cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urban-rural differences in pregnancy-related deaths, United States, 2011-2016.

Background The US pregnancy-related mortality ratio has not improved over the past decade and includes striking disparities by race and ethnicity and by state. Understanding differences in pregnancy-related mortality across and within urban and rural areas can guide the development of interventions for preventing future pregnancy-related deaths. Objective We sought to compare pregnancy-related mortality across and within urban and rural counties by race and ethnicity and age. Study Design We conducted a descriptive analysis of 3747 pregnancy-related deaths during 2011–2016 (the most recent available data) with available zone improvement plan code or county data in the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System, among Hispanic and non-Hispanic White, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Asian or Pacific Islander women aged 15 to 44 years. We aggregated data by US county and grouped counties per the National Center for Health Statistics Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties. We used R statistical software, epitools, to calculate the pregnancy-related mortality ratio (number of pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births) for each urban-rural grouping, obtain 95% confidence intervals, and perform exact tests of ratio comparisons using the Poisson distribution. Results Of the total 3747 pregnancy-related deaths analyzed, 52% occurred in large metro counties, and 7% occurred in noncore (rural) counties. Large metro counties had the lowest pregnancy-related mortality ratio (14.8; 95% confidence interval, 14.2–15.5), whereas noncore counties had the highest (24.1; 95% confidence interval, 21.4–27.1), including race and ethnicity and age groups. Pregnancy-related mortality ratio age disparities increased with rurality. Women aged 25 to 34 years and 35 to 44 years living in noncore counties had pregnancy-related mortality ratios 1.5 and 3 times higher, respectively, than women of the same age groups in large metro counties. Within each urban-rural category, pregnancy-related mortality ratios were higher among non-Hispanic Black women than non-Hispanic White women. Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native pregnancy-related mortality ratios in small metro, micropolitan, and noncore counties were 2 to 3 times that of non-Hispanic White women in the same areas. Conclusion Although more than half of pregnancy-related deaths occurred in large metro counties, the pregnancy-related mortality ratio rose with increasing rurality. Disparities existed in urban-rural categories, including by age group and race and ethnicity. Geographic location is an important context for initiatives to prevent future deaths and eliminate disparities. Further research is needed to better understand reasons for the observed urban-rural differences and to guide a multifactorial response to reduce pregnancy-related deaths.
Rotational Grazing and the Profession and Practice of Rangeland Management

Rotational Grazing and the Profession and Practice of Rangeland Management DOI:10.2458/azu_rangelands_v31i5_brown
Generation of a homozygous knock-in human embryonic stem cell line expressing SNAP-tagged SOD1

Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) is an antioxidant enzyme that protects the cells from radical oxygen species. To study the behavior of endogenous SOD1 under a microscope, we genetically modified H1 human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to express SOD1 fused with a SNAP-tag, a protein tag that can be covalently labeled with a variety of synthetic probes. The engineered homozygous clone expressing SOD1-SNAP fusion proteins has normal stem cell morphology and karyotype, expresses pluripotency markers, and can be differentiated into all three germ layers in vitro, providing a versatile platform for imaging-based studies of SOD1.
Phase II Study of TRIplet combination Nivolumab (N) with Dabrafenib (D) and Trametinib (T) (TRIDeNT) in patients (pts) with PD-1 naïve or refractory BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma (MM) with or without active brain metastases.

9520Background: Targeted therapies (TT) & immunotherapies (IMT) have improved survival for pts with BRAF V600 mutated stage IV MM, however many pts still progress and ultimately die from their dise...
Consequences of Inaction

New analysis by the Fiscal Futures Project finds that Illinois’ budget impasse has put spending on autopilot while revenue is down significantly. This perfect storm of decreased revenue and uncoordinated spending is causing uneven allocations and exacerbating an already massive budget deficit. The policy brief uses data from the Illinois Office of the Comptroller on spending and revenue as of December 31, 2015 to provide a detailed accounting of the budget picture at the mid-point of FY16. The data show that as of mid-FY16, Illinois had revenue of only about $30 billion, or 46 percent of FY15 revenue. Based on this data and other analyses, the researchers project final revenue for FY16 of about $63.7 billion, a decline of $1.9 billion from FY15. The report provides a data table that details allocations to various departments and agencies. It compares the amount allocated by mid-FY16 to total spending in each category in FY15, to provide a ratio expressed as a percentage of FY15 spending. For example, spending for K-12 education, funded by an appropriations bill, is consistent with last year at $3.99 billion, or 45 percent of FY15 spending. The ratios range from a low of less than 1 percent (state employee health care) to a high of 55 percent (Environmental Protection Agency). Other areas with particularly low mid-FY16 rates of expenditures include university education (1 percent), the Illinois Community College Board (1 percent), and the Capital Development Board (3 percent). Overall, the state’s lack of a budget will only add to the imbalance between revenue and spending, resulting in a bad deficit made worse. The state had a structural deficit of $4.2 billion at the end of FY15. The researchers project that the state will accumulate an additional deficit of $6.6 billion by the end of FY16.
Multi-omics Data Integration by Generative Adversarial Network

Abstract Motivation Accurate disease phenotype prediction plays an important role in the treatment of heterogeneous diseases like cancer in the era of precision medicine. With the advent of high throughput technologies, more comprehensive multi-omics data is now available that can effectively link the genotype to phenotype. However, the interactive relation of multi-omics datasets makes it particularly challenging to incorporate different biological layers to discover the coherent biological signatures and predict phenotypic outcomes. In this study, we introduce omicsGAN, a generative adversarial network model to integrate two omics data and their interaction network. The model captures information from the interaction network as well as the two omics datasets and fuse them to generate synthetic data with better predictive signals. Results Large-scale experiments on The Cancer Genome Atlas breast cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer datasets validate that (i) the model can effectively integrate two omics data (e.g. mRNA and microRNA expression data) and their interaction network (e.g. microRNA-mRNA interaction network). The synthetic omics data generated by the proposed model has a better performance on cancer outcome classification and patients survival prediction compared to original omics datasets. (ii) The integrity of the interaction network plays a vital role in the generation of synthetic data with higher predictive quality. Using a random interaction network does not allow the framework to learn meaningful information from the omics datasets; therefore, results in synthetic data with weaker predictive signals. Availability and implementation Source code is available at: https://github.com/CompbioLabUCF/omicsGAN. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
962 Integrative immunomics highlight the immunomodulatory impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immune-based treatments in resected non-small-cell lung cancer

Background How neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy modulates tumor immune composition and response is not completely understood. We interrogate immunomodulation of neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy (C), nivolumab (N), and N-plus-C (NC) and their connections to therapeutic efficacy in resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by integrating immunomic data from the ImmunogenomiC PrOfiling of NSCLC (ICON) study and NEOSTAR trial cohorts. Methods In NEOSTAR (NCT03158129), patients with stage I-IIIA (single N2) resectable NSCLC (AJCC7th) received N (3 mg/kg IV, D1,15,29); patients with stage IB(≥4cm)-IIIA (single N2) resectable NSCLC received NC (N 360 mg IV plus C, D1,22,43 for 3 cycles, every 3 weeks) before surgery; major pathologic response (MPR) was the primary endpoint. In ICON, patients with stage IB(≥4cm)-IIIA resectable NSCLC received C before surgery. Surgically resected tumor samples underwent immune profiling via flow cytometry (n=16,13,9 for C,N,NC), immunohistochemistry (IHC;n=0,18,14), and multiplexed immunofluorescence (mIF;n=28,16,10). Treatment-associated immunomodulation and associations with therapeutic efficacy were analyzed using: 1) a shared nearest neighbors-based network we developed linking measurements across datasets; 2) MetaCyto, a specialized cytometry analysis method for identifying cell subsets by clustering. Results We holistically explored the immunomic data by integration across cohorts. Through hierarchical regression of the integrated data, we determined the overall effect of a given treatment controlling for the presence or absence of the other treatment. We examined C’s effects across all cohorts controlling for N. Across all patients, regardless of MPR, C is associated with immunosuppression, increasing PD1+ T cell (CD45+CD3+) populations: regulatory (CD4+CD25+FOXP3+), helper (CD4+), and effector (CD8+) (effect size(ES):1.48,1.61,1.26;q Conversely, we examined N’s effects across all cohorts controlling for C. Across all patients, regardless of MPR, N is associated with immune activation, increasing ICOS+ T cell populations: regulatory, helper, and effector (ES:1.29,1.29,1.47;q Conclusions We report the first integrated examination of the immunomodulatory effect of neoadjuvant C and N. C is associated with immunosuppression while N with immune activation; together, N appears to lessen C’s suppressive effects. Incorporation of transcriptomics into this integrated network of flow cytometry, mIF, and IHC immune profiling data is ongoing to augment translational insights for neoadjuvant chemo/immunotherapies.
Optical Code Division Multiple Access : Fundamentals and Applications

OPTICAL CODE DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Antonio J. Mendez and Burke J. Anderson Introduction Early History (Before 1980) 1980-1984 1985-1989 1990-1994 1995-1999 2000-2004 Future Trends, Applications, and Unfinished Business References OPTICAL CDMA CODES Wing C. Kwong and Guu-Chang Yang Overview Constructions of Coherent Codes Constructions of Incoherent Codes Performance Analysis and Comparison of Coherent and Incoherent Codes Advanced Incoherent Codes Summary Acknowledgment References INFORMATION CAPACITY OF NONLINEAR FIBER-OPTICAL SYSTEMS: FUNDAMENTAL LIMITS AND OCDMA PERFORMANCE Evgenii Narimanov Introduction Fiber Optical Communication System as an Information Channel The Fundamental Limit to the Information Capacity of a Nonlinear Fiber-Optical System The Information Capacity of Fiber-Optical CDMA Systems Advanced Coding Techniques for Performance Improvement Summary and Conclusions References OPTICAL CODE-DIVISION MULTIPLE-ACCESS ENABLED BY FIBER BRAGG GRATING TECHNOLOGY Lawrence R. Chen Introduction Fiber Bragg Grating Technology FBGs for FOCDMA Summary and Conclusion Acknowledgements References COHERENT OPTICAL CDMA SYSTEMS Paul Toliver, Shahab Etemad, Ron Menendez Introduction Coherent OCDMA Approaches Subsystem Technologies Code Selection for SPC-OCDMA OCDMA Network Architectures for SPC-OCDMA Summary References INCOHERENT OPTICAL CDMA SYSTEMS Varghese Baby, Darren Rand, Camille-Sophie Bres, Lei Xu, Ivan Glesk, and Paul R. Prucnal Introduction WHTS System Architecture Technologies for WHTS OCDMA Experimental Demonstration of WHTS OCDMA Conclusions Acknowledgments References HYBRID MULTIPLEXING TECHNIQUES (OCDMA/TDM/WDM) Hideyuki Sotobayashi Introduction Hybrid Multiplexing Transmission System Photonic Gateway: Multiplexing Format Conversion OCDMA/WDM Virtual Optical Path Cross Connect Summary Acknowledgments References INTEGRATION TECHNOLOGIES Ivan Andonovic Introduction Integration Strategies Encoding/Decoding for OCDMA Systems Integrated Modules Conclusions Acknowledgments References OPTICAL CDMA NETWORK SECURITY Peter A. Schulz and Thomas H. Shake Introduction Security Quantifying OCDMA Confidentiality OCDMA for Authentication Conclusions References OPTICAL CDMA NETWORK ARCHITECTURES AND APPLICATIONS Robert J. Runser, Ph.D. Introduction Local Area Networks Applications Demonstrations Summary References INDEX
Globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS) and its implementation in Japan

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is a set of recommendations by the United Nations, first issued in 2003 as a communication tool for the sound management of chemicals, comprising harmonized classification criteria for physical, health and environmental hazards, a unified format for material safety data sheets (MSDS), and labeling elements including pictograms and hazard statements preassigned to each classification category. The GHS has been introduced into Japan and implemented in the regulatory framework for chemical safety. The Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) adopted the GHS, and the GHS-based JIS rules have become the Japanese standards for labels and MSDS. The use of the JIS format for labels and MSDS is recommended by several competent authorities in Japan although mostly on a voluntary basis. In the workplace, however, GHS-based JIS labels and MSDS have become legal requirements by the Industrial Safety and Health Law since 2006; namely, issuing MSDS in such a format is mandatory for the 640 specified chemicals and also labeling for the 99 targeted chemicals*. Although the GHS provides definitions and classification criteria for 10 classes of health hazards (acute toxicity, skin and eye corrosion/irritation, sensitization, germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity single/repeated exposures, and aspiration hazard), it does not provide actual classification of chemicals, so that competent authorities and industries need to classify a number of chemicals and/or mixtures. Weight-of-evidence judgment and/or expert judgment would be necessary in many cases. In this paper, the outline of the GHS classification is described and problems of the GHS and its implementation are discussed.
Plant functional type effects on trace gas fluxes in the shortgrass steppe

Plant community structure is expected to regulate the microbial processes of nitrification and denitrification by controlling the availability of inorganic N substrates. Thus it could also be a factor in the concomitant release of NO and N2O from soils as a result of these processes. C3 and C4 plants differ in several attributes related to the cycling of nitrogen and were hypothesized to yield differences in trace gas exchange between soil and atmosphere. In this study we estimated fluxes of NO, N2O and CH4 from soils of shortgrass steppe communities dominated by either C3 plants, C4 plants or mixtures of the two types. We collected gas samples weekly from two sites, a sandy clay loam and a clay, throughout the growing seasons of 1995 and 1996. Plant functional type effects on gas fluxes at the clay site were not apparent, however we found several differences among plant communities on the sandy clay loam. CH4 uptake from atmosphere to soil was significantly greater on C4 plots than C3 plots in both years. NO fluxes were significantly greater from C4 plots than from C3 plots in 1995. NO fluxes from C3 and mixed plots were not significantly different between 1995 and 1996, however fluxes from C4 plots were significantly greater in 1995 compared to 1996. Results indicate that under certain environmental conditions, particularly when factors such as moisture and temperature are not limiting, plant community composition can play an important role in regulating trace gas exchange.
Witness of macroscopic entanglement in classical statistical optical fields

We examine correlations between polarization and amplitude degrees of freedom for classical statistical optical fields with Bell-analysis experiments. Strong violations of the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality are observed. These constitute a new witness of classical macroscopic entanglement.
Stellar Collapse and Nascent Neutron Stars

The collapse of dense cores in massive stars proceeds as follows. Initially, leptons dominate the pressure because neutrinos become trapped at high densities. This results in the formation of a cool inner core that collapses homologously. At around nuclear densities the pressure from nucleons increases rapidly and halts the collapse, giving a core bounce. A shock forms at the surface of the inner core and propagates into the infalling envelope. These basic features have emerged in the hydrodynamic studies of collapse by various researchers. However, the question of final outcome of collapse is unresolved at present. The evolution of the core after the shock has propagated through the envelope has not been addressed in detail. This communication summarizes some current results of the author's ongoing study of stellar collapse.
Estimating the Speed of Convergence in the Neoclassical Growth Model: An MLE Estimation of Structural Parameters Using the Stochastic Neoclassical Growth Model, Time-Series Data, and the Kalman Filter

An important question is whether underdeveloped countries will converge to the per-capita income level of developed countries. Economists have used the disequilibrium adjustment property of growth models to justify the view that convergence should occur. Unfortunately, the empirical literature does not obey the "Lucas" admonition of estimating the structural parameters of a growth model that has the conditional convergence property and then computing the speed of convergence implied by the estimated structural parameters. In this paper, we use U.S. time-series data to estimate the structural parameters of a stochastic neoclassical growth model and compute the speed of conditional convergence in the non-stochastic model from the structural parameter estimates. We follow an approach used to econometrically estimate business cycle models via maximum likelihood. We obtain a speed of conditional convergence of 12.8 percent per-year for logarithmic consumer preferences and find that the data rejects the hypothesis of the 2 percent per-year speed of conditional convergence obtained in the empirical literature.
Multidimensional signal reconstruction from phase or magnitude

This paper reviews some recent results concerning the uniqueness of a multi-dimensional (m-D) sequence in terms of the phase or magnitude of its Fourier transform. Specifically, some conditions are presented under which an m-D sequence is uniquely specified by its phase or magnitude. In addition, an iterative algorithm is described which has been proposed for reconstructing a sequence from its phase or magnitude. Several examples of phase-only and magnitude-only reconstruction are also presented.
Pine Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Population Monitoring in Christmas Trees Using Volatile Host Compounds

The eastern pine weevil, Pissodes nemorensis Germar, and the pales weevil, Hylobius pales (Herbst), are major pests of pine production in eastern North America. Ethanol- and turpentine-baited pitfall traps and flight traps, and pit traps baited with fresh pine billets, were used to characterize weevil species composition in north-central Kentucky (USA) and assess seasonal activity by exploiting the weevils' attraction to host plant volatiles. During the 1998 growing season, P. nemorensis was the predominant species, comprising over 95% of the total trap catch for the season. Weevils were most responsive to fresh pine billets in pit traps, followed by ethanol- and turpentine-baited flight traps, and ethanol- and turpentine-baited pitfall traps. The sex ratio of P. nemorensis captured in pit traps was male biased, and in pitfall traps it was weakly female biased. Flight trap catch in traps placed 0.8 m above ground level was female biased. More weevils were captured in flight traps at 0.8 m than in flight t...
High-temperature thermal analysis of the systems LaF3YF3, SrF2YF3 and MgF2YF3

Abstract Thermal-analysis experiments have established high-temperature phase relations in three systems containing YF3 having potential use as fluxes for electroslag melting reactive metals. The LaF3YF3 system is characterized by, (1) a eutectic occurring at 81 wt% YF3 and approximately 400°C below the LaF3 melting point, (2) a low-temperature hexagonal compound, (3) an extensive LaF3 solid solution, and (4) limited YF3 solid solution. A hexagonal compound with a range of composition, and whose X-ray lattice parameters increase with increasing SrF2 content, is stable in equilibrium with liquid in the SrF2YF3 system, resulting in the presence of two eutectics. A small liquidus-curve maximum occurs in the region where an extensive fluorite solid solution is the primary phase. No discernible solid solubility of SrF2 in YF3 was detected. The MgF2YF3 system contains one eutectic with limited terminal solid solutions and a possible low-temperature compound. Due primarily to higher liquidus temperatures, systems containing LaF3 possess a wider range of suitable electroslag fluxes than do systems containing YF3. However, an optimum combination of high liquidus temperature and low electrical conductivity indicates selected compositions containing relatively low YF3 in these systems may provide useful fluxes. Compounds present in systems containing YF3 would probably not find uses in the electroslag process because of their relatively low stability temperatures.
Fgfr1 Inactivation in the Mouse Telencephalon Results in Impaired Maturation of Interneurons Expressing Parvalbumin

Fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs) and their receptors (Fgfr) are expressed in the developing and adult CNS. Previous studies demonstrated a decrease in cortical interneurons and locomotor hyperactivity in mice with a conditional Fgfr1 deletion generated in radial glial cells during midneurogenesis (Fgfr1f/f;hGfapCre+). Here, we report earlier and more extensive inactivation of Fgfr1 in neuroepithelial cells of the CNS (Fgfr1f/f;NesCre+). Similar to findings in Fgfr1f/f;hGfapCre+ mice, parvalbumin positive (PV+) cortical interneurons are also decreased in the neocortex of Fgfr1f/f;NesCre+ mice when compared to control littermates (Fgfr1f/f). Fgfr1f/f;NesCre+ embryos do not differ from controls in the initial specification of GABAergic cells in the ganglionic eminence (GE) as assessed by in situ hybridization for Dlx2, Mash1 and Nkx2. Equal numbers of GABAergic neuron precursors genetically labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) were observed at P0 in Fgfr1f/f;hGfapCre+;Gad1-GFP mutant mice. However, fewer GFP+ and GFP+/PV+ interneurons were observed in these mutants at adulthood, indicating that a decrease in cortical interneuron markers is occurring postnatally. Fgfr1 is expressed in cortical astrocytes in the postnatal brain. To test whether the astrocytes of mice lacking Fgfr1 are less capable of supporting interneurons, we co-cultured wild type Gad1-GFP+ interneuron precursors isolated from the medial GE (MGE) with astrocytes from Fgfr1f/f control or Fgfr1f/f;hGfapCre+ mice. Interneurons grown on Fgfr1 deficient astrocytes had small soma size and fewer neurites per cell, but no differences in cell survival. Decreased soma size of Gad67 immunopositive interneurons was also observed in the cortex of adult Fgfr1f/f;NesCre+ mice. Our data indicate that astrocytes from Fgfr1 mutants are impaired in supporting the maturation of cortical GABAergic neurons in the postnatal period. This model may elucidate potential mechanisms of impaired PV interneuron maturation relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders that develop in childhood and adolescence.
Stimulated desorption studies of defect structures on TiO2

Abstract The influence of the surface geometric structure on the electron and photon-stimulated desorption (ESD, PSD) ion yield from TiO2(001) and TiO2(110) has been studied. For both surfaces, angle-integrated ESD yields have been measured as a function of annealing temperature ranging from room temperature sputtered surfaces to 1200 K annealed surfaces. These measurements imply that the local geometry of the desorption site must be considered in order to adequately explain the observed ion yield variations. The ESD ion angular distribution (ESDIAD) patterns have been obtained after annealing in the temperature range 300–1200 K. These patterns show the presence of short-range structural order, even on highly defective, sputtered surfaces, and they are interpreted in terms of plausible models of surface structure. Changes in both the surface Ti-cation valence state and its coordination number as a function of annealing temperature are proposed to give rise to the observed ESDIAD patterns and the total ion yield behavior.
Association of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with impaired functional status

Abstract purpose: To determine if vertebral compression fractures in elderly women were associated with impairments in physical, functional, and psychosocial performance. subjects and methods: Ten white women with confirmed vertebral compression fractures were age- and race-matched with 10 control subjects without fractures in a case-control design. All subjects invited to participate in this study were patients of the Geriatrics Division of the Department of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. All study participants lived either in the community or in the independent-living sections of local retirement communities in and around Durham, NC. Subjects with fractures (mean age=81.9 years, SD=5.9 years) had two or more vertebral compression fractures in their medical records, whereas control subjects (mean age=79.6 years, SD=6.5 years) had no history of vertebral fractures. Spinal radiographs of all women confirmed group assignment Physical, functional, and psychosocial performances were evaluated. Physical performance was assessed by measurements of maximal trunk extension torque and thoracic and lumbar spinal motion in the sagittal plane, functional reach, mobility skills, 10-ft timed walk, and 6-minute walk test. Thoracic and lumbar spinal configurations were also determined. Functional performance was assessed using the Functional Status Index. Psychosocial performance was assessed with the following scales: Hopkms Symptom Checklist 90 Revised, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, West Haven-Yale Pain Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and single-item health-belief questions. results: Control subjects were not significantly different from patients with fractures in age, weight, number of current illnesses, number of prescribed medications, number of pain medications, ratings of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, or lumbar spine facet joint arthritis. Activity levels and exercise participation were similar in both groups. Control subjects had no vertebral fractures, whereas fracture subjects had 4.2 ± 2.6 fractures (range: 2 to 10). Thoracic kyphosis was increased and lumbar lordosis was reduced in fracture subjects. Fracture subjects had reduced maximal trunk extension torque, thoracic and lumbar spine sagittal plane motion, functional reach, mobility skills, and 6-minute walk test. The Functional Status Index showed reduced levels of functional performance in fracture subjects compared with controls with increased levels of assistance, pain with activity, and difficulty in activities. Psychosocial performance was limited in fracture subjects with increased psychiatric symptoms, increased pain, and greater perception of problems caused by health. conclusion: Vertebral compression fractures are associated with significant performance impairments in physical, functional, and psychosocial domains in older women.
Ofatumumab, a second-generation anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of lymphoproliferative and autoimmune disorders

Background: Lymphoproliferative and autoimmune disorders share monoclonal dysregulation and survival advantage of B-lymphocytes. Thus, therapies directed towards eliminating B-cells will play an im...
Power integrity analysis for core logic blocks

In this paper, the new framework for power integrity analysis for core logic blocks is presented. Balancing on-chip timing budget becomes more challenging as both data and clock jitter increase due to large power noise. Conventional power integrity (PI) analysis focuses on reducing supply noise and does not provide timing jitter information. This paper proposes a general framework to model timing jitter due to supply noise. The proposed methodology can be used to define power distribution network (PDN) design requirements. This timing-based PDN design leads to significant reduction in the pessimism associated with either conventional target impedance concept, or static or dynamic power integrity analysis.
Resonant Power Processors, Part I---State Plane Analysis

State-plane techniques in conjunction with piecewise-linear analysis is employed to study the steady-state and transient characteristics of a series resonant converter. With the direct viewing of the resonant tank energy and the device switching instant, the state portrayal provides unique insights into the complex behavior of the converter. Operation of the converter under both continuous and discontinuous current modes and at frequencies both below and above resonant frequency are discussed.
Primary infantile hyperparathyroidism: clinical, laboratory, and radiographic features in 21 cases

Two cases of primary infantile hyperparathyroidism (PIH) are reported. In both cases the diagnosis was initially suspected from chest radiographs which were obtained to assess the etiology of fever and respiratory distress in one case and heart murmur in another. The first case responded well to subtotal parathyroidectomy. The second case had many unique features. (1) She never became overtly symptomatic. (2) She displayed a constellation of findings that are not yet emphasized. (3) Her indisputable radiographic findings of hyperparathyroidism vanished spontaneously by two months of age, whereas her biochemical alterations have persisted up to now, 21/2 years after birth. (4) Three members of her family have subclinical hyperparathyroidism (elevated serum parathormone, hypercalcemia, and hypophosphatemia). Our review of 19 more cases showed that PIH has no specific clinical symptoms and/or signs. Of the laboratory findings, hypercalcemia was most consistantly encountered. The radiographic finding, although not identical to those described in hyperparathyroid adults, had the greatest diagnostic specificity. The disorder carried a grave prognosis if not diagnosed promptly and managed surgically.
Measuring Web Site Quality for Online Travel Agencies

Abstract Online travel agencies face increasing levels of competition and, thus, experience an ever greater need to evaluate the effectiveness of their Web sites. This study examines the influence of perceived Web site quality on willingness to use online travel agencies. Six core dimensions were identified and empirically tested regarding their impact on behavioral intentions using a survey of 311 local residents in the United States. Ease of Use was found to be the most important dimension in determining Willingness to Use, followed by Information/Content, Responsiveness, Fulfillment, and Security/Privacy. No significant relationship was found for Visual Appeal. Implications of the results for online travel agency Web sites and future research are discussed.
Substitutional adsorption geometry for Pb(1 1 1)–(√3 × √3)R30°–K

Abstract Intermixed structures for alkalis (larger than Li) on close-packed substrates have previously been observed only on Al(1 1 1). This study shows that K forms an ordered intermixed structure on Pb(1 1 1). The structures of clean Pb(1 1 1) and Pb(1 1 1)–(√3 × √3)R30°–K were studied using dynamical low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). The clean Pb(1 1 1) surface at 47 K was found to be a relaxed version of the bulk structure, in agreement with an earlier study of the same surface [Y.S. Li, F. Jona, P.M. Marcus, Phys. Rev. B 43 (1991) 6337]. At room temperature, adsorption of K on this surface results in a (√3 × √3)R30° structure, which was shown using dynamical LEED to consist of K atoms substituted in surface vacancies. The K–Pb bond length was found to be 3.62 ± 0.3 A, with no significant change to the Pb interlayer spacings.
The effect of personality on placebo response in panic patients

Twenty-eight patients who participated as a placebo group in a treatment study of panic disorder were studied to determine the effect of personality on study completion and outcome. Those subjects who completed only 3 weeks had significantly more pathological personality traits than those who continued in the study. For those continuing beyond 3 weeks, there were negative correlations between the paranoid and borderline personality traits and a global outcome measure. Spontaneous panic attacks were not affected by personality.
Pattern of Amino Acid Substitutions in Transmembrane Domains of β-Barrel Membrane Proteins for Detecting Remote Homologs in Bacteria and Mitochondria

-barrel membrane proteins play an important role in controlling the exchange and transport of ions and organic molecules across bacterial and mitochondrial outer membranes. They are also major regulators of apoptosis and are important determinants of bacterial virulence. In contrast to -helical membrane proteins, their evolutionary pattern of residue substitutions has not been quantified, and there are no scoring matrices appropriate for their detection through sequence alignment. Using a Bayesian Monte Carlo estimator, we have calculated the instantaneous substitution rates of transmembrane domains of bacterial -barrel membrane proteins. The scoring matrices constructed from the estimated rates, called bbTM for -barrel Transmembrane Matrices, improve significantly the sensitivity in detecting homologs of -barrel membrane proteins, while avoiding erroneous selection of both soluble proteins and other membrane proteins of similar composition. The estimated evolutionary patterns are general and can detect -barrel membrane proteins very remote from those used for substitution rate estimation. Furthermore, despite the separation of 2–3 billion years since the proto-mitochondrion entered the proto-eukaryotic cell, mitochondria outer membrane proteins in eukaryotes can also be detected accurately using these scoring matrices derived from bacteria. This is consistent with the suggestion that there is no eukaryote-specific signals for translocation. With these matrices, remote homologs of -barrel membrane proteins with known structures can be reliably detected at genome scale, allowing construction of high quality structural models of their transmembrane domains, at the rate of 131 structures per template protein. The scoring matrices will be useful for identification, classification, and functional inference of membrane proteins from genome and metagenome sequencing projects. The estimated substitution pattern will also help to identify key elements important for the structural and functional integrity of -barrel membrane proteins, and will aid in the design of mutagenesis studies.
Sounding rocket payload development for x-ray observations of the Cygnus Loop

We present progress in the development of a new sounding rocket payload that will perform high resolution (R~100) x-ray spectroscopy of diffuse celestial x-ray sources. The instrument features a new geometry that allows for high resolution along with high throughput. A wire-grid collimator constrains light from diffuse sources into a converging beam that feeds an array of diffraction gratings in the extreme off-plane mount. Starting with launch in 2006 we can obtain physical diagnostics of supernova remnants such as the Cygnus Loop and ultimately the hot phase of the interstellar medium.
Crossing County Lines: The Impact of Crash Location and Driver's Residence on Motor Vehicle Crash Fatality

Abstract Introduction Studies have demonstrated that the fatality risk for motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) is higher in rural than urban areas. The purpose of this study was to quantify the risk of a fatal outcome associated with a crash by the urban/rural classification of the driver's county of residence and the county of crash before and after adjusting for potentially confounding factors. Methods County of crash and driver's county of residence were classified as urban or rural for 514,648 Utah crash participants. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the impact of rural versus urban crash location on fatality outcomes for both urban and rural drivers. Results Before adjusting for confounding factors the relative risk of fatality in a rural versus urban crash was 9.7 (95% CI: 8.0–11.7) for urban drivers and their passengers compared to 1.8 (95% CI: 1.3–2.6) for rural residents. Adjustment for behavioral, road, and crash characteristics reduced risk estimates to 2.8 (95% CI: 2.2–3.5) and 1.2 (95% CI: 0.8–1.7), respectively. Conclusion Urban and rural drivers may have distinct risk factors for MVC fatality in rural areas. Interventions to reduce the risk of fatality in rural areas should evaluate the needs of both urban and rural drivers.
Hearing Impairment in Older Adults: New Concepts

OBJECTIVE: To review present information about the epidemiology, etiologies, pathogenesis, evaluation, and quality of life aspects of hearing loss and to present an approach to rehabilitation for hearing loss in older adults. DESIGN: A survey of recent findings on the problem of hearing loss in older adults, efficacy of intervention with amplification, and new developments in intervention strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The complex nature of hearing problems in older adults involves changes in the auditory periphery as well as in the central mechanisms for processing sound input. These changes affect the social and emotional impact of the hearing disorder. The importance of understanding the many implications of hearing loss on quality of life is emphasized. Both older adults and immediate family members need information and advice about the consequences of age-related hearing loss. The physician has a key role in helping them to overcome negative attitudes toward a hearing handicap. For most older persons, hearing aids alleviate many of the handicaps of hearing impairment. For some older persons who do not benefit adequately from conventional hearing aids, assistive listening devices may be helpful. Many old persons and their relatives are reluctant to confront the reality of hearing handicap and try to hide the fact that they need sound amplification. One important future direction is to foster acceptance of hearing loss and to support the more open use of amplification systems. J Am Geriatr Soc 43:928–935, 1995.
Using the focus monitor test mask to characterize lithographic performance

The focus monitor technique has been shown to be a unique and promising method of characterizing lithography tools. The focus monitor test mask employs phase shifting to translate focus error into a measurable overlay error, independent of exposure. We have also employed an exposure monitor structure to measure dose, independent of focus. The combination of focus and exposure monitors is highly sensitive to factors which affect critical dimensions. Using this test mask we have systematically analyzed the performance of the photo processing tools on our line. This paper will review the data and discuss process capability improvements using both methodologies.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Manipulation of human history by microbes

The convergence of the microbial and human worlds provides us with everyday essentials for the survival of our species, and in turn, this interaction brings painful and tragic consequences from pathogens. Looking back, it can be seen that microbes have also changed our history. Were it not for a pathogen that halted an Assyrian military campaign, we might have no Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. Microbes were there to aid adversaries in bringing about the fall of the great Greek and Roman empires. George Washington's bold orders to inoculate the Colonial Army against smallpox (20 years prior to Jenner's discovery of vaccination) were one of the most significant actions in saving the American Revolution from an early and unsuccessful end. Without the yellow fever virus and its accomplice, Aedes aegypti, those living in what was the Louisiana Territory might now have French as their native language. The potato blight caused by Phytophthora infestans changed the histories of both Ireland and those countries (especially the United States) to which victims of the famine emigrated. At the outbreak of World War I, when England was separated from its European source of acetone (needed for the navy's supply of cordite), British citizens had to make do with less gin, but acetone was available thanks to the growth of Clostridium acetobutylicum in those fermentation vessels.
Overexpression of the cat-86 gene is associated with thermosensitivity in Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis harboring the cat-86 constitutive plasmid pPL708C2 with an ochre mutation at the 9th codon (terc 9) was sensitive to chloramphenicol (Cms) and exhibited relative thermostability when heated at 47°C. Reversion to chloramphenicol resistance (Cmr) occurred at a frequency of 5.4 × 10−8. All of the plasmid Cmr revertants tested were thermosensitive. Similarly, wild-type pPL708C2 present in B. subtilis also rendered the bacterium thermosensitive. When a nonsense mutation is introduced at codon 141, however, this terc 141 variant of pPL708C2 failed to thermosensitize B. subtilis. Another variant of pPL708C2 that produces intact yet catalytically inactive CAT-86 has both His-16 and His-17 at the active site replaced by Pro. Nevertheless, cells of B. subtilis carrying this variant were thermosensitive. Plasmid-free and pPL708C2-bearing strains did not exhibit differences in major heat shock proteins. Electron micrographs revealed a threefold increase of inclusion bodies present in a strain harboring pPL708C2 when compared with those in an isogenic plasmid-free strain.
Istanbul: An Islamic City

Tujuan penelitian ini ialah mendeskripsikan peran dan tantangan pengasuh pesantren Khozinatul Abror dalam membentuk karakter religius dan tanggung jawab santri. Peneliti menggunakan metodologi dengan jenis penelitian kualitatif deskriptif dengan teknik pengumpulan data yakni wawancara, observasi, dan dokumentasi. Sumber data dari penelitian ini ialah pengasuh pesantren. Hasil penelitian yakni: 1) peran pengasuh pesantren dalam membentuk karakter religius dan tanggung jawab ialah sebagai ustadz, murobbi, mu’allim, muaddib mudarris, dan mursyid; 2) Tantangan yang dihadapi oleh pengasuh adalah: a) Sulitnya mengkoordinasikan santri ketika pulang, b) Ketidakjelasan terkait penyesuaian dari pemerintah tentang sistem pendidikan, c) Tidak bisa melakukan aktivitas yang mengundang orang banyak, d) Terdapat beberapa masyarakat yang resah ketika ada santri luar kota yang balik ke pondok, e) Diberlakukannya karantina bagi santri dari luar kota selama 2 minggu.
Isolation and Culture of Endothelial Cells from the Embryonic Forebrain

Embryonic brain endothelial cells can serve as an important tool in the study of angiogenesis and neurovascular development and interactions. The two vascular networks of the embryonic forebrain, pial and periventricular, are spatially distinctive and have different origins and growth patterns. Endothelial cells from the pial and periventricular vascular networks have unique gene expression profiles and functions. Here we present a step-by-step protocol for isolation, culture, and verification of pure populations of endothelial cells from the periventricular vascular network (PVECs) of the embryonic forebrain (telencephalon). In this approach, telencephalon devoid of pial membrane obtained from embryonic day 15 mice is minced, digested with collagenase/dispase, and dispersed mechanically into a single cell suspension. PVECs are purified from cell suspension using positive selection with anti-CD-31/PECAM-1 antibody conjugated to MicroBeads using a strong magnetic separation method. Purified cells are cultured on collagen 1 coated culture dishes in endothelial cell culture medium until they become confluent and further subcultured. PVECs obtained with this protocol exhibit cobblestone and spindle shaped phenotypes, as visualized by phase-contrast light microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Purity of PVEC cultures was established with endothelial cell markers. In our hands, this method reliably and consistently yields pure populations of PVECs. This protocol will benefit studies aimed at gaining mechanistic insights into forebrain angiogenesis, understanding PVEC interactions, and cross-talks with neuronal cell types and holds tremendous potential for therapeutic angiogenesis.
Local recurrence versus new primary: Clinical analysis of 82 breast relapses and potential applications for genetic fingerprinting☆

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to perform a detailed clinical pathological analysis of breast relapses in patients treated with conservative surgery and radiation therapy in an effort to classify those relapses as true local recurrences or second primary tumors, and to assess the prognostic and therapeutic implications of such a classification system. Methods and Materials: Of 990 patients treated with conservative surgery and radiation therapy at our facilities prior to December 1987, 82 patients have experienced a relapse in the conservatively treated breast as the primary site of failure. Patients were classified as having new primary tumors if they fulfilled any one of the following criteria: a) breast relapse occurring at a site distinctly removed from the original tumor; b) histology of the breast relapse compared with the original tumor consistent with a new primary; or c) DNA flow cytometry converting from an aneuploid primary to a diploid relapse. Results: As of 2/92, with a median follow-up of 5.4 years from the time of breast relapse, the overall 5-year survival rate following breast relapse was 55%. Forty-seven patients were classified as true recurrences and 33 patients were classified as new primaries. Patients classified as true recurrences had a shorter median time to breast relapse than patients classified as new primaries (3.16 years vs.5.42 years, p <.05) and an inferior post breast recurrence survival rate compared to patients classified as new primaries (36% vs.89%, p <.05). Residual disease outside of the recurrent tumor bed was also noted to be more frequent in patients classified as true recurrences compared to patients classified as new primaries (48% vs.16%, p <.05). Conclusion: Based on the clinical and pathological criteria outlined, it appears that a significant portion of patients experiencing a relapse in the conservatively treated breast may have new primary tumors as opposed to true local relapses. Distinction between a true recurrence and a new primary tumor may have significant prognostic implications. Uncertainties associated with the clinical and pathological criteria are presented and further investigations with genetic fingerprinting techniques to establish the clonality of breast relapses are presented and discussed.
Sildenafil for enhanced performance at high altitude

In this issue, Ghofrani and colleagues report on a study that is a technical and logistic tour de force. We must nevertheless ask the following questions: How do their results fit into the current ...