cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A profile-based deterministic sequential Monte Carlo algorithm for motif discovery

Motivation: Conserved motifs often represent biological significance, providing insight on biological aspects such as gene transcription regulation, biomolecular secondary structure, presence of non-coding RNAs and evolution history. With the increasing number of sequenced genomic data, faster and more accurate tools are needed to automate the process of motif discovery. Results: We propose a deterministic sequential Monte Carlo (DSMC) motif discovery technique based on the position weight matrix (PWM) model to locate conserved motifs in a given set of nucleotide sequences, and extend our model to search for instances of the motif with insertions/deletions. We show that the proposed method can be used to align the motif where there are insertions and deletions found in different instances of the motif, which cannot be satisfactorily done using other multiple alignment and motif discovery algorithms. Availability: MATLAB code is available at http://www.ee.columbia.edu/~kcliang Contact: xw2008@columbia.edu
Review: excisional, and perhaps ablative treatments for precancerous cervical changes increase the risk for preterm birth.

Commentary on: FJ Bruinsma, MA Quinn. The risk of preterm birth following treatment for precancerous changes in the cervix: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BJOG2011;118:1031–41.
Fe3+ and Al3+ hydrolysis equilibria. Cooperativity in Al3+ hydrolysis reactions

The hydrolysis equilibria of Fe3+ and Al3+ play important roles in geology and biology. While the four successive deprotonations from the aquo Fe3+ are spaced at about two pH unit intervals, the four Al3+ deprotonations occur cooperatively and squeeze into an interval of less than one pH unit. This dramatic contrast is accounted for by proposing that throughout the deprotonations, the hexacoordinate aquo ion remains six-coordinate for Fe3+, but undergoes a regular reduction for Al3+ from six through five to four-coordinate in the aluminate ion, Al(OH)4−. An acidity constant comparison predicts that the aluminum dimer analogous to Fe2(OH)24+is too weak to be detected in aqueous solutions, in agreement with recent results.
Radiation Damage in Steel: Considerations Involving the Effect of Neutron Spectra

The mechanism of interaction between fast neutrons and atoms of a metal lattice is described. A cross section for the production of vacancies in iron by neutrons, as a function of neutron energy, was derived and shown to be roughly proportional to the product of the neutron energy and the isotropic elastic scattering cross section. The vacancy production cross section was applied to several reactor spectra and the results showed that an appreciable fraction of the radiation damage in crystalline solids, particularly metals, can be caused by neutrons having energies below 1 Mev. Also the assumption that the neutrons responsible for radiation damage have a fission spectrum distribution appeared to be inapplicable in reactor situations. In fact, no quantitative measure of total neutron exposure could be made without knowledge of the spectral shape. Steel was chosen as an example because of the interest in its properties as a function of irradiation, hence the model was developed based on interaction of neutrons with iron atoms. Some important limitations of the method are cited. (auth)
Sigmoid volvulus and ileo-sigmoid knotting: a five-year experience at a tertiary care hospital in Tanzania

Sigmoid volvulus is a common cause of intestinal obstruction in developing countries where it affects relatively young people compared to developed countries. No prospective study has been done on this subject in Tanzania and Bugando Medical Centre in particular. This study describes in our region, the clinical presentation, management and outcome of sigmoid volvulus. This was a descriptive prospective study of patients operated for sigmoid volvulus at Bugando Medical Centre from March 2009 to February 2014. A total of 146 patients (M: F = 5.1: 1) representing 14.2% of all cases of bowel obstruction were studied. The median age at presentation was 48 years. The disease significantly affected the older males compared with females (P = 0.012). The majority of the patients 102, (93.2%) presented acutely and had to undergo emergency surgical intervention, the rest were either sub-acute or chronic. Out of the 146 patients studied, 24 (16.4%) had ileo-sigmoid knotting. The majority of patients, 102(69.9%) were treated with resection and primary anastomosis, of which 63.0% were emergency cases. Colostomy was offered to 30.1% of cases. No patient had sigmoidoscopic derotation. Complications mainly surgical site infections were reported in 20.5% of cases. The overall median length of hospital stay was 14 days. Overall mortality rate was 17.1%. The main predictors of mortality were advanced age (>60 years), concomitant medical illness, late presentation (≥24 hours), presence of shock on admission and presence of gangrenous bowel (P < 0.001). The follow up of patients in this study was generally poor as more than half of patients were lost to follow up. Sigmoid volvulus is not uncommon in our setting and commonly affects males than females. Most of the patients presented acutely, requiring immediate resuscitation and surgical approach. Findings from this study suggest that in viable bowel, sigmoid resection and primary anastomosis is feasible as it may not adversely affect outcome. Temporary colostomy should be considered if the bowel is gangrenous or perforated. Early diagnosis and timely definitive treatment are essential in order to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease.
Quantitative Study of an Outdoor Multi-Hop 802.11 Network Performance using a Novel Passive Measurement Approach

This paper presents a novel passive measurement approach to accurately evaluate the performance of outdoor multi-hop 802.11 networks from the wireless side directly. Our approach employs five processing steps to evaluate per-hop system performances. Firstly, reference packets are identified from multiple independent packet traces. Secondly, multiple packet traces in one channel are merged together using the identified reference packets. Thirdly, redundant packets are filtered from the merging packet traces. To adjust for propagation differences between access points and monitors, the status of each packet is then corrected according to its context packets. Finally, an inference approach based on finite state machines (FSM) is designed to infer missing packets which are not recorded in any of the monitor traces but known to have existed in the real traffic. The unique features in our approach include propagation delay evaluation and FSM designs for existing packet status correction and missing packet inference. The measurement results collected from our outdoor multi-hop 802.11 testbed are used to validate the accuracy of our approach.
Can the duration of tuberculosis treatment be shortened with higher dosages of rifampicin

Strategies involving new applications of existing drugs are urgently needed to reduce the time required to cure patients with drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). Use of high-dosage rifampicin is one such approach. Recent data from preclinical animal models (Hu et al., 2015) and clinical studies (Boeree et al., 2015) support a potential role for high-dosage rifampicin in TB chemotherapy, although more studies are required to guide optimal clinical management. Specifically, further basic preclinical research is needed to: (i) Develop pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models to improve our understanding of drug bioavailability and activity in tissues; (ii) Determine the antimicrobial efficacy and the ability of high-dosage rifampicin to reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance; and (iii) Explore high-dosage rifampicin for evaluation of new combination regimens to achieve the ultimate goal of shortening TB treatment and achieving stable cure without relapse.
Optical Microangiography: A Label-Free 3-D Imaging Technology to Visualize and Quantify Blood Circulations Within Tissue Beds In Vivo

Optical microangiography (OMAG) is a recently developed volumetric imaging technique that is capable of producing 3-D images of dynamic blood perfusion within microcirculatory tissue beds in vivo . The imaging contrast of OMAG image is based on the intrinsic optical scattering signals backscattered by the moving blood cells in patent blood vessels, thus, it is a label-free imaging technique. In this paper, I will first discuss its recent developments that use a constant modulation frequency introduced in the spectral interferograms to achieve the blood perfusion imaging. I will then introduce its latest development that utilizes the inherent blood flow to modulate the spectral interferograms to realize the blood perfusion imaging. Finally, examples of using OMAG to delineate the dynamic blood perfusion, down to capillary level resolution, within living tissues are given, including cortical blood perfusion in the brain of small animals and blood flow within human retina and choroids.
Messenger: Flight Software Design for a Deep Space Mission

MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) is a NASA Discovery mission to study the planet Mercury. Launched in August 2004, it will perform one more flyby of Venus and three flybys of Mercury, followed by Mercury orbit insertion in 2011 for a one-year science-gathering mission. Throughout the mission, MESSENGER will use seven instruments to collect data about key characteristics of the planet to understand Mercury and the formation of the inner solar system.
Depression and Anxiety in Adolescent Females: The Impact of Sleep Preference and Body Mass Index

Purpose To examine the differences in depressive symptoms and anxiety between (a) normal weight and overweight, and (b) morning type and evening type (sleep chronotype) adolescent girls. The interaction of sleep chronotype and weight and depressive symptoms and anxiety were also examined.
The microstructure and dealloying kinetics of a Cu-Mn alloy

Porous copper was produced by electrolytic dealloying of a Cu-Mn alloy (Incramute: Cu, 40-48 wt. % Mn, 1.4-2.3 wt. % Al) conducted in a 0.3 N-NaCl solution at a potential of −0.2 V (SCE). The dealloying time needed for the as-received cold-rolled specimen (50 h) is shorter than that of the annealed specimen (850 °C for 2 h). The pore size, about 1 μm, of the dealloyed cold-rolled specimen is bigger than that, about 0.1 μm, of the dealloyed specimen after annealing. This is probably because annealing reduced the phase inhomogeneity and removed the rolling effects.
An efficient solution of a differential inverse kinematics problem for wrist-partitioned robots

An efficient approach is presented for solving the inverse Jacobian problem for wrist-partitioned robots; specifically, the differential inverse kinematics problems. By selecting the wrist coordinate frame as the reference coordinate frame, a simplified Jacobian relation can be obtained for deriving a set of orthogonal bases for the screw system. From these orthogonal screws, the instantaneous Cartesian motion can be separated into translational and rotational parts for solving the differential joint variable rates. As a result, a set of concise, closed-form equations for solving the above inverse problem can be easily generated. For illustration, the PUMA 560 robot is selected as an example. On the basis of the simplified equations, the exact form of the inverse Jacobian matrix can also be obtained. >
Support for Community Control among Local Urban Elites.

There are three typical interpretations of community control advanced by both analysts and activists: (1) minority group liberation, (2) community empowerment as a new-left program, and (3) community empowerment as a conservative program. Using these inter pretations, we analyze the attitudes toward community control of local elites in New York City in the period 1972-1974. Our findings indicate substantial levels of support for some form of community control among both white and minority respondents. While there are interracial differences in the degree of operational support for community control, these differences decreased from 1972 to 1974, as overall support increased. Variations in the level of support for community control are best explained by indexes reflecting evaluation of governmental performance (instrumental), and orientations to minority group power and to economic left ideas (ideological). The general interracial increase in support for community control, and the pattern of association of...
Temporal restriction of neural crest development in vitro: changes in the adrenergic differentiation of neural crest clusters in the presence and absence of an overlay of reconstituted basement membrane-like matrix.

Abstract Neural crest clusters were isolated after 18 or 42 h of growth in suspension and plated on a fibronectin substrate in the presence or absence of an overlay of a reconstituted basement membrane-like (RBM) matrix. After 1 week in vitro , cultures of 18-h clusters grown with the RBM gel overlay exhibited a 60-fold increase in the number of catecholamine-positive cells, while the number of melanocytes was decreased to one-quarter the control value. In contrast, clusters isolated after 42 h in suspension developed few adrenergic cells in the presence or absence of the RBM gel overlay. Melanocyte cell number was not altered in 42-h clusters grown in the presence of the RBM gel overlay. Total cell number after 1 week in vitro was similar under all conditions for both 18- and 42-h clusters. The distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells among the experimental conditions was similar to that of catecholamine-positive cells. The presence of the neural tube was not necessary to generate the different developmental properties of clusters isolated at 18 h versus 42 h. These results show that the RBM gel can enhance adrenergic cell development and inhibit melanogenesis in young neural crest clusters cultures. Also, they demonstrate that the capacity of these neural crest cluster cell populations to differentiate and to respond to environmental cues changes as a function of time. These results are compatible either with a model in which the survival of adrenergic precursors within the clusters declines with time or one in which the adrenergic precursors switch their fate to another phenotype.
Exploring Negative Group Dynamics: Adversarial Network, Personality, and Performance in Project Groups

Most previous social network studies have focused on the positive aspects of social relationships. In contrast, this research examined how the negative aspects of social networks in work groups can influence individual performance within the group. Accordingly, two studies were conducted to make this assessment. The first study examined the effect of negative relations and frequency of communication on performance among student groups. The second study investigated how the Five Factor Model of personality and position in adversarial networks interacted to influence individuals' performance. Although results of the first study indicated that frequent communication with others could make a person more likeable, consequently helping him or her perform better, the second study showed that those individuals disliked by others were less likely to achieve a good performance rating, despite their conscientiousness, emotional stability, or openness to experiences.
TO LEARN OR TO CHANGE: OPTIMAL R&D INVESTMENTS UNDER UNCERTAINTY IN THE CASE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

When studying R&D investments in technologies that address potential damage from climate change (termed as “research to change” or RTC), current literature overlooks the effects of purchased learning (i.e., learn through scientific research, termed as “research to learn” or RTL) about climate change. We investigate interactions between optimal R&D investments in RTC and RTL under uncertainty in climate change and research outcomes, while accounting for the positive impact that successful RTL may have on RTC outcome. We find that simultaneously investing in both RTL and RTC may be optimal when the probability that climate change imposes a specific level of damage is either moderate or very high and when RTL cost is relatively low. Whenever RTL and RTC are conducted simultaneously, then they substitute. However, when it is not optimal to conduct RTC and RTL simultaneously, then an increase in RTC cost decreases, at least weakly, RTL investment (i.e., RTL and RTC complement). When the probability that climate change imposes damage increases, then the optimal RTL investment may first decrease and then increase. Moreover, we identify conditions under which either the precautionary principle or the learn-then-act principle should be followed regarding R&D investments.
On high-bandwidth data cache design for multi-issue processors

Highly aggressive multi-issue processor designs of the past few years and projections for the decade, require that we redesign the operation of the cache memory system. The number of instructions that must be processed (including incorrectly predicted ones) will approach 16 or more per cycle. Since memory operations account for about a third of all instructions executed, these systems will have to support multiple data references per cycle. In this paper, we explore reference stream characteristics to determine how best to meet the need for ever increasing access rates. We identify limitations of existing multi-ported cache designs and propose a new structure, the Locally-Based Interleaved Cache (LBIC), to exploit the characteristics of the data reference stream while approaching the economy of traditional multi-bank cache design. Experimental results show that the LBIC structure is capable of outper forming current multi-ported approaches.
Response of a Yellow Mud Turtle (Kinosternon flavescens Agassiz) Community to Habitat Change: Management Implications for a Nature Preserve

ABSTRACT: Yellow mud turtles (Kinosternon flavescens) have been studied in and around a nature preserve near Muscatine, Iowa, for over three decades. The deep sand prairie habitat, unusual for Iowa, has incurred a variety of human disturbances since the 19th century. The area has been managed for natural habitat for the last 40 years, initially by private hunt club (1970s) and now as a private conservation area (late 1970s to the present). The surrounding landscape either continues to suffer a variety of anthropogenic disturbances or was abandoned following disturbances during the 20th century. Recent survey data for yellow mud turtles, an Iowa endangered species, were compared with past surveys to determine efficacy of management practices and effects of habitat alteration on the species. Because yellow mud turtles require wetlands in spring for hydration, feeding, and mating, we specifically focused on impacts and management of former oxbow habitats once connected to the Mississippi River. We conclude t...
Hands-On Universe: bringing astronomical explorations to the classroom

For the past three years, with support from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, Hands-On Universe (HOU) has developed and piloted an educational program that enables high school students to request their own observations from professional observatories. HOU students download CCD images to their classroom computers and use HOU's powerful image processing software to visualize and analyze their data. Over the next several years HOU will develop activities and tools for middle school students and informal education centers as well as implement HOU in regional high school networks across the nation.
Shortest distance problems in graphs using history-dependent transition costs with application to kinodynamic path planning

A new algorithm is presented to compute the shortest path on a graph when the node transition costs depend on the prior history of the path to the current node. The algorithm is applied to solve path planning problems with curvature constraints.
THE INFECTION CONTROL NURSE IN US HOSPITALS, 1976–1977: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION AND ITS OCCUPANT

Within the past decade, the infection control nurse (ICN) has become an important element in organized infection surveillance and control programs. Before 1970, only a few hospitals (6%) had an ICN, but, by 1977, over 80% had hired at least one ICN, the majority of those hospitals having done so since 1973. To determine the characteristics of the position and its occupant, the authors analyzed data from interviews with a representative sample of ICNs from 347 hospitals nationwide, conducted in 1976-1977 as part of Phase II of the Study on the Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control (SENIC Project), the Hospital Interview Survey. Results varied most widely by hospital size. The ICN in the smaller hospitals (less than or equal to 300 beds) typically worked only part time in infection control, spending the rest of her or his time as a nursing supervisor. The ICN in the larger hospitals (greater than 300 beds) generally worked full time but actually worked less time in relation to the number of beds; she or he also had completed a higher level of nursing education and had attended more infection control courses. The ICN was typically a woman in the young or middle age group who had worked in her current hospital six years altogether--two of them in infection control--and was receiving a supervisor's salary. Most ICNs were under the Nursing Service Department but generally looked to the physician in the infection control program for advice or supervision.
Dopamine Modulates Graded and Spike-Evoked Synaptic Inhibition Independently at Single Synapses in Pyloric Network of Lobster

Ayali, Amir, Bruce R. Johnson, and Ronald M. Harris-Warrick. Dopamine modulates graded and spike-evoked synaptic inhibition independently at single synapses in pyloric network of lobster. J. Neurop...
Legal Obligations of States Directly Affected by Cyber-Incidents

Much has been written in recent years about cyberspace as a new domain for warfare. The magnitude of the threats cannot be underestimated. Cyber attacks can disable whole countries (e.g., Estonia) as well as companies (e.g., Sony) and cyber-security incidents in sectors such as communications, finance, transportation and utilities can have catastrophic consequences. The discussion to date has tended to focus on two common conceptions. First, regardless of the failure to arrive at widely accepted definitions of terms such as cyber “crime,” cyber “espionage,” cyber “attacks” and cyber “warfare,” they have mostly been regarded as willfully perpetrated, pre-meditated and intentional. Second, existing literature (certainly legal literature) has focused exclusively on the legal obligations of, and possible sanctions against, states and non-state actors that orchestrated cyber attacks.In this article I offer radically different perspectives on both counts. First, the article recognizes that the harm to both computer networks and physical systems interconnected with them may be as catastrophic when the source of damage is not intentional but rather the result of human error or conventional threats. Second, I offer the first exploration and analysis of possible obligations that may be imposed not on the state (or non-state actor) that originated the attack, but rather on the directly affected state, i.e., the state that is the target of the attack or the cyber incident. I argue that imposing legal and technological responsibilities on the state that has been exposed to a cyber incident is warranted both as a matter of conceptualizing state sovereignty and due to the state’s various obligations to other states and the global community. Thus, the article canvasses the possible bases for, and scope of, responsibilities that may be borne by states that are directly affected by cyber-security incidents before, during and after a cyber-security incident materializes.
Ligand-Dependent Conformational Dynamics of Dihydrofolate Reductase.

Enzymes are known to change among several conformational states during turnover. The role of such dynamic structural changes in catalysis is not fully understood. The influence of dynamics in catalysis can be inferred, but not proven, by comparison of equilibrium structures of protein variants and protein–ligand complexes. A more direct way to establish connections between protein dynamics and the catalytic cycle is to probe the kinetics of specific protein motions in comparison to progress along the reaction coordinate. We have examined the enzyme model system dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from Escherichia coli with tryptophan fluorescence-probed temperature-jump spectroscopy. We aimed to observe the kinetics of the ligand binding and ligand-induced conformational changes of three DHFR complexes to establish the relationship among these catalytic steps. Surprisingly, in all three complexes, the observed kinetics do not match a simple sequential two-step process. Through analysis of the relationship betw...
The Coexistence of Antibody and Antigen in the Body

The most striking feature of the immune reaction consists in the production of specific protective substances, known as antibodies, in response to the presence within the body of a foreign protein, the so-called antigen. These factors, indeed, have been identified, but the finer details of the mechanism of the defensive process are almost entirely obscure. The theory originally propounded, and even now generally entertained, was based on the high degree of affinity which antibody has for antigen. As rapidly as the organism could produce these protective substances, they were supposed to attack the antigen, and to neutralize or destroy it. After this process had been brought to completion, so that no free antigen remained in the body, free antibody was supposed to accumulate, and was then demonstrable as such in the blood. According to this view, the latent period which followed the introduction of antigen into an organism, and which preceded the demonstrable presence of free antibody in its blood, was occupied by the neutralization of antigen by antibody. The succeeding period, the so-called positive phase, characterized by the presence of free antibody, was taken to denote the complete neutralization of the antigen. The validity of this theory was seriously threatened by a series of observations which seemed to indicate the coexistence of antigen and antibody within the blood over considerable periods of time.
Screened Electrostatic Interactions in Molecular Mechanics

In a typical application of molecular mechanics (MM), the electrostatic interactions are calculated from parametrized partial atomic charges treated as point charges interacting by radial Coulomb potentials. This does not usually yield accurate electrostatic interactions at van der Waals distances, but this is compensated by additional parametrized terms, for example Lennard-Jones potentials. In the present work, we present a scheme involving radial screened Coulomb potentials that reproduces the accurate electrostatics much more accurately. The screening accounts for charge penetration of one subsystem’s charge cloud into that of another subsystem, and it is incorporated into the interaction potential in a way similar to what we proposed in a previous article (J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2010, 6, 3330) for combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) simulations, but the screening parameters are reoptimized for MM. The optimization is carried out with electrostatic-potential-fitted partial at...
Measuring Diversification in Small Businesses: Some Preliminary Explorations

Data from diversified owner-managed businesses are reanalyzed in an exploratory effort to assess the applicability to small businesses of four measures of diversification. Results suggest that available measures can be adapted to small business but that specialized data collection methods are desirable. The primary contribution of the paper is the entension of the diversification concept to small businesses.
Regulating the regulators of angiogenesis by CCN1 and taking it up a Notch

CCN1 is encoded by an extracellular matrix protein-gene that is essential for the proper development of the cardiovascular system and the control of angiogenesis, inflammation, progenitor cell lineage commitment and extracellular matrix protein remodeling during the adult life. High-precision genetic models of tissue-specific gene deletion demonstrated a pivotal role of CCN1 in providing positional information to angiogenic endothelial cells (ECs) during the outgrowth and maturation of nascent blood vessel sprouts, fine-controlling Notch-dependent inter-endothelial cell communications and mediating interaction with inflammatory cells. Some of these pleiotropic activities of CCN1 are unique among proteins of the extracellular matrix. Thus, CCN1 represents a model molecule for investigating and unraveling novel aspects of extracellular protein signaling in vascular development and diseases.
Theoretical Study on the Reaction Mechanism of SiH_3 with NO

The reactions of silyl radicals with nitric oxide,SiH_3+NO,were carried out at the DFT/ B3LYP/6-311G++(d,p) level of theory and the high-level electron-correlation method CCSD(T)/6-311G++(d,p) on singlet potential energy surface(PES).The geometries of the reactants,transition states and products were completely optimized.All the transition states were verified by vibrational analysis and internal reaction coordinate(IRC) calculations.The reaction pathway is as follows: R→IM01→TS01→P1(HSiNO+H_2);R→IM01→TS02→IM02→TS03→IM04→TS06→P2(HSiN+H_2O).The product P2(HSiN+H_2O) can produce the most stable product P3(HNSi+H_2O) via a 1,2-hydrogen shift; R→IM01→TS11→IM06→TS16→IM10→TS17→P4(HSiON+H_2);R→IM01→TS11→IM06→TS18→P5(H_2SiONH);R→IM01→TS11→IM06→TS19→P6(HSiONH_2)etc.
Low Voltage Ride Through Control of Photovoltaic Inverter Under Unbalanced Fault

Considering that photovoltaic power system is usually running under conditions of power factor,which results in a certain waste of apparent power of PV inverters when the grid is under unbalanced fault. And according to the requirement for the response of the PV system during the fault,the control objective is to maintain the balance among three-phase grid-connected currents and suppress negative-sequence current,and therefore based on feedback control,positive and negative sequence dual current LVRT reactive control strategy is put forward. The reactive power current output depends on voltage drop,and PV inverter outputs reactive power to the grid during LVRT to support connection-grid voltage. The feasibility and effectiveness of the control strategy is verified by simulation and experiment on the RTDS.
Composite tephrostratigraphy of the Dikika, Gona, Hadar, and Ledi-Geraru project areas, northern Awash, Ethiopia

Mapping and description of the Hadar and Busidima Formations in the northern Awash valley, Ethiopia, have been greatly aided by the use of tephrostratigraphy and tephra correlation in the Dikika, Gona, Hadar, and Ledi-Geraru paleoanthropological project areas. The Hadar Formation contains at least nine dated tuffs, many of which have been correlated across the northern Awash project areas, and all of which are easily distinguished from each other on the basis of major-element chemistry. The overlying Busidima Formation contains at least 35 distinct tuffs, many of which are fi rmly or approximately dated. Because of their discontinuous and compositionally similar nature, many of the Busidima Formation tuffs are not correlated across the northern Awash project areas. Trace-element compositional data or detailed stratigraphic information may be necessary for correlation or relative placement of many of the Busidima Formation tuffs. Differences in the frequency, chemistry, and extent of Hadar and Busidima Formation tuffs preserved in the northern Awash valley may ultimately be related to the tectonic evolution of the region throughout the Pliocene-Pleistocene, as well as to basin-scale geological processes. Despite a number of known issues in tephra correlation, the composite tephrostratigraphy assembled for the northern Awash valley demonstrates the effectiveness of this technique, which has played a key role in ongoing efforts to document the geological history of this unique and important region.
Time Preferences, Mental Health and Treatment Utilization.

Background In all countries of the world, fewer than half of people with mental disorders receive treatment. This treatment gap is commonly attributed to factors such as consumers' limited knowledge, negative attitudes, and financial constraints. In the context of other health behaviors, such as diet and exercise, behavioral economists have emphasized time preferences and procrastination as additional barriers. These factors might also be relevant to mental health. Aims We examine conceptually and empirically how lack of help-seeking for mental health conditions might be related to time preferences and procrastination. Methods Our conceptual discussion explores how the interrelationships between time preferences and mental health treatment utilization could fit into basic microeconomic theory. The empirical analysis uses survey data of student populations from 12 colleges and universities in 2011 (the Healthy Minds Study, N=8,806). Using standard brief measures of discounting, procrastination, and mental health (depression and anxiety symptoms), we examine the conditional correlations between indicators of present-orientation (discount rate and procrastination) and mental health symptoms. Results The conceptual discussion reveals a number of potential relationships that would be useful to examine empirically. In the empirical analysis depression is significantly associated with procrastination and discounting. Treatment utilization is significantly associated with procrastination but not discounting. Discussion The empirical results are generally consistent with the idea that depression increases present orientation (reduces future orientation), as measured by discounting and procrastination. These analyses have notable limitations that will require further examination in future research: the measures are simple and brief, and the estimates may be biased from true causal effects because of omitted variables and reverse causality. There are several possibilities for future research, including: (i) observational, longitudinal studies with detailed data on mental health, time preferences, and help-seeking; (ii) experimental studies that examine immediate or short-term responses and connections between these variables; (iii) randomized trials of mental health therapies that include outcome measures of time preferences and procrastination; and, (iv) intervention studies that test strategies to influence help-seeking by addressing time preferences and present orientation.
Superbugs Antibiotic Resistance Is Becoming a Major Public Health Concern

Antibiotic resistance has led to the development of so-called “superbugs” that no longer respond to the current treatment modalities. The array of antibiotics available to treat these infections is...
Estimated production and economic losses from Neospora caninum infection in Texas beef herds

A computerized spreadsheet was used to model economic losses attributed to changes in production parameters for a typical 42 head Texas beef herd following a simulated N. caninum infection. Texas beef herds that completed Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) records between 1991-1997 supplied the representative production information for economic analysis. SPA production parameters that were used included pregnancy percentage, calving percentage (live calves born), calf death loss between birth and weaning (%), weaned calf crop (%), pounds of calf weaned per female exposed to bulls at start of breeding season, and replacement percentage. The prevalence of N. caninum across and within herds, the risk of increased abortions and stillbirths in infected cows, and the percentage of aborting cows that were culled were collectively superimposed onto the production information in the model either as static estimates (deterministic model) or changing estimates (stochastic model) to cause change in production parameters. Using a deterministic approach and compared to a non-infected herd, a herd with a 20% prevalence of infection experienced an estimated 2.4% lower calving percentage and an overall estimated 2.3% lower weaned calf crop. Estimated weaned calf weight per exposed female was 12.3 lb (5.6 kg) less in an infected herd. Predicted economic loss was $13.75 per head ($577.50 herd loss). Using software that facilitated stochastic modelling, average predicted loss was between $23.29 per head ($978.18 herd loss) and $35.21 per head ($1478.82 herd loss). The total predicted economic loss to the Texas beef industry from this disease was estimated to be $7.6 million using the deterministic economic model. When prevalence figures were allowed to vary, the most likely financial losses to the Texas beef industry were predicted to be between $15 million and $24 million.
Transcriptional dysregulation causes altered modulation of inhibition by haloperidol.

Abstract Many neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism involve interneuron transcriptional dysregulation. The transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α regulates gene expression in GABAergic interneurons, which are important for regulating hippocampal network activity. Genetic deletion of PGC-1α causes a decrease in parvalbumin expression, similar to what is observed in schizophrenia postmortem tissue. Our lab has previously shown that PGC-1α −/− mice have enhanced GABAergic inhibition onto CA1 pyramidal cells, which increases the inhibition/excitation (I/E) ratio, alters hippocampal circuit function, and impairs hippocampal dependent behavior. The typical antipsychotic haloperidol, a dopamine receptor antagonist with selectivity for D2-like receptors, has previously been shown to increase excitation in the CA1 region of hippocampus. We therefore tested whether haloperidol could normalize the I/E balance in CA1 of PGC-1α −/− mice, potentially improving circuit function and behavior. Surprisingly, we discovered instead that interneuron transcriptional dysregulation caused by loss of PGC-1α alters the effects of haloperidol on hippocampal synaptic transmission and circuit function. Acute administration of haloperidol causes disinhibition in CA1 and decreases the I/E ratio onto CA1 pyramidal cells in slices from PGC-1α +/+ mice, but not PGC-1α −/− mice. The spread of activity in CA1, assessed by voltage sensitive dye imaging, is increased by haloperidol in slices from PGC-1α +/+ mice; however haloperidol decreases the spread of activity in slices from PGC-1α −/− mice. Haloperidol increased the power of hippocampal gamma oscillation in slices from PGC-1α +/+ mice but reduced the power of gamma oscillations in slices from PGC-1α −/− mice. Nest construction, an innate hippocampal-dependent behavior, is inhibited by haloperidol in PGC-1α +/+ mice, but not in PGC-1α −/− mice, which already have impaired nest building. The effects of haloperidol are mimicked and occluded by a D2 receptor antagonist in slices from PGC-1α +/+ mice, and the effects of blocking D2 receptors are lost in slices from PGC-1α −/− mice, although there is no change in D2 receptor transcript levels. Together, our results show that hippocampal inhibitory synaptic transmission, CA1 circuit function, and hippocampal dependent behavior are modulated by the antipsychotic haloperidol, and that these effects of haloperidol are lost in PGC-1α −/− mice. These results have implications for the treatment of individuals with conditions involving PGC-1α deficiency.
Zonoids with an equatorial characterization

It is known that a local equatorial characterization of zonoids does not exist. The question arises: Is there a subclass of zonoids admitting a local equatorial characterization. In this article a sufficient condition is found for a centrally symmetric convex body to be a zonoid. The condition has a local equatorial description. Using the condition one can define a subclass of zonoids admitting a local equatorial characterization. It is also proved that a convex body whose boundary is an ellipsoid belongs to the class.
Association of Posttraumatic Growth and Illness-Related Burden With Psychosocial Factors of Patient, Family, and Provider in Pediatric Cancer Survivors

Research has indicated that childhood cancer may lead to posttraumatic growth (PTG), given cancer's association with posttraumatic stress. PTG may be associated with family/home and health care dynamics, as well as parental resilience, distress, and coping. This cross-sectional study investigated the associations of psychosocial factors of the patient, family, and health care team with PTG and illness-related burden (IRB) in childhood cancer survivors. The sample comprised 61 children and adolescents (7-18 years of age), their parents, and their nurses. Respondents completed their assessment an average of 1.73 years after the end of treatment for the child's disease, which was either leukemia, a solid tumor, or lymphoma. Regression analyses showed that PTG was positively associated with the patients' posttraumatic stress symptoms. It was also positively associated with the parents' religious coping, and with measures of stronger family and oncologist relationships (R2 = .32). IRB was positively associated with patient-reported posttraumatic stress symptoms, negatively associated with the nurse's trust in the family, and positively associated with parent-reported mental distress, lower family socioeconomic status, and female gender (R2 = .53). There was no significant association with parenting style or parent-reported posttraumatic stress symptoms in the child. The findings suggested that the young cancer patient's psychosocial and resource milieu (e.g., financial) may be instrumental in PTG and IRB. Psychosocial interventions with high-risk families and their health care teams could increase growth and reduce burden.
Efficient CO Oxidation Using Dendrimer-Encapsulated Pt Nanoparticles Activated with <2% Cu Surface Atoms

In this paper, we show that the onset potential for CO oxidation electrocatalyzed by ∼2 nm dendrimer-encapsulated Pt nanoparticles (Pt DENs) is shifted negative by ∼300 mV in the presence of a small percentage (<2%) of Cu surface atoms. Theory and experiments suggest that the catalytic enhancement arises from a cocatalytic Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism in which the small number of Cu atoms selectively adsorb OH, thereby facilitating reaction with CO adsorbed to the dominant Pt surface. Theory suggests that these Cu atoms are present primarily on the (100) facets of the Pt DENs.
Graded prognostic assessment index for colorectal cancer with brain metastases.

2049 Background: Brain metastasis (BM) is a rare but serious neurologic complication of colorectal cancer (CRC). The Disease Specific Graded Prognostic Assessment (DS-GPA) which is based solely on ...
Experiments on melt–rock reaction in the shallow mantle wedge

This experimental study simulates the interaction of hotter, deeper hydrous mantle melts with shallower, cooler depleted mantle, a process that is expected to occur in the upper part of the mantle wedge. Hydrous reaction experiments (~6 wt% H2O in the melt) were conducted on three different ratios of a 1.6 GPa mantle melt and an overlying 1.2 GPa harzburgite from 1060 to 1260 °C. Reaction coefficients were calculated for each experiment to determine the effect of temperature and starting bulk composition on final melt compositions and crystallizing assemblages. The experiments used to construct the melt–wall rock model closely approached equilibrium and experienced <5% Fe loss or gain. Experiments that experienced higher extents of Fe loss were used to critically evaluate the practice of “correcting” for Fe loss by adding iron. At low ratios of melt/mantle (20:80 and 5:95), the crystallizing assemblages are dunites, harzburgites, and lherzolites (as a function of temperature). When the ratio of deeper melt to overlying mantle is 70:30, the crystallizing assemblage is a wehrlite. This shows that wehrlites, which are observed in ophiolites and mantle xenoliths, can be formed by large amounts of deeper melt fluxing though the mantle wedge during ascent. In all cases, orthopyroxene dissolves in the melt, and olivine crystallizes along with pyroxenes and spinel. The amount of reaction between deeper melts and overlying mantle, simulated here by the three starting compositions, imposes a strong influence on final melt compositions, particularly in terms of depletion. At the lowest melt/mantle ratios, the resulting melt is an extremely depleted Al-poor, high-Si andesite. As the fraction of melt to mantle increases, final melts resemble primitive basaltic andesites found in arcs globally. An important element ratio in mantle lherzolite composition, the Ca/Al ratio, can be significantly elevated through shallow mantle melt–wall rock reaction. Wall rock temperature is a key variable; over a span of <80 °C, reaction with deeper melt creates the entire range of mantle lithologies from a depleted dunite to a harzburgite to a refertilized lherzolite. Together, the experimental phase equilibria, melt compositions, and reaction coefficients provide a framework for understanding how melt–wall rock reaction occurs in the natural system during melt ascent in the mantle wedge.
Bedside sonography for the diagnosis of esophageal food impaction.

Abstract Background Esophageal foreign body (EFB) and impaction are common gastrointestinal emergencies. Detection with standard imaging can be challenging. Computed tomography is a commonly used non-invasive imaging modality, but is not 100% sensitive and not always feasible. Sensitivity of plain film x-ray varies widely and the addition of a barium swallow can obscure evaluation by subsequent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Use of emergency ultrasound (EUS) for detection of EFB in adults has not been previously studied. Objective To evaluate the role of EUS in detection of EFB and to characterize sonographic findings. Methods A case control series of five patients with clinical suspicion of EFB underwent EUS, and findings were compared to five healthy controls. Patients were evaluated for persistent air-fluid levels after swallowing, esophageal dilatation, and visualization of EFB. Results: All patients with suspected EFB had esophageal dilatation (17.5mm vs 9.3mm in healthy controls; p =0.0011) and persistent air-fluid levels after swallowing. EFB was visualized on EUS in 60% of patients. All patients had EFB confirmed on EGD except one, who vomited a significant food bolus during EUS and prior to EGD. Conclusion In patients with suspected EFB, point-of-care ultrasound may identify those with impaction. Suggestive findings include cervical esophageal dilatation and persistent intraluminal air-fluid levels after swallowing. EUS is a rapid, convenient test with the potential to expedite definitive management while decreasing cost and radiation exposure in this patient population.