cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Recurring Hospitalizations for Heart Failure during Long-Term Follow-Up in MADIT-CRT

Background There are limited data regarding predictors of recurrent hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) in mild heart failure (HF) patients during long-term follow-up. Objective We aimed to evaluate baseline risk factors for first and subsequent HHF among mild HF patients in MADIT-CRT. Methods Data regarding recurring HHF were prospectively collected for MADIT-CRT participants during long-term (7-year) follow-up. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify predictors of recurring HHF, adjusting for treatment with cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D). Results During long-term follow-up, 1442 patients had 0 HHF, 209 had 1 HHF, 90 had 2 HHF, and 77 had ≥3 HHFs. Predictors of first HHF included: atrial arrhythmia prior to enrollment, diabetes, prior coronary revascularization, glomerular filtration rate Conclusions Our data from the long-term follow-up of MADIT-CRT show that there are multiple baseline risk factors for first HHF following device implantation in mild HF patients, many of which do not predict subsequent HHF. These findings suggest a need to identify novel time-dependent risk factors for recurrent HHF.
Effects of fluids removal and thermal maturation on permeability and pore structure of organic-rich shale: Results from pyrolysis experiments

Abstract Laboratory measurements to determine petrophysical properties such as permeability are critical for shale reservoir characterization. Here we investigate effects of fluids removal and thermal maturation on permeability and pore structure of organic-rich shale. Mature and organic-rich shale samples were pyrolyzed at four temperature levels (110 °C, 250 °C, 450 °C, ≥ 600 °C), and performed nitrogen gas sorption and GRI (Gas Research Institute) permeability measurements after each heating level. Our results show that the measured porosity, permeability and pore structure are sensitive to the pyrolysis temperature. Surface area, N2 pore volume, GRI porosity and permeability increased as temperature increased, due to a combination of progressive loss of volatiles with increasing temperature and artificially induced thermal maturation at high temperatures. The correlation between gas adsorption and GRI results implies the multiscale pore network features of the samples, wherein a certain fraction of small pores could be partially or completely disconnected from the overall structure. Our work provides insights on useful information about the effects of fluids removal and thermal maturation for sample preparation procedures on laboratory measurements.
Wicked, Incomplete, and Uncertain: User Support in the Wild and the Role of Technical Communication: by Jason Swarts, Louisville, CO, Utah State University Press, 2018, 171 pp., $24.95 (paperback), $19.99 (eBook) ISBN: 978-1-60732-761-5, ISBN: 978-1-60732-762-2

The practice of helping users accomplish tasks with various technologies has long been a central concern for technical communicators. For Jason Swarts, this activity sits at the core of technical c...
Reporting of Bladder Cancer in Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor and Cystectomy Specimens

This chapter focuses on practical issues concerning the reporting of urothelial carcinoma, which should be based on the 7th ed. AJCC Staging Manual and the WHO 2004 classification. The terminology for reporting pT1 versus pT2 urothelial carcinoma and definitions for extravesical and prostatic invasion are discussed. Finally, the reporting of variant types of urothelial carcinomas is addressed.
How we became our data

In How We Became Our Data, Colin Koopman analyzes how the lives of United States citizens have become increasingly intertwined with the data they produce. To Koopman, we are not separate from our d...
Making the material routine: a sociomaterial study of the relationship between police body worn cameras (BWCs) and organisational routines

This article employs a sociomaterial perspective adapted from information systems and management studies to examine the potential impact of body worn cameras (BWCs) on police organisations. Based o...
Changes in emergency department visits for respiratory and cardiovascular disease after closure of a coking operation near Pittsburgh, PA

Introduction: In Allegheny County (AC), PA, US, closure of a large coke plant in January 2016 presented an opportunity to investigate the contribution of air pollutants to health outcomes in a nearby community. Materials and methods: The Allegheny County Health Department, (ACHD), Division of Air Quality, had begun monitoring pollutants near the plant since June 2011. The rates of hospitalizations and ED visits for cardio- vascular and respiratory disease were compared in the exposed community and two control areas: exposed control, with another coking operation; and unexposed control. Results: Of the study and two control areas, particulate matter concentrations decreased the most in the study area, from 10.9 µg/m3 to 9.7 µg/m3. Benzene decreased substantially in that area, from 0.27 ppm to 0.10 ppm. ED visits for cardiovascular, respiratory, and asthma were significantly higher in the ex- posed group in 2015 compared to 2016. There were no temporal differences in either control groups. There was a 26.5% decrease in cardiovascular ED visits, a 37.9% decrease in respiratory ED visits, and a 3-5 fold decrease in ED visits due to asthma. These decreases were not seen in exposed and unex- posed control areas. A case-crossover analysis confirmed that daily ED visits were significantly associated with daily particulate matter levels, controlling for temperature. Conclusion: With the closure of a large Coke Plant facility, we found that a modest decrease in particulate matter and a notable decrease in benzene concentration were associated with a significant decrease in emergency room visits not previously documented in other studies.
Using Machine Learning to Predict Hyperchloremia in Critically Ill Patients

Elevated serum chloride levels (hyperchloremia) and the administration of intravenous (IV) fluids with high chloride content have both been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in certain subgroups of critically ill patients, such as those with sepsis. Here, we demonstrate this association in a general intensive care unit (ICU) population using data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database and propose the use of supervised learning to predict hyperchloremia in critically ill patients. Clinical variables from records of the first 24h of adult ICU stays were represented as features for four predictive supervised learning classifiers. The best performing model was able to predict second-day hyperchloremia with an AUC of 0.80 and a ratio of 5 false alerts for every true alert, which is a clinically-actionable rate. Our results suggest that clinicians can be effectively alerted to patients at risk of developing hyperchloremia, providing an opportunity to mitigate this risk and potentially improve outcomes.
Relationships between Intrascalar Tissue, Neuron Survival, and Cochlear Implant Function

Fibrous tissue and/or new bone are often found surrounding a cochlear implant in the cochlear scalae. This new intrascalar tissue could potentially limit cochlear implant function by increasing impedance and altering signaling pathways between the implant and the auditory nerve. In this study, we investigated the relationship between intrascalar tissue and 5 measures of implant function in guinea pigs. Variation in both spiral ganglion neuron (SGN) survival and intrascalar tissue was produced by implanting hearing ears, ears deafened with neomycin, and neomycin-deafened ears treated with a neurotrophin. We found significant effects of SGN density on 4 functional measures but adding intrascalar tissue level to the analysis did not explain more variation in any measure than was explained by SGN density alone. These results suggest that effects of intrascalar tissue on electrical hearing are relatively unimportant in comparison to degeneration of the auditory nerve, although additional studies in human implant recipients are still needed to assess the effects of this tissue on complex hearing tasks like speech perception. The results also suggest that efforts to minimize the trauma that aggravates both tissue development and SGN loss could be beneficial.
Study on Propagation Characteristics of Obliquely Incident Terahertz Wave in Non-Magnetized Plasma

A transmission model of THz wave in non-uniform and magnetized plasma is established. Based on the analysis of transmission characteristics in Gaussian and uniform plasma environments, theoretical simulations are performed using the continuity conditions of the electric and magnetic fields at the boundary of each layer. The effects of collision frequency, electron density and incident angle on the attenuation of THz wave energy are mainly discussed. The attenuation of the THz wave by the collision frequency does not change monotonously, and the optimal frequency needs to be selected according to the actual situation. THz wave attenuation increases with increase of electron density. And the THz wave attenuation decreases with the increase of the incident angle. Vertical incidence can be used as a means to alleviate the "communication blackout". The conclusions of this paper provide a good theoretical basis and relevant parameter references for alleviating the "communication blackout" problem.
Electrocardiogram abnormalities in older individuals by race and ethnicity.

Abstract Background Aging is associated with many ECG changes. ECG abnormalities are known to be more prevalent with age and differ across race and ethnicity, yet there are limited studies categorizing the ECG changes in the older population and the differences seen among racial groups. We sought to determine ECG differences associated with race and ethnicity in this ethnically diverse, elderly population. Methods The ECG parameters of subjects between the ages of 75 and 99 years from a large and diverse inner-city patient population were analyzed. Subjects were grouped into one of four categories: Hispanic, Black, Non-Hispanic White, or Other for analysis. Rhythm, axis, voltage, and conduction parameters were determined according to the 12 SL algorithm and interpretation statements (GE Healthcare, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin) that were confirmed by an overreading cardiologist. Results 38,238 subjects were included. Of all groups, Non-Hispanic Whites exhibited more conduction abnormalities such as bundle branch block compared to the other groups, as well as the highest incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) (12.6%, p Conclusion Significant differences among the elderly of different race and ethnicity were noted with most parameters.
Evaporation-induced copper isotope fractionation: Insights from laser levitation experiments

Abstract As a transition metal that is moderately volatile at high temperatures, copper shows limited isotopic fractionation in terrestrial mantle-derived rocks but significant enrichment in its heavier isotope (up to 12.5‰ for 65Cu/63Cu) in objects that experienced volatile loss during formation, such as tektites, trinitite glasses, and lunar rocks. Previous efforts to model the Cu isotope fractionation trend from measurements of δ65Cu in tektites found that the trend cannot be explained by the theoretical isotope fractionation factor (α) for free evaporation of Cu, making it necessary to experimentally study Cu isotope fractionation under conditions similar to tektite formation. Here we present new experimental data of elemental (Na, K, Cu) and isotopic (Cu) fractionation during evaporation. Our experiments, conducted by laser-heating an aerodynamically levitated glass sphere to 1750, 2000, and 2150 °C, show rapid loss of Na, K, and Cu from the molten glass. In particular, > 99.99% of Cu was lost within 60 seconds. The evaporation induced loss of Cu is accompanied by progressive enrichment in its heavier isotope in the residue glass, with a maximum fractionation in δ65Cu of ∼18‰ relative to the synthesized initial sample. The empirical fractionation factor (α) calculated from our laser levitation data is 0.9960 ± 0.0002. Compared to similar experiments conducted for Zn, Cu appears to be significantly more volatile and show higher degrees of Cu isotope fractionation, consistent with observations in natural tektites. Comparing isotopic fractionation in a range of moderately volatile elements among laser levitation experiments, tektites, trinitites, and the bulk silicate Moon suggest that they experienced evaporation under various degrees of effective vapor saturation (∼74%, 93%, ∼99%, ∼99%), which depart significantly from free-evaporation (0%).
Horse-Sized Ducks or Duck-Sized Horses? Oddball Personality Questions Are Likable (but Useless) for Organizational Recruitment

To stand out, some organizations have started asking unorthodox interview questions to uncover unique qualities of the candidates while signaling the playful culture of their organization (e.g., “Would you rather fight a horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses?”). Despite its growing popularity, there is no empirical research on the organizational impact of these unusual questions. In this paper, we introduce Oddball Personality Questions (OPQs) and a theoretical model of its impact on recruitment. We test our theoretical model had in two studies. In study 1 (n = 275), we found that compared to traditional interview questions, people judged OPQs to be less useful, but more likable. The negative effect of decreased usefulness judgments on organizational attraction was offset by the positive effect of increased likability judgments. Participants were not more attracted to organizations that asked OPQs. In study 2 (n = 266), using a multi-wave time-lagged study, we find job seekers with a greater sense of humor reported more favorable reactions toward Oddball Personality Questions and subsequent attraction to the organization. Despite the double-edged nature of OPQs for recruitment, we believe that its limitations outweigh the benefits. Until the validity of OPQs as an assessment tool is established, its use in employment interviews remains dubious and cannot be recommended.
Glove and instrument changing to prevent bacterial contamination in infected wound debridement and closure procedures: A prospective observational study

Many surgeons use a single table of instruments for both excisional debridement and coverage/closure of infected wounds. This study investigates the effectiveness of a two-table set-up of sterile instruments, in addition to glove exchange, to reduce instrument cross-contamination during these procedures. This is a prospective, single-site, institutional review board-approved observational study of surgical debridements of infected wounds over a 17-month period. Two separate sterile surgical tables were used for each case: Table A for initial wound debridement (debridement set-up) and Table B for wound coverage/closure (clean set-up). Swabs of each table and its respective instruments were taken after debridement but prior to coverage/closure. The primary outcome of interest was bacterial growth at 48 hours. There were 72 surgical cases included in this study. Culture results of Table A demonstrated bacterial growth in 23 of 72 (32%) cases at 48 hours compared with 5of 72 (7%) from Table B (P = .001). These data suggest that there is significant bacterial contamination of surgical instruments used for debridement of infected wounds. Use of a two-table set-up reduced instrument cross-contamination by 78%, suggesting avoidable re-contamination of the wound.
Deltaic floodplain wetland vegetation dynamics along the sediment surface elevation gradient and in response to disturbance from river flooding and hurricanes in Wax Lake Delta, Louisiana, USA

Abstract Herbaceous wetland vegetation species percent cover data collected over five growing seasons (2007–2011) was used to define unique species assemblages along the elevation gradient of deltaic islands in the actively prograding deltaic floodplain wetlands in the Wax Lake Delta, a major distributary of the Mississippi River. The passage of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in September 2008 as well as a major river flood in spring of 2011 provided an opportunity to quantify the response and recovery of the vegetation community following disturbances of varying intensities. Two significant persistent species assemblages were observed from 2007 through 2011. The higher elevation species assemblage occurred above mean low water (MLW; −0.04 m NAVD88). While the lower elevation species assemblage occurred at elevations ranging from −0.47 to 0.30 m NAVD88. These unique lower and higher elevation species assemblages overlap at intertidal elevations. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike drastically reduced aboveground vegetation and percent cover immediately following the storms particularly for lower elevation species. No aboveground cover was observed for Sagittaria latifolia, Nelumbo lutea, Potamogeton nodosus, or Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) in any of the sampling stations following the hurricanes, compared to pre-hurricane aboveground cover mean ranging from 2 to 5%. Sagittaria platyphylla aboveground cover decreased from a pre-hurricane mean of 12.5% to
Lower Bounds for the N-Widths of the Class WrHω[n]

Let the collections of points \( \{ {{v}_{i}}{\mkern 1mu} = {\mkern 1mu} {{v}_{i}}(\omega ,{\mkern 1mu} r,{\mkern 1mu} n)\} _{{i = 0}}^{{n + 1}},{\mkern 1mu} \{ {{\vartheta }_{i}}{\mkern 1mu} = {\mkern 1mu} \vartheta (\omega ,{\mkern 1mu} r,{\mkern 1mu} n)\} _{{i = 0}}^{{n - r + 1}} \) satisfy inequalities $$ \begin{array}{*{20}{c}} { - 1{\mkern 1mu} = :{\mkern 1mu} {{v}_{0}}{\mkern 1mu} < {\mkern 1mu} {{v}_{1}}{\mkern 1mu} < \cdots {\mkern 1mu} < {\mkern 1mu} {{v}_{n}}{\mkern 1mu} < {\mkern 1mu} {{v}_{{n + 1}}}{\mkern 1mu} : = {\mkern 1mu} 1;} \\ { - 1{\mkern 1mu} = :{\mkern 1mu} {{\vartheta }_{0}}{\mkern 1mu} < {\mkern 1mu} {{\vartheta }_{1}}{\mkern 1mu} < \cdots {\mkern 1mu} < {\mkern 1mu} {{\vartheta }_{{n - r}}}{\mkern 1mu} < {\mkern 1mu} {{\vartheta }_{{n - r + 1}}}{\mkern 1mu} : = {\mkern 1mu} 1;} \\ {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {{{v}_{i}}{\mkern 1mu} < {\mkern 1mu} {{\vartheta }_{i}}{\mkern 1mu} < {\mkern 1mu} {{v}_{{i + r}}},} & {i{\mkern 1mu} = {\mkern 1mu} 1, \ldots ,{\mkern 1mu} n.} \\ \end{array} } \\ \end{array} $$ (1.1)
Acoustic characterization of low intensity focused ultrasound system through skull

Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) continues to gain traction in the field of non-invasive neuromodulation. Recent in vivo rat studies suggest that LIFU can be used to modulate region-specific brain activity in the motor cortex, leading investigators to conclude that LIFU may be a better alternative to more prominent, and more invasive, mechanisms of neuromodulation for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Epilepsy, and applications such as drug delivery applications. Despite these recent successes, a comprehensive understanding of beam patterns within the skull remains elusive.
The committee that worked: Developing an information literacy course by group process

Abstract University librarians at the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY), in response to a new requirement for an information literacy component in the University's general education program, formed a committee to create a credit course. The committee was able to work collaboratively and cohesively to quickly create a successful and flexible information literacy course. The committee's progress as they worked through this challenge is described, and the benefits resulting from this approach are examined.
Leukopenic infectious monocytosis. Report of a case closely simulating acute monocytic leukemia.

Abstract A patient with leukopenic infectious monocytosis with 55 per cent circulating monocytes at the onset is described. The clinical syndrome consists of an acute febrile illness, usually with gingival ulcerations, and is characterized by marked monocytosis and granulocytopenia in the early stages. Treatment is non-specific and the prognosis is favorable in most cases. The similarity to acute monocytic leukemia in its early stages is noted.
Telomere length in caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients: Relationship to psychological distress and aging

Caregivers are well known to carry psychological burden that is often associated with immune and neuroendocrine disruption. We recently reported that caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (Allo-HSCT) patients are quite distressed prior to transplantation. Conversely their immune and endocrine biomarkers were remarkably conserved and unrelated to psychological distress. Older age might promote vulnerability to caregiver stress, or more resiliency due to greater life experience. Mononuclear blood cell telomere length is related to both age and distress. Telomere length (TL) was assessed in fifty-nine caregivers of Allo-HSCT patients prior to transplant as well as a battery of psychological measures of distress inclining the CESD (depression), PSS (stress), STAI (anxiety), and PSQI (sleep). Age was treated as a dichotomous variable based on a median spilt of 55. As expected, all caregivers showed elevated measures of distress. Regression analyses revealed main effects of CESD and STAI on telomere length (beta’s = −.27, p = −.29, p p = .31). Probing this interaction suggested that the negative relationship between CESD and telomere length was significant for younger (
Fate of the Retained Ureteral Stump After Upper Pole Heminephrectomy in Duplex Kidneys

Purpose: We review the long-term outcome of retained ureteral stumps in children undergoing heminephrectomy for nonfunctioning upper pole moieties in duplex kidneys.Materials and Methods: The medical records of 50 patients who underwent 50 upper pole heminephrectomies for a nonfunctioning upper pole moiety of a duplex kidney between January 1990 and December 2000 were reviewed retrospectively.Results: Median patient age at heminephrectomy was 2.5 years (range 3 weeks to 16.5 years) and median followup was 6 years (range 1 to 11). Indications for heminephrectomy in the 50 renal units were obstructive ureterocele in 25 (50%) cases, ectopic ureter in 15 (30%), obstructive megaloureter in 5 (10%) and reflux nephropathy in 5 (10%). A total of 48 (96%) of the corresponding ureters were taken down as low as possible and transfixed through the heminephrectomy incision. Residual stump excision was required in 5 (10%) of the 50 units for recurrent urinary tract infection due to vesicoureteral reflux.Conclusions: Ou...
The Legacy of Lynching and Southern Homicide

This article assesses the influence of the legacy of lynching on homicide levels within the contemporary South. Drawing upon literature relating to the brutalizing effects of capital punishment and “self-help” in the absence of access to formal law, this study hypothesizes that a measure of the frequency of lynching in the past will exhibit positive effects on contemporary homicide levels for the overall population and for race-specific populations (white and black offending). The results of negative binomial regression analyses of counties and county-clusters in the South are generally consistent with expectations. The measure of lynching exhibits consistently positive effects on overall homicide levels and levels of black offending in models with controls for other theoretically relevant covariates. For whites, the effect of lynching emerges for a particular type of homicide: interracial homicides that evolve out of interpersonal conflicts. At a general level, our findings underscore the relevance of th...
Targeting liver X receptors in cancer therapeutics

Members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors carry out vital cellular functions and are highly druggable therapeutic targets. Liver X receptors (LXRs) are nuclear receptor family members that function in cholesterol transport, glucose metabolism and the modulation of inflammatory responses. There is now accumulating evidence to support the involvement of LXRs in a variety of malignancies and the potential efficacy of their ligands in these diseases. This Review summarizes the discovery and characterization of LXRs and their ligands, their effects and mechanisms in preclinical cancer models, and the future directions of basic and translational LXR research in cancer therapeutics.
Routine intra-operative trans-oesophageal echocardiography yields better outcomes in surgical repair of CHD

Objectives Trans-oesophageal echocardiographic imaging is valuable in the pre- and post-operative evaluation of children and adults with CHD; however, the frequency by which trans-oesophageal echocardiography guides the intra-operative course of patients is unknown. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 1748 intra-operative trans-oesophageal echocardiograms performed between 1 October, 2005 and 31 December, 2010, and found 99 cases (5.7%) that required return to bypass, based in part upon the intra-operative echocardiographic findings. Results The diagnoses most commonly requiring further repair and subsequent imaging were mitral valve disease (20.9%), tricuspid valve disease (16.0%), atrioventricular canal defects (12.0%), and pulmonary valve disease (14.1%). The vast majority of those requiring immediate return to bypass benefited by avoiding subsequent operations and longer lengths of hospital stay. A total of 14 patients (0.8%) who received routine imaging required further surgical repair within 1 week, usually due to disease that developed over ensuing days. Patients who had second post-operative trans-oesophageal echocardiograms in the operating room rarely required re-operations, confirming the benefit of routine intra-operative imaging. Conclusions This study represents a large single institutional review of intra-operative trans-oesophageal echocardiography, and confirms its applicability in the surgical repair of patients with CHD. Routine imaging accurately identifies patients requiring further intervention, does not confer additional risk of mortality or prolonged length of hospital stay, and prevents subsequent operations and associated sequelae in a substantial subset of patients. This study demonstrates the utility of echocardiography in intra-operative monitoring of surgical repair and highlights patients who are most likely to require return to bypass, as well as the co-morbidities of such manipulations.
Buckling strength assessment of corrugated panels in offshore structures

There is an increasing trend of living quarters in offshore structures being constructed using corrugated panels in order to save construction time and cost. Different from corrugated bulkheads in ship structures, the corrugated panels used in the living quarters are designed in triangular or trapezoidal profile with unequal flanges and with a corrugation angle between 45° and 90°. Industry needs have prompted the American Bureau of Shipping to develop design recommendations for the buckling strength assessment of these corrugated panels. This paper describes the main features and the principles of the recommendations based on ABS experience, along with the technical background. The modeling uncertainty associated with the recommended criteria has been established by comparing the predictions with laboratory tests and finite element analysis results. Two design examples are provided to demonstrate the application of the recommendations.
Rheo‐optical properties of polymers. VII. On time‐dependent infrared absorbance in polymer films

A theory is developed to show the use of infrared spectroscopy in the study of response of polymers to dynamic mechanical stress or strain. Preliminary experimental results are presented.
The Normal Details in the Rorschach Ink-Blot Tests.

(1937). The Normal Details in the Rorschach Ink-Blot Tests. Rorschach Research Exchange: Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 104-118.
A yeast's eye view of mammalian reproduction: cross-species gene co-expression in meiotic prophase

Meiotic prophase is a critical stage in sexual reproduction. Aberrant chromosome recombination during this stage is a leading cause of human miscarriages and birth defects. However, due to the experimental intractability of mammalian gonads, only a very limited number of meiotic genes have been characterized. Here we aim to identify novel meiotic genes important in human reproduction through computational mining of cross-species and cross-sex time-series expression data from budding yeast, mouse postnatal testis, mouse embryonic ovary, and human fetal ovary. Orthologous gene pairs were ranked by order statistics according to their co-expression profiles across species, allowing us to infer conserved meiotic genes despite obvious differences in cellular synchronicity and composition in organisms. We demonstrated that conserved co-expression networks could successfully recover known meiotic genes, including homologous recombination genes, chromatin cohesion genes, and genes regulating meiotic entry. We also showed that conserved co-expression pairs exhibit functional connections, as evidenced by the annotation similarity in Gene Ontology and overlap with physical interactions. More importantly, we predicted six new meiotic genes through their co-expression linkages with known meiotic genes, and subsequently used the genetically more amenable yeast system for experimental validation. The deletion mutants of all six genes showed sporulation defects, equivalent to a 100% validation rate. We identified evolutionarily conserved gene modules in meiotic prophase by integrating cross-species and cross-sex expression profiles from budding yeast, mouse, and human. Our co-expression linkage analyses confirmed known meiotic genes and identified several novel genes that might be critical players in meiosis in multiple species. These results demonstrate that our approach is highly efficient to discover evolutionarily conserved novel meiotic genes, and yeast can serve as a valuable model system for investigating mammalian meiotic prophase.
An Examination of Leasing Policy, Tax Rates, and Financial Stability in the Restaurant Industry:

Prior research has examined the relationship between debt financing and marginal tax rates to help explain the capital structure choice of firms. However, this type of measure is subjecttoanendogeneityproblem,wherebyanexaminationofpostfinancingtaxratesand debt financing produces a spurious negative relationship. Therefore, a before-financing tax rate may be a more accurate indicator of the use of debt financing versus leasing. This articleusesbothtaxrateestimatestoexaminetherelationshipbetweentaxratesandleas- ing behavior for a sample of restaurant firms. The authors also document a negative rela- tion between the use of operating leases and the marginal tax rate faced by the firm and compare the accuracy of the two tax rate measures in predicting leasing and debt policy. Finally,theauthorsexaminetherelationshipbetweenleasingbehaviorandafirm'sfinan- cial stability.
Measuring the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of young children in resource-limited settings: a review of existing measures

This review sought to identify and summarize the instruments adapted or developed for measuring HRQoL among young children (<8 years) living in resource-limited settings. A review of the literature was conducted in two phases. Phase one searched the PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Knowledge (Web of Science), African Index Medicus, and SocINDEX databases and identified widely used child HRQoL instruments. Phase two reviewed the articles using the selected HRQoL instruments and extracted information on their use in resource-limited settings including adaption processes. Seven instruments were identified that measured the HRQoL of young children. Six had been used in resource-limited settings. Of the 452 articles using these instruments, a total of 23 (5 %) studies used one of the identified HRQoL instruments in a resource-limited setting. Among these studies, 39 % employed an adaptation process for the use of that instrument. No instruments had been developed specifically for measuring the HRQoL of young children in resource-limited settings. If pediatric HRQoL instruments are to be used in resource-limited settings, it is critical that they be developed and adequately adapted to those settings. Only then will interventions lead to larger increases in the overall HRQoL and well-being of children.
Semantic types of abstract entities

Clauses denoting propositions, facts, reasons and situations share semantic behavior in three areas: pronominal anaphoric reference to the entities they introduce into a discourse; coordination; and quantification by quantity adverbs over their denotation domains. Clauses denoting events do not share these semantic properties, nor do nominals denoting propositions, facts, reasons, or situations. These facts are explored, and an explanation is developed based on semantic types.
Wireworm Damage to Potatoes in the Yakima Valley of Washington

Wireworms are generally considered one of the major insect pests of potatoes in this country. Many investigators in various states have reported wireworm damage to potatoes as of considerable economic importance. Hawkins (1930), in Maine, reports injury both to potato plants and to the tubers by wireworms. Rawlins & MacLeod (1935) report the wheat wireworm, Agriotes mancus (Say), and the eastern field wireworm, Limonius ectypus (Say), as injurious to potato tubers in certain potato growing districts of New York state. Glen, King & Arnason (1936) report wireworms as doing serious and widespread damage to potatoes in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada. Hawkins (1936) points out that potatoes are a crop particularly susceptible to wireworm attack in Maine and the greatest annual loss to the crops of that state is that caused to potatoes by wireworms. Reports indicating similar damage have been made by many state and federal workers.
Electrical characterization Of SiGe thin films

An apparatus for measuring electrical resistivity and Hall coefficient on both thin films and bulk material over a temperature range of 300K to 1300K has been built. A unique alumina fixture, with four molybdenum probes, allows arbitrarily shaped samples, up to 2.5 cm diameter, to be measured using van der Pauw's method. The system is fully automated and is constructed with commercially available components. Measurements of the electrical properties of doped and undoped Si-Ge thin films, grown by liquid phase epitaxy reported here, are to illustrate the capabilities of the apparatus.
ENZYMATIC SYNTHESIS OF THEAFLAVINS AND EPITHEAFLAVIC ACID FROM TEA CATECHINS AND THEIR ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

A number of in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that black tea polyphenols have significant biological activities, including antioxidant, antiinflammatory and anticancer activity. The theaflavins have received attention as one of responsible components for biological activities of black tea. However, little information is available for the biological activity of individual theaflavins and minor components in black tea. In the present study, theaflavins and epitheqflavic acid were synthesized from their parent flavan-3-ols catechins using an enzymatic oxidation method and employing crude polyphenol oxidase from banana fruit. The compounds were isolated using column chromatographic methods, and their structures confirmed by 1H-NMR and APCI-MS. The peroxyl radical scavenging activities of theaflavins and epitheaflavic acids were measured using a modified ORAC method. The results indicated that theaflavins have higher peroxyl radical scavenging activity than EGCG. The hierarchy of radical scavenging activity of theaflavins, epitheaflavic acid and related compounds were in the order of: theaflavin-3, 3′-digallate ∼ theflavin-3-gallate ∼ theaflavin-3′-gallate ∼ theaflavin > epitheaflavic acid > EGCG > purpurogallin.
Using simulation to engineer cybersecurity requirements

When large software projects fail, it is often because of inappropriate, misunderstood, or poorly conceived requirements. When a project is successful, the cost of building the system can be exceeded by the cost of correcting problems discovered after delivery. This is particularly true of cybersecurity problems, which are typically discovered after a system has been put into operation. By addressing cybersecurity in a system's requirements - at the beginning of the system lifecycle - the total cost of the system can be substantially reduced. In this paper, we discuss the role that modeling and simulation may play in the construction of appropriate and clearly articulated requirements for cybersecurity in complex software systems.
Long-term parental methamphetamine exposure of mice influences behavior and hippocampal DNA methylation of the offspring

The high rate of methamphetamine (METH) abuse among young adults and women of childbearing age makes it imperative to determine the long-term effects of METH exposure on the offspring. We hypothesized that parental METH exposure modulates offspring behavior by disrupting epigenetic programming of gene expression in the brain. To simulate the human pattern of drug use, male and female C57Bl/6J mice were exposed to escalating doses of METH or saline from adolescence through adulthood; following mating, females continue to receive drug or saline through gestational day 17. F1 METH male offspring showed enhanced response to cocaine-conditioned reward and hyperlocomotion. Both F1 METH male and female offspring had reduced response to conditioned fear. Cross-fostering experiments have shown that certain behavioral phenotypes were modulated by maternal care of either METH or saline dams. Analysis of offspring hippocampal DNA methylation showed differentially methylated regions as a result of both METH in utero exposure and maternal care. Our results suggest that behavioral phenotypes and epigenotypes of offspring that were exposed to METH in utero are vulnerable to (a) METH exposure during embryonic development, a period when wide epigenetic reprogramming occurs, and (b) postnatal maternal care.
Direct search methods: then and now

We discuss direct search methods for unconstrained optimization. We give a modern perspective on this classical family of derivative-free algorithms, focusing on the development of direct search methods during their golden age from 1960 to 1971. We discuss how direct search methods are characterized by the absence of the construction of a model of the objective. We then consider a number of the classical direct search methods and discuss what research in the intervening years has uncovered about these algorithms. In particular, while the original direct search methods were consciously based on straightforward heuristics, more recent analysis has shown that in most - but not all - cases these heuristics actually suffice to ensure global convergence of at least one subsequence of the sequence of iterates to a first-order stationary point of the objective function.
Theory of the angular-resolved photoemission from TaS2☆

Abstract The energy and angular resolved photoemission spectra of TaS 2 are discussed using a model involving delocalized initial states. A multiple-scattering scheme is used to determine both the ground state and the excited state wave function in the presence of the surface. Theoretical calculations of azimuthal spectra for TaS 2 compare favorably with recent experimental results and demonstrate the non-plane wave character of the final state as well as the importance of matrix elements.
Constructed Wetlands for Treatment of Channel Catfish Pond Effluents

Abstract Water from a production pond for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) in Hale County, Alabama, was passed through a constructed wetland consisting of two cells, one planted with California bulrush (Scirpus californicus) and giant cutgrass (Zizaniopsis miliacea) and one planted with Halifax maidencane (Panicum hemitomon). The removal of potential pollutants from water flowing through the wetland was determined for 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-d hydraulic residence times (HRTs), with hydraulic loading rates of 77–91 L/m2 of wetland per day. Concentrations of potential pollutants were much lower in effluent from the wetland than in influent from the channel catfish ponds. The following reductions in concentrations were recorded: total ammonia nitrogen, 1–81 %; nitrite-nitrogen, 43–98%; nitrate-nitrogen, 51–75%; total Kjeldahl nitrogen, 45–61%; total phosphorus, 59–84%; biochemical oxygen demand, 37–67%; suspended solids, 75–87%; volatile suspended solids, 68–91 %; and settleable solids, 57–100%. Overall perfo...
Human U1 Loci: Genes for human U1 RNA have dramatically similar genomic environments

Abstract We have cloned and sequenced several distinct loci from the human genome whose sequences agree exactly and are colinear with the sequence of the small nuclear RNA U1. There appear to be 100–150 such U1 loci in the human genome. Although these loci are not in close clusters or in small tandem repeats in the genome, the majority of them have remarkably similar genomic environments. Several potential RNA polymerase termination sites exist in the immediate 3′ flanking regions of the loci studied; however, no TATA box is found in the immediate 5′ flanking sequences. These observations, with the findings of others concerning the transcription of U1, suggest that U1 RNA is synthesized from a family of transcription units. These data are consistent with the proposal that RNA polymerase II may synthesize primary transcripts from these transcription units, which are processed at both the 5′ and 3′ ends to yield mature U1 RNA and possibly other RNA species of unknown function.
In Vivo Analysis of Ascl1 Defined Progenitors Reveals Distinct Developmental Dynamics during Adult Neurogenesis and Gliogenesis

In the adult mammalian brain, new neurons and glia are continuously generated but molecular factors regulating their differentiation and lineage relationships are largely unknown. We show that Ascl1, a bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) transcription factor, transiently labels neuronal and oligodendrocyte precursors in the adult brain. Using in vivo lineage tracing with inducible Cre recombinase, we followed the maturation of these precursors in four distinct regions. In the hippocampus, Ascl1 mostly marks type-2a progenitor cells with some late stage type-1 stem cells. Thirty days after Ascl1 expression, although a majority of the cells matured to granule neurons, a few cells remained as immature progenitors. By 6 months, however, essentially all Ascl1 lineage cells were granule neurons. In contrast, in the olfactory bulb neuronal lineage, Ascl1 is restricted to transit amplifying cells, and by 30 d all cells matured into GABAergic interneurons. Ascl1 also broadly marks oligodendrocyte precursors in subcortical gray and white matter regions. In the corpus callosum, Ascl1 defines a ventral layer of early oligodendrocyte precursors that do not yet express other early markers of this lineage like PDGFRalpha and Olig2. By 30 d, most had transitioned to mature oligodendrocytes. In contrast, Ascl1 expressing oligodendrocyte precursors in gray matter already coexpressed the early oligodendrocyte markers, but by 30 d they mostly remained as precursors. Our results reveal that Ascl1 is a common molecular marker of early progenitors of both neurons and oligodendrocytes in the adult brain, and these Ascl1 defined progenitors mature with distinct dynamics in different brain regions.
A Summary of Intergeneric New World Quail Hybrids, and a New Intergeneric Hybrid Combination

The exceedingly close affinities of the quail genera Colinus, Callipepla, and Lophortyx have been recognized for some time and have recently been emphasized by additional morphological (Holman 1961; Hudson et al. 1966), biochemical (Sibley 1960), and pterylographic (Ohmart 1967) evidence. Indeed, Holman has suggested that these three taxa might best be regarded as subgenera. Phillips et al. (1964) pragmatically merged Lophortyx with Callipepla; and Delacour (1961-1962) synonymized not only Lophortyx, but also Oreortyx and Philortyx, with Callipepla, yet retained Colinus as a separate genus. Although Ohmart (1967) questioned the validity of generically separating Lophortyx and Callipepla, he suggested that any new taxonomic reorganization should also include consideration of such related genera as Colinus. One useful source of evidence for judging possible generic distinction is the occurrence of both naturally occurring and artificially obtained hybrids, and their relative fertility. Thus, before advocating any taxonomic changes among the New World quail genera, a review of recorded intergeneric hybrids would seem to be in order.
Backcalculation of viscoelastic and nonlinear flexible pavement layer properties from falling weight deflections

Appropriate characterisation of individual layer properties is crucial for mechanistic analysis of flexible pavements. Typically in inverse analyses, pavements are modelled as elastic or nonlinear elastic to obtain layer material properties through non-destructive falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing. In this study, a layered viscoelastic–nonlinear forward model (called LAVAN) was used to develop a genetic algorithm-based backcalculation scheme (called BACKLAVAN). The LAVAN can consider both the viscoelastic behaviour of asphalt concrete (AC) layer and nonlinear elastic behaviour of unbound layers. The BACKLAVAN algorithm uses FWD load-response history at different test temperatures to backcalculate both the (damaged) E(t) and |E*| master curve of AC layers and the linear and nonlinear elastic moduli of unbound layers of in-service pavements. The BACKLAVAN algorithm was validated using two FWD tests run on a long-term pavement performance section. Comparison between the backcalculated and measured r...
Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor: A single institution case series at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center

Abstract Objective Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT) is a rare form of gestational trophoblastic neoplasm which is distinct based on its development from intermediate trophoblast cells and nodular growth pattern. The aim of this study is to describe a case series from a single institution with a review of the literature to better understand the clinical characteristics and outcomes for patients with ETT. Methods A retrospective review was performed using the IRB approved New England Trophoblastic Disease Center (NETDC) database from 1998 to 2014. Eight patients were identified of which seven had complete records. Follow-up data was obtained from the longitudinal medical records. Results Four (57.1%) patients presented with vaginal bleeding and two (28.6%) patients were asymptomatic at presentation. Three (42.9%) patients had extrauterine disease. All three patients with extrauterine disease who received chemotherapy had stable or progressive disease at follow-up. Only two (29%) patients who presented with non-metastatic disease and underwent hysterectomy were alive with no evidence of disease. The mean interval following antecedent pregnancy was 104months. All patients with an interval >4years demonstrated stable or progressive disease despite intensive chemotherapy. Two patients with non-metastatic disease who declined hysterectomy developed stable or progressive disease despite chemotherapy. Conclusions This series highlights several features of ETT including the potential for asymptomatic presentation of extrauterine disease. The series also demonstrates chemoresistance, even with multi-agent therapy and a poor prognosis with extrauterine disease and an interval greater than 4years following the antecedent pregnancy suggesting that surgery remains critical in disease control.