cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Analysis on Incidence Trend of Colorectal Cancer in Xiaoshan District,Hangzhou

Purpose]To investigate the trend and the epidemiological distribution of colorectal cancer in Xiaoshan district,Hangzhou from 1991 to 2000.[Method]The data of colorectal cancer cases were collected from the tumor register system from 1991 to 2000.The epidemiological features and change in colorectal cancer were analysed.[Results]The average incidence of colorectal cancer was 11.55/105;accounting for 8.99% of the total tumors,and ranked the fourth in all.The incidences of colorectal cancer in both sexes were increased with ages,especially in group over 45 years old.The incidence of colorectal cancer in male was higher than that in female,but the female’s increased quicker than the male’s.The incidence of colorectal cancer in county not only increased significantly but also was higher than that in city.[Conclusion]The incidence trend of colorectal cancer is increasing.Countermeasures to prevent the colorectal cancer according to the risk factors should be made.
Analysis of Disinfection Quality of Medical Institutions in A County

Objective To know the disinfection quality of medical institutions in Fengxian to supervise the quality of medical institutions to disinfection.Methods Retrospection method was used to analyze the detection results of total medical institutions in Fengxian from 2008 to 2010.ResultsA total number of 3972 samples were collected from medical institutions of different grades from 2008 to 2010,3524 samples were eligible,average qualified rate was 88.72%.The qualified rate of 2010(92.33%) was higher than that of 2008(86.94%) and 2009(87.08%).The qualified rate of hospital in city was the highest(95.12%) during different grades medical institution whereas individual clinics was the lowest(84.85%).The qualified rate of sterible medical supplies and pressure steam sterilizer was the hightest(100%) among different detection index whereas indoor air was the lowest(77.71%).ConclusionDisinfection quality and the management of medical institutions in fengxian remains to be consolidated and improved.Besides,the relevant departments should further strengthen the work of supervision and monitoring.
Imitations of Life and Art

The works called Imitation of Life—Fannie Hurst’s 1933 novel and its two film adaptations, John M. Stahl’s in 1934 and Douglas Sirk’s in 1959— investigate a series of ideas about selfhood and identity, adapting not only previous texts but also a cultural history and debate about “passing.” Resonating powerfully with novels about passing, such as Nella Larsen’s Passing (1929) and Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye (1970), this sequence of texts reveals how adaptations display their richest meaning in conversation with other works. Often these adaptations are deeply self-conscious about their provisional nature as singular free-standing texts. The Imitation of Life texts tap into reader and viewer ambivalence about representations of race and of gender roles. The wildly varied responses these works elicit suggest their importance in examining the ways in which adaptations can ignite discussion about differing perspectives on textual and cultural matters. These works raise issues of fixity and change that are at the heart of adaptation theory, as well as of American cultural politics.
Mortality in Antiepileptic Drug Trials

The incidence and causes of mortality in patients with epilepsy enrolled in antiepileptic drug (AED) trials, and the risk factors for sudden unexplained death in epilespy (SUDEP) were examined in pooled data from New Drug Applications (NDA), at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US FDA, Rockville, MD.
Helicity evolution at small x : Flavor singlet and nonsinglet observables

We extend our earlier results for the quark helicity evolution at small $x$ [J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2016) 072] to derive the small-$x$ asymptotics of the flavor singlet and flavor nonsinglet quark helicity TMDs and PDFs and of the ${g}_{1}$ structure function. In the flavor singlet case we rederive the evolution equations obtained in our previous paper on the subject [J. High Energy Phys. 01 (2016) 072], performing additional cross-checks of our results. In the flavor nonsinglet case we construct new small-$x$ evolution equations by employing the large-${N}_{c}$ limit. All evolution equations resum double-logarithmic powers of ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}{\mathrm{ln}}^{2}(1/x)$ in the polarization-dependent evolution along with the single-logarithmic powers of ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}\mathrm{ln}(1/x)$ in the unpolarized evolution which includes saturation effects. We solve the linearized flavor nonsinglet equation analytically, obtaining an intercept which agrees with the one calculated earlier by Bartels, Ermolaev and Ryskin [Z. Phys. C 70, 273 (1996)] using the infrared evolution equations. Our numerical solution of the linearized large-${N}_{c}$ evolution equations for the flavor singlet case is presented in the accompanying Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 052001 (2017)] and is further discussed here.
Abstract 406: Acrolein, a Component of Tobacco Smoke and Age-Related Oxidative Stress Disrupts Structure and Function of Apolipoprotein E

Apolipoprotein E (apoE), an anti-atherogenic apolipoprotein, plays a critical role in regulating plasma cholesterol homeostasis and in lowering cholesterol/triglycerides level. It lowers plasma lipid levels by acting as a ligand for the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) family of proteins. ApoE mediates this function via essential lysine residues that interact with the LDLr. Our preliminary study shows that rats exposed to second hand smoke displayed oxidative modification of apoE by acrolein, a highly reactive aldehyde, and dissociation of lipoprotein-bound apoE. From the in vivo study, we hypothesize that modification of apoE by acrolein at lysine residues will alter its conformation and disrupt its ability to interact with lipids, heparin and the LDLr. The objective of this project is to study the effect of oxidative stress mediated in vitro modification on recombinant rat apoE. To accomplish our objective, we: (i) over-expressed, isolated and purified recombinant rat apoE; (ii) carried out dose-dependent chemical modification of purified apoE with acrolein followed by mass spectrometry; (iii) performed chemical denaturant-induced unfolding to obtain information on the conformation of acrolein-modified apoE; (iv) performed lipid and heparin binding assays and assessed LDLr binding capability of modified protein. Acrolein modification of apoE was confirmed by Western blot analysis using an antibody specific for acrolein-modified lysines. Mass spectrometric analysis indicates modification by acrolein leading to FDP-lysine formation. Chemical denaturant-induced unfolding studies revealed that the overall fold of acrolein-modified apoE was impaired. Modified apoE also demonstrated a decrease in binding affinity for heparin and decreased lipid binding ability. Lastly, the LDLr binding ability of acrolein-modified apoE was significantly disrupted. Overall, we conclude that acrolein disrupts the structural and functional integrity of apoE, which is likely to affect its role in maintaining plasma cholesterol homeostasis. Our data provide a molecular basis for the potential role of oxidative stress (due to environmental factors or aging) mediated modification of apoE in altering lipoprotein metabolism, with direct implications in cardiovascular disease.
Carotid artery and lower cranial nerve exposure with increasing surgical complexity to the parapharyngeal space

Objectives/Hypothesis To investigate the extent of carotid artery exposure attained, including the identification of the external carotid branches and lower cranial nerves in five sequential external approaches to the parapharyngeal space, and to provide an anatomical algorithm. Study Design Anatomical study. Methods Six latex-injected adult cadaver heads were dissected in five consecutive approaches: transcervical approach with submandibular gland removal, posterior extension of the transcervical approach, transcervical approach with parotidectomy, parotidectomy with lateral mandibulotomy, and parotidectomy with mandibulectomy. The degree of carotid artery exposure attained, external carotid branches, and lower cranial nerves visualized was documented. Results The transcervical approach exposed 1.5 cm (Standard Deviation (SD) 0.5) of internal carotid artery (ICA) and 1.25 cm (SD 0.25) of external carotid artery (ECA). The superior thyroid and facial arteries and cranial nerve XII and XI were identified. The posterior extension exposed 2.9 cm (SD 0.7) of ICA and 2.7 cm (SD 1.0) of ECA. Occipital and ascending pharyngeal arteries were visualized. The transparotid approach exposed 4.0 cm (SD 1.1) of ICA and 3.98 cm (SD 1.8) of ECA. Lateral mandibulotomy exposed the internal maxillary artery, cranial nerve X, the sympathetic trunk, and 4.6 cm (SD 2.4) of ICA. Mandibulectomy allowed for complete ECA exposure, cranial nerve IX, lingual nerve, and 6.9 cm (SD 1.3) of ICA. Conclusion Approaches for the parapharyngeal space must be based on anatomic and biological patient factors. This study provides a guide for the skull base surgeon for an extended approach based on the desired anatomic exposure. Level of Evidence N/A. Laryngoscope, 2016
Article 40 [Conference of States Parties]

Under Article 40, para. 1, of the CRPD, States Parties to the Convention meet regularly in a Conference in order to consider any matter concerning the implementation of the Convention. The meetings are convened by the SG biennially or, in case of necessity, upon the decision of the same Conference of States Parties (Article 40, para. 2). According to the practice of the Conference, the meetings have been held on an annual basis since 2008, when the CRPD entered into force. The first session of the COSP was held in New York (31 October–3 November 2008), upon convocation of the SG. In this occasion, the 12 members of the CRPD Committee were elected and the procedural rules were adopted.
Brain Tumors and Critical Care Seizures

Seizures are a common presentation of brain neoplasms. Both primary brain tumors and metastases can present with seizures, which are more commonly focal, but frequently generalize depending on the location and the pathology of the lesion. In general, more benign tumors have a higher incidence of seizures than more malignant ones. These patients are admitted to an ICU either for preoperative monitoring or in the postoperative period. They should be treated with antiepileptics only if clinical seizures are noted or subclinical seizures detected by EEG. The question remains if patients should be prophylactically treated with antiepileptic medications, if seizures have not occurred yet in the pre- and postoperative period and for how long. More recent data and guidelines do not support such prophylactic administration.
On Perturbation Methods for Mechanical Control Systems

Abstract Inthis note we investigate open-loop control of under actuated mechanical systems and draw connections between averaging and controllability theory. Two sets of results arepresented:averaging under high-amplitude high-frequency forcing, and series expansions for the evolution of a forced mechanical system starting a trest.
Abstract 211: Increased Blood Pressure Regulation By Nitric Oxide In Obese African American Women Unmasked By Autonomic Blockade

African American women have the highest prevalence of hypertension (46%) in the world. African Americans (AA) have decreased vascular reactivity to pharmacologic (methacholine, nitroprusside, isoproterenol) and physiological (ischemia) stimuli. Such findings could be explained by racial differences in nitric oxide (NO) release, NO responsiveness, or by a differential suppression of NO by the sympathetic nervous system. The goal of this study was to evaluate tonic restraint of blood pressure by NO during complete autonomic blockade in obese AA vs. white women. We hypothesized that if AA women had a primary NO “deficiency” then they would have less increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP) during intravenous infusion of the NO synthase inhibitor N(ω)-monomethyl-l-arginine (L-NMMA, 250 ug/kg/min) during autonomic blockade. We studied 8 obese AA women and 9 obese white women matched by age (41±6.4 vs. 42±8.2 years, P=0.66), BMI (34±4.4 vs 35±4.1 kg/m2, P=0.83) and seated SBP (121±11 vs. 125±7 mm Hg, P=0.49). Antihypertensive medications were discontinued for 2 weeks and smokers were excluded. All subjects underwent complete autonomic blockade with the ganglionic blocker trimethaphan (TMT, 4 mg/min) followed by L-NMMA. The alpha-1 adrenergic agonist phenylephrine was titrated to clamp systolic blood pressure at 110 mm Hg prior to infusion of L-NMMA. SBP response to L-NMMA was greater in obese AA women (54±13.6 vs. 39±9.6 mm Hg in whites, P=0.02, Figure) suggesting that NO, in the absence of autonomic influences, is an important regulator of blood pressure in obese AA women. This suggests that sympathetic activation contributes to "NO deficiency" in AA.
Abstract 203: Cardiomyocyte T-tubule Membrane Turns Over, Releasing BIN1 Containing Microparticles into Blood

Bridging integrator 1 (BIN1) is a cardiac muscle protein that folds cardiomyocyte T-tubule membrane. BIN1 is intrinsic to cardiac health, and is reduced in acquired heart failure. Interestingly, we...
Abstract 17231: Contact-Mediated Interaction Between Pulmonary Artery Endothelial and Smooth Muscle Cells Promotes a BMPR2-β-catenin-Notch1 Signal Causing Hyperpolarization of Endothelial Mitochondria and a Stalk Cell-like Phenotype

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by endothelial (EC) apoptosis related to loss of distal (D) pulmonary arteries (PA) and abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle-like cells (SMC). These features are mediated by impaired cell metabolism. We observed mitochondrial dysfunction in human PAEC with reduced or mutant BMPR2, the gene associated with familial PAH. Deletion of BMPR2 in murine EC causes failure to regenerate DPA and to recover from hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension. Loss of BMPR2 in PASMC results in mitochondrial dysfunction associated with enhanced proliferation. Since metabolites and other factors are often transferred by cell contact, we investigated how PASMC-PAEC contact impacts PAEC mitochondrial and cellular function, and could be perturbed by a BMPR2 mutation in PAEC and/or PASMC. Methods and Results: We used a co-culture system in which PAEC and PASMC from lungs of donor control (c-) or PAH patients with a BMPR2 mutation (m-) were either seeded on opposite sides of a 1μm pore insert or separated to assess non-contact mediated responses. When c-PAEC contacted c-PASMC, PAEC mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ) increased 6-fold compared to mono-cultured or non-contact co-cultured cells (p Conclusions: PASMC in contact with PAEC increase Δψ and produce a Notch and β-catenin mediated stalk cell-like EC phenotype. These features are lost when BMPR2 is deficient in both PAEC and PASMC suggesting that BMPR2-mediated PASMC-EC contact allows PAEC to survive and regenerate in response to damage.
A training program for nurse scientists to promote intervention translation.

Abstract Background To reduce the burden of chronic illness, prevention and management interventions must be efficacious, adopted and implemented with fidelity, and reach those at greatest risk. Yet, many research-tested interventions are slow to translate into practice. Purpose This paper describes how The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing’s NINR-funded institutional pre- and postdoctoral research-training program is addressing the imperative to speed knowledge translation across the research cycle. Methods The training emphasizes six research methods (“catalysts”) to speed translation: stakeholder engagement, patient-centered outcomes, intervention optimization and sequential multiple randomized trials (SMART), pragmatic trials, mixed methods approaches, and dissemination and implementation science strategies. Catalysts are integrated into required coursework, biweekly scientific and integrative seminars, and experiential research training. Trainee and program success is evaluated based on benchmarks applicable to all PhD program students, supplemented by indicators specific to the catalysts. Trainees must also demonstrate proficiency in at least two of the six catalysts in their scholarly products. Proficiency is assessed through their works in progress presentations and peer reviews at T32 integrative seminars. Discussion While maintaining the emphasis on theory-based interventions, we have integrated six catalysts into our ongoing research training to expedite the dynamic process of intervention development, testing, dissemination and implementation. Conclusions Through a variety of training activities, our research training focused on theory-based interventions and the six catalysts will generate future nurse scientists who speed translation of theory-based interventions into practice to maximize health outcomes for patients, families, communities and populations affected by chronic illness.
Exploring social contextual influences on healthy eating using big data analytics

An alarming proportion of the US population is overweight: 2/3 of US adults are overweight, and 1/3 of those overweight are obese. Obesity increases the risk of illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. This epidemic can be attributed to the combination of cheap, high-calorie food and lack of physical activity. In this paper, we propose a Big Data Analytics framework, called BiDAF, that aims to explore social contextual influences on healthy eating. For this purpose, we classified food tweets and social media images into as either healthy or unhealthy as well as food sentiments into either positive or negative, and further mapped them to an obesity prevalence map. The classification outcomes would be useful to reveal the social food trends and sentiments of the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) USA obesity regions. The BiDAF framework has been implemented on Apache Spark and TensorFlow platforms. We have evaluated the BiDAF framework in terms of the accuracy on the food tweet classification and sentiment analysis. The experimental results indicated that the BiDAF framework is effective in classification and sentiment analysis of food tweet messages and also showed its potential in exploring social contextual influences that may contribute to healthy eating.
Transfer Efficiency Analysis

Transfer efficiency is one of the most crucial aspects in a WPT system. High transfer efficiency means small energy loss, easy thermal design, etc. System parameters affect transfer efficiency and mismatched parameters may lead to low transfer efficiency. In-depth analysis of the impact factors on transfer efficiency should be offered.
Gene function contributes to gene expression levels in S. cerevisiae

It is not understood what evolutionary factors drive some genes to be expressed at a higher level than others. Here, we hypothesized that a gene’s function plays an important role in setting expression level. First, we established that each S. cerevisiae gene is maintained at a specific expression level by analyzing RNA-seq data from multiple studies. Next, we found that mRNA and protein levels were maintained for the orthologous genes in S. pombe, showing that gene function, conserved in orthologs, is important in setting expression level. To further explore the role of gene function in setting expression level, we analyzed mRNA and protein levels of S. cerevisiae genes within gene ontology (GO) categories. The GO framework systematically defines gene function based on experimental evidence. We found that several GO categories contain genes with statistically significant expression extremes; for example, genes involved in translation or energy production are highly expressed while genes involved in chromosomal activities, such as replication and transcription, are weakly expressed. Finally, we were able to predict expression levels using GO information alone. We created and optimized a linear equation that predicted a gene’s expression based on the gene’s membership in 161 GO categories. The greater number of GO categories with which a gene is associated, the more accurately expression could be predicted. Taken together, our analysis systematically demonstrates that gene function is an important determinant of expression level.
Prognostic Factors of Pediatric Revision Ossicular Chain Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE Ossicular chain reconstruction (OCR) is a surgical method used to repair conductive hearing loss. In children, up to 40% of OCRs will require revisions. In this study, our aims were to validate improvement in hearing outcomes following revision OCR and identify prognostic factors for successful revision OCRs. DESIGN Retrospective review at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh from 2003 to 2014. SETTING Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Pediatric patients undergoing multiple OCRs who had demographic, operative, and pre- and postoperative audiogram data. Patients included in our study had ≥ 2 OCR procedures to the same ear. Forty-three of 123 patients met inclusion criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Pre- and postoperative audiograms were used to compare the changes in pure-tone averages (PTA), speech recognition thresholds, and air-bone gaps following OCR surgeries. RESULTS Revision OCRs significantly improved PTA, speech recognition thresholds, and air-bone gaps (p values= 0.003, 0.004, 0.005, respectively) and seven patients (14%) had return of normal hearing (PTA < 25 dB). Cholesteatoma at the time of first revision was associated with additional OCR revisions (hazard ratio [HR]: 10.3; p=0.013), while patients who had canal wall down or no mastoidectomy during first OCR revision were less likely to require additional revision compared with patients who had canal wall up mastoidectomy (HR: 0.170, p = 0.041 versus canal wall down; HR: 0.242, p = 0.041 versus no mastoidectomy). CONCLUSIONS Revision OCR(s) are an acceptable method to improve residual conductive hearing loss following primary OCR surgery in pediatric patients. Patients with cholesteatoma and canal wall up at the time of revision OCR have increased chances of requiring further revision.
Discrete Fuzzy Random Variables

This chapter is based on [1]. New material, not included in [1], includes the fuzzy Poisson (Section 4.3) and the applications in Section 4.4.
Characterization of the immunogenomic landscape of follicular lymphoma.

e19531Background: Follicular Lymphoma (FL) is an indolent, but incurable form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), with variable clinical behavior. The immune environment plays a major role in dictating ...
RF-Wear: Towards Wearable Everyday Skeleton Tracking Using Passive RFIDs

We introduce RF-Wear1, a low-cost, washable and wearable solution to track movements of a user's body using passive RFIDs embedded in their clothing. RF-Wear processes wireless signals reflected off these tags to a compact single-antenna RFID reader in the user's pocket. In doing so, RF-Wear enables a first-of-its-kind skeleton tracking mechanism that is lightweight and convenient for day-to-day use, without relying on external infrastructure. We implement and evaluate a prototype of RF-Wear on commercial RFID readers and tags and demonstrate its performance in skeleton tracking. Our results reveal a mean error of 8-12° in tracking angles at joints that rotate along one degree-of-freedom, and 21°- azimuth, 8°- elevation for joints supporting two degrees-of-freedom.
A new pitch-range based feature set for a speaker’s age and gender classification

Abstract This paper presents a pitch-range (PR) based feature set for age and gender classification. The performance of the proposed feature set is compared with MFCCs, energy, relative spectral transform–perceptual linear prediction (RASTA_PLP), and fundamental frequency (F0). Voice activity detection (VAD) is performed to extract speech utterances before feature extraction. Two different classifiers, k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN) and Support Vector Machines (SVM) are used in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the feature sets. Experimental results are reported for the aGender database. Both kNN and SVM classifiers achieved the highest accuracy rates by the proposed PR feature set in age + gender and age classifications. PR features represent the pitch changes over time. In age + gender classification, the class of middle-aged female speaker is recognized with an accuracy of 92.86%, followed by senior female speakers with 83.61%, children with 83.02%, middle-aged male speakers with 73.58%, young female speakers with 67.35%, and senior male speakers with 34.33% by using 3PR features with the SVM classifier. Low classification accuracies are observed for young male speakers.
Outcomes of Infrainguinal Lower Extremity Bypass Are Superior in Kidney Transplant Recipients Than Patients with Dialysis.

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) whether on dialysis therapy (DT) or who received a kidney transplant (KT) have previously shown unfavorable surgical outcomes. Little is known about the comparative efficacy and durability of lower extremity bypass (LEB) in those patients. The Vascular Quality Initiative database was explored to identify DT or KT recipients (2003–2016) who had LEB. We included 1,714 bypass procedures; DT: 1,512 (88.2%). Primary patency (PP) at 2 year was comparable between KT and DT groups (PP [95% confidence interval {CI}]: 77.0% [69.7%–82.8%] vs. 80.5% [77.8%–82.9%]; P = 0.212), and the risk-adjusted hazard was similar (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] [95% CI]: 0.89 [0.61–1.30]; P = 0.540). Amputation-free survival (AFS) at 2 year was more favorable in KT group (AFS [95% CI]: 73.1% [66.3%–78.8%] vs. 48.0% [45.4%–50.6%]; P
De-embedding Radome Depolarization from Measurements with a Non-Ideal Circularly Polarized Antenna Source

An approximation method is developed to remove the source antenna’s cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) contribution from the total measured XPD. This modeling is shown to correlate very well on a flat-panel test with a radome’s predicted (ideal-source) XPD. Additionally, a mathematical formulation of the theoretical cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) bounds is presented to validate the proposed method. The measured axial ratio should not exceed these bounds. The measured result is within these bounds and thus this model serves as an additional validation step to both the proposed method and the measured results.
Sweeping Area across Physical and Virtual Environments

The concept of area measure is widely viewed as fundamental. It is both intrinsically important and also structurally significant, as a representative of the class of continuous multiplicative quantities. Operating flexibly in this context with meaning and conceptual understanding is thus a critical objective for elementary education. Meanwhile, the difficulties learners encounter with area are well documented in the literature and include challenges with visualizing structured 2D space and conceptualizing the referent-transforming action that converts two length measures into area measure. Responding to these challenges, we present an analysis of their activity where third-grade learners generated figures with area by sweeping one length (a ‘squeegee’) through another length. We describe a ‘duo’ of physical and virtual learning environments that we developed to enable this ‘sweeping’ approach to area – and we show how this duo supported a classroom group of students in engaging with the two challenges mentioned above. In our analysis, we draw upon Charles Goodwin’s framework of co-operative action, showing how, at both individual and group levels, learners began to build professional vision around area measure and how the shared gestures they developed pointed toward emerging collective understanding of area as a dynamic quantity.
Surgical Management of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is the most common neurologic disorder of childhood with 5 % of all children and adolescents experiencing a seizure by the age of 20. This chapter discusses the different types of epilepsy, surgical management, and selection criteria for each type, preoperative preparation, and postoperative nursing considerations, including nursing care in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU). The importance of a multidisciplinary team approach is emphasized, particularly nursing’s role as communicator and family advocate. Quality of life outcomes with a patient case study illustrate the goals of surgical management.
Color preferences change with changes in environmental colors

Abstract A previous study on seasonal variations in color preferences found that people like colors associated with a particular season more during that season than during other seasons (Nelson, Schloss, Parker, and Palmer, VSS2012). Color preferences were only assessed once during each season, so the time course of the shifts in color preference was unknown. In this study we investigated whether color preferences change with changes in environmental colors during a single season. In autumn in New England the environment continually changes color as the leaves turn from deep green to yellows, oranges and reds. We were interested in whether people's preferences for autumn leaf colors would increase as the leaves turned. We tested participants' preferences for the Berkeley Color Project (BCP) 37 colors during nine sessions that took place over the course of 11 weeks in autumn (within-subject longitudinal design). The first session (baseline) took place before the leaves began to change and the last session was conducted once the trees were bare. We documented the changes by taking photographs on the Brown University campus every week for the duration of the study. We also collected colorful autumn leaves, matched them to Munsell chips, and determined which of the BCP-37 colors best corresponded to the leaf colors. We tested whether there was a differential change in preference for autumn leaf colors compared to non-autumn leaf colors. As the leaves changed, there was a significant linear increase in preference for autumn leaf colors, but no significant change for the non-autumn leaf colors. At the end of the study, we assessed individuals' preferences for autumn and for fall specific objects/events, which we obtained from a different set of participants. These results provide the first evidence that changes in environmental colors are linked to changes in color preferences. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015.
Preparation of silica or alumina pillared crystalline titanates

Abstract Layered crystalline titanates (CT) [Anthony and Dosch, U.S. Patent 5 177 045 (1993)] arepillared with tetraethyl orthosilicate, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, and aluminum (III) acetylacetonate to prepare porous and high surface area supports for sulfided NiMo catalyst. Tetraethyl orthosilicate or aluminum(III) acetylacetonate interacalated CT are prepared by stepwise intercalation. First, the basal distance is increased by n-alkylammonium ions prior to intercalation with inorganic compounds. However, an aqueous solution of 3-aminopropyltri-methoxylane can directly pillar CT without first swelling the titanate with n-alkylamine. The catalytic activities for hydrogenation of pyrene of sulfided NiMo supported silica or alumina pillared CT are higher than those of commercial catalysts (Shell324 and Amocat1C). The silicon and aluminum contents of the pillared CT, used as supports, have considerable effects on the catalytic activities and physical properties of the supports.
Rydberg series 5 p 5 6 s n s and 5 p 5 6 s n d in the autoionizing continua of neutral cesium

An absorption spectrum of neutral cesium between the $5{p}^{5}(^{2}P_{\frac{3}{2}})6s$ and $5{p}^{5}(^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}})6s$ thresholds was observed in the range of 650-700 \AA{} with the National Bureau of Standards 10.7-m grazing-incidence spectrograph. Rydberg series $5{p}^{5}6sns$ and $5{p}^{5}6snd$ approaching both upper threshold states $(^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}})6s$, $J=0,1$ were identified on the basis of quantum-defect comparisons and Hartree-Fock term energies. Distinctive $\mathrm{nd}$ line shapes are compared with those of neutral xenon.
Coupling and higher-order effects in the C 12 ( d , p ) C 13 and C 13 ( p , d ) C 12 reactions

Coupled-channel calculations are performed for the $^{12}\mathrm{C}$($d,p$)$^{13}\mathrm{C}$ and $^{13}\mathrm{C}$($p,d$)$^{12}\mathrm{C}$ reactions between 7 and 60 MeV to study the effect of inelastic couplings in transfer reactions. The effect of treating transfer beyond Born approximation is also addressed. The coupling to the $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ ${2}^{+}$ state is found to change the peak cross section by up to 15%. Effects beyond Born approximation lead to a significant renormalization of the cross sections, between 5% and 10% for deuteron energies above 10 MeV and larger than 10% for lower energies. We also performed calculations including the remnant term in the transfer operator, which has a small impact on the $^{12}\mathrm{C}$($d,p$)$^{13}\mathrm{C}$(g.s.) and $^{13}\mathrm{C}$($p,d$)$^{12}\mathrm{C}$(g.s.) reactions (where g.s. indicates ground state). Above 30-MeV deuteron energy, the effect of the remnant term is larger than 10% for the $^{12}\mathrm{C}$($d,p$)$^{13}\mathrm{C}$($1/{2}^{+}$, 3.09 MeV) reaction and is found to increase with decreasing neutron separation energy for the 3.09-MeV state of $^{13}\mathrm{C}$. This is of importance for transfer reactions with weakly bound nuclei.
Fixed Effects Estimation of the Intensive and Extensive Margins of Irrigation Water Demand

Irrigation water demand is estimated using field-level panel data from Kansas over 16 years. The cost of pumping varies over time due to changes in energy prices and across space due to differences in the depth to water. Exploiting this variation allows us to estimate the demand elasticity while controlling for field-farmer and year fixed effects. Fixed effects also allow us to control for land use without an instrument or assumptions about the distribution of errors. Our estimates of water demand are used to calculate the cost of reducing irrigation water use through water pricing, irrigation cessation, and intensity-reduction programs.
Scheduling Independent Tasks with QoS Requirements in Grid Computing with Time-Varying Resource Prices

This paper considers the problem of scheduling a set of independent tasks with multiple QoS requirements, which may include timeliness, reliability, security, version, and priority, in a Grid computing system in which resource prices can vary with time during scheduling time intervals. This problem is referred to as the QoS-based scheduling problem with time-varying resource prices. In order to solve this problem, a static scheduling algorithm (QSMTS VP) is developed. The simulation studies carried out show that QSMTS VP is capable of meeting diverse QoS requirements of many users simultaneously and that QSMTS VP can react to the dynamics of the market. Thus, QSMTS VP is a promising heuristic that can be deployed in a computational market.
Cranial Nerves Investigated by MRI

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Normal Anatomy 3 Tumors of Cranial Nerves 4 Infections and Inflammations of Cranial Nerves 5 Optic Nerve and Sheath Disorders 6 Vertigo and Hearing Loss 7 Acknowledgements 8 Biographical Sketches Related Articles
Oxidation of Inconel 718 in Air at High Temperatures

Experiments were conducted with Inconel 718 at high temperatures to evaluate the rate of oxidation of the material over as wide a temperature range as possible, as well as to determine the high-temperature failure limit of the material. Samples of Inconel 718 were inserted into preheated furnaces at temperatures ranging from 973 to 1620 K and oxidized in air for varying periods of time. After being oxidized in air at a constant temperature for the prescribed time and then being allowed to cool, the samples were reweighed to determine their mass gain due to the uptake of oxygen. From these mass-gain measurements, it was possible to identify three regimes of oxidation for Inconel 718: a low-temperature regime in which the samples behaved as if passivated after an initial period of transient oxidation, an intermediate-temperature regime in which the rate of oxidation was limited by diffusion and exhibited a constant parabolic rate dependence, and a high-temperature regime in which material deformation and damage accompanied an accelerated oxidation rate above the parabolic regime.
The Modern Racing Landscape and The Racetrack Wagering Market: Components of Demand, Subsidies, and Efficiency

Horse racing is an important industry throughout much of the world, and gambling has been increasingly relied on to provide financial support for beleaguered state governments. Technology has changed the way track patrons bet, with the vast and increasing majority of total bets being made away from live racing. The menu of wagering options continues to grow with a wide variety of exotic bets, futures wagering markets, program betting, and on-line betting venues becoming more prevalent. We know a fair amount about the determinants of wagering volume, but our knowledge of the demand for wagering on these different types of bets within and across venues remains in its infancy. We review the available research on the components of wagering demand, the effect of government subsidies on wagering volume, and the efficiency of the betting market. We also describe several new issues that continue to affect the racing landscape.
Personalized Medicine in NF1

Anticipatory guidance is the application of general guidelines for care of individuals with health conditions (e.g., asthma) once a diagnosis has been established. This activity is also applied to myriad genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and neurofibromatosis type 1. As an extension of this care, personalized medicine is a concept that holds great promise for the individualization of anticipatory guidance provided to a population within a diagnostic category. We are on the verge of applying the principles of personalized medicine to NF1. However, to fully implement such programs, we must integrate evidence-based medicine (outcomes research), biomarkers, and clinical decision support into comprehensive health-care plans.
Molecular studies of anaerobic strains from Antarctica and their taxonomic identifications

We present phylogenetic analyses for four anaerobic bacterial isolates from samples collected in the Schirmacher Oasis and Lake Untersee in Antarctica. Near-full length of 16S rRNA genes were amplified from the four strains and sequenced for identification of their close relatives and their phylogenetic relationships. Strain A7P-90m shared a low 16S rRNA sequence identity of around 85% with its closest relatives within the Bacteroides phylum. This low level of sequence similarity suggests that it may represent a novel family within this phylum. The 16S rRNA sequence identity between strain LZ-22 and its closest relatives Granulicoccus phenolivorans and Propioniferax innocua within the Propionibacteriaceae family were 91.9% and 93.2%, respectively. This low level of sequence similarity suggests that it may represent a novel genus within this family. Strains 9G and ISLP-3 were closely related to known species of the genera Halolactibacillus and Sanguibacter , respectively. However, the 16S rRNA sequence identities between strains 9G and ISLP-3 and their close relatives were too high to make reliable taxonomic inferences (i.e., 99.9% between 9G and H. miurensis , and 98.6% between ISLP-3 and S. suaresii ). Because the rec A gene delivers higher resolution for taxonomic inferences than the 16S rRNA gene, the primers for conserved rec A gene were designed for PCR amplification and sequencing from Halolactibacillus and Sanguibacter type strains. Strain 9G shared a rec A sequence identity of 99.6% with its closest relative H. miurensis , suggesting that it is a subspecies. The rec A sequence identity shared between strain ISLP-3 and its six closest relatives ranged from 85.9~90.2%. This result is consistent with this strain representing a novel species within the genus Sanguibacter . Based on the molecular study presented here and the phenotypic properties presented elsewhere, we propose that strain LZ-22 is a representative of a novel genus and species, with proposed names Raineyella antarctica gen. nov., sp. nov. Strain ISLP-3 is a representative of a novel species, Sanguibacter gelidistatuaria sp. nov. Strain A7p-90m may represent a novel family within the order Bacteroidales . Chemotaxonomic characterizations of these strains are underway to gather more evidence for the proposed classifications.
Effects of an S6 Strain of Mycoplasma gallisepticum Inoculation Before Beginning of Lay on the Leukocytic Characteristics of Commercial Layers

A clinical study was conducted on commercial layers housed in biological isolation units, within which exogenous stress factors potentially affecting bird performance were minimized. This set-up was devised in order to assess how a pre-lay inoculation of S6 strain Mycoplasma gallisepticum affects the leukocytic properties of laying chickens. Previous studies have demonstrated relative decreases in lymphocyte and relative increases in heterophil percentages in birds infected with other strains of Mycoplasma gallisepticum. However, current results showed that the differential percentages of lymphocytes were decreased, whereas those of heterophils were increased, in both sham-inoculated control birds and birds inoculated with S6 Mycoplasma gallisepticum between 19 and 26 wk of age. This study clearly shows that a pre-lay inoculation of S6 Mycoplasma gallisepticum alone had no apparent effect on the leukocyte profile of commercial layers housed in biological isolation units.
Progress toward Microcantilever Array Sensors Enabled By In-Plane Photonic Readout

We report the design, fabrication and characterization of differential waveguide splitters for transduction of microcantilever deflection for sensor applications. Our approach is scalable to permit hundreds to several thousand microcantilevers on a single chip.
Lipid nutrition during larval development of the parasitic wasp, Exeristes

Abstract The parasite Exeristes roborator grew rapidly and completed larval development on fatty acid free chemically defined diets. Dietary supplements of palmitoleate, oleate, linoleate, and linolenate were detrimental to parasite development with most larvae dying in the first instar. Palmitate supplements were also toxic, but a small percentage of larvae consistently completed development and survival and development time on diets supplemented with free stearate did not differ significantly from results obtained with fatty acid free diets. Supplements of a mixture of all six free fatty acids were as toxic as the unsaturated free fatty acids. Dietary supplements of the triglycerides, tripalmitin, tripalmitoleate, tristearin, and trioleate had no positive nutritional value for larval growth and development but were not detrimental. Development time was increased when the parasite was reared on fatty acid free diets lacking carbohydrate, but survival was not affected. The parasite, therefore, appears to have the ability to utilize dietary free amino acids as the sole energy source at this stage. Under these nutritional conditions, supplements of triglycerides did not replace the nutritional value of carbohydrate and some of the supplementary triglycerides were detrimental to larval survival.
Laboratory demonstration of an anti-halo reconstructor for closed-loop adaptive halo suppression

In order to suppress the halo and any residual speckles over a region of interest, we find an anti-halo reconstructor which gives the required changes to a deformable mirror (DM) at the pupil plane. The reconstructor is built from a training set consisting of measurements of the complex halo influence functions for a spanning set of Fourier modes applied to the DM. The reconstructor is then found by multiplying the applied DM actuator values by the singular value decomposition (SVD) pseudo-inverse of the measured complex halo influence functions. Using a single fully illuminated 12×12 actuator DM at the pupil plane, halo suppression for complex pupils out to the control radius of 6 λ/D can be provided. In practice, a coronagraph is unlikely to achieve high performance without adaptive tuning. We use a coronagraphic focal plane interferometer [1], where the focal plane mask diverts the bright starlight for use as an interferometric reference beam to measure the residual complex halo. The result of the reconstructor acting on the complex halo measurements allowed us to implement a closed loop halo-suppression servo. We discuss the laboratory implementation and experience with this technique.
Effluent volume and pollutant loads at an inland, low-salinity, shrimp farm in Alabama

Abstract An inland, low-salinity shrimp farm in Alabama released 50–60% of stored water during harvests in 2008 and 2010. Maximum concentrations of potential pollutants occurred in the final 5% of water discharged from ponds during harvest. Average, weighted concentrations of variables were lower than maximum values, but greater than concentrations in the receiving stream upstream of the farm outfall. Nevertheless, chloride was the only variable for which the concentration found downstream of the farm outfall exceeded the permissible concentration limit of the Alabama stream classification system. Pollutant loads per tonne of shrimp for the 2 years averaged were 444.9 kg total suspended solids, 51.3 kg 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, 15.2 kg total nitrogen, 1.33 kg total phosphorus, and 4402 kg chloride. Concentrations and loads of most potential pollutants could be lessened by passing farm discharge through a settling basin before final discharge, releasing less water during harvest, and improving the feed conversion ratio.
Correlations between Dyspnea, Diaphragm and Sternomastoid Recruitment during Inspiratory Resistance Breathing in Normal Subjects

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between recruitment of the DI and SM muscles measured as EMG signal amplitudes, the pattern of respiratory muscle recruitment measured with inductive plethysmography, and the intensity of the sensation of dyspnea, measured with 100 nun VAS. Eighteen normal subjects between the ages of 33 and 47 breathed under two conditions: normal controlled breathing and breathing against an inspiratory resistance at 60 percent of their maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). The PM, RR, duty cycle (TI/TTOT, and VT were held constant. During resistance breathing, VAS dyspnea was increased when EMG-DI decreased; EMG-SM increased in association with the sensation of dyspnea. During inspiratory resistance breathing, dyspnea markedly increased and rib cage and accessory muscle recruitment was the predominant pattern of breathing. These data suggest that dyspnea may be associated with the recruitment of the accessory respiratory muscles rather than the recruitment of the diaphragm.
Geographic models and control of cattle liver flukes in the Southern USA

John Malone and Stanley Zukowski describe climate forecast and soil hydrology-based geographic information system models of snail habitat extent that provide an environmental context for site-specific mathematical models of fascioliasis. These have potential for the development of broad-scale control models that include a cost-benefit analysis component.
Embryonic Senescence and Laminopathies in a Progeroid Zebrafish Model

Background Mutations that disrupt the conversion of prelamin A to mature lamin A cause the rare genetic disorder Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome and a group of laminopathies. Our understanding of how A-type lamins function in vivo during early vertebrate development through aging remains limited, and would benefit from a suitable experimental model. The zebrafish has proven to be a tractable model organism for studying both development and aging at the molecular genetic level. Zebrafish show an array of senescence symptoms resembling those in humans, which can be targeted to specific aging pathways conserved in vertebrates. However, no zebrafish models bearing human premature senescence currently exist.