cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medical Therapy During the Menopause

THE MENOPAUSE is the absence of menstruation due to physiologic cessation of ovarian activity. It normally occurs between the ages of 40 to 50 years and any cessation of menstruation previous to that must be suspected of having pathologic etiology or to be due to pregnancy. In so far as is known at present, the only actual symptoms resulting from this physiologic ovarian inactivity are amenorrhoea and vasomotor instability characterized by hot flushes. Therefore, we must assume that the multitudinous other symptoms from which women suffer at this stage of life are subjective and due to something beside physiologic cessation of ovarian activity. In any consideration of the treatment of the menopause it must be remembered that these secondary symptoms are frequently the complaint for which the patient demands treatment. Therefore the theoretical purpose of menopausal therapy—i.e., the substitution of ovarian function by therapy with estrogens, is frequently either unnecessary or inadequate.
General formalism to characterize the microstructure of polydispersed random media.

The general n-point distribution function ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{n}}$ characterizes the microstructure of disordered composite and porous media, liquids, and amorphous solids. In this Rapid Communication we obtain an exact analytical representation of ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{n}}$ for inhomogeneous ensembles of d-dimensional spheres with a polydispersivity in size. Polydispersivity constitutes a fundamental aspect of the structure of random systems of particles.
Sustained attention and grade retention

Two studies are reported which explore the possible relationship between academic failure, as measured by grade retention, and the capacity to sustain attention on a computerized continuous performance task. In a nonreferred sample, 89 children who had been retained at some point in their academic careers showed a higher frequency of abnormal scores on an index of sustained attention than did 93 children who had never repeated a grade. In a sample of children who had been referred for an evaluation of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, children with a history of grade retention had significantly lower scores on the same measure of sustained attention. Results are discussed in terms of the possible contribution of attention deficits to over-all academic achievement, even for children who have not necessarily been referred for a clinical evaluation.
Comparison of reproductive performance in lactating dairy cows bred by natural service or timed artificial insemination

The objective of this study was to compare reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows bred by natural service (NS) or timed AI (TAI). One thousand fifty-five cows were blocked by parity and enrolled to receive either NS or TAI. Cows in both groups were presynchronized with 2 injections of PGF2α given at 42 and 56 d postpartum. Fourteen days after the last PGF2α injection, cows in the TAI group were enrolled in an Ovsynch protocol (d 0 GnRH; 7 d later, PGF2α; 56 h after PGF2α injection, second dose of GnRH; and 16 h after second GnRH cows were TAI). Cows in the TAI group were resynchronized with an intravaginal insert containing progesterone inserted 18 d after TAI and removed 7 d later when GnRH was given. Cows were examined by ultrasonography on d 32 after TAI; nonpregnant cows received PGF2α and GnRH 56 h later followed by TAI 16 h after the GnRH injection. Nonpregnant cows in TAI group were reinseminated up to 5 times using the same scheme. Cows in the NS group were exposed to bulls 14 d after the second PGF2α injection, and ultrasonography was performed 42 d after exposure to bulls to determine pregnancy status. Nonpregnant cows in the NS group were reexamined by transrectal palpation combined with ultrasound every 28 d until diagnosed pregnant or 223 d postpartum, whichever occurred first. Cows diagnosed pregnant in TAI or NS were reconfirmed 28 d later to determine pregnancy loss. All bulls underwent an evaluation of breeding soundness and were rested for 14 d after 14 d of cow exposure. Health disorders were evaluated up to 70 d postpartum, and body condition score was evaluated at d 70 postpartum. Blood was collected on d 56 and 65 postpartum and analyzed for progesterone to determine cyclicity. The proportion of pregnant cows in the first 21 d of breeding did not differ between groups. The overall 21-d cycle pregnancy rate (PR), which included a total of 8 and 5 service opportunities for NS and TAI, respectively, was not different between groups (25.7 and 25.0% for NS and TAI, respectively). The daily rate of pregnancy was 15% greater for NS than TAI because cows in NS had a greater PR, which resulted in fewer median days open (111 vs. 116 d). Proportion of pregnant cows at 223 d postpartum was greater in the NS than TAI group (84.2 vs. 74.8%, respectively). Cyclicity did not affect reproductive performance. Cows with body condition score ≥2.75 had greater proportion of pregnant cows in the first 21 d of breeding and daily PR in the first 223 d postpartum Primiparous cows had greater proportion of pregnant cows and daily PR than multiparous cows at 223 d postpartum. In conclusion, the greater proportion of pregnant cows in the NS group was attributed to more opportunities for breeding than in the TAI group.
Morphological changes in the avian intestine induced by citrinin and lack of effect of aflatoxin and T-2 toxin as seen with scanning electron microscopy

Abstract D. R. Witlock , R. D. Wyatt and M. D. Ruff . Morphological changes in the avian intestine induced by citrinin and lack of effect of aflatoxin and T-2 toxin as seen with scanning electron microscopy. Toxicon 15, 41–44, 1977.—Young broiler chickens ( Gallus domesticus ) fed 250 or 500 μg of citrinin per g of ration exhibited changes in morphology of the midgut compared with control birds fed a ration with no citrinin. These changes included: (1) a ‘herringbone’-like pattern due to marked interdigation of the villi, (2) continuous villar ridges which were oriented around the gut lumen, and (3) the fusion of the villi into convoluted ribbon forms. The duodenum and ileum were relatively unaffected when compared to control tissue. Although aflatoxin and T-2 toxin exert severe physiological effects in the chick, no changes in villous architecture in any gut region were observed.
A note on determination of the parameters of the longitudinal dispersion model from experimental data

Abstract Least-squares methods are given for the estimation of Peclet number and mean flow-through time for dispersive flow processes. The techniques discussed are less sensitive to errors occurring in measurement of tracer concentration than are methods involving variance computation. The least-squares procedure may be carried out in either the time or the frequency domain, whichever is more convenient. Certain solutions of the dispersion model in both domains are summarized.
Linguistic analysis of a blog from a murder-suicide

An analysis of the blog of a murder-suicide showed no similarities to previous analyses of the diary of a suicide. Language: en
DNA Cloning and Engineering by Uracil Excision

This unit describes a simple and efficient DNA engineering method that combines nucleotide sequence alteration, multiple PCR fragment assembly, and directional cloning. PCR primers contain a single deoxyuracil residue (dU), and can be designed to accommodate nucleotide substitutions, insertions, and/or deletions. The primers are then used to amplify DNA in discrete fragments that incorporate a dU at each end. Excision of deoxyuracils results in PCR fragments flanked by unique, overlapping, single-stranded extensions that allow the seamless and directional assembly of customized DNA molecules into a linearized vector. In this way, multi-fragment assemblies, as well as various mutagenic changes, can all be accomplished in a single-format experiment. Two basic protocols on the methods of uracil excision-based engineering are presented, and special attention is given to primer design. The use of a commercially available cloning vector and the preparation of custom vectors are also presented. Curr. Protoc. Mol. Biol. 86:3.21.1-3.21.16. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: uracil excision; UDG; USER enzyme; DNA mutagenesis; directional cloning; DNA assembly; nicking endonuclease
Opioid receptors on bone marrow neutrophils modulate chemotaxis and CD11b/CD18 expression

Abstract Opiates impair neutrophil-mediated host defense, but the involvement of κ-opioid receptors in this action has not been defined. The selective κ-opioid receptor agonist [ trans -(+)3,4-dichloro- N -methyl- N [2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide methanesulfonate inhibited macrophage inflammatory protein-2-induced chemotaxis of bone marrow neutrophils from C57BL/6 mice. Its effects were concentration-dependent ( p IC 50 =10.40±0.61) and inhibited by naloxone ( K e =0.27 nM). The κ-opioid receptor agonists bremazocine and ICI-204, 488 also inhibited chemotaxis, as did the respective μ- and δ-opioid receptor agonists [ d -Ala 2 , N -methyl-Phe 4 , Gly 5 -ol]enkephalin and [ d -Pen 2,5 ]enkephalin albeit with lower potencies. U-50,488H also decreased neutrophil expression of the β 2 integrin CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1) and adhesion to plastic in a naloxone-reversible manner. The results indicate that κ-opioid receptors expressed by neutrophils rapidly modulate chemotaxis and adhesion in vitro.
The nature and properties of giant-orbital polymers

In the course of studying the properties of highly conjugated polymers, we found that long-range orbital delocalization conferred unexpected properties. The giant electronic orbitals made these materials electroactive yet very stable. A new mode of electronic polarizability, a giant nomadic polarization, resulted, making these organic polymers among the most polarizable materials ever observed. In addition, remanent magnetization, high conductivity, and unusual pressure sensitivity could be achieved. The giant-orbital concept opens new vistas of materials properties.
Approximating time-frequency density functions via optimal combinations of spectrograms

We demonstrate that two previously proposed methods for combining the information content from multiple spectrograms into a single, positive time-frequency function are optimal in a cross-entropy sense. The goal in combining the spectrograms is to obtain an improved approximation of the joint time-frequency signal density by overcoming limitations of any single spectrogram. An example of each method is provided, and results are compared with spectrograms and a Cohen-Posch (1985) time-frequency density (TFD) of a nonstationary pulsed tone signal. The proposed combinations are effective and can be efficiently computed. >
ETV1 directs androgen metabolism and confers aggressive prostate cancer in targeted mice and patients

Distinguishing aggressive from indolent disease and developing effective therapy for advanced disease are the major challenges in prostate cancer research. Chromosomal rearrangements involving ETS transcription factors, such as ERG and ETV1, occur frequently in prostate cancer. How they contribute to tumorigenesis and whether they play similar or distinct in vivo roles remain elusive. Here we show that in mice with ERG or ETV1 targeted to the endogenous Tmprss2 locus, either factor cooperated with loss of a single copy of Pten, leading to localized cancer, but only ETV1 appeared to support development of invasive adenocarcinoma under the background of full Pten loss. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that ERG and ETV1 control a common transcriptional network but largely in an opposing fashion. In particular, while ERG negatively regulates the androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional program, ETV1 cooperates with AR signaling by favoring activation of the AR transcriptional program. Furthermore, we found that ETV1 expression, but not that of ERG, promotes autonomous testosterone production. Last, we confirmed the association of an ETV1 expression signature with aggressive disease and poorer outcome in patient data. The distinct biology of ETV1-associated prostate cancer suggests that this disease class may require new therapies directed to underlying programs controlled by ETV1.
SPATIAL HETEROGENEITY EXPLAINS THE SCALE DEPENDENCE OF THE NATIVE-EXOTIC DIVERSITY RELATIONSHIP

While small-scale studies show that more diverse native communities are less invasible by exotics, studies at large spatial scales often find positive correlations between native and exotic diversity. This large-scale pattern is thought to arise because landscapes with favorable conditions for native species also have favorable conditions for exotic species. From theory, we proposed an alternative hypothesis: the positive relationship at large scales is driven by spatial heterogeneity in species composition, which is driven by spatial heterogeneity in the environment. Landscapes with more spatial heterogeneity in the environment can sustain more native and more exotic species, leading to a positive correlation of native and exotic diversity at large scales. In a nested data set for grassland plants, we detected negative relationships between native and exotic diversity at small spatial scales and positive relationships at large spatial scales. Supporting our hypothesis, the positive relationships between native and exotic diversity at large scales were driven by positive relationships between native and exotic beta diversity. Further, both native and exotic diversity were positively correlated with spatial heterogeneity in abiotic conditions (variance of soil depth, soil nitrogen, and aspect) but were uncorrelated with average abiotic conditions, supporting the spatial-heterogeneity hypothesis but not the favorable-conditions
Sodium Channel Defects in Myotonia and Periodic Paralysis

Myotonias and periodic paralyses constitute a diverse group of inherited disorders of muscle in which the primary defect is an alteration in the electrical excitability of the muscle fiber. The ion channel defects underlying these excitability derangements have recently been elucidated at the molecular and functional levels. This review focuses on sodium channel mutations that disrupt inactivation and thereby cause both the enhanced excitability of myotonia (muscle stiffness due to repetitive discharges) and the inexcitability resulting from depolarization during attacks of paralysis.
IEEE AWPL Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters

This archival journal is devoted to the rapid publication of new theoretical and experimental results in all areas of interest to the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society, such as antennas and arrays, wireless propagation, scattering, electromagnetic theory, biomedical applications, electronic properties of materials, high- and low-frequency methods, and numerical techniques in electromagnetics.
Representation of agricultural conservation practices with SWAT

Results of modelling studies for the evaluation of water quality impacts of agricultural conservation practices depend heavily on the numerical procedure used to represent the practices. Herein, a method for the representation of several agricultural conservation practices with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is developed and evaluated. The representation procedure entails identifying hydrologic and water quality processes that are affected by practice implementation, selecting SWAT parameters that represent the affected processes, performing a sensitivity analysis to ascertain the sensitivity of model outputs to selected parameters, adjusting the selected parameters based on the function of conservation practices, and verifying the reasonableness of the SWAT results. This representation procedure is demonstrated for a case study of a small agricultural watershed in Indiana in the Midwestern USA. The methods developed in the present work can be applied with other watershed models that employ similar underlying equations to represent hydrologic and water quality processes.
Effect of desorption kinetics on colloid-facilitated transport of contaminants: Cesium, strontium, and illite colloids

[1] To examine the importance of desorption kinetics to colloid-facilitated transport, we conducted column experiments comparing the transport of cesium and strontium through a saturated quartz sand porous medium in the absence and presence of illite colloids at two ionic strengths. Because cesium desorption from illite was anticipated to be slower than that of strontium, we expected to see a contrast in the colloid-facilitated transport of the cations. A model of colloid-facilitated transport accounting for second-order cation adsorption to and desorption from the quartz, second-order cation adsorption to and desorption from fast and slow sites on the illite colloids, and second-order colloid deposition to and release from the quartz accurately simulated the cation transport in the absence and presence of the illite colloids. The column results and model simulations revealed that cesium desorption was indeed slower than strontium desorption and that this contrast in desorption kinetics resulted in greater colloid-facilitated transport of the cesium. The desorption of both cations was slow relative to the rate of advection. The fast and slow sites on the illite colloids behaved like planar and frayed edge sites typically identified for cesium adsorption to illite. The amount of cesium adsorbed to the slow, or frayed edge, sites was similar to the frayed edge site density of illite estimated by other researchers.
A model for reactivation of CMV from latency.

Abstract Background: Reactivation of CMV from latency results in serious morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised transplant recipients. The mechanism by which CMV reactivates from latency has not been well understood. Objective: In this review we discuss three models for reactivation from latency and present evidence in favor of the model that reactivation is a multi-step process which is initiated by the allogeneic response to the transplanted organ. Study design (J. Virol. 75 (2001) 4814). Mice latently infected with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) were used as donors for allogeneic or syngeneic kidney transplants into immunocompetent recipients. The contralateral donor kidneys were used as controls. Transplanted kidneys were removed at various times after transplant and analyzed for expression of viral genes associated with productive infection and for expression of inflammatory cytokines. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was performed on nuclear extracts of control and transplanted kidneys to examine activation of AP-1 and NFκB. Latently infected mice were also injected with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to examine the effect of TNF alone on induction of MCMV immediate-early (IE) gene expression. Transgenic major immediate early promoter-lacZ mice carrying a β-galactosidase reporter gene under the control of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) IE promoter/enhancer were used as donors for allogeneic kidney transplants to study the effect of allogeneic transplantation on induction of HCMV IE gene expression. Results: Allogeneic, but not syngeneic transplantation induces MCMV IE-1 expression and expression of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF. Allogeneic transplantation activates transcription factors, including NFκB and AP-1. TNF alone can induce MCMV IE-1 gene expression and activation of NFκB and AP-1 in some tissues. Conclusions: We propose that induction of IE-1 gene expression is the first step in reactivation of the virus in an immunocompromised transplant recipient, and that it occurs as a result of the allogeneic response, which induces expression of TNF and subsequent activation of NFκB, and ischemia/reperfusion injury, which induces activation of AP-1. We speculate that the natural stimulus for reactivation in an immunocompetent host is an inflammatory immune response to infection and that allogeneic transplantation mimics this process.
Zeitkritische Datenströme in verteilten Multimedia-Systemen

Die fur Multimedia-Systeme typischen audiovisuellen Daten wie Ton und Bewegtbild tragen Zeitparameter, die uber Verarbeitung und Prasentation dieser Daten entscheiden. Um diese Zeitparameter beschreiben zu konnen und um die Speicherung, den Transport und den Abruf zeitkritischer Daten programmtechnisch handhabbar zu machen, haben wir die Abstraktion der Zeitkapsel entwickelt. Zeitkapseln halten neben Datenwerten auch die Zeitinformationen uber diese Werte fest und geben Daten nur unter Bezugnahme auf diese Zeitparameter wieder frei. Sie verbergen die komplizierteren Aspekte der Behandlung von Zeitparametern vor ihren Benutzem und erlauben so den einfachen Umgang mit zeitkritischen Daten bei der Programmierung von Multimedia-Systemen.
Cognitive Style and Concept Mapping Performance

Background Cognitive style has been shown to influence the number, type, and organization of an individual's ideas. Concept maps are used regularly to assess students’ organization and mastery of knowledge (their cognitive level) in engineering courses, yet very few studies have analyzed concept maps with respect to cognitive style. Purpose/Hypothesis This study sought to investigate the relationship between cognitive style and concept mapping performance. Using principles of cognitive psychology and concept mapping assessment, we hypothesized that correlations between cognitive style and the selected concept map metrics are not statistically significant. Design/Method Concept maps from 104 engineering undergraduates in a first-year design course were analyzed using 12 traditional scoring metrics and four holistic scoring metrics. One holistic metric was expanded to allow more detailed evaluation, bringing the number of map metrics to 20. Cognitive style was measured using the Kirton Adaption–Innovation Inventory, a psychometric instrument previously applied in engineering education contexts. Relationships between the concept map metrics and cognitive style were investigated using standard linear techniques. Results Results show substantial support for the null hypothesis that cognitive style and concept mapping performance are uncorrelated. Conclusions Engineering educators can be confident that the concept map metrics used here reflect cognitive level and not cognitive style. Cognitive style inventories and concept maps are likely measuring two separate aspects of an individual's cognition and are therefore complementary rather than duplicative.
Spectral-profile-based algorithm for hemoglobin oxygen saturation determination from diffuse reflectance spectra

Variations of hemoglobin (Hb) oxygenation in tissue provide important indications concerning the physiological conditions of tissue, and the data related to these variations are of intense interest in medical research as well as in clinical care. In this study, we derived a new algorithm to estimate Hb oxygenation from diffuse reflectance spectra. The algorithm was developed based on the unique spectral profile differences between the extinction coefficient spectra of oxy-Hb and deoxy-Hb within the visible wavelength region. Using differential wavelet transformation, these differences were quantified using the locations of certain spectral features, and, then, they were related to the oxygenation saturation level of Hb. The applicability of the algorithm was evaluated using a set of diffuse reflectance spectra produced by a Monte Carlo simulation model of photon migration and by tissue phantoms experimentally. The algorithm was further applied to the diffuse reflectance spectra acquired from in vivo experiments to demonstrate its clinical utility. The validation and evaluation results concluded that the algorithm is applicable to various tissue types (i.e., scattering properties) and can be easily used in conjunction with a diverse range of probe geometries for real-time monitoring of Hb oxygenation.
Threats to ICF reactor materials: computational simulations of radiation damage induced topological changes in fused silica

We have performed molecular dynamics simulations of radiation damage in fused silica. In this study, we discuss the role of successive cascade overlap on the saturation and self-healing of oxygen vacancy defects in the amorphous fused silica network. Furthermore, we present findings on the topological changes in fused silica due to repeated energetic recoil atoms. These topological network modifications consistent with experimental Raman spectroscopic observation on neutron and ion irradiated fused silica are indicators of permanent densification that has also been observed experimentally.
Domain customization for aspect-oriented opinion analysis with multi-level latent sentiment clues

Aspect-oriented opinion mining detects the reviewers' sentiment orientation (e.g. positive, negative or neutral) towards different product-features. Domain customization is a big challenge for opinion mining due to the accuracy loss across domains. In this paper, we show our experiences and lessons learned in the domain customization for the aspect-oriented opinion analysis system OpinionIt. We present a customization method for sentiment classification with multi-level latent sentiment clues. We first construct Latent Semantic Association model to capture latent association among product-features from the unlabeled corpus. Meanwhile, we present an unsupervised method to effectively extract various domain-specific sentiment clues from the unlabeled corpus. In the customization, we tune the sentiment classifier on the labeled source domain data by incorporating the multi-level latent sentiment clues (e.g. latent association among product-features, domain-specific and generic sentiment clues). Experimental results show that the proposed method significantly reduces the accuracy loss of sentiment classification without any labeled target domain data.
Effect of Al, Ta, and O Precursors on Growth and Properties of Al2O3 and Ta2O5 Thin Films Deposited by Triode PECVD

In this article, the properties of plasma deposited Al2O3 and Ta2O5 thin films (k ≈ 12 and 25 respectively) are discussed as possible high k alternatives to SiO2. The films were formed in a 4” compatible triode plasma CVD reactor using Ta(V)ethoxide for Ta2O5 and Al acetylacetonate, Al tri-sec-butoxide, Al triisopropoxide, and triethyldialuminum tri-sec-butoxide metal organic precursors for Al2O3. Precursors were heated to 150 °C and delivered to the reactor with He and Ar carrier gases downstream from the plasma. For Ta2O5 films, film properties were strongly dependent on the oxygen precursor, with O2 resulting in higher growth rates, better uniformity, and better stability to water exposure than films deposited using N2O. For Al2O3, distinct differences in OH and C incorporation were observed for the various Al and O precursors studied. In particular, films deposited from alkoxides had higher concentrations of OH and C, and had higher leakage currents. For films deposited with triethydialuminum tri-sec-butoxide, the N2O plasma O atom source resulted in smaller leakage currents and less C than an O2 plasma. Temperature dependence of the deposition rates and the leakage currents was also observed.
Adding Another Foreign Language to the Secondary School Program.

YEAR in and year out, a number of administrators are faced with the problem of whether to add another foreign language to their program. Although the impulses to expansion are varied, the principles involved are almost always the same. In formulating a typical problem and in presenting the principles to be applied in solving it, the assumption is made that a group of interested citizens who are native speakers of a less-commonly-offered modern foreign language have asked the administrators of a goodsized school system to add the study of their language to the grade 9-12 curriculum. It is understood that the additional language will enjoy the same status as the presently established languages, that offering it is in no way intended to cater to pupils of a particular intellectual strength, whether low or high. It is also understood that every foreign language offering in the curriculum is to constitute a minimum sequence of four years and four levels ending with the completion of grade 12, The position adopted here is that the solution of the problem should take into consideration the following questions, together with the suggested answers which are held to constitute the application of reasonable, workable principles. A grade 7-12 five-level sequence is mentioned incidentally. 1. Does the school system have sufficient numbers of well-motivated and able pupils to support the petition of the interested citizens and thus to warrant the establishment of the proposed language as a minimum four-year, four-level sequence ending with the completion of grade 12? The likelihood of support of the proposed language by interested and able pupils willing to study the language for a minimum of four years and four levels (or six years and five levels) through grade 12 is far more important than the support of a linguistic or ethnic segment of the adult community. Indications of pupil support can be obtained through preregistration of 8th grade pupils at the middle of the academic year, administration of aptitude tests, application of locally devised criteria, and a consideration of enrollments in current course-offerings. 2. Can the school system be sure of having at the appropriate grade-levels fully competent teachers of the proposed language to establish and 245
Genetic variants associated with breast-cancer risk: comprehensive research synopsis, meta-analysis, and epidemiological evidence

Summary Background More than 1000 reports have been published in the past two decades on associations between variants in candidate genes and risk of breast cancer. Results have been generally inconsistent. We did a literature search and meta-analyses to provide a synopsis of the current understanding of the genetic architecture of breast-cancer risk. Methods A systematic literature search for candidate-gene association studies of breast-cancer risk was done in two stages, using PubMed on or before Feb 28, 2010. A total of 24 500 publications were identified, of which 1059 were deemed eligible for inclusion. Meta-analyses were done for 279 genetic variants in 128 candidate genes or chromosomal loci that had at least three data sources. Variants with significant associations by meta-analysis were assessed using the Venice criteria and scored as having strong, moderate, or weak cumulative evidence for an association with breast-cancer risk. Findings 51 variants in 40 genes showed significant associations with breast-cancer risk. Cumulative epidemiological evidence of an association was graded as strong for ten variants in six genes ( ATM, CASP8, CHEK2, CTLA4, NBN , and TP53 ), moderate for four variants in four genes ( ATM, CYP19A1, TERT , and XRCC3 ), and weak for 37 variants. Additionally, in meta-analyses that included a minimum of 10 000 cases and 10 000 controls, convincing evidence of no association with breast-cancer risk was identified for 45 variants in 37 genes. Interpretation Whereas most genetic variants assessed in previous candidate-gene studies showed no association with breast-cancer risk in meta-analyses, 14 variants in nine genes had moderate to strong evidence for an association. Further evaluation of these variants is warranted. Funding US National Cancer Institute.
Effect of Selected Insecticides on Homalodisca coagulata (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and Transmission of Oleander Leaf Scorch in a Greenhouse Study

Homalodisca coagulata (Say) is a recent introduction to California. It is known to spread a strain of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells, Raju, Hung, Weisberg, Mandelco-Paul & Brenner that induces oleander leaf scorch disease in oleander, Nerium oleander L. Oleander leaf scorch is lethal to oleander and threatens to decimate one of the most important landscape shrubs in California. Towards developing a management strategy for H. coagulata-spread oleander leaf scorch, we documented the affects of selected insecticides on H. coagulata mortality, feeding behavior, and disease transmission in a greenhouse study. Oleanders treated with fenpropathrin, fenpropathrin + acephate, and imidacloprid caused significant mortality to caged H. coagulata within 4 h of exposure. Within 24 h, these pesticides caused nearly 100% mortality 3 wk after treatment. In other experiments, acetamiprid and fenpropathrin treatments reduced time spent feeding and total time on plants. H. coagulata on fenpropathrin-, acetamiprid-, and imidacloprid-treated oleander died in less than 13 min on average. Oleander leaf scorch transmission by H. coagulata was blocked by applications of foliar-applied acetamiprid, and soil-applied imidacloprid and thiamethoxam.
Uncertainty analysis of thermocouple measurements used in normal and abnormal thermal environment experiments at Sandia's Radiant Heat Facility and Lurance Canyon Burn Site.

It would not be possible to confidently qualify weapon systems performance or validate computer codes without knowing the uncertainty of the experimental data used. This report provides uncertainty estimates associated with thermocouple data for temperature measurements from two of Sandia's large-scale thermal facilities. These two facilities (the Radiant Heat Facility (RHF) and the Lurance Canyon Burn Site (LCBS)) routinely gather data from normal and abnormal thermal environment experiments. They are managed by Fire Science & Technology Department 09132. Uncertainty analyses were performed for several thermocouple (TC) data acquisition systems (DASs) used at the RHF and LCBS. These analyses apply to Type K, chromel-alumel thermocouples of various types: fiberglass sheathed TC wire, mineral-insulated, metal-sheathed (MIMS) TC assemblies, and are easily extended to other TC materials (e.g., copper-constantan). Several DASs were analyzed: (1) A Hewlett-Packard (HP) 3852A system, and (2) several National Instrument (NI) systems. The uncertainty analyses were performed on the entire system from the TC to the DAS output file. Uncertainty sources include TC mounting errors, ANSI standard calibration uncertainty for Type K TC wire, potential errors due to temperature gradients inside connectors, extension wire uncertainty, DAS hardware uncertainties including noise, common mode rejection ratio, digital voltmeter accuracy, mV to temperature conversion, analog to digital conversion, and other possible sources. Typical results for 'normal' environments (e.g., maximum of 300-400 K) showed the total uncertainty to be about {+-}1% of the reading in absolute temperature. In high temperature or high heat flux ('abnormal') thermal environments, total uncertainties range up to {+-}2-3% of the reading (maximum of 1300 K). The higher uncertainties in abnormal thermal environments are caused by increased errors due to the effects of imperfect TC attachment to the test item. 'Best practices' are provided in Section 9 to help the user to obtain the best measurements possible.
Poly[[{μ3-2-[4-(2-hy­droxy­eth­yl)piperazin-1-yl]ethane­sulfonato}­silver(I)] trihydrate]

Ethane­sulfonic acid-based buffers like 2-[4-(2-hy­droxy­eth­yl)­piperazin-1-yl]ethane­sulfonic acid (HEPES) are commonly used in biological experiments because of their ability to act as non-coordinating ligands towards metal ions. However, recent work has shown that some of these buffers may in fact coordinate metal ions. The title complex, {[Ag(C8H17N2O4S)]·3H2O}n, is a metal–organic framework formed from HEPES and a silver(I) ion. In this polymeric complex, each Ag atom is primarily coordinated by two N atoms in a distorted linear geometry. Weaker secondary bonding inter­actions from the hy­droxy and sulfate O atoms of HEPES complete a distorted seesaw geometry. The crystal structure is stabilized by O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding interactions.
Do Disasters Lead to Forced Migration: Global Analysis and Case Study of Indonesia

The paper examines the claim of forced migration due to increasing environmental calamities by first citing various relevant studies on different countries. The review of the existing studies gives rise to a mixed conclusion. Some countries really exhibit the phenomenon of forced migration but some countries in fact have less migration after disasters. The paper then focuses on the single-country study of Indonesia and use an empirical approach to quantitatively assess the notion of forced migration. The findings show that the rising trend of disasters actually drives down household migration. I go on to separately look at split migration and moving of the entire household, the analysis also discovers that earthquake causes household to split and migrate less. Eruption, on the other hand, reduces both split migration and moving of the entire households. To explain the above findings, the paper examines how disasters affect various economic variables and how those economic variables in turn shape household migration pattern. Earthquakes in fact slash the size, non-business assets and total earnings of households. Since households with smaller size, less non-business assets and lower earnings split and migrate less, earthquakes drive down split migration as a consequence. Similarly, eruptions increase farm business assets possibly by enriching soil fertility through lava deposits and as a result make the entire household less likely to move.The paper urges for a more in-depth rigorous study of migration pattern at our time of surging environmental calamities instead of simply raising the concerns of forced migration as most policy makers suggest. The allegation of increasing cross-border migration is even less founded as most environmentally displaced migrants stay in their own countries should forced migration really happens. Instead of spending time and resources to cope with forced migration which may even not exist, the focus should be shifted back to disaster rehabilitation programs which have far reaching benefits of longer term regardless how migration pattern interacts with the changing environmental conditions.
MITIGATING RAPIDLY PROPAGATING WORM THREATS IN EMERGENT NETWORKS

This dissertation presents a series of techniques that help both client devices and network elements defend against a wide variety of worm attacks. These techniques can be deployed to secure emergent networks including peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing systems and wireless communication systems. In recent years, worms have emerged as one of the most disastrous security threats to various information systems and network infrastructures. Although Internet worms have been extensively studied, worm issues in such emergent networks as peer-to-peer (P2P) systems and cellular networks have yet received due attention. This dissertation aims at designing automated, realtime, and systematic countermeasures, which leverage the existing internal communication mechanisms and network infrastructure to contain worm propagation. The proposed defenses consist of security solutions for both client and system software. For P2P networks, this dissertation first proposes a partition-based scheme and a CDS-based scheme to contain ultra-fast topological worm spreads. These schemes leverage the underlying P2P overlay for distributing automated security patches to vulnerable machines. They are unique in adopting graph-theory techniques for containing fast spreading worms. This dissertation then proposes a P2P-tailored solution to combat file-sharing worms in P2P environments. Our solution consists of a download-based scheme and a search-based scheme. Both schemes utilize the existing file-sharing mechanisms to internally disseminate security patches to participating peers in a timely and distributed fashion. For cell-phone networks, this dissertation proposes two device-level defenses for securing smartphone software, namely an access-control–based scheme and a GTT-based scheme. These schemes are unique in that they either enforce security policies in phone devices to identify and block worm attacks or leverage artificial intelligence (AI) methods to differentiate human or worm initiators of the phone applications. This dissertation also proposes a systematic countermeasure consisting of both terminal-level and network-level defenses for combating cell-phone worms. Unlike the existing solutions that split the collaboration between the terminal device and the network to throttle system-wide worm spreads, the proposed solution adopts an identity-based signature scheme at both the sender and the receiver side, and a detection-based automated patching scheme at the network side. Combining terminal-level and network-level defenses effectively speeds up the process of worm detection and victim disinfection. This dissertation also provides solid mathematical analyses, extensive simulations and experiments to evaluate the effectiveness and show the applicability of the proposed defenses. In addition, it discusses some open issues related to the proposed solutions and suggests some interesting directions in combating the worm threats as the emergent networks evolve.
Intraspecific variation in physiological performance of a benthic elasmobranch challenged by ocean acidification and warming

ABSTRACT Elucidating the combined effects of increasing temperature and ocean acidification on performance of fishes is central to our understanding of how species will respond to global climate change. Measuring the metabolic costs associated with intense and short activities, such as those required to escape predators, is key to quantifying changes in performance and estimating the potential effects of environmental stressors on survival. In this study, juvenile little skate Leucoraja erinacea from two neighboring locations (Gulf of Maine, or northern location, and Georges Bank, or southern location) were developmentally acclimatized and reared at current and projected temperatures (15, 18 or 20°C) and acidification conditions (pH 8.1 or 7.7), and their escape performance was tested by employing a chasing protocol. The results from this study suggest countergradient variation in growth between skates from the two locations, while the optimum for escape performance was at a lower temperature in individuals from the northern latitudes, which could be related to adaptation to the local thermal environment. Aerobic performance and scope declined in skates from the northern latitudes under simulated ocean warming and acidification conditions. Overall, the southern skates showed lower sensitivity to these climatic stressors. This study demonstrates that even mobile organisms from neighboring locations can exhibit substantial differences in energetic costs of exercise and that skates from the northern part of the geographic range may be more sensitive to the directional increase in temperature and acidification expected by the end of the century.
The Exploration of Mars; Historical Context and Current Results

As we move into the 21 st century, Mars has taken center stage in NASA’s, and indeed the world’s, plans for planetary exploration. The winter of 2003/2004 is a significant example. No fewer than three missions have been winging their way to Mars this season, Mars Express, a European Space Agency orbiter/lander mission and two NASA Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mobile landers. Why the fascination with Mars? In a word—water, or more importantly, what the presence of water most likely signifies—life. The NASA MER twins, the focus of this paper are essentially roving geologists, but not equipped to merely examine dead rock, they were expressly designed to lay the ground work to understanding if life, in whatever microbial form, might now survive or might have ever blossomed on the red planet. The tale of just how these particular missions happen to be landing on Mars in January of 2004 with their particular suite of science instruments of necessity interweaves some understanding of the red planet itself with the history of Mars exploration at NASA, the increasing sophistication of instrument technologies and the maturing of the science of Astrobiology, the study of life in the universe.
THE NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF WAVE GENERATION BY LOW SPEED WINDS

In this study we investigate the process of wind-wave generation by using direct numerical simulation (DNS). Air and water domains are respectively solved by Navier-Stokes equations in 3D Cartesian coordinates in which air-water coupled boundary conditions are specified at interface. A shear wind on the top of the air domain is specified, and air and water domains are subsequently driven to fully-developed turbulence, allowing wave growth at interface. In this paper we improve the work published by Lin et al. (2008). Instead of simplified linear boundary conditions (BCs), we derive and impose the non-linear BCs for normal stress at interface, as well as non-linear curvature terms used to balance the discontinuity. The results show that at the linear (initial) stage, faster wave growth is seen with non-linear BCs than with linearized BCs. This is reversed during the exponential (developed) stage.
Introduction to the Liver and its Response to Toxicants

Chapter 9.01 provides an introduction and overview of the gross and microscopic structure and function of the liver, its response to chemicals and toxicants, and the mechanisms involved.
Synthesis and Derivative Properties of Phenylsulfide

Bis-2,4-dinitrophenyl sulfide(2a) and bis-p-nitrophenyl sulfide(2b) were designed and synthesized.The structures were characterized by 1H NMR and 13C NMR.The reactivities towards thiols and other nucleophilic groups[hydroxyl(-OH),carboxylic acid(-CO2H) and amino(-NH2)] were checked by HPLC through the use of N-acetyl cysteine(NAC)(as the thiol representative) and serine(as a representative compound for other nucleophilic groups),respectively.The results showed that the reactivity of 2a towards NAC was apparently higher than 2b;2a was inert to any nucleophilic groups except thiol group.
TRADEOFFS IN ADAPTING BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS.

Abstract Biological systems must sense and adapt to changes in their environment. Molecular networks capable of such adaptation belong to two well-known classes, feedforward and feedback structures, but the fundamental limitations and tradeoffs of these two classes remain unknown. Here we study the advantages and limitations of the feedforward class using three-node circuits representative of these architectures. The feedforward model we investigate displays a tradeoff between the sensitivity of the response (its peak response) and its precision (its error in its return to steady-state). We suggest two ways in which this tradeoff can be alleviated: (1) by introducing a nonlinearity in the production of a specific node in the network, and (2) by adding a feedback loop to the input. We present analytical and numerical examples to support our findings.
Divergent Paths Towards Democracy: Ruling Political Elites in Egypt and Turkey

This paper examines why Egypt and Turkey have followed two divergent political pathways since the end of World War II. Building on the theory of historical institutionalism, this paper argues that two critical historical junctures have led Egypt towards a path of authoritarianism and Turkey towards a path of democratization. In Egypt, the 1952 coup d’etat led by Gamal Abdel Nasser and in Turkey, the 1950 Presidential election represents two such junctures. This paper demonstrates that the divergent paths between the two countries originates at these critical junctures and analyzes the decisions made by the ruling political elites at these important turning points. Two divergent paths become evident. In Turkey, after initial democratic reforms were instituted from above by elites, subsequent popular democratic movements have had more success within the system since an historical precedent of participation existed. Conversely, in Egypt, the ruling political elites have continuously thwarted popular political movements of the country from political access, because no such democratic precedents were ever institutionalized.