cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neonatal corticoid administration: Retardation of adrenal rhythmicity and desynchronization of puberty

Abstract The development of the adrenal corticosterone and progesterone diurnal rhythms was retarded by a single injection of cortisol acetate, dexamethasone acetate or progesterone into 3-day-old female rats. This effect was transient with the establishment of the corticosterone rhythm by day 70. The retardation of adrenal hormone rhythmicity may alter the normal process of sexual maturation, because cortisol and dexamethasone-treated animals but not progesterone treated rats exhibited a desynchronization of the events associated with puberty. Vaginal opening was delayed, and dissociated from first ovulation in these rats. Further, neonatal cortisol administration lengthened the estrous cycle in adulthood. It can be concluded from our study that the maturation of the neural centers controlling adrenal steroid secretion may be essential for the proper timing of pubertal events in the female rat.
SARCOMA ARISING IN METASTATIC CARCINOMA OF THE BRAIN.

This report documents the occurence of a composite brain tumor composed of two malignant tissues, a bronchogenic carcinoma and a sarcoma. The interpretation offered is that the bronchogenic carcinoma metastasized to the brain, and there induced a sarcoma by transformation of hyperplastic endothelial cells in the walls of small blood vessels in the adjacent tissues.
Reduced-Rank Multi-Antenna Cyclic Wiener Filtering for Interference Cancellation

In this paper, we propose a multi-antenna frequency-shift (FRESH) filter structure which combines the time-dependent cyclic Wiener filter with spatial filtering. The new solution can be applied as a blind technique, which is desired in many applications where training signals are not available. When compared to a traditional space-time adaptive processing (STAP) architecture, our new method shows the capability of providing the same performance, but with a smaller number of antennas. This reduction in the number of array elements is critical for those applications where there are serious limitations on the size of the array, e.g., portable devices. We have also reduced the computational complexity of the multi-antenna FRESH filter, by using the multistage Wiener filter rank reduction technique. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed interference canceller.
Cardenolide analogs. An explanation for the unusual properties of AY 22241

AY 22241 (AY) was compared with digitoxigenin with respect to effects on myocardial contractility and inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase. Ay was less potent than digitoxigenin but otherwise showed the same type of rapid onset and rapid reversal of activity usually associated with genins. Since AY is a glycoside, its behaviour was regarded as anomalous since glycosides usually show both slow onset and slow reversal of activity. Attempts were made to account for the genin-like properties of AY in terms of the model for the digitalis receptor proposed by Thomas et al. (1974a,b). It is suggested that the low potency and genin-like properties of AY may be due to the fact that the steroid is attached to the lactone through the carbon atom that is alpha to the carbonyl group. This feature could result in non-alignment of the sugar residue with the sugar binding site and might also reduce the effectiveness of the interaction of the steroid moiety with its binding site. A notable feature of AY toxicity was its extremely rapid progression to irreversible fibrillation.
Effects of antiepileptic medications on psychiatric and behavioral comorbidities in children and adolescents with epilepsy.

Abstract The three goals of this article are (1) to delineate the limitations in determining the actual incidence of antiepileptic drug (AED) psychiatric and behavioral side effects; (2) to summarize existing data on the direct effects of AEDs on psychiatric and behavioral comorbidities and examine the relationship between these direct effects and specific AED mechanisms of action; and (3) to recognize the indirect effects of AEDs on psychiatric and behavioral medications that can result in aggravation of these comorbidities through drug–drug interactions. All of these data are then combined and formatted into a practical algorithm useful in many clinical situations.
Distribution of the α1 and α2 chains of collagen IV and of collagens V and VI in Alport syndrome

We compared the distribution of the alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains of collagen IV and of collagens V and VI in glomeruli of males with Alport syndrome to their distribution in normal glomeruli and glomeruli from patients with non-Alport renal diseases. alpha 1(IV), alpha 2(IV), collagen V and collagen VI are normally restricted to the mesangium and the subendothelial aspect of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). In contrast, these proteins were present throughout the entire width of the GBM in Alport glomeruli. These alterations were apparent in "early" Alport glomeruli, that is, those exhibiting minimal abnormalities by light microscopy, and they were further accentuated in sclerosing Alport glomeruli. Obsolescent Alport glomeruli, in which the capillary tuft had collapsed and few remaining cell nuclei were present, exhibited nearly complete loss of alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV), like obsolescent glomeruli in non-Alport diseased kidneys. However, the matrix of obsolescent Alport glomeruli stained intensely for collagen V and collagen VI, while these collagen types were not prominent in obsolescent glomeruli of non-Alport diseases kidneys. These observations suggest that the process of glomerulosclerosis in Alport kidneys has attributes unique to this disease. It would also appear that mutations affecting the Alport gene product have secondary effects on the distribution of other GBM constituents.
Pathological Evaluation of Nipple‐Sparing Mastectomies with Emphasis on Occult Nipple Involvement: The Weill‐Cornell Experience with 325 Cases

Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is an increasingly utilized surgical option in managing breast carcinoma; however, data on malignant involvement of a separately submitted nipple margin are scant. Consecutive NSM, including those performed for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, over a 4-year period (2007-2011), were studied. A separately submitted nipple margin was evaluated by permanent H&E preparations and via frozen section evaluation whenever requested. 325 consecutive NSM specimens, 208 (64%) therapeutic-NSM, and 117 (36%) prophylactic-NSM were studied. All nipples were clinically unremarkable. 86% (179/208) of nipple margins from therapeutic-NSM and 100% (117/117) from prophylactic-NSM showed no histopathologic abnormality. 14% (29/208) of nipple margins from therapeutic-NSM and no nipple margin from prophylactic-NSM showed malignancy. Frozen section evaluation was performed in 188/325 NSM (58%) with a sensitivity of 64% and specificity of 99%. Central tumor location and stage N2/N3 lymph node status were significantly associated with nipple margin positivity (χ(2) ≤ 0.05). Subsequent nipple resection was performed in 69% (20/29) of nipple margin-positive cases with residual malignancy found in 40% (8/20, including three cases of invasive carcinoma). In a mean follow-up of 33 months, one invasive carcinoma recurred in the "saved" nipple, 36 months after therapeutic-NSM. 14% (29/208) of nipple margins in therapeutic-NSM and no nipple margin (0/117) in prophylactic-NSM showed malignancy. Central tumor location and N2/N3 stage were significantly associated with nipple margin positivity (χ(2) ≤ 0.05).
A Broadcast Approach to Multiple Access with Random States

"THIS PAPER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE STUDENT PAPER AWARD" In this paper, we employ a broadcast transmission strategy for studying multiple access communication with no channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter. Users simultaneously encode their data into several streams that are then superimposed on top of each other. The receiver decodes a subset of the transmitted streams, dependent on the quality of the channel. We focus on two particular problems: first, we analyze communication over a Gaussian multiple access channel (MAC) with slow fading and no transmitter CSI. Users encode one stream per each fading state. We characterize the fundamental tradeoff between the achievable sum-rates in the various data streams. Next, we study transmission over a two- user synchronous Gaussian MAC in which users transmit in an uncoordinated and random manner. Each user superimposes two data streams, one high priority, ensuring part of the information is received reliably, and one high rate, opportunistically taking advantage of the channel when the other user is not transmitting. We study the performance limit for low and high SNR regimes.
Gastrointestinal bacterial overgrowth: pathogenesis and clinical significance:

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is defined as the presence of an abnormally high number of coliform bacteria in the small bowel. It is associated with a broad range of predisposing small intestinal motility disorders and with surgical procedures that result in bowel stasis. The most common symptoms associated with SIBO include diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain and bloating. Quantitative culture of small bowel contents and a variety of indirect tests have been used over the years in an attempt to facilitate the diagnosis of SIBO. The indirect tests include breath tests and biochemical tests based on bacterial metabolism of a variety of substrates. Unfortunately, there is no single valid test for SIBO, and the accuracy of all current tests remains limited due to the failure of culture to be a gold standard and the lack of standardization of the normal bowel flora in the small intestine. Currently, the ideal approach to treat SIBO is to treat the underlying disease, eradicate overgrowth, and address nutritional deficiencies that may be associated with the development of SIBO.
A Positive 2-Item Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Screen Among Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients is Associated With Elevated 12-Month Mortality

Abstract Background Given the association of depression with poorer cardiac outcomes, an American Heart Association Science Advisory has advocated routine screening of cardiac patients for depression using the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) “at a minimum.” However, the prognostic value of the PHQ-2 among HF patients is unknown. Methods and Results We screened hospitalized HF patients (ejection fraction [EF] P ≤ .002); they were similar in other characteristics (65% male, 26% mean EF). At 12 months, 20% of PHQ-2+ versus 8% of PHQ-2− patients had died ( P = .007) and PHQ-2 status remained associated with both all-cause (hazard ratio [HR] 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–6.7; P = .003) and cardiovascular (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1–6.6; P = .03) mortality even after adjustment for age, gender, EF, NYHA functional class, and a variety of other covariates. Conclusions Among hospitalized HF patients, a positive PHQ-2 depression screen is associated with an elevated 12-month mortality risk.
Antiretroviral Therapy and Adverse Skeletal Effects: In Response

We thank Geller and Fabbriciani et al for their interest in our concise review and for their thoughtful comments. We agree with Geller that PPIs are not to be abandoned. As with all medications prescribed for an individual patient, periodic review of the ongoing need, reassessment of the risk-benefit ratio, and consideration of alternatives seem to be the rational approach. Often, PPIs are prescribed and continued without further thought or reassessment. For the appropriate patient, PPIs remain an essential therapy with an acceptable risk-benefit ratio. Fabbriciani et al discuss another class of medications with emerging evidence of adverse skeletal effects: antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV infections. This complex disease has wide-ranging severity and effects on the endocrine system. These medications also have wide-ranging effects that could be responsible for their negative impact on bone health. This class of medications deserves more discussion than we provided in our concise review. We agree that this class of medication warrants being added to the list of “bad-to-the-bone” drugs.
Computer-assisted surgical planning for cerebrovascular neurosurgery.

Objective We used three-dimensional reconstructed magnetic resonance images for planning the operations of 16 patients with various cerebrovascular diseases. We studied the cases of these patients to determine the advantages and current limitations of our computer-assisted surgical planning system as it applies to the treatment of vascular lesions. Methods Magnetic resonance angiograms or thin slice gradient echo magnetic resonance images were processed for three-dimensional reconstruction. The segmentation, based on the signal intensities and voxel connectivity, separated each anatomic structure of interest, such as the brain, vessels, and skin. A three-dimensional model was then reconstructed by surface rendering. This three-dimensional model could be colored, made translucent, and interactively rotated by a mouse-controlled cursor on a workstation display. In addition, a three-dimensional blood flow analysis was performed, if necessary. The three-dimensional model was used to assist in three stages of surgical planning, as follows: 1) to choose the best method of intervention, 2) to evaluate surgical risk, 3) to select a surgical approach, and 4) to localize lesions. Results The generation of three-dimensional models allows visualization of pathological anatomy and its relationship to adjacent normal structures, accurate lesion volume determination, and preoperative computer-assisted visualization of alternative surgical approaches. Conclusion Computer-assisted surgical planning is useful for patients with cerebrovascular disease at various stages of treatment. Lesion identification, therapeutic and surgical option planning, and intraoperative localization are all enhanced with these techniques.
A peer-to-peer architecture for workflow in virtual enterprises

Workflow technology seeks to support or automate the performance of organizational processes. When the organization is a virtual enterprise, the conventional client-server workflow architecture is not suitable: virtual enterprises lack centralized resources and administration to support server installations. Further, virtual enterprise participants can be highly autonomous and heterogeneous. A workflow system to support virtual enterprises must account for autonomy and heterogeneity, as well as wide geographic distribution. This paper proposes a peer-to-peer architecture for deploying workflow in virtual enterprises engaged in knowledge-intensive activities. It views a virtual enterprise as a loosely coupled organization of autonomous, distributed actors supported by individual workflow nodes that enact local processes to guide the actor, and share events to coordinate activities with other members of the organization.
Stress Aware Layout Optimization Leveraging Active Area Dependent Mobility Enhancement

Starting from the 90 nm technology node, process induced stress has played a key role in the design of high-performance devices. The emergence of source/drain silicon germanium (S/D SiGe) technique as the most important stressing mechanism for p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor devices has opened up various optimization possibilities at circuit and physical design stage. In this paper, we exploit the active area dependence of the performance improvement achievable using S/D SiGe technology for late stage engineering change order (ECO) timing optimization. An active area sizing aware cell-level delay model is derived which forms the basis of linear program based optimization of a design for achieving maximum performance or target performance under a timing budget. To control the magnitude of layout perturbation and ensure predictable timing improvement, a set of physical constraints for active area sizing is proposed. Further, an efficient minimum movement legalization algorithm is proposed to remove the overlaps caused by active area sizing of timing critical cells. Results on a wide variety of benchmarks show consistent reduction in the cycle time by up to 6.3%. Predictability of the performance improvement achievable as well as resultant minuscule layout changes make our technique very attractive for late stage ECO optimization and design closure.
Multi-Modal Person-Profiles from Broadcast News Video

The need to analyze and index large amounts of video information is becoming more important as the way people consume media continues to change. In recent years, the push to attack multimedia indexing and retrieval applications in a holistic, multi-modal way has garnered great attention. In this work we propose the holistic use of both audio, visual and textual information for the automatic indexing of broadcast news video to create person-profiles. Indexing videos in this matter helps facilitate a unique way to create multimedia person databases automatically, as well as for attacking existing video analysis tasks. We test our algorithm on news data from NBC and present areas for future exploration.
MHC class I immune proteins are critical for hippocampus-dependent memory and gate NMDAR-dependent hippocampal long-term depression

Memory impairment is a common feature of conditions that involve changes in inflammatory signaling in the brain, including traumatic brain injury, infection, neurodegenerative disorders, and normal aging. However, the causal importance of inflammatory mediators in cognitive impairments in these conditions remains unclear. Here we show that specific immune proteins, members of the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC class I), are essential for normal hippocampus-dependent memory, and are specifically required for NMDAR-dependent forms of long-term depression (LTD) in the healthy adult hippocampus. In β2m(-/-)TAP(-/-)mice, which lack stable cell-surface expression of most MHC class I proteins, NMDAR-dependent LTD in area CA1 of adult hippocampus is abolished, while NMDAR-independent forms of potentiation, facilitation, and depression are unaffected. Altered NMDAR-dependent synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of β2m(-/-)TAP(-/-)mice is accompanied by pervasive deficits in hippocampus-dependent memory, including contextual fear memory, object recognition memory, and social recognition memory. Thus normal MHC class I expression is essential for NMDAR-dependent hippocampal synaptic depression and hippocampus-dependent memory. These results suggest that changes in MHC class I expression could be an unexpected cause of disrupted synaptic plasticity and cognitive deficits in the aging, damaged, and diseased brain.
Can Parallel Diversification Occur in Sympatry? Repeated Patterns of Body-Size Evolution in Coexisting Clades of North American Salamanders

A classic paradigm in evolutionary biology is that geographically isolated clades inhabiting similar selective regimes will diversify to create similar sets of phenotypes in different locations (e.g., similar stickleback species in different lakes, similar Anolis ecomorphs on different islands). Such parallel radiations are not generally expected to occur in sympatry because the available niche space would be filled by whichever clade is diversified first. Here, we document a very different pattern, the parallel evolution of similar body-size morphs in three sympatric clades of plethodontid salamanders (Desmognathus, Plethodon, Spelerpinae) in eastern North America. Using a comprehensive, time-calibrated phylogeny of North American plethodontids from nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences, we show that these three clades have undergone replicated patterns of evolution in body size and that this parallel diversification occurred in broad-scale sympatry. At the local scale, we find that coexisting species from these clades are more similar in body size than expected under a null model in which species are randomly assembled into communities. These patterns are particularly surprising in that competition is known to be important in driving phenotypic diversification and limiting local coexistence of similar-sized species within these clades. Although parallel diversification of sympatric clades may seem counterintuitive, we discuss several ecological and evolutionary factors that may allow the phenomenon to occur.
Enhanced cytotoxicity of Rituximab following genetic and biochemical disruption of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored proteins

Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody used to treat B cell lymphoproliferative disorders and autoimmune diseases, kills cells through complement dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular toxicity and apoptosis. A mechanism of resistance to rituximab is upregulation of the complement regulatory proteins, CD59 and CD55. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a hematopoietic disorder caused by PIGA mutations that lead to a loss of all glycosylphospatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins including, CD55 and CD59. We compared the cytotoxic activity of rituximab against a PNH B cell line, LD -, and the isogenic cell line LD - PIGA + in which GPI-anchor expression was restored by stable transfection of PIGA. The PNH cell line was more sensitive to rituximab-mediated killing than the LD - PIGA + cells. Biochemical disruption of GPI anchors with phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C (PIPLC), a phospholipase that cleaves GPI-anchored proteins, also increased rituximab-mediated killing. Thus, genetic and biochemical interruption of GPI anchor proteins augments sensitivity to rituximab.
Social Stress Effects on Regional Fat Distribution in Male and Female Monkeys

We have studied the factors which influence the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) several decades One of our major interests has been gender differences in CHD morbidity and mortality. Even though CHD is the number one killer of women, men are twice as likely to die of CHD than women. As most of you are aware, a major pathogenic process underlying the development of clinically relevant coronary heart disease is atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries (CAA) If you feed monkeys diets that contain fat and cholesterol in amounts similar to that consumed by people, they get atherosclerosis. Men have twice as extensive CAA as women, and male monkeys have twice as extensive CAA as female monkeys.
Soil chemical identification of ten thousand years of prehistoric human activity areas at the Munsungun Lake Thoroughfare, Maine

Abstract Soils on a Palaeo-Indian to historic sequence in one Maine locale are analysed for chemical enrichment. To guide excavation of four discrete sites up to 4000 m 2 , samples are collected in grid patterns and analysed for pH, Mg, P and Ca. Concentrations of Mg point to probable hearths to define some centres of human activity on each site. These correlate well with anomalies determined independently by magnetometric survey. Excavation of anomalies provides evidence of hearths, culturally diagnostic artifacts, but also features resulting from tree-throw and drainage variation. The P and Ca results develop definition and delimitation of activity areas thus refining directions for further excavation. Since P and Ca concentrations result from substantial or sustained human occupation, they show promise for preexcavation differentiation of habitation sites from limited and specialized activity sites such as lithic chipping stations. Soil chemical analysis provides both a synchronic and diachronic preview of site perimeters, size and activity areas. The consistent site definition at the Munsungun Lake thoroughfare is useful for explaining patterns as well as locating them.
High-priority drug-drug interactions for use in electronic health records.

Objective To develop a set of high-severity, clinically significant drug–drug interactions (DDIs) for use in electronic health records (EHRs). Methods A panel of experts was convened with the goal of identifying critical DDIs that should be used for generating medication-related decision support alerts in all EHRs. Panelists included medication knowledge base vendors, EHR vendors, in-house knowledge base developers from academic medical centers, and both federal and private agencies involved in the regulation of medication use. Candidate DDIs were assessed by the panel based on the consequence of the interaction, severity levels assigned to them across various medication knowledge bases, availability of therapeutic alternatives, monitoring/management options, predisposing factors, and the probability of the interaction based on the strength of evidence available in the literature. Results Of 31 DDIs considered to be high risk, the panel approved a final list of 15 interactions. Panelists agreed that this list represented drugs that are contraindicated for concurrent use, though it does not necessarily represent a complete list of all such interacting drug pairs. For other drug interactions, severity may depend on additional factors, such as patient conditions or timing of co-administration. Discussion The panel provided recommendations on the creation, maintenance, and implementation of a central repository of high severity interactions. Conclusions A set of highly clinically significant drug-drug interactions was identified, for which warnings should be generated in all EHRs. The panel highlighted the complexity of issues surrounding development and implementation of such a list.
Digital watermarking in joint time-frequency domain

Filtering in time-frequency domain involves synthesis of signals with specific time-frequency signature. We observe that watermarking of time-frequency distributions is a similar problem. The proposed domain is the joint time-frequency cells of the Wigner distribution of the image. Watermarked cells are selected based on their impact on image quality as well as resilience to JPEG. Inversion of the watermarked Wigner is a signal synthesis problem and is inherently different from inverse DCT. Experimental results illustrate that time-frequency space has greater capacity and security advantage over spatial or spectral domains alone.
Efficient and fast spline-backfitted kernel smoothing of additive models

A great deal of effort has been devoted to the inference of additive model in the last decade. Among existing procedures, the kernel type are too costly to implement for high dimensions or large sample sizes, while the spline type provide no asymptotic distribution or uniform convergence. We propose a one step backfitting estimator of the component function in an additive regression model, using spline estimators in the first stage followed by kernel/local linear estimators. Under weak conditions, the proposed estimator’s pointwise distribution is asymptotically equivalent to an univariate kernel/local linear estimator, hence the dimension is effectively reduced to one at any point. This dimension reduction holds uniformly over an interval under assumptions of normal errors. Monte Carlo evidence supports the asymptotic results for dimensions ranging from low to very high, and sample sizes ranging from moderate to large. The proposed confidence band is applied to the Boston housing data for linearity diagnosis.
Comparison of the shade matching ability of dental students using two light sources.

Statement of problem Shade selection is affected by a host of variables, including lighting. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of dental students to match shades under natural lighting and using a light-correcting device, specifically to determine whether there are differences based on: (1) year in school, (2) gender of student, and (3) light source. Material and methods A 14-item shade matching quiz (SMQ) and a questionnaire were field tested. No major modifications were made to SMQ or questionnaire. Demographic information included year in school, age, gender, previous experience, and Ishihara's Tests for Color-Blindness. The SMQ was administered on separate occasions during the spring and summer, under natural light (SMQ-NL) and using the light-correcting device (SMQ-CL). For each of the 14 items, students (n=216) were to select the matching shade tab from 5 preselected tabs. Statistical analyses included ANOVAs, paired t tests, and independent t tests (α=.05). Results A total of 165 male and 51 female students participated, with an average age of 26 years. SMQ scores of 10 color-deficient students were excluded. There were no significant differences in SMQ-NL and SMQ-CL among the first through fourth year students (ANOVA), nor between men and women ( t tests). The SMQ scores were significantly higher with the light-correcting device than with natural light: 11.4 ± 1.9 and 10.4 ± 2.0, respectively (paired t test, P t tests, P Conclusions Dental students' shade matching abilities were better with a light-correcting source than under natural light. Gender and experience were not found to be factors in matching shades. The Vita C shades were least likely to be matched.
Investigating UV-Blocking Properties of Sunscreens on the Microscale

A laboratory experiment exploring the effectiveness of various types of sunscreens in blocking UV light, which previously appeared in this Journal, has been adapted to the microscale. The experiment is used in an undergraduate environmental chemistry course to reinforce classroom discussions of atmospheric ozone. Students also learn about UV−visible spectrophotometry, preparation of solutions, and dilution factors. Detailed procedures are described in the supporting infromation.
Testing the CAPM across observed and fundamental returns

The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) describes a relationship between risk and expected forward-looking returns. Existing research tests the model using realized returns as the proxy for exante expectations. However, recent studies cast doubt on the ability of expost observed returns to proxy for exante expectations. Using an alternative specification to proxy for investor expectations, I test the CAPM in the context of pricing size and book/market equities. The results indicate that the CAPM retains additional merit with an improved measure of expectations. However, the value premium appears large and significant across both specifications of expected returns.
The complete genome sequence and emendation of the hyperthermophilic, obligate iron-reducing archaeon "Geoglobus ahangari" strain 234(T).

“Geoglobus ahangari” strain 234T is an obligate Fe(III)-reducing member of the Archaeoglobales, within the archaeal phylum Euryarchaeota, isolated from the Guaymas Basin hydrothermal system. It grows optimally at 88 °C by coupling the reduction of Fe(III) oxides to the oxidation of a wide range of compounds, including long-chain fatty acids, and also grows autotrophically with hydrogen and Fe(III). It is the first archaeon reported to use a direct contact mechanism for Fe(III) oxide reduction, relying on a single archaellum for locomotion, numerous curled extracellular appendages for attachment, and outer-surface heme-containing proteins for electron transfer to the insoluble Fe(III) oxides. Here we describe the annotation of the genome of “G. ahangari” strain 234T and identify components critical to its versatility in electron donor utilization and obligate Fe(III) respiratory metabolism at high temperatures. The genome comprises a single, circular chromosome of 1,770,093 base pairs containing 2034 protein-coding genes and 52 RNA genes. In addition, emended descriptions of the genus “Geoglobus” and species “G. ahangari” are described.
Tree-Based Ensembles with Dynamic Soft Feature Selection

Tree-based ensembles have been proven to be among the most accurate and versatile state-of-the-art learning machines. The best known are MART (gradient tree boosting) and RF (Random Forest.) Usage of such ensembles in supervised problems with a very high dimensional input space can be challenging. Modelling with MART becomes computationally infeasible, and RF can produce low quality models when only a small subset of predictors is relevant. We propose an importance based sampling scheme where only a small sample of variables is selected at every step of ensemble construction. The sampling distribution is modified at every iteration to promote variables more relevant to the target. Experiments show that this method gives MART a very substantial performance boost with at least the same level of accuracy. It also adds a bias correction element to RF for very noisy problems. MART with dynamic feature selection produced very competitive results at the NIPS-2003 feature selection challenge.
The impact of Medicare eligibility on cancer screening behaviors.

Abstract Introduction Lack of health insurance limits access to preventive services, including cancer screening. We examined the effects of Medicare eligibility on the appropriate use of cancer screening services in the United States. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor and Surveillance System (analyzed in 2014). Univariable and logistic regression analyses were performed for participants aged 60–64 and 66–70 to examine the effects of Medicare eligibility on prevalence of self-reported screening for colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers. Sub-analyses were performed among low-income ( Results Medicare-eligible individuals were significantly more likely to undergo all examined preventive services (colorectal cancer OR: 1.90; 95% CI 1.79–2.04; prostate cancer OR: 1.29; 95% CI 1.17–1.43; breast cancer OR: 1.23; 95% CI 1.10–1.37) and the effect was most pronounced among low-income individuals (colorectal cancer OR: 2.04; 95% CI 1.8–2.32; prostate cancer OR: 1.39; 95% CI 1.12–1.72; breast cancer OR: 1.42, 95% CI 1.20–1.67). Access to a healthcare provider was the strongest independent predictor of undergoing appropriate screening, ranging from OR 2.73 (95% CI 2.20–3.39) for colorectal cancer screening in the low-income population to OR 4.79 (95% CI 3.95–5.81) for breast cancer screening in the overall cohort. The difference in screening prevalence was most pronounced when comparing Medicare-eligible participants to uninsured Medicare-ineligible participants (+ 33.2%). Conclusions Medicare eligibility impacts the prevalence of cancer screening, likely as a result of increased access to primary care. Low-income individuals benefit most from Medicare eligibility. Expanded public insurance coverage to these individuals may improve access to preventive services.
Evidence Of Investors Responses To Managerial Investment Decision-Making

This paper investigates the stock price reaction of some pre-management buyout (MBO) investment decisions of managers. This paper finds that managers who engage in non-acquisition type investment expenditures (like plant expansions) in the pre-MBO period could lower the firms stock price. In addition, managers whose companies buy the assets or a stake in another firm give their company a positive stock price movement. Lastly, there is a statistically significant difference in stock price reaction depending on whether the investment expenditure is non-acquisition or acquisition.
A new age model for the Central Arctic reveals brief intervals of extreme sedimentation rates over the last 140 kyr

A detailed age model for central Arctic sediments (Mendeleev Ridge) reveals remarkably high sedimentation rates of >20 cm kyr−1 during brief intervals during the last 140 kyr. This age model is developed using a modified event stratigraphy based on changes in source provenance, mineral, and geochemical variations that are correlated from a core with a detailed age model on the Yermak Plateau near Fram Strait (HLY0503-22JPC) to a core on the Mendeleev Ridge (HLY0503-9JPC). The Yermak core has a previously determined age model linked to the global δ18O ice volume record. The age model presented here indicates that the average sedimentation rate in core 9JPC is only ~2 cm kyr−1, but brief periods of intense sediment accumulation range up to >20 cm kyr−1. Many of these events are identified to be basin-wide and possibly associated with major freshwater or ice-rafting events indicating that these events are tied to climatic glacial/interglacial processes. During marine isotope Stage 3 for instance, an ice-rafted detritus event contemporaneous with Heinrich event 4 is identified and can be linked to a large-scale event by precise source determinations using the chemical fingerprint of detrital, ice-rafted Fe oxide grains. The provenance indicates that this event is contemporaneously sourced to three major regions of Arctic glaciation. There are other rapid sedimentation events that are not correlated to both cores and these must be from localized melt-out events from either icebergs or sea ice.
AN EULERIAN-LAGRANGIAN VIRTUAL CRACK EXTENSION METHOD FOR MIXED-MODE FRACTURE PROBLEMS

A new finite element method for calculating energy release rates and stress intensity f actors for mixed-mode elastic fracture problems is presented. Explicit expressions for energy release rates associated w ith colinear virtual crack e xtensions are developed. The energy rates are based on true v ariations of crack l ength, described by an E ulerian-Lagrang ian kinematic model, eliminating the need for a second analysis or stiffness derivative computation. Mutual potential energy release rates, involving the actual deformations and analytic near-f ield displacement solutions for pure mode-I and mode-I1 behavior, are used to isolate KI and KII. Applications of the method to selected c rack geometries d emonstrate the accuracy and reliability of the method.
Genome Sequence of Bacillus cereus Phage vB_BceS-MY192.

ITALIC! Bacillus cereusis an opportunistic foodborne pathogen. The phage vB_BceS-MY192 was isolated from ITALIC! B. cereus192 in a cooked rice sample. The temperate phage belongs to the ITALIC! Siphoviridaefamily, ITALIC! Caudoviralesorder. Here we announce the phage genome sequence and its annotation, which may expand the understanding of ITALIC! B. cereussiphophages.
Els mètodes d'ELE espanyols, models de llengua? Cap a una integració de la variació sincrònica als llibres de l'alumne

El presente texto tiene como objetivo proponer un cambio de orientacion en los modelos de lengua de algunos manuales de ELE espanoles, puesto que estos no tienen en cuenta suficientemente un aspecto fundamental inherente a todas las lenguas: la variacion sincronica. Asi, en esta contribucion, a raiz de una descripcion detallada sobre las deficiencias e inadecuaciones de algunos metodos de ELE publicados en Espana, se anotan algunas propuestas de mejora de estos materiales para que puedan servir mejor de complemento para un modelo de lengua que tenga en cuenta la realidad variacional del espanol y que sea adaptable a todas las situaciones de ensenanza de esta lengua.
Magneto-Optical Properties of CuInS2 Nanocrystals

We compare the absorption, photoluminescence, and magneto-optical properties of colloidal CuInS2 (CIS) nanocrystals with two closely related and well-understood binary analogs: Cu-doped ZnSe nanocrystals and CdSe nanocrystals. In contrast with conventional CdSe, both CIS and Cu-doped ZnSe nanocrystals exhibit a substantial energy separation between emission and absorption peaks (Stokes shift) and a marked asymmetry in the polarization-resolved low-temperature magneto-photoluminescence, both of which point to the role of localized dopant/defect states in the forbidden gap. Surprisingly, we find evidence in CIS nanocrystals of spin-exchange coupling between paramagnetic moments in the nanocrystal and the conduction/valence bands of the host lattice, a behavior also observed in Cu-doped ZnSe nanocrystals, where the copper atoms incorporate as paramagnetic Cu2+ ions.
Impact of the 2013 ASCO/CAP HER2 Guideline Updates at an Academic Medical Center That Performs Primary HER2 FISH Testing: Increase in Equivocal Results and Utility of Reflex Immunohistochemistry.

Objectives: The 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/College of American Pathologists (CAP) guideline updates lowered the threshold for HER2 positivity and altered the equivocal category. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of these changes on the distribution of HER2 fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) status. The utility of reflex HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) for FISH equivocal cases was also examined. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all invasive breast cancers analyzed for HER2 via dual-probe FISH (PathVysion; Abbott Laboratories. Abbott Park, IL) 12 months before and after the HER2 guidelines updates were implemented. Reflex HER2 IHC results were recorded for HER2 FISH equivocal cases. Results: There was a significant increase in the number of HER2 FISH equivocal results after the guideline updates (4.9% vs 1.4%, P = .0087) that was independent of specimen type (core vs surgical, P = .6). All 17 FISH equivocal cases after the updates had reflex HER2 IHC: two (12%) of 17 were positive, 12 (71%) of 17 remained equivocal, and three (18%) of 17 were negative. Conclusions: Implementation of the 2013 ASCO/CAP HER2 guideline updates resulted in an increase in HER2 FISH equivocal results, which can be attributed to HER2 copy number, regardless of the HER2 /CEP17 ratio. Reflex IHC for FISH equivocal cases is of limited utility; however, IHC does assign HER2 positivity or negativity in a small percentage of cases.
Evaluating Quality and Adequacy of Gastrointestinal Samples Collected using Reusable or Disposable Forceps

Background Sample quality of gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsies is of paramount importance for accurate histological diagnosis. Many veterinary practices use reusable forceps as a result of perceived decreased cost. With reusable forceps, it remains unknown whether sample quality declines with repeated use and becomes inferior to single-use forceps and is therefore more or less cost effective than single-use forceps. Hypothesis/Objectives The study hypothesis was that reusable forceps sample quality would deteriorate after repeated use as compared to single-use forceps. Animals Sixty-five dogs undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy for diagnostic investigations at the Hospital for Small Animals, Edinburgh University. Method A prospective, pathologist-blinded study comparing single-use and reusable alligator standard cup biopsy forceps (Olympus 2.0 mm 1550 mm) with 5 randomized reusable forceps. Sample quality (stomach, duodenum, ileum, and colon) was assessed by a single pathologist using the WSAVA guidelines. Results There was no difference in the adequacy, depth, villi number, or crush artifact in the 4 intestinal areas between forceps type with at least 10, and up to 15, repeated uses of the reusable forceps. Conclusions and clinical importance This study demonstrates that reusable cup biopsy forceps provide equivalent biopsy quality after repeated uses to single-use forceps and are cost effective at 10-case use.
Does Opioid Use Cause Angiogenesis and Metastasis

Objective. To provide a comprehensive overview of the potential for morphine to lead to angiogenesis and metastasis. Background. Morphine is often the treatment of choice for severe cancer-related pain. Small studies have been emerging that indicate that opioids may influence angiogenesis and metastasis, but this has not yet been comprehensively synthesized. Purpose. To highlight morphine’s relationship with angiogenesis and metastasis in in vitro models. Methods. A review of the literature was conducted using PubMed (1966 to 2015) and Cochrane Library (1987 to 2015) electronic databases. The search, as well as consultation with experts, yielded 84 articles for initial review, 12 of which met inclusion for review. Possible theories of the underlying etiology of the metastasis and angiogenesis were recorded. Results. All studies were assessed using the PRISMA checklist. Conclusion. This systematic review demonstrates that morphine has a potential causal relationship with angiogenesis and metastasis. This is likely due to multiple etiologies, including immunosuppressive, pro-inflammatory, and pro-angiogenetic.
Solid Phase Synthesis of 1,2,5-Substituted Derivatives of 4-Imidazolidinone

Solid phase synthetic approaches enable the preparation of large numbers of new biologically interesting compounds. Small molecule libraries of heterocycles have proven effective for the identification of various bioactive compounds [1]. 4-Imidazolidinones belong to a group of biologically interesting and less-explored heterocyclic compounds. This type of molecule was identified as a product of a spontaneous cyclization of N-terminal amino groups of peptides or proteins, with formaldehyde, acetone or acetaldehyde in aqueous solutions [2]. N-terminal 4-imidazolidinones derivatives of proteins or peptides were also identified in the human liver during chronic ethanol oxidation [3]. The same type of modification was used to form enzymatically stable prodrugs based on peptides [4].
Assessment of adaptive behavior in adult forensic cases. The use of the adaptive behavior assessment System-II

Publisher Summary Information about adaptive behavior is critical to the determination of mental retardation in Atkins hearings and in determining competence or level of functioning in other legal proceedings. Current, widely accepted standards for the diagnosis of mental retardation, for psychological assessment, and for ethical practice form a foundation for practice. On this foundation, the Supreme Court has required in Atkins that states establish procedures for a fair and scientifically sound diagnosis of mental retardation. This chapter describes the challenges of carrying out such an assessment and reaching a valid conclusion. These challenges can be addressed through careful and thorough assessment that relies on the best available procedures and instruments. The Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-II (ABAS-II) offers some unique features that contribute essential information to the assessment of adaptive behavior. The careful use of the ABAS-II provides information that can be integrated with other sources of adaptive behavior information to yield valid conclusions that are respected in the courts and are much preferred to less systematic and less scientific methods.
Endotracheal Tubes Cleaned With a Novel Mechanism for Secretion Removal: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study

INTRODUCTION: Intubation compromises mucus clearance, allowing secretions to accumulate inside the endotracheal tube (ETT). The purpose of this trial was to evaluate a novel device for ETT cleaning. We hypothesized that its routine use would reduce tube occlusion due to mucus accumulation, while decreasing airway bacterial colonization. METHODS: Subjects were randomized to either the use of the device every 8 h, or the institutional standard of care (blind tracheal suction) only. ETTs were collected at extubation and analyzed with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) for quantification of mucus volume. Microbiological testing was performed on biofilm samples. Vital signs and ventilatory settings were collected at the bedside. In-hospital follow-up was conducted, and a final evaluation survey was completed by respiratory therapists. RESULTS: Seventy-four subjects expected to remain intubated for longer than 48 h were enrolled (77 ETTs, 37 treatment vs 40 controls). Treated tubes showed reduced mucus accumulation (0.56 ± 0.12 vs 0.71 ± 0.28 mL; P = .004) and reduced occlusion (6.3 ± 1.7 vs 8.9 ± 7.6%; P = .039). The HRCT slice showing the narrowest lumen within each ETT exhibited less occlusion in cleaned tubes (10.6 ± 8.0 vs 17.7 ± 13.4%, 95% CI: 2–12.1; P = .007). Data on microbial colonization showed a trend in the treatment group toward a reduced ETT-based biomass of bacteria known to cause ventilator-associated pneumonia. No adverse events were reported. The staff was satisfied by the overall safety and feasibility of the device. CONCLUSION: The endOclear is a safe and effective device. It prevents luminal occlusion, thereby better preserving ETT nominal function.