cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Viral Genome Methylation as an Epigenetic Defense against Geminiviruses

Geminiviruses encapsidate single-stranded DNA genomes that replicate in plant cell nuclei through double-stranded DNA intermediates that associate with cellular histone proteins to form minichromosomes. Like most plant viruses, geminiviruses are targeted by RNA silencing and encode suppressor proteins such as AL2 and L2 to counter this defense. These related proteins can suppress silencing by multiple mechanisms, one of which involves interacting with and inhibiting adenosine kinase (ADK), a cellular enzyme associated with the methyl cycle that generates S-adenosyl-methionine, an essential methyltransferase cofactor. Thus, we hypothesized that the viral genome is targeted by small-RNA-directed methylation. Here, we show that Arabidopsis plants with mutations in genes encoding cytosine or histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferases, RNA-directed methylation pathway components, or ADK are hypersensitive to geminivirus infection. We also demonstrate that viral DNA and associated histone H3 are methylated in infected plants and that cytosine methylation levels are significantly reduced in viral DNA isolated from methylation-deficient mutants. Finally, we demonstrate that Beet curly top virus L2- mutant DNA present in tissues that have recovered from infection is hypermethylated and that host recovery requires AGO4, a component of the RNA-directed methylation pathway. We propose that plants use chromatin methylation as a defense against DNA viruses, which geminiviruses counter by inhibiting global methylation. In addition, our results establish that geminiviruses can be useful models for genome methylation in plants and suggest that there are redundant pathways leading to cytosine methylation.
Effects of wave breaking on SAR signatures observed near the edge of the Gulf Stream

This paper examines the role of wave breaking in the formation of the bright linear features that appear in SAR images collected near the edge of the Gulf Stream. Results from a recent set of laboratory experiments are used to develop a relationship between the rate of energy dissipation and the generation of small-scale roughness by breaking waves. This source function is found to exceed the direct generation of waves by the wind at high wavenumbers when there are large current gradients. The changes in the small-scale roughness and radar backscatter due to this mechanism are estimated and the results are compared with SAR observations from the High-Resolution Field Experiment.
SUBMILLIMETER MAPS OF BOK GLOBULE CORES: EVIDENCE FOR MULTIPLE EPOCH STAR FORMATION

We mapped 15 cold IRAS sources associated with Bok globules, using the submillimeter common user bolometer array SCUBA on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, in order to search for deeply embed- ded protostars. Submillimeter emission was detected in six of these globules, —ve of which contain one or more compact sources. We detected a total of seven compact submillimeter sources. At least —ve of these, which have no known near-infrared counterparts, are candidate or con—rmed class 0 sources. The IRAS sources detected in the submillimeter have IRAS colors consistent with those of dense molecular cloud cores and/or out—ow sources, whereas the IRAS sources not detected in this survey have IRAS colors consistent with those of infrared cirrus. We present compelling evidence that multiple star formation has occurred in four of the six Bok globules that we have detected in the submillimeter; thus, the formation of a single star in isolation from other stars appears to be a rare event in Bok globules. These four globules contain two or three young stellar objects, sometimes at very diUerent evolutionary stages. Two Bok globules, CB 68 and CB 232, are found to contain a candidate class 0 source in addition to a more evolved class I or class II premain-sequence star. These observations, in which we —nd a class 0 proto- star and a premain-sequence star in the same globule, suggest that multiple epochs of star formation are possible in Bok globules. Subject headings: ISM: globulesISM: individual (B335) ¨ stars: formation ¨ stars: premain-sequencesubmillimetersurveys
The role of angiogenic factors in fibroid pathogenesis: potential implications for future therapy

methods: Literature searches were performed in PubMed and Google Scholar for articles with content related to angiogenic growth factors and myometrium/leiomyoma. The findings are hereby reviewed and discussed. results: Multiple growth factors involved in angiogenesis are differentially expressed in leiomyoma compared with myometrium. These include epidermal growth factor (EGF), heparin-binding-EGF, vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, platelet- derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-b and adrenomedullin. An important paradox is that although leiomyoma tissues are hypoxic, leiomyoma feature down-regulation of key molecular regulators of the hypoxia response. Furthermore, the hypoxic milieu of leiomyoma may contribute to fibroid development and growth. Notably, common treatments for fibroids such as GnRH agonists and uterine artery embolization (UAE) are shown to work at least partly via anti-angiogenic mechanisms.
Statistical iterative reconstruction to improve image quality for digital breast tomosynthesis.

Purpose: Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a novel modality with the potential to improve early detection of breast cancer by providing three-dimensional (3D) imaging with a low radiation dose. 3D image reconstruction presents some challenges: cone-beam and flat-panel geometry, and highly incomplete sampling. A promising means to overcome these challenges is statistical iterative reconstruction (IR), since it provides the flexibility of accurate physics modeling and a general description of system geometry. The authors’ goal was to develop techniques for applying statistical IR to tomosynthesis imaging data. Methods: These techniques include the following: a physics model with a local voxel-pair based prior with flexible parameters to fine-tune image quality; a precomputed parameter λ in the prior, to remove data dependence and to achieve a uniform resolution property; an effective ray-driven technique to compute the forward and backprojection; and an oversampled, ray-driven method to perform high resolution reconstruction with a practical region-of-interest technique. To assess the performance of these techniques, the authors acquired phantom data on the stationary DBT prototype system. To solve the estimation problem, the authors proposed an optimization-transfer based algorithm framework that potentially allows fewer iterations to achieve an acceptably converged reconstruction. Results: IR improved the detectability of low-contrast and small microcalcifications, reduced cross-plane artifacts, improved spatial resolution, and lowered noise in reconstructed images. Conclusions: Although the computational load remains a significant challenge for practical development, the superior image quality provided by statistical IR, combined with advancing computational techniques, may bring benefits to screening, diagnostics, and intraoperative imaging in clinical applications.
Cultivating creativity in tangible interaction design

As part of a larger team developing collaborations between computing and the arts, the co-authors created a general education undergraduate course, Tangible Interaction Design. We briefly describe the course, "Tiddles" (in-class exercises that promote creativity), and three exemplar student final projects. We conclude with observations about creativity in the arts and in engineering.
Bootstrapping learning from abstract models in games

Computer gaming environments are real time, dynamic, and complex, with incomplete knowledge of the world. Agents in such environments require detailed models of the world if they are to learn effective policies. Machine learning techniques such as reinforcement learning can become intractably large, detailed world models. In this paper we tackle the well-known problem of low convergence speed in reinforcement learning for the detailed model of the world, specifically for video games. We propose first training the agents with an abstract model of the world and then using the resulting policy to initialise the system prior to training the agent with the detailed model of the world. This paper reports on results from applying the proposed technique to the classic arcade game Asteroids. Our experiments show that an agent can quickly learn a policy with the abstract model, and that when this policy's learned values are used to initialise the detailed model, learning with the detailed model improves the rate of convergence.
Diet and growth of a leaf-shredding caddisfly in southern Appalachian streams of contrasting disturbance history

Diet and growth of leaf-shredding caddisfly larvae, Pycnopsyche spp.,were examined in streams draining a reference catchment and a 16-year-oldclear-cut (disturbed) catchment at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory insouthwestern North Carolina, USA. The objective was to explain why shredderproduction is higher in the disturbed streams despite the larvae having lessfood (i.e., leaves) available. We predicted larvae would grow faster onfast-decaying leaf material representative of the disturbed streams. Larvaeconsumed mostly leaf detritus in three streams draining each catchment overthree seasons (fall, winter, and spring), which showed larvae did notconsume higher quality foods (e.g., algae and animal material) in disturbedstreams. When fed 2-month-old conditioned black birch (Betula lenta L.) (afast-decaying leaf species) and white oak (Quercus alba L.) (a slow-decayingleaf species) leaves in the laboratory, larvae grew significantly faster onthe birch leaves. However, when larvae were fed the same leaf types after3-months conditioning, larvae grew significantly faster on oak leaves. Afield growth experiment conducted for 42 d using mixed-species leaf dietsrepresentative of each catchment and initially conditioned for 2 monthsfound that Pycnopsyche grew significantly better on the diet representativeof the reference catchment. The ’reference diet‘ contained more oak leaveswhich apparently became a more acceptable food as the experiment proceeded.High shredder production in the disturbed streams could not be explained byhigh Pycnopsyche growth rates on fast-decaying leaves. Instead, larvae grewbetter on leaves that were apparently conditioned optimally regardless ofconditioning rate.
Causal inference in sensorimotor integration

Many recent studies analyze how data from different modalities can be combined. Often this is modeled as a system that optimally combines several sources of information about the same variable. However, it has long been realized that this information combining depends on the interpretation of the data. Two cues that are perceived by different modalities can have different causal relationships: (1) They can both have the same cause, in this case we should fully integrate both cues into a joint estimate. (2) They can have distinct causes, in which case information should be processed independently. In many cases we will not know if there is one joint cause or two independent causes that are responsible for the cues. Here we model this situation as a Bayesian estimation problem. We are thus able to explain some experiments on visual auditory cue combination as well as some experiments on visual proprioceptive cue integration. Our analysis shows that the problem solved by people when they combine cues to produce a movement is much more complicated than is usually assumed, because they need to infer the causal structure that is underlying their sensory experience.
Morphology and laminar distribution of nonpyramidal neurons in the auditory cortex of the rabbit.

A study of the morphology and laminar distribution of nonpyramidal neurons in Goldi-Nissl prepartions of electrophysiology verified auditory cortex was carried out in the adult rabbit. Nonpyramidal neurons were located primarily within laminae I-IV and were only infrequently seen in lamina V and Vi. In lamina I, four nonpyramidal cell types were observed: (1) small, spine-free horizontal neurons, (2) small, sparserly spined multipolar neurons with radiate dendrites, (3) large, multipolar neurons with fusiform somata and vertically aligned, sparsely spined dendrites, and (4) small, spine-free neurogliform neurons. The horizontal and small multipolar neurons had tagentially running axons confined to lamina I. The large, fusiform cells had descending axons which arborized in lamina II and occasionally reached lamina III. In lamina II and the upper part of lamina III, seven nonpyramidal cell types were observed: (1) spine-free bipolar neurons with vertically alined denddrites and axonal arbors; (2) large, (3) medium, and (4) small, spine-free and sparsely spined multipolar neurons, all with locally ramifying axons; (5) pear-shaped cells with highly oriented dendrites which branched toward the pial surface and vertically arborizing axons; (6) multipolar cells with tangentially and vertically oriented dendrites and ascending axons which entered lamina I, and (7) tufted cells with local axons. Three types of nonpyramidal cells were observed in lamina IV and the lower part of lamina III: (1) large, multipolar cells with radiate, spine-free dendrites and stout axons which arborized locally, (2) spiny multipolar cells with vertically aligned dendrites and ascending axons which arborized in lamina II and III via long horizontal collaterals, and (3) spine-free bipolar cells with vertical dendrites and axons which arborized in a narrow vertical column adjacent to the dendrites. Nonpyramidal neurons in lamina V and VI were primarily multipolar cells with sparsely spined and spine-free dendrites. A comparison of these data with those of other species indicates that the neuronal organization of the rabbit auditory cortex is similar to the of the sensory cortex of the rodent butis strikingly differnt from that of cernivores and primates.
Rape-Myth Congruent Beliefs in Women Resulting from Exposure to Violent Pornography Effects of Alcohol and Sexual Arousal

Previous research findings indicate that women suffer a variety of detrimental effects from exposure to violent pornography. This study used an experimental paradigm to examine the effects of a moderate alcohol dose and alcohol expectancies on women’s acute reactions to a violent pornographic stimulus. A community sample of female social drinkers (N = 134) read an eroticized rape depiction after completing an alcohol administration protocol. As predicted, intoxicated participants were less likely to label the depicted events as rape than their sober counterparts. A path analytic model illustrated that participants’ self-reported sexual arousal to the stimulus, as influenced by alcohol consumption and expectancies, resulted in increased rape myth congruent perceptions of the victim and decreased labeling of the incident as rape. Findings suggest that acute alcohol intoxication during violent pornography exposure may ultimately result in women developing more calloused attitudes toward rape and rape victims.
Considering the Genetic and Environmental Overlap Between Bullying Victimization, Delinquency, and Symptoms of Depression/Anxiety

Emerging evidence from longitudinal research suggests that bullied children are more likely to develop antisocial tendencies and mental health problems later in life. Less research, however, has used genetically sensitive research designs to control for genetic confounding and examine whether the well-supported association between bullying victimization and maladaptive development is partially accounted for by common genetic and environmental influences. Using sibling data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, the current study used a series of bivariate liability-threshold models to disentangle the genetic and environmental influences on observed covariance between repeated bullying victimization, delinquent involvement, and symptoms of depression/anxiety. Results revealed that common additive genetic and nonshared environmental effects accounted for the covariance in liability between bullying victimization and delinquent involvement as well as bullying victimization and symptoms of depression/anxiety. The results suggest the presence of genotype-environment correlation (rGE) between repeated victimization and maladaptive development.
A practical extension of hydrodynamic theory of porous transport for hydrophilic solutes.

Objective: The equations for transport of hydrophilic solutes through aqueous pores provide a fundamental basis for examining capillary–tissue exchange and water and solute flux through transmembrane channels, but the theory remains incomplete for ratios, α, of sphere diameters to pore diameters greater than 0.4. Values for permeabilities, P, and reflection coefficients, σ, from Lewellen [], working with Lightfoot et al. [], at α = 0.5 and 0.95, were combined with earlier values for α < 0.4, and the physically required values at α = 1.0, to provide accurate expressions over the whole range of 0 < α < 1.Methods: The “data” were the long-accepted theory for α < 0.2 and the computational results from Lewellen and Lightfoot et al. on hard spheres (of 5 different α's) moving by convection and diffusion through a tight cylindrical pore, accounting for molecular exclusion, viscous forces, pressure drop, torque and rotation of spheres off the center line (averaging across all accessible radial positions), and the...
Immortalization of mouse myogenic cells can occur without loss of p16INK4a, p19ARF, or p53 and is accelerated by inactivation of Bax.

Upon serial passaging of mouse skeletal muscle cells, a small number of cells will spontaneously develop the ability to proliferate indefinitely while retaining the ability to differentiate into multinucleate myotubes. Possible gene changes that could underlie myogenic cell immortalization and their possible effects on myogenesis had not been examined. We found that immortalization occurred earlier and more frequently when the myogenic cells lacked the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Furthermore, myogenesis was altered by Bax inactivation as Bax-null cells produced muscle colonies with more nuclei than wild-type cells, though a lower percentage of the Bax-null nuclei were incorporated into multinucleate myotubes. In vivo, both the fast and slow myofibers in Bax-null muscles had smaller cross-sectional areas than those in wild-type muscles. After immortalization, both Bax-null and Bax-positive myogenic cells expressed desmin, retained the capacity to form multinucleate myotubes, expressed p19 ARF protein, and retained p53 functions. Expression of p16 INK4a , however, was found in only about half of the immortalized myogenic cell lines. Mouse myogenic cells can undergo spontaneous immortalization via a mechanism that can include, but does not require, loss of p16 INK4a , and also does not require inactivation of p19 ARF or p53. Furthermore, loss of Bax, which appears to be a downstream effector of p53, accelerates immortalization of myogenic cells and alters myogenesis.
Verapamil in Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia: Hemodynamic and Respiratory Changes

The hemodynamic and gas exchange alterations resulting from treatment of multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) with intravenous verapamil were monitored in 13 critically ill patients. Administration of verapamil (mean dose 12.9 +/- 1.0 mg) produced immediate if usually transient reduction in heart rate. Stroke volume index rose, but no significant changes in cardiac index, blood pressure, or pulmonary artery or capillary wedge pressures were demonstrated. Verapamil appeared to increase pulmonary venous admixture. Oxygen transport, however, did not decrease significantly. Verapamil is generally beneficial in the treatment of MAT, but its utility may be limited in many patients by its tendency to aggravate pre-existing arterial hypoxemia.
RBF volume ray casting on multicore and manycore CPUs

Modern supercomputers enable increasingly large N-body simulations using unstructured point data. The structures implied by these points can be reconstructed implicitly. Direct volume rendering of radial basis function (RBF) kernels in domain-space offers flexible classification and robust feature reconstruction, but achieving performant RBF volume rendering remains a challenge for existing methods on both CPUs and accelerators. In this paper, we present a fast CPU method for direct volume rendering of particle data with RBF kernels. We propose a novel two-pass algorithm: first sampling the RBF field using coherent bounding hierarchy traversal, then subsequently integrating samples along ray segments. Our approach performs interactively for a range of data sets from molecular dynamics and astrophysics up to 82 million particles. It does not rely on level of detail or subsampling, and offers better reconstruction quality than structured volume rendering of the same data, exhibiting comparable performance and requiring no additional preprocessing or memory footprint other than the BVH. Lastly, our technique enables multi-field, multi-material classification of particle data, providing better insight and analysis.
Archives and The Citadel

THE CITADEL, the Military College of South Carolina, will commemorate its 125th anniversary in 1968. Rich in history and tradition, The Citadel holds an honored place in the esteem not only of the South but of the whole country. Its graduates have served and died in the country's armed forces in every war since the founding of the academy. The Citadel has survived pestilence, malaria, yellow fever, pirates, uprisings, earthquakes, hurricanes, and wars. The Civil War Centennial Commission in i960 and Bruce Catton in 1961 confirmed that Citadel cadets began the hostilities in the Civil War when they fired on the Star of the West, the Federal ship attempting to supply Major Anderson's forces at Fort Sumter. South Carolinians have long accepted this incident as the opening of the war. An outgrowth of an arsenal guard organized for the purpose of internal protection, The Citadel today is recognized throughout the Nation as an academic and military institution of high standing. The present academy furnishes "a complete and generous education: that which fits a man to perform justly, skillfully, and magnanimously all the offices of a citizen, both private and public, of peace and war"— this quotation from Milton appropriately describes today's institution. Citadel graduates have made outstanding contributions in both public and private fields, military and civilian. Although the vast majority of Citadel graduates are commissioned in the regular or reserve forces at the time when they receive their diplomas, an average of 25 percent of them are accepted in graduate or professional schools and over 10 percent receive fellowships, scholarships, or assistantships. Although for 2 consecutive years The Citadel has produced more Air Force officers than any other college in the United States except the Air Force Academy, it has contributed an even larger number of officers to the Army. The Citadel Archives is a fund of information about the history of the institution. The need for establishing the Archives was seen when it was realized that valuable records were kept in boxes and old filing cases, in scattered locations, and that many files had been destroyed through negligence and ignorance of their value. Founded in 1965 when Gen. Mark W. Clark donated his papers to The Citadel, the Archives was formally opened on November 12, 1966. Some 60,000 manuscripts, 40,000 photographs, many movie films, tape recordings, newspapers and newspaper clippings, and artifacts are now included
Abstract 35: The Effect of Type and Amount of Dietary Carbohydrate on Biomarkers of Glucose Homeostasis and Inflammation in Healthy Adults: Results From The Omnicarb Trial

Background: Glycemic index (GI) is thought to affect glucose homeostasis. Recently, the OmniCarb Trial reported that GI did not improve insulin sensitivity. We performed an ancillary study in OmniCarb to determine the effects of GI on glucose homeostasis and inflammation. Methods: The OmniCarb Trial was a randomized crossover feeding study conducted in overweight or obese adults without diabetes (N=163). Participants were fed each of four diets for 5 weeks, separated by 2-week washout periods. Weight was held constant. The four diets were: high GI (GI ≥65) with high carbohydrate (58% kcal), low GI (GI ≤45) with low carbohydrate (40% kcal), low GI with high carbohydrate; and high GI with low carbohydrate. We measured and compared the following biomarkers at the beginning and end of each dietary period: glycated albumin (GA), fructosamine, fasting glucose, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP). GA and fructosamine reflect glycemia over a 2-4 week period. Generalized estimating equations were used to...
A 4.7 T/11.1 T NMR Compliant 50 nW Wirelessly Programmable Implant for Bioartificial Pancreas In Vivo Monitoring

This paper presents a 50 nW wirelessly powered implant for the noninvasive monitoring of a bioartificial pancreas postimplantation in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) animal studies. The proposed implant increases NMR signal sensitivity across a 190-470 MHz frequency range in both 4.7 and 11.1 T magnetic fields through the use of a wirelessly programmable resonator. An integrated split capacitive array provides 51.8 pF tuning range and 52 fF resolution while maintaining resonant Q and reducing parasitic contributions. The implant supports forward data telemetry at 5-250 kbit/s using an envelope detector front-end and a 2.4 MHz oversampling clock/data recovery (CDR) receiver. An integrated logic-controlled RF-DC converter and strongly coupled resonant wireless link provide sustained reliable energy transfer during NMR acquisition. NMR signal isolation from the wireless power transmissions is achieved through frequency allocation and orthogonally embedded coil design that provides increased mechanical strength for incorporating device components. Experimental results in tissue-equivalent gel phantoms and small animal studies show an increase in acquired signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by 141% (7.7 dB) and 83% (5.3 dB) within 4.7 and 11.1 T magnetic field strengths, respectively, with an approximate 100% (6 dB) increase in SNR within the region of interest (ROI) at higher image resolutions.
Dysregulated axonal RNA translation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset motor neuron disease that has been associated with a diverse array of genetic changes. Prominent among these are mutations in RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) or repeat expansions that give rise to toxic RNA species. RBPs are additionally central components of pathologic aggregates that constitute a disease hallmark, suggesting that dysregulation of RNA metabolism underlies disease progression. In the context of neuronal physiology, transport of RNAs and localized RNA translation in axons are fundamental to neuronal survival and function. Several lines of evidence suggest that axonal RNA translation is a central process perturbed by various pathogenic events associated with ALS. Dysregulated translation of specific RNA groups could underlie feedback effects that connect and reinforce disease manifestations. Among such candidates are RNAs encoding proteins involved in the regulation of microtubule dynamics. Further understanding of axonally dysregulated RNA targets and of the feedback mechanisms they induce could provide useful therapeutic insights. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:589-603. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1352 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
ST-SEGMENT ELEVATION ON DOBUTAMINE STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY: STEMI OR NOT?

Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is a useful diagnostic and prognostic tool in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). ST-segment elevation during recovery phase of DSE is a rare occurrence for patients with non obstructive CAD. A 57 year old male with a history of
The specificity of the desensitized state in serum anaphylaxis

Aside from the academic questions involved, there is an important practical problem which concerns the specificity of the desensitized state in anaphylaxis. If the occasional hypersensitiveness of man to serums which contain specific immune substances could be reduced or elimirtated, the safety of employment of such serums would be much enhanced. The danger of specific desensitization lies largely in the possibility of severe or even fatal shock during desensitization. Nonspecific desensitization might eliminate this danger. Although there are certain hypersensitive states to pure or relatively pure proteins, as for example, those of the vegetable pollens, the fatalities in man have so far resulted from injections of serum. We have therefore confined this study to serum anaphylaxis in the hope that ultimately a practical method may be devised for employment in man. It does not necessarily follow that results in animals, which have been artificially sensitized, are entirely applicable to natural hypersensitiveness in man, but there are instances of the acquired state in man which seem to be identical with that of animals and it has yet to be proved that natural hypersusceptibility differs materially. If, therefore, nonspecific desensitization in the acquired serum hypersusceptibility of animals can be demonstrated satisfactorily it is worthy of further trial in human experiments.
Molecular Regulation of Cytochrome P450 1A1 Induction By Hyperoxia in Human Pulmonary Cells

Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) metabolizes oxygen radicals and attenuates hyperoxic lung injury in mouse models. Hyperoxia induces CYP1A1 by arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway but the mediating ligand and transcription elements remain unknown. Hyperoxia produces endogenous ligand 6-formylindolo[3,2- b ]carbazole (FICZ). We hypothesize that FICZ binds AhR and interacts with proposed hyperoxia responsive element (HRE) in the promoter …
Reasons given for not receiving an influenza vaccination, 2011-12 influenza season, United States.

Background Influenza vaccination coverage in the United States remains below national targets and racial/ethnic differences persist.
Gas chromatographic determination of deoxynivalenol in wheat.

Modifications to a published method are described for the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat by gas chromatography with electron capture quantitation of the heptafluorobutyrate derivative. In the modified method, DON is extracted by shaking the sample with methanol-water on a wrist-action shaker, followed by filtration through rapid flow paper. One concentration step is eliminated, and a hexane wash is incorporated to remove toluene from the silica gel column. Recoveries of DON from wheat samples spiked at 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 ppm ranged from 77.3 to 86.3'70 and averaged 81.5'70. Methods development for mycotoxins is an ev­ olutionary process whereby procedures from various methods are combined or modified to improve assays or to reduce analysis time. Scott et al. (1) developed a sensitive method for the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat by gas chromatography with electron capture (GC-EC) detection and confirmation by mass spectrometry (MS) to assess the extent of contamination in the 1980 and 1981 Canadian wheat crop. This method has a low detection limit (10 ppb), is reliable (coefficient of variation 10%), gives satisfactory recoveries (57-86%), and has been tested on a large number of naturally contaminated samples. A subsequent evaluation (2) of currently available methodology for tri­ chothecenes concluded that GC-EC with MS confirmation is the best technique to date for determining these toxins. In 1982, some of the hard red winter wheat harvested in eastern Nebraska and Kansas was visibly damaged (scabby) with Fusarium sp. and suspected of being contaminated with DON (3, 4). To expedite analysis of a large number of wheat samples, we modified the Scott procedure (1) to increase the number of samples an analyst may prepare each day. This communication describes the revised method currently used in this laboratory.
Power usage effectiveness in data centers: overloaded and underachieving

Abstract The power usage effectiveness (PUE) metric has become an industry standard for reporting energy performance of data centers. However, it is an incomplete metric, failing to address hardware efficiency, energy productivity, and environmental performance. The industry should focus on adopting and systematically reporting more comprehensive metrics, which would allow more insight into data center energy performance.
Complex Lumbosacral Resection and Reconstruction Procedure

Surgical resection, reconstruction, and internal fixation of the spine are often indicated in the management of patients with lumbosacral neoplasms. Because of the complex anatomy of this region, aggressive resections are technically demanding and often involve long operative times and significant blood loss. Some wide resections may require the purposeful sacrifice of nerve roots, with inherent functional consequences for the patient. In addition, the unique biomechanical features of the lumbosacral junction, combined with the destructive nature of neoplastic processes and the resection of such disease, present a challenging problem in terms of spinal reconstruction and stabilization. The purpose of this chapter is to review the important anatomic, biomechanical, and functional considerations of this region; to provide a step-by-step description of techniques for the resection of lumbosacral tumors; and to describe current methods of spinopelvic reconstruction and stabilization. Although the differential diagnosis of lumbosacral lesions is broad and includes inflammatory conditions as well as a variety of developmental abnormalities and cysts, the discussion here is limited to the management of neoplastic disease.
Lightning: Lightning locating systems

Lightning detection and mapping systems can be used to minimize the harmful effects of lightning by providing early warnings of such hazards. These systems can also be used to determine how much lightning actually occurs within a given region and the statistics of discharge parameters that are important in research and in the design of lightning protection systems. E.P. Krider (1994) Introduction There are many individual physical processes in cloud and ground flashes. Each of these processes has associated with it characteristic electric and magnetic fields. Lightning is known to emit significant electromagnetic energy in the frequency range from below 1 Hz to near 300 MHz, with a peak in the frequency spectrum near 5 to 10 kHz for lightning at distances beyond 50 km or so. As noted in Section 1.3, at frequencies higher than that of the spectrum peak, the spectral amplitude varies roughly in inverse proportion to the frequency up to 10 MHz or so and in inverse proportion to the square root of frequency from about 10 MHz to 10 GHz. Further, electromagnetic radiation from lightning is detectable at even higher frequencies, for example, in the microwave, 300 MHz to 300 GHz and, obviously, in visible light, roughly 10 14 to 10 15 Hz. In addition to electromagnetic radiation, lightning produces the acoustic radiation discussed in Chapter 11. In general, any observable signal from a lightning source can be used to detect and locate the lightning process that produced it. Acoustic locating techniques, including acoustic-signal time of arrival and acoustic ray tracing, are described in Section 11.5 and hence are not discussed further here.
The effect of base-emitter spacers and strain dependent densities of states in Si/Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x//Si heterojunction bipolar transistors

The authors describe two effects which can significantly affect the transport of electrons across the base region of Si-Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/-Si heterojunction bipolar transistors and limit the effective bandgap reduction. These effects are the formation of a parasitic electron barrier due to a nonabrupt base-emitter junction and the reduction of the density of states in the Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/ base layer because of the anisotropic strain. Junction spacers have been found to eliminate the parasitic barriers for optimum devices. For optimum device performance it is necessary to keep the Si-Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/ interfaces in the junction depletion region. The strain dependence of the densities of states in the base region lowers collector current. >
Impacts of geographic diversification on restaurant firms’ risk: Domestic vs. international diversification

Abstract In the hospitality context, the diversification literature has evolved to mostly focus on the impact of diversification on firm performance. However, without accounting for risk, the effect of diversification on firm value likely provides an incomplete picture. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of domestic and international geographic diversification on restaurant firms’ risk. This study uses the Berry-Herfindahl Index to measure the degree of domestic and international geographic diversification. Findings show a non-linear relationship between geographic diversification and restaurant firms’ risk. However, different shapes of the non-linear relationship are revealed between domestic and international geographic diversification and between operational and market-based risk. The results of this study indicate that the risk-reduction effects argued from the modern portfolio theory may be partially applicable to the geographic diversification for restaurant firms, suggesting a different view toward financial diversification and corporate diversification.
Abstract 458: Alternatively-Spliced Extra Domain A of Fibronectin Exacerbates Atherosclerosis via a Toll-Like Receptor 4- Dependent Mechanism

Rationale Fibronectin containing the alternatively-spliced extra domain A (EDA + -FN) is absent in healthy arteries, but expressed in the atherosclerotic arteries of humans and mice. The mechanistic role of EDA + -FN in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis remains unclear. Recent studies by us and others suggest that EDA + -FN is a ligand for toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Hypothesis EDA + -FN exacerbates atherosclerosis via TLR4 pathway in ApoE -/- mice. Model and Methods We generated EDA +/+ /ApoE -/- (constitutively over express EDA + -FN) and EDA -/- /ApoE -/- mice (EDA-deleted allele of FN and express FN lacking EDA). ApoE -/- mice was used as control. To elucidate the role of TLR4 in EDA + -FN-mediated atherosclerosis, we generated EDA +/+ /TLR4 -/- /ApoE -/- and EDA -/- /TLR4 -/- /ApoE -/- mice. Male mice (n=12-14/group) were fed a high-fat Western diet (21% fat and 0.2% cholesterol) beginning at 6 weeks until they were sacrificed at 5 months of age (i.e., 14 weeks on high-fat Western diet). We compared the extent of atherosclerosis in whole aortae, stained with Oil Red O and en face lesion area measured by morphometry, and in the cross section area of the aortic sinus using the Verhoeff-Van Gieson stain. Macrophage infiltration was quantified by immunohistochemistry. Results We report that atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aortae and aortic sinus of EDA +/+ /ApoE -/- mice was increased by 2-fold, concomitant with significant increased macrophage infiltration (% of total plaque area) ( P -/- mice, ANOVA). Deletion of the EDA exon of FN gene in ApoE -/- mice significantly reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation (aorta and aortic sinus) and macrophage infiltration ( P -/- mice, ANOVA). Total cholesterol and triglycerides levels were similar among groups. TLR4 deficiency in EDA +/+ /ApoE -/- mice significantly reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aorta and aortic sinus, concomitant with decreased macrophage infiltration in aortic sinus ( P +/+ /ApoE -/- mice, Two way ANOVA), whereas TLR4 deficiency in EDA -/- /ApoE -/- mice had no effect compared to EDA -/- /ApoE -/- mice. Conclusion These findings reveal a mechanistic role of endogenous EDA + -FN in modulating atherosclerosis via a TLR4-dependent pathway.
Radiometric temperature for a coniferous forest at the microwave band

In passive remote sensing techniques, the radiometric temperature emitted from a forested canopy is related to the canopy biophysical characteristics. In this study the radiative transfer theory is applied to study the radiometric temperature of a coniferous forest at the microwave band. The forest is modeled as layer above a rough soil surface. The layer is occupied by the leaves and the branches which are modeled as randomly oriented needles and finite-length cylinders respectively. Thermal emission sources are expressed in terms of the temperature profiles and the absorption coefficients of the scatterers within the layer. A perturbation technique is employed to solve the radiative transfer equations governing the radiometric temperature for such a medium. Both the zeroth and the first order solutions are obtained. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the relation between the radiometric temperature and the biophysical characteristics of the forest components (leaves and branches).
Adjustable Bilateral Superior Oblique Tendon Advancement for Bilateral Fourth Nerve Palsy

Purpose Bilateral fourth nerve palsy may be symmetric or asymmetric with combined vertical and excylotropic deviations and so there may be an advantage to independent adjustment of vertical and torsional components. We report a surgical technique that allows such independent adjustment. Design Retrospective interventional case series. Methods Fifteen patients, aged 17–73 years, underwent adjustable bilateral superior oblique tendon advancements for bilateral fourth nerve palsy: 11 symmetric (≤2 prism diopters [pd] hyperdeviation in straight-ahead gaze) and 4 asymmetric. Motor alignment was assessed with double Maddox rods and prism and alternate cover tests preoperatively, pre- and postadjustment, and 6 weeks postoperatively. Results Preoperative torsion ranged from 7 to 30 degrees excyclotropia (mean 17 ± 7 degrees) and hyperdeviation from 0 to 10 pd. Preadjustment torsion ranged from 5 degrees excyclotropia to 40 degrees incyclotropia, and hyperdeviation from 0 to 8 pd. Twelve of the 15 patients (80%) were adjusted to a target of 0 pd hyperphoria and 10 degrees incyclotropia (actual mean 9 degrees incyclotropia, range 2–13 degrees incyclotropia). At 6 weeks postoperatively there was expected excyclodrift (to mean 4 degrees excyclotropia, range 0 degrees incyclotropia to 15 degrees excyclotropia), but 13 (87%) had 5 degrees or less excyclotropia and 14 (93%) had 2 pd or less hyperdeviation. Mean torsional correction from preoperative to preadjustment was 31 ± 14 degrees ( P P Conclusions Adjustable bilateral superior oblique tendon advancement allows independent control of torsional and vertical components of the deviation, and therefore may be useful in cases of bilateral superior oblique palsy.
Soft assembly of an infant locomotor action system

Abstract An ecological and dynamical approach is adopted to examine the development of prone locomotion during human infancy. Data is presented in support of the hypotheses that infant rocking is a consequence of a mechanical system in an equilibrium state, and that postural asymmetries redistribute gravitational and elastic potentials to move the system away from equilibrium.
Cooperative effects of inorganic and organic structure-directing agents in ZSM-5 crystallization

Zeolite crystallization occurs in the presence of inorganic and/or organic structure-directing agents (SDAs) that facilitate the formation of microporous crystals with various pore geometries. One of the most common zeolites is ZSM-5 (MFI type), which is used as a catalyst and sorbent in a wide range of industrial applications. One of the challenges with ZSM-5 synthesis is to identify new and inexpensive organic SDAs that can tailor the physicochemical properties of the final product. The most frequently used SDA in ZSM-5 synthesis is tetrapropylammonium (TPA); however, recent studies have shown that the surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA) can be used as an alternative SDA. Here, we examine the effects of dual structure-directing agents using CTA and TPA as organic SDAs in combination with a variety of alkali metals as inorganic SDAs. Our findings reveal that the selection of SDA combinations has a significant impact on the kinetics of ZSM-5 crystallization, as well as the properties of the resulting crystals. Notably, we show that TPA/Na and CTA/K are optimal combinations of SDAs that can markedly alter the size, morphology, and aluminum distribution in ZSM-5. Using a combination of experiments and molecular modeling, we explore the use of CTA as an alternative organic SDA for zeolite MFI and show that we can achieve smaller crystals (ca. 600 nm) in similar time (<24 h) as syntheses employing TPA. Given the relatively low cost of CTA and its high market availability compared to other organic SDAs, these findings have the potential to impact commercial production of ZSM-5 for a variety of applications.
Healthcare utilization and costs associated with GI cancers in the United States.

361Background: In 2009, adults had 4.7 million cancer-related hospitalizations. Adult hospital stays with cancer identified as the principal diagnosis cost $20.1 billion and accounted for 6% of adu...
Pulse-burst PIV of an impulsively started cylinder in a shock tube for Re > 10 5

The impulsive start of a circular cylinder in a shock tube was characterized with time-resolved particle image velocimetry measurements (TR-PIV) at 50 kHz using a pulse-burst laser. Three Reynolds numbers Re of 1.07, 1.63 and 2.46 × 105 were studied adding insight into the transient process near the drag crisis. In all cases, vorticity was maximum in the first pair of vortices formed. In a fashion analogous to previous studies at Re ≤ 104, a single symmetric vortex pair was first shed from the cylinder at Re = 1.07 × 105 prior to the eventual transition to a von Karman vortex street. In contrast, at Re ≥ 1.63 × 105, two or more symmetric vortex pairs were first shed. The non-dimensional time for the wake to begin to exhibit asymmetry was also found to be lower at the two higher Re. The time required to reach a fully antisymmetric wake (peak von Karman shedding) was roughly five times the asymmetric onset time. Altogether, the study indicates a transformation in the impulsive wake structure and associated time scales to occur at Re near 1.6 × 105.
Happiness, Fear, and Forced Struggle

In this chapter, we will explore the underlying systemic mechanisms of happiness, fear, and self-confidence, and the advantages and values of forced labor, the structure of the mind, and the human nature by employing the recently established systemic yoyo model as the playground, intuition, and the foundation for the reasoning. We will show the connection between happiness and fear using systemic structures and how theoretically self-confidence can be established in any person of average intelligence. It is expected that these results can find their practical applications in educational settings in terms of introducing innovative programs for producing quality students and profitable employee trainings.
Classification with EEC, Divergence Measures, and Error Bounds

The previous chapters provided extensive coverage of the error entropy criterion (EEC) especially in regard to minimization of the error entropy (MEE) for linear and nonlinear filtering (or regression) applications. However, the spectrum of engineering applications of adaptive systems is much broader than filtering or regression. Even looking at the subclass of supervised applications we have yet to deal with classification, which is an important application area for learning technologies. All of the practical ingredients are here to extend EEC to classification inasmuch as Chapter 5 covered the integration of EEC with the backpropagation algorithm (MEE-BP). Hence we have all the tools needed to train classifiers with MEE. We show that indeed this is the case and that the classifiers trained with MEE have performances normally better than MSE-trained classifiers. However, there are still no mathematical foundations to ascertain under what conditions EEC is optimal for classification, and further work is necessary.