cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The natural history of metastatic progression in men with prostate-specific antigen recurrence after radical prostatectomy: long-term follow-up.

Study Type – Prognosis (cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Patients with biochemical recurrence after prostatectomy often develop subsequent metastases. However, the natural history of metastatic progression in men who have not received subsequent therapies before developing metastases has been understudied. Here, we describe the largest known cohort of men with PSA-recurrent prostate cancer after prostatectomy who have not received additional treatments before metastasis. We characterize metastatic risk based on clinical variables, and we show that Gleason score and PSA doubling time are the strongest predictors of metastasis-free survival. We present tables stratifying metastatic risk by these two variables. OBJECTIVE • To describe metastasis-free survival (MFS) in men with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence following radical prostatectomy, and to define clinical prognostic factors modifying metastatic risk. PATIENTS AND METHODS • We conducted a retrospective analysis of 450 men treated with prostatectomy at a tertiary hospital between July 1981 and July 2010 who developed PSA recurrence (≥0.2 ng/mL) and never received adjuvant or salvage therapy before the development of metastatic disease. • We estimated MFS using the Kaplan–Meier method, and investigated factors influencing the risk of metastasis using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS • Median follow-up after prostatectomy was 8.0 years, and after biochemical recurrence was 4.0 years. At last follow-up, 134 of 450 patients (29.8%) had developed metastases, while median MFS was 10.0 years. • Using multivariable regressions, two variables emerged as independently predictive of MFS: PSA doubling time (<3.0 vs 3.0–8.9 vs 9.0–14.9 vs ≥15.0 months) and Gleason score (≤6 vs 7 vs 8–10). • Using these stratifications of Gleason score and PSA doubling time, tables were constructed to predict median, 5- and 10-year MFS after PSA recurrence. In different patient subsets, median MFS ranged from 1 to 15 years. CONCLUSIONS • In men undergoing prostatectomy, MFS after PSA recurrence is variable and is most strongly influenced by PSA doubling time and Gleason score. These parameters serve to stratify men into different risk groups with respect to metastatic progression. • Our findings may provide the background for appropriate selection of patients, treatments and endpoints for clinical trials.
3D printed multilayer microstrip line structure with vertical transition toward integrated systems

In this paper, a 3D printed multilayer microstrip line structure with vertical transition is designed, fabricated and characterized. The dielectric part of the structure is printed using the FDM method and the conductor part is printed using the ultrasonic wire embedding approach. The measured total insertion loss of the 3D printed multilayer microstrip (90 mm long) including the vertical transition is smaller than 2 dB below 6 GHz. The measured results agree well with the simulation. The performance of this structure demonstrates that 3D printing techniques may be able to realize functional multilayer RF components / systems. As an example, a 3D printed multilayer phased array is designed based on similiar microstrip and vertical transition structure in this work. The simulated results show good impedance matching around 3.5GHz and a high directive beam at expected direction.
Reconciling Lawrence v. Texas with 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell': The Value of the Cook v. Gates Intermediate-Deferential Approach

In 1993, the federal government adopted a policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), permitting homosexuals to serve in the United States armed forces on the condition that they remain celibate and neither disclose their sexual orientation nor speak about homosexual relationships. But in the 2003 case of Lawrence v. Texas, the Supreme Court recognized a liberty right of adults to engage in private consensual sexual conduct under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, making it unclear whether a “fundamental” right to engage in homosexual activity existed, and, if so, whether DADT unconstitutionally abridged that right. In upholding DADT against a 2008 due process challenge, the First Circuit Court of Appeals applied an intermediate standard of review. But less than a month earlier, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals remanded a similar challenge to the district court with orders to apply a heightened scrutiny test seemingly hostile to DADT.This Comment concedes that Lawrence bars continued application of rational basis review to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” However, Lawrence effectively left the lower federal courts with the task of choosing between strict scrutiny and some form of heightened scrutiny. This piece argues that the courts should reject strict scrutiny review of state-sponsored discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as too restrictive on the military. It argues that an intermediate standard of review balancing the gravity of Congress’s reasons for enacting legislation like DADT against the liberty right recognized by Lawrence is an appropriate method by which to analyze DADT and other similarly compelling government policies. The Comment ultimately concludes that the federal courts should structure due process jurisprudence in such a way that the perceived needs of the United States military — for various policy reasons — can be seamlessly factored into an appraisal of DADT and other forms of state-sponsored discrimination under the Due Process Clause.
Seasonal differences in bacterial community composition following nutrient additions in a eutrophic lake

We examined the effects of nutrient amendments on epilimnetic freshwater bacteria during three distinct periods in the eutrophic Lake Mendota's seasonal cycle (spring overturn, summer stratification and autumn overturn). Microcosm treatments enriched solely with phosphorus containing compounds did not result in a large bacterial community composition (BCC) change or community activity response (assessed via alkaline phosphatase activity, APA) relative to the controls during any season. Treatments enriched with carbon- and nitrogen-containing compounds resulted in a dramatic BCC change and a large APA increase in the autumn and spring seasons, but only treatments receiving carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus (CNP) exhibited similar responses in the summer season. Despite the fact that the amendments created similar CNP concentration conditions across seasons, the BCC following amendment greatly varied among seasons. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that many common freshwater bacterial lineages from the Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria class and Bacteroidetes phylum were favoured following nutrient (CNP) addition, but individual taxa were generally not favoured across all seasons. Targeted quantitative PCR analysis revealed that the abundance of the Actinobacteria acIB1 cluster decreased in all microcosms during all three seasons, while the Flavobacterium aquatile (spring) and ME-B0 (summer) clusters of Bacteroidetes increased following CNP addition. These results suggest a particular bacterial group is not universally favoured by increased nutrient loads to a lake; therefore, efforts to predict which bacteria are involved in nutrient cycling during these periods must take into account the seasonality of freshwater bacterial communities.
Soil heterogeneity in Mojave Desert shrublands: Biotic and abiotic processes

[1] Geological and ecological processes play critical roles in the evolution of desert piedmonts. Feedback between fast cyclic biotic and slow cumulative pedogenic processes on arid alluvial fan systems results in a heterogeneous landscape of interspace and canopy microsites. Defining the spatial extent between these processes will allow a better connection to ecosystem service and climate change. We use a soil chronosequence in the Mojave Desert and high spatial resolution infiltrometer measurements along transects radiating from canopies of perennial shrubs to assess the extent of biotic and abiotic processes and the heterogeneity of soil properties in arid shrublands. Results showed higher saturated conductivity under vegetation regardless of surface age, but it was more conspicuous on older, developed soils. At proximal locations to the shrub, bulk density, soil structure grade, silt, and clay content significantly increased radially from the canopy, while sand and organic material decreased. Soil properties at distal locations 2–5 times the canopy radius had no significant spatial correlation. The extent of the biotic influence of the shrub was 1.34 ± 0.32 times the canopy radius. Hydraulic properties were weakly correlated in space, but 75% of the variance could be attributed to sand content, soil structure grade, mean-particle diameter, and soil organic material, none of which are exclusively biotic or abiotic. The fast cyclic biotic processes occurring under vegetation are clearly overprinted on slow cumulative abiotic processes, resulting in the deterministic variability observed at the plant scale.
What Should We Do About Multi-Jurisdictional Litigation in M&A Deals?

Many M&A transactions attract shareholder litigation challenging the fairness of the economic terms of the deal for the target shareholders. Since the end of the financial crisis, however, there has been a documented increase in the number of jurisdictions in which each individual transaction is attacked. Why has this upsurge in multi-jurisdictional litigation occurred? How significant are its real costs and benefits? And what should we do about it, if anything? This Article first summarizes what we know about these questions and then offers its own viewpoint on how best to respond to multi-jurisdictional litigation. On the one side, the defense bar and their academic supporters want to eliminate shareholders’ choice about where to file litigation either by mandating that only the state of incorporation is a proper venue or, alternatively, by vesting the choice of venue with the target company’s board of directors. A corollary aspect of these proposals rests on whether the proponents believe that a bylaw passed solely by the board of directors is sufficient to implement such a change, or whether a shareholder-approved charter amendment is needed. However, on the other side, there are judges, academics, and investors who believe the current system of judicial comity is appropriate either as it is now or with some tweaks. These advocates see value in the current system of judicial federalism and comity, while at the same time differing over whether a thumb needs to be put on the scale in favor of the state of incorporation or greater coordination among judges in different courts. This Article argues that comity is the best solution for the present, although the final resolution of these issues awaits the development of more complete data on the costs and benefits of the current system.
ADVANCing the Agenda for Gender Equity

To increase the involvement of women in STEM fields requires not just supporting individual women but the system-wide identification and removal of gender biases in institutional policies and proce...
Management of complications and compromised free flaps following major head and neck surgery

Microvascular free flaps are preferred for most major head and neck reconstruction surgeries because of better functional outcomes, improved esthetics, and generally higher success rates. Numerous studies have investigated measures to prevent flap loss, but few have evaluated the optimal treatment for free flap complications. This study aimed to determine the complication rate after free flap reconstructions and discusses our management strategies. Medical records of 260 consecutive patients who underwent free flap reconstructions for head and neck defects between July 2006 and June 2010 were retrospectively reviewed for patient and surgical characteristics and postoperative complications. The results revealed that microvascular free flaps were extremely reliable, with a 3.5 % incidence of flap failure. There were 78 surgical site complications. The most common complication was neck wound infection, followed by dehiscence, vascular congestion, abscess, flap necrosis, hematoma, osteoradionecrosis, and brisk bleeding. Twenty patients with poor wound healing received hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which was ineffective in three patients who eventually experienced complete flap loss. Eleven patients with vascular congestion underwent medicinal leech therapy, which was effective. Among the 78 patients with complications, 44 required repeat surgery, which was performed for postoperative brisk bleeding in three. Eventually, ten patients experienced partial flap loss and nine experienced complete flap loss, with the latter requiring subsequent pectoralis major flap reconstruction. Microvascular free flap reconstruction represents an essential and reliable technique for head and neck defects and allows surgeons to perform radical resection with satisfactory functional results and acceptable complication rates.
The impact of laser-target absorption depth on the surface and internal morphology of matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporated conjugated polymer thin films

Abstract Poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-(1-cyanovinylene)-phenylene] (MEH-CN-PPV) thin films were deposited using resonant infrared matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (RIR-MAPLE) from targets comprising differing ratios of phenol to ice to assess the impact of laser-target absorption depth on film morphology. The surface and internal morphologies of as-deposited and annealed films indicate that the RIR-MAPLE process can be tuned to favor ablation with more or less vaporous ejecta by tuning the laser-target absorption depth. The demonstrated ability to tune between more or less vaporous ejecta strongly impacts the subsequent morphologies of the deposited films, and has important implications to realizing optoelectronic devices using the RIR-MAPLE process.
Resonant Energy Transfer in PbS Quantum Dots

Resonant nonradiative energy transfer between close-packed PbS quantum dots is observed in continuous-wave and time-resolved fluorescence experiments. Samples of nominally a single dot size, and two dot sizes, were investigated. In both cases, the time-integrated fluorescence exhibits a substantial redshift compared to the emission from dots in solution, and energy transfer can be observed directly in spectrally resolved fluorescence transients.
Carbohydrate profiling of bacteria by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: chemical derivatization and analytical pyrolysis.

Carbohydrate profiling by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for the identification and detection of bacteria. Its increasing applicability in the microbiology laboratory is illustrated by three examples. In the first, differentiation of legionellae by their sugar composition was determined with alditol acetate derivatization followed by selectedion monitoring. In the second example, a carbohydrate pyrolysis product fromStreptococcus agalactiaewas used to differentiate group B streptococci from other Lancefield groups after direct sampling from culture plates. The third example employed the carbohydrates rhamnose and muramic acid as chemical markers for the direct detection of bacterial cell wall degradation products in mammalian tissues. The analysis of carbohydrate markers for bacteria by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has great potential for use in clinical identification of isolated bacteria as well as in the rapid diagnosis of bacterial infections without prior culture.
Phospho-ΔNp63α/miR-885-3p axis in tumor cell life and cell death upon cisplatin exposure

The cisplatin-induced ATM-dependent phosphorylated (p)-ΔNp63α plays an important role in transcriptional regulation of specific genes encoding mRNAs and microRNAs (miRs) implicated in cell death, cell survival, and chemoresistance. The p-ΔNp63α-induced miR-885-3p functions as a critical regulator of MDM4, ATK1, BCL2, ATG16L2, ULK2, CASP2, and CASP3 mRNAs via pairing with their respective 'recognition' sequences. Cisplatin exposure modulated the levels of target proteins (reduced BCL2, AKT1, ATG16L2, and ULK2, while activated MDM4) in cisplatin-sensitive wild type ΔNp63α cells leading to distinct changes in cell viability. Finally, miR-885-3p modulated the cisplatin-induced TP53-dependent mitochondrial apoptosis by up regulation of MDM4 levels and down regulation of BCL2 levels in mitochondria. Altogether, our results support the notion that miR-885-3p might contribute in regulation of cell viability, apoptosis and/or autophagy in squamous cell carcinoma cells upon cisplatin exposure.
The Learning Society and Governmentality: An introduction

This paper presents an overview of the elements which characterize a research attitude and approach introduced by Michel Foucault and further developed as ‘studies of governmentality’ into a sub‐discipline of the humanities during the past decade, including also applications in the field of education. The paper recalls Foucault's introduction of the notion of ‘governmentality’ and its relation to the ‘mapping of the present’ and sketches briefly the way in which the studies of governmentality have been elaborated in general and in the context of research in education more particularly. It indicates how the studies of governmentality can be related to a cartography of the learning society, a cartography which helps us to get lost and to liberate our view.
Preliminary Evaluation of Visibility in Hazardous Materials Level a Suit

This paper evaluated the problem of visibility of a hazardous materials (hazmat) responder while wearing a level A hazmat suit. An experiment was performed to judge the amount of time a level A haz...
Surface hopping with a manifold of electronic states. I. Incorporating surface-leaking to capture lifetimes

We investigate the incorporation of the surface-leaking (SL) algorithm into Tully’s fewest-switches surface hopping (FSSH) algorithm to simulate some electronic relaxation induced by an electronic bath in conjunction with some electronic transitions between discrete states. The resulting SL-FSSH algorithm is benchmarked against exact quantum scattering calculations for three one-dimensional model problems. The results show excellent agreement between SL-FSSH and exact quantum dynamics in the wide band limit, suggesting the potential for a SL-FSSH algorithm. Discrepancies and failures are investigated in detail to understand the factors that will limit the reliability of SL-FSSH, especially the wide band approximation. Considering the easiness of implementation and the low computational cost, we expect this method to be useful in studying processes involving both a continuum of electronic states (where electronic dynamics are probabilistic) and processes involving only a few electronic states (where non-adiabatic processes cannot ignore short-time coherence).
Behavioral States and Milk Immunology in Preterm Mothers

The purpose of this study was to analyze behavioral states in preterm mothers and determine the presence of relationships between these states andbiological markers potentially related to maternal stress (i.e., Cortisol and secretory Immunoglobulin A [slgA] in the mothers milk). Lactating, postpartum (Days 6 through 9) mothers (N= 41) of infants born between 29 and 36 weeks gestation were recruited to participate. Mothers were instructed to collect a pooled 24-hr sample of hindmilk and complete a demographic questionnaire, the Profile of Mood States (POMS), and the Spielberger State Anxiety Scale on Day 5 or 6 postpartum. Depression, fatigue, confusion, and tension subscale scores on the POMS were all higher than published normative sample scores, whereas anger and vigor scores were lower. Anger and vigor scores were significantly correlated to slgA concentration. Median splits of each of the mood state scores indicated that low scorers on every negative mood scale, except anger, had higher milk slgA concentrations, whereas high scorers had lower milk slgA concentrations. High scorers on both the anger and the vigor scales had higher milk slgA concentrations. These differences were not statistically significant but may represent a trend that could be further analyzed with a larger number of subjects. Consistent with the literature and our own studies, the slgA concentration was higher than that found in comparable term milk. There was a statistically significant inverse relationship between milk slgA and Cortisol, suggesting a possible influence of Cortisol on the secretion of antibody by milk B lymphocytes.
The association of elevated urinary total to sulfated glycosaminoglycan ratio and high molecular mass hyaluronic acid with interstitial cystitis.

Purpose: A decrease in the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer on the urothelium is believed to be one of the possible causes of interstitial cystitis. Consequently, GAG-like substances and hyaluronic ac...
Enzymatic synthesis of citrate from pyruvate and oxalacetate.

SOLUBLE enzyme preparations from Escherichia coli and Streptococcus faecalis catalyse the dismutation of two molecules of pyruvate to acetyl phosphate, lactate and carbon dioxide when orthophosphate is present. Acetyl phosphate was determined by Lipmann's hydroxylamine reaction1. The system is almost inactive in the absence of added diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPN). Maximum reaction-rates require, in addition to enzyme, substrate and pyridine nucleotide, the following components: orthophosphate, magnesium ions (Mg++) or manganese ions (Mn++), diphosphothiamine, a boiled extract of yeast, and lactic dehydrogenase. Coenzyme A is required for maximum yields of acetyl phosphate. The nature of the active factor in yeast extract is unknown; but it is not coenzyme A. It is possible that the compound may be a coenzyme form of the factor of O'Kane and Gunsalus2 required for oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate by S. faecalis cells. In the absence of orthophosphate, the reaction-rate is sharply reduced and no acetyl phosphate accumulates. The dismutation can be formulated as follows:
Nanoscale detection of bacteriophage triggered ion cascade (Invited Paper)

In an era of potential bioterrorism and pandemics of antibiotic-resistant microbes, bacterial contaminations of food and water supplies is a major concern. There is an urgent need for the rapid, inexpensive and specific identification of bacteria under field conditions. Here we describe a method that combines the specificity and avidity of bacteriophages with fluctuation analysis of electrical noise. The method is based on the massive, transitory ion leakage that occurs at the moment of phage DNA injection into the host cell. The ion fluxes require only that the cells be physiologically viable (i.e., have energized membranes) and can occur within seconds after mixing the cells with sufficient concentrations of phage particles. To detect these fluxes, we have constructed a nano-well, a lateral, micron-size capacitor of titanium electrodes with gap size of 150 nm, and used it to measure the electrical field fluctuations in microliter (mm 3 ) samples containing phage and bacteria. In mixtures where the analyte bacteria were sensitive to the phage, large stochastic waves with various time and amplitude scales were observed, with power spectra of approximately 1/f 2 shape over at 1 - 10 Hz. Development of this SEPTIC (SEnsing of Phage-Triggered Ion Cascades) technology could provide rapid detection and identification of live, pathogenic bacteria on the scale of minutes, with unparalleled specificity. The method has a potential ultimate sensitivity of 1 bacterium/microliter (1 bacterium/mm 3 ).
Chronic maternal and fetal Porphyromonas gingivalis exposure during pregnancy in rabbits.

Objective This study was undertaken to develop a rabbit model of maternal exposure to Porphyromonas gingivalis and determine whether fetal or placental exposure occurs. Study design Subcutaneous steel chambers were implanted in 8 New Zealand White female rabbits. On day 7 of pregnancy, 4 rabbits were inoculated through the chamber with 5 × 10 8 CFU/mL live P gingivalis , and 4 rabbits with broth (controls) and sacrificed at term. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect P gingivalis in maternal and fetal liver and placenta. Fisher exact test was used to compare P gingivalis detection between groups. Results Among exposed does, P gingivalis was detected in 33% of the maternal livers, 49% of placentas, and 34% fetal livers compared with none from controls ( P Conclusion Chronic maternal exposure to P gingivalis results in systemic dissemination, transplacental passage, and fetal exposure. This model may be useful to study placental and fetal effects of this oral pathogen and to study microbial dissemination across the placenta.
Developmental Morphology of Human and Avian Tubercle Bacilli on Bordet-Gengou Medium

These observations on the developmental morphology of human and avian tubercle bacilli are in agreement with those made by Kahn1 with H37 and a more recently isolated human strain, on Long's medium. Bordet-Gengou medium was chosen for this study, as it differs from Long's medium in not being synthetic, and is more highly enriched.Smears were made at daily and weekly intervals from growth on Bordet-Gengou slants which were first tested for sterility by incubation at 37°C. for 24 hours. They were then seeded with a light inoculum. Prior to planting, smears were made of the inoculums. The slides were stained by a modified Ziehl-Neelsen method2 which had been found excellent for demonstrating non-acid-fast forms of the tubercle bacillus. Each slide prior to staining was covered by a clean strip of filter paper to protect the smears as much as possible from particles of precipitated stain which might lead to inaccurate observations. The slides used were clean and free from grease. The strains employed were 2 r...
Toward Sequencing the Tetrahymena Genome: Exploiting the Gift of Nuclear Dimorphism

Abstract Important scientific discoveries have utilized the unique advantages of Tetrahymena thermophila as a research organism. Recently developed molecular genetic manipulations allow full exploitation of the many scientific dividends that would result from having its genome sequenced. As a typical ciliated protozoan, Tetrahymena exhibits “nuclear dimorphism”. It possesses two differentiated forms of its nuclear genome: a globally repressed, diploid germline or micronuclear genome, and a polyploid, site-specifically fragmented somatic or macronuclear genome. The macronuclear genome is, in effect, a natural, large-insert library of the micronuclear genome. This presentation describes how the gifts of nuclear dimorphism are being exploited in the experimental analysis of molecular and cell biology. Mechanisms present in humans that are either absent in other eukaryotic microbial model systems, or not as readily accessible in them as in Tetrahymena, are especially relevant. This presentation also reviews u...
Investigation of molecular interactions between β-lactoglobulin and sugar beet pectin by multi-detection HPSEC.

Abstract Molecular interactions between β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) and sugar beet pectin (SBP) were studied using online multi-detection high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) at neutral pH and 50 mM ionic strength. The hydrodynamic properties of various interacting polymer fractions were characterized in detail and compared with those of β-LG and SBP. Results showed that ∼6.5% (w/w) of native dimeric β-LG molecules formed complexes with over 35% SBP molecules of varying sizes, 800, 110 and 75 kDa. Although the β-LG molecules bind to SBP molecules of all sizes and shapes, they tend to favor the intermediate (110 kDa) and small sized (75 kDa) SBP molecules. All resulting complexes possess altered shapes and hydrodynamic properties when compared to unbound SBP and β-LG. About half of the interacting β-LG (∼3.5%) molecules were thought to bind to a small amount of non-covalently bound feruloyl groups, possibly present in SBP. When pre-heat treated β-LG and SBP were combined, more than 16% of β-LG formed complexes with at least 45% of SBP molecules of varying sizes, M w ∼ 750–800, 110, and 55–80 kDa. The complexes formed between β-LG aggregates and/or oligomers and the large SBP molecules (750–800 kDa) adopt the shape of β-LG aggregates, random coil. Both groups of complexes formed between β-LG intermediate (110 kDa) and small sized (55–80 kDa) SBP take on the shape of rigid rod . It was speculated that half of the interacting heat-treated β-LG molecules (∼8%) are complexed with non-covalently bound feruloyl groups in SBP.
Introduction to Bayesian statistical approaches to compositional analyses of transgenic crops 1. Model validation and setting the stage

Abstract Statistical comparisons of compositional data generated on genetically modified (GM) crops and their near-isogenic conventional (non-GM) counterparts typically rely on classical significance testing. This manuscript presents an introduction to Bayesian methods for compositional analysis along with recommendations for model validation. The approach is illustrated using protein and fat data from two herbicide tolerant GM soybeans (MON 87708 and MON 87708 × MON 89788) and a conventional comparator grown in the US in 2008 and 2009. Guidelines recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in conducting Bayesian analyses of clinical studies on medical devices were followed. This study is the first Bayesian approach to GM and non-GM compositional comparisons. The evaluation presented here supports a conclusion that a Bayesian approach to analyzing compositional data can provide meaningful and interpretable results. We further describe the importance of method validation and approaches to model checking if Bayesian approaches to compositional data analysis are to be considered viable by scientists involved in GM research and regulation.
The stats guy

J and Carlos, two ecology professors at Enormous State University, are passing the line of graduate students waiting to see Kai, the statistician. “Ah, spring”, says Jane, “when a young grad student’s fancy turns to ANOVAs and Bonferroni corrections”. Like many institutions, ESU’s ecology program regularly advises students to consult with a statistician to help with experimental design and data interpretation. Of course, the students also have to take a couple of stats courses, but most admit that at the end of they still feel pretty shaky about statistics. As a result, nearly all of the students in ESU’s ecology program rely on direct advice from Kai in designing their studies. Although most of the ecology faculty have some facility with statistics, Kai is recognized as the local statistics guru. His role in the department has evolved over time, from occasional consultant to a fixed part of the educational process. In fact, most graduate committees in the ecology program won’t approve a student’s research proposal without the coveted “Kai stamp of approval”. Jane and Carlos had often disagreed about the role Kai plays in graduate training at ESU. Jane was more critical. “I think our students rely on Kai for too much. If you can’t understand enough statistics to interpret the data from your own experiments, then you probably don’t deserve a PhD in ecology. Besides, we are setting a truly dangerous precedent for these students – that someone else can be held responsible for your results. Carlos, you were at that student seminar last week; he couldn’t answer questions about his design beyond the basic level. He couldn’t even begin to answer my question about why the factors in his analysis were fixed versus random. All he could say was that Kai told him how to interpret his output and what all the stats meant! Our students publish work whose fundamental statistical design they don’t understand and can’t defend. If we’re going to train grad students, we have an obligation to train them to be scholars. What’s more important than that, though, is that they need to understand that they must be able to defend every aspect of the research that they publish.” Carlos shrugged. “So, what are you proposing? Should students take 2 years of stats courses? How about 3 or 4 years, just to be sure they get it? Be reasonable. We’re an ecology department, not a statistics department. Ecology has become complex, computationally and analytically. There’s nothing wrong with a statistician becoming part of the research team. Every member of the group has a role to play. Part of the value of collaboration is that everyone can’t be expert in everything. Our PhDs should understand the big picture, but I’m not too worried if they don’t become statisticians in our program.”
Subthalamic Nucleus Neuronal Firing Rate Increases with Parkinson’s Disease Progression

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic cells in the central nervous system, in particular the substantia nigra, resulting in an unrelenting loss of motor and nonmotor function. Animal models of Parkinson's disease reveal hyperactive neurons in the subthalamic nucleus that have increased firing rates and bursting activity compared with controls. Although subthalamic nucleus activity has been characterized in patients with advanced-stage Parkinson's disease, it has not been described in patients with early-stage Parkinson's disease. Here we present the results of subthalamic nucleus neuronal recordings from patients with early-stage Parkinson's disease (Hoehn and Yahr stage II) enrolled in an ongoing clinical trial compared with recordings from age- and sex-matched patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. Subthalamic nucleus neurons had a significantly lower firing rate in early versus advanced Parkinson's disease (28.7 vs 36.3 Hz; P<.01). The overall activity of the subthalamic nucleus was also significantly lower in early versus late Parkinson's disease, as measured by background neuronal noise (12.4 vs 14.0 mV; P<.05). No significant difference was identified between groups in the bursting or variability of neuronal firing in the subthalamic nucleus, as measured by a burst index or the interspike interval coefficient of variability. The results suggest that neuronal firing in the subthalamic nucleus increases with Parkinson's disease progression.
Continuous waves generated by focused radiators

A single integration technique for calculating the pressure distribution in the field of a focused sinusoidally oscillating radiator is described. This technique involves the direct closed form integration of one of the integrals in the Rayleigh formula; the latter formula itself contains a double integral corresponding to integration over the area of the source transducer face. Precise experimental measurements of a hydrophone’s response to the pressure field generated by a focused medical diagnostic transducer are also reported, and comparison between experiment and theory is made. Very good agreement between theory and experiment is demonstrated with respect to both amplitude and phase for lateral beam profiles at six different distances from the source transducer. At a seventh distance (about 1 cm from the source transducer) much more violent fluctuations in the response are observed than result from the theory.
Further test of a model for loudness coding after adaptation.

The present study attempted to fit Weiler and Hood's (1977) quantitative model for loudness coding to an additional set of simultaneous dichotic loudness balance (SDLB) adaptation data. The error of prediction for test values 10 dB above adapting intensity for 12 normal-hearing listeners was –2.7 to –4.7 dB, an average of –3.5 dB. Since the error of prediction was so nearly constant (S.D.=≤.737 dB), it seemed reasonable to attribute it to differences in procedural technique, and to conclude that the loudness model does account for a large component of coding in the adaptation results.The hearing of 24 normal hearing children ranging in age from 18 to 32 months was tested by TROCA and peep-show, two operant conditioning techniques differing only in the type of reward. Children between 18 and 24 months consistently exhibited poorer thresholds (lowest response levels) than children between 25 and 32 months. The older children required fewer trials for threshold determination and took less time in completing ...
Optimization of multi-pole aperture for via patterning of 90 nm logic devices by KrF lithography

Optical resolution limit is one of the concerns for exposure tool selection. ArF lithography tools are the first choice for critical layers of 90 nm node with pitches narrower than 280 nm. However, high cost of ArF tools and photoresists make IC manufacturers try to seek for alternatives. Extension of KrF lithography has been widely discussed. For mass production of 130 nm node, KrF lithography has been pushed hard to achieve 160 nm contact holes with 320 nm pitch. In this paper, printing of via holes with the minimum pitch of 280 nm has been demonstrated with a special designed multi-pole aperture and high NA KrF lithography. With these illumination settings, reasonable process windows through all the pitches can be achieved for mass production of 90 nm node logic devices. Multi-pole illumination aperture settings are critical for balancing through-pitch process margins. Forbidden regions should not be found with optimum multi-pole illumination settings. In other words, the adequate combinations of multi-pole sizes and locations can minimize the forbidden proximity behavior and also keep the aerial imaging contrast balance through all the pitches. Mask bias is another factor to enlarge the common process windows. The process margin depth of focus (DOF) and mask enhanced error factor (MEEF) are investigated with various multi-pole settings and mask biases. Simulation works have been done for fine-tuning of the multi-pole aperture to reduce through pitch MEEF and optimize mask biases.
T-cell selection

Abstract Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules in the thymus select from the repertoire of germline receptors those that will be most useful in mounting responses to antigen in the periphery. Recent data has shed light on the involvement of self peptides presented by the MHC in this process, and has indicated that a requirement for the constant recognition of ‘self’ may be essential for T-cell longevity in the periphery.
Cockpit Display of Traffic Information: The Effects of Traffic Load, Dimensionality, and Vertical Profile Orientation:

Eighteen certified flight instructors from the University of Illinois Institute of Aviation participated in an experiment exploring the design of the Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) for free flight. Pilots flew a sequence of flight scenarios to compare the effects of traffic load, dimensionality, and a vertical profile orientation on maneuver frequency, safety, and maneuver efficiency. Climbs and descents were found to be more frequent than other maneuvers. Both the rear-view and 3D displays were safer in terms of predicted conflict avoidance than the side-view display. Climbing maneuvers were more safely implemented with the rear-view and 3D displays than with the side-view display. The lateral efficiency of climbing maneuvers was highest with the rear-view display. Altitude maintenance of lateral/vertical maneuvers was highest with the side-view, then the rear-view, and then lowest with the 3D display. Airspeed efficiency of airspeed maneuvers was highest with the rear-view display. These ...
Coronary hemodynamic effects of angiotensin inhibition by captopril and teprotide in patients with congestive heart failure

The coronary hemodynamic effects of vasodilator therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (captopril arid teprotide) were studied in 11 patients with ischemic heart disease and severe congestive heart failure (CHF). Over 2 hours, systemic vascular resistance was reduced from 2,408 ± 240 to 1,715 ± 170 dynes·s·cm−5 (p < 0.001), and cardiac output improved 18%, resulting in lower arterial pressure (101 ± 8 to 86 ± 5 mm Hg, p < 0.001) and left ventricular filling pressure (30 ± 2 to 21 ± 2 mm Hg, p < 0.001). Coronary sinus thermodilution blood flow parallelled perfusion pressure but did not significantly vary overall (160 ± 20 to 133 ± 12 ml/min, difference not significant [NS]). Coronary vascular resistance was unchanged. Although the left ventricular stroke work index rose slightly (37.7 ± 8.8 to 41.3 ± 7.9 g·m/m2, p < 0.05), there was no change in the coronary arteriovenous oxygen content difference (10.8 ± 1.0 to 10.4 ± 1.0 ml/100 ml, NS) or calculated myocardial oxygen consumption (16.4 ±1.9 to 13.9 ± 1.6 ml/min, NS). The heart rate-systolic blood pressure product declined significantly during this period (8,824 ± 703 to 7,087 ± 514 beats·mm Hg, p < 0.02); this relief of cardiac effort was a function of the pretreatment plasma renin activity. A derived index of external myocardial efficiency improved 37% (19 ± 3 to 26 ± 6, p < 0.05), reflecting greater left ventricular work without increased oxygen demand. Enhancement of myocardial performance after converting enzyme inhibition appears dependent on reduction of angiotensin-mediated ventricular afterload and preload. The lack of coronary vasomotor effects in patients with advanced ischemic cardiomyopathy may reflect limited coronary vascular reserve. Improvement of heart failure in these patients developed without evidence of myocardial ischemia, since balance was maintained between oxygen supply and demand.
Cybercrimes pose growing threat to medical devices.

Securing medical devices against cyberattacks or malware outbreaks and safeguarding protected health information (PHI) stored on devices or exchanged between a device and the provider’s network is a growing challenge for clinical engineers and hospital information technology (IT) professionals. 1 This article will analyze two general trends with regard to their impact on a medical device security strategy: first, the increased exposure and vulnerability through the growing number of devices connected to a network, and, second, the changes in the cyberthreat landscape. Threats are becoming more prevalent, complex, and sophisticated, and are being driven by a cybercrime culture that is moving away from sensationalism to targeted attacks based on financial motivation. 2 A medical device, in the context of this article, is any network-connected system used in patient care in a hospital, private office, home, or other healthcare setting, and which, due to its usage model, operating system, configuration, and network communications, can be exposed to cyberthreats—for example, through a permanent or intermittent network connection or through “sneakernet,” a term that describes the transfer of electronic information by physical means, such as a USB or universal serial bus, device.
AN EFFICIENT TECHNIQUE FOR THE REPRODUCIBLE IN VIVO ASSAY OF THYROIDAL RADIOIODINE IN SMALL ANIMALS.

Abstract In in vivo thyroid radioiodine assay with a single detector, unavoidable variation in the position of the animal produces significant error unless the source to detector distance is great. In this paper, a system is described in which the sacrifice of efficiency for precision is avoided through the use of two opposed detectors that yield highly reproducible count rates despite uncertainty in the exact position of the source. This geometry independence permits precise, automated counting of unanaesthetized and relatively unrestrained rats. Excised organs and standards can be assayed in the apparatus, allowing accurate determination of isotope uptake. Iso-response curves and data on precision, specificity, sensitivity and accuracy are given. With appropriate modification, the twin-opposed detector design can be applied to a variety of in vivo counting problems.
The neuronal composition of area 17 of rat visual cortex. IV. The organization of pyramidal cells.

In area 17 of the rat visual cortex, most of the apical dendrites of the large layer V pyramidal cells aggregate into oriented clusters, each containing three or more such dendrites. These clusters are not randomly distributed, but have a basic hexagonal packing distribution in which the mean center-to-center spacing is 55–60 microns. The majority of medium-size pyramidal cells of layer V also add their apical dendrites to the clusters. As these clusters pass through layer IV they remain intact, and successively layer III and finally layer II pyramids add their apical dendrites to them. Perhaps because the pyramidal cells in layer II/III are so numerous, some of their apical dendrites form independent groups. Apical dendrites of the small pyramidal neurons in layers VIa and IV seem not to specifically add to the clusters. Instead, apical dendrites of layer VIa pyramids form into contiguous fascicles and sheets, which pass around the groups of layer V pyramidal cell bodies to ascend to layer IV, where most of them form their apical tufts. Layer IV pyramidal cell apical dendrites behave somewhat similarly. These apical dendrites have to pass between the cell bodies of the lower layer III pyramidal cells. To do this, some join the clusters, but others form independent bundles. It is suggested that the pyramidal cells whose apical dendrites are clustered represent vertically oriented neuronal modules whose activity is synchronized, and that different combinations of these modules are excited by afferents to the cortex to provide the bases for the various kinds of functional columns.
DIRECT COMPARISON OF NEAR-INFRARED ABSORBANCE SPECTROSCOPY WITH RAMAN SCATTERING SPECTROSCOPY FOR THE QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF XYLENE ISOMER MIXTURES

In order to overcome instrument problems associated with moving parts, such as optical misalignment and/or mechanical breakdown, we have developed two solid-state (no moving parts) spectrometers suitable for many industrial process monitoring applications. The first instrument utilizes near-infrared absorbance spectroscopy with a 1024-element platinum-silicide linear photodiode array detector, and the other employs Raman scattering spectroscopy with a 1024 X 1024 element charge-coupled device (CCD) detector. In order to demonstrate the utility of solid-state instrumentation for industrial process monitoring analysis, both instruments were used for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of individual components of xylene isomer mixtures. The xylene isomer mixture samples prepared for this study contained approximately 75-86, 0.6-5, and 0.1-14% w/v ortho-, meta-, and para-xylene, respectively, to reflect compositions of xylene raw materials used by specialty chemical manufacturers. Each spectroscopic system provides a means for fast (seconds), nondestructive data acquisition with no sample preparation. With the use of the chemometric data treatment of partial least-squares (PLS) regression, the absolute accuracies at 95% confidence for each isomer were found to be ± 0.05, ± 0.12, and ± 0.09% w/v with near-infrared spectroscopy and ± 0.08, ± 0.04, and ± 0.07% w/v with Raman spectroscopy for ortho-, meta-, and para-xylene, respectively.
Sephadex G-200 gel electrophoresis of human serum alkaline phosphatases

Abstract A method for the separation of the variants of human alkaline phosphatase by horizontal Sephadex gel electrophoresis has been developed. The electrophoresis was earried out with gels containing 3% Sephadex G-200 of particle size 10–40 μ. The localization of enzyme and protein bands was successful on Sephadex gel, especially with highly purifled enzyme samples of very low protein concentrations (50 μg). A much more rapid 4 hr method has been devised also for thin-layer Sephadex G-200 gel electrophoresis which produces a dry transparent film of great tensile strength suitable for a permanent record. These new methods have been successfully applied to separate the components of alkaline phosphatase in sera of normal and some hyperphosphatasemic subjects.