cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Local Neighborhoods for the Multidimensional Assignment Problem

The Multidimensional Assignment Problem (MAP) is an extension of the two-dimensional assignment problem in which we find an optimal matching of elements between mutually exclusive sets. Although the two-dimensional assignment problem is solvable in polynomial time, extending the problem to three dimensions makes it \(\mathcal {NP}\)-complete. The computational time to find an optimal solution of an MAP with at least three dimensions grows exponentially with the number of dimensions and factorially with the dimension size. Perhaps the most difficult implementation of the MAP is the data association problem that arises in multisensor multitarget tracking. We define new local search neighborhoods using the permutation formulation of the multidimensional assignment problem, where the feasible domain is defined by permutation vectors. Two types of neighborhoods are discussed, the intrapermutation and the interpermutation k-exchange. If the exchanges are restricted to elements within a single permutation vector, we classify the moves as intrapermutation. Interpermutation exchanges move elements from one permutation vector to another. Since combinatorial optimization heuristics tend to get trapped in local minima, we also discuss variable neighborhood implementations based on the new local search neighborhoods.
Anforderungen von Nicht-Standard-Anwendungen an ein Datenbanksystem

Herkommliche (traditionelle) Datenbanksysteme sind in erster Linie fur den Einsatz im administrativbetriebswirtschaftlichen Bereich ausgelegt [HaRe83a]. Die Entwicklung im Datenbankbereich geht in den letzten Jahren immer mehr dahin, das ein Datenbanksystem auch sogenannte Nicht-Standard-Anwendungen wie CAD/CAM, Robotik, Kunstliche Intelligenz usw. unterstutzen soll [B1Pi85, ScSc87, Ditt88, Lutt88]. Die Benutzung von Datenbanken im Bereich der Nicht-Standard-Anwendungen fuhrt zu zahlreichen neuen Anforderungen. Zu den wichtigsten zahlen die Verwaltung von komplexen Objekten, die Unterstutzung von Workstation-Server-Umgebungen mit langen Transaktionen, die Unterstutzung von Indexen auf komplexen Objekten sowie die Unterstutzung von benutzerdefinierten Datentypen und benutzerdefinierten Funktionen [HaLo82, LoP183, BaBu84, Lori85, KDG87, HHMM88].
Factors Affecting Investment Strategies for the Disposition of Industrial Hazardous Waste

The purpose of this chapter is to examine some of the factors which should go into calculating the type and amount of hazardous waste, look at some of the more common methods used today to dispose of it, and suggest some alternatives that might be more cost-effective in the long run, especially in states like the FSU countries.
Layout and Planning of a University Hospital Clinical Cyclotron/PET Facility

This paper describes the layout and planning of one of the most space efficient clinical PET centers built to date. It occupies 2250 square feet (NSF) of space. The RDS 112 self-shielded cyclotron and the chiller unit occupy about 650 NSF while the PET imaging section, containing the scanner room, ECAT control and computer rooms, receptionist office space, two patient preparation rooms, scan reading room and a break room occupy a total of 1010 NSF. Radiochemistry/pharmacy has only 590 NSF which includes office spaces for chemist, pharmacist, trainees and computers for cyclotron operation and patient management. The principal challenge was to build the radiochemistry facility in less than 300 NSF while remaining in compliance with OSHA, FDA and radiation safety regulations. This space is now occupied by two hot cells, a laminar flow hood for sterile preparation and pyrogen testing, a fume hood for dose drawing and HPLC/TLC preparation area, a radio-TLC scanner, two radio-HPLC and one radio-GC stations, a balance, an oven, a refrigerator, a dishwasher and a double sink with a DI water setup. We have been operating the facility since April, 1992 and are routinely producing 150–200 mCi of 18FDG and 20–25 mCi of 13NH3 with 98+ percent radiochemical purity and zero pyrogen level. In a typical production day the radiation levels vary from 0.1 to 2 mR/hr. The advantages and disadvantages of the layout are discussed.
Smart and Fast Data Processing for Deep Learning in Internet of Things: Less is More

Recent advances of deep learning have produced encouraging results comparable to and in some cases superior to human experts. However, the large amount of data input has been a daunting task for deep learning to be widely applied in Internet of Things (IoT) with real-time processing. The goal of this paper is to develop smart and fast data processing scheme for more computational efficient deep learning to support adaptive and real-time applications, which will be able to increase the spectrum and energy efficiency in IoT. We propose to apply singular-value decomposition (SVD)-QR algorithm to preprocessing of deep learning for large scale data input. For the mass data input, we apply limited memory subspace optimization for SVD (LMSVD)-QR algorithm to increase the data processing speed. Simulation results in automated handwritten digit recognition show that SVD-QR and LMSVD-QR can tremendously reduce the number of input to deep learning neural network without losing its performance, and both can tremendously increase the data processing speed for deep learning in IoT.
Sarcoidosis and IPF in the same patient-a coincidence, an association or a phenotype?

Abstract Background Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Sarcoidosis are distinct clinical entities. Fibrotic disease in pulmonary sarcoidosis is typically upper lobe predominant. In IPF fibrosis is basilar and peripheral predominant [usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern]. Sarcoidosis and UIP have rarely been observed in the same patient. We sought to characterize patients manifesting both sarcoidosis and IPF and compare clinical features and survival to that of patients with “Lone-IPF” (IPF only) and pulmonary sarcoidosis with fibrosis in a non-UIP pattern. Methods Patients were identified from a clinical database and data abstracted from medical records (1995–2016): 1) 25 patients with combined sarcoidosis and IPF (CSIPF) defined by clinical and histological features of sarcoidosis and HRCT features of possible or definite UIP or UIP by histopathology; 2) Randomly selected control patients during the same period: 28 Lone-IPF, 25 stage III/IV pulmonary sarcoidosis. Results The gender and race of patients with CSIPF and Lone-IPF patients were similar (68% male and 84% Caucasian), as were survival outcomes. Mean time from IPF diagnosis to death: 3.2 years CSIPF, 3.6 years Lone-IPF (log rank p value 0.49). Among patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, mean time from diagnosis to death: 21.4 years. Conclusions Clinical characteristics/behavior of patients with CSIPF was similar to Lone-IPF patients. It is possible that patients with sarcoidosis coincidentally developed IPF and/or have occult genetic predisposition factors to manifest both diseases at different time points. Further study is needed.
De novo design of tunable, pH-driven conformational changes

The ability of naturally occurring proteins to change conformation in response to environmental changes is critical to biological function. Although there have been advances in the de novo design of stable proteins with a single, deep free-energy minimum, the design of conformational switches remains challenging. We present a general strategy to design pH-responsive protein conformational changes by precisely preorganizing histidine residues in buried hydrogen-bond networks. We design homotrimers and heterodimers that are stable above pH 6.5 but undergo cooperative, large-scale conformational changes when the pH is lowered and electrostatic and steric repulsion builds up as the network histidine residues become protonated. The transition pH and cooperativity can be controlled through the number of histidine-containing networks and the strength of the surrounding hydrophobic interactions. Upon disassembly, the designed proteins disrupt lipid membranes both in vitro and after being endocytosed in mammalian cells. Our results demonstrate that environmentally triggered conformational changes can now be programmed by de novo protein design.
Bacterial Factors Required for Transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Mammalian Hosts

Summary The capacity of Streptococcus pneumoniae to successfully transmit and colonize new human hosts is a critical aspect of pneumococcal population biology and a prerequisite for invasive disease. However, the bacterial mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. To identify bacterial factors required for transmission, we conducted a high-throughput genetic screen with a transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) library of a pneumococcal strain in a ferret transmission model. Key players in both metabolism and transcriptional regulation were identified as required for efficient bacterial transmission. Targeted deletion of the putative C3-degrading protease CppA, iron transporter PiaA, or competence regulatory histidine kinase ComD significantly decreased transmissibility in a mouse model, further validating the screen. Maternal vaccination with recombinant surface-exposed PiaA and CppA alone or in combination blocked transmission in offspring and were more effective than capsule-based vaccines. These data underscore the possibility of targeting pneumococcal transmission as a means of eliminating invasive disease in the population.
MoveWithMe: Location Privacy Preservation for Smartphone Users

With the prevalence of smartphones, mobile websites have been more and more popular. However, many mobile websites collect the location information which greatly increases users’ risks of being tracked unexpectedly. The current location access control setting is not sufficient since it cannot prevent the service providers which have been granted location-access permissions from tracking the users. In this paper, we propose a novel location privacy preservation mobile app, called MoveWithMe, which automatically generates decoy queries to hide the real users’ locations and intentions when they are using location-based mobile services. Unlike the existing works on dummy trajectories which may be easily discovered by attackers through data analysis, the uniqueness of the MoveWithMe app is that our generated decoys closely behave like real humans. Each decoy in our system has its own moving patterns, daily schedules, and social behaviors, which ensures its movements to be semantically different from the real user’s trace and satisfying geographic constraints. Thus, our decoys can hardly be distinguished even by advanced data mining techniques. Another advantage of the MoveWithMe app is that it guarantees the same level of user experience without affecting the response time or introducing extra control burdens. Decoys move independently in the back end and automatically submit queries to the same service provider whenever the user does so. Our proposed MoveWithMe app has both iOS and Android versions and has been tested on different brands of smartphones against various location-based services, such as Yelp and TripAdvisor. Experimental results demonstrate its practicality, effectiveness, and efficiency.
Familial aggregation and heritability of hypertension in Han population in Shanghai China: a case-control study

To explore the familial aggregation and heritability of hypertension in Han in Shanghai China. According to l:l matched pairs design, 342 patients of hypertension and 342 controls were selected and investigate their nuclear family members in the case-control study. The method of genetic epidemiology research was used to explore the familial aggregation and heritability of hypertension. The prevalence rate of hypertension of first-degree relatives was significantly higher (34.44%) than that of second- degree relatives (17.60%) and third-degree relatives (13.51%) in Han Population in Shanghai China. Separation ratio p was 0.217, and prevalence rate of case group relatives was higher than that of control group relatives. The results showed a phenomenon of familial aggregation in the distribution of hypertension. The heritability of first- degree relatives was 49.51%; that of second-degree relatives and third-degree relatives were respectively 23.42 and 21.41%. The distribution of essential hypertension has phenomenon of familial aggregation in Han Population in Shanghai China. The separation ratio of essential hypertension in this study shows that essential hypertension conform to the characteristics of multigene genetic disease. The heritability of first-degree relatives is bigger than that of second-degree relatives and third-degree relatives.
The Minimum Data Set: An Opportunity to Improve Spasticity Screening

Spasticity is a common movement disorder that arises from trauma or disease affecting the central nervous system. Untreated spasticity can result in limitations in completing activities of daily living, painful limb contractures, and other conditions associated with loss of mobility. In the long-term care setting, this treatable condition is prevalent, yet often unrecognized likely because of a lack of spasticity-trained practitioners. A recently published spasticity referral tool holds promise for addressing the underdiagnosis of spasticity in the long-term care population. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) would be an ideal mechanism for increasing the diagnosis and treatment of spasticity because it is a government-directed comprehensive screening tool that informs care plans for all residents residing in federally funded long-term care facilities. The MDS could easily integrate the published referral assessment to record the presence of spastic postures and muscle rigidity. We propose expanding the MDS to include 3 questions related to spasticity to improve the recognition and treatment of this prevalent and treatable condition.
Promotional Payments Made to Urologists by the Pharmaceutical Industry and Prescribing Patterns for Targeted Therapies.

OBJECTIVE To measure the association between market-level promotional payments to urologists by the manufacturers of abiraterone and enzalutamide and national prescribing patterns. METHODS A 20% national sample of the 2015 Part D event file was used to identify patients filling their first prescription for abiraterone and enzalutamide and their prescribing physicians. The 2015 Open Payments data were used to characterize promotional payments made to physicians at the market level. Generalized linear models were then used to measure the relationship between market-level payments to urologists and the physician specialty prescribing abiraterone or enzalutamide for the first time RESULTS In 2015, 2318 men filled a prescription for abiraterone or enzalutamide by a urologist or medical oncologist. Increasing market-level promotional payments to urologists for abiraterone or enzalutamide was strongly associated with a urologist prescribing either drug—24.3% versus 5.8% of those residing in the markets with highest and lowest level of promotional payments to urologists, respectively (P CONCLUSION Promotional payments to urologists at the market level are strongly associated with the specialty of the physician prescribing abiraterone or enzalutamide for the first time. Future work should elucidate the effects of the shift in prescribing patterns on quality of care and financial hardship for men with advanced prostate cancer.
Who Decides? Consent, Assent and Confidentiality in Pediatric Dermatology Practice

In pediatrics, decision making must be done with careful consideration of the delicate balance between patient, parent or legal guardian and healthcare provider. Pediatric dermatology is a unique field in which decisions often involve non-emergent procedures. When considering interventions, whether medical or procedural, the best interest of the child must always be considered, in addition to the wants and needs of the patient and guardian. When appropriate, it is important to involve the minor patient in his or her own healthcare decisions in order to establish an environment of trust. In this chapter, we discuss ethical dilemmas arising in cases in which patient or parental desires conflict with the best interest of the patient, and in which parental requests conflict with a child’s desires. Additionally, we discuss management of adolescent patients for whom autonomy is important but from whom unreasonable requests must be handled tactfully.
Will rheumatologists ever pick up the arthroscope again

Conditions prompting physicians and surgeons first adapting endoscopes to peer into joints were mainly the sort of synovial conditions that would concern today's rheumatologists. Rheumatologists were among the pre-World War II pioneers developing and documenting arthroscopy. The post-War father of modern arthroscopy, Watanabe, found rheumatologists among his early students, who took back the technique to their home countries, teaching orthopedists and rheumatologists alike. Rheumatologists described and analyzed the intra-articular features of their common diseases in the '60s and '70s. A groundswell of interest from academic rheumatologists in adapting arthroscopy grew considerably in the '90s with development of "needle scopes" that could be used in an office setting. Rheumatologists helped conduct the very trials the findings of which reduced demand for their arthroscopic services by questioning the efficacy of arthroscopic debridement in osteoarthritis (OA) and also developing biological compounds that greatly reduced the call for any resective intervention in inflammatory arthropathies. The arthroscope has proven an excellent tool for viewing and sampling synovium and continues to serve this purpose at several international research centers. While cartilage is now imaged mainly by magnetic resonance imaging, some OA features - such as a high prevalence of visible calcinosis - beg further arthroscopy-directed investigation. A new generation of "needle scopes" with far superior optics awaits future investigators, should they develop interest.
Highlighting altruism in geoscience careers aligns with diverse US student ideals better than emphasizing working outdoors

A common approach to attract students in the United States to the geosciences is to emphasize outdoor experiences in the natural world. However, it is unclear how successful this strategy is. Specifically, the geosciences have been less successful than other sciences at recruiting a diverse workforce that reflects different perspectives and life experiences. Here we present a survey of students enrolled in College Algebra at a Hispanic-serving institution in the southwestern United States where, of 1550 students surveyed, 55.3% identified as an underrepresented minority (URM). We find that surveyed students care little about working outdoors. Instead, they rate altruistic factors, such as helping people or the environment, as most important. Female respondents rate these factors higher than male respondents. We also find that many respondents know little about what a career in geoscience entails. We argue that better informing students about the altruistic potential of geoscience careers would be an effective strategy to broaden recruitment. The prospect of working outdoors, which has commonly been emphasized in geoscience recruitment, is less attractive to students than altruistic factors when considering future career paths, according to a survey of students in a diverse southwestern US college.
Asymmetric Hydroboration Chemistry

Hydroboration provided the first nonenzymatic asymmetric synthesis of any kind to have resulted in a truly high enantioselection. The hydroboration of cis-2-butene with (−)-diisopinocampheylborane (1) derived from (+)-α-pinene proceeded with high diastereoselectivity to form the intermediate trialkylborane 2 [1, 2]. When 1 of high enantiomeric purity [3] is used and the procedure is otherwise optimized, this process yields 98% ee in the final product, (R)-(−)-2-butanol (3), which was obtained via the usual alkaline hydrogen peroxide oxidation of 2 [4]. Both enantiomers of a-pinene are readily available, and it is therefore equally simple to prepare (S)-(+)-2-butanol by this method.
N‐Terminal Domain of the Cu(I)‐Binding Protein CusB

CusB is the membrane fusion protein of the Cu(I)/Ag(I) extrusion pump system CusCFBA in Escherichia coli. Although several crystal structures exist for the Cu(I)/Ag(I) binding protein CusB, its N-terminus region could never be characterized by spectroscopic techniques due to its intrinsic disorder. CusB N-terminus is of utmost importance as it facilitates the uptake of Cu(I) and Ag(I) ions from the periplasm and thus plays an essential role in survival of E. coli cells in media containing high concentrations of these ions. It was shown experimentally to chelate the metal nearly as well as the full-length CusB in in vivo studies on the survival of E. coli cells at elevated Cu(I) concentrations. Metal transfer was also shown to occur between the CusB N-terminus and the periplasmic metallochaperone of the CusCFBA system, CusF. Experimental and computational studies performed on this protein domain conclude that its observed structural disorder is only minimally impacted upon metal binding. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed some secondary structural motifs within the disorder and observed that complexation with CusF mostly relieves the observed disorder. 3D Structure Schematic representation of (a) apo and (b) Cu(I)-bound Cus-B N-terminus. Extracted from molecular dynamics simulations involving these models. Amino acid sequences were taken from the PDB structure 3NE5 but the structures were extracted from our MD simulations. Prepared with PyMOL.3 Keywords: binding protein; metal homeostasis; metal ion extrusion; metal ion extrusion pump; resistance-nodulation-division; membrane fusion protein; CusCFBA; CusCBA; copper; silver
Use of Immunogold Labelling with Scanning Electron Microscopy To Identify Phytopathogenic Bacteria on Leaf Surfaces

Scanning electron microscopy coupled with high-resolution back-scattered electron imaging was used to detect gold-labelled specific immunoglobulins attached to epiphytic bacteria. Strains of Xanthomonas citri and X. campestris pv. citrumelo were specifically identified on grapefruit leaf surfaces when labelled with homologous gold-labelled immunoglobulins.
Modulation of Terminal Deoxynucleotidyltransferase Activity by the DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase

Rare Ig and TCR coding joints can be isolated from mice that have a targeted deletion in the gene encoding the 86-kDa subunit of the Ku heterodimer, the regulatory subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). However in the coding joints isolated from Ku86−/− animals, there is an extreme paucity of N regions (the random nucleotides added during V(D)J recombination by the enzyme TdT). This finding is consistent with a decreased frequency of coding joints containing N regions isolated from C.B-17 SCID mice that express a truncated form of the catalytic subunit of the DNA-PK (DNA-PKCS). This finding suggests an unexpected role for DNA-PK in addition of N nucleotides to coding ends during V(D)J recombination. In this report, we establish that TdT forms a stable complex with DNA-PK. Furthermore, we show that DNA-PK modulates TdT activity in vitro by limiting both the length and composition of nucleotide additions.
African Legends, Myths, and Folktales for Readers Theatre

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Anthony D. Fredericks Year: 2008 Pages: 192 Publisher: Teacher Ideas Press ISBN: 978-1-59158-633-3 (soft cover). Prices: $25.00 USD(soft cover).
Obtaining Medical Records for Women With Intellectual Disabilities in a Community‐Based Health Promotion Intervention

There is a critical need for objective data about receipt of preventive healthcare screenings that are not subject to self-response bias. However, no available evidence indicates which methods are effective for obtaining retrospective medical record data for women with intellectual disabilities (ID) receiving care in the community. This article describes a procedure for obtaining retrospective medical record data for 199 women with ID who took part in a community-based, multisite, randomized controlled trial of a health education intervention. Data were analyzed to determine rates of correct physician identification and physician response rates during the 2006–2009 study periods. To assess accuracy in identifying physicians and response rates over time, McNemar's test of paired proportions for dependent samples was used. Physician identification varied over time with correct identification being highest in more recent years. The majority of practices responded to our requests for medical record data; however, response rates and item completion rates were highest for the most recent data, with rates declining significantly for data from earlier years. Obtaining retrospective medical record data from community-based medical practices is possible, but difficult. Therefore, researchers should budget resources to accommodate a lengthy process with extensive follow-up. Researchers interested in older medical data face additional challenges in obtaining complete records.
An Attachment Theoretical Framework for Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are highly prevalent, associated with considerable morbidity, and difficult to treat. Intrapersonal and interpersonal difficulties are central to the pathology observed in personality disorders. Attachment theory provides a broad yet parsimonious explanatory framework for understanding the development, maintenance, and treatment of personality pathology. Attachment theory conceptualizes human behaviour in ways consistent with multiple scientific traditions, including evolutionary, developmental, and neuropsychological domains. The relevant literature has focused predominately on borderline personality disorder, although a few studies have examined attachment associations with other personality disorders, such as narcissistic and avoidant personality disorders. The authors first outline attachment theory and discuss assessment of attachment patterns from both developmental and social psychological viewpoints. Next, the authors present empirical support for attachment theory and its associations with personality, including studies of developmental, physiological, neurobiological, and genetic correlates of personality pathology. They then look at psychotherapy research relevant to (a) underlying components of current psychotherapies, (b) the relation between attachment and both therapy process and treatment outcome, and (c) changes in attachment styles as a result of personality disorder treatment. Finally, the authors call for future research to delve deeper into specific relationships between attachment constructs and personality pathology, as well as to address personality disorders more
Recognizing the impact of ambient air pollution on skin health

Ambient air pollution is a known public health hazard that negatively impacts non-cutaneous organs; however, our knowledge regarding the effects on skin remains limited. Current scientific evidence suggests there are four mechanisms by which ambient air pollutants cause adverse effects on skin health: (i) generation of free radicals, (ii) induction of inflammatory cascade and subsequent impairment of skin barrier, (iii) activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and (iv) alterations to skin microflora. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview on ambient air pollutants and their relevant sources, and highlight current evidence of the effects on skin.
On the representation of preference orders on sequence spaces

A set of sufficient conditions for representability of preference orders on real sequence spaces is analyzed. In particular, monotonicity and continuity of the order is not assumed. Two applications are worked out to demonstrate how such a result might be useful.
Introduction to Special Issue: Emotion and Decision Making:

It is a perennial debate in the social sciences: Are emotions the bane of optimal behavior, or do emotions contribute invaluably to the process of decision making to improve human outcomes? The debate continues, in part because both sides can point to rigorous data and important theories that support their claims. The articles in this special issue advance both sides of that debate and, in doing so, help point the way toward a more integrative solution. The papers in this special issue approach the topics of emotion and decision making as a set, with an eye toward integrating the role of emotion in decision making or the emotional consequences of decision making. The papers in this special issue not only introduce readers to core concepts essential to choice and emotion, but also develop sophisticated integrative models. These models promise to advance the fields of psychology, marketing, and economics toward a joint science involving the complex interplay between emotions and decisions.
Gains in hip bone mass from high-impact training are maintained: a randomized controlled trial in children.

Objectives: We previously reported significant gains in hip and spine bone mass after 7 months of high-impact training in 89 prepubertal children. Our aim in this investigation was to evaluate the bone response to 7 months of "detraining" in this cohort of children. Study design: Seventy-four boys and girls (n = 37 jumpers, n = 37 controls) from the original cohort completed follow-up testing. Bone mineral content (BMC; g) and bone area (BA; cm2) of the left proximal femoral neck and lumbar spine (L1-4) were assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. In addition, anthropometric characteristics, Tanner staging, physical activity, and average dietary calcium intake were assessed. Results: Over 14 months, jumpers maintained 4% greater femoral neck BMC and 4% greater femoral neck BA (P <.05 and P <.01, respectively) than controls. Group differences did not persist at the lumbar spine. Conclusion: Gains in both BMC and BA at the femoral neck from high-impact jumping were retained after an equivalent period of detraining. We conclude that this simple exercise may be useful in promoting bone growth at the hip and, thus, enhance peak bone mass. (J Pediatr 2002;141:357-62)
Synthesis of cyclolinear phosphazene-containing polymers via ADMET polymerization

We report here a new method for the synthesis of cyclolinear organic−inorganic polymers with phosphazene rings in the main chain structure by the use of ADMET polymerization. In this work, cyclic phosphazene trimers bearing two nongeminal alkene chains were prepared. Both of the alkene chains have a terminal double bond that together form the diene structure required for ADMET polymerizations. The remaining four substituents were varied to include phenoxy, benzyloxyphenoxy, methoxyethoxyethoxy, and dimethylamino groups. The resultant polymers are well-defined, low-polydispersity materials with phosphazene cyclic trimers uniformly incorporated into the backbone structure. The variation of substituents on the phosphazene ring affects both the polymerization and the properties of the resultant polymers.
Selecting content-based features for collaborative filtering recommenders

We study the problem of scoring and selecting content-based features for a collaborative filtering (CF) recommender system. Content-based features play a central role in mitigating the ``cold start'' problem in commercial recommenders. They are also useful in other related tasks, such as recommendation explanation and visualization. However, traditional feature selection methods do not generalize well to recommender systems. As a result, commercial systems typically use manually crafted and selected features. This work presents a framework for automated selection of informative content-based features, that is independent of the type of recommender system or the type of features. We evaluate on recommenders from different domains: books, movies and smart-phone apps, and show effective results on each. In addition, we show how to use the proposed methods to generate meaningful features from text.
Decapper comes into focus.

In this issue of Structure, Scarsdale et al. (2006) report structures of the Xenopus X29 Nudix decapping protein, including homodimer structures in complex with cap nucleotides. These structures reveal insights into the mechanism of cap substrate recognition and predict an RNA binding path on the protein surface.
The Social Solution—Denture Esthetics, Phonetics, and Function

Tooth loss and rehabilitation with dentures can have tremendous patient impact and social implications. In an image-conscious society, dentures restore a sense of normalcy and allow the patient the ability to interact with others. The most frequent denture complaints include chewing discomfort and objectionable esthetics and phonetics. Determining patient expectations and their influence on patient satisfaction with treatment is critical. Current evidence on functional outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness of treatment with conventional dentures versus implants are important factors to consider during treatment planning for the edentulous patient. The purpose of this article is to review some exemplar literature for the successful treatment of the edentulous patient.
Blockage by Gibberellic Acid of Phytochrome Effects on Growth, Auxin Responses, and Flavonoid Synthesis in Etiolated Pea Internodes

Red light inhibits the growth of etiolated pea internodes, causes a shift toward higher indoleacetic acid (IAA) concentrations in the IAA dose-response curve of excised sections, and promotes the synthesis in intact internodes of kaempferol-3-triglucoside. Gibberellic acid (GA(3)) prevents all 3 effects, the first effect substantially and the last 2 completely. This suggests GA(3) blockage of an early or basic event initiated by the active form of phytochrome. The red light-induced shift in the IAA dose-response curve of excised sections is consistent with a light-induced increase in the activity of an IAA destruction system, since the magnitude of the red light inhibition varied with IAA concentration. The red light and GA(3) effects on growth and on flavonoid synthesis are consistent with the view that phytochrome may control growth by regulating the synthesis of phenolic compounds which act as cofactors in an IAA-oxidase system. GA(3) reversal of the red light-induced shift in the IAA dose-response curve involves both growth promotion and inhibition by GA(3) at different IAA concentrations and this, together with the GA(3) reversal of light-induced flavonoid synthesis, supports the suggested regulatory role of phenolic compounds in growth.
Three-Dimensional Cole-Cole Model Inversion of Induced Polarization Data Based on Regularized Conjugate Gradient Method

Modeling of induced polarization (IP) phenomena is important for developing effective methods for remote sensing of subsurface geology. However, the quantitative interpretation of IP data in a complex 3-D environment is still a challenging problem of applied geophysics. This letter develops a method of determining a 3-D distribution of the four parameters of the Cole-Cole model based on surface IP data. The method takes into account the nonlinear nature of both electromagnetic induction and IP phenomena. The solution of the 3-D IP inverse problem is based on the regularized conjugate gradient method. The method was tested on a synthetic model with variable dc conductivity, intrinsic chargeability, time constant, and relaxation parameters, and it was also applied to the actual 3-D IP survey data. We demonstrate that the four parameters of the Cole-Cole model, namely, dc electrical resistivity, chargeability, time constant, and the relaxation parameter, can be recovered from the observed IP data simultaneously.
River runoff, sea ice meltwater, and Pacific water distribution and mean residence times in the Arctic Ocean

Hydrographic and tracer data collected during ARK IV/3 (FS Polarstern in 1987), ARCTIC91 (IB Oden), and AOS94 (CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent) expeditions reveal the evolution of the near-surface waters in the Arctic Ocean during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Salinity, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and δ 18 O data are used to quantify the components of Arctic freshwater: river runoff, sea ice meltwater, and Pacific water. The calculated river runoff fractions suggest that in 1994 a large portion of water from the Pechora, Ob, Yenisey, Kotuy, and Lena Rivers did not flow off the shelf closest to their river deltas, but remained on the shelf and traveled via cyclonic circulation into the Laptev and East Siberian Seas. River runoff flowed off the shelf at the Lomonosov Ridge and most left the shelf at the Mendeleyev Ridge. ARCTIC91 and AOS94 Pacific water fraction estimates of Upper Halocline Water, the traditionally defined core of the Pacific water mass, document a decrease in extent compared to historical data. The front between Atlantic water and Pacific water shifted from the Lomonosov Ridge location in 1991 to the Mendeleyev Ridge in 1994. The relative age structure of the upper waters is described by using the 3 H- 3 He age. The mean 3 H- 3 He age measured in the halocline within the salinity surface of 33.1 ± 0.3 is 4.3 ± 1.7 years and that for the 34.2 ± 0.2 salinity surface is 9.6 ± 4.6 years. Lateral variations in the relative age structure within the halocline and Atlantic water support the well-known cyclonic boundary current circulation.
Degradation of myelin basic protein by cerebrospinal fluid: Preservation of antigenic determinants under physiological conditions

Cerebrospinal fluid contains several proteolytic enzymes that can degrade myelin basic protein (BP) under physiological conditions into peptide fragments of various sizes which still contain antigenic determinants capable of binding antibodies to BP. These enzymes are optimally active in either acid (pH 4) or nuetral (pH 7 to 8) conditions and can be characterized by the nature of the BP peptide fragments produced. Proteinases resembling cathepsin D, thrombin, plasmin (fibrinolysin), or kallikrein are present in variable amounts in CSF. No relationship to any particular disease has yet been established.
Expanding DNA diagnostic panel testing: is more better?

During the last 25 years, a small number of meaningful DNA-based diagnostic tests have been available to aid in the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of heritable disorders. These tests have targeted a limited number of genes and are often ordered in serial testing strategies in which results from one preliminary test dictate the subsequent test orders. This approach can be both time and resource intensive when a patient requires several genes to be sequenced. Recently, there has been much discussion regarding how ‘massively parallel’ or ‘next-generation’ DNA sequencing will impact clinical care. While the technology promises to reduce the cost of sequencing an entire human genome to less than US$1000, one must question the diagnostic utility of complete genome sequencing for routine clinical testing, given the many interpretive challenges posed by this approach. At present, it appears next-generation DNA sequencing may provide the greatest benefit to routine clinical testing by enabling comprehensive mu...
In-phase and anti-phase synchronization in noisy Hodgkin–Huxley neurons

Abstract We numerically investigate the influence of intrinsic channel noise on the dynamical response of delay-coupling in neuronal systems. The stochastic dynamics of the spiking is modeled within a stochastic modification of the standard Hodgkin–Huxley model wherein the delay-coupling accounts for the finite propagation time of an action potential along the neuronal axon. We quantify this delay-coupling of the Pyragas-type in terms of the difference between corresponding presynaptic and postsynaptic membrane potentials. For an elementary neuronal network consisting of two coupled neurons we detect characteristic stochastic synchronization patterns which exhibit multiple phase-flip bifurcations: The phase-flip bifurcations occur in form of alternate transitions from an in-phase spiking activity towards an anti-phase spiking activity. Interestingly, these phase-flips remain robust for strong channel noise and in turn cause a striking stabilization of the spiking frequency.
Hepatitis B virus C gene promoter is under negative regulation.

Abstract The regulation of the core promoter of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) was investigated using the chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CAT) reporter system. Deletional analysis of sequences 5′ to the HBV core promoter indicated the presence of a negative regulatory element (NRE) located within a 282-bp Bam HI- Hin cll DNA fragment. The NRE was functional in hepatic as well as nonhepatic cells. Results of in vivo competition experiments suggest a role for cellular transacting repressor protein(s) in the functioning of the NRE. The HBV NRE, positioned 5′ to the SV40 early promoter, inhibited the activity of the heterologous promoter in an orientation-independent, but position-dependent manner. These data indicate that the HBV NRE is a silencer element, which functions to downregulate the activity of the core promoter.
Evaluating the Implementation of Indiana Area ‘Communities That Care’

‘Communities That Care’ (CTC) is a research-based operating system designed to help communities identify and reduce risk factors, enhance protective factors, and prevent a number of adolescent problem behaviors, including delinquency, violence, substance abuse, school drop-out, and teen pregnancy. Indiana, PA, is one of approximately 125 communities throughout Pennsylvania that have chosen to use the CTC approach to promote the positive development of children and youth in the local area. This paper presents an initial review of Indiana Area CTC, in terms of the planning and implementation efforts that have taken place during the past five years.
STM studies of 1-D noble metal growth on silicon.

Abstract Our scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies show that noble metals (Ag, Au) form a wide variety of 1-D structures on the high-index Si(5 5 12) surface. At coverages below 0.25 monolayer (ML), both metals grow as overlayer rows with an inter-row spacing of ∼5 nm. At higher coverages and annealing temperatures, the underlying Si reconstruction is removed, but periodic row structures persist. Au can also induce faceting to nearby planes, e.g. (7 7 15) and (2 2 5), at temperatures above 500°C. For all coverages and annealing temperatures studied here (0.02–1 ML, 450–800°C), the Si(5 5 12) template initiates 1-D growth of the deposited noble metals.
Is the US AIDS Drug Assistance Program Cost-effective?

Each year, the US AIDS drug assistance program (ADAP) provides access to prescription drugs—including antiretrovirals—to more than 110,000 persons living with HIV (PLWH) who lack adequate medical insurance. PLWH on effective antiretroviral therapy live longer lives, with enhanced quality of life, and are less likely to transmit HIV to others. There are thus significant benefits associated with the ADAP program. But there also are substantial costs. A mathematical model was used to assess the cost-effectiveness of the US ADAP program. Findings indicate that by providing antiretrovirals to underinsured persons, the ADAP program prevented 3,191 secondary infections and saved 24,922 quality-adjusted life years in 2008. The net cost per quality-adjusted life year saved was $11,955, which suggests that the ADAP program is cost-effective by conventional standards.
Direct in vivo gene transfer to ependymal cells in the central nervous system using recombinant adenovirus vectors

To evaluate the potential for adenovirus-mediated central nervous system (CNS) gene transfer, the replication deficient recombinant adenovirus vectors Ad.RSV beta gal (coding for beta-galactosidase) and Ad-alpha 1AT (coding for human alpha 1-antitrypsin) were administered to the lateral ventricle of rats. Ad.RSV beta gal transferred beta-galactosidase to ependymal cells lining the ventricles whereas Ad-alpha 1AT mediated alpha 1-antitrypsin secretion into the cerebral spinal fluid for 1 week. These observations, together with beta-galactosidase activity in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra following stereotactic administration of Ad.RSV beta gal to the globus pallidus, suggest that adenovirus vectors will be useful for CNS gene therapy.
Modulation of mouse skin tumor promotion by dietary 13- cis -retinoic acid and α-difluoromethylornithine

The effects of dietary supplementation of 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA) and alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) in the drinking water on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-promoted skin tumor formation was determined. Administration of 13-cis-RA in the diet and DFMO in the drinking water was started 1 week and 2 days before the first TPA application to the dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-initiated skin of either female CD-1 or SENCAR mice, respectively. Dietary 13-cis-RA failed to inhibit both the tumor yield and the incidence; papillomas per mouse at 0, 5, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg diet 13-cis-RA doses were 25, 30, 22, 28 and 25 respectively at 18 weeks of promotion treatment and at all doses 100% of the mice bore papillomas. However, dietary 13-cis-RA dramatically reduced the size of skin tumor promoted with TPA. 13-Cis-RA at doses of 5, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg diet inhibited skin papillomas (greater than 4 mm diameter) per mouse by 28, 55, 76 and 93%, respectively. Retinoid treatment did not affect body weight gains and the survival was more than 80% in all groups. In accord with our previous findings, DFMO when given in drinking water, was a very effective inhibitor of mouse skin tumor promotion by TPA; DFMO at 0.25% concentration inhibited the number of papillomas by 50%. Inhibition of skin tumor promotion by combined treatments with dietary 13-cis-RA (100 mg/kg) and DFMO (0.25%) in the drinking water was possibly additive. The retinoid and DFMO preclude TPA-increased ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and the accumulation of putrescine by differential effects on ODC, an enzyme associated with skin tumor promotion by TPA.
DEFINING READING AND WRITING DISABILITIES WITH AND WITHOUT IQ: A FLEXIBLE, DEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE

We compared three approaches to defining disabilities on predictor de- velopmental measures related to reading and writing and on criterion reading and writing measures in an unreferred sample of 300 first, second, and third graders. For each measure, the children who fell in the lowest 5% of the normal distribution (based on the mean and standard deviation for grade) were assigned to the low- functioning group; those children who, based on the Mahalanobis statistic (.05 level, one-tail test), were significantly different from and below their VIQ were as- signed to the underachieving group; finally, children who met the criterion for both underachieving and low functioning were assigned to the learning disabled group. Of the low-functioning group, 44% were learning disabled (also discrepant from their VIQ). Of the underachievers, 36% were learning disabled (also very low functioning). Thus, elimination of IQ in the definition of learning disabilities (as Siegel (1989) and Stanovich (1991) have recommended) would dramatically affect who is identified as learning disabled. We argue for a two-stage assessment model (cf. Leong, 1987) in which (a) abso- lute criteria without IQ are first used by classroom teachers to identify children who are low functioning in orthographic coding, phonological coding, word find- ing, fine motor, and visual-motor integration and who would benefit from early in- tervention to prevent reading and writing disabilities; and (b) relative criteria with IQ are subsequently used in more comprehensive psychoeducational assessment for learning disabled children whose problems persist despite early intervention. Based on our findings, we recommend that, in future research on reading and writ- ing disabilities, investigators differentiate among low-functioning, underachieving, and learning disabled (low-functioning and underachieving) children and among component reading and writing skills.