cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age-related differences in patient-reported and objective measures of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy among cancer survivors

While older adults with cancer are more likely to develop chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), the study aimed to determine if patient-reported and objective measures of CIPN differ by age among cancer survivors. Cancer survivors with persistent CIPN after completion of platinum and/or taxane chemotherapy completed CIPN questionnaires (severity, interference with activities, sensory, and motor symptoms) and objective testing (light touch, vibration, pain, cold sensation). CIPN measures were compared by age group (< 65 n = 260 versus ≥ 65 n = 165) using parametric and nonparametric tests. Among 425 cancer survivors with CIPN, mean age was 60.9 (SD 10.5). CIPN location did not differ by age (overall 68% hands and feet, 27% only feet, 5% only hands). For patient-reported measures, older survivors reported less severe pain in the hands and feet than younger survivors. In addition, older survivors reported lower interference with general activity, routine activities, normal work, enjoyment of life, sleep, mood, relations with other people, and sexual activity. No age differences in sensory and motor symptom scores were found. In contrast, for objective measures, older survivors had worse light touch and cold sensations in their feet and worse vibration detection in their hands and feet. Despite having worse light touch, cold, and vibration sensations, older cancer survivors with CIPN reported less severe pain and interference with activities. This discordance highlights the importance of including both patient-reported and objective measures to assess CIPN in cancer survivors to better evaluate this clinical condition.
Second-hand clothing acquisition: The motivations and barriers to clothing swaps for Chinese consumers

Abstract Textile wastes have been identified as a major threat to the environment, especially in China, which has the world’s largest population and where a large number of textile wastes are generated each year. Clothing swaps provide a way for consumers to extend the lifespan of their existing clothes by exchanging them with others, which also gives consumers a chance to find something different than their existing wardrobe and to have some fresh items. The purpose of this study is to identify the motivations and barriers to participating in clothing swaps for Chinese consumers and to discover whether the influential factors are different for attending swapping events versus swapping with familiar family members and friends. A sample of 321 Chinese men and women was collected through an online survey. The structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized for data analysis, which illustrated that both social shopping value and perceived enjoyment have a positive influence on Chinese consumers’ intention to swap clothing items with family members or friends and to attend clothing swapping events; the results also confirmed the negative influences of performance risk and social risk on Chinese consumers’ intention to swap clothing items with family or friends. This study is the first attempt to investigate the relationships between shopping values and perceived risks with the intention to clothing swap among Chinese consumers. The study results are expected to provide in-depth insights to better understand Chinese consumers’ swapping behavior.
A visual tool for defining reproducibility and replicability

Reproducibility and replicability are fundamental requirements of scientific studies. Disagreements over universal definitions for these terms have affected the interpretation of large-scale replication attempts. We provide a visual tool for representing definitions and use it to re-examine these attempts.
Metastriate Ixodid Life Stages Protected from Predatory Ants in Texas

Multiple predatory ant species, including the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Buren) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), have been reported to attack ixodids (Ixodida: Ixodidae), but evidence has largely been circumstantial. When living lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acarina: Ixodidae), eggs, and unfed and blood-engorged larvae, nymphs, and adults were deployed on bait transects with hot dog slices and dead house flies, Musca domestica L., in West, Central, and South Texas. The various ixodid life stages were not attacked while ants were strongly recruited to the hot dog and M. domestica baits. Similarly, when the same ixodid life stages and other baits were placed adjacent to colonies of two ant species (red harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex barbatus (Smith) and the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren) the ixodids were not preyed upon while hot dog slices and dead M. domestica were immediately attacked. Some ant species dragged blood-engorged adult ixodids and eggs away from the colony entrance, where they were originally placed, and discarded them. Evidence and mechanisms for allomone-based ant deterrence in the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, and Rhipicephalus (metastriate ixodids) are discussed. Protection of ixodids from predatory ants helps to explain why metastriate ixodids remain problematic worldwide despite the presence of predaceous ants.
Interactions of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β with transcriptional coregulators.

CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) are key regulators of numerous cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. Their biological activities require interactions with several protein partners and the formation of functional multiprotein complexes involved in DNA repair and cell cycle control. Members of the family (C/EBPIą, I˛, I´, Iľ, and Il) bind to common DNA sequence motifs as homo- or hetero-dimers and interact with other transcription factors to control transcription of a number of eukaryotic genes. Of particular interest is C/EBPI˛, which binds to closed chromatin and acts as a pioneering factor for initiating tissue-specific gene expression at several promoters. This review focuses on intermolecular interactions that underlie C/EBPI˛âs ability to regulate chromatin accessibility and directs readers to general reviews describing transcription regulation in eukaryotes.
Rates of clinically significant prostate cancer in African Americans increased significantly following the 2012 US Preventative Services Task Force recommendation against prostate specific antigen screening: A Single Institution Retrospective Study.

Purpose We determined the impact of the 2012 US Preventative Services Task Force recommendation against prostate specific antigen screening on detection rates and biopsy patterns in African American and Caucasian patients. Materials and methods Demographics, PSA, transrectal ultrasonography volume and pathologic data were collected on patients who underwent their first ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy between January 2007 and June 2018 at a New York City Veteran Affairs Hospital. Results 609 biopsies were analysed preguideline (113 per year), and 487 were analysed postguideline (81 per year). There was no significant difference in the detection rates of low, intermediate or high grade PCa in Caucasians. In contrast, African Americans were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with PCa in the postguideline group (56% pre vs 66% post, P = .016), and significantly more likely to be diagnosed with intermediate-high grade PCa (38% pre vs 47% post, P = .038). Before the 2012 USPSTF recommendation, African American and Caucasian patients undergoing their first biopsy were equally likely to be diagnosed with high-grade PCa (11% AA vs 11% CA). After the 2012 decision, we found that African Americans were 50% more likely than Caucasians to be diagnosed with high-grade PCa on first biopsy (10% AA vs 15% CA, P = .008). Conclusions In the 6 years following the 2012 USPSTF recommendation, detection rates of intermediate-high risk disease remained unchanged for Caucasian patients but have increased significantly for African Americans. The results of our study strongly support the role of routine PSA screening, particularly in higher risk patients such as African Americans.
Bridging the Research-Implementation Gap in Weed Management on California Rangelands

Abstract Substantial gaps exist between weed management researchers and practitioners with respect to prompt exchange of knowledge between the two groups, hindering the implementation of effective management to solve weed problems. We conducted a survey between 2016 and 2018 among weed management practitioners (n = 259) across diverse ecoregions on California rangelands and collected essential information from practitioners for bridging the research-implementation gap. The information included management costs, high-priority weeds, and spatial scales and temporal changes in weed management. The management cost had a mean of $5.12 ha−1yr−1 with a large variance implying the uncertainty of this information. The percentage of annual budget dedicated to weed management explained about 30% of the variation in this cost. Moreover, this annual per-unit area cost decreased with increasing management area. The average size of rangeland managed by survey respondents was 1 256 ha. The top three high-priority weeds statewide were yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), and all thistles combined. Medusahead and some thistle species remained on the top list in each ecoregion. Respondents overwhelmingly (80.9%) noted changes in weed problems in the past 5−10 yr, specifically citing greater weed pressure and changes in weed species. A significantly higher proportion of respondents from agencies and private businesses reported changes in weed problems than those from universities and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), further underscoring the gap between practitioners and researchers. A majority of the respondents (75.3%) indicated the record-setting California drought had a negative effect on weed management, reducing treatment efficacy and favoring weeds over desirable species. Overall, our findings illustrate increasing challenges in weed management on California rangeland. These challenges call for adaptive management-research programs to increase cost-effectiveness of weed management and to swiftly and effectively respond to dynamic weed problems on large spatial and long temporal scales.
Comparison between oncological outcomes of primary versus salvage radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

585Background: This study aims to compare oncologic outcomes among patients who underwent salvage radical cystectomy (sRC) for recurrent urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder following radiother...
Beta-hemolytic group a streptococcal orthopaedic infections: Our institutional experience and review of the literature.

Abstract Group A streptococcal (GAS) infections have high morbidity and mortality due to toxin production and tissue invasion. We reviewed all orthopaedic GAS infections at our medical centre between January 2017 and April 2019. Median age was 56 years. At least 60% had a body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m2. Median Charlson comorbidity score was 3 (range 0–7). Clinical cure at 90 days was achieved in only 62%. All 4 patients with underlying orthopaedic hardware were cured. Toxin-neutralizing antibiotics and intravenous immunoglobulin were underutilized. Our review confirms poor outcomes from GAS orthopaedic infections without optimal management.
New empirical likelihood inference for the mean residual life with length-biased and right-censored data

The mean residual life (MRL) function for a given random variable T is the expected remaining lifetime of T after a fixed time point t. It is of great interest in survival analysis, reliability, ac...
A Theory of Contestation Space in International Regimes

In a time of uncertainty in the international order, scholars of international relations are directing increased attention to both systemic power transitions and contestation of global norms and institutions. Although similar real-world dynamics are motivating both of these scholarly trends, there has been little cross-pollination among scholars studying power at a systemic and structural level and those studying power at a normative and discursive level. This paper merges insights from these literatures to explain how states’ contestation of the normative components of the international order shapes global politics during times of power transition. It does so by introducing the theoretical concept of contestation space in international regimes. This concept modifies a basic rational choice bargaining model to depict how new equilibria regimes are formed under conditions of contestation over the principles, norms, rules, and decision-making procedures that compose international regimes. The theoretical concept of contestation space shows how ambiguity, omission, and contradiction in complex international agreements make room for contested understandings of bargaining outcomes. This contestation space facilitates the establishment of new equilibria in international regimes, but it can also act as a source of misperception and conflict during power transitions. This theory thus contributes to a burgeoning research program in the study of realpolitik that analyzes the broad range of instruments of power states employ and emphasizes the ways that hierarchy operates in international relations.
Agroecology: Challenges and opportunities for farming in the Anthropocene

The multiple crises facing humanity at the onset of the Anthropocene are creating a moment in which agroecology acquires greater relevance as an alternative approach for meeting sustainable development goals and providing guidelines for the reconstruction of a post-COVID-19 agricultural system that is capable of minimizing future widespread disruptions of food supplies by pandemics and climate change by enhancing linkages between small-scale food production and local consumption. There are three main areas in which agroecology can be used in the development of a new post-COVID-19 agricultural system: revitalizing small farms, creating alternative animal production systems and enhancing urban agriculture. Focusing food and agricultural policies on agroecology as a main strategy for achieving autonomy and resilience can rapidly transform the ways in which we produce and consume food while addressing global challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, poverty, and deteriorating health.
Airplane Orbits and Satellite Orbits and Orbitfall: Physics Hidden in Plain Sight

An airplane flying at constant speed and altitude is an example of physics invisible to the pilots and passengers, but visible to remote observers and manifest in the mathematics. The optimum flight path is an arc of a Great Circle, specifically that circle which is the result of rotating the equator to intersect the origin and destination airports. In order that the velocity vector remain parallel to the surface of the spherical earth, a centripetal force is required to rotate the velocity without altering its magnitude. This force must be radially inward and thus parallel to the local vertical. The assertion that ``lift balances gravity" is only an approximation. To follow the curve of the earth, the vertical component of aerodynamic lift must be \emph{slightly weaker} than gravity so that the plane can be in ``orbitfall". That is, to follow the curvature of the earth, maintaining a constant distance $R$ from the center of the earth while flying at a constant speed $V$ and generating a vertical lift per unit mass $L$, the plane and all inside it must fall towards the center of the earth with an acceleration, the ``orbitfall acceleration", $g_{orbitfall} \equiv g-L=V^{2} / R$ where $g$ is the usual gravitational acceleration constant. If the plane travels a fraction $\digamma$ of the earth's circumference , then it must execute $\digamma$ of an outside loop. This requires that the pitch angle $\xi$ must rotate nose-down at a rate of $d \xi / dt=V/R$. The dynamic stability of a non-military aircraft makes this pitch change continuously without pilot intervention: the horizontal stabilizers act as weathervanes, suppressing small perturbations so that the longitudinal axis remains at a constant angle of attack. Neither pilot nor passenger is aware of the orbitfall or the automatic pitch changes -- physics invisible but essential.
Challenges and opportunities for artificial intelligence in surgery

Surgery is an exceptionally complex domain where multi-dimensional expertise is developed over an extended period of time, and mastery is maintained only through ongoing engagement in surgical cont...
Abstract P6-05-01: Endoplasmic reticulum resident protein transmembrane protein 33 (TMEM33) induces apoptosis via UPR signaling and autophagy in breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type in women, with expected incidence of around 232,670 new cases in the US alone each year. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (EnR stress) and the related unfolded protein response (UPR) are activated in breast cancer cells to promote cell survival and endocrine resistance. TMEM33 is a novel transmembrane protein that resides in the endoplasmic reticulum (EnR) and has been shown to activate two of the UPR branches (PERK; IRE1α). However, the cellular functions and underlying mechanism of this EnR resident protein remains largely unknown. In this study, we show that overexpression of TMEM33 induces robust cell death in breast cancer cells. TMEM33 overexpression strongly activates the pro-death JNK-p53 pathway, possibly through the activation of IRE1α. We also observe a significant inhibition of the downstream survivin (also called BIRC5), which is known to inhibit cell death by binding to caspases and blocking their activation. We further show that either the blockage of JNK activation with a small molecule inhibitor, or the overexpression of survivin, protects cells against TMEM33-induced apoptosis. In addition, we demonstrate that TMEM33 overexpression induces autophagy in breast cancer cells (changes in LC3 and p62 expression). Inhibition of autophagy with either the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine, or by knockdown of the autophagy gene Atg5, further sensitizes breast cancer cells to TMEM33 overexpression. Conversely, cell death induced by TMEM33 is decreased by overexpression of the autophagy gene Beclin 1. The findings in this study demonstrate that the novel EnR resident protein TMEM33 induces cell death by activating the IRE1α-JNK-p53-survivin pathway in breast cancer cells. Paradoxically, autophagy is also activated by TMEM33 but the prosurvival action is generally not sufficient to block all of the cell death signaling. Citation Format: Rong Hu, Xiyuan Zhang, Leena Hilakivi-Clarke, Usha Kasid, Robert Clarke. Endoplasmic reticulum resident protein transmembrane protein 33 (TMEM33) induces apoptosis via UPR signaling and autophagy in breast cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-05-01.
Intellectual Property at the Edge: The suppressed misappropriation origins of trademark antidilution law: The Landgericht Elberfeld’s Odol Opinion and Frank Schechter’s “The Rational Basis of Trademark Protection”

Frank Schechter’s 1927 article "The Rational Basis of Trademark Protection", which remains the most cited law review article ever written on trademark law, is generally recognized as the origin of the concept of trademark dilution. Yet as is less well recognized, Schechter’s discussion of trademark dilution in "Rational Basis" relied heavily, though cagily, on the true origin of the concept: the 1924 Odol opinion of the German Landgericht Elberfeld. "Rational Basis" quotes extensively from the Odol opinion and borrows much of the opinion’s argument and terminology. Yet Schechter suppressed and apparently deliberately deleted from his quotation of the opinion its central holding, that "[i]t is opposed to good morals to appropriate thus the fruits of another’s labor in the consciousness that that other will or may thereby be damaged." This brief essay, a chapter in the forthcoming "Intellectual Property at the Edge: The Contested Contours of IP" (Rochelle Cooper Dreyfuss and Jane C. Ginsburg eds. 2013), argues that Schechter deliberately sought in Rational Basis to obscure the true nature of the Odol case and of antidilution protection, and that even a century later, his effort at obfuscation remains more or less a success, at least in the United States. What Schechter sought to obscure in "Rational Basis" is that the Odol case was not, strictly speaking, a trademark case. Rather, it was a misappropriation case that happened to involve a trademark. Schechter sought to suppress this basic truth — that the concept of trademark dilution is essentially a misappropriation concept — in order to sell his proposed doctrinal reforms to an American audience altogether suspicious of misappropriation doctrine and increasingly under the sway of American Legal Realism. To do so required a great deal of finesse, or to but it more bluntly, of dissembling, and "Rational Basis" is full of it. Due both to its frequent misdirection and ambiguity and to its emphatic suppression of any suggestion that trademark dilution is a form of misappropriation, "Rational Basis" has remained an altogether open text. Concepts like "blurring" and "tarnishment" have rushed in to fill the void left in the absence of misappropriation. Even now, in the face of ever more scholarly and judicial commentary recognizing that dilution is essentially a form of "free-riding," and likely one that typically inflicts no substantial harm on the misappropriated mark, the obfuscatory nature of Schechter’s text enables the concept of dilution to survive — and thrive — behind a fog of indeterminacy.
Perceived Relational Diversity: Moving Beyond Demographic Attributes

This study builds on the research in human diversity, distributional demography, and relational demography by proposing a new construct, perceived relational diversity, that refers to the extent to which employees perceive themselves to be similar to (or different from) other members of their workgroup on a wide range of human differences, attributes, and beliefs. Results from a sample of 346 employees indicated that perceived relational diversity accounted for a significant percentage of variance in job satisfaction, turnover intention, affective organizational commitment, and satisfaction with coworkers beyond that accounted for by commonly used objective demographic indices. However, perceived relational diversity did not explain unique variance in individual performance ratings. Further, perceived similarity to others on personal attributes (e.g., values, goals, personality) was consistently important for explaining outcomes while perceived similarity on other attributes (e.g., power, physical attributes) was generally not important. Implications and directions for further research are discussed.
Strengthening Security of RSA-OAEP

OAEP is one of the few standardized and widely deployed public-key encryption schemes. It was designed by Bellare and Rogaway as a scheme based on a trapdoor permutation such as RSA. RSA-OAEP is standardized in RSA's PKCS #1 v2.1 and is part of several standards. RSA-OAEP was shown to be IND-CCA secure in the random oracle model under the standard RSA assumption. However, the reduction is not tight, meaning that the guaranteed level of security is not very high for a practical parameter choice. We first observe that the situation is even worse because the analysis was done in the single-query setting, i.e. where an adversary gets a single challenge ciphertext. This does not take into account the fact that in reality an adversary can observe multiple ciphertexts of related messages. The results about the multi-query setting imply that the guaranteed concrete security can degrade by a factor of q , which is the number of challenge ciphertexts an adversary can get. We re-visit a very simple but not well-known modification of the RSA-OAEP encryption which asks that the RSA function is only applied to a part of the OAEP transform. We show that in addition to the previously shown fact that security of this scheme is tightly related to the hardness of the RSA problem, security does not degrade as the number of ciphertexts an adversary can see increases. Moreover, this scheme can be used to encrypt long messages without using hybrid encryption. We believe that this modification to the RSA-OAEP is easy to implement, and the benefits it provides deserves the attention of standard bodies.
Characterization of an Equine Infectious Anemia Antigen Extracted from Infected Horse Spleen Tissue

Abstract The spleens of horses infected with equine infectious anemia contain an antigen that is useful for a diagnostic immunodiffusion test. This antigen was extracted from the spleen by homogenization of the tissue, centrifugation, and precipitation from the supernatant fluid at 50% saturation with (NH4)2SO4. The antigen was purified by subjecting it to two cycles of electrophoresis in a continuous free-flow electrophoresis cell and finally filtering through a column of Sephadex G-200 gel. The antigen was found to be a small protein with a molecular weight of 27,500 and sedimentation coefficient of 2.1S. Its density was about 1.18 and its isoelectric point 5.8. At 45 to 50 C, it coagulated, losing its antigenicity. The antigen was useful for assaying antibody in the serum from infected horses by using the complement fixation test or the immunodiffusion test. Complement-fixing antibodies were found to be more transient than the precipitating antibodies.
Simulation of rare isotope release from ISOL target

Releases of short-lived species from ISOL targets are simulated with computer codes. Analytic solutions to the diffusion equation are compared with those obtained from a finite-difference code for radioactive isotope diffusion release from simple geometry targets. The Monte Carlo technique as a practical means for vapor transport system design is demonstrated by simulating the effusive-flow of neutral particles through complex target-vapor transport systems. Particle release curves involving decay losses in both diffusion and effusive-flow are computed; and a numerical procedure is proposed to measure the diffusion coefficients and the characteristic effusion times of rare isotopes in target-ion source systems.
Are You What Your Mother Weighs? Evaluating the Impact of Maternal Weight Trajectories on Youth Overweight

In this study, we investigate how three alternative measures of maternal body mass index (BMI) relate to youth overweight. We contrast the typical cross-sectional measure of maternal BMI with a longitudinal mean and a standard deviation in maternal BMI. Using National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data, we estimate logistic regressions that relate maternal BMI to the risk of a youth being overweight while controlling for other familial characteristics. Participants in this study are 918 males and 841 females who were age 16–21 and either healthy weight or overweight in 2006. To be eligible for inclusion, teens were 15 years old by December 2006. After comparing several measures of maternal weight, we find that higher mean maternal BMI measured over the life of the adolescent has the strongest relationship with the odds of youth overweight for both male and female adolescents. For boys, a one unit increase in mother’s mean BMI increases the odds of being overweight by 16% (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.11–1.20) while for girls the increase in the odds of being overweight is 13% (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.09–1.18). Our findings suggest that researchers should move beyond static measures of maternal weight when examining the correlates of youth BMI. Maternal weight histories offer additional insights about the youth’s home environment that are associated with the risk of a youth being overweight.
Generalization of Channel Blockage Profiles for SATCOM On-The-Move using 3-D Models

An extensive measurement campaign was carried out in the fall of 2004 to characterize the EHF SATCOM on-the-move (OTM) channel. Although the measurement locations included many types of terrain and covered a large geographical area, the elevation angle to the satellite was essentially the same throughout the campaign. In this paper we use a 3-D model to extend the results of our previous campaign for arbitrary satellite locations.
On inhibition/disinhibition in developmental psychopathology: Views from cognitive and personality psychology and a working inhibition taxonomy.

Disinhibition is a common focus in psychopathology research. However, use of inhibition models often is piecemeal, lacking an overarching taxonomy of inhibitory processes. The author organizes key concepts and models pertaining to different kinds of inhibitory control from the cognitive and temperament/personality literatures. Within the rubrics of executive inhibitory processes, motivational inhibitory processes, and automatic attentional inhibition processes, 8 kinds of inhibition are distinguished. Three basic temperament traits may address key executive and motivational inhibitory processes. Future developmental psychopathology research should be based on a systematic conceptual taxonomy of the kinds of inhibitory function relevant to a given disorder. Such an approach can clarify which inhibition distinctions are correct and which inhibition deficits go with which disorders.
Taxonomic and population differentiation of mitochondrial diversity inPinus banksiana andPinus conforta.

We have studied two mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms in 741 individuals from 16 allopatric populations ofPinus banksiana Lamb. andPinus contorta Dougl. Restriction fragments of both polymorphisms distinguished the two species qualitatively, except in aP. Banksiana population whose ancestors were involved in hybridization withP. contorta.COXI-associated restriction fragments were monomorphic within species, whileCOXII-associated restriction fragments were highly variable inP. contorta (Hes=0.68). Population differentiation was substantial inP. contorta (Fst=0.31 among subspecies; mean Fst=0.66 within subspecies) and consistent with predictions for maternally inherited markers. Plant mitochondrial markers appear to be useful for the investigation of seed migration routes, hybridization and introgression, breeding zone designation, and the development of germ plasm conservation sampling strategies.
SCEPTRANS: an online tool for analyzing periodic transcription in yeast.

Summary SCEPTRANS is designed for analysis of microarray timecourse data related to periodic phenomena in the budding yeast. The server allows for easy viewing of temporal profiles of multiple genes in a number of datasets. Additional functionality includes searching for coexpressed genes, periodicity and correlation analysis, integrating functional annotation and localization data as well as advanced operations on sets of genes. Availability Available online at http://sceptrans.org/
A Gauss–Galerkin finite‐difference method for singular partial differential equations in two space variables

A Gauss–Galerkin finite-difference method is proposed for the numerical solution of a class of linear, singular parabolic partial differential equations in two space dimensions. The method generalizes a Gauss–Galerkin method previously used for treating similar singular parabolic partial differential equations in one space dimension. Two test problems are studied and the numerical results are presented. These numerical results are encouraging and suggest that the proposed method is efficient in treating singular parabolic partial differential equations of the type considered here. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 13: 331–355, 1997
Association of transgene integration sites with chromosome rearrangements in hexaploid oat

Transgene loci in 16 transgenic oat (Avena sativa L.) lines produced by microprojectile bombardment were characterized using phenotypic and genotypic segregation, Southern blot analysis, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Twenty-five transgene loci were detected; 8 lines exhibited single transgene loci and 8 lines had 2 or 3 loci. Double FISH of the transgene and oat C- and A/D-genome-specific dispersed and clustered repeats showed no preferences in the distribution of transgene loci among the highly heterochromatic C genome and the A/D genomes of hexaploid oat, nor among chromosomes within the genomes. Transgene integration sites were detected at different locations along individual chromosomes, although the majority of transformants had transgenes integrated into subtelomeric and telomeric regions. Transgene integration sites exhibited different levels of structural complexity, ranging from simple integration structures of two apparently contiguous transgene copies to tightly linked clusters of multiple copies of transgenes interspersed with oat DNA. The size of the genomic interspersions observed in these transgene clusters was estimated from FISH results on prometaphase chromosomes to be megabases long, indicating that some transgene loci were significantly larger than previously determined by Southern blot analysis. Overall, 6 of the 25 transgene loci were associated with rearranged chromosomes. These results suggest that particle bombardment-mediated transgene integration may result from and cause chromosomal breakage and rearrangements.
Electrical and mechanical responses of guinea-pig bladder muscle to nerve stimulation.

1 The electrical and mechanical responses to transmural stimulation of intrinsic nerves have been recorded from smooth muscle strips dissected from the dome of the guinea-pig bladder, by use of intracellular microelectrodes, and conventional tension recording techniques. 2 Stimulation of intrinsic nerves evoked action potentials in all cells studied. Hyperpolarization of the cells by extracellular current injection revealed subthreshold excitatory junction potentials (e.j.ps) in about a quarter of the cells studied. 3 Action potentials could still be evoked in the presence of atropine and neostigmine, but were abolished after desensitization of the cells to alpha, beta-methylene ATP, a stable analogue of ATP. 4 In the presence of neostigmine, the evoked action potential was followed by a slow depolarization of the membrane. The mechanical response increased in amplitude and duration. 5 The contractile response to transmural nerve stimulation was reduced but not abolished in the presence of either atropine or desensitizing doses of alpha, beta-methylene ATP. Atropine was more effective at high frequencies of stimulation (greater than or equal to 30 Hz), and alpha, beta-methylene ATP at low frequencies (less than or equal to 15 Hz). In combination the drugs abolished the response. 6 The results suggest that the mechanical response to excitatory nerve stimulation is biphasic. The early transient response is elicited by e.j.ps and evoked spikes, is resistant to atropine, but sensitive to desensitization of purinoceptors. The late response is mediated through muscarinic receptors, involves little membrane depolarization, and is unaffected by desensitization of purinoceptors. These responses are analogous to the responses seen in rabbit bladder, and in the sympathetically innervated rat tail artery and guinea-pig vas deferens.
Measurement of size and concentration of scattering particles by speckle photography

An experimental investigation of speckle patterns formed when a collimated beam of laser light is scattered by small spherical particles dispersed uniformly throughout a volume is reported. Double-exposure speckle photography is used to measure the decrease of correlation that occurs when the angle of incidence of the collimated beam is changed by an amount α. The results are presented graphically and in the form of empirical equations involving dimensionless groups of the following parameters: particle diameter, number of particles per unit volume, and depth of the test volume. The data form two distinct regimes—one for low numbers per unit volume and one for high numbers per unit volume. The effect of other experimental variables such as particle refractive index, film exposure characteristics, and the geometry of the recording system are studied.
Potassium leak channels and the KCNK family of two-p-domain subunits

With a bang, a new family of potassium channels has exploded into view. Although KCNK channels were discovered only five years ago, they already outnumber other channel types. KCNK channels are easy to identify because of their unique structure--they possess two preforming domains in each subunit. The new channels function in a most remarkable fashion: they are highly regulated, potassium-selective leak channels. Although leak currents are fundamental to the function of nerves and muscles, the molecular basis for this type of conductance had been a mystery. Here we review the discovery of KCNK channels, what has been learned about them and what lies ahead. Even though two-P-domain channels are widespread and essential, they were hidden from sight in plain view--our most basic questions remain to be answered.
Estimation of time-varying coherence function using time-varying transfer functions.

We introduce a new method to estimate reliable time-varying coherence functions (TVCF) for causal systems. The technique is based on our previously developed method to estimate time-varying transfer functions (TVTF), known as the time-varying optimal parameter search algorithm [Zou, R., H. Wang, and K. H. Chon. A robust time-varying identification algorithm using basis functions. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 31: 840–853, 2003]. The TVCF is estimated by the multiplication of two TVTFs. The two TVTFs are obtained using signal x as the input and signal y as the output to produce the first TVTF, and signal y as the input and signal x as the output to produce the second TVTF. Demonstration of the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed approach is provided with both simulation examples and application to renal blood flow and pressure data. The proposed approach provides higher time-frequency resolution TVCF than afforded by the short time Fourier transform based TVCF.
Effects of short-term exercise training on plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1).

ABSTRACTBODARY, P. F., N. YASUDA, D. D. WATSON, A. S. BROWN, J. M. DAVIS, and R. R. PATE. Effects of Short-Term Exercise Training on Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor (PAI-1). Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 35, No. 11, pp. 1853–1858, 2003.PurposeTo observe the effects of exercise training on plasminoge
Adrenal lesions with heterogeneous suppression on chemical shift imaging: clinical implications.

Purpose To investigate the frequency and significance of adrenal lesions that demonstrate heterogeneous suppression on chemical shift magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods A retrospective search of adrenal lesions identified on MR from November 1997–July 2001 was performed. The adrenal lesions were classified as having suppression typical for an adenoma, nonsuppression, or atypical heterogeneous suppression. Lesions with heterogeneous suppression were further reviewed. Follow-up for the heterogeneous lesions consisted of imaging studies or pathology from surgical excision. Results Adrenal lesions were identified in 242 patients. Heterogeneously suppressing lesions were seen in 34 (14%) patients. Several different patterns of heterogeneous suppression were identified. Imaging or pathologic follow-up was available for 18 of the heterogeneously suppressing lesions (one patient had both). Fifteen patients with follow-up imaging showed stability of the lesion over a significant interval, suggesting a benign lesion. Pathology was available for four patients revealing two patients with adenomas and two patients with nodular hyperplasia. Thus, all 18 patients with heterogeneous suppression had a benign lesion. Conclusion Adrenal lesions that have a heterogeneous pattern of suppression on out-of-phase chemical shift MR images are a common finding. Our small series suggest that these lesions are probably benign. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;19:308–316. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Broad Bandwidth Millimeter Wave Upconverters

Millimeter wave upconverter assemblies covering the frequency ranges of V, E, and W Bands are described. These upconverter assemblies are used to extend the output capabilitl of existing X and Ku Band sweepers to the millimeter wave ranges, and are capable of providing power across the full waveguide bandwidth. Maximum output powers generated are 4 mW, 1.5 mW and 0.5 mW for V, E, and W lands respectively.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Natural hierarchy of radiatively induced Majorana neutrino masses.

Radiative Majorana masses for the three known neutrinos can be generated via the exchange of two $W$ bosons if there is a fourth neutrino with both Dirac and Majorana masses. Typical masses of the order ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$, ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$, and ${10}^{2}$ eV are obtained.
Microinjection analysis of envelope-glycoprotein messenger activities of avian leukosis viral RNAs

Virion RNA from the avian leukosis virus Rous-associated virus 2 (RAV-2) and poly(A)-containing RNAs from RAV-2-infected chick embryo fibroblasts were microinjected into fibroblasts transformed by the Bryan high-titer strain of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), which is deficient in viral envelope glycoprotein. Production of infectious RSV following these injections depended upon the viral envelope-messenger activity of the injected RNA. This system constituted a sensitive and rigorous assay system for viral envelope-messenger RNA. It was found that 21S mRNA from RAV-2-infected cells expressed the highest activity, while 35S mRNA expressed comparatively little. In addition, RAV-2-virion RNA expressed little messenger activity. The rate of formation of infectious RSV following 21S mRNA injections reached a peak near 9 hr, which was followed by a rapid decline. Evidence has been obtained that a small fraction of both 35S virion RNA and 35S mRNA from virus-infected cells was encapsulated into virus particles following their injection into virus-producing cells.
Optimization + objectivity = optout

It is argued that the preoccupation of Operational Researchers and Management Scientists with optimization and objectivity leads to their withdrawing from reality — to their “opting out”, First, a typical project is reviewed to reveal the points at which the researchers clung to optimality but lost their grip on reality. Secondly, it is argued that optimal solutions deteriorate because of changes in both the systems that employ them and their environments. Therefore, OR and MS should engage in designing decision systems that learn and adapt well rather than in producing optimal solutions that do not, Thirdly, it is argued that the conventional concept of optimality does not take into account two important types of aesthetic values', stylistic preferences and those arising from a sense of progress. Finally, it is argued that individual scientists cannot be objective in the conventional sense, but the Science can be in an unconventional sense. In their effort to be objective in the conventional sense, scientists opt out.
Synthesis of acetals and esters of propargyl, propenyl and propyl alcohols and the bioassay of these and related compounds as fumigants against Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) larvae

Abstract The synthesis of 36 compounds, acetals, ketals, esters or ethers of acetylenic, olefinic and aliphatic alcohols is described. These and 26 related compounds were tested as fumigants against Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) larvae. Twenty-three compounds showed fumigant activity. 3-Butyne-2-one killed all the larvae exposed at the rate 2.2 mg/1 for 3 h, as did the reference fumigant ethylene dibromide (EDB). Six compounds killed 100% of the larvae exposed to them at the rate of 2.2 mg/l for 24 h. Eight compounds, including propargyl alcohol, propargyl methacrylate and propargyl 3-methylcrotonate, did not kill A. svspensa larvae until a few days after exposure during which time the larvae apparently grew normally and underwent pre-pupariation wanderlust in synchrony with untreated larvae.
Constrained Optimal Location

A Chebyshev center of a set A in a normed space is a location that minimizes the maximum distance to the set A. In many applications, this center may be regarded as an optimal location. In an inner product space, we characterize the linnearly constrained optimal location in terms of the unconstrained optimal location of an associated set (and show that this characterization is always possible if and only if the norm is induced by an inner product). We then use this characterization to design a finite algorithm for the calculation of the constrained optimal location of a finite point set. We conclude by demonstrating that the guarantee of convergence of this algorithm characterizes inner-product space.
Collaborative Virtual Design Environments: Introduction

Computer-generated animated and enhanced movies and training simulations are now commonplace because of an exponential increase in cost-effective computer power and software robustness. Today, pilots and astronauts routinely train and practice normal and emergency scenarios much as they would in a real vehicle in an operational environment. As entertainment-seeking consumers, we regularly find ourselves viewing movies, TV, and games containing imaginary dinosaurs, aircraft dogfights, monsters, and voyages to other planets and galaxies.
Is conservation research money being spent wisely? Changing trends in conservation research priorities

Abstract Conservation biology is often defined as a “mission driven crisis discipline”, and as such research priorities should ideally parallel the relative importance of different conservation threats. Conservation research has increased exponentially over the last 22 years, rising from 4000 articles in 2012. However, this growth has not and may not necessarily reflect changes in research needs. Consequently, it remains uncertain if growth and prioritization have been consistent between research themes, or subdisciplines. In other words, it is unknown if conservation priorities change in relation to research needs, or if instead to shifts in funding, which may or may not correspond to true research needs. Future conservation research priorities should ideally be based on conservation needs alone and must account for threats at both the immediate and long-term scales.