cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
External signs of trauma: A poor predictor of injury in found down and ground level falls

Abstract Background The significance of external signs (EST) and signs or symptoms of trauma (SS) after ground level falls or found down (GLF/FD) is unclear. We hypothesized that EST and SS were associated with injury. Methods Patients with GLF/FD were retrospectively studied. SS was defined as having any EST, tenderness, or subjective complaint. Outcomes were any significant finding (SF) and Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 8. Diagnostic accuracy of EST and SS were assessed with positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+, LR-). Results Of 578 patients, 66% and 95% had EST and SS respectively. For EST, LR+ and LR-were 1.14 and 0.76 (SF), and 1.21 and 0.64 (ISS>8). For SS, LR+ and LR-were 1.07 and 0.19 (SF), and 1.03 and 0.49 (ISS>8). Conclusion EST lacked sufficient diagnostic accuracy for SF and ISS>8. Lack of SS was reasonably accurate in ruling out SF but not ISS>8. Triage utilizing EST alone for GLF/FD is not useful.
Structural basis for the reaction cycle of DASS dicarboxylate transporters

Citrate, α-ketoglutarate and succinate are TCA cycle intermediates that also play essential roles in metabolic signaling and cellular regulation. These di- and tricarboxylates are imported into the cell by the divalent anion sodium symporter (DASS) family of plasma membrane transporters, which contains both cotransporters and exchangers. While DASS proteins transport substrates via an elevator mechanism, to date structures are only available for a single DASS cotransporter protein in a substrate-bound, inward-facing state. We report multiple cryo-EM and X-ray structures in four different states, including three hitherto unseen states, along with molecular dynamics simulations, of both a cotransporter and an exchanger. Comparison of these outward- and inward-facing structures reveal how the transport domain translates and rotates within the framework of the scaffold domain through the transport cycle. Additionally, we propose that DASS transporters ensure substrate coupling by a charge-compensation mechanism, and by structural changes upon substrate release.
Recent Results on Summations and Volterra Difference Equations via Lyapunov Functionals

In this research we utilize Lyapunov functionals to obtain boundedness on all solutions, exponential stability and \(l_p\)-stability on the zero solution of summation equations and Volterra difference equations.
Structural Basis of the Alternate-Access Mechanism in a Bile Acid Transporter

The apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) utilizes the Na+ concentration gradient to transport bile acids into cells. ASBT is essential in cholesterol homeostasis and blocking of ASBT reduces cholesterol concentration in plasma. A recent structure of a bacterial homolog of ASBT in an inward-open state advanced our understanding of the transporter, but a single conformation does not resolve fundamental questions about the transport mechanism. Here we present crystal structures of an ASBT homolog from Yersinia frederiksenii, ASBTYf in a lipid environment, in an inward-open state at 1.9 A and an outward-open state at 2.5 A. The structures reveal how bile acids could be transported across the membrane by a large rigid-body rotation of a six-helix domain, suggest the existence of a substrate binding site critical for translocation, and show how Na+ could be released into the cytosol. These results build a structural framework for understanding the mechanism of bile acid recognition and transport in ASBT.
Pulmonary Manifestations of GATA2 Deficiency.

Background GATA2 deficiency is a genetic disorder of hematopoiesis, lymphatics, and immunity caused by autosomal dominant or sporadic mutations in GATA2. The disease has a broad phenotype encompassing immunodeficiency, myelodysplasia, leukemia, and vascular or lymphatic dysfunction as well as prominent pulmonary manifestations. Research Question What are the pulmonary manifestations of GATA2 deficiency? Study Design and Methods A retrospective review was conducted of clinical medical records, diagnostic imaging, pulmonary pathologic specimens, and tests of pulmonary function. Results Of 124 patients (95 probands and 29 ascertained), the lung was affected in 56%. In addition to chronic infections, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (11 probands) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (nine probands) were present. Thoracic CT imaging found small nodules in 54% (54 probands and 12 relatives), reticular infiltrates in 40% (45 probands and four relatives), paraseptal emphysema in 25% (30 probands and one relative), ground-glass opacities in 35% (41 probands and two relatives), consolidation in 21% (23 probands and two relatives), and a typical crazy-paving pattern in 7% (eight probands and no relatives). Nontuberculous mycobacteria were the most frequent organisms associated with chronic infection. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation successfully reversed myelodysplasia and immune deficiency and also improved pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in most patients. Interpretation GATA2 deficiency has prominent pulmonary manifestations. These clinical observations confirm the essential role of hematopoietic cells in many aspects of pulmonary function, including infections, alveolar proteinosis, and pulmonary hypertension, many of which precede the formal diagnosis, and many of which respond to stem cell transplantation.
Real-time Detection and Adaptive Mitigation of Power-based Side-Channel Leakage in SoC.

Power-based side-channel is a serious security threat to the System on Chip (SoC). The secret information is leaked from the power profile of the system while a cryptographic algorithm is running. The mitigation requires efforts from both the software level and hardware level. Currently, there is no comprehensive solution that can guarantee the whole complex system is free of leakage and can generically protect all cryptographic algorithms. In this paper, we propose a real-time leakage detection and mitigation system which enables the system to monitor the side-channel leakage effects of the hardware. Our proposed system has extensions that provide a real-time monitor of power consumption, detection of side-channel leakage, and real-time adaptive mitigation of detected side-channel leakage. Our proposed system is generic and can protect any algorithm running on it.
Penny Wise but Pound Foolish in the Heartland: A Case Study of Decriminalizing Domestic Violence in Topeka, Kansas

On October 11, 2011, in a dangerous game of chicken, the city council of Topeka, Kansas, voted 7 to 3 to decriminalize misdemeanor domestic violence cases. This move came in response to the Shawnee County District Attorney, Chad Taylor, notifying the city that the District Attorney's office would no longer prosecute such cases arising within Topeka city limits due to budgetary constraints. District Attorney Taylor further advised that he would leave all misdemeanor prosecutions, including those for domestic violence, in the hands of city government, choosing instead to focus his office's limited resources on the prosecution of felonies alone. The District Attorney's notification was given despite the fact that the budget cuts proposed by the County Commission would not go into effect until 2012. Prior to the announcement, all misdemeanors other than domestic violence were handled by Topeka's municipal court.5 The Topeka City Council then advised it would cost the city an estimated additional one million dollars to pay for misdemeanor domestic violence prosecutions.
The Current State of Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Social and Emotional Problems

At a time when increasing numbers of children are being diagnosed and treated for emotional problems, the unsettling thought of misdiagnosing children who need help but are not being served because of racial and gender issues, and treatment of large numbers of children who are, in reality, responding in normal ways to maturational and social changes has begun to capture a great deal of attention in the popular and professional literature. Unlike most adults, young children are often unable or unwilling to talk about their symptoms, leaving mental health professionals to rely on observation and information from parents and teachers, which may be incorrect or biased. This chapter discusses the debate among clinicians regarding the actual numbers of youth with accurate diagnoses of emotional problems. The chapter also discusses concerns in the literature with the use of unproven psychotropic medications with very young children, their possible side effects and the lack of research evidence that medication is a better treatment than a variety of psychosocial interventions. The chapter ends with a case study showing the difficulty inherent in diagnosing youth whose behavior is still developing.
2-Phenylethanol in the leaves of Bursera velutina Bullock (Burseraceae)

The volatile composition of the leaves of Bursera velutina Bullock (Burseraceae) was determined by a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC–MS). The major component found was 2-phenylethanol (29.5%). This is the first report of 2-phenylethanol in the leaves of a species of the genus Bursera . In addition, B . velutina also produces monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes and alkanes, making it a species with one of the most complex chemical compositions in the genus. This diverse and unique blend of compounds may play an important role in plant defense against its herbivores.
Free Trade and Sea Turtles: The International and Domestic Implications of the Shrimp-Turtles Case

On October 12, 1998 the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) released its decision in the closely watched case of United States-Import Prohibition of Certain Shrimp and Shrimp Products, commonly referred to as the Shrimp-Turtles case. The Shrimp-Turtles case remains one of the seminal environmental cases in WTO jurisprudence and is significant for both its international and domestic implications. On the international level, the case is significant because the WTO Appellate Body made two important rulings. First, it recognized that a WTO member could impose its domestic environmental regulations on another member so long as certain safeguards are met. Second, it recognized the right of panels to accept information from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). At the domestic level, the Shrimp-Turtles case demonstrates the increasing conflict between the three branches of US government in enacting and enforcing environmental measures. The Shrimp-Turtles case also demonstrates how environmental groups can play a significant role in global environmental policy by challenging a government's lack of enforcement of its own domestic laws.This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the Shrimp Turtles case starting with a detailed discussion of the nature of sea turtles and the magnitude of the threat to them, as well as critical analysis of the WTO’s Panel Report and the WTO’s Appellate Body report. The article also addresses the international and domestic implications the Shrimp-Turtles case will have on future environmental trade disputes including the right of a member country to impose environmental regulations on other WTO members.
More on Idealism and Skepticism

In “Idealism and Skepticism: A Reply to Brueckner”, Stephen Puryear maintains that Berkeley holds at most that ideas that “count as real things” as opposed to chimeras (e.g., my idea of the Eiffel Tower) must satisfy a criterion of intra-mind coherence. On this reading of Berkeley, my claim that a form of external-world epistemological skepticism can be constructed within Berkeley's metaphysical system cannot get off the ground. I respond here.
Opportunities, Challenges, and Projections for Superconductor RSFQ Microprocessors

Superconductor processors based on Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) circuit technology can reach and exceed operating frequencies of 100 GHz, while keeping processor power consumption low. These features provide an opportunity to build compact, multi-petaflops systems with ultra-high-speed 64/128-bit single-chip microprocessors to address the governments critical mission needs for high end-computing (HEC).
Light scattering from moving particle gratings

The response of a liquid phase suspension of microparticles to electromagnetic radiation is governed by Brownian diffusion as well as by electrostrictive forces. In the present study, we examine the light scattering properties of various order particle density gratings formed in response to a uniformly moving electrostrictive force field. The latter is generated through frequency mismatch between the two counterpropagating pump beams in a four-wave mixing configuration. Time constants for the formation and decay of the scattered wave, saturation effects, and coupling constants for four-wave mixing are determined for the case of a weak probe beam scattered off the density gratings formed in response to arbitrarily strong pump fields.
Taylor’s Formula and Integral Inequalities for Conformable Fractional Derivatives

We derive Taylor’s theorem using a variation of constants formula for conformable fractional derivatives. This is then employed to extend some recent and classical integral inequalities to the conformable fractional calculus, including the inequalities of Steffensen, Chebyshev, Hermite–Hadamard, Ostrowski, and Gruss.
Prevalence and management of oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with severe anorexia nervosa: A large retrospective review

Objective Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) refers to difficulty swallowing food or a liquid bolus from the oral and pharyngeal cavities into the esophagus and increases the risk of possibly life-threatening pneumonia. Little has been reported on OPD in adults with anorexia nervosa (AN). This study includes a description of OPD in severe AN and discusses potentially effective clinical management. Method Two hundred and six adults with severe AN, admitted over a five-year period to a national referral center specializing in the multidisciplinary medical stabilization of this population, were retrospectively evaluated by electronic database query and manual chart review. All patients whose initial medical assessment triggered a speech-language pathology (SLP) consultation, due to concerns for OPD, were reviewed in detail. Results Of the 206 total patients, 42 presented with symptoms of OPD and received SLP consultation. In the OPD cohort, 37 (88%) were women, with median age 32 years old, and mean admission weights of 57% ideal body weight (IBW) and body mass index (BMI) of 12 kg/m2. Compared with those who did not have OPD, OPD patients had significantly lower BMI on admission (12 kg/m2 vs. 13.1 kg/m2, p < 0.001), longer stay (21 days vs. 14 days, p < 0.001), and were more medically compromised, including a greater incidence of refeeding hypophosphatemia (60.9% vs. 29.7%, p < 0.004). Discussion Clinical awareness of OPD may reduce the incidence of aspiration pneumonia and promote life-saving oral nutrition in patients with severe AN. Proper, timely evaluation and intervention may improve clinical outcomes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2015).
Tillage × Rotation × Management Interactions in Corn

Although corn (Zea mays L.) yields following soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] or wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) exceed yields of continuous corn, continuous corn is common in the northeastern USA A because of demand for corn by the dairy industry. We evaluated corn under different tillage (moldboard plow, chisel, and ridge), rotation (continuous corn, soybean-corn, soybean-corn-corn, and soybean-wheat/red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)-corn), and management systems (high and low chemical input) for 6 yr to determine optimum cropping systems for corn. In moldboard plow, corn in soybean-wheat/ red clover-corn (9.2 Mg ha -1 ) and soybean-corn (8.5 Mg ha -1 ) rotations under low chemical yielded greater than continuous corn under high chemical management (7.9 Mg ha -1 ). In chisel tillage, corn in the soybean-corn rotation yielded greater under high chemical (8.9 Mg ha -1 ) and similarly under low chemical (7.9 Mg ha -1 ) compared with continuous corn under high chemical management (7.6 Mg ha -1 ). In ridge tillage, corn in soybean-corn or first-year corn in soybean-corn-corn rotations yielded greater under high chemical (8.1 Mg ha -1 ) but less under low chemical (6.3 and 6.8 Mg ha -1 , respectively) compared with continuous corn under high chemical management (7.5 Mg ha -1 ). Growers under similar environmental conditions to this study can increase corn yields while reducing inputs by adopting soybean-wheat/red clover-corn and soybean-corn rotations in mold-board plow or a soybean-corn rotation in chisel tillage. In ridge tillage. growers could adopt soybean-corn or soybean-corn-corn rotations. which would increase corn yields but not reduce inputs when compared with Continuous corn.
A proposed search of the solar neighborhood for substellar objects

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) program will produce an extremely sensitive all-sky survey over the wavelength region 8 to 120 microns when the mission is flown in 1982. These data will provide a novel opportunity to detect planetary-sized objects having masses smaller than 0.08 solar masses in or near the solar system. The improved detection limit of the IRAS will greatly increase the volume of space searched for such objects, as compared with previous optical and infrared studies.
Asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions of chiral α,β-unsaturated lactams

Abstract Cycloaddition of various dienes to 4 gives high yields and high regiochemistry and excellent de's of cycloadducts under thermal or Lewis acid conditions.
Method for accurate sizing of pulmonary vessels from 3D medical images

Detailed characterization of vascular anatomy, in particular the quantification of changes in the distribution of vessel sizes and of vascular pruning, is essential for the diagnosis and management of a variety of pulmonary vascular diseases and for the care of cancer survivors who have received radiation to the thorax. Clinical estimates of vessel radii are typically based on setting a pixel intensity threshold and counting how many “On” pixels are present across the vessel cross-section. A more objective approach introduced recently involves fitting the image with a library of spherical Gaussian filters and utilizing the size of the best matching filter as the estimate of vessel diameter. However, both these approaches have significant accuracy limitations including mis-match between a Gaussian intensity distribution and that of real vessels. Here we introduce and demonstrate a novel approach for accurate vessel sizing using 3D appearance models of a tubular structure along a curvilinear trajectory in 3D space. The vessel branch trajectories are represented with cubic Hermite splines and the tubular branch surfaces represented as a finite element surface mesh. An iterative parameter adjustment scheme is employed to optimally match the appearance models to a patient’s chest X-ray computed tomography (CT) scan to generate estimates for branch radii and trajectories with subpixel resolution. The method is demonstrated on pulmonary vasculature in an adult human CT scan, and on 2D simulated test cases.
Poster 6: Triglyceride-Lowering Effects of EPA in Individuals with Huntington Disease

Background In individuals with Huntington disease (HD), lipid metabolism may be abnormal, 1 and cardiovascular disease is the second most common cause of death. However, treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in those with HD has not received much attention. We therefore examined the lipid lowering effects of an omega-3 fatty acid, the ethyl ester of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in a recently completed HD trial. 2 Methods A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in North America to determine whether 1 gram twice daily of EPA for 6 months improves motor performance in HD patients. This post-hoc analysis examined the effects of EPA on non-fasting triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations. Results At baseline prior to randomization, triglyceride concentrations in research participants with manifest HD were higher (mean = 171 mg/dL in the EPA arm; mean = 187 mg/dL in the placebo arm) than the National Cholesterol Education Program's goal of p = 0.007) and in mean total cholesterol concentration (−9.5 mg/dL mg/dL vs. −2.5 mg/dL; p = 0.009). These lipid lowering effects were not associated with any difference between the groups in the primary motor outcome of the study, the total motor score 4 component of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale. Conclusions EPA supplementation in individuals with HD was associated with a significant reduction in triglycerides and total cholesterol but not with improved motor function. The long-term sequelae of cardiovascular risk factors in those with HD and the potential to improve prognosis with EPA or other therapies warrant further investigation.
Application of redefined human chorionic gonadotropin curves for the diagnosis of women at risk for ectopic pregnancy

Objective To validate recently characterized curves of hCG rise and fall that are seen in viable and nonviable pregnancies in a population of women who have pregnancies of unknown location. Design Historical cohort study. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) One thousand two hundred forty-nine women with symptomatic early pregnancies. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Comparison of observed hCG values to predicted hCG values; time to diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy; accuracy of diagnosis. Result(s) Of the 1,249 patients included in this study, 196 had ectopic pregnancy (EP); 261, intrauterine pregnancy (IUP); and 792, spontaneous abortion (SAB). By determining the rate of change in hCG values from two consecutive visits and comparing them with a minimal rise of 35% in 2 days (the bound that is defined by the 99.9% confidence interval [CI] for the rise of hCG in an IUP) or a minimal fall of 21%–35% (the bound that is defined by the 90% CI for the fall of hCG in an SAB), we were able to make the diagnosis of EP an average of 2.5 days sooner than by standard clinical practice. Only 12% of patients had an EP go undiagnosed by using these rules, because the curve of rise or fall of their hCG mimicked that of a non-EP gestation. Conclusion(s) Recently redefined curves of rise and fall in hCG for IUP and SAB are valid for clinical use on the basis of our application to this large cohort of patients. Using them can shorten the time needed to make the diagnosis of EP. Use of a more conservative cutoff for minimal rise in hCG, one as slow as 35% over 2 days, to characterize a potentially viable gestation would minimize potential interruption of a desired pregnancy.
Effect of stereotactic core needle biopsy on pathologic measurement of tumor size of T1 invasive breast carcinomas presenting as mammographic masses.

BACKGROUND Stereotactic core needle biopsy (SCNB) may change the size of the tumor defined pathologically at excision. This may alter tumor stage and affect recommendations for adjuvant systemic therapy. This study evaluated the effect of SCNB on assessment of pathologic tumor size and staging for invasive breast carcinomas presenting as mammographic masses. METHODS The authors reviewed the mammographic and pathologic size of 138 mammographically detected invasive carcinomas manifested as a measurable mass lesion on mammography and as a 20 mm or smaller lesion on pathologic evaluation. Group A included 61 patients with SCNB before surgical excision and the Group B (the control group) included 77 patients who had surgical excision without SCNB. The size of the mammographic central mass was compared with the pathologic tumor size. The difference between the mammographic and pathologic size was determined and the findings in Group A and B were compared by the Mann–Whitney U test. RESULTS The mean mammographic size was 12.2 and 11.83 mm and the mean pathologic size was 9.85 and 9.87 mm for Groups A and B, respectively. The mean difference between mammographic and pathologic size in Groups A and B was 2.3 mm and 1.96 mm, respectively (P = not significant). CONCLUSIONS For soft tissue masses, the difference between mammographic size and pathologic size of invasive carcinoma at excision does not appear to be affected by the use of SCNB. Except in the circumstance of complete removal of the cancer by SCNB, the pathologic size and stage of the excised tumor after SCNB is not altered significantly by SCNB. Cancer 2003;97:2137–41. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11336
Studien über den Einfluß von Nichtelektrolyten, die eine verschiedene Anzahl von Hydroxylgruppen enthalten, auf die Fällung von Thoriumhydroxyd aus einer Thoriumnitratlösung durch NaOH

1. Es wurde die Verhinderung der Fallung von Thoriumhydroxyd bei Zusatz von NaOH zu einer Thoriumnitratlosung in Gegenwart verschiedener Mengen von Nichtelektrolyten, die eine verschiedene Anzahl von Hydroxylgruppen enthalten, studiert. 2. Es wurde gefunden, das im allgemeinen der Wirkungsgrad der Nichtelektrolyte in der Fallungshinderung des Hydroxydes mit steigender Zahl der Hydroxylgruppen wachst. 3. Die entstehende kolloide Losung enthalt negativ geladenes Thoriumhydroxyd. 4. Eine wahrscheinliche Erklarung des Mechanismus der Fallungshinderung des Hydroxydes, die sowohl die Rolle des Alkalis als auch des Nichtelektrolyten berucksichtigt, wurde gegeben.
Catherine II and the Jews: The origins of the pale of settlement

(1975). Catherine II and the Jews: The origins of the pale of settlement. Soviet Jewish Affairs: Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 3-20.
Scanning electron microscopy analysis of aged Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells

Most electron microscopy studies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ultrastructure were performed in the 1950s and 1960s and lack high resolution by modern standards. This study was performed to re-evaluate the fine structure of M. tuberculosis using modern scanning electron microscopy. Bacteria were grown in rich medium with a constant supply of oxygen for several weeks. Results show that surface bleb-like structures accumulate as cultures age. The most unusual feature of aging M. tuberculosis cultures is that they develop extracellular fibrils, which could play roles of adhering cells to surfaces and to one another.Key words: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, SEM, stationary phase, surface blebs, extracellular fibrils.
Regulation of centrosome orientation in asymmetric division of the Drosophila male germ line stem cells

Vertebrate somitogenesis is a complicated process in which temporal oscillation of somite clock genes is translated into spatially periodical expression of segmentation genes. While molecular components for somite segmentation and their prospective interactions have been well documented, it is difficult to infer the spatiotemporal dynamics generated from such networks. In this study, we developed a simple mathematical model to understand the dynamics of gene regulatory network underlying segmentation process. Our model incorporated the gene regulatory network for somite segmentation in mice with the idea of “clock and wavefront model.” The model describes the dynamics of four proteins (NICD, Mesp2, Tbx6, Ripply) and two mRNAs (Mesp2, Ripply) in one dimensional array of cells, which represents a growing presomitic mesoderm. We calculate the dynamics of segmentation genes for wildtype and Ripply mutant conditions. The wildtype simulation reproduces periodic expression of NICD and Mesp2 with a subsequent degradation of Tbx6 at a future segmentation border, supporting that the modeled gene network is sufficient to explain a wildtype phenotype. In contrast, the Ripply mutant simulation fails to reproduce a mutant phenotype, indicating some unknown function of Ripply. A subsequent experiment showed a novel function of Ripply. We integrated this function into the model and confirmed that the new model reproduces both wildtype and mutant phenotypes. A comparison between two models demonstrated that the novel function of Ripply is essential for the somite segmentation.
Foliar Potassium Fertilizer Additives Affect Soybean Response and Weed Control with Glyphosate

Research in 2004 and 2005 determined the effects of foliar-applied K-fertilizer sources (0-0-62-0 (%N-%P2O5-%K2O-%S), 0-0-25-17, 3-18-18-0, and 5-0-20-13) and additive rates (2.2, 8.8, and 17.6 kg K ha−1) on glyphosate-resistant soybean response and weed control. Field experiments were conducted at Novelty and Portageville with high soil test K and weed populations and at Malden with low soil test K and weed populations. At Novelty, grain yield increased with fertilizer additives at 8.8 kg K ha−1 in a high-yield, weed-free environment in 2004, but fertilizer additives reduced yield up to 470 kg ha−1 in a low-yield year (2005) depending on the K source and rate. At Portageville, K-fertilizer additives increased grain yield from 700 to 1160 kg ha−1 compared to diammonium sulfate, depending on the K source and rate. At Malden, there was no yield response to K sources. Differences in leaf tissue K , S , B , and Cu concentrations among treatments were detected 14 d after treatment at Novelty and Malden. Tank mixtures of K-fertilizer additives with glyphosate may provide an option for foliar K applications.
Crohn's Disease–associated Escherichia coli Survive in Macrophages by Suppressing NFκB Signaling

BACKGROUND Epidemiological and genetic studies suggest a role for enteric flora in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). Crohn's disease-associated Escherichia coli (CDEC) is characterized by their ability to invade epithelial cells and survive and induce high concentration of TNF-α from infected macrophages. However, the molecular mechanisms of CDEC survival in infected macrophages are not completely understood. METHODS Intracellular survival of CDEC strain LF82 isolated from inflamed ileum tissue, 13I isolated from inflamed colonic tissue, and control E. coli strains were tested in the murine macrophage cell line, J774A.1 by Gentamicin protection assay. Modulation of intracellular cell signaling pathways by the E. coli strains were assessed by western blot analysis and confocal microscopy. RESULTS 13I demonstrated increased survival in macrophages with 2.6-fold higher intracellular bacteria compared with LF82, yet both strains induced comparable levels of TNF-α. LF82 and 13I differentially modulated key mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways during the acute phase of infection; LF82 activated all 3 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, whereas 13I activated ERK1/2 pathway but not p38 and JNK pathways. Both 13I and LF82 suppressed nuclear translocation of NFκB compared with noninvasive E. coli strains during the acute phase of infection. However, unlike noninvasive E. coli strains, 13I and LF82 infection resulted in chronic activation of NFκB during the later phase of infection. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed that CDEC survive in macrophages by initially suppressing NFκB activation. However, persistence of bacterial within macrophages induces chronic activation of NFκB, which correlates with increased TNF-α secretion from infected macrophages.
Anion-vacancy-induced magneto-crystalline anisotropy in fluorine-doped hexagonal cobaltites.

The two cobalt hexagonal perovskites 6H-Ba6Co6F0.93O16 and 10H-Ba5Co5F0.77O12.88 were prepared, and their structures were examined by X-ray and neutron diffraction and by 19F solid state NMR spectroscopy. The magnetic and transport properties of these compounds were probed by magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity measurements, and their electronic structures by density functional and tight-binding calculations. The [BaOF1−x] layers of these compounds create corner-sharing tetrahedral Co2O7 dimers at the interface between their face-sharing octahedral oligomers. Our density functional calculations leads to an unambiguous charge distribution model, which assigns high-spin Co3+ ions for the tetrahedral sites and low-spin Co3+/Co4+ ions for the octahedral sites, and this model should be valid for the parent BaCoO3−δ and the related oxychlorides and oxybromides as well. The F− vacancies in the [BaOF1−x] layers cause a strong distortion in the tetrahedral dimer Co2O7, which in turn affects the spin...
Toward end-to-end optical system modeling and optimization: a step forward in optical design

Optical system modeling is interdisciplinary by its very nature. Optics, thermal engineering, structural engineering, control systems, electrical engineering, and data analysis are among the disciplines required to perform such modeling. Each discipline tends to have various software tools at its disposal to perform the required design and analysis but the software tools have had only limited ability for interdisciplinary use. Optical design software can form the core for optical systems modeling in many instances but its capabilities must be extended, or it needs to be used in a non-traditional way, depending on the problem at hand. We have used optical design software to assist in or form the basis for solving a number of interdisciplinary optical systems modeling problems. As an example, we present our method of dynamic optical ray tracing here and show its application. We also mention an example of linking optical design software to external code to solve optical systems modeling problems. Although these modeling efforts were successful, they illustrate the associated difficulty and need for integrated software modeling tools.
Hydroclimatic variability across the Susquehanna River Basin, USA, since the 17th century

The Susquehanna River Basin (SRB) is an extensive river drainage network that covers a total of 71 228 km 2 in portions of New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, with more than 4 million inhabitants. It is the major source of fresh water to the USA's largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay. Therefore, the hydroclimatic conditions within the SRB affect a large human population in addition to the ecological health of one of the world's most complicated and important estuarine environments. This research project seeks to document the hydroclimatic history of the SRB and to understand the relationships between global-scale forcing mechanisms and the climatic variability of the Basin. Hydroclimatic variability since 1680 is documented through the reconstruction of temperature, precipitation, streamflow and a drought index using proxy and observational data. Results indicate that the hydroclimatic history of the SRB is very complex. Prior to the advent of European settlement, the SRB seems to have responded in concert with other landmasses within the North Atlantic Sector evidencing a regional manifestation of both the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age. Since the beginning of European settlement, the hydroclimate of the SRB has varied greatly on both inter-annual and decadal time scales. The climatic variability of the SRB is found to be only weakly associated with large-scale forcing mechanisms that are commonly assumed to influence the eastern USA. A notable exception is a strong temperature response associated with volcanic activity. Thus, regional forcings and land cover variations may play an important role in the hydroclimatic variability of this important river system. Copyright  2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Kantowski–Sachs universes with counter-rotating dust

A solution to Einstein's equations is presented which describes an inhomogeneous universe with anisotropic pressure in the Kantowski–Sachs family. The spacetime is composed of a series of spherical shells of dust particles which possess angular momentum within the shell. The solution is derived from a spherically symmetric spacetime with the same matter content by fixing the areal radius of each shell to be equal. The spacetime may be thought of as the surface of a cylinder, each circle z = constant of which represents a two-sphere. As time passes, the cylinder expands or collapses and the shells move relative to one another on the surface of the cylinder. The equation describing the relative motion of the matter shells reveals that the flux of the gravitational field is directed along the cylinder and alters the motion of the shells in a physically intuitive way.
Estimation of policy effects using parametric nonlinear models: a contextual critique of the generalized method of moments

The typical empirical study in health services and outcomes research is aimed at estimating the causal effect that an exogenously imposed condition (e.g. a policy mandate) will have (or has had) on a specified outcome of interest. Controlling for unobservable confounding influences is of primary importance in such analyses. The instrumental variables (IV) method has been widely used for this purpose in the linear regression context. The present paper examines the pros and cons of alternative versions of the generalized method of moments (GMM) [of which the IV estimator is a special case] for the estimation of policy effects when endogeneity is present in a nonlinear regression setting. We show that conventional GMM is difficult to implement for policy analysis because it does not typically accommodate symmetry—similar treatment of both observable and unobservable confounders in the regression specification. Although, simple additive (nonsymmetric) regression specifications afford practical GMM estimators, they are difficult to defend from both intuitive and conceptual standpoints. Moreover, as we show via simulation, if symmetry is ignored and conventional GMM is applied based on an incorrectly specified non-symmetric model, then policy analytic estimates can be seriously biased. As a result, prospects for the development and application of intuitive consistent GMM-based policy effect estimators are dim. The problem stems from the reasonable desire on the part of the researcher to derive GMM estimators in the nonlinear framework that are based solely upon the conventional minimalist linear IV assumptions. We show, in the context of our formulation of a simple but consistent alternative to GMM in the probit case, that intuitively appealing additional assumptions about the data generating process of the policy variable will often be sufficient for the development of desirable alternatives to the GMM.
The Evolving Role of Gemcitabine in the Management of Breast Cancer

Despite the common clinical use of numerous active cytotoxic agents for breast cancer therapy, and the combinations that are derived from them, the median survival for patients with metastatic breast
The effects of covert and overt modeling on assertive behavior

Abstract Three modeling therapy formats (overt modeling with a standard hierarchy of situations. covert modeling with the standard hierarchy, and covert modeling with a self-tailored hierarchy) were compared to assess their relative efficacy in developing assertive skills. Half the subjects in each treatment condition received or did not receive generalization training. Significant within-group improvement was indicated on four self-report measures. Overall, the results suggest that covert modeling was as effective as overt modeling or covert modeling plus self-tailoring for instating assertion among nonassertive college women.
ESTABLISHMENT OF DISPERSANT USE ZONES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA: A CONSENSUS APPROACH FOR MARINE WATERS 3–200 NAUTICAL MILES FROM SHORE

ABSTRACT It has long been the policy of the National Response Team (NRT) that the appropriate use of dispersants as a first strike method of response to marine oil spills could greatly minimize the impacts of such spills. Beginning in early 2000, the Region IX Regional Response Team (RRT) evaluated the appropriateness of dispersant use for the State of California. In January 2001, the RRT signed into effect a dispersant use policy for the federal waters off the coast of California from 3200 nm offshore. These revisions to the Regional Contingency Plan provided a streamlined decision making process for dispersant use and designation of zone. Specifically, the plan called for each of the six local area committees to develop and forward recommendations for dispersant-use zone designations into one of three categories: pre-approval, pre-approval with consultation, or incident-specific RRT approval required. Each of the six local area committees utilized a modified Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) known as a N...
The association between perioperative blood transfusion and survival of patients with colorectal cancer

Background. The authors undertook this study to test the hypothesis that perioperative blood transfusion has an adverse effect on survival of patients with colorectal cancer. Methods. A retrospective analysis was performed on 725 patients who underwent curative resection for Dukes Stage B and C colorectal cancers in our institution between 1981–1985 and who were followed for 5–11 years. Results. Rectal cancers occurred more frequently in the transfused than in the nontransfused patients (64% versus 47%; P = 0.0001). In the patients with colon cancer, no significant effect of transfusion on recurrence-free survival was seen (P = 0.8, log-rank; P = 0.49, Cox regression analysis). The cumulative 5-year survival rate was 77% (95% confidence interval, 69–85%) for the nontransfused and 78% (72–83%) for the transfused patients. In patients with rectal cancer, the 5-year survival rate was 79% (67–87%) for the nontransfused and 67% (59–71%) for the transfused patients. A significant association was noted in patients with Stage B cancer (P = 0.002, log-rank; P = 0.02, Cox regression analysis), but not in those with Stage C cancer (P = 0.05, log-rank; P = 0.15, Cox regression analysis). In patients with Stage B rectal cancer, more frequent abdominoperineal resections (APR) were performed among the transfused patients (65% versus 32%; P = 0.0001). This subgroup was further stratified by operative procedure and reanalyzed using the same Cox regression model. Transfusion had no effect on survival of patients treated by APR (P = 0.31) or of those having a sphincter-saving procedure (P = 0.53). Conclusion. The seemingly adverse effect of perioperative blood transfusion on the survival of patients with colorectal cancer may be explained by other covariates.
SPONTANEOUS AND STIMULATED BIOLUMINESCENCE OF THE DINOFLAGELLATE CERATOCORYS HORRZDA (PERIDINIALES)1

This is the first report of spontaneous bioluminescence in the autotrophic dinoflagellate Ceratocorys horrida von Stein. Bioluminescence was measured, using an automated data acquisition system, in a strain of cultured cells isolated from the Sargasso Sea. Ceratocorys horrida is only the second dinoflagellate species to exhibit rhythmicity in the rate of spontaneous flashing, flash quantum flux (intensity), and level of spontaneous glowing. The rate of spontaneous flashing was maximal during hours 2–4 of the dark phase [i.e. circadian time (CT)16–18 for a 14:10 h LD cycle (LD14:10)], with approximately 2% of the population flashing-min−1, a rate approximately one order of magnitude greater than that of the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax polyedra. Flash quantum flux was also maximal during this period. Spontaneous flashes were 134 ms in duration with a maximum flux (intensity) of 3.1×109 quanta-s−1. Light emission presumably originated from blue fluorescent microsources distributed in the cell periphery and not from the spines. Values of both spontaneous flash rate and maximum flux were independent of cell concentration. Isolated cells also produced spontaneous flashes. Spontaneous glowing was dim except for a peak of 6.4× 104quanta-s−1 cell−1, which occurred at CT22.9 for LD14:10 and at CT22.8 for LD12:12. The total integrated emission of spontaneous flashing and glowing during the dark phase was 4×109 quantacell−1, equivalent to the total stimulable luminescence. The rhythms for C. horrida flash and glow behavior were similar to those of Gonyaulax polyedra, although flash rate and quantum flux were greater. Spontaneous bioluminescence in C. horrida may be a circadian rhythm because it persisted for at least three cycles in constant dark conditions. This is also the first detailed study of the stimulated bioluminescence of C. horrida, which also displayed a diurnal rhythm. Cultures exhibited >200 times more mechanically stimulated bioluminescence during the dark phase than during the light phase. Mechanical stimulation during the dark phase resulted in 6.7 flashes. cell−1; flashes were brighter and longer in duration than spontaneous flashes. Cruise-collected cells exhibited variability in quantum flux with few differences in flash kinetics. The role of dinoflagellate spontaneous bioluminescence in the dynamics of near-surface oceanic communities is unknown, but it may be an important source of natural in situ bioluminescence.
Religion and the US Presidency: Politics, the Media, and Religious Identity

The relationship between religion and the presidency impacts both the viability of candidates and the manner in which decisions are made in the voting booth. Today we are living in culture where religion is front and center in politics. This article examines the role of religion in political discourse with special attention to the 2012 presidential election. It focuses on the manner in which religion and politics have become inextricably interwoven in the past sixty years. It begins by establishing the role of religion in the broader political arena. The article then turns to the manner in which religious identity and participation influence voting patterns, and how religious affiliation shapes the office of the presidency. The conclusion offers some reflections on the future of religion in presidential politics, an issue that will continue to be a significant factor in how and why voters support and marginalize particular candidates.
Reflections for January: Haitian on the Comfort: Doctor and Patient

As we approach the 1-year anniversary of the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the Western Hemisphere, a Haitian American neurologist reflects on his experience aboard the USNS Comfort. I walked onto the 2 Forward (Pediatrics) ward to see a young girl, hearing the familiar sounds of Haitian spirituals being sung. The girl was screaming. I had seen her the previous night in the casualty receiving area when the pediatric surgeon was discussing the need for an amputation of one of her legs. Although she was 8 years old, I thought she did not follow the discussion. In retrospect, I realize that she understood but had the stoicism that was common among the Haitian patients we were treating on the USNS Comfort after the Haitian earthquake. Her mother, though, had refused consent for amputation, largely based on strict instructions from the girl's father. When I arrived at her bedside on 2 Forward, someone from the physical therapy team was trying to work with her and she was screaming “Pa coupe jambe mwen, pa coupe jambe mwen”—“Don't cut off my leg.” It was not the first time I had seen a patient on the Comfort fear …
Loss in Translation: A Model for Therapeutic Engagement and Intervention With Grieving Clients

Bearing witness to grief is about accepting and experiencing suffering as an unavoidable aspect of loss. It also entails listening to and responding with clients in a way that affirms that their experiences have been heard and understood. This article describes a model for therapeutic engagement and intervention with grieving clients. The model is informed by contemporary grief and practice theories characterized by such qualities as emotional presence, reciprocity, responsiveness, empathic expression, and meaning making. Case examples from the author's research and practice experience illustrate how these qualities contribute to what she describes as translational relationships that lead to transformations in clients’ self perceptions and assumptive worlds, and for some, to revived meaningfulness in a life changed by loss.