cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of Positive Transection Margins with Gastric Cancer Survival and Local Recurrence

To examine the association between positive resection margins and survival and local recurrence in patients with gastric cancer undergoing resection with curative intent. Patients who underwent curative intent resection for gastric carcinoma from 1985 to 2010 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Positive margins were defined as disease present at the line of luminal transection. Clinicopathological features and outcome of patients undergoing gastrectomy with negative and positive margins were compared. Among 2384 patients undergoing curative intent resection, 108 (4.5 %) had positive margins. Positive margins were associated with higher American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, T stage, N stage, median number of positive nodes, diffuse Lauren type, and poorly differentiated tumors. Treatment of positive margins consisted of: observation (39 %), chemoradiotherapy (26 %), chemotherapy (20 %), repeat resection (10 %), radiotherapy (4 %), and unknown (1 %). Multivariate analysis of the entire cohort demonstrated margin status, T stage, N stage, grade, and perineural invasion to be independent predictors of survival. Margin status was an independent predictor of survival in patients with ≤3 positive nodes or T1–2 disease but was not in patients with >3 positive nodes or T3–4 disease. Local recurrence occurred in 16 % of patients with a positive margin. We identified no factors predictive of local recurrence in patients with positive margins. Positive resection margin is associated with advanced AJCC stage and aggressive tumor biology but remains an independent predictor of worse survival. The significance of a positive margin in gastric cancer is confined to patients with nontransmural disease and/or limited nodal involvement.
Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in Hypophosphatemic Rickets

There is very limited published information about the technical aspects and durability of lower extremity arthroplasty in hypophosphatemic rickets. Between 1972 and 2006, 8 total hip arthroplasties (THAs) and 6 total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) were performed in 8 patients with degenerative arthritis and bone deformity secondary to hypophosphatemic rickets. Two hips required osteotomies at the time of arthroplasty, and 1 TKA patient required postoperative osteotomies. Specialized implants were required in 3 hips and 1 knee. At average follow-up of 7 years, mean Harris hip scores improved to 21 points, and mean Knee Society pain and function scores improved to 48 points and 27 points, respectively. One cemented THA failed due to femoral aseptic loosening at 13 years postoperatively; all other implants remained well fixed. Lower extremity arthroplasty is effective and durable for patients with arthritis associated with hypophosphatemic rickets, but corrective osteotomies and use of special implants should be anticipated with more severe deformities.
Violent conflict and opiate use in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

Abstract Background Violent conflicts disproportionately affect populations in low and middle-income countries, and exposure to conflict is a known risk factor for mental disorders and substance use, including use of illicit opiates. Opiate use can be particularly problematic in resource-limited settings because few treatment options are available and dependence can impede economic development. In this systematic review, we explore the relationship between violent conflict and opiate use in conflict-affected populations in low and middle-income countries. Methods We searched MEDLINE, PsychINFO, SCOPUS, PILOTS, and select grey literature databases using a defined list of key terms related to conflict and opiate use, screened the results for relevant and methodologically rigorous studies, and conducted a forward search of the bibliographies of selected results to identify additional studies. Results We screened 707 articles, selecting 6 articles for inclusion: 4 quantitative studies and 2 qualitative studies that examined populations in 9 different countries. All study participants were adults (aged 15–65) living in or displaced from a conflict-affected country. Data sources included death records, hospital records, and interviews with refugees, internally displaced persons, and others affected by conflict. Overall, we found a positive, but ambiguous, association between violent conflict and opiate use, with five of six studies suggesting that opiate use increases with violent conflict. Five key factors mediate the conceptual relationship between opiate use and violent conflict: (1) pre-conflict opiate presence, (2) mental disorders, (3) lack of economic opportunity, (4) changes in social norms or structure, and (5) changes in drug availability. Conclusions The strength and direction of the association between opiate use and violent conflict and the proposed mediating factors may differ between contexts, necessitating country and population-specific research and interventions. Prevalence of opiate use prior to the start of conflict was common to all populations in which conflict induced a change in opiate use, suggesting that interventions to reduce opiate use and future research should focus on such populations. Population-based, longitudinal studies that use systematic measures of exposure to conflict and opiate use are needed to further explore this association and its mediating factors.
Simultaneous measurements of (p

We have made simultaneous measurements of singles ($\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p}, {\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) spin-transfer observables and coincident ($\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p}, {p}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$) yields and asymmetries for the 15.11 MeV, ${1}^{+}$, $T=1$ state in $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, at an incident proton bombarding energy of 200 MeV. Data were taken at four proton scattering angles ranging from ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{p}^{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}=5.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} \mathrm{to} 16.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$. Both vertical (normal to the reaction plane) and horizontal (in-plane) incident beam polarizations were used, which allowed us to extract 16 different observables for this transition. In particular, using the ($\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p}, {p}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$) reaction, we measured the sideways and longitudinal analyzing powers, ${D}_{0S}$ and ${D}_{0L}$, which vanish identically in the ($\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p}, {p}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) reaction. Detailed comparisons of all observables to calculations done in both relativistic and nonrelativistic formalisms are presented. Surprisingly, a relativistic description in which knock-on exchange processes are not explicitly included provides the best overall agreement with the data.
Social and motivational predictors of continued youth sport participation.

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine if youth soccer players' perceived relationships with parents and peers in soccer, and the moderating associations among these social relationship variables, predict soccer continuation over and above motivation-related variables. Design This study used a prospective design by assessing youth soccer athletes' social relationships and motivational outcomes during one season and tracking the athletes' soccer continuation behavior one year later. Methods Continuation behavior of travel soccer athletes ( N = 148), ages 10–14 years ( M = 11.7, SD = 1.0), was assessed one year after completing a questionnaire containing soccer-contextualized measures of perceived parent relationship quality, perceived friendship quality, perceived peer acceptance, perceived competence, enjoyment, stress, and self-determined motivation. Results Logistic regression analyses showed that greater perceived competence, more positive friendship quality, and the combination of mother relationship quality and peer relationships predict soccer continuation on the same team. Conclusions The findings highlight the importance of close social relationships, and the combination of parent and peer relationships in particular, to sport continuation behavior.
Structure and magnetic properties of MnN, CrN, and VN under volume expansion

Using a first principles density functional method, we studied how the structure and the magnetic properties of the early transition metal nitrides MnN, CrN, and VN change with expansion and compression of volume. We found that the zinc blende (ZB) state is lower in energy for MnN than the experimentally observed slightly tetragonally distorted $\ensuremath{\theta}$ phase, which suggests that the latter is stabilized by N vacancies. Under small volume compression the rock salt (RS) structure becomes lower in energy than the ZB one. While at its theoretical equilibrium lattice constant MnN is found to have ferromagnetic (FM) order, it becomes antiferromagnetic $\mathrm{AFM}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{[001]}_{1}$ ordered for larger lattice constants in agreement with experiment. The ZB phase is nonmagnetic for its minimum energy lattice constant and below but develops first AFM[001] order and then $\mathrm{AFM}{[111]}_{1}$ order for larger lattice constants. For CrN and VN, the global energy minimum corresponds to the RS structure. Under a certain volume expansion, both NiAs and ZB structures can become metastable. CrN exhibits antiferromagnetic order in the NiAs structure $({[0001]}_{1})$ and the RS phase $({[110]}_{1})$ and ferromagnetic order in the ZB structure. Under lattice expansion the RS structure magnetic configuration changes from ${[110]}_{1}$ to ${[110]}_{2}$, the experimentally observed structure at equilibrium when an orthorhombic distortion is taken into account, and finally to FM at even larger lattice constant. VN has nonzero magnetic moment at a volume around or larger than the equilibrium volume. However, its magnetic interactions among the neighboring moments are very weak as the energy differences between the FM and the AFM ordering are very small. The ferromagnetic states of all three nitrides in the ZB structure become half-metallic under large volume expansion. The partial densities of states (PDOS) for each sublattice in the AFM states show similar structure to the PDOS in the FM state. The effects of the volume expansion on the electronic structure of ZB and RS structure are discussed in detail.
Relative Deprivation, Rising Expectations, and Black Militancy

The anomalous relationship between improvements in the socioeconomic condition of blacks and the rise of the civil rights movement and urban riots of the 1960s is frequently explained by social scientists in terms of theories of relative deprivation (RD) and rising expectations (RE). The present paper investigates the role of RD and RE as mediating variables between social structure and black militancy through secondary analyses of survey data of blacks living in Cleveland and Miami in the late 1960s. While the results are generally supportive, the mediating roles of RD and RE are not as important as originally anticipated. Alternative explanations and implications derived from the present data and the theories for the future of black militancy are discussed.
Racial differences in bone mineral density in older men.

Studies have examined factors related to BMD in older white, but not black, men. We measured BMD in older white and black men and examined factors related to racial differences in BMD. Black men had significantly higher adjusted BMD at all sites. These results may explain, in part, the lower incidence of fractures in older black men. Introduction: Several studies have examined factors associated with bone mineral density (BMD)in older men. None, however, have had sufficient numbers of black men to allow for meaningful comparisons by race. Materials and Methods: A total of 503 white and 191 black men aged 65 and older(75.1 ± 5.8 and 72.2 ± 5.7 years, respectively) were recruited from the Baltimore metropolitan area. All men completed a battery of self-administered questionnaires, underwent a standardized examination, and had BMD measured at the femoral neck, lumbar spine, and total body. Data were analyzed using multiple variable linear regression models, adjusted for potential confounding variables; two-way interactions with main effects were included in models where appropriate. Results: Black men had significantly higher adjusted BMD at the femoral neck (difference 0.09 [95% CI: 0.07, 0.12] mg/cm2), lumbar spine (0.07 [0.04, 0.10] mg/cm2), and total body (0.06 [0.03, 0.08] mg/cm2) than white men. Conclusions: Older black men have significantly higher BMD than older white men, even after adjustment for factors associated with BMD. These differences, especially at the femoral neck, may explain the reduced incidence of hip fracture in black compared with white men.
Refinement of the Retinogeniculate Synapse by Bouton Clustering

Mammalian sensory circuits become refined over development in an activity-dependent manner. Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons from each eye first map to their target in the geniculate and then segregate into eye-specific layers by the removal and addition of axon branches. Once segregation is complete, robust functional remodeling continues as the number of afferent inputs to each geniculate neuron decreases from many to a few. It is widely assumed that large-scale axon retraction underlies this later phase of circuit refinement. On the contrary, RGC axons remain stable during functional pruning. Instead, presynaptic boutons grow in size and cluster during this process. Moreover, they exhibit dynamic spatial reorganization in response to sensory experience. Surprisingly, axon complexity decreases only after the completion of the thalamic critical period. Therefore, dynamic bouton redistribution along a broad axon backbone represents an unappreciated form of plasticity underlying developmental wiring and rewiring in the CNS.
Factors Affecting the In Vivo Lactone Stability and Systemic Clearance of the Lipophilic Camptothecin Analogue AR-67

The narrow efficacy-toxicity window of anticancer agents necessitates understanding of factors contributing to their disposition. This is especially true for camptothecins as they exist in the lactone and carboxylate forms with each moiety differentially interacting with efflux or uptake transporters. Here we determined the disposition of the lactone and carboxylate forms of AR-67, a 3rd generation camptothecin analogue. Pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in rats given intravenous boluses of AR-67 lactone or carboxylate with or without pharmacologic inhibitor pretreatment (GF120918 or rifampin). Pharmacokinetic modeling was used to estimate clearances, while simulations assessed the impact of clearance changes on overall AR-67 exposure. Our modeling showed that carboxylate clearance was 3.5-fold higher than that of the lactone. GF120918 decreased lactone clearance only, but rifampin decreased both lactone and carboxylate clearances. Simulations showed that decreasing carboxylate clearance, which controls the overall drug disposition, leads to significant increase in AR-67 exposure. The apparent in vivo blood stability of AR-67 is partly dependent on the increased carboxylate clearance. This may have clinical implications for populations with single nucleotide polymorphisms that impair the function of uptake transporter genes (e.g., SLCO1B1), which are potentially responsible for AR-67 carboxylate clearance.
Effects of temperature and flow rate on frontal and elution chromatography of aggregating systems

Abstract During chromatography, β-lactoglobulin A can aggregate into tetramers, octamers, and dodecamers. Increasing temperature changes relative peak heights and results in peak merging. In the literature, temperature-induced shifts in equilibrium distributions were hypothesized to cause these changes. Using a reaction-separation model, we have shown that an increase in reaction rates in accordance with the Arrhenius relationship also explains the literature data well. When aggregation rates are fast relative to mass transfer rates, there is a loss of resolution between individual aggregates; breakthrough times and retention times of concentration wave fronts and peaks are averaged, resulting in a single front or peak. Conversely, when reaction rates are relatively slow, wave fronts and peaks of individual aggregates are distinct. Scaling up a complex reacting system is difficult because changes in apparently unrelated parameters, such as particle size, flow rate, concentration, and temperature, can all alter effective reaction rates. This study shows that a dimensionless group approach provides a simple method to predict surprising results. Most surprising is that at low temperatures (slow reaction rates) a decrease in flow rate results in a loss of resolution between the aggregates, whereas at high temperatures (fast reaction rates) an increase in flow rate can enhance resolution.
Binding and stimulation of HIV-1 integrase by a human homolog of yeast transcription factor SNF5

Upon entry into a host cell, retroviruses direct the reverse transcription of the viral RNA genome and the establishment of an integrated proviral DNA. The retroviral integrase protein (IN) is responsible for the insertion of the viral DNA into host chromosomal targets. The two-hybrid system was used to identify a human gene product that binds tightly to the human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) integrase in vitro and stimulates its DNA-joining activity. The sequence of the gene suggests that the protein is a human homolog of yeast SNF5, a transcriptional activator required for high-level expression of many genes. The gene, termed INI1 (for integrase interactor 1), may encode a nuclear factor that promotes integration and targets incoming viral DNA to active genes.
Theory of Mn-doped II-II-V semiconductors

A recently discovered magnetic semiconductor ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{1\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{x}}{\mathrm{K}}_{\mathrm{x}}{({\mathrm{Zn}}_{1\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{y}}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{\mathrm{y}})}_{2}{\mathrm{As}}_{2}$, with its decoupled spin and charge doping, provides a unique opportunity to elucidate the microscopic origin of the magnetic interaction and ordering in dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMSs). We show that (i) the conventional density functional theory accurately describes this material, and (ii) the magnetic interaction emerges from the competition of the short-range superexchange and a longer-range interaction mediated by the itinerant As holes, coupled to Mn via the Schrieffer-Wolff $p\text{\ensuremath{-}}d$ interaction representing an effective Hund's rule coupling ${J}_{H}^{\text{eff}}$. The key difference between the classical double exchange and the actual interaction in DMSs is that an effective ${J}_{H}^{\text{eff}}$, as opposed to the standard Hund's coupling ${J}_{H}$, depends on the Mn $d$-band position with respect to the Fermi level, and thus allows tuning of the magnetic interactions. The physically transparent description of this material may also be applicable in more complicated DMS systems.
Distribution of pyruvate kinase isozymes in adult and developing Xenopus laevis

Abstract 1. 1. The pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40) isozyme composition of adult and developing Xenopus laevis tissues was investigated using isoelectrofocusing, DEAE-chromatographic, heat stability and kinetic studies. 2. 2. A total of nine different pI variants were identified. Evidence was presented supporting the concept that the lowest pI form (pH 5.0) was the L-isozyme, an intermediate pI form ( pH = 6.0) was the K-isozyme and the highest pI form ( pH = 7.0) the M-isozyme. The remaining forms were suspected KL and KM hybrids having pI values intermediate to the respective homotetrameric forms. 3. 3. Adduced evidence showed that in vitro incubation could convert the K-isozyme to forms having pI values of suspected KM hybrids indicating possible conversion of K- to M-type subunits. 4. 4. Skeletal muscle is characterized by expression of M-subunits at a high specific activity; heart muscle also has a relatively high specific activity which, however, is primarily due to K-type subunits. 5. 5. The developing embryo initially expresses both K and L type subunits but the specific activity decreases rapidly with development. By the neural crest stage, the expression of the L-subunit is essentially nil and some M-type subunits start to appear. It is suggested that the initial expression of K- and L-subunits is due to the presence of long-lived maternal m -RNA.
Application of sucralose on organic cherries cv. Sweetheart® with modified atmosphere, and its sensory acceptance

Cherries cv. Sweet Heart® from an organic orchard in the district of Los Angeles, Bio Bio Region, Chile, were subjected to the application of the treatments: T0, control; T1, 1.5% sucralose, and T2, 2.0% sucralose. They were then packed in M.A. packaging, View Fresh , inside cardboard boxes of 5 kg conserved for 20, 35 and 50 days at a temperature of 0 ± 0.5 °C with relative humidity of 90 ± 0.5%. Fruits under treatment T1 showed the lowest weight loss at 35 days of storage. This trend was maintained on day 50, when the addition of sucralose (T1 and T2), involved a minor loss of fruit weight with respect those similar under treatment T0. The fruit with sucralose showed as light decrease in pressure of pulp but always above the lower limit of recommended Durofel units. The use of sucralose was able to increase slightly the brightness of the fruit at 20 and 50 days of storage. The use of 1.5% sucralose (T1) had a favorable effect on the flavor and color at day 35. The appearance and acceptability of cherries, showed significant positive changes at the 35 days of storage, with the treatment (T1).
Organization, management and VLSI implementation of a multiple register window file for LISP-oriented architectures

A multiple register window organization suitable for LISP-oriented RISC architectures is proposed. Various LISP programs were studied to determine the statistics of free and bound variables, as well as the statistics of depth of nesting of LISP procedures. On the basis of this study, a multiple-register window organization consisting of 64 registers, which is suitable for LISP programs, is proposed. Various strategies to manage register windows in a LISP environment are analyzed to determine the best strategy. The hardware implementation of the proposed multiple register file for a LISP-oriented architecture is described, as is its implementation in VLSI. >
Simulation of water balance and forest treatment effects at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest

The distributed hydrology soil–vegetation model (DHSVM) was applied to the small watersheds WS1, 2, 3 in H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon, and tested for skill in simulating observed forest treatment effects on streamflow. These watersheds, located in the rain–snow transition zone, underwent road and clearcut treatments during 1959–66 and subsequent natural regeneration. DHSVM was applied with 10 m and 1 h resolution to 1958–98, most of the period of record. Water balance for old-growth WS2 indicated that evapotranspiration and streamflow were unlikely to be the only loss terms, and groundwater recharge was included to account for about 12% of precipitation; this term was assumed zero in previous studies. Overall efficiency in simulating hourly streamflow exceeded 0Ð7, and mean annual error was less than 10%. Model skill decreased at the margins, with overprediction of low flows and underprediction of high flows. However, statistical analyses of simulated and observed peakflows yielded similar characterizations of treatment effects. Primary simulation weaknesses were snowpack accumulation, snowmelt under rain-on-snow conditions, and production of quickflow. This was the first test of DHSVM against observations of both control and treated watersheds in a classic paired-basin study involving a long time period of forest regrowth and hydrologic recovery. Copyright  2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hysteresis of Unsaturated Hydromechanical Properties of a Silty Soil

Laboratory tests to examine hysteresis in the hydrologic and mechanical properties of partially saturated soils were conducted on six intact specimenscollected froma landslide-pronearea of Alameda County, California. The results reveal that the pore-size distribution parameter remains statistically unchanged between the wetting and drying paths; however, the wetting or drying state has a pronounced influence on the water-entry pressure, the water-filled porosity at zero suction, and the saturated hydraulic conductivity. The suction stress values obtained from the shear-strength tests under both natural moisture and resaturated conditions were mostly bounded by the suction stress characteristic curves (SSCCs)obtainedfromthehydrologictests.This findingexperimentallyconfirmsthatthesoil-waterretentioncurve,hydraulicconductivityfunc- tion, and SSCC are intrinsically related. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000786. © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers. CEDatabasesubjectheadings:Unsaturatedsoils;Soilsuction;Hydraulicconductivity;Soilwater;Hysteresis;Silts;Mechanicalproperties. Author keywords: Unsaturated soil; Matric suction; Hydraulic conductivity; Suction stress; Soil-water retention; Hysteresis.
Quality Assurance of the Pulmonary Function Technologist

The skill and work habits of the pulmonary function technologist are central to the quality of patient testing. Pulmonary function technologists should be chosen carefully. The pulmonary function technologists must be intelligent, conscientious, and possess critical thinking skills. Studies are needed to better identify which kinds of personality traits correlate with superior job performance and whether or not such traits can be reliably identified by standardized testing. Monitoring of technologist performance and technologist feedback improves the quality of testing but is utilized by only a minority of clinical laboratories. Pulmonary function laboratory accreditation is urgently needed to protect the public from potential misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment due to spurious data.
An Implication for Lasers of an Aspect of Interference at High Field Strengths

THE rate at which a collection of atoms is excited or de-excited by monochromatic light which has been split into distinct components by a half-silvered mirror, diffraction grating, or other means would ordinarily be expected to be proportional to the average intensity of the intercepted light. This would be true whether the atoms intercepted but a single component or several components of the light. The latter could be propagating in nearly the same direction or could arrive from quite different directions.
Smoothened signal transduction is promoted by G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2.

Deregulation of the Sonic hedgehog pathway has been implicated in an increasing number of human cancers. In this pathway, the seven-transmembrane (7TM) signaling protein Smoothened regulates cellular proliferation and differentiation through activation of the transcription factor Gli. The activity of mammalian Smoothened is controlled by three different hedgehog proteins, Indian, Desert, and Sonic hedgehog, through their interaction with the Smoothened inhibitor Patched. However, the mechanisms of signal transduction from Smoothened are poorly understood. We show that a kinase which regulates signaling by many “conventional” 7TM G-protein-coupled receptors, G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), participates in Smoothened signaling. Expression of GRK2, but not catalytically inactive GRK2, synergizes with active Smoothened to mediate Gli-dependent transcription. Moreover, knockdown of endogenous GRK2 by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) significantly reduces signaling in response to the Smoothened agonist SAG and also inhibits signaling induced by an oncogenic Smoothened mutant, Smo M2. We find that GRK2 promotes the association between active Smoothened and β-arrestin 2. Indeed, Gli-dependent signaling, mediated by coexpression of Smoothened and GRK2, is diminished by β-arrestin 2 knockdown with shRNA. Together, these data suggest that GRK2 plays a positive role in Smoothened signaling, at least in part, through the promotion of an association between β-arrestin 2 and Smoothened.
Estimating Overwater Convective Boundary Layer Height from Routine Meteorological Measurements for Diffusion Applications at Sea

Abstract On the basis of hourly measurements of wind and air and sea surface temperatures for at least 6 yr at three buoy stations in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the onset of the free convection regime, which coincides with the commencement of stability class C (for slightly unstable conditions in the Pasquill stability classification) at approximately Rb = −0.03, −Z/L = 0.4, and −Zi/L = 5, is verified over the ocean, where Rb is the bulk Richardson number, Z (= 10 m) is the height above the sea, L is the Monin–Obukhov stability length, and Zi is the height of the convective boundary layer (CBL). Datasets for the CBL are analyzed in the context of the boundary layer physics of Garratt. It is found that Zi is linearly proportional to the surface buoyancy flux—that is, (w′θ′υ)0, where w is the vertical velocity and θυ is the virtual potential temperature. For operational diffusion applications, a statistical formula is proposed—that is, Zi = 369 + 6004(w′θ′υ)0. A method to compute this buoyancy flux from ro...
Synthesis and Characterization of High Quality InN Nanowires and Nano-networks

High quality InN nanowires have been synthesized in a horizontal quartz-tube furnace through direct reaction between metallic Indium and Ammonia using Nitrogen as the carrier gas. Thin film of Au on SiO2/Si substrate has been used as the catalyst layer, facilitating vapor-liquid-solid growth of the nanostructures. The nanowires were grown at a very fast rate of up to 30 μm/hr. Smooth and horizontal nanowire growth was achieved only with nanoscale catalyst patterns, while large area catalyst coverage resulted in uncontrolled and three-dimensional growth. The InN nanowires, which were usually covered with a thin shell layer of In2O3, grew along [110] direction, with overall diameters 20 - 60 nm and lengths 5 - 15 μm. The synthesized nanowires bent spontaneously or got deflected from other nanowires at multiples of 30 degrees forming nano-networks. The catalyst particles for the NWs were found mostly at the sides of the NW apex which helped them to bend spontaneously or get deflected from other NWs at angles which were multiples of 30 degrees. The NW based FETs with a back-gated configuration have already been investigated. The gate-bias dependent mobility of the NWs ranged from 55 cm2/Vs to 220 cm2/Vs, and their carrier concentration was ∼1018 cm−3.
On the Connection-Level Stability of Congestion-Controlled Communication Networks

In this paper, we are interested in the connection-level stability of a network employing congestion control. In particular, we study how the stability region of the network (i.e., the set of offered loads for which the number of active users in the network remains finite) is affected by congestion control. Previous works in the literature typically adopt a time-scale separation assumption, which assumes that, whenever the number of users in the system changes, the data rates of the users are adjusted instantaneously to the optimal and fair rate allocation. Under this assumption, it has been shown that such rate assignment policies can achieve the largest possible stability region. In this paper, this time-scale separation assumption is removed and it is shown that the largest possible stability region can still be achieved by a large class of control algorithms. A second assumption often made in prior work is that the packets of a source (or user) are offered to each link along its path instantaneously, rather than passing through one queue at a time. We show that connection-level stability is again maintained when this assumption is removed, provided that a back-pressure scheduling algorithm is used jointly with the appropriate congestion controller.
Soluble levels of receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (sRAGE) and coronary artery disease: the next C-reactive protein?

The Receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) is a multi-ligand member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell surface molecules.1 Although first described as a receptor for AGEs, the products of nonenzymatic glycation and oxidation of proteins/lipids, later studies indicated that RAGE was also a signal transduction receptor for proinflammatory S100/calgranulins and amphoterin (or high mobility group box 1 [HMGB1]) and amyloid-β–peptide and β-sheet fibrils.2–4 Additionally, RAGE is a counter-receptor for Mac-1.5 These ligands may be generated and accumulate in diverse settings, such as diabetes, renal failure, neurodegeneration, autoimmunity/inflammatory milieux, and aging. RAGE ligands may synergize in tissues primed by genetic and/or environmental triggers to amplify perturbation. For example, in the case of Mac-1, it was demonstrated that in the presence of S100, the RAGE–Mac-1 interaction was augmented.5 Thus, RAGE ligands may be pieces of a scaffold that, together, magnify inflammatory mechanisms in the tissues. If left unchecked, RAGE-mediated sustained inflammation, coupled with failure of regenerative mechanisms, may lead to irreversible tissue injury.1 See page 1032 These concepts have been tested in rodent models of exaggerated neointimal expansion, the hallmark of atherosclerosis and restenosis, triggered by chronic hyperglycemia or acute physical stress. In apolipoprotein E–null mice rendered diabetic with streptozotocin, blockade of RAGE was accomplished using a soluble form of the receptor, soluble (s) RAGE, generated and purified from a baculovirus expression system as a decoy for the families of RAGE ligands. Administration of sRAGE to diabetic apolipoprotein E–null mice suppressed early acceleration of atherosclerosis as well as prevented progression of disease in diabetic mice with established atherosclerosis.6–7 In parallel, blockade of RAGE significantly decreased vascular expression of adhesion molecules, prothrombotic species such as tissue factor, and diminished antigen/activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In addition, vascular levels of phosphorylated p38 MAP kinase and activated NF-κB, …
Rift Valley fever virus

Vet Med Today: Zoonosis Update 883 R Valley fever virus is a mosquito-borne pathogen of livestock and humans that historically has been responsible for widespread and devastating outbreaks of severe disease throughout Africa and, more recently, the Arabian Peninsula. The virus was first isolated and RVF disease was initially characterized following the sudden deaths (over a 4-week period) of approximately 4,700 lambs and ewes on a single farm along the shores of Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya in 1931. Since that time, RVF virus has caused numerous economically devastating epizootics that were characterized by sweeping abortion storms and mortality ratios of approximately 100% among neonatal animals and of 10% to 20% among adult ruminant livestock (especially sheep and cattle). Infections in humans are typically associated with selflimiting febrile illnesses. However, in 1% to 2% of affected individuals, RVF infections can progress to more severe disease including fulminant hepatitis, encephalitis, retinitis, blindness, or a hemorrhagic syndrome; among severely affected persons who are hospitalized, the case fatality ratio is approximately 10% to 20%. Rift Valley fever epizootics and epidemics can rapidly overwhelm the capacities of the public health and veterinary medical communities to provide rapid diagnostic testing and adequate medical care for affected humans and other animals, which can number in the tens if not hundreds of thousands. Veterinarians, other health personnel, farmers, and abattoir workers also are at high risk of infection from direct contact with infected animals and patients; indeed, many historical outbreaks of RVF disease in Africa were initially detected because of illnesses among veterinarians and their assistants after they performed necropsies on infected animals. In 2008, several veterinarians, staff, and veterinary students at a South African veterinary college were infected after handling and performing necropsies Rift Valley fever virus
A Numerical Grading Scale for Peripheral Nerve Function

A numerical grading scale for median and ulnar function is outlined. This system, based upon the known pathophysiology of chronic nerve compression, creates a hierarchical scale of mutually exclusive categories for motor and sensory function. The scale is responsive to incorporating new technologies for sensorimotor evaluation if these should offer advantages in computer-assisted evaluation, validity, or reliability. The scale is assumed to be nonuniform, and nonparametric statistical analysis, such as use of the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, is appropriate. Where motor function may predominate the peripheral nerve function, such as the ulnar nerve, in contrast to the median nerve, the scale may be uniquely defined to reflect this attribute. Pilot study examples of application of the numerical scoring system are given, and specific areas to better define the scale through research are suggested.
Study on UAV Path Planning Oriented to Optimization of Positioning Error

For many applications in wireless sensor network (WSN) node positioning by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) need a path planning algorithm optimizing positioning error. In this article, we present an algorithm combining Voronoi diagram and geometric dilution of precision (GDOP) to make track points, considering both the efficiency of flying and accuracy of positioning. Then, we connect all the track points using genetic algorithm and we get the minimized flight path.
Modeling random effects for censored data by a multivariate normal regression model.

Summary. A normal distribution regression model with a frailty-like factor to account for statistical dependence between the observed survival times is introduced. This model, as opposed to standard hazard-based frailty models, has survival times that, conditional on the shared random effect, have an accelerated failure time representation. The dependence properties of this model are discussed and maximum likelihood estimation of the model's parameters is considered. A number of examples are considered to illustrate the approach. The estimated degree of dependence is comparable to other models, but the present approach has the advantage that the interpretation of the random effect is simpler than in the frailty model.
Datamonkey 2010

Summary: Datamonkey is a popular web-based suite of phylogenetic analysis tools for use in evolutionary biology. Since the original release in 2005, we have expanded the analysis options to include recently developed algorithmic methods for recombination detection, evolutionary fingerprinting of genes, codon model selection, co-evolution between sites, identification of sites, which rapidly escape host-immune pressure and HIV-1 subtype assignment. The traditional selection tools have also been augmented to include recent developments in the field. Here, we summarize the analyses options currently available on Datamonkey, and provide guidelines for their use in evolutionary biology. Availability and documentation: http://www.datamonkey.org Contact: spond@ucsd.edu
Urban Adolescent Girls’ Perspectives on Romantic Relationships: Initiation, Involvement, Negotiation, and Conflict

The purpose of this paper was to describe romantic relationships from the perspective of urban, adolescent girls, to address gaps in our understanding of their relationship dimensions. Minority adolescent girls (n = 17) participated in private semi-structured interviews aimed to elicit the understanding of the adolescents’ perspectives on their own relationship experiences and dynamics. The research team conducted conventional content analysis of the interview transcripts. Four major themes emerged about romantic relationships: (1) influence of male pursuit and social norms on relationship initiation factors; (2) a romantic partner is a confidant, friend, and companion; (3) negotiating intimacy respectfully; and (4) relationship conflict through control and abuse. Adolescents described sub-themes of social norms of male pursuit and relationship pressures that dictated relationship initiation. Relationships were depicted by emotional support, caring, and companionship. Adolescents described positive negotiation skills. However, relationship conflict, including controlling behaviors and violence, was illustrated in these same relationships. This study provides a rich description of romantic relationships from the perspectives of urban, adolescent girls. Most salient findings included social pressures and a combination of both positive and negative attributes. Implications include the need for intervention development at the community level to address social pressures, recognition of positive adolescent relationship attributes, and facilitation of skills to identify and address low-quality relationship characteristics.
Xeno)estrogen Regulation of Food Allergy

Food allergy and other types of allergies are becoming epidemic in both the developed and developing countries. A large amount of information is available in literature that (xeno)estrogens can regulate the immune response in general, and the development of allergy in particular; however, the effect of (xeno)estrogens on food allergy is basically unknown. With increasing use of xenobiotics worldwide, chemicals with estrogenic activity have been accumulating in our environment. This review has summarized the current literature relating to the topic (xeno)estrogen regulation of food allergy. The effect of (xeno)estrogens on enterocytes, proteases for protein hydrolysis, dendritic cells and T-regulatory cells in the gastrointestinal tract has been discussed. Finally, considering the current confusion in literature regarding the effect of phytoestrogen genistein on the immune system, a brief discussion has been included for its effect on T(H)1-T(H)2 polarization, and possibly food allergy in its relation to windows of exposure. Sufficient evidences exist to support the notion that (xeno)estrogens can regulate food allergy, with the developmental periods more sensitive. Further clinical and animal studies are needed to determine the causal relationship between the exposure of (xeno)estrogens and incidence of food allergy, and the underlying mechanisms.
Approximation of parameter uncertainty in nonlinear optimization-based parameter estimation schemes

Theoretical models are often developed using experimental data to estimate the model parameters, but an evaluation is not always made of the model's reliability or robustness. Errors can exist in the theoretical model for many reasons, including inadequate model formulation and poor parameter estimates. This paper investigates the approximation of second-order statistics (confidence regions) of parameters estimated using nonlinear optimization schemes. An optimal set of parameters is calculated to minimize the difference between theoretical model predictions and experimental data. This metric is formulated in terms of a weighted least squares objective function. A truss structure was analyzed to evaluate nonlinear optimization and confidence region approximation techniques. It was found that since the truss model was linear and parameter interaction was small, the confidence region approximations were reliable.
An Overview of Lambda Prolog

$\lambda$Prolog is a logic programming language that extends Prolog by incorporating notions of higher-order functions, $\lambda$-terms, higher-order unification, polymorphic types, and mechanisms for building modules and secure abstract data types. These new features are provided in a principled fashion by extending the classical first-order theory of Horn clauses to the intuitionistic higher-order theory of {\em hereditary Harrop} formulas. The justification for considering this extension a satisfactory logic programming language is provided through the proof-theoretic notion of a {\em uniform proof}. The correspondence between each extension to Prolog and the new features in the stronger logical theory is discussed. Also discussed are various aspects of an experimental implementation of $\lambda$Prolog.
Switching and Counting With Atomic Vapors in Photonic-Crystal Fibers

We review our recent experiments demonstrating a hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber loaded with laser-cooled atomic vapor as a system for all-optical switching with pulses containing few hundred photons. Additionally, we discuss the outlooks for improving the efficiency of this switching scheme and present preliminary results geared toward using the system as a photon-number resolving detector.
Block-based packet buffer with deterministic packet departures

Routers need to store temporarily a large number of packets in response to congestion. DRAM is typically needed to implement large packet buffers, but DRAM devices have worst-case random access latencies that are too slow to match the bandwidth requirements of high-performance routers. Existing DRAM-based architectures for supporting linespeed queue operations can be classified into three categories: prefetching-based, randomization-based, and reservation-based. They are all based on interleaving memory accesses across multiple parallel DRAM banks for achieving higher memory bandwidths, but they differ in their packet placement and memory operation scheduling mechanisms. In this paper, we present an efficient reservation-based packet buffer architecture based on the concept of blocks. The proposed block-based solution achieves an order of magnitude reduction in the total SRAM size. It is scalable to growing packet storage requirements in routers while matching increasing line rates.
Duration of the Seminiferous Epithelial Cycle in the Mature Guinea Pig: Influence of Unilateral Orchiectomy *

The effect of unilateral orchiectomy on the seminiferous epithelial cycle in the mature guinea pig was studied. No significant change in the cycle duration was found. Thus, the previously reported hyperplasia of the contralateral testis is due to an increased number of cells entering the maturation process rather than to an acceleration of the cycle of seminiferous epithelium.
Rare breast cancer: 246 invasive secretory carcinomas from the National Cancer Data Base.

Background and Objectives Invasive secretory breast carcinoma (SBC) is a rare subtype of breast malignancy. Methods Cases of SBC and infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) from the National Cancer Database (1998–2011) were queried. Results Patients with SBC (n = 246) and IDC were identified (n = 1,564,068). The group with SBC was younger (age 56.4 ± 16.0 vs. 60.4 ± 13.9 years, P < 0.001), had similar tumor size (19.9 ± 17.8 vs. 21.6 ± 25.5 mm, P = 0.297), more frequently African-Americans (24.1 vs. 14.8 vs. 13.7; P = 0.004), more well-differentiated (32 vs. 18%, P < 0.001) and less likely to be hormone receptor positive (ER: 64 vs. 76%, P = 0.001; PR: 43 vs. 65%, P < 0.001). No differences were found for incidence of node-positivity (32 vs. 34%, P = 0.520) and stage IV presentation (2.4 vs. 3.6%, P = 0.372). Breast conserving surgery (60 vs. 58%, P = 0.405) and hormonal therapy (67 vs. 71%, P = 0.489) rates were similar. Systemic chemotherapy was used less often for SBC (38 vs. 45%, P = 0.035). The overall survival of all patients with SBC was better than all patients with IDC (median not reached vs. 14.8 years, P = 0.025). Conclusion SBC is an uncommon tumor that is often well-differentiated and seen in younger women. Contrary to prior reports, they are frequently hormone receptor-positive. Compared to IDC, overall survival is improved. J. Surg. Oncol. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.