cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunophenotyping of chimeric cells in localized scleroderma

Objective Localized scleroderma causes thickening of the skin due to excessive collagen deposition. This condition has clinical and histopathological similarities to chronic graft-vs-host disease. We wanted to identify whether chimeric cells are present in the affected tissue in localized scleroderma and to further investigate the role of chimerism by immunophenotyping the chimeric cells. We hypothesize that the presence of chimerism and immunotypic chimeric cells will lend to an understanding of the pathogenesis of localized scleroderma and possible mechanisms by which chimeric cells participate in autoimmunity. Methods We studied skin biopsies from 18 localized scleroderma patients and compared them with concurrent biopsies from unaffected skin in a subset of patients. Skin biopsies from morphoea and linear scleroderma patients were analysed for the presence of chimeric cells using male-female (X, Y) differences. Cell surface markers (CD4, CD8, CD19/20, CD68, S100, CD14 and CD56) were determined for cell phenotyping of chimeric cells. Results Overall, the affected tissue contained a greater number of lymphocytic inflammatory cells. In the affected tissue, 38% of the total chimeric cells were CD68+ (dendritic cell, monocyte and macrophage marker), 29% Langerin/S100+ (dendritic cell marker), 26% CD8+ (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte marker), 20% CD19/20+ (B-lymphocyte marker), 14% CD4+ (T-helper lymphocyte) and 0% CD56+ (natural killer cell marker). Conclusions We report that not only are chimeric cells present in affected localized scleroderma lesions but they also are more likely to be dendritic cells and B lymphocytes suggesting a role in the pathogenesis of localized scleroderma.
A role for Mer tyrosine kinase in αvβ5 integrin-mediated phagocytosis of apoptotic cells

Efficient phagocytosis of apoptotic cells is crucial for many cellular processes. One of earliest signals to the phagocyte is the expression of phosphatidylserine (PS) on the outer surface of the apoptotic cell that provides a potent 'eat-me' signal. Recognition of PS occurs either directly, via PS receptor (PS-R), or indirectly via alphavbeta5(3) integrin or Mer-family tyrosine kinases through the opsonizing proteins milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 protein (MFG-E8), or growth arrest specific factor-6 (Gas6), respectively. Because Mer and alphavbeta5 integrin share PS-dependent recognition signals, we investigated their post-receptor signaling cascades following receptor activation. Using a constitutively active form for Mer (CDMer) or Gas6 as a ligand to stimulate Mer, we found that Mer activation induced a post-receptor signaling cascade involving Src-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK on Tyr(861), the recruitment of FAK(Tyr861) to the alphavbeta5 integrin, and increased formation of p130(CAS)/CrkII/Dock180 complex to activate Rac1. Coexpression of Mer with alphavbeta5 integrin had a synergistic effect on Rac1 activation, lamellipodial formation and the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Interestingly, Gas6 or CDMer failed to stimulate p130(CAS) tyrosine phosphorylation or phagocytosis in beta5-deficient CS-1 cells or in mutant beta5DeltaC-expressing cells, suggesting that Mer is directionally and functionally linked to the integrin pathway. The present data indicate that receptors that recognize apoptotic cells in the context of PS functionally crosstalk to amplify intracellular signals to internalize apoptotic cells. Moreover, our data link another PS-dependent signal to the CrkII/Dock180/Rac1 module.
Vascular complications of orthotopic liver transplantation: experience in more than 4,200 patients.

Background Thromboses of the hepatic artery (HAT) and portal vein (PVT) may complicate orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and result in graft loss and mortality. Revision and retransplantation are treatment options, but their longterm outcomes remain undefined. This study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of major vascular complications after OLT, determine efficacy of therapies, and identify factors influencing longterm outcomes. Study Design All patients undergoing OLT from 1984 to 2007 were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to define the effects of vascular complications on posttransplant survival. Anastomotic revision and arterial thrombolysis were compared with retransplantation as treatment for HAT. After 2002, porta hepatis dissection was initiated with early occlusion of common hepatic artery (CHA) inflow; its impact on HAT incidence was determined. Results From 1984 to 2007, 4,234 OLTs were performed. HAT occurred in 203 patients (5%) and PVT in 84 (2%). Graft survival was significantly reduced by HAT or PVT; patient survival was reduced only by PVT. Retransplantation for HAT improved patient survival over revision or thrombolysis in the first year but did not provide longterm survival advantage (56% versus 56% at 5 years; p=0.53). Patients with HAT had only 10% graft salvage with anastomotic revision or thrombolysis. HAT was significantly reduced with early CHA inflow occlusion (1.1% versus 3.7%; p=0.002). Factors increasing risk of HAT included pediatric recipients, liver cancer, and aberrant arterial anatomy requiring complex reconstruction. Conclusions Both HAT and PVT significantly reduce graft survival after OLT; PVT more adversely affects patient survival. Revision and thrombolysis rarely salvage grafts after HAT; retransplantation provides superior short-term, but not longterm, survival. Avoidance of vascular complications in OLT is critical, especially with today's scarcity of donor livers. Early atraumatic CHA occlusion significantly reduces the incidence of HAT.
Child versus Parent Report of Parental Influences on Children's Weight-related Attitudes and Behaviors

Objective To compare parent and child report of parental weight-related behaviors and examine their respective associations with child’s weight-related outcomes. Methods Seventy-three parent–child dyads completed self-administered surveys that assessed parent and child report of parental direct weight-related behaviors (comments to child about weight, encourage child to diet) and indirect behaviors (dieting, comments about own weight/appearance). Outcome variables included child’s body dissatisfaction, weight concerns, and dieting. Results Considerable disagreement (21–30%) was found between parent and child report of parental weight-related behaviors. Both the parent and child report of direct parental behaviors were associated with child’s outcomes. Child report of parental indirect behaviors was more consistently associated with child’s outcomes than parent report. Conclusion Parent weight-related behaviors, both direct and indirect, are positively associated with child’s weight-related attitudes and behaviors.
Radiation hand exposure during restoration of flow to the thrombosed dialysis access graft.

PURPOSE To determine radiation dose to the hands of interventional radiologists during restoration of flow to thrombosed dialysis access grafts. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-two procedures were performed in 54 patients with thrombosed synthetic arteriovenous hemodialysis access grafts. For each procedure, five staff interventional radiologists wore thermoluminescent ring dosimeters on each hand. Overall hand doses were obtained, and patient and graft factors as well as technical factors were analyzed to determine the effects on hand exposure. RESULTS The mean right hand and left hand exposures were 0.78 mSv and 0.55 mSv (78 and 55 mrem), respectively, and there was a significant difference between the two ( P = .01 ). There was a significant difference among the interventionalists, mostly based on the lower doses associated with a single operator ( P ). Not unexpectedly, fluoroscopy times ( P ) and, to a lesser degree, the number of angiographic runs ( P = .05 ) were significant factors influencing hand radiation dose. Patient sex, age and location of the graft, previous thrombosis, the number of previous interventions, and success or failure of the procedure were not significant factors in hand dose. CONCLUSIONS Hand exposure during the restoration of flow to thrombosed dialysis access grafts is relatively high and is greater for the right hand than for the left. The exposures are dependent on technical factors, most notably fluoroscopy times, not on patient-or graft-related factors.
An artificial neural network framework for dual interest rate parity

In an effort to improve the forecasting accuracy, the one way arbitrage relationship that links the forward market with the international money market, is extended to include the currency futures market. The dual interest parity relationship formulated is then used to design an artificial neural network model that forecasts future spot rates of exchange. Exchange rate forecasts generated by the network, when compared to those predicted by the forward and futures rates, were found to be more accurate and better at predicting the directional movement of currency prices.
Development of the Policy Advocacy Behavior Scale: Initial Reliability and Validity:

Contemporary trends in social service delivery systems require human service agencies to engage in greater levels of advocacy to reform structures and protect programs that serve vulnerable populat...
Penile torque after the use of tunica vaginalis blanket wrap as an aid in hypospadias repair.

The complications of hypospadias surgery include urethrocutaneous fistula, meatal stenosis, wound dehiscence and urethral stricture. Fistula formation, the most common complication, may be minimized using optical magnification, meticulous surgical technique and coverage of the neourethra with vascularized tissue. Techniques that provide vascularized coverage of the neourethra include redundant pedicles (island flaps), and de-epithelialized, subcutaneous and tunica vaginalis flaps. In 1986 Snow first reported using tunica vaginalis to decrease the risk of fistula formation after hypospadias surgery.' The method involves obtaining a well vascularized pedicle of tunica vaginalis, which is then used as a blanket to cover the neourethra. Careful attention to dissecting parallel to the spermatic cord, and leaving the surrounding tissue and cremasteric fibers is important for success. This technique has been successful in primary as well as secondary hypospadias Snow et a1 recently reported a n 8-year experience with the tunica vaginalis flap in proximal hypospadias repair." When combined with intraoperative microscopy, the fistula rate was zero. Complications of a tunica vaginalis flap include scrotal abscess and scrotal hematoma." We report on 2 patients in whom severe penile torque developed that was exacerbated by the cremasteric reflex after a tunica vaginalis flap was used. To our knowledge this complication has not been previously reported.
Brittle and Ductile Failure in Thermoviscoplastic Solids under Dynamic Loading

Plane strain transient finite thermomechanical deformations of heat-conducting particulate composites comprised of circular tungsten particulates in nickel-iron matrix are analyzed using the finite element method to delineate the initiation and propagation of brittle/ductile failures by the nodal release technique. Each constituent and composites are modeled as strain-hardening, strain-rate-hardening and thermally-softening microporous materials. Values of material parameters of composites are derived by analyzing deformations of a representative volume element whose minimum dimensions are determined through numerical experiments. These values are found to be independent of sizes and random distributions of particulates, and are close to those obtained from either the rule of mixtures or micromechanics models.
Rising sea level, temperature, and precipitation impact plant and ecosystem responses to elevated CO2 on a Chesapeake Bay wetland: review of a 28-year study.

An ongoing field study of the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on a brackish wetland on Chesapeake Bay, started in 1987, is unique as the longest continually running investigation of the effects of elevated CO2 on an ecosystem. Since the beginning of the study, atmospheric CO2 increased 18%, sea level rose 20 cm, and growing season temperature varied with approximately the same range as predicted for global warming in the 21st century. This review looks back at this study for clues about how the effects of rising sea level, temperature, and precipitation interact with high atmospheric CO2 to alter the physiology of C3 and C4 photosynthetic species, carbon assimilation, evapotranspiration, plant and ecosystem nitrogen, and distribution of plant communities in this brackish wetland. Rising sea level caused a shift to higher elevations in the Scirpus olneyi C3 populations on the wetland, displacing the Spartina patens C4 populations. Elevated CO2 stimulated carbon assimilation in the Scirpus C3 species measured by increased shoot and root density and biomass, net ecosystem production, dissolved organic and inorganic carbon, and methane production. But elevated CO2 also decreased biomass of the grass, S. patens C4. The elevated CO2 treatment reduced tissue nitrogen concentration in shoots, roots, and total canopy nitrogen, which was associated with reduced ecosystem respiration. Net ecosystem production was mediated by precipitation through soil salinity: high salinity reduced the CO2 effect on net ecosystem production, which was zero in years of severe drought. The elevated CO2 stimulation of shoot density in the Scirpus C3 species was sustained throughout the 28 years of the study. Results from this study suggest that rising CO2 can add substantial amounts of carbon to ecosystems through stimulation of carbon assimilation, increased root exudates to supply nitrogen fixation, reduced dark respiration, and improved water and nitrogen use efficiency.
Midlife and Late-Life Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Brain Volume Changes in Late Adulthood: Results From the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Background. Higher cardiorespiratory fi tness (CRF) is cross-sectionally associated with more conserved brain volume in older age, but longitudinal studies are rare. This study examined whether higher midlife CRF was prospectively associated with slower atrophy, which in turn was associated with higher late-life CRF. Methods. Brain v olume by magnetic resonance imaging was determined annually from 1994 to 2003 in 146 participants (M baseline age = 69.6 years). Peak oxygen uptake on a treadmill yielded estimated midlife CRF in 138 and late-life CRF in 73 participants. Results. Higher midlife CRF w as associated with greater middle temporal gyrus, perirhinal cortex, and temporal and parietal white matter, but was not associated with atrophy progression. Slower atrophy in middle frontal and angular gyri was associated with higher late-life CRF, independent of CRF at baseline magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusions. Higher midlife CRF may play a role in preserving middle and medial temporal v olumes in late adulthood. Slower atrophy in middle frontal and angular gyri may predict late-life CRF.
Ourmon and network monitoring performance

Ourmon is an open-source network management and anomaly detection system that has been developed over a period of several years at Portland State University. Ourmon monitors a target network both to highlight abnormal network traffic and measure normal traffic loads. In this paper, we describe the features and performance characteristics of Ourmon. Ourmon features include a novel mechanism for running multiple concurrent Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) expressions bound to a single RRDTOOL-style graph, as well as various types of top talker (top-N) filters aimed at conventional network flow measurements and anomaly detection. These features permit a variety of useful and easily-understood measurements. One problem that sniffer-based network monitor systems face is network-intensive attacks that can overwhelm monitoring and analysis resources. Lab experiments with an IXIA high-speed packet generator, as well as experiences with Ourmon in a real network environment, demonstrate this problem. Some recent modifications to Ourmon have greatly improved its performance. However, minimum-size packets in a high-speed network can still easily make a host lose packets even at relatively slow rates and low monitor workloads. We contend that small packet performance is a general network security problem faced by current monitoring systems including both open source systems such as Ourmon and Snort, and commercial systems.
Induction motor fault diagnosis based on neuropredictors and wavelet signal processing

Early detection and diagnosis of incipient faults is desirable for online condition assessment, product quality assurance and improved operational efficiency of induction motors running off power supply mains. In this paper, a model-based fault diagnosis system is developed for induction motors, using recurrent dynamic neural networks for transient response prediction and multi-resolution signal processing for nonstationary signal feature extraction. In addition to nameplate information required for the initial setup, the proposed diagnosis system uses measured motor terminal currents and voltages, and motor speed. The effectiveness of the diagnosis system is demonstrated through staged motor faults of electrical and mechanical origin. The developed system is scalable to different power ratings and it has been successfully demonstrated with data from 2.2-, 373-, and 597-kW induction motors. Incremental tuning is used to adapt the diagnosis system during commissioning on a new motor, significantly reducing the system development time.
Simulation of solute transport in aggregated media

Le modele mis en place ici s'applique a l'ecoulement d'un fluide dans une colonne de sol et tient compte plus particulierement de la distribution de taille des aggregats dans la colonne. Determination des courbes de rupture en fonction de la distribution de taille dans la colonne
An asymmetric discrete-time approach for the design and analysis of periodic waveguide gratings

A discrete-time approach is introduced for the analysis of periodic waveguide gratings with gain (or loss) extending concepts developed for transfer matrix and Gel'fand-Levitan-Marchenko (GLM) inverse scattering techniques. The periodic waveguide grating with gain (or loss) is modeled as a lossy layered dielectric that allows for a digital signal processing (DSP) formulation of the forward and inverse scattering problem. It is shown that the DSP forward scattering formulation as an asymmetric two-component wave system is equivalent to the impedance matching matrix method. A numerical example is presented to emphasize this result. The DSP formulation is an exact discrete design, not just an approximation to a continuous design, and includes all multiple reflections, transmission scattering losses, and absorption effects. A comparison of the continuous GLM, discrete GLM, and discrete Krein inverse problem formulations for a medium with gain (or loss) is presented. The discrete lossy formulations generalize previous lossless results and are found from two different types of reflection data. Since slab gratings are discrete (not continuous) structures, the integral equations used to describe the continuous inverse problem are shown to become matrix equations. Thus, our result enables fast algorithms to be used to solve the inverse problem. A fast algorithm is presented allowing for the complete reconstruction of the grating parameters from its two-sided response in a recursive (slab by slab) fashion. >
Damage Size Prediction of Reinforced Concrete Slabs under Blast Loads Using Artificial Neural Networks

There are a few related researches that provide well-defined models to predict the damage size under close-in explosions. This paper presents a prediction of the damage size experienced by reinforced concrete (RC) slabs subjected to close-in detonations using numerical data and a neural network–based model. To train and validate the artificial neural network (ANN), a data base is developed through a series of measurements of the damage diameter (crater/spalling) size induced in reinforced concrete two-way slabs under blast loads. The data was obtained by performing various simulations using the dynamic explicit finite element code LS-DYNA. The principle parameters controlling the breaching size are charge weight, standoff distance, and slab thickness, which were used to develop the ANN training input data set. The trained and validated neural network was used to develop an ANN model capable of predicting the breach size of concrete slabs under close-in detonations.
Effects of ANG II on bradykinin receptor gene expression in cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells.

Bradykinin has vasodilatory and tissue-protective effects exerted via its B2 type receptor, whereas the B1 receptor is constitutively absent but inducible by inflammation and toxins. In previous st...
Development of an in vitro cell culture model of hepatic steatosis using hepatocyte-derived reporter cells

Fatty liver disease is a problem of growing clinical importance due to its association with the increasingly prevalent conditions of obesity and diabetes. While steatosis represents a reversible state of excess intrahepatic lipid, it is also associated with increased susceptibility to oxidative and cytokine stresses and progression to irreversible hepatic injury characterized by steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and malignancy. Currently, the molecular mechanisms underlying progression of this dynamic disease remain poorly understood, particularly at the level of transcriptional regulation. We recently constructed a library of stable monoclonal green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter cells that enable transcriptional regulation to be studied dynamically in living cells. Here, we adapt the reporter cells to create a model of steatosis that will allow investigation of transcriptional dynamics associated with the development of steatosis and the response to subsequent “second hit” stresses. The reporter model recapitulates many cellular features of the human disease, including fatty acid uptake, intracellular triglyceride accumulation, increased reactive oxygen species accumulation, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, increased susceptibility to apoptotic cytokine stresses, and decreased proliferation. Finally, to demonstrate the utility of the reporter cells for studying transcriptional regulation, we compared the transcriptional dynamics of nuclear factor κB (NFκB), heat shock response element (HSE), and glucocorticoid response element (GRE) in response to their classical inducers under lean and fatty conditions and found that intracellular lipid accumulation was associated with dose-dependent impairment of NFκB and HSE but not GRE activation. Thus, steatotic reporter cells represent an efficient model for studying transcriptional responses and have the potential to provide important insights into the progression of fatty liver disease.
Trends in Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement in the Elderly From 1993 to 2003

Objectives:To investigate national trends in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement for hospitalized elderly patients from 1993to 2003.Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients ≥65 years of age with PEG tube placement from 1993 to 2003 from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilized to calculate PEG placement rates per 1000 people.Results: Placement of PEG tube increased by 38% in elderly patients during the study period, from 2.71 procedures during hospitalization per 1000 people to 3.75 procedures during hospitalization per 1,000 people. Placement of PEG tube in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia doubled (5%-10%) over the study period.Conclusion: Over a 10-year period, PEG tube use in hospitalized elderly patients increased significantly. More importantly, approximately 1 in 10 PEG tube placements occurred in patients with dementia.
Signals faster than light in nonlinear quantum dynamics

Abstract Recent ideas and experiments strengthen Gisin's argument that Weinberg's nonlinear generalization of quantum mechanics allows signals faster than light. Employing a classical signal as in quantum teleportation supports Gisin's use of `preparation at a distance' in determining how the nonlinear dynamics of one of two correlated spins responds to measurements on the other, if there is time for the classical signal. A quantum signal faster than light can be avoided only if there is an abrupt change in the nonlinear dynamics when gradual adjustments of distances reach the point where there is no longer time for a signal at the speed of light, but that runs counter to experimental findings that quantum correlations do not change where there is no time for such a signal.
Set-membership estimation for weakly nonlinear models: an application to the adaptive control of semiconductor manufacturing processes

Considers an application of set-membership concepts to the parameter estimation problem for weakly nonlinear models. The authors develop a recursive algorithm that, given input-output data, a bound on the measurement noise and a local bound on the Hessian of the nonlinear model with respect to the unknown parameters, produces a consistent ellipsoid containing the "actual" model parameters. To illustrate the use of this algorithm, the authors consider the process of oxidation of silicon in dry oxygen where the oxidation time is determined by means of a simple adaptive controller. In an effort to reduce the parametric uncertainty, the authors employ an auxiliary set-membership estimator to update the set of parameter constraints on-line and, thus, avoid unnecessary drifts of the adaptive controller parameters. >
The Role of Right Inferior Parietal Cortex in Auditory Spatial Attention: A Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study

Behavioral studies support the concept of an auditory spatial attention gradient by demonstrating that attentional benefits progressively diminish as distance increases from an attended location. Damage to the right inferior parietal cortex can induce a rightward attention bias, which implicates this region in the construction of attention gradients. This study used event-related potentials (ERPs) to define attention-related gradients before and after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the right inferior parietal cortex. Subjects (n = 16) listened to noise bursts at five azimuth locations (left to right: -90°, -45°, 0° midline, +45°, +90°) and responded to stimuli at one target location (-90°, +90°, separate blocks). ERPs as a function of non-target location were examined before (baseline) and after 0.9 Hz rTMS. Results showed that ERP attention gradients were observed in three time windows (frontal 230-340, parietal 400-460, frontal 550-750 ms). Significant transient rTMS effects were seen in the first and third windows. The first window had a voltage decrease at the farthest location when attending to either the left or right side. The third window had on overall increase in positivity, but only when attending to the left side. These findings suggest that rTMS induced a small contraction in spatial attention gradients within the first time window. The asymmetric effect of attended location on gradients in the third time window may relate to neglect of the left hemispace after right parietal injury. Together, these results highlight the role of the right inferior parietal cortex in modulating frontal lobe attention network activity.
Operant Conditioning and the Practice of Defensive Medicine.

n the United States, the enormous burden of health care expenditure on the national budget and the role of physiI cians in controlling these costs are under scrutiny. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that national health care expenditure in 2014 accounted for 17.5% of the gross domestic product in the United States, reaching almost $3 trillion; although all aspects of medicine saw cost increases, the growth rate increase in expenditure on physician and clinical services nearly doubled. This situation dominates every budgetary discussion at federal, state, and local municipality levels. Cost reductions are a priority, as is a careful analysis of physician practices and resource utilization. Most, but not all, practicing physicians mature through a process of residency training and board certification. In the United States, national boards, such as the American Board of Neurological Surgery, assiduously ensure a high level and uniformity of physician competency. Certification is an arduous process, and it requires demonstration of knowledge, competency, and careful judgment; it provides a measure of physician excellence. However, the American Board of Neurological Surgery and other similar bodies have little control over the utilization of resources by physicians once they enter practice.
Effect of Chlorpromazine on Rat Fat Metabolism

SummaryThe effect of in vivo CPZ administration on the in vitro metabolism of the rat epididymal fat pad has been studied. Animals maintained at 22°C for 48 hours sustain a hypothermia following CPZ and their fat pads show increased weight, increased glucose uptake, and decreased glycerol release. When animals are similarly treated and maintained at 31°C, there is no hypothermia and no difference in fat pad weight or metabolism from those of placebo treated animals maintained at 22°C or 31°C. It is concluded that the metabolic changes observed are a consequence of the hypothermia induced by CPZ administration.
Leaky streams: Identifying variable bitrate DASH videos streamed over encrypted 802.11n connections

In recent years, Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) has become the primary method to deliver video on the Internet, with Netflix currently leading the industry. Thus, any method to determine the content of a wireless Netflix stream presents a potential privacy concern for the entire DASH industry. In this paper, we demonstrate that it is possible to identify the Netflix video being streamed over an encrypted 802.11n connection with high accuracy in less than five minutes. Moreover, our technique works in scenarios where it is difficult to capture data frames due to a wireless access point's use of enhancements such as beamforming and multi-input/multi-output transmission.
Study on Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of New Chlorophyll-deficient Rice (Annongbiao 810S)

The net photosynthetic rate(PN) and enzyme activities of a chlorophyll-deficient rice(Annongbiao 810S) were studied.The PN value of both Annongbiao 810S and Annong 810S increased along with the increase of effective photosynthetic radiation,while both Annongbiao 810S and Annong 810S had saturation light intensity of around 1200 μmol/(m2·s).The PN value of Annongbiao 810S was consistently higher(5.4%~12.8%) than that of Annong 810S when the effective photosynthetic radiation was above 200 μmol/(m2·s).The PN value of Annongbiao 810S/D100 was higher(7.2%~15.9%) than that of Annong 810S/D100 when the effective photosynthetic radiation was above 200 μmol/(m2·s).The activities of super-oxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT) and ATPase in Annongbiao 810S were all higher than those in Annong 810S at different growth stages.
Sequence training of multi-task acoustic models using meta-state labels

In this paper, we describe a multi-task learning approach for acoustic modeling where the multiple output layers are used to predict context-dependent (CD) states from different state inventories. Unlike the traditional multitask learning approach which defines a primary and secondary output layers but discards the secondary output after training, we propose to use all output layers for recognition. This can be achieved by designing a decoding network operating on tuples of CD states and combining the scores of the different outputs during search. To support training such models using a sequence-based criterion, we propose to replace the multiple output layers with a single layer encoding the CD state tuples as "meta-states". Experimental results are given on a large Voice Search task evaluated on children's speech.
Early Devonian conodonts from a limestone horizon in the Caballos Novaculite, Marathon Uplift, West Texas

Early Devonian (Lochkovian; eurekaensis Zone) conodonts occur in discontinuous limestone beds in the Caballos Novaculite at five localities in the northwestern half of the Marathon uplift, west Texas. Similar conodont faunas at all five localities indicate that the limestone beds lie at one biostratigraphic horizon within the Caballos. The upper novaculite member directly overlies the limestone horizon at one locality, giving the upper novaculite a maximum age of Lochkovian. The limestone beds are dominantly skeletal calcarenites that represent shallow-water carbonate material transported into a deeper water setting by gravity processes. Restriction of the limestones to the northwestern margin of the uplift and provenance of reworked clasts and redeposited Ordovician and Silurian conodonts suggest a North American shelf source and are evidence of the close proximity of some strata exposed in the Marathon uplift to North America in the Early Devonian. Icriodus gravesi n. sp. is described from the limestone fauna.
Effective, Efficient Online Training in Cooperative Extension

In order to keep pace with media and communications trends in education, Cooperative Extension (CE) faces the need to shift from traditional face-to-face delivery to online alternatives. This exploratory study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of on-demand, interactive online training compared to its face-to-face counterpart. Targeted for CE staff and volunteers whose work impacts youth, families and communities, the design centered on the university’s cost-effective in-house technology tools. The study results make the case for online delivery as effective and efficient. Strategies for developing a process for online delivery in CE are also offered.
Retrieving Quantitative Information of Histone PTMs by Mass Spectrometry

Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of histones are one of the main research interests in the rapidly growing field of epigenetics. Accurate and precise quantification of these highly complex histone PTMs is critical for understanding the histone code and the biological significance behind it. It nonetheless remains a major analytical challenge. Mass spectrometry (MS) has been proven as a robust tool in retrieving quantitative information of histone PTMs, and a variety of MS-based quantitative strategies have been successfully developed and employed in basic research as well as clinical studies. In this chapter, we provide an overview for quantitative analysis of histone PTMs, often highly flexible and case dependent, as a primer for future experimental designs.
Controlling the Resting Membrane Potential of Cells with Conducting Polymer Microwires

All cells have a resting membrane potential resulting from an ion gradient across the plasma membrane. The resting membrane potential of cells is tightly coupled to regeneration and differentiation. The ability to control this parameter provides the opportunity for both biomedical advances and the probing of fundamental bioelectric pathways. The use of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) conducting polymer microwires to depolarize cells is tested using E. coli cells loaded with a fluorescent dye that is pumped out of the cells in response to depolarization; a more positive membrane potential. Fluorescence imaging of the cells in response to a conducting-polymer-microwire applied voltage confirms depolarization and shows that the rate of depolarization is a function of the applied voltage and frequency. Microwire activity does not damage the cells, demonstrated with a propidium iodide assay of membrane integrity. The conducting polymer microwires do not penetrate the cell, or even come into contact with the cell; they only need to generate a minimum electric field, controlled by the placement of the wires. It is expected that these microwires will provide a new, noninvasive, cellular-scale tool for the control of resting membrane potential with high spatial precision.
Featured Article: Electroporation-mediated gene delivery of surfactant protein B (SP-B) restores expression and improves survival in mouse model of SP-B deficiency

Surfactant Protein B Deficiency is a rare but lethal monogenetic, congenital lung disease of the neonate that is unresponsive to any treatment except lung transplantation. Based on the potential that gene therapy offers to treat such intractable diseases, our objective was to test whether an electroporation-based gene delivery approach could restore surfactant protein B expression and improve survival in a compound knockout mouse model of surfactant protein B deficiency. Surfactant protein B expression can be shut off in these mice upon withdrawl of doxycycline, resulting in decreased levels of surfactant protein B within four days and death due to lung dysfunction within four to seven days. Control or one of several different human surfactant protein B-expressing plasmids was delivered to the lung by aspiration and electroporation at the time of doxycycline removal or four days later. Plasmids expressing human surfactant protein B from either the UbC or CMV promoter expressed surfactant protein B in these transgenic mice at times when endogenous surfactant protein B expression was silenced. Mean survival was increased 2- to 5-fold following treatment with the UbC or CMV promoter-driven plasmids, respectively. Histology of all surfactant protein B treated groups exhibited fewer neutrophils and less alveolar wall thickening compared to the control groups, and electron microscopy revealed that gene transfer of surfactant protein B resulted in lamellar bodies that were similar in the presence of electron-dense, concentric material to those in surfactant protein B-expressing mice. Taken together, our results show that electroporation-mediated gene delivery of surfactant protein B-expressing plasmids improves survival, lung function, and lung histology in a mouse model of surfactant protein B deficiency and suggest that this may be a useful approach for the treatment of this otherwise deadly disease. Impact statement Surfactant protein B (SP-B) deficiency is a rare but lethal genetic disease of neonates that results in severe respiratory distress with no available treatments other than lung transplantation. The present study describes a novel treatment for this disease by transferring the SP-B gene to the lungs using electric fields in a mouse model. The procedure is safe and results in enough expression of exogenous SP-B to improve lung histology, lamellar body structure, and survival. If extended to humans, this approach could be used to bridge the time between diagnosis and lung transplantation and could greatly increase the likelihood of affected neonates surviving to transplantation and beyond.
New Tertiary Calcareous Nannofossils

Stratigraphic studies of Tertiary calcareous nannofossil assemblages from the JOIDES Deep Sea Drilling Project and Blake Plateau cores and from some outcrop localities in North America have indicated many undescribed nannofossil taxa, of which 27 are described here. The new taxa described include: Campylosphaera eodela, Ceratolithina? vesca, Ceratolithus amplificus, Ceratolithus primus, Chiasmolithus altus, Cyclolithella pactilis, Dictyococcites abisectus (n. comb.), Dictyococcites bisectus (n. comb.), Dictyococcites scrippsae, Discoaster bellus, Discoaster mohleri, Discoaster prepentaradiatus, Discoaster variabilis pansus, Discoasteroides bramlettei, Discolithina latoculata, Discolithina segmenta, Ellipsolithus lajollaensis, Fasciculithus magnus, Helicopontosphaera granulata, Lophodolithus acutus, Lophodolithus rotundus, Micrantholithus articulatus, Reticulofenestra samodurovi (n. comb.), Reticulofenestra hillae, Scyphosphaera expansa, Scyphosphaera globulata, Sphenolithus capricornutus, Sphenolithus dissimilis, Syracosphaera? wechesensis, and Vermiculithina arca.
Multilevel Statistical Models, 4th edition

(2011). Multilevel Statistical Models, 4th edition. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 382-383.
SHORT-TERM FORCES AND PARTISANSHIP

One of the most intriguing aspects of the debate regarding the persistence of party identification is that proponents of different schools of thought have each managed to use the same quasi-experimental data and similar state of the art techniques to defend their point of view. In this article we argue that this debate cannot be resolved with quasi-experimental data alone and propose another method that we believe can help us triangulate in on the correct answer: experimentation. Two experiments are performed and analyzed. The first tests the hypothesis that party identification is updated in response to the vote choice; the second tests the hypothesis that candidate evaluations influence party choices. The results of our experiments provide some additional support for the traditional conception of partisanship as the unmoved mover of American politics.
The demand for domestic services, capital services, wife's home time, and other inputs: an econometric analysis of technical and other changes affecting U.S. households, 1900-1985

The primary purpose of this study is to examine the long-term changes in household production caused by technical and other changes in the United States. The household production model was employed to development of conceptual framework for viewing household decisions on inputs into household production and labor supply;In the empirical analyses, two methodologies were used. First, a VAR (vector autoregression) model was employed to examine the long-term relationships among six aggregate U.S. variables, 1900-1985: the number of immigrants, price of household durable goods, the unemployment rate, average household income, the number of domestic service workers, and the wage rate of domestic servants. The results revealed significant interactions and causal relations between variables in the specified VAR system;Second, a set of household input demand functions were fitted to the aggregate data for 1948-1985 using the almost-ideal-demand system (AIDS). Plausible and significant results were obtained from the six equation demand system consists of domestic services, services of household durable goods, commercial laundry and cleaning services, food away from home, wife's home time, and residual category.
On the Design of Observers for Fault Detection in Communication Networks

This paper provides a framework for approaching the problem of fault detection in large Communication Networks. Communication process are modeled as Discrete Event Systems (D.E.S.), so any fault will appear as a change of a D.E.S. Here we concentrate on the simplest case of Discrete Event systems, namely Finite State Machines (FSM).
Beyond Object Databases

Object database systems, those based on semantic and object-oriented data models, have emerged as the practical database management technology for the 1990s. A viewpoint on the principal characteristics of object databases is presented, as well as the evolution of data modeling leading to the current state-of-the-art. Some thoughts on the future of data models and systems, beyond object databases, are examined. Database system interoperation is identified as a major focus for database research in the next decade. The importance of object database concepts, as well as those beyond, are examined as key to addressing the problem of interoperability. The Remote-Exchange research project at USC is reviewed to illustrate an approach to information sharing and exchange among autonomous, heterogeneous database systems.
Comparative study of climate-change scenarios on groundwater recharge, southwestern Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana, USA

A geographic information system (GIS)-based water-budget framework has been developed to study the climate-change impact on regional groundwater recharge, and it was applied to the Southern Hills aquifer system of southwestern Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana, USA. The framework links historical climate variables and future emission scenarios of climate models to a hydrologic model, HELP3, to quantify spatiotemporal potential recharge variations from 1950 to 2099. The framework includes parallel programming to divide a large amount of HELP3 simulations among multiple cores of a supercomputer, to expedite computation. The results show that a wide range of projected potential recharge for the Southern Hills aquifer system resulted from the divergent projections of precipitation, temperature and solar radiation using three scenarios (B1, A2 and A1FI) of the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s Parallel Climate Model 1 (PCM) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab’s (GFDL) model. The PCM model projects recharge change ranging from −33.7 to +19.1 % for the 21st century. The GFDL model projects less recharge than the PCM, with recharge change ranging from −58.1 to +7.1 %. Potential recharge is likely to increase in 2010–2039, but likely to decrease in 2070–2099. Projected recharge is more sensitive to the changes in the projected precipitation than the projected solar radiation and temperature. Uncertainty analysis confirms that the uncertainty in projected precipitation yields more changes in the potential recharge than in the projected temperature for the study area.
Is Long-Term Anticoagulation Required after Stent Placement for Benign Superior Vena Cava Syndrome?

Abstract Purpose To identify whether symptom relief and stent patency vary with use of long-term anticoagulation after stent placement for benign superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. Materials and Methods Patients with benign SVC syndrome treated with stent placement between January 1999 and July 2017 were retrospectively identified (n = 58). Average age was 49 years (range, 24–80 y); 34 (58%) were women, and 24 (42%) were men. Average follow-up was 2.4 years (range, 0.1–11.1 y, SD 2.6). Of cases, 37 (64%) were due to a long-term line/pacemaker, and 21 (36%) were due to fibrosing mediastinitis. After stent placement, 36 (62%) patients were placed on long-term anticoagulation, and 22 (38%) were not placed on anticoagulation. Percent stenosis was evaluated on follow-up imaging by dividing smallest diameter of the stent by a normal nonstenotic segment of the stent and multiplying by 100. Results Technical success was achieved in all cases. There was no significant difference in number of patients who reported a return of symptoms characteristic of benign SVC syndrome between the anticoagulated (16 of 36; 44.4%) and nonanticoagulated (11 of 22; 50%) groups (P = .68). There was no significant difference in the mean percent stenosis between the anticoagulated (40.4% ± 34.7% [range, 0–100%]) and nonanticoagulated (32.1% ± 29.2% [range, 1.7%–100%]) groups (P = .36). No significant difference was found in the time (days) between date of procedure and date of return of symptoms (anticoagulated, 735.9 d ± 1,003.1 [range, 23–3,851 d]; nonanticoagulated, 478 d ± 826.6 [range, 28–2,922 d]) (P = .49). There was no difference in primary patency between groups (P = .59). Finally, 1 patient (2.8%) in the anticoagulated group required surgical intervention, whereas none in the nonanticoagulated group required surgical intervention. Conclusions No significant difference was observed in clinical and treatment outcomes in patients who did and did not receive anticoagulation after stent placement for benign SVC syndrome. Management of benign SVC syndrome after stent placement may not require anticoagulation if confirmed by additional studies.