cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sulforaphane alters the expression of long intragenic non-coding RNAs that are dysregulated in prostate cancer cells (644.10)

The dysregulation of long intergenic non-coding RNA’s (lincRNAs) has become an emerging factor in cancer development. Dietary chemopreventive compounds, such as sulforaphane (SFN) from cruciferous vegetables, can alter epigenetic targets for cancer prevention but the impact of diet on lincRNA expression is unknown. Normal prostate epithelial cells and prostate cancer cells were treated with 15 μM SFN to test the hypothesis that SFN alters the expression of lincRNAs. RNA-sequencing revealed that hundreds of lincRNAs were differentially expressed in prostate cancer cells relative to normal prostate epithelial cells. SFN treatment significantly altered the expression of ~70 lincRNAs in each cell type. The SFN-induced response differed depending on cell line and was dynamic over time. In prostate cancer cells, SFN treatment reversed the aberrant expression of some lincRNAs. Preliminary guilt by association work showed that lincRNA's altered by SFN treatment correlate with genes that regulate angiogenesis, cel...
Research Roundtable Discussion: The Diversification Discount

Discussants: PHILIP G. BERGER, University of Chicago - Graduate School of Business; ROBERT F. BRUNER, University of Virginia - Darden Graduate School of Business; DAVID J. DENIS, Purdue University - Krannert School of Management; STEPHEN R. FOERSTER, University of Western Ontario - Richard Ivey School of Business; ROBERT H. GERTNER, University of Chicago - Graduate School of Business; STUART C. GILSON, Harvard Business School; JOHN R. GRAHAM, Duke University - Fuqua School of Business; LAURIE SIMON HODRICK, Columbia Business School; STEVEN N. KAPLAN, University of Chicago - Graduate School of Business; LARRY H.P. LANG, Chinese University of Hong Kong; VOJISLAV MAKSIMOVIC, University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business; JOHN D. MARTIN, Baylor University - Hankamer School of Business; JOHN G. MATSUSAKA, University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business; RANDALL MORCK, University of Alberta School of Business; GORDON M. PHILLIPS, University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business; HENRI SERVAES, London Business School Organized by: PETER TUFANO, Harvard Business School As teachers, we often face the challenge of helping MBA students understand important managerial issues where research is unsettled. This is one of a series of pieces written as a quick introduction to a controversial area which many of us have to touch upon in our courses: the diversification discount. Belen Villalonga has written an overview of some of the issues surrounding the diversification discount and assembled a selected bibliography on the topic. We then invited a small number of leading researchers and teachers in the field to comment on how they treat this topic in the classroom.
Pathophysiology of hemifacial spasm

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is characterized by attacks of spasm on one side of the face that usually begin as small contractions around the eye and that over several years increase in intensity while progressing down the face as the intensity of the spasm increases [4, 5]. The attacks also occur during sleep and can be precipitated by emotional factors. Between attacks, the facial muscles seem to function normally, except for synkinesis of facial muscles and maybe a slight weakness of facial muscles in individuals who have had HFS for a long time [4, 5]. The incidence of HFS is very low (0.74 per 100 000 in white men in the USA and 0.81 per 100000 in white women) [3]. HFS is believed to be caused by vascular compression of the intracranial portion of the facial nerve at its root exit zone (REZ). Microvascular decompression (MVD) of the facial nerve offers a high rate of success for total cure [16, 17, 19] with little side effects, but there is no known medical treatment effective in curing HFS [34].
Hormone and Lipogenic Enzyme Response of the Heterozygous dw Chick to Dietary Protein Level

The growth and lipogenic responses of broiler progeny from normal (DwDw male, Dw-female) and dwarf (Dwdw male, Dw-* female) dams to high and low dietary protein were studied. Body weight gains for the DwDw compared to Dwdw male progeny were greater from week 1 to 3, but less from week 7 to 8 and were similar for Dw-* and Dw- females. No significant effects of progeny genotype and no diet X genotype interactions were observed for feed conversion, carcass nitrogen or fat, abdominal fat, growth hormone, triiodothyronine (T3) or thyroxine (T4). Hepatic malic enzyme was elevated in DwDw male progeny compared to Dwdw males, regardless of diet, and was greater in Dw- females than in Dw-* only in response to low dietary protein. Citrate cleavage enzyme was greater in Dw-* than in Dw- females. Low protein resulted in elevated lipogenic enzyme activities, which were more pronounced in progeny of normal dams. A positive relationship observed between malic enzyme activity and T3 levels for all progeny not carrying the dw gene suggests that although circulating levels of thyroid hormones did not differ between genotypes, the cellular response to these hormones was affected by the presence of the dw gene.
Architecture and experimental results for quality of service in mobile networks using RSVP and CBQ

Efforts are underway to enhance the Internet with Quality of Service lQoSr capabilities for transporting realdtime data. The issue of wireless networks and mobile hosts being able to support applications that require QoS has become very significant. The ReSerVation Protocol lRSVPr provides a signaling mechanism for enddtodend QoS negotiation. RSVP has been designed to work with wired networks. To make RSVP suitable for wireless networks, changes need to be made byc lir changing the way control messages are sent, and liir introducing wireless/mobile specific QoS parameters that take into account the major features of wireless networks, namely, high losses, low bandwidth, power constraints and mobility. In this paper, an architecture with a modified RSVP protocol that helps to provide QoS support for mobile hosts is presented. The modified RSVP protocol has been implemented in an experimental wireless and mobile testbed to study the feasibility and performance of our approach. Class Based Queueing lCBQr which is used as the underlying bandwidth enforcing mechanism is also modified to fit our approach. The experimental results show that the modified RSVP and CBQ help in satisfying resource requests for mobile hosts, after handoff occurs. The experiments also show how different power and loss profile mechanisms can be used with our framework. The system performance using the modified RSVP control mechanism is also studied.
A 0.8V CMOS filter based on a novel low voltage operational transresistance amplifier

Operational transresistance amplifier (OTRA) is suited to low voltage operation since it minimizes stacking of transistors due to the use of shunt-shunt feedback topology. A second order low pass filter with independent tuning of DC gain, cutoff frequency and Q factor was designed based on the Tow-Thomas biquad, using a novel low voltage OTRA in 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. The filter operates at a supply of 0.8V, has a 3dB cutoff of 600kHz, VIP3 of 2.85V, input referred spot noise at 1 kHz of 115nV//spl radic/Hz and consumes 0.7mW power.
Amniotic fluid-induced surface ultramicrocytopathology of Escherichia coli

Abstract A study of the surface morphology of Escherichia coli by scanning beam electron microscopy has revealed that incubation of this organism in human amniotic fluid and comparison with cells grown in trypticase soy broth demonstrate marked alterations in the integrity of the bacterial surface structure. The most striking observation of cellular alteration was elongation of amniotic fluid-grown Escherichia coli . Other changes induced by amniotic fluid included various degrees of loss of surface integrity and time-dependent spheroplast formation. This study has provided striking evidence that amniotic fluid contains some factor or factors which cause defects in the surface structure of the organism.
Regulatory T Cells Exhibit Decreased Proliferation but Enhanced Suppression After Pulsing With Sirolimus

Although regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress allo-immunity, difficulties in their large-scale production and in maintaining their suppressive function after expansion have thus far limited their clinical applicability. Here we have used our nonhuman primate model to demonstrate that significant ex vivo Treg expansion with potent suppressive capacity can be achieved and that Treg suppressive capacity can be further enhanced by their exposure to a short pulse of sirolimus. Both unpulsed and sirolimus-pulsed Tregs (SPTs) are capable of inhibiting proliferation of multiple T cell subpopulations, including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, as well as antigen-experienced CD28+CD95+ memory and CD28−CD95+ effector subpopulations. We further show that Tregs can be combined in vitro with CTLA4-Ig (belatacept) to lead to enhanced inhibition of allo-proliferation. SPTs undergo less proliferation in a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) when compared with unpulsed Tregs, suggesting that Treg-mediated suppression may be inversely related to their proliferative capacity. SPTs also display increased expression of CD25 and CTLA4, implicating signaling through these molecules in their enhanced function. Our results suggest that the creation of SPTs may provide a novel avenue to enhance Treg-based suppression of allo-immunity, in a manner amenable to large-scale ex vivo expansion and combinatorial therapy with novel, costimulation blockade-based immunosuppression strategies.
The Vibrio cholerae acfB colonization determinant encodes an inner membrane protein that is related to a family of signal-transducing proteins

Vibrio cholerae accessory colonization factor genes (acfA, B, C, and D) are required for efficient intestinal colonization. Expression of acf genes is under the control of a regulatory cascade that also directs the synthesis of cholera toxin and proteins involved in the biogenesis of the toxin-coregulated pilus. The gene for acfB was cloned by using an acfB::TnphoA fusion junction to probe a V. cholerae O395 bacteriophage lambda library. DNA sequence analysis revealed that acfB is predicted to encode a 626-amino-acid protein related to the V. cholerae HlyB and TcpI proteins. These three Vibrio proteins have amino acid sequence similarity in a region highly conserved among bacterial methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins. Analysis of the predicted AcfB amino acid sequence suggests that this colonization determinant possesses a membrane topology and domain organization similar to those of methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins. Heterologous expression of acfB in Escherichia coli generates four polypeptide species with apparent molecular masses of 34, 35, 74, and 75 kDa. The 74- and 75-kDa proteins appear to represent modified forms of the full-length AcfB protein. The 34- and 35-kDa polypeptide species most likely correspond to a C-terminal 274-amino-acid polypeptide that results from internal translation initiation of acfB mRNA. Localization studies with AcfB-PhoA hybrid proteins indicate that AcfB resides in the V. cholerae inner membrane. V. cholerae acfB::TnphoA mutants display an altered motility phenotype in semisolid agar. The relationship between AcfB and Vibrio motility and the amino acid similarities between AcfB and chemotaxis signal-transducing proteins suggest that AcfB may interact with the V. cholerae chemotaxis machinery. The data presented in this report provide preliminary evidence that acfB encodes an environmental sensor/signal-transducing protein involved in V. cholerae colonization.
Battling Obesity with Quality Elementary Physical Education: From Exposure to Competence

Sedentary behaviors contribute to the obesity epidemic in this country and physical educators can play an important role in the battle to improve the quality of life of our citizens. Motor skill competency is a substantive factor in a person's decision to be active or not, and a quality physical education program can tip the balance in favor of choosing to move rather than sit. Recent findings suggest that skilled movers are more likely to be physically active and achieve positive health-related outcomes, such as higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and a healthy body composition. Physical educators can achieve these outcomes by teaching with the expectation that students will acquire fundamental motor skills at a proficient level. Achieving this outcome will require longer units of instruction in fewer content areas, choosing activities that are aligned with the National Standards, and planning assessments designed to measure student performance and to ...
In situ and real-time metrology during rinsing of micro- and nano-structures

A new technology, called electro-chemical residue sensor (ECRS), has been developed for the in situ and real-time measurement of the residual impurities left on the wafer surface and in the fine structures of patterned wafers during typical rinse processes. The key components of this technology, which consist of the sensor hardware and a process model, are described. The testing results of the ECRS show that the residual impurity concentration is significantly different from what is typically provided by the bulk water resistivity, which is usually employed for determining the progress of the rinse. As a case study, the new metrology method has been applied to the removal of sulfate ions from patterned wafers; the importance of various surface interactions, charge effects, and transport processes is determined. Two examples of the use of the ECRS for the development of novel rinse recipes to reduce water usage are also discussed.
Endometrial Adenocarcinoma—Lack of Correlation between Treatment Delay and Tumor Stage

Abstract Objective. The objective was to examine why a proportion of patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EMC) presents with advanced stage disease and whether the duration of bleeding prior to hysterectomy (treatment delay) is predictive of stage. Study design. A retrospective clinicopathologic study of 182 patients treated for EMC at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City between 1988 and 1996 was performed. Results. Ninety percent of patients with EMC presented with abnormal uterine bleeding. The median time interval from onset of bleeding to biopsy diagnosis was 2.5 months (range, 2 weeks to 60 months) and 3 weeks from biopsy to hysterectomy. No correlation between the duration of symptoms and tumor stage was found ( P = 0.87). There was, however, significant correlation between poor tumor differentiation and the advanced stage of the disease ( P = 0.0001). Conclusions. Stage at presentation in patients with EMC correlates with tumor differentiation but not with time interval from bleeding to definitive therapy.
Tricuspid valve repair using autologous pericardium annuloplasty in adults.

Uncorrected functional tricuspid regurgitation can lead to long-term morbidity and mortality. To evaluate our results using autologous pericardium annuloplasty to treat tricuspid regurgitation, we retrospectively reviewed 59 consecutive adult patients aged 19 years to 83 years (58.7 ± 15.5 years) who underwent tricuspid valve annuloplasty between 2000 and 2003. Concomitant procedures consisted of mitral valve surgery in 83% of patients, aortic valve surgery in 28%, coronary bypass in 31%, and atrial-septal defect correction in 28%. Annuloplasty was performed using a strip of pericardium treated in glutaraldehyde 0.6% for 10 min. Two rows of continuous horizontal mattress Gore-Tex sutures were used to secure the pericardium to the tricuspid annulus. Follow-up was performed in 100% of the patients, and the mean follow-up was 4.4 ± 1.2 years (range, 2.4 to 7 years). Postoperative death within 30 days occurred in 1 of 59 patients (1.6%). None of the patients required reoperation related to tricuspid regurgitation or stenosis. The actuarial survival rate was 98.4% at 7 years after operation. Echocardiography was performed in 58 of 58 surviving patients (100%). Up to 7 years postoperatively, tricuspid regurgitation was trace in 67.2% of patients, mild in 31%, and moderate in 1.8%; there was no occurrence of severe regurgitation on follow-up. Our results indicate that autologous pericardium tricuspid annuloplasty is a useful procedure in patients with moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation. This procedure provides a durable, reproducible annuloplasty of the tricuspid valve.
Human mononuclear phagocyte transglutaminase activity cross-links fibrin.

Abstract The physiologic function of the monocyte transglutaminases is not known. In this study, we detected Factor XIII A-subunit antigen and “tissue” transglutaminase antigen in human monocytes by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting techniques. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that 27% and 49% of the total Factor XIII antigen in monocytes and human peritoneal macrophages, respectively, are expressed on the surface of the cells. Monocytes maintained in culture for 8 days had a 4-fold increase in Factor XIIIa activity and a 3.2-fold increase in the amount of Factor XIII antigen/mg cell protein. However, there was no increase in the “tissue” transglutaminase activity or antigen levels in cultured monocytes. In addition, we identified a Factor XIII deficient individual who does not express Factor XIII activity or antigen in plasma, platelets, monocytes, lymphocytes or erythrocytes. Intact monocytes from normal donors were able to cross-link fibrin formed in the plasma from the Factor XIII deficient individual. This suggests that transglutaminase activity expressed by peripheral blood monocytes may play a physiologic role in cross-linking fibrin during blood clotting or inflammation.
Dynamic stress transfer in fibrous composites with damage

Abstract A micromechanical model is developed in order to study the dynamically induced stress distribution in fibrous composites with damage. Damage is taken in the form of either a broken fiber or a matrix crack normal to the fiber direction. The unidirectionally reinforced periodic composite, when loaded in the axial (fiber) direction is modeled as a concentric cylindrical system subjected at its outer boundaries to vanishing radial displacement and shear stress. Guided by the symmetry and the fiber–matrix interface continuity conditions, we first assume an approximate radial dependence of some of the field variables. Therefore, we reduce the two dimensional field equations that hold in both the fiber and the matrix together with their interface conditions to a quasi-one-dimensional system, which automatically satisfies all interface and radial boundary conditions. The resulting simple system retains the integrity of the distribution in the fiber and the matrix, individually, with their interaction reflected in well-defined transfer terms. The system is suitable for treating a variety of situations. Besides the case of damage free composites, the cases of broken fibers and cracked matrix are treated by invoking appropriate boundary conditions at the crack faces. Also simple analytical expressions are derived for the crack width opening for both the fiber break and the matrix crack. For our numerical illustration, we subject the composite slab to an axial cyclic loading with varying frequency. We compare results obtained for broken fibers and cracked matrix with the damage free composite system.
Splenic infarction, splenic sequestration, and functional hyposplenism in hemoglobin S‐C disease

Splenic atrophy or evidence of hyposplenism occurs in as many as one third of all patients with S-C hemoglobinopathy. Yet there are few reports in the literature of clinically apparent splenic infarction in this disease. We describe four instances of acute splenic infarction in three patients with hemoglobin S-C disease which illustrate a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations and severity. Of particular interest were the observations of coincident occurrences of splenic sequestration and functional hyposplenism with splenic infarction, suggesting a close pathophysiological relationship among these syndromes.
Aquatic insect drift through a final-cut strip mine pit, with emphasis on drift distances

Drift samples were taken upstream and at the outlet of a final-cut strip mine pit through which a portion of the Tongue River, Wyoming, USA, was rerouted. All prominent rheophilic insect species (except cased Trichoptera) were found capable of drifting the length of the pit (> 500 m). However, drift densities leaving the pit were reduced in comparison to those entering it. Pit inhabitants such as burrowing mayflies, Chaoborus flavicans, and several species of Chironomidae were also collected at the pit outlet. Under the physical conditions created by rerouting the river through a strip mine pit, the observed maximum behavioral and background drift distances (> 500 m) were significantly greater than those reported in the past (< 100 m).
Transforming medicine: functional informatics, drug design, and personalised healthcare

High throughput sequencing and molecular imaging technologies marked the beginning of a new era for modern translational medicine and personalised healthcare. The impact of having the human sequence and personalised digital images in hand has also created tremendous demands of developing powerful supercomputing, statistical learning and artificial intelligence approaches to handle the massive bioinformatics and personalised healthcare data, which will obviously have a profound effect on how biomedical research will be conducted towards the improvement of human health and prolonging of human life in the future.
Hydrogen embrittlement of iron-nickel alloys

The effects of hydrogen on the deformation and fracture of alloys in the Fe−Ni alloy system were studied as a function of the alloy composition and the amount of sulfur segregated at the grain boundaries. A ductile-to-brittle transition in the tensile parameters and in the fracture mode was observed as the hydrogen fugacity was increased. The variation of this transition fugacity with segregated sulfur and with the alloy concentration was studied.
Functional Interpretations of Sadness, Stress and Demoralization among an Urban Population of Low-Income Mothers

Objectives We sought to understand how low-income urban mothers explain feelings of sadness, stress or demoralization in the context of their life experiences. Methods 28 in-depth qualitative interviews, constituting part of a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project aimed at developing a culturally relevant, community-based intervention for maternal depression. Qualitative data validity was ensured through investigator and expert triangulation, and through member checking. Results The following themes emerged: (1) Informants spoke of wanting reprieves from chaos, and discussed this desire relative to wanting to be alone. By contrast, informants expressed loneliness not only in interpersonal terms, but also related to having problems that precluded future relationships, or feeling unique in experiencing an adversity. (2) Informants spoke of demoralization associated with feeling that their problems were externally imposed and therefore beyond their control, but spoke of empowerment associated with owning one’s problems. (3) Informants discussed degrees of sadness in relation to their own abilities to adjust or modify their mood, or their ability to contain their feelings. Conclusions Our data suggest that helping a mother find reprieves from chaos, increasing her perception of her own locus of control around externally imposed adversities, and empowering her to recognize and self-manage her own feelings may constitute important elements of a culturally relevant, community-based intervention for depression.
Energy Distribution of Fission Fragments of U 235 Produced by 2.5-Mev and 14-Mev Neutrons

The kinetic energy released in the fission of ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$ by 2.5-Mev and 14-Mev neutrons has been measured. The results show the familiar two-peak curve when intensity of a fragment with a given energy is plotted against energy. However, the dip between the peaks apparently disappears with increasing energy of the neutrons and the distribution approaches a single symmetrical peak.
Structure and Bonding of a Site-Isolated Transition Metal Complex: Rhodium Dicarbonyl in Highly Dealuminated Zeolite Y

The structure and bonding of rhodium dicarbonyl bonded to highly dealuminated zeolite Y has been determined by the combined application of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and infrared spectroscopies and quantum chemical calculations based on density functional theory. The EXAFS and infrared spectra indicate the existence of nearly unique rhodium dicarbonyl species bonded at structurally equivalent positions in the zeolite pores. However, even this anchored structure, one of the simplest known, is not determined fully by the experimental results, and quantum chemical calculations were needed to eliminate the ambiguity. Taken together, the experimental and theoretical results indicate Rh+(CO)2 located at a four-ring of the faujasite framework; the rhodium center is bonded to two oxygen centers of the framework near an aluminum center with a Rh−O distance of 2.15−2.20 A. The results show how spectroscopy and theory used in combination can determine the structure and location of a metal compl...
SOME TEMPERATURE CHARACTERISTICS IN MAN

The value of µ = 29,400 has been found for the human heart beat over the temperature range of approximately 4.7°C. This value is different from that of 24,000 calories which has been obtained for the effect of temperature on judgments of short durations. The evidence indicates that the estimation of short time intervals is controlled by a chemical master reaction which is independent of the pulse rhythm.
Primordial density fluctuations and the structure of galactic haloes

Les modeles a N corps utilises pour l'etude de la formation des structures dans les Univers Ω=1 revelent que les profils de la masse des structures effondrees ― halos galactiques ― sont etroitement lies au spectre de puissance des perturbations de densite initiales, gaussiennes. En particulier, les courbes de rotation plates observees pour les galaxies disques ne s'obtiennent que lorsque l'exposant de la loi de puissance P(k)≃k r est, a l'echelle des megaparsecs, inferieur a −1 mais superieur a −3. Ces resultats ont d'importantes implications cosmologiques
A comment on Silver and Blanchard's (1978) review of the treatment of tension headaches via EMG feedback and relaxation training.

In response to an earlier review by Silver and Blanchard, caution is urged in reaching “premature” conclusions about the relative efficacy of biofeedback vs. relaxation training in the treatment of tension headaches. Additional points are raised concerning subject and procedural variables, data interpretation, and choice of dependent measures in assessing treatment outcome. The need for continued study of this question is emphasized.
The Impact of Social Support on Outcomes in Adult Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review

Diabetes is one of the fastest growing chronic diseases globally and in the United States. Although preventable, type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 % of all cases of diabetes worldwide and continues to be a source of increased disability, lost productivity, mortality, and amplified health-care costs. Proper disease management is crucial for achieving better diabetes-related outcomes. Evidence suggests that higher levels of social support are associated with improved clinical outcomes, reduced psychosocial symptomatology, and the adaptation of beneficial lifestyle activities; however, the role of social support in diabetes management is not well understood. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the impact of social support on outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Doxepin induced torsade de pointes.

A case of torsade de pointes with normal QT interval secondary to the administration of small amounts of doxepin is presented. Electrophysiological studies during rechallenge with doxepin demonstrated replication of the patient's spontaneous arrhythmia. Evaluation of syncope in patients taking doxepin should include careful evaluation for torsade de pointes.
Chronic illness and depressive symptoms in late life

The relationship between illness and depressive symptoms is examined using a large, nationally representative, and longitudinal sample of Americans over the age of 50. Seven illnesses (cancer, stroke, heart condition, chronic obstructed pulmonary disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis) and three forms of disability (activities in daily living, mobility, and strength) substantially increase symptoms. Yet, most of these positive effects diminish with age. Multiplicative interactions between age and illness indicate that those who develop chronic illnesses earlier in life tend to report more depressive symptoms than do those who develop them later. Similarly, disability leads to more depressive symptoms when experienced at younger ages. This age-graded effect emerges even for illnesses that are known to share a biological substrate with depression (e.g. vascular disorders). The results are discussed with respect to theories of illness, depression, and aging.
Threshold responses of songbirds to long-term timber management on an active industrial forest

Abstract Forest managers often seek to balance economic benefits from timber harvesting with maintenance of habitat for wildlife, ecosystem function, and human uses. Most research on the relationship between avian abundance and active timber management has been short-term, lasting one to two years, creating the need to investigate long-term avian responses and to identify harvest thresholds when a small change in habitat results in a disproportionate response in relative abundance and nest success. Our objectives were to identify trends in relative abundance and nest success and to identify landscape-scale disturbance thresholds for avian species and habitat guilds in response to a variety of harvest treatments (clear-cuts, heavy and light partial harvests) over 14 years. We conducted point counts and monitored nests at an industrial forest in the central Appalachians of West Virginia during 1996–1998, 2001–2003, and 2007–2009. Early successional species increased in relative abundance across all three time periods, whereas interior-edge and forest-interior guilds peaked in relative abundance mid-study after which the forest-interior guild declined. Of 41 species with >10 detections, four (10%) declined significantly, 13 (32%) increased significantly (only three species among all periods), and 9 (22%) peaked in abundance mid-study (over the entire study period, four species had no significant change in abundance, four declined, and one increased). Based on piecewise linear models, forest-interior and interior-edge guilds’ relative abundance harvest thresholds were 28% total harvests (all harvests combined), 10% clear-cut harvests, and 18% light partial harvests, after which abundances declined. Harvest thresholds for the early successional guild were 42% total harvests, 11% clear-cut harvest, and 10% light partial harvests, and relative abundances increased after surpassing thresholds albeit at a reduced rate of increase after the clear-cut threshold. Threshold confidence intervals for individual species overlapped their guild threshold intervals 91% of the time. Even though relative abundance of most species (80%) did not decline as the area affected by timber management increased, implementing management at or below our approximate forest-interior and interior-edge harvest thresholds would reduce the number of declining species by half, maintain higher relative abundances of four species with a net decline in abundance but that peaked in abundance mid-study, and maintain higher relative abundances of ten additional species. In contrast, this management strategy also would prevent the increase in relative abundance of seven species and limit the increase in abundance of three species that increased throughout the study.
Selection of monoploids for protoplast fusion and generation of intermonoploid somatic hybrids of potato

The union of potato monoploid genotypes (2n=1x =12) through protoplast fusion may result in vigorous somatic hybrids due to a reduction of the “genetic load” normally present in this highly heterozygous tetraploid (2n=4x=48) crop. More than 100 androgenic monoploids derived from diploid (2n=2x=24)Solanum phureja Juz. & Buk. andS. chacoense Bitt. xS. phureja clones were evaluated in field trials during 1996 and 1997 to identify the most promising genotypes for protoplast fusion experiments. Compared to the total population, the 1996 selected genotypes had higher means for tuber number (30.1 vs 11.2 tubers/plant), average tuber weight (3.0 vs 1.8 g/tuber) and total yield (66.1 vs 20.4 g/plant). Similarly, the 1997 selected genotypes had higher means for tuber number (42.8 vs 25.4 tubers/plant), average tuber weight (3.6 vs 2.5 g/tuber) and total yield (114.0 vs 63.4 g/plant) compared to the total population. The 31 selected monoploid genotypes from 1996-97 varied in their response to protoplast isolation and culture from no growth (9), cell enlargement (5), limited cellular divisions (8), callus formation (5) to plant regeneration from callus (4). Chemical fusion and electrofusion produced three groups of intermonoploid somatic hybrids. Polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci enabled distinction of somatic hybrids from parental somaclones. Rapid DNA extraction with SSR analysis enabled screening of calluses to identify somatic hybrid tissue prior to plant regeneration. The somatic hybrids were highly polyploid, mostly hexaploid (2n=6x=72), possibly due to fusion of endopolyploid protoplasts and/or chromosomal doubling during plant regeneration.
GPU accelerated fuzzy connected image segmentation by using CUDA

Image segmentation techniques using fuzzy connectedness principles have shown their effectiveness in segmenting a variety of objects in several large applications in recent years. However, one problem of these algorithms has been their excessive computational requirements when processing large image datasets. Nowadays commodity graphics hardware provides high parallel computing power. In this paper, we present a parallel fuzzy connected image segmentation algorithm on Nvidia’s Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) platform for segmenting large medical image data sets. Our experiments based on three data sets with small, medium, and large data size demonstrate the efficiency of the parallel algorithm, which achieves a speed-up factor of 7.2x, 7.3x, and 14.4x, correspondingly, for the three data sets over the sequential implementation of fuzzy connected image segmentation algorithm on CPU.
AVERAGE DURATION AND PERFORMANCE OF ACTUATED SIGNAL PHASES

Abstract This paper describes an approach for evaluating alternative traffic detection designs for a signalized intersection. The models described in this paper can be used to determine the average phase duration and frequency of phase “max-out” as a function of the detector loop layout, detector unit timing, traffic demand, and approach speed. Layout and timing are described by the number of detectors on each approach served by the phase, detector location on each approach, detector length, and detector unit and controller time settings. The authors have used the concept of maximum allowable headway ( MAH ) to combine the many possible combinations of layout and timing variables into one representative quantity, which greatly simplifies the modelling process. The performance models were used to examine the sensitivity of intersection performance to a range of design values. In general, both phase duration and cycle length increase with higher demands or larger MAHs . Multiloop (i.e. two or more detection zones per lane) detector designs typically have larger MAHs than designs with one detector loop per lane. Phase duration and cycle length also increase for very low demand levels. In terms of performance, the maximum green duration was found to have a contrary effect at higher flow conditions. Larger maximum greens were found to reduce delays to the phase in service by reducing the probability of max-out but they increased delays to drivers waiting for service.
Apolipoprotein E mediation of neuro-inflammation in a murine model of multiple sclerosis

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) functions as a ligand in receptor-mediated endocytosis of lipoprotein particles and has been demonstrated to play a role in antigen presentation. To explore the contribution of ApoE during autoimmune central nervous system (CNS) demyelination, we examined the clinical, cellular immune function, and pathologic consequences of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induction in ApoE knockout (ApoE(-/-)) mice. We observed reduced clinical severity of EAE in ApoE(-/-) mice in comparison to WT mice that was concomitant with an early reduction of dendritic cells (DCs) followed by a reduction of additional innate cells in the spinal cord at the peak of disease without any differences in axonal damage. While T cell priming was enhanced in ApoE(-/-) mice, reduced severity of EAE was also observed in ApoE(-/-) recipients of encephalitogenic wild type T cells. Expression of ApoE during EAE was elevated within the CNS of wild type mice, particularly by innate cells such as DCs. Overall, ApoE promotes clinical EAE, likely by mediation of inflammation localized within the CNS.
Spiral computed tomography for the initial evaluation of spine trauma: A new standard of care?

Background:Although spiral computed tomographic scanning (SCT) is frequently used for spinal imaging in injured patients, many trauma centers continue to rely on plain film radiography (PFR). The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a trauma center's transition from PFR to SCT for i
Laparoscopic ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with chronic ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis: a case-matched study.

This study was designed to compare short-term outcomes after laparoscopic ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with those of open ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with both sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis. Sixteen patients with sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis undergoing laparoscopic ileal pouch-anal anastomosis were matched with 16 open ileal pouch control subjects by sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists’ score, age, and body mass index. Operative mortality was zero. Operative time was longer in the laparoscopic group (500 ± 125.8 vs. 381.8 ± 60.9 minutes, P = 0.03). Thirty-day complications were not significantly different between groups (laparoscopic 25 percent vs. open 43.7 percent, P = 0.26). Length of stay was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group (5.3 ± 1.3 days vs. 9.9 ± 3.3 days open, P < 0.001). Average return of gastrointestinal function was 2.5 days in the laparoscopic group and 4.8 days in the open group (P = 0.001). Time to soft diet was three days in the laparoscopic group and six days in the open group (P < 0.001). All patients were alive and all pouches were intact at last follow-up. Laparoscopic ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is feasible with apparent safety in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis, resulting in shorter duration of hospital stay and quicker return of gastrointestinal function compared with the open procedure with no difference in perioperative complications, reoperations, and readmissions.
Unstable families related to the image of J

The object of this paper is to describe certain families of unstable elements in the homotopy groups of spheres at an odd prime. In so doing we completely account for the image of J as possible Hopf invariants of unstable elements. The analogous result for p = 2 was obtained in [13]. In addition we will discuss other periodic phenomena. Our main results have been independently obtained by Bendersky[5] using BP * . Our methods, however, are entirely geometric, and we actually construct the elements, rather than detect them. Our basic tool is the map .All our constructions are made in B Σ p and transferred over.
A Revisit of Agribusiness Education by an Original Critic

When asked to present this paper, I wondered whether I should put on sack cloth and ashes and repent. The tag of "original critic" comes from my position in a 1987 debate with Lynn Robbins. The debate was arranged by Bruce Beattie for the Western Agricultural Economics Association annual meeting and was prompted by the White House conference, "Developing Tomorrow's Agribusiness Leaders," held about three months before. Lynn and I differed, but our subsequent articles seem to mute the differences, maybe because of postdebate revisions. Our articles preceded the Lincoln Report by about a year. At the time of the debate, the United States was coming out of a farm crisis. In some ways, we are there again. At this point in time, there is less pessimism and unrest among farmers. More importantly for us, colleges of agriculture have not experienced the same precipitous drop in enrollment, and that gives us less discomfort. What has happened to the "critic," and what are my views now? The theses in my 1988 article are (a) agribusiness as a program or as a discipline is not well differentiated from agricultural economics and (b) our forte is applied economics, not management. I will strongly defend the former and might waffle slightly on the latter. I was never an outright opponent of the agribusiness movement. I just do not see business administration as the city on the hill that some saw and still see.
Organizations, Relationships, Markets and Labor Discipline in Craft Production -A Tiffany style Lamp Workshop in Tijuana, Mexico:

Field observations from a workshop producing Tiffany-style stainedglass lamps on the USA-Mexican border provide the materials for an analysis of labor discipline within a modern-day craft 'putting out' system. It is only through locating the immediate activities of the workshop within the network of environing interpersonal relationships, organizations and international markets, however, that we are able to understand the operative processes of labor discipline reflected in 'what is happening' in the workshop. The analysis enables us to 'read' the produced lamp itself as a text commenting on the binational relations of production and consumption concretized within its commodity form.
Ikaros, an early lymphoid-specific transcription factor and a putative mediator for T cell commitment

In a screen for transcriptional regulators that control differentiation into the T cell lineage, a complementary DNA was isolated encoding a zinc finger protein (Ikaros) related to the Drosophila gap protein Hunchback. The Ikaros protein binds to and activates the enhancer of a gene encoding an early T cell differentiation antigen, CD3 delta. During development, Ikaros messenger RNA was first detected in the mouse fetal liver and the embryonic thymus when hematopoietic and lymphoid progenitors initially colonize these organs; no expression was observed in the spleen or the bone marrow. The pattern of Ikaros gene expression and its ability to stimulate CD3 delta transcription support the model that Ikaros functions in the specification and maturation of the T lymphocyte.
To what extent can intracrater layered deposits that lack clear sedimentary textures be used to infer depositional environments

Abstract Craters within Arabia Terra, Mars, contain hundreds of meters of layered strata showing systematic alternation between slope- and cliff-forming units, suggesting either rhythmic deposition of distinct lithologies or similar lithologies that experienced differential cementation. On Earth, rhythmically deposited strata can be examined in terms of stratal packaging, wherein the interplay of tectonics, sediment deposition, and base level (i.e., the position above which sediment accumulation is expected to be temporary) result in changes in the amount of space available for sediment accumulation. These predictable patterns of sediment deposition can be used to infer changes in basin accommodation regardless of the mechanism of deposition (e.g. fluvial, lacustrine, or aeolian). Here, we analyze sedimentary deposits from three craters (Becquerel Crater, Danielson Crater, Crater A) in Arabia Terra. Each crater contains layered deposits that are clearly observed in orbital images. Although orbital images are insufficient to specifically determine the origin of sedimentary deposits, depositional couplets can be interpreted in terms of potential accommodation space available for deposition, and changes in the distribution of couplet thickness through stratigraphy can be interpreted in terms of changing base level and the production of new accommodation space. Differences in stratal packaging in these three craters suggest varying relationships between sedimentary influx, sedimentary base level, and concomitant changes in accommodation space. Previous groundwater upwelling models hypothesize that layered sedimentary deposits were deposited under warm climate conditions of early Mars. Here, we use observed stacking patterns to propose a model for deposition under cold climate conditions, wherein episodic melting of ground ice could raise local base level, stabilize sediment deposition, and result in differential cementation of accumulated strata. Such analysis demonstrates that a first-order understanding of sedimentary deposition and accumulation—despite a lack of textural information that inhibits interpretation of depositional mechanism—can provide insight into potentially changeable depositional conditions of early Mars.
Resonances and interference effects on the effective electronic coupling in electron transfer

Abstract We discuss the possibility of using the energy of the transmitted electron (ϵ) as a control parameter in electron transfer (ET) reactions. The change in response of the system is entirely contained, within the simplest model, in the effective electronic coupling, which exhibit sharp changes in the resonance region and near its minima as a function of ϵ. The positions of the minima are strongly influenced by the molecular geometry. To calculate the effective coupling, we use a Green's function approach. The electronic structure is calculated within an extended Huckel model. We show the interference and resonance behavior appears for a very simple a four-site model with multisite interactions. The interference effects disappear in a tight binding model of the same system. Application to a molecular system dramatically shows these effects.
CLUES: dynamic personalized message filtering

Workgroups that defy traditional boundmies require successful communication among people whose interests, schedules, and locations may differ and are likely to change rapidly. CLUES is a dynamic personalized message filter that facilitates effective communication by prioritizing voice and text messages using personal information found in an individual’s work environment. CLUES infers message timeliness by considering calendar appointments, outgoing messages and phone calls, and by correlating these “clues” via a personal rolodex. Experience shows that CLUES can be especially useful to mobile users with high message traffic who often access their messages over the telephone.