cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mice Carrying Two t Haplotypes: Sperm Populations with Reduced Zona Pellucida Binding Are Deficient in Capacitation

Capacitation is the unique process by which mammalian sperm become capable of undergoing the acrosome reaction (AR). An approach to studying sperm capacitation is to identify mutations altering this process. Male mice carrying two t haplotypes are sterile, with poor sperm motility, reduced zona pellucida binding, and an inability to penetrate zona-free oocytes. The objective of this study was to examine sperm capacitation and its potential relationship to zona pellucida binding in mice of the same genetic strain carrying none, one, or two t haplotypes. Sperm capacitation was assessed by the B pattern of staining by chlortetracycline (CTC) and by the ability of sperm to undergo the lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-induced AR. The CTC assay demonstrated that sperm capacitation from t/+ mice was similar to that from +/+ mice, but sperm from t/t mice were deficient. LPC induced the AR of capacitated sperm, but not noncapacitated sperm, in a concentration-dependent manner. Sperm from t/t mice were also deficient in the LPC-induced AR. Thus, by two independent assays, sperm from t/t mice were shown to be deficient in capacitation. To determine whether a deficiency in capacitation could influence zona binding, the ability of capacitated versus noncapacitated sperm to bind to the zona pellucida was tested. The mean numbers of sperm bound per oocyte were significantly greater for capacitated sperm than for noncapacitated sperm. These results suggest that the deficient capacitation of sperm from t/t mice could be responsible for, or at least contribute to, their reduced ability to bind to the zona pellucida.
Approximately uniform random sampling in sensor networks

Recent work in sensor databases has focused extensively on distributed query problems, notably distributed computation of aggregates. Existing methods for computing aggregates broadcast queries to all sensors and use in-network aggregation of responses to minimize messaging costs. In this work, we focus on uniform random sampling across nodes, which can serve both as an alternative building block for aggregation and as an integral component of many other useful randomized algorithms. Prior to our work, the best existing proposals for uniform random sampling of sensors involve contacting all nodes in the network. We propose a practical method which is only approximately uniform, but contacts a number of sensors proportional to the diameter of the network instead of its size. The approximation achieved is tunably close to exact uniform sampling, and only relies on well-known existing primitives, namely geographic routing, distributed computation of Voronoi regions and von Neumann's rejection method. Ultimately our sampling algorithm has the same worst-case asymptotic cost as routing a point-to-point message, and thus it is asymptotically optimal among request/reply-based sampling methods. We provide experimental results demonstrating the effectiveness of our algorithm on both synthetic and real sensor topologies.
Environmental ‘loopholes’ and fish population dynamics: comparative pattern recognition with focus on El Niño effects in the Pacific

A process of comparative pattern recognition is undertaken for the purpose of garnering insights into the mechanisms underlying some currently puzzling conundrums in fishery resource ecology. These include (a) out-of-phase oscillations between anchovies and sardines, (b) the remarkable fish productivity of the Peru–Humboldt marine ecosystem, (c) sardine population increases in the eastern Pacific during El Ninos, (d) basin-wide synchronies in large-amplitude abundance variations, (e) characteristic spawning of large tuna species in poorly productive areas, (f) contrary trends in Pacific tropical tuna abundance during the 1970s and early 1980s. It is found that each of the items appears to become less enigmatic when the conceptual focus shifts from conventional trophodynamics to the idea that ‘loopholes’ in the fields of biological controls (i.e. of predators of early life stages), produced by poor ocean productivity or by disruptive environmental perturbations, may in fact lead to remarkable reproductive success. Implications include the following: (1) El Nino, rather than being an unmitigated disaster for Peruvian fisheries, may in the long run be a prime reason for the remarkable fishery productivity of the Peru–Humboldt large marine ecosystem. (2) Globally-teleconnected climatic trends or shifts might produce globally-coherent population expansions even when local environmental expressions may be quite different. (3) It may be unreasonable to expect any management methodologies to be able to keep the fish populations of highly climatically-perturbed systems such as the Peruvian LME always at stable high levels; an alternative approach, for example, might be to take optimal advantage of the transient opportunities afforded by the high fish productivity of such inherently erratic systems.
Multidimensional recursive filter preconditioning in geophysical estimation problems

Constraining ill-posed inverse problems often requires regularized optimization. We consider two alternative approaches to regularization. The first approach involves a column operator and an extension of the data space. It requires a regularization operator which enhances the undesirable features of the model. The second approach constructs a row operator and expands the model space. It employs a preconditioning operator which enforces a desirable behavior (such as smoothness) of the model. In large-scale problems, when iterative optimization is incomplete, the second method is preferable, because it often leads to faster convergence. We propose a method for constructing preconditioning operators by multidimensional recursive filtering. The recursive filters are constructed by imposing helical boundary conditions. Several examples with synthetic and real data demonstrate an order of magnitude efficiency gain achieved by applying the proposed technique to data interpolation problems.
Relationship between effective population size, inbreeding and adult fitness‐related traits in a steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) population released in the wild

Inbreeding is of concern in supportive breeding programmes in Pacific salmonids, Oncorhynchus spp, where the number of breeding adults is limited by rearing space or poor survival to adulthood, and large numbers are released to supplement wild stocks and fisheries. We reconstructed the pedigree of 6602 migratory hatchery steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) over four generations, to determine the incidence and fitness consequences of inbreeding in a northwest USA programme. The hatchery maintained an effective population size, N(e) = 107.9 from F(0) to F(2), despite an increasing census size (N), which resulted in a decreasing N(e)/N ratio (0.35 in F(0) to 0.08 in F(2)). The reduced ratio was attributed to a small broodstock size, nonrandom transfers and high variance in reproductive success (particularly in males). We observed accumulation of inbreeding from the founder generation (in F(4), percentage individuals with inbreeding coefficients Δf > 0 = 15.7%). Generalized linear mixed models showed that body length and weight decreased significantly with increasing Δf, and inbred fish returned later to spawn in a model that included father identity. However, there was no significant correlation between Δf and age at return, female fecundity or gonad weight. Similarly, there was no relationship between Δf and reproductive success of F(2) and F(3) individuals, which might be explained by the fact that reproductive success is partially controlled by hatchery mating protocols. This study is one of the first to show that small changes in inbreeding coefficient can affect some fitness-related traits in a monitored population propagated and released to the wild.
Sequence-Based Identification of Filamentous Basidiomycetous Fungi from Clinical Specimens: a Cautionary Note

The species-level identification of sterile and/or arthroconidium-forming filamentous fungi presumed to be basidiomycetes based upon morphological or physiological features alone is usually not possible due to the limited amount of hyphal differentiation. Therefore, a reliable molecular approach capable of the unambiguous identification of clinical isolates is needed. One hundred sixty-eight presumptive basidiomycetes were screened by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and D1/D2 ribosomal DNA regions in an effort to obtain a species identification. Through the use of this approach, identification of a basidiomycetous fungus to the species level was obtained for 167/168 of the isolates. However, comparison of the BLAST results for each isolate for both regions revealed that only 28.6% (48/168) of the isolates had the same species identification by use of both the ITS and the D1/D2 regions, regardless of the percent identity. At the less stringent genus-only level, the identities for only 48.8% (82/168) of the isolates agreed for both regions. Investigation of the causes for this low level of agreement revealed that 14% of the species lacked an ITS region deposit and 16% lacked a D1/D2 region deposit. Few GenBank deposits were found to be complete for either region, with only 8% of the isolates having a complete ITS region and 10% having a complete D1/D2 region. This study demonstrates that while sequence-based identification is a powerful tool for many fungi, sequence data derived from filamentous basidiomycetes should be interpreted carefully, particularly in the context of missing or incomplete GenBank data, and, whenever possible, should be evaluated in light of compatible morphological features.
An integrated antenna excited by piezoelectric transducers

This paper presents the structure of and measurement data from an L-band integrated antenna on a silicon wafer. The antenna is excited from a front side piezoelectric transducer which receives energy generated by another piezoelectric transducer on the back side of the wafer. The design allows a low EMI susceptibility structure to be built and integrated on a chip and demonstrates one method of 3D integrated circuits.
Optimizing slow and stored light for multidisciplinary applications

We present a preliminary experimental study of the dependence on optical depth of slow and stored light pulses in Rb vapor. In particular, we characterize the efficiency of slow and stored light as a function of Rb density; pulse duration, delay and storage time; and control field intensity. Experimental results are in good qualitative agreement with theoretical calculations based on a simplified three-level model at moderate densities.
Colorectal cancer in Rochester, Minnesota 1940-1969.

All residents of Rochester, Minn., with a diagnosis of cancer of the colon or rectum during the 30-year period, 1940 through 1969, were identified from the records of the Mayo Clinic and the other resources in the Rochester epidemiologic central file. The medical records and microscopic slides on these patients were reviewed, and 439 met the necessary residency and diagnostic criteria. Adjusted average annual incidence rates per 100,000 for the entire time period for cancer of the colon were 33.0 for males and 24.6 for females and for rectal cancer, 16.3 for males and 13.7 for females. Age-specific incidence rates increase progressively with age for cancer in both sites. Age-adjusted rates for both colon and rectal cancer were consistently higher for males than for females in the three decades studied. However, for both sites, the male predominance appeared only in those patients more than 60 years of age. In this study, we were unable to demonstrate significant increases in incidence rates in either sex for cancer of the colon or rectum over the 30-year period.
Culture and Genetic Evolution in Whales

H. Whitehead ([1][1]) explains low nucleotide diversities in the control region of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of matrilineal whale species with the use of a theory developed for molecular “hitchhiking,” in which diversity at a neutral locus is reduced by selection at a linked locus. As
A General Purpose Stepping Motor-Encoder Positioning Subsystem with Standard Asynchronous Serial Line Interface

A general purpose mechanical positioning subsystem for open loop control of experiment devices which have their positions established and read out by stepping motor-encoder combinations has been developed. The subsystem is to be used mainly for experiments to be conducted at the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The subsystem unit has been designed to be compatible with a wide variety of stepping motor and encoder types. The unit may be operated by any device capable of driving a standard RS-232-C asynchronous serial communication line. An informal survey has shown that several experiments at the Light Source will use one particular type of computer, operating system, and programming language. Accordingly, a library of subroutines compatible with this combination of computer system elements has been written to facilitate driving the positioning subsystem unit.
Contradictions in adult education structures and policies in Austria: their interrelation with the professional development of educators

This article analyses the structural influences on the professional development of adult educators and their relation to education policy using Austria as a fairly average example of the diversity in European adult education. The position of adult education is first analysed in the course of the development of a lifelong learning strategy, showing a set of basic contradictions that are institutionally embedded in educational practices and policies. The consequences of these constellations for professional development in adult education are then examined, and a policy analysis undertaken based on institutional theory and using literature, documents and secondary data. This analysis shows that the contradictions in the institutional structures and policies inhibit both the development of a lifelong learning strategy as well as the professional development of adult educators. The competence development and quality assurance approaches adopted in Europe contribute only very modestly to the development of adult education in Austria.
Capacity of Freeway Weaving Segments

The analysis methodology for freeway weaving segments specified in the current Highway Capacity Manual (HCM 2000) provides a cumbersome set of multipage tables for the determination of weaving segment capacity. As part of NCHRP Project 3-75, Analysis of Freeway Weaving Sections, a more straightforward approach to estimating weaving segment capacity has been developed. This paper presents the methodology and discusses its background and development. The methodology continues to define capacity as in the HCM 2000: capacity occurs primarily when a density of 43 passenger cars per mile per lane is reached. Various other controls in HCM 2000 are replaced with revised limits on the number of weaving vehicles that can be accommodated in a weaving segment. The methodology substitutes a regression-based equation for the cumbersome tables of the HCM 2000.
Fundamentals of Glass‐to‐Metal Bonding: II, Reactions of Tantalum and Sodium Silicate Glass

A compound, identified by X-ray diffraction analysis as sodium metatantalate (Na2Ta2O6), was found at the interface between a sodium silicate glass and tantalum metal which had been heated in vacuum to 1000°C. Thermodynamic calculations, followed by further experimental evidence, were used to determine the chemical reaction between tantalum and sodium silicate which resulted in the formation of Na2Ta2O6. The compound was synthesized by other methods and its structure was investigated.
PULSED BREEDING OF LONG-LEGGED WADING BIRDS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INFREQUENT SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES

At the scale of ecosystems and regions, numbers of nesting long-legged wading birds are often highly variable from year to year, and much of this variation is thought to reflect variation in production or availability of prey animals in wetlands. Based on observations during and following a severe drought in the Florida Everglades (1989–1992), we predicted that large nesting events would be more likely immediately following droughts than at other times. Using a 38-year history of wading bird nesting events in the Florida Everglades, we tested the hypothesis that “supranormal” annual nesting events (numbers of nests >1 standard deviation above the long-term mean) would occur more frequently during the period of up to two years after severe droughts (stages <1 standard deviation below the mean) than after non-drought years. Within this database, we identified 8 supranormal events and 8 severe droughts; 7 of the nesting events occurred immediately after a drought, and 7 of the droughts were followed by a supranormal nesting event. There was a highly significant association between the two types of events. Because many studies suggest that wading bird reproduction is food-limited, this result implies that post-drought conditions somehow result in exceptional productivity and/or availability of small fishes and macroinvertebrates. We propose two biological mechanisms for this pattern and suggest that rare, severe droughts in the Everglades are a forcing function for wading bird population cycles and large-scale movements through the action of pulsed productivity in the aquatic food web.
Race Differences in Diet Quality of Urban Food-Insecure Blacks and Whites Reveals Resiliency in Blacks

Evidence from epidemiological studies shows a link between food insecurity and diet intake or quality. However, the moderating effect of race in this relation has not yet been studied. Food insecurity (USDA Food Security Module) and diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-2010; HEI) were measured in 1741 participants from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study. Data were collected from 2004 to 2009 and analyzed in 2014. Multivariable regression assessed the interaction of race and food insecurity on HEI scores, adjusting for age, sex, poverty status, single parent status, drug, alcohol and cigarette use, and comorbid diseases. The interaction of food insecurity and race was significantly associated with diet quality (p = 0.001). In the absence of food insecurity, HEI scores were similar across race. However, with each food insecurity item endorsed, HEI scores were substantially lower for Whites compared to Blacks. An ad hoc analysis revealed that Blacks were more likely than Whites to participate in SNAP (p < 0.05). Further, race stratified analyses revealed that Blacks participating in SNAP showed diminished associations of food insecurity with diet quality. Study findings provide the first evidence that the influence of food insecurity on diet quality may be potentiated for Whites, but not Blacks. Additionally, results show that Blacks are more likely to participate in SNAP and show attendant buffering of the effects of food insecurity on diet quality. These findings may have important implications for understanding how food insecurity affects diet quality differentially by race.
Birth weight, fetal growth, and risk of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma: an updated record linkage study in California.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study was to examine whether birth characteristics affect the risk of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in children and adolescents younger than 19 years. Methods A total of 722 RMS cases diagnosed at the age of 0–19 years during 1988–2011 were identified from the California Cancer Registry and matched by birth date, sex, and race to 2,888 controls using California birth records. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of RMS associated with birth weight, gestational age, and size for gestational age. Results High birth weight (odds ratio [OR]: 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78–1.29) and large for gestational age (LGA; OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.72–1.23) were not associated with RMS risk overall. Among non-Hispanic whites, the ORs were 1.33 for high birth weight (95% CI: 0.94–1.89) and 1.17 for LGA (95% CI: 0.78–1.75); no indications of association were observed for other racial or ethnic groups ( P interaction 40 weeks) babies had 16%–18% lower risks of RMS overall, after adjusting for birth weight. Conclusions In the largest study to date, there was an indication of association between high birth weight, LGA, and increased RMS risk among non-Hispanic white children and adolescents, but not in other racial or ethnic groups.
Competing Effects in Perovskite Manganites: Ferromagnetism vs. Phase Separation

This paper is an informal and brief review of the present status of the computational studies of models for manganites that recently reported the existence of phase separation at low temperatures (S. Yunoki et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 845 (1998); 81, 5612 (1998); A. Moreo et al., cond-mat/9901057 (to appear in Science)). Results for both the one-orbital and two-orbital models, the latter with Jahn-Teller phonons, are included. The main finding is that the transition between the insulating state of the hole-undoped limit and the ferromagnetic metallic state at finite hole-density occurs through a mixed-phase process. When long-range Coulomb interactions are included, a microscopically charge inhomogeneous state should be stabilized. These phase separation tendencies, also present at low electronic densities, influence the properties of the ferromagnetic region by increasing charge fluctuations. A large Hst of experimental results are compatible with the existence of charge-inhomogeneities in the manganites, which may be an important ingredient for the explanation of the CMR effect in these compounds.
RESONANCES OF STIFF-SPAN BRIDGES WITH NONLINEAR SUPPORTS UNDER A MOVING LOAD

When the span of a bridge is relatively stiff compared to its supports, the nonlinearities of the support stiffness become important. In this paper, a perturbation analysis is used to determine the resonances and their normal forms for a stiff-span bridge subjected to a transverse load moving with constant velocity. The bridge is modeled as a damped Euler-Bernoulli beam, and the supports are modeled as springs with cubic nonlinearity and light damping. The perturbation analysis shows that, in addition to the standard linear primary resonance, the bridge may experience secondary resonances when the net sum or difference of the linear spatial or temporal eigenvalues, taken three at a time, is approximately equal to one of the temporal eigenvalues. Any secondary resonance involving the spatial eigenvalues occurs only during the excitation phase. The other secondary resonances, superharmonic and subharmonic resonances of order three and one-third, for example, occur during both the excitation and free-oscillation phases. It is assumed that the number of oscillations of the excited mode during the transient loading is large enough to produce resonant effects. Identification of the conditions (load velocities) under which the resonances are activated is the first step in determining the critical conditions for the bridge. The paper concludes with heuristic arguments for passive and active control to reduce resonant vibrations.
Rolling in the mud: Hippo controls oriented cell division.

Multicellular organisms coordinate cell polarity and mitotic spindle orientation to develop and maintain tissue architecture throughout life. Through a series of carefully managed spatiotemporal cu...
"Too Smart to be Religious?" Discreet Seeking Amidst Religious Stigma at an Elite College

To advance understandings of how religion manifests in subtle, nuanced ways in secular institutions, we examine student religiosity and spirituality at an elite liberal arts school marked by a strong intellectual collective identity. Using mixed research methods, we examine how the college’s structures and dominant culture influence students’ religiosity and spirituality. Despite an institutional commitment to promoting students’ self-exploration and inclusion of social “diversity,” we found both campus structures and mainstream culture deterred open spiritual and religious exploration and identification. The structure of the college and its dominant secular, intellectual culture reinforced: (1) a widespread stigma against religious and spiritual expression, (2) a lack of dialogue about the sacred, (3) discreetness in exploring and adhering to sacred beliefs and practices, and (4) a large degree of religious and spiritual pluralism. Our findings additionally illustrate that early exposure to the campus culture’s critical regard for religion had a long-lasting impact on students’ religiosity. A majority of students kept their religious and spiritual expressions hidden and private; only a marginalized minority of students embraced their expressions publically. To increase students’ comfort with religious and spiritual exploration, we propose that colleges foster intentional peer dialogues early in the college experience. Furthermore, we recommend that campus communities prioritize religious and spiritual literacy and respect.
Retrospective study of rFVIIa, 4‐factor PCC, and a rFVIIa and 3‐factor PCC combination in improving bleeding outcomes in the warfarin and non‐warfarin patient

In case of severe bleeding, the physician must rapidly and effectively halt bleeding without the risk of thromboembolic complications. Despite widespread use, no study has directly compared recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa), the rFVIIa and 3-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) combination ("combination"), and 4-factor PCC on their effectiveness in improving patient outcomes. This study examined the medical records of 299 patients, 65.2% on warfarin prior to admission, who received these hemostatic agents and were admitted to an ICU or through the emergency department at Oregon Health & Science University. Mortality, length of stay, change in international normalized ratio (INR), plasma use, and number of thromboembolic complications were used to assess effectiveness. In patients receiving warfarin, the combination group had the greatest decrease in INR as well as lowest overall INR, but experienced a higher number of clotting complications, while the rFVIIa group used the most plasma. Non-warfarin patients in the combination group had the shortest length of stay among survivors, but the rFVIIa group had the lowest mortality. Based on this data, it may be prudent to further study the use of rFVIIa in treating extreme bleeding in the non-warfarin patient, while this study supports other data that 4-factor PCC may be the most prudent for the warfarin patient. Am. J. Hematol. 91:705-708, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The genetic epidemiology of cancer

Although every cancer is unique, similarities do exist with regard to the genetic epidemiology of many of the more common cancers such as breast, ovary, colon and prostate. For each of these cancers, a small subset of cases exist that are attributable to rare inherited mutant genes. Since cancer is a multistep process, individuals with inherited mutations are at increased risk and tend to develop cancer at an earlier age than do those who acquire the mutations after birth. The majority of cancer cases appear to be due to sporadic mutations that may occur as a result of spontaneous genetic events, environmental events or interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Genetic epidemiologists will continue to work towards the discovery of inherited cancer genes as well as to define the interaction of genotype with the environment. It is this research that scientists hope will be used to help in the identification of individuals with an increased probability of developing cancer as well as in the development of prevention and treatment strategies for individuals found to be at risk.
Painful Traumatic Neuromas

Whenever a nerve is sectioned and continuity with its distal counterpart cannot be re-established, a neuroma of sorts results. The most obvious type is that seen in the amputation stump. The neuroma is frequently ignored when it is the cause of distress that may be bizarre and incapacitating, and is often incriminated when it is no more than an incidental finding. Neuromas of the cranial and peripheral nerves, the autonomic nervous system, and the spinal cord are described. Prevention and treatment complete the discussion.
Convex and Nonconvex Optimization Techniques for the Constrained Fermat-Torricelli Problem

The Fermat-Torricelli problem asks for a point that minimizes the sum of the distances to three given points in the plane. This problem was introduced by the French mathematician Fermat in the 17th century and was solved by the Italian mathematician and physicist Torricelli. In this thesis we introduce a constrained version of the Fermat-Torricelli problem in high dimensions that involves distances to a finite number of points with both positive and negative weights. Based on the distance penalty method, Nesterov’s smoothing technique, and optimization techniques for minimizing differences of convex functions, we provide effective algorithms to solve the problem.
Brown trout (Salmo trutta) growth and condition along a winter thermal gradient in temperate streams

Winter harshness and the degree to which it can impact stream-dwelling salmonid populations has received considerable attention from fisheries biologists, although some debate exists regarding the importance of winter severity for local populations. Groundwater input may buffer stream water temperature and benefit fish in buffered versus unbuffered streams. Overwinter growth and condition of individual brown trout were measured in 24 groundwater-dominated streams, and the relations between winter growth and condition to stream thermal regime (quantified by regressions of air and water temperature) and diet quality (amount and caloric density of prey) were examined in a subset of 16 streams. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) growth rate (mg·g−1·day−1) was positive overwinter in 18 of 24 streams, and there was no significant change in condition between early and late winter. Juvenile fish grew faster than adults, but there was no significant difference in condition between adults and juveniles. Thermal regime posi...
Marketing Communication Receivers’ Perceptions of Source-Self Similarity: Some New Findings

This study examines how the sex of an advertising source and the sex role orientation of the appeal affect receivers’ perceptions of their similarity to the source. The results suggest that receive...
Aberrant Expression of Oct-2, Spi-B, and Id2/Id1 Is Associated with Repression of Plasma Cell Differentiation in Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia

Abstract Abstract 86 Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma characterized primarily by tumor infiltration of lymphoplasmacytic cells (LPC) in the bone marrow (BM) and presence of an IgM monoclonal gammopathy. WM LPC exhibit deficiencies in the ability to differentiate from mature B-cells to plasma cells. We therefore analyzed the expression of several genes involved in B-cell differentiation by real time RT-PCR, including Ets factors, basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) E proteins, as well as inhibitors of DNA binding (Id) proteins which antagonize E protein activity. Comparison of bone marrow CD19+ B cells obtained from 12 untreated WM patients versus 15 age-matched healthy donors showed that in WM LPC, expression of the Ets factor Spi-B was increased four-fold, Id2 and Id1 were decreased three-fold and ten-fold, respectively, while transcript levels of E proteins were similar between these two groups. Following cytokine induced differentiation of primary CD19+ cells into CD38+CD20−plasmablasts, we observed that Spi-B and Id2/Id1 expression levels were significantly decreased and increased, respectively. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Spi-B in primary peripheral blood CD19+ cells from healthy donors inhibited plasma cell differentiation which was associated with decreased transcription levels of BLIMP1, XBP-1 spliced form, and IRF4. Over-expression of Spi-B in BCWM.1 WM cells also resulted in repressed expression of BLIMP1, XBP-1 spliced form, and IRF4. Conversely, knocking down of Spi-B in BCWM.1 WM cells increased IRF4, Id2, and Id1 expression. Importantly, in lentiviral transduced primary WM bone marrow CD19+cells, knocking down of Spi-B induced CD38+CD20−plasmablast formation which was related to increased expression of BLIMP1, XBP-1 spliced form, IRF4, and Id2. Moreover, knocking down of Spi-B in primary WM LPC led to decreased Bcl-2 expression. Since in mice Spi-B is a direct target of OBF-1, which forms a ternary complex with the POU proteins Oct-2 or Oct-1 to interact with the conserved octamer site in promoter region, we next evaluated their roles in WM. While transcript levels of OBF-1 and Oct-1 were similar, transcript levels of Oct-2 were three-fold higher in WM LPC versus healthy donors. Knocking down of Oct-2 in BCWM.1 WM cells decreased Spi-B, Id2, and Id1 expression. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) confirmed the presence of Oct-2 and OBF-1 in the human Spi-B and Id2 promoter region. These data suggest that Oct-2 together with OBF-1 regulates Id2/Id1 in concert with Spi-B during B-cell differentiation. These findings establish for the first time the molecular hierarchy among Oct-2, Spi-B, and Id2/Id1 in human B-cells. The results also suggest that aberrant expression of these transcription factors plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of WM by repressing factors involved in plasma cell differentiation while promoting WM LPC survival through Bcl-2. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Technical aspects of robotic posterior mitral valve leaflet repair

Posterior mitral valve leaflet repair is safe, effective and durable and can be performed through conventional sternotomy or by using minimally invasive thoracoscopic or robotic-assisted approaches. Triangular resection with ventricularization, quadrangular resection with sliding or folding leaflet reconstruction, neochordae implantation and edge-to-edge leaflet repair are different techniques for eliminating the prolapsing mitral leaflet segment and restoring normal leaflet coaptation. Recent studies have demonstrated that minimally invasive approaches are associated with a reduced risk of postoperative complications, shorter hospital stay and improved cosmetic outcomes when compared to conventional sternotomy. In this review, we sought to describe technical aspects of robotic posterior mitral valve repair.
Clinical and cultural conflicts.

By some accident of genealogy, I recently found myself flying to an Arabian Gulf state to act as the next-of-kin and surrogate advocate for a relative who had suffered a catastrophic brain stem infarction. My uncle, a 71-year-old lifelong bachelor still in active employment, had been admitted to a private hospital with massive bilateral vertebrobasilar artery thrombosis. CT scans showed widespread infarction of the cerebellum, brain stem, and occipital cortex. He developed coning, at which time my sister, who lived in the region, was contacted to give consent for surgery. Having already discussed the details with me, she attempted to refuse but was told that this was not an option and that surgery had to be performed. The operation notes, which in part read like a Gothic horror novel, confirmed visible, widespread ischaemia with marked tissue oedema. The surgery report detailed debridement of visibly necrotic areas of the brain stem. I attended to find a body totally unresponsive to any stimuli, immobile, externally ventilated, parenteral nutrition in place, bladder catheterised. The neurosurgeon greeted us amicably but did become slightly confused when …
A general instrumental variable framework for regression analysis with outcome missing not at random

The instrumental variable (IV) design is a well-known approach for unbiased evaluation of causal effects in the presence of unobserved confounding. In this article, we study the IV approach to account for selection bias in regression analysis with outcome missing not at random. In such a setting, a valid IV is a variable which (i) predicts the nonresponse process, and (ii) is independent of the outcome in the underlying population. We show that under the additional assumption (iii) that the IV is independent of the magnitude of selection bias due to nonresponse, the population regression in view is nonparametrically identified. For point estimation under (i)-(iii), we propose a simple complete-case analysis which modifies the regression of primary interest by carefully incorporating the IV to account for selection bias. The approach is developed for the identity, log and logit link functions. For inferences about the marginal mean of a binary outcome assuming (i) and (ii) only, we describe novel and approximately sharp bounds which unlike Robins-Manski bounds, are smooth in model parameters, therefore allowing for a straightforward approach to account for uncertainty due to sampling variability. These bounds provide a more honest account of uncertainty and allows one to assess the extent to which a violation of the key identifying condition (iii) might affect inferences. For illustration, the methods are used to account for selection bias induced by HIV testing nonparticipation in the evaluation of HIV prevalence in the Zambian Demographic and Health Surveys.
Are long-term fish assemblage changes in a large US river related to the Asian Carp invasion? Test of the hostile take-over and opportunistic dispersal hypotheses

Gizzard shad is a dominant planktivore/detritivore in the Wabash River, and populations crashed in the early 1990s. Previous work (1974–2008) identified a substantial shift in body-size structure and functional trait composition in the Wabash River fish assemblage between 1989 and 1996. Invasive Asian Carp appeared in the Ohio River basin including the Wabash River in the 1990s. Our goal was to test for temporal changes in assemblage composition and trophic structure relative to the invasion of Asian carp from the early 1990s. We hypothesized that establishment of Asian Carp was a contributor to the assemblage composition shift, and that their presence altered the trophic pathways and food sources of native fishes including Gizzard Shad (hostile takeover hypothesis). Alternatively, Asian Carp may have found success through capitalizing on an empty niche, likely left vacant by the decline in Gizzard Shad, or abundance changes in other trophic groups (opportunistic hypothesis). We utilized archival fish and mussel collections to test for trophic changes in the ecosystem using δ13C and δ15N stable isotope analyses. We examined stomach contents of the dominant planktivore/detritivore consumer, Gizzard Shad, from archival and recent collections to test for changes in the phytoplankton community. Stable isotopes indicated a community reliance on other, more deplete, carbon sources than indicated by the algae, and a slight increase between the δ13C time periods. Although all functional feeding groups of fishes indicated some reduction in δ15N, the differences were only significant for omnivores, mussels, and planktivore/detritivores. Although Asian Carp may have contributed to the collapse of Gizzard Shad populations, other stressors were likely more important drivers of their decline. This is the first, albeit indirect, evidence of opportunistic “invasion” as opposed to the historically presumed hostile takeover model.
Neural substrates of sign language vocabulary processing in less-skilled hearing M2L2 signers: Evidence for difficult phonological movement perception

No previous research has investigated the neural correlates of vocabulary acquisition in second language learners of sign language. The present study investigated whether poor vocabulary knowledge engaged similar prefrontal lexico-semantic regions as seen in unimodal L2 learners. Behavioral improvements in vocabulary knowledge in a cohort of M2L2 learners were quantified. Results indicated that there is significant increase in vocabulary knowledge after one semester, but stabilized in the second semester. A longitudinal fMRI analysis was implemented for a subset of learners who were followed for the entire 10 months during initial sign language acquisition. The results indicated that learners who had poor sign vocabulary knowledge consistently showed greater activation in regions involved in motor simulation, salience, biological motion and spatial processing, and lexico-semantic retrieval. In conclusion, poor vocabulary knowledge requires greater engagement of modality-independent and modality-dependent regions, which could account for behavioral evidence of difficulty in visual phonology processing.
Boron compounds for neutron capture therapy.

There have been two main approaches to the development of boron compounds for neutron capture therapy (BNCT). One has involved the synthesis of boronated analogues of organic structures which possess a high degree of selectivity for neoplastic cells. These include amino acids, nucleic acid precusors, porphyrins and promazines. The second approach has emphasized the use and incorporation of boron compounds into monoclonal antibodies targeted against tumor associated antigens. There have been several important requirements in achieving the use of antibodies for BNCT. First, the conjugation of boron to monoclonal antibodies must occur with significant retention of the antibody’s immunoreactivity. Second, sufficient numbers of boron atoms have to be incorporated and at least 103 boron atoms per protein molecule is necessary if a goal of 109 boron atoms per tumor cell is to be attained. Third, separation of the boron-containing antibody from the unconjugated species and from the boron entity used in the conjugation is essential. Finally, the boron-loaded antibody must have the ability for targeting all the tumor cells, under in vivo conditions with a high degree of selectivity. Research at The Ohio State University on the incorporation of boron-containing polymers into monoclonal antibodies has already been described1. The work presented herein outlines the synthesis of boronated analogues of promazines and phthalocyanines, structures which have a demonstrated proclivity for certain neoplasms. The tissue distribution data in tumor-bearing animals for certain of these compounds are presented.
Prelude to Culture: Interrogating Colonial Rule in Early British Hong Kong

L'A. explore les significations contextuelles de signifiants tels que identite chinoise, culture, ou liberte au debut de l'epoque coloniale a Hong Kong. Il analyse les differents elements - et leur articulation contradictoire - qui ont contribue a la constitution de la situation coloniale. Quels ont ete les processus qui ont structure les identites chinoise et occidentale ? Quel a ete l'imaginaire de la liberte a Hong Kong, et comment cet imaginaire a contribue a la representation du Chinois au 19 eme siecle ? De quelle maniere ces constructions discursives s'inscrivaient-elles dans les relations de pouvoir colonial ? A travers l'analyse de leurs origines, l'A. tente de reinserer ces constructions dans le champ des significations historiques. L'objectif est d'ouvrir un espace critique qui permette de restituer la contingence des identites historiques a Hong Kong.
Racism in the Structure of Everyday Worlds: A Cultural-Psychological Perspective:

Theory and research in cultural psychology highlight the need to examine racism not only “in the head” but also “in the world.” Racism is often defined as individual prejudice, but racism is also s...
Intermediate Endpoints After Postprostatectomy Radiotherapy: 5-Year Distant Metastasis to Predict Overall Survival

Abstract Background Intermediate clinical endpoints (ICEs) prognostic for overall survival (OS) are needed for men receiving postprostatectomy radiation therapy (PORT) to improve clinical trial design. Objective To identify a potential ICE for men receiving PORT. Design, setting, and participants We performed an institutional review board–approved multi-institutional retrospective study of 566 men consecutively treated with PORT at tertiary care centers from 1986 to 2013. The median follow-up was 8.2 yr. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Biochemical failure (BF), distant metastases (DM), and castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) were evaluated for correlation with OS and assessed as time-dependent variables in a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model and in landmark analyses at 1, 3, 5, and 7 yr after PORT. Cross-validated concordance ( c ) indices were used to assess model discrimination. Results and limitations OS at 1, 3, 5, and 7 yr after PORT was 98%, 95%, 90%, and 82%, respectively. In a time-varying model controlling for clinical and pathologic variables, BF (hazard ratio [HR] 2.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45–3.71; p p p c index when adjusting for baseline covariates (0.78), with 5-yr DM also providing the greatest increase in discriminatory power over a model only including baseline covariates. These findings require validation in prospective randomized data. Conclusions While limited by the retrospective nature of the data, 5-yr DM is associated with lower OS following PORT, outperforming the prognostic capability of BF and CRPC at 1, 3, 5, or 7 yr after treatment. Confirmation of this ICE as a surrogate for OS is needed from randomized trial data so that it can be incorporated into future clinical trial design. Patient summary We assessed potential intermediate clinical endpoints prognostic for overall survival in a cohort of men receiving radiotherapy after prostatectomy. We identified the development of metastatic disease within 5 yr after treatment as the strongest predictor of overall survival.
News Borrowing Revisited: A 50-Year Perspective:

Analyzing 50 years’ of New York Times international news coverage (N = 20,765), this study extends research on the “shrinking international news hole,” levels of press freedom, agent (e.g., Times correspondent), and “borrowed” news—information gleaned from local media, including social media. Data show a recent, growing role for social media and an increase in news borrowing, while foreign coverage declined; slight resurgence in foreign coverage during the last quarter-century; reduced wire copy use but increased correspondent news borrowing; and increased coverage of but decreased news borrowing in news from non-free nations. Borrowing from social media was greatest in non-free nations.
Historical and Contemporary Trends in the Size, Drift, and Color of Jupiter's Great Red Spot

Observations of Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS) span more than 150 years. This allows for careful measurements of its size and drift rate. High spatial resolution spacecraft data also allow tracking of its spectral characteristics and internal dynamics and structure. The GRS continues to shrink in longitudinal length at an approximately linear rate of 0194 yr−1 and in latitudinal width at 0048 yr−1. Its westward drift rate (relative to System III W. longitude) has increased from ~026/day in the 1980s to ~036/day currently. Since 2014, the GRS's short wavelength (<650 nm) reflectance has continued to decrease, while it has become brighter at 890 nm, indicating a change in clouds/haze at high altitudes. In addition, its north–south color asymmetry has decreased, and the dark core has become smaller. Internal velocities have increased on its east and west edges, and decreased on the north and south, resulting in decreased relative vorticity and circulation. The GRS's color changes from 2014 to 2017 may be explained by changes in stretching vorticity or divergence acting to balance the decrease in relative vorticity.