cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combined bone morphogenetic protein-2 and -7 gene transfer enhances osteoblastic differentiation and spine fusion in a rodent model.

To enhance the osteogenic activity of BMP, combination BMP2 and BMP7 gene transfer was performed. This approach led to a significant increase in osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal precursors compared with single BMP gene transfer in vitro. When tested in 78 rats, combination gene transfer enhanced mechanically stable spine fusion and bone formation rate versus single BMP gene transfer. Introduction: Although clinical bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) therapy is effective, required doses are very high. Previous studies have suggested that the co-expression of two different BMP genes can result in the production of heterodimeric BMPs that may be more potent than homodimers. In this study, combined BMP2 and BMP7 gene transfer was performed to test whether this approach improves osteoblastic differentiation and bone formation compared with single BMP gene transfer. Materials and Methods: A producer cell (A549) was co-transfected with adenovirus vectors encoding BMP2 (AdBMP2) and BMP7 (AdBMP7) or, as controls, each vector alone, AdNull (with no transgene) or no virus. Supernatants were compared for their ability to stimulate osteoblastic differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts and MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. In a rat posterolateral spine fusion model, co-administration of AdBMP2 and AdBMP7 was compared with treatment with each vector alone, AdNull or no virus in 78 rats. The spines were assessed 8 weeks after surgery for radiographic and mechanical fusion, bone formation, and mineralization. Results: BMP2 and BMP7 were co-precipitated from supernatants of cells co-transfected with AdBMP2 and AdBMP7, indicating the presence of BMP2/7 heterodimer. Supernatants of co-transfected cells containing relatively low doses (7–140 ng/ml) of BMPs induced osteocalcin expression and alkaline phosphatase activity in both C2C12 and MC3T3-E1 cells, that were up to 6- and 40-fold higher, respectively, than levels induced by maximal doses (200–1000 ng/ml) of either BMP2 or BMP7 alone. In the spine fusion model, co-administration of AdBMP2 and AdBMP7 resulted in a significantly greater number of mechanically stable fusions and also 2-fold higher mineralization rate and bone volume in the fusion mass versus single BMP gene transfer (p < 0.02, all comparisons). Conclusion: Combined BMP2 and BMP7 gene transfer is significantly more effective in inducing osteoblastic differentiation and spine fusion than individual BMP gene transfer.
Cognitive Abilities in a Sample of Youth with Multiple Episodes of Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Noncompliance with medical regimens for type 1 diabetes (T1D) may lead to serious consequences. The most life-threatening is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Little is known about how DKA affects cognitive abilities in youth with T1D. We examined the impact of multiple DKA episodes and gender differences on cognitive abilities. Sixty-four youth (aged 8–16) who experienced at least two DKA episodes participated. Participants had lower index and subtest scores relative to norms. Gender differences on index scores were found with boys scoring higher. Results suggest DKA episodes may impact cognitive abilities. Researchers should continue to examine the link between DKA and intellectual ability.
A sequential histopathological study of dermographism

Summary Wheals were induced in four dermographic patients using a dermographometer applying a standard pressure (7·2 × 105 Pa). Biopsies were taken from control, normal, non-whealed skin and from the induced wheals at 5 min, 15 min, 2 h and 24 h. Two further dermographic patients were biopsied 2 h after induction of wheals induced by two different pressures (2·5 and 10·9× 105 Pa). Additional control skin biopsies were taken from eight non-dermographic individuals. The histological changes were only seen in the upper dermis. In non-traumatized skin there was a significantly raised mononuclear cell count (15·6±SE 2·3 compared with 8·1±0·6 in non-dermographic controls; P= 0·0002). In whealed skin there was some cndothelial cell swelling seen at 5 min which persisted at 24 h. The mononuclear cell infiltrate did not change quantitatively throughout the observation period; neutrophils were seen at 5 min, reached a peak at 2 h and were still present at 24 h; there was, however, a great inter-patient variation in the degree of neutrophil infiltration. Mast cell numbers did not change significantly and were numerically similar to those found in non-dermographic individuals. There appeared to be no qualitative or quantitative difference in the infiltrate in the wheals induced by the two different pressures. Immunofluorescence studies were negative in all the biopsies.
High reliability integer ambiguity resolution of 6DOF RTK GPS/INS

This article presents a Contemplative Realtime (CRT) framework to resolve a vector of carrier phase integer ambiguities existing in Real-Time Kinematic GPS aided inertial navigation systems (RTK GPS/INS). Within this CRT framework, a Maximum-a-Posteriori (MAP) estimation method is derived to represent the RTK GPS/INS problem, and solved by Nonlinear Mixed Integer Least Square (NMILS) approach. This approach allows the utilization of multiple epochs of GPS data with INS defined motion constraints over a time interval. The NMILS approach over time intervals allows hypothesis testing on each interval to contemplate alternative fault detection hypotheses. The objectives are to enhance reliability and accuracy. Implementation results are included that demonstrate the performance of the proposed method achieving centimeter position accuracy.
Survival Benefit of Adjuvant Radiation Therapy for Gastric Cancer following Gastrectomy and Extended Lymphadenectomy.

Purpose. Although randomized trials suggest a survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy (XRT) for gastric adenocarcinoma, its use in patients who undergo an extended lymphadenectomy is less clear. The purpose of this study was to determine if a survival benefit exists in gastric cancer patients who receive adjuvant XRT following resection with extended lymphadenectomy. Methods. The SEER registry was queried for records of patients with resected gastric adenocarcinoma from 1988 to 2007. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to assess independent prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Results. Of 15,060 patients identified, 3,208 (21%) received adjuvant XRT. Adjuvant XRT was independently associated with improved OS (HR 0.67, CI 0.64–0.71) and DSS (HR 0.69, CI 0.65–0.73) in stages IB through IV (M0). This OS and DSS benefit persisted regardless of the extent of lymphadenectomy. Furthermore, lymphadenectomy with >25 LN resected was associated with improved OS and DSS compared with 25 LNs results in improved OS and DSS compared with patients who have fewer LNs resected.
Characterization of Shape Memory and Superelastic Effects by Instrumented Indentation Experiments

The shape memory and superelastic effects of martensitic and austenitic NiTi alloys were studied by instrumented indentation experiments. The shape memory effect was quantitatively characterized by the thermo-activated depth recovery ratio of the residual indentation depth. The superelasticity of austenitic NiTi was quantitatively characterized by the depth and work recovery ratios obtained from the load-displacement curves. The shape memory and superelastic effects under different indenters (Berkovich, Vickers, and spherical) and loads were rationalized using the concept of the representative strain and maximum strain. This study demonstrates that instrumented indentation techniques are useful in the quantitative characterization of the shape memory and superelastic effects in micro- and nano-meter length scale.
Incidence and significance of profound hypotension during dobutamine stress echocardiography

Background: Mild hypotension (drops of systolic blood pressure of ≥20 mmHg) occurs in 14--38% of dobutamine stress echo (DSE) and carries a good prognosis for subsequent cardiac events. The incidence and significance of more profound hypotension (PH) (≥ 50mmHg) is unknown. Hypothesis: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of PH during DSE and its prognosis for subsequent cardiac events. Methods: We reviewed 617 DSE performed at our institution between 1992 and 1996 and identified two DSE subgroups. The first group (PH group) consisted of all patients with PH during DSE. A second group was selected with baseline characteristics similar to the PH group but without PH during DSE (non-PH group). Follow-up was by a physician chart review and direct telephone contact. Cardiac event rates were determined for hard [myocardial infarction (MI), or cardiac death] and soft (angina, congestive heart failure, coronary angioplasty, or coronary bypass surgery) events occurring after the DSE. Results: Of the 617 DSE performed, 16 (3%) patients developed PH (PH group) during DSE, with 13 showing no inducible ischemia. The hard and soft cardiac event rate in this 13 PH group was 46% (mean follow-up of 28.7 ± 18 months). Of the non-PH group, 32 patients had a negative DSE with a coronary event rate of 12.5%. Profound hypotension correlated with a significantly higher cardiac event rate (p < 0.02). Conclusions: The incidence of PH during DSE is low (3%) and appears to predict a worse prognosis for subsequent cardiac events.
Renal alterations induced by osmotic stress and metabolic acidosis in Xenopus laevis

Xenopus has unusual flask cells within the intermediate segment of the renal nephron. These cells respond to osmotic stress by losing the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) contents from their central cavities. Because of this it has been argued that flask cells participate in osmoregulation. The present work was designed to investigate changes in morphology of the flask cells and to determine whether such changes could be related to simultaneous changes in nitrogen excretion rather than osmotic stress. In animals exposed to 21 days of osmotic stress, total nitrogen excretion doubled relative to controls and urea comprised 85% of waste nitrogen. The activity of phosphate dependent glutaminase (PDG), a renal ammonia-producing enzyme, did not decrease even though ammonia excretion decreased by more than 50% in experimental animals. Structurally, flask cells had shrunken and contained little GAG. The average number of distended flask cells within profiles of intermediate segments dropped from about 2 in control animals to 0.60 in animals stressed for 14 days. Acidosis was induced in Xenopus by injecting a single dose of 2.5 mM HCl per kg body weight. In these animals, ammonia excretion increased 160% over controls and PDG activity increased 30%. The number of flask cells in intermediate segment profiles increased from 2.02 in controls to 4.16 in experimental animals. These results demonstrate that the number of distended flask cells and their morphology are altered by conditions which change patterns of nitrogen excretion; therefore, the flask cells may be directly involved with ammonia excretion.
Mass spectrometry analysis of poly(styrene sulfonate sodium salt), a polyanionic electrolyte

Abstract Electrospray ionization (ESI) of poly(styrene sulfonate sodium salt) (PSS) with a molar mass of 1100 Da (weight average) efficiently produces distributions of [M + Na] + cations in positive mode and [M–Na] − as well as [M–2Na] 2− anions in negative mode. From these distributions, repeat unit, end groups, and defects in the poly(electrolyte) can readily be determined by quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry (QiT MS). During MS analysis, sodium/proton exchanges in the SO 3 Na substituents of the [M–Na] − ions take place, with the number of exchanges observed being equal to the number of sulfonate groups present in the analyzed oligomer. Such exchanges are less pronounced for the oligomers with 2− charges and absent in the sodium-cationized oligomers (1+ charge). Collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) of the sodiated cations proceeds via charge-remote homolytic C–C bond cleavages in the polymer backbone, ultimately leading to fragments that contain both or neither of the end groups. The same chemistry is observed for the anions if they have not exchanged sodium ions for protons. In sharp contrast, precursor ions that contain SO 3 H (sulfonic acid) groups due to Na/H exchange dissociate mainly by charge-catalyzed SO 3 losses. The number of SO 3 units lost is identical to the number of sulfonic acid pendants in the oligomer. The CAD results suggest that PSS may degrade to polystyrene under acidic conditions.
Efficacy of outpatient aftercare for adolescents with alcohol use disorders: a randomized controlled study.

Abstract Objective Relapse rates for treated adolescents with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) amount to approximately 60% at 3 to 6 months after treatment completion. This randomized controlled study tested the hypothesis that active aftercare may maintain treatment gains better than no active aftercare (NA). Method A total of 177 adolescents, 13 to 18 years of age, diagnosed with DSM-IV AUD, participated in nine weekly outpatient cognitive behavioral therapy group sessions. The 144 treatment completers were randomized into a 5-session in-person, brief telephone, or NA condition. Three alcohol use variables were the main outcome measures for 130 aftercare completers. Results At the end of aftercare, the likelihood of relapse increased significantly compared with end of treatment outcomes. The likelihood of relapse for youths in NA, however, increased significantly more for youths in combined active aftercare (AA) conditions ( p = .008). This effect was driven primarily by a significant sex × active aftercare interaction: girls showed no significant relapse under AA but relapsed significantly in NA. Youths enrolled in AA also showed significantly fewer drinking days ( p = .044) and fewer heavy drinking days ( p = .035) per month relative to NA. Conclusions In general, active aftercare interventions showed certain efficacy in slowing the expected posttreatment relapse process for alcohol use, with maintenance of treatment gains only for girls. Frequency of interventions, dose-response, duration of aftercare phase, and mediators of behavior change should be examined further to optimize aftercare for youths with AUD. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry , 2008;47(12):1405–1412.
Extrahepatic bile duct cancer and smoking, beverage consumption, past medical history, and oral-contraceptive use

Information on potential causal factors in 67 patients with histologically confirmed cancer of the extrahepatic bile ducts was compared with that from 273 patients with other cancers. The control group did not include subjects with tobacco- or alcohol-related cancers. The study subjects were interviewed at 11 large hospitals in eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island between 1975 and 1979. Among the patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer, the male-female ratio was 1.5. The use of cigarettes was associated with decreased risk of extrahepatic bile duct cancer. The use of alcohol and coffee was not related to risk of extrahepatic bile duct cancer. Fewer patients than controls reported tea consumption. A statistically significant association between the use of oral contraceptives and extrahepatic bile duct cancer was observed among women under 60 years of age. Patients reported significantly higher frequencies of history of ulcerative colitis or diseases of the gallbladder.
Multiple attribute Bayesian analysis of adaptive ecosystem management

Adaptive ecosystem management is based on the premise that human understanding of ecosystems is incomplete and biophysical responses to management actions are highly uncertain. Uncertainty is reduced and learning occurs by conducting experiments that provide information about how ecosystems are likely to respond to alternative management actions. Implementation of adaptive ecosystem management is hampered by the lack of an implementation framework. This paper proposes a two-stage hierarchical framework for identifying effective management actions. The first stage uses Bayes rule to identify management actions that have the greatest likelihood of achieving a sustainable ecosystem state. Sustainability is measured by ecological productive capacity. The second stage evaluates the ecologically sustainable ecosystem states identified in the first stage based on their non-ecological attributes. The optimal management action is the one that has the greatest likelihood of achieving an ecologically sustainable state and provides the most preferred combination of non-ecological attributes. The two-stage framework requires a resource manager to identify and measure ecological and non-ecological attributes of ecosystems, specify prior probabilities for ecosystem states, estimate likelihood functions for ecosystem states and weights for non-ecological attributes, and select a procedure for ranking sustainable management actions based on their multiple non-ecological attributes.
Palliative Sedation: It's Not a Panacea

Good ethics requires good facts. I have long argued that empirical data must inform bioethical discourse (Kon 2009), so I was pleased to see references to empirical work peppered throughout the art...
Blind estimation of digital communication channel impulse response

The article propose novel approaches to the problem of blind channel impulse response estimation for data communication systems, including telephone channels as well as digital radio channels. No training sequence is assumed to be available. Two novel schemes are proposed for channel impulse response estimation. Only batch (nonrecursive) methods are considered. The higher order cumulant statistics is exploited, in addition to the usual second-order statistics, of the data and of appropriately defined error signals. The proposed methods yield (globally) optimal solutions. The estimated channel impulse response can be used for channel equalization, either for reliable ("open eye") initialization of the conventional decision-directed equalizers or as a channel estimator for a Viterbi algorithm based equalizer. Two illustrative examples one for a telephone channel and the other for a multipath channel, are given using an 8-level PAM signal. >
Occurrence of Earth-like bodies in planetary systems

Present theories of terrestrial planet formation predict the rapid 'runaway formation' of planetary embryos. The sizes of the embryos increase with heliocentric distance. These embryos then emerge to form planets. In earlier Monte Carlo simulations of the merger of these embryos it was assumed that embryos did not form in the asteroid belt, but this assumption may not be valid. Simulations in which runaways were allowed to form in the asteroid belt show that, although the initial distributions of mass, energy, and angular momentum are different from those observed today, during the growth of the planets these distributions spontaneously evolve toward those observed, simply as a result of known solar system processes. Even when a large planet analogous to 'Jupiter' does not form, an earth-sized planet is almost always found near earth's heliocentric distance. These results suggest that occurrence of earthlike planets may be a common feature of planetary systems.
“It is Natural to Care for the Crazy Machine”: The Antifederalists' Post-Ratification Acquiescence

The classical problem of any opposition . . . is how much to oppose and by what means.Przeworski quoted in Issues in Democratic Consolidation: The New South American Democracies in Comparative Perspective, e d. Scott Mainwaring, Guillermo O'Donnell and J. Samuel Valenzuela (Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1992), 124.Adam PrzeworskiEven if members of an opposition group could be entirely uniform in their beliefs and goals, there are myriad strategic choices to be made by those out of power. Leaders must decide whether to concentrate on a few agenda items or press for wholesale change. They must determine the pitch of their opposition, choosing conciliatio n or adamancy. Tactics and arguments require formulation and reformulation, offering a kaleidoscope of possibilities but also peril. Opposition groups in particular need to evolve – not an easy task – for their previous attempts at winning hea rts and minds proved unsuccessful. The clearest political analyses focus on who won: elections, policy battles, and revolutions. Unfortunately, clarity is frequently bought at a high price: a lack of nuanced attention to the positions and strategies of op position leaders and groups. Their choices matter.
Ultrastructure of the amnion and amniotic plaques of the white-tailed deer.

The ultrastructure of the aminon and aminotic plaques of the white-tailed deer was studied throughout pregnancy. The single layered amniotic epithelium had short, blunt, club-shaped microvilli, tortuously folded lateral plasma membranes enclosing an intercellular space, and basal foot-procsses. Wherever lateral plasma membrane processes abutted, desmosomes occurred. Hemidesmosomes were observed only in association with the foot-processes. The epithelium contained granular endoplasmic reticulum, rod-shaped mitochondria, free ribosomes, Golgi complexes, tonofibrils, tonofilaments and glycogen granules. The epithelium was supporte by a basal lamina. The subjacent connective tissue layer contained mesenchymal cells, fibroblasts and collagenous fibers. The amniotic plaques varied in size from microscopic to 4 mm in diameter. The small plaques were formed by mitotic activity of the aminion cells. their sites of formation appeared randomly distributed. Each microscopic plaque had one to three layers of basal columnar to cuboidal cells, and a single layer of covering cells next to the amniotic cavity. Further mitotic activity of basal columnar cells led to the formation and differentiation of large plaques which contained over 15 cell layers. The main mass of a large plaque showed four zones: stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum and stratum corneum. Cytoplasmic organelles were plentiful in the basal and spinous cells, but were sparse in the granular and cornified layers. Keratohyalin granules and dense tonofibrils were usually found in the granular cells, but only occasionally in cornified cells. Each plaque contained varying amounts of PAS-positive glyucogen granules. The tortuously folded lateral plasma membranes enclosed intercellular spaces which extended from basal to cornified layers. Small portions of amniotic cells and layers of cornified cells sloughed throughout pregnancy and thus contributed to the composition of amniotic fluid. The homology of the plaques with mammalian skin and their distribution in the eutherian mammals is discussed.
Inconsistency of logarithmically growing cross sections with Regge behavior of non-vacuum-exchange amplitudes☆

Abstract Using general theoretical considerations, we show that if total cross sections are to increase asymptotically like (logs)β, then high-energy non-vacuum exchange processes cannot be governed by simple factorizeable Regge behavior.
Molecular Characterization of Thermoinduced Immunogenic Proteins Q1p42 and Hsp15 of Leptospira interrogans

Leptospira interrogans is a mammalian pathogen which must adapt to a range of new environmental conditions including temperature change when it infects new hosts. In vitro studies of organisms cultured at 30 degrees C and shifted to 37 degrees C for 5 to 7 days have confirmed that synthesis of several proteins involved in equine infection is regulated in response to temperature change (J. E. Nally, J. F. Timoney, and B. Stevenson, Infect. Immun. 69:400-404, 2001). In order to specifically identify antigenic proteins upregulated at 37 degrees C, groups of three ponies were immunized with organisms shifted to 37 degrees C for 5 to 7 days or with organisms maintained at 30 degrees C. A lambda ZAP II genomic DNA library was screened with the pool of antisera to organisms shifted to 37 degrees C. Clones reactive with this pool but unreactive with the pool of pony antisera to organisms cultured at 30 degrees C were selected for further analysis. Sequence analysis of the first two clones identified open reading frames for proteins designated Qlp42 and Hsp15. Qlp42 is predicted to be an outer membrane lipoprotein. Its synthesis was upregulated when cultures were shifted from 30 to 37 degrees C and downregulated when cultures were shifted from 37 to 30 degrees C. Although the predicted molecular mass of Qlp42 is 39.8 kDa for the mature protein, Qlp42-specific equine antiserum was reactive with two bands of 30 and 29.5 kDa. Hsp15 is a stress response protein and a member of the Hsp20/alpha-crystallin family. PCR detected homologues of qlp42 and hsp15 in pathogenic serovars of L. interrogans but not in the nonpathogenic Leptospira biflexa. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of antibody in convalescent sera from mares naturally infected with L. interrogans suggest that Qlp42 is expressed during leptospiral infection.
Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy following acute renal failure in a patient never treated with dialysis1

NEPHROGENIC FIBROSING DERMOPATHY FOLLOWING ACUTE RENAL FAILURE IN A PATIENT NEVER TREATED WITH DIALYSIS Tamella B Cassis, MD, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States, Mark Jackson, MD, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States, George Sonnier, MD, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States, Jeffrey Callen, MD, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
The Multilingual Election Problem

Multilingual elections may democratically enfranchise linguistic minorities, or may promote extremist, uncompromising, clientelistic, inefficient politics. One theoretical approach to this question extends existing spatial models of elections, allowing candidates to state different positions in different languages and assuming that language barriers give voters incomplete information about the positions stated in their non-native languages. In a simple model of multilingual campaigning, candidates under some conditions can state different positions in different languages so that every voter aggregates the positions into a perception coinciding exactly with the voter's own position. To do this, candidates must choose positions more extreme than the positions of the respective audiences. As groups gain multilingual fluency, candidate extremism further increases. Extremism is vote-maximizing unless voters sufficiently penalize inconsistency. When inconsistency is important enough, candidates consistently take the position of the larger group in 2-group elections, and of the ideologically central group in 3-group elections.
New Decoupled Framework For Reliability-Based Design Optimization

Traditionally, reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) has been formulated as a nested optimization problem. The inner loop, generally, involves the solution to optimization problems for computing the probabilities of failure of the critical failure modes, and the outer loop performs optimization by varying the decision variables. Such formulations are by nature computationally intensive, requiring numerous function and constraint evaluations. To alleviate this problem, researchers have developed iterative decoupled RBDO approaches. These methods perform deterministic optimization and reliability assessment in a sequential manner until a consistent reliability-based design is obtained. The sequential methods are attractive because a consistent reliable design can be obtained at considerably lower computational cost. However, the designs obtained by using these decoupled approaches cannot guarantee production of the true solution. A new decoupled method for RBDO is developed in this investigation. Postoptimal sensitivities of the most probable point (MPP) of failure with respect to the decision variables are introduced to update the MPPs during the deterministic optimization phase of the proposed approach. A damped Broyden‐Fletcher‐Goldfarb‐Shanno method is used to significantly reduce the cost of obtaining these sensitivities. It is the use of postoptimal sensitivities that differentiates this new decoupled RBDO approach from previous efforts.
An improved method to quantify Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae DNA in the host Avena sativa

Abstract Identification and genetic mapping of loci conferring resistance to polycyclic pathogens such as the rust fungi depends on accurate measurement of disease resistance. We converted an absolute quantification assay of Puccinia coronata DNA to a relative assay by adding a TaqMan® primers/probe set specific to the oat β-actin gene to simplify and improve quantification of fungal infection. The new multiplex assay estimates the amount of fungal DNA in a sample relative to the amount of host DNA and requires fewer and less labour-intensive steps than previous assays. The relative fungal DNA assay (RFDNA) reliably detected and quantified both host and pathogen DNA over five orders of magnitude and was at least as sensitive as either digital image analysis (DLA) or absolute estimation of fungal DNA (AFDNA) in repeated greenhouse studies using 12 oat cultivars with different resistance responses to P. coronata isolate LGCG. Measuring crown rust resistance to LGCG using DLA, AFDNA and RFDNA in a P8669/P941...
Content Models with Attitude

We present a probabilistic topic model for jointly identifying properties and attributes of social media review snippets. Our model simultaneously learns a set of properties of a product and captures aggregate user sentiments towards these properties. This approach directly enables discovery of highly rated or inconsistent properties of a product. Our model admits an efficient variational mean-field inference algorithm which can be parallelized and run on large snippet collections. We evaluate our model on a large corpus of snippets from Yelp reviews to assess property and attribute prediction. We demonstrate that it outperforms applicable baselines by a considerable margin.
Stress and Burnout Among Residency Program Directors in United States Radiation Oncology Programs.

Purpose To evaluate stressors among radiation oncology residency program directors (PDs) and determine the prevalence and indicators of burnout. Methods and Materials An anonymous, online, cross-sectional survey was offered to PDs of US radiation oncology programs in the fall of 2014. Survey content examined individual and program demographics, perceptions surrounding the role of PD, and commonly encountered stressors. Burnout was assessed using the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey. Results In total, 47 of 88 PDs (53%) responded to the survey. Although 78% of respondents reported feeling "satisfied" or "highly satisfied" with their current role, 85% planned to remain as PD for P =.04) and overall burnout (odds ratio [OR], 15.6; P =.04). Having more years on faculty prior to becoming PD correlated with less emotional exhaustion (OR, 0.44, P =.05) and depersonalization (OR, 0.20, P =.04). Finally, having dedicated time for PD duties correlated with less emotional exhaustion (OR, 0.27, P =.04). Conclusions Moderate levels of burnout are common in U.S. radiation oncology PDs with regulatory stressors being common. Despite this, many PDs are fulfilled with their role. Longitudinal studies assessing dynamic external factors and their influence on PD burnout would be beneficial.
Antioxidant Effect of Estrogen on Cytomegalovirus-Induced Gene Expression in Coronary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells

Background—Pathogens infecting the arterial wall with resultant inflammation may contribute to atherogenesis. Human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (SMCs) infected with human cytomegalovirus (CMV) demonstrate a rapid increase in reactive oxygen species (ROSs), with activation of genes involved in viral replication and inflammation. Because estrogen appears to have antioxidant properties, we wished to determine whether this hormone attenuates SMC responses to CMV infection. Methods and Results—Using confocal microscopy and an intracellular fluorescent dye activated by ROSs, we found that 17β-estradiol (0.1 to 10 nmol/L) and its stereoisomer 17α-estradiol (which has low affinity for the estrogen receptor) dose-dependently inhibited ROS generation in CMV-infected SMCs. These effects were not blocked by the estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI 182,780. 3-Methoxyestrone, which lacks the phenolic hydroxyl group, did not interfere with ROS generation. We found that 17β-estradiol and 17α-estradiol, but not 3-metho...
International Organisations and Peace Enforcement. The Politics of International Legitimacy

International Organisations and Peace Enforcement. The Politics of International Legitimacy. By Katharina P. Coleman. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. 360p. 36.99 paper.Since the 1990s, international and regional organizations have engaged in a record 17 peace enforcement operations, multilateral military interventions to end violent conflict within a country. In her excellent book, Katharina P. Coleman seeks to explain why states choose to act either through the auspices or with the explicit consent of an international organization. Using a comparative case method, she explores state motivations in the Nigerian intervention in Liberia under the Economic Community of West African States; the U.S.-led operation in Kosovo under NATO; the interventions of Australia in East Timor under the United Nations; and South Africa's intervention in Lesotho and Zimbabwe's actions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, both under the SADC (Southern African Development Community).
Functional luminal imaging probe topography: an improved method for characterizing esophageal distensibility in eosinophilic esophagitis.

Objectives:The aims of this study were to develop a new method for analysis and presentation of esophageal distensibility data using high-resolution impedance planimetry recordings during a volume-controlled distention.Methods:Two control subjects and six patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) with stricture, narrow caliber or normal endoscopy according to EndoFLIP studies were included for analysis. Median filtering and pulse detection techniques were applied to the pressure signal and a wavelet decomposition technique was applied to the 16 channels of raw esophageal diameter data to reduce vascular artifact, respiratory effect and remove esophageal contraction interference. These data were used to generate a functional luminal imaging probe (FLIP) topography plot that describes regional variation of cross-sectional area (CSA). A previously developed computer program was used to calculate and model the CSA-pressure data to derive the slope of line fitting and distension plateau for each individual ...
Distributed diagnosability properties of discrete event systems

We present a distributed diagnostics and control architecture for embedded distributed diagnostics. Using this architecture, we (1) propose a distributed diagnostics framework for discrete-event systems based on causal networks; (2) prove system diagnosability results based on component diagnosability; and (3) discuss the tradeoffs involving system diagnosability and communication requirements.
Multiple Comparisons of Repeated Measured Response: Issues of Assessment of Prolongation of QT Interval in Thorough QT Trials

The primary objective of a thorough QT clinical trial is to demonstrate the lack of QT prolongation induced by the test treatment. The ICH E14 guidance defined drug-induced prolongation of QT interval as evidenced by an upper bound of the 95% one-sided confidence interval around the mean effect on QTc of 10 ms. Furthermore, it defined a negative thorough QT/QTc study as one in which the upper bound of the 95% one-sided confidence interval for the largest time-matched mean effect of the drug on the QTc interval excludes 10 ms. Conventionally, this objective is tested with the intersection-union test by testing the mean difference between the test treatment and placebo of QTc changes from baseline at each of the matched time points. The multiple-comparison nature of the test leads to higher false positive rate when comparisons are made repeatedly at multiple time points. Many approaches have been proposed in the last 5 years in order to improve the efficiency of the test. In this article, we survey and discuss some of the approaches.
The evolution of custom microarray manufacture

Given the enormous size of the genome and that there are potentially many other types of measurements we need to do to understand it, it has become necessary to pick and choose one's targets to measure because it is still impossible to evaluate the entire genome all at once. What has emerged is a need to have rapidly customizable microarrays. There are two dominant methods to accomplish custom microarray synthesis, Affymetrix-like microarrays manufactured using light projection rather than semiconductor-like masks used by Affymetrix to mass manufacture their GeneChip/sup TM/ arrays now, or the ink-jet printing method employed by Agilent. The manufacture of these custom Affymetrix-like microarrays can now be done on a digital optical chemistry (DOC) machine developed at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and this method offers much higher feature numbers and feature density than is possible with ink-jet printed arrays. On a microarray, each feature contains a single genetic measurement. The initial DOC prototype has been described in several publications, but that has now led to a second-generation machine. This machine reliably produces a number of arrays daily, has been deployed against a number of biomedical questions, is being used in new ways and has also led to a number of spin-off technologies.
On the information content of natural frequency spectra associated with different angular numbers

The problem of inferring the speed of sound in a contained spherically symmetric fluid solely from its natural frequencies of vibration is considered. An investigation of the case in which the data consist of the two spectra associated with the angular numbers 0 and 1, suggests the possibility that a one-parameter family of slowness profiles can be constructed. These profiles are compatible with the data, up to first order in the non-uniformity of the fluid. It is conjectured that for other angular numbers, the loss of information increases as the difference between them increases.
Congruence Between Intershift Reports and Patients' Actual Conditions

After listening to 57 intershift reports on adult medical-surgical units of an 800-bed metropolitan hospital, distributed over day, evening and night shifts, this investigator verified the reports by checking each patient. Predetermined pertinent items were analyzed for congruence, omissions and omissions resulting in incongruence. Since discrepancies occurred, a means for verifying the intershift report may need to be addressed as a standard of care for the profession of nursing.
Plant responses to precipitation in desert ecosystems: integrating functional types, pulses, thresholds, and delays

The ‘two-layer’ and ‘pulse-reserve’ hypotheses were developed 30 years ago and continue to serve as the standard for many experiments and modeling studies that examine relationships between primary productivity and rainfall variability in aridlands. The two-layer hypothesis considers two important plant functional types (FTs) and predicts that woody and herbaceous plants are able to co-exist in savannas because they utilize water from different soil layers (or depths). The pulse-reserve model addresses the response of individual plants to precipitation and predicts that there are ‘biologically important’ rain events that stimulate plant growth and reproduction. These pulses of precipitation may play a key role in long-term plant function and survival (as compared to seasonal or annual rainfall totals as per the two-layer model). In this paper, we re-evaluate these paradigms in terms of their generality, strengths, and limitations. We suggest that while seasonality and resource partitioning (key to the two-layer model) and biologically important precipitation events (key to the pulse-reserve model) are critical to understanding plant responses to precipitation in aridlands, both paradigms have significant limitations. Neither account for plasticity in rooting habits of woody plants, potential delayed responses of plants to rainfall, explicit precipitation thresholds, or vagaries in plant phenology. To address these limitations, we integrate the ideas of precipitation thresholds and plant delays, resource partitioning, and plant FT strategies into a simple ‘threshold-delay’ model. The model contains six basic parameters that capture the nonlinear nature of plant responses to pulse precipitation. We review the literature within the context of our threshold-delay model to: (i) develop testable hypotheses about how different plant FTs respond to pulses; (ii) identify weaknesses in the current state-of-knowledge; and (iii) suggest future research directions that will provide insight into how the timing, frequency, and magnitude of rainfall in deserts affect plants, plant communities, and ecosystems.
Social Class, Style of Life and Fertility in Puerto Rico

This study examines the relationship between fertility, social class, and styles of life in Puerto Rico. Styles of life are viewed as behavioral constellations selected among available cultural alternatives and manifested in the manner in which goods are consumed. The survey instrument included 43 different behavoral items believed to reflect viable cultural alternatives. Using a principal components solution and varimax rotation procedures, the first four factors were initially selected to characterize life-style components. Cross-tabulations were made on completed fertility by employing both Hollingshead's Social Classes and the Style of Life typology. The style of life approach systematically differentiates fertility patterns within what the Hollingshead procedure would indicate to be a homogeneous group.
Alterations in Two-Component Regulatory Systems of phoPQ and pmrAB Are Associated with Polymyxin B Resistance in Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Polymyxins are often the only option to treat acquired multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Polymyxin susceptibility in P. aeruginosa PAO1 is associated with the lipopolysaccharide structure that is determined by arnBCADTEF and modulated by phoPQ and pmrAB. We examined five clonally unrelated clinical isolates of polymyxin B-resistant P. aeruginosa to investigate the molecular basis of polymyxin resistance. All isolates grew with 4 microg/ml polymyxin B (MIC, 8 microg/ml), whereas P. aeruginosa PAO1 grew with 0.25 mug/ml polymyxin B (MIC, 0.5 microg/ml). The resistant isolates were converted to susceptible ones (the MICs fell from 8 to 0.5 microg/ml) following the introduction of phoPQ (four isolates) and pmrAB (one isolate), which had been cloned from strain PAO1. DNA sequence analysis revealed that a single-nucleotide substitution in three isolates replaced a single amino acid of PhoQ, the deletion of 17 nucleotides in one isolate truncated the protein of PhoQ, and two nucleotide substitutions in one isolate replaced two amino acids of PmrB. The involvement of these amino acid substitutions or the truncated protein of PhoQ and PmrB in polymyxin B resistance was confirmed using strain PAO1 lacking phoPQ or pmrAB that was transformed by phoPQ or pmrAB containing the amino acid substitutions or the truncated protein. The resistant clinical isolates were sensitized by the inactivation of arnBCADTEF (the MICs fell from 8 to 0.5 microg/ml). These results suggest that polymyxin B resistance among clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa is associated with alterations in two-component regulatory systems of phoPQ or pmrAB.
Organic-Rich Facies in Paraglacial Barrier Lithosomes of Northern New England: Preservation and Paleoenvironmental Significance

ABSTRACT Geological controls on the origin and preservation of organic-rich facies in Holocene barrier sequences of northern New England are documented using sedimentological and geophysical databases. In addition to backbarrier marsh interfingering with washover/aeolian deposits, several distinct modes of organic accumulation are recognized in association with clastic barrier facies. These include: 1) basal lake gyttja or wetland peats (thickness: 0.1–2.5 m); 2) intra-barrier saltwater/freshwater horizons (0.01–1.2 m); and 3) foreshore peat exposures (up to 1.2 m). Freshwater peat and gyttja underlying barrier lithosomes below contemporaneous Mid-Holocene sea level suggest extensive backbarrier lake and wetlands, possibly due to a wetter climate. Present freshwater organics accumulate up to several meters below lake level, which is controlled by the elevation of groundwater table and, over the long term, sea level trends. In some areas, the saltwater-freshwater peat transition is attributed to cessation ...
Demographics: Population Growth, Household Structure and Migration Patterns

This chapter explores the nature, magnitude and consequences of a number of demographic factors on human capital endowment in Ghana. It examines the externalities of population growth and population structure on the education sector. It assesses how household demographics, such as the number, age and gender of siblings who compete over limited household resources, helps to shape the educational opportunities of young household members. Finally, it analyses migration patterns—both internal and external—and the extent of their effects on human capital flight, a loss of public education spending and remittance inflows.
3p 6 3d 9 –3p 5 3d 10 transitions of cobaltlike ions from Sr 11+ to U 65+

The 3p63d9 2D–3p53d10 2P transitions of the Co-like ions Ru17+–Sb24+, Sm35+, Eu36+, Gd37+, Yb43+, and Au52+ were excited with laser-produced plasmas and photographed with grazing-incidence spectrographs. The observed wavelengths of the 2D5/2–2P3/2 and 2D3/2–2P1/2 transitions were compared with relativistically calculated ab initio wavelengths and, by fitting the differences between the observed and calculated wave numbers to simple formulas, least-squares fitted wavelengths were obtained for all ions from Sr11+ to U65+. The wavelengths range from 8 to 93 A. The estimated uncertainty of the fitted wavelengths is ±0.005 A, which makes them useful as reference values. Smoothed values of the energy levels were derived from the fitted values of the wavelengths and 3p63d9 2D fine-structure intervals. Wavelengths for the 3p63d9 2D3/2–3p53d10 2P3/2 transitions and the 3p63d9 2D5/2–2D3/2 magnetic-dipole transitions were derived from the smoothed energy-level values.