cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Eleven years of crop diversification alters decomposition dynamics of litter mixtures incubated with soil

Agricultural crop rotations have been shown to increase soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and microbial biomass. The mechanisms behind these increases remain unclear, but may be linked to the diversity of crop residue inputs to soil organic matter (SOM). We used a residue mixture incubation to examine how variation in long-term diversity of plant communities in agroecosystems influences decomposition of residue mixtures, thus providing a comparison of the effects of plant diversification on decomposition in the long term (via crop rotation) and short term (via residue mixtures). Three crop residue mixtures, ranging in diversity from two to four species, were incubated for 360 d with soils from five crop rotations, ranging from monoculture corn (mC) to a complex five-crop rotation. In response, we measured fundamental soil pools and processes underlying C and N cycling. These included soil respiration, inorganic N, microbial biomass, and extracellular enzymes. We hypothesized that soils with more diverse cropping histories would show greater synergistic mixture effects than mC. For most variables (except extracellular enzymes), crop rotation history, or the long-term history of plant diversity in the field, had a stronger effect on soil processes than mixture composition. In contrast to our hypothesis, the mC soil had nearly three and seven times greater synergistic mixture effects for respiration and microbial biomass N, respectively, compared with soils from crop rotations. This was due to the low response of the mC soils to poor quality residues (corn and wheat), likely resulting from a lack of available C and nutrients to cometabolize these residues. These results indicate that diversifying crop rotations in agricultural systems alter the decomposition dynamics of new residue inputs, which may be linked to the benefits of increasing crop rotation diversity on soil nutrient cycling, SOM dynamics, and yields.
Requirements for human natural killer cell development informed by primary immunodeficiency

Purpose of reviewHuman natural killer (NK) cell development is poorly understood; however, we gain important insight from cases of human primary immunodeficiency that affect the generation of mature human NK cell subsets. In this review, monogenic primary immunodeficiencies that highlight critical r
Microbiological and Chemical Changes of Spotted Shrimp (Pandalus platyceros) Stored Under Modified Atmospheres

Shrimp ( Pandalus platyceros ) were packed head-on and head-off in pouches with air or 50 or 100% CO2 and stored at 0 to 2°C for up to 23 d. Carbon dioxide in modified atmosphere pouches dissolved in the liquid phase and the pH decreased. As storage progressed, the pH increased. Only 100% CO2 was effective in extending the lag in bacterial growth, but the greatest weight or drip was also obtained with this atmosphere. The bacterial flora changed from mixed gram-negative and gram-positive organisms to a predominantly gram-positive flora. Ammonia was produced throughout storage in all atmospheres, but was delayed longer in head-off than in head-on shrimp. Indole was produced readily in air packs but only at low levels in CO2 packs.
Constructing the image of the teacher on Reddit: Best and worst teachers

Abstract In addressing the public image of the teacher, this study reports on the analysis of 600 discussion entries on Reddit, a social media platform, in which respondents described memories of their best and worst teachers. Results of inductive analyses suggest: (1) a model of teacher, student, and teacher-student relationship for characterizing and reflecting on teachers in teacher education programs; (2) the relevance of social media in contributing to the public image of the teacher in an information technology age, as well as its anonymous and, arguably, more authentic nature; and (3) the need to address gender in teacher memory studies.
Oral health status and risk of bacteremia following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of oral health status on bacteremia risk in a cohort of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who underwent chemotherapy followed by myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Study Design A retrospective study was conducted in patients with AML from 2007 to 2011. Oral health status was determined from a pre–allo-HCT dental evaluation. Positive blood cultures were recorded from AML induction to post–allo-HCT day +60. Organisms that caused bacteremia were classified as “of possible oral source” by a blinded microbiologist. Two-sided Fisher's exact test was used to compare the oral health status of the entire cohort with that of patients with blood cultures of potential oral source. Results Pre–allo-HCT dental evaluations were completed in 91 (99%) of 92 patients. Of these 91 patients, 13 (14%) with dental pathology (13 of 13 [100%]) completed all required dental treatment before allo-HCT. Bacteremias occurred in 63 of 92 patients (68%), and 12 (19%) of 63 patients had positive blood cultures of potential oral source. Of these, 1 of 12 patients developed bacteremia during AML induction, and 11 of 12 developed bacteremia during allo-HCT. Conclusions Oral health status was not associated with risk of bacteremia of potential oral source either at AML induction or consolidation or at allo-HCT.
Agro-Ecological Class Stability Decreases in Response to Climate Change Projections for the Pacific Northwest, USA

Climate change will impact bioclimatic drivers that regulate the geospatial distribution of dryland agro-ecological classes (AECs). Characterizing the geospatial relationship between present AECs and their bioclimatic controls will provide insights into potential future shifts in AECs as climate changes. The major objectives of this study are to quantify empirical relationships between bioclimatic variables and the current geospatial distribution of six dryland AECs of the inland Pacific Northwest of the United States; and apply bioclimatic projections from downscaled climate models to assess geospatial shifts of AECs under current production practices. Two Random Forest variable selection algorithms, VarSelRF and Boruta, were used to identify relevant bioclimatic variables. Three bioclimatic variables were identified by VarSelRF as useful for predictive Random Forest modeling of six AECs: (1) Holdridge evapotranspiration index; (2) spring precipitation (March, April and May); and (3) precipitation of the warmest four-month season (June, July, August and September). Super-imposing future climate scenarios onto current agricultural production systems resulted in significant geospatial shifts in AECs. The Random Forest model projected a 58% and 63% increase in area under dynamic annual crop-fallow-transition (AC-T) and dynamic grain-fallow (GF) AECs, respectively. By contrast, a 46% decrease in area was projected for stable AC-T and dynamic annual crop (AC) AECs across all future time periods for Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5. For the same scenarios, the stable AC and GF AECs showed the least declines in area (8% and 13%, respectively), compared to other AECs. Future spatial shifts from stable to dynamic AECs, particularly to dynamic AC-T and dynamic GF AECs would result in more use of fallow, a greater hazard for soil erosion, greater cropping system uncertainty, and potentially less cropping system flexibility. These projections are counter to cropping system goals of increasing intensification, diversification, and productivity.
Effect of Single-Pass and Multipass Milling Systems on Whole Wheat Durum Flour and Whole Wheat Pasta Quality

Single-pass and multipass milling systems were evaluated for the quality of whole wheat durum flour (WWF) and the subsequent whole wheat (WW) spaghetti they produced. The multipass system used a roller mill with two purifiers to produce semolina and bran/germ and shorts (bran fraction). The single-pass system used an ultracentrifugal mill with two configurations (fine grind, 15,000 rpm with 250 μm mill screen aperture; and coarse grind, 12,000 rpm with 1,000 μm mill screen aperture) to direct grind durum wheat grain into WWF or to regrind the bran fraction, which was blended with semolina to produce a reconstituted WWF. Particle size, starch damage, and pasting properties were similar for direct finely ground WWF and multipass reconstituted durum flour/fine bran blend and for direct coarsely ground WWF and multipass reconstituted semolina/coarse bran blend. The semolina/fine bran blend had low starch damage and had desirable pasting properties for pasta cooking. WW spaghetti was better when made with WWF ...
Literature Based Discovery: Models, methods, and trends.

Abstract Objectives This paper provides an introduction and overview of literature based discovery (LBD) in the biomedical domain. It introduces the reader to modern and historical LBD models, key system components, evaluation methodologies, and current trends. After completion, the reader will be familiar with the challenges and methodologies of LBD. The reader will be capable of distinguishing between recent LBD systems and publications, and be capable of designing an LBD system for a specific application. Target audience From biomedical researchers curious about LBD, to someone looking to design an LBD system, to an LBD expert trying to catch up on trends in the field. The reader need not be familiar with LBD, but knowledge of biomedical text processing tools is helpful. Scope This paper describes a unifying framework for LBD systems. Within this framework, different models and methods are presented to both distinguish and show overlap between systems. Topics include term and document representation, system components, and an overview of models including co-occurrence models, semantic models, and distributional models. Other topics include uninformative term filtering, term ranking, results display, system evaluation, an overview of the application areas of drug development, drug repurposing, and adverse drug event prediction, and challenges and future directions. A timeline showing contributions to LBD, and a table summarizing the works of several authors is provided. Topics are presented from a high level perspective. References are given if more detailed analysis is required.
Neuropathic Pain in Multiple Sclerosis – Current Therapeutic Intervention and Future Treatment Perspectives

ABSTRACT Chronic pain is defined as any consistent pain lasting more than 12 weeks; chronic pain afflicts 25% of the world’s population. The most common form of chronic pain is chronic neuropathic pain, which affects around 8% of the general population and is defined as pain that is initiated or caused by a primary lesion or dysfunction of the nervous system. Neuropathic pain is commonly associated with a variety of neurodegenerative, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases. In multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic neuropathic pain is one of the most frequent symptoms that dramatically reduces the quality of life of MS patients. Current treatment strategies include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and cannabinoid drugs. However, the efficacy of these drugs varies between patients. Besides providing only insufficient relief of pain, these drugs also lead to severe side effects. Therefore, there is an unmet medical need to identify novel drug targets, which may lead to the development of novel therapeutics with enhanced tolerability profiles and efficacy for the management of MS-associated chronic neuropathic pain.
Services for Victims of Rape: A Dualistic Practice Model:

A dualistic practice model that utilizes crisis intervention and advocacy strategies is outlined. The rationale for this model is presented, the two strategies are examined within a social work con...
Food addiction among Spanish-speaking Latino/as residing in the United States

Abstract Objective This study examined food addiction, assessed by the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), and associated features among a participant group of Spanish-speaking Latino/as residing in the United States. Method Participants were 140 Spanish-speaking Latino/as (n = 77 female) who participated in an anonymous web-based survey. Mean age and body mass index (BMI) were 31.87 (SD = 9.12) years and 28.34 (SD = 7.14) kg/m2, respectively. Participants completed a battery of established self-report measures assessing food addiction, binge-eating and eating-disorder psychopathology (Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire; EDE-Q), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-2; PHQ-2), and mental and physical functioning (MOS Short Form Health Survey; SF-12). Results Of the 140 participants, 25 (17.9%) exceeded the clinical threshold of food addiction; no significant differences were observed between those categorized with versus without food addiction in age, sex, or race. YFAS scores were significantly correlated with EDE-Q overvaluation, EDE-Q dissatisfaction, BMI, SF-12, and the PHQ-2 (all p-values Conclusion Our findings for this Spanish-speaking participant group are generally consistent with those reported in a meta-analysis of English-speaking individuals in suggesting that higher YFAS scores are associated with greater disturbances in eating psychopathology. Future studies should examine whether level of acculturation might contribute to differences in food addiction symptoms and associated psychopathology among Spanish-speaking Latino/as.
A Quantum Treatment of the Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal Effect

In this letter the high-energy expansion for scattering from extended targets, which the authors previously applied to beamstrahlung radiation and pair production, is applied to the problem of radiation in a medium with multiple scattering. The suppression of the emission of long wave-length photons, the Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal effect, is treated and explained in physical terms. This extends previous classical treatments of the problem to the quantum domain and corrects certain approximations made in these earlier works; for example, the effects of finite target thickness can be treated. A model of a random scattering medium is defined that allows a quantum treatment of multiple scattering and the resultant suppression of bremsstrahlung radiation. Submitted to Physical Review Letters ∗Work supported by Department of Energy contract DE–AC03–76SF00515. Perhaps the most ubiquitous process occurring in high-energy physics is the bremsstrahlung of photons by a charged particle in the field of an atom first described by Bethe and Heitler [1]. Following experimental confirmation in 1993 of the Landau–Pomeranchuk–Migdal (LPM) effect [2-6], there is renewed interest in extensions of this process, as well as in its strong interaction analogue, gluon radiation at very high energies in heavy nuclei. We describe here the application of eikonal techniques developed for the beamstrahlung process [7] that lead to a simpler, more straightforward, and physically transparent quantum mechanical derivation of the LPM suppression of soft photon radiation from high-energy electrons in dense matter. This effect was first described by Landau and Pomeranchuk [8] who treated the classical radiation of a high-energy particle in the fluctuating and ‘random’ field inside an infinitely thick medium. The longitudinal momentum transfer q|| of a high-energy electron of momentum p and mass m, radiating a photon of momentum k ≡ (1 − x)p, has a minimum value given by qmin || = m2(1 − x)/2xp. The uncertainty principle can be used to define the formation length lf = (1/q min || ) which at high energies (p >> m) and soft photon emission (1− x) << 1 can grow quite large relative to the interatomic spacing. In their classical derivation, which is appropriate to this kinematics limit, Landau and Pomeranchuk were the first to show that the familiar Bethe-Heitler radiated photon spectrum dN ∼ dk/k is modified by the multiple scattering of the electron as it traverses the rapidly varying electric fields of the medium. When the mean free path of the electron αL is comparable or less than the formation length lf , they found that the spectrum is suppressed, ultimately achieving the form dN ∼ dk/(p √ Lk) . (1)
Role of the Colony-Stimulating Factor-1 Receptor (c-fms) and Its Ligand in Oncogenesis

An increasing body of experimental evidence supports the concept that malignant cell transformation results from mutations causing structural alteration or inappropriate expression of products that serve critical control functions in normal growth and development. Among the genes for growth regulatory molecules that might be targets for such genetic damage are those encoding polypeptide growth factors or their cell surface receptors. The macrophage colony-stimulating factor CSF-1 is a glycosylated polypeptide homodimer that stimulates the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of mononuclear phagocytes [1]. CSF-1 also appears to enhance the specialized immune effector functions of terminally differentiated monocytes and macrophages. The receptor for CSF-1 is the c-fms proto-oncogene product [2], an integral transmembrane glycoprotein with intrinsic protein- tyrosine kinase activity. The receptor is oriented in the plasma membrane with its ligand-binding domain exposed at the cell surface and its tyrosine kinase domain in the cytoplasm. Binding of CSF-1 activates the receptor kinase, which in turn initiates intracellular signals leading to the transcription of genes that effect the mitogenic response.
Dyfusion: Dynamic IR/RGB Fusion for Maritime Vessel Recognition

We propose a novel multi-sensor data fusion approach called DyFusion for maritime vessel recognition using long-wave infrared and visible images. DyFusion consists of a decision-level fusion of convolutional networks using a probabilistic model that can adapt to changes in the scene. The probabilistic model avails of contextual clues from each sensor decision pipeline to maximize accuracy and to update probabilities given to each sensor pipeline. Additional sensors are simulated by applying simple transformations on visible images. Evaluation is presented on the VAIS dataset, demonstrating the effectiveness and robustness of DyFusion with a reliable accuracy of up to 88% in hard scenarios.
Microstructure changes in radiochromic films due to magnetic field and radiation.

PURPOSE To correlate the dose response and changes in microscopic structures of the radiochromic films exposed to the clinical magnetic field in the range 1.5-3 T with standard and flattening filter-free (FFF) photon beams. METHODS The radiochromic film was cut into 5 × 5 cm2 sheets/samples from one batch. These samples were exposed to a 1.5-T and/or 3-T B-fields from an MRI scanner using an abdominal sequence for 7 min before and after irradiation with 6 MV and/or 6 MV FFF beams. Films were placed in a reference condition at 5 cm depth in a solid water phantom and exposed up to 20 Gy. The sample orientation was maintained the same during exposure, readout, and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis. The samples were scanned with an Epson Expression 11000XL in a 48-bit RGB color mode at 300 dpi with red channel. Scanned images were processed in Image J and red channel mean intensity values were recorded. The samples were then coated with 6 nm gold and imaged by SEM Teneo (5 kV, 13 pA) under 2000, 2500, and 3000 magnifications for texture analysis. RESULTS The changes in the microstructure of the films in magnetic fields (1.5- and 3.0-T) were dose dependent. The orientation and granular size of samples at higher doses were altered compared to the controls. Needle-shaped structures of the active layer were longer and aligned for samples exposed to higher doses and magnetic field. However, no significant changes in optical density due to the presence of a magnetic field pre/postirradiation up to 20 Gy were observed. CONCLUSION Fine structures of the film represent the polymerization characteristics that are affected by the radiation dose in the magnetic field. Upon exposure to radiation, diacetylene monomers undergo polymerization that forms longer chains with a temporal response. Even though this study did not notice any significant changes in optical density due to the presence of magnetic field, this should be studied in simultaneous application of the magnetic field during treatment in a dedicated MR-linac unit.
Premature Lambs Exhibit Normal Mitochondrial Respiration after Long-Term Extrauterine Support

Background In an effort to mitigate the major morbidities and mortality associated with extreme prematurity, we have developed an EXTrauterine Environment for Neonatal Development (EXTEND) designed to provide physiologic support of extremely premature infants. Objectives We have previously shown that long-term, physiologic support of premature fetal lambs is possible with EXTEND, but in this study, we sought to demonstrate bioenergetic equipoise at the tissue level. Methods Four premature fetal lambs were delivered by hysterotomy at gestational ages (GA) of 105-107 days (term ∼145 days), cannulated via the umbilical vessels, and transitioned to support on EXTEND for 3-4 weeks. Five control fetuses were age-matched to the GA of experimental fetuses at the time of study end (128-134 days GA) and immediately sacrificed after hysterotomy. Mitochondria were isolated from the heart, liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle of fetuses at the time of sacrifice, and oxygen consumption rates (OCRs) were measured. Results There were no differences in basal mitochondrial OCR between EXTEND and control fetuses for heart, kidney, or skeletal muscle. For liver, the basal OCR was higher in EXTEND fetuses compared to controls. There were no differences in physiologic maximal OCR or reserve capacity for any tissue analyzed. Conclusions Fetal lambs supported by EXTEND demonstrate physiologic mitochondrial function as evidenced by adequate basal and physiologic maximal cellular respiration as well as preserved reserve capacity.
Do Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Differ in Regards to Their Help-Seeking? A Qualitative Study

Socio-cultural and sociopolitical influences on women’s experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) and their decision-making processes are not well-understood. This study characterizes help-seeking behaviors of Hispanic and non-Hispanic survivors using Liang et al.’s analytical framework and identifies differences in barriers to help-seeking between these cultural groups. Transcripts from two focus groups of non-Hispanic survivors and one focus group of Hispanic survivors were coded to identify similar and dissimilar factors impacting Liang et al.’s three stages of help-seeking. Though several barriers were common, Hispanic participants felt informal support systems were inaccessible and being involved in IPV was shaming. They preferred to not seek help but act to change their circumstances. Non-Hispanic participants described extensive experience with formal systems, but relied on strong self-advocacy skills for effectiveness. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the socio-cultural context in which decision-making processes occur in order to provide the best support to IPV survivors.
Thermal Methods to Control Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a common malady that can usually be managed with the use of therapeutic endoscopy. Once a bleeding site has been endoscopically identified, there are essentially three methods used to achieve hemostasis – application of energy, mechanical control with clip or loop ligation, or injection therapy. This chapter focuses on the principles of using energy to control GI bleeding and common tools available to deliver it.
Cardiometabolic Health and Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression.

Objective To identify, in children the normal rate of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) progression, and whether presence of cardiometabolic risk factors is associated with cfPWV. Study design Electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar) were searched from inception to May 2018, for all studies which reported cfPWV in children ( Results Data from 28 articles were eligible for inclusion, including 9 reference value (n = 13 100), 5 cardiovascular risk (n = 5257), 10 metabolic risk (n = 2999), and 8 obesity-focused (n = 8760) studies. Meta-regression findings (9 studies) showed that the increase in cfPWV per year (age) was 0.12 m/second (95% CI, 0.07-0.16 m/second) per year, and when stratified by sex the CIs overlapped. Systematic review findings showed that cardiometabolic risk factors were positively associated with cfPWV, including positive associations with blood pressure, impaired glucose metabolism, and metabolic syndrome. However, obesity was not consistently associated with cfPWV. Conclusions Arterial stiffness in children progresses with age and is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. Although further longitudinal studies are warranted, the presented reference data will be valuable to epidemiologists tracking children, and to scientists and clinicians prescribing therapies to mitigate risk in a population that is increasingly more vulnerable to cardiovascular disease.
Pressure-Driven Interface Evolution in Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries

Summary The development of solid-state batteries has encountered a number of problems due to the complex interfacial contact conditions between lithium (Li) metal and solid electrolytes (SEs). Recent experiments have shown that applying stack pressure can ameliorate these problems. Here, we report a multi-scale three-dimensional time-dependent contact model for describing the Li-SE interface evolution under stack pressure. Our simulation considers the surface roughness of the Li and SEs, Li elastoplasticity, Li creep, and the Li metal plating/stripping process. Consistency between the very recent experiments from two different research groups indicates effective yield strength of the Li used in those experiments of 16 ± 2 MPa. We suggest that the preferred stack pressure be at least 20 MPa to maintain a relatively small interface resistance while reducing void volume.
Communicating Critical Information to Cancer Survivors: an Assessment of Survivorship Care Plans in Use in Diverse Healthcare Settings.

Survivorship care plans (SCPs) serve to communicate critical information needed for cancer survivors’ long-term follow-up care. The extent to which SCPs are tailored to meet the specific needs of underserved patient populations is understudied. To fill this gap, this study aimed to assess the content and communication appropriateness of SCPs collected from diverse healthcare settings. We analyzed collected SCPs (n = 16) for concordance with Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations for SCP content and for communication appropriateness using the Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) instrument. All plans failed to incorporate all IOM criteria, with the majority of plans (n = 11) incorporating less than 60% of recommended content. The average reading grade level of all the plans was 14, and only one plan received a superior rating for cultural appropriateness. There is significant variation in the format and content of SCPs used in diverse hospital settings and most plans are not written at an appropriate reading grade level nor tailored for underserved and/or minority patient populations. Co-designing SCPs with diverse patient populations is crucial to ensure that these documents are meeting the needs and preferences of all cancer survivors.
TWO-YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY IN PATIENTS WITH CRITICAL LIMB ISCHEMIA

Two-year life expectancy (2YLE)in critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients remains unclear. This study was performed as a multicenter retrospective analysis. Between March 2004 and December 2011, 995 CLI patients with follow-up period >2-year undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT) were identified and
36 – Call Management

Publisher Summary Call management began as the recording of basic call information by sampling signaling activity on voice trunk circuits carrying calls into and from a call centre. Call management has continued to grow in many dimensions from its humble beginnings. Competition among switch vendors, the advent of the PC, and demand from call managers for more information, more quickly, are all contributing to new systems and management capabilities. The desired goal of effective call management is almost always to reduce costs and to increase the profit for the call centre. The switch hardware, the carrier services and connections, and the user calling habits are the major areas that affect the costs and profit. The call management approach, with the investments in systems and services to be used, should be carefully considered against the types of call centre and the management goals in the short and long term. The payback for investments in call management systems, software, and personnel can be cost justified on one or more elements to be optimized. The method for optimization to produce the greatest profit is dependent on the application. In the corporate environment, call management is directed at several distinct areas of interest. The most prominent area consists of private automatic branch exchanges (PABXs) providing internal communications and connections to noncorporate systems. Call management in the corporate environment network area is directed at reducing the costs for the network facilities and the costs per call.
Abundances in Spiral Galaxies: Evidence for Primary Nitrogen Production

We present the results of nitrogen and oxygen abundance measurements for 185 H II regions spanning a range of radii in 13 spiral galaxies. As expected, the nitrogen-to-oxygen ratio increases linearly with the oxygen abundance for high-metallicity H II regions, indicating that nitrogen is predominantly a secondary element. However, the nitrogen-to-oxygen ratio plateaus for oxygen abundances less than 1/3 solar [12 + log (O/H) < 8.45], as is also seen in low-metallicity dwarf galaxies. This result suggests that the observed trend in dwarf galaxies is not due to the outflow of enriched material in a shallow gravitational potential. While the effects of the infall of pristine material and delayed nitrogen delivery are still unconstrained, nitrogen does appear to have both a primary and a secondary component at low metallicities in all types of galaxies.
A Method for Determining the Optimal Transmitter Position for Maximum WIFI Coverage using Parallel Optimization

The optimal transmitter position for maximum WIFI coverage in a residential home is investigated. A 60-GHz, 32 by 32 patch array antenna is implemented as the transmitter and the receiver antennas. The receivers are placed in each room of the home at equally spaced distances. The power received by each receiver is taken into account. By using genetic algorithm optimization in parallel, the optimal transmitter position is chosen as the one with the minimal number of receivers having received power less than −87.5 dBm. The GA chosen position results in acceptable received power at all but six receiver positions.
Position statement on lutein and its role in cognition and eye health

1. John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 e-mail: paul.bernstein@hsc.utah.edu. 2. University of Utah, 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 e-mail: gchan@hsc.utah.edu. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Fegan-4, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 e-mail: anne.fulton@childrens.harvard.edu. 4. Jean Mayer USDA HNRCA at Tufts University, 711 Washington Street. Boston, Massachusetts 02111 email: elizabeth.johnson@tufts.edu. 5. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 th St., Miami, FL33199 e-mail: landrumj@fiu.edu. 6. Division of Pediatrics, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, Florida, 33612 e-mail: lrubin@health.usf.edu.
AT101 Down-regulates CXLC12 mRNA and Secreted Protein in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor cells

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive, Schwann cell-derived neoplasms of the peripheral nervous system. MPNSTs have recently been shown to possess an autocrine CXCL12/CXC...
Clinical Applications of Electrophysiological Approaches Based on Cortical Modularity in Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) consists of a set of pervasive developmental problems marked by measurable deficits in social interaction and communication, often coupled with specific and repetitive patterns of behavior. Featured restrictions in the capability to communicate and remain attentive can directly relate to the individual’s ability to interact with others within societal norms. Comparing ASD subjects to neurotypical (NT) controls, and other developmental disorders such attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), previous investigations had shown that evoked electroencephalographic (EEG) gamma oscillations and event-related potentials (ERPs) to sensory stimuli do display certain aberrations in latency or amplitude in the ASD individuals. To investigate the aforementioned phenomena the series of studies by our group employed EEG recording technology while subjects participated in several oddball-paradigm reaction time tests. The paper reports on the differences in behavioral reactions as well as variances in amplitude and latency of ERP in autistic individuals and age-matched matched NT controls and children with ADHD. Subjects were evaluated using various ERP components as well as power of EEG gamma oscillations recorded at fronto-central and parietal sites. Findings of our studies suggest that the irregularities arise from deficits in the perception, integration and cognitive processing of sensory inputs. Previous research investigating the neuropathology of autism has identified abnormalities in the structure, number and activity of the cortical minicolumns. The minicolumns of ASD individuals appear in greater number coupled with increased neuronal density due to a reduction in the volume of peripheral neuropil space and neuronal cell bodies. Such a cortical and cellular arrangement favors the formation of short intralobular connections between neurons at the expense of longer interlobular fibers. Our studies propose that aberrations in sensory processing and functional cortical binding, as evidenced by EEG recordings related to the tasks, further reflect the underlying abnormalities of minicolumns in ASD individuals. Thus, the results of our studies suggest that dysfunction of sensory information processing by way of minicolumn irregularity may in turn lead to symptoms commonly associated with ASD.
SS8885 (Raloxifene diphosphate): A prodrug enhancing anti-tumor potential of raloxifene.

3303 Raloxifene (RAL) significantly reduced the incidence of breast cancer in women at high risk of developing the disease and unlike tamoxifen, did not promote endometrial cancer in women. RAL has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use of breast cancer prevention. However, RAL, having two hydroxyl moieties, can be conjugated rapidly through phase II metabolism and excreted, making it difficult to achieve adequate bioavailability by oral administration in humans. As a result, higher doses must be administered to obtain an efficacy equivalent to that achieved with tamoxifen. To improve oral bioavailability and antitumor potential, SS8885 (RAL diphosphate) was prepared as a prodrug. RAL diphosphate showed several orders of magnitude lower binding potential to both ERα and ERβ and weak antiproliferative potency on cultured human MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 breast cancer cells, as compared with RAL. Therefore, RAL diphosphate itself has only weak ER binding and antiproliferative potency. Since RAL diphosphate was dephosphorylated by rat intestinal cytosol and microsomes, but not by the serum, the phosphate-derivatives may be cleaved primarily during transportation in the intestine. When rats were treated orally with an equimolar dose of RAL or RAL diphosphate, RAL diphosphate was absorbed more rapidly in the body and kept concentrated in the blood longer than RAL. RAL diphosphate has a higher bioavailability than RAL, endowing it with higher antitumor potential than RAL against both 7,12-dimethylbenz( a )anthracene-induced mammary carcinoma in rats and human MCF-7 breast cancer implanted in athymic nude mice. The use of a low dose of RAL diphosphate may reduce several side-effects such as venous thrombo-embolic events and liver dysfunction while maintaining the antitumor potency of RAL. The RAL prodrug may provide greater clinical benefit for breast cancer therapy and prevention.
The Health Status of Adults With Epilepsy Compared With That of People Without Chronic Conditions

Study Objectives. To examine the feasibility of administering and the psychometric properties of a general health status questionnaire in adults with epilepsy, and to assess the health status of these patients. Design. Prospective, cross-sectional, observational study. Setting. Neurology clinic of a tertiary care medical center. Patients. One hundred forty-eight ambulatory adults with epilepsy. Interventions. Patients completed the SF-36, a general health status questionnaire. Respondent burden and data quality as well as psychometric characteristics were evaluated. Patients' SF-36 scale scores, adjusted for comorbidities, were compared with those of 641 people without chronic conditions with the same sociodemographic characteristics. Measurements and Main Results. Administering the SF-36 to adult outpatients with epilepsy is feasible and results are psychometrically sound. Compared with those who were not ill, patients had significantly (p<0.001) lower (0 = worst, 100 = best) scores in six of the eight SF-36 domains: general health perceptions (57.7 vs 82.1), mental health (61.3 vs 79.6), vitality (53.5 vs 67.8), role limitations owing to physical (69.6 vs 95.0) and emotional problems (67.2 vs 88.4), and social functioning (75.2 vs 89.9). Conclusions. Lower SF-36 scores may reflect patients' assessments of the balance among epilepsy, seizures, and antiepileptic drug therapy-related effects. Incorporating health status information into therapeutic decision making may help to attain the ultimate goal of improving patients' health.
87 Rb isoclinic point thermometry

The concept of atomic thermometry is dem onstrated in an experimental system consisting of two lasers frequency stabilized using FM spectroscopy. Utilizing the temperature insensitivity of the (su87)Rb D1 isoclinic point, a refrence laser is beat against a second laser locked to an atomic transition whose frequency is strongly dependent on the vapor temperature. The data presented here indicates that thermal fluctuations down to the mK level could potentially be sensed. This concept may be useful to obtain improved long term performance in Rb vapor cell atomic clocks.
Placental tuberculosis in early and late pregnancy

reports histologic descriptions of the renal lesion are not available, and, when renal biopsies were performed, the descriptions appear to be of patients who have had exacerbations of a chronic process or a disease other than postinfectious glomerulonephritis. However, in the few instances where documentation appears appropriate. gestation usually succeeded and the mother recovered (Table I). The present case is of interest for several reasons: The cause of the patient’s nephritis was documented by the high antistreptolysin titer and the morphologic changes with renal biopsy. In the face of a severely exudative lesion and marked increases in blood urea nitrogen, this gravid woman experienced complete recovery of renal function, and the marked azotemia had no observable adverse effect on fetal outcome S months later. It is of f’urther interest and contrary to reports suggesting a poor prognosis in gravid women with acute nephritis and a guarded long-term outlook in patients who have had acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis’ that this women has normal renal function and no urinary abnormalities 18 years after the acute attack.
Life cycle issues affecting cancer rehabilitation

Developmental stage of the person with cancer has a profound effect on the rehabilitation plan. Although the issues faced by the very young and the elderly are quite different, the struggle to maintain optimal function is universal. As we continue to see improved survival rates and cures, the need for comprehensive rehabilitative care for all persons experiencing cancer becomes a challenge. Our success in meeting this challenge will be realized in measurable outcomes that will direct future rehabilitative care.
The influence of long term estrogen treatment on plasma prolactin levels induced by ether anesthesia in ovariectomized rats

2 methods of continuous estrogen delivery, polyestradiol phosphate injection and implantation of Silastic capsules of estradiol-17 beta, in ovariectomized rats induced increases in plasma prolactin in the afternoon (15.00-17.00) beginning at 1 week and continuing for 4-8 weeks. In addition these methods of estrogen treatment potentiated the ether-induced increase in plasma prolactin in the morning (9.00-11.00) beginning on week 2 and continuing for 3-8 weeks. These results indicate that estrogen activates the mechanisms that cause an afternoon surge in prolactin before potentiating a morning elevation induced by ether anesthesia.
Organizational Culture and Proton Therapy Facility Design at the Mayo Clinic

Abstract Purpose: Charged particle facility design and operation presents numerous challenges, both technical and operational. The Mayo Clinic Proton Beam Therapy Program (PBTP) will consist of 2 proton radiation therapy facilities, each with 4 treatment gantries and 1 fixed beam room, located in Rochester, MN and Phoenix, AZ, respectively, operating under a single organizational structure. The proton facilities will open in 2015 and treat approximately 2,400 patients per year when fully operational. Materials and Methods: To facilitate development of a unified organizational culture for the Mayo Clinic PBTP, a survey consisting of open ended queries regarding facility design and organizational culture was sent to 36 charged particle treatment facilities worldwide and analyzed using McKinsey's 7-S model of organizational values. The survey was also given to the Mayo PBTP planning group. Results: The survey revealed the external respondents felt that aspects of organizational culture involving management s...
Tomography on tokamak fusion test reactor

Reconstruction techniques have been developed to obtain 2D images of plasmas from the electron cyclotron emission (ECE) and soft x‐ray emission signals by taking advantage of the large toroidal rotation rate on the tokamak fusion test reactor (TFTR). From the numerical examination using the sawtooth crash model, we found that the rotational tomography is effective if the crash time is longer than the two rotation periods.
A digital signal processing system for EEG frequency analysis

Abstract This paper describes the digital signal processing work of a research project for studying children's cognitive processes by analyzing EEG signals during school-related tasks. The EEG being analyzed involves two homologous channels (left and right parietal area), and is recorded on magnetic tapes. The objective of the analysis is to determine if, by examining the alpha band of the ongoing EEG, different school tasks and correct vs incorrect responses can be detected. Analysis of alpha-band calls for the determination of signal power in the 7–12 Hz frequency band (adjusted for the age of the subjects) for each channel as well as correlation between the channels. A digital signal processing scheme implemented on an Apple II microcomputer was developed for such an analysis. The results obtained are discussed.
Global regularity for ∂¯b on weakly pseudoconvex CR manifolds☆

Abstract Let M 2 n - 1 be a compact, orientable, weakly pseudoconvex manifold of dimension at least five, embedded in C N ( n ⩽ N ) , of codimension one or more, and endowed with the induced CR structure. We show the tangential Cauchy–Riemann operator ∂ ¯ b has closed range on such a manifold M , hence we get global existence and regularity results for the ∂ ¯ b problem. We also show the middle (i.e. 1 ⩽ q ⩽ n - 2 ) ∂ ¯ b cohomology groups of M , H 0 p , q ( M , ∂ ¯ b ) , H s p , q ( M , ∂ ¯ b ) , and H ∞ p , q ( M , ∂ ¯ b ) with respect to L 2 , Sobolev s norm, and C ∞ coefficients respectively are finite and isomorphic to each other. The results are obtained by microlocalization using a new type of weight function called strongly CR plurisubharmonic.
Measurement of tooth movement

1. Tooth movement relative to the alveolar bone can be precisely described only by superimposing on fixed points in the bone. Implants are the best known way today. Over short-term studies laminagraphy and the use of bony trabeculations are also useful. Remodeling occurs extensively on bony surfaces, making them too labile for use as stable landmarks. To project small amounts of tooth movement based on the use of such methods is so questionable as to represent little better than a guess or a clinical impression. 2. Growth can be separated into vertical and anteroposterior vectors with respect to the dentition. Since the occlusion is the concern, orientation of vertical and anteroposterior vectors to the occlusal plane is a reasonable baseline. The vertical and anteroposterior dental changes may not show a linear relationship in the anterior and posterior parts of the mouth when jaw rotations are occurring. 3. Growth can be disproportionate in either the vertical and/or the anteroposteroir plane of space. If the vertical increments of the anterior face differ from the vertical increments at the posterior face, mandibular rotations occur. This growth is accompanied by dental compensations that tend to mask the rotation. Therefore, open bite and deep bite are frequently skeletal growth problems. 4. Disproportional forward growth of the maxilla or mandible in an anteroposterior direction can lead to Class II or III relations. The growth that leads to Class II or Class III is accompanied by dental migrations that tend to mask this disproportionate growth. Orthodontic treatment of growth disproportionalities usually represents attempts to make the teeth further compensate. If surgical options are elected, the dental compensations should be removed prior to surgery in order to achieve a full surgical correction. 5. The teeth tend to move and grow in the opposite direction of the growth disproportionality. The teeth tend to mask the disproportionality. Thus, in an open bite, the incisors tend to move vertically further than in deep bites. Vertical imbalances may be more difficult to mask. Backward rotation of the mandible requires more vertical movement at the incisor than at the molar just to maintain vertical incisor relationships.
Crime and Violence among MDMA Users in the United States

The question of whether MDMA use is associated with increased crime and violence has not been adequately explored especially in nationally representative samples. This study used data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) to assess the association between MDMA use and violent and non-violent antisocial behavior while controlling for sociodemographic variables, lifetime psychiatric, alcohol and drug use disorders, and family history of antisocial behavior. MDMA users, both male and female, were involved in a number of crimes in acts of violence including drunk driving, shoplifting, theft, intimate partner violence, and fighting. Notably, female MDMA users were more antisocial than male non-MDMA users. Although adjusting the results for numerous confounds attenuated the relationships, MDMA users were still at significantly greater odds of engaging in violent and nonviolent crime than non-MDMA users. Although MDMA has been considered a facilitator of empathy and closeness, the current study suggests a dark side as MDMA is associated with a broad array of crimes and transgressions. Additional tests of the MDMA-crime link are needed to properly inform policy.