cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rock damage and regolith transport by frost: an example of climate modulation of the geomorphology of the critical zone

In this article we craft process-specific algorithms that capture climate control of hillslope evolution in order to elucidate the legacy of past climate on present critical zone architecture and topography. Models of hillslope evolution traditionally comprise rock detachment into the mobile layer, mobile regolith transport, and a channel incision or aggradation boundary condition. We extend this system into the deep critical zone by considering a weathering damage zone below the mobile regolith in which rock strength is diminished; the degree of damage conditions the rate of mobile regolith production. We first discuss generic damage profiles in which appropriate length and damage scales govern profile shapes, and examine their dependence upon exhumation rate. We then introduce climate control through the example of rock damage by frost-generated crack growth. We augment existing frost cracking models by incorporating damage rate limitations for long transport distances for water to the freezing front. Finally we link the frost cracking damage model, a mobile regolith production rule in which rock entrainment is conditioned by the damage state of the rock, and a frost creep transport model, to examine the evolution of an interfluve under oscillating climate. Aspect-related differences in mean annual surface temperatures result in differences in bedrock damage rate and mobile regolith transport efficiency, which in turn lead to asymmetries in critical zone architecture and hillslope form (divide migration). In a quasi-steady state hillslope, the lowering rate is uniform, and the damage profile is better developed on north-facing slopes where the frost damage process is most intense. Because the residence times of mobile regolith and weathered bedrock in such landscapes are on the order of 10 to 100 ka, climate cycles over similar timescales result in modulation of transport and damage efficiencies. These lead to temporal variation in mobile regolith thickness, and to corresponding changes in sediment delivery to bounding streams. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Violence in Advertisements in New York City Subway Stations: A Pilot Study

Violence has become a public health concern in the United States. Violent visually stimulating content encompasses various techniques such as fear, humor, shock, or violence, to stimulate a response or appeal toward awareness of human emotion. Exposing impressionable youth to violent advertisements can be particularly problematic. This is especially true in places like New York City where violent crime is a prevalent problem. With annual ridership reaching over 1.7 billion in 2014, the New York City subway system is abundant with advertisements. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the frequency and type of violent advertising on the Lexington Avenue/East Side Line in New York City, running through the Bronx and Manhattan to represent the lower and higher median income earning boroughs. There were no statistically different findings in median household income at site of station by number of ads or source of violent. Destruction was the most common form of violence (n = 32, 42.7 %) followed by intent to strike (n = 18, 24 %), showing a weapon (n = 15, 20 %) and horror (n = 10, 13.3 %). Most ads (n = 46, 61.3 %) were found in stations heading uptown toward and through the Bronx, the borough where median household income is lowest, whereas 29 (38.7 %) were found in stations heading downtown. Future studies could focus on additional boroughs and subways lines, and could be collected at multiple points in time to determine of how prevalent violent advertising is throughout New York City and at different time frames.
Factors associated with the use of episiotomy during vaginal delivery

Objective To examine factors associated with the performance of episiotomy. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 8647 deliveries during 1991 and 1992 at five medical centers. Episiotomy rates were compared based on variables involving patient demographics, obstetric condition, and physician factors for the 6458 vaginal deliveries in the sample. Logistic regression modeling using variables associated in bivariate analysis was performed to examine independent effects of each variable. Results Several characteristics of the patient, her clinical status, and physician factors were all associated with episiotomy use. The strongest independent predictors of episiotomy were nulliparity (odds ratio [OR] 4.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.59–4.68) and the use of forceps (OR 5.03, 95% CI 3.39–7.46) or vacuum extraction (OR 3.78, 95% CI 2.36–6.04). Provider specialty and the site of care were also associated independently with episiotomy. Episiotomy use was also associated with major perineal lacerations and an increased length of hospital stay.
Molecular Mechanism of Red Cell "Sickling"

Precision scale models of sickle-cell hemoglobin molecules indicate that the genetic substitution of valine for glutamic acid at the 6th position in the two beta chains allows an intramolecular hydrophobic bond to form. This changes the conformation in such a way as to allow molecular stacking. Optical rotatory dispersion studies and the restilts of suLbjection of Hb S solution to temperature change and to propane are consistent with the presence of such a bond. Examination of sickled erythrocytes in a magnetic field and in polarized light indicates that the Hb S molecules are aligned iiz sitil. Filaments interpreted as hollow cables of six Hb S monofilaments have been demonstrated by electron microscopy.
On the block thresholding wavelet estimators with censored data

We consider block thresholding wavelet-based density estimators with randomly right-censored data and investigate their asymptotic convergence rates. Unlike for the complete data case, the empirical wavelet coefficients are constructed through the Kaplan-Meier estimators of the distribution functions in the censored data case. On the basis of a result of Stute [W. Stute, The central limit theorem under random censorship, Ann. Statist. 23 (1995) 422-439] that approximates the Kaplan-Meier integrals as averages of i.i.d. random variables with a certain rate in probability, we can show that these wavelet empirical coefficients can be approximated by averages of i.i.d. random variables with a certain error rate in L^2. Therefore we can show that these estimators, based on block thresholding of empirical wavelet coefficients, achieve optimal convergence rates over a large range of Besov function classes B"p","q^s,s>1/p, p>=2, q>=1 and nearly optimal convergence rates when 1@?p<2. We also show that these estimators achieve optimal convergence rates over a large class of functions that involve many irregularities of a wide variety of types, including chirp and Doppler functions, and jump discontinuities. Therefore, in the presence of random censoring, wavelet estimators still provide extensive adaptivity to many irregularities of large function classes. The performance of the estimators is tested via a modest simulation study.
The effects of indomethacin and interleukin-2 on the proliferation of lymphocytes from patients with lung cancer.

The effects of the addition of indomethacin and interleukin-2 (IL-2) to phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes from patients with untreated squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung and with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and from normal individuals were studied. In 13 of 21 patients with lung carcinoma, the response of lymphocytes to PHA stimulation was significantly augmented by indomethacin. In these 13 patients, the nonaugmented PHA response was also significantly depressed, with only 1 patient falling in the normal range. In the other 8 patients, the average PHA reactivity was normal, as was the degree of augmentation by indomethacin. In additional studies, IL-2 was added to PHA-stimulated lymphocytes with and without the addition of indomethacin. In the normal group, IL-2 further increased PHA reactivity by an average of 46.0%. The addition of indomethacin to these cultures increased the PHA reactivity by only 8.8%, which is similar to the indomethacin effect for the PHA-stimulated cells without the addition of IL-2. In the cancer group, the PHA reactivity of 13 of 19 patients was significantly increased by the addition of IL-2. When indomethacin was added simultaneously with IL-2, the proliferative response for 12 of 19 patients was increased significantly more than for the normal controls. Thus, this study indicates that the PHA reactivity of lymphocytes from many lung carcinoma patients is augmented to a greater extent than for normal individuals by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. Also, the addition of IL-2 to these PHA-stimulated cultures did not mimic the addition of indomethacin, but instead the effects were usually additive. These findings may have clinical implications with regard to designing new clinical trials in patients with lung carcinoma.
Oklahoma!, “Lousy Publicity,” and the Politics of Formal Integration in the American Musical Theater

The achievements of Rodger and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! (1943) are well known: since the musical opened, critics have proclaimed it a new version of the genre, distinguished by its “integrated” form, in which all aspects of the production—score, script, costume, set, and choreography—are interrelated and inseparable. Although today many scholars acknowledge that Oklahoma! was not the first musical to implement the concept of integration, the musical is often considered revolutionary. Building on the work of Tim Carter, I use the correspondence and press materials in the Theatre Guild Collection of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University to situate the idea of integration into two intimately related discourses: contemporary notions of aesthetic prestige and World War II-era politics. By comparing the advertising of Oklahoma! to the Guild’s publicity for its previous musical productions (especially Porgy and Bess , which was labeled integrated in 1935), I demonstrate that press releases from the show’s creative team strategically deployed rhetoric and vocabulary that variously depicted the show as both highbrow and lowbrow, while distancing it from middlebrow entertainment. I then describe how the aesthetic register implied by this tiered rhetoric carried political overtones, connotations that are lost to us today because the word “integration” has become reified as a purely formal concept.
Ram-air cooling systems for aircraft generators

WHEN AIR is taken aboard an aircraft in flight, it undergoes an increase in pressure which is called the ?ram effect,? and a cooling system which uses such air is called a ram-air cooling system. Up to the present, almost all systems for cooling aircraft generators have been of the ram-air type and, in addition, the simplest subdivision of the type, the so-called blast-cooling system. In this system, the generator is in effect simply hung overboard, and cooled by the stream of air forced through it by ram pressure. (In practice, the generator is mounted inside the aircraft diffuser.)
Affective Valence and Arousal in ADHD and Normal Boys During a Startle Habituation Experiment

Objective To measure two dimensions of emotion (affective valence and arousal) in 29 boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 32 normal boys. Method After a startle habituation experiment during which these subjects heard 40 startling sounds while watching a silent interesting movie, they were asked 12 questions (categorized a priori into questions relating to affective valence and to arousal) about their emotional reactions to these putatively unpleasant and pleasurable stimuli. Responses were recorded for the two dimensions of emotion, using two cartoon strips in each of which five expressions of a cartoon character varied linearly from happy to unhappy (affective valence dimension) and calm to excited (arousal dimension). Results Factor analyses of the 12 responses revealed four factors in which the highest loadings were for affective valence to the startle responses, affective valence to the silent movie, arousal, and scary feelings. Relative to the normal group, the responses of the ADHD group were significantly biased toward pleasurable valence to the startling stimuli and to the silent movie, with a frend toward hypoarousal. Startle magnitude and habituation were similar in both groups. The normal tonic heart rate acceleration throughout the experimental session was not sustained in the ADHD group. Conclusions The self-reports of affective valence biased in the direction of pleasure and away from displeasure and the trend toward hypoarousal suggest an emotional dysfunction in ADHD.
First-principles study of water chains encapsulated in single-walled carbon nanotube

Water molecules confined inside a single-walled (6, 6) carbon nanotube were investigated using density functional theory. In this narrow-sized carbon nanotube (of about 0.8 nm in diameter), the encapsulated water molecules form chain-like configurations via hydrogen bonding. As compared to the water chains in vacuum, the intramolecular charge transfer in the encapsulated water chain is enhanced and the dipole moment is reduced due to the screening effect of the carbon nanotube. The tube-molecule interaction characterized by the coupling energy is about 0.28 eV per water molecule by local density approximation and 0.1 eV by general gradient approximation; the latter one is close to the results by empirical potentials. Weak coupling between the molecular orbitals of the encapsulated water molecules and the delocalized pi electrons from the carbon nanotube was observed, implying that the tube-water interaction is not a simple effect of geometry confinement. Vibrational analysis revealed some unique hydrogen-bond modes for the water chains as well as red shift of the O-H stretching modes for the encapsulated water molecules with regard to the vacuum frequencies due to the tube-water interaction.
NMR-Based Metabolomics: A Powerful Approach for Characterizing the Effects of Environmental Stressors on Organism Health

It is important to assess the chronic effects of chemical, physical, and biological stressors on organisms in the environment. Appropriate methods must enable rapid, inexpensive, and multibiomarker analyses of organism health. Here we investigate withering syndrome in red abalone (Haliotis rufescens), an important wild and farmed shellfish species along the Pacific coast, using a metabolomic approach that combines the metabolic profiling capabilities of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) with pattern recognition methods. Foot muscle, digestive gland, and hemolymph samples were collected from healthy, stunted, and diseased abalone, and the extracts were analyzed by NMR. Following spectral preprocessing, principal components analyses of the metabolite profiles were conducted. Our results confirm that NMR-based metabolomics can successfully distinguish the biochemical profiles of the three groups of animals, in every type of tissue or biofluid studied. Furthermore, this discovery-based approach successfully identified novel metabolic biomarker profiles associated with withering syndrome. The application of these methods for investigating other environmental stressors is discussed, as are the advantages of NMR-based metabolomics for biomonitoring, particularly in conjunction with gene and protein expression profiling.
Minimal spanning tree clustering of gas chromatographic liquid phases

Abstract A minimal spanning tree clustering algorithm is applied to gas chromatographic liquid phases. The tree is broken according to a rule which depends upon nearest neighbor information. The resulting minimal spanning tree divides the liquid phases into 13 clusters which vary in size from seven to 27 phases. Forty-one phases are designated as outliers in this analysis.
Fat or lean tissue mass : Which one is the major determinant of bone mineral mass in healthy postmenopausal women?

The relative importance of fat and lean tissue mass in determining bone mineral mass among postmenopausal women was examined in this 1-year longitudinal study. Fifty postmenopausal Caucasian women entered the study; 45 of them completed a 1-year follow-up. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was employed for measuring total and regional bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC), fat tissue mass (FTM), lean tissue mass (LTM), and body weight. Results from linear regression analysis using the cross-sectional data (n = 50) of the study indicated that LTM explained a larger percentage of variation in bone mineral mass than did FTM. FTM and LTM were found to be moderately correlated (r = 0.55); when FTM was entered in the same predicting regression models, LTM was a significant predictor (p < 0.05) of the total and regional BMC, but not BMD. The percent FTM (and inversely %LTM) was correlated with BMD and BMC, but significant correlation was primarily found only for total body BMD (or BMC). Weight was the best predictor of total body BMD and BMC. Longitudinally (n = 45), annual changes in both FTM and weight were significantly associated with annual changes in regional BMD after adjustment for initial bone mineral values (p < 0.05). We conclude that bone mineral mass is more closely related to LTM than to FTM, while annual changes in regional BMD are more closely correlated with changes in FTM in healthy postmenopausal women. Meanwhile, increased body weight is significantly associated with increased bone mineral mass.
Exhaustive computational identification of pathogen sequences far-distant from background genomes: Identification and experimental verification of human-blind dengue PCR primers.

We recently developed novel algorithms for exhaustive identification of all nucleotide subsequences present in a pathogen genome which differ by at least a chosen number of mismatches from the sequences of host/background organisms. This type of exhaustive computational analysis will be useful in reducing false positives and cross-reactivity in PCR and hybridization assays. We present the first experimental test of the method by showing that the subsequences identified when used as 18-mer PCR primers can detect the presence of dengue virus (DENV) even in the presence of a large excess of complex human genomic DNA. From our computations, 715 serotype-specific primer pairs were identified for three different DENV serotypes in which each primer sequence lies at least two mismatches from the nearest human sequence. DNA clones of representative strains of DENV-1, DENV-2, and DENV-4 viruses were subjected to real-time PCR testing using eight primer pairs each. Efficiencies were uniformly very high (mean ± S.D. = 99.6 ± 3%), and amplification of human DNA was never observed within 35 cycles, even at a 5.5-fold molar excess of human DNA. Exhaustive primer/probe screening can potentially produce more selective and sensitive diagnostic assays for pathogens, especially in the presence of complex backgrounds.
Niobium superconductive tunnel diode integrated circuit arrays

Abstract A technology is described for building arrays of niobium based thin film superconductive tunnel junctions. Both NbNb oxide-Sn negative resistance devices and NbNb oxide-Pb Josephson devices were fabricated using a modified photoresist-sputter etching technique to make patterns in the Nb film. Good control over the volt-ampere characteristics of the Josephson junctions is demonstrated on single devices and is further illustrated by the use of this process to fabricate multistate oscillator arrays.
Evaluation of pressure side film cooling with flow and thermal field measurements - Part II: Turbulence effects

This study focused on the film cooling performance on the pressure side of a turbine vane subjected to high mainstream turbulence levels, with and without showerhead blowing. Whereas previous studies have measured the adiabatic effectiveness and heat transfer at the surface of the airfoil, the goal of this study was to examine the flow and thermal fields above the surface. These measurements included flow visualization, thermal profiles, and laser Doppler velocimetry. For comparison, adiabatic effectiveness was also measured. A mainstream turbulence level of Tu∞ = 20%, with integral length scale of seven hole diameters, was used. Particularly insightful is the discovery that the large scale high mainstream turbulence causes a lateral oscillation of coolant jet resulting in a much wider time average distribution of coolant. Even with high mainstream turbulence, showerhead blowing was found to still cause a significantly increased dispersion of the pressure side coolant jets.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Cooperation between nerve growth factor and laminin or fibronectin in promoting sensory neuron survival and neurite outgrowth.

Abstract Chick embryo dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were purified by differential adhesion to plastic. The purified neurons were used to study the cooperation between nerve growth factor (NGF) and laminin or fibronectin in promoting neuron survival and neurite outgrowth. NGF alone supported the survival of only 20% embryonic day 10 (E10) cells, of which only 40–50% had neurites. Treatment of the substrate with fibronectin or laminin increased survival in the presence of NGF up to 80% of the seeded neurons, all of which showed extensive neurite outgrowth. Survival and neurite outgrowth were also enhanced by the combined effects of elevated potassium and laminin. In contrast to E8-10 cells, 85% of E16 neurons survived in the basal culture conditions, i.e. without additional NGF, fibronectin or laminin, although neurite outgrowth was enhanced by all 3 proteins. Antisera to NGF, laminin and fibronectin, each independently decreased survival and neurite outgrowth of DRG neurons, totally with E9 and partially with E16 cells. The results suggest that the cooperative actions of extracellular matrix proteins and NGF are essential for survival and neurite outgrowth of embryonic DRG neurons and that these neuronal requirements change during development.
Halley's Equal Variation Chart

I HAVE read Mr. Ward's interesting letter on this topic in NATURE of May 30, p. 106. I embrace this opportunity to correct some typographical errors in my letter in the issue of May 23.
Mechanisms of sexual fidelity in the monogamous California mouse, Peromyscus californicus

Peromyscus californicus are exclusively monogamous in the wild. We examined in the laboratory whether established pairs of male and female P. californicus would remain faithful when given the opportunity to mate with an opposite sex stranger, either in the presence or absence of their partner. When the partner was present she or he was tethered and could not intervene. Females in postpartum estrus (day 0 postpartum) preferred to associate with their pairmate rather than the unfamiliar virgin male. Females also preferred to mate with their partner, but 15–20% of the females mated with the unfamiliar male both in the presence and absence of their partner. Paired males were tested with an unfamiliar, sexually inexperienced estrous female on days 4 and 8 postpartum with their partners either absent or present but not in postpartum estrus, and on day 0 in the absence of their partner. Males preferred to associate with their pairmate. Contrary to theoretical expectations, males did not copulate with the estrous female when given the opportunity regardless of whether their partner was present or not. Furthermore, few males (2/13) tested in the absence of their partner mated with a sexually experienced, postpartum estrous female. These results indicate that monogamy in P. californicus is maintained by a strong attraction and preference of pairmates for each other and by self-restraint from mating with others. Male mate guarding may further ensure female faithfulness. Males exhibit apparently more sexual fidelity than females.
Enhancing Civil Engineering Education and ABET Criteria through Practical Experience

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) has adopted a revised set of criteria for accrediting engineering programs. Nevertheless, as in the past, civil engineering departments will be required to demonstrate proficiency in specific subject areas which are included in the ABET program criteria. This paper investigates how civil engineering students at Lamar University improved their understanding of various subject areas required by ABET and listed in the Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs and the General Criteria (professional component) by being involved with cooperative, part-time, and summer work experiences. In particular, the findings suggest that both undergraduate and graduate students believe that three areas have been greatly enhanced with engineering work. They include structural engineering, project management/scheduling and estimating, and teamwork. In addition, undergraduates perceive that their understanding of health and safety issues a...
MODIFICATION OF HYPOTHERMIC LENS OPACITY IN HAMSTERS BY CLOSURE OF EYELIDS.

Lens opacitities developing during hypothermia and cardiac arrest in the Syrian Golden hamster are lesser in degree if the eyelids are kept shut during hypothermia, and much denser if the eyelids are kept open, even though the closed eye is colder than the open eye. The lenses become clear upon reanimation of the animal.
Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor heart rate: a potential marker for gestational hypertension in at-risk women.

We prospectively correlated the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM) to conventional sphygmomanometer blood pressure measurements (CSM) in women at risk for gestational hypertensive disorders (GHTNDs) and identified predictive factors from ABPM for GHTND. We analyzed 73 women with ≥1 risk factor for developing a GHTND. Using both the CSM and ABPM, the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) were measured for 24 hours during three periods (14 to 24 weeks; 24 to 32 weeks; and 33 weeks to delivery). Correlation between the CSM and ABPM lessened as pregnancy progressed. Seventeen (25%) of women developed a GHTND. MAP variability increased in the GHTND group versus those without a GHTND. The odds of developing a GHTND increased 1.5 times for every 1 beat per minute increase in the ABPM 24-hour HR at visit 1 and reversed by visit 3. In women at risk for a GHTND, CSM and ABPM correlate less well as pregnancy advances. HR changes in at-risk women may be a marker for the development of a GHTND and may reflect increased sympathetic activity and/or decreased baroreceptor sensitivity.
Early and intensive behavioral intervention for autism: A survey of clinical practices

Abstract Early and intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) has been demonstrated to be a highly effective treatment for early childhood autism. As EIBI programs have proliferated, they have also begun to mutate and evolve such that between-program differences in specific practices are quite common. Unfortunately, the extent of this procedural variability is unknown. The purpose of the present investigation was to begin documenting the specific practices of EIBI programs. A 43-question Internet survey was distributed to professional supervisors of EIBI programs who provided information regarding their program’s characteristics and practices. A total of 211 program supervisors provided information on a number of practices, including curriculum, program size, therapist expertise and training, supervision, data collection, trial interspersal, consequence delivery, prompt fading, skill maintenance, and problem behavior assessment and treatment. The results indicate considerable variation in a number of EIBI practices. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Spatially resolved photopolymerized image-ready single-fiber sensor for blood gas analysis

Multiparameter sensors are fabricated by combining the optical pathways of imaging fibers with the spatial discrimination of CCD video cameras. Distinct sensing regions are placed on the distal face of an imaging fiber through site selective illumination of discrete regions of the fiber. Photopolymerization and detection systems are described.
Bridging the Gap Between Problem Recognition and Treatment: The Use of Proactive Work Behaviors by Experienced Critical Care Nurses

Delayed access to physicians has been identified as a factor in preventable adverse patient events during hospitalization. Nurses as front-line providers are well positioned to provide a timely response to the needs of patients. Yet legal regulations and hospital policies limit the actions nurses can initiate without physician authorization. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe what experienced critical care nurses do when they recognize a problem that warrants treatment but lack physician authorization to intervene. The 13 nurses who participated in this study bridged the gap between problem recognition and treatment by communicating proactively, being persistent, running interference for other nurses, and, in some situations, acting without physician authorization. Revising legal regulations and hospital policies to incorporate greater acknowledgment of the overlapping functions between medicine and nursing and recognition of the knowledge and expertise of experienced nurses may be impo...
Defining Common Ground: A Grass Roots Model for University-Public School Collaboration.

University-public school partnerships are being formed and defined in various ways. In this paper we describe a collaborative, grass-roots partnership undertaken by the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Anchorage School District. The grass-roots effort is distinguished by a perception of common ground, a minimal administrative and financial structure, and a high degree of commitment from the teachers (public school and university) involved. Children at-risk for school failure was the specific issue that provided the initial common ground, but the effects of the partnership far extended the at-risk issue by the end of the 3-year period
Miniaturized optical neuroimaging in unrestrained animals

The confluence of technological advances in optics, miniaturized electronic components and the availability of ever increasing and affordable computational power have ushered in a new era in functional neuroimaging, namely, an era in which neuroimaging of cortical function in unrestrained and unanesthetized rodents has become a reality. Traditional optical neuroimaging required animals to be anesthetized and restrained. This greatly limited the kinds of experiments that could be performed in vivo. Now one can assess blood flow and oxygenation changes resulting from functional activity and image functional response in disease models such as stroke and seizure, and even conduct long-term imaging of tumor physiology, all without the confounding effects of anesthetics or animal restraints. These advances are shedding new light on mammalian brain organization and function, and helping to elucidate loss of this organization or 'dysfunction' in a wide array of central nervous system disease models. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the fabrication, characterization and application of miniaturized head-mounted optical neuroimaging systems pioneered by innovative investigators from a wide array of disciplines. We broadly classify these systems into those based on exogenous contrast agents, such as single- and two-photon microscopy systems; and those based on endogenous contrast mechanisms, such as multispectral or laser speckle contrast imaging systems. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches along with a perspective on the future of this exciting new frontier in neuroimaging.
War Powers: The Operational Code of Competence

Wholly apart from the questions of whether and under what circumstances major coercion is permissible under international law and whether minor coercion, including threats, is lawful, there is a broad and deep national consensus that the United States should continuously develop a military capacity sufficient for a range of contingencies and maintain it in a state of readiness. The consensus has been far less certain with regard to who will decide, and how, to initiate and use this capacity, at varying intensities. The original terms of the Constitution have been invoked by partisans of opposing views, but debate in those terms has proved inconclusive. Behind the legal bickering, a complex, but unstated, operational code has developed, allocating competence to initiate, direct and terminate different types of coercion among the branches. Parts of the operational code are clear and relatively stable over time. Other parts are less certain and can be projected only with qualifications, reservations or contingencies.
The Ethical Dilemmas of High-Stakes Testing and Issues for Teacher Preparation Programs

This essay is an analysis of the issues surrounding large-scale, high-stakes testing in the accountability systems and their impact on teacher preparation programs in colleges and universities. It ...
Angiogenesis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Opportunities for Novel Therapies

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) arises from neoplastic transformation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and relapsed disease remains one of the greater challenges in treating this hematologic malignancy. This paper focuses on angiogenic aspects of AML including the significance and prognostic value of bone marrow microvessel density and circulating cytokine levels. We show three general mechanisms whereby AML exploits angiogenic pathways, including direct induction of angiogenesis, paracrine regulation, and autocrine stimulation. We also present early evidence that leukemia cells contribute directly to vascular endothelia. Novel treatment strategies are proposed, and a review of relevant antiangiogenic clinical trials is presented. By understanding how blood vessels can serve as a reservoir for refractory and relapsed AML, new diagnostics and promising treatment strategies can be developed.
Genetic and phenotypic relationships among type traits scored linearly in Holsteins.

Abstract Phenotypic and genetic parameters were estimated for 12 type traits of Holstein cows scored linearly by personnel of an artificial insemination organization. Estimates were compared with those from programs offered by the breed association and by two other artificial insemination organizations. All programs were based on scoring guidelines of the National Association of Animal Breeders. Heritabilities of linear type traits ranged from .40 for stature to .14 for fore udder attachment with heritabilities for udder traits smaller than for nonudder traits. Largest genetic and phenotypic correlations were among udder traits with genetic correlations consistently exceeding phenotypic correlations. Similarities in relative magnitudes of phenotypic and genetic parameters suggest that linear type appraisal programs do not differ greatly among organizations using scoring guidelines of the National Association of Animal Breeders.
Computationally-efficient combinatorial auctions for resource allocation in weakly-coupled MDPs

The capabilities of an autonomous agent are often determined by the resources that are available to it. We examine the problem of allocating scarce resources among multiple self-interested agents, operating in complex, stochastic environments (modeled as MDPs), where the value of a particular resource bundle to an agent is the expected payoff of the best control policy the agent can implement using these resources. Combinatorial auctions are popular mechanisms for allocating resource bundles among agents with such complex preferences. In particular, generalized Vickrey auctions (GVAs) yield socially optimal outcomes and have excellent strategic complexity, but suffer from high computational complexity for the agents' preference-valuation and the auctioneer's winner-determination problems. We describe a GVA-based mechanism that exploits knowledge of the agents' MDP-based resource preferences, and we show analytically and demonstrate empirically that this leads to an exponential improvement in computational efficiency over a straightforward GVA implementation with flat preferences. We also present a distributed implementation of the winner-determination problem that leads to further speedup while maintaining strategy-proofness of the mechanism, and without revealing agents' private MDP information.
Inositol Polyphosphate-5-Phosphatase F (INPP5F) inhibits STAT3 activity and suppresses gliomas tumorigenicity

Inositol Polyphosphate-5-Phosphatase F (INPP5F) inhibits STAT3 activity and suppresses gliomas tumorigenicity
Histochemical aspects of the affinity of mast cell granules for night blue.

The affinity of mast cell granules for night blue was studied in fresh and fixed rat lip, dog mast cell tumor, normal human ileum, and human mast cell and carcinoid tumors. Fixatives used were 10% formalin, 1% trichloracetic acid in absolute alcohol, and Zenker's and Bouin's fluids. Extractions of fresh tissue with hot water, acids, and bases removed the stainable material or prevented staining, but similar treatment of fixed tissue did not. Hot pyridine was without effect as was chloroform-methanol, but methylation blocked mast cell staining by night blue. Chromic acid oxidation and prolonged Zenker and Bouin fixation also prevented staining. Hyaluronidase treatment was without effect. Sulfhydryl and disulfide linkages were changed without altering the stainability.
Excited states of 93Mo

Abstract The reaction 92 Mo(d, p) 93 Mo has been studied using a broad-range spectrograph and 10.1 MeV deuterons from the University of Pennsylvania tandem accelerator. Two previously unreported states of 93 Mo have been observed.
The effects of silvicultural treatments on occurrence of mycorrhizal sporocarps in a Pinus contorta forest: A preliminary study

A preliminary survey was conducted to evaluate the effects of thinning and clearcutting, followed by replanting, on mycorrhizal fungi. A total of 48 species of mycorrhizal fungi was recorded for the study site. Suillus brevipes and S. tomentosus were the dominant species. Data from the survey indicate that thinning reduced the total number of species as compared to an undisturbed stand. Some fungi were adversely affected by thinning while others were positively affected. Members of the Hygrophoraceae appeared to be most susceptible to mild disturbance such as thinning. While clearcutting had a negative impact on the total number of sporocarps of mycorrhizal fungi, Suillus brevipes increased in percent abundance as severity of disturbance increased.
IT-13IPILIMUMAB FOR RECURRENT HIGH-GRADE GLIOMA: A SINGLE-INSTITUTION CASE SERIES

BACKGROUND: The anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody ipilimumab is a potent immune modulator. However, experience treating high-grade glioma with ipilimumab is limited. METHODS: In this single-institution consecutive case series, we identified 7 patients with recurrent grade 3 (one patient) and grade 4 (6 patients) glioma who were treated with ipilimumab off-label between June 2012 and April 2014. RESULTS: Age at treatment: 39 to 66 years. Number of infusions: 1-6. Number of recurrences prior to starting ipilimumab: 1-5. Five patients received additional treatment in conjunction with ipilimumab, including 4 who received bevacizumab. Time to progression for the 6 glioblastoma patients: 1.1 mo, 1.2 mo, 2.7 mo, 2.8 mo, 6 mo, 19.5 mo. One patient (with anaplastic astrocytoma) is recurrence-free 3.2 months from treatment initiation. This patient, who has not received concurrent therapy, has had stable disease by RANO criteria, with improvement in FLAIR abnormality, steroid requirement, and functional status. Three patients have died, with survival of 1.3 mo, 2.2 mo, and 5.3 mo. Four patients are still alive at 3.2 mo, 3.7 mo, 13.3 mo, and 23.3 mo follow-up. One patient underwent repeat resection 3 months following treatment initiation, but no evidence of progressive disease was found. Increased granzyme B expression, suggestive of an immune response, was found on immunohistochemistry. Autoimmune-related adverse effects were grade 2 at maximum, and manageable with steroids. CONCLUSION: This case series highlights the potential use of ipilimumab for patients with recurrent high-grade glioma. Though optimal use has yet to be defined, a subset of patients do appear to benefit from treatment. Cases of radiographic response, clinical improvement, and evidence of immune response by pathology have all been seen. Some patients do well even beyond initial progression, a phenomenon that has been observed with other immunotherapies.
Nephrogenic Adenoma in the Augmented Bladder

Purpose: Nephrogenic adenoma is an uncommon, benign urothelial lesion. Risk factors for nephrogenic adenoma include trauma, chronic inflammation, immunosuppression and radiation. We characterized nephrogenic adenoma in the pediatric augmented bladder.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of patients diagnosed with nephrogenic adenoma from January 2000 to March 2010. Those with prior bladder augmentation were studied further. Data were retrospectively obtained on pathological characteristics, cystoscopic findings, recurrence patterns and presentation.Results: Ten patients with ileal bladder augmentation and nephrogenic adenoma were identified. The underlying pathological condition was myelodysplasia in 7 patients, sacral agenesis in 2 and bladder exstrophy in 1. Concomitant procedures were a continent channel in 9 patients, ureteroneocystostomy in 5 and bladder neck reconstruction in 7. Mean time to the discovery of nephrogenic adenoma was 9.2 years. During that time a total of 221 surveillance cy...
Support Vector Machine as an Efficient Framework for Stock Market Volatility Forecasting

Advantages and limitations of the existing models for practical forecasting of stock market volatility have been identified. Support vector machine (SVM) have been proposed as a complimentary volatility model that is capable to extract information from multiscale and high-dimensional market data. Presented results for SP500 index suggest that SVM can efficiently work with high-dimensional inputs to account for volatility long-memory and multiscale effects and is often superior to the main-stream volatility models. SVM-based framework for volatility forecasting is expected to be important in the development of the novel strategies for volatility trading, advanced risk management systems, and other applications dealing with multi-scale and high-dimensional market data.
Sulfur isotopic profile through the oceanic crust: Sulfur mobility and seawater-crustal sulfur exchange during hydrothermal alteration

Measurements of the abundance of anhydrite and pyrite veins and the distribution of alteration types in oceanic basement enable estimates of global mass and isotopic fluxes of sulfur during hydrothermal alteration of oceanic crust. Fluxes of 2.5 × 10 12 g/yr S (δ-34 S = 2.7%) from the volcanic section to seawater and 2.1 × 10 12 g/yr of seawater S (21%) into the crust result in an insignificant change in the S content of altered ocean crust. These are clearly second-order fluxes compared to the riverine input of S to the oceans and the output of sedimentary pyrite. Most of the anhydrite that forms in the high-temperature axial convection cell must later be dissolved at lower temperatures during off-axis circulation. The mean δ-34 S of altered oceanic basement is 0.9%, only slightly changed from the primary value of 0.1%. Unless S is preferentially mobilized from 34 S-rich sulfide deposits or mineralized zones, subduction of altered basaltic crust is unlikely to be the source of high δ 34 S values of arc volcanic rocks (∼4%), but could contribute to isotopic heterogeneities of S in the mantle.
Quality, palatability and weight loss of pork as affected by electrical stimulation.

Abstract Forty-five swine ( n = 15, stress-susceptible pigs, fasted for 18 h; n = 15, normal pigs, fasted for 48, 60 or 72h; n = 15, normal pigs, fasted for 18 h) were slaughtered. One side of each pig was electrically stimulated (ES)—550 V, 2–6 A, seventeen impulses, 1·8 s on and 1·8 s off per impulse—and the opposite side was not stimulated (NS). Ham and loin temperatures were monitored at 12 and 24 hours post mortem. Carcass quality—marbling, loin eye colour, loin eye firmness, subcutaneous fat firmness and belly firmness—was evaluated at 24 hours post mortem. Sides were fabricated into four lean cuts at 48 hours; cuts were placed on open metal racks in a 2°C cooler and weight loss was measured after 24, 48 and 72 hours storage. At 120 hours post mortem, loin chops were cut, frozen (−24°C for 45 days) and subsequently used to determine thaw loss, cooking loss, Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) force and palatability. Ham temperatures (12 h) were significantly ( P P > 0·05) were detected for thaw loss, cooking loss, palatability ratings or WBS values between ES and NS in the SSF group but chops from ES sides of NLF animals had significantly ( P P
The Echocardiographic Evaluation of Intracardiac Masses: A Review

Echocardiography is an invaluable procedure for the evaluation of intracardiac masses, and can reliably identify mass location, attachment, shape, size, and mobility, while defining the presence and extent of any consequent hemodynamic derangement. With careful attention to mass location and morphology, and appropriate application of clinical information, echocardiography can usually distinguish between the 3 principal intracardiac masses: tumor, thrombus, and vegetation. Transesophageal imaging frequently adds additional important information to the assessment of mass lesions and should always be considered when image quality is inadequate or pertinent clinical questions remain unanswered with surface imaging. This review will focus on primary and metastatic tumors of the heart.
Need for quantitative assessment of transglutaminase autoantibodies for celiac disease in screening-identified children

Objectives To assess several transglutaminase autoantibody (TGAA) assays in their ability to distinguish celiac disease (CD) in screening-identified children with abnormal intestine biopsy specimens from those with normal biopsy specimens. Study design Children at risk for CD (n = 54) composed of type 1 diabetics, first-degree relatives of type 1 diabetics or CD, and HLA-DQ2+ individuals followed from birth received intestine biopsy. Sera obtained at the time of biopsy were tested for TGAA, using the radioimmunoassay and 5 other commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results False-positive rates ranged from 28% to 80%. The positive predictive value (PPV) of the tests ranged from 63% to 84% (lower than reported for symptomatic children). Setting a higher cutoff for each assay maximized PPV. Conclusions There are significant quantitative differences among all TGAA assays that could affect interpretation of a positive test for CD. The overall false-positive rate for all assays was high in this population. Using the assay as a quantitative rather than qualitative tool by increasing the cutoff of positivity to indicate biopsy increases PPV. Multicenter workshops are needed to identify critical differences and to standardize TGAA assays among laboratories.