cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Food and Drug Administration process for development and approval of drugs and radiopharmaceuticals: Treatments in urologic oncology

Abstract Regulatory advice and assessment play an important role in the successful development of new drugs and radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment of urologic malignancies. Cooperation between the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the pharmaceutical industry has led to the approval of more than 20 new urologic oncology products in the last 2 decades. Despite these advances, more effective treatments need to be developed and approved for the treatment of urologic malignancies. This review provides general information about the FDA׳s role in the development of investigational new drugs, with an emphasis on the regulatory process and the requirements for marketing approval. In addition, this review summarizes the products for the treatment of urologic malignancies that were approved by the FDA in the last 30 years and the key issues concerning urologic oncology products that were discussed publicly at Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee meetings in the past 10 years.
Integrating and classifying parametric features from fMRI data for brain function characterization

Recent advances in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provide an unparalleled opportunity for measuring and characterizing brain function in humans. However, the typically small signal change is very noisy and susceptible to various artifacts, such as those caused by scanner drift, head motion, and cardio-respiratory effects. This paper presents an integrated and exploratory approach to characterize brain function from fMRI data by providing techniques for both functional segregation and integration without any prior knowledge of the experimental paradigm. We demonstrate that principal component analysis (PCA) can be used for temporal shape modeling and shape feature extraction, shedding lights from a different perspective for the application of PCA in fMRI analysis. Appropriate feature screening is also performed to eliminate the parameters corresponding to data noise or artifacts. The extracted and screened shape parameters are revealed to be effective and efficient representations of the true fMRI time series. We then propose a novel strategy which classifies the fMRI data into distinct activation regions based on the selected temporal shape features. Furthermore, we propose to infer functional connectivity of the identified patterns by the distance measures in this parametric shape feature space. Validation for accuracy, sensitivity, and efficiency of the method and comparison with existing fMRI analysis techniques are performed using both simulated and real fMRI data.
Archaeoditomotarsus crassitylus , gen. and sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Acanthosomatidae) from Chile

Archaeoditomotarsus crassitylus, gen. and sp. nov. of Acanthosomatidae (Ditomotarsinae: Ditomotarsini), is described and illustrated. The biogeography of the new taxon is discussed and a key to the Chilean genera of Ditomotarsinae is included.
The effects of shocking one member of a pair of rats

When one member of a pair of rats was insulated from electric footshock, a frequency of aggression was obtained which was far lower than that which has typically been reported in the shock-elicited aggression literature. In addition, the shocked rats developed a relatively high frequency of stereotyped responses which served as partially successful avoidance responses. These data were considered to support earlier data indicating that avoidance or escape responses to shock will take priority over attack responses to shock.
Towards increasing the compatibility of student pair programmers

As pair programming is used widely in software engineering education, instructors may wish to proactively form pairs to increase the likelihood of compatible pairs. A study involving 361 software engineering students was carried out at North Carolina State University to understand and predict pair compatibility. We have found that students are compatible with partners whom they perceive of similar skill, although instructors cannot proactively manage this perception. Pairing of two minority students is more likely and mixed gender pairs are less likely to be compatible. Additionally, pairing of students with similar actual skill level as measured by midterm grades in class, GPA, and SAT/GRE scores also likely results in compatible pairs. Our research addresses the following challenges faced by instructors in software engineering: 1) organizational concern in pairing of students; 2) increasing the retention rates of female and minority students in classes; and 3) proactively forming mutually-compatible pairs.
Impacts of urbanization on river flow frequency: A controlled experimental modeling-based evaluation approach

Summary Changes in land use are likely to cause a non-linear response in watershed hydrology. Specifically, small increases in urban expansion may greatly increase surface runoff while decreasing infiltration, impacting aquifer recharge and changing streamflow regimes. Quantifying the effects of urbanization on streamflow is crucial to the development of plans to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic changes on watershed processes. This study focused on quantifying the potential effects of varying degrees of urban expansion on the frequency of discharge, velocity, and water depth using the physically-based watershed model, MIKE-SHE, and the 1D hydrodynamic river model, MIKE-11. Five land cover scenarios corresponding to varying degrees of urban expansion were used to determine the sensitivity of these flow variables in the Big River watershed located in east central Missouri, in which urban areas have increased by more than 300% in the last 15 years (1992–2006). Differences in the frequency distributions of the flow variables under each scenario were quantified using a Smirnov test. Results indicated a potential increase in the frequency of high flow events to more than 140% while decreasing the frequency of low flow events by up to 100% if the current rate of urbanization continues. In general, the frequency of low flow events decreased as urban expansion increased while the frequency of average and high-flow events increased as urbanization increased. An increase in frequency of high-flow events is expected to impact the safety of structures, sediment load, water quality, and the riparian ecosystem. This research will be valuable to assess mitigation strategies in order to protect the ecosystem, infrastructure, and livelihood in the watershed where urban development is inevitable.
Estrogen-mediated induction of rat prolactin gene transcription requires the formation of a chromatin loop between the distal enhancer and proximal promoter regions.

Rat PRL (rPRL) gene transcription is controlled by proteins that interact with two DNA elements located in the 5'-upstream regulatory region. These elements, the distal enhancer and the proximal promoter, are separated by nearly 1500 bp of DNA. Induction of rPRL transcription by the estrogen 17 beta-estradiol (E2) is conferred through the estrogen response element located in the distal enhancer. To activate transcription, the estrogen-estrogen receptor complex must "communicate" with RNA polymerase II located at the proximal promoter. Using a novel nuclear ligation assay, it is shown that estrogen treatment of rat pituitary GH3 cells stimulates the formation of chromatin loops between the distal enhancer and proximal promoter of the rPRL gene, juxtaposing these two transcriptional control regions. The formation of these chromatin loops was observed in both the endogenous rPRL gene and in a rPRL-Tn5 minichromosome. Induction of rPRL and rPRL-Tn5 expression by E2 was reduced by coincubation of cells with th...
Membrane anchoring and spontaneous release of CD16 (FcR III) by natural killer cells and granulocytes

CD16 is an IgG Fc receptor that is predominantly expressed on human natural killer (NK) cells and granulocytes. The CD16 antigen expressed on neutrophils is a 50 to 70-kDa glycoprotein attached to the plasma membrane by a phosphatidylinositol-glycan linkage that is susceptible to cleavage by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC). By contrast, treatment of NK cells with PIPLC did not cleave CD16 from the cell surface. Biochemical analysis of the deglycosylated CD16 revealed a substantial difference in the core polypeptides expressed by NK cells and granulocytes. Culture of radiolabeled NK cells resulted in the spontaneous release of a CD16 molecule, smaller than the membrane form of CD16. These findings demonstrate that structural differences exist in the CD16 antigens expressed on NK cells and granulocytes that may potentially influence their functional activities.
Level of α-Fetoprotein Predicts Mortality Among Patients With Hepatitis C–Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background & Aims Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can result from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease and is the fastest-growing cause of cancer-related death in the United States. α-fetoprotein (AFP) has been used as a prognostic factor for HCC, but the value of AFP as a prognostic factor for HCV-related HCC in the United States is unknown. We investigated whether higher levels of AFP at the time of diagnosis are associated with increased mortality of patients with HCV-related HCC. Methods In a retrospective study, we collected data from a cohort of HCV-infected veterans, identifying incident HCC cases from October 1, 1998, to January 1, 2007 (n = 1480 patients). The mean serum levels of AFP, obtained within 60 days before to 30 days after HCC diagnosis, were determined for 1064 patients and categorized as less than 10 ng/mL (18%), 10 to less than 100 ng/mL (30%), 100 to less than 1000 ng/mL (22%), or 1000 ng/mL or more (29%). Cox proportional hazard models were used to associate serum levels of AFP with mortality, adjusting for demographic features, clinical factors, and treatment. Results The median survival times were significantly lower among patients with higher levels of AFP: 709 days for patients with less than 10 ng/mL, 422 days for patients with 10 to less than 100 ng/mL, 208 days for patients with 100 to less than 1000 ng/mL, and 68 days for patients with 1000 ng/mL or more. In the multivariate analysis, increased levels of AFP (10 to Conclusions Serum AFP level at the time of diagnosis with HCV-related HCC is an independent predictor of mortality.
Tryptophan messenger ribonucleic acid elongation rates and steady-state levels of tryptophan operon enzymes under various growth conditions.

Abstract The elongation rate of messenger RNA transcribed on the tryptophan operon of Escherichia coli was determined for cells growing with different generation times and at several temperatures. Elongation rate estimates were based on measurements of the time required for completion of transcription of the operon following addition of an inhibitor of transcription initiations, rifampicin, to repressor-negative cultures. The elongation rate was found to be dependent on growth temperature, but was affected only slightly by changes in cell generation time. The estimated messenger elongation rates are 37 to 45 nucleotides per second at 37 °C, 25 to 28 nucleotides per second at 30 °C, and 16 to 17 nucleotides per second at 25 °C. These values are calculated on the basis of an estimated operon length of 6700 nucleotides. The specific activities of enzymes specified by the operon in repressor-negative cells were found to remain constant over a wide range of cell generation times at 37 °C. Since the messenger RNA elongation rate is nearly constant over this generation-time range, this finding suggests that regulation of the frequency of transcription initiations and/or the yield of enzyme molecules per messenger are responsible for the variable rates of enzyme synthesis which maintain constant enzyme-specific activities.
Evidence of accelerated beak growth associated with avian keratin disorder in black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus).

We recently documented an epizootic of beak deformities in more than 2,000 Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and other wild bird species in North America. This emerging avian disease, which has been termed avian keratin disorder, results in gross overgrowth of the rhamphotheca, the outer, keratinized layer of the beak. To test the hypothesis that the beak deformities characteristic of this disorder are associated with accelerated keratin production, we measured rates of beak growth and wear in affected Black-capped Chickadees (n=16) and a control sample of unaffected chickadees (n=14) collected from south-central (61°09′–61°38′N, 149°11′–149°48′W) and interior Alaska (64°51′–64°53′N, 147°49′–147°59′W). Rates of absolute growth were 50–100% higher in affected birds than they were in control birds and exceeded records from other passerine species. These results suggest that abnormally rapid epidermal growth is the primary physical mechanism by which beak deformities develop and are maintained i...
Protégé anxiety attachment and feedback in mentoring relationships.

Abstract A model focused on protege anxious attachment and feedback in mentoring relationships was tested with a sample of matched doctoral student proteges and their faculty mentors. Results show that protege anxious attachment was associated with less feedback seeking and less feedback acceptance. Protege feedback acceptance was associated with both the quality and frequency of feedback provided by the mentor. Frequency, but not quality of mentor feedback, was associated with protege scholarly productivity. Results underscore the value of focusing on specific behavioral aspects of the mentoring process.
The Welfare Analysis of a Free Trade Zone: Intermediate Goods and the Asian Tigers

We analyse trade reform among the ASEAN countries, which recently began removing all mutual trade barriers. The standard method to avoid complete specialisation in traded goods is to distinguish goods both by physical type and place of origin (the so-called Armington assumption). This methodology is not suitable for the sort of intermediate goods produced by the ASEAN countries. We develop a computational approach in the context of a non-Armington dynamic general equilibrium model. Analysing the results of a calibrated version of the model, we find that trade liberalisation is generally welfare improving for the ASEAN countries.
Optimal Spectrum Sharing for Multi-Hop Software Defined Radio Networks

Software defined radio (SDR) capitalizes advances in signal processing and radio technology and is capable of reconfiguring RF and switching to desired frequency bands. It is a frequency-agile data communication device that is vastly more powerful than recently proposed multi-channel multi-radio (MC-MR) technology. In this paper, we investigate the important problem of multi-hop networking with SDR nodes. For such network, each node has a pool of frequency bands (not necessarily of equal size) that can be used for communication. The uneven size of bands in the radio spectrum prompts the need of further division into sub-bands for optimal spectrum sharing. We characterize behaviors and constraints for such multi-hop SDR network from multiple layers, including modeling of spectrum sharing and sub-band division, scheduling and interference constraints, and flow routing. We give a formal mathematical formulation with the objective of minimizing the required network-wide radio spectrum resource for a set of user sessions. Since such problem formulation falls into mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP), which is NP-hard in general, we develop a lower bound for the objective by relaxing the integer variables and linearization. Subsequently, we develop a near-optimal algorithm to this MINLP problem. This algorithm is based on a novel sequential fixing procedure, where the integer variables are determined iteratively via a sequence of linear programming. Simulation results show that solutions obtained by this algorithm are very close to lower bounds obtained via relaxation, thus suggesting that the solution produced by the algorithm is near-optimal.
Purification and Characterization of a Membrane‐Bound Enkephalin‐Forming Carboxypeptidase, “Enkephalin Convertase”

Enkephalin convertase, the enkephalin-synthesizing carboxypeptidase B-like enzyme, has been purified to apparent homogeneity from bovine pituitary and adrenal chromaffin granule membranes. The membrane-bound enkephalin convertase can be solubilized in high yield with 0.5% Triton X-100 in the presence of 1 M NaCl. Extensive purification is achieved by affinity chromatography with p-aminobenzoyl-L-arginine linked to Sepharose 6B. Enzyme purified from both pituitary and adrenal chromaffin granule membranes shows a single band by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an apparent molecular weight of 52,500, whereas enkephalin convertase purified from soluble extracts of these tissues has an apparent molecular weight of 50,000. The regional distribution of the membrane-bound enzyme in the rat brain differs from that of the soluble enzyme. While the soluble enzyme shows 10-fold variations, resembling somewhat the enkephalin peptides, membrane-bound enkephalin convertase is more homogeneously distributed throughout the brain. In rat pituitary glands, membrane-bound enzyme activity is similar in the anterior and posterior lobes, whereas the soluble enzyme is enriched in the anterior lobe. Membrane-bound and soluble forms of enkephalin convertase isolated from either bovine pituitary glands or adrenal chromaffin granules show identical substrate and inhibitor specificities. As with the soluble enzyme, membrane-bound enkephalin convertase hydrolyzes [Met]- and [Leu]enkephalin-Arg6 and -Lys6 to enkephalin, with no further degradation of the pentapeptide.
Termination of early gestation with 9-deoxo-16,16-dimethyl-9-methylene prostaglandin E2

Abstract Vaginal suppositories containing 9-deoxo-16,16-dimethyl-9-methylene prostaglandin E 2 were administered to 40 subjects in an attempt to induce an early abortion. All subjects were 49 days or less from their last menstrual period. Ten subjects (Group A) received the 75-mg suppository followed in 6 hours by a 30-mg suppository, ten subjects (Group B) received the 30-mg suppository followed in 2 hours by the 75-mg suppository and twenty subjects (Group C) received a 30-mg suppository followed in 3 hours by a second 30-mg suppository and in three more hours, at the discretion of the principal investigator, they could receive a third 30-mg suppository. Twentyseven subjects (68%) had a successful termination of their pregnancy using the multiple vaginal prostaglandin suppository regimens. Seven subjects from Group A, 6 subjects from Group B, and 14 subjects from Group C successfully aborted. One subject in Group B and one subject in Group C were lost to follow-up and the remaining 11 subjects (28%) failed to abort. Twenty-six subjects reported side effects which included nausea, emesis, diarrhea, and uterine cramping requiring analgesia. Thirty-four subjects experienced hyperpyrexia of 99.6 ° or greater and 12 subjects had their body temperature reach 101 ° or higher. The use of vaginal suppositories containing 9-deoxo-16,16-dimethyl-9-methylene prostaglandin E 2 did not significantly increase the overall abortifacient efficacy of this method from the 60% rate we previously observed with (15S)-15-methyl-prostaglandin F 2α methyl ester suppositories.
A general greedy channel routing algorithm

A general approach for the channel routing problem is presented as a framework for a class of heuristic routing algorithms. The algorithm is shown to possess a backtracking capability that increases the chance of completing the routing with a minimum number of tracks. Since the concepts described are general, they can be applied to other channel problems, such as switchbox routing, three-layer routing, and multilayer routing, or even to the overlap model, with only a few modifications. It is shown that track-oriented greedy algorithms can be modified to solve other channel routing problems. As examples, the algorithm is modified to solve the Manhattan switch-box problem and channel routing problems in the overlap and knock-knee models. Preliminary results show that the modified algorithms have good performance and show strong potential to outperform existing algorithms. Applying the algorithm MCRP-ROUT to the benchmark Deutsch's difficult problem and Burstein's difficult problem, routing solutions of 19 tracks and six tracks, respectively, were obtained. >
Spinal cord plasticity in acquisition and maintenance of motor skills

Throughout normal life, activity-dependent plasticity occurs in the spinal cord as well as in brain. Like other central nervous system (CNS) plasticity, spinal cord plasticity can occur at numerous neuronal and synaptic sites and through a variety of mechanisms. Spinal cord plasticity is prominent early in life and contributes to mastery of standard behaviours like locomotion and rapid withdrawal from pain. Later in life, spinal cord plasticity has a role in acquisition and maintenance of new motor skills, and in compensation for peripheral and central changes accompanying ageing, disease and trauma. Mastery of the simplest behaviours is accompanied by complex spinal and supraspinal plasticity. This complexity is necessary, in order to preserve the complete behavioural repertoire, and is also inevitable, due to the ubiquity of activity-dependent CNS plasticity. Explorations of spinal cord plasticity are necessary for understanding motor skills. Furthermore, the spinal cord's comparative simplicity and accessibility makes it a logical starting point for studying skill acquisition. Induction and guidance of activity-dependent spinal cord plasticity will probably play an important role in realization of effective new rehabilitation methods for spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and other motor disorders.
Computer ethics education: impact from societal norms

Discussions have occurred on the best way to implement the horizontal and vertical integration of education on the social, ethical and professional issues relating to computer science. These discussions have not only included debates on the subject matter and what manner to approach it (i.e. integrated among all computer science courses taught, as a separate required course, or a combination of both), but have also involved debates over who is best qualified to address the subject. What has seldom been addressed, however, is how societal impressions of what is ethical have impacted both those who develop software and those who use it. In light of the experience of such institutions as the U.S. Air Force Academy which recently instituted a program called the Center for Character Development (due to a perceived erosion of the core values of its recruits), should academia and industry expect more from computer scientists than from the population as a whole? It is the integration of ethics courses in the computer science curriculum in light of a general erosion of ethical values in society as a whole that is addressed in this paper.
Tracking individuals via object-files: evidence from infants' manual search

In two experiments, a manual search task explored 12- to 14-month-old infants’ representations of small sets of objects. In this paradigm, patterns of searching revealed the number of objects infants represented as hidden in an opaque box. In Experiment 1, we obtained the set-size signature of object-file representations: infants succeeded at representing precisely 1, precisely 2, and precisely 3 objects in the box, but failed at representing 4 (or even that 4 is greater than 2). In Experiment 2, we showed that infants’ expectations about the contents of the box were based on number of individual objects, and not on a continuous property such as total object volume. These findings support the hypothesis that infants maintained representations of individuals, that object-files were the underlying means of representing these individuals, and that object-file models can be compared via one-to-one correspondence to establish numerical equivalence.
Classification of Convective Areas Using Decision Trees

Abstract This paper presents an automated approach for classifying storm type from weather radar reflectivity using decision trees. Recent research indicates a strong relationship between storm type (morphology) and severe weather, and such information can aid in the warning process. Furthermore, new adaptive sensing tools, such as the Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere’s (CASA’s) weather radar, can make use of storm-type information in real time. Given the volume of weather radar data from those tools, manual classification of storms is not possible when dealing with real-time data streams. An automated system can more quickly and efficiently sort through real-time data streams and return value-added output in a form that can be more easily manipulated and understood. The method of storm classification in this paper combines two machine learning techniques: K-means clustering and decision trees. K-means segments the reflectivity data into clusters, and decision trees classify eac...
Intranasally Applied Recombinant Leukocyte A Interferon in Normal Volunteers. II. Determination of Minimal Effective and Tolerable Dose

In an attempt to find a dose of recombinant leukocyte A interferon (rIFN-alpha A) that is both efficacious against rhinovirus challenge and is tolerable, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were performed; 56 normal volunteers received either placebo or one of two relatively small doses of rIFN-alpha A (i.e., 2.4 X 10(6) units [2.4M] or 0.7 X 10(6) units [0.7M] per day) for four days. The frequency of illness was significantly lower in the group given doses of 2.4M than in a group of volunteers given placebo (29% vs. 73%; P less than .032); however, the frequencies of illness in the group given doses of 0.7M and in a placebo group were similar (67% vs. 63%). The rates of infection in these pairs of groups were not significantly different from each other. No significant local or systemic reactions were noted during the four days of rIFN-alpha A administration. In a 26-day tolerance study, 15% of volunteers given 2.4M doses of rIFN-alpha A developed bloody mucus and nasal mucosal erosions, while no such local reactions were noted in volunteers given 0.7M doses or in those given placebo. Thus, increasing doses of rIFN-alpha A were associated with both increasing efficacy against rhinovirus-induced illness and increasing frequency of local adverse reactions.
A Closer Look at Trumping

This paper argues that so-called trumping preemption is in fact overdetermination or early preemption and is thus not a distinctive form of redundant causation. The paper draws a novel lesson from cases thought to be trumping: that the boundary between preemption and overdetermination should be reconsidered.
Are Shareholder Dividend Taxes on Corporate Retained Earnings Impounded in Equity Prices?: Additional Evidence and Analysis

Recently, several studies have concluded that individual investor level dividend taxes on corporate retained earnings are impounded in common stock prices, independent of the timing of dividend payments. We show that the model underlying these studies is internally inconsistent. We also discuss why the model of dividend tax capitalization described in these recent studies is not likely to be descriptive of the taxation of corporate distributions, and we present several reasons, with corroborating data, to believe that common stock prices are not affected by dividend taxes in the manner articulated in these studies. Our empirical results can be summarized as follows. We replicate some of the basic results of prior dividend capitalization studies. We test for evidence of dividend tax capitalization around tax rate changes resulting from the ERTA81, the TRA86 and the OBRA93. Using the same methodology employed in recent research, the evidence does not support dividend tax capitalization across the three tax regimes. We also perform numerous additional data analyses that in general produce results that do not support the conclusions of recent dividend tax capitalization studies. Finally, we find that after controlling for market to book ratios, the main results in prior studies vanish. Overall, the analyses and evidence in this study indicate that shareholder dividend taxes on corporate retained earnings are not impounded in stock prices.
Symbiotic scheduling of concurrent GPU kernels for performance and energy optimizations

The incorporation of GPUs as co-processors has brought forth significant performance improvements for High-Performance Computing (HPC). Efficient utilization of the GPU resources is thus an important consideration for computer scientists. In order to obtain the required performance while limiting the energy consumption, researchers and vendors alike are seeking to apply traditional CPU approaches into the GPU computing domain. For instance, newer NVIDIA GPUs now support concurrent execution of independent kernels as well as Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS). Amidst these new developments, we are faced with new opportunities for efficiently scheduling GPU computational kernels under performance and energy constraints. In this paper, we carry out performance and energy optimizations geared towards the execution phases of concurrent kernels in GPU-based computing. When multiple GPU kernels are enqueued for concurrent execution, the sequence in which they are initiated can significantly affect the total execution time and the energy consumption. We attribute this behavior to the relative synergy among kernels that are launched within close proximity of each other. Accordingly, we define metrics for computing the extent to which kernels are symbiotic, by modeling their complementary resource requirements and execution characteristics. We then propose a symbiotic scheduling algorithm to obtain the best possible kernel launch sequence for concurrent execution. Experimental results on the latest NVIDIA K20 GPU demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed algorithm-based approach, by showing near-optimal results within the solution space of both performance and energy consumption. As our further experimental study on DVFS finds that increasing the GPU frequency in general leads to improved performance and energy saving, the proposed approach reduces the necessity for over-clocking and can be readily adopted by programmers with minimal programming effort and risk.
Optimization of solvent composition for extraction of multi-polarity molecules

Abstract Marine Natural Products (MNP) are currently extracted from a range of organisms that are complex matrices composed of significant organic and inorganic components. In order to optimize the extraction of the MNP, typically large organic molecules composed of polar and nonpolar structural subcomponents, namely a multi‐component solvent should be utilized. In this paper an algorithm is outlined that provides an optimal solvent mixture based on dipole moment and molecular volume calculations. In this model the MNP is divided up into subcomponents, with carbon fragments ranging in size from one to six carbons. The subcomponent is then matched by dipole moment and molecular volume to a common solvent (i.e., ethanol, methanol, etc.). This algorithm is experimentally demonstrated by increasing the quantity of bryostatin extracted from the bryozoa Bugula neritina and chlorophyll from Common Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon).
NotiFly: enhancing design through claims-based personas and knowledge reuse

Typically viewed as competing design approaches, this paper illustrates how claims and personas can be used together in user interface design. Our combined approach is exemplified in the development of a notification system called NotiFly. We introduce the idea of claims-based personas as a design tool in a scenario-based approach. Following a discussion of NotiFly's development, we speculate on the theories that led to the system development and how they might impact HCI design process. Based on the findings encountered during the development of NotiFly, we present direction for future work to better systems like Notifly and notification systems in general.
Effectiveness of Utilizing Computer Assisted Instruction in Teaching CAD to Engineering Students

This paper presents the results of an experimental study to investigate and evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing computer-assisted instruction (CAI) as a stand-alone educational tool to teach computer-aided drafting (CAD) in engineering and technology programs. While the literature is rich with research in the field of evaluating CAI as a supplementary educational tool [11], a very limited number of publications dealt with evaluating CAI as a stand-alone system [7, 16, 9]. Also, none of the published studies focused on engineering or engineering technology education utilizing CAD systems. In this way, the present study serves as benchmark in devising a system to evaluate the effectiveness of CAI modules as a stand-alone instructional tool in engineering and technology education. In the present study, the students’ cognitive performance was measured in an entry-level CAD course. The participating students were divided into two groups: 1) the Primary Experimental group, which received only the CAI module as their sole source of instruction. This group was strictly involved in self-learning, self-paced instruction with minimum interaction with the instructors or lab assistants during the length of the study. 2) The Control group, which received only conventional instruction (lectures, handouts, textbook, and lab workbook) with all the necessary support from the instructors and lab assistants. A pilot study was conducted to pre-test the measuring instrument and the grading procedures as well as the methodology of assigning the students into groups. It was concluded one semester prior to the start of the main experiment. The main study was conducted over a period of three regular semesters with a new set of two groups of students selected for each semester. At the end of each experiment, the students were given a test (the measuring instrument) that was identical for both groups. The test results were tabulated and analyzed statistically. Statistical analysis of the data collected indicated that the group of students who received conventional instruction performed better than those receiving only computer-assisted instruction (CAI). Since several factors could have contributed to these findings, a major significance of the current study is that it demonstrates the necessity to conduct similar studies at different institutions in order to evaluate the effectiveness of CAI technology as it becomes more prevalent in engineering education programs [13].Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Dynamic compilation: the benefits of early investing

Dynamic compilation is typically performed in a separate thread, asynchronously with the remaining application threads. This compilation thread is often scheduled for execution in a simple round-robin fashion either by the operating system or by the virtual machine itself. Despite the popularity of this approach in production virtual machines, it has a number of shortcomings that can lead to suboptimal performance.This paper explores a number of issues surrounding asynchronous dynamic compilation in a virtual machine. We begin by describing the shortcomings of current approaches and demonstrate their potential to perform poorly under certain conditions. We describe the importance of enforcing a minimum level of utilization for the compilation thread, and evaluate the performance implications of varying the utilization that is enforced. We observed surprisingly large speedups by increasing the priority of the compilation thread, averaging 18.2% improvement over a large benchmark suite. Finally, we discuss options for implementing these techniques in a VM and address relevant issues when moving from a single-processor to a multiprocessor machine.
The Role of Large Intestine Mucus in Colonization of the Mouse Large Intestine by Escherichia Coli F-18 and Salmonella Typhimurium

Little information is available as to the role of mucus in bacterial colonization of the intestinal tract. We are interested in defining that role.
Enteral Nutrition Formulas: Which Formula Is Right for Your Adult Patient?

In the last few decades, there has been tremendous advancement in the area of enteral nutrition formulas. Enteral nutrition makes it possible to provide important substrates for those who cannot or will not meet daily requirements via oral intake but who have an intact digestive system. Numerous enteral nutrition formulas are currently available, with a large portion of them targeting specific disease conditions, thus making it a daunting task at times for a clinician to sort through all the possibilities and decide on the most appropriate formula. This review provides a close examination of various enteral formula categories and presents proposed mechanisms of specialized ingredients, followed by a thorough evidence-based analysis of existing literature before making recommendations for the various enteral formula categories.
Haploview: analysis and visualization of LD and haplotype maps

Summary: Research over the last few years has revealed significant haplotype structure in the human genome. The characterization of these patterns, particularly in the context of medical genetic association studies, is becoming a routine research activity. Haploview is a software package that provides computation of linkage disequilibrium statistics and population haplotype patterns from primary genotype data in a visually appealing and interactive interface. Availability: http://www.broad.mit.edu/mpg/haploview/ Contact: jcbarret@broad.mit.edu
T560: an (H-2b × H-2a) F1 hybrid, phosphorylcholine (PC)-binding, murine B cell lymphoma that bears receptors for IgA and IgG, presents antigen and secretes IL-4

We describe T560, a tissue culture-adapted B lymphoma derived from the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of a (B10 x B10.H-2a H-4b)F1 hybrid mouse. This lymphoma is interesting and useful not only because it bears an unusual IgA receptor, fully described elsewhere, but also because it is potentially capable of presenting antigen to T cells restricted by the MHC of either parent. Here we document that T560 cells are IgG2a kappa +, Ia+, B220+, J11d.2+, CD3-, CD4-, CD5-, Mac 1-, Mac 2-, non-specific esterase-. They bind bromelain-treated mouse RBC (BrMRBC) in a PC chloride-inhibitable manner but do not bind SRBC, ox RBC (ORBC) or TNP-ORBC. Two lines, T560.1 and T560.2, and several clones are available. T560.1 and its clones contain low numbers of IgA rosette-forming cells (RFC), intermediate numbers of IgG2a RFC and moderately high numbers of IgG2b RFC; T560.2 and its clones contain moderately high numbers of IgA RFC and low numbers of both IgG2a and IgG2b RFC. Both lines stimulate both B10 and B10.A cells in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) and present keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) to KLH-reactive T cells. T560.2 populations are, however, more efficient possibly because they have somewhat higher proportions of brightly fluorescent Ia+ cells and secrete larger quantities of lymphokine than T560.1 cells. They present PC-conjugated KLH (PC-KLH) approximately 20 times more efficiently than unconjugated KLH, suggesting that their PC binding receptors function in antigen uptake. They constitutively produce IL-1, IL-4 and IL-6, but not IL-2, IL-5 or TGF beta. Neither their IgA nor their IgG receptor expression is affected by IL-4 or by IFNs-alpha, -beta, or -gamma. In their ability to bind BrMRBC and secrete IL-4, they resemble the CH12 lymphoma but differ from it in that they are of F1 hybrid origin, are CD5-, bear IgG2a rather than IgM, do not bind sheep erythrocytes and have a receptor for IgA not present on CH12.
Taxonomy of Hill's Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis: Fagaceae): Evidence from AFLP Data

Quercus ellipsoidalis (Hill's oak), an endemic of east-central North America, is morphologically similar to Q. coccinea (scarlet oak) and is subsumed into that species in several floristic treatments. This study uses data from more than 250 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to investigate whether Q. coccinea and Q. ellipsoidalis are genetically distinct from one another. Whereas Q. coccinea and Q. ellipsoidalis separate from one another in all analyses, Q. velutina (black oak) populations collected from the geographic range of both Q. coccinea and Q. ellipsoidalis do not separate out by geographic region. This, combined with the strong differentiation between Q. coccinea and Q. velutina but weak differentiation between Q. ellipsoidalis and Q. velutina, supports the view that Q. coccinea and Q. ellipsoidalis are not simply regional variants of a single taxon. Moreover, while there is no evidence from the molecular data we collected of hybridization between Q. coccinea and Q. ellipsoidalis, the data suggest that there may be gene flow between Q. ellipsoidalis and Q. velutina. A clearer understanding of the relationships among these taxa is essential to understanding the taxonomy of Quercus section Lobate in eastern North America.
Learning curve and perioperative outcomes associated with laparoendoscopic single-site surgery

Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery represents the newest innovation in minimally invasive surgery. This approach further enhances the cosmetic benefits of laparoscopy while attempting to minimize the morbidity associated with multiple muscle-splitting incisions. Reports in the gynecology, general surgery, and urology literature have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of this technique in the performance of a variety of procedures. Numerous studies in the gynecologic surgery literature directly contrast the outcomes of LESS with those of conventional laparoscopy. Additionally, several randomized trials have been performed to date with the same intention. Measures of postoperative pain are favorable, and the incidence of incisional cellulitis, umbilical hernia formation, and other complications are low in women undergoing gynecologic LESS.
Article 82 and Section 2: Abuse and Monopolizing Conduct

Differing historical contexts, such as the greater role of public companies and state-created monopolies in the EU, differing policy considerations such as the EU's traditional embrace of fairness, and differing underlying economic and juridical assumptions about, among others, market erosion and the capability of authorities and courts to identify and remedy anticompetitive conduct, all explain the traditionally broader scope of Article 82 compared with Section 2. However, the EU's increasing acceptance of mainstream economics, welfare analysis and an effects-oriented inquiry, together with the declining influence of the Ordoliberals, should narrow (but not eliminate) the present gap between Section 2 and Article 82.
Commentary on “Platelet Studies in Autism Spectrum Disorder Patients and First-Degree Relatives”

We comment on the recent report entitled “Platelet Studies in Autism Spectrum Disorder Patients and First-Degree Relatives” [Molecular Autism 2015;6:57]. We find it commendable that the authors have investigated platelet factors potentially involved in the well-replicated observation of platelet hyperserotonemia in autism. However, we believe the results need a fuller discussion in the context of prior studies, think that certain aspects of the interpretation need to be reassessed, and attempt to provide a framework for further research in this area.
Geochemistry of Silurian–Devonian volcanic rocks in the Coastal Volcanic belt, Machias-Eastport area, Maine: Evidence for a pre-Acadian arc

The Coastal Volcanic belt in easternmost Maine consists of Silurian–Devonian volcanic rocks related to the convergence of Avalonia with the leading edge of composite Laurentia just before and during early stages of the Acadian orogeny. New major- and trace-element analyses from the Machias-Eastport area indicate that the Early to Late Silurian volcanic rocks in the Dennys, Edmunds, and Leighton Formations formed in a continental arc environment, in contrast to some earlier interpretations. These rocks have a continuous compositional range from basalt, through andesite, to rhyolite. The mafic rocks in these formations are calc-alkaline and show subduction-related geochemical signatures on various discrimination diagrams, whereas the felsic rocks have geochemical characteristics of volcanic arc granites. In contrast, the thick volcanic deposits of the younger Late Silurian Eastport Formation are bimodal and tholeiitic and have transitional to within-plate geochemical signatures. Thus, the transition over time, as the Acadian seaway closed, from subduction and arc settings to continental extension can been seen in this rock sequence, and it constrains the time of Avalonia’s docking. Regionally, volcanic rocks in the Kingston terrane of southern New Brunswick are likely correlatives of the earlier arc-volcanic rocks (Dennys, Edmunds, and Leighton Formations), while Eastport Formation analogues are found in the coastal Maine magmatic province, Cranberry Island series, and probably the Passamaquoddy Bay volcanic series, which similarly appear to have formed after the transition to an extensional environment occurred, although other extensional settings cannot be entirely ruled out. Basalts in the post-Acadian Perry Formation indicate continental extension was also active in the Late Devonian.
Distribution of the Wilbur Springs Shore Bug (Hemiptera: Saldidae): A Product of Abiotic Tolerances and Biotic Constraints

Adults of the Wilbur Springs shore bug, Saldula usingeri Polhemus, live longer (8.5 cf. 2.0 d) than the closely related Saldula pexa Drake when cultured in the high salinity water of S. usingeri 's habitat (Wilbur Hot Springs, Colusa County, Calif.). However, survivorship of the two species is similar in the low salinity water of S. pexa 's habitat (Grizzly Springs, Lake County, Calif., 15 km from Wilbur Hot Springs). Tests with glycine-radiolabeled water indicate that S. usingeri imbibes fluids from its prey, larvae of the brine fly Paracoenia calida Mathis, rather than imbibing water from its habitat; in contrast, S. pexa imbibes water from its own habitat, and Wilbur Hot Springs water as well. By imbibing fluids from its prey, S. usingeri expends less energy for osmoregulation and its intake of toxic ions from Wilbur Hot Springs water is reduced. By imbibing Wilbur Hot Springs water, the potentially coexisting S. pexa lacks these advantages. Although abiotic differences may explain S. pexa 's absence from S. usingeri 's habitats, susceptibility of S. usingeri to spider predation may explain the absence of S. usingeri from S. pexa 's habitats. Predatory spiders are virtually absent from S. usingeri 's habitats but are very abundant in S. pexa 's habitats. In laboratory tests, the wolf spider Pardosa ramulosa McCook (Araneae: Lycosidae) killed 8-fold as many of the sluggish S. usingeri adults as the skittish S. pexa adults. Sluggishness may be an advantage when S. usingeri occurs along margins of lethal thermal effluents (as at Wilbur Hot Springs) but it may be a disadvantage in nonthermal habitats with mobile predators.
Vector control in the mission of disaster relief military exercise and peacekeeping abroad

To Discuss distinguishing features and methods for insect vector prevention and control in disaster relief,exercise and peacekeeping abroad,and to provide reference and basis for such missions later.Collecting and analyzing data,comparing with these methods we used abroad,discussing these distinguishing features.The distinguishing features were mastered in disaster relief,exercise and peacekeeping abroad,tactics and methods were provided in details for the prevention and controlling of insect-borne infectious disease missions abroad later.