cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trends in Periprosthetic Knee Infection and Associated Costs: A Population-Based Study Using National Data.

Given increasing demand for primary knee arthroplasties, revision surgery is also expected to increase, with periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) a main driver of costs. Recent data on national trends is lacking. We aimed to assess trends in PJI in total knee arthroplasty revisions and hospitalization costs. From the National Inpatient Sample (2003–2016), we extracted data on total knee arthroplasty revisions (n = 782,449). We assessed trends in PJI prevalence and (inflation-adjusted) hospitalization costs (total as well as per-day costs) for all revisions and stratified by hospital teaching status (rural/urban by teaching status), hospital bed size (≤299, 300–499, and ≥500 beds), and hospital region (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West). The Cochran–Armitage trend test (PJI prevalence) and linear regression determined significance of trends. PJI prevalence overall was 25.5% (n = 199,818) with a minor increasing trend: 25.3% (n = 7,828) in 2003 to 28.9% (n = 19,275) in 2016; p
Encapsulated Sb and Sb2O3 particles in waste-tire derived carbon as stable composite anodes for sodium-ion batteries

A conductive network of waste-tire derived carbon (WTC) was used to produce homogeneous Sb/WTC and Sb2O3/WTC composite materials via ball milling as promising anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Highly reversible redox peaks at 0.81/0.71, 0.25 V for Sb/WTC and 0.80/0.76, 0.21/0.26 V for Sb2O3/WTC anodes have been observed related to Na+ intercalation and deintercalation in carbon and Na–Sb and Na3Sb as plausible conversion/alloy reactions. Sodium half-cells delivered reversible discharge capacities of 206 mA h g−1 and 207 mA h g−1 at a current density of 37 mA g−1 for the composite Sb/WTC and Sb2O3/WTC materials, respectively. Both the Sb/WTC and Sb2O3/WTC composite materials showed impressive capacity retention with 85% and 88%, respectively after 100 cycles. Rate capability studies at 60 °C yielded an enhanced capacity of 240 mA h g−1 for Sb/WTC and 300 mA h g−1 for Sb2O3/WTC at 37 mA g−1.
Magnetoelectricity beyond saturation

A 1–3 strain-mediated multiferroic composite structure is discovered to exhibit unusual increase in magnetoelectric coupling at unprecedented levels of bias magnetic field, above those required for peak magneto-mechanical response and magnetic saturation. This connectivity scheme provides a path for the novel integration of composite multiferroics in high magnetic field applications.
How Change Unravels: The Failure of Ideal-centered Organizational Change at Regional Comprehensive Universities

This multiple-case study examined the factors promoting or impeding ideal-centered change efforts focused on reclaiming the founding civic commitments of three Regional Comprehensive Universities. ...
Defining the dose-volume criteria for laryngeal sparing in locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer utilizing split-field IMRT, whole-field IMRT and VMAT.

PURPOSE To determine the optimal dose-volume constraint for laryngeal sparing using three commonly employed intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) approaches in patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated to the bilateral neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty patients with stage II-IVA oropharynx cancers received definitive radiotherapy with split-field IMRT (SF-IMRT) to the bilateral neck between 2008 and 2013. Each case was re-planned using whole-field IMRT (WF-IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and plan quality metrics and dose to laryngeal structures was evaluated. Two larynx volumes were defined and compared on the current study: the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) larynx as defined per the RTOG 1016 protocol and the MDACC larynx defined as the components of the larynx bounded by the superior and inferior extent of the thyroid cartilage. RESULTS Target coverage, conformity, and heterogeneity indices were similar in all techniques. The RTOG larynx mean dose was lower with WF-IMRT than SF-IMRT (22.1 vs 25.8 Gy; P < 0.01). The MDACC larynx mean dose was 17.5 Gy ± 5.4 Gy with no differences between the 3 techniques. WF-IMRT and VMAT plans were associated with lower mean doses to the supraglottic larynx (42.1 vs 41.2 vs 54.8 Gy; P < 0.01) and esophagus (18.1 vs 18.2 vs 36 Gy; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Modern whole field techniques can provide effective laryngeal sparing in patients receiving radiotherapy to the bilateral neck for advanced oropharyngeal cancers. SUMMARY We evaluated laryngeal dose in patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer treated to the bilateral neck using split-field IMRT (SF-IMRT), whole-field IMRT (WF-IMRT) and volumetric arc therapy (VMAT). All three techniques provided good sparing of laryngeal structures and were able to achieve a mean larynx dose < 33 Gy. There were no significant differences in dose to target structures or non-laryngeal organs at risk among techniques.
Functional importance and diversity of fungi during standing grass litter decomposition

Although microbial participation in litter decomposition is widely known within terrestrial soils, the role and significance of microorganisms during the aerial standing litter phase of decomposition remains poorly investigated. We examined the fungi inhabiting standing leaf litter of Schizachyrium scoparium and Schizachyrium tenerum in a Longleaf Pine savanna ecosystem and estimated their contribution to litter decomposition. We identified fungal phylotypes associated with leaf litter and quantified leaf C mass loss, fungal biomass production, and microbial respiration during decomposition. These data were used to construct budgets estimating C flow into and through fungi. Significant losses in S. scoparium (55%) and S. tenerum (67%) leaf C mass were observed during standing decomposition along with concomitant increases in fungal biomass, which reached a maximum of 36 and 33 mgC/g detrital C, respectively. Cumulative fungal production during decomposition totaled 99 ± 6 mgC/g initial detrital C in S. scoparium and 73 ± 5 mgC/g initial detrital C in S. tenerum, indicating that 18 and 11% of the litter C was converted into fungal biomass, respectively. Corresponding estimates of cumulative fungal respiration totaled 106 ± 7 and 174 ± 11 mgC/g initial detrital C in S. scoparium and S. tenerum, respectively. Next generation sequencing identified several fungal phylotypes, with the majority of sequences belonging to the Ascomycota (Dothideomycetes) and Basidiomycota (Agaricomycetes). Fungal phylotypes were similar between litter species and changed over time, showing a successional pattern. These findings extend our understanding of fungal processes to standing litter in terrestrial ecosystems, and highlight the quantitative importance of fungi in C cycling processes.
Comparison of AIRS and CrIS SNPP and JPSS radiometry between 2018 and 2021

Aqua-AIRS data have been available now for almost 20 years, Suomi-NPP CrIS for 9 years, and JPSS1 CrIS for 4 years. The three instruments satisfy nearly identical functional requirements, and are in very similar polar orbits. However, there are differences in the design, spatial scan pattern and sun-angle, in addition to absolute calibration differences. We compared AIRS, CrIS SNPP and CrIS JPSS data for the 1148 days between 20180217 and 20210430 for the 900 cm-1 channel under clear and random sampled tropical ocean, tropical land, and Arctic conditions. Although JPSS and SNPP are identical designs, the difference between JPSS and SNPP are as large as the differences relative to AIRS. For the day and night tropical ocean at typically 295K and for night tropical land and under the Arctic conditions (265K typical), averaged over all scan angles, detector elements and time, AIRS, JPSS and SNPP agree within 100 mK. Under Antarctic and Antarctic conditions, the difference between JPSS and AIRS and SNPP and AIRS are on average 200 mK, but with a much larger summer/winter correlated pattern. For clear tropical day (318K), AIRS is 500 mK warmer than JPSS, but 150 mK colder than SNPP. The three instruments find 40% fewer clear cases at night than during the day. With JPSS we find 3% fewer clear cases than with AIRS, 9% more than with SNPP day and night. Differences seen in the past three years in the AIRS, SNPP and JPSS data are calibration artifacts. Unless corrected in the construction of merged AIRS/SNPP/JPSS and follow-on time series, they will complicate the interpretation of trends potentially related to climate change.
Varieties of epistemic risk

My interest is in how shifting from an anti-luck epistemology to an anti-risk epistemology can enable us to make sense of some important epistemic phenomena. After rehearsing the more general arguments for preferring anti-risk epistemology over its anti-luck cousin, I argue that a further advantage of this transition lies in how it puts us in a better position to understand certain trade-offs with regard to epistemic risk. In particular, there can be ways of forming beliefs that are epistemically low risk along one axis of evaluation while being epistemically high risk along another axis of evaluation. I further show how this idea plays out in terms of collaborative inquiries, where the framework provided by anti-risk epistemology enables us to understand how epistemic risk can be distributed across such a collective enterprise and thereby effectively managed.
Optimism Amid Despair: How to Avoid a Net-Zero Debacle:

Corporate net-zero carbon emission pledges abound and so does skepticism about the results they could deliver. Three approaches proposed here can ensure these pledges alleviate, rather than aggrava...
UDIS: Unsupervised Discovery of Bias in Deep Visual Recognition Models

Deep learning models have been shown to learn spurious correlations from data that sometimes lead to systematic failures for certain subpopulations. Prior work has typically diagnosed this by crowdsourcing annotations for various protected attributes and measuring performance, which is both expensive to acquire and difficult to scale. In this work, we propose UDIS, an unsupervised algorithm for surfacing and analyzing such failure modes. UDIS identifies subpopulations via hierarchical clustering of dataset embeddings and surfaces systematic failure modes by visualizing low performing clusters along with their gradient-weighted class-activation maps. We show the effectiveness of UDIS in identifying failure modes in models trained for image classification on the CelebA and MSCOCO datasets.
Shape matters: morphological metrics of glioblastoma imaging abnormalities as biomarkers of prognosis.

Lacunarity, a quantitative morphological measure of how shapes fill space, and fractal dimension, a morphological measure of the complexity of pixel arrangement, have shown relationships with outcome across a variety of cancers. However, the application of these metrics to glioblastoma (GBM), a very aggressive primary brain tumor, has not been fully explored. In this project, we computed lacunarity and fractal dimension values for GBM-induced abnormalities on clinically standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In our patient cohort (n = 402), we connect these morphological metrics calculated on pretreatment MRI with the survival of patients with GBM. We calculated lacunarity and fractal dimension on necrotic regions (n = 390), all abnormalities present on T1Gd MRI (n = 402), and abnormalities present on T2/FLAIR MRI (n = 257). We also explored the relationship between these metrics and age at diagnosis, as well as abnormality volume. We found statistically significant relationships to outcome for all three imaging regions that we tested, with the shape of T2/FLAIR abnormalities that are typically associated with edema showing the strongest relationship with overall survival. This link between morphological and survival metrics could be driven by underlying biological phenomena, tumor location or microenvironmental factors that should be further explored.
The Logic of (Mis)Behavior: Peer Socialization through Assessments among Zinacantec Youth

Resumen Este estudio examina la socializacion parietaria a traves de la construccion social de juicios morales entre un grupo de muchachas adolescentes Mayas Zinacantecas. En el analizo como los cambios sociales en Zinacantan, que proporcionan a las mujeres y muchachas mas oportunidades y tambien nuevas responsabilidades, crean un medioambiente para la socializacion paritaria de los adolescentes, y como los interlocutores usan narrativas morales sobre eventos particulares para adaptar, discutir y construir normas de comportamiento que seran aceptables para sus companeras. El enfoque de este estudio es el uso estrategico de argumentos entimematicos, es decir, de argumentos que contienen como premisas implicitas normas culturales sobre el comportamiento de las mujeres Zinacantecas. Por medio de relatos colaborativos y de criticas, ellas interpretan reglas sociales sobre la feminidad moderna, y formulan argumentos complejos para persuadir a sus companeras que ciertas acciones sociales son (o no son) aceptables para una mujer Zinacanteca.
Can diatoms sense surfaces? State of our knowledge

When pennate diatoms adhere they do so by the secretion of an adhesive polymer. By the use of chemosensing leading to directed motility as an analogous system, potential sources of extracellular signals for this secretion have been examined. Evidence has accumulated that sensing of simple sugars (D‐glucose, D‐mannose) involves specific receptors and a Ca2+ flux. The evidence is discussed in terms of a receptor‐controlled secretion model for diatom adhesion. Means by which surfaces may be sensed by diatoms are proposed. It may be possible to design antifoulant molecules that interfere with surface‐sensing by binding to chemosensory receptors.
The Laser Rangefinder on the near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous spacecraft

Abstract In 1999, the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission will place a spacecraft with five facility instruments, including the NEAR Laser Rangefinder (NLR), into a low-altitude (~50 km) orbit about the asteroid 433 Eros. The NLR is a high-fidelity altimeter capable of 31.5-cm resolution and
Enabling IPv6 within a campus network

IPv6 is a mature IP protocol technology that is supported by all major operating systems and carried by academic backbones such as Internet2. This paper reports on the deployment of this protocol at Auburn University. The deployment draws on experiences gained from other universities associated with 6NET [1] and Euro6IX projects [2]. It reports on problems encountered and those yet unsolved.
The Net Neutrality Debate in the United States

ABSTRACT In 2006, a major telecommunications bill was held up because it did not include guarantees for something called “net neutrality.” Republicans strongly opposed these guarantees, while Democrats strongly favored them. The debate over net neutrality continued during the long campaign leading up to the 2008 presidential election. When the Obama Administration took office in 2009, the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski revived the idea of codifying net neutrality rules. In April 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the FCC did not have the authority to regulate Internet service providers under its own interpretation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The FCC adopted a new strategy because of the Court's action. It opted not to undertake a major revision of the Telecommunications Act, but instead to attempt to regulate Internet service provision under modified “common carriage” rules, just as basic telephone services h...
Does in-hive pollen transfer by honey bees contribute to cross-pollination and seed set in hybrid cotton?

Deux colonies d'abeilles (Apis mellifera L) placees le long de champs de coton de 0,16 ha ont ete utilisees en 1988 et 1989 pour etudier la pollinisation du cotonnier (Gossypium sp). Deux rangees de cotonnier mâle-fertile (MF) cotoyaient 8 rangees de cotonnier mâle-sterile (sterilite mâle cytoplasmique CMS). En 1991 le dispositif de culture comportait 2 rangs de MF pour 4 rangs de CMS. Les abeilles butineuses et les fleurs de cotonnier MF et CMS ont ete comptees 2 fois par j, a 8 h et 11 h, durant toute la floraison, quand les conditions meteorologiques etaient favorables. Les comptages d'abeilles ont ete exprimes en nombre d'abeilles par 100 fleurs
A treatment of errors of estimation in determining optimum machining conditions

Abstract The effect of errors of parameter estimation in determining the conventional minimum cost cutting speed (Vmin) is analyzed. The result is a correction factor for modifying Vmin and taking into account the effect of errors of estimation. The correction factor is a function of the experimental error and cutting conditions of the tool-life tests, and Taylor's tool-life exponent n.
The ultrastructure of Trisaccites pollen from the cretaceous of southern Argentina

Abstract Compressed cones of the podocarpaceous taxon Trisacocladus tigrensis Archangelsky collected from the Baquero Formation (Santa Cruz Province) contain both immature and mature pollen of the Trisaccites -type. Grains are circular to subtriangular, trisaccate and range to approximately 35 μm in diameter. The sporoderm is three-parted consisting of an outer columnar ectosexine and inner alveolar endosexine; a delicate, non-lamellate nexine is present. Features of the sporoderm are described and compared with those of extant and other fossil podocarpaceous pollen grains preserved in situ .
Efficient Monte Carlo Simulation of Heat Conduction Problems for Integrated Multi-Physics Applications

A new robust Monte Carlo approach is developed and proposed for solving heat conduction problems. This method is very beneficial when implemented within integrated multiscale physical systems where the use of linear equations solvers is limited due to low scalability and the requirement of large memory for data storage. The developed method is based on introducing virtual “thermal particles” and has the potential of wide capabilities in various complex multidimensional simulations in plasma physics and other applications. The numerical results show good agreement with analytical methods as well as other numerical solutions.
A knowledge-based expert system for auditing advanced computer systems☆

Abstract The complexity of modern computer auditing requires an effective decision support system that should (1) be highly flexible, (2) have the capability for incorporating important qualitative components, (3) be able to utilize a network of decision rules in describing a complex system of internal controls, and (4) be able to converse with the auditor in a meaningful way. The system should help the auditor recall and evaluate evidence about a client's computer system in order to reach well founded conclusions about the system's reliability. This paper introduced the concept of utilizing an ‘expert system’ as a decision support tool for the computer audit specialist. A prototype expert system based on existing technology is illustrated. While this system is still in its early stages of development, important insights are yielded.
RELIABILITY-BASED DESIGN OF REINFORCED EARTH RETAINING WALLS

Reliability of an earth structure can be assessed from the knowledge of the governing probability distribution and its related statistical parameters, namely, the mean and variance. In this study, the mean and variance for the design parameters (width and length of the reinforcing ties) of reinforced earth retaining walls supporting sandy soils are determined using the first-order Taylor series approximation. Design diagrams that enable estimation of both mean and variance also are developed to avoid extensive computations that involve partial differentiation. Errors associated with truncating second-order terms are also evaluated. It is found that for soils with moderately variable physical parameters, the first-order approximation is adequate for estimating both the mean and variance.
Re-evaluation of glucagon1–6: The N-terminal hexapeptide of glucagon is not biologically active in the hepatic adenylate cyclase system

The N-terminal hexapeptide of glucagon and the corresponding carboxamide analog, were prepared by solid-phase synthesis and tested for biological activity in the hepatic adenylate cyclase system. Both peptides were found to be inactive, even at concentrations of 10 mM. The differences observed in the activity of our compounds compared to previous reports, is ascribed to the presence of a contaminant found in earlier preparations which activates adenylate cyclase.
Architectures for Computing Eigenvalues and SVDs

Systolic architectures for eigenvalues and singular values are discussed. One "triangular" processor array and associated algorithms for computing the QR-decomposition, the singular value decomposition, the generalized singular value decomposition and the CS-decomposition are described in detail.
Dicoumarol (Moldy Sweet Clover) Toxicosis in a Group of Holstein Calves

2. Hanson LE, Tripathy DN: 1986, Leptospirosis. In; Diseases of perimental study of the toxic interaction between tiamulin and swine, ed. Dunn HW, 6th ed., pp. 593-597. Iowa State University salinomycin in pigs. Acta Vet Scand Suppl 87:365-367. Press, Ames, IA. 6. Novilla MN: 1992, The veterinary importance of the toxic syn3. Kavanagh NT, Sparrow DSH: 1990, Salinomycin toxicity in drome induced by ionophores. Vet Hum Toxicol 34:66-70. pigs. Vet Rec 127:507. 7. Pott JM: 1990, Salinomycin toxicity in pigs. Vet Rec 127:554. 4. Miller DJS, O’Connor JJ, Roberts NL: 1986, Tiamulin/salino8. Van Vleet JF, Ferrans VJ: 1984, Ultrastructural alterations in mycin interactions in pigs. Vet Rec 118:73-75. skeletal muscle of pigs with acute monesin myotoxicosis. Am J 5. Morgan JH, Collins P, Aitken IA, Thomas LH: 1991, An exPathol 114:461-471.
Modern psychotherapy as a multidimensional multilevel evolutionary process

Modern evidence-based psychotherapy can be understood by consideration of six key concepts from evolution science that have an impact on behavioral science: variation, selection, retention, dimensions, levels, and context. Human behavior problems are most likely to emerge when repertoires are narrow or rigid, are under inappropriate selection criteria targeted at the wrong level or dimension, and without retention of successful variants that are fitted to context. Modern effective psychotherapies represent the inverse process of creating broad and flexible repertoires, selected by personal values, and fitted to particular contexts at the appropriate level and in the right dimension. Psychotherapy can thus be considered an applied evolution science.
Esophageal Doppler Monitoring for Hemodynamic Assessment

This article reviews the importance of hemodynamic monitoring in adding to the clinical assessment of critically ill patients. The esophageal Doppler monitor (EDM) provides a less invasive way of obtaining hemodynamic information quickly and safely at the bedside. The concepts of Doppler signal acquisition and important nursing considerations are reviewed. Case studies are provided to understand how data from the EDM can impact patient care decisions at the bedside.
Social work as an holistic system of activity

(1988). Social work as an holistic system of activity. Social Thought: Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 16-29.
Weights of testes, thymi, and accessory reproductive glands in relation to rank in paired and grouped house mice (Mus musculus).

SummaryIndices of androgen activity in the form of reproductive organ and sexual accessory weights were correlated with winners, losers, and draws in brief paired encounters between male house mice (Mus musculus) and in mice from groups of six mice each that were housed together for 3 weeks. There were no significant differences in any of the parameters measured from the mice in brief paired encounters. Among the grouped mice the dominant mouse differed from almost all of the mice from other ranks with respect to testes, seminal vesicle, preputial, and thymus gland weights. Using an ordinal correlation coefficient, weights of seminal vesicles, preputials, and thymus glands correlated highly with rank as organ weights decreased in mice of descending rank.
Projections of Future Drought in the Continental United States and Mexico

AbstractUsing the Palmer drought severity index, the ability of 19 state-of-the-art climate models to reproduce observed statistics of drought over North America is examined. It is found that correction of substantial biases in the models’ surface air temperature and precipitation fields is necessary. However, even after a bias correction, there are significant differences in the models’ ability to reproduce observations. Using metrics based on the ability to reproduce observed temporal and spatial patterns of drought, the relationship between model performance in simulating present-day drought characteristics and their differences in projections of future drought changes is investigated. It is found that all models project increases in future drought frequency and severity. However, using the metrics presented here to increase confidence in the multimodel projection is complicated by a correlation between models’ drought metric skill and climate sensitivity. The effect of this sampling error can be remov...
Time-domain upconversion measurements of group-velocity dispersion in quantum cascade lasers.

A time-resolved mid-infrared upconversion technique based on sum-frequency generation was applied to measure pulse propagation in λ~5.0 µm quantum cascade lasers operated in continuous wave at 30 K. The wavelength-dependent propagation delay of femtosecond mid-infrared pulses was measured to determine the total group-velocity dispersion. The material and waveguide dispersion were calculated and their contributions to the total group-velocity dispersion were found to be relatively small and constant. The small-signal gain dispersion was estimated from a measurement of the electroluminescence spectrum without a laser cavity, and was found to be the largest component of the total GVD. A negative group-velocity dispersion of β2 (=d2β/dω2) approximately -4.6×10-6 ps2/µm was observed at the peak emission wavelength, and good agreement was found for the measured and calculated pulse-broadening.
Oxygen-dependent microbial killing by phagocytes (second of two parts).

(First of Two Parts) THE part played by phagocytes in defense against invading pathogens has been recognized since 1883. In that year, Metschnikoff, a Russian zoologist, reported that foreign particles injected into metazoans (in Metschnikoff's experiments, starfish larvae) were taken up by a population of "wandering mesodermal cells" that resided in interstitial tissues.1 He postulated a crucial role in host defense for these wandering cells, which he named "phagocytes." Since Metschnikoff's discovery, hundreds of scientists studying dozens of species have reported thousands of studies on these cells, perhaps the most widely recognized of which are those of the eminent English . . .
A noise induced phase transition to chaos in systems with static friction

Rounding can have a significant influence on the limiting dynamics of nonlinear systems. Consider for instance Bernoulli’s map xn+1 = 2 xn mod(1). Its limiting dynamics is expected to be chaotic, because its Lyapunov exponent is positive, the natural logarithm of 2. However when the mapping is iterated on a computer, the times series is initially irregular, but then appears to be attracted to the unstable fixed point at xn=0. Figure 1 shows a typical time series. After each computation, digital computers round the result of the computation, because they can handle only numbers with a limited number of digits. This rounding turns the unstable fixed point at xn=0 into a stable fixed point and suppresses the chaotic motion.
Proteomic and Systems Biology Analysis of Monocytes Exposed to Securinine, a GABAA Receptor Antagonist and Immune Adjuvant

Securinine, a GABAA receptor antagonist, has been reported to enhance monocyte cell killing of Coxiella burnetii without obvious adverse effects in vivo. We employed multiplex 2D gel electrophoresis using Zdyes, a new generation of covalently linked fluorescent differential protein detection dyes to analyze changes in the monocyte proteome in response to Securinine. Securinine antagonism of GABAA receptors triggers the activation of p38. We used the differential protein expression results to guide a search of the literature and network analysis software to construct a systems biology model of the effect of Securinine on monocytes. The model suggests that various metabolic modulators (fatty acid binding protein 5, inosine 5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase, and thioredoxin) are at least partially reshaping the metabolic landscape within the monocytes. The actin bundling protein L-plastin, and the Ca2+ binding protein S100A4 also appear to have important roles in the immune response stimulated by Securinine. Fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5) may be involved in effecting lipid raft composition, inflammation, and hormonal regulation of monocytes, and the model suggests that FABP5 may be a central regulator of metabolism in activated monocytes. The model also suggests that the heat shock proteins have a significant impact on the monocyte immune response. The model provides a framework to guide future investigations into the mechanisms of Securinine action and with elaboration may help guide development of new types of immune adjuvants.
Transfer of resistance to potato leaf roll virus from Solanum brevidens into Solanum tuberosum by somatic fusion

Abstract Tetraploid somatic hybrids were produced by protoplast fusion between Solanum brevidens, a diploid non-tuber-bearing wild species and a diploid tuber-bearing potato line derived from an S. tuberosum Gp. Phureja-Stenotumum population. S. brevidens has resistance to potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) and frost but is difficult to cross sexually with cultivated potato. Hybridity was verified by morphological characteristics and cytological observations. Nine of ten hybrids tested showed resistance to PLRV. Hybrids produced fertile pollen and eggs which may allow beneficial traits of S. brevidens to be incorporated into a conventional potato breeding programme.
Surface Science of Catalyst Dynamics for Aligned Carbon Nanotube Synthesis on a Full-Scale Quartz Wafer

The surface chemistry and physics of evaporated metallic iron catalysts on crystalline quartz substrates is elucidated via detailed microscopy and spectroscopy for the purpose of synthesizing dense aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays. It was found that the as-evaporated submonolayer iron was predominantly an oxidized nanoporous film at room temperature in air. Subsequently, at high temperatures (∼865 °C), hydrogen gas appears to play an important role in dewetting of the surface in a short duration and facilitating discrete iron nanoparticle formation, which is critical for the growth of self-aligned individual single-wall CNTs by catalytic chemical vapor deposition. Additionally, residual carbon contamination of the surface in the high vacuum evaporator was identified and mitigated by an improved surface pretreatment resulting in dense CNT synthesis at a wafer scale. This work provides detailed understanding of the physical chemistry of the catalytic surface and represents a step forward in repeatable s...
An Experimental Study of Subcooled Film Boiling on a Vertical Surface—Thermal Aspects

Wall and liquid side heat fluxes near the leading edge of a vertical wall 6.3 cm wide and 10.3 cm high were measured during subcooled film boiling of water at 1 atm pressure. The heat flux from the interface into the liquid and temperature profiles in the liquid thermal layer were measured using real time holographic interferometry. The wall heat flux was measured with thermocouples embedded in a copper block, one face of which served as the heated wall. The role of the leading edge vapor layer, ripples, and large bulges in modifying the liquid side heat transfer is quantified.
Stratigraphic Section East of Bogota, Colombia: ABSTRACT

A geologic traverse was made by the author in 1939 along the road from Bogota to Villavicencio, a distance of 122 kilometers. The purpose was to attempt to correlate the rocks of the little known east side of the Cordillera Oriental with the better known formations of the Magdalena Valley on the west side of the mountains. The rocks exposed along the traverse are sedimentary and metamorphic, and range in age from possible Cambrian to Pleistocene; only the Cretaceous rocks yielded abundant fossils. Igneous rocks reported to occur both north and south of the line of traverse were not encountered in this particular section, although the basal conglomerate of the Cretaceous contains fragments of granite. The formations observed along the road, with their respective ages, are the following: Quetame, Cambrian (?); Vinculo, Devonian (?); Pipiral, Carboniferous (?); Colorado, Permian (?); La Argentina, Cretaceous (?); Caqueza, Cretaceous (Lower Valanginian); Villeta, Cretaceous (Upper Valanginian, Hauterivian, Barremian, and Aptian); Guadalupe, Cretaceous (Middle Albian and Cenomanian); Buena Vista, Tertiary (?); Guaduas, Tertiary, Eocene (?); terraces, Pleistocene. The principal structural features are the Bogota fault, an overthrust to the west; the Caqueza fault, an overthrust to the east; the San Martin fault, normal, with the westerly block downthrown; the Argentina fault, normal, with the easterly block downthrown; and the Cientoquince fault, an overthrust to the east. In addition, the Guadalupe End_Page 130------------------------------ formation is folded into a large, gentle syncline, and all the rocks show a very great number of small folds. End_of_Article - Last_Page 131------------
Genetics of seedling and adult plant resistance to net blotch (Pyrenophora teres f. teres) and spot blotch (Cochliobolus sativus) in barley

Net blotch (caused by Pyrenophora teres f. teres) and spot blotch (Cochliobolus sativus) are important foliar diseases of barley in the midwestern region of the USA. To determine the number and chromosomal location of Mendelian and quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling resistance to these diseases, a doubled haploid population (‘Steptoe’/‘Morex’) was evaluated to the pathogens at the seedling stage in the greenhouse and at the adult plant stage in the field. Alleles at two or three unlinked loci were found to confer resistance to the net blotch pathogen at the seedling stage depending on how progeny exhibiting an intermediate infection response were classified. This result was corroborated in the quantitative analysis of the raw infection response data as 2 major QTL were identified on chromosomes 4 and 6M. A third QTL was also identified on chromosome 6P. Seven QTL were identified for net blotch resistance at the adult plant stage and mapped to chromosomes 1P, 2P, 3P, 3M, 4, 6P, and 7P. The 7 QTL collectively accounted for 67.6% of the phenotypic variance under a multiple QTL model. Resistance to the spot blotch pathogen was conferred by a single gene at the seedling stage. This gene was mapped to the distal region of chromosome 1P on the basis of both qualitative and quantitative data analyses. Two QTL were identified for spot blotch resistance at the adult plant stage: the largest QTL effect mapped to chromosome 5P and the other mapped to chromosome 1P near the seedling resistance locus. Together, the 2 QTL explained 70.1% of the phenotypic variance under a multiple QTL model. On the basis of the chromosomal locations of resistance alleles detected in this study, it should be feasible to combine high levels of resistance to both P. teres f. teres and C. sativus in barley cultivars.
A boundary-layer analysis of Benard convection in a fluid of strongly temperature-dependent viscosity

We give an asymptotic analysis of 2-dimensional Benard convection in a fluid of infinite Prandtl number and strongly temperature-dependent viscosity ν(T)=c e−γT. All surfaces of the box containing the fluid are traction-free. We assume that the Nusselt number N ⪢ 1. The only temperature differences in the cell then occur in a cold horizontal thermal layer at the top of the cell, a hot horizontal layer at the base of the cell and two plumes on the sidewalls. We assume further that the viscosity ratio is so large that the upper part of the cold, horizontal thermal-layer is stagnant. We show that the essential viscosity variations occur in the sublayer at the base of the stagnant region. The thickness l of the sublayer is small compared to the total thickness Λ of the stagnant layer. This separation of scales allows a simple solution for the sublayer. At the top edge of this sublayer we find the viscosity increases exponentially with height, and the velocity vanishes exponentially. We find that the temperature drop across the sublayer is ∼ 3γ−1. We show that the viscosity variations in the underlying flow play no dynamical role. The viscosity ratio across the entire convecting region is independent of the viscosity ratio eγΔT for the whole cell and depends only weakly on the Rayleigh number; for typical Rayleigh numbers achieved in experiments, the viscosity ratio is ∼ 55 when θ≡γΔT → ∞. We find the heat-transfer law for the cell to have the form θNF(Rγ) The Rayleigh number if Rγαgγ−1d3ν0κ is based on the rheological temperature scale γ−1 and the viscosity ν0 at the hot surface. We give F as a function of Rγ, the aspect ratio of A of the cell, and the fraction f of the total heat flow carried by the hot plume. The results depend weakly on ƒ. In particular we find that if ƒ12, A1 and 3 × 104 ⩽ Rγ ⩽ × 107 θN=1.61Rγ0.20 We compare our predictions with observations by Richter et al. and Lux and Sacks. The theory predicts the observations with an error of ∼50%. This error is comparable to that in boundary layer theories for isoviscous flows. We discuss its probable causes. We show that the success of empirical correlations due to Booker is a natural consequence of the boundary-layer structure of the cell.
Activation of superoxide dismutase in selenium-deficient mice infected with influenza virus

Selenium (Se) deficiency is associated with decreased activities of Se-dependent antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thioredoxin reductase (TR), and with changes in the cellular redox status. We have previously shown that host Se deficiency is responsible for increased virulence of influenza virus in mice due to changes in the viral genome. The present study examines the antioxidant defense systems in the lung and liver of Se-deficient and Se-adequate mice infected with influenza A/Bangkok/1/79. Results show that neither Se status nor infection changed glutathione (GSH) concentration in the lung. Hepatic GSH concentration was lower in Se-deficient mice, but increased significantly day 5 post infection. No significant differences due to Se status or influenza infection were found in catalase activities. As expected, Se deficiency was associated with significant decreases in GPx and TR activities in both lung and liver. GPx activity increased in the lungs and decreased in the liver of Se-adequate mice in response to infection. Both Se deficiency and influenza infection had profound effects on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). The hepatic SOD activity was higher in Se-deficient than Se-adequate mice before infection. However, following influenza infection, hepatic SOD activity in Se-adequate mice gradually increased. Influenza infection was associated with a significant increase of SOD activity in the lungs of Se-deficient, but not Se-adequate mice. The maximum of SOD activity coincided with the peak of pathogenesis in infected lungs. These data suggest that SOD activation in the lung and liver may be a part of a compensatory response to Se deficiency and/or influenza infection. However, SOD activation that leads to increased production of H(2)O(2) may also contribute to pathogenesis and to influenza virus mutation in lungs of Se-deficient mice.
Regulation of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Activity in PTEN-Inactive Prostate Cancer Cells by IκB Kinase α

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a mediator of cell growth, survival, and energy metabolism at least partly through its ability to regulate mRNA translation. mTOR is activated downstream of growth factors, insulin, and Akt-dependent signaling associated with oncoprotein expression or loss of the tumor-suppressor PTEN. In this regard, mTOR activity is associated with cancer cell growth and survival. Here, we have explored an involvement of the IκB kinase (IKK) pathway, associated with nuclear factor-κB activation, in controlling mTOR activity. The experiments show that IKKα controls mTOR kinase activity in Akt-active, PTEN-null prostate cancer cells, with less involvement by IKKβ. In these cells, IKKα associates with mTOR, as part of the TORC1 complex, in an Akt-dependent manner. Additionally, IKKα is required for efficient induction of mTOR activity downstream of constitutively active Akt expression. The results indicate a novel role for IKKα in controlling mTOR function in cancer cells with constitutive Akt activity. [Cancer Res 2007;67(13):6263–9]
Semiparametric methods for center effect measures based on the ratio of survival functions

The survival function is often of chief interest in epidemiologic studies of time to an event. We develop methods for evaluating center-specific survival outcomes through a ratio of survival functions. The proposed method assumes a center-stratified additive hazards model, which provides a convenient framework for our purposes. Under the proposed methods, the center effects measure is cast as the ratio of subject-specific survival functions under two scenarios: the scenario in which the subject is treated at center \(j\); and that wherein the subject is treated at a hypothetical center with survival function equal to the population average. The proposed measure reduces to the ratio of baseline survival functions, but is invariant to the choice of baseline covariate level. We derive the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators, and assess finite-sample characteristics through simulation. The proposed methods are applied to national kidney transplant data.
Bladder cancer in renal transplant recipients

Abstract Objectives To determine if there is an increased rate of occurrence of bladder cancer in renal transplant recipients. Methods We reviewed the records of 3130 consecutive renal transplant recipients at the University of Wisconsin Hospital from 1980 to 1994. We then compared the rate of occurrence of bladder cancer in this population with that of the general population of Wisconsin. Using an age-specific hazard model based on the rate of bladder cancer in the general population of Wisconsin, we predicted the expected number of bladder cancer cases in this renal transplant population. Results Using this model, one would expect 1.81 cases of bladder cancer in the renal transplant data set, as opposed to the observed 6, resulting in a relative risk of 3.31 of developing bladder cancer as a result of renal transplantation. Conclusions There is a higher incidence of bladder cancer in renal transplant recipients. Therefore, despite a higher incidence of hematuria in this population, each noninfected patient with microscopic (or gross) hematuria should undergo a careful urologic evaluation.
Renal functional and perioperative outcomes of off-clamp versus clamped robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: matched cohort study.

Objective To evaluate the potential benefit of performing off-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy as it relates to renal functional outcomes, while assessing the safety profile of this unconventional surgical approach. Methods Twenty-nine patients who underwent off-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for suspected renal cell carcinoma at Washington University between March 2008 and September 2011 (group 1) were matched to 29 patients with identical nephrometry scores and comparable baseline renal function who underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy with hilar clamping during the same period (group 2). The matched cohorts' perioperative and renal functional outcomes were compared at a mean 9-month follow-up. Results Mean estimated blood loss was 146.4 mL in group 1, versus 103.9 mL in group 2 ( P = .039). Mean hilar clamp time was 0 minutes in group 1 and 14.7 minutes in group 2. No perioperative complications were encountered in group 1; 1 Clavien-2 complication (3.4%) occurred in group 2 ( P = 1.000). At 9-month follow-up, mean estimated glomerular filtration rate in group 1 was 79.9 versus 84.8 mL/min/1.73 m 2 preoperatively ( P = .013); mean estimated glomerular filtration rate in group 2 was 74.1 versus 85.8 mL/min/1.73 m 2 preoperatively ( P 2 in group 1 versus 11.7 mL/min/1.73 m 2 in group 2 ( P = .033). Conclusion Off-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy is associated with a favorable morbidity profile and relatively greater renal functional preservation compared to clamped robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. Nevertheless, the benefit is small in renal functional terms and may have very limited clinical relevance.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis: Summary of a workshop†‡

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare but important liver disease that leads to cirrhosis and need for liver transplantation in a high proportion of cases. The disease occurs in approximately 1 per 100,000 population per year, usually presents in adulthood, and affects men more often than women. Typical serum biochemical results, autoantibodies and liver biopsy are suggestive but not diagnostic of PSC, the diagnosis requiring cholangiographic demonstration of stricturing and dilatation of the intra- and/or extra-hepatic bile ducts. The natural history of PSC is variable, the average survival being 12 to 17 years. The cause of PSC is still unknown. Although considered an autoimmune disease, PSC has several atypical features and a strong genetic component. The therapy of PSC is unsatisfactory. Standard doses of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) lead to improvements in biochemical abnormalities but not in histology, cholangiographic appearance or survival. Several innovative therapies have been tried in PSC, but with scant evidence of benefit. For patients with high grade strictures, endoscopic dilatation is beneficial. Liver transplantation is successful for end-stage liver disease due to PSC and improves survival. PSC may recur after transplantation but is rarely progressive. The most dreaded complication of PSC is cholangiocarcinoma. Diagnosis of this highly malignant tumor is difficult, and there are no biomarkers for its early detection. Liver transplantation for cholangiocarcinoma has an exceedingly poor outcome, although transplantation with neoadjuvant chemoirradiation holds promise in selected patients. Thus, significant opportunities remain for basic and clinical research into the cause, natural history, and therapy of PSC.
Uniformly More Powerful Tests in a One-Sided Multivariate Problem

Abstract We consider a testing problem in which a normal mean vector is at the origin under the null hypothesis and in a cone under the alternative and the covariance matrix is unknown. Perlman studied the likelihood ratio (LR) test and found that it is biased and hence does not compare favorably with Hotelling's T2. We point out that certain tests of Perlman are uniformly more powerful as well as simpler than the LR test. These are the corresponding LR tests when the alternative is replaced with a half space that contains the cone. We prove that these tests are unbiased by developing some basic results on stochastic ordering. Critical values for these tests are given. Simulation results suggest that the new tests are also uniformly more powerful than Hotelling's T2. For the special case when the cone is the positive orthant, we discuss an issue about invariant test. Finally, we discuss the assumption of unknown covariance matrix, and conclude that the new tests are more useful for small samples than for ...