cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Large cystic lesions of the liver in adults: a 15-year experience in a tertiary center.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Cystic lesions of the liver consist of a heterogeneous group of disorders and may present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Large hepatic cysts tend to be symptomatic and can cause complications more often than smaller ones. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective review of adults diagnosed with large (≥4cm) hepatic cystic lesions at our center, over a period of 15 years. Polycystic disease and abscesses were not included. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients were identified. In 57 the lesions were simple cysts, in 8 echinococcal cysts, in 8 hepatobiliary cystadenomas, and in 1 hepatobiliary cystadenocarcinoma. In four patients, the precise diagnosis could not be ascertained. Mean size was 12.1cm (range, 4 to 30cm). Most simple cysts were found in women (F:M, 49:8). Bleeding into a cyst (two patients) and infection (one patient) were rare manifestations. Percutaneous aspiration of 28 simple cysts resulted in recurrence in 100% of the cases within 3 weeks to 9 months (mean 412 months). Forty-eight patients were treated surgically by wide unroofing or resection (laparoscopically in 18), which resulted in low recurrence rates (11% for laparoscopy and 13% for open unroofing). Four of the eight patients with echinococcal cysts were symptomatic. All were treated by open resection after irrigation of the cavity with hypertonic saline. There was no recurrence during a followup period of 2 to 14 years. Hepatobiliary cystadenomas occurred more commonly in women (F:M, 7:1) and in the left hepatic lobe (left:right, 8:0). Seven were multiloculated. All were treated by open resection, with no recurrence, and none had malignant changes. Cystadenocarcinoma was diagnosed in a 77-year-old man, and was treated by left hepatic lobectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Large symptomatic simple cysts invariably recur after percutaneous aspiration. Laparoscopic unroofing can be successfully undertaken, with a low recurrence rate. Open resection after irrigation with hypertonic saline is a safe and effective treatment for echinococcal cysts. Hepatobiliary cystadenomas have predilection for women and for the left hepatic lobe. Malignant transformation is an uncommon but real risk. Open resection is a safe and effective treatment for hepatobiliary cystadenoma, and is associated with a low recurrence rate.
Environment and mobility of a series of fluorescent reporters at the amino terminus of structurally related peptide agonists and antagonists bound to the cholecystokinin receptor.

Fluorescence is a powerful biophysical tool for the analysis of the structure and dynamics of proteins. Here, we have developed two series of new fluorescent probes of the cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor, representing structurally related peptide agonists and antagonists. Each ligand had one of three distinct fluorophores (Alexa488, nitrobenzoxadiazolyl, or acrylodan) incorporated in analogous positions at the amino terminus just outside the hormone's pharmacophore. All of the probes bound to the CCK receptor specifically and with high affinity, and intracellular calcium signaling studies showed the chemically modified peptides to be fully biologically active. Quenching by iodide and measurement of fluorescence spectra, anisotropy, and lifetimes were used to characterize the response of the fluorescence of the probe in the peptide-receptor complex for agonists and antagonists. All three fluorescence indicators provided the same insights into differences in the environment of the same indicator in the analogous position for agonist and antagonist peptides bound to the CCK receptor. Each agonist had its fluorescence quenched more easily and showed lower anisotropy (higher mobility of the probe) and shorter lifetime than the analogous antagonist. Treatment of agonist-occupied receptors with a non-hydrolyzable GTP analogue shifted the receptor into its inactive low affinity state and increased probe fluorescence lifetimes toward values observed with antagonist probes. These data are consistent with a molecular conformational change associated with receptor activation that causes the amino terminus of the ligand (situated above transmembrane segment six) to move away from its somewhat protected environment and toward the aqueous milieu.
Collaboration by Deflection: Coping with Spent Nuclear Fuel

For more than three decades, the U.S. national government has wrestled with the problem of siting a central repository for high-level radioactive waste, most of it spent fuel from nuclear power plants. Scholars and practitioners recommend a collaborative and participative approach to the siting process to ensure accountability and representativeness, but the search for a working repository so far has been unsuccessful. Consequently, more nuclear power plants must add or expand dry cask facilities to store accumulating amounts of spent fuel. Are collaboration and accountability and successful execution of results possible in state decisions on dry cask storage in a way that they have eluded the central siting process? The special characteristics of dispersed dry cask storage, in contrast to transporting the waste to a central repository, can facilitate collaboration and accountability, as decisions on dry cask storage in Minnesota and Vermont demonstrate.
Acrolein Production from Crude Glycerol in Sub- and Super-Critical Water

To better understand the effects of water properties on the reaction characteristics of acrolein production from glycerol, dehydration of refined glycerol and crude glycerol was comparatively conducted in both sub- and super-critical water states, and the effect of changing water properties was studied to optimize the reaction conditions. The effects of reaction temperature, pressure, residence time, water/glycerol ratio, and catalyst concentration on the yields and distribution of chemical products were also examined. Acrolein yield >80 mol% from both refined glycerol and crude glycerol can be achieved by controlling water properties in the sub-critical water state with the addition of sulfuric acid as a homogeneous catalyst and the formation of undesired acetaldehyde and propionaldehyde can be greatly restrained. These results provide valuable information for the production of value-added chemicals from crude glycerol.
Serum lipids in total parenteral nutrition (TPN): effect of fat.

Abstract 1. (1) Increased serum cholesterol and phospholipids occurred in protein-depleted rats who were refed with fat-containing TPN solutions. 2. (2) The effects of induced hypercholesterolemia in patients receiving fat emulsions as a major source of calories for prolonged periods should be assessed clinically, and the patients' serum cholesterol levels should be carefully monitored.
Design for a three-fingered hand

Abstract This paper describes the construction of a prototype mechanical hand or “end effector” for use on a remotely controlled robot, but with possible application as a prosthetic device. An analysis of hand motions is reported, from which it is concluded that the two most important manipulations (apart from grasps) are to be able to pick up a tool and draw it into a nested grip against the palm, and to be able to hold a pistol-grip tool such as an electric drill and pull the trigger. One of our models was tested and found capable of both these operations.
The role of copper compounds as fillers in the transfer and wear behavior of polyetheretherketone

Abstract CuO, CuS and CuF2 have been used as fillers in polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and the influence of these fillers on the friction, wear and transfer behavior of the PEEK composites has been studied. Sliding tests were conducted with a pin-on-disk machine at 1.0 m s−1 speed and 0.65 MPa nominal contact pressure under ambient conditions. The pins were made of polymer composites with a filler content of 35 vol.%. The composites were prepared by compression molding. The disks were machined from tool steel blocks and hardened. Experimental results showed that all these fillers reduced the wear of PEEK. The coefficients of friction of the CuS-PEEK and CuF2-PEEK composites during steady state wear were slightly higher than that of unfilled PEEK, but the coefficient was much higher in the case of the CuO-PEEK composite. The transfer films were studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy and their bonding to the counterface by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It has been argued that the ability of these fillers to reduce wear depends upon their ability to form transfer films of the composites on the counterface which are thin and uniform and are strongly bonded to the substrate.
The epidemiology of Guillain‐Barré syndrome

Population-based studies of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) give crude average annual incidence rates varying from 0.4 to 1.7 per 100,000 population. The reported incidence is influenced by the diagnostic criteria adopted as well as the thoroughness of case-finding. Variations in these account for some of the lack of uniformity between different studies. Data from the Mayo Clinic based on National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke diagnostic criteria and thorough ascertainment methods gave a crude incidence of 1.7 per 100,000 per year (x 10(-5]. Incidence was higher in females (2.3 x 10(-5] than males (1.2 x 10(-5] as well as in older compared to younger people (3.2 x 10(-5) over age 60 and 0.8 x 10(-5) under age 18, respectively). The disease reached a nadir after onset at 8 days on average, and the illness lasted an average of 12 weeks. Most patients (75%) recovered completely. Recent epidemiological studies of GBS suggest no clear secular trend. Incidence does fluctuate with time but not clearly with season. In virtually all studies "triggering" factors are implicated, but they appear to be diverse, making it less likely, from an epidemiological perspective, that a single antigen is of etiological importance in GBS.
“You Can't Bite the Hand . . .”: Domestic Violence and Human Rights

This article examines whether the international “women's rights as human rights” movement has influenced the field of domestic violence in the United States and the possible barriers to redefining ...
Nonperturbative propagators in quantum chromodynamics.

Leading nonperturbative corrections to the quark and gluon propagators are derived following the assumption that the nonperturbative QCD vacuum can be described in terms of nonvanishing vac- uum expectation values for the composite operators (psi-barpsi) and (G/sub munu/ /sup 2/). The nonperturbative quark propagator can be described in terms of a running gauge-dependent quark mass and a running normalization function. The nonperturbative gluon propagator can be described in terms of a running gauge parameter and a running normalization function.
Tissue distribution and kininogen gene expression after acute-phase inflammation

Abstract A kinin-directed monoclonal antibody to kininogens has been developed by the fusion of murine myeloma cells with mouse splenocytes immunized with bradykin-conjugated hemocyanin. The hybrid cells were screened by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the secretion of antibodies to bradykinin. Ascitic fluids were produced and purified by a bradykinin-agarose affinity column. The monoclonal antibody (IgG1) bound to bradykinin, Lys-bradykinin, Met-Lys-bradykinin, and kininogens in ELISA. Further, this target-directed monoclonal antibody recognized purified low and high molecular weight bovine, human, or rat kininogens and T-kininogen in Western blotting. After turpentine-induced acute inflammation, rat kininogen levels increased dramatically in liver and serum as well as in the perfused pituitary, heart, lung, kidney, thymus, and other tissues, as identified by the kinin-directed kininogen antibody in Western blot analyses. The results were confirmed by measuring kinin equivalents of kininogens with a kinin RIA. During an induced inflammatory response, rat kininogens were localized immunohistochemically with the kinin-directed monoclonal antibody in parenchymal cells of liver, in acinar cells and some granular convoluted tubules of submandibular gland, and in the collecting tubules of kidney. Northern and cytoplasmic dot blot analyses using a kinin oligonucleotide probe showed that kininogen mRNA levels in liver but not in other tissues increase after turpentine-induced inflammation. The results indicated that rat kininogens are distributed in various tissues in addition to liver and only liver kininogen is induced by acute inflammation. The target-directed kininogen monoclonal antibody is a useful reagent for studying the structure, localization, and function of kininogens or any protein molecule containing the kinin moiety.
Spiral CT of the abdomen: region coverage with a 24-second breath-hold.

A retrospective review of 75 spiral CT examinations of the abdomen was performed to assess: (1) patient's ability to sustain a 24-s breath-hold, and (2) the proportion of targeted regions or organs that were completely imaged at different table feed speeds. Seventy of 72 patients sustained a 24-s breath-hold without motion artifact. Region coverage depended on the prescribed table feed speed and length of exposure. With a fixed exposure time, there was a tradeoff between the volume of tissue that could be imaged and the slice collimation.
Thyroid Follicular Epithelial Cell-Derived Carcinomas: An Overview of the Pathology of Primary and Recurrent Disease

The majority of recurrent thyroid carcinomas are histologically differentiated and readily diagnosed by light microscopy or immunohistochemical staining. Infrequently, recurrent carcinoma may be less differentiated than the index lesion, creating diagnostic challenges. Complicating issues include thyroid carcinomas that recur years after initial diagnosis or without clinical elevation of serum thyroglobulin. With a favorable outcome and lengthy survival rates after initial diagnosis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, there is a greater chance for these carcinomas to recur and as less differentiated carcinoma. As more advanced treatment techniques enter daily practice, the pathology of recurrent thyroid carcinomas will be better defined and more readily diagnosed.
Image sequence coding using spatial/spatial-frequency representations

Spatial/spatial-frequency representations have proven to be an interesting and powerful framework for the simulation of a number of visual effects. Results consistent with observations of the human visual system have been obtained at levels ranging from the shape of receptive field profiles to perceptual grouping and texture segmentation. A number of representations are under study, in a number of different fields. A key issue in comparing these representations is the resolution that can be attained (simultaneously) in the joint domain. The uncertainty principle dictates that arbitrarily high resolution cannot be achieved in both space and spatial-frequency. Joint resolution can range from singular functions in space (with infinite extent in spatial-frequency), to the reverse (e.g., the pixel representation at one extreme, and the Fourier transform at the other). In this paper, we discuss some of the available representations in the context of image sequence coding, and establish some of the characteristics desired in a representation for this application. We show that the joint resolution of a representation, in particular, can affect the performance of coding methods based on that representation. Examples which illustrate this point using industry standard DCT-based methods are given.
A study of sensory innervation to long nuclear chain intrafusal fibers in the cat muscle spindle

The sensory innervation of 46 poles of long chain intrafusal muscle fibers was studied histochemically by staining for NADH-TR in periodic, 8 μm thick transverse sections of cat muscle spindles. Each long chain fiber carried terminals of the primary sensory axon, and 23 of the fiber poles also displayed secondary sensory endings. With the NADH-TR reaction there was no apparent difference in the cross-sectional appearance of sensory endings on the long chain and on other nuclear chain fibers. However, the contact area between the secondary endings and the muscle fiber tended to be shorter on the long chain than on the neighboring chain fibers of shorter polar length. This was also the case for one long chain fiber in which the sensory innervation was examined in serial, 1 μm thick sections stained with toluidine blue. Discharges of the secondary sensory axons in cat spindles may be affected more by contraction of the shorter nuclear chain fibers than by activation of the long chain fibers.
Electromagnetic fingerprints of the Little Bang

Abstract Measurements of thermal photons emitted from the rapidly expanding hot and dense medium (“Little Bang”) formed in ultra relativistic heavy-ion collisions, and their current theoretical interpretation, are reviewed.
Professional Development in Higher Education

This chapter looks at the challenges that higher education faculty are facing and explains how development activities that recognize faculty as adult learners in a learning organization can provide a more successful educational experience for both them and their students.
Larval release behaviors in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus: role of chemical cues

Egg hatching by brachyuran crabs is often precisely timed relative to environmental cycles and may be controlled by the female, the developing embryos, or both. The current conceptual model for larval release in subtidal brachyuran crabs is that the exact time of release is controlled by the developing embryos. At the time of hatching, the eggs release pheromones that induce stereotypic larval release behaviors in ovigerous females consisting of rapid abdominal pumping. This behavior breaks open the eggs and results in synchronized hatching. To test this model, we examined the role of pheromone substances released by developing and hatching eggs in initiating this pumping behavior in ovigerous blue crabs Callinectes sapidus. Pumping behavior was used as a bioassay to determine if pumping activity changes with the developmental state of the eggs and to test the response of ovigerous crabs to (1) substances released by hatching eggs (hatch water), (2) substances present in homogenized eggs containing early- and late-stage embryos (homogenized egg water), and (3) substances released by developing eggs containing early- and late-stage embryos (egg conditioned water). Pumping activity associated with egg maintenance increased with embryo development. Pumping activity increased with increasing concentration of hatch water and the threshold concentrations for females possessing early- and late-stage eggs were similar. Water containing homogenized eggs also evoked larval release behaviors and response thresholds were the same for females exposed to early- and late-stage egg treatments. Egg conditioned water prepared from eggs containing late-stage embryos was more potent than water prepared from eggs with early-stage embryos. Collectively, these results support the model that larval release in C. sapidus is controlled by pheromones released from hatching eggs and indicate that (1) the responsiveness of ovigerous C. sapidus to the pheromones is relatively independent of the stage of embryo development, (2) homogenates of both early- and late-stage eggs contain similar pheromone concentrations, (3) pheromones are released during development and at the time of hatching, and (4) the concentration of pheromones released from developing eggs increases as the embryos mature.
A platform of high-efficiency nonviral gene transfer in mouse osteoblast cells in vitro.

We have previously established mouse genetic models and identified the genetic components of quantitative trait loci (QTL) on mouse chromosomes that contribute to phenotypes such as bone size, bone density, and bone's anabolic response to mechanical loading. However, these regions contain dozens of unknown genes that are needed for functional testing. In this study, we provided a protocol of nucleoporation with high efficiency by using a commercial nucleofection buffer and Gene Pulser to deliver a test gene into bone cells for functional studies. We cloned an osteoblast differentiation-specific geneosterix (Osx) from a mouse bone cDNA library into a pHGCX expression vector and used nucleoporation to deliver pHGCX/Flag-Osx into the nuclei of MC3T3-E1 cells. We then examined the transfection efficiency transgene expression, and function. Our results have demonstrated that nucleoporation can deliver a transgene into MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells with approx 94% transfection efficiency, and express a functional Flag-Osx fusion protein capable of inducing cell differentiation as measured by an incease in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Therefore, this experimental system provides a rapid, safe, and efficient cell-based model of high-throughput phenotypic screening to identify candidate genes from physically mapped regions that are important for osteoblast differentiation.
Virtual small groups for weight management: an innovative delivery mechanism for evidence-based lifestyle interventions among obese men

While group interventions for weight management have been shown to be efficacious, adherence is often low, especially among men. This pilot study seeks to test whether group interventions using web-based group video conferencing (VC) technology is effective for weight loss. We adapted a 12-week curriculum based on the Diabetes Prevention Program, and delivered this intervention to a small group of men (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), using web-based group VC. Participants were randomized to intervention (n = 32) or delayed-intervention control group (n = 32). The intervention group lost 3.5 % (95 % CI 2.1 %, 4.9 %) of their initial body weight. Difference in mean weight loss was 3.2 kg (p = 0.0002) and mean BMI decrease was 1.0 kg/m2 (p = 0.0010) between the two groups. Virtual small groups may be an effective means of allowing face-to-face group interaction, while overcoming some barriers to access.
Random-walk approach to granular flows.

Current continuum models based on the theory of plasticity have failed to describe the observed gravitational flow patterns of granular particles in a confined geometry. We propose a random-walk model that correctly predicts the shape of the free surface of the granular media and the solid stream lines with and without obstacles. We present simulation results that qualitatively exhibit many of the unique features of granular flows. The simulation results are also compared with experimental data.
Effects of practice on the validity of a group-administered embedded figures test.

Abstract Two parallel forms (GHFT:1, GHFT:2) of a group-administered version (Educational Testing Service, 1962) of the Embedded Figures Test (EFT) measure of field dependence were administered to 167 male college students. The two forms correlate .64, and the Kuder-Richardson reliability is .80. Some Ss had previously completed a pretest consisting of the first 6 items of GHFT:1. 105 Ss subsequently completed EFT. Prior experience did not affect GHFT reliability, but increased total scores. The correlation between GHFT: Total and EFT was .41 for the 62 inexperienced Ss and .73 for the 43 experienced Ss. The significantly higher validity (p = .008) for experienced Ss is probably a function of familiarity with the item format rather than the item content. There was no significant interaction between practice effect and experience, nor between practice effects and high versus low field dependence. If the aim is to obtain a group-administered measure predicting individual EFT performance, then GHFT is a satisfactory test, provided Ss are allowed to practice the group-administered format.
Credibly constructing risk comparisons

This paper briefly recounts the experience of the New Jersey Comparative Risk Project in order to illustrate the role played by insights from the science and technology studies literature in the project's design. It shows that a project's adequacy and legitimacy can be enhanced by treating the potential contributions of experts, officials, stakeholders, and the public respectfully, and by building in much interaction among these groups. It also reveals a costly tradeoff between heightened interactions and participant fatigue.
Determinants of Long-Term Sexual Health Outcome After Radical Prostatectomy Measured by a Validated Instrument

ABSTRACTPurpose: We combined the strengths of previous patient reported studies (that is use of a validated instrument) with the assets of previous single surgeon, physician reported series (that is prospective collection of operative data) by performing a multiple surgeon study to identify demographic and operative determinants of post-prostatectomy sexual health related quality of life outcomes.Materials and Methods: Sexual outcome was measured after prostatectomy in 671 prostate cancer cases with a followup of 4 to 52 months treated by any of 7 urologists at a high volume medical center and 112 age matched controls by cross-sectional health related quality of life assessment using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite validated questionnaire. Multivariable ANCOVA was done to identify the baseline determinants affecting post-prostatectomy sexual health outcomes among 17 clinical and demographic factors.Results: Factors independently associated with better sexual health outcome in patients include...
Efficient 3-D scene analysis from streaming data

Rich scene understanding from 3-D point clouds is a challenging task that requires contextual reasoning, which is typically computationally expensive. The task is further complicated when we expect the scene analysis algorithm to also efficiently handle data that is continuously streamed from a sensor on a mobile robot. Hence, we are typically forced to make a choice between 1) using a precise representation of the scene at the cost of speed, or 2) making fast, though inaccurate, approximations at the cost of increased misclassifications. In this work, we demonstrate that we can achieve the best of both worlds by using an efficient and simple representation of the scene in conjunction with recent developments in structured prediction in order to obtain both efficient and state-of-the-art classifications. Furthermore, this efficient scene representation naturally handles streaming data and provides a 300% to 500% speedup over more precise representations.
Fifth Millennium BC Evidence for Metallurgical Processing of Copper and Copper Alloys in South-East Europe.

Archaeological materials recovered from excavations of settlements and cemeteries of prehistoric cultures in the Middle Danube basin offer new evidence for the production of metals by the beginning of the Eneolithic (late neolithic) period. The identification of malachite, azurite and galena indicates that these minerals were extracted from the upland ore-bearing zones and transported to the lowland, alluvial river valleys for processing and smelting at settlement sites. For the first time metallurgical slags, found in association with malachite ores, crucibles, and copper/bronze artifacts, suggest that copper was smelted as early as the fifth millennium BC. Detailed analyses of these slags have identified a unique find of a tin-bearing copper slag, raising the question of bronze production during the fifth millennium BC.
Genetic programming-based geometry reconstruction of conducting cylinders

A general method for optimizing 2D geometries was presented and applied to an inverse scattering problem. This method uses a tree-structured chromosome that represents the geometric combination of several convex polygons. The convex polygons used as inputs are represented by the convex hull of variable-length lists of 2D points. Genetic operators were developed to modify the tree and the point lists. In the two examples given, the method successfully reconstructed the metallic scattering targets resulting in low error in the scattered fields. This method is flexible enough that it could be used in any 2D electromagnetic design problem as presented, and it can also be extended to three dimensions.
SUPREM 3.5, process modeling of gallium arsenide

A computer program has been developed to simulate processes used to manufacture digital GaAs integrated circuits. The processes modeled in this first version of the simulator include ion implantation, diffusion, and activation, and the simulator includes a routine to calculate threshold voltage for a MESFET or JFET based on the simulated processing results and on substrate properties. Parameters for the models were derived from an extensive number of implantation and diffusion experiments, the major results of which are presented in this paper.
On Stochastic Complexity and Admissible Models for Neural Network Classifiers

Given some training data how should we choose a particular network classifier from a family of networks of different complexities? In this paper we discuss how the application of stochastic complexity theory to classifier design problems can provide some insights into this problem. In particular we introduce the notion of admissible models whereby the complexity of models under consideration is affected by (among other factors) the class entropy, the amount of training data, and our prior belief. In particular we discuss the implications of these results with respect to neural architectures and demonstrate the approach on real data from a medical diagnosis task.
Translating Into Understanding: Language Brokering and Prosocial Development in Emerging Adults From Immigrant Families

This mixed-method study assessed the nature of language brokering and the relationship between language brokering and prosocial capacities in a sample of 139 college students from ethnically divers...
Gigahertz self-sustained pulsations in chirped distributed feedback fiber lasers

In this paper we present a model to analyze the dynamics of erbium doped chirped-grating distributed feedback (DFB) fiber lasers. Our results show that an asymmetrically chirped DFB fiber laser can undergo sustained self-pulsations at frequencies >5 GHz. These pulsations result from the beating between two asymmetric longitudinal modes with different frequencies but similar gains.
Spectrally Efficient Anti-Jamming System Design Using Message-Driven Frequency Hopping

This paper considers spectrally efficient anti-jamming system design based on message-driven frequency hopping (MDFH). We first analyze the performance of the MDFH system under different jamming scenarios. It is observed that MDFH is particularly robust under strong jamming. However, it experiences a performance bottleneck under disguised jamming, for which the jamming power is close to the signal power. To overcome this drawback, we propose an anti-jamming MDFH (AJ-MDFH) system. The main idea is to transmit an ID sequence along with the information stream. The ID sequence is generated through a cryptographic algorithm using the shared secret between the transmitter and the receiver. It is then exploited by the receiver for effective signal detection and extraction. It was shown that AJ-MDFH is robust under strong jamming, and can effectively reduce the performance degradation caused by disguised jamming. Simulation examples are provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed approaches.
Relationship between the structure of root systems and resource use for 11 North American grassland plants

Eleven Midwest North American grassland plant species differed in their construction, production, and placement of fine and coarse belowground biomass in the soil profile after having been grown in containers in the field for two and a half growing seasons. Based on the patterns of root system structure and resource utilization, the species we examined could be classified as 1) legumes, 2) high-nitrogen rhizomatous C3 species, and 3) a separate gradient of differentiation from tall- to short-statured species (i.e. tallgrass to shortgrass species). Legumes depleted water evenly throughout the soil profile, with little capacity for acquisition of inorganic nitrogen throughout the 1m soil profile. The three rhizomatous species had shallow fine root distributions, a large relative investment in shallow rhizomes, and moisture and NO3 levels were low in shallow soils, but high at depth. Tallgrass species maintained a large standing root biomass of high-density, low-nitrogen fine roots, and acquire nitrogen and water from a large, deep volume of soil, in which inorganic nitrogen is present in low concentrations. Root systems of shortgrass species lacked coarse belowground biomass, had fine roots that were finer than those of the tallgrass species, and had a shallow root distribution. There was little support for functional dichotomies between the C3 and C4 species or between the grasses and forbs. For example, Solidago rigida (C3 forb) and Andropogon gerardii (C4 grass) were more similar to each other than to other C3 forbs or C4 grasses, respectively. Across all species and depths examined, there were strong relationships between the amount of fine root biomass present in a unit of volume of soil and the depletion of soil water and nitrogen, but there were no relationships with coarse belowground biomass. This reaffirms that differentiation of coarse and fine root biomass is as important as differentiating stems and leaves in evaluating plant allocation and ecosystem functioning.
Physiological and molecular characterization of urea transport by the gills of the lake magadi tilapia (Alcolapia grahami)

The Lake Magadi tilapia (Alcolapia grahami) is an unusual fish, excreting all its nitrogenous waste as urea because of its highly alkaline and buffered aquatic habitat. Here, using both physiological and molecular studies, we describe the mechanism of branchial urea excretion in this species. In vivo, repeated short-interval sampling revealed that urea excretion is continuous. The computed urea permeability of A. grahami gill is 4.74x10(-)(5)+/-0.38x10(-)(5 )cm s(-)(1) (mean +/- s.e.m., N=11), some 10 times higher than passive permeability through a lipid bilayer and some five times higher than that of even the most urea-permeable teleosts studied to date (e.g. the gulf toadfish). Transport of urea was bidirectional, as demonstrated by experiments in which external [urea] was elevated. Furthermore, urea transport was inhibited by classic inhibitors of mammalian and piscine urea transporters in the order thiourea>N-methylurea>acetamide. A 1700 base pair cDNA for a putative Magadi tilapia urea transporter (mtUT) was cloned, sequenced and found to display high homology with urea transporters from mammals, amphibians and other fishes. When cRNA transcribed from mtUT cDNA was injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes, phloretin-inhibitable urea uptake was enhanced 3.4-fold relative to water-injected controls. Northern analysis of gill, red blood cells, liver, muscle and brain using a portion of mtUT as a probe revealed that gill is the only tissue in which mtUT RNA is expressed. Magadi tilapia gill pavement cells exhibited a trafficking of dense-cored vesicles between the well-developed Golgi cisternae and the apical membrane. The absence of this trafficking and the poor development of the Golgi system in a non-ureotelic relative (Oreochromis niloticus) suggest that vesicle trafficking could be related to urea excretion in Alcolapia grahami. Taken together, the above findings suggest that the gills of this alkaline-lake-adapted species excrete urea constitutively via the specific facilitated urea transporter mtUT.
The emergence of tense-aspect morphology in Japanese: universal predisposition?

This study investigates the emergence and later development of three tense-aspect markers in Japanese - -ta (past), -te i- (durative), and -ru (non-past) - in the data of three Japanese children. It was found that the emergence of tense-aspect morphology in Japanese does not necessarily follow the prediction of the Aspect Hypothesis (Shirai & Andersen 1995), but is mediated by typological facts of Japanese, and that there is individual variation in the acquisition of morphology. The results of the study suggest that predictions concerning early verb morphology should not be taken so strongly, and that various factors should be considered as determinants of the emergence of tense-aspect morphology.
Indy mutations and Drosophila longevity

Decreased expression of the fly and worm Indy genes extends longevity. The fly Indy gene and its mammalian homolog are transporters of Krebs cycle intermediates, with the highest rate of uptake for citrate. Cytosolic citrate has a role in energy regulation by affecting fatty acid synthesis and glycolysis. Fly, worm, and mice Indy gene homologs are predominantly expressed in places important for intermediary metabolism. Consequently, decreased expression of Indy in fly and worm, and the removal of mIndy in mice exhibit changes associated with calorie restriction, such as decreased levels of lipids, changes in carbohydrate metabolism and increased mitochondrial biogenesis. Here we report that several Indy alleles in a diverse array of genetic backgrounds confer increased longevity.
Improving the utilization of admission order sets in a computerized physician order entry system by integrating modular disease specific order subsets into a general medicine admission order set.

Case description We evaluated the effects of integrating order subsets for the most common medical diagnoses into a general medical admission order set of our electronic medical records (EMR) in order to improve order set integration by clinicians. Methods of implementation We identified the most common primary and secondary diagnoses for patients admitted to our medical service and developed order subsets comprising only of the orders necessary for the management of these individual diagnoses. Using the capabilities of our computerized physician order entry (CPOE), we nested these order subsets into the general order set and evaluated the resulting change in order set utilization by our clinicians. Example and observations The total number of order sets used by clinicians in all departments increased fivefold during the 16-month period following the implementation of the integrated order sets in July 2008. A before and after time series was used to analyze the trend in increased order set usage and showed an effect of the intervention (p=0.023). Discussion Integration of disease specific order subsets into a single general admission order set significantly improved the overall adoption of order sets by clinicians. This provides health care systems with the opportunity to improve patient safety and implement evidence based care in clinical practice.
Trauma center staffing, infrastructure, and patient characteristics that influence trauma center need.

proportion of critically injured patients requiring the resources of a trauma center within each Level I-IV trauma center (n=443). The outcome variable was defined as the portion of treated patients who were critically injured. We defined the need for critical trauma resources and interventions (“trauma center need”) as death prior to hospital discharge, admission to the intensive care unit, or admission to the operating room from the emergency department as a result of acute traumatic injury. Generalized Linear Modeling (GLM) was used to determine how hospital infrastructure, staffing Levels, and patient characteristics contributed to trauma center need. Results: Nonprofit Level I and II trauma centers were significantly associated with higher levels of trauma center need. Trauma centers that had a higher percentage of transferred patients or a lower percentage of insured patients were associated with a higher proportion of trauma center need. Hospital infrastructure characteristics, such as bed capacity and intensive care unit capacity, were not associated with trauma center need. A GLM for Level III and IV trauma centers showed that the number of trauma surgeons on staff was associated with trauma center need. Conclusion: Because the proportion of trauma center need is predominantly influenced by hospital type, transfer frequency, and insurance status, it is important for administrators to consider patient population characteristics of the catchment area when planning the construction of new trauma centers or when coordinating care within state or regional trauma systems. [West J Emerg
Stratospheric versus pollution influences on ozone at Bermuda: Reconciling past analyses

[1] Conflicting interpretations of the spring ozone maximum observed at Bermuda (32°N, 65°W) have fueled the debate on stratospheric influence versus tropospheric production as sources of tropospheric ozone. We use a global three-dimensional (3-D) model of tropospheric ozone-NO x -hydrocarbon chemistry driven by assimilated meteorological observations to reconcile these past interpretations. The model reproduces the observed seasonal cycle of surface ozone at Bermuda and captures the springtime day-to-day variability (r = 0.82, n = 122, p < 0.001) driven by high-ozone events. We find that transport of North American pollution behind cold fronts is the principal contributor to springtime surface ozone at Bermuda and is responsible for all the high-ozone events. The model reproduces the observed positive correlations of surface ozone with 7 Be and 210 Pb at Bermuda; the correlation with 7 Be reflects the strong subsidence behind cold fronts, resulting in the mixing of middle-tropospheric air with continental outflow in the air arriving at Bermuda, as indicated by the positive 7 Be- 210 Pb correlation. This mixing appears to have been an obfuscating factor in past interpretations of subsiding back-trajectories at Bermuda as evidence for a stratospheric or upper tropospheric origin for ozone. Isentropic back-trajectories computed in our model reproduce the previously reported subsidence associated with high-ozone events. Even in the free troposphere, we find that the stratosphere contributes less than 5 ppbv (<10%) to spring ozone over Bermuda. Positive O 3 - 7 Be and negative O 3 - 210 Pb correlations observed at Tenerife (28°N, 16°W, 2.4 km) in summer are reproduced by the model and are consistent with a middle-tropospheric source of ozone, not an upper tropospheric or stratospheric source as previously suggested. A regional budget for the North Atlantic in spring indicates that the stratosphere contributes less than 10 ppbv ozone (<5%) below 500 hPa, while the lower troposphere contributes 20-40 ppbv ozone throughout the troposphere.
Pressure and Temperature Effects on Growth and Methane Production of the Extreme Thermophile Methanococcus jannaschii

The marine archaebacterium Methanococcus jannaschii was studied at high temperatures and hyperbaric pressures of helium to investigate the effect of pressure on the behavior of a deep-sea thermophile. Methanogenesis and growth (as measured by protein production) at both 86 and 90°C were accelerated by pressure up to 750 atm (1 atm = 101.29kPa), but growth was not observed above 90°C at either 7.8 or 250 atm. However, growth and methanogenesis were uncoupled above 90°C, and the high-temperature limit for methanogenesis was increased by pressure. Substantial methane formation was evident at 98°C and 250 atm, whereas no methane formation was observed at 94°C and 7.8 atm. In contrast, when argon was substituted for helium as the pressurizing gas at 250 atm, no methane was produced at 86°C. Methanogenesis was also suppressed at 86°C and 250 atm when the culture was pressurized with a 4:1 mix of H2 and CO2, although limited methanogenesis did occur when the culture was pressurized with H2.
Comparison of inherently essential genes of Porphyromonas gingivalis identified in two transposon-sequencing libraries.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a Gram-negative anaerobe and keystone periodontal pathogen. A mariner transposon insertion mutant library has recently been used to define 463 genes as putatively essential for the in vitro growth of P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 in planktonic culture (Library 1). We have independently generated a transposon insertion mutant library (Library 2) for the same P. gingivalis strain and herein compare genes that are putatively essential for in vitro growth in complex media, as defined by both libraries. In all, 281 genes (61%) identified by Library 1 were common to Library 2. Many of these common genes are involved in fundamentally important metabolic pathways, notably pyrimidine cycling as well as lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, pantothenate and coenzyme A biosynthesis, and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Also in common are genes encoding heat-shock protein homologues, sigma factors, enzymes with proteolytic activity, and the majority of sec-related protein export genes. In addition to facilitating a better understanding of critical physiological processes, transposon-sequencing technology has the potential to identify novel strategies for the control of P. gingivalis infections. Those genes defined as essential by two independently generated TnSeq mutant libraries are likely to represent particularly attractive therapeutic targets.
Facultative monophagy as a consequence of prior feeding experience: behavioral and physiological specialization in Colias philodice larvae

Although newly-emerged Colias philodice readily accept Medicago sativa, Melilotus alba, and Coronilla varia, fifth instar larvae reared on any single plant species display a highly significant induced feeding preference for their rearing host. Forced host-switching reveals that fifth instar relative growth rate (RGR) on M. sativa and M. alba is significantly reduced by prior feeding on either alternative host. Moreover, regardless of rearing diet, switching to a novel host during the fifth instar results in reduced RGR, relative consumption rate (RCR), efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD), and pupal weight. These results support the hypothesis that induction of feeding preference is an adaptive response that predisposes larvae to feed on the plant species they are most capable of utilizing for growth.
Heuristic search when time matters

In many applications of shortest-path algorithms, it is impractical to find a provably optimal solution; one can only hope to achieve an appropriate balance between search time and solution cost that respects the user's preferences. Preferences come in many forms; we consider utility functions that linearly trade-off search time and solution cost. Many natural utility functions can be expressed in this form. For example, when solution cost represents the makespan of a plan, equally weighting search time and plan makespan minimizes the time from the arrival of a goal until it is achieved. Current state-of-theart approaches to optimizing utility functions rely on anytime algorithms, and the use of extensive training data to compute a termination policy. We propose a more direct approach, called Bugsy, that incorporates the utility function directly into the search, obviating the need for a separate termination policy. We describe a new method based on off-line parameter tuning and a novel benchmark domain for planning under time pressure based on platform-style video games. We then present what we believe to be the first empirical study of applying anytime monitoring to heuristic search, and we compare it with our proposals. Our results suggest that the parameter tuning technique can give the best performance if a representative set of training instances is available. If not, then Bugsy is the algorithm of choice, as it performs well and does not require any off-line training. This work extends the tradition of research on metareasoning for search by illustrating the benefits of embedding lightweight reasoning about time into the search algorithm itself.