cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of body mass index on patient outcomes of surgical intervention for the lumbar spine.

Background: Conflicting findings exist on the effect of obesity on outcomes of lumbar spine surgery; results depend on the diagnosis studied, procedure evaluated, definition of obesity, and specific outcomes measured. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study is to examine the effect of increasing body mass index (BMI) on surgical-related, health-related, and long-term outcomes of lumbar spine surgery in a single representative patient sample. Methods: Using a surgical registry from an integrated health care system, 8,049 instrumented lumbar spine cases were identified between 1/1/2009 and 09/30/2013. The sample was stratified into five BMI categories. Outcomes of interest included: (I) surgical-related factors and complications; (II) health-related complications; and (III) long-term complications. Mixed linear models, conditional logistic regressions, and survival analysis using a Cox regression model were conducted controlling for surgeon effects. Age, gender, diabetes status, smoking status, admitting diagnosis, and surgical approach were included as covariates. Results: Every 5 kg/m 2 2 Conclusions: Obesity had an adverse effect on certain surgical-related, health-related and long-term surgical outcomes. The magnitude of this effect increased with increasing levels of obesity, which increases the medical burden associated with obesity.
Certifying the Computer Security Professional Using the Project Management Institute’s PMP Model

While many organizations offer certifications associated with information technology (IT) security, there is no single overarching accrediting organization that has identified the body of knowledge and experience necessary for success in the IT security field. In order for an IT security workforce to be acknowledged and recognized throughout the world as possessing a proven level of education, knowledge, and experience in IT security, a formal process for certifying IT security professionals must be developed. This research effort suggests that the IT security community use the Project Management Institute’s process for certifying Project Management Professionals (PMPs) as a model for developing an open and easily accessible IT Security Body Of Knowledge (ITSBOK) and an associated international certification process for IT security professionals.
Body Mass Index Effect on Ultrawideband MIMO BAN Channel Characterization

This paper presents a detailed description of a measurement campaign for wireless Body Area Network (BAN) propagation channels in both an anechoic chamber and an indoor Lab environment. We use a self-developed 4 x 4 Ultrawideband (UWB) Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) array channel sounding system operating in the 2 - 10 GHz frequency band. The main goal of the measurement is the determination of the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the on-body propagation channels. Using a total of 60 test subjects, we determine the BMI-dependence of channel paramaters such as pathloss (G0), frequency-dependent decay factor (κ) and shadowing gain (χσ). We find that in particular, BAN channels of test subjects with BMI > 30 show considerable difference to those of subjects with typical BMI.
Effectiveness of indoor allergen reduction in asthma management: A systematic review.

Background This review will inform updated National Asthma Education and Prevention Program clinical practice guidelines. Objective We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of allergen reduction interventions on asthma outcomes. Methods We systematically searched the "gray literature" and 5 bibliographic databases. Eligible studies included systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and nonrandomized interventional studies. Risk of bias was assessed by using the Cochrane Risk of Bias instrument and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The evidence base was assessed by using the approach of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Evidence–based Practice Center program. Results Fifty-nine randomized and 8 nonrandomized trials addressed 8 interventions: acaricide, air purification, carpet removal, high-efficiency particulate air filtration (HEPA) vacuums, mattress covers, mold removal, pest control, and pet removal. Thirty-seven studies evaluated single-component interventions, and 30 studies assessed multicomponent interventions. Heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. For most interventions and outcomes, the evidence base was inconclusive or showed no effect. No interventions were associated with improvement in validated asthma control measures or pulmonary physiology. Exacerbations were diminished in multicomponent studies that included HEPA vacuums or pest control (moderate strength of evidence [SOE] for both). Quality of life improved in studies of air purifiers (SOE: low) and in multicomponent studies that included HEPA vacuums (SOE: moderate) or pest control (SOE: low). Conclusions Single interventions were generally not associated with improvement in asthma measures, with most strategies showing inconclusive results or no effect. Multicomponent interventions improved various outcomes, but no combination of specific interventions appears to be more effective. The evidence was often inconclusive because of a lack of studies. Further research is needed comparing the effect of indoor allergen reduction interventions on validated asthma measures, with sufficient population sizes to detect clinically meaningful differences.
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is an overuse syndrome resulting in wrist pain. It is commonly present in middle aged women, classically in the postpartum period. Although termed an “itis” the condition is not thought to be the result of inflammation but rather a retinacular/tendon thickening and subsequent friction injury. In order to properly treat this condition, one must know the anatomy involved and how to detect it clinically. This chapter will test your knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of this pathology along will the common complications associated with operative management.
Dehydrogenative Coupling of Poly(phenylsilane) by Metallocene Catalysis

The use of two different types of metallocene catalysts in the dehydrogenative coupling of phenylsilane to produce poly(phenylsilane) was investigated. The metallocene catalysts were first synthesized (i) through the reaction of zirconcene dichloride with n-butyllithium in toluene and (ii) through the reaction of zirconocene dichloride with sec-butyllithium in toluene. After the catalyst synthesis, phenylsilane was added in situ commencing polymerization of the phenylsilane to poly(phenylsilane) through dehydrogenative coupling in each case. The resulting poly(phenylsilanes) were characterized by 1H NMR, GPC, FTIR, and UV/Vis, and were shown to be successful photoinitiators for a variety of acrylate and methacrylate type monomers.
Inverse Problem in Plasticity

ABSTRACT We evaluate localized plastic strains by knowing the surface displacements measured on a part of the boundary of a body which has been subjected to a series of unknown loadings. The regularization method is employed for the evaluation. It is also shown that the displacement and stress fields in the elastic domain caused by the plastic strain are uniquely determined from the surface displacement measurement.
Generation of mm-Wave Higher Order OAM Modes using Flat Phase Plates

In order to demonstrate high data rate secure transmission using orbital angular momentum (OAM) modulated beams, we have designed flat OAM phase plates. We report generation of orthogonal OAM beams having OAM L = 1–4. These flat phase plates (FPP) are made of high permittivity material of E ≈ 10.8. An iterative circle packing technique, with circles representing the holes in a dielectric, has been used to design the FPP for each specific OAM mode. Numerical simulations are carried out using a horn excitation on the FPPs to produce the required OAM modulations. Experimental results of OAM beam generation and demodulation to demonstrate high data rate transmission will be presented in the meeting.
Degenerative mitral valve stenosis: Diagnosis and management

Mitral stenosis (MS) is a common valvular disease characterized by narrowing of the mitral valve orifice and a reduction in mitral valve area (MVA). While rheumatic MS (RMS) is frequently encountered in young individuals in developing countries, degenerative MS (DMS) is seen in the elderly in developed countries and its prevalence is increasing. DMS is usually a late presentation of mitral annular calcification (MAC). Accurate assessment of MVA in patients with MAC is challenging due to the alterations in the atrial and valvular structures as well as the presence of other comorbidities in this aging population. We will review the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic assessment, and management of DMS and compare the findings with RMS. The latest therapeutic approaches, including medical, surgical, and transcatheter valvular interventions, will be discussed.
How unsponsored, online user-generated content impacts consumer attitudes and intentions toward vaccinations

Consumers typically lack the expertise to evaluate the legitimacy and accuracy of health information online. Considering that unsponsored, user-generated content is increasingly commonplace online,...
Complication rates following hip arthroscopy in the ambulatory surgical center

Abstract There has been an increase in the number of hip arthroscopy procedures performed in the outpatient setting. The purpose of this study was to query a national database to compare post-operative adverse events between hip arthroscopy procedures performed in hospital based outpatient departments (HOPD) versus ASC's. The Humana Claims Database was queried for all patients undergoing hip arthroscopy performed between 2007 and 2016, using the PearlDiver supercomputer. The study population was divided into two cohorts based on the surgical setting, ASC or HOPD. Complications of interest occurring within 90 days after surgery included Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-reportable complications, readmission, and return to the operating room. Visits to the emergency department after 7 days of surgery was also studied. Univariate comparisons between ASC and HOPD groups were drawn with chi-square tests for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables. Logistic regression models were created to determine the association between surgical setting and primary outcomes. Rates of 90-day CMS-reportable complications (2.95% vs 2.17%%; p = 0.193), 90-day readmission (4.95% vs 4.25%; p = 0.370) and return to the operating room within 90 days (0.07% vs 0.2%; p = 0.286) were not significantly different between groups. Rate of visits to the emergency department within 7 days was not statistically different between groups (2.57% vs 3.03%; p = 0.458). With the ASC group as reference, no statistically significant association between an outcome and surgical setting was detected after adjusting for confounding factors including comorbidity burden. These findings provide reassurance to providers who perform these procedures in either surgical setting.
Perspectives of Patients on Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy: Experiences and Adherence

Background Nonadherence to medication is a burden to the US health care system and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Data on outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) treatment plan adherence are lacking. The purpose of this study is to determine the rate of nonadherence and factors associated with it. Methods We surveyed patients discharged from a tertiary hospital on OPAT between February and August 2019 about their baseline characteristics, OPAT regimen, adherence, and experience with OPAT. Results Sixty-five patients responded to the survey. The median age was 62 years, and 56% were male. The rate of reported nonadherence to intravenous (IV) antibiotics was 10%. Factors associated with nonadherence to IV antibiotics included younger age, household income of <$20 000, and lack of time for administering IV antibiotics (30 vs 64 years, P < .01; 83% vs 20%, P < .01, and 33% vs 4%, P = .04, in the nonadherent vs adherent groups, respectively), while less frequent administration (once or twice daily) and having friend or family support during IV antibiotic administration were associated with better adherence (17% vs 76%, P < .01, and 17% vs 66%, P = .03, in the nonadherent vs adherent groups, respectively). Most patients attended their infectious diseases clinic visits (n = 44, 71%), and the most commonly cited reasons for missing an appointment were lacking transportation (n = 12, 60%), not feeling well (n = 8, 40%), and being unaware of the appointment (n = 6, 30%). Conclusions Less frequent antibiotic dosing and better social support were associated with improved adherence to OPAT. In contrast, younger age, lower income, and lack of time were associated with nonadherence.
Social Justice Education and the Role of Museums

Review of three books: Gonzales, Elena, Exhibitions for Social Justice. Abingdon, Oxon.: Routledge, 2020, hardback £120, paperback £34.99, ebook £31.49, 194 pp. Kostache, Irina D., and Clare Kunny, eds. Academics, Artists, and Museums: 21 st -Century Partnerships. Abingdon, Oxon.: Routledge, 2019, hardback £120, paperback £36.99, ebook £40.49, 204 pp. Quinn, Therese, about Museums, Culture, and Justice to Explore in Your Classroom, New York: Teachers College Press, 2020, hardback $75, paperback $24.95, ebook $19.96, 95 pp. [Amazon UK £81.95, £27.50, £18.68]
Changing Worship Practices in American Congregations

Abstract Worship is the core activity of American congregations and the primary way people experience religion collectively in the United States We use data from the National Congregations Study (NCS), notably including data from the fourth wave, collected in 2018?19, to examine two key trends in worship practices among American religious congregations First, the trend toward more informal and enthusiastic worship identified in earlier NCS surveys continues into 2019 Showing no signs of having reached a plateau, a more informal worship style has increased in prevalence across every major American religious tradition Second, recently developed communication technologies have permeated congregations? worship services in ways that change the collective experience Collected on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic, NCS-IV data on worship and technology provide a baseline for future examinations of worship changes caused by the pandemic, and a window into congregations? technological preparedness for a world in which it is not safe to gather
Temporally Modulated Non-Hermitian Optical Systems Based on Epsilon-Near-Zero Media

Non-Hermitian systems with judiciously designed loss and gain distributions have been shown to enable novel wave effects compared to their Hermitian counterparts. While this concept was recently extended to the temporal domain through time-varying material properties, a systematic investigation of dynamical open structures with time-varying radiation properties is still lacking, especially in the context of optical scattering. Here, we show that the radiation characteristics of a scattering system can be engineered in new ways using time-modulated epsilon-near-zero materials, leading to unique opportunities to overcome some of the limits and bounds of time-invariant system. Specifically, we demonstrate that such temporal modulations can enable novel wave effects, including unidirectional frequency transitions and bound states in the continuum that can be externally excited by broadband light sources.
Signatures of immune dysfunction in HIV and HCV infection share features with chronic inflammation in aging and persist after viral reduction or elimination

Chronic inflammation is thought to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in aging, but whether similar mechanisms underlie dysfunction in infection-associated chronic inflammation is unclear. Here, we profiled the immune proteome, and cellular composition and signaling states in a cohort of aging individuals versus a set of HIV patients on long-term antiretroviral therapy therapy or hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients before and after sofosbuvir treatment. We found shared alterations in aging-associated and infection-associated chronic inflammation including T cell memory inflation, up-regulation of intracellular signaling pathways of inflammation, and diminished sensitivity to cytokines in lymphocytes and myeloid cells. In the HIV cohort, these dysregulations were evident despite viral suppression for over 10 y. Viral clearance in the HCV cohort partially restored cellular sensitivity to interferon-α, but many immune system alterations persisted for at least 1 y posttreatment. Our findings indicate that in the HIV and HCV cohorts, a broad remodeling and degradation of the immune system can persist for a year or more, even after the removal or drastic reduction of the pathogen load and that this shares some features of chronic inflammation in aging.
How Good Is Your Scientific Data Generative Model

Nowadays, leveraging data augmentation methods on helping resolving scientific problems becomes prevailing. And many scientific problems benefit from data augmentation methods build with deep generative models. Yet due to the complexity of the scientific data, commonly used evaluation methods of generative models appear not so suitable for generated scientific data. In this paper, we explore how do we effectively evaluate data augmentation methods for scientific data generative models? To answer this question, we use one example of real world scientific problem to show how we evaluate the quality of the generated data from two domain specific deep generative models. We observe that most existing state-of-art evaluation metrics are incompetent. They either show completely contradicting results or provide inaccurate insight from real data.
Hyperglucagonemia Does Not Explain the β-Cell Hyperresponsiveness and Insulin Resistance in Dysglycemic Youth Compared With Adults: Lessons From the RISE Study

OBJECTIVE To determine whether β-cell hyperresponsiveness and insulin resistance in youth versus adults in the Restoring Insulin Secretion (RISE) Study are related to increased glucagon release. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In 66 youth and 350 adults with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes (drug naive), we performed hyperglycemic clamps and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs). From clamps we quantified insulin sensitivity (M/I), plasma fasting glucagon and C-peptide, steady-state glucagon and C-peptide at glucose of 11.1 mmol/L, and arginine-stimulated glucagon (acute glucagon response [AGR]) and C-peptide (ACPRmax) responses at glucose >25 mmol/L. RESULTS Mean ± SD fasting glucagon (7.63 ± 3.47 vs. 8.55 ± 4.47 pmol/L; P = 0.063) and steady-state glucagon (2.24 ± 1.46 vs. 2.49 ± 1.96 pmol/L, P = 0.234) were not different in youth and adults, respectively, while AGR was lower in youth (14.1 ± 5.2 vs. 16.8 ± 8.8 pmol/L, P = 0.001). Significant age-group differences in insulin sensitivity, fasting C-peptide, steady-state C-peptide, and ACPRmax were not related to glucagon. Fasting glucose and glucagon were positively correlated in adults (r = 0.133, P = 0.012) and negatively correlated in youth (r = −0.143, P = 0.251). In both age-groups, higher fasting glucagon was associated with higher fasting C-peptide (youth r = 0.209, P = 0.091; adults r = 0.335, P CONCLUSIONS Youth with IGT or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes (drug naive) have hyperresponsive β-cells and lower insulin sensitivity, but their glucagon concentrations are not increased compared with those in adults. Thus, α-cell dysfunction does not appear to explain the difference in β-cell function and insulin sensitivity in youth versus adults.
Antibiotic Administration Before Bacterial Culture Collection Reduces Positivity Rate within Minutes: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Background: Prompt antibiotic administration improves outcomes, but antibiotic administration prior to culture collection cultures can decrease culture yield. We sought to determine impact of antibiotic administration timing on the positivity rate of blood, urine, and respiratory cultures. Methods: Over three years we conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study of adult inpatients with blood, urine or respiratory cultures collected who received at least one antibiotic. The first specimen of each culture type was included. The primary outcomes were rates of positive cultures and time of collection relative to first antibiotic administration. Findings: Of 34,677 patients with at least one blood, urine or respiratory culture collected in addition to at least one antibiotic dose administered during the study period, 14,909 cultures (7,351 sets of blood, 7,081 urine, and 477 respiratory cultures) were eligible for analysis. Most (79%) cultures were collected before antibiotic initiation. During the first hour following antibiotic initiation, blood culture positivity decreased by 18% for every 15 minutes (odds ratio [OR]: 0·82, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0·71-0·95), urine culture positivity decreased by 19% for every 15 minutes (OR: 0·81 [95% CI: 0·76-0·86]) there was no significant change in respiratory culture positivity. Interpretation: Antibiotic administration significantly and promptly decreases yield of blood and urine bacterial cultures. Funding Statement: JTJ was partly supported by the CDC Prevention Epicenters (U01CK00054). Declaration of Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was reviewed and considered exempt by the Emory University’s Institutional Review Board.
A new and alternative look at nonlinear Alfvénic states

The formulation for studying nonlinear Alfvenic states, sustainable in Hall Magnetohydrodynamics (HMHD), becomes considerably simpler and more tractable when circularly polarized Beltrami vectors (the eigenstates of linear HMHD) are used as the basis functions. Nonlinear HMHD is, then, reduced to a rather simple looking set of scalar equations from which a model problem of three interacting Beltrami modes is formulated and analytically solved. The triplet interactions span a variety of familiar nonlinear processes leading to a redistribution as well as periodic exchange of energy. The energy exchange processes (whose strength is measured by an energy exchange/depletion time) will, perhaps, play a dominant role in determining the spectral content of an eventual Alfvenic state. All nonlinearities (sensitive functions of the interacting wave vectors) operate at par, and none is dominant over any substantial region of k-space; their intricate interplay prevents a “universal” picture from emerging; few generalizations on the processes that may, for instance, lead to a turbulent state, are possible. However, the theory can definitely claim: (1) the energy tends to flow from lower to higher k and (2) the higher kz (in the direction of the ambient magnetic field) components of a mode with a given k are depleted/oscillate faster—in some cases much faster. It is noteworthy that the mode coupling is the strongest (with the shortest depletion time) when the participating wave vectors are nearly perpendicular; perhaps, an expected consequence of the curl (cross product) nonlinearities. Numerical simulations will be necessary to help create a fully reliable picture.
Electrical Effects in Nonlinear Physico-Chemical Systems: Field Chemical Wave Interaction and Bio-Self Electrophoresis

The presence of membrane potentials in electrophysiological systems is shown to be capable of profoundly influencing the course of biomorphogenesis. We focus on the problem of self organization in the egg of Fucus and develop a simple model that has many of the qualitative features of this system.
Detecting Disease-Specific Patterns of Brain Structure Using Cortical Pattern Matching and a Population-Based Probabilistic Brain Atlas

The rapid creation of comprehensive brain image databases mandates the development of mathematical algorithms to uncover disease-specific patterns of brain structure and function in human populations. We describe our construction of probabilistic atlases that store detailed information on how the brain varies across age and gender, across time, in health and disease, and in large human populations. Specifically, we introduce a mathematical framework based on covariant partial differential equations (PDEs), pull-backs of mappings under harmonic flows, and high-dimensional random tensor fields to encode variations in cortical patterning, asymmetry and tissue distribution in a population-based brain image database (N=94 scans). We use this information to detect disease-specific abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia, including dynamic changes over time. Illustrative examples are chosen to show how group patterns of cortical organization, asymmetry, and disease-specific trends can be resolved that are not apparent in individual brain images. Finally, we create four-dimensional (4D) maps that store probabilistic information on the dynamics of brain change in development and disease. Digital atlases that generate these maps show considerable promise in identifying general patterns of structural and functional variation in diseased populations, and revealing how these features depend on demographic, genetic, clinical and therapeutic parameters.
The confinement problem in the presence of faults

In this paper, we establish a semantic foundation for the safe execution of untrusted code. Our approach extends Moggi's computational λ-calculus in two dimensions with operations for asynchronous concurrency, shared state and software faults and with an effect type system a la Wadler providing fine-grained control of effects. An equational system for fault isolation is exhibited and its soundness demonstrated with a semantics based on monad transformers. Our formalization of the equational system in the Coq theorem prover is discussed. We argue that the approach may be generalized to capture other safety properties, including information flow security.
Using the economics of certification to improve the safety and quality of male circumcision in developing countries

Although male circumcision (MC) has been a widespread practice in some regions, while relatively new in others, it has recently ascended in popularity as a HIV-reduction intervention, particularly in areas with high rates of HIV but low rates of MC. However, the uptake and potential effectiveness of MC may be hampered by uneven levels of provider training and procedure skill within developing country settings. Indeed, this procedure that is otherwise considered simple and safe has witnessed complication rates as high as 25–35% in some areas, leaving some men with irreversible injuries.
Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization

Defects in apoptosis have dire consequences and can contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders, neurological diseases and cancer. At the centre of the intrinsic apoptotic signalling pathway lies the mitochondrion, which is not only the bioenergetic centre of the cell, but also the cell's reservoir of pro-death factors such as cytochrome c. These proteins reside in the mitochondrial intermembrane space (IMS), and their release from the IMS induces a signalling cascade that leads to the demise of the cell. The critical event governing the release of pro-apoptotic molecules from the IMS is mitochondrial outer membrane permiabilization (MOMP). Although two models exist to explain the execution of MOMP, both models incorporate the widely accepted idea that MOMP is achieved through the coordinated actions of pro- and antiapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma) family of proteins. In addition, non-Bcl-2 family proteins, mitochondrial dynamics and mitochondrial bioenergetics are also involved in MOMP. Key Concepts: Apoptosis is one mechanism of cell death, which is characterized by distinct morphological features and occurs in response to specific physiological cues. Apoptosis is a signalling cascade that leads to the demise of the cell. The intrinsic apoptotic signalling cascade is one of the two main apoptotic pathways. Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) is the key step in apoptosis that involves the mitochondria. Bcl-2 family proteins are both pro- and antiapoptotic in nature, and are the main regulators of MOMP. Bak or Bax is necessary for MOMP. MOMP leads to the release of pro-death factors from the intermembrane space (IMS), which engage caspases to carry out the apoptotic signalling cascade. Mitochondrial bioenergetics are disrupted during MOMP. Keywords: apoptosis; Bak; Bax; Bcl-2; mitochondria
Modelling and Self-Tuning Control of a Multivariable pH Neutralization Process Part I: Modelling and Multiloop Control

This paper describes the design, modelling and control of a multivariable pH neutralization process. The experimental facility consists of two stirred tank reactors with an acid-base neutralization taking place in each tank. The process has been designed as a demonstration unit for the evaluation of advanced Control strategies such as adaptive and multivariable control. The neutralization process has four controlled variables, pH and liquid level in each of the two tanks. This strong acid, strong base neutralization poses a difficult multivariable problem because each manipulated variable has a significant effect on each controlled output. This process is also highly nonlinear and time varying due to the inherent nonlinearity associated with pH control and the shifts in the titration curve that occur when the amount of buffering agent changes in an unpredictable fashion. A physical model of the neutralization process has been developed which is in good agreement with experimental step response data over a wide range of experimental conditions. A multiloop control system consisting of four PID controllers was tedious to tune and had difficult coping with changes in the amount of buffering. In a companion paper (Hall and Seborg, 1989), self-tuning control resulted in improved control especially when only the process gain was estimated on-line, assuming that the dynamics were not changing significantly.
IκB kinase-α acts in the epidermis to control skeletal and craniofacial morphogenesis

IκB kinase-α (IKK-α)1 exhibits protein-kinase-dependent and -independent functions. Its kinase activity is required for lymphoid organogenesis2 and mammary gland development3, whereas a kinase-independent activity is required for epidermal keratinocyte differentiation4. In addition to failed epidermal differentiation, IKK-α-deficient mice exhibit abnormal skeletal and craniofacial morphogenesis4,5,6. As similar defects are not exhibited by mice that experience systemic inhibition of NF-κB7, we postulated that the morphogenetic defects in IKK-α-deficient mice are not caused by reduced NF-κB activity but instead are due to failed epidermal differentiation that disrupts proper epidermal–mesodermal interactions. We tested this hypothesis by introducing an epidermal-specific Ikka (also known as Chuk) transgene into IKK-α-deficient mice. Mice lacking IKK-α in all cell types including bone and cartilage, but not in basal epidermal keratinocytes, exhibit normal epidermal differentiation and skeletal morphology. Thus, epidermal differentiation is required for proper morphogenesis of mesodermally derived skeletal elements. One way by which IKK-α controls skeletal and craniofacial morphogenesis is by repressing expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family members, such as FGF8, whose expression is specifically elevated in the limb bud ectoderm of IKK-α-deficient mice.
Millimeter-Wave Doppler Spectrum and Polarimetric Response of Walking Bodies

In this paper, the Doppler spectra of the radar backscatter response of human body and a quadruped are presented at W-band frequencies. This study is motivated by the desire to utilize millimeter-wave radars to detect pedestrians against other targets in the radar scene. The approach is based on dissecting the radar backscatter to isolate the radar returns from different body parts. The forward model is based on an iterative physical optics approach. The complex motion of different parts of walking bodies and their amplitude and range of motion is directly reflected in their radar cross section (RCS) and Doppler spectrum bandwidth. It is shown that the Doppler spectra and RCS differences are sufficient to distinguish a walking human from stationary and other moving objects. Radar polarimetry in conjunction with time-frequency analysis is examined as a method for detecting concealed carried objects. The overall backscatter is decomposed into components associated with the limbs and torso which are then utilized to enhance target detection.
Mechanobiology of trabecular meshwork cells

Trabecular meshwork (TM) cells likely play a key role in regulating outflow facility and hence intraocular pressure. They function in a dynamic environment subjected to variations in mechanical and fluid shear forces. Because the extent of mechanical stress on the trabecular meshwork is dependent on the intraocular pressure, the behavior of TM cells under mechanical strain may suggest mechanisms for how outflow facility is regulated. Studies have demonstrated that TM cells respond in a variety of ways to mechanical loads, including increased extracellular matrix turnover, altered gene expression, cytokine release, and altered signal transduction. This review highlights some of the considerations and limitations of studying the mechanobiology of TM cells.
Treatment planning for resected abdominal tumors: differences in organ position between diagnostic and radiation-planning computed tomography scans.

Purpose: To evaluate whether organ location, determined from preoperative diagnostic computed tomography scans (CTs), accurately reflects organ location when patients are positioned for radiation therapy. Methods and Materials: We identified patients with upper abdominal malignancies treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Comparisons of organ position relative to fixed bony landmarks were made among preoperative diagnostic CTs, postoperative diagnostic CTs, and radiation-planning CTs. We studied 18 patients who had CTs differing only in scanning technique, 11 patients who had CTs differing only in operative state, and 7 patients with CTs differing in both scanning technique and operative state. Results: For patients with diagnostic CTs and radiation-planning CTs that were either both preoperative or both postoperative, mean organ position, measured relative to a fixed bony landmark, ranged from 1.9 to 3.2 cm superior on radiation-planning CTs compared with diagnostic CTs ( p p ≤ 0.008). Shifts in the right–left direction were small and variable. For patients with pre- and postoperative diagnostic CTs, organ shifts were variable and not significant. Organ shifts for patients with preoperative diagnostic CTs and postoperative radiation-planning CTs were similar to shifts observed for the first group. Conclusions: Relative to bony landmarks, there are superior and posterior shifts in organ position for radiation-planning CTs compared with diagnostic CTs. These shifts should be considered during treatment planning for resected abdominal tumors.
Evaluation of sulfur amino acid and zinc supplements to soybean-meal-based diets for hybrid striped bass

Abstract Hybrid striped bass ( Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis ) aquaculture is a major commercial enterprise in the United States and internationally. Efforts to decrease diet costs and limit dependence on fishmeal have led to the development of plant-based diets as alternative aquafeeds. Due to limiting concentrations of some amino acids such as methionine and cystine, in plant meals such as soybean meal, supplementation of plant-based diets with methionine or other sulfur amino acid compounds may be required. High levels of soybean meal also may reduce the bioavailability of minerals such as zinc due to the inhibitory effects of phytate. Therefore, the current study was conducted to evaluate different sulfur amino acid and zinc supplements in soybean-meal-based diets with hybrid striped bass for possible refinement of diets and reduction of production costs. In the first feeding trial, a basal soybean-meal-based diet (56% soybean meal and 15% fishmeal) marginally deficient in total sulfur amino acids (TSAA) (1.10% methionine and cystine) was supplemented with either l -methionine, methionine hydroxyl analog (MHA) calcium salt or Mintrex® (liquid MHA with chelated zinc) and fed to triplicate groups of juvenile hybrid striped bass for 10 weeks. The different methionine supplements provided similar weight gain, feed efficiency ratio (FER) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) values that tended to be greater than observed in fish fed the basal diet. Mintrex® supplementation provided much higher plasma zinc concentrations compared to fish fed the other methionine supplements. In additional feeding trials, a soybean-meal-based control diet containing l -methionine to satisfy the requirement for TSAA was supplemented with varying concentrations of zinc sulfate or Mintrex®, each to provide 5, 10, and 20 μg Zn/kg diet, and fed to juvenile hybrid striped bass. The different zinc concentrations did not affect zinc integration into the scale or bone of hybrid striped bass after 8 weeks of feeding. Zinc from zinc sulfate in comparison to Mintrex® was absorbed slightly but significantly better based on postprandial serum zinc concentrations of fish fed the two products at the same dietary zinc concentration; however, these absorption differences did not affect long-term zinc deposition in the scale and bone.
Overexpression, Purification, and Stereochemical Studies of the Recombinant (S)-Adenosyl-l-methionine: Δ24(25)- to Δ24(28)-Sterol Methyl Transferase Enzyme fromSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract TheERG6 gene that encodes (S)-adenosyl- l -methionine:Δ24(25)- to Δ24(28)-sterol methyl transferase (SMT) enzyme fromSaccharomyces cerevisiaewas introduced into plasmid pET23a(+) and the resulting native protein was overexpressed in BL21(DE3) host cells under control of a T7promoter. This enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion exchange, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography.N-Terminal sequence analysis of the first 10 amino acids of the purified SMT protein confirmed the identity of the start triplet and expected primary structure. The enzyme exhibited a turnover number of 0.01/s and an isoelectric point of 5.95. A combination of Superose 6 chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the purified SMT enzyme possessed a native molecular weight of 172,000 and was tetrameric. The purified SMT enzyme generated kinetics in which velocity versus substrate curves relative to zymosterol (preferred sterol acceptor molecule) and AdoMet were sigmoidal rather than hyperbolic, indicating enzyme cooperativity among the subunits. Studies on product formation using [27-13C]zymosterol and [2H3-methyl]AdoMet incubated with the pure SMT enzyme confirmed the reaction mechanism of sterol methylation to involve a 1,2-hydride shift of H-24 to C-25 from theRe-face of the original 24,25- double bond. Deduced amino acid sequence comparisons of the SMT polypeptide fromS. cerevisiaewith related sterol methyl transferase enzymes of plant and fungal origin indicate that there is a significant degree of similarity between these enzymes. Specifically, there is a conserved sequence (in yeast from amino acids ca. 79 to 92 which contains an YEXGWG motif; referred to as Region I) that is not present in other AdoMet-dependent methyl transferase enzymes.
High-power Al-free active-region diode lasers

Al-free InGaAsP/InGaP/GaAs-based diode lasers in the wavelength range 730 - 980 nm have been grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). A large transverse spot size is obtained using a Broad Waveguide (BW) design, permitting record output powers to be obtained.
Effects of classroom evaluation strategies on student achievement and attitudes

This study investigated the effects of teacher evaluation and the combination of teacher evaluation and student self-evaluation on student performance and attitudes. Participants in the study were 189 Latvian high school students and their six teachers.
Real‐time PCR Suggests that Aphanomyces euteiches is Associated with Reduced Amounts of Phytophthora medicaginis in Alfalfa that is Co‐inoculated with Both Pathogens

Aphanomyces euteiches and Phytophthora medicaginis are two pathogens of seedling and mature alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) that are frequently found in the same field sites. In order to investigate possible interactions of these two pathogens, two greenhouse experiments were conducted on seedling alfalfa from check populations representing the phenotypic classes of dual susceptibility and dual resistance to both pathogens. Seedlings were challenged with multiple inoculum concentrations of A. euteiches and P. medicaginis. Separate real-time PCR assays specific for A. euteiches and P. medicaginis were used to quantify the amount of each pathogen in root tissue. For both pathogens, significantly more pathogen DNA was detected in the susceptible check population Saranac than in the resistant check population WAPH-1 in all treatment combinations. In general, co-inoculation with both A. euteiches and P. medicaginis resulted in significantly reduced amounts of P. medicaginis DNA detected when compared with amounts detected from inoculations with P. medicaginis alone. This relationship was observed for the analysis of bulked plant samples and also for individual plants. Co-infestation by both pathogens did not reduce the quantity of A. euteiches detected. Possible mechanisms responsible for the inhibition of accumulation of P. medicaginis by A. euteiches are discussed.
Determination of LY217332, a new 3'-quaternary ammonium cephalosporin, in plasma by solid phase column extraction and HPLC

Abstract A sensitive and rapid assay has been developed for the determination of LY217332, a 3'-imidazolo[4,5-c]pyridinium cephalosporin, in plasma. The method utilizes cyano solid phase column extraction and HPLC with ultraviolet detection. The lower limit of detection is 5 ng/ml plasma and the relative standard deviation for precision and accuracy was 5% or less from 50–500 ng/ml. The method is applicable to the assay of ceftazidime, cephaloridine, cefpirome and BMY-28142 with minor modification of the mobile phase and the detection wavelength.
The Impact of Natural Amenity on Farmland Values: A Quantile Regression Approach

Farmland values are influenced not only by agricultural production but also by several other economic and environmental factors. Among the attributes that contribute value to farmland are certain amenity characteristics. Using farm-level data this study examines the impact of natural amenity on farmland values in the United States. In contrast to previous studies that assume a homogeneous relationship across the entire distribution of farmland values, this study uses quantile regression to estimate the empirical model. Our quantile regression analysis offers some insightful results. Natural amenity is positively correlated with farmland values and its impact is often more pronounced at higher price range of farmland. On the other hand, land retirement programs like CRP and WLP have positive impacts on farmland values but, at the lower quantiles. Direct farm payments have a significantly positive effect on farmland values and the impact increases monotonically across quantiles. Finally, policy implications are discussed.
Assessing Administrative Accountability: Results from a National Survey

This article presents the results of a national survey on accountability practices in U.S. municipal administrations. It also examines possible causes and effects of accountability. It finds that city administrations use a variety of political and legal accountability tools. They reveal more financial information than performance information to their stakeholders. Accountability appears to be enhanced through eliminating government workers’concerns about exposing their performances. Responsiveness, public consensus, and stakeholder trust are strengthened in accountable administrations. However, stakeholder fiscal commitments and administrative service capacities are not associated with accountability.
Disparities in Lung Cancer: Focus on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and Hispanics and Latinos

Significant population changes in the United States are expected over the next few decades. The changing demographics inclusive of native and newly native individuals will significantly impact health care because racial and ethnic groups vary widely in their risks for disease and approach to medical care. For lung cancer specifically, racial and ethnic groups differ in smoking habits, metabolism of nicotine, presentation, stage at diagnosis, treatment received, and outcomes. This article summarizes current information on lung cancer for American and Pacific Islanders, American Indians and Alaska natives, and Hispanics and Latinos with an emphasis on tobacco use, epidemiologic issues surrounding acculturation and assimilation, genetic epidemiology, and disparities in treatment outcomes.
The Relationship Between the High Energy Continuum and Emission Lines in QSOs: A Low-Redshift Sample

Quasar emission lines are sensitive to both the luminosity and shape of the quasars' high energy continuum - primarily in the soft X-ray and the (obscured) extreme ultraviolet. We initiate the first large-scale, multi-line investigation of correlations between the QSO soft X-ray continuum and UV line emission, using an IUE/Einstein sample. We characterize the distributions of line equivalent and velocity widths (EW and FWHM) of 85 QSOs in the IUE atlas of Lanzetta et al. (1993), using a new error analysis for objective, automated line measurements, and contrast measured line parameters to the QSO continuum spectral energy distributions (SEDs). We find significant correlations between EW and UV luminosity (e.g., the well-studied Baldwin effect) for Lya, CIV, HeII, and CIII. EW(CIII) and EW(HeII) show previously unreported correlations with Lx which for CIII appears to be primary. The line ratios CIII/Lya and HeII/Lya both show strongest dependence on Lx. EW(Lya) correlates strongly with spectral slopes \alpha_{uv} and \alpha_{ox}, but NOT with Lx. We argue that one simple geometrical interpretation of the Baldwin effect (BEff) as a result of a distribution of disk inclinations is not plausible. The BEff weakens or disappears when line emission is correctly compared to the luminosity in the continuum bandpass relevant to its production, which suggests that the BEff is due to a change in SED with luminosity. Our prediction that no BEff relative to X-ray luminosity should be found for FeII or MgII emission lines, will be tested in a later paper, extended to a wider redshift/luminosity range.