cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of cell subpopulations expressing progenitor cell markers in porcine cardiac valves.

Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) are the main population of cells found in cardiac valves. These resident fibroblastic cells play important roles in maintaining proper valve function, and their dysregulation has been linked to disease progression in humans. Despite the critical functions of VICs, their cellular composition is still not well defined for humans and other mammals. Given the limited availability of healthy human valves and the similarity in valve structure and function between humans and pigs, we characterized porcine VICs (pVICs) based on expression of cell surface proteins and sorted a specific subpopulation of pVICs to study its functions. We found that small percentages of pVICs express the progenitor cell markers ABCG2 (~5%), NG2 (~5%) or SSEA-4 (~7%), whereas another subpopulation (~5%) expresses OB–CDH, a type of cadherin expressed by myofibroblasts or osteo-progenitors. pVICs isolated from either aortic or pulmonary valves express most of these protein markers at similar levels. Interestingly, OB–CDH, NG2 and SSEA-4 all label distinct valvular subpopulations relative to each other; however, NG2 and ABCG2 are co-expressed in the same cells. ABCG2+ cells were further characterized and found to deposit more calcified matrix than ABCG2- cells upon osteogenic induction, suggesting that they may be involved in the development of osteogenic VICs during valve pathology. Cell profiling based on flow cytometry and functional studies with sorted primary cells provide not only new and quantitative information about the cellular composition of porcine cardiac valves, but also contribute to our understanding of how a subpopulation of valvular cells (ABCG2+ cells) may participate in tissue repair and disease progression.
Dynamic Simulation of Littoral Zone Habitats in Lower Chesapeake Bay. I. Ecosystem Characterization Related to Model Development

The fringing environments of lower Chesapeake Bay include sandy shoals, seagrass meadows, intertidal mud flats, and marshes. A characterization of a fringing ecosystem was conducted to provide initialization and calibration data for the development of a simulation model. The model simulates primary production and material exchange in the littoral zone of lower Chesapeake Bay. Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) properties of water and sediments from sand, seagrass, intertidal silt-mud, and intertidal marsh habitats of the Goodwin Islands (located within the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia, CBNERR-VA) were determined seasonally. Spatial and temporal differences in sediment microalgal biomass among the habitats were assessed along with annual variations in the distribution and abundance ofZostera marina L. andSpartina alterniflora Loisel. Phytoplankton biomass displayed some seasonality related to riverine discharge, but sediment microalgal biomass did not vary spatially or seasonally. Macrophytes in both subtidal and intertidal habitats exhibited seasonal biomass patterns that were consistent with other Atlantic estuarine ecosystems. Marsh sediment organic carbon and inorganic nitrogen differed significantly from that of the sand, seagrass, and silt habitats. The only biogeochemical variable that exhibited seasonality was low marsh NH4 +. The subtidal sediments were consistent temporally in their carbon and nitrogen content despite seasonal changes in seagrass abundance. Eelgrass has a comparatively low C:N ratio and is a potential N sink for the ecosystem. Changes in the composition or size of the vegetated habitats could have a dramatic influence over resource partitioning within the ecosystem. A spatial database (or geographic information system, GIS) of the Goodwin Islands site has been initiated to track long-term spatial habitat features and integrate model output and field data. This ecosystem characterization was conducted as part of efforts to link field data, geographic information, and the dynamic simulation of multiple habitats. The goal of these efforts is to examine ecological structure, function, and change in fringing environments of lower Chesapeake Bay.
Management of Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection: screening and treatment challenges.

Chlamydia trachomatis is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection that can lead to serious reproductive morbidity. Management and control of C. trachomatis is a challenge, largely due to its asymptomatic nature and our incomplete understanding of its natural history. Although chlamydia screening programs have been implemented worldwide, several countries have observed increasing rates of reported chlamydia cases. We reviewed the literature relating to the long-term complications of C. trachomatis, as well as screening strategies, treatment, and prevention strategies for reducing chlamydia in the population. Articles from 1950–2010 were identified through a Medline search using the keyword “Chlamydia trachomatis” combined with “screening”, “pelvic inflammatory disease”, “endometritis”, “salpingitis”, “infertility”, “ectopic pregnancy”, “urethritis”, “epididymitis”, “proctitis”, “prostatitis”, “reinfection”, “cost-effectiveness”, “treatment”, “vaccines”, or “prevention”. Progression of C. trachomatis varies, and recurrent infections are common. Currently, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of chlamydia screening. Higher quality studies are needed to determine the efficacy of more frequent screening, on a broader range of sequelae, including infertility and ectopic pregnancy, in addition to pelvic inflammatory disease. Studies should focus on delineating the natural history of recurrent infections, paying particular attention to treatment failures. Furthermore, alternatives to screening, such as vaccines, should continue to be explored.
Figure Attractiveness: Male and Female Preferences for Female Figures

The principal objectives of this study were (1) to identify figure characteristics that trigger pervasive judgments on attractiveness and (2) to develop and apply a new research method for securing assessments under the realistic conditions of complex figures with multiple varied characteristics. Ratings on attractiveness of 29 female figures with variant physiques were made by college students—20 men and 20 women. Somatographs of the figures (silhouette photographs taken under controlled conditions) served as stimuli for the responses during interview sessions. Attractiveness/unattractiveness was rated on a five-point scale from side and back views; open-end questions were used to identify figure characteristics that influenced the ratings. Hypotheses predicted significant agreement among ratings of subjects within male and female groups, and between male and female raters. Subjects' ratings on figure attractiveness were significantly related, indi cating general agreement on attractiveness. Admired and disapproved figure characteristics were identified.
CUAVE: A new audio-visual database for multimodal human-computer interface research

Multimodal signal processing has become an important topic of research for overcoming certain problems of audio-only speech processing. Audio-visual speech recognition is one area with great potential. Difficulties due to background noise and multiple speakers are significantly reduced by the additional information provided by extra visual features. Despite a few efforts to create databases in this area, none has emerged as a standard for comparison for several possible reasons. This paper seeks to introduce a new audiovisual database that is flexible and fairly comprehensive, yet easily available to researchers on one DVD. The CUAVE database is a speaker-independent corpus of over 7,000 utterances of both connected and isolated digits. It is designed to meet several goals that are discussed in this paper. The most notable are availability of the database, flexibility for use of the audio-visual data, and realistic considerations in the recordings (such as speaker movement). Another important focus of the database is the inclusion of pairs of simultaneous speakers, the first documented database of this kind. The overall goal of this project is to facilitate more widespread audio-visual research through an easily available database. For information on obtaining CUAVE, please visit our webpage (http://ece.clemson.edu/speech).
Order reduction of retarded nonlinear systems – the method of multiple scales versus center-manifold reduction

We compare two approaches for determining the normal forms of Hopf bifurcations in retarded nonlinear dynamical systems; namely, the method of multiple scales and a combination of the method of normal forms and the center-manifold theorem. To describe and compare the methods without getting involved in the algebra, we consider three examples: a scalar equation, a single-degree-of-freedom system, and a three-neuron model. The method of multiple scales is directly applied to the retarded differential equations. In contrast, in the second approach, one needs to represent the retarded equations as operator differential equations, decompose the solution space of their linearized form into stable and center subspaces, determine the adjoint of the operator equations, calculate the center manifold, carry out details of the projection using the adjoint of the center subspace, and finally calculate the normal form on the center manifold. We refer to the second approach as center-manifold reduction. Finally, we consider a problem in which the retarded term appears as an acceleration and treat it using the method of multiple scales only.
CCSDS telemetry systems experience at the Goddard Space Flight Center

The Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) designs, builds, manages, and operates science and applications spacecraft in near-Earth orbit, and provides data capture, data processing, and flight control services for these spacecraft. In addition, GSFC has the responsibility of providing space-ground and ground-ground communications for near-earth orbiting spacecraft, including those of the manned spaceflight programs. The goal of reducing both the developmental and operating costs of the end-to-end information system has led the GSFC to support and participate in the standardization activities of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), including those for packet telemetry. The environment in which such systems function is described, and the Center's experience with CCSDS packet telemetry in the context of the Gamma Ray Observatory Project is discussed. >
Rapid Postnatal Weight Gain and Visceral Adiposity in Adulthood: The Fels Longitudinal Study

Rapid infant weight gain is associated with increased abdominal adiposity, but there is no published report of the relationship of early infant growth to differences in specific adipose tissue depots in the abdomen, including visceral adipose tissue (VAT). In this study, we tested the associations of birth weight, infant weight gain, and other early life traits with VAT, abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT), and other body composition measures using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in middle adulthood (mean age = 46.5 years). The sample included 233 appropriate for gestational age singleton white children (114 males) enrolled in the Fels Longitudinal Study. Multivariate-adjusted general linear models were used to test the association of infant weight gain (from 0 to 2 years), maternal BMI, gestational age, parity, maternal age, and other covariates with adulthood body composition. Compared to infants with slow weight gain, rapid weight gain was associated with elevated risk of obesity (adjusted odds ratio = 4.1, 95% confidence interval = 1.4, 11.1), higher total body fat (+7 kg, P = 0.0002), percent body fat (+5%, P = 0.0006), logVAT mass (+0.43 kg, P = 0.02), logASAT mass (+0.47 kg, P = 0.001), and percent abdominal fat (+5%, P = 0.03). There was no evidence that the increased abdominal adipose tissue was due to a preferential deposition of VAT. In conclusion, rapid infant weight gain is associated with increases in both VAT and ASAT, as well as total adiposity and the risk of obesity in middle adulthood.
SCHOOL RACIAL COMPOSITION AND BIRACIAL ADOLESCENTS' SCHOOL ATTACHMENT

Despite extensive research on multiracial youth in recent years, to date, no empirical studies have analyzed how racial context may affect biracial adolescents' sense of belonging in a social institution beyond families. In this study, we examine how the racial makeup of the student body affects self-identified biracial adolescents' school attachment. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we find that the proportions of white or black students in school significantly affect the school attachment of Hispanic/black, Asian/black, and American Indian/black biracial adolescents, but school racial composition in general has little influence on biracial adolescents with a partial-white identification (i.e., black/white, Hispanic/white, Asian/white, and American Indian/white). Our analyses also show that on average, students of most biracial groups display lower school attachment than their corresponding monoracial groups, but the differences from the monoracial groups with the low...
The predatory behavior of Mesocyclops edax: Predator preferences, prey defenses, and starvation-induced changes1

The predatory behavior of field-collected Mesocyclops edax on four different kinds of prey was compared under similar and different predator starvation regimes. Unstarved Mesocyclaps did not consume either the ciliate Rhabdostyla or the cladoceran Bosmina. Increasing starvation in the predator increased the probability of ingestion after encounter for both of these prey. The rotifer Asplanchna and the nauplii of the copepod Diaptomus were consumed by starved and unstarved Mesocyclops. The probability of ingestion after encounter increased with increasing predator starvation for Asplanchna, but not for nauplii. Both behavioral and morphological characteristics of the prey were important in regulating the predator’s ability to capture and ingest the prey and in determining the time and energy which the predator had to invest to receive its nutritional rewards.
Intracellular calcium buffering capacity in isolated squid axons

Changes in ionized calcium were studied in axons isolated from living squid by measuring absorbance of the Ca binding dye Arsenazo III using multiwavelength differential absorption spectroscopy. Absorption changes measured in situ were calibrated in vitro with media of ionic composition similar to axoplasm containing CaEGTA buffers. Calcium loads of 50-2,500 μmol/kg axoplasm were induced by microinjection, by stimulation in 112 mM Ca seawater, or by soaking in choline saline with 1-10 mM Ca. Over this range of calcium loading of intact axoplasm, the ionized calcium in the axoplasm rose about 0.6 nM/μM load. Similar loading in axons preteated with carbonyl cyanide 4- trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) to inhibit the mitochondrial proton gradient increased ionized calcium by 5-7 percent of the imposed load, i.e. 93-95 percent of the calcium load was buffered by a process insensitive to FCCP. This FCCP- insensitive buffer system was not saturated by the largest calcium loads imposed, indicating a capacity of at least several millimolar. Treatment of previously loaded axons with FCCP or apyrase plus cyanide produced rises in ionized calcium which could be correlated with the extent of the load. Analysis of results indicated that, whereas only 6 percent of the endogenous calcium in fresh axons is stored in the FCCP-sensitive (presumably mitochondrial) buffer system, about 30 percent of an imposed exogenous load in the range of 50-2,500 μM is taken up by this system.
Performance evaluation of multilayer perceptrons in signal detection and classification

Multilayer perceptrons trained with the backpropagation algorithm are tested in detection and classification tasks and are compared to optimal algorithms resulting from likelihood ratio tests. The focus is on the problem of one of M orthogonal signals in a Gaussian noise environment, since both the Bayesian detector and classifier are known for this problem and can provide a measure for the performance evaluation of the neural networks. Two basic situations are considered: detection and classification. For the detection part, it was observed that for the signal-known-exactly case (M=1), the performance of the neural detector converges to the performance of the ideal Bayesian decision processor, while for a higher degree of uncertainty (i.e. for a larger M), the performance of the multilayer perceptron is inferior to that of the optimal detector. For the classification case, the probability of error of the neural network is comparable to the minimum Bayesian error, which can be numerically calculated. Adding noise during the training stage of the network does not affect the performance of the neural detector; however, there is an indication that the presence of noise in the learning process of the neural classifier results in a degraded classification performance. >
The coracoacromial ligament: Morphology and study of acromial enthesopathy

The coracoacromial ligament (CAL), normally a superior restraint against humeral translation, is frequently involved in rotator cuff impingement pathology. However, surgical excision of the CAL is not always clinically successful. Little anatomic information exists about the morphology and function of this ligament. The CAL and glenohumeral joint in 56 cadaveric shoulders were examined in 31 cadavers. Nineteen dimensional parameters were obtained by direct measurement. In 16 shoulders, specific attention was directed at the anterior band of the CAL. Variation exists in the morphology of the CAL. The most common configuration of the CAL was two distinct ligamentous bands that could be classified anatomically as an anterolateral band (ALB) and posteromedial band (PMB). The ALB commonly extended to the posterolateral aspect of the acromion. Furthermore, it frequently extended anterolaterally to the acromion, ending in a coracoacromial falx. Spur formation had occurred in 10 of 16 shoulders evaluated and always appeared in the ALB. Spur formation in the ALB correlated with a focal CAL that was narrower, less divergent, shorter, and thicker than a diffuse CAL that did not have a spur. The mean angle of diversion between the ALB and PMB, when a spur was present, was 31° compared with 45° when no spur was present. CAL band thickness varied, with the ALB being thicker at the acromion than at the coracoid and the PMB being thicker at the coracoid than at the acromion. During arthroscopic subacromial decompression, failure to visualize the anterolateral corner of the acromion adequately may result in incomplete resection of the CAL, especially if the PMB is mistaken to be the entire ligament. Incomplete removal of the CAL may be a factor in clinical failures of arthroscopic subacromial decompression. The preferential location of spurs in the ALB suggests that it is a major load-bearing structure. Furthermore, the ALB is thicker at the acromion, suggesting increased strain. Our data suggest that a possible function of the CAL is to dampen stress on the acromion from muscle activity.
Neighborhood playgrounds, fast food restaurants, and crime: relationships to overweight in low-income preschool children.

Background. We examined the relationship between overweight in preschool children and three environmental factors—the proximity of the children’s residences to playgrounds and to fast food restaurants and the safety of the children’s neighborhoods. We hypothesized that children who lived farther from playgrounds, closer to fast food restaurants, and in unsafe neighborhoods were more likely to be overweight. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study of 7,020 low-income children, 36 through 59 months of age living in Cincinnati, OH. Overweight was defined as a measured body mass index z95th percentile. The distance between each child’s residence and the nearest public playground and fast food restaurant was determined with geographic information systems. Neighborhood safety was defined by the number of police-reported crimes per 1,000 residents per year in each of 46 city neighborhoods. Results. Overall, 9.2% of the children were overweight, 76% black, and 23% white. The mean (FSD) distances from a child’s home to the nearest playground and fast food restaurant were 0.31 (F0.22) and 0.70 (F0.38) miles, respectively. There was no association between child overweight and proximity to playgrounds, proximity to fast food restaurants, or level of neighborhood crime. The association between child overweight and playground proximity did not differ by neighborhood crime level. Conclusions. Within a population of urban low-income preschoolers, overweight was not associated with proximity to playgrounds and fast food restaurants or with the level of neighborhood crime.
Kinetic mechanism of TiO2 nanocarving via reaction with hydrogen gas

Dense polycrystalline titania (TiO2, rutile) was converted into oriented arrays of single-crystal titania nanofibers by reaction with a noncombustible, hydrogen-bearing gas mixture at only 680–780 °C. Such nanofiber formation resulted from anisotropic etching (“nanocarving”) of the titania grains. The fibers possessed diameters of 20–50 nm and lengths of up to several microns, with the long fiber axes oriented parallel to the [001] crystallographic direction of rutile. Mass spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy indicated that oxygen, but not titanium, was removed from the specimen during the reaction with hydrogen. The removal of substantial oxygen and solid volume from the reacting surfaces, without an appreciable change in the Ti:O ratio at such surfaces, was consistent with the solid-state diffusion of titanium cations from the surface into the bulk of the specimen. The reaction-induced weight loss followed a parabolic rate law, which was also consistent with a solid-state diffusion-controlled process.
An 800 bps adaptive vector quantization vocoder using a perceptual distance measure

This paper presents an adaptive vector quantization algorithm using a perceptually motivated distance measure. The adaptation is accomplished by continuous alteration of the the template set to match the current speaker and environment. The distance measure approximates auditory perception to optimize the template usage. Adaptation protocols requiring no additional channel bandwidth have been devised. The system achieves an intelligibility score (DRT) of 86.8 percent on an 800 bps channel. Combinations of this system with spectral frame-fill produce systems with data rates as low as 500 bps at somewhat reduced intelligibility.
Lateral Positioning of the Stable Ventilated Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infant: Effect on Transcutaneous Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide

Eighteen stable very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) mechanically ventilated infants with chronic lung disease were studied to examine the effects of right and left lateral positioning in contrast to supine positioning on transcutaneous (tc) oxygen (tcPO2) and carbon dioxide measurements (tcPCO2). The neonates were studied at a median postnatal age of 31 days (range, 17 to 57 days) and had median birth weights and gestational ages of 975 g (range, 570 to 1360 g) and 27.5 weeks (range, 24 to 30 weeks), respectively. Median fraction of inspiratory oxygen was 0.32 (range, 0.23 to 0.40). The sequence of study positions was randomly determined. Sleep state as well as tcPO2 and tcPCO2 were recorded every 30 s for five minutes. A significant difference in mean tcPO2 or tcPCO2 was not detected for any of the positions. Lateral positioning may facilitate the development of midline behavior in VLBW infants. Care givers are often reluctant to position infants in side lying, however, because of concerns that ventilation or oxygenation might be compromised. We conclude that placing the stable VLBW mechanically ventilated infant in a side-lying position has no deleterious effects on oxygenation and ventilation, as measured by tcPO2 and tcPCO2, and therefore should be encouraged.
Common bile duct measurements in an elderly population.

We prospectively evaluated the diameter of the common bile duct in 1,018 patients between the ages of 60 to 96 over a 4 year period to determine if there is a significant change in its size with aging. All of the patients included in the study were being evaluated primarily for carotid or peripheral vascular disease. Any patients with a history of biliary disease (i.e., bilirubin level greater than 1.5 mg/ml, cholecystectomy, or cholelithiasis) were excluded. Ultrasonography of the common bile duct was performed only in those patients with no subjective abdominal pain or icterus. Our results demonstrated a small although statistically significant increase in the caliber of the common bile duct with increasing age (60 years old or less, mean diameter 3.6 mm +/- 0.2mm, versus over 85 years old, mean diameter 4 mm +/- 0.2 mm, P = 0.009). Although the common bile duct did increase in size with aging, 98% of all ducts remained below 6 to 7 mm, the commonly accepted upper range of normal.
Inflammation and the incidence of type 2 diabetes: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Abstract Objective: Many studies have documented associations between inflammation and type 2 diabetes incidence; we assessed potential variability in this association in the major U.S. race/ethnic groups. Research Design and Methods: Incident type 2 diabetes was assessed among men and women aged 45-84 without prior clinical cardiovascular disease or diabetes in the prospective Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Interleukin 6 (IL-6), fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at baseline (2000-2002); fasting glucose and diabetes medication use was assessed at baseline and three subsequent in-person exams through 2007. Type 2 diabetes was defined as use of diabetes drugs or glucose ≥ 126 mg/dl. Covariates included baseline demographics, clinic, smoking, alcohol, exercise, hypertension medication, systolic blood pressure, insulin resistance, and BMI. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) by quartiles of CRP, IL-6, and fibrinogen. Results: Among 5,571 participants (mean age 61.6 years, 53% female, 42.1% white, 11.5% Chinese, 25.7% black, 20.7% Hispanic) 410 developed incident diabetes during a median follow-up time of 4.7 years (incidence 16.8 per 1000-person years). CRP, IL6 and fibrinogen levels were associated with incident diabetes in the entire sample. After adjustment, the associations were attenuated; however quartile 4 (vs. quartile 1) of IL-6 (HR 1.5, 95%CI 1.1-2.2 ) and CRP (HR 1.7, 95%CI 1.3-2.4) remained associated with incident diabetes. In stratified analyses, similar associations were observed among white, black, and Hispanic participants. Conclusions: Higher levels of inflammation predict short-term incidence of type 2 diabetes in a multi-ethnic American sample.
Identification of additional rRNA fragments encoded by the Plasmodium falciparum 6 kb element

Sequences similar to mitochondrial large and small subunit rRNAs are found as small scattered fragments on a tandemly reiterated 6 kb element in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The rDNA sequences previously identified include strongly conserved portions of rRNA, suggesting that fragmented rRNAs derived from them are able to associate into functional ribosomes. However, sequences corresponding to other expected rRNA regions were not found. We here report that 10 of the 13 previously described rDNA regions have abundant small transcripts. An additional 10 transcripts were found from regions not previously known to contain genes. Five of the latter have been identified as rRNA fragments, including those corresponding to the 5'end and 790 loop sequences of small subunit rRNA and the sarcin/ ricin loop of large subunit rRNA. Demonstration that most of the previously described rDNA regions have abundant transcripts and the identification of new transcripts with other portions of conventional rRNAs provide support for the hypothesis that these small transcripts comprise functional rRNAs.
Investigational antibody drug conjugates for solid tumors.

Introduction: Despite the progress made in the past 20 years in understanding the molecular events leading to the formation of cancer, the success of targeted antitumor agents in solid tumors has lagged behind the scientific discoveries. The most difficult to treat patient segments are those with refractory solid tumors, resistant to standard chemotherapy, and novel therapeutic compounds with improved therapeutic indexes are needed. Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are poised to become an important class of cancer therapeutics, as evidenced by the promising objective response rates when administered as single agents to chemorefractory cancer patients. Areas covered: The basic concept for ADCs is to combine the strengths of the two most successful classes of therapeutic compounds developed in oncology, the high selectivity of antibodies with the unrivaled potency of small molecules, with the goal to improve the therapeutic index. Currently, approximately 60 ADCs are being developed in oncology. Among them, ...
Portfolio Flows to Emerging Capital Markets: Do Corporate Transparency and Public Governance Matter?

This paper focuses on flows to emerging capital mar- kets (ECMs) and examines the importance of corporate transparency and public governance in attracting portfolio flows to ECMs. This paper's empirical investi- gation centers on the hypothesis that ceteris paribus , ECMs with better quality accounting standards and good governance attract higher levels of portfolio equity and bond flows. To assess the incremental impact of each of these factors, a pooled time series, cross-sectional model was econometrically tested for 17 ECMS over the 1998-2002 time period. Our empirical analysis demonstrates a positive association between public governance, corporate transparency, and portfolio flows after controlling for other macroeconomic factors. The results suggest that good public governance and high accounting quality are important determinants of portfolio flows to ECMs. Finally, the paper establishes that while portfolio equity flows are significantly attracted to ECMs with strong democratic institutions, there is no significant association between portfolio bond flows and the presence of democratic institutions.
Segmentation of 3D RF echocardiography using a joint spatio-temporal predictor and signal intensity model

We present an approach for left ventricular segmentation of radio-frequency (RF) ultrasound sequences. Our method employs an independent identically distributed (iid) spatial model for RF voxel intensity and a conditional model relating a subsequent frame in the image sequence to the frame being segmented by means of a linear predictor that exploits spatio-temporal coherence in the data. The conditional model overcomes segmentation problems due to image inhomogeneity issues, while the spatial model overcomes a tendency of the conditional model to underestimate the blood pool. The method is validated by comparison with manual tracings, segmentations performed using Chan-Vese level sets, and by segmentations leveraging only the linear predictor.
Effects of Information Revelation Policies Under Cost Uncertainty

The paper presents insights regarding the key learning-related factors a buyer should consider when deciding the extent to which information about bids is revealed in a procurement auction context. It offers the insights by analyzing the following two first-price sealed-bid policies in a private-value sequential auction with no winner dropouts: (i) iis, where only the winner's bid is revealed, and (ii) cis, where all bids are revealed. Our analysis identifies two important learning effects---the extraction and the deception effects---as having significant welfare implications. Both these effects arise because of a bidder's desire to gain an informational advantage relative to his competitors, but their manifestations are different. The extraction effect occurs because of a bidder's incentive to learn about his competitors, and the deception effect is a consequence of the incentive to prevent an opponent from gaining the information. Both effects lead to higher bid prices, and either may be dominant from a procurer surplus standpoint. With the deception effect, social welfare can decrease even when the number of suppliers increases, a result that is counterintuitive. The paper also discusses how insights regarding the learning effects might apply to other policies.
Structural health and the politics of African American masculinity.

This commentary describes ways in which notions of African American men’s “health” attained by individual choice—embedded in the notion that African American men should visit doctors or engage in fewer risky behaviors—are at times in tension with larger cultural, economic, and political notions of “health.” It argues that efforts to improve the health of Black men must take structural factors into account, and failure to do so circumvents even well-intentioned efforts to improve health outcomes. Using historical examples, the article shows how attempts to identify and intervene into what are now called social determinants of health are strengthened by addressing on-the-ground diagnostic disparities and also the structural violence and racism embedded within definitions of illness and health. And, that, as such, we need to monitor structural barriers to health that exist in institutions ostensibly set up to incarcerate or contain Black men and in institutions ostensibly set up to help them.
Syntheses and Structures of the New Quaternary Compounds Ba4Nd2Cd3Se10 and Ba4Ln2Cd3S10 (Ln=Sm, Gd, Tb)

Abstract The compounds Ba 4 Nd 2 Cd 3 Se 10 and Ba 4 Ln 2 Cd 3 S 10 ( Ln =Sm, Gd, Tb) have been synthesized at 1173 K with the use of a BaBr 2 /KBr eutectic flux. These isostructural compounds crystallize as racemic twins in space group Cmc 2 1 of the orthorhombic system in cells of ( Ln , Q , a , b , c (A), T (K)): Nd, Se, 4.3340(9), 18.667(4), 27.376(6), 115; Sm, S, 4.1907(8), 17.931(4), 26.594(5), 153; Gd, S, 4.1726(4), 17.928(2), 26.638(3), 153; Tb, S, 4.1643(8), 17.916(4), 26.581(5), 153. The corresponding R 1 indices for the refined structures are 0.053, 0.029, 0.032, and 0.030. The structure comprises [ Ln 2 Cd 3 Q 10 ] 4− layers interconnected by Ba atoms. There are LnQ 6 octahedra and severely distorted Cd Q 4 tetrahedra in the structure. Ba 4 Tb 2 Cd 3 S 10 , which is paramagnetic, obeys the Curie–Weiss law and has an effective magnetic moment of 9.94(3) μ B . A band gap of 3.0 eV for this material was deduced from its diffuse reflectance spectrum.
Defining the Undefinable: Operationalization of Methods to Identify Specific Learning Disabilities among Practicing School Psychologists.

Accurate and consistent identification of students with specific learning disabilities (SLDs) is crucial; however, state and district guidelines regarding identification methods lack operationalization and are inconsistent throughout the United States. In the current study, the authors surveyed 471 school psychologists about school SLD identification guidelines and the identification methods actually used (e.g., ability-achievement discrepancy, response-to-intervention, and the evaluation of students’ pattern of strengths and weaknesses). Results indicated that nearly half the participants were allowed or required to choose the method of identification that ensured students received services, if the school-based team determined services were warranted. Variations in SLD identification methods were also found between schools with different characteristics (e.g., location, school level, and student composition). Implications for practice are discussed.
Patient preferences for total knee replacement surgery: Relationship to clinical outcomes and stability of patient preferences over 2 years

Abstract Objective Evaluate the relationship between patient preferences for total knee replacement (TKR) with receipt of TKR, and assess participant characteristics that may influence change in willingness to undergo TKR. Methods Structured interviews of knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients were conducted. Logistic regression models were conducted to assess the association between baseline willingness and eventual receipt of TKR, adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Mixed models for repeated measures were used to estimate the effects of sex, race, social support, Δ WOMAC, and orthopedic consult on change in willingness. Results A total of 589 participants were willing, and 215 participants were unwilling to undergo TKR. Willing participants, compared to others, were more often White (69.4% vs. 48.4%), with more than a high school education (60.8% vs. 47.0%) and employed (39.1% vs. 26.5%). At follow-up, the odds of having TKR were twice as high among those who were willing to have the procedure at baseline, but this was no longer significant when adjusted for demographic variables (adjusted OR=1.82, 95% CI: 0.89–3.69). Willingness to undergo TKR declined over 2 years. Among those who were willing to undergo TKR at baseline but did not obtain one, only 66.5% were still willing at the 2-year follow-up. This decline was less among those who had a greater increase (>median) in WOMAC disability (adjusted Δ = −0.34, 95% CI: −0.47 to −0.20) than those who had minimal change in their WOMAC disability ( p = 0.08). The decline in willingness was also less among those who had seen an orthopedic surgeon (adjusted Δ = −0.32, 95% CI: −0.46 to −0.17) than those who did not ( p = 0.05). Conclusions Preference for TKR was consistent with TKR surgery utilization, but not after controlling for patient demographic characteristics. Willingness to undergo TKR declined over time, but this decrease was mitigated by worsening OA-related disability and by consultation with an orthopedic surgeon.
Abstract 2997: SOX2 contributes towards invasive phenotype of serous ovarian cancer by up-regulating MMP2.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC SOX2 encodes a member of the SRY-related HMG-box (SOX) family of transcription factors involved in the regulation of embryonic development and in the determination of cell fate. SOX2 maps to 3q26.33, a region frequently amplified in HGSOvCa as reported in the TCGA and other large array-based CGH studies. However, the role of SOX2 in HGSOvCa oncogenesis and progression has not been studied yet. Given the importance of SOX2 in maintenance of stem cell phenotype and its overexpression in solid tumors, we sought to define the role of SOX2 in HGSOvCa. In order to establish a direct role for SOX2 in vivo, we conducted DNA copy number analysis and qRT-PCR analysis in two independent panels of primary HGSOvCa and 25 serous OVCA lines. We overexpressed SOX2 in T29, OVCA433, A2780, SKOV3 and OVCAR5 cells and/or knockdown SOX2 in UCI101 and OV90 cells. Ectopic expression of SOX2 resulted in decreased cell proliferation, soft agar colony formation, in vivo tumorigenicity but higher degree of invasion relative to cells with empty vectors. SOX2 overexpression increased MMP2 activity as determined by gelatin zymography. We also performed mRNA profiling to identify SOX2 target genes. SOX2 knockdown cells decreased migration,andinvasion but increased tumorigenicity. Differentially expressed genes in cells overexpressing SOX2 will be presented. Increased SOX2 expression in HGSOvCa appears to produce a more invasive yet quiestant cell. Overexpression of SOX2 may induce a stem-like transcriptional program in HGSOvCa. Thus, identifying SOX2 target genes may offer new insight into the understanding of ovarian cancer biology. Citation Format: Gayatry Mohapatra, Junko Kikuchi, Michael J. Birrer. SOX2 contributes towards invasive phenotype of serous ovarian cancer by up-regulating MMP2. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2997. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2997
The Roadside Census as a Method of Measuring Bird Populations

THE subject of the measurement of bird populations has been extensively treated by Kendeigh (1944). Kendeigh's paper orients the roadside census in relation to other types of censuses. It has been used as a method of determining relative abundance and not absolute or true abundance. In relative abundance the number of birds reported is not the actual total number present in the area censused but an unknown proportion of the actual total, while in absolute or true abundance the number of birds reported is the total number of individuals present per unit of area (preferably given in terms of birds per 100 acres). The roadside census is an enumeration of the birds contacted along secondary roads, usually from a moving automobile. Nice (1921) used the roadside census to study Oklahoma bird populations in 1920. Since then it has been used by a number of other workers. It has been used to study many species of birds, but usually the individual species chosen have been the more conspicuous ones. Perhaps it has been most widely used to measure population fluctuations of the Ringnecked Pheasant (Fisher, Hiatt, and Bergeson, 1947). My objective in this study has been to measure population changes and trends in a large area. The area selected was Knox County, Tennessee. The population in an area of this size is too great to be more than sampled. It was the need for a method of securing large population samples over a large area in a limited time that led to the selection of the roadside census. The term population as used in this paper refers to the total number of individuals of both sexes and all ages (other than nestlings) occurring in Knox County. Knox County lies within about 20 miles of the eastern boundary of Tennessee and is a little nearer to the northern than the southern boundary. Its greatest distance from east to west is about 35 miles and from north to south it is a little over 20 miles. The county has an area of 517 square miles. It lies in the Valley and Ridge Province (Fenneman, 1938), an area lying along the Tennessee River and characterized by many long parallel ridges and intervening valleys. The average elevation is a little less than 1000 feet. Seventy-two per cent of the county is in farms. Ecologically the county is about 60 per
Analysis of Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Biomechanics Using a Dynamic Shoulder Simulator

Despite the increasing use of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA), questions remain regarding optimal implantation techniques to maximize range of motion while minimizing instability and scapular notching. Utilizing a dynamic shoulder simulator, the effects of altering joint tension, humeral version, and glenosphere offset were investigated in cadavers. In addition, common configurations of different implant designs were compared. Increased tension in a Grammont-style rTSA improved implant stability at the cost of reduced range of motion, while humeral version only affected range of motion. Glenosphere lateralization in a Grammont-style rTSA increased implant stability at the cost of greater deltoid force required to elevate the arm. The most commonly implanted configuration of a lateral glenosphere system improved adduction versus a medial glenosphere system, which could result in the reduced scapular notching seen with lateral glenosphere systems in clinical populations. Similarly, a more lateral glenosphere system resulting in a more lateralized humerus might improve posterior rotator cuff efficiency by maintaining a more anatomic muscle length/tension relationship. Translation of these results to the clinical setting provides guidance regarding implant selection and placement that can be used to improve functional outcomes and limit complications after rTSA.
A Tool For Evaluating Patients With Cold Symptoms

The article describes an encounter form that can improve documentation of visits for patients with cold symptoms and reduce the amount of time spent documenting, which sometimes can take longer than the visit itself.
Peripheral Veno-arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Treatment of Ischemic Shock

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), often referred to as extracorporeal life support (ECLS), provides temporary support to critically ill patients who cannot maintain their respiratory and/or circulatory function. A basic circuit composed of cannula, tubing, a pump, oxygenator, and heat exchanger; there are two approaches: veno-venous (VV) ECMO for solely respiratory support, and veno-arterial (VA) ECMO for cardiac support, cardio-respiratory support, or undifferentiated etiology support. Since first use in 1971 [1], ECMO circuits have improved in design and function [2–4]. This review focuses on contemporary insertion techniques and management considerations, which have improved clinical outcomes in VA ECMO, specifically, peripherally inserted VA ECMO for cardiogenic shock secondary to ischemic presentation.
Utilization of Tabula Rasa to stabilize bulk lifetimes in n-Cz silicon for high-performance solar cell processing

We investigate a high temperature, high cooling-rate anneal Tabula Rasa (TR) and report its implications on n-type Czochralski-grown silicon (n-Cz Si) for photovoltaic fabrication. Tabula Rasa aims at dissolving and homogenizing oxygen precipitate nuclei that can grow during the cell process steps and degrade the cell performance due to their high internal gettering and recombination activity. The Tabula Rasa thermal treatment is performed in a clean tube furnace with cooling rates >100°C/s. We characterize the bulk lifetime by Sinton lifetime and photoluminescence mapping just after Tabula Rasa, and after the subsequent cell processing. After TR, the bulk lifetime surprisingly degrades to < 0.1ms, only to recover to values equal or higher than the initial non-treated wafer (several ms), after typical high temperature cell process steps. Those include boron diffusion and oxidation; phosphorus diffusion/oxidation; ambient annealing at 850°C; and crystallization annealing of tunneling-passivating contacts (doped polycrystalline silicon on 1.5 nm thermal oxide). The drastic lifetime improvement during high temperature cell processing is attributed to improved external gettering of metal impurities and annealing of intrinsic point defects. Time and injection dependent lifetime spectroscopy further reveals the mechanisms of lifetime improvement after Tabula Rasa treatment. Additionally, we report the efficacy of Tabula Rasa on n-type Cz-Si wafers and its dependence on oxygen concentration, correlated to position within the ingot.
Playing Tricks to Ions

Ted Hansch’s career is defined by breaking new ground in experimental physics. Curiosity, vivid imagination, deep understanding, patience and tenacity are part of the winning formula, but perhaps an equally important ingredient may be Ted’s favorite past-time of exploring new tricks in his “Spiellabor” (play-lab), that often resurfaced as key ingredients in rather serious experiments later. On the occasion of Ted’s 75th birthday, a few past and potential future experiments with trapped ions are playfully surveyed here. Some of these tricks are already part of the trade, some are currently emerging and a few are mostly speculation today. Maybe some of the latter will be realized and even prove useful in the future.