cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of older adult subject and proxy responses on the SF-36 health-related quality of life instrument

Studies of older adults' health status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) often rely on proxy responses when subjects have problems that affect their ability to respond. With the increased interest in outcomes research in health care, it is important to examine proxy reliability on HRQoL instruments. This study compares 32 pairs of subject-andproxy responses on the eight subscales and two summary scales of the Short Form 36 (SF-36). Subjects and their proxies, recruited from senior centers and residential facilities, were interviewed face-to-face within a seven-day period. Subjects were 60 years of age or older and had passed a brief cognitive screen, and proxies were geographically proximate and had seen the subject during the past week. Results showed that although moderate intra-class correlations were found on six of the eight measures, an item-level kappa statistic indicated poor to fair agreement on all subscales except items of Physical Functioning and Role Physical. Moreover, paired t-tests revealed proxy mean scores that were significantly lower on the Physical Functioning, Vitality, and Mental Health subscales. Given the mixed findings, until further research is done, researchers and clinicians should exercise caution when using proxy responses for older adults with the SF-36.
Numerical sequence matching based on local sum functions

The edit distance has found a broad spectrum of applications in word processing and bioinformatics. However, in a far greater range of applications, such as pattern recognition, image processing and signal processing it is of more practical interest to evaluate the distance between two sequences where each data element is numerical. In this paper within the dynamic programming framework, we develop an algorithm which can effectively and efficiently yield an indicator measuring the distance between two numerical sequences in the presence of severe noises such as data element swapping, data value splitting and merging, and various quantization schemes. Instead of trying to find the matching values in the two sequences, which are invalid any more, we formulate a local sum function (LSF) as the building unit of our distance measure. Due to its local nature, a dynamic programming procedure can be incurred to evaluate the distance between these two sequences. Experiments conducted on both synthetic and real world sequences suggest encouraging performances.
ZEB Negatively Regulates the Lytic-Switch BZLF1 Gene Promoter of Epstein-Barr Virus

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human herpesvirus capable of establishing a latent state in B lymphocytes. The product of the immediate-early BZLF1 gene, Zta, is a transcriptional transactivator essential for viral DNA amplification and virion production. Previously, we identified a negative cis-acting element within the BZLF1 promoter termed ZV. ZV contains the sequence 5′-CAGGTA-3′ located at nucleotides −17 to −12 relative to the transcription initiation site. It sequence specifically binds a cellular factor, ZVR. Based on sequence binding specificity, we postulated that ZVR may be zinc finger E-box binding factor (ZEB) or a related zinc finger/homeodomain family member. We show here by immunoshift assays that ZVR and human ZEB specifically cross-react with an antibody to δEF1, the chicken homolog of ZEB. Competition electrophoretic mobility shift assays confirmed that ZEB binds to the ZV element with the same binding specificity as ZVR. Overexpression of ZEB in either B-lymphocytic DG75 cells or mammary epithelial MCF-7 cells repressed Zta-induced activation of the BZLF1 promoter four- to fivefold via the ZV site. Thus, we conclude that the previously identified cellular repressor ZVR is, in fact, ZEB. We also present evidence that other cellular factors likely affect the transcriptional activity of ZEB. Lastly, we identify a ZEB-binding site within the promoter of the lytic BRLF1 gene of EBV. We postulate that ZEB likely plays an important role in regulating the life cycle of EBV.
Developing a Real-Time Track Display That Operators Do Not Hate

We formulate a method of estimating target states that minimizes the mean optimal subpattern assignment (MOSPA) metric, applied suboptimally to a multi-hypothesis tracker (MHT) and optimally to a particle filter. This gives the operator a display of the targets with reduced jitter and track switching.
N-demethylation of substituted 3-(phenyl)-1-methylureas: Isolation and characterization of a microsomal mixed function oxidase from cotton

Abstract A microsomal, mixed function oxidase that successively N -demethylates substituted 3-(phenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea substrates was isolated from etiolated cotton seedling hypocotyl extracts by differential and density gradient centrifugation. Active enzyme preparations were also isolated from leaves of cotton, plantain, buckwheat, wild buckwheat and broadbeans. The enzyme is located in the microsomal fraction of plant extracts and requires molecular oxygen and either NADPH or NADH as cofactors. The formation of 1 mole of formaldehyde for each mole of substrate demethylated was demonstrated with 14 C methyl-labeled substrate. The enzyme appears to be specific for substituted 3-(phenyl)-1-methylurea compounds, and the apparent K m values for three of these substrates were determined. Inhibition of the enzyme by carbon monoxide, ionic detergents, sulfhydryl reagents, chelating agents and electron acceptors, together with the demonstrated presence of a b 5 cytochrome and an active NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, are discussed as indirect evidence for a microsomal electron transport system in plants similar to those reported for animals. Several differences between the cotton N -demethylase and similar animal systems were also noted. These differences included a greater instability and a decreased sensitivity toward the insecticidal synergists 2,2-diethylaminoethyl-2,2-diphenylpentanoate (SKF 525-A) and 2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenoxy)-3,6,9-trioxoundecane (Sesamex). The inhibition of N -demethylase activity by several N-methylcarbamates was investigated and the apparent K i value for the competitive inhibition by 1-naphthylmethylcarbamate was determined.
Fault-tolerance in the network storage stack

This paper addresses the issue of fault-tolerance in applications that make use of network storage. A network storage abstraction called the Network Storage Stack is presented, along with its constituent parts. In particular, a data type called the exNode is detailed, along with tools that allow it to be used to implement a wide-area, striped and replicated file.Using these tools, we evaluate the fault-tolerance of several exNode "files," composed of variable-size blocks stored on 14 different machines at five locations throughout the United States. The results demonstrate that while failures in using network storage occur frequently, the tools built on the Network Storage Stack tolerate them gracefully, and with good performance.
The Molecular Biology of Axon Guidance

Neuronal growth cones navigate over long distances along specific pathways to find their correct targets. The mechanisms and molecules that direct this pathfinding are the topics of this review. Growth cones appear to be guided by at least four different mechanisms: contact attraction, chemoattraction, contact repulsion, and chemorepulsion. Evidence is accumulating that these mechanisms act simultaneously and in a coordinated manner to direct pathfinding and that they are mediated by mechanistically and evolutionarily conserved ligand-receptor systems.
Urbanization and wetland communities: applying metacommunity theory to understand the local and landscape effects

Summary 1. Urbanization is a growing threat to ecological communities and has become a leading cause of population extirpations in a wide range of taxa. Because the effects of urbanization are often multifaceted, identifying the pathways through which changes in communities occur has remained a persistent challenge. 2. We draw upon metacommunity theory to evaluate competing explanations for the effects of urbanization, focusing on the relative importance of processes at local (e.g. abiotic and biotic characteristics) and regional (e.g. habitat connectivity and dispersal) scales. Over 4 years, we sampled 201 wetlands in the Front Range region of Colorado, which is one of the most rapidly developing areas in the USA. 3. Wetlands embedded within urban areas exhibited significantly lower taxonomic richness and diversity compared to those in agricultural or grassland areas. Relative to grassland wetlands, urban wetlands supported a 60% lower richness of amphibians and aquatic reptiles and a 33% lower richness of aquatic insects, molluscs and crayfish. These patterns were associated with changes in biotic factors (introduced fishes and bullfrogs), abiotic factors (nutrients, conductivity and vegetation) and landscape characteristics (road density and surrounding wetland area). 4. The use of an information-theoretic approach and structural equation modelling suggested that the effects of urbanization on richness were mainly driven by changes in road density. Analyses of community composition indicated that discrete communities formed along the urban systems gradient, such that actively dispersing predators associated more negatively with urban system relative to herbivores with passive dispersal. 5. Synthesis and applications. These results highlight the importance of considering both local and regional factors in addressing conservation-related challenges and underscore the benefits of linking conceptual work on metacommunity theory with applied efforts to mitigate the effects of urbanization.
Parallel Lattice Boltzmann Flow Simulation on Emerging Multi-core Platforms

A parallel Lattice Boltzmann Method (pLBM), which is based on hierarchical spatial decomposition, is designed to perform large-scale flow simulations. The algorithm uses critical section-free, dual representation in order to expose maximal concurrency and data locality. Performances of emerging multi-core platforms--PlayStation3 (Cell Broadband Engine) and Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA)--are tested using the pLBM, which is implemented with multi-thread and message-passing programming. The results show that pLBM achieves good performance improvement, 11.02 for Cell over a traditional Xeon cluster and 8.76 for CUDA graphics processing unit (GPU) over a Sempron central processing unit (CPU). The results provide some insights into application design on future many-core platforms.
Prevalence of anemia among preadolescent and young adolescent urban black americans

A hematologic survey of 1,807 junior high school students in an urban area demonstrated a high incidence of anemia. Depending on the age of the student, the incidence of anemia among males ranged from 5.3 to 18.8 per cent and among females from 11.4 to 27.3 per cent. Analysis of red cell indices indicated that this anemia was hypochromic and microcytic and thus, presumably, a result of iron deficiency.
Biomimetic joint spatial-spectral pattern recognition

Most animals use color and shape to recognize things in their worlds. Shapes are properties of objects inferable from their 2D images. Colors are spectral discriminants computed by their brains using data sensed in 2-4 broad, spectrally overlapping bands. So color is not an object property. Both shape and color combine to make discrimination work well. I will describe Artificial Color and then ways to recognize an Artificially colored image.
Scaphoid proximal pole fractures and nonunions

Fractures and nonunions of the scaphoid are common and can present specific challenges for both diagnosis and treatment. We review the anatomy, cause, presentation, and various treatment options that may be considered by the surgeon, with a concentration on newer techniques.
Alterations in erythrocyte rheology in patients with severe peripheral vascular disease: 1. Cell volume dependence of erythrocyte rigidity.

The erythrocyte rigidity of patients suffering from severe peripheral vascular disease (PVD) was measured by a filtration method using 3 μm pore size filters. Filtration pressures for both PVD patients and normal subjects showed a cell volume dependency, and patient filtration pressures were normalized to cell volume to evaluate intrinsic, ie, nonvolume dependent, abnormalities in erythro cyte deformability. A signifcant (p < 0.001) increase in cell rigidity was found in 44 of 54 PVD patients in comparison with volume-matched normal controls. No significant difference was found between patient mean corpusculer hemoglobin (MCH) and normal MCH at any given mean corpuscular volume (MCV), indi cating that observed increases in erythrocyte rigidity are not attributable to changes in patient MCH. Therefore, the mechanism of increase in erythrocyte rigidity for PVD patients still needs further investigation into such parameters as levels of adenosine triphosphate,2,3-DPG, and membrane fluidity (calcium and/or pr...
Hybrid MPI-OpenMP Programming for Parallel OSEM PET Reconstruction

To improve the parallel efficiency (PE) of the ordered-subsets expectation-maximization (OSEM) algorithm for three-dimensional (3-D) positron emission tomography (PET) image reconstruction, we focused on reducing the computational imbalance among parallel processes and interprocess data exchange time which were the dominant limiting factors of PE when a large number of networked compute nodes were used. As clusters with multiple processors on each compute node have become increasingly common, we have aimed to take advantage of the load-balancing mechanism and the inherently lower latency of shared memory threads across processors within a single node. We, therefore, implemented the OSEM algorithm with a hybrid message passing interface (MPI) and OpenMP approach on the basis of a standard MPI implementation. The contributing components to the total reconstruction time for the hybrid technique were quantified and compared to that using only MPI. The hybrid MPI-OpenMP technique achieved a consistent PE improvement of approximately 7% to 17% compared to the pure MPI approach on the same number of compute nodes. As clusters of larger shared-memory multiprocessor (SMP) machines continue to become more cost effective, we expect this hybrid MPI-OpenMP approach to be increasingly valuable
Cloning and Characterization of a New Member of the Nudix Hydrolases from Human and Mouse

Abstract Proteins containing the Nudix box “GX 5EX 7REUXEEXGU” (where U is usually Leu, Val, or Ile) are Nudix hydrolases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of a variety of nucleoside diphosphate derivatives. Here we report cloning and characterization of a human cDNA encoding a novel nudix hydrolase NUDT5 for the hydrolysis of ADP-sugars. The deduced amino acid sequence of NUDT5 contains 219 amino acids, including a conserved Nudix box sequence. The recombinant NUDT5 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to near homogeneity. At the optimal pH of 7, the purified recombinant NUDT5 catalyzed hydrolysis of two major substrates ADP-ribose and ADP-mannose with K m values of 32 and 83 μm, respectively; the V max for ADP-mannose was about 1.5 times that with ADP-ribose. The murine NUDT5 homolog was also cloned and characterized. mNudT5 has 81% amino acid identity to NUDT5 with catalytic activities similar to NUDT5 under the optimal pH of 9. Both NUDT5 and mNudT5 transcripts were ubiquitously expressed in tissues analyzed with preferential abundance in liver. The genomic structures of both NUDT5 andmNudT5 were determined and located on human chromosome 10 and mouse chromosome 2, respectively. The role of NUDT5 in maintaining levels of free ADP-ribose in cells is discussed.
Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi Localization Sequences for Mammalian Target of Rapamycin

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) forms two complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, that play central roles in cell growth and functions. Only mTORC1 is directly inhibited by the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin. Despite recent progress in identifying new components and functions of the mTOR pathway, relatively little is known about the spatial arrangement of mTOR signaling and the underlying mechanisms. In a previous study, we showed that a large proportion of mTOR is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi in many common cell lines. Here, we report the identification of an internal mTOR sequence that contains two HEAT (HT) repeats, HT18 and HT19, and two intervening interunit spacers (IUSs), IUS17 and IUS18, which is sufficient to target enhanced green fluorescent protein to the Golgi. Surprisingly, deletion of IUS17 from this Golgi localization sequence (GLS) converts it to an ER localization sequence (ELS). Deletion of HT19, a common element of both GLS and ELS from the full-length mTOR, causes delocalization of mTOR and inhibits the ability of mTOR to promote S6 phosphorylation. Moreover, overexpression of GLS and ELS inhibits both mTOR complexes. Together, our results reveal unusual ER- and Golgi-targeting sequences and suggest that anchoring to these organelles is important for the functions of mTOR complexes.
The control of polarity along the anteroposterior axis in experimental chick limbs

Mesoderm from the posterior border of the developing limb is capable of inducing supernumerary limb outgrowth when transplanted to preaxial regions of host chick limb buds. The supernumerary limbs are always oriented with their posterior borders facing the transplant and for this reason limb tissue with this property is said to possess limb polarizing activity. Tissue excised from the preaxial border of 4-day wing buds, having the capacity to respond to this polarizing activity, will not develop without adjacent limb polarizing tissue after transplantation to the flank of a host embryo. With polarizing tissue adjacent to one end, the responding tissue grows into a normally polarized wing tip. The responding tissue also develops if transplanted to an intact host wing bud, though not if transplanted to a wing from which the source of polarizing activity has been removed. When it is transplanted to an intact wing with its anteroposterior axis corresponding to the hosts' it develops host polarity, but when its anteroposterior axis is perpendicular to the hosts', it develops without polarity, i.e., into a symmetrical wing tip. The results suggest that an anteroposterior gradient of polarizing activity, found in the normal wing bud, is necessary for the development of polarity in these experimentally induced limbs.
Herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus, the house guests who never leave

Human alphaherpesviruses including herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) establish persistent latent infection in sensory neurons for the life of the host. All three viruses have the potential to reactivate causing recurrent disease. Regardless of the homology between the different virus strains, the three viruses are characterized by varying pathologies. This review will highlight the differences in infection pattern, immune response, and pathogenesis associated with HSV-1 and VZV.
Limits on Inferring Genetic Adaptation to High Altitude in Himalayan and Andean Populations

Many physiological and anthropological studies have investigated the unique Andean and Himalayan populations that have resided for many hundreds of generations at high altitude (HA). A nonscientific survey of the extant literature reveals a relatively liberal tradition of inferring genetic (evolutionary) adaptation to HA in these groups, often based on limited evidence and/or based on study designs insufficient to fully address the issue. In order to provide some perspective, I review relevant methodological issues that should be considered before evolutionary inference is made. On the whole, this paper takes a conservative stance and cautions against evolutionary inference based on the serious limitations of currently applied research approaches.
Irradiation of primary human gliomas triggers dynamic and aggressive survival responses involving microvesicle signaling

Malignant gliomas are heterogeneous populations of dynamically interacting cells. Genomic and transcriptional changes define this cellular hierarchy and allow certain tumor cells to co-opt metabolic machinery and adopt gene expression profiles that promote cellular reprogramming. Resultant expansion of privileged subpopulations can then rapidly adapt to microenvironmental stress that ultimately influence tumor response to therapeutic intervention. In this study, primary gliomas were subjected to acute or chronic irradiation and analyzed for changes in survival parameters, oxidative stress, gene expression, and cell invasion before and after treatment with secreted microvesicles isolated from irradiated and nonirradiated glioma cells. We found that primary gliomas exposed to ionizing radiation undergo metabolic changes that increase oxidative stress, alter gene expression, and affect the contents of and response to cellular secreted microvesicles. Radiation-induced changes were exacerbated under chronic as compared to acute irradiation paradigms and promoted cellular reprogramming through enhanced expression of key transcription factors and regulators involved in differentiation and pluripotency (SOX2, POU3F2, SALL2, OLIG2, NANOG, POU5F1v1, MSI1). Irradiation also affected changes in paracrine signaling mediated by cellular secreted microvesicles that significantly altered target cell phenotype. Primary gliomas treated with microvesicles exhibited increased radioresistance and treatment with microvesicles from chronically irradiated gliomas promoted invasion via induction of increased matrix metalloproteinase II activity. Together, our data describe a complex radiation response of primary glioma cells involving metabolic and transcriptional changes that alter radiation sensitivity and induce invasive behavior. These important changes can contribute to tumor growth and recurrence, and confound interventions designed to forestall disease progression. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 57:405-415, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Critical visualization in landscape and urban planning: Making the invisible visible

In this commentary, I explore the notion of criticality presented in the three articles in this section of the special issue. I argue that the central concern of critical visualization is to make visible (reveal) the experiences of social groups whose concerns are largely invisible in contemporary discursive environment of landscape and urban planning.
The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator: state-of-the-art review

The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) provides therapy for the prevention of sudden cardiac death while avoiding the numerous complications associated with transvenous leads. This relatively novel device employs an innovative approach to sensing and defibrillation from outside of the thoracic cage. Substantial data from cohort studies and registries have accrued and can be used to inform patient eligibility, implant technique, and efficacy compared with the standard transvenous ICD. This review serves to update the clinician as to current evidence and the nuances involved in the optimal utilization of this innovative technology.
Pawnbrokers, Police, and Property Rights -- A Proposed Constitutional Balance

Imagine being a legitimate businessperson providing the valuable service of extending credit to individuals in the community who would not customarily receive credit. Further, imagine complying with all state laws regarding the business including a provision that requires you to maintain a detailed record noting all of the inventory of your business. Finally, suppose one day the police seize, retain, and ultimately dispose of a good portion of your inventory without providing you any compensation for the disposition. Life in the former Soviet Union or some Third World country? Unfortunately not. Events such as this are commonplace in many states; the unfortunate victims are pawnbrokers, who before the disposition had merely extended credit in the course of their business in return for taking an interest in the items which the police later seize and sell for their own benefit.Indeed, just as detailed above, in many jurisdictions state law requires “each and every pawnshop and pawnbroker...to keep a record showing in detail all property pawned with them.” The police often have access to these records and can require the pawnbroker to report all of the pawnbroker's transactions directly to them. The alleged purpose for this is “to assist law enforcement authorities in tracking down stolen goods, and to minimize the use of pawnbrokers as ‘fences.’”This common scenario implicates important due process concerns. To address these concerns, this article offers a solution to the due process issues raised by summary police seizure of pawnbrokers' property. In brief, this article suggests that a pawnbroker's interest in property disposed of by the police after their seizure should be preserved against everyone but a true owner who does not claim the proceeds of her insurance policy. Police departments should not profit from the seizure and disposition of property in a pawnbroker's possession. In formulating this solution, part I of this article asserts that present police practices involving the disposition of property from pawnbrokers are inherently unconstitutional. Part II, in turn, contends that police officers are personally liable for disposing of the property of pawnbrokers without due process. Finally, part III advocates a novel statutory solution which, as detailed below, accommodates the interests of the relevant parties.
Laboratory Measurements of Resistivity And Velocity For Fontainebleau Sandstones.

The objective of this study was to experimentally revisit the relations among the resistivity, elastic-wave velocity, porosity, and permeability in Fontainebleau sandstone samples from the Ile de France region, around Paris, France. In our resistivity measurements, we partially saturated the samples with brine. We used Archie’s equation to estimate resistivity at 100% water saturation, assuming a saturation exponent of 2. Using self-consistent approximations (SC) modeling with grain aspect ratio 1, and pore aspect ratio between 0.02 and 0.10, the experimental data fall into this theoretical range. The SC curve with the pore aspect ratio 0.05 appears to be close to the values measured in the entire porosity range. We also measured elastic-wave velocity on these dry samples for confining pressure between 0 and 40 MPa. We used a loading and unloading cycle and did not find any significant hysteresis in the velocity-pressure behavior. For the velocity data, using the self-consistent model with a grain aspect ratio 1 and pore aspect ratios 0.2, 0.1, and 0.05 fit our data at 40 MPa, while pores aspect ratios ranging between 0.1, 0.05, and 0.02 are a better fit for the data at 0 MPa. Both velocity and resistivity in clean sandstones can be modeled using SC approximation. In addition, we found a linear fit between the P-wave velocity and the decimal logarithm of the normalized resistivity, with deviations that correlate with differences in permeability.
Uncommon(ly Considered) Manifestations of Infection with Rhinovirus, Agent of the Common Cold

The first human rhinovirus was isolated '50 years ago from a person with a mild upper respiratory illness, and since that time, >100 serotypes have been identified. Experimental studies in human infection performed in the past 40 years have demonstrated that inoculation of a healthy susceptible adult with human rhinovirus leads to a self-limited upper respiratory tract illness, also known as the common cold. Epidemiologic studies have identified human rhinovirus as the most frequent cause of the common cold. Human rhinovirus infection causes >50% of colds in adults, and the prevalence may be >80% during the autumn season [1]. During the past 3 decades, human rhinovirus infection has been associated with a number of other clinical syndromes. These include bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children <5 years of age, exacerbations of asthma in older children and adults, exacerbations of chronic lung and heart disease in elderly adults, and pneumonia in immunocompromised patients [2-5]. Human rhinovirus infection in
Improved Nickel Silicide Ohmic Contacts to N-Type 4H and 6H-SiC Using Nichrome

Results are reported for ohmic contacts formed on n-type 4H and 6H-SiC using nichrome (80/20 weight percent Ni/Cr). In comparison to contacts formed on 6H-SiC using pure Ni, the electrical characteristics of these NiCr contacts are similar (~ 1E-5 Ω-cm2 for moderately doped material), and composite Au/NiCr contacts exhibit good stability during long-term anneals (~ 2500 hr) at 300 C without the requirement of a diffusion barrier layer between the ohmic contact layer and the Au cap layer. The use of NiCr also results in success rates near 100% for direct wire bonding to the Au cap layers.
Muscular Anatomy of the Anterior Abdomen

The author describes the anatomy of anterior abdominal wall from exterior to interior: the skin, superficial fascia, deep fascia, external and internal abdominal oblique, transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, and pyramidalis, as well as the transversalis fascia and vasculature.
Effect of soil nematode disease control, Rudong County

Objective To evaluate the effect of comprehensive prevention and control of nematode disease from soil source in Rudong, to provide basis for the prevention and control strategy. Methods Since 1995, we implemented a comprehensive intervention on soil transmitted nematode disease, including taking deworming, health education, improving drinking water and lavatories and other measures. Through the soil nematode infection rate of residents, the compliance rate of health behavior and health knowledge awareness rate were used to evaluate the effect of prevention and cure. Results During 1995-2013, a total of2724500 person times of chemotherapy were implemented, with tap water rate of 99.16%, rural latrine coverage rate of 95.50%, rose from 45.07% in 2013 from the baseline of 96.51% in 1996. The difference was statistically significant(χ2=348.79, P0.01). Health behavior compliance rate rose from 55.38% in 1996 to 96.32% in 2013, and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=247.44,P 0.01). The infection rate of soil nematode was 0.15% in 2013, 99.79% lower than 73.27% in 1989, and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=2786.30, P0.01). Conclusion Through the implementation of the integrated control strategy and related measures in Rudong, we effective controled of soil transmitted nematode disease epidemic.
The holy grail of surgical quality improvement : Process measures or risk-adjusted outcomes?

Quality of care in surgery has garnered increased attention. Focus on the structure, processes of care, and use of risk-adjusted outcomes has offered different possible solutions. Volume-outcome studies have consistently demonstrated relationships between higher surgeon and hospital volume and favorable outcomes. The policy implications for quality improvement remain unclear. Recent efforts have focused on the use of risk-adjusted outcomes, such as the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, to drive quality improvement. Conversely, large efforts, mandated by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, have focused on process measures, such as perioperative complication prevention. For the future of surgical quality improvement, the combination of process measures and risk-adjusted outcomes are essential. It is only through the combined use of improved understanding of the relationship of processes of care and outcomes that we will make surgical care safer and improve quality.
Long history of itchy red-brown papules.

A 63-year old man presents with a longstanding history of a recurring, minimally pruritic eruption on the trunk and neck. It is most obvious in the summertime, but never disappears completely, even in the winter months.
Enhancing the Angular Sensitivity of Plasmonic Sensors Using Hyperbolic Metamaterials.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors operate mainly on prism and grating coupling techniques, with spectral and angular scans being the two major interrogation schemes. Among them, the angular scan technique has several advantages including higher measurement precision owing to its higher signal-to-noise ratio. The currently available SPR sensor arrangements provide a maximum angular sensitivity of 500°–600° per RIU. Here, we report the study of grating coupled-hyperbolic metamaterial (GC-HMM) sensors with high angular sensitivity. The experimental studies show extraordinary angular sensitivities from visible to near infrared (NIR) wavelengths by exciting bulk plasmon polaritons associated with hyperbolic metamaterials, with a maximum of 7000° per RIU. This angular-scan plasmonic biosensor has been used for the detection of low molecular weight biomolecules such as biotin (244 Da) and high molecular weight macromolecules such as Cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV, 5.6 × 106 Da) at ultralow concentrations. The miniaturized sensing device can be integrated with microfluidic systems for the development of next-generation biosensors for lab-on-a-chip and point-of-care applications.
The Coase Theorem and the Study of Law and Economics

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the Coasian analysis, primarily through an interpretation of the positive analytic meaning and significance of the so-called neutrality theorem, the probative value of its nonnative message and its place in the study of law and economics. Among other things, the chapter will show that the theorem is a very limited partial-equilibrium proposition which concentrates upon certain variables to the exclusion of others which dominate the actual operation of those included, thereby giving effect to certain variables even while seemingly abstracting from them. Thus, when all the important variables are considered, the thrust of the theorem is shown to be not only incomplete, imprecise and ambiguous, but also reversed.
The Clash of Civilizations

“The Muslim situation is so desperate. I would gladly give my life for their cause.” These were the chilling words of my dinner companion on a balmy spring evening at an elegant upscale restaurant in Amman. A seasoned diplomat in smart attire, complete with pink silk tie and handkerchief, this former Iraqi ambassador, now head of a major Arab think tank, spoke in measured and quiet tones shaped by years of service, making his message all the more forlorn: “I have nothing to live for. I have lost my culture, my homeland, my honor. I have lost my religion.”
Going with the Flow: Predicting Online Purchase Intentions

A theoretical model that combines flow theory with the Theory of Reasoned Action is proposed and empirically tested. Data was gathered via a sample survey, which was completed by 342 undergraduate college students. Two-phase structural equation modeling was utilized to verify construct validity and test proposed relationships. The study establishes the psychological state of flow as an important independent variable influencing both Web exploratory behavior and attitude toward purchasing online. In turn, attitude toward purchasing online was found to influence behavioral intentions to engage in online purchase transactions. Exploratory behavior was also identified as an independent variable exerting a significant effect on online purchasing attitude. The resultant model explains 60% of individuals' intentions to make purchases online. Key theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
Citrus flavonoid naringenin reduces mammary tumor cell viability, adipose mass, and adipose inflammation in obese ovariectomized mice.

cope Obesity-related metabolic dysregulation may be a link between obesity and postmenopausal breast cancer. Naringenin, a flavonoid abundant in grapefruits, displays beneficial effects on metabolic health and tumorigenesis. Here, we assessed the effects of naringenin on mammary tumor cell growth in vitro and in obese ovariectomized mice. Methods and results Naringenin inhibited cell growth, increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), down-regulated CyclinD1 expression, and induced cell death in E0771 mammary tumor cells. Obese ovariectomized mice were fed a high-fat (HF), high-fat diet with low naringenin (LN; 1% naringenin) or high-fat diet with high naringenin (HN; 3% naringenin) for 2 weeks and then implanted with E0771 cells in mammary adipose tissue. Three weeks after tumor cell implantation, naringenin accumulation in tumor was higher than that in mammary adipose tissue in HN mice. HN decreased body weight, adipose mass, adipocyte size, α-smooth muscle actin mRNA in mammary adipose tissue, and mRNA of inflammatory cytokines in both mammary and perigonadal adipose tissues. Compared with mice fed HF diet, HN delayed growth of tumors early but did not alter final tumor weight. Conclusion Naringenin reduces adiposity and ameliorates adipose tissue inflammation, with a moderate inhibitory effect on tumor growth in obese ovariectomized mice.
Polymer-Enhanced Capillary Transient Isotachophoresis with Boronic Acid-Functionalized Squarylium Dyes for the Fluorescent Determination of Digoxin and Digoxigenin

ABSTRACTHere is reported a new application of polymer-enhanced capillary transient isotachophoresis for the separation and quantification of the drug digoxin and its primary metabolite digoxigenin coupled with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection facilitated by labeling with two boronic acid-functionalized squarylium dyes of different alkyl side chain lengths, SQ-BA1 and SQ-BA2. The conditions for drug–dye complex formation were optimized, as determined by absorbance and fluorescence spectra, according to solution pH and buffer composition. As digoxin has a digitoxose sugar moiety in its structure, it was shown to exhibit better enhancement in the fluorescence intensity of both dyes than digoxigenin, which lacks this moiety, presumably through the formation of a cyclic boronate ester complex. A comparison of analyte labeling in pre-column and on-column modes was conducted in subsequent capillary electrophoresis-LIF studies, with the latter labeling mode yielding superior sensitivity. However, to ach...
A test of the delayed oak dominance hypothesis at mid-rotation in developing upland stands

Abstract Red maple often dominates tree regeneration following the harvest of upland oak stands in eastern North America. An open question is whether the oak component of the new stands will eventually reassert dominance (delayed oak dominance hypothesis) or whether red maple will succeed as a major, new overstory component on these sites (red maple dominance hypothesis). We examined changes between the 3rd and 4th decades of growth (mean interval 13 years) in 46 stands on formerly oak-dominated sites in the Blue Ridge (BlRi), Ridge and Valley (RiVa), and Appalachian Plateau (ApPl) physiographic provinces of the central Appalachians. Almost without exception, the new stands in their 4th decade (mean age 38 yrs) had less oak and more red maple than did their predecessors. All ApPl stands had failed to develop a substantial component of oak early in stand development, and most were dominated by red maple in their 4th decade. Most BlRi stands had become dominated by oak by their 4th decade, and changes between the 3rd and 4th decades show that oak is progressively becoming more dominant by displacing the relatively minor component of red maple that remains. The success of oak was generally intermediate in the RiVa, where red maple retained an approximately co-equal position of dominance with oak between the 3rd and 4th decades and in some stands advanced in dominance against oak. We suggest a nuanced interpretation of delayed oak dominance as an emergent and contingent property of individual trees and their neighborhoods. Both this and red maple dominance accurately describe developmental trajectories that are co-occurring in most of our stands, with one predominating over the other depending upon physiographic region and site-related characteristics. In general, development favored oaks where growth rates were slower and where species composition was more xerophytic. Red maple was favored on better sites, where delayed oak dominance appears to be a longer and ultimately less successful process.
Induction of Interferon Kappa in Human Papillomavirus 16 Infection by Transforming Growth Factor Beta-Induced Promoter Demethylation

Persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the major causal factor in cervical and other anogenital cancers. Because there are currently no therapeutics capable of preventing neoplastic progression of HPV infections, understanding the mechanisms of HPV-mediated persistence, including immune evasion, is a major research priority. The multifunctional growth factor transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) has been shown to inhibit expression of early viral transcripts from cells harboring integrated HPV genomes or cells infected with retroviruses expressing HPV oncoproteins. However, the mechanism of TGFβ-induced inhibition has not been fully defined. In this study, we have observed a previously uncharacterized ability of TGFβ to repress the differentiation-induced upregulation of late HPV16 gene expression. In addition, interferon kappa (IFN-κ), a keratinocyte-specific, constitutively expressed cytokine suppressed by differentiation, can be transcriptionally induced by TGFβ1. TGFβ-mediated IFN-κ transcription only occurs in cells containing HPV16, and this is due to TGFβ1-mediated reversal of HPV-induced methylation of the IFN-κ promoter through active DNA demethylation mediated by thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG). This novel interaction between growth factor and innate immune signaling may shed light on the mechanisms of HPV persistence and how the virus manipulates both immune and growth factor signaling to promote its life cycle.IMPORTANCE Persistent infection by high-risk HPVs is the primary risk factor for development of HPV-induced cancers. Persistence involves viral evasion of the immune response, including the IFN response. HPV is also known to suppress TGFβ signaling, which inhibits viral gene expression. Here, we show that the TGFβ and IFN pathways are interrelated in the context of HPV16 infection through the upregulation of IFN-κ by TGFβ. The ability of TGFβ to induce IFN-κ promoter demethylation and transcriptional activation provides a new explanation for why HPV has evolved mechanisms to inhibit TGFβ in infected cells.
DEVELOPMENTAL CONTROL OF A CALCIUM-REGULATING NEUROENDOCRINE GENE

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on alternative RNA processing events operate in a tissue-specific, developmentally regulated fashion in the neuroendocrine system to produce alternative, discrete polypeptide products serving to further increase the diversity required to subserve the biological demands of complex organisms. The similarity of the alternative RNA processing events in genes of the neuroendocrine system with those of other families of eukaryotic genes suggest that common underlying biochemical mechanisms may operate in this form of regulated expression of many eukaryotic transcription units. Using an antisera generated against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the 14 C1-terminal amino acids of Calcitonin Gene-Related Product (CGRP), immunoreactive CGRP was identified in a unique distribution in a large number of cell groups and pathways in the central nervous system distinct from that of any known neuropeptide. The possible existence of other gene products related to CGRP was investigated by screening libraries of chimaeric plasmids containing inserts complementary to mRNAs from rat medullary thyroid carcinomas with a clonal alpha-CGRP cDNA probe. Sequence- or site-specific poly(A) site selection, or choice of splice acceptor were considered as the alternative regulated event that accounts for the developmentally-regulated RNA processing events resulting in CGRP production.
Gene Transfer Mechanisms, Population Genetics/Genomics and the Evolution of Haloarchaea

The Halobacteriales were once classified with the Pseudomonadales due to their aerobic, heterotrophic, non-spore forming, and rod-shaped morphological characteristics. Today we know them as Archaea belonging to a distinct order within the Euryarchaeota, the Halobacteria, which appear to have methanogens as an evolutionary sister group. Molecular phylogeny led to this reclassification, and also to a realization of remarkable genetic diversity within haloarchaeal taxa. Over the past few decades, and even more so recently, it has become clear that Halobacteria (referred to as haloarchaea in this chapter) have mechanisms for acquiring genetic information through lateral gene transfer (LGT). Further, we present evidence indicating the evolutionary history of haloarchaea is riddled with gene transfer events and homologous recombination, and discuss the impact of LGT on the evolution of this halophilic group.
Modelling and parameter estimation for distributed vibratory systems

Abstract : Citing data collected and analyzed with the University of Wisconsin MIPAC (Modelling, Information Processing and Control) Facility electronic measurement and analysis equipment, the investigators make some general comments concerning mathematical models which appear to be appropriate for modelling certain vibratory systems of distributed parameter type. Aspects discussed include: location of vibrational spectra, damping rates, and spectral displacement due to mass density and/or elasticity variations. Particular emphasis is placed on some properties of segmented beams. The article ends with a preliminary mathematical discussion of the feasibility of parameter identification, from vibrational spectrum data alone, in the wave and Euler-Bernoulli beam equations.
Coping with the Crisis: Academic Work and Changes in Greek Higher Education

Reforms over the last decade were an effort by the state to regulate the quality and effectiveness of Greek public universities. Concurrent with the introduction of these reforms, the austere economic crisis and the current political unrest in Greece are perceived to affect academic work. The objective of this chapter is to present changes in academic work in Greece, as derived from the laws, and discuss challenges that academics face resulting from higher education laws and the economic crisis. The data consists of documents and interviews with academics from 16 disciplines in one large university (N = 23). Under such changing circumstances, this small study shows that academics, especially those with more than 25 years of work at this university, work hard to keep the university open and help students to complete their degree.
Metaphor and Analogy

There seems little reason to doubt that within the Thomist tradition it is assumed that a metaphor is one thing, an analogous term another, and that while metaphor is justifiable—certainly in poetry, but as well if for different reasons in Scripture—it is, generally speaking, something the philosopher should take pains to avoid, since it can vitiate arguments and obscure issues. St Thomas himself often characterizes the metaphor as improper usage, thereby of course opposing it to proper usage. The question arises, however, when we consider the texts carefully, whether metaphor is opposed to the analogous name or whether proper and improper usage of the kind at issue are subtypes of something more commodious embracing them both; that is, it appears from a reading of some texts that St Thomas does not so much oppose metaphor to analogy as that he contrasts the analogous usage which is metaphorical because improper to the analogous usage which is proper. Cajetan’s division of analogy of proportionality into proper and improper responds to this suggestion of St Thomas, and if the great commentator tends to regard metaphor as someting less than a full-fledged analogy, well surely that does not mean that it is in no way an analogy.1