cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lens extrusion from Laminin alpha 1 mutant zebrafish.

We report analysis of the ocular lens phenotype of the recessive, larval lethal zebrafish mutant, lama1a69/a69. Previous work revealed that this mutant has a shortened body axis and eye defects including a defective hyaloid vasculature, focal corneal dysplasia, and loss of the crystalline lens. While these studies highlight the importance of laminin α1 in lens development, a detailed analysis of the lens defects seen in these mutants was not reported. In the present study, we analyze the lenticular anomalies seen in the lama1a69/a69 mutants and show that the lens defects result from the anterior extrusion of lens material from the eye secondary to structural defects in the lens capsule and developing corneal epithelium associated with basement membrane loss. Our analysis provides further insights into the role of the lens capsule and corneal basement membrane in the structural integrity of the developing eye.
Systematic Two-Hybrid and Comparative Proteomic Analyses Reveal Novel Yeast Pre-mRNA Splicing Factors Connected to Prp19

Prp19 is the founding member of the NineTeen Complex, or NTC, which is a spliceosomal subcomplex essential for spliceosome activation. To define Prp19 connectivity and dynamic protein interactions within the spliceosome, we systematically queried the Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteome for Prp19 WD40 domain interaction partners by two-hybrid analysis. We report that in addition to S. cerevisiae Cwc2, the splicing factor Prp17 binds directly to the Prp19 WD40 domain in a 1∶1 ratio. Prp17 binds simultaneously with Cwc2 indicating that it is part of the core NTC complex. We also find that the previously uncharacterized protein Urn1 (Dre4 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe) directly interacts with Prp19, and that Dre4 is conditionally required for pre-mRNA splicing in S. pombe. S. pombe Dre4 and S. cerevisiae Urn1 co-purify U2, U5, and U6 snRNAs and multiple splicing factors, and dre4Δ and urn1Δ strains display numerous negative genetic interactions with known splicing mutants. The S. pombe Prp19-containing Dre4 complex co-purifies three previously uncharacterized proteins that participate in pre-mRNA splicing, likely before spliceosome activation. Our multi-faceted approach has revealed new low abundance splicing factors connected to NTC function, provides evidence for distinct Prp19 containing complexes, and underscores the role of the Prp19 WD40 domain as a splicing scaffold.
The Spears Mission in the Levant 1941–1944*

During the second world war, Syria and Lebanon lay on the fringe of the major Middle Eastern military campaigns fought between the Allied and Axis powers. They stood, however, at the focal point of relations between the British and the Free French, due to the anomalous situation which arose in the Levant states in 1941.
Structural balance, reciprocity, and positivity as sources of cognitive bias.

Abstract : The problem raised in the present paper deals with the role of reciprocity in complex structures. By definition, a three-entity situation in which all six relations are negative is unbalanced, yet all the relations are re ciprocated. A similar three-entity structure in which these six relations are positive is balanced and completely reciprocated, as well. The question which is raised is whether reciprocity is an independent source of cognitive bias. From the results of DeSoto and Kuethe (1959) it would appear that with respect to the liking relationship reciprocity may indeed constitute a source of cognitive bias. Subjects in their experiment estimated the probability of reciprocation of the liking relation to be .74. In a further experiment by DeSoto (1960), Ss took longer to learn a hypothetical social structure characterized by absence of reciprocity than one in which all relations were reciprocated. It was not clear from the results of either experiment, however, if these learning effects were due to reciprocity alone or to balance, since the structures employed by these researchers differed from one another not only in terms of reciprocity but in terms of structural balance as well.
Depth-sensing indentation at macroscopic dimensions

A macroscopic-scale depth-sensing indentation apparatus with the ability to be mounted on an inverted microscope for in situ observation of contact events was calibrated using the Oliver and Pharr [J. Mater. Res. 7, 1564 (1992)] procedure with a two-parameter area function. The calibrated Vickers tip was used to determine the projected contact area at peak load and the modulus and hardness of a variety of non-metallic materials through deconvolution of the measured load-displacement traces. The predicted contact area was found to be identical to the measured area of residual contact impressions. Furthermore, for transparent ceramic materials the projected contact area during loading was found to be the same as the area measured from the diagonal of post-indentation residual contact impressions. The modulus and hardness values deconvoluted from the load–displacement traces were compared with independent measurements. The effects of sample clamping, column compliance, and tip radius on the load–displacement data and inferred materials properties were also examined. It is suggested that the simplicity of instrumentation and operation, combined with the ability to observe indentations optically, even in situ, makes macroscopic-scale depth-sensing indentation ideal for fundamental studies of contact mechanics.
Where are the enslaved?: TripAdvisor and the narrative landscapes of southern plantation museums

ABSTRACTThis study examines two southern Louisiana plantation museums: Laura and Oak Alley, using a framework that stresses the narrative power and politics of these heritage sites. Located a mile from each other along the Mississippi River, they present two similar yet different narratives of the antebellum American South. Laura places more emphasis on the enslaved who inhabited the plantation than does Oak Alley, whose narrative centers upon the opulence of the plantation home – that is, ‘the big house'. This study explores what visitors take away from their plantation tours. Specifically, it examines their thoughts about how the enslaved are represented at these two museums. The study's data come from visitors’ comments posted on the travel website TripAdvisor. The object of the study is to gain a greater understanding of what visitors learn about the history of the enslaved on these tours and how they participate, along with site managers, in the narrative construction of the plantation and negotiatin...
Distinct patterns in the diurnal and seasonal variability in four components of soil respiration in a temperate forest under free-air CO 2 enrichment

Abstract. Soil respiration (RS) is a major flux in the global carbon (C) cycle. Responses of RS to changing environmental conditions may exert a strong control on the residence time of C in terrestrial ecosystems and in turn influence the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases. Soil respiration consists of several components oxidizing soil C from different pools, age and chemistry. The mechanisms underlying the temporal variability of RS components are poorly understood. In this study, we used the long-term whole-ecosystem 13C tracer at the Duke Forest Free Air CO2 Enrichment site to separate forest RS into its autotrophic (RR) and heterotrophic components (RH). The contribution of RH to RS was further partitioned into litter decomposition (RL), and decomposition of soil organic matter (RSOM) of two age classes – up to 8 yr old and SOM older than 8 yr. Soil respiration was generally dominated by RSOM during the growing season (44% of daytime RS), especially at night. The contribution of heterotrophic respiration (RSOM and RL) to RS was not constant, indicating that the seasonal variability in RR alone cannot explain seasonal variation in RS. Although there was no diurnal variability in RS, there were significant compensatory differences in the contribution of individual RS components to daytime and nighttime rates. The average contribution of RSOM to RS was greater at night (54%) than during the day (44%). The average contribution of RR to total RS was ~30% during the day and ~34% during the night. In contrast, RL constituted 26% of RS during the day and only 12% at night. About 95% of the decomposition of soil C older than 8 yr (Rpre-tr) originated from RSOM and showed more pronounced and consistent diurnal variability than any other RS component; nighttime rates were on average 29% higher than daytime rates. In contrast, the decomposition of more recent, post-treatment C (Rpre-tr) did not vary diurnally. None of the diurnal variations in components of RH could be explained by only temperature and moisture variations. Our results indicate that the variation observed in the components of RS is the result of complex interaction between dominant biotic controls (e.g. plant activity, mineralization kinetics, competition for substrates) over abiotic controls (temperature, moisture). The interactions and controls among roots and other soil organisms that utilize C of different chemistry, accessibility and ages, results in the overall soil CO2 efflux. Therefore understanding the controls on the components of RS is necessary to elucidate the influence of ecosystem respiration on atmospheric C-pools at different time scales.
Repair of bone defects with marrow cells and porous ceramic Experiments in rats

We studied the role of bone-marrow reconstituted porous ceramics in enhancing healing of a 5-mm femoral diaphyseal defect fixed with a rigid polyethylene plate in rats. Osseous repair was evaluated by histologic scoring. When blocks of porous calcium phosphate ceramics alone were introduced into the defects, most cases showed fibrous tissue interposition at the host bone-ceramic junction 1 month after implantation, and only four of 12 defects developed osseous or osteochondral union at both the proximal and distal junctions 2 months after surgery. However, when the ceramic was combined with syngeneic viable marrow cells, new bone formation occurred in isolated pore regions of the ceramic at 1 month, and extensive bone formation was seen in most pore regions 2 months after implantation. Out of 12 implants, complete bone union was seen in eight, and one showed osseous or osteochondral union at both junctions 2 months after surgery. Our results indicated that composite grafts of porous calcium phosphate ceramics and marrow cells may be clinically applicable to enhance osteogenesis and osteoconduction.
A Statistical Analysis of the Relationships among Rainfall, Outgoing Longwave Radiation and the Moisture Budget during January–March 1979

Abstract An analysis of the statistical relationships among observed daily rainfall, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and the moisture budget (precipitation minus evaporation or P − E), obtained from three independent data sources during January through March, 1979, indicates that on a daily basis P − E and OLR correlate significantly better with each other than they do with observed rainfall over open-ocean regions where the spatial density of rainfall observing stations is low. A spatial correlation over the Pacific Ocean indicates that P − E and OLR correlate well in most—but not all—highly convective regions where both variables have moderate to high variances, and are uncorrelated in dry regions. Low correlations are obtained in regions of shallow convection and in areas of weak moisture convergence with cirrus at upper levels. It is demonstrated that OLR, P − E, or observed rainfall alone cannot properly define the areal extent of large scale convective activity. A technique is developed in which P...
Seismic Performance of Nonductile Reinforced Concrete Frames with Masonry Infill Walls—I: Development of a Strut Model Enhanced by Finite Element Models

Reinforced concrete (RC) frames with masonry infill walls are prevalent in high-seismicity areas worldwide and have experienced significant damage in earthquakes. This paper proposes a finite eleme...
Can Income Inequality be Associated With Positive Outcomes? Hope Mediates the Positive Inequality–Happiness Link in Rural China

Prior studies on the inequality–happiness link have yielded mixed results and tend to focus on mechanisms that explain the negative effects of inequality. The current study investigated the inequality–happiness link in China and examined hope as a mechanism that explains positive effects of income inequality. Using data from a large sample of 30,255 Chinese respondents, greater inequality was associated with higher life satisfaction in rural China but not significantly associated with life satisfaction in urban China. The positive inequality–happiness link in rural areas was mediated by hope. By providing evidence for a mechanism through which income inequality can lead to greater well-being, the current study sheds light on the heterogeneity of prior findings on the inequality–happiness link. These results supported a dual-process model of income inequality in which inequality leads to higher or lower subjective well-being through hope and social comparison depending on stages of economic development.
Assessing Oneota Diet And Health: A Community And Lifeway Perspective

This preliminary study uses a gross measure of potential nutritional adequacy as a starting point from which to examine the interplay of the dietary impact of corn agriculture and the complexity of...
Relationship of prolonged drainage of bile through pancreatic duct system to pancreatitis.

Summary and Conclusions1. The entire flow of bile was successfully diverted through the pancreatic duct system into the intestine in a total of 11 dogs. Eight of these dogs did not develop any significant degree of pancreatitis even though the average observation period for this group was more than 60 days, and only one dog in the series developed a full-blown acute pancreatic necrosis. 2. The results of these experiments indicate that the presence of bile in the pancreatic duct system under physiologic pressures is tolerated for long periods of time without any serious damage to the pancreas in most cases.
MiR-374a suppresses lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and invasion by targeting TGFA gene expression

Aberrant expression of miR-374a has been reported in several types of human cancers, including lung cancer. However, the functional significance and molecular mechanisms underlying the role of miR-374a in lung cancer remain largely unknown. We found that the expression of miR-374a was significantly downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma tissues compared to adjacent normal lung tissues in samples included in The Cancer Genome Atlas. Functional studies revealed that overexpression of miR-374a led to inhibition of lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion and that miR-374a negatively regulated transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFA) gene expression by directly targeting the 3'-UTR of TGFA mRNA. Treating lung adenocarcinoma cells with TGF-α neutralizing antibody resulted in suppression of cell proliferation and invasion, which mimicked the action of miR-374a. Additionally, TGFA gene expression was significantly higher in tumor tissues compared to adjacent normal tissue and high TGFA gene expression strongly correlated with poor survival in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Taken together, our studies suggest that miR-374a suppresses lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and invasion via targeting TGFA gene expression. Our findings may provide novel treatment strategies for lung adenocarcinoma patients.
Effects of Pheromone Release Rate and Time of Day on Catches of Male and Female Papaya Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Fruit Model Traps Baited with Pheromone

In field tests, we compared catches of papaya fruit flies, Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker, on fruit model traps baited with dispensers releasing pheromone (2,6-methylvinylpyrazine) at different rates. Both male and female papaya fruit flies were attracted to traps baited with pheromone. Most were caught in the 2 h before dusk. Greatest numbers of both sexes were caught on traps with dispensers that released 12 male equivalents (approximately 960 ng/h). Patterns of catches of mated and unmated females over the range of pheromone release rates tested were different. High numbers of mated females were trapped at all release rates, indicating a strong visual response to the fruit model. Unmated females were more strongly attracted by the pheromone, with greatest catches occurring at a rate of 8 male equivalents.
Robb Fitzgerald at Comvia Networks

Intended for MBA and executive education classes, this case explores the role of the CEO and the complex relationships that come with it. The story of the dramatic turnaround of this publicly-listed firm, although disguised, is true. When a scandal forces a CEO to step down, Robb Fitzgerald is hired to calm the crisis and rebuild trust among employees, shareholders, and analysts. Under extreme pressure to significantly improve the bottom line and prevent the firm from being delisted, Fitzgerald is preparing to give the board a briefing on priorities he has identified in his first 100 days. The case follows his efforts to weigh many critical decisions simultaneously.
Relationship between current smoking behaviors and household characteristics in Guangdong

Objective To disclose the relationship between current smoking behaviors and household characteristics among adults in Guangdong,in order to provide scientific evidence for household tobacco control strategy. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among the adults sampled by four-stage randomized cluster sampling in ten districts of five cities in Guangdong from September to November,2010. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics,smoking behaviors and smoking-related household characteristics. Chi-square test and unconditional logistic regression analysis were employed to explore the relationship between current smoking behaviors and household characteristics. Results This study included 2 150 respondents,with data from 2 121 eligible questionnaires used for analysis. The current smoking rates for respondents with household characteristics including per capita household income below 1 000 Yuan,three or more smokers in the family,no ban of smoking at home and treating visitors with cigarettes were 28.7%,56.5%,34.2%and 43.5%,respectively,and were significantly higher than those for respondents with household characteristics at other levels（P〈0.01 for all）. After controlling for factors such as gender,age, personal income,education,employment status and residential location,we found that the number of family smokers,smoking restrictions at home and treating visitors with cigarettes had significant association with current smoking behaviors（P〈0.01 for all）,except for per capita household income （P=0.567）. Conclusion Household is one of the effective places in carrying out health education and tobacco control intervention. In order to reduce tobacco use,much effort should be made to create smoke-free homes,encourage smoking cessation and treat visitors with no cigarettes. Key words: Smoking; Family; Factor analysis,statistical
The Influence of John Adams

John Adams’s Defence of the Constitutions of the United States of America provided American republicans with their most comprehensive contemporary commentary and sourcebook for republican institutions and attitudes, which is why both Adams and his Defence were so often cited (or attacked) in public debates concerning the design and nature of the United States’ new government3 Adams’s eighteenth-century education and sensibility render him opaque and unappealing to many modern scholars,4 but the very classicism which makes Adams so obscure today was one of his strongest assets at the time of the revolution. Most of Adams’s constitutional views prevailed at the federal convention, and the people endorsed them again (and him personally) by electing Adams Washington’s VicePresident and eventual successor as President of the American republic.
Newton-Like Procedures and Their Applications in Multivariate Fractional Calculus

Newton-like methods are used to generate sequences converging to a solution of a nonlinear equation defined between two Banach spaces. In this paper a semi-local convergence analysis is presented for these methods under very general Newton-Mysovskii-type conditions suitable for a wider range of problems than in earlier studies. In particular, we suggest some applications in multivariate fractional calculus.
Abstract 4702: Combination of BET inhibitor INCB054329 and LSD1 inhibitor INCB059872 is synergistic for the treatment of AMLin vitroandin vivo

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease characterized by the expansion of a hematopoietic stem cell like population caused in part by a block of myeloid differentiation. In AML an altered epigenetic landscape, often arising from genetic lesions in epigenetic regulators, enforces an oncogenic expression profile and suppresses myeloid differentiation. Indeed, a screen for essential genes in the murine MLL-AF9 retroviral model of leukemia identified the epigenetic regulators BRD4 and LSD1 as potential therapeutic targets. Furthermore, independent studies have demonstrated that inhibition of BRD4 or LSD1 by small molecules induced myeloid differentiation and suppressed leukemic stem cell phenotype in AML models. Recently it has been demonstrated that combinations of inhibitors that target distinct epigenetic regulators can exhibit synergistic effects on target gene transcription and cancer cell growth. Therefore we investigated the potential combinatorial effects of a novel FAD-directed LSD1 inhibitor, INCB059872, together with the BET inhibitor, INCB054329. The effects of single agent LSD1 and BET inhibitors or their combination were assessed using human AML models in vitro and in vivo. INCB054329 as monotherapy inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in human AML cell lines, while INCB059872 induced cellular differentiation in these cell lines as determined by the induction of myeloid differentiation markers, CD86 and CD11b. The combination of INCB054329 and INCB059872 enhanced myeloid differentiation and apoptosis in human AML cell lines compared with the single agents. Interestingly, c-myc expression was down-regulated to greater extent with the combination of both compounds compared to either agent alone. Enhanced anti-tumor efficacy with favorable tolerability was observed in human AML xenograft models when both agents were administered simultaneously or sequentially, with INCB059872 dosing regimens preceding INCB054329 administration demonstrating the greatest efficacy. These ongoing studies demonstrate that concurrent inhibition of two distinct families of epigenetic regulators, BET and LSD1, is active in preclinical AML models, and provide a rationale for the clinical evaluation of this novel, epigenetic doublet therapy in AML. Citation Format: Xuesong Liu, Matthew Stubbs, Min Ye, Roberts Collins, Margaret Favata, Gengjie Yang, Melody Diamond, Valerie Dostalik, Yvonne Lo, Chunhong He, Liangxing Wu, Andrew Combs, Wenqing Yao, Gregory Hollis, Reid Huber, Peggy Scherle, Bruce Ruggeri, Phillip Liu, Sang Hyun Lee. Combination of BET inhibitor INCB054329 and LSD1 inhibitor INCB059872 is synergistic for the treatment of AML in vitro and in vivo. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4702.
Arabidopsis receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase BIK1: purification, crystallization and X-ray diffraction analysis

Receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs) in Arabidopsis play a central role in the integration of signaling input from various growth and immune signaling pathways. BOTRYTIS-INDUCED KINASE 1 (BIK1), belonging to the RLCK family, is an important player in defense against bacterial and fungal pathogens and in ethylene and brassinosteroid hormone signaling. In this study, the purification and crystallization of a first member of the class VI family of RLCK proteins, BIK1, are reported. BIK1 was crystallized using the microbatch-under-oil method. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.35 A resolution. The crystals belonged to the monoclinic space group C2, with two monomers per asymmetric unit.
Coagulopathies and Anticoagulation

Acute hemorrhage, acute thrombosis, and management of anticoagulation are common challenges in critical care medicine. An array of acquired conditions result in coagulopathy. These include liver disease, acute trauma, cardiopulmonary bypass, and anticoagulation with both standard and novel agents. Furthermore, congenital or acquired conditions such as von Willebrand disease and hemophilia can complicate otherwise straightforward surgery or can result in life-threatening bleeding from relatively minor trauma. Patients also frequently require the initiation or discontinuation of anticoagulation while in the ICU. The following chapter describes the most common coagulopathies seen in the ICU and outlines a practical management approach to reversing coagulopathy and managing anticoagulation in the critical care setting.
Sensitivity of Rhizoctonia solani to Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor and Demethylation Inhibitor Fungicides

Soybean seedling diseases are caused by Rhizoctonia solani and can be managed with seed-applied fungicides that belong to different chemistry classes. To provide a benchmark for assessing a decline in sensitivities to these fungicide classes, R. solani isolates collected prior to 2001 were evaluated for their sensitivities to succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) (penflufen and sedaxane) and demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides (ipconazole and prothioconazole). The effective concentration of each fungicide that reduced mycelial growth by 50% (EC50) was determined in vitro and compared with those of isolates recovered after 2011 from soybean plants with damping off and hypocotyl and root rot symptoms across different soybean-growing regions in the United States and Canada. All isolates, regardless of collection date, were extremely sensitive (EC50 < 1 μg/ml) to the SDHI fungicides but were either extremely sensitive or moderately sensitive (1 ≤ EC50 ≤ 10 μg/ml) to the DMI fungicides. For all four ac...
Goals and Challenges of Identifying Asymptomatic Pseudotumors in Patients Treated with Total Hip Arthroplasty: Commentary on an article by Young-Min Kwon, MD, PhD, et al.: "Asymptomatic Pseudotumors in Patients with Taper Corrosion of a Dual-Taper Modular Femoral Stem: MARS-MRI and Metal Ion Study".

This paper sheds light on the management of patients who have a recalled dual-taper modular total hip replacement in place. The authors report on 83 patients divided into 2 groups: symptomatic (23) and asymptomatic (60). A pseudotumor was identified with metal artifact reduction sequence magnetic resonance imaging (MARS-MRI) in 30 (36%) of the 83 patients. Nine (15%) of the 60 asymptomatic patients and 21 (91%) of the 23 symptomatic patients had a pseudotumor. Patients with a pseudotumor had a significantly higher cobalt level (8.0 μg/L) compared with those with no pseudotumor (2.0 μg/L). On the basis of this finding, the authors recommend MARS-MRI for all patients with elevated cobalt levels, even in the absence of hip symptoms. If the goal is to minimize cost associated with MRI scans, then the authors’ recommendation of obtaining them only when the metal-ion level is elevated is sound. If the goal is to minimize any irreversible soft-tissue …
BRAF/MEK double blockade in refractory anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma.

A 32-year-old woman was diagnosed in February 2012 with a grade II pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) of the right parietal lobe. A complete excision was performed, followed by tumor bed irradiation (66 Gy). A local relapse occurred in September 2013, for which a partial resection was performed, confirming a grade II PXA. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated the presence of a BRAFV600E mutated protein, and combined treatment with vemurafenib and bevacizumab was initiated. A partial response was rapidly obtained, sustained for 12 months. In June 2015, a third surgery was performed for an extended relapse invading the right cerebral hemisphere. Histopathologic examination revealed anaplastic (grade III) PXA and confirmed the presence of the BRAFV600E mutation (figure, A and B). After unsuccessful treatment with bevacizumab and lomustine, tumor treating fields therapy was applied between August and December 2015. Treatment was complicated by severe skin toxicity, with progressive appearance of a 4-cm scalp wound. Concurrently, the patient developed a severe left hemiparesis with ataxia, hemispatial neglect, and central facial palsy. MRI revealed major disease progression. The patient was subsequently referred to our institution. Acknowledgment: The authors thank the patient and her family for consent to publish this report and Simon Rhead and Anna Patrikidou for English editing.
Bovine carotid artery biologic graft outperforms expanded polytetrafluoroethylene for hemodialysis access.

Abstract Objective Arteriovenous grafts remain reliable substitutes for permanent hemodialysis access in patients without a suitable autogenous conduit. Advances in conduit design and endovascular management of access-related complications question the preference for synthetic conduits over biologic grafts in contemporary practice. In this study, we compared outcomes between a bovine carotid artery (BCA) biologic graft and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts for hemodialysis access in a recent cohort of patients. Methods This was a single-institution retrospective review of 120 consecutive grafts placed in 98 patients between January 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014. Univariate methods ( χ 2 , analysis of variance, t -test) were used to compare demographic and medical characteristics of patients who received each graft type. Kaplan-Meier, log-rank tests, univariate and multivariate logistic analyses, and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate patency and graft complications. Outcomes were defined and analyzed according to reporting guidelines published by the Society for Vascular Surgery. Results Of the 120 grafts studied, 52 (43%) were BCA and 68 (57%) were ePTFE. Successful graft use for dialysis was 96% (95% confidence interval [CI], 90%-100%) for BCA and 84% (95% CI, 74%-93%) for ePTFE ( P = .055). Comparing BCA vs ePTFE, estimates for primary patency were 30% vs 43% at 1 year and 16% vs 29% at 2 years ( P = .27). Primary assisted patency was 36% vs 45% at 1 year and 24% vs 35% at 2 years ( P = .57). Secondary patency was 67% vs 48% at 1 year and 67% vs 38% at 2 years ( P = .05). There were no differences in primary (hazard ratio [HR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.40-1.28; P = .25) and primary assisted (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.46-1.65; P = .67) patency for BCA compared with ePTFE. However, secondary patency was higher for BCA compared with ePTFE (HR, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.29-6.61; P = .01). Graft infection rates during the study period were 15.4% for BCA and 20.6% for ePTFE ( P = .47). The significant predictors of graft failure were higher body mass index (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.00-1.11; P = .04) and hyperlipidemia (HR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.27-6.76; P = .01). Conclusions In this study of a recent cohort of patients who received arteriovenous grafts, primary and primary assisted patencies were similar between BCA and ePTFE grafts. However, secondary patency was higher for BCA, indicating better durability for the biologic graft than for ePTFE grafts in patients whose anatomy preclude placement of an arteriovenous fistula.
Adiabatically Tuning Quantized Supercurrents in an Annular Bose-Einstein Condensate

The ability to generate and tune quantized persistent supercurrents is crucial for building superconducting or atomtronic devices with novel functionalities. In ultracold atoms, previous methods for generating quantized supercurrents are generally based on dynamical processes to prepare atoms in metastable excited states. Here, we show that arbitrary quantized circulation states can be adiabatically prepared and tuned as the ground state of a ring-shaped Bose-Einstein condensate by utilizing spin--orbital-angular-momentum (SOAM) coupling and an external potential. There exists superfluid hysteresis for tuning supercurrents between different quantization values with nonlinear atomic interactions, which is explained by developing a nonlinear Landau-Zener theory. Our work will provide a powerful platform for studying SOAM-coupled ultracold atomic gases and building atomtronic circuits.
Determinants of Effective Debt Collection in Commercial Banks in Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the determinants of effective debt collection practices in Kenyan commercial banks.Methodology:The research was carried out through descriptive survey design. The total population of the study was 1118credit managers/supervisors or branch managersof the 37 commercial banks. A sample size of 118 respondents was selected through random sampling technique, which represents a 10% of the population. The study used both secondary and primary data specifically the study used a questionnaire as the preferred data collection tool. The questionnaire had close ended questions only. Secondary data on the level of Nonperforming loans/Gross loans was also collected. This study used the quantitative method of data analysis. Quantitative methods of data analysis included inferential and descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics included frequencies and measures of tendency mainly mean. Inferential statistics include correlation and regression analysis. The tool for data analysis was Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 program. The results were presented using tables and pie charts to give a clear picture of the research findings.Results:Results indicated that staff competence was highly emphasized in the banks. Results also revealed that the banks had invested in management information systems which were easy to use and compatible with other bank systems in place. Correlation results led to conclusion that that the relationship between staff competency and non-performing loans is negative and significant. It was concluded that the bank also had invested heavily intechnological resources to ensure smooth work flow of employees. Correlation results led to the conclusion that the relationship between financial resources and non-performing loans is negative and significant. The study further concludes that that the relationship between information technology management and non-performing loans is negative and significant. The findings imply that information technology has significant negative effect on non-performing loans.Policy recommendation:The study also recommends that investment in Information technology be emphasized in the banks as it has an effect on the overall achievement of competitive advantage. Therefore the organization is urged to invest in management information systems which are easy to use and which facilitate minimization of administration and operational costs.
Optimizing the performance of sensor network programs through estimation-based code profiling

Abstract With the development of sensor technology and embedded systems, building large-scale, low-cost sensor networks, which is a critical step to facilitating the application of pervasive sensing in the future, becomes possible. One of the major challenges in developing sensor network applications is to improve the execution efficiency of programs running on power-constrained embedded devices. While profiling-guided code optimization has been widely used as a compiler-level optimization technique for improving the performance of programs running on general-purpose computers, it has not been applied to sensor network programs due to some defects. In this paper, we overcome these defects and design a more effective profiling-guided code placement approach for sensor network programs. Specifically, we model the execution of sensor network programs taking nondeterministic inputs as discrete-time Markov processes, and propose a novel approach named Code Tomography to estimate parameters of the Markov models that reflect sensor network programs’ dynamic execution behaviors by only using end-to-end timing information measured at the start and end points of each procedure in the source code. The parameters estimated by Code Tomography are fed back to compilers to optimize the code placement. The evaluation results demonstrate that Code Tomography can achieve satisfactory estimation accuracy with low profiling overhead and the branch misprediction rate can be reduced after reorganizing the code placement based on the profiling results. Besides, Code Tomography can also be useful for purposes such as post-mortem analysis, debugging and energy profiling of sensor network programs.
Hyperspectral remote sensing in coastal regions: Prism field validation in Elkhorn Slough

Hyperspectral imagery has been shown to be useful in monitoring and mapping coastal benthic habitats, yet many coastal areas remain challenging due to factors such as high turbidity and variability over fine spatial scales. The estuarine waters of Elkhorn Slough terminating in Monterey Bay, California present an excellent study site for testing the limits of hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy in a region with turbid sediment-laden waters and diverse coastal habitats, including eelgrass and salt marsh. In July 2012, we undertook a field validation in this region of the Portable Remote Imaging SpectroMeter (PRISM), a new imaging sensor package optimized for coastal ocean processes. PRISM provides spatial resolutions up to 30 cm and spectral resolutions of 3 nm. In-situ sampling was conducted concurrent to the PRISM flights to measure inherent optical properties of the water column and sample selected benthic and coastal habitat spectral targets. Here, we compare spectra obtained from the orthorectified and calibrated imagery using initial atmospheric correction of the imagery from the ATREM model with those collected from sampling locations within Elkhorn Slough. Excellent agreement between PRISM and in-situ validation spectra provide the foundations for using PRISM to discriminate marine and coastal habitats.
Aspects of type-II superlattice infrared detectors: Minority carrier lifetimes and conductivity effective masses

Significant advances in type-II superlattice infrared detectors and focal plane arrays have be en achieved in the past decade. We briefly explore two challenging aspects for type-II superlattice based infrared detectors, namely, minority carrier lifetime and conductivity effective mass.
ALLOANTISERUM INDUCED BLOCKADE OF IR GENE PRODUCT FUNCTION

ABSTRACT The activation of guinea pig thymus derived lymphocytes by antigens, the response to which is controlled by histocompatibility–linked immune response ( Ir ) genes, may be specifically blocked by alloantisera prepared by reciprocal immunization of strain 2 and strain 13 guinea pigs. This blockade is specific in that anti-2 serum blocks the response of (2 × 13)F 1 cells to antigens responsiveness to which is controlled by 2-linked Ir genes while anti-13 serum blocks response dependent on 13-linked Ir genes. The inhibitory antibodies appear to be directed at antigens specified at the 2/13 locus rather than at the Ir gene products themselves. Anti-2 serum blocks responses to the copolymer of glutamic acid and alanine (GA) of cells from 2 + GA + animals but not of cells from 2 - GA + animals. Studies of the 2 alloantigen indicate a molecular weight of ~25,000 Daltons, absence of a low molecular weight polypeptide chain and an expression principally on lymphocytes. We suggest a model in which the Ir gene product exists as a molecular complex with the 2/13 histocompatibility antigen. In this model, the Ir gene product is responsible for the specific recognition functions of the complex and the alloantigens mediate biologic functions, such as histocompatibility dependent cellular interactions.
The Link between Alcoholism and Eating Disorders

The comorbidity between alcoholism and eating disorders, especially in young women, is well documented. Alcohol and other drug (AOD)-use disorders are particularly common in women with bulimia nervosa. Although the mechanisms underlying the coexistence of these disorders remain unknown, recent family epidemiology studies suggest that bulimia nervosa and AOD dependence are transmitted independently in families. Furthermore, bulimia nervosa generally develops before the onset of AOD dependence. Thus, factors other than addictive behavior may contribute to the development of bulimia nervosa in a substantial proportion of women. The comorbidity of AOD-use disorders with eating disorders has implications for the treatment of the affected patients.
Squatting: Developing World

Global economic transformation and the rapidly growing population in the developing world are causing millions of rural people to migrate to cities and take up residence as squatters living in shacks in informal settlements. These communities are both volatile places that suffer serious deficiencies in basic services and social stability and places of vibrant creativity, experimentation, and contestation through which much of the future of urban form and governance are being negotiated and built. Squatters, local governments, and a diverse array of stakeholders worldwide are increasingly focused on finding ways to improve squatter camps through gradual upgrading.
Observation and interpretation of negative remanent magnetization and inverted hysteresis loops in a thin film of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3.

The observation of inverted magnetic hysteresis loops and negative magnetic remanence (NRM) in a 7.6 nm thin film of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 grown on SrTiO3 substrates is reported. The film was grown employing pulsed laser deposition and characterized by reflection high-energy electron diffraction during growth and using x-ray reflectivity measurements post-growth. Magnetic properties of the film were measured from 5 K to 400 K under both the field-cooled (FC) and zero-field-cooled (ZFC) conditions. The observed results of inverted magnetic hysteresis loops and NRM are interpreted in terms of the co-existence of a magnetically inhomogeneous region consisting of superparamagnetic spin clusters with a blocking temperature T B = 240 K and the ferromagnetic state with an ordering temperature T C = 290 K. Hysteresis loop inversion is observed in the temperature region of T B < T < T C whereas NRM appears in the mixed superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic states for T < T C down to 5 K. These observations of hysteresis loop inversion and NRM are related to the magneto-static interaction between the superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic phases leading to anti-alignment of spin of both magnetic phases with respect to each other.
An Online Sequence-to-Sequence Model Using Partial Conditioning

Sequence-to-sequence models have achieved impressive results on various tasks. However, they are unsuitable for tasks that require incremental predictions to be made as more data arrives or tasks that have long input sequences and output sequences. This is because they generate an output sequence conditioned on an entire input sequence. In this paper, we present a Neural Transducer that can make incremental predictions as more input arrives, without redoing the entire computation. Unlike sequence-to-sequence models, the Neural Transducer computes the next-step distribution conditioned on the partially observed input sequence and the partially generated sequence. At each time step, the transducer can decide to emit zero to many output symbols. The data can be processed using an encoder and presented as input to the transducer. The discrete decision to emit a symbol at every time step makes it difficult to learn with conventional backpropagation. It is however possible to train the transducer by using a dynamic programming algorithm to generate target discrete decisions. Our experiments show that the Neural Transducer works well in settings where it is required to produce output predictions as data come in. We also find that the Neural Transducer performs well for long sequences even when attention mechanisms are not used.
Cardiac lymphatics and cardiac lymph flow in health and disease

Abstract Heart being a highly dynamic organ, studies on its lymphatic system have lagged even further behind those of other organs. We now understand that the cardiac lymphatics are critical regulators of both cardiac interstitial balance and immunity. The movement of lymph through the heart and the pathways through which it moves through the layers of the heart tissue is propelled mainly by active rhythmic compression of the cardiac tissue and can be modified by alterations in lymphatic tone. Interruption of the progress of lymphatic outflow from the heart, either through injury or obstruction, can lead to serious problems with cardiac contractility and conduction. This chapter considers the structural adaptations of lymphatics in the heart, the significance of lymph flow in cardiac function and dysfunction, and provides some insights into how maintenance or restitution of lymphatic networks can be used clinically to preserve cardiac function particularly that associated with many existing and common surgical procedures.
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING DYNAMICS IN BANGLADESH: AREAS AND FACTORS BEHIND THE CHANGES

Rapid growth in technologies and competitive business environments have brought significant changes in management accounting practices in the manufacturing industries. To cope with these changes a good number of management accounting tools have been developed in helping managerial decisions both at operating and strategic levels. Researchers have identified that the implementation of such tools in developed countries brought success in decision making though research in this particular area in less developed countries, especially in Bangladesh, is not significant yet. Thus, this research aimed to explain the changes that have taken place and the factors behind the changes in management accounting practices (MAP) in manufacturing industries. The listed manufacturing companies in Bangladesh consist of the population and sample of the study. Factor reduction techniques were used to analyze the influencing variables behind the changes in MAP. The paper reveals that the changes that have taken place from 2001 to 2010 period in MAP are mainly in the operational areas while after 2011 the changes in MAP have mostly taken place in the area of strategic decision making. The factors behind the changes are categorized under the heads of Changes in Business and Organization Strategy and Changes in Manufacturing and Information Technology by applying factor analysis.