cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The human pituitary nitroproteome: detection of nitrotyrosyl-proteins with two-dimensional Western blotting, and amino acid sequence determination with mass spectrometry.

Nitric oxide is an important mediator that participates in reduction-oxidation (redox) mechanisms and in cellular signal transduction pathways. Two types of post-translational modifications are induced by nitric oxide: S-nitrosylation of cysteine residues and nitration of tyrosine residues. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis-based Western blotting was used to detect, and liquid chromatography (LC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to determine the amino acid sequence of, several different nitrated proteins in the human pituitary. Proteins from several 2D gel spots, which corresponded to the strongly positive anti-nitrotyrosine Western blot spots, were subjected to in-gel trypsin-digestion and LC-MS/MS analysis. MS/MS, SEQUEST analysis, and de novo sequencing were used to determine the nitration site of each nitrated peptide. A total of four different nitrated peptides were characterized and were matched to four different proteins: synaptosomal-associated protein, actin, immunoglobulin α Fc receptor, and cGMP-dependent protein kinase 2. Those nitrotyrosyl-proteins participate in neurotransmission, cellular immunity, and cellular structure and mobility.
The calibration of thermistors over the temperature range 0–30°C

Abstract Least squares fitting is used to fit the function 1/T=polynomial (logR) to data on thermistor resistance,R, versus temperature,T, over the range 0–30°C. For an accuracy of 0·001°C, the polynomial must be of third degree, requiring a minimum of four calibration points. Within a batch of thermistors, the behaviour is sufficiently similar for a reduction in the number of necessary calibration points to be possible if the mean properties of the batch are used to determine the higher order polynomial coefficients. After eliminating one thermistor with high drift from the 21 tested, the mean value of the root mean square drift of ice-point resistance corresponds to a random walk temperature drift not exceeding 0if0·00125°Cyr 1/2. The effect of pressure on the steel probe type of thermistor is 1·3 × 10−6 ± 1·5 × 10−6 (standard deviation) °C/bar at pressures up to 700 bar (10,000 psi).
A single interval based classifier

In many applications, it is desirable to build a classifier that is bounded within an interval. Our motivating example is rooted in monitoring in a stamping process. A novel approach is proposed and examined in this paper. Our method consists of three stages: (1) A baseline of each class is estimated via convex optimization; (2) An “optimal interval” that maximizes the difference among the baselines is identified; (3) A classifier that is based on the “optimal interval” is constructed. We analyze the implementation strategy and properties of the derived algorithm. The derived classifier is named an interval based classifier (IBC) and can be computed via a low-order-of-complexity algorithm. Comparing to existing state-of-the-art classifiers, we illustrate the advantages of our approach. To showcase its usage in applications, we apply the IBC to a set of tonnage curves from stamping processes, and observed superior performance. This method can help identifying faulty situations in manufacturing. The computational steps of IBC take advantage of operations-research methodology. IBC can serve as a general data mining tool, when the features are based on single intervals.
Improvement in renal function and its impact on survival in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

Renal impairment (RI) is seen in over a quarter of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). It is not clear if reversal of RI improves the outcome to that expected for NDMM patients without RI. We evaluated 1135 consecutive patients with NDMM seen at the Mayo Clinic between January 2003 and December 2012. RI was defined as having a creatinine clearance (CrCl) <40ml/min. The median overall survival (OS) for patients with RI at diagnosis receiving and not receiving novel agent induction therapy was not reached vs 46 months (P<0.001). The median OS for patients with CrCl ⩾40 ml/min at diagnosis, CrCl <40 ml/min at diagnosis but improved to ⩾40 ml/min and CrCl <40 ml/min at diagnosis and remained <40 ml/min, were 112, 56 and 33 months, respectively (P<0.001). The complete renal response rate for patients with RI at diagnosis receiving novel agent induction therapy compared to the rest was 40 vs 16% (P<0.001). In conclusion, patients with reversal of RI have improved outcomes, but it remains inferior to patients with normal renal function at diagnosis. These results have implications for identifying early treatment strategies for patients at risk of developing renal insufficiency.
Synthesis and Characterization of Liquid Crystalline Triaryloxy-s-Triazines

Abstract 2,4,6-Tris[p-(p′-n-alkylphenyliminomethylene)phenoxy]-s-triazines (3) were found to be calamitic liquid crystals based on X-ray diffraction patterns, optical textures, and molecular modeling results. Replacement of the Schiffs base moieties in the mesogenic “arms” to form 2, 4, 6-tris(p-n-octyloxycarbonylphenoxy)-s-triazine (7) did not result in a liquid crystalline compound. The tricarbonate 2, 4, 6-tris(p-cholesteryloxycarbonyloxyphenoxy)-s-triazine (11) was found to be liquid crystalline based on the optical textures observed, although the mesophase type could not be determined due to the high melting transition and thermal instability of this compound. The use of six ester groups around the triazine nucleus, in the form of 2, 4, 6-tris(3, 5-dicarboalkoxyphenoxy)-s-triazines (13), resulted in compounds which displayed normal melting behavior and no detectable mesomorphism.
Age-accelerated psychomotor slowing in temporal lobe epilepsy

Summary Cognitive and psychomotor slowing is a complication of epilepsy and is less often a focus of investigation relative to other cognitive domains (e.g., memory). A diversity of tasks has been used to examine psychomotor slowing in epilepsy, but it remains unknown whether the degree of epilepsy-related slowing is fixed or is exacerbated with increasing task demand. Also unknown is to what degree age related slowing is accelerated in epilepsy. Participants with temporal lobe epilepsy ( n =50) were compared to healthy controls ( n =69) across three tasks of psychomotor speed with varied complexity. Performance was examined as a function of group (epilepsy, controls), task complexity (simple, intermediate, complex), and chronological age. The results showed that speed of performance declined across the epilepsy and control participants as a function of task complexity. Epilepsy participants were significantly slower than controls across the three tasks, and there was a significant three-way interaction (group by task complexity by age). These results demonstrate that psychomotor slowing is related to task complexity in both epilepsy and healthy control participants, always greater in epilepsy participants, and there is a significant age acceleration of psychomotor slowing in the epilepsy group that is magnified by complex tasks.
Verification of multi-agent negotiations using the alloy analyzer

Multi-agent systems provide an increasingly popular solution in problem domains that require management of uncertainty and a high degree of adaptability. Robustness is a key design criterion in building multi-agent systems. We present a novel approach for the design of robust multi-agent systems. Our approach constructs a model of the design of a multi-agent system in Alloy, a declarative language based on relations, and checks the properties of the model using the Alloy Analyzer, a fully automatic analysis tool for Alloy models. While several prior techniques exist for checking properties of multi-agent systems, the novelty of our work is that we can check properties of coordination and interaction, as well as properties of complex data structures that the agents may internally be manipulating or even sharing. This is the first application of Alloy to checking properties of multi-agent systems. Such unified analysis has not been possible before. We also introduce the use of a formal method as an integral part of testing and validation.
Impact of cysteine proteinase inhibition in midgut fluid and oral secretion on fecundity and pollen consumption of western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera).

Cysteine proteinases predominate in the midgut fluid (MF) and oral secretion (OS) of adult western corn rootworm (WCR) based on their mild acidic pH optima (pH 6.0), enhanced activities after treatment with thiol reducing agents, and inhibition by selective cysteine proteinase inhibitors (PIs). Four cysteine PIs including E-64, calpeptin, calpain inhibitor II, and leupeptin (also a serine PI) strongly inhibited azocaseinolytic activity in a dose-dependent manner in both the MF and OS. The most significant effect on adult female WCR of cysteine PI consumption with corn pollen was the reduction in fecundity, but female survival was not apparently affected. Mean fresh weights for all PI-fed females were also lower than control groups. All PI-fed groups [E-64, calpain inhibitor I (Cal I) and leupeptin] had a significantly lower daily egg production than respective corn pollen-fed controls. E-64 was more potent than leupeptin and Cal I on inhibiting fecundity, which correlates with their relative anti-proteinase potency in vitro. E-64, Cal I, and leupeptin at 1.5-2 nmol/beetle/day reduced fecundity down to 25-45% of control values. Reduced egg production by PI-fed beetles results from a combination of the direct inhibition of protein digestion and a post-ingestive negative feedback mechanism, which reduces food intake. The supplement of ten essential amino acids into the E-64-treated pollen enhanced up to 3.7-fold the number of eggs laid compared to the E-64-fed group without these amino acids, suggesting that egg production is dependent on the supply of essential amino acids from corn pollen proteolysis.
Tunable Liquid Crystal-Resonant Grating Filter Fabricated by Nanoimprint Lithography

We demonstrate a tunable filter consisting of a subwavelength resonant grating filter cladded by a liquid crystal cell. The resonant wavelength of the grating filter is tuned by electrically varying the refractive index of the liquid crystal. A tuning range of around 20 nm has been achieved.
Towards a theoretical framework for interactive digital narrative

The emerging artistic practice of interactive narrative in digital media marks a profound departure from traditional narrative. The application of traditional narrative theory for interactive narrative is problematic, since the affordances of digital media challenge many underlying assumptions of theories related to non-digital media. This paper proposes a theoretical framework for interactive storytelling, which addresses these concerns by foregrounding system (the digital artifact) and process (the user interacting with the system) over the product-centered view of legacy media. On this basis, protostory, narrative design, and narrative vectors are proposed as new terms to more adequately describe the structure of narrative in interactive digital storytelling. This move is also relevant for practical design given the influence theoretical concepts have on concrete implementations.
Impact of extended overtime on construction labor productivity

This paper presents an analysis of the impacts of extended duration overtime on construction labor productivity. The results show a decrease in productivity as the number of hours worked per week increase and/or as project duration increases. The research focuses on labor intensive trades such as the electrical and mechanical trades. Overtime in this research is defined as the hours worked beyond the typical 40 h scheduled per week. The paper begins by presenting the effects of overtime and the need for an updated overtime productivity model. Data for the quantitative analysis was collected from 88 projects located across the United States by means of a questionnaire. Various statistical analysis techniques were performed to develop quantitative relationship curves, including multiple regression, P -value tests, and analysis of variance.
Modulation of a voltage-gated calcium channel linked to activation of glutamate receptors and calcium-induced calcium release in the catfish retina

1. Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) retinal cone horizontal cells contain an L-type calcium current that has been proposed to be involved in visual processing. Here we report on the modulation of this current by activation of glutamate receptors and calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) from intracellular calcium stores. 2. Fluorescence data obtained from isolated horizontal cells loaded with indo-1 provided evidence of calcium release from an intracellular calcium store sensitive to caffeine, calcium and ryanodine. In the presence of caffeine, ryanodine-sensitive stores released calcium in a transient manner. Release of calcium was blocked when cells were preincubated in BAPTA, in the presence of ruthenium red, or in low concentrations of ryanodine. 3. The release of calcium from ryanodine-sensitive stores directly corresponded with a decrease of the voltage-gated L-type calcium current amplitude. Caffeine-induced modulation of the calcium current was reduced in the presence of ruthenium red. 4. Activation of ionotropic kainate receptors on catfish cone horizontal cells triggered CICR from ryanodine-sensitive stores and mimicked inhibition of the voltage-gated calcium current. Kainate-induced inhibition of the calcium current was diminished when intracellular calcium stores were inhibited with ruthenium red or depleted with ryanodine, or when calmodulin antagonists or CaM kinase II inhibitors were present. 5. These results provide evidence that activation of an ionotropic glutamate receptor on catfish cone horizontal cells is linked to calcium release from ryanodine-sensitive intracellular calcium stores and modulation of the L-type calcium current activity. Inhibition of this calcium current directly or indirectly involves calmodulin and CaM kinase II and represents a possible mechanism used by horizontal cells to affect response properties of these cells.
Interferometrically Controlled Hydraulic Wavelength Drive

After a discussion of the nature and history of the wavelength drive problem, the construction and operation of an interferometrically controlled hydraulic wavelength drive is described. With servo control, the interferometer end reflector which is maintained in contact with the driven element is advanced linearly to within 0.1 fringe. The speed of the hydraulic drive without servo control suffers from drift amounting to some 3% and arising primarily from temperature change. In its present embodiment the hydraulic drive is being used to rotate the telescope mirror in a 1.5-m Czerny-Turner spectrometer now under construction. The results of over-all tests on the drive indicate that this application will result in a spectral scan which is good to 1/1000 Kayser.
Denosumab Reduces the Incidence of New Vertebral Fractures in Men With Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men worldwide. Androgen deprivation therapy has been a well established treatment for prostate cancer and improves disease-free survival in combination with radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced disease, but has been associated with bone loss and increased fracture risk. Fractures are an important contributor to morbidity associated with androgen deprivation therapy. Existing therapies have shown prevention of bone loss, but have yet to demonstrate reduction in fractures. Denosumab, a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand, impacts osteoclasts formation and survival, and has been shown to increase bone density in postmenopausal osteoporosis and other hormone deprivation states.
Confidentiality Preserving Security Properties for Cyber-Physical Systems

The work in this paper presents recent advances in developing a theory of information flow security specifically geared towards preserving the event confidentiality in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs). Preserving the confidentiality of sensitive internal actions is a unique challenge in CPSs due to the inherent external observability of such systems and the tight coupling between their cyber and physical domains. The far-reaching objective of this work is to develop a science of self-obfuscating systems based on the composition of simple building blocks. A model of Nondeducibility composes the building blocks under information flow security properties. To this end, this work presents fundamental theories on external observability for basic regular networks and the concept of "event compensation". Further, this work extends previous work by providing simulation based proof of these concepts for an experimental power transmission bus network as a model CPS.
Does Q = MC/sup 2/? (On the relationship between Quality in electronic design and the Model of Colloidal Computing)

This paper introduces colloidal computing as an alternative to the classical view on computing systems in terms of design feasibility, application adaptability and better energy-performance trade-offs. In colloidal computing, simple per computational particles are dispersed into a communication medium which is inexpensive, (perhaps) unreliable, yet sufficiently fast. This type of clustering into computationally intensive kernels with loose inter-particle communication, but tight intra-particle communication is typical not only for the underlying hardware, but also for the actual application which runs on it. We believe that the colloidal model is appropriate to describe the next generation of embedded systems. For these systems, a significantly better design quality can be obtained via run-time trade-offs and application-driven adaptability, as opposed to classical systems where optimizations are sought in a rather static manner.
I/O performance on a massively parallel Cray XT3/XT4

We present an overview of the current status of input/output (I/O) on the Cray XT line of supercomputers and provide guidance to application developers and users for achieving efficient I/O. Many I/O benchmark results are presented, based on projected I/O requirements for some widely used scientific applications in the Department of Energy. Finally, we interpret and summarize these benchmark results to provide forward-looking guidance for I/O in large-scale application runs on a Cray XT3/XT4.
Effect of graded reductions in regional coronary perfusion on regional and total cardiac function

Abstract This study examines the effects of graded reduction in regional coronary perfusion and changes in arterial oxygen concentration upon regional myocardial function and left ventricular function. In 14 open chest dogs, the distal left anterior descending coronary artery was cannulated and perfused at different pressures with blood equilibrated with either 21 or 95 percent oxygen, and regional function in the perfused myocardial segment was determined by use of the pressurelength loop. The mass of perfused left ventricular myocardium was determined by injection of sodium fluorescein at a constant pressure of 100 mm Hg. Regional function decreased minimally as coronary perfusion pressure and flow were reduced to 50 to 65 mm Hg and 25 to 55 ml/min per 100 g, respectively. When pressure and flow were reduced below these critical ranges, regional function decreased sharply. Changes in left ventricular function were comparable but of lesser magnitude. The relations between regional function or left ventricular function and coronary perfusion were not affected by changing arterial oxygen concentration, except at the low range of coronary perfusion pressures (22 ± 6 mm Hg), at which pressure regional function was significantly lower ( P
Acute, fatal Sarcocystis calchasi-associated hepatitis in Roller pigeons (Columba livia f. dom.) at Philadelphia Zoo

Four Roller pigeons (Columba livia f. dom.) at the Philadelphia Zoo died suddenly. Necropsy examination revealed macroscopic hepatitis. Microscopically, the predominant lesions were in liver, characterized with necrosis and mixed cell inflammatory response. Sarcocystis calchasi-like schizonts and free merozoites were identified in liver. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that schizonts were in hepatocytes. A few schizonts were in spleen. PCR using S. calchasi-specific primers confirmed the diagnosis. Neither lesions nor protozoa were found in brain and muscles. This is the first report of acute visceral S. calchasi-associated sarcocystosis in naturally infected avian hosts.
Research in Social Equity in Urban Development in Europe and the United States

A neo-liberal economic application to urban development dictates that development, in broad terms is equated with economic development which is promoted via the attraction of businesses to local areas and the increase in wealth and employment. Such a model is heavily dependent on free market values and minimal to no state interference in affecting the economic viability of places. Economic development, as a public policy directive, may be defined as “a process for achieving and maintaining the economic health of a community through the retention, expansion, and attraction of commerce and industry” (Morgan et al. 2007, p. 135).
Validity of SenseWear® Armband v5.2 and v2.2 for estimating energy expenditure

ABSTRACTWe compared SenseWear Armband versions (v) 2.2 and 5.2 for estimating energy expenditure in healthy adults. Thirty-four adults (26 women), 30.1 ± 8.7 years old, performed two trials that included light-, moderate- and vigorous-intensity activities: (1) structured routine: seven activities performed for 8-min each, with 4-min of rest between activities; (2) semi-structured routine: 12 activities performed for 5-min each, with no rest between activities. Energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry and predicted using SenseWear v2.2 and v5.2. Compared to indirect calorimetry (297.8 ± 54.2 kcal), the total energy expenditure was overestimated (P < 0.05) by both SenseWear v2.2 (355.6 ± 64.3 kcal) and v5.2 (342.6 ± 63.8 kcal) during the structured routine. During the semi-structured routine, the total energy expenditure for SenseWear v5.2 (275.2 ± 63.0 kcal) was not different than indirect calorimetry (262.8 ± 52.9 kcal), and both were lower (P < 0.05) than v2.2 (312.2 ± 74.5 kcal). The aver...
Political Wives, Scandal, and the Double Bind: Press Construction of Silda Spitzer and Jenny Sanford Through a Gendered Lens

U.S. media has paid significant attention to sexual transgressions of male politicians. Yet politicians' wives have also been under the media spotlight even when they did not engage in illicit activity. This study presents feminist textual analysis of 272 news articles covering Silda Spitzer, (then) wife of former New York governor Eliot Spitzer, and Jenny Sanford, (then) wife of former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford. Findings indicate that the press placed these women in a double bind of presence/absence, criticizing Silda Spitzer for playing the “good wife” who stands by her husband and chastising Jenny Sanford for pursuing an independent path from her husband during his scandal. This analysis illustrates the hegemonic role of the news media, which both establishes an idealized role for wives whose husbands are in public crisis and criticizes a political wife when she attempts to fulfill that role.
Healthcare after ebola

In 2014 and 2015, Sierra Leone, along with its neighbours, Guinea and Liberia, experienced by far the biggest epidemic of ebola virus disease ever recorded. As the rapid spread of the virus became clear, a huge relief effort was undertaken and supported by governments around the globe. That the ebola virus was transmitted so freely and quickly in West Africa was due, in part, to the weakness of the healthcare systems in the countries which suffered the epidemic. The damage caused by ebola further undermined those systems. In the months following the end of the outbreak, the difficult work of building adequate healthcare systems for the people of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia, has begun. This article gives a personal account of the longer-term effects of the ebola epidemic on the healthcare systems in Sierra Leone.
Intraoperative resource utilization in anesthesia for liver transplantation in the United States: a survey.

Among the intraoperative resources expended for liver transplantation, laboratory tests, personnel, high-flow infusion devices, high-tech monitoring equipment, and veno-venous bypass vary from institution to institution. Although of obvious interest to the anesthesia liver transplantation community and others, little is known regarding current utilization of these resources on a national level. To determine the resource utilization among liver transplantation centers in the United States, we conducted a national survey between April and July 2002. Results were stratified according to pediatric versus adult recipient populations and transplantation case volume. Of 99 centers that received the survey by mail, 66 (66.6%) responded. Pediatric liver transplantation programs were distinctly different in personnel, equipment, monitoring, and veno-venous bypass utilization when compared with adult or mixed-age programs. Among laboratory studies, statistically significant trends emerged for fewer intraoperative determinations of the activated clotting time, magnesium, and phosphate with increasing transplantation volume. The results describe national practice patterns and may be useful for programs to compare their approaches and develop clinical pathways. There is wide variation of resource use between centers. The survey results do not consistently correlate with the few recommendations found in the current literature.
Experimental, Theoretical, and Computational Comparison of Pressure Drops Occurring in Pleated Catalyst Structure

Gas processing operations conducted at high velocities (e.g., filtration and catalytic reaction) require specialized media and structure to achieve the highest possible level of reaction per unit of pressure drop. Flow through a porous and pleated catalytic media (thickness 3.6 mm) was examined at 10–30 m/s face velocities. The intralayer residence times varied from 825 to 69 μs, resulting in pressure drops from 0.95 to 10.58 kPa. The catalyst particles (γ-Al2O3, 150–250 μm, and volume fraction of 10%) were sinter-locked into metal microfibers (Ni-200 and 8 μm dia.). The critical pressure drop was determined and compared theoretically, computationally, and experimentally for both flat as well as pleated structures. For theoretical modeling, the porous media permeability (PMP) equation, which is a modified Ergun equation, was altered by a factor for dealing with the dimensional heterogeneity created by the fibers and particles, Reynolds number and shape factor dependent form drag coefficient, and a pleat f...
Study on Improving the Ability of Teaching Innovation and Studying Practice n Speed Skating

Speed skating curriculum is the traditional physical education curriculum in winter in northern universities, and has an important function to improve the physical and mental health of college students. taking the college students as research objects, the teaching mode of "autonomy – cooperation – practice research" is applied to speed skating teaching. two glacial period of speed skating teaching practice research shows that in the process of teaching, the teaching model of "autonomy–cooperation–practice research" can be started from the main part of the students, using active interactive learning,enable students complementarity from with each other in cooperation. with continuous improvement of students' active participation, mutual desire for learning enhanced, the ability of discovering problems,analyzing problems and solving problems has been further improved, and achieved a good teaching effect.
Revised Surgical Technique to Improve Survival of Penile Cylinders for the Inflatable Penile Prosthesis

AbstractA revised surgical technique to implant the inflatable penile prosthesis cylinder into the corpora cavernosa was used in 85 men. The technique places the inlet tube to the cylinder at the distal edge of the incision in the tunica albuginea. All sutures used to reapproximate the tunica are placed proximally over the solid components of the cylinder, eliminating the chance of sutures eroding the inflatable portion. The patients were followed for 12 to 24 months and have had no cylinder malfunctions.
The effect of sleep on conscious sedation.

This study evaluated the effect of preoperative sleep on the success of conscious sedation. Thirty healthy children between the ages of 18 and 61 months of age were utilized in this study. The children all received chloral hydrate (50-60 mg/kg) and hydroxyzine (15-25 mg) and nitrous oxide (30-50%). Parents were asked to complete a questionnaire which asked several questions about their child's activity the previous day, their diet, and questions that related to their bedtime. The operator ranked the sedations on a scale from 1 to 4 with 1 being good and 4 being poor. The results were then statistically evaluated using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Walls tests. The children that received a normal amount of sleep or greater amount of sleep preoperatively had a borderline (P = .06) higher degree of successful sedation. There was no correlation between the child's bedtime (early, normal, late) and the success of sedation. The parent's perception of their child's tiredness could not be correlated with the success of the sedation. The children greater than 36 months of age had a significantly (P = .02) higher degree of successful sedations. The results suggest that a well rested child may experience a more pleasant dental sedation while under chloral hydrate and hydroxyzine conscious sedation and that the child's age at the time of the sedation may affect the outcome of the sedation.
Managing acute phosphorus loss with fertilizer source and placement: proof of concept.

Surface water eutrophication is a pervasive global problem, with P losses from agriculture often identified as a significant contributor. This study was conducted to evaluate the implications of fertilizer source and placement on soluble P (SP) losses in runoff. Using the National P Runoff Project protocol, SP losses in runoff from eight P fertilizers broadcast on the soil surface and three P fertilizers banded 1 cm below the surface were compared with a nonfertilized control. Results showed that 16 to 19% of the surface-applied inorganic P fertilizers was lost in one rainstorm, except for liquid polyphosphate, which lost less than 0.2% of the applied P. Banding monoammonium phosphate and poultry litter below the surface decreased SP loading by 98 and 84%, respectively. These results indicate that critical examination of current fertilizer management may be needed to diminish eutrophication while ensuring sufficient P for crop uptake.
Three-Dimensional Problems

Although the solution to some simple three-dimensional problems in linearized elasticity have been presented (e.g., spherical pressure vessels), the focus so far has been on special classes of problems for which the equations of elasticity could be reduced to a two-dimensional form. Some additional three-dimensional problems of interest will now be considered.
Neutron Shell Structure in 125 Sn by (d,p) and (α, 3 He) Reactions

Differential cross sections for $^{124}\mathrm{Sn}(d,p)$ at 33.3 MeV were measured in 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} increments from 12.5 to 47.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} lab. The resolution was about 30 MeV full width at half maximum. The ($\ensuremath{\alpha},^{3}\mathrm{He}$) spectra with $\ensuremath{\sim}55$-keV resolution were obtained at 15 and 20\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} lab with 65.7-MeV $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles. Distorted-wave calculations were made, allowing the assignment of $l$ values, some of which were not made in earlier neutron-transfer studies. Spin assignments and spectroscopic factors were obtained in accordance with the shell model. Consistent spectrocopic factors were obtained from the ($d,p$) and ($\ensuremath{\alpha},^{3}\mathrm{He}$) reactions. Sums of spectroscopic factors and centers of gravity are presented for the levels observed and are compared with the results of pairing theory. Essentially all the neutron strength remaining in the neutron shell between $N=50$ and $N=82$ was located. Most of the strength in the $2{f}_{\frac{7}{2}}$, $3{p}_{\frac{3}{2}}$, and $1{h}_{\frac{9}{2}}$ levels of the next major shell was located.
CyHOP: A generic framework for real-time power-performance optimization in networked wearable motion sensors

Power consumption is a major obstacle in designing stringent resource constraint wearables. Several system-level design considerations contribute to energy consumption of these systems which must be taken into account while designing the system. We propose a power-performance optimization framework, namely CyHOP (Cyclic and Holistic Optimization framework), for connected wearable motion sensors. While existing work focus solely on one design parameter, our approach globally trades-off the performance of activity recognition and power consumption. CyHOP is capable of optimally adjusting the system to fulfill specific application needs. Using a smoothing technique, the initial multi-variate non-convex optimization problem is reduced to a convex problem and solved using our devised derivative-free optimization approach, namely, cyclic coordinate search. Our model performs a linear search by cycling through the system variables on each iteration until it converges to the global optimum. Using real-world data collected with wearable motion sensors during activity monitoring, we validate our approached with various performance thresholds ranging from 40% to 80%.
Cardiac Arrest in Pediatric Patients Receiving Azithromycin

Objective To compare outcomes of pediatric patients treated with azithromycin compared with penicillin or cephalosporin. We hypothesized that azithromycin use would not be associated with increased cardiac mortality in the pediatric population. Study design Retrospective cohort study from the Pediatric Health Information System database between 2008 and 2012. Patients 2 test. Multivariable analysis was performed to control for potential confounders among patient, event, and treatment characteristics. Results A total of 82 982 patients (54.3% males) met study criteria. Median age was 2.6 years (IQR 1.2-5.9 years) and median length of stay was 2 days (IQR 2-4 days). Azithromycin was used in 5039 (6.1%); penicillin or cephalosporin was used in 77 943 (93.9%). Overall prevalence of antibiotic-associated CPR was 0.14%. Patients receiving a macrolide antibiotic had a lower prevalence of CPR compared with patients receiving a penicillin or cephalosporin (0.04% vs 0.14%, P = .04), and there was no difference in mortality. Multivariable analysis did not find an association between macrolide use and CPR. Conclusions In contrast to recent adult studies, among children hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia, azithromycin use was not associated with a greater prevalence of cardiac arrest compared with penicillin or cephalosporin use.
Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy

During the last few decades the discovery of new anticancer agents has been based on the development of compounds that interfere with grossly non-specific intracellular processes (i.e. nucleotide turnover, DNA synthesis and replication, microtubular functions). More recently, the knowledge acquired in tumor cell biology has permitted the identification of cellular processes that are specifically altered in cancer cells and that are responsible for the malignant phenotype. These processes include autonomous growth and replication, invasion of surrounding tissues, and formation of metastases. Selected specific examples include the overexpression of antiapoptotic genes (bcl-2) or membrane receptors (epidermal growth factor receptor family), mutations of genes encoding signal transduction mediators (RAS and Raf), neoangiogenesis, and the overexpression of molecules involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. Some of these anomalies can be targeted therapeutically and subsequent investigation has focused on the development of new drugs that interfere with these abnormal processes detected in cancer cells. The hypothesis of the targeted agents is to specifically disrupt the growth of malignant tumors without altering normal tissues and, therefore, cause minimal toxicity.
Transient Neonatal Zinc Deficiency Caused by a Novel Mutation in the SLC30A2 Gene

This is a case report of a 4-month-old full-term, fully breastfed boy who presented with a persistent periorificial and groin rash associated with poor weight gain and irritability. His serum zinc level was low. The mother's breast milk zinc level was found to be low despite her serum zinc levels being normal, confirming the diagnosis of transient neonatal zinc deficiency. Mutational analysis revealed a novel mutation in the mother's SLC30A2 gene, which encodes a zinc transporter expressed in mammary gland epithelial cells.
Expectations, education, and opportunity

Abstract Using a long panel of youths, we establish a causal link between parental expectations regarding education and educational attainment. In particular, we use an instrumental variables approach to find that the child’s chances of obtaining a high school or college degree are increasing in the parent’s expectations of the likelihood of these events. We then use differences between the objective likelihood of a child’s educational attainment and the parents’ subjective probabilities to consider the hypothesis that lower educational outcomes among certain groups are driven by a “culture of despair,” where children are low-achieving because they are expected to underachieve. While we do find that children from households with lower levels of income, wealth, and parental education are less likely to attain high school and college degrees, we reject the hypothesis that this is driven by low subjective expectations of educational success. Rather, we find that parents from disadvantaged groups have expectations for the educational outcomes of their children that differ more from the statistical likelihood of these outcomes than do parents of children from advantaged households. That is, we find that parents in more disadvantaged households are more optimistic about the educational outcomes of their children than those from more advantaged households.
Modular pumps as programmable hydraulic batteries for microfluidic devices

Simple fluid pumps have been developed to improve microfluidic device portability, but they cannot be easily programmed, produce repeatable pumping performance, or generate complex flow profiles — key requirements for increasing the functionality of portable microdevices. We present a detachable, paper-based, “hydraulic battery” that can be connected to the outlet of a microfluidic channel to pump fluid at varying flow rates over time, including step changes, ramping flows, and oscillating flows.
Rapidly tunable CO 2 TEA laser

The new method described in this publication has demonstrated rapid and accurate random access tuning over seventy CO/sub 2/ TEA laser lines. The technique described here uses a continuously rotating grating and a wavelength selection based on the exact firing time of the TEA laser with respect to the angular position of the grating. The angular position of the grating determined by an angular encoder. The faceted grating structure is driven by a synchronous motor at a speed of 1000 rpm. The TEA laser is accurately triggered once for each facet of the grating structure.
High Quality Copy Number and Genotype from FFPE Samples Using Molecular Inversion Probes (MIP)

ED02-01 There have been several examples where copy number aberrations has proven to be significant clinically. Over the past few years technology for genome wide assessment of copy number has become available. One important drawback for many of these technologies is their ability to obtain high quality data from samples that have been Formaldehyde Fixed and Paraffin Embedded (FFPE). We have utilized the Molecular Inversion Probes (MIP) technology for the study of copy number in cancer samples. MIP probes are circularizable oligonucloetides, where the two ends carry two sequences that are complementary to two sequences on the genome separated by one nucleotide (exactly where the variant to be genotyped is). After hybridization to the genomic DNA, the reaction is split into 4 tubes where a single nucleotide is added to each tube. Upon the addition of the nucleotide (only in the tube with the nucleotide that is complementary to the allele on the genome) the MIP probe is then ligated turning the probe into a circle. This structure can be selected for by the use of exonucleases allowing for minimal “cross talk” between probes and the ability to obtain high quality data from highly multiplexed assays (>50,000 plex). Ultimately these products are amplified and hybridized onto an Affymetrix microarray to identify the present products. We have shown the use of MIP to get copy number data with excellent precision and dynamic range in cancer samples. In addition the relatively small genomic footprint it requires (~40 bp) suggested that MIP may be able to adequately assess FFPE samples. We have recently tested several sets of FFPE samples for different tumor types from multiple institutions, and demonstrated excellent copy number performance.
From Anti-Judaism to Anti-Semitism: Ancient and Medieval Christian Constructions of Jewish History by Robert Chazan, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2016, xvi + 253 pp., US$99.99 (hardback), ISBN 978 1 1071 5246 5

Robert Chazan, S. H. and Helen R. Scheuer Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, and Founding Director of the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, New York University, is, perhaps, th...
The simplest unit test tool that could possibly work

A minimal tool for unit testing is presented that can be used to advantage by novices for simple testing as well as by more experienced students and programmers for more rigorous unit test strategies. The goal is to get students accustomed to thinking seriously about correctness as soon as possible in the curriculum.
Large constellation tracking using a labeled multi-Bernoulli filter

Multiple companies have recently proposed or begun work on large constellations of hundreds to thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbits for the purpose of providing worldwide internet access. The sudden infusion of so many satellites in an already highly-populated orbital regime presents an operational risk to all LEO objects. To enable risk analyses and ensure safe operations, a robust system will be needed to efficiently observe these constellations, and use the resulting data to accurately and precisely track all objects. This paper proposes a rudimentary tasking-tracking system for this purpose. The scheduler uses an information theoretic reward function to determine which high-value tasks, and uses a ranked assignment algorithm to optimally allocate these tasks to a sensor network. The tracking portion employs a labeled multi-Bernoulli filter to process the generated data and estimate the multitarget state of the entire constellation. The effectiveness of this system is demonstrated using a simulated large constellation of 4,425 satellites and a network of six ground-based radar sensors.
Using 4DCT-ventilation to characterize lung function changes for pediatric patients getting thoracic radiotherapy

Purpose A form of lung functional imaging has been developed that uses 4DCT data to calculate ventilation (4DCT-ventilation). Because 4DCTs are acquired as standard-of-care to manage breathing motion during radiotherapy, 4DCT-ventilation provides functional information at no extra dosimetric or monetary cost. 4DCT-ventilation has yet to be described in children. 4DCT-ventilation can be used as a tool to help assess post-treatment lung function and predict for future clinical thoracic toxicities for pediatric patients receiving radiotherapy to the chest. The purpose of this work was to perform a preliminary evaluation of 4DCT-ventilation-based lung function changes for pediatric patients receiving radiotherapy to the lungs. Methods The study used four patients with pre and postradiotherapy 4DCTs. The 4DCTs, deformable image registration, and a density-change-based algorithm were used to compute pre and post-treatment 4DCT-ventilation images. The post-treatment 4DCT-ventilation images were compared to the pretreatment 4DCT-ventilation images for a global lung response and for an intrapatient dose-response (providing an assessment for dose-dependent regional dose-response). Results For three of the four patients, a global ventilation decline of 7-37% was observed, while one patient did not demonstrate a global functional decline. Dose-response analysis did not reveal an intrapatient dose-response from 0 to 20 Gy for three patients while one patient demonstrated increased 4DCT-ventilation decline as a function of increasing lung doses up to 50 Gy. Conclusions Compared to adults, pediatric patients have unique lung function, dosimetric, and toxicity profiles. The presented work is the first to evaluate spatial lung function changes in pediatric patients using 4DCT-ventilation and showed lung function changes for three of the four patients. The early changes demonstrated with lung function imaging warrant further longitudinal work to determine whether the imaging-based early changes can be predicted for long-term clinical toxicity.
White blood cell count: an independent predictor of coronary heart disease mortality among a national cohort.

An association between elevated white blood cell (WBC) count and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality has been previously observed. However, the relationship between WBC count and CHD mortality independent of cigarette smoking and the possible interaction between WBC count and smoking remains unclear. We examined the association between WBC count and CHD mortality with Cox regression analyses of data from 8914 adults, aged 30-75, in the NHANES II Mortality Study (1976-1992). Covariates included age, sex, race, education, physical activity, smoking status, hypertensive status, total serum cholesterol, body mass index, hematocrit, and history of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes. During 17 follow-up years, there were 548 deaths from CHD (ICD-9 410-414) and 782 deaths from diseases of the heart (ICD-9 390-398, 402, 404, 410-414, 415-417, 420-429). Mean WBC count (x10(9) cells/L) was greater among persons who died from CHD (7.6 vs 7.2, P 7.6 were at increased risk of death from CHD (relative risk = 1.4, 95% confidence interval = 1.1-1.8) after adjustment for smoking status and other CVD risk factors. Similar results were observed among nonsmokers (RR = 1.4, 95% CI = 0.9-2.0). These results suggest that higher WBC counts are a predictor of CHD mortality independent of the effects of smoking and other traditional CVD risk factors, which may indicate a role for inflammation in the pathogenesis of CHD. Additional studies are needed to determine whether interventions to decrease inflammation can reduce the risk for CHD associated with elevated WBC.