cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of alfalfa radicle length with resistance to Rhizoctonia damping-off

Seedling damping-off is one of several important diseases of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn. While evaluating alfalfa seedlings for resistance to damping-off, we observed that those populations with faster germination and radicle growth rate generally appeared to be more resistant to damping-off. Therefore, this study was done to determine if alfalfa populations vary in radicle growth rate or length, and if radicle length is associated with resistance to seedling damping-off caused by R. solani. We determined radicle growth rate by measuring radicle length at 48 h after placing seeds in moist conditions. Resistance to damping-off was visually scored according to amount of radide symptoms. In one experiment, groups of seedlings with long radicles averaged 21.4% resistance, compared with 13.9% for seedlings with short radicles. In another experiment, resistance was about 35% for the seedlings with long radicles versus 11% for short radicles across two plant populations. The correlation coefficient between radicle length at inoculation and resistance score 5 d later (lower score indicates higher resistance) was -0.29 (P < 0.01, n = 200); this moderate correlation coefficient and the variability in resistance within radicle length groups suggest that factors in addition to age and radicle length condition resistance. We recommend selecting seedlings for resistance within groups of common radide length to reduce non-genetic influences on selection progress.
The interaction of CO with PdCu hydrogen separation membranes: An operando infrared spectroscopy study

Abstract Pd and PdCu alloy membranes are promising candidates for separating hydrogen from mixed gas streams due in part to their infinite selectivity to hydrogen separation. However, other gases such as CO can inhibit hydrogen transport across Pd-based membranes. In this work, the mechanism by which CO inhibits hydrogen transport across a 25 μm-thick Pd47Cu53 (mol%) membrane is investigated by operando infrared-reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) in the 373–533 K temperature range. In the absence of hydrogen, CO adsorbs on three different sites on the PdCu surface: (1) bridging between contiguous Pd atoms, (2) on top of isolated Pd atoms surrounded by Cu atoms, and (3) on top of oxidized Cu atoms. CO induces agglomeration of isolated Pd atoms on the PdCu surface, which is driven by the higher stability of CO adsorbed on bridging sites between Pd atoms than on isolated Pd atoms surrounded by Cu atoms. The rate of hydrogen permeation across the PdCu alloy membrane decreases with increasing CO concentration in the feed gas, and the poisoning effect of CO is more severe at lower temperatures. CO inhibits hydrogen transport across the membrane by adsorbing only on Pd sites on the PdCu surface and blocking H2 dissociation on these sites. Due to the weaker interaction of CO with PdCu alloy surfaces than with Pd, the PdCu alloy is more resistant to CO poisoning than pure Pd.
Minimal Nasolabial Incision Technique for Nasolabial Fold Modification in Patients With Facial Paralysis

ImportanceCreation of symmetrical nasolabial folds (NLFs) is important in the management of the paralyzed face. Established techniques use a linear incision in the NLF, and technical refinements no...
Vertical vs. horizontal transmission of the microbiome in a key disease vector, Ixodes pacificus.

Vector-borne pathogens are increasingly found to interact with the vector's microbiome, influencing disease transmission dynamics. However, the processes that regulate the formation and development of the microbiome are largely unexplored for most tick species, an emerging group of disease vectors. It is not known how much of the tick microbiome is acquired through vertical transmission vs. horizontally from the environment or interactions with bloodmeal sources. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, we examined the microbiome of Ixodes pacificus, the vector of Lyme disease in the western USA, across life stages and infection status. We also characterized microbiome diversity in field and laboratory-collected nymphal ticks to determine how the surrounding environment affects microbiome diversity. We found a decrease in both species richness and evenness as the tick matures from larva to adult. When the dominant Rickettsial endosymbiont was computationally removed from the tick microbial community, we found that infected nymphs had lower species evenness than uninfected ticks, suggesting that lower microbiome diversity is associated with pathogen transmission in wild-type ticks. Furthermore, laboratory-reared nymph microbiome diversity was found to be compositionally distinct and significantly depauperate relative to field-collected nymphs. These results highlight unique patterns in the microbial community of I. pacificus that is distinct from other tick species. We provide strong evidence that ticks acquire a significant portion of their microbiome through exposure to their environment despite a loss of overall diversity through life stages. We provide evidence that loss of microbial diversity is at least in part due to elimination of microbial diversity with bloodmeal feeding but other factors may also play a role.
Circulating insulin-like growth factors and Alzheimer disease: A mendelian randomization study.

Objective To examine whether genetically predicted variation in circulating insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) or its binding protein, IGFBP3, are associated with risk of Alzheimer disease (AD), using a mendelian randomization study design. Methods We first examined disease risk by genotypes of 9 insulin-like growth factor (IGF)–related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using published summary genome-wide association statistics from the International Genomics of Alzheimer9s Project (IGAP; n = 17,008 cases; 37,154 controls). We then assessed whether any SNP-disease results replicated in an independent sample derived from the Swedish Twin Registry (n = 984 cases; 10,304 controls). Results Meta-analyses of SNP-AD results did not suggest that variation in IGF1, IGFBP3, or the molar ratio of these affect AD risk. Only one SNP appeared to affect AD risk in IGAP data. This variant is located in the gene FOXO3, implicated in human longevity. In a meta-analysis of both IGAP and secondary data, the odds ratio of AD per FOXO3 risk allele was 1.04 (95% confidence interval 1.01–1.08; p = 0.008). Conclusions These findings suggest that circulating IGF1 and IGFBP3 are not important determinants of AD risk. FOXO3 function may influence AD development via pathways that are independent of IGF signaling (i.e., pleiotropic actions).
Behavioral Changes in Huntington Disease

To mark the 30th anniversary of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology (which was titled Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsychology, and Behavioral Neurology from 1988 to 2002), the editors have identified several articles previously published in the journal that might be termed “classics” in the field. These articles will be reprinted in the four issues to appear in 2018, each with a brief commentary by a contemporary working in that subject area. The aim of this project is to highlight the progress made in our subspecialty during the past few decades. Here, Jason Brandt introduces one of two articles reprinted in the current issue: Craufurd D, Thompson JC, Snowden JS. 2001. Behavioral changes in Huntington disease.
A Surveillance-Based Hepatitis C Care Cascade, New York City, 2017

Objectives:The care cascade, a method for tracking population-level progression from diagnosis to cure, is an important tool in addressing and monitoring the hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic. Howev...
Representing the ballistic missile defense system using agent-based modeling

This paper seeks to explain the applicability and advantage of modeling and simulating the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) using the Agent-based modeling (ABM) paradigm. This is accomplished through the application of the Modeling and Simulation -- System Development Framework (MS-SDF) which provides a framework for capturing the BMDS and creating a model that integrates the human-in-the-loop decision maker into the design. The addition of the human-in-the-loop decision maker is an essential component of the BMDS and is a gap that is has not been sufficiently addressed by other works. ABM allows for the specific elements within the BMDS to be represented and allows for the creation of a highly-configurable simulation environment. The process of creating the model and simulation is provided through the MS-SDF. A reference model is used to identify the components and the characteristics of the BMDS. A conceptual model provides the plan for creating the simulation based on the material contained in the reference model and the simulation is then built based on the conceptual model. This process provides a level of traceability to the model that helps to verify and validate the model and simulation.
Carbon Gasification -- A Ubiquitous Reaction of Great Importance to Mankind

It is generally not recognized how important the many types of carbon are to our society. Carbon comes in two main crystallographic forms (Figure 1): graphite and diamond. Graphite has trigonal bonding of carbon atoms; diamond has tetrahedral bonding. The carbon artifacts with which we will be concerned will be polycrystal-line, their properties determined by their crystallite size (and distribution), degree of crystallite alignment, and extent of defect character within the crystallites (vacancies and dislocations). We will be concerned with carbonaceous solids having trigonal bonding within their crystallites and in some cases, possibly, tetrahedral bonding between crystallites.
Definition and Demographics of Addiction

Addiction is a disease manifested as detrimental behavior to self or others. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) currently defines addiction as, “…a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors. Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.” The ASAM’s focus on addiction as biological disease is in contrast to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM IV) definition of addiction as, “…abuse and dependence, a disease of apparently equal part behavior and biology.” Understanding the importance of addiction demographics can elucidate directions of research in treatment and prevention that may be tailored to the individual patient.
Single-molecule trapping and spectroscopy reveals photophysical heterogeneity of phycobilisomes quenched by Orange Carotenoid Protein.

The Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) is a cytosolic photosensor that is responsible for non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of the light-harvesting process in most cyanobacteria. Upon photoactivation by blue-green light, OCP binds to the phycobilisome antenna complex, providing an excitonic trap to thermally dissipate excess energy. At present, both the binding site and NPQ mechanism of OCP are unknown. Using an Anti-Brownian ELectrokinetic (ABEL) trap, we isolate single phycobilisomes in free solution, both in the presence and absence of activated OCP, to directly determine the photophysics and heterogeneity of OCP-quenched phycobilisomes. Surprisingly, we observe two distinct OCP-quenched states, with lifetimes 0.09 ns (6% of unquenched brightness) and 0.21 ns (11% brightness). Photon-by-photon Monte Carlo simulations of exciton transfer through the phycobilisome suggest that the observed quenched states are kinetically consistent with either two or one bound OCPs, respectively, underscoring an additional mechanism for excitation control in this key photosynthetic unit. Upon photoactivation the Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) binds to the phycobilisome and prevents damage by thermally dissipating excess energy. Here authors use an Anti-Brownian ELectrokinetic trap to determine the photophysics of single OCP-quenched phycobilisomes and observe two distinct OCP-quenched states with either one or two OCPs bound.
Use of Antiadhesive Barriers in Pouch Surgery

Ileal-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) is a desired option for many ulcerative colitis (UC) patients since it provides the opportunity for restoration of intestinal continuity. Nonetheless, there is no difference in the overall quality of life between patients who undergo IPAA versus permanent ileostomy as both groups report significant improvement [1]. IPAA reconstruction is associated with a variety of complications which may impact quality of life. Postsurgical adhesions create a significant amount of morbidity for patients after IPAA. Over 20% of patients who undergo IPAA may develop small bowel obstruction (SBO) [2]. Decreased fertility after IPAA has been well-established with approximately 40–50% of female patients in the child-bearing years reporting inability to conceive within 12 months [3–5]. There is great interest in surgical approaches that can minimize the formation of these adhesions.
Psychosocial Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Young Men Who Have Sex with Men Living with HIV/AIDS in Zhejiang, China.

Objectives: To explore the quality of life (QOL) status and related factors in young human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) aged 16 to 24 years in Zhejiang province. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 22 counties of Zhejiang province, and 395 subjects took part in our research. A t-test, one-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis were used to investigate the factors associated with QOL in young HIV-infected MSM. Results: The total score on the QOL was 86.86 ± 14.01. The multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that self-efficacy and discrimination were associated with all domains on the QOL assessment, monthly income was associated with QOL for all domains except spirituality and consistent condom use during oral sex with men in the past three months was associated with QOL for all domains except the relationship domain. Those individuals within the group of young HIV-infected MSM who have higher self-efficacy, a higher monthly income, greater social support, safer sexual behaviors, a higher level of education, and a higher cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) count have a better QOL. Conclusions: These findings suggest that to improve the QOL of this population, greater emphasis should be placed on improving social support, self-efficacy, and antiviral therapy adherence and on reducing discrimination, disease progression, and high-risk behaviors.
Can Auditors Pursue Firm-Level Goals Nonconsciously on Audits of Complex Estimates? An Examination of the Joint Effects of Tone at the Top and Management's Specialist

We examine whether tone at the top emphasizing firm-level commercial, audit quality, or both goals (balanced) can nonconsciously affect auditors' engagement-level tendency to accept management's es...
Opioid-Free Cesarean Section with Bilateral Quadratus Lumborum Catheters.

Introduction Post-operative pain control following cesarean section delivery (CD) is an important topic of discussion given the lack of consensus on a narcotic-sparing analgesic regimen. We describe the case of an elective CD with narcotic-free pain control using continuous bilateral posterior quadratus lumborum (QL) blockade as the primary mode of analgesia. Case report The patient is a 36-year-old female, G3P1, who presented at 37 weeks of gestation in active labor scheduled for elective primary CD. A spinal anesthetic was performed at L4-L5 with hyperbaric 0.75% bupivacaine, without intrathecal morphine. Bilateral posterior QL catheters were placed under sterile conditions with 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine per side. Continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine was then started at 10 mL/hour per side. The patient's pain was controlled with QL catheters and a multimodal pain regimen consisting of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen. The patient reported a resting pain score of 0 with a dynamic pain score of 3 out of 10 throughout her recovery. She was discharged on post-operative (post-op) day 3 and the catheters were removed without any complications. Discussion The gold standard for pain control following CD is intrathecal morphine; however, its use has many adverse effects. Bilateral single-shot QL blocks following CD have been proven to decrease opioid consumption but its limited duration has minimal advantage over intrathecal morphine and patients continue to require oral narcotics for analgesia. With the use of QL catheters and a multimodal pain regimen, it may be possible to achieve opioid-free CD for the post-op period.
Admissions to economics PhD program: Perspectives from a large public university

Jones et al. (2020) formally document the factors that affect admissions to various economics PhD programs, and highlights some differences across programs. I find this information useful for two r...
Charged Gram-positive species sequester and decrease the potency of pediocin PA-1 in mixed microbial settings

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained attention recently due to increasing antibiotic resistance amongst pathogens. Most AMPs are cationic in nature and their preliminary interactions with the negatively charged cell surface is mediated by electrostatic attraction. This is followed by pore formation, which is either receptor-dependent or -independent and leads to cell death. Typically, AMPs are characterized by their killing activity using bioactivity assays to determine host range and degree of killing. However, cell surface binding is independent from killing. Most of the studies performed to-date have attempted to quantify the peptide binding using artificial membranes. Here, we use the narrow-spectrum class IIa bacteriocin AMP pediocin PA-1 conjugated to a fluorescent dye as a probe to monitor cell surface binding. We developed a flow cytometry-based assay to quantify the strength of binding in target and non-target species. Through our binding assays, we found a strong positive correlation between cell surface charge and pediocin PA-1 binding. Interestingly, we also found inverse correlation between zeta potential and pediocin PA-1 binding, the correlation coefficient for which improved when only Gram-positives were considered. We also show the effect of the presence of protein, salt, polycationic species, and other non-target species on the binding of pediocin PA-1 to the target organism. We conclude that the of presence of highly charged non-target species, as well as solutes, can decrease the binding, and the apparent potency, of pediocin PA-1. Thus, these outcomes are highly significant to the use of pediocin PA-1 and related AMPs in mixed microbial settings such as those found in the gut microbiota.
Non-additive polygenic models improve predictions of fitness traits in three eukaryote model species

To describe a living organism it is often said that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts". In genetics, we may also think that the effect of multiple mutations on an organism is greater than their additive individual effect, a phenomenon called epistasis or multiplicity. Despite the last decades discovery that many disease- and fitness-related traits are polygenic, or controlled by many genetic variants, it is still debated whether the effects of individual genes combine additively or not. Here we develop a flexible likelihood framework for genome-wide associations to fit complex traits such as fitness under both additive and non-additive polygenic architectures. Analyses of simulated datasets under different true additive, multiplicative, or other epistatic models, confirm that our method can identify global non-additive selection. Applying the model to experimental datasets of wild type lines of Arabidopsis thaliana, Drosophila melanogaster, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we find that fitness is often best explained with non-additive polygenic models. Instead, a multiplicative polygenic model appears to better explain fitness in some experimental environments. The statistical models presented here have the potential to improve prediction of phenotypes, such as disease susceptibility, over the standard methods for calculating polygenic scores which assume additivity.
Deprivation and threat as developmental mediators in the relation between early life socioeconomic status and executive functioning outcomes in early childhood

Abstract There has been a shift in the study of childhood adversity towards a focus on dimensions of adversity as opposed to a focus on cumulative risk or specific adversities. The Dimensional Model of Adversity and Psychopathology (DMAP) proposes deprivation and threat as core dimensions of childhood adversity. Previous work using DMAP has found links between deprivation and cognitive development and threat and emotional development in adolescence, but few studies have applied this framework to a poverty context, in which children are at heightened risk for adversity experiences, and none have examined outcomes in early childhood. We use data from the Family Life Project (n = 1,292) to examine deprivation and threat at child age 24 months as developmental mediators in the association between socioeconomic status (SES) measured at 15 months and executive functions (EF) measured at 48 months. In a multiple mediation model, lower SES was related to higher deprivation and threat. Deprivation was negatively associated with EF, and threat was not associated with EF. Deprivation fully mediated association between SES and EF. These results expand previous work using the DMAP and point to new directions in understanding children’s cognitive adaptations to adversity.
Not all exceptions are created equal: Learning of exceptions in pigeons’ categorization

Learning of exceptions – those items that violate a known regularity – takes longer than learning of rule-following items. Studies reporting this disparity have used exceptions that share most of their features with members of the opposite category (crossover exceptions). Yet, exceptions can be distinctly different from members of their own category and other categories as well (oddball exceptions). Here, we trained two groups of pigeons to discriminate two categories containing regular and exception items. For one group, the exceptions were crossovers, whereas for the other, the exceptions were oddballs. Pigeons learned to classify the oddball exceptions faster than the crossover exceptions. Moreover, the regular items were learned more quickly than the crossover exceptions, but more slowly than the oddball exceptions. Deviation from the rule per se is not why exceptions are typically more difficult to learn. Rather, confusability with members of the opposite category hinders learning, whereas distinctiveness facilitates learning.
Laboratory and numerical investigation of integral abutment connections with pile couplers

Abstract By benefiting from precast structural elements, accelerated bridge construction (ABC) strategies have received growing attention, as they can alleviate the consequences of prolonged bridge closures caused by cast-in-place (CIP) construction methods. Among various precast elements, integral abutments are commonly employed to eliminate the expansion joint between a bridge’s substructure and superstructure, where the ingress of aggressive ions often requires frequent maintenance and repair. Due to the heavy reinforcement required at the bridge end region, congestion issues often arise, especially when attempting to utilize ABC. To address such issues, this study focuses on the integral abutment connection details designed with a set of pile couplers that splice the integral abutment diaphragm to the pile cap. The investigations involve full-scale laboratory experiments conducted to understand the structural response of the proposed connection details under both thermal and live loads. The main response measures obtained from the conducted tests were then compared to those recorded during a full-scale test on a CIP integral abutment with the details that represented the conventional design and construction practices. Upon completing the laboratory investigations, a series of numerical simulations were performed to evaluate the most critical connection details. The simulations explored a range of steel sections and a proposed design revision, in which the pile couplers were replaced with a bar reinforcement cage. The outcome of this study helps the bridge industry effectively use pile couplers for integral abutment connections, especially for ABC applications.
“Big Boom” Radiation Treatment (RT) of 4 Gy Single Fraction: Is It an Acceptable Alternative to “Boom Boom” Radiation Treatment 2 Gyx2 Fractions for Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL)?

Purpose/objective(s) RT plays an important role in the treatment of NHL. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to decrease patient and staff exposure to potential infection, the International Lymphoma Radiation Oncology Group [ILROG] published emergency guidelines to support hypofractionation across multiple dose regimens. For NHL, ILROG recommended substitution of the familiar 2 Gy x2 regimen with a 4 Gy x1 alternative. This preliminary report describes our center's experience with a regimen of a single dose of 4 Gy ("Big Boom"). Materials/methods We present our initial findings of patients treated with 4 Gy x1 between March 30, 2020 through November 30, 2020 (n = 40 lesions; 36 patients). We utilized Lugano PET criteria and clinical assessments to determine patient outcomes. Outcomes included initial clinical/radiographic response and acute toxicities. Patients were treated with either a definitive (curative) or a palliative intent (to relieve symptoms and not necessarily to achieve long-term disease control). Results Table 1 summarizes the patient and treatment characteristics. 29 patients (72%) were treated with a definitive intent, and 11 (28%) with a palliative intent. Median time to initial assessment for all sites was 2.2 months (range: 0.6-4.4), with overall median follow up time of 3.8 months (range: 1.0-7.3). The overall initial response rate was 85% for all sites, with 59% achieving complete response (CR) and 26% achieving a partial response (PR) (n = 39 lesion sites; 35 patients - 1 patient deceased shortly after RT [unrelated to radiation]). 4 initial partial response/no response (PR/NR) sites later became CR with either additional full dose RT (2 Gyx12) or no other treatments. The median follow-up time for those 4 lesions sites was 4.2 months (range: 2.3-9.2). 9 patients reported grade 1 toxicity, and none had grade 2+ toxicity. Conclusion Given the initial high response rate and the ease of using a "one and done" treatment method, we propose that the early response rates of using a 4 Gyx1 regimen are similar to that of 4 Gy in 2 fractions. Longer term follow-up is required to confirm the durability of these results. As we continue to accrue and evaluate, data will be updated at the time of the meeting and potentially joined with other centers participating in the comprehensive ILROG-COVID guidelines research effort.
CHAPTER 9 – Dot Blot Analysis

Dot blots, and the closely related variant known as slot blots, permit rapid detection of a relative amount of a particular RNA sequence both in purified samples of RNA and in cell lysates. It is very important to understand from the outset that dot blots provide an estimate of the amount of target in a sample. More sophisticated methods for analysis, including cDNA synthesis or amplification mediated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), will undoubtedly factor into the experimental design at a later stage. In dot blotting, RNA samples are applied directly onto a membrane under vacuum through a multiwell dot blot or slot blot filtration manifold, after which the samples are immobilized on the surface of the filter membrane. Dilutions of the samples are arranged either vertically or horizontally; samples arranged in this geometry are simple to quantify by image analysis software. The degree of hybridization is assessed by measuring each dot or slot signal from the filter as recorded on an X-ray film. Dot blotting is a hybridization technique without the fanfare associated with running a gel. Among the most obvious advantages of the dot blotting technique is the speed with which the samples are prepped for nucleic acid hybridization. A denatured sample is applied directly to a membrane and there is no gel to run.
Impacts of bark and foliage harvest on Khaya senegalensis (Meliaceae) reproductive performance in Benin

Summary 1 Increasing concern over the sustainability of harvesting non-timber forest products (NTFP) has led to a growing literature on the ecological impacts of NTFP extraction. A large proportion of NTFP are harvested for multiple plant parts, but few studies have assessed the impacts of harvesting multi-use species. In addition, few studies have assessed how harvest effects may vary across space. This information is necessary for designing effective conservation plans for the many NTFP species that are harvested from variable ecological contexts. 2 This study assessed the impacts of combined bark and foliage harvest on Khaya senegalensis (Meliaceae) reproductive performance in Benin. K. senegalensis bark is an important medicine for malaria, the leaves are pruned by indigenous Fulani herders as a critical source of fodder for their livestock, and the timber is highly prized. Data on reproductive characteristics were collected from 12 populations spread across two ecological regions (Sudanian and Sudano–Guinean). Half the populations had a history of high harvest intensity and half were subject to low/no harvest. 3 Trees produced more fruit and began fruiting at a significantly smaller size in the drier Sudanian region than in the wetter Sudano–Guinean region. However, pruning decreased fruit production significantly in the Sudanian region but not in the Sudano–Guinean region. Pruning had a significantly greater impact on fruit production in larger trees than in smaller trees. High harvest populations in the Sudano–Guinean region had significantly higher rates of seed production than low harvest populations, although the seeds were significantly lighter. There were no significant effects of debarking or combined debarking and pruning on reproductive performance. 4 Synthesis and applications. This study illustrates that heavy rates of foliage harvest can decrease rates and patterns of reproduction in K. senegalensis, and that the impacts may vary across environmental contexts. Lowered rates of reproduction may lead to decreases in K. senegalensis population size over the long term. Effective ex situ conservation strategies for K. senegalensis include increasing the availability of its fodder and bark by promoting K. senegalensis plantations programmes involving Fulani harvesters.
Insight change and its relationship to subjective well-being during acute atypical antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia.

Summary What is known and Objective: Poor insight is prevalent among patients with schizophrenia and improved insight is one of the major goals of treatment. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between insight and subjective well-being during acute treatment of schizophrenia with atypical antipsychotics in a naturalistic clinical setting. Methods: Forty inpatients with schizophrenia were examined before and 8 weeks after the initiation of new treatment with atypical antipsychotics. Results: There were significant correlations between changes in insight and those in psychopathology and global functioning. The change in insight score was significantly correlated with that in subjective well-being score, indicating that the improvement in insight was positively related to improved subjective well-being. This correlation remained significant even after controlling for the influence of psychopathology. The insight score at baseline was also significantly correlated with the subsequent change in subjective well-being score. What is new and conclusion: The improvement of insight was positively correlated not only with that of psychopathology and global functioning, but also with that of subjective well-being, suggesting the potential value of interventions that improve patients’ awareness of the nature of their illness and the need for pharmacological treatment.
A unified theory of Stark broadening for hydrogenic ions—I. A general theory including time ordering.

Abstract The formalism of the Unified Classical Path Theory of Stark broadening is extended (by use of a technique developed by Lisitsa and Sholin) to include the effects of time-ordering in the calculation of the required time-development operator. In addition, hyperbolic classical paths are considered so that the theory is valid for hydrogenic ions (as well as for the straight line paths of neutral hydrogen).
The Social Worker-Ombudsman Partnership

Abstract This article presents a tactical protocol to guide social workers and ombudsmen in explaining their conflict behavior in fundamentally imbalanced power structures like nursing homes. It is argued that efficient case advocacy requires the selection of tactics based on the confluence of two conditional factors on a low to high continuum in the following priority: (a) the urgency and severity of the resident's needs, and (b) the facility's level of resistance. Seven possible influence tactics are presented within the broad strategies of relation-building, campaign/collaboration, and contest.
Augmenting XBRL Using UML: Improving Financial Analysis

eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), a financial accounting application of XML, provides a taxonomy for facilitating the analysis of financial statement information. This taxonomy promises to enhance the financial analyst’s ability to process financial information both crosssectionally and temporally. However, limitations exist in the taxonomy that inhibit the analyst, intelligent agent or application to process information in the most effective way. In particular, financial statement element analysis can only be properly conducted when the additional semantics provided by additional disclosures are incorporated into the process. UML provides a conceptual framework to capture more meaningful semantics, particularly among related, collaborating objects. The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework that will couple the strengths of both technologies in order to develop better systems for financial statement analysis.
Nightside midlatitude ionospheric arcs: TIMED/GUVI observations

[1] Midlatitude arcs (MLA) are the phenomenon of the nightside enhancements of ionospheric electron density at 20°-45° magnetic latitudes in both hemispheres. We investigate the occurrence of MLA and its dependence on season using the Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics/Global Ultraviolet Imager (TIMED/GUVI) O I 135.6 nm intensity data between March 2008 and March 2012. The 135.6 nm emission is mainly caused by radiant recombination between O+ ions and electrons in the nightside ionosphere. The GUVI data show that the MLA occurred in all seasons under geomagnetically quiet condition (mean Kp ~ 1.0) and during periods of low solar activity. Hemispheric symmetric MLA were observed during equinox. During solstice, the MLA were seen only in the winter hemisphere. The MLA were more frequently observed at local times between ~21:00 and 02:00 on nightside. They were rarely observed at local times between 03:00 and sun rise. The MLA were observed with an occurrence frequency of ~75% of the time. Coincident GPS total electron current data confirm that the MLA were due to enhanced ionospheric electron density. GUVI 135.6 nm limb data further show that the altitude of the MLA is higher than that of the equatorial arcs created by the equatorial ionization anomaly or fountain effect. The appearance of the MLA at higher altitude than the equatorial arcs supports the idea that the creation of the MLA is associated with the uplift of the ionosphere by the equatorward neutral wind.
Staphylococcidal capability of rabbit peritoneal macrophages in relation to infection and elicitation: delayed-type hypersensitivity without increased resistance.

Abstract The staphylococcidal capability of populations of peritoneal macrophages in rabbits has been measured before and after repeated infections with Staphylococcus aureus. Such rabbits after infection showed delayed-type hypersensitivity to S. aureus antigens, but the staphylococcidal capability of the peritoneal macrophages was not increased. This result at the cellular level is in agreement with previous assessment in vivo of the consequences of staphylococcal infection. Pathways to cell-mediated resistance, with and without delayed-type hypersensitivity, are presented.
Noncooperative network games for multi-class QoS provision

We summarize some recent results in noncooperative network games pertaining to multi-class QoS provision. They are of relevance to the design of networks capable of provisioning QoS-sensitive and differentiated services, a major challenge facing next generation networks. We first describe the single-switch (or LAN) system followed by work in many-switch (or WAN) systems.
Bacteriophage T4 Head Morphogenesis II. Studies on the Maturation of Gene 49-Defective Head Intermediates

An investigation into the metabolic requirements for maturation of gene 49-defective heads indicated that adenosine triphosphate energy and continued deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) but not ribonucleic acid synthesis were needed. The fate of DNA present at restrictive temperatures (41.5 C) in tsC9 (gene 49)-infected cells was also examined. After lysis of infected cells, the 12 to 32% deoxyribonuclease-resistant DNA associated with isolated gene 49-defective heads was found to be attached to a deoxyribonuclease-sensitive complex associated with the debris. Pulsechase experiments where (3)H-thymidine was used to label the DNA at 41.5 C suggested that more DNA from this pool was present in phage recovered after rescue of the gene 49 function than could be accounted for by the deoxyribonuclease-resistant portion. Further, when these experiments were repeated with an additional density shift ((15)N(13)C-glucose to (14)N(12)C-glucose), the DNA extracted from phage rescued at 10 min after the temperature shift-down was found to be 90% conserved. These results suggest a model whereby DNA packaging into capsid precursors is separated from DNA replication and the energy from DNA synthesis provides the driving force for packaging. Pulse-chase, temperature-shift experiments with E920g (gene 66) or E920g;tsC9 mutant-infected cells showed that gene (49, 66)-defective heads, which were isolated as small, isometric-shaped unfilled heads, were a precursor to "petite" phage. This suggests that the maturation process is independent of the size and shape of the head membrane. Similar experiments with the double mutant tsC9;amN120 indicate that gene 49-defective heads can also be filled in the absence of tails.
The hydroxylation of the salicylate anion by a fenton reaction and Γ-radiolysis: A consideration of the respective mechanisms

The yield of 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoates (dHB's) from the reaction of .OH radicals with salicylate (SA) ions has been measured as a function of pH and in the presence of oxidants. Under steady-state radiolysis conditions, the production of these products occurs via the reactions .OH + SA----HO-SA. (radical adduct) HO-SA. H+.OH+----2-carboxyphenoxyl radical (SA.) + H2O HO-SA. + SA.----2,3-/2,5-dHB + SA The addition of the oxidants O2, Fe3+ edta, or Fe(CN)63- increases the relative yield of 2,5-dHB/2,3-dHB from about 0.2 to 1. A model to account for this effect is presented. Steady-state radiolyses of 3- and 4-hydroxybenzoate give dihydroxybenzoate products consistent with the phenol group being an ortho-para director in the electrophilic attack of the hydroxyl radical on the aromatic ring. A comparison of product distributions from the reaction of ferrous edta with hydrogen peroxide using salicylate as a scavenger strongly suggests that the same hydroxyl radical adducts are formed as in the radiation experiments.
Stripping voltammetry with adsorptive accumulation for trace measurements of titanium

Abstract A sensitive stripping voltammetric procedure for determining titanium is described. The chelates of titanium with various dihydroxyazo dyes are adsorbed on the hanging mercury drop electrode, and the reduction current of the accumulated chelate is measured by voltammetry. Cyclic voltammetry is used to characterize the redox and interfacial processes. Optimal experimental conditions were found to be a stirred acetate buffer (pH 5.1) solution containing 1.5 × 10 −6 M solochrome violet RS, a preconcentration potential of −0.42 V, and a linear scan stripping mode. The chelate peak is separated from that of the free dye by 110 mV. There is a linear relationship between the preconcentration time and peak height at low surface coverages. With a 5 min preconcentration period the detection limit is 7 × 10 −10 M (0.035 ppb). Linearity prevails using short preconcentration times. The relative standard deviation at 1 × 10 −7 M is 3.4%. The possible interferences by other trance metals are investigated. Simultaneous determination of titanium(IV) and Fe(III) is illustrated. The merits of the described procedure are demonstrated in the analysis of sea, river and rain waters.
Modification of two-incision trans-axillary robotic thyroidectomy

The objective of this study is to describe the modification of port placement for the four-arm technique of robotic thyroidectomy to avoid a chest incision and eliminate crowding of the working space provided by the trans-axillary incision. The study methodology involved description of port placement modification to avoid chest incision and report of two cases with appropriate literature review is presented. Trans-axillary robotic thyroidectomy (TART) is often performed with a second chest incision, but the move toward single incision operation and placement of four arms via a single incision require expertise. We describe two patients who underwent TART using a trans-axillary incision and a separate 1 cm incision in the anterior axilla 2.5-cm below the trans-axillary incision for placement of the fourth arm. This design allowed for a more ergonomic placement of the fourth arm while not compromising the working space provided by the trans-axillary incision. Additionally this port was used for surgical drain placement Robot-assisted trans-axillary thyroidectomy poses several challenges in the early surgical learning curve. One roadblock to exposure and efficiency is appropriate port and arm placement. Our modification offers an alternative where a four-arm technique is made possible without a chest port and not occupying the working space provided by the trans-axillary incision. Use of this inferior axillary port is cosmetically acceptable, surgically efficient, and allows avoidance of a visible chest incision for placement of the fourth arm.
Aliskiren and valsartan mediate left ventricular remodeling post-myocardial infarction in mice through MMP-9 effects

We evaluated whether aliskiren, valsartan, or a combination of both was protective following myocardial infarction (MI) through effects on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9. C57BL/6J wild type (WT, n=94) and MMP-9 null (null, n=85) mice were divided into 4 groups at 3h post-MI: saline (S), aliskiren (A; 50mg/kg/day), valsartan (V; 40mg/kg/day), or A+V and compared to no MI controls at 28days post-MI. All groups had similar infarct areas, and survival rates were higher in the null mice. The treatments influenced systolic function and hypertrophy index, as well as extracellular matrix (ECM) and inflammatory genes in the remote region, indicating that primary effects were on the viable myocardium. Saline treated WT mice showed increased end systolic and diastolic volumes and hypertrophy index, along with reduced ejection fraction. MMP-9 deletion improved LV function post-MI. Aliskiren attenuated the increase in end systolic volume and hypertrophy index, while valsartan improved end diastolic volumes and aliskiren+valsartan improved the hypertrophy index only when MMP-9 was absent. Extracellular matrix and inflammatory gene expression showed distinct patterns among the treatment groups, indicating a divergence in mechanisms of remodeling. This study shows that MMP-9 regulates aliskiren and valsartan effects in mice. These results in mice provide mechanistic insight to help translate these findings to post-MI patients.
Comparison of uterine malignancies that develop during and following tamoxifen therapy.

Abstract Objectives. There is a greater than 7-fold increased risk of uterine cancer in women with breast cancer exposed to tamoxifen. The objective of this study was to determine the percentage of women who developed uterine cancer more than 12 months after discontinuing tamoxifen (past users) and to compare their clinical and pathologic features with those of women who developed uterine cancer while on tamoxifen therapy or within 12 months of stopping therapy (recent users). Methods. All women with a diagnosis of uterine cancer at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 1980 and June 2004 with a past history of breast cancer treated with tamoxifen were identified. Clinical and pathologic data were obtained through retrospective chart review. Results. There were 106 women identified with a history of breast cancer treated with tamoxifen preceding their diagnosis of uterine cancer. Thirty-nine (37%) developed uterine cancer more than 12 months after discontinuing tamoxifen. The median time until developing uterine cancer in past users was 33 months (range, 13–22). There were no significant differences in age at breast cancer diagnosis, body mass index, parity, stage of breast cancer, modality of breast cancer treatment, or duration of tamoxifen therapy between past and recent users of tamoxifen. Women who were past users of tamoxifen had significantly more FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) grade 3 and non-endometrioid histologic subtypes ( P = 0.009; P = 0.007). Conclusions. More than one third of women treated with tamoxifen develop uterine cancer more than 12 months after discontinuing therapy. These women are at greater risk of developing moderately to poorly differentiated tumors, which is a known poor prognostic factor. Therefore, women with a past history of tamoxifen therapy should have continued surveillance after completion of tamoxifen to ensure early diagnosis of uterine cancer.
Renal Biopsy Donor Group: The Influence of Glomerulosclerosis on Transplant Outcomes

The UNOS donor population was examined from 1999 to 2002, and approximately 25% of the over 23,000 donors were biopsied (Bx). There was a significant trend (P 10% GS, hypertension, donors over the age of 50, and African American recipients. RR in donors with >10% GS could be ameliorated (P < .001) by choosing donors with <5 HLA-A, -B, or -DR mismatches (MM), or recipients who were nonsensitized, and/or first transplant. Risk should be managed in donors by choosing appropriate recipients and high-risk immunosuppresion protocols.