cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Very high resolution rainfall patterns measured by TRMM precipitation radar: seasonal and diurnal cycles

The TRMM Precipitation Radar is used to construct a high resolution (0.05° × 0.05°) climatology of rainfall over the latitude band extending to about 36° North and South. This study describes climatological patterns of rainfall frequency and intensity at high spatial resolution, with special focus on the seasonal and diurnal cycles in the frequency of rainfall events. We use this Tropics-wide dataset to highlight small-scale precipitation features that are too fine to be captured by the most widely used satellite-based rainfall datasets. The results shed light on the roles of changes in the wind direction, the land-sea thermal contrast, small-scale variations in sea surface temperature, and orography in shaping the seasonal and diurnal cycles of rainfall. In some regions of the tropics, diurnally locked local circulations are largely responsible for sharp gradients in the spatial distribution of seasonal mean precipitation. In other regions, we show that climatological rainfall frequency changes very sharply at coastlines, even though rainfall in these regions is expected to be controlled by relatively large scale weather systems.
High dose chemotherapy and stem cell rescue for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: pattern of failure and implications for involved-field radiotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the pattern of failure and outcome of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) undergoing high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous stem cell rescue (SCR) with an emphasis on the role of adjuvant involved-field radiotherapy (IFRT). Method and Materials: Fifty-three adult patients with aggressive NHL (46 intermediate-and 7 high-grade) underwent HDCT with SCR. All patients underwent induction chemotherapy prior to high dose intensification. Seven (13.2%) received IFRT to 10 disease sites either prior to or following HDCT. Indication included symptomatic or bulky disease, persistent disease, or to consolidate a complete response (CR). Sites of relapse were designated as old (involved prior to HDCT) or new (previously uninvolved). Median followup was 20.1 months (range, 1.2-69.3 months). Results: The 4-year actuarial progression-free (PFS) and cause-specific (CSS) survivals of the entire group were 30.0 and 50.2%, respectively. Excluding toxic deaths, 24 patients (52.2%) relapsed. Sixteen (34.7%) failed in old and 15 (32.6%) in new sites. Patients treated with IFRT had a lower rate of relapse in old sites (0 vs. 41%) (p = 0.04) than patients treated with HDCT alone. Of the 141 sites present prior to induction, 127 (90.1%) were amenable to IFRT. Excluding irradiated sites, the overall 4-year local control (LC) of all amenable sites was 61.1%. Amenable sites failing to achieve a CR to induction had a poorer LC (32.0 vs. 95.1%) (p < 0.0001) than sites in CR. The 4-year LC of sites failing to achieve a CR to HDCT was 29.4%. Adjuvant IFRT improved the 4-year LC of all sites (100 vs. 61.1%) (p = 0.05), persistent sites following induction (100 vs. 32.0%) (p = 0.01) and persistent sites following HDCT (100 vs. 29.4%) (p = 0.01). Adjuvant IFRT was not associated with any untoward acute or late toxicity. Conclusions: The predominant site of relapse in patients with aggressive NHL undergoing HDCT and SCR is in sites of disease present prior to HDCT. However, the risk of relapse of prior disease sites varies greatly depending upon their response to chemotherapy. Sites at greatest risk are those failing to achieve a CR to induction regardless of their response to HDCT. IFRT is capable of reducing the high risk of relapse in these sites, the majority of which are amenable to IFRT. These results demonstrate a rationale for and possible benefit to IFRT in patients with aggressive NHL undergoing HDCT and SCR.
Optical Properties of Beryllium in the Ultraviolet from Electron Energy Absorption

A method for obtaining the optical constants of beryllium in the far ultraviolet based upon electron energy loss experiments is described. This method correlates the electron interaction with the target material to the optical properties of the material. The n and k values and the reflectivity are presented for photon energies in the range 12 ≤ E ≤ 28 eV. The n and k values are given and are checked for self-consistency by means of the Kronig-Kramers dispersion relations. The optical data have been fitted by a two-parameter Drude model with a plasma energy of ℏωp = 18.4 eV and a relaxation time of 1.4 × 10−16 sec.
Clinical applications of self-esteem and locus of control to adolescent health

Abstract Self-esteem and locus of control are two associated constructs representing, respectively, a generalized self-evaluation and an assessment of personal control. Measures representing these constructs generally rely on self-report. These measures have been applied to adolescent health as predictors and outcomes. Most studies rely on χ 3 , t -test, and ANOVA analysis and report mixed results in attaining significant group comparisons on issues including contraceptive use, adolescent pregnancy, and substance abuse. Few studies employ multiple regression or discriminant function analysis assessing the relative influence or predictive accuracy and sensitivity of these measures. Studies using these analyses report limited or nonsignificant contributions of these measures to clinical issues (e.g., adolescent fatherhood, adolescent pregnancy, substance abuse, medical management) relative to variables such as patient age, social class, parental attitudes, and peer relationships. Our discussion of these results addresses the validity of self-reports of self-esteem and locus of control versus observation procedures assessing these constructs by verbal and nonverbal presentation of self, analytic procedures appropriate to clinical prediction of behavior by person and situation characteristics, and procedures to advance the clinical adoption of behavioral measures.
A Multidrug Delivery System Using a Piezoelectrically Actuated Silicon Valve Manifold With Embedded Sensors

This paper describes a drug delivery system for chronic pain that can accommodate multidrug protocols. An element that is important to the function of the system is a customized silicon micromachined valve manifold. Each valve is piezoelectrically actuated and operates by pressing an elongated valve seat against a shared glass substrate. The dual-valve substrate has two inlets and one outlet; a piezoresistive pressure sensor is embedded in the Si structure near each of these three ports. The sensors, which permit closed-loop control and error monitoring of the flow rate, have a typical sensitivity of 698 ppm/kPa. The 1 × 1.5 × 3 cm3 manifold provides modulation and mixing capabilities. The manifold is integrated into a stainless steel housing with a total volume of 130 cm3 and a reservoir volume of 40 cm3. Two spring-loaded polyethylene reservoirs feed the valve manifold at pressures up to 0.52 kPa/mL. Benchtop tests of bolus and continuous flow delivery demonstrate flow rates ranging from 2.30 to 0.51 mL/h. (Both larger and smaller rates can be achieved by adjusting the parameters of the manifold valves or reservoir springs.) Additional tests suggest that the system can compensate for changes in spinal fluid pressure and that pressure profiles can be used to detect catheter occlusions and disconnects.
Neural Networks for Density Estimation

We introduce two new techniques for density estimation. Our approach poses the problem as a supervised learning task which can be performed using Neural Networks. We introduce a stochastic method for learning the cumulative distribution and an analogous deterministic technique. We demonstrate convergence of our methods both theoretically and experimentally, and provide comparisons with the Parzen estimate. Our theoretical results demonstrate better convergence properties than the Parzen estimate.
Food Systems and Public Health Disparities

The United States has set a national goal to eliminate health disparities. This article emphasizes the importance of food systems in generating and exacerbating health disparities in the United States and suggests avenues for reducing them. It presents a conceptual model showing how broad food system conditions interplay with community food environments—and how these relationships are filtered and refracted through prisms of social disparities to generate and exacerbate health disparities. Interactions with demand factors in the social environment are described. The article also highlights the separate food systems pathway to health disparities via environmental and occupational health effects of agriculture.
Spatial light rebroadcaster bit-slice word-addressable holographic memory

A heteroassociative memory is proposed that allows a key word in a dictionary of key words to be used to recall an associated holographic image in a database of images. A novel bit-slice search approach finds the word sought in a dictionary of key words and generates a beam that selects the corresponding holographic image from a directory of images. Spatial light rebroadcasters are proposed for the key-word database. Optical experimental results demonstrate that spatial light rebroadcasters may be used in loops with image intensifiers and optically addressable liquid-crystal light valves and that the approach can be used to select holograms based on key-word matching. In the case considered, a holographic image having more than 40,000 bits is selected from 8 by using a key word from a dictionary of 8 words.
The Press, Public Behaviour, and Public Opinion

WHILE the press is no longer looked upon as the "molder" of public opinion to the extent that it once was, the hypothesis remains that the content of the press exercises an appreciable effect on human behavior. Construction of an index showing the visibility, coverage, and degree of favorability with which certain classes of industrial news are presented in the press at any given point makes it possible to test and refine this hypothesis by comparing fluctuations of the index with certain aspects of public behavior over a period of time. The predictive value of this procedure with respect to some types of activity -travel by air, for instance-is appreciable. The authors, now with James S. Twohey Associates, were senior research analysts for the Experimental Division for the Study of Wartime Communications, Library of Congress, and subsequently heads of the press and radio analysis sections of the Office of Facts and Figures.
Spatial and temporal expression of heparan sulfate in mouse development regulates FGF and FGF receptor assembly

Heparan sulfate (HS) interacts with diverse growth factors, including Wnt, Hh, BMP, VEGF, EGF, and FGF family members, and is a necessary component for their signaling. These proteins regulate multiple cellular processes that are critical during development. However, a major question is whether developmental changes occur in HS that regulate the activity of these factors. Using a ligand and carbohydrate engagement assay, and focusing on FGF1 and FGF8b interactions with FGF receptor (FR)2c and FR3c, this paper reveals global changes in HS expression in mouse embryos during development that regulate FGF and FR complex assembly. Furthermore, distinct HS requirements are identified for both complex formation and signaling for each FGF and FR pair. Overall, these results suggest that changes in HS act as critical temporal regulators of growth factor and morphogen signaling during embryogenesis.
The next 10 years in cardiac pacing

Interview with Tanya StezhkaTasneem Z Naqvi was affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA as Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine before joining the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (CA, USA) in 2007 and the Mayo Clinic in Arizona in 2013. Naqvi is an active member of numerous professional societies including the Vascular Strategy Task Force, the Standards and Guidelines Committee at the American Society of Echocardiography and the American College of Cardiology as a nominee to the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography board of directors. Naqvi also served as President of the Los Angeles Society of Echocardiography from 1999 to 2000 and has been a member of the Cardiovascular Imaging Committee and the Education Committee of the American College of Cardiology. She is a member of the Royal College of Physicians in London and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Echocardiography.
Development of a multi-dimensional scale for measuring food tourist motivations.

Food in tourism is becoming an important subject to researchers in the field of tourism and food service. Food and its related tourist activities have been ascribed into a new category of tourism called food tourism in which the motivation for traveling is to obtain special experiences from food. However, limited attention has been paid to explore precisely what factors influence food tourists' destination choices. The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to explore food tourists' motivations using push and pull theory. The sample was drawn from a food event in the southwestern United States. The development of the instrument begun with literature review and was followed with a pretest on graduate students who have attended food events. After the pretest, a review of the instrument was conducted by tourism and foodservice experts. A pilot test was employed to ensure the reliability and clarity of the research instrument before actual survey. The final instrument was used to gather 305 usable...
International agenda-building in cyberspace: a study of Middle East government English-language websites

Abstract This study of the 10 official English-language, Middle East government and presidential web sites determines if and how they are building a dialogue with, and agenda for, English-language media and targeted publics. The paper addresses the dialogic functionality of web sites; what features are supplied to journalists to help build the media agenda; and how well communication across cultural boundaries and expectations takes place. Many results were unexpected and suggest Middle Eastern practitioners are relying on a personal relations model that takes advantage of the lack of a media gatekeeper on the web but not of the web’s media agenda-building capacities.
Deviance on Record: Techniques for Labeling Child Abusers in Official Documents

An analysis of 120 official records was done to show how social workers “prove” that someone committed child abuse. That more than half of the suspects either denied the accusations or were not interviewed in the course of investigations was not much of a limitation, since suspects were routinely defined as “non-credible” witnesses. The only time their testimony was taken seriously was when they agreed with the allegations. Conversely, victims were routinely seen as “credible”witnesses, and their testimony was only rejected when they claimed suspects were innocent. Social workers developed methods for simplifying the labeling process as reflected in official records: Hitting which resulted in an injury was always treated as if it indicated the intention to injure, and behavior commonly known as “sexual” was always treated as if it was identical with the intent to sexually exploit.
How is marketers' credibility construed within the sales-marketing interface?

Abstract Extant sales-marketing interface research has ignored how salespeople interpret marketers' credibility. This paper integrates interdisciplinary research on credibility and the sales-marketing interface with interview data from 33 informants to expound three components of this phenomenon; expertise, trust, and interpersonal proximity. Explication of this construct's nuances thus helps to better understand at a micro-level, the potential but sometimes non-apparent cause of some of the problems within sales-marketing interface, and also highlights many avenues to optimize this interface based on the understanding of its inner workings. The findings also expand the repertoire of tools managers may use to harmonize this interface.
Intracellular Recording from the Giant Synapse of the Squid

Several authors have described intracellular recording from the post-junctional cell in synaptic regions, for example, in the neuromuscular junction (Fatt and Katz, 1951, 1953), in the brain and spinal cord (Brock, Coombs, and Eccles, 1952; Woodbury and Patton, 1952; Tasaki, Polley, and Orrego, 1954; Tasaki, Hagiwara, and Watanabe, 1954; Araki and Otani, 1955; Coombs, Eccles, and Fatt, 1955; Frank and Fuortes, 1955, 1956), in the sympathetic ganglion cell (R. Eccles, 1955), the electroplaque of electric fish (Albe-Fessard and Buser,. 1952; Albe-Fessard and Chagas, 1954; Altamirano, Coates, and Grundfest, 1955), and in the large monopolar ganglion cells of certain invertebrates (Tauc, 1955; Arvanitaki and Chalazonitis, 1956; Hagiwara and Watanabe, 1956). Only in the nerve-muscle junction of the frog and the electroplaque of the eel, however, have the records been obtained from a region of the postjunctional cell known to be near the prefiber ending and only in the former is the junction supplied with but one input fiber. The giant synapse in the stellate ganglion of the squid between the giant fibers of the second and the third order offers a particularly favorable object for such recordings. Especially valuable is the opportunity to place microelectrodes internally in the presynaptic fiber close to the ending as well as in the postsynaptic unit, close to the junction. This preparation was studied some years ago with macroelectrodes on the surface of the ganglion (Bullock, 1948). A preliminary account of the present observations has appeared (Bullock and Hagiwara, 1955).
Derogation of Competitors

Verbal signals are sometimes used to manipulate the impressions that people form about oneself and others. For the goal of self-enhancement, one can manipulate impressions either by elevating oneself or by derogating others. Five hypotheses about derogation of same-sex competitors were generated from an evolutionary model of human-mate competition. These hypotheses focused on sex differences in the importance that humans attach to external resources, rank, achievements, physical prowess, reproductive value and fidelity. Four studies were conducted to test these hypotheses. In a preliminary study (N = 80), subjects nominated intrasexual derogation tactics they had previously observed. Study 1 (N = 120) examined estimates of the likelihood that men and women would perform each tactic. Study 2 (N = 101) identified the perceived effectiveness of each derogation tactic for men and women. Study 3 (N = 100) used act reports based on self-recording and observer-recording to identify the likelihood of specific per...
Neural network isolation of system inputs for transient modelling and control

A neural network is used to predict the sensitivity of a complex nonlinear system (such as an automobile) to input variation, which will aid greatly in the effort to model the system and the effects of changes to its controllers. A blend of signal processing techniques is used to provide maximum resolution neural network inputs for various drivers, vehicles, engine technologies, transmissions, velocity traces, and operating temperatures. The neural net predicts what four different vehicle outputs will be, given a sample of driving inputs.
THE RELATION OF THE THYROID TO THE HYPOPHYSIS AND OVARY

That the secretions of the thyroid gland play an important part in the physiology of reproduction seems fairly well established. The fact that the thyroid gland becomes enlarged at puberty, during menses, and during pregnancy was observed by earlier investigators, and furnishes, perhaps, the first record indicating this relationship. Gudernatsch (1915) found that thyroid substance, whether administered to male or female rats had a tendency to prevent pregnancy, and when pregnancy occurred, to produce abortion. Kunde, Carlson, and Proud (1929) fed thyroid substance to rabbits, and found that there was the occurrence of oestrus, ovulation, fertilization, migration and implantation of ova, but during the latter twothirds of the gestation period the embryos were resorbed. Similarly, Weichert (1930) found that feeding one-fourth to one-half of a gram of desiccated thyroid daily to pregnant rats caused resorption of young in some animals, abortion, in others, and in some cases a prolonged period of gestation wi...
Predicting prostate specific antigen outcome preoperatively in the prostate specific antigen era.

Purpose: We evaluated the ability of previously defined risk groups to predict prostate specific antigen (PSA) outcome 10 years after radical prostatectomy in patients diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer during the PSA era.Materials and Methods: Between 1989 and 2000, 2,127 men with clinically localized prostate cancer underwent radical prostatectomy, including 1,027 at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (study cohort) and 1,100 at Brigham and Women's Hospital (validation cohort). Cox regression analysis was done to calculate the relative risk of PSA failure with the 95% confidence interval (CI) in patients at intermediate and high versus low risk. The Kaplan-Meier actuarial method was used to estimate PSA outcome 10 years after radical prostatectomy.Results: Compared with low risk patients (stages T1c to 2a disease, PSA 10 ng./ml. or less and Gleason score 6 or less) the relative risk of PSA failure in those at intermediate (stage T2b disease or PSA greater than 10 to 20 ng./ml. o...
Prevalence of and risk factors for prostatitis: population based assessment using physician assigned diagnoses.

Purpose: Previous studies to assess risk factors for prostatitis used patient self-reported data and, therefore, they were subject to recall bias. We 1) used coded physician diagnoses to calculate the prevalence of prostatitis and 2) compared these patients with matched controls to identify medical conditions that are associated with prostatitis. Subjects were male enrollees in the Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon health maintenance organization.Materials and Methods: A computer search of the Kaiser Permanente Northwest administrative database was performed for May 1, 1998 to April 30, 2004 to identify men with a coded diagnosis of prostatitis. Prostatitis cases were each age matched with 3 controls and the medical diagnoses (using 3-digit International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision codes) assigned to these 2 groups were compared.Results: A prostatitis diagnosis was present in 4.5% of the male population. There were 37 diagnoses that were significantly more common in cases than in ...
Prediction of electronic component temperatures at high altitude using low altitude measurements

Analytical predictions of developing-flow, forced-air-cooled electronic component temperatures at high altitudes using near-sea-level temperature measurements are compared with the results of experiments performed at 198 m (650 ft) and 1646 m (5400 ft) above sea level. The correlation derived does not agree with correlations in the literature for fully developed laminar or turbulent two-dimensional flow over a constant-temperature flat plate, but predictions fall within +or-3.8% and -1.1% of measured temperatures, respectively. Altitude correction factors for ambient air preheat and module thermal resistances measured at 198 m are determined for 915 m (3000 ft), 1646 m (5400 ft), and 2135 m (7000 ft). An example of temperature prediction for 2135 m based on measurements made at 198 m is presented. >
Non-rigid registration between histological and MR images of the prostate: A joint segmentation and registration framework

This paper presents a 3D non-rigid registration algorithm between histological and MR images of the prostate with cancer. To compensate for the loss of 3D integrity in the histology sectioning process, series of 2D histological slices are first reconstructed into a 3D histological volume. After that, the 3D histology-MRI registration is obtained by maximizing a) landmark similarity and b) cancer region overlap between the two images. The former aims to capture distortions at prostate boundary and internal blob-like structures; and the latter aims to capture distortions specifically at cancer regions. In particular, landmark similarities, the former, is maximized by an annealing process, where correspondences between the automatically-detected boundary and internal landmarks are iteratively established in a fuzzy-to-deterministic fashion. Cancer region overlap, the latter, is maximized in a joint cancer segmentation and registration framework, where the two interleaved problems - segmentation and registration - inform each other in an iterative fashion. Registration accuracy is established by comparing against human-rater-defined landmarks and by comparing with other methods. The ultimate goal of this registration is to warp the histologically-defined cancer ground truth into MRI, for more thoroughly understanding MRI signal characteristics of the prostate cancerous tissue, which will promote the MRI-based prostate cancer diagnosis in the future studies.
70 MHz CMOS gm-C IF filter

The implementation of a high dynamic range on-chip 70 MHz gm-C filter for a UMTS (WCDMA) superheterodyne receiver is described. The filter is designed in National Semiconductor's 0.18 micron standard CMOS process. The Chebyshev approximation is used to implement a 6th order filter in active gm-C. Positive feedback is used to realize a large quality factor (Q). The filter provides blocker attenuation with dynamic range (DR) of 42 dB and with power consumption of 21.78 mW.
Cre/lox Mediated Marker Gene Excision in Transgenic Crop Plants

Selectable marker genes are used in most plant transformation processes. Frequently, however, the selectable marker gene does not confer useful traits on the transgenic plant, and there are a number of advantages to removing the selectable marker gene after regeneration of the plant, including reducing the overall complexity of the transgene array, removal of redundant genetic elements, and improved regulatory and public acceptance, especially when antibiotic resistance marker genes are used as selectable markers. A number of site-specific recombinases of prokaryotic or yeast origin have been shown to function in transgenic plants for marker removal, including Cre/lox from bacteriophage P1 (Hoess and Abremski, 1990). We chose the Cre/lox system to develop technologies for marker removal in commercially important crop species.
The Principal Physical Modes of Variability over the Tropical Pacific

Abstract The structures of the two principal modes of sea surface temperature (SST) variability were extracted by conducting cyclostationary EOF (CSEOF) analysis and regression analysis on several key variables. The CSEOF analysis extracts two dominant modes of SST variability that are distinct in nature. The first CSEOF is stochastic in nature and represents a standing mode of SST variability associated with a basinwide change in the surface wind. The second CSEOF exhibits a strong deterministic component describing a biennial oscillation between a warm phase and a cold phase. The surface wind directional change in the far-western Pacific appears to be instrumental for the oscillation between the two phases. Because of the distinct nature of evolution, dynamical and thermodynamical responses of the two modes are different. Further, the predictability of the two modes is different. Specifically, the biennial mode is more predictable because of the strong deterministic component associated with its evoluti...
How many probes is enough? A low cost method for probe card depopulation with low risk

The number of bumps that are touched during probe is a key factor in the cost of a probe card. DFT techniques have been commonly used to reduce the number of signal bumps that need to be probed, but the vast majority of bumps in a typical SoC are allocated to core power and ground. In this paper we describe a technique using power supply noise simulations to develop special bump masks that reduce multi-site probe card costs by eliminating a significant percentage of power and ground bumps. With these new techniques we have shown savings of between $30K and $50K per production probe card while maintaining overall speed on critical paths and without a noticeable reduction in yield.
Physical and Theoretical Modeling of Surface-Piercing Hydrofoils for a High-Speed Unmanned Surface Vessel

The objective of this work is to investigate the performance of two pairs of negative dihedral surface-piercing (SP) hydrofoils designed especially for an unmanned surface vessel with a top speed of 120 knots in sea state two. Physical modeling of a 1/6-scaled model of the SP hydrofoil was conducted at the free-surface cavitation tunnel at the Technical University of Berlin (TUB). The SP hydrofoil feature a new type of super-cavitating profile with an annex tapered trailing edge to achieve good efficiencies in foil born conditions (60–120 knots, super-cavitating/ super-ventilated regimes), as well as at take-off speeds (25–40 knots, wetted and/or partial-cavitating regimes). Preliminary results showed interesting anomalies in the trends of the measured forces with respect to the cavitation number and angle of attack for a wide range of inflow speeds. Details of the experimental study are presented along with numerical predictions obtained using finite volume RANSE solver with a volume of fluid technique to allow for a mixture flow with air/vapor and water phases. Explanation of the anomalies in the hydrodynamic performance is given.© 2012 ASME
Effect of diet and competition in laboratory rearing of Chironomid midges.

A commercial dog candy, called Dog Kisses®, and powdered liver were the 2 most satisfactory laboratory diets for immatures of Goeldichironomus holoprasinus (Gocldi), Tanypus grodhausi Sublette and Chironomus sp. (Diptera: Chironomidae). Optimum rates of survival and development of all 3 species occurred when 475-ml plastic rearing units were stocked with 50 or 100 larvae and 180 ml of water and provided with 0.004 g of food per larva. At a density of 200 larvae per unit, percent survival was lowered, and developmental time was significantly extended.
Authoritarianism and Development: A Global Perspective

Despite almost universal endorsement of human rights and democratic rule, the majority of humankind is currently governed in a repressive militarized manner. Authoritarian rule is especially prevalent throughout the Third World.
Abstract IA12: Investigating the functional consequences of ATRX deficiency in glioma

Comprehensive genomic profiling in cancer continues to reveal frequent alterations in epigenetic regulators, firmly implicating chromatin biology in the oncogenic process. We and others recently found that inactivating mutations in the SWI/SNF family member ATRX represent defining molecular alterations in diffusely infiltrating gliomas, where they invariably pair with mutations in TP53 and IDH1/2. ATRX normally regulates the composition of histone monomers at a variety of sites across the genome, and may also affect the distribution of specific histone modifying complexes. A number of studies have linked ATRX deficiency to a wide spectrum of physiological dysfunction, including aberrant gene regulation, abnormal telomere maintenance, genomic instability, and aneuploidy. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms by which ATRX deficiency promotes oncogenesis remain unknown. To investigate the effects of ATRX deficiency on chromatin structure, gene expression, and transformation, we inactivated Atrx in murine neuroepithelial progenitor cells (NPCs) also lacking Tp53. We found that, in this context, Atrx deficiency induced widespread alterations in chromatin accessibility and organization, which in turn led to dramatic shifts in gene expression. Among the altered transcriptional networks were pathways implicated in cellular motility and invasion, an established feature of diffusely infiltrating gliomas. Intriguingly, Atrx-deficient NPCs also exhibited significantly increased transwell migration. Our findings demonstrate that ATRX deficiency promotes disease-relevant biological behavior by modulating chromatin accessibility and influencing gene expression. We are now performing detailed epigenetic and biochemical studies to identify the precise transcriptional events mediating these effects. We are also investigating how IDH mutations influence the genomic distribution of ATRX, thereby modulating its function and the consequences of its deficiency. Citation Format: Jason T. Huse. Investigating the functional consequences of ATRX deficiency in glioma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Brain Cancer Research; May 27-30, 2015; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(23 Suppl):Abstract nr IA12.
Termination analyzable and unanalyzable.

(1988). Termination Analyzable and Unanalyzable. The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child: Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 155-166.
Phospholipase C gamma mediates endogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor-regulated calcitonin gene-related peptide expression in colitis-induced visceral pain

BackgroundVisceral hypersensitivity is a complex pathophysiological paradigm with unclear mechanisms. Primary afferent neuronal plasticity marked by alterations in neuroactive compounds such as calcitonin gene-related peptide is suggested to underlie the heightened sensory responses. Signal transduction that leads to calcitonin gene-related peptide expression thereby sensory neuroplasticity during colitis remains to be elucidated.ResultsIn a rat model with colitis induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, we found that endogenously elevated brain-derived neurotrophic factor elicited an up-regulation of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the lumbar L1 dorsal root ganglia. At seven days of colitis, neutralization of brain-derived neurotrophic factor with a specific brain-derived neurotrophic factor antibody reversed calcitonin gene-related peptide up-regulation in the dorsal root ganglia. Colitis-induced calcitonin gene-related peptide transcription was also inhibited by brain-derived neurotrophic fac...
Pubovaginal Sling Procedure for the Management of Urinary Incontinence in a Myelodysplastic Girl

AbstractUrinary incontinence is a formidable social handicap in many children with myelodysplasia. Girls in whom pharmacologic therapy and intermittent catheterization fail to alleviate incontinence present particularly difficult management problems. Permanent catheter drainage of the bladder or supravesical urinary diversion frequently has been used solely for control of incontinence. More recently, the artificial sphincter has been used in selected patients. We herein describe the use of a pubovaginal sling to augment bladder outlet resistance in a girl with myelodysplasia. Postoperatively, she remains totally continent on intermittent catheterization.
Combined state and parameter estimation and identifiability of state space realizations

The objective of combined state and parameter estimation is to estimate both unmeasured states and unknown entries of the dynamics matrix. Since the dynamics involve products of states and parameters, this is a nonlinear estimation problem. The classical approach to this problem is to use the extended Kalman filter, although more recent techniques, such as the unscented Kalman filter, can be used. The goal of this paper is to determine conditions under which the combined state and parameter estimation problem is feasible. To do this, we recast this problem as an identifiability problem and, for several special cases, we develop necessary and sufficient conditions for identifiability, which provides necessary and sufficient conditions for feasibility of the combined state and parameter estimation problem.
Eruptive history of the Ubehebe Crater cluster, Death Valley, California

Abstract A sequence of late Holocene eruptions from the Ubehebe Crater cluster in Death Valley was short-lived, emplacing several phreatomagmatic and magmatic deposits. Seven craters form the main group, which erupted along a north-south alignment 1.5 km long. At least five more make a 500-m east-west alignment west of the main crater group. One more is an isolated shallow crater ~ 400 m south of that alignment. All erupted through Miocene fanglomerate and sandstone, which are now distributed as comminuted matrix and lithic clasts in all Ubehebe deposits. Stratigraphic evidence showing that all Ubehebe strata were emplaced within a short time interval includes: (1) deposits from the many Ubehebe vents make a multi-package sequence that conformably drapes paleo-basement topography with no erosive gullying between emplacement units; (2) several crater rims that formed early in the eruptive sequence are draped smoothly by subsequent deposits; and (3) tack-welded to agglutinated spatter and bombs that erupted at various times through the sequence remained hot enough to oxidize the overlying youngest emplacement package. In addition, all deposits sufficiently consolidated to be drilled yield reliable paleomagnetic directions, with site mean directions showing no evidence of geomagnetic secular variation. Chemical analyses of juvenile components representing every eruptive package yield a narrow range in major elements [SiO 2 (48.65–50.11); MgO (4.98–6.23); K 2 O (2.24–2.39)] and trace elements [Rb (28–33); Sr (1513–1588); Zr (373–404)]. Despite lithologic similarities, individual fall units can be traced outward from vent by recording layer thicknesses, maximum scoria and lithic sizes, and juvenile clast textural variations. This permits reconstruction of the eruptive sequence, which produced a variety of eruptive styles. The largest and northernmost of the craters, Ubehebe Crater, is the youngest of the group. Its largely phreatomagmatic deposits drape all of the others, thicken in paleogullies and thin over several newly created crater rims. Evidence in-hand virtually requires that the Ubehebe cluster of craters erupted over a brief time interval, not protracted over centuries.
I Want You! Expanding College Access through Targeted Recruiting Efforts

Abstract To complement the existing literature on expanding access to high-quality college education, we investigate the understudied topic of university outreach. Using a field experiment at West Point, we estimate the effectiveness of four university admissions outreach efforts (admissions office phone call, application encouragement from a role model, recruiting visit by a university staff member, and an invitation to visit campus) on the probabilities of initiating an application and matriculating. We find that all four methods are effective relative to the control group (a mass email solicitation) at increasing applications but only suggestive evidence for increasing matriculation. We observe a few differences in the relative effectiveness of the methods. We complete a simple cost-effectiveness analysis which suggests that the admissions call is the preferred method. This evidence should inform researchers, policy-makers and institutions on optimal outreach efforts and program evaluation in student r...
The natural history of perforated foregut ulcers after repair by omental patching or primary closure.

The treatment of perforated foregut ulcers by omental patching (OP) or primary closure has mostly replaced vagotomy and pyloroplasty/antrectomy (VPA). We sought to determine the natural history and recurrence rate of ulceration in patients treated by omental patching or primary closure. An 11-year retrospective study. From 2004 through 2015, 94 patients had perforated foregut ulcers, 53 gastric, and 41 duodenal. 77 (82%) were treated by OP alone (study group) and 17 (18%) were treated with VPA (comparison group). All OP patients were discharged on PPIs, but only 86% took the drugs for a median of 22 months (1–192, SD 40). Endoscopy in the OP group showed recurrent ulcers in nine (12% recurrence rate) and gastritis in three (4%) This group also had three later recurrent perforations. Another recurrent ulcer hemorrhaged causing death (3% late mortality). Two other patients required non-emergent re-do ulcer operations for recurrent disease/symptoms (surgical re-intervention rate 4%). Total length of follow-up was median 44 months (1–192, SD 40) and was complete in 82 (87%). 18 (23%) patients in the OP group developed recurrent abdominal pain attributed to ulcer disease during follow-up, compared to 2 (12%) in the VPA group (p = 0.15). No patient in the VPA group had an endoscopic recurrence or re-intervention. Omental patching does not correct the underlying disease process which causes foregut perforation, and has a 12% endoscopically proven recurrent ulceration rate and a 23% incidence of recurrent symptoms within 44 months. Patients tend to stop taking PPIs after 22 months at which time their risk increases.
Abstract 3555: Lipid droplets, a novel metabolic target in glioblastoma

Lipid metabolism reprogramming is a novel feature of malignancies. Identifying the vulnerability of lipid alteration in tumor cells provides a new window to treat cancer. Here, we unraveled that glioblastoma (GBM) patients containing high levels of lipid droplets (LDs), special organelles storing cholesterol esters and triglycerides in cells, presented poor survival. We found that LDs largely formed in tumor tissues from GBM patients, but rarely in low grade of gliomas and normal brain tissues, demonstrating that LDs might serve as a novel diagnostic biomarker and prognostic marker for GBM. We further revealed that sterol O-acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1), the key enzyme controlling cholesterol esterification and LD formation, is highly expressed and correlated with LD prevalence in tumor tissues from GBM patients. Genetic or pharmacologic inhibition SOAT1 using avasimibe, a phase III clinical trial drug in human atherosclerosis patients, significantly suppressed GBM growth and prolongs survival in xenograft models. Moreover, we found that inhibiting SOAT1 suppressed sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), a key transcription factor playing a central role in lipid synthesis, underlying the molecular mechanism of targeting SOAT1-mediated GBM growth suppression. In summary, our data demonstrate that LDs/cholesterol esters uniquely formed in tumor tissues provides an ideal target to specifically inhibit GBM cells whereas sparing normal brain tissues, and reveal that blocking cholesterol storage via targeting SOAT1 represents a promising strategy for GBM treatment. Citation Format: Feng Geng, Jeffrey Guo, Xiang Cheng, Xiaoning Wu, Chunming Cheng, Arnab Chakravarti, Deliang Guo. Lipid droplets, a novel metabolic target in glioblastoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3555. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3555
Distributed PowerShell Load Generator (D-PLG): A Tool for Generating Dynamic Network Traffic

Obtaining data for the training of failure prediction algorithms has long been an issue. A framework for automating the generation of this data for the training and deployment of these algorithms has recently been introduced. Unfortunately, the framework was only tested on a single deprecated operating system. In order to generalize the approach a few key functions must be performed, one of which being realistic workload generation. Unfortunately, a workload generator capable of generating sufficient workload has not been developed for a Microsoft Windows active directory environment. This paper introduces a tool that makes the implementation of this new framework possible on a modern Microsoft operating system. We present data generated by the tool to demonstrate its efficacy, and finish with several extensions and applications.
Intestinal Absorption and Secretion of Fluid and Electrolytes

Knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate small and large intestinal fluid and electrolyte movement has greatly expanded during the past decade. Detailed examination of individual transport processes present in the intestinal epithelia has provided insight into the control of both absorptive and secretory events. Studies of man have emphasized that the fluid load to the intestine is considerably greater than that previously appreciated and that diarrhea is almost always secondary to changes in fluid and electrolyte movement. Finally, the heterogeneity of various segments of the intestine has become increasingly evident and must be appreciated in the development of models to explain the overall control of fluid and electrolyte movement in health and disease.
Phase Transition in Gels

A gel is a crosslinked network of polymers immersed in a fluid. Gels play important roles in various aspects of our everyday life.
327. Das sogenannte Begleitlipom bei der Hiatushernie

Bei 198 Hiatushernienoperationen wurde in 52 % eine Fettgewebshyperplasie im Retrogastralraum, am Hisschen Winkel gefunden, die in den Hiatus oesophagi hineinreichen kann. Sie konnte den Wegbereiter der Hiatushernie darstellen. Bei der Versorgung der Hiatushernie sollte das ≫Lipom≪ abgetragen und der Stiel in die Nahte beim Aufbau des Hisschen Winkel eingeknupft werden, dazu eine Einengung der Hiatusschenkel und Fundo-Gastropexie zur Verhinderung des Rezidivs.
Raising Consciousness: Promoting Healthy Coping Among African American Boys at School

While African American boys make up only a small percentage of the overall primary and secondary school student populations, they account for a staggering proportion of students who experience significant and consistent negative outcomes at school. According to recent national estimates (U. S. Department of Education, 2010), African American males constituted less than 10 % of the public school population, yet accounted for approximately 26 % of students who were retained and 49 % and 17 % of those suspended or expelled, respectively. The last decade has witnessed a surge in discourse on comprehensive school-based mental health reform efforts to address these problems and promote more positive outcomes for African American males (Caldwell, Sewell, Parks, & Toldson, 2009; Gregory, Skiba, & Noguera, 2010; Noguera, 2003; Thomas & Stevenson, 2009). As part of these efforts, there has been a call for professionals providing mental health services in schools to help address the ecological risk and protective factors confronting African American males.