cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of photoperiod and temperature on the regulation of the onset of maturation in the estuarine fish Menidia beryllina (Cope) (Atherinidae)

Abstract Menidia beryllina (Cope) is an annual species that inhabits coastal estuaries along the east coast of the United States from Cape Cod to the Gulf of Mexico. In Rhode Island, USA, its peak spawning time and the duration of the spawning vary among years and estuaries. However, the onset of gonadal maturation is more consistent (early May), suggesting that it may be regulated by more consistent cues than those regulating spawning. To determine the effects of photoperiod and temperature on the regulation of the onset of maturation two laboratory experiments were conducted and the results compared to field observations. In the first experiment, fish collected from the field in February were exposed to each of four treatments: increasing photoperiod/increasing temperature; increasing photoperiod/low temperature; low photoperiod/increasing temperature; and low photoperiod/low temperature. Only fish exposed to both increasing photoperiod and increasing temperature were able to complete maturation. Fish exposed to low photoperiod and increasing temperature responded by enlarging their livers, a response that was also observed in field fish collected in the fall. Fish exposed to the remaining two treatments neither matured their gonads nor enlarged their livers. In the second experiment fish collected from the field in early March were exposed to three treatments with different photoperiod regimes (daylight constant at 9.5 h, increasing up to 12 h, or increasing up to 15 h) and one increasing temperature regime. Fish in the 9.5-h treatment initiated maturation but were not able to complete the process, those exposed to the 12-h photoperiod matured and spawned for a short period of time before the gonads began to regress, and those exposed to the 15-h photoperiod matured and spawned large numbers of eggs throughout the remainder of the experiment. The 9.5- and 12-h photoperiod exposures also resulted in accumulation of reserves in the liver in both females and males. The 15-h photoperiod treatment resulted in liver enlargement in females, which were undergoing vitellogenesis, but not in males. Males exposed to the 9.5- and 12-h photoperiod accumulated significantly more visceral fat than those exposed to the 15-h photoperiod. In females, the amount of visceral fat accumulated was inversely proportional to the hours of light. These findings suggest that this species has evolved mechanisms that enable it to anticipate the coming of winter as well as the coming of suitable breeding conditions and ensure that it exhibits the appropriate response at the appropriate time (reserve accumulation for the winter or gonad maturation in the spring).
Augmenting on-screen instructions with micro-projected guides: when it works, and when it fails

We present a study that evaluates the effectiveness of augmenting on-screen instructions with micro-projection for manual task guidance unlike prior work, which replaced screen instructions with alternative modalities (e.g., head-mounted displays). In our study, 30 participants completed 10 trials each of 11 manual tasks chosen to represent a set of common task-components (e.g., cutting, folding) found in many everyday activities such as crafts, cooking, and hobby electronics. Fifteen participants received only on-screen instructions, and 15 received both on-screen and micro-projected instructions. In contrast to prior work, which focused only on whole tasks, our study examines the benefit of augmenting common task instructions. The augmented instructions improved participants' performance overall; however, we show that in certain cases when projected guides and physical objects visually interfered, projected elements caused increased errors. Our results demonstrate that examining effectiveness at an instruction level is both useful and necessary, and provide insight into the design of systems that help users perform everyday tasks.
Assessing delays in laryngeal cancer treatment.

Objectives/Hypothesis To see if there has been a decrease in patient delay, professional delay, diagnostic delay, and treatment delay in laryngeal cancer. Study Design Institutional review board–approved retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. Methods Nine hundred sixty-six patients with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code for laryngeal cancer were identified from 1993 to 2013. Two hundred fifty patients met inclusion criteria. Patients were placed into two groups based on time at presentation to primary care physician, 1993 to 2004 and 2005 to 2013. Patient delay, professional delay, diagnostic delay, and treatment delay were calculated. Statistical analysis was applied using the Student t test and generalized linear model. Results From 1993 to 2004, patient delay was 88.7 days, professional delay was 40.9 days, diagnosis delay was 33.1 days, and treatment delay was 24.7 days. From 2005 to 2013, patient delay was 119.2 days, professional delay was 37.9 days, diagnosis delay was 23.8 days, and treatment delay was 23.2 days. Comparison using the Student t test demonstrated the difference in patient delay (shorter before 2005) was statistically significant (P = .045), whereas professional delay (P = .269), diagnosis delay (P = .289), and treatment delay (P = .328) did not reveal any significant differences. There was no association between stage at initial diagnosis and days prior to ear, nose, and throat visit (P = .402). Conclusions Delays in the presentation of patients to primary care physicians and otolaryngologists have significantly increased in the past 9 years. Earlier referral to otolaryngologists from primary care physicians in high-risk patients with voice changes will lead to more prompt diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal cancer. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 2015
DNA probe for the identification of Histoplasma capsulatum

A 1.85-kilobase HindIII nuclear DNA probe from Histoplasma capsulatum G217B detected polymorphic restriction fragments within whole-cell DNA from different clinical isolates of H. capsulatum, consistent with the previous system of classification. The probe failed to hybridize to DNA from Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Sepedonium chrysospermum, and Chrysosporium keratinophilum under low-stringency conditions and therefore may have value as a diagnostic reagent to identify H. capsulatum.
P2P‐R protein overexpression restricts mitotic progression at prometaphase and promotes mitotic apoptosis

Mitotic cells show a tenfold increase in immunoreactive P2P-R protein. During mitosis, the distribution of P2P-R protein also changes from a primary nucleolar localization in interphase cells to the periphery of chromosome in mitotic cells. These findings suggest that P2P-R might serve a functional role in mitosis. To test this possibility, human Saos2 cells were stably transfected with P2P-R DNA constructs and the biological effects of P2P-R overexpression were evaluated. Overexpression of near full-length P2P-R was found to have paradoxical effects on the relationship between proliferation and mitosis in the nine Saos2 cell clones that were studied. A significant repression in the population doubling rates was observed in all nine clones even though a significant increase in the frequency of easily detached cells with a mitotic morphology was apparent. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that greater than two thirds of the cells with a mitotic morphology had a 4n DNA content. Confocal microscopy further established that 85% of the mitotic cell population had prometaphase characteristics suggesting that P2P-R overexpression restricts mitotic progression at prometaphase. Many cells with a mitotic morphology also showed signs of apoptosis with prominent cell surface blebs. Confocal microscopy confirmed that 25-40% of such mitotic cells were apoptotic with chromosomal abnormalities and cell surface blebbing. In association with mitotic apoptosis, P2P-R protein appears to dissociate from the periphery of chromosomes and localize in the cytoplasm and in cell surface blebs. The presence of P2P-R in cell surface blebs was confirmed by analysis of highly enriched populations of apoptotic cell surface blebs wherein Western blotting documented the presence of 250 kDa P2P-R. These results therefore suggest that P2P-R overexpression promotes both prometaphase arrest in mitosis and mitotic apoptosis.
Structure in Bungalow Plans

The plans of a small sample of houses built in the bungalow style have previously been characterized through a parametric shape grammar which provides a constructive description for each plan, that is, a set of operations by which the plan can be generated from some initial shape. The relation between plans and their constructive descriptions is investigated by means of Q-analysis. The result is a classification of the given plans which appears superior to intuitive classifications. The method employed is flexible and general enough to be applied to larger and more diverse samples of plans. Parametric shape grammars appear as a promising new area of application for Q-analysis.
Raman Spectroscopy of Higher Titanate Phases in the BaTiO3‐TiO2 System

Polytitanates in the BaO-TiO2 system with Ba: Ti ratios ranging from 1:2 to 1:5 were prepared employing the liquid mix technique. The samples were heated at 600° to 1300°C in oxygen, and Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the phase relations in the system. The powders of various compounds were amorphous at temperatures less than 600°C. They crystallized into a single phase or a mixture of phases at 700°C. These mixtures underwent further phase transformation at higher temperatures to form single-phase compounds. Details of the procedure for sample preparation and characterization of the products are described. The results from the present study are compared with previously published data.
Are Serotonin Alterations the Link between Thrombocytopenia and Poor Immune Status among HIV Infected Individuals

Objective: Thrombocytopenia (TCP<150 × 103 cells/mm3) has emerged as a relevant factor in the clinical course of HIV. However, the mechanisms mediating such observations have not been well characterized, limiting the possibility of creating targeted interventions. Notably, platelets are the storage and transporter system for serotonin and Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which recent laboratory studies associated with viral replication and lymphocyte survival. Thus, we posit that (1) TCP will be associated with reduced levels of BDNF and serotonin (2) That these alterations will lead to poor viro-immune responses to antiretroviral therapy. Methods: To achieve this goal, a total of 400 people living with HIV were consecutively enrolled to characterize the frequency of thrombocytopenia in hazardous and non-hazardous alcohol user populations in the HAART era. Then, participants underwent immune and laboratory assessments, to determine if TCP was associated with alterations in serotonin (5-HT) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Results: The prevalence of thrombocytopenia in this antiretroviral treated cohort was 14%. Rates were significantly higher in the heavy alcohol users, HAU versus the non HAU group (Heavy: 25% versus HAU: 15% versusnon-HAU: 10%). Multivariate model analyses indicated that having TCP, low BDNF levels (<5000 pg/ml), and number of drinks per day were predictors of serotonin levels. PLWH with TCP had about 2-fold lower PPP-BDNFlevels (5037.4 ± 381 vs. 9137.5 ± 7062 pg/ml p=0.0001). Other significant predictors of BDNF levels at the last visit included receiving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and PPP serotonin levels. Multivariate analyses also confirmed that altered serotonin levels were associated withhigh viral loadsboth low CD4 cell counts. Conclusions: Thrombocytopenia is a relatively frequent complication of HIV, andis particularly prevalent among hazardous alcohol users (HAU). These findings suggest that TCP is associated with altered levels of BDNF and serotonin, suggesting that they may be the bridge linking TCP and poor viro-immune responses observed in this group. These results could have important clinical and therapeutic implications.
Preoperative hypoalbuminemia is associated with adverse outcomes after ileoanal pouch surgery.

Background: This study examines the association between preoperative albumin and ileoanal pouch (IPAA) outcomes and the utility of serum albumin in the decision to perform a staged IPAA with an initial subtotal colectomy. Methods: From 2001–2009, patients were identified from an institutional pouch database and albumin values were extracted from the clinic data repository. Hypoalbuminemic (albumin <3.5 g/dL) patients were compared with patients with normal albumin. The primary outcome was pouch failure. Secondary outcomes were anastomotic leak, length of stay, function, and quality of life after pouch surgery. Results: Out of 405 patients, 34 were hypoalbuminemic pre-IPAA. Pre-IPAA hypoalbuminemia was associated with pouch failure (P = 0.004). Pre-IPAA hypoalbuminemia was an independent predictor of anastomotic leak (P = 0.017). Pre-IPAA hypoalbuminemia was an independent predictor of prolonged length of stay (LOS) (P < 0.001). Hypoalbuminemic patients who underwent index total proctocolectomy (TPC) with IPAA vs. subtotal colectomy (STC) and delayed IPAA had increased perioperative transfusion (P = 0.03) and median LOS at IPAA (P = 0.002). Conclusions: Preoperative serum albumin is an easily available, inexpensive marker in risk stratifying patients undergoing ileoanal pouch surgery. Serum albumin may provide an objective indicator in supporting the decision to undertake a subtotal colectomy as a first step rather than total proctocolectomy with immediate pouch creation. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2012;)
Scholarly electronic publishing on the internet, the NREN, and the NII: Charting possible futures

This paper examines how scholarly electronic publishing could be conducted on the Internet, the National Research and Education Network (NREN), and the National Information Infrastructure (NII); and it reviews existing proposals for change. It does not consider how the broader electronic publishing industry should be structured to distribute general interest magazines, popular fiction, or other nonscholarly material. Nor does it assume that print-based scholarly publishing efforts will disappear or radically diminish in the near-term future. Rather, it envisions network-based electronic publishing as initially augmenting conventional publishing efforts and then gradually displacing them.
An MRI-based attenuation correction method for combined PET/MRI applications

We are developing MRI-based attenuation correction methods for PET images. PET has high sensitivity but relatively low resolution and little anatomic details. MRI can provide excellent anatomical structures with high resolution and high soft tissue contrast. MRI can be used to delineate tumor boundaries and to provide an anatomic reference for PET, thereby improving quantitation of PET data. Combined PET/MRI can offer metabolic, functional and anatomic information and thus can provide a powerful tool to study the mechanism of a variety of diseases. Accurate attenuation correction represents an essential component for the reconstruction of artifact-free, quantitative PET images. Unfortunately, the present design of hybrid PET/MRI does not offer measured attenuation correction using a transmission scan. This problem may be solved by deriving attenuation maps from corresponding anatomic MR images. Our approach combines image registration, classification, and attenuation correction in a single scheme. MR images and the preliminary reconstruction of PET data are first registered using our automatic registration method. MRI images are then classified into different tissue types using our multiscale fuzzy C-mean classification method. The voxels of classified tissue types are assigned theoretical tissue-dependent attenuation coefficients to generate attenuation correction factors. Corrected PET emission data are then reconstructed using a three-dimensional filtered back projection method and an order subset expectation maximization method. Results from simulated images and phantom data demonstrated that our attenuation correction method can improve PET data quantitation and it can be particularly useful for combined PET/MRI applications.
Large Area ${\rm Cd}_{0.9}{\rm Zn}_{0.1}{\rm Te}$ Pixelated Detector: Fabrication and Characterization

Cd0.9Zn0.1Te (CZT) based pixelated radiation detectors have been fabricated and characterized for gamma ray detection. Large area CZT single crystals has been grown using a tellurium solvent method. A 10 ×10 guarded pixelated detector has been fabricated on a ~ 19.5 ×19.5 ×5 mm3 crystal cut out from the grown ingot. The pixel dimensions were 1.3 ×1.3 mm2 and were pitched at 1.8 mm. A guard grid was used to reduce interpixel/inter-electrode leakage. The crystal was characterized in planar configuration using electrical, optical and optoelectronic methods prior to the fabrication of pixelated geometry. Current-voltage (I-V) measurements revealed a leakage current of 27 nA at an operating bias voltage of 1000 V and a resistivity of ~ 3.1 ×1010 Ω-cm. Infrared transmission imaging revealed an average tellurium inclusion/precipitate size less than 8 μm. Pockels measurement has revealed a near-uniform depth-wise distribution of the internal electric field. The mobility-lifetime product in this crystal was calculated to be 6.2 ×10 - 3 cm2/V using alpha ray spectroscopic method. Gamma spectroscopy using a 137Cs source on the pixelated structure showed fully resolved 662 keV gamma peaks for all the pixels, with percentage resolution (FWHM) as high as 1.8%.
Brain, Craniofacial, and Dental Lesions of a Free-ranging Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) Implicated in a Human Attack in Minnesota, USA

We describe significant brain, craniofacial, and dental lesions in a free-ranging wolf (Canis lupus) involved in a human attack. On postmortem examination, the wolf presented asymmetric atrophy and bone remodeling affecting the mandible, incisive, maxilla, lacrimal, palatine, frontal, and ethmoid bones. There was an asymmetrical skeletal malocclusion and dental abnormalities including rotated, malpositioned, partially erupted teeth, and an odontogenic cyst associated with an unerupted canine tooth. Brain changes were bilateral loss and atrophy of extensive cortex regions including olfactory bulb, peduncles, and tract, and the frontal lobe. We highlight the relevance of a thorough postmortem examination of wildlife to elucidate disease-based abnormal behavior as the reason for human-animal conflict.
Stereochemistry of platinum complexes of the neutral amino acids allylglycine, S -methylcysteine, methionine, and corresponding sulfoxides

Abstract The stereochemistry—both configuration and conformation—of platinum complexes of the neutral amino acids allylglycine, methionine, S-methylcysteine and their sulfoxides, which all contain a potential metal binding site, X, has been investigated by 1-D and 2-D proton NMR spectroscopy, molecular mechanics calculations, and X-ray crystallography. The configuration of each diastereomer of square-planar complexes of general formula N, XPt(amino acidH)Cl2 has been assigned for all five of the amino acids. Relative equilibrium concentrations in solution of isomers of allylglycine (2S,4S/2S,4R=2R,4R/2R,4S=5), S-methylcysteine (2S,SR/2S,SS=2), and methionine (2S,SR/2S,SS=1.1) have been determined. The vicinal proton–proton coupling constants and NOESY spectra employed to assign configurations to the isomers also permitted an assessment of chelate ring conformations for the coordinated ligands. X-ray structures of kinetically stable sulfoxide complexes were employed to assign their configurations, and subsequent decomposition of isolated methionine and S-methylcysteine sulfoxide chelate isomers isomers was used to assign the very similar proton spectra of the two diastereomers of the corresponding free sulfoxides amino acids. With the significant exception of the methionine sulfoxide complexes, molecular mechanics calculations generally yield low energy conformations and isomer ratios in qualitative agreement with the NMR and X-ray structure data for these platinum complexes.
Analysis of Group Key Management Protocols for Secure Multicasting in Vehicular Software Distribution Network

In this paper we investigate the issues in designing key management architecture for secure multicasting in remote software distribution to advance vehicles. We consider the vehicular software distribution network (VSDN) as wireless network where vehicles are connected to the software distributors through roadside base stations (BSs). The large VSDN is divided into small regions and a Regional Group Manager (RGM) manages a region. Depending on the level of trust in the supporting BSs, we propose two group key management (GKM) protocols for the multicast groups (MGs) formed for software distribution. We categorize the VSDN as fully- trusted and semi-trusted systems. In a fully-trusted system the BSs have access to the multicast data and take part in GKM whereas in a semi-trusted system the BSs are not allowed to understand the multicast data, rather they act as proxies for the vehicles by honestly relaying the encrypted multicast data from the RGM to the vehicles. We compare the performance of these two protocols in terms of computation and communication overhead incurred on each entity involved during multicast session initialization, re-keying and handoff, storage overhead, security and scalability. Our analysis shows that the GKM protocol efficiency can be traded-off with the level of trust on the BSs.
CONSTRUCTION OF A GLOBAL POTENTIAL ENERGY SURFACE FROM NOVEL AB INITIO MOLECULAR DYNAMICS FOR THE O(3P) + C3H3 REACTION

We present a global potential energy surface (PES) for the 2A state of the O(3P) + C3H3 radical reaction. The global PES is constructed mainly using direct ab initio molecular dynamics and further sampling is done using the Diffusion Monte Carlo method. The potential is fully invariant with respect to permutational symmetry of like atoms. Special techniques, based on invariant theory of finite groups, have been used to develop basis functions for fitting that display this symmetry. The resultant potential energy surface shows multiple reaction paths with six different product channels. The products of the reactions are CO + C2H3 radicals H + C3H2O radicals (with two isomers, propynal and propa-1,2-dien-1-one) and OH + C3H2 radicals (with three isomers, vinylidenecarbene, propargylene and cyclopropenylidene). Energies of the PES are in excellent agreement with ab initio energies for each stationary point, the reactants and the products. Most stationary points are fitted at the sub Kcal/mol level. The global potential surface represents all the stationary points and six different product channels correctly. Preliminary dynamics calculations show abstraction and insertion mechanisms for the OH + vinylidenecarbene channel and the H + propynal channel, respectively.
The two-edged sword of curing childhood cancer.

Today, more than 75% of children with cancer can be cured of their disease. Dr. Philip Rosoff writes that there is a dark side to being cured of cancer as a young person.
Carcinoma of the cervix associated with pregnancy

Abstract The age, parity, race, symptoms, and results of 100 patients with cervical carcinoma associated with pregnancy are reported. Ninety-one per cent of the 95 invasive lesions were treated by standardized irradiation techniques. In the first and second trimesters and in the presence of an invasive lesion radiation therapy was begun immediately without regard for the pregnancy. The abortion that always followed spontaneously was uncomplicated. In the third trimester, treatment was postponed in the interest of the fetus until after termination of the pregnancy by classical cesarean section at or near 36 weeks' gestation. Pregnant women treated as described and women treated within 18 months after pregnancy by the same radiation techniques as those whose disease was unrelated to pregnancy achieved essentially the same 5 year survival results in the clinical tumor stages in which this comparison could be made.
Hamiltonian Cycles in Regular Tournaments

We show that every regular tournament on $n$ vertices has at least $n!/(2+o(1))^n$ Hamiltonian cycles, thus answering a question of Thomassen [17] and providing a partial answer to a question of Friedgut and Kahn [7]. This compares to an upper bound of about $O(n^{0.25} n!/2^{n})$ for arbitrary tournaments due to Friedgut and Kahn (somewhat improving Alon's bound of $O(n^{0.5} n!/2^{n})$). A key ingredient of the proof is a martingale analysis of self-avoiding walks on a regular tournament.
The Alaska Experience Using Store-and-Forward Telemedicine for ENT Care in Alaska

This article discusses the development, evaluation, and growth of telemedicine in Alaska. Store-and-forward telemedicine has been used to deliver ear, nose, and throat (ENT) care to rural Alaska since 2002. It has proved valuable in the treatment of many conditions of the head and neck, and it is particularly well suited for the diagnosis and treatment of ear disease. Usage has grown steadily as telemedicine has become widely accepted. Store-and-forward telemedicine has been shown within the Alaska Native Health System to improve access for care and reduce wait times, as well as decrease travel-associated costs for patients.
Iron isotopic measurements in presolar silicate and oxide grains from the Acfer 094 ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite

We carried out Fe isotopic analyses on 21 O-rich presolar grains from the Acfer 094 ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite. Presolar grains were identified on the basis of oxygen isotopic ratios, and elemental compositions were measured by Auger spectroscopy. The Fe isotopic measurements were carried out by analyzing the Fe isotopes as negative secondary oxides with the NanoSIMS to take advantage of the higher spatial resolution of the Cs + primary ion beam. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach for measuring both 54 Fe/ 56 Fe and 57 Fe/ 56 Fe. The ion yield for FeO - is significantly lower than for Fe + , but this is not a serious limitation for presolar silicate grains with Fe as a major element. Most of the grains analyzed are ferromagnesian silicates, but we also measured four oxide grains. Iron contents are high in all of the grains, ranging from 10 to 40 atom%. Three of the grains belong to oxygen isotope Group 4. All of them have 54 Fe/ 56 Fe and 57 Fe/ 56 Fe ratios that are solar within errors, consistent with an origin in the outer zones of a Type II supernova, as indicated by their oxygen isotopic compositions. The remaining grains belong to oxygen isotope Group 1, with origins in low-mass AGB stars. The majority of these also have solar 54 Fe/ 56 Fe and 57 Fe/ 56 Fe ratios. However, four grains are depleted in 57 Fe; one is also slightly depleted in 54 Fe. Current AGB models predict excesses in 57 Fe with 54 Fe/ 56 Fe ratios that largely reflect the metallicity of the parent star. While the solar 57 Fe/ 56 Fe ratios are consistent with formation of the grains in early third dredge-up episodes, these models cannot account for the grains with 57 Fe depletions. Comparison with galactic evolution models suggests formation of these grains from stars with significantly subsolar metallicity; however, these models also predict large depletions in 54 Fe, which are not observed in the grains. Thus, the isotopic compositions of these grains remain unexplained.
Compressing Moving Object Trajectory in Wireless Sensor Networks

Some object tracking applications can tolerate delays in data collection and processing. Taking advantage of the delay tolerance, we propose an efficient and accurate algorithm for in-network data compression, called delay-tolerant trajectory compression (DTTC). In DTTC, a cluster-based infrastructure is built within the network. Each cluster head compresses an object's movement trajectory detected within its cluster by a compression function. Rather than transmitting all sensor readings to the sink node, the cluster head communicates only the compression parameters, which not only provide the sink node expressive yet traceable models about the object movements, but also significantly reduce the total amount of data communication required for tracking operations. DTTC supports a broad class of movement trajectories using two proposed techniques, DC-compression and SW-compression, and an efficient trajectory segmentation scheme, which are designed for improving the trajectory compression accuracy at less computation cost. Moreover, we analyze the underlying cluster-based infrastructure and mathematically derive the optimum cluster size, aiming at minimizing the total communication cost of the DTTC algorithm. An extensive simulation has been conducted to compare DTTC with competing prediction-based tracking technique, DPR [28]. Simulation results show that DTTC exhibits superior performance in terms of accuracy, communication cost and computation cost and soundly outperforms DPR with all types of movement trajectories.
Influence of age and ovarian stimulation upon carcinoma in situ: A histologic study

Abstract The epithelium of the female genital tract cyclically responds to ovarian hormonal function from menarche through menopause. Morphologic variations in these tissues reflect the influence of different levels of hormonal activity. Short-term administration of additional synthetic sex hormones induces abnormally high levels and target tissues in some women reveal striking histologic atypia often difficult to differentiate from carcinoma. Cervical carcinoma in situ occurs in all age groups after exposure to minimal as well as maximal ovarian hormonal stimulation. Histologic sections of this lesion from women at the extreme ends of the age range were examined and compared to determine if morphologic differences existed and were related to the variance in total ovarian hormonal stimulation. Only minor dissimilarities were observed, and these were not statistically significant in either women under 25 or over 65.
Rituximab Combined With Conventional Therapy Versus Conventional Therapy Alone for the Treatment of Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid (MMP)

Background The use of rituximab for refractory autoimmune blistering diseases is increasing. Data related to rituximab for the treatment of mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) are limited. Objective We sought to compare the efficacy of adding rituximab with traditional immunosuppressive therapies in the treatment of MMP. The primary outcome was achievement and time to disease control. Methods Patients with a diagnosis of MMP from August 2001 to June 2015 who had greater than 6 months of follow-up after the initiation of therapy were reviewed. Results In all, 24 patients were treated with rituximab and 25 were treated with conventional immunosuppression. Of patients, 100% in the rituximab group achieved disease control compared with 40% in the conventional group ( P P = .02). Adverse events were seen in 33% of patients after rituximab, compared with 48% of patients in the conventional group ( P = .2). Limitations Rituximab dosing was not uniform and the 2 groups were not matched in terms of disease severity, nor were they randomized. Conclusions Our study indicates that the addition of rituximab to conventional therapy in patients with MMP results in more rapid and sustained disease control with potentially fewer adverse events.
Metabolism of Cysteine to Taurine by Rat Hepatocytes

During the past two decades, many investigators have assumed that the major locus of regulation of cysteine catabolism is the partitioning of cysteinesulfinate between its decarboxylation and transamination pathways. Hepatic cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity correlates well with the capacity of animals to synthesize taurine1–4, and low cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity in the cat has been associated with its nutritional requirement for dietary taurine5. More recent studies in our laboratory have indicated that cysteinesulfinate-independent pathways also play a major role in cysteine metabolism6,7. In contrast to cysteinesulfinate-dependent metabolism of cysteine, which leads to both taurine and sulfate production, the cysteinesulfinate-independent pathways all result in release of reduced inorganic sulfur and its subsequent oxidation to sulfate. This evidence revealing a contribution of cysteinesulfinate-independent pathways to cysteine catabolism suggested that partitioning of cysteine between cysteinesulfinate formation and metabolism by cysteinesulfinate-independent pathways may also be important in the regulation of cysteine metabolism to taurine.
Genetic variation among populations of the Mexican prairie dog

Mexican prairie dogs from three locations were analyzed for variation at 46 electrophoretic loci. Fourteen (30%) of the loci were polymorphic. Genetic distances between populations were low (range of Rogers' D , 0.033 to 0.045), indicating little genic differentiation. The mean F st over all variable loci was 0.07 and indicated significant heterogeneity among the populations sampled. The genetic structure of Mexican prairie dog populations appears comparable to that of black-tailed prairie dog populations over short geographic distances. Cynomys mexicanus is distinctly different from C. ludovicianus , its purported ancestral species, at only two loci examined and the two species are separated by a genetic distance (Nei, 1972) of only 0.057. The estimated time since divergence based on genetic distance is 42,180 yr.
Computer Simulation of Template Polymerization Using a Controlled Reaction Scheme

We employ a Monte Carlo simulation scheme based on the bond fluctuation model to simulate template polymerization via controlled polymerization scheme involving copolymerization of free monomers (A...
A broncho-constrictor factor in cigarette smoke.

Summary and ConclusionsExperiments on intact guinea pigs indicate that cigarette smoke contains a broncho-constrictor agent. The intensity of the broncho-constrictor response is different with different lengths of cigarettes. Evidence is presented which indicates that the active agent in the smoke is not nicotine. Experiments using 2 brands of filter-tipped cigarettes indicated that the filter-tip did not influence the response of the lung to the cigarette smoke. The single brand of “denicotinized” cigarettes showed significantly less total broncho-constrictor effect than did the conventional cigarettes.
Ultrastructure of Cystosarcoma Phyllodes and Fibroadenoma: A Comparative Study

Electron microscopic studies were conducted on 11 cases of cystosarcoma phyllodes (6 benign, 3 malignant, 2 recurrent), 1 stromal sarcoma, and 15 cases of fibroadenomas. Particular emphasis was placed on examination of the epithelial-stromal junction. The epithelial cells were basically similar in all cases. The basal lamina of fibroadenomas tended to be reduplicated, whereas in cystosarcoma phyllodes the basal lamina was less reduplicated and even focally absent. A continuous layer of delimiting fibroblasts was not present in either type of tumor. Stromal cells were generally fibroblasts, with 2 of 15 being fibroadenomas and 2 of 11 cystosarcoma phyllodes showing myofibroblastic differentiation. The stromal sarcoma also showed smooth muscle differentiation. The authors conclude that the epithelial-stromal junction is abnormal in both fibroadenomas and cystosarcomas, but the abnormality is different in these two tumors. Increasing prominence of stromal cell junctions and of lysosomes also correlated with the diagnosis of cystosarcoma, particularly the malignant variant.
CacheKit: Evading Memory Introspection Using Cache Incoherence

With the growing importance of networked embedded devices in the upcoming Internet of Things, new attacks targeting embedded OSes are emerging. ARM processors, which power over 60% of embedded devices, introduce a hardware security extension called TrustZone to protect secure applications in an isolated secure world that cannot be manipulated by a compromised OS in the normal world. LeveragingTrustZone technology, a number of memory integrity checking schemes have been proposed in the secure world to introspect malicious memory modification of the normal world. In this paper, we first discover and verify an ARM TrustZone cache incoherence behavior, which results in the cache contents of the two worlds, secure and non-secure, potentially being different even when they are mapped to the same physical address. Furthermore, code in one TrustZone world cannot access the cache content in the other world. Based on this observation, we develop a new rootkit called CacheKit that hides in the cache of the normal world and is able to evade memory introspection from the secure world. We implement a CacheKit prototype on Cortex-A8 processors after solving a number of challenges. First, we employ the Cache-as-RAM technique to ensure that the malicious code is only loaded into the CPU cache and not RAM. Thus, the secure world cannot detect the existence of the malicious code by examining the RAM. Second, we use the ARM processor's hardware support on cache settings to keep the malicious code persistent in the cache. Third, to evade introspection that flushes cache content back into RAM, we utilize physical addresses from the I/O address range that is not backed by any real I/O devices or RAM. The experimental results show that CacheKit can successfully evade memory introspection from the secure world and has small performance impacts on the rich OS. We discuss potential countermeasures to detect this type of rootkit attack.
Measurement for Tank Liguid Level of Water Separator and Modification for Hydrodynamic Kinetic Pressure in Ultra-supercritical Boiler

In a long term, modification for hydrodynaic kinetic pressure was ignored in measurement of fluid level for pressured container. For boiler drum and high pressure or low pressure heater, the neglect can be accepted because of comparatively huge size. But the neglect was wrong in measurement for water separator level in ultra-supercritical unit, because of the small size of water tank and high steam pressure. This paper introduces the principle of measurement and kinetic pressure modification for tank level of water separator in No.6 unit in Beilun Power Company, and methods for problems met in commissioning period.
Investigation on the incidence rate of hypertension among the population over the age of 35 years in Congyang County

Objective The present study was conducted to get an insight into the incidence rate and the epidemic characteristics of hypertension among the residents in Congyang County. Methods A cross-section survey of hypertension was conducted among the population over the age of 35 years in Congyang County from May 29,2005 to July 29,2005.Results The incidence rate of hypertension was 8.08% in Congyang County,no significant difference in the rate found between male and female.It was found that the rate increased with age in both sexes. Conclusion The incidence rate of hypertension in Congyang County is lower than the average level of the whole country.
Analysis of Malignant Death Cause and Years of Life Lost in Shahekou District,Dalian

[Objective]To understand the mortality,death cause and life lost of malignant neoplasm for urban residents in Sahekou District of Dalian,so as to provide the scientific basis for heath education and integrated control.[Methods] The death cause monitoring data of Shahekou District during 2002-2007 were used and encoded,according to international classification diseases ICD-10. Access database was adopted to analyze the data.[Results]A total of 7069 death cases of malignant neoplasms were reported in Shahekou District of Dalian during 2002-2007,the mortality was 188.08/100,000,standardized mortality was 120.39/100,000. The mortality showed upward trend significantly over time,P0.05(t=3.378,P=0.028). The male mortality was 234.76/100 000,and the female was 141.22/100 000. Ratio of male to female was 1.66:1,the mortality of male was higher than that of female obviously. Top five death causes were lung cancer,liver cancer,gastric cancer,intestinal cancer,and esophageal cancer. The life lost caused by malignant neoplasm was 45 190.50 years during 2002-2007,which held the first place in all death causes. The top three malignant neoplasms in YPLL were malignant neoplasm of lung,malignant neoplasm of liver and malignant neoplasm of stomach.[Conclusion]Since the high mortality of malignant neoplasm; it should be reinforced for integrated control
Effects of changes in rock microstructures on permeability: 3-D printing investigation

Rocks are naturally heterogeneous; two rock samples with identical bulk properties can vary widely in microstructure. Understanding how the microstructure and bulk properties of rocks then evolve during experiments and computations simulating diagenesis is inherently a multiscale problem. The advent of modern 3-D printing has provided an unprecedented opportunity to link those scales by combining the strengths of digital and experimental rock physics. In this study, we take a computerized tomography-scanned model of a natural carbonate pore space then iteratively digitally manipulate, 3-D print, and measure the flow properties in the laboratory. This approach allows us to access multiple scales digitally and experimentally and test hypotheses about how changes in rock microstructure due to compaction and dissolution affect bulk transport properties in a repeatable manner.
Eroticism and the Dialogic Form

No author’s literary oeuvre offers a more complex portrayal of sexual subject matter than that of Oscar Wilde. The poems and plays considered in the earlier chapters reveal the homoerotic sensibilities and the heterosexual anxieties with which Wilde was preoccupied during the early years of his career prior to his marriage to Constance Lloyd on 29 May 1884. The retrospective insights of literary analysis — which reveal a homoeroticized and often joyous search for self-knowledge contrasted with a deeply pessimistic view of the attractions and repulsions of heterosexuality — suggest the paradoxical nature of Wilde’s entry into marriage.
Emergency-Based Predatory Capitalism: The Rule of Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Development

In a state of emergency, ordinary political life is suspended. To exit from a state of emergency by curing its causes or addressing its consequences is the 'target' constructed as being in the interest of everybody and as the end that everybody must pursue. In a state of emergency, no critique is acceptable, and there is no place for a loyal opposition. Everybody must be on board in pursuit of the target. The state of emergency thus is a desirable condition for power. It is a highly effective way to avoid opposition - perhaps the only effective way in a pluralist political scenario such as a parliamentary democracy or the unstructured global political arena. Thus, the state of emergency is a stabilizing political strategy, a true foundation of 'predatory capitalism,' which is how I define the realized form of the current system of global production. In turn, predatory capitalism requires and develops ideological apparatuses to sustain it. A state of emergency thus serves as false consciousness. A thick ideological layer constructs as in the interest of everybody what is in fact a project of domination of the powerful few over the powerless many. In this project, the law serves a double purpose as at the same time a coercive and an ideological apparatus of domination - a stick and a carrot. This essay explores current global developments in which general states of emergency are 'invented' or 'exaggerated' to sustain legal transformations that, while presented as being in the interest of everybody, cover projects of domination. From the perspective of the law, we will discuss three instances.
Effect of high-pressure processing of bovine colostrum on immunoglobulin G concentration, pathogens, viscosity, and transfer of passive immunity to calves

Abstract This study aimed to determine the effects of high-pressure processing on the immunoglobulin concentration, microbial load, viscosity, and transfer of passive immunity to calves when applied to bovine colostrum as an alternative to thermal pasteurization. A pilot study using Staphylococcus aureus was conducted to determine which pressure-time treatments are most appropriate for use with bovine colostrum, with the goals of maximizing bacterial inactivation while minimizing IgG content and viscosity changes. Following the pilot study, an inoculation study was conducted in which first-milking colostrum samples from Holstein-Friesian cows were inoculated with known concentrations of various bacteria or viruses and pressure processed at either 300 MPa for up to 60min or at 400MPa for up to 30min. The recovery of total native aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli , Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Dublin, Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis , bovine herpesvirus type 1, and feline calicivirus were determined after processing. Colostrum IgG content was measured before and after pressure processing. Shear stress and viscosity for each treatment was determined over shear rates encompassing those found during calf feeding and at normal bovine body temperature (37.8°C). Following a calf trial, serum IgG concentration was measured in 14 calves fed 4 L of colostrum pressure processed at 400MPa for 15min. In the pilot study, S. aureus was effectively reduced with pressure treatment at 300 and 400MPa (0, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 45min), with 2 treatments at 400MPa (30, 45min) determined to be inappropriate for use with bovine colostrum due to viscosity and IgG changes. High-pressure processing at 300MPa (30, 45, and 60min) and 400MPa (10, 15, and 20min) was shown to effectively reduce total native aerobic bacteria, E. coli , Salmonella Dublin, bovine herpesvirus type 1, and feline calicivirus populations in bovine colostrum, but no decrease occurred in Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis . All inoculation study pressure treatments insignificantly decreased IgG content of colostrum. Treatment of colostrum at 400MPa for 15min during the calf trial decreased IgG content of colostrum. Treatment at 400MPa for 15min increased colostrum viscosity, with 2 of 14 samples requiring dilution with water for calf feeding. Calves fed pressure-processed colostrum had similar serum IgG but lower efficiency of absorption than calves fed heat-treated colostrum. The results of this study suggest that high-pressure processing of bovine colostrum maintains an acceptable IgG level while decreasing bacterial and viral counts. Changes in viscosity sometimes made calf feeding more difficult, but still feasible. Additional research to optimize this technology for on-farm use is necessary.
Fatigue testing of composite patches for ship plating fracture repair

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study is to examine, through physical testing, the use of composite patches for preventing crack growth and extending the service life of ship plating. Fatigue tests were conducted on steel plates to experimentally validate the effectiveness of using composite patches as a means to prevent crack growth and extend the fatigue life of structural components. Specimens were tested with and without the use of composite reinforcements. Previous results of numerical analysis studies had indicated that a one- to two-order of magnitude increase in service life can be expected for the conditions tested. The experimental results presented here show increases closer to a single order of magnitude. The difference is attributed to two factors: failure mechanisms associated with debonding of the patch and cracking of the patch itself. Of critical importance, therefore, are the implementation of a quality-controlled bonding procedure and optimisation of the geometry and properties of the pat...