cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phospholipase Dζ Enhances Diacylglycerol Flux into Triacylglycerol.

Plant seeds are the primary source of triacylglycerols (TAG) for food, feed, fuel, and industrial applications. As TAG is produced from diacylglycerol (DAG), successful engineering strategies to enhance TAG levels have focused on the conversion of DAG to TAG. However, the production of TAG can be limited by flux through the enzymatic reactions that supply DAG. In this study, two Arabidopsis phospholipase D ζ genes ( AtPLD ζ1 and AtPLD ζ2 ) were coexpressed in Camelina sativa to test whether the conversion of phosphatidylcholine to DAG impacts TAG levels in seeds. The resulting transgenic plants produced 2% to 3% more TAG as a component of total seed biomass and had increased 18:3 and 20:1 fatty acid levels relative to wild type. Increased DAG and decreased PC levels were examined through the kinetics of lipid assembly by [ 14 C]acetate and [ 14 C]glycerol incorporation into glycerolipids. [ 14 C]acetate was rapidly incorporated into TAG in both wild-type and overexpression lines, indicating a significant flux of nascent and elongated acyl-CoAs into the sn -3 position of TAG. Stereochemical analysis revealed that newly synthesized fatty acids were preferentially incorporated into the sn -2 position of PC, but the sn -1 position of de novo DAG and indicated similar rates of nascent acyl groups into the Kennedy pathway and acyl editing. [ 14 C]glycerol studies demonstrated PC-derived DAG is the major source of DAG for TAG synthesis in both tissues. The results emphasize that the interconversions of DAG and PC pools can impact oil production and composition.
The selectable hyperspectral airborne remote sensing kit (SHARK) as an enabler for precision agriculture

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has been used for over two decades in laboratory research, academic, environmental and defense applications. In more recent time, HSI has started to be adopted for commercial applications in machine vision, conservation, resource exploration, and precision agriculture, to name just a few of the economically viable uses for the technology. Corning Incorporated (Corning) has been developing and manufacturing HSI sensors, sensor systems, and sensor optical engines, as well as HSI sensor components such as gratings and slits for over a decade and a half. This depth of experience and technological breadth has allowed Corning to design and develop unique HSI spectrometers with an unprecedented combination of high performance, low cost and low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP). These sensors and sensor systems are offered with wavelength coverage ranges from the visible to the Long Wave Infrared (LWIR). The extremely low SWaP of Corning’s HSI sensors and sensor systems enables their deployment using limited payload platforms such as small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This paper discusses use of the Corning patented monolithic design Offner spectrometer, the microHSI™, to build a highly compact 400-1000 nm HSI sensor in combination with a small Inertial Navigation System (INS) and micro-computer to make a complete turn-key airborne remote sensing payload. This Selectable Hyperspectral Airborne Remote sensing Kit (SHARK) has industry leading SWaP (1.5 lbs) at a disruptively low price due, in large part, to Corning’s ability to manufacture the monolithic spectrometer out of polymers (i.e. plastic) and therefore reduce manufacturing costs considerably. The other factor in lowering costs is Corning’s well established in house manufacturing capability in optical components and sensors that further enable cost-effective fabrication. The competitive SWaP and low cost of the microHSI™ sensor is approaching, and in some cases less than the price point of Multi Spectral Imaging (MSI) sensors. Specific designs of the Corning microHSI™ SHARK visNIR turn-key system are presented along with salient performance characteristics. Initial focus market areas include precision agriculture and historic and recent microHSI™ SHARK prototype test results are presented.
Convergence of signaling pathways underlying habenular formation and axonal outgrowth in zebrafish.

The habenular nuclei are a conserved integrating center in the vertebrate epithalamus, where they modulate diverse behaviors. Despite their importance, our understanding of habenular development is incomplete. Time-lapse imaging and fate mapping demonstrate that the dorsal habenulae (dHb) of zebrafish are derived from dbx1b-expressing (dbx1b+ ) progenitors, which transition into cxcr4b-expressing neuronal precursors. The precursors give rise to differentiated neurons, the axons of which innervate the midbrain interpeduncular nucleus (IPN). Formation of the dbx1b+ progenitor population relies on the activity of the Shh, Wnt and Fgf signaling pathways. Wnt and Fgf function additively to generate dHb progenitors. Surprisingly, Wnt signaling also negatively regulates fgf8a, confining expression to a discrete dorsal diencephalic domain. Moreover, the Wnt and Fgf pathways have opposing roles in transcriptional regulation of components of the Cxcr4-chemokine signaling pathway. The chemokine pathway, in turn, directs the posterior outgrowth of dHb efferents toward the IPN and, when disrupted, results in ectopic, anteriorly directed axonal projections. The results define a signaling network underlying the generation of dHb neurons and connectivity with their midbrain target.
Stability and Boundedness via Liapunov's Direct Method

An extension of Liapunov's direct method is employed to investigate stability and boundedness of discrete structural systems. Bounds on the response of structures with dynamic loading, including parametric excitation, are established in explicit form. These bounds are specialized to provide a stability criterion for elastically end-restrained columns under parametric loading and response bounds for systems under forced vibration.
Supreme Judicial Bullshit

While we have come to expect bullshit from politicians, there is no shortage of judicial bullshit either. After discussing Harry Frankfurt’s famous description of bullshit, I illustrate possible instances of judicial bullshit in a wide range of bioethics cases, mostly at the Supreme Court. Along the way, we see judges bullshit for many reasons including the desire to keep precedents malleable, avoid line drawing, hide the arbitrariness of line drawing, sound important, be memorable, gloss over inconvenient facts, sound poetic, make it seem like their hands are tied, and appear to address profound questions without actually staking out provocative positions. I pay particular attention to the discussion of reproductive rights in Planned Parenthood v. Casey where the joint opinion authors arguably used bullshit to deflect attention from the thorny philosophical questions at the core of rights to choose. Such deflection is not necessarily a flaw as some uses of bullshit may be warranted or even praiseworthy. Whether we applaud or condemn the phenomenon, however, judicial bullshit does reduce transparency, and scholars, journalists, and other judges sometimes take bullshit more seriously than perhaps they should.
Food Allergy Perceptions and Health-Related Quality of Life in a Racially Diverse Sample

This study examined caregiver perceptions of risk of food allergen exposure, and food allergy severity, worry, and health-related quality of life, and identified variations by race/ethnicity. Given the lack of data on racial/ethnic background in research on the psychosocial impacts of food allergy, this study meets a pressing need for research regarding food allergy-related experiences among diverse populations. This study found there were significant differences in perceived risk of allergen exposure among racial/ethnic groups with Asian Americans reporting significantly higher perceived risk of allergen exposure than Hispanic, Caucasian, and African American caregivers. There were no significant differences in food allergy severity, food allergy worry, or health-related quality of life among racial/ethnic groups; however, variability among racial/ethnic groups was apparent. Data may inform screening, counseling, and education practices for families from diverse backgrounds and aid in hypothesis generation for future research.
The Role and Effectiveness of Non-governmental Third Parties in Peacebuilding

Since the 1992 Agenda for Peace, the number and range of non-governmental actors engaged directly or indirectly in peace work, and the variety of initiatives they take, have expanded dramatically. This reflects a useful evolution in our understanding of the realities of building and consolidating peace, but it also has made it challenging to assess the contributions of non-governmental initiatives to building peace. This chapter presents a typology for understanding the various roles of non-governmental actors in peacemaking and peacebuilding and assesses their real contributions and limitations. The author identifies important roles that non-governmental actors play in bringing parties to the table, engaging those excluded from peace processes and building skills and attitudes that support the emergence of “peace constituencies” and capacities critical to the maintenance of peace. Non-governmental actors have a number of qualities that make them uniquely suited for these functions: flexibility to initiate communication with “illegitimate” actors and explore new ideas with parties without excessive risk and capacity to deal with social-psychological dimensions of conflict, among others. Critics have raised valid questions about the extent and depth of impact of these activities. The author concludes that these initiatives have had limited impact, but that this should not call into question their potential value. Rather, non-governmental agencies can increase their influence if they plan and implement their functions more strategically. At the same time, expectations of what non-governmental actors can achieve are often unrealistic; non-governmental roles cannot substitute for coherent political action at the track-one level.
NARRATIVITY AND THE REPRESENTATION OF EXPERIENCE IN AMERICAN INDIAN DISCOURSES ABOUT DRINKING

This paper explores the impact of American Indian people's experiences on the kinds of accounts they offer for their drinking. Based on the analysis of three transcripts that are representative of open-ended interviews with 48 self-defined problem drinkers from the Minneapolis American Indian community, it develops the argument that narrative is neither a necessary nor inevitable way to talk about illnesses and other difficulties. Distinguishing between narratives, which are marked by the element of evaluation where the implications of a person's drinking are clearly stated, and chronicles, in which this element is absent, this paper discusses the implications of non-narrative accounts for our treatments of culture and experience in anthropology.
Targeting Palbociclib-Resistant Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Cells via Oncolytic Virotherapy

While clinical responses to palbociclib have been promising, metastatic breast cancer remains incurable due to the development of resistance. We generated estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and ER-negative (ER−) cell line models and determined their permissiveness and cellular responses to an oncolytic adenovirus (OAd) known as Ad5/3-delta24. Analysis of ER+ and ER− palbociclib-resistant cells revealed two clearly distinguishable responses to the OAd. While ER+ palbociclib-resistant cells displayed a hypersensitive phenotype to the effects of the OAd, ER− palbociclib-resistant cells showed a resistant phenotype to the OAd. Hypersensitivity to the OAd in ER+ palbociclib-resistant cells correlated with a decrease in type I interferon (IFN) signaling, an increase in viral entry receptor expression, and an increase in cyclin E expression. OAd resistance in ER− palbociclib-resistant cells correlated with an increase in type I IFN signaling and a marked decrease in viral entry receptor. Using the OAd as monotherapy caused significant cytotoxicity to both ER+ and ER− palbociclib-sensitive cell lines. However, the addition of palbociclib increased the oncolytic activity of the OAd only in ER+ palbociclib-sensitive cells. Our studies provide a mechanistic base for a novel anti-cancer regimen composed of an OAd in combination with palbociclib for the treatment of ER+ breast cancer.
Design of Miniaturized ESPAR Antenna for Next Generation Communication Systems

In this paper, we propose a miniaturized dual-band electronically steerable parasitic array radiator (ESPAR) antenna with conformal radiation pattern. The designed antenna operates in the bands from 2.3 GHz to 2.53 GHz and from 2.8 GHz to 3.7 GHz. Antenna is capable of 360◦ beam steering in steps of 60◦. The antenna design consists of six folded monopoles and a conical center element. Folded monopoles are used to reduce the antenna size by reducing the height of parasitic monopoles to λ/12. Thus, the designed antenna is three times smaller than the conventional ESPAR antennas. The active element is made conical in shape in order to improve the antenna bandwidth. The proposed design is not only smaller than its conventional counterparts but it also supports dual band operations. In-spite of the compact design peak antenna gain is 6.3 dBi, this gain is equivalent to the conventional ESPAR antenna gain.
National Study of Immediate and Delayed Readmissions After Colostomy Creation

Abstract Background Readmissions after colorectal operations adversely impact patient recovery and are associated with about $300 million in additional health care expenditure in the United States alone. The present study aimed to characterize nonelective, short-term readmissions of colorectal surgery patients who underwent colostomy. Methods The Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to identify patients who received a colostomy from 2010 to 2015. Patients were stratified by discharge-to-readmission interval: immediate (within 7 d) and delayed (7-30 d). Nonparametric trend analysis and multivariable regression were performed to identify predictors of immediate and delayed readmission. Results Of an estimated 376,693 operations requiring colostomies during the study, in-hospital survival was 92.3%, with higher rates after elective compared with nonelective operations (96.5 versus 90.8%, P Conclusions Colostomy creation is associated with a steady and high rate of rehospitalization. Nonhome discharge, in addition to several patient comorbidities, is associated with higher odds of readmission. Programs aimed at reduction of immediate readmission are warranted.
AFrame: Extending DataFrames for Large-Scale Modern Data Analysis

Analyzing the increasingly large volumes of data that are available today, possibly including the application of custom machine learning models, requires the utilization of distributed frameworks. This can result in serious productivity issues for “normal” data scientists. This paper introduces AFrame, a new scalable data analysis package powered by a Big Data management system that extends the data scientists’ familiar DataFrame operations to efficiently operate on managed data at scale. AFrame is implemented as a layer on top of Apache AsterixDB, transparently scaling out the execution of DataFrame operations and machine learning model invocation through a parallel, shared-nothing big data management system. AFrame incrementally constructs SQL++ queries and leverages AsterixDB’s semistructured data management facilities, user-defined function support, and live data ingestion support. In order to evaluate the proposed approach, this paper also introduces an extensible micro-benchmark for use in evaluating DataFrame performance in both single-node and distributed settings via a collection of representative analytic operations. This paper presents the architecture of AFrame, describes the underlying capabilities of AsterixDB that efficiently support modern data analytic operations, and utilizes the proposed benchmark to evaluate and compare the performance and support for largescale data analyses provided by alternative DataFrame libraries.
Correlation and association analyses in microbiome study integrating multiomics in health and disease

Correlation and association analyses are one of the most widely used statistical methods in research fields, including microbiome and integrative multiomics studies. Correlation and association have two implications: dependence and co-occurrence. Microbiome data are structured as phylogenetic tree and have several unique characteristics, including high dimensionality, compositionality, sparsity with excess zeros, and heterogeneity. These unique characteristics cause several statistical issues when analyzing microbiome data and integrating multiomics data, such as large p and small n, dependency, overdispersion, and zero-inflation. In microbiome research, on the one hand, classic correlation and association methods are still applied in real studies and used for the development of new methods; on the other hand, new methods have been developed to target statistical issues arising from unique characteristics of microbiome data. Here, we first provide a comprehensive view of classic and newly developed univariate correlation and association-based methods. We discuss the appropriateness and limitations of using classic methods and demonstrate how the newly developed methods mitigate the issues of microbiome data. Second, we emphasize that concepts of correlation and association analyses have been shifted by introducing network analysis, microbe-metabolite interactions, functional analysis, etc. Third, we introduce multivariate correlation and association-based methods, which are organized by the categories of exploratory, interpretive, and discriminatory analyses and classification methods. Fourth, we focus on the hypothesis testing of univariate and multivariate regression-based association methods, including alpha and beta diversities-based, count-based, and relative abundance (or compositional)-based association analyses. We demonstrate the characteristics and limitations of each approaches. Fifth, we introduce two specific microbiome-based methods: phylogenetic tree-based association analysis and testing for survival outcomes. Sixth, we provide an overall view of longitudinal methods in analysis of microbiome and omics data, which cover standard, static, regression-based time series methods, principal trend analysis, and newly developed univariate overdispersed and zero-inflated as well as multivariate distance/kernel-based longitudinal models. Finally, we comment on current association analysis and future direction of association analysis in microbiome and multiomics studies.
Characterization of quinoxaline derivatives for protection against iatrogenically induced hearing loss

Hair cell loss is the leading cause of hearing and balance disorders in humans. It can be caused by many factors, including noise, aging, and therapeutic agents. Previous studies have shown the therapeutic potential of quinoxaline against drug-induced ototoxicity. Here, we screened a library of 68 quinoxaline derivatives for protection against aminoglycoside-induced damage of hair cells from the zebrafish lateral line. We identified quinoxaline-5-carboxylic acid (Qx28) as the best quinoxaline derivative that provides robust protection against both aminoglycosides and cisplatin in zebrafish and mouse cochlear explants. FM1-43 and aminoglycoside uptake, as well as antibiotic efficacy studies, revealed that Qx28 is neither blocking the mechanotransduction channels nor interfering with aminoglycoside antibacterial activity, suggesting that it may be protecting the hair cells by directly counteracting the ototoxin's mechanism of action. Only when animals were incubated with higher doses of Qx28 did we observe a partial blockage of the mechanotransduction channels. Finally, we assessed the regulation of the NF-κB pathway in vitro in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and in vivo in zebrafish larvae. Those studies showed that Qx28 protects hair cells by blocking NF-κB canonical pathway activation. Thus, Qx28 is a promising and versatile otoprotectant that can act across different species and toxins.
Correlative Obligation in Patent Law: The Role of Public Good in Defining the Limits of Patent Exclusivity

In light of the recent outrageous price-spiking of pharmaceuticals, this Article questions the underlying justifications for exclusive rights conferred by the grant of a patent. Traditionally, patents are defined as property rights granted to encourage desirable innovation. This definition is a misfit as treating patents as property rights does a poor job of defining the limits of the patent rights as well as the public benefit goals of the system. This misfit gradually caused an imbalance in the rights versus duties construct within patent law. After a thorough analysis of the historical and philosophical perspectives of patent exclusivity, this Article concludes that the extent of exclusivity that patent monopoly currently bestows is unsupported by the philosophy of patent exclusivity that asserts strong public benefits. Alternatively, this Article presents the law of contracts as embodying a framework within which patent law can fit better. By viewing the grant of a patent as a contract with the government in exchange for the patent holder providing a benefit to society, patent owners shall have duties to the society that correspond to their rights under the patent.
Sinking carbon, nitrogen, and pigment flux within and beneath the euphotic zone in the oligotrophic, open-ocean Gulf of Mexico

Abstract During two cruises in the oligotrophic oceanic Gulf of Mexico, we deployed sediment traps at three depths: center of the euphotic zone (EZ) (60 m), base of the EZ (117–151 m), and in the twilight zone (231 m). Organic carbon export declined with depth from 6.4 to 4.6 to 2.4 mmol C m−2 d−1, suggesting that net particle production was concentrated in the upper EZ. Net primary production varied from 24 to 29 mmol C m−2 d−1, slightly more than half in the upper EZ. Export ratios varied from 11 to 25%. Trap measurements of chlorophyll and phaeopigments allowed us to quantify fluxes of fresh phytoplankton and herbivorous fecal pellets, respectively, which were both minor contributors to total flux, although their contributions varied with depth. Phytoplankton flux was more important from the upper to lower EZ; fecal pellets were more important at the EZ base and below. C:N elemental ratios and 13C and 15N isotope analyses indicated particle transformations within and beneath the EZ. 234Th-238U disequilibrium measurements varied, likely reflecting the mixing of water from multiple regions over the ~month-long time-scale of 234Th. Our results highlight the complexity of the biological carbon pump in oligotrophic regions.
Introduction of Pediatric Robot-Assisted Pyeloplasty in A Low-Volume Centre

(1) Background: This study investigated the introduction of pediatric robot-assisted pyeloplasty in a low-volume centre with reference to open pyeloplasty with regards to operative times, length of stay (LOS) and outcomes and cost analysis. (2) Methods: Data from 10 consecutive robot-assisted pyeloplasties was compared retrospectively to an age and weight matched cohort of open pyeloplasties operated on during two previous years. Operative times were analyzed in conjunction with LOS, outcomes and cost-analysis from patient records. (3) Results: Operative times remain longer in robot-assisted pyeloplasties (168 (IQR 68) vs. 141 (IQR 51) min), but patients are discharged from the hospital earlier and may return to daily activities earlier. In our hospital, the difference in LOS levels to some degree the cost difference between operations. (4) Conclusions: Robot-assisted pyeloplasty can be safely and economically introduced and maintained in a low-volume centre.
Three Lines of Defense for Wildfire Risk Management in Electric Power Grids: A Review

Wildfires pose a significant challenge to the natural and the built environments, as well as the safety and economic wellbeing of the communities residing in wildfire-prone areas. The electric power grid is specifically among the built environments most affected by, and contributing to, wildfires. In this paper, we propose a three lines of defense (3LD) framework for wildfire risk management in electric power infrastructure and review the literature from this lens. An overview of the physics and phenomenology of the wildfires as it relates to power grids is presented, and the logic for the proposed 3LD framework is discussed. The reviewed literature based on the 3LD theme includes the most relevant and emerging research work on wildfire prevention as the first line of defense, wildfire mitigation and proactive response as the second line of defense, and wildfire recovery preparedness as the third line of defense. This study reveals that while the state of the art, to a large extent, stands comprehensive in various aspects of power system resilience and wildfire risk management, there is a gap in the literature in addressing this emerging risk in a holistic, interdisciplinary approach.
Activity in the dorsomedial striatum decreases with improvement in motor coordination

Abstract It is widely thought that during early stages of motor learning, the dorsomedial striatum facilitates the learning of goal-directed actions, and at later stages, the learned actions are transferred to the dorsolateral striatum, which enables motor actions to become a skill or habit. It is however unknown if these striatal regions are simultaneously active as expertise is acquired during practice. To address this question, we developed a treadmill task to track changes in mouse locomotor coordination during practice running at a range of speeds. We analyzed body position and paw movement to evaluate changes in motor coordination over practice using DeepLabCut and custom-built code. By simultaneous evaluation of motor coordination improvements and fiber photometry recordings of neuronal calcium activity during training, we found that direct pathway dorsomedial striatum neurons exhibited reduced activity as the mouse became proficient at running on the treadmill. In contrast, direct pathway activity in dorsolateral striatum was similar throughout training and did not correlate with increased skill proficiency. These results provide new tools to measure changes in fine motor skills during simultaneous recordings of brain activity, revealing fundamental features of the neural substrates of motor learning.
Is There a Futility Discriminant Function Score for Alcoholic Hepatitis

The treatment for patients with alcoholic hepatitis (AH) who have a discriminant function (DF) score greater than 32 has been steroids. A prior study reported that mortality approaches 100% when the DF score is greater than 54, despite the use of prednisolone. Our aim was to determine if a DF score greater than 54 is associated with high mortality despite steroids. We conducted a retrospective study of 531 first-time inpatient encounters of AH. We compared 30-day mortality between patients with DF 54 or less to those greater than 54 treated with steroids, as well as a matched group not treated with steroids. A total of 531 inpatients diagnosed with AH were identified, of which 124 had a DF greater than 32 and 52 were treated with steroids. Among patients treated with steroids, 30-day mortality for patients with DF greater than 54 (n = 27) and 54 or below (n = 25) was 22% and 12%, respectively (p = 0.47). Among patients with DF greater than 54, the 30-day mortality for those who did (n = 27) and did not (n = 29) receive steroids was 22% and 24%, respectively (p = 0.87). In our study population, steroids were not futile in patients with a DF score of greater than 54.
A Review of the Year in Family Law 2007-2008: Federalization and Nationalization Continue

In 2008, the ABA Section of Family Law celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Over the past fifty years, one of the most significant changes has been the explosion of federal laws, uniform laws, and cases interpreting them. As families have become more mobile, the federal government has been asked to enact laws in numerous areas that traditionally were left to the states, such as child welfare, the establishment and enforcement of child support, domestic violence, and division of pension plans. In addition to traditional federal laws on bankruptcy and taxation, there are now laws dealing with international adoption, international child abduction, and the adoption and custody of Indian children. Enactment of more uniform acts has led not only to more cases, but also to more uniformity and predictability for families crossing state borders. This year's review captures some of the more interesting decisions.
Health communications: diverse opportunities for technical communicators

We highlight a health communication research project, discuss a federal agency's health communication efforts, and illustrate health communications for consumers. Communicating health information to diverse audiences provides opportunities for technical communicators in a wide variety of settings.
The Role of International GAAP in Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions

This study investigates whether differences in accounting standards across countries inhibit firms from investing in foreign markets. Using the frequency and dollar magnitude of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from 32 countries over the period 1998-2004, we find that the volume of M&A activity across country pairs is larger for pairs of countries with similar Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Moreover, we find that the takeover premium is higher if target countries’ GAAP is similar to that of the acquiring firm’s country. This finding is consistent with the notion that similar GAAP reduces information cost, which increases competition among bidders and therefore leaves more gain for target shareholders. We also find that the 2005 mandatory adoption of IFRS attracted more cross-border M&As among IFRS adopting countries, and that this increase in M&A activity within the IFRS countries is more pronounced for country pairs with low degree of similarity in GAAP in the pre-IFRS adoption period. Overall, our results highlight the role of accounting standards in shaping cross-border M&A activity.
The use of the cathode ray for recording heart sounds and vibrations

Abstract An instrument which embodies a special dynamic microphone, amplifiers, and cathode-ray tubes, whereby vibrations set up by the heartbeat may be recorded, is described. Two cathode-ray tubes are employed; one is used to photograph the vibration complexes on a moving film, and the other, which has a long-persistence screen, is used as a viewing tube. Curves obtained from normal hearts are presented. Certain advantages which this instrument seems to have over other stethographic devices are discussed.
SU-E-T-431: Feasiblity of Using CT Scout Images for 2D LDR Brachytherpay Planning

Purpose: i) To show the feasibility of using CT scout images for 2D low-dose rate brachytherapy planning with BrachyVision (version 10.4); ii) to show their advantages and disadvantages over DRRs. Methods: A phantom was constructed to house a Fletcher-Suite applicator. The phantom is made of Styrofoam with metal BBs positioned at well-defined separations. These markers are used to assess the image distortion in the scout images. Unlike DRRs, scout images are distorted only in the direction normal to the couch direction; therefore, they needed to be scaled unidirectionally prior to importing into BrachyVision. In addition to confirming the scaling is performed correctly by measuring distances between well-positioned BB, we also compare a LDR plan using scout images to a 3D CT-based plan. Results: There is no distortion of the image along the couch direction due to the collimation of the CT scanner. The distortion in the transverse plane can be corrected by multiplying by the ratio of distances between source-to-isocenter and source-to-detector. The results show the distance separations between BBs as measured in scout images and by a caliber are within a few millimeters. Dosimetrically, the difference between the dose rates to points A and B based on scout images and on 3D CT are less than a few percents. The accuracy can be improved by correcting for the distortion on the transverse plane. Conclusion: It is possible to use CT scout images for 2D planning in BrachyVision. This is an advantage because scout images have no metal artifacts often present in CT images or DRRs. Another advantage is the lack of distortion in the couch direction. One major disadvantage is that the image distortion due to beam divergence can be large. This is due to the inherent short distance between source-to-isocenter and source-to-detector on a CT scanner.
Biofunctionalization of Carbon Nanotubes

The sections in this article are Introduction Carbon Nanotubes – Types, Structures and Properties Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes Approaches to Aqueous Solubilization of Carbon Nanotubes Chemical Modifications Use of Water-compatible Surfactants Functionalization with Water-soluble Polymers Interaction and Functionalization with Biological Molecules Noncovalent Biofunctionalization Covalent Biofunctionalization Applications of Biofunctionalized Carbon Nanotubes Assembly of Electronic Devices Biosensing Substrates for Neuronal Growth Concluding Remarks Acknowledgments
Radiotherapy planning for the lymphomas: expanding roles for biologic imaging.

Radiotherapy planning now uses advanced technologies to accurately image and assess the extent of disease for treatment. PET scanning has become established as perhaps the most important imaging study for patients with Hodgkin’s disease. With respect to initial staging, FDG-PET is more sensitive overall than CT scanning. PET can detect disease at sites that do not meet size criteria by CT. Also, PET is more specific than CT alone because of the functional information that it provides. However, some disease may still escape PET imaging, and false negative results can occur. With respect to treatment response, PET has now become accepted as the most important response measure for the lymphomas. Current protocols are investigating the benefit of this information for radiotherapy planning, and even the possible elimination of radiotherapy in patients completely responding to chemotherapy. For radiotherapy planning, PET/CT should be obtained prior to and after chemotherapy; both scans give important information for the design of the radiation treatment. This chapter will review specific guidelines for planning radiotherapy based on these new imaging capabilities.
Law, Liberty and State: Local and global knowledge in the administrative state

How should the administrative state be organized, from the epistemic point of view? There is a tension or tradeoff between local and global knowledge; this tradeoff implicitly structures a number of debates about the epistemic capacities of line agencies, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and the administrative state more generally. I will examine the tradeoff between local and global knowledge at two related levels. The first is the scope of the administrative state’s regulatory jurisdiction; this is the large-scale question of government versus markets that is central to the Hayekian program. The second level is the internal organization of the regulatory bureaucracy, within the area committed to the administrative state’s regulatory jurisdiction. Here the industrial organization literature has adapted Hayekian questions to new settings. On the first issue, Hayekian arguments for a constrained administrative state overlook the ability of non-market institutions to aggregate local and tacit knowledge. On the second issue, top-down epistemic coordination of agencies turns out to be indispensable; OIRA aggregates and coordinates dispersed information – information that is dispersed around the bureaucracy, rather than society -- and does so in a manner that cannot be replicated by decentralized horizontal coordination among agencies.
Association of percentage of tumor burden removed with debulking nephrectomy and progression-free survival (PFS) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients (Pts) treated with VEGF-targeted therapy

5095 Background: Debulking nephrectomy is a standard of care in mRCC, although data in patients subsequently treated with targeted therapy is lacking. The objective of this study was to determine i...
Th e Evolving Private International Law / Substantive Law Overlap in the European Union

This chapter, written for the FESTSCHRIFT FUR ULRICH MAGNUS (Sellier European Law Publishers 2014), considers three areas in which, either through legislation or through the decisions of the European Court of Justice, private international law rules found in the Brussels I Regulation have overlapped with substantive law rules to create uncomfortable – and sometimes undesirable – results. These examples arise at the overlap of (1) the CISG Article 31 rules on delivery of goods and the Brussels I Recast Regulation Article 7(1) (original Article 5(1)) contract jurisdiction rules; (2) national rules on contract formation and the Brussels I Recast Regulation Article 25 (original Article 23) rules on choice of court; and (3) consumer protection and the rules of the Brussels I Recast Regulation on jurisdiction in consumer cases. After discussing each of these overlapping areas of law, the chapter provides comments on how, together, these concerns demonstrate the need to avoid using private international law rules for the purpose of either implementing substantive law goals or for creating new rules that conflict with their substantive law counterparts.
Fluorescence-Based Sorting of Neural Stem Cells and Progenitors

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are defined as undifferentiated cells originating from the neuroectoderm that have the capacity both to perpetually self-renew without differentiating and to generate multiple types of lineage-restricted progenitors (LRPs). LRPs can themselves undergo limited self-renewal and ultimately differentiate into highly specialized cells that make up the nervous system. However, this physiologically delimited definition of NSCs and LRPs has become increasingly blurred due to lack of protocols for effectively separating these types of cells from primary tissues. This unit discusses recent attempts using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) strategies to prospectively isolate NSCs from different types of LRPs as they appear in vivo, and details a protocol that optimally attains this goal. Thus, the strategy presented here provides a framework for more precise studies of NSC and LRP cell biology in the future, which can be applied to all vertebrates, including humans.
Climate change and decadal shifts in the phenology of larval fishes in the California Current ecosystem.

Climate change has prompted an earlier arrival of spring in numerous ecosystems. It is uncertain whether such changes are occurring in Eastern Boundary Current Upwelling ecosystems, because these regions are subject to natural decadal climate variability, and regional climate models predict seasonal delays in upwelling. To answer this question, the phenology of 43 species of larval fishes was investigated between 1951 and 2008 off southern California. Ordination of the fish community showed earlier phenological progression in more recent years. Thirty-nine percent of seasonal peaks in larval abundance occurred earlier in the year, whereas 18% were delayed. The species whose phenology became earlier were characterized by an offshore, pelagic distribution, whereas species with delayed phenology were more likely to reside in coastal, demersal habitats. Phenological changes were more closely associated with a trend toward earlier warming of surface waters rather than decadal climate cycles, such as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and North Pacific Gyre Oscillation. Species with long-term advances and delays in phenology reacted similarly to warming at the interannual time scale as demonstrated by responses to the El Nino Southern Oscillation. The trend toward earlier spawning was correlated with changes in sea surface temperature (SST) and mesozooplankton displacement volume, but not coastal upwelling. SST and upwelling were correlated with delays in fish phenology. For species with 20th century advances in phenology, future projections indicate that current trends will continue unabated. The fate of species with delayed phenology is less clear due to differences between Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change models in projected upwelling trends.
Models, Mathematics and Critical Loss

Critical Loss Analysis is an empirical implementation of the hypothetical monopolist test for market definition contained in the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission Horizontal Merger Guidelines. As usually applied, the test accepts the proposed market definition as relevant for antitrust analysis whenever the predicted Actual Loss from a small, but significant and non-transitory price increase is less than the computed break-even Critical Loss. While the traditional analysis does not posit an analytical link between the predicted Actual Loss and the break-even Critical Loss, some economists claim the two concepts are mathematically related. They believe that the Critical Loss test will almost never generate broad market definitions in high margin markets. We suggest that the critics overstate their case, because they have only identified a special case modeling structure which may have limited applicability. Revised analyses, drawing on the concepts introduced in this paper, are available elsewhere on SSRN. Text based on Sections II and IV form the core of Coate, Malcolm B. and Joseph J. Simons, “Critical Loss: Modeling and Application Issues,” 2009. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1520069. Text building on Section III, along with Appendix A was published as Coate, Malcolm B. and Joseph J. Simons, “Critical Loss vs. Diversion: Clearing up the Confusion,” GCP Antitrust Chronicle, Dec. 2009. Through the courtesy of the editors, this paper is also available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1562006.
Nucleoid Morphology in E. Coli is Cell Shape Dependent

In a typical E.coli cell, nucleoid morphology, as determined from 3D fluorescence imaging of an Hu-mCherry fusion protein, has been shown to be a dynamic helicoidal ellipsoid. Using the replication of the origin as a marker to align data sets temporally, we have investigated the morphology of this structure with 5sec resolution throughout the cell cycle. Here we show that number and pitch of the helical turns is depend upon the portion of the genome that has been replicated and the size of the cells. Additionally, we show that longitudinal sub-structures vary as a function of cell cycle as well.
Predictions for Bhabha scattering in left-right models below the Z resonance

We examine the predictions of left-right models in Bhabha scattering at center-of-mass energies near ..sqrt..s = 60 GeV and discuss the usefulness of polarized beams. We find that high-precision Bhabha-scattering experiment at these energies can provide additional constraints to left-right models. The recent measurements of the W and Z masses at the CERN p-barp collider, while eliminating some models, still allow much freedom in the model parameters. We also discuss three special cases: models with a low-mass Z/sub 2/, models with a simple Higgs structure, and the left-right-symmetric model.
Discrimination Learning in Dairy Calves

Abstract Twenty-four 3 to 6 month old Holstein-Friesian heifer calves were tested in a modified Y-maze to determine if they were capable of discrimination learning. The discriminations to be learned were brightness (black versus white) and size (large versus small). The calves were tested on one discrimination and upon reaching 90% correct responses were switched to the other. All calves learned the first discrimination in 2 to 5 days ( X ¯ = 3.37) and the second in 1 to 4 days ( X ¯ = 2.41). Since the difference in time required to learn the first and second discriminations was significant (P
Cytochrome P450 1A1, cigarette smoking, and risk of endometrial cancer (United States).

Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) is involved in the metabolism of estradiol and the activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in tobacco products. Polymorphic variation in CYP1A1 activity may modify susceptibility to endometrial cancer through the oxidative metabolism of estradiol and the activation of tobacco-smoke constituents. We prospectively evaluated the associations between three common CYP1A1 polymorphisms and endometrial cancer risk, as well as the potential modification of these associations by cigarette smoking, in a case–control study nested within the Nurses’ Health Study. We investigated the MspI restriction-site polymorphism, a C → A transversion at nucleotide 4887 (Thr461Asn) and a A → G transition at nucleotide 4889 (Ile462Val) among 456 women with endometrial cancer and 1,134 matched controls. We used conditional logistic regression to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to quantify the risk of endometrial cancer among subjects who had at least one variant allele compared with that of subjects homozygous for the wild-type allele. We did not observe any statistically significant associations between the MspI, Thr461Asn or Ile462Val polymorphisms and endometrial cancer risk or any significant effect modification by cigarette-smoking status. These data suggest that these three polymorphisms are not important in determining genetic susceptibility to endometrial cancer, although larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.
Rape prevention with high-risk males: Short-term outcome of two interventions

Two model-based interventions designed to reduce the amount of date rape attempted by male college students were developed and evaluated. The Rape Supportive Cognitions (RSC) intervention targeted commonly held false beliefs that promote or condone coercive sexual behavior. The Victim Empathy/Outcome Expectancies (VE/OE) intervention targeted poor victim empathy and problematic rape outcome expectancies. Seventy-four high-risk subjects as determined by scores on the Attraction to Sexual Aggression scale (ASA) (Malamuth, 1989) were randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups (RSC or VE/OE) or to a no-treatment control group. Treatment effects were assessed using subjects' pre- and posttreatment scores on the ASA, the Rape Myth Acceptance, the Acceptance of Interpersonal Violence, and the Adversarial Sexual Beliefs scales (Burt, 1980), as well as subjects' posttreatment scores on the Rape Conformity Assessment (Schewe and O'Donohue, 1995). Results indicated that both treatments were significantly more effective than no treatment. The RSC group showed clinically significant changes on three of the five dependent measures, while the VE/OE group evidenced clinically significant changes on only one measure. This is the first well-controlled rape prevention study to demonstrate clear improvements in treated high-risk males over control group subjects.
Low generation photochromic monodendrons on a solid surface

Abstract Zeroth through third generations of amphiphilic monodendrons containing a benzyl-15-crown-5 polar focal point, photochromic spacer, and alkyl tails as peripheral groups have been investigated for their ability to form photoresponsive surface monolayers. Thickness measurements, scanning probe microscopy, and molecular modeling were used to determine the microstructure of the monolayers. The tilted molecular packing of dendrons in the monolayers is proposed with bulky dendritic shell prohibiting dense packing of azobenzene groups and the aggregate formation. The two-stage trans–cis isomerization was observed for the photochromic monodendron layers composed of various generation dendrons. Fast changes within the first several minutes occurred in the azobenzene-containing monodendrons until the conversion of trans–cis isomerization reaches 13–33%. Then lateral steric hindrances in the monolayer decreases the transformation rate by three orders of magnitude. Diffusion limited intralayer reorganization is suggested to be a limiting factor in the rate of photoisomerization changes.