cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extreme chromosome 17 copy number instability is a prognostic factor in patients with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: A retrospective cohort study

Gastric and esophageal cancers frequently show genomic instability and aneuploidy. Chromosomal copy number instability (CIN) is a form of genomic instability that exerts pleiotropic effects on cellular biology and is a source of genetic heterogeneity in a population of cells. CIN results in cell-to-cell variation in chromosome copy number which can be detected and quantified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). CIN is a biomarker associated with differential response to a number of chemotherapy compounds. We quantified chromosome 17 copy number instability (CIN-17) in 348 gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas by centromeric FISH in cases that were tested for HER2 amplification. We evaluated the association between CIN-17 and clinical outcome after surgical and nonsurgical treatment. CIN-17 was detected in 45.4% (158/348) and extreme CIN-17 in 28.4% (99/348). Extreme CIN-17 had no association with outcome in surgically treated patients. However, in patients treated with conventional radiation and/or chemotherapy, extreme CIN-17 was associated with 55% reduction in overall mortality (hazard ratio, 0.448; 95% confidence interval, 0.263-0.763) after adjusting for age and clinical stage at diagnosis. Extreme CIN-17 is detected in over a quarter of gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas and is a favorable prognostic marker in patients treated nonoperatively.
Advanced TEM sample preparation and imaging techniques in semiconductor devices

In this paper, we present three cases studies with dedicated FIB-TEM technique that developed to characterize each of them. The first case describes a FIB sample preparation method that can include two columns of the structure of interest into one sample. It is a useful technique to characterize the overlay offset when more than one column of the structures is concerned. The second case is about to prepare an ultra-thin TEM sample which minimizes the shadowing effect and nano-roughness in localized area. Such thin samples are ideal for high resolution imaging and crystal structure analysis. In the last case, one TEM imaging technique is developed to enhance the defect contrast by utilizing the Fresnel fringes when there is not enough contrast can be obtained from normal in focus imaging condition. Theoretical description of the Fresnel fringes is also provided to illustrate the origin of extra contrast that can obtain from this technique.
A Shift in Escape Strategy by Grasshopper Prey in Response to Repeated Pursuit

We used grasshoppers as a model organism to examine the response of prey to repeated approach from a persistent predator (human observer). We randomly assigned adult Chortophaga australior (Southern Greenstriped Grasshopper) to either low- or highrisk treatments. For both groups, we approached each grasshopper during 15 consecutive encounters and recorded the distance fled (DF) and overall flight path. We approached grasshoppers assigned to the low-risk treatment after a 30-second delay upon landing between each escape flight. Those in the high-risk treatment were approached immediately upon landing and given no opportunity to recover. Grasshoppers assigned to the low-risk treatment exhibited an erratic, or protean flight path to evade detection and traveled shorter distances across consecutive encounters. Those in the high-risk treatment exhibited longer escape flights that were more commonly oriented directly away from the approach of the observer. The results of our study provide additional evidence that prey may shift escape strategies in response to real-time assessment of predation risk.
Methanogens Are Major Contributors to Nitrogen Fixation in Soils of the Florida Everglades

The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of the nitrogen (N) cycle with methane production in the Florida Everglades, a large freshwater wetland. This study provides an initial analysis of the distribution and expression of N-cycling genes in Water Conservation Area 2A (WCA-2A), a section of the marsh that underwent phosphorus (P) loading for many years due to runoff from upstream agricultural activities. The elevated P resulted in increased primary productivity and an N limitation in P-enriched areas. Results from quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analyses indicated that the N cycle in WCA-2A was dominated by nifH and nirK/S, with an increasing trend in copy numbers in P-impacted sites. Many nifH sequences (6 to 44% of the total) and nifH transcript sequences (2 to 49%) clustered with the methanogenic Euryarchaeota, in stark contrast to the proportion of core gene sequences representing Archaea (≤0.27% of SSU rRNA genes) for the WCA-2A microbiota. Notably, archaeal nifH gene transcripts were detected at all sites and comprised a significant proportion of total nifH transcripts obtained from the unimpacted site, indicating that methanogens are actively fixing N2 Laboratory incubations with soils taken from WCA-2A produced nifH transcripts with the production of methane from H2 plus CO2 and acetate as electron donors and carbon sources. Methanogenic N2 fixation is likely to be an important, although largely unrecognized, route through which fixed nitrogen enters the anoxic soils of the Everglades and may have significant relevance regarding methane production in wetlands.IMPORTANCE Wetlands are the most important natural sources of the greenhouse gas methane, and much of that methane emanates from (sub)tropical peatlands. Primary productivity in these peatlands is frequently limited by the availability of nitrogen or phosphorus; however, the response to nutrient limitations of microbial communities that control biogeochemical cycling critical to ecosystem function may be complex and may be associated with a range of processes, including methane production. We show that many, if not most, of the methanogens in the peatlands of the Florida Everglades possess the nifH gene and actively express it for N2 fixation coupled with methanogenesis. These findings indicate that archaeal N2 fixation would play crucial role in methane emissions and overall N cycle in subtropical wetlands suffering N limitation.
A Quarter Century of Emerging Infectious Diseases - Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?

A quarter century ago the landmark report from the U. S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine entitled “ Emerging Infections, Microbial Threats to Health in the United States” was released. This classic study captured the societal changes then underway in our rapidly growing world: The growth of the world’s population and changing human behavior; the advances and globalization of technology and industry; the changes in economic development and land use; the dramatic increase in speed and frequency of international travel and commerce; the adaptation of microbes and the appearance of never before seen pathogens; and the breakdown of traditional public health measures. This societal evolution has only increased and the growing frequency of outbreaks foretold in the report has come to pass. Each new disaster has precipitated changes and adaptations in our global response to infectious diseases designed to reduce risks and avoid future outbreaks. We discuss these past events and how each led to change in an effort to mitigate future threats. We also look to the future to consider what challenges might lay ahead. Conclusion. Major outbreaks over the past quarter century validated the concept of emerging infectious diseases and led to improvements in global policies and national public health programs; however, there will likely always be new diseases and the threat of reemergence of diseases once thought controlled leading to a constant need for vigilance in public health preparedness.
Real-Time Training of Team Soccer Behaviors

Training robot or agent behaviors by example is an attractive alternative to directly coding them. However training complex behaviors can be challenging, particularly when it involves interactive behaviors involving multiple agents. We present a novel hierarchical learning from demonstration system which can be used to train both single-agent and scalable cooperative multiagent behaviors. The methodology applies manual task decomposition to break the complex training problem into simpler parts, then solves the problem by iteratively training each part. We discuss our application of this method to multiagent problems in the humanoid RoboCup competition, and apply the technique to the keepaway soccer problem in the RoboCup Soccer Simulator.
Semantics-Aware Prediction for Analytic Queries in MapReduce Environment

MapReduce has emerged as a powerful data processing engine that supports large-scale complex analytics applications, most of which are written in declarative query languages such as HiveQL and Pig Latin. Analytic queries are typically compiled into execution plans in the form of directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) of MapReduce jobs. Jobs in the DAGs are dispatched to the MapReduce processing engine as soon as their dependencies are satisfied. MapReduce adopts a job-level scheduling policy to strive for balanced distribution of tasks and effective utilization of resources. However, there is a lack of query-level semantics in the purely task-based scheduling algorithms, resulting in resource thrashing among queries and an overall degradation of performance. Therefore, we introduce a semantic-aware query prediction framework to address these problems systematically. Our framework includes three major techniques: cross-layer semantics percolation, selectivity estimation, and multivariate time prediction for analytic queries. Multivariate query prediction allows us not only to gauge the dynamic size of analytics datasets, but also to accurately predict the resource usage (e.g., numbers of map and reduce tasks) of individual MapReduce jobs and whole queries. In addition, the accurate prediction and queuing of queries can be potentially exploited by Hadoop scheduling for optimizing overall query performance. Based on the query prediction, our case study scheduler demonstrates significant performance improvement compared to traditional Hadoop schedulers.
Determination of traces of sodium alkylbenzenesulphonate by high-performance liquid chromatography. Application to water

For the trace determination of sodium alkylbenzenesulphonate (ABS) by HPLC the following conditions were employed: Shimadzu ZORBAX SIL Column (5 μm, 4.6 mm i.d. x 150 mm) as stationary phase, 0.2% ammoniaethanol (v/v) as mobile phase, UV detector at 225 nm, injection volume 12 μl. The chromatograms of ABS were simple and sharp (detection limit of ABS 0.02 μg in 12 μl of ethanol). The calibration curves of ABS were linear in a concentration range of 0.03 ∼ 0.3 μg in 12 μl of ethanol. In the case of linear sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate positive errors of 1 ∼ 4% were caused by non-ionic surfactants or laurylsulphate (6 times excess), 10 ∼ 50% positive errors were caused by 2 ∼ 6 times excess of household detergents. Standard water samples containing ABS were treated with a weak base anion-exchange resin, the adsorbed ABS were eluted, and then determined either by HPLC or by the methylene blue spectrophotometric method. Recoveries of ABS in water were about 92 ∼ 107% by HPLC.
Rootstock vigor shifts aboveground response to groundcover competition in young grapevines

Vegetative groundcover and rootstock selection are popular growth control practices for fruit and nut crops. Theoretically, plant potential growth rate should influence competitive effectiveness; however, it is unclear if rootstock vigor alters crop productivity when groundcover is present. In a humid-climate vineyard we grew young grapevines on low- and medium-vigor rootstocks with and without groundcover. Vegetative growth was determined on dormant stems; yield was determined at harvest. Roots were extracted with soil cores and distribution, morphology, and mycorrhizal colonization were determined. Resource competition was assessed by water and nutrient depletion in vines and soil. Compared to vines on low-vigor rootstocks, vines on medium-vigor rootstocks exhibited greater reductions in vegetative (40% vs 19%) and reproductive (22% vs 0%) growth by presence of groundcover. Irrespective of rootstock vigor, grapevine root systems coped with competition by increasing specific root length, decreasing absorptive root diameter, and redistributing roots deeper. Competition for nutrients was the apparent main cause of growth reductions with groundcover; however, mechanisms for differential rootstock responses remain unclear. This study suggests that in a wet year, young grapevines grafted on low-vigor rootstocks may be more tolerant of groundcover competition than those on medium-vigor rootstocks; however, both rootstocks cope with a similar root response.
Socioeconomic and demographic determinants of postoperative outcome after endoscopic sinus surgery.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Socioeconomic and demographic factors have a significant impact on healthcare utilization and surgical outcomes. The effect of these variables on baseline symptom severity and quality of life (QOL) after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is not well established. Our goal was to investigate the association of sociodemographic factors on QOL before and after ESS, as reflected by the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. METHODS From October 2016 to August 2018, 244 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who underwent ESS were included. Socioeconomic and demographic data, surgical characteristics, and baseline and postoperative SNOT-22 scores were recorded. Univariate and multivariate regression were performed to identify determinants of baseline symptom severity and improvement following ESS. RESULTS Nonwhite patients reported worse baseline symptoms severity (SNOT-22, 52.06 vs. 43.76, P = .021) compared to white patients, yet lower CRS symptoms at follow-up (SNOT-22, 23.38 vs. 28.63, P = .035). Relative improvement was higher in nonwhite patients as well (41.2% vs. 36.5%, Mann-Whitney U = 1,747, P = .015). In an adjusted multivariate logistic regression model, below-median income ($71,805 [California]) was associated with worse baseline symptom severity (β = 7.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10, 14.26). Nonmarried patients (β = 6.78; 95% CI: 2.22, 13.48) and white patients (β = 8.45; 95% CI: 0.40, 13.97) had worse QOL at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Nonwhite patients and those with below-median income present with more severe CRS symptoms at baseline. However, a greater degree of absolute and relative QOL improvement was found in nonwhite and married patients following ESS. Improved understanding of the significance of socioeconomic and demographic factors and attention to cultural differences/marital status could have a substantial impact on ESS outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 130:297-302, 2020.
Brachial distal biceps injuries

Distal biceps injuries are a relatively uncommon clinical condition that typically affect middle-aged males. They commonly occur due to an eccentric overload as the arm is forced from a flexed to extended position. Patients may experience an acute 'pop' and present with arm pain, swelling, and ecchymosis. Treatment options include nonoperative management or surgical repair. The aim of this concise review of distal biceps ruptures is to examine the relevant anatomy, clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment options for these injuries.
Prevalence and Predictors of Third-Generation Cephalosporin Resistance in the Empirical Treatment of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.

Abstract Objective To better characterize the changing patterns of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in a tertiary academic center in the United States by identifying the prevalence of gram-positive organisms and cephalosporin resistance along with predictors of mortality and antibiotic drug resistance. Patients and Methods We reviewed 481 consecutive patients with SBP at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2016. Data on comorbid conditions, etiology of cirrhosis, factors predisposing to infection, and antimicrobial and antibiotic drug use were collected. Results We identified 96 patients (20%) with culture-positive SBP requiring treatment (median age, 60 years; age range, 22-87 years; 44% men). Gram-positive organisms account for more than half of the cases. Overall resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was 10% (n=10). Risk factors for third-generation cephalosporin resistance include nosocomial acquisition, recent antibiotic drug use, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The negative predictive value for antibiotic drug resistance in the present model was 96% (70 of 73). Overall mortality at 30 and 90 days was 23% and 37%, respectively. Conclusion These findings support the recent observation of a rising prevalence of gram-positive organisms in SBP. Despite the changing pattern, third-generation cephalosporins seem to provide adequate empirical treatment in patients with community-acquired and health care–associated SBP without hepatocellular carcinoma.
Estimating the size of the U.S. market for new antibiotics with activity against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

New antibiotics with activity against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) improve outcomes of CRE-infected patients. However, companies developing these drugs have faced financial difficulties. Sales of ceftazidime-avibactam, meropenem-vaborbactam and plazomicin in the United States (US) totaled $101 million from February 2018-January 2019. We estimate the current annual US market for new anti-CRE antibiotics is $289 million (range: $169-$439 million). Without new antibiotic development models and/or reimbursement reform, the majority of anti-CRE drugs will be commercially inviable.
Unique Phenotypic Characteristics and Clinical Course in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: A Multicenter US Experience

INTRODUCTION Ulcerative colitis (UC) associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare phenotype. We aimed to assess patients with UC-PSC or UC alone and describe differences in clinical and phenotypic characteristics, antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, and long-term clinical outcomes. METHODS This retrospective multicenter cohort study included patients who received a diagnosis of UC from 1962 through 2015. We evaluated clinical factors associated with UC-PSC vs UC alone and assessed associations by using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS Among 522 patients with UC, 56 (10.7%) had PSC. Compared with UC alone, patients with UC-PSC were younger (younger than 20 years) at diagnosis (odds ratios [OR], 2.35; adjusted P = 0.02) and had milder UC severity (adjusted P = 0.05), despite having pancolonic involvement (OR, 7.01; adjusted P < 0.001). In the biologics era (calendar year 2005 to 2015), patients with UC-PSC less commonly received anti-TNF therapy compared with patients with UC (OR, 0.38; adjusted P = 0.009), but their response rates were similar. Fewer patients with UC-PSC received corticosteroids (OR, 0.24; adjusted P = 0.005) or rectal 5-aminosalicyte acid (OR, 0.26; adjusted P < 0.001). Other differences were identified that were not statistically significant in a multivariable model: patients with UC-PSC more commonly were male, had lower rates of smoking, and had higher rates of colorectal cancer and colectomy. DISCUSSION This study identified a unique phenotype of UC with concurrent PSC, which had different clinical behavior compared with UC only. These phenotypic characteristics can help identify high-risk patients with UC before PSC is diagnosed and guide different management and monitoring strategies.
Damageable elastic buckling bodies with a crack

Damageable elastic buckling beams with a crack motivate to formulate a differential equation system which can be extended to higher-dimensional problems. Elastic buckling bodies are assumed to evolve their damage and break apart from an edge crack. A nonlinear variational formulation is derived that is equivalent to a partial differential equation, subject to crack conditions and boundary conditions. Then, time discretizations are applied to the variational formulation and a first-order nonlinear ordinary differential equation which describes the evolution of damage. We pass to limits as time step sizes tend to zero, to prove that numerical trajectories are convergent to solutions. The fully discrete numerical schemes for a one-dimensional problem are proposed, and some numerical simulations are presented as well.
US Hospital Type and Proximity to Mass Shooting Events.

This study used data on mass shootings to examine the proximity of adult trauma centers, pediatric trauma centers, and non–trauma center hospitals to such events.
Abstract WMP9: Procedural Parameters Predicting Reduced MRI Infarct Growth in Mechanical Thrombectomy

Background: Successful recanalization after a single pass and shorter procedural duration during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) have been associated with bot...
Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization of Incompatibility Group FIB Positive Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Isolates from Food Animal Sources.

Salmonella enterica is one of the most common bacterial foodborne pathogens in the United States, causing illnesses that range from self-limiting gastroenteritis to more severe, life threatening invasive disease. Many Salmonella strains contain plasmids that carry virulence, antimicrobial resistance, and/or transfer genes which allow them to adapt to diverse environments, and these can include incompatibility group (Inc) FIB plasmids. This study was undertaken to evaluate the genomic and phenotypic characteristics of IncFIB-positive Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates from food animal sources, to identify their plasmid content, assess antimicrobial resistance and virulence properties, and compare their genotypic isolates with more recently isolated S. Typhimurium isolates from food animal sources. Methods: We identified 71 S. Typhimurium isolates that carried IncFIB plasmids. These isolates were subjected to whole genome sequencing and evaluated for bacteriocin production, antimicrobial susceptibility, the ability to transfer resistance plasmids, and a subset was evaluated for their ability to invade and persist in intestinal human epithelial cells. Results: Approximately 30% of isolates (n = 21) displayed bacteriocin inhibition of Escherichia coli strain J53. Bioinformatic analyses using PlasmidFinder software confirmed that all isolates contained IncFIB plasmids along with multiple other plasmid replicon types. Comparative analyses showed that all strains carried multiple antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors including iron acquisition genes, such as iucABCD (75%), iutA (94%), sitABCD (76%) and sitAB (100%). In 17 cases (71%), IncFIB plasmids, along with other plasmid replicon types, were able to conjugally transfer antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes to the susceptible recipient strain. For ten strains, persistence cell counts (27%) were noted to be significantly higher than invasion bacterial cell counts. When the genome sequences of the study isolates collected from 1998–2003 were compared to those published from subsequent years (2005–2018), overlapping genotypes were found, indicating the perseverance of IncFIB positive strains in food animal populations. This study confirms that IncFIB plasmids can play a potential role in disseminating antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes amongst bacteria from several food animal species.
Staying connected: Effects of online platforms on transnational family relations and social capital

By recruiting participants from the social-networking website InterNations, this qualitative interview-based research explores how Nikkei Brazilians maintain intimate family relations and cultivate...
Global regularity criteria for the Navier-Stokes equations based on one approximate solution

Considering the three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations on the whole space, we address the question: is it possible to infer global regularity of a mild solution from a single approximate solution? Assuming a relatively simple scale-invariant relation involving the size of the approximate solution, the resolution parameter, and the initial energy, we show that the answer is affirmative for a general class of approximate solutions, including Leray's mollified solutions. Two different treatments leading to essentially the same conclusion are presented.
Fourth-order dynamics of the damped harmonic oscillator

It is shown that the classical damped harmonic oscillator belongs to the family of fourth-order Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillators. It follows that the solutions to the damped harmonic oscillator equation make the Pais-Uhlenbeck action stationary. Two systematic approaches are given for deriving the Pais-Uhlenbeck action from the damped harmonic oscillator equation, and it may be possible to use these methods to identify stationary action principles for other dissipative systems which do not conform to Hamilton's principle. It is also shown that for every damped harmonic oscillator $x$, there exists a two-parameter family of dual oscillators $y$ satisfying the Pais-Uhlenbeck equation. The damped harmonic oscillator and any of its duals can be interpreted as a system of two coupled oscillators with atypical spring stiffnesses (not necessarily positive and real-valued). For overdamped systems, the resulting coupled oscillators should be physically achievable and may have engineering applications. Finally, a new physical interpretation is given for the optimal damping ratio $\zeta=1/\sqrt{2}$ in control theory.
Why Privacy Isn't Everything: Feminist Reflections on Personal Accountability

Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Accountability in Theory and Practice Chapter 3 Accountability to Family and Race Chapter 4 Accountability for Health Chapter 5 Accountability for Sex
Formulaic Language: Pushing the Boundaries

As the construct of formulaic language gains sway in language acquisition theory and pedagogy, the number of publications on corresponding theoretical treatises and empirical research has also been on the grow. Formulaic Language: Pushing the Boundaries is the most recent monograph of one of the field’s authoritative figures, Alison Wray. Formulaic expressions or sequences, in simple terms, are linguistic units composed of multiple words. According to Sinclair (1991), they are subsumed under a model of language processing called the Idiom Principle, which postulates that “a language user has available to him or her a large number of semi-preconstructed phrases that constitute single choices” (p. 110). These single, multi-word choices in effect are mediators for human language competence and idiomatic language use.
The influence of neuroticism, extraversion and openness on stress responses.

The present research moved beyond focusing on negative dispositions to investigate the influence of positive aspects of personality, namely extraversion and openness, on stress responses including appraisals, affect and task performance. Challenge appraisals occur when stressor demands are deemed commensurate with coping resources, whereas threat appraisals occur when demands are believed to outweigh coping resources. We examined the unique influence of personality on stress responses and the mediating role of appraisals. Personality was assessed, and then participants (N = 152) were exposed to a validated math stressor. We found unique effects on stress responses for neuroticism (high threat and negative affect and low positive affect), extraversion (high positive and low negative affect) and openness (high positive and low negative effect and better performance). Mediation analyses revealed that neuroticism indirectly worsened performance, through threat appraisals, and that openness indirectly increased positive affect through lower threat. These findings highlight the importance of investigating multiple aspects of personality on stress responses and provide an avenue through which stress responses can be changed—appraisals. Only by more broad investigations can interventions be tailored appropriately for different individuals to foster stress resilience. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
AN ALGORITHMIC APPROACH TO SEQUENTIAL AUTOMATA DESIGN.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an algorithmic approach to sequential automata design. Many of the processes or systems, which are encountered in engineering, can be modeled as sequential machines or sequential automata if the appropriate software is available. This software representation is used to model problems in many different areas of engineering. Some of these are: sequential system design, models of learning systems and adaptive processes, artificial language problems, some probabilistic processes, and models to study the efficiency of system simulation programs. The automation of the procedure is a necessity for machines having more than a few states because of the large amount of calculation. The procedure consists of two main parts: the final class program and the state-assignment program. The final class program identifies all states of a sequential machine that can be combined into a single state. The best selection of which states to merge is currently an unsolved problem in automata theory, and this determination of a minimum-state machine from the final class is the only point in the procedure that is not automated. However, this problem does not arise for completely specified machines and incompletely specified machines, and the procedure is fully automated for these cases.
Superconductivity in PdAlx hydrides

Abstract Hydrides of PdA l x alloys prepared by electron beam co-evaporation and subsequent implantation of hydrogen ions are found to exhibit anomalous changes in the superconducting transition temperature with increasing A l content. At large hydrogen concentrations, H/Pd ∼ 1, the addition of aluminum increases T c only slightly (from 8.1 to 8.6°K for 7 at. % A l ), and then yields an abrupt decrease in T c at 10% A l . This behavior is in sharp contrast to PdAg x H y alloys which exhibit an enhanced T c ∼ 16°K at relatively low silver content.
Genetic Enhancement and Moral Attitudes Toward the Given

Several authors, including Michael Sandel, distinguish between two different attitudes toward nature: mastery and giftedness. Giftedness is the superior attitude, Sandel argues, because it better accords with the values of humility, responsibility, and solidarity. And giftedness, in combination with these values, provides a rational basis for opposing the employment of genetic enhancement. Against this, I argue that talents and genetic endowment are more plausibly viewed as undeserved, that not everything undeserved is a gift, and that even if talents and endowment were gifts, this would not support a prohibition against pursuing genetic enhancement.
Treatment Interventions for Early Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review

Abstract Context With 25% of preschool-age children in the United States being overweight or obese, effective interventions for these children would have significant public health implications. Randomized trials targeting this age group have been performed since the last systematic review. Objective To systematically review the literature on treatment interventions for overweight or obesity in preschool-age children. Data Sources Medline (1948–July 2014), the Cochrane Central Registry (1991–July 2014), CINAHL (1990–July2014), and PAS abstracts (2000–2014). Study Selection Inclusion criteria were children aged 0 to 6 in the study and adiposity as an outcome. Exclusions were having normal-weight children in the trial and not having a comparison group. Data Extraction Data were extracted independently by 2 authors using a template. Results The initial search yielded 1981 results, narrowed to 289 abstracts after initial review. Further analysis and cross-referencing led to the selection of 6 randomized controlled trials representing 1222 children. Two studies used systems changes and motivational interviewing and showed no significant effect on adiposity. Two studies used an intensive, multidisciplinary approach over 6 months and demonstrated significant decreases in adiposity. One study tested parental coaching and showed a significant reduction in adiposity at 6 months. One study used education on a dairy-rich diet and showed a possible effect on adiposity. Limitations The study designs were too heterogeneous for meta-analysis; few ethnic minority subjects were included. Conclusions Multidisciplinary, intensive interventions have some evidence of efficacy in reducing adiposity in preschool children.
Plasmid DNA transfer in Mycobacterium smegmatis involves novel DNA rearrangements in the recipient, which can be exploited for molecular genetic studies.

Summary The establishment of molecular genetic techniques is essential for development of new treatments for mycobacterial infections. To this end, we recently described a novel DNA transfer process that occurs in the model mycobacterial organism Mycobacterium smegmatis. This transfer system is most like conjugal DNA transfer in that it requires two viable parents, is DNAse resistant and occurs between distinct donor and recipient strains. Cis-acting sequences called bom, which confer transferability, are distinct from the prototypical oriT sites of conjugative plasmids, as they occur at multiple locations in the chromosome and require RecA in the recipient to mediate plasmid recircularization. Here, we show that a plasmid containing two of these bom regions can undergo several fates in the recipient cell, each of which require recipient recombination functions. The products of plasmid transfer that we observed provide further insights toward a model for DNA transfer. Furthermore, we have taken advantage of the recombination events that occur in the recipient to develop simple procedures for capturing, or replacing specific segments of the recipient chromosome. To demonstrate the potential of the system, we describe the capture and deletion of 25 kb of the M. smegmatis chromosome, and targeted-allele exchange of the recipient recB and recD genes. Using these transfer-mediated rearrangements, we demonstrate that homology with the recipient chromosome and RecB, but not RecD, are essential for DNA transfer.
Survey of current situation in radiation belt modeling

The study of Earth's radiation belts is one of the oldest subjects in space physics. Despite the tremendous progress made in the last four decades, we still lack a complete understanding of the radiation belts in terms of their configurations, dynamics, and detailed physical accounts of their sources and sinks. The static nature of early empirical trapped radiation models, for examples, the NASA AP-8 and AE-8 models, renders those models inappropriate for predicting short-term radiation belt behaviors associated with geomagnetic storms and substorms. Due to incomplete data coverage, these models are also inaccurate at low altitudes (e.g., <1000 km) where many robotic and human space flights occur. The availability of radiation data from modern space missions and advancement in physical modeling and data management techniques have now allowed the development of new empirical and physical radiation belt models. In this paper, we will review the status of modern radiation belt modeling. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of COSPAR.
Laboratory investigations of the effects of predator sex and size on prey selection by the Asian crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus.

Laboratory studies have shown that the nonindigenous Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, readily consumes three species of commercial bivalves: blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, soft-shell clams, Mya arenaria, and oysters, Crassostrea virginica. Although crabs can eat bivalves of a wide size range, they preferred the smaller prey (≤10 mm SL). Prey critical size limits exist for M. edulis and C. virginica, but not M. arenaria, possibly because of differences in shell characteristics among the three species. Crabs preferred M. arenaria over both M. edulis and C. virginica, and M. edulis was strongly preferred over C. virginica in pairwise comparison tests. Experiments to determine feeding rates on mussels showed that H. sanguineus can consume large numbers of mussels daily (12.7±11.6 mussels day−1; sexes pooled; N=59). Mussel consumption rates increased with size of the predator and male crabs consumed more mussels than did similarly sized female crabs. The high densities of Hemigrapsus that occur in the wild, their effectiveness as predators of juvenile bivalves and their large appetites suggest an important role for these predators in restructuring the prey communities in habitats into which they have been introduced.
Perceptions of Elders' Substance Abuse and Resilience

Human service students' (social work, criminal justice, public administration, psychology) were surveyed (N = 242). Their perceptions about older persons' resilience and recovery from substance abuse were investigated. Overall, respondents did not agree that treating older persons for a substance abuse problem was wasteful of resources or older people do not benefit from treatment. However, respondents did not agree that older persons who consumed more than two alcoholic beverages per day had an alcohol-related problem, that drinking more than two alcoholic beverages per day had health consequences for an older person, or that alcohol was used by elders to self-medicate for depression and loneliness. Using a simple regression analysis, a final model for perceptions about older persons' recovery and resilience included the predictor variables of perceptions about older persons and street substances, perceptions about treatment and older persons, perceptions about abuse, health, and older persons, and age. ...
Circadian and Ultradian Temperature Rhythms of Lactating Dairy Cows

Thermistors were implanted in the right front quarter of udder and peritoneal cavity of six lactating Holstein cows to investigate whether udder temperature is regulated independently of deep body temperature. Sequential measurements of udder, body, chamber, and outdoor temperatures were every 1.4 min (1024 readings/probe per 24 h) by digital computer. Cows were housed (except for short exercise periods) in a chamber at 16.7 +/- .3 degrees C, lights on 0730 to 1630 and 2100 to 0200 h. Temperature was monitored continuously for 5 days in three cows in early lactation and in three cows in late lactation. Udder temperature was closely correlated with body temperature (body and udder temperatures were 38.8 +/- .1 degree C). Five of six cows showed two patterns of temperature variation: a 24-h pattern with two troughs each day--minimum at 0930 to 1100 h, increase 1.0 degree C by 1200 to 1300 h, decline 1 degree C from 2000 to 2200 h, second minimum by 2100 to 2200 h, and constant elevation from 2300 to 0800 h (peak to trough, 1.23 +/- .09 degrees C); and superimposed upon the 24-h rhythm was an ultradian rhythm with an approximate 90 min period (peak to trough, .5 +/- .03 degrees C). Rhythmicity of udder and body temperatures should be considered in research on the chronobiology of milk secretion and mastitis.
The Social Networks of Terminally III Skid Road Residents: An Analysis

With the progression of a terminal illness, a person's need for resources and social support increases. Recently developed home care programs, based on the hospice philosophy, depend heavily on active participation by the family's network in delivering care. This model is based on a middle-class orientation to family relationships. Persons with nontraditional lifestyles are at high risk for being placed in an institution when they are unable to care for themselves. Social network analysis was used to assess the supportive aspects of networks that have potential for caregiving during the terminal phase of a disease. Eight men with lung cancer who resided in Seattle's Skid Road were interviewed to obtain demographic, social network, and support data. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyze the data. The men in this study shared many similarities in lifestyle and had small, highly dense networks. Although it was of a limited nature, social support did exist within the networks analyzed.
Fluorescence line narrowing of trivalent praseodymium in lanthanum trifluoride - the resonant transitions

Abstract The fluorescence line narrowing technique is used to study homogenous linewidths of several resonant transitions ( 1 D 2 ↔ 3 H 4 ) for the first time. At temperatures exceeding 10 K the linewidths can be fitted by the theory of phonon-induced relaxation. However the narrowest linewidth (10 MHz at 4.5 K) is 16× larger than the width predicted by the theory.
A prospective study of adjuvant CMF in males with node positive breast cancer: 20-year follow-up

Purpose To determine the long-term overall survival of male patients with stage II node positive breast cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients and methods Between 1974 and 1988, 31 male breast cancer patients were prospectively enrolled on study MB-82 in the National Cancer Institute. Following mastectomy, patients were treated with 12 cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) chemotherapy. Results Median patient age was 61 years (38–74 years). Twenty-one patients (68%) had 1–3 positive axillary lymph nodes while ten patients (32%) had four or more positive nodes. Estrogen receptor status was positive in 22 (71%), negative in 1 (3%), and unknown in 8 (26%) tumors. Progesterone receptor status was positive in 18 (58%), negative in 3 (10%), and unknown in 10 (32%) tumors. Median potential follow-up for all patients is 22.5 years with a median survival of 16.3 years. Twenty-one of 31 patients have died; one from a treatment-related complication, nine patients from recurrent breast cancer, five from other cancers, one from non-cancer related causes, and five from unknown causes. Ten patients remain alive at a median of 19.2 years. The overall survival probability at 10 years is 64.5% (95% CI: 46.9–78.9%), at 15 years is 51.6% (95% CI: 34.8–68%), and at 20 years is 42.4% (95% CI: 25.8–60.8%). Conclusion To our knowledge, 20-year prospective data with adjuvant chemotherapy in male breast cancer has never been reported. Adjuvant chemotherapy may benefit male breast cancer patients with positive nodes.
Arithmetic, Mathematical Intuition, and Evidence

AbstractThis paper provides examples in arithmetic of the account of rational intuition and evidence developed in my book After Godel: Platonism and Rationalism in Mathematics and Logic (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011). The paper supplements the book but can be read independently of it. It starts with some simple examples of problem-solving in arithmetic practice and proceeds to general phenomenological conditions that make such problem-solving possible. In proceeding from elementary ‘authentic’ parts of arithmetic to axiomatic formal arithmetic, the paper exhibits some elements of the genetic analysis of arithmetic knowledge that is called for in Husserl’s philosophy. This issues in an elaboration on a number of Godel’s remarks about the meaning of his incompleteness theorems for the notion of evidence in mathematics.
From ‘Bagay lá’ to ‘My Thing’: My Journey to Applied Anthropology

It is bewildering how many natural disasters have occurred since the Haiti earthquake of January 12, 2010, appropriately named "bagay la" or "the thing" by Haitians. Numerous cyclones, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, droughts, earthquakes, and melting glaciers have created a human diaspora of epic proportions. After bagay la, over 1,500 camps were created for sheltering 1.5 million internally displaced Haitians in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere, with 147,000 remaining in 271 camps today (Sherwood et al. 2014). Victims of such tragedies face difficult decisions in the aftermath of disaster. Do they move and start anew? Do they salvage and rebuild their lives? And, what about those who want to help? Are some methods better than others? These were some of the questions I asked myself the evening of bagay la. What I did not recognize at the time was that my work, firmly rooted in the academy, was transforming into a more applied practice.
Electromechanical properties of relaxor ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE-CFE)-P(VDF-CTFE) blends

Electromechanical properties of the relaxor ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE-CFE)] terpolymer blended with a small amount of poly(vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-CTFE)] copolymer, which possesses a much higher elastic modulus than that of the neat terpolymer, were investigated. It was observed that the presence of small amount of P(VDF-CTFE) does not affect the microstructure of the crystalline phase. However, the uniaxially stretched blended films show a slight increase in the crystallinity and increased or similar induced polarization at high electric fields compared with the neat terpolymer, likely caused by the interface effect. Consequently, for blends with P(VDF-CTFE) less than 5 wt%, the transverse strains S1 along the stretching direction for uniaxially stretched blended films are nearly the same as those of neat P(VDF-TrFE-CFE), whereas the elastic modulus along the S1-direction increases with the P(VDF-CTFE) content. As a result, the blended films exhibit a higher elastic energy density and electromechanical coupling factor k31 compared with the neat terpolymer.
RoadLab — A constraint based laboratory for road design

Abstract Constraints provide a powerful computational model to support designing, different from global optimization or rule-based decision-making. This paper reviews the theory of constraints and techniques of constraint management with respect to geometric road layout. We describe RoadLab, a constraint-based graphic programming environment, and discuss the application of the constraint model to designing.
MEASUREMENT OF EQUIVALENT STIFFNESS AND DAMPING OF SHOCK ABSORBERS

It is demonstrated that we can use electrodynamic shakers to obtain the equivalent dynamic properties of shock absorbers for NVH applications. Application of pre-load is an issue which needs further investigation. Although a simple fixture using cotton cord worked well in this case, some shakers are capable of withstanding static pre-loads which may be suitable for testing shock absorbers under larger displacements and lower frequencies.
Neutralization tests on the SERT II spacecraft

Orbit precession returned the SERT II spacecraft to continuous sunlight in January 1979 for the first time since early 1972, and new experiments were planned and conducted. Neutralization of an ion beam was accomplished by a second neutralizer cathode located 1 meter away. Plasma potential measurements were made of the plasma surrounding the ion beam and connecting the beam to the second neutralizer. When the density of the connecting plasma was increased by turning on the main discharge of a neighboring ion thruster, the neutralization of the ion beam occurred with improved (lower) coupling voltage. These and other tests reported should aid in the future design of spacecraft using electric thruster systems. Data taken indicate that cross neutralization of ion thrusters in a multiple thruster array should occur readily.
Thermogravimetry of some uraniumVI 8-hydroxyquinolates

Abstract The thermogravimetric behaviour of UO2(C9H6NO)2.C9H6NOH and [UO2(C9H6NO)2]2.C9H6NOH prepared by precipitation from homogeneous solution with 8-acetoxy-quinoline has been found to closely resemble that of UO2(C9H6NO)2.C9H6NOH prepared by direct precipitation of uraniumVI with 8-hydroxyquinoline.