cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of whole-genome sequencing for Campylobacter surveillance from NARMS retail poultry in the United States in 2015

Abstract Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has become a rapid and affordable tool for public health surveillance and outbreak detection. In this study, we used the Illuminia MiSeq® to sequence 589 Campylobacter isolates obtained in 2015 from retail poultry meats as part of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS). WGS data were used to identify the Campylobacter species and to compare the concordance between resistance genotypes and phenotypes. WGS accurately identified 386 C. jejuni and 203 C. coli using gyrA sequence information. Ten resistance genes, including tetO, blaOXA-61, aph(2″)-Ic, aph(2″)-If, aph(2″)-Ig, aph(3’)-III, ant(6)-1a, aadE, aph(3”)-VIIa, and Inu(C), plus mutations in housekeeping genes (gyrA at position 86, 23S rRNA at position 2074 and 2075), were identified by WGS analysis. Overall, there was a high concordance between phenotypic resistance to a given drug and the presence of known resistance genes. Concordance between both resistance and susceptible phenotypes and genotype was 100% for ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, gentamicin, azithromycin, and florfenicol. A few discrepancies were observed for tetracycline, clindamycin, and telithromycin. The concordance between resistance phenotype and genotype ranged from 67.9% to 100%; whereas, the concordance between susceptible phenotype and genotype ranged from 98.0% to 99.6%. Our study demonstrates that WGS can correctly identify Campylobacter species and predict antimicrobial resistance with a high degree of accuracy.
NOAA’s Activities in the Field of Marine Remote Sensing

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Satellite Data Services Division (SDSD), part of the Environmental Data and Information Service’s (EDIS), National Climatic Center (NCC), represents an unique archive of data and products from NOAA’s operational geostationary and polar orbiting satellites, and several of NASA’s experimental satellites. The SDSD archive, containing photographic imagery, paper charts, and digital data tapes, dates from April 1960 to the present. The remainder of this report shall highlight these satellite systems, sensors, data reception and archiving, products, services and future plans.
Genetic relationships between type I and type II diabetes mellitus.

Both Type I and Type II diabetes mellitus are phenotypically heterogeneous. These two diseases are clearly dependent on genetic susceptibility which is also quite likely heterogeneous (1). During the last decade, findings of several HLA antigen associations in humans with Type I diabetes and clear evidence of autoimmunity in both animal models of Type I diabetes and in humans with Type I diabetes, coupled with the apparent absence of such attributes in Type II diabetes, have led to the belief that these two disorders are unrelated. This conclusion, however, may have been premature. We present in this report epidemiologic and genetic evidence suggesting that at least a subset of Type II diabetes shares genetic susceptibility with Type I diabetes.
Effectiveness of a consistently formulated diffusion-synthetic acceleration differencing approach

A consistently formulated differencing approach is applied to the diffusion-synthetic acceleration of discrete ordinates calculations based on various spatial differencing schemes. The diffusion ''coupling'' equations derived for each scheme are contrasted to conventional coupling relations and are shown to permit derivation of either point- or box-centered diffusion difference equations. The resulting difference equations are shown to be mathematically equivalent, in slab geometry, to equations derived by applying Larsen's four-step procedure to the S/sub 2/ equations. Fourier stability analysis of the acceleration method applied to slab model problems is used to demonstrate that, for any S/sub n/ differencing scheme (a) the upper bound on the spectral radius of the method occurs in the fine-mesh limit and equals that of the spatially continuous case (0.22466), and (b) the spectral radius decreases with increasing mesh size to an asymptotic value <0.13135. This model problem performance is somewhat superior to that of Larsen's approach, for which the spectral radius is bounded by 0.25 in the wide-mesh limit. Numerical results of multidimensional, heterogeneous, scattering-dominated problems are also presented to demonstrate the rapid convergence of accelerated discrete ordinates calculations using various spatial differencing schemes.
Correlations Between the Descending Control of Spinal Cord Nociceptive Pathways and the Operation of the Analgesia Systems

Since analgesia in animals is often tested by fiexion refiex responses (such as the tail flick and the jaw-opening refiex), studies concerned with the descending inhibitory control of fiexion refiex pathways should correlate well with studies of the intrinsic analgesia systems. In general terms, this is the case, but there have been a number of methodological differences between the two kinds of studies that make a close correlation difficult as yet.
Glutamate Receptor Autoradiography and in situ Hybridization

Publisher Summary A large body of evidence indicates that the excitatory amino acid glutamate is the most abundant excitatory transmitter in the hypothalamus and brain in general. The excitatory amino acid (glutamate) receptors consequently have widespread involvement in normal CNS functions. However, under extreme conditions these receptors can become potent mediators of neurotoxicity. The association of glutamate receptors with neuronal damage is extensively documented in response to traumatic events such as anoxic–ischemic insults, as well as in CNS disease states such as epilepsy, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's , ALS, chronic pain, and human immunodeficiency virus infections. Because of the ubiquitous distribution of the glutamate receptors and their prominent role in synaptic plasticity, any disturbance of their function, even in the absence of neurodegeneration would be expected to produce any of a vast array of undesirable effects. Glutamate receptors have often played a pivotal role in the etiology of the neuronal damage and are thought to be necessary for normal expression of synaptic plasticity. Although less is known about the response of glutamate receptors to acute or chronic toxins, it is likely that these receptors play an equally important role in the evolution of neurotoxicological changes in the CNS. This is evidenced in this chapter by the potent effects of naturally occurring glutamate receptor neurotoxins and undesirable side effects that have been seen with glutamate receptor antagonists developed for therapeutic purposes. Given the widespread role of glutamate receptors in both normal brain function and neurodegenerative disease, evaluation of neurotoxicological changes in these receptors is likely to provide important insights into the impact of environmental insults on brain function.
Networked News, Racial Divides: How Power and Privilege Shape Public Discourse in Progressive Communities by Sue Robinson

Sue Robinson’s book sits squarely on the shoulders of the Wisconsin Idea, “which is the notion that our teaching, research, and service must extend beyond the borders of campus to improve society a...
P089 Suppression of a HLA-B encoded microrna upregulates the expression of heavy chain IGA (IGHA1) transcript in human primary B-cells

Aim Our previous work has shown that the HLA-B encoded miR-6891-5p influences the expression of about 200 transcripts, including the transcript encoding for the heavy chain of IgA, in a B cell line. We showed that the expression of heavy chain of IgA was up-regulated when miR-6891-5p activity was suppressed (doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00583). In this work we aimed to determine whether increased expression of heavy chain of IgA transcript is also possible by suppressing miR-6891-5p activity in human primary B-cells. Methods Human primary B-cells from a total of 12 human volunteers were analyzed. One of the samples was from an IgA deficient patient ( IGHA1 expression. The results are shown in fold increase of the antisense vs the scrambled mi-RNA-5p construct. We assessed whether suppression of miR-6891-5p activity can increase expression of heavy chain of IgA in human primary B-cells. Results Suppression of miR-6891-5p activity in human primary B-cells led to IGHA1 up-regulation in 11 antisense miR-6891-5p transduced samples. The average upregulation of the 11 samples was 2.48-fold. (range of increase 1.04–7.88X). The B cells of the IgA deficient sample upon transduction with antisense miR-6891-5p showed a 6.75-fold upregulation relative to scrambled control. We are in the process of evaluating more IgA deficient subjects. Conclusions We show that the suppression of miR-6891-5p activity can upregulate IGHA1 expression in primary human B-cells. This upregulation was higher in the IgA deficient sample compared to average of the 11 non-IgA deficient samples. MicroRNAs are known for fine-tuning gene expression. Modifying the activity of the miR-6891-5p, a HLA-B intronic sequence, in an IgA deficient subject restores the expression levels of IGHA1 transcript in primary B cells.
Narrative Identity Formation in Midlife Korean Christian Women

This qualitative study explores the narrative identities and redemptive self of midlife Korean Christian women through their life stories. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 23 mid...
Contemporary Approaches to Preventing and Treating Infections of Novel Intrathecal Neurostimulation Devices.

Introduction Contemporary approaches to surgical site infections have evolved significantly over the last several decades in response to the economic pressures of soaring health care costs and increasing patient expectations of safety. Neurosurgeons face multiple unique challenges when striving to avoid as well as manage surgical implant infections. The tissue compartment, organ system, or joint is characterized by biological factors and physical forces that may not be universally relevant. Such implants, once rare, are now routine. Although the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of surgical site infections involving neural implants has advanced, guidelines are ever changing, and the incidence still exceeds acceptable levels. We assess the impact of these factors on a new class of implantable neuromodulation devices. Methods The available evidence along with practice patterns were examined and organized to establish relevant groupings for continuing evaluation and to propose justifiable recommendations for the treatment of infections that might arise in the case of intradural spinal cord stimulators. Results Few studies in the modern era have systematically evaluated preventive behaviors that were applied to intradural neural implants alone. We anticipate that future efforts will focus even more on the investigation of modifiable factors along a continuum from bacterially repellant implants to weight management. Early diagnosis could offer the best hope for device salvage but to date has been largely understudied. Conclusions Historically, prevention is the cornerstone to infection mitigation. However, immediate diagnosis and hardware salvage have not received the attention deserved, and that approach may be especially important for intradural devices.
Fever and a rash: measles: a re-emerging epidemic.

A 44-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a fever of 101.7, a non-pruritic rash, sore throat and cough. She reported the fever and cough starting 5 days prior to presentation with a rash starting on her face 2 days after the fever onset (figure 1). The rash spread to her chest and back the following day (figure 2), and minimally to the extremities on the day of presentation. She had travelled to Japan returning 11 days prior to emergency department presentation. On oropharyngeal examination, there were no Koplik’s spots present. Laboratory findings were significant for a negative rapid beta-strep test, mild transaminitis (aspartate aminotransferase of 90 U/L and alanine aminotransferase of 255 U/L), elevated …
“I’m Not Your ‘Typical’ Military Wife”: The Construction of Gender and Agency Through Stereotypes:

Within the institution and military community, civilian wives of service members occupy complicated roles. On the one hand, wives are undisputedly crucial to the functioning of their service member...
Neuroimaging correlates of cognitive changes after bariatric surgery.

Abstract Background Obesity has been associated with cognitive deficits and increased risk for developing dementia. Bariatric surgery may result in improved cognitive function; however, the underlying structural and functional brain correlates are unclear. Objectives This longitudinal study explores the hypothesis that specific brain regions and networks underlie cognitive changes after bariatric surgery. Setting University Hospital, United States Methods 17 subjects were recruited for this prospective cohort study, including 9 subjects undergoing bariatric surgery, and 8 age-, sex-, and education level-matched healthy non-obese control subjects. Bariatric subjects underwent longitudinal neuropsychological tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans both prior to and six months following surgery. One subject was lost to follow-up. The same neuropsychological tests and MRI scans were performed for control subjects. Differences in MRI and neuropsychological testing between bariatric subjects and control subjects, and longitudinal changes within bariatric subjects were assessed. Results At baseline, bariatric subjects demonstrated deficits in cognitive function relative to control subjects, including pattern comparison (p=0.009) and picture sequence memory (p=0.004) which improved following significant weight loss. Baseline cognitive deficits in bariatric subjects were accompanied by significantly lower left executive control network connectivity on resting state functional MRI relative to control subjects (p=0.028), but differences resolved or diminished following bariatric surgery. Longitudinal improvements in pattern comparison performance correlated significantly with increases in left executive control network connectivity (r=0.819; p=0.013). No significant group or longitudinal differences were found in brain perfusion or brain white matter lesions. Conclusions Individuals with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery exhibit deficits in cognitive function and specific alterations of brain networks; however, cognitive performance can improve, and executive control network connectivity can increase after weight loss from bariatric surgery.
Unified Approach for Meso-Informed Burn Models in Shocked Energetic Materials

Reactive hydrocode calculations of shock-to-detonation transition in heterogeneous energetic (HE) materials need to be closed with burn models. One requirement of burn models is to supply a macrosc...
Readability of Printed Online Education Materials on Pituitary Tumors: Untangling a Web of Complexity.

BackgroundPatients are increasingly turning to the internet for health education. Due to the complex pathophysiology, clinic-diagnostic profile, and management spectrum of pituitary tumors, an eval...
On the relationship between the current account and the fiscal balance: The case of Canada

Abstract This paper uses an Autoregressive Distributed Lag model to examine the long run and short run relationship between the current account and the fiscal balance, as well as other determinants, using Canadian quarterly data from 1981 to 2018. The results indicate that there is a long-run cointegrating relationship between the current account and the fiscal balance, investment, and private credit. Moreover, the relationship between the current account and the fiscal balance is positive in the long-run, thus providing support for the Keynesian Hypothesis of the fiscal balance driving the current account. Specifically, a one percentage point rise in the fiscal balance to GDP ratio yields a 0.43 percentage point rise in the current account as a percent of GDP. This positive relationship is present in the short-run as well. Finally, the findings from the error correction model yield a speed of adjustment of 0.225, hence 22.5% of the long-run adjustment in the current account occurs next period.
Abstract 4252: 3D label-free, real-time, intelligent-augmented chemistry-sensitive imaging to identify parathyroid adenoma and hyperplasia and to classify parathyroid glands and recurrent laryngeal nerve during surgery

Background: Accidental excision or damage to a healthy parathyroid gland (PG) during thyroidectomy and the inability to identify diseased PGs during parathyroidectomy can result in postsurgical complications. Meanwhile, hyperparathyroidism includes primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism, which can cause damage in skeleton, kidney, and heart, with bone pain and renal colic. Therefore, it is critical to distinguish healthy parathyroid when the operation is being processed since the extent of the parathyroidectomy depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis. Methods: Human cancerous and healthy thyroid tissues were obtained from Shanghai General Hospital. Porcine thyroid glands, recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLN), adipose tissues, muscle tissues, lymph nodes, and parathyroid glands were harvested in fresh. Each sample was divided into two sections, one for CARS imaging and the other for hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 4252.
Neuromodulators: an essential part of survival.

The coordination between the animal’s external environment and internal state requires constant modulation by chemicals known as neuromodulators. Neuromodulators, such as biogenic amines, neuropept...
3D Printable, Modified Trephine Designs for Consistent Anterior Lamellar Keratectomy Wounds in Rabbits.

Purpose: Our goal is to develop a low-cost tool that can be used to create consistent, partial-thickness defects in rabbit and other large animals with minimal surgical training and that can facili...
Kernels, Disintegration, and Invariance

Kernel criteria and properties, composition and product, disintegration of measures and kernels, partial and iterated disintegration, Haar measure, factorization and modularity, orbit measures, invariant measures and kernels, invariant disintegration, asymptotic and local invariance.
Early childhood educators’ knowledge and attitudes about developmental screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder

The importance of early intervention for developmental disabilities, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, is increasingly recognized as critical to children’s later success, making it necessary to bet...
Reframing Narratives of Homeless Individuals; the Roles of Basic Dignity and Safeguarding in Reconstructing Perception

More than 8,100 people in San Diego live unsheltered on the street, with an additional 3,626 in temporary or emergency shelters. Efforts to address this humanitarian crisis have largely involved ex...
The Gendered Politics of Portfolio Allocation in Africa

Women’s participation in the executive cabinets of sub-Saharan Africa has grown considerably, but to what extent have women ministers’ career paths approximated those of their male counterparts? We examine three indicators of gender parity in the executive cabinets of 34 countries from 1980 to 2005. First, we examine portfolio allocation. Are women ministers appointed to less prestigious or powerful portfolios? Second, we examine career mobility. Do women ministers experience the same upward mobility as male ministers, receiving progressively more prestigious portfolios? Third, we examine ministerial tenure. Do male ministers outlast their female counterparts? We find that although women ministers tend to outlast men in the executive, they receive less prestigious appointments and experience less upward mobility. We attribute this pattern to women’s marginality in elite patronage politics. High prestige appointments are generally allocated in negotiations between presidents and politicians who can deliver support and votes by calling on their client followings. Social and economic mechanisms have prevented women politicians from developing similar clienteles. Instead, women ministers are appointed as symbols of policy commitment. Presidents use them appeal to external actors and domestic groups not tied to patronage networks, but they lack the power-base needed to negotiate for higher prestige appointments.
Second Malignancies after Radiation Therapy: Update on Pathogenesis and Cross-sectional Imaging Findings.

Second malignancies after radiation therapy are dreaded long-term complications of therapeutic radiation exposure, and radiologists should be aware of the spectrum of cancers and their imaging find...
Preserving NLST mortality benefits and acceptable morbidity for lung cancer surgery in a community hospital

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to demonstrate whether academic thoracic surgeons could achieve morbidity and mortality rates in community hospitals equivalent to those seen in National Lung Screening Trial (NLST). METHODS This was a retrospective review of community hospital lung cancer procedures for clinical Stage I-III non-small-cell lung cancers from 2007 through 2014. Variables include age, comorbidities, computed tomography (CT) characterization, and operative techniques. RESULTS There were 177 patients who had lung cancers removed by a minimally invasive approach (79%), including lobectomy in 127 (72%), segmentectomy in 4 (2%), and wedge-resections in 46 (26%). The median patient age was 71 years (interquartile range [IQR], 63-76). The cohort was primarily female (58%), clinical Stage I (82%), with a median tumor size of 2.3 cm (IQR, 1.5-3.3). The median length of stay was 6 days (range: 1-35). Complications were experienced by 78 (44.1%) patients, most commonly atrial fibrillation in 20 (11.3%) followed by air-leak in 19 (10.7%). There were no in-hospital deaths. Tumor location and extent of resection were associated with complications, while larger tumor size, margin contour, and resection method were associated with air-leak (all p < 0.05). Higher clinical stage and larger tumor size were associated with occult Stage III disease (both p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The low morbidity and mortality rates from the NLST were achievable in a community setting for early-stage lung cancer. Characterization of cancers using CT imaging identified factors most commonly associated with postoperative complications and the presence of occult Stage III disease.
The films of Mike Leigh

Biographical and cultural introduction Stylistic introduction: living beyond consciousness 1. Bleak Moments: fictitious selves 2. Hard Labour: melting the freezing 3. The Kiss of Death: temporal and spatial truth 4. Nuts in May: defeating easy knowledge 5. Abigail's Party: losing track of who you are 6. Who's Who: we are the hollow men 7. Grown-Ups: in praise of otherness 8. Home Sweet Home: manufactured emotions 9. Meantime: challenging forms of understanding 10. High Hopes: loose relations 11. Life is Sweet: circulation is the law of life 12. Naked: alone in the dark Epilogue: the feel of life.
The philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir : ambiguity, conversion, resistance

Studies of Simone de Beauvoir have mostly concentrated on her literature, her life, and her famous 1949 work, The Second Sex, and the continued emphasis has been on Beauvoir's views on gender. The Philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir places her theory of women's 'otherness' in the context of a number of contemporary theories on a similar subject. While gender takes its place among these, Professor Deutscher counterbalances its grip on our memory of Beauvoir's ideas by situating it in the context of our relationship to ageing, to generational difference, and to race and cultural difference. By differentiating the many aspects of 'otherness', Beauvoir revisited some of the concepts of reciprocity, ambiguity, and ethics for which she is best remembered.
Initial Report of Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Therapy for Posthysterectomy Patients With Gynecologic Cancer

Purpose To report the acute toxicities associated with pencil beam scanning proton beam radiation therapy (PBS) for whole pelvis radiation therapy in women with gynecologic cancers and the results of a dosimetric comparison of PBS versus intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans. Methods and Materials Eleven patients with posthysterectomy gynecologic cancer received PBS to the whole pelvis. The patients received a dose of 45 to 50.4 Gy relative biological effectiveness (RBE) in 1.8 Gy (RBE) daily fractions. Acute toxicity was scored according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4. A dosimetric comparison between a 2-field posterior oblique beam PBS and an IMRT plan was conducted. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to assess the potential dosimetric differences between the 2 plans and PBS target coverage robustness relative to setup uncertainties. Results The median patient age was 55 years (range 23-76). The primary site was cervical in 7, vaginal in 1, and endometrial in 3. Of the 11 patients, 7 received concurrent cisplatin, 1 each received sandwich carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy, both sandwich and concurrent chemotherapy, and concurrent and adjuvant chemotherapy, and 1 received no chemotherapy. All patients completed treatment. Of the 9 patients who received concurrent chemotherapy, the rate of grade 2 and 3 hematologic toxicities was 33% and 11%, respectively. One patient (9%) developed grade 3 acute gastrointestinal toxicity; no patient developed grade ≥3 genitourinary toxicity. The volume of pelvic bone marrow, bladder, and small bowel receiving 10 to 30 Gy was significantly lower with PBS than with intensity modulated radiation therapy ( P P >.05) with the clinical target volume mean dose percentage received by 95% and 98% of the target volume coverage changes within 2% for the individual plans. Conclusions Our results have demonstrated the clinical feasibility of PBS and the dosimetric advantages, especially for the low-dose sparing of normal tissues in the pelvis with the target robustness maintained relative to the setup uncertainties. Future studies with larger patient numbers are planned to further validate our preliminary findings.
Evidence-based Best Practices in the Public Vocational Rehabilitation Program that Lead to Employment Outcomes

An introduction and overview of the Special Issue on Evidence-based Best Practices in the Public Vocational Rehabil- itation Program that Lead to Employment Outcomes is provided and briefly discussed.
Polyatomic interferences on high precision uranium isotope ratio measurements by MC-ICP-MS: applications to environmental sampling for nuclear safeguards

Modern mass spectrometry and separation techniques have made measurement of major uranium isotope ratios a routine task; however accurate and precise measurement of the minor uranium isotopes remains a challenge as sample size decreases. One particular challenge is the presence of isobaric interferences and their impact on the accuracy of minor isotope 234U and 236U measurements. We present techniques used for routine U isotopic analysis of environmental nuclear safeguards samples and evaluate polyatomic interferences that negatively impact accuracy as well as methods to mitigate their impacts.
Integrated cardiovascular physiology: a laboratory exercise.

Examining the hemodynamic responses to exercise provides a unique opportunity to analyze and integrate cardiovascular physiology because more is learned about how a system operates when it is force...
Hadronic Decays and Lifetimes of B and D Mesons

We review recent experimental results on hadronic decays and lifetimes of hadrons containing b and c quarks. We discuss charm counting and the semileptonic branching fraction in B decays, the color suppressed amplitude in B and D decay, and the search for gluonic penguins in B decay.
A mathematical characterization of vegetation effect on microwave remote sensing from the Earth

In passive microwave remote sensing of the earth, a theoretical model that utilizes the radiative transfer equations was developed to account for the volume scattering effects of the vegetation canopy. Vegetation canopies such as alfalfa, sorghum, and corn are simulated by a layer of ellipsoidal scatterers and cylindrical structures. The ellipsoidal scatterers represent the leaves of vegetation and are randomly positioned and oriented. The orientation of ellipsoids is characterized by a probability density function of Eulerian angles of rotation. The cylindrical structures represent the stalks of vegetation and their radii are assumed to be much smaller than their lengths. The underlying soil is represented by a half-space medium with a homogeneous permittivity and uniform temperature profile. The radiative transfer quations are solved by a numerical method using a Gaussian quadrature formula to compute both the vertical and horizontal polarized brightness temperature as a function of observation angle. The theory was applied to the interpretation of experimental data obtained from sorghum covered fields near College Station, Texas.
Combined FISH and immunolabeling on paraffin-embedded tissue sections for the study of microchimerism.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) has proven to be a very useful technique for the study of chimerism and microchimerism (2,4). Based on the detection of sexchromosomes, this technique allows for the identification and localization of donor and recipient cells in cases of sex-mismatched transplantation or cells from mothers and their male fetuses in studies of fetomaternal cell trafficking. For the further assessment of chimerism, the combinationof FISH and techniques of protein detection allows for the determination of the phenotype of persistent chimericcells. However, such combined techniques have proven to be difficult to apply to paraffin-embedded tissue specimens, which is the common preparation of tissue samples following biopsy, surgery, or autopsy.
Resource- and quality-aware application-level service multicast

Current multimedia application deployment tends to rely on composable service systems, where a complex multimedia service can be composed dynamically from multiple simpler ones distributed widely in the Internet. Related to such a scenario is the problem of finding efficient service paths that meet end-to-end requirements. Work has been done in discovering unicast service paths. However, considering that resources are limited, for distributed multimedia applications that may have a single sender but multiple heterogeneous end-users, it is demanding to build service trees to minimize resource usages by means of sharing. We present a resource- and quality-aware application-level multicast Service Path Finding protocol (mc-SPF/sup Q/) that constructs, for each application, a more economical service tree instead of independent service paths. Bandwidth and proxy machine resource savings can be achieved by applying the application-layer multicast concept to deliver data through the service tree. mc-SPF/sup Q/ Is resource- and quality-aware, in that service paths are discovered with resource availability and client's quality demand in mind. Our simulation results show that: (1) compared to unicast service path finding solutions, mc-SPF/sup Q/ is superior; (2) the proxy load balancing feature makes the protocol achieve better path finding success rates in the face of resource scarcity; (3) reserving different portions of resources for service requests of different qualities affects the service path finding success rate and the average quality of service.
Longitudinal epigenetic and gene expression profiles analyzed by three-component analysis reveal down-regulation of genes involved in protein translation in human aging

Data on biological mechanisms of aging are mostly obtained from cross-sectional study designs. An inherent disadvantage of this design is that inter-individual differences can mask small but biologically significant age-dependent changes. A serially sampled design (same individual at different time points) would overcome this problem but is often limited by the relatively small numbers of available paired samples and the statistics being used. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a new vector-based approach, termed three-component analysis, which incorporates temporal distance, signal intensity and variance into one single score for gene ranking and is combined with gene set enrichment analysis. We tested our method on a unique age-based sample set of human skin fibroblasts and combined genome-wide transcription, DNA methylation and histone methylation (H3K4me3 and H3K27me3) data. Importantly, our method can now for the first time demonstrate a clear age-dependent decrease in expression of genes coding for proteins involved in translation and ribosome function. Using analogies with data from lower organisms, we propose a model where age-dependent down-regulation of protein translation-related components contributes to extend human lifespan.
Statistical energy conservation principle for inhomogeneous turbulent dynamical systems

Understanding the complexity of anisotropic turbulent processes over a wide range of spatiotemporal scales in engineering shear turbulence as well as climate atmosphere ocean science is a grand challenge of contemporary science with important societal impact. In such inhomogeneous turbulent dynamical systems there is a large dimensional phase space with a large dimension of unstable directions where a large-scale ensemble mean and the turbulent fluctuations exchange energy and strongly influence each other. These complex features strongly impact practical prediction and uncertainty quantification. A systematic energy conservation principle is developed here in a Theorem that precisely accounts for the statistical energy exchange between the mean flow and the related turbulent fluctuations. This statistical energy is a sum of the energy in the mean and the trace of the covariance of the fluctuating turbulence. This result applies to general inhomogeneous turbulent dynamical systems including the above applications. The Theorem involves an assessment of statistical symmetries for the nonlinear interactions and a self-contained treatment is presented below. Corollary 1 and Corollary 2 illustrate the power of the method with general closed differential equalities for the statistical energy in time either exactly or with upper and lower bounds, provided that the negative symmetric dissipation matrix is diagonal in a suitable basis. Implications of the energy principle for low-order closure modeling and automatic estimates for the single point variance are discussed below.
Alcohol-Reduced Plasma IGF-I Levels and Hepatic IGF-I Expression Can Be Partially Restored by Retinoic Acid Supplementation in Rats

Chronic and excessive ethanol intake in rats results in low levels of hepatic retinoic acid (RA) either by inhibiting the biosynthesis of RA or by enhancing its catabolism of RA. Chronic ethanol intake also decreases both hepatic expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and plasma IGF-I concentration in rats. It is not known whether RA supplementation in alcohol-fed rats can restore plasma IGF-I concentrations and hepatic IGF-I expression. In the present study, we examined both plasma IGF-I level and hepatic IGF-I mRNA expression in alcohol-fed rats with or without RA (100 microg/kg body weight) supplementation for 6 mo. Hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels and plasma IGF-I concentration were decreased (84 and 29%, respectively) significantly in alcohol-fed rats compared with the control. In contrast, RA supplementation in ethanol-fed rats partially restored both hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels and plasma IGF-I concentration compared with rats fed ethanol alone. These data suggest that alcohol-impaired hepatic RA status contributes to the decreased plasma IGF-I level and hepatic IGF-I expression in alcoholics.
Enhanced Amphetamine- and K+-Mediated Dopamine Release in Rat Striatum after Repeated Amphetamine: Differential Requirements for Ca2+- and Calmodulin-Dependent Phosphorylation and Synaptic Vesicles

After cessation of repeated, intermittent amphetamine, we detected an emergent Ca2+-dependent component of amphetamine-induced dopamine release and an increase in calmodulin and Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity in rat striatum. This study examined the involvement of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) and synaptic vesicles in the enhanced Ca2+-dependent dopamine release in response to amphetamine or K+ in rat striatum. Rats were pretreated for 5 d with 2.5 mg/kg amphetamine or saline and withdrawn from drug for 10 d. The selective CaM kinase II inhibitor KN-93 (1 microM), but not the inactive analog KN-92, attenuated the Ca2+-dependent amphetamine-mediated dopamine release from amphetamine-pretreated rats but had no effect in saline-pretreated controls. [3H]Dopamine uptake was unaltered by repeated amphetamine or KN-93 and was Ca2+ independent. Striatal dopamine release stimulated by 50 mM KCl was enhanced twofold after repeated amphetamine compared with that in saline controls but was unaffected by KN-93. To examine the requirement for dopaminergic vesicles in the Ca2+-dependent dopamine release, we administered reserpine to saline- and amphetamine-pretreated rats 1 d before killing. Reserpine pretreatment did not affect amphetamine-mediated dopamine release from either pretreatment group but completely ablated K+-mediated dopamine release. Reserpine did not disrupt the ability of 1 microM KN-93 to block the Ca2+-dependent amphetamine-mediated dopamine release from amphetamine-pretreated rats. The results indicate that the enhanced dopamine release elicited by amphetamine from chronically treated rats is dependent on Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation and is independent of vesicular dopamine storage. On the contrary, the enhanced depolarization-mediated vesicular dopamine release is independent of Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation.
Current algebra on the mass shell: Leptonic K decays

We describe a method by which current-algebra calculations may be done with particles on the mass shell. The method is applied to leptonic $K$ decays. Relations among the current algebra, partially conserved axial-vector current, and dynamical models such as vector-meson dominance are studied in detail.
Judgments of “Normal” and “Problem” Alcohol Use as Related to Reported Alcohol Consumption

We obtained alcohol use data and judgments of individual ("What do you think?") and cultural ("What do people in general think?") norms for normal and problem quantity and frequency of alcohol use, as well as ratings of whether particular alcohol-related behaviors indicated a drinking problem, from 928 adult respondents who were members of Hawaii's five major racial/ethnic groups [Chinese, European (Caucasian), Filipino, Hawaiian/Part-Hawaiian, and Japanese ancestry]. As compared with older survey data (but consonant with recent survey data), Hawaiians have substantially increased in alcohol use, as have Filipinos (if they drink at all; a high proportion are abstainers), and to a lesser extent, Japanese. Chinese remain very low in alcohol use, while Caucasians have relatively decreased in use. Alcohol use norms (especially of own judged normal use) vary across sexes and ethnic groups and are predictors of consumption both within and across groups. Family resemblances are substantial with regard to alcohol use category (present users, former drinkers, abstainers). Among present users, family resemblances are often significant with regard to amount used; resemblances are more substantial between mothers and offspring than between spouses or between fathers and offspring. There were small but significant ethnic group differences in the number of specific behaviors judged to be indicative of a drinking problem, with the groups reporting the highest mean alcohol consumption (Caucasians and Hawaiians/Part Hawaiians) also indicating more behaviors, particularly pathological as opposed to celebratory behaviors, as being problematic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Identity of chimpanzee with human fibrinopeptides.

FIBRINOPEPTIDES, those portions of vertebrate fibrinogen molecules split off by thrombin during clotting, exhibit a very large degree of interspecific variability. The amino-acid sequences of these peptides have been determined for more than thirty different species of mammals, and the number of identified amino-acid replacements ranks the fibrinopeptides among the most variable polypeptide structures known. On the arbitrary scale developed by Dayhoff1 these molecules have a variability index of 90, compared with values of 13 and 11 for the β and α chains of haemoglobin, and a score of 3 for cytochrome c. As a result of this propensity for rapid change, the fibrinopeptides are particularly useful for tracing phylogenetic relationships at the generic level.
Information content per photon versus image fidelity in three-dimensional photon-counting integral imaging.

Photon-counting integral imaging has been introduced recently, and its applications in three-dimensional (3D) object sensing, visualization, recognition, and classification under photon-starved conditions have been demonstrated. This paper sheds light on the underlying information-theoretic foundation behind the ability of photon-counting integral imaging in performing complex tasks with far fewer photons than conventional imaging systems. A metric for photon-information content is formulated in the context of 3D photon-counting imaging, and its properties are investigated. It is shown that there is an inherent trade-off between imaging fidelity, measured by the entropy-normalized mutual information associated with a given imaging system, and the amount of information in each photon used in the imaging process, as represented by the photon-number–normalized mutual information. The dependence of this trade-off on photon statistics, correlation in the 3D image, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the photon-detection system is also investigated.
Sparklab2: A Statistically Based Program to Detect 2D Sparks. Application to Smooth Muscle

We improved the statistical sieve algorithm developed by Izu et al. (Biophys. J. 92(12):4458-65) and simplified the user interface. In this new version, the normalized image (Norm) and background fluorescence is automatically calculated by the program. After reading the stack of images for a given cell, a template is created by averaging all the images. This template will constitute the norm against which each individual frame will be normalized. The cell border is detected from this template, and fluorescence outside this area is considered the background that is subtracted from all images. Then each frame is normalized by the Norm image. The next step highlights events as potential sparks, if fluorescence is ≥ 3 standard deviations from the Norm value. A final statistical test in the time domain is applied at each potential event. If the amplitude of the event is statistically different from the mean value of the previous 10 frames, the event is considered a spark. A table with the amplitude, FWHMx, FHHMy, Tau, Frame and location (x,y) is generated. Additionally the user can inspect each of the sparks in a 3D plot or its fitting profiles in x,y and t axis. A user friendly interface implemented in LabVIEW with intuitive menus guide the user through the whole process. We tested the functionality of the program by analyzing Ca2+ sparks from vascular smooth muscle. SparkLAB2 presents the advantages of being a statistically based spark detector with minimum intervention of the user thus reducing the possibility of human bias.
Functional MRI of tongue motor tasks in patients with tongue cancer: observations before and after partial glossectomy

The current study seeks to provide preliminary data regarding this central, adaptive response during tongue motor tasks utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after glossectomy. Six patients, with confirmed histological diagnoses of oral tongue cancer, underwent fMRI before and 6 months after partial glossectomy. These data were compared to nine healthy controls. All subjects performed three tongue motor tasks during fMRI: tongue tapping (TT), dry swallow (Dry), and wet swallow (Wet). Following surgery, increased activation was subjectively observed in the superior parietal lobule, supplementary motor area, and anterior cingulate. Region of interest (ROI) analysis of the precentral gyrus confirmed increased cortical activity following surgery. In addition, comparisons between pre-surgical scans and controls suggested the dry swallow task was sensitive to elicit tongue-related activation in the precentral gyrus (p ≤ 0.05). The adaptive changes in the cortex following partial glossectomy reflect recruitment of the parietal, frontal, and cingulate cortex during tongue motor tasks. In addition, post-operative activation patterns more closely approximated control levels than the pre-operative scans. Furthermore, the dry swallow task appears most specific to elicit tongue-related cortical activity.
Gender Differences in Correlates of Homophobia and Transphobia

A scale of prejudice against transgender individuals was developed, validated, and contrasted with a homophobia measure in 153 female and 157 male US college undergraduates. For both sexes, transphobia and homophobia were highly correlated with each other and with right-wing authoritarianism, religious fundamentalism, and hostile sexism, but aggression proneness was predictive of transphobia and homophobia only in men. Benevolent sexism and rape myth acceptance were more predictive of transphobia and homophobia in women than men. With homophobia partialled out, authoritarianism, fundamentalism, and aggression proneness no longer predicted transphobia for men, but authoritarianism, fundamentalism, benevolent sexism, and rape myth acceptance continued to predict transphobia in women. Discussion focused on gender differences in issues that drive prejudice against transgender and homosexual individuals.
Correlations between tetrahedrally localized orbitals

Abstract It is shown that correlations between neighboring tetrahedral orbital contribute about twice as much to the valence shell correlation energies of neon and methane, as the correlations within the four doubly occupied (“bonds”) tetrahedral pairs. “Non-bonded attractions” are thus not negligible but may be an important part of the correlation energies of saturated molecules.
Designing Orchard Experiments for European Red Mite Control

Experiments based on preventive programs have created a need for satisfactory designs to evaluate acaricides under orchard conditions and to permit statistical summarization and interpretation of the results. The literature regarding mite sampling is briefly reviewed and two examples of preventive experiments and one eradicant type experiment are presented with statistical treatment and interpretation of results. Data from orchard mite control experiments, in which counts were taken periodically during the season, were analyzed statistically as split-block designs. Before analysis of variance could be conducted, a logarithmic transformation was necessary to remove the proportional relationship between the means and the standard deviations to meet the requirements of an F test. By increasing the number of trees a greater gain in detecting treatment differences was produced than by increasing the number of leaves sampled or the number of sampling dates. In an example using mild acaricides in a preventive schedule, it was found that the addition of 1 ounce of ovex in each spray to a DDT-parathion formulation gave superior control of the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch). Glyodin used in place of captan also significantly improved control. A DDT Diazinon ( O,O -diethyl O -(2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-pyrimidinyl) phosphorothioate) tank mix was as effective as most DDT-parathion formulations. Differences in the other experiments represented were large in one and small in the other, but were not significant in either.