cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of a novel protein synthesis inhibitor active against gram-positive bacteria.

In an effort to identify novel antibacterial chemotypes, we performed a whole-cell screen for inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus growth and pursued those compounds with previously uncharacterized antibacterial activity. This process resulted in the identification of a benzothiazolium salt, ABTZ-1, that displayed potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive pathogens. Several clinically desirable qualities were demonstrated for ABTZ-1 including potent activity against multidrugresistant clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), retention of this activity in human serum, and low hemolytic activity. The antibacterial activity of ABTZ-1 was attributed to its inhibition of bacterial translation, as this compound prevented the incorporation of [ 35 S]methionine into S. aureus proteins, and ABTZ1-resistant strains were cross-resistant to known inhibitors of bacterial translation. ABTZ-1 represents a promising new class of antibacterial agents.
Comments on Shinichi Izumi and Martha Bigelow's “Does Output Promote Noticing in Second Language Acquisition?”

* Shinichi Izumi and Martha Bigelow's article, "Does Output Promote Noticing in Second Language Acquisition?" (Vol. 34, No. 2, Summer 2000), effectively and convincingly raises important issues surrounding the role of learners' attention to both input and output and how such attention may enable "better and faster learning of form" (p. 240). This issue is at the crux of second language acquisition (SLA) pedagogy, and such research has ramifications for how classroom interaction with
Cluster-Based Reputation and Trust for Wireless Sensor Networks

Using a reputation-based trust framework for wireless sensor networks we introduce a mechanism that prevents the election of compromised or malicious nodes as cluster heads, through trust based decision making. We employ a secure cluster formation algorithm to facilitate the establishment of trusted clusters via pre-distributed keys. Reputation and trust is built over time and allow the continuation of trusted cluster heads elections. We performed an evaluation of our approach through simulations. The results indicate clear advantages of our approach in protecting the information of our network by preventing the election of untrustworthy cluster heads.
Benefits and Challenges of Early Introduction of Left Ventricular Assist Device Placement: A Patient-Centered Perspective∗

Several studies describe the benefits of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy for the “sickest of the sick” heart failure (HF) patients with INTERMACS (Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support) profiles 1 to 3, for whom therapeutic options have been exhausted
Informing EMR System Design through Investigation of Paper-Based Work Practices in a Non-profit Clinic Serving a Vulnerable Population

We conducted a field study in a non-profit resource-scarce primary care clinic to investigate its current paper-based practices. The goal is to inform the design and deployment of an impending Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system at the clinic. The clinic serves a local vulnerable, low-income population who are insured through local community health plans. We identified problems encountered by the providers in their use of the current paper-based system. We also found that providers customized their work practices so that they can serve the underserved population better. Based on the tacit knowledge that they acquired in the workplace over time, they adapted their patient care to align with the patients' prescribed health benefits. In this way, the patients were able to receive timely and proper medical care. We also propose technological recommendations for the impending EMR system to address the problems with current practices and to support the adapted practices specifically customized for the low socioeconomic patients.
Synthetic Dicer-Substrate siRNAs as Triggers of RNA Interference

The first synthetic oligonucleotides used to suppress gene expression in mammalian cells via RNA interference were 21-nucleotide (nt) RNA duplexes having symmetric 2-nt 3′-overhangs and were designed to mimic the natural products of Dicer processing of long RNA substrates. Synthetic RNA duplexes which are longer than 23-nt length are substrates for processing by Dicer and can show increased potency as artificial triggers of RNA interference, particularly at a low concentration. Longer duplexes, however, can have variable cleavage patterns following Dicer processing which can adversely affect potency. Optimized synthetic Dicer substrates are asymmetric duplexes having a 25-nt passenger strand and a 27-nt guide strand with a single 2-nt 3′-overhang on the guide strand and modified bases at the 3′-end of the passenger strand. This modified design results in predictable patterns of Dicer processing and shows improved activity. The development of this design strategy and use of Dicer-substrate RNAs to trigger gene suppression in a variety of systems will be reviewed in this chapter.
Mafic replenishments into floored silicic magma chambers

Commingling between contemporaneous mafic and felsic magmas is now widely recognized in a broad range of intrusions and intrusive complexes. These interactions are important features for two main of reasons: (1) the rapidly chilled margins of mafic magma against silicic magma commonly preserve the compositions of mafic liquids, and (2) because the mafic magma solidifies rapidly, the resulting (final) configurations of mafic and felsic magmas can provide insights into physical processes and changing viscosity contrasts and rheologies of magmas and felsic crystal mush during crystallization of the mafic magma. Mingling of contrasted magmas was first recognized in the 1950s. Wider recognition of interactions between mafic and silicic liquids led to concepts of “net-veining” in the 1960s, “intramagmatic flows” (chilled basaltic layers separated by felsic cumulates) in the 1970s, and in the 1990s to “mafic-silicic layered intrusions” (MASLI), which could be as much as a few kilometers thick and more than 100 km2 in area. It was quickly appreciated that these MASLI preserved stratigraphic records of mafic replenishments into silicic magma chambers floored by felsic crystal mush. Volcanic studies had anticipated the occurrence of this last type of intrusion on the grounds that extensive ponding of basaltic magmas beneath silicic chambers was seen to be essential to keep large silicic systems like Yellowstone active for millions of years. This paper looks at the history of changing perceptions and interpretations of magma mingling and whether or not “sill complexes” are distinct from mafic-silicic layered intrusions. The stratigraphy of mafic-silicic layered intrusions records changing magmatic compositions, events, and processes in a temporal framework comparable to that provided by coeval volcanic rocks. As a result, careful study of MASLI has great potential for linking plutonic and volcanic processes and events.
A phase I trial of the hemiasterlin analogue E7974 administered IV to patients with solid malignancies.

A155 Background: The natural marine product hemiasterlin has potent in vitro anti-cancer activity and acts via a tubulin-based anti-mitotic mechanism. E7974, a synthetic analog of hemasterlin, has an improved in vivo efficacy and toxicity profile compared with the original hemiasterlin. In vitro studies with E7974 demonstrate preferential binding to the α tubulin subunit with minor binding to the β subunit. Unlike taxanes and vincas, E7974 is a poor substrate for the PgP drug efflux pump, potentially overcoming this common mechanism of drug resistance. Methods: The purpose of this Phase I study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of E7974 administered IV weekly over 2-5 minutes on Days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. After determining the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the administration schedule of E7974 was changed to Days 1 and 8 on a 21-day cycle in an attempt to reduce hematologic toxicity and to improve dose-intensity. Results: To date, 24 patients (14 male,10 female) with a median age of 58 years (range 33-78) have completed 41 cycles of E7974 over 3 dose levels and 2 dosing schedules (0.15, 0.21 and 0.29 mg/m2 weekly x 3 q 28 days and 0.15 mg/m2 weekly x 2 q 21 days). Main tumor types included colorectal (9 patients), breast (4 patients), prostate (2 patients), and larynx (2 patients) carcinomas. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was encountered at the 0.29 mg/m2 dose level, with one patient experiencing grade 4 neutropenia after day 8. Expansion of the previous dose level (0.21 mg/m2) resulted in grade 4 neutropenic fever in one patient, and two others experiencing protracted grade 2-3 neutropenia beyond cycle 1. Five additional patients were treated at the 0.15 mg/m2 dose level without DLT. The MTD was declared at 0.15 mg/m2. An additional 11 patients were added to the MTD cohort for confirmation of tolerability and PK; no DLT or dose delays were observed in 17 evaluable patients. Other mild to moderate (grade 1-2) drug-related toxicities observed in the weekly x 3 q 28 days schedule included fatigue, nausea, vomiting, constipation, neuropathy, and myalgias. The PK profile of E7974 of the first 21 patients demonstrated moderate to large distribution (Vss = 50 - 133 L), slow clearance (CL = 1.4 - 9 L/hr) and moderate to slow elimination (t1/2= 6.3 - 31 hr). Approximately 34 - 84% of the administered dose was recovered unchanged in the urine 48 hours post-dose. One patient with colorectal cancer experienced stable disease for 24 weeks. On the Days 1 and 8 q 21-day administration schedule, the dose level of 0.15 mg/m2 has been explored without DLTs in 3 patients. Conclusions: E7974 on a weekly x 3 q 28 days schedule appears well tolerated at doses up to 0.15 mg/m2. Neutropenia was the main dose-limiting toxicity. Enrollment is ongoing for dosing on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day schedule.
The role of fibronectin binding proteins in the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Purpose of reviewStaphylococcus aureus produces two closely-related fibronectin-binding proteins (FnBPs) that facilitate attachment by this versatile pathogen. Recent studies of staphylococcal FnBP have increased our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that are critical in bacterial-host cell
The presence of insulin in chicken tissues.

Koppanyi, Ivy, Tatum and Jung1 recently found that when the pancreas of the chicken is removed, a Von Mering-Minkowski diabetes mellitus is present for seven or eight days only. After this period the blood sugar returns to normal and sugar disappears from the urine.Since it was not known whether or not the pancreas and other tissues of the chicken contained insulin, it was decided to assay some of the tissues of the normal chicken for insulin content. Such knowledge would be necessary before one could arrive at any interpretation of the insulin content of the tissues of depan-creatised chickens. Also, this question is involved in any explanation that might be offered for the above strange and interesting observation.Through the co-operation of Dr. Jones and Mr. Templeton of the Research Division of Swift and Company, we were able to remove the pancreas, liver and kidneys from one hundred chickens within one hour after death.Insulin was prepared from these tissues by Fisher's2 modification of the Doisy-Sha...
Comparative Infectivities of Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus Isolates from North America, Europe, and Asia

Biological activities of 19 geographical isolates of Lymantria dispar (L.) nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV) were determined in the laboratory. LC50 values varied from 1.7 × 103 polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIB)/ml to greater than 5 × 106 PIB/ml. Twelve statistically different activity levels were observed. The North American isolates were generally most active, whereas the least active isolate originated from Asia (Japan). The North American isolates varied in activity by 16-fold, whereas the European isolates varied by only 6-fold. Five isolates were more active than the Connecticut standard. NPV isolates from Romania, Spain, Yugoslavia,the Soviet Union, Japan, and the United States were passed serially through L. dispar larvae. Although the activity of the American isolate did not change, activities of all other isolate increased significantly by the fourth passage. In general, activities became stabilized from the second to the fourth passage and were comparable to that of the American standard.
Resistance of Musca domestica in Xianyang city

Objective To identify Musca domestica insecticide resistance in Xianyang city for proper application of insecticides.Methods Topical dropping method was used to determine the LD_(50).Results The LD_(50) values of DDVP,betacypermethrin, deltamethrin and propoxur for M.domestica were 0.019,0.098,0.013 and 6.627μg/♀,respectively.The resistances ratios(R/S) to four insecticides were 4.71,31.92,20.63 and 31.02,respectively.Conclusion The resistance of M.domestica in Xianyang city to four insecticides in Xianyang city has developed to varying degrees,particularly that to beta- cypermethrin and propoxur.Development of resistance may be due to improper administration of insecticides in the agricultural and construction areas.Additional resistance monitoring,proper use of insecticides and comprehensive vector control strategies are key to preventing the occurrence of drug resistance in these vectors.
Inhibition of glucose transport in human red blood cells by adenosine antagonists

Previous studies have suggested that adenosine antagonists can interfere with normal glucose uptake in perfused rat heart. In the present studies, fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to study the effect of the adenosine antagonist, BW-A1433U, on the equilibrium exchange of fluorinated glucose analogs in human erythrocytes. Studies of the equilibrium exchange of both 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose and 3-fluoro-3-deoxy-D-glucose with either one-dimensional magnetization transfer or two-dimensional exchange spectroscopy were performed, and significant inhibition was observed in all cases. From concentration-dependent studies, an inhibition constant for the equilibrium exchange measured at 37 degrees C of 24 microM was determined.
SILVERBACK+: scalable association mining via fast list intersection for columnar social data

We present Silverback+, a scalable probabilistic framework for accurate association rule and frequent item-set mining of large-scale social behavioral data. Silverback+ tackles the problem of efficient storage utilization and management via: (1) probabilistic columnar infrastructure and (2) using Bloom filters and sampling techniques. In addition, probabilistic pruning techniques based on Apriori method are developed, for accelerating the mining of frequent item-sets. The proposed target-driven techniques yield a significant reduction of the size of the frequent item-set candidates, as well as the required number of repetitive membership checks through a novel list intersection algorithm. Extensive experimental evaluations demonstrate the benefits of this context-aware consideration and incorporation of the infrastructure limitations when utilizing the corresponding research techniques. When compared to the traditional Hadoop-based approach for improving scalability by straightforwardly adding more hosts, Silverback+ exhibits a much better runtime performance, with negligible loss of accuracy.
Efficient and Extensible Workflow: Reliable Whole Brain Segmentation for Large-Scale, Multi-center Longitudinal Human MRI Analysis Using High Performance/Throughput Computing Resources

Advances in medical image applications have led to mounting expectations in regard to their impact on neuroscience studies. In light of this fact, a comprehensive application is needed to move neuroimaging data into clinical research discoveries in a way that maximizes collected data utilization and minimizes the development costs. We introduce BRAINS AutoWorkup, a Nipype based open source MRI analysis application distributed with BRAINSTools suite (http://brainsia.github.io/BRAINSTools/). This work describes the use of efficient and extensible automated brain MRI analysis workflow for large-scale multi-center longitudinal studies. We first explain benefits of our extensible workflow development using Nipype, including fast integration and validation of recently introduced tools with heterogeneous software infrastructures. Based on this workflow development, we also discuss our recent advancements to the workflow for reliable and accurate analysis of multi-center longitudinal data. In addition to Nipype providing a unified workflow, its support for High Performance Computing (HPC) resources leads to a further increased time efficiency of our workflow. We show our success on a few selected large-scale studies, and discuss future direction of this translation research in medical imaging applications.
Completely Bounded Maps and Operator Algebras: Arveson's Extension Theorems

In this chapter we extend the results of Chapter 6 from finite-dimensional ranges M n to maps with range B(H) . We then develop the immediate applications of the extension theorems to dilation theory. We begin with some observations of a general functional-analytic nature. Let X and Y be Banach spaces, let Y * denote the dual of Y , and let B(X, Y *) denote the bounded linear transformations of X into Y *. We wish to construct a Banach space such that B(X, Y *) is isometrically isomorphic to its dual. This will allow us to endow B(X, Y *) with a weak* topology. Fix vectors x in X and y in Y , and define a linear functional x ⊗ y on B(X, Y *) by x ⊗ y(L) = L(x)(y) . Since | x ⊗ y(L) | ≤ || L ||·|| x ||·|| y ||, we see that x ⊗ y is in B(X, Y *)* with || x ⊗ y || ≤ || x || || y ||. In fact, || x ⊗ y || = || x || || y || (Exercise 7.1). It is not difficult to check that the above definition is bilinear, i.e., x ⊗ ( y 1 + y 2 ) = x ⊗ y 1 + x ⊗ y 2 , ( x 1 + x 2 ) ⊗ y = x 1 ⊗ y + x 2 ⊗ y , and (λ x ) ⊗ y = x ⊗ (λ y ) = λ( x ⊗ y ) for λ ∈. We let Z denote the closed linear span in B(X, Y *)* of these elementary tensors. Actually, Z can be identified as the completion of X ⊗ Y with respect to a cross-norm (Exercise 7.1), but we shall not need that fact here.
Cracking of Polycrystalline Graphene on Copper under Tension

Roll-to-roll manufacturing of graphene is attractive because of its compatibility with flexible substrates and its promise of high-speed production. Several prototype roll-to-roll systems have been demonstrated, which produce large-scale graphene on polymer films for transparent conducting film applications.1−4 In spite of such progress, the quality of graphene may be influenced by the tensile forces that are applied during roll-to-roll transfer. To address this issue, we conducted in situ tensile experiments on copper foil coated with graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition, which were carried out in a scanning electron microscope. Channel cracks, which were perpendicular to the loading direction, initiated over the entire graphene monolayer at applied tensile strain levels that were about twice the yield strain of the (annealed) copper. The spacing between the channel cracks decreased with increasing applied strain, and new graphene wrinkles that were parallel to the loading direction appeared. Thes...
Path-based constraints for accurate scene reconstruction from aerial video

This paper discusses the constraints imposed by the path of a moving camera in multi-view sequential scene reconstruction scenarios such as in aerial video, which allow for an efficient detection and correction of inaccuracies in the feature tracking and structure computation processes. The main insight is that for short, planar segments of a continuous camera trajectory, parallax movement corresponding to a viewed scene point should ideally form a scaled and translated version of this trajectory when projected onto a parallel plane. Two inter-camera and intra-camera constraints arise, which create a prediction of where all feature tracks should be located given the consensus information of all accurate tracks and cameras, which allows for the detection and correction of inaccurate feature tracks, as well as a very simple update of scene structure. This procedure differs from classical approaches such as factorization and RANSAC. In both aerial video and turntable sequences, the use of such constraints was proven to correct outlier tracks, detect and correct tracking drift, allow for a simple updating of scene structure, and improve bundle adjustment convergence.
Maximum Power and Biology

Neither the first nor the second laws of thermodynamics address the rate at which energy transformations or processes occur. But the rate of energy use is critically important, as is obvious in a foot race.
Two Stairways to Socialism: Soviet Youth Activists in Polish Spaces, 1957–1964

The Second World under Stalin involved distinctly homogeneous organization of outdoor and interior spaces. Yet after 1956, in context of more flexible Soviet policies and intensified international contacts within the bloc, space began to raise immediate questions about standards of orthodoxy and limits of de-Stalinization in the socialist world. The chapter examines one such case, the experiences of Soviet youth activists during their visits to Poland in the 1950s and 1960s. Among the remarkable features of the Komsomol delegates’ reports from Poland was their consistent attention to the organization of Polish spaces. As a rule, the Soviet guests offered pejorative assessments of Poland’s interiors and landscapes in the post-Stalin era. More than rituals, I argue that these Soviet criticisms reflected the Komsomol activists’ genuine sense of frustration, resulting from both the ambiguous position of their organization in the process of Soviet de-Stalinization, and from palpable differences between the timing and nature of the Soviet and Polish “Thaws.” The chapter aims to locate the Soviet–Polish youth interactions within the context of uneven and sometimes contradictory political, social and cultural developments in both countries, paying special attention to the transformations of the respective spatial regimes. Its goal is to contribute to a broader discussion about the impact of increased international contacts throughout the “socialist second world” on Soviet and communist power.
Expression of a cloned Lepore globin gene.

Lepore globin is synthesized in markedly diminished amounts (approximately 10% to 15% of normal beta-globin) in human erythroid cells. To study the molecular mechanisms responsible for the diminished biosynthesis of Lepore globin, the Lepore-Boston gene was cloned from a charon phage DNA library and expressed in HeLa cells. Northern blotting and S1 nuclease analyses indicated that the Lepore gene produced less globin mRNA than a beta-gene and more than a delta-gene. The results indicate that expression of the Lepore-Boston gene in HeLa cells is reduced to an extent comparable to that seen in erythroid precursors in vivo. This indicates that the decrease in Lepore globin gene transcription is due to the delta-nucleotide sequences either in the 5′ flanking region or within this gene.
Flexible and Feasible Support Measures for Mining Frequent Patterns in Large Labeled Graphs

In recent years, the popularity of graph databases has grown rapidly. This paper focuses on single-graph as an effective model to represent information and its related graph mining techniques. In frequent pattern mining in a single-graph setting, there are two main problems: support measure and search scheme. In this paper, we propose a novel framework for constructing support measures that brings together existing minimum-image-based and overlap-graph-based support measures. Our framework is built on the concept of occurrence / instance hypergraphs. Based on that, we present two new support measures: minimum instance (MI) measure and minimum vertex cover (MVC) measure, that combine the advantages of existing measures. In particular, we show that the existing minimum-image-based support measure is an upper bound of the MI measure, which is also linear-time computable and results in counts that are close to number of instances of a pattern. Although the MVC measure is NP-hard, it can be approximated to a constant factor in polynomial time. We also provide polynomial-time relaxations for both measures and bounding theorems for all presented support measures in the hypergraph setting. We further show that the hypergraph-based framework can unify all support measures studied in this paper. This framework is also flexible in that more variants of support measures can be defined and profiled in it.
Positive Education’s New Frontier: Curriculum Integration

Positive psychology’s influence in education is evolving rapidly as schools around the world seek to embed the science of wellbeing. The nature and scope of the programs varies according to the resources and values of the institutions. The future of effective implementation in schools lies in an increased integration of wellbeing education with academic curricula; no longer should the two be viewed as competing agendas. This chapter provides an overview of the current context in many schools, an evidence-based rationale for better integration, and one example of how this might be done in every school, regardless of culture, mandated curriculum, or resources.
Small-scale structure and the Lyman-α forest baryon acoustic oscillation feature

The baryon-acoustic oscillation (BAO) feature in the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest is one of the key probes of the cosmic expansion rate at redshifts z~2.5, well before dark energy is believed to have become dynamically significant. A key advantage of the BAO as a standard ruler is that it is a sharp feature and hence is more robust against broadband systematic effects than other cosmological probes. However, if the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest transmission is sensitive to the initial streaming velocity of the baryons relative to the dark matter, then the BAO peak position can be shifted. Here we investigate this sensitivity using a suite of hydrodynamic simulations of small regions of the intergalactic medium with a range of box sizes and physics assumptions; each simulation starts from initial conditions at the kinematic decoupling era (z~1059), undergoes a discrete change from neutral gas to ionized gas thermal evolution at reionization (z~8), and is finally processed into a Lyman-$\alpha$ forest transmitted flux cube. Streaming velocities suppress small-scale structure, leading to less violent relaxation after reionization. The changes in the gas distribution and temperature-density relation at low redshift are more subtle, due to the convergent temperature evolution in the ionized phase. The change in the BAO scale is estimated to be of the order of 0.12% at z=2.5; some of the major uncertainties and avenues for future improvement are discussed. The predicted streaming velocity shift would be a subdominant but not negligible effect (of order $0.26\sigma$) for the upcoming DESI Lyman-$\alpha$ forest survey, and exceeds the cosmic variance floor. It is hoped that this study will motivate additional theoretical work on the magnitude of the BAO shift, both in the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest and in other tracers of large-scale structure.
A comparative analysis of n-butanol/diesel and 1-pentanol/diesel blends in a compression ignition engine

Abstract The use of alcohols in diesel engines is an alternative way of reducing dependence on diesel fuel. Specifically, higher alcohols such as n-butanol (nB) and 1-pentanol (Pn), which consist of high carbons and can be produced from mainly non-edible sources, can directly be mixed with diesel fuel which in return provides significant promise from economic and environmental stand points. For this reason, the examination of the use of such high-carbon alcohols in diesel engines has become significantly important in recent years. In this work, six different binary (D-nB and D-Pn) fuel mixtures were obtained by mixing the diesel fuel with n-butanol and 1-pentanol at low and high mixing ratios (5%, 25% and 35% alcohol by volume) and basic fuel properties were examined. The test fuels were tested at four different loads (0, 3, 6 and 9 kW) at a constant engine speed (1800 rpm) in a direct injection diesel engine with diesel as the reference fuel. Fuel properties of the binary fuels were in compliance with the European Norm (EN590) and all of the fuels exhibit a steady phase without any indication of phase separation. Compared to diesel fuel’s engine characteristics, brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) increased by 14.02% in binary blends, resulting in a 7.36% reduction in brake thermal efficiency (BTE). However, exhaust gas temperature (EGT) increased by an average of 47.55%. The addition of 1-pentanol to diesel had a significant impact on the decrease of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions as an average decrease of 14.27% was observed. On the other hand, the higher latent heat of evaporation (LHE) of n-butanol and 1-pentanol had multiple disadvantageous outcomes such as a cooling effect in-cylinder, lower combustion efficiency and slightly higher carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions as compared to diesel. The results indicated that the binary blends with 35% alcohol content happened to be a promising alternative for lower NOx emissions at the expense of increasing CO and HC emissions. Overall, it is concluded that n-butanol and 1-pentanol blends can be safely used in diesel engines without any engine modification or any additive.
Collaborative Multimodal Location Estimation of Consumer Media

With the emergence of Web 2.0 and with GPS devices becoming ubiquitous and pervasive in our daily life, location-based services are rapidly gaining traction in the online world. The main driving force behind these services is the enabling of a very personalized experience. Social-media websites such as Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, etc., allow queries for results originating at a certain location. Likewise, the belief is that retro-fitting archives with location information will be attractive to many businesses, and will enable newer applications. The task of estimating the geo-coordinates of a media-recording goes by different names such as “geo-tagging”, “location estimation” or “placing”. Geo-tagging multimedia content has various applications. For example, geo-location services can be provided for media captured in environments without GPS, such as photos taken indoors on mobile phones. Vacation videos and photos can be better organized and presented to the user if they have geo-location information. With the explosive growth of available multimedia content on the Internet (200 million photos are uploaded to Facebook daily), there is a dire need for efficient organization and retrieval of multimedia content, which can be enabled by geo-tagging. Geo-location information further helps develop a better semantic understanding of multimedia content. These are some of the main motivations of the MediaEval Placing task [1, 2].
The sphenoid sinus natural ostium is consistently medial to the superior turbinate.

BackgroundThis study was performed to determine the location of the natural ostium of the sphenoid sinus relative to the intact superior turbinate.MethodsForty-seven cadaveric specimens were examin...
Aristotle’s Theory of the Virtues of Temperance, Courage, and Generosity as Part of a Universal Model for Leadership Practices Today

Aristotle’s theory of the virtues of self-control, courage, and generosity are still applicable to good leadership practices today. These virtues are crucial in this context because they are connected to the most basic human drives: self-control in relation to eating, drinking, and sex; courage in relation to situations involving various fears; and generosity, the virtue in relation to sharing valuable things with others. Although these virtues tend to be considered personal, they play a crucial role in the development of every social and political institution, including large and small businesses. Aristotle’s model of human excellence is one good starting point for developing a universal model of good leadership.
Speaker recognition based on idiolectal differences between speakers.

“Familiar” speaker information is explored using non-acoustic features in NIST’s new “extended data” speaker detection task.[1] Word unigrams and bigrams, used in a traditional target/background likelihood ratio framework, are shown to give surprisingly good performance. Performance continues to improve with additional training and/or test data. Bigram performance is also found to be a function of target/model sex and age difference. These initial experiments strongly suggest that further exploration of “familiar” speaker characteristics will likely be an extremely interesting and valuable research direction for recognition of speakers in conversational speech.
The Resilient Partner Beyond Crises: EU Perceptions in the United States

The findings in this chapter indicate that the US perceives the EU from different angles, but two general trends seem to be dominant: first, a very deep trust in the relationship with the EU, despite some sporadic misunderstandings and occasional disagreements; and second, fluctuating perceptions/images of the EU depending on the political context in the US and the EU news cycle relying heavily on crises, dramas and scandals. As demonstrated throughout this chapter, the image of the EU is shaped by its ‘market’ identity due to a perception that the EU is an influential economic and trade partner. However, the recent Eurozone debt crisis, anemic economic growth, market regulations and complex institutional design have all negatively affected the way the EU is understood in the US. Furthermore, the US has utilized Europe’s challenges in order to minimize similar domestic and economic challenges, including but not limited to issues of populism, migration and unease with globalization.
A Consciousness of Streets: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Partition

This largely speculative review historicises the current era of ‘Springs’ through the lens of partition. I offer a critique of political modernity and the modern nation-state through analysis of the turn to border politics in colonial conquests, decolonisation efforts, Cold War politics and other instances of international relations across the long twentieth century. The pervasiveness of such plans across late modernity marks the beginning of the end of the nation as a single, reifiable, imaginable structure. With Ireland as exemplar, I posit national dividedness —a generally underestimated paradigm shaping our time— as spurring a decline in state authority and a new, radical “consciousness of streets.” Together with other defining political structures, it participates in transforming the postmodern map of nation into a conflicted network, an imagined community as metropolitan circuit. I take recourse to theories of partition and nation and work by geographers, historians and postcolonial theorists including Joseph Cleary, Benedict Anderson, Monica Duffy Toft, Etienne Balibar and Michel Foucault.
C/EBPβ Suppresses Keratinocyte Autonomous Type 1 IFN Response and p53 to Increase Cell Survival and Susceptibility to UVB-induced Skin Cancer.

p53 is activated by DNA damage and oncogenic stimuli to regulate senescence, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest which are essential to prevent cancer. Here, we utilized UVB radiation, a potent inducer of DNA damage, p53, apoptosis and skin cancer to investigate the mechanism of C/EBPβ in regulating p53-mediated apoptosis in keratinocytes and to test whether the deletion of C/EBPβ in epidermis can protect mice from UVB-induced skin cancer. UVB-treatment of C/EBPβ skin conditional knockout (CKOβ) mice increased p53 protein levels in epidermis and enhanced p53-dependent apoptotic activity 3-fold compared to UVB-treated control mice. UVB increased C/EBPβ levels through a p53-dependent pathway and stimulated the formation of a C/EBPβ-p53 protein complex; knockdown of C/EBPβ increased p53 protein stability in keratinocytes. These results suggest a p53-C/EBPβ feedback loop, whereby C/EBPβ a transcriptional target of a p53 pathway, functions as a survival factor by negatively regulating p53 apoptotic activity in response to DNA damage. RNAseq analysis of UVB-treated CKOβ epidermis unexpectedly revealed that type 1 interferon (IFN) pathway was the most highly enriched pathway. Numerous proapoptotic ISGs were up-regulated including some known to enhance p53 apoptosis. Our results indicate that p53 and IFN pathways function together in response to DNA damage to result in the activation of extrinsic apoptosis pathways and caspase 8 cleavage. Lastly, we observed CKOβ mice were resistant to UVB-induced skin cancer. Our results suggest C/EBPβ represses apoptosis through keratinocyte autonomous suppression of the type 1 IFN response and p53 to increase cell survival and susceptibility to UVB-induced skin cancer.
Hidrólisis enzimática de chenopodium quinoa willd “quinua”, determinando sus parámetros cinéticos: ph, temperatura y concentración de sustrato.

The process of hydrolysis was carried out on a suspension of quinoa flour in water in a proportion of 1 in10 parts of water, previously gelatinized, to which was added an equivalent suspension of enzymes of 1,5 g/1000 g (50% of alpha amylase and 50% protease). With that, proteins were solubilized and starch was reduced to reducing su- gars, obtaining a liquid product at an average concentration of 8,5% that was later con- centrated to 45% of total solids. The hydrolysis process allows, on the basis of 1 kg of quinoa flour, toobtain80 to 85% of hydrolyzed material from20 to 15% of cellulosic residue, proteins and carbohydrates, non-digestible by the enzymes. The experiences that were carried out brought as results the following optimum values of kinetic parameters: Concentration of substrate: 10,0 %; Temperature: 60 oC; pH: 5,0 and enzyme con- centration: 1,5 g/ 1000 g. The system allows on the basis of 1 kg, the following values: percentage of hydrolyzed proteins: 74,00%; percentage of reducing sugars: 94,00%
Constant-Rate Intravenous Infusion Methods for Estimating Steady-State Volumes of Distribution and Mean Residence Times in the Body for Drugs Undergoing Reversible Metabolism

Equations for the steady-state volumes of distribution (Vss) and the mean residence times in the body (MRT) are derived for a drug and its metabolite subject to reversible metabolism and separately infused intravenously at a constant rate to steady state of both compounds. The Vss and MRT parameters are functions of the integrals of plasma concentrations, plasma concentrations at steady state, and times to reach steady state of both drug and metabolite. In addition, the MRT values are functions of the infusion rates. These equations were validated by computer simulations and comparison with IV bolus dose parameters. These relationships extend the ability to assess the pharmacokinetics of linear reversible metabolic systems.
Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Alloyed with Selenium

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon alloyed with selenium has been made by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The activation energy for electrical conduction is essentially unchanged for selenium concentrations 0.5 at. %. Photothermal deflection spectroscopy (PDS) and electron spin resonance (ESR), respectively, show that the width of the valence band tail states and the density of neutral silicon dangling bonds also change for selenium concentrations > 0.5 at. %.
Reproductive and oncologic outcomes after fertility-sparing surgery for early stage cervical cancer: a systematic review

This review sought to evaluate the current literature on reproductive and oncologic outcomes after fertility-sparing surgery for early stage cervical cancer (stage IA1–IB1) including cold-knife conization/simple trachelectomy, vaginal radical trachelectomy, abdominal radical trachelectomy, and laparoscopic radical trachelectomy with or without robotic assistance. A systematic review using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) checklist to evaluate the current literature on fertility-sparing surgery for early stage cervical cancer and its subsequent clinical pregnancy rate, reproductive outcomes, and cancer recurrence was performed. Sixty-five studies were included encompassing 3,044 patients who underwent fertility-sparing surgery, including 1,047 pregnancies with reported reproductive outcomes. The mean clinical pregnancy rate of patients trying to conceive was 55.4%, with the highest clinical pregnancy rate after vaginal radical trachelectomy (67.5%). The mean live-birth rate was 67.9% in our study. Twenty percent of pregnancies after fertility-sparing surgery required assisted reproductive technology. The mean cancer recurrence rate was 3.2%, and the cancer death rate was 0.6% after a median follow-up period of 39.7 months with no statistically significant difference across surgical approaches. Fertility-sparing surgery is a reasonable alternative to traditional radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer in women desiring fertility preservation. Vaginal radical trachelectomy had the highest clinical pregnancy rate, and minimally invasive approaches to fertility-sparing surgery had equivalent oncologic outcomes compared with an abdominal approach. The results of our study allow for appropriate patient counseling preoperatively and highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to achieve the best outcomes for each patient.
Sex difference in Alzheimer's disease: An updated, balanced and emerging perspective on differing vulnerabilities

Sex biology influences Alzheimer's disease (AD). Sex differences exist in the epidemiologic, imaging, biomarker, and pathology studies of this uniquely human condition. The mandate to understand sex differences in major diseases like AD is important for many reasons. First, AD is the most common neurodegenerative condition and a devastating disease-experienced as an insidious and progressive erosion of memory, cognition, and other brain functions. Second, since true sex differences in AD exist, their precise understanding could reveal what protects one sex or makes the other vulnerable-and this knowledge could inform development of new therapeutic approaches to benefit both sexes. Third, AD develops in the aging brain in a milieu of decreased circulating gonadal hormones. Thus, how sex-specific depletion affects the brain along with how replacement of androgens in men and estrogens and progestins in women alters vulnerability to AD are relevant questions, with clinical implications in a future of personalized medicine. This review will highlight advances in sex differences in AD in human populations with a focused perspective on epidemiology, biomarkers, and clinical trials. A thorough and concise overview of sex differences reviewed here indicates varying vulnerabilities in men and women. This review examines several lines of recent and strong evidence that collectively indicate the following: (1) men die faster with AD, (2) more women live with AD, (3) both sexes show similar risk of developing AD until advanced ages when women show increased risk, (4) both sexes show largely similar AD biomarker burden with notable exceptions for higher tau levels in subgroups of women with high amyloid, (5) women show brain reserve and resilience to tau pathology, (6) both sexes are vulnerable to the genetic risk of carrying APOE4, with women showing higher risk, and (7) neither sex has shown clear benefit of hormone replacement for AD or dementia risk in randomized clinical trials to date.
HELP FOR PARENTS DEALING WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF PRETERM BIRTH: A HOSPITAL BASED SUPPORT GROUP

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact for parents of a hospital-based intervention to support in the difficult experience of having a newborn baby hospitalized in a NICU by facilitating the expression, sharing and attention to the problems encountered. Methods Weekly meetings in a “welcome”, sharing and discussion group. The meeting lasts for about one hour with no pre-established themes. The psychologist, the attending physician and the head nurse participate. The parents are provided with written information concerning the aims, place and duration of the meeting. A questionnaire has been drawn up with open questions (the most interesting aspect, the least satisfying aspect and whether or not it has met expectations) and closed questions (degree of satisfaction) for the assessment of the initiative. Results Data resulting from the questionnaires filled out by 109 parents are reported. 91% assessed the initiative as “very good/good”, 96.1% considered that the issues discussed by the group met their specific needs. The answers to the open questions showed the importance both of information/communication with the NICU staff and of the time/space devoted to the emotional difficulties encountered. Conclusion The containment of the emotions and the development of social relation among the parents have a therapeutic function of emotion-sharing which can be verbalized, communicated and welcomed. The meetings allow for the monitoring of the quality of the care received and offer important cues for change, rendering the parents active partners in the care of their own child.
Re-examining market structures: Resource-Advantage theory and the market offering ecosystem perspective

Understanding market structure is central to firms’ success. It helps organizations understand competition and in turn develop strategies to improve performance. The market structure literature is ...
Deep learning-based apple detection using a suppression mask R-CNN

Abstract Robotic apple harvesting has received much research attention in the past few years due to growing shortage and rising cost in labor. One key enabling technology towards automated harvesting is accurate and robust apple detection, which poses great challenges as a result of the complex orchard environment that involves varying lighting conditions and foliage/branch occlusions. This letter reports on the development of a novel deep learning-based apple detection framework named Suppression Mask R-CNN. Specifically, we first collect a comprehensive apple orchard dataset for "Gala" and "Blondee" apples, using a color camera, under different lighting conditions (overcast and front lighting vs. back lighting). We then develop a novel suppression Mask R-CNN for apple detection, in which a suppression branch is added to the standard Mask R-CNN to suppress non-apple features generated by the original network. Comprehensive evaluations are performed, which show that the developed suppression Mask R-CNN network outperforms state-of-the-art models with a higher F1-score of 0.905 and a detection time of 0.25 second per frame on a standard desktop computer.
First Transfemoral Implantation of a Novel Transcatheter Valve in an LVAD Patient With Aortic Insufficiency

Abstract An 80-year-old man with a destination left ventricular assist device (LVAD) presented with decompensated heart failure. Evaluation demonstrated numerous LVAD high power spike events, signi...