cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Directional Correlation of Gamma Rays in Ge 72

Directional correlation measurements have been made on the 0.63-0.835 Mev, 2.20-0.835 Mev, 2.49 and 2.51-0.835 Mev, and 1.88-1.46 Mev gammagamma cascades in Ge/sup 72/ following beta decay of 14.2hour Ga/sup 72/. The level at 0.835 Mev has a spin and parity assignment of 2+ and proceeds to the 0+ ground state by pure electric quadrupole radiation. The 0.63-Mev transition proceeds from a 2+ level at 1.46 Mev to the 0.835-Mev level by radiation which is largely electric quadrupole with a small magnetic dipole admixture. The correlation data are consistent with spin assignmoents of 2 or 3 for the levels at 3.04, 3.32, and 3.34 Mev. (auth)
Free and Equal Citizenship and Non-profit Status: A Reply to Spinner-Halev

In his comments, Jeff Spinner-Halev endorses my argument that the state should condition its direct funding of associations on their respect for free and equal citizenship. But he claims that this condition should not be applied to tax-exempt, non-profit status. In his view, tax exemption differs from state funding and should be subject to a weaker standard. The weak standard, as he calls it, is that associations are entitled to tax exemption as long as they do not practice "invidious discrimination." This raises the question at the heart of this exchange: should non-profit status be conditional on the stronger standard of groups not opposing the ideal of free and equal citizenship? In reply to Spinner-Halev, I argue that the state should condition tax exemption, and not just direct funds, on non-profits' providing some public good. At minimum, this entails that groups receiving non-profit status should not oppose the ideals of equality under law or "free and equal citizenship." I defend my position as being consistent with a diverse civil society. I also argue that although churches should not be exempt from my strong condition, the Catholic Church and Orthodox Jewish groups do meet this condition for nonprofit status. I welcome the chance to respond to Spinner-Halev' s important arguments, and to elaborate the transformative theory of religious freedom that I proposed and defended in my article. The arguments in the article and this reply are further detailed in my forthcoming book, When the State Speaks ,
Rate-Determining Step in the NOx Reduction Mechanism on BaY Zeolites and the Importance of Long-Range Lattice Effects

The mechanism of the NOx reduction reaction on BaNaY zeolite using acetic acid/acetate as a reductant has been explored using density functional theory. The elementary steps, the reaction intermediates, and the transition states were identified on a zeolite cluster consisting of 10 tetrahedral atoms (10T). The hydrogen abstraction reaction of acetic acid/acetate was identified as the rate-determining elementary step at 473 K. The long-range electrostatic effect of the lattice on the rate-determining step was studied on expanded 24T, 30T, 34T, 40T, 44T, and 50T zeolite clusters. It was found that while acetate may be greatly stabilized on the expanded clusters with additional Na+ cations and Al atoms, the stabilization of acetic acid is much less affected by the long-range lattice effect. The reaction barrier of the hydrogen abstraction reaction, on the other hand, is less sensitive to the long-range lattice effect. The results of this paper highlight the importance of long-range electrostatic effects on t...
The Marketing Structure in the Soviet Union

What is the structure of marketing in the Soviet Union, the world's largest marketing network? Is it radically different from that of the West?The author supplements his earlier description of reta...
Application of Grid Panorama Display and Operational Command System

This paper studies the application of the grid panorama display and operational command system to grid dispatching,grid monitoring management and emergency command,etc.By analyzing the shortcomings of the existing grid management and unmanned substations monitoring,the necessity and importance of showing the grid operation state from multi-dimensional perspectives are given.And then this paper introduces system functionalities of the grid panorama display and operational command system,shows its comprehensive functions in grid panorama display,unified substation video monitoring and weather information display.The successful construction of the system will play an active role in achieving the goal of "information collection,comprehensive monitoring,professional interaction,unified display".
Artificial radioactive isotopes. II. Their constitution and use in medicine.

As shown in the previous paper, most of the normal elements of the periodic table can be bombarded by high energy particles and some of the atoms present converted into isotopes of the original, the isotope usually containing one neutron more than the original element.
Analyzing Mammalian Female Meiosis

The goal of this chapter is twofold: First, to acquaint the reader with the problems inherent in analyzing mammalian female meiosis and, second, to provide a step-by-step approach to mastering the necessary techniques. Although the methods presented are for use in the human and mouse, with subtle alterations the same techniques should be applicable to most mammalian species.
The Marketing-Finance Interface: The Impact of Marketing Objectives and Financial Conditions on Retail Profitability

It has been suggested that an effective marketing strategy is one in which environmental opportunities are matched with organizational resources. Despite the importance of marketing strategies to a firm's success, only a few researchers have investigated empirically strategic objectives. Furthermore, previous research has not incorporated multiple indicators of the outcomes of marketing strategic objectives. The purpose of this study is to analyze the role of traditional marketing objectives in the strategic planning process. Implications for retail managers and researchers are provided.
Stillbirth: The overlooked obstetric tragedy

Adopting a universal definition of stillbirth and linking the results of a placental autopsy to the fetal death certificate can help us collect the accurate data needed to address this major public health problem. Two experts in maternal-fetal medicine include these recommendations in their list of imperatives.
Predictive models in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune epilepsy.

SummaryObjective To validate predictive models for neural antibody positivity and immunotherapy response in epilepsy. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of epilepsy cases at Mayo Clinic (Rochester-MN; Scottsdale-AZ, and Jacksonville-FL) in whom autoimmune encephalopathy/epilepsy/dementia autoantibody testing profiles were requested (06/30/2014-06/30/2016). An Antibody Prevalence in Epilepsy (APE) score, based on clinical characteristics, was assigned to each patient. Among patients who received immunotherapy, a Response to Immunotherapy in Epilepsy (RITE) score was assigned. Favorable seizure outcome was defined as >50% reduction of seizure frequency at the first follow-up. Results Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 1,736 patients were sent to the Mayo Clinic Neuroimmunology Laboratory for neural autoantibody evaluation. Three hundred eighty-seven of these patients met the diagnostic criteria for epilepsy. Central nervous system (CNS)–specific antibodies were detected in 44 patients. Certain clinical features such as new-onset epilepsy, autonomic dysfunction, viral prodrome, faciobrachial dystonic seizures/oral dyskinesia, inflammatory CSF profile, and mesial temporal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities had a significant association with positive antibody results. A significantly higher proportion of antibody-positive patients had an APE score ≥4 (97.7% vs. 21.6%, p < 0.01). Sensitivity and specificity of an APE score ≥4 to predict presence of specific neural auto-antibody were 97.7% and 77.9%, respectively. In the subset of patients who received immunotherapy (77), autonomic dysfunction, faciobrachial dystonic seizures/oral dyskinesia, early initiation of immunotherapy, and presence of antibodies targeting plasma membrane proteins (cell-surface antigens) were associated with favorable seizure outcome. Sensitivity and specificity of a RITE score ≥7 to predict favorable seizure outcome were 87.5% and 83.8%, respectively. Significance APE and RITE scores can aid diagnosis, treatment, and prognostication of autoimmune epilepsy. A PowerPoint slide summarizing this article is available for download in the Supporting Information section here.
Total Synthesis of Unsymmetrically Oxidized Nuphar Thioalkaloids via Copper-Catalyzed Thiolane Assembly

An asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-6-hydroxythiobinupharidine (1b) and (−)-6-hydroxythionuphlutine (2b), a set of hemiaminal containing dimeric sesquiterpenes isolated from yellow water lilies of the Nuphar genus, is described. The central bis-spirocyclic tetrahydrothiophene ring was forged through the Stevens rearrangement of a sulfonium ylide, generated in situ from the coupling of a copper-carbene with a spirocyclic thietane. This strategy diverges both from the proposed biosynthesis1 and previous syntheses of this family of alkaloids,2,3 all of which employ dimerization of symmetric monomers to form the aforementioned thiaspirane. The coupling of unsymmetrical monomers allowed access to the unsymmetrically oxidized product 2b for the first time.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound Education for Pediatric Residents in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Introduction Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is ultrasound performed by the provider at the patient's bedside to answer a specific clinical question. No guidelines exist for teaching POCUS to pedi...
COMBINING MECHANICAL CIRCULATORY SUPPORT DEVICES MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF STROKE AND MORTALITY

Mechanical circulatory support has become an essential component in the therapeutic arsenal for heart failure. The use of short-term devices as a bridge to a durable one and combinations of short-term devices used in parallel or when escalating support, is increasing. There is a paucity of data
T205. CHANGES IN SOCIAL ATTENTION AND EMOTION RECOGNITION FOLLOWING A PILOT SOCIAL SIMULATION COMPUTER GAME INTERVENTION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Background Individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) exhibit significant difficulties processing and perceiving socioemotional information conveyed by others. Increasing evidence suggests that SZ deficits in facial emotion recognition, in particular, contribute to impaired daily social functioning. Studies show that improving SZ patients’ visual attention to socially-relevant facial areas (eyes, nose, mouth) with targeted computer interventions will ameliorate deficits in emotion recognition. We tested whether 10 sessions of a novel, VR-based social simulation computer game would indirectly improve facial emotion recognition in SZ, and additionally whether potential gains were associated with changes in gaze patterns.
Examining the sustainability potential of a multisite pilot to integrate alcohol screening and brief intervention within three primary care systems

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that clinicians adopt universal alcohol screening and brief intervention as a routine preventive service for adults, and efforts are underway to support its widespread dissemination. The likelihood that healthcare systems will sustain this change, once implemented, is under-reported in the literature. This article identifies factors that were important to postimplementation sustainability of an evidence-based practice change to address alcohol misuse that was piloted within three diverse primary care organizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded three academic teams to pilot and evaluate implementation of alcohol screening and brief intervention within multiclinic healthcare systems in their respective regions. Following the completion of the pilots, teams used the Program Sustainability Assessment Tool to retrospectively describe and compare differences across eight sustainability domains, identify strengths and potential threats to sustainability, and make recommendations for improvement. Health systems varied across all domains, with greatest differences noted for Program Evaluation, Strategic Planning, and Funding Stability. Lack of funding to sustain practice change, or data monitoring to promote fit and fidelity, was an indication of diminished Organizational Capacity in systems that discontinued the service after the pilot. Early assessment of sustainability factors may identify potential threats that could be addressed prior to, or during implementation to enhance Organizational Capacity. Although this study provides a retrospective assessment conducted by external academic teams, it identifies factors that may be relevant for translating evidence-based behavioral interventions in a way that assures that they are sustained within healthcare systems.
Grassroots Branding with Twitter: Amazing Florida

Social networks sites (SNS) and online communications have revolutionized the way people interact with each other, and these changes have important marketing implications in a number of commercial contexts. In tourism and hospitality context, SNS communications can be considered as electronic word-of-mouth about people’s travel experiences. When SNS data is taken into consideration by destination marketing organizations for branding purposes, the visitors to the destination can be regarded as agents of that destination’s branding effort, and the branding approach as “grassroots” branding. This empirical study explores a suitability of using publicly accessible data from Twitter for gaining visitors’ perceptions about Florida. It examines what positive affective states are associated with the destination and to which destination attributes these affective states are related most closely. Potentially, the study can contribute to developing a non-obtrusive, low-cost, and time-efficient approach to tap into visitors’ experiences and affective states expressed through tweeting.
Resolving the puzzle of Martin’s broad embryo: A solution based on morphology, taxonomy and phylogeny

Abstract In his classic work on seeds published in 1946, Martin described the broad embryo as being wider than tall and listed it as occurring in four monocot and two dicot families and in genera of Cyperaceae and Commelinaceae. However, a preliminary survey of his “broad embryo” revealed a diversity of embryo shapes and structures. Our hypothesis that Martin defined a broad embryo solely on its outline/silhouette was supported by results of a detailed review of embryo and seed germination morphological characteristics of each family and genus he listed. We also included Piperaceae and Hydatellaceae since their embryos closely resemble those in the Saururaceae and Eriocaulaceae/Maycaceae/Xyridaceae, respectively. The various taxa can be subdivided into categories based on (1) presence or absence of organs in embryos of freshly-matured seeds, (2) undifferentiated embryo differentiates organs inside the seed vs. outside the seed and (3) food is stored in starchy endosperm vs. scant endosperm and copious starchy perisperm. The embryo in seeds of Eriocaulaceae/Maycaceae/Xyridaceae, other Poales with undifferentiated embryos and Hydatellaceae is wider than tall. This group of taxa has a lens- or bell-shaped undifferentiated embryo, leaves and roots are differentiated after the embryo is pushed/carried outside the seed and copious starchy endosperm is present, except in Hydatellaceae, which has starchy perisperm; this is the true “broad embryo”. The embryo in seeds of Saururaceae and Piperaceae is rudimentary (or pre-rudimentary) as described by Martin, that in Juncaceae, Cyperaceae and Commelinaceae a variation of the capitate embryo and the cup-like embryo in Nymphaeaceae and Cabomaceae is not known in other plant families and is therefore designated as the “cupulate embryo.”
Enhancing Wireless Intrusion Detection Using Machine Learning Classification with Reduced Attribute Sets

In cybersecurity, machine learning approaches can predict and detect threats before they result in major security incidents. The design and perform ance of an effective machine learning based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) depends upon the selected attributes and the classifier model. This paper considers multi-class classification for the Aegean Wi-Fi Intrusion Dataset (AWID) where classes represent 17 types of the IEEE 802.11 MAC Layer attacks. The proposed work extracts four attribute sets of 32, 10, 7 and 5 attributes, resp ectfully. The classifiers achieved high accuracy with minimum false positive rates, and the presented work outperforms previous related work in terms of number of classes, attributes and accuracy. The proposed work achieved maximum accuracy of 99.64% for Random Forest with supply test and 99.99% usi ng the 10-fold cross validation approach for Random Forest and J48.
Predictors of Clinical Complications of Cirrhosis

Liver disease is a common problem in the USA and its end histologic stage is cirrhosis. Individuals with cirrhosis can have catastrophic clinical complications. Timely intervention can limit the impact of these complications, which makes recognition and prognostication paramount in the management of cirrhosis. Furthermore, the ultimate cure of decompensated cirrhosis is liver transplant, which requires demonstration of urgency using prognostic modeling for priority. This chapter outlines the clinical complications of cirrhosis, their prognoses, and prognostic tools to stratify severity of patients with cirrhosis.
Soft Law as Governing Law

International business transactions increasingly are being conducted under “soft law”—a term referring to non-state rules that may be aspirational or reflect best practices but are not yet legally enforceable. In part, this shift reflects a decline in cross-border treaty-making, which needs widespread consensus and is subject to lengthy negotiations. Soft law’s lack of enforceability, however, is creating uncertainty and undermining predictability. To increase predictability, this Article argues for an innovative use of soft law: as a set of rules to choose as the governing “law” of business contracts. This use of soft law would be transformational, making the soft law enforceable against the contracting parties and providing a flexible and practical alternative to treaty-making. The Article analyzes whether parties should have the right to choose soft law as governing law, and also compares the alternative of incorporating soft law only by reference.
Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Reversible Versus Persistent Methamphetamine-Associated Cardiomyopathy

Anecdotal cases of reversible methamphetamine-associated cardiomyopathy (rMAC) have been reported, but not well understood. This study sought to determine the clinical characteristics, outcomes and predictors of reversibility among patients with rMAC as compared with patients with persistent MAC (pMAC). We retrospectively studied adult MAC patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% at a single center between 2004 and 2018. rMAC was defined as increase in LVEF by ≥20 points or to ≥50%. Those with persistent LVEF ≤40% constituted the pMAC group. 357 MAC cases were identified: 250 patients had pMAC and 107 had rMAC. After a median follow-up of 45 months (interquartile range 27 to 70), LVEF increased by 28.3 ± 6.9% in rMAC (p
Blimp-1 in adipose resident Tregs controls adipocyte beiging and obesity

Crosstalk between the immune system and adipocytes is critical for maintaining tissue homeostasis and regulating chronic systemic inflammation during diet-induced obesity (DIO). How visceral adipose tissue resident regulatory T cells (aTregs) signal to adipocytes in the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is not understood. Here we show that Treg-specific ablation of the transcriptional regulator Blimp-1 resulted in increased insulin sensitivity, decreased body weight and increased Ucp-1 in adipocytes in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that Blimp-1 drives IL-10 production in Tregs, thus suppressing beiging and energy expenditure in adipocytes. Moreover, IL-10 mRNA expression positively correlated with increasing body weight in humans. These findings reveal a surprising relationship between aTregs and adipocytes in promoting insulin resistance during excessive caloric intake, placing Blimp-1-regulated IL-10 expression by aTregs at a critical juncture in the development of obesity and its associated comorbidities in mice and humans.
CALPHAD Approach and processing of a multicomponent titanium matrix composite for high strength and fracture toughness

Abstract The high temperature phase fields of a multicomponent titanium alloy system have been determined by the CALPHAD approach to assist in rapid processing of a titanium metal matrix composite by electric-field-assisted reaction sintering. The phase field calculations revealed the existence of a wide composition range (in terms of B, Fe, Mo and Al content) for the flexible synthesis of various β-Ti-TiB composites. After processing, the uniform dispersion of in-situ formed titanium boride (TiB) whiskers, in the ductile beta titanium (β-Ti) matrix, has resulted in a composite with a flexural strength of 1622 MPa and a fracture toughness of 23 MPa m , which are much greater than the levels achieved before in this class of materials.
Growing minds: a developmental theory of intelligence, brain, and education

This book’s title, “Growing Minds”, gave me the impression that it may be relevant to the practising educational psychologist. Authored by two professors from the University of Cyprus and based on ...
Limited english proficiency and concordance of CKD awareness among primary care providers and patients.

Patient awareness of CKD and primary care provider (PCP) recognition of CKD are lower than for other chronic conditions. Understanding how patients may become aware of CKD is critical to their participation in healthy behaviors to slow CKD progression. We examined factors associated with the concordance of CKD awareness among patients and providers and hypothesized that concordance of CKD awareness would be influenced by social and demographic factors that impact communication, such as limited English proficiency (LEP) and health literacy. Between July 2011 to July 2014, patients with CKD from three primary care clinics in a public healthcare delivery system were surveyed with questions regarding their health, including awareness of their CKD status. Chart review was performed to identify PCP recognition of CKD, defined as CKD listed anywhere in the problem list within nine months before patient enrollment into the study. We used logistic regression to determine the association between provider recognition and patient awareness of kidney disease among those patients with CKD, adjusting for patient demographics, co-morbidities, and provider training. The study population (n = 152) had a mean age of 57.4 (SD 13), was 48.7% male and was racially/ethnically and linguistically diverse: 89.5% self-identified as Black, Hispanic, or Asian and 32.2% had LEP. Most patients had hypertension (89.5%) and diabetes (77.6%); mean eGFR was 66.1 ml/min/1.73m2 (SD 32.8). Positive concordance of CKD awareness was 42% (n = 64). Odds of positive concordance with their providers were much higher among patients with LEP compared to English speaking patients (adjusted odds ratio = 11.07, 95%CI 1.60–76.39). Concordance of CKD awareness among PCPs and their patients with CKD in one public delivery system was higher among patients with LEP. While speculative, this may be due to greater caution in provider communication about CKD with LEP patients.
A Varied Approach to LVAD Follow-Up Improves Cost-Effectiveness

Purpose Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation has improved mortality and quality of life in end-stage HF. However, the optimal frequency of outpatient assessments to improve cost-effectiveness and potentially avert readmissions is unclear. Methods The readmission rate, cost of readmission, and follow-up visits were obtained via claims from the 2016-2017 IBM® MarketScan®Commercial Claims Databases. These databases contain de-identified patient claims data across the continuum of care (e.g., inpatient, outpatient, pharmacy) from large employers and health plans in the U.S. who provide private insurance coverage for their employees. Patients who received LVAD in 2016 and 2017 were identified and grouped into one of the two groups: The intervention group was intensivefollow-up (IFU) at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and then every 3 months post-implant, which was compared to a control of less intensive follow-up (LIFU) at one month and then every 6 months. We used the Cox proportional hazard regression to compare the risk of readmission between IFU and LIFU at 3, 6, and 12 months. The health utilities associated with post LVAD with and without readmission were extracted through literature review. Results 193 and 156 patients were identified for IFU and LIFU groups, respectively. Patients with IFU were found to have a lower risk for readmission at 3 months (HR:0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60-0.79), but this difference diminished over time at 6 (HR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.73-0.96), and 12 months (HR:0.94, 95% CI: 0.83-1.06). Results from our cost-effectiveness analysis indicate that the incremental net benefit of IFU, when compared with LIFU, increased when looking at a longer time window (3 month: $19616, 6 month $9257, 12 month $717, based on $50,000/ quality-adjusted life year) [Figure]. Conclusion An initial intensive follow-up strategy, followed by a period of de-escalation at the 6 month post-implant mark, maybe a more cost-effective strategy to provide follow-up care while not predisposing patients to a higher risk of readmission.
Stutter Detection and Remediation in Speech

The quality of life is negatively impacted when individuals are chronically unable to express themselves due to a lack of speech fluency. Stuttering, also referred to as stammering, is a condition that is exhibited in bad fluency of speech.
Understanding Factors Influencing Farmers' Engagement in Watershed Management Activities

Studies have pointed to a positive relationship between farmers’ active engagement in watershed management (WM) and soil and water conservation practice adoption. If farmers’ involvement in WM leads to more conservation, what predicts WM participation? This study seeks to answer that question through binomial logistic regression analysis of data from a survey of 6,006 Iowa farmers conducted to support the implementation of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS). Results indicate that public and private sector information sources, awareness of and attitudes regarding nutrient loss reduction strategies, farm contiguity to water bodies, and cost-share and technical assistance were positive predictors of farmers’ engagement in WM, while lower agronomic self-efficacy, farm press as an information source, greater age, and higher farm sales were negative. Findings point to several potential actions to improve farmer involvement in WM: (1) more effectively engage with the farm press to disseminate information about the benefits of WM, (2) increase outreach to larger-scale farmers, and (3) focus on nutrient loss management capacity building. Further, a continued emphasis on awareness and attitudes related to the NRS and related actions, such as watershed management, may guide efforts to recruit farmers into watershed groups to help improve soil and water conservation outcomes.
Performance Scaling for Structural MRI Surface Parcellations: A Machine Learning Analysis in the ABCD Study

The use of pre-defined parcellations on surface-based representations of the brain as a method for data reduction is common across neuroimaging studies. In particular, prediction-based studies typically employ parcellation-driven summaries of brain measures as input to predictive algorithms, but the choice of parcellation and its influence on performance is often ignored. Here we employed pre-processed structural magnetic resonance imaging data (sMRI) from the ABCD Study to examine the relationship between 220 parcellations and out-of-sample predictive performance across 45 phenotypic measures in a large sample of 9-10-year-old children (N=9,432). Choice of Machine Learning (ML) pipeline and use of alternative multiple parcellation-based strategies were also assessed. Relative parcellation performance was dependent on the spatial resolution of the parcellation, with larger numbers of parcels (up to ~4000) outperforming coarser parcellations, according to a power-law scaling of between 1/4 and 1/3. Performance was further influenced by the type of parcellation, ML pipeline, and general strategy, with existing literature-based parcellations, a support vector based pipeline, and ensembling across multiple parcellations, respectively, as the highest performing. These findings highlight the choice of parcellation as an important influence on downstream predictive performance, showing in some cases that switching to a higher resolution parcellation can yield a relatively large boost to performance.
Late Quaternary Bison Population Changes On the Southern High Plains

An analysis of faunal lists from 160 archaeological and paleontological sites in the Southern Plains reveals a success of long-term periods of presence and absence of the genus Bison in the region....
Enhanced detection of Western equine encephalitis virus plaque variants in crowded cultures and plaque progeny--potential use in genetic studies.

Abstract Enhanced detection of large-plaque variants of Western equine encephalitis virus in the presence of large numbers of small-plaque Western encephalitis virus was achieved by using higher bicarbonate concentrations in the agar-overlay medium and increasing concentrations of CO2 in an enclosed environment during the time plaques were developed with neutral red. By this technique we were able to detect large-plaque mutants in cloned small-plaque suspensions for the first time and to show an increase in detectable plaque progeny in plaques developed by neutral red. Further increase in the number of progeny per plaque was determined by assaying extracts of agar overlaying cultures containing known numbers of plaques. The significance of these findings for potential use in mutational studies is discussed.
A service-oriented architecture for electric power transmission system asset management

In electric power transmission systems, the assets include transmission lines, transformers, power plants and support structures. Maintaining these assets to reliably deliver electric energy at low prices is critical for a nation's growth and development. Towards this end, we describe a novel service-oriented architecture for sensing, information integration, risk assessment, and decision-making tasks that arise in operating modern high-voltage electric power systems. The proposed framework integrates real-time data acquisition, modeling, and forecasting functionalities provided by relatively autonomous, loosely coupled entities that constitute the power industry to determine operational policies, maintenance schedules and facility reinforcement plans required to ensure reliable operation of power systems.
Higher-grade transformation of follicle center lymphoma is associated with somatic mutation of the 5' noncoding regulatory region of the BCL-6 gene.

Follicle center lymphoma (FCL) is an indolent low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) that frequently transforms to aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Histologic transformation of FCL is commonly associated with accumulation of secondary genetic alterations. The BCL-6 gene is altered by chromosomal rearrangements and mutations clustering in its 5′ noncoding regulatory region in up to 70% of primary DLBCL, but in a significantly smaller subset of FCL. Previous studies have shown that both chromosomal rearrangements and mutations could deregulate BCL-6 expression. To evaluate the association between progressive accumulation of BCL-6 regulatory region mutations and the histologic transformation of FCL, we analyzed by extensive cloning and sequencing paired biopsy specimens obtained at the time of FCL diagnosis and transformation (6 patients) or FCL relapse (3 patients). In an additional patient, biopsy specimens obtained at the time of diagnosis, FCL relapse, and subsequent transformation to DLBCL were evaluated. The presence of identical mutations in the paired diagnosis and posttransformation DLBCL specimens confirmed the common clonal origin of both the pretransformation and the posttransformation lymphomas. No new mutations in the 5′ noncoding regulatory region of the BCL-6 gene were detected in any of the specimens evaluated at the time of FCL relapse. In contrast, 5 of the 7 transformed specimens contained new mutations not found in the paired original biopsy specimens obtained at the time of FCL diagnosis or relapse. The number of these new mutations ranged from 1 to 6 per specimen. Some of the new mutations tended to cluster in certain areas of the 5′ noncoding regulatory region of the BCL-6 gene. Our results show that transformation of FCL to DLBCL is associated with accumulation of new mutations in the 5′ noncoding regulatory region of the BCL-6 gene, that by deregulation of the BCL-6 gene expression may play a role in lymphoma transformation.
Ganglioside‐exposed dendritic cells inhibit T‐cell effector function by promoting regulatory cell activity

Summary Tumour pathogenesis is characterized by an immunosuppressive microenvironment that limits the development of effective tumour-specific immune responses. This is in part the result of tumour-dependent recruitment and activation of regulatory cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells in the tumour microenvironment and draining lymph nodes. Shedding of gangliosides by tumour cells has immunomodulatory properties, suggesting that gangliosides may be a critical factor in initiating an immunosuppressive microenvironment. To better define the immunomodulatory properties of gangliosides on antigen-specific T-cell activation and development we have developed an in vitro system using ganglioside-treated murine bone-marrow-derived dendritic cells to prime and activate antigen-specific CD4 + T cells from AND T-cell receptor transgenic mice. Using this system, ganglioside treatment promotes the development of a dendritic cell population characterized by decreased CD86 (B7-2) expression, and decreased interleukin-12 and interleukin-6 production. When these cells are used as antigenpresenting cells, CD4 T cells are primed to proliferate normally, but have a defect in T helper (Th) effector cell development. This defect in Th effector cell responses is associated with the development of regulatory T-cell activity that can suppress the activation of previously primed Th effector cells in a contact-dependent manner. In total, these data suggest that ganglioside-exposed dendritic cells promote regulatory T-cell activity that may have long-lasting effects on the development of tumour-specific immune responses.
Ecohydrological consequences of non‐native riparian vegetation in the southwestern United States: A review from an ecophysiological perspective

Received 7 December 2010; revised 18 May 2011; accepted 31 May 2011; published 22 July 2011. [1] Protecting water resources for expanding human enterprise while conserving valued natural habitat is among the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Global change processes such as climate change and intensive land use pose significant threats to water resources, particularly in arid regions where potential evapotranspiration far exceeds annual rainfall. Potentially compounding these shortages is the progressive expansion of non-native plant species in riparian areas along streams, canals and rivers in geographically arid regions. This paper sets out to identify when and where non-native riparian plant species are likely to have the highest potential impact on hydrologic fluxes of arid and semiarid river systems. We develop an ecophysiological framework that focuses on two main criteria: (1) examination of the physiological traits that promote non-native species establishment and persistence across environmental gradients, and (2) assessment of where and to what extent hydrologic fluxes are potentially altered by the establishment of introduced species at varying scales from individual plants, to small river reaches, to entire river basins. We highlight three nonnative plant species that currently dominate southwestern United States riparian forests. These include tamarisk (Tamarix spp.), Russian olive (Eleagnus angustifolia), and Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens). As with other recent reviews, we suspect that in many cases the removal of these, and other non-native species will have little or no impact on either streamflow volume or groundwater levels. However, we identify potential exceptions where the expansion of non-native plant species could have significant impact on ecohydrologic processes associated with southwestern United States river systems. Future research needs are outlined that will ultimately assist land managers and policy makers with restoration and conservation priorities to preserve water resources and valued riparian habitat given limited economic resources.
Bryostatin 1, a unique biologic response modifier: anti-leukemic activity in vitro

Bryostatin 1, a macrocyclic lactone isolated from the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina, has demonstrated both antineoplastic activity against the murine P388 leukemia line in vivo and stimulatory activity against mouse and human hematopoietic progenitors. We studied the effects of bryostatin 1 on the growth of human leukemias in vitro. Bryostatin 1 inhibited 1 to 4 logs of clonogenic leukemia cell growth from three of four leukemia cell lines. Bryostatin 1 also inhibited, by at least 1 log, the proliferation of clonogenic acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) cells from 10 to 12 patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed ANLL. Maximal inhibition of leukemic growth occurred at 10(-9) to 10(-7) mol/L bryostatin 1. Interestingly, bryostatin 1 also inhibited the growth of hematopoietic progenitors from eight patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Leukemia cells exposed to bryostatin 1 for up to 96 hours and then washed, demonstrated no substantial inhibition of clonogenic growth, indicating that the anti-leukemic effect of bryostatin 1 is cytostatic. The phorbol ester 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) produced more potent inhibition of clonogenic leukemia growth, and this inhibition was blocked by bryostatin 1. Thus, the anti-leukemic activity of bryostatin 1 may be mediated through activation of protein kinase C. Bryostatin 1 inhibits clonogenic leukemia cells at concentrations that stimulate normal hematopoietic progenitors. The differential effects of bryostatin 1 on normal and abnormal hematopoiesis suggest that bryostatin 1 may have value in the treatment of leukemias and MDS.
X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Strontium(II) Coordination: I. Static and Thermal Disorder in Crystalline, Hydrated, and Precipitated Solids and in Aqueous Solution

Abstract Detailed analyses of crystalline, hydrated, and precipitated strontium compounds and an aqueous strontium solution by synchrotron extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) were used to quantify local thermal and static disorder and to characterize strontium coordination in a variety of oxygen-ligated bonding environments. Analysis of anharmonic vibrational disorder (i.e., significant contribution from a third cumulant term (C3) in the EXAFS phase-shift function) in compounds with low and high static disorder around strontium showed that first-shell anharmonic contributions were generally not significant above experimental error in the EXAFS fits (R±0.02 A with and without C3). The only case in which a significant apparent decrease in Sr–O distance was observed with increasing temperature, and for which a third cumulant term was significant, was for dilute strontium in aqueous solution. Empirical parameterization of Debye–Waller factor (σ2) for strontium compounds as a function of backscatterer atomic number (Z), interatomic Sr–Z distance, and temperature of spectral data collection showed systematic increases in σ2 as a function of increasing temperature and Sr–Z bond length. At values of σ2 greater than ≈0.025 A2 (for N 3 A), backscattering was generally not significant above noise levels in spectra of compounds of known crystal structure. Comparison of the EXAFS spectra of freshly precipitated SrCO3 (spectra collected wet) to that of dry, powdered strontianite (SrCO3(s)) indicated no significant differences in the local atomic structure around strontium. Analysis of partially hydrated strontium in natural Ca-zeolite (heulandite) showed that strontium is substituted only in the calcium (Ca2) site. Backscattering from aluminum and silicon atoms in the zeolite framework were apparent in the EXAFS spectra at low and room temperature at distances from central strontium of
Inhibition of serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 enhances TLR-mediated inflammation and promotes endotoxin-driven organ failure

Serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (SGK)1 is associated with several important pathologic conditions and plays a modulatory role in adaptive immune responses. However, the involvement and functional role of SGK1 in innate immune responses remain entirely unknown. In this study, we establish that SGK1 is a novel and potent negative regulator of TLR-induced inflammation. Pharmacologic inhibition of SGK1 or suppression by small interfering RNA enhances proinflammatory cytokine (TNF, IL-12, and IL-6) production in TLR-engaged monocytes, a result confirmed in Cre-loxP-mediated SGK1-deficient cells. SGK1 inhibition or gene deficiency results in increased phosphorylation of IKK, IκBα, and NF-κB p65 in LPS-stimulated cells. Enhanced NF-κB p65 DNA binding also occurs upon SGK1 inhibition. The subsequent enhancement of proinflammatory cytokines is dependent on the phosphorylation of TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), as confirmed by TAK1 gene silencing. In vivo relevance was established in a murine endotoxin model, in which we found that SGK1 inhibition aggravates the severity of multiple organ damage and enhances the inflammatory response by heightening both proinflammatory cytokine levels and neutrophil infiltration. These findings have identified an anti-inflammatory function of SGK1, elucidated the underlying intracellular mechanisms, and establish, for the first time, that SGK1 holds potential as a novel target for intervention in the control of inflammatory diseases.
Molecular biology. Introns gain ground.

Introns are seemingly useless gene segments in eukaryotes. One view is that they originated from mobile elements called type II introns that occur, for instance, in bacteria. That possibility finds support in work revealing a way in which type II introns can spread throughout a genome.
Small Explosion From New Vent at Kilauea's Summit

At 0258 Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (HST) on 19 March 2008, a small explosion scattered altered and fresh lithic debris across a 40-hectare area at the summit of Kilauea volcano. This explosion, the first recorded there since 1924, issued from a vent about 35 meters wide along the east wall of Halema'uma'u Crater. Ballistic fragments—the largest measuring nearly 1 meter across—were propelled upward more than 70 meters onto the Halema'uma'u crater rim. Coarse ash and centimeter-size lithic debris covered part of Crater Rim Drive, and fine ash was deposited farther than 30 kilometers to the southwest.
Serum sulfate levels in patients with cystic fibrosis

Abstract Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) secrete copious amounts of mucous material which is viscous, tends to accumulate in the respiratory tract and contains larger than normal amounts of sulfate. The present investigation was designed to measure sulfate levels in the serum of patients with cystic fibrosis by ion chromatography of protein-free serum aliquots. The level of inorganic sulfate in the serum of non-cystic fibrosis pediatric patients averaged 0.29 ± 0.03 mmol/l while patients suffering from cystic fibrosis had an average serum sulfate value of 0.27 ± 0.03 mmol/l which was not significantly different from controls. No differences were observed in serum sulfate levels among males and females of either group of patients. There was a tendency for serum sulfate levels to decrease with age, but there was no statistically significant difference in serum sulfate levels between cystic fibrosis patients and normals as a function of age. These findings indicate that the highly sulfated mucoid materials secreted by cystic fibrosis patients are not reflected in abnormal serum sulfate levels.
The state of new media technology research in China: a review and critique

Scholars argue that the history of communication technology is a history of social change, often in unpredictable ways under the influence of various socio-political forces and technological innovations. How does this insight apply to China which has witnessed a boom of new media technologies amidst rapid social change? To what extent does new media research conducted by Chinese scholars help us understand the process of new media diffusion and consumption in China? By reviewing research published in Chinese-language scholarly journals, this paper reviews current new media research in China by tracing trends in such research, identifying research agenda, applications of theory, and use of methodology. Gaps in Chinese new media research will be explored; directions that lead to further research will be suggested.
Effects of DEM Resolution on Surface Depression Properties and Hydrologic Connectivity

AbstractSurface digital elevation model (DEM) resolution receives increasing attention because of its importance in topographic analysis (e.g., quantification of surface depressions) and hydrologic modeling. Varied and even contrary conclusions have been obtained concerning the effects of DEM grid size on surface depression properties. Land surfaces are featured with a number of microtopography-controlled, localized areas, and their connections may significantly alter hydrologic and geomorphologic processes. Few efforts have been made to examine the effects of DEM resolution on surface depression properties and hydrologic connectivity. This study aimed to evaluate such resolution effects by two dimensionless parameters: the DEM representation scale λL (the ratio of DEM grid size to correlation length, representing horizontal resolution) and the surface roughness scale λR (the ratio of random roughness to correlation length, representing vertical topographic variability). A puddle delineation program was u...
Exports and antitrust: Complements or substitutes?

Conflicting arguments have recently been voiced concerning the impact of antitrust statutes on the export performance of U.S. industries. On the one hand, opponents of vigorous enforcement have argued that antitrust constraints prevent firms from achieving efficiencies, thereby hampering competitiveness on world markets. On the other hand, proponents of antitrust have argued that vigorous enforcement tempers monopolistic pricing, thereby improving export performance. This paper presents an empirical test of these competing arguments. Our results indicate that Sherman Act Section 1 (price-fixing) enforcement has a positive effect on export shares, while Clayton Act Section 7 (merger) enforcement appears to have a negative effect.