cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Erythropoietin: Current Status

Understanding the regulation of red blood cell production has been greatly enhanced by the cloning and expression of the gene for human erythropoietin (Epo) and its receptor. The availability of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) for administration to patients has ushered in a new era in molecular medicine. Intravenous or subcutaneous administration of rhEpo can reliably cure the anemia of chronic renal failure and may be effective in the treatment of anemias secondary to chronic inflammation, malignancy, and marrow suppression from chemotherapy. In addition, rhEpo therapy will probably play a prominent role in transfusion medicine, both in preparing patients for auto-transfusions as well as in minimizing red cell transfusion requirements in the post-operative period.
Distribution and fate of 13 C-labeled root and straw residues from ryegrass and crimson clover in soil under western Oregon field conditions

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) were pulse-labeled with 13C-CO2 in the field between the initiation of late winter growth (mid-February) and through flowering and seed formation (late May). Straw was harvested after seed maturation (July), and soil containing 13C-labeled roots and root-derived C was left in the field until September. 13C-enriched and 13C-unenriched straw residues of each species were mixed in factorial combinations with soil containing either 13C-enriched or 13C-unenriched root-derived C and incubated in the field for 10 months. The contributions of C derived from straw, roots, and soil were measured in soil microbial biomass C, respired C, and soil C on five occasions after residue incorporation (September, October, November, April, and June). At straw incorporation (September), 25–30% of soil microbial biomass C was derived from root C in both ryegrass and clover treatments, and this value was sustained in the ryegrass treatment from September to April but declined in the clover treatment. By October, between 20 and 30% of soil microbial biomass C was derived from straw, with the percentage contribution from clover straw generally exceeding that from ryegrass straw throughout the incubation. By June, ryegrass root-derived C contributed 5.5% of the soil C pool, which was significantly greater than the contributions from any of the three other residue types (about 1.5%). This work has provided a framework for more studies of finer scale that should focus on the interactions between residue quality, soil organic matter C, and specific members of the soil microbial community.
Incidence of abnormal mammograms after reduction mammoplasty: implications for oncoplastic closure

BACKGROUND: Reduction mammoplasty requires significant tissue dissection, which may impact the interpretation of future mammograms used in breast cancer surveillance. The aim of this study was to define the incidence of abnormal mammography after reduction mammoplasty and to assess the impact of substantial tissue remodeling on interpreting mammography. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective case-control study examining results of postoperative mammography after reduction mammoplasty over a 5-year period. RESULTS: Between 2001 and 2005, 87 patients underwent breast reduction and had available postoperative mammography. A control group of 30 patients were identified who underwent consultation for breast reduction but did not have surgery. The median time to postoperative mammography was 52 weeks. The incidence of abnormal first postoperative mammogram (Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System [BIRADS] 0, 3-6) was not significantly different between reduction mammoplasty patients and controls (n = 23, 26% vs 8, 27%, respectively, P = 1.00). Age, postoperative complications, tissue pathology, history of previous breast biopsy, and abnormal preoperative mammography did not significantly predict abnormal postoperative mammogram. Postoperative mammography led to additional imaging in 20 patients (23%) and breast biopsy in 1 patient (1.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the substantial tissue mobilization performed during reduction mammoplasty, postoperative screening mammography does not lead to significantly more imaging or diagnostic interventions when compared with nonoperative controls. This small case-control study suggests that oncoplastic closure techniques should not adversely impact subsequent mammography.
Work in progress - implications of the Mastery approach for rates of learning and assessment

The mastery approach has been used successfully to improve both performance and success of students learning Circuit Analysis, a foundational, one-year sequence for Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering majors. Students work toward mastering secure, online modules, which can be retaken when a student fails to earn a perfect score. Preliminary results indicate that the total number of modules mastered by the class doubles every two to four weeks during the first semester, suggesting that learning is also nonlinear. Results also show that different students follow very different trajectories toward mastery. In this paper, we report on these findings and others, and discuss the implications for assessments in foundational courses.
Moyamoya Disease in a Primarily White, Midwestern US Population Increased Prevalence of Autoimmune Disease

Background and Purpose—Moyamoya disease is an uncommon, cerebrovascular occlusive disease of unknown pathogenesis. Previously described Moyamoya cohorts include predominantly Asian populations or ethnically diverse North American cohorts. To gain further insight into the pathogenesis of moyamoya, we examined clinical characteristics of a primarily white, Midwestern US population Methods—Retrospective analysis of patients with angiographically confirmed moyamoya disease evaluated at our institution was performed. Prevalence of comorbidities, cerebrovascular risk factors, and autoimmune diseases were compared with the general population. Results—Ninety-four patients with moyamoya were evaluated; 72.3% were female. Ethnic composition was primarily white (85%). A significantly higher prevalence of autoimmune disease was seen, particularly type 1 diabetes mellitus (8.5% versus 0.4% in the general population) and thyroid disease (17.0% versus 8.0% in the institutional general patient population). Hyperlipidemia...
STEPing to sustainability in a graduate K-12 partnership

The Science and Technology Enhancement Program (STEP) at the University of Cincinnati (UC) links university faculty, graduate students, secondary teachers, and secondary students in an effort to enhance student competence and promote awareness in STEM disciplines. Graduate-student Fellows gain valuable experience assisting and teaching in urban high schools. This NSF-funded project has generated hundreds of STEM lessons suitable for use by secondary school teachers. The sustainability of the program is the focus of this paper as viewed through the lessons, students, teachers, website, and the STEP Fellows. Over the past eight years, Project STEP has interacted with all of these groups to create and implement a successful community partnership. Conclusions are presented and concerns addressed. Project STEP students, teachers, and Fellows demonstrate increased awareness of the requirements and challenges of effective STEM education.
Intrusion Detection by Ultra-Wide Bandwidth Radar

Ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) radar can probably detect an intruder by virtue of his/her heartbeat. Ordinarily used for detection of buried objects, UWB radar can measure the Doppler frequency shift caused by the radar impinging on blood pumped in the heart to infer the presence of a human in situations where other sensors cannot, or to supplement other sensors. The heart is divided into four chambers. Two are called ventricles. They contract thereby ejecting blood at high speed. Detection improves as the intruder becomes increasingly agitated or runs. Pumping action of the heart is modeled mathematically.
The Development of an Amino Acid Reference Diet for the Early Growth of Chicks

Abstract INTRODUCTION DURING the past eight years successive studies of the amino acid needs of chicks fed crystalline amino acid diets have been carried out at this laboratory. In the early part of this work Klain et al. (1960b) fed a number of amino acid mixtures before finally finding one that chicks would voluntarily consume in adequate amounts to gain at a fairly satisfactory rate (7–8 grams daily during the second week post hatching). This mixture, which was patterned after the amino acids in the fat free chick carcass as reported by Price et al. (1953), was employed to determine the chick’s quantitative requirement for 14 amino acids. The amino acid mixture resulting from these requirement studies supported the same rate of growth as the starting mixture. It was found, however, that if the essential amino acids in the final mixture were increased over two fold and a mixture of…
SimDS: a simulation environment for the design of distributed database systems

Design of a distributed transaction processing system is a complex process. The paper describes the design and implementation of a general purpose scalable simulation environment (SimDS) for designing and evaluating the performance of distributed transaction processing systems. SimDS is a distributed simulation system where each data server is implemented as a separate process that communicates with each other through user datagram protocol. The paper describes the features of SimDS including various design policies that can be modeled by the system. It also discusses different design issues that one needs to consider in the implementation of a distributed simulation environment. The paper concludes with some test examples where SimDS was used to simulate different configurations of a real-time transaction processing system.
Reopening of Peripheral and Central Arteries and Veins

Complete occlusion of the central or peripheral vessels are relatively common occurrences in patients with congenital heart disease and typically occur as a result of thrombosis but can also be due to surgical manipulation, inflammation, infection, or ductal constriction. Completely occluded vessels can often be recanalized successfully in the catheterization laboratory; however, these complex procedures require a methodical approach, including judicious use of preprocedural imaging techniques to understand the anatomic extent of the occlusion, followed by careful selection of the optimal vascular access site and gradual and painstaking wire recanalization, followed by thrombectomy when necessary, and culminating in appropriate use of balloon angioplasty and stenting techniques. In this chapter, we review each of these techniques and lay out a step-by-step approach for successful recanalization of occluded vessels, including a discussion of postprocedural management.
Multi-source development of an integrated model for family health history

Objective To integrate data elements from multiple sources for informing comprehensive and standardized collection of family health history (FHH). Materials and methods Three types of sources were analyzed to identify data elements associated with the collection of FHH. First, clinical notes from multiple resources were annotated for FHH information. Second, questions and responses for family members in patient-facing FHH tools were examined. Lastly, elements defined in FHH-related specifications were extracted for several standards development and related organizations. Data elements identified from the notes, tools, and specifications were subsequently combined and compared. Results In total, 891 notes from three resources, eight tools, and seven specifications associated with four organizations were analyzed. The resulting Integrated FHH Model consisted of 44 data elements for describing source of information, family members, observations, and general statements about family history. Of these elements, 16 were common to all three source types, 17 were common to two, and 11 were unique. Intra-source comparisons also revealed common and unique elements across the different notes, tools, and specifications. Discussion Through examination of multiple sources, a representative and complementary set of FHH data elements was identified. Further work is needed to create formal representations of the Integrated FHH Model, standardize values associated with each element, and inform context-specific implementations. Conclusions There has been increased emphasis on the importance of FHH for supporting personalized medicine, biomedical research, and population health. Multi-source development of an integrated model could contribute to improving the standardized collection and use of FHH information in disparate systems.
Rhetoric of God's Empowerment in Nigerian Christianity: Its Import for Christian Identity and Social Responsibility

The belief that God empowers Christ's followers, enabling them to confront religious, socio-economic, and political problems, reverberates in contemporary Nigerian Christianity. Sermons, healing and deliverance services, and gospel songs are the primary vehicles for conveying this belief both within and beyond Christian communities. Nigerian Christians' talk about God's empowerment, with particular reference to how they imagine the ways Christians can embody and utilize God's empowerment, raises important social questions. How should Christians negotiate their Christian identity and social responsibility within the context of the complex relations of religious and socio-economic currents of contemporary Nigeria? The role that the rhetoric of God's empowerment plays in Nigerian Christianity cannot be overlooked without serious social and religious consequences. Rhetoric of God's empowerment provides a window through which one can see how many Nigerian Christians are constantly negotiating their Christian identity and social responsibility within the religious and socio-economic contexts of Nigeria. Many Nigerian Christians do not concern themselves primarily with achieving logical certainty on matters concerning God's existence.
Comparative simulation study on MoS2 FET and FinFET

Both MoS2 FET and FinFET are simulated and compared to experimental results and the impact of gate scaling-down on the transistor performance is studied. Though MoS2 FET shows better suppression of the short channel effect, its on-current is still lower than the one of FinFET down to 10nm physical channel length due to the low saturation velocity of MoS2. In addition, the improvement of mobility over 60cm2/Vs has little benefit for the on-current.
Automated interferometric synthetic aperture microscopy and computational adaptive optics for improved optical coherence tomography

In this paper, we introduce an algorithm framework for the automation of interferometric synthetic aperture microscopy (ISAM). Under this framework, common processing steps such as dispersion correction, Fourier domain resampling, and computational adaptive optics aberration correction are carried out as metrics-assisted parameter search problems. We further present the results of this algorithm applied to phantom and biological tissue samples and compare with manually adjusted results. With the automated algorithm, near-optimal ISAM reconstruction can be achieved without manual adjustment. At the same time, the technical barrier for the nonexpert using ISAM imaging is also significantly lowered.
Directivity and Noise Propagation for Supersonic Free Jets

There are several approaches for numerical noise estimation, with different levels of accuracy and computational cost. In this study, we numerically simulate the synchronized perturbed fields generated from supersonic axisymmetric jet flows. Input perturbations are introduced in the mean jet flow to produce coherent structures. Then, the perturbed and acoustic fields are predicted at different frequencies by integrating the linearized Euler equations. This numerical approach is used for its simplicity and accuracy. We investigate the effect of the perturbation frequency on different characteristics of the acoustic field. We illustrate the synchronization phenomenon that occurs in the acoustic field, where its temporal frequency is synchronized to the perturbation frequency over a wide range as compared to the perturbed-wakes problem in fluid mechanics. Some results suggest that the perturbation frequency can be used for the purpose of noise control by altering the acoustic propagation pattern.
Clinical testing of the apnea prevention device: proof of concept data.

INTRODUCTION: Narcotic-induced respiratory depression is a major cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Current monitoring modalities are inadequate to detect and treat respiratory depression in postoperative patients. Intermittent nursing assessments, even if conducted frequently, may not capture the rapid onset of airway obstruction, apnea, and hypoxia that can occur in many of these patients. Continuous nursing observation, as in an intensive care unit setting, is cost-prohibitive and impractical, given the large number of patients at risk. In an effort to address this problem, the author has created and tested the Apnea Prevention Device (APD), which is designed to detect the onset of hypoxia and instantly intervene to restore respiration and oxygen saturation in narcotized patients. METHODS: The prototype APD used in this study consisted of a laptop computer running custom software, a pulse oximeter, and a nerve stimulator. Oxygen saturation data were acquired by the computer from the pulse oximeter, and stimuli to the patient were delivered either by headphones (verbal prompts) or a nerve stimulator (cutaneous). The APD program was written to analyze oximetry data and when indicated, deliver a series of stimuli of increasing intensity to arouse patients from narcosis. The device was tested on surgical patients in the postanesthesia care unit. An intervention delivered by the APD was scored as a success if the patient took a large tidal volume breath (as evidenced by chest rise) and there was a subsequent increase in oxygen saturation. The APD maintained a data log of oxygen saturations and interventions. In a subset of patients, it was possible to compare the functioning of the APD with routine nursing care. RESULTS: A total of 125 interventions were delivered by the APD to 10 patients with a 97% success rate. The depth of desaturations was less when the APD was in use than when patients received routine 1:1 nursing care. When the APD was functioning, the frequency with which nurses prompted the subjects to breathe was dramatically reduced. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates that the prototype APD can successfully treat narcotic-induced respiratory depression in postoperative patients and does so in a manner that is superior to that provided by routine 1:1 nursing care. Such a device has the potential to decrease the morbidity associated with narcotic-induced respiratory depression in postoperative patients.
Influence of chicken breed on pathogenicity evaluation of velogenic neurotropic Newcastle disease virus isolates from cormorants and turkeys.

SUMMARY. Three isolates of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) from cormorants and turkeys were classified as velogenic neurotropic NDV (VNNDV) by standard pathotyping procedures in specific-pathogen-free white leghorn and white rock chickens. White leghorns inoculated by eye drop, cloaca, intravenous, or intracerebral routes had a higher frequency of nervous signs and mortality than was observed in similarly inoculated white rocks. Two backpassages in white rocks increased the intravenous pathogenicity index of all three isolates, but none had a value after backpassage that was as high as the classical VNNDV strain Texas GB. The breed of chicken used in standard procedures did influence the numerical values of pathotyping determinations, but the differences between breeds were not large enough to change the pathotype assigned to these isolates.
Experimental mastitis produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in goats.

SUMMARY A study was made of the mastitis produced by inoculating approximately 1010 viable Pseudomonas aeruginosa into one side of the mammary gland via the teat canal in 15 goats. Control animals received heat-killed organisms or sterile broth. The measurements made were of body temperature and white blood cells (measuring systemic response), milk leucocyte count (measuring local inflammation), milk yield (measuring loss of junction), and bacterial count of milk (measuring activity of the invading organism). A histological examination was made of the mammary gland after death or slaughter, at periods ranging from 1 to 28 days after inoculation. There was considerable variation in the responses observed, and these were classified as (a) Mild—3 goats, (b) Moderately severe—8 goats, (c) Severe—4 goats, 2 of which developed haemorrhagic mastitis and died 2½ and 3½ days after inoculation. The characteristic picture in animals inoculated with living organisms was: (a) rise in body temperature and a marked reduction of the number of leucocytes in the blood, with a shift to the left, (b) rise in leucocyte content oj the milk, (c) fall in milk yield, (d) establishment of Ps. aeruginosa within the udder. All these changes were most marked in the severest cases. Ps. aeruginosa was isolated in pure culture from the heart blood of the 2 goats that died. Histologically, the findings varied from focal inflammation associated with damage to acinar epithelium and inter-acinar fibrosis in mild reactions, to extensive necrosis with formation of large granulomata in severe reactions. Invasion of blood vessels by Ps. aeruginosa was a feature of the fatal cases.
Vulnerable worker populations--special issue.

The views and opinions expressed in this editorial are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. government or its subsidiaries. No endorsement of any product, m...
Fungible Correlation Matrices: A Method for Generating Nonsingular, Singular, and Improper Correlation Matrices for Monte Carlo Research

For a fixed set of standardized regression coefficients and a fixed coefficient of determination (R-squared), an infinite number of predictor correlation matrices will satisfy the implied quadratic form. I call such matrices fungible correlation matrices. In this article, I describe an algorithm for generating positive definite (PD), positive semidefinite (PSD), or indefinite (ID) fungible correlation matrices that have a random or fixed smallest eigenvalue. The underlying equations of this algorithm are reviewed from both algebraic and geometric perspectives. Two simulation studies illustrate that fungible correlation matrices can be profitably used in Monte Carlo research. The first study uses PD fungible correlation matrices to compare penalized regression algorithms. The second study uses ID fungible correlation matrices to compare matrix-smoothing algorithms. R code for generating fungible correlation matrices is presented in the supplemental materials.
“That’s not how it works”: economic indicators and the construction of partisan economic narratives

ABSTRACTThis study examines the processes through which partisans update their (biased) economic judgments during periods of mixed and asymmetric economic performance. I show evidence that citizens express relatively unbiased perceptions of the movement of the stock market, suggesting that partisans do not engage in processes of motivated reasoning when reporting judgments of widely available economic data. Instead, partisans respond to fluctuations in stock market performance by revising their assumptions about the way the economy works: in response to positive or negative developments, the stock market is perceived to be more or less important for the health of the broader US economy depending upon Americans’ partisan worldviews. This form of biased narrative construction has substantial importance in light of a “two-speed” post-Great Recession economy.
The Influence of Varying Cost Formats on Preferences

Background. Numerous studies have found that cost strongly influences patients’ decision making. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of varying cost formats on patients’ preferenc...
BODY MASS INDEX AND ACUTE AORTIC DISSECTION

Background: Obesity has been linked to many cardiovascular diseases, yet little is known about its impact on acute aortic dissection (AAD). We sought to assess the clinical manifestations, management and outcomes of AAD in relation to body mass index (BMI). Methods: We evaluated 2037 AAD patients
Anisotropic piezoresistivity characteristics of aligned carbon nanotube-polymer nanocomposites

Dielectrophoresis under the application of AC electric fields is one of the primary fabrication techniques for obtaining aligned carbon nanotube (CNT)-polymer nanocomposites, and is used here to generate long range alignment of CNTs at the structural level. The degree of alignment of CNTs within this long range architecture is observed via polarized Raman spectroscopy so that its influence on the electrical conductivity and piezoresistive response in both the alignment and transverse to alignment directions can be assessed. Nanocomposite samples consisting of randomly oriented, well dispersed single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and of long range electric field aligned SWCNTs in a photopolymerizable monomer blend (urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) and 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate (HDDMA)) are quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated. Piezoresistive sensitivities in form of gauge factors were measured for randomly oriented, well dispersed specimens with 0.03, 0.1 and 0.5 wt% SWCNTs and compared with gauge factors in both the axial and transverse to SWCNT alignment directions for electric field aligned 0.03 wt% specimens under both quasi static and cyclic tensile loading. Gauge factors in the axial direction were observed to be on the order of 2, while gauge factors in the transverse direction demonstrated a 5 fold increase with values on the order of 10 for aligned specimens. Based on Raman analysis, it is believed the higher sensitivity of the transverse direction is related to architectural evolution of misaligned bridging structures which connect alignment structures under load due to Poisson's contraction.
Role of adipocyte mitochondria in inflammation, lipemia and insulin sensitivity in humans: effects of pioglitazone treatment

Role of adipocyte mitochondria in inflammation, lipemia and insulin sensitivity in humans: effects of pioglitazone treatment
Mediation of effects of biofiltration on bacterial regrowth, Legionella pneumophila, and the microbial community structure under hot water plumbing conditions

While limiting organic carbon through biofiltration controls microbial regrowth in drinking water main distribution systems, little is known about its effectiveness for building water plumbing systems. Here we examined regrowth under eight plumbing conditions: pipe material (iron or cross-linked polyethylene (PEX)), corrosion control (magnesium rod, elevated pH), corrosion sediments (Fe(OH)3), nitrification (ammonium addition), a combination of magnesium rod/iron pipe/ammonium, and a no-modification control using simulated water heaters (SWHs) fed with biofiltered or unfiltered water and incubated at 32 °C. While biofiltration did effectively limit total bacterial numbers (half-log less), it did not offer protection against Legionella pneumophila. By the end of study (day 448), some conditions acted synergistically with (PEX, ammonium) or independently of (magnesium rod, combination) influent biofiltration to increase L. pneumophila numbers. Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes confirmed the enrichment of phylogenetic groups associated with expected functions (e.g., ammonium, iron, and hydrogen oxidation) under corresponding plumbing modifications and also revealed that biofiltration had an overarching influence on the microbial community structure in the control, Fe(OH)3, and combination conditions. This study demonstrates that a variety of factors under warm water plumbing conditions can override potential influences of upstream biofiltration on L. pneumophila growth.
Composition and design of Fasciola hepatica eggshells.

Fasciola hepatica is a parasitic flatworm of cosmopolitan distribution which infects a wide range of mammalian hosts including man and domestic livestock. First described by Linnaeus in 1758, the adult form is a large, leaf-shaped worm (3.0 × 1.3 cm) which inhabits the bile ducts of its mammalian hosts. Fascioliasis is a serious human health problem particularly in the Caribbean, South America, and parts of Northern Europe, and a threat to livestock worldwide; its transmission is dependent upon both a snail intermediate host and the presence of aquatic vegetation upon which the infectious form (metacercaria) encysts. Ingestion of vegetation carrying the cyst is the mechanism by which the mammalian host acquires infection.
Inverse Kinetics Determination of Subcriticality

A highly efficient and bias-free inverse kinetics technique has been developed to determine the subcriticality of a nuclear reactor. The new algorithm has been tested through simulation studies against two other algorithms currently being used. It was also extensively tested by analyzing actual rod-drop experimental data taken at the Argonne National Laboratory. Both simulation studies and the real data analyses showed that the new algorithm proposed here is a superior method in estimating the subcriticality of a system from the time-dependent neutron flux transient data.
The role of glycosylphosphoinositides in signal transduction.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that the molecular events that link insulin-receptor interactions to the regulation of cellular metabolism lags far behind that of other peptide hormones. One possible explanation for this slow progress lies in the complicated nature of insulin action. The cellular effects of the hormone are very broad, including modulation of transport of molecules across the plasma membrane, levels of cyclic nucleotides, activities of key enzymes in intermediary metabolism, rates of protein synthesis, rates of DNA and RNA syntheses, including specific gene expression, and cellular growth and differentiation. The relative activation and coordination of these distinct cellular processes by insulin varies with the cell type, the state of differentiation of the cell, and the presence of other hormones as well as the insulin dose response and time course. This suggests that insulin action involves a network of interrelated and independent pathways with differing levels of divergence regarding mechanisms of regulation.
Two-Layer Analysis of Steady Circulation in Stratified Fjords

In deep, narrow, fjord-type inlets with copious runoff near the head, freshwater inflow produces a surface slope and a pressure gradient which drives a brackish, near-surface layer seaward; at greater depths a denser, saline layer derived from oceanic water moves landward. We describe in this paper a self-consistent two-layer representation of this mode of inlet flow, generally referred to as “estuarine circulation.” Our approach is different from other layered analyses in that the present model includes important effects of variations in mass density, channel width and depth, and also allows for turbulent and advective exchange between the deep and near-surface layers. The starting point of the analysis is a set of equations expressing incompressibility and conservation of mass and horizontal momentum in each zone. Transfer of mass and momentum across the interface between the layers is parameterized by two interzonal exchange flux rates, Fu and Fd, representing the upward and downward rate of fluid flow per square meter of interfacial area. When the time-averaged mass density variations can be estimated from field data, then the flux rates, Fu and Fd, can be inferred entirely from known or measurable quantities. Two integrals of the motion are immediately available, and the mathematical problem is reduced to solving a pair of nonlinear equations for the layer cross-sectional areas. By way of illustration, the procedure is applied to Knight Inlet, a deep, stratified fjord on the Pacific Northwest coastline.
Mass Media Coverage of Conflict and Civil Disorder: Pseudo-events as Agents for Change

This critique of the relationship between media and social change reviews both the nature of the pseudo event as originally analyzed by American social historian Daniel Boorstin, and the relatively few systematic studies and essays on how news about such events may have affected social behavior, political power and history. Minority movements involving confrontation with police seeking to preserve established order are examined in the context of news communication, social and political causes and in some cases violence. This analysis casts considerable scepticism on the short-range impact of pseudo events, but offers a longer historical look at citizen participation in democracies, problems of substituting symbols for complex issues, and the clash of minorities and disorder with the resistance of the established majority. This article assembles both sporadic essays and commentaries along with more systematic studies, many of which were contemporary observations at the time when the events occurred. The in...
Riverine characteristics and adult demography influence female lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) spawning behavior, reproductive success, and ovarian quality

Abiotic conditions and demographic factors can influence the timing of spawning. Behavioral plasticity allows females to select spawning conditions that are conducive to offspring development; howe...
Electrically Small Dipole Antenna Probe for Quasistatic Electric Field Measurements in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

This paper designs, constructs, and tests an electrically small dipole antenna probe for the measurement of electric field distributions with the ultimate purpose to directly measure electric fields induced by a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coil. Its unique features include applicability to measurements in both air and conducting medium, high spatial resolution, large frequency band from 100 Hz to 300 Hz, efficient feedline isolation via a printed Dyson balun, and accurate mitigation of noise. Prior work in this area is thoroughly reviewed. The proposed probe design is realized in hardware; implementation details and design tradeoffs are described. Test data are presented for the measurement of a constant wave (CW) capacitor electric field, demonstrating the probe’s ability to properly measure electric fields caused by a charge distribution. Test data are also presented for the measurement of a CW solenoidal electric field, demonstrating the probe’s ability to measure electric fields caused by Faraday’s law of induction. Those are the primary fields for the TMS. Further steps necessary for the application of this probe as an instrument for TMS coil design are discussed.
Effects of Version 2 of the International Sunspot Number on Naïve Predictions of Solar Cycle 25

The recalibration of the International Sunspot Number brings new challenges to predictions of Solar Cycle 25. One is that the list of extrema for the original series is no longer usable because the values of all maxima and minima are different for the new version of the sunspot number. Timings of extrema are less sensitive to the recalibration but are a natural result of the calculation. Predictions of Solar Cycle 25 published before 2016 must be converted to the new version of the sunspot number. Any prediction method that looks across the entire time span will have to be reconsidered because values in the nineteenth century were corrected by a larger factor than those in the twentieth century. We report a list of solar maxima and minima values and timings based on the recalibrated sunspot number. Naive forecasts that depend only on the current values of the time series are common in economic studies. Several naive predictions of Solar Cycle 25, the climatological average (180 ± 60), two versions of the inertial forecast, and two versions of the even-odd forecast, are derived from that table. The climatological average forecast is the baseline for more accurate predictions and the initial forecast in assimilative models of the Sun. It also provides the error estimate for Monte Carlo techniques that anticipate the long-term effects on the terrestrial environment. The other four predictions are shown to be statistically insignificant.
DNA Methylation and Smoking: Implications for Understanding Effects of Electronic Cigarettes

Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) has increased sharply recently although understanding of toxicity is limited, particularly target organ effects. Altered DNA methylation is a reversible response to environmental exposures, including smoking, and may be useful as a biomarker of e-cig harm. Among studies examining DNA methylation in blood by smoking status, there is considerable variability in differentially methylated CpGs identified; certain CpGs are consistently found. These include AHRR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor gene), particularly cg05575921, cg0363183 in the F2RL2 gene coding for the protease-activated receptor 4 (PAR-4), and several CpGs in the 2q37.1 genomic region. Differences are found even with short duration and light smoking; effects vary with pack-years and time since quitting among former smokers. For tissues other than blood, data are limited but also indicate altered methylation with smoking. DNA methylation changes are a consistent biomarker of smoke exposure. Most studies regarding smoke effects on methylation are of blood cells; further evidence regarding effects of smoke, secondhand smoke, and e-cigs on target tissues for smoking-related diseases are needed. Understanding biological effects of e-cigs is critically important to inform regulation; examination of e-cig effects on DNA methylation can significantly add to evidence-based regulation.
Follia planetaria. La “Nave dei Folli” su scala globale

“Pietro Debenedetti Lecture 2018”, organized by CIM. Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca sulla Morfologia “Francesco Moiso” (Turin, March 16, 2018). Normal 0 14 false false false IT X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabella normale"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} Normal 0 14 false false false IT X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabella normale"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} Normal 0 14 false false false IT X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabella normale"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
Monocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (Mo-MDSC) Are Increased but Not M1 or M2 TAM Macrophages in the Bone Marrow of Patients with BCR-ABL Negative Myeloid Neoplasm (MPN)

Abstract Introduction. Evidences indicate that megakaryocyte/platelet lineage is crucial in BCR-ABL negative MPN, especially in myelofibrosis (MF) induction. Monocyte/Macrophage lineage were also reported to play a significant role . These Monocyte /Macrophage studies were on the blood monocytes such as have increased the intermediate forms of monocytes (CD14+ CD16+) and Substance P in MF , but in the bone marrow these cell lineages were not studied. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) have been classified into two subsets. as the M1 subset (CD86+ ) which produces Th1 cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-γ and pro-inflammatory cytokines. They are involved in the host defense against different pathogens and play a role in the anti-tumor immunity. The M2 subset, that secretes IL-10 and other iimmunosuppresive cytokines and are identified as CD206+ (in vitro induced by IL4) or CD163+(IL10). These M2 macrophages are associated with tumor progression and metastasis. Myeloid suppressor cells (MDSC ) also were found abundantly in the tumor matrix. We previously reported an increase in MDSC in the peripheral blood of BCR-ABL(-) MPN, therefore, these cells were also studied. Material and Methods: Patient and sample preparation: Peripheral blood, bone marrow (BM) aspirate and biopsy were obtained and used in isolation for mononuclear cells (MNCs). 11 MPN patients consisting of 5 ET, 1 PV , 2 PMF, 1 ET-MF, and 2 PV-MF were studied along with 5 controls ,including 4 questionable spike on protein electrophoresis with normal bone marrow exminations and one with leukemoid reaction. Flow cytometric quantification of monocytes, TAMs and MDSCs MNCs from peripheral blood or BM (aspirates and biopsy) were incubated (1X106/ml) with fluorophore-conjugated monoclonal antibodies against the following markers (CD14, HLA-DR, CD86, CD163, and CD206; BD Bioscience, Inc.) The raw flow data were analyzed using FlowJo (v 7.6.2).Thecell populations were gated and identified with the following immunophenotypes: CD14+HLA-DR-/low as the Mo-MDSCs , CD14+ CD86+as M1 macrophage, and CD14+ CD206+ or CD14+CD163+ as M2 TAMs . TAM or Mo-MDSC cells were presented in MFIs, as well as their percentages of total gated MNCs. Results: 1) Mo-MDSC were significantly elevated in MPN compared to that of controls both in the bone marrow aspirates and in the biopsy specimens (Fig1); 2) No difference was identified in M1 macrophages between MPN and controls in the percentage of total gated cells or by the MFI (data,not shown); 3) No difference was noted in M2 macrophages between MPN and controls in the percentage of total gated cells (Fig 2a) or by the MFI (Fig 2b). Conclusions: Mo-MDSC are increased in the bone marrow aspirates and biopsy specimens of patients with BCR-ABL(-) MPN. No difference was noted in the M1 and M2 TAM macrophages between the MPN and control. Download : Download high-res image (102KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures Wang: Celgen: Research Funding.
A mutation in the catalytic domain of cellulose synthase 6 halts its transport to the Golgi apparatus

Cellulose microfibrils, which form the mechanical framework of the plant cell wall, are synthesized by the cellulose synthase complex in the plasma membrane. Here, we introduced point mutations into the catalytic domain of cellulose synthase 6 (CESA6) in Arabidopsis to produce enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP)-tagged CESA6D395N, CESA6Q823E, and CESA6D395N+Q823E, which were exogenously produced in a cesa6 null mutant, prc1-1. Comparison of these mutants in terms of plant phenotype, cellulose content, cellulose synthase complex dynamics, and organization of cellulose microfibrils showed that prc1-1 expressing EYFP:CESA6D395N or CESA6D395N+Q823E was nearly the same as prc1-1, whereas prc1-1 expressing EYFP:CESA6Q823E was almost identical to wild type and prc1-1 expressing EYFP:WT CESA6, indicating that CESA6D395N and CESA6D395N+Q823E do not function in cellulose synthesis, while CESA6Q823E is still functionally active. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and confocal microscopy were used to monitor the subcellular localization of these proteins. We found that EYFP:CESA6D395N and EYFP:CESA6D395N+Q823E were absent from subcellular regions containing the Golgi and the plasma membrane, and they appeared to be retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. By contrast, EYFP:CESA6Q823E had a normal localization pattern, like that of wild-type EYFP:CESA6. Our results demonstrate that the D395N mutation in CESA6 interrupts its normal transport to the Golgi and its eventual participation in cellulose synthase complex assembly.
Influence of Gibberellins4 + 7 on Germination of Fraser Fir

Seeds of Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] were soaked in solutions of gibberellins4+7 (GA4+7) at concentrations of 0, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 ppm. Following treatment, seeds ...
Single Crystals of Electrically Conductive Two-Dimensional Metal–Organic Frameworks: Structural and Electrical Transport Properties

Crystalline, electrically conductive, and intrinsically porous materials are rare. Layered two-dimensional (2D) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) break this trend. They are porous crystals that exhib...
Evaluation of a portable nanopore-based sequencer for detection of viruses in water.

Abstract The newly emerged nanopore sequencing technology such as MinIONTM allows for real-time detection of long DNA/ RNA fragments on a portable device, yet few have examined its performance for environmental viromes. Here we seeded one RNA virus (bacteriophage MS2) and one DNA virus (bacteriophage PhiX174) into 10 L well water at three levels ranging from 1 to 21100 plaque-forming units (PFU)/mL. Two pipelines were established to maximize the number of sequencing reads of DNA and RNA viruses using MinIONTM. With dead-end ultrafiltration, PEG precipitation, and random amplification, MinIONTM was capable of detecting MS2 at 155 PFU/mL and PhiX174 at 1 – 2 PFU/mL. Overall, the DNA pipeline showed higher sensitivity and specificity to PhiX174 than those of the RNA pipeline to MS2. The virus concentration, or relative abundance of viral nucleic acids in total nucleic acids, is critical to the proportion of viral reads in sequencing results. Our findings also highlight the importance of including control samples in sequencing runs for environmental water samples with low virus abundance.
The Brou\'e invariant of a $p$-permutation equivalence

A perfect isometry $I$ (introduced by Broue) between two blocks $B$ and $C$ is a frequent phenomenon in the block theory of finite groups. It maps an irreducible character $\psi$ of $C$ to $\pm$ an irreducible character of $B$. Broue proved that the ratio of the codegrees of $\psi$ and $I(\psi)$ is a rational number with $p$-value zero and that its class in $\mathbb{F}_p$ is independent of $\psi$. We call this element the Broue invariant of $I$. The goal of this paper is to show that if $I$ comes from a $p$-permutation equivalence or a splendid Rickard equivalence between $B$ and $C$ then, up to a sign, the Broue invariant of $I$ is determined by local data of $B$ and $C$ and is independent of the $p$-permutation equivalence or splendid Rickard equivalence. Apart from results on $p$-permutation equivalences, our proof requires new results on extended tensor products and bisets that are also proved in this paper.