cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrating interprofessional education into suicide prevention training: results from a pilot evaluation.

Suicide prevention training for health professions students is lacking, often occurring in disciplinary silos. The present study reports outcomes from an interprofessional education (IPE)-based suicide prevention course for health professions students across a variety of disciplines (e.g., social work, counseling, public health). Using a quasi-experimental design, students either took part in a fully online or blended version of the course. Primary outcomes included: (1) significant moderate-to-large positive gains in suicide prevention knowledge, perceived clinical care skills, and perceived ability to help self-harming patients; (2) moderate positive shifts in sensitivity to risk factors of those who died by suicide; (3) non-significant impacts on IPE-related outcomes; (4) overall high course satisfaction; and (5) students in the blended course preferred several interactive methods more than students in the online course version (large effects). Recommendations are provided for course revision and future implementation in educational and community-based settings.
Being Perfect: A Lutheran Perspective on Moral Formation:

Jennifer Herdt argues that Luther’s account of human ethical action implies an absolute passivity before God that both leads to psychological paralysis and fails to appreciate the non-competitive n...
Deformation heterogeneity and intragrain lattice misorientation in high strength contrast, dual-phase bridgmanite/periclase

Abstract A bridgmanite/periclase aggregate is investigated due to its prevalence in the Earth’s lower mantle and its importance for understanding geodynamic processes. In dual-phase polycrystalline aggregates, both strength contrast between phases and single crystal elastic and plastic anisotropy are known to influence the development of intragrain misorientation, and the evolution of crystallographic texture. In this study, full-field crystal plasticity simulations are performed with a finite element solution method, and applied to an aggregate of a mechanically strong orthorhombic phase with perovskite structure (bridgmanite, MgSiO3), and a relatively weaker cubic phase (periclase, MgO). The relative strengths of the phases are parameterized to elucidate the effect that strength contrast has on texture evolution and single-phase simulations are performed for comparison. Overall, results indicate that the relative strength between the two phases influences the development of plasticity, and the overall texture evolution. Results are discussed in light of trends related to the evolution of plasticity and misorientation in the aggregate, and their dependence on both the strength contrast between phases as well as the spatial distribution of grains and phases.
Significant Factors in Cranial Remolding Orthotic Treatment of Asymmetrical Brachycephaly.

This retrospective chart review focuses on determining the most effective time to begin cranial remolding orthosis (CRO) treatment for infants with asymmetrical brachycephaly. Subjects with asymmetrical brachycephaly started CRO treatment between 3 and 18 months of age. These infants had a cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) ≥ 3.5 and a cranial index (CI) ≥ 90. Subjects were excluded if they had any comorbidities affecting growth, dropped out of treatment, were lost to follow-up, or were noncompliant. Factors which were found to statistically influence treatment outcomes were subject initial age, initial CVAI, and initial CI. Overall, younger subjects were more likely to achieve a corrected head shape. The presence of prematurity or torticollis had statistically nonsignificant effects on the success of treatment. Initial CI was found to be a stronger predictor than initial CVAI as to which subjects achieved correction. The less severe the starting CI, the more likely the subject was to achieve full correction. The clinical understanding is that it requires more cranial growth to “round out” a full posterior skull flattening than an asymmetry. Based on the study results, infants with asymmetrical brachycephaly should be treated as early as possible to increase chances of achieving full correction of the deformity.
A machine learning approach to emulation and biophysical parameter estimation with the Community Land Model, version 5

Abstract. Land models are essential tools for understanding and predicting terrestrial processes and climate–carbon feedbacks in the Earth system, but uncertainties in their future projections are poorly understood. Improvements in physical process realism and the representation of human influence arguably make models more comparable to reality but also increase the degrees of freedom in model configuration, leading to increased parametric uncertainty in projections. In this work we design and implement a machine learning approach to globally calibrate a subset of the parameters of the Community Land Model, version 5 (CLM5) to observations of carbon and water fluxes. We focus on parameters controlling biophysical features such as surface energy balance, hydrology, and carbon uptake. We first use parameter sensitivity simulations and a combination of objective metrics including ranked global mean sensitivity to multiple output variables and non-overlapping spatial pattern responses between parameters to narrow the parameter space and determine a subset of important CLM5 biophysical parameters for further analysis. Using a perturbed parameter ensemble, we then train a series of artificial feed-forward neural networks to emulate CLM5 output given parameter values as input. We use annual mean globally aggregated spatial variability in carbon and water fluxes as our emulation and calibration targets. Validation and out-of-sample tests are used to assess the predictive skill of the networks, and we utilize permutation feature importance and partial dependence methods to better interpret the results. The trained networks are then used to estimate global optimal parameter values with greater computational efficiency than achieved by hand tuning efforts and increased spatial scale relative to previous studies optimizing at a single site. By developing this methodology, our framework can help quantify the contribution of parameter uncertainty to overall uncertainty in land model projections.
A Highly-Parameterized Ensemble To Play Gin Rummy

This paper describes the design and training of a computer Gin Rummy player. The system includes three main components to make decisions about drawing cards, discarding, and ending the game, with numerous parameters controlling behavior. In particular, an ensemble approach is explored in the discard decision. Finally, three sets of parameter tuning and performance experiments are analyzed.
Large area vertical Ga2O3 Schottky diodes for X-ray detection

Abstract The Schottky barrier diodes were fabricated from a bulk Sn-doped (001) n-type Ga 2O3 substrate with a Si-doped epitaxial layer grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE), which demonstrate a good response to X-rays. Circular metal contacts with diameters ranging from 50 to 1500 μ m and square metal contacts ranging from 100 × 100 μ m 2 to 1600 × 1600 μ m 2 were deposited on the wafer. The devices were characterized for their electrical performance including forward current–voltage (FIV), reverse current–voltage (RIV), and capacitance–voltage (CV) measurements. The best device showed a breakdown voltage of −804 V and the devices tested had an average ideality of 1.12. The devices exhibited a clear response to X-rays even at zero bias with an experimentally observed response time ∼ 1.03 s and a linear response of detector signal to the X-ray dose rate. The experimentally observed device response time improved to ∼ 0.25 s when bias voltage is applied. The device also survived a long-term stability test of over 2 h under a constant X-ray irradiation. The sensitivity and the lower limit of detection for X-ray by Ga2O3 epitaxial Schottky detectors were discussed and determined as 43.5 μ C/mGy cm−2 at −200 V and 8.31 nGy Air /s, respectively.
The Functional Movement Screen and Injury Risk in Sporting Populations: An Evidence-to-Practice Review

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a functional test, which aims to identify dysfunctional, asymmetrical, and painful movements that could contribute to future injuries. Medical professionals can clinically use this information to implement appropriate, specialized prehabilitation training aimed at reducing the dysfunctional, asymmetrical, and painful movements, to help prevent injury risk. Research on this tool, however, has contradictory findings regarding FMS composite score and future risk of injury. It is unclear to what extent FMS can predict those with future injury risk, and whether there are factors, such as age, sex, or sport-type, which may be contributing to these varying findings. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to identify which factors, if any, may contribute to the contradictory findings regarding the relationship between FMS composite score and subsequent injury risk in physically active populations. The review aimed to include any study which performed an FMS test at baseline on physically active individuals competing at any level, and determined risk groups based on composite scores, using odds ratios, sensitivity, and specificity as outcome measures. Subgroups were assessed based on athlete age, sex, sport-type, injury definition and injury mechanism. Reviewed participants were split into two age groups, senior (18+ years old) and junior (9-18 years old) athletes. It was found that age, sex, and sport-type explained some of the variable findings in the literature, however, effect sizes were often small in magnitude. Functional Movement Screen composite scores and asymmetry seemed to be the most useful in estimating injury risk for senior athletes, as well as individuals participating in rugby, American football, and ice hockey. There were many gaps identified in the research that may help get a consensus on optimal populations and uses for FMS. Thus, we recommend utilizing appropriate clinical judgment when determining if FMS would be a beneficial tool for identifying those with higher injury risk at your clinical site and with your patient population.
The Quest for an Operative and Proficient Website for African Newspapers: A Potential Challenge to a One-Way International News Flow?

Informed by the NWICO debate on the need for a two-way information flow in international relations, this paper posits that an efficient African online newspaper could provide an alternate slant to African news in a global arena. A content analysis of the homepage of four African newspaper websites Al Ahram, Independent Online, Vanguard, and the Daily Nation was conducted to determine to what extent they incorporate the following attributes necessary for an efficient webpage: (a) Speed (b) Structure (c) Content, (d) Navigation, and e) Customer focus. Also, these websites were reviewed to determine how they integrate social media networks, specifically Twitter and Facebook. Results show that all four websites met the above five criteria to a reasonable degree and they all employ Twitter and Facebook as means of encouraging active-audience. Regarding content, Al-Ahram has the highest number of news stories at 53, of which 58% were local, 15% were African, and 27% were Non-African. The Daily Nation had a more balanced news distribution, with a total of 40 news stories of which 45% were local, 30% were African, and 25% were Non-African. Independent Online had a total of 43 news stories on its homepage; broken down as 58.2% local, 2.3% African, and 39.5% Non-African. Finally, Vanguard had no international/Non-African news on its homepage. With a total of 22 news stories, 91% were local, covering Nigeria, and 9% were African. Ways that the websites incorporate social media networks are discussed in detail.
Folding of immunogenic peptide fragments of proteins in water solution: I. Sequence requirements for the formation of a reverse turn

Abstract A systematic examination by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance of the population of β-turn-containing conformers in several series of short linear peptides in water solution has demonstrated a dependence on amino acid sequence which has important implications for initiation of protein folding. The peptides consist of a number of variants of the sequence Tyr-Pro-Tyr-Asp, the trans isomer of which was previously shown to contain a reverse turn in water. Two-dimensional rotating-frame nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy provides unequivocal evidence that substantial populations of reverse turn conformations occur in water solutions of certain of these peptides. In the unfolded state, the peptides adopt predominantly extended chain (β) conformations in water. It appears probable from the nuclear Overhauser effect connectivities observed that the reverse turns in the trans isomers are predominantly type II. The low temperature coefficient of the amide proton resonance of the residue at position 4 of the turn suggests the presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond. The presence of the β-turn conformation has been confirmed for certain peptides by circular dichroism measurements. Substitutions at positions 3 and 4 in the sequence Tyr-Pro-Tyr-Asp-Val can enhance or abolish the β-turn population in the trans peptide isomers. The residue at position 3 of the turn is the primary determinant of its stability. A small amount of additional stabilization appears to result from an electrostatic interaction between the side-chain of residue 4 and the unblocked amino terminus. For peptides of the series Tyr-Pro-X-Asp-Val, where X represents all l -amino acids except Trp and Pro, the temperature coefficient of the Asp4 amide proton resonance provides a measure of the β-turn population. The β-turn populations in water solution measured in this way correlate with the β-turn probabilities determined from protein crystal structures. This indicates that it is frequently the local amino acid sequence, rather than medium- to long-range interactions in the folded protein, that determines the β-turn conformation in the folded state. Such sequences are excellent candidates for protein folding initiation sites. A high population of structured forms appears to be present in the cis isomer of certain of the peptides, as shown by a considerable increase in the proportion of the cis isomer and by measurement of nuclear Overhauser effects and 3JNα coupling constants. The predominant structure appears to be a type VI β-turn, with cis-proline at position 3. Estimates of the β-turn population suggest that, in the most favourable peptides, as much as 70% of the cis isomer may exist in type VI turn conformations. The turn population for the trans peptides is smaller, but may be as high as 50% for certain peptides. The observed stability of β-turns in small peptide fragments of proteins suggests that turns are to be expected in polypeptide chains under folding conditions where they may have a profound influence on protein folding pathways.
A pragmatics-based approach to ellipsis resolution

Intersentential elliptical utterances occur frequently during information-seeking dialogs in task domains. This paper presents a pragmatics-based framework for interpreting such utterances. Discourse expectations and focusing heuristics are used to facilitate recognition of an information-seeker's intent in uttering an elliptical fragment. The ellipsis is comprehended by identifying both the aspect of the information-seeker's task-related plan highlighted by the fragment and the conversational discourse goal fulfilled by the utterance. The contribution of this approach is its consideration of pragmatic information, including discourse content and conversational goals, rather than just the precise representation of the preceding utterance.
Spinal Cord Terminations of the Medial Wall Motor Areas in Macaque Monkeys

We used anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase to examine the pattern of spinal termination of efferents from the supplementary motor area (SMA) and the two caudal cingulate motor areas (CMAd and CMAv). Our analysis was limited to cervical segments of the macaque. For comparison, we also examined the pattern of termination of efferents from the primary motor cortex (M1). The SMA, CMAd, CMAv, and M1 all terminate in the ventral horn (lamina IX). Thus, all of these motor areas appear to have direct connections with spinal motoneurons, particularly those innervating muscles of the fingers and wrist. All of the motor areas also terminate in the intermediate zone of the spinal cord (laminae V-VIII). Terminations from the SMA and M1 were densest in three regions: (1) dorsolaterally within laminae V-VII; (2) dorsomedially within lamina VI; and (3) ventromedially within lamina VII and adjacent lamina VIII. In contrast, efferents from the CMAd terminate most densely in the dorsolateral portion of the intermediate zone, whereas those from the CMAv were concentrated in the dorsomedial region. Thus, the CMAd and CMAv may innervate distinct sets of interneurons that project directly to motoneurons, and thereby influence specific aspects of segmental motor control. These results suggest that corticospinal projections from the SMA, CMAd, and CMAv are in many respects similar to those of efferents from M1. Consequently, each of the motor areas on the medial wall has the potential to generate and control movement at the level of the spinal cord and may provide an anatomical substrate for the recovery of motor function that follows damage to M1.
Clinical outcomes and predictors of unprotected left main stem culprit lesions in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: We aimed at comparing the clinical outcomes of the patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to left main coronary arteries (LMCA) and non-LMCA determining the predictors of mortality in the patients. Background: There are few data regarding the midterm prognosis of STEMI due to LMCA as compared with them due to non-LMCA. Methods: A total of 4,697 patients with STEMI (61 patients with LMCA and 4,636 patients with non-LMCA) were enrolled in a nationwide Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI) Registry between November 2005 and September 2009. The primary endpoints was a composite of cardiac death, nonfatal MI, and target lesion and vessel revascularization (TLR/TVR) during a 12-month clinical follow-up. Results: The LMCA group had a higher incidence of total major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) (26.2% vs. 7.8%; P < 0.001) at 12 months, which was largely attributable to cardiac deaths at 1 month (21.3% vs. 3.8%; P < 0.001). Therefore, there was no statistical difference in cardiac deaths, nonfatal MI, TLR/TVR, and MACEs after 1 month between the two groups. Presenting in cardiogenic shock (HR, 4.25; 95% CI, 1.01–17.97; P = 0.049) and heart rate ≥100 bpm (HR, 4.97; 95% CI, 1.18–21.00; P = 0.029) were independent predictors of cardiac death due to LMCA. Conclusion: Patients with STEMI and a LMCA had poor clinical outcomes, which is attributable to hemodynamic deterioration during the periprocedural period. However, after that time, midterm MACEs of the survivors following the periprocedural period may not be different between STEMI due to LMCA and non-LMCA. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
2,2,5,5‐Tetramethyltetrahydro‐3‐ketofuran

2,2,5,5-Tetramethyltetrahydro-3-ketofuran product: 2,2,5,5-tetramethyltetrahydro-3-ketofuran Keywords: addition, to CC; annulation, heterocyclic-[5]; cyclization, miscellaneous
Transport and stability enhancement in interfacially and dimensionally constrained CO2 selective polymers embedded in nanoporous sieve membranes

Abstract Nanocomposite polymer and ultrathin film membranes have shown great promise in enhancing gas permeation and selectivity properties by interfacially straining polymer matrices, yielding structures of higher free volume. However, undesired particle aggregation and short temporal stability remain a big challenge. In the present study, an “inverse” architecture to conventional polymer nanocomposites was investigated, in which the polymer phase poly(l-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) was interfacially and dimensionally constrained in nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. While with this architecture the benefits of nanocomposite and ultrathin film membranes could be reproduced and improved upon, also the temporal stability could be enhanced substantially. Gas permeabilities of helium, nitrogen and carbon dioxide were increased over five-fold, and selectivities of CO2/He and CO2/N2 could be enhanced by 40% compared to the pristine bulk phase, while physical aging, caused by free-volume collapse, was reduced twenty-fold compared to ultrathin membranes.
Classical and nonlinear buckling analyses of spherical sandwich shells

Abstract The buckling and initial postbuckling behavior of clamped shallow spherical sandwich shells with dissimilar face sheets under a uniform pressure is studied. The numerical results show that the buckling and initial post-buckling behavior of clamped shallow spherical sandwich shells with dissimilar face sheets is similar to that of the corresponding homogeneous shell. The classical buckling analysis for spherical sandwich shells under a uniform pressure is also presented. The results indicate that it is possible to obtain the buckling curves of spherical sandwich caps from those of the homogeneous cap using a magnification factor which is obtained via the classical buckling analysis, for large values of the sandwich shell parameter.
On the design of the phase iii drug trial

No new drug can be marketed in the United States unless a favorable risk-benefit ratio has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Food and Drug Administration. Inspection of the fashion in which this is accomplished with reference to rheumatoid arthritis reveals shortcomings in form and substance. Ten issues of design are isolated and options discussed. One design suggested, as a compromise, is 2 20-center trials to supplant late Phase II and Phase III trials. At each center a single investigator evaluates at least a 10-subject, highly selected cohort over 6 months in a 2-drug or a 2-drug plus placebo double-blind format. The active drug versus active drug component of the program will be pivotal in analysis. Advantages include expedience, lower cost, effective detection of short-term stratum-specific toxicity and of investigator bias, and absence of compromise in beta error. With such data and with emphasis on the beta error, the risk-benefit judgment will be more meaningful. Formalized Phase IV monitoring is proposed to detect infrequent or delayed toxicities.
Modeling ion implantation of HgCdTe

Ion implantation of boron is used to create n on p photodiodes in vacancy-doped mercury cadmium telluride (MC.T). The junction is formed by Hg interstitials from the implant damage region diffusing into the MC.T and annihilating Hg vacancies. The resultant doping profile is n+/n-/p, where the n+ region is near the surface and roughly coincides with the implant damage, the n- region is where Hg vacancies have been annihilated revealing a residual grown-in donor, and the p region remains doped by Hg vacancy double acceptors. We have recently developed a new process modeling tool for simulating junction formation in MC.T by ion implantation. The interstitial source in the damage region is represented by stored interstitials whose distribution depends on the implant dose. These interstitials are released into the bulk at a constant, user defined rate. Once released, they diffuse away from the damage region and annihilate any Hg vacancies they encounter. In this paper, we present results of simulations using this tool and show how it can be used to quantitatively analyze the effects of variations in processing conditions, including implant dose, annealing temperature, and doping background.
Ability of okadaic acid and other protein phosphatase inhibitors to mimic the stimulatory effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on hydroperoxide production in mouse epidermis in vivo.

The non-12-O-tetadecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-type tumor promoters, okadaic acid (OA) and calyculin-A (CAL-A), which neither interact with the phorbol ester receptor nor directly activate protein kinase C, mimic the stimulatory effects of and thapsigargin on hydroperoxide (HPx) production in mouse epidermis in vivo. The time course and dose dependency for the stimulation of HPx production by O and TPA are similar. HPx production is maximally stimulated 16 h after two applications of 2 nmol of OA at a 48-h interval. However CAL-A is a stimulator of HPx production about 4 times more potent than OA or TPA. Combinations of TPA and OA or CAL-A have subadditive effects on HPx production. The discrepancies between the abilities of various serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP) inhibitors to stimulate HPx production suggest that PP inhibition alone is not sufficient for this response. Cycloheximide, Ca2+ antagonists, oxypurinol, diphenyliodonium, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, bromophenacyl bromide, antiinflammatory agents, and antihistamines block or decrease OA-stimulated HPx production. Although most of these inhibitors may have more than one action, their effects suggest that protein synthesis, Ca2+, xanthine oxidase and NADPH oxidase activities, the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism, and vascular permeability may be involved in the inflammatory and HPx responses that occur after tumor promoter treatment. The increased HPx-producing activity of the epidermis, therefore, may be a common event resulting from the inflammatory and tumor-promoting actions of diverse TPA-and non-TPA-type agents.
Common Core and the Uncommon Learner: How Autism Affects Acquisition of Common Core State Standards

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS 2014a, b) are here to stay. State and local education agencies are responsible for ensuring that schools teach all students the core standards that they will need in college and the work force. However, the ever-growing population of students on the autism spectrum has unique learning needs which may make it more difficult for them to achieve these standards. This article examines the core characteristics of autism as they are described in the California Code of Regulations (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004), the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (APA 2013), and current theories. These characteristics will be held up to the CCSS to identify areas of potential deficit and to explore interventions, accommodations, and modifications designed to enhance access to the general curriculum. These supports are aimed at allowing uncommon learners on the autism spectrum who require minimal support, substantial support, and very substantial support to achieve Common Core State Standards alongside their typically developing peers.
The Role of Procedural Controls in the Ergonomics Rulemaking

Few, if any, regulations over the past decade have received the publicity or engendered the controversy of OSHA's ergonomics regulation. Some may see the ergonomics rule as the paradigmatic instance of procedural hurdles holding up and eventually destroying a regulation. The purpose of this article is to examine the role that procedure played in the ergonomics rulemaking and to generate hypotheses about how procedural controls work in general. To draw lessons from the ergonomics rulemaking I have conducted analyses of the four publicly available versions and conducted interviews with seven high ranking officials at OSHA and the Small Business Administration. I find that of the procedural hurdles faced by OSHA, the notice and comment requirement had the largest impact on the final rule. OMB review and requirements to conduct a cost benefit analysis served largely as a fire alarm to political overseers and the required small business panel had largely symbolic effects. The more traditional control of Congressional budgetary oversight had the greatest effect by delaying the rule for three years which eventually doomed OSHA's attempts to regulate.
Texture analysis improves level set segmentation of the anterior abdominal wall

Purpose: The treatment of ventral hernias (VH) has been a challenging problem for medical care. Repair of these hernias is fraught with failure; recurrence rates ranging from 24% to 43% have been reported, even with the use of biocompatible mesh. Currently, computed tomography (CT) is used to guide intervention through expert, but qualitative, clinical judgments, notably, quantitative metrics based on image-processing are not used. The authors propose that image segmentation methods to capture the three-dimensional structure of the abdominal wall and its abnormalities will provide a foundation on which to measure geometric properties of hernias and surrounding tissues and, therefore, to optimize intervention. Methods: In this study with 20 clinically acquired CT scans on postoperative patients, the authors demonstrated a novel approach to geometric classification of the abdominal. The authors’ approach uses a texture analysis based on Gabor filters to extract feature vectors and follows a fuzzy c-means clustering method to estimate voxelwise probability memberships for eight clusters. The memberships estimated from the texture analysis are helpful to identify anatomical structures with inhomogeneous intensities. The membership was used to guide the level set evolution, as well as to derive an initial start close to the abdominal wall. Results: Segmentation results on abdominal walls were both quantitatively and qualitatively validated with surface errors based on manually labeled ground truth. Using texture, mean surface errors for the outer surface of the abdominal wall were less than 2 mm, with 91% of the outer surface less than 5 mm away from the manual tracings; errors were significantly greater (2–5 mm) for methods that did not use the texture. Conclusions: The authors’ approach establishes a baseline for characterizing the abdominal wall for improving VH care. Inherent texture patterns in CT scans are helpful to the tissue classification, and texture analysis can improve the level set segmentation around the abdominal region.
PHY-based cooperative key generation in wireless networks

The impact of relay nodes on the secret key generation via the physical layer resources is investigated. A novel relay-assisted strategy is proposed to improve the generated secret key rate. The main idea is to exploit the random channels associated with relay nodes in the network as additional random sources for the key generation. This approach is particularly useful when the channels between legitimate nodes change slowly. Three increasingly sophisticated yet more practical scenarios are studied, for which relay-assisted key generation protocols are proposed and are shown to be optimal or order-optimal in terms of the key rate. It is also shown that the presence of relay node increases the multiplexing gain. This is in sharp contrast to scenarios with relay helping information transmission, in which the relay node does not increase the multiplexing. Furthermore, a cooperative scheme is also proposed in which relays help key generation but the generated keys are kept secure from these relays.
Trophic protection of motor neurons: clinical potential in motor neuron diseases.

Recent advances in understanding the physiologic role of nerve growth factor (NGF), obtained both from tissue culture and efficacy studies in animals, have suggested that neurotrophic factors may have clinical potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases or nerve trauma [12, 21]. First characterized as a target-derived survival factor for developing sympathetic and sensory neurons, it is now clear that NGF plays an important role in the maintenance and regeneration of mature peripheral neurons. Prompted by in vitro findings, it was established in the mid-1980's that intracerebroventricular infusions of NGF are capable of rescuing basal forebrain cholineric neurons from axotomy-induced cell death produced by fimbria-fornix lesion. Given that degeneration of cholinergic neurons is a major contributing factor in the loss of cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease, there has been a great deal of interest in exploring the therapeutic potential of NGF in this disease [16]. The highly restricted specificity of NGF for sympathetic neurons, sub-populations of neural crest-derived sensory neurons and striatal and basal forebrain cholinergic neurons has for almost two decades spurred the search for other neurotrophic factors with specificities directed to the many classes of neurons which do not respond to NGF. The biology of the recently discovered NGF-related family of neurotrophic factors, the neurotrophins and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), and their receptors, offers new prospects for the therapeutic potential of neurotrophic factors in the motor neuron diseases.
Dietary fat saturation distinctly affects apolipoprotein gene expression and high density lipoprotein size distribution in two strains of Golden Syrian hamsters

Abstract Plasma lipoprotein levels, high density lipoprotein (HDL) particle size distribution and tissue mRNA levels for several apolipoproteins were determined in two strains of Golden Syrian hamsters characterized as high (F1B) or low (LVG) responders to atherogenic diets. Twenty-four male hamsters per strain were fed semipurified diets containing 0.2 g/100 g diet cholesterol and 15 g/100 g diet fat enriched (13 g/100 g) with either coconut oil or soybean oil for 18 weeks. HDL size was analyzed by non-denaturing gradient (4–30%) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and categorized into four HDL subspecies according to Stoke’s diameter. Hepatic and intestinal mRNA apolipoprotein concentrations were measured using solution hybridization/ribonuclease protection assay. Compared to F1B hamsters, the LVG hamsters showed a less atherogenic lipoprotein profile; with lower triglycerides (P
Price, promotion, and availability of nutrition information: a descriptive study of a popular fast food chain in New York City.

Legislation in NYC requires chain restaurants to post calorie information on menu boards in an effort to help consumers make more informed decisions about food and beverage items they are purchasing. While this is a step in the right direction in light of the current obesity epidemic, there are other issues that warrant attention in a fast food setting, namely the pricing of healthy food options, promotional strategies, and access to comprehensive nutrition information. This study focused on a popular fast-food chain in NYC. The study’s aims were threefold: (1) to determine the cost differential between the healthiest meal item on the chain’s general menu and meal items available specifically on a reduced cost menu for one dollar (US$1.00); (2) to identify and describe the promotions advertised in the windows of these restaurants, as well as the nutrition content of promoted items; and (3) to ascertain availability of comprehensive nutrition information to consumers within the restaurants. We found the healthiest meal item to be significantly higher in price than less nutritious meal items available for $1.00 (t = 146.9, p < .001), with the mean cost differential equal to $4.33 (95% CI $4.27, $4.39). Window promotions generally advertised less healthful menu items, which may aid in priming customers to purchase these versus more healthful options. Comprehensive nutrition information beyond calorie counts was not readily accessible prior to purchasing. In addition to improving access to comprehensive nutrition information, advertising more of and lowering the prices of nutritious options may encourage consumers to purchase healthier foods in a fast food setting. Additional research in this area is needed in other geographic locations and restaurant chains.
Plate tectonics: Lost sea floor

The configurations of ancient tectonic plates are difficult to reconstruct. Seismic images of deep subducted plates, combined with data from ancient volcanic arcs, help to derive a tectonic map of the Pacific Ocean as it was 200 million years ago.
ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODE EFFECT ON PICKLEWORM (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE) UNDER LABORATORY AND FIELD CONDITIONS

Laboratory and field tests were performed to assess the potential of entomopathogenic nematodes from the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis as biological control agents for the pickleworm, Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll). In the laboratory, there were significant differences in virulence among five nematode species, based on the lack of overlap of95% FL of LC50. S. carpocapsae (Weiser) (Mexican strain) had the lowest LC50 and was ≍2, 4, 30, and 38 times more pathogenic than H. bacteriophora Poinar (HP88 strain), S. feltiae (Filipjev), S. glaseri (Steiner), and S. anomali (Kozodoi), respectively. Nematode infectivity (number of nematodes in the host) was positively correlated with mortality. Larval mortality and penetration rate of infective juveniles into the host were positively correlated to host exposure time for S. carpocapsae (Mexican strain), S. feltiae , and H. bacteriophora . Nematode species that were smaller were more infective and induced mortality more quickly. Nematodes did not affect first instars and pupae to the same extent as older larvae and prepupae; pupae were particularly refractory. S. carpocapsae (All strain) applied to squash plants were able to enter blossoms, where they persisted and infected pickleworms. Nematode applications reduced damage to blossoms and fruit and, when applied weekly at 2.5 billion/ha, protected squash fruit at a level equivalent to the insecticide permethrin.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Is the Major Angiogenic Factor in Omentum: Mechanism of the Omentum-Mediated Angiogenesis

Abstract Omentum has been used clinically to promote wound healing and to stimulate the revascularization of ischemic tissues. The biologic mechanism responsible for these effects has, however, not yet been defined. A number of polypeptide growth factors that possess potent angiogenic properties have recently been identified, and we therefore sought to determine whether one of these growth factors might be responsible for the angiogenic properties of the omentum. The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein in a number of rat tissues and organs were analyzed by Western and enzyme immunoassay analysis. Because omentum was found to have the greatest VEGF concentrations of the tissues examined, antibody neutralization, transcription inhibition assays, and Northern blot analysis were performed under hypoxic and normoxic conditions on tissue extractions and primary tissue cultures of omentum to further characterize the functional significance of VEGF expression in these tissues. The omentum demonstrated the highest VEGF secretion rate as well as the highest concentration of VEGF protein of the various rat tissues and organs examined. Fractionation studies of the omentum furthermore demonstrated that omental adipocytes, rather than the stromal–vascular cells, were the primary source of VEGF protein. An endothelial cell mitogenic assay showed that a major portion of the mitogenic activity of heparin-binding proteins and conditioned media derived from omentum was abolished by VEGF antibody. Additional studies with the transcription inhibitor actinomycin-D furthermore demonstrated that the VEGF gene was continuously transcribed in the rat omental adipocytes. Incubation of the omental adipocytes under hypoxic conditions induced approximately a 1.7-fold increase in VEGF protein expression, which was abolished by actinomycin-D. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that hypoxia resulted in upregulation of the VEGF mRNA in the hypoxia-cultured omental adipocytes, suggesting that the augmentation of VEGF expression in omental adipocytes by hypoxia occurs at the transcriptional level. These data suggest that VEGF is the major angiogenic factor produced by omentum and possibly underlies the mechanism of omentum-induced angiogenesis. Augmented expression of VEGF by omental cells under hypoxic conditions may furthermore reflect the mechanism responsible for enhancing the angiogenic activity of omentum in the setting of ischemia.
Early expression of Osteopontin in the chick is restricted to rhombomeres 5 and 6 and to a subpopulation of neural crest cells that arise from these segments.

BACKGROUND Osteopontin previously has been shown to be expressed in the early notochord and rostral hindbrain during formation of the rat neuraxis. Both of these sites are known to have important organizing capacities associated with the expression of a number of transcription factors and secreted signaling molecules. Thus multiple types of molecules are involved in neuraxis patterning. Osteopontin is an extracellular matrix molecule, whose expression within the early hindbrain and notochord suggests that it too could play a role in patterning of the neuraxis. METHODS By wholemount in situ hybridization, we analyzed osteopontin expression in the chick embryo at Hamburger and Hamilton (HH) stages 5-15, and patterns of expression were compared to those of other hindbrain and neural crest cell markers. Early developmental expression was further examined in the rat by wholemount in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Our results have demonstrated that whereas notochord expression of osteopontin is not conserved between rat and chick, expression was clearly present in the chick caudal hindbrain between HH stages 9 and 11. In the chick, osteopontin expression was restricted to rhombomeres 5 and 6 and to a subpopulation of neural crest cells arising from these rhombomeres, up to HH stage 13. Osteopontin expression was present in a cranial-to-caudal gradient, and in the dorsoventral plane, expression was absent from both the floor plate and roof plate, with the exception of occasional cells within the roof plate. CONCLUSIONS Localized expression in the 5th and 6th rhombomeres suggests that osteopontin may have a role in patterning of postotic neural crest cells that arise from these segments of the hindbrain. In addition, comparison of our current data with those obtained earlier in the rat suggests that there are significant differences either between the developmental role(s) of osteopontin in the chick and in the rat, or between osteopontin gene products in the two species.
Mortality of Palmetto Bass Following Catch-and-Release Angling

Abstract Palmetto bass (Striped Bass Morone saxatilis × White Bass M. chrysops) have been stocked into reservoirs in the southeastern USA since the late 1960s and have gained widespread acceptance as a sport fish. These fisheries are growing in popularity and catch-and-release (CR) fishing is commonplace; however, there is a dearth of information on CR mortality of palmetto bass. We experimentally angled palmetto bass (n = 56; >373-mm TL) in a Tennessee reservoir using traditional angling gear in water temperatures ranging from 13°C to 32°C. Ultrasonic transmitters equipped with floats were externally attached to fish, which were released immediately and tracked multiple times within 10 d of release. Mortality was negligible (3.6%) in fall and spring at cool water temperatures but was high (39.3%) in summer when water temperatures exceeded 26°C. The best logistic regression model based on Akaike's information criterion for small sample sizes scores relied on water temperature alone to predict CR mortality...
TAPPING REGIONAL AND CORPORATE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE FOR INNOVATION: THE MODERATING ROLE OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE DURATION

We develop and test how business entities tap regional and corporate scientific knowledge for their innovations in a revolutionary technology. Building on the knowledge-based view of the firm, we argue that while both regional and corporate scientific knowledge may improve a business entity's innovation, it is the business entity's own accumulative research efforts that improve its ability to absorb regional scientific knowledge. In contrast, we expect and find that the longer the entity has been researching the revolutionary technology, the less likely corporate scientific knowledge will impact the focal entity's innovation. Our results support this theory regarding the moderating effect of a business entity's own accumulative research efforts with corporate scientific knowledge but not with regional knowledge. Further, we find different effects between regional scientific knowledge and innovation among single and multi-location firms.
Rabbit Thyroid Autoantibody Produced by Intravenous Injections of Papain-Treated Rabbit Thyroid Extract

SummaryCirculating autoantibodies were produced in rabbits by repeated intravenous injections of papain-digested rabbit thyroid extract. Control experiments indicated that neither papain nor rabbit thyroid extract alone would induce these autoantibodies. The antibodies were shown to be organ-specific but not species-specific, and resembled closely those antibodies produced by injection of untreated rabbit thyroid extract emulsified in Freund adjuvant.
On Boundary Value Problems of the Ideal-Fluid Thermocline

Abstract Recent developments of ideal-fluid thermocline models are briefly reviewed. Using density coordinates, boundary value problems are formulated for the ideal-fluid thermocline with continuous stratification. Ekman pumping and surface density are specified as the upper boundary conditions. No flow is permitted through the ocean's eastern boundary nor its bottom. Each water column is divided into three parts, i.e., the stagnant abyssal water with specified stratification the unventilated thermocline with its potential vorticity specified, and the ventilated thermocline with its potential vorticity determined by a global dynamic balance. The unventilated thermocline is further divided into the shallow and deep parts, potential vorticity is specified a priori for the latter, however, for the former, potential vorticity has to be chosen in the process of calculating the solution so as to make the solution self-consistent. Numerical integration of the ideal-fluid thermocline equations is reduced to repea...
The biosynthesis of cell wall carbohydrates; glucose-C14 as a cellulose precursor in wheat plants.

The formation of cellulose in wheat plants has been studied using as precursors glucose-1-C14, sorbitol-1-C14, and succinic acid-2,3-C14, which were administered to the plant aseptically by injecti...
Integration of manipulator joint sensor information for robust robot control

In the present paper, we propose a method which efficiently uses multi-sensor information to obtain a more precise description of joint position and velocity and allows for a robust control system free from the affects of spurious sensor observation and impervious to single sensor failure. Simulation results demonstrate that the techniques works well.
Correlations between two-body and three-body abrasion and erosion of metals

Abstract The effects of various variables on the wear resistance of different pure metals are compared for two-body abrasion, three-body abrasion and erosion. The variables studied are the annealed hardness of the worn metal, the increase in hardness of the worn metal before the wear process due to work hardening and heat treatment, the applied load, the distance travelled, the abrasive particle size and the abrasive hardness. It was found that the effects of most of these variables are similar for the three different wear processes.