cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Creating synthetic digital slides using conditional generative adversarial networks: application to Ki67 staining

Immunohistochemical staining (IHC) of tissue sections is routinely used in pathology to diagnose and characterize malignant tumors. Unfortunately, in the majority of cases, IHC stain interpretation is completed by a trained pathologist using a manual method, which consists of counting each positively and negatively stained cell under a microscope. Even in the hands of expert pathologists, the manual enumeration suffers from poor reproducibility. In this study, we propose a novel method to create artificial datasets in silico with known ground truth, allowing us to analyze the accuracy, precision, and intra- and inter-observer variability in a systematic manner and compare different computer analysis approaches. Our approach employs conditional Generative Adversarial Networks. We created our dataset by using 32 different breast cancer patients' Ki67 stained tissues. Our experiments indicated that synthetic images are indistinguishable from real images: The accuracy of five experts (3 pathologists and 2 image analysts) in distinguishing between 15 real and 15 synthetic images was only 47.3p (±8.5p).
Farming system and wheat cultivar affect infestation of, and parasitism on, Cephus cinctus in the Northern Great Plains.

Background Cephus cinctus infestation causes $350 million in annual losses in the Northern Great Plains. We compared infestation and parasitism of C. cinctus in spring (including Kamut; Triticum turgidum ssp. turanicum) and winter wheat cultivars grown in organic and conventional fields in Montana, USA. In the greenhouse, we compared C. cinctus preference and survival in Kamut, Gunnison, and Reeder spring wheat cultivars. Results Stems cut by C. cinctus varied by farming system and the seasonality of the wheat crop. No stems of Kamut in organic fields were cut by C. cinctus, but 1.5% [±0.35% standard error (SE)] of stems in conventional spring wheat, 5% (±0.70% SE) of stems in organic winter wheat, and 20% (±0.93% SE) of stems in conventional winter wheat fields were cut by C. cinctus. More larvae of C. cinctus were parasitized in organic (27 ± 0.03% SE) compared with conventional (5 ± 0.01% SE) winter wheat fields. Cephus cinctus oviposition, survival, and the number of stems cut were lowest in Kamut compared with Gunnison and Reeder. Conclusion Cephus cinctus infestation was more common in winter wheat than in spring wheat. Organic fields with fewer cut stems also supported more parasitoids. Kamut is a genetic resource for developing C. cinctus-resistant cultivars. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
SUMOylation and phosphorylation cross-talk in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the liver and occurs predominantly in patients with underlying chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. The large spectrum of protein post-translational modification (PTM) includes numerous critical signaling events that occur during neoplastic transformation. PTMs occur to nearly all proteins and increase the functional diversity of proteins. We have reviewed the role of two major PTMs, SUMOylation and phosphorylation, in the altered signaling of key players in HCC. SUMOylation is a PTM that involves addition of a small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMO) group to proteins. It is known to regulate protein stability, protein-protein interactions, trafficking and transcriptional activity. The major pathways that are regulated by SUMOylation and may influence HCC are regulation of transcription, cell growth pathways associated with B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and methionine adenosyltransferases (MAT), oxidative stress pathways [nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)], tumor suppressor pathways (p53), hypoxia-inducible signaling [hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1)], glucose and lipid metabolism, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and β-Catenin signaling. Phosphorylation is an extensively studied PTM in HCC. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidyl inositol/AK-strain transforming (PI3K/AKT), and C-SRC pathways have been extensively studied for deregulation of kinases and alteration in signaling of targets through phosphorylation of their substrates. Cross-talk between phosphorylation and SUMOylation is known to influence transcriptional activity of proteins and protein-protein interactions. In HCC, several SUMOylation-dependent phosphorylation events have been studied such as MAPK activation and c-SRC activity that have been reviewed in this work. The drastic effects of site-specific phosphorylation or SUMOylation on enzyme activity of signaling players and its effect on growth and tumorigenesis suggests that these PTMs are novel targets for therapeutic intervention in HCC.
Frailty phenotypes and mortality after lung transplantation: A prospective cohort study.

Frailty is associated with increased mortality among lung transplant candidates. We sought to determine the association between frailty, as measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and mortality after lung transplantation. In a multicenter prospective cohort study of adults who underwent lung transplantation, preoperative frailty was assessed with the SPPB (n = 318) and, in a secondary analysis, the Fried Frailty Phenotype (FFP; n = 299). We tested the association between preoperative frailty and mortality following lung transplantation with propensity score-adjusted Cox models. We calculated postestimation marginalized standardized risks for 1-year mortality by frailty status using multivariate logistic regression. SPPB frailty was associated with an increased risk of both 1- and 4-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 7.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-36.0 and aHR 3.8; 95%CI: 1.8-8.0, respectively). Each 1-point worsening in SPPB was associated with a 20% increased risk of death (aHR: 1.20; 95%CI: 1.08-1.33). Frail subjects had an absolute increased risk of death within the first year after transplantation of 12.2% (95%CI: 3.1%-21%). In secondary analyses, FFP frailty was associated with increased risk of death within the first postoperative year (aHR: 3.8; 95%CI: 1.1-13.2) but not over longer follow-up. Preoperative frailty is associated with an increased risk of death after lung transplantation.
Laser and X-Ray Irradiation Diagnostics that have Paved the Path to Significantly Improved ICF Target Performance

Obtaining high performance from direct-drive inertial confinement fusion (ICF) targets requires careful control of the target irradiation. The temporal pulse shape and the on-target irradiation uniformity are of particular concern. A broad arsenal of techniques and diagnostics has been developed for the OMEGA laser1 to ensure that the on-target irradiation meets the requirements. Most of these directly diagnose the laser itself. However, x-rays emitted from the target are also used to confirm that the required irradiation-uniformity levels have been achieved. The improvements to laser uniformity made possible with these diagnostics, combined with improvements to individual-beam uniformity provided by beam-smoothing techniques, have resulted in significantly improved target performance and reduced shot-to-shot variability.
Impedance Reduction in Therapy of Power Failure of the Heart

For the purposes of this chapter, the term “heart failure” is used to designate the level of cardiac output that is insufficient to satisfy the normal metabolic demands of the body organs and tissues at rest [12]. While the underlying pathophysiological processes in heart failure may affect primarily the right ventricle (e.g., pulmonary embolus), primarily the left ventricle (e.g., acute myocardial infarction), or both cardiac chambers to an equivalent degree, impedance reduction alters the performance of the left ventricle dominantly and the performance of the right ventricle in a secondary manner.
Rural women with chronic illness: computer use and skill acquisition.

Chronically ill rural women must manage complex illness without easy access to health care resources including support and health information. The Women to Women project is a technology-based program with an overarching aim to assist rural women in the day-to-day management of their illnesses. An important aspect of the Women to Women program is teaching the women how to use the Internet to meet their support and informational needs. The purposes of this article are to examine changes in 1) the level of computer skills, 2) degree of comfort in using the computer, and 3) knowledge of Internet functions for the participants in the Women to Women computer-based intervention. Results of the initial analysis of data from 63 women (intervention group n = 29, control group n = 34) indicate that women participating in the intervention reported greater computer skills and computer comfort and greater knowledge of specific aspects of Internet use than women in the control group. These findings were further strengthened considering that intervention and control group differentials were sustained 8 months after the end of the women’s participation in the computer intervention. With the attainment of computer and Internet skills, it is expected that these rural women will have a sustained ability to access quality Internet information that will allow them to better manage and adapt to their chronic illnesses.
Charles-Edouard Brown-Séquard: an eccentric genius.

Brown-Sequard is known eponymously for the syndrome of hemisection of the spinal cord, but most clinicians are not familiar with his colorful, quixotic, and eccentric life history. His contributions to medicine and neuroscience reached much further than his discovery of the spinal hemisection syndrome. He lived in five countries on three continents and crossed the Atlantic 60 times, spending a total of almost 6 years on the sea. He contributed more than 500 papers in his lifetime, was even the editor of many prestigious journals, and spent his last years as Professeur au College de France, a most coveted position for a French neuroscientist. Many are not aware of his contributions to endocrinology and hormone replacement therapy, even those who consider him the father of modern endocrinology. Brown-Sequard was a skillful experimentalist. He pioneered the concept of the advancement of neuroscience through experimental physiological observation. He was devoted to science. He was not interested in monetary gains through his inventions or patient care. Although he may be criticized for arriving at some incorrect conclusions from his experiments, his visionary ideas and prescient statements have stood the test of time; he truly was an eccentric genius. This article highlights Brown-Sequard's life history, specifically his time in France and North America, and his contributions to neuroscience and endocrinology.
Supply Chain Configurations of Foreign Cosmetics Companies Operating in China

As foreign cosmetics companies develop strategies for establishing or expanding their presence in China, they need to configure their supply network, distribution channels, and outbound distribution network so as to improve coordination and maximize efficiency. In this paper, we investigate the current supply chain configurations of various foreign cosmetics companies operating in China. In addition, we highlight new research opportunities for supply chain designs.
A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Antibiotic Treatment Duration for Bacteremia Due to Enterobacteriaceae.

The duration of antibiotic therapy for bacteremia due to Enterobacteriaceae is not well defined. We sought to evaluate the clinical outcomes with shorter- versus longer-course treatment. We performed a systematic search of the PubMed and EMBASE databases through May 2018. Studies presenting comparative outcomes between patients receiving antibiotic treatment for ≤10 days ("short-course") and those treated for >10 days ("long-course") were considered eligible. Four retrospective cohort studies and one randomized controlled trial comprising 2,865 patients met the inclusion criteria. The short- and long-course antibiotic treatments did not differ in 30-day all-cause mortality (1,374 patients; risk ratio [RR] = 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69 to 1.43), 90-day all-cause mortality (1,750 patients; RR = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.66), clinical cure (1,080 patients; RR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.08), or relapse at 90 days (1,750 patients; RR = 1.08; 95% CI, 0.69 to 1.67). In patients with bacteremia due to Enterobacteriaceae, the short- and long-course antibiotic treatments did not differ significantly in terms of clinical outcomes. Further well-designed studies are needed before treatment for 10 days or less is adopted in clinical practice.
Difference between approximate and rigorously measured transference numbers in fluorinated electrolytes

The performance of binary electrolytes is governed by three transport properties: conductivity, salt diffusion coefficient, and transference number. Rigorous methods for measuring conductivity and the salt diffusion coefficient are well established and used routinely in the literature. The commonly used methods for measuring transference number are the steady-state current method, t+,id, and pulsed field gradient NMR, t+,NMR. These methods yield the transference number only if the electrolyte is ideal, i.e., the salt dissociates completely into non-interacting anions and cations. In this work, we present a complete set of ion transport properties for mixtures of a functionalized perfluoroether, dimethyl carbonate terminated perfluorinated tetraethylene ether, and lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI). The equations used to determine these properties from experimental data are based on Newman's concentrated solution theory. The concentrated-solution-theory-based transference number, t, is negative across all salt concentrations, and it increases with increasing salt concentration. In contrast, the ideal transference number, t+,id, is positive across all salt concentrations and it decreases with salt concentration. The NMR-based transference number, t+,NMR, is approximately 0.5, independent of salt concentration. The disparity between the three transference numbers, which indicates the dominance of ion clustering, is resolved by the use of Newman's concentrated solution theory.
Health by mail: mail order medication practices of Latinx dairy worker households on the northern US border

Latinx migrant farmworkers face numerous barriers in accessing health care which are linked in part to self-medication practices using health products manufactured and sold abroad. This study explores the use of mail-ordered medication among the understudied population of Latinx migrant dairy workers in Vermont, a northeastern international border state. Thirty-four Latinx migrant dairy workers or their domestic partners were interviewed. Data analysis found that myriad health access barriers compounded by increased fear of law enforcement as a result of international border proximity results in unequal knowledge about and local access to desired health care products and services. This unequal access experienced by those living closest to the border in addition to a familiarity and trust in Latin American pharmaceutical drugs, and varied experiences accessing health care services, are significant factors influencing the decision to request health products by mail.
Using invaded-range species distribution modeling to estimate the potential distribution of Linaria species and their hybrids in the U.S. northern Rockies

Invasive populations of Dalmation toadflax [Linaria dalmatica (L.) Mill.] and yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris Mill.) are widespread throughout the Intermountain West, where gene flow between these nonnative species is producing vigorous and fertile hybrids. These hybrid toadflax populations are less responsive to herbicides than either parent species, and biocontrol agents routinely released on L. dalmatica and L. vulgaris often fail to establish on hybrid hosts. Early detection of hybrid Linaria populations is therefore essential for effective management, but resources are limited for scouting large expanses of range and wildland. We used species distribution modeling to identify environmentally suitable areas for these invasive Linaria taxa in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. Areas suitable for hybrid Linaria establishment were estimated using two different modeling approaches: first, based on known hybrid occurrence and associated environmental conditions, and second, based on zones environmentally suitable for co-occurrence of the parent species. This also allowed comparison of different model outputs, especially relevant when modeling emerging invasives, such as novel hybrids, with minimal occurrence data. Combining the two model outputs identified areas at greatest risk of hybrid Linaria invasion, including parts of north-central Montana, where model estimates indicate the hybrid may spread without prior co-invasion of the parents. Potential hybrid hot spots were also identified in western Montana; northwestern, northeastern, and southeastern Wyoming; and the Western Slope and Front Range of Colorado. Despite relatively few confirmed occurrences of hybrid populations to date, our results indicate that extensive spread of hybrid populations is possible within the studied area. Model-based maps of potential Linaria distributions will allow area weed managers to direct limited resources more effectively for locating and controlling these invaders.
The effects of modified sialic acids on mucus and erythrocytes on influenza A virus HA and NA functions

ABSTRACT Sialic acids (Sia) are the primary receptors for influenza viruses, and are widely displayed on cell surfaces and in secreted mucus. Sia may be present in variant forms that include O-acetyl modifications at C4, C7, C8, and C9 positions, and N-acetyl or N-glycolyl at C5. They can also vary in their linkages, including α2-3 or α2-6-linkages. Here, we analyzed the distribution of modified Sia in cells and tissues of wild-type mice, or in mice lacking cytidine 5’-monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) enzyme that synthesizes N-glycolyl modifications (Neu5Gc). We also examined the variation of Sia forms on erythrocytes and saliva from different animals. To determine the effect of Sia modifications on influenza A virus (IAV) infection, we tested for effects on hemagglutinin (HA) binding and neuraminidase (NA) cleavage. We confirmed that 9-O-acetyl, 7,9-O-acetyl, 4-O-acetyl, and Neu5Gc modifications are widely but variably expressed in mouse tissues, with the highest levels detected in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Secreted mucins in saliva and surface proteins of erythrocytes showed a great degree of variability in display of modified Sia between different species. IAV HA from different virus strains showed consistently reduced binding to both Neu5Gc and O-acetyl modified Sia; however, while IAV NA were inhibited by Neu5Gc and O-acetyl modifications, there was significant variability between NA types. The modifications of Sia in mucus may therefore have potent effects on the functions of IAV, and may affect both pathogens and the normal flora of different mucosal sites. IMPORTANCE Sialic acids (Sia) are involved in many different cellular functions and are receptors for many pathogens. Sia come in many chemically modified forms but we lack a clear understanding of how they alter the interactions with microbes. Here we examine the expression of modified Sia in mouse tissues, on secreted mucus in saliva, and on erythrocytes, including those from IAV host species and animals used in IAV research. These Sia forms varied considerably between different animals, and their inhibitory effects on IAV NA and HA activities and on bacterial sialidases (neuraminidases) suggest a host-variable protective role in secreted mucus.
A non-iterative time-domain sidelobe suppression in doppler shifted LFM waveforms

A time-domain block filtering technique is applied to a pulse of Doppler-shifted linear frequency modulated (LFM) signals and the improvement of sidelobe suppression is investigated in this paper. A brief theoretical methodology of Doppler shift LFM signal and the filtering technique is reviewed. Numerical Simulation and Experimental results are reported. Suppression of 8dB in Integrated Side Lobe Ratio (ISLR) is observed for a signal with 20dB SNR.
How Tropical Convection Couples High Moist Static Energy Over Land and Ocean

We show that in the tropics, tropical atmospheric dynamics force the subcloud moist static energy (MSE) over land and ocean to be very similar in, and only in, regions of deep convection. Using obs...
Investigation of Resistive Forces in Variable Recruitment Fluidic Artificial Muscle Bundles

This paper experimentally investigates the mechanical behavior of inactive and low-pressure fluidic artificial muscle (FAM) actuators under applied axial load. In most cases, the active characteristics of an actuator are of interest because they provide valuable information about its force-strain relationship. However, a system of actuators requires attention to the interaction between individual units. One such configuration is a bundle of McKibben artificial muscle actuators arranged in parallel and used for load-adaptive variable recruitment. This bio-inspired actuator bundle sequentially increases the number of actuators activated depending on the load required, which is analogous to how motor units are recruited in a mammalian muscle tissue. While using the minimum number of actuators allows the bundle to operate efficiently, the resistive force of inactive elements acts against total bundle contraction due to their inherent stiffness. In addition, when the bundle transitions between recruitment levels, motor units for a given recruitment level may be gradually pressurized; these low-pressure motor units can also cause resistive forces. Experiments were conducted to characterize the complex interaction between the bladder and braided mesh that cause the resistive force and deflection of inactive and low-pressure elements. Based on observations made from experiments, the paper proposes the initial criteria for developing a model of the resistive forces of a McKibben actuator, both individually, and within the context of a variable recruitment bundle.
Abstract PO-078: Delaying and forgoing care due to cost among rural cancer survivors

Purpose: Financial hardship, including delaying/forgoing services because of cost, is reported by approximately 30% of an estimated 16.9 million cancer survivors. However, hardship is poorly assessed and interventions sporadically implemented for survivors. The objective of this study is to assess factors associated with delaying and forgoing care services due to cost to inform a patient navigation program for rural cancer survivors. Methods: Adults with a cancer diagnosis who were 6 months or more post-definitive treatment or were receiving on-going maintenance therapy were identified for a cross-sectional mailed survey through the electronic medical record. Participants were predominately residents of one of eight priority rural counties in Northwest North Carolina (all resided in a zip-code defined by a Rural- Urban Commuting Area [RUCA] code of 4-10). Items from the 2019 National Health Information Survey (NHIS) assessed delayed/foregone medical care. Univariate statistics described the sample distribution and prevalence of delaying/forgoing care. Participants were randomized into two incentive groups ($2 bill with the survey mailing vs a $10 gift card upon completion). Chi-square tests examined the factors associated with delaying/forgoing services by demographic and cancer characteristics. Results: The survey response rate was 22.0%; 451 complete surveys were included in the present analyses. Enrolled survivors (49.7% female) were predominately non-Hispanic white (96.2%), with a mean age of 69 years, and 69.0% were 5 years or more post diagnosis. The most common cancer sites were prostate (21.5%), breast (19.7%), and colorectal (7.3%). Delayed medical care was reported by 16.2% of the sample. The prevalence of forgoing care due to cost was 6.4% for medical care, 12.3% for medications, 6.4% for mental health, and 7.0% for medical tests. Chi-square tests found significant differences by age, gender, and radiation treatment status (yes/no), with higher prevalence of delaying care among survivors aged 41-64 vs younger and older survivors (34.1% vs 27.2% and 8.8%, P Citation Format: Derek S. Falk, Karen E. Winkfield, Janet A. Tooze, Kelsey Shore, Carla Strom, Kathryn E. Weaver. Delaying and forgoing care due to cost among rural cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-078.
Community Exposure to Nighttime Heat in a Desert Urban Setting, El Paso, Texas

The combination of global warming and urbanization is expected to exacerbate the well-established urban heat island effect. Unfortunately, little is known about nighttime urban heat retention and its possible health effects on residents. Here we use infrared satellite imagery to evaluate the distribution of nighttime heat and its decadal changes in a large desert metroplex.
Fenestrated Endovascular Aneurysm Repair Affords Fewer Renal Complications than Open Surgical Repair for Juxtarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Patients with Chronic Renal Insufficiency.

Abstract Objective Although fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) has been associated with lower morbidity and mortality than open surgical repair (OSR) in juxtarenal aneurysms (JAAA), there is a paucity of data in the literature comparing outcomes of the approaches specifically in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI). We hypothesized that benefits of FEVAR over OSR observed in the general patient population may be diminished in CRI patients due to their heightened vulnerability to renal dysfunction stemming from contrast-induced nephropathy. This study compares 30-day outcomes between FEVAR and OSR for JAAA in patients with non-dialysis dependent CRI. Methods All adults with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) Results There were 284 patients with CRI who underwent elective repair of JAAA (FEVAR: 89; OSR: 195). FEVAR patients were significantly older than those undergoing OSR (77.3±7.2 vs. 74.2±7.7, P=0.001) and less likely to be smokers (25.8% vs 42.1%; P = 0.009). Other baseline demographic and pre-operative parameters were comparable between the two groups.Multivariable analysis revealed no significant difference between FEVAR and OSR in 30-day mortality (4.5% vs 4.6%; OR=1.22; 95% CI=0.35 - 4.22; P=0.753) or unplanned re-operation (4.5% vs 5.1%; OR=0.78; 95% CI=0.22 - 2.70; P=0.693). Patients undergoing FEVAR had significantly fewer pulmonary complications (3.4% vs 18.5%; OR=0.12; 95% CI=0.03 - 0.42; P Conclusion For patients with chronic renal insufficiency, FEVAR offered improved perioperative renal morbidity compared to OSR without a corresponding mortality benefit. Future studies will be required to determine long term outcomes of this procedure in this vulnerable population.
Effect of total body water estimates via bioimpedance on bod pod-based three-compartment body fat models.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Previous research has compared 2- and 3-compartment (2C and 3C, respectively) models against criterion 4-compartment (4C) models while utilizing the same body density (Db) method for all measures. This design induces an inherent bias and obscures the added benefit of a 3C model over the simpler 2-compartment (2C) models. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of total body water estimates via single-frequency (SF-BIA) and multi-frequency (MF-BIA) bioimpedance analysis on body fat estimates derived from air displacement plethysmography (ADP)-derived 3C models. SUBJECTS/METHODS A sample of 95 females and 82 males (n = 177) participated in this study. Underwater weighing, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and bioimpedance spectroscopy were used to calculate percent fat (%Fat) via a criterion 4C model (4CCRITERION). %Fat was predicted via 3CMFBIA (ADP and MF-BIA), 3CSFBIA (ADP and SF-BIA), and a stand-alone 2-compartment (2C) model, based upon ADP, when using Siri and Brozek body density conversion formulas (2CSIRI and 2CBROZEK. respectively). RESULTS The standard error of estimate (SEE) was lowest for 3CSFBIA when evaluated in females and males (2.72% and 2.31%, respectively) and highest for 2CSIRI (3.98% and 3.84%, respectively). Similarly, the total error (TE) for females and males was lowest for 3CSFBIA (3.21% and 2.67%, respectively) and highest for 2CSIRI (4.58% and 4.48%, respectively) and 2CBROZEK (4.65% and 4.33%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that SF-BIA and MF-BIA can improve the estimation of %Fat, beyond simpler 2C models, when integrated with ADP in a more advanced 3C model. Furthermore, the present study revealed that 3CSFBIA was the best overall prediction model based upon TE values. The current study results support the integration of ADP and bioimpedance technology as part of a 3C model for the improvement of %Fat estimates over simpler 2C models.
Plant Root Exudates and Rhizosphere Bacterial Communities Shift with Competitive Neighbor

Plants simultaneously interact with each other and soil microbial communities, yet most studies on plant-microbial interactions are performed on isolated, individual plants. A plant’s neighborhood context can alter its belowground signaling. In particular, signals in the form of root exudates help plants interact with neighbors, abiotic conditions and soil microbes. Therefore, we predicted that root exudates would also play a central role in neighbor-induced shifts in rhizosphere communities. We conducted a greenhouse experiment to test this and determine how the rhizosphere bacterial community of a focal plant, Panicum virgatum, changed when beside different neighbor plants, and whether these shifts were mediated by neighbor-induced changes in root exudation. We found that neighbor did affect both focal plant exudates and rhizosphere community, and that changes were largest when the focal plant was beside the most competitive neighbor, Rudbeckia hirta, which reduced both focal plant growth and nitrogen uptake. Multiple mechanisms mediated neighbor’s impacts on rhizosphere assembly, including neighbor-induced changes in root exudates during nitrogen-limitation and microbial spillover from roots of larger neighbors. Using an additional soil incubation, we also found that neighbor-induced changes in exudates can have even greater effects on soil nutrient cycling than on microbial assembly. Overall, we show that plant neighbors alter rhizosphere processes through changes in root exudates, particularly during strong competition. This work demonstrates that mechanisms driving rhizosphere assembly may differ in mixed-species communities, thus emphasizing a need for microbiome studies that extend beyond isolated plants.
Genetic Variability of Palm Lethal Decline Phytoplasmas in the Caribbean Basin and Florida, U.S.A., Based on a Multilocus Analysis.

Palm lethal decline phytoplasmas are an important group of plant pathogens that cause death in a variety of palm species throughout the Caribbean basin and the southeastern United States. The 16SrI...
Chromosome activity and cell function in polytenic cells. V. Developmental changes in RNA synthesis and turnover.

RNA synthesis in the salivary glands ofChironomus tentans larvae was studied at two developmental stages which differ greatly in the sensitivity of protein synthesis to an inhibition of RNA synthesis. The size distribution of heterodisperse RNA synthesized at the two stages is similar. However, at the stage (s) not requiring newly synthesized RNA for protein synthesis a large portion of the heterodisperse, high molecular weight RNA is degraded within minutes after its synthesis. In contrast, at the stage (s) where newly synthesized RNA is required for protein synthesis, no such RNA is rapidly degraded. These conclusions are based upon (1) kinetics of uridine incorporation into RNA and the UTP poool, (2) gel electrophoresis of this RNA, and (3) chase experiments employing actinomycin D. It is proposed that in these polytenic cells protein synthesis during development is, in part, controlled posttranscriptionally by selective degradation of newly synthesized RNA. However, autoradiographic experiments with larvae of the stage where no rapid degradation of newly synthesized RNA was observed, suggest that the posttranscriptional control mechanism is superimposed upon a, possibly constant, pattern of differential RNA synthesis.
Thermal and material transfer from spheres: Prediction of local transport

Abstract From a review of the available experimental data upon local thermal and material transport from spheres, expressions were developed to permit the prediction of such transport as a function of Reynolds number, intensity of turbulence, and polar angle. It was found that the effect of Reynolds number was more pronounced in the separated flow found in the aft hemisphere than in the boundary flows of the forward hemisphere. On the other hand, the intensity of turbulence exerted a much more profound effect on the local transport in the forward hemisphere than in the aft hemisphere. The results are presented in terms of the Frossling number.
Mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana Altered in Epicuticular Wax and Leaf Morphology.

We report eight new mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana possessing altered leaf morphology and epicuticular wax. These were isolated from a T-DNA-mutagenized population using a visual screen for altered leaf reflectance, i.e. increased glaucousness or glossiness. The mutants were placed into three distinct classes based on alterations in overall plant morphology: knobhead (knb), bicentifolia (bcf), and wax. The four knb mutants formed callus-like growths in the axillary region of the rosette leaves and apical meristem, the two bcf mutants produced hundreds of narrow leaves, and the two wax mutants had leaves and stems that were more glossy than wild type and organs that fused during early development. Leaves of knb and bcf were more glaucous and abnormally shaped than wild type. Epicuticular wax crystals over knb and bcf leaf surfaces (where none were present on wild type) likely contributed to their more glaucous appearance. In contrast, the glossy appearance of the wax mutants was associated with a reduced epicuticular wax load on both leaves and stems. One representative from each phenotypic class was selected for detailed analyses of epicuticular wax chemistry. All three lines, knb1, bcf1, and wax1, had dramatic alterations in the total amounts and relative proportions of their leaf epicuticular wax constituents.
Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain Induces Macrophage Alternative Activation as a Survival Mechanism

Francisella tularensis (Ft), the causative agent of tularemia, elicits a potent inflammatory response early in infection, yet persists within host macrophages and can be lethal if left unchecked. We report in this study that Ft live vaccine strain (LVS) infection of murine macrophages induced TLR2-dependent expression of alternative activation markers that followed the appearance of classically activated markers. Intraperitoneal infection with Ft LVS also resulted in induction of alternatively activated macrophages (AA-Mphi). Induction of AA-Mphi by treatment of cells with rIL-4 or by infection with Ft LVS promoted replication of intracellular Ftn, in contrast to classically activated (IFN-gamma plus LPS) macrophages that promoted intracellular killing of Ft LVS. Ft LVS failed to induce alternative activation in IL-4Ralpha(-/-) or STAT6(-/-) macrophages and prolonged the classical inflammatory response in these cells, resulting in intracellular killing of Ft. Treatment of macrophages with anti-IL-4 and anti-IL-13 Ab blunted Ft-induced AA-Mphi differentiation and resulted in increased expression of IL-12 p70 and decreased bacterial replication. In vivo, Ft-infected IL-4Ralpha(-/-) mice exhibited increased survival compared with wild-type mice. Thus, redirection of macrophage differentiation by Ft LVS from a classical to an alternative activation state enables the organism to survive at the expense of the host.
Using the Prisoner's Dilemma to Teach Business Ethics When Personal and Group Interests Conflict

This paper shows how the Prisoner's Dilemma can help students recognize and understand the ethical ramifications of decisions they make. The advantage of studying the Prisoner's Dilemma is that it models situations in which there is a conflict between the interests of individuals and the well-being of the group. Accordingly, it provides an effective framework for illustrating the importance of ethical decision-making by managers in a business and social environment. The paper describes two classroom activities that characterize the Prisoner's Dilemma and draws two important principles for the teaching of business ethics. The two principles are the implication effect and the self-defeating behavior effect. The paper also suggests several discussion points based on the two classroom activities and the two principles.
Libraries and the Right to the City: Insights from Democratic Theory Prepared for the 2013 LACUNY Institute: Libraries, Information, and the Right to the City

David Harvey's right to the city is a productive point to discuss the role of urban libraries and democracy. Harvey's ideas, however, can be further deepened by engaging them with democratic theory. Within Harvey's broader challenge to neoliberalism, democratic theory helps to tie the work of librarianship to a meaningful instantiation of a right to the city through a review of: the concepts (and brief history) of rights the founding theories of rights themselves, the public sphere (a LACUNY Institute framing concept), community, and democratic voice.
ATS-6 description

Basic design features of Applications Technology Satellite-6 (ATS-6) are discussed, and a variety of experiments carried out with the satellite is described. The 9.1 m reflector is a furlable 48-rib design. The earth viewing module housing most of the electronics is connected to the reflector by an A-frame truss made of graphic fiber reinforced plastic with excellent dimensional stability over a wide temperature range. The solar arrays, extended beyond the diameter of the reflector, are fixed hemi-cylinders consisting of 16 flat panels each. The communications system is an integrated multifrequency RF repeater capable of receiving up to 3 signals in any of 4 frequency bands (C, S, L, VHF) and retransmitting them on any desired frequency in 4 frequency bands (C, S, L, UHF). Results of the Tracking and Data Relay Experiment with GEOS-3 are summarized. Accuracies of 0.1 to 0.2 deg have been maintained in the programmed mode of tracking using the ATS-6 Digital Operational Controller, and communications links for the relay of 1.56 kilobit telemetry data from GEOS and for acquisition of range and range rate data performed as predicted or better.
Probing the chemical mechanism of saccharopine reductase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae using site-directed mutagenesis ☆

Saccharopine reductase catalyzes the reductive amination of l-α-aminoadipate-δ-semialdehyde with l-glutamate to give saccharopine. Two mechanisms have been proposed for the reductase, one that makes use of enzyme side chains as acid-base catalytic groups, and a second, in which the reaction is catalyzed by enzyme-bound reactants. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to change acid-base candidates in the active site of the reductase to eliminate their ionizable side chain. Thus, the D126A, C154S and Y99F and several double mutant enzymes were prepared. Kinetic parameters in the direction of glutamate formation exhibited modest decreases, inconsistent with the loss of an acid-base catalyst. The pH-rate profiles obtained with all mutant enzymes decrease at low and high pH, suggesting acid and base catalytic groups are still present in all enzymes. Solvent kinetic deuterium isotope effects are all larger than those observed for wild type enzyme, and approximately equal to one another, suggesting the slow step is the same as that of wild type enzyme, a conformational change to open the site and release products (in the direction of saccharopine formation). Overall, the acid-base chemistry is likely catalyzed by bound reactants, with the exception of deprotonation of the α-amine of glutamate, which likely requires an enzyme residue.
The Waning of Corporate Diversification

This paper studies announcement returns in a sample of 3,667 mergers over the last 55 years in order to shed light on the causes of the waning of corporate diversification. The abnormal combined (acquirer + target) return from diversifying mergers declined over time, consistent with the idea that diversification fell from favor in the 1980s. The market rewarded mergers involving financially constrained firms before but not after 1980, consistent with a declining value of internal capital markets. Announcement returns changed less for large firms than small firms, suggesting antitrust was not a key factor. Diversifying mergers earned positive combined returns throughout the period, and bidder returns were nonnegative before 1980, suggesting diversification was not a value destroying outgrowth of agency problems.
The Hamiltonian structure of the Maxwell-Vlasov equations

Morrison [25] has observed that the Maxwell-Vlasov and Poisson-Vlasov equations for a collisionless plasma can be written in Hamiltonian form relative to a certain Poisson bracket. We derive another Poisson structure for these equations by using general methods of symplectic geometry. The main ingredients in our construction are the symplectic structure on the co-adjoint orbits for the group of canonical transformations, and the symplectic structure for the phase space of the electromagnetic field regarded as a gauge theory. Our Poisson bracket satisfies the Jacobi identity, whereas Morrison's does not [37]. Our construction also shows where canonical variables can be found and can be applied to the Yang-Mills-Vlasov equations and to electromagnetic fluid dynamics.
Motion of fatty acid spin labels in the plasma membrane of mycoplasma.

Abstract The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of spin labeled fatty acid derivatives (1 (m,n)) in Mycoplasma laidlawii membranes showed a steep temperature dependence. The hyperfine splitting ( 2T m ) of these spectra decreased as the nitroxide radical was moved away from the polar head group of the fatty acid derivatives, demonstrating an increase in molecular motion of the nitroxide radical. The freedom of motion of the spin label I (12.3) in M. laidlawii membranes was higher in membranes containing cis-Δ 9 - octadecenoic acid than in membranes containing the corresponding trans isomer. A high freedom of motion was also observed in Mycoplasma membrane reggregates having a high lipid to protein ratio. Upon increasing the relative amount of protein in the reaggregates a decrease in the freedom of motion of the nitroxide radical was found. The freedom of motion of the spin label I (12,3) in reaggregates formed at a high Mg2+ concentration ( >20 mM ) was similar to that of the native membranes ( 2T m = 62.0 gauss ). Throughout the growth cycle of M. laidlawii a high freedom of motion of spin label 1 (12,3) was found in cell membranes from the early growth phase ( 2T m = 58.0 gauss ). These membranes had a low density ( d = 1.165 ) due a high amount of oleic acid in membrane polar lipids. Decreasing the growth temperature of the cells resulted in an increase in the amount of [14C]oleic acid and a decrease in the amount of [3H]cholesterol incorporated into the cell membrane. The freedom of motion of spin label 1 (12,3) in membranes from M. laidlawii cells grown at 15° was much higher ( 2T m − 58.0 gauss ) than that in membranes from cells growtn at 37° ( 2T m = 62.5 gauss ) when compared at the same temperature.
Interdisciplinary Sciences in a Global Network of Critical Zone Observatories

This preface for the special section, Interdisciplinary Sciences in Critical Zone Observatories (CZOs), provides a brief background of the emerging Critical Zone science and its related CZOs. Highlights of 14 papers included in this special section are summarized to illustrate initial research outcomes from several CZOs on both disciplinary and interdisciplinary topics across soil science, hydrology, biogeochemistry, geomorphology, geophysics, and ecosystem ecology. In closing, a brief future outlook is presented for moving forward the science that can be generated from a global network of CZOs.
Performance analysis of virtual circuit connections for bursty data sources in ATM networks

ATM is a packet-like transmission mode that has been proposed for BISDN. It is characterized by an asynchronous slotted transmission mechanism that provides a high bandwidth, low delay connection-oriented transport service to the end user. In this paper, we provide an analytical approach for determining the performance of a virtual circuit connection for data transmission in a high-speed ATM network with finite buffers at the network nodes. The analysis assumes that the network operates using thebest effort delivery strategy and that the end-to-end virtual circuit is responsible for guaranteeing the integrity of the connection. Since the normal Markovian assumptions do not apply, a concise exact solution is impossible to obtain. This provides motivation for developing approximate techniques such as those found in Whitt's QNA paper that allow us to use general distributions for the traffic streams and service times. However, even these techniques assume infinite buffer capacities and hence cannot model buffer overflow. We have therefore developed a hybrid model that allows us to incorporate finite buffers at the nodes. This enables us to study the effect on the performance of both link errors and buffer overflow in conjunction with an end-to-end packet loss recovery scheme.
Ordering of colloids with competing interactions on quasi-one-dimensional periodic substrates

There are many examples of interacting particles that have both repulsive and attractive interaction terms. Assemblies of such particles can form clumps, gel type states, labyrinths and other patterns, while two-dimensional systems with purely repulsive interactions typically form hexagonal crystals. Here we examine the two-dimensional pattern formation of colloids with competing interactions in the presence of a quasi-one dimensional periodic substrate. For soft matter systems, such substrates can be created by various optical means. We show that the substrate can induce various patterns including commensurate bubble phases as well as modulated stripes aligned with the substrate. Beyond colloids, these results should also be general to other systems that can be modeled as particles with competing interactions moving over a surface with a quasi-one dimensional periodic substrate or modulation.
An Analysis of Acedia

In this paper, the concept of acedia is reexamined as a diagnostic term that may be helpful in understanding persons who recognize a good, yet who have no motivation or desire for the good. A brief depiction of past and more recent theological and philosophical accounts of acedia serves as a foundation for identifying various characteristics of acedia and for differentiating acedia from depression. This leads to a psychoanalytic revision of acedia. I first describe the relational dynamics and sources (developmental and cultural) of acedia using a threefold dialectic: recognition–negation, surrender–generation, and disruption–repair. The aim of this description is to explain how desire and interest are dissociated from the object, draining the subject of motivation, though leaving intact the capacities for recognition and valuation. I suggest, further, that acedia signifies a person’s defense against loss as well as her attempt to retain meaning that is not meaningful. I conclude with several comments on how this perspective can shape how one thinks about working with a person who manifests acedia in some aspect of her life.