cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survival Analysis in Treated Plasmablastic Lymphoma Patients: a Population‐based Study

Herein we analyzed survival outcomes in chemotherapy-treated patients with plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) diagnosed between 2010 to 2016 (n = 248). Data was acquired from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 registries database (April 2019 release based on November 2018 submission). The majority of patients were male (81.9%) and younger than 60 years (71.0%). Oral and gastrointestinal (GI) sites were the most frequent primary extranodal locations (23% and 19.4%, respectively). Oral primary location was inversely associated with presence of B symptoms and advanced Ann-Arbor stage. The 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of treated PBL patients were 54% (95% CI: 46.5%-60.8%) and 52.8% (95% CI: 45.2%-59.8%). Three-year conditional survival for 2-year and 3-year survivors were 90.3% and 97.8%, overlapping the survival of a general population matched by age, sex and calendar year. In a multivariable analysis, oral primary location was associated with not only better OS (HR 0.43; 95% CI: 0.21-0.88, P = .021) but also better lymphoma-specific survival (LSS) (SHR 0.36; 95% CI: 0.15-0.86, P = .022); age ≥60 years was associated with shorter LSS (SHR 1.73; 95% CI: 1.02-2.96, P = .043). Seven registries granted access to HIV status (n = 93) where HIV infection was detected in 52.7% of cases. The HIV status did not affect survival outcomes in unadjusted and adjusted analyses. We identified clinical characteristics associated with survival and showed that treated PBL patients may achieve long-term survival.
Does a bedside echo prior to primary percutaneous coronary intervention alter interventional strategy

Dear Editor, Emergency transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is a well-established tool for assessment and management of cardiovascular emergencies owing to its ability to rapidly characterise cardi...
Occurrence of plant-parasitic nematodes in sugarbeet fields of North Dakota and Minnesota

Abstract Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are an important group of pathogens on sugarbeet. Surveys were conducted in the Red River Valley (RRV) area of North Dakota (ND) and Minnesota (MN) to determine the incidence, abundance, and distribution of PPNs in sugarbeet fields. A total of 217 soil samples were collected in 2016 and 2017 from fields with sugarbeet or a history of sugarbeet production. In addition, 48 samples were collected in 2016 from tare soils in sugarbeet piling stations, and two samples were collected in 2017 from sugarbeet production fields in eastern Montana (MT) and western ND border area. The incidence and abundance of major genera of PPNs identified from sugarbeet production fields in 2016 and 2017 were: Heterodera (incidence = 15%, abundance = 1,351/200 gm of soil); Helicotylenchus (38%, 157); Tylenchorhynchus (37%, 121); Paratylenchus (28%, 108); Pratylenchus (6%, 38); Paratrichodorus (7%, 37); Xiphinema (3%, 32); and Hoplolaimus (0.4%, 20). Helicotylenchus, Tylenchorhynchus, Paratylenchus, and Heterodera were the most frequent and widely distributed nematode genera whereas, Paratrichodorus and Pratylenchus were found less frequently and at low densities. Xiphinema and Hoplolaimus were rarely detected at lower densities. Paratylenchus and Tylenchorhynchus were widely distributed in most of the sampled counties (n = 11), followed by Helicotylenchus (10), Heterodera (8), Pratylenchus (8), Xiphinema (4), Paratrichodorus (3), and Hoplolaimus (1). Species-specific PCR assays and direct sequencing of ribosomal DNA were conducted to identify species. Species identification revealed that the cyst nematodes from one of the counties in eastern MT were Heterodera schachtii and the cyst nematodes analyzed from 31 samples in 12 counties in ND and MN were H. glycines. We have not identified any H. schachtii thus far from surveyed samples in eastern ND and western MN. Other nematode species identified include Paratrichodorus allius, Pratylenchus neglectus, Tylenchorhynchus sp., Paratylenchus nanus, Helicotylenchus microlobus, and H. pseudorobustus. Accurate identification of these nematodes and awareness of their occurrence across the region is essential for developing effective pest management strategies for improved sugarbeet production.
Atomic Layer Deposition of Tungsten Oxide Using Nitrogen Dioxide: A Comparative Study with Other Oxygen Sources

Atomic layer deposition of tungsten oxide thin films using bis(t-butylimido)-bis(dimethylamido)tungsten is investigated using various oxygen precursors. Significant amounts of unreacted nitrogen or...
That Really Escalated Quickly—Online Learning Moves Into the Mainstream: Introduction to the Special Issue

Early in 2020, it became clear the COVID-19 pandemic was on its way toward disrupting the status quo in education in a substantial manner. As schools reacted by moving teaching and learning online,...
Products of the photophosphorylation reaction.

Abstract Most determinations of the stoichiometric relationship between electron transport and phosphorylation have employed radioactive orthophosphate and have been based on the assumption that ADP-dependent incorporation of radioactivity can be safely equated to ATP synthesis. The validity of using this procedure to measure photophosphorylation in isolated chloroplasts has been challenged recently. However, the studies reported here show that estimates of photophosphorylation based on label incorporation are probably correct. 1. The amount of labeled orthophosphate incorporated does not differ significantly from the amount of orthophosphate which disappears from the medium. Thus, there is no evidence of an exchange reaction between orthophosphate and ADP or other unlabeled, phosphate-containing substances. 2. Nearly all of the incorporated 32P is found in ATP but a significant amount of label is sometimes found in ADP. However, the 32P in ADP is all or nearly all derived from AT32P, presumably through the action of the ATP:AMP phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.4.3) known to be present in chloroplast preparations. Therefore, the sum of the radioactivities of ATP and ADP should be used in estimating the extent of the phosphorylation reaction.
Social Interactions and the Health Insurance Choices of the Elderly: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study

Using data from the 1998 Wave of the Health and Retirement Study, we examine the effect of social interactions on the health insurance choices of the elderly. We find that having more social interactions, as measured by contacts with friends and neighbors, reduces the likelihood of enrolling in a Medicare managed care plan relative to purchasing a medigap policy or having coverage through Medicare alone. Our estimates indicate that social networks are an important determinant of the health insurance choices of the elderly and provide suggestive evidence that "word-of-mouth" information sharing may have played a role in the preference of some seniors for traditional indemnity insurance over managed care.
The high energy X-ray spectra of supernova remnants

We present the results of fitting an ionization nonequilibrium (NIE) model to the high energy (> 5 keV) X-ray spectra of the young supernova remnants Cas A and Tycho. As an additional constraint, we demand that the models simultaneously fit lower energy, higher resolution data. For Cas A, a single NIE component can not adequately reproduce the features for the entire X-ray spectrum because 1) the ionization structure of iron ions responsible for the K emission is inconsistent with that of the ions responsible for the lower energy lines, and 2) the flux of the highest energy X-rays is underestimated. The iron K line and the high energy continuum could arise from the same NIE component but the identification of this component with either the blast wave or the ejecta in the “standard” model is difficult. In Tycho, the high energy data rule out a class of models for the lower energy data which have too large a continuum contribution.
Torsion in Beams with Open Sections

The interaction of bending and torsion in laterally unsupported beams of I or WF sections was studied and the results were presented in a series of curves for practical use. The beams were subjected to vertical loads applied at the top flange and parallel to the major axis with a constant eccentricity, e, from the major axis. The cases studied were: (1) Simply supported beams with a concentrated load at midspan; (2) simply supported beams uniformly loaded; (3) cantilever beams uniformly loaded; and (4) cantilever beams with a concentrated load at the free end. An example of application of the curves presented is shown.
External-Memory Algorithms with Applications in GIS

As GIS systems frequently handle huge amounts of data it is getting increasingly important to design algorithms with good I/O performance for problems arising in such systems. Many important computational geometry problems are abstractions of important GIS operations, and in recent years a number of basic techniques for designing I/O-efficient algorithms for such problems have been developed. In this chapter we have surveyed these techniques and the algorithms developed using them. However, the young field of I/O-efficient computation is to a large extend still wide open. Even though the experimental results reported so far are encouraging, a major future goal is to investigate the practical merits of the developed I/O algorithms.
The Impact of Library Support on Education Faculty Research Productivity: An Exploratory Study

The authors surveyed college and university faculty members in the field of professional education to gauge their perceptions pertaining to the impact of library services on their research. The purpose was to illuminate faculty perceptions in a postsecondary education environment that emphasizes research productivity and requires libraries to provide ever more compelling evidence of their institutional value. Survey results showed that faculty members continue to rely on traditional discovery and collections-based library services, but that additional support for grant activity, data management, intellectual property management, and bibliometric analysis is needed. Implications for transforming library research support are discussed, and areas for further study are proposed.
Coordinated Regulation of Transcription Factor Bcl11b Activity in Thymocytes by the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Pathways and Protein Sumoylation

The transcriptional regulatory protein Bcl11b is essential for T-cell development. We have discovered a dynamic, MAPK-regulated pathway involving sequential, linked, and reversible post-translational modifications of Bcl11b in thymocytes. MAPK-mediated phosphorylation of Bcl11b was coupled to its rapid desumoylation, which was followed by a subsequent cycle of dephosphorylation and resumoylation. Additionally and notably, we report the first instance of direct identification by mass spectrometry of a site of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) adduction, Lys-679 of Bcl11b, in a protein isolated from a native, mammalian cell. Sumoylation of Bcl11b resulted in recruitment of the transcriptional co-activator p300 to a Bcl11b-repressed promoter with subsequent induction of transcription. Prolonged treatment of native thymocytes with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate together with the calcium ionophore A23187 also promoted ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of Bcl11b, providing a mechanism for signal termination. A Bcl11b phospho-deSUMO switch was identified, the basis of which was phosphorylation-dependent recruitment of the SUMO hydrolase SENP1 to phospho-Bcl11b, coupled to hydrolysis of SUMO-Bcl11b. These results define a regulatory pathway in thymocytes that includes the MAPK pathways and upstream signaling components, Bcl11b and the associated nucleosome remodeling and deacetylation (NuRD) complex, SENP proteins, the Bcl11b protein phosphatase 6, the sumoylation machinery, the histone acetyltransferase p300, and downstream transcriptional machinery. This pathway appears to facilitate derepression of repressed Bcl11b target genes as immature thymocytes initiate differentiation programs, biochemically linking MAPK signaling with the latter stages of T-cell development.
Academic achievement in the first year of college: evidence of the pervasive effects of the high school context

This study aims to improve our understanding of the postsecondary impacts of high schools by investigating whether or not exposure to different high school contexts may explain academic performance once in college. Drawing on a sample of 3,750 participants from the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen, descriptive and multivariate analyses examine relationships between students’ precollege characteristics, the high school context, and first year college grades. Results indicate that the quality of the high school infrastructure and exposure to violence at school—two operationalized dimensions of the high school context—affect first year college grades above and beyond precollege academic achievement and a variety of other background characteristics. Results also provide evidence of the conditional nature of these effects, where the high school context reinforces advantages of students with relatively greater economic resources prior to college. Implications for policy are discussed along with a call for a more holistic and interdependent perspective in examining the secondary-postsecondary nexus.
Fracture analysis of cracked orthotropic skin panels with riveted stiffeners

The stress intensity factors and energy release rates are determined for cracked orthotropic sheets with riveted stiffeners. A closed form solution is used and the approach adopted is based on compatibility of displacements among the sheet, fasteners and stiffeners. Effects of the nonlinear shear deformation of the fasteners, the plastic deformation of the stiffeners, and stiffener cutouts in frames are included in the analysis. A one-bay crack and a two-bay crack with center stiffener either intact or broken are evaluated. The results obtained from the analytical method are compared with finite element results. Good agreement of these results demonstrates the validity and accuracy of the analytical method.
Inhibition or knockdown of ABC transporters enhances susceptibility of adult and juvenile schistosomes to Praziquantel

Parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma cause schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease that affects hundreds of millions. Treatment of schistosomiasis depends almost entirely on the drug praziquantel (PZQ). Though essential to treating and controlling schistosomiasis, a major limitation of PZQ is that it is not active against immature mammalian-stage schistosomes. Furthermore, there are reports of field isolates with heritable reductions in PZQ susceptibility, and researchers have selected for PZQ-resistant schistosomes in the laboratory. P-glycoprotein (Pgp; ABCB1) and other ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters remove a wide variety of toxins and xenobiotics from cells, and have been implicated in multidrug resistance (MDR). Changes in ABC transporter structure or expression levels are also associated with reduced drug susceptibility in parasitic helminths, including schistosomes. Here, we show that the activity of PZQ against schistosome adults and juveniles ex vivo is potentiated by co-administration of either the highly potent Pgp inhibitor tariquidar or combinations of inhibitors targeting multiple ABC multidrug transporters. Adult worms exposed to sublethal PZQ concentrations remain active, but co-administration of ABC transporter inhibitors results in complete loss of motility and disruption of the tegument. Notably, juvenile schistosomes (3–4 weeks post infection), normally refractory to 2 µM PZQ, become paralyzed when transporter inhibitors are added in combination with the PZQ. Experiments using the fluorescent PZQ derivative (R)-PZQ-BODIPY are consistent with the transporter inhibitors increasing effective intraworm concentrations of PZQ. Adult worms in which expression of ABC transporters has been suppressed by RNA interference show increased responsiveness to PZQ and increased retention of (R)-PZQ-BODIPY consistent with an important role for these proteins in setting levels of PZQ susceptibility. These results indicate that parasite ABC multidrug transporters might serve as important targets for enhancing the action of PZQ. They also suggest a potentially novel and readily-available strategy for overcoming reduced PZQ susceptibility of schistosomes.
On the Length of Programs for Computing Finite Binary Sequences

The use of Turing machines for calculating finite binary sequences is studied from the point of view of information theory and the theory of recursive functions. Various results are obtained concerning the number of instructions in programs. A modified form of Turing machine is studied from the same point of view. An application to the problem of defining a patternless sequence is proposed in terms of the concepts here developed.
Toxicity of flucythrinate to Gammarus lacustris (Amphipoda), Pteronarcys dorsata (Plecoptera) and Brachycentrus americanus (Trichoptera): Importance of exposure duration

Abstract The effect of the synthetic pyrethroid flucythrinate on three non-target invertebrates was evaluated using continual and short-time exposure methods. Both methods show toxic action at measured concentrations μg litre −1 . The use of both approaches pointed toward the importance of exposure time in hazard assessment. Exposures for a short time followed by an extended observation period in insecticide-free water show that a lethal exposure can occur in less time than estimated from continually exposed animals. For example, continually exposed Gammarus lacustris had a 72 h LC 50 of 0·12 μg litre −1 . However, exposure for only 17·6 h at 0·12 μg litre −1 will kill 50% of the exposed animals during an extended observation time. The use of both approaches can also provide insights into minimum exposure times for each test concentration, and the possibility of post-exposure mortality.
Children's symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression after a natural disaster: Comorbidity and risk factors

Abstract Background The current study examined rates of comorbidity among children's symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) and depression after a natural disaster, Hurricane Ike. We also compared children with comorbid symptoms to children without comorbid symptoms, examining recovery, severity of symptoms, and risk factors. Method Children (n=277; 52% girls; 38% Hispanic, 28% White, 19% Black; grades 2–4) were assessed at 8 and 15 months postdisaster. Children completed measures of PTS and depressive symptoms at both time points and measures of exposure and recovery stressors at 8 months postdisaster. Results At 8 months postdisaster, 13% of children reported elevated PTS-only, 11% depression-only, and 10% comorbid symptoms of PTS and depression. At 15 months postdisaster, 7% of children reported elevated PTS-only, 11% depression-only, and 7% comorbid symptoms of PTS and depression. Children with comorbid symptoms of PTS and depression had poorer recovery, more severe symptoms, and they reported greater exposure and recovery stressors. Limitations We lacked information on children's predisaster functioning and diagnostic interview of psychological distress symptoms. Conclusions Children with comorbid symptoms need to be identified early postdisaster. Levels of stressors should be monitored postdisaster, as highly stressed youth have difficulties recovering and may need help. Interventions should be tailored for children with comorbid symptoms of PTS and depression.
Analysis of tip malposition and correction in peripherally inserted central catheters placed at bedside by a dedicated nursing team.

Purpose To analyze the patterns of postplacement tip malposition in peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) placed at bedside, and to describe results of bedside and imaging-guided correction of tip malposition. Materials and Methods With use of a quality assurance database, all episodes of tip malposition in PICCs placed at bedside were reviewed. Catheter tip location, success or failure of bedside repositioning (in a subset of patients, by using over-the-wire techniques), findings in the interventional radiology (IR) division, and tip correction method used in the IR suite (repositioning vs replacement) were determined with a review of medical records. Results During the 18-month study period, 2,367 attempts were made to place a PICC at bedside; 1,654 attempts (70%) were initially successful. Of these, 163 tips (10%) were malpositioned. Complete records for 132 malpositioned tips were available for analysis. Malpositioned tips were located in the ipsilateral internal jugular vein in 45 of the 132 cases (36%), axillary vein in 36 cases (27%), ipsilateral subclavian vein in 25 cases (19%), ipsilateral brachiocephalic vein in 15 cases (11%), contralateral subclavian vein in four cases (3%), contralateral brachiocephalic vein in two cases (2%), contralateral internal jugular vein in one case (1%), and subclavian tributary in one case (1%). In three cases (2%), the tip was coiled in the superior vena cava. Malposition was corrected with catheter exchange in 76 of the 132 cases (58%), repositioning in 48 cases (36%), or removal in one case (1%). Spontaneous correction occurred in seven of the 132 malpositioned tips (5%). One hundred nine tips (83%) were repositioned in the IR division with use of imaging guidance, with 100% success. Twenty-five attempts were made to correct malposition at bedside; 16 of those attempts (64%) were successful. Conclusion Tip malposition is relatively frequent with bedside placement of PICCs. Preliminary data suggest that most malpositions can be corrected with bedside techniques. Spontaneous correction may occur but is relatively uncommon.
Radiation-induced leukemia.

Hromas et al described AML1 gene translocations in persons who previously had experienced “high-level radiation exposure from nuclear explosions.”1(p4011) The authors indicated that they were describing a novel syndrome of radiation-associated acute myeloid leukemia involving AML1 gene
DNA cholesteric pitch as a function of density and ionic strength.

The nature of chiral interactions among chiral biopolymers, such as DNA, protein α-helices, and rodlike virus particles, remains elusive. In particular, a satisfactory model connecting molecular chiral interactions and the pitch of the resulting chiral mesophases is lacking. We report the measurement of short-fragment (146-bp) DNA cholesteric spherulite pitch as a function of osmotic pressure, average DNA interaxial spacing, and salt concentration. We determined cholesteric pitch and interaxial spacing by polarizing optical microscopy and x-ray scattering, respectively, from which the twist-angle between DNA molecules can be calculated. Surprisingly, we found that decreasing ionic strength resulted in weaker chiral interactions between DNA chains, as evidenced by the decrease in the twist-angle, and consequent increase in the cholesteric pitch, for a fixed interaxial spacing. We propose that this behavior can be explained by increased smearing-out of the helical charge pattern along DNA as the Debye screening length is increased.
Vibration of clamped moderately thick general cross-ply plates using a generalized Navier approach

Abstract A hitherto unavailable analytical solution to the free vibration problem of general cross-ply laminated rigidly clamped rectangular plates, incorporating first-order shear deformation, and rotatory and in-plane inertias into the formulation, is presented. A recently developed boundary continuous displacement-based generalized Navier solution technique is used to solve the five highly coupled linear second-order partial differential equations with constant coefficients, and the associated geometric boundary conditions. The assumed solution functions are in the form of double Fourier series, which satisfy the rigidly clamped boundary conditions a priori in a manner similar to the conventional Navier method. Convergence characteristics of the natural frequencies of both symmetric and antisymmetric cross-ply plates are numerically established. Other numerical results presented herein include (i) comparison with the corresponding available first-order shear deformation theory-based Galerkin and classical lamination theory-based boundary-discontinuous analytical solutions, and (ii) study of the effects of thickness and aspect ratio on the natural frequencies.
Solar Cell Contacts Using Nano-Sized Dispersions

Nano-sized dispersions have been employed as precursor inks for the spray deposition of contacts to both Si and CdTe materials. In the case of Si, nano-sized Al particles (nano-Al) were dispersed and spray deposited onto p-type Si. Annealing above the eutectic temperature causes alloy formation yielding a p+ layer with ρ ∼ 10−4 Ω•cm. For CdTe, nano-sized Te particles (nano-Te) were dispersed and sprayed onto CdTe/CdS/SnO2/glass heterostructures. Contact to the CdTe layer occurred during a 30 min anneal in He (T = 215 to 255 °C). These solar cells were finished by spin-coating the Te layer with Ag paint and subsequently annealing in air (100 °C / 1 h). This approach produces solar cells with open circuit voltages (Voc) from 720 to 800 mV, short circuit current densities (Jsc) from 18 to 20 mA/cm2 and efficiencies up to 10.3%. The performance of these cells was similar to those produced using the standard NREL contact.
Association Between Self-Reported Sleep Disturbance and Other Symptoms in Patients with Advanced Cancer

Abstract Context Sleep disturbance (SD) is a significant source of distress for patients with cancer. Studies of patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care to identify symptoms associated with the severity of SD are limited. Objectives In this study, we sought to identify the symptoms measured by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) that are associated with SD, as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Secondary aims of the study were to determine the association between occurrences of SD with occurrences of other symptoms and screening performance of the ESAS-Sleep item against the PSQI. Methods We reviewed the completed ESAS and PSQI assessments of 101 patients with advanced cancer who were receiving palliative care and had been admitted to prospective clinical trials previously initiated by us. Patients with a PSQI score of ≥5 were considered to have an SD. The frequency and severity of the ESAS symptoms items, their correlation with each other, the PSQI score, and the screening performance of the ESAS-Sleep item were calculated. Results The median age of patients was 60 years. Most were white non-Hispanic (73%), had lung or breast cancer (41%), and were diagnosed with SD (85%). The PSQI score was correlated with the ESAS items of pain (r=0.27, P=0.006), dyspnea (r=0.25, P Conclusion SD is associated with increased frequency of pain, depression, anxiety, and a worse sense of well-being. These four symptoms should be assessed in all patients with advanced cancer with a complaint of SD. The ideal cutoff point of the ESAS-Sleep item for screening for SD is a score of ≥3. More research is needed to better characterize this frequent and distressing syndrome.
Head Start Families Sharing Home Language and Literacy Experiences.

Although the Head Start program places great emphasis on family involvement, educators do not currently have a brief but comprehensive measure to collect information from families about the kinds of learning experiences they provide for children at home. The current study explored the utility of the Family Literacy Survey, a parent-report survey gauging the language and literacy opportunities for children in Head Start households. Results from the survey revealed variation across families in their home environments, although most families provided many opportunities for children to learn through play and through early academic activities. Tools such as the Family Literacy Survey could help Head Start educators support and refine their work with families.
Evaluation of treatment techniques for increasing the uptake of metal ions from solution by nonliving seaweed algal biomass.

The effects of several different treatments on subsequent uptake of several metal ions from solution by six strains of seaweed algae and a sea plant were investigated. Samples of Gracilaria conferta, Eisenia bicyclis, Ulva lactuca, Sargassum fluitans, Cladophora prolitera, Padina pavonica, and Zostera marina were treated with one or more of the following: 1 M HCl, 1 M HNO3, 0.1 M NaOH, 1 M NaOH, acetone, and 60°C water at times from 15 to 60 min and temperatures of 25 and 60°C. Results obtained demonstrate that a treatment time of 15 or 30 min is usually sufficient to produce maximum subsequent metal uptake. Temperature of treatment had little effect.The percentages of Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Co, TI, Hg, Au, and Ag subsequently removed from standard metal solutions at a pH of 2-6 by each treated biomass were compared with the percent removal by untreated biomass under the same conditions. All treatments increased the ability of the biomass types studied to bind metals relative to untreated biomass. In addition, pH binding dependence was altered to some extent with a greater degree of binding observed at low pHs by biomass treated with acid. For certain strains of seaweed algae, 0.1 M NaOH treatment produced subsequent uptake of Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd at levels reaching 100% of initial metal available. Both acidic and basic treatment increased the uptake of Au, Ag, and Hg by four strains of seaweed to nearly 100%.
Wireless sensor networks in challenged environments such as underwater and underground

Oceanographic data collection, pollution monitoring, offshore exploration, disaster prevention, assisted navigation and tactical surveillance are typical applications for wireless underwater sensor networks. In this talk wireless underwater acoustic communication channel is explored, novel medium access control and routing protocols will be presented. On the other hand, sensor applications in soil media and tunnels have unique communication problems. In particular, the wireless channel pecularities in the underground make communication problems interesting which will be discussed in this talk. Electromagnetic and Magnetic Induction communication paradigms are explored. Future research challenges will be highlighted in both areas.
A C-helix Residue, Arg-123, Has Important Roles in Both the Active and Inactive Forms of the cAMP Receptor Protein

The cAMP receptor protein (CRP) of Escherichia coli exists in an equilibrium between active and inactive forms, and the effector, cAMP, shifts that equilibrium to the active form, thereby allowing DNA binding. For this equilibrium shift, a C-helix repositioning around the C-helix residues Thr-127 and Ser-128 has been reported as a critical local event along with proper beta4/beta5 positioning. Here we show that another C-helix residue, Arg-123, has a unique role in cAMP-dependent CRP activation in two different ways. First, Arg-123 is important for proper cAMP affinity, although it is not critical for the conformational change with saturating amounts of cAMP. Second, Arg-123 is optimal for stabilizing the inactive conformation of CRP when cAMP is absent, thereby allowing a maximal range of regulation by cAMP. However, Arg-123 does not appear to be critical for a functional response to cAMP, as has been proposed previously (Berman, H. M., Ten Eyck, L. F., Goodsell, D. S., Haste, N. M., Korney, A., and Taylor, S. S. (2005) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 102, 45-50). Based on mutagenic evidence, we also propose the basis for the stabilization of the inactive form to be through a salt interaction between Asp-68 and Arg-123.
Comment on ``Electron-induced bond breaking at low energies in HCOOH and glycine: The role of very short-lived σ ∗ anion states''

Recent model calculations by Gallup et al. [Phys. Rev. A79, 042710 (2009)] suggest that low-energy dissociative electron attachment to formic acid can be explained solely in terms of a very short-lived {sigma}* anion state and that no {sigma}*/{pi}* coupling is required. We argue that this interpretation of the experimental data, which is at odds with our earlier study, is flawed.
Spirituality and Health in Punjabi Sikh

The purpose of this study was to examine the interrelationship of health, illness, and spirituality for Punjabi Sikh living in Canada. A grounded theory study with a convenience sample and use of snowballing technique provided a sample of 15 participants ranging in age from 20 to 70 years. Constant comparative method with dimensional analysis was used to analyze the data beginning with the first interview. The themes of being healthy and looking for the spiritual are described. Looking for the spiritual results in the person becoming spiritually strong and therefore being healthier, recovering from illness, or having the ability to feel comfortable when near death. Nurses who understand the interplay of spirituality and health can support Punjabi Sikh in their food requirements, prayers, and feelings of hope and anguish during illness or life transitions.
The investment-cash flow linkage revisited: Evidence from aggregate data and multivariate Granger-causality tests

Abstract This paper reexamines the relationship between investment and cash flow in the United States employing an empirical approach which addresses some of the methodological problems of many previous studies. A restricted vector autoregressive model is specified for aggregate measures of investment and cash flow in which the optimal lag lengths of these as well as other variables are individually determined with the aid of Akaike's final prediction error (FPE) criterion. The model is then estimated using U.S. aggregate data (1957:I–1990:II) and the full information maximum likelihood (FIML) technique. Finally, multivariate Granger-causality tests are performed based on the estimated equations. The results suggest that, at the macro level, investment and cash flow are causally independent variables. However, consistent with both the accelerator and neoclassical investment models, output is found to exert “causal” influence on investment. The implications of these results for the current recession are discussed.
Quantitative pooling of Michaelis-Menten equations in models with parallel metabolite formation paths

Pooling of Michaelis-Menten equations for models having parallel paths for formation of two or more metabolites is discussed. A theory which explains phenomena exhibited by pooled nonlinear pharmacokinetic systems and equations relating pooled Michaelis-Menten constants (V p ,K p )to microscopic constants (V i ,K i )are presented. The suitability of this type of pooling for use in pharmacokinetic modeling is also discussed. Use of pooling concepts in the design of clinical studies is demonstrated.
Evaluation of a computer networking class in information technology

Information Technology (IT) is a rapidly-developing discipline. IT instructors often design new courses to meet changing needs. There is also a need to evaluate courses once they have been designed and implemented. Evaluation of courses leads to improvements in the learning experiences for students and better understanding of the educational process and outcomes for course designers and instructors. Evaluation and improvement of quality is a requirement for programs accredited under ABET (and other accrediting bodies).A networking class in IT was selected for evaluation. Networking was selected because it is one of the core required topics in the IT curriculum. The course was compared to national standards for curriculum in the networking area. A single class was evaluated but methods were developed which can be applied to other courses in the IT discipline. The evaluation study included evaluation of the course content and the course structure. Student input was obtained through a survey instrument and the validity of the input was considered.Several questions were identified for this evaluation: Did the networking class meet student needs and expectations in terms of content and teaching approach; What are the students preferred learning styles; What coursework should a networking class include compared to what was actually taught; Did success in the earlier foundation class lead to success in the networking class; How well did students perform in this class relative to their performance in the IT major as a whole?Pursuing these questions involved data gathering from students as well as researching student records. Appropriate mechanisms were developed to protect student privacy.The evaluation of this class led to a number of useful insights and recommendations into technical class content, teaching and learning styles, and into the evaluation process. The methods of the study can be used for other courses and for other IT programs.
Susceptibility to nausea and motion sickness as a function of the menstrual cycle.

Purpose The present study examined whether susceptibility to nausea and other symptoms of vection-induced motion sickness vary as a function of phase of the menstrual cycle, as research findings in this area are sparse and contradictory. Design Ninety young women (42 current users of oral contraceptives) were exposed to a rotating optokinetic drum during the peri-menses or peri-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle in an independent-groups, quasi-experimental design. Nausea and motion sickness symptoms were assessed using the Nausea Profile (NP) and the Subjective Symptoms of Motion Sickness (SSMS) questionnaire. Results Among women not on oral contraceptives, reports of nausea and motion sickness by women in the peri-menses phase were more severe than reports by women in the peri-ovulatory phase. By contrast, among women taking oral contraceptives, reports of nausea and motion sickness did not differ by the same categorical phase of the menstrual cycle. Conclusions We speculate that fluctuating estrogen levels over the course of the menstrual cycle may influence the experience of or susceptibility to nausea and motion sickness during illusory self-motion and other nauseogenic contexts.
Computable Robust Estimation of Multivariate Location and Shape in High Dimension Using Compound Estimators

Abstract Estimation of multivariate shape and location in a fashion that is robust with respect to outliers and is affine equivariant represents a significant challenge. The use of compound estimators that use a combinatorial estimator such as Rousseeuw's minimum volume ellipsoid (MVE) or minimum covariance determinant (MCD) to find good starting points for high-efficiency robust estimators such as S estimators has been proposed. In this article we indicate why this scheme will fail in high dimension due to combinatorial explosion in the space that must be searched for the MVE or MCD. We propose a meta-algorithm based on partitioning the data that enables compound estimators to work in high dimension. We show that even when the computational effort is restricted to a linear function of the number of data points, the algorithm results in an estimator with good asymptotic properties. Extensive computational experiments are used to confirm that significant benefits accrue in finite samples as well. We also g...
Influence of varied soil microbial and inorganic nutrient conditions on the growth and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash]

A difference in biomass production between plants grown in autoclaved soil and non-autoclaved soil under N and base (Ca + Mg) treatments was probably caused by soil microbes other than vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The plants were grown for 70 days in autoclaved soil, autoclaved soil with a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal-free filtrate of non-autoclaved soil added, and non-autoclaved soil. The plants in each substrate received additional N, P, or Ca + Mg (base treatment) weekly. Control plants received no additional nutrients. The plant response to various substrates was a function of nutrient treatment. Colonization of roots by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in non-autoclaved soil was lowest with the N and P treatments. There were significant negative correlations between vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and all plant growth variates. For all nutrient treatments, there were no differences in total biomass between plants grown in non-autoclaved soil and in the autoclaved-plus-filtrate substrate.
Transport and Dynamics of the Panay Sill Overflow in the Philippine Seas

Abstract Observations of stratification and currents between June 2007 and March 2009 reveal a strong overflow between 400- and 570-m depth from the Panay Strait into the Sulu Sea. The overflow water is derived from approximately 400 m deep in the South China Sea. Temporal mean velocity is greater than 0.75 m s−1 at 50 m above the 570-m Panay Sill. Empirical orthogonal function analysis of a mooring time series shows that the flow is dominated by the bottom overflow current with little seasonal variance. The overflow does not descend below 1250 m in the Sulu Sea but rather settles above high-salinity deep water derived from the Sulawesi Sea. The mean observed overflow transport at the sill is 0.32 × 106 m3 s−1. The observed transport was used to calculate a bulk diapycnal diffusivity of 4.4 × 10−4 m2 s−1 within the Sulu Sea slab (∼575–1250 m) ventilated from Panay Strait. Analysis of Froude number variation across the sill shows that the flow is hydraulically controlled. A suitable hydraulic control model...
CP-violation from noncommutative geometry

If the geometry of space-time is noncommutative, i.e., $[{x}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}{,x}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}]=i{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}},$ then noncommutative $\mathrm{CP}$ violating effects may be manifest at low energies. For a $\mathrm{noncommutative}$ scale $\ensuremath{\Lambda}\ensuremath{\equiv}{\ensuremath{\theta}}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}l~2$ TeV, $\mathrm{CP}$ violation from noncommutative geometry is comparable to that from the standard model alone: the $\mathrm{noncommutative}$ contributions to $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ and ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{'}}/\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ in the K system may actually dominate over the standard model contributions. Present data permit $\mathrm{noncommutative}\mathrm{}\mathrm{geometry}$ to be the only source of $\mathrm{CP}$ violation. Furthermore the most recent findings for $g\ensuremath{-}2$ of the muon are consistent with predictions from $\mathrm{noncommutative}\mathrm{}\mathrm{geometry}.$
Defect characterization in commercial carbon-carbon composites

A relatively inexpensive and easy to operate custom built infrared thermography (IRT) system was developed and utilized for the detection and characterization of defects in Carbon-Carbon (C/C) composite aircraft brake disks. This method uses an active infrared thermography (IRT) approach, i.e. Flash Heating method, for a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of C/C brake disk materials. The experimental results obtained from the developed system were then compared with commercial IRT turn-key system. In addition, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was also carried out to determine the detectible defect depth and diameter of the defects in C/C composites to validate the experimental results. The experimental results were compared to the FEA results and it was found that they were in good agreement with one another.
Try, Try, Try Again: The Process of Designing New History Assessments

AbstractThis article considers the design process for new formative history assessments. Over the course of 3 years, my colleagues from the Stanford History Education Group and I designed, piloted, and revised dozens of History Assessments of Thinking (HATs). As we created HATs, we sought to gather information about their cognitive validity, the relationship between the constructs targeted by the assessments, and the cognitive processes students used to answer them. Three case studies trace the development of different HATs through analyses of draft assessments, student responses, and think-aloud protocols. Design principles specific to formative history assessments emerged from these analyses: (1) assessments must be historically accurate, (2) assessments must target specific historical constructs, (3) assessment structure must align with targeted constructs, (4) assessments must yield useful information for teachers, and (5) pilot data are indispensable for refining HATs. These finding suggest the need ...
Multiplex polymerase chain reaction‐based analysis of T‐cell receptor γ gene rearrangements for the determination of T‐lymphocyte clonality

Determination of the frequency of mutations at hprt or other loci in human lymphocytes provides a useful biomarker for human exposure to mutagens. One problem, however, is distinguishing between unique mutants and sibling mutants arising as progeny of an earlier mutant cell. We have developed a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–based method to analyze T-cell receptor (TCR) γ gene rearrangements for determination of T-cell clonality in mutational spectrum analysis. PCR primers for different subgroups of the V gene segment of the TCR γ gene were selected at different sites in the TCR γ gene so that the size of PCR products could define which V subgroup was involved in rearranged TCR γ genes; γ genes involving different V and J subgroups could be determined directly by PCR. Mutant T-lymphocytes with rearranged TCR γ genes containing the same V and J subgroups were analyzed using PCR-based denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All of the 161 hprt mutant clones analyzed contained rearranged TCR γ genes. Rearrangements among all subgroups of the V and J gene segments of the TCR γ gene could be detected. VγI and Jγ1/2 subgroups were involved in 69 and 71% of rearranged TCR γ genes, respectively. This PCR-based analysis of TCR γ gene rearrangements provides a simple and comprehensive method for identifying the clonality of mutant T-lymphocytes in human hprt mutant lymphocyte assay and mutational spectrum analysis. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 35:1–8, 2000 © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Predicting Local SR Ca2+ Dynamics during Ca2+ Wave Propagation in Ventricular Myocytes

Of the many ongoing controversies regarding the workings of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in cardiac myocytes, two unresolved and interconnected topics are 1), mechanisms of calcium (Ca2+) wave propagation, and 2), speed of Ca2+ diffusion within the SR. Ca2+ waves are initiated when a spontaneous local SR Ca2+ release event triggers additional release from neighboring clusters of SR release channels (ryanodine receptors (RyRs)). A lack of consensus regarding the effective Ca2+ diffusion constant in the SR (DCa,SR) severely complicates our understanding of whether dynamic local changes in SR [Ca2+] can influence wave propagation. To address this problem, we have implemented a computational model of cytosolic and SR [Ca2+] during Ca2+ waves. Simulations have investigated how dynamic local changes in SR [Ca2+] are influenced by 1), DCa,SR; 2), the distance between RyR clusters; 3), partial inhibition or stimulation of SR Ca2+ pumps; 4), SR Ca2+ pump dependence on cytosolic [Ca2+]; and 5), the rate of transfer between network and junctional SR. Of these factors, DCa,SR is the primary determinant of how release from one RyR cluster alters SR [Ca2+] in nearby regions. Specifically, our results show that local increases in SR [Ca2+] ahead of the wave can potentially facilitate Ca2+ wave propagation, but only if SR diffusion is relatively slow. These simulations help to delineate what changes in [Ca2+] are possible during SR Ca2+release, and they broaden our understanding of the regulatory role played by dynamic changes in [Ca2+]SR.