cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Positron potential and wave function in LaFeAsO

We report calculations of the positron potential and wave function in LaFeAsO. These calculations show that the positron wave function does sample the entire unit cell, although it is largest in the interstices of the La layer adjacent to As atoms. The implication is that annihilation correlation of annihilation radiation is a viable probe of the Fermi surfaces in this material. The results also apply to positive muons and indicate that these will be localized in the La layer adjacent to As.
The University of Tennessee experience with the Indigo 830e laser device for the minimally invasive treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: interim analysis.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common benign tumor in men and is responsible for urinary symptoms in the majority of men older than 50 years of age. Although transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the gold standard, its complications have impacted upon its utility. As a consequence, new pharmacologic and minimally invasive approaches to the management of BPH have been developed. One minimally invasive approach that employs interstitial laser coagulation by the Indigo 830e LaserOptic system heats the prostate to the point of irreversible necrosis while preserving the urethral lining, potentially resulting in fewer complications. To test the efficacy of this device we evaluated the interim results obtained in 25 patients treated for BPH. Parameters evaluated included the AUA symptom score, uroflowometry, post-void residual, and prostate size. Following treatment, patients were discharged home and the catheter was removed within 3–7 days. Patients were assessed at 1 month and at subsequent 3-month intervals following the procedure using a questionnaire, AUA symptom score, and uroflowometry. The results of the paired t-tests demonstrated a significant increase in the maximal and average flow rates from baseline. The mean baseline maximal flow rate was 8.3 ml/s and increased to 10, 12.7, 14.1, and 12.0 ml/s at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months, respectively, and the mean baseline average flow rate was 4.4 ml/s and increased to 5.3, 6.0, 6.6, and 6.2 ml/s at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months, respectively. The AUA symptom scores decreased from 20.2 to 9.8 at 9 months. There was no intraoperative complication. Six patients developed transient retention. No patient developed bladder neck contractures, urinary incontinence, impotence, or urinary tract infections. One patient developed retrograde ejaculation and one patient required retreatment by TURP. Hence, improvements in symptom scores and voiding parameters suggest that the laser interstitial coagulation prostatectomy is safe and effective for the treatment of BPH.
USMLE step 1 scores as a significant predictor of future board passage in pediatrics.

Purpose To explore the relationship(s) between USMLE, In-Training Exam, and American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) board-certifying exam scores within a Pediatric residency-training program. Methods Data were abstracted from records of graduating residents from the Pediatric residency program at the University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville from 1999 to 2005. Seventy (70) residents were identified and their files reviewed for the following information: USMLE Step 1 and 2 scores, in-training exam results and eventual board scores as reported by the ABP. Correlation and regression analyses were performed and compared across all tests. Results The correlation coefficients between the three types of tests were all statistically significant. Using logistic regression, however, only USMLE Step 1 scores (compared to Step 2) had a statistically significant association with board performance. Interestingly, none of the three in-training exam scores had any additional impact on predicting board performance given one's USMLE Step 1 score. USMLE Step 1 scores greater than 220 were associated with nearly a 95% passage rate on the board-certifying exam. Conclusions The data suggests that performance on USMLE Step 1 is an important predictor of a resident's chances of passing the pediatric boards. This information, which is available when a resident initiates training, can be used to identify those at risk of not passing the boards. While Step 1 scores should not be used as a sole determinant in the recruiting process, individual learning plans can be developed and implemented early in training to maximize one's ability to pass the certifying exam.
The catalytic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate by thermally prepared copolymers of lysine and histidine.

Abstract Copolymers of lysine and histidine were prepared under simulated prebiotic conditions by heating the dry monomers at 195 ° for 1.5 hr. The percentage of histidine incorporated into the polymers (2–25%) was controllable by the varying of the proportions in the reactants (5–50%). The polymers catalyzed the hydrolysis of p -nitrophenyl acetate (NPA); the level of activity (pH 6.8, 1 mM NPA, 30 °) per unit weight of polymer (1.0 mg/ml) was directly proportional to the histidine content of the polymer. Activity values (1.6–13.0 μmoles of p -nitrophenol produced per min per g of polymer) were appreciably higher than those reported previously for copolymers of aspartic acid and histidine (0.5–2.8 μmoles per min per g). Samples of thermal polylysine gave values of 1.3–2.2. The results are interpreted to broaden the experimental basis for concepts concerning the abiotic origins of proteins and enzymes.
Integrated access to distributed data and information services in astrophysics and the space sciences

Abstract Scientific advances do not necessarily follow strict research discipline boundaries. In the area of astronomy and space science, data from multiple missions and observatories operating in various parts of electromagnetic spectrum are necessary in order to answer fundamental scientific questions. However, a researcher attempting to locate, understand, and use data from a variety of sources now faces serious difficulties. Many datasets are available on the Internet but finding the ones of relevance, especially outside of one's immediate field of expertise, is difficult. The metadata used to annotate datasets in different fields can be unfamiliar and obscure, even though the same basic data attributes are being described. Once data has been located, it is often in different and incompatible formats. We are now developing a distributed information service for the space sciences – ISAIA – which covers many different subdisciplines with datasets of common interest and which will improve the researcher's abilities to locate and use data from a wide variety of on-line resources. This service builds upon experience in implementing a data location service for astronomy, Astrobrowse. The key to implementing such services is the concept of profiles. Profiles are a generalization of data dictionaries: they define the metadata labels and content for information resources and provide mappings of those labels onto site or service-specific terms and query protocols. In ISAIA profiles may be hierarchical – general at the highest levels, with sub-profiles for certain disciplines or types of instrumentation. In practical terms, a distributed system such as ISAIA will only succeed if existing data providers can make their systems and services available to it with a minimum amount of effort. ISAIA must be “light weight”, imposing no constraints on how an organization manages its data services internally. It must support participation at different levels, from simple registration of a service to full support for query and response interpretation. In addition, ISAIA must preserve the identity and visibility of the participating services. This is important for end-users (who must understand the provenance of the data they are using) and the providers (who need to understand their users' needs and the demands upon their resources).
Sugar Composition of Cucumber Cell Walls During Fruit Development

The sugar composition of pickling cucumber cell walls was analyzed in seven cucumber sizes. Relative to total cell wall sugars, glucose did not change, while the other major neutral sugars, galactose, xylose and mannose, underwent relatively small declines during fruit development. The ratios of galacturonic acid/rhamnose and galacturonic acid/arabinose showed large increases during fruit growth, which indicated that pectin structure may change. Pectin methylation in the mesocarp tissue increased from 35 to 64% as cucumber fruit matured. A positive correlation was observed between the firmness of cucumber mesocarp tissue and the total amount of cell wall sugars in the fresh tissue. Cucumber peel tissue contained 4 to 5-fold higher sugar concentrations than either the mesocarp or endocarp tissues.
Surface states on the (001) and (100) surfaces of equi-atomic CuAu I

Abstract We have observed for the first time two Tamm-type surface states on the (001) and (100) surfaces of equi-atomic CuAu I, at binding energies of about 1.5 eV and 6.2 eV. By measuring their dispersions in k | - space we have located symmetry points in the surface Brillouin zones, which has enabled us to deduce the lattice spacings in the surface layer. We find that these values are very similar to those of the bulk.
Transactional file systems can be fast

Transactions ensure simple and correct handling of concurrency and failures but are often considered too expensive for use in file systems. This paper argues that performance is not a barrier to running transactions. It presents a simple mechanism that substantially lowers the cost of read-only transactions (which constitute the bulk of operations in a file system). The approach is inexpensive: it requires modest additional storage, but storage is cheap. It causes read-only transactions to run slightly in the past, but guarantees that they nevertheless see a consistent state.
The glycan domain of thrombopoietin (TPO) acts in trans to enhance secretion of the hormone and other cytokines

Thrombopoietin (TPO), the primary regulator of platelet production, is composed of an amino-terminal 152 amino acids, sufficient for activity, and a carboxyl-terminal region rich in carbohydrates (183 residues) that enhances secretion of the molecule. Full-length TPO is secreted at levels 10-20-fold greater than truncated TPO. By introducing into mammalian cells a novel cDNA encoding the TPO secretory leader linked to its carboxyl-terminal domain (TPO glycan domain (TGD)), we tested whether TGD could function in trans to enhance secretion of TPO. The artificial TGD was secreted, inactive in proliferation assays, and did not inhibit TPO activity. However, when co-transfected with a cDNA encoding truncated TPO, TGD enhanced secretion 4-fold, measured by specific bioassay and immunoassay. TGD also enhanced secretion of granulocyte monocyte colony-stimulating factor and stem cell factor but did not affect the production of erythropoietin, interleukin-3, growth hormone, or of full-length TPO. To localize TGD function, we added an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal to TGD and, separately, deleted the secretory leader. Deletion of the secretory leader attenuated the secretory function of TGD, whereas addition of the ER retention signal did not alter its function. To investigate the physiologic role of TGD in folding and proteasomal protection, we tested full-length and truncated TPO in assays of protein refolding, and we examined protein stability in the presence of proteasome inhibitors. We found that truncated TGD re-folds readily and that proteasome-mediated degradation contributes to the poor secretion of truncated TPO. We conclude that TGD enhances secretion of TPO and can additionally function as an inter-molecular chaperone, in part because of its ability to prevent degradation of the hormone. The cellular location of TGD action is likely to be within the ER or earlier in the secretory pathway.
Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is appropriate first line therapy for patients with optimally debulked ovarian cancer.

Abstract The intraperitoneal administration of antineoplastic agents in the front-line treatment of advanced ovarian cancer is a rational strategy, based on anatomic and pharmacokinetic considerations, as well as an understanding of the natural history of the malignancy. Phase 1 and 2 clinical trial data have supported the potential role for this unique method of drug delivery as a safe and effective management approach in this clinical setting. Two randomized phase 3 trials have demonstrated a favorable impact of cisplatin-based front-line intraperitoneal therapy on survival for patients with ‘optimal residual’ advanced ovarian cancer. However, for several reasons, additional investigative efforts are required to convince oncologists the time, effort and potential toxicity of intraperitoneal therapy justify its routine use as initial therapy of this malignancy.
Study of two-component colloidal particles at air/water interfaces using Langmuir–Blodgett techniques

Abstract One and two-component colloidal particles, sulfate-treated polystyrene (S-PS), aldehyde-sulfate (AS-PS), and carboxylate-treated polystyrene particles (C-PS), were assembled at air/water interfaces by injecting particle dispersions. Surface pressure–area ( π – A ) isotherms were measured using the Langmuir–Blodgett technique. The isotherms for S-PS particles are reversible and independent of barrier speeds during the compression/relaxation cycles. The normalized isotherms of S-PS/AS-PS and S-PS/C-PS particle mixtures lie between those of single species. In addition, the self-assembled structures of particles were transferred onto mica substrates and characterized using a laser scanning confocal microscope. The morphology of the two-component layer has the characteristics of both single component layers with no significant phase separation. Finally, we have explored the potential applicability of a purely additive group contribution analysis to surface pressure–area isotherms.
Locating the Peaks of Least-Energy Solutions to a Quasilinear Elliptic Neumann Problem

Abstract In this paper we study the shape of least-energy solutions to the quasilinear problem e m Δ m u − u m − 1 + f ( u ) = 0 with homogeneous Neumann boundary condition. We use an intrinsic variation method to show that as e → 0 + , the global maximum point P e of least-energy solutions goes to a point on the boundary ∂ Ω at the rate of o ( e ) and this point on the boundary approaches to a point where the mean curvature of ∂ Ω achieves its maximum. We also give a complete proof of exponential decay of least-energy solutions.
Monitoring canopy chemistry with HyspIRI and other planned imaging spectrometers

A significant literature has developed over the past 20 years that demonstrates that imaging spectroscopy can quantify concentrations of plant pigments, water, nitrogen, and structural carbohydrates (cell wall material and other dry matter in plants, e.g., cellulose and lignin) based on physical principles of spectroscopy rather than empirical relationships that are derived using multiband data. Several governments have announced plans to launch imaging spectrometers over the next few years. With exception of NASA's planned HyspIRI mission (http://hyspiri.jpl.nasa.gov/), all will be sampling missions, limited to a few acquisitions per day and some will only measure the visible to near-infrared region and not the full solar spectrum through the shortwave-infrared. The availability of these data will facilitate far greater understanding of biogeochemical cycles, species distributions, and monitoring the health of the ecosystem.
Natural supersymmetric model with MeV dark matter

It has previously been proposed that annihilating dark matter particles with MeV-scale masses could be responsible for the flux of 511 keV photons observed from the region of the Galactic Bulge. The conventional wisdom, however, is that it is very challenging to construct a viable particle physics model containing MeV dark matter. In this paper, we challenge this conclusion by describing a simple and natural supersymmetric model in which the lightest supersymmetric particle naturally has a MeV-scale mass and the other phenomenological properties required to generate the 511 keV emission. In particular, the small ($\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$) effective couplings between dark matter and the standard model fermions required in this scenario naturally lead to radiative corrections that generate MeV-scale masses for both the dark matter candidate and the mediator particle.
Early postoperative enteral feeding following major upper gastrointestinal surgery

For a variety of reasons, enteral feeding is frequently delayed following major abdominal surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the feasibility and tolerance of early jejunal feeding following major upper gastrointestinal surgery. Beginning on postoperative day 1, patients (n = 167) received a full-strength enteral formula at the rate of 25 ml/hr through a jejunal feeding tube. Diets were advanced to the calculated target rate (25 kcal/kg/day) by postoperative day 4. Complications of tube feeding, calories received, and patient symptoms were recorded daily. There were no major complications or deaths resulting from placement of a jejunal tube or from early enteral feeding. Patients had abdominal symptoms such as cramping, distention, nausea, and diarrhea on 9%, 18%, 4%, and 24% of all feeding days, respectively. The majority of these symptoms, with the exception of diarrhea, were graded as mild. Patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic malignancy had significantly more diarrhea than patients undergoing esophagectomy or gastrectomy. Despite these differences in symptoms, patients received an average of 78% of their targeted caloric goal by postoperative day 4 and maintained this level throughout the study. Early enteral feeding for patients undergoing esophageal, gastric, or pancreatic resections is both safe and feasible despite the occurrence of predominantly mild gastrointestinal symptoms.
Micromechanics of an Extrusion in High-Cycle Fatigue With Creep

Extrusions and intrusions often are sites of fatigue cracks. The extent of extrusions is important in fatigue crack initiation. Metals often are subject to fatigue loadings at elevated temperatures. At temperatures below half of the melting temperature slip is the main mechanism of inelastic deformation. In this study, an aluminium polycrystal loaded in this temperature range is considered. A most favorably oriented crystal located at a free surface of a f.c.c. polycrystal subject to creep under cyclic tension and compression of high-cycle fatigue is considered
III-V material platform PICs

Photonic integrated circuits have applications in deployed communication networks and have promise for entirely new applications. Integration of passive and active devices monolithically requires spatially localized gain. Approaches for integration of electrically injected photonic crystal membrane lasers with photonic crystal waveguides will be discussed. Such nano-photonic integrated circuits may have promising senor applications. Vertical cavity photonic integrated circuits (VCPICs) based on transverse coupled 2-D laser arrays may enable image processing and will also be discussed.
Bifunctional chiral synthons via biochemical methods. 5. Preparation of (S)-ethyl hydrogen-3-hydroxyglutarate, key intermediate to (R)-4-amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid and L-carnitine.

Abstract Microbial enantioselective hydrolysis of diethyl-3-hydroxyglutarate afforded (S)-ethyl hydrogen-3-hydroxyglutarate, which was transformed into (R)-4-amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid and L-carnitine, via a Curtius and Hunsdiecker rearrangement, respectively.
Synthesis of Comb Block Copolymers by ROMP, ATRP, and ROP and Their Assembly in the Solid State

This article reports the synthesis of comb block copolymers with backbones from exo-norbornene esters via ring-opening metathesis polymerizations (ROMP) and arms composed of polystyrene and polylactide. These polymers represent an exciting new architecture of polymers that have applications in the fabrication of photonic materials and nanofluidic systems. The living polymerization of block copolymers by ROMP with degrees of polymerization up to 2000 units and polydispersities less than 1.2 are described. This result is important as it extends the range of block copolymers that can be synthesized by ROMP to include those with high molecular weights. Comb block copolymers were grown from these block copolymers as they displayed initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of lactide and the atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene. Comb block copolymers with polystyrene and polylactide arms were synthesized with molecular weights up to 63 000 000 g mol-1. The polystyrene arms had narrow polydispers...
High-resolution DTI of a localized volume using 3D single-shot diffusion-weighted STimulated echo-planar imaging (3D ss-DWSTEPI).

Diffusion tensor MRI (DTI) using conventional single-shot (SS) 2D diffusion-weighted (DW)-EPI is subject to severe susceptibility artifacts. Multishot DW imaging (DWI) techniques can reduce these distortions, but they generally suffer from artifacts caused by motion-induced phase errors. Parallel imaging can also reduce the distortions if the sensitivity profiles of the receiver coils allow a sufficiently high reduction factor for the desired field of view (FOV). A novel 3D DTI technique, termed 3D single-shot STimulated EPI (3D ss-STEPI), was developed to acquire high-resolution DW images of a localized region. The new technique completes k-space acquisition of a limited 3D volume after a single diffusion preparation. Because the DW magnetization is stored in the longitudinal direction until readout, it undergoes T1 rather than T2 decay. Inner volume imaging (IVI) is used to limit the imaging volume. This reduces the time required for EPI readout of each complete kx-ky plane, and hence reduces T decay during the readout and T1 decay between the readout of each kz. 3D ss-STEPI images appear to be free of severe susceptibility and motion artifacts. 3D ss-STEPI allows high-resolution DTI of limited volumes of interest, such as localized brain regions, cervical spinal cord, optic nerve, and other extracranial organs. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
RELATIONSHIPS OF TSUNAMI GENERATION AND AN EARTHQUAKE SOURCE

This paper presents a theory of tsunami generation and propagation on a spherically symmetric, self-gravitating, elastic Earth in terms of normal modes. We predict the character of newborn tsunamis at regional far field distances from a simply parameterized moment tensor point source with step function time history. Tsunami eigenfunctions are shown to penetrate the Earth from tens of kilometers at 2, 000 second period to tens of meters at 20 second period. This behavior explains why the longest tsunami periods are the only ones influenced by crust and mantle structure and why they are preferentially excited by submarine earthquakes. We find that large tsunamis need sizable parent earthquakes because over 96% of their energy is concentrated in the ocean. This makes the entire solid Earth virtually a node for tsunami generation. The excitation of tsunami modes is strongly dependent upon the moment, mechanism and depth of faulting. Calculated tsunami energy, ET, can vary by a factor of 100 for sources of equal moment within 30 kilometers of the sea floor. Maximum ET for dip slip and strike slip faulting with moment M0=1020N·m is 1.5×1013 and 1.1×1012 joules. With mechanism and depth fixed, this source model predicts that ET is proportional to M02. The ratio of tsunami to radiated seismic energy is less than 1% for all but the largest events. We believe that this theory coupled with a seismic source recovery technique could be a realistic basis for the forecasting of potentially dangerous tsunamis in real time.
Community College Institutional Effectiveness: Perspectives of Campus Stakeholders

This study addresses a campus institutional effectiveness (IE) process and its influence on faculty and staff. Although a comprehensive, rational IE process appeals to campus leaders, this study found that it creates significant faculty and staff challenges. Campus leaders, faculty, and staff differ in their (a) knowledge and support of IE; (b) participation in IE process activities; and (c) perceptions of IE strengths, weaknesses, and usefulness. Needed IE data are typically available to campus stakeholders except for student learning outcomes data across all academic programs. Administrators, faculty, and staff agree that a lack of time is the major IE impediment. IE expectations may be too challenging for campus participants, and faculty and staff need more institutional support to analyze and use existing data. Future research should focus on faculty and staff aspects of community college effectiveness.
Alzheimer's disease in women

The progressive and irreversible dementia of Alzheimer's disease affects both men and women, but women constitute the majority of persons with the disease. Women may also have relatively more language impairment and a tendency for greater psychiatric involvement. Diagnosis is founded on the recognition of clinical features and exclusion of other causes of dementia. The etiology of the disease remains unknown. Although a variety of genetic factors is increasingly suspected, no diagnostic genetic test is currently recommended. Recent basic science and clinical data suggest the possibility that estrogen may be helpful both in preventing and in treating Alzheimer's disease, and these potential effects may encourage the use of estrogen in postmenopausal women. Standard treatment for Alzheimer's disease involves counseling and support, as well as consideration of tacrine, a cholinergic agent that may stabilize the course in some patients. Until the cause of the disease is elucidated, however, the development of curative treatment is unlikely.
Can it Make a Difference? Technology and the Social Studies

(2000). Can it Make a Difference? Technology and the Social Studies. Theory & Research in Social Education: Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 493-501.
Plasma Myeloperoxidase Levels in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure

Increased oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are commonly observed in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). The relation between myeloperoxidase (MPO), an inflammatory marker with mechanistic links to plaque vulnerability and abnormal ventricular remodeling, and degrees of severity in chronic HF has not been reported. Plasma MPO levels were measured in 105 normal controls (no history of HF or left ventricular dysfunction) and 102 patients with chronic systolic HF (left ventricular ejection fraction
Montagna Symposium 2013—Light and Skin: How Light Sustains, Damages, Treats, Images and Modifies Skin Biology

The 62nd Annual Montagna Symposium on the Biology of Skin, “Light and Skin: How Light Sustains, Damages, Treats, Images and Modifies Skin Biology,” was held from October 10 to 14, 2013, in Stevenson, Washington. Life and skin evolved under sunlight; dermatology will forever be entwined with photomedicine. We routinely use microscopy, optical diagnostics, phototherapy, photodynamic therapy, and lasers while dealing with melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer, photosensitivity disorders, and photoaging. Moreover, there are misunderstandings, recent surprises, mysteries, and challenges. How do the protean cutaneous and systemic effects of light really happen? Exactly what is healthy and unhealthy about light? Can these effects be separated? What is the ideal sunscreen? What can we “see” inside live skin? Which technologies are pushing the limits for therapy and diagnosis? How to “translate” promising research all the way to practical impact? The Symposium was organized by Molly Kulesz-Martin and chaired by Rox Anderson with Session Chairs David Fisher, Barbara A. Gilchrest, and Steven Jacques.
On the design of the bandpass filters in harmonic phase MRI

In this paper we improve the extraction of harmonic images from tagged MR images of the heart. Using simulations, we study the shapes of the spectra of harmonic images and their relation to the heart motion. The filters used to extract the harmonic images are designed based on the shape of the spectra and tuned using simulations. The design also considers additive noise and interference from other harmonic images.
Visualization and database tools for YAC and cosmid contig construction

Recently, construction of physical maps based on YAC and cosmid contigs has become increasingly common, since these maps serve as a fine-scale ordering basis for gene searches. We describe a combination of visualization and database tools that address this problem. The YAC-Cosmid contig tool is a map visualization and editing tool designed for large data sets. The Physical Map Assembler (PMA) uses a rule-based interval-ordering approach to infer ordering from experimental data. It is implemented as an active object-oriented database. The PMA visualizer displays interval orderings in a comprehensible fashion, and thus helps the scientist resolve conflicts and ambiguities identified by PMA. Both visualization tools let the user query the database to see the details behind the picture. We have found that a tight integration of visualization and analysis tools with the database enhances their usability, and speeds up the dual tasks of analyzing and understanding the experimental data. The use of our tools is illustrated by examples from a gene search at the University of Michigan Genome Center. >
Regulation of CLOCK and MOP4 by Nuclear Hormone Receptors in the Vasculature: A Humoral Mechanism to Reset a Peripheral Clock

Circadian clock genes are expressed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and in peripheral tissues to regulate cyclically physiological processes. Synchronization of peripheral oscillators is thought to involve humoral signals, but the mechanisms by which these are mediated and integrated are poorly understood. We report a hormone-dependent interaction of the nuclear receptors, RAR alpha and RXR alpha, with CLOCK and MOP4. These interactions negatively regulate CLOCK/MOP4:BMAL1-mediated transcriptional activation of clock gene expression in vascular cells. MOP4 exhibits a robust rhythm in the vasculature, and retinoic acid can phase shift Per2 mRNA rhythmicity in vivo and in serum-induced smooth muscle cells in vitro, providing a molecular mechanism for hormonal control of clock gene expression. We propose that circadian or periodic availability of nuclear hormones may play a critical role in resetting a peripheral vascular clock.
Learning invariant features using the Transformed Indian Buffet Process

Identifying the features of objects becomes a challenge when those features can change in their appearance. We introduce the Transformed Indian Buffet Process (tIBP), and use it to define a nonparametric Bayesian model that infers features that can transform across instantiations. We show that this model can identify features that are location invariant by modeling a previous experiment on human feature learning. However, allowing features to transform adds new kinds of ambiguity: Are two parts of an object the same feature with different transformations or two unique features? What transformations can features undergo? We present two new experiments in which we explore how people resolve these questions, showing that the tIBP model demonstrates a similar sensitivity to context to that shown by human learners when determining the invariant aspects of features.
Corn gluten meal—a natural preemergence herbicide: Effect on vegetable seedling survival and weed cover

Weeds are considered the most important pest group for farmers interested in lowering external inputs and avoiding synthetic chemical use. Corn gluten meal (CGM) is a natural preemergence weed control used in turf grass, which reduces germination of many broadleaf and grass weeds. The objective of this study was to investigate weed cover and vegetable seedling survival in field plots when CGM is incorporated before planting. Three studies were conducted, with three replications for each study. Five rates of powdered CGM (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 g m -2 ) were weighed and incorporated into the top 5-8 cm of soil in recently disked 1.5-m by 2.7-m plots. Seeds of eight vegetables were each planted in rows 1.4 m long and 0.3 m apart. Seedling survival and percentage of weed cover were recorded for each plot. Corn gluten meal at rates of 100, 200, 300, and 400 g m -2 reduced mean weed cover by 50, 74, 84, and 82%, respectively, compared with the control. Seedling survival at 100 g CGM per m 2 was reduced by 67% for 'Comanche' onion, 35% for 'Ruby Queen' beet, 41% for Red Baron' radish, 71% for Provider' bean, 73% for Scarlet Nantes' carrot, 59% for 'Maestro' pea, and 68% for 'Black Seeded Simpson' lettuce, compared with the control. Seedling survival for 'Daybreak' sweet corn was not reduced by rates of 100 or 200 g CGM per m 2 , but was reduced by 26% at a rate of 300 g CGM per m 2 compared with the control. Because of the reduction in seedling survival at even the lowest rate of CGM (100 g m -2 ), direct seeding of these vegetables into soil into which CGM has been incorporated is not advisable. Using transplants may be an alternative that takes advantage of the herbicidal effects of CGM and the nitrogen it provides.
Early events in canine distemper demyelinating encephalomyelitis

The early neuropathological development of demyelinating Canine Distemper Encephalomyelitis (CDE) was studied in SPF dogs. Neural tissues were examined up to 30 days post infection (PI). Three phases of activity were observed. The primary event (first observed 8 days PI) was a nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis associated with the initiation of central nervous system (CNS) infection by virus-laden lymphocytes. At 24 days PI noninflammatory demyelination occurred in well defined, subependymal foci. Cell fusion and syncytia formation accompanied this early demyelination. The third phase, found at day 30 PI in one dog showing signs of recovery, was a second wave of nonsuppurative inflammation. The initial encephalomyelitis was widely disseminated throughout the CNS but subsequent demyelination appeared to be initiated from within the ventricular system. Myelin was phagocytosed by endogeneous CNS macrophages often infected with Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). The possible importance of viral induced cell fusion as well as immune factors in the mechanism of demyelination are discussed.
Nontarget deposition and losses of oxamyl in surface runoff from flatwoods citrus production areas.

—Pesticide export from citrus production areas is a concern in the Indian River Lagoon drainage basin (Florida, USA). These studies evaluated nontarget deposition and losses of the insecticide oxamyl from typical flatwoods citrus production areas in South Florida. Deposition was estimated with the use of Teflon® spray targets placed across nontarget water furrows during spray applications. After oxamyl applications, surface water runoff events were generated with an overhead irrigation system to simulate relatively low intensity rainfall. Results indicated that 0.3 to 20.0% of the applied active ingredient landed on nontarget water furrow surfaces and that the majority of oxamyl loss occurs in runoff events shortly following application. Mean concentrations were greater during the first runoff events, ranging from 34.7 to 47.0 μg/L. Total losses during the first several hours of each set of runoff events ranged from 0.1 to 3.8% of the total active ingredient applied. Similar losses can be expected when rainfall occurs shortly after application for other pesticides with similar chemical properties and application methods.
PLASMA INSULIN RESPONSE TO ORAL AND INTRAVENOUS GLUCOSE ADMINISTRATION.

This paper describes a new method for evaluating glucose metabolism in man using an oral glucose load. The procedure permits the calculation of a blood glucose disappearance rate constant (K) and thereby makes it possible to compare quantitatively the response to oral and intravenous glucose administration in a given individual. Ten metabolically normal adult humans were studied under carefully controlled conditions. Each received similar amounts (20 g) of glucose both orally and intravenously (2–7 days apart) by constant infusion for 1 hr. The effects on blood glucose disappearance rate constants (K) and plasma insulin concentrations (immunoassay) during and for 1 hr following the infusion were compared. Blood glucose concentrations and K values with the 2 routes of glucose administration were similar. In contrast, plasma insulin responses showed a significant difference: oral glucose resulted in a significant and sustained rise, whereas intravenous glucose was associated with a smaller and transient inc...
Are There Scenarios When the Use of Non-Placebo-Control Groups in Experimental Trial Designs Increase Expected Value to Society?

Background. Despite the benefits of the placebo-controlled trial design, it is limited by its inability to quantify total benefits and harms. Such trials, for example, are not designed to detect an...
Spreaders and Sponges define metastasis in lung cancer: A Markov chain Monte Carlo Mathematical Model

The classic view of metastatic cancer progression is that it is a unidirectional process initiated at the primary tumor site, progressing to variably distant metastatic sites in a fairly predictable, though not perfectly understood, fashion. A Markov chain Monte Carlo mathematical approach can determine a pathway diagram that classifies metastatic tumors as 9spreaders9 or 9sponges9 and orders the timescales of progression from site to site. In light of recent experimental evidence highlighting the potential significance of self-seeding of primary tumors, we use a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach, based on large autopsy data sets, to quantify the stochastic, systemic, and often multi-directional aspects of cancer progression. We quantify three types of multi-directional mechanisms of progression: (i) self-seeding of the primary tumor; (ii) re-seeding of the primary tumor from a metastatic site (primary re-seeding); and (iii) re-seeding of metastatic tumors (metastasis re-seeding). The model shows that the combined characteristics of the primary and the first metastatic site to which it spreads largely determine the future pathways and timescales of systemic disease. For lung cancer, the main `spreaders9 of systemic disease are the adrenal gland and kidney, whereas the main `sponges9 are regional lymph nodes, liver, and bone. Lung is a significant self-seeder, although it is a `sponge9 site with respect to progression characteristics.
Wildland fire management and air quality in the southern Sierra Nevada: Using the Lion Fire as a case study with a multi-year perspective on PM2.5 impacts and fire policy

Abstract Management of fire is an important and controversial policy issue. Active fire suppression has led to a backlog of fuels, limited the ecological benefits of fire, and reduced short-term smoke impacts likely delaying these emissions to future generations over a larger spatial extent. Smoke impacts can be expected to increase as fire size and intensity increase and the fuel backlog is consumed; whether through reintroduction of fire under desirable conditions or through stand replacing fire. Land Management Agencies would like to increase the use of naturally ignited fires to burn during favorable conditions as a way to reduce catastrophic fires. This study provides information about the levels of air quality impacts expected from these types of fires and discusses some of the policy controversies of managed fire that propagate inconsistencies between agencies and enter the public discourse. The Lion Fire, a primarily low intensity 8,370 ha fire that was extensively monitored for Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns (PM 2.5 ), is used to quantify impacts to air quality. PM 2.5 monitoring sites are used to assess exposure, public health impacts, and subsequently quantify annual air quality during a year with a fire that is within the historic normal fire size and intensity for this area. Ground level PM 2.5 impacts were found to be localized with 99% of the hourly Air Quality Index readings in the moderate or good category for the sites impacted by the fire. PM 2.5 concentrations at sites nearest the fire were below annual federal air quality standards for PM 2.5 with annual 98th percentile at the most impacted sites (Johnsondale, Kernville, and Camp Nelson) of 35.0, 34.0, and 28.0 μg m –3 respectively. Smoke impacts to PM 2.5 concentrations were not found to reach the populated Central Valley. The findings suggest that this type of fire can be implemented with minimal public health impacts thus allowing an opportunity for air and fire managers to alter policy to allow additional burning in an area with severe anthropogenic air pollution and where frequent widespread fire is both beneficial and inevitable. The more extensive air quality impacts documented with large high intensity fire may be averted by embracing the use of fire to prevent unwanted high intensity burns. A widespread increase in the use of fire for ecological benefit may provide the resiliency needed in Sierra Nevada forests as well as be the most beneficial to public health through the reduction of single dose exposure to smoke and limiting impacts spatially.
Secondary syphilis and suspected child abuse.

A 38-year-old Hispanic woman presented with a widespread papulosquamous eruption with accentuation on the palms and soles (Fig 1, A). Travel history was remarkable for a recent trip to her native country (Dominican Republic). Her 13-year-old son, who accompanied her on the trip, developed a similar rash after their return (Fig 1, B). In addition, the patient noted that her boyfriend, whom she was visiting in the Dominican Republic, had a rash when she arrived. The rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test produced negative findings whereas the skin biopsy specimen from the patient’s foot showed a psoriasiform lichenoid dermatitis teeming with spirochetes highlighted by a Steiner stain. After discussion with the laboratory about the RPR results, serial dilutions proved positive (prozone effect). At follow-up 4 days later, the son was evaluated for his rash. As expected, the patient’s fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test result was positive, but the son’s test finding was only minimally reactive.
Optimization-based trajectory planning of the human upper body

This paper presents studies of the coordination of human upper body voluntary movement. A minimum-jerk 3D model is used to obtain the desired path in Cartesian space, which is widely used in the prediction of human reach movement. Instead of inverse kinematics, a direct optimization approach is used to predict each joint's profile (a spline curve). This optimization problem has four cost function terms: (1) Joint displacement function that evaluates displacement of each joint away from its neutral position; (2) Inconsistency function, which is the joint rate change (first derivative) and predicted overall trend from the initial target point to the final target point; (3) The non-smoothness function of the trajectory, which is the second derivative of the joint trajectory; (4) The non-continuity function, which consists of the amplitudes of joint angle rates at the initial and final target points, in order to emphasize smooth starting and ending conditions. This direct optimization technique can be used for potentially any number of degrees of freedom (DOF) system and it reduces the cost associated with certain inverse kinematics approaches for resolving joint profiles. This paper presents a high redundant upper-body modeling with 15 DOFs. Illustrative examples are presented and an interface is set up to visualize the results.
Spider-Man, Hubris, and the Future of Security and Privacy

In her last article as editor in chief of IEEE Security a Privacy, Shari Lawrence Pfleeger looks closely at security and privacy in a societal context: how we got here, where we are now, and what we need to ensure that we use our great power responsibly.
Engendering the Mercantile Lineage: The Rise of the Female Chastity Cult in Late Ming Huizhou

This article argues that one important underlying factor in the formation of the female chastity cult in sixteenth-century Huizhou was its small-family/large-lineage structure, which was brought about by rapid commercialization. As the majority of Huizhou young men left home for business, often immediately after marriage, the age at which couples had their first child was relatively high. This demographic trend combined with the moderate average life span made the small nuclear family the norm, even as the natural increase in population augmented the size of the kinship settlement. Situated in single-couple nuclear households, wives of sojourning men tended to be relatively free from parental in-law monitoring of their sexuality. An effective way to assure the fidelity of these abandoned women was to appeal to the larger lineage. Sojourning merchants eagerly worked with home elders to enhance mercantile lineage culture, including control over women’s sexuality.
Do most polynomials generate a prime ideal

Abstract For which monomial supports do most sets of polynomials generate a prime ideal? We give necessary and sufficient conditions for the radical of the ideal to be prime over an algebraically closed field. In characteristic zero, the same conditions give primeness. As an application we show that under the same combinatorial conditions on Newton polytopes, the stable intersection of tropical hypersurfaces is connected through codimension one.
Reckoning with One’s Life: Numeracy, Life Course, and Signs of Modernity among the Conversos of Early Modern Castile

This article adds another dimension to the debate whether Jewish modernity originated with the Haskalah in eighteenth-century Germany or among the Sephardic Jews living in seventeenth-century Amsterdam. Noting that one element of modernity was rationalism, the author uses two commonly employed indices of rationalism (literacy and numeracy) to find that the most literate and numerate of Castile’s various socio-economic or ethnic groups were the Luso-conversos who settled in Castile in the seventeenth century—members of the Nacao, the group at the center of the debate over Amsterdam’s contribution to Jewish modernity. Another aspect of modernity involves an awareness of chronological time. In this respect as well members of the Nacao viewed their lives somewhat differently than did others. These traits, coupled with the well-documented skepticism and secularism of the group, point to marked quantifiable differences between the Sephardim and their Castilian and Portuguese contemporaries.
METAPHOR, METONYMY, AND CATEGORY STRUCTURE IN SEREER- SALOUM NOUN CLASSES

ABSTRACTIn this work I investigate cultural, historical and cognitive motivations for noun classification in Sereer-Saloum, an Atlantic language of the Senegambian language family. I use a prototype theory approach to categorisation (following Lakoff 1987; Rosch 1975, among others), emphasising semantic motivations for noun classes based on underlying conceptual category structures. In keeping with similar studies, the analysis assumes that linguistic categorisation is reflective of underlying conceptual patterns that are motivated rather than generated. In Sereer, these patterns are largely predictable from information about shape, function and force-dynamics; deviations from the prototype are explained via metonymic and metaphoric extensions, and specific cultural information. Sereer illustrates that even in the face of dialectal diffusion and diachronic attrition of overt morphological noun classes, cognitively salient best examples are maintained and members are reassigned to the remaining classes bas...