cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound and Mapping of Neck Lymph Nodes

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) frequently metastasizes to regional cervical lymph nodes, with incidence rates ranging from 12 to 80% of PTC patients. Macroscopic nodal disease (as opposed to microscopic) has been shown to increase the risk of nodal recurrence. Preoperative identification of lymph node metastases is essential to allow for adequate surgical planning by determining extent of initial surgery, thereby optimizing recurrence-free survival outcomes. Postoperatively, surveillance of neck nodes allows for early detection of disease recurrence. Neck sonography, by virtue of its ease of use and ability to screen the neck for abnormal lymph nodes, is the primary imaging modality employed for screening, mapping, and surveying neck lymph nodes in patients with thyroid carcinoma.
Exploiting natural dynamics for gait generation in undulatory locomotion

ABSTRACTRobotic vehicles inspired by animal locomotion operate via periodic body movements. The pattern of body oscillation (gait) can be mimicked from animals, but understanding the principles und...
FON4 prevents the multi-floret spikelet in rice.

No abstract available Keywords: CRISPR-Cas9; FON4; multi-floret spikelet; rice (Oryza sativa); spikelet meristem determinacy; spikelet morphogenesis.
The Immune Subtypes and Landscape of Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: To identify immune subtypes and investigate the immune landscape of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), which share common etiology and histologic features. Experimental Design: Based on the immune gene expression profiles of 1,368 patients with SCC in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we used consensus clustering to identify robust clusters of patients and assessed their reproducibility in an independent pan-SCC cohort of 938 patients. We further applied graph structure learning-based dimensionality reduction to the immune profiles to visualize the distribution of individual patients. Results: We identified and independently validated six reproducible immune subtypes associated with distinct molecular characteristics and clinical outcomes. An immune-cold subtype had the least amount of lymphocyte infiltration and a high level of aneuploidy, and these patients had the worst prognosis. By contrast, an immune-hot subtype demonstrated the highest infiltration of CD8+ T cells, activated NK cells, and elevated IFNγ response. Accordingly, these patients had the best prognosis. A third subtype was dominated by M2-polarized macrophages with potent immune-suppressive factors such as TGFβ signaling and reactive stroma, and these patients had relatively inferior prognosis. Other subtypes showed more diverse immunologic features with intermediate prognoses. Finally, our analysis revealed a complex immune landscape consisting of both discrete clusters and continuous spectrum. Conclusions: This study provides a conceptual framework to understand the tumor immune microenvironment of SCCs. Future work is needed to evaluate its relevance in the design of combination treatment strategies and guiding optimal selection of patients for immunotherapy.
Metformin: Mechanisms in Human Obesity and Weight Loss.

Metformin has multiple benefits for health beyond its anti-hyperglycemic properties. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the mechanisms that underlie metformin’s effects on obesity. Metformin is a first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes. Large cohort studies have shown weight loss benefits associated with metformin therapy. Metabolic consequences were traditionally thought to underlie this effect, including reduction in hepatic gluconeogenesis and reduction in insulin production. Emerging evidence suggests that metformin-associated weight loss is due to modulation of hypothalamic appetite regulatory centers, alteration in the gut microbiome, and reversal of consequences of aging. Metformin is also being explored in the management of obesity’s sequelae such as hepatic steatosis, obstructive sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis. Multiple mechanisms underlie the weight loss–inducing and health-promoting effects of metformin. Further exploration of these pathways may be important in identifying new pharmacologic targets for obesity and other aging-associated metabolic diseases.
Long-Term Patient-Reported Rectal Bleeding and Bowel-Related Quality of Life After Cs-131 Prostate Brachytherapy.

Purpose There is limited long-term data on outcome and side effects of Cs-131 prostate brachytherapy and minimal patient-reported data on rectal bleeding with any isotope. We aimed to describe the incidence, prevalence, and predictors of late patient-reported rectal bleeding after Cs-131 brachytherapy. Methods and Materials We reviewed a prospectively collected database of 620 men treated with Cs-131 prostate brachytherapy. Of 620 patients, 390 (62.9%) received brachytherapy as monotherapy; the remainder received combination therapy with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Patients were administered Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite questionnaires preoperatively and postoperatively at each follow-up visit. The primary outcome was late rectal bleeding, defined as rectal bleeding reported at the 6-month follow-up or later. Clinically significant rectal bleeding was defined as occurring more than “rarely,” and clinically significant bother from rectal bleeding was defined as considering bleeding more than a “very small problem.” Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were performed to identify factors predictive for rectal bleeding. Results With a median follow-up time of 48 months, the cumulative incidence of clinically significant late rectal bleeding was 12.4%, with 15.2% reporting clinically significant bother from bleeding. At the time of last follow-up, the prevalence of clinically significant rectal bleeding and bother were 4.0% and 4.7%, respectively. On univariate analysis, acute clinically significant rectal bleeding, defined as occurring within the first 6 months (P = .001) and combination therapy with EBRT (P = .001) predicted for clinically significant late rectal bleeding. On multivariate analysis, both EBRT (P = .001; hazard ratio, 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.58-3.94) and acute rectal bleeding (P Conclusions Prostate brachytherapy with Cs-131 is well tolerated in the long term. Although the incidence of clinically significant patient-reported late rectal bleeding was 12.4%, the prevalence at last follow-up was only 4.0%, suggesting that this problem tends to resolve.
The ALT-70 cellulitis model maintains predictive value at 24 and 48 hours after presentation.

Background Cellulitis has many potential mimickers, and its misdiagnosis often leads to unnecessary hospitalizations and higher health care costs. The ALT-70 predictive model offers an objective tool to help differentiate between cellulitis and other clinically similar conditions at the time of initial emergency department (ED) presentation. Objective To evaluate the performance of the ALT-70 predictive model at 24 and 48 hours following ED presentation. Methods We performed a retrospective review of our prior cohort and expanded our data collection to include data at 24 and 48 hours after initial ED presentation. We compared classification measures for the ALT-70 at the time of initial ED presentation, 24 hours after presentation, and 48 hours after presentation. Results There was a statistically significant difference in median ALT-70 score between patients with true cellulitis and those with mimickers of cellulitis at all time points. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the ALT-70 score was similar across all 3 time points. Limitations Single-center design may reduce generalizability. Conclusion At 24 and 48 hours, the ALT-70 performed similarly to the way it performed at the time of initial ED presentation, allowing for its use in a wider array of clinical settings.
Circuit Simulation Model Including Surface Effects in RF Switching PIN Diodes

PIN diode surface effects can reduce the overall carrier lifetime from its bulk value. Varying surface conditions can be introduced during fabrication or can change over time. This reduction in effective carrier lifetime can increase the on-state resistance of the device, leading to increased insertion loss in series-connected circuits. This paper builds on a method of discretizing the PIN diode structure into a parallel combination of diode cells, each with their own carrier lifetime to model the bulk or surface conditions at that cell’s location. As new reconfigurable structures are being developed for applications such as 5G, this type of circuit model will help PIN diode circuit designers more accurately model the diode’s impact on circuit performance. Theoretical modeling of the transport equations is used in conjunction with the model construction. Simulation of a series reflective PIN diode switch using this model show that variations of several tenths of a dB insertion loss variation can be expected as surface conditions change. Simulations are verified with measurements to confirm the concept.
Hyperelastic modeling of swelling in fibrous soft tissue with application to tracheal angioedema

Angioedema, the rapid swelling of under-skin tissue, is typically triggered by complex biochemical processes that disrupt an original steady state filtration of liquid through the tissue. Swelling stabilizes once a new steady state is achieved in which the tissue has significantly increased liquid content. These processes are controlled by events at the molecular to the cellular length scale. For describing consequences at organ level length scales it is useful to invoke consolidated continuum mechanics treatments within a generalized hyperelastic framework. We describe the challenges associated with such modeling and demonstrate their use in the context of tracheal angioedema. The trachea is modeled as a two layered cylindrical tube. The inner layer and outer layer represent the soft mucosal tissue and the stiffer cartilaginous tissue respectively. Axially oriented fibers contribute anisotropy to the inner layer, and the swelling is largely confined to this layer. A boundary value problem is formulated; existence and uniqueness is verified. Numerical solutions track airway constriction as a function of mucosal swelling.
Dynamic multi-agent assignment via discrete optimal transport.

We propose an optimal solution to a deterministic dynamic assignment problem by leveraging connections to the theory of discrete optimal transport to convert the combinatorial assignment problem into a tractable linear program. We seek to allow a multi-vehicle swarm to accomplish a dynamically changing task, for example tracking a multi-target swarm. Our approach simultaneously determines the optimal assignment and the control of the individual agents. As a result, the assignment policy accounts for the dynamics and capabilities of a heterogeneous set of agents and targets. In contrast to a majority of existing assignment schemes, this approach improves upon distance-based metrics for assignments by considering cost metrics that account for the underlying dynamics manifold. We provide a theoretical justification for the reformulation of this problem, and show that the minimizer of the dynamic assignment problem is equivalent to the minimizer of the associated Monge problem arising in optimal transport. We prove that by accounting for dynamics, we only require computing an assignment once over the operating lifetime --- significantly decreasing computational expense. Furthermore, we show that the cost benefits achieved by our approach increase as the swarm size increases, achieving almost 50\% cost reduction compared with distance-based metrics. We demonstrate our approach through simulation on several linear and linearized problems.
Examining African American Girls’ Literate Intersectional Identities Through Journal Entries and Discussions About STEM:

This article examines how three African American girls, ages 10 to 18, used journaling and interviews to better understand science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as part of their ...
Traditional feminine gender roles, alcohol use, and protective behavioral strategies among Latina college students.

Studies conducted with Latina/o populations suggest there are gendered norms surrounding drinking behavior, but research examining alcohol use among Latina college students in the context of tradit...
Research on Family Engagement in Preventive Interventions: Toward Improved Use of Scientific Findings in Primary Prevention Practice

Effective strategies for family engagement are essential in the implementation of models directed toward the application of research findings to primary prevention practice. Although there has been limited investigation of family engagement in preventive interventions for general populations, the research has yielded several preliminary findings that warrant further study. Notably, families in eligible general populations can differ to a significant degree in intervention preferences and beliefs that influence their motivation to engage in interventions or in intervention evaluations. Also, a number of stable family member characteristics, such as internalizing/externalizing problems, have not been predictive of family engagement. Educational attainment has been predictive, but the differences between participants and nonparticipations have tended to be small. In addition, there are several common barriers to engagement, including family scheduling conflicts, that place practical limits on participation levels and need to be carefully addressed through engagement techniques. Collectively, findings from the literature suggest directions for the development of effective engagement strategies; also, they underscore the value of family engagement research in science-based prevention practices.
Mismatch repair deficiency predicts response to HER2 blockade in HER2-negative breast cancer

Estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Resistance to standard of care endocrine treatment occurs in at least 30% of ER+ breast cancer patients resulting in ~40,000 deaths every year in the US alone. Preclinical studies strongly implicate activation of growth factor receptor, HER2 in endocrine treatment resistance of ER+ breast cancer that is HER2- at diagnosis1,2. However, clinical trials of pan-HER inhibitors in ER+/HER2- patients have disappointed, likely due to a lack of predictive biomarkers3-6. Here we demonstrate that loss of MLH1, a principal mismatch repair gene, causally activates HER2 in ER+/HER2- breast cancer upon endocrine treatment. Additionally, we show that HER2 activation is indispensable for endocrine treatment resistant growth of MLH1- cells in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, inhibiting HER2 restores sensitivity to endocrine treatment in multiple experimental models including patient-derived xenograft tumors. Patient data from multiple clinical datasets (TCGA, METABRIC, Alliance (Z1031) and E-GEOD-28826) supports an association between MLH1 loss, HER2 upregulation, and sensitivity to trastuzumab in endocrine treatment-resistant ER+/HER2- patients. These results provide strong rationale that MLH1 could serve as a first-in-class predictive marker of sensitivity to combinatorial treatment with endocrine drugs and HER inhibitors in endocrine treatment-resistant ER+/HER2- breast cancer patients. Implications of this study extend beyond breast cancer to Lynch Syndrome cancers. One Sentence SummaryDefective mismatch repair activates HER2 in HER2-negative breast cancer cells and renders them susceptible to HER2 inhibitors.
The Skeleton Manual: A Handbook for the Identification of Aboriginal Skeletal Remains, by Alan Thorne and Anne Ross, illustrated by Minifred Mumford and Betsy-Jane Osborne

(1987). The Skeleton Manual: A Handbook for the Identification of Aboriginal Skeletal Remains, by Alan Thorne and Anne Ross, illustrated by Minifred Mumford and Betsy-Jane Osborne. Australian Archaeology: Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 80-82.
W-band and D-band Transmission Lines on Glass Based Substrates for Sub-THz Modules

Glass is a promising packaging and substrate material for high frequency applications. In this paper we provide the first results on the performance of transmission lines on polymer films laminated on glass substrates up to 170GHz. To benchmark the performance our stack up consists of 100um thick glass panel (AGC ENA1) with 15um thick build-up polymer (ABF GL102) laminated on both sides. Semi-additive processes (SAP) are employed to metallize the polymers. Coplanar Waveguide (Lines) have been designed and measured in a wide frequency range from 40GHz to 170GHz. We also present the insertion loss of microstrip lines in W-band (75GHz to 110GHz). In addition, for the first time, we present the characterization of electrical parameters (dielectric constant and loss tangent) of glass and polymer build up film-based stack up for W band (75GHz to 110GHz). For the extraction of dielectric constant and loss tangent of the proposed stack up, microstrip ring resonator (MRR) method is used. The dielectric constant of the presented stack up remains stable around 4.6 for the entire band while loss tangent varies from 0.004 to 0.008 from 75GHz to 100GHz. The average insertion loss for CPW lines at 40GHz,110GHz and 170GHz were measured to be 0.085dB/mm, 0.21dB/mm and 0.275dB/mm respectively. The measured insertion loss at 110GHz for microstrip line is 0.23dB/mm. The results show good and stable electrical performance of the glass-based stack up up to 170GHz and show its potential for utilization in designing high performance passives and packages for the development of future wireless generations.
Optical design and analysis of ultralight, large aperture transmissive lenses for space telescopes

Ultralight, large aperture transmissive lenses for space telescopes which consists of multi-order diffractive engineered (MODE) surface lenses have high aspect ratio, low stray light and can be segmented for a large space telescope using arrays.
Study of Two-Frequency RF Field Induced Two-Surface Multipactor

Multipactor is a nonlinear AC discharge phenomenon occurring in RF systems and system components in which a high frequency RF field creates an electron avalanche sustained through secondary electron emission [1] from metallic or dielectric surfaces. This work presents a study of two-surface multipactor discharge induced by two-frequency RF fields. We employ Monte Carlo simulations [2] , [3] and Computer Simulation Technology (CST) [4] to examine the effects of the relative strength and phase of the second carrier mode on multipactor susceptibility and time dependent physics [3] .
Tracking the causes of eurozone external imbalances: new evidence and some policy implications

The paper assesses the contribution of key drivers of external imbalances in the Eurozone through the estimation of a panel-data Vector Autoregressive model over 1975–2011. Growth fluctuations, initially associated with demand booms triggered by unusually low interest rates, and later with demand contractions resulting from the crisis and policy adjustments, have played an important role in current account balance fluctuations. Changes in real exchange rates or unit labor costs have played a less important role. Demand shocks have contributed more to current account balance dynamics in the Eurozone periphery than in the core, whereas competitiveness has been a less prominent factor in the periphery but relatively more important in the core. Some broad policy implications of the findings for demand management in a currency union are discussed, including for fiscal policy coordination and macroprudential policies when union members face asymmetric shocks. The role of internal devaluation policies as a means of correcting external imbalances is also reassessed.
Nucleotide sequence of the S-1 mitochondrial DNA from the S cytoplasm of maize

Mitochondria from the S male-sterile cytoplasm of maize contain unique DNA-protein complexes, designated S-1 and S-2. These complexes consist of double-stranded linear DNAs with proteins covalently attached to the 5' termini. To learn more about these unusual DNAs we have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the S-1 DNA molecule (6397 bp). The sequence of S-2 has been previously determined. S-1 and S-2 are structurally similar and contain 1.7kb of sequence homology. S-1 is terminated by exact 208-bp inverted repeats that are identical with the terminal inverted repeats of S-2. S-1 and S-2 also contain a 1462-bp region of nearly perfect homology, which includes one of the terminal inverted repeats. The homology between the two molecules may be maintained, in part, by homologous recombination. S-1 has three long unidentified open reading frames, URF2 (1017 bp), URF3 (2787 bp) and URF4 (768 bp). URF2 occurs in the 1462-bp region of homology and is identical in length and location in both S-1 and S-2. Based on their structural organization and their viral-like characteristics, we propose that S-1 and S-2 code for functions involved with their maintenance and replication.
Analysis of natural populations of Prochlorococcus spp. in the northern Red Sea using phycoerythrin gene sequences

Summary Marine cyanobacteria of the genus Prochlorococcus belong to one of two ecotypes that are specifically adapted to either low light (LL) or high light (HL) conditions. Previous analyses of the differences in pigmentation and gene complement revealed that LL-adapted ecotypes carry a gene cluster to produce a functional phycoerythrin, whereas in the fully sequenced genome of the HL-adapted strain MED4, only a single and free-standing cpeB gene occurs. This gene encodes a derived form of β-phycoerythrin, the function of which has remained enigmatic so far. Here, an analysis of HL-adapted Prochlorococcus strains from different ocean provinces revealed the presence of a cpeB gene highly similar to that of MED4. To investigate whether the presence of particular phycoerythrin genes is a common characteristic of the LL- and HL-adapted ecotypes, primer sets targeting specific motifs in LL-cpeB and HL-cpeB were designed for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of Red Sea phytoplankton. A major PCR product for Prochlorococcus HL-cpeB was obtained from samples taken at 5–70 m depth and for LL-cpeB from 70–125 m. The high sensitivity of this approach allowed the detection of HL-cpeB down to 100 m and LL-cpeB as deep as 175 m. DNA sequence and phylogenetic analysis of 70 individual clones for HL-cpeB and of 68 clones for LL-cpeB revealed a monophyletic origin for the HL and LL sequences respectively. This study shows that cpeB sequences are suitable as very sensitive molecular markers for the study of natural populations of Prochlorococcus. The low sequence divergence of HL-cpeB among Prochlorococcus strains, which have been isolated from the Mediterranean Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Southern Pacific Ocean as well as in populations from the Red Sea, suggests the HL-cpeB gene to be conserved and its product to be functional in Prochlorococcus.
Concentric Si annular photodiode arrays for spatially resolved diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

This paper describes the design, fabrication, and test of a custom concentric PD array for spatially resolved diffuse reflectance (SRDR) measurements. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported compact, densely packed semiconductor SRDR probe.
Epitope-dependent effects of Beta-amyloid antibodies on Beta-amyloid clearance in an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier.

Please cite this paper as: Bachmeier, Beaulieu-Abdelahad, Mullan, and Paris (2011). Epitope-Dependent Effects of Beta-Amyloid Antibodies on Beta-Amyloid Clearance in an In Vitro Model of the Blood–Brain Barrier. Microcirculation 18(5), 373–379. Abstract Objective: To investigate the role of RAGE in the epitope-dependent effects of Aβ antibodies used as a peripheral sink therapy in AD. Methods: An in vitro model of the BBB was used to examine the effect of various Aβ antibodies or Aβ peptide fragments on Aβ exchange across the BBB. Results: An N-terminal Aβ antibody significantly enhanced the basolateral-to-apical transcytosis of fluorescein-Aβ(1–42) across the BBB model (41%), while no effect was apparent with a C-terminal Aβ antibody. Interestingly, modulation of RAGE in the presence of a C-terminal Aβ antibody resulted in a 65% increase in Aβ clearance across the BBB model, suggesting the C-terminal antibody–Aβ complex is susceptible to RAGE transport. Additionally, N-terminal peptide fragments of Aβ attenuated the brain penetration of full length Aβ in the BBB model, indicating the N-terminal region of Aβ is required for brain uptake. Conclusions: Antibodies masking the N-terminal region of Aβ increase Aβ clearance across the BBB by preventing Aβ from interacting with the RAGE transporter, whereas antibodies bound to the C-terminus of Aβ are taken up by RAGE and, hence, do not influence the BBB clearance of Aβ.
Nonparametric (Distribution-Free) Quality Control Charts†

Control charts that are typically based on the assumption of a specific form of a parametric distribution, such as the normal, are called parametric control charts. In many applications, however, there is not enough information to justify this assumption and control charts that do not depend on a particular distributional assumption are desirable. Nonparametric or distribution-free control charts can serve this broader purpose. A key advantage of nonparametric charts is that its in-control run length distribution is the same for all continuous process distributions. This means, for example, that the false alarm rate and the in-control average run length of a nonparametric chart is the same for all continuous distributions. This is not true for parametric control charts in general and consequently their in-control robustness can be a legitimate concern. Nonparametric charts are often more robust and efficient than their normal theory counterparts under heavy-tailed and/or asymmetric distributions. In this paper we discuss developments, mostly in the area of univariate nonparametric control charts; this includes cases when the underlying parameters are specified as well as when they are unknown and are therefore estimated from the data. The majority of the charts are for monitoring the location; few charts are available for scale. Keywords: Distribution-free; Robust; Location-scale; Sign; Rank; Precedence; Run length; Median; Shewhart chart; CUSUM chart; EWMA chart; Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon; Phase I; Phase II
Soil spectra contributions to grass canopy spectral reflectance

The soil or background spectra contribution to grass canopy spectral reflectance for the 0.35 to 0.80 micron region was investigated using in situ collected spectral reflectance data. Regression analysis was used to estimate accurately the unexposed soil spectral reflectance and to quantify maxima and minima for soil-green vegetation reflection contrasts.
Evaluating Fidelity and Effectiveness of Interventions

The implementation and dissemination of injury control interventions in community settings often follows the publication of findings from formal research trials. In the absence of strong evidence for an intervention, public health administrators must decide to solve problems by creating new solutions or implementing interventions that appear to be promising and model current public health best practice. In either scenario, program officers need to understand if the decision to implement the intervention led to an important public health effect in their community setting. The evaluation of the effectiveness of an intervention or program is particularly important if there are few previous studies of the program’s effectiveness in real-world settings because the future diffusion of the program to other sites depends on its demonstrated effectiveness. The evaluation of the fidelity of the program implementation process is also an important task for program officials. Fidelity is defined as the accuracy or exactness of the replication of an intervention, based on the prototype model. Program administrators must be careful to monitor the fidelity of the program components as they have been developed in previous research models. Failure to monitor the quality of implementation of the intervention procedures could lead to reduced effectiveness of the program. The purpose of this chapter is to review approaches toward the evaluation of program effectiveness and fidelity. The intended audience for this chapter is primarily injury control and public health program administrators and their staff. In this chapter, we describe two specific scenarios frequently faced by program administrators. The first is the development of an evaluation section of a funding proposal from a state government department of health to disseminate an injury prevention intervention. The second involves planning for a site visit to evaluate an injury prevention program in a state or local health department. Both require
Shell-Model Analysis of the Xe 136 Double Beta Decay Nuclear Matrix Elements

Neutrinoless double beta decay, if observed, could distinguish whether the neutrino is a Dirac or a Majorana particle, and it could be used to determine the absolute scale of the neutrino masses. 136Xe is one of the most promising candidates for observing this rare event. However, until recently there were no positive results for the allowed and less rare two-neutrino double beta decay mode. The small nuclear matrix element associated with the long half-life represents a challenge for nuclear structure models used for its calculation. We report a new shell-model analysis of the two-neutrino double beta decay of 136Xe, which takes into account all relevant nuclear orbitals necessary to fully describe the associated Gamow-Teller strength. We further use the new model to analyze the main contributions to the neutrinoless double beta decay matrix element, and show that they are also diminished.
Climate Models: A User's Guide

This article has two goals: providing legal and policy analysts with a basic understanding of the types of computer models that are used in studying climate change, and thinking through the uses and limitations of these models for courts and agencies. Because this article covers a good deal of fairly diverse terrain, it may be helpful to identify four key "take away" points: 1. Climate models establish a lower end estimate for global temperature impacts, but the distribution is less clearly bounded on the high side - or in simpler terms, the high-end risk may be considerable. The models are better at predicting temperature patterns than precipitation patterns, and global predictions are considerably firmer than more localized ones. 2. Economic models are much less advanced, and their conclusions should be used with caution. Unfortunately, economists are not always carefully about incorporating uncertainty into their policy recommendations. 3. Climate scientists have created a unique institutional system for assessing and improving models, going well beyond the usual system of peer review. Consequently, their conclusions should be entitled to considerable credence by courts and agencies. 4. Model predictions cannot be taken as gospel. There is considerable residual uncertainty about climate change impacts that cannot be fully quantified. The uncertainties on the whole make climate change a more serious problem rather than providing a source of comfort. The policy process should be designed with this uncertainty in mind. For instance, rather than focusing on a single cost-benefit analysis for proposed regulatory actions, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which oversees federal regulatory policy, might do better to require the development of standardized scenarios for agencies to use.
Intrauterine noise levels produced in pregnant ewes by sound applied to the abdomen

Sound pressure in amniotic fluid was created by application of either an electronic artificial larynx or a standard audiometric earphone to the abdominal surface of pregnant ewes. Sound transmission was assessed with a hydrophone placed near the ear of the fetus within the intact amnion. Sound pressures produced by the electronic artificial larynx located directly over the hydrophone averaged 134.9 dB, whereas the highest sound pressure produced by a similarly placed earphone was 95.2 dB. Sound transmission decreased dramatically with increasing distance between the sound source and the hydrophone; this may account for some of the variability in fetal response when the sound test is used clinically. Caution is recommended in administering the sound test until the effects of high noise levels on the fetus are better understood.
Mechanism of the Photochemical Activity of Isolated Chloroplasts: VII. Inactivation of a Photoact by Dilute Ferricyanide Ion.

Destructive effects of the most commonly used Hill oxidant, ferricyanide ion, are well documented and include its acceleration of the second order inactivation process in isolated chloroplasts. Concentrated ferricyanide (50 mM), especially at pH values above 7, rapidly uncoupled photophosphorylation in spinach chloroplasts, thus accounting for its increase in the light-independent rate constant of ferricyanide reduction k/sub D/ by chard and beet chloroplasts, and it strongly inactivated a light step associated with oxygen evolution, which would account for our lowered photochemical efficiency as K/sub L/. Ferrocyanide ion was equally effective, and the effect on k/sub D/ was obtained with all artificial oxidants tried. The less concentrated (0.5 mM) ferricyanide ordinarily used to measure the velocity of the Hill reaction also inhibited photophosphorylation below pH 5.5 by potentiating acid lability and by solubilizing the coupling factor CF, as did ferrocyanide. In addition it partially inactivated, independent of pH, a dark step associated with the oxygen-evolving site, but this was prevented by weak illumination and by ferrocyanide, as it was an oxidative effect of ferricyanide. The authors now report, by way of kinetically resolved k/sub I/, with chloroplasts from a cultivar of sugar beet under given conditions of measurement, that the limitingmore » photochemical step can also be very labile toward the lower concentration of ferricyanide, and that this characteristic is promoted, as uncoupling was, by acidic as well as basic solutions.« less
Multiple regeneration from axolotl limb stumps bearing cross-transplanted minced muscle regenerates.

Flexor and extensor muscles in the upper arms of axolotls were minced and cross-transplanted. The limbs were amputated 5 and 30 days after mincing. In each experiment a high percentage of the regenerates consisted of multiple limbs. This demonstrates that the morphogenetic information which produces multiple regenerates after the cross-transplantation of limb stump muscle is stable enough to be expressed after both mincing and the subsequent tissue regeneration of the muscle.
Childhood asthma: a developmental and biopsychosocial model for treatment.

(1991). Childhood Asthma: A Developmental and Biopsychosocial Model for Treatment: Editorial. Journal of Asthma: Vol. 28, No. 6, pp. 401-403.
Differences in Mean Number of Consonant-Vowel-Consonant Words Decoded between Letter-Sound Readers and Non Letter-Sound Readers

Children’s failure to develop simple word decoding skills in early years is linked to future poor reading, school dropout, and poor health [1] [2]. Letter-sound knowledge is needed for word decoding development; however questions remain on what types of letter-sound knowledge help children decode simple words [3]. This study investigated the differences in mean number of consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words decoded between two groups of children, a letter-sound reading group and non letter-sound reading group. Children aged 4 to 6 in both groups, attempted to decode a variety of simple words such as tan, sit, hen, pig, dot, and fun. Analysis determined word decoding differences existed between the two groups. The alternate hypothesis was accepted; the letter-sound reading group had a significantly higher mean in number of consonant-vowel-consonant words decoded compared to the non letter-sound reading group. The study informs the teaching approaches needed to improve early decoding skills showing letter-sound reading ability is an important step for learning to decode simple consonant-vowel-consonant words.
Radially polarized Bessel-Gauss beams in ABCD optical systems and fiber-based generation

We derive solutions for radially polarized Bessel-Gauss beams in ABCD optical systems by superimposing decentered Gaussian beams with linear polarization states. We experimentally confirm the expression by employing a fiber-based mode-converter.
RESOLUTION IN ELECTRON MICROSCOPE RADIOAUTOGRAPHY : II. Carbon14

Experimental resolution values, half distances (HD), were determined for electron microscope radioautography with 14C as the source of radioactivity. These were about a factor of 1.5–2 times higher than for tritium. Grain distributions normalized in units of HD were found to fit the "universal" curves previously obtained for tritium.
Report of breakout session: Slipped capital femoral epiphysis management 2011.

Young-Jo Kim MD, PhD (Moderator), Rafael J. Sierra MD (Scribe), Session Participants. Session Participants: Martin Beck MD, PD, Michael Leunig MD, PD, Michael B. Millis MD. Each author certifies that he or she, or a member of their immediate family, has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request.
Alterations in CIITA constitute a common mechanism accounting for downregulation of MHC class II expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Objective Significant decreases in patient survival are associated with downregulation of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) antigen expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for decreased MHC-II expression in DLBCL are poorly defined. We therefore examined these mechanisms in established DLBCL cell lines. Materials and Methods Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR surface expression was examined by flow cytometry. Expression of the MHC-II genes and the MHC-II transcriptional activators class II transactivator (CIITA) and RFX was investigated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The integrity of the MHC-II genes was examined by polymerase chain reaction. Stable transfection assays were utilized to reconstitute CIITA expression. Results Dramatic variations in the levels of cell surface HLA-DR expression were observed on the DLBCL cell lines. OCI-Ly10 cells lack HLA-DR and HLA-DQ expression due to homozygous deletions within the MHC-II locus on chromosome 6. Dyscoordinate downregulation of MHC-II β-chain expression in OCI-Ly3 cells mediates dramatic reductions of MHC-II surface expression. In SUDHL-4 and SUDHL-6 cells, expression of the MHC-II genes is coordinately reduced and quantitatively correlated with expression of the CIITA, the master regulator of MHC-II transcription. DB cells lack expression of CIITA and all of the MHC-II genes. Stable transfection of DB cells with CIITA expression vectors resulted in coordinate upregulation of MHC-II gene expression, which demonstrates the causal relationship between the lack of CIITA and MHC-II loss. Conclusions These data demonstrate that downregulation of MHC-II expression occurs by multiple distinct mechanisms in DLBCL. However, decreases in CIITA expression appear to be the most prevalent mechanism.
Is it time for bed? Short sleep duration increases risk of obesity in Mexican American children

Abstract Objective Cross-sectional studies show that sleep is related to childhood obesity. We aimed to examine the longitudinal impact of sleep on the risk of obesity in Mexican American children. Design and methods We evaluated 229 Mexican American 8–10-year-olds and their mothers at baseline and at 12- and 24-month follow-ups. Sleep duration and anthropometrics were collected. Age- and gender-specific body mass index (BMI) z -scores (BMIz) were calculated based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Sleep duration was estimated using accelerometry. Children were also categorized as long or short sleepers, using the National Sleep Foundation's recommendation to define adequate sleep duration (10–11 h for 5–12-year-olds). Using linear regressions, we examined whether sleep duration predicted BMIz, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and weight gain at 24 months. Results Children were mostly short sleepers (82%). Children who slept less were more likely to have a higher BMIz, WHtR, and weight gain at the 24-month follow-up ( β = −0.07, P = 0.01; β = −0.11, P 0.01; and β = −0.14, P = 0.02, respectively), after controlling for baseline weight status, child gender, maternal BMI, and occupation. Conclusion In Mexican American children, shorter sleep duration at baseline was associated with increased weight status over 24 months.
The cloning and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 2 in normal canine lymph nodes and in canine lymphoma

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and its inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2), are known to be important in cancer. The purposes of this study were to determine the cDNA sequence of canine MMP-2 and to investigate the expression patterns of MMP-2 and TIMP2 in normal canine lymph nodes and spontaneously arising canine lymphomas. We cloned and sequenced a PCR product containing most (1901 base pairs) of the coding sequence of canine MMP-2 that translates into a 623 amino acid protein. The cDNA and deduced amino acid sequences are highly homologous to those of other mammalian species. Canine MMP-2 and TIMP2 mRNAs were detectable in the majority of normal lymph node and lymphomatous samples evaluated. No statistical difference was identified when comparing the expression of either gene with regard to normal versus neoplastic nodes, nodal versus extranodal lymphoma, lymphoma grade, or B versus T cell immunophenotype.
Gene expression analysis of cold treated versus cold acclimated Poncirus trifoliata

Poncirus trifoliata, a close relative of Citrus species, has been widely used as a cold hardy rootstock for citrus production in low-temperature environments. cDNA Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) and Relative Quantification (RQ-PCR) were used to study gene expression of P. trifoliata in response to 10, 24 and 55 h of low temperature (4°C) treatment and a gradual 3 weeks long cold-acclimation regime. Thirteen differentially expressed cDNA fragments were chosen for further study. These fragments show high similarities to genes with the following known functions: signal transduction and regulation of gene expression, osmotic stress response, cell skeleton reorganization, vesicle trafficking and senescence. Expression levels of genes implicated in signal transduction and regulation of gene expression (MAPK3 and bZIP TF) increased with prolonged exposure to low temperature, but were not upregulated following cold-acclimation. Others were induced following cold-acclimation, but not upon exposure to 4°C. Only the auxin-ethylene GH3-like protein showed dramatic increases during all cold treatments. These comparisons provide information on the dynamic changes in gene expression levels during different cold response regimes.
Condensed-matter physics: Paralysed by disorder.

In a disordered medium, a quantum particle can literally stop itself in its tracks. This localization phenomenon can be observed directly using the coldest known form of matter, caught in a laser trap.
Phagocytic Cells in Periodontal Defense: Periodontal Status of Patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease of Childhood

Both qualitative and quantitative neutrophil abnormalities have been associated with severe forms of periodontitis. Defects in chemotaxis, phagocytosis and bacterial killing have been reported among both peripheral blood and gingival neutrophils harvested from patients with juvenile and rapidly progressive periodontitis. Chronic granulomatous disease of childhood (CGD) is a rare, inherited disorder associated with the occurrence of severe, life-threatening, suppurative infections of skin, liver, lymph nodes and other organs. Neutrophils and monocytes from individuals with CGD lack enzymes necessary for the production of oxygen reduction/products such as H2O2 and superoxide anion, and therefore are unable to kill many species of bacteria and fungi. However, no detailed study of the periodontium of these patients has been undertaken. Accordingly, five patients whose ages ranged from 17 to 32 years were included in this study. An additional (sixth) patient was included based on complete dental records. Neutrophils from all patients demonstrated defective O2 metabolism, and all patients had histories of chronic recurrent abscesses consistent with CGD. All patients were receiving antibiotic prophylaxis. Several patients had ulcerative lesions of the oral cavity of unknown etiology. Examination of the periodontium revealed that three patients had gingivitis, one had localized early periodontitis, and one had generalized early-to-moderate periodontitis. The severity of periodontal disease was consistent with patient age and local etiologic factors. No patients had evidence of juvenile, severe or rapidly-progressing disease in spite of their leukocyte defects. These findings suggest the following possibilities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Reaction systems related to dissimilatory nitrate reductase: nitrate reduction mediated by bis(dithiolene)tungsten complexes.

Kinetics of the oxygen atom transfer reactions [MIV(QC6H2-2,4,6-Pri3)(S2C2Me2)2]1- + XO → [MVIO(QC6H2-2,4,6-Pri3)(S2C2Me2)2]1- + X in acetonitrile with substrates XO = NO3- and (CH2)4SO have been determined. The reactants are bis(dithiolene) complexes with M = Mo, W and sterically encumbered axial ligands with Q = O, S to stabilize mononuclear square pyramidal structures. The complex [MoIV(SC6H2-2,4,6-Pri3)(S2C2Me2)2]1- is an analogue of the active site of dissimilatory nitrate reductase which in the reduced state contains a molybdenum atom bound by two pyranopterindithiolene ligands and a cysteinate residue. Nitrate reduction was studied with tungsten complexes because of unfavorable stability properties of the molybdenum complexes. Product nitrite was detected by a colorimetric method. All reactions with both substrates are second-order with associative transition states (ΔS‡ ∼ −20 eu). Variation of atoms M and Q, together with data from prior work, allows certain kinetics comparisons to be made. Among ...
Long-Term Decision-Making: Biological and Psychological Evidence

A central conundrum in the need to infuse a long-term perspective into climate policy and other environmental decision-making is the widespread belief that humans are inherently short-term thinkers. An analysis of human decision-making informed by evolved adaptations—biological, psychological and cultural—suggests that humans actually have a long-term thinking capacity. In fact, the human time horizon encompasses both the immediate and the future (near and far term). And yet this very temporal duality makes people susceptible to manipulation; it carries its own politics, a politics of the short term. A “legacy politics” would extend the prevailing time horizon by identifying structural factors that build on evolved biological and cultural factors.