cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolation of fluoroquinolone-resistant rectal Escherichia coli after treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis

Objectives Given increasing rates of co-trimoxazole resistance among uropathogens causing acute uncomplicated cystitis, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin are often considered as alternative empirical therapy. The choice between these drugs should depend in part on whether they are associated with the isolation of drug-resistant microbial flora. We conducted a randomized treatment trial to assess the effects of ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin on the rectal microbial flora of women with acute uncomplicated cystitis, including isolation of fluoroquinolone-resistant strains. Methods Pre-menopausal women presenting with acute uncomplicated cystitis were randomized to treatment with 3 days of ciprofloxacin, 7 days of nitrofurantoin, or a single dose of fosfomycin. Women were followed for 1 month for evaluation of clinical and microbiological responses as well as for isolation of resistant rectal E. coli. Results Sixty-two women (25 ciprofloxacin, 17 nitrofurantoin, 20 fosfomycin) were enrolled and eligible for analysis. All three regimens were well tolerated and resulted in >90% clinical and bacteriological cure. The prevalence of rectal E. coli was markedly decreased by ciprofloxacin and fosfomycin, but not by nitrofurantoin. One woman treated with ciprofloxacin had emergence of two ciprofloxacin-resistant rectal E. coli strains within 10 days of completing therapy. No emergence of resistance was observed in the other two treatment groups. Conclusions This study demonstrates that fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli remain infrequent in the rectal flora of women with uncomplicated cystitis in Seattle. However, a 3 day course of a fluoroquinolone for treatment of uncomplicated cystitis was followed by isolation of fluoroquinolone-resistant rectal E. coli in one patient.
Spatial Characterization of Hydrogeochemistry Within a Constructed Fen, Greene County, Ohio

An artificial fen environment was constructed near the municipality of Beavercreek, Ohio. The constructed wetland environment utilizes local ground-water flow patterns to maintain a high degree of water saturation. Chemical reactions driven by the activity of plant roots and soil microorganisms affect the spatial distribution and magnitude of hydrogeochemical parameters, including alkalinity, pH, redox potential, and concentrations of Ca{sup +2}, Mg{sup +2}, total iron, NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}}, and SO{sub 4}{sup {minus}2}. The purpose of this study is to investigate the chemical interactions between wetland plants and ground water by means of characterizing the spatial variation in hydrogeochemical parameters. Nested piezometers within the artificial fen are used to monitor ground-water chemistry within, and immediately adjacent to, the rhizosphere of cultivated plant species. The major reactions at the site include oxidation of organic matter by Fe(OH){sub 3} and dissolution of carbonate minerals driven by high CO{sub 2} production in the root zone. The relationship between alkalinity and dissolved concentrations of Ca{sup +2} and Mg{sup +2} suggests that organic anions could also be major alkalinity contributors. Redox potential is buffered by the reduction of Fe(OH){sub 3} and is typically maintained in the range of 100--200 mV. This buffering effect prevents the formation ofmore » sulfide and methane commonly found in similar wetland environments. This finding suggests that methane production associated with rice cultivation can be prevented by the addition of Fe(OH){sub 3} to rice fields.« less
Information for faculty new to undergraduate research

In this article we provide information for faculty interested in engaging in undergraduate research with their students. Most of the information discussed was gathered from the 2012 Trends for Undergraduate Research in Mathematical Sciences conference. The article includes information on finding appropriate research projects and students to work with. It also discusses various opportunities for faculty as well as some general advice for those new to mentoring undergraduate research.
Transnational Latina/o Communities: Politics, Processes, and Cultures

Transnational Latina/o Communities: Politics, Processes, and Cultures. Carlos G. Velez-Ibanez and Anna Sampaio, eds. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2002. 307 pp.
Social Capital in Data-Driven Community College Reform.

The current rhetoric around using data to improve community college student outcomes with only limited research on data-driven decision-making (DDDM) within postsecondary education compels a more comprehensive understanding of colleges’ capacity for using data to inform decisions. Based on an analysis of faculty and administrators’ perceptions and behaviors at 41 community colleges that participated in an initiative to improve student success, an argument is presented to include social capital as an explicit component of the capacity of community colleges for using data on student outcomes to increase student success. Building on Newmann, King, and Rigdon’s (1997) conceptualization of schools’ organizational capacity to meet accountability expectations and Smylie and Evans’ (2006) exploration of the role of Coleman’s (1988) social capital in policy implementation, this study found a relationship between the presence of forms of social capital as part of the organizational capacity for DDDM and the frequen...
Generation of widely tunable nanosecond pulses in the vibrational infrared by stimulated Raman scattering from the cesium 6s–5d transition

The first reported use of a pulsed rhodamine-dye laser to generate widely tunable nanosecond light pulses in the vibrational infrared by stimulated electronic Raman scattering is discussed. Narrow-band pulses of up to 120 μJ were generated from 3450 to 900 cm−1 (2.9 to 11.1 μm), and broadband pulses up to 75 μJ were generated from 3390 to 1800 cm−1 (2.9 to 5.5 μm) by scattering from the 6s–5d transition in cesium vapor. Cesium dimer effects on tuning-curve structure and efficiency are discussed.
Dry separation on coal–silica mixture using rotary triboelectrostatic separator

Abstract Silica minerals are one of the major contaminants in coal. They significantly deteriorate the coal quality and need to be removed before the use of coal. Conventional coal preparation techniques are wet processing methods that require huge quantities of water and chemical reagents, which induce high operation cost and environmental pollution. Therefore, dry separation technique to preconcentrate coal before the wet processing or even substitute the wet processing is required. In this study, the coal–silica mixture was beneficiated using a novel rotary triboelectrostatic separator (RTS). This new type of electrostatic separator is characterized with high particle charging efficiency, good separation environment and high throughput. The experiment result shows the surface charge densities of the coal, and the silica particles are greatly enhanced and the ash rejection of coal–silica mixture is achieved using the RTS. The ideal coal–silica mixture electrostatic separation characteristic using the RTS was determined. The charge density difference between coal and silica particles is distinct after the charging process. Better separation efficiency could be obtained when an industrial size RTS is available to use.
Introduction to the Wide Area Augmentation System

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his Ph.D. in 1993 from Stanford University. He is currently a Senior Research Engineer at Stanford University. He is a member of the WAAS Integrity Performance Panel (WIPP) focused on the implementation of WAAS and the development of its later stages. Key contributions include: early prototype development proving the feasibility of WAAS, significant contribution to MOPS design and validation, co-editing of the Institute of Navigation's book of papers about WAAS and its European and Japanese counterparts, and design of ionospheric algorithms for WAAS. He was the co-recipient of the 2001 ION early achievement award.
Shock waves/turbulence interactions in reacting flows

This paper is concerned with turbulent premixed flames interacting with shock waves. In this analysis fmite element adaptive methods are used in order to handle shock wave discontinuities and large velocity gradients arising from turbulence. Specifically, we examine a supersonic diffuser geometry and study effects of turbulence on shock waves and hydrogen-oxygen chemical reactions with the k-€ turbulence model. In the presence of turbulence, shock waves tend to be dispersed. This influences chemical reactions and distributions of both reactants and products. Variations of all variables during the transient state are also investigated.
Cyclic Variation of Ultrasound Backscatter in Normal Myocardium Is View Dependent: Clinical Studies With a Real-Time Backscatter Imaging System

Real-time ultrasound backscatter imaging is a new method of evaluating relative integrated backscatter in a clinically applicable manner. The potential clinical utility of real-time backscatter imaging of diseased tissue depends on recognition of normal variations in cyclic backscatter when measured from different echocardiographic image orientations. The view dependence of cyclic backscatter variation was studied in normal human volunteers. In twenty normal male subjects (mean age 28 ± 5 years) cyclic variation in integrated backscatter (diastolic minus systolic backscatter) was assessed in multiple left ventricular regions with four standard two-dimensional echocardiographic views (parasternal long-axis and short-axis views, and apical two-chamber and four-chamber views). M-mode backscatter imaging was performed from the standard parasternal long-axis view. Cyclic variation in backscatter was present in the septum only when imaged from the parasternal long-axis view (2.7 ± 3.1 [standard deviation] decibels [dB], p p p
PRODUCTION OF AXENIC CULTURES OF MICROMONAS PUSILLA (PRASINOPHYCEAE) USING ANTIBIOTIC 1

Bacteria-free cultures of the prasinophyte Micromonas pusilla (Butcher) Manton and Parke, UTEX LB 991, were produced by initially determining the effects of several antibiotics on the growth of this alga and then using a combination of these antibiotics to eliminate associated bacteria. Micromonas pusilla was resistant to penicillin G, neomycin, gentamicin, ans streptomycin at bactericidal concentrations but sensitive to chloramphenicol and polymixin B. Passage of M. pusilla through the sequence of antibiotics penicillin G → neomycin → gentamicin → kanamycin resulted in an axenic culture of M. pusilla. This method should be suitable for producing axenic cultures of other strains of M. pusilla
Victorian Culture and the Museum: Before and After the White Cube

(2006). Victorian Culture and the Museum: Before and After the White Cube. Journal of Victorian Culture: Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 133-145.
Pollutant dispersion near roadways — Experiments and modeling

Abstract Since the 1970's, many field and wind tunnel experiments have been conducted to study pollutant dispersion from roadways. For an at-grade situation, field experiments have revealed that mechanical mixing dominates effects due to ambient stability, that plume rise is important under very low crossroad winds, that regions of large shear enhance the mixing volume, and that the wake region grows rather slowly in the vertical direction. The models that have been developed based on recent experimental results are briefly described. For the street canyon situation, both field and wind tunnel experiments have revealed that ambient stability does not play an important role, that corner vortices near an intersection cause an increase in pollutant concentrations near the bottom corners of the leeside buildings, that in the midsection of a street block the vortex circulation causes high pollutant concentrations to be advected toward and up the leeside wall. No general street canyon models are available except an empirical model for the midsection of the street block. The complicated flow field must first be ascertained before a reliable concentration model can be developed.
Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in the Nucleus

To date, 18 distinct receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are reported to be trafficked from the cell surface to the nucleus in response to ligand binding or heterologous agonist exposure. In most cases, an intracellular domain (ICD) fragment of the receptor is generated at the cell surface and translocated to the nucleus, whereas for a few others the intact receptor is translocated to the nucleus. ICD fragments are generated by several mechanisms, including proteolysis, internal translation initiation, and messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing. The most prevalent mechanism is intramembrane cleavage by γ-secretase. In some cases, more than one mechanism has been reported for the nuclear localization of a specific RTK. The generation and use of RTK ICD fragments to directly communicate with the nucleus and influence gene expression parallels the production of ICD fragments by a number of non-RTK cell-surface molecules that also influence cell proliferation. This review will be focused on the individual RTKs and to a lesser extent on other growth-related cell-surface transmembrane proteins.
Long-term β-Blocker vasodilator therapy improves cardiac function in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: A double-blind, randomized study of bucindolol versus placebo

Abstract purpose: Bucindolol is a potent nonselective β-blocking agent with vasodilatory properties. In this study, we evaluated the effects of long-term bucindolol therapy in the treatment of heart failure from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. patients and methods: Patients were eligible for enrollment if they had symptomatic heart failure, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, and left ventricular ejection fraction less than 0.40. All patients received an initial test dose of 12.5 mg bucindolol orally every 12 hours for two or three doses. Patients tolerating the test dose were randomly assigned (double-blind) to receive bucindolol or placebo in a 3:2 ratio. Study medication was begun at a dose of 12.5 mg orally every 12 hours and gradually increased over a 1-month period until either a maximum tolerated dose or a target dose of 100mg every 12 hours was reached. Study medication was then continued for an additional 2 months. results: A total of 24 patients were enrolled into the study. Twenty-three patients tolerated bucindolol test challenge; 14 were randomized to receive bucindolol, and nine were randomly assigned to receive placebo. The placebo group (age 56 ± 2 years) was significantly older than the bucindolol group (46 ± 3 years), but by all other clinical and hemodynamic parameters the two groups were comparable. Twenty-two of 23 patients completed the study. Patients treated with bucindolol had significant improvements in clinical heart failure symptoms and in resting hemodynamic function, including an increase of left ventricular ejection fraction (0.26 ± 0.02 to 0.35 ± 0.09, p=0.003), cardiac index (2.2 ± 0.1 to 2.5 ± 0.4 L/minute/m 2 , p=0.014), and left ventricular stroke work index (25 ± 3 to 35 ± 7 g·m/m 2 , p=0.002) and a decrease in pulmonary artery wedge pressure (17 ± 3 to 10 ± 5 mm Hg, p=0.005) and heart rate (86 ± 3 to 75 ± 9 beats/minute, p=0.012). Patients treated with bucindolol also had a significant increase in exercise left ventricular ejection fraction (0.26 ± 0.03 to 0.32 ± 0.14, p=0.015) and reduction in questionnaire-measured symptoms (p = 0.007) and New York Heart Association functional class (p conclusion: Bucindolol is well tolerated in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure, and therapy for 3 months is associated with improved resting cardiac function, improved heart failure symptoms, and a reduction in venous norepinephrine concentration.
The Effector Domain of Myristoylated Alanine-rich C Kinase Substrate Binds Strongly to Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate

Abstract Both the myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate protein (MARCKS) and a peptide corresponding to its basic effector domain, MARCKS-(151−175), inhibit phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC)-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) in vesicles (Glaser, M., Wanaski, S., Buser, C. A., Boguslavsky, V., Rashidzada, W., Morris, A., Rebecchi, M., Scarlata, S. F., Runnels, L. W., Prestwich, G. D., Chen, J., Aderem, A., Ahn, J., and McLaughlin, S. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 26187–26193). We report here that adding 10−100 nmMARCKS-(151−175) to a subphase containing either PLC-δ or -β inhibits hydrolysis of PIP2 in a monolayer and that this inhibition is due to the strong binding of the peptide to PIP2. Two direct binding measurements, based on centrifugation and fluorescence, show that ≈10 nmPIP2, in the form of vesicles containing 0.01%, 0.1%, or 1% PIP2, binds 50% of MARCKS-(151−175). Both electrophoretic mobility measurements and competition experiments suggest that MARCKS-(151−175) forms an electroneutral complex with ≈4 PIP2. MARCKS-(151−175) binds equally well to PI(4,5)P2 and PI(3,4)P2. Local electrostatic interactions of PIP2 with MARCKS-(151−175) contribute to the binding energy because increasing the salt concentration from 100 to 500 mm decreases the binding 100-fold. We hypothesize that the effector domain of MARCKS can bind a significant fraction of the PIP2 in the plasma membrane, and release the bound PIP2 upon interaction with Ca2+/calmodulin or phosphorylation by protein kinase C.
Reward Density And Variable-interval Schedule Performance In An Open Economy.

There is no general agreement regarding the form of the relation between response rate and reinforcement rate when single schedules of reinforcement are studied in an open economy. The present study assessed the form of this relation using reward density, which incorporates both reinforcement rate and duration of access to food, as an independent variable. Reward density was manipulated with 4 pigeons by changing the value of the variable-interval schedule, the hopper duration, or both. The relations between response rate and reward density were sharply rising and hyperbolic in 3 of 4 pigeons, replicating results obtained by Catania and Reynolds (1968). Because eating efficiency was lower in conditions that provided longer hopper durations, programmed reward densities differed from obtained reward densities. When response rates were examined as a function of obtained reward densities, the same relations were demonstrated more strongly. In further clarifying the relation between response rate and reward density in an open economy, these results lend support to the conclusion that open and closed economies yield different behavioral effects.
Empirical likelihood for linear transformation models with interval-censored failure time data

For regression analysis of interval-censored failure time data, Zhang et al. (2005) [40] proposed an estimating equation approach to fit linear transformation models. In this paper, we develop two empirical likelihood (EL) inference approaches for the regression parameters based on the generalized estimating equations. The limiting distributions of log-empirical likelihood ratios are derived and empirical likelihood confidence intervals for any specified component of regression parameters are obtained. We carry out extensive simulation studies to compare the proposed methods with the method discussed by Zhang et al. (2005) [40]. The simulation results demonstrate that the EL and jackknife EL methods for linear transformation models have better performance than the existing normal approximation method based on coverage probability of confidence intervals in most cases, and they enable us to overcome an under-coverage problem for the confidence intervals of the regression parameters using a normal approximation when sample sizes are small and right censoring is heavy. Two real data examples are provided to illustrate our procedures.
Development of black rot resistant interspecific hybrids between Brassica oleracea L. cultivars and Brassica accession A 19182, using embryo rescue

Black rot is a bacterial disease of Brassica oleracea caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Resistance to the major black rot races 1 or 4 has been identified in related Brassica species including B. carinata and B. napus. In this study, two B. juncea accessions (A 19182 and A 19183) that are resistant to races 1 and 4 of Xcc were used as maternal and paternal parents to generate interspecific hybrids with B. oleracea cultivars. Interspecific hybrids were recovered using the embryo rescue technique and confirmed through inheritance of paternal molecular markers. Twenty-six interspecific hybrid plants were obtained between A 19182 and B. oleracea cultivars, but no interspecific hybrids were obtained using A 19183. Although interspecific hybrid plants were male sterile, they were used successfully as maternal parents to generate backcross plants using embryo rescue. All hybrid and BC1 plants were resistant to black rot races 1 and 4.
An empirical path loss model for wireless sensor network deployment in a sand terrain environment

This paper presents a Radio Frequency (RF) propagation model to predict path loss between wireless sensor nodes deployed in a sand terrain environment. The model is derived from RF measurements of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) physical deployment. The model is compared with models obtained from WSN deployments in other environments, such as ones characterized by long grass and sparse tree. The comparison between these different environments demonstrates differences in empirical models' parameters and, as a result, path loss predicted by these models. Furthermore, the comparison between path loss predicted by the proposed model and largely used theoretical models such as Free Space Path Loss (FSPL) and Two-Ray indicates the inaccuracy of these models in predicting path loss between wireless sensor nodes deployed in sand terrain environments.
Science to Practice: Son et Lumière—Understanding Tumor Heterogeneity

Treatment of cancer is often confounded by tumor heterogeneity.Variations in perfusion inhibit drug delivery to all parts of the tumor (1). Differences in oxygen tension (Po2)cause variations in response to radiation therapy (2).Understanding this tumor heterogeneity, which is caused by the interplay between the cancer cell's gene makeup and the tumor's environment (eg, stromal matrix, tissue vascularity),will likely enable improved treatment strategies.Whole-mount studies, in which the excised tumor is fixed or frozen and then sliced into thin sections - with subsequent staining and microscopic examination of the multiple sections—provide much information about tumor heterogeneity but cannot provide information about dynamic events, perfusion, metabolism, or those processes that exist in the tumor in vivo (including Po2). Intravital microscopy(3), in which a tumor or organ is exteriorized or viewed through a window cut in overlying tissue, can provide information on such dynamic processes; however, those studies are limited by scattering and diffusion of light as it penetrates tissue and so can only enable differentiation of surface structures and events.
RGS4 Is Required for Dopaminergic Control of Striatal LTD and Susceptibility to Parkinsonian Motor Deficits

Plasticity of excitatory synapses onto striatal projection neurons (MSNs) has the potential to regulate motor function by setting the gain on signals driving both direct- and indirect-pathway basal ganglia circuits. Endocannabinoid-dependent long-term depression (eCB-LTD) is the best characterized form of striatal plasticity, but the mechanisms governing its normal regulation and pathological dysregulation are not well understood. We characterized two distinct signaling pathways mediating eCB production in striatal indirect-pathway MSNs and found that both pathways were modulated by dopamine D2 and adenosine A2A receptors, acting through cAMP/PKA. We identified regulator of G protein signaling 4 (RGS4) as a key link between D2/A2A signaling and eCB mobilization pathways. In contrast to wild-type mice, RGS4⁻/⁻ mice exhibited normal eCB-LTD after dopamine depletion and were significantly less impaired in the 6-OHDA model of Parkinson's disease. Taken together, these results suggest that inhibition of RGS4 may be an effective nondopaminergic strategy for treating Parkinson's disease.
Cognitive Delay and Behavior Problems Prior to School Age

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between cognitive delay (CD) and behavior problems between ages 9 months and 5 years, while adjusting for covariates related to CD. METHODS: Data were from 4 waves of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort ( n = 8000). Children were classified as typically developing (TD) or as having resolved, newly developed, or persistent CD between 9 and 24 months, based on scores from the Bayley Short Form-Research Edition below or above the 10th percentile. Child behavior was measured by using the Infant/Toddler Symptom Checklist (ages 9 and 24 months) and the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (ages 4 and 5 years); children in the top 10th percentile were considered to have a behavior problem. Hierarchical linear modeling estimated the effect of CD status on children’s behavioral trajectories, adjusted for confounders. RESULTS: CD resolved for 80.3% of children between 9 and 24 months. Behavior problems at 24 months were detected in 19.3%, 21.8%, and 35.5% of children with resolved, newly developed, and persistent CD, respectively, versus 13.0% of TD children. Behavior problems increased among children with CD over time, and more so among children with persistent CD. By age 5, children with persistent CD had behavior scores moderately (0.59 SD) higher than TD children. CONCLUSIONS: Behavior problems among children with CD are slightly higher at 9 months, clearly evident by 24 months, and increase as children move toward school age. Efforts to promote the earliest identification, evaluation, and service referral may be necessary to improve outcomes for these children.
Transparent mutable replay for multicore debugging and patch validation

We present Dora, a mutable record-replay system which allows a recorded execution of an application to be replayed with a modified version of the application. This feature, not available in previous record-replay systems, enables powerful new functionality. In particular, Dora can help reproduce, diagnose, and fix software bugs by replaying a version of a recorded application that is recompiled with debugging information, reconfigured to produce verbose log output, modified to include additional print statements, or patched to fix a bug.Dora uses lightweight operating system mechanisms to record an application execution by capturing nondeterministic events to a log without imposing unnecessary timing and ordering constraints. It replays the log using a modified version of the application even in the presence of added, deleted, or modified operations that do not match events in the log. Dora searches for a replay that minimizes differences between the log and the replayed execution of the modified program. If there are no modifications, Dora provides deterministic replay of the unmodified program.We have implemented a Linux prototype which provides transparent mutable replay without recompiling or relinking applications. We show that Dora is useful for reproducing, diagnosing, and fixing software bugs in real-world applications, including Apache and MySQL. Our results show that Dora (1) captures bugs and replays them with applications modified or reconfigured to produce additional debugging output for root cause diagnosis, (2) captures exploits and replays them with patched applications to validate that the patches successfully eliminate vulnerabilities, (3) records production workloads and replays them with patched applications to validate patches with realistic workloads, and (4) maintains low recording overhead on commodity multicore hardware, making it suitable for production systems.
Alamethicin Aggregation in Lipid Membranes

X-ray scattering features induced by aggregates of alamethicin (Alm) were obtained in oriented stacks of model membranes of DOPC(diC18:1PC) and diC22:1PC. The first feature obtained near full hydration was Bragg rod in-plane scattering near 0.11 A−1 in DOPC and near 0.08 A−1 in diC22:1PC at a 1:10 Alm:lipid ratio. This feature is interpreted as bundles consisting of n Alm monomers in a barrel-stave configuration surrounding a water pore. Fitting the scattering data to previously published molecular dynamics simulations indicates that the number of peptides per bundle is n = 6 in DOPC and n ≥ 9 in diC22:1PC. The larger bundle size in diC22:1PC is explained by hydrophobic mismatch of Alm with the thicker bilayer. A second diffuse scattering peak located at q r ≈ 0.7 A−1 is obtained for both DOPC and diC22:1PC at several peptide concentrations. Theoretical calculations indicate that this peak cannot be caused by the Alm bundle structure. Instead, we interpret it as being due to two-dimensional hexagonally packed clusters in equilibrium with Alm bundles. As the relative humidity was reduced, interactions between Alm in neighboring bilayers produced more peaks with three-dimensional crystallographic character that do not index with the conventional hexagonal space groups.
Prospects for Preferences

This article examines prospects for theories and methods of preferences, both in the specific sense of the preferences of the ideal rational agents considered in economics and decision theory and in the broader interplay between reasoning and rationality considered in philosophy, psychology, and artificial intelligence. Modern appli- cations seek to employ preferences as means for specifying, designing, and controlling rational behaviors as well as descriptive means for understanding behaviors. We seek to understand the nature and representation of preferences by examining the roles, origins, meaning, structure, evolution, and application of preferences. The notion of preference, formerly of concern primarily to philosophers, economists, and psychologists, has in recent years drawn new attention from students of artificial intel- ligence. The new studies follow earlier work in using formalized preferences to understand and characterize agents of limited rationality, but go beyond the earlier studies by using for- malized preferences as means for designing, instructing, and controlling such agents as well. These new investigations place additional theoretical and practical burdens on the preference formalizations. In the following, we examine some prospects for preferences in light of problems gener- ated by the new burdens of agent design and control. We claim that proper understanding of preferences requires acknowledging that the origin and purpose of preferences matter to their structure, that preferences play many roles in reasoning, that different roles call for different representations, and that preference changes pervade deliberation and action. If true, these claims leave us with many more questions than answers regarding preferences. We organize the discussion around the fundamental questions of the nature, roles, structure, representa- tion, and evolution of preference. We do not attempt a complete survey of the field or the literature, but instead present a selection of topics that reflects a personal view of the issues. The present article builds on the earlier introduction (Doyle and Thomason 1999).
Using character recognition and segmentation to tell computer from humans

How do you tell a computer from a human? The situation arises often on the Internet, when online polls are conducted, accounts are requested, undesired email is received, and chat-rooms are spammed. The approach we use is to create a visual challenge that is easy for humans but difficult for a computer. More specifically, our challenge is to recognize a string of random distorted characters. To pass the challenge, the subject must type in the correct corresponding ASCII string. From an OCR point of view, this problem is interesting because our goal is to use the vast amount of accumulated knowledge to defeat the state of the art OCR algorithms. This is a role reversal from traditional OCR research. Unlike many other systems, our algorithm is based on the assumption that segmentation is much more difficult than recognition. Our image challenges present hard segmentation problems that humans are particularly apt at solving. The technology is currently being used in MSN's Hotmail registration system, where it has significantly reduced daily registration rate with minimal Consumer Support impact.
Activation Energy for the Parabolic Rate Constant during Sequential Si Oxidation

On montre que les proprietes de transport de SiO 2 obtenues par croissance thermique, varient en fonction de la temperature. Il y a egalement une variation de l'indice de refraction, de la densite et de la tension interfaciale. Effet anormal de la temperature sur l'energie d'activation
Joint linear precoder optimization and base station selection for an uplink MIMO network: A game theoretic approach

We consider the problem of weighted sum rate optimization in a MIMO interfering multiple access channel (IMAC). We propose to jointly optimize the users' linear procoders as well as their base station (BS) associations. This approach enables the users to avoid congested BSs and can improve system performance as well as user fairness. We formulate the problem into a noncooperative game, and develop an algorithm that allows the players to distributedly reach the Nash Equilibrium (NE) of the game. We show that every NE of the game is a stationary solution of the weighted sum rate optimization problem, and propose an algorithm to compute the NE of the game. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm performs well in the presence of BS congestion.
Measurements from image-based three dimensional pelvic floor reconstruction: a study of inter- and intraobserver reliability.

Purpose—To describe inter- and intra-observer reliability of 3D measurements of female pelvic floor structures. Materials and Methods—Twenty reconstructed MR datasets of primiparas at 6–12 months postpartum were analyzed. Pelvic organ measurements were independently made twice by 3 radiologists blinded to dataset order. A “within-reader” analysis, a “between-reader” analysis, and the intraclass correlation (ICC), and standard deviation ratio (SDR) were computed for each parameter. Fifteen continuous variables and one categorical variable were measured. Results—Eight continuous parameters showed excellent agreement (ICC >0.85/SDR 0.70/SDR ≥0.40, <0.60). Two parameters showed poor agreement (ICC ≤0.70 and/or SDR ≥0.60). The categorical variable showed poor agreement. Conclusion—Agreement was best where landmark edges were well defined, acceptable where more “reader judgement” was needed, and poor where levator defects made landmarks difficult to identify. Automated measurement algorithms are under study, and may improve agreement in future.
Integrity of the network sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal muscle requires small ankyrin 1.

Small ankyrin 1 (sAnk1; Ank1.5) is a ~20 kDa protein of striated muscle that concentrates in the network compartment of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (nSR). We used siRNA targeted to sAnk1 to assess its role in organizing the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of skeletal myofibers in vitro. siRNA reduced sAnk1 mRNA and protein levels and disrupted the organization of the remaining sAnk1. Sarcomeric proteins were unchanged, but two other proteins of the nSR, SERCA and sarcolipin, decreased significantly in amount and segregated into distinct structures containing sarcolipin and sAnk1, and SERCA, respectively. Exogenous sAnk1 restored SERCA to its normal distribution. Ryanodine receptors and calsequestrin in the junctional SR, and L-type Ca2+ channels in the transverse tubules were not reduced, although their striated organization was mildly altered. Consistent with the loss of SERCA, uptake and release of Ca2+ were significantly inhibited. Our results show that sAnk1 stabilizes the nSR and that its absence causes the nSR to fragment into distinct membrane compartments.
KINETICS OF SIMIAN VIRUS 40 AND LAMBDA INACTIVATION BY PHOTOADDITION OF PSORALEN DERIVATIVES

The kinetics of psora/en photoinactivation of two distinct DNA viruses, bacteriophage λ and the papovavirus SV40 were investigated. When λ is treated with near ultraviolet light (UVA, 320-400 nm) and 4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen (TMP) at 1 μg/m/, the phage is rapidly inactivated. The survival curve exhibits a distinct shoulder indicating second or higher-order kinetics. SV40, on the other hand, is much more resistant to psoralen photoinactivation and the survival curve is linear, reflecting first order or‘pseudo-first order’kinetics. Two TMP derivatives with increased solubility in aqueous solutions, 4′-aminomethyl-TMP and 4′-hydroxymethyl-TMP, were similarly tested. In both virus systems, TMP was much more effective. In experiments designed to examine the role of psoralen cross-link formation in virus inactivation, treated samples were irradiated a second time in the absence of drug. Since reirradiation causes a decline in λ infectivity as great as that observed in continuously irradiated samples, cross-links are implicated as the primary lethal event. In the case of SV40, the results of such a protocol suggest that both monoadducts and cross-links may be lethal or that monoadduct formation may be rate-limiting.
Characterization of Trichornonas vaginalis AP33 adhesin and cell surface interactive domains

Adherence to host target cells is a critical step in establishing infection with the sexually transmitted pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis. Four parasite surface proteins mediating attachment to vaginal epithelial cells have been identified. One surface protein, termed AP33, was characterized further to identify domains interactive with previously generated antibodies and with host surface sites. N- and C-terminal deletion subclones were generated and tested for reactivity with both mAb and rabbit antiserum against AP33, and were also examined for their ability to bind to host cells. Surprisingly, the rabbit antiserum known to inhibit cytoadherence recognized an epitope(s) contained within 72 residues in the N-terminal half of the protein. However, the mAb epitope was immunoreactive with a 28-amino-acid region near the C-terminus. Subsequent mapping of this region with overlapping peptides identified a nine-amino-acid sequence reactive with the mAb. Equally surprising, two domains interactive with host cell surfaces were identified at distinct parts of AP33: one in the N-terminal half of the protein, and the other within 24 residues in the C-terminal third. Further analysis of the C-terminal binding domain revealed that a peptide representing this area could inhibit T. vaginalis cytoadherence by 40%.
Who Should Teach the Gifted

(1990). Who Should Teach the Gifted? The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 63, No. 8, pp. 351-354.
Tumor-Evoked Regulatory B Cells as Important Mediators of Cancer Escape

Our understanding of immune regulation was drastically changed by Sakaguchi’s seminal discovery of regulatory T cells (Tregs). To date, the cells that exert regulatory activity are found among almost every type of immune cells. Their primary function is to control immune homeostasis and prevent aberrant autoimmune responses, making them an attractive target of cancer. In fact, cancer actively hijacks Tregs and myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs) by corrupting them in order to abrogate antitumor effector responses and to promote a cancer-benefiting milieu. However, the role of regulatory B cells (Bregs) in this process is poorly understood, despite the existence of protective IL-10-producing B cells and Bregs in autoimmune diseases. Here in this review, we discuss the pros and cons and the latest evidence of the importance of Bregs in mediation of immunosuppression required in cancer escape and metastasis.
Facial nerve function after the extended translabyrinthine approach.

Objective To evaluate facial nerve function after excision of petroclival/anterior cerebellopontine angle (CPA) meningiomas by the extended translabyrinthine (EXTL) approach and compare these with outcomes after the transcochlear and transotic approaches. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting/Participants A search of archived surgical cases at a single institution between January 1, 1995, and January 1, 2012. Main Outcome Measures Facial function measured on the House-Brackmann (HB) scale. Results A total of 16 patients underwent the EXTL approach for primary excision of petroclival meningiomas. Average tumor size was 4.6 cm, and six patients had gross total resection. Average length of follow-up was 36.4 months. Two patients required reoperation for tumor regrowth. Preoperative facial function was HB I or II in all patients with available examinations. Immediate postoperative facial nerve function ranged from HB I to HB VI. In patients with an intact facial nerve at surgery, all but one had long-term facial function of HB I or II. A robust response on intraoperative facial nerve monitoring was prognostic of favorable long-term facial function. Facial function declined in some patients after postoperative radiation or revision surgery. Conclusions The EXTL approach allows excellent exposure of petroclival/anterior CPA lesions and should be favored to improve facial outcomes.
The Impact Of The Computer On The Choice Activity Of Decision Makers: A Replication With Actual Users Of Computerized Mis

The article presents a study that examines the impact of computers, particularly management information systems, on managerial decision making. According to the results of the study, computer users...
Learning from our international colleagues: a US plastic surgeon's perspective.

BACKGROUND With growing contribution to plastic surgery by our international colleagues, one may be wondering about what US plastic surgeons have learned from them. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a single surgeon's experience to identify any specific areas of plastic surgery that one has learned substantially from our international colleagues. METHODS All plastic surgical procedures performed by a single US plastic surgeon at an academic medical center with an active plastic surgery residency training program during the past 10 years were reviewed. More frequently performed procedures by the author were identified. In each identified procedure, critical references used by the author were examined to find out whether these references were from domestic or international sources. RESULTS More frequently performed procedures by the author were (1) free anterolateral thigh perforator flap and free-style free flap, (2) deep inferior epigastric perforator flap breast reconstruction, (3) implant-based breast reconstruction, (4) oncoplastic breast reduction or mastopexy for breast reconstruction, (5) vertical scar breast reduction, and (6) fat grafting for correction of contour deformity after breast reconstruction. Much more innovative procedures that the author had learned after his residency were published primarily by our international colleagues. CONCLUSIONS The author has learned substantially from our international colleagues because many new procedures may be either first described by them or they have more extensive clinical experience. It is important to fully appreciate the significance of international scientific exchange in plastic surgery and its impact on a US plastic surgeon's clinical practice.
The Los Angeles Wholesale Grocery Structure: 1920–1946: A Case Study

ENOUGH has been written about the forces which have had an effect on wholesaling to indicate the importance of this subject. Forces such as chain store methods of distribution, direct selling by manufacturers, and wholesaling by retailer-cooperative groups have impinged so directly on the regular wholesaling functionary, in some lines at least, that there is a question as to the amount of wholesaling activity that remains in the wholesaler's hands-and as to the nature of the trade which exists at present. The present study' is a somewhat unique attempt to measure and evaluate changes which have taken place in the Los Angeles wholesale grocery trade2 in the hope that it will throw light on the developments in wholesaling generally. The year 1920 was selected as a point of departure for the measuring process since the revolutionary changes in wholesaling took place subsequent to that time. Thus we are enabled to compare conditions before and after these changes. While governmental data of various sorts were utilized wherever possible, the bulk of the material was derived through the process of field investigation. From such a survey (a) quantitative data were gathered (mostly sales
Impact of Recent Developments in Lung Cancer on the Practice of Pathology

Landmark events in the field of lung cancer in the past year have the potential to significantly alter the practice of pathology. Three key events are (1) approval of payment for low-dose computed tomography screening for lung cancer, (2) publication of an extensively revised World Health Organization classification of lung cancers, and (3) approval of immunohistochemistry based companion diagnostics by the US Food and Drug Administration. We briefly review these milestones in the context of their impact on the practice of pathology.
Antisense-Oligonucleotide Therapy

Many pharmacologic advances involve creating compounds that bind and disable proteins. Such compounds include propranolol, which blocks the β-adrenergic receptor; cimetidine, which blocks the H2 receptor; calcium-channel blockers; angiotensin-converting–enzyme inhibitors; and inhibitors of the H+/K+–ATPase pump. A new way to block protein function is to prevent the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) into protein. If the nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein is known, molecules can be designed to bind the corresponding mRNA, thereby inhibiting the production of the protein (Figure 1). The nucleotide sequence of DNA or RNA that contains the information for the amino acid sequence of . . .
Hepatic Resection for Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer in Patients with Bone Metastases

Background Hepatic resection (HR) of metastatic neuroendocrine cancer has been associated with prolonged survival and durable symptom control for selected patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET). The present study investigates the outcomes of this operative approach in selected patients with known bone metastases.
Psycholinguistic mechanisms supporting school-age children's comprehension of spoken directions: A preliminary study

The contribution of two working memory mechanisms to school-age children's comprehension of spoken directions was examined. Sixty typically developing school-age children completed the CELF-4 (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-4, Semel, Wiig, & Secord, 2003) concepts and following oral directions subtest and four predictor measures. Predictors included global measures of lexical and syntactic knowledge, verbal short-term memory (STM) capacity, and the updating mechanism in WM. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted. Regression analysis indicated that lexical knowledge, STM capacity, and updating accuracy jointly accounted for 27% variance in the comprehension of spoken directions as measured by the CELF-4, with receptive vocabulary contributing the most. STM capacity and updating accuracy were comparably robust in their contribution and shared mechanisms that accounted for significant variance in the criterion. The importance of understanding the relation between cognitive and langu...