cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Bayesian Nonstationary Modeling for Large Spatial Datasets Using Covariance Approximations

Gaussian process models have been widely used in spatial statistics but face tremendous modeling and computational challenges for very large nonstationary spatial datasets. To address these challenges, we develop a Bayesian modeling approach using a nonstationary covariance function constructed based on adaptively selected partitions. The partitioned nonstationary class allows one to knit together local covariance parameters into a valid global nonstationary covariance for prediction, where the local covariance parameters are allowed to be estimated within each partition to reduce computational cost. To further facilitate the computations in local covariance estimation and global prediction, we use the full-scale covariance approximation (FSA) approach for the Bayesian inference of our model. One of our contributions is to model the partitions stochastically by embedding a modified treed partitioning process into the hierarchical models that leads to automated partitioning and substantial computational be...
GaAs power f.e.t.s with semi-insulated gates

GaAs semi-insulated-gate f.e.t.s (s.i.g.f.e.t.s) have been fabricated by Ar+ bombardment in the gate region. The d c. characteristics and microwave performance are compared with those of conventional power m.e.s.f.e.t.s fabricated from the same slice. Up to 2.9W output power with 4dB gain has been obtained from s.i.g.f.e.t. devices at 8 GHz.
Compressive Microfracture and Indentation Damage in Al2O3

During the impact of ceramics by small hard particles, indentation damage is caused, which can lead to erosion and/or strength degradation of the ceramic. It is suspected that certain types of indentation-induced flaws may be generated by the compressive fields known to be associated with such loading. Accordingly, a research program was carried out to assess the mechanisms of damage in a strong ceramic subject to compressive loading, and to determine, if possible, the relevancy of such mechanisms to indentation damage.
Symbolic identification and anomaly detection in complex dynamical systems

Symbolic dynamic filtering (SDF) has been reported in recent literature for early detection of anomalies (i.e., deviations from the nominal behavior) in complex dynamical systems. In this context, instead of solely relying on physics- based modeling that may be difficult to formulate and validate, this paper proposes data-driven modeling and system identification based on the concept of symbolic dynamics, automata theory, and information theory. For anomaly detection in inter-connected complex dynamical systems, with or without closed loop control, the input excitation to an individual component is likely to deviate from the nominal condition as a result of deterioration of some other component(s) or to accommodate disturbance rejection by feedback control actions. This paper presents a formal-language-based syntactic method of anomaly detection to account for deviations in the pertinent input excitation. A training algorithm is formulated to generate an automaton model of the underlying subsystem or component from a set of input-output combinations for different classes of inputs, where the objective is to detect (possibly gradually evolving) anomalies under different input conditions. The proposed method has been validated on a test apparatus of nonlinear active electronics.
Supervisory controller design for a robot-assisted reach-to-grasp rehabilitation task

The goal of this project is to develop a high-level controller to provide reference trajectories automatically to the low-level controller of a rehabilitation robotic device in reach-to-grasp task. The high-level controller, which is the supervisory controller, is an event driven, asynchronous discrete event system (DES), described by a finite automaton. Extensive simulations are performed using the supervisory controller for a reach-to-grasp rehabilitation task. The results demonstrate the feasibility and convenience of the proposed supervisory controller.
Quaternary Geology of Chile: Brief Outline

The Quaternary deposits of Chile are generally classified according to their mode of deposition and the physiographic province in which they occur. Lacustrine, fluvial, mudflow, and eolian deposits occur in the Cordillera de la Costa, Central Valley, Altiplano, Cordillera de los Andes, and in Magallanes. In addition, deltaic and terrace deposits occur in coastal areas, and glacial deposits in the Central Valley, Cordillera de los Andes, and Magallanes. Quaternary volcanic deposits are present in all physiographic provinces, although in the Central Valley, Cordillera de la Costa, and along the shore of the Pacific they are mostly water-laid tuffs. Flows and pyroclastics are distributed throughout large areas of the Altiplano and the Cordillera de los Andes, and in a few isolated areas in Magallanes. The composition of the Quaternary tuffs of Chile ranges from rhyolitic to basaltic, but the lavas are basaltic or andesitic. The deposits have been very little warped or tilted, but they have been affected by displacements of fault blocks and by epeirogenic movements. The net results of epeirogeny have been general uplift of the coast north of Puerto Montt and general subsidence to the south.
Cinderella Stories Of Women Leaders: Connecting Leadership Contexts And Competencies

This paper illustrates central themes of the Cinderella fairy tale in the leadership of three contemporary women leaders, Ruth Simmons, Mary Kay, and Oprah Winfrey, who exercise their leadership in...
The reliability of subjects' reports on stressful life events inventories: a longitudinal study.

Previous studies of the reliability of stressful life events inventories employing test-retest, informant report, and fall-off designs have all suffered from significant methodological limitations. In order to provide a more rigorous test of the reliability of subjects' reports on life events inventories, the present study employed a longitudinal design with multiple, frequent assessments. Fifty-three subjects completed life events questionnaires every 5 weeks for 5 months. At the end of this time, subjects were asked to report all events occurring during the entire study period. The intraclass correlation between the number of events reported in the four 5-week assessments and the final, 5-month assessment was .63. There was a 26% decline in the number of events reported between the 5-week assessments and the 20-week assessment. Agreement on specific inventory items was only 52%. These data are consistent with previous, less methodologically rigorous studies in raising serious questions about the reliability of stressful life events questionnaires.
SPC11-5: Joint Transceiver Optimization in MC-CDMA Systems Exploiting Multipath and Spatial Diversity

Due to its robustness against channel frequency selectivity and the low-complexity implementation using fast Fourier transform (FFT) circuits, multi-carrier code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) systems are well suited for high data rate wireless multimedia services. However, the multi-user interference (MUI) emerges when the mutual orthogonality among users' codes is violated by the frequency-selective channel propagation, and in the presence of the so-termed near-far effects. In order to mitigate MUI, we present a joint algorithm which combines transmitter power control, receiver array processing and multiuser detection. The joint algorithm exploits both the multipath diversity and the spatial diversity, where the former is provided by the frequency selectivity and the latter is provided by appropriate spacing among the receiver antenna array elements. Simulations confirm the outstanding performance of the joint algorithm in MUI suppression. In addition, we observe that the algorithm provides the best performance when the propagation channel is frequency-selective and the channel fading is independent across different receiver antenna array elements.
Multihop Diversity in Wideband OFDM Systems: The Impact of Spatial Reuse and Frequency Selectivity

The goal of this paper is to establish which practical routing schemes for wireless networks are most suitable for wide- band systems in the power-limited regime, which is, for example, a practically relevant mode of operation for the analysis of ultra- wideband (UWB) mesh networks. For this purpose, we study the tradeoff between energy efficiency and spectral efficiency (known as the power-bandwidth tradeoff) in a wideband linear multihop network in which transmissions employ orthogonal frequency- division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation and are affected by quasi-static, frequency-selective fading. Considering open-loop (fixed-rate) and closed-loop (rate-adaptive) multihop relaying techniques, we characterize the impact of routing with spatial reuse on the statistical properties of the end-to-end conditional mutual information (conditioned on the specific values of the channel fading parameters and therefore treated as a random variable) and on the energy and spectral efficiency measures of the wideband regime. Our analysis particularly deals with the convergence of these end-to-end performance measures in the case of large number of hops, i.e., the phenomenon first observed in (1) and named as "multihop diversity". Our results demonstrate the realizability of the multihop diversity advantages in the case of routing with spatial reuse for wideband OFDM systems under wireless channel effects such as path-loss and quasi-static frequency-selective multipath fading. I. INTRODUCTION The design of large scale distributed networks (e.g., mesh and ad-hoc networks, relay networks) poses a set of new challenges to information theory, communication theory and network theory. Such networks are characterized by the large size of the network both in terms of the number of nodes (i.e., dense) and in terms of the geographical area the network covers. Each terminal can be severely constrained by its computational and transmission/receiving power. Moreover, delay and complexity constraints along with diversity-limited channel behavior may require transmissions under insufficient levels of coding protection causing link outages. These con- straints require an understanding of the performance limits of such networks jointly in terms of power and bandwidth efficiency and link reliability, especially when designing key operational elements essential in these systems such as mul- tihop routing algorithms, bandwidth allocation policies and relay deployment models. This paper applies tools from information theory and statis-
The Alternative Sigma Factor σE Plays an Important Role in Intestinal Survival and Virulence in Vibrio cholerae

The alternative sigma factor σE (RpoE) is involved in the response to extracytoplasmic stress and plays a role in the virulence of a variety of different bacteria. To assess the role of σE in Vibrio cholerae pathogenesis, a ΔrpoE mutant was constructed and analyzed using the infant mouse model. The results here show that σE contributes significantly to the virulence of V. cholerae. The ΔrpoE mutant was highly attenuated with a 50% lethal dose more than 3 logs higher than that for the parental strain, and its ability to colonize the intestine was reduced approximately 30-fold. A time course of infection revealed that the number of CFU of the ΔrpoE mutant was approximately 1 log lower than that of the parental strain by 12 h postinoculation and decreased further by 24 h. The defect in virulence in the ΔrpoE mutant thus appears to be a diminished ability to survive within the intestinal environment. The results here also show that σE is not required for growth and survival of V. cholerae in vitro at high temperatures but is required under other stressful conditions, such as in the presence of 3% ethanol. As in Escherichia coli, the expression of rpoE in V. cholerae is dependent upon two promoters located upstream of the gene, P1 and P2. P1 appears to be σ70 dependent, whereas the downstream promoter, P2, is positively autoregulated by σE.
Novel Role for Albumin in Innate Immunity: Serum Albumin Inhibits the Growth of Blastomyces dermatitidis Yeast Form In Vitro

In this study we found that serum inhibitory activity against Blastomyces dermatitidis was principally mediated by albumin. This was confirmed in experiments using albumin from several mammalian species. Analbuminemic rat serum did not inhibit B. dermatitidis growth in vivo; however, the addition of albumin restored inhibitory activity. Inhibitory activity does not require albumin domain III and appears to involve binding of a low-molecular-weight yeast-derived growth factor.
Arizona “High Noon”: The Recall and Impeachment of Evan Mecham

April 4, 1988 marked the end of the most divisive and tumultuous period in the history of Arizona politics. For the first time in its seventy-six years as a state, Arizona, and the nation, witnessed the removal of a sitting governor, Evan Mecham, by conviction on impeachment charges by the Arizona Senate. Evan Mecham was the first governor in United States history to be confronted with a recall, impeachment and criminal indictment simultaneously. Although removed from office, the impact of Mecham's fifteen-month administration will permeate the social and political fabric of Arizona, as well as cloud its national image, for many years to come. This essay will briefly examine the concept of recall as an exercise in direct democracy, and the factors and context surrounding the recall drive and impeachment proceedings of Governor Evan Mecham.The Recall and Arizona's ProvisionThe recall is one of three aspects of the concept of “direct democracy,” the others being referendum and initiative. According to Wilcox (1912, p. 169) the initiative and referendum are instruments in the exercise of “pure democracy” which supplement representative government—the initiative is direct participation on the part of citizens in legislative action, while the referendum is an exercise in veto action. Conceptually, however, the recall is different. It does not involve direct citizen participation in the legislative activities of government, but is concerned with their ability to remove officials, principally elected but in some rare instances appointed, from office before the end of their term. As Wilcox stated, recall “… is simply the guaranteed right of the people to discharge their public servants when the public servants cease to be satisfactory to them” (Wilcox, 1912, p. 169).
Will Performance Management Restore Citizens’ Faith in Public Education?

ABSTRACT:Over the past decade, policymakers have expanded the use of performance management in public education in the United States. Education researchers have focused heavily on the ways these practices and policies shape teaching and learning, but have given much less attention to other expected outcomes of performance management. This article explores two specific areas where more research is needed: whether performance management improves public satisfaction and trust in public education, and whether it improves public oversight of education. We provide background on relevant educational issues and context for the study of performance management in education scholarship. Our goal is to draw additional researchers into this important line of inquiry.
Blowing Up the State: Interest Groups, Party Competition, and State Spending

Does the presence of more interest groups, and more citizens mobilized as interest groups, lead to greater spending by state lawmakers as they seek to gain the allegiance of these political organizations? We test this basic question with data on government spending, the number and size of interest groups, and the level of competition between them in the American states from 2005 to 2011. Our results reveal that the interest group effect on state spending is conditional, interest groups only really increase state spending when there is competition between the two main political parties for control of the state, otherwise the effects of interest groups are either negative or entirely absent.
Giant Axonal Neuropathy with CNS Involvement

Linkage and mutation analyses, MRI, EEG and EMG were performed in 6 patients with giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) from 3 consanguineous families examined at Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey, and centers in France.
The Effect of Added Energy on Induced Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Infection in Broilers

Abstract THE amount of research to date on the relationship of nutritional factors to host resistance is limited. The authors know of no references to studies of the effect of adding energy from poultry oil to broilers, which have had an induced Mycoplasma galliseptkum (Mg.) infection. Poultry oil is the grease or fat obtained from the processing of poultry offal. Gerry (1963) made the first report of its use in broiler rations. The results were most satisfactory and mortality was no higher than with no added fat when as much as 10% of the ration consisted of added fat. It is apparent from reviews of basic research (Aycock and Lutman, 1944; Schneider and Webster, 1945; Schneider, 1948, 1960; Clark et ah, 1949; Smith, 1954; Halpern, 1955; and Dubos and Schaedler, 1958) that it is probably impossible at this time to generalize on the relationship of nutrition to host resistance. The response…
Evaluation in Environmental Planning

The article reviews the book “Evaluation in Environmental Planning,” by Donald M. McAllister.
Analgesic Tolerance to Etorphine (M99)∗ and Morphine in the Mouse

Summary and ConclusionThe mouse given M99 or morphine exhibited an acute tolerance to the analgesic effects of both drugs. The acute tolerance was built up rapidly following a single injection of M99 or two daily injections of morphine (24 or 48 hr, respectively). Discontinuation of drug dosage for up to 6 weeks resulted in only a slight decrease in tolerance, which returned to its earlier state after a very few daily doses. M99, based upon 15-min peak analgesic effects in these tests, was approximately 2000 times as potent as morphine.
Laboratory study of endogenous social change.

Letting the players modify the payoff values in a 2 X 2 game provides a means of experimentally studying endogenous change in a social system. The idea of this particular way of studying social change in the laboratory has two roots. One is the platitudinous observation that social change in the modern world is almost wholly endogenous; it is produced far more often by events occurring within the society than it is by extra-social events such as natural disasters. The other root is the repeated finding that players in an iterated Prisoner's Dilemma game do not cooperate with each other very much. In the small world of the Prisoner's Dilemma game chey find it very difficult to interact with each other to their mutual benefit. From this finding, it is a small step to say to one's self, "Well, if they can't live in this world, then perhaps on this foundation they can build a world that they can live in." Thus arose the idea of studying endogenous social change by letting the players change some of the payoff values a little bit after every few trials. While the data from the first experiment by Mary Kilburn and myself are being tabulated, I am developing a set of concepts, together with a numerical measure of each, for the purpose of describing in terms of its wealth, safety, variability, distribution of power, etc., the little world that each pair of Ss builds. Preliminary data from the pilot studies suggest that Ss want a safe world before they want anything else, as indicated by an early tendency to raise negative payoff values up to positive values. Of course, starting with a different initial matrix, chey might build quite a different world. Not only can we study the kinds of changes chat Ss make in their little world, we can also scudy rates of change. Perhaps when Ss are permicted to make changes frequently, the changes tend to be smaller than they are when changes nre permitted only rarely. It would be highly gratifying, for example, to discover that the frequency of change, multiplied by its magnitude, is a constant.
Abstract 1565: Mesoporous silicon particle mediated dendritic cell based vaccine formulation showed stronger immunoresponse for the presentation of tumor antigens and adjuvant

Dendritic cell (DC) based immunotherapy is being used for cancer therapy in various clinical trials. During evaluation of recent clinical studies, it became apparent that efficient DC-based immunotherapy is dependent on a number of factors, such as the mode of antigen presentation, maturation of DC, injection site, and vaccination dosing. Major limiting factors for DC-based vaccines are insufficient loading of antigens by DC and poor migratory capacity of DC to lymph nodes. Nanotechnology provides tools to load large payloads of antigens and adjuvants in particles for uptake by DC. Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands have been proposed as vaccine adjuvants for boosting adaptive immunity in cancer therapy. TLR signaling induces DC activation that is characterized by enhanced expression of costimulatory molecules and increased secretion of cytokines necessary for activation and differentiation of naive T cells. In this study, we have used porous silicon (pSi) microparticles to create a novel vaccine. We have demonstrated that porous silicon particles can be decorated with TLR-ligands using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or monophosphoryl lipid (MPL). This decorated particles are substrates for bone marrow-derived DC internalization, leading to cellular uptake and activation and enhanced migration of DC to lymph nodes. Confocal and scanning electron microscopy, as well as flow cytometry studies supported higher uptake of LPS and MPL conjugated particles as compared to unlabeled particles. TLR ligands induced morphological changes in GM-CSF-stimulated bone marrow cells during particle uptake consistent with classical DC dentron formation. Stimulated antigen presenting cells also expressed elevated levels of costimulatory (e.g. CD80, CD86) and major histocompatibility molecules (MHC), and secreted pro-inflammatory cytokines both in vitro and in vivo. Ex-vivo processed DC loaded with TLR ligand coated pSi showed enhanced migration to lymph node as compared with empty DC when injected mice subcutaneously. As expected, LPS conjugation to particles showed toxicity towards DC whereas MPL conjugated pSi showed little or no toxicity. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1565. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1565
Approach to the Patient with Postprandial Hypoglycemia

Objectives Postprandial hypoglycemia in a nondiabetic patient is a frequent chief complaint across all medical specialties and represents a significant diagnostic challenge. Methods We conducted an electronic and print literature search using PubMed for articles published in the last 40 years using the key words "postprandial hypoglycemia," "reactive hypoglycemia," and "hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia." All available sources were reviewed, and publications were included based on clinical relevance. Results Over the last century, the classification, etiologies, diagnosis, and management of hypoglycemia have evolved considerably. In the contemporary literature, the evaluation of hypoglycemia is divided into well-appearing and ill-appearing patients. Symptoms of hypoglycemia in the well-appearing patient may result from insulinoma, noninsulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycemia syndrome (NIPHS), postbariatric surgery hypoglycemia, dumping syndrome, insulin autoimmunity, or postprandial syndrome. For each of these, the literature is lacking in randomized clinical trials investigating optimal diagnostic and treatment modalities, and this is due to the relatively recent description of some diseases and the rarity of cases. Conclusion This review provides an overview of postprandial hypoglycemia and summarizes the proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms of postprandial hypoglycemia, with special attention paid to some of the more recently described syndromes, such as NIPHS and postbariatric surgery hypoglycemia. Diagnostic and management strategies are also discussed.
Redox Conductivity of Current-Producing Mixed Species Biofilms

While most biological materials are insulating in nature, efficient extracellular electron transfer is a critical property of biofilms associated with microbial electrochemical systems and several microorganisms are capable of establishing conductive aggregates and biofilms. Though construction of these conductive microbial networks is an intriguing and important phenomenon in both natural and engineered systems, few studies have been published related to conductive biofilms/aggregates and their conduction mechanisms, especially in mixed-species environments. In the present study, current-producing mixed species biofilms exhibited high conductivity across non-conductive gaps. Biofilm growth observed on the inactive electrode contributed to overall power outputs, suggesting that an electrical connection was established throughout the biofilm assembly. Electrochemical gating analysis of the biofilms over a range of potentials (-600-200 mV, vs. Ag/AgCl) resulted in a peak-manner response with maximum conductance of 3437 ± 271 μS at a gate potential of -360 mV. Following removal of the electron donor (acetate), a 96.6% decrease in peak conductivity was observed. Differential responses observed in the absence of an electron donor and over varying potentials suggest a redox driven conductivity mechanism in mixed-species biofilms. These results demonstrated significant differences in biofilm development and conductivity compared to previous studies using pure cultures.
Ray Tracing and Image Analysis for Gradient Index Media: Atmospheric Refraction Application

Expressions are developed for tracing rays through a medium with a persistent refractive index gradient. Interpretations are provided for image displacement and warping. Time-lapse imaging results for a 15km path are evaluated.
Hybrid Techniques for Aortic Arch Aneurysm Repair

Open repair of the aortic arch remains the gold standard for aortic aneurysms and dissections. However, in elderly patients with comorbidities, and in patients where prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time and circulatory arrest may pose a significant risk, hybrid techniques in repairing the aortic arch have become quite attractive. Hybrid arch surgery includes a combination of endovascular and open surgery that allows surgeons to operate on the arch in a safe and expeditious manner with potential decrease in morbidity and mortality.
Treatment of Patients with Positive Margins

Many patients who undergo total prostatectomy for clinically localized disease will be found to have local tumor extension beyond the prostate following microscopic examination of the surgical specimen (pathological Stage C). Many of these patients are at increased risk for local and distant recurrence, and an effective form of adjuvant therapy is desirable. Several investigators over the years have utilized adjuvant radiation therapy in this setting with a demonstrated decrease in local recurrence. There has been no significant improvement in survival however. This could represent the fact that those patients who have distant progression most likely had subclinical distant disease present at the time of the radiation, and because the follow-up in most series remains short, there has yet been no significant difference in survival. Most series do indicate a trend toward improved survival in the patients who received adjuvant radiation therapy, suggesting that with time, as the subpopulation of patients who only had residual local disease—now controlled with radiation—survive longer, there will also be a survival advantage.
On-line sliding-window list-mode PET image reconstruction for a surgical pet imaging probe

We present an on-line image reconstruction method for a surgical PET imaging probe. We have been investigating the PET imaging probe in order to detect small tumors or remnants of surgically removed tumors either during surgery or preoperatively. The probe system consists of a segment of a conventional PET scanner and a small, high-resolution PET detector equipped with a position-tracker and collects coincidence events between them. The imaging probe’s proximity to the lesions and the small size crystals in the probe contribute to high spatial resolution. It is anticipated that in the clinical system, the acquired data will be presented to the clinicians or surgeons on line. In order to display the images on line, we use a variant of the list mode OSEM. By consecutively applying a nonoverlapping data window or an overlapping data window on data, we can present intermediately reconstructed images on line. The continuously updated 3D image is re-projected in real-time onto a plane whose orientation is driven by the tracking system. We are interested in implementing the real time PET imaging system using graphic process units (GPUs) and parallel processing. We tested out the algorithm using simulated data.
Simplistisch of eurocentrisch

Enkele weken geleden bezocht ik een congres over neuropsychologie waar studies met beeldvormende technieken zoals gewoonlijk weer veelvuldig aan bod kwamen. En tussen deze presentaties met geavanceerde technieken presenteerde een Japanse onderzoeksgroep een poster over de effecten van het bezoeken van toeristische sites op het functioneren van patienten met de ziekte van Parkinson.
Root growth dynamics and fruit yield of melon (Cucumis melo L) genotypes at two locations with sandy loam and clay soils

Abstract In a two year minirhizotron study (2011 and 2012), the root growth, yield and fruit quality responses of six melon genotypes to two locations with different soil types were investigated. The field experiments were conducted in south Texas at two locations viz. Uvalde with clayey (hyperthermic aridic calciustolls) and Weslaco with sandy loam (hyperthermic typic calciustolls) type soils, with subsurface drip irrigated using black plastic mulch. Root length intensity ( L a , cm cm −2 ), marketable (MFY), total fruit yield (TFY; t ha −1 ), fruit firmness (N) and soluble solids content (SSC; °Bx) of four TAMU inbreds and two commercial hybrids, Mission and Journey were measured. Root length intensity was lower in 2011 than in 2012, possibly due to the variations in climatic, and soil conditions, and minirhizotron tube artifacts. Sandy loam soil produced 77% higher L a (1.6 vs. 0.9 cm cm −2 ) as compared to clay soil. Under sandy loam soils, root growth distribution was deeper (40–70 cm) while it was confined at the depth of drip tape ( L a to most popular commercial cultivar Mission and higher L a than Journey. These results reveal that under high input intensive production systems large root systems may not be required for high yielding potential, however under sandy loam soils cultivars vary in their root distribution patterns across soil depth. Further, the great rooting ability of TAMU breeding lines under different soil types and equivalent yield potential to commercial hybrids confirms their suitability as a potential parent for developing genetically improved and stable cultivars for a wide range of environments.
Laser Treatments for Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation: A Systematic Review.

Importance Lasers are gaining interest as a treatment option for postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) but can pose a clinical dilemma given the risk for laser-induced or exacerbated PIH. Objective To assess the clinical evidence for the use of lasers in the treatment of PIH. Evidence Review A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed databases from January 1, 1990, through May 31, 2016. Included studies involved laser treatment for PIH with the degree of pigmentation as a measure of outcome. The search was filtered to include only clinical studies written in the English language. Study methods were analyzed and the reproducibility of the studies was graded. Outcome measures varied from study to study and included concentration of melanin and hemoglobin, patient satisfaction questionnaires, clinical photography, subjective clinical improvement, light microscopy, melanin index, reflectance spectroscopy, and/or skin biopsy evaluated by a blinded dermatopathologist. Findings Of 1295 results, 20 unique studies with 224 patients met the inclusion criteria. These studies included 1 randomized clinical observer-blinded study (6 patients), 4 nonrandomized clinical trials (133 patients), 1 cohort study (34 patients), 7 case series (44 patients), and 7 case reports (7 patients). Multiple lasers were studied; however, most of the studies were not methodologically rigorous. Some studies showed no improvement or worsening of PIH after laser treatment. The most extensively studied device was the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, which has shown promising results based on multiple outcome measures as listed above. Conclusions and Relevance Some lasers may be beneficial in the treatment of PIH. The evidence suggests that additional studies would be required to determine the benefit of laser treatment of PIH.
Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Aortic Occlusion Balloons

Achieving rapid and effective control of the aorta remains a fundamental concept for salvaging ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm patients. The degree of hemorrhage and patient comorbidities dictate how long a patient can survive before cardiac collapse. One of the major barriers to treating unstable ruptured aneurysms with endovascular therapy is the ability to achieve hemorrhage control while excluding the aneurysm with a stent graft. Aortic occlusion balloons can be deployed in a simple, rapid, and effective manner to achieve hemodynamic stability. This technique can be utilized for both open and endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Assessment of disease extent on contrast-enhanced MRI in breast cancer detected at digital breast tomosynthesis versus digital mammography alone

Aim To compare the utility of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in determining the extent of disease in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer detected on combination digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) versus digital screening mammography (DM). Materials and methods Review of 24,563 DBT-screened patients and 10,751 DM-screened patients was performed. Two hundred and thirty-five DBT patients underwent subsequent MRI examinations; 82 to determine extent of disease after newly diagnosed breast cancer. Eighty-three DM patients underwent subsequent MRI examinations; 23 to determine extent of disease. MRI examinations performed to assess disease extent were considered true positives if additional disease was discovered in the contralateral breast or >2 cm away from the index malignancy. Differences in cancer subtypes and MRI outcomes between the DM and DBT cohorts were compared using chi-squared tests and post-hoc Bonferroni-adjusted tests for equal proportions. Results No differences in cancer subtype findings were observed between the two cohorts; however, MRI outcomes were found to differ between the DBT and DM cohorts ( p= 0.024). Specifically, the DBT cohort had significantly ( p= 0.013) fewer true-positive findings (7/82, 8.5%) than did the DM cohort (7/23; 30%), whereas the false-positive rate was similar between the cohorts (not statistically significant). When stratifying by breast density, this difference in true-positive rates was primarily observed when evaluating women with non-dense breasts ( p= 0.001). Conclusion In both the DM- and DBT-screened populations with new cancer diagnoses, MRI is able to detect additional cancer; however, in those patients who have DBT screen-detected cancers the positive impact of preoperative MRI is diminished, particularly in those women with non-dense breasts.
β2 integrins rather than β1 integrins mediate Alternaria-induced group 2 innate lymphoid cell trafficking to the lung

Background Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) expand in the lungs of mice during type 2 inflammation induced by the fungal allergen Alternaria alternata . The increase in ILC2 numbers in the lung has been largely attributed to local proliferation and whether ILC2s migrate from the circulation to the lung after Alternaria exposure is unknown. Objective We examined whether human (lung, lymph node, and blood) and mouse lung ILC2s express β 1 and β 2 integrin adhesion molecules and whether these integrins are required for trafficking of ILC2s into the lungs of mice. Methods Human and mouse ILC2s were assessed for surface expression of β 1 and β 2 integrin adhesion molecules by using flow cytometry. The role of β 1 and β 2 integrins in ILC2 trafficking to the lungs was assessed by in vivo blocking of these integrins before airway exposure to Alternaria in mice. Results Both human and mouse lung ILC2s express high levels of β 1 and β 2 integrin adhesion receptors. Intranasal administration of Alternaria challenge reduced ILC2 numbers in the bone marrow and concurrently increased blood and lung ILC2 numbers. In vivo blocking of β 2 integrins (CD18) significantly reduced ILC2 numbers in the lungs but did not alter ILC2 proliferation, apoptosis, and function. In contrast, in vivo blocking of β 1 integrins or α 4 integrins did not affect lung ILC2 numbers. Conclusion ILC2 numbers increase in the mouse lung not only through local proliferation but also through trafficking from the circulation into the lung using β 2 rather than β 1 or α 4 integrins.
A quantum inspired model of radar range and range-rate measurements with applications to weak value measurements

Weak Value Measurements (WVMs) with pre- and post-selected quantum mechanical ensembles were proposed by Aharonov, Albert, and Vaidman in 1988 and have found numerous applications in both theoretical and applied physics. In the field of precision metrology, WVM techniques have been demonstrated and proven valuable as a means to shift, amplify, and detect signals and to make precise measurements of small effects in both quantum and classical systems, including: particle spin, the Spin-Hall effect of light, optical beam deflections, frequency shifts, field gradients, and many others. In principal, WVM amplification techniques are also possible in radar and could be a valuable tool for precision measurements. However, relatively limited research has been done in this area. This article presents a quantum-inspired model of radar range and range-rate measurements of arbitrary strength, including standard and pre- and post-selected measurements. The model is used to extend WVM amplification theory to radar, with the receive filter performing the post-selection role. It is shown that the description of range and range-rate measurements based on the quantum-mechanical measurement model and formalism produces the same results as the conventional approach used in radar based on signal processing and filtering of the reflected signal at the radar receiver. Numerical simulation results using simple point scatterrer configurations are presented, applying the quantum-inspired model of radar range and range-rate measurements that occur in the weak measurement regime. Potential applications and benefits of the quantum inspired approach to radar measurements are presented, including improved range and Doppler measurement resolution.
The Judge Advocate As Strategist

This article suggests that strategy is one function that military lawyers (in the role of Trial Counsel, or prosecutors) perform continuously and tacitly. Being a “strategist” is implicitly tied to the Trial Counsel’s conventional role as the objectively reasonable, analytical advisor and is another proper role to openly accept, besides those of subject-matter expert, counselor, and "conscience of the command." This article outlines the roles demanded of the Trial Counsel relative to the Commander in the exercise of his or her judicial authority and discretion under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and views it under lens of a principal-agent dynamic. The essay analogizes this relationship to that of the strategic advisor to decision-makers in other contexts, and concludes that there are sound reasons, in the practice of military justice, for viewing this lawyer-to-commander relationship in terms of strategic advice.
Indirect computed tomography lymphangiography with aqueous contrast for evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes in dogs with tumors of the head

Sentinel lymph node evaluation is widely used in human medicine to evaluate the first lymph node(s) to which a tumor drains. Sentinel lymph node biopsy allows avoidance of extensive lymphadenectomies in cases where the sentinel lymph node is negative for metastasis, thereby reducing patient morbidity. It has been shown that regional lymph nodes are not always the sentinel lymph node, thus identification and sampling of sentinel lymph nodes allows for more accurate staging, which is critical for treatment and prognostication in dogs with cancer. The objective of this prospective, pilot study was to determine if indirect computed tomography (CT) lymphangiography with aqueous contrast agent would successfully allow identification of sentinel lymph nodes in dogs with masses on the head. Eighteen dogs underwent CT lymphangiography. The sentinel lymph node was successfully identified within 3 min of contrast injection in 16 dogs (89%). Compression of lymphatic vessels from endotracheal tube ties and/or the patient's own body weight delayed or prevented identification of sentinel lymph nodes in two dogs (11%). Computed tomography lymphangiography with aqueous contrast can be used successfully to rapidly identify sentinel lymph nodes in dogs with masses on the head.
Insights from the “Dream Book” of the Babylonian Talmud [200–500 ce]

The “Dream Book” provides a subjectively extensive and humane approach to understanding dreams. The Talmudic dream is prophetic in nature so it is future oriented while the Freudian dream is past oriented toward childhood. In addition, there is the need to understand the dream experience. Dream meaning is not in the text but in the interpretation. The dream experience is over-determined. Word play is used by the Rabbis and modern interpreters. The Rabbis felt the dream experience reflected the psychology of the dreamer. Dreams of everyday men and women are presented, not just dreams of royalty. Good and bad dreams reflect the moral nature of the dreamer. And if it is a bad dream there is a method to prevent its fulfillment. Further, if one does not recall a dream, there is also a method for dealing with it in the daily prayers and asking the Lord to make it a good dream. Concern about false dream interpreters is expressed. Dreams with a sexual meaning are represented symbolically. Precursors of many of our modern views of dreaming are present in the “Dream Book”.
The Apachean Transition from the Subarctic to the Southwest

AbstractA comparison of evidence from linguistics, archaeology, ethnography and history suggests that the separation of Northern and Southern Athabascans in the first millennium A.D. may have been provoked by warming conditions and resultant shifts in the distribution of major game species. The “mixed bag” subsistence pattern of most Athabascan groups, as well as their association with mountainous areas which provide access to a variety of ecological zones, lends weight to the hypothesis that mountain ranges were the medium for Apachean migration into the Southwest. A hypothetical reconstruction of this transition from the Subarctic to the Southwest is presented and discussed.
National Trends in the Epidemiology of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A National Cancer Data Base Study.

Background Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) remains an aggressive malignancy that is difficult to cure. However, the treatment paradigm of MPM has evolved, and the national practice patterns are unknown. This study examined the national trends in the epidemiology, national treatment patterns, and survival of patients with this disease. Methods We identified all patients (n = 19,134) with MPM from the National Cancer Data Base from 2004 to 2013. We analyzed patient, tumor characteristics, and treatment patterns using descriptive statistics and used Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models to estimate survival stratified by the type of therapy administered. Results Four histologic subtypes were represented in the National Cancer Data Base, these included sarcomatoid (n = 2,355 [12.3%]), epithelioid (n = 6,858 [35.8%]), biphasic (n = 13,617 [11%]), and not otherwise specified (n = 8,560 [44.7%]). Across all subtypes, the prevalence of mesothelioma was highest among white men. Sarcomatoid had the worst survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.2; p p p Conclusions This is the first publication to date to analyze the mesothelioma National Cancer Data Base. Although survival remains poor, multimodality therapy with surgical resection is associated with the best survival for MPM. Further research is needed to improve survival and overall patient outcomes.
Effect of xylanase on the performance of laying hens fed a low energy corn and soybean diet.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine the effect of high- and low-activity xylanase in a corn and soybean diet on the performance of laying hens. There were 2 phases each with 4 treatment diets: positive control (PC), negative control (NC) with lower metabolizable energy (ME) and nutrient density, and 2 different xylanases supplemented to the NC diet. Phase 1 was 23–43 wk of age and phase 2 was 43–58 wk, for a total duration of 35 wk. The NC diet had a lower ME in phase 2 than phase 1. There were 72 cages with 3 Bovan White Leghorns each. Egg production (EP) was recorded daily, feed intake (FI) weekly, and average egg weights (EW) biweekly. Egg production and FI were calculated using biweekly periods, also used to determine egg mass (EM) and feed conversion (FC) with biweekly EW. BW was recorded and analyzed for weeks 0, 10, 20, and 35 of the study. Egg production did not differ among treatment groups (phase 1: P = 0.47; phase 2: P = 0.54). In phase 1, EW and EM were significantly lower in the NC diet with enzyme B, compared to both the PC and NC diets (P = 0.019; P = 0.01). The PC diet yielded higher EW than all other treatments in phase 2 (P = 0.036), but no differences in EM were present (P = 0.12). Baseline BW was not different (P = 0.63), but hens fed the PC diet had higher BW in subsequent measurements (P ≤ 0.05). Hens fed the PC diet had lower FI than all other treatment groups in both phases (P = 0.0001), and had an improved FC than the 2 enzyme groups in phase 1 (P = 0.0001) and all other treatment groups in phase 2 (P = 0.0001). The enzymes did not improve the performance of the birds.
Individual Variation in Vocal Tract Resonance May Assist Oilbirds in Recognizing Echoes of Their Own Sonar Clicks

Oilbirds, Steatornis caripensis, live in colonies in caves, within which they navigate by echolocation (Griffin 1953, Snow 1961). The sonar “clicks” of these nocturnal birds typically last about 40 to 80 ms and are emitted at repetition rates up to about 12/s. Most of the acoustic energy lies beween 1 and 15 kHz. Sound during some clicks is continuous but other clicks, here referred to as double clicks, are divided by a silent period lasting about 20–30 ms into two brief bursts of sound.