cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From Genes to Milk: Genomic Organization and Epigenetic Regulation of the Mammary Transcriptome

Even in genomes lacking operons, a gene's position in the genome influences its potential for expression. The mechanisms by which adjacent genes are co-expressed are still not completely understood. Using lactation and the mammary gland as a model system, we explore the hypothesis that chromatin state contributes to the co-regulation of gene neighborhoods. The mammary gland represents a unique evolutionary model, due to its recent appearance, in the context of vertebrate genomes. An understanding of how the mammary gland is regulated to produce milk is also of biomedical and agricultural importance for human lactation and dairying. Here, we integrate epigenomic and transcriptomic data to develop a comprehensive regulatory model. Neighborhoods of mammary-expressed genes were determined using expression data derived from pregnant and lactating mice and a neighborhood scoring tool, G-NEST. Regions of open and closed chromatin were identified by ChIP-Seq of histone modifications H3K36me3, H3K4me2, and H3K27me3 in the mouse mammary gland and liver tissue during lactation. We found that neighborhoods of genes in regions of uniquely active chromatin in the lactating mammary gland, compared with liver tissue, were extremely rare. Rather, genes in most neighborhoods were suppressed during lactation as reflected in their expression levels and their location in regions of silenced chromatin. Chromatin silencing was largely shared between the liver and mammary gland during lactation, and what distinguished the mammary gland was mainly a small tissue-specific repertoire of isolated, expressed genes. These findings suggest that an advantage of the neighborhood organization is in the collective repression of groups of genes via a shared mechanism of chromatin repression. Genes essential to the mammary gland's uniqueness are isolated from neighbors, and likely have less tolerance for variation in expression, properties they share with genes responsible for an organism's survival.
Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate modulation of mullerian duct regression.

(Bu)2cAMP inhibits the action of testicular Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) in vitro, but it is unknown whether the intracellular nucleotide diminishes production of MIS by the testis or interferes with its action at the Mullerian duct. When added to the 14½-day old rat embryo Mullerian duct in organ culture, (Bu)2cAMP (0.1 or 1.0 mM) inhibited regression caused by biologically active exogenous MIS fractions, as well as that produced by the fetal testis (1.0 mM). Dibutyryl cyclic guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate was ineffective against exogenous MIS fractions or the fetal testis. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor, methyl-isobutyl-xanthine, had the same inhibitory effect on the MIS-fraction (0.1 or 1.0 mM), as well as against MIS secreted from the fetal testis (1.0 mM). Theophylline at 1.0 mM inhibited the action of the MIS fraction. The presence of (Bu)2cAMP in the medium was required for at least the first 24 h of the 72-h incubation to significantly inhibit MIS action. These results indicate that intrac...
Measuring neutron yield and ρ R anisotropies with activation foils at the National Ignition Facility

Summary form only given. Neutron yields at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) are measured with a suite of diagnostics, including activation of ~20-200g samples of materials undergoing a variety of energy-dependent neutron reactions. Samples of indium were mounted on the end of a Diagnostic Instrument Manipulator (DIM), 25-50 cm from the implosion, to measure 2.45 MeV D-D fusion neutron yield. The 336.2 keV gamma rays from the 4.5 hour isomer of In-115m produced by (n,n') reactions are counted in High-Purity Germanium detectors. For capsules producing D-T fusion reactions, zirconium and copper are activated via (n,2n) reactions at various locations around the target chamber and bay, measuring the 14.1 MeV neutron yield to accuracies better than 5%. By mounting zirconium samples on ports at nine locations around the NIF chamber, anisotropies in the primary neutron emission due to asymmetries in the fuel areal density can be measured to a relative precision of 3%. Efforts are underway to deduce neutron spectral information, particularly the magnitude of T-T fusion neutron production, using multiple collocated materials with varying activation thresholds.
Mental models and problem solving in using a calculator

It has often been suggested that users understand and reason about complex systems on the basis of a mental model of the system's internal mechanics. This paper describes an empirical study of how mental model knowledge is used in operating a stack calculator. One group of naive users were taught step-by-step procedures for solving typical problems on the calculator. A second group of naive users were taught the same procedures in conjunction with an explicit model of the calculator's stack mechanism. The users then solved problems on the calculator while thinking aloud. Analysis of the performance of these two groups indicates that the model had little effect in routine problem solving situations, but significantly improved performance for novel problems. Analyses of the think-aloud protocols indicate that the users employed five distinct modes of problem solving: skilled methods, problem reduction strategies, a conversion algorithm, model-based problem space search, and methods-based problem space search. Skilled methods, problem reduction strategies and the conversion algorithm were used for solving more routine problems and did not necessarily depend on mental model knowledge. Problem space search was used in the novel problems. For the model users, the states and operations of the stack mechanism served as the problem space to be searched for a problem solution. In contrast, the no-model users employed a less effective search strategy based on the recombination of pieces of known procedures. These results indicate that explicitly teaching naive users an appropriate mental model of a system can provide a psychologically effective and robust basis for operating the machine.
Cortical and subcortical connections of V1 and V2 in early postnatal macaque monkeys

Connections of primary (V1) and secondary (V2) visual areas were revealed in macaque monkeys ranging in age from 2 to 16 weeks by injecting small amounts of cholera toxin subunit B (CTB). Cortex was flattened and cut parallel to the surface to reveal injection sites, patterns of labeled cells, and patterns of cytochrome oxidase (CO) staining. Projections from the lateral geniculate nucleus and pulvinar to V1 were present at 4 weeks of age, as were pulvinar projections to thin and thick CO stripes in V2. Injections into V1 in 4- and 8-week-old monkeys labeled neurons in V2, V3, middle temporal area (MT), and dorsolateral area (DL)/V4. Within V1 and V2, labeled neurons were densely distributed around the injection sites, but formed patches at distances away from injection sites. Injections into V2 labeled neurons in V1, V3, DL/V4, and MT of monkeys 2-, 4-, and 8-weeks of age. Injections in thin stripes of V2 preferentially labeled neurons in other V2 thin stripes and neurons in the CO blob regions of V1. A likely thick stripe injection in V2 at 4 weeks of age labeled neurons around blobs. Most labeled neurons in V1 were in superficial cortical layers after V2 injections, and in deep layers of other areas. Although these features of adult V1 and V2 connectivity were in place as early as 2 postnatal weeks, labeled cells in V1 and V2 became more restricted to preferred CO compartments after 2 weeks of age.
The Developmentally Disabled Elderly: Concerns of Service Providers:

We examined the availability of servicesfor the developmentally disabled elderly and the concerns expressed by the service provider. We compared agencies which traditionally served individuals with developmental disabilities versus those serving the elderly populations. Although both types of agencies recognized the needfor services, concern was raised as to who would provide them and how the two groups would blend.
The effect of electron beam shape on TWT performance

Most electron beams in TWT's are not perfect. The current density varies with distance and with radius (i.e., beam scalloping occurs). There are nonlaminarities due to initial beam formation and due to beam focusing peculiarities and which are most prevalent in PPM tubes, and which appear to be most severe in dual mode PPM TWT's. These non-laminarities result in beams that can be approximated by laminar beams which vary in beam current density as a function of beam radius and circuit distance. The major effects of beam shape variation from an ideal beam are to reduce the efficiency of the TWT by factors of 2 to 4. The reduction in efficiency is highly dependent upon beam size as well as beam shape. Most computer programs use a beam with uniform current density in the beam as a function of radius and distance. This paper presents results from two different computer models, one relating beam shape (i.e., radius), the other to beam scalloping (i.e., distance).
Surgeon information transfer and communication: factors affecting quality and efficiency of inpatient care.

Objective: To determine the nature of surgeon information transfer and communication (ITC) errors that lead to adverse events and near misses. To recommend strategies for minimizing or preventing these errors. Summary Background Data: Surgical hospital practice is changing from a single provider to a team-based approach. This has put a premium on effective ITC. The Information Transfer and Communication Practices (ITCP) Project is a multi-institutional effort to: 1) better understand surgeon ITCP and their patient care consequences, 2) determine what has been done to improve ITCP in other professions, and 3) recommend ways to improve these practices among surgeons. Methods: Separate, semi-structured focus group sessions were conducted with surgical residents (n = 59), general surgery attending physicians (n = 36), and surgical nurses (n = 42) at 5 medical centers. Case descriptions and general comments were classified by the nature of ITC lapses and their effects on patients and medical care. Information learned was combined with a review of ITC strategies in other professions to develop principles and guidelines for re-engineering surgeon ITCP. Results: A total of 328 case descriptions and general comments were obtained and classified. Incidents fell into 4 areas: blurred boundaries of responsibility (87 reports), decreased surgeon familiarity with patients (123 reports), diversion of surgeon attention (31 reports), and distorted or inhibited communication (67 reports). Results were subdivided into 30 contributing factors (eg, shift change, location change, number of providers). Consequences of ITC lapses included delays in patient care (77% of cases), wasted surgeon/staff time (48%), and serious adverse patient consequences (31%). Twelve principles and 5 institutional habit changes are recommended to guide ITCP re-engineering. Conclusions: Surgeon communication lapses are significant contributors to adverse patient consequences, and provider inefficiency. Re-engineering ITCP will require significant cultural changes.
A note on object allocation under lexicographic preferences

Abstract We consider the problem of allocating m objects to n agents. Each agent has unit demand, and has strict preferences over the objects. There are q j units of object j available and the problem is balanced in the sense that ∑ j q j = n . An allocation specifies the amount of each object j that is assigned to each agent i , when the objects are divisible; when the objects are indivisible and exactly one unit of each object is available, an allocation is interpreted as the probability that agent i is assigned one unit of object j . In our setting, agent preferences over objects are extended to preferences over allocations using the natural lexicographic order. The goal is to design mechanisms that are efficient, envy-free, and strategy-proof. Schulman and Vazirani show that an adaptation of the probabilistic serial mechanism satisfies all these properties when q j ≥ 1 for all objects j . Our first main result is a characterization of problems for which efficiency, envy-freeness, and strategy-proofness are compatible. Furthermore, we show that these three properties do not characterize the serial mechanism. Finally, we show that when indifferences between objects are permitted in agent preferences, it is impossible to satisfy all three properties even in the standard setting of “house” allocation in which all object supplies are 1.
An analysis of the time of origin of neurons in the entorhinal and subicular cortices of the cat.

The [3H]thymidine autoradiographic method was used to determine the birth dates of neurons in the cat parahippocampal gyrus. Cat fetuses were exposed to a single pulse of the radioactive marker between the 20th and 55th embryonic days. All animals were delivered normally and allowed to survive for 2-6 months postnatal. The resulting autoradiographs demonstrate three spatiotemporal gradients of cell birth in the entorhinal and subicular cortices. First, an inside-out gradient is apparent; i.e., neurons in the deeper layers are born earlier than those in the more superficial layers. Second, a rhino to dentate gradient exists. Accordingly, cells closer to the lateral entorhinal region tend to be generated earlier than those further away. Third, a temporal to septal gradient is present. Neurons close to the anterior pole of the temporal lobe are born earlier than those more caudally located. Whereas the first two gradients have been observed in other species, the latter gradient has not been reported consistently. Three exceptions to these overall gradients exist. First, neurons near the layer I/II border are born earlier than the majority of the layer II neurons. Second, neurons near the transition zone between two adjacent regions are born earlier than neurons located in the middle of each region. Third, the prosubiculum and subiculum do not exhibit a clear inside-out or temporal to septal gradient.
Intermittent exposure to a social stimulus enhances ethanol drinking in rats

Abstract The present experiment evaluates the effects of intermittent exposure to a social stimulus on ethanol and water drinking in rats. Four groups of rats were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 levels of Social procedure (Intermittent Social vs Continuous Social) and 2 levels of sipper Liquid (Ethanol vs Water). Intermittent Social groups received 35 trials per session. Each trial consisted of the insertion of the sipper tube for 10 s followed by lifting of the guillotine door for 15 s. The guillotine door separated the experimental rat from the conspecific rat in the wire mesh cage during the 60 s inter-trial interval. The Continuous Social groups received similar procedures except that the guillotine door was raised during the entire duration of the session. For the Ethanol groups, the concentrations of ethanol in the sipper [3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16% (vol/vol)] increased across sessions, while the Water groups received 0% ethanol (water) in the sipper throughout the experiment. Both Social procedures induced more intake of ethanol than water. The Intermittent Social procedure induced more ethanol intake at the two highest ethanol concentration blocks (10–12% and 14–16%) than the Continuous Social procedure, but this effect was not observed with water. Effects of social stimulation on ethanol drinking are discussed.
The laryngeal mask in infants and children: What is the cuff pressure?

Abstract Background Unintended hyperinflation of the cuff of a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has been associated with increased airway morbidity and postoperative pain. While the manufacturers recommend a cuff pressure of less than 60 cmH2O, in usual clinical practice, there is no method used to determine intracuff pressure of an LMA. The purpose of this prospective quality assurance study is to evaluate the incidence of LMA hyperinflation and excessive intracuff pressure in a busy tertiary care pediatric hospital. Methods There was no change dictated in clinical practice for these patients. Per our usual practice, the LMA was removed from the package and inserted with the cuff partially inflated. The cuff was further inflated as needed to ensure a seal during positive pressure ventilation to a peak inflating pressure of 20–25 cmH2O. During the first 30 min of the case, the pressure in the cuff of the LMA was measured using a hand held manometer. Additional data collected included the patient's demographic data (age, weight, and gender), the size of the ETT, and whether nitrous oxide was in use. Results Of the 200 subjects in the current study, 106 had an LMA cuff pressure ≥60 cmH2O (53%). Patients who were greater than 8 years of age had significantly higher average cuff pressures and significantly more LMAs with an intracuff pressure ≥60 cmH2O when compared to patients younger than 4 years of age and patients 4–8 years of age. Similarly, larger LMAs were found to have significantly higher intracuff pressures. Conclusions Using current clinical practice to inflate the cuff of the LMA, a significant percentage of pediatric patients have an intracuff pressure greater than the generally recommended upper limit of 60 cmH2O. Risk factors identified in our study included age of the patient and the size of the LMA.
Prophylaxis of atherosclerosis with marine omega-3 fatty acids. A comprehensive strategy

Traditional approaches to prophylaxis of atherosclerosis have focused on one aspect of the pathogenesis of this multifactorial disease, such as platelet function or blood lipids, and therefore have had limited success. Epidemiologic studies show a striking inverse correlation of consumption of fish rich in the two omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, and mortality from cardiovascular disease. In studies of volunteers and patients, reductions in platelet responsiveness, lowering of blood lipids, and improvements of blood flow, as well as improvements in other values implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, were induced with eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. These findings indicate that these omega-3 fatty acids have a larger prophylactic potential than traditional approaches. This potential must be scrutinized in meticulously designed and conducted trials with clinical endpoints.
Lack of Adrenal Suppression After Early Low Dose Dexamethasone Therapy in Very Preterm Infants † 319

Lack of Adrenal Suppression After Early Low Dose Dexamethasone Therapy in Very Preterm Infants † 319
WRF/Chem-MADRID: Incorporation of an aerosol module into WRF/Chem and its initial application to the TexAQS2000 episode

[1] The Model of Aerosol Dynamics, Reaction, Ionization and Dissolution (MADRID) with three improved gas/particle mass transfer approaches (i.e., bulk equilibrium (EQUI), hybrid (HYBR), and kinetic (KINE)) has been incorporated into the Weather Research and Forecast/Chemistry Model (WRF/Chem) (referred to as WRF/Chem-MADRID) and evaluated with a 5-day episode from the 2000 Texas Air Quality Study (TexAQS2000). WRF/Chem-MADRID demonstrates an overall good skill in simulating surface/aloft meteorological parameters and chemical concentrations of O3 and PM2.5, tropospheric O3 residuals, and aerosol optical depths. The discrepancies can be attributed to inaccuracies in meteorological predictions (e.g., overprediction in mid-day boundary layer height), sensitivity to meteorological schemes used (e.g., boundary layer and land-surface schemes), inaccurate total emissions or their hourly variations (e.g., HCHO, olefins, other inorganic aerosols) or uncounted wildfire emissions, uncertainties in initial and boundary conditions for some species (e.g., other inorganic aerosols, CO, and O3) at surface and aloft, and some missing/inactivated model treatments for this application (e.g., chlorine chemistry and secondary organic aerosol formation). Major differences in the results among the three gas/particle mass transfer approaches occur over coastal areas, where EQUI predicts higher PM2.5 than HYBR and KINE due to improperly redistributing condensed nitrate from chloride depletion process to fine PM mode. The net direct, semi-direct, and indirect effects of PM2.5 decrease domainwide shortwave radiation by 11.2–14.4 W m−2 (or 4.1–5.6%) and near-surface temperature by 0.06–0.14°C (or 0.2–0.4%), lead to 125 to 796 cm−3 cloud condensation nuclei at a supersaturation of 0.1%, produce cloud droplet numbers as high as 2064 cm−3, and reduce domainwide mean precipitation by 0.22–0.59 mm day−1.
In vivo binding of the dopamine uptake inhibitor [18F]GBR 13119 in MPTP-treated C57BL/6 mice

The in vivo regional distribution of [18F]GBR 13119 (1-[(4-[18F]fluorophenyl(phenyl)methoxy)ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl) piperazine), a specific dopamine reuptake inhibitor, was examined in brains of C57BL/6 mice after MPTP treatment. At 2 weeks post MPTP the in vivo specific binding of [18F]GBR 13119 in striatum was decreased 63% relative to age and sex-matched controls. Animals studied at 6 and 8 weeks after MPTP treatment showed a gradual recovery of specific [18F]GBR 13119 binding in the striatum. No significant changes were observed in binding of radiotracer to cerebellum or cortex after MPTP treatment, nor were age-related changes observed in control mice. In vivo radiotracer studies thus appear useful for following gradual changes in the dopamine uptake system of mouse brain after neurotoxin treatment.
Film Properties of Glyceryl Esters of Various Octadecadienoic Acids

The effect of cis and trans isomers in isolated and conjugated structures of glyceryl esters of octadecadienoic acids on film formation was examined with respect to drying time, film quality and after-tack. Little difference in the drying rates of the conjugated trans-trans and cis-trans oils was observed. Oils based on octadecadienoic acids with a high content of either conjugated or isolated double bonds dried at a slower rate than blends of these two types. A minimum drying time occurred when 60 ± 5% of conjugated oils were blended with 40 ± 5% of isolated diene oils. This is related to the faster oxygen uptake and peroxide formation of the isolated cis structure. This peroxide acts as the initiator for vinyl-type polymerization. The drying rate of isolated trans diene oils is directly related to the trans content. The development of after-tack appears to be related to the trans content. The conjugated trans-trans esters heat-polymerize more rapidly than the conjugated cis-trans. Filmeigenschaften von Glycerinestern verschiedener Octadecadiensauren Der Einflus von cis- und trans-Isomeren der Glycerinester der Octadecadiensauren vom Isolen- und Konjuen-Typ auf die Filmbildung wurde im Hinblick auf die Trocknungszeit, Filmqualitat und Klebrigkeit untersucht. Hinsichtlich der Trocknungsgeschwindigkeit wurde zwischen trans-trans- und cis-trans-Olen ein geringer Unterschied beobachtet. Ole mit einem hohen Anteil an Isolen- oder Konjuensauren trockneten langsamer als Gemische dieser Ole. Die geringste Trocknungszeit wurde mit einem Gemisch erzielt, das 60 ± 5% Konjuene und 40 ± 5% isolierte Diene enthielt. Diese Erscheinung hangt mit der erhohten Sauerstoff-Aufnahme und Peroxyd-Bildung durch isolierte cis-Diene zusammen. Die Peroxyde leiten die Polymerisation des Vinyl-Typs ein. Die Trocknungsgeschwindigkeit der isolierten trans-Dienole ist abhangig vom trans-Gehalt. Auch die Klebrigkeit hangt scheinbar mit dem trans-Gehalt zusammen. Konjugierte trans-trans-Ester lassen sich schneller thermisch polymerisieren als konjugierte cis-trans-Ester.
Effect of the antimetabolite, 6-aminonicotinamide, on sound-induced seizures in mice.

Abstract One-month-old male Swiss-Webster mice, from stock selectively inbred for susceptibility to sound-induced seizures, were injected with a single dose (20, 10, 5 or 1 mg/kg, ip) of 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN), a potent antimetabolite of nicotinamide. Controls received equivalent volumes of water. Within 4 days after inoculation with 20 or 10 mg/kg, the running attacks and maximal extensor seizures seen in response to a ringing bell before treatment, were abolished in every animal. Testing for 3–4 months, even with increased duration or intensity of the sound stimulus, or both, failed to yield a single recurrence of reactivity. Control animals and those injected with 1 mg/kg of 6-AN displayed typical preinoculation responses throughout the experiment. Abolition of responses in the 5-mg/kg group occurred 3 days after inoculation, but these could be reinstituted on the next day by increasing the sound intensity. Thereafter, the reactions of these animals to the seizure tests were highly variable, in some instances appearing after exposure to only routine levels of sound stimulation and in others fading completely or changing in severity. None of the mice in this experiment displayed any severe, and few, any lasting motor disability as a consequence of their treatment with 6-AN. Limited tests of the animals' responses to auditory stimuli, other than the ringing bell, suggested that those receiving the higher doses of 6-AN, and to a lesser extent also those in the 5-mg group, had suffered a reduction in the appreciation of sound. Histological examination of the central nervous system of mice receiving 20 and 10 mg/kg of 6-AN revealed changes in nuclei of the medulla, pons and midbrain, attributable to this agent, which were not found in the animals receiving 5- and 1-mg/kg doses, or in the controls. In none, however, has there been a clear demonstration, as yet, of lesions in central auditory structures, though a search for these is continuing. The peripheral auditory system has not yet been examined. Insofar as we are aware, 6-AN is the first agent reported to be capable of abolishing audiogenic seizures in highly susceptible animals after a single inoculation of a considerably less than lethal dose.
Clostridium difficile-associated disease: adherence with current guidelines at a tertiary medical center.

Clostridium difficile-associated disease: Adherence with current guidelines at a tertiary medical center
Meis Cofactors Control HDAC and CBP Accessibility at Hox-Regulated Promoters during Zebrafish Embryogenesis

Hox proteins form complexes with Pbx and Meis cofactors to control gene expression, but the role of Meis is unclear. We demonstrate that Hoxb1-regulated promoters are highly acetylated on histone H4 (AcH4) and occupied by Hoxb1, Pbx, and Meis in zebrafish tissues where these promoters are active. Inhibition of Meis blocks gene expression and reduces AcH4 levels at these promoters, suggesting a role for Meis in maintaining AcH4. Within Hox transcription complexes, Meis binds directly to Pbx and we find that this binding displaces histone deacetylases (HDACs) from Hoxb1-regulated promoters in zebrafish embryos. Accordingly, Pbx mutants that cannot bind Meis act as repressors by recruiting HDACs and reducing AcH4 levels, while Pbx mutants that bind neither HDAC nor Meis are constitutively active and recruit CBP to increase AcH4 levels. We conclude that Meis acts, at least in part, by controlling access of HDAC and CBP to Hox-regulated promoters.
A New Stomach Sample Collection Device for Fish Gastric Lavage Samples

Abstract We developed a simple, inexpensive, and efficient handling device to collect the regurgitated prey items from fish in the field. To date, an efficient method of collecting stomach contents during the gastric lavage procedure was lacking. This collection device consists of a long wooden trough with a funnel and filtering cup attached to one end. The fish is laid into the trough, the gastric lavage technique is performed, and the water and stomach contents flow into the funnel, where the stomach contents are retained by the filter bottle. Prey items are easily bottled and preserved. Our device improved fish handling during the gastric lavage procedure without the need for anesthetics (e.g., Finquel), thus avoiding the necessity (i.e., U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandate) of retaining fish before returning them to a wild population.
Objective Analysis of Impressed Chisel Toolmarks

Historical and recent challenges to the practice of comparative forensic examination have created a driving force for the formation of objective methods for toolmark identification. In this study, fifty sequentially manufactured chisels were used to create impression toolmarks in lead (500 toolmarks total). An algorithm previously used to statistically separate known matching and nonmatching striated screwdriver marks and quasi-striated plier marks was used to evaluate the chisel marks. Impression toolmarks, a more complex form of toolmark, pose a more difficult test for the algorithm that was originally designed for striated toolmarks. Results show in this instance that the algorithm can separate matching and nonmatching impression marks, providing further validation of the assumption that toolmarks are identifiably unique.
Functional pathway analysis of genes associated with response to treatment for chronic hepatitis C

Summary. Chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) is among the most common causes of chronic liver disease. Approximately 50% of patients with CH-C treated with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin (PEG-IFN-α + RBV) achieve a sustained virological response (SVR). Several factors such as genotype 1, African American (AA) race, obesity and the absence of an early virological response (EVR) are associated with low SVR. This study elucidates molecular pathways deregulated in patients with CH-C with negative predictors of response to antiviral therapy. Sixty-eight patients with CH-C who underwent a full course of treatment with PEG-IFN-α + RBV were included in the study. Pretreatment blood samples were collected in PAXgene™ RNA tubes. EVR, complete EVR (cEVR), and SVR rates were 76%, 57% and 41%, respectively. Total RNA was extracted from pretreatment peripheral blood mononuclear cells, quantified and used for one-step RT-PCR to profile 154 mRNAs. The expression of mRNAs was normalized with six ‘housekeeping’ genes. Differentially expressed genes were separated into up and downregulated gene lists according to the presence or absence of a risk factor and subjected to KEGG Pathway Painter which allows high-throughput visualization of the pathway-specific changes in expression profiles. The genes were consolidated into the networks associated with known predictors of response. Before treatment, various genes associated with core components of the JAK/STAT pathway were activated in the cohorts least likely to achieve SVR. Genes related to focal adhesion and TGF-β pathways were activated in some patients with negative predictors of response. Pathway-centred analysis of gene expression profiles from treated patients with CH-C points to the Janus kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription signalling cascade as the major pathogenetic component responsible for not achieving SVR. In addition, focal adhesion and TGF-β pathways are associated with some predictors of response.
Late Wisconsin and Holocene Subalpine Forests of the Markagunt Plateau of Utah, Southwestern Colorado Plateau, U.S.A.

The vegetation and climatic history of subalpine forests on the Colorado Plateau is documented from Lowder Creek Bog and Alpine Pond on the Markagunt Plateau. Pollen and macrofossil data demonstrat...
EIMERIA SPECIES FROM CRYPTOTIS SHREWS (INSECTIVORA: SORICIDAE) WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES

Fresh fecal samples from 12 shrews, 10 Cryptotis goodwini Jackson, 1933, and 2 Cryptotis merriami Thomas, 1898, were collected between December 1994 and May 1998; 11 (92%) were positive for eimeriid coccidia, including 8 of 8 C. goodwini and 2 of 2 C. merriami from Honduras and 1 of 2 C. goodwini from Guatemala. Two Eimeria species were found: 1 is consistent with the description of Eimeria whitakeri Upton and McAllister, 1991, and 1 is described in this study as new. Sporulated oocysts of the new species are subspheroidal, 16.8 × 15.7 (14–20 × 15–19) μm, with a length–width (L/W) ratio of 1.1 (1.0–1.2); they lack a micropyle and oocyst residuum, but 1–2 polar granules are always present. Sporocysts are elongate and ovoidal, 8.4 × 6.0 (6–10 × 4.5–7.5) μm, with a L/W ratio of 1.4 (1.2–1.7) and have a Stieda body and sporocyst residuum. This is the 49th Eimeria species described from all Insectivora but only the third from Cryptotis species.
Wolfowitz Conjecture: A Research Note on Civil War and News Coverage

How news coverage is affected by dangerous security environments is an important issue for political scientists who rely upon journalistic accounts of political events. It is also a controversial issue in the policy arena. In June of 2004, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz attributed the American public’s pessimism regarding U.S. efforts at stabilizing Iraq to the manner in which Iraq was covered by the U.S. media, suggesting that journalists in Iraq were holed up in hotels rather than in the field. This statement was conjecture, but if there is indeed a link between news coverage and violence, then this would be important for social scientists to understand. In this article, I probe this link by examining how conflict intensity and journalist deaths affect both the volume and length of news coverage in civil wars from 1992 to 1999. This paper shows that news coverage is largely unaffected by violence, except in the most extreme circumstances.
Analyzing Campus Crime And Police Resources: Implications For Policy-Makers*:

Today, college faculty, students, administrators and legislators have become increasingly concerned about the frequency and magnitude of crimes occurring within the campus setting. In many states campus law enforcement departments provide general police services and are the direct link to the criminal justice system. This paper describes the systematic collection and analysis of comparative data regarding campus crime rates and police resources in one of the nation's largest state university systems. Policy and decision-making implications derived from the data analysis process are identified.
Quality of life in patients after total pancreatectomy is comparable with quality of life in patients who undergo a partial pancreatic resection.

Abstract Background Quality of life after total pancreatectomy (TP) is perceived to be poor secondary to insulin-dependent diabetes and pancreatic insufficiency. As a result, surgeons may be reluctant to offer TP for benign and premalignant pancreatic diseases. Methods We retrospectively reviewed presenting features, operative characteristics, and postoperative outcomes of all patients who underwent TP at our institution. Quality of life was assessed using institutional questionnaires and validated general, pancreatic disease-related, and diabetes-related instruments (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire [EORTC QLQ-C30 and module EORTC-PAN26], Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life), and compared with frequency-matched controls, patients after a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Continuous variables were compared using Student t -test or analysis of variance. Categorical variables were compared using χ 2 or Fisher exact test. Results Between 1994 and 2011, 77 TPs were performed. Overall morbidity was 49%, but only 15.8% patients experienced a major complication. Perioperative mortality was 2.6%. Comparing 17 TP and 14 PD patients who returned surveys, there were no statistically significant differences in quality of life in global health, functional status, or symptom domains of EORTC QLQ-C30 or in pancreatic disease-specific EORTC-PAN26. TP patients had slightly but not significantly higher incidence of hypoglycemic events as compared with PD patients with postoperative diabetes. A negative impact of diabetes assessed by Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life did not differ between TP and PD. Life domains most negatively impacted by diabetes involved travel and physical activity, whereas self-confidence, friendships and personal relationships, motivation, and feelings about the future remained unaffected. Conclusions Although TP-induced diabetes negatively impacts select activities and functions, overall quality of life is comparable with that of patients who undergo a partial pancreatic resection.
Peer-to-peer multicast live video streaming with interactive virtual pan/tilt/zoom functionality

Video streaming with virtual pan/tilt/zoom functionality allows the viewer to watch arbitrary regions of a high-spatial-resolution scene. In our proposed system, the user controls his region-of-interest (ROI) interactively during the streaming session. The relevant portion of the scene is rendered on his screen immediately. An additional thumbnail overview aids his navigation. We design a peer-to-peer (P2P) multicast live video streaming system to provide the control of interactive region-of-interest (IROI) to large populations of viewers while exploiting the overlap of ROIs for efficient and scalable delivery. Our P2P overlay is altered on-the-fly in a distributed manner with the changing ROIs of the peers. The main challenges for such a system are posed by the stringent latency constraint, the churn in the ROIs of peers and the limited bandwidth at the server hosting the IROI video session. Experimental results with a network simulator indicate that the delivered quality is close to that of an alternative traditional unicast client-server delivery mechanism yet requiring less uplink capacity at the server.
Viscoelastic Properties of Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticle Composites from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

To provide insights into how polymer-grafted nanoparticles (NPs) enhance the viscoelastic properties of polymers, we have computed the frequency-dependent storage and loss modulus of coarse-grained models of polymer nanocomposites by means of molecular dynamics simulations. Nanocomposites containing NPs grafted with chains similar to those comprising the host polymer matrix exhibit considerably higher moduli than nanocomposites containing bare NPs across the entire frequency range investigated. This effect is shown to arise from the additional distortion of the shear field in the polymer matrix resulting from the grafted chains and from the slower relaxation time of the grafted chains compared to the matrix chains when the former are at least half as long as the latter. Increasing the attraction between the grafted and matrix chains results in further enhancement in the two moduli, but only at frequencies slower than those corresponding to the longest relaxation time of the chains. This effect is shown to...
Detecting malicious network traffic using inverse distributions of packet contents

We study the problem of detecting malicious IP traffic in the network early, by analyzing the contents of packets. Existing systems look at packet contents as a bag of substrings and study characteristics of its base distribution B where B(i) is the frequency of substring i.We propose studying the inverse distribution I where I(f) is the number of substrings that appear with frequency f. As we show using a detailed case study, the inverse distribution shows the emergence of malicious traffic very clearly not only in its "static" collection of bumps, but also in its nascent "dynamic" state when the phenomenon manifests itself only as a distortion of the inverse distribution envelope. We describe our probabilistic analysis of the inverse distribution in terms of Gaussian mixtures, our preliminary solution for discovering these bumps automatically. Finally, we briefly discuss challenges in analyzing the inverse distribution of IP contents and its applications.
Carbonyl sulfide hydrolysis as a source of hydrogen sulfide in open ocean seawater

Two independent lines of evidence suggest that the hydrogen sulfides (H2S, SH−, S2−) are present in open surface seawater at pico to nanomolar levels. 1) Such concentrations are calculated for a chemical steady state involving carbonyl sulfide hydrolysis as source, followed by oxidative removal. 2) Although it is not yet certain that measurements of gaseous H2S over the open ocean are reliable, they require aqueous sulfide concentrations in this range in order to support sea-to-air flux. If pico to nanomolar of the hydrogen sulfides are included in standard equilibrium models of seawater complexation chemistry, several trace metals speciate predominantly as sulfide complexes and are supersaturated with respect to their solid sulfides. This supersaturation argues for solubilization of the metals through other unexpected complexes, perhaps involving reduced sulfur ligands associated with dissolved organics, or even intermediates along the hydrogen sulfide oxidation chain.
Calibration-assisted production testing for digitally-calibrated ADCs

This paper presents a production test strategy for digitally-calibrated analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that incorporate an equalization-based calibration scheme. By analyzing the data obtained in calibration, devices that fail certain static or dynamic specifications can be identified without any additional testing time beyond calibration. The foundation of this test strategy for the ADCs lies on the strong correlations between calibration and functional testing so that devices which violate specifications can be identified by checking the range of steady-state fluctuation in the calibration data. We further develop calibration stimuli to maximize the failing symptoms for fault detection. Simulation results on a pipelined ADC shows that the proposed strategy can effectively pre-screen a good fraction of defective devices that fail static and dynamic specifications including the gain/offset errors and the effective-number of bits (ENOB).
Intravesical Morphine Analgesia after Bladder Surgery

ABSTRACTPurpose: A recent demonstration of peripheral opioid receptors suggested the possibility of delivering morphine locally into the bladder after reimplantation for ameliorating the discomfort of postoperative bladder irritation with spasms. Since we do not use bladder drainage after reimplantation, dripping a morphine solution into the bladder permits contact with the urothelium between voidings. A pilot trial using an arbitrary concentration was subjectively beneficial for treating these patients postoperatively. We now report a prospective randomized study evaluating the effectiveness and dosage of various concentrations of intravesical morphine infusions.Materials and Methods: A total of 52 children undergoing ureteral reimplantation was randomized to receive 1 of 3 concentrations of intravesical morphine (0.05, 0.375 or 0.5 mg./ml.). A small feeding tube remained in the bladder to drip a continuous infusion postoperatively. Subsequent postoperative pain was treated with meperidine, acetaminophen...
Knowledge Sharing: The Effects of Incentives, Environment, and Person

ABSTRACT: We study factors that promote knowledge sharing in a professional service firm. We performed two laboratory experiments with MBA students acting as participants. Our results indicate that an incentive must be considered sufficient to promote full knowledge sharing regardless of the incentive's type (monetary or nonmonetary). However, we find that the nonmonetary incentives used in our experiment were not deemed sufficient when participants self‐determined incentive sufficiency. Additionally, when the peer environment promoted knowledge hoarding, knowledge sharing dropped the most when incentives were initially deemed sufficient. Finally, we find that competitive individuals are active sharers of valuable, proprietary knowledge only when heir competitiveness is team‐oriented. To promote knowledge sharing, our results suggest careful monitoring of perceived incentive sufficiency, especially in the case of nonmonetary incentives, and a culture that directs employee competitiveness between teams.
Allied Propaganda and World War I: Interwar Legacies, Media Studies, and the Politics of War Guilt

This article investigates the consensus, forged in the interwar period, that German atrocities during World War I were a fabrication of Allied propaganda. In light of recent scholarship that suggests such atrocities actually did occur, Gullace examines the emotional and moral stake 20th century scholars have in the image of World War I as an unnecessary conflict, fueled by government mendacity.
Online diagnosis of brick interior fault based on spectrum analysis and multi-principal component model

In this paper, a method to online detect and diagnose brick interior different types of faults is proposed based on striking sound. Apply spectrum analysis to striking sound signals of bricks normal and with different types of faults, pick out characteristic frequencies of every spectrum to form data matrixes, then apply principal component analysis to build a normal and several different faults principal component models and get thresholds of statistics, next take these models to monitor striking sound signals of being-detected bricks, compute corresponding statistics, judge bricks interior defective or not and fault type by comparing with the thresholds when online detection. Experiment results show that the method is effective.
Polarons, localization, and excitonic coherence in superradiance of biological antenna complexes

A real-space formulation of time-resolved fluorescence of molecular aggregates is developed using the one-exciton density matrix ρ(t) of the optically driven system. A direct relationship is established between the superradiance enhancement factor Ls and the exciton coherence size Lρ associated with the off-diagonal density matrix elements in the molecular representation. Various factors which affect the latter, including finite temperature, energetic disorder, coupling with phonons, and polaron formation are explored. The theory is applied for the interpretation of recent measurements in the B850 system of the LH2 photosynthetic complexes.
Seed diversity, farmers' rights, and the politics of re-peasantization.

Over the last decade, the practice of using and exchanging locally adapted seeds has become a focal site of grass-roots organizing in the rural areas of Europe, spear-headed by the mobilization of seed networks in different countries and regions. Countering the restrictive scope of existing seed regulations, these networks are composed of family farmers, collectives, farmers movements, researchers, agronomists, and non-governmental organizations that are actively engaged in the development of farmer-based seed systems as a source of both peasant autonomy and environmental sustainability. Within the context of a broader struggle to overcome the multiple crises of the agro-industrial model, the reproduction of farm-saved seeds is closely associated with the promotion of agro-ecological alternatives that enhance integration, resilience, and livelihood security. Correspondingly, the goal to diversify food and seed systems puts renewed emphasis on the role of peasant innovation and localized consumption in processes of agrarian transformation. Combining sustainable farming methods, participatory forms of knowledge and de-commodified circuits of exchange, these initiatives reassert the centrality of the social and ecological role of agriculture in Europe beyond the reductionism of market-based approaches to rural change.