cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fumonisin- and AAL-Toxin-Induced Disruption of Sphingolipid Metabolism with Accumulation of Free Sphingoid Bases

Fumonisins (FB) and AAL-toxin are sphingoid-like compounds produced by several species of fungi associated with plant diseases. In animal cells, both fumonisins produced by Fusarium moniliforme and AAL-toxin produced by Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici inhibit ceramide synthesis, an early biochemical event in the animal diseases associated with consumption of F. moniliforme-contaminated corn. In duckweed (Lemna pausicostata Heglem. 6746), tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), and tobacco callus (Nicotiana tabacum cv Wisconsin), pure FB1 or AAL-toxin caused a marked elevation of phytosphingosine and sphinganine, sphingoid bases normally present in low concentrations. The relative increases were quite different in the three plant systems. Nonetheless, disruption of sphingolipid metabolism was clearly a common feature in plants exposed to FB1 or AAL-toxin. Resistant varieties of tomato (Asc/Asc) were much less sensitive to toxin-induced increases in free sphinganine. Because free sphingoid bases are precursors to plant "ceramides," their accumulation suggests that the primary biochemical lesion is inhibition of de novo ceramide synthesis and reacylation of free sphingoid bases. Thus, in plants the disease symptoms associated with A. alternata and F. moniliforme infection may be due to disruption of sphingolipid metabolism.
Cytogenetic studies of males with schizophrenia: Screening for the fragile X chromosome and other chromosomal abnormalities

Genetic factors appear to play a role in the etiology of schizophrenia, although no specific genetic mechanism has yet been identified. As a preliminary measure in the search for the chromosomal location of a gene or genes relevant to this illness, cytogenetic screening of populations of patients might provide clues for further in depth molecular studies. Additionally, since the X chromosome has been implicated as a possible site, specific examinations aimed at identifying abnormalities in this chromosome including the presence of the fragile X site, could also be important. The following report reviews the previous literature on chromosomal aberrations in schizophrenia and presents data from a new survey of 46 unrelated male patients with schizophrenia. No chromosomal aberrations or folate-sensitive fragile sites were found in samples from these patients.
A convenient synthesis of the antibacterial agent linezolid

Starting with 3,4-difluorobenzoic acid (8) and (S)-epichlorohydrin (13) a convergent synthesis of linezolid (1) was developed that is attractive for large scale preparation of the drug. The synthetic strategy involves a 1+3 cycloaddition reaction between the chiral epoxide 11 (prepared from 13) and isocyanate 3 (obtained from 8) that was generated in situ by a Curtius rearrangement. The resulting Schiff base precursor of linezolid (12) crystallized from the reaction mixture and was readily converted to linezolid by an acid-catalyzed hydrolysis followed by an acetylation.
NEURAL INFLUENCE ON PROTEIN KINASE C ISOFORM EXPRESSION IN SKELETAL MUSCLE

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of enzymes involved in synapse formation and signal transduction at the neuromuscular junction. Two PKC isoforms, classical PKC α and novel PKC θ, have been shown to be enriched in skeletal muscle or localized to the endplate. We examined the role of nerve in regulating the expression of these PKC isoforms in rat skeletal muscle by denervating diaphragm muscle and measuring PKC protein expression at various postoperative times. nPKC θ protein levels decreased 65% after denervation, whereas cPKC α levels increased 80% compared with control hemidiaphragms. These results suggest that innervation regulates PKC θ and α isoform expression in skeletal muscle. To explore further how nerve regulates PKC expression, we characterized PKC isoform expression in rat myotubes deprived of neural input. Myoblast expression of nPKC θ was low, and the increase in nPKC θ expression that occurred during differentiation into myotubes resulted in levels of nPKC θ significantly below adult skeletal muscle. cPKC α expression in myoblasts increased during differentiation to levels that exceeded expression in adult skeletal muscle. Coculturing myotubes with a neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid clonal cell line (NG108-15) increased nPKC θ expression, but not cPKC α, suggesting that nPKC θ in skeletal muscle and myotubes is regulated by nerve contact or by a factor(s) provided by nerve. Treating myotubes with tetrodotoxin did not affect either basal- or NG108-15 cell-stimulated nPKC θ expression. Together these results suggest that expression of nPKC θ in skeletal muscle is regulated by a transynaptic interaction with nerve that specifically influences nPKC θ expression.
Burst mode operation of a high peak power high pulse repetition rate capacitor charging power supply

Fast capacitor charging is a power electronics application with unique challenges requiring both low voltage, high current operation and high voltage, low current operation from the same system at different points in the charge cycle. Such dynamically differing operating points create distinct challenges in obtaining high efficiency throughout a charge cycle. In addition, the power supply must be protected from negative voltage swings when attached to a high rep-rate power modulator. This paper presents the design and testing of a rapid capacitor charger designed for high rep-rate command charging of a Marx generator. The output stage uses a large inductor to delay discontinuous conduction during the early portion of the charge cycle and greatly improve efficiency. The design goals and tradeoffs will be discussed and simulation results will be compared to experimental data.
A Teaching Supplement on Sensitivity Analysis for Linear Programming in Undergraduate Business Programs

Sensitivity analysis, a key linear programming LP concept, is often explained in text books using complex problem scenarios to which students have difficulty relating. Consequently, many students do not fully comprehend or appreciate the significance of shadow prices or range of optimality for objective coefficients. This adds to the challenges instructors face in promoting critical thinking, a key goal in operations research and management science courses. Limited student-faculty interactions further exacerbate the problem in online learning environments. These issues can be effectively addressed through use of simple real world examples for instruction, followed by discussion of insights and intuition behind results from these mathematical models. This is the motivation of this study, with a special focus on sensitivity analysis concepts and LP formulations. We then demonstrate its effectiveness by comparing student performance before and after exposure to this innovative teaching supplement and as well as results from a student feedback survey.
Effects of mutation on selection limits in finite populations with multiple alleles.

The ultimate response to directional selection (i.e., the selection limit) under recurrent mutation is analyzed by a diffusion approximation for a population in which there are k possible alleles at a locus. The limit mainly depends on two scaled parameters S (= 4Ns sigma a) and theta (= 4Nu) and k, the number of alleles, where N is the effective population size, u is the mutation rate, s is the selection coefficient, and sigma 2a is the variance of allelic effects. When the selection pressure is weak (S less than or equal to 0.5), the limit is given approximately by 2S sigma a[1 - (1 + c2)/k]/(theta + 1) for additive effects of alleles, where c is the coefficient of variation of the mutation rates among alleles. For strong selection, other approximations are devised to analyze the limit in different parameter regions. The effect of mutation on selection limits largely relies on the potential of mutation to introduce new and better alleles into the population. This effect is, however, bounded under the present model. Unequal mutation rates among alleles tend to reduce the selection limit, and can have a substantial effect only for small numbers of alleles and weak selection. The selection limit decreases as the mutation rate increases.
Sensitivity analysis of low-complexity vector quantizers for focal-plane image compression

Most high-performance block-coding systems for image compression, such as JPEG, have been designed for software or dedicated digital hardware implementations where the data are already assumed to be available in digital format. In modern CMOS photosensors, smart-pixel technologies have allowed the realization of basic signal processing tasks at the pixel level, in analog format before analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion. The elimination of A/D converters and implementation of block-coding directly over analog blocks of pixels in such sensors can be attractive both in terms of area savings and power consumption. The design of block encoders, under the strong hardware constraints that derive from the A/D converter removal, has been investigated in this paper. We present a comparison of three systems in terms of rate, distortion and complexity, and present a numerical simulation analysis of their sensitivity to implementation errors. The conclusion of the analysis is that linear-transform coding vector quantizers outperform full-search vector quantizers and warping hyperbolic-tangent neural networks, in terms of performance, complexity and robustness, for a CMOS imaging sensor implementation.
Interactive Graphics Use in Traffic Noise Modeling

Highway noise predictive modeling has evolved dramatically in recent years. Current state‐of‐the‐art models require the extensive use of three dimensional (X,Y,Z) coordinate data to represent roadways, barriers, and receivers. Introduction of incorrect data is all too common when using such models, because of the need to transfer information from maps to coding forms to computer files. To overcome these problems, the Vanderbilt University Transportation Research Group has developed an interactive computer graphics program, VUPLOT designed to plot coordinate data in plan (X,Y) or profile (X,Z) view. One subroutine of VUPLOT permits the plotting of STAMINA (Standard Method in Noise Reduction computer program)‐type input files or selective plotting of roadways, barrier, or receiver files. Another subroutine overwrites roadway segment noise level contributions to the overall Leq value at a particular receiver, upon a plan view plot of the prediction scenario. This paper examines in detail the interactive use ...
Monocular visual navigation of an autonomous vehicle in natural scene corridor-like environments

We present a monocular visual navigation methodology for autonomous orchard vehicles. Modern orchards are usually planted with straight and parallel tree rows that form a corridor-like environment. Our task consists of driving a vehicle autonomously along the tree rows. The original contributions of this paper are: 1) a method to recover vehicle rotation independently of translation by modeling the vehicle as a car-like robot driving on a 3D ground surface-the rotation is estimated from monocular images while the translation is measured by a wheel encoder; and 2) a method to fit the 3D points corresponding to the trees into straight lines via an optimization algorithm that minimizes the error variance on the robot lookahead point. Additionally, we use a simple vanishing point detection approach to find the ends of the tree rows. The vanishing point detection is integrated into the system via an extended Kalman filter. The methodology's robustness to environmental changes is validated in more than fifty experiments in research and commercial orchards, six of which are presented and discussed in detail.
Identification of three chitin synthase genes in the dimorphic fungal pathogen Sporothrix schenckii

Degenerate PCR primers were used to amplify a 600-bp conserved gene region for chitin synthases from genomic DNA ofSporothrix schenckii, a dimorphic fungal pathogen of humans and animals. Three chitin synthase gene homologs were amplified as shown by DNA sequence analysis and by Southern blotting experiments. Based on differences among the predicted amino acid sequences of these homologs, each was placed within one of three different chitin synthase classes. Phylogenies constructed with the sequences and the PAUP 3.1.1. program showed thatS. schenckii consistently clustered most closely withNeurospora crassa in each of the three chitin synthase classes. These findings are significant because the phylogenies support by a new method the grouping of the imperfect fungusS. schenckii with the Pyrenomycetes of the Ascomycota.
Mortality in micro-premature infants with necrotizing enterocolitis treated by primary laparotomy is independent of gestational age and birth weight

Previous reports indicate that mortality in micro-premature infants with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is inversely proportional to gestational age and birth weight. We have observed that patterns of survival in micro-premature infants with NEC appear to be changing and may be influenced by the use of primary laparotomy (PL). Thirty-one infants <1,500 g who underwent surgery for NEC were classified into two subgroups: extremely low birth weight infants <1,000 g (ELBW, N = 17) and very low birth weight infants 1,000-1,500 g (VLBW, N = 14) and the groups were compared. Data were retrospectively collected and analyzed using Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables. All 31 patients (100%) had radiographic evidence of pneumatosis intestinalis and all had operative findings of intestinal necrosis while 20/31 (67%) had intestinal perforation. Surgical mortality was 25% (7/28). Three additional patients died greater than 3 months after surgery of causes unrelated to NEC or surgery yielding an overall mortality of 32% (10/31). There were no significant differences in mortality between ELBW and VLBW patients (P = 0.42). The only variables associated with increased mortality were pannecrosis and longer segment of necrotic bowel (P = 0.005). In our neonatal unit, the mortality of micro-premature infants less than 1,500 g with surgical NEC appears to be independent of gestational age and birth weight. Although the small sample size may mitigate the validity of this study, we found that the most important determinants of mortality were pannecrosis and longer length of necrotic bowel.
Photochemistry of weakly bound Li + complexes in the gas phase. A novel probe of charge distribution and acid—base properties of excited electronic states

Abstract Information relating to electron distributions and acid—base properties of excited electronic states in the gas phase is derived from a comparison of excitation energies of the Li+ complex of an n-donor base with the absorption spectrum of the corresponding neutral. Excitation energies for the Li+ complexes are extracted from photodissociation spectra obtained using the methods of ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy. As specific examples, the gas phase photodissociation spectra of Li+ complexes with benzaldehyde, nitrobenzene, cyanobenzene, and aniline in the wavelength region 200–400 nm are reported and analyzed.
Team-based learning

In this issue of the Journal , Brandler and colleagues1 describe the use of team-based learning (TBL) in postgraduate pathology training and education, as part of our series on education and training in pathology and laboratory medicine. As noted by the authors, this approach has been around for many years but only recently has begun to make its way into postgraduate medical education in a formal manner. Informal TBL has, of course, been around for hundreds of years; common examples include ward rounds, laboratory rounds, interdisciplinary meetings, tumor boards, and clinical/pathologic case conferences. The questions, then, are why has it taken so long to make TBL a formal method of teaching and …
The accuracy of visual and meter determinations of blood glucose with the use of Chemstrip bG

Abstract The 95% confidence intervals for the blood glucose determinations with use of the Chemstrip bG were ±28 mg/dl by visual reading and ±18 mg/dl by means of the Accu-Chek photometer. These rapid methods continue to be an important aid in the home care of pregnant diabetic women.
God and Mammon

The modem market economy, maintains Lamin Sanneh in his Forum Paper, has shifted the emphasis in economy from the idea of the sustainable "household" (economy in its etymological meaning) to the accumulation and exchange of goods and services for profit. Market efficiency has taken primacy over human solidarity and personal dignity, and is thus in conflict with the fundamental Christian world view. Theology needs to level a critique at such economic strategies, particularly because the proponents of such strategies often appeal to biblical and gospel principles for justification. But, as scripture makes clear, there can be no "Gospel of Wealth" at the expense of the poor and marginalized of this earth.
Hydrodissection and Viscoextraction of the Nucleus in Planned Extracapsular Cataract Extraction

Objective: To determine whether continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC), hydrodissection and viscoextraction may be performed in conjunction with planned extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). Study Design: Twenty human eyes obtained post mortem were subjected to CCC and planned ECCE was performed with expression of the nucleus by balanced salt solution in 10 cases and viscoextraction using ‘Healon' in 10 cases. Setting: The study was performed in the experimental surgery suite in the ocular pathology laboratory of the Center for Intraocular Lens Research at the Medical University of South Carolina. Main Outcome Measures: Measurements were done to document the possible dangers of zonular or capsular tears during viscoextraction of the lens. RESULTS: Hydrodissection and nucleus expression were successfully accomplished in all 20 eyes without tearing of the margin of the CCC, the posterior capsule or zonules. Conclusion: This study proves that CCC in conjunction with hydrodissection and viscoextraction can be safely used in association with planned ECCE.
Microhydrodynamical modeling of transverse susceptibility of magnetic inks (Theory of ‘DIMAG’)

Abstract The time and field dependence of the transverse susceptibility, χ t , of a suspension of single domain ferromagnetic Brownian particles in a viscous fluid is calculated. Magnetic interactions are taken into account through the mean field model. The model is used to interpret (so far qualitatively) the so-called DIMAG experiment, in which a DC field is applied to the ink sample for a short period of time and a small perpendicular AC field probes χ t before, during and after the DC field impact. The relative increase in χ t , after the DC field is switched on was used earlier to characterize the dispersion quality of inks. We show that in the systems with negative interactions (acicular particles) this increase has a maximum when plotted as a function of the DC field. The maximum shifts to higher fields as the interaction increases, which corresponds to what happens in the DIMAG testing of less dispersed inks.
Agglutination of Group Ax Erythrocytes by Anti‐A Sera (Group B)1

. Four random examples of group Ax erythrocytes were tested with anti-A sera (group B). Microscopic examination demonstrated a high incidence of reactivity of these cells with the anti-A sera (group B) obtained after immunization with group A substance.
The simple map for a single-null divertor tokamak

We present the simple map for a single-null divertor tokamak. The simple map is an area-preserving map based on the idea that magnetic field lines are a single-degree- of-freedom time-dependent Hamiltonian system, and that the basic features of such systems near the X-point are generic. We obtain the properties of this map and the resulting footprints of field lines on the divertor plate. These include the width of the stochastic layer, the edge safety factor, the area of the footprint and the amount of magnetic flux diverted. We give the safety factor profile, the average and median values of strike angles, lengths and the Liapunov exponents. We describe how the effects of magnetic perturbations can be included in the simple map. We show how the map can be applied to the problem of the determination of heat flux on the divertor plate in tokamaks.
Potential effects of climate change on a semi-permanent prairie wetland

We assessed the potential effects of a greenhouse gas-induced global climate change on the hydrology and vegetation of a semi-permanent prairie wetland using a spatially-defined, rule-based simulation model. An 11-yr simulation was run using current versus enhanced greenhouse gas climates. Projections of climatic change were from the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) general circulation model. Simulations were also run using a range of temperature (+2 and +4 °C) and precipitation change values (−20, −10, 0, +10, +20%) to determine the responsiveness of wetland vegetation and hydrology to a variety of climate scenarios. Maximum water depths were significantly less under the enhanced greenhouse gas scenario than under the current climate. The wetland dried in most years with increased temperature and changes in precipitation. Simulations also revealed a significant change in the vegetation, from a nearly balanced emergent cover to open water ratio to a completely closed basin with no open water areas. Simulations over a range of climate change scenarios showed that precipitation changes (particularly increases) had a greater impact on water levels and cover ratios when the temperature increase was moderate (+2 °C). These potential changes in wetland hydrology and vegetation could result in a dramatic decline in the quality of habitat for breeding birds, particularly waterfowl. Continued research on climate and wetland modeling is needed.
Permissible Exposure to Ionizing Radiation: Many factors, some imponderable, contribute to the estimation of a maximum permissible dose.

Hazards from exposure to radiation are discussed. Sources of natural radiation are described. Early records of damage to man by ionizing radiation are summarized. The establishment of national and international standards for maximum permissible exposure (MPE) to radiation is reviewed. Considerations in the selection of MPE values are outlined, and units are defined. (M.C.G.)
The Influence of Hospital and Surgeon Factors on the Prevalence of Axillary Lymph Node Evaluation in Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

Importance Although axillary lymph node evaluation is standard of care in the surgical management of invasive breast cancer, a benefit has not been demonstrated in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Despite uncertainty regarding the efficacy, axillary evaluation is often performed in women with DCIS. Objective To determine the incidence of axillary evaluation in women with DCIS and identify clinical, hospital, and surgeon-related factors associated with axillary evaluation. Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional analysis conducted from January 2006 through December 2012 of medical records contained in the Perspective database for women with DCIS who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy. A total of 35 591 women aged 18 to 90 years were included in the analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures Receipt or nonreceipt of surgical axillary evaluation, categorized as sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), or none. Analyses were stratified by surgery type, and multivariable regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with axillary evaluation. Results Of women identified with DCIS, 26 580 (74.7%) underwent BCS while 9011 (25.3%) underwent mastectomy; 17.7% undergoing BCS and 63.0% undergoing mastectomy had an axillary evaluation. Rates of axillary evaluation increased over time with mastectomy (2006, 56.6%; 2012, 67.4%) and were relatively stable with BCS (2006, 18.5%; 2012, 16.2%). Rates of ALND decreased in women undergoing mastectomy (2006, 20.0%; 2012, 10.7%) and BCS (2006, 1.2%; 2012, 0.3%), with increasing use of SLNB. In a multivariable analysis, hospital factors including nonteaching hospital (risk ratio [RR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.05-1.30) and urban location (RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.03-1.29) influenced axillary evaluation with mastectomy. Surgeon volume was the most significant predictor of axillary evaluation among women undergoing BCS (mid vs low volume: RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.70-0.94; high vs low volume: RR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.44-0.65). Conclusions and Relevance Despite guidelines recommending against axillary lymph node evaluation in women with DCIS undergoing BCS and uncertainty regarding its use with mastectomy, SLNB or ALND is performed frequently. Given the additional morbidity and cost of these procedures, alternative surgical approaches or prospective evaluation of the clinical benefit of axillary evaluation in women with DCIS is needed.
Test of a Drug Use Causal Model Using Asymptotically Distribution Free Methods

Previous statistical comparisons of two models for adolescent drug abuse are reexamined using new statistical estimation methods in causal modeling not requiring assumptions about normally distributed variables. Browne's asymptotically distribution free method shows that the models fit even better than assumed in the initial work, and that comparable inferences would be drawn about the significance of individual parameters and model comparisons when the assumption that the data are distributed in a multivariate normal manner is relaxed.
Responses of pine roots to E-strain ectendomycorrhizal fungi

Cultural characteristics of 6 E-strain fungi were studied and monoxenic mycorrhizal synthesis experiments performed on Pinus resinosa with three isolates. Best radial growth of fungi was obtained on potato dextrose agar at pH 6, with northern isolates reaching peak growth rates at 20°C and southern at 24°C. Northern but not southern races grew at 4°C. Mycorrhizae formed on red pine by isolates from New York (NY) and West Virginia (WV) were ectendo- but those by the Mississippi (MISS) isolate were predominantly ecto-. Root systems of seedlings with the WV isolate were coarser with shorter and thicker long-root branches and fewer mycorrhizae than NY and MISS seedlings.
Rapid Virus Production and Removal as Measured with Fluorescently Labeled Viruses as Tracers

Pelagic marine viruses have been shown to cause significant mortality of heterotrophic bacteria, cyanobacteria, and phytoplankton. It was previously demonstrated, in nearshore California waters, that viruses contributed to up to 50% of bacterial mortality, comparable to protists. However, in less productive waters, rates of virus production and removal and estimates of virus-mediated bacterial mortality have been difficult to determine. We have measured rates of virus production and removal, in nearshore and offshore California waters, by using fluorescently labeled viruses (FLV) as tracers. Our approach is mathematically similar to the isotope dilution technique, employed in the past to simultaneously measure the release and uptake of ammonia and amino acids. The results indicated overall virus removal rates in the dark ranging from 1.8 to 6.2% h−1 and production rates in the dark ranging from 1.9 to 6.1% h−1, corresponding to turnover times of virus populations of 1 to 2 days, even in oligotrophic offshore waters. Virus removal rates determined by the FLV tracer method were compared to rates of virus degradation, determined at the same locations by radiolabeling methods, and were similar even though the current FLV method is suitable for only dark incubations. Our results support previous findings that virus impacts on bacterial populations may be more important in some environments and less so in others. This new method can be used to determine rates of virus degradation, production, and turnover in eutrophic, mesotrophic, and oligotrophic waters and will provide important inputs for future investigations of microbial food webs.
Pulsatile TSH Secretion during 48-Hour Continuous TRH Infusions

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), like other anterior pituitary hormones, is normally secreted in a series of pulses over 24 h. However, the factors that control TSH pulse generation are unknown. We investigated the potential role of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in TSH pulse generation by measuring TSH pulses during constant TRH infusions. Two groups of subjects were studied: five healthy subjects and five subjects with treated primary hypothyroidism and normal TSH levels. Each subject underwent four separate studies: (1) TSH levels were measured every 15 min over 24 h (baseline study). (2) TSH levels were measured every 15 min over 48 h during TRH infusions at 0.1 microgram/min (low dose TRH study). (3) TSH levels were measured every 15 min over 48 h during TRH infusion at 0.5 microgram/min (medium dose TRH study). (4) TSH levels were measured every 15 min over 48 h during TRH infusions at 1.0 microgram/min (high dose TRH study). TSH pulses were located by cluster analysis. We found that constant TRH infusions at any of the doses utilized did not alter TSH pulse frequency in normal or treated hypothyroid subjects, although pulse amplitude increased. Normal subjects had lower TSH pulse amplitude than treated hypothyroid subjects at all TRH doses, perhaps due to slightly higher serum T3 levels. This suggests that, at least acutely, pulsatile input of TRH to the pituitary gland does not determine pulsatile TSH release. However, TRH may modulate TSH pulse amplitude.
Demo proposal: making web applications -XSafe

Simple is a web framework for Haskell. Simple came out of our work on Hails, a platform for secure web applications. For Hails, we needed a flexible web framework that uses no unsafe language features and can be used to build apps outside the IO monad. Unlike many mainstream web frameworks, Simple does not enforce a particular structure or paradigm. Instead, it simply provides a set of composable building blocks to help developers structure and organize their web applications. We've used Simple to build both traditional web applications as well as applications with explicit, strong safety and security guarantees. In the demonstration, we'll focus on the former -- introducing the framework and motivating it's utility for traditional web apps -- and show how we can leverage the LIO information flow control library to add mandatory security policies to apps.
Level structure of 90Mo via the 92Mo(p, t)90Mo reaction

Abstract Twenty-two levels in 90 Mo were identified using the (p, t) reaction on 92 Mc at 39 MeV bombarding energy. Angular distributions were obtained for 12 levels and are compared with distorted-wave Born approximation calculations. Definite spin-parity assignments were made for five previously unassigned levels. Only one very weak 0 + excited state was observed. The results are compared to similar studies of 84 Kr and 88 Zr.
Genetic structure of human populations

The difficulty of extrapolating from inbred mouse strains used for the assessment of toxicological responses to the human population that may be exposed to the potentially toxic substance is discussed. Conventional risk estimation procedures assume little heterogeneity among members of the population in their response to a substance. This ignores the inherent genetic diversity present in human populations. Measurement of enzymic variation reveals that humans are more variable genetically than most mammalian species. Common genetic variants abound. Genetic variability within or between inbred strains of mice is much less. Evaluation of toxicological hazards should also consider responses to potentially toxic substances by individuals who carry rare genetic alleles. The effect of these rare variants on viability is currently unknown. The manner in which levels of genetic variability are affected by population structure is also discussed. In contemporary human populations, migration rates are not sufficientl...
Validation model for Raman based skin carotenoid detection.

Raman spectroscopy holds promise as a rapid objective non-invasive optical method for the detection of carotenoid compounds in human tissue in vivo. Carotenoids are of interest due to their functions as antioxidants and/or optical absorbers of phototoxic light at deep blue and near UV wavelengths. In the macular region of the human retina, carotenoids may prevent or delay the onset of age-related tissue degeneration. In human skin, they may help prevent premature skin aging, and are possibly involved in the prevention of certain skin cancers. Furthermore, since carotenoids exist in high concentrations in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and are routinely taken up by the human body through the diet, skin carotenoid levels may serve as an objective biomarker for fruit and vegetable intake. Before the Raman method can be accepted as a widespread optical alternative for carotenoid measurements, direct validation studies are needed to compare it with the gold standard of high performance liquid chromatography. This is because the tissue Raman response is in general accompanied by a host of other optical processes which have to be taken into account. In skin, the most prominent is strongly diffusive, non-Raman scattering, leading to relatively shallow light penetration of the blue/green excitation light required for resonant Raman detection of carotenoids. Also, sizable light attenuation exists due to the combined absorption from collagen, porphyrin, hemoglobin, and melanin chromophores, and additional fluorescence is generated by collagen and porphyrins. In this study, we investigate for the first time the direct correlation of in vivo skin tissue carotenoid Raman measurements with subsequent chromatography derived carotenoid concentrations. As tissue site we use heel skin, in which the stratum corneum layer thickness exceeds the light penetration depth, which is free of optically confounding chromophores, which can be easily optically accessed for in vivo RRS measurement, and which can be easily removed for subsequent biochemical measurements. Excellent correlation (coefficient R = 0.95) is obtained for this tissue site which could serve as a model site for scaled up future validation studies of large populations. The obtained results provide proof that resonance Raman spectroscopy is a valid non-invasive objective methodology for the quantitative assessment of carotenoid antioxidants in human skin in vivo.
Fabrication and characterization of ultra-high resolution multilayer-coated blazed gratings

Multilayer coated blazed gratings with high groove density are the most promising candidate for ultra-high resolution soft x-ray spectroscopy. They combine the ability of blazed gratings to concentrate almost all diffraction energy in a desired high diffraction order with high reflectance soft x-ray multilayers. However in order to realize this potential, the grating fabrication process should provide a near perfect groove profile with an extremely smooth surface of the blazed facets. Here we report on successful fabrication and testing of ultra-dense saw-tooth substrates with 5,000 and 10,000 lines/mm.
Beyond Supervision: Learning to Teach Mathematics in Community.

Abstract This paper examines in innovative preparation program in which pre-service teachers were paired with doctoral student mentors for the student teaching experience. Three of these student/mentor dyads were joined to form a small community throughout the internship. The study was theoretically grounded on a synthesis of constructivist and sociocultural theories. Multiple data sources (weekly lesson observations, weekly pre- and post-lesson conferences, ethnographic interviews, community meetings, lesson plans, journals and other informal sources of data) were collected to examine the research questions that framed the study. The findings centered on the participants reactions to this community approach to teacher preparation as they engaged in the process of becoming a mathematics teacher. Implications for sociocultural theories as they might be applied to teacher education efforts are presented.teacher educationstudent teaching-mathematics educationsituated cognitionsociocultural theorycommunity of practice
The aftermath of orbital radiotherapy for graves' ophthalmopathy.

Abstract Objective To determine whether long-term improvement could be observed after orbital radiotherapy for Graves' disease; in addition, to evaluate ancillary treatments needed for those who have received radiotherapy, to search for late-emerging adverse consequences of radiotherapy, and to relate orbital changes to serum levels of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI). Design Three-year follow-up of noncomparative interventional case series. Participants Forty-two patients. Intervention All patients had received orbital radiotherapy within 6 months of study entry. Twelve months after study entry, patients were free to select any additional treatment for their ophthalmopathy. Main outcome measures Need for surgery, steroid therapy, volume of extraocular muscles and fat, proptosis, area of diplopia fields and range of extraocular muscle motion, volume changes after decompression and correlations of eye findings with serum TSI levels, retinal status. Results Half of the patients elected to have a surgical procedure on their eyes or orbits. Among patients who were not decompressed, we found only slight improvement in some of the main outcome measures. TSI did not positively correlate with baseline status or with any observed change in major outcome measures. After orbital decompression, the volumes of both muscle and fat increase, but bony orbital volume increases more and proptosis diminishes. Retinal microvascular abnormalities consistent with radiation retinopathy developed de novo in five eyes of three patients within 3 years of radiation therapy. Conclusions In this 3-year uncontrolled follow-up phase, limited evidence for a clinically significant improvement was observed, which may be the result of treatment or of natural remission. In either case, the changes are of little clinical significance. Because it is neither effective nor innocuous, radiotherapy does not seem to be indicated for treatment of mild to moderate ophthalmopathy.
Chemicals and materials from coal in the 21st century

Abstract Coal may become more important both as an energy source and as the source of organic chemical feedstock in the 21st century. The demonstrated coal reserves in the world are enough for consumption for over 215 years at the 1998 level, while the known oil reserves are only about 39 times of the world's consumption level in 1998 and the known natural gas reserves are about 63 times of the world's consumption level in 1998. Coal has several positive attributes when considered as a feedstock for aromatic chemicals, specialty chemicals, and carbon-based materials. Substantial progress in advanced polymer materials, incorporating aromatic and polyaromatic units in their main chains, has created new opportunities for developing value-added or specialty organic chemicals from coal and tars from coal carbonization for coke making. The decline of the coal tar industry diminishes traditional sources of these chemicals. The new coal chemistry for chemicals and materials from coal may involve direct and indirect coal conversion strategies as well as the co-production approach. Needs for environmental-protection applications have also expanded market demand for carbon materials. Current status and future directions are discussed in this review.
EGFR as a predictor of relapse in myxopapillary ependymoma.

Myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) is a rare subtype of ependymoma in children. Though classified as a Grade I tumor, their unpredictable behavior and propensity for local and disseminated recurrence poses a therapeutic challenge. Till date no predictive molecular markers exist for such recurrence, especially with dissemination. We demonstrated that Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) expression was seen in relapsed MPE both at diagnosis and at recurrence and none in the nonrecurring tumors. This finding suggests EGFR could be a predictive biomarker for recurrence in MPE. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012;59:746–748. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Demystifying MARC Holdings

Questions surrounding the use of holding standards and the implementation of MARC holdings have challenged the library community for decades. The recent convergence of revised holdings standards an...
Berkeley center for synthetic biology.

The world's first synthetic biology department at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is using a bottom-up approach to form a foundation of design rules and models to understand cellular function.
Online Resources for Teaching Seniors to Find Health Information on the Internet: From Basic Computer Skills to Consumer Health

Because seniors have increased medical problems and low health literacy, they need consumer health classes in which they are taught to access easy-to-read and reliable health information on the Internet. However, many older adults must first overcome challenges with technology, namely inexperience. Therefore, the following bibliography was compiled to assist librarians in teaching the elderly to search for health information online. This bibliography includes senior health sites that are easy to understand and navigate, and Web sites that provide activities for teaching seniors basic computer and Internet skills.
Estimating Central Equatorial Pacific SST Variability over the Past Millennium. Part II: Reconstructions and Implications

AbstractReducing the uncertainties surrounding the impacts of anthropogenic climate change requires vetting general circulation models (GCMs) against long records of past natural climate variability. This is particularly challenging in the tropical Pacific Ocean, where short, sparse instrumental data preclude GCM validation on multidecadal to centennial time scales. This two-part paper demonstrates the application of two statistical methodologies to a network of accurately dated tropical climate records to reconstruct sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the Nino-3.4 region over the past millennium. While Part I described the methods and established their validity and limitations, this paper presents several reconstructions of Nino-3.4, analyzes their sensitivity to procedural choices and input data, and compares them to climate forcing time series and previously published tropical Pacific SST reconstructions. The reconstructions herein show remarkably similar behavior at decadal to multidecadal s...
Body mass index and its association with clinical outcomes for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients enrolled on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group clinical trials.

Introduction: Obesity increases the risk of death from many adverse health outcomes and has also been linked with cancer outcomes. The impact of obesity on outcomes of advanced non–small-cell lung cancer patients is unclear. Methods: The authors evaluated the association of body mass index (BMI) and outcomes in 2585 eligible patients enrolled in three consecutive first-line trials conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. BMI was categorized as underweight (BMI 2 ), normal weight (BMI: 18.5 to 2 ), overweight (BMI: 25 to 2 ), and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ). In addition to analyzing overall and progression-free survival, reasons for treatment discontinuation were also assessed by BMI group. Results: Of the patients enrolled, 4.6% were underweight, 44.1% were normal weight, 34.3% of patients were classified as overweight, and 16.9% were obese. Nonproportional hazards existed for obese patients relative to the other three groups of patients, with a change in overall survival hazard occurring at approximately 16 months. In multivariable Cox models, obese patients had superior outcomes earlier on study compared with normal/overweight patients 0.86 (HR=0.86, p =0.04; 95% CI: 0.75–0.99), but later experienced increased hazard (HR=1.54, p Conclusion: Data from these three trials suggest differential outcomes associated with BMI, and additional studies of the mechanisms underlying this observation, as well as dietary and lifestyle interventions, are warranted to help optimize therapy.
A PROCUREMENT STAFFING MODEL: ESTIMATING THE SERVICE AND COST IMPACTS OF ALTERING OPERATIONS*

Evaluating the service and cost impacts of altering procurement configurations is a common problem whenever an organization desires to be responsive to the changing needs of the populations being served. Changes relate to the volume of the work load, the degree of responsiveness required, or the technology and processes used. In real-world situations, personnel turnovers, uneven work loads, leaves, training requirements, and use of overtime all contribute to the complexity of the task. When a range of experience over different-sized operations is available, econometric approaches are applicable to estimate economies of scaie and technical substitution possibilities. Otherwise, queuing and job-shop modeling, combined with simulation approaches, can be helpful. This paper presents a case study of the analysis of a proposed reorganization for a large procurement activity in the U.S. Navy. The actual job-shop-scheduling and task-sequencing logic used in practice was modeled. Cost comparisons of four procurement configurations were generated under the constraints that prespecified levels of service be satisfied.
Diagnostic accuracy of 131I scanning with recombinant human thyrotropin versus thyroid hormone withdrawal in a patient with metastatic thyroid carcinoma and hypopituitarism

The diagnostic and therapeutic use of radioactive iodine in patients with thyroid cancer requires a sufficient serum concentration of thyrotropin (TSH) for efficient thyroid tissue uptake of radioiodine. Recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) is a promising new agent, which appears to facilitate radioiodine scanning with similar efficacy to thyroid hormone withdrawal without the immunologic side-effects of bovine TSH (bTSH) administration. Patients with thyroid cancer and concomitant secondary hypothyroidism are particularly difficult to treat because of their inability to elevate endogenous TSH and the limitations of bTSH administration. We describe a patient with metastatic thyroid carcinoma and secondary hypothyroidism with metastases visible only after administration of rhTSH previously unappreciated on thyroid hormone withdrawal scans. This patient exemplifies the usefulness of rhTSH administration before radioactive iodine for this group of patients.
A new luminosity component in 3C 48

The infrared emission from the quasar 3C48 has a luminosity L approximately 5 x 10 to the 12th power solar luminosity and dominates the power output of the quasar system. It is shown that the infrared emission, unlike that of most radio loud quasars, is most likely not an extension of the radio emission of the quasar. It is argued that the infrared emission in 3C48 is probably thermal radiation arising in a highly luminous galaxy surrounding the quasar.
Electromagnetic phenomena and collider performance at ultrarelativistic energies

Abstract The expectation of ultrarelativistic heavy ions in a collider mode (Brookhaven and CERN), necessitates the study of new electromagnetic phenomena during beam crossing. The two dominant modes of beam loss are explored in this paper. These are electron capture following pair production, and excitation of multiple dipole resonances. The expected energy dependence of the capture cross sections are investigated using exact Monte Carlo techniques.