cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brief Report: Television Viewing and Risk for Attention Problems in Preschool Children

Objectives This study examined whether high levels of television viewing are associated with attention problems and hyperactivity in preschool children. Methods Parent and teacher ratings of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, objectively measured activity level, and parental estimation of early television exposure were collected for a sample of preschool children. Separate linear regression analyses were conducted with parent and teacher behavioral ratings and objectively assessed activity level as outcome variables. Results Results indicated that after controlling for demographic factors (i.e., age, sex, and SES), television exposure accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in teacher ratings of inattentive/ hyperactive behaviors, as well as objectively measured activity level. Conclusions These findings partially replicate those from a recent, highly publicized study indicating a correlation between television exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-associated behaviors. However, it remains unclear as to whether elevated levels of television viewing are the cause or result of ADHD symptoms.
Theory and new primitives for safely connecting routing protocol instances

Recent studies have shown that the current primitives for connecting multiple routing protocol instances (OSPF 1, OSPF 2, EIGRP 10, etc.) are pervasively deployed in enterprise networks and the Internet. Furthermore, these primitives are extremely vulnerable to routing anomalies (route oscillations, forwarding loops, etc.) and at the same time too rigid to support some of today's operational objectives. In this paper, we propose a new theory to reason about routing properties across multiple routing instances. The theory directly applies to both link-state and vector routing protocols. Each routing protocol still makes independent routing decisions and may consider a combination of routing metrics, including bandwidth, delay, cost, and reliability. While the theory permits a range of solutions, we focus on a design that requires no changes to existing routing protocols. Guided by the theory, we derive a new set of connecting primitives, which are not only provably safe but also more expressive than the current version. We have implemented and validated the new primitives using XORP. The results confirm that our design can support a large range of desirable operational goals, including those not achievable today, safely and with little manual configuration.
Is Hovering Smothering or Loving? An Examination of Parental Warmth as a Moderator of Relations Between Helicopter Parenting and Emerging Adults’ Indices of Adjustment

The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating role of parental warmth in the relation between helicopter parenting and indices of child adjustment (i.e., self-worth and school engagement) and maladjustment (i.e., risk behaviors) in emerging adulthood. Participants included 438 undergraduate students from four universities in the United States (Mage= 19.65, SD = 2.00, range = 18–29; 320 women). Regression analyses established that increased helicopter parenting was associated with lower levels of self-worth and higher levels of risk behaviors for those emerging adults who reported low levels of maternal warmth from their parents (especially their mothers), but not for those with high levels of warmth. The discussion focuses on the moderating role of parental warmth and the importance of emerging adult perceptions of the parent–child relationship.
Research Productivity in the Education of Hearing Impaired Individuals

This study examines the research characteristics of the journal literature related to the education of hearing impaired individuals. The data base consisted of 2,541 articles published between 1980 and 1985. During this period, approximately 38% of the articles were empirically based; approximately 75% were reports of descriptive and survey research. Only 22 of 2,747 authors had published six or more empirical articles in the 6-year period. There was little overlap between top-producing authors of empirical articles and top-producing authors of nonempirical articles. Interpretation of these data and suggestions for future research are offered. It is suggested that the results of this study could be used to evaluate the impact of the recommendations for increased research efforts made by the Commission on Education of the Deaf (1988).
Identifying Predictive Features in Drug Response Using Machine Learning: Opportunities and Challenges

This article reviews several techniques from machine learning that can be used to study the problem of identifying a small number of features, from among tens of thousands of measured features, that can accurately predict a drug response. Prediction problems are divided into two categories: sparse classification and sparse regression. In classification, the clinical parameter to be predicted is binary, whereas in regression, the parameter is a real number. Well-known methods for both classes of problems are briefly discussed. These include the SVM (support vector machine) for classification and various algorithms such as ridge regression, LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator), and EN (elastic net) for regression. In addition, several well-established methods that do not directly fall into machine learning theory are also reviewed, including neural networks, PAM (pattern analysis for microarrays), SAM (significance analysis for microarrays), GSEA (gene set enrichment analysis), and k-means clustering. Several references indicative of the application of these methods to cancer biology are discussed.
Imaging Three-Dimensional Ventricular Activation Sequence under Dual-site Pacing in a Rabbit Model

In the present study, computer simulations were conducted to evaluate the performance of a recently reported three-dimensional ventricular activation sequence imaging technique based on the inverse solution of distributed equivalent current density. The present simulation setting utilized the realistic geometries and conductivities of a real rabbit's heart and torso. Ventricular activation was simulated by dual pacing in a cellular automaton heart model. The imaging performance was assessed by quantitatively comparing the estimated and simulated activation time distributions, as indexed by the correlation coefficient (CC) and relative error (RE). Based on 197-channeI body surface potential maps (BSPMs) with 20-muV additive Gaussian white noise (GWN), the activation sequence could be consistently reconstructed (CC=0.89 and RE=0.24 averaged over 10 pairs of pacing sites). These results provide important baseline data for future experimental validation studies based on the rabbit model.
Intelligent Constrained Optimal Control of Aerospace Vehicles with Model Uncertainties

Approximate dynamic programming formulation implemented with an “adaptive critic-based” neural network structure has been shown to be a powerful technique to solve theHamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equations. As interest in this technique grows, it is important to consider the enabling factors for their possible implementations. A typical adaptive critic structure consists of two interacting neural networks; in this paper, a new architecture, called the “cost function-based single network adaptive critic” is presented that eliminates one of the networks. This approach is applicable to a wide class of nonlinear systems in engineering where the optimal control equation can be explicitly expressed in terms of the state and cost-related variables. After the “training,” the output of the neural network represents the optimal cost. Optimal control is obtained by finding the derivatives of the output of the network with respect to its input and using it in the expression for optimal control. In practical applications, there usually exist uncertainties in modeling and in system parameters. Furthermore, the controllers have operational limits. The first concern is taken care of through an “approximated system” that contains an estimate of the uncertainties from an online neural network andhelps calculate the optimal control for the changed plant. Regarding the second concern, a nonquadratic term that incorporates the control constraints is used in the performance index. Necessary conditions for optimal control are derived and an algorithm to solve the constrained-control problem with cost function-based single network adaptive critic is developed. Two aerospace systems are used to illustrate the working of the proposed technique.
Differential parasitism of seed-feeding Cydia (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) by native and alien wasp species relative to elevation in subalpine Sophora (Fabaceae) forests on Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Alien parasitic wasps, including accidental introductions and purposefully released biological control agents, have been implicated in the decline of native Hawaiian Lepidoptera. Understanding the potential impacts of alien wasps requires knowledge of ecological parameters that influence parasitism rates for species in their new environment. Sophora seed-feeding Cydia spp. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) were surveyed for larval parasitoids to determine how native and alien wasps are partitioned over an elevation gradient (2200–2800 m) on Hawaii Island, Hawaii. Parasitism rate of native Euderus metallicus (Eulophidae) increased with increased elevation, while parasitism rate by immigrant Calliephialtes grapholithae (Ichneumonidae) decreased. Parasitism by Pristomerus hawaiiensis (Ichneumonidae), origins uncertain, also decreased with increased elevation. Two other species, Diadegma blackburni (Ichneumonidae), origins uncertain, and Brasema cushmani (Eupelmidae), a purposefully introduced biological control agent for pepper weevil, did not vary significantly with elevation. Results are contrasted with a previous study of this system with implications for the conservation of an endangered bird species that feed on Cydia larvae. Interpretation of results is hindered by lack of knowledge of autecology of moths and wasps, origins, phylogeny, systematics, competitive ability, and physiological limitations of each wasp species. These factors should be incorporated into risk analysis for biological control introductions and invasive species programs.
Murine Models of Candida Gastrointestinal Colonization and Dissemination

Ninety-five percent of infectious agents enter through exposed mucosal surfaces, such as the respiratory and gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. The human GI tract is colonized with trillions of commensal microbes, including numerous Candida spp. Some commensal microbes in the GI tract can cause serious human infections under specific circumstances, typically involving changes in the gut environment and/or host immune conditions. Therefore, utilizing animal models of fungal GI colonization and dissemination can lead to significant insights into the complex pathophysiology of transformation from a commensal organism to a pathogen and host-pathogen interactions. This paper will review the methodologic approaches used for modeling GI colonization versus dissemination, the insights learned from these models, and finally, possible future directions using these animal modeling systems.
Whole-Genome Sequencing: Ready for Prime Time?

Rapid technological advances in DNA sequencing are facilitating the perception that whole-genome sequencing (WGS) will soon be available as a routine clinical diagnostic—and predictive—test. Current clinical testing is typically diagnostic, focusing on single genes or small gene panels, identifying a small number of variants per patient, and yet requiring nontrivial effort and expertise to deliver a clinical laboratory report. Interpreting WGS results will increase the necessary effort exponentially. How will this work in actual practice? In a recent Science Policy Forum (1), Radoje Drmanac promotes WGS as a research tool that will enhance disease diagnosis, prevention, and management by providing a more “comprehensive” method of genetic testing. WGS is touted as better for assessing disorders that have an apparent genetic etiology but that are not amenable to current methods, including those caused by noncoding variants, interaction between multiple variants across the genome, or variants in regulatory regions. Unfortunately, our current level of understanding precludes a clinical interpretation of most noncoding variants. Beyond …
Vertex cover approximations: experiments and observations

The vertex cover problem is a classic NP-complete problem for which the best worst-case approximation ratio is roughly 2. In this paper, we use a collection of simple reductions, each of which guarantees an approximation ratio of $\frac{3}{2}$, to find approximate vertex covers for a large collection of test graphs from various sources. We explain these reductions and explore the interaction between them. These reductions are extremely fast and even though they, by themselves are not guaranteed to find a vertex cover, we manage to find a 3/2-approximate vertex cover for every single graph in our large collection of test examples.
Global regulation of H2A.Z localization by the INO80 chromatin remodeling enzyme is essential for genome integrity

INO80 is an evolutionarily conserved, ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling enzyme that plays roles in transcription, DNA repair, and replication. Here, we show that yeast INO80 facilitates these diverse processes at least in part by controlling genome-wide distribution of the histone variant H2A.Z. In the absence of INO80, H2A.Z nucleosomes are mislocalized, and H2A.Z levels at promoters show reduced responsiveness to transcriptional changes, suggesting that INO80 controls H2A.Z dynamics. Additionally, we demonstrate that INO80 has a histone-exchange activity in which the enzyme can replace nucleosomal H2A.Z/H2B with free H2A/H2B dimers. Genetic interactions between ino80 and htz1 support a model in which INO80 catalyzes the removal of unacetylated H2A.Z from chromatin as a mechanism to promote genome stability.
Effect of lifestyle intervention on metabolic coronary heart disease risk factors in obese older adults

BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors increase with age and body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2). However, whether lifestyle intervention ameliorates metabolic CHD risk factors in obese older adults is unknown. OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine whether lifestyle intervention improves metabolic CHD risk factors in obese older adults. DESIGN A 6-mo outpatient randomized controlled trial was conducted in obese (BMI >or= 30) older (>or=65 y) adults randomly assigned to diet and exercise therapy (treatment group; n = 17) or no therapy (control group; n = 10). The main outcomes were CHD risk factors. RESULTS Body weight decreased by 8.4% (8.2 kg) in the treatment group; weight did not change significantly (0.7 kg) in the control group (P < 0.001 between groups). Changes between the control and treatment groups, respectively, in waist circumference (1 and -10 cm), plasma glucose (4 and -4 mg/dL), serum triacylglycerols (0 and -45 mg/dL), and systolic (-2 and -10 mm Hg) and diastolic (0 and -8 mm Hg) blood pressure were different (P < 0.05 for all). The number of subjects with the metabolic syndrome decreased by 59% in the treatment group but did not change significantly in the control group (P < 0.05). Serum free fatty acids increased by 10 micromol/L in the control group and decreased by 99 micromol/L in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Changes between the control and treatment groups, respectively, in C-reactive protein (0.8 and -2.5 mg/L) and interleukin 6 (1.6 and -2.4 pg/mL) were different (P < 0.05 for both). CONCLUSIONS Lifestyle intervention decreases multiple metabolic CHD risk factors simultaneously in obese older adults.
Radiolabeled indazole‐based αvβ3 antagonists as potential tumor imaging agents

Indazole-based vitronectin receptor antagonists have been conjugated to chelators DOTA and Hynic using a variety of tethers and pharmacokinetic modifying groups. All modifications resulted in potent αvβ3 antagonists in an Elisa assay. The chelator conjugates were radiolabeled with 111In (DOTA) and 99mTc (Hynic) in >90% RCP. Biodistribution studies in the c-Neu Oncomouse tumor model have shown high tumor uptake and primarily renal excretion for these agents. The potential use of these agents in cancer diagnosis will be discussed.
Structure of mass and momentum fields over a model aggregation of benthic filter feeders

Abstract. The structure of momentum and concentration boundary layers developing over a bed of Potamocorbula amurensis clam mimics was studied. Laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) probes were used to quantify velocity and concentration profiles in a laboratory flume containing 3969 model clams. Model clams incorporated passive roughness, active siphon pumping, and the ability to filter a phytoplankton surrogate from the flow. Measurements were made for two crossflow velocities, four clam pumping rates, and two siphon heights. Simultaneous use of LDV and LIF probes permited direct calculation of scalar flux of phytoplankton to the bed. Results show that clam pumping rates have a pronounced effect on a wide range of turbulent quantities in the boundary layer. In particular, the vertical turbulent flux of scalar mass to the bed was approximately proportional to the rate of clam pumping.
Predicting the Future: Altering the Course of Future Liberal Arts Curriculum Through an Examination of the Discipline and the Addition of STEAM Elements

Liberal arts education as an academic discipline has a rich and illustrious history in the Western world. The skills that are bestowed upon its graduates are numerous and include enhanced critical thinking, ability to research and conduct analyses. However, there is the perception held by some in America that liberal arts curriculum is not a worthwhile endeavor for students from an economics perspective and funding would be better spent on other academic disciplines. These criticisms raise the question as to what role should liberal arts education should assume in the twenty-first century. The answer to this question is to alter the aforementioned perception regarding liberal arts education through the supplementation of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) elements into liberal arts curriculum. The assertion made is that addition of STEAM will prepare liberal arts graduates with the skills required for a twenty-first century knowledge based economy.
An Empirical Assist In Determining Reasonable Compensation In Closely Held Corporations

Reasonable compensation is an often litigated issue in the Tax Court. This frequency of discord arises from the tax code’s lack of definitive criteria for determining “reasonableness.” Moreover, classification of payments to shareholder-employees of closely held corporations can have a significant impact on their cash flows and tax burdens. According to §162 of the Internal Revenue Code, reasonable compensation can be deducted from taxable income of a corporation, but amounts paid to shareholders in excess of the reasonable amount should be classified as dividend payments. Dividend payments are not deductible from taxable income. The courts use a variety of factors in determining whether the compensation paid qualifies as reasonable. The main objective of this study is to determine which factors have the greatest influence on Tax Court decisions concerning the reasonable amount of compensation. Using logistic regression, the following factors are found to be significant in predicting the court’s decision: comparison of salaries paid to net and gross income, the comparison of salaries with distributions to shareholders, the prevailing rates of compensation for comparable positions in comparable companies, and the employer’s salary policy as to all employees.
Management of menopausal symptoms in the cancer patient.

In the decades since hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was introduced, there has never been more controversy surrounding it than at present. Physicians and patients are faced with many questions regarding risk and few definitive answers.
Inherited Predisposition to Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Leukemia

Although generally thought of as pediatric conditions, inherited forms of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute leukemia (AL) are increasingly recognized among adult patients. At present, at least nine genes, including ANKRD26, CEBPA, GATA2, PAX5, RUNX1, SRP72, TERC, TERT, and TP53 , are known to cause familial MDS and/or AL syndromes. Several other promising candidate genes are emerging from ongoing research on the many pedigrees identified without a mutation in one of these already recognized genes. Clinical recognition of individuals with these syndromes is essential for optimal care of the patient and his/her at-risk family members and requires familiarity with the subtle clinical features of each syndrome and a high index of suspicion by the treating physician. Once recognized, genetic testing should be performed to identify the specific syndrome present as each can have unique aspects to their clinical care. For example, individuals with familial MDS/AL due to TERT or TERC abnormalities require monitoring of lung function and screening for head and neck and anogenital cancers, whereas individuals with platelet dysfunction due to familial platelet disorder/ RUNX1 or ANKRD26 mutations require careful planning prior to surgical procedures to prevent bleeding complications. Due to significant overlap in the clinical presentation, often a multigene-based approach to genetic testing is necessary. Unique aspects of genetic testing in this population include: 1) tissue type selection as many of the genes that cause the familial MDS/AL syndromes are also somatically mutated in hematologic malignancies so results from DNA derived from peripheral blood or bone marrow in an individual with MDS or AL are difficult to interpret; and 2) urgency as allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may be pursued quickly and requires knowledge of the specific mutation in the family to identify the optimal stem cell donor. The management of affected individuals who have not yet developed hematologic malignancies can be challenging as many may show morphologic signs of dysplasia in the bone marrow that may not truly represent overt malignancy. The decision of when to pursue allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with curative intent is especially difficult. Ongoing research to define the specific events that trigger malignant transformation and how to optimally detect these events is underway. Practical algorithms for the clinical recognition, genetic testing, and management of individuals with these syndromes based on currently available knowledge as well as research seeking to improve the clinical care of these patients will be explored. A summary of the yield of next generation sequencing-based genetic testing strategies for familial presentations of MDS/AL will also be provided. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Arms Race on American Roads: The Effect of SUV's and Pickup Trucks on Traffic Safety

Drivers have been running an "arms race" on American roads by buying increasingly large vehicles such as SUVs and light trucks. An important reason for the popularity of large vehicles is that families view them as providing better protection to their occupants if a crash occurs. But when families drive large vehicles, they pose an increased danger to occupants of smaller vehicles and to pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. This paper measures both the internal effect of large vehicles on their own occupants' safety and their external effect on others. The results show that light trucks are extremely deadly. For each one million light trucks that replace cars, between 34 and 93 additional car occupants, pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists are killed per year and the value of the lives lost is between $242 and $652 million per year. The safety gain that families obtain for themselves from driving large vehicles comes at a very high cost: for each fatal crash that occupants of large vehicles avoid, at least 4.3 additional fatal crashes involving others occur.
Biogeography-based optimization of a variable camshaft timing system

Automotive simulations often prohibit the use of traditional optimization techniques because these simulations are complex and computationally expensive. These two qualities motivate the use of evolutionary algorithms and meta-modeling techniques respectively. In this work, we apply biogeography-based optimization (BBO) to optimize radial basis function (RBF)-based lookup table controls of a variable camshaft timing system for fuel economy. Also, we reduce computational search effort by finding an effective parameterization of the problem, optimizing the parameters of the BBO algorithm for the problem, and estimating the cost of a portion of the candidate solutions in BBO with design and analysis of computer experiments (DACE). We find that we can improve fuel economy by 1.7% over the original control parameters, and we find a tradeoff in population size, and an optimal value for mutation rate. Finally, we find that we can use a small number of samples to construct DACE models, and we can use these models to estimate a significant portion of the candidate solutions each generation to reduce computation effort and still obtain good BBO solutions.
Anion binding by fluorescent Fmoc-protected amino acids

Two non-natural amino acids with fluorescent urea side-chains were prepared from Fmoc-protected aspartic and glutamic acids. In acetonitrile solution, the emission of the Asp derivative is strongly quenched by HCO3− or H2PO4− (K ≥ 104 M− 1) but not by less-basic Cl− or NO3− . Solutions containing excess bicarbonate ion appear peach-colored, with λabs at 394 and 495 nm ascribed to the anion complex and urea-deprotonated sensor, respectively. Corresponding fluorescence bands are observed at 475 and 579 nm. Dihydrogenphosphate is not sufficiently basic to remove H+ from the ground state of the fluorophore. However, deprotonation of the excited state occurs in the presence of>1 equiv of H2PO4− (λem = 578 nm). According to 1H NMR in DMSO-d6, recognition of H2PO4− occurs at the urea N–H groups and the amino acid backbone N–H. DFT techniques further predict that the backbone C = O group accepts an H-bond from the anion. The Glu derivative has lower affinity for anions; the additional CH2 group in its side-c...
High n-type Doping for Ge Lasers

We present evidence of enhanced n+-type doping of epitaxial Ge-on-Si for integrated light emitting devices. SIMS, Hall Effect, and photoluminescence measurements confirm dopant concentrations as high as 4 × 10 19 cm -3 with efficient PL emission.
The Activity of Atovaquone (566C80) in Murine Toxoplasmosis Is Markedly Augmented when Used in Combination with Pyrimethamine or Sulfadiazine

The activity of atovaquone in the treatment of murine toxoplasmosis was greatly enhanced when administered in combination with pyrimethamine or sulfadiazine. Mice infected with lethal inocula of tachyzoites or cysts of Toxoplasma gondii and treated with doses of atovaquone, pyrimethamine, or sulfadiazine that were ineffective when administered alone had 70% survival when pyrimethamine plus atovaquone and 100% survival when sulfadiazine plus atovaquone was used. Of interest, doses of pyrimethamine and, particularly, sulfadiazine far below the doses that would induce any protection in infected mice were active when combined with atovaquone. These results suggest that clinical trials for treatment of toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients using the combination of atovaquone with sulfadiazine or pyrimethamine are justified.
Calibration of Very Fast Transient Overvoltage Measurement System for Ultra High Voltage Gas Insulated Switchgear

Very fast transient overvoltage(VFTO) is also generated during the operation of disconnect switch of gas insulated switchgear(GIS).The full waveform of VFTO includes not only high frequency components up to several tens of MHz,but also low frequency components.Therefore,the measurement system must have perfect performance of transient and steady-state response.It is very important to calibrate the frequency characteristic and voltage ratio of the measurement system in order to make sure whether the measurement system can measure the full waveform of VFTO accurately.According to the principle of wave propagation along uniform transmission line,we established an apparatus generating step voltage wave;according to the output and input signals of the measurement system,we obtained a relation between the rise time of output signal and 3 dB high cutoff frequency of the measurement system when the input signal was ideal step signal,and calibrated the high frequency characteristic using the apparatus;according to the relation between low voltage arm time constant and 3 dB low cutoff frequency,we calibrated the low frequency characteristic.The 3 dB bandwidth of the measurement system was 0.003 Hz~87.5 MHz.When the measurement system was installed in actual GIS,the voltage ratio of the measurement system was determined for power frequency voltage and lightning voltage to be 6.6×105.It is revealed that the measurement system can be used to measure full waveform of VFTO generated in ultra high voltage GIS.
Analysis of GIS Equipment Defects in Guangxi Power Grid

In order to ensure the stability and security operation of power gird,reasons that cause the increasing equipment defects of GIS substations in Guangxi power grid in recent years must be found.By calculating and analyzing GIS equipments defects of 110kV and above voltage level in power grid,main reasons are found,and priventive measures are proposed which provide good references to the stock,operation managament and daily maintenance of GIS Equipment.
Comparison of the induction of specific locus mutations in wild-type and repair-deficient strains of Neurospora crassa.

A comparison of mutation induction between wild-type and excision repair-deficient strains has shown that, after treatment with four of the five mutagens tested, an enhanced recovery of induced mutants was found in the excision repair-deficient strains. In this sense we have confirmed for Neurospora Ames’ (1977) observations with Salmonella. Furthermore, genetic analysis of the mutants induced in Neurospora in both wild-type and excision repair-deficient strains has shown that in some cases the enhanced recovery of mutants can be attributed to the recovery of a spectrum of genetic alterations in the excision repair-deficient strains that is qualitatively different from that found in the wild-type strain. This qualitatively different spectrum appears to arise as a result of a preferential increase in frameshift mutations. Thus, it appears that in excision repair-deficient strains of Neurospora genetic lesions are processed differently than in wild-type strains both to give enhanced yield as well as a selective increase in frameshift mutations. In this regard, the apparent difference between Salmonella and Neurospora data with regard to the characterization of the genetic effects of chemical carcinogens is most likely attributed to a difference in the genetic background of the strains. The present data with Neurospora suggest that this difference not only results in an enhanced recovery of revertants in Salmonella strains carrying the uvrB mutation but also that a different spectrum of genetic damage was detected from that which would have been observed in the standard wild-type strain G46.
Skin lesions in transplant patients.

Organ transplantation is becoming increasingly more successful in the United States. The spectrum of infectious and neoplastic lesions that occur in transplant recipients is reviewed. Certain skin changes in these patients are due to the immunosuppressive drugs themselves. Acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease may cause additional morbidity and mortality following bone marrow transplantation.
A Phaeodactylum tricornutum literature database for interactive annotation of content

Abstract Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a widely used model organism for studying diatom biology. We created a P. tricornutum-specific literature database, or bibliome, that can be interactively annotated by users to improve the relevance and accuracy of search queries. A bibliome represents the current knowledge about a specific organism or biological process and is the foundation for genome-scale computation models. The bibliome of P. tricornutum was assembled from literature searches of ‘P. tricornutum’ (as topic) in two different existing databases, the Web of Knowledge and PubMed resulting in 2497 independent articles. We manually curated the bibliome for relevance to biochemical, physiological, and molecular biology studies. Literature that described the use of P. tricornutum as feed source and ecotoxicology studies were excluded from the bibliome. This process resulted in a final list of 1124 entries – 20% of which received additional classification in the form of notes or keywords. We present the bibliome in an HTML format that is easily searched and that can be customized according to the interests of individual researchers. This HTML tool can also easily be adapted for other algal species or specific research topics.
Genetic Autonomy of Mitochondrial DNA

As a result of studies during the past ten years, the presence in the mitochondria of all “ordinary” eukaryotic cells — from protists to the most complex metazoa, including man — of a system for the storage, transmission and expression of genetic information can now be considered to rest on a firm experimental foundation (Ashwell and Work, 1970; Rabinowitz and Swift, 1970; Schatz, 1970; Preer, 1971; Boardman et al., 1971; Borst, 1972; Linnane et al., 1972; Sager, 1972; Mahler, 1973a). These investigations have also established that, although this second system is distinct and separate from the primary (nuclear-cell sap) system in the same cell — by virtue not only of its sequestration within the organelle but also by the properties of its components and of the reactions that they catalyze — it is by no means independent of it. Since these conclusions and the experiments on which they rest have been repeatedly and recently reviewed (see above), this presentation is restricted to a consideration of the nature, extent and limits of the biogenetic autonomy of the mitochondria of just one organism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, baker’s yeast. It will make use of our own data, both published and some yet unpublished, as well as on studies by several groups here and abroad who are making use of the same experimental system. It will be convenient to broach the question in such a way as to work backwards from the gene products to the genes and to start with the translational products unique to mitochondria.
Designed to Fail: Flexible, Anisotropic Silver Nanorod Sheets for Low-Cost Wireless Activity Monitoring

We describe the fabrication and properties of flexible, anisotropic silver nanorod sheets and investigate their potential to function as a sensor. Aligned and tilted silver nanorod (AgNR) arrays are incorporated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to form flexible conductive sheets. The electrical properties of these sheets are investigated and show large anisotropies, which are related to the alignment direction of the nanorods. Notably, the films show the greatest electrical resistance in the direction perpendicular to the nanorod alignment, and when strain is applied along this direction, the resistance increases monotonically with increasing loading/unloading cycles. In comparison, the resistance along the nanorod alignment direction remains constant over many strain cycles and therefore can serve as an internal reference or as a stable strain gauge. These changes in resistivity are attributed to changes in the internanorod connectivity and can be modeled using an effective medium approximation for aniso...
Endocrine profile of follicles containing oocytes with subsequent polyploid fertilization

In an attempt to identify oocytes at risk for polypronuclear fertilization, follicular fluids were obtained retrospectively that contained oocytes that fertilized normally and abnormally. Whenever possible, each patient served as her own control during the same stimulation cycle. Twenty-six of 169 patients had oocytes that became polypronuclear, and of those 26, 21 had oocytes that fertilized and cleaved normally. Follicular fluids were analyzed for estradiol, progesterone, androstenedione, transferrin, and insulin. Insulin levels were noted to be significantly elevated (P
Under the Cedar Flag

The communal uprisings of the mid-nineteenth century ended a two-and-half-century career of Lebanon as a feudal princedom. The first World War closed its half-century of autonomous mutasarrifiyah. The second terminated the mandate and ushered in the republic. In none of these periods did the Lebanese change the course of the history of the Near East, but in all they registered a record in its annals of progress that was distinguished if not unique.
Constitutive IRAK4 Activation Underlies Poor Prognosis and Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Purpose: Aberrant activation of the NF-κB transcription factors underlies the aggressive behavior and poor outcome of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, clinically effective and safe NF-κB inhibitors are not yet available. Because NF-κB transcription factors can be activated by the interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinases (IRAKs) downstream of the Toll-like receptors (TLRs), but has not been explored in PDAC, we sought to investigate the role of IRAKs in the pathobiology of PDAC.Experimental Design: We examined the phosphorylation status of IRAK4 (p-IRAK4), the master regulator of TLR signaling, in PDAC cell lines, in surgical samples and commercial tissue microarray. We then performed functional studies using small-molecule IRAK1/4 inhibitor, RNA-interference, and CRISPR/Cas9n techniques to delineate the role of IRAK4 in NF-κB activity, chemoresistance, cytokine production, and growth of PDAC cells in vitro and in vivoResults: p-IRAK4 staining was detectable in the majority of PDAC lines and about 60% of human PDAC samples. The presence of p-IRAK4 strongly correlated with phospho-NF-κB/p65 staining in PDAC samples and is predictive of postoperative relapse and poor overall survival. Inhibition of IRAK4 potently reduced NF-κB activity, anchorage-independent growth, chemoresistance, and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines from PDAC cells. Both pharmacologic suppression and genetic ablation of IRAK4 greatly abolished PDAC growth in mice and augmented the therapeutic effect of gemcitabine by promoting apoptosis, reducing tumor cell proliferation and tumor fibrosis.Conclusions: Our data established IRAK4 as a novel therapeutic target for PDAC treatment. Development of potent IRAK4 inhibitors is needed for clinical testing. Clin Cancer Res; 23(7); 1748-59. ©2016 AACR.
A phase 2 trial of high dose lenalidomide in patients with relapsed/refractory higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukaemia with trilineage dysplasia.

Summary Limited therapies exist for patients with refractory and relapsed (RR) higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia with trilineage dysplasia (AML-TD). High dose (HD) lenalidomide (50 mg) has activity as frontline therapy in elderly AML but there is limited data in the RR setting. This phase II trial included patients with RR HR-MDS or AML-TD at 2 doses of lenalidomide (15 or 50 mg) on days 1–28 of 42-day cycles. The primary endpoint was response rate using the 2006 International Working Group criteria. Overall survival (OS) was estimated by Kaplan–Meier methods. Of 27 patients enrolled, 59% had HR-MDS and 31% AML-TD. No patient had isolated del5q; 41% had poor-risk karyotype. Of 9 patients treated at 15 mg, 56% completed ≥2 cycles with no responses. Of 18 patients treated at 50 mg, 39% completed ≥2 cycles and 11% responded but all experienced grade 3/4 neutropenic fever/infection. The 60-day mortality rate was 30%. Median OS was 114 days with 19% surviving ≥1 year. The study was terminated due to lack of robust clinical activity. In conclusion, lenalidomide at 15 mg is ineffective in RR myeloid malignancies. Continous high dosing schedules are poorly tolerated and minimally active. Further evaluation should be considered in upfront intensive chemotherapy-ineligible patients.
Forest pests and home values: The importance of accuracy in damage assessment and geocoding of properties

We examine the impact of measurement errors in geocoding of property locations and in the assessment of Mountain Pine Beetle-induced tree damage within the proximity of a given residence on estimated losses in home values. For our sample of homes in the wildland-urban interface of the Colorado front range and using a novel matching estimator with Bayesian regression adjustment we find that both types of errors can lead to substantial biases in estimated losses. Our results confirm that the Forest Service's Aerial Detection Survey is generally too coarse to be informative for property valuation that depends on highly localized spatial data.
Assessing How We Assess Environmental Risk: Kathrin Röggla’s Documentary Film The Mobile Future

Kathrin Roggla’s 2012 made-for-TV documentary The Mobile Future examines the rhetorical strategies at work in articulating threats to the environment, the linguistic and visual imagery we conjure up in the process, as well as the realities of those who make a living in the field of risk management. Born in Salzburg in 1971 and now residing in Berlin, Roggla has made a name for herself as a writer and an essayist on contemporary topics. Drawing attention to the importance of rhetoric and communication for effective ecocriticism, her self-reflective film emphasizes the complexities contained in the assessment of environmental danger and the challenges involved in the delivery of nuanced messages to the public.
K-fold cross validation performance comparisons of six naive portfolio selection rules: how naive can you be and still have successful out-of-sample portfolio performance?

Recent research reports that optimal portfolio selection models often perform worse than equal-weight naive diversification in out-of-sample testing. This paper extends this line of inquiry by comparing the out-of-sample performance of the equal-weight naive strategy to the out-of-sample performance of five alternative naive strategies, each of which derives from a simple heuristic that does not require any optimization. Out-of-sample portfolio performance is assessed by mean, standard deviation, skewness, and Sharpe ratio; k-fold cross validation is used as the out-of-sample testing mechanism. The results indicate that the proposed naive heuristic rules exhibit strong out-of-sample performance, in most cases superior to the equal-weight naive strategy. These findings are consequential for at least two reasons: first, if these simple heuristic-based rules outperform the equal-weight naive strategy, then by transitivity they can outperform the mean–variance- and shortfall-optimal portfolio rules that have been shown in the literature to be inferior to the equal-weight naive rule, which further emphasizes the out-of-sample fragility of “optimal” methods; and second, among naive diversification strategies, some appear more robust in out-of-sample testing than others, hence the proposed methods may be useful when forming mixed portfolio selection models wherein a naive strategy is combined with an optimal strategy to improve performance.
Finiteness contrasts without Tense? A view from Mandarin Chinese

Debate persists over whether Mandarin Chinese sentences exhibit a syntactically represented albeit phonologically null Tense projection. In a recent paper, Lin (Syntax 18:320–342, 2015) argues for the positive view. The argument is based on the premise that Mandarin clauses exhibit finite/nonfinite contrasts and that finiteness is a property of Tense. In this paper, I argue that the contrasts identified by Lin can all be adequately accounted for without appealing to Tense. The primary conclusion then is that finiteness contrasts do not constitute evidence for Tense in Mandarin. A secondary conclusion is that Mandarin can nonetheless be said to exhibit a finite/nonfinite distinction, but only if ‘finiteness’ is construed broadly as a cluster of properties that enable a clause to stand alone as a syntactically unembedded assertion. Phenomena considered in making this argument include both those discussed by Lin (object fronting, wide scope of object-position quantifiers, and a scopal interaction between modals and aspect) as well as the syntax of subject position and the grammar of control.
Metasurface axicon lens design at visible wavelengths

The emerging field of metasurfaces is promising to realize novel optical devices with miniaturized flat format and added functionalities. Metasurfaces have been demonstrated to exhibit full control of amplitude, phase and polarization of electromagnetic waves. Using the metasurface, the wavefront of light can be manipulated permitting new functionalities such as focusing and steering of the beams and imaging. One optical component which can be designed using metasurfaces is the axicon. Axicons are conical lenses used to convert Gaussian beams into nondiffraction Bessel beams. These unique devices are utilized in different applications ranging from optical trapping and manipulation, medical imaging, and surgery. In this work, we study axicon lens design comprising of planar metasurfaces which generate non-diffracting Bessel beams at visible wavelengths. Dielectric metasurfaces have been used to achieve high efficiency and low optical loss. We measured the spot size of the resulted beams at different planes to demonstrate the non-diffraction properties of the resulted beams. We also investigated how the spot size is influenced by the axicon aperture. Furthermore, we examined the achromatic properties of the designed axicon. Comparing with the conventional lens, the metasurface axicon lens design enables the creation of flat optical device with wide range of depth of focus along its optical axis.
Fully Coupled Nonlinear Fluid Flow and Poroelasticity in Arbitrarily Fractured Porous Media: A Hybrid‐Dimensional Computational Model

We formulate the problem of fully coupled transient fluid flow and quasi-static poroelasticity in arbitrarily fractured, deformable porous media saturated with a single-phase compressible fluid. The fractures we consider are hydraulically highly conductive, allowing discontinuous fluid flux across them; mechanically they act as finite-thickness shear deformation zones prior to failure (i.e., non-slipping and non-propagating), leading to ‘apparent discontinuity’ in strain and stress across them. Local nonlinearity arising from pressure-dependent permeability of fractures is also included. Taking advantage of typically high aspect ratio of a fracture, we do not resolve transversal variations and instead assume uniform flow velocity and simple shear strain within each fracture, rendering the coupled problem numerically more tractable. Fractures are discretized as lower-dimensional zero-thickness elements tangentially conforming to unstructured matrix elements. A hybrid-dimensional, equal-low-order, two-field mixed finite element method is developed, which is free from stability issues for a drained coupled system. The fully implicit backward Euler scheme is employed for advancing the fully coupled solution in time, and the Newton-Raphson scheme is implemented for linearization. We show that the fully discretized system retains a canonical form of a fracture-free poromechanical problem; the effect of fractures is translated to the modification of some existing terms as well as the addition of several terms to the capacity, conductivity and stiffness matrices, therefore, allowing the development of independent subroutines for treating fractures within a standard computational framework. Our computational model provides more realistic inputs for some fracture-dominated poromechanical problems like fluid-induced seismicity.