cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An integrated assessment of a “type euxinic” deposit: Evidence for multiple controls on black shale deposition in the middle Devonian Oatka Creek formation

An integrated lithologic, paleontologic, and multi-proxy geochemical study of the Middle Devonian Oatka Creek Formation, a black shale in the northern Appalachian Basin, indicates that a number of different factors contributed to organic carbon-rich black shale deposition. Conditions leading to this organic-rich sedimentary deposit were ultimately controlled by a relative sealevel rise, dominantly eustatic but with possible contributions from local tectonics, which cut off the supply of carbonate to the basin. Geochemical proxy evidence –such as Mo/Ti, Fe/Ti, Corg, Spy, and δ34Spy –suggests that as sealevel continued to rise after the carbonate supply was cut off, a threshold was crossed at which point conditions in the basin shifted from dominantly anoxic to dominantly euxinic (anoxic-sulfidic bottom waters). Concurrent with the shift to dominantly euxinic conditions, the supply of siliciclastic sediments was cut off, resulting in a condensed horizon, as evidenced by the elemental ratios of Si/Al and K/(Fe+Mg) and the relative concentration of eolian silt as determined petrographically and from scanning electron microscopy. Sediment starvation in the basin appears to have facilitated the biogeochemical (re)cycling of C, N, and P. Specifically, the elemental ratios of C, N, and P and the stable carbon isotope composition of organic matter suggest that the preferential regeneration of P under anoxic conditions (and of N during the oxic phase of oxic/anoxic oscillation) led to enhanced primary production in surface waters, thereby maintaining euxinic conditions in the bottom waters through respiration of settling organic matter. Finally, it is observed that, though conditions in the basin seem to have remained consistently anoxic-sulfidic for some time after the initial shift to euxinic conditions, a progressive increase in siliciclastic sedimentation led to a corresponding decrease in the enrichment of various redox-related elements, illustrating the overriding control that sedimentation can have on geochemical proxy records.
Replacement of fatty marrow by active granulocytopoietic bone marrow following transplantation of mammary carcinoma into mice.

The development of granulocytic hemopoiesis in the fatty marrow of metatarsal bones and caudal vertebrae of adult mice was studied in histological sections for up to six weeks following subcutaneous innoculation of granulocytosis inducing mammary carcinoma. The initial events observed were increase and engorgement of fatty marrow sinusoidal vascular beds, accompanied by numerous lymphoid mononuclear cells in the sinusoids and in the stroma. Foci of granulocytopoiesis appeared admixed with lymphoid cells in the stroma and near the endosteum. Hyperplastic granulocytopoiesis eventually predominated in the marrow of these bones as well as the femoral and sternal marrow of tumor bearing mice. The morphological findings suggested the possibility of stem cell and progenitor cell migration into fatty marrow, but activation of dormant stem cells could not be ruled out. The prevalence of granulocytopoiesis in the entire skeletal marrow in tumor bearing mice may seriously impair the production of other cellular components of the marrow including lymphocytes, reduced production of the latter would imply serious compromise for the immune system of the tumor bearing animals.
Imported Fasciola hepatica Infection in the United States and Treatment with Triclabendazole

Infection with Fasciola hepatica, a liver trematode, is not frequently reported in the United States. We describe 2 patients, both originally from Cape Verde, who illustrate the spectrum of clinical presentations of F. hepatica as well as the means of treating infection with this parasite. Patient 1 had extensive disease and underwent multiple diagnostic procedures before the correct diagnosis was reached. Patient 2, who had few symptoms, had fascioliasis diagnosed by a noninvasive evaluation. Both patients were treated with triclabendazole without experiencing significant side effects. Fascioliasis that has been imported to the United States may elude prompt or accurate diagnosis. Obtaining a detailed travel history and recognizing the clinical presentation early in the course of infection may permit timely and noninvasive identification of infection. Triclabendazole is now the recommended drug for treating for fascioliasis because of its efficacy, safety, and ease of use.
Bureaucracies as deontic systems

Bureaucratic offices are not only for clerical work, but more important, they are for officiating in the sense of issuing directives, granting permissions, enforcing prohibitions, waiving obligations, and so forth. Bureaucracies are thus deontic systems for organizational and social control. Conventional information processing approaches are inadequate for capturing these aspects of bureaucratic modeling. A logic-based representation that emphasizes deontic and performative aspects is proposed.
Indications for and the significance of seminal vesicle irradiation during 3D conformal radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the use of pretreatment prostate specific antigen, Gleason score, and clinical stage as predictors of the risk of seminal vesicle involvement in patients with clinically localized prostatic cancer, and to determine the impact of excluding the seminal vesicles on the dose received by surounding normal tissues. Methods and Materials: An empirically derived equation combining the preoperative prostate specific antigen and Gleason score was applied to 188 patients treated with radical prostatectomy, for whom pathologic evaluation of the seminal vesicles was available. High and low risk groups for seminal vesicle involvement were defined using this equation. The observed risks of seminal vesicle involvement was compared to the predicted risk using the preoperative prostate specific antigen, Gleason score or clinical stage alone or using the empirical equation. Dose-volume histograms for five patients treated using six-field conformal radiotherapy were compared including and excluding the seminal vesicles. Results: Using the empirically derived equation, a low risk group of 109 patients was identified with a calculated risk of seminal vesicle involvement of ≤ 13% and an observed incidence of 7.3%. Among the high risk group of 79 patients, which included all patients with a calculated risk > 13%, 37% had seminal vesicle involvement ( p Conclusion: The empirical formula predicts risk of seminal vesicle involvement with a higher degree of significance for a larger number of patients than either Gleason score, clinical stage, or prostate specific antigen alone. Based on an analysis of our first 100 patients treated with definitive conformal therapy alone, approximately 47% of those patients could have been treated excluding the seminal vesicles. Excluding the seminal vesicles may allow us to go to a higher total dose with less rectal toxicity.
Does external funding of academic research crowd out institutional support

Abstract Nonprofit organizations receive revenues from a variety of sources. The amount of support provided by each source is often dependent on the level supplied by the other(s). Empirical evidence regarding crowding out among alternative sources of revenue in nonprofit organizations is mixed, but most studies find that an increase in funding from one of the sources tends to decrease contributions from the other(s). This paper investigates the relationship between internal and external funding of academic research. I find evidence that there is not crowding out in this case. Instead, additional funding from each of these sources enhances the amount provided by the other over time. This is consistent with the hypothesis that external sponsors wish to allocate funding to those universities that do the highest quality research, and that funding from either source provides information about quality. The results of this study also imply that a one-time change in funding from one source has a multiplier effect on subsequent levels of both sources. The potential for feedback effects is usually ignored in studies of this type, meaning that the total impact of funding changes may often be understated. This suggests that relatively small decreases in academic research funding can have a larger-than-anticipated effect that may persist for many years. The presence of feedback effects also indicates that existing models of nonprofit behavior, which are primarily static, need to be modified to incorporate a dynamic structure.
Characterizing naturalistic driving patterns for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle analysis

While much of the previous research relies on Federal Driving Schedules originally developed for emission certification tests of conventional vehicles, consumer acceptance and market penetration will depend on PHEV performance under realistic driving conditions. Therefore, characterizing the actual driving is essential for PHEV design and control studies, and for establishing realistic forecasts pertaining to vehicle energy consumption and charging requirements. To achieve this goal, we analyze naturalistic driving data generated in Field Operational Tests (FOT) of passenger vehicles in Southeast Michigan. The FOT were originally conceived for evaluating driver interaction with advanced safety systems, but the databases are rich with information pertaining to vehicle energy. After the initial statistical analysis of the vehicle speed histories, the naturalistic driving schedules are used as input to the PHEV computer simulation to predict energy usage as a function of trip length. The highest specific energy, i.e. energy per mile, is critical for battery and motor sizing. As an illustration of the impact of actual driving, the low-energy and high-energy driving patterns would require PHEV20 battery sizes of 6.12 kWh and 13.6 kWh, respectively. This is determined assuming that the minimum state of charge (SOC) is 40%. In addition, the naturalistic driving databases are mined for information about vehicle resting time, i.e. time spent at typical locations during the 24-hour period. The locations include “home”, “work”, “large-business” such as a large retail store, and “small business”, such as a gas station, and finally “residential” other than home. The characterization of vehicle daily missions supports analysis of charging schedules, as it indicates times spent at given locations as well as the likely battery SOC at the time of arrival.
Computational modeling of medium spiny projection neurons in nucleus accumbens: toward the cellular mechanisms of afferent stream integration

The nucleus accumbens (Nacc) regulates the major feedback pathways linking prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. We describe simulations of a biophysical level model of a single medium spiny projection (MSP) neuron, the principle cell of the Nacc. The model suggests that the unusual bistable membrane potential of MSP cells arises from the interplay between two potassium currents, K/sub IR/ and K/sub A/. We find that the transition from the membrane potential down state (/spl sim/-85 mV) to the upstate (/spl sim/-60 mV) requires a significant barrage of synchronized inputs, and that ongoing afferent stimulation is required to maintain the cell in the up state. The Nacc receives the densest dopominergic innervation in the brain, and the model demonstrates, in agreement with recent experimental evidence, that dopamine acts to increase the energy barrier to membrane potential state transitions. Through its action on K/sub IR/ and L-type Ca/sup 2+/ channels, dopamine selectively lowers cell gain in the down state and increases it in the up state, a mechanism for context-dependent gain control. These findings suggest a mechanism of afferent pattern integration in the accumbens arising from transient synchronization among ensembles of MSP neurons. We attempt to relate these findings to possible origins of abnormalities of sensory gating in schizophrenia.
Hot Isostatic Pressing to Increase Thermal Conductivity of Si3N4 Ceramics

Highly anisotropic Si3N4 ceramics were successfully fabricated by tape-casting of raw α–Si3N4 powders with β–Si3N4 single-crystal particles as seed particles and Y2O3 as an effective sintering aid, followed by hot isostatic pressing at a temperature of 2773 K for 2 h under a nitrogen gas pressure of 200 MPa. The microstructure consists of very large elongated grains (diameter ~10 μm; length of ~200 μm), highly oriented in the tape-casting direction. The thermal conductivity along this direction reaches 155 W m-1K-1 at room temperature, but varies significantly between room temperature and 1273 K. This thermal conductivity is closely related to (1) formation of extremely large elongated β–Si3N4 grains with a reduced amount of crystal defects due to the high-temperature firing and to (2) orientation of β–Si3N4 grains due to addition of seed particles and to tape-casting.
Designing and implementing a family of intrusion detection systems

Intrusion detection systems are distributed applications that analyze the events in a networked system to identify malicious behavior. The analysis is performed using a number of attack models (or signatures) that are matched against a specific event stream. Intrusion detection systems may operate in heterogeneous environments, analyzing different types of event streams. Currently, intrusion detection systems and the corresponding attack modeling languages are developed following an ad hoc approach to match the characteristics of specific target environments. As the number of systems that have to be protected increases, this approach results in increased development effort. To overcome this limitation, we developed a framework, called STAT, that supports the development of new intrusion detection functionality in a modular fashion. The STAT framework can be extended following a well-defined process to implement intrusion detection systems tailored to specific environments, platforms, and event streams. The STAT framework is novel in the fact that the extension process also includes the extension of the attack modeling language. The resulting intrusion detection systems represent a software family whose members share common attack modeling features and the ability to reconfigure their behavior dynamically. The STAT framework allows an Intrusion Detection Administrator to express high-level configuration requirements that are mapped automatically to a detailed deployment and/or reconfiguration plan. This approach supports automation of the administrator tasks and better assurance of the effectiveness and consistency of the deployed sensing infrastructure.
Dynamic Reserve Selection: Optimal Land Retention with Land-Price Feedbacks

Urban growth compromises open space and ecosystem functions. To mitigate the negative effects, some agencies use reserve selection models to identify conservation sites for purchase or retention. Existing models assume that conservation has no impact on nearby land prices. We propose a new integer program that relaxes this assumption via adaptive cost coefficients. Our model accounts for the two key land price feedbacks that arise in markets where conservation competes with development: the amenity premium and price increases driven by shifts in market equilibriums. We illustrate the mechanics of the proposed model in a real land retention context. The results suggest that in competitive land markets, the optimal conservation strategy during the initial phase of the retention effort might be to use available dollars to buy fewer parcels with smaller total area that are under high risk of development. We show that failure to capture the land-price feedbacks can lead to significant losses in biological conservation. The present study is the first to create a reserve selection model that captures the economic theory of competitive land markets in a dynamic framework, produces tangible, parcel-level conservation recommendations, and works on problems with thousands of potential site selection decisions and several planning periods.
Alliances, Then Democracy: An Examination of the Relationship between Regime Type and Alliance Formation

Previous studies have not established a consistent link between regime type and alliance formation, despite the relevance of the decision to ally in a number of arguments about regime type and alliance behavior. The inconsistency in these findings turns largely on choice of research design and variable definition; when the dependent variable is alliance formation, democratic dyads are unlikely to ally, but when the dependent variable is the presence of an alliance tie, democratic dyads are likely to be allied. Under a standard research design, the authors find both claims to be true and propose a test of an explanation for this tendency of autocratic states to democratize in alliances. They show that the presence of a defense pact with all neighboring states reduces the likelihood that a state will be targeted with a territorial militarized dispute, reduces the level of state militarization, and increases the likelihood of democratic transitions.
Manufacturing and Modeling of SMA Composite Reinforcement for Enhanced Performance of Concrete Structures under Sequential Ground Motion Records

Aftershocks are known to cause collapse of structures after acquiring damage from main shock. When strong main shock strikes, reinforced concrete (RC) structures are often vulnerable to impact of aftershocks as they already are weakened due to damage accumulation. This research presents a new type of shape memory alloy (SMA)-based composite reinforcement with ability to withstand seismic forces from main shock and aftershocks while exhibiting pseudo-elastic behavior. In this study, small diameter SMA wires are embedded in thermoset resin matrix with or without additional glass fibers to develop composite reinforcement. These SMA composite specimens are first tested under quasi-static cyclic tensile loading to achieve constitutive material response and then to develop analytical material models. These experimentally calibrated material models are used in structural level models to assess the performance of RC structures under seismic loading. Three storey, one bay prototype RC moment resisting frames (MRFs), reinforced with SMA composite and steel reinforcements, are subjected to sequential ground motions to study their nonlinear behavior and impact of aftershocks. These RC-MRF frames are subjected to incremental dynamic analysis using suite of ground motion records from main shockaftershock earthquake sequences and a comparison is drawn based on accumulation of damage and residual drifts. It is found that the sequential incremental dynamic analysis technique is a good means to perform post main-shock damage assessment and to evaluate the response of reinforcement structures. Numerical results also show superior performance of SMA composite reinforced MRF in terms of dissipation of energy and accumulation of lower residual drifts.
Excess Dosing of Antiplatelet and Antithrombin Agents in the Treatment of Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes

ContextEffective medical care assumes delivery of evidence-based medicines to appropriate patients with doses comparable to those studied.ObjectiveTo investigate dosing of unfractionated heparin (UFH), low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, and the association between dosing and major outcomes.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA prospective observational analysis in 387 US academic and nonacademic hospitals of 30 136 patients from the CRUSADE (Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes With Early Implementation of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines) National Quality Improvement Initiative Registry who had non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS) with chest pain and either positive electrocardiograms or cardiac biomarkers between January 1 and September 30, 2004.Main Outcome MeasuresExcessive dosing of UFH, LMWH, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors and major clinical outcomes, including bleeding, in-hospital mortality, and length of stay.ResultsA total of 3354 patients (42%) with NSTE ACS who were administered antithrombotic agents received at least 1 initial dose outside the recommended range. An excess dose was administered to 2934 patients (32.8%) treated with UFH, 1378 (13.8%) treated with LMWH, and 2784 (26.8%) treated with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. Factors associated with excess dosing included older age, as well as female sex, renal insufficiency, low body weight, diabetes mellitus, and congestive heart failure. Relative to those patients not administered excess dosages, patients with excess dosages of UFH, LMWH, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors either tended toward or had higher risks for major bleeding (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-1.26; OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.11-1.74; and OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.10-1.68; respectively). Bleeding increased relative to the degree of excess dose and to the number of agents administered in excess (6.6% [237/3590] if neither heparin nor glycoprotein IIb/IIIa excess vs 22.2% [93/419] if both excess). Mortality and length of stay were also higher among those patients administered excess dosing. We estimated that 15% (400/2766) of major bleeding in this population may be attributable to excess dosing.ConclusionsPatients with NSTE ACS treated in the community often receive excess doses of antithrombotic therapy. Dosing errors occur more often in vulnerable populations and predict an increased risk of major bleeding.
Cell motility by labile association of molecules. The nature of mitotic spindle fibers and their role in chromosome movement.

This article summarizes our current views on the dynamic structure of the mitotic spindle and its relation to mitotic chromosome movements. The following statements are based on measurements of birefringence of spindle fibers in living cells, normally developing or experimentally modified by various physical and chemical agents, including high and low temperatures, antimitotic drugs, heavy water, and ultraviolet microbeam irradiation. Data were also obtained concomitantly with electron microscopy employing a new fixative and through measurements of isolated spindle protein. Spindle fibers in living cells are labile dynamic structures whose constituent filaments (microtubules) undergo cyclic breakdown and reformation. The dynamic state is maintained by an equilibrium between a pool of protein molecules and their linearly aggregated polymers, which constitute the microtubules or filaments. In living cells under physiological conditions, the association of the molecules into polymers is very weak (absolute value of Δ F 25°C S 25°C ≃ 100 eu) or by the addition of heavy water. The spindle proteins tend to polymerize with orienting centers as their geometrical foci. The centrioles, kinetochores, and cell plate act as orienting centers successively during mitosis. Filaments are more concentrated adjacent to an orienting center and yield higher birefringence. Astral rays, continuous fibers, chromosomal fibers, and phragmoplast fibers are thus formed by successive reorganization of the same protein molecules. During late prophase and metaphase, polymerization takes place predominantly at the kinetochores; in metaphase and anaphase, depolymerization is prevalent near the spindle poles. When the concentration of spindle protein is high, fusiform bundles of polymer are precipitated out even in the absence of obvious orienting centers. The shift of equilibrium from free protein molecules to polymer increases the length and number of the spindle microtubules or filaments. Slow depolymerization of the polymers, which can be brought about by low concentrations of colchicine or by gradual cooling, allows the filaments to shorten and perform work. The dynamic equilibrium controlled by orienting centers and other factors provides a plasusible mechanism by which chromosomes and other organelles, as well as the cell surface, are deformed or moved by temporarily organized arrays of microtubules or filaments.
A Community-Based Oral Public Health Approach to Promote Health Equity

Objectives. We explored the interrelationships among diabetes, hypertension, and missing teeth among underserved racial/ethnic minority elders.Methods. Self-reported sociodemographic characteristics and information about health and health care were provided by community-dwelling ElderSmile participants, aged 50 years and older, who took part in community-based oral health education and completed a screening questionnaire at senior centers in Manhattan, New York, from 2010 to 2012.Results. Multivariable models (both binary and ordinal logistic regression) were consistent, in that both older age and Medicaid coverage were important covariates when self-reported diabetes and self-reported hypertension were included, along with an interaction term between self-reported diabetes and self-reported hypertension.Conclusions. An oral public health approach conceptualized as the intersection of 3 domains—dentistry, medicine, and public health—might prove useful in place-based assessment and delivery of services to ...
Synthesis of zero index of refraction metamaterials via frequency-selective surfaces using genetic algorithms

The paper presents a novel technique for the synthesis of thin, planar, low-loss, easily-realizable materials which exhibit a low or near zero index of refraction. These zero index metamaterials (ZIM) are realized via frequency-selective surfaces (FSS), the parameters of which are determined by a genetic algorithm in response to specific design goals, such as frequency of operation, refractive index, and amount of loss. Potential uses for these new zero index materials include superstrates or substrates for focusing the radiation patterns of microstrip antennas, signal phase manipulation and equalization, and other imaging applications. A design example is presented which achieves R{n}=-0.36 and a transmission loss of only 3.5 dB at 10 GHz, while remaining simple to fabricate and interface to a printed-circuit microstrip patch antenna. This technique is an offshoot of current research into the use of genetically-optimized planar FSS to realize materials with a negative index of refraction.
The Lady Vanishes: Dilemmas of a Feminist Historian after the “Linguistic Turn”

History, Hayden White remarks, has no distinctively historical method, but borrows its models and methods from a variety of other disciplines. These disciplines, however, have varied over time. Latenineteenth-century German historiography looked to the rigorous procedures of the natural sciences to reconstruct the past “as it actually happened“; mid-twentieth-century historians turned to the social sciences, especially to anthropology and sociology, for their models and methods. More recently, historians' appropriation of (and experimentation with) concepts derived from literary and critical theory has occasioned much heated discussion within the field.
3,3-Dimethylallyldiisopinocampheylborane: a novel reagent for chiral isoprenylation of aldehydes. Synthesis of (+)- and (−)-artemisia alcohol in exceptionally high enantiomeric purity

Abstract 3,3-Dimethylallyldiisopinocampheylborane, on condensation with aldehydes, furnishes 3,3-dimethyl-l-alken-4-ols in 89–96% ee, including artemisia alcohol (96% ee) in both natural enantiomeric forms.
Cyanobacterial dynamics in shallow Lake Apopka (Florida, U.S.A.) before and after the shift from a macrophyte-dominated to a phytoplankton-dominated state

Summary Paleolimnological data were used to reconstruct the primary producer history of shallow, hyper-eutrophic Lake Apopka, Florida, U.S.A. Lake Apopka changed from a macrophyte-dominated state to a phytoplankton-dominated state in 1947. It has remained phytoplankton-dominated despite efforts to re-establish clear-water conditions and submersed aquatic plants. Photosynthetic pigments, organic matter and nutrients (C, N, P) were analysed in a 4.28-m sediment core that spans the past c. 8000 years. Our objectives were to: (i) reconstruct the primary producer history of Lake Apopka throughout its c. 8000-year existence, (ii) determine whether the cyanobacterial dominance established in 1947 in Lake Apopka is the only period of cyanobacterial dominance in the lake's history and (iii) relate changes in the cyanobacterial community to known human impacts and recent management efforts. Lake Apopka possessed a macrophyte-dominated primary producer community throughout most of its Holocene history, with diatoms, green algae and some cyanobacteria characterising the non-macrophyte, primary producer component of the community. Since 1947, however, higher plants have been virtually absent in the lake and cyanobacteria have dominated the primary producer community, marking the first time that cyanobacteria have played such an important role in the lake. The cyanobacterial community itself has undergone multiple changes since 1947, confounding management efforts that have focused on a single driver of the primary producer community, that is phosphorus.
Sex differences in long-term consequences of prenatal diazepam exposure: possible underlying mechanisms.

Prenatal exposure to diazepam, a benzodiazepine (BZD) compound, leads to pronounced effects on responses to stressors in exposed animals when they reach adulthood. Many of the responses are sex specific. The mechanisms mediating the effects of the exposure on the organism have not been elucidated; however, the time course for the appearance of altered function following in utero drug exposure indicates that the exposure interfered with neural organization of mechanisms mediating responses to stressors. The article discusses possible mechanisms that relate to sites of action of the drug in the developing brain: the GABAA receptor, and the mitochondrial BZD receptor. The mechanisms mediating the sex-specific impact of diazepam on the developing brain appear to be complex and interactive.
Environmental Effects on the Structural Recovery Responses of an Epoxy Resin after Carbon Dioxide Pressure Jumps: Intrinsic Isopiestics, Asymmetry of Approach, and Memory Effect

Novel volume measurements on an epoxy resin subjected to carbon dioxide pressure jumps (PCO2) are used to investigate the structural recovery of glassy polymers after plasticizer jumps. Previously, we had investigated an epoxy resin after plasticizer concentration jumps using relative humidity (RH) and CO2 and evidenced structural recovery and physical aging responses.(1-6) In that work, two things were demonstrated: (a) qualitatively, the physical aging (after CO2 and RH jumps) and structural recovery (after RH jumps) responses are similar to those observed after temperature jumps, and (b) quantitatively, the responses are not the same and, moreover, they exhibit anomalous behaviors. The purpose of the present work is to further investigate the nature of the anomalous behaviors by investigating the structural recovery response of the same epoxy when subjected to PCO2-jump conditions. We provide new data using CO2-jumps and show intrinsic isopiestics, asymmetry of approach, and memory effect and then comp...
Abstract 5179: TMEPAI, a negative regulator of Smad signaling switches tumor suppressive TGF- β to a tumor promoter in breast tumorigenesis

Despite major advances in hormonal, surgical and chemical therapies, triple negative breast cancers and therapy resistant breast cancers still pose a challenge due to lack of suitable treatment targets. Dependency on transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling activity for their late growth and metastasis is one of the hallmarks in several of these patients. Thus targeting TGF-β signaling has major potential in treating theses patients. However, antagonists of TGF-β signaling pathway carry the risk of disturbing the tumor suppressive homeostatic control of TGF-β in normal tissues and early cancers. Hence, identification of a marker which will make it feasible to develop drugs that retard tumor progression without compromising normal growth suppression by TGF-β in normal tissues. Earlier we have shown that TMEPAI, a TGF-β inducible gene has potential role as a molecular switch that converts tumor suppressive TGF-β into a tumor promoter role. In the present study, we show that TMEPAI knockdown has increased TGF-β signaling as evidenced by increased stimulation of Smad signaling measured by Smad binding elements (CAGAx12) driven reporter (luciferase) activity. While CAGA driven luciferase activity is modestly stimulated (∼5 fold) by TGF-β in wild-type MDA-MB-231 (Wt) cells, a robust stimulation (∼96 fold) by TGF-β was observed in TMEPAI knockdown MDA-MB-231 cells (KD). Exogenous expression of mouse TMEPAI in these knockdown cells reduced Smad stimulation by TGF-β to modest levels (∼8 fold). Although Wt cells showed enhanced Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylation and increased expression of TMEPAI in response to TGF-β, TMEPAI deficiency in KD cells resulted in increased phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 by TGF-β. Moreover, while proliferation of mammary epithelial cells (HME) from normal human mammary epithelium, immortalized by hTERT, is inhibited by TGF-β, Wt cancer cells showed a biphasic growth response to TGF-β. TMEPAI-deficiency blocked the growth response to TGF-β in KD cells. Interestingly, both HME and TMEPAI-deficient KD cells showed robust stimulation (∼95 fold) of Smad signaling that is reversed by exogenous expression of TMEPAI. Furthermore, our studies identified that TMEPAI subverts tumor suppressive TGF-β dependent Smad signaling into tumor promotive non-Smad signaling through stimulation of stress activated protein kinases. Inhibition of stress kinases also reduced the growth of cancer cells just as TMEPAI deficiency. In summary, our results show that TMEPAI subverts Smad signaling into non-smad signaling to promote growth and motility of cancer cells and provide new clues to develop an effective and decisive anti-TGF-β therapy against aggressive breast cancers. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5179. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5179
P2.109 Sexual Transmission of Bacterial Vaginosis Without Exposure to Seminal Fluid

Background The pathogenesis of BV is poorly characterised although there is considerable evidence that it is sexually transmitted. Some have suggested that the alkalinity of semen may be a factor. We report a case of suspected sexual transmission of BV from a prostatectomized male to a female. Methods Case report from a prospective study of behavioural factors influencing the vaginal flora wherein women collect daily self-obtained vaginal slides and behavioural data. Slides are Gram stained and interpreted according to Nugent criteria. Women are encouraged to present for evaluation if symptoms occur. Results A 51 year old female complained of new onset vaginal irritation for one day. She denied discharge, pruritus, or odour and had not recently douched. She was sexually active with one partner, a male who had undergone a radical prostatectomy. Her last unprotected intercourse occurred 3 days prior to onset of symptoms and prior to that she had been abstinent for 6 weeks. A slide obtained the day before her sexual exposure had a Nugent score of 0. Repeat gramme stain revealed BV with a Nugent score of 8. Her male partner admitted to unprotected sex 6 days prior to their encounter with another female. A vaginal slide obtained from that partner revealed BV with a Nugent score of 8. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting sexual transmission of BV from a male to a female in the absence of semen. The onset of symptoms and her sexual history indicates that the incubation period for BV was 72 hours. It is likely that the patient’s male partner became colonised in his distal urethral or coronal sulcus with BV organism(s) after he had unprotected sexual intercourse with his other female partner and transferred those organism(s) on desquamated epithelial cells to our patient during unprotected sex.
An acrylic spray used as a substitute for cover glasses.

It has been found that a plastic spray (“Krylon”, manufactured by Krylon, Inc., 2601 Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa.) is suitable as a covering medium for stained, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. The material is supplied in an aerosol bomb type dispenser. The technic and advantages of using a plastic spray to replace both the usual mounting medium and cover glass are described below.
Using frequency detuning to improve the sensitivity of electric field measurements via electromagnetically induced transparency and Autler-Townes splitting in Rydberg atoms

In this work, we demonstrate an approach for improved sensitivity in weak radio frequency (RF) electric-field strength measurements using Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in an atomic vapor. This is accomplished by varying the RF frequency around a resonant atomic transition and extrapolating the weak on-resonant field strength from the resulting off-resonant Autler-Townes (AT) splittings. This measurement remains directly traceable to SI compared to previous techniques, precluding any knowledge of experimental parameters such as optical beam powers as is the case when using the curvature of the EIT line shape to measure weak fields. We use this approach to measure weak RF fields at 182 GHz and 208 GHz demonstrating improvement greater than a factor of 2 in the measurement sensitivity compared to on-resonant AT splitting RF electric field measurements.
Characterization of Emodin as a Therapeutic Agent for Diabetic Cataract.

Aldose reductase (AR) in the lens plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic cataract (DC) by contributing to osmotic and oxidative stress associated with accelerated glucose metabolism through the polyol pathway. Therefore, inhibition of AR in the lens may hold the key to prevent DC formation. Emodin, a bioactive compound isolated from plants, has been implicated as a therapy for diabetes. However, its inhibitory activity against AR remains unclear. Our results showed that emodin has good selectively inhibitory activity against AR (IC50 = 2.69 ± 0.90 μM) but not other aldo-keto reductases and is stable at 37 °C for at least 7 days. Enzyme kinetic studies demonstrated an uncompetitive inhibition against AR with a corresponding inhibition constant of 2.113 ± 0.095 μM. In in vivo studies, oral administration of emodin reduced the incidence and severity of morphological markers of cataract in lenses of AR transgenic mice. Computational modeling of the AR–NADP+–emodin ternary complex indicated th...
Simple Calculation Model on Heater Drain Cubcooler Approach Based on Operating Parameters

The traditional Heater drain subcooler approach value should be reached with detailed in the structural parameters and operation parameters are calculated by theory based on practical calculation,and the structural parameters of different heating collecting more difficult.For structural parameters of certain heaters,Through calculation heater drain subcooler approach effects of each perational parameters,established a new kind of the heater drain subcooler approach calculation model that only consider running parameters.Using 660MW and 300MW horizontal heater operation parameters verification results show that the model high precision,simple calculation,which is beneficial to the heater drain subcooler approach should be fast calculation of value.
Epidemiology Characteristic of Syphilis in Chenzhou From 1992 to 2006

Objective To find out the epidemiology characteristic of syphilis in Chenzhou,and to provide scientific basis for preventing and controlling syphilis. Methods The statistical data of syphilis from 1992 to 2006 in Chenzhou were collected,and descriptive study was applied to analyze these data.Results The average annual incidence of syphilis was 0.65/105 from 1992 to 2006. The incidence of syphilis went up from 0.05/105 in 1992 to 4.52/105 in 2006. The average annual incidence of syFphilis was 0.02/105 during the first five years,however it was 0.07/105 and 1.83/105 during the second and the third five years respectively. The differences among the three incidences were statistically significant (χ2=735.72,P0.01).The regional distribution showed the differences of the average annual incidence among 11 counties were statistically significant (χ2 =245.96,P0.01). Most of the syphilis cases( 57.24%) were in the 20 to 39 years-old group ,and the males were 1.14 times of the females,however the differences of the average annual incidence between men and women were not significant(χ2 =0.24,P0.05). The occupational distribution showed that peasants, merchants and workers occupied 42.30%,10.11% and 7.36% of all the syphilis cases respectively. The distribution of seasons showed that the differences were not significant.Conclusion The trend of the incidence of syphilis was rapidly upward in Chenzhou.It is important to strengthen health education and monitoring high-risk groups,advocate safe sexual behavior,and perform disinfection in hospital strictly, so as to control syphilis effectively.
SHIV: Reducing supervisor burden in DAgger using support vectors for efficient learning from demonstrations in high dimensional state spaces

Online learning from demonstration algorithms such as DAgger can learn policies for problems where the system dynamics and the cost function are unknown. However they impose a burden on supervisors to respond to queries each time the robot encounters new states while executing its current best policy. The MMD-IL algorithm reduces supervisor burden by filtering queries with insufficient discrepancy in distribution and maintaining multiple policies. We introduce the SHIV algorithm (Svm-based reduction in Human InterVention), which converges to a single policy and reduces supervisor burden in non-stationary high dimensional state distributions. To facilitate scaling and outlier rejection, filtering is based on a measure of risk defined in terms of distance to an approximate level set boundary defined by a One Class support vector machine. We report on experiments in three contexts: 1) a driving simulator with a 27,936 dimensional visual feature space, 2) a push-grasping in clutter simulation with a 22 dimensional state space, and 3) physical surgical needle insertion with a 16 dimensional state space. Results suggest that SHIV can efficiently learn policies with up to 70% fewer queries that DAgger.
The Contemporary Incidence of Lymph Node Metastases in Prostate Cancer: Implications for Laparoscopic Lymph Node Dissection

AbstractThe incidence of lymphatic metastases in 229 consecutive patients with clinically localized prostatic cancer was assessed. Only 13 patients had nodal metastases, for an incidence of 5.7%. A monoclonal prostatic specific antigen value of more than 40ng./ml. correlated with a positive predictive value of 53% for nodal metastases. Routine laparoscopic node dissection is unnecessary considering the low incidence of nodal metastases.
Short-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis: a case-matched analysis from a nationwide database.

In the current study, we aimed to compare peri- and postoperative 30-day outcomes of patients undergoing laparoscopic versus open total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis in a case-matched design using data procedure-targeted database. Patients who underwent elective total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis in 2012 and 2013 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients were divided into two groups according to the type of surgical approach (laparoscopic and open). Laparoscopic and open groups were matched (1:1) based on age, gender, diagnosis, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification. Comorbidities, perioperative, and short-term (30-day) postoperative outcomes were compared between the matched groups. We identified 1442 patients—549 in the laparoscopic group and 893 patients in the open group. After case matching, there were 326 patients in each group. There were 48 (14.7%) patients who had conversion in the laparoscopic group. The open group had a higher proportion of patients with ascites [0 (0%) vs. 7 (2.1%) p = 0.015], preoperative weight loss [26 (8.0%) vs. 45 (13.8%) p = 0.018], and contaminated wound classifications [Clean/Contaminated 261 (80%) vs. 240 (74%), Contaminated 55 (16.9%) vs. 54 (16.6%), and Dirty/Infected 8 (2.5%) vs. 28 (8.6%), (p = 0.003)]. The laparoscopic group had a significantly longer operative time (242 ± 98 vs. 202 ± 116 min, p < 0.001), shorter hospital stay (9.4 ± 8.5 vs. 13.3 ± 10.7 days, p < 0.001), and lower ileus rate (23.9 vs. 31.0%, p = 0.045) than the open group. After adjusting for covariates, the differences in terms of operative time and hospital stay remained significant [odds ratio (OR): 0.79, confidence interval (CI) 0.74–0.85 and OR 1.36, CI 1.21–1.52, p < 0.001, respectively]. Laparoscopic approach for total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis is associated with a shorter hospital stay but longer operative time compared with an open approach.
Homelessness, housing instability, intimate partner violence, mental health, and functioning: A multi-year cohort study of IPV survivors and their children

Homelessness and housing instability frequently accompany intimate partner violence and can negatively impact health and functioning. When children are exposed to homelessness or housing instabilit...
Chapter 4 Continental Carbonates as Indicators of Paleoclimate

Abstract The formation of carbonate sediments in continental environments is subject to numerous environmental controls, of which climate is one of the foremost. Consequently, calcareous paleosols and lacustrine, palustrine, speleothem, and tufa carbonates all have been found particularly useful as paleoclimate proxies. Calcareous paleosols, for example, are typically cited as evidence of a semiarid paleoclimate, even though modern calcrete actually forms in soils under a wide range of conditions. The maturity of calcrete is not by itself useful as a paleoclimate indicator because other variables (e.g., time, sedimentation rate) influence morphology, although micromorphology does appear to be influenced by climate. The existence of a quantifiable relationship between the depth to the carbonate horizon and mean annual precipitation has been argued, and has been demonstrated to be applicable under certain conditions. The isotopic analysis of pedogenic carbonate has become a widely applied tool for paleoenvironmental interpretation. The δ 13 C of the carbonate is used to calculate paleo- p CO 2 and ratios of C 3 /C 4 vegetation. The measurement of δ 18 O also has been used to infer changes in paleotemperature. Ancient lacustrine carbonates are often associated with deposition under semiarid climate conditions; sometimes incorrectly, because many modern carbonate lakes occur in humid, temperate, as well as semiarid climates. The δ 18 O of lacustrine carbonate from hydrologically open lakes may be used for paleotemperature calculations. In closed-basin lakes, δ 18 O and δ 13 C typically exhibit covariance due to enrichment from evaporation and atmospheric exchange. Many palustrine carbonates are lacustrine deposits that were pedogenically reworked during episodes of base-level fall, which potentially may be related to climate change. Lithologies associated with palustrine carbonates, for example, peat or evaporites, provide more detailed climatic information. Isotopic analyses of speleothem and tufa carbonates are important archives of climate data, particularly for the Quaternary. Measurements of δ 18 O in these carbonates can be related to temperature, while δ 13 C is linked to changes in vegetative cover.