cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unfolding the unique c-type heme protein, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cytochrome f

We have studied the unfolding reaction of cytochrome f from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Cytochrome f is different from all other c-type heme proteins in that it is a large, two-domain protein with predominantly beta-sheet structure. Moreover, the sixth axial ligand to the heme-iron is unique in cytochrome f: it is provided by the N-terminal alpha-amino group. Unfolding of oxidized and reduced cytochrome f by guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) was monitored by far-UV circular dichroism (CD), Soret absorption, and tyrosine emission: the same unfolding curves were obtained regardless of method. Neither oxidized nor reduced unfolded cytochrome f can be refolded at neutral pH. At pH 3.5 refolding takes place (upon dilution to lower denaturant concentrations or by electron injection to the unfolded, oxidized form), although the reaction is extremely slow. Reduced cytochrome f appears much more resistant towards denaturant perturbation than the oxidized form (in pH range 7-3.5). The heme in unfolded cytochrome f remains low-spin to pH 4 but turns high-spin at pH 3.5 (presumably due to protonation of the N-terminal amino group). Our results suggest that the unfolding process for cytochrome f is complex, involving kinetically trapped intermediates not resolvable by spectroscopy.
Appointment Attendance in a Pediatric Weight Management Clinic

Pediatric weight management clinics offer an intensive, family-centered approach to the obesity epidemic.1–5 These clinics typically involve weekly to monthly visits with a focus on behavior modification, improved nutritional intake, and increased physical activity. The intensity of the treatment (frequent visits, family participation) likely contributes to the high rates of attrition, reported to range from 27% to 73%.6 It is unknown if missed and canceled appointments are a significant problem in pediatric weight management clinics and if they are linked to treatment attrition. Data from pediatric pulmonology, allergy, and asthma clinics indicate that insurance status, season of the year, family ethnicity, length of waiting time for an appointment, and the hour of the appointment within the day can all contribute to appointment attendance.7–11 To our knowledge, there are no studies in the literature about appointment attendance in pediatric weight management clinics. The goal of this study was to identify sociodemographic factors contributing to missed and canceled appointments in a tertiary care pediatric weight management clinic and to determine any associations with weight outcomes and attrition from treatment.
FIR Filter Banks for Hexagonal Data Processing

Images are conventionally sampled on a rectangular lattice. Thus, traditional image processing is carried out on the rectangular lattice. The hexagonal lattice was proposed more than four decades ago as an alternative method for sampling. Compared with the rectangular lattice, the hexagonal lattice has certain advantages which include that it needs less sampling points; it has better consistent connectivity and higher symmetry; the hexagonal structure is also pertinent to the vision process. In this paper, we investigate the construction of symmetric FIR hexagonal filter banks for multiresolution hexagonal image processing. We obtain block structures of FIR hexagonal filter banks with 3-fold rotational symmetry and 3-fold axial symmetry. These block structures yield families of orthogonal and biorthogonal FIR hexagonal filter banks with 3-fold rotational symmetry and 3-fold axial symmetry. In this paper, we also discuss the construction of orthogonal and biorthogonal FIR filter banks with scaling functions and wavelets having optimal smoothness. In addition, we present a few of such orthogonal and biorthogonal FIR filters banks.
Fresnel modeling of hematite crystal surfaces and application to martian hematite spherules

The gray crystalline hematite at Meridiani Planum first discovered by the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (MGS-TES) instrument occurs as spherules that have been interpreted as concretions. Analysis of the TES and mini-TES spectra shows that no 390 cm −1 feature is present in the characteristic martian hematite spectrum. Here, we incorporate the mid-IR optical constants of hematite into a simple Fresnel reflectance model to understand the effect of emission angle and crystal morphology on the presence or absence of the 390 cm −1 feature in an IR hematite spectrum. Based on the results we offer two models for the internal structure of the martian hematite spherules.
Synoptic influences on springtime tropospheric O 3 and CO over the North American export region observed by TES

Abstract. The relationship between synoptic circulation patterns over the western North Atlantic Ocean in spring (March, April, and May) and tropospheric O3 and CO was investigated using retrievals from the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) for 2005 and 2006. Seasonal composites of TES retrievals reprocessed to remove the artificial geographic structure added from the a priori revealed a channel of slightly elevated O3 (>55 ppbv) and CO (>115 ppbv) at the 681 hPa retrieval level between 30° N and 45° N extending from North America out over the Atlantic Ocean. Ozone and CO in this region were correlated at r=0.22 with a slope value of 0.13 mol mol−1 indicative of the overall impact of photochemical chemical processes in North American continental export. Composites of TES retrievals for the six predominant circulation patterns identified as map types from sea level pressure fields of the NCEP FNL analyses showed large variability in the distribution of tropospheric O3. Map types MAM2 and MAM3 featuring cyclones near the US east coast produced the greatest export to the lower free troposphere with O3>65 ppbv and a relatively well-defined O3-CO correlation (slope values near 0.20 mol mol−1). The ensembles of HYSPLIT backward trajectories indicated that the high O3 levels were possibly a result of pollutants lofted to the free troposphere by the warm conveyor belt (WCB) of a cyclone. An important finding was that pollutant export occurred in the main WCB branch to the east of the cyclone and in a secondary branch circling to the back of the cyclone center. Conversely, a map type featuring a large anticyclone dominating the flow over the US east coast (MAM6) restricted export with O3 levels generally
Impact of Cloud Microphysics on Convective–Radiative Quasi Equilibrium Revealed by Cloud-Resolving Convection Parameterization

This paper investigates how cloud microphysics impact global convective‐radiative quasi equilibrium on a constant-SST aquaplanet. A novel approach, the cloud-resolving convection parameterization (CRCP), also known as ‘‘superparameterization,’’ resolves both global dynamics and cloud-scale dynamics, as well as smallscale coupling among convective, radiative, and surface processes, within a single computational framework. As a result, the effects of cloud microphysics on the tropical large-scale dynamics and climate can be investigated with greater confidence than traditional approaches allow. Idealized simulations highlight extreme effects of the microphysical parameterizations to expose the impacts. The results suggest that cloud microphysics impact quasi-equilibrium temperature and moisture profiles substantially, but the relative humidity is only weakly affected. Small cloud and precipitation particles result in a climate that is warmer and moister. This is explained by the impact of cloud microphysics on the coupling between convection and surface exchange during the approach to quasi equilibrium. With interactive radiation, this effect is supplemented by gradual evolution of mean cloud fraction profiles and the mean radiative cooling. The mean quasi-equilibrium radiative cooling is weaker in the simulation featuring small cloud and precipitation particles. Cloud‐radiation interactions, explicitly treated in CRCP, play a significant role in setting up the quasiequilibrium cloudiness. The simulations further support the conjecture that the main impact of cloud microphysics in the Tropics is on the net energy budget at the ocean surface. The net energy flux into the ocean in quasi equilibrium is considerably smaller in simulations having small cloud and precipitation particles.
Histologic and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Spontaneous Pituitary Adenomas in Fourteen Cynomolgus Macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

Pituitary adenomas were identified in 14 of 491 (2.9%) cynomolgus macaques evaluated from 1994 to 2004. Cases included male (8) and female (6) cynomolgus macaques ranging from 18 to 32 years of age...
The Responses of the Bakers, Longshoremen and Teamsters to Public Exposure

I. Introduction, 393. — II. The Teamsters' Union, 395. — III. The Longshoremen's Union, 397. — IV. The Bakers' Union, 400. — V. Obstacles to secession, 408. — VI. Doctrine of frustration of contract, 408. — VII. Contract bar doctrine, 409. — VIII. Conclusion, 410.
On the unity of duality

Abstract Most type systems are agnostic regarding the evaluation strategy for the underlying languages, with the value restriction for ML which is absent in Haskell as a notable exception. As type systems become more precise, however, detailed properties of the operational semantics may become visible because properties captured by the types may be sound under one strategy but not the other. For example, intersection types distinguish between call-by-name and call-by-value functions, because the subtyping law ( A → B ) ∩ ( A → C ) ≤ A → ( B ∩ C ) is unsound for the latter in the presence of effects. In this paper we develop a proof-theoretic framework for analyzing the interaction of types with evaluation order, based on the notion of polarity. Polarity was discovered through linear logic, but we propose a fresh origin in Dummett’s program of justifying the logical laws through alternative verificationist or pragmatist “meaning-theories”, which include a bias towards either introduction or elimination rules. We revisit Dummett’s analysis using the tools of Martin-Lof’s judgmental method, and then show how to extend it to a unified polarized logic, with Girard’s “shift” connectives acting as intermediaries. This logic safely combines intuitionistic and dual intuitionistic reasoning principles, while simultaneously admitting a focusing interpretation for the classical sequent calculus. Then, by applying the Curry–Howard isomorphism to polarized logic, we obtain a single programming language in which evaluation order is reflected at the level of types. Different logical notions correspond directly to natural programming constructs, such as pattern-matching, explicit substitutions, values and call-by-value continuations. We give examples demonstrating the expressiveness of the language and type system, and prove a basic but modular type safety result. We conclude with a brief discussion of extensions to the language with additional effects and types, and sketch the sort of explanation this can provide for operationally sensitive typing phenomena.
Tidal stretches do not modulate responsiveness of intact airways in vitro

Studies on isolated tracheal airway smooth muscle (ASM) strips have shown that length/force fluctuations, similar to those likely occurring during breathing, will mitigate ASM contractility. These ...
Information theory for maximum likelihood estimation of diffusion models

Abstract We develop an information theoretic framework for maximum likelihood estimation of diffusion models. Two information criteria that measure the divergence of a diffusion process from the true diffusion are defined. The maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) converges asymptotically to the limit that minimizes the criteria when sampling interval decreases as sampling span increases. When both drift and diffusion specifications are correct, the criteria become zero and the inverse curvatures of the criteria equal the asymptotic variance of the MLE. For misspecified models, the minimizer of the criteria defines pseudo-true parameters. Pseudo-true drift parameters depend on approximate transition densities if used.
Industrial and Organizational Salesforce Roles: A Relationship-Based Perspective

Traditionally, the industrial and organizational salesforce roles were conceptualized for handling competitive buyer-seller markets, which have increasingly become long term relationship-oriented. Long term relationships operate under frameworks of cooperation, which need to be developed and managed for effective functioning. This change in the buyer-seller markets requires a fresh look at the salesforce roles. In this work, we examine the inadequacy of the traditional conceptualizations of salesforce roles, offer a relationship-based perspective of the roles and compare them with the traditional roles.
Electrostriction of rubber sheets

Abstract Electrostriction coefficients were measured for sheets of five commercially important rubbers. The rubbers, polychloroprene, polyisoprene, chlorobutyl, nitrile, and chlorosulfonated polyethylene, were formulated and cured in a way ordinarily used for rubber applications. The electrostriction coefficients were in the range of 0.2 to 1.4×10−17m2/V2, which is approximately 50 times larger than the electrostriction coefficients reported for the higher modulus polymers used in fibers, films and structures. The electrostriction was measured perpendicular to the sheet, with the electric field in the same direction. All the rubbers contracted along the direction of the electric field as the magnitude of the field increased. Mechanical constraints at the surfaces of the sheets were shown to affect the measured values of the electrostriction coefficients. Relaxation measurements showed that the electrostriction coefficients increased at longer measurement times. Corrections were made for the relatively sma...
Beyond Enforcement: Top 10 Strategies for Encouraging Tax Compliance

This article sets forth the author's top 10 strategies for encouraging tax compliance. Focusing on the honestly confused taxpayer, the strategies go beyond enforcement to examine ways of making taxpaying easier and more satisfying.
Reconnaissance fluid inclusion study of the Morefield Pegmatite, Amelia County, Virginia

Over 90% of the fluid inclusions in quartz, topaz, and beryl from the Morefield pegmatite, Amelia Co., Virginia, contain mixed CO 2 -H 2 O fluids. In order of abundance, there are four inclusion types: (1) three-phase, l-l-v; (2) two-phase; H 2 O-rich; (3) three- or four-phase, l-v-s and l-l-v-s; and (4) two-phase, CO 2 -rich. CO 2 -rich inclusions formed by necking of inclusions containing mixed fluids. Topaz and quartz contain all four inclusion types, and all types occur throughout the pegmatite, although no H 2 O-rich inclusions occur in beryl. Quartz from gneiss that hosts the pegmatite contains dominantly H 2 O-rich inclusions. Most inclusions are secondary and occur along healed fractures. Possible primary inclusions occur only among those that contain solids. All inclusions homogenize into the liquid phase; a few homogenize to liquid CO 2 . H 2 O-rich inclusions with 2 O-rich and mixed fluid inclusions with 3-7 wt% NaCl (eq.) and homogenization temperatures >290 degrees C contain fluids interpreted to derive primarily from the pegmatite. Inclusions with salinities between 3-13 wt% NaCl (eq.) and intermediate homogenization temperatures are in part cooled equivalents of the pegmatite fluids, but the origin of those with salinity >7 wt% NaCl (eq.) is uncertain. Homogenization temperatures for CO 2 indicate average CO 2 densities near 0.65 g/cm 3 . For mixed fluids homogenizing near 300 degrees C and this CO 2 density, the trapping pressure is estimated to be 2.5 kb. Neither age relations nor physical proximity tie the Morefield pegmatite to known granitic intrusions. Fluid compositions preclude a genetic relation between the pegmatite and its host gneisses.
Smart grid data injection attacks: To defend or not?

Data injection is a cyber-attack in which an attacker targets the state estimator of the smart grid with the aim to alter the estimation of the system's real-time state. Using data injection, an adversary can manipulate the calculation of the real-time locational marginal prices to reap financial benefit. Even though data injection attacks have attracted significant attention recently, remarkably, all of the existing works focus on cases in which a single adversary is present. In contrast, in this paper, multiple data injection attackers are considered. The problem is formulated as a noncooperative game between the attackers and the smart grid defender. In this game, each attacker chooses a data injection attack while the defender chooses measurements to protect in order to thwart the attacks. The Nash equilibrium of this game is characterized and the effect of the strategies taken by the attackers and defender on the system is analyzed. Our results show how, at the equilibrium, multiple attacks can eliminate the effect of one another thus requiring no defense. However, under different conditions, a defense mechanism can be beneficial in reducing the combined effect of the different attacks on the system. Numerical results using the WSCC 9-bus system are used to validate the derived analytical solution. These results also shed light on the effect of the cost of defense on the attackers' and defender's optimal strategies and utilities. Accordingly, we show that a higher cost of defense makes attackers more likely to attack and worsens the defender's expected utility.
LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY IN CHILDREN-REPORT OF TWENTY-ONE CASES-

Since January 1996 laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has been peformed on 21 children in whom appendicitis could not be confirmed by preoperative diagnosis by conventional methods. The patients included 13 males and 8 females, ranging from 6 to 15 years old. We performed LA with the same trocar for children as that for adults by the three-puncture method. The laparoscopic diagnoses were phlegmonous appeddicitis in 11 children and catarrhal in 10. The operation time was 12_??_42 (mean 25.5) minutes. Only one presented a postoperative complication, subcutaneus hematoma due to trocar injury (Case 3). The advantages of LA include reduction of mental damage to children. LA provides not only benefits for surgeons but also several advantages for children. From our experience, LA might be extended more widely, probably to most cases of appendicitis in children.
Direct complement-fixation test for diagnosis of ornithosis in turkeys.

SummaryEmploying a soluble antigen, complement-fixation reactions were obtained with turkey antiornithosis sera. Antigens consisting of viable allantoic and killed yolk-sac virus suspensions did not show the same degree of activity. The direct complement-fixation reaction was as sensitive as the indirect complement-fixation test; therefore, the use of the direct test for the study and diagnosis of turkey ornithosis was suggested.
Analysis of Slip in a Flow with an Oscillating Wall

Over the past two decades several studies has been done to understand the molecular mechanism of slip in uids at the boundary. Most of the studies that were conducted have dealt with a steady ow. In this paper we use molecular dynamic simulations to study slip in an unsteady ow. Our numerical experiment is based on that of Stokes second problem for a continuum regime. The results show additional slip in comparison to the slip observed in a steady ow. An unsteady slip model is established by extending Maxwell’s slip theory for a steady ow to encapsulate unsteady ows. The model is used as an analogy to nd the parameters that in uence slip in uids. The model indicates that slip velocity of a uid is dependent on acceleration of the uid, in addition to its shear rate. Further the slip model is non-dimensionalized. It is seen that the type of ow has no bearing on the layering of uid layer at close proximity to the wall. The presence of hysteresis in an unsteady ow is also observed. This can be attributed to uid inertia which is governed by the acceleration and deceleration of the wall.
Paired Associate Learning Revisited: Paradigm for Assessing Ease of Learning and Transfer of Command Mnemonics

The present study investigated the use of a classic laboratory paradigm, paired-associate (PA) learning, to assess the ease of learning and transfer of command mnemonics. This paradigm was applied to the ease of learning text editing command language where the stimulus was a command (e.g., Delete Block) and the response was the keystroke sequence associated with that command (e.g., ^DB). Two types of command keystroke sequences were employed; meaningful (M) abbreviations which were mnemonically related to command names (e.g., Delete Block = ^DB), and nonmeaningful (MN) abbreviations which are not mnemonically related to command names (e.g., Delete Block = ^LK). There was evidence for differential transfer only for the average number correct measure but not the trials-to-criterion-measure. For both first and second list learning, it took significantly fewer trials to criterion to learn the M than NM keystroke sequences. The present results point toward the use of the PA paradigm to standardize the ease of ...
Measles virus and the nervous system.

Abstract Measles is a highly contagious viral disease caused by an enveloped negative-strand RNA virus in the Paramyxovirus family. Measles is associated with three different types of neurologic complications: acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), measles inclusion body encephalitis (MIBE), and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). ADEM is a monophasic autoimmune demyelinating disease that has an incidence of 1:1000 and occurs primarily in children over the age of 4 years. Disease onset is acute and usually occurs within days to weeks after measles. Pathology is characterized by perivenular inflammation and demyelination. MIBE is due to progressive measles virus infection of the nervous system and occurs in immune-compromised individuals who are unable to clear virus after infection. Disease onset is subacute and usually fatal. Pathology shows nuclear and cytoplasmic viral inclusion bodies with little evidence of inflammation. SSPE is a fatal progressive neurologic disease with an onset many years after measles and an incidence of 1:10 000. The disease occurs primarily in immunologically normal children who developed measles under the age of 2 years. Pathology shows nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and inflammation. All of these diseases can be prevented by measles vaccination.
Liver as a Model System for Analyzing Mechanisms of Tumor Initiation and Promotion

Evidence that tumorigenesis is a multistage process first emerged from experiments showing that wounding of skin previously treated with coal tar resulted in tumor formation at the wound site (1). Subsequent experiments in which physical trauma was replaced by the application of chemical irritants not intrinsically tumorigenic yielded similar results (2,3). These observations were codified by Rous, who coined the terms “initiation” and “promotion” to denote respectively (a) the production of potentially tumorigenic cells by limited carcinogen treatment and (b) the completion of the neoplastic transformation resulting from subsequent treatment with any of a wide variety of noncarcinogenic irritants and proliferative stimuli (3).
CD4+FoxP3+ Regulatory T Cells Regulate B Cell Differentiation and Induce Tolerance to Bone Marrow Grafts

CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) are a rare cell population that is responsible for peripheral immune tolerance. Treg adoptive transfer has proved to be an effective treatment for graft versus host disease prevention in several preclinical and clinical studies. The impact of Treg on immune reconstitution and bone marrow engraftment after transplantation has been less well studied. We treated C57BL/6 FoxP3-DTR mice that carry the diphtheria toxin (DT) receptor in the promoter of the FoxP3 gene with DT resulting in a complete ablation of Treg (percentage of FoxP3+CD4+ cells over CD4+ cells in vitro activated with Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and anti-CD3/CD28 beads to DT treated mice rescued engraftment (p We explored the mechanism through which Treg impact donor engraftment and immune reconstitution and observed that Treg depleted mice transplanted with syngeneic (C57BL/6 CD45.1) TCD BM engrafted (p > 0.05) but had markedly delayed B cell reconstitution (p -/- γc -/- mice that received an infusion of allogeneic (C57BL/6) TCD BM. Bone marrow analysis of these mice revealed higher numbers of B220+IgM-CD19+cKit+ Pro-B cells (p In conclusion, our findings clearly indicate that Treg act as a key regulator of B cell differentiation promoting production of mature B cells. This effect is not dependent on alloantigen recognition and Treg localization after transplantation suggests that Treg play a role in building the donor HSC and B cell precursor niche. Finally, adoptive transfer of Treg enhances B cell immune reconstitution and induces tolerance to allogeneic bone marrow grafts even in the absence of conditioning providing a new tool for clinical translation in children with severe combined immune deficiencies or hemoglobinopathies and in patients undergoing organ transplantation. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Big Data, Health Informatics, and the Future of Cardiovascular Medicine.

“Medicine is going to become an information science. In 10 years or so, we may have billions of data points on each individual, and the real challenge will be to develop information technology that can reduce that to real hypotheses about that individual.”—Leroy Hood [(1)][1] A physician
Phenol-Induced O-O Bond Cleavage in a Low-Spin Heme-Peroxo-Copper Complex: Implications for O2 Reduction in Heme-Copper Oxidases.

This study evaluates the reaction of a biomimetic heme–peroxo–copper complex, {[(DCHIm)(F8)FeIII]–(O22–)–[CuII(AN)]}+ (1), with a phenolic substrate, involving a net H-atom abstraction to cleave the bridging peroxo O–O bond that produces FeIV═O, CuII—OH, and phenoxyl radical moieties, analogous to the chemistry carried out in heme–copper oxidases (HCOs). A 3D potential energy surface generated for this reaction reveals two possible reaction pathways: one involves nearly complete proton transfer (PT) from the phenol to the peroxo ligand before the barrier; the other involves O–O homolysis, where the phenol remains H-bonding to the peroxo OCu in the transition state (TS) and transfers the H+ after the barrier. In both mechanisms, electron transfer (ET) from phenol occurs after the PT (and after the barrier); therefore, only the interaction with the H+ is involved in lowering the O–O cleavage barrier. The relative barriers depend on covalency (which governs ET from Fe), and therefore vary with DFT functional...
Chapter 29 One-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis1

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the principle, gels, procedures, and detection of proteins in gel by one dimensional gel electrophoresis. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS– PAGE) is an excellent method to identify and monitor proteins during purification and to assess the homogeneity of purified fractions. SDS–PAGE is routinely used for the estimation of protein subunit molecular weights and for determining the subunit compositions of purified proteins. SDS–PAGE is a very high resolution method for protein fractionation, enabling thousands of polypeptides to be resolved in a single gel. When used in conjunction with blotting methods, SDS–PAGE provides one of the most powerful means available for protein analysis. The chapter presents three of the simplest and most reliable methods for the detection of proteins in SDS–PAGE gels. Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 is the most common protein stain and is recommended for routine work. Silver staining is the most sensitive method for staining proteins in gels and is employed when electrophoresis is used to assess the purity of a preparation. Copper staining is a recent development allowing rapid and sensitive staining.
Oncostatin M induces detachment and enhances the metastatic capacity of T-47D human breast carcinoma cells

5042 Oncostatin M (OSM), an IL-6 family cytokine, has previously been shown to inhibit the proliferation of several breast cancer cell lines in vitro. Our studies report additional effects of OSM treatment on the human breast carcinoma cell line T-47D. OSM treatment of T-47D cells for 1 to 3 days alters cell morphology from a normal epithelial phenotype to more mesenchymal phenotype. These changes are followed by a 250% increase in cell detachment after 5 to 8 days of OSM treatment. Detached aggregates of cells are viable and easily readhere to several extracellular matrix components. In addition, immunoblots of concentrated conditioned media collected from OSM-treated T-47D cells showed an increase in the expression of the proteases cathepsin D and cathepsin L, which have been implicated in metastasis. Importantly, OSM treated T-47D cells show an almost 300% increase in invasive capacity as measured by the Matrigel invasion chamber assay. Collectively, these data demonstrate that OSM induces a metastatic phenotype in T-47D cells in vitro, and suggest that OSM could enhance metastasis in vivo. Our results suggest that experimental therapeutic approaches utilizing OSM as a treatment for human breast cancer should proceed with caution, and that OSM itself may be a valid therapeutic target.
Talking the talk and walking the walk: CSR reporting and CSP of emerging market multinationals

We examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting and corporate social performance (CSP) of emerging market multinational enterprises (EMMNEs). Drawing on neo-inst...
Class Enumeration and Parameter Recovery of Growth Mixture Modeling and Second-Order Growth Mixture Modeling in the Presence of Measurement Noninvariance between Latent Classes.

Population heterogeneity in growth trajectories can be detected with growth mixture modeling. It is common that researchers compute composite scores of repeated measures and use them as multiple indicators of growth factors (baseline performance and growth) assuming measurement invariance between latent classes. Considering that the assumption of measurement invariance does not always hold, we investigate the impact of measurement noninvariance on class enumeration and parameter recovery in growth mixture modeling through a Monte Carlo simulation study (Study 1). In Study 2, we examine the class enumeration and parameter recovery of the second-order growth mixture modeling (SOGMM) that incorporates measurement models at the first order level. Thus, SOGMM estimates growth trajectory parameters with reliable sources of variance, that is, common factor variance of repeated measures and allows heterogeneity in measurement parameters between latent classes. The class enumeration rates are examined with information criteria such as AIC, BIC, sample-size adjusted BIC, and hierarchical BIC under various simulation conditions. The results of Study 1 showed that the parameter estimates of baseline performance and growth factor means were biased to the degree of measurement noninvariance even when the correct number of latent classes was extracted. In Study 2, the class enumeration accuracy of SOGMM depended on information criteria, class separation, and sample size. The estimates of baseline performance and growth factor mean differences between classes were generally unbiased but the size of measurement noninvariance was underestimated. Overall, SOGMM is advantageous in that it yields unbiased estimates of growth trajectory parameters and more accurate class enumeration compared to GMM by incorporating measurement models.
Mindset of Paraprofessionals Serving Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

As schools across the United States move toward more inclusive models and as caseloads for special education teachers increase, special education paraprofessionals are being hired to fill service d...
Dreams, Possibilities and Necessity of Public Education through Urban Students’ Eyes: It is the Climate

School climate is the quality and character of school life. It provides a shared sense of purpose, as well as norms and values that may serve to bind or tear apart the fabric and foundation of a school. In a broader sense, school culture is based on the partnership, cohesiveness and collaborations between “town and gown”—a colloquial term referring to the relationship between schools and communities, students, parents, faculty, administration and staff. Due to such a broad scope, it affects teaching, learning and organizational structures. Key factors affecting school culture may include, but are not limited to, perceptions of personal safety, interpersonal relationships, teaching, learning, as well as the external environment.
The Near-Death Experience: Knowledge and Attitudes of College Students

Study examining the relationship in people who have not had a near-death experience (NDE) between attitudes toward and knowledge of NDEs.
Electrosurgery for the Skin

The purposes of electrosurgery are to destroy benign and malignant lesions, control bleeding, and cut or excise tissue. The major modalities in electrosurgery are electrodesiccation, fulguration, electrocoagulation, and electrosection. Electrosurgery can be used for incisional techniques that produce full-thickness excision of nevi, for shave techniques that produce partial-thickness removal of superficial lesions, and for removing vascular lesions such as hemangiomas or pyogenic granulomas. The correct output power can be determined by starting low and increasing the power until the desired outcome is attained (destruction, coagulation, or cutting). Smaller cherry angiomas can be electrocoagulated lightly. Larger cherry angiomas may be easier to treat by shaving them first, then electrocoagulating or desiccating the base. The elevated portion of pyogenic granulomas can be shaved off with a scalpel or a loop electrode using a cutting/coagulation current. The base of the lesion is curetted to remove the remaining tissue and then electrodesiccated. Complications such as burns, shocks, and transmission of infection can be prevented by careful use of the electrosurgical equipment.
Biochemical Approaches to Monitoring Human Populations for Germinal Mutation Rates: II. Enzyme Deficiency Variants as a Component of the Estimated Genetic Risk

The ultimate function of toxicology screening systems is to provide an accurate estimate of the human health risk associated with exposure to potentially hazardous agents. A number of test systems, with varying capabilities, have been developed and it has been proposed that combinations of several of these systems be utilized in a tier approach to estimating risk. The shortcomings of the various components of the tier system, including differences in metabolic pathways, target tissue specificity, cell replication, etc., have been discussed [1]. An additional problem is the lack of relevant data from human populations which may be used as a reference for extrapolation. That is, it is difficult to estimate human health risk utilizing data obtained in test systems in the absence of at least some data from a limited number of studies relating the nature and extent of exposure, the frequency of events induced and the associated increase in health costs in a human population. The absence of a data base is most apparent for germinal mutations, where except for genetic damage involving structural or numerical chromosomal abberations [2–4], the data on the frequency of possible mutagenic events, either spontaneous or induced, are very limited. Most previous estimates of the frequency of mutational events in human populations have utilized either the population characteristic or sentinel phenotype approach [5–7]. Recently, electrophoretic techniques have been developed which can be used to obtain data relevant to the estimation of both the background and induced mutation rate in human populations [8–10]. The current status of these electrophoretic methodologies is described by Neel et al., in a companion paper in this symposium [11].
Paternal nicotine exposure in rats produces long-lasting neurobehavioral effects in the offspring.

Abstract Studies of intergenerational effects of parental chemical exposure have principally focused on maternal exposure, particularly for studies of adverse neurobehavioral consequences on the offspring. Maternal nicotine exposure has long been known to cause adverse neurobehavioral effects on the offspring. However, paternal toxicant exposure has also been found to cause neurobehavioral toxicity in their offspring. Recent work suggests that paternal nicotine exposure can have epigenetic effects, although it remains unclear whether such changes lead to neurobehavioral effects. In the current study, we investigated the effects of paternal nicotine exposure on neurobehavioral development of their offspring. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0 or 2 mg/kg/day nicotine (sc) for 56 consecutive days with two consecutive 2ML4 osmotic minipumps. Following treatment, these males were mated with drug-naive female rats. Offspring of both sexes were tested in a behavioral battery to assess locomotion, emotional function and cognition. Paternal nicotine exposure did not impact offspring viability, health or growth. However, behavioral function of the offspring was significantly altered by paternal nicotine exposure. Male offspring with paternal nicotine exposure exhibited locomotor hyperactivity in the Figure-8 apparatus when tested during adolescence. When retested in adulthood and regardless of sex, offspring of the nicotine exposed father showed significantly reduced habituation of locomotor activity over the course of the session. Compared to controls, female offspring of nicotine-exposed fathers showed significantly reduced response latency in the radial arm maze test. In addition to locomotor hyperactivity, the offspring of nicotine-exposed fathers also showed significantly diminished habituation in the novel object recognition test. These results indicate that chronic paternal nicotine exposure can impact the behavior of offspring, producing locomotor hyperactivity and impaired habituation.
When urban policy becomes labor policy: State structures, local initiatives, and union representation at the turn of the century

Dans cet article, l'A conteste les visions negatives de la mondialisation sur l'organisation et le droit du travail par l'affaiblissement du role de l'Etat. A partir d'une etude locale a San Fransisco, l'A degage plusieurs modalites d'actions et de flexibilite de defense des travailleurs
Preventing Rhino Poaching through Machine Learning

Official figures in Africa indicate that 1,349 rhinos were killed in 2015. This marked the most critical moment of the current rhino poaching crisis that began in 2008. This trend has since reversed to the minimum of 1,124 poached rhinos achieved in 2017. Although this brings hope, this emergency is still a formidable challenge that needs to be tackled from a multi-angle approach including anti-poaching collaboration among countries to enforce effective wildlife crime laws, target campaigns in the illegal horn rhino end-user countries like China and Vietnam, and the adoption of cutting-edge technology by governmental agencies and conservationist NGOs. In this talk, we will highlight the recent efforts of Peace Parks Foundation (PPF), the advocate for the creation of transfrontier conservation areas in South Africa, and Microsoft to address this crisis. We will explain how, through the joint use of deep learning and Cloud, PPF and Microsoft developed a fast and accurate potential poacher detection solution that allows PPF to allocate the park resources in a smarter and more efficient manner.
Demo Abstract: Real-time Social Sensing Task Allocation Strategies in Heterogeneous Edge Computing Systems

Social sensing based Edge Computing systems (SSEC) have emerged as a new application paradigm in leveraging privately owned edge/IoT devices to collectively provide ubiquitous sensing, computation, and services. In this demo, we compare and contrast various task allocation strategies in SSEC in supporting delay sensitive social sensing applications. We evaluate the system on two real-time social sensing applications and demonstrate the energy savings as well as the Quality of Service (QoS) of the SSEC system. The demonstrated framework highlights the deficiency in traditional pure top-down and bottom-up task allocation solutions and validates a new hybrid task allocation strategy that is more scalable and efficient.
Identifying Early Risk Factors for Addiction Later in Life: a Review of Prospective Longitudinal Studies

To review prospective longitudinal studies that have identified risk factors for the development of substance use disorders in adulthood from individual differences during childhood and adolescence. Risk factors during childhood and adolescence that have been consistently linked to increased risk for addiction include externalizing and internalizing symptoms, early substance use, and environmental influences, such as parental behavior and exposure to traumatic experiences. Since the etiology of substance use disorders is complex and likely is attributable to many causal pathways, systematic examination of the associations between risk factors will be necessary to understand the mixed findings in the existing literature, to determine which individuals should be targeted for prevention efforts, and to design interventions that address risk factors that are most likely to improve outcomes.
Time-division multiplexed resistive pulse sensor on a microfluidic chip

Due to its simplicity and robustness, resistive pulse sensors have been widely used to detect, measure, and analyze particles at length scales ranging from nanometers to micrometers. While multiple pore-based resistive pulse sensors are preferred to increase the analysis throughput and to overcome the clogging issues, the scalability is often limited. Here we reported a microfluidic time-division multiplexing accessing (TDMA) single-end resistive pulse sensor, in which particles can be analyzed through a scalable number of microfluidic channels. This multiplexed approach is effective in measuring the particle size and concentration, in analyzing the particle arriving dynamics, and in discriminating mixed populations. It also provides a robust mechanism to overcome the clogging issue, allowing the analysis to continue even when some of the pores are clogged.
Machine learning for the prediction of antimicrobial stewardship intervention in hospitalized patients receiving broad-spectrum agents.

Objective:A significant proportion of inpatient antimicrobial prescriptions are inappropriate. Post-prescription review with feedback has been shown to be an effective means of reducing inappropriate antimicrobial use. However, implementation is resource intensive. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of traditional statistical models and machine-learning models designed to predict which patients receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics require a stewardship intervention.Methods:We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study of inpatients who received an antimicrobial tracked by the antimicrobial stewardship program. Data were extracted from the electronic medical record and were used to develop logistic regression and boosted-tree models to predict whether antibiotic therapy required stewardship intervention on any given day as compared to the criterion standard of note left by the antimicrobial stewardship team in the patient’s chart. We measured the performance of these models using area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC), and we evaluated it using a hold-out validation cohort.Results:Both the logistic regression and boosted-tree models demonstrated fair discriminatory power with AUROCs of 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69–0.77) and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.72–0.79), respectively (P = .07). Both models demonstrated good calibration. The number of patients that would need to be reviewed to identify 1 patient who required stewardship intervention was high for both models (41.7–45.5 for models tuned to a sensitivity of 85%).Conclusions:Complex models can be developed to predict which patients require a stewardship intervention. However, further work is required to develop models with adequate discriminatory power to be applicable to real-world antimicrobial stewardship practice.
A Flexible Framework for Expediting Bug Finding by Leveraging Past (Mis-)Behavior to Discover New Bugs

Among various fuzzing approaches, coverage-guided grey-box fuzzing is perhaps the most prominent, due to its ease of use and effectiveness. Using this approach, the selection of inputs focuses on maximizing program coverage, e.g., in terms of the different branches that have been traversed. In this work, we begin with the observation that selecting any input that explores a new path, and giving equal weight to all paths, can lead to severe inefficiencies. For instance, although seemingly “new” crashes involving previously unexplored paths may be discovered, these often have the same root cause and actually correspond to the same bug. To address these inefficiencies, we introduce a framework that incorporates a tighter feedback loop to guide the fuzzing process in exploring truly diverse code paths. Our framework employs (i) a vulnerability-aware selection of coverage metrics for enhancing the effectiveness of code exploration, (ii) crash deduplication information for early feedback, and (iii) a configurable input culling strategy that interleaves multiple strategies to achieve comprehensiveness. A novel aspect of our work is the use of hardware performance counters to derive coverage metrics. We present an approach for assessing and selecting the hardware events that can be used as a meaningful coverage metric for a target program. The results of our empirical evaluation using real-world programs demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach: in some cases, we explore fewer than 50% of the paths compared to a base fuzzer (AFL, MOpt, and Fairfuzz), yet on average, we improve new bug discovery by 31%, and find the same bugs (as the base) 3.3 times faster. Moreover, although we specifically chose applications that have been subject to recent fuzzing campaigns, we still discovered 9 new vulnerabilities.
Improving officer-soldier communication through active listening skills training with Army ROTC cadets

Military leaders are tasked with communicating effectively with their subordinates. Active listening skills are vital to this communication; however, an investigation of active listening skills in ...
Normal Anatomy and Histology of the Urinary Bladder with Pathologic Correlates

Attention of the pathologist to basic urinary bladder anatomy and histology is essential to accurately diagnose bladder pathology, as well as determine TNM staging for proper prognostic evaluation. In this chapter, the normal anatomy, histology, and benign pathology of the urinary bladder are reviewed, with emphasis on key points that the surgical pathologist should know. Topics covered herein include bladder cancer staging according to the most recent AJCC Staging Manual, differentiating muscularis propria from hypertrophic muscularis mucosa, gross evaluation and handling of bladder tumors, functional anatomy, urachal remnants, diverticula, exstrophy, ectopic prostate tissue, intestinal and squamous metaplasia, von Brunn nests/cystitis cystica and glandularis, nephrogenic adenoma, polypoid cystitis, types of inflammatory cystitis, malakoplakia, fibroepithelial polyp, and Mullerian lesions. Potential mimickers of malignancy are noted, and characteristics used to differentiate mimickers from malignant lesions are discussed. This chapter is therefore a useful reading for genitourinary pathologists, general surgical pathologists who encounter bladder cases, and pathology trainees.