cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impaired expression of cell surface receptors for B cell growth factor by chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells.

Normal human B cell proliferation is controlled by various immunoregulatory signals including the T cell-derived lymphokine B cell growth factor (BCGF). The role of BCGF in the regulation of malignant B cell proliferation is unclear. Therefore, we studied the proliferative response of purified chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B cells to BCGF. For all CLL patients studied, CLL B cells showed a decreased proliferative response as compared with control B cells for BCGF- induced B cell proliferation (patient 291 +/- 59 cpm v control 3,942 +/- 622, mean +/- SEM). This impaired proliferative response appeared to be intrinsic to CLL B cells since it was not corrected by incubation with increasing concentrations of BCGF. Attainment of normal B cell responsiveness to BCGF requires the processing of an initial activation signal which results in the expression of cell surface receptors for BCGF. Increasing concentrations of the B cell activation signal (the F(ab')2 fragment of goat anti-human mu chain) did not improve CLL B cell responsiveness to BCGF. Three-day activated CLL B cells compared with activated control B cells demonstrated a marked impairment in their ability to absorb out the BCGF activity present in the BCGF preparation (BCGF activity absorbed out, patient 12.8% v control 53%). Pretreatment of CLL B cells with neuraminidase failed to improve either the proliferative response to BCGF or the expression of cell surface receptors for BCGF by the CLL B cells. This study suggests that the impaired responsiveness to BCGF by CLL B cells is the result of impaired expression of cell surface receptors for BCGF when CLL B cells are exposed to activation signals.
Ranger: A ground-facing camera-based localization system for ground vehicles

This paper presents an overview of the Ranger localization system and its constituent technologies and algorithms. Ranger is a high-precision localization system for ground vehicles that performs map-based localization using a ground-facing camera. Ranger uses commercially available hardware, including a camera, lights, and a computer, in combination with auxiliary localization sensors and a custom state estimator, to produce a complete high-precision positioning solution suitable for feedback control of an automated vehicle. Ranger was originally conceived and designed to address the accuracy and availability problems of GPS, and can operate independent from or as a supplement to GPS and other GNSS positioning systems. Ranger position measurements are made by matching live ground imagery to imagery stored in a map. The image matching process uses a feature-based approach that yields a high positive match rate with a vanishingly small false positive rate. The precision of the Ranger measurements is shown to be on the order of centimeters, and the actual lateral positioning performance of MARTI, one of Southwest Research Institute's automated vehicles, autonomously driving a test route is shown to be repeatable over many runs to within 2 cm.
Formation and microstructure of thin Ti silicide films for advanced technologies

We report on the solid-state reaction of thin PVD Ti films with in-situ doped Si & SiGe alloys using a combination of in-situ x-ray diffraction, sheet resistance, laser light scattering measurements and ex-situ x-ray pole figure analysis. Thin Ti films or thin bilayer films (Ni/Ti or NiPt/Ti) are found to be much more aligned with the underlying substrates. Millisecond laser anneals also lead to the introduction of strong in-plane texture.
Recent Progress in Syntactic Pattern Recognition

Publisher Summary This chapter presents recent progress in syntactic pattern recognition. The many different mathematical techniques used to solve pattern recognition problems may be grouped into two general approaches, namely, the decision theoretic (or discriminant) approach and the syntactic (or structural) approach. In the decision theoretic approach, a set of characteristic measurements, called features, are extracted from the patterns. Each pattern is represented by a feature vector, and the recognition of each pattern is usually made by partitioning the feature space. In the syntactic approach, each pattern is expressed as a composition of its components, called sub-patterns and pattern primitives. This approach draws an analogy between the structure of patterns and the syntax of a language. The recognition of each pattern is usually made by parsing the pattern structure according to a given set of syntax rules. With the recent development of distance or similarity measures between syntactic patterns and error-correcting parsing procedures, the flexibility of syntactic methods has been greatly expanded. Errors occurring at the lower-level processing of a pattern (segmentation and primitive recognition) could be compensated at the higher level using structural information. Using a distance or similarity measure, nearest-neighbor and k-nearest-neighbor classification rules can be easily applied to syntactic patterns.
Sleep disordered breathing in heart failure: a contemporary assessment.

Heart failure (HF) is a public health problem of epidemic proportions, with a prevalence of more than 5 million in the United States, a figure that underestimates the true burden of disease, since a substantial portion of HF in the general population may be subclinical and remain undiagnosed. Despite an annual cost of nearly $30 billion dollars per year in the United States and increasingly sophisticated drug and device therapy, the death rate from HF continues to increase,1 a trend which fuels interest in comorbid disease associations which may offer alternative therapeutic avenues.
Geoengineering with stratospheric aerosols: What do we not know after a decade of research?

Any well-informed future decision on whether and how to deploy solar geoengineering requires balancing the impacts (both intended and unintended) of intervening in the climate against the impacts of not doing so. Despite tremendous progress in the last decade, the current state of knowledge remains insufficient to support an assessment of this balance, even for stratospheric aerosol geoengineering (SAG), arguably the best understood (practical) geoengineering method. We articulate key unknowns associated with SAG, including both climate-science and design questions, as an essential step toward developing a future strategic research program that could address outstanding uncertainties.
Challenging E2F-1 and c-Myb Block of Myeloid Terminal Differentiation with the Tumor Suppressor-Egr1.

Abstract The proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells are tightly regulated to maintain cellular homeostasis. Understanding the mechanism of this regulation may identify potential therapeutic targets against leukemia. Previous works have shown that several negative regulators of differentiation, namely oncogenes c-Myb, E2F-1 and c-Myc were capable of blocking the IL6-mediated myeloid terminal differentiation program of M1 myeloblastic leukemia cells. On the other hand, a positive regulator of differentiation, Egr-1 has been shown to activate the macrophage differentiation program of M1 cells in the absence of IL-6. Interestingly, recent work showed that Egr-1 could override the block of differentiation imparted by deregulated c-Myc in the presence of IL-6, and could reverse the leukemic phenotype associated with deregulated c-Myc. From such observations, we asked whether exogenous expression of Egr-1 in M1 cells could override the earlier block of differentiation imparted by the oncogenes c-Myb or E2F-1. The established M1Myb-Egr cells and M1E2F-Egr cells were analyzed. The M1E2F-Egr cells underwent growth arrest followed by macrophage differentiation and subsequently apoptosis. In addition, exogenous Egr-1 only partially abrogated c-Myb block of differentiation. The M1Myb-Egr cells failed to undergo growth arrest, however, were able to enter intermediate-late stage macrophage differentiation with concomitant phagocytic functionality. These data demonstrate that E2F and c-Myb each block myeloid differentiation via different mechanisms. Egr-1 can completely override the E2F block but cannot abrogate the c-Myb block to allow M1 cells to terminally differentiate or growth arrest. Furthermore, Egr-1 appears to behave as a tumor suppressor, and therefore may serve as a possible target against various forms of leukemia.
Measurements of correlations enhanced collision rates in the mildly correlated regime (Γ ∼ 1)

We measure the perpendicular-to-parallel collision rate ν⊥|| in laser cooled, magnetized ion plasmas in the mildly correlated regime of Γ∼ 1 and find collision rates enhanced by exp(Γ). This ν⊥|| enhancement due to correlations is directly analogous to the enhancement of fusion collisions in hot dense stellar plasmas, as first analyzed by Salpeter [Aust. J. Phys. 7, 373 (1954)]. The enhancement is caused by screening of the repulsive Coulomb potential between charges, allowing closer collisions for a given relative energy. The measurements indicate that the screening is done by thermal particles and allows us to rule out dynamical screening theories, which predict no enhancement to the collisions rate for Γ≲ 1.
Malaria and the Microbiome: A Systematic Review.

Background The microbiome influences malaria parasite fitness and transmission efficiency in mosquitoes and appears to affect malaria dynamics in mammalian hosts as well. Nascent research examining the interrelationship of malaria and the mammalian microbiome has yielded interesting insights inviting further study. Methods We conducted a systematic review of the literature examining associations between the microbiome and malaria in mammalian hosts. An electronic search algorithm was adapted to PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, and reference lists of relevant sources were manually searched. Identified studies were screened and assessed independently by 2 authors, and results were compiled in a qualitative synthesis of the evidence. Results Ten relevant studies were identified. They demonstrate associations between certain intestinal communities and protection against Plasmodium infection and modulation of disease severity. Plasmodium infection acutely and reversibly reshapes gut microbial composition in mice. The makeup of human skin microbial communities may influence mosquito attraction and thus disease transmission. Conclusions Early research supports a relationship between malaria and the microbiome. The evidence is incomplete, but the observed associations are evocative and signal a promising avenue of inquiry. Microbiome-based studies of malaria can be readily integrated into field-based research.
Medical Optimization of Patients Prior to Surgery

Evaluating the orthopedic patient for revision of a periprosthetic hip or knee joint infection follows the same algorithm as preoperative evaluation for general noncardiac surgery. Dreaded complications of any noncardiac surgery are myocardial infarction (MI) and death. In the aging population, the number one cause of death is cardiovascular disease, though with current therapies that include a growing list of newer antiplatelet agents, coronary artery stents, beta-blockers, and statin therapies, the rates of cardiovascular death have been on the decline over the last 2–3 decades. Heart failure (HF) and arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, also complicate noncardiac surgery; and it is worth noting that for the first time in some 50 years, new oral anticoagulants have been approved for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation stroke prevention. This chapter reviews the medical management of a host of primarily cardiovascular diseases and updates the reader on the latest medical therapies and perioperative management of these conditions.
Genome-wide measurement of histone H3 replacement dynamics in yeast

Chromatin plays critical roles in processes governed in different timescales - responses to environmental changes require rapid plasticity, while long-term stability through multiple cell generations requires epigenetically heritable chromatin. Understanding the dynamic behavior of chromatin is of great interest for fields ranging from transcriptional regulation through meiosis and gametogenesis. Here, we describe a protocol for measuring histone replacement rates genome wide in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. With suitable modifications, this protocol could be applied to other organisms, or to replacement dynamics of other DNA-associated proteins.
Conflict Cessation and the Emergence of Weapons Supermarkets

It is commonly argued that the end of a conflict generates increased outflow of weaponry. A surplus of secondhand small arms (ranging from small caliber to military grade mediumrange motor tubes, and ammunition) make their way into the trade stream through makeshift weapons supermarkets. Anecdotally, case studies suggest four possible market structures: trade interchange markets, trade mediators, epicenters, and trade channels. Using dynamic actor-based simulation modeling (SIENA), this study captures changes in the gray market of gun trade following the end of armed conflict, testing the degree to which market activity evolves to reflect each structure. Information about small arms and ammunition transfers were obtained from UNcomtrade for 224 nations from 1997 to 2010. Suspicious and likely clandestine trade relations were extracted by pulling all transfers that were reported by only one party to the exchange. While interchange markets are predominantly associated with conflict cessation on a global level, significant regional variation exists. Policy implications are discussed.
Hyperacute stroke management is coming … one Mississippi, two Mississippi

In acute stroke, time is brain for both time to thrombolysis2 and time to thrombectomy.3 Quality improvement attempts in stroke management have targeted delays in the hospital. Earlier studies showed that prenotification of the hospital team by emergency medical services, in combination with further restructuring of stroke management processes,4 such as a structured in-hospital alert system, hand-off at the CT scanner, transfer of laboratory test on a point-of-care laboratory system,5 etc., can cut crucial time before therapy and increase thrombolysis rates. Similar efficient protocols have aimed to reduce delay before start of thrombectomy (groin puncture time).
Reply to Serena Olsaretti

The paper examines how the value of choice account is supposed to explain the significance of choice in the justification of moral principles and social institutions and policies, responding to some questions and objections raised by Serena Olsaretti.
The Handpicked CEO Successor

The shareholders of public corporations have considerable interest in the choice of individual to serve as CEO of their company. They want to be assured that the company has a viable plan in place to replace the current CEO if necessary. Historically, boards have deferred to outgoing CEO, allowed them to pick their own successors. Current governance standards have moved away from this practice. And yet several companies today still defer to the recommendation of the CEO when making a final decision. We discuss handpicked successors in greater detail and ask: • Under what conditions are they likely to succeed? When are they more likely to fail? • How does the board gain access to the valuable information that a CEO can offer about potential candidates, without it being inappropriately filtered by personal bias? • When should the board exclude the outgoing CEO from the selection process? The Closer Look series is a collection of short case studies through which we explore topics, issues, and controversies in corporate governance. In each study, we take a targeted look at a specific issue that is relevant to the current debate on governance and explain why it is so important. Larcker and Tayan are co-authors of the books Corporate Governance Matters and A Real Look at Real World Corporate Governance.
I’ll share with her, but not with you: A mixed methods approach to investigating children’s naïve theories about resource allocation decisions

Abstract Unlike in science and math content areas, little is known about how kids think about economics. Socio-constructivist learning theory contends this is problematic for kids’ learning. Specifically, new learning should build up on previous understandings and knowledge. If educators are unaware of kids’ previous understandings and knowledge, they cannot build on this knowledge. This study, the second phase of a multi-phase project, begins to fill that gap by employing a mixed methods approach to investigate how kids think about allocating resources. Based on my findings in the first phase, an ethnographic observation of second- and fourth-grade kids, I designed a multi-recipient dictator game where recipients were selected based on their role in the dictator’s social network. First, I used social network analysis to determine best friends, acquaintances, popular kids, and isolated kids in the dictator’s social network at school. Second, I used those recipients in one round of a multi-recipient dictator game and anonymous recipients in a second round. I found the relationship of the recipient with the dictator was significantly associated with the amount of resource they received, and that when recipients were anonymous, dictators were more likely to distribute resources equally. These findings contribute to our understanding of kids’ naive theories about economics with implications for elementary economics benchmarks and curriculum.
Greenhouse gas emissions and removals from forest land, woodlands, and urban trees in the United States, 1990-2018

As a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United States has been reporting an economy-wide Inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals since the mid-1990s (US EPA 2020). Forest land, harvested wood products (HWPs), and urban trees within the land sector collectively represent the largest net carbon (C) sink in the United States, offsetting more than 11 percent of total GHG emissions annually (US EPA 2020). Estimates of GHG emissions and removals are compiled by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service researchers and are based primarily on National Forest Inventory (NFI) data collected and maintained by the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program within the USDA Forest Service. This report--the second in a new series of annual updates--provides an overview of the status and trends of GHG emissions and removals from forest land, woodlands in the grassland category, HWPs, and urban trees in settlements in the United States from 1990 to 2018. The estimates for the United States summarized here are based on the compilation reported in the Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry chapter of the US EPA (2020) submission to the UNFCCC. New in this report, most of the national scale estimates are also reported by individual U.S. state (Fig. 1) and are available online for the entire 1990-2018 time series (see appendix).
Building a tobacco user registry by extracting multiple smoking behaviors from clinical notes.

Usage of structured fields in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to ascertain smoking history is important but fails in capturing the nuances of smoking behaviors. Knowledge of smoking behaviors, such as pack year history and most recent cessation date, allows care providers to select the best care plan for patients at risk of smoking attributable diseases. We developed and evaluated a health informatics pipeline for identifying complete smoking history from clinical notes in EHRs. We utilized 758 patient-visit notes (from visits between 03/28/2016 and 04/04/2016) from our local EHR in addition to a public dataset of 502 clinical notes from the 2006 i2b2 Challenge to assess the performance of this pipeline. We used a machine-learning classifier to extract smoking status and a comprehensive set of text processing regular expressions to extract pack years and cessation date information from these clinical notes. We identified smoking status with an F1 score of 0.90 on both the i2b2 and local data sets. Regular expression identification of pack year history in the local test set was 91.7% sensitive and 95.2% specific, but due to variable context the pack year extraction was incomplete in 25% of cases, extracting packs per day or years smoked only. Regular expression identification of cessation date was 63.2% sensitive and 94.6% specific. Our work indicates that the development of an EHR-based Smokers’ Registry containing information relating to smoking behaviors, not just status, from free-text clinical notes using an informatics pipeline is feasible. This pipeline is capable of functioning in external EHRs, reducing the amount of time and money needed at the institute-level to create a Smokers’ Registry for improved identification of patient risk and eligibility for preventative and early detection services.
Complex PTSD: assessment and treatment

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) ICD-11 now includes a distinction between the diagnoses of PTSD and complex PTSD (CPTSD). Several studies have indicated that this distinction is rel...
Differential Theta-Band Signatures of the Anterior Cingulate and Motor Cortices During Seated Locomotor Perturbations

Quantifying motor and cortical responses to perturbations during seated locomotor tasks such as recumbent stepping and cycling will expand and improve the understanding of locomotor adaptation processes beyond just perturbed gait. Using a perturbed recumbent stepping protocol, we hypothesized motor errors and anterior cingulate activity would decrease with time, and perturbation timing would influence electrocortical elicitation. Young adults (n = 17) completed four 10-minute arms and legs stepping tasks, with perturbations applied at every left or right leg extension-onset or mid-extension. A random no-perturbation “catch” stride occurred in every five perturbed strides. We instructed subjects to follow a pacing cue and to step smoothly, and we quantified temporal and spatial motor errors. We used high-density electroencephalography to estimate sources of electrocortical fluctuations shared among >70% of subjects. Temporal and spatial errors did not decrease from early to late for either perturbed or catch strides. Interestingly, spatial errors post-perturbation did not return to pre-perturbation levels, suggesting use-dependent learning occurred. Theta (3-8 Hz) synchronization in the anterior cingulate cortex and left and right supplementary motor areas (SMA) emerged near the perturbation event, and extension-onset perturbations elicited greater theta-band power than mid-extension perturbations. Even though motor errors did not adapt, anterior cingulate theta synchronization decreased from early to late perturbed strides, but only during the right-side tasks. Additionally, SMA mainly demonstrated specialized, not contralateral, lateralization. Overall, seated locomotor perturbations produced differential theta-band responses in the anterior cingulate and SMAs, suggesting that tuning perturbation parameters, e.g., timing, can potentially modify electrocortical responses.
Lead geochemistry of sediments in Galveston Bay, Texas

Abstract The geochemical behavior of Pb in terrestrial and coastal water systems significantly influences Pb biogeochemical cycling and pollutant exchange at the land-sea continuum. An ideal case study of Pb environmental geochemistry is Galveston Bay, an anthropogenic estuary exposed to industrial runoff, wastewater and shipping vessel spills but also fed by natural rivers. Here, sediments from Galveston Bay were measured for Pb isotope ratios and abundances to constrain Pb sources and fluxes and understand Pb pollution history in the bay. Lead isotopes have been established as source tracers of environmental pollution and allow Pb sources to be reliably fingerprinted and identified. Sediments were leached to distinguish authigenic sediment coatings from lithogenic residual sediments, in addition to bulk sediment digestions. Total Pb concentrations ranged from 1.76 µg/g–29.19 µg/g in bulk digests, which are below federal toxicity thresholds and aligns well with prior measurements of Pb in Galveston Bay sediments in the 20th century. Lead concentrations are spatially constrained by flocculation in eastern bay areas where the Trinity River enters the bay and positively temporally correlated to freshwater discharge. Sediment 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb ratios range between 18.338–19.777±0.002, 15.557–15.755±0.002 and 37.913–43.340±0.005, respectively, and were used in an advanced Bayesian isotope mixing model to identify Pb sources in the Galveston Bay sediment fractions analyzed. Anthropogenic sources supply approximately 83.8%, 16.6% and 25.5% of Pb to the leachates, residues and bulk sediments, respectively. This study showcases the importance of estuaries in moderating terrestrial and marine Pb distribution and provides insight for future contaminant studies in Galveston Bay and other estuarine systems around the world. MAIN FINDINGS Pb isotope ratio and abundance measurements of Galveston Bay sediments demonstrate significant anthropogenic Pb inputs to the estuary despite low Pb levels.
A "KU" new sensor for cytosolic DNA in T cells.

Adaptive immune cells are usually not equipped with pattern recognition receptors. In this issue of Immunity, Wang et al. revealed an "innate-like" cytosolic DNA-sensing mechanism by the KU complex in aged CD4+ T cells, which exacerbates aging-related autoimmunity.
Multifocality is not associated with worse survival in sporadic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) in patients with hereditary cancer syndromes are typically multifocal. In contrast, sporadic pNETs are usually unifocal and the incidence of multifocal sporadic pNETs is unknown. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of multifocality in sporadic pNETs and any associated effect on recurrence risk and survival. METHODS Patients who underwent resection of pNETs at Mayo Clinic from 2000 to 2019 were identified and clinical data were obtained from medical records. Syndromic disease was defined as pNETs arising in the setting of a hereditary cancer syndrome. Statistical comparisons were made using χ2 , Fisher's exact, and Kruskal-Wallis tests and survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS Six hundred and sixty-one patients with sporadic pNETs and fifty-nine with syndromic pNETs were identified. Multifocal disease was present in 4.8% of sporadic patients and 84.7% of syndromic patients (p < .001). Within patients with sporadic pNETs, clinicopathologic features and recurrence-free and overall survival were similar between patients with unifocal and multifocal disease. CONCLUSIONS Multifocal sporadic pNETs are rare and multifocality is not associated with worse survival or increased recurrence risk. Patients with multifocal sporadic pNETs can likely be safely managed with a combination of resection and observation as indicated for each tumor.
Teaching the Portraits, Mosaics and Themes of the Federal Rules of Evidence

The portraits and mosaics regime is a product of the 1970s, a period that marked transition from the common law of evidence to the Federal Rules of Evidence. Having tried cases in both systems, the pedagogical advantages of the new rules were unmistakable. They illuminated a pattern or process for trying cases and for teaching evidence that was not readily apparent under the common law.The regime and this article were constructed to accomplish five things. First, for professors new to teaching evidence, the regime is a macro-level philosophical and practical overview of the statute. It introduces the Federal Rules' most significant evidentiary concepts and how they interrelate. Second, the article can be used as a teaching outline for a new evidence professor's first several classes. To aid in this process, the article includes references to the underlying authority and rationale for each rule and principle presented. This information will help provide the background and resultant confidence necessary for teaching those first few sessions. Third, it is a helpful road map for beginning evidence students. It allows them to more quickly and more efficiently understand their evidence course as it unfolds. Fourth, for those of us who have been teaching evidence for a while, the article may provide a new thought or two on the Rules that can be incorporated into existing notes. Fifth, the portraits and mosaics regime can be a helpful tool in managing classroom time. As discussed throughout the article, evidence law has become increasingly complex over the past several decades. Amendments to the Rules caused by Supreme Court cases have made the time necessary to teach traditional subjects more precious.
Price Discrimination Law and Economic Efficiency

The Clayton Act, as amended by the Robinson-Patman Act (15 U.S.C. ? 13), undertakes to outlaw price "discrimination" upon proof of threatened injury to competition, and subject to specified defenses. Lawyers often bewail the fact that administration of this statute frequently fails to conform to an economist's notion of discrimination. For the most part, the complaints are addressed to the clear fact that, as drafted and interpreted, the statute wreaks unnecessary damage. In the name of protecting competition, competition and economic efficiency are often curtailed. To some uncertain extent, the economic losses encountered in the administration of a price discrimination law may be accepted in the pursuit of social or political goals. In the perennial ebb and flow of proposals to abolish or to amend the statute, however, arguments are continually made that it serves economic goals as well. Such arguments commonly fail to recognize the enormous difficulties that confront any statutory attempt to improve the pursuit of economic efficiency by regulating price discrimination. These difficulties are so great that a price discrimination statute is apt to serve economic efficiency only incidentally and accidentally, if at all. These difficulties do not arise from any supposed fact that price differences in real transactions must always rest upon foundations of economic efficiency. Often they do not. Instead, the difficulties arise from two quite different limitations on economic theory and our ability to apply economic theory in practice. The first limitation arises from the fact that price discrimination is not a single phenomenon, but a wide variety of often complex phenomena, some of which may prove more desirable than nondiscriminatory pricing. Unambiguous demonstration that a given set of pricing transactions involves price discrimination does not by itself answer the question whether it is desirable discrimination. The first
Toward reduction of model uncertainty: Integration of Bayesian model averaging and data assimilation

[1] Multimodeling in hydrologic forecasting has proved to improve upon the systematic bias and general limitations of a single model. This is typically done by establishing a new model as a linear combination or a weighted average of several models with weights on the basis of individual model performance in previous time steps. The most commonly used multimodeling method, Bayesian model averaging (BMA), assumes a fixed probability distribution around individual models' forecast in establishing the prior and uses a calibration period to determine static weights for each individual model. More recent work has focused on a sequential Bayesian model selection technique with weights that are adjusted at each time step in an attempt to accentuate the dynamics of an individual model's performance with respect to the system's response. However, these approaches still assume a fixed distribution around the individual models' forecast. A new sequential Bayesian model-averaging technique is developed incorporating a sliding window of individual model performance around the forecast. Additionally, this new technique relaxes the fixed distribution assumption in establishing the prior utilizing a particle filter data assimilation method that reflects both the performance dynamics of the models' forecasts along with their uncertainty. A comparative analysis of the different BMA strategies is performed across different rates of change in the hydrograph. Results show that methods employing the particle filter show higher probabilistic skill in high ranges of volatility but are overconfident in medium and low ranges of volatility.
Proceedings of the seventeenth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education

[The] program contains a number of topics that have been discussed in previous symposia, but still remain matters of concern. In addition, the program contains sessions dealing with issues at the precollege level, and in information systems, fourth generation languages, graphics, studies of student performance, and career preparation. Several panel sessions are jointly listed with the ACM Computer Science Conference…. [The] program includes tutorials: one on teaching concepts related to programming and the other on Ada, jointly sponsored by SIGAda…. — From the Chairperson's Message
PROTON-a concept for highly reliable and low cost optical fiber networks

A novel concept called PROTON, (protection optical network) is introduced to cost-effectively increase the reliability of optical fiber networks. Instead of using backup lines to protect working transmission lines in traditional methods, the PROTON concept uses an additional network to protect the entire working network. With the switching capability and facilities sharing, the use of a protection network is the cost-effective choice to protect a network. The PROTON concept is also useful to protect fatal failures in optical networks such as fiber cuts, where all the fibers in the same trench may be broken at the same time and millions of phone conversations are interrupted. The author reviews existing protection methods, explains the PROTON concept, and provides analysis to quantitatively understand the improved reliability. >
Array-Based Karyotyping for Prognostic Assessment in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Performance Comparison of Affymetrix 10K2.0, 250K Nsp, and SNP6.0 Arrays

Specific chromosomal alterations are recognized as important prognostic factors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Array-based karyotyping is gaining acceptance as an alternative to the standard fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) panel for detecting these aberrations. This study explores the optimum single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array probe density for routine clinical use, presents clinical validation results for the 250K Nsp Affymetrix SNP array, and highlights clinically actionable genetic lesions missed by FISH and conventional cytogenetics. CLL samples were processed on low (10K2.0), medium (250K Nsp), and high (SNP6.0) probe density Affymetrix SNP arrays. Break point definition and detection rates for clinically relevant genetic lesions were compared. The 250K Nsp array was subsequently validated for routine clinical use and demonstrated 98.5% concordance with the standard CLL FISH panel. SNP array karyotyping detected genomic complexity and/or acquired uniparental disomy not detected by the FISH panel. In particular, a region of acquired uniparental disomy on 17p was shown to harbor two mutated copies of TP53 that would have gone undetected by FISH, conventional cytogenetics, or array comparative genomic hybridization. SNP array karyotyping allows genome-wide, high resolution detection of copy number and uniparental disomy at genomic regions with established prognostic significance in CLL, detects lesions missed by FISH, and provides insight into gene dosage at these loci.
Programmable-dispersion matrix for optical beam-forming network

Summary form only given. In conclusion we have demonstrated a programmable-dispersion matrix. This polarisation division multiplexing (PDM), when implemented with a multiwavelength optical source in an optically controlled phased array antenna (OCPAA) system, can generate all the time delay required for beam forming.
Effects of Conservation Techniques on Yield

State Conservationist, Soil Conservation Service, US Dept. of Agriculture, Temple, Tex. In a recent JOURN AL article ("Effects of Conservation Techniques on Yield," August 1964), Uel Stephens made several statements of fact and opinion that invite question and clarification. The first paragraph of the article very appropriately pointed out that the conservation of water and soil is probably the most important problem facing the American people today, and that, because of their close relationship, soil and water conservation become a joint venture. These statements would seem to indicate a deep understanding of the conservation problem, but the rest of the article was slanted toward disavowing the need for soil conservation. No mention was made of such beneficial effects as the reduction of sediment in downstream reservoirs. Aside from this general objection, the writer has the following specific comments: 1. On page 992, it is stated that annual evaporation averages from 120 to 15 in. across the state of Texas. But according to the US Weather Bureau,' annual lake evaporation across the state 'averages from 80 to 48 in. 2. On page 994 it is stated that:
Factors affecting adherence and access to the recommended level of diabetes care in adults with type II diabetes

Objectives To assess realized access and equity of access to three components of diabetes care – daily self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), annual dilated eye examination and biannual glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) testing – and to find the factors affecting adherence to these. Methods In this retrospective database analysis, data was obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. Andersen's behavioural model of health was used to determine the factors that might affect the utilization of the three components of diabetes care. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to determine equity of access to recommended diabetes care. Data analysis was performed using SAS version 9.2. Key findings Realized access was highest for biannual HbA1c testing, followed by annual dilated eye examination and daily SMBG. Enabling resources drove access to daily SMBG and annual HbA1c testing, while access to annual eye exams was driven by predisposing characteristics. Uninsured individuals and those who did not receive diabetes education were less likely to adhere to diabetes care. Conclusions Measures are needed to increase realized access and equity of access to recommended diabetes care.
Architecting energy efficient crossbar-based memristive random-access memories

Memristive devices are promising candidates for future high-density, power-efficient memories. The sneak path problem of purely-resistive crossbars and the inherent nanowire voltage drop, however, prevent the use of memristors in large-scale memory systems. In this paper we provide a simple yet flexible 3D memory organization and decoding scheme for memristive crossbars that exploits the benefits of the CMOL interface and avoid the limitations of conventional resistive crossbars. We propose an electrical model of the system to simulate and estimate its delay and energy consumption and show that such memories provide high read/write concurrency with power consumption per read/write operation that is significantly lower than that of DRAM.
Magnetic susceptibility of TTF-TCNQ single crystals in the phase transition region

The magnetic susceptibility of single crystals of TTF-TCNQ was measured along the principal directions over the temperature range from 4 K to 70 K. Definite anomalies were observed at 38 K and 54 K, the former showing hysteresis. No temperature dependent anistotropy was found. Fits to a two-gap model give a low temperature gap of 125 K and a high temperature gap of 370 K. A deviation from exponentially activated behavior was noted in the region near 48 K.
Ethanol potentiates the function of the human dopamine transporter expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Ethanol alters a variety of properties of brain dopaminergic neurons including firing rate, synthesis, release, and metabolism. Recent studies suggest that ethanol's action on central dopamine systems may also involve modulation of dopamine transporter (DAT) activity. The human DAT was expressed in Xenopus oocytes to examine directly the effects of ethanol on transporter function. [3H]Dopamine (100 nM) accumulation into DAT-expressing oocytes increased significantly in response to ethanol (10 min; 10-100 mM). In two-electrode voltage-clamp experiments, DAT-mediated currents were also enhanced significantly by ethanol (10-100 mM). The magnitude of the ethanol-induced potentiation of DAT function depended on ethanol exposure time and substrate concentration. Cell surface DAT binding ([3H]WIN 35,428; 4 nM) also increased as a function of ethanol exposure time. Thus, the increase in dopamine uptake was associated with a parallel increase in the number of DAT molecules expressed at the cell surface. These experiments demonstrate that DAT-mediated substrate translocation and substrate-associated ionic conductances are sensitive to intoxicating concentrations of ethanol and suggest that DAT may represent an important site of action for ethanol's effects on central dopaminergic transmission. A potential mechanism by which ethanol acts to enhance DAT function may involve regulation of DAT expression on the cell surface.
Decolonization to Prevent Infections with Staphylococcus aureus in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Review of Current Evidence

Staphylococcus aureus infections remain common in patients undergoing hemodialysis, and the consequences of these infections are potentially severe. Although a number of evidence-based practices have been shown to decrease the healthcare-associated infections that this organism can cause, many questions remain about the utility of decolonization as a mechanism to prevent these infections. This brief review describes the current epidemiology of S.aureus infections in patients undergoing hemodialysis and reviews the evidence surrounding decolonization as an infection prevention strategy.
The role of extracellular matrix in postinflammatory wound healing and fibrosis

Massive cell migration, proliferation, phenotypic differentiation, and enhanced biosynthetic activities characterize the sites of wound healing and fibrosis. Regulation of cellular functions by extracellular matrix, which consists of a dynamic assemblage of a variety of interacting molecules capable of reorganization in response to endogenous and exogenous stimuli, represents a fundamental epigenetic mechanism regulating cellular behavior and phenotype. Interactions of the individual components of extracellular matrix with specific cell surface molecules, integrin receptors, and proteoglycans initiate a cascade of signal transduction leading to varied short-term or persistent cellular responses. Extracellular matrix also serves as an important reservoir of cytokines and growth factors, thus modulating the action of a host of potent biological response modifiers by their selective, local accumulation and release. Currently known mechanisms by which extracellular matrix modulates different facets of the process of tissue remodeling after injury, which culminate either in normal wound repair or fibrosis, are discussed.
Technology trajectory mapping using data envelopment analysis: the ex ante use of disruptive innovation theory on flat panel technologies

In this paper, we propose a technology trajectory mapping approach using data envelopment analysis (DEA) that can scrutinize technology progress patterns from multidimensional perspectives. Literature reviews on technology trajectory mappings have revealed that it is imperative to identify key performance measures that can represent different value propositions and then apply them to the investigation of technology systems in order to capture indications of the future disruption. The proposed approach provides a flexibility not only to take multiple characteristics of technology systems into account, but also to deal with various trade-offs among technology attributes by imposing weight restrictions in the DEA model. The application of this approach to the flat panel technologies is provided to give a strategic insight for the players involved.
Pair breaking by magnetic impurities in ultrathin superconducting films: Tc degradation mechanisms in disordered superconductors.

The transition temperature, {ital T}{sub {ital c}}, of ultrathin superconducting films depends strongly on their thickness. We doped quench condensed films of Pb{sub 0.9}Bi{sub 0.1} on Ge with dilute concentrations of the magnetic impurity Gd to investigate how {alpha}{prime}, the pair-breaking rate per magnetic impurity, varies with {ital T}{sub {ital c}}. {alpha}{prime} varies by less than 15% and decreases with decreasing {ital T}{sub {ital c}} for 4 K{lt}{ital T}{sub {ital c}}{lt}6 K in agreement with a theory of perturbative disorder effects. For {ital T}{sub {ital c}}{lt}4 K, {alpha}{prime} increases slightly. Within a generalized Eliashberg theory, the data suggests that disorder reduces {ital T}{sub {ital c}} in these films by enhancing repulsive Coulomb interactions in the Cooper channel.
A new density relation for pure and saline water

Abstract An equation has been developed for the density of pure and saline water. It contains only one term in temperature, as an expansion around the temperature at the density extremum. The salinity and pressure effects appear in the equation in an ordered way. The density variation is fitted in the temperature, salinity and pressure ranges to 20°C, 40%, and 1000 bars abs. The most accurate form is in agreement with the pure water correlation of Fine and Millero ( Journal of Chemical Physics , 59 , 5529–5536, 1973) to an r.m.s. difference of 3.5 ppm. For saline water it agrees to 10.4 ppm with the data of Chen and Millero ( Deep-Sea Research , 23 , 595–612, 1976). The overall r.m.s. difference, for both pure and saline water, is 9.0 ppm. Inferences concerning the inherent accuracy of the data arise from the comparisons. Our results also suggest the pressure effect on the extremum temperature, for both pure and saline water. The equation is also separately fitted to the 1-atm correlation of Fofonoff and Bryden ( Journal of Marine Research , 33 , 69–82, 1975) to 2.5 ppm, over the salinity range from 8 to 40%, and from 0 to 20°C.