cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinicopathologic Features and Radiation Therapy Utilization in Patients with Male Breast Cancer: A National Cancer Database Study

Male breast cancer (MBC) accounts for approximately 1% of all breast cancers, limiting the data characterizing clinicopathologic features and treatment outcomes in patients with MBC. This paucity of data has led to most of our treatment guidance being extrapolated from patients with female breast cancer (FBC). From 1998 to 2012, data were captured using the National Cancer Database to identify patients with nonmetastatic MBC (n = 23 305) and FBC (n = 2 678 061). Tumor and clinicopathologic features were obtained and compared. Patients with MBC were more likely to have invasive disease, T2-4 tumors, centrally located tumors, positive lymph nodes, estrogen receptor-positive or progesterone receptor-positive tumors, lymphovascular space invasion, and were less likely to have Her2/neu-positive or triple-negative tumors. All of these differences were statistically significant (P < .001). Treatment comparisons showed that patients with MBC were more likely to undergo mastectomy and less likely to undergo breast-conserving surgery with postoperative radiation utilization found to be less in patients with MBC, both as part of breast-conserving therapy (BCT) and for postmastectomy radiation treatment (PMRT) (P < .001). Stage-by-stage comparisons showed that median survival, 5-year, and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates are lower in patients with MBC vs patients with FBC (P < .001). The utilization of adjuvant radiation, both BCT and PMRT, was shown to improve 5- and 10-year OS (P < .001). Male breast cancer clinicopathologic features appear to be unfavorable in relation to FBC and adjuvant radiation is shown beneficial in survival outcomes. Further investigation is needed to help guide future utilization and treatment with radiation, systemic, and endocrine manipulation in this small population of patients with MBC.
Abstract 304: Dual PI3K/BCL-2 family inhibition in colorectal cancers with Apc and Pik3ca mutations

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Approximately 20% of human CRCs possess mutations in the PIK3CA gene, resulting in a constitutively active form of phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K). These PIK3CA mutations most commonly occur concomitantly with the loss of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). Copanlisib is a beta-isoform sparing PI3K inhibitor. Here we examine the response of CRCs with Apc and Pik3ca mutations to copanlisib alone and in combination with navitoclax, a BCL-2, BCL-xL, and BCL-w inhibitor. Methods: Murine-derived organotypic cancer spheroids (MDOCS) with Apc and Pik3ca mutations generated from transgenic mice were cultured in Matrigel and treated by exchanging feeding media containing desired concentration of each agent over the spheroids. Spheroids were treated with feeding media (control), 200nM ABT263, 200nM copanlisib, or the combination of both treatments. The spheroid culture response was quantified as the median relative change in the sphere diameter, comparing pre- and posttreatment 4x optical microscopic images to those obtained 48 hours post-treatment. Results: Untreated MDOCS had a median growth in sphere diameter of 137%. ABT263 did not significantly affect growth; however, copanlisib significantly reduced median sphere size by 24.6% (p Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated the ability of copanlisib alone and combined with ABT263 to cause a marked decrease in sphere size of CRC MDOCS with Apc and Pik3ca mutations. Future tests will examine this novel regimen in vivo and potentially in future clinical trials. Citation Format: Devon D. Miller, Christopher P. Babiarz, Susan N. Payne, Cheri A. Pasch, Linda Clipson, Kristina A. Matkowskyj, Dustin A. Deming. Dual PI3K/BCL-2 family inhibition in colorectal cancers with Apc and Pik3ca mutations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 304.
Reimagining Music Teacher Collaboration: The Culture of Professional Learning Communities as Professional Development Within Schools and Districts:

Music educators are continually seeking new ways to better their practice and improve student learning. Professional learning communities are a type of collaborative community that when administere...
Categorical Data Analysis

Categorical data are ubiquitous and essential in education research. We review two major model-based approaches to their analysis. First, we consider generalized linear models, especially hierarchical log-linear models for contingency tables and related logit/logistic regression models. Second, we consider a variety of latent variable models for categorical data that can simplify the analysis of association structure and provide evidence for underlying common processes involved in the production of the data.
Intergenerational Economic Mobility for Low-Income Parents and Their Children: A Dual Developmental Science Framework.

In this review we bring a psychological perspective to the issue of intergenerational economic mobility. More specifically, we present a new dual developmental science framework to consider the edu...
Domains of Health-Related Quality of Life Are Associated With Specific Deficits and Lesion Locations in Chronic Aphasia.

BackgroundHealth-related quality of life (HRQL) in stroke survivors is related to numerous factors, but more research is needed to delineate factors related to HRQL in people with aphasia.Objective...
Predictable Changes in Yields and Forward Rates

We consider the patterns in the predictability of interest rates expectations hypothesis (EH), and attempt to account for them with affine models. We make the following points: (i) Discrepancies in the data from the EH take a particularly simple form with forward rates: as theory suggests, the largest discrepancies are at short maturities. (ii) Reasonable estimates of one-factor Cox-Ingersoll-Ross models imply regressions on the opposite side of the EH than we see in the data: regression slopes are greater than one (iii) Multifactore affine models can nevertheless approximate both departures from the EH and other properties of interest rates.
A Professor’s Response to the COVID-19 Crisis

This chapter will present a narrative of the lived experiences of the struggle and success of an emerging Latino college professor amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the narrative highlights work with the Latino population, this can be used to facilitate dialogue within the Latino student community around humble practices and connecting trauma-informed principles.
Hand Therapy Patients' Psychosocial Symptomology and Interests in Mindfulness: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Psychosocial sequelae are common for individuals with physical injuries to the upper extremity. However, psychosocially oriented interventions are not common in this occupational therapy practice area. Purpose: This study implemented an online survey of hand therapy patients' psychological symptoms. Second, it explored patients' interest in one psychosocially oriented intervention: mindfulness meditation. Methods: The design was a cross-sectional survey of 120 consecutively recruited hand therapy patients. Survey measures included functioning, psychosocial factors, and trait mindfulness. Findings: Anxiety was prevalent in this sample, and moderately correlated with trait mindfulness (r = -0.542, p < .001). While most participants (77%) indicated mindfulness meditation would be an acceptable intervention, women were 2.8 times as likely to be interested (p = .044). Implications: Psychosocially oriented interventions are indicated in hand therapy based on the prevalence of these symptoms. Further examination of using mindfulness meditation in hand therapy is warranted due to patient interest.
Double Circulant Self-Dual Codes Using Finite-Field Wavelet Transforms

This paper presents an example of integrating recently developed finite-field wavelet transforms into the study of error correcting codes. The primary goal of the paper is to demonstrate a straightforward approach to analyzing double circulant self-dual codes over any arbitrary finite-field using orthogonal filter bank structures. First, we discuss the proper combining of the cyclic mother wavelet and scaling sequence to satisfy the requirement of self-dual codes. Then as an example, we describe the encoder and decoder of a (12,6,4) self-dual code, and we demonstrate the simplicity and the computation reduction that the wavelet method offers for the encoding and decoding of this code. Finally, we give the mother wavelet and scaling sequence that generate the (24,12,8) Golay code.
An Overview of the Genetic Dissection of Complex Traits

Thanks to the recent revolutionary genomic advances such as the International HapMap consortium, resolution of the genetic architecture of common complex traits is beginning to look hopeful. While demonstrating the feasibility of genome-wide association (GWA) studies, the pathbreaking Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC) study also serves to underscore the critical importance of very large sample sizes and draws attention to potential problems, which need to be addressed as part of the study design. Even the large WTCCC study had vastly inadequate power for several of the associations reported (and confirmed) and, therefore, most of the regions harboring relevant associations may not be identified anytime soon. This chapter provides an overview of some of the key developments in the methodological approaches to genetic dissection of common complex traits. Constrained Bayesian networks are suggested as especially useful for analysis of pathway-based SNPs. Likewise, composite likelihood is suggested as a promising method for modeling complex systems. It discusses the key steps in a study design, with an emphasis on GWA studies. Potential limitations highlighted by the WTCCC GWA study are discussed, including problems associated with massive genotype imputation, analysis of pooled national samples, shared controls, and the critical role of interactions. GWA studies clearly need massive sample sizes that are only possible through genuine collaborations. After all, for common complex traits, the question is not whether we can find some pieces of the puzzle, but how large and what kind of a sample we need to (nearly) solve the genetic puzzle.
Make space for the Pi

The Raspberry Pi is an inexpensive computing system that can play an essential part of any computing curriculum. Since its release in 2012, the Raspberry Pi has been infiltrating K-12 education; it has the potential to make coding in K-12 schools as commonplace as textbooks. It has also changed the playing field for hobbyists by offering a low-priced general-purpose computing system that challenges the Arduino in terms of open source support. In this paper, we advocate using the Raspberry Pi (RPi) throughout the University computing curricula as well. Low-priced and portable, the RPi is an exposed hardware platform students can tinker with without fear of breaking. Properly used, it affords students the opportunity to experimentally discover many aspects of computing. In this paper, we discuss the aspects of the RPi that make it appropriate for a University computing curriculum. We describe our classroom experiences and laboratory best practices as well as survey the work of others involved in integrated the RPi into University curriculums.
High Temperature Experiments for Circuit Self-Recovery

Temperature and radiation tolerant electronics, as well as long life survivability are key capabilities required for future NASA missions. Current approaches to electronics for extreme environments focus on component level robustness and hardening. Compensation techniques such as bias cancellation circuitry have also been employed. However, current technology can only ensure very limited lifetime in extreme environments. This paper presents a novel approach, based on evolvable hardware technology, which allows adaptive in-situ circuit redesign/reconfiguration during operation in extreme environments. This technology would complement material/device advancements and increase the mission capability to survive harsh environments. The approach is demonstrated on a mixed-signal programmable chip, which recovers functionality until 280°C. We show in this paper the functionality recovery at high temperatures for a variety of circuits, including rectifiers, amplifiers and filters.
An efficient hybrid shadow rendering algorithm

We present a hybrid algorithm for rendering hard shadows accurately and efficiently. Our method combines the strengths of shadow maps and shadow volumes. We first use a shadow map to identify the pixels in the image that lie near shadow discontinuities. Then, we perform the shadow-volume computation only at these pixels to ensure accurate shadow edges. This approach simultaneously avoids the edge aliasing artifacts of standard shadow maps and avoids the high fillrate consumption of standard shadow volumes. The algorithm relies on a hardware mechanism for rapidly rejecting non-silhouette pixels during rasterization. Since current graphics hardware does not directly provide this mechanism, we simulate it using available features related to occlusion culling and show that dedicated hardware support requires minimal changes to existing technology.
Streptococcus mutans is Vertically Transmitted From Mother to Child.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Mother-to-child transmission of Streptococcus mutans: a systematic review and meta-analysis. da Silva Bastos VA, Freitas-Fernandes LB, da Silva Fidalgo TK, Martins C, de Mattos CT, de Souza IPR, Maia LC. J Dent 2015;43(2):181–91 Reviewer Jaana Gold, DDS, PhD Purpose/Question The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the evidence for the vertical transmission of S. mutans from mothers to their children. Source of Funding Brazilian government agencies: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) and Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ). Type of Study/Design Systematic review with meta-analysis of data Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Grade C: Disease-oriented evidence
Relative Reliability of Three Objective Tests of Limb Muscle Strength

If measures of muscle strength are to be broadly applied, they should be objective, portable, quick, and reliable. Through this component of the NIH Toolbox study we sought to compare the test-retest reliability of 3 tests of muscle strength that are objective, portable, and quick: the five-repetition sit-to-stand test (FRSTST), hand-grip dynamometry (HGD), and belt-stabilized hand-held dynamometry (BSHHD) of knee extension. Three sets of each test were performed- 1 warm-up and 2 maximal. Measures from the maximal tests obtained 4 to 10 days apart were compared. Reliability was described using descriptive statistics, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and 4 measures of response stability: standard error of measurement (SEM), method error (ME), coefficient of variation of SEM (SEM CV ), and coefficient of variation of variation of ME (ME CV ). The ICCs of all tests were good (≥ 0.853). Measures of response stability showed less variability between test and retest for FRSTST and HGD than for BSHHD. In conclusions all 3 tests demonstrated good test-retest reliability. However, greater differences would need to be observed between tests sessions to conclude that a real change had occurred in measures obtained by BSHHD.
Paired benthic foraminiferal Cd/Ca and Zn/Ca evidence for a greatly increased presence of Southern Ocean Water in the glacial North Atlantic

Benthic foraminiferal δ13C and Cd/Ca studies suggest that deep Atlantic circulation during the Last Glacial Maximum was very different from today, with high-nutrient (low δ13C, high Cd) deep Southern Ocean Water (SOW) penetrating far into the North Atlantic. However, if some glacial δ13C values are biased by productivity artifacts and/or air-sea exchange processes, then the existing δ13C data may be consistent with the continual dominance of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW). Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi Cd/Ca results presented here indicate that the glacial North Atlantic was strongly enriched in dissolved Cd below ∼2500 m depth. If NADW formation was still vigorous relative to SOW formation, these data could be explained by either increased preformed nutrient levels in the high-latitude North Atlantic or by increased organic matter remineralization within lower NADW. High glacial Zn/Ca values in the same samples, however, are best explained by a substantially increased mixing with Zn-rich SOW. The cause was most likely a partial replacement of NADW by less dense Glacial North Atlantic Intermediate Water. This reorganization also lowered deep North Atlantic CO32− concentrations by perhaps 10 to 15 μmol kg−1.
Mutant varicella-zoster virus thymidine kinase: correlation of clinical resistance and enzyme impairment.

Abstract Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encodes a thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.2.21) which phosphorylates several antiviral nucleoside analogs, including acyclovir (ACV). A mutation in the VZV thymidine kinase coding sequence, resulting in an arginine-to-glutamine substitution at amino acid residue 130 (R130Q), is associated with clinical resistance to ACV. We have expressed the wild-type and the mutant enzymes in bacteria and have studied the kinetic characteristics of the purified enzymes. The arginine-to-glutamine substitution resulted in decreased catalytic activity and altered substrate specificity. The most striking effect was a decrease in the rates of nucleoside phosphorylation to less than 2% of the rates with the wild-type enzyme. This was accompanied by increased apparent Km values for thymidine and deoxycytidine. ACV was not detectably phosphorylated by the R130Q enzyme but still competed with thymidine for the enzyme. The inability of the R130Q enzyme to catalyze the phosphorylation of ACV correlates with resistance to ACV noted with a clinical isolate of VZV.
AN EMPIRICAL APPROACH TO DESIGNING PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS: A CASE STUDY

In many manufacturing settings, products are screened before they are shipped to the customer. Consequently, selecting the best setting of product specification limits is critical in many industries. A loss function approach has been shown to be effecti..
The Effects of Expectancies and Actual Communication on Nonverbal Adaptation and Communication Outcomes: A Test of Interaction Adaptation Theory.

Guided by interaction adaptation theory, this work continues a tradition of examining the relative effects of cognitive expectancies and actual communication behavior on communication outcomes. Communication relevant expectancies (pleasant versus unpleasant communication) and actual communication (high versus low involvement) were manipulated in the current experiment. Communication was a strong predictor of emotional experiences and evaluations of the communicator, and was also the most predictive of the adaptation behavior of the participants: pleasant behavior was consistently met with pleasant behavior, while unpleasant behavior was met with reciprocated kinesic involvement and with maintenance of other measures of pleasantness and expressiveness. Expectancies did independently influence observers’ perceptions of the participants’ behavior, with those expecting pleasant communication being perceived as behaving in a more expected manner than those expecting unpleasant communication. Additionally, part...
Substance Abuse, Aggression, and Violence

The authors review the scientific literature linking the use of specific psychoactive substances with aggressive and violent behavior. In general, the effects of alcohol and other drugs on aggression and violence are influenced through the complex interaction of 1) the particular pharmacological effects and dose of the specific drug, 2) the psychological and biological characteristics of substance-using individuals, and 3) the situational context in which the drug use occurs. Furthermore, a model is advanced that delineates the relationship between individual dispositional factors promoting aggression and the resultant occurrence of violent behavior. The authors conclude that the multifactorial nature of this problem emphasizes the need for multimodal strategies of intervention and prevention to reduce the societal impact of violence involving alcohol and other drugs.
Effects of Disorder on Ferromagnetism in Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors

We present results of a numerical mean-field treatment of interacting spins and carriers in doped diluted magnetic semiconductors, which takes into account the positional disorder present in these alloy systems. Within our mean-field approximation, disorder enhances the ferromagnetic transition temperature for metallic densities not too far from the metal-insulator transition. Concurrently, the ferromagnetic phase is found to have very unusual temperature dependence of the magnetization as well as specific heat as a result of disorder. Unusual spin and charge transport is implied.
Subjective Well-Being in Urban, Ethnically Diverse Adolescents: The Role of Stress and Coping

This study examines stressors, general stress levels, coping strategies, and subjective well-being in a sample of 144 ethnically diverse, urban adolescents (mean age of 13). The most frequently rep...
Indications and surgical alternatives for palliation of rectal cancer.

The goals of palliation of rectal cancer are relief of disabling symptoms and maximizing quality of life. Surgical intervention is appropriate in specific situations, where the selected procedure is chosen based on likelihood of achieving these goals, balanced against morbidity and recognition of the patient’s limited life expectancy. Locally unresectable rectal cancer may be treated by transanal procedures where obstruction is the major feature; techniques used include local resection, self-expanding metal stents, and laser debulking of tumor where the rectal lumen is compromised. As well, colostomy may be used with or without external beam radiation therapy but is preferred when transanal techniques are unsuitable. Resective techniques such as anterior proctosigmoidectomy and anastomosis, Hartmann’s resection, or abdominoperineal rectal excision are preferred in fit patients where local clearance is possible and longevity expectations are deemed reasonable—e.g., six months or more. Decisions for performing restorative procedures are based on risk assessment for anastomotic leak and quality of anal function. In rare cases, palliative exenteration is an option, although controversial. Recognition of contraindications to resection will minimize the risk of disabling or lethal complications of these procedures.
Actin is a surface component of calf pulmonary artery endothelial cells in culture.

Abstract An angiogenin binding protein isolated previously from endothelial cells has been shown to be a member of the actin family. Calf pulmonary artery endothelial (CPAE) cells were investigated for the presence of surface actin by immunoblotting of isolated surface proteins and by immunofluorescence. CPAE cell surface proteins were isolated by selective apical biotinylation and recovery of biotinylated proteins by avidin affinity chromatography. Immunoblotting with a specific smooth muscle alpha-actin antibody detected the presence of this type of actin among the isolated cell surface proteins. Immunofluorescence confirmed that smooth muscle alpha-actin is localized at the surface of nonpermeabilized CPAE cells. Exposure of CPAE cells to angiogenin prior to cell surface immunostaining diminished the signal. When CPAE and rat aortic smooth muscle cells were made permeable before staining, stress fibers could be recognized by the antibody in smooth muscle cells but not CPAE cells. The results indicate that a smooth muscle type of alpha-actin is localized specifically on the surface of cultured CPAE cells where it might interact with angiogenin and other actin binding proteins present in the extracellular environment.
Ionic dependence of the response to acetylcholine of a molluscan buccal muscle: The radular protractor of Busycon canaliculatum

Abstract 1. We studied the ionic dependence of the response of a molluscan phasic smooth muscle to applied acetycholine (ACh). 2. In sodium-free medium, ACh depolarization was eventually greatly reduced and contracture-force was nearly abolished. 3. Potassium-free medium did not affect ACh depolarization or contracture-force. 4. Exposure to low-calcium medium did not lead to a reduction in amplitude of ACh depolarization but force in low-calcium medium was eventually reduced to zero. 5. These results are consistent with involvement of inward Na+ current in depolarization by ACh and of Ca2+ in excitation-contraction coupling.
Role for 3-O-Sulfated Heparan Sulfate as the Receptor for Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Entry into Primary Human Corneal Fibroblasts

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection of the corneal stroma remains a major cause of blindness. Primary cultures of corneal fibroblasts (CF) were tested and found susceptible to HSV-1 entry, which was confirmed by deconvolution imaging of infected cells. Plaque assay and real-time PCR demonstrated viral replication and hence a productive infection of CF by HSV-1. A role for glycoprotein D (gD) receptors in cultured CF was determined by gD interference assay. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis indicated expression of herpesvirus entry mediator and 3-O-sulfated (3-OS) heparan sulfate (HS)-generating enzyme 3-O sulfotransferase 3 (3-OST-3) but not nectin-1 or nectin-2. Subsequently, HS isolated from these cells was found to contain two distinct disaccharides (IdoUA2S-AnMan3S and IdoUA2S-AnMan3S6S) that are representative of 3-OST-3 activity. The following lines of evidence supported the important role of 3-OS HS as the mediator of HSV-1 entry into CF. (i) Blockage of entry was observed in CF treated with heparinases. The same enzymes had significantly less effect on HeLa cells that use nectin-1 as the entry receptor. (ii) Enzymatic removal of cell surface HS also removed the major gD-binding receptor, as evident from the reduced binding of gD to cells. (iii) Spinoculation assay demonstrated that entry blockage by heparinase treatment included the membrane fusion step. (iv) HSV-1 glycoprotein-induced cell-to-cell fusion was inhibited by either prior treatment of cells with heparinases or by HS preparations enriched in 3-OS HS. Taken together, the data in this report provide novel information on the role of 3-OS HS in mediating infection of CF, a natural target cell type.
Measurement of peak esophageal luminal cross-sectional area utilizing nadir intraluminal impedance

Background Multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) is currently used to monitor gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal bolus clearance. We describe a novel methodology to measure maximal luminal cross-sectional area (CSA) during bolus transport from MII measurements. Methods Studies were conducted in-vitro (test tubes) and in-vivo (healthy subjects). Concurrent MII, high resolution manometry, and intraluminal ultrasound (US) images were recorded 7-cm above the lower esophageal sphincter. Swallows with two concentrations of saline, 0.1 and 0.5 N, of bolus volumes 5, 10, and 15 cc were performed. The CSA was estimated by solving two algebraic Ohm's law equations, resulting from the two saline solutions. The CSA calculated from impedance method was compared with the CSA measured from the intraluminal US images. Key Results The CSA measured in duplicate from B-mode US images showed a mean difference between the two manual delineations to be near zero, and the repeatability coefficient was within 7.7% of the mean of the two CSA measurements. The calculated CSA from the impedance measurements strongly correlated with the US measured CSA (R2 ≅ 0.98). A detailed statistical analysis of the impedance and US measured CSA data indicated that the 95% limits of agreement between the two methods ranged from −9.1 to 13 mm2. The root mean square error of the two measurements was 4.8% of the mean US-measured CSA. Conclusions & Inferences We describe a novel methodology to measure peak esophageal luminal CSA from the nadir impedance during peristalsis. Further studies are needed to determine if it is possible to measure patterns of luminal distension during peristalsis across the entire length of the esophagus from the MII recordings.
Toughness, particle size and chemical composition of meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Hud.) herbage as affected by time of day

While herbage chemical composition varies diurnally, it is not known if this variation affects herbage biomechanical properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in herbage toughness and particle size in relation to diurnal fluctuations of herbage chemical composition. Vegetative (i.e, tillers with three fully expanded leaves) micro-swards of Festuca pratensis Hud. were sampled at four times of the day being: 06:50 (sunrise), 11:10, 15:30 and 19:25 h. Cut herbage was analysed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC), neutral and acid detergent fibre (aNDF, ADF), in vitro true digestibility (IVTD), toughness and particle size. The experiment was repeated on two consecutive days. Diurnal variation of temperature, relative humidity and photosynthetic radiation were recorded every 5 min with an automated weather station. To characterize the relationship between dependent variables, Pearson correlations were performed. From 06:50 to 19:25 h, DM, TNC and the proportion of small particles ( 4.75 mm) decreased (P 0.05). Toughness was negatively correlated (P<0.05) with DM and TNC concentrations, and positively correlated (P<0.05) with proportions of aNDF and
Assessment of relative brain iron concentrations using T2-weighted and T2*-weighted MRI at 3 Tesla.

In this paper a new method is presented for the relative assessment of brain iron concentrations based on the evaluation of T2 and T2* -weighted images. A multiecho sequence is employed for rapid measurement of T2 and T2*, enabling calculation of the line broadening effect ( T2′). Several groups have failed to show a correlation between T2 and brain iron content. However, quantification of T2′, and the associated relaxation rate R2′, may provide a more specific relative measure of brain iron concentration. This may find application in the study of brain diseases, which cause associated changes in brain iron levels. A new method of field inhomogeneity correction is presented that allows the separation of global and local field inhomogeneities, leading to more accurate T2* measurements and hence, T2′ values. The combination of T2*, and T2-weighted MRI methods enables the differentiation of Parlkinson's disease patients from normal age-matched controls based on differences in iron content within the substantia nigra.
Dancing with the host: Flow-dependent bacterial adhesion

Most bacteria that colonize eukaryotes must bind directly to host cells to establish a replicative niche. In enteric bacteria, adhesion to host cells is often promoted by a lectin found on surface-localized pili. Some pili promote efficient adhesion only when they are subjected to shear stress, as found during the flow of blood over endothelium or mucous over the surface of the epithelium.
Donor–recipient sex mismatch portends poor 10-year outcomes in a single-center experience

Background Several studies have indicated that survival after heart transplantation is affected by donor–recipient sex matching. In most studies, male recipients of a female heart have the poorest survival rates, whereas survival of female recipients is not affected by donor sex. The purpose of the current study was to determine the long-term outcomes of recipients at a large single center on uniform immunosuppression therapy in the current era. Methods We reviewed the records of 857 patients transplanted at a single center between 1994 and 2008. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on donor–recipient sex: male donor to male recipient (male/male, n = 506); female donor to female recipient (female/female, n = 113); male donor to female recipient (male/female, n = 106); and female donor to male recipient (female/male, n = 132). Ten-year outcomes were assessed for: survival; freedom from cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV); and freedom from non-fatal major adverse cardiac events (NF-MACE). Results Ten-year actuarial survival was comparable in male/male and female/female groups, at 69% and 71%, respectively ( p > 0.05). Compared with the male/male group, 10-year actuarial survival was significantly lower in the sex-mismatch groups: 58% in the male/female group ( p = 0.03) and 59% in the female/male group ( p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in 10-year freedom from CAV or NF-MACE among the groups. Conclusions Heart transplant patients with donor–recipient sex mismatch have lower survival, extending the results of prior studies to suggest that sex mismatch is undesirable in female, as well as male, recipients. This may impact donor selection and recipient wait time to transplantation.
Conditioning-Annealing Studies of Natural Organic Matter Solids Linking Irreversible Sorption to Irreversible Structural Expansion

The assumption of reversibility underpins the sorption term in current models dealing with the fate and impact of organic compounds in the environment, yet experimentally sorption of organic compounds in soils and sediments often shows “irreversible” behaviors such as hysteresis and the conditioning effect (enhanced repeat sorption). The objective of this study was to test whether a glassy polymer irreversibility model applies to natural organic matter (NOM) solids. Irreversible sorption in polymers is believed to be caused by irreversible expansion and creation of internal micropores by penetrating molecules, leading to enhanced affinity during desorption or subsequent re-sorption. Using chlorobenzene as a conditioning agent and polychlorinated benzenes as test compounds in a second sorption step, we observed conditioning effects for a peat soil, a soil humic acid, and a model glassy polymer, poly(vinyl chloride), but not for a model rubbery polymer, poly(ethylene). The conditioning effect for the two na...
DYNAMICS OF ELASTIC SHEETS WITH BENDING STIFFNESS

A theory describing the motion of nonlinear elastic membranes with bending stiffness is formulated. The strain energy density for these materials depends on the second derivatives of the deformation as well as the first derivatives. A compatible kinetic energy density requires velocity gradient terms to agree to the same order as the strain energy density. The equations of motion are derived using Hamilton's principle. Due to the velocity gradient dependence of the kinetic energy density, the equations of motion are found to possess a rotary inertia term which is considered from a variety of perspectives. The motion of a spinning inflated tube is determined.
Nanoscale food protection

Consumption of food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins leads to a host of diseases resulting in serious economic and public health consequences. Some 48 million people in the US annually succumb to foodborne diseases with the hospitalization of 128,000 and death to 3000 people. Pathogenic microorganisms can contaminate fruits and vegetables during the passage through their extensive production chain from field production, intermediate handling, distribution, to food industry, and home utilization. Current disinfection techniques include: chlorine/hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, quaternary ammonium salts, ozone, and UV irradiation. A new technology exhibits inactivation of microorganisms on fresh produce, and food production surfaces to be controlled by water nanostructures generated by electrospraying water vapor. The intervention method utilizes engineered water nanostructures (EWNS) formed in an electrospray with unique properties as a diameter of 25 nm, involving reactive oxygen species, a strong surface charge of 10e/structure, and can be airborne for hours indoors. The electrospray module consisted of an electrostatic precipitator commonly used to aerosolize particles and functionally designed to deliver EWNS to surfaces. The new technology’s efficacy for inactivating representative foodborne bacteria like Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria innocua on stainless steel surfaces and on organic tomatoes was evaluated. A 1.4 log reduction for E. coli on organic tomato surfaces was found using the EWNS technology for an aerosol concentration of 50,000 cfu/cm at 90 min of exposure compared with control using the EWNS (same temperature and relative humidity). For L. innocua, the dose–response relationship was demonstrated. On surfaces, bacterial concentrations were reduced depending on the microorganism and surface type. The inventors of this technology look for this novel, chemical-free, and environmentally friendly intervention method to offer potential for development and application in the food industry, as a ‘‘green’’ alternative to existing disinfection methods. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2015, 49 (6), pp. 3737–3745.
Emerging infectious pathogens of wildlife

The first part of this paper surveys emerging pathogens of wildlife recorded on the ProMED Web site for a 2-year period between 1998 and 2000. The majority of pathogens recorded as causing disease outbreaks in wildlife were viral in origin. Anthropogenic activities caused the outbreaks in a significant majority of cases. The second part of the paper develops some matrix models for quantifying the basic reproductive number, R(0), for a variety of potential types of emergent pathogen that cause outbreaks in wildlife. These analyses emphasize the sensitivity of R(0) to heterogeneities created by either the spatial structure of the host population, or the ability of the pathogens to utilize multiple host species. At each stage we illustrate how the approach provides insight into the initial dynamics of emergent pathogens such as canine parvovirus, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus in the United States.
A Search for “Dwarf” Seyfert Nuclei. IV. Nuclei with Broad Hα Emission

We present the results of an optical spectroscopic survey designed to search for low-luminosity "dwarf" Seyfert nuclei in a magnitude-limited (BT ≤ 12.5 mag) sample of 486 bright, northern galaxies. Moderate-resolution spectra of exceptionally high quality were obtained, in part to detect broad Hα emission similar in character to, but much weaker than, the broad permitted lines that define type 1 Seyfert nuclei. One of the primary goals of the survey is to better quantify the faint end of the luminosity function of active galactic nuclei. This paper describes the subset of nuclei showing definite or probable evidence of broad Hα emission. We outline the procedures for determining the presence of this elusive spectral feature, steps for its quantitative measurement, and the associated systematic errors. Of the 211 emission-line galaxies classified as having Seyfert or LINER (low-ionization nuclear emission-line region) nuclei in our survey, the broad Hα line was detected with confidence in 34 objects and with less certainty in another 12. Most of the detections are reported for the first time, and the detection rate represents a lower limit to the true incidence of active nuclei harboring a broad emission-line region. These statistics imply that broad-lined active nuclei are much more common than previously believed: they exist in at least 20% of all galaxies spectroscopically classified as "active" and in more than 10% of all luminous galaxies at the current epoch. Excluding nine well-known Seyfert 1 nuclei, the broad Hα lines of the remaining "dwarf" nuclei have median luminosity of ~1 × 1039 ergs s-1 and median FWHM of ~2200 km s-1. The broad lines constitute approximately 30% of the total emission of the Hα + [N II] λλ6548, 6583 blend. Several objects have broad Hα luminosities as low as (1-3) × 1038 ergs s-1.
Sex role identification and behavior in a reiterated prisoner’s dilemma game

Twenty-four male and 24 female Ss played 100 trials of a typical prisoner’s dilemma game (PDG) with a simulated partner. Half the Ss were told that the other player was of the same sex as themselves (Treatment 1), and the remainder were told that the other player was of the opposite sex (Treatment 2). Ss under Treatment 1 were more competitive than Ss under Treatment 2 for each sex, and, overall, males were more cooperative than females. It is suggested that the results may be interpreted in terms of achievement motivation and its relation to sex-role identification.
Functional Significance of the Dinucleotide Bulge in Stem-Loop1 and Stem-Loop2 of HIV-2 TAR RNA

Human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) encode related proteins called Tat-1 and Tat-2, respectively, that bind directly to the TAR RNA element contained at the 5' ends of viral transcripts and thereby stimulate transcription through an as yet unidentified mechanism. The determinants in the HIV-1 TAR element (TAR-1) that specify binding by the Tat-1 protein have been extensively characterized, while little is known about determinants in the HIV-2 TAR element (TAR-2) that specify binding by the Tat-2 protein. The HIV-2 TAR RNA element (TAR-2) is known to be composed of two stem-loop structures. A dinucleotide bulge is found in each stem of TAR-2 RNA, analogous to the crucial trinucleotide bulge in the single stem-loop of HIV-1 TAR RNA that is the primary binding determinant for binding by the HIV-1 Tat protein. Our results of a nuclease digestion analysis demonstrated that the 5' proximal bulge in TAR-2 is significantly less sensitive to digestion by single-strand specific nucleases than the 3' distal bulge, suggesting that the 5' bulge may be involved in tertiary interaction with other regions of TAR RNA. Deletion of both bulges reduced binding in vitro by the Tat-2 protein and largely abolished transactivation in vivo by Tat-2. Deletion of either bulge alone simplified the pattern of protein/RNA complexes in a gel shift assay, but did not reduce the overall binding affinity of Tat-2. Deletion of the 5' bulge reduced Tat-2 transactivation in vivo to a level approximately 30% that of wild-type TAR-2, while deletion of the 3' bulge had no measurable effect in vivo. Our results suggest that each dinucleotide bulge specifies a Tat-2 binding site, but in the wild-type TAR-2 element the 3' bulge binding site does not appear to be utilized in vivo.
Special Issue on Surface Waves and Complex Mediums: Guest Editorial

Research on electromagnetic surface waves has a long history, which dates back, at least, to the early part of the 20th century and the development of radio transmission. Johann Zenneck (1871–1959)...
The Literature of Satire

Acknowledgements Introduction: the satiric frame of mind Part I. Satiric Boundaries: 1. Imagination's Cerebrus 2. Satiric nationalism 3. Satiric exile Part II. Satiric Forms: 4. Satire as performance 5. Horatian performances 6. Satire and the novel 7. Literature and the press: the Battle of Dunkirk 8. White snow and black magic: Karl Kraus and the press Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index.
Heterogeneous actor modeling

Complex systems demand diversity in the modeling mechanisms. This “roadmap” paper prescribes an approach to modeling based on concurrent communicating components (called actors), where a diversity of orchestration strategies govern the execution and interaction of the components. The prescribed approach has been extensively explored in the Ptolemy Project, but as yet is not widely deployed in engineering practice. The approach achieves interaction between diverse models using an abstract semantics, which is a deliberately incomplete semantics that cannot by itself define a useful modeling framework. It instead focuses on the interactions between diverse models, reducing the nature of those interactions to a minimum that achieves a well-defined composition. The actor semantics is an abstract semantics that can handle many heterogeneous models that are built today, and some that are not common today. The actor abstract semantics and many concrete semantics are implemented in Ptolemy II, an open-source software framework.
Detection of Streptococcus mutans in Plaque Samples by the Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test

Culture methods traditionally have been used to isolate and identify bacterial species in clinical specimens. Culture methods are difficult when the specimen is as bacteriologically complex as dental plaque1 and when the organism in question, such as Streptococcus mutans, is present in modest numbers. The fluorescent antibody test (FAT) has been suggested as a potentially simpler method of detecting S mutans in plaque samples.2.3 In the most commonly described procedure, plaque is cultured in broth media and after growth occurs, smears are prepared and stained with fluorescein-conjugated antiserums against the various S mutans serotypes.4,5 This procedure detects whether S mutans is present, but provides no information concerning the proportional levels of S mutans in the plaque samples. Culture studies indicate that the percentages of S mutans in plaque samples show a greater association with dental decay than does the presence of S mutans.6,7 FATs performed on broth cultures of plaque5,8 or upon isolates of S mutans9,10 show that serotype c is the most prevalent serotype in human plaque. However, direct FAT performed on smears of plaque collected from an adolescent male population exhibiting active caries (that is, an average of nine teeth with open lesions) showed serotype d to be the most common serotype, and that serotype c was rarely present.-1 This discrepancy indicates that the human populations sampled had different S mutans serotypes, that the fluorescein-conjugated antiserums used were of different sensitivities, that the anti-d serum reacts with organisms present in the smear that do not grow up in the broth, that the broth or agar cultures
A Fossil Buttercup

WHEN we examine a catalogue of fossil plants, such as that for North America recently published by Knowlton, we are struck by the enormous number of recorded species, and readily receive the impression that the flora of former ages is quite well known. It is only when we make a more critical investigation that we perceive the great gap in our present knowledge. We do, perhaps, know a fair proportion of the trees and deciduous-leafed shrubs of a number of geological periods, but when we look for the herbaceous flora the limitations of our knowledge at once appear. Thus the Ranunculaceae, an extensive family in the present North American flora, do not furnish a single definitely recorded fossil in the same area. Dawson in 1875 vaguely referred to a Thalictrum, without specific name, supposedly from the Eocene, but it is not to be taken seriously. Schenk thought the fossil genus Dewalquea presented a certain analogy with Helleborus, but it is now referred to quite another family. It is, of course, impossible to suppose that the Ranunculaceae were absent from North America during Tertiary times; they simply must have escaped preservation or observation. To those who would see in the geological record a proof that herbaceous plants did not exist in the past, or were extremely rare, we can only reply that the record as it stands proves too much. To accept it at its face-value postulates the impossible. The general proposition that the herbaceous flora is, on the whole, more recent than the woody may be valid, and has much to recommend it.