cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Sensitivity Analysis of Repeat Migration Attrition in the Study of Migrant Adjustment: The Case of Bangkok

Studies of migrant adjustment often conclude that results apply only to remaining migrants. This paper examines the potential bias in using the difference between remaining migrants and natives as a measure of migrant adjustment. The results document that differences between remaining migrants and natives contain bias caused by attrition due to repeat migration. Such bias is small, however, and is unlikely to change migrant-native comparisons. Unless one is concerned with details of differences between migrants and natives, it is unnecessary to be concerned about migration attrition bias in drawing conclusions from the observed differences.
Fast Detection of the Geometric Form of Two-Dimensional Cubic Bézier Curves

Abstract This paper presents an algorithm that determines, from the control points of a cubic two-dimensional Bezier curve, the geometric form of the curve (arch, single inflecti on, two inflections, cusp, loop, or the degenerate forms straight line or point). The algorithm is based on a case analysis of the signs of the determinants of the control-point triples. Source code is available on the web site listed at the end of this paper.
Mouth dryness as reported by older Floridians

Thirty-nine percent of 600 community-dwelling older Floridians (mean age of 78 yr) reported having mouth dryness. Seventy-nine percent of respondents reported at least one medical condition, 57% were taking at least one prescribed or over-the-counter medication, and 33% were taking at least one potentially xerostomic medication. Reported mouth dryness was highly associated with the number of potentially xerostomic medications. After stratification by medication usage, age, diabetes, arthritis, perceived medical health, and dependence in physical functioning were significantly associated with mouth dryness. Persons with dry mouth were also more likely to have reported dental symptoms, signs of dental disease, sensory changes, and other oral symptoms. Ten percent of those who reported mouth dryness also said that their mouths felt dry when eating a meal, 10% said that they had difficulties swallowing foods, and 15% of persons with dry mouth also said that the amount of saliva in their mouths was too little. Sixty-five percent of persons with dry mouth reported doing one or more dryness-related behaviors. These results suggest that the prevalence of xerostomia was high, and the impact of dry mouth on individuals' daily behaviors was significant.
Tomosyn Inhibits Synaptic Vesicle Priming in Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans TOM-1 is orthologous to vertebrate tomosyn, a cytosolic syntaxin-binding protein implicated in the modulation of both constitutive and regulated exocytosis. To investigate how TOM-1 regulates exocytosis of synaptic vesicles in vivo, we analyzed C. elegans tom-1 mutants. Our electrophysiological analysis indicates that evoked postsynaptic responses at tom-1 mutant synapses are prolonged leading to a two-fold increase in total charge transfer. The enhanced response in tom-1 mutants is not associated with any detectable changes in postsynaptic response kinetics, neuronal outgrowth, or synaptogenesis. However, at the ultrastructural level, we observe a concomitant increase in the number of plasma membrane-contacting vesicles in tom-1 mutant synapses, a phenotype reversed by neuronal expression of TOM-1. Priming defective unc-13 mutants show a dramatic reduction in plasma membrane-contacting vesicles, suggesting these vesicles largely represent the primed vesicle pool at the C. elegans neuromuscular junction. Consistent with this conclusion, hyperosmotic responses in tom-1 mutants are enhanced, indicating the primed vesicle pool is enhanced. Furthermore, the synaptic defects of unc-13 mutants are partially suppressed in tom-1 unc-13 double mutants. These data indicate that in the intact nervous system, TOM-1 negatively regulates synaptic vesicle priming.
Endotoxin attacks the cardiovascular system: black death at the tollgate.

Bacteria have attacked the cardiovascular system since time immemorial. The propensity for pathogenic bacteria to effect cardiovascular collapse and death has shaped human history. Black Death, caused by Yersinia pestis, killed tens of millions in China, the Middle East, and decimated one-third of
Experimental reorganization of the cerebellar cortex. V. Effects of early X‐irradiation schedules that allow or prevent the acquisition of basket cells

In neonate and infant rats the area of the cerebellum was irradiated with different schedules of single or multiple doses of low-level X-ray. One set of schedules allowed the early recovery of the external germinal layer and the differentiation of all the postnatally-forming cell types while the other selectively prevented the acquisition of basket cells. The first schedule did not interfere with the development of normally oriented and arborizing Purkinje cells. The second schedule led to the growth of twisted and entwined stem dendrites even when, in association with the recovered granule cells, parallel fibers were present in the molecular layer together with Purkinje cell spiny branchlets. Evidence was presented that the alignment of Purkinje cell perikarya in a monolayer does not guarantee the normal growth of Purkinje cell stem dendrites which may be dependent on the presence of basket cells. The problem was discussed whether cell differentiation in the cerebellar cortex is governed by a chronological or sequential principle. (auth)
Studies of bimolecular reaction dynamics using pulsed high-intensity vacuum-ultraviolet lasers for photoionization detection.

This article describes recent progress on the development and application of pulsed high-intensity (∼0.1 mJ per pulse) vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) radiation produced by commercial tabletop lasers for studies of gas phase chemical reaction dynamics involving polyatomic free radicals. Our approach employs near-triply resonant four-wave mixing of unfocussed nanosecond dye lasers in an atomic gas as an alternative to the use of synchrotron light sources for sensitive universal soft photoionization detection of reaction products using a rotatable source crossed molecular beams apparatus with fixed detector. We illustrate this approach in studies of the reactions of phenyl radicals with molecular oxygen and with propene. Future prospects for the use of tabletop laser-based VUV sources for studies of chemical reaction dynamics are discussed.
Degradation Kinetics of Chlorophyll in Peas as a Function of pH

: The kinetics of chlorophyll degradation in pea puree were determined in a specially designed reactor with on-line pH control capability. Without pH control, the pH of the pea puree decreased continuously with heating due to acid formation; the pH was maintained within ±0.1 of the desired value with on-line pH control. Chlorophyll (both a and b) degradation followed the first-order reaction model. The temperature dependence of the rate constant was adequately modeled by the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy was independent of pH and was 17.5 kcal/mol and 17 kcal/mol for chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, respectively. The degradation rate constant decreased log-linearly as the pH was increased. A mathematical model was developed to predict the chlorophyll concentrations as a function of time, temperature and pH.
Variable Timing Control for Wide Current Range Zero-Voltage Soft-Switching Inverters

This paper presents a variable timing controlled soft-switching inverter. The proposed timing control is based on a simple voltage sensing circuit that detects zero voltage crossing condition to determine the main switch turn-on time. The proposed technique can be applied to different types of zero-voltage switching type inverters. In this paper, the coupled-magnetic type soft-switching inverter is used as example to show the implementation method and its simulation and experimental results. A 5-kW hardware single-phase inverter prototype using CoolMOS as the main device and IGBT as the auxiliary device has been built and tested. Simulation results were well verified with experimental results. Efficiency was compared between the proposed variable timing and the conventional fixed-timing controlled inverters. Significant efficiency improvement was found at light-load conditions.
Italic or Roman: Word Style Recognition without A Priori Knowledge for Old Printed Documents

This paper presents an Italic/Roman word type recognition system without a priori knowledge on the characters' font. This method aims at analyzing old documents in which character segmentation is not trivial. Therefore our approach segments the document into words and analyse the text word per word. To define the word style, we combine three criteria which are based on the visual differences between a word and a slanted version of the same word.These criteria are defined thanks to features computed from the vertical projection profile of the word. Because we do not assume a specific slant angle, we compute these measures on a whole range of possible slant angles and then sum the obtained scores. Our results show a ratio of 100 %recognition for Italic words and 97.2 % for Roman words.
Microgravimetry for engineering applications

Microgravimetric surveys for verifying bedrock soundness at the foundation of a nuclear power plant and for delineating a zone of small cavities and tracing grout emplacement at the foundation of a large cooling tower are described and used to illustrate an analysis of the method. It is pointed out that the difference between the usual large scale gravity surveys and microgravimetric surveys for engineering applications involves significantly more than a mere scaling down of grid spacings and precision tolerances. In addition to the smaller scale, the special physical environments for such microgravimetric surveys as well as strict timing and economy considerations and the demand for conclusive answers to specific questions require careful revisions of field procedures as well as data reduction and interpretation. Where properly applied, microgravimetric surveys—usually in conjunction with selective drilling—yield reliable subsurface information with a high resolution that is still limited by the gravimeter noise. Costly extensive drilling can thus be avoided. The method offers special advantages over other subsurface exploration methods in a wide variety of applications.
The transmission of learned medical literature in the middle English Liber uricrisiarum.

«Liber Uricrisiarum» est l'un des recueils de medecine ecrit dans un langage vernaculaire. Il est l'un des exemples de la litterature medievale de la fin du 14 e et du debut du 15 e siecles
The Impact of Surgery on Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Outcomes: The Use of Mastectomy

Mastectomy has been the historical mainstay of treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), but over time, there have been significant changes in its use for preinvasive breast cancer. Although there was an early reduction in mastectomy rates for DCIS with the introduction of breast-conserving surgery, in some groups, the rates of both mastectomy and contralateral mastectomy for DCIS have increased in recent years. Due to advances in breast cancer screening as well as improvements in breast reconstruction, mastectomy will continue to be an important and acceptable treatment option. Recurrence is rare following mastectomy for DCIS. Nevertheless, there remains a need to follow patients for in-breast, nodal, or contralateral breast events, which can occur long after the index DCIS has been treated. Since up to 70% of women with newly diagnosed DCIS have disease that can be managed with breast-conserving surgery, patient counseling is imperative to ensure the best use of this option for DCIS, given that mastectomy does not significantly impact survival in this setting.
Operant Conditioning Concepts in Introductory Psychology Textbooks and Their Companion Web Sites

Psychology instructors and textbook authors rate operant conditioning as one of the most essential concepts for students to learn, yet textbook writers, as well as students, can fall prey to misconceptions. This study is a content analysis of the presentation of operant conditioning in introductory psychology textbooks and their companion Web sites to discover if these information sources assist student learning or add to confusion. Results indicate that the failure to refer to changes in the likelihood of the organism's behavior when discussing operant conditioning was extremely common; this problem should be remedied to reduce students' misunderstandings.
Different Adaptations in AMPA Receptor Transmission in the Nucleus Accumbens after Short vs Long Access Cocaine Self-Administration Regimens

Different Adaptations in AMPA Receptor Transmission in the Nucleus Accumbens after Short vs Long Access Cocaine Self-Administration Regimens
Fostriecin, an antitumor antibiotic with inhibitory activity against serine/threonine protein phosphatases types 1 (PP1) and 2A (PP2A), is highly selective for PP2A.

Fostriecin, an antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces pulveraceus, is a strong inhibitor of type 2A (PP2A; IC50 3.2 nM) and a weak inhibitor of type 1 (PP1; IC50 131 μM) serine/threonine protein phosphatases. Fostriecin has no apparent effect on the activity of PP2B, and dose-inhibition studies conducted with whole cell homogenates indicate that fostriecin also inhibits the native forms of PP1 and PP2A. Studies with recombinant PP1/PP2A chimeras indicate that okadaic acid and fostriecin have different binding sites.
An Analysis of 2 Fusion Methods for the Treatment of Osteomyelitis Following Fractures About the Ankle

Background:In the setting of chronic osteomyelitis following fractures about the ankle, reconstruction through bony arthrodesis may be used as a reconstructive alternative to amputation. During these cases, surgeons often avoid using internal fixation in an attempt to avoid reinfection or premature hardware failure. In this retrospective review, we analyzed the outcomes of chronic osteomyelitic patients who had an arthrodesis of the ankle using either internal or external fixation, focusing on salvage rates, infection clearance, union rates, and functional outcomes. No device was implanted into a known active infection.Methods:We performed a retrospective chart review of adult patients undergoing arthrodesis in the setting of a previously septic ankle following a traumatic injury. In each case, multiple irrigation and debridement procedures and local and systemic antibiotics were used. Infection status was determined by clinical exam, MRI, nuclear medicine studies, and ultimately bone biopsies. No fixatio...
Extended virtual synchrony

We formulate a model of extended virtual synchrony that defines a group communication transport service for multicast and broadcast communication in a distributed system. The model extends the virtual synchrony model of the Isis system to support continued operation in all components of a partitioned network. The significance of extended virtual synchrony is that, during network partitioning and remerging and during process failure and recovery, it maintains a consistent relationship between the delivery of messages and the delivery of configuration changes across all processes in the system and provides well-defined self-delivery and failure atomicity properties. We describe an algorithm that implements extended virtual synchrony and construct a filter that reduces extended virtual synchrony to virtual synchrony. >
Manipulation of terahertz waveforms in nonlinear optical crystals by shaped optical pulses

We manipulate terahertz (THz) waveforms by optical rectification in nonlinear optical crystals using a pair of temporally separated femtosecond pulses. Two single-cycle THz pulses coherently control rotational transitions in gas-phase HCl molecules. Continuously tunable narrowband THz pulses are generated in a fanned-out, periodically poled lithium niobate crystal. The shape of the multicycle THz pulses is controlled by adjusting the relative time delay and intensity between the two optical pulses.
Increased Abundance of Native and Non-Native Spiders With Habitat Fragmentation

Habitat fragmentation and invasive species often contribute to the decline of native taxa. Since the penetration of non-native species into natural habitat may be facilitated by habitat fragmentation, it is important to examine how these two factors interact. Previous research documented that, in contrast to most other arthropod taxa, spiders increased in density and morphospecies richness with decreasing fragment area and increasing fragment age (time since insularization) in urban habitat fragments in San Diego County, California, USA. We tested whether a specific mechanism, an increase in non-native species with fragmentation, is responsible for this pattern. We found that both native and non-native taxa contributed to the pattern. Abundance of native spiders per pitfall trap sample increased significantly with decreasing fragment size (i.e. a negative density-area relationship) and abundance of non-natives increased significantly with increasing fragment age. The proportion of non-native individuals also increased significantly with age. One non-native species, Oecobius navus, comprised the majority of non-native individuals (82.2%) and a significant proportion of total individuals (25.1%). Richness of spider families per sample (family density) increased with fragment age due to an increase in the occurrence of non-natives in older fragments, however, native family richness did not vary with age or area. Due to increasing dominance by non-native and some native families, family evenness declined with decreasing fragment size and increasing fragment age. Native and non-native abundance covaried positively arguing against strong negative interactions between the two groups. O. navus had a strong positive association with another common non-native arthropod, the Argentine ant (Linepitheme humile), suggesting a possible direct interaction. In contrast, abundance of native spiders was negatively correlated with Argentine ant abundance. We hypothesize that fragmentation in this semiarid habitat increases productivity in smaller and older fragments enhancing the density of both native and non-native taxa.
Locating the beginnings of pain.

This paper examines the question of whether a fetus can feel pain. The question is divided into four sub questions: What is pain? What is the neurology of pain processing? What is the fetus? Are there good reasons for holding that fetuses feel pain? Pain is suggested to be a multi-dimensional phenomenon drawing on emotional and sensory processes – a consequence of a gradual development involving a number of noxious events rather than an automatic consequence of injury or disease. The non-automaticity of pain is emphasised in the discussion of pain neurology that defies explanations based on a specialised neuronal ‘pain-centre’. The development of the fetus is considered with respect to developmental neurobiology, behavioural and neurological responses to stimulation, and hormonal and neurochemical responses to noxious stimulation. While acknowledging that the development of the fetus is complex, especially after 26 weeks gestation, considerable development is still to occur, even after birth. The fetal pain literature is criticised for tending to exaggerate fetal development. Finally, the difficulty of explaining the subjectivity of pain in materialist terms is discussed. Pain is suggested to arise with development of the necessary neurological, cognitive and emotional structures. Pain experience is placed at approximately 12 months of age, though this is within the context of a continuum of awareness rather than a straight ‘on-off’ switch. The major moral implication of this stance is to place the burden of proof for analgesic use onto clinical measures, rather than relying upon the, so far, poorly supported assumption of pain awareness.
The clinical effectiveness of epidural bupivacaine, bupivacaine with lidocaine, and bupivacaine with fentanyl for labor analgesia

Abstract Study Objective: To examine the efficacy of bupivacaine alone and in combination with lidocaine or fentanyl for epidural analgesia during labor. Design: Randomized, single-blind study. Setting: Labor and delivery unit at a university medical center. Patients: Forty-five primiparas requesting epidural analgesia. Interventions: Following epidural placement at L3-4 interspace, patients received either bupivacaine 0.5% (Group 1, n=15), bupivacaine 0.25% with lidocaine 1% (Group 2, n=15), or bupivacaine 0.5% with fentanyl 50 μg in 10 ml of saline (Group 3, n=15). Patients in Groups 1 and 2 received 6 to 10 ml of local anesthetic depending on patient height, while patients in Group 3 received 5 ml of local anesthetic plus 50 μg of fentanyl in 10 ml of saline. All solutions contained epinephrine 1:200,000. Measurements and Main Results: Patients were assessed at regular intervals following administration of the epidural solution. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores were used to measure onset of analgesia, time to complete pain relief, duration of analgesia, and patient satisfaction with therapy. The frequency of shivering and pruritus and the extent of sensory/motor block also were evaluated. There were no intragroup differences in time to complete pain relief or patient satisfaction. However, patients in Group 3 noted the most rapid onset and longest duration of pain relief. Patients in Group 3 also experienced significantly less shivering and had the lowest degree of motor block. Two patients in Group 3 experienced mild pruritus. Conclusions: Epidurally administered fentanyl safely extended the duration of labor analgesia while reducing bupivacaine dose requirements and magnitude of motor block. In this setting, the combination of bupivacaine and lidocaine offered no clinical advantage over bupivacaine alone.
Kinetic evidence for a substrate-induced fit in phosphonoacetaldehyde hydrolase catalysis.

Phosphonoacetaldehyde hydrolase (phosphonatase) from Bacillus cereus catalyzes hydrolytic P−C bond cleavage of phosphonoacetaldehyde (Pald) via a Schiff base intermediate formed with Lys53. A single turnover requires binding of Pald to the active site of the core domain, closure of the cap domain containing the Lys53 over the core domain, and dissociation of the products following catalysis. The ligand binding and dissociation steps occur from the “open conformer” (domains are separated and the active site is solvent-exposed), while catalysis occurs from the “closed conformer” (domains are bound together and the active site is sequestered from solvent). To test the hypothesis that bound substrate stabilizes the closed conformer, thus facilitating catalysis, the rates of chemical modification of Lys53 in the presence and absence of inert substrate and/or product analogues were compared. Acetylation of Lys53 with 2,4-dinitrophenylacetate (DNPA) resulted in the loss of enzyme activity. The pseudo-first-order...
MEASUREMENT OF SENSE OF HUMOR

A sample of 365 individuals completed three scales designed to assess various elements of the personal construct of sense of humor. Data were factor-analyzed to estimate what elements the scales measure. Inadequacies are identified, and additional elements of sense of humor are recommended for a new, multidimensional humor scale.
Plasma Concentrations of Interleukin-6 and Abdominal Aortic Diameter Among Subjects Without Aortic Dilatation

Abstract —Previous studies suggest that cytokine-induced tissue inflammation may participate in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Serum inflammatory markers may reflect arterial inflammation in asymptomatic phases of the aneurysmal disease. We studied 120 outpatients (62 men; age, 65±9 years) by ultrasound evaluation of the abdominal aorta to evaluate the association of circulating levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) with abdominal aortic diameter in subjects with normal aortic size. Aortic diameter was measured at the infrarenal level and indexed for body surface area. Seven patients with abdominal aortic dilatation (indexed aortic diameter, >1.3 cm/m2) were also identified. Plasma concentrations of IL-6, serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP), total homocysteine, and lipids were measured. Among the 113 subjects without aortic dilatation, indexed aortic diameter was positively associated with serum levels of IL-6 ( P <0.01), SAA ( P <0.01), and total homocysteine ( P =0.01). IL-6 levels increased in a stepwise fashion among dichotomized groups of aortic size (low and high aortic diameters) and peaked in patients with aortic dilatation (2.3±1.2 versus 2.7±0.9 versus 3.2±0.9 pg/mL, respectively; P for trend=0.039). None of the serum lipid measurements correlated with abdominal aortic diameter. Although CRP levels were associated with SAA levels ( r =0.60; P <0.001), associations between CRP and aortic diameter were nonsignificant. In multivariate analysis, levels of IL-6 ( P =0.02), SAA ( P =0.001), and total homocysteine ( P <0.001) were independent correlates of indexed aortic diameter. In conclusion, circulating levels of IL-6, SAA, and total homocysteine may reflect processes involved in the early phases of abdominal aortic aneurysm formation, before dilation of the abdominal aorta is established. These data support a role for chronic inflammation in the progression of asymptomatic aortic disease.
Effect of insulin in the induction and regression of atherosclerosis in the chick.

Insulin administration to intact cockerels made atherosclerotic by the feeding of a cholesterol-oil-containing diet prevented regression of coronary atherosclerosis. Insulin administration during the induction of atherosclerosis had no effect on the development of lesions. In some experiments, insulin slightly inhibited estrogen-induced protection of the coronary arteries when the birds were on a high cholesterol-oil diet.
Insulin-Induced GLUT4 Translocation Involves Protein Kinase C-λ-Mediated Functional Coupling between Rab4 and the Motor Protein Kinesin

Insulin stimulates glucose transport by promoting translocation of GLUT4 proteins from the perinuclear compartment to the cell surface. It has been previously suggested that the microtubule-associated motor protein kinesin, which transports cargo toward the plus end of microtubules, plays a role in translocating GLUT4 vesicles to the cell surface. In this study, we investigated the role of Rab4, a small GTPase-binding protein, and the motor protein KIF3 (kinesin II in mice) in insulin-induced GLUT4 exocytosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Photoaffinity labeling of Rab4 with [γ-32P]GTP-azidoanilide showed that insulin stimulated Rab4 GTP loading and that this insulin effect was inhibited by pretreatment with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitor LY294002 or expression of dominant-negative protein kinase C-λ (PKC-λ). Consistent with previous reports, expression of dominant-negative Rab4 (N121I) decreased insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation by 45%. Microinjection of an anti-KIF3 antibody into 3T3-L1 adipocytes decreased insulin-induced GLUT4 exocytosis by 65% but had no effect on endocytosis. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that Rab4, but not Rab5, physically associated with KIF3, and this was confirmed by showing in vitro association using glutathione S-transferase-Rab4. A microtubule capture assay demonstrated that insulin stimulation increased the activity for the binding of KIF3 to microtubules and that this activation was inhibited by pretreatment with the PI3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 or expression of dominant-negative PKC-λ. Taken together, these data indicate that (i) insulin signaling stimulates Rab4 activity, the association of Rab4 with kinesin, and the interaction of KIF3 with microtubules and (ii) this process is mediated by insulin-induced PI3-kinase-dependent PKC-λ activation and participates in GLUT4 exocytosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
On the learnability of monotone functions

A longstanding lacuna in the held of computational learning theory is the learnability of succinctly representable monotone Boolean functions, i.e., functions that preserve the given order of the input. This thesis makes significant progress towards understanding both the possibilities and the limitations of learning various classes of monotone functions by carefully considering the complexity measures used to evaluate them. We show that Boolean functions computed by polynomial-size monotone circuits are hard to learn assuming the existence of one-way functions. Having shown the hardness of learning general polynomial-size monotone circuits, we show that the class of Boolean functions computed by polynomial-size depth-3 monotone circuits are hard to learn using statistical queries. As a counterpoint, we give a statistical query learning algorithm that can learn random polynomial-size depth-2 monotone circuits (i.e., monotone DNF formulas). As a preliminary step towards a fully polynomial-time, proper learning algorithm for learning polynomial-size monotone decision trees, we also show the relationship between the average depth of a monotone decision tree, its average sensitivity, and its variance. Finally, we return to monotone DNF formulas, and we show that they are teachable (a different model of learning) in the average case. We also show that non-monotone DNF formulas, juntas, and sparse GF 2 formulas are teachable in the average case.
A pseudolikelihood approach for simultaneous analysis of array comparative genomic hybridizations.

SUMMARY DNA sequence copy number has been shown to be associated with cancer development and progression. Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) is a recent development that seeks to identify the copy number ratio at large numbers of markers across the genome. Due to experimental and biological variations across chromosomes and hybridizations, current methods are limited to analyses of single chromosomes. We propose a more powerful approach that borrows strength across chromosomes and hybridizations. We assume a Gaussian mixture model, with a hidden Markov dependence structure and with random effects to allow for intertumoral variation, as well as intratumoral clonal variation. For ease of computation, we base estimation on a pseudolikelihood function. The method produces quantitative assessments of the likelihood of genetic alterations at each clone, along with a graphical display for simple visual interpretation. We assess the characteristics of the method through simulation studies and analysis of a brain tumor aCGH data set. We show that the pseudolikelihood approach is superior to existing methods both in detecting small regions of copy number alteration and in accurately classifying regions of change when intratumoral clonal variation is present. Software for this approach is available at http://www.biostat.harvard.edu/∼betensky/papers.html.
A new Frontier in Texas: managing and regulating brackish groundwater

The challenge of providing access to clean water is visible in Texas, where chronic drought coincides with increasing water demand. The 2012 Texas State Water Plan reports a 2,700 million cubic metres (MCM) gap between freshwater supply and demand in 2010, a number predicted to grow to 3,100 MCM by 2060. Due to the difficulty of reducing water demand, policy makers and water providers are evaluating new sources, including brackish groundwater for desalination or direct use. It is estimated that Texas aquifers contain more than 3,300,000 MCM of brackish groundwater, which, if converted to fresh water, could meet current consumption needs for 150 years, albeit at a greater cost. Using Texas as a case study, this article addresses policies to better manage the supply of brackish groundwater. We review the geological, technical, and legal contexts of groundwater in Texas and situate brackish groundwater within those constructs. We consider efforts by other states to regulate brackish groundwater and identify management goals, including facilitating access to and incentivizing use of brackish groundwater and protecting freshwater aquifers from potential saline intrusion related to brackish groundwater production. Various brackish groundwater policies are examined, and policy recommendations regarding use of the resource are offered.
Antiphospholipid Syndrome in the Absence of Standard Antiphospholipid Antibodies: Associations with Other Autoantibodies

Certain autoantibodies not detected in standard aCL and LA assays may be associated with clinical manifestations of APS. These antibodies are not included in the current serological criteria for the classification of definite APS, although these criteria are likely to be expanded in the future. Autoantibodies to β2-GPI and prothrombin, detected in protein-based ELISAs, are likely candidates for consideration. At the present time antibodies detected in ELISAs using anionic phospholipids other than cardiolipin are of possible interest, however, evidence for the clinical utility of such assays is weak. Future studies elucidating the specificity of these antibodies and inter-laboratory efforts toward assay standardization are needed. Antibodies detected in anti-phosphatidylethanolamine assays may be associated with clinical features of APS and may directly contribute to a prothrombotic state.
Cyclosporine-induced pseudo-graft-versus-host disease in the early post-cyclosporine period.

Cyclosporine-induced pseudo-graft-versus-host disease (CIPGVHD) in syngeneic or autologous rat marrow chimeras has clinical and histologic features closely resembling classic graft-versus-host disease in the allogeneic chimera. We describe here the pathology and immunopathology of the usual target tissues in CIPGVHD developing in the first week following CsA (early group). The findings are constrasted to the CIPGVHD developing during the second week post-CsA (later group). Six of 9 rats in the early group had acute-type CIPGVHD in the tongue, skin, liver, intestines, and mainstem bronchi. In general, the lymphocytic infiltrates in these tissues were in intimate contact with injured epithelial cells. The intestines had multiple apoptotic lesions. Class II antigen was prominent in the tongue mucosa, but only patchy expression was evident in 2 skin biopsies. All of the lymphocytes infiltrating the mucosa were CD8+(OX-8)/CD4-(W3/25) T cells (OX-19+). Most of the lymphocytes in the lamina propria expressed CD4 as well as CD8 markers, suggesting coexpression. In the later group, 6 of 7 rats had chronic-type CIPGVHD (1 with acute and chronic) while 1 rat had no GVHD (P = .02, Fisher's exact test compared with the early group). These animals had features characteristic of established chronic GVHD in the skin, tongue, liver, intestines, and salivary glands. Fibrosis of the dermis and lamina propria was prominent in the skin and tongue. Submucosal fibrosis was increased in the small intestine. The salivary glands had an interstitial infiltrate and fibrosis with loss of ducts and glands. Class II antigen was prominent in the epidermis of the tongue and skin of all rats. The number of lymphocytes infiltrating the mucosa of the tongue was considerably smaller than seen in the early group. More than 90% of these cells were T cells, as detected by OX-19, and expressed both CD4 and CD8 markers. While most lamina propria lymphocytes expressed the CD4 antigen, there were significantly fewer CD8+ cells, consistent with increased numbers of CD8-/CD4+ helper-phenotype cells. The observations indicate that immediately post-CsA, the CIPGVHD is primarily acute, with epithelial infiltrates of CD8+/CD4- T cells and lamina propria infiltrates that include double-labeled cells consistent with immature thymocytes. There is a rapid transition to established chronic-type CIPGVHD by the second week. The residual mucosal infiltrate is now dominated by double-labeled T cells or thymocytes while the lamina propria infiltrate has more mature helper-phenotype T cells. Induced RT1.B/D antigen could be important in the pathogenesis of the peripheral tissue manifestations.
Motion calibration/identification of a flexible manipulator

Much work has been done in the area of stationary calibration of manipulators. Recently, for situations where the mechamsm's behavior whde in motion plays a larger role in the positioning accuracy of the end-effector, interest has shifted towards motion calibration techques. Two lunds of motion calibration for a two-link manipulator are presented and evaluated in thls paper. Dynamic calibration addresses the manipulator's response as it traces a certain trajectory and vibrational calibration deals with the mechanism's flexible response. Several researchers have investigated various methods of dynamic calibration. Whlle modal models have been studed for flexible manipulators, the area of vibrational calibration is not as well developed. The objective of h s work is to evaluate and compare these two calibration approaches involving motion of the manipulator and to determine the contribution of each approach towards a more complete calibration of a manipulator. To accomplish thls goal, dynamic and vibrational calibration numerical studes were conducted using the multibody dynamic simulation program ADAMS and the fhite element analysis program ANSYS, respectively. There have been increasing demands for faster, lighter, and more accurate manipulators. These performance criteria have resulted in more flexible mechanisms. One drawback is the occurrence of addtional errors in the positioning accuracy of the end-effector due to the non-rigidty of the structure. As a result, calibration methods are now necessary to compensate for errors in ways not previously addressed.
Censoring distributed nonlinear state estimates in radar networks

In a distributed radar track fusion system, it is desired to limit the communication rate between the sensors and the central node to only the most relevant information available. One way to do this is to use some metric that judges quantity of new information available, in comparison to that which has already been provided. The J-Divergence is a symmetric metric, derived from the Kullback-Liebler divergence, which performs a comparison of the statistical distance between two probability distributions. For the comparison between new and old data, a large J-Divergence can represent the existence of new information, while a small J-Divergence represents the lack of new information. Previous work included an application where the J-Divergence was used to limit data for scenarios in which the primary state estimator was an Extended Kalman Filter and used only Gaussian approximations at the local sensors. This paper expands the range of estimators to particle filters in order to account for situations where censoring is desired to be applied to non-linear/non-Gaussian environments. A derivation of the J-Divergence between probability density functions (PDFs) which are approximated by particles is provided for use in a non-feedback fusion case. An example application is given involving a 2D radar tracking scenario using the J-Divergences of a particle filter with the Gaussian approximation and a particle filter with the approximated discrete prior/posterior PDFs.
Therapeutic effects of ganciclovir combined with gamma globulin and early intervention on neonatal Cytomegalovirus infection-induced brain injury

Objective:To explore the therapeutic effects of ganciclovir combined with gamma globulin and early intervention on neonatal cytomegalovirus infection(CMVI)-induced brain injury. Methods:Ninety-seven cases with CMVI brain injury were divided into 2 groups. Forty-four cases received gonciclovir combined with gamma globulin and early intervention(group A) and 53 cases received no therapy(group B). Thirty normal full term infants(group C) served as control. There was no significant difference between group A and B in ordinary conditions(P 0.05). Results:Body length, weight, head circumference, mental developmont index(MDI) and psychomotor development index(PDI) in group A were higher than those in group B(P 0.05). Retardation of movement, audition and language disability of group A were lower than those of group B respectively(P 0.05). Conclusion:Ganciclovir combined with gamma globulin and early intervention can improve the prognosis of CMVI-induced brain injury in infants.
Study and Design of Information Sub-system of Gateway Electrical Energy Metering and Management

In allusion to the need of gateway energy metering device management,some technologies such as computer network,database and so on and the analysis method of system project are applied to introduce the general framework of gateway energy metering management information sub-system and the design and study of each functional module,whose data flow diagram is given.The application of the information sub-system will greatly improve the management level of gateway metering.
Archaeological Survey of the Crystal City Municipal Landfill Extension, Zavala County, Texas

At the request of Ozuna and Associates, Inc., Consulting Engineers of San Antonio, Texas, an archaeological survey was conducted by the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) for a proposed 40-acre extension to the Crystal City Municipal Landfill, under Texas Antiquities Committee Archeology Permit Number 2298. The pedestrian survey was conducted in early January 2000. One prehistoric site (41ZV445), a sparse scatter of burned stone and chipped lithics, was identified and documented. Shovel testing revealed no subsurface cultural deposits. The site does not meet the criteria for potential eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places nor does it warrant State Archaeological Landmark designation. Cultural resource clearance is recommended for the proposed landfill extension.
Nitroaromatic Munition Compounds: Environmental Effects and Screening Values

Nitroaromatic compounds, including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3, 5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5-tetrazocine (HMX), N-methyl-N,2,4,6-tetranitroaniline (tetryl), and associated byproducts and degradation products, were released to the environment during manufacturing and load, assembly, and pack (LAP) processes at U.S. Army Ammunition Plants (AAPs) and other military facilities. As a result of the release of these nitroaromatic compounds into the environment, many AAPs have been placed on the National Priorities List for Superfund cleanup (Fed. Reg. 60:20330). Many of these sites cover a wide expanse of relatively undisturbed land and provide diverse habitats that support a variety of aquatic and terrestrial species. Nitroaromatics are potentially toxic to the indigenous species at these sites and present a significant concern for site remediation. Table 1 presents an overview of ranges of detected concentrations of the nitroaromatic compounds in groundwater, surface water, sediment, and soil at military and manufacturing sites.
INTERNET OF THINGS AND CLOUD COMPUTING

Both 'machine‐to‐machine (M2M) systems' and 'Internet of Things (loT)' are broad terms that are sometimes used interchangeably, and there is little point in debating where one ends and the other begins. Cloud computing refers to a class of on‐demand compute services available over the internet. These services include foundational offerings like computation and data storage, as well as more specialized services like machine learning and parallel data set processing. Remote monitoring represents the basic features common to most IoT solutions. Asset management builds on remote monitoring by adding capabilities of command and control to the system. In predictive maintenance scenarios, additional cloud services are added like machine learning and distributed analysis tools like Apache Hadoop; vending machines provide an excellent example of the benefits of predictive maintenance. With remote monitoring and machine learning, failure patterns can be recognized and addressed before actual failure happens, this is predictive maintenance.
The Flanner Beach Formation (Middle Pleistocene) in Eastern North Carolina

The Flanner Beach Formation was deposited along the Atlantic Coast of east-central North Carolina during a high stand of world sea-level about 200,000 years B.P. This major barrier-lagoon sequence can be divided into three members in its type area along the lower reaches of the Neuse River: I) Smith Gut Member (new unit), deposited in early transgressive open-bay settings: 2) Arapahoe Sand Member (newly formalized unit), deposited in a barrier- island complex as the rate of sea-level rise decreased: and 3l Beard Creek Merrher (newly formalized unit), composed of sediments that accumulated in a spatial-temporal mosaic of bay and lagoonal environments. The barrier-sand lithosome is continued to the south of the Neuse valley as the Newport Sand Member (newly formalized unit). Time-equivalent deposits cropping out in the Pamlico River valley, 40 km north of the Flanner Beach type area, also are divisible into three units of member rank: 1) Hills Point Member (new unit), deposited in isolated lagoonal or: river-estuary settings; succeeded vertically by 2) Mauls Point Member (new unit), deposited in more open lagoonal areas; and 3) a poorly exposed, unnamed member resembling the Beard Creek Member.
Time-Delay Effects on Periodic Motions in a Duffing Oscillator

In this chapter, time-delay effects on periodic motions in a periodically forced, time-delayed, hardening Duffing oscillator are reviewed and further discussed. Bifurcation trees of periodic motions to chaos varying with time-delay are presented for such a time-delayed, Duffing oscillator. From the analytical prediction, periodic motions in the time-delayed, hardening Duffing oscillator are simulated numerically. Through numerical illustrations, time-delay effects on period-1 motions to chaos in nonlinear dynamical systems are strongly related to the distributions and quantity levels of harmonic amplitudes.
Small Noncoding RNAs in Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

During the last decade, small noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as essential post-transcriptional regulators in bacteria. Nearly all important physiological and stress responses are modulated by ncRNA regulators, such as riboswitches, trans-acting small RNAs (sRNAs), and cis-antisense RNAs. Recently, three RNA-seq studies identified a total of 1534 candidate ncRNAs from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a pathogen and biotechnology tool for plants. Only a few ncRNAs have been functionally characterized in A. tumefaciens, and some of them appear to be involved in virulence. AbcR1 regulates multiple ABC transporters and modulates uptake of a quorum-sensing inhibitor produced by plants. RNA1111, a Ti plasmid-encoded sRNA, might regulate the dispersal of the Ti plasmid and virulence. In addition, a chromosomally encoded sRNA Atr35C is induced by the vir gene regulator VirG and its expression is affected by iron, manganese, and hydrogen peroxide, suggesting a possible role in oxidative stress responses and Agrobacterium–plant interactions. Progress in ncRNA functional analysis is slow, likely resulting from innate challenges, such as poor sequence conservation and imperfect base-pairing between sRNAs and mRNAs, which make computational target predictions inefficient. Advances in single-cell-based RNA-seq and proteomics approaches would provide valuable tools to reveal regulatory networks involving ncRNA regulators.