cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity analysis of partial differential equations: A case for functional sensitivity

Sensitivity analysis allows for analyzing the effects of parameter uncertainty. For functional parameters, the sensitivity of the system is described by the functional derivatives of the output variables with respect to the parameters. Approximation of each of the functional parameters by a finite number of scalars (via the finite element representation) allows one to use elementary sensitivity analysis. The functional sensitivities are easily approximated from elementary sensitivities and, being objective quantities, they allow one to evaluate the numerical quality of sensitivities. The grid density necessary for computing functional sensitivities may differ significantly from the grid required for the numerical solution of the governing equation. Many problems in applied mathematics and engineering do not have closed-form solutions and therefore require numerical treatment. The governing equation and the functional parameters, when discretized, lead to a system of ordinary differential equations. The effects of parameter uncertainty can be studied via sensitivity analysis. It is usually performed on the discretized system, yielding elementary sensitivities of the numerical model instead of functional sensitivities of the continuous system under consideration. Our goal is to demonstrate the ease with which approximations of functional sensitivities may be recovered from elementary sensitivities and the advantages the functional sensitivities offer.
Danio rerio : Small Fish Making a Big Splash in Leukemia

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are widely used for developmental biology studies. In the past decade, D. rerio have become an important oncology model as well. Leukemia is one type of cancer where zebrafish are particularly valuable. As vertebrates, fish have great anatomic and biologic similarity to humans, including their hematopoietic and immune systems. As an experimental platform, D. rerio offer many advantages that mammalian models lack. These include their ease of genetic manipulation, capacity for imaging, and suitability for large-scale phenotypic and drug screens. In this review, we present examples of these strategies and others to illustrate how zebrafish have been and can be used to study leukemia. Besides appraising the techniques researchers apply and introducing the leukemia models they have created, we also highlight recent and exciting discoveries made using D. rerio with an eye to where the field is likely headed.
Reduction in ovulation or male sex phenotype increases long-term anoxia survival in a daf-16-independent manner in Caenorhabditis elegans

Identifying genotypes and phenotypes that enhance an organism's ability to survive stress is of interest. We used Caenorhabditis elegans mutants, RNA interference (RNAi), and the chemical 5-fluorod...
GONADAL DYSGENESIS: OVARIES IN ASSOCIATION WITH CHROMATINNEGATIVE PATTERN IN SOMATIC CELLS

ABSTRACT Two patients are described who had a “male” chromatin pattern in the somatic cellular nuclei, but gonadal tissue which was ovarian in nature; neither patient was of short stature nor had recognizable somatic anomalies. Current evidence indicates that these patients represent extreme examples of genetic aberrations and were never destined to be males, or even normal females. In cases of genetic anomalies, the mere presence or absence of the chromatin mass in nuclei of somatic cells is an inadequate criterion for proper qualitative interpretation of the genetic “background” of the patient. Terms such as “nuclear sexing”, “chromosomal male” or “completesex reversal” should not be used, because they may be entirely inaccurate for a description of the true situation. These 2 cases of atypical Turner's syndrome suggest that numerous gradations and combinations of genetic defects in gonadal development and function may exist in relatively normal-appearing women.
Nanopipette delivery: influence of surface charge.

In this report, transport through a nanopipette is studied and the interplay between current rectification and ion delivery for small pipettes is examined. First, surface charge dependence of concentration polarization effects in a quartz nanopipette was investigated. Electrical characterization was performed through current–potential (I–V) measurements. In addition, fluorescein (an anionic fluorescent probe) was utilized to optically map ion enrichment and ion depletion in the nanopipette tip. Bare nanopipettes and polyethylenimine (PEI)-modified nanopipettes were examined. Results confirm that concentration polarization is a surface charge dependent phenomenon and delivery can be controlled through modification of surface charge. The relationship between concentration polarization effects and voltage-driven delivery of charged electroactive species was investigated with a carbon ring/nanopore electrode fabricated from pyrolyzed parylene C (PPC). Factors such as surface charge polarity of the nanopipette, electrolyte pH, and electrolyte concentration were investigated. Results indicate that with modification of surface charge, additional control over delivery of charged species can be achieved.
The impact of health information technology on cancer care across the continuum: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction Health information technology (HIT) has the potential to play a significant role in the management of cancer. The purpose of this review is to identify and examine empirical studies that investigate the impact of HIT in cancer care on different levels of the care continuum. Methods Electronic searches were performed in four academic databases. The authors used a three-step search process to identify 122 studies that met specific inclusion criteria. Next, a coding sheet was used to extract information from each included article to use in an analysis. Logistic regression was used to determine study-specific characteristics that were associated with positive findings. Results Overall, 72.4% of published analyses reported a beneficial effect of HIT. Multivariate analysis found that the impact of HIT differs across the cancer continuum with studies targeting diagnosis and treatment being, respectively, 77 ( P = .001) and 39 ( P = .039) percentage points less likely to report a beneficial effect when compared to those targeting prevention. In addition, studies targeting HIT to patients were 31 percentage points less likely to find a beneficial effect than those targeting providers ( P = .030). Lastly, studies assessing behavior change as an outcome were 41 percentage points less likely to find a beneficial effect ( P = .006), while studies targeting decision making were 27 percentage points more likely to find a beneficial effect ( P = .034). Conclusion Based on current evidence, HIT interventions seem to be more successful when targeting physicians, care in the prevention phase of the cancer continuum, and/or decision making. An agenda for future research is discussed.
Weighing the cons and pros: women's reasons for discontinuing hormone replacement therapy.

As a greater proportion of U.S. women move into midlife, there has been increased interest in meeting their preventive health needs. Although hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may not be an option for all postmenopausal women, it has been documented as prolonging life expectancy and protecting against osteoporosis. Despite its advantages for many women, often those who initiate HRT discontinue its use within a short time. The purpose of this qualitative study is to gain insights into women's reasons for discontinuing HRT. We collected data by semistructured interview from three diverse samples: 10 women who had been on HRT for two years or less, 11 health care providers of women, and 34 women who had gone off HRT. Reasons for discontinuing fell into seven broad categories: general Gestalt, somatic complaints, mind (knowledge, emotion), not being heard, hassles, indecisive medical community, and cons outweighed pros. Results indicate that women who discontinue HRT do so for a variety of reasons, many of wh...
Underestimating intraspecific variation: the problem with excluding Sts 19 from Australopithecus africanus.

Two analyses conclude that Sts 19 cannot be accommodated within the Australopithecus africanus hypodigm (Kimbel and Rak (1993) In Kimbel and Martin (eds.): Species, Species Concepts, and Primate Evolution. New York: Plenum, pp. 461-484; Sarmiento (1993) Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. (Suppl.) 16:173). Both studies exclude Sts 19 because it possesses synapomorphies with Homo. Furthermore, according to Kimbel and Rak (1993), including Sts 19 in A. africanus results in an unacceptably high degree of polymorphism. This study aims to refute the null hypothesis that Sts 19 belongs to A. africanus. Twelve basicranial characters, as defined and implemented in Kimbel and Rak's study, were scored for casts of seven A. africanus and seven Homo habilis basicranial specimens. These characters were also examined on specimens from a large (N 5 87) sample of African pongids. Contrary to Kimbel and Rak's (1993) findings, the null hypothesis is not refuted. The degree of polymorphism among A. africanus with Sts 19 included is less than that seen in Pan troglodytes. In addition, Sts 19 shares only one apomorphy with Homo. However, when treated metrically, Sts 19's morphology for this character is not significantly divergent from other A. africanus specimens. Am J Phys Anthropol 105:461-480, 1998. r 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Transcription Factors in Long-Term Memory and Synaptic Plasticity

Transcription is a molecular requisite for long-term synaptic plasticity and long-term memory formation. Thus, in the last several years, one main interest of molecular neuroscience has been the identification of families of transcription factors that are involved in both of these processes. Transcription is a highly regulated process that involves the combined interaction and function of chromatin and many other proteins, some of which are essential for the basal process of transcription, while others control the selective activation or repression of specific genes. These regulated interactions ultimately allow a sophisticated response to multiple environmental conditions, as well as control of spatial and temporal differences in gene expression. Evidence based on correlative changes in expression, genetic mutations, and targeted molecular inhibition of gene expression have shed light on the function of transcription in both synaptic plasticity and memory formation. This review provides a brief overview ...
An Initial Survey for Wolbachia (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) Infections in Selected California Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

Knowledge of biogeographic variation in Wolbachia infection rates and inferred susceptibility to infection among different mosquito taxa has fundamental implications for the design and successful application of Wolbachia-based vector-borne disease control strategies. Using a Wolbachia-specific polymerase chain reaction assay, we tested 14 North American mosquito species in five genera (Aedes, Anopheles, Culiseta, Culex, and Ochlerotatus) for Wolbachia infection. Wolbachia infections were only detected in members of the Culex pipiens (L.) species complex.
Comparison of sludge characteristics between lime and limestone/lime treatment of acid mine drainage

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Colorado School of Mines and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has demonstrated the application of pulsed limestone bed (PLB) treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) at the Argo tunnel discharge near Idaho Springs, Colorado. Current technology for AMD treatment at the Argo facility is neutralization with lime. However, lime neutralization often results in large amounts of highly hydrated metal oxide sludge, leading to high disposal costs. Use of the PLB process as a pretreatment typically offers cost savings not only through lower reagent costs, but also through decreased sludge volume. In this study we compared the characteristics of sludges created using lime only to a sludge that was pretreated with the PLB, followed by lime treatment. Lime treatment was performed batch- wise in a 60 gallon cone-bottom stirred tank where the pH was elevated to 10, and held for an hour. A sample of sludge from the operating treatment plant was also tested for comparison. The PLB/lime treatment was accomplished by first passing the water through the PLB system, followed by batch lime treatment to pH 10 as before. The sludge qualities were evaluated through settled sludge volume, filterability through a bench-scale filter press, and the moisture percentage in the filter cake. The PLB/lime treatment resulted in a decrease in sludge volume of 34% after 24 hours, with good filtration performance, and a final cake solids content of 22% versus 19% for the lime sludge. A decrease in lime consumption of 45% was also obtained with the PLB pretreatment.
Guano and the Opening of the Pacific World: A Global Ecological History

List of illustrations Preface Abbreviations and acronyms Prologue 1. Introduction 2. The guano age 3. Neo-ecological imperialism 4. Where is Banaba? 5. Conservation and the technocratic ideal 6. The most valuable birds in the world 7. When the Japanese came to dinner 8. The road to survival 9. Guano and the Blue Revolution 10. Conclusion Select bibliography Index.
Depletion with Cyclodextrin Reveals Two Populations of Cholesterol in Model Lipid Membranes

Recent results provide evidence that cholesterol is highly accessible for removal from both cell and model membranes above a threshold concentration that varies with membrane composition. Here we measured the rate at which methyl-β-cyclodextrin depletes cholesterol from a supported lipid bilayer as a function of cholesterol mole fraction. We formed supported bilayers from two-component mixtures of cholesterol and a PC (phosphatidylcholine) lipid, and we directly visualized the rate of decrease in area of the bilayers with fluorescence microscopy. Our technique yields the accessibility of cholesterol over a wide range of concentrations (30-66 mol %) for many individual bilayers, enabling fast acquisition of replicate data. We found that the bilayers contain two populations of cholesterol, one with low surface accessibility and the other with high accessibility. A larger fraction of the total membrane cholesterol appears in the more accessible population when the acyl chains of the PC-lipid tails are more unsaturated. Our findings are most consistent with the predictions of the condensed-complex and cholesterol bilayer domain models of cholesterol-phospholipid interactions in lipid membranes.
Testosterone and Cardiovascular Disease

Testosterone (T) is the principal male sex hormone. As men age, T levels typically fall. Symptoms of low T include decreased libido, vasomotor instability, and decreased bone mineral density. Other symptoms may include depression, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, and reduced muscle strength/mass. Epidemiology studies show that low levels of T are associated with more atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and cardiovascular events. However, treating hypogonadism in the aging male has resulted in discrepant results in regard to its effect on cardiovascular events. Emerging studies suggest that T may have a future role in treating heart failure, angina, and myocardial ischemia. A large, prospective, long-term study of T replacement, with a primary endpoint of a composite of adverse cardiovascular events including myocardial infarction, stroke, and/or cardiovascular death, is needed. The Food and Drug Administration recently put additional restrictions on T replacement therapy labeling and called for additional studies to determine its cardiac safety.
Renal Response to Unilateral Vagotomy During Water Diuresis.

SummaryAfter section of the left or right vagus nerve in two groups of dogs in mild water diuresis, triphasic responses in urine flow, free-water clearance, and osmolal U/P ratio occurred. However, significant quantitative differences in these responses for the two groups indicate a superior influence of the left vagus nerve on the mechanism controlling the renal reabsorption of solute-free water. During the various phases, glomerular filtration rate, effective renal plasma flow, or osmolal clearance did not change significantly from control values.
Effect of the Endotoxin of Shigella paradysenteriae on Pregnancy in Rabbits

SummaryRelatively large sublethal doses of the endotoxin-containing extract of Shigella paradysenterice (Flexner) were injected intra-peritoneally into rabbits at the 2, 6-7, 11-12, 15-16, 19-21, and 25-26-day stages of pregnancy. Pregnancy at the 2-day stage was interrupted following such injection, possibly because of a low viability of the rabbit blastocyst to the marked hyperthermia which develops following the injection. The failure of the endotoxin to interrupt pregnancy at the 6-7-day stage is discussed. At stages between the 11th and 26th day, pregnancy was interrupted, accompanied often by vaginal bleeding and abortion which resulted presumably from the hemorrhagic action of the endotoxin on fragile capillaries of the decidua-placental tissues.This decidua-placental hemorrhage in rabbits is construed to be an action physiologically analogous to the hemorrhage induced by the endotoxins of gram-negative bacteria in implanted mouse tumors.
Evaluation on Control Effect of Occupational Hazards in a Porcelain Teeth Production Project

Objective To assess the control effect of occupational hazards in a porcelain teeth production project.Methods The control effect of occupational hazards was analyzed by a hybrid method of field investigation,test of occupational hazardous factors at workplace and occupational health surveillance.Results The overall layout,occupational hazards protection facilities,auxiliary rooms of health of the project were in line with national requirements.Air concentrations of dust and toxicant met national health standards and the noise passing rate was 89.7%.Individual protective articles offering and occupational health management system were still imperfect.Conclusions The control effect of occupational hazards in the project basically meets the requirements of occupational health;moreover,the occupational hazards protection measures are feasible and effective.
Diagnosis of bacterial contact lens related keratitis with the white-light confocal microscope.

Purpose : We used white-light confocal microscopy to identify the causative organisms in two patients with contact lens related keratitis. Methods : The corneal infiltrates were examined by confocal microscopy and corneal specimens were obtained for culture. Results : In both patients, confocal microscopy revealed 1.5- to 2-micron diameter hyper-reflective bodies below the level of the epithelium. The sizes of these structures were consistent with those of bacteria. The corneal cultures from one patient grew Staphylococcus wemeri and the cultures from the other patient grew Streptococcus viridans. Conclusions : The confocal microscope permitted the in vivo observation of what we believe to be bacteria in patients diagnosed with contact lens related keratitis.
TH‐D‐BRC‐03: Panel Member

Interest in proton therapy has increased dramatically in the past couple of years, especially in the United States. There certainly is an important place for proton therapy in the arsenal of cancer treatments. Its dosimetric advantage and potential for low toxicity makes it the perfect partner for photons and other cancer treatment modalities. Often there is a belief that the new technology ought to be better but many believe that they should be widely adopted in the clinic only after evidence has shown that they are at least as safe and efficacious as existing technologies, which are often less expensive. This is the case for proton radiotherapy. This session being both educational and debate will provide a good review of basics and technological advancement as well as a comprehensive clinical update for both proton and photon therapy. Future technology developments and how they will impact the potential dosimetric advantage of proton therapy will be discussed. Particularly the debate will focus on whether these developments will close or widen the gap between photon and proton therapy. Learning Objectives: 1.To review challenges, limitations, and recent and future developments in proton therapy. 2.To review challenges, limitations, recent and future developments in photon radiotherapy. 3.To review current clinical trials and challenging clinical cases. C. Yu, No company or organization that my presentation mentions provided me with financial support. I am the Founder and CEO of Xcision Medical Systems, LLC. However, my presentation will not mention any product or technology developed by Xcision.
New Approach to the Learning about the Latest Earth Science in Museum Activities

As culators, who wish to disseminate the latest information about earth science. Ourgroup is called PAC Geo (Project for Advanced and Comprehensive Geoscience). PAC Geohas expanded to EPACS (Expanded Project for Advanced and Comprehensive Science), whichhas a wider range of activities. Such activities encourage more people to use the museum andinformation on materials. EPACS has two approaches. One approach involves a new methodusing new tools. Computers connected to the Internet are examples of important new tools.A database entitled “Geology of Kanagawa”, a digital lecture entitled “Study on the Originsof the Ground”, and a digital exhibition entitled “Catalogue of the Earth” will be constructedon EPACS's Internet homepage. Our homepage will contribute to the establishment of newmethods. The other approach is to use new designs by that have a new perspective. A newperspective can be to learn from handicapped persons. For example, persons with impairedvision have a deep knowledge the senses of hearing, taste, touch, and smell, as they do nothave sight. A new perspective could lead EPACS to new designs for museum activities.EPACS will also develop a new system for disseminating knowledge of natural science.
Switchable catalytic processes involving the copolymerization of epoxides and carbon dioxide for the preparation of block polymers

This minireview's primary focus is to review recent studies from my research program on the development of one-pot, two-step processes for the synthesis of di- and tri-block polymers. In all of these prepared polymeric materials at least one component is a polycarbonate derived from the copolymerization of CO2 and epoxides. Synthetic methodology for the preparation of polycarbonate diols of well-defined molecular weights with narrow polydispersities are presented using (salen)CoX/onium salt catalyst systems. These polyols were subsequently utilized in the synthesis of di-and tri-block polylactide/polycarbonate or polyphosphoester/polycarbonate polymers employing organocatalysts. In addition, the introduction of these polyols to a second epoxide/CO2 copolymerization process provided block polycarbonate materials. Of particular interest, the first or second epoxide monomer incorporated into the copolymer can possess vinyl groups for postpolymerization modification by thiol–ene chemistry. These degradable polymeric materials have significant potential for use in biomedical applications.
The dark side of technology

We investigated whether there is a causal relationship between the presence of customizability technology (i.e., technology that allows individuals/websites to tailor the information environment according to user's preferences) and political selective exposure. We found that various forms of customizability technology (especially, system-driven customizability) increase selective exposure in the context of online political news consumption. Moreover, customizability technology has a stronger effect on minimizing exposure to counter-attitudinal information than it has on increasing exposure to pro-attitudinal information. The effect of customizability on selective exposure was particularly strong for ideologically moderate individuals. This study extends the understanding of the selective exposure process in today's communication environment and clarifies the implications of the Internet for deliberative democracy theory. Various forms of customizability increase political news selective exposure.System-driven customizability produced the strongest effect.The effect was particularly strong for reducing exposure to counter-attitudinal information.The effect was particularly strong for ideologically moderate individuals.
Band-aids for Buchnera and B vitamins for all.

Evolution lacks foresight, and hence, key adaptations may produce major challenges over the long run. The natural world is rife with examples of long-term ‘side effects’ associated with quick-fix tinkering, including blind spots in vertebrate eyes. An important question is how nature compensates for imperfections once evolution has set a course. The symbioses associated with sap-feeding insects present a fascinating opportunity to address this issue. On one hand, the substantial diversity and biomass of sap-feeding insects are largely due to ancient acquisitions of nutrient-provisioning bacterial symbionts. Yet, the insularity and small population sizes enforced by intracellular life and strict maternal transfer inevitably result in the degradation of symbiont genomes and, often, the beneficial services that symbionts provide. Stabilization through lateral transfer of bacterial genes into the host nucleus (often from exogenous sources) or replacement of the long-standing symbiont with a new partner are potential solutions to this evolutionary dilemma (Bennett & Moran 2015). A third solution is adoption of a cosymbiont that compensates for specific losses in the original resident. Ancient ‘co-obligate’ symbiont pairs in mealybugs, leafhoppers, cicadas and spittlebugs show colocalization, codiversification, metabolite exchange and generally nonredundant nutrient biosynthesis (Bennett & Moran 2015). But in this issue, Meseguer et al. (2017) report on a different flavour of cosymbiosis among conifer-feeding Cinara aphids.
Support for proposed gun ban

Please accept this brief note as total support for the Academy9s position regarding control of guns and ammunition in the home. I have had only a few patients who have been the victims of gun violence, both self-inflicted, and both with horrible consequences. I hope never to deal with similar horrors again.
The Job is in the Field: Notes from Municipal Anthropology

The Department of Sanitation in New York City is a mayoral agency with a key role in municipal government, but it also has the attributes of a powerful corporation. With an annual budget in excess of a billion dollars, it hires, monitors, and replaces private vendors and contractors for a host of essential services, balances the often conflicting demands of several unions, and answers to a watchful but perpetually critical public. As the Department's anthropologist-in-residence since 2006, my work has included consulting, advocacy, collaboration, education, and organizing various projects focused on the interface between Sanitation and that larger public. These efforts have helped me understand the urban environment from the perspective of those who keep it clean, while also letting me become intimately acquainted with the complex dynamics of a workforce that is generally scorned even while it is fundamental to the well-being of the metropolis it serves. This paper considers the model of anthropologist-in-residence as I've structured it within the DSNY, discusses contributions to an anthropology of organizations, and explores the possibility of similar relationships between anthropologists and other public and private institutions.
Second Language Acquisition Theories

Song surveys the literature on second language acquisition to show how the literature on this subject evolved over time. By describing the second language acquisition theories based on behaviorism and error analysis to interlanguage, native language influence, and cognitive perspectives that explain the role of conceptual cognition in enhancing second language learning, Song shows how our understanding of second language acquisition has improved. By describing second language acquisition theories, Song demonstrates that second language acquisition is a complex learning process affected by many linguistic, social, psycholinguistic, and intercultural factors.
Intercomparison of surface energy fluxes, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration from eddy covariance, large-aperture scintillometer, and modeling across three ecosystems in a semiarid climate

Abstract A comprehensive seasonal and interannual energy partition and flux analyses were conducted to differentiate three ecosystems including sagebrush, cheatgrass, and lodgepole pine in the Snake River Plain of Idaho. The study used 3 years of eddy covariance (EC) and large aperture scintillometer (LAS) flux measurements to evaluate the bio-physical processes that control the surface energy partitioning. A comparison of sensible heat flux (SH) by EC ( H EC ) and LAS ( H LAS ) showed H EC was slightly underestimated due to wind turbulence and energy balance closure issues. The Noah Land Surface Model (LSM) was configured with NCEP-NARR (NOAH NARR simulation) or meteorological observation from the EC tower (NOAH Obs simulation). NOAH NARR simulation showed significantly more RMSE compared to NOAH Obs due to biases in downwelling shortwave and longwave radiation and precipitation (P) in the NARR data. Higher leaf area index (LAI) and moderate stomatal resistance (R S ) of lodgepole pine resulted in increased evapotranspiration (ET) (472–535 mm/year) compared to cheatgrass (261 mm to 278 mm/year) and sagebrush (229–353 mm/year). The Budyko ET analysis showed that all the three sites are water deficient and the evaporative ratio was less for the lodgepole pine ecosystem (0.80) when compared to sagebrush (0.94) and cheatgrass (0.93). The residual (attributed to deep percolation and runoff) from the water budget was higher (15–16%) in the lodgepole pine compared to that of cheatgrass (2–5%) and sagebrush (2–9%). Our results indicate the field-scale distinguishing features of heterogeneous ecosystems in the semi-arid environment and emphasize the need for intercomparison of flux measurements for better understanding of energy budget partitioning and improving the accuracy of simulated fluxes.
The Yellow Crescent of Ascidian Eggs: Molecular Organization, Localization and Role in Early Development

The molecular composition, localization, and role in early development of the yellow crescent cytoplasm is reviewed. The yellow, myoplasmic crescent is a localized cytoplasmic region preferentially distributed to the muscle and mesenchyme lineage cells during early development of ascidian eggs. It consists of a collection of lipid pigment granules with numerous adherent mitochondria underlain by a specific cytoskeletal domain. The yellow crescent cytoskeleton is comprised of a superficial, sub-membrane network of actin filaments (PML) and a more internal filamentous lattice which connects pigment granules and possibly other cytoplasmic organelles to the cell surface. The yellow crescent originates during oogenesis and is uniformly distributed around the periphery of the mature, unfertilized egg. After fertilization the peripheral cytoplasm streams into the vegetal hemisphere forming the yellow crescent. The yellow crescent cytoskeleton, under the direction of local changes in the concentration of calcium ions, seems to be involved in this movement. Although relatively poor in total mRNA, the yellow crescent is highly enriched in mRNA sequences coding for cytoplasmic actin. The enrichment in actin mRNA is due to an association of these molecules with yellow crescent cytoskeletal elements. In general, however, prevalent messages in the yellow crescent region are not qualitatively different from those in other areas of the egg. A wide variety of different proteins are also found in the yellow crescent which are a subset of those present in the whole egg. There is strong evidence that the yellow crescent contains cytoplasmic determinants which are segregated during cleavage and specify muscle cell properties in the cells they enter. The molecular nature and mode of action of these agents, however, remains to be determined.
A Low-Jitter Ring-Oscillator Phase-Locked Loop Using Feedforward Noise Cancellation With a Sub-Sampling Phase Detector

Ring-oscillator (RO)-based phase-locked loops (PLLs) are very attractive for system-on-chip applications for their compactness and tuning range, but suffer from high jitter and supply noise sensitivity. This paper presents a sub-sampling phase detector (SSPD)-based feedforward noise cancellation (FFNC) technique to improve these drawbacks of the RO PLL. The FFNC scheme utilizes the already available SSPD output to perform cancellation with high sensitivity while utilizing low power and area overhead. The 2- to 2.8-GHz RO PLL proof-of-principle prototype occupies 0.022 mm2 active area in 65 nm CMOS; it achieves a 633 fs rms jitter at 2.36 GHz with 5.86 mW power consumption and an figure of merit (FOMjitter) of −236.3 dB. The cancellation reduces the jitter by $1.4\times $ , the phase noise by 10.2 dB to −123.5 dBc/Hz at 300-kHz offset, and the RO supply sensitivity by 19.5 dB for a 1 mVpp 100-kHz noise tone on the RO supply.
Jail, an unappreciated medical home: Assessing the feasibility of a strengths-based case management intervention to improve the care retention of HIV-infected persons once released from jail.

Background Linkage to and retention in care for US persons living with HIV (PLWH) after release from jail usually declines. We know of no rigorously evaluated behavioral interventions that can improve this. We hypothesized that a strengths-based case management intervention that we developed for PLWH leaving jail would increase linkage/retention in care (indicated by receipt of laboratory draws) and a suppressed HIV viral load (VL) in the year following release. Methods and findings We conducted a quasi-experimental feasibility study of our intervention for PLWH jailed in Atlanta. We recruited 113 PLWH in jail starting in 2014. “SUCCESS” (Sustained, Unbroken Connection to Care, Entry Services, and Suppression) began in jail and continued post-release. Subjects who started the intervention but subsequently began long-term incarcerations were excluded from further analysis. Persons who were retained in the intervention group were compared to contemporaneously incarcerated PLWH who did not receive the intervention. Identities were submitted to an enhanced HIV/AIDS reporting system (eHARS) at the state health department to capture all laboratories drawn. Both community engagement and care upon jail return were assessed equally. For 44 intervention participants released to Atlanta, 50% of care occurred on subsequent jail stays, as documented with EventFlow software. Forty-five receiving usual services only were recruited for comparison. By examining records of jail reentries, half of participants and 60% of controls recidivated (range: 1–8 returns). All but 6 participants in the intervention and 9 subjects in the comparison arm had ≥1 laboratory recorded in eHARS post-release. Among the intervention group, 52% were retained in care (i.e., had two laboratory studies, > = 3 months apart), versus 40% among the comparison group (OR = 1.60, 95% CI (0.71, 3.81)). Both arms showed improved viral load suppression. Conclusions There was a trend towards increased retention for PLWH released from jail after SUCCESS, compared to usual services. Measuring linkage at all venues, including jail-based clinics, fully captured engagement for this frequently recidivating population. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02185742
An Italian Multimodal Corpus: The Building Process

During the design of multimodal interaction environments, the use of a corpus of multimodal sentences is very important in order to achieve various tasks of multimodal interaction. In last decade, several researchers addressed the creation of multimodal corpora for English, French, and various other languages. However, from the analysis of these multimodal corpora, there clearly is a lack of multimodal corpora for Italian. This paper describes the building process of an Italian multimodal corpus. Starting from the manual analysis of multimedia dialogues, this process extracts different multimodal data, i.e. speech and gestures, which are used to generate grammar rules and to train the multimodal interpreter in order to set the framework for the multimodal corpus building. Following that, the set framework is used to annotate semi-automatically multimodal information, such as syntactic roles and semantics, on new dialogues to be included in the corpus.
Calcium modulates the generation of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate in human platelets by the activation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase.

We observed that more total inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) was formed when human platelets were stimulated with agonists (15-hydroxy-9,11-azo-prosta-5,13-dienoic acid or thrombin) in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ than in its absence. Analysis of the InsP3 by h.p.l.c. indicated that the increased InsP3 formed in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ was primarily the 1,3,4-trisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4)P3]. In addition, more inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) was formed in the presence of extracellular Ca2+. Experiments conducted with electrically permeabilized platelets demonstrated that conversion of [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 to [3H]InsP4 in platelets was Ca2+-dependent, with half-maximal conversion observed at approx. 2.5 microM-Ca2+. By contrast, dephosphorylation of [3H]InsP4 to [3H]Ins(1,3,4)P3 was not activated by Ca2+. A partially purified preparation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase from human platelets was found to be insensitive to Ca2+, but addition of calmodulin restored Ca2+-sensitivity to the kinase, increasing its activity about 5-fold. These results show that in human platelets the metabolism of Ins(1,4,5)P3 is regulated by Ca2+-calmodulin, and suggest that the metabolites of Ins(1,4,5)P3 may also have important second-messenger functions in platelets, and are consistent with the hypothesis that the activation of phospholipase C is not dependent on extracellular Ca2+.
A Comparative Method

Before developing a method that can be used for the cross-cultural and diachronic comparison of houses, I first need to contextualize the approach I use here within comparative studies in anthropology and related disciplines. The central methodology of comparative studies in anthropology is cross-cultural analysis, which has developed a powerful means for the evaluation of theoretically derived hypotheses through statistical tests of association among variables coded from discrete cultural units (e.g., Pasternak, Ember, and Ember 1976, discussed below). In contrast, the subject matter of this book is ethnographically described peasant households, houses, and communities, many of which display shared cultural features embodied in a small number of major civilizational patterns (e.g., Chinese, Islamic, Mesoamerican). Given the resulting potential for cultural similarity among some of my cases, there is less “sampling independence” in my data than is desired in traditional cross-cultural research (e.g., Naroll 1970). I am thus faced with an unusual set of methodological constraints that require me to depart in some ways from the conventional cross-cultural method. Most of what follows can be regarded as being comparative in orientation, rather than cross-cultural, strictly speaking, although I do make qualified use of some elements of traditional cross-cultural analysis.
ASMBS Position Statements

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) publishes position statements in response to numerous inquiries made to the society by patients, physicians, society members, hospitals, and others regarding a particular topic relevant to the field. In these statements, available data are summarized, and recommendations for treatment are made based on current knowledge, expert opinion, and published peer-reviewed scientific evidence available at the time. The ASMBS leadership also collaborates with other medical societies to develop and publish practice guidelines that are relevant to the care of the bariatric surgery patient. This chapter summarizes the current position statements of the ASMBS.
Breast cancer personalized medicine: challenges and opportunities.

The perplex-ing challenge of patient management for the clinician is re-ﬂected in the observation that among breast cancer patientswith similar disease (based on traditional histopathologicalmeasures) and similar therapeutic strategy, some patientswill be cured (and thereafter live a normal lifespan) whereasothers will progress to premature death. In fact, we nowrecognize that breast cancer is tremendously complex in itsmolecular pathogenesis, natural history, and biology.
Mechanisms of Cadmium Uptake, Translocation and Deposition in Plants

Cadmium (Cd) is of concern to agriculture because excessive consumption of Cd in contaminated food crops can lead to toxicities in animals, including humans. Toxicity from Cd in foods is rare, but has been observed in elderly, post-menopausal women in subsistence farm families in two countries (Japan and China) (Canadian Network of Toxicology Centres, 1995). Members of these poorly nourished families consumed large quantities of Cd-rich rice (Oryza sativa L.), which was grown locally on soils contaminated with high levels of Cd. Although these toxicity problems arose under very unusual circumstances, some individuals and groups are concerned also about Cd in food at much lower levels. This concern has caused several international organisations to consider regulations to limit the levels of Cd of food crops in international trade that tend to accumulate higher levels of Cd in their edible parts (e.g., durum wheat grain (Triticum durum Desf.), edible flax seeds (Linum usitatissimum L.), peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.), and sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus L.)) (Newhook, et al., 1994).
Adequacy of Plant-Based Proteins in Chronic Kidney Disease

Concerns regarding protein and amino acid deficiencies with plant-based proteins have precluded their use in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Many of these concerns were debunked years ago, but recommendations persist regarding the use of "high-biological value" (animal-based) proteins in CKD patients, which may contribute to worsening of other parameters such as blood pressure, metabolic acidosis, and hyperphosphatemia. Plant-based proteins are sufficient in meeting both quantity and quality requirements. Those eating primarily plant-based diets have been observed to consume approximately 1.0 g/kg/day of protein, or more. CKD patients have been seen to consume 0.7-0.9 g/kg/day of mostly plant-based protein without any negative effects. Furthermore, those substituting animal-based proteins for plant-based proteins have shown reductions in severity of hypertension, hyperphosphatemia, and metabolic acidosis. Plant-based proteins, when consumed in a varied diet, are not only nutritionally adequate but have pleiotropic effects which may favor their use in CKD patients.
Intraluminal duodenal diverticulum. A rare cause of acute pancreatitis.

Intraluminal duodenal diverticulum, or windsock web of the duodenum, is a rare congenital abnormality. It is frequently associated with other congenital abnormalities and when seen roentgenographically has an unmistakable appearance. Patients frequently present with vague abdominal complaints suggesting partial obstruction or peptic ulcer disease. Only rarely does the abnormality present with acute pancreatitis. The possibility of this entity should be considered when the other more common causes of pancreatitis have been ruled out. The web must be surgically corrected to prevent recurrence of the pancreatitis.
Holistic Energy Management with μProcessor Co-Optimization in Fully Integrated Battery-Less IoTs

Fully integrating on-chip power management modules and microprocessor into a system-on-a-chip (SoC) provides many benefits including lower cost and higher levels of optimization, especially for battery-less energy harvesting operation. However, previous studies have only focused on optimization of individual module, e.g. power converter. There is a lack of systematic optimization of energy efficiency considering microprocessor, regulator, and harvester. This paper performs a holistic study on power efficiency of the whole energy harvesting system including solar cells, on-chip voltage regulators and microprocessors. An optimal scheduling and operation strategy is proposed for achieving the best efficiency and system level performance while avoiding local minimum as in conventional approach. We show that the minimum energy point is different from conventional approaches without a holistic view of the system. We demonstrated the study and proposed scheme using a battery-less solar energy harvesting system and a 65nm fully integrated test chip with 20% additional energy savings.
Investment Policy Design, Process and Implementation in Kosovo

This paper examines the role of the different policy actors in the field of investment policy in Kosovo, within a broader discussion of investment policies adopted by the Western Balkan countries in attempting to establish an attractive environment for investments. The paper argues that fragile democratic process, weak rule of law and widespread corruption continue to operate as strong repellents to potential investors. More concerted reform process to include a multitude of stakeholders is required to design more comprehensive policies that will not serve particular group interests but would facilitate participation of a broader set of actors and consequently, provide more conducive environment for the implementation of agreed policies. Better cooperation among policy actors is necessary to both improve the policy design and policy implementation intended to create more favourable investment environment in Kosovo.
Assessment of Favorable (F) Versus Unfavorable (U) Early Stage Hodgkin’s Disease (HD); the Stanford V + Radiotherapy (RT) Experience.

Early stage favorable HD is defined at Stanford and most US centers as stage I/II A and a mediastinal mass ratio (MMR) 10 cm (2 mediastinal and 5 nodal). At a median followup (f/u) of 5.5 years (y) the freedom from progression (FFP) was 96% with an overall survival (OS) of 98%. Stage I/II patients with MMR >1/3 of the intrathoracic diameter (n = 54) were treated with 12 weeks of Stanford V chemotherapy and 36 Gy RT to sites ≥5 cm. In this large MMR group the FFP and OS were 92% at a median f/u of 8 y. Other groups (EORTC, GHSG, NCI-C and GELA) have stratified early stage patients as favorable (F) and unfavorable (U) based on several risk factors. In addition to MMR and symptoms, these systems include age, # of nodal sites, sedimentation rate (ESR), extranodal lesions and in the GELA, elements of the international prognostic score for advanced HD. Phase III clinical trials have employed different therapies for F and U early stage pt based on these factors. We therefore retrospectively applied these factors to our “favorable” Stanford V pt to determine if they were prognostic as shown. ifferences in FFP and OS were significant using EORTC criteria. Notably, the majority of our pt were U (including all from Kaiser) according to GHSG criteria. Among 5 relapsed pt, 4 had ≥ 3 nodal sites and 3 had ESR ≥50. All relapses were in the RT field, one combined with distant disease. Secondary therapy was successful in 4 pts although one transplant-related death occurred. In conclusion, stage I-IIA pts with MMR