cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oral Psoralen and Ultraviolet-A Light (PUVA) Treatment of Psoriasis and Persistent Risk of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Background/Methods: The treatment of psoriasis with high-dose exposure to oral psoralen and ultraviolet-A light (i.e., PUVA) substantially increases the risk of cutaneous squamous cell cancer, but not of basal cell cancer, within a decade of beginning treatment. To assess the persistence of cancer risk among individuals treated with PUVA, including those who discontinued therapy long ago and those without substantial exposure to other carcinogens, we prospectively studied a cohort of 1380 patients with psoriasis who were first treated during the period from January 1, 1975, through October 1, 1976, and evaluated risk factors associated with the development of cutaneous squamous cell cancers and basal cell cancers after 1985. Results: From 1975 through 1996, 237 patients developed 1422 cutaneous squamous cell cancers. From 1986 through 1996, 135 (12.5%) of 1081 patients without a prior squamous cell cancer developed 593 such tumors. From 1975 through 1997, 247 patients developed 1042 basal cell cancers; these patients included 151 individuals with a first basal cell cancer after 1985. Among those without a squamous cell or a basal cell cancer in the first decade of the prospective study, a strong dose-related increase in the risk of squamous cell cancer was observed in the subsequent decade (adjusted relative risk [≥337 treatments versus <100 treatments] = 8.6; 95% confidence interval = 4.9-15.2). Risk of basal cell cancer was substantially increased only in those patients exposed to very high levels of PUVA (≥337 treatments). Conclusions: High-dose exposure to PUVA is associated with a persistent, dose-related increase in the risk of squamous cell cancer, even among patients lacking substantial exposure to other carcinogens and among patients without substantial recent exposure to PUVA. Exposure to PUVA has far less effect on the risk of basal cell cancer. The use of PUVA for psoriasis should be weighed against the increased cancer risk.
CD40-mediated immune-nonimmune cell interactions induce mucosal fibroblast chemokines leading to T-cell transmigration.

Background & Aims: The CD40 pathway is a key mediator of inflammation and autoimmunity. We investigated cell adhesion molecule (CAM) up-regulation and chemokine production by CD40-positive human intestinal fibroblasts (HIF) and microvascular endothelial cells (HIMEC) induced by CD40 ligand (CD40L)-positive T cells and soluble CD40L and their effect on T-cell adhesion and transmigration. Methods: Expression of CD40, CD40L, and CAM was assessed by immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy and flow cytometric analysis, and chemokine production using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Calcein-labeled T cells were used to assay HIF adhesion and Transwell HIMEC transmigration. Results: Ligation of CD40-positive HIF and HIMEC by CD40L-positive T cells or soluble CD40L induced up-regulation of CAM expression as well as interleukin-8 and RANTES production. The specificity of these responses was shown by inhibition with a CD40L blocking antibody and by CD40 signaling-dependent p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation. On CD40 ligation, HIF increased their T-cell binding capacity and generated chemoattractants able to induce T-cell migration through HIMEC monolayers. Conclusions: Activation of the CD40/CD40L system in the gut mucosa may trigger a self-sustaining loop of immune-nonimmune cell interactions leading to an antigen-independent influx of T cells that contributes to chronic inflammation.
The component fatty acids of soybean lecithin

Lecithin was prepared from crude soybean phosphatides by the Pangborn modification of the cadmium chloride method. Results of analysis indicated that this preparation was 97 per cent lecithin and 3 per cent cephalin. Its fatty acid composition was as follows: palmitic—15.77 per cent; stearic—6.30 per cent; oleic—12.98 per cent; linoleic—62.92 per cent; linolenic—2.02 per cent.
Autonomous gathering of livestock using a multi-functional sensor network platform

In this paper we develop algorithms and hardware for the autonomous gathering of cattle. We present a comparison of three different autonomous gathering algorithms that employ sound and/or electric stimuli to guide the cattle. We evaluate these algorithms in simulation by extending previous behavioral simulations for cattle. We implemented one of these algorithms and present data from experiments in which cattle were equipped with sensor nodes that allowed cueing with sound and electric stimuli. We discuss the minimum requirements for algorithms and hardware for autonomous gathering.
Modeling Modulus Reduction in Bovine Trabecular Bone Damaged in Compression

Loading bone beyond its yield point creates microdamage, leading to reduction in stiffness. Previously, we related microdamage accumulation to changes in mechanical properties. Here, we develop a model that predicts stiffness loss based on the presence of microdamage. Modeling is done at three levels: (1) a single trabecula, (2) a cellular solid consisting of intact, damaged, and fractured trabeculae, and (3) a specimen with a localized damage band. Predictions of a reduced modulus agree well with experimental measured modulus reductions of post-yield compression of bovine trabecular bone. The predicted reduced modulus is relatively insensitive to changes in the input parameters.
Reproductive Cycling in the Ghost Crab, Ocypode Quadrata (Fabr.) (Brachyura, Ocypodidae)

[L'activite reproductrice cyclique du Crabe Ocypode quadrata (Fabr.), de la cote centrale du Texas, a ete determinee d'apres l'analyse de la maturite et de l'activite reproductrice des femelles apres la puberte (la largeur de la carapace est superieure a 25,0 mm) pendant une annee. Les Crabes sont actifs sur la plage depuis mars jusqu'a decembre. Deux pointes de la maturation ovarienne ont ete enregistree. Une maturation synchronique de printemps (avril) affecte virtuellement toutes les femelles puberes. La plus longue maturation d'ete (aout) affecte a la fois les femelles arrivant encore a maturite apres la ponte de mai, et les nouvelles femelles arrivant pour la premiere fois a maturite. Ces nouvelles femelles s'accouplent principalement pendant juin et juillet. Il se peut que la croissance de la longueur du jour induise maturation ovarienne et copulation. Les femelles vivent probablement trois ans, le premier comme juveniles; il est possible qu'elles pondent environ quatre fois., L'activite reproductrice cyclique du Crabe Ocypode quadrata (Fabr.), de la cote centrale du Texas, a ete determinee d'apres l'analyse de la maturite et de l'activite reproductrice des femelles apres la puberte (la largeur de la carapace est superieure a 25,0 mm) pendant une annee. Les Crabes sont actifs sur la plage depuis mars jusqu'a decembre. Deux pointes de la maturation ovarienne ont ete enregistree. Une maturation synchronique de printemps (avril) affecte virtuellement toutes les femelles puberes. La plus longue maturation d'ete (aout) affecte a la fois les femelles arrivant encore a maturite apres la ponte de mai, et les nouvelles femelles arrivant pour la premiere fois a maturite. Ces nouvelles femelles s'accouplent principalement pendant juin et juillet. Il se peut que la croissance de la longueur du jour induise maturation ovarienne et copulation. Les femelles vivent probablement trois ans, le premier comme juveniles; il est possible qu'elles pondent environ quatre fois.]
Medicare Fees and Small Area Variations in Breast-Conserving Surgery among Elderly Women

This study used data from Medicare files, the American Hospital Association?s Annual survey of Hospitals, and the 1990 Census to investigate whether Medicare fees for breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and mastectomy (MST) affected the rate of BCS across 799 3-digit zipcode areas in 1994. The full model, which was based on the conceptual framework of the supply of and demand for different treatments explained 51 percent of the variation in BCS rates. Medicare fees were statistically significant and had the hypothesized effects; a 10 percent higher BCS fee was associated with a 7-10 percent higher BCS rate, while a 10 percent higher MST fee was associated with a 2-3 percent lower proportion receiving BCS. Other significant economic variables were proximity to a radiation therapy hospital, a teaching hospital or a cancer center, and the percentage of elderly women with incomes below the poverty rate, which was negatively related to the BCS rate. Variation in age, race, and metropolitan populations had small or insignificant effects. The single most important variable was the percentage of case with one or more comorbidities. (Medical Care Research and Review 2001 September; 58(3): 334-360).
Movement of the dividing streamline in unsteady stagnation-point flows

Abstract The dividing streamline in a steady stagnation-point flow is found to become unsteady after the local vorticity distribution is disturbed. Several stagnation-point flows with highly simplified configurations are used to study the mechanisms that affect the movement of the dividing streamline.
ProteinDBS v2.0: a web server for global and local protein structure search.

ProteinDBS v2.0 is a web server designed for efficient and accurate comparisons and searches of structurally similar proteins from a large-scale database. It provides two comparison methods, global-to-global and local-to-local, to facilitate the searches of protein structures or substructures. ProteinDBS v2.0 applies advanced feature extraction algorithms and scalable indexing techniques to achieve a high-running speed while preserving reasonably high precision of structural comparison. The experimental results show that our system is able to return results of global comparisons in seconds from a complete Protein Data Bank (PDB) database of 152 959 protein chains and that it takes much less time to complete local comparisons from a non-redundant database of 3276 proteins than other accurate comparison methods. ProteinDBS v2.0 supports query by PDB protein ID and by new structures uploaded by users. To our knowledge, this is the only search engine that can simultaneously support global and local comparisons. ProteinDBS v2.0 is a useful tool to investigate functional or evolutional relationships among proteins. Moreover, the common substructures identified by local comparison can be potentially used to assist the human curation process in discovering new domains or folds from the ever-growing protein structure databases. The system is hosted at http://ProteinDBS.rnet.missouri.edu.
Interval Arithmetic in Cylindrical Algebraic Decomposition

Cylindrical algebraic decomposition requires many very time consuming operations, including resultant computation, polynomial factorization, algebraic polynomial gcd computation and polynomial real root isolation. We show how the time for algebraic polynomial real root isolation can be greatly reduced by using interval arithmetic instead of exact computation. This substantially reduces the overall time for cylindrical algebraic decomposition.
Wire and strip conductors over a dielectric-coated conducting or dielectric half-space

The complex wavenumber and characteristic impedance are determined for a wire or flat strip over a dielectric-coated half-space that can be a conductor or a dielectric with large permittivity. Elevated microstrip is an example of the configuration. The properties of the wire as an antenna or transmission lines are determined from those of the insulated antenna with a two-layer eccentric insulation. The theory is extended to the strip conductor with the help of a comparison of the tubular and strip conductors over a perfectly conducting half-space. >
Plasma levels of the three endothelial-specific proteins von Willebrand factor, tissue factor pathway inhibitor, and thrombomodulin do not predict the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective: To determine if the plasma levels of three endothelial-specific proteins, von Willebrand factor (vWF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and thrombomodulin (TM) may be useful in predicting the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).¶Design: Blood samples were obtained from normal healthy volunteers and on the first day from patients at risk for ARDS and those with ARDS. Daily sequential measurements of vWF and TFPI were performed in two patients.¶Setting: Normal subjects were employees at Saint Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri. Patients at risk and those with ARDS were patients admitted to the medical and surgical floors and the intensive care units at St. Louis University Hospital.¶Patients and participants: Plasma levels of vWF, TFPI and TM were measured in 27 normals, and on day 1 in 15 patients at risk for ARDS and 18 patients with ARDS from different etiologic factors.¶Measurements and results: Plasma levels of vWF were significantly elevated in the at-risk (p 0.05). Plasma levels of TFPI were not significantly different between the normal and the at-risk group (p > 0.05); however, they were significantly elevated in ARDS as compared with at-risk and normal groups (p 0.05). Eight patients at risk progressed to develop ARDS. A vWF level of > 300 % in patients at risk was 62 % sensitive and 71 % specific for predicting the development of ARDS with a positive predictive value of only 34 %. TFPI levels were normal in 7 of the 8 patients who developed ARDS. A TM level of > 100 ng/ml in patients at risk was 50 % sensitive and 57 % specific with a positive predictive value of merely 8 % for development of ARDS. There was no significant difference in the mean plasma levels of the three proteins on day 1 in patients at risk who developed ARDS as compared with those who did not develop ARDS. There was also no difference in mean plasma levels of the three proteins in patients with ARDS from sepsis as compared with ARDS from other etiologies. Plasma levels of vWF and TFPI correlated significantly.¶Conclusion: Plasma levels of vWF, TFPI and TM did not appear to serve as useful markers for predicting ARDS in patients at risk.
A Note on the Central Virginia Earthquake of December 11, 1969

On December 11, 1969, an earthquake occurred north of Richmond in the central Virginia seismic zone. Microseismic and macroseismic studies of this shock were made at V.P.I. Epicentral location and origin time were found using arrival time data from six regional stations. The epicenter as calculated by V.P.I. and by the USC&GS differed by about 30 miles. These differences are probably due to (1) lack of azimuthal station control, (2) inadequacy of the present knowledge of variations in crustal velocity and/or structure for the area, and (3) differences in the models used in calculations. The epicenters were 37.9°N–77.7°W (VPI) and 37.8°N–77.4°W (USC&GS). Origin times were 23:44:38.7 (VPI) and 23:44:39.2 (USC&GS). A magnitude (m eus ) of 3.5 was found using the BLA record. Results of an intensity questionnaire survey indicated a maximum (MM) intensity of IV and a felt area of approximately 6,500 square miles in central Virginia. Also, a possible “halo” effect was implied by several isolated felt reports.
Coronary flow response to vasodilators in isolated hearts cold perfused for one day with butanedione monoxime

Objectives Impaired tissue reperfusion may be an important limiting factor for long-term hypothermic cardiac preservation. Cardiac function and recovery of coronary responses to endothelium independent and dependent vasodilators were tested before and after one day of preservation by cold perfusion with a normal extracellular solution containing the contraction uncoupler 2,3, butanedione monoxime (BDM) with or without reperfusion with nitroprusside (NP) plus adenosine (Ade) or plus the nucleoside transport inhibitor, nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBTI).Methods Guinea pig hearts (n = 70) were isolated and perfused at constant pressure during normothermic conditions (37°C). Groups 1 and 2 were perfused for 8 hrs without cold perfusion (time control); group 2 was also infused with arginine vasopressin (AVP) for 6 hrs; groups 3–5 were infused with BDM before, during, and initially after 22 hrs of constant, low flow hypothermic (3.8°C) perfusion; group 3 was also infused with NP and Ade, and group 4 with NP and NBTI...
Set-based analysis of ML programs

Reasoning about program variables as sets of “values” leads to a simple, accurate and intuitively appealing notion of program approximation. This paper presents approach for the compile-time analysis of ML programs. To develop the core ideas of the analysis, we consider a simple untyped call-by-value functional language. Starting with an operational semantics for the language, we develop an approximate “set-based” operational semantics, which formalizes the intuition of treating program variables as sets. The key result of the paper is an O(n3) algorithm for computing the set based approximation of a program. We then extend this analysis in a natural way to deal with arrays, arithmetic, exceptions and continuations. We briefly describe our experience with an implementation of this analysis for ML programs.
A Comparison of Mortality and Cardiac Biomarker Response Between Three Outbred Stocks of Sprague Dawley Rats Treated With Isoproterenol

The authors compared the mortality and cardiac biomarker responses in three outbred stocks of Sprague Dawley rats (CD/IGS, Sasco, Harlan) treated with isoproterenol hydrochloride. Cardiac injury was confirmed by histologic evaluation, and increases in cardiac troponin I concentration in serum were measured by two methods. CD/IGS rats had a higher incidence and earlier mortality compared with Sasco or Harlan rats. Harlan rats had lower severity scores for cardiomyocyte degeneration/necrosis compared with the other stocks. Post-isoproterenol treatment cardiac troponin I concentrations were greater in CD/IGS and Sasco rats compared with Harlan rats. Concentrations of cardiac troponin T followed a similar pattern to that of cardiac troponin I in rats treated with isoproterenol. Myosin, light chain 3 concentrations increased in all rats treated with isoproterenol, but there was no difference between the three stocks in the magnitude or pattern of the dose response. Increases in fatty acid binding protein 3 concentrations were detected in only the highest dose group at the earliest timepoint postdose for all three stocks of rats. Results of these studies illustrate the need for investigators to recognize the potential differences in response between stocks of Sprague Dawley rats treated with cardiotoxicants or novel chemical entities.
EXPERIMENTS ON THE PURIFICATION AND CONCENTRATION OF THE VIRUS OF POLIOMYELITIS.

Methods employed by Willstatter and his coworkers in the isolation and purification of enzymes have been applied to the virus of poliomyelitis. Rhoads (6) showed that alumina gel C mixed with poliomyelitis virus in certain proportions at an acid pH resulted in the adsorption and inactivation of the virus. The experiments in this communication confirm Rhoads' observation, and show further that the adsorption as well as the inactivation are reversible; i.e ., by changing the pH to the alkaline side with M/15 Na2HPO4 it is possible to free the virus in a state in which it is again capable of producing typical poliomyelitis. These experiments show also that by this process the virus undergoes considerable purification by diminution in the concentration of non-virus-containing substances. Washing the alumina gel C-virus complex with M/5 NaCl-M/15 KH2PO4 apparently dissociates no virus but is capable of freeing a certain amount of extractible organic substances. Furthermore, it is possible to increase the degree of purity and concentration of the virus by distillation in vacuo , and subsequent repeated adsorptions and elutions. By such partial purification and concentration, a virus solution with a minimal effective dose (as regards the production of typical poliomyelitis) of 0.0003 cc. was obtained. This solution had 0.04 mg. N per cc., and gave negative biuret, xanthoproteic, and ninhydrin reactions. These methods offer an opportunity for the preparation of a quantity of sufficiently purified and concentrated poliomyelitis virus to warrant the beginning of a study of its chemical nature; they also offer a means of anchoring the virus to an insoluble, and centrifugable substance (alumina gel C), which promises to facilitate various immunological studies, that might otherwise have been impossible.
Exploring local currents in molecular junctions

A methodology for describing local electronic transmission through bridging molecules between metallic electrodes is presented. Its application to simple alkane, phenyl and cross-conjugated systems highlights an unexpected number of cases whereby ‘through space’, rather than ‘through bond’ terms dominate and that interference effects coincide with the reversal of ring currents.
Surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy for cutaneous melanoma considered high-risk for local-regional recurrence.

Abstract Purpose To assess the efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma. Materials Between August 1981 and December 2009, 82 patients were treated with surgery and postoperative RT for cutaneous melanoma. Patients were thought to be high risk for local–regional recurrence after surgery alone because of the presence of one or more risk factors including recurrence after prior surgery, positive lymph nodes, extracapsular extension, incomplete regional node dissection, microscopically positive margins, gross residual disease, and in-transit metastases. The primary site was located in the head and neck in 64 patients and elsewhere in the remainder. Forty-two patients (47%) were treated with hypofractionated RT and the remainder with conventional fractionation. Median age was 62 years (range, 21 to > 89 years). Median follow-up overall and for survivors was 3.0 years (range, 0.1 to 17.4 years) and 6.4 years (1.6 to 17.4 years), respectively. Results The 5-year outcomes were: in-field local–regional control 82%; local–regional control, 76%; distant metastasis-free survival, 48%; cause-specific survival, 56%; and overall survival, 43%. In-field local–regional control at 5 years was 87% after hypofractionated RT and 78% after conventionally fractionated RT. Conclusions Postoperative adjuvant RT likely reduces the risk of local–regional recurrence after surgery for patients with high risk cutaneous melanoma. Hypofractionated RT is as effective as conventional fractionation and is logistically advantageous, particularly for patients with a relatively poor prognosis. The risk of RT complications is low.
Optical waves on nano-particle chains coupled with metal-dielectric surfaces

Nano-particle metal chains coupled with a metal-dielectric surface support traveling waves of several types. These traveling waves can be used to guide fields along the chain or to radiate surface wave beams along the surface.
EFFECTS OF BODY SIZE AND SLOPE ON SPRINT SPEED OF A LIZARD (STELLIO (AGAMA) STELLIO)

SUMMARY 1. The agamid lizard Stellio stellio L. accelerates quickly and reaches maximum speed over short distances. 2. Maximum speed on the level is proportional to body mass to the ^ power. This relation differs from predictions based on an interspecific scaling model of "geometric" similarity (M°) and is intermediate between predictions based on interspecific scaling models of "elastic" similarity (Mi) and of "static stress" similarity (M%). 3. Maximum speed was also measured on slopes ranging from —15 0 to + 6o°. The effect of slope on speed varies with body mass. The maximum speed of large lizards decreases on steep slopes, but that of small lizards is remarkably independent of slope.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 mutants containing the KOS strain ICP34.5 gene in place of the McKrae ICP34.5 gene have McKrae-like spontaneous reactivation but non-McKrae-like virulence

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strain McKrae is neurovirulent in rabbits infected by the ocular route, causing fatal encephalitis in approximately 50% of the animals, and has a high-level spontaneous reactivation phenotype, with 10% of rabbit eyes containing reactivated virus at any given time. In contrast, HSV-1 strain KOS is completely avirulent (no rabbits die) and has a completely negative spontaneous reactivation phenotype. Mutations of the ICP34.5 gene can reduce the neurovirulence of HSV-1 strains McKrae and 17syn+ by up to 100000-fold. ICP34.5 mutants also have reduced spontaneous reactivation phenotypes. To determine whether differences in the ICP34.5 gene might be involved in the reduced neurovirulence and spontaneous reactivation phenotypes of KOS compared with McKrae, we constructed chimeric viruses containing the KOS ICP34.5 gene in place of the McKrae ICP34.5 gene. Rabbits ocularly infected with the chimeric viruses had a high spontaneous reactivation phenotype indistinguishable from McKrae. In contrast, neurovirulence of the chimeric viruses was decreased compared with McKrae. Thus, one or more ‘defects’ in the KOS ICP34.5 gene appeared to be at least partially responsible for the reduced neurovirulence of KOS compared with McKrae. However, there appeared to be no ‘defect′ in the KOS ICP34.5 function required for efficient spontaneous reactivation.
Demographic Trends in Arthroscopic SLAP Repair in the United States

Background: Treatment of superior labral anterior posterior (SLAP) tears remains controversial, particularly in older age groups. Repair, debridement, biceps tenodesis, tenotomy, and observation have been recommended depending on patient characteristics, but there have not been any large epidemiologic studies investigating treatment trends.Purpose: To investigate current trends in SLAP repair across time, gender, age, and regions in the United States.Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.Methods: Patients who underwent arthroscopic SLAP repair (Current Procedural Terminology [CPT] code 29807) were identified using a publicly available national database of insurance records (PearlDiver Patient Records Database) during years 2004 through 2009. Factors identified for each patient included gender, age group, and region in the United States. Logistic regression analysis and the chi-square test were used for statistical measures.Results: From 2004 to 2009 there were 25,574 cases of arthroscopic SLAP repa...
Data management for large-scale scientific computations in high performance distributed systems

With the increasing number of scientific applications manipulating huge amounts of data, effective data management is an increasingly important problem. Unfortunately, so far the solutions to this data management problem either require deep understanding of specific storage architectures and file layouts (as in high-performance file systems) or produce unsatisfactory I/O performance in exchange for ease-of-use and portability (as in relational DBMSs). In this paper we present a new environment which is built around an active meta-data management system (MDMS). The key components of our three-tiered architecture are user application, the MDMS, and a hierarchical storage system (HSS). Our environment overcomes the performance problems of pure database-oriented solutions, while maintaining their advantages in terms of ease-of-use and portability. The high levels of performance are achieved by the MDMS, with the aid of user-specified directives. Our environment supports a simple, easy-to-use yet powerful user interface, leaving the task of choosing appropriate I/O techniques to the MDMS. We discuss the importance of an active MDMS and show how the three components, namely application, the MDMS, and the HSS, fit together. We also report performance numbers from our initial implementation and illustrate that significant improvements are made possible without undue programming effort.
Atomic-scale identification of Pd leaching in nanoparticle catalyzed C–C coupling: effects of particle surface disorder

C–C coupling reactions are of great importance in the synthesis of numerous organic compounds, where Pd nanoparticle catalyzed systems represent new materials to efficiently drive these reactions. Despite their pervasive utility, the catalytic mechanism of these particle-based reactions remains highly contested. Herein we present evidence of an atom leaching mechanism for Stille coupling under aqueous conditions using peptide-capped Pd nanoparticles. EXAFS analysis revealed Pd coordination changes in the nanoparticle consistent with Pd atom abstraction, where sizing analysis by SAXS confirmed particle size changes associated with a leaching process. It is likely that recently discovered highly disordered surface Pd atoms are the favored catalytic active sites and are leached during oxidative addition, resulting in smaller particles. Probing the mechanism of nanoparticle-driven C–C coupling reactions through structural analyses provides fundamental information concerning these active sites and their reactivity at the atomic-scale, which can be used to improve catalytic performance to meet important sustainability goals.
Can technology help improve grapple skidder and stroke delimber interactions? A simulation approach

Grapple skidder and stroke delimber-based harvesting systems produce approximately 80% of the annual timber in Maine. Productivity studies on such systems are time consuming and often interfere with a logging contractor’s business. Computer simulations, such as agent-based modelling, represent one way to avoid interference with a logging business and to evaluate a variety of system configurations. We developed such a model to test four different operational scenarios to show whether it is possible to influence idle time, unit cost, and productivity of the system. The scenarios included a conventional skidding pattern, a modified skidding pattern assisted by an increase in operator communication and the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS), a change in delimbing behavior to decrease processing time, and the use of two grapple skidders to increase utilization of the delimber. The use of GPS- and GIS-aided operator communication did not drastically change percent idl...
Real-Time Safety Assessment of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Against Stealthy Cyber Attacks

As unmanned aircraft systems become an increasingly integral part of a wide range of applications, ensuring the security of these systems against malicious cyber attacks is a very important concern. To address this problem, this paper considers a controls domain approach extending beyond the computing resources of the unmanned aircraft system to include the underlying physical behavior of the compromised system, successfully complementing the traditional computer security architecture. Specifically, the focus is on the safety analysis of an unmanned aircraft system in the presence of stealthy cyber attacks, which can be designed intelligently to avoid detection. First, the system condition that confines the stealthy attacker’s capability is derived. Then, a real-time safety assessment algorithm is developed based on a reachability analysis. Compared to the existing research, the present algorithm analytically derives the exact reachable set, enabling more reliable and computationally efficient safety asse...
Risk of Subsequent Infection Among Patients Receiving Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors and Other Disease‐Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs

Objective To describe the incidence of subsequent serious infections in patients who received systemic drug therapy after an initial serious infection. Methods Patients with rheumatic conditions (rheumatoid arthritis [RA], psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis) or psoriasis who experienced a serious infection between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2011 were identified in a claims database. Patients were required to be continuously enrolled in the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Research Database for 12 months prior to and at least 60 days after the date of discharge or the end of intravenous antibiotic therapy for the index serious infection. Subsequent serious infection incidence rates per 100 patient-years with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for up to 18 months post-index, starting 60 days post-index. Cox proportional hazards models were used to adjust for baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment duration, and changes during followup. Results Among the 21,699 patients who met the inclusion criteria, the majority (84.3%) had RA. Patients who received tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor therapy after their index infection had a lower rate of subsequent serious infections (18.1 per 100 patient-years for those treated with a TNF inhibitor alone and 17.3 per 100 patient-years for those treated with a TNF inhibitor plus a nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug [DMARD]) compared with those treated with a nonbiologic DMARD alone (21.4 per 100 patient-years). Etanercept, either alone (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.99) or in combination with a nonbiologic DMARD (adjusted HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.66–0.88), and infliximab (only in combination with a nonbiologic DMARD) (adjusted HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.67–0.95) were associated with a significantly lower risk of subsequent serious infections compared with a nonbiologic DMARD alone. Conclusion We did not observe an increased risk of subsequent infection in patients who received TNF inhibitor treatment following a serious infection. The risk of a subsequent serious infection was lower in patients treated with both a TNF inhibitor and a nonbiologic DMARD compared with that in patients treated with a nonbiologic DMARD alone.
Statistical properties of the Jukes-Holmquist method of estimating the number of nucleotide substitutions: Reply to Holmquist and Conroy's criticism

Conducting computer simulations, Nei and Tateno (1978) have shown that Jukes and Holmquist's (1972) method of estimating the number of nucleotide substitutions tends to give an overestimate and the estimate obtained has a large variance. Holmquist and Conroy (1980) repeated some parts of our simulation and claim that the overestimation of nucleotide substitutions in our paper occurred mainly because we used selected data. Examination of Holmquist and Conroy's simulation indicates that their results are essentially the same as ours when the Jukes-Holmquist method is used, but since they used a different method of computation their estimates of nucleotide substitutions differed substantially from ours. Another problem in Holmquist and Conroy's Letter is that they confused the expected number of nucleotide substitution with the number in a sample. This confusion has resulted in a number of unnecessary arguments. They also criticized our X2 measure, but this criticism is apparently due to a misunderstanding of the assumptions of our method and a failure to use our method in the way we described. We believe that our earlier conclusions remain unchanged.
Genomic and clinical predictors for improving estimator precision in randomized trials of breast cancer treatments.

Abstract Background The hope that genomic biomarkers would dramatically and immediately improve care for common, complex diseases has been tempered by slow progress in their translation beyond bioinformatics. We propose a novel use of genomic information where the goal is to improve estimator precision in a randomized trial. We analyze the potential precision gains from the popular MammaPrint genomic signature and clinical variables in simulations of randomized trials analyzed using covariate adjustment. Methods We apply an estimator for the average treatment effect in the trial that adjusts for prognostic baseline variables to improve precision [1]. This precision gain can be translated directly into sample size reduction and corresponding cost savings. We conduct simulation studies based on resampling genomic and clinical data of breast cancer patients from four publicly available observational studies. Results Separate simulation studies were conducted based on each of the four data sets, with sample sizes ranging from 115 to 307. Adjusting only for clinical variables provided gains of −1%, 5%, 6%, 17%, compared to the unadjusted estimator. Adjusting only for the MammaPrint genomic signature provided gains of 2%, 4%, 4%, 5%. Simultaneously adjusting for clinical variables and the genomic signature provided gains of 2%, 6%, 7%, 16%. The differences between precision gains from adjusting for genomic plus clinical variables, versus only clinical variables, were −1%, 0%, 1%, 3%. Conclusions Adjusting only for clinical variables led to substantial precision gains (at least 5%) in three of the four data sets, with a 1% precision loss in the remaining data set. These gains were unchanged or increased when sample sizes were doubled in our simulations. The precision gains due to incorporating genomic information, beyond the gains from adjusting for clinical variables, were not substantial.
Pollution to Gaotaizi reservoir by polymer-bearing waste water reinjection

It was difficult to treat the waste water produced by polymer flooding though it has improved the oil recovery rate in Daqing oilfield. Simulation experiments in which ambi 15 water , ambi 30 water and different polymer content water samples were injected respectively to Gaotaizi reservoir of Daqing oilfield were made in field. Different pollution caused by different polymer content waste water samples were investigated based on core analysis and water quality analysis of former reinjection and past reinjection. The experiment results demonstrated that to inject ambi 15 water to reservoir of permeability less 10×10 -3 ～30×10 -3 μm 2, its polymer content must be less than 100 mg/L, and to reservoir of permeability above 60×10 -3 ～90×10 -3 μm 2, its polymer content must be less than 200 mg/L. For ambi 30 water, it cannot be injected to reservoir of permeability less than10×10 -3 ～30×10 -3 μm 2, but can be injected to reservoir of permeability above 60×10 -3 ～90×10 -3 μm 2 while the polymer content must be less than 50 mg/L.
Association Mapping and Its Application in Rice Genetic Research

Linkage disequilibrium-based association mapping has been applied to dissect the plant quantitative trait so as to explore the favorable alleles in recent years. Here,we first briefly introduced linkage disequilibrium,the theoretical base of association mapping,and its affecting factors as well as the general strategy of association mapping,compared the difference between association mapping and the traditional linkage-based QTL mapping. The application advancement of association mapping in the rice research of taste and quality,morphological characteristics and agronomic traits,abiotic and biotic stress tolerance was reviewed,the prospect of the association mapping in rice genetic research was also proposed here.
Development Prospect of the Plants for Extracting Aromatherapy Industry in Yunnan Province

This paper firstly introduced domestic and foreign supply of products processed by plants for extracting aromatherapy.On the basis of predicting market demand of plants for extracting aromatherapy,it analyzed current development situation of the plants for extracting aromatherapy in Yunnan Province.It got the conclusion that the industry has broad market prospect.Then,it analyzed competitive advantages and risk factors of plants for extracting aromatherapy in Yunnan Province.There are climate,location and price advantages,but due to lack of product standard,it is difficult to guarantee quality,and there are certain market risks.Finally,it put forward recommendations for development of plants for extracting aromatherapy industry:① taking full advantage of preferential policies to set up leading enterprises and realize radiated development;② bringing into play of resource advantages and introducing capitals and technologies;③ Fostering market and driving the industrial development.
MEMD: An APL Program for Multivariate Estimation of Missing Data

MEMD is a converational APL program utilizing user-designateed rank approximation(s) derived from a singular value decomposition of a minor product moment of a raw data matrix.
In Vitro Construction of 3D Microtubule Networks and Applications of Basic Artificial Cytoskeleton for Biophysical Studies

The cytoskeleton is a complex network of filaments whose 3D structure contributes significantly to overall function. Microtubule cytoskelton in particular has been difficult to model faithfully in vitro in 3D because microtubule networks are often sparse and structured and so cannot be modeled as a random hydrogel. We have developed a flexible and precise microtubule-based assay which allows multiple microtubules to be independently held and positioned in 3D using holographically defined optical traps. Forces exerted on microtubules in the network can be accurately quantified. We will present relevant details of the approach and its applications for molecular motor transport modeling and biomechanics experiments.
Landscape Features and Processes Influencing Forest Pest Dynamics

Insects and pathogens (pests) in forest ecosystems can impact tree fitness and greatly increase rates of tree mortality. Pest dynamics vary significantly across spatial and temporal scales due to influences from a range of landscape features. Here, with a focus on recent research, primarily from coniferous forest ecosystems, I review the influence of landscape features and their interactions with global change pressures on forest pest dynamics. Landscape genetics have revealed evidence of local adaptation and spatially aggregated patterns in phenotypes within tree populations. Thus, I also consider the role of phenotypic adaptations as features of the landscape affecting forest pest dynamics. Landscape influences on pest dynamics are illustrated by three case-studies representing pests with different feeding strategies, levels of host-specialization, and dispersal potential. The effects of landscape features on forest pest-host interactions are anticipated to grow increasingly complicated in an era of rapid environmental change. Despite recent advances in remote sensing, genomics, and analytical tools, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the complex interactions of pest-host systems with landscape features under global change pressures. Filling these gaps requires continued research into the landscape ecology of forest pests, along with increased efforts to understand the role of pest and host functional traits in pest population dynamics. Thus, I conclude with a conceptual framework for generating testable hypotheses regarding factors affecting the relative influence of landscape features on forest pest dynamics and the predictability of spatiotemporal patterns in forest pest dynamics.
Quantifying Bacterial Cross-Contamination Rates between Fresh-Cut Produce and Hands.

ABSTRACT This study quantifies the cross-contamination rates between fresh-cut produce and hands using a nalidixic acid–resistant nonpathogenic Enterobacter aerogenes and cocktails of rifampin-resistant Salmonella or Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains. Volunteers performed the E. aerogenes experiments (n = 20), and one of the authors performed the Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 experiments multiple times (n =15 and n =10, respectively). Each participant handled 25 g of fresh-cut carrots, celery, or cantaloupe in two different scenarios. In the first scenario, gloved hands were inoculated with 6 log CFU per hand of the bacteria, and in the second scenario, five 25-g pieces of fresh produce were inoculated to a concentration of 6 log CFU/25 g. The glove juice method was used to quantify the bacterial concentration on the gloved hands. About 30% of E. aerogenes on gloved hands was transferred to the carrots and celery, and 18% of E. aerogenes on gloved hands was transferred to the cantaloupe. When carrots or c...
Chapter Nine, Ethics in Criminal Advocacy

Ethical issues in criminal advocacy became a crucial part of a spirited and wide-ranging national conversation is 2015, due in no small part to media sensations like the Serial podcast and The Jinx and Making a Murderer documentaries, which turned real-life cases into stories that captured the attention of millions of people. Using narrative styles that bridged the divide between lay and professional audiences, journalists, filmmakers, and activists teamed up with attorneys to explain ethical quagmires within the criminal justice system in accessible and compelling ways.Suddenly, questions that seemed destined for rigorous discussion largely within the legal profession became the subject of debate among people who had never seen in the inside of a courtroom or entertained any thought of going to law school. Among those questions: What does it mean to have an “effective” defense attorney? Do race, religion, ethnicity, money, and geography dramatically impact the kind of justice available in courtrooms across the United States? What obligations does a prosecutor have before a defendant pleads guilty or goes to trial to make sure that the process is fair? Perhaps most significantly, each of these media sensations had a dramatic effect on the cases themselves, raising the possibility that many more attorneys will want to cooperate with the media while their cases are ongoing in the hopes of achieving better outcomes for their clients. Also dominating the headlines in 2015 were stories of police shootings of African American men, including Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York, and twelve-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland, Ohio. How the local prosecutors in these jurisdictions handled the grand jury proceedings was extremely controversial: none recused himself and no indictments were handed down. Questions concerning how grand jury proceedings ought to be conducted, and by whom, in racially charged, officer-involved shootings became front-page news and the subject of vigorous and often bitter debate. As the national conversation continues, so do real shifts, not only in the way we think about ethical advocacy but in the way in which our profession asks — and sometimes demands — that defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges adhere to specific ethical rules. Among the exciting developments of this year: the ABA’s adoption of revisions to its Prosecutorial and Defense Function Standards, and a landmark state supreme court decision holding that a prosecutor’s Brady obligations are triggered before a defendant enters a guilty plea.
A Systematic Review of Health Outcomes Among Disaster and Humanitarian Responders.

Introduction Disaster and humanitarian responders are at-risk of experiencing a wide range of physical and psychological health conditions, from minor injuries to chronic mental health problems and fatalities. This article reviews the current literature on the major health outcomes of responders to various disasters and conflicts in order to better inform individuals of the risks and to inform deploying agencies of the health care needs of responders. Methods In March 2014, an EMBASE search was conducted using pre-defined search criteria. Two reviewers screened the resultant 2,849 abstracts and the 66 full-length manuscripts which are included in the review. Results The majority of research on health outcomes of responders focused on mental health (57 of 66 articles). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were the most studied diagnoses with prevalence of PTSD ranging from 0%-34% and depression from 21%-53%. Physical health outcomes were much less well-studied and included a wide range of environmental, infectious, and traumatic conditions such as heat stroke, insect bites, dermatologic, gastrointestinal, and respiratory diseases, as well as burns, fractures, falls, and other traumatic injuries. Conclusions The prevalence of mental health disorders in responders may vary more and be higher than previously suggested. Overall health outcomes of responders are likely poorly monitored and under-reported. Improved surveillance systems and risk mitigation strategies should be employed in all disaster and conflict responses to better protect individual responders. Garbern SC , Ebbeling LG , Bartels SA . A Systematic Review of Health Outcomes Among Disaster and Humanitarian Responders. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(6):635–642.