cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pre-construction of third-person elicited narratives: Relationships between short- and long-term language change

Recently, Labov (2006) described a process of narrative pre-construction that must occur during the short period of time between a conversationalist’s question, “Where should I begin?,” and the start of a narrative of personal experience. The present article is concerned with the microgenesis of narrative pre-construction in elicited third-person retellings. The central proposal is that the microgenesis of anticipatory goal statements — summaries of characters’ motivations for their actions, feelings and beliefs — relies on processes of increasing discourse cohesion that are learned, practiced and automatized in earlier ontogenetic development. In the proposed account these form a trajectory from extra- to intralinguistic (anaphoric) reference, and from sequenced descriptions of events to cataphoric summaries that are generalizations of original, perceived experiences. Analyses of narrative change across an intermediate, mesodevelopmental span of time — the repeated retellings of a story — provide insight into how change may occur in microgenesis. The proposal extends to the level of discourse Vygotsky’s (1987) account of the role of the social word in advancing thought from heaps to complexes to concepts.
Neural networks with optical-correlation inputs for recognizing rotated targets

Backpropagation-trained neural networks with optical correlation inputs are used to predict target rotation and to synthesize simplified optical correlation filters for rotated targets.
Eluding carnivores: file sharing with strong anonymity

Anonymity is increasingly important for networked applications amidst concerns over censorship and privacy. This paper outlines the design of HerbivoreFS, a scalable and efficient file sharing system that provides strong anonymity. HerbivoreFS provides computational guarantees that even adversaries able to monitor all network traffic cannot deduce the identity of a sender or receiver beyond an anonymizing clique of k peers. HerbivoreFS achieves scalability by partitioning the global network into smaller anonymizing cliques. Measurements on PlanetLab indicate that the system achieves high anonymous bandwidth when deployed on the Internet.
Quality assessment and improvement in interventional cardiology: a Position Statement of the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Part II: public reporting and risk adjustment.

As described in Part I of this Position Statement [1], programmatic assessment of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes is fundamental to the delivery of high quality care. Quality improvement requires documenting clinical outcomes and modifying behaviors based on the data. Part II addresses public reporting, current risk models utilized in PCI, recommendations for their proper use and interpretation, and limitations in current methodologies. Currently, PCI quality is often judged based on advertising, Internet health grades, and public reporting of raw mortality rates. These sources lack sufficient detail and the expertise needed to provide accurate evaluations of facilities or individual operator quality. We propose that PCI quality appraisals be based on the development and use of risk-adjusted models that meaningfully assess clinical outcomes.
Bayesian image reconstruction for emission tomography incorporating Good's roughness prior on massively parallel processors

Abstract Since the introduction by Shepp and Vardi [Shepp, L. A. & Vardi, Y. (1982) IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging 1, 113-121] of the expectation-maximization algorithm for the generation of maximum-likelihood images in emission tomography, a number of investigators have applied the maximum-likelihood method to imaging problems. Though this approach is promising, it is now well known that the unconstrained maximum-likelihood approach has two major drawbacks: (i) the algorithm is computationally demanding, resulting in reconstruction times that are not acceptable for routine clinical application, and (ii) the unconstrained maximum-likelihood estimator has a fundamental noise artifact that worsens as the iterative algorithm climbs the likelihood hill. In this paper the computation issue is addressed by proposing an implementation on the class of massively parallel single-instruction, multiple-data architectures. By restructuring the superposition integrals required for the expectation-maximization algorithm as the solutions of partial differential equations, the local data passage required for efficient computation on this class of machines is satisfied. For dealing with the "noise artifact" a Markov random field prior determined by Good's rotationally invariant roughness penalty is incorporated. These methods are demonstrated on the single-instruction multiple-data class of parallel processors, with the computation times compared with those on conventional and hypercube architectures.
Feature cluster selection for high-throughput data analysis

Feature selection is effective in selecting predictive gene sets for microarray classification. However, the large number of predictive gene sets and the disparity among them presents a challenge for identifying potential biomarkers. To facilitate biomarker identification, we present a new data mining task, feature cluster selection, which selects from a full set of features a small number of coherent and predictive feature clusters. We provide both theoretical definition and empirical formulation for the new problem, and propose an efficient 3M algorithm. Experiments on microarray data have shown that the 3M algorithm can select predictive and statistically significant gene clusters.
Assessing the toxicity and associated costs among pediatric patients admitted with unintentional poisonings of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder drugs in the United States

Background. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is widespread, with a national (United States) prevalence of nearly 10%. The 2011 changes in the diagnostic criteria will likely further increase the prevalence of this disorder. Little is known about the incidence of toxicity from unintentional poisonings of ADHD medications. This study attempted to determine the incidence of these ingestions and the corresponding financial impact in the United States. Methods. Four geographically different centers were chosen. Subjects with unintentional poisonings due to ADHD medications were included if the admission dates were between 2000 and 2002 (cohort A) or between 2009 and 2010 (cohort B). Using data from the participating hospitals and the number of monitored beds in each corresponding county, data were extrapolated on a national (United States) level. Results. Sixty-three subjects were admitted at four hospitals (18, cohort A and 45, cohort B). The crude incidence rate ratio increased in the later ti...
Air pollution and the triggering of cardiac arrhythmias

Purpose of reviewThe last 5 years have witnessed an explosion in interest regarding cardiac arrhythmias and air pollution. The data have been strongest with respect to ventricular arrhythmias but there is accumulating evidence that air pollution is also associated with supraventricular arrhythmias.R
Investment, innovation, and disparities: a complex relationship.

ABSTRACT: Robert Hurley and colleagues find growing disparities in health care. Their methods are rigorous, but key-informant interviews have limitations. Part of their argument rests on observatio...
Selective etching of CoFeNiCu/Cu multilayers

Selective etching of CoFeNiCu/Cu multilayers was investigated with different solutions: HNO3/alcohol, FeCl3/HCl, K2Cr2O7/H2SO4 and dilutions of FeCl3/HCl, K2Cr2O7/H2SO4. Polarization curves on a rotating disk electrode were used to assess the corrosion potential and current density of Cu, and Co-rich alloys. Preferential etching of the Co-rich alloy was attributed to either a less positive corrosion potential or a higher corrosion current density compared to the Cu layer. A dilution of the aqueous K2Cr2O7/H2SO4 solution was considered most promising for submicron structure development.
White-Tailed Deer Antler Research: A Critique of Design and Analysis Methodology

Debate within the popular and technical literature regarding predictability of antler size at maturity based on 1.5-year antler size in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has led to confusion and uncertainty within constituent groups. Koerth and Kroll (2008) provided measures of age-related antler development using recaptures of known-age males from 12 deer populations in southern Texas. Several design and analysis issues reduce the scope and validity of their conclusion that amount of growth in the first set of antlers was a poor predictor of antler growth at maturity. Although unstated, the statistical hypothesis they tested did not coincide with their specific conclusions. Using a simulation, we show that their methods were susceptible to measurement bias. Their results are applicable only to populations with similar culling and management programs. Additionally, we provide recommendations for future research projects that evaluate predictability of antler size at maturity based on antler size at younger ages.
Dosimetric impact of interfraction catheter movement in high-dose rate prostate brachytherapy.

Purpose To evaluate the impact of interfraction catheter movement on dosimetry in prostate high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy. Methods and Materials Fifteen patients were treated with fractionated HDR brachytherapy. Implants were performed on day 1 under transrectal ultrasound guidance. A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed. Inverse planning simulated annealing was used for treatment planning. The first fraction was delivered on day 1. A cone beam CT (CBCT) was performed on day 2 before the second fraction was given. A fusion of the CBCT and CT was performed using intraprostatic gold markers as landmarks. Initial prostate and urethra contours were transferred to the CBCT images. Bladder and rectum contours were drawn, and catheters were digitized on the CBCT. The planned treatment was applied to the CBCT dataset, and dosimetry was analyzed and compared to the initial dose distribution. This process was repeated after a reoptimization was performed, using the same constraints used on day 1. Results Mean interfraction catheter displacement was 5.1 mm. When we used the initial plan on day 2, the mean prostate V100 (volume receiving 100 Gy or more) decreased from 93.8% to 76.2% ( p 3 to 1.49 cm 3 ( p p = 0.05). Mean rectal V75 was also improved with a value of 0.59 cm 3 . There was no significant change in bladder and urethra dose on day 2. Conclusions A mean interfraction catheter displacement of 5.1 mm results in a significant decrease in prostate V100 and an increase in rectum dose. A reoptimization before the second treatment improves dose distribution.
A Note on Problems of Wave Generation in Semi-Infinite Media by Surface Forces.

An elementary procedure is described for the analysis of unsteady wave motions in a half-space which result from given conditions of excitation at a plane boundary thereof; this involves a single integral transformation of the basic wave equation and the use of known solutions for the consequent version of same, and does not entail any complex variable calculation. Illustrative applications of the procedure are detailed for specific cases of two-dimensional and cylindrically symmetric motions, and prior representations of the solution are established in a unified manner.
Paternal Age and Genetic Load

The incidence of base substitutions in humans increases with the age of the father, which shows up as an increased incidence of mutational disorders in the children of older fathers. There is a less obvious implication: an extended period of high average paternal age in a population will lead to increased genetic load. We mention some societies that have had high average paternal age for many generations. This may explain some surprising regional differences in recent measurements of deleterious mutations. High average paternal age also influences life history evolution, strengthening selection against mortality in late life while weakening selection against child mortality.
Altruism in clinical research: Coordinators’ orientation to their professional roles

Abstract Objective Research coordinators have significant responsibilities in clinical trials that often require them to find unique ways to manage their jobs, thus reshaping their professional identities. The purpose of this study was to identify how research coordinators manage role and ethical conflicts within clinical research trials. Methods A qualitative study combining observation and 63 semistructured interviews at 25 research organizations was used. Results Altruism is a recurring theme in how research coordinators define and view their work. Conclusion Altruism is adopted by research coordinators to: (1) Teach patient-subjects the appropriate reasons to participate in clinical research, (2) minimize the conflict between research and care, and (3) contest the undervaluation of coordinating. Altruism is a strategy used to handle the various conflicts they experience in a difficult job, and it has become part of the professional identity of clinical research coordinators.
Impact of operating conditions on a chiller-less data center test facility with liquid cooled servers

Data center cooling can constitute a significant portion of the total data center energy usage, with typical cooling energy expenditures approximately 50% of the IT energy use. Much of this energy consumption occurs at the refrigeration/chiller plant and in the Computer Room Air Handlers (CRAH) that cool and condition the air used to cool the electronics racks. To reduce cooling energy use, a data center test facility was designed and constructed to reduce cooling energy use to less than 5% of the total IT energy use through a combination of warm water cooling of the electronics and liquid-side economization. Several data center operating conditions, such as changes in liquid and air flow rates, heat exchanger arrangements and addition of propylene glycol were investigated to determine their impact on the energy consumption and thermal performance of the key cooling equipment. Day long runs collected from summer and fall days are also reported to illustrate the impact of external weather conditions and loop operating conditions on the thermal performance and energy consumption of the dual-loop data center test facility. The work presented highlights the impact of various operating conditions in influencing the cooling energy use and improving data center energy efficiency in chiller-less, ambient-air cooled data center designs using water cooled servers.
What is Still Working in Working Memory in Old Age: Dual Tasking and Resistance to Interference Do Not Explain Age-Related Item Loss After a Focus Switch

Objectives. In 2 e xperiments, we examined the oft-replicated finding of age-related differences in accuracy at retrieving items stored in working memory, but outside the focus of attention. Specifically, we investigated whether such differ ences could be explained by (a) age-related differences in coping with the dual-task nature of swapping items into and out of the focus of attention and/or (b) age-related differences in resistance to interference. Method. W e used a modified version of the N-Back task with stimuli of different levels of difficulty, and experimental manipulations aimed at isolating the dual-task and interference effects. Results. W e found both explanations lacking: We obtained a dual-task cost (Experiment 1) and an interference cost (Experiment 2), as well as a large age effect (Cohen’s d = 1.6 in Experiment 1 and 0.7 in Experiment 2) but neither the dual task nor the interference effect was sensitive to age. Discussion. These findings, combined with pre vious failures to find an explanation for the age effects, suggest that item availability after a focus switch might be an important new and fundamental variable—a cognitive primitive— potentially necessary for a full understanding of age effects in higher order cognition.
The influence of microvessel density on ovarian carcinogenesis.

Abstract Objective Tumor microvessel density, measured by CD31 immunohistochemistry, correlates with survival in patients with ovarian cancer. CA 125 is secreted by most ovarian cancers, and we have previously shown that the rate of decline of CA 125 is also predictive of ovarian cancer survival. Because increased tumor vascularity may allow metastases on one hand, while facilitating the delivery of chemotherapy on the other, we investigated the relationship of tumor microvessel density to preoperative CA 125, residual disease, and the initial response to treatment. Methods FIGO stage, grade, age, residual disease, and CD31 microvessel density count were correlated with consecutive patients ( n = 202) diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer who met entry criteria. The relationship of CD31 staining to preoperative CA 125, and the rate of decline in CA 125 (slope) as a measure of initial response to therapy, was also evaluated based on complete CA 125 data. Spearman correlation and the Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for bivariate analyses. Linear and logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. Results There were 21 stage I, 14 stage II, 125 stage III, and 42 stage IV patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer included in the study. More than half ( N = 126) of the patients were optimally cytoreduced. Elevated microvessel density was associated with advanced stage of disease ( P = 0.0453), grade ( P = 0.0002), and an increased amount of residual disease ( P = 0.0144). CA 125 values were higher in patients with residual disease versus patients without residual disease ( P = 0.0357), and the decline in the CA 125 (slope) was less steep in patients without residual disease versus patients with residual disease ( P = 0.0003). However, the initial response to chemotherapy was unrelated to the microvessel density count as measured by CD31 antibody staining ( P = 0.7911). In multivariate analyses, CD31 counts remained significant in relationship to grade. Nonideal slopes, indicating decreased response, were associated with increasing age ( P = 0.0008) and residual disease ( P = 0.0035). Conclusion Elevated ovarian cancer microvessel density count is related to advanced stage and grade of disease, and compromised potential for cytoreduction. Residual disease is associated with higher CA 125 levels and faster CA 125 decline rates. The rate of decline of CA 125 during the initial response to treatment cannot be predicted based on CD31 counts, confirming a complex relationship between tumor vascularity, metastasis, and response to treatment.
The Laminin α Chains: Expression, Developmental Transitions, and Chromosomal Locations of α1-5, Identification of Heterotrimeric Laminins 8–11, and Cloning of a Novel α3 Isoform

Laminin trimers composed of α, β, and γ chains are major components of basal laminae (BLs) throughout the body. To date, three α chains (α1–3) have been shown to assemble into at least seven heterotrimers (called laminins 1–7). Genes encoding two additional α chains (α4 and α5) have been cloned, but little is known about their expression, and their protein products have not been identified. Here we generated antisera to recombinant α4 and α5 and used them to identify authentic proteins in tissue extracts. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting showed that α4 and α5 assemble into four novel laminin heterotrimers (laminins 8–11: α4β1γ1, α4β2γ1, α5β1γ1, and α5β2γ1, respectively). Using a panel of nucleotide and antibody probes, we surveyed the expression of α1-5 in murine tissues. All five chains were expressed in both embryos and adults, but each was distributed in a distinct pattern at both RNA and protein levels. Overall, α4 and α5 exhibited the broadest patterns of expression, while expression of α1 was the most restricted. Immunohistochemical analysis of kidney, lung, and heart showed that the α chains were confined to extracellular matrix and, with few exceptions, to BLs. All developing and adult BLs examined contained at least one α chain, all α chains were present in multiple BLs, and some BLs contained two or three α chains. Detailed analysis of developing kidney revealed that some individual BLs, including those of the tubule and glomerulus, changed in laminin chain composition as they matured, expressing up to three different α chains and two different β chains in an elaborate and dynamic progression. Interspecific backcross mapping of the five α chain genes revealed that they are distributed on four mouse chromosomes. Finally, we identified a novel full-length α3 isoform encoded by the Lama3 gene, which was previously believed to encode only truncated chains. Together, these results reveal remarkable diversity in BL composition and complexity in BL development.
Toll-Like Receptor 4-Dependent Early Elicited Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Expression Is Critical for Innate Host Defense against Bordetella bronchiseptica

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mediates the response to lipopolysaccharide, and its activation induces the expression of a large number of inflammatory genes, many of which are also induced by other pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Interestingly, the subset of genes that are dependent on TLR4 for optimal expression during gram-negative bacterial infection has not been determined. We have previously shown that TLR4-deficient mice rapidly develop acute pneumonia after inoculation with Bordetella bronchiseptica, suggesting that TLR4 is required for expression of early elicited gene products in this model. Microarray analysis with macrophages derived from wild-type and TLR4-deficient mice was used to identify genes whose expression, within 1 h of bacterial exposure, is dependent on TLR4. The results of this investigation suggest that TLR4 is not required for the majority of the transcriptional response to B. bronchiseptica. However, early tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA expression is primarily dependent on TLR4 and in vitro and in vivo protein levels substantiate this finding. TLR4-deficient mice and TNF-alpha-/- mice are similarly susceptible to infection with relatively low doses of B. bronchiseptica and in vivo neutralization studies indicate that it is the TLR4-dependent early elicited TNF-alpha response that is critical for preventing severe pneumonia and limiting bacterial growth. These results suggest that one critical role for TLR4 is the generation of a robust but transient TNF-alpha response that is critical to innate host defense during acute gram-negative respiratory infection.
Nitrate reductase-deficient mutants in barley

MUTANTS have long been used to study genetic and biochemical regulation of metabolic pathways in microorganisms. Often it is a relatively simple task to screen large bacterial populations for an individual lacking a specific enzyme or enzyme product. Defined enzyme mutants would also be valuable research tools for plant geneticists and biochemists. Unfortunately, very few biochemically defined mutants have been selected in higher plants, principally because of the genetic and biochemical complexity, and the long generation time of higher plants1. But, these obstacles could be overcome in plants by inducing high mutation frequencies and developing effective techniques for selecting biochemically defined mutants. High mutation frequencies can be readily induced in some higher plant species by sodium azide, a potent base substitution mutagen in barley2,3. Nitrate reductase, which has an important function in higher plants4, has been extensively studied in bacteria and fungi5, is highly regulated5,6, and has several catalytic activities including NAD(P)H, FMNH2 and reduced methyl viologen nitrate reductase activities, and NAD(P)H cytochrome c reductase activity6. Nitrate reductase is therefore an excellent enzyme in which defined mutants in higher plants can be selected, studied, and compared with microorganisms. We describe here a procedure for the induction and selection of nitrate reductase-deficient mutants in higher plants, and the partial characterisation of three nitrate reductase-deficient mutants in barley.
Blunt trauma as a suspected cause of delayed constrictive pericarditis: a case report

Constrictive pericarditis is a heterogeneous disease with many causes. Traumatic hemopericardium is an uncommon initiating cause. We report the case of a man developing constrictive pericarditis after blunt chest trauma, in order to highlight an approach to diagnosing the condition and to raise awareness of the possibility of this condition developing after blunt trauma. A 72-year-old Caucasian man presented initially to our outpatient clinic with a one-year history of progressively worsening dyspnea, and recent onset of edema of the legs. He was later taken to the emergency department and admitted to hospital. He had previously received unsuccessful treatment from his local primary physicians for suspected respiratory disorder and cellulitis of his legs. Echocardiography showed evidence of pericardial constriction, and computed tomography revealed nodular, lobulated thickening of the pericardium and pleura bilaterally. Interventional biopsies were taken, but gave inconclusive results. Thus, as pericarditis and/or advanced malignancy were suspected, diagnostic video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed to take biopsies from the abnormal lung and pericardial tissue. Examination of these supported the diagnosis of pericarditis, as acute and chronic inflammation and fibrous thickening were found, with no evidence of malignancy. Our patient underwent cardiac catheterization, which revealed three-vessel coronary artery disease. Emergency total pericardiectomy and coronary bypass were performed. Having excluded other common initiating factors, we considered that a blunt trauma that our patient had previously sustained to his chest was the potential cause of the constrictive pericarditis. This was an interesting case of blunt chest trauma followed by progressive pericardial and pleural thickening. Subsequent development of chronic constrictive pericarditis occurred, requiring treatment by surgical pericardiectomy, as the clinical course of constrictive pericarditis is usually progressive without surgical intervention. Diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis remains challenging. Although uncommon, blunt trauma should be considered as a possible initiating cause. Delayed presentation of constrictive pericarditis should also be considered as a possible morbidity in a patient who has sustained blunt chest trauma. Our case also highlights the importance of performing echocardiography promptly in patients experiencing ongoing symptoms of congestive heart failure to allow earlier diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis or other cardiac disorders, and avoid unnecessary treatments.
Dynamic similarity and scaling for the design of dynamical legged robots

Robots are often used to perform similar tasks on vastly different scales. When utilizing traditional design approaches, this typically requires a full redesign and optimization at each specified size, a costly and time intensive process. In this work, we propose an alternative approach based on the principle of dynamic similarity. With this method, an initial design may be conceived at any size and scaled to any other without needing to re-optimize either physical or control variables. In the following study, we derive a generalized scaling method for this application that not only preserves system performance, but also affords flexibility in the scaling process. The preservation of dynamic similarity is validated in simulation. We further explore the application for robot-to-robot scaling, flexibility afforded by an additional free parameter, and the implications of scaling on both power requirements and structural loading. With these insights, we provide an improved methodology for the efficient and cost-effective development of scaled robotic systems.
What is protest? Feminism, psychoanalysis and methods of social change

ABSTRACTDespite the fact that feminism has recognised psychoanalysis to be a theory with direct application to the understanding of sexism for over 50 years, the application of psychoanalytic thinking to feminist activism has yet to be significantly realised. Using the work of Julia Kristeva, sexism is described as a symptom of an intolerable situation and overt forms of activism, such as street protest, that are critiqued as making demands on their subject. The third-wave tendency for deconstruction is examined as having direct implications to a concept of psychoanalytically informed activism.
Dimerization of chirally mutated Enkephalin neurotransmitters: implications for peptide and protein aggregation mechanisms.

We have probed the structures and aggregation propensities of chirally substituted [Ala2]-Leu-Enkephalin peptides (i.e., Leu-Enkephalin G2A) with a combination of ion-mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry and techniques of computational chemistry. Our IMS/MS data reveal a strong correlation between the propensity to form peptide dimers and the subsequent aggregation propensity. This correlation indicates that the dimerization process is fundamental to the overall self-assembly process. Our computational data correlate a conformational conversion during the peptide association process with a reduced experimental dimer formation and subsequent aggregation propensity. Furthermore, our analysis indicates that monomer activation does not precede peptide association and thus suggests that the entire-refolding or gain-in-interaction models are more realistic accounts of the peptide self-assembly process than the monomer-conversion model. In sum, our results suggest that conformational transitions of early pept...
Abstract 5210: PRL-1 promotes cell metastatic processes and regulates filamentous actin dynamics

The phosphatases of regenerating liver (PRL) are a family of the protein tyrosine phosphatases that have been hypothesized to be involved in metastatic cancer. While the PRLs appear to regulate cancer cell migration, invasion and proliferation, we do not fully understand mechanistically how they control these processes. In the current study, we present new findings demonstrating that PRL-1 regulates filamentous actin dynamics, which could promote cell metastatic processes. Human A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells stably expressing wildtype PRL-1 exhibited a 60% increase in cell migration at 72 hours and a three-fold increase in cell invasion at 24 hours. Cells expressing catalytic mutants of PRL-1 (C104S and D72A) did not demonstrate increased cell migration and invasion, indicating that these phenotypic changes required the PRL-1 phosphatase activity. PRL-1 siRNA decreased PRL-1 protein levels by 50% and decreased cell migration by 25%. Cellular invasiveness is controlled by the cadherin-catenin complex and dynamic filamentous actin. We found wildtype PRL-1 interrupted E-cadherin and regulated Rho family kinase function, which have important roles in actin filament assembly and stabilization of focal adhesion. We also observed that expression of wildtype PRL-1 caused diffusely disassembled F-actin with reduced F-actin levels as compared to that seen in cells expressing the vector control or the catalytic mutant. We conclude the PRL-1 enhanced lung cancer cell migration and invasion. These results suggest PRL-1 could be a productive therapeutic target for cancer metastasis and support further efforts to identify its substrates. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5210.
Mesodermal alterations induced by hypervitaminosis A.

In a recent experimental study (Marin-Padilla & Ferm, 1965) of the teratogenic effects of vitamin A, a distinct cellular necrosis in the somites of young hamster embryos was found. This necrosis appeared at 12 h and the maximum degree of damage was reached some 24 h after the administration of the vitamin. The somite damage was considered then to be the earliest alteration induced by vitamin A which, in turn, causes disturbances in the axial mesoderm. Disturbances in the axial mesoderm could explain the vitamin A induced cranioschisis and sacral rhachischisis. The study of human cranioschisis (Marin-Padilla, 1965 b ) and craniorhachischisis (Marin-Padilla, 1966) has also shown that unknown mesodermal conditions, affecting the cephalic and the axial mesoderm respectively, are the most likely underlying causes of these two malformations. Similar axial mesodermal conditions may also explain the notochordal alteration encountered in human cranioschisis (Marin-Padilla, 1966).
USING SOCIAL NETWORKS FOR ASSESSING COMPANY SALES AND MARKETING PROGRAMS

During the course of an extended sales period for a company’s given product line, there are many events that affect the success of its sales. Some of these events include economic downturns, unforeseen shortages and delays that effect the supply chain for the product, and product quality issues that change the perception of the product as a safe and cost-effective choice. In many instances, these events can be tracked by analyzing the signals and messaging present in the social networking media. This analysis requires careful consideration, which the metrics provided by software tools and algorithms lend considerable aid.
Finite element analysis on fruit temperature fields based on postharvest disinfestations with hot air and water treatments

Hot air and hot water heating have been extensively studied as effective physical treatment methods to replace chemical fumigation for controlling insect pests in fruits and vegetables because of environmental benefit and easy control. However, it is lack of systematic research on heating rate, heating time and temperature distribution, the insect mortality requirement is not met or fruit quality is negatively affected. To study the heat transfer mechanism of postharvest fruit heat treatment process, a computer simulation model was developed to analyze the heating rate and the transient temperature distribution in thermally treated fruits using finite element-based commercial software, COMSOL, based on the unsteady heat transfer. a set of differential equations that govern heat transfer in fruits was reduced into a group of algebra equations in the simulation model. The measured surface and center temperatures of fruits during hot air and water heating were compared against to the results obtained from the finite element simulation. The root mean square error between simulated and measured temperatures was all below 8%. The comparison analysis showed that the simulation results were in good agreement with the measured values, which indicates the reliability of the simulation model. With the validated simulation model, the impacts of various parameters on heating rates were systematically studied using forced hot air and water treatments. To reach the same thermal effect, hot water(55°C) heating time was about 30% in hot air(55°C) treatments. Water was more efficient medium than air. Increasing air speed increased heating rates, but water circulation speeds had little impact on heat transfer rate. The most important parameters in the model included the fruit size, fruit shape and the heating medium followed by the heating medium speed and thermal diffusivity. This study demonstrated that the computer simulation model can be used to evaluate the impacts of various heating parameters on the temperature–time history in fruits. These parameters include fruit size, fruit shape, heating medium speed, and thermal diffusivity. Combining the hot air or hot water treatment with the fast heating method, e.g. radio frequency or microwave energy, further improves the fruit heating efficiency since electromagnetic energy may eliminate conduction as a major rate-limiting factor directly delivered to the fruit interior. Furthermore, when combined with insect mortality and quality kinetic information, the model can be used to support for the heat treatment process and optimize the process parameters in postharvest thermal disinfestations.
Reduction of Cerebral Edema via an Osmotic Transport Device Improves Functional Outcome after Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), the foremost cause of morbidity and mortality in persons under 45 years of age worldwide, leads to about 200,000 victims requiring hospitalization and approximately 52,000 deaths per year in the United States. TBI is characterized by cerebral edema leading to raised intracranial pressure, brain herniation, and subsequent death. Current therapies for TBI treatment are often ineffective, thus novel therapies are needed. Recent studies have shown that an osmotic transport device (OTD) is capable of reducing brain water content and improving survival in mice with severe cerebral edema. Here we compare the effects of a craniectomy and an OTD plus craniectomy on neurological function in mice after TBI. Animals treated with a craniectomy plus an OTD had significantly better neurological function 2 days after TBI compared with those treated with craniectomy only. This study suggests that an OTD for severe brain swelling may improve patient functional outcome. Future studies include a more comprehensive neurological examination, including long-term memory tests.
Predatory Fish Responses to Prey Odors (Chemical Lures)

Predatory fish locate their prey primarily by scent or vision. Here, we are concerned with the chemical sense. Chemical hunting is particularly adaptive for nocturnal species or those living in turbid waters. Many marine and freshwater fishes hunt by smell. The chemical compounds responsible for this attraction have been identified. Most of them are amino acids, and particularly active as mixtures of several amino acids.
Intracerebral laser interstitial thermal therapy followed by tumor resection to minimize cerebral edema

OBJECTIVE Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is used in numerous neurosurgical applications including lesions that are difficult to resect. Its rising popularity can be attributed to its minimally invasive approach, improved accuracy with real-time MRI guidance and thermography, and enhanced control of the laser. One of its drawbacks is the possible development of significant edema, which contributes to extended hospital stays and often necessitates hyperosmolar or steroid therapy. Here, the authors discuss the use of minimally invasive craniotomy to resect tissue ablated with LITT in attempt to minimize cerebral edema. METHODS Five patients with glioblastoma multiforme prospectively underwent LITT followed by resection. The LITT was performed with the aid of an MR-compatible skull-mounted frame in the MRI suite. Ablated tumor was then resected via small craniotomy by using the NICO Myriad system or cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator. Postoperative management involved dexamethasone administrati...
The Pareto principle and resource egalitarianism

Abstract This paper introduces and studies the leximin Paretian ordering , which refines the consensual leximin ordering by adding the Pareto principle to the concept of lexicographic egalitarianism. We also provide an alternative characterization of the consensual Rawlsian ordering. We introduce several new axioms, including the Permutation Pareto Principle and Internal Dominance, and study their logical relationships.
Provider perspectives on patient-provider communication for adjuvant endocrine therapy symptom management.

Purpose Providers’ communication skills play a key role in encouraging breast cancer survivors to report symptoms and adhere to long-term treatments such as adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET). The purpose of this study was to examine provider perspectives on patient-provider communication regarding AET symptom management and to explore whether provider perspectives vary across the multi-disciplinary team of providers involved in survivorship care.
Assessing the Impact of Negative Marketing Strategies: The Application of Market Signaling Metrics

One important issue to entrepreneurs is whether or not a great idea or product is the most significant ingredient necessary for success in today’s business environment. A new market metric for asse...
The Real Crisis of Silicon Valley: A Retrospective Perspective:

Ten years ago, Silicon Valley was the leading pole in the world of high technology development and was headed for a potential regional crisis. Two major issues were at stake: first, “the applications gap,” the need to diffuse technological applications throughout society, beyond the limits of corporate uses and military equipment, to match the extraordinary development of technological innovation; and second, the lack of social conditions for Silicon Valley's entrepreneurs to constitute themselves into a visionary class able to restructure society around its interests, coinciding with the interests of development of such a technological innovation. The industry had to become demand-driven, rather that supply-induced.Today, the Valley has rebounded and repositioned itself, without fulfilling the conditions of this “social” model. Uses of information technology exploded in all realms, along the lines of networking activities. But how to explain this phenomenon? The answer lies in the research and theorizati...
Moral Bioenhancement Probably Won’t Improve Things for Animals (and May Make Them Worse)

Persson and Savulescu are advocates for moral bioenhancement—i.e., using drug treatments and genetic engineering to enhance our core moral dispositions. Among other things, they suggest that moral bioenhancement would improve how we treat animals. My goal here is to argue that we have little reason to think that moral bioenhancement will help in this regard. What’s more, it may make things worse. This is because (a) there are cognitive mechanisms that lead us to discount animal interests relative to human interests—mechanisms not overridden by increased altruism and a stronger sense of justice—and (b) there are deep tensions between the interests of humans and animals that moral bioenhancement may well exacerbate.
Abstract 136: Quercetin Intake With Exercise Modulate Adipose Response in Mice Fed Atherogenic Diet

Adipose tissue is shown to influence atherosclerotic plaque formation and contribute to cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have focused on the potential role of adipose tissue physiopathology o...
The Avian Auditory Pallium

The functional and anatomical similarities between the avian auditory pallium and the mammalian auditory cortex are arguably as striking as their differences. Here, we hope to demonstrate the potential of a comparative approach in auditory physiology. On the one hand, birds and mammals face similar problems in auditory scene analysis and therefore it is not surprising to find evolutionary convergence in the functional strategies of information processing both by individual cells and by circuits. On the other hand, parallel evolution has resulted in avian pallium lacking the six-layer anatomical structure found in mammalian cortex and in the Aves having less extensive feedback between the primary sensory cortex and the thalamus.
Abstract 42: In Vivo Differentiation of Epigenetically Reprogrammed Human Endothelial Progenitor Cells into Cardiomyocytes Enhances Functional and Anatomical Postinfarct Myocardial Repair

Currently, bone marrow derived endothelial progenitor cells (human CD34+ cells, EPC) are being used clinically to improve vascularization in patients with ischemic heart disease. While it is generally accepted that CD34+ cells predominantly work through a paracrine mechanism, there exists no convincing evidence that these cells trans-differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes (CMC). Since ischemic heart disease leads to substantial loss of CMC, improving cardiomyogenic plasticity of an existing autologous cell therapy is of obvious import. EPC and CMC both differentiate from a common mesodermal progenitor however; during EC-specific lineage differentiation, CMC specific genes are epigenetically silenced. We hypothesized that reprogramming of CD34+ cells using small molecules targeting key epigenetic repressive marks may recapitulate their cardiomyogenic potential. Human CD34+ EPCs were treated with inhibitors of histone deacetylases (valproic acid) for 24 hours followed by an additional 24 hours with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (5-Azacytidine). This forty-eight hour treatment led to the reactivation of pluripotency associated and CMC specific mRNA expression while EC specific gene expression was maintained. Intra-myocardial transplantation of a sub-therapeutic dose of reprogrammed CD34+ cells in an acute myocardial infarction mouse model showed significant improvement in LV function compared to the same number of control CD34+ cells that are therapeutically equivalent to no treatment at all. This was histologically supported by de novo CMC differentiation. In addition to increased cardiomyogenic plasticity, drug treatment also enhanced the inherent therapeutic capacity of the CD34+ cells as shown by reduced fibrosis, increased capillary density, increased proliferation, increased cell survival and increased secretion of angiogenic factors. Taken together, our results suggest that epigenetically reprogrammed CD34+ cells are “super-CD34+ cells” that have an enhanced paracrine effect, display a more plastic phenotype and improve post-infarct cardiac repair by both neo-cardiomyogenesis and neovascularization.
Anisotropic microhardness in single-crystal and polycrystalline BaTiO3

The room-temperature hardness of single-crystal and dense polycrystalline BaTiO3 was investigated by microindentation. The longer diagonal of the Knoop indenter was oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the poled axis of the material. The hardness of the unpoled sample was isotropic. However, hardnesses in the poled samples were anisotropic, with the highest hardnesses resulting when the longer diagonal was parallel to the poled axis. The hardness anisotropy may be due primarily to residual stresses caused by the piezoelectric coupling effect.
Energy-efficient primary/backup scheduling techniques for heterogeneous multicore systems

In this paper, we consider energy-efficient and fault-tolerant scheduling of real-time tasks on heterogeneous multicore systems. Each task consists of a main copy and a backup copy which are scheduled on different cores, for fault tolerance purposes. Our framework deliberately delays the backup tasks in order to cancel them dynamically when the main task copies complete successfully (without faults). We identify and address two dimensions of the problem, i.e., partitioning tasks and determining processor voltage/frequency levels to minimize energy consumption. Our experimental results show that our proposed algorithms' performance levels are close to that of an ideal solution with optimal (but computationally prohibitive) partitioning and frequency assignment components.
Perioperative management of patients with congenital or acquired disorders of the QT interval.

Abstract QT prolongation can be attributable to various causes that can be categorised as acquired or congenital. Arrhythmias related to QT prolongation can result in clinical presentations, such as syncope and sudden cardiac death. The perioperative period presents a number of issues that may affect a patient's risk of developing polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or torsades de pointes. Although most patients may have an unremarkable perioperative course, some may have complications; this review article aims to help clinicians avoid potential complications, and to help them address treatment for perioperative issues that may occur.
Book Review Kamasutra

Wendy Doniger's Redeeming Kamasutra is an interesting study though somewhat prejudiced and even perfunctory in providing opinions rather than following the text of an ancient manual on human nature and behavior.