cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the occurrence of reversible words

We consider the population of trigrams in printed English of the form consonant1-vowel-consonant2. It is shown that, if a trigram C1VC2 is an English word, then its symmetric permutation, C2VC1, is likely to be an English word more often than expected on the basis of the ratio of all words to all trigrams. It was conjectured that the set of trigram words tends to be closed under the formation of mirror images; i.e., the permutation of the consonants of one trigram word yields another trigram word rather than nonsense. But it is shown that the number of symmetric combinations (C1VC2: C2VC1), both of which are words, can be predicted from 1) the relative frequencies of letters in all trigram words and 2) the particular frequency distributions of consonants in C1 and C2.
Cog5-cog7 crystal structure reveals interactions essential for the function of a multisubunit tethering complex

The conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex is required, along with SNARE and Sec1/Munc18 (SM) proteins, for vesicle docking and fusion at the Golgi. COG, like other multisubunit tethering complexes (MTCs), is thought to function as a scaffold and/or chaperone to direct the assembly of productive SNARE complexes at the sites of membrane fusion. Reflecting this essential role, mutations in the COG complex can cause congenital disorders of glycosylation. A deeper understanding of COG function and dysfunction will likely depend on elucidating its molecular structure. Despite some progress toward this goal, including EM studies of COG lobe A (subunits 1–4) and higher-resolution structures of portions of Cog2 and Cog4, the structures of COG’s eight subunits and the principles governing their assembly are mostly unknown. Here, we report the crystal structure of a complex between two lobe B subunits, Cog5 and Cog7. The structure reveals that Cog5 is a member of the complexes associated with tethering containing helical rods (CATCHR) fold family, with homology to subunits of other MTCs including the Dsl1, exocyst, and Golgi-associated retrograde protein (GARP) complexes. The Cog5–Cog7 interaction is analyzed in relation to the Dsl1 complex, the only other CATCHR-family MTC for which subunit interactions have been characterized in detail. Biochemical and functional studies validate the physiological relevance of the observed Cog5–Cog7 interface, indicate that it is conserved from yeast to humans, and demonstrate that its disruption in human cells causes defects in trafficking and glycosylation.
Abortion and moral arguments from analogy.

Manninen (2010) argues that abortion is morally permissible, indeed that women have a moral right to abortion or, at least, basic moral rights that entail the permissibility of abortion. She hopes ...
Synthetic Studies towards Halichondrins: Synthesis of the C.27–C.38 Segment

Abstract An efficient synthesis of the C.27–C.38 segment of halichondrins is accomplished, using the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement, Ni(II)/Cr(II)-mediated coupling and Michael reactions as the key steps.
Inconsistencies in the association between JAKV617F mutation and PRV-1 over-expression among the chronic myeloproliferative disorders – response to Vannucchi et al

Vannucchi and colleagues describe their experience on the correlation of JAK2 V617F occurrence and neutrophil PRV-1 expression in 208 patients with BCR/ABL-negative, classic myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) including essential thrombocythaemia (ET; n ¼ 127), polycythaemia vera (PV; n ¼ 53) and agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM also known as idiopathic myelofibrosis; n ¼ 28). In PV, they report incidence figures that are much lower, compared to those recently communicated from our group (Tefferiet al, 2005), for bothJAK2 V617F (71%vs.95%)andPRV-1over-expression(64% vs. 89%). The relatively high number of cases, in their study, with either wild-type JAK2 V617F or normal PRV-1 expression allowed comparative analysis that demonstrated an almost perfect correlation between the two markers. In this regard, therefore, the findings by Vannucchi et al support our contention that the diagnostic value of the neutrophil PRV-1 assay in PV,inadditionto mutation screeningforJAK2 V617F ,is dubious. However, Vannucchi and colleagues did not find significant correlation between JAK2 V617F mutational status and neutrophil PRV-1 expression in patients with either ET or MMM. Therefore, the authors argue that (i) PRV-1 over-expression may represent a general state of granulocyte activation that is not necessarily linked directly to JAK activation; and (ii) mutation screening for JAK2 V617F might not effectively substitute for measurement of neutrophil PRV-1 expression. There are several issues with these contentions. First, the findings from the current study are at odds with previous observations that clearly demonstrated a significant correlation between the two molecular/biological markers in both ET and AMM (Goerttler et al, 2005; Tefferi et al, 2005). Secondly, the absence of JAK2 V617F does not necessarily imply the absence of JAK-STAT hyperactivation that could either be ligand induced (i.e. reactive) or result from alternative mutations that culminate in JAK activation. Therefore, PRV-1 over-expression might still be a direct consequence of JAK activation. Finally, the prospect of using the neutrophil PRV-1 assay for the diagnosis of ET has been undermined by the fact that only a minority of patients with ET displays PRV-1 over-expression (Tefferi et al, 2004) as well as the suboptimal test specificity
Cerebral cortex blood flow and vascular smooth muscle contractility in a rat model of ischemia: a correlative laser Doppler flowmetric and scanning electron microscopic study.

The present study was undertaken to ascertain the role of smooth muscles and pericytes in the microcirculation during hyperperfusion and hypoperfusion following ischemia in rats. Paired external carotids, the pterygopalatine branch of the internal carotids and the basilar artery were exposed and divided. Reversible inflatable occluders were placed around the common carotids. After 24 h, the unanesthetized rat underwent 10-min ischemia by inflating the occluders. Continuous cortical cerebral blood flow (c-CBF) was monitored by laser Doppler flowmetry. The measured c-CBF was below 20% of control (P < 0.001) during ischemia. A c-CBF of 227.5 ± 54.1% (P < 0.001) was obtained during reperfusion hyperemia. A c-CBF of 59.7 ± 8.8% (P < 0.001) occurred at the nadir of postischemic hypoperfusion, and this was followed by a second hyperemia. The cytoarchitecture of the vascular smooth muscles and pericytes was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Samples were prepared using a KOH-collagenase digestion method. In control rats, arteriolar muscle cells showed smooth surfaces. Capillary pericytes were closely apposed to the endothelium. Immediately after reperfusion, transverse membrane creases were observed on the smooth muscle surfaces. During maximal hyperemia the creases disappeared. When c-CBF started to decrease the creases became visible again. Throughout the postischemic hypoperfusion the creases remained. Capillary endothelial walls became tortuous in the late phase of hypoperfusion. During the second hyperemia most arteriolar muscle cells showed smooth surfaces. Some pericytes appeared to have migrated from the vascular wall. The morphological changes of smooth muscle membranes suggest that they are related to specific perfusional disturbances during ischemia and reperfusion.
Synthetic Multivariate Models to Accommodate Unmodeled Interfering Spectral Components during Quantitative Spectral Analyses

The analysis accuracy and precision of any multivariate calibration method will be severely degraded if unmodeled sources of spectral variation are present in the unknown sample spectra. A synthetic method for correcting errors generated by the presence of unmodeled components or other sources of unmodeled spectral variation has been developed. If the spectral shape of the unmodeled spectral component can be obtained and mathematically added in variable amounts to the original calibration spectra, then a new synthetic multivariate calibration model can be generated from the augmented data to accommodate the presence of the unmodeled source of spectral variation. The new method is demonstrated for a case where unmodeled temperature variations are present in the unknown sample spectra of dilute aqueous solutions of urea, creatinine, and NaCl. When constant-temperature partial least-squares (PLS) models are applied to spectra of variable-temperature samples, the standard errors of prediction (SEP) are approximately an order of magnitude higher than those of the original cross-validated SEPs of the constant-temperature PLS models. Synthetic models based upon constant-temperature data augmented with a classical least-squares (CLS) estimate of the spectral effect of temperature obtained from variable-temperature aqueous sample spectra are demonstrated to significantly reduce errors when predicting concentrations from spectra of solutions at variable-temperature. We demonstrate that the prediction precisions approach the original calibration precisions when the new synthetic PLS models are applied to variable-temperature solution spectra. Although spectrometer drift added bias errors to the analyte determinations, a method is demonstrated that can minimize the effect of long-term drift on prediction errors through the measurement and use of spectra obtained from a small subset of samples measured during both calibration and prediction. In addition, sample temperature can be predicted with high accuracy (± 0.13 °C) with this new synthetic PLS modeling method without the need to recalibrate using actual variable-temperature sample data. Therefore, the synthetic method eliminates the need for expensive generation of new calibration samples and collection of their spectra. The method is quite general and can be applied by using any known source of spectral variation and used with any multivariate calibration method.
Use of Electronic Resources in Scholarly Electronic Journals: A Citation Analysis.

Although information gathering and use patterns in the traditional print environment have been studied for many years, the electronic environment presents a new and relatively unexplored area for such study. This article describes a citation analysis of research articles from scholarly electronic journals published in 1999–2000. The analysis focused on the extent to which scholars are using electronic resources and the types and subject areas of online resources that are being referenced. Results indicate a growing reliance on electronic resources by scholars, a high occurrence of nontraditional types of resources, and a relatively high use of interdisciplinary references.
Photon Scanning Tunneling Microscopy of Optical Wavegnide Structures

Photon scanning tunneling microscopy (PSTM) has been used to obtain effective refractive indices of optical channel waveguide structures. The local evanescent field intensity associated with the propagation modes of optical channel waveguides are measured at two different wavelengths. Both a tapered optical fiber tip and a semiconductor heterostructure tip are employed for detection. Local values of effective refractive index are measured for both TE and TM polarizations and compared to model calculations.
Application of Lagrangian receding horizon techniques to resource management in ad hoc grid environments

Summary form only given. An ad hoc computing grid is characterized not only by constraints on the available energy and communications bandwidth associated with each participating device, but also by the dynamic nature of the grid itself. This is caused by the mobile nature of the assets connected to the grid (computing devices, sensors, and users), plus the fragility of interconnecting communication links. The challenge, therefore, is to efficiently and robustly manage both computational and communication resources in this dynamic, unpredictable environment. We report on one potential solution that combines Lagrangian techniques with the receding horizon concept used in modern robust control systems.
Electrocardiographic versus echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy and sudden cardiac arrest in the community

Background Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Whether LVH diagnosed by 12-lead ECG vs echocardiogram conveys identical or distinct risk information has not been previously evaluated. Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the association between ECG vs echocardiographic LVH and SCA in the community. Methods In a large, prospective population-based study (The Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study; population approximately 1 million), cases of SCA were compared to controls recruited from the same geographical area. The association between LVH and SCA was evaluated, specifically comparing LVH diagnosed by ECG vs echocardiogram. Results Cases (n = 132, age 66.9 ± 13.5 years, 58.3% male) compared to controls (n = 211; age 66.2 ± 12 years, 59.2% male) were more likely to have both ECG LVH (12.1% vs 5.7%, P = .03) and echocardiographic LVH (35.0% vs 15.5%, P P = .04). When echocardiographic LVH was added to the model, this association was only mildly attenuated (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.0–6.0, P = .05), and echocardiographic LVH was also independently associated with SCA (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.5–4.9, P = .001). Conclusion ECG and echocardiographic LVH may convey distinct risk information in patients with SCA, reflecting electrical vs anatomic remodeling. These findings have potential implications for SCA mechanisms and risk stratification.
Interobserver agreement in the evaluation of B-lines using bedside ultrasound.

Abstract Purpose We evaluated agreement among trained emergency physicians assessing the degree of B-line presence on bedside ultrasound in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute undifferentiated dyspnea. We also determined which thoracic zones offered the highest level of interobserver reliability for sonographic B-line assessment. Materials and methods We evaluated a prospective convenience sample of adult patients presenting with dyspnea to an academic ED. Two consecutive bedside lung ultrasounds were performed on 91 patients by a pair of physician-sonographers. The lung ultrasounds were structured 10-zone thoracic sonograms, documented as videos. Sonographer pairs were expert/expert (> 100 lung ultrasounds performed) or expert/novice pairs (novices performed 5 supervised examinations after structured training) and blinded to clinical data. Sonographers reported B-line concentration with 3 assessment methods: (1) normal ( 10) in each zone. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 18.0 (Chicago, IL) and Stata 12.1 (College Station, TX). We evaluated interrater and intrarater agreement using Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results The right and left anterior/superior lung zones showed substantial agreement in all assessment methods and demonstrated best overall agreement (ICC for right: counting, ordinal, and normal/abnormal, 0.811 [0.714-0.875], 0.875 [0.810-0.917], and 0.729 [0.590-0.821], respectively). Furthermore, both expert/expert pairs and expert/novice pairs showed substantial agreement in the right and left anterior/superior thoracic zones (expert/expert, 0.904 and 0.777, respectively; expert/novice, 0.862, and 0.834, respectively). Second best agreement was found for the lateral/superior lung zones (right: counting, ordinal, and normal/abnormal, 0.744 [0.612-0.831], 0.686 [0.524-0.792], and 0.639 [0.453-0.761], respectively; and ICC left: counting, ordinal, and normal/abnormal, 0.671 [0.501-0.782], 0.615 [0.417-0.746], and 0.720 [0.577-0.815], respectively). When comparing agreement to distinguish “normal vs abnormal” B-line findings, our results showed significant agreement in all zones with the exception of the right and left inferior/lateral lung fields and left posterior lung. Reinterpretation by 2 experts of all their own randomized video clips at a later date showed agreement of 0.697 (n = 733 zones) and 0.647 (n = 266) zones for ordinal assessment of B-line concentration. Conclusion Interrater agreement was best in the anterior/superior thoracic zones followed by the lateral/superior zones for both expert/expert and expert/novice pairs. Agreement in the lateral/inferior lung zones was overall inferior. Intrarater agreement was highest at extreme high or low numbers of B-lines.
Behavioral adaptations to pathogens and parasites: Five strategies

The ever present threat of viral, bacterial, protozoan and metazoan parasites in the environment of wild animals is viewed as responsible for the natural selection of a variety of behavioral patterns that enable animals to survive and reproduce in this type of environment. Several lines of research, some quite recent, point to five behavioral strategies that vertebrates utilize to increase their personal or inclusive fitness in the face of parasites (broadly defined to include pathogens). These are: 1) avoidance of parasites; 2) controlled exposure to parasites to potentiate the immune system; 3) behavior of sick animals including anorexia and depression to overcome systemic febrile infections; 4) helping sick animals; 5) sexual selection for mating partners with the genetic endowment for resistance to parasites. The point is made that to consider a behavioral pattern as having evolved to serve a parasite control function the parasite or causative agent should be shown to adversely impact the animal's fitness and the behavior in question must be shown to help animals, or their offspring or group mates, in combating their exposure, or reducing their vulnerability, to the parasite.
Geometry clipmaps: terrain rendering using nested regular grids

Rendering throughput has reached a level that enables a novel approach to level-of-detail (LOD) control in terrain rendering. We introduce the geometry clipmap, which caches the terrain in a set of nested regular grids centered about the viewer. The grids are stored as vertex buffers in fast video memory, and are incrementally refilled as the viewpoint moves. This simple framework provides visual continuity, uniform frame rate, complexity throttling, and graceful degradation. Moreover it allows two new exciting real-time functionalities: decompression and synthesis. Our main dataset is a 40GB height map of the United States. A compressed image pyramid reduces the size by a remarkable factor of 100, so that it fits entirely in memory. This compressed data also contributes normal maps for shading. As the viewer approaches the surface, we synthesize grid levels finer than the stored terrain using fractal noise displacement. Decompression, synthesis, and normal-map computations are incremental, thereby allowing interactive flight at 60 frames/sec.
Orthodeoxia Platypnea Syndrome in a Patient With Lipomatous Hypertrophy of the Interatrial Septum Due to Long-term Steroid Use

We describe an unusual case of orthodeoxia platypnea syndrome exacerbated by right ventricular inflow obstruction due to iatrogenic steroid-induced adipose deposition in cardiac tissues. A 68-year-old man on long-term prednisone therapy for eosinophilic pneumonia presented with progressive dyspnea worsened by bending forward. By using pulse oximetry, he was noted to have positional hypoxemia. Transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated normal right-sided pressures but severe right to left shunting through a patent foramen ovale. Transesophageal echocardiogram showed a large patent foramen ovale, severe lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum, and massive adipose deposition in the pericardium causing compression of the right ventricular inflow tract. The patient underwent percutaneous closure of the patent foramen ovale, which resulted in the resolution of symptoms and hypoxemia. This case is unique because long-term steroid use resulted in reverse Lutembacher physiology and clinical orthodeoxia platypnea syndrome by inducing lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum and compression of the right atrium.
VARIABILITY OF SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN TWO UNCULTIVATED BROWN EARTHS

Summary The variability in pH, loss-on-ignition, exchangeable cations, extractable phosphate, and soil moisture, has been studied for the 0.15 cm horizon of uncultivated, unfertilized Brown Earths at two upland grassland sites in North Wales. The results show that there is a high degree of variability in samples taken at the same time on circles of 1 m radius at all sampling locations. For example, coefficients of variation for exchangeable cations (except sodium) average 33 per cent for twenty-two samples taken on the same occasion at three locations. This spatial variability prevented detection of any additional seasonal trends during a 22-week summer sampling period. It is essential to consider the importance of spatial variability in any pedological or ecological study.
A differential electronic stabilizer for alternating voltages, and some applications

The main purpose of this paper is to describe the construction of a differential electronic stabilizer which has been designed and constructed by the author to provide a supply unaffected by fluctuations in the mains voltage, for testing a.c. instruments. A simple mathematical theory is developed of a bridge consisting of two lamps and two resistors, which is an essential part of the apparatus, and experimental evidence of the accuracy of the theory is given. Applications of the stabilizer to the testing of d.c. and a.c. indicating instruments and of light- and heavy-current integrating meters are described and an account is given of the use of stabilized voltages for a.c. potentiometry. A suggestion is made for the calibration of a d.c./a.c. transfer voltmeter.
SwiftLib: rapid degenerate-codon-library optimization through dynamic programming.

Degenerate codon (DC) libraries efficiently address the experimental library-size limitations of directed evolution by focusing diversity toward the positions and toward the amino acids (AAs) that are most likely to generate hits; however, manually constructing DC libraries is challenging, error prone and time consuming. This paper provides a dynamic programming solution to the task of finding the best DCs while keeping the size of the library beneath some given limit, improving on the existing integer-linear programming formulation. It then extends the algorithm to consider multiple DCs at each position, a heretofore unsolved problem, while adhering to a constraint on the number of primers needed to synthesize the library. In the two library-design problems examined here, the use of multiple DCs produces libraries that very nearly cover the set of desired AAs while still staying within the experimental size limits. Surprisingly, the algorithm is able tofind near-perfect libraries where the ratio of amino-acid sequences to nucleic-acid sequences approaches 1; it effectively side-steps the degeneracy of the genetic code. Our algorithm is freely available through our web server and solves most design problems in about a second.
The Dimensionality of a Modified Form of the Maslach Burnout Inventory for University Students in a Teacher-Training Program

For a sample of 147 fifth-year students enrolled in a teacher training program at the elementary school level, both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses involving orthogonal and oblique solutions were carried out on a correlation matrix of scores on 22 items from a self-report inventory of teacher burnout that was adapted with permission from the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The modifications incorporated within the new instrument, which is referred to as the College Student Survey (CSS), constituted the substitution of words within several item statements that would be more suitable in a teaching context than were the statements in the MBI which were oriented toward workers in other forms of public service. As in the instance of other factor analytic studies with the MBI, the three hypothesized constructs of burnout described as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment were clearly defined in all factor solutions irrespective of whether the items were scored for fr...
Slow light in non-magnetic materials with negative refractive index

We demonstrate that recently proposed non-magnetic materials with negative refractive index that rely on anisotropic dielectric response in a waveguide geometry, can support slow-light modes.
Clostridium perfringens Type E Animal Enteritis Isolates with Highly Conserved, Silent Enterotoxin Gene Sequences

Several Clostridium perfringens genotype E isolates, all associated with hemorrhagic enteritis of neonatal calves, were identified by multiplex PCR. These genotype E isolates were demonstrated to express alpha and iota toxins, but, despite carrying sequences for the gene (cpe) encoding C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE), were unable to express CPE. These silent cpe sequences were shown to be highly conserved among type E isolates. However, relative to the functional cpe gene of type A isolates, these silent type E cpe sequences were found to contain nine nonsense and two frameshift mutations and to lack the initiation codon, promoters, and ribosome binding site. The type E animal enteritis isolates carrying these silent cpe sequences do not appear to be clonally related, and their silent type E cpe sequences are always located, near the iota toxin genes, on episomal DNA. These findings suggest that the highly conserved, silent cpe sequences present in most or all type E isolates may have resulted from the recent horizontal transfer of an episome, which also carries iota toxin genes, to several different type A C. perfringens isolates.
Design space exploration of gyrocopter‐type airborne wind turbines

This paper presents a multidisciplinary framework for the design and analysis of gyrocopter-type airborne wind turbines. In this concept, four rotary wings provide lift to a flying vehicle, and excess power is extracted using gearboxes and generators before being transferred to the ground through electrical conductors embedded in a structural tether. A physical breakdown of the system was performed, and five models were constructed: wind model, rotor aerodynamics, structural mass, electrical system, and tether (structures and aerodynamics). A stochastic optimizer in the framework enforces interdisciplinary compatibility and maximizes electrical power transmitted to the ground under various operating conditions. The framework is then used to explore the design space of this advanced concept in numerous flight conditions. The effect of implementing new technologies was also studied in order to evaluate their effect on the overall performance of the system. It is shown through a 1.3MW design that a gyrocopter-type airborne generator could provide more power than a ground-based wind turbine for a given blade radius, although only a fraction of the available wind power can be harvested using off-the-shelf technologies and components. The work presented in this study demonstrates the challenges of designing a high altitude wind generator and shows that performance is affected by complex interactions between each subsystem. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Successful Treatment of Bronchiolitis Obliterans in a Bone Marrow Transplant Patient With Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Blockade

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) in children is a rare, inflammatory/fibrosing process involving the small airways that often results in progressive, irreversible obstructive pulmonary disease. Because treatment has focused mainly on supportive care and generally unsuccessful immunosuppression, children with BO experience significant morbidity and mortality. We report a case of biopsy-proven BO after bone marrow transplantation in a child who, after failed corticosteroid therapy, was treated with infliximab, a monoclonal antibody with binding specificity for human tumor necrosis factor-α. With initiation of treatment, her pulmonary symptoms and radiographic and spirometric evidence of BO resolved. Nine months later, she remains asymptomatic and shows no evidence of pulmonary decompensation. This case illustrates a successful treatment of BO with selective tumor necrosis factor-α blockade.
What makes an ex-combatant happy? A micro-analysis of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration in South Sudan

Successful management of combatants through disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) remains one of the main challenges of post-conflict peacebuilding. While DDR is meant to contribute to a secure post-conflict environment conducive to economic and political development, the success of DDR efforts remains mixed. Unlike previous work focusing on procedural aspects or post-conflict reconstruction and development, we shift the focus to understand microlevel conditions—economic, security, and ethnic concerns—that influence ex-combatants' satisfaction with DDR. We argue that ex-combatant satisfaction with DDR should increase as individual-level economic conditions increase, as security situations improve, and as ethnic tensions decrease. We test our expectations using an original data set collected with field interviews and surveys from 122 ex-combatants in South Sudan in 2011–2012. We find that participants are more satisfied when their income-generating activity is based on DDR job training and when the UN has a large presence in their area. Concerns about political instability and an abundance of firearms make ex-combatants less satisfied with DDR.
Tick-Borne Diseases: Recognized and Theorectical Risks Associated with Blood Transfusion

Pathogenic microorganisms transmitted by ticks have taken on expanded public health significance during the last several decades. Ticks are now recognized to transmit over a dozen diseases that are caused by a variety of pathogenic agents ranging from bacteria and protozoa to viruses [1]. Humans have increasingly come in contact with ticks as they expand their outdoor recreational activities and move their homes to rural environments. Similarly, the reforestation of suburban neighborhoods has provided ideal habitats for transport and reservoir hosts (e.g., deer, rodents) of ticks and tick-borne diseases, further facilitating transmission to humans. During the same period, new etiologic agents of disease transmitted by ticks have emerged, while the geographic distribution of existing agents has expanded. Taken together, newly emergent tick-borne agents and those described previously pose an ongoing concern to public health.
The Perithecial Cavity Formation in a Leptosphaeria on Opuntia

A species of Leptosphaeria here described as L. Opuntiae is associated with Hendersonia Opuntiae Ellis & Ev. on segments of O. Lindheimeri from Texas collected by Wolf and deposited in The New York...
Design of Financial Incentive Programs to Promote Net Zero Energy Buildings

Promoting net zero energy buildings (NZEB) is among the key carbon emissions reduction approaches widely adopted by policymakers in recent years in the U.S. and the EU countries (see work of Marszal ). Due to the relatively higher cost of electricity generation from renewable energy (RE), federal, state, and local governments offer various financial incentive programs to promote NZEB. This paper presents a model-based framework for the policymakers to design suitable incentive programs. The model is a mixed integer program (MIP) that is particularized for wind and solar energy sources. The MIP model finds an optimal design for a NZEB. The optimal design and the cost of NZEB is then used to design incentive programs. The incentive programs considered includes loans, production tax credit, and net metering, among others. A time-of-day pricing is assumed to be in effect. The model is implemented on commercial buildings in Tampa, Florida, U.S.A. For a given region, the framework provides policymakers two reports, 1) a set of optimal portfolios of incentives for different classes of commercial buildings (based on credit rating, expected return on investment (ROI), and building type), 2) for a specified portfolio of incentives, determines which classes of commercial buildings will be willing to invest in RE.
Proof Without Words: (0, 1) and [0, 1] Have the Same Cardinality

(2005). Proof Without Words: (0, 1) and [0, 1] Have the Same Cardinality. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 78, No. 3, pp. 226-226.
Lithium Doping in La2CuO4 and La2NiO4

We have studied the effect of hole doping via Li substitution in La 2 CuO 4 and La 2 NiO 4 . The response to hole doping of the Ni (S=1) sublattice is distinct from that of the Cu (S=1/2) sublattice. These effects are seen most clearly for La 2 Cu 0.5 Li 0.5 O 4 and La 2 Ni 0.5 Li 0.5 O 4 in which the Li ions form an ordered superlattice. It appears that Ni is in a low-spin d 7 configuration whereas Cu is in a d 9 -ligand “Zhang-Rice” configuration. Despite this difference, the response of both La 2 CuO 4 and La 2 NiO 4 to hole doping is surprisingly independent of whether Sr (which substitutes out of plane for La) or Li (which substitutes in the plane for Cu/Ni) is used as the dopant.
Renal handling of beta2-microglobulin in patients with cystic fibrosis

We evaluated the renal handling of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) and creatinine in healthy outpatients (n = 6), normal children hospitalized for infections treated with antibiotics (not including an aminoglycoside) (n = 4); outpatients with cystic fibrosis (CF; n = 12), and hospitalized patients with CF (n = 6) who received a 10- to 14-day course of antibiotic treatment that included an aminoglycoside. The serum beta 2-M concentrations in the normal outpatients (2020.1 +/- 276.6 micrograms/L) were significantly lower (p less than 0.05) than those observed for outpatients (2833.3 +/- 202.6 micrograms/L) or patients with CF (2861.8 +/- 340.5 micrograms/L. There were no significant differences found for creatinine clearance or fractional excretion of beta 2-M when subjects without CF were compared with those with the disease. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in hospitalized patients with CF when creatinine clearance and fractional excretion of beta 2-M were compared between the initiation and conclusion of aminoglycoside treatment. Glomerular filtration and proximal tubular reabsorption of beta 2-M were not altered in patients with CF. These findings do not support a global defect in proximal renal tubular reabsorption as the underlying cause for altered aminoglycoside clearance in patients with CF.
An ultrasonic approach to the diagnosis of cardiac situs, connections, and malpositions.

Two-dimensional echocardiography of cardiac situs, connections, and malpositions from a variety of planes is discussed.
Performance of geosynthetic reinforced/stabilized paved roads built over soft soil under cyclic plate loads

Abstract The benefits of using geosynthetics to enhance the performance of pavement constructed over soft subgrade was evaluated using cyclic plate load testing. A total of six test sections, with varying types and layers of geosynthetics and base thicknesses, were constructed inside a 2 m × 2 m × 1.7 m test box. A cyclic load at a frequency of 0.77 Hz was applied through a 305 mm-diameter steel plate. The test sections were instrumented by a variety of sensors to measure the load-associated pavement response and performance. The test results clearly showed the benefits of geosynthetics in significantly reducing the pavement rutting. The test section with double geosynthetics layers performs much better than all other sections studied in this paper. Geosynthetics placed at the base–subgrade interface function more as weak subgrade stabilization than as base layer reinforcement in this study. Finally, the benefits of geosynthetic reinforcement was quantified, within the context of the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design guide, in terms of increasing the resilient modulus of base course layer and/or reducing the thickness of base aggregate layer in pavement structure. The results of analysis show that for geosynthetics functioning as base reinforcement alone, the value of resilient modulus of the base course layer can be increased by about one quarter and that the thickness of base layer can be reduced by about one third for the pavement sections, with 457 mm thick base and single layer of geosynthetic placed at the base–subgrade interface, tested in this study. For geosynthetics functioning as subgrade stabilization alone, the test results showed that the resilient modulus of subgrade can be almost doubled.
Improving the importance of treatment effects

When evaluating the importance of treatment effects with respect to social validity, clinical effects need to be considered along with social effects. Treatments may be considered to have clinical effectiveness when they are determined to have a causal relationship with changes in behavior that are supported by data. This type of clinical effectiveness may not be sufficient to ensure that the behavior changes are valued by consumers. A treatment that increases on-task behavior at a clinically significant level may not be appreciated by consumers unless the on-task behavior is accurate and efficient to the overall relevance of the task. A child whose behavior is frequently off task may be taught to demonstrate high rates of on-task behavior, but unless the on-task behavior produces some quality product, consumers may consider the treatment to be only minimally important. Determining the importance of the effects of a treatment involves the social influences associated with the outcome of a treatment. These influences have been referred to as social importance or social impact and encompass a multitude of changes in social experiences resulting from changes in individual behavior. These measures of social impact may be considered secondary to the primary purpose of a behavior change program, but may be a highly critical component of achieving a socially valid intervention.
Addressing Challenges in Visualizing Huge Call-Path Traces

Analysis and optimization of long-running applications on large-scale parallel systems is important to avoid unacceptable inefficiencies. Tracing is one of the most popular techniques for understanding the performance of parallel programs. Since tracing captures data in the time dimension, the size of a trace is linearly proportional to execution time. For that reason, traces of long-running executions of parallel programs may contain gigabytes or even terabytes of data. Presenting huge traces in a scalable fashion and identifying performance bottlenecks hidden in an ocean of data are challenging problems. To pinpoint performance bottlenecks effectively, a performance visualization tool needs to be relatively responsive and scalable. It also needs to be able to present both a global view of the performance of all threads and processes in a parallel execution, and a local view to see the full detail of a trace for an individual thread or process. Our approach to address this challenge is to use a client-server approach for trace visualization in hpctraceviewer, which is part of the HPC-TOOLKIT performance tools. This paper demonstrates the utility of our tool for identifying performance bottlenecks in large-scale executions through case studies with two Department of Energy procurement benchmarks: Algebraic Multi Grid (AMG) and Unstructured Mesh Transport (UMT) codes. Finally, the experiment shows that our implementation is scalable, rendering views of huge traces stored on remote supercomputers in a few seconds.
Probing Crystallization Pathways in Group V Polyoxometalate Solutions

Structure elucidation is extremely important to understand and control processes in synthetic chemistry, in drug design, and in biomolecular function; and the most important step of structure elucidation is crystallization. Preceding crystallization of ionic compounds is usually ion-association in solution, which can be induced by a variety of ways. Here we study ion-association of hexaniobate and hexatantalate polyoxometalate salts in mixed water-alcohol solutions. These hexametalate clusters have the unusual characteristic of increased solubility with increased ion-association, which makes them ideal candidates to understand the fundamentals of ion-pairing. We utilize direct (X-ray scattering) and indirect (ion-conductivity) methods to document the ion-association as a function of alkali, concentration, alcohol:water ratio, and Nb versus Ta. The conductivity data coupled with X-ray scattering shows that decreasing solvent polarity increases cluster-alkali association; but decreases any interaction between the alkali-cluster aggregates. Conductivity data show the trend of increasing alkali-cluster association with increasing alkali size as is expected for hexaniobate, but has some discrepancies with hexatantalate. We attribute this to the concomitant effects of protonation of the clusters, with hexaniobate being a stronger base. These studies provide insight into aqueous behaviour of these clusters that exhibit the anomalous behaviour of high solubility with maximum ion-association.
Mental Illness Is Not Associated with Adherence to Colorectal Cancer Screening: Results from the California Health Interview Survey.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-specific death in the USA. Evidence suggests people with mental illness are less likely to receive preventive health services, including cancer screening. We hypothesized that mental illness is a risk factor for non-adherence to colorectal cancer-screening guidelines. We analyzed results of the 2007 California Health Interview Survey to test whether mental illness is a risk factor for non-adherence to colorectal cancer-screening recommendations among individuals age 50 or older (N = 15,535). This cross-sectional dataset is representative of California. Screening was defined as either fecal occult blood testing during the preceding year, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy during the preceding 5 years. Mental illness was identified using the Kessler K6 screening tool. Associations were evaluated using weighted multivariate logistic regressions. Mental illness was not associated with colorectal cancer-screening adherence (OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.63–1.25). Risk factors for non-adherence included being female (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.09–1.44), delaying accessing health care during the previous year (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.56–2.29). Unlike previous studies, this study did not find a relationship between mental illness and colorectal cancer-screening adherence. This could be due to differences in study populations. State-specific healthcare policies involving care coordination for individuals with mental illness could also influence colorectal cancer-screening adherence in California.
Tumor Antigen Immunization of Sibling Stem Cell Transplant Donors in Multiple Myeloma.

Strategies to enhance the specific anti-tumor effect of the graft without increasing the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are needed to improve the outcome in allotransplant recipients. In this pilot study, we vaccinated sibling donors against a defined, patient tumor-derived antigen prior to bone marrow harvest. The objective of this strategy was to induce tumor antigen-specific immunity in healthy donors and to transfer this immunity to the recipients by bone marrow transplantation (BMT). For this purpose, the unique antigenic determinants (Idiotype [Id]) of the immunoglobulin secreted by the myeloma tumor can serve as a safe, tumor-specific antigen for active immunotherapy. The vaccine formulation consisted of Id isolated from the plasma of myeloma patients chemically conjugated to a carrier molecule keyhole limpet-hemocyanin (KLH) and administered together with GM-CSF as an adjuvant. Immunization of the HLA-matched sibling donors (n = 5) prior to bone marrow harvest, induced specific cellular and/or humoral immune responses against Id and KLH in all five donors. No short-term or long-term toxicities were observed in any of the donors following vaccination. The recipients received priming vaccination pretransplant and booster immunizations starting approximately 3 months after the myeloablative transplantation. Following BMT, two patients died within 30 days due to transplant related complications. Id-specific and KLH-specific T cell responses were detected in all three surviving patients post-, but not pre-BMT. In at least one patient, Id-specific T cell immunity persisted beyond 18 months after completion of the vaccination schedule. All three surviving patients converted from a partial response to a complete response following BMT. Two of the three patients (both recipients of immune BMT from syngeneic twins) remain in complete remission 8 years and 7 years after the transplant, and the third patient developed chronic steroid-dependent GVHD and died of renal failure after 5.5 years while in complete remission from the disease. Our results suggest that Id vaccination induces specific T cell immunity in the donors that is transferable by BMT, is associated with a prolonged disease-free survival in recipients and may represent a novel strategy to enhance the graft versus myeloma effect. These encouraging results have prompted us to initiate a clinical trial to evaluate this approach of donor immunization in the context of non-myeloablative allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in myeloma patients.
The House that Cried Wolf

When attempting to make such a major change, our nation’s political process mixes constitutional principles with laws passed by federal and state governments, all of which is subject to veto by the executive branch or review by the judicial branch. Sometimes, however, the strongest influence on the American health care system is timing, at least with respect to how long certain issues may take before a resolution is decided and acted upon. Perhaps the greater concern with the AHCA is not what it says, but rather what it omits. It is preposterous to believe the idea that a mere 200 pages of legislation can effectively replace not just the initial 906-page outline defining the ACA, but also the tens of thousands of regulatory clarifications promulgated by the federal government over the past seven years.
Embedded Game Design as a Method for Addressing Social Determinants of Health.

This paper, describes the design, development, and evaluation of The Test, a theory-based mobile game prototype designed to promote HIV testing by providing information and influencing motivations,...
Sex-specific changes in postnatal GH and PRL secretion in somatotrope LEPR-null mice.

The developing pituitary is a rapidly changing environment that is constantly meeting the physiological demands of the growing organism. During early postnatal development, the anterior pituitary is refining patterns of anterior hormone secretion in response to numerous genetic factors. Our laboratory previously developed a somatotrope leptin receptor (LEPR) deletion mouse model that had decreased lean body mass, disrupted metabolism, decreased GH stores and was GH deficient as an adult. To understand how deletion of LEPR in somatotropes altered GH, we turned our attention to postnatal development. The current study examines GH, PRL, TSH, ACTH, LH and FSH secretion during postnatal days 4, 5, 8, 10 and 15 and compares age and sex differences. The LEPR mutants have dysregulation of GH (P < 0.03) and a reduced developmental prolactin peak in males (P < 0.04) and females (P < 0.002). There were no differences in weight between groups, and the postnatal leptin surge appeared to be normal. Percentages of immunolabeled GH cells were reduced in mutants compared with controls in all age groups by 35-61% in males and 41-44% in females. In addition, we measured pituitary expression of pituitary transcription factors, POU1F1 and PROP1. POU1F1 was reduced in mutant females at PND 10 (P < 0.009) and PND 15 (P < 0.02) but increased in males at PND 10 (P < 0.01). PROP1 was unchanged in female mutants but showed developmental increases at PND 5 (P < 0.02) and PND 15 (P < 0.01). These studies show that the dysfunction caused by LEPR deletion in somatotropes begins as early as neonatal development and involves developing GH and prolactin cells (somatolactotropes).