cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of a surface coating of table salt of varying grain size on perceived saltiness and liking for paté

Summary Thirty subjects rated samples of pate with five concentrations of salt for intensity of saltiness and for liking. The samples were made up either with the salt incorporated into the pate or added to the surface as small or large crystals. Intensity was highest for the small crystals on the surface and lowest for the salt in the food. The slope of the psychophysical function was also lower for salt in the food than on the surface and the Weber ratio for the salt in the food was larger. There was no significant difference in the most preferred concentration of salt between samples with the salt in or on the food but overall liking was lower for the latter. These results show that a surface coating will give greater saltiness than the same amount of salt incorporated into the food, but as the surface coated pate samples were less liked, this would not offer a useful means for reducing the amount of salt in the diet.
Crystal structures of two mutants that have implications for the folding of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A

The Tyr92-Pro93 peptide group of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) exists in the cis conformation in the native state. From unfolding/refolding kinetic studies of the disulfide-intact wild-type protein and of a variant in which Pro93 had been replaced by Ala, it had been suggested that the Tyr92-Ala93 peptide group also exists in the cis conformation in the native state. Here, we report the crystal structure of the P93A variant. Although there is disorder in the region of residues 92 and 93, the best structural model contains a cis peptide at this position, lending support to the results of the kinetics experiments. We also report the crystal structure of the C[40, 95]A variant, which is an analog of the major rate-determining three-disulfide intermediate in the oxidative folding of RNase A, missing the 40-95 disulfide bond. As had been detected by NMR spectroscopy, the crystal structure of this analog shows disorder in the region surrounding the missing disulfide. However, the global chain fold of the remainder of the protein, including the disulfide bond between Cys65 and Cys72, appears to be unaffected by the mutation.
To filter or to authorize: network-layer DoS defense against multimillion-node botnets

This paper presents the design and implementation of a filter-based DoS defense system (StopIt) and a comparison study on the effectiveness of filters and capabilities. Central to the StopIt design is a novel closed-control, open-service architecture: any receiver can use StopIt to block the undesired traffic it receives, yet the design is robust to various strategic attacks from millions of bots, including filter exhaustion attacks and bandwidth flooding attacks that aim to disrupt the timely installation of filters. Our evaluation shows that StopIt can block the attack traffic from a few millions of attackers within tens of minutes with bounded router memory. We compare StopIt with existing filter-based and capability-based DoS defense systems under simulated DoS attacks of various types and scales. Our results show that StopIt outperforms existing filter-based systems, and can prevent legitimate communications from being disrupted by various DoS flooding attacks. It also outperforms capability-based systems in most attack scenarios, but a capability-based system is more effective in a type of attack that the attack traffic does not reach a victim, but congests a link shared by the victim. These results suggest that both filters and capabilities are highly effective DoS defense mechanisms, but neither is more effective than the other in all types of DoS attacks.
Using RBF neural networks and a fuzzy logic controller to stabilize wood pulp freeness

The quality of paper produced in a papermaking process is largely dependent on the properties of the wood pulp used. One important property is pulp freeness. Ideally, a constant, predetermined level of freeness is desired to achieve the highest quality of paper possible. The focus of this paper is on developing a system to control the wood pulp freeness. A radial basis function (RBF) artificial neural network was used to model the freeness and a fuzzy logic controller was used to control the input parameters to maintain a desired level of freeness. Ideally, the controller will reduce pulp freeness fluctuations in order to improve overall paper sheet quality and production.
Single phase induction motor with an electronically controlled capacitor

A single-phase induction motor using an electronically controlled capacitor is described. The system uses a DC capacitor switched by a transistor H bridge. By proper control of the transistor switching, the circuit synthesizes a continuously variable capacitance in series with the auxiliary winding. The system could be used to replace standard single-phase motor capacitor configurations to provide improved machine performance. The basic system is described and compared with a normal capacitor-run motor. The effects of independent adjustments in several system parameters are considered, and the circuit device requirements are described. Both analog and digital simulations are used to carry out the analysis. Illustrations of some of the design flexibility inherent in the system are included. >
Eddy current damping of thin film domain walls

A self-consistent two-dimensional numerical model, is developed to study eddy current damped domain wall motion in conductive, soft thin films. The micromagnetic Landau-Lifshitz equation and Maxwell's equation are solved simultaneously to provide a rigorous description of magnetization dynamics interacting with eddy current, which is relevant to the dynamic response of thin film inductive heads. Simulation results indicate that for Permalloy films thinner than 3000 AA, eddy current damping can be neglected in wall dynamics. For film thickness greater than 1 mu m this damping effect could be the dominating loss mechanism. >
The effects of anoxia on isozyme patterns and ultrastructure of cultured human fibroblasts.

Numerous studies with lower eukaryotes such as yeast and Neurospora have shown that mitochondrial morphology and enzyme levels change markedly in response to changes in oxygen tension. Several studies with mammalian cells in culture have indicated that these cells also respond to low oxygen with changes in the levels of certain enzymes. In this study gel electrophoretic analysis of enzymes and electron microscopic analysis of cell organelle morphology were used to study the effects of anaerobic conditions on cultured human embryo fibroblasts. Lactate dehydrogenase showed a marked shift from LDH-1 toward LDH-5 as has been previously described. Isocitrate dehydrogenase, NAD-malate dehydrogenase, and NADP-malate dehydrogenase all have been shown to exist as separate supernatant and mitochondrial isozymes. However, none of these enzymes showed extensive changes in isozyme patterns in response to anaerobiosis. Electron microscopic examination of cell cultures revealed striking changes in mitochondrial structure. Aerobically grown cells have well-developed, elongated mitochondria with numerous well-defined cristae and an electron-dense matrix. In cells cultured anaerobically the mitochondria show degenerative changes. They are more rounded, have few and poorly defined cristae, and the matrix is more electronlucent. These studies indicate that, as in lower eukaryotes, the mitochondria of cultured human cells also respond morphologically and biochemically to changes in oxygen tension.
A method for analysis of vanillic acid in polar ice cores

Abstract. Biomass burning generates a wide range of organic compounds that are transported via aerosols to the polar ice sheets. Vanillic acid is a product of conifer lignin combustion, which has previously been observed in laboratory and ambient biomass burning aerosols. In this study a method was developed for analysis of vanillic acid in melted polar ice core samples. Vanillic acid was chromatographically separated using reversed-phase liquid chromatography (HPLC) and detected using electrospray ionization–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Using a 100 μL injection loop and analysis time of 4 min, we obtained a detection limit of 77 ppt (parts per trillion by mass) and an analytical precision of ±10%. Measurements of vanillic acid in Arctic ice core samples from the Siberian Akademii Nauk core are shown as an example application of the method.
Critical success factors for rapid, innovative solutions

Many of today's problems are in search of new, innovative solutions. However, the development of new and innovative solutions has been elusive to many, resulting in considerable effort and dollars and no solution or a mediocre solution late to the marketplace or customer. This paper describes the results of research conducted to identify the critical success factors employed by several successful, high-performance organizations in the development of innovative systems. These critical success factors span technical, managerial, people, and cultural aspects of the innovative environment.
Increased Insulin Sensitivity and Reduced Adiposity in Phosphatidylinositol 5-Phosphate 4-Kinase β−/− Mice

Phosphorylated derivatives of the lipid phosphatidylinositol are known to play critical roles in insulin response. Phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinases convert phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bis-phosphate. To understand the physiological role of these kinases, we generated mice that do not express phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase β. These mice are hypersensitive to insulin and have reduced body weights compared to wild-type littermates. While adult male mice lacking phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase β have significantly less body fat than wild-type littermates, female mice lacking phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase β have increased insulin sensitivity in the presence of normal adiposity. Furthermore, in vivo insulin-induced activation of the protein kinase Akt is enhanced in skeletal muscle and liver from mice lacking phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase β. These results indicate that phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase β plays a role in determining insulin sensitivity and adiposity in vivo and suggest that inhibitors of this enzyme may be useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Multiple functions of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein

Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) was first identified as a major cellular protein capable of transferring neutral lipids between membrane vesicles. Its role as an essential chaperone for the biosynthesis of apolipoprotein B (apoB)-containing triglyceride-rich lipoproteins was established after the realization that abetalipoproteinemia patients carry mutations in the MTTP gene resulting in the loss of its lipid transfer activity. Now it is known that it also plays a role in the biosynthesis of CD1, glycolipid presenting molecules, as well as in the regulation of cholesterol ester biosynthesis. In this review, we will provide a historical perspective about the identification, purification and characterization of MTP, describe methods used to measure its lipid transfer activity, and discuss tissue expression and function. Finally, we will review the role MTP plays in the assembly of apoB-lipoprotein, the regulation of cholesterol ester synthesis, biosynthesis of CD1 proteins and propagation of hepatitis C virus. We will also provide a brief overview about the clinical potentials of MTP inhibition.
Etiology of Depression: Genetic and Environmental Factors

In summary, depressed patients with a history of childhood trauma may have a distinct depression endophenotype characterized by a specific neurobiology and risk genotype that may be responsive to different treatment strategies than depressed patients without childhood adversity. Based on current findings, treatment strategies should be multimodal and include the following: 1. Psychotherapy that addresses a number of domains, such as emotional regulation, cognitive reframing, careful exploration of past traumatic events, attachment, and interpersonal relationships in a safe and trusting therapeutic environment. 2. The therapy should likely be longer term in order to effectively impact those domains. 3. Pharmacotherapy that will be effective in quieting the body’s hyperresponsiveness to stress and reverse epigenetic modifications induced by trauma and stress. 4. Environmental interventions that provide a support network (maternal care, a positive family environment, the support of a close friend) have all been shown to attenuate the impact of childhood abuse. In addition, there is great potential in the identification of genomic biomarkers to help guide us in the identification of traumatized individuals who are susceptible to depression. These indices may also help identify those for whom the immediate provision of treatment may have a preventive effect and may someday guide us in the development of novel pharmacologic approaches.
Advances in self‐assembled SiGe islands and nanostructures

We review aspects in the growth and characterization of Si1–xGex islands and Ge dots on (001) Si. We discuss the mechanisms that lead to dot formation and their shape evolution with Ge coverage. We discuss recent progress in the determination of their composition and strain. We review various approaches currently being investigated to engineer Si1–xGex quantum dots and in particular control their size, density and spatial distribution. For example, we show how C pre-deposition on Si (001) can influence nucleation and growth of Ge islands. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The scope and limits of overimitation in the transmission of artefact culture

Children are generally masterful imitators, both rational and flexible in their reproduction of others' actions. After observing an adult operating an unfamiliar object, however, young children will frequently overimitate , reproducing not only the actions that were causally necessary but also those that were clearly superfluous. Why does overimitation occur? We argue that when children observe an adult intentionally acting on a novel object, they may automatically encode all of the adult's actions as causally meaningful. This process of automatic causal encoding (ACE) would generally guide children to accurate beliefs about even highly opaque objects. In situations where some of an adult's intentional actions were unnecessary, however, it would also lead to persistent overimitation. Here, we undertake a thorough examination of the ACE hypothesis, reviewing prior evidence and offering three new experiments to further test the theory. We show that children will persist in overimitating even when doing so is costly (underscoring the involuntary nature of the effect), but also that the effect is constrained by intentionality in a manner consistent with its posited learning function. Overimitation may illuminate not only the structure of children's causal understanding, but also the social learning processes that support our species' artefact-centric culture.
Science Signaling Podcast: 21 July 2009

This is a conversation with Science Signaling editor Wei Wong about recent research on Huntington's Disease.
ATMOS data processing and science analysis methods

The atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy (ATMOS) instrument, a high-speed Fourier transform spectrometer operating in the middle IR (2.2-16 microns), recorded more than 1500 solar spectra at about 0.0105/cm resolution during its first mission onboard the shuttle Challenger in the spring of 1985. These spectra were acquired during high-sun conditions for studies of the solar atmosphere and during low-sun conditions for studies of the earth's upper atmosphere. This paper describes the steps by which the telemetry data were converted into spectra suitable for analysis, the analysis software and methods developed for the atmospheric and solar studies, and the ATMOS data analysis facility.
Prognostic Accuracy of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II Scores in Critically Ill Cancer Patients

• BACKGROUND The predictive accuracy of scores on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) for in-hospital mortality among critically ill cancer patients varies. • OBJECTIVE To evaluate the predictive accuracy of APACHE II scores for severity of illness in critically ill cancer patients and to find clinical indicators to improve the accuracy. • METHODS Actual hospital mortality rates were compared with predicted rates. Data were collected prospectively from 1263 cancer patients admitted to the intensive care unit during a 5-year period in a cancer center in Taiwan. The APACHE II score for each patient was calculated at admission. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify clinical predictors associated with increased mortality. • RESULTS The scores ranged from 2 to 54. The mortality rates were 19% overall, 45% for medical patients, and 1% for surgical patients. The fit of the scores was good for the medical patients (HosmerLemeshow statistic 8.2, P = .41). The estimated odds ratios for mortality of presence of metastasis and respiratory failure were 4.18 (95% CI 2.65-6.59) and 2.03 (95% CI 1.22-3.38), respectively. When metastasis and respiratory failure were incorporated into the APACHE II model, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for medical patients increased from 0.82 to 0.86. The fit of the modified model was excellent (Hosmer and Lemeshow statistic 6.57, P = .58). • CONCLUSIONS APACHE II scores are predictive of hospital mortality in critically ill cancer patients. The presence of metastasis and respiratory failure at admission are also associated with outcome. (American Journal of Critical Care. 2006;15:47-53)
Heightened motor activity level in male offspring of substance abusing fathers.

Abstract Heightened activity level has been implicated in the liability for substance abuse, but no prior research has directly examined motor activity in a sample of prepubertal boys at high-risk for substance abuse. The magnitude of behavioral activity of 10–12 year-old sons of substance abusing fathers (SA+) ( n = 42) and controls (SA−) ( n = 60) was assessed using a microprocessor-based activity monitor during tasks that demanded significant concentration, effort, and constraint on motor activity, and when no such demands were present. Psychiatric status, measures of temperament traits, and measures of internalizing and externalizing behaviors were also obtained on the boys. Although the groups did not differ during the lower demand task, SA + boys showed significantly greater motor activity than SA − boys during the tasks that required concerted effort, attention, and behavioral suppression. Multiple regression analysis indicated that under the low-demand condition, the presence of an anxiety disorder in the boy was the only significant predictor of activity level. However, under the conditions that demanded effort, concerted attention and behavioral suppression, SA + group membership, and having low rhythmicity (as a temperament trait) predicted heightened activity. Statistically controlling for rhythmicity, the SA + boys were estimated to have about 24% higher activity than control boys. The results suggest that heightened motor activity may be associated with susceptibility to substance abuse.
Finite-Element Analysis of Phased-Array Antennas

The finite-element method (FEM) is applied to the analysis of phased-array antennas. Curvilinear tetrahedral elements are used for domain discretization and high-order vector basis functions are used for field expansion. Periodic boundary and radiation conditions are enforced on a single unit cell in the infinite array. A waveguide port condition is also implemented to accurately model the field on the aperture of the coaxial line that provides excitation. The asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE) technique is combined with the FEM to perform fast-frequency and angular sweeps. The computed antenna parameters are compared with previously published results and good agreement is obtained. The effects of different feeding schemes on the array parameters are studied and compared. Frequency responses and scan performance of a flared-notch antenna design are presented. Finally, a preliminary investigation is made on the validity of the infinite-array approximation to the corresponding finite-array problems. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 40: 490–496, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20013
Supramolecular Host–Guest Interaction for Labeling and Detection of Cellular Biomarkers

Be my guest: A supramolecular host-guest interaction is utilized for highly efficient bioorthogonal labeling of cellular targets. Antibodies labeled with a cyclodextrin host molecule bind to adamantane-labeled magnetofluorescent nanoparticles (see picture) and provide an amplifiable strategy for biomarker detection that can be adapted to different diagnostic techniques such as molecular profiling or magnetic cell sorting.
An Analysis of the Delaney Committee Report on the Fluoridation of Drinking Water

In mid-July, a special committee of the U . S. House of Representatives, known as the Select Committee to Investigate the Use of Chemicals in Foods and Cosmetics, issued a report (J.A .D .A ., August, 1952, p. 243) urging communities to adopt a “conservative attitude” toward the fluoridation of domestic water supplies. The Committee was headed by Rep. James J. Delaney (D., N. Y .). Copies of this report have been distributed widely. Since it appears as an official publication of the 82nd Congress, the report has been interpreted by some individuals as a reversal of the complete endorsements of fluoridation which have been made by health agencies of the federal government. Such is not the case. The report is simply an expression of opinion of its seven members. While vaguely negative in its recommendations, the report itself reiterates the fact that fluoridation has been endorsed and recom­ mended by such federal agencies as the U. S. Public Health Service, and the quasiofficial National Research Council. The recommendations of the report, which also included a separate statement by Rep. A. L. Miller (R., Neb.), for the most part ignore the testimony of government scientists and representatives of such organiza­ tions as the American Dental Association, American Medical Association, American Public Health Association, Association of State and Territorial Health Officers and many others. In effect, the report was a deferred minority report on the action of Congress itself which earlier had approved an appropriation of funds for the fluorida­ tion of the public water supplies in the District of Columbia. The fluoridation of the public water supplies in the District of Columbia and surrounding com­ munities, with the approval of the full Congress, was in effect prior to the official release of the report of the Committee. The report makes no recommendation for any legislative action by the federal government. Staff members of the Councils on Dental Therapeutics and Dental Health have carefully analyzed the report of the Delaney Committee as follows.
Processible Polyacetylene-Based χ (3) Materials for Photonic Applications

A number of processing variations were carried out to optimize the morphology, third- order nonlinearity, and processability of substituted polyacetylene polymers. This allowed for spin coating of optical quality films with large nonlinearities.
Superior Vena Cava Stenting Guided by Alternative Imaging Modalities in a Patient with Severe Contrast Allergy: A Case Report and Brief Literature Review

Major adverse reactions to iodinated radiocontrast media are an uncommon but serious complication of cardiac catheterizations. We present a case of a 52-year-old woman with a sinus venosus atrial septal defect and partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection status post repair who presented with superior vena cava graft obstruction. Two overlapping stents were placed within the superior vena cava using gadolinium, CO2 angiography and transesophageal echocardiography for visualization of the graft stenoses. No iodinated media were used.
DO MISSING INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS BLOCK ENLARGEMENT OF WATER MARKETS

As we consider the potential for expanding water markets as a means to help prevent water shortages, it is clear that there is resistance to such an expansion. This resistance should not be surprising given that there are likely to be both gainers and losers from expanded water markets. This papers shows that there are a number of potential market failures when water markets are expanded and that these failures are important to different stakeholder groups. These failures result from both technical and pecuniary externalities. If markets are to expand beyond the local level, new institutional arrangements will be needed that help reduce the negative impacts of the different market failures. In the past a number of institutional arrangements have been used by different stakeholder groups to block trading. We review some of these arrangements as well as institutional arrangements that can work to promote market expansion by mitigating market failures or by compensating damaged parties.
Capacity Outer Bounds for the Cognitive Z Channel

This paper considers the so-called cognitive Z channel, where two users transmit two independent messages to their respective receivers through a Z interference channel. User 1 (primary user) interferes with receiver 2 while user 2 (secondary user) does not interfere with receiver 1. In addition, user 2 overhears the transmission of user 1 through a noisy channel, hence the term 'cognitive'. We proposed two nontrivial capacity outer bounds, which established a capacity region corner point for certain parameter regimes. These outer bounds, together with previously proposed achievable rate region, shed light on the usefulness of the causal cooperation under certain channel conditions. Numerical examples are also given.
The nucleotide binding motif of hepatitis C virus NS4B can mediate cellular transformation and tumor formation without Ha-ras co-transfection†

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important cause of chronic liver disease and is complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mechanisms whereby the virus promotes cellular transformation are poorly understood. We hypothesized that the guanosine triphosphatase activity encoded in the HCV NS4B protein's nucleotide binding motif (NBM) might play a role in the transformation process. Here we report that NS4B can transform NIH-3T3 cells, leading to tumor formation in vivo. This transformation was independent of co-transfection with activated Ha-ras. Detailed analyses of NS4B mutants revealed that this transforming activity could be progressively inhibited and completely abrogated by increasing genetic impairment of the NS4B nucleotide binding motif. Conclusion: NS4B has in vitro and in vivo tumorigenic potential, and the NS4B transforming activity is indeed mediated by its NBM. Moreover, our results suggest that pharmacological inhibition of the latter might inhibit not only HCV replication but also the associated HCC. (HEPATOLOGY 2008.)
Von Gierke’s Disease Adopts an Orphan (and Its Partner)

The enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase is critical for maintaining fasting blood sugar levels by increasing hepatic glucose production. Its absence in patients with von Gierke's disease leads to severe hypoglycemia and abnormal accumulation of glycogen (glycogenosis) in the liver. New players that control the expression of glucose-6-phosphatase have been identified that may provide insight into this metabolic disorder, as well as type 2 diabetes.
Measuring High-Performance Computing with Real Applications

A good benchmarking methodology can save a tremendous amount of resources in terms of human effort, machine cycles, and cost. Such a methodology must consider the relevance and openness of the chosen codes, well-defined rules for executing and reporting the benchmarks, a review process to enforce the rules, and a public repository for the obtained information. For the methodology to be feasible, it must also be supported by adequate tools that enable the user to consistently execute the benchmarks and gather the requisite metrics. At the very least, reliable benchmarking results can help people make decisions about HPC acquisitions and assist scientists and engineers in system advances. By saving resources and enabling balanced designs and configurations, realistic benchmarking ultimately leads to increased competitiveness in both industry and academia.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Affecting Patient Engagement in Diabetes Self-Management: Perspectives of a Certified Diabetes Educator

Patients with diabetes are responsible for the vast majority of management requirements of their condition. However, their ability and motivation to engage in required self-management behaviors may be mitigated by multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic barriers include attitudes and health beliefs, limited diabetes knowledge and technical skill, reduced functional health literacy, and inadequate self-efficacy to promote positive behavior change. Extrinsic barriers include financial considerations, inadequate family and community support systems, ineffective clinical relationships, and limited access to effective diabetes health care delivery. Diabetes providers have opportunities for enhancing patient engagement with clinical recommendations and diabetes self-management through effective communication, including efforts to contextually assess patients' perceptions of diabetes and how the condition fits within the context of their changing lives. This article provides a conceptual framework for establishing and building an effective clinical alliance with patients with the goal of empowering them to take more control of their diabetes and reduce their risks for poor diabetes outcomes.
Developing Fluency versus Conceptual Change

In their contribution to this volume, Wertsch and Kazak turn to a theoretical tradition they trace to Vygotsky, as well as to the lesser-known Gustavovich Shpet. They argue that, viewed from the perspective of Vygotsky and Shpet, the goal of science instruction is to help students become fluent users of a sign system. From this point of view, instruction requires a sort of bootstrapping, in which students move from having little ability to use a sign system, to becoming fluent users of that sign system. In this commentary, I contrast the view of science learning outlined by Wertsch and Kazak with what I refer to as the conceptual change perspective. Based on this contrast, I argue that Wertsch and Kazak systematically underestimate what students know, as well as how much intersubjective overlap there is between student and instructor.
Reply to A. Fiorentino et al

I would like to address the following points in response to the letter by Fiorentino et al. First, the authors claim that quality of life is “undoubtedly” improved with a reduction in local recurrence. Although this may be the case, data from Liu et al suggest that a subset of patients may have such a low rate of local recurrence that they have no appreciable benefit from radiation therapy. If this is borne out in future prospective studies, then for these patients the toxicity of radiation can be avoided without sacrificing cancer-related outcomes. Second, the authors argue that intensive and costly follow-up will be necessary to monitor patients who do not receive adjuvant radiation. However, if the local recurrence in this select group of patients proves to be low, as these preliminary data suggest, follow-up will not need to be any different from that of standard-risk patients who have been treated with adjuvant radiation. Third, although it is true that modern radiation techniques have resulted in low rates of acute and chronic toxicity, all interventions have some potential morbidity. If there exists a subset of patients that has no meaningful benefit from radiation, then any adverse effects are unjustified. Fourth, given the possibility that radiation may contribute to the low rate of axillary recurrence in the sentinel node–only arm in the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group study Z0011, I agree that excluding radiation in patients with a positive sentinel node who receive breast conservation could potentially increase axillary recurrences. Such patients were not permitted in the randomized trial conducted by Fyles et al, nor will they be included in the prospective studies in Canada (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01791829), Michigan (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02400190), or Boston. Radiation has been an important component of breastconserving therapy for several decades. However, it is not without cost, both in terms of potential adverse effects for the patients, as well as financial effects. With our improved understanding of the biologic heterogeneity of breast cancer, we are now in a position to more precisely tailor treatment to each individual patient. Hopefully, this will allow us to omit radiation for patients who are unlikely to benefit.
Re-Presenting the Indian Question: A Newly Discovered Printing of Wynema: A Child of the Forest

S. Alice Callahan’s Wynema: A Child of the Forest is generally acknowledged to be the first novel written by a Native American woman. Published in 1891 by the Chicago-based H. J. Smith and Company,...
Using Learning Analytics to Trace Academic Trajectories of CS and IT Students to Better Understanding Successful Pathways to Graduation (Abstract Only)

We present findings from a study examining students' course-taking pathways to graduation and identify the factors regarding course-taking choices that can affect students' performance. The data for the study was collected from two majors within an engineering school at a large public university: computer science (CS) and information technology (IT). Although we look in depth at CS students, we use the other data for a comparative analysis. CS and IT are the most popular and largest majors, respectively, at our institution with almost 2,500 undergraduate students enrolled in them. The results show that there are differences in specific patterns of courses and illustrate relationships between the frequent courses in each semester and the relationships between courses taken in two consecutive semesters. Some major insights from the analysis of trajectory of frequent courses for both groups include: low performers postponed some courses toward the end of the program, and take a collection of courses together that their counterparts do not usually take. This work has direct implications for advising of prospective and current students and can improve programs' curriculum and students' performance. In the next stage of this study we will compare trajectories of students who graduate with those of students who either leave CS and IT or take longer to graduate. This preliminary research is part of a NSF CISE/EHR funded grant project on "BigData and Education".
Solution Processing of YBa2Cu3OT7-x Thin Films

The aim of this work was to develop a non-vacuum chemical deposition technique for YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) coated conductors on rolling-assisted biaxially textured substrates (RABiTS). We have chosen the metal-organic decomposition (MOD) and sol-gel precursor routes to grow textured YBCO films. In the MOD process, yttrium 2-ethylhexonate, barium neodecanoate, copper 2-ethylhexonate and toluene were used as the starting reagents. YBCO films processed by the MOD method on SrTiO3 (100) single crystal substrates were predominately epitaxial and consisted of c and a-axis oriented material. Films have a Tc,onset of 89K and the best superconducting transition temperature of 63K. Films pyrolyzed at 525 °C and subsequently annealed at 780 °C in P(O2) of 3.5 × 10−4 atm contained YBCO phase predominately in a-axis orientation. In the sol-gel route, yttrium-isopropoxide, barium metal, copper methoxide and 2-methoxyethanol were used as the starting reagents. Sol-gel YBCO films on SrTiO3 substrates were epitaxial and c-axis oriented.
Fast neutron-induced structural rearrangements at a soybean NAP1 locus result in gnarled trichomes

Key message Three adjacent and distinct sequence rearrangements were identified at a NAP1 locus in a soybean mutant. Genetic dissection and validation revealed the function of this gene in soybean trichome development.
Chimeric beta-EF3-alpha hemoglobin (Psi): energetics of subunit interaction and ligand binding.

Among the numerous strategies to design an oxygen carrier, we outline in this work the engineering of a stable homotetrameric hemoglobin, expressed in Escherichia coli. The chimeric globin (Ψ) consists of the first 79 residues of human β globin (corresponding to positions NA1 → EF3) followed by the final 67 residues of human α globin (corresponding to positions EF3 → HC3). The molecular mass for β-EF3-α (Ψ) globin was measured using mass spectrometry to be equal to its theoretical value: 15782 Da. Correct protein folding was assessed by UV/visible and fluorescence spectra. The subunit interaction free energies were estimated by HPLC gel filtration. In the cyanometHb species, the formation of the dimer−tetramer interface is 2 kcal/mol less favorable (ΔG = −7 kcal/mol) than that of Hb A (ΔG = −9 kcal/mol), whereas the dimer−monomer interface is tightly assembled (< −10 kcal/mol) as for the Hb A α1β1 interface. In contrast to Hb A, oxygen binding to Ψ Hb is not cooperative. The free energy for binding four ...
On the Effects of a Finite Aperture on the Inverse Born Approximation

One of the most important effects of complex part geometry is that the available entrance and exit angles for ultrasound are limited. We will present a study of the Inverse Born Approximation in which we have data for incident (and exit) directions confined to a conical aperture. Modeling the direct problem by the Born Approximation, we obtained analytical results for (1) a weak spherical inclusion, and (2) a penny shaped crack (modeled by an oblate spheroid). General results are: (a) the value of the characteristic function γ is constant in the interior of the flaw, but reduced in value; (b) the discontinuity at the boundary of the flaw occurs over the “lighted” portion of the flaw; (c) this discontinuity is contrasted by a region where γ is negative; and (d) new non-physical discontinuities and non-analyticities appear in the reconstructed characteristic function. These general features also appear in numerical calculations which use as input strong scattering data from a spherical void and a flat penny shaped crack in Titanium. The numerical results can be straightforwardly interpreted in terms of the analytical calculation mentioned above, indicating that they will be useful in the study of realistic flaws. We conclude by discussing the stabilization of the aperture limited inversion problem and the removal of non-physical features in the reconstruction.
Exomes, Proteins, and Cardiovascular Disease: Making Sense of the Signals.

The postgenomic era has simultaneously provided huge opportunities and major challenges in the translation of the wealth of genetic information to improve our diagnostic and therapeutic approach to disease. Although many might agree that genome-wide association studies have not met expectations in their ability to capture the full genetic architecture of many medical conditions, there is hope that more sophisticated and comprehensive genetic analyses, such as whole exome and whole genome sequencing, will shed more light on the mechanisms underlying common diseases. A complementary approach is in the integration of molecular profiling platforms (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.) to provide a systems-biology perspective. This approach is particularly provocative in common complex diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) where the end disease represents a convergence of diverse biological mechanisms, only some of which may be at play in a given individual, and where the disease process itself varies temporally with fixed genetic variation unable to capture this temporal progression. Such diseases are often defined by an underlying quantitative liability scale. As such, intermediate traits represented by proteins, RNA transcripts, metabolites, etc. may reside closer to the underlying pathogenic gene and thereby provide a stronger genetic signal, in addition to serving as stronger signals for the biological pathways mediating the disease process. Article, see p 375 Indeed, many groups have used this functional genomics approach to provide new insights into CVD pathophysiology. Expression quantitative trait loci have been used for years for functional evaluation of genome-wide association studies hits, biomarker discovery, and tissue specificity evaluations in human diseases.1 More recently, several studies have mapped metabolic traits onto the genome to identify quantitative trait loci associated with CVD phenotypes. These studies have provided valuable understanding about the genetic architecture underlying metabolic variability …
Incentives and Timing of Prescribed Fire for Wildfire Risk Management

Prescribed fire use for wildlire fuel reduction entails trading one sirsk for another. Because these risks change over time as vegetation matures, prescribed fire use for wildire risk mith-gation can be viewed as a timing problem. We examine economic ncertives for prescribed fire timing and use on the wildland-urban interface, the problem of heavy initial fuel loads from years of suppression and fuel accumulation, and the effect of liability, public suppres-sion, and other factors on fuel manarement incentives. We conclude with anumber of broad policy recommendations.
Precision Medicine in Multiple Sclerosis: Future of PET Imaging of Inflammation and Reactive Astrocytes

Non-invasive molecular imaging techniques can enhance diagnosis to achieve successful treatment, as well as reveal underlying pathogenic mechanisms in disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The cooperation of advanced multimodal imaging techniques and increased knowledge of the MS disease mechanism allows both monitoring of neuronal network and therapeutic outcome as well as the tools to discover novel therapeutic targets. Diverse imaging modalities provide reliable diagnostic and prognostic platforms to better achieve precision medicine. Traditionally, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been considered the golden standard in MS research and diagnosis. However, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging can provide functional information of molecular biology in detail even prior to anatomic changes, allowing close follow up of disease progression and treatment response. The recent findings support three major neuroinflammation components in MS: astrogliosis, cytokine elevation, and significant changes in specific proteins, which offer a great variety of specific targets for imaging purposes. Regardless of the fact that imaging of astrocyte function is still a young field and in need for development of suitable imaging ligands, recent studies have shown that inflammation and astrocyte activation are related to progression of MS. MS is a complex disease, which requires understanding of disease mechanisms for successful treatment. PET is a precise non-invasive imaging method for biochemical functions and has potential to enhance early and accurate diagnosis for precision therapy of MS. In this review we focus on modulation of different receptor systems and inflammatory aspect of MS, especially on activation of glial cells, and summarize the recent findings of PET imaging in MS and present the most potent targets for new biomarkers with the main focus on experimental MS research.
Investigation of road salts and biotic stressors on freshwater wetland communities.

Abstract The application of road deicing salts has led to the salinization of freshwater ecosystems in northern regions worldwide. Increased chloride concentrations in lakes, streams, ponds, and wetlands may negatively affect freshwater biota, potentially threatening ecosystem services. In an effort to reduce the effects of road salt, operators have increased the use of salt alternatives, yet we lack an understanding of how these deicers affect aquatic communities. We examined the direct and indirect effects of the most commonly used road salt (NaCl) and a proprietary salt mixture (NaCl, KCl, MgCl 2 ), at three environmentally relevant concentrations (150, 470, and 780 mg Cl − /L) on freshwater wetland communities in combination with one of three biotic stressors (control, predator cues, and competitors). The communities contained periphyton, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and two tadpole species (American toads, Anaxyrus americanus ; wood frogs, Lithobates sylvaticus ). Overall, we found the two road salts did not interact with the natural stressors. Both salts decreased pH and reduced zooplankton abundance. The strong decrease in zooplankton abundance in the highest NaCl concentration caused a trophic cascade that resulted in increased phytoplankton abundance. The highest NaCl concentration also reduced toad activity. For the biotic stressors, predatory stress decreased whereas competitive stress increased the activity of both tadpole species. Wood frog survival, time to metamorphosis, and mass at metamorphosis all decreased under competitive stress whereas toad time to metamorphosis increased and mass at metamorphosis decreased. Road salts and biotic stressors can both affect freshwater communities, but their effects are not interactive.
Inspection of nuclear power plant containment structures

Safety-related nuclear power plant (NPP) structures are designed to withstand loadings from a number of low-probability external and interval events, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and loss-of-coolant accidents. Loadings incurred during normal plant operation, therefore, generally are not significant enough to cause appreciable degradation. However, these structures are susceptible to aging by various processes depending on the operating environment and service conditions. The effects of these processes may accumulate within these structures over time to cause failure under design conditions, or lead to repair. Steel and concrete containment structures in nuclear power plants are described and their potential degradation factors identified. Reported incidences of containment degradation are summarized. Current regulatory in-service inspection requirements are reviewed. Nondestructive examination techniques commonly used to inspect NPP steel and concrete structures to identify and quantify the amount of damage present are described, and their capabilities and limitations identified. Finally, areas where nondestructive evaluation techniques require development (i.e. inaccessible portions of the containment pressure boundary, and thick heavily reinforced concrete sections) are identified and prior research addressing these needed developments summarized.
Fundamentals of Electromigration in Interconnects of 3D Packaging

Micro bumps, through Si vias (TSV), and redistribution layers (RDL) or back-end-of-line (BEOL) layers that connected to the TSV are unique interconnects connecting the stacked Si dies in 3D packaging. Electromigration (EM) failure has been a concern for these interconnects due to high current density and joule heating. In this chapter, the key EM failure modes in these interconnects are summarized. By leveraging the EM learning from flip chip first-level interconnect solder joints and damascene Cu interconnects, failure mechanisms and factors that modulate the EM of micro bumps, TSV, and its connected Cu layers are also summarized. The impact of the unique micro bump dimensions and structures on EM will be highlighted.