cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF BARRETT'S ESOPHAGUS

The frequency of columnar-lined esophagus appears to be increasing at a rapid rate. 5 This has occurred despite dramatic improvements in the efficacy of treatment options for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 25 Although this apparent epidemic increase may be due in part to factors such as improved diagnostic techniques, increased awareness of this condition, and the widespread availability and use of upper endoscopy, it raises serious concern that the present therapeutic approach to GERD is inadequate. The traditional stepwise approach, in which successively more efficacious therapies are used, following failure of the previous treatment, deserves reassessment. Because there is little doubt that Barrett's esophagus results from uncontrolled gastroesophageal reflux, it must also follow that early, aggressive, and efficacious treatment to stop GERD will likely have an impact on its incidence. An approach to therapy based on an assessment of the severity of disease process and the potential for progression over time seems more appropriate and may result in the reversal of the rising epidemiologic trends. Given the estimated 2 million Americans with Barrett's esophagus, 26 it is surprising that no clear consensus regarding the ideal treatment exits, as the relative roles of medical and surgical therapy continue to be debated. Adding to the problem, the definition of Barrett's esophagus has evolved considerably over the past decade. 42,51 Traditionally, Barrett's esophagus was identified by the presence of columnar mucosa extending at least 3 cm into the esophagus. 18,41 Although long segments of columnar mucosa without intestinal metaplasia are still considered Barrett's esophagus by most, the fact that specialized intestinal-type epithelium is the only tissue predisposed to malignant degeneration has resulted in the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus given any length of endoscopically identifiable tissue that proves to be intestinal metaplasia on histology. The identification of a high prevalence of biopsy-proven intestinal metaplasia at the cardia, in the absence of endoscopic evidence of a columnar-lined esophagus, raises further questions but is not discussed in this article. 7,43 For the purposes of this article, the term Barrett's esophagus is used to mean an endoscopically visible segment of intestinal metaplasia of any length.
Sustainable agriculture and the challenge of place

Modern, conventional agriculture has generalized the technology of farming, minimizing the significance of the relationship between farmers and their particular land. This generalization undermines farm culture and impedes its transmission from generation to generation. To avoid making the same mistake, ecologists designing the new, lower input agriculture should: 1) reject any black box presentations of their systems that the farmer cannot understand and that interfere with the relationship between the farmer and the land; 2) make systematic efforts to rediscover traditional farm wisdom and incorporate it into the new system; 3) utilize academics in a major program of local, adult education for farmers; and 4) reorganize extension services to facilitate the lateral transfer of information from farmer to farmer, and develop methods of incorporating farmers into the agricultural research process at the planning stage.
Zur Kenntnis der Hugershoff‐Reaktion. II. Benzthiazolyl‐(2)‐malonester aus Methantricarbonsäurediäthylestermonothioaniliden. I

m-Kernsubstituerte Methantricarbonsaurediathylestermonothioanilide cyclisieren mit Brom zu einem Gemisch zweier isomere Benzthiazolderivate, in dem die in 5-Stellung substituierte Verbindung uberwiegt. Der Mechanismus der Hugershoff-Reaktion wird besprochen.
Open-field behavior in muroid rodents.

Open-field behavior was observed in 10-min tests of 10 adult males of each of 12 species of muroid rodents and of the two reciprocal crosses of Peromyscus leucopus and P. gossypinus. Considerable variation was found in number of squares entered, number of fecal boli deposited, and patterns of behavior displayed in the open field. Animals generally showed decreasing ambulation as tests progressed and tended to seek walls. Most measures varied significantly as a function of the general ecology of these species.
Magnification Aberrations in Fourier-Transform Optical Data Storage

Although holographic magnification may appear to increase greatly the versatility of holographic recording and retrieval systems, nevertheless, holographic lens aberrations often prevent the recording of Fourier-transform holograms directly from small transparencies and production of legible, page-size images by mere alteration of the convergence of the reference beam during reconstruction. The magnitudes of these aberrations are calculated for several different Fourier-transform-recording geometries; the optimum geometries are delineated. The most important aberrations that occur with the Fourier-transform method of holographic storage are astigmatism and curvature of field.
Distributed constraint optimization and its application to multiagent resource allocation

Distributed optimization requires the optimization of a global objective function that is distributed among a set of autonomous, communicating agents and is unknown by any individual agent. The problem is inherently distributed and the Solution strategy has no control over the given distribution. Constraint based techniques offer a promising approach for these types of problems. However, previous work has either limited representation to binary good/nogood constraints or relied on synchronous sequential computation to find optimal solutions. Asynchronous methods have previously lacked any guarantees of Optimality, This work proposes Adopt, an asynchronous, distributed, complete method for solving distributed constraint optimization problems. The fundamental ideas in Adopt are to represent constraints as discrete functions (or valuations)-- instead of binary good/nogood values -- and to use the evaluation of these constraints to measure progress towards optimality. In addition, Adopt uses a sound and complete partial solution combination method to allow non-sequential, asychronous computation. Adopt is applied to a real-world distributed resource allocation problem. Distributed resource allocation is a general problem in which a set of agents must optimally assign their resources to a set of tasks with respect to certain criteria. It arises in many real-world domains such as distributed sensor networks, disaster rescue, hospital scheduling, and others.
The Need for Instructional Sensitivity and Construct Clarity in PACT: A Commentary on “Examining the Internal Structure Evidence for the Performance Assessment for California Teachers”

This commentary on the article titled “Examining the Internal Structure Evidence for the Performance Assessment for California Teachers: A Validation Study of the Elementary Literacy Teaching Event...
Modeling global market entry decision by fuzzy logic with an application to country risk assessment

Abstract This research introduces a fuzzy logic framework to support global market entry decision. We present a fuzzy evaluation method to handle recursive problematical issues arising from the imprecision conveyed by natural language, such as inaccurate measures, ambiguous facts, subjective analyses, and imperfect decision rules that characterize the market-entry decision-making process. The components of the method are described and are applied specifically to assess the level of country risk, a principal category of market evaluation. A case situation is developed to illustrate how the method analyzes and integrates political and social risks, foreign exchange rate, and trade balance.
Analysis of the electron cyclotron maser instability

Abstract A single nonlinear equation which describes the temporal evolution of the field amplitude of the electron cyclotron maser instability is derived self-consistently. The results deduced from this nonlinear equation are found to agree well with those of particle simulation.
trans-3,4-dihydroxy-anti-1,2-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrodi- benz[a,j]acridine involvement in dibenz[a,j]acridine DNA adduct formation in mouse skin consistent with Ha-ras mutation patterns in tumors.

Dibenz[a,j]acridine (DBA), is a N-heteropolycyclic aromatic environmental carcinogen found in complex combustion mixtures. The major route of DBA metabolic activation is reportedly through the tran...
Using direct modulation and an all-fiber interferometer to measure LD spectral linewidth

We present a convenient single-laser technique for measuring laser diode (LD) linewidths which utilizes a passive all-fiber interferometer and suggests a way to measure simultaneously the linewidth enhancement factor α. Unlike delayed self-heterodyning1 (DSHT), the present technique does not require the use of an acoustooptic frequency shifter.
Child Support Enforcement: The Ignored Component of Welfare Reform

Most of the research and policy debate related to PL 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, has centered on the time limits, family caps, work requirements, and sanctions imposed on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients and states. While those parts of the bill are critical, this article argues that child support enforcement, which is usually only a footnote in the dialogue, is an integral component of welfare reform and the element that will contribute significantly to raising thousands of women and children out of poverty.
On the development of multi-linear regression analysis to assess energy consumption in the early stages of building design

Abstract Modeling of energy consumption in buildings is essential for different applications such as building energy management and establishing baselines. This makes building energy consumption estimation as a key tool to reduce energy consumption and emissions. Energy performance of building is complex, since it depends on several parameters related to the building characteristics, equipment and systems, weather, occupants, and sociological influences. This paper presents a new model to predict and quantify energy consumption in commercial buildings in the early stages of building design. Building simulation software including eQUEST and DOE-2 was used to build and simulate individual building configuration that were generated using Monte Carlo simulation techniques. Ten thousands simulations for seven building shapes were performed to create a comprehensive dataset covering the full ranges of design parameters. The present study considered building materials, their thickness, building shape, and occupant schedule as design variables since building energy performance is sensitive to these variables. Then, the results of the energy simulations were implemented into a set of regression equation to predict the energy consumption in each design scenario. A good agreement was seen between the predicted data based on the developed regression model and DOE simulation and the maximum error was less than 5%. It is envisioned that the developed regression models can be used to estimate the total energy consumption in the early stages of the design when different building schemes and design concepts are being considered.
Proteasome Inhibition Leads to a Heat-shock Response, Induction of Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperones, and Thermotolerance

The accumulation of misfolded proteins in the cytosol leads to increased expression of heat-shock proteins, while accumulation of such proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stimulates the expression of many ER resident proteins, most of which function as molecular chaperones. Recently, inhibitors of the proteasome have been identified that can block the rapid degradation of abnormal cytosolic and ER-associated proteins. We therefore tested whether these agents, y causing the accumulation of abnormal proteins, might stimulate the expression of cytosolic heat-shock proteins and/or ER molecular chaperones and thereby induce thermotolerance. Exposure of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells to various proteasome inhibitors, including the peptide aldehydes (MG132, MG115, N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal) and lactacystin, inhibited the degradation of short-lived proteins and increased markedly the levels of mRNAs encoding cytosolic heat-shock proteins (Hsp70, polyubiquitin) and ER chaperones (BiP, Grp94, ERp72), as shown by Northern blot analysis. However, inhibitors of cysteine proteases (E64), serine proteases (leupeptin), or metalloproteases (1,10-phenanthroline) had no effect on the levels of these mRNAs. The relative efficacies of the peptide aldehyde inhibitors in inducing these mRNAs correlated with their potencies against the proteasome. Furthermore, reduction of the aldehyde group of MG132 decreased its inhibitory effect on proteolysis and largely prevented the induction of these mRNAs. Although treatment with the proteasome inhibitors caused rapid increases in mRNA levels (as early as 2 h after treatment with MG132), the inhibitors did not detectably affect total protein synthesis, total protein secretion, ER morphology, or the retention of ER-lumenal proteins, even after 18 h of treatment. Together, the findings suggest that inhibition of proteasome function induces heat-shock proteins and ER chaperones due to the accumulation of sufficient amounts of abnormal proteins and/or the inhibition of degradation of a key regulatory factor (e.g. heat-shock factor). Since expression of heat-shock proteins can protect cells from thermal injury, we tested whether the proteasome inhibitors might also confer thermotolerance. Treatment of cells with MG132 for as little as 2 h, markedly increased the survival of cells subjected to high temperatures (up to 46°C). Thus, these agents may have applications in protecting against cell injury.
The ageing spontaneously hypertensive rat as a model of the transition from stable compensated hypertrophy to heart failure

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of advanced age exhibit depressed myocardial contractile function and ventricular fibrosis, as stable compensated hypertrophy progresses to heart failure. Transition to heart failure in SHR aged 18-24 months was characterized by impaired left ventricular (LV) function, ventricular dilatation, and reduced ejection fraction without an increase in LV mass. Studies of papillary muscles from SHR with failing hearts (SHR-F), SHR without failure (SHR-NF), and age-matched Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats allowed examination of changes in the mechanical properties of myocardium during the transition to heart failure. Papillary muscles of SHR-F exhibited increased fibrosis, impaired contraction, and decreased myocyte fractional area. These findings in papillary muscles were correlated with a higher concentration of hydroxyproline and increased histological evidence of fibrosis in the LV free wall. While a depression in active tension accompanied these structural alterations in papillary muscles, it was not evident when active tension was normalized to myocyte fractional area. Together, these data suggest that individual myocyte function may be preserved but that myocyte loss and replacement by extracellular matrix contribute substantially to the decrement in active tension. An absent or negative inotropic response to isoproterenol is observed in SHR-F and SHR-NF papillary muscles and may result in part from age-related alterations in beta-adrenergic receptor dynamics and a shift from alpha- to beta-myosin heavy chain (MHC) protein. During the transition to failure, ventricles of SHR exhibit a marked increase in collagen and fibronectin mRNA levels, suggesting that an increase in the expression of specific extracellular matrix genes may contribute to fibrosis, tissue stiffness, and impaired function. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) mRNA levels also increase in SHR-F, consistent with the concept that TGF-beta 1 plays a key regulatory role in remodelling of the extracellular matrix gene during the transition to failure. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is also implicated in the transition to failure: SHR treated with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril starting at 12 months of age did not develop heart failure during the 18-24 month observation period. Captopril treatment that was initiated after rats were identified with evidence of failure led to a reappearance of alpha-MHC mRNA but did not improve papillary muscle function. Research opportunities include investigation of apoptosis as a mechanism of cell loss, delineation of the regulatory roles of TGF-beta 1 and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in matrix accumulation, and studies of proteinase cascades that regulate matrix remodelling.
Correction of beam-steering effects in low-velocity superconducting quarter-wave cavities

Superconducting cavities presently used for acceleration of ions in velocity range $\ensuremath{\sim}0.01c$ to $0.3c$ (where $c$ is the speed of light) are based on quarter-wave resonators. Currently there are several design proposals in nuclear physics laboratories for application of this type of cavity for acceleration of light and heavy ions. The operating frequencies of the cavities range from $\ensuremath{\sim}50$ to 360 MHz to satisfy various specifications. Electrodynamics studies of the field distributions in the beam-cavity interaction area indicate appreciable dipole components of both electric and magnetic fields, especially for higher-frequency cavities. The dipole fields induce beam steering, which is a strong function of rf phase and which couples the longitudinal and transverse motion. This can result in growth in the transverse emittance of the beam. In this paper, we propose two possible methods for the correction of such dynamic beam-steering effects in quarter-wave resonators. We analyze and discuss the correction methods for the particular examples of two quarter-wave resonators operating at 57.5 and 115 MHz designed for the driver linac of the Rare Isotope Accelerator facility.
Interpolation Between the Low-Energy and the High-Energy Behavior of Hadronic Current Correlation Functions

Abstract We consider the results for hadronic current correlators that we have obtained previously using a generalized Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model. Given the nature of the NJL model, these results are expected to be valid for energies and momenta below some cutoff of about 1 Gev. However, the very high-energy behavior of such correlators can be calculated in perturbation theory. In this work, we use dispersion relations to interpolate between the known high-energy behavior of the correlators and the low-energy behavior that was obtained from the NJL model. The results of calculations made using the NJL model serve to fix various substraction constants in these dispersion relations. In this manner we obtain continuous curves for the correlation functions for all momenta. This procedure is defined such that the (low-energy) predictions of the NJL model are unchanged and such that the correlators have the correct high-energy behavior. In addition to the various results presented in terms of momentum-space variables, we also calculate the scalar-isoscalar correlation function in coordinate space.
Metal ion-induced self assembly of open-chain tetrapyrrole derivatives: Double stranded dinuclear complexes from 10-oxo-5,15-biladienes

Abstract Syntheses of double stranded neutral species via the complexation of Zn, Cd, and Hg with 10-oxo-5,15-biladiene LH2 are described. Formation of the single stranded Cd complex indicates that the self assembly process which affords the double stranded system is not simply a consequence of relief of steric strain. The crystal structure of the cadmium(II) double stranded dimer 8 is described. Long contact distances between carbonyl spacers and Cd ions in the crystal structure of 8 complete the coordination sphere of each Cd, concomitantly forming two distorted trigonal bipyramidal metal centers. Fast coordination/decoordination phenomena involving the carbonyl spacers and the two metallic centers in the zinc(II), cadmium(II) and mercury(II) dimeric complexes 7,8 and 9, respectively, are investigated by using variable temperature 1H NMR. A bending/twisting process is proposed, and its associated energy barrier (40–50 kJ mol−1) is determined for the first time.
Relationship between 5-HT2A receptor mRNA density and contractility in trachea and aorta from guinea pig and rat

The present studies document marked differences in contractile responsiveness to serotonin in trachea and aorta between guinea pig and rat. For example, the guinea pig trachea and rat aorta markedly contract in response to serotonin via activation of 5-HT2A receptors. In contrast, the rat trachea and guinea pig aorta only modestly contract to serotonin. The availability of 5-HT2A receptor selective cDNA clones from brain of both guinea pig and rat permitted molecular probes to be designed and PCR amplification studies initiated to identify and quantify 5-HT2A receptor specific mRNA in these tissues. For trachea, 3-fold higher concentrations of 5-HT2A receptor specific mRNA were found in guinea pig relative to rat trachea. These data are consistent with the more profound contractile response to serotonin in guinea pig versus rat trachea and suggest that differences in tracheal contractility to serotonin correlate with the density of 5-HT2A receptor mRNA. In contrast, although rat aorta contracted more dramatically to serotonin than guinea pig aorta, rat aorta possessed a similar concentration of 5-HT2A receptor specific mRNA as compared to guinea pig aorta. Thus, for the aorta, differences in the concentration of 5-HT2A receptor mRNA are not sufficient to explain the observed differences in contractility between tissues from guinea pig and rat. These studies documenting 5-HT2A receptor mRNA in rat trachea and guinea pig aorta, two tissues that do not markedly contract in response to serotonin indicate that 5-HT2A receptor mRNA although present, has not resulted in a receptor capable of mediating a contractile response in these tissues.
Resource-aware architecture design and implementation of hough transform for a real-time iris boundary detection system

In this paper, a resource efficient architecture design for the circular Hough transform based on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology is presented. The circular Hough transform is implemented to detect iris boundary in a binary edge image. A novel modular design is proposed to reduce the required memory space by 93% compared to the direct implementation while maintaining a high detection rate over 92%. The parallel-pipelined implementation of the proposed architecture demonstrates a high speed processing capability that is suitable to support real-time iris recognition in resource constrained systems. Therefore, the proposed technology can be used in portable consumer devices such as mobile phones and tablets where iris recognition application is involved.
The current state of ethnic and racial disparities in cardiovascular care: lessons from the past and opportunities for the future

Significant racial/ethnic disparities have been documented in cardiovascular care. Although health care quality is improving for many Americans, differences in clinical outcomes have persisted between racial/ethnic minority patients and non-minorities, even when income, education level, and site of care are taken into consideration. Potential causes of disparities are complex and are related to differences in risk factor prevalence and control, use of evidence-based procedures and medications, and social and environmental factors. Minority patients are more likely to receive care from lower-quality health care providers and institutions and experience more barriers to accessing care. Factors such as stereotyping and bias in medicine are hard to quantify, but likely contribute to differences in treatment. Recent trends suggest that some disparities are decreasing. Opportunities for change and improvement exist for patients, providers, and health care systems. Promising interventions, such as health policy changes, quality improvement programs, and culturally targeted community and clinic-based interventions offer hope that high-quality health care in the USA can be provided to all patients.
Treadmill Training After Surgical Removal of a Spinal Tumor in Infancy

Background and Purpose Step training on a treadmill is a common intervention for adult and pediatric patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Treadmill training has not been used as an intervention for infants and toddlers with SCI before walking onset. This case report describes the intervention and stepping behaviors on a treadmill and overground of a toddler after the surgical removal of a rare spinal tumor resulting in SCI. Case Description The toddler presented with an inability to step on the left, rare stepping on the right, and an apparent lack of sensation in the lower extremities. After spinal tumor excision at 5.5 weeks of age, step training on a treadmill and overground occurred once per week from 15 to 35 months of age in addition to traditional physical therapy. Outcomes Independent symmetrical stepping emerged both on and off the treadmill over 20 months. Improvements in the number and pattern of steps occurred with training. Walking speed increased, and milestones important to overground walking developed. Discussion Independent steps developed during the intervention with little motor development of the lower extremities during the first year of life. Furthermore, improvements in stepping alternation, standing, and walking occurred despite no evidence of sensation in the lower extremities.
Modulation of host immune responses, induction of apoptosis and inhibition of NF‐κB activation by the Bordetella type III secretion system

Summary Bordetella bronchiseptica establishes respiratory tract infections in laboratory animals with high efficiency. Colonization persists for the life of the animal and infection is usually asymptomatic in immunocompetent hosts. We hypothesize that this reflects a balance between immunostimulatory events associated with infection and immunomodulatory events mediated by the bacteria. We have identified 15 loci that are part of a type III secretion apparatus in B. bronchiseptica and three secreted proteins. The functions of the type III secretion system were investigated by comparing the phenotypes of wild-type bacteria with two strains that are defective in type III secretion using in vivo and in vitro infection models. Type III secretion mutants were defective in long-term colonization of the trachea in immunocompetent mice. The mutants also elicited higher titres of anti-Bordetella antibodies upon infection compared with wild-type bacteria. Type III secretion mutants also showed increased lethal virulence in immunodeficient SCID-beige mice. These observations suggest that type III-secreted products of B. bronchiseptica interact with components of both innate and adaptive immune systems of the host. B. bronchiseptica induced apoptosis in macrophages in vitro and inflammatory cells in vivo and type III secretion was required for this process. Infection of an epithelial cell line with high numbers of wild type, but not type III deficient B. bronchiseptica resulted in rapid aggregation of NF-kB into large complexes in the cytoplasm. NF-kB aggregation was dependent on type III secretion and aggregated NF-kB did not respond to TNFa activation, suggesting B. bronchiseptica may modulate host immunity by inactivating NF-kB. Based on these in vivo and in vitro results, we hypothesize that the Bordetella type III secretion system functions to modulate host immune responses during infection.
Industrial Home Work of the Dennison Manufacturing Company of Framingham, Massachusetts, 1912–1935

Dennison Manufacturing Company let work out into private homes in surrounding communities and paid piece rates for it for many decades. This work, primarily attaching strings to tags, benefited both the company and the community but contained the potential for abusive child labor. Home work declined when machinery could be substituted for hand labor, but machinery capable of replacing all handwork was never developed. Social and political pressures to reduce or eliminate child labor increased the incentives to end home work; but not until the depression of the 1930s, when national efforts to put men back to work gained momentum, did home manufacture end in the tag and other industries. This article uses internal company documents spanning the period 1912 to 1935 to illuminate the company's policy towards this work. It also relies on the recollections of many of those who performed the work when they were children. This research contributes to a substantial body of literature on home work by providing a case study on one company and enriching it with human testimony.
Microchemistry and microstructure of SmCo 2:17 permanent magnets with Ni, Pr, and Ti substitutions

This work is to study the element distribution and microstructure of Sm-Co 2:17 permanent magnets with Ni, Pr, and Ti substitution using TEM/STEM and nanoprobe EDS techniques. Pr substituting for Sm does not affect the microstructure but can prompt the diffusion of Cu into cell walls. Ti is almost uniformly distributed in the cellular structure and does not change the elemental distribution. High solubility of Ti in 2:17 cells may restrain the formation of the lamellar phases in the Ti-substituted sample. Ni substitution for Cu leads to the formation of inhomogeneous cellular-like structure. Ni is found to be concentrated in the cell boundary phases in highly Ni-substituted samples.
In situ infrared measurements on TiO2 flames: Gas and particle concentrations

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was performed on premixed flames of titanium tetraisopropoxide, methane and oxygen. A combination of emission/transmission (E/T) measurements yields gas temperature, gas concentrations, soot temperature, soot concentration and absorption features of TiO2 particles. To validate the temperature measurements, a thermocouple is inserted into the IR path within the flame, and its temperature is compared to the surface temperature from E/T analysis which agrees quite well. The HITEMP and HITRAN databases are used to determine the gas mol fractions in the flame. Soot is observed in the emission spectra of the flame, and its concentration decreases with its increasing position above the burner. The soot temperature is always less than the gas temperature. The IR feature of TiO2 particles is hard to observe, because it is very small relative to H2O and CO2 features. Interfering features, however, were removed using either calculated spectra or by experimentally generating a reference flame using an acetone–methane flame.
Far-Field Scattering of an Axisymmetric Laser Beam of Arbitrary Profile by an On-Axis Spherical Particle

Experimental laser beam profiles often deviate somewhat from the ideal Gaussian shape of the TEM(00) laser mode. In order to take these deviations into account when calculating light scattering, we propose a method for approximating the beam shape coefficients in the partial wave expansion of an experimental laser beam. We then compute scattering by a single dielectric spherical particle placed on the beam's axis using this method and compare our results to laboratory data. Our model calculations fit the laboratory data well.
STarMir: a web server for prediction of microRNA binding sites

STarMir web server predicts microRNA (miRNA) binding sites on a target ribonucleic acid (RNA). STarMir is an implementation of logistic prediction models developed with miRNA binding data from crosslinking immunoprecipitation (CLIP) studies (Liu,C., Mallick, B., Long, D., Rennie, W.A., Wolenc, A., Carmack, C.S. and Ding, Y. (2013). CLIP-based prediction of mammalian microRNA binding sites. Nucleic Acids Res., 41(14), e138). In both intra-dataset and inter-dataset validations, the models showed major improvements over established algorithms in predictions of both seed and seedless sites. General applicability of the models was indicated by good performance in cross-species validations. The input data for STarMir is processed by the web server to perform prediction of miRNA binding sites, compute comprehensive sequence, thermodynamic and target structure features and a logistic probability as a measure of confidence for each predicted site. For each of seed and seedless sites and for all three regions of a mRNA (3' UTR, CDS and 5' UTR), STarMir output includes the computed binding site features, the logistic probability and a publication-quality diagram of the predicted miRNA:target hybrid. The prediction results are available through both an interactive viewer and downloadable text files. As an application module of the Sfold RNA package (http://sfold.wadsworth.org), STarMir is freely available to all at http://sfold.wadsworth.org/starmir.html.
Growth, cell walls, and UDP-Glc dehydrogenase activity of Arabidopsis thaliana grown in elevated carbon dioxide

Summary The impact of elevated CO 2 (1000 μmol/mol) was assessed on the common weed, Arabidopsis thaliana (Landsberg erecta), which is used as a model plant system. Elevated CO 2 stimulated relative growth rate (RGR) and leaf area gain of Arabidopsis beginning from the cotyledon stage and continuing through the juvenile stage. This early advantage in growth enabled the plants grown in elevated CO 2 to gain more DW despite similar RGRs throughout the latter stages of development. The greater accumulation of DW in leaves grown in elevated CO 2 resulted in a lower specific leaf area (SLA). However, the amount of cell wall investment per unit of leaf area, specific “wall” area (SWA), was similar indicating that elevated CO 2 did not affect the distribution of cell carbon to the cell wall of leaves beyond that needed for cell and leaf expansion. Furthermore, cell wall composition changed with time due to developmental changes and was not affected by elevated CO 2 . Associated with the increase in RGR by elevated CO 2 was a concomitant increase in the activity of UDP-Glc dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.22), a key enzyme in the nucleotide-sugar interconversion pathway necessary for biosynthesis of many cell-wall polysaccharides.
Immune checkpoint regulator PD-L1 expression on tumor cells by contacting CD11b positive bone marrow derived stromal cells

Expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an important process by which tumor cells suppress antitumor immunity in the tumor microenvironment. Bone marrow (BM)–derived immune cells are an important component of the tumor microenvironment. However, the link between PD-L1 induction on tumor cells and communication with BM cells is unknown. This study demonstrates that BM cells have a direct effect in inducing PD-L1 expression on tumor cells, which contributes to the tumor cells’ drug resistance. This novel discovery was revealed using a co-incubation system with BM cells and tumor cells. BM cells from wild-type C57BL6 mice and the immune-deficient mouse strains B-cell−/−, CD28−/−, perforin−/−, and Rag2−/− but not CD11b−/− dramatically increased the expression of tumor cell surface PD-L1. This PD-L1 induction was dependent on CD11b-positive BM cells through direct contact with tumor cells. Furthermore, p38 signaling was activated in tumor cells after co-incubation with BM cells, whereas the expression of PD-L1 was remarkably decreased after co-culture of cells treated with a p38 inhibitor. The increase in PD-L1 induced by BM cell co-culture protected tumor cells from drug-induced apoptosis. PD-L1 expression is increased on tumor cells by direct contact with BM-derived CD11b-positive cells through the p38 signaling pathway. PD-L1 may play an important role in drug resistance, which often causes failure of the antitumor response.
Legal and ethical implications in the evaluation and management of sports-related concussion

Objective: To examine the ethical and legal issues physicians face when evaluating and managing athletes with sports-related concussions, and to offer guidance to physicians as they navigate these situations. Results: This position paper reviews and compares the components of sports-related concussion laws, including education, removal from play, and clearance for return to play. It highlights the challenges privacy laws present relevant to providing care to concussed athletes and suggests ways to help physicians overcome these obstacles. The report also explores the ethical considerations physicians should bear in mind as they evaluate and manage concussed athletes, addressing them through a framework that includes considerations of professionalism, informed decision-making, patient autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, conflicts of interest, and distributive justice. Conclusions: Physicians caring for concussed athletes have an ethical obligation to ensure that their primary responsibility is to safeguard the current and future physical and mental health of their patients. Physicians have a duty to provide athletes and their parents with information about concussion risk factors, symptoms, and the risks for postconcussion neurologic impairments. Physicians should facilitate informed and shared decision-making among athletes, parents, and medical teams while protecting athletes from potential harm. Additionally, including concussion evaluation and management training in neurology residency programs, as well as developing a national concussion registry, will benefit patients by the development of policies and clinical guidelines that optimize prevention and treatment of concussive head injury.
Formation of lipid bilayers inside microfluidic channel array for monitoring membrane-embedded nanopores of phi29 DNA packaging nanomotor

An efficient method to form lipid bilayers inside an array of microfluidic channels has been developed and applied to monitor the membrane-embedded phi29 DNA packaging motor with an electrochemical characterization on a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) platform. A push-pull junction capturing approach was applied to confine a small amount of the lipid solution inside a microchannel. The selective permeability between solvents and water in PDMS was utilized to extract the solvent from the lipid solution, resulting in a self-formation of the lipid bilayer in the microchannel array. Each microchannel was independently connected to a silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) electrode array, leading to a high-throughput monitoring of the nanopore insertion in the formed lipid bilayers. The formation of multiple lipid bilayers inside an array of microchannels and the simultaneous electrical and optical monitoring of multiple bilayer provides an efficient LOC platform for the further development of single phi29 motor pore sensing and high throughput single pore dsDNA sequencing.
State Pharmacy Regulators' Opinions on Regulating Pharmaceutical Care Outcomes

OBJECTIVE:To examine the opinions of state pharmacy regulators regarding responsibility for the outcomes of drug therapy, and approaches that might be taken to regulate for pharmaceutical care outcomes.DESIGN:Surveys were sent to the executive secretaries of state pharmacy boards. The executive secretaries were encouraged to seek input from other board staff and board members in formulating a response. Reminder postcards were sent to all subjects 1 week after the initial mailing.MEASURES:The survey instrument was divided into three sections. The first section identified 10 approaches that state boards could use to regulate for outcomes and asked subjects to indicate the utility of each. The second and third sections asked the subjects to determine the extent to which pharmacies and pharmacists, respectively, should be responsible for outcomes potentially related to pharmaceutical care.RESULTS:Forty-one usable surveys were returned. All approaches to regulation were viewed as potentially useful, and scores...
Ovulatory Shifts in Women’s Attractions to Primary Partners and Other Men: Further Evidence of the Importance of Primary Partner Sexual Attractiveness

Previous research has documented shifts in women’s attractions to their romantic partner and to men other than their partner across the ovulation cycle, contingent on the degree to which her partner displays hypothesized indicators of highfitness genes. The current study set out to replicate and extend this finding. Forty-one couples in which the woman was naturally cycling participated. Female partners reported their feelings of in-pair attraction and extra-pair attraction on two occasions, once on a low-fertility day of the cycle and once on a high-fertility day of the cycle just prior to ovulation. Ovulation was confirmed using luteinizing hormone tests. We collected two measures of male partner sexual attractiveness. First, the women in the study rated their partner’s sexual attractiveness. Second, we photographed the partners and had the photos independently rated for attractiveness. Shifts in women’s in-pair attractions across the cycle were significantly moderated by women’s ratings of partner sexual attractiveness, such that the less sexually attractive women rated their partner, the less in-pair attraction they reported at high fertility compared with low fertility (partial r=.37, pdir=.01). Shifts in women’s extra-pair attractions across the cycle were significantly moderated by third-party ratings of partner attractiveness, such that the less attractive the partner was, the more extra-pair attraction women reported at high relative to low fertility (partial r=2.33, pdir=.03). In line with previous findings, we found support for the hypothesis that the degree to which a woman’s romantic partner displays indicators of high-fitness genes affects women’s attractions to their own partner and other men at high fertility.
The application of 1980s psychology to 1990s smoking research

The 1988 Surgeon General's report (US DHHS, 1988) argued that smoking should be considered an addiction because it displays the features common to all addictive disorders, which were, most importantly, highly controlled or compulsive use of a psychoactive substance. Furthermore, urges to smoke were identified as directly responsible for this pattern of drug use. Although it is commonly asserted that urges are central to the addictive process, relatively little research has been devoted to this issue and the evidence that is available provides little support for the assumption. This paper argues that the role of urges in addictive smoking should receive greater attention from smoking researchers and offers several suggestions for overcoming the methodological and theoretical limitations of previous research on smoking urges.
Microarray results improve significantly as hybridization approaches equilibrium

Dual-channel long oligonucleotide microarrays are in widespread use. Although much attention has been given to proper experimental design and analysis regarding long oligonucleotide microarrays, relatively little information is available concerning the optimization of protocols. We carried out a series of microarray experiments designed to investigate the effects of different levels of target concentration and hybridization times using a long oligonucleotide library. Based on principles developed from nucleic acid renaturation kinetics studies, we show that increasing the time of hybridization from 18 h to 42 h and 66 h, especially when lower than optimal concentrations of target were used, significantly improved the quality of the microarray results. Longer hybridization times significantly increased the number of spots detected, signal-to-noise ratios, and the number of differentially expressed genes and correlations among replicate arrays. We conclude that at 18 h of incubation, target-to-probe hybridization has not reached equilibrium and that a relatively high proportion of nonspecific hybridization occurs. This result is striking, given that most, if not all, published microarray protocols stipulate 8-24 h for hybridization. Using shorter than optimal hybridization times (i.e., not allowing hybridization to reach equilibrium) has the consequence of underestimating the fold change of differentially expressed genes and of missing less represented sequences.
Prokaryotic introns and inteins: a panoply of form and function.

Following their initial discovery, introns and RNA splicing were considered, along with the nuclear envelope, as characteristics that distinguish eukaryotes from prokaryotes (the eubacteria, referred to simply as bacteria, and the archaebacteria, referred to as archaea). This dogma became shaky with the identification of putative introns in tRNA genes of archaea (35) and finally crumbled with the discovery of self-splicing group I introns in the phages of purple bacteria (9), which was followed by the discovery of group I (40, 59, 72) and group II introns (24) in bacterial cells. Another breakthrough was the recent discovery of a nuclear pre-mRNA-like intron in a bacterial plasmid (48). The variety of intervening sequences (IVSs) that span the phylogenetic spectrum was further extended by the discovery of inteins, elements that can splice at the protein level, in eukaryotes (36), archaea (56, 71), and bacteria (19, 20). This minireview will illustrate that interrupted genes can no longer be considered the province of eukaryotes, but rather that many forms of IVSs are phylogenetically diverse, occurring also in bacterial and archaeal genomes (Fig. 1).
Attentional processes, anxiety, and the regulation of cortisol reactivity

Attentional processing biases have been demonstrated in trait anxious individuals. The current study evaluated the interaction of trait anxiety and attentional bias in the regulation of cortisol responses to threat cues. Undergraduates (N=63) completed a dot-probe task featuring social threat words. Trait anxiety was associated with avoidance of threat cues. Attentional avoidance predicted decreased cortisol responses at higher levels of trait anxiety, and elevated cortisol responses at lower levels of trait anxiety. The results suggest that attentional processes are involved in the regulation of physiological arousal for anxious individuals.
Influence of Mach Number on Tornado Corner Flow Dynamics

Abstract Since maximum Mach numbers in an F5 tornado are expected to, at least, reach ∼0.4, a study was undertaken to determine the major potential compressibility effects in such flows. Results from compressible large-eddy simulations of tornado corner flow dynamics are summarized. Comparison with previous incompressible simulations indicates that Mach number effects tend to be modest and may be estimated by an isentropic approximation. As the average maximum Mach number M within the tornado increases above one-half, the largest changes occur for “low-swirl” corner flows, those exhibiting a central vertical jet off the surface capped by a vortex breakdown, with the vortex breakdown found to occur at significantly greater heights as M increases. It also appears that the highest Mach numbers are most likely to occur during rapid transients in near-surface intensification that can sometimes occur during a tornado's evolution.
A Dangerous Job? An Examination of Violence against Conservation Officers:

Conservation law enforcement is an area of policing that has been largely overlooked by sociologists and criminal justice researchers. Some have speculated that when compared to their traditional police officer counterparts, conservation officers face greater dangers on the job. However, little if any research has been directed towards violence against conservation officers. Using a qualitative approach to data collection, this descriptive and exploratory study examined the nature of assaults on Kentucky conservation officers. Conservation officers reported that while physical assaults did occur periodically, they were relatively rare events. Verbal abuse from recreationists was much more common.