cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PET-CT ordering patterns during staging and end-of-life phases of breast cancer treatment

1501 Objectives Despite increasing PET-CT utilization as providers continue to incorporate PET-CT into their practices, the extent to which provider PET-CT ordering varies within clinical contexts is unclear. This study examined differences in provider ordering practices, testing for variations in ordering by TNM classification and treatment phase of breast cancer patients. Methods Radiology department, institutional cancer center, and state death registry records were queried to identify all PET-CT studies of female breast cancer patients at an academic cancer center with dates of death between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2014. The providers ordering the study sample’s PET-CTs were identified and anonymized. Patients were separated into two groups based on TNM classification at diagnosis: IIa to IIIa, and IIIb to IIIc. Patients outside of this range of TNM classifications were not included in the study. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to test for variation in mean provider imaging intensity during 1-year post-diagnosis and 1-year pre-mortem phases of treatment. Results The study sample contained 795 patients with 2,669 PET-CTs, ordered by 12 providers. Of the study sample, 6% of patients were aged 18 to 39; 64% were 40 to 64; and 30% were 65 or older. Stage-specific mean imaging intensity varied significantly between providers in both 1-year post-diagnosis (p Conclusions Retrospective analysis of PET-CT use in breast cancer patients indicates providers do not adhere to uniform practices, despite practicing in the same academic cancer center. The findings indicate it may be most advantageous to emphasize clinical context in PET/PET-CT practice guidelines. The wide and significant variation in provider use of PET-CT may also be an indication providers do not consider relative cost-effectiveness when ordering PET-CT, instead assessing PET-CT value based on individual, non-uniform preferences.
Weather and Climate Impacts on Browsing and Grazing Ungulates

Through selective pressures, weather and climate have shaped the biogeographic and behavioural characteristics of ungulates. For individuals, body condition reflects their integrated acquisition of forage and energy expenditures, which are linked to weather and climate. Thermoregulation is influenced by factors such as insulation, activity, reproduction, and cover. If sufficient energy is available, some ungulates can endure extreme cold, but limits to heat dissipation can put them at risk in extreme heat. However, thermal stress may be avoided through seasonal migration. Harsh weather can lead to population-level responses, most frequently in semi-arid and arid systems. Frequent die-offs in such systems put into question the degree to which ungulate populations relate to forage production, as compared to climate, but the spatial and temporal relevance of that is still debated. Like for most taxa, climate change is expected to lead to migration of ungulate species toward the poles, and to higher elevations, but landscape fragmentation makes such shifts difficult. Responses depend upon the exposure of ungulate populations to change, sensitivity to those changes, resilience, and their capacity to adapt. Genomic responses are less likely in ungulates, given relatively long generation times. Local adaptations include changes in behaviour, such as grazing more at night in predator-free areas. Risks of more frequent extreme events such as droughts are concerning, especially for those most reliant upon ungulates for ecosystem services. The futures of many ungulate species will depend upon their abilities to adapt to changing climate.
Coauthor Country Affiliations in International Collaborative Research Funded by the US National Institutes of Health, 2009 to 2017.

Importance The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest funder of biomedical and behavioral research in the world. International collaborative research—a subset of NIH’s portfolio—is critical to furthering the agency’s health research mission. Objective To quantify the extent of the NIH’s international collaborations and the relative importance of this research through the lens of publications. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study used bibliometric data from the Web of Science database to analyze trends in the growth of NIH-funded publications from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2017, and examined their importance using national affiliations of all coauthors listed, h indices, and citation impact scores. All countries with coauthor affiliations in NIH-funded publications during the study period were included. Data were analyzed from October 22 through November 16, 2018. Exposures Country affiliations of coauthors’ institutions in NIH-funded publications indexed in the Web of Science database from 2009 to 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures Trends in the number of NIH-supported publications with non-US coauthors during a 9-year period and their relative importance assessed by h index per country and category-normalized citation impact (CNCI) for groups of country affiliations in 2017. Results From 2009 to 2017, the annual count of NIH-funded publications increased 46.2% from 67 041 to 98 002. This increase was driven in part by an increase in publications with a non-US author alone or as a collaborator with a US author compared with those exclusively with US authors, reflected by an increase in the percentage of publications with non-US coauthors from 28.3% to 34.8%. Moreover, in 2017, publications coauthored by US-affiliated and non–US-affiliated investigators had a higher mean CNCI (1.99) than those whose authors were only US affiliated (1.54) or non–US affiliated (1.35). China became the most frequent publishing partner, with 6982 coauthored publications and the greatest increase over time among non-US countries. Conclusions and Relevance In a 9-year period when the NIH budget remained relatively unchanged, an increase in the number of publications occurred with a growing trend toward more international collaborations of authorship; these publications also had a higher CNCI than publications with only US or only non-US authors. The findings suggest that international collaboration is a vital and growing component of the NIH’s research output and likely reflects increased globalization of biomedical research.
The Effectiveness of Professional Development on the Phonological Awareness Outcomes of Preschool Children: A Systematic Review

There is considerable concern regarding our nation’s literacy skills. Research has repeatedly shown that the literacy trajectory is well established very early in the school career. Early childhood...
Book Rvw: Optical Holography: Principles, Techniques, and Applications. By P. Hariharan

When it was first published in 1983, Optical Holography was written as a selfcontained and complete scientific treatment of holography, with special attention paid to recent developments in the field. Since that time, however, the field of holography has changed dramatically.
Two new genetically modified mouse alleles labeling distinct phases of retinal ganglion cell development by fluorescent proteins

During development, retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) take on different trajectories for distinct cell fates. Previous studies have identified key regulators involved in two key steps of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) genesis; Atoh7 functions in a subpopulation of RPCs to render them competent for the RGC fate, whereas Pou4f2 and Isl1 function to specify the RGC fate and promote RGC differentiation. Extensive research has been performed on the roles of these transcription factors in RGC development, but properties of these two phases they represent and the cellular context in which these two factors function have not been thoroughly investigated, largely due to the cellular heterogeneity of developing retina. In this paper, we describe two novel knock-in mouse alleles, Atoh7zsGreenCreERT2 and Pou4f2FlagtdTomato, which enabled us to label retinal cells in the two phases of RGC development by fluorescent proteins. In addition, the Atoh7zsGreenCreERT2 allele also allowed for indirect labeling of RGCs and other cell types upon tamoxifen induction in a dose-dependent manner. Further, these alleles could be used to purify retinal cells of these different phases by fluorescence assisted cell sorting (FACS). Thus, these two alleles can serve as very useful tools for studying the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying RGC formation.
Donor-Recipient Height Mismatch is Associated with Decreased Survival in Pediatric-to-Adult Liver Transplant Recipients.

Liver grafts from pediatric donors represent a small fraction of grafts transplanted into adult recipients, and their use in adults requires special consideration of donor size to prevent perioperative complications. In the past, graft weight or volume ratios have been adopted from the living donor liver transplant literature to guide clinicians; however, these metrics are not regularly available to surgeons accepting deceased donor organs. In this study, we evaluated all pediatric-to-adult liver transplants in the United Network for Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research database from 1987 to 2019, stratified by donor age and donor-recipient height mismatch ratio (HMR; defined as donor height/recipient height). On multivariable regression controlling for cold ischemia time, age, and transplantation era, the use of donors from ages 0 to 4 and 5 to 9 had increased risk of graft failure (hazard ratio [HR], 1.81 [P < 0.01] and HR, 1.16 [P < 0.01], respectively) compared with donors aged 15 to 17. On Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, a HMR < 0.8 was associated with inferior graft survival (mean, 11.8 versus 14.6 years; log-rank P < 0.001) and inferior patient survival (mean, 13.5 versus 14.9 years; log-rank P < 0.01) when compared with pairs with similar height (HMR, 0.95-1.05; ie, donors within 5% of recipient height). This study demonstrates that both young donor age and low HMR confer additional risk in adult recipients of pediatric liver grafts.
Computing with non-orientable defects: Nematics, smectics and natural patterns

Abstract Defects are a ubiquitous feature of ordered media. They have certain universal features, independent of the underlying physical system, reflecting their topological origins. While the topological properties of defects are robust, they appear as ‘unphysical’ singularities, with non-integrable energy densities in coarse-grained macroscopic models. We develop a principled approach for enriching coarse-grained theories with enough of the ‘micro-physics’ to obtain thermodynamically consistent, well-set models, that allow for the investigations of dynamics and interactions of defects in extended systems. We also develop associated numerical methods that are applicable to computing energy driven behaviors of defects across the amorphous-soft-crystalline materials spectrum. Our methods can handle order parameters that have a head-tail symmetry, i.e. director fields, in systems with a continuous translation symmetry, as in nematic liquid crystals, and in systems where the translation symmetry is broken, as in smectics and convection patterns. We illustrate our methods with explicit computations.
Complete Genome Sequence of Streptomyces Siphophage Sycamore.

Streptomyces sp. strain Mg1 is a Gram-positive soil bacterium capable of causing cell lysis and degradation of Bacillus subtilis colonies. Here, we report the 48,481-bp genome of Streptomyces sp. Mg1 siphophage Sitrop. With 77 predicted protein-coding genes and one tRNA, Sitrop shares 77% nucleotide sequence identity with the Streptomyces phage Verse.
Implementation of the Average-Log-Ratio ALR gear-damage detection algorithm on gear-fatigue-test recordings

Abstract The Average-Log-Ratio, ALR, gear-damage detection algorithm is exercised on accelerometer recordings made during earlier-performed accelerated gear testing. Results of ALR computations from tooth bending-fatigue failure and pitting failure are displayed and discussed. The periodic behavior of the rotational-harmonic frequency spectra of tooth working-surface damage is verified and utilized in ALR detection of both tooth bending-fatigue and pitting damage. Rotational-harmonic frequency spectra out to the tenth tooth-meshing harmonic of damaged gears are utilized. ALR computations of gears failing in tooth-bending fatigue are shown to provide strong periodic contributions out to (and beyond) the tenth tooth-meshing harmonic, whereas tooth pitting damage is shown to generate rotational harmonic spectra with strongest contributions determined by the fractional size of the pitting damage on tooth working surfaces. This differing character of ALR rotational harmonic spectra between bending-fatigue and pitting damage allows remote detection of damage that can distinguish between these two classifications of gear damage.
Operative Treatment of Severe Cervical Spine Injuries Sustained During Youth Sports: Experience from a Pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center over a 15 Year Period

Background: Sports-related cervical spine injuries (CSI) are devastating traumas that can result in permanent disability and death. However, there is a paucity of literature on catastrophic CSI sustained in young athletes who require surgical intervention. The objectives of this study were to review injury characteristics, management, and outcomes in pediatric patients who sustained an operative CSI during youth sports. Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients treated at a Level 1 pediatric trauma center for CSI (2004-2019). Children <18 years old who sustained a sports-related CSI which required operative treatment were …
Small area estimation

Many programs that monitor the environment provide nationwide environmental statistics for large geographical areas. There is, however, a growing need to obtain these statistics for small geographical areas where the data are too sparse to produce reliable estimates. This article reviews how empirical Bayes and hierarchical Bayes methods can be implemented using both area level and unit level hierarchical models that combine information from different sources to produce reliable environment-related statistics for small areas. This article also discusses methodologies for estimating the uncertainty of the derived estimates and the related issues concerning model building. Keywords: Bayes; empirical Bayes; hierarchical models; mixed models; monitoring
Enabling ECC and Repair Features in an eFuse Box for Memory Repair Applications

To manage yield on the ever-growing memories in SoCs it is critical not to compromise on the reliability of the eFuse box storing the memory repair data. To this end, the latest eFuse memories support Error Correction Code (ECC) and repair features to increase reliability and enhance yield. However, conventional Design-For-Test (DFT) methods do not provide solutions to leverage those features. This paper proposes a methodology to enable eFuse repair and presents a custom ECC logic module that allows an eFuse box to seamlessly interface with a near-industry-standard Built-In Self-Repair (BISR) controller.
The Mechanics of Frictional Healing and Slip Instability During the Seismic Cycle

The seismic cycle of earthquake failure and strength recovery attests to the frictional instability and healing of tectonic faults. However, our understanding of these processes and the detailed underlying mechanics is limited. Here, we discuss frictional strength recovery and stability in the broad historical context of early studies. These studies introduced the concepts of static and dynamic friction, applied to a wide range of materials, and led to modern friction laws that account for constitutive relations between friction, slip, and strain. Friction memory effects and the processes that govern the nucleation of instability, creep relaxation, and frictional strength recovery during the seismic cycle are discussed in the context of rate and state friction (RSF) laws. One key underlying concept is that to host repeated earthquakes, tectonic faults must exhibit both frictional healing and frictional and elastic properties that allow instabilities to nucleate. A particular interest for frictional healing is the independent roles of contact time and slip as related to frictional aging and contact rejuvenation, including the effects of granular consolidation and dilation. We address the conditions under which frictional healing is dictated primarily by either time-dependent contact junction aging, as described by the Dieterich law for friction state evolution, or slip-dependent healing, as described by the Ruina law. We present new data from slide-hold-slide (SHS) friction tests and show that the loading rate effect on frictional healing can be accounted for by considering the effective healing displacement given by the product of hold time and loading velocity. The full time series of aging tests, including relaxation and reloading during ‘SHS’ tests, are used to recover friction parameters for comparison to data from velocity step tests and SHS tests at a range of slip velocities. We combine friction data from several types of tests and use them to critically evaluate the internal consistency of the RSF laws. We find that the Ruina law provides a closer match to laboratory friction data than the Dieterich law although neither law matches the data fully.
Effect of Business Intelligence and IT Infrastructure Flexibility on Organizational Agility

There is a growing use of business intelligence (BI) for better management decisions in different industries. However, empirical studies on BI are still scarce in academic research. This research investigates BI from an organizational agility perspective. Organizational agility is the ability to sense and respond to market opportunities and threats with speed. Drawing on systems theory and literature on organizational agility, business intelligence, and IT infrastructure flexibility, we hypothesize that BI use and IT infrastructure flexibility are two major antecedents to organizational agility. We developed a research model to examine the effect of BI use and IT infrastructure flexibility on organizational agility. Survey data were collected and used to assess the model. The results support the hypothesis that BI and IT infrastructure flexibility are two significant antecedents of organizational agility. This research is a pioneering work that empirically investigates the significance of BI in business context.
Giving To Ingrates

Models for voluntary provision of public goods predict free riding is rational unless the model includes a motive for the act of giving referred to as a “warm glow” in the literature. The source for this warm glow is likely to include the gratitude of the recipient. The experimental setting employed here controls for positive or negative reciprocity from the recipient of a gift to isolate the individual satisfaction from the act of giving as the remaining motivation for giving. The experimental treatment is whether the recipient is informed that his/her payoff includes a “gift” from another participant (donor or giver). The central finding is that donations increase when the donor/giver knows that the recipient knows that a gift has been provided. Key Words:
Detection of restriction fragment length polymorphisms in clinical isolates and serially passaged Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.

Abstract An 800-base-pair HindIII-PstI fragment that flanks a hot spot for Tn7 insertion was isolated from the chromosome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and cloned into pUC12. The fragment was used to probe XhoI digests of genomic DNA from 18 P. aeruginosa isolates collected from sputum samples of seven cystic fibrosis patients. Only two XhoI restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), of 3.7 and 7.7 kilobases (kb), were detected. Isolate WSU3531-1 (3.7-kb XhoI fragment) and WSU3860 (7.7-kb XhoI fragment), while isolated from the same patient, showed different RFLPs. Serial passages of isolate WSU3531-1 demonstrated that this strain was phenotypically stable. In contrast, colony and pigment variants were readily isolated at a frequency of 1% from serial passages of isolate WSU3860. When XhoI-digested genomic DNA from phenotypic variants of serially passaged WSU3860 were probed with the 800-base-pair HindIII-PstI fragment, the probe hybridized to a 10.4-kb XhoI fragment from three isolates. Restriction analysis of the genomic DNA digested with a variety of restriction enzymes showed that a 2.7-kb insertion occurred in the same region for all three isolates. There appeared to be no correlation between changes in the RFLP and changes in colony morphology.
Topological Defect Models of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays

We give an overview over models in which cosmic rays above 1 EeV = 10**(18) eV are produced by the decay of supermassive "X" particles released from topological defects possibly created in cosmological phase transitions. We note that, for an interesting particle physics parameter range, these models are still consistent with current data, and discuss signatures for the topological defect mechanism which can be tested by the next generation experiments.
LGBT-Affirming Black Churches’ Responses to the HIV/AIDS Crisis

The HIV/AIDS crisis has disproportionately devastated the African American community. Some historically Black churches (HBCs) have developed an affirmative ministry for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) individuals. Using the heuristic methodology, the author explored the historical, theological, and practice dimensions of LGBT-affirming ministries at four HBCs. During a period of 4 to 6 weeks with each church, the author conducted narrative interviews with the pastors, participant observations, and church document reviews. Using narrative analysis and grounded theory, the data was analyzed for evidence of the LGBT affirmative ministries. Each pastor offered strategies for decreasing stigmatization, increasing LGBT self-love and safer sex practices, and decreasing HIV infection rates.
Respiratory gating for MRI and MRS in rodents

The synchronization of MRI data acquisition to the respiratory cycle is crucial for collecting high-resolution images of small animals. Data collected during at-rest periods (breath-hold or between breaths) do not suffer from the blurring effects of respiratory motion seen in unsynchronized images. Here, we describe a simple, inexpensive, robust respiratory gating unit to achieve this synchronization. The unit can operate in either free breathing or driven breathing (ventilator) modes, with respiration detected optically (breathing motion) or via a pressure transducer. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this unit with in-vivo mouse images of lung and liver.
Signal Processing: Panel Report

We have witnessed a tremendous expansion in the theoretical foundations of signal processing, spurred by a multitude of applications in diverse fields of engineering and science. In our radar meteorological community, signal processing was seldom, if ever, an end in itself—it was usually the other way around. A new meteorologically useful parameter was identified, and methods were sought to extract it from the signal. This has happened with the velocity and spectrum width parameters, and is occurring right now with polarization variables. Often signal processing theory unifies what on first sight appears as different subjects, by spilling over discipline boundaries and bearing fruit in unintended applications. The subject of radar was particularly fertile, and signal processing techniques have found applications in profiling radars, lidars and weather radars, all of which are subjects of this volume.
Polysilicon gate depletion effect on deep-submicron circuit performance

By integrating the efforts in process, device and circuit simulations, this paper investigates the polysilicon-gate depletion effect (PDE) on performance of circuits composed of deep-submicron transistors. The DC and AC components of PDE on circuit performance are separated for the first time. The study delineates quantitatively the competing effect between the DC and AC PDE. Results of this study suggest the following: (i) PDE degrades circuit speed through dominance of the DC component in the competing effect. Reduction of gate oxide thickness lessens this DC PDE dominance behavior. (ii) Circuit speed degradation due to PDE becomes more significant during low-power operation. (iii) The above phenomenon in (ii) can be substantially improved by thinning the gate oxide thickness. >
Electro-Chemo-Mechanical Modeling of the Artery Myogenic Transient and Steady-State Response

Active contraction of smooth muscle results in the myogenic response and vasomotion of arteries, which adjusts the blood flow and nutrient supply of the organism. It is a multiphysic process coupled electrical and chemical kinetics with mechanical behavior of the smooth muscle. This paper presents a new constitutive model for the media layer of the artery wall to describe the myogenic response of artery wall for different transmural pressures. The model includes two major components: electrobiochemical, and chemomechanical parts. The electrochemical model is a lumped Hodgkin-Huxley-type cell membrane model for the nanoscopic ionic currents: calcium, sodium, and potassium. The calculated calcium concentration serves as input for the chemomechanical portion of the model; its molecular binding and the reactions with other enzyme cause the relative sliding of thin and thick filaments of the contractile unit. In the chemomechanical model, a new nonlinear viscoelastic model is proposed using a continuum mechanics approach to describe the time varying behavior of the smooth muscle. Specifically, this model captures the filament overlap effect, active stress evolution, initial velocity, and elastic recoil in the media layer. The artery wall is considered as a thin-walled cylindrical tube. Using the proposed constitutive model and the thin-walled equilibrium equation, the myogenic response is calculated for different transmural pressures. The integrated model is able to capture the pressure-diameter transient and steady-state relationship.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Association of rhizobia with a marine polychaete.

We report the presence of Mesorhizobium, a genus best known for its nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with terrestrial legumes, associated with the marine polychaete Meganerilla bactericola (Annelida: Nerillidae). Abundant epibionts were previously described as coating the exterior of M. bactericola, which is found within the anoxic sulfide-oxidizing microbial mats of the Santa Barbara Basin, California, USA. 16S rRNA investigation of the bacterial community associated with this polychaete discovered the presence of bacteria belonging to Mesorhizobium. We identified these bacteria using phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA and three additional functional genes, nifH, atpD and recA, and group-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
Higher-Level Specification and Verification with BDDs

Currently, many are investigating promising verification methods based on Boolean decision diagrams (BDDs). Using BDDs, however, requires modeling the system under verification in terms of Boolean formulas. This modeling can be difficult and error-prone, especially when dealing with constructs like arithmetic, sequential control flow, and complex data structures. We present new techniques for automatically translating these constructs into BDDs. Furthermore, these techniques generate Boolean next-state relations in a form that allows efficient image computation without building the full BDD for the next-state relation, thereby side-stepping the commonly-encountered BDD-size blowup of next-state relations.
Rehabilitation Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

Reconstructive surgery has expanded tremendously with technologic advances in joint arthroplasty. Complex knee deformity with severe degenerative joint disease, associated bone deficits and soft tissue imbalances can now be successfully reconstructed with a myriad of modular knee implants that allows the surgeon to customize the prosthesis to the patient's specific problem. Technical advances and pressure of managed care have encouraged a more rapid advancement of patients and the associated need for more intense in patient rehabilitation. The orthopaedic surgeon, nursing, and rehabilitation staff must work together as a coordinated team with effective communication and common goals. It is paramount that the physical therapist be able to assess and modify the therapy program as indicated, utilizing basic knowledge of the surgical procedures.
Visual Emotive Communication in Lifelike Pedagogical Agents

Lifelike animated agents for knowledge-based learning environments can provide timely, customized advice to support leaners' problem-solving activities. By drawing on a rich repertoire of emotive behaviors to exhibit contextually appropriate facial expressions and emotive gestures, these agents could exploit the visual channel to more effectively communicate with learners. To address these issues, this paper proposes the emotive-kinesthetic behavior sequencing framework for dynamically sequencing lifelike pedagogical agents' full-body emotive expression. By exploiting a rich behavior space populated with emotive behaviors and structured by pedagogical speech act categories, a behavior sequencing engine operates in realtime to select and assemble contextually appropriate expressive behaviors. This framework has been implemented in a lifelike pedagogical agent, Cosmo, who exhibits full-body emotive behaviors in response to learners' problem-solving activities.
The Arabidopsis Aberrant Growth and death2 Mutant Shows Resistance to Pseudomonas Syringae and Reveals a Role for NPR1 in Suppressing Hypersensitive Cell Death

A novel Arabidopsis mutant has been identified with constitutive expression of GST1-GUS using plants with a pathogen-responsive reporter transgene containing the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) coding region driven by the GST1 promoter. The recessive mutant, called agd2 (aberrant growth and death2), has salicylic acid (SA)-dependent increased resistance to virulent and avirulent strains of the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, elevated SA levels, a low level of spontaneous cell death, callose deposition, and enlarged cells in leaves. The enhanced resistance of agd2 to virulent P. syringae requires the SA signaling component NONEXPRESSOR OF PR1 (NPR1). However, agd2 renders the resistance response to P. syringae carrying avrRpt2 NPR1-independent. Thus agd2 affects both an SA- and NPR1-dependent general defense pathway and an SA-dependent, NPR1-independent pathway that is active during the recognition of avirulent P. syringae. agd2 plants also fail to show a hypersensitive cell death response (HR) unless NPR1 is removed. This novel function for NPR1 is also apparent in otherwise wild-type plants: npr1 mutants show a stronger HR, while NPR1-overproducing plants show a weaker HR when infected with P. syringae carrying the avrRpm1 gene. Spontaneous cell death in agd2 is partially suppressed by npr1, indicating that NPR1 can suppress or enhance cell death depending on the cellular context. agd2 plants depleted of SA show a dramatic exacerbation of the cell-growth phenotype and increased callose deposition, suggesting a role for SA in regulating growth and this cell-wall modification. AGD2 may function in cell death and/or growth control as well as the defense response, similarly to what has been described in animals for the functions of NFkappaB.
On interference alignment for multi-hop MIMO networks

Interference alignment (IA) is a major advance in information theory. Despite its rapid advance in the information theory community, most results on IA remain point-to-point or single-hop and there is a lack of advance of IA in the context of multi-hop wireless networks. The goal of this paper is to make a concrete step toward advancing IA technique in multi-hop MIMO networks. We present an IA model consisting of a set of constraints at a transmitter and a receiver that can be used to determine a subset of interfering streams for IA. Based on this IA model, we develop an IA optimization framework for a multihop MIMO network. For performance evaluation, we compare the performance of a network throughput optimization problem under our proposed IA framework and the same problem when IA is not employed. Simulation results show that the use of IA can significantly decrease the DoF consumption for IC, thereby improving network throughput.
Role of theophylline in pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis.

9. Hauge A, Thoresen M, Wall~e L. Changes in cerebral blood flow during hyperventilation and CO2-breathing measured transcutaneously in humans by a bidirectional, pulsed, ultrasound doppler velocitymeter. Acta Physiol Stand 1980; 110:167. 10. Pickard JD, MacKenzie ET. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and the response of baboon cerebral circulation to carbon dioxide. Nature 1973;245:187. 11. Dahlgren N, Nilsson B, Sakabe T, Siesj6 BK. The effect of indomethacin on cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption in the rat at normal and increased carbon dioxide tensions. Acta Physiol Scand 1981;111:475. 12. Friedman Z, Whitman V, Maisels M J, et al. Indomethaein disposition and indomethacin-induced platelet dysfunction in premature infants. J Clin Pharmacol 1978;18:272. 13. Yaffe S J, Friedman WF, Rogers D, et al. The disposition of indomethacin in preterm babies. J PI~DIATR 1980;97:100 [. 14. Pickard JD, MacDonell LA, MacKenzie ET, Harper AM. Response of the cerebral circulation to changing perfusion pressure after indomethacin. Circ Res 1977;40:198.
The hamster as a model for embryo implantation: Insights into a multifaceted process

Defects in preimplantation embryonic development, uterine receptivity, and implantation are the leading cause of infertility, pregnancy problems and birth defects. Significant progress has been made in our basic understanding of these processes using the mouse model, where implantation is ovarian estrogen-dependent in the presence of progesterone. However, an animal model where implantation is progesterone-dependent must also be studied to gain a full understanding of the embryo and uterine events that are required for implantation. In this regard, the hamster is a useful model and this review summarizes the information currently available regarding mechanisms involved in synchronous preimplantation embryo and uterine development for implantation in this species.
Treatment of ("bulky") stage IB cervical cancer with or without neoadjuvant vincristine and cisplatin prior to radical hysterectomy and pelvic/para-aortic lymphadenectomy: a phase III trial of the gynecologic oncology group.

Abstract Objective A randomized phase III trial was conducted to determine if neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) prior to radical hysterectomy and pelvic/para-aortic lymphadenectomy (RHPPL) could improve progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), as well as operability, with acceptable levels of toxicity. Adjuvant radiation therapy was prescribed for specific surgical/pathological risk factors for both regimens. Methods Eligible patients were required to have bulky FIGO Stage IB cervical cancer, tumor diameter ≥4 cm, adequate bone marrow, renal and hepatic function, and performance status ≤2. Prospective random allocation was to either NACT (vincristine-cisplatin chemotherapy every 10 days for 3 cycles) before exploratory laparotomy and planned RHPPL (NACT+RHPPL), or RHPPL only. Results The study was closed prematurely, because of slow accrual, after 291 patients were enrolled, three were ineligible; thus 288 were eligible and randomly allocated to RHPPL ( N =143) or NACT+RHPPL ( N =145). There were no notable differences between regimens with regard to patient age, race, performance status, or tumor size. The median follow-up time is 62 months among living patients. The NACT+RHPPL group had very similar recurrence rates (relative risk: 0.998) and death rates (relative risk: 1.008) when compared to the RHPPL group. There were 79% that had surgery in the RHPPL group compared to 78% in the NACT RHPPL group. There were 52% who received post op RT in the RHPPL group compared to 45% in the NACT+RHPPL group (not statistically significant). Conclusion There is no evidence from this trial that NACT offered any additional objective benefit to patients undergoing RHPPL for suboptimal Stage IB cervical cancer.
Gender Differences in Cardiovascular and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Responses to Psychological Stress in Healthy Older Adult Men and Women

Gender differences in the neuroendocrine and cardiovascular response to psychological stress may contribute to the gender differences in the prevalence of diseases associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and hypertension. We measured plasma ACTH, cortisol, heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) responses in 8 men and 8 women (55-75 years) exposed to the Matt Stress Reactivity Protocol (MSRP), a psychological challenge. The MSRP elicited significant increases in HR, systolic-, and diastolic BP, ACTH and cortisol (all p ). Men had significantly greater cortisol and diastolic BP responses compared to women ( p Additionally, a positive correlation between the ACTH and cortisol responses was only found in the males ( r =0.71, &l...
Sizing up models of heart failure: Proteomics from flies to humans

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the western world. Heart failure is a heterogeneous and complex syndrome, arising from various etiologies, which result in cellular phenotypes that vary from patient to patient. The ability to utilize genetic manipulation and biochemical experimentation in animal models has made them indispensable in the study of this chronic condition. Similarly, proteomics has been helpful for elucidating complicated cellular and molecular phenotypes and has the potential to identify circulating biomarkers and drug targets for therapeutic intervention. In this review, the use of human samples and animal model systems (pig, dog, rat, mouse, zebrafish, and fruit fly) in cardiac research is discussed. Additionally, the protein sequence homology between these species and the extent of conservation at the level of the phospho-proteome in major kinase signaling cascades involved in heart failure are investigated.
Immunogold localization of pectins and glycoproteins in tissues of peach with reference to deep supercooling

Living xylem tissues and floral buds of several species of woody plants survive exposure to freezing temperatures by deep supercooling. A barrier to water loss and the growth of ice crystals into cells is considered necessary for deep supercooling to occur. Pectins, as a constituent of the cell wall, have been implicated in the formation of this barrier. The present study examined the distribution of pectin in xylem and floral bud tissues of peach (Prunus persica). Two monoclonal antibodies (JIM5 and JIM7) that recognize homogalacturonic sequences with varying degrees of esterification were utilized in conjunction with immunogold electron microscopy. Results indicate that highly esterified epitopes of pectin, recognized by JIM7, were the predominant types of pectin in peach and were uniformly distributed throughout the pit membrane and primary cell walls of xylem and floral bud tissues. In contrast, un-esterified epitopes of pectin, recognized by JIM5, were confined to the outer surface of the pit membrane in xylem tissues. In floral buds, these epitopes were localized in middle lamellae, along the outer margin of the cell wall lining empty intercellular spaces, and within filled intercellular spaces. JIM5 labeling was more pronounced in December samples than in July/August samples. Additionally, epitopes of an arabinogalactan protein, recognized by JIM14, were confined to the amorphous layer of the pit membrane. The role of pectins in freezing response is discussed in the context of present theory and it is suggested that pectins may influence both water movement and intrusive growth of ice crystals at freezing temperatures.
Site occupancy preferences in the B2 ordered phase in Nb–rich Nb–Ti–Al alloys

Abstract The β-(Nb, Ti) solid solution phase in the Nb–Ti–Al system has recently been observed to extend to Al concentrations as high as 40 at.%. Five alloys with compositions (in at.%) of Nb–xTi–15Al, where x=17, 28.3 and 34, Nb–25Ti–25Al and Nb–24Ti–40Al were investigated. The β-transus temperatures, lattice parameters and β → B2 (βo) ordering temperatures are reported. Site occupancy preferences of the B2 lattice as a function of alloy composition were examined through the atom location by channeling enhanced microanalysis (ALCHEMI) technique with results presented as ordering tie lines. Ti substitution for Nb on Nb sublattice sites was observed in all of the alloys, with the strength of partitioning between Ti and Al atoms being dependent on alloy composition. A correlation between the partitioning behaviors of the atomic species and the Nb:Ti ratio of the alloy compositions was observed, along with changes in the lattice parameters and microhardness.
The alternative conformations of amyloidogenic proteins and their multi-step assembly pathways

The conformational change hypothesis postulates that tertiary structural changes under partially denaturing conditions convert one of 17 normally soluble and functional human proteins into an alternative conformation that subsequently undergoes self-assembly into an amyloid fibril, the putative causative agent in amyloid disease. This hypothesis is consistent with Anfinsen's view that the tertiary structure of a protein is determined both by its sequence and the aqueous environment; the latter does not always favor the normally folded state. Unlike sickle cell hemoglobin assembly, where owing to a surface mutation, hemoglobin polymerizes in its normally folded conformation, amyloid proteins self-assemble as a result of the formation of an alternative tertiary structure-a conformational intermediate formed under partially denaturing conditions. The pathway by which an amyloidogenic protein assembles into amyloid fibrils appears to involve quaternary structural intermediates that assemble into increasingly complex quaternary structures, including amyloid protofilaments, which ultimately assemble into amyloid fibrils. Several recent studies have discussed the multi-step assembly pathway(s) characterizing amyloid fibril formation.
Steady-state flux-line cutting in type-II superconductors: A double-cutting model

Abstract A specific theoretical model for flux-line cutting (intersection and cross-joining of adjacent nonparallel vortices) is proposed for a current-carrying ideal type-II superconducting slab in a longitudinal field. As a consequence of successive pairs of cutting events, countermoving layers of vortices in effect pass through each other, generating a steady-state longitudinal electric field, whose order of magnitude is in agreement with experiment.
The Effects of Race and Maternal Education Level on Children’s Retells of the Renfrew Bus Story—North American Edition

Purpose The Renfrew Bus Story—North American Edition (RBS–NA; C. Glasgow & J. Cowley, 1994) is widely used in clinical and research settings to determine children’s language abilities, although possible influences of race and maternal education on RBS–NA performance are unknown. The current study compared RBS–NA retells of 4 groups of children: African American (AA) children and European American (EA) children whose mothers had an education level of high school or less (≤ HS) and those whose mothers had an education level higher than high school (> HS). Method Statistical tests were used to examine 172 kindergartners' story retells using raw scores for all 4 RBS–NA measures: (a) Information, (b) Sentence Length, (c) Complexity, and (d) Independence. Results A 2 × 2 analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed main effects of maternal education and race for the Information score, with ≤ HS and AA children scoring lower. For measures not meeting ANOVA assumptions, 2 × 2 ANOVAs using ranked data indicated significa...
Advances in evaluating the oral bioavailability of inorganics in soil for use in human health risk assessment

Cleanup goals for sites affected by inorganic contaminants often are established on the basis of risk assessments, and these assessments rely on the estimated oral toxicity of the substances of concern. These toxicity estimates typically are based on historical studies in which a soluble salt of the metal was dissolved in water or mixed in food and then ingested by an animal or human. However, these toxicity studies do not account for the characteristics of a metal in soil or the limitations that these characteristics place on enteric absorption of that metal. Therefore, a more accurate risk assessment must account for the bioavailability of the metal in site-specific soil, relative to the bioavailability of the metal in the form administered in the toxicity study (i.e., the relative bioavailability of the element in soil). Historically, relative bioavailability estimates for metals in soil have been based on in vivo studies in laboratory animals. Given the costs and time constraints associated with such ...
Exploring Privacy and Accuracy Trade-Offs in Crowdsourced Behavioral Video Coding

Coding behavioral video is an important method used by researchers to understand social phenomenon. Unfortunately, traditional hand-coding approaches can take days or weeks of time to complete. Recent work has shown that these tasks can be completed quickly by leveraging the parallelism of large online crowds, but using the crowd introduces new concerns about accuracy, reliability, privacy, and cost. To explore these issues, we conducted interviews with 12 researchers who frequently code behavioral video, to investigate common practices and challenges with video coding. We find accuracy and privacy to be the researchers' primary concerns. To explore this more concretely, we used sample videos to investigate whether crowds can accurately recognize instances of commonly coded behaviors, and show that the crowd yields accurate results. Then, we demonstrate a method for obfuscating participant identity with a video blur filter, and find, as expected, that workers' ability to identify participants decreases as blur level increases. The workers' ability to accurately and reliably code behaviors also decreases, but not as steeply as the identity test. This trade-off between coding quality and privacy protection suggests that researchers can use online crowds to code for some key behaviors in video without compromising participant identity. We conclude with a discussion of how researchers can balance privacy and accuracy on their own data using a system we introduce called Incognito.
Information security curriculum creation: a case study

Information Security is a critical part of the technology infrastructure. A survey of undergraduate degree programs in Computer Science, Information Technology, Management Information Science, and others show a lack of emphasis on security issues in their curriculum. The purpose of this paper is to present a case study on our approach to creating an undergraduate curriculum that will enhance existing degree programs in Computer Science and Information Technology to provide an increased awareness of Information Security concepts. Our rationale includes: research on existing Information Security programs, review of other Information Security curriculum development efforts, assessments and surveys of workforce needs in Information Technology pertaining to security, applying government directives, and the process of creating a curriculum to address the discovered gaps. Our approach is unique in its usage of surveys of Information Technology professionals, interviews with professionals, and a comprehensive survey of workforce needs in Information Security along with a review of other curriculum development efforts. From this case study, we will be able to suggest and define an Information Security curriculum that will best answer today's security challenges.