cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Io's volcanic control of Jupiter's extended neutral clouds

Abstract Dramatic changes in the brightness and shape of Jupiter's extended sodium nebula are found to be correlated with the infrared emission brightness of Io. Previous imaging and modeling studies have shown that varying appearances of the nebula correspond to changes in the rate and the type of loss mechanism for atmospheric escape from Io. Similarly, previous IR observational studies have assumed that enhancements in infrared emissions from Io correspond to increased levels of volcanic (lava flow) activity. In linking these processes observationally and statistically, we conclude that silicate volcanism on Io controls both the rate and the means by which sodium escapes from Io's atmosphere. During active periods, molecules containing sodium become an important transient in Io's upper atmosphere, and subsequent photochemistry and molecular-ion driven dynamics enhance the high speed sodium population, leading to the brightest nebulas observed. This is not the case during volcanically quiet times when omni-present atmospheric sputtering ejects sodium to form a modest, base-level nebula. Sodium's role as a “trace gas” of the more abundant species of sulfur (S) and oxygen (O) is less certain during volcanic episodes. While we suggest that volcanism must also affect the escape rates of S and O, and consequently their extended neutral clouds, the different roles played by lava and plume sources for non-sodium species are far too uncertain to make definitive comparisons at this time.
Immigration, Latinos, and White Partisan Politics: The New Democratic Defection

Immigration is profoundly changing the racial demographics of America. In this article, we seek to understand if and how immigration and increasing racial diversity are shaping the partisan politics of individual white Americans. We show that whites� views on immigration and Latinos are strongly related to their core political identities and vote choices. Using a range of different surveys, we find that, all else equal, whites with more anti-immigrant views or more negative views of Latinos are less apt to identify as Democrats and less likely to favor Democratic candidates. This rightward shift harkens back to an earlier period of white defection from the Democratic Party and highlights the enduring but shifting impact of race on American politics.
An Intelligent Roadway Reference System for Vehicle Lateral Guidance/Control

An Intelligent Vehicle/Highway System (IVHS) may require a multifunctional roadway reference system. This roadway reference system should help the vehicle locate its lateral and longitudinal position, and provide other information required for vehicle control. This reference system is defined as an Intelligent Roadway Reference System (IRRS). The California Program on Advanced Technology for the Highway (PATH) is developing an IRRS, consisting of roadway reference and vehicle sensing elements which can transmit necessary information for vehicle lateral guidance/control. The reference system, passive discrete markers that may code one or more bits of information, is installed in the center of the traffic lane. An on-board sensing system acquires the information when the vehicle passes over the reference and determines the vehicle deviation and the upcoming road geometry. This sensing/reference system may also provide information for other IVHS functions.
Further Studies of the Effect of Calcium on the Time Course of Action of Carbamylcholine at the Neuromuscular Junction

The rate at which the postjunctional membrane of muscle fibers becomes desensitized to the action of carbamylcholine is increased after the muscle has been soaked in solutions containing increased concentrations of calcium. Some further aspects of this effect of calcium were investigated by measuring changes in the input resistance of single fibers of the frog sartorius during local perfusion of the neuromuscular junction with 2.73 x 10(-3)M carbamylcholine in isolated muscles immersed in 165 mM potassium acetate. It was found that (a) sudden changes in the local concentration of calcium brought about by perfusing fibers with carbamylcholine solutions containing 20 mM calcium, 40 mM oxalate, or 40 mM EDTA were followed within 20 sec by marked changes in the rate of desensitization; (b) prior to 13 sec after the introduction of carbamylcholine, however, no effect on the input resistance could be detected even though the muscle had been presoaked in 10 mM calcium; (c) the ability of high concentrations of calcium to bring about rapid desensitization disappears when a lower concentration of carbamylcholine (0.137 x 10(-3)M) is applied to the muscle fiber. These findings suggest that calcium present in the extracellular fluid can act directly on the postjunctional membrane to promote the desensitization process and that an increased permeability of the membrane to calcium brought about by the presence of carbamylcholine is a factor which contributes to this action.
A two-stream approach for adaptive rate control in multimedia applications

We propose a two-stream approach for adaptive rate control in multimedia applications. By monitoring a low-rate monitoring stream, we keep track of the available bandwidth of the network path and dynamically adjust the sending rate of the traffic stream close to the optimal rate. The proposed two-stream approach perfectly meets the requirements of the current best-effort Internet and fits well in multimedia applications. For example, there is no bandwidth overhead for the monitoring stream in peer-to-peer video conferencing, because the monitoring stream is the audio stream. We show in our experiments that both the network and the application can benefit from this approach. The proposed two-stream approach is applicable to monitor the sending rate of the traffic stream over UDP as well as over TCP.
Understanding the Effects of Nurses, Patients' Hospital Rooms, and Patients' Perception of Control on the Perceived Quality of a Hospital

Service marketing researchers suggest that the physical environment, the people, and the process strongly affect consumers' judgements when they evaluate services. Previous research has rarely applied this general framework to help identify specific hospital variables that affect the perceived quality of a hospital. This article presents a proposed model and empirical evidence that is based upon this general framework. That is, this article reports the results of a study which found that the physical environment (i.e., patients' perception of their hospital rooms) and people (i.e., patients' perception of nurses) affected patients' perception of hospital quality. The process (i.e., patients' perception of control over the process) did not directly affect their perception of hospital quality. However, patients' perception of control over the process and their perception of their hospital rooms affected their perception of their nurses. Consequently, this research suggests that the general framework identified by service marketing researchers can be applied to help understand how patients develop their perception of hospital quality.
Abstract 2831: Induction of CXCL9/Mig expression in the tumor microenvironment promotes protective antitumor immune responses.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Despite intense efforts to design immunotherapeutic strategies, the success of cancer immunotherapy remains extremely limited. Major factors limiting immune responses to tumors include insufficient activation of tumor-reactive effector T cells, poor intra-tumor recruitment of effector T cells, and/or suppression of their functions within the tumor. One mediator involved in effector T cell activation and recruitment to inflammatory sites is the T cell chemoattractant chemokine CXCL9/Mig. Our recent studies in murine models of aggressive skin cancer (cutaneous sarcoma and melanoma) have indicated that these tumors cease the production of CXCL9/Mig as a result of immunoediting mediated by T cells and IFN-g. The consequence of Mig deficiency in the tumor microenvironment is the increased resistance of immunoedited Mig-deficient tumor variants to T cell-mediated immunity. Here we demonstrated that inducing constitutive expression of Mig within Mig-deficient tumors by delivery of Mig-encoding retroviral vector promotes protective anti-tumor immune responses and results in rejection of cutaneous tumors. This modulation of intra-tumor Mig expression induced potent tumor-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell-mediated responses capable of complete tumor elimination and subsequent protection to tumor re-challenge. Furthermore, the delivery of Mig-overexpressing tumor cells as a vaccine into mice with established cutaneous tumors induced systemic anti-tumor immune responses that suppressed growth of established tumors. This therapeutic effect correlated with the presence of dendritic cells (DC) in the tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLN) that were very potent in the activation of tumor antigen-specific IFN-g producing T cells. These results suggest that besides the recruitment of effector T cells into the tumor, tumor-derived Mig enhances activation of these T cells possibly by affecting tumor-infiltrating DC that acquire tumor antigens and then migrate into TDLN to prime tumor-specific effector T cells. Therefore, Mig might be a potent component of vaccines aimed to boost anti-tumor immunity in patients with aggressive skin cancers deficient in the expression of this chemokine. Citation Format: Anton Gorbachev, Danielle Kish, Robert Fairchild. Induction of CXCL9/Mig expression in the tumor microenvironment promotes protective antitumor immune responses. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2831. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2831
Relative importance of tactual and nontactual stimuli in eliciting lordosis in the female golden hamster.

The combined results of 3 experiments indicate that tactual stimuli are both sufficient and necessary to elicit lordosis in most female Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). However, in the presence of other stimuli from a male hamster, small amounts of tactual stimulation can elicit large amounts of lordosis. Nontactual stimulation from the male increases the ease with which lordosis is elicited by tactual stimulation and increases the duration the lordosis is maintained following the cessation of tactual stimulation.
Models of parallel computation: a survey and synthesis

In the realm of sequential computing, the random access machine has successfully provided an underlying model of computation that has promoted consistency and coordination among algorithm developers, computer architects and language experts. In the realm of parallel computing, however, there has been no similar success. The need for such a unifying parallel model or set of models is heightened by the greater demand for performance and the greater diversity among machines. Yet the modeling of parallel computing still seems to be mired in controversy and chaos. This paper presents a broad range of models of parallel computation and the different roles they serve in algorithm, language and machine design. The objective is to better understand which model characteristics are important to each design community, in order to elucidate the requirements of a unifying paradigm. As an impetus for discussion, we conclude by suggesting a model of parallel computation which is consistent with a model design philosophy that balances simplicity and descriptivity with prescriptivity. We present only the survey of abstract computational models. This introduction should provide insights into the rich array of relevant issues in other disciplines. >
Overview of Treatment Options for Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Complete surgical excision is the only treatment option for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), which provides the potential for cure. Nonetheless, the 5-year survival of patients following intent-to-cure surgery ranges between 32 and 48% [1–4]. For incidentally identified lesions that are suspected of being ACC, careful surgical judgment must be applied regarding the operative approach (laparoscopic vs. open exploration) [5].
Comparative Aging Study of Organic Solar Cells Utilizing Polyaniline and PEDOT:PSS as Hole Transport Layers

The aging effect on P3HT:PCBM organic solar cells was investigated with camphorsulfonic doped polyaniline (PANI:CSA) or poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) used as the hole transport layer (HTL). The cells were encapsulated and exposed to a continuous normal atmosphere on a dark shelf and then characterized intermittently for more than two years. The photovoltaic results revealed that the cells with PEDOT:PSS HTL showed better initial results than the cells with PANI:CSA HTL. Over time, PEDOT:PSS-based cells exhibited faster degradation than PANI:CSA-based cells, where the average efficiency of six cells dropped to zero in less than one and a half years. On the other hand, PANI:CSA-based cells exhibited a much more stable performance with an average efficiency drop of only 15% of their initial values after one and a half years and 63% after two years. A single-diode model was utilized to fit the experimental data with the theoretical curve to extract the diode parameters, s...
Foreword: The Future of Immigration Enforcement, a Tribute to David A. Martin

This symposium addresses the politically-charged challenge of immigration enforcement head-on in an unusual way — by convening leading figures from academia and government to assess possible directions for immigration enforcement over the coming decade. The objective is to help point the way toward a sustainable, stable, and long-term enforcement system. Participants in the symposium include several former high-level government officials from multiple administrations. We have also included several leading legal scholars, many of whom have been active in government service and sharp critics of the existing system. Several themes emerged from these presentations and discussions. In particular, panelists observed again and again that the politics of immigration are getting in the way of an effective enforcement system. Over time, the law has become increasingly complex, as Congress and agencies graft additional pieces to the governing statutes and regulations and issue executive orders. The statutes and regulations have become so convoluted and difficult to parse that even lawyers have difficulty understanding them, least of all ordinary people trying to comply with the law. But getting rid of old provisions is often politically untenable, because simplification can easily be portrayed at election time as a lack of fortitude on the part of incumbent politicians. We find ourselves caught in a vicious circle where Congress refuses to act, the Executive steps in to make what changes he can, and the law becomes increasingly arcane and difficult.
Epilepsy Surgery for Tuberous Sclerosis

The surgical amenability of epileptogenic lesions in tuberous sclerosis complex is reviewed in the light of novel presurgical assessment in a report by investigators at University of Rome, Italy; Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA; and Central Illinois Neurohealth Sciences, Bloomington, IL, USA.
Temperature Dependence of Carbon Incorporation in AlxGa1-xAs Grown by Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD)

The dependence of carbon concentration on growth temperature and V/HII ratio for high composition AlxGa1-xAs (x>0.40) grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition using trimethyl sources has been investigated. The carbon concentration exhibits at least two temperature regimes having different trends with temperature. In the region of 600-675°C, the carbon concentration decreases with temperature, while in the range of 700-800°C, the carbon concentration increases with temperature. This dependence was observed in samples grown in two separate reactors. High values of V/III ratio have been found to suppress the low temperature carbon incorporation in AlAs. The results are qualitatively explained in terms of the chemical reactions and surface kinetics that may occur during the growth of GaAs or AlxGa1-xAs.
Effect of methionine upon ethionine intoxication of the rat.

SummaryLiver cell injury of subacute ethionine intoxication of the rat is accentuated by rising ethionine levels in the diet. Methionine supplements have an increasingly inhibitory effect depending on concentration. That effects of even high levels of ethionine may be almost completely eliminated by high methionine levels speaks for the role of ethionine as a metabolic competitor of methionine rather than as a primary toxic agent. Methionine inhibits ductular cell proliferation much more effectively than the injury to hepatic cells, thus dissociating both lesions. Ductular cell proliferation and fiber formation run parallel.The authors are very grateful to Helene Tzitsikas and Roy Dube, Kenneth Thompson, and Jim Matthias for technical assistance.
Characteristics and Significance of Bicycllc Sesquiterpances

It is found in the analysis of crude oil sample from the South China Sea that the bicyclic sesquiteances are very rich in the samples. The distributional characters of bicyclic sesquctecpances show that rearranged drimanes are relatively rich in the samples in Region A and relatively poor in Region C, but drimanes are relatively poor in Region A and rich in Region C. The characteristics are consistent with that of the marine and terrestrial oil in Tarim Basin, which implicates that the crude oil in Region A and C belongs to different genetic types. The characteristics are consistent with the change of molecule composition of crude oil in the areas. In addition, it is found also in absolute quantitative analysis that the content of the bicyclic sesquiterpances in most of the oil samples is basically constant within the range of 1 000 to 2 000μg.g -1 ,but the content of hopane are obviously changed in the range of 179 to 4 130μg.g -1,which may indicate that bicyclic sesquiterpanes have different bioprecursors from hopemes.
Steps Toward a Sociology of Religious Experience: The Theories of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Alfred Schutz

Sociologists of religion, in their concern for the social effects of religious institutions and the functions of religious meaning systems for people's identities, have neglected to study religious experiences. This paper explores Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's theory of flow experiences and Alfred Schutz's theory of the tuning-in relationship as possible approaches to studying the experiential dimension of religion. Csikszentmihalyi's notion of "the flow experience," while ultimately reductionist, focuses on the nonconceptual side of autotelic activities. Schutz's analysis of musical performance elucidates the preconceptual sociality of all experiences shared in inner time. We suggest that both theories offer conceptual tools that can be applied to religious experiences. Taken together they suggest an approach for sociologists attempting to explore this hitherto neglected domain.
Trauma-Informed Schools

Violence has impacted every aspect of daily life. These tragedies have shocked the world. This has resulted in school communities being fractured. Additionally, The National Survey of Children Exposed to Violence found that 60% of the children surveyed have been exposed to some form of trauma, either in or out of school. Traumatology research has shown most people respond to a wide range of traumatic events in similar ways. The common responses include traumatic responses, posttraumatic stress responses, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this article the authors outline the impact of trauma on children within school systems; discuss the mental health services schools are providing; present a trauma-informed school model; identifies tools which can be utilized in schools; and provide resources needed for a trauma-informed school, along with additional tools and resources. The authors discuss future recommendations for the community and schools as traumatic events continue to grow and impact a large number of children.
Expression of Gα(i2) mimics several aspects of LPS priming in a murine macrophage-like cell line

Priming of macrophages with low concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhances the ability of substances that act through heterotrimeric G proteins to stimulate immune cell functions. Although LPS-induced alterations in the expression and functions of G proteins of the alpha i family have been reported in hematopoietic cells, their effects on subsequent steps in LPS priming of macrophages have not been defined. To study the role of G alpha i2 in priming of macrophages by LPS, we expressed a mutant, activated form of alpha i2 (alpha i2Q205L) in P388D1 cells, and compared its effects on PAF-dependent C alpha signalling and arachidonic acid release to those in cells treated with LPS. In control P388D1 cells, treatment with LPS (100 ng/ml) for 1 hr increased the amount of alpha i2 protein 2-fold. Both LPS treatment and expression of alpha i2Q205L increased the rate of PAF-induced C alpha influx across the cell membrane and arachidonic acid release, although neither altered release of C alpha from intracellular stores by PAF. Expression of alpha i2Q205L is sufficient to mimic the effects of LPS on the PAF-induced C alpha i signal and enhanced arachidonic acid release. Consequently, although increasing the expression of alpha i2 may not be the sole mechanism by which LPS enhances signalling by PAF, increased alpha i2 expression can account for the alterations in PAF-induced C alpha i regulation, and arachidonic acid release in LPS-primed P388D1 cells.
Iteration in the 1890’s: Grévy

Although Koenigs contributed no new works to the study of iteration of complex functions during the 1890’s, he nonetheless remained its central figure. The infusion of new mathematical ideas—in particular Montels theory of normal families—which would prove so useful to the studies of Fatou and Julia did not occur until after the turn of the century. Consequently, the developments of the nineties consisted largely of either the application of Koenigs’ theory into other branches of mathematics or in the extension of Koenigs’ local study into two special cases he did not examine, namely, the case where the derivative at the fixed point x = 0 is 0 or 1 in modulus.
Program Restructuring and Curricular Enhancement for Accountable Training

The only effective means for dealing with the current challenges to members of the psychological profession and threats to quality in behavioral health services would seem to be through the establishment of collaborative relationships among behavioral health training programs, the behavioral health care services industry, relevant governmental and regulatory agencies, and consumer advocacy groups. This would help ensure accountability for program redesign. The changes in health services create significant opportunities for psychologists and other behavioral health professionals interested in exploring new professional roles. Four aspects of new service models account for most of the variance in the challenge facing psychologists: (1) human diversity, (2) chronicity aspects of disease and disability, (3) preventive approaches, and (4) alternative delivery models. Roles, particularly new and emerging roles, derive from these challenges. The chapter identifies core instrumental approaches to training program redesign. These are essentially the prerequisites for a true strategic approach on which enduring accountable program redesign must be based. Accountable professional education and training is characterized by a values stance that explicitly acknowledges the program's responsibility for its products, within both proximal and distal time frames.
Abstract 11339: Relationship of LPA Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms With Apolipoprotein (a) Isoforms and Biomarkers of Oxidized Lipoproteins in African-Americans, Caucasians and Hispanics: Results From the DALLAS Heart Study

Background: Oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) measured on apolipoprotein B-100 particles (OxPL-apoB) are a measure of the pro-inflammatory activity of Lp(a). Lp(a) in plasma is genetically determined by variability in kringle IV (KIV) repeats and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the LPA gene, is causally related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and has become a target of therapy. Methods and Results: OxPL-apoB IgG and IgM autoantibodies to oxidized LDL and apoB-immune complexes, KIV repeats of the major apolipoprotein (a) isoform, LPA snps rs3798220, rs10455872 and rs9457951 were measured in 3454 subjects (1798 African-Americans, 1032 Caucasian and 576 Hispanic) subjects enrolled in the Dallas Heart Study (Table). All 3 snps were highly correlated with the number of KIV repeats in African-Americans but only rs3798220 and rs10455872 were correlated with KIV repeats in Caucasians or Hispanics. rs3798220 and rs10455872 demonstrated strong correlations with Lp(a) and OxPL-apoB levels in subjects with low numbers of KIV repeats, whereas rs9457951 showed similar associations only in African-Americans. None of the LPA snps correlated with the other biomarkers of oxidation. Conclusion: Significant racial differences exist among LPA SNPs and their relationship to Lp(a), apolipoprotein (a) isoforms and OxPL-apoB. These findings may provide insights into the clinical variability of Lp(a)-mediated risk in different racial groups and suggests novel avenues of investigation and therapeutic potential in mitigating the CVD risk of Lp(a) and OxPL-apoB. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Bayesian Simultaneous Edit and Imputation for Multivariate Categorical Data

AbstractIn categorical data, it is typically the case that some combinations of variables are theoretically impossible, such as a three year old child who is married or a man who is pregnant. In practice, however, reported values often include such structural zeros due to, for example, respondent mistakes or data processing errors. To purge data of such errors, many statistical organizations use a process known as edit-imputation. The basic idea is first to select reported values to change according to some heuristic or loss function, and second to replace those values with plausible imputations. This two-stage process typically does not fully utilize information in the data when determining locations of errors, nor does it appropriately reflect uncertainty resulting from the edits and imputations. We present an alternative approach to editing and imputation for categorical microdata with structural zeros that addresses these shortcomings. Specifically, we use a Bayesian hierarchical model that couples a ...
Barriers to adolescent contraception use and adherence.

Objective The United States has the highest rate of adolescent pregnancy of the industrialized nations. Previously reported patient barriers to the use of contraception included an ambivalence about pregnancy; method side effects; difficulty using methods; lack of satisfaction with methods; concerns about safety; expense; and a lack of knowledge about long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). This survey aims to determine if there are additional barriers to contraception use and adherence among an ethnically diverse urban population. Methods A 16-item survey with good interrater reliability was utilized in a pilot study to assess patient demographics, and contraceptive methods was distributed to female patients aged 13-21 years at Metropolitan Hospital Center from January to October of 2014. Data analysis was performed using the χ2-square analysis, ϕ-coefficient, Contingency Coefficient, Cramer's V, and Satterthwaite methods of analyses. Results Concerns about contraceptive method side effects, more specifically, weight gain, irregular bleeding and long-term health risks, and worries about parents discovering their contraceptive habits were the major barriers to contraceptive use. Conclusion The identification of these barriers is critical in order to reduce the high rates of pregnancy in adolescents. Educating parents and their teenagers regarding the most effective methods may increase compliance and adherence. This study offers further support for the use of LARC to overcome perceived patient barriers.
A Personalizable Mobile Sound Detector App Design for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Users

Sounds provide informative signals about the world around us. In situations where non-auditory cues are inaccessible, it can be useful for deaf and hard-of-hearing people to be notified about sounds. Through a survey, we explored which sounds are of interest to deaf and hard-of-hearing people, and which means of notification are appropriate. Motivated by these findings, we designed a mobile phone app that alerts deaf and hard-of-hearing people to sounds they care about. The app uses training examples of personally relevant sounds recorded by the user to learn a model of those sounds. It then screens the incoming audio stream from the phone's microphone for those sounds. When it detects a sound, it alerts the user by vibrating and providing a pop-up notification. To evaluate the interface design independent of sound detection errors, we ran a Wizard-of-Oz user study, and found that the app design successfully facilitated deaf and hard-of-hearing users recording training examples. We also explored the viability of a basic machine learning algorithm for sound detection.
Incorporating Target Immunotherapy into Standard Conditioning Regimen Prior to Autologous Stem Cell Transplantaion (ASCT) Improves the Transplant Outcome for Pateints with Relapsed/Refractroy B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL).

Abstract Background: Refractory or relapse B-NHL has a poor prognosis with conventional chemotherapy. Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) preceded by high dose chemotherapy has been the preferred therapeutic choice for such patients. The majority of the treatment failures occur within one to two years post transplant with disease progression after transplant accounted for most of the failures. The incorporation of targeted immunotherapy (rituximab) into the upfront and relapse setting is becoming of the standard of care for patients with B-NHL. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of rituximab (R) on disease free survival (DFS) when added to a standard conditioning regimen -- BEAM (carmustine, cytarabine, etoposide, and melphalan) prior to ASCT. Methods: A single institution retrospective analysis of 53 patients (pts), whom were heavily pre-treated, underwent ASCT between 08/98 & 07/06. All pts received rituximab in combination with high dose cytoxan for stem cell mobilization. 37 pts received R-BEAM and 16 received BEAM prior to ASCT. Actuarial rate for DFS was estimated from the day of SCT using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The group was predominantly men, 73% and 78%, with a median age of 57 years for both the R-BEAM and BEAM group. With a median follow up of 15.7 months, 13/37 (32%) and 11/16 (64%) pts who received R-BEAM and BEAM respectively developed disease progression after ASCT. The 2-yr actuarial disease-free survivals (figure1) were 60% and 21% for the R-BEAM and BEAM arm respectively (p=0.006). Conclusion: In this study, the outcome of pts who received R-BEAM compares favorably to those who receive BEAM alone with significant improvement in disease-free survival. Thus, incorporating target immunotherapy into standard conditioning regimen may have altered the natural history of the disease for pts undergoing ASCT for relapsed/refractory B-NHL. Download : Download high-res image (174KB) Download : Download full-size image Disease Free survival
Radical Cystectomy Compared to Combined Modality Treatment for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose To perform a comprehensive comparison of overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), progression-free survival (PFS), and treatment-related complications between radical cystectomy (RC) and combined modality treatment (CMT—radiation therapy, concurrent chemotherapy, and maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor) in the setting of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Methods and Materials We searched 7 databases (PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Proquest, CINAHL, and ClinicalTrials.gov) for randomized, controlled trials and prospective and retrospective studies directly comparing RC with CMT from database inception to March 2016. We conducted meta-analyses evaluating OS, DSS, and PFS with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Nineteen studies evaluating 12,380 subjects were selected. For the 8 studies encompassing 9554 subjects eligible for meta-analyses, we found no difference in OS at 5 years (HR 0.96, favoring CMT, 95% CI 0.72-1.29; P =.778) or 10 years (HR 1.02, favoring cystectomy, 95% CI 0.73-1.42; P =.905). No difference was observed in DSS at 5 years (HR 0.83, favoring radiation, 95% CI 0.54-1.28; P =.390) or 10 years (HR 1.17, favoring cystectomy, 95% CI 0.89-1.55; P =.264), or PFS at 10 years (HR 0.85, favoring CMT, 95% CI 0.43-1.67; P =.639). The cystectomy arms had higher rates of early major complications, whereas rates of minor complications were similar between the 2 treatments. Conclusion Current meta-analysis reveals no differences in OS, DSS, or PFS between RC and CMT. Further randomized, controlled trials are necessary to identify the optimal treatment for specific patients.
Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor Antagonists

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and related peptides play key roles in stress-related physiological processes via widely distributed CRF 1 and CRF 2 receptors. CRF receptor antagonists have effects that reflect the functions of CRF and urocortins in activating hormonal, autonomic, behavioral, and immunological responses to stress, and may provide novel treatment approaches for stress-related disorders.
Using Machine Learning to Accelerate Data Wrangling

70% Of the time spent on data analytics is not actually spent on data analytics, but rather, in data wrangling: the process of finding, interpreting, extracting, preparing and recombining the data to be analyzed. For data that is collected as free-form text, the lack of standards or competing standards often results in a variety of formats for expressing the same type of data, making the data wrangling step a tedious and error-prone process. For example, US street addresses may be expressed with a house number, PO Box, rural or military route, and/or a direction – all of which can be abbreviated or spelled out in a variety of ways. In this paper, we present an algorithm that uses machine learning to efficiently and automatically identify categories of attributes, such as geo-spatial, that are present in a data file and we discuss results on a variety of real data sets. Our implementation can be used to automatically prepare data for consumption by other tools and services, such as mapping and visualization tools, and is motivated by and in support of a customizable severe weather alerting service.
Part 2: Adaptation of Gait Kinematics in Unilateral Cerebral Palsy Demonstrates Preserved Independent Neural Control of Each Limb.

Motor adaptation, or alteration of neural control in response to a perturbation, is a potential mechanism to facilitate motor learning for rehabilitation. Central nervous system deficits are known to affect locomotor adaptation; yet we demonstrated that similar to adults following stroke, children with unilateral brain injuries can adapt step length in response to unilateral leg weighting. Here, we extend our analysis to explore kinematic strategies underlying step length adaptation and utilize dynamical systems approaches to elucidate how neural control may differ in those with hemiplegic CP across legs and compared to typically developing controls. Ten participants with hemiplegic CP and ten age-matched controls participated in this study. Knee and hip joint kinematics were analyzed during unilateral weighting of each leg in treadmill walking to assess adaptation and presence and persistence of after-effects. Peak joint angle displacement was used to represent changes in joint angles during walking. We examined baseline and task-specific variability and local dynamic stability to evaluate neuromuscular control across groups and legs. In contrast to controls, children with unilateral CP had asymmetries in joint angle variability and local dynamic stability at baseline, showing increased variability and reduced stability in the dominant limb. Kinematic variability increased and local stability decreased during weighting of ipsilateral and contralateral limbs in both groups compared to baseline. After weight removal both measures returned to baseline. Analogous to the temporal-spatial results, children with unilateral CP demonstrated similar capability as controls to adapt kinematics to unilateral leg weighting, however the group with CP differed across sides after weight removal with dominant limb after-effects fading more quickly than in controls. The change in kinematics did not completely return to baseline in the nondominant limb of the CP group, producing a transient improvement in joint angle symmetry. Recent studies demonstrate that neural control of gait is multi-layered with distinct circuits for different types of walking and for each leg. Remarkably, our results demonstrate that children with unilateral brain injury retain these separate circuits for each leg during walking and, importantly, that those networks can be adapted independently from one another to improve symmetry in the short term.
Political ecology of climate change: Shifting orchards and a temporary landscape of opportunity

As the global climate and local weather patterns change, the apple belt of the state of Himachal Pradesh in the Indian Himalaya has been migrating to higher elevations. Kinnaur District has experienced rising affluence over the last two decades driven by its growing apple economy, the rapid expansion of which may not have been possible without climate change. As the climate continues to change, new opportunities and risks are emerging. Forests and pasturelands that were once uncultivable and least accessible are gradually becoming preferred land for orchards, while some older, lower elevation orchards are experiencing lower productivity. This paper observes the role that climate change has played in shifting patterns of agricultural production, driving land use change – both enabling and threatening Kinnaur’s current ‘Golden Era.’ Lessons may be learned from detailed attention to the specific circumstances under which climate change is beneficial or detrimental. The findings of this qualitative ethnographic research suggest that for Kinnaur, climate change has had net favorable consequences thus far. Balanced against these climate-related gains are also emerging risks – increasing pests and diseases, declining productivity of lower elevation orchards, soil depletion, and over-dependence on a single source of livelihood. As the climate and markets continue to change, they may not favor Kinnauri apple growers in the long term. Without thoughtful planning, this current window of opportunity could be squandered. Good land stewardship and livelihood diversification might make the Kinnauri economy more sustainable.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God

Eric Ames’ book Aguirre, the Wrath of God is the latest instalment in the BFI Film Classics series, which features short critical works on masterpieces of world cinema. As with other titles in this...
Genome Sequences for Streptomyces spp. Isolated from Disease-Suppressive Soils and Long-Term Ecological Research Sites.

ABSTRACT We report here the high-quality genome sequences of three Streptomyces spp. isolated as part of a long-term study of microbial soil ecology. Streptomyces sp. strain GS93-23 was isolated from naturally disease-suppressive soil (DSS) in Grand Rapids, MN, and Streptomyces sp. strains S3-4 and 3211-3 were isolated from experimental plots in the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve (CCESR).
Blood Pressure Status One Year Post-stroke: Findings from the Northern Manhattan Stroke Study

34 Objective To describe blood pressure (BP) status in a multi-ethnic community-based cohort of stroke survivors one year post-stroke. Background Hypertension (HTN) is a critical stroke risk factor with recent studies demonstrating increased risk even in borderline HTN. Further, uncontrolled HTN may contribute to recurrence and mortality among stroke survivors. Despite established treatment for HTN, control of BP in certain populations may be less than optimal. Methods As part of the Northern Manhattan Stroke Study, we prospectively followed a cohort of community based stroke survivors annually. At 1 year follow-up we collected outcomes, BP measurements, medical, demographic and behavioral data. BP status at 1 year post stroke was categorized as normal ( Results There were 655 ischemic stroke cases eligible for follow-up. At one year, 107 were dead and 527 were seen in person. The cohort was 55% women; 17% white, 27% black, 54% Hispanic; mean age 69 ± 12 yrs. At follow-up, 51% (n=271) of cases had elevated BP; 19% (96) were severely elevated. Among the 271 cases with elevated BP, 45% had been discharged on antihypertensives following their stroke. Univariate predictors of elevated BP at 1 year were: Conclusion Adequate control of BP 1 year post stroke is sub-optimal. Our results suggest that despite the availability of efficacious treatments for HTN, underlying socio-demographic conditions continue to deter regulation of blood pressure.
Target coverage maximisation for directional sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have applications in many areas, such as biomedical observation, environmental monitoring, and battlefield surveillance. In order to reduce costs and improve reliability, target coverage has been an important problem for WSNs in recent years. In this paper, we investigate target coverage for a special kind of WSNs, called directional sensor networks, in which the sensors have limited monitoring distance and coverage angle. Given a set of targets and a set of sensors, we investigate how to assign proper directions for the sensors such that the number of covered targets is maximised. We show that it is NP-hard to find an optimal solution and we investigate both centralised and distributed approximation algorithms with provable performance guarantee. In addition, we analyse the problem itself from the combinatorics' point of view. Finally we also conduct a simulation experiment to evaluate the practical performance of proposed algorithms.
A Universal Integrated Rate Equation for Chemical Kinetics.

The overarching analytic integrated rate equation for the chemical kinetics of any reversible or irreversible reaction involving an arbitrary number of species and any integral orders is shown to be Πi=1r[1 – fi–1ξ(t)]γi = e(−1)r F0t, where ξ(t) is the extent of reaction variable, the fi are roots of a polynomial of order r, the exponents are determined by γi = Πk(≠i)r(fi – fk)−1, and F0 is a factor involving the stoichiometric coefficients and rate constants (k±). All integrated rate equations of elementary reactions appearing in chemical kinetics are special cases of this universal solution. Not only does the solution provide insight into the analytical form of the exponents γi and F0 that govern the time evolution of the system, but it also provides an elegant framework for the pedagogy and application of kinetics in physical chemistry.
Characterization of tri and tetra-nucleotide microsatellite loci for the freshwater snails Promenetus exacuous (Planorbidae) and Valvata tricarinata (Valvatidae) and their utility in population genetic studies

Promenetus exacuous and Valvata tricarinata are freshwater snail species with widespread distributions throughout North America. Information regarding their genetic diversity and population connectivity are currently lacking. We utilized next generation sequencing to develop the first microsatellites for each species to investigate genetic diversity within and differentiation among populations. Sixteen and seventeen microsatellite loci were developed for P. exacuous and V. tricarinata, respectively, and tested in a total of 43 P. exacuous and 48 V. tricarinata from two lakes approximately 183 km apart in New York State, USA. Fifteen P. exacuous loci were polymorphic in at least one lake and possessed 1–23 alleles and observed heterozygosities of 0.00–0.96 within individual lakes. Seventeen polymorphic V. tricarinata loci possessed 2–19 alleles and observed heterozygosities of 0.04–0.96 within lakes. Bayesian clustering using 12 loci for each species identified two distinct genetic populations, reflecting the two lakes. High assignment scores for individual snails to the lakes they were collected from supported strong population structure with minimal admixture at the scale of this study. These loci will be useful for investigating the genetic diversity and population structure of these species and indicate genetic differentiation may be common among their populations.
Breast Cancer Characteristics in Middle Eastern Women Immigrants Compared With Non-Hispanic White Women in California.

Author(s): Ziadeh, Clara; Ziogas, Argyrios; Jiang, Luohua; Anton-Culver, Hoda | Abstract: BackgroundEmerging evidence has indicated that Middle Eastern (ME) immigrants might be more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at advanced stage, yet have better overall survival than nonimmigrant non-Hispanic whites (NHW). This study aims to analyze the association between ME immigration status and breast cancer stage at diagnosis and survival.MethodsUsing the California Cancer Registry, a total of 343 876 women diagnosed with primary in situ or invasive breast cancers were identified during 1988-2013. Multinomial logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate the risk of in situ and nonlocalized breast cancer stage in comparison with localized breast cancer among first-generation ME immigrants, second- or subsequent-generation ME immigrants, and NHW. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for breast cancer mortality among the three population groups with invasive primary breast cancer.ResultsFirst-generation ME immigrants had higher odds of being diagnosed with a nonlocalized stage (vs localized) than NHW (odds ratio [OR] = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.09 to 1.26). Second- or subsequent-generation ME immigrants also had higher odds of being diagnosed with a nonlocalized stage (vs localized) than NHW (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.20 to 1.43). First-generation ME immigrants were 11% less likely to die from breast cancer than NHW (HR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.82 to 0.97).ConclusionsFirst-generation ME immigrants had higher breast cancer survival despite being diagnosed at a nonlocalized breast cancer stage at diagnosis when compared with NHW. Screening interventions tailored to this ME immigrant group need to be implemented.
Cerebellar Influences on The Hippocampus

The finding of cerebellar influences on forebrain electrical activity was established very early by experiments demonstrating changes in the EEG after cerebellar stimulation (Walker, 1938). That such influences may be largely inhibitory was indicated later by findings that cerebellar stimulation suppressed electrically-induced cortical seizures (Snider & Cooke, 1953), chemically-induced motor cortex epilepsy (Dow, Fernandez- Guardiola, & Manni, 1962; Hutton, Frost, & Foster, 1972), or limbic seizures (Iwata & Snider, 1959; Mutani, Bergamini, & Doriguzzi, 1969; Zaitsev, 1969). Recent findings have indicated a cerebellar site of action for certain anti-convulsants (Julien & Halpern, 1972).