cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gastric and small intestine gastrointestinal stromal tumors: Do outcomes differ?

Background and Objectives Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Previous literature has suggested that small intestine GISTs are more aggressive than gastric GISTs. Our primary objective was to compare the outcomes of gastric and small intestine GISTs in the decade after approval of imatinib for treatment. Methods The SEER database was queried for cases of gastric and small intestine GIST between the years 2002 and 2012, using the ICD-O-3 histology code 8936. Survival analysis was performed using generalized gamma models for time to cause-specific mortality (CSM). Results CSM was 14.0% for the 3,759 gastric GIST patients and 14.3% for the 1,848 small intestine GIST patients. Five-year survival was 82.2% and 83.3% for gastric and small intestine patients, respectively. The number of diagnosed cases of GIST increased over the course of this study, especially for tumors <5 cm in size and in patients over age 50 years. Conclusions In this large nation-wide study, we found that patients with gastric and small intestine GISTs had similar outcomes, in contrast to previous reports. The diagnosis of GIST has significantly increased in the last decade, which may reflect the increased recognition of this entity and frequent use of imaging. J. Surg. Oncol. 2017;115:351–357. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Psychiatric disorders and pruritus

The skin and psyche are intimately related with various skin diseases caused by or resulting in psychiatric disturbances. Pruritus is a commonly reported symptom in psychiatric patients, and likewise psychiatric co-morbidities, including anxiety and depression, are frequently seen in chronic pruritus patients. Primary psychodermatologic conditions, such as somatic symptom disorder, dermatitis artefacta, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (excoriation disorder and prurigo nodularis), delusional infestation, and substance use disorder, can all induce significant pruritus in patients, severely affecting their quality of life. Such entities can be challenging to manage, and therefore a greater understanding of the underlying psychopathology and evaluation of associated psychosocial factors is necessary. In addition to proper skin hygiene and first-line pharmacotherapies such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, noradrenergic and selective serotonin antidepressants, antiepileptics, and antipsychotics (for delusional and psychotic disorders), patients with psychopruritic disorders should be offered psychotherapy to maximize the therapeutic efficacy.
Engineering and Optimization of Quasi-Nondiffracting Helicon-Like Beams With an Evolutionary Algorithm

Nondiffracting beams maintain their intensity profiles over a large propagation distance without substantial diffraction and exhibit unique propagation trajectories, leading to scientific impacts in various fields. However, the nonlocalized intensity distribution of nondiffracting beams is restrictive for many practical applications. Thus, strategies to optimize the beam profiles remain much in demand. In this report, we demonstrate an evolutionary algorithmic framework for optical beam engineering and optimization and experimentally validate it by realizing quasi-nondiffracting radially self-accelerating (or self-rotating) beams in a high-resolution imaging system. The work reports a tightly confined side-lobe-suppressed helicon-like beam that largely maintains its properties of radial self-acceleration and nondiffraction in the 3-D space. The optimization method represents a new methodological avenue that can be extended to a broad range of beam engineering problems.
Initial Outcomes of a Participatory-Based, Competency-Building Approach to Increasing Physical Education Teachers’ Physical Activity Promotion and Students’ Physical Activity: A Pilot Study:

This study examined the initial effects of a participatory-based, competency-/skill-building professional development workshop for physical education (PE) teachers on the use of physical activity (PA) promotion practices (e.g., eliminating lines, small-sided games) and students' moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). A total of 823 students (52.8% boys) wore accelerometers at baseline (fall 2015) and outcome (spring 2016) on PE and non-PE days. The System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time+ measured changes in PA promotion practices. Teachers ( n = 9) attended a 90-minute workshop prior to outcome data collection. Mixed-model linear regressions estimated changes in teacher practices and students' MVPA. Three of the nine targeted PA promotion practices changed in the desired direction (i.e., p < .05; increased motor content and lessons taught outdoors, reduced activities with lines), with three more teacher practices trending in the desired direction (i.e., reduced management time and activities with elimination, increased small-sided games). During PE, boys and girls increased MVPA by 2.0 (95% confidence interval [1.1, 3.0]), and 1.3 (95% confidence interval [0.5-2.0]) minutes, respectively. However, there were no statistically significant changes in boys' or girls' MVPA during the school day. Greater implementation of promotion practices by the PE teachers was associated with boys', but not girls', MVPA during PE. Girls in high- and low-implementing teachers' lessons experienced increases in MVPA, suggesting that even small changes in PA promotion practices can increase girls' MVPA during PE. Overall, the workshops were effective at increasing teachers' PA promotion and students' MVPA in PE. Other school-based strategies that complement and extend efforts targeting PE are recommended to increase children's total daily PA.
Optical properties of schematic eye models

Various schematic eye models have been proposed in the optics literature. These models range from first order models to models incorporating aberrations and accommodation. This talk examines the capabilities and limitations of schematic eye models.
A Cadaveric Study of Metatarsal Length and Its Function in the Metatarsal Formula and Forefoot Pathology

Background: The metatarsal parabola or formula is an important principle in assessing normal foot structure and pathology. To understand what effect the positions of the distal ends of the metatarsals have on foot function, the relative length of each metatarsal must be considered. The purpose of this study was to investigate what the normal metatarsal formula is and compare these findings with previous research. Methods: Measurements of metatarsal lengths were taken from 20 feet of five male and five female cadavers. The mean lengths were used to identify each donor's metatarsal formula. Results: On average, the most common formula presented was in the order of metatarsals II>III>IV>V>I. Conclusions: These findings differ from historic measurements and raise questions regarding which metatarsal formula is considered normal. Further investigation is needed to standardize a more reliable method of measuring metatarsal lengths for evaluating foot biomechanics and planning forefoot surgeries.
The attribute selection problem in decision tree generation

We address the problem of selecting an attribute and some of its values for branching during the top-down generation of decision trees. We study the class of impurity measures, members of which are typically used in the literature for selecting attributes during decision tree generation (e.g. entropy in ID3, GID3*, and CART; Gini Index in CART). We argue that this class of measures is not particularly suitable for use in classification learning. We define a new class of measures, called C-SEP, that we argue is better suited for the purposes of class separation. A new measure from C-SEP is formulated and some of its desirable properties are shown. Finally, we demonstrate empirically that the new algorithm, O-BTree, that uses this measure indeed produces better decision trees than algorithms that use impurity measures.
Pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure in left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Purpose of review Pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure (RVF) in left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This review presents an overview of the classification, pathophysiology, natural history, clinical features, prevention and treatment of this common clinical problem with a focus on the most recent studies. Many of the current evidence-based therapeutic agents for pulmonary hypertension in the absence of systolic or diastolic heart failure (e.g. prostaglandins, endothelin antagonists) are not efficacious in pulmonary hypertension with LVSD. Recent findings Recent clinical evidence strongly supports an evolving role for phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibition in patients with pulmonary hypertension and LVSD. Chronic PDE5 inhibition in the short-to-intermediate duration studies to date significantly reduces pulmonary pressures and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), effects reverse right ventricle and left ventricle remodeling, improves ventilator efficiency, improves peak exercise capacity and improves quality of life in selected patients with stable, moderately symptomatic LVSD and pulmonary hypertension. Summary Although long-term outcome studies are currently lacking, chronic PDE5 inhibition should be considered in carefully selected LVSD patients who manifest persistent significant elevation of pulmonary hypertension or PVR or uncontrolled RVF after aggressive management with all standard current evidence-based LVSD therapies (neurohormonal antagonists, diuretics and cardiac resynchronization in appropriate candidates).
Wearable sensors for Parkinson’s disease: which data are worth collecting for training symptom detection models

Machine learning algorithms that use data streams captured from soft wearable sensors have the potential to automatically detect PD symptoms and inform clinicians about the progression of disease. However, these algorithms must be trained with annotated data from clinical experts who can recognize symptoms, and collecting such data are costly. Understanding how many sensors and how much labeled data are required is key to successfully deploying these models outside of the clinic. Here we recorded movement data using 6 flexible wearable sensors in 20 individuals with PD over the course of multiple clinical assessments conducted on 1 day and repeated 2 weeks later. Participants performed 13 common tasks, such as walking or typing, and a clinician rated the severity of symptoms (bradykinesia and tremor). We then trained convolutional neural networks and statistical ensembles to detect whether a segment of movement showed signs of bradykinesia or tremor based on data from tasks performed by other individuals. Our results show that a single wearable sensor on the back of the hand is sufficient for detecting bradykinesia and tremor in the upper extremities, whereas using sensors on both sides does not improve performance. Increasing the amount of training data by adding other individuals can lead to improved performance, but repeating assessments with the same individuals—even at different medication states—does not substantially improve detection across days. Our results suggest that PD symptoms can be detected during a variety of activities and are best modeled by a dataset incorporating many individuals.
In Pursuit of the Noble: The Classical Birth of the Liberal Arts

The most popular critique of the liberal arts in general and philosophy in particular is that they are “useless” and fail to produce marketable skills. This contention was already dealt with by Aristotle who flatly denied that “utility” is the highest form of good. On the contrary useful goods, are “good” only in relation to something else, and so are inherently secondary and subordinate to what is good in itself – “the noble.” From this distinction between the “noble” and the “useful” arose the corresponding classical distinction and the liberal arts and the mechanical arts. For Seneca the liberal arts are those which befit the gentleman, who being “free” from necessary labor had leisure to pursue arts which have their own proper excellence - as poetry, rhetoric, and philosophy. Arts concerned with commerce, industry, and labor for practical and material gains were subordinated by the classics as merely useful, “mechanical” arts. This educational tradition of the liberal arts has exercised a vast influence on Western civilization long outlasting the classical world itself. While this distinction is indubitably connected with the Greco-Roman class structure, it also reflected a deeper humanist truth. As the intellectual and moral faculties are what is best and noblest in man, so their cultivation brings about the full stature of human dignity.
On Philosophy and Poetry

Philosophical debates about poetry center on its relation to truth. While even its critics tend to admit that poetry can convey truth, others propose a mode of truthfulness that is distinctly poetic. Phenomenological hermeneutics claims that poetry enacts a form of revealing disclosure, while critical theory promotes poetry predominantly in its illusory character . These positions will be considered against the backdrop of the historical debate and the tension therein between poetry’s mimetic relation to reality and its generation of images and ideas. Poetry both reveals reality and creates ideas in light of possibility, generating alternatives to the real that may be revelatory by contrast. Poetry’s truest disclosures may pertain not so much to the world itself than to the ways we experience and come to know it.
Cost-Effectiveness and National Effects of Initiating Colorectal Cancer Screening for Average-Risk Persons at Age 45 Years Instead of 50 Years

Background & Aims The American Cancer Society has recommended initiating colorectal cancer (CRC) screening at age 45 years instead of 50 years. We estimated the cost effectiveness and national effects of adopting this recommendation. Methods We compared screening strategies and alternative resource allocations in a validated Markov model. We based national projections on screening participation rates by age and census data. Results Screening colonoscopy initiation at age 45 years instead of 50 years in 1000 persons averted 4 CRCs and 2 CRC deaths, gained 14 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), cost $33,900/QALY gained, and required 758 additional colonoscopies. These 758 colonoscopies could instead be used to screen 231 currently unscreened 55-year-old persons or 342 currently unscreened 65-year-old persons, through age 75 years. These alternatives averted 13–14 CRC cases and 6–7 CRC deaths and gained 27–28 discounted QALYs while saving $163,700–$445,800. Improving colonoscopy completion rates after abnormal results from a fecal immunochemical test yielded greater benefits and savings. Initiation of fecal immunochemical testing at age 45 years instead of 50 years cost $7700/QALY gained. Shifting current age-specific screening rates to 5 years earlier could avert 29,400 CRC cases and 11,100 CRC deaths over the next 5 years but would require 10.7 million additional colonoscopies and cost an incremental $10.4 billion. Improving screening rates to 80% in persons who are 50–75 years old would avert nearly 3-fold more CRC deaths at one third the incremental cost. Conclusions In a Markov model analysis, we found that starting CRC screening at age 45 years is likely to be cost effective. However, greater benefit, at lower cost, could be achieved by increasing participation rates for unscreened older and higher-risk persons.
Extended short wavelength infrared heterojunction phototransistors based on type II superlattices

A two terminal extended short wavelength infrared heterojunction phototransistor based on type-II InAs/AlSb/GaSb on a GaSb substrate is designed, fabricated, and investigated. With the base thickness of 40 nm, the device exhibited a 100% cut-off wavelength of ∼2.3 μm at 300 K. The saturated peak responsivity value is 320.5 A/W at 300 K, under front-side illumination without any antireflection coating. A saturated optical gain of 245 at 300 K was measured. At the same temperature, the device exhibited a collector dark current density (at unity optical gain) and a DC current gain of 7.8 × 10−3 A/cm2 and 1100, respectively. The device exhibited a saturated dark current shot noise limited specific detectivity of 4.9 × 1011 cm·Hz1/2/W at 300 K which remains constant over a broad range of wavelengths and applied biases.
Public Health Perspectives on Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by worry and concomitant anxiety symptoms that cause extreme distress and/or interfere with function. The 12-month prevalence of GAD in the general population ranges in studies from approximately 2% to 5%, with the majority of cases occurring comorbid with major depression. GAD is particularly prevalent in certain special populations, such as older adults, in whom it is the most common anxiety disorder. In clinical and community studies, GAD emerges as a strong predictor of functional impairment, over and above that explained by major depression. These observations lead to the conclusion that current public health efforts focused on identification and treatment of major depression should be extended to include GAD and other anxiety disorders.
Observed Quasi-steady Flow Patterns in Shallow Seas

This final chapter will attempt to connect the simple steady-state models of circulation of Chapters 6 and 7 to observational evidence. Circulation features more persistent than weather related events are sometimes brought to light by averaging fixed-point current meter data for periods of the order of a month or longer, or by Lagrangian tracer studies involving horizontal displacements of drifters or of water masses over similar periods. A mean circulation pattern determined by such methods is not necessarily relatable to simple dynamical models of the kind discussed above, because cumulative effects of transient flow events may swamp those of steady, low-level forcing. In the long-term average equations of motion, in the heat and salt transport equations, and in stress or flux boundary conditions the cumulative effects are manifested by various mean products, akin to Reynolds stresses. Where transient flow events dominate, such mean products are difficult to quantify or to relate to the mean flow. One has to allow for the possibility, therefore, that transient flow events bring about some unexpected redistribution of heat, salt or momentum. A few concrete examples of this have been discussed elsewhere (Csanady, 1975, 1976a). Generally, redistribution effects are localized and do not modify the basic pattern of mean circulation. However, in confronting the mean circulation problem in a shallow sea previously unexplored, one would do well to keep an open mind in this regard.
Localized hypoxia may have caused coral reef mortality at the Flower Garden Banks

On July 25, 2016, turbid water and dead corals, sponges and other invertebrates were discovered at the East Bank (EB) of the Flower Garden Banks (FGB) National Marine Sanctuary. Mortality was spread over 0.06 km2, with up to 80% coral mortality reported in some areas. Within days, response efforts were underway to investigate the potential mechanisms leading to the mortality event. Hydrographic surveys, moored buoy data, and a regional hydrodynamic model were used to characterize water chemistry, hydrography, and microbial communities within the FGB. Low salinity (~ 31–33), total alkalinity (~ 2284–2330 µmol kg−1), and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC, ~ 1968–2011 µmol kg−1) were detected in surface waters over the EB and eastern stations, revealing the presence of river-derived water. The Mississippi/Atchafalaya rivers were the primary sources of freshwater during the event, although Texas rivers, all of which had unusually high discharge during 2016, contributed approximately one-fifth to the total freshwater mass. At 75 m depth, high density, salinity, DIC, ammonium, and abundance of microbial taxa associated with deep waters were coincident with low temperature and aragonite saturation state at the northern and eastern stations, indicating a deeper source water at these stations. Cross-slope density gradients were also consistent with an upwelling circulation pattern. Using these observations and data, we hypothesize that the mortality event was most likely caused by the combination of two processes. The turbid freshwater layer inhibited photosynthesis, leading to net respiration of coral reef organic matter. Additionally, deep, dense waters upwelled onto the bank and formed a stratified bottom layer, which prevented re-oxygenation from the overlying water column and led to localized areas of hypoxia within pockets on the reef. Hypoxia likely formed rapidly, within two days. Moving forward, high-frequency temporal measurements of oxygen and carbonate chemistry are critical for monitoring risks (e.g., hypoxia and acidification) associated with freshwater discharge and upwelling, since these processes may adversely affect coral reef health.
Minimal Matrix Product States and Generalizations of Mean-Field and Geminal Wave Functions.

Simple wave functions of low computational cost but which can achieve qualitative accuracy across the whole potential energy surface (PES) are of relevance to many areas of electronic structure the...
CHAPTER 9 – Systems of Equations and Inequalities

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the systems of linear and nonlinear equations and inequalities. A system of linear equations is a pair of linear equations with two unknowns. Solving a system of equations means finding values of the unknowns that satisfy both equations. A system that has a solution is said to be consistent, and a system with no solution is inconsistent. A system can be solved by graphing, in which case the solution is the coordinates of the point where the two lines intersect. There are three possible results when two linear equations are graphed: (1) two different lines intersect once, (2) two parallel lines are obtained, or (3) both equations graph onto the same line. The substitution method of solving a system yields an exact solution. The method of solving a system of two linear equations by elimination consists of manipulating the coefficients of the variables so that one variable vanishes when the two equations are added and the resulting equation has only one variable and is easily solved. Three linear equations in three unknowns can be solved by the substitution method and by the Gaussian elimination method. Similarly, a system of equations containing either one linear equation and one quadratic equation, or two quadratic equations, can be solved by the substitution method or the elimination method.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Housing Instability during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Assets and Income Shocks

Stable and adequate housing is critical in the midst of a pandemic; without housing, individuals and families cannot shelter in place to prevent the spread of disease. Understanding and combating housing hardships in vulnerable populations is therefore essential to a sound public health response. This study aims to explore the pandemic’s disproportionate impacts on housing-related hardships across racial/ethnic groups in the United States as well as the extent to which these disparities are mediated by households’ broader economic circumstances; namely, their pre-pandemic liquid asset levels and the experience of COVID-19-related job and income losses. Using a national survey of over 4,000 households, we find that Black and Hispanic respondents were more vulnerable to housing-related hardships during the pandemic than White respondents. These impacts were particularly pronounced in lower-income minority households. For Black respondents, who had much lower levels of pre-pandemic liquid assets than other groups, liquid assets acted as a strong mediator of housing hardship disparities between White and Black respondents. On the other hand, neither liquid asset amounts before the pandemic nor employment shocks during the pandemic explain the pandemic’s disproportionate impacts on Hispanic families. Our findings imply that housing became less stable for racial/ethnic minority groups as a result of the pandemic. In particular, the observed disparities, as well as the mechanisms driving them, demonstrate the necessity of policies and practices that target support to these economically marginalized groups.
11.7 A 56Gb/s 50mW NRZ Receiver in 28nm CMOS

The power consumption of wireline transceivers has become increasingly critical as higher data rates and a larger numbers of lanes per chip are sought [1] –[6]. While attractive for lossy channels, PAM-4 signaling has mostly dictated ADC-based receivers (RXs) and relatively high power consumption [1], [2]. Non-return-to-zero (NRZ) receivers, on the other hand, can be realized in the analog domain, potentially consuming less power, but they must deal with a greater loss. This paper introduces an NRZ RX that achieves more than a twofold reduction in power while exhibiting BER < 10-12 for a channel loss of 25dB at 28GHz. The proposed design can compete with PAM-4 counterparts and/or serve in 112Gb/s systems that must also support 56Gb/s reception. Figure 11.7.1 shows the RX architecture. The data path consists of a CTLE core, a DFE core, a discrete-time linear equalizer (DTLE) [4], and a DMUX. The receiver performance is greatly improved by a number of feedforward and feedback paths. Also proposed is a half-rate “band-pass” CDR that avoids loading the main data path and the use of quadrature VCOs.
Constructing global citizenship education at the regional level: regionalism and Caribbean citizen education

This conceptual paper examines the development of global citizenship education (GCE) by looking at economic regionalism’s political economy. First, this paper situates the Caribbean Community’s (CA...
REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF NORTH AMERICAN CAJUN DWARF CRAYFISH (CAMBARELLUS SHUFELDTII) FROM THE NECHES RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

The Cajun dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus shufeldtii) is among the most broadly ranging dwarf crayfish species in North America. Little is known about the species' reproductive cycle in east Texas populations, and even less is known about the relationship between female body size and reproductive traits. This study seeks to characterize some reproductive traits of female C. shufeldtii as they correlate to body size. We recorded measurements of 23 berried specimens collected from an east Texas freshwater marsh, and established a positive correlation between female carapace length and number of eggs, as well as female total length and number of juveniles. Females were larger and had larger clutches than those reported from Louisiana. We also present some laboratory evidence for females reproducing multiple times in a single reproductive season.
Effects of vapor exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the Maine Lobster (Homarus americanus)

RationaleDespite a long history of use in synaptic physiology, the lobster has been a neglected model for behavioral pharmacology. A restaurateur proposed that exposing lobster to cannabis smoke reduces anxiety and pain during the cooking process. It is unknown if lobster gill respiration in air would result in significant {Delta}9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) uptake and whether this would have any detectable behavioral effects. ObjectiveThe primary goal was to determine tissue THC levels in the lobster after exposure to THC vapor. Secondary goals were to determine if THC vapor altered locomotor behavior or nociception. MethodsTissue samples were collected (including muscle, brain and hemolymph) from Homarus americanus (N=3 per group) following 30 or 60 minutes of exposure to vapor generated by an e-cigarette device using THC (100 mg/mL in a propylene glycol vehicle). Separate experiments assessed locomotor behavior and hot water nociceptive responses following THC vapor exposure. ResultsTHC vapor produced duration-related THC levels in all tissues examined. Locomotor activity was decreased (distance, speed, time-mobile) by 30 min inhalation of THC. Lobsters exhibit a temperature-dependent withdrawal response to immersion of tail, antennae or claws in warm water; this is novel evidence of thermal nociception for this species. THC exposure for 60 minutes had only marginal effect on nociception under the conditions assessed. ConclusionsVapor exposure of lobsters, using an e-cigarette based model, produces dose-dependent THC levels in all tissues and reduces locomotor activity. Hot water nociception was temperature dependent, but only minimal anti-nociceptive effect of THC exposure was confirmed.
Complementary Lipidomic, Proteomic, and Mass Spectrometry Imaging Approach to the Characterization of the Acute Effects of Radiation in the Non-human Primate Mesenteric Lymph Node after Partial-body Irradiation with Minimal Bone Marrow Sparing.

ABSTRACT Radiation sequelae is complex and characterized by multiple pathologies, which occur over time and nonuniformly throughout different organs. The study of the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) due to its importance in the gastrointestinal system is of particular interest. Other studies have shown an immediate post-irradiation reduction in cellularity due to the known effects of irradiation on lymphoid cell populations, but the molecular and functional mechanisms that lead to these cellular alterations remain limited. In this work, we show the use of lipidomic, proteomic, and mass spectrometry imaging in the characterization of the effects of acute radiation exposure on the MLN at different time points after ionizing radiation (IR) from 4 d to 21 d after 12 Gy partial body irradiation with 2.5% bone marrow sparing. The combined analyses showed a dysregulation of the lipid and protein composition in the MLN after IR. Protein expression was affected in numerous pathways, including pathways regulating lipids such as LXR/RXR activation and acute phase response. Lipid distribution and abundance was also affected by IR in the MLN, including an accumulation of triacylglycerides, a decrease in polyunsaturated glycerophospholipids, and changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Those changes were observed as early as 4 d after IR and were more pronounced for lipids with a higher concentration in the nodules and the medulla of the MLN. These results provide molecular insight into the MLN that can inform on injury mechanism in a non-human primate model of the acute radiation syndrome of the gastrointestinal tract. Those findings may contribute to the identification of therapeutic targets and the development of new medical countermeasures.
Dietary DHA reduces downstream endocannabinoid and inflammatory gene expression and epididymal fat mass while improving aspects of glucose use in muscle in C57BL/6J mice

Endocannabinoid system (ECS) overactivation is associated with increased adiposity and likely contributes to type 2 diabetes risk. Elevated tissue cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and circulating endocannabinoids (ECs) derived from the n-6 polyunsaturated acid (PUFA) arachidonic acid (AA) occur in obese and diabetic patients. Here we investigate whether the n-3 PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the diet can reduce ECS overactivation (that is, action of ligands, receptors and enzymes of EC synthesis and degradation) to influence glycemic control. This study targets the ECS tonal regulation of circulating glucose uptake by skeletal muscle as its primary end point. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a semipurified diet containing DHA or the control lipid. Serum, skeletal muscle, epididymal fat pads and liver were collected after 62 and 118 days of feeding. Metabolites, genes and gene products associated with the ECS, glucose uptake and metabolism and inflammatory status were measured. Dietary DHA enrichment reduced epididymal fat pad mass and increased ECS-related genes, whereas it reduced downstream ECS activation markers, indicating that ECS activation was diminished. The mRNA of glucose-related genes and proteins elevated in mice fed the DHA diet with increases in DHA-derived and reductions in AA-derived EC and EC-like compounds. In addition, DHA feeding reduced plasma levels of various inflammatory cytokines, 5-lipoxygenase-dependent inflammatory mediators and the vasoconstrictive 20-HETE. This study provides evidence that DHA feeding altered ECS gene expression to reduce CB1 activation and reduce fat accretion. Furthermore, the DHA diet led to higher expression of genes associated with glucose use by muscle in mice, and reduced those associated with systemic inflammatory status.
Is cyanoacetylene prebiotic

Cyanoacetylene is an earlier intermediate in a proposedprebiotic synthesis of cytosine, while cyanoacetaldehyde is alater intermediate. There is no scientific basis for the claimthat cyanoacetaldehyde is more plausibly prebiotic thancyanoacetylene in this context.
Linguistics. Talking trees tell tales.

The islands of the western Pacific became colonized by humans only comparatively recently, but the sequence of events is contentious. A technique used in molecular taxonomy, parsimony analysis, has now been applied to the languages of the region and supports one view of colonization history.
Employment outcomes among African Americans and Whites with mental illness.

Background People with mental illness often experience major difficulties in finding and maintaining sustainable employment. African Americans with mental illness have additional challenges to secure a job, as reflected in their significantly lower employment rates compared to Whites. Objective To examine the factors that contribute to racial disparities in employment outcomes for African-American and White Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) consumers with mental illness. Methods This study used VR data from a Midwestern state that included 2,122 African American and 4,284 White participants who reported mental illness in their VR records. Logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results African Americans had significantly more closures after referral and were closed as non-rehabilitated more often than Whites. Logistic regressions indicated that African Americans are less likely to be employed compared to Whites. The regression also found differences by gender (females more likely to find jobs than males) and age (middle age consumers [36 to 50] were more likely to find jobs than younger consumers [18 to 35]). Case expenditures between $1,000 and $4,999 were significantly lower for African Americans. Conclusions VR agencies need to remain vigilant of potential discrepancies in service delivery among consumers from various ethnic groups and work hard to assure as much equality as possible.
Circadian Rhythms in Mood Disorders

Altered behavioral rhythms are a fundamental diagnostic feature of mood disorders. Patients report worse subjective sleep and objective measures confirm this, implicating a role for circadian rhythm disruptions in mood disorder pathophysiology. Molecular clock gene mutations are associated with increased risk of mood disorder diagnosis and/or severity of symptoms, and mouse models of clock gene mutations have abnormal mood-related behaviors. The mechanism by which circadian rhythms contribute to mood disorders remains unknown, however, circadian rhythms regulate and are regulated by various biological systems that are abnormal in mood disorders and this interaction is theorized to be a key component of mood disorder pathophysiology. A growing body of evidence has begun defining how the interaction of circadian and neurotransmitter systems influences mood and behavior, including the role of current antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Additionally, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis interacts with both circadian and monoaminergic systems and may facilitate the contribution of environmental stressors to mood disorder pathophysiology. The central role of circadian rhythms in mood disorders has led to the development of chronotherapeutics, which are treatments designed specifically to target circadian rhythm regulators, such as sleep, light, and melatonin, to produce an antidepressant response.
Internal photovoltaic effect in microwave devices

This paper is concerned with the internal photovoltaic effect in microwave MODFETs and MESFETs. Characteristic of the photovoltaic effect are the large gain and logarithmic variation of the photoresponse with light intensity. Although the basic photodetection mechanisms are different for the two types of devices, in each case the incident light acts as an additional terminal, an "optical gate". The optimization of the photoresponse and the photodetection performance of these devices, with respect to responsivity and bandwidth, are also discussed. >
Quantum mechanical effects on CMOS SOC performance

Comprehensively quantum mechanical effects and their impact on SOC CMOS logic circuit performance are studied, based on novel compact physical models. Significant performance degradation and power dissipation increase due to quantum mechanical effects are demonstrated in sub-100nm technologies. Specifically, 39% and 41% increase in power dissipation and device area, respectively, due to quantum effects compared with classical performance, are projected for the 25 nm technology generation. The results show that quantum effects will become a key constraint on circuit performance in future SOC technology generations.
Developing the U.S. sustained and integrated ocean observing system

Serious planning for a U.S. component of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) began in 1998 with the establishment of a U.S. GOOS Steering Committee. With the establishment in October 2000 of the Ocean.US Office by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) that planning has greatly accelerated. That interagency office is charged to integrate existing and planned activities to achieve a U.S. integrated and sustained ocean observing system (IOOS) to meet long-term needs of operational and research users. In March 2002, the Ocean.US Office held a national workshop to provide the basis for an initial plan for the IOOS. Attendees represented all sectors of potential system users and scientific and technical disciplines involved in its implementation. General consensus was reached on the vision for the observing system, the core elements of the system that should be federally supported, and an approach to planning the data management and communications subsystem. A report form the workshop and the initial plan for the system have been prepared by the Ocean.US Office; they have or will be reviewed by the cognizant agencies and submitted to Congress. The U.S. IOOS will obtain the observations and provide the data management and communications subsystem required to produce needed products and services. The U.S. IOOS will consist of two major components. (1) A global, open ocean component will be of primary interest to users in the climate, defense, research, and maritime commerce sectors. (2) A coastal component, consisting of a federation of regional observing systems, will focus on products and services from the estuaries to the edge of the nation's EEZ and will be of interest to the aforementioned sectors plus others, including resource management, public health, recreation, and energy. The user base for such a system is large. To complete the planning and implement the observing system needed to meet the vision many activities will be needed. Key activities are described and briefly discussed in the paper.
What Can You Learn from a Cell Phone? Almost Anything!.

One and a half billion people, all over the world, are walking around with powerful computers in their pockets and purses. The fact is they often do not realize it, because they call them something else. But today 's high-end cell phones have the computing power of a mid-1990s personal computer (PC)—while consuming only one one-hundredth of the energy. Even the simplest, voice -only phones have more complex and powerful chips than the 1969 on-board computer that landed a spaceship on the moon.
Intertester reliability of judgments of the presence of trigger points in patients with low back pain

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the intertester reliability of assessments of the presence of trigger points in the region of the lumbar spine of patients with low back pain (LBP). A total of six trigger points described by Travell and Simons were studied. The trigger point examination procedures described by Travell and Simons were used by 12 physical therapists. Randomly paired therapists examined 50 patients for 197 trigger points. The Kappa coefficient, percent agreement, the observed proportion of positive agreement (Ppos), and the observed proportion of negative agreement (Pneg) were used to describe reliability. Kappa values ranged from .29 to .38. Percent agreement ranged from 76% to 79%. Ppos ranged from .43 to .52. The low Kappa and Ppos values suggest different therapists are unable to reliably determine when a trigger point is present in a patient with LBP. This study suggests the usefulness of examining for the presence of trigger points in patients with LBP should be questioned.
Dietary therapy to promote neuroprotection in chronic spinal cord injury.

Object The pathogenesis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is related to both primary mechanical and secondary biological injury. The authors of this study explored a novel, noninvasive method of promoting neuroprotection in myelopathy by using curcumin to minimize oxidative cellular injury and the capacity of omega-3 fatty acids to support membrane structure and improve neurotransmission. Methods An animal model of CSM was created using a nonresorbable expandable polymer placed in the thoracic epidural space, which induced delayed myelopathy. Animals that underwent placement of the expandable polymer were exposed to either a diet rich in docosahexaenoic acid and curcumin (DHA-Cur) or a standard Western diet (WD). Twenty-seven animals underwent serial gait testing, and spinal cord molecular assessments were performed after the 6-week study period. Results At the conclusion of the study period, gait analysis revealed significantly worse function in the WD group than in the DHA-Cur group. Levels of br...
Multi-scale Solutions

The governing field equations in doublet mechanics involve scaling parameters η α which, for every doublet α, represent the distance between two adjacent nodes in the underlying Bravais lattice comprising the body. Here, α = 1, ..., n, where n is the valence of the Bravais lattice. We expect the physical response of bodies modeled by doublet mechanics, such as particulate and granular media, under various types of loading to depend on the scaling parameters η α . Therefore, it is of interest to obtain solutions in doublet mechanics that exhibit dependence on scaling parameters.
Manifold-Based Signal Recovery and Parameter Estimation from Compressive Measurements

A field known as Compressive Sensing (CS) has recently emerged to help address the growing challenges of capturing and processing high-dimensional signals and data sets. CS exploits the surprising fact that the information contained in a sparse signal can be preserved in a small number of compressive (or random) linear measurements of that signal. Strong theoretical guarantees have been established on the accuracy to which sparse or near-sparse signals can be recovered from noisy compressive measurements. In this paper, we address similar questions in the context of a different modeling framework. Instead of sparse models, we focus on the broad class of manifold models, which can arise in both parametric and non-parametric signal families. Building upon recent results concerning the stable embeddings of manifolds within the measurement space, we establish both deterministic and probabilistic instance-optimal bounds in $\ell_2$ for manifold-based signal recovery and parameter estimation from noisy compressive measurements. In line with analogous results for sparsity-based CS, we conclude that much stronger bounds are possible in the probabilistic setting. Our work supports the growing empirical evidence that manifold-based models can be used with high accuracy in compressive signal processing.
Distinct Subdomains of Human TAFII130 Are Required for Interactions with Glutamine-Rich Transcriptional Activators

TFIID is a multiprotein complex consisting of the TATA box binding protein and multiple tightly associated proteins (TAFIIs) that are required for transcription by selected activators. We previously reported cloning and partial characterization of human TAFII130 (hTAFII130). The central domain of hTAFII130 contains four glutamine-rich regions, designated Q1 to Q4, that are involved in interactions with the transcriptional activator Sp1. Mutational analysis has revealed specific regions within the glutamine-rich (Q1 to Q4) central region of hTAFII130 that are required for interaction with distinct activation domains. We tested amino- and carboxyl-terminal deletions of hTAFII130 for interaction with Sp1 activation domains A and B (Sp1A and Sp1B) and the N-terminal activation domain of CREB (CREB-N) by using the yeast two-hybrid system. Our results indicate that Sp1B interacts almost exclusively with the Q1 region of hTAFII130. In contrast, Sp1A makes multiple contacts with Q1 to Q4 of hTAFII130, while CREB-N interacts primarily with the Q1-Q2 hTAFII130 subdomain. Consistent with these interaction studies, overexpression of the Q1-to-Q4 region in HeLa cells inhibits Sp1- but not VP16-mediated transcriptional activation. These findings indicate that the Q1-to-Q4 region of hTAFII130 is required for Sp1-mediated transcriptional enhancement in mammalian cells and that different activation domains target distinct subdomains of hTAFII130.
Linking phosphogenic episodes on the southeast U.S. margin to marine δ13C and δ18O records

The relative abundance of phosphorite as a function of age was estimated for the southeastern United States using 87Sr/86Sr derived ages. The Sr-derived ages define seven phosphogenic episodes on the northeast Florida platform. Phosphorus burial rate estimates for the southeastern United States margin range from 2 to 12 × 109 mol ṁ P ṁ yr−1, and phosphorus accumulation rates range from 1 to 3 µmol ṁ cm−2 ṁ yr−1, similar to modern phosphogenic margins. The estimated amount of organic carbon burial ranges from 1 to 12 × 1016 mol C; sufficient to shift the ocean δ13C by 0.1‰ to 0.6‰. On long time scales (>1 m.y.) phosphogenesis in the southeastern United States corresponds to increased organic carbon burial (positive δ13C shifts) and rising sea level (negative δ18O shifts). On shorter time scales (<1 m.y.), the correlation of phosphogenesis to positive δ13C and δ18O shifts suggests a different relation between phosphogenesis, organic carbon burial, eustasy, and climate transitions during the Miocene.
Overdiagnosis and overtreatment of breast cancer: Rates of ductal carcinoma in situ: a US perspective

The incidence of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the USA exceeds that of other countries. This cannot be explained entirely by the frequency of mammographic screening in the USA and may result from differences in the interpretation of mammograms and/or the frequency with which biopsies are obtained. Although the percentage of DCIS patients treated with mastectomy has decreased, the absolute number is unchanged and the use of lumpectomy with whole-breast radiotherapy has increased in inverse proportion to the decrease in mastectomy. Treatment of DCIS with tamoxifen is still limited.