cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 5241: Differences in PD-L1 expression by smoking status in HPV positive oropharyngeal cancer

Introduction: As the incidence of human papillomavirus-positive (HPV +) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) continues to increase, it is important to optimize treatment regimens. There is growing evidence demonstrating the efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, for patients with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Greater PD-L1 expression has been associated with greater treatment response and improved overall survival independent of treatment modality. Prior studies have observed increased PD-L1 expression and improved treatment response in HPV(+) as compared to HPV(-) tumors. In contrast, HPV(-) disease, in which smoking is causative in most cases, is typically associated with unfavorable outcomes and lower rates of PD-L1 expression. In the present study, we sought to explore the effects of smoking on PD-L1 expression in HPV(+) tumors based on smoking status. We hypothesized that smokers would demonstrate lower levels of PD-L1 expression as compared to non-smokers. Methods: Using an existing tissue bank, we identified a cohort of 52 HPV(+) tumors from patients with available smoking data. A tissue microarray was constructed with cores taken from the paraffin embedded tumor blocks. A single 0.5 micron slide was created and we examined PDL-1 expression by immunohistochemistry in 47 intact cores. Visiopharm software was used for quantitative analysis of area stained per total cellular area (Figure 2). Mann-Whitney U test was then performed to compare PD-L1 expression between current smokers and former/never smokers (Figure 1). Forty-four of the patients in the cohort had RNA-based Nanostring immuno-oncology assay data available. We were able to obtain paired quantitative IHC and Nanostring based PD-L1 (CD274) gene expression values for 40 patients and Spearman9s correlation was performed (Figure 3). Results: The primary tumor site was tonsil in 29 (56%) patients, 22 (42%) base of tongue, and 1 (2%) soft palate. Females made up 10% of the cohort. There were 9 (17%) current smokers, 20 (38%) former, and 23 (44%) never smokers. Pack-years was available for 22 (76%) of the current and former smokers (median: 30, range: 1-75 pack years). There were 5 patient deaths, and 10 patients experienced recurrence. PD-L1 expression on IHC was not predictive of death or recurrence (p=0.39 and p=0.07, respectively). Median follow up time was 20.5 months (range: 2.7 to 83 months). There was a significant difference in PD-L1 expression on IHC between current smokers and the former/never group (Figure 1). Relative gene expression of CD274 measured by the Nanostring assay was lower in current smokers as compared to former/never smokers, however this trend did not meet significance. There was a strong positive linear correlation between Nanostring based CD274 gene expression and PD-L1 expression on IHC (r=0.68, p l 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5241.
Adaptive Weight Estimation of Latent Ability: Application to Computerized Adaptive Testing With Response Revision:

An adaptive weight estimation approach is proposed to provide robust latent ability estimation in computerized adaptive testing (CAT) with response revision. This approach assigns different weights...
Mark, John, and Answerability: Interfluentiality and Dialectic between the Second and Fourth Gospels

The relation between Mark and John, the Bi-Optic Gospels, is one of the most difficult and most important subjects in biblical studies. Upon correct inferences of this set of intratraditional and intertraditional relationships many other judgments falter or stand. Seeking to make an advance over monodimensional source- and redaction-critical theories, an overall theory of Markan-Johannine interfluentiality identifies at least six stages in the developments within and between these two traditions, seeking to make the best sense of their textual similarities and differences. Along the way, several advances are argued over prevalent critical approaches, leading to an assessment of John’s relation to Mark as being interfluential in the oral stages of their traditions, augmentive and corrective to Mark in John’s first edition as “the second gospel”, and harmonizing - in that the final edition of John tends to reconcile itself with the other Markan Gospels. As the final Markan interpolation includes Johannine c...
Extrinsic Versus Intrinsic, Coagulation-Fibrinolysis: In the Pathophysiology of Shock and Exsanguinating Diatheses

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) can cause circulatory failure and/or depletion of hemostasis. “Reactive” fibrinolysis removes fibrin from vital circulations, occlusions, of which otherwise could be fatal. Inhibitors released during the fibrinolysis (the ICF, or intravascular coagulation-fibrinolysis) can cause anticoagulation, adequate in itself to cause total incoagulability and exsanguinating hemorrhagic diathesis. DICs without, or with lysis (ICF), can be initiated in diverse ways and conditions.
Management of Refractory ICP with Hypothermia in a Case of Malignant Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (P2.286)

Background: Very infrequently, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) may be complicated by malignant cerebral edema and elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) in the setting of abnormal cerebrovascular auto-regulation. We present a case of malignant PRES complicated by refractory high ICP and managed with combination therapy including moderate therapeutic hypothermia (TH, Tcore=33-34°C). Design/Methods: A 50-year old woman presented with lethargy and seizure with progression to coma after overdosing on zolpidem. CT head showed diffuse cerebral edema primarily affecting the frontal and parieto-occipital lobes suggestive of PRES. Thus, a subdural ICP monitor was placed and i.v. hyperosmolar therapy was started. The ICPs ranged from 5-17mmHg. On day 4, the ICP increased to 25 mmHg sustained, with a blown left pupil; CT head showed increased edema with effacement of various cisterns and the fourth ventricle. At this time, the subdural ICP monitor was replaced by an external ventricular drain (EVD). Three hours later, there was an acute elevation in blood pressure with ICP crisis ranging 90-100mmHg and subsequent blown right pupil. CT head showed lack of left sided-drainage, requiring placement of a second EVD on the right ventricle, as well as the induction of pentobarbital coma and TH via surface-cooling device. Rewarming occurred after 72-hours at a rate of 0.1°C/hour; pentobarbital and osmotherapy were successfully weaned-off over the following 10 days and the patient maintained normal ICPs. Upon clinical improvement, she was extubated on day 13 and on day 15 was able to leave the ICU. Upon discharge to home on day 27, she was neurologically intact with a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 0. CONCLUSION: Malignant cerebral edema and refractory intracranial hypertension in the setting of PRES is rare. Our case highlights that in this setting, aggressive management of these complications with TH may also offer a significant outcome benefit. Disclosure: Dr. Alam has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mahdi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rincon has received personal compensation for activities with Bard Medical and Otsuka Pharmaceutical as a consultant. Dr. Rincon has received research support from Cerner Corporation and Genentech, Inc.
Global expression analysis of well-differentiated pancreatic endocrine neoplasms using oligonucleotide microarrays.

Purpose: Pancreatic endocrine neoplasms (PENs) are rare, mostly well-differentiated endocrine neoplasms, whose biology has been poorly characterized. Global expression microarrays can document abnormal pathways that impact on tumorigenesis and disease progression. Experimental Design: RNA was extracted from eight well-differentiated PENs and three highly enriched pancreatic islet cell samples (80–90% purity), and examined using the Affymetrix U133A oligonucleotide microarray. Microarray data were normalized using dCHIP (www.dCHIP.org) for identification of differentially expressed genes. PEN tissue microarrays were constructed from 53 archival PENs for immunohistochemical validation of microarray data. Results: Sixty-six transcripts were overexpressed ≥3-fold in PENs compared with normal islet cells, including putative oncogenes ( MLLT10/AF10 ), growth factors [insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 ( IGFBP3 )], cell adhesion and migration molecules ( fibronectin ), and endothelial elements ( MUC18/MelCAM and CD31 ). A total of 119 transcripts were underexpressed ≤3-fold in PENs compared with normal islet cells, including cell cycle checkpoint proteins ( p21/Cip1 ), the MIC2 (CD99) cell surface glycoprotein, putative metastasis suppressor genes ( NME3 ), and junD , a MEN1-regulated transcription factor. Using PEN tissue microarrays, we confirmed the differential up-regulation of IGFBP3 (70%) and fibronectin (22%) and differential down-regulation of p21 (46%) and MIC2 (CD99; 91%) in PENs versus normal pancreatic islets. IGFBP3 overexpression was significantly more common in metastatic (93%) versus primary PEN lesions (60%), P = 0.022. Fibronectin overexpression demonstrated a trend toward significance in lymphatic PEN metastases (55%) compared with primary PEN lesions (24%; P = 0.14). Conclusions: Global expression analysis provides insight into tumorigenic pathways in PENs and may identify potential prognostic and therapeutic markers for these uncommon neoplasms.
“Unfair” Dispute Resolution Clauses: Much Ado About Nothing?

Dispute resolution clauses are a common and potentially important component of many types of standard form contracts. I examine the use of dispute resolution clauses in 597 end-user license agreements (EULAs) of software packages sold online. I find that 75% of EULAs include choice of law clauses, 28% include forum selection clauses, 6% include arbitration clauses, and none include class action waivers. Sellers are equally likely to include dispute resolution clauses in the EULAs of consumer-oriented and business-oriented products. Despite the concerns of some legal academics, I do not find much evidence of "strategic" use of DRCs to advantage sellers over buyers. For example, sellers located in states with "seller-friendly" laws are no more likely to include choice of law or choice of forum clauses than sellers in states with stronger consumer protections; despite UCITA's flexible choice-of-law rules and otherwise seller-friendly provisions, sellers do not go out of their way to select UCITA; and, there is no evidence that fora selected are intentionally inconvenient to buyers. These results question certain proposals to regulate dispute resolution clauses in consumer form contracts on the basis of strategic behavior by sellers.
Plane-pair PEEC models for PDN using sub-meshing

In this paper, we present an improved plane-pair model for power distribution system modeling using the partial element equivalent circuit approach. The modified nodal analysis with a sub-meshing strategy leads to an efficient and accurate circuit solution in both the frequency domain and time domain.
Cultural congruence as reflected in communication leaders’ decision-making

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to motivate by the desire to better understand the interplay between cultural perceptions, both at the national and the organizational levels, and leadership effectiveness in corporate communication practice. In doing so, the research presented in this paper systematically compared views on communication leadership from senior communication executives in two different national cultures: England and Singapore. Design/methodology/approach – A series of in-depth interviews with the same interview guide were carried out in two leading cities of selected cultures (London and Singapore). A purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit participants for this study. Finally, 20 senior communication executives (n=11 in London and n=9 in Singapore) participated in this study. All interviews ranged from 60 to 90 minutes and were recorded and fully transcribed. Findings – Results suggest that communication executives believe that communication leadership should be treated as a ...
On a numerically efficient method for computing multivariate B-splines

In this paper an algorithm for the computation of smooth piecewise polynomials (multivariate B-spline) is given. The results of numerical calculation for twelve typical B-spline
Large-Scale Characteristics of Field-Aligned Currents Determined from the Triad Magnetometer Experiment

Following earlier suggestions of Edmund Halley and Anders Celsius for the “magnetic behavior” of auroral phenomena, Kristian Birkeland discovered in his polar expeditions of 1902–3 that large-scale currents were associated with the aurora. He was also the first to suggest that these currents originated far from the earth and that they flowed into and away from the polar atmosphere along the geomagnetic field lines. The existence of such field-aligned currents was widely disputed because it was not possible to unambiguously distinguish between current systems that are field aligned (Birkeland, 1908) and those which are completely ionospheric (Vestine and Chapman, 1938) only from a study of surface magnetic field measurements. Furthermore, recent theoretical calculations by Fukushima (19693, 1976) predict that the effects of field-aligned currents may be impossible to detect with ground-based magnetometers for certain models of these current systems.
Relativistic shock waves and the excitation of plerions

The shock termination of a relativistic magnetohydrodynamic wind from a pulsar is the most interesting and viable model for the excitation of the synchrotron sources observed in plerionic supernova remnants. I describe results on the structure of relativistic magnetosonic shock waves in plasmas composed purely of electrons and positrons, as well as those whose composition includes heavy ions as a minority constituent by number. Relativistic shocks in symmetric pair plasmas create fully thermalized distributions of particles and fields downstream. Therefore, such shocks are not good candidates for the mechanism which converts rotational energy lost from a pulsar into the nonthermal synchrotron emission observed in plerions. However, when the upstream wind contains heavy ions which are a minority constituent by number density, but carry the bulk of the energy density, much of the energy of the shock goes into a downstream, nonthermal power law distribution of positrons with energy distribution N(E)dEα E -s. In a specific model presented in some detail, s = 1.7. These characteristics are close to those assumed for the pairs in macroscopic MD wind models of plerion excitation. The essential acceleration mechanism is collective synchrotron emission of left-hand elliptically polarized extraordinary modes by the ions in the shock front at high harmonics of the ion cyclotron frequency, with the downstream positrons preferentially absorbing almost all of this radiation, mostly at their fundamental (relativistic) cyclotron frequencies. The spatial structure of the shock includes compressional overshoots of the magnetic field strength above what would be expected from the MHD jump conditions, at places where the ions are reflected. I outline a new model of the inner regions of the Crab Nebula, in which I propose that the shock structure is angularly resolved and the optical “wisps” are surface brightness enhancements created in the compressional overshoots of the magnetic field within and just down stream from the shock. I also briefly outline the application of these results to the relativistic shocks believed to terminate the winds from pulsars in compact binaries.
Pyruvate dehydrogenase, Randle cycle, and skeletal muscle insulin resistance.

The letters of Constantin-Teodosiu et al. and Petersen et al. debate whether the glucose-fatty acid cycle (Randle cycle) operates in skeletal muscle (1, 2). Both groups cited some data of the original study (3) to support their points. However, the well-known skeletal muscle heterogeneity was not mentioned, which seems critical to the point. Skeletal muscle consists of three types: red slow oxidative, white fast glycolytic, and fast oxidative-glycolytic with various degrees of reddish color, depending on the ratio of oxidative fibers (type I, red) to glycolytic fibers (type II, pale). These muscle types differ markedly in substrate metabolism (4), among many other differences. Compared with red muscle (e.g., … [↵][1]1Email: guo.zengkui{at}mayo.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
The Accuracy of Financial Analysts' Forecasts after Mergers:

This paper examines forecasts developed by financial analysts before and after mergers. The study finds that forecast accuracy decreases sharply after mergers. These accuracy reductions tend to be more pronounced when financial leverage changes, when the merger does not provide earnings or industry diversification, when the purchase method of accounting is used to record the transaction, when capital intensity changes, and when the size of the target corporation is large compared to the size of the acquiring corporation. The data also show that reductions in forecast accuracy after mergers tend to be temporary. Accuracy returns to approximately the premerger level within four years after the merger.The study also finds that overprediction bias increases sharply in the year immediately following the merger. This increase in over-prediction bias, however, is also temporary. Overprediction bias returns to approximately the premerger level within the four-year postmerger study period.
Singlet excited-state dynamics of 5-fluorocytosine and cytosine: An experimental and computational study

The photophysics of singlet excited 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) was studied in steady-state and time-resolved experiments and theoretically by quantum chemical calculations. Femtosecond transient absorption measurements show that replacement of the C5 hydrogen of cytosine by fluorine increases the excited-state lifetime by 2 orders of magnitude from 720 fs to 73 ± 4 ps. Experimental evidence indicates that emission in both compounds originates from a single tautomeric form. The lifetime of 5FC is the same within experimental uncertainty in the solvents ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide. The insensitivity of the S1 lifetime to the protic nature of the solvent suggests that proton transfer is not the principal quenching mechanism for the excited state. Excited-state calculations were carried out for the amino-keto tautomer of 5FC, the dominant species in polar environments, in order to understand its longer excited-state lifetime. CASSCF and CAS−PT2 calculations of the excited states show that the minimum energy pa...
Targeted disruption of the flk2/flt3 gene leads to deficiencies in primitive hematopoietic progenitors

The flk2 receptor tyrosine kinase has been implicated in hematopoietic development. Mice deficient in flk2 were generated. Mutants developed into healthy adults with normal mature hematopoietic populations. However, they possessed specific deficiencies in primitive B lymphoid progenitors. Bone marrow transplantation experiments revealed a further deficiency in T cell and myeloid reconstitution by mutant stem cells. Mice deficient for both c-kit and flk2 exhibited a more severe phenotype characterized by large overall decreases in hematopoietic cell numbers, further reductions in the relative frequencies of lymphoid progenitors, and a postnatal lethality. Taken together, the data suggest that flk2 plays a role both in multipotent stem cells and in lymphoid differentiation.
EXTERNAL BEAM RADIOTHERAPY DOSE RESPONSE CHARACTERISTICS OF 1127 MEN WITH PROSTATE CANCER TREATED IN THE PSA ERA

Abstract Purpose: To characterize the relationship of radiotherapy dose to prostate cancer patient outcome, with an emphasis on the influence of pretreatment prognostic variables. Methods and Materials: The 1127 Stage T1–T4 prostate cancer patients examined were treated consecutively with definitive external beam radiotherapy at the University of Texas–M.D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1987 to 1997. All had a pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Treatment failure was defined as two consecutive PSA elevations on follow-up. There were 994 patients treated with a four-field box throughout to 60–70 Gy after a small reduction at 46 Gy and 161 treated with a six-field conformal boost after 46 Gy to 74–78 Gy. No patient received neoadjuvant or adjuvant androgen ablation. Median follow-up was 51.8 months. Results: Patients were divided into three radiotherapy dose groups consisting of ≤67 Gy ( n = 500), >67–77 Gy ( n = 495), and >77 Gy ( n = 132). Relative to other prognostic factors, there were fewer patients treated to the highest dose level with a pretreatment PSA (PSAB) ≤4 or >20 ng/ml, Stage T3/T4 disease, or a Gleason score of 2–6. Actuarial 4-year freedom from biochemical failure (bNED) rates for the entire cohort were 54%, 71%, and 77% ( p p 67–77 Gy was associated with improved bNED rates for all PSAB (≤10 and >10), stage (T1/T2 and T3/T4), and Gleason score (2–6 and 7–10) subgroups tested. In contrast, the only prognostic group that benefited from raising dose from >67–77 Gy to >77 Gy was patients with a PSAB >10 ng/ml; although trends were noted for Stage T1/T2 and Gleason 2–6 patients. Patients with the combined features of a PSAB >10 ng/ml and Stage T1/T2 disease had 4-year bNED rates of 61% and 93% at the intermediate- and high-dose levels. A strongly significant linear association between dose (60–78 Gy) and 4-year actuarial bNED was demonstrated for patients with these intermediate-risk features. Conclusion: Prostate cancer dose response to external beam radiotherapy should be considered in the context of pretreatment prognostic factors. Our data indicate that, for favorable patients with a PSAB of ≤10 ng/ml, intermediate doses of >67–77 Gy provide the same rate of control as higher doses. However, longer follow-up may reveal a benefit to dose escalation >77 Gy, even in this favorable subset. Substantial and clinically relevant enhancements in bNED were seen at all dose levels for moderate-risk patients, such as those having a PSAB >10 ng/ml and Stage T1/T2 disease. Sustained bNED was not realized for high-risk patients, even using 78 Gy; these patients may be best treated with higher doses, whole pelvic irradiation, and/or androgen ablation plus radiation.
The effect of upper airway surgery on voice.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to assess patient perception and acoustic characteristics of voice before and after upper airway surgery.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a prospective assessment of 44 surgical patients preoperatively and postoperatively at a tertiary care, academic hospital. Operations included septoplasty and turbinectomy (n = 28) and septoplasty, turbinectomy, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, and tonsillectomy (n = 16). Patient opinion measures included Voice Handicap Index score, perception of vocal resonance, and change in voice. Acoustic measures included assessment of the relative amplitude of selected formants (resonances) of the vocal tract.RESULTS: Mean Voice Handicap Index scores were unchanged after surgery. Nine patients (20%) perceived their voice to be improved after surgery. None perceived the voice to be worse. Postoperative changes in relative formant amplitudes were statistically significant. These changes caused the acoustic features to become more representative of normative d...
Scattering by an electrically small bianisotropic sphere in a gyroelectromagnetic uniaxial medium

Scattering by an electrically small bianisotropic sphere embedded in a hydroelectromagnetic uniaxial medium is considered. A simple scattering formalism is presented which can be applied to a wide class of media, artificial and natural, which are covered by the general constitutive relations used. The equivalent polarisability dyadics have been obtained in the long wavelength approximation. The results are pertinent to some dilute discrete random composites. >
Delay Analysis in Temperature-Constrained Hard Real-Time Systems with General Task Arrivals

In this paper, we study temperature-constrained hard real-time systems, where real-time guarantees must be met without exceeding safe temperature levels within the processor. Dynamic speed scaling is one of the major techniques to manage power so as to maintain safe temperature levels. As example, we adopt a simple reactive speed control technique in our work. We design a methodology to perform delay analysis for general task arrivals under reactive speed control with first-in-first-out (FIFO) scheduling and static-priority (SP) scheduling. As a special case, we obtain a close-form delay formula for the leaky-bucket task arrival model. Our data show how simple reactive speed control can decrease the delay of tasks compared with any constant-speed scheme
Follicle size class contributes to distinct secretion patterns of inhibin isoforms during the rat estrous cycle.

The differential production of inhibins must be exquisitely controlled at the cellular level to ensure the secretion of the appropriate ligand at specific times during the reproductive cycle. The mechanisms underlying inhibin dimer assembly, processing and secretion are not well understood. Here we verify that the secretion of inhibin A and inhibin B from the granulosa cell is discordant during the estrous cycle: discordant production or secretion of the inhibins was not observed during the pregnant mare serum gonadotropin-induced cycle. We correlated the discordant production and secretion of inhibin A and inhibin B into the serum with distinct patterns of inhibin α- and β-subunit colocalization during the cycle in granulosa cells. We determined that the discordant pattern of inhibin A and inhibin B during the rat estrous cycle is due to independent populations of antral follicles making inhibin B (small antral follicles) or inhibin A (large antral follicles).
Self‐Discharge Model of a Nickel‐Hydrogen Cell

A model of the self-discharge process of a nickel-hydrogen cell is presented. The model includes three electrochemical reactions on the nickel electrode (reduction of nickel oxyhydroxide, oxidation of hydrogen, and oxidation of hydroxyl ion to form oxygen) and two electrochemical reactions on the hydrogen electrode (reduction of oxygen and oxidation of hydrogen). The self-discharge pressure profile of the nickel-hydrogen battery that consists of two characteristic regions is explained reasonably well with the model. The model can be used to predict the capacity retention of a nickel-hydrogen cell during open-circuit conditions at different temperatures.
A 0.5 μm pixel frame-transfer CCD image sensor in 110 nm CMOS

The first image sensor with submicron pixel pitch is reported. Test structures comprising 16 x 16 pixel full-frame-transfer (FFT) CCDs with 0.5 μm pixels are fabricated in a single-poly 110 nm CMOS process. Characterization results demonstrate charge transfer efficiency of 99.9%, QE of 48% at 550 nm, conversion gain of 193 μ V/e-, well capacity of 3550 e-, dark current of 50 e-/sec with nonuniformity of 25%, peak SNR of 28 dB and dynamic range of 60 dB. These performance metrics are within the range of consumer image sensors and suggest that further reduction in pixel size is feasible.
Leaching losses of N from container-grown roses

Abstract ‘Royalty’ roses were grown under different leaching rates and applied N concentrations for 1 year in 20-1 microlysimeters in a greenhouse. During this period, there were eight synchronized flowering flushes at approximately 6-week intervals. Analysis of leachates collected from the microlysimeters indicated leaching losses of 21, 40 and 49% of the applied N from plants irrigated at a leaching fraction of 25% with nutrient solutions containing 77, 154 and 231 ppm N, respectively. Average leachate N concentrations were 79, 257 and 441 ppm. There were no significant differences among treatments in number of flowers or harvested dry matter per plant, and, except for the 77 ppm N treatment, only minor differences in leaf N content (3.2–3.4%). The concentration of the 77 ppm N treatment was increased to 105 ppm in April because of the appearance of N deficiency symptoms. The N present in the harvested flowers accounted for 49, 24 and 21% of the N applied to the 77 (105), 154 and 231 ppm N treatments. Plants irrigated with 154 ppm N at leaching fractions of 10, 25 and 50% had corresponding N leaching losses of 22, 38 and 56%. The average leachate N concentrations were 296, 240 and 181 ppm, respectively. The 50% leaching fraction produced yields that were significantly higher than those of the other treatments. The leaf N content was similar among the treatments (3.3–3.4%), but the N recovered in the harvested flowers accounted for 34, 30 and 22% of that applied to the 10, 25 and 50% leaching fraction treatments. The plant N demand estimated from these studies would be met by the addition of N fertilizer at levels substantially lower than those currently recommended.
Climate change and plant health: designing research spillover from plant genomics for understanding the role of microbial communities

Climate change presents new challenges for managing plant health. Simultaneously, the revolution in sequencing technologies offers an exciting new perspective on whole microbial communities - and on both microbial responses to climate and microbial effects on plant health. There is still the need for a comparable revolution in experimental approaches to understand the functional roles of microbial taxa within these communities. Two approaches leveraging advances in genomics tools and analyses may contribute. First, new soil mixing experiments may be developed, where analyses of quantitative trait taxa (QTT) may be analogous to analyses of quantitative trait loci (QTL). Second, new approaches for characterizing the extended phenotype or phenome of soil microbial communities may be developed, leveraging genomic tools for Arabidopsis and other model plant species through the construction of plant genotype panels in an 'Arabidopsitron'.
Calibration for medium resolution off-axis electron holography using a flexible dual-lens imaging system in a JEOL ARM 200F microscope.

In this work the calibration of a medium resolution off-axis electron holography using a dual-lens imaging system in a JEOL ARM 200F is shown. The objective dual-lens configuration allows adjusting the field of view from 35 nm to 2.5 μm. Subsequently, the parameters used in phase shift reconstruction were calibrated considering biprism voltage versus fringe spacing (σ) and versus fringe width (W). The reliability of the transmission electron microscope performance using these parameters was achieved using gold nanoparticles of known size and adjusting the excitation voltage of the lenses.
High-efficiency hybrid computer-generated holograms.

A hybrid hologram is constructed which combines the flexibility of a computer-generated hologram (CGH) with the high-diffraction efficiency of volume phase holograms. The new hologram is constructed by using a spatially filtered wave front from a conventional 246- × 256-cell CGH as the object wave for the recording of a volume hologram. Theoretical and experimental results show that simultaneous high-diffraction efficiency and reconstruction fidelity are possible.
IMMUNITY OF MICE FOLLOWING SUBCUTANEOUS VACCINATION WITH ST. LOUIS ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS

1. Susceptible mice injected subcutaneously or intraperitoneally with 15,000 intracerebral lethal doses of St. Louis encephalitis virus develop an immunity in 4 to 7 days to 1,000 to 1,000,000 lethal doses given either intracerebrally or intranasally. 2. This immunity persists 4 to 6 weeks, then decreases gradually and disappears after 8 to 12 weeks. 3. More than 1,000 intracerebral doses of virus given as a vaccine do not materially increase the amount or duration of the immunity; less than 1,000 doses give little or no immunity. 4. Test virus injected intracerebrally into immunized mice induces few lesions and is rapidly destroyed; instilled intranasally, it rarely reaches the olfactory lobes or brain. 5. While immunity is maximum, circulating neutralizing antibodies are not detectable. Moreover, the immunity is not affected by endothelial cell blockade or by splenectomy. 6. A few moments after the immunizing virus is given, it can be recovered from the blood in relatively high concentration. After 24 hours, the blood no longer contains demonstrable virus nor do any organs thus far tested except the spleen. The brain and cord remain entirely normal. The spleen, however, becomes enlarged and harbors virus for as long as 30 days.
Modeling the hysteresis of a simple SMA wire actuator with a load-dependent Preisach-type operator

To accurately position an object with an actuator that exhibits load dependent hysteresis requires a hysteresis model that is capable of adjusting to a change in load. In this paper we investigate the specific problem of modeling the hysteresis of a simple shape memory alloy wire that is operated under changing tensile loads. A Preisach operator that incorporates load dependent parameters in the Preisach density function is proposed as the hysteresis model. In support of this selection, a relationship between the Preisach density function and the wire's thermal coefficient of expansion is established. It is then shown that the load dependent Austenite-Martensite transition temperatures of the wire can be used to estimate the parameters of the density function. Based on these findings a load dependent Preisach operator is defined. To test this approach, a bivariate density function that incorporates two load dependent parameters is substituted for the Preisach density function. Two load dependent linear estimators are developed from experimental data and used to estimate the parameters of the density function. These estimators and the load dependent Preisach operator are then used to estimate the length of a SMA wire that is operated under several tensile loads. The estimates are compared to experimental data and a discussion of the effectiveness of this approach is given.
Alkanethiol/Au(111) self-assembled monolayers contain gold adatoms: scanning tunneling microscopy before and after reaction with atomic hydrogen.

Alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers on Au(111) are widely studied, yet the exact nature of the sulfur−gold bond is still debated. Recent studies suggest that Au(111) is significantly reconstructed, with alkanethiol molecules binding to gold adatoms on the surface. These adatoms are observed using scanning tunneling microscopy before and after removing the organic monolayer with an atomic hydrogen beam. Upon monolayer removal, changes in the gold substrate are seen in the formation of bright, triangularly shaped islands, decreasing size of surface vacancy islands, and faceting of terrace edges. A 0.143 ± 0.033 increase in gold coverage after monolayer removal shows that there is one additional gold adatom for every two octanethiol molecules on the surface.
Quantitative consensus of supervised learners for diffuse lung parenchymal HRCT patterns

Automated lung parenchymal classification usually relies on supervised learning of expert chosen regions representative of the visually differentiable HRCT patterns specific to different pathologies (eg. emphysema, ground glass, honey combing, reticular and normal). Considering the elusiveness of a single most discriminating similarity measure, a plurality of weak learners can be combined to improve the machine learnability. Though a number of quantitative combination strategies exist, their efficacy is data and domain dependent. In this paper, we investigate multiple (N=12) quantitative consensus approaches to combine the clusters obtained with multiple (n=33) probability density-based similarity measures. Our study shows that hypergraph based meta-clustering and probabilistic clustering provides optimal expert-metric agreement.
Liquidity dynamics across public and private markets

In this paper we investigate cross-asset liquidity between equity markets and REITs and between REITs and private real estate markets. While many studies have investigated REIT liquidity, and there is an emerging interest in liquidity in the private real estate markets, there appears to be little knowledge of the dynamics of cross-market liquidity. We find lower levels of liquidity for REITs compared to a set of control firms matched on size and book-to-market ratios. Commonality in liquidity is also lower for REITs than the controls and the overall market. However, we do find an important difference in share turnover for REITs, which appears to have a higher level of commonality than found in other studies. We suggest that this may be due to the financial crisis. Additionally we find evidence of similar time-series variation in liquidity for public and private real estate markets. We also find significant directional causality for most liquidity proxies from the public to private real estate markets. Finally our results show that there is strong contemporaneous correlation between both public and private real estate market liquidity and the term spread and real investment and consumption spending. REIT liquidity measures based on intraday data also appear to contain important information not found in measures constructed from daily returns.
Deferoxamine inhibits methyl mercury-induced increases in reactive oxygen species formation in rat brain

It has been suggested that methyl mercury may express its neurotoxicity by way of iron-mediated oxidative damage. Therefore, the effect of deferoxamine, a potent iron-chelator, on methyl mercury-induced increases in reactive oxygen species formation was studied in rat brain. The generation rate of reactive oxygen species was estimated in crude synaptosomal fractions using the probes 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate and dihydrorhodamine 123. The formation rate of the fluorescent oxidation products was used as the measure of reactive oxygen species generation. Seven days after a single injection of methyl mercury (5 mg/kg, ip), the formation rate of reactive oxygen species was significantly increased in the cerebellum. Pretreatment with deferoxamine (500 mg/kg, ip) completely prevented the methyl mercury-induced increase in cerebellar reactive oxygen species generation rates. The oxidative consequences of in vitro exposure to methyl mercury (20 microM) were also inhibited by deferoxamine (100 microM). The formation of the iron-saturated complex ferrioxamine was not affected by a 10-fold excess of methylmercuric chloride or mercuric chloride, suggesting that a deferoxamine-mercurial complex does not form. The findings in this study: (1) provide evidence that iron-catalyzed oxygen radical-producing reactions play a role in methyl mercury neurotoxicity, (2) demonstrate the potential of fluorescent probes as a measure of reactive oxygen species formation, and (3) provide support for iron-chelator therapy in protection against xenobiotic-induced oxidative damage.
The origin of polygonal troughs on the northern plains of Mars

The morphology, distribution, geologic environment and relative age of large-scale polygonal trough systems on Mars are examined. The troughs are steep-walled, flat-floored, sinuous depressions typically 200-800 m wide, 20-120 m deep and spaced 5-10 km apart. The mechanics of formation of tension cracks is reviewed to identify the factors controlling the scale of tension crack systems; special emphasis is placed on thermal cracking in permafrost. It is shown that because of the extremely large scale of the Martian fracture systems, they could not have formed by thermal cracking in permafrost, dessication cracking in sediments or contraction cracking in cooling lava. On the basis of photogeologic evidence and analog studies, it is proposed that polygonal troughs on the northern plains of Mars are grabens.
A thermodynamic formalism based on the fundamental relation and the legendre transformation

Abstract This paper describes a general formalism for the study of thermodynamic properties. The formalism is based on the concepts of the fundamental relation and the Legendre transformation. The important properties of the latter are developed. Examples from macroscopic and statistical thermodynamics are presented to show how the formalism is applied in order to recognize and establish, for a system, a fundamental relation whose representation depends on those properties that arise in the analysis. It is also shown that when limited data are available, an incomplete fundamental relation may be developed which yields all the thermodynamic information of the available data. The formalism is also useful for the reduction of partial derivatives.
A Short Form of the MMPI: The SD Scale:

A rationale and method for predicting mean scores on personality scales of the True-False type, based upon social desirability considerations, has been described by Edwards ( 1961). He also suggested that the procedure used in predicting group means might be extended to the prediction of individual scores. To use his prediction equation for individual scores, an estimate of the individual's probability of a socially desirable response to a personality item is needed along with knowledge of the number of items keyed for socially desirable responses in the scale on which the score is to be predicted. In order ro test the adequacy of the prediction equation for the individual case, the MMPI records of 120 male college students were scored for 58 scales derived from the MMPI. Ss were divided into High, Middle, and Low groups on the basis of their scores on the 39-item Social Desirability (SD) scale (Edwards, 1957). Ten Ss were drawn at random from each of these three groups for the present analysis. For each scale the number of items keyed for socially desirable and socially undesirable responses was determined. An estimate of the probability of a socially desirable response for each S was taken as the ratio of his score on the SD scale to the total number of items in the SD scale. Edwards' prediction equation was then used to obtain a predicted score on each of the 58 MMPI scales for each of the 30 Ss. The product-moment correlations between observed and predicted scores for the 30 Ss are presented in Table 1. The correlations given in the table for TABLE 1
Proton-induced X-ray emission analysis of thick and thin targets☆

Abstract We examine the problem of preparing materials of biological origin for trace element analysis using PIXE (proton-induced X-ray emission). We distinguish between targets in which beam energy loss and X-ray absorption are negligible (thin) and those in which they are not (thick). The computer code FUDGE which calculates X-ray absorption factors for thick targets is described and the results of calculations for several organic materials are presented. We report the results of analyses of both thick and thin targets of NBS SRM 1577 (bovine liver) and compare their accuracy, precision and detection limits.
Quality of total mesorectal excision and depth of circumferential resection margin in rectal cancer: a matched comparison of the first 20 robotic cases

Aim There are concerns about the impact of robotic proctectomy on the quality of total mesorectal excision (TME) and the impact of laparoscopic proctectomy on the depth of the circumferential resection margin (CRM). The aim of this study was to compare the first 20 consecutive robotic proctectomies performed in our unit with matched series of open and laparoscopic proctocolectomy performed by the same surgeon. Method Data on the first 20 consecutive patients treated with robotic proctectomy for rectal cancer, <12 cm from the anal verge, by the senior author (RB) were extracted from a prospectively maintained database. Groups of patients treated with open and laparoscopic proctectomy, matched for age, gender and body mass index (BMI) with those undergoing robotic proctectomy, were selected. The quality of the TME was judged as complete, nearly complete or incomplete. CRM clearance was reported in millimetres. Physiological parameters and operative severity were assessed. Results Age (P = 0.619), Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the Enumeration of Morbidity and Mortality (POSSUM) score (P = 0.657), operative severity score (P = 0.977), predicted mortality (P = 0.758), comorbidities (P = 0.427), previous abdominal surgery (P = 0.941), tumour height (P = 0.912), location (P = 0.876), stage (P = 0.984), neoadjuvant chemoradiation (P = 0.625), operating time (P = 0.066), blood loss (P = 0.356), ileostomy (P = 0.934), conversion (P = 0.362), resection type (P = 1.000), flatus (P = 0.437), diet (P = 0.439), length of hospital stay (P = 0.978), complications (P = 0.671), reoperations (P = 0.804), reinterventions (P = 0.612), readmissions (P = 0.349), tumour size (P = 0.542; P = 0.532; P = 0.238), distal margin (P = 0.790), nodes harvested (P = 0.338) and pathology stage (P = 0.623) did not differ among the three groups. The quality of TME showed a trend to be lower following robotic surgery, although this was not statistically significant [open 95/5/15 (complete/nearly complete/incompete) vs laparoscopic 95/5/15 vs robotic 80/5/15; P = 0.235], but the degree of clearance at the CRM was significantly greater in robotic patients [open 8 (0–30) mm vs laparoscopic 4 (0–30) mm vs robotic 10.5 (1–30) mm; P = 0.02]. Conclusion The study reports no statistically significant difference between open and laparoscopic techniques in the quality of TME during the learning curve of robotic proctectomy for rectal cancer and demonstrates an improved CRM.
John Locke’s influence on American government and public administration

John Locke, one of the most influential writers in history, profoundly affected the principles upon which the government of the United States was founded. He leaves a legacy of thoughts on human understanding, religion, economics, and politics that still influence the structure, environment, and operation of public administration today. He is most noted for his concept of separation of powers and for his ideas about property as the basis for prosperity. he moderated the more radical teachings of Thomas Hobbes and Niccolo Machiavelli. His politics, emerging from the concept of a state of nature, involved the underlying radical, modern premises about religion and morality. Locke presents his case for what we would call modern liberal democracy. He created the modern emphasis on constitutionalism that defines, in part, the relationship between the political system and the bureaucracy. Finally, he was an important link in the development of modern executive and legislative power.