cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The spatial epidemiologic (r)evolution: a look back in time and forward to the future.

Abstract Spatial epidemiology enables you to better understand diseases or ill-health processes; investigate relationships between the environment and the presence of disease; conduct disease cluster analyses; predict disease spread; evaluate control alternatives; and basically do things an epidemiologist otherwise would have been unable to do and avoid many errors that otherwise may have been committed. Recently, the discipline of spatial epidemiology has advanced substantially, owing to a combination of reasons. The introduction of the electronic computer has clearly led this advancement. Computers have facilitated the storage, management, display and analysis of data, which are critical to geographic information systems (GIS). Also, because of computers and their increased capabilities and capacities, data collection has greatly expanded and reached a new level owing in large part to the advent of geographic positioning systems (GPS). GPS enables the collection of spatial locations, which in turn present yet another attribute (location) amenable to consideration in epidemiologic studies. At the same time, spatial software has taken advantage of the evolution of computers and data, further enabling epidemiologists to perform spatial analyses that they may not have even conceived of 30 years before. Capitalizing on these now, non-binding technologic constraints, epidemiologists are more able to combine their analytic expertise with computational advances, to develop approaches, which enable them to make spatial epidemiologic methods an integral part of their toolkits. Instead of a novelty, spatial epidemiology is now more of a necessity for outbreak investigations, surveillance, hypothesis testing, and generating follow-up activities necessary to perform a complete and proper epidemiologic analysis.
The effect of visual-motion time delays on pilot performance in a pursuit tracking task

A study has been made to determine the effect of visual-motion time delays on pilot performance of a simulated pursuit tracking task. Three interrelated major effects have been identified: task difficulty, motion cues, and time delays. As task difficulty, as determined by airplane handling qualities or target frequency, increases, the amount of acceptable time delay decreases. However, when relatively complete motion cues are included in the simulation, the pilot can maintain his performance for considerably longer time delays. In addition, the number of degrees of freedom of motion employed is a significant factor.
Comprehension Testing in Informed Consent

Background: Incorporating comprehension testing into the informed consent process has been suggested as a method to verify that subjects understand the risks and requirements of research protocols. We analyzed our informed consent process and examined the utility of comprehension testing in a complex clinical study using subjective and objective measures. Methods: Healthy subjects taking part in a study of cholesterol absorption and metabolism were recruited for this sub-study and completed the informed consent process, which included a 20-item comprehension test evaluating study-specific risks and procedures. After completing the clinical study, they were reevaluated by a separate 47-item knowledge test that included general informed consent items, the identical 20-item comprehension test, and a self-assessment. Results: Twenty-five of 28 eligible subjects completed the study. All subjects scored well on the comprehension test (mean: 95.1%), and again when the same test was administered a year later (mea...
Economic Developments in the West Bank and Gaza Since Oslo

The performance of the Palestinian economy in 1994–2000 was uneven, but for the period as a whole, real per capita income declined despite the mobilisation of substantial amounts of foreign aid and despite considerable progress in establishing a basic institutional framework. This paper argues that economic growth and private investment, in particular, have been adversely affected by closures, by uncertainties about political developments and the direction of policies and policy reforms, by problems of governance, and by the excessive transportation and transaction costs related to the intensification of the permits system.
A burst-feedback model of fast-phase burst generation during nystagmus

Vestibular and optokinetic nystagmus are characterized by alternating slow-phase eye rotations that stabilize the retinal image, and fast-phase eye rotations that reset eye position. Nystagmus is coordinated in the brainstem by burst neurons that fire an intense, temporally circumscribed burst that terminates the slow phase and drives the fast phase. This paper demonstrates that such a burst can be generated during nystagmus using a simple neural network model containing only known brainstem neurons and their interconnections. These include the feedback connections of the burst neuron (burst feedback). The burst neuron excites itself directly, and disinhibits itself by inhibiting the pause neuron (positive feedback). It also inhibits itself by inhibiting the vestibular neuron (negative feedback). The burst neuron begins to fire after its inhibitory bias is overcome by excitation from the vestibular neuron, and burst neuron positive feedback then produces an intense burst with an abrupt onset. The burst causes the vestibular and pause neurons to pause. The benefit of the pause neuron loop is that it contributes to burst neuron positive feedback when it is needed at burst onset, but that contribution is eliminated when the pause neuron pauses and opens the loop. The burst can then terminate, with an offset duration proportional to burst amplitude, under the control of burst neuron self-excitation and inhibitory bias. Model neuron behavior is comparable to that of real brainstem neurons. Synchronized bursts can be produced over the population of burst neurons in a distributed version of the network. Variability in connection weights in the distributed network results in variability in prelude activity among burst neurons that is similar to the spread in lead observed for real burst neurons during nystagmus.
Neural mechanisms of contrast dependent receptive field size in V1

Based on a large scale spiking neuron model of the input layers 4Cα and β of macaque, we identify neural mechanisms for the observed contrast dependent receptive field size of V1 cells. We observe a rich variety of mechanisms for the phenomenon and analyze them based on the relative gain of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs. We observe an average growth in the spatial extent of excitation and inhibition for low contrast, as predicted from phenomenological models. However, contrary to phenomenological models, our simulation results suggest this is neither sufficient nor necessary to explain the phenomenon.
Predicting the performance of large programs on scalable multicomputers

The paper introduces the retargetable program-sensitive (RPS) model which predicts the performance of static, data-independent parallel programs mapped to message-passing multicomputers. It shows that the model accurately predicts the performance of mapped programs by comparing RPS predictions to actual execution times in the Poker parallel programming environment. The paper also previews plans for further verification of the model on the NCube2 and other multicomputers. >
The Office Of Naval Research Ocean Technology Program

The Office of Naval Research Ocean Technology Program is a basic research effort that is devoted to providing fundamental knowledge required for the solution of Navy and Marine Corps ocean engineering problems. It also supports a limited number of projects that support ocean science in a broad sense. Issues that effect these objectives are discussed, and an overview presented of the three major areas of research interest that are being supported at the present time. Key factors for future growth and success of the Ocean Technology Program include continued emphasis on basic rather than applied research, providing new concepts and capabilities to Navy applied research interests, and nuturing a strong research community.
Mortality in DATATOP: A Multicenter trial in early Parkinson's disease

Deprenyl (selegiline) delays the need for levodopa therapy in patients with early Parkinson's disease, but the value of long-term treatment with this type B monoamine oxidase inhibitor remains unsettled. We examined mortality among the 800 patients with early Parkinson's disease who were not requiring levodopa and who were randomly assigned in the DATATOP trial to receive deprenyl, tocopherol, combined treatments, or placebo. Ascertainment of the vital status of subjects in this double-blinded trial was performed prospectively after the initial randomization, during open-label de-prenyl, and after a second independent randomization to continue active deprenyl or swithch to matching placebo. The study was conducted at 28 academic medical centers in the United States and Canada. After an average of 8.2 years of observation, the overall death rate of our subjects was 17.1% (137 of 800) or 2.1% per year. The mortality rate was unaffected by deprenyl, tocopherol, or combined treatment assignments and was about that expected for an age- and gender-matched US population without Parkinson's disease. Neither deprenyl, tocopherol, nor their combined treatments affected the duration of life in our early Parkinson's disease patients. The deprenyl-related delay in disability that we reported previously was not associated with a deprenyl-related reduction in mortality.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF MONETARY POLICY TO THE STOCK MARKET: THE EXPERIENCE WITH MARGIN REQUIREMENTS

THE PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES of this study are to observe what effects margin-requirement changes have exerted on stock prices and trading volume on the New York Stock Exchange and to identify the variables through which any response occurred. Standard and Poor's price and volume records were used, and analyzed mainly by graphic methods. The fundamental monetary cycle may be expected to affect the stock market via two avenues: (1) intermarket competition between the capital-gain possibilities of marketable debt instruments and stocks, and (2) intermarket competition between the yields of all debt instruments (including nonmarketable debt) and stocks. When monetary ease is used to counter recessionary forces, it causes rising bond prices, a declining interest-rate structure and encourages the retention of bonds. This, in turn, encourages new bond issues that increase bond supply at a time when accrued capital gains are becoming inviting and yields are becoming less attractive. Ultimately, this combination invites the sale of bonds to realize capital gains and discourages their purchase either for that purpose or for yield. Meanwhile, the expectation that monetary ease will encourage economic expansion, resulting eventually in improved corporate earnings, higher dividends and increased stock prices, encourages the purchase of stock. Such events would, in turn, encourage new stock issues, increasing stock supply when accrued capital gains are inviting and yields are becoming less attractive compared to those of bonds. Ultimately, this combination invites the sale of stocks to realize capital gains and discourages their purchase for that purpose or for yield. At such a point, the monetary authority may begin to lean in the direction of restraint. This further encourages the sale of bonds to avoid a price decline, warns stockholders that a further price advance may be limited and discourages new stock commitments. Active restraint encourages the sale of stock to avoid loss and invites the purchase of bonds which at this point are attractive both as to price and yield. Thus, the rhythm of stock prices should respond in some degree to that of monetary policy. With some oversimplification, the cycle is summarized in the following table. (P) designates the desirability of selling for profit, (L) of selling before loss occurs. Monetary Policy Trading Action
Graphical model based control of intelligent robot systems

A description is presented of the experimental environment employed at Sandia with particular attention to the computing and software control environment. Intelligent system control is achieved through the integration of extensive geometric and kinematic world models with real-time sensor-based control. All operator interactions with the system are through fully animated graphical representations which validate all operator commands before execution to provide for safe operation. Sensing is used to add information to the robot system's world model and to allow sensor-based servo control during selected operations. The results of a first critical features test are reported and the potential for applying advanced intelligent control concepts to the removal of waste in storage tanks is discussed. >
Spinal cord and peripheral nerve injury: current management and investigations

Treatment of patients having malignancy near or within the spinal cord can be more challenging or limited than in patients with brain tumors. This is largely because of the near total lack of noneloquent neural tissue associated with the spinal cord and/or intimately associated peripheral nerves. The adverse effects of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy or multimodality therapy can be acute or chronic, insidious, and often permanent in nature. Because cancer therapies (particularly combination therapies) have become more effective with regard to tumor control, the potential impact of each modality on spine and peripheral nerve injury has become even more significant. Similarly, with increasing survival, the likelihood of observing long-term injury is likely to increase. Thus, the expression of acute and long-term spine and peripheral nerve injury is becoming a more important factor in the management of patients with spine malignancies. This review presents current management and investigations associated with these modality-related injuries.
The influences of behavior valence and actor race on black and white children's moral and liking judgments.

Abstract Preschoolers, 1st graders, and 4th graders were shown line drawings that depicted 2 prosocial and 2 aggressive behaviors. Black actors or White actors were depicted in the scenarios, and a brief description of each behavior was read to the child. For each scenario, children rated their liking for the actor and the morality of the actor's behavior. Findings indicated that children at each age level significantly differentiated the actors by behavior valence for moral and liking judgments. However, the moral judgments of White preschoolers were more differentiated by behavior valence than the judgments of Black preschoolers. Also, there was more differentiation of actors by behavior valence for liking judgments as the age levels of the children increased. Black actors received more negative moral judgments than did White actors only at the preschool level.
Short intronic repeat sequences facilitate circular RNA production

Recent deep sequencing studies have revealed thousands of circular noncoding RNAs generated from protein-coding genes. These RNAs are produced when the precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing machinery "backsplices" and covalently joins, for example, the two ends of a single exon. However, the mechanism by which the spliceosome selects only certain exons to circularize is largely unknown. Using extensive mutagenesis of expression plasmids, we show that miniature introns containing the splice sites along with short (∼ 30- to 40-nucleotide) inverted repeats, such as Alu elements, are sufficient to allow the intervening exons to circularize in cells. The intronic repeats must base-pair to one another, thereby bringing the splice sites into close proximity to each other. More than simple thermodynamics is clearly at play, however, as not all repeats support circularization, and increasing the stability of the hairpin between the repeats can sometimes inhibit circular RNA biogenesis. The intronic repeats and exonic sequences must collaborate with one another, and a functional 3' end processing signal is required, suggesting that circularization may occur post-transcriptionally. These results suggest detailed and generalizable models that explain how the splicing machinery determines whether to produce a circular noncoding RNA or a linear mRNA.
Fire and scald burn risks in urban communities: who is at risk and what do they believe about home safety?

While largely preventable, fire and hot water-related injuries are common in the United States. Measures recommended to reduce these injuries are smoke alarms (SAs) and lowered hot water temperatures. This study aims to: (i) describe the prevalence of working SAs and safe water temperatures among low-income, urban communities and (ii) explore the relationship between these behaviors and individuals’ knowledge and beliefs about them. In this cross-sectional study, the Health Belief Model was used as a guide for understanding the safety behaviors. A total of 603 households had their SAs and hot tap water temperatures tested and were surveyed about their knowledge and beliefs related to these safety behaviors. We found that 40% of households had working SAs on every level and 57% had safe hot water temperatures. Perceived severity and self-efficacy were significantly associated with SA coverage, whereas perceived susceptibility and beliefs about benefits were significantly associated with safe hot water temperatures. This study demonstrates the need to increase the number of homes with working SAs and safe hot water temperatures. Messages focused on a safe home environment could communicate the ease and harm reduction features of SAs and benefits and risk reduction features of safe hot water temperatures.
TEMPORAL CHANGES IN SUNSPOT UMBRAL MAGNETIC FIELDS AND TEMPERATURES

We have observed high-resolution intensity spectra near the Fe i 1564.8 nm line at a single umbral point corresponding to the darkest position in over 900 sunspots from 1998 through 2005. From these data we determine that the maximum sunspot magnetic fields have been decreasing at about 52 G yr 1 . The same data set shows a concurrent increase in the normalized umbral intensity from 0.60 to 0.75 (corresponding to a blackbody temperature rise from 5137 to 5719 K) and a decrease of more than 50% in the molecular OH line strength. The magnetic field and intensity changes observed over time in the sunspot umbrae from different spots behave in the same way as the magnetic field and intensity changes observed spatially across single sunspots.
Methods for Switching Between Long Term and Short Term Transmit Beamforming in OFDM

Obtaining channel state information (CSI) at the base station in an OFDM system can significantly improve both the capacity and reliability of the downlink. However, this CSI will suffer from estimation error plus possible quantization error for certain feedback methods and will also become outdated because of time variations in the channel. If the channel variations are reasonably slow and the estimation (or quantization) errors are small, then per-subcarrier maximal ratio transmission (MRT) is the optimal single-stream beamforming technique (MRT is designed to match the instantaneous channel and hence is a short-term transmit beamformer). When the estimation (or quantization) error is high, then eigen beamforming (EBF) is typically better than MRT because it uses long-term statistics that can be estimated more accurately by averaging over many samples. In addition, if the channel variations are high, then EBF is typically better than MRT because again EBF is matched to the long-term channel statistics (e.g., channel covariance matrix) that do not change rapidly. Since MRT is better than EBF under some conditions and EBF is better than MRT in others, it may be necessary for the base to choose between the two. This paper introduces three methods to switch between MRT and EBF and shows through simulation results that the methods are fairly effective at choosing the best method under various channel conditions.
A modified first-motion approximation for the synthesis of body-wave seismograms

Modified first-motion approximations have been developed for the generation of synthetic body-wave seismograms using the Cagniard-de Hoop method. Comparisons are presented between classical first motion, modified first motion and full Cagniard treatments for problems involving a homogeneous sphere and a triplication in a realistic earth model. Results of these comparisons show that the modified first-motion approximations may be used for a wide variety of geophysically interesting problems with little loss of accuracy compared to the full Cagniard method.
MULTIPLE FREQUENCY EPR STUDIES ON THREE FORMS OF OXIDIZED CYTOCHROME c OXIDASE

Abstract Bovine heart mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (cytochrome aa3) (EC 1.9.3.1) has been demonstrated to occur in several forms when the redox centers in the protein are thought to be fully oxidized. We report here the results of extensive EPR studies at 3, 8.9, 9.2, 9.4, 15 and 34 GHz on the resting state, the alternative resting state (with g = 12 at 9 GHz) and pulsed state (with g = 5 signal at 9 GHz). Theoretical consideration is given to all binary spin-coupling possibilities under the constraint that the iron atoms are either ferric or ferrous and the copper atoms are either cupric or cuprous. We conclude that the g = 12 signal can arise from any spin system with S > 1 and |D| = 0.15 cm−1. The g = 5 signals originate from an excited, integer-spin system with |D| = 0.035 cm−1, which is approximately 7 cm−1 above the ground state (not observed in EPR). It is pointed out that in interpretations of data and elaboration of suitable models in this field, the implications of spin-coupling should be considered in a comprehensive and not in a selective way. At 3 GHz, EPR spectra of CuA in the resting, pulsed and anaerobically oxidized states show that this center is identical in its EPR for all three states.
A comparison of political, cultural, and economic indicators of access to information in Arab and non-Arab states

Abstract As more and more countries adopt access-to-information (ATI) laws to advance economic development and democratic self-governance, efforts are under way to foster ATI movements in the Arab world. While one nation in that region already has adopted the legislation, the likelihood of adoption in other Arab states is unknown. This comparative study analyzed 12 quantitative indicators measuring political, cultural, and economic factors associated with access to information. Results indicate that Arab countries, as a whole, contrast sharply in nearly all areas with non-Arab countries that have ATI laws and are consistent with non-Arab countries that do not have ATI laws. However, the study also found that the most recent ATI law adopters had weaker political, cultural, and economic enabling environments for government information access, which may portend a global phenomenon that will continue and could explain the interest in adopting the legislation in the Arab world. Findings also suggest that while a handful of Arab countries might have the wealth to effectively implement ATI laws, political and cultural conditions may be substantial obstacles for greater government transparency. Other results regarding the use of quantitative indicators of ATI adoption, particularly structural pluralism, are discussed.
SUN anchors pollen WIP–WIT complexes at the vegetative nuclear envelope and is necessary for pollen tube targeting and fertility

LINC (linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) complexes play an essential role in nuclear migration by connecting the nucleus to the cytoskeleton and/or motor proteins. Plant LINC complexes have recently been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana, with the inner nuclear membrane SUN and outer nuclear membrane WIP proteins comprising the first identified complex. A recent study identified a nuclear movement defect in Arabidopsis pollen vegetative nuclei linked to the outer nuclear envelope WIP and WIT proteins. However, the role that SUN proteins may play in pollen nuclear migration has yet to be addressed. To explore this question, a SUN2 lumenal domain that was targeted to the ER specifically in pollen was over-expressed. It is shown that the ER-targeted SUN2 lumenal domain was able to displace WIP and WIT proteins from the pollen vegetative nuclear envelope. Expression of this dominant-negative transgene led to impaired VN mobility, impaired pollen tube guidance, and defective pollen tube reception. The observed pollen defects are similar to phenotypes observed in a wip1-1 wip2-1 wip3-1 wit1-1 wit2-1 mutant. It is also shown that these defects were dependent on the KASH-binding function of the SUN2 lumenal domain. These data support a model where LINC complexes formed by SUN, WIP, and WIT at the VNE are responsible for VN migration and suggest an important function of SUN, WIP, and WIT in pollen tube guidance and reception.
Mechanisms of Locking of the El Niño and La Niña Mature Phases to Boreal Winter

Abstract The peaks of El Nino in the Cane–Zebiak (CZ) model tend to appear most frequently around November when the ocean Rossby waves, which were amplified during the previous unstable season (February–May), turn back to the eastern Pacific and when the local instability in the eastern Pacific is very weak. The peaks of La Nina in the CZ model occur most frequently in boreal summer, in contrast to the observed counterpart that usually occurs in boreal winter. Sensitivity experiments indicate that the phase locking of the La Nina to boreal summer is primarily caused by seasonal variations of the tropical convergence zone, which regulate convective heating through atmospheric convergence feedback. The observed thermocline and the wind anomalies in the western Pacific exhibit considerable seasonal variations. These were missed in the original CZ model. In a modified CZ model that includes the seasonal variations of the western Pacific wind anomalies and the basic-state thermocline depth, the peaks of La Nin...
Gas Turbine Engine Durability Impacts of High Fuel-Air Ratio Combustors: Part 2 — Near Wall Reaction Effects on Film-Cooled Heat Transfer

As commercial and military aircraft engines approach higher total temperatures and increasing overall fuel-to-air ratios, the potential for significant chemical reactions on a film-cooled surface is enhanced. Currently there is little basis for understanding the effects on aero-performance and durability due to such secondary reactions. A shock tube experiment was employed to generate short duration, high temperature (1000–2800 K) and pressure (6 atm.) flows over a film-cooled flat plate. The test plate contained two sets of 35° film cooling holes that could be supplied with different gases, one side using air and the other nitrogen. A mixture of ethylene and argon provided a fuel rich freestream that reacted with the air film resulting in near wall reactions. The relative increase in surface heat flux due to near wall reactions was investigated over a range of fuel levels, momentum blowing ratios (0.5–2.0), and Damkohler numbers (ratio of flow to chemical time scales) from near zero to 30. For high Damkohler numbers, reactions had sufficient time to occur and increased the surface heat flux by 30 percent over the inert cooling side. When these results are appropriately scaled, it is shown that in some situations of interest for gas turbine engine environments significant increases in surface heat flux can be produced due to chemical reactions in the film-cooling layer. It is also shown that the non-dimensional parameters Damkohler number (Da), blowing ratio (B), heat release potential (H* ), and scaled heat flux (Qs ) are the appropriate quantities to predict the augmentation in surface heat flux that arises due to secondary reactions.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Photo-induced refractive index and topographical surface gratings in functionalized nanocarbon solid film

We demonstrate that a single-walled carbon nanotube network noncovalently coupled with a pyrene-modified azo-benzene chromophore functions as a host matrix for a broad range of photo-orientation and photomechanical effects. The chromophore could be efficiently reoriented through repeated trans-cis-trans isomerization under linearly polarized 480 nm light, with Δn of 0.012 at 650 nm and fast characteristic rise-times of 0.12 s. Erasable phase diffraction gratings could also be written, with permanent surface relief gratings forming at sufficiently long irradiation times. In addition to demonstrating a mechanism for photo-manipulation of single-walled carbon nanotubes, these results show photo-orientation of chromophores in azo-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube networks as a path towards the photosensitive tuning of the electrostatic environment of the nanotube.
Robust low-power signal processing and communication algorithms

The successful pursuit of the Moore’s-law in the semiconductor industry has enabled the integration of highly complex functionalities on a single chip, thus enabling the proliferation of electronic devices in every spectrum of daily life. A new genre of such devices is wireless electronics (smart phones, netbooks, etc.) for mobile applications. However, the advent of Nano-CMOS (CMOS technologies below 90 nm) has brought new challenges for design, process, and test engineers. Soft errors have become a major reliability concern. These errors occur because of the combined effects of atmospheric radiation, and reduced noise margins. Another challenge is process variation that results in large spread in the delay and power distribution of circuits, and results in parametric yield loss. System power consumption is another major design challenge in Nano-CMOS because of high integration of transistors within a single chip and high amount of leakage current. This thesis presents circuit-level techniques for soft error mitigation, low-power design with performance trade-off, and variation-tolerant low-power design. The proposed techniques can be divided into two broad categories. First, error compensation techniques are presented, which are used for soft error mitigation and also for low-power operation (with the help of guided circuitry as explained in next chapters) of linear and non-linear filters. Second, a framework for variation-tolerant low-power operation of wireless devices is presented. This framework analyzes the effects of circuit “tuning knobs” such as voltage, frequency, wordlength precision, etc. on system performance, and power efficiency. Process variations are considered as well, and the best operating tuning knob levels are determined, which results in maximum system wide power savings while keeping the system performance within acceptable limits. Different methods are presented for variation-tolerant and power-efficient wireless communication.
Asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis: A progress report on long-term follow-up and natural history

Thirty-six patients presenting with asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis have been followed for a median period of 11.4 yr, extending by 5 yr a previously reported median follow-up study of 6 yr. Life table survival analysis indicates that the overall survival of this subgroup of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis continues to remain similar to that of the general population (p = 0.91). Over this period, 15 patients developed symptoms and 8 patients died, 6 from liver disease; 21 patients remained in an asymptomatic state. Portal granulomas on initial liver biopsy were the only finding that correlated with a normal survival and a continued asymptomatic state (p = 0.03). In contrast, associated autoimmune disorders (thyroiditis, sicca syndrome, CRST syndrome, Raynaud's phenomenon) correlated with decreased survival (p = 0.01). No other clinical, laboratory, or histologic features correlated with survival or the development of symptoms. This extended follow-up study (median 11.4 yr) indicates that many patients with asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis have a benign outcome. Although 42% developed signs or symptoms of progressive disease at variable times up to 14 yr from presentation, the group survival remained similar to the general population.
Resilient consensus protocol in the presence of trusted nodes

In this paper, we propose a scheme for a resilient distributed consensus problem through a set of trusted nodes within the network. Currently, algorithms that solve resilient consensus problem demand networks to have high connectivity to overrule the effects of adversaries, or require nodes to have access to some non-local information. In our scheme, we incorporate the notion of trusted nodes to guarantee distributed consensus despite any number of adversarial attacks, even in sparse networks. A subset of nodes, which are more secured against the attacks, constitute a set of trusted nodes. It is shown that the network becomes resilient against any number of attacks whenever the set of trusted nodes form a connected dominating set within the network. We also study a relationship between trusted nodes and the network robustness. Simulations are presented to illustrate and compare our scheme with the existing ones.
Associations Between Gestational Age at Birth and Alcohol Use in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Background The relationship between gestational age at birth (GA) and alcohol use measures in early adulthood was examined in a large U.K. community-based birth cohort (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children). Methods A series of linear and logistic regression models were used to test for main effects of a continuous measure of GA on a range of alcohol use measures, and moderation of these associations by sex. In addition, mediation analyses assessed the extent to which significant associations between GA and alcohol use operated indirectly, through influences of the parental environment and/or childhood measures of emotional and behavioral health (EBH). Results Earlier GA significantly predicted never drinking by age 18, but was not associated with other measures of alcohol use behavior among young adult drinkers (i.e., Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, or DSM-IV-TR Criteria for Alcohol Dependence). The association between earlier GA and never drinking by age 18 was moderated by sex, such that females born early were less likely to have ever had a drink by age 18. In the full sample, childhood measures of EBH were found to mediate the association between earlier GA and never drinking by age 18. This association was not mediated by parenting factors. Conclusions Earlier GA is associated with never drinking alcohol in early adulthood, in females. Emotional and behavioral difficulties experienced in early childhood may mediate the relationship between earlier GA and never drinking by age 18.
Flow- and bradykinin-induced nitric oxide production by endothelial cells is independent of membrane potential

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role transmembrane potential plays in flow-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells (EC). NO production was monitored by measuring i...
Taming the beast: Long term journal package maintenance in an ERMs

In the last decade, libraries have endured several rapid and often tumultuous sea changes in the world of electronic resources (ER), from the proliferation of electronic journals and e-books to the...
After Vitamin D Supplementation There Is an Increase in Serum 25 Hydroxyvitamin D but No Evidence of a Threshold Response in Calcium Absorption

Vitamin D enters the body as a nutrient from dietary sources and as a pre-vitamin that is activated by sunlight in skin. Circulating vitamin D undergoes further activation in the liver to 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and then in the kidney to the active metabolite 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D or calcitriol) that functions as a hormone. There is positive stimulation of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D secretion by parathyroid hormone (PTH) mediated by changes in serum calcium [1] and negative feedback on 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D secretion by Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) a hormone derived mainly from osteocytes that is stimulated by and regulates changes in serum phosphorus [2]. 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) binds to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the intestine and controls the efficiency of calcium absorption by determining the amount of calcium absorbed from the diet [3]. When calcium intake is low there is increased PTH secretion, increased 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D and increased calcium absorption and when calcium intake is high the mechanism is reversed [4]. This adaptive process was first described by Nicolaysen in 1953 long before the discovery of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D [5].
Sensory Modulation Dysfunction in ADHD

Sensory processing and reactivity were studied in 26 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (mean age 8.3 years, 18 males, 8 females) and 30 normal controls at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO.
Accessing and Integrating CV and AV Sensor Data into Traffic Engineering Practice

Autonomous vehicles (AV) and connected vehicles (CV) are being designed with numerous sensors, including cameras, radar and Lidar, to enable features like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, collision avoidance and navigation. As AVs and CVs enter the vehicle fleet, practitioners are going to have the opportunity to monitor operations for freeways, intersections and urban environments to a degree that has not been possible or practical previously. But, the very availability of data will threaten practitioners with information overload. To properly use this newly abundant data, new algorithms and systems designs will be needed to automate data collection and processing into formats that practitioners can use.
Nothing but tar paper shacks

Satellite settlements, which frequently bordered model company towns, were usually explained as havens for prostitutes, gamblers, bootleggers, and social misfits. A study of Steptoe City, Nevada, revealed more complex social and economic realities and suggested that the phenomenon was not unique to company towns. Such settlements could better be understood as special case manifestations of the shantytowns or “wrong side of the tracks” neighborhoods, which plagued most towns throughout America.
Susceptibility of Human Platelets, Monocytes, and Neutrophils Bioenergetics to Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a common over-the-counter pain reliever with high hepatotoxic potential. Although APAP hepatotoxicity has been recognized for years, the mechanisms remain elusive. APAP is metabolized to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI) by cytochrome p450 and conjugated with GSH for detoxification, causing oxidative stress that impairs mitochondrial function. In a previous study, we found that APAP decreases rat hepatocyte respiration, and this effect is exacerbated in alcohol-treated rats. Recently, it has been reported that following APAP overdose, platelets and monocytes accumulate in the liver contributing to hepatotoxicity. In the present study, we report the inhibition of mitochondrial function of platelets and monocytes, as well as the oxidative burst capacity of monocytes and neutrophils treated with APAP. Platelets, monocytes, and neutrophils were isolated from blood of healthy human volunteers. The cells were seeded into XF96 microplates and treated with APAP in a dose-response manner for 30 min prior to mitochondrial stress test (MST). In platelets and monocytes, APAP decreases mitochondrial function in a dose-dependent manner revealed by decreased basal oxygen consumption rates (OCR), as well as decreased maximal OCR, reserve capacity, and ATP-linked OCR. In addition to MST, we tested the platelets activation with 0.2 U/ml of thombin, and monocytes and neutrophiles oxidative burst measured following activation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). APAP (5 mM) completly abolished thrombin-activation of platelets. Similarly, APAP inhibited the oxidative burst in neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these data show that within an hour, APAP causes significant bioenergetic changes of platelets, monocytes and decreases the oxidative burst magnitude of neutrophils and monocytes. This work was supported by National Institute of Health grants R21AA023273 (to VDU and AS).
Symptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis: Surgery, Stenting, or Medical Therapy?

Symptomatic carotid artery disease is a significant cause of ischemic stroke, and these patients are at high risk for recurrent vascular events. Patients with symptoms of stroke or transient ischemic attack attributable to a significantly stenotic vessel (70–99% luminal narrowing) should be treated with intensive medical therapy. Intensive medical therapy is a combination of pharmacologic and lifestyle interventions consistent with best-known practices as follows: initiation of antiplatelet agent or anticoagulation if medically indicated, high potency statin medication, blood pressure control with goal blood pressure of greater than 140/90, Mediterranean-style diet, exercise, and smoking cessation. Further, patients who have extracranial culprit lesions should be considered for revascularization with either carotid endarterectomy or carotid angioplasty and stenting depending on several factors including the patient’s anatomy, age, gender, and procedural risk. Based on current evidence, patients with symptomatic intracranial stenosis should be managed with intensive medical therapy, including the use of dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel for the first 90 days following the ischemic event. While the literature has shown a stronger benefit of revascularization of extracranial symptomatic disease among certain subgroups of patients with greater than 70% stenosis, there is less benefit from revascularization with endarterectomy in patients with moderate stenosis of 50–69% if the surgeon’s risk of perioperative stroke or death rate is greater than 6%.
Efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation may vary with clear cell renal cell cancer histologic subtype.

The purpose of the study is to determine if clear cell renal cell cancer (RCC) subtype predicts efficacy in percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation of RCC. Patients who underwent percutaneous RF ablation for histologically proven RCC subtypes were retrospectively reviewed. Group comparisons were done using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine factors impacting primary, secondary, and total technique effectiveness. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. One hundred pathologically proven RCC lesions in 84 patients were analyzed. The median (mean) follow-up was 24 (27) months (range 1–106 months). Overall RF ablation primary, secondary and total technique effectiveness was 86%, 9%, and 95%, respectively. Clear cell subtype demonstrated worse treatment efficacy with primary, secondary, and total technique effectiveness of 42/55 (76.4%), 8/55 (14.5%), and 50/55 (90.9%), respectively. Non-clear cell subtypes had primary, secondary, and total technique effectiveness of 44/45(97.8%), 1/45 (2.2%), 45/45 (100%), respectively. The difference in primary (p = 0.002), secondary (p = 0.032), and total (p = 0.038) technique effectiveness between the two groups was statistically significant. Clear cell RCC was a novel predictor of primary, secondary, and total technique efficacy in the percutaneous RF ablation of clear cell RCC.
Sanctifying the Settler-Colonial Gaze: Nineteenth-Century American Christian Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

American Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land started within a historical and ideological context shaped by American territorial expansionism. The settler-colonial impulses informing that expansio...
Challenges in Head and Neck Pathology

The surgical pathologist plays a crucial role in the multidisciplinary team. In nearly all cases, a tissue diagnosis is required to confirm the disease process before treatment begins. Even in settings where the diagnosis appears straightforward, a timely and appropriate report is necessary. The pathologist is also responsible for providing many of the more specific data elements that will guide treatment decisions: examples include evidence of virally driven malignancy, margin status, and the precise depth to which tumor invades. Each of these diagnoses and findings has its own specific set of difficulties and limitations, which require nuanced interpretation by a well-informed pathologist.
Principles of Clinical Trial Design and Response Assessment

This chapter is an overview of clinical trial design and conduct as it pertains to neuro-oncology. The basic principles involved in Phases 0, I, II, and III cancer clinical trials for both traditional cytotoxic agents and for the more recent molecularly targeted agents and cytostatic agents are discussed. Additionally, special challenges that must be considered in the design and implementation of brain tumor clinical trials are given closer examination including that of radiological response assessment.
Efficient estimation for time-varying coefficient longitudinal models

For estimation of time-varying coefficient longitudinal models, the widely used local least-squares (LS) or covariance-weighted local LS smoothing uses information from the local sample average. Mo...
Chiropterophily and ornithophily in Freycinetia (Pandanaceae) in Samoa

In Samoa, field observations, experiments, and SEM micrographs of hair and feather samples indicate the dioecious lianaFreycinetia reineckei to be both chiropterophilous and ornithophilous with the principal pollinators being an endemic flying fox,Pteropus samoensis, and an endemic starling,Aplonis atrifuscus. Nutritional analysis of staminate and pistillate inflorescenses indicate qualitative and quantitative differences between the rewards offered by the two sexes. No nectar is presented, the principal pollinator rewards being fleshy bracts and pollen. As a result, staminate and bisexual inflorescenses sustain higher levels of pollinator damage, a factor which may tend to maintain dioecism within the population.
In Vitro Packaging of Damaged Bacteriophage T7 DNA

Experiments using in vitro packaging to monitor the biological activity of DNA recovered after in vitro repair, replication, and recombination reactions are described. These results suggest that the in vitro systems mimic the in vivo situation sufficiently well to allow generation (or restoration) of DNA molecules which can be encapsulated to form fully viable T7 phage particles. The in vitro packaging system has proved to be a convenient and relatively sensitive means for determining the amount of biological damage present in T7 DNA and for examining the response of various DNA metabolic systems to that damage.
Real-Time Synchronization in Uniprocessors

Priority-driven preemptive scheduling is an approach used in many realtime systems. The importance of this approach is underscored by the fact that Ada, the language mandated by the US Department of Defense for all its real-time systems, supports such a scheduling discipline [Ada 83]. Much of the scheduling work typically assumes perfect preemption, the assumption that a higher priority task can preempt a lower priority task being run with no penalties in time. An important problem that has not been extensively studied in the real-time scheduling literature is the problem of blocking caused by the synchronization of tasks that share physical or logical resources.
Breathe: Surgical interventions in pulmonary diseases

This is my first issue of Breathe as the new Chief Editor and I would like to take the opportunity to thank Renata Riha, the outgoing Chief Editor, for the outstanding work she has done over the past 3 years. Under her leadership, Breathe established a strong online presence, introduced new features such as the Physiology masterclass and the Radiology corner, and strengthened the journal's collaboration with the European Respiratory Society Early Career Members Committee. Today, Breathe is a leader in providing practice-focused educational content to respiratory professionals. The December issue of Breathe focuses on surgical interventions in pulmonary diseases