cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Riffles as barriers to interpool movement by three cyprinids (Notropis boops, Campostoma anomalum and Cyprinella venusta)

1. The effects of riffles as barriers to movement of stream fish was investigated in a set of eight large outdoor artificial streams. Pools were 183 cm in diameter and 45 cm deep; riffles were 183 cm long and 43 cm wide. Rates of movement of three species of minnows (Cyprinidae) (Campostoma anomalum, Cyprinella venusta and Notropis boops) among pools were measured at four riffle current velocities (0, 15, 30 and 45 cm s–1), three thalweg depths (10, 50 and 100 mm), two riffle lengths (183 and 549 cm), and with and without the threat of predation. Visual observation and video cameras were used to quantify movement rate. 2. Mean movement rate (percentage of fish crossing a riffle each 30 min) was 18.1% at 0 cm s–1 and only 1.8 at 45 cm s–1. Movement rate was 7.2% with no predators present and 20.2% with caged predators in pools. Notropis boops had a lower rate of movement than C. venusta or C. anomalum across all trials. The mean group size (number of individuals crossing a riffle together) was 1.2 fish overall, indicating most movement was by individuals and not groups. Group size was significantly greater only with shallow riffles or under the threat of predation. 3. Overall biotic and abiotic factors in these artificial streams do influence movement rates and may affect movement among pools in natural streams.
The importance of the small RNA chaperone Hfq for growth of epidemic Yersinia pestis, but not Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, with implications for plague biology.

Yersinia pestis, the etiologic agent of plague, has only recently evolved from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. hfq deletion caused severe growth restriction at 37°C in Y. pestis but not in Y. pseudotuberculosis. Strains from all epidemic plague biovars were similarly affected, implicating Hfq, and likely small RNAs (sRNAs), in the unique biology of the plague bacillus.
Nondestructive sample quality assessment of a soft clay using shear wave velocity

While improvements in equipment and sampling methods have enabled collection of better quality samples of soft clays for more reliable engineering design and performance prediction, current sample quality assessment methods typically require destructive laboratory testing performed long after samples are taken. This paper describes a nondestructive technique for sample quality assessment of soft clays using shear wave velocity. A portable bender element device was used to measure shear wave velocity ( Vvh ) in the field immediately following collection of Sherbrooke block, tube, and split spoon samples of Boston blue clay. Vvh values were compared to in situ values from seismic piezocone ( VSCPTU ) tests. The ratio Vvh ∕ VSCPTU was compared with results from a conventional, laboratory-based assessment method. Results indicate a consistent correlation between laboratory-based methods and the Vvh ∕ VSCPTU ratio, which ranges from Vvh ∕ VSCPTU =0.77 for the block samples to 0.28 for split spoon samples. The ...
Axially Restrained Beam-Column with Initial Imperfections and Nonlinear End Connections Subject to High Temperatures

A nonlinear formulation capable of accurately and efficiently predicting the nonlinear response of an axially restrained prismatic beam-column with initial geometric imperfections (i.e., initial curvature and connection eccentricities) and nonlinear temperature-dependent end connections under elevated temperatures is presented. The proposed model includes the effects of (1) an arbitrary thermal gradient along both the span and cross section of the member and (2) the nonlinear behavior and any stiffness and strength degradations of the beam-column material. However, high-temperature creep and shear deflection effects are not taken into consideration. The proposed model is generic allowing the implementation of any thermal regime and the use of any stress-strain-temperature curves of the beam-column material. The stress-strain-temperature curves of the material can be either theoretical or experimental providing a more realistic approach to the structural response of beam-columns subjected to different fire conditions. Two comprehensive examples are presented and discussed in detail showing the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed iterative method on the nonlinear large-deflection behavior of slender prismatic beam-columns under high temperatures, including the combined effects of initial imperfections, end restraints, and nonlinear end connections.
Judgment and Trust in Conjunction with Automated Decision Aids: A Theoretical Model and Empirical Investigation

The importance of understanding and supporting human operators' judgment and decision-making has been recognized in a variety of contexts. Of interest in these systems is the extent to which operat...
Comparison of Geostrophic and Nonlinear Balanced Winds from LIMS Data and Implications for Derived Dynamical Quantities

Nimbus 7 LIMS geopotential height data are utilized to infer the rotational wind distribution in the Northern Hemisphere stratosphere and lower mesosphere during a period of substantial wave-mean flow interaction in January, 1979. Rotational winds are derived from the application of a successive relaxation numerical procedure which incorporates the spherical polar coordinate iterative algorithm of Paegle and Tomlinson (1975) for the nondivergent nonlinear balance equation. Optimum convergence of the numerical solutions is found to occur when under-relaxation is utilized. The LIMS height analyses were also latitudinally smoothed and constrained to obey the ellipticity criterion for spherical coordinates. The balanced winds are compared with geostrophically derived values and with in situ radiosonde reports for 100 mb to 10 mb over Berlin.
What mediates gender bias in work behavior ratings

This study explored possible mediators of gender bias in work behavior ratings. However, we believed it important to do so by first attempting to create a decision-making environment that better reflected the cognitive demands imposed on raters in work settings. Accordingly, 74 participants, mostly White and middle class students, read a vignette that depicted the work behavior of a male or female police officer. All participants attended to another task while reading the vignette and did so while under a perceived time limit; then, immediately or 5 days later, they completed a work behavior questionnaire. As expected, more effective work behaviors were attributed to men than women—but only when ratings were delayed. Further analyses revealed that a systematic response bias was responsible, whereas selective memory played no role. Specifically, participants adopted a more liberal decision criterion when attributing effective work behaviors to men than women. These results help to illuminate the dynamics of discrimination and provide direction for future research efforts.
JROTC as a Substitute for PE: Really?

Purpose: Even though physical education (PE) is an evidence-based strategy for providing and promoting physical activity, alternative programs such as the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) are commonly substituted for PE in many states. The purpose of this study was to compare student physical activity and lesson contexts during high school PE and JROTC sessions. Method: The System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time was used to assess PE and JROTC sessions (N = 38 each) in 4 high schools that provided both programs. Data were analyzed using t tests, negative binomial regression, and logistic regression. Results: Students engaged in significantly more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during PE than during JROTC sessions and they were significantly less sedentary. Significant differences between the 2 program types were also found among lesson contexts. Conclusions: PE and JROTC provide substantially different content and contexts, and students in these programs engage in substantially...
Factors affecting intrauterine growth among Hispanics and African-Americans in an inner-city population † 510

Factors affecting intrauterine growth among Hispanics and African-Americans in an inner-city population † 510
Value of serologic reactions at 2 months following strain 19 vaccination of cattle herds with brucellosis

Abstract Non-reactor cows in a dairy herd and six beef herds quarantined because of brucellosis were vaccinated with Brucella abortus Strain 19 and tested by rivanol and complement-fixation (CF) tests. Cows with rivanol 100 and CF 80 test titers at 2 months post-vaccination (p.v.) were defined as test positives. In the dairy herd, 46 test positives were diagnosed as follows: 17 (37%) had field strain infection; 1 (2%) had a Strain 19 infection; an additional 18 (39%) were brucellosis reactors at 4 months p.v.; 10 (22%) had declining or negative serologic tests at 4 months p.v. In the beef herds, 58 test positives were diagnosed as follows: 19 (33%) had field strain infection; 5 (9%) had Strain 19 infection; an additional 21 (36%) were brucellosis reactors at 6 months p.v.; 13 (22%) had declining or negative serologic tests at 6 months p.v. Since the majority of the test-positive cattle were diagnosed as either infected with B. abortus or brucellosis reactors, segregation of these cattle should reduce field strain exposure for the remaining cattle in the herd and therefore reduce the number of new cases of brucellosis.
Effects of irradiance on amino and organic acid levels in ladino clover

Abstract White clover ( Trifolium repens L. cv. Tillman) plants were grown in a controlled environment chamber with a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 550 μmol m −2 sec −1 for 28 days. Second trifoliolate leaves, sampled hourly, displayed varying pool concentration patterns of glycine and serine over the 24 hr sampling period. The 1100–1130 hr time period which reflected high levels of these metabolites was used in subsequent experiments. Plants 28 days old were randomly selected, divided and transferred to Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors (CSTR) gas exposure chambers with PPFD of 285 μmol m −2 sec −1 , or left in the original chamber. Metabolites from the glycolate, glycolytic and the oxidative pentose phosphate pathways were monitored every 24 hr up to 168 hr in each chamber type. The pool concentrations of all metabolites changed within 24 hr following transfer to the lower level of irradiance. Pool concentrations of glycine and serine at low irradiance were always lower than those at the higher irradiance, whereas 6-phosphogluconic acid first increased and then decreased, stabilizing 96 hr after transfer to levels below plants remaining in the controlled environment chamber. The data demonstrated that when plants are grown in one environment and then transferred to another for experimental purposes which include measurement of metabolite levels, adequate acclimation to the second environment is essential before treatments are imposed.
Requirement of argininosuccinate lyase for systemic nitric oxide production

The enzyme argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) generates the amino acid arginine, the precursor to both urea and nitric oxide. However, arginine supplementation is not sufficient to correct all of the symptoms of individuals with a congenital deficiency of this enzyme. Ayelet Erez et al. explain this paradox by showing that ASL has a role in nitric oxide synthesis that is independent of its catalytic activity and provide evidence that therapy with agents boosting nitric oxide levels might be beneficial in ASL-deficient individuals.
Effects of particle morphology and surface hydrogenation on the phase stability of Ti O 2

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are currently receiving a lot of attention due to their inherent suitability for advanced photochemical applications. Size, phase, and morphology of the nanoparticles are the critical parameters determining their performance in particular applications. A thermodynamic model devised to describe the shape of nanoparticles as a function of size has been used to predict the phase stability of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, with particular attention given to the crossover of stability between the anatase and rutile phases. Density functional calculations were used to accurately determine surface energies and surface tensions. The effects of nanocrystal morphology on the phase transition are addressed and comparisons drawn with previously reported studies. Further, the model has been applied to titanium dioxide nanoparticles with hydrogenated surfaces, to investigate the effects of surface passivation on the equilibrium shape and the phase transition, and show that surface passivation has an important impact on nanocrystal morphology and phase stability. The results show that surface hydrogenation induces significant changes in the shape of rutile nanocrystals, but not in anatase, and that the size at which the phase transition may be expected increases dramatically when the under-coordinated surface titanium atoms are H-terminated.
Soft x-ray laser interferometry of colliding plasmas

ABSTRACT We have used soft x-ray laser interferometry to study dense colliding plasmas produced by laser irradiation of semi-cylindrical targets. Results are reported on the evolution of 1 mm long plasmas created by heating 500 µm diameter half holhraum copper targets with an intensity of ~1.6 10 12 W.cm -2 from 120 ps duration laser pulses of 800 nm wavelength. The setup combines a robust high through put amplitude division interferometer based on diffraction gratings with a 46.9 nm table-top capillary discharge laser. Series of high contrast interferograms were obtained depicting the evolution of the copp er plasmas into a localized plasma that reaches densities above 1 u 10 20 cm -3 when the plasmas collide near the center of the cavity. The technique allows the generation of high resolution density maps of colliding plasma with various degree of collisi onality for comparison with code simulations. INTRODUCTION The study of dense colliding plasmas is of significant interest from the point of view of both fundamental plasma physics and applications. In particular, it is of inte rest for the design of inertial confinement fusion experiments
Actions that characterize I∞(n)

It is well known that, if an identity operator on an n-dimensional Banach space V can be extended to any Banach space with the same norm, then V is isometric to l∞(n). We show that the identity is the only such operator.
Fetal liver and bone marrow JORO 75+ lymphocyte progenitors are precursors of CD4+8- TCR/CD3- early thymocytes

We show here that cell sorter purified JORO 75+ lymphocyte progenitors from fetal liver or bone marrow of adult mice give rise in vitro to CD4+8- T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3- early thymocytes and CD4+8- TCR/CD3+ thymocyte subsets after coculture with the EH6 subcapsular thymic epithelial cell line, recombinant interleukin 7 (rIL-7) and F (supernatants from the FLS4.1 fetal liver stromal cell line). We find that in cultures that had additionally received rIL-2, CD4-8+ TCR/CD3+ cells were also generated. The results strongly suggest that fetal liver and marrow JORO 75+ lymphocyte progenitors are precursors to the early CD4+8- TCR/CD3- intrathymic population previously identified in the adult mouse. The EH6 subcapsular thymic epithelial cell line should facilitate the study of the molecular events responsible for very early stages of T cell development including T lymphocyte-lineage commitment.
Cerebral vasoconstriction during head-upright tilt-induced vasovagal syncope. A paradoxic and unexpected response.

BACKGROUNDTo determine the effect of vasovagally mediated syncope on the cerebral circulation, transcranial Doppler sonography was used to assess changes in cerebral blood flow velocity during head-upright tilt-induced syncope.METHODS AND RESULTSThirty patients (17 men and 13 women; mean age, 43 +/- 22 years) with recurrent unexplained syncope were evaluated by use of an upright tilt-table test for 30 minutes, with or without an infusion of intravenous isoproterenol (1-4 micrograms/min), in an attempt to provoke bradycardia, hypotension, or both. Transcranial Doppler sonography was used to assess middle cerebral artery systolic velocity (Vs), diastolic velocity (Vd), ratio of systolic to diastolic velocities, pulsatility index (PI = Vs-Vd/Vmean), and resistance index (RI = Vs-Vd/Vs) before, during, and after tilt. Syncope occurred in six patients (20%) during the baseline tilt and 14 (46%) during isoproterenol infusion (total positives, 66%). In the tilt-positive patients, concomitant with the development...
Bearing Accuracies for Arctan Processing of Crossed Dipole Arrays

Crossed dipole arrays are often used for bearing estimation in simple radio direction finders and in acoustic systems. A common bearing estimation algorithm requires that the output of each dipole be multiplied by the output of a collocated omnidirectional sensor and temporally averaged. The estimate of the source bearing is the arctan of the ratio of the pair of products; the quadrant of the target bearing may be deduced from the signs of the numerator and denominator. In this paper, both numerical simulation and mathematical modelling are used to study the performance of such a bearing estimator. For large time-bandwidth products, the bearing estimate approximates a Gaussian random variable. As the time-bandwidth product is decreased, the probability density function begins to deviate significantly from Normality, and, at very small time-bandwidth products, the density becomes bimodal with an additional peak displaced by 180\deg from the actual source direction. The performance of the estimator is presented for both two and three dimensionally isotropic noise.
Hospital policy on medical futility - does it help in conflict resolution and ensuring good end-of-life care?

Introduction: This paper aimed to ascertain if hospital policy on medical futility helps in confl ict resolution, and in ensuring good end-of-life care. Materials and Methods: Literature on the subject published in the last 5 years was identifi ed through Pubmed, and those with empirical data pertaining to the outcomes of interest were examined. A systematic analysis was not possible as papers varied greatly in aims, designs, outcomes and their measures. Instead, the outcomes of representative papers were described and discussed. Results: There is a widespread use of policies and guidelines based on the concept of medical futility. Confl icts are rare and appear to arise primarily from the manner in which policies are implemented. End-of-life care appears to be improving as evidenced by a signifi cant number of deaths occurring following: (i) discussions involving patient, family, healthcare team members; (ii) cessation of intensive care and (iii) cessation of institution of palliative care. Deaths are increasingly taking place in the presence of family and outside the intensive care wards. Finally, post mortem audit of processes and practices indicate (i) compliance but in a limited manner with policies and recommended guidelines, (ii) family satisfaction and (iii) identify areas where improvement in end-of-life (EOL) care can be effected. Key areas are in improving education of, communication with, and documentation by all stakeholders. Conclusion: Hospital policies on medical futility have helped to resolve confl icts and improve end-of-life care. Prospective, multicentre and controlled trials will be useful in determining the value of specifi c interventions, obtaining generalisable data and facilitating implementation of better end-of-life care models. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2011;40:19-25
Size Isn't All that Matters: Noticing Differences in Size and Temporal Order.

The ability to represent time and size is essential for thought and action. These domains have traditionally been investigated independently. However, the processing of events in time and space is postulated to have considerable anatomical and behavioral overlap. Here we formally tested for associations and dissociations of abilities in these domains. We examined patterns of impairments in temporal order and relative size judgments in patients with unilateral brain lesions and age-matched control participants. While brain damage can impair both size and temporal order judgments (TOJ), we did not find evidence for global hemispheric differences. When patients were analyzed individually compared to control subjects, we found double dissociations in performances on both kinds of judgments. Voxel lesion symptom mapping allowed us to investigate shared and unique contributions of brain damage to deficits in judgments noticing differences in temporal order and in spatial extent. We found that size and temporal order estimations have overlapping cortical vulnerabilities within the left inferior frontal gyrus, left superior temporal cortex, and bilateral inferior parietal lobule. However, vulnerability unique to TOJ occurred with damage predominantly in left lateralized regions involving inferior and middle frontal cortex and inferior parietal lobule. Conversely, vulnerability unique to size judgments occurred with damage predominantly in right lateralized regions in the supramarginal gyrus and superior temporal cortex. These data provide evidence for interactions between the processing of spatial extent and temporal order; however, they do not provide evidence for right lateralized systems.
Performance Evaluation of a Doppler Radar System for Wind Shear Detection

Nonlinear stochastic differential equations are used to model wind shear, and extended Kalman filters are used to generate state estimates from measurements received from a Doppler radar on board an aircraft. Likelihood-ratio tests are then used to detect the presence of wind shear. In this paper, we evaluate how well the system performs by deriving theoretical expressions for the false alarm and miss error probabilities. The approach uses a Fokker-Planck equation. The overall methodology is general and should be of interest in other applications.
Transcorneal iontophoresis for delivery of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of utilizing iontophoresis for delivery of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride to the anterior chamber of the eye and to carry out systematic studies to investigate the effect of electrical protocol on the transcorneal drug delivery. Materials and Methods: Effect of current density (0.75 mA/cm2 to 6.25 mA/cm2 applied for 5 minutes) on drug permeation across the cornea and drug load in the cornea were investigated in vitro as well as ex vivo studies in porcine cornea model. Tolerability studies were carried out in rabbits. Cytotoxicity studies were conducted in cultured corneal tissue. Results: The drug loaded in the cornea increased with increasing current density. After 5 minutes of iontophoresis, the drug concentration in the receiver compartment fluid (in vitro) or in aqueous humor (ex vivo) was not significantly higher than control (in which electric current was not applied). However, waiting for 6–12 hours after iontophoresis for 5 minutes, the concentrations of drug i...
Molecular cloning and characterization of an estrogen-dependent porcine oviductal secretory glycoprotein.

A family of estrogen-dependent porcine oviductal secretory glycoproteins (POSPs) that exhibit structural similarities are synthesized and secreted into the oviductal lumen at proestrus, estrus, and metestrus. The objectives of this study were to clone the POSP cDNA, obtain the full-length cDNA and protein sequence, examine tissue specificity and species distribution, characterize its regulation, and establish its identity by comparison to other known protein, RNA, or DNA sequences. A fulllength cDNA of 2022 base pairs was obtained with an open reading frame of 1581 nucleotides, coding for a deduced protein of 527 amino acids (57 970 M,). The deduced protein contained three potential N-glycosylation sites, a consensus heparin-binding site, and potential Oglycosylation sites. Amino acid analysis of POSP-E3 confirmed the presence of a 21-amino acid signal sequence. Northern blot analysis revealed an oviduct-specific mRNA species of 2.25 kb in the infundibulum (INF), ampulla (A), and isthmus (I). An mRNA of similar size was detected in the oviduct of the sheep, cow, and rabbit, and one of slightly greater size (2.8 kb) in the mouse and hamster oviduct but not in the horse or alligator oviduct. Dot blot analysis indicated that steady-state levels of POSP mRNA were significantly greater (p = 0.0001) in the A than in the INF or I regardless of day of the estrous cycle and were greater on Day 0 (estrus; p = 0.0001) regardless of location. Further, steady-state mRNA levels were significantly increased (p = 0.02) on Days 0 and 1, declining rapidly to Day 2 through Day 15 of the estrous cycle. Steadystate POSP mRNA levels were significantly greater (p < 0.003) in ovariectomized gilts treated with estradiol valerate than those treated with other steroid regimens, vehicle, or no treatment (Control), consistent with estrogen control of mRNA expression. The POSP protein exhibited significant identity to oviductal glycoproteins from the baboon, cow, hamster, human, mouse, and sheep; to several mammalian nonoviductal glycoproteins; and to several chitinases. POSP joins a growing subfamily of the chitinase gene family that lacks chitinase enzymatic activity.
Results for outdoor-SLAM using sparse extended information filters

In [Thrun, S., et al., 2001], we proposed the sparse extended information filter for efficiently solving the simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) problem. In this paper, we extend this algorithm to handle data association problems and report real-world results, obtained with an outdoor vehicle. We find that our approach performs favorably when compared to the extended Kalman filter solution from which it is derived.
External beam radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate

Purpose: External beam radiation therapy for carcinoma of the soft palate aims to achieve loco-regional control with normal speech, nasal function, swallowing mechanism, and minimal side effects such as nasal speech and regurgitation of food into the nasopharynx. In this report we present our results of radiotherapy in the treatment of 24 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate. Methods and Materials: A total of 24 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate were treated at the Veterans Administration Medical Center Minneapolis, MN, between February 1977 and May 1992. Of the 24 patients 2 had T1, 19 T2, 1 T3, and 2 had T4 lesions. Nineteen patients did not have clinical nodal disease, stage (N0), 1 had N1, 2 N2, and 2 N3 disease (Table 1). All the patients were treated by 4 MeV linear accelerator. A 1.75 Gy median dose was administered per fraction to a total of 70 Gy median dose. Bilateral opposed compensated shrinking fields technique was used. Results: The 3-year disease free survival rate after external beam radiation therapy was 100 % (1 out of 1), 64.7% (11 out of 17), 100% (1 out of 1), and 0%, for patients with T1, T2, T3, and T4 disease, respectively. Salvage surgery for recurrent disease was successful in 57.1% (4 out of 7 patients} (Table 2). The ultimate 3-year disease free survival rate for the entire group, including surgical salvage, was 81% (17 out of 21) (Fig 1). Conclusion: Radiation therapy alone in our institution resulted in tumor control and survival rates compare favorably to previously published reports in the litrature. Surgery can be reserved as salvage procedure.
Studies on effect of sample circulation on sensing performance of protein C immunosensor

Protein C (PC) is an important anti-coagulant and anti-thrombotic in blood plasma. PC deficiency may lead to severe thrombotic complications such as stroke and heart attack. The frequency of PC deficiency in general population is estimated to be 0.2%. Early diagnosis of PC deficiency is critical for preventing fatal thrombo-embolic episodes. A realtime, cost effective, and highly sensitive fiber-optic PC immunosensor is currently under development in our research group. After injection of the PC sample to sensor chamber, PC diffuses to the fiber surface from bulk solution, followed by immunoreaction with antibodies on the surface. The signal intensity from PC in plasma was much lower than in pure buffer due to high viscosity of blood plasma. To increase the signal intensity, convective mass transfer was applied during incubation. A sample circulation unit was also designed to circulate sample within enclosed system to provide continuously convective mass transfer of sample with minimum sample volume. Micropumps and microvalves are being investigated to make a microfluidic system for minimization of sample volume and a more precise measurement. The ultimate goal is to automate the sample circulation unit to be incorporated in an automatic sensing cartridge for PC measurement.
Locomotion in a Lower Vertebrate: Studies of the Cellular Basis of Rhythmogenesis and Oscillator Coupling

To test whether the known connectivies of neurons in the lamprey spinal cord are sufficient to account for locomotor rhythmogenesis, a "connectionist" neural network simulation was done using identical cells connected according to experimentally established patterns. It was demonstrated that the network oscillates in a stable manner with the same phase relationships among the neurons as observed in the lamprey. The model was then used to explore coupling between identical oscillators. It was concluded that the neurons can have a dual role as rhythm generators and as coordinators between oscillators to produce the phase relations observed among segmental oscillators during swimming.
Laboratory testing for Neisseria gonorrhoeae by recently introduced nonculture tests: a performance review with clinical and public health considerations.

Since 1992 two new nucleic acid-based tests (Gen-Probe Pace 2 and Abbott LCR) for the diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We systematically assessed the quality of 21 studies that evaluated these tests' performance compared with that of culture for diagnosis of gonorrhea, on the basis of established criteria. We estimated overall test sensitivity and specificity by the testing method, sex, and anatomic site. None of the studies optimally fulfilled all quality criteria; few studies adequately used reference tests or described blinding. The sensitivity and specificity of nucleic acid hybridization (approximately 85%, approximately 98%) and amplification tests (approximately 95%, approximately 99%) were high and did not appear to differ substantially by sex or anatomic site. When proficiency in the performance of culture is high, the new tests are comparable to culture and may not offer a substantial advantage; in settings where optimization of culture is difficult, nucleic acid amplification may detect more infections than nucleic acid probe or culture.
Physical Function in Men With Prostate Cancer on Androgen Deprivation Therapy

Background and Purpose: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has become an increasingly standard intervention for both early and advanced stages of prostate cancer; however, decreased physical function and hypogonadism have been reported in men receiving ADT. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine whether ADT (and hypogonadism) resulted in decreased strength and mobility and (2) to examine the effect of ADT on an associated test of cognitive and motor function by assessing visuomotor performance. Subjects and Methods: Physical function, walking speed, visuomotor performance, gonadal status, body composition, and Comorbidity Disease Index (CMDI) scores were assessed in a cohort of 100 participants that included: (1) men with prostate cancer who were not on ADT, (2) men with prostate cancer who were on short-term ADT (<6 months), (3) men with prostate cancer who were on long-term ADT (≥6 months), and (4) control subjects who did not have prostate cancer. Results: Walking speed varied significantly across the 4 groups, even after adjusting for age, CMDI, and percentage of body fat. Age and CMDI were significantly associated with measurements of physical performance. Adjusted for covariates, men on long-term ADT walked 0.18 m/s slower than the control subjects. Physical function also varied significantly across the 4 groups. Androgen deprivation therapy did not have a significant effect on visuomotor performance. Discussion and Conclusion: The results suggest that ADT has a significant effect on walking speed and physical performance in men with prostate cancer.
Self-Learning Cooperative Transmission - Coping with Unreliability Due to Mobility, Channel Estimation Errors, and Untrustworthy Nodes

For cooperative transmission in wireless networks, a very challenging problem is to combine information from different paths that do not necessarily perfectly represent the source's information. The excessive channel information needs to be estimated at the destination, especially in the networks with mobile nodes. Channel estimation error is often inevitable. Moreover, there may be untrustworthy nodes that do not honestly forward messages. Additionally, good nodes may fail to forward messages because they move out of the transmission range. In all above scenarios, the message forwarded by a relay node may not be the same as the message broadcast by the source node. This could significantly degrade the performance of cooperative transmission. Another challenging problem is to study complicated cooperative relaying topologies with multi- hop, multiple relays. Currently, existing schemes only analyze the one-hop case possibly with multiple relays, or the multi-hop case in a single chain topology. In this paper, we propose a low-overhead self-learning cooperative transmission scheme that solves above problems. In particular, each node detects the events in which the received signal- to-noise-ratio (SNR) is greater than a threshold. The distribution of the events, which can describe reliability/trustworthiness of a relay node, is modeled as a Beta function. With a very low overhead, those Beta functions can propagate through the complicated cooperative relaying topology from the source to the destination. When the destination combines information from different paths, both mean and variance are taken into the consideration. The simulation results have shown that the proposed scheme can adapt to estimation errors, untrustworthy nodes, and node mobility. The BER performance of our proposed scheme is more than 4 times better than the traditional Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC) that does not consider unreliability in relays.
A Knowledge-based Segmentation Method Integrating both Region and Boundary Information of Medical Images

In this article, the author proposed a hybrid segmentation method which integrates region, boundary and priori knowledge information of medical images. The basic algorithm of this method is level set active contours. The speed function is initialized according to the gradient of the image, and is modified according to statistical characteristic of the segmented regions as the curve evolves. To make the curve stop accurately at the boundary of the object, an energy function is constructed by improving Chan-Vese model. The priori knowledge of the region of interest (ROI) is also integrated into this energy function. The experiment data consists of both simulated images and real clinical images. Precision, accuracy and efficiency are considered in evaluating this method. The evaluation result shows that this method is robust, accurate and has high performance, especially when the boundary is weak or dotted.
Structure and Mechanism of ArnA: Conformational Change Implies Ordered Dehydrogenase Mechanism in Key Enzyme for Polymyxin Resistance

The modification of lipid A with 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose (Ara4N) allows gram-negative bacteria to resist the antimicrobial activity of cationic antimicrobial peptides and antibiotics such as polymyxin. ArnA is the first enzyme specific to the lipid A-Ara4N pathway. It contains two functionally and physically separable domains: a dehydrogenase domain (ArnA_DH) catalyzing the NAD+-dependent oxidative decarboxylation of UDP-Glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA), and a transformylase domain that formylates UDP-Ara4N. Here, we describe the crystal structure of the full-length bifunctional ArnA with UDP-GlcA and ATP bound to the dehydrogenase domain. Binding of UDP-GlcA triggers a 17 A conformational change in ArnA_DH that opens the NAD+ binding site while trapping UDP-GlcA. We propose an ordered mechanism of substrate binding and product release. Mutation of residues R619 and S433 demonstrates their importance in catalysis and suggests that R619 functions as a general acid in catalysis. The proposed mechanism for ArnA_DH has important implications for the design of selective inhibitors.
Reduced order estimation for non-Markov processes

Reduced-order smoothers are developed for linear stochastic boundary-value problems. The design of the smoothers is shown to involve solving linear two-point boundary-value problems.
Pneumococcal disease prevention among adults: Strategies for the use of pneumococcal vaccines

Use of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines among children in the U.S. since 2000 has dramatically reduced pneumococcal disease burden among adults. Significant vaccine-preventable morbidity and mortality from pneumococcal infections still remains, especially among older adults. The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recently recommended the routine use of both pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13) and polysaccharide vaccines (PPSV23) for adults ≥65 years. These recommendations were based on the remaining burden of illness among adults and the importance of non-bacteremic pneumonia prevention in light of new evidence confirming the efficacy of PCV13 to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia among older adults. This paper reviews the evidence that led ACIP to make recommendations for PCV13 and PPSV23 use among adults, and highlights potential gaps to be addressed by future studies to inform adult vaccination policy. The changing epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia should be closely monitored to evaluate the effectiveness and continued utility of the current vaccination strategy, and to identify future directions for pneumococcal disease prevention among older adults.
COMPARATIVE PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF THREE CODISTRIBUTED STOMATOPODS: ORIGINS AND TIMING OF REGIONAL LINEAGE DIVERSIFICATION IN THE CORAL TRIANGLE

The Indonesian-Australian Archipelago is the center of the world's marine biodiversity. Although many biogeographers have suggested that this region is a "center of origin," criticism of this theory has focused on the absence of processes promoting lineage diversification in the center. In this study we compare patterns of phylogeographic structure and gene flow in three codistributed, ecologically similar Indo-West Pacific stomatopod (mantis shrimp) species. All three taxa show evidence for limited gene flow across the Maluku Sea with deep genetic breaks between populations from Papua and Northern Indonesia, suggesting that limited water transport across the Maluku Sea may limit larval dispersal and gene flow across this region. All three taxa also show moderate to strong genetic structure between populations from Northern and Southern Indonesia, indicating limited gene flow across the Flores and Java Seas. Despite the similarities in phylogeographic structure, results indicate varied ages of the genetic discontinuities, ranging from the middle Pleistocene to the Pliocene. Concordance of genetic structure across multiple taxa combined with temporal discordance suggests that regional genetic structures have arisen from the action of common physical processes operating over extended time periods. The presence in all three species of both intraspecific genetic structure as well as deeply divergent lineages that likely represent cryptic species suggests that these processes may promote lineage diversification within the Indonesian-Australian Archipelago, providing a potential mechanism for the center of origin. Efforts to conserve biodiversity in the Coral Triangle should work to preserve both existing biodiversity as well as the processes creating the biodiversity.
Lacrimal Gland Overview

The lacrimal gland is responsible for the production of most of the proteins, electrolytes, and fluid constituting the aqueous layer of the tear film. The gland is comprised of multiple cell types including the most abundant acinar epithelial cells as well as ductal epithelial cells, myoepithelial cells, and resident immune cells. Innervation of the gland by parasympathetic and sympathetic neurons leads to release of neurotransmitters that activate basolateral acinar cell receptors to signal to the exocytotic apparatus to provoke release of sequestered proteins from secretory vesicles. Movement of proteins through the transcytotic pathway is also accelerated by acinar receptor activation. Proteins released by the lacrimal gland sustain corneal integrity, protect the ocular surface from infection, and aid in recovery from injury. Neurotransmitters also stimulate fluid and electrolyte flow into lacrimal fluid through a complex activation of channels and transporters in acinar and ductal cells.
Nitric oxide-mediated vascular function in sepsis using passive leg movement as a novel assessment: a cross-sectional study

Post-cuff occlusion flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a proposed indicator of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and vascular function. FMD is reduced in patients with sepsis and may be a marker of end organ damage and mortality. However, FMD likely does not solely reflect NO-mediated vasodilation, is technically challenging, and often demonstrates poor reproducibility. In contrast, passive leg movement (PLM), a novel methodology to assess vascular function, yields a hyperemic response that is predominately NO-dependent, reproducible, and easily measured. This study evaluated PLM as an approach to assess NO-mediated vascular function in patients with sepsis. We hypothesized that PLM-induced hyperemia, quantified by the increase in leg blood flow (LBF), would be attenuated in sepsis. In a cross-sectional study, 17 subjects in severe sepsis or septic shock were compared with 16 matched healthy controls. Doppler ultrasound was used to assess brachial artery FMD and the hyperemic response to PLM in the femoral artery. FMD was attenuated in septic compared with control subjects (1.1 ± 1.7% vs. 6.8 ± 1.3%; values are means ± SD). In terms of PLM, baseline LBF (196 ± 33 ml/min vs. 328 ± 20 ml/min), peak change in LBF from baseline (133 ± 28 ml/min vs. 483 ± 86 ml/min), and the LBF area under the curve (16 ± 8.3 vs. 143 ± 33) were all significantly attenuated in septic subjects. Vascular function, as assessed by both FMD and PLM, is attenuated in septic subjects compared with controls. These data support the concept that NO bioavailability is attenuated in septic subjects, and PLM appears to be a novel and feasible approach to assess NO-mediated vascular function in sepsis.
Abstract P4-14-03: Nipple-sparing mastectomy and intra-operative nipple biopsy: To freeze or not to freeze?

Background: Advances in breast cancer screening and treatment have fostered the use of surgical procedures that increasingly optimize cosmetic outcome, while ensuring oncologic safety remains the primary concern of the oncologic surgeon. The role of nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) for risk-reducing surgery and breast cancer is evolving. It can be difficult to demonstrate involvement of the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) preoperatively, and and in this report we examine the utility of intraoperative subareolar frozen section (FS). Methods: Records of patients undergoing NSM at the NYU Langone Medical Center from 2006–2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Use of subareolar FS was at surgeon9s discretion. Results: 237 NSM were performed (146 prophylacytic, 91 theraputic). FC was not utilized in 58 mastectomies (28 prophylactic), with 2 (+) on paraffin. Among the remaining 180 mastectomies, 11 biopsies were (+)(7.2%); 5 subareolar biopsies were (+) on FS and paraffin histologic slides (PS)(2.8%); 6 were negative on FS and (+) on PS. Among the 3 prophylactic NSM with (+) subareolar biopsies there was 1 (+) FS, 1 (−) FS, and 1 with no FS performed. There were no false (+) FS. Four of the 5 patients with (+)FS underwent simultaneous excision of the NAC. The 5th patient had atypia on FS and DCIS on PS, and returned to the OR during the same hospitalization for removal of NAC. The remaining patients underwent subsequent excision of the NAC either during planned 2nd stage reconstruction or following completion of chemotherapy. 8 NAC were free of disease and 5 were positive for in situ or invasive disease. There has been no local recurrence in these patients to date. Conclusions: The rate of NAC involvement is low, 5.5% in this series, and FS, while utilized in the majority of these cases, detected only 46% of subareolar disease. While FS can direct intraoperative decision making, the predictive power is low, and these considerations must be addressed in preoperative patient discussions. Furthermore, among those patients with (+) subareolar biopsies, only 39% had residual disease on NAC excision. Thus, optimal oncologic management of the NAC must still be considered an unresolved issue. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-14-03.
Mitochondrial DNA as a biomarker for in-vitro fertilization outcome.

Purpose of reviewThis article discusses the use of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number as a potential biomarker for embryo viability in assisted reproduction.Recent findingsMitochondria have a well-established role in regulating embryo energy metabolism, and their efficiency has significant implic
SPA: A Secure and Private Auction Framework for Decentralized Online Social Networks

The security and privacy threats on e-commerce have attracted intensive attention recently. The explosive growth of online social networks (OSNs) has made them potential new great marketplaces for e-commerce, which, however, raise serious security and privacyconcerns. This is mainly due to the centralized system architecture where the service provider knows all users’ private data and becomes the single point of failure. To this end, we propose a secure and private auction framework, called SPA, for decentralized online social networks (DOSNs). SPA consists of three phases: identity initiation, buyer-seller matching, and private auction. It requires no trust among the participants but can provide security, privacy, authenticity, non-repudiation, and correctness for the auctions. We analyze the computation and communication complexities of the proposed private auction scheme, which are $O(n+K)$ for each node where $n$ is the number of bidders and $K$ is the number of pricing points. In contrast, those of previous auction schemes are $O(nK)$ at best. The storage complexity is significantly lower than before as well. Security and privacy of SPA are also analyzed. Extensive experiments are conducted to validate the efficiency of SPA.