cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SMEX02: Field scale variability, time stability and similarity of soil moisture

Evaluation of air- or space-borne remote sensors measuring soil moisture requires strategic ground-based sampling. As part of the Soil Moisture Experiment 2002 (SMEX02), daily surface soil moisture sampling at 90–140 locations were conducted in four fields in Walnut Creek watershed, Iowa. Various combinations of soils, vegetation, and topography characterize the fields. Depending on the field’s characteristics and soil moisture content, 3–32 independent measurements were necessary to capture the field mean volumetric soil moisture with a F2% bias and 95% confidence interval. Validation of the retrieved soil moisture products from the aircraft microwave instruments using the average of 14 samples per field is more appropriate for dry ( 25% volumetric soil moisture) range than for intermediate soil moisture range. Time stability analysis showed that an appropriately selected single sampling point could provide similar accuracy across a range of soil moisture conditions. Analyses based on landscape position (depression, hilltop, steep slope, and mild slope) showed that locations with mild slopes consistently exhibit time stable features. Hilltop and steep slope locations consistently underestimated mean field soil moisture. Soils parameters could not be used to identify time stable features as sampling locations with relatively high sand content consistently underestimated the field mean while those locations with relatively high clay content consistently overestimated the field mean. However, the slope position characterization of time stable features was enhanced using soils properties. The mild slope locations having the best time-stable features are those with moderate to moderately high clay content as compare to the field
Play to Win! Using Games in Library Instruction to Enhance Student Learning

Abstract Research has shown that educational games can have positive impacts on student learning and motivation. The success of a game played in a library instruction class depends on the type of game selected, the development of learning outcomes, and the flexibility of the librarian during class. This article explains the benefits to students and librarians of using games, discusses the development and use of a Jeopardy-style game, and provides practical tips for librarians interested in developing and incorporating games into one-time library instruction sessions.
Relaxing the Rule of Ten Events per Variable in Logistic and Cox Regression

The rule of thumb that logistic and Cox models should be used with a minimum of 10 outcome events per predictor variable (EPV), based on two simulation studies, may be too conservative. The authors conducted a large simulation study of other influences on confidence interval coverage, type I error, relative bias, and other model performance measures. They found a range of circumstances in which coverage and bias were within acceptable levels despite less than 10 EPV, as well as other factors that were as influential as or more influential than EPV. They conclude that this rule can be relaxed, in particular for sensitivity analyses undertaken to demonstrate adequate control of confounding.
Securing Web Servers Using Self Cleansing Intrusion Tolerance (SCIT)

The number of malware attacks is increasing, Companies have invested millions of dollars in intrusion detection and intrusion prevention (ID/IP) technologies and products, yet many web servers are hacked every year. The current reactive methods of security have proven to be inadequate because the “bad guys” are always one step ahead of the Intrusion Detection/Intrusion Prevention community. Our research seeks to prove the feasibility of a completely new and innovative theory of server security called “Self-Cleansing Intrusion Tolerance” (SCIT). SCIT shifts the focus from detection and prevention to containing losses. SCIT uses virtualization technology in a new and unique way to make it more difficult for attackers to do damage/acquire data by reducing a server’s exposure time from several months to less than a minute. In this way we increase the dependability of the server and provide a new way to balance the trade-off between security and availability. We have applied SCIT to multiple types of servers (DNS, SSO and Web), in this paper we will focus on securing web servers using SCIT. Based on the results of load testing of a web application for various load scenarios under both scit and non-scit environments, we will clearly show that SCIT provides a high degree of security with little degradation in overall response time of the application.
Finite amplitude instability of plane Couette flow

The Orr–Sommerfeld equation is solved numerically using expansions in Chebyshev polynomials and the generalized Rayleigh quotient iteration. Accurate results for large values of the parameters are obtained, and these further verify the belief that plane Couette flow is stable to infinitesimal disturbances. For finite disturbances, a formal expansion based on the method of Stuart and Watson as modified by Reynolds & Potter is used. This method shows a transition to instability for a large enough amplitude.
Factors affecting time to maintenance dose in patients initiating warfarin

Purpose Patients starting warfarin often experience lengthy dose-titration periods, when they are at high risk for bleeding and thromboembolism. However, relatively little is known about why some patients take longer than others to reach maintenance dose. Thus, we sought to identify social, clinical, and genetic factors associated with prolonged time to maintenance dose (TTM). Methods We conducted a time-to-event analysis, using a prospective cohort of patients initiating warfarin (N = 390). Additionally, we examined whether changes in post-initiation factors were associated with TTM. Finally, we performed a secondary analysis in a subcohort (N = 156) assessing the effect of adherence on TTM. Results No genetic or post-initiation factors were significantly associated with TTM. However, previous use of warfarin [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.64; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46, 0.88], current smoking status (HR = 0.61; 95%CI 0.39, 0.96), fewer than four doctor's visits in the previous year (HR = 0.63 vs 4–12 visits; 95%CI 0.46, 0.88), and worse general health status (HR = 0.63; 95%CI 0.47, 0.84) were significantly associated with longer TTM. Use of illegal injectable drugs (HR = 2.51; 95%CI 1.17, 5.39) was associated with shorter TTM. On secondary analysis, the HR for better adherence and TTM was 1.70 (95%CI 0.88, 3.27). Conclusions Time to maintenance dose was associated with pre-existing behavioral factors, health care utilization, and health quality but not clinical comorbidities or genetic factors in patients initiating warfarin. Future studies are needed to determine whether warfarin patients with prolonged TTM would have better outcomes on alternative agents. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Leaching induced concentration profiles in the solid phase of cement

Analysis of the solid phase of portland cement specimens by energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry before and after leaching provided elemental profiles within the cement. Releases of potassium were calculated from the solid phase profiles and were compared to releases determined from leachate analyses of potassium and cesium-137. The fraction of potassium released in the leachate was found to correlate closely to that of cesium-137 under varying time and temperature conditions, despite the different manner in which each was originally contained in the cement. Agreement was obtained among potassium releases as determined from the solid, potassium in the leachate and cesium-137 in the leachate. These correlations allowed the use of potassium as an analog for cesium-137 in cement. Profiles of potassium in the solid showed varying degrees of depletion. A specimen, sectioned immediately after leaching for 471 days, showed complete removal of potassium to 9 mm depth from the specimens surface. From 9 mm to the center of the specimen, an apparently linear increase in concentration was observed. Specimens that had been air dried prior to sectioning had profiles that were produced by evaporative transport of dissolved species toward the surface. Carbonation of the surface appears to have retarded migration ofmore » the dissolved material. This prevented it from reaching the outer edge and resulted in increased potassium concentrations several mm inside the surface. 9 refs., 10 figs., 2 tabs.« less
Emotion Facilitation and Passive Avoidance Learning in Psychopathic Female Offenders

Research on psychopathy among incarcerated, Caucasian males has consistently demonstrated deficits in emotion processing and response inhibition. Using the PCL-R to classify participants as psychopathic or non-psychopathic, this study examined the performance of incarcerated, Caucasian females on two laboratory tasks: A lexical decision task used to assess emotion processing and a passive avoidance task used to assess response inhibition. Contrary to prediction, deficits in performance typically exhibited by psychopathic males were not exhibited by psychopathic females in this sample. Implications of these findings are discussed and an interpretation of the results in the context of the Response Modulation Hypothesis is presented.
Effects of fruit fly host, fruit species, and host egg to female parasitoid ratio on the laboratory rearing of Biosteres arisanus

The host suitability of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), for development of Biosteres arisanus (Sonan), a braconid parasitoid, was compared with three other fruit fly species, namely, Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Weidemann, melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquilett, and Malaysian fruit fly, Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel). In addition, effects of five different fruit species, namely, Carica papaya L. (solo papaya), Musa sapientum (L.) O. Ktze. (apple banana), Mangifera indica (L.) (Haden mango), Terminalia catappa (L.) (false kamani), and Citrus aurantiifolia (Christman) Swingle (common lime), on the parasitization rate of B. dorsalis and sex ratio of parasitoid progenies were evaluated. Effects of host egg to female B. arisanus ratios on parasitoid progeny yields were likewise determined. The host suitability of fruit flies for development of B. arisanus was ranked as: B. dorsalis>C. capitata = B. latifrons = B. cucurbitae. Based on percent parasitization of B. dorsalis, preference of B. arisanus females for host eggs varied with fruit species, however, preferential oviposition displayed by female parasitoids did not influence sex ratios of subsequent parasitoid progenies. Increases in host egg to female parasitoid ratios of 5:1, 10:1, 20:1, 25:1, and 30:1 corresponded with increases in parasitoid progeny yield reaching a plateau at 20:1.
Preemptive Priority Assignment in Multichannel Systems

Customers of different priorities arrive at a system in accordance with a Poisson process. The customers are serviced by c service stations using a preemptive priority discipline. When the servicing times are exponentially distributed, this paper derives expressions for the expected waiting time for inception of service, as well as the lower and upper bounds for the expected staying time and expected number of customers of each priority class 1 â¦ p â¦ r in the system and in the line.
IMPORTANCE OF ELECTRON–ELECTRON INTERACTION FOR HARMONIC GENERATION

We compute the spectrum of the high-order harmonic radiation that is emitted during the interaction of a short laser pulse with a one-dimensional two-electron system. The flexibility of our numerical approach allows us to determine the relative importance of the e–e interaction for the scattered light by coupling only one of the two electrons to the field. The harmonic emission from each electron can then be determined. The e–e interaction appears to be at least as important as the coupling of one electron to the laser field. The coupling of both electrons to the field enhances the nonlinear response of the system.
Urinary Leukotriene E4 Excretion During the First Month of Life and Subsequent Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Premature Infants

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), but the exact nature of this inflammatory process is incompletely understood. Older infants with established BPD have higher levels of urinary leukotriene E4 (LTE4) compared to healthy infants of the same age. This suggests that cysteinyl leukotrienes may play a role in the abnormalities seen in BPD. Objectives: To measure urinary LTE4 levels during the first month of life in premature infants, and to determine whether there are significant differences in premature infants who develop BPD, as compared to those who do not develop BPD. Design: Prospective, blinded, controlled study. Setting: Neonatal ICUs of a tertiary-care university hospital. Methods: Thirty-seven premature infants (< 33 weeks of gestational age) were enrolled prospectively at birth. Urinary LTE4 levels were measured blinded, using a standard radioimmunoassay technique at 2 days, 7 days, and 28 days of life. At 1 month of age, infants were classified as with or without BPD, based on need for supplemental oxygen, and characteristic chest radiographs. Clinical features and urinary LTE4 were compared between the two groups. Results: Mean 6 SD gestational age was 29 6 2.6 weeks. None of the infants had a family history of asthma. Thirteen of 37 infants were classified as having BPD at 28 days after birth. Mean gestational age in infants who developed BPD was 27 6 2.4 weeks, compared to 30 6 2 weeks in infants who did not develop BPD (p < 0.05). In infants with BPD, mean urinary LTE4 levels of urinary creatinine were 1,762 6 2,003 pg/mg, 1,236 6 992 pg/mg, and 5,541 6 5,146 pg/mg at days 2, 7, and 28, respectively, compared to 1,304 6 1,195 pg/mg, 1,158 6 1,133 pg/mg, and 2,800 6 2,080 pg/mg in infants without BPD. LTE4 levels at 2 days, 7 days, and 28 days did not correlate with the subsequent development of BPD. LTE4 levels at day 28 were significantly higher than LTE4 levels at day 2 and day 7 in both groups, even after correcting for gestational age or birth weight (p < 0.05). There was significant inverse correlation between LTE4 levels at day 2 with gestational age and birth weight (p < 0.05). All 13 infants with BPD received steroid pulses, compared to 3 of 26 infants without BPD. Gestational age and use of postnatal steroid pulses, diuretics, and theophylline (for apnea of prematurity) were significantly associated with each other and with the subsequent development of BPD. Conclusion: Urinary LTE4 levels measured on the second day of life in very-low-birth-weight infants inversely correlate with gestational age and birth weight. Urinary LTE4 levels may reflect lung injury and/or inflammation in premature infants, not necessarily related to BPD as it is presently defined. (CHEST 2001; 119:1749‐1754)
On the Problem of Weak Mach Reflection

To find clue to the well-known problem of the discrepancy in the weak Mach reflection, fundamental assumptions on which the three shock theory by von Neumann is based are examined and they are shown to become inadequate as the shock waves become weaker. With use of this fact, the three shock theory is modified, giving the Mach shock angles consistent with the experimental values. For further study, an approach to utilize the flow field near the triple point is suggested and proves to give the angle values which agree well with the experimental data.
Effect of the blood function error on the estimated kinetic parameters with dynamic pet

PET is an imaging modality widely used in areas such as oncology, neurology, cardiology and neuropsychology/cognitive neuro-science. Dynamic PET, in contrast to static PET, can identify temporal variations in the radiotracer concentration. Mathematical modeling of the tissue of interest in dynamic PET can be simplified using compartment models as a linear system where the time activity curve of a specific tissue is the convolution of the tracer concentration in the plasma and the impulse response of the tissue containing kinetic parameters. Since the arterial sampling of blood to acquire the value of the tracer concentration is invasive, blind identification to estimate both the blood input function and the kinetic parameters has recently drawn attention. Several methods have been developed for this purpose, but the effect of the estimated blood on the estimation of the kinetic parameters is not studied. In this paper, we present a mathematical model to compute the error in the kinetic parameter estimates caused by the error in estimation of the blood input function. Computer simulations show that analytical expressions we derive are sufficiently close to results obtained from optimization. Our findings are conceptually important to observe the effect of the blood function on kinetic parameter estimation, but also practically useful to evaluate various blind methods.
Adenovirus as a gene therapy vector for hematopoietic cells.

Adenovirus (Adv)-mediated gene transfer has recently gained new attention as a means to deliver genes for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) or progenitor cell gene therapy. In the past, HSCs have been regarded as poor Adv targets, mainly because they lack the specific Adv receptors required for efficient and productive Adv infection. In addition, the nonintegrating nature of Adv has prevented its application to HSC and bone marrow transduction protocols where long-term expression is required. There is even controversy as to whether Adv can infect hematopoietic cells at all. In fact, the ability of Adv to infect epithelium-based targets and its inability to effectively transfect HSCs have been used in the development of eradication schemes that use Adv to preferentially infect and “purge” tumor cell-contaminating HSC grafts. However, there are data supporting the existence of productive Adv infections into HSCs. Such protocols involve the application of cytokine mixtures, high multiplicities of infection, long incubation periods, and more recently, immunological and genetic modifications to Adv itself to enable it to efficiently transfer genes into HSCs. This is a rapidly growing field, both in terms of techniques and applications. This review examines the two sides of the Adv/CD34 controversy as well as the current developments in this field.
A rose by any other name

In this article, I argue that Kettly Mars’s 2010 Saisons sauvages is in part a rewriting of the second novel in Marie Chauvet’s 1968 trilogy Amour, Colere et Folie. I use two of Gerard Genette’s theoretical concepts of rewriting to explore the relationship between the two works: accumulation – lengthening of the original text – and clarification – reduction of its opacity. I also observe a unique strategy in Mars’s work, obfuscation – reduction in its clarity. Mars’s obfuscation of the categories of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, by complicating the hero and villain in this rewriting, invites a questioning of the social structures which have created such divides and which continue to contribute to repetitive political instability in Haiti. Ultimately, Mars’s retelling of Chauvet’s Colere amplifies the original political critique, complicates notions of guilt and innocence, and serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of Haitian history. However, given the ongoing influence of global imperial powers on Haitian polit...
Preferences for Exercise as a Treatment for Depression.

Abstract Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, but most depressed individuals do not receive treatment. There is now significant support for physical exercise as an effective alternative treatment for depression, which may be more accessible than traditional psychiatric treatments. Little is known about preferences for exercise as a depression treatment. Method A total of 102 individuals (50% female, mean age = 39 (SD = 13.1; range: 18–62), 83% Caucasian) with likely major depression completed an online survey of exercise for depression treatment preferences and barriers to increased exercise. Results are reported by gender due to well established gender differences in exercise preferences. Results Both genders reported a high level of interest in an exercise for depression program. On average, participants preferred an individual walking program that was coached, asked them to engage in one longer bout multiple times per week, and was provided in home. However, there was significant variability within and between genders. Lack of motivation, mood, and fatigue were reported as barriers to exercise by the majority of participants of both genders. Conclusion The majority of those with depression have interest in an exercise for depression program, but symptoms of depression are seen as significant barriers. Future studies should use these results to design exercise for depression programs. The variability and gender differences in our results suggest that flexible programs may be needed.
Rooting of stem cuttings of ixora

The ixora is ornamental plant widely used in landscaping. In order to maximize the propagation of cuts, we evaluated the concentrations of auxin (indolbutiric acid) and the presence of leaves on the rooting in cuts of Ixora coccinea L. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design, in factorial design 3x4, with three types of cuts (without leaf, with two or four leaves), four concentrations of indolbutiric acid (0, 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg L-1), with four replications and 10 cuts in each experimental unit. After 53 days of implantation the experiment, evaluated the survival(%), rooting(%), sprouting(%), formation of callus(%), number, length and biomass of roots formed. The interaction of the type of cuts with concentrations of auxin was not significant for any of the variables analyzed. The survival of cuttings was not influenced by the treatments. Cuts with two or four leaves presented rooting and length of roots above the cuttings without leaves. The application of auxin does not substitute the presence of leaf in cuts of ixora in vegetative propagation. The vegetative propagation by cut of ixora can be made without application of auxin, and the leaves must be maintained in the cuttings.
Papillary muscles contraction does not change ventricular wall mechanics

Papillary muscles play a crucial role to support valves in the ventricles. However, much less is known about the role in ventricular wall mechanics. Evidence in the literature is inconclusive, showing both of changes in wall strain and indications of no changes in strain after detachment of papillary muscles. We designed a high-resolution 3D model of canine ventricles to investigate the effects of papillary muscles on strain in the regions overlying papillary muscles. An anatomical model was obtained from in-vitro MRI and a realistic fiber geometry assuming transmural rotation in the ventricular wall. Boundary conditions were either: 1) the attached state in which movements of the papillary muscle tips were restricted to the plane parallel to the base of the ventricles; or 2) the detached state where no constraints were placed on the muscle tips. Strains were measured at locations overlying anterior papillary muscle and compared between attached and detached papillary muscle states. In simulation of typical physiological contractions, we found essentially identical pattern in all strain components in the two cases with minor changes near the anterior papillary muscle. Further studies will be required to generalize the results to more anatomical reconstructions and a wider range of conditions.
Geography of community health information organization activity in the United States: Implications for the effectiveness of health information exchange.

Background The United States has invested nearly a billion dollars in creating community health information organizations (HIOs) to foster health information exchange. Community HIOs provide exchange services to health care organizations within a distinct geographic area. While geography is a key organizing principle for community HIOs, it is unclear if geography is an effective method for organization or what challenges are created by a geography-based approach to health information exchange. Purpose This study describes the extent of reported community HIO coverage in the United States and explores the practical and policy implications of overlaps and gaps in HIO service areas. Furthermore, because self-reported service areas may not accurately reflect the true extent of HIOs activities, this study maps the actual markets for health services included in each HIO. Methodology An inventory of operational community HIOs that included self-reported geographic markets and participating organizations was face-validated using a crowd-sourcing approach. Aggregation of the participating hospitals' individual health care markets provided the total geographic market served by each community HIO. Mapping and overlay analyses using geographic information system methods described the extent of community HIO activity in the United States. Findings Evidence suggests that community HIOs may be inefficiently distributed. Parts of the United States have multiple, overlapping HIOs, while others do not have any providing health information exchange services. In markets served by multiple community HIOs, 45% of hospitals were participants of only one HIO. Practice implications The current geography of community HIO activity does not provide comprehensive patient information to providers, nor community-wide information for public health agencies. The discord between the self-reported and market geography of community HIOs raises concerns about the potential effectiveness of health information exchange, illustrates the limitations of geography as an organizing principle, and indicates operational challenges facing those leading and working with community HIOs.
Assessment of drug effects on performance.

Equine performance can be assessed in terms of speed, agility, or endurance. Fatigue and pain are major performance impairers that can be influenced by drugs, particularly those that affect the central and autonomic nervous and musculoskeletal systems. The effects of drugs on performance have been assessed using racetrack, treadmill, and laboratory experiments as well as retrospective statistical approaches, each of which has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Acute occlusion by ligature of the portal vein in the Macacus rhesus monkey.

Summary and conclusions. Various segments of the portal circulation (including the portal vein) have been suddenly occluded by ligature in 7 adult Macacus rhesus monkeys. All of the animals have survived this procedure uneventfully and are in apparent good health from 16 to 51 days postoperatively. By means of portal venography anastomotic channels have been demonstratd by way of which blood is immediately returned to the systemic circulation in sufficient quantities to prevent these animals from succumbing to shock due to depletion of their circulating blood volume.
Extension of the Flux Reconstruction Method to Triangular Elements using Collapsed-Edge Quadrilaterals

This paper presents an extension of the Flux Reconstruction (FR) method to viscous flow problems on triangular elements using collapsed-edge tensor product quadrilaterals. First, an overview of the direct Flux Reconstruction (DFR) formulation of the FR method is given. Following this, a description of the procedure to apply the tensor product FR formulation on quadrilaterals directly to triangular elements is provided. Results verifying that the developed methodology maintains the expected order of accuracy for linear and nonlinear fluxes on triangular meshes are provided, specifically for an advection-diffusion problem and planar Couette flow problem. Followint this, the results of an additional test case solving the Navier-Stokes equations viscous flow around a NACA0012 airfoil geometry using curved elements and a mixed mesh are presented, illustrating the performance of the developed methodology for more realistic flows.
Nanoparticulate Systems for Controlling Monocyte/Macrophage Behavior

Macrophages are innate immune cells necessary for the repair and regeneration of injured tissues. Macrophages, which are derived from circulating monocytes, have unique roles as “professional” phagocytic cells that are involved in the removal of pathogens, apoptotic cells, cellular debris and foreign particles. Thus, nanoparticles (NPs) are readily taken up by macrophages in vivo following systemic administration, making NPs an attractive strategy to specifically target macrophage behavior. For example, bisphosphonate NPs are used to target bone macrophages, osteoclasts, for treatment of osteoporosis. NP uptake efficiency and biodistribution can be tuned by altering their physical properties such as hydrophobicity, surface charge, and particle geometry. Macrophages can engulf NPs selectively, through receptor-mediated endocytosis, or non-selectively, through macropinocytosis or phagocytosis. NPs can also be designed to have dual functions as both a diagnostic tool and a therapeutic, also known as theranostic, allowing simultaneous tracking and treatment. Recently, it was discovered that macrophages have the ability to switch from a pro-inflammatory (M1) to an anti-inflammatory/pro-healing (M2) phenotype. Future strategies should focus on exploiting this phenotypic switch by actively target macrophages in order to promote healing and tissue regeneration. Thus, NPs represent a class of biomaterials that can be used to actively target macrophages to control cellular behavior in vivo.
Scientific Expression of Museum Exhibit Design

In modern society, CAD technology brings a convenient and effective measure formuseum exhibit design, and also gives a powerful support to the regulated management of museumexhibit design. The CAD technology has some characters such as reality, multi- dimensional, scien-tific, artistic and economical property. The designers use the technological tools of modeling, lights,color, literal scripts, background music, electronic media and virtual reality system to reform thetraditional methods of exhibit design. Some shortcomings of the CAD technology can be overcomeby the creative work of exhibit designers.
Photoactive high explosives: linear and nonlinear photochemistry of petrin tetrazine chloride.

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), a high explosive, initiates with traditional shock and thermal mechanisms. In this study, the tetrazine-substituted derivative of PETN, pentaerythritol trinitrate chlorotetrazine (PetrinTzCl), is being investigated for a photochemical initiation mechanism that could allow control over the chemistry contributing to decomposition leading to initiation. PetrinTzCl exhibits a photochemical quantum yield (QYPC) at 532 nm not evident with PETN. Using static spectroscopic methods, we observe energy absorption on the tetrazine (Tz) ring that results in photodissociation yielding N2, Cl–CN, and Petrin–CN as the major photoproducts. The QYPC was enhanced with increasing irradiation intensity. Experiment and theoretical calculations imply this excitation mechanism follows sequential photon absorption. Dynamic simulations demonstrate that the relaxation mechanism leading to the observed photochemistry in PetrinTzCl is due to vibrational excitation during internal conversion. Petri...
Optimization of search engines and postprocessing approaches to maximize peptide and protein identification for high-resolution mass data

The two key steps for analyzing proteomic data generated by high-resolution MS are database searching and postprocessing. While the two steps are interrelated, studies on their combinatory effects and the optimization of these procedures have not been adequately conducted. Here, we investigated the performance of three popular search engines (SEQUEST, Mascot, and MS Amanda) in conjunction with five filtering approaches, including respective score-based filtering, a group-based approach, local false discovery rate (LFDR), PeptideProphet, and Percolator. A total of eight data sets from various proteomes (e.g., E. coli, yeast, and human) produced by various instruments with high-accuracy survey scan (MS1) and high- or low-accuracy fragment ion scan (MS2) (LTQ-Orbitrap, Orbitrap-Velos, Orbitrap-Elite, Q-Exactive, Orbitrap-Fusion, and Q-TOF) were analyzed. It was found combinations involving Percolator achieved markedly more peptide and protein identifications at the same FDR level than the other 12 combinatio...
Iatrogenic bowel obstruction caused by balloon-inflated feeding tubes.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether balloon-inflated feeding tubes may be a cause of bowel obstruction. METHODS Evaluation of 10 patients with balloon-inflated feeding tubes who experienced cramping, nausea and vomiting. Conventional radiography of the abdomen was performed in all patients, a fluoroscopic barium examination in 6 patients, and computed tomographic scanning of the abdomen and pelvis in 4 patients. RESULTS All patients had a bowel obstruction caused by the inflated balloon. Deflating the balloon relieved the obstructive symptoms immediately. CONCLUSION Balloon-inflated feeding tubes can cause bowel obstruction.
Secular Icon or Catholic Hero?: Religion and the Presidency of John F. Kennedy

My grandfather James B. Murphy sponsored John F. Kennedy’s admission into the second and third degrees of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization.
Increasing Working Memory Load Reduces Processing of Cross-Modal Task-Irrelevant Stimuli Even after Controlling for Task Difficulty and Executive Capacity

The classic account of the Load Theory (LT) of attention suggests that increasing cognitive load leads to greater processing of task-irrelevant stimuli due to competition for limited executive resource that reduces the ability to actively maintain current processing priorities. Studies testing this hypothesis have yielded widely divergent outcomes. The inconsistent results may, in part, be related to variability in executive capacity (EC) and task difficulty across subjects in different studies. Here, we used a cross-modal paradigm to investigate whether augmented working memory (WM) load leads to increased early distracter processing, and controlled for the potential confounders of EC and task difficulty. Twenty-three young subjects were engaged in a primary visual WM task, under high and low load conditions, while instructed to ignore irrelevant auditory stimuli. Demands of the high load condition were individually titrated to make task difficulty comparable across subjects with differing EC. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were used to measure neural activity in response to stimuli presented in both the task relevant modality (visual) and task-irrelevant modality (auditory). Behavioral results indicate that the load manipulation and titration procedure of the primary visual task were successful. ERPs demonstrated that in response to visual target stimuli, there was a load-related increase in the posterior slow wave, an index of sustained attention and effort. Importantly, under high load, there was a decrease of the auditory N1 in response to distracters, a marker of early auditory processing. These results suggest that increased WM load is associated with enhanced attentional engagement and protection from distraction in a cross-modal setting, even after controlling for task difficulty and EC. Our findings challenge the classic LT and offer support for alternative models.
A statistical process control approach using cumulative sum control chart analysis for traffic data quality verification and sensor calibration for weigh-in-motion systems

ABSTRACTWeigh-in-motion systems have been widely used by state agencies to collect the traffic data on major state roadways and bridges to support traffic load forecasting, pavement design and analysis, infrastructure investment decision making, and transportation planning. However, the weigh-in-motion system itself poses difficulties in obtaining accurate data due to sensor characteristics that can be sensitive to vehicle speed, weather conditions, and changes in surrounding pavement conditions. This study focuses on developing a systematic methodology to detect weigh-in-motion sensor bias and enhance current practices for weigh-in-motion calibration. A mixture modeling technique using an expectation maximization algorithm was developed to divide the vehicle class 9 gross vehicle weight into three normally distributed components: unloaded, partially loaded, and fully loaded trucks. Then the well-known statistical process control technique cumulative sum control chart analysis was applied to expectation m...
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Level Predicts the Outcome of Patients with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) Following HLA-Matched Sibling Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT).

Abstract Active disease (ActDis), poor-risk cytogenetics, and older age have historically been considered the most important adverse risk factors for survival after BMT for AML. We performed a multivariable analysis of these and other potential risk factors for overall and progression-free survival. From August 1992 to July 2005, we treated 87 patients with AML, who also had informative cytogenetic studies, with high-dose busulfan-containing preparative regimens and an HLA-matched sibling BMT. The median age was 43 years (range 19 to 62). The median LDH level at the time of BMT was 204 U/L (range 93–1555 U/L; normal 100–220 U/L). Forty-one patients were in either first (n= 30) or second complete remission (n=11; CR). 46 patients with ActDis were treated. The 87 patients were then classified according to the SWOG/ECOG (Blood 96:4075, 2000), MRC (Blood 92:2322, 1998), and CALGB (Blood 100:4325, 2002) cytogenetic classification systems. With a median follow-up of 56.0 months (range 4.5–107.8 months), the median relapse-free survival is 13.5 months for patients in CR1 and 4.1 months for patients in CR2. The relapse-free survival of patients with ActDis was 5.5 months. A Cox proportional hazards analysis that included gender, age, LDH, disease status, cytogenetic risk group, preparative regimen, source of stem cells, and CMV status was performed for overall and relapse-free survival. Significant risk factors for shorter survival in univariate analysis included male gender, LDH >330 U/L (but not LDH >220 U/L or per 100 U/L increase), and peripheral stem cells as a source of hematopoietic reconstitution (n = 7). Surprisingly, a male donor to a male recipient was also an adverse risk factor (p 330 U/L (p=0.002), source of stem cells (p=0.019), and male donor to male recipient (p 330 U/L had significantly worse survival as shown below. We conclude that high LDH (>1.5X upper limit of normal) is a significant adverse risk factor for survival after BMT for AML and predicts outcome better than more traditional risk factors such as age, disease status, and cytogenetic risk profile. Download : Download high-res image (99KB) Download : Download full-size image
Enzyme-Instructed Assembly and Disassembly Processes for Targeting Downregulation in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells differ from normal cells in both gain of functions (i.e., upregulation) and loss of functions (i.e., downregulation). While it is common to suppress gain of function for chemotherapy, it remains challenging to target downregulation in cancer cells. Here we show the combination of enzyme-instructed assembly and disassembly to target downregulation in cancer cells by designing peptidic precursors as the substrates of both carboxylesterases (CESs) and alkaline phosphatases (ALPs). The precursors turn into self-assembling molecules to form nanofibrils upon dephosphorylation by ALP, but CES-catalyzed cleavage of the ester bond on the molecules results in disassembly of the nanofibrils. The precursors selectively inhibit the cancer cells that downregulate CES (e.g., OVSAHO) but are innocuous to a hepatocyte that overexpresses CES (HepG2), while the two cell lines exhibit comparable ALP activities. This work illustrates a potential approach for the development of chemotherapy via targeting downregul...
Transition to Employment for Students with Visual Impairments: Components for Success.

IntroductionThe study presented here examined rehabilitation providers’ beliefs about services and service delivery strategies that are successful in facilitating the transition from school to comp...
Cultural values associated with substance use among Hispanic emerging adults in Southern California.

Abstract Introduction Hispanic emerging adults are a priority population for substance use prevention, yet few studies have examined whether traditional Hispanic cultural values serve as risk or protective factors for substance use among emerging adults. This study examined the relationship between familism, respeto, fatalism, and substance use among Hispanic emerging adults. Methods Participants (ages 18 to 25) completed surveys indicating identification with familism, respeto, and fatalism, past month use of tobacco, marijuana, hard drugs and binge drinking. Separate logistic regression models examined the association between cultural values and each substance use outcome, controlling for acculturation, age and gender. Results Among participants (n = 1445, mean age = 23, 60% female), 21% reported past month cigarette use, 18% reported past month alternative tobacco product (ATP) use, 25% reported past month marijuana use, 44% reported past month binge drinking, and 7% reported past month hard drug use. Higher fatalism scores were associated with increased ATP use. Higher familism scores were associated with binge drinking, while higher respeto scores were associated with decreased binge drinking, marijuana, and hard drug use. Conclusion These findings suggest that substance use prevention and intervention programs should emphasize how substance use interferes with caring and honoring parents (respeto) and family cohesion and functioning (familism). Programs that highlight these cultural values and beliefs may be beneficial for Hispanic emerging adults and members of other collectivistic cultures.
Advisory board engagement: Assisting undergraduates with resume development

ABSTRACTResumes of students with limited work experience are by nature underdeveloped and frequently poorly designed. Although many tools and resources are available, students often underutilize them. Faculty at a northeastern university sought to address this problem by engaging members of its college of business advisory board to provide students with real-world advice. Many advisory board members are senior executives who can advise students on how to improve their resumes and make them more professional and powerful. To assess the effectiveness of this intervention, pre- and postsurveys were conducted and analyzed. The authors discuss the results and draw some conclusions. D. Kolb's (1984) model of experiential learning provides a conceptual framework.
Quantifying and Modelling the Effect of Cloud Shadows on the Surface Irradiance at Tropical and Midlatitude Forests

Cloud shadows lead to alternating light and dark periods at the surface, with the most abrupt changes occurring in the presence of low-level forced cumulus clouds. We examine multiyear irradiance time series observed at a research tower in a midlatitude mixed deciduous forest (Harvard Forest, Massachusetts, USA: $$42.53{^{\circ }}\hbox {N}$$ , $$72.17{^{\circ }}\hbox {W}$$ ) and one made at a similar tower in a tropical rain forest (Tapajos National Forest, Para, Brazil: $$2.86{^{\circ }}\hbox {S}$$ , $$54.96{^{\circ }}\hbox {W}$$ ). We link the durations of these periods statistically to conventional meteorological reports of sky type and cloud height at the two forests and present a method to synthesize the surface irradiance time series from sky-type information. Four classes of events describing distinct sequential irradiance changes at the transition from cloud shadow and direct sunlight are identified: sharp-to-sharp, slow-to-slow, sharp-to-slow, and slow-to-sharp. Lognormal and the Weibull statistical distributions distinguish among cloudy-sky types. Observers’ qualitative reports of ‘scattered’ and ‘broken’ clouds are quantitatively distinguished by a threshold value of the ratio of mean clear to cloudy period durations. Generated synthetic time series based on these statistics adequately simulate the temporal “radiative forcing” linked to sky type. Our results offer a quantitative way to connect the conventional meteorological sky type to the time series of irradiance experienced at the surface.
Topological phase transitions and quantum Hall effect in the graphene family

Monolayer staggered materials of the graphene family present intrinsic spin-orbit coupling and can be driven through several topological phase transitions using external circularly polarized lasers, and static electric or magnetic fields. We show how topological features arising from photo-induced phase transitions and the quantum Hall effect coexist in these materials, and simultaneously impact their Hall conductivity through their corresponding charge Chern numbers. We also show that the spectral response of the longitudinal conductivity contains signatures about the various phase transition boundaries, that the transverse conductivity encodes information about the topology of the band structure, and that both present resonant peaks which can be unequivocally associated to one of the four inequivalent Dirac cones present in these materials. This complex optoelectronic response can be probed with straightforward Faraday rotation experiments, allowing the study of the crossroads between quantum Hall physics, spintronics, and valleytronics.
Visual knee-kinetic biofeedback technique normalizes gait abnormalities during high-demand mobility after total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Abnormal knee mechanics frequently follow total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery with these deficits amplifying as task demands increase. Knee-kinetic biofeedback could provide a means of attenuating gait abnormalities. The purposes of this study were as follows: (1) to describe the gait characteristic differences between patients with TKA and non-TKA adults during level (low-demand) and decline (high-demand) walking; and (2) where differences existed, to determine the impact of knee-kinetic biofeedback on normalizing these abnormalities. Methods Twenty participants six months following a primary TKA and 15 non-TKA peers underwent gait analysis testing during level and decline walking. Knee-kinetic biofeedback was implemented to patients with TKA to correct abnormal gait characteristics if observed. Results Patients with TKA had lower knee extensor angular impulse (p 0.05). Conclusion Patients with TKA demonstrate abnormal gait characteristics during a high-demand walking task when compared to non-TKA peers. Our findings indicate that knee-kinetic biofeedback can induce immediate improvements in gait characteristics during a high-demand walking task. There may be a potential role for the use of visual knee-kinetic biofeedback techniques to improve gait abnormalities during high-demand tasks following TKA.
Discoveries of Extrachromosomal Circles of DNA in Normal and Tumor Cells

While the vast majority of cellular DNA in eukaryotes is contained in long linear strands in chromosomes, we have long recognized some exceptions like mitochondrial DNA, plasmids in yeasts, and double minutes (DMs) in cancer cells where the DNA is present in extrachromosomal circles. In addition, specialized extrachromosomal circles of DNA (eccDNA) have been noted to arise from repetitive genomic sequences like telomeric DNA or rDNA. Recently eccDNA arising from unique (nonrepetitive) DNA have been discovered in normal and malignant cells, raising interesting questions about their biogenesis, function and clinical utility. Here, we review recent results and future directions of inquiry on these new forms of eccDNA.