft. "I know what will happen – I'll inherit the bottom of the mine shaft while my colleagues, Jerrold Zacharias and Rabi, are up on the mountain-top enjoying the view!"
Diabetes and Lower Extremity Amputation

Lower extremity amputation is required for a significant percentage of diabetic patients to control diabetic foot disease. Diabetics are prone to lower extremity ischemia, ulceration, infection, and gangrene. Despite medical and surgical advances, the mortality and morbidity rates for major amputations remain quite high. Clinical judgment and diagnostic testing can aid in the determination of the most appropriate procedure to treat infection, maintain limb length, and ultimately facilitate rehabilitation.