cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy-Efficient Fault-Tolerant Data Storage and Processing in Mobile Cloud

Despite the advances in hardware for hand-held mobile devices, resource-intensive applications (e.g., video and image storage and processing or map-reduce type) still remain off bounds since they require large computation and storage capabilities. Recent research has attempted to address these issues by employing remote servers, such as clouds and peer mobile devices. For mobile devices deployed in dynamic networks (i.e., with frequent topology changes because of node failure/unavailability and mobility as in a mobile cloud), however, challenges of reliability and energy efficiency remain largely unaddressed. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to address these challenges in an integrated manner for both data storage and processing in mobile cloud, an approach we call k-out-of-n computing . In our solution, mobile devices successfully retrieve or process data, in the most energy-efficient way, as long as k out of n remote servers are accessible. Through a real system implementation we prove the feasibility of our approach. Extensive simulations demonstrate the fault tolerance and energy efficiency performance of our framework in larger scale networks.
Prognostic Significance of Troponin Elevation and Right Ventricular Enlargement in Acute Pulmonary Embolism

The troponin I values and echocardiographic data of 141 patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) were correlated with 30-day mortality. Patients with elevated troponin and right ventricular enlargement are at significantly greater risk for death after PE than patients with only 1 or with neither adverse prognostic marker.
Effects of experimental shifts in flowering phenology on plant-pollinator interactions.

Ecology Letters (2011) 14: 69–74 Abstract Climate change has led to phenological shifts in flowering plants and insect pollinators, causing concern that these shifts will disrupt plant–pollinator mutualisms. We experimentally investigated how shifts in flowering onset affect pollinator visitation for 14 native perennial plant species, six of which have exhibited shifts to earlier flowering over the last 70 years and eight of which have not. We manipulated flowering onset in greenhouses and then observed pollinator visitation in the field. Five of six species with historically advanced flowering received more visits when flowering was experimentally advanced, whereas seven of eight species with historically unchanged flowering received fewer visits when flowering earlier. This pattern suggests that species unconstrained by pollinators have advanced their flowering, whereas species constrained by pollinators have not. In contrast to current concern about phenological mismatches disrupting plant–pollinator mutualisms, mismatches at the onset of flowering are not occurring for most of our study species.
Influenza A Virus PB1-F2 Protein Contributes to Viral Pathogenesis in Mice

The influenza virus PB1-F2 protein is a novel protein previously shown to be involved in induction of cell death. Here we characterize the expression and the function of the protein within the context of influenza viral infection in tissue culture and a mouse model. We show that the C-terminal region of the protein can be expressed from a downstream initiation codon and is capable of interaction with the full-length protein. Using this knowledge, we generated influenza viruses knocked out for the expression of PB1-F2 protein and its downstream truncation products. Knocking out the PB1-F2 protein had no effect on viral replication in tissue culture but diminished virus pathogenicity and mortality in mice. The viruses replicated to similar levels in mouse lungs by day 3 postinfection, suggesting that the knockout did not impair viral replication. However, while the PB1-F2 knockout viruses were cleared after day 5, the wild-type viruses were detectable in mouse lungs until day 7, implying that expression of PB1-F2 resulted in delayed clearance of the viruses by the host immune system. Based on our findings and on the fact that the PB1 genomic segment was always newly introduced into some pandemic influenza viruses of the last century, we speculate that the PB1-F2 protein plays an important role in pathogenesis of influenza virus infection and may be an important contributor to pathogenicity of pandemic influenza viruses.
A service accountability framework for QoS service management and engineering

Service science, management and engineering (SSME) research is to study the methodology and technology for service innovation, design, development and delivery. Since service industry is very quality-sensitive and trust-dependent, we propose a service accountability management framework to detect, diagnose, defuse and disclose the root cause for any problematic service process. The accountability support is important for SSME since service processes often rely on external service providers to deliver part of the service functionalities. A service system must have effective yet efficient mechanisms to ensure that every external service is delivering a consistent and acceptable level of performance to meet the end-to-end quality of service (QoS) of the whole service process. In this paper, we present the accountability framework, identify the components in an accountable service architecture, and design an accountability diagnosis methodology. We also briefly present the inteLLigent Accountability Management Architecture (LLAMA) project which implements the accountability service bus (ASB), an agent-based middleware to support the monitoring, diagnosis, and reconfiguration of e-services. LLAMA ASB interacts with accountability agents to monitor services and the Accountability Authority to automatically diagnose faulty situations. The LLAMA technology is useful to ensure the QoS in SSME-based systems.
Validity of the single processor approach to achieving large scale computing capabilities

For over a decade prophets have voiced the contention that the organization of a single computer has reached its limits and that truly significant advances can be made only by interconnection of a multiplicity of computers in such a manner as to permit cooperative solution. Variously the proper direction has been pointed out as general purpose computers with a generalized interconnection of memories, or as specialized computers with geometrically related memory interconnections and controlled by one or more instruction streams.
unc-93(e1500): A BEHAVIORAL MUTANT OF CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS THAT DEFINES A GENE WITH A WILD-TYPE NULL PHENOTYPE

ABSTRACT The uncoordinated, egg-laying-defective mutation, unc-93(e1500) III , of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans spontaneously reverts to a wild-type phenotype. We describe 102 spontaneous and mutagen-induced revertants that define three loci, two extragenic ( sup-9 II and sup-10 X ) and one intragenic. Genetic analysis suggests that e1500 is a rare visible allele that generates a toxic product and that intragenic reversion, resulting from the generation of null alleles of the unc-93 gene, eliminates the toxic product. We propose that the genetic properties of the unc-93 locus, including the spontaneous reversion of the e1500 mutation, indicate that unc-93 may be a member of a multigene family. The extragenic suppressors also appear to arise as the result of elimination of gene activity; these genes may encode regulatory functions or products that interact with the unc-93 gene product. Genes such as unc-93, sup-9 and sup-10 may be useful for genetic manipulations, including the generation of deficiencies and mutagen testing.
Telecommunications Mega-Mergers: Impact On Employee Morale And Turnover Intention

The number of mergers and acquisitions grew at record rates in the United States over the past 10 years, and mega telecommunications mergers have been no exception. Three very high-profile telecommunications mergers included MCI and Verizon, Sprint and Nextel, and BellSouth and AT&T. These megamergers have changed the competitive landscape dramatically in the telecom arena. Despite the popularity of mergers and acquisitions (M&As), evidence has shown that the majority have failed to improve performance and failed to achieve anticipated strategic and financial objectives set forth in the premerger planning phase, according to J. Krug and R. Aguilera’s 2004 article “Top Management Team Turnover in Mergers and Acquisitions” in Advances in Mergers and Acquisitions. The primary reason behind such common performance failures according to S. Cartwright and C. L. Cooper’s 2000 HR Know-How in Mergers and Acquisitions was based on various human resources factors such as culture, management, poor motivation, and loss of talent. Based on the aforementioned post corporate merger performance failure considerations, this research study examined the impact on employee morale and turnover intention related to a recent megamerger between two telecommunications conglomerates.
Baseline Studies of the Clay Minerals Society Source Clays: Thermal Analysis

Thermal analysis involves a dynamic phenomenological approach to the study of materials by observing the response of these materials to a change in temperature. This approach differs fundamentally from static methods of analysis, such as structural or chemical analyses, which rely on direct observations of a basic property of material ( e.g. crystal structure or chemical composition) at a well-defined set of conditions ( e.g. temperature, pressure, humidity). Clay minerals are highly susceptible to significant compositional changes in response to subtle changes in conditions. For example, changes in the fugacity of water affect the stability of interlayer H2O in a clay mineral (see below). Therefore, care must be taken that all experimental conditions are known with accuracy and precision. Differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermal gravimetric analysis (TG or TGA), and derivative thermal gravimetric (DTG) analysis are reported for each of the eight Source Clay minerals using commonly available commercial instruments. The DTA curves show the effect of energy changes (endothermic or exothermic reactions) in a sample. For clays, endothermic reactions involve desorption of surface H2O ( e.g. H2O on exterior surfaces) and dehydration ( e.g. interlayer H2O) at low temperatures (<100°C), dehydration and dehydroxylation at more elevated temperatures, and, eventually, melting. Exothermic reactions are related to recrystallization at high temperatures that may be nearly concurrent with or after dehydroxylation and melting. Discriminating between desorption and dehydration or dehydration and dehydroxylation may be problematic. The TG curves ideally show only weight changes during heating. The derivative of the TG curve, the DTG curve, shows changes in the TG slope that may not be obvious from the TG curve. Thus, the DTG curve and the DTA curve may show strong similarities for those reactions that involve weight and enthalpy changes, such as desorption, dehydration and dehydroxylation reactions. In …
Tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: cytologic features and differential diagnostic considerations.

The cytologic features of the tall cell variant (TCV) of papillary thyroid carcinoma may be confused with those of other thyroid neoplasms with different prognoses and treatment modalities. Elucidation of the cytomorphology of this variant would be useful in planning treatment for this fairly aggressive variant of papillary carcinoma. The cytologic features of 20 cases of TCV were compared with those of 23 cases of the usual variant (UV) of papillary thyroid carcinoma and of 10 Hurthle-cell neoplasms (HCN). After a set of features was defined, the efficacy of employing it to distinguish TCV from UV and HCN was assessed by three cytopathologists (J.D.T., I.R., and M.O.), was independently examined 15 unknown cases selected by the first author. Aspirates of TCV showed some specific cytologic features which included large cell size with abundant granular cytoplasm and variably sized nuclei with granular chromatin. The cells were sometimes columnar, but more often were polygonal, and prominent cytoplasmic borders were present in 50% of cases. Intra-nuclear inclusions were more prominent in TCV than in UV. There was some overlap in the cytomorphology of some TCV and UV cases, and variable numbers of cells with UV features were encountered in TCV cases. Employing the cytologic features of TCV listed above, three cytopathologists examined the unknown cases, which included 7 cases of TCV, 4 cases of UV, and 4 cases of HCN. TCV was recognized as such by all three cytopathologists in 6 of 7 cases, and all UV and HCN were correctly typed by all three examiners. The cytologic features of TCV are sufficiently distinctive to enable separation from HCN and most cases of UV. Although the diagnosis of TCV may be rendered employing fine-needle aspiration biopsy, material, this diagnosis should be limited, in our opinion, to specimens which contain at least 30% of cells with typical TCV features.
Identification of a cis-Acting Glucocorticoid Responsive Element in the Rat Angiotensin II Type 1A Promoter

Enhanced vascular responsiveness to angiotensin II at the AT1 receptor has been considered one of the major contributing factors to vascular hypertrophy and high blood pressure. The transcription of the rat angiotensin II type 1A receptor gene is stimulated by glucocorticoids. To clarify the molecular mechanism for glucocorticoid action in rat vascular smooth muscle cells, we investigated the effects of dexamethasone on the promoter activity of the angiotensin II type 1A receptor by using promoter/luciferase reporter gene constructs and heterologous context constructs (containing the thymidine kinase promoter) in transfected vascular smooth muscle cells ( 8 passages) but was restored when the cells were transfected with a glucocorticoid-receptor expression construct. This finding provided additional support that the response to dexamethasone was mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor. The gel mobility supershift assay showed that the GRE binds in vitro-translated rat glucocorticoid receptors in a specific manner. Compared with the angiotensin II type 1A receptor promoter, no effect by dexamethasone was observed in vascular smooth muscle cells transfected with the angiotensin II type 1B receptor promoter/luciferase reporter gene constructs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Detecting Drug Interactions: A Review of the Literature

This article provides a historic overview of drug interaction screening and reviews 19 studies that have sought to measure the frequency of drug interactions. Differences in study designs, methodologies, and definitions contribute to considerable variation in the reported incidence rates, which ranged from 2.2 to 70.3 percent for all potential drug interactions. The percentage of patients actually experiencing symptoms that could be attributed to a drug interaction, however, ranged from 0 to 11.1 percent. The relative importance of drug interactions as a clinical problem remains unclear. Screening programs that do more than simply identify large numbers of patients who receive potentially interacting drug combinations without indicating which subpopulations of these individuals are likely to be harmed by the drugs have not yet been developed.
Defining the Role of PCSK9 Inhibitors in the Treatment of Hyperlipidemia

Statins remain the mainstay of medical cardiovascular risk reduction because of their effectiveness in decreasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as well as some other potentially beneficial effects. The latest US 2013 lipid guidelines essentially recommend only the prescription of a high-dose statin for the high-risk patient. However, both quite old and quite new outcomes evidence, such as reported for ezetimibe, emphasize that LDL-C lowering is, in and of itself, quite important for cardiovascular risk reduction. It appears that the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors represent a major new contribution to this effort, especially for patients with severe familial hypercholesterolemia, proven clinical cardiovascular disease, statin intolerance, or failure to attain an acceptably low LDL-C goal despite maximum available medical management. Very recent clinical trials have proven overwhelmingly the effectiveness and safety of PCSK9 inhibitors for lowering LDL-C. Both alirocumab and evolocumab have now been approved by the US FDA and there are some initial favorable outcomes data. This review is intended to summarize available evidence and emphasize the possible clinical role of these inhibitors following the approval of alirocumab and evolocumab. Understanding the negative receptor feedback of PCSK9 and the mechanism and beneficial effect of PCSK9 inhibitors for cardiovascular risk reduction is essential for the up-to-date practitioner of cardiovascular medicine. There is every reasonable hope for significant cardiovascular benefit from these new additions to our medical cardiovascular armamentarium.
Chiral Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy for Characterizing Protein Secondary Structures at Interfaces

In situ and real-time characterization of protein secondary structures at interfaces is important in biological and bioengineering sciences, yet remains technically challenging. In this study, we used chiral sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy to establish a set of vibrational optical markers for characterizing protein secondary structures at interfaces. We discovered that the N–H stretches along the peptide backbones of α-helices can be detected in chiral SFG spectra. We further observed that the chiral vibrational signatures of the N–H stretch together with the peptide amide I are unique to α-helix, β-sheet, and random coil at interfaces. Using these chiral vibrational signatures, we studied the aggregation of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), which is implicated in type II diabetes. We observed in situ and in real time the misfolding of hIAPP from random coils to α-helices and then β-sheets upon interaction with a lipid–water interface. Our findings show that chiral SFG spectroscopy is a...
Abstract PL04-04: How will genomic information be useful to limit cancer risk behaviors?

In this presentation I describe the development of genomic profiling approaches for application for population based studies. The advent and application of large scale genomic methods raises major issues and opportunities for individuals. My focus in this talk is towards describing specific examples to describe benefits and pitfalls in genomic medicine and disease prevention. Variation in several variants are already being used to understand disease development. A first issue in application relates to the describing the population of study. Genomic analysis provides a very detailed evaluation of population membership, and this information is relevant to risk profiling but its application is problematic for selected groups according to their beliefs about group membership and historical origins. Within some populations, genetic profiling has had a very significant effect on disease managment. For example carbamazepine use can lead to Stevens-Johnson syndrome which confers a lethal side effects in some individuals according their HLA genotypes. Population-wide assessment was implemented in Taiwan leading to a near eradication of this disease. With a very limited number of genotypes some phenotypes such as eye and skin color can be deduced very effectively. Genetic analysis of the alpha 5 nicotinic receptor shows a very dramatic correlation with ability to quit smoking. Finally more complex sets of genotypes are useful for predicting risk for some common cancers such as prostate and breast cancer. These collections of genotypes are useful for designing research studies to identify high risk subjects and will be increasingly useful for organizing screening. Citation Format: Christopher I. Amos. How will genomic information be useful to limit cancer risk behaviors? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr PL04-04.
Testing Rotating Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Blade Designs in a Laboratory Wind Tunnel

The importance of renewable and alternative energy is rapidly gaining attention. A national goal of replacing 20% of the United States electricity generation with wind power by 2030 has been proposed but such an ambitious goal is dependent on many parameters. Improved aerodynamic performance of wind turbine blades is one parameter necessary to achieve this goal. Blade testing is traditionally done using 2D airfoils in a laboratory wind tunnel, developing the lift and drag coefficients, and then using this data to predict wind turbine blade performance. Dimensional analysis has been used successfully in design of rotating machinery such as pumps, developing a series of dimensionless pump parameters with which to scale a particular pump design to a larger or small size. These parameters lead to similarity or affinity laws which relate any two homologous states for two pumps that are geometrically and dynamically similar. Affinity laws could be applied to wind turbines however the conditions tested in the wind tunnel do not match what would be expected in a full scale wind machine. As with pumps, the laws would apply only if the model and full scale wind turbine would operate at identical Reynolds numbers and are exactly similar (i.e. relative surface roughness and tip conditions). Reynolds numbers in the model tests are smaller than those achieved by the actual wind turbines while the surface roughness of the model is generally larger. This leads to the need for empirical equations to predict performance. This paper examines current wind tunnel testing and the problems with scaling wind turbine blades. It also outlines a methodology to test 3-D model wind turbine blades in a wind tunnel. Blades are designed and manufactured according to existing criteria, mounted to a generator, and their performance is then tested in the wind tunnel. Challenges with wind tunnel testing as well as extrapolation of the wind tunnel data to actual applications will be addressed.© 2010 ASME
DNA-PK, the DNA-activated protein kinase, is differentially expressed in normal and malignant human tissues

DNA-PK is a nuclear, serine/threonine protein kinase required for repairing DNA double-strand breaks and for V(D)J recombination. To determine the distribution of DNA-PK in human tissues, we assayed paraffin-embedded sections of normal and cancerous tissues for DNA-PKcs and Ku80 by immunohistochemistry. We also assayed for Brca2, a human tumor suppressor gene that is implicated in the repair of DNA strand-breaks. Brca2 was strongly expressed in epithelial cells of the breast, endometrium, and thymus, in tingible body macrophages of follicular germinal centers of lymphoid tissue, and in reticuloendothelial cells in the spleen. DNA-PKcs and Ku80 expression was usually parallel, but both were expressed in a highly cell- and tissue-specific manner. The highest levels were observed in spermatogenic cells (but not in spermatozoa), and in neurons and glial cells of the central and autonomic nervous system. Neither protein was consistently expressed in liver nor in resting mammary epithelium, but lactating breast epithelium was strongly positive for DNA-PKcs and Ku80. In contrast to established human cell cultures, expression between cells in the same tissue was highly selective in the epidermis, exocrine pancreas, renal glomeruli, the red pulp of the spleen, and within cellular compartments of tonsils, lymph nodes, and thymus. Most cancerous tissues were consistently positive for DNA-PKcs and Ku80, except invasive carcinoma of the breast. DNA-PKcs, Ku80, and Ku70 mRNAs were expressed in all normal tissues with relatively little variation in levels. Our results suggest that the apparent absence of DNA-PKcs and Ku80 from some cells or tissues is a consequence of post-transcriptional mechanisms that regulate protein levels.
EPIG-11THE IMPLICATION OF CpG island AND SPINT2 HYPERMETHYLATION IN BOTH IDH1 WILD-TYPE AND MUTANT ADULT DIFFUSE GLIOMAS

BACKGROUND: IDH1/2 mutation and associated glioma CpG island methylator phenotype (G-CIMP) is associated with glioma prognosis. G-CIMP is defined as CpG islands hypermethylated in IDH1/2 mutant (IDH1/2MUT) gliomas. G-CIMP thus excludes hypermethylated CpG islands shared between IDH1/2MUT and IDH1/2 wildtype (IDH1/2WT) gliomas. These shared hypermethylated CpG islands may be important in gliomagenesis. We aimed to determine whether a set of CpG islands are hypermethylated in both IDH1/2MUT and IDH1/2WT gliomas and its functional implications. METHODS: Methylation profiling was performed using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. Unsupervised clustering identified a novel sets of hypermethylated CpG islands shared between IDH1/2MUT and IDH1/2WT tumors. Targeted bisulfite sequencing of selected genes was used to confirm this novel set of hypermethylated CpG islands. SPINT2 was identified as a candidate hypermethylated tumor suppressor gene. SPINT2 DNA methylation and gene expression were measured in glioma samples. To assess regulation of SPINT2 expression by methylation, DNMT1 was knockdown and SPINT2 promoter activity was measured by luciferase assay. SPINT2 tumor suppressive function was investigated in vitro. RESULTS: A group of CpG islands were found hypermethylated in both IDH1/2MUT and IDH1/2WT gliomas compared with normal brain (designated as Glioma Total CpG island Methylator, GT-CIM). Nine candidate genes within GT-CIM were confirmed by target bisulfite sequencing. Within GT-CIM, the cell motility gene SPINT2 mRNA level was significantly lower in the hypermethylated glioblastomas as compared to the hypomethylated ones. DNMT1 knockdown restored SPINT2 expression. In the luciferase assay, SPINT2 promoter activity was reduced by DNA methylation. Over-expression of SPINT2 inhibited the glioma cells migration and invasion in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a set of CpG islands hypermethylated in all gliomas, termed GT-CIM. Within GT-CIM, we found that SPINT2 is regulated by DNA methylation, and its overexpression suppresses tumor cell migration and invasion. Further studies on GT-CIM and its related genes are warranted.
Neutralization of three immunological types of poliomyelitis virus by human gamma globulin.

SummaryA sample of gamma globulin, refined and concentrated about 23-fold from pooled adult human plasma, was tested for neutralizing antibodies against representatives of three distinct antigenic types of poliomyelitis virus, Brunhilde, Lansing, and Leon. The neutralizing potency was high against all three viruses. A dilution of the globulin solution of 1/100 neutralized 100 PD50 of virus in almost every instance. A dilution of 1/1000 failed to neutralize 100 PD50 of virus.
Estimation of Gaseous Plume Concentration with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

The approach presented in this paper provides real-time estimation of a gaseous plume concentration using an unmanned aerial vehicle with sensors. The plume is generated by a moving aerial source and is modeled by the unsteady three-dimensional advection–diffusion equation with ambient winds and eddy diffusivities. The approach couples the unmanned aerial vehicle guidance with the performance of the concentration estimator and is implemented with efficient computational methods for real-time estimation. The unmanned aerial vehicle is modeled as a point-mass fixed-wing aircraft resulting in a sixth-order nonlinear dynamical system. The unmanned aerial vehicle is guided toward the region of maximum state-estimation error via a Lyapunov-redesign method. The estimation scheme provides the desired Cartesian velocities of the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a lower-level controller provides the control signals to the unmanned aerial vehicle. The finite volume discretization of the estimator incorporates a second-o...
Sputtered High-Tc Superconducting Films as Fast Optically Triggered Switches

Thin films of superconducting Y1Ba2Cu3O7 have been used as the active element in an optically triggered fast opening switch. Both granular and highly c-axis oriented films, ranging in thickness from 2000 A to 7000 A, were subject to 150 psec pulses from a Nd:YAG laser and exhibited switching from the superconducting to the normal state in times ranging from 1 nsec to 10 nsec, followed by a much slower decay over 100 nsec to 1 µsec. The magnitude of the voltage response and the slow decay can be explained in terms of a simple bolometric effect, while the rapid switching of even the thicker films is indicative of nonequilibrium hot electron transport from the absorbing surface layer to the remaining film thickness. At higher temperatures the response time is slower than 10 nsec, indicating a more diffusive behavior to the electron heat transport. These results give some indication of the electron-phonon collision time and help set limits to the maximum film thickness useable for laser triggered fast opening switches.
Even-Aged vs. Uneven-Aged Silviculture: Implications for Multifunctional Management of Southern Pine Ecosystems

We evaluated even- and uneven-aged silvicultural options for slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) using empirical data and the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) model. Data were collected from a mature unthinned slash pine plantation in a flatwoods site in Florida, and used to simulate six scenarios of even- and uneven-aged silvicultural regimes applied to slash pine stands, including a no-action option. These alternative silvicultural regimes were evaluated for multiple benefits including timber production, carbon storage and stand structural diversity over a period of 100 years. None of the silvicultural regimes maximized all the benefits. While even-aged management options were more efficient in total merchantable timber production (9.78 to 11.02 m3·ha−1·year−1) and overall carbon stocks (3.05 to 3.47 metric tons·ha−1·year−1), uneven-aged management options created overall more complex stand structure (Stand Structural Diversity (computed from Shannon’s Indices values) = 1.92) and maintained a steady flow of yields, particularly sawtimber (34.29 to 58.46 m3·ha−1 every 10 year) and aboveground carbon stocks (56.9 to 77.2 metric tons·ha−1). Optimal achievement of multiple benefits across the landscape, therefore, may require maintaining an assortment of management strategies. Both even- and uneven-aged management options have the potential to improve production and carbon storage of pine forests and are a substantial improvement over no action.
Effects of IFN-γ and TNF-α on the apoptosis of insulinoma cells line MIN6

This study is aimed to explore the effects of IFN-γ and TNF-α on the apoptosis of insulinoma cells line MIN6.The cytotoxicity of IFN-γ,TNF-α,or IFN-γ/TNF-α synergism to MIN6 cells was assessed by MTT,and further confirmed morphologically by microscopy and laser confocal microscopy.The apoptotic and necrotic effects of IFN-γ and TNF-α on MIN6 cells were differentiated by FACS followed with Annexin V-FITC/7-aminoactinomycin D(7-AAD) double staining.In contrast to IFN-γ or TNF-α alone,IFN-γ/TNF-α synergism had an obvious inhibition in the viability of MIN6 cells and caused significant apoptosis in MIN6 cells(13.03% and 69.91%).However,no difference was observed in the percentage of late stage apoptotic and necrotic cells between IFN-γ or TNF-α alone,and IFN-γ/TNF-α synergism(2.41% and 2.14%).IFN-γ/TNF-α synergism can induce MIN6 cells apoptosis.
Epidemic Situation of of Measles in Gaozhou City from 2004 to 2008

[Objective]To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of measles in Gaozhou city in recent years,provide theoretical basis for grasping the trend of epidemic situation,control and elimination of measles.[Methods]The data of reports and monitoring of measles epidemic situation in Gaozhou city from 2004 to 2008 were analyzed by descriptive epidemiology.[Results]The average annual incidence rate of measles was 2.065/lakh,the peak season was January,February,March and December.The patients under 4 years and more than 15 years accounted for 55.8% and 15.9%,respectively.The oldest and the youngest patients was 41 years old and 7 months respectively.[Conclusion]The measles incidence of measles in high age group showed an increasing trend.Besides improving basic immunization and strengthening immunization among children,it is necessary to promote universal inoculation of measles vaccine among adolescents timely for elimination of measles.
On Static Torque Development

This paper is to analysis the torque monitor tool——static torque development,to calculate static torque with SPC theory and to evaluate its rationality from torque monitoring angle.
Radiation Exposure and other Factors that Predispose to Human Thyroid Neoplasia

Radiation exposure is the only known etiologic factor clearly associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer. External beam radiation treatment for medical therapy, acute gamma ray exposure from environmental sources (nuclear weapons, nuclear power plant accidents), and ingestion of short-lived radioactive iodine isotopes are the primary sources of radiation exposure, which increases the risk of benign and malignant thyroid neoplasia. Relative risk is directly proportional to the exposure dose and is inversely proportional to the age at exposure.
Phototoxicity from systemic agents.

A phototoxic reaction is the most common form of photosensitivity induced by an exogenous agent. Diagnosis rests initially upon the clinical recognition of a photodistributed eruption. Further confirmation is possible with the aid of light testing and histopathology. After a critical review of the literature, it is clear that only a few systemic agents have been thoroughly documented to cause phototoxicity reactions. These agents and approaches to therapy are reviewed.
Chronic Opioid Therapy and Central Sensitization in Sickle Cell Disease

Chronic opioid therapy (COT) for chronic non-cancer pain is frequently debated, and its effectiveness is unproven in sickle cell disease (SCD). The authors conducted a descriptive study among 83 adult SCD patients and compared the severity of disease and pain symptoms among those who were prescribed COT (n=29) with those who were not using COT. All patients completed baseline laboratory pain assessment and questionnaires between January 2010 and June 2014. Thereafter, participants recorded daily pain, crises, function, and healthcare utilization for 90 days using electronic diaries. Analyses were conducted shortly after the final diary data collection period. Patients on COT did not differ on age, sex, or measures of disease severity. However, patients on COT exhibited greater levels of clinical pain (particularly non-crisis); central sensitization; and depression and increased diary measures of pain severity, function, and healthcare utilization on crisis and non-crisis diary days, as well as a greater proportion of days in crisis. Including depressive symptoms in multivariate models did not change the associations between COT and pain, interference, central sensitization, or utilization. Additionally, participants not on COT displayed the expected positive relationship between central sensitization and clinical pain, whereas those on COT demonstrated no such relationship, despite having both higher central sensitization and higher clinical pain. Overall, the results point out a high symptom burden in SCD patients on COT, including those on high-dose COT, and suggest that nociceptive processing in SCD patients on COT differs from those who are not.
Foot Shao Yin Kidney Meridian 足少陰腎經穴

Principal acupuncture points of the Foot Shao Yin Kidney Meridian. Foot Shao Yin Kidney Meridian acupuncture points
Reactive Ensemble Monte Carlo Simulations of Silica Polymerization That Yield Zeolites and Related Crystalline Microporous Structures

We have performed replica-exchange reaction ensemble Monte Carlo simulations to study the low-energy crystalline structures of a reactive model of silica. We have utilized a model of silica polymerization based on the reactive assembly of semiflexible tetrahedral units developed by us previously to reproduce silica bulk moduli as well as self-assembly of amorphous silica gels and nanoparticles. Our implementation of replica-exchange Monte Carlo involves simulating several system copies, each with its own value of the equilibrium constant controlling silica condensation/hydrolysis reactions, which are essential for building higher-order network structures and eventually crystals. These replica-exchange simulations were found to traverse energy landscapes from amorphous to crystalline phases, yielding the dense silica polymorphs α-cristobalite, β-cristobalite, and keatite, as well as the nanoporous silica materials SOD and EDI and nanoporous phosphates with DFT and ATT structures. Simulated crystal structur...
Uncertainty Analysis of Wavelet-Based Feature Extraction for Isotope Identification on NaI Gamma-Ray Spectra

Low-resolution isotope identifiers are widely deployed for nuclear security purposes, but these detectors currently demonstrate problems in making correct identifications in many typical usage scenarios. While there are many hardware alternatives and improvements that can be made, performance on existing low-resolution isotope identifiers should be able to be improved by developing new identification algorithms. We have developed a wavelet-based peak extraction algorithm and an implementation of a Bayesian classifier for automated peak-based identification. The peak extraction algorithm has been extended to compute uncertainties in the peak area calculations. To build empirical joint probability distributions of the peak areas and uncertainties, a large set of spectra were simulated in MCNP6 and processed with the wavelet-based feature extraction algorithm. Kernel density estimation was then used to create a new component of the likelihood function in the Bayesian classifier. Identification performance is demonstrated on a variety of real low-resolution spectra, including Category I quantities of special nuclear material.
Young Women's Perceptions Regarding Communication with Healthcare Providers About Breast Cancer, Risk, and Prevention.

Abstract Background: Women younger than 45 years old have lower rates of breast cancer, but higher risk of recurrence and mortality after a cancer diagnosis. African American women are at risk for early onset and increased mortality; Ashkenazi Jewish women are at risk for genetic mutations leading to breast and ovarian cancer. Although younger women are encouraged to talk to doctors about their family history, little is known about these discussions. Materials and Methods: In 2015, 167 women aged 18–44 years participated in 20 focus groups segmented by geographic location, age, race/ethnicity, and family history of breast and ovarian cancer. Transcript data were analyzed using NVivo 10 software. Results: Although the majority of women talked to their doctor about breast and ovarian cancer, these conversations were brief and unsatisfying due to a lack of detail. Topics included family history, breast cancer screening, and breast self-examination. Some women with and without family history reported that hea...
Archaeology and Physical Anthropology: Means to the Same End*

Both archaeology and physical anthropology have often suffered from the same malaise. Techniques have been confused with goals and emphasis has be·en placed upon theaccumulation of data rather than...
Polarization Observables in (p,n) Reactions

In (p, n) reactions, three parameters have been measured that involve polarized incident proton beams, polarized outgoing neutron beams, or both. The present paper will review the data that have been obtained and the conclusions that have been based on that data. The discussion will be limited to experiments blow 30 MeV and therefore will ignore some of the earliest work, that is, the measurements performed at the Rutherford Laboratory with 30 to 200 MeV polarized proton beams. With the advent of polarized proton beams at the Indiana cyclotron, one would expect that this intermediate energy range soon will be active again.
Retrograde Transsynaptic Influences

Retrograde, transsynaptic signaling systems are a common feature of developing neural circuitry. The actions of growth factors, neurotrophins, and morphogen signaling molecules have been well described in the context of neuronal growth and survival. However, additional examples of retrograde transsynaptic signaling exist for which the molecular basis of the retrograde influence is not known. This article covers three fundamental phenomena that seem to require retrograde, transsynaptic signaling. First, retrograde signaling during synapse formation is considered. Retrograde signaling is well established in this context and several molecular players are known, yet the full repertoire of retrograde signaling molecules remains to be defined. Next, two phenomena are discussed that require retrograde signaling of unknown identity. These include the specification of presynaptic release probability during synapse development, and the homeostatic modulation of presynaptic release probability.
Material and Lubricant Relationships in the Tribology of Internal Combustion Engines

Ceramics are being introduced into production engines for both wear resistance and inertial response, as well as for thermal barrier and elevated temperature capability. The selection of both materials and lubricants for future generations of engines will be influenced by the demands for efficient, environmentally sound, and minimally serviced but long-lived operation. The long-term tribological response of the selected materials is a significant issue which does not generally receive sufficient attention. An experimental approach to the evaluation of the long term-wear response of engine candidate ceramics, based on an earlier wear mode transition diagram, is discussed in this paper. Data are presented for initial studies of a silicon carbide whisker-silicon nitride composite.
Investigating the Role of the Faculty Advisor in Doctoral Students' Career Trajectories.

During graduate school, students learn to navigate the workplace that many will seek to enter. For those pursuing an academic career, the faculty advisor is invaluable. Although research has reveal...
Diet composition and habitat use of coyotes on the Chattahoochee National Forest in northeast Georgia

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are a recent addition to southeastern ecosystems and regional studies are needed to understand their ecological role. Most studies from the southeast are concentrated on diets from animals on the coastal plain. Here we report on the diet and habitat use of coyotes on the Chattahoochee National Forest, which is located in northeast Georgia at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains. Seventeen total scat samples were collected from March through May 2014. Habitat types and GPS coordinates of each sample were also recorded. Gray squirrel (65%) was the most common food item and occurred along with plant matter (53%) and arthropod exoskeletons (35%), suggesting that these food items were likely scavenged. Wild hog (18%), identified by adult guard hairs, also appeared to be scavenged. Small mammals and perching birds comprised a large portion of the diets, whereas white-tail deer were rarely recorded. Two competitors, bobcat and gray fox, were also identified in the scat samples. The most common habitat types were edges and logging roads, with little utilization of open hardwoods.
Three Distinct Human Ia Molecules Isolated from a DR5 Homozygous Lymphoblastoid Cell Line

Human Ia molecules have been isolated from the DR5 homozygous cell line Swei by alloantisera, and analyzed by 2-D gel electrophoresis, tryptic peptide mapping, and lectin affinity chromatography. Two distinct α chains and three distinct β chains have been identified. These chains associate to form molecules composed of α1β2, α1β3 and α2β1. The α1β2 + α1β3 molecules bear some oligosaccharide structures not found on the α2β1 molecule.
An Experimental Examination of the Content of Persuasion Letters on Nonresponse Rates and Survey Estimates in a Nonresponse Follow-Up Study

Nonresponse follow-up studies are often conducted to understand whether respondents and nonrespondents di er on survey variables of interest in sample surveys. Methods used to recruit respondents often di er between nonresponse follow-up studies and main studies. One method is persuasion letters sent from study sta to nonrespondents that are tailored to the types of concerns raised by the respondent and recorded in paradata about the survey recruitment process. This study examined whether tailored persuasion letters yield higher response rates in nonresponse follow-up and whether respondents to a nonresponse follow-up di er depending on the content of the persuasion letter. Nonrespondents to the University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study, a survey of adults conducted in 2004 and 2005 in five counties in Michigan, were randomly assigned to either an appeal to help the community or tailored types of persuasion letters. No di erence in response rates to the letter types was found, but meaningful di erences in the survey variables appeared between nonrespondents responding to the follow-up and respondents to the main interview. These di erences also occurred between the two groups receiving di erent types of letters. The community appeal letter appeared to address unvoiced concerns and brought a di erent sample of nonrespondents compared to the tailored letters.
Explanation based Handwriting Verification.

Deep learning system have drawback that their output is not accompanied with ex-planation. In a domain such as forensic handwriting verification it is essential to provideexplanation to jurors. The goal of handwriting verification is to find a measure of confi-dence whether the given handwritten samples are written by the same or different writer.We propose a method to generate explanations for the confidence provided by convolu-tional neural network (CNN) which maps the input image to 15 annotations (features)provided by experts. Our system comprises of: (1) Feature learning network (FLN),a differentiable system, (2) Inference module for providing explanations. Furthermore,inference module provides two types of explanations: (a) Based on cosine similaritybetween categorical probabilities of each feature, (b) Based on Log-Likelihood Ratio(LLR) using directed probabilistic graphical model. We perform experiments using acombination of feature learning network (FLN) and each inference module. We evaluateour system using XAI-AND dataset, containing 13700 handwritten samples and 15 cor-responding expert examined features for each sample. The dataset is released for publicuse and the methods can be extended to provide explanations on other verification taskslike face verification and bio-medical comparison. This dataset can serve as the basis and benchmark for future research in explanation based handwriting verification. The code is available on github.
Experiential Service Learning: Building skills and sensitivity with Kolb’s learning theory

Preparing a healthcare workforce able to respond to the growing complexity of health issues facing older adults is a critical issue for interprofessional educators. Students are in need of experiences promoting confidence and skill in communicating with older adults with cognitive issues. Student emotional and cognitive responses to an interprofessional Music and Memory® project in long term care facilities were evaluated. Forty-eight students met with assigned adults weekly to develop personalized music playlists and complete a journal entry. Student participants demonstrated improved interpersonal connections, enhanced professional skills, and increased empathy toward clients. Results are explored within the context of Kolb's Learning Theory and application of the evaluation outcomes for interprofessional education.