cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scalp uniform bolus application (SCUBA) technique for homogenous scalp and regional nodal irradiation.

Angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive malignant neoplasm of unknown etiology, representing only 1% of all sarcomas, with half occurring in the head and neck region.1 It is a subtype of vascular sarcoma, and usually affects patients in the sixth or seventh decade of life. Treatment includes resection with wide margins, with postoperative scalp radiation therapy frequently recommended, given the local failure rate of approximately 50%. Increasingly, systemic or targeted agents are utilized with the aim of improving the 5-year survival rate, which is usually less than 20%.2 Metastatic disease is common, and usually involves lungs and liver. In the head and neck, surgery can be difficult because of the infiltrating nature of the disease and the anatomic constraints of the head and neck that make wide surgical margins difficult to achieve. In such cases, definitive radiation therapy with (neoadjuvant or concurrent) chemotherapy is commonly utilized. Conventionally, total scalp irradiation is delivered using megavoltage photons and electrons, usually 6 MV
Measurement of chain tilt angle in fully hydrated bilayers of gel phase lecithins

The tilt angle theta tilt of the hydrocarbon chains has been determined for fully hydrated gel phase of a series of saturated lecithins. Oriented samples were prepared on glass substrates and hydrated with supersaturated water vapor. Evidence for full hydration was the same intensity pattern of the low angle lamellar peaks and the same lamellar repeat D as unoriented multilamellar vesicles. Tilting the sample permitted observation of all the wide angle arcs necessary to verify the theoretical diffraction pattern corresponding to tilting of the chains towards nearest neighbors. The length of the scattering unit corresponds to two hydrocarbon chains, requiring each bilayer to scatter coherently rather than each monolayer. For DPPC, theta tilt was determined to be 32.0 +/- 0.5 degrees at 19 degrees C, slightly larger than previous direct determinations and considerably smaller than the value required by recent gravimetric measurements. This new value allows more accurate determinations of a variety of structural parameters, such as area per lipid molecule, A = 47.2 +/- 0.5 A2, and number of water molecules of hydration, nw = 11.8 +/- 0.7. As the chain length n of the lipids was increased from 16 to 20 carbons, the parameters A and nw remained constant, suggesting that the headgroup packing is at its excluded volume limit for this range. However, theta tilt increased by 3 degrees and the chain area Ac decreased by 0.5 A2. This behavior is explained in terms of a competition between a bulk free energy term and a finite or end effect term.
Negative differential resistivity in ferroelectric thin-film current-voltage relationships

Abstract The current-voltage relationship I(V) for several different ferroelectric thin films often exhibits an apparent negative differential resistivity. In the present paper we show that in lead zirconate-titanate (PZT) this is a spurious artifact arising from rapid (parametric) measurement techniques and that it disappears for d.c. measurements made with measuring times ≥300 s. However, in other ferroelectric materials (selected samples with unusually high trap densities) it appears to be a genuine effect characterized by an I = aV3 current-voltage relationship at high current densities (≥100 nA/cm2), I(V) hysteresis above a “pseudo-breakdown voltage,” and distinct V 2-to-V 3 cross-over threshold.
Abstract 3123: Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Suppresses Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling through a Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase, Akt and mTOR-Dependant Mechanism

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) function as critical regulators of prostate tumor cell growth. BMPs have recently been shown to be pivotal in controlling prostate tumorigenesis, and loss of BMP receptor function has been correlated to a higher Gleason grade in prostate cancer patients. The mechanism of such loss of BMP function in prostate cancer is unclear, and is likely to occur through multiple mechanisms. One likely candidate we are investigating is the tumor suppressor PTEN, which is lost up to 50% of patients with advanced prostate cancer. Loss of PTEN leads to enhanced activation of PI3K, Akt signaling and suppression of apoptosis. We provide the first evidence that IGF-I intercepts BMP4-induced apoptosis in prostate epithelial cell lines, as shown by changes in cell number, Hoechst 33342 staining, cell viability and flow cytometry. We show that IGF-I suppresses BMP4-induced activation of Smads 1, 5 and/or 8, and that such suppression is reversed by chemical inhibitors of PI3K, Akt or mTOR, or by wild-type PTEN or a dominant-negative PI3K expression construct efficiently delivered to cells by transduction adenoviral. We further show that IGF-I represses BMP4-induced transcriptional activation of the BMP targets, Id-1, Id-2, and Id-3. These results suggest that IGF-I signaling via a PI3K, Akt and mTOR-dependent mechanism inhibits transcriptional activity and apoptosis by BMP4 through suppressing the activation of Smads 1, 5 and/or 8 in prostate epithelial cells. All in all, our findings have important implications in the therapeutic intervention of prostate cancer by restoring BMP-mediated tumor suppressive capabilities by blocking IGF-I signaling pathway's oncogenic activity. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3123.
Early lung cancer as a potential target for chemoprevention

Carcinoma of the lung is the most common cause of death from cancer in the United States. In considering lung cancer for possible chemoprevention trials, we have analyzed the data collected by the collaborative NCI program on early lung cancer. The data indicate that at least 12 years of study of 80,000 people at risk for lung cancer (adult male cigarette smokers) would be required to establish a 25% reduction in squamous carcinoma of the lung. No intermediate markers of developing lung cancer are presently available to shorten the observation period. It is concluded that a study of the magnitude required is not feasible at the present time.
The German Telecommunications Reform – Where did it come from, Where is it, and Where is it Going?

German telecommunications reform came late because of high institutional constraints, powerful beneficiaries and reasonable functioning of the old system. It finally occurred because (1) the beneficiaries had less to lose, (2) Germany was falling behind, (3) reform was proven to work abroad and (4) the EC exerted pressure. The reform, particularly separation of posts from telecommunications, privatization of Deutsche Telekom and the creation of the RegTP, brought radical changes and the formation of new beneficiaries. The current sector crisis should spur research in the stability of competition in network industries and a reevaluation of the current reforms. Further reforms are required by new EC rules that will provide a more unified framework for the entire telecommunications sector. In the long run, privatization and liberalization will be completed, while some kinds of telecommunications-specific regulation will continue. Dominant firm regulation of end-user services is likely to be abolished down the road, while bottleneck regulation may persist. The remaining amount of dominant firm regulation and the pace of deregulation will depend heavily on market boundaries between (a) wireless and fixed networks, (b) high and low capacity subscriber access and (c) high-density and low-density networks. Assessing the interaction between market boundaries and market power requires economic research of intermodal competition and market power.
Applications of a fast continuous wavelet transform

A fast, continuous, wavelet transform, justified by appealing to Shannon's sampling theorem in frequency space, has been developed for use with continuous mother wavelets and sampled data sets. The method differs from the usual discrete-wavelet approach and from the standard treatment of the continuous-wavelet transform in that, here, the wavelet is sampled in the frequency domain. Since Shannon's sampling theorem lets us view the Fourier transform of the data set as representing the continuous function in frequency space, the continuous nature of the functions is kept up to the point of sampling the scale-translation lattice, so the scale-translation grid used to represent the wavelet transform is independent of the time-domain sampling of the signal under analysis. Although more computationally costly and not represented by an orthogonal basis, the inherent flexibility and shift invariance of the frequency-space wavelets are advantageous for certain applications. The method has been applied to forensic audio reconstruction, speaker recognition/identification, and the detection of micromotions of heavy vehicles associated with ballistocardiac impulses originating from occupants' heart beats. Audio reconstruction is aided by selection of desired regions in the 2D representation of the magnitude of the transformed signals. The inverse transform is applied to ridges and selected regions to reconstruct areas of interest, unencumbered by noise interference lying outside these regions. To separate micromotions imparted to a mass- spring system by an occupant's beating heart from gross mechanical motions due to wind and traffic vibrations, a continuous frequency-space wavelet, modeled on the frequency content of a canonical ballistocardiogram, was used to analyze time series taken from geophone measurements of vehicle micromotions. By using a family of mother wavelets, such as a set of Gaussian derivatives of various orders, different features may be extracted from voice data. For example, analysis of the 'blobs' in a low-order, Gaussian- derivative wavelet transform extracts the glottal-closing rate, while the ridges of a high-order wavelet transform give good indication of the formant frequencies and allow automatic word and phrase segmentation.
First-principles computational design and synthesis of hybrid carbon–silicon clathrates

Type I and Type II silicon clathrates (Si46 and Si136), which can be considered as analogs of carbon fullerene materials, are composed with face-sharing Si20, Si24, and Si28 cages linked through sp 3-covalent bonds. Besides silicon clathrates, theoretical computations have shown that both Type I carbon clathrate (C46) and Type II carbon clathrate (C136) may exist as metastable phases under high pressures. However, the energies of formation for the Type I and Type II carbon clathrates are extremely high and neither Type I nor Type II carbon clathrates have been synthesized. The objective of this investigation was to develop Type I hybrid carbon–silicon clathrates by substituting atoms on the silicon clathrate framework with C atoms. A first-principles computational approach was first utilized to design the framework structure and to identify appropriate guest atoms that are amenable to the formation of hybrid carbon–silicon clathrate compounds. A new class of Type I clathrates based on the carbon–silicon system was discovered as potential candidates. Some of the promising candidate clathrates were synthesized using an industrial arc-melting technique. The yield and stability of these newly discovered clathrates were evaluated. In addition, the electronic properties of selected clathrate materials were predicted using first-principles computations, which showed profound influences of the electronic properties by C atom substitution on the Si framework and insertion of guest atoms into the cage structure.
The value of CT scanning in the management of patients with gynecologic malignancies

The management of gynecologic malignancies is exceedingly complex, requiring thoughtful coordination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Despite the fact that the natural history and clinical course of these cancers are generally well understood, the scarring caused by surgery and/or radiation, and the marked limitations of pelvic examination make clinical staging and evaluation of limited value and known inaccuracy in following women with ovarian, cervical, uterine, vulvar and vaginal cancers. Understandably, the development of computerized axial tomography (CT), and its ability to visualize the abdomen and pelvis, lead to rapid acceptance of CT scans in defining extent of cancer and following patient response to various therapeutic interventions (Chen et al. 1980; Feigen et al. 1987; Photopoulos et al. 1977). Authors have compared the accuracy of CT findings with physical examination, surgical findings, lymphography, conventional radiography or ultrasound (Clarke-Pearson et al. 1986; Vercamb et al. 1987; Amendola 1981; Kerr-Wilson et al. 1984). However, little has been written on the effect of CT scanning on patient management. If we define and accept the accuracy of CT scanning in detecting pelvic and abdominal disease, can we show a benefit in patient management? Or, does CT scanning provide us with expensive information, or misinformation, which fails to translate into better patient care. Do complex imaging modalities compliment thorough examination and experienced clinical judgement, or only duplicate findings and provide extraneous information? To answer these questions, eighty-one months experience in using CT scanning in managing patients with gynecologic malignancies was reviewed.
Cultivating Reflective Practitioners in Technology Preparation: Constructing TPACK through Reflection

Teaching is a complex profession, which is further complicated by the integration of technology into classrooms. Reflection can help teachers unpack the complexity in their practice. Reflection can be an effective instructional strategy in helping preservice teachers develop technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK), the complex and dynamic knowledge necessary for effective technology integration into instruction. In this study, reflective activities were integrated into a Learning By Design (LBD) environment, which was created to help preservice teachers develop TPACK. This paper investigated the participants’ TPACK development and examined how reflection helped them construct TPACK. Through content analysis of the participants’ reflective journals, the researcher found that the preservice teachers developed initial TPACK awareness. However, their reflection in technology knowledge and the content aspects of TPACK were limited and superficial. Interviews with the participants showed reflection helped the preservice teachers remember what they learned by describing and elaborating on their in-class experiences, pushed them to think about how to apply what they learned in their future classrooms, and helped them become more reflective and open-minded about using technology in classrooms. Finally, the researcher discussed this study’s implications for teacher educators and researchers.
ORGANIC AGGREGATES IN TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL SURFACE WATERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN1

ABSTBACT Twenty surface samples taken en route from Bermuda to the west coast of Africa were filtcrcd for subscqucnt microscopic examination of phytoplankton and organic aggregates (nonliving particulate matter). Fourteen of the samples were accompanied by mcasuremcnts of particulate organic carbon. All three quantities were significantly correlated. All reached their highest values in a region of upwelling in the Guinea Current, with lower values in the Sargasso Sea, the North Equatorial Current, and nonupwelling equatorial waters. The largest quantity of aggregates observed in these oceanic waters intergraded with the lower range of values previously reported in rich inshore waters of Long Island Sound. Observations and supporting experimental data lead to conclusions that 1) dissolved organic matter secreted by phytoplankton is readily converted to particulate matter by adsorption on near-surface bubbles, thus producing the direct relation noted above; 2) even in areas where phytoplankton is scarce, there is a sufficient residuum of older dissolved organic matter to permit the formation of significant quantities of aggregates; and 3) the aggregates have a carbon content greatly exceeding that of living phytoplankton.
Adaptive active contour algorithms for extracting and mapping thick curves

Two new adaptive active contour algorithms for the extraction and mapping of the skeleton of a thick curve are described. They are based on conditions which guarantee uniqueness and fidelity of the solution. Both algorithms modify the regularization constant K/sub o/ in an attempt to maintain convexity of the energy function while simultaneously improving the fidelity of the result. The first algorithm changes K/sub o/ over time while the second adapts K/sub o/ spatially. Both algorithms are evaluated on experiments with synthetic curves; both demonstrate an improved performance compared to a fixed-parameter active contour algorithm. >
Deep-sea carbonates: Physical property relationships and the origin of high-frequency acoustic reflectors

Abstract A detailed survey of a small area in the eastern equatorial Pacific (136°W,4°N) was conducted with the S.I.O. Marine Physical Laboratory's Deep-Tow instrument package. A detailed examination of the relationships between acoustic, stratigraphic, and physical properties in cores from this area reveals that variations in acoustic impedance are almost entirely controlled by changes in saturated bulk density (porosity). Velocity changes are very small. Saturated bulk density changes are highly correlated with variations in percent calcium carbonate. High-carbonate samples are dominated by high-density platy carbonate material while low-carbonate material is dominated by low-density spiny siliceous microfossils. Variations in saturated bulk density (porosity) that account for changes in acoustic impedance are ultimately caused by climatic changes. Warm periods were times of enhanced dissolution which caused low percent carbonate and low saturated bulk density (and therefore low impedance) values. The opposite is true for cold periods. These climatic cycles can be matched with glacials and interglacials for the past one million years, but have also occurred before Pleistocene glaciation. The acoustic properties were compared with the high-resolution subbottom profiles collected at the survey site. A reflection coefficient log calculated from the cores' physical properties, reveals no interfaces with large reflection coefficients that correlate with the reflectors seen on the Deep-Tow 4-kHz seismic profile. The calculated reflection coefficients are very low (typically 10 −3 –10 −5 ) and varied about a wavelength that is of the order of the outgoing 4-kHz pulse. Convolving the outgoing 4-kHz pulse with the reflection coefficient log generates a synthetic seismogram that very closely resembles the 4-kHz reflection profile. Varying the frequency of the outgoing pulse changes the amplitude and position of the reflectors seen on the synthetic seismograms. Thus we conclude that the reflectors seen on the 4-kHz seismic profile are not caused by discrete geologic horizons, but rather are the result of the interference of many small layers.
Plasticity of dopamine D4 receptors in rat forebrain: temporal association with motor hyperactivity following neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine lesioning.

Genetic studies suggest that dopamine D4 receptor polymorphism is associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We recently reported that motor hyperactivity in juvenile male rats with neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the central dopamine system can be reversed by dopamine D4 receptor-selective antagonists. In this study, effects of such lesions on D4 as well as other dopamine receptors (D1 and D2) were autoradiographically quantified at selected developmental stages. Neonatal lesions resulted in motor hyperactivity at postnatal day (PD) 25, but not at PD 37 or 60. Correspondingly, D4 receptor levels in lesioned rats were substantially increased in caudate-putamen and decreased in nucleus accumbens at PD 25, but not at PD 37 or 60. Neonatal lesions also led to relatively minor changes in D1 and D2 receptor binding in various forebrain regions. However, the time-course of lesion-induced motor hyperactivity correlated only with changes in D4, but not D1 and D2 receptors. These results further support the hypothesis that D4 receptors may play a pivotal role in lesion-induced hyperactivity, and possibly in clinical ADHD.
A Computational Inference Framework for analyzing Gene Regulation Pathway using Microarray Data

Microarray experiments produce gene expression data at such a high speed and volume that it is imperative to use highly specialized computational tools for their analyses. One group of such computational tools deals with, namely, "meta-analysis" of microarray data. This step attempts to extract biological interpretations from the identified gene expression pattern. One particular aspect of meta-analysis is sorting out which gene regulation pathways are active and/or inhibited. The focus on this paper is to propose a computational framework with which scientists can compare microarray data with known gene regulation networks that are formed by two known binary gene regulation relationships, activate and inhibit. Using this framework scientists can conduct numerous analysis tasks including (i) identify active or inhibited sub-networks out of massively interconnected gene regulation pathways, (ii) find key genes, namely hubs, that are inferred to be widely involved in multiple aspects of gene regulation, (iii) identify regions of the network that contradict the known regulation, and (iv) estimate the direction of expression of genes that were not included in the microarray experiment. One known utility of this meta-analysis is to help scientists to identify a group of genes that they have missed in earlier experiments and should include in their subsequent experiments. Another utility is to enable them to isolate the group of genes that should be followed more closely using higher accuracy gene expression assays. We introduce three separate but inter-related meta-analysis methodologies, namely, FCFS, Hub majority, and SDP-based. We illustrate our proposed framework using microarray data derived from noggin treated osteoblast cells. The example clearly shows finding sub-networks related to B-catenin which should be expected and thus demonstrates the effectiveness of our proposed framework
Confidence Intervals for Quantiles Using Sectioning When Applying Variance-Reduction Techniques

We develop confidence intervals (CIs) for quantiles when applying variance-reduction techniques (VRTs) and sectioning. Similar to batching, sectioning partitions the independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) outputs into nonoverlapping batches and computes a quantile estimator from each batch. But rather than centering the CI at the average of the quantile estimators across the batches, as in batching, sectioning centers the CI at the overall quantile estimator based on all the outputs. A similar modification is made to the sample variance, which is used to determine the width of the CI. We establish the asymptotic validity of the sectioning CI for importance sampling and control variates, and the proofs rely on first showing that the corresponding quantile estimators satisfy a Bahadur representation, which we have done in prior work. Here, we present some numerical results.
RECOVERY OF TECTAL NICOTINIC-CHOLINERGIC RECEPTOR SITES DURING OPTIC NERVE REGENERATION IN GOLDFISH

The concentration of cholinergic nicotinic-like sites as measured by alphabungarotoxin (alphaBuTX) binding, decreased in the goldfish (Carassius auratus) optic tectum after optic nerve disconnection. Initially, the rate of loss of sites is greater than the rate of tissue or protein degradation in experiments where disconnection was achieved either by unilateral optic nerve crush or by enucleation of one eye. When the crushed optic nerve is allowed to regenerate and form behaviorally potent connections, the number and concentration of these sites appears restored. Pharmacological studies indicate that the alphaButTX binding site in the goldfish optic tectum has a drug binding profile similar to that seen at central or peripheral alphaBuTX sites in other species.
Peritoneal dissemination complicating morcellation of uterine mesenchymal neoplasms.

Background Power morcellation has become a common technique for the minimally invasive resection of uterine leiomyomas. This technique is associated with dissemination of cellular material throughout the peritoneum. When morcellated uterine tumors are unexpectedly found to be leiomyosarcomas or tumors with atypical features (atypical leiomyoma, smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential), there may be significant clinical consequences. This study was undertaken to determine the frequency and clinical consequence of intraperitoneal dissemination of these neoplasms.
Diagnostic accuracy of visual urethral mobility exam versus Q-Tip test: a randomized crossover trial.

Objective The objective of the study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of a visual urethral mobility examination (VUME) with a Q-Tip test in the assessment of urethral hypermobility. Study Design Subjects were randomized to a VUME or Q-Tip test first, followed by the alternate assessment. Outcomes included hypermobile, not hypermobile, or indeterminate. Hypermobility was defined as 30° or greater from the horizontal. Pain perception and test preference were assessed. Results For the 54 subjects, 61.1% demonstrated hypermobility on VUME vs 72.2% on the Q-Tip test ( P = .39). Assessment of hypermobility was correlated between the 2 tools (ρ = 0.47, P = .001). Positive and negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity for VUME were 88%, 56%, 78%, and 71%, respectively, with a Q-Tip test as the reference standard. Mean pain score on visual analog scale was 0.72 for VUME and 3.15 for Q-tip test ( P Conclusion VUME is a diagnostic alternative to the Q-Tip test for the assessment of urethral hypermobility and is preferred by subjects.
The Origin of Outer Topographic Rises Associated with Trenches

Summary The outer topographic rise seaward of many island arcs can be explained in terms of a bending moment applied to the oceanic lithosphere either by the downgoing slab to which it is attached or by modest shear stresses acting along the underthrusting plate boundary. The existence of the outer rise does not require large horizontal compressive stresses to maintain it.
Individual Experiences of Children With and Without Disabilities in Early Childhood Settings

This study examined the global quality of early care and education settings and individual children's experiences in those settings. Sixty 4- to 5-year-old children (30 with disabilities and 30 without disabilities) were observed using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale—Revised (ECERS-R) and items from the ECERS-R adapted to focus on individual children's experiences. Early childhood global quality had the largest effect on individual children's experiences, after controlling for maternal education and child problem behavior. This relationship varied by children's problem behavior but not by disability status. When parents reported more problem behavior in children in classrooms of higher global quality (ECERS-R score), individualized ECERS-R experience ratings were lower.
Immunomodulatory strategies prevent the development of autoimmune emphysema

The presence of anti-endothelial cell antibodies and pathogenic T cells may reflect an autoimmune component in the pathogenesis of emphysema. Whether immune modulatory strategies can protect against the development of emphysema is not known. Sprague Dawley rats were immunized with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) to induce autoimmune emphysema and treated with intrathymic HUVEC-injection and pristane. Measurements of alveolar airspace enlargement, cytokine levels, immuno histochemical, western blot analysis, and T cell repertoire of the lung tissue were performed. The immunomodulatory strategies protected lungs against cell death as demonstrated by reduced numbers of TUNEL and active caspase-3 positive cells and reduced levels of active caspase-3, when compared with lungs from HUVEC-immunized rats. Immunomodulatory strategies also suppressed anti-endothelial antibody production and preserved CNTF, IL-1alpha and VEGF levels. The immune deviation effects of the intrathymic HUVEC-injection were associated with an expansion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. Pristane treatment decreased the proportion of T cells expressing receptor beta-chain, Vβ16.1 in the lung tissue. Our data demonstrate that interventions classically employed to induce central T cell tolerance (thymic inoculation of antigen) or to activate innate immune responses (pristane treatment) can prevent the development of autoimmune emphysema.
Second-hand smoke stimulates lipid accumulation in the liver by modulating AMPK and SREBP-1.

Background/Aims The underlying mechanisms of steatosis, the first stage of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that is characterized by the accumulation of lipids in hepatocytes, remain unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that cigarette smoke is known to change circulating lipid profiles and thus may also contribute to the accumulation of lipids in the liver. Methods Mice and cultured hepatocytes were exposed to sidestream whole smoke (SSW), a major component of "second-hand" smoke and a variety of cellular and molecular approaches were used to study the effects of cigarette smoke on lipid metabolism. Results SSW increases lipid accumulation in hepatocytes by modulating the activity of 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sterol response element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), two critical molecules involved in lipid synthesis. SSW causes dephosphorylation/ inactivation of AMPK, which contributes to increased activation of SREBP-1. These changes of activity lead to accumulation of triglycerides in hepatocytes. Conclusion These novel findings are important because they point to another risk factor of smoking, i.e., that of contributing to NAFLD. In addition, our results showing that both AMPK and SREBP are critically involved in these effects of smoke point to the potential use of these molecules as targets for treatment of cigarette smoke-induced metabolic diseases.
Optimizing Zero-Forcing Precoders for MIMO Broadcast Systems

In this paper, we develop optimization techniques for linear zero-forcing (ZF) multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) broadcast (BC) precoders. A computationally efficient technique based on QR-update algorithms for implementing this optimization is then proposed. The application of the proposed ZF precoders and decoders to systems with both large and small numbers of users is considered. The proposed optimization technique is also shown to perform very well in conjunction with nonlinear Tomlinson--Harashima precoding. Both coded and uncoded performances are considered.
A three-step critical pathway for community-acquired pneumonia reduces duration of hospital stay and intravenous antibiotic use by 2 days

Commentary on: Carratala J, Garcia-Vidal C, Ortega L, et al . Effect of a 3-step critical pathway to reduce duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy and length of stay in community-acquired pneumonia: a randomized controlled trial: a 3-step critical pathway for CAP. Arch Intern Med 2012;172:922–8.[OpenUrl][1][PubMed][2][Web of Science][3] Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains within the 10 … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DArchives%2Bof%2BInternal%2BMedicine%26rft.stitle%253DArch%2BIntern%2BMed%26rft.aulast%253DCarratala%26rft.auinit1%253DJ.%26rft.volume%253D172%26rft.issue%253D12%26rft.spage%253D922%26rft.epage%253D928%26rft.atitle%253DEffect%2Bof%2Ba%2B3-step%2Bcritical%2Bpathway%2Bto%2Breduce%2Bduration%2Bof%2Bintravenous%2Bantibiotic%2Btherapy%2Band%2Blength%2Bof%2Bstay%2Bin%2Bcommunity-acquired%2Bpneumonia%253A%2Ba%2Brandomized%2Bcontrolled%2Btrial.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F22732747%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=22732747&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febnurs%2F16%2F2%2F48.atom [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000305594200008&link_type=ISI
Computer-aided process planning in printed circuit card assembly

The goal of the research reported here is to develop a general approach and the necessary methodologies and tools to allow circuit card assembly manufacturers to determine the optimal strategy for operating an assembly line, and to rapidly generate optimal or near-optimal line setups. The objective is to maximize total production rate over a desired product mix subject to capacity, technological, and production requirement constraints for the planning horizon. The authors develop the decision problems required for process planning, discuss their approaches to solving the decision problems, and present some case study results. >
No Radial Symmetries in the Arrhenius-Semenov Thermal Explosion Equation

Nonlinear evolution equations in the theory of exothermic chemical reactions lead to semilinear parabolic and elliptic boundary value problems with exponential nonlinearities. In contrast to a commonly employed (Frank-Kamenetskii) approximation, which permits similarity variables for the asymptotic analysis of solution behavior near thermal runaway, we show that the more correct (Arrhenius-Semenov) equation permits no radial symmetries. We also establish that a more general class of thermal nonlinearities also possess no symmetries.
Assessing the value of the relationship between organizational culture types and knowledge management initiatives

This mixed-methods study assessed the relationship between organizational culture type and continuous knowledge management initiatives in a prominent global company in the transportation industry. The two-part sequential phase of grounded theory included triangulation through collection and analysis of quantitative data from a questionnaire followed by collection and analysis of qualitative data from interviews, observations, and documents. The theory emerged from the findings, and the results of this research study revealed the importance for leaders of assessing their organizational culture type as it relates to continuous knowledge management initiatives. Research indicates that it is imperative for leaders to understand organizational culture types for long-term success to occur. By generating the right organizational culture and continuous knowledge management initiatives, leaders will enhance value and help increase an organization's competitive advantage.
Efficient thermal simulation for run-time temperature tracking and management

As power density increases exponentially, run-time regulation of operating temperature by dynamic thermal management becomes imperative. This paper proposes a novel approach to real-time thermal estimation at chip level for efficient dynamic thermal management in lieu of the thermal sensors, which are erroneous and having longer delays. Our new approach is based on the observation that the average power consumption of architecture level modules in microprocessors running typical workloads determines the trend of temperature variations. Such a feature can be exploited by applying fast moment matching technique in frequency domain. To obtain the transient temperature changes due to initial condition and constant power input pattern, numerically stable moment matching approach is carried out to speed up on-line temperature tracking with high accuracy and low overhead. The resulting fast thermal analysis algorithm has linear time complexity in run-time setting and leads to about two orders of magnitude speed-up over traditional integration-based transient analysis. The average maximum error under running typical benchmarks is only about 0.37/spl deg/C as compared to other well-accepted simulation tools.
Virulence of non‐β‐lactamase‐mediated ampicilin‐resistant Haemophilus influenzae

We questioned whether strains of ampicillin-resistant, non-β-lactamase-producing (AmpR NBLP) Haemophilus influenae with lower affinity penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) might have altered virulence. The virulence of resistant transformant strains and the susceptible recipient was compared using infant rats. Following intraperitoneal inoculation, there was a significantly lower mortality rate and incidence and magnitude of bacteremia with two of three transformants compared to the recipient strain. Reduced virulence was not associated with greater bactericidal activity of serum or human neutrophils or faster clearance of the transformant following intravenous injection. Heated rat or human plasma supported exponential growth of the recipient, but not the transformant, suggesting deficient in vivo multiplication. We conclude that H. influenzae with altered PBPs are less virulent in an infant rat model which may be related to differences in in vivo growth.
Viscoelastic Properties of Amorphous Selenium.

Viscoelastic properties of amorphous selenium were studied by stress relaxation, creep, and a new technique described in this paper. A master curve was obtained as well as maximum relaxation times at several temperatures. The glass transition temperature was obtained from volume-temperature relations. A technique is described for the study of hard viscoelastic materials.
Vlogging about school on YouTube: An exploratory study:

An exploratory mixed-methods study involving a combination of online ethnography and descriptive statistics was conducted to investigate school-related vlogging. Five areas were emphasized: (1) characteristics of school-related vlogs, vloggers, and viewers; (2) vlog context (where recording occurred); (3) vlog content (what was said and shown); (4) vlogger culture (patterns of speech or practice); and (5) motivations for vlogging about school. A purposive sample of 120 personal video blogs (vlogs) was collected through a systematic process on YouTube during a three-month period. Results of the study revealed that vloggers were young, recorded in multiple settings including classrooms, showed and described their school experiences, shared a vocabulary for interacting with an audience, and vlogged for a variety of reasons including the desire to alleviate boredom, for fun, because friends were doing it, to build confidence or improve their speaking skills, document their experiences, share information, or t...
Good Intentions, Unintended Consequences: Impact of Adker Consent Decree on Miami-Dade County's Subsidized Housing

In this article, we assess the impact of the Adker consent decree, a federal desegregation agreement implemented since 1999. It requires that Miami-Dade County public-housing offers be initially ma...
Corruption as a last resort: adapting to the market in Central Asia

Corruption within many post-Socialist state structures remains deeply entrenched despite two decades of (albeit uneven) political and economic reforms. In Corruption as a Last Resort, Kelly M. McMa...
Macromolecular Organization of Membranes and Organelles in Nerve Tissue

Most of the electron micrographs in this article were taken at instrumental magnifications between 70,000 and 140,000 on a Hitachi HU-11B electron microscope. A pointed filament and a liquid nitrogen-cooled anticontamination device were generally used. Careful alignment, control of astigmatism, use of appropriately selected condenser and objective apertures, and operation of the microscope under conditions of reduced vibration are among the factors which contributed to the attainment of high instrumental performance.
Dietary nitrate and nitrite: Benefits, risks, and evolving perceptions

Consumers have an illogical relationship with nitrite (and its precursor, nitrate) in food. Despite a long history of use, nitrite was nearly banned from use in foods in the 1970s due to health concerns related to the potential for carcinogenic nitrosamine formation. Changes in meat processing methods reduced those potential risks, and nitrite continued to be used in foods. Since then, two opposing movements continue to shape how consumers view dietary nitrate and nitrite. The discovery of the profound physiological importance of nitric oxide led to the realization that dietary nitrate contributes significantly to the nitrogen reservoir for nitric oxide formation. Numerous clinical studies have also demonstrated beneficial effects from dietary nitrate consumption, especially in vascular and metabolic health. However, the latest wave of consumer sentiment against food additives, the clean-label movement, has renewed consumer fear and avoidance of preservatives, including nitrite. Education is necessary but may not be sufficient to resolve this disconnect in consumer perception.
Electrohydrodynamic Jet Printing of Silver Seeds: Micro Scale Patterning by Electroless Copper Deposition

The paper describes a new method for micro scale patterning of highly conductive features on flexible and flat surfaces. The method uses electrohydrodynamic jet printing to deposit silver seeds on-demand that serve as catalysts for subsequent electroless deposition of copper. The electroless deposition of copper on substrates occurred only where silver seeds exist. In the study, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and triethanolamine (TEA) were used as chelating agents, and formaldehyde as reducing agent. Copper growth rate and resistivity were investigated using microscopic and profilometer to determine optimal concentration of each agents in reaction solution. The results indicated that EDTA significantly affects copper growth rate, playing an important role in complexing, while TEA in the dual-complexing system will balance deposition rate and stability of solution. Optimal temperature and time for copper deposition on silver nanoparticles were also discussed in the study. The techniques of activating substrates by selective printing and electroless metallization was successfully used to pattern on glass, and flexible polymer films, and both flat and curved substrates were used. The proposed technique was also capable of fabricating metal structures on flexible substrates with excellent conductivity. Metal filaments with resistivity four times bulk copper and thickness up to 15μm were demonstrated in the research.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Seasonal Development of Tree-Hole Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) and Chaoborids in Relation to Weather And Predation

Four species of tree-hole mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) and 1 species of Chaoboridae in temperate north Florida commence their vernal development as embryos or larvae. Except for Toxorhynchites rutilus , all species overwinter in various prepupal stages. Overwintering populations of Orthopodomyia signifera, Aedes triseriatus , and Anopheles barberi are sparser and younger in the presence of Tx. rutilus than in its absence. Vernal pupation occurs first among Tx. rutilus , followed by Or. signifera–Ae. triseriatus–An. barberi , and then the chaoborid Corethrella appendiculata. Toxorhynchites rutilus, Ae. triseriatus , and An. barberi all pupate over a brief period, while C. appendiculata and Or. signifera pupate over a period of several weeks. The overwintering stages and the timing and variability of vernal development are interpreted as adaptations to seasonal harshness and to varying degrees of predation. The pattern of seasonal development is reviewed in the context of vector control.
Investigating the rate of photoreductive glucosyl radical generation

The photoreduction of glucosyl halides to generate glucosyl radicals has been investigated to probe the nature of the photoredox cycle. Amine (the reductant) and catalyst concentration affect the reaction rate at low concentrations but exhibit saturation at higher concentrations. Water and hydrophobic catalysts were found to significantly increase the conversion efficiency.
Examining the Effects of Guidance Symbology, Display Size, and Field of View on Flight Performance and Situation Awareness:

Two experiments conducted in a high-fidelity flight simulator examined the effects of guidance symbology, display size, and field of view (FOV) on flight performance and situation awareness within a Synthetic Vision System (SVS). In Experiment 1, 18 pilots flew highlighted and lowlighted tunnel-in-the-sky displays and a less-cluttered follow-me-aircraft (FMA) through a series of curved approaches over rugged terrain. The results revealed that both tunnels supported better flightpath tracking than the FMA due to the availability of more preview information. Increasing tunnel intensity had no benefit on tracking, and in fact, traffic awareness was degraded. In Experiment 2, 24 pilots flew a lowlighted tunnel display configured according to different display sizes (small or large) and FOVs (30° or 60°). Measures of flightpath tracking and terrain awareness generally favored the smaller display and the 60° FOV.
Effect of Inhaled Epinephrine and Pulmicort on the Acute Laryngitis of Children Patients in Outpatient and Emergency Department

Objective To compare the effects of inhaled epinephrine and pulmicort on the acute laryngitis of children outpatients.Methods Seventy eight children outpatients with acute laryngitis were randomly devided into two groups: treatment group(40 patients,treated with epinephrine) and control group(38 patients,treated with pulmicort).The improvement of symptoms was recorded in 4 hours after inhalation,and the effect was evaluated.Results The effective rate of treatment group was 85.0%,and the control group was 73.7%.No significant difference was detected between the two groups.But the clinical improvement rates of barking cough and inspiratory three depressions sign in treatment group were higher than in control group.Conclusion Inhaled epinephrine is better for improvement of barking cough and inspiratory three depressions sign than inhaled pulmicort,and it should be prefered to the patients with severe obstruction of larynx.
Extrapolating abundance curves has no predictive power for estimating microbial biodiversity.

Locey and Lennon (1) recently conducted an analysis of microbial and macrobial communities to investigate the effect of sample size (N, number of individuals or reads observed) on community species richness (S), species evenness (Simpson), frequency distribution skew, and frequency count of most abundant taxa. They argue that log–log linear models fit these relationships, specifically claiming that the index of the power law between sample size and species richness is consistent across macro- and microorganisms. Furthermore, they use the “lognormal model of biodiversity” to estimate global microbial biodiversity around 1011 to 1012 taxa. Although their claims are appealing and elegant, I argue (from a statistical perspective) …