cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multimedia knowledge integration, summarization and evaluation

This paper presents new methods for automatically integrating, summarizing and evaluating multimedia knowledge. These are essential for multimedia applications to efficiently and coherently deal with multimedia knowledge at different abstraction levels such as perceptual and semantic knowledge (e.g., image clusters and word senses, respectively). The proposed methods include automatic techniques (1) for interrelating the concepts in the multimedia knowledge using probabilistic Bayesian learning, (2) for reducing the size of multimedia knowledge by clustering the concepts and collapsing the relationships among the clusters, and (3) for evaluating the quality of multimedia knowledge using notions from information and graph theory. Experiments show the potential of knowledge integration techniques for improving the knowledge quality, the importance of good concept distance measures for clustering and summarizing knowledge, and the usefulness of automatic measures for comparing the effects of different processing techniques on multimedia knowledge.
Towards working fluid properties and selection of Rankine cycle based waste heat recovery (WHR) systems for internal combustion engines – A fundamental analysis

Abstract Working fluid selection is one of the most important procedures in the design of Rankine cycle based waste heat recovery systems for internal combustion engines. The system’s performance, cost, and environmental impacts can be greatly influenced by the properties of its working fluid. In this work, we present an original formulation of a theoretical thermal efficiency model to fundamentally understand how the working fluid properties affect the thermal performance of the Rankine cycle based waste heat recovery systems for internal combustion engines. The derived theoretical thermal efficiency formula is validated under several different operating conditions. Overall very good agreements are achieved between the actual and theoretical approximated solutions. The results show that when the evaporation and condensation temperatures of the waste heat recovery system are fixed, the system’s thermal efficiency is simply governed by a non-dimensionalized parameter Jakob number. A working fluid with a smaller Jakob number is preferable in terms of system thermal efficiency. The observation is also further understood from a more fundamental physical perspective. Finally, a preliminary working fluid selection approach with a solid physics is proposed to screen the fluid candidates from the perspective of system performance.
Instrumental Leaf Use by Chimpanzees of the Budongo Forest (Sonso Community)

Future Research Results of this survey appear to warrant a more intensive investigation into Sonso chimpanzees’ LAD and UAD practices, with closer control over (1) observation schedules, to ensure comparable data records for every daylight hour through all seasons of the year; and (2) recording of behavior, to secure records of LAD and UAD for as many individuals as is practical and in detail adequate for at least a coarse-grained comparison of similarities and differences in individual practice. Primatologists seem in general to approve an assumption that dipping or sponging water from a tree bole, obtaining water in the same way from an open water source, and drinking water with mouth applied directly to the source are equivalent ways of satisfying a single primary physiological requirement. That assumption probably should be examined at least to the extent of (1) measuring or estimating water intake by each of these means; (2) ascertaining if possible whether Acalypha leaves are favored by Budongo chimpanzees (and chimpanzees in other forests?) strictly for properties important to water transport or, in part and perhaps as importantly, because they are abundant and/or distributed in convenient proximity with water sources; and (3) investigating through chemical analysis and taste assessment whether water samples obtained from tree boles at which LAD has been observed may not reveal traces of nutrient value and/or flavor character, either of which conceivably could encourage leaf sponging.
Uncertainty quantification of the effects of biotic interactions on community dynamics from nonlinear time-series data.

Biotic interactions are expected to play a major role in shaping the dynamics of ecological systems. Yet, quantifying the effects of biotic interactions has been challenging due to a lack of approp...
Repeat Pulmonary Valve Replacement: Similar Intermediate-Term Outcomes With Surgical and Transcatheter Procedures.

Abstract Objectives This study compares 30-day, 1-year, and 3-year echocardiographic findings and clinical outcomes of transcatheter pulmonary valve-in-valve replacement (TPVR) and repeat surgical pulmonary valve replacement (SPVR). Background In patients with adult congenital heart disease and previous pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) who require redo PVR, it is unclear whether TPVR or repeat SPVR is the preferred strategy. Methods We retrospectively identified 66 patients (TPVR, n = 36; SPVR, n = 30) with bioprosthetic pulmonary valves (PVs) who underwent either TPVR or repeat SPVR at Emory Healthcare from January 2007 to August 2017. Results The TPVR cohort had fewer men and more patients with baseline New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or IV. There was no difference in mortality, cardiovascular readmission, or post-procedural PV reintervention at 30 days, 1 year, or 3 years. Post-procedural echocardiographic findings showed no difference in mean PV gradients between the TPVR and SPVR groups at 30 days, 1 year, or 3 years. In the TPVR cohort, there was less right ventricular dysfunction at 30 days (2.9% vs. 46.7%; p Conclusions In patients with bioprosthetic PV dysfunction who underwent either TPVR or SPVR, there was no difference in mortality, cardiovascular readmission, or repeat PV intervention at 30 days, 1 year, or 3 years. Additionally, TPVR and SPVR had similar intermediate-term PV longevity, with no difference in PV gradients or PVR. The TPVR cohort also had less right ventricular dysfunction at 30 days despite a higher baseline NYHA functional classification. These intermediate-term results suggest that TPVR may be an attractive alternative to SPVR in patients with previous bioprosthetic surgical PVs.
Female underactive bladder – Current status and management

Underactive bladder (UAB) is defined by the International Continence Society as a symptom complex characterized by a slow urinary stream, hesitancy, and straining to void, with or without a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying sometimes with storage symptoms. Until recently, the topic has received little attention in the literature probably due to a lack of consistent definitions and diagnostic criteria. We performed a literature review to identify articles related to the diagnosis and management of UAB, specifically in female patients. UAB is a common clinical entity, occurring in up to 45% of females depending on definitions used. Prevalence increases significantly in elderly women and women who live in long-term care facilities. The exact etiology and pathophysiology for developing UAB is unknown, though it is likely a multifactorial process with contributory neurogenic, cardiovascular, and idiopathic causes. There are currently no validated questionnaires for diagnosing or monitoring treatment for patients with UAB. Management options for females with UAB remain limited, with clean intermittent catheterization, the most commonly used. No pharmacotherapies have consistently been proven to be beneficial. Neuromodulation has had the most promising results in terms of symptom improvement, with newer technologies such as stem-cell therapy and gene therapy requiring more evidence before widespread use. Although UAB has received increased recognition and has been a focus of research in recent years, there remains a lack of diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Future research goals should include the development of targeted therapeutic interventions based on pathophysiologic mechanisms and validated diagnostic questionnaires.
Impact of Multidisciplinary Pulmonary Embolism Response Team Availability on Management and Outcomes.

Treatment strategies for complex patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) are often debated given patient heterogeneity, multitude of available treatment modalities, and lack of consensus guidelines. Although multidisciplinary Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams (PERT) are emerging to address this lack of consensus, their impact on patient outcomes is not entirely clear. This analysis was conducted to compare outcomes of all patients with PE before and after PERT availability. We analyzed all adult patients admitted with acute PE diagnosed on computed tomography scans in the 18 months before and after the institution of PERT at a large tertiary care hospital. Among 769 consecutive inpatients with PE, PERT era patients had lower rates of major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (17.0% vs 8.3%, p = 0.002), shorter time-to-therapeutic anticoagulation (16.3 hour vs 12.6 hour, p = 0.009) and decreased use of inferior vena cava filters (22.2% vs 16.4%, p = 0.004). There was an increase in the use of thrombolytics/catheter-based strategies, however, this did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.07). There was a significant decrease in 30-day/inpatient mortality (8.5% vs 4.7%, p = 0.03). These differences in outcomes were more pronounced in intermediate and high-risk patients (mortality 10.0% vs 5.3%, p = 0.02). The availability of multidisciplinary PERT was associated with improved outcomes including 30-day mortality. Patients with higher severity of PE seemed to derive most benefit from PERT availability.
Hormonal and immunological factors in postpartum psychosis

Abstract Postpartum psychosis is a rare but disabling disorder with potentially devastating consequences including an increased risk for suicide and infanticide. Postpartum psychosis is characterized by a rapid onset of symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia, and occurs in approximately 1–5 in every 1000 births. Interestingly, the incidence of psychosis is greater during the peripartum period than any other time in a woman's life, suggesting vulnerability to psychosis conferred during the peripartum period. Thus, the hormonal changes associated with the peripartum period have been a major focus of investigations into the pathological mechanisms of postpartum psychosis. In addition to the hormonal changes during this time, the peripartum period is also characterized by profound changes in immune function. Although the underlying neurobiology of postpartum psychosis remains unclear, there is evidence for both hormonal and immunological changes which may precipitate postpartum depression and/or contribute to the underlying neuropathology of postpartum psychosis. This review will summarize what is known about the hormonal and immunological changes associated with postpartum psychosis. Given the limited information on postpartum psychosis, this chapter will also discuss hormonal and immunological factors associated with peripartum mood disorders more broadly, including postpartum depression, as well as evidence for involvement in psychosis, particularly focusing on schizophrenia. This chapter will primarily focus on clinical findings, summarizing the current knowledge in the field regarding the hormonal and immunological changes associated with postpartum psychosis and highlighting potential biomarkers. This chapter provides an up-to-date, comprehensive resource summarizing the hormonal and immunological changes associated with postpartum psychosis.
Varicella Zoster Virus Causing Aseptic Meningitis Without Fever or Rash in an Immunocompetent Patient

Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) is known to be a cause of aseptic meningitis and can be potentially fatal. VZV meningitis can arise in immunodeficient and more rarely, immunocompetent hosts. We present here a rare case of VZV causing meningitis in a 44-year-old immunocompetent man. He presented with an isolated headache without any fever or rash. CSF PCR for VZV DNA was positive confirming VZV as the cause of meningitis. He was treated with IV ganciclovir for 3 days and was transitioned to oral valacyclovir to complete a total of 10 days of antiviral treatment with the resolution of the headache. The purpose of this case report is to highlight VZV as a cause of aseptic meningitis in immunocompetent individuals and emphasize the importance of using airborne precautions along with contact precautions in health care workers who deal with patients with VZV shingles.
Frank William Westhoff (1863–1938): A Music Education Leader of the Progressive Era:

The purpose of this study was to examine the life and work of Frank William Westhoff (1863–1938), a leader in music education during the progressive era (circa 1890s–1950s). Research questions focu...
Chromosome 3p loss of heterozygosity and reduced expression of H3K36me3 correlate with longer relapse-free survival in sacral conventional chordoma

Summary Conventional chordoma is a rare slow-growing malignant tumor of notochordal origin primarily arising at the base of the skull and sacrococcygeal bones. Chordoma may arise from its benign counterpart, benign notochordal cell tumors, and can also undergo dedifferentiation progressing into dedifferentiated chordoma. No study has directly compared the genomic alterations among these tumors comprising a morphologic continuum. Our prior study identified frequent chromosome 3p loss of heterozygosity and minimal deleted regions on chromosome 3 encompassing SETD2, encoding a histone methyltransferase involved in histone H3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3). In the present study, we expanded our study to include 65 sacral conventional chordoma cases, 3 benign notochordal cell tumor cases, and 2 dedifferentiated chordoma cases using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, targeted next-generation sequencing analysis, and immunohistochemistry. We performed immunohistochemical analysis of histone, H3K36me3, and investigated whether there is any association between the clinical behavior and recurrent chromosome or aneuploidy or H3K36me3 protein expression. We found that there is increased genomic instability from benign notochordal cell tumor to conventional chordoma to dedifferentiated chordoma. The highly recurrent genomic aberration, chromosome 3p loss of heterozygosity (occurred in 70% of conventional chordomas), is correlated with longer relapse-free survival, but not with overall survival or metastasis-free survival in sacral chordoma. Chordomas demonstrate variable patterns and levels of H3K36me3 expression, and reduced expression of H3K36me3 showed marginally significant correlation with longer relapse-free survival. Copy number alterations in the genes encoding the H3K36me3 methylation transferase complex and demethylase may account for the altered H3K36me3 expression levels.
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty in the USA from 2004 to 2017: national inpatient trends, regional variations, associated diagnoses, and outcomes.

Background To explore the national inpatient trends, regional variations, associated diagnoses, and outcomes of vertebral augmentation (vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty) in the USA from 2004 to 2017. Methods Data from the National Inpatient Sample were used to study hospitalization records for percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Longitudinal projections of trends and outcomes, including mortality, post-procedural complications, length of stay, disposition, and total hospital charges were analyzed. Results Following a period of decreased utilization from 2008 to 2012, hospitalizations for vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty plateaued after 2013. Total hospital charges and overall financial burden of hospitalizations for vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty increased to a peak of $1.9 billion (range $1.7–$2.2 billion) in 2017. Overall, 8% of procedures were performed in patients with a history of malignancy. In multivariable modeling, lung cancer (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.6 (range 1.4–5.1)) and prostate cancer (aOR 3.4 (range 1.2–9.4)) were associated with a higher risk of mortality. The New England region had the lowest frequency of routine disposition (14.1±1.1%) and the lowest average hospital charges ($47 885±$1351). In contrast, 34.0±0.8% had routine disposition in the West Central South region, and average hospital charges were as high as $99 836±$2259 in the Pacific region. The Mountain region had the lowest number of procedures (5365±272) and the highest mortality rate (1.2±0.3%). Conclusion National inpatient trends of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty utilization remained stable after a period of decline from 2008 to 2012, while the financial burden of hospitalizations increased. Despite recent improvements in outcomes, significant regional variations persisted across the USA.
Ableism in the Academy? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Experiences of Students with Disabilities in U.S. Higher Education

Students with disabilities are less likely than nondisabled students to graduate from institutions of higher education. The goal of this chapter is thus to provide a critical review of key ways in which people with disabilities have been, and may continue to be, underserved by higher education in the U.S. Adapting a social justice framework, this chapter first provides a social history that contextualizes people with disabilities as a socially disadvantaged and marginalized group. This review also describes the important social strides people with disabilities have made, emphasizing the dominant role of higher education in the struggle for equal rights and full social participation. Then, and working toward an understanding of contemporary obstacles to participatory parity for students with disabilities in higher education, the next section presents meta-analysis findings concerning current experiences of students with disabilities in higher education. We conclude with a summary of key issues that undermine a framework of inclusion and offer a set of recommendations toward the goal of participatory parity.
A New Impedance-based Relative Stability Criterion for DC Power Systems

The growing need to support high transient loads has led to a necessary push towards power electronic-based DC distribution. However, these electronics are becoming more likely to cause destabilizing behaviors at their source interfaces due to the potential for negative impedance instability. The most common technique for assessing the small signal stability at a converter interface has been the impedance-based Nyquist Criterion, where input and output impedances are used to classify absolute stability. Unfortunately, this traditional method does not enforce any desired transient performance of the integrated power system and therefore does not completely account for hazardous oscillatory behavior. This paper proposes a new method of ensuring not only absolute stability of a power system interface but also a desired performance behavior. Through a redefined s-plane contour, the traditional Nyquist Criterion is modified to become the Relative Stability Criterion (RSC) for DC power systems. As numerically demonstrated in this paper, this novel technique can use black-box extracted port characteristics to enforce a transient time-constant for an integrated system and therefore ensure reliably safe system operation.
Character Reassignment for Hardware Trojan Detection

With the current business model and increasing complexity of hardware designs, third-party Intellectual Properties (IPs) are prevalently incorporated into first-party designs. The use of third-party IPs increases security concerns related to hardware Trojans inserted by attackers. Previous work on Golden Reference Matching focuses on matching with all entries within a single Golden Reference Library (GRL) containing whitelisted and blacklisted functionalities. This paper presents two new Golden Reference Libraries, Champion GRL and Functionality GRL, which were introduced along with coarse- grained and fine-grained asset reassignment to soft IPs and GRL entries in order to improve matching accuracy while simultaneously saving computational resources.
Intrinsic functional connectivity in the default mode network predicts mnemonic discrimination: A connectome-based modeling approach

The ability to distinguish existing memories from similar perceptual experiences is a core feature of episodic memory. This ability is often examined using the mnemonic similarity task in which people discriminate memories of studied objects from perceptually similar lures. Studies of the neural basis of such mnemonic discrimination have mostly focused on hippocampal function and connectivity. However, default mode network (DMN) connectivity may also support such discrimination, given that the DMN includes the hippocampus, and its connectivity supports many aspects of episodic memory. Here, we used connectome-based predictive modeling to identify associations between intrinsic DMN connectivity and mnemonic discrimination. We leveraged a wide range of abilities across healthy younger and older adults to facilitate this predictive approach. Resting-state functional connectivity in the DMN predicted mnemonic discrimination outside the MRI scanner, especially among prefrontal and temporal regions and including several hippocampal regions. This predictive relationship was stronger for younger than older adults, primarily for temporal-prefrontal connectivity. The novel associations established here are consistent with mounting evidence that broader cortical networks including the hippocampus support mnemonic discrimination. They also suggest that age-related network disruptions undermine the extent that the DMN supports this ability. This study provides the first indication of how intrinsic functional properties of the DMN support mnemonic discrimination.
Liver-Specific Loss of Perilipin 2 Alleviates Hepatic Steatosis and Inflammation

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) covers a spectrum of conditions ranging from reversible steatosis, characterized by excess triglycerides (TG) stored in hepatic lipid droplets (LD) to the m...
Jurisdictional Conflict in Global Antitrust Enforcement

The cases that have presented the particular issue this panel addresses—whether a foreign plaintiff can bring a private antitrust action in U.S. court when its injury arose from a transaction occurring on a foreign market—suggest significant challenges to traditional methods of antitrust regulation. They include litigation arising out of price-fixing conspiracies among vitamins manufacturers, providers of heavy-lift barge services, and art auction houses. Each of these cases has involved a conspiracy that can be characterized as global, and not merely because of the different actors and markets involved. First, the effectiveness of the respective cartels depended on the linking of pricing behavior across countries. In Empagran S.A. v. F. Hoffman-LaRoche, Ltd., for instance, the plaintiffs alleged a worldwide pricing scheme that used the prices set in the U.S. market as a benchmark for the prices set in other countries. Second, the national enforcement strategies used to counter global cartels are linked, as insufficient regulation in some countries might create an incentive for continued anti-competitive behavior even in the countries that do regulate sufficiently. These cases therefore present the kind of global behavior that generates
Site-directed mutagenesis in rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase. Mutation at the fructose 6-phosphate binding site affects phosphate activation.

Abstract To identify those residues involved in fructose 6-phosphate binding to the kinase domain of rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase site-directed mutations were engineered at Lys194, Arg195, Arg230, and Arg238. The mutant enzymes were purified to homogeneity by anion exchange and Blue-Sepharose chromatography and/or substrate elution from phosphocellulose columns. Circular dichroism experiments demonstrated that all of the single amino acid mutations had no effect on the secondary structure of the protein. In addition, when fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase activity was measured, all mutants had Km values for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, Ki values for fructose 6-phosphate, and maximal velocities similar to that of the wild-type enzyme. Mutation of Arg195----Ala, or His, had little or no effect on the maximal velocity of the kinase but increased the Km for fructose 6-phosphate greater than 3,000-fold. Furthermore, the Ka for phosphate for Arg195Ala was increased 100-fold compared with the wild-type enzyme. Mutation of Lys194----Ala had no effect on maximal velocity or the Km for fructose 6-phosphate. Mutation of either Arg230 or Arg238----Ala increased the maximal velocity and the Km for fructose-6 phosphate of the kinase by 2-3-fold but had no effect on fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase. However, the Km values for ATP of the Arg230Ala and Arg238Ala mutants were 30-40-fold higher than that for the wild-type enzyme. Mutation of Gly48----Ala resulted in a form with no kinase activity, but fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase activity was identical to that of the wild-type enzyme. The results indicate that: 1) Arg195 is a critical residue for the binding of fructose 6-phosphate to the 6-phospho-fructo-2-kinase domain, and that interaction of the sugar phosphate with Arg195 is highly specific since mutation of the adjacent Lys194----Ala had no effect on fructose 6-phosphate binding; 2) Arg195 also play an important role in the binding of inorganic phosphate; and 3) Gly48 is an important residue in the nucleotide binding fold of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and that both Arg230 and Arg238 are also involved in ATP binding; and 4) the bifunctional enzyme has two separate and independent fructose 6-phosphate binding sites.
Diversity and distribution of microbial long-chain fatty acid biosynthetic genes in the marine environment

Bacterial production of long-chain fatty acids via a polyketide synthase-related mechanism has thus far only been investigated in isolate-based studies. Here, the genetic capacity for production of long-chain fatty acids was investigated using a culture-independent approach. PCR primers targeting the keto-acyl synthase (KS) domain of the pfaA gene involved in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthesis were used to construct clone libraries to investigate KS sequence diversity in disparate marine habitats. Of the 446 sequences recovered, 123 (27.6%) clustered with KS sequences involved in the synthesis of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4n-6). The remaining 72.4% of clones formed environmental-only groups or grouped with the KS domains of pfaA homologues from organisms producing unidentified products. In total, 17 groups were recovered - four known and 13 newly identified. A query of metagenomic data sets revealed sequences related to EPA KS domains, as well as sequences related to four environmental-only groups discovered in the clone libraries. The phylogenetic affiliation and end product of these environmental-only KS clusters is unknown. These findings reveal a widespread capacity for long-chain fatty acid production in marine microorganisms, including biosynthetic pathways not yet characterized.
Deep Penetrating Nevus

The deep penetrating nevus is an intradermal or sometimes compound melanocytic neoplasm with three distinctive histological characteristics: — it occupies a large part of the dermis, occasionally reaching the subcutis; — it contains large cells with pale cytoplasm and a variably sized nucleus; — and it has a dark color on clinical examination due to its many melanophages. Its pigmentation, periadnexal pattern and equal size of cells at the top and base of the lesion are findings that suggest that it is a variant of blue nevus.
Russian Decentralization and the Denial of History: An Analysis of the World Bank's Notion of Decentralization

The World Bank often characterizes Russia's decentralization process as putting the cart before the horse. Among other things, analysts use this metaphor to represent the troubling fiscal policy of "subnational spending decisions ... being revenue­ driven, rather than revenues being expenditure­ driven" (Bahl and Wallich 1996:327). I would like to use this same metaphor to represent the decentralizing transition ofRussia, but in an entirely different manner. For it is true that Russia did put the cart before the horse from the beginning of its post­ Soviet transition. But what I mean to indicate by using this overused metaphor is that Russia implemented a decentralization strategy long before it had the institutional base to administer these reforms successfully. To put it simply, Russia decentralized long before it should have.
State of the Field. Studies of identity in modern architecture

En la ultima generacion, la historia de la arquitectura de Norteamerica ha incluido estudios sobre la arquitectura de indigenas y grupos minoritarios. Este articulo presenta los antecedentes del fenomeno, y cita referencias a la arquitectura por y para los judios, afroamericanos y nativos norteamericanos. El articulo promueve preguntas sobre como se define la identidad, especialmente para personas con patrimonio mixto.
PDGFB-based stem cell gene therapy increases bone strength in the mouse.

Substantial advances have been made in the past two decades in the management of osteoporosis. However, none of the current medications can eliminate the risk of fracture and rejuvenate the skeleton. To this end, we recently reported that transplantation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs) or Sca1+ cells engineered to overexpress FGF2 results in a significant increase in lamellar bone matrix formation at the endosteum; but this increase was attended by the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism and severe osteomalacia. Here we switch the therapeutic gene to PDGFB, another potent mitogen for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) but potentially safer than FGF2. We found that modest overexpression of PDGFB using a relatively weak phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) promoter completely avoided osteomalacia and secondary hyperparathyroidism, and simultaneously increased trabecular bone formation and trabecular connectivity, and decreased cortical porosity. These effects led to a 45% increase in the bone strength. Transplantation of PGK-PDGFB–transduced Sca1+ cells increased MSC proliferation, raising the possibility that PDGF-BB enhances expansion of MSC in the vicinity of the hematopoietic niche where the osteogenic milieu propels the differentiation of MSCs toward an osteogenic destination. Our therapy should have potential clinical applications for patients undergoing HSC transplantation, who are at high risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures after total body irradiation preconditioning. It could eventually have wider application once the therapy can be applied without the preconditioning.
Constructive psychotherapy: A practical guide.

Constructivism: A Brief Introduction. Constructive Psychotherapy: An Overview of Practice. Constructive Assessment. Basic Centering Techniques. Problem Solving: Basic Behavioral and Cognitive Techniques. Pattern Work. Basic Process Work: Meditation and Embodiment. Drama, Fantasy, Dream Work, and Stream of Consciousness. Self-relationship and Spiritual Skills. The Experience of Change. Being Human and a Therapist. Appendices: Constructivism: History and Current Relevance. Consent Form. Personal Experience Report. Breathing Exercises. Body Balance Exercises. Relaxation. Mindfulness Meditation. Mirror Time. Kindly Self-Control. Self-Comforting Exercise. Spiritual Skills Exercises. Human Change Processes: A Synopsis. Recommendations for Therapist Self-Care. Recommendations for Constructive Practice.
O-glycosylation effects on family 1 carbohydrate-binding module solution structures.

UNLABELLED Family 1 carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are ubiquitous components of multimodular fungal enzymes that degrade plant cell wall polysaccharides and bind specifically to cellulose. Native glycosylation of family 1 CBMs has been shown to substantially impact multiple physical properties, including thermal and proteolytic stability and cellulose binding affinity. To gain molecular insights into the changes in CBM properties upon glycosylation, solution structures of two glycoforms of a Trichoderma reesei family 1 CBM were studied by NMR spectroscopy: a glycosylated family 1 CBM with a mannose group attached to both Thr1 and Ser3 and a second family 1 CBM with single mannose groups attached to Thr1, Ser3 and Ser14. The structures clearly reveal that monosaccharides at both Ser3 and Ser14 on family 1 CBMs present additional cellulose binding platforms, similar to well-characterized aromatic residues at the binding interface, which align to the cellulose surface. These results are in agreement with previous experimental work demonstrating that glycans at Ser3 and Ser14 impart significant improvements in binding affinity. Additionally, detailed analysis of the NMR structures and molecular simulations indicates that the protein backbone of the CBM is not significantly altered by attachment of monosaccharides, and that the mannose attached to Ser14 may be more flexible than the mannose at Ser3. Overall, the present study reveals how family 1 CBM structures are affected by covalent attachment of monosaccharides, which are likely important post-translational modifications of these common subdomains of fungal plant cell wall degrading enzymes. DATABASE Structural data have been deposited in the RCSB Protein Data Bank (PDB codes: 2MWJ and 2MWK) and the BioMagRes Bank (BMRB codes: 25331 and 25332) for CBM_M2 and CBM_M3, respectively.
Effect of Upper-Ocean Evolution on Projected Trends in Tropical Cyclone Activity

AbstractRecent work has highlighted the possible importance of changing upper-ocean thermal and density stratification on observed and projected changes in tropical cyclone activity. Here seven CMIP phase 5 (CMIP5)-generation climate model simulations are downscaled under IPCC representative concentration pathway 8.5 using a coupled atmosphere–ocean tropical cyclone model, generating 100 events per year in the western North Pacific from 2006 to 2100. A control downscaling in which the upper-ocean thermal structure is fixed at its monthly values in the year 2006 is compared to one in which the upper ocean is allowed to evolve, as derived from the CMIP5 models. As found in earlier work, the thermal stratification generally increases as the climate warms, leading to increased ocean mixing–induced negative feedback on tropical cyclone intensity. While trends in the frequency of storms are unaffected, the increasing stratification of the upper ocean leads to a 13% reduction in the increase of tropical cyclone ...
Characteristics of AVIRIS bands measurements in agricultural: crops at Blythe Area, California: IV: studies on cotton varieties spectral data

AVIRIS data from Blythe were acquired in June 1997 to study the agricultural spectra from different crops and for identification of crops in other areas with similar environmental factors and similar spectral properties. The main objectives of this study are: 1) to compare the spectral and radiometric characteristics of AVIRIS data from verities of cotton crop with the spectra measured by FieldSpecR ASD radiometer; 2) to explore the use of AVIRIS images in identifying agricultural crops; 3) to study the impact of environmental factors on selected crops and; 4) to build a spectral library for the cotton crop varieties that were studied. A long-term goal is to extend the spectral library for different vegetation or crops in different stages of growth or different varieties. In order to support our study, on June 26, 2001 we collected spectral data using the FieldSpec spectrometer from selected fields planted with different cotton varieties at Blythe area, California (at the Longitude 114° 41.88 W and Latitude 33° 24.27N to Longitude 114° 41.86 W and Latitude 33° 24.00N). The spectral data of cotton varieties were studied. Environmental parameters were studied such as the soil water content (WC), pH, organic matter (OM), C% and nitrogen (N%). The results of this study showed that there were differences in the signatures of different cotton varieties. Also, there was a significant correlation between the data that were collected by AVIRIS image scene in 1997 and spectral data collected by the FieldSpec spectrometer. This correlation allowed us to build a spectral library to be used in ENVI-IDL software. This leads to identification of different cotton varieties and in particular the visible part of the spectra. AVIRIS data are in agreement with FieldSpec data. Using IDL algorithms of Spectral Angle Mapper classification (SAM), Spectral Feature Fitting (SFF) and Spectral Binary Encoding (SPE) showed that there is an excellent agreement between the predicted and the actual crop type (i.e. the correlation is between 85 - 90% match). Further use of the AVIRIS images can be of a value to crops identification or crops yield for commercial use. The yield data of Cotton varieties were correlated significantly with the spectral data from the AVIRIS and from the hand-held radiometer and it showed the impact of different environmental parameters on the yield of the crop.
The Role of Clinical Psychology in Rural Mental Health Services: Defining Problems and Developing Solutions

Rural areas of the United States continue to struggle to provide residents with adequate access to quality mental health care. Problems with adequately defining rurality for research and policy purposes, a shortage of qualified personnel, a lack of integration between primary-care and specialty mental health services, and stigma associated with mental illness have contributed to the mental health service crisis in rural areas. The assertion is made that psychologists can help to alleviate these problems through specialized training for rural service, the utilization of technology for service delivery, the dissemination of empirically supported treatments, and grassroots advocacy. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of prescription privileges for psychologists and the unclear status of subdoctoral providers are discussed in terms of potential impact on rural areas. Finally, psychologists are encouraged to direct research efforts toward the development and implementation of novel solutions to the service problems in rural areas.
Capsule commentary on Powell et al., Rates and correlates of potentially inappropriate colorectal cancer screening in the Veterans Health Administration.

An inescapable fact of all cancer screening is that (of those undergoing screening) vastly more people will be harmed than helped. The key question then becomes: What are the qualities of the harms? For colon cancer screening, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has determined that on a population basis, the quantity and quality of benefits for the 3 % outweigh the harms for the 97 % of asymptomatic adults aged 50–75 years (A Grade recommendation).1On an individual basis, a colleague nearly died after suffering a pulmonary embolus during treatment of a perforation caused during a negative screening colonoscopy. This case illustrates that individual harm can be devastating. The USPSTF recommends against routine screening between ages 75 and 85 years, stating that there may be considerations supporting it in individual patients (C Grade) and against screening those 85+ years.1 The article by Powell et al.2 does not deal with informed decision-making (which should be but is not an integral component of clinical preventive service recommendations and quality metrics3). Rather, Powell et al.2 ask an equally important related question: How often do clinicians offer colon cancer screening when the net population benefit approaches zero? Among 1 million Veteran Administration Hospital patients > 50 years who had one or more colon cancer screening procedures, over a quarter of fecal occult blood test (FOBT) tests and 14 % of colonoscopies were potentially inappropriate. Appropriate colonoscopies were more likely to be conducted at facilities where primary care providers were assigned responsibility for completing the CRC clinical reminder. These estimates—one may quibble that they are too low or too high, or generalizable to other settings—should remind all clinicians of the responsibility to optimize the benefit and minimize the harms of all clinical services we recommend to asymptomatic people. Perhaps it is also time to favor individualized clinical judgment over monolithic population screening algorithms that ignore individual clinician and patient values.3 At the very least, shared decision-making with patients who are fully informed of both the risks and benefits is needed. A better method of selecting patients at higher risk of disease would also help target those most likely to benefit from screening.
Capture cross section of excitons on neutral indium impurities in silicon

Abstract Studied of the photoluminescent decay of Si:In bound excitons in the temperature range 10 to 30°K show that the decay is limited by the capture of the exciton on the neutral In site. Measurements of the decay time give values for the capture cross section which change rapidly with temperature ranging between greater than 10 -13 cm 2 at 10°K to about 10 -15 cm 2 at 30°K.
Chemotherapy-induced carcinoembryonic antigen surge in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) surge in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) and its implications on clinical outcome.<i&
Study of Numerical Diffusion in a Discrete-Sectional Model and Its Application to Aerosol Dynamics Simulation

ABSTRACT The discrete-sectional model is an important tool used to study aerosol dynamics, although it suffers inherent numerical diffusion errors that are dependent on the model parameters including section spacing, numerically conserved aerosol property, and number of discrete sizes. An analytical evaluation of the errors due to the deviations of the derived aerosol properties in the sectional formulation and the interchange between discrete-size and sectional aerosols is carried out. The errors are larger if the difference in the aerosol property function index (ξ) between the derived and conserved properties is larger. Results of parametric studies are reported for condensation and coagulation systems. The results for condensation systems show that the υ-model is better than the n-model and the υ2-model in predicting the integral properties of the size distribution. However, the deviation in the results between the n-model, υ-model, and υ2-model reduces as the section spacing is decreased. A finite va...
Fine structure of convex sets from asymmetric viewpoint

We study a sequence of measures of symmetry \({\{\sigma_m(\mathcal {L}, \mathcal {O})\}_{m\geq 1}}\) for a convex body \({\mathcal {L}}\) with a specified interior point \({\mathcal {O}}\) in an n-dimensional Euclidean vector space \({\mathcal {E}}\) . The mth term \({\sigma_m(\mathcal {L}, \mathcal {O})}\) measures how far the m-dimensional affine slices of \({\mathcal {L}}\) (across \({\mathcal {O}}\)) are from an m-simplex (viewed from \({\mathcal {O}}\)). The interior of \({\mathcal {L}s}\) naturally splits into regular and singular sets, where the singular set consists of points \({\mathcal {O}}\) with largest possible \({\sigma_n(\mathcal {L}, \mathcal{O})}\) . In general, to calculate the singular set is difficult. In this paper we derive a number of results that facilitate this calculation. We show that concavity of \({\sigma_n(\mathcal {L},.)}\) viewed as a function of the interior of \({\mathcal {L}}\) occurs at points \({\mathcal {O}}\) with highest degree of singularity, or equivalently, at points where the sequence \({\{\sigma_m(\mathcal {L}, \mathcal {O})\}_{m\geq 1}}\) is arithmetic. As a byproduct, these results also shed light on the structure and connectivity properties of the regular and singular sets.
Principled negotiation between intelligent agents: a model for air traffic management

The worldwide aircraft/airspace system (AAS) is faced with a large increase in air traffic in the coming decades, yet many flights already experience delays. The AAS is comprised of many different agents, such as aircraft, airlines, and traffic control units. Technology development will make all the agents in the AAS more intelligent; hence, there will be an increasing overlap of the declarative functions of the agents. This paper describes the basis for an Intelligent Aircraft/Airspace System (IAAS) that provides improved system performance, redundancy, and safety by utilizing the overlapping capabilities of the agents. Principled Negotiation between agents allows all the agents in the system to benefit from multiple independent declarative analyses of the same situation. Multi-attribute utility theory and decision trees are used as the basis for analyzing the behavior of different types of agents. Intelligent agents are modeled as rule-based expert systems whose side-effects are the procedural and reflexive functions of the agent. Principled negotiation also is a side-effect of the expert systems' declarative functions. A hierarchical organization of agents in the IAAS is proposed to facilitate negotiation and to maintain clear lines of authority.
Intensity-amplitude relationships in monkey event-related potentials: Parallels to human augmenting-reducing responses

In human, the amplitudes of specific event-related potential (ERP) components can increase or decrease in response to increasing stimulus intensity depending on the location of the recording site. Large increases characterize components presumably generated by modality-specific sites, while smaller increases or even decreases are associated with those originating in associational areas. Comparable data from non-human primates, which would permit invasive studies of the neural substrates underlying these intensity-amplitude differences, are limited. To more fully characterize these relationships, auditory ERPs were recorded from chronically implanted epidural electrodes in 5 squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) in response to tones (500 Hz, 300 msec duration) of varying intensities (50, 60, 70, 80 dB SPL). Squirrel monkey ERPs recorded at Fz exhibited 3 peaks during the 200 msec post-stimulus interval. These peaks included a positivity (P1), followed by a negativity (N1), and then another positivity (P2). At posterior sites, the frontal P1-N1 configuration was recorded as an N1-P1 complex. At these sites, a small negativity (N2) preceded the last positive peak (P2). Changes in polarity were independent of reference site and posterior N1-P1 peaks exhibited latencies similar to those of the frontal P1-N1 components. Amplitudes at Fz, Cz, and Pz increased substantially with increasing stimulus intensity ('augmenting'). In contrast, only small increases or even decreases in amplitude ('reducing') were evident at T3 and T4. On the other hand, peak latencies decreased with higher stimulus intensities at most sites. The site-specific amplitude responses exhibited considerable temporal stability. In one subject, for example, similar 'augmenting' profiles were recorded at Fz in 8 sessions over a 6-month period. The topography of monkey intensity-amplitude response profiles, their temporal stability, and peak latency shifts resemble observations made in humans. The data show that 'augmenting' characterizes monkey vertex potentials, which, like the analogous human potentials, may originate in primary auditory cortex. In contrast, potentials recorded over temporal cortex, which may originate in auditory association cortex, exhibit 'reducing.' Thus, the data support the hypothesis that differences in amplitude with increasing intensity may reflect differences in cortical origin.