cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Close Relationships and Complementary Interpersonal Styles Among Men and Women

An important assumption in interpersonal theory is that complementary interpersonal styles characterize close relationships. Using the Revised Interpersonal Adjective Scale (J. S. Wiggins, 1991) and the Relationship Closeness Inventory (E. Berscheid, M. Snyder, & A. M. Omoto, 1989), 48 American college students (24 men, 24 women) answered questions on their own interpersonal styles and those of their close and not close, same-gender friends. Results revealed that a complementarity of interpersonal styles was present in the close, same-gender relationships of the women but not of the men. Women reported engaging in more activities overall and in more diverse activities with their close friends than men. However, women and men did not differ in how important close relationships were to them.
Impact of Metal Sorption and Internalization on Nitrification Inhibition

The goal of this study was to explore the relationship between metal extracellular sorption, intracellular accumulation, and nitrification inhibition. Metal sorption on nitrifying biomass was rapid and could be described by linear partitioning with partition coefficients (Kp) of 20.3 +/- 0.1, 0.4 +/- 0.0, 0.1 +/- 0.0, and 0.2 +/- 0.0 L/g biomass chemical oxygen demand for Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cd, respectively. On the other hand, intracellular Zn, Ni, and Cd concentrations continued to increase with time beyond 12 h after metal addition, whereas intracellular Cu attained equilibrium after 4 h. Metal internalization kinetics could be described by an intraparticle diffusion model, with characteristic diffusion time constants (td) of 9.4, 64.6, 80.5, and 66.1 h for Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cd, respectively. Ultimate internalized percentages of the total cell-associated metal were 1.4 +/- 0.0, 4.3 +/- 0.5,7.6 +/- 1.0, and 2.7 +/- 0.2% for Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cd, respectively. Nitrification inhibition was not a function of the sorbed metal fraction but correlated well with intracellular Zn, Ni, or Cd fractions. An intraparticle diffusion model coupled with a saturation-type biological toxicity model fit the inhibition data for varying initial Cd concentrations and exposure periods. In contrast, no relationship between intracellular or sorbed Cu concentrations and nitrification inhibition was observed. In the presence of 1 mM Cu, less than 13.3 +/- 10.5% cells remained viable as compared to 72.8 +/- 7.5,104.8 +/- 1.7, and 84.7 +/- 7.0% (assumed 100% viable cells in metal-free control) in the presence of 1 mM Zn, Ni, and Cd, respectively. Hence, the observations that inhibition by metals such as Zn, Ni, and Cd is related to their intracellular fraction and the slow kinetics of metal internalization indicate that metal inhibition can easily be underpredicted from short-term batch assays. Furthermore, the inhibitory mechanism of Cu was very different from Zn, Ni, and Cd and may involve rapid loss of membrane integrity.
Developmental contexts of nonprofit management education

The 1980s and 1990s saw the beginning and rapid growth of nonprofit management education. Literature on this topic has focused principally on directly practical concerns such as rationale, curriculum, faculty, students, funding, alumni, and employer satisfaction and the best place for such programs within universities. Broadening that discussion, this article clarifies why nonprofit management education took the form it did and happened when it did by setting it within three contexts: professional education, management education, and the post–World War II growth of the nonprofit sector.
Surface subsidence induced by the Crandall Canyon Mine (Utah) collapse: InSAR observations and elasto-plastic modelling

SUMMARY The Crandall Canyon Mine, Utah, collapse in 2007 August resulted in a total of nine fatalities. We processed data from the ALOS satellite acquired before and after the collapse to quantify surface subsidence associated with the collapse to better understand the collapse process. The deformationshowsasteepV-shapedpatternofsubsidencewithslightasymmetry.Wecompare the fit of four different models that simulate the subsidence pattern. The first two models use elastic half-space rheology. We find that collapse alone cannot explain the observations, and a component of normal faulting is required to fit the data. The second set of models simulates collapseinelasto-plasticmedia.Onlyasmallcomponentofnormalfaultingisrequiredinthese models. We suggest that considering elasto-plastic material behaviour is particularly important for shallow deformation modelling, where microfractures and other non-elastic rheology are common. Disregarding this material behaviour can lead to biased model parameter estimates.
Hybrid Particle-Element Bond Graphs for Impact Dynamics Simulation

Particle methods offer an efficient modeling approach to number of impact dynamics problems not well suited to conventional Eulerian finite difference or Lagrangian finite element methods. Unfortunately, the most popular of these particle methods (smooth particle hydrodynamics) exhibits important deficiencies, in part related to its treatment of boundaries and interparticle tension, and suffers from a rather ad hoc model formulation approach. A hybrid particle-element kinematic scheme and an energy-based, bond graph modeling approach have been combined to produce a new impact dynamics simulation method, free of many problems which have hindered the effective application of various particle and continuum methods.
Strand specificity of mutagenic bypass replication of DNA containing psoralen monoadducts in a human cell extract.

Psoralens are mutagenic compounds of vegetable origin that are used as photosensitizing agents in the treatment of various skin diseases, blood cell cancer, and autoimmune disorders. To study the mechanism of mutagenicity of psoralens in humans, we examined the efficiency and fidelity of simian virus 40 origin-dependent replication in a human cell extract of M13mp2 DNA randomly treated with the psoralen derivative 4'-hydroxymethyl-4,5',8-trimethyl psoralen plus UVA irradiation. Replication of DNA treated with variable amounts of 4'-hydroxymethyl-4,5',8-trimethyl psoralen and a fixed UVA fluence was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. However, covalently closed monomer-length circular replication products were observed. Product analysis by renaturing agarose gel electrophoresis after cross-linking with 250- to 280-nm UV light indicated that approximately 1 of 9 psoralen monoadducts was bypassed during in vitro replication. Introduction of product DNA into Escherichia coli to score replication errors in the lacZalpha reporter gene demonstrated that replication of the damaged DNA was more mutagenic than was replication of undamaged DNA. Sequence analysis of lacZ mutants revealed that damage-dependent replication errors were predominantly T.A-->C.G transitions, transversions at C.G base pairs, and deletions of single A.T base pairs, the last occurring most frequently in homopolymeric runs. A comparison of error specificities with two substrates having the replication origin asymmetrically placed on opposite sides of the mutational target suggests that the lagging-strand replication apparatus is less accurate than the leading-strand replication apparatus for psoralen monoadduct-dependent deletion errors. A model is proposed based on the preferential loopout of the monoadducted base from the strand that templates retrograde discontinuous synthesis.
Growth of a Functionally Important Lexicon

The vocabulary size literature currently provides a rather pessimistic view of the role for direct instruction in increasing vocabulary size. A major reason for this pessimism revolves around estimates of the total number of words that individuals know and, hence, the number of words that would have to be taught in order to affect significantly normal vocabulary growth. When vocabulary size is expressed in terms of the number of functionally important words in the lexicon, however, estimates of vocabulary size are dramatically reduced. We adopted as a definition of functionally important words the list of main entries found in a moderate-sized, yet comprehensive dictionary of the English language. Using a dictionary-sampling method and multiple-choice testing of word knowledge, we estimated the lexicon size of junior-high students, college students, and older adults. The results lead us to suggest that there may yet be a role for direct instruction in affecting lexicon size of functionally important words.
Active sensitivity minimization in SAB's with active compensation and optimization

In this paper, a new high-gain three-port operational amplifier (OA) circuit is used to replace the single OA in single amplifier biquads (SAB's). The resultant biquads will have the first-order effect of the OA's finite gain-bandwidth products (GB) completely eliminated from their dominant pole frequencies. Then, the widely used bandpass filter will be considered, where the remaining dominant second-order effects of the OA's GB products will be minimized by choosing appropriate element spreads satisfying the technology. This results in a bandpass filter which has better performance than any other actively compensated filters. The comparison of the results and experimental results follow to prove some of the conclusions made in this paper.
Human monocyte production of interleukin-1: parameters of the induction of interleukin-1 secretion by lipopolysaccharides

The role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as an activator of human monocyte interleukin-1 (IL-1) synthesis and secretion has been examined in this study. The results demonstrate that when blood monocytes are prepared under low endotoxin conditions, they do not spontaneously secrete IL-1 activity. When cells are exposed to LPS extracted from different bacterial species, there is variation seen in the potency, with LPS from Salmonella species being the most potent in inducing IL-1 activity from human monocytes. This material is tenfold more potent than LPS obtained from three different strains of Escherichia coli and 10,000-fold more potent than material obtained from two other bacterial species. Detoxified endotoxins are inefficient activators for IL-1 secretion. When monocytes are exposed to LPS, there is a rapid rise in the level of IL-1 activity detected. Activity can be detected in cell lysates after 1 hr with appreciable accumulation seen over the first 6 hr of culture. This is accompanied by IL-1 release into the surrounding medium after 2 hr of culture with subsequent accumulation. Monocyte synthesis of IL-1 activity appears to be sensitive to fg/ml levels of Salmonella minnesota LPS, while appreciable secretion of this activity by monocytes requires pg/ml levels.
From Cocktail to Dependence: The Great Recession and the Transformation of Romanian Capitalism

How has the Great Recession shaped the institutional landscape of peripheral European market economies? Looking at the dynamic institutions of Romanian capitalism the paper finds evidence of the further transformation of this economy during the 2000s away from incoherent “cocktail capitalism” and towards the dependent market economy patterns of this country’s East-Central European competitors. While the crisis purged Romania’s inherited institutional “impurities,” the institutional mechanisms that maintain dependence on Western investment and consumption decisions have been strengthened. Moreover, the crisis brought institutional innovations that further constrain the prospects of institutional reforms towards a different kind of capitalism. While the empirical analysis relies on the conceptual apparatus of the varieties of capitalism literature (VOC), it nevertheless finds some evidence for the skepticism of some VoC critics that the Great Recession can lead to anything but the adoption of more pro-corporate institutions.
Numerical Simulation of Blast Wave Mitigations on RC Buildings via Improved Structural Configuration and Column Cross-Section Properties

Blast mitigation became of a global interest for architects and civil engineers with the increase of terror threats that targets key structures worldwide. The current work, which is largely exploratory in nature, involves blast wave traveling within a matrix of columns. The fluid structure interactions reach a maximum peak of vibration at a particular set of input parameters. Therefore, possible damage which affects structural integrity and reliability may occur. The presented numerical blast tests will accompany the study of different column cross-sections and orientation taking into account the charge weight and the stand-off distance variations. The effects of these variables have been quantified and compared to find a safety criterion for reinforced concrete buildings that might be subjected to blasting. Reliable and robust analysis (ANSYS and LS-DYNA) software will be used to complete a threedimensional finite element model and conduct numerical testing. Analyst of this study will be able to find blast wave mitigation strategies to minimize the structural damage and/or progressive collapse and recommendation for safe design against blast loading. With the help of the guidelines mentioned in this study, the designer will be able to apply one or more of the mitigation techniques to build up a safer and more reliable model which if subjected to blast will have the minimum degree of collapse. This academic work also inspires researchers to develop more blast wave mitigation strategies using economical and practical solutions similar to those discussed in this study.
Sirtuins 1 and 2 Are Universal Histone Deacetylases

Lysine acetylation serves as an epigenetic marker for myriad cellular processes, such as signaling, differentiation, DNA repair, angiogenesis, and the like. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) are NAD(+)-dependent histone deacetylases that operate as post-translational regulators for the deacetylation of acetyllysine. Here, we discuss the ability for SIRT1 and SIRT2 to deacetylate monoacetylated histone H3 on two separate architectures-the peptide and the nucleosome. In addition, we analyze the site-specificity of SIRT1 and SIRT2 on 10 different monoacetylated histone H3 nucleosomes. By utilizing a rapid screening array, SIRT1 and SIRT2 were found to demonstrate heightened enzymatic activity when incubated with nucleosomal substrates over their peptide counterparts. These two enzymes displayed little site-specificity among the acetyl-nucleosomes screened, contrary to previous expectations, as well. The implication of the overall nonspecificity of SIRT1 and SIRT2 on the nucleosome suggests that these sirtuin enzymes have an adaptive nature, harnessing an ability to respond to various cellular situations, rather than an enzyme specifically designed for a particular task or function.
Charge Transport in Imperfect Organic Field Effect Transistors: Effects of Charge Traps

Monte Carlo simulations were used to study the effects of explicit charge traps on charge transport in small-molecule organic field effect transistors. The results show that the source-drain current decreases as the trap/barrier concentration increases, reaches a minimum around 30/70%, and increases as the concentration reaches 100%, regardless of the trap/barrier distribution. Greater current is predicted for heterogeneous trap distributions than for homogeneous trap distributions, due to wider conduction pathways that allow for more charge carriers to reach the drain electrode. Also, the distributions of distances and potential energy between charge carriers and trap sites were shown to depend on the heterogeneity of the traps and device geometry and, in most cases, are non-Gaussian in shape, due to electrostatic effects between charged traps, unlike previous assumptions. For some ranges of heterogeneity, these densities of states exhibit exponential tails. These results suggest that more experimental w...
Assessing Professionalism: Street-Level Attitudes and Agency Accreditation

Professional organizations now accredit state and local agencies across several fields. This article investigates the attitudes of street-level bureaucrats toward their agencies and the tasks requi...
Sustainable Roadway Construction: Energy Consumption and Material Waste Generation of Roadways

Sustainable roadway construction can be defined as the optimal use of natural and man-made resources during the roadway lifecycle causing negligible damage to the environment. Two means of improving the sustainability of roadways are to minimize the amount of energy consumed for their construction and to efficiently use roadway materials to reduce waste. This paper describes two separate studies conducted to estimate the amount of energy consumed and the amount of waste generated in continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) and asphalt pavement (AC) roadways from extraction of raw materials through the end of construction. For CRCP, energy is primarily consumed during the manufacture of cement and reinforcing steel, while for AC the majority of energy is consumed during asphalt mixing, drying of aggregates, and the production of bitumen. With regard to material waste, most of the waste generated from CRCP roadways occurs during extraction and production of cement and aggregates. For AC, the extraction and production of aggregates produce the majority of waste. The results indicate that the amount of waste generated is greater for CRCP than for AC. The results of the two studies highlight where sustainable design efforts to reduce energy consumption and waste generation can best be directed in the initial phases of a pavement's life cycle.
How colonization by microbiota in early life shapes the immune system

Microbial colonization of mucosal tissues during infancy plays an instrumental role in the development and education of the host mammalian immune system. These early-life events can have long-standing consequences: facilitating tolerance to environmental exposures or contributing to the development of disease in later life, including inflammatory bowel disease, allergy, and asthma. Recent studies have begun to define a critical period during early development in which disruption of optimal host-commensal interactions can lead to persistent and in some cases irreversible defects in the development and training of specific immune subsets. Here, we discuss the role of early-life education of the immune system during this “window of opportunity,” when microbial colonization has a potentially critical impact on human health and disease.
Determination of bisphenols in water by solid phase extraction and ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Objective To establish an analytical method for the determination of three bisphenols in water by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS-MS). Methods The water samples were extracted and condensed with solid-phase extraction using C18cartridges and eluted by acetonitrile. Separation was carried out with Acquity BEH C18column and detection were performed by UPLC-MS-MS. The gradient mobile phase was consisted of acetonitrile and 0.1% ammonia water at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. Quantification was calculated by an internal standard method with BPA-d16. Results The linear correlation coefficients of three bisphenols in the range of 1.0-100.0 μg/L were all over0.999.The minimum detectable concentrations were 0.75-1.0 ng/L,and the rates of recovery ranged from 87.0% to 106.9%.RSDs were between 1.61% and 3.67%. Conclusion This method is simple,sensitive, accurate and applicable to the determination of the bisphenols compounds in source water and drinking water.
Attitudes Toward Service Firm Culture: Effects of Employee Position and Industry Type

Service firm employees' attitudes toward their actual and ideal organizational culture were measured. Attitudinal differences were examined between lower- , middle- , and top-management employees and between employees from four different service industries. Significant differences were found for a variety of organizational culture components. Many of the differences remained even after removing gender effects. Managerial implications are given.
Pelvic Angiography and the Diagnosis of Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix

The hospital records and pelvic arteriograms of 31 patients with suspected, persistent or recurrent carcinoma of the uterine cervix were reviewed. The method used was found to be highly accurate in diagnosing and localizing tumors and was considered most helpful in suspected pelvic wall recurrences. Tumor encasement of the vessels can be mimicked by perivascular, postoperative and post radiation fibrosis. Tumor vessels and tumor stain are the better angiographic indicators of the presence of recurrent or persistent disease.
Will the Phisher-Men Reel You In?: Assessing Individual Differences in a Phishing Detection Task

Phishing is an act of technology-based deception that targets individuals to obtain information. To minimize the number of phishing attacks, factors that influence the ability to identify phishing attempts must be examined. The present study aimed to determine how individual differences relate to performance on a phishing task. Undergraduate students completed a questionnaire designed to assess impulsivity, trust, personality characteristics, and Internet/security habits. Participants performed an email task where they had to discriminate between legitimate emails and phishing attempts. Researchers assessed performance in terms of correctly identifying all email types overall accuracy as well as accuracy in identifying phishing emails phishing accuracy. Results indicated that overall and phishing accuracy each possessed unique trust, personality, and impulsivity predictors, but shared one significant behavioral predictor. These results present distinct predictors of phishing susceptibility that should be incorporated in the development of anti-phishing technology and training.
Do tuition increases lower student academic performance

In this paper, we develop and test an economic model which examines the relationship between changing usually increasing college tuition and students' academic performance, with specific attention paid to intermediate role played by the financing of a student's education. To do so, we extend Mujumdar, et al.'s 2004 tuition-performance trade-off model to allow for the inclusion of student loans and heterogeneity in family support for college. Predictions from the model are tested using a panel of students drawn from a Midwestern, regional public institution between 1998 and 2005. The results indicate that a one-unit increase in a student's overall financial burden reduces her/his grade point average by approximately 0.22 units in any given semester and her/his cumulative grade point average by 0.20 units. Consequently, colleges that have consistently increased education costs over this time frame may have indirectly harmed the welfare of their students.
Differences in Errors Between Students With Language and Reading Disabilities

Children with a specific learning disability in reading/writing (LDRW) and/or language impairment (LI) are likely to have difficulties across all areas of academic achievement, as a great deal of teaching and learning depends on intact reading skill and linguistic communication. Despite a large number of studies examining academic difficulties among these groups, there has been minimal research investigating types of errors made on tests of academic achievement. The present study compared academic error types of children with LDRW (Group 1) and children with LI (Group 3) to two distinct demographically matched control groups (Groups 2 and 4) using the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement–Third Edition (KTEA-3) error analysis system. Findings indicate that children in the LDRW group or LI group, on average, made a greater number of errors than their matched counterparts. Statistically significant differences, with moderate effect sizes, were found between examinees in the clinical groups and their respe...
Factors Associated With Poor Outcomes Following Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: Redefining the Classic Indications for Surgery

Indications for UKA for isolated osteoarthritis of the knee remain controversial. 229 UKA that were performed at our institution were evaluated for which factors was associated with a poor outcome. BMI > 35 was correlated with lower KSS scores than patients with BMI
Longitudinally collected CTCs and CTC-clusters and clinical outcomes of metastatic breast cancer

Purpose Circulating tumor cell (CTC) is a well-established prognosis predictor for metastatic breast cancer (MBC), and CTC-cluster exhibits significantly higher metastasis-promoting capability than individual CTCs. Because measurement of CTCs and CTC-clusters at a single time point may underestimate their prognostic values, we aimed to analyze longitudinally collected CTCs and CTC-clusters in MBC prognostication.
Extraction of the Principles of Proton Transfers by AB Initio Methods

The study of proton transfers in hydrogen-bonded systems goes back many years within the discipline of chemistry to early understanding of acids and bases. Renewed interest in this topic was generated by later advances in gas phase and very rapid measurement techniques.1–4 The former permitted detailed investigation of the phenomenon unhindered by complicating effects of the environment while the latter opened up a new window into elementary steps in the overall process. Despite the accumulation of information about the proton transfer process resulting from these studies, other facets of the problem remained out of reach. Moreover, a need for additional insights has been coupled to the intriguing notion of solitons as a means of proton transport over long distances.5–7
Estimation of Carcass Weight from Body Measurements in Ross 308 Broiler Chicken using Factor Scores in Regression Analysis

In this study the relationship between carcass weight and six body measurements (bodyweight, body length, breast width, shank length, thigh length, wing length) were examined in 120 eight week Ross 308 broiler chicken using factor analysis scores in linear regression analysis. Only one factor with eigen value greater than 1 was extracted as independent variable accounting for 90.60% of the variation in the original variable. This factor predicted carcass weight of Ross 308 broilers with 94.00% accuracy leaving 6.00% to unexplainable or residual causes
Performance optimization of a wind turbine column for different incoming wind turbulence

Abstract Optimization of the performance for a wind turbine column is performed by coupling a RANS solver for prediction of wind turbine wakes and dynamic programming. Downstream evolution of wind turbine wakes is simulated with low computational cost comparable to that of wake engineering models, but with improved accuracy and capability to simulate different incoming wind turbulence. Dynamic programming is used to estimate optimal tip speed ratio ( TSR ) and streamwise spacing of the turbines by using a mixed-objective performance index consisting of total power production from the entire turbine array with the penalty of the average turbulence intensity impacting over the rotor discs. The penalty coefficient, representing the economic impact of fatigue loads as ratio of wind energy revenue, is varied in order to mimic different economic periods. The results suggest that a general strategy for wind farm optimization should consist in coupling design performed through spacing optimization and using a relatively low penalty coefficient for the fatigue loads, while wind turbine operations are optimized by varying TSR .
Narrow-Linewidth Mid-Infrared Raman Fiber Lasers

We analyze the design and performance of unique DFB-based MIR Raman fiber lasers with potential for narrow linewidth (< 1 MHz) operation at any arbitrary wavelength in the 2.5 - 9.5 µm spectral region; pump power thresholds are anticipated to be < 30 mW.
Functional Heterogeneity within Rat Orbitofrontal Cortex in Reward Learning and Decision Making.

Rat orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is located in the dorsal bank of the rhinal sulcus, and is divided into the medial orbital area, ventral orbital area, ventrolateral orbital area, lateral orbital area, dorsolateral orbital area, and agranular insular areas. Over the past 20 years, there has been a marked increase in the number of publications focused on the functions of rat OFC. While collectively this extensive body of work has provided great insight into the functions of OFC, leading to theoretical and computational models of its functions, one issue that has emerged relates to what is defined as OFC because targeting of this region can be quite variable between studies of appetitive behavior, even within the same species. Also apparent is that there is an oversampling and undersampling of certain subregions of rat OFC for study, and this will be demonstrated here. The intent of the Viewpoint is to summarize studies in rat OFC, given the diversity of what groups refer to as “OFC,” and to integrate these with the findings of recent anatomical studies. The primary aim is to help discern functions in reward learning and decision-making, clearing the course for future empirical work.
Copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl-, primary alkyl-, and secondary alkylboranes with heteroaryl bromides

A method for the Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling of both aryl and alkylboranes with aryl bromides is described. The method employs an inexpensive Cu-catalyst and functions for a variety of heterocyclic as well as electron deficient aryl bromides. In addition, aryl iodides of varying substitution patterns and electronic properties work well.
ON THE STABILITY OF OXYHAEMOGLOBIN

This chapter focuses on the stability of oxyhemoglobin. In the absence of oxygen, heme and hemochromes combine reversibly with carbon monoxide. However, these carbon-monoxyheme compounds are rapidly oxidized when their aqueous solutions are exposed to air. The oxidation of heme by molecular oxygen may take place through one or more reaction paths. If the initial step of the oxidation involves the formation of oxyheme followed by the decomposition of the latter to ferriheme and O 2 – or HO 2 , the subsequent reduction of O 2 – or HO 2 by other heme molecules is expected to be comparatively fast. Consideration of coulombic interactions would predict the decomposition of oxyheme to ferriheme and O 2 – or HO 2 to be slow in nonacidic media of low dielectric constant. Thus, if it is assumed that the binding sites in hemoglobin are not completely exposed to water but are largely covered with hydrophobic groups of the protein, the decomposition of oxyhemoglobin to methemoglobin and O 2 – or HO 2 is expected to be much slower than the corresponding process for a freely exposed oxyheme.
Multi-resolution image processing and learning for texture recognition and image enhancement

A general recognition framework is presented that consists of multi-resolution pyramidal feature-extraction and learning paradigms for classification. The system is presented in the context of the texture recognition task. In the feature extraction part of the system, an oriented Laplacian pyramid is used as an efficient filtering scheme to transform the input image to a more robust representation in the frequency and orientation space. An optimal technique is presented for computing a steerable representation of the pyramid. Steerability is used to generate a rotation-invariant input representation. In the learning stage of the system we focus on a rule-based probabilistic learning scheme. This information-theoretic technique is utilized to find the most informative correlations between the attributes and the output classes while producing probability estimates for the outputs. Both unsupervised and supervised learning are utilized. Apart from the rule-based approach we experiment with other non-parametric classifiers, such as the k-nearest neighbor classifier and the Backprop neural-network. We demonstrate experimentally that our scheme improves significantly upon the state-of-the-art both in rotation-invariant classification and in orientation estimation. A variety of applications are presented, including autonomous navigation scenarios and remote-sensing, as possible extensions for the texture recognition system. A generalization of the system to face-recognition is discussed. In the latter part of the thesis, a procedure for creating images with higher resolution than the sampling rate would allow is described. The enhancement algorithm augments the frequency content of the image by using a non-linearity that generates phase-coherent higher harmonics. The procedure utilizes the Laplacian pyramid image representation. Results are presented depicting the power-spectra augmentation and the visual enhancement of several images. Simplicity of computations and ease of implementation allow for real-time applications such as high-definition television (HDTV). An initial investigation is pursued to combine the enhancement scheme with pyramid coding schemes.
An enhanced genetic algorithm for DNA sequencing by hybridization with positive and negative errors

This paper describes a genetic algorithm for the DNA sequencing problem. The algorithm allows the input spectrum to contain both positive and negative errors as could be expected from a hybridization experiment. The main features of the algorithm include a preprocessing step that reduces the size of the input spectrum and an efficient local optimization. In experimental tests, the algorithm performed very well against existing algorithms. The algorithm also performed very well on a large data set generated in this paper from real genomes data.
Sex and the Mutant Mouse: Strategies for Understanding the Sexual Differentiation of the Brain

Sexual dimorphism in the central nervous system (CNS) of vertebrates is clearly established. Structural, biochemical and pharmacological differences exist between males and females (reviewed in Arnold and Gorksi, 1984; Arnold and Jordan, 1988; Baum, 1979; Dohler, 1991; Nottebohm, 1987; Schumaker et al., 1987; Tobet and Fox, 1992; Whalen, 1982). Moreover, evidence is accumulating that strongly links some of the sex differences in the CNS with function (e.g. Balthazart and Surlemont, 1990; DeVoogd, 1984; Nordeen and Nordeen, 1988; Whalen and Olsen, 1980; Yahr et al., 1982).
Growth response of native shrubs to acid mine spoil and to proposed soil amendments

Successful reclamation of acid mine sites may be enhanced by revegetating with species that are tolerant to acid mine spoil conditions. This study was conducted to assess the response of four native shrub species, Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt., Symphoricarpos albus (L.) Blake, Berberis repens Lindl., and Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh, to 1) pyritic acid mine spoil amended with various levels of lime and composted sewage sludge with added ammonium nitrate (CSS+N) and 2) acidified granitic spoil, with and without CSS+N. Species responded to soil acidity and nutrient supply similarly in both spoil materials. Berberis and Amelanchier exhibited acid soil tolerance, Symphoricarpos grew poorly in acidic soils but had low mortality, and Ceanothus responded to low pH with very poor growth, high mortality, or both. Amelanchier was conservative in growth and did not respond to either soil pH or nutrient supply with significant differences in biomass accumulation. Symphoricarpos varied in response to CSS+N but was most productive at neutral or higher pH. Berberis responded to nutrient availability with substantial increases in biomass production, including significant growth in strongly acidic spoil. Ceanothus responded to nutrient availability with large increases in biomass and was most productive with added CSS+N at neutral or higher pH. Nitrogen fixing nodules developed on the roots of Ceanothus plants grown in granitic spoil without CSS+N. The results indicated that these species differ significantly in acid soil tolerance and in their potential for growth, stress tolerance, and resource acquisition.
Low income subsidy status outweighs insurance cost-sharing in predicting adherence to tyrosine kinase inhibitors among Medicare Part D beneficiaries with chronic myeloid leukemia.

6531Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have transformed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) from a deadly cancer to chronic disease. While these drugs dramatically improve survival, non-adher...
Rare Stochastic Expression of O6-Methylguanine- DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) in MGMT-Negative Melanoma Cells Determines Immediate Emergence of Drug-Resistant Populations upon Treatment with Temozolomide In Vitro and In Vivo

The chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide (TMZ) kills tumor cells preferentially via alkylation of the O6-position of guanine. However, cells that express the DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), or harbor deficient DNA mismatch repair (MMR) function, are profoundly resistant to this drug. TMZ is in clinical use for melanoma, but objective response rates are low, even when TMZ is combined with O6-benzylguanine (O6BG), a potent MGMT inhibitor. We used in vitro and in vivo models of melanoma to characterize the early events leading to cellular TMZ resistance. Melanoma cell lines were exposed to a single treatment with TMZ, at physiologically relevant concentrations, in the absence or presence of O6BG. Surviving clones and mass cultures were analyzed by Western blot, colony formation assays, and DNA methylation studies. Mice with melanoma xenografts received TMZ treatment, and tumor tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. We found that MGMT-negative melanoma cell cultures, before any drug treatment, already harbored a small fraction of MGMT-positive cells, which survived TMZ treatment and promptly became the dominant cell type within the surviving population. The MGMT-negative status in individual cells was not stable, as clonal selection of MGMT-negative cells again resulted in a mixed population harboring MGMT-positive, TMZ-resistant cells. Blocking the survival advantage of MGMT via the addition of O6BG still resulted in surviving clones, although at much lower frequency and independent of MGMT, and the resistance mechanism of these clones was based on a common lack of expression of MSH6, a key MMR enzyme. TMZ treatment of mice implanted with MGMT-negative melanoma cells resulted in effective tumor growth delay, but eventually tumor growth resumed, with tumor tissue having become MGMT positive. Altogether, these data reveal stochastic expression of MGMT as a pre-existing, key determinant of TMZ resistance in melanoma cell lines. Although MGMT activity can effectively be eliminated by pharmacologic intervention with O6BG, additional layers of TMZ resistance, although considerably rarer, are present as well and minimize the cytotoxic impact of TMZ/O6BG combination treatment. Our results provide rational explanations regarding clinical observations, where the TMZ/O6BG regimen has yielded mostly disappointing outcomes in melanoma patients.
Examination of the Effectiveness of a Criteria-based Team Formation Tool

In this Research Work in Progress Paper, we examine the effectiveness of CATME, a tool that implements a criteria-based team formation approach. The tool facilitates forming teams based on criteria like demographics, skills, and work styles. This information is collected from the students via an online survey. The effectiveness of this genre of tool depends on the practicality of the instructor’s configuration of the criteria, the veracity of students’ responses to the survey, and the soundness of the algorithm. In this work-in-progress paper, we investigate potential issues affecting these factors. Our study was conducted by performing new analysis of data collected from a prior study comparing the performance of teams formed using CATME or randomly in a user interface design course. The performance of teams was not statistically different between the two conditions. In examining the students’ responses to the team formation survey, we found issues related to Self-Assessment such as inconsistencies between students’ ratings of their skills and reporting of their strongest skills. Likewise, we found some cases where the tool produced unexpected results when calculating the homogeneity of the skills of a team. Implications for instructors to mitigate these problems are discussed.
The Effect of Prolonged Walking With Intermittent Standing on Erector Spinae and Soleus Muscle Oxygenation and Discomfort

Prolonged periods of walking have been associated with musculoskeletal discomfort and injuries. Previous research has shown that muscle fatigue is related to decreases in muscle oxygenation during short term walking. The objective of the proposed research is to determine the impact of prolonged walking with intermittent standing on musculoskeletal discomfort and muscle oxygenation measures in young adults. Nine young adults walked for a period of 2 hours. Ratings of perceived discomfort were recorded using a questionnaire. Muscle oxygenation and hemoglobin levels were collected from the lower back erector spinae and soleus muscles using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Subjective discomfort significantly increased throughout the 2 hours. Prolonged walking generally induced increased oxygenation of the erector spinae and soleus across walking periods, within walking periods and across standing periods. These increases were more pronounced at the beginning of the walking session and continued through the second or third periods. Erector spinae and soleus total hemoglobin increased within walking period one and two. Only the soleus total hemoglobin significantly increased after the first walking and standing periods and during all the transitions from walking to standing. Increased oxygenation and total hemoglobin during prolonged walking with intermittent standing are likely a result of the repeated dynamic contractions and exercise-induced blood volume expansion. Increased discomfort was found; however, this was not explained by detrimental changes in oxygenation or total hemoglobin.
Firefighter protective clothing and self contained breathing apparatus does not alter balance testing using a standard sensory organization test or motor control test in healthy, rested individuals

Abstract Background There is a high rate of injury associated with firefighting: in 2016, 21% of all fireground injuries were attributed to falls, jumps and slips. Examining factors related to balance, including experience in wearing firefighter gear, may assist in reducing injury related to falls. Objectives To assess the effects of wearing firefighter gear on postural balance in firefighters and non-firefighters in a rested condition. Methods Each subject attended two sessions. In session 1, informed consent was obtained, a threshold audiogram was collected, and the sensory organization test (SOT) and motor control test (MCT) were administered with the subject dressed in street clothes. The second session was comprised of three different conditions with the order of testing randomized across subjects: street clothing, firefighter protective garments (coat, pants, helmet, hood) with breathing apparatus but no facemask, and firefighter protective garments with breathing apparatus and facemask. Twenty subjects participated: ten firefighters (8 males) and sex and age-matched non-firefighters (8 males) completed the study. Results SOT scores were obtained for each sub-condition, including the overall performance score and sensory weightings. For the MCT, latency and amplitude data were obtained for the three forward and three reverse translation conditions. A significant difference was found for large forward surface translations in the MCT in firefighters. Conclusion In spite of the altered center of balance created by breathing apparatus and the altered visual cues created by the facemask, wearing firefighter gear did not substantively affect anterior-posterior postural stability or motor response to linear translation in rested, healthy individuals. Firefighters and non-firefighters performed similarly across all except one of the experimental conditions.
Enlightened immunity: Mexico’s experiments with disease prevention in the Age of Reason: by Paul E. Ramírez. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2018, 376 pp. (ISBN 9871503604339)

Paul Ramirez is not the first to write about disease prevention in Latin America, but Enlightened Immunity is the first comprehensive study of the reception of public health programs in New Spain. ...
Choice of antifibrotic medication and disease severity predict weight loss in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Abstract Purpose Although safety and tolerability of approved antifibrotics has been reported extensively, little is known about their effects on weight. We analyzed predictors of weight change after one year of uninterrupted antifibrotic therapy in patients followed at our institution's interstitial lung disease clinic. Methods/Results We identified 80 patients on antifibrotic therapy (44 pirfenidone/36 nintedanib) with at least one year of follow-up and no therapy interruptions. Thirty-five patients (44%) lost more than 5% of their baseline body weight, and 11 (19%) lost more than 10%. A higher proportion of patients on nintedanib experienced a clinically significant weight loss (>5%) versus pirfenidone (61% vs 30%, p = 0.005). Univariate and multivariate analyses identified nintedanib therapy and a higher composite physiologic index (CPI) as predictors of weight loss. Conclusions Weight loss is common among IPF patients on antifibrotic therapy. Nintedanib therapy and more advanced disease were identified as predictors of weight loss in this population.
A splitting algorithm for LWR traffic models with flux discontinuous in the unknown

Abstract We propose a finite difference algorithm for a scalar conservation law associated with the Lighthill-Witham-Richards model of traffic flow for the case where the flux is discontinuous with respect to the unknown. Specifically, the flux has a single decreasing jump, which models a transition from free to congested traffic flow. We write the flux as a Lipschitz continuous flux plus a Heaviside flux, and then construct a splitting based on this decomposition. The portion of the scheme associated with the Heaviside flux is implicit, but does not require the iterative solution of a system of nonlinear equations. The portion associated with the continuous flux is a standard Godunov scheme. The scheme does not employ a flux regularization, nor a Riemann solver for the discontinuous flux problem. Standard hyperbolic time steps are allowed, i.e., the time steps are dictated by the CFL condition associated with the continuous portion of the flux. We prove that the approximate solutions converge, up to extraction of a subsequence, to a weak solution of the conservation law. We propose a shock admissibility criterion, and present some numerical examples.