cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soil fertility and the impact of exotic invasion on microbial communities in Hawaiian forests.

Exotic plant invasions into Hawaiian montane forests have altered many important nutrient cycling processes and pools. Across different ecosystems, researchers are uncovering the mechanisms involved in how invasive plants impact the soil microbial community—the primary mediator of soil nutrient cycling. We examined whether the invasive plant, Hedychium gardnerianum, altered microbial community composition in forests dominated by a native tree, Metrosideros polymorpha, under varying soil nutrient limitations and soil fertility properties within forest plots of the Hawaii long-term substrate age gradient (LSAG). Microbial community lipid analysis revealed that when nutrient limitation (as determined by aboveground net primary production [ANPP]) and soil fertility were taken into account, plant species differentially altered soil microbial community composition. Microbial community characteristics differed under invasive and native plants primarily when N or P was added to the older, highly weathered, P-limited soils. Long-term fertilization with N or P at the P-limited site led to a significant increase in the relative abundance of the saprophytic fungal indicator (18:2ω6c,9c) under the invasive plant. In the younger, N-limited soils, plant species played a minor role in influencing soil microbial community composition. We found that the general rhizosphere microbial community structure was determined more by soil fertility than by plant species. This study indicates that although the aggressive invasion of a nutrient-demanding, rapidly decomposable, and invasive plant into Hawaiian forests had large impacts on soil microbial decomposers, relatively little impact occurred on the overall soil microbial community structure. Instead, soil nutrient conditions were more important determinants of the overall microbial community structure within Hawaii’s montane forests.
On the Distinction between Nitroxyl and Nitric Oxide Using Nitronyl Nitroxides

A better understanding of the origins of NO and HNO and their activities and biological functions requires accurate methods for their detection and quantification. The unique reaction of NO with nitronyl nitroxides such as 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide (C-PTIO), which yields the corresponding imino nitroxides, is widely used for NO detection (mainly by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy) and for modulation of NO-induced physiological functions. The present study demonstrates that HNO readily reacts with nitronyl nitroxides, leading to the formation of the respective imino nitroxides and hydroxylamines via a complex mechanism. Through the use of the HNO donor Angeli’s salt (AS) with metmyoglobin as a competing agent, the rate constant for C-PTIO reduction by HNO has been determined to be (1.4 ± 0.2) × 105 M−1 s−1 at pH 7.0. This reaction yields the corresponding nitronyl hydroxylamine C-PTIO-H and NO, which is trapped by C-PTIO to form •NO2 and the correspondin...
Studies of T4 Primosome DNA Unwinding and DNA Breathing by Single-Molecule FRET and Linear Dichroism Experiments

DNA ‘breathing’ is a thermally driven process in which nucleotide residues near single-strand (ss) - double-strand (ds) DNA forks and junctions temporarily adopt local conformations that depart from their most stable structures. It is thought that the transient occurrence of these ‘open’ conformations is centrally involved in the proper function of DNA-protein complexes responsible for replication, transcription, and many other reactions that involve the manipulation of the DNA genome. Such motions are difficult to observe in bulk measurements because they likely occur in the microsecond regime, which is an especially difficult timescale to access experimentally. In this work we report polarized light single-molecule fluorescence experiments in which microsecond rotational motions of the sugar-phosphate backbone are directly observed. These experiments simultaneously detect single molecule FRET and linear dichroism (FLD) signals from dsDNA replication fork constructs containing Cy3 - Cy5 FRET donor-acceptor probes strategically located near the replication fork junction on opposite strands. Our results show that significant local backbone motions are manifested on a ∼100 microsecond timescale, which is a reasonable range for at least some types of DNA ‘breathing’ fluctuations. In addition we have shown that these motions can be perturbed by the presence of the T4 gp41 hexameric helicase.
Performance studies of bare and Co-plated titanium alloy as cathode current collector in Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC)

The corrosion characteristics of bare, heat treated and cobalt coated titanium alloys were studied and compared with that of SS 316 in molten carbonates (Li/K=62/38 vol.%) at 650 °C under oxygen atmosphere using electrochemical and surface characterization techniques. Immersion test of titanium alloys conducted in cathode environment followed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) indicated leaching of molybdenum from the alloy. Coating the alloy with Co was found to decrease the molybdenum dissolution rate. X-ray diffraction results showed the formation of LiTiO2 and Li2TiO3 on the surface of the titanium alloys and formation of LiFeO2 and Fe2O3 in the case of SS 316. SEM and EDAX analysis of the post-test samples revealed the loss of Mo, Sn and Zr from the titanium alloys and loss of Cr and Ni from SS 316. Electrochemical studies showed that the conductivity of the corrosion scale was higher for cobalt electroplated alloy when compared to other titanium alloys and lower than that of SS 316. Cobalt coated titanium alloy exhibited higher polarization resistance than other alloys. The present study confirmed that the surface modification of titanium alloy lead to the formation of a protective layer with better corrosion barrier properties and better electronic conductivity in molten carbonate fuel cell cathode operating conditions. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
COP: to compress and protect main memory

Protecting main memories from soft errors typically requires special dual-inline memory modules (DIMMs) which incorporate at least one extra chip per rank to store error-correcting codes (ECC). This increases the cost of the DIMM as well as its power consumption. To avoid these costs, some proposals have suggested protecting non-ECC DIMMs by allocating a portion of memory space to store ECC metadata. However, such proposals can significantly shrink the available memory space while degrading performance due to extra memory accesses. In this work, we propose a technique called COP which uses block-level compression to make room for ECC check bits in DRAM. Because a compressed block with check bits is the same size as an uncompressed block, no extra memory accesses are required and the memory space is not reduced. Unlike other approaches that require explicit compression-tracking metadata, COP employs a novel mechanism that relies on ECC to detect compressed data. Our results show that COP can reduce the DRAM soft error rate by 93% with no storage overhead and negligible impact on performance. We also propose a technique using COP to protect both compressible and incompressible data with minimal storage and performance overheads.
Haematological recovery after high-dose consolidation chemotherapy with peripheral blood progenitor cell rescue: the effects of the mobilization regimen and post-transplant growth factors.

Abstract Purpose: Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC), mobilized by chemotherapy, growth factors (GF) or the combination of these modalities are currently used in most autologous transplants settings. Patient selection factors and infused cell numbers have been related to the rate of haematological recovery after transplant (p-Tx). The effect of the mobilization regimen on haematological recovery has rarely been reported and is addressed herein. The value of p-Tx GF use is also evaluated. Methods: A literature review identified studies reporting both mobilization results and haematological recovery (time to ANC >0.5 or 1.0×109/l and PLT >20 or 50×109/l). The studies are listed in tables showing the mobilization regimen, disease, infused CD34+ cell and CFU-GM dose, p-TX GF use and haematological recovery. The ranges of recovery times for each transplant setting are summarized in a figure in addition to the ranges of recovery times using GF after autologous bone marrow transplants in controlled studies. Results: Transplantation of cells mobilized by G-CSF results in faster haematological recovery than transplantation of cells mobilized by GM-CSF. This difference disappears when chemotherapy is included in the mobilization regimen. GF have minimal effect on haematological recovery after transplantation of PBPC mobilized by chemotherapy plus GF and some effect on neutrophil recovery after transplants of PBPC mobilized by GF only. Conclusions: Recovery after PBPC transplantation depends on the mobilization method and is best predictable when mobilization occurs with chemotherapy plus GF. In this situation, the value of post-transplant growth factors is questionable. Careful choice of the mobilization method, including optimal timing of leucapheresis and patient selection factors, determine the leucapheresis yield and thus the rate of haematological recovery.
Parents’ Perceptions of Their Children’s Social Behavior: The Social Validity of Social Stories™ and Comic Strip Conversations

This article describes a family-centered collaborative approach to the development and socially valid assessment of Social Stories™ and comic strip conversations (CSCs) for supporting the social be...
Finding similar files using text mining

Finding closely matching source codes are important in software development. By finding them, software architects will be able to identify similar implementation of classes, libraries etc. However, this is not an easy task, since there can be a large number of source code files. Manually matching each and every document may be difficult, if there is high number of documents. This research is to build a mechanism using term text mining methodology to find out similar documents from the given set of documents.
Interference without an interferometer: a different approach to measuring, compressing, and shaping ultrashort laser pulses

The inherent brevity of ultrashort laser pulses prevents a direct measurement of their electric field as a function of time; therefore different approaches based on autocorrelation have been used to characterize them. We present a discussion, guided by experimental studies, regarding accurate measurement, compression, and shaping of ultrashort laser pulses without autocorrelation or interferometry. Our approach based on phase shaping, multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan, provides a direct measurement of the spectral phase. Illustrations of this method include new results demonstrating wavelength independence, compatibility with sub-5fs pulses, and a perfect match for experimental coherent control and biomedical imaging applications.
Wingtip generated wake vortices as radar targets

Previous radar wake vortex detection experiments have resulted in measured beam averaged values of radar reflectivity from wake vortices in clear air. We have employed average wind and thermodynamic variable output from a two dimensional wake vortex model in clear air and fog to predict radar reflectivity in a wake vortex on a one meter grid. The results agree well, compared to data in the literature. In the clear air case, scales of turbulence were analyzed at each grid point to determine the appropriate maximum radar frequency for detection, initial wake structure, transport, and vortex persistence are related to atmospheric winds, atmospheric stability, and generating aircraft characteristics.
Internet-based survey evaluating use of pain medications and attitudes of radiation oncology patients toward pain intervention.

Purpose Pain is a common symptom among cancer patients, yet many patients do not receive adequate pain management. Few data exist quantifying analgesic use by radiation oncology patients. This study evaluated the causes of pain in cancer patients and investigated the reasons patients fail to receive optimal analgesic therapy. Methods and Materials An institutional review board-approved, Internet-based questionnaire assessing analgesic use and pain control was posted on the OncoLink (available at www.oncolink.org ) Website. Between November 2005 and April 2006, 243 patients responded. They were predominantly women (73%), white (71%), and educated beyond high school (67%) and had breast (38%), lung (6%), or ovarian (6%) cancer. This analysis evaluated the 106 patients (44%) who underwent radiotherapy. Results Of the 106 patients, 58% reported pain from their cancer treatment, and 46% reported pain directly from their cancer. The pain was chronic in 51% and intermittent in 33%. Most (80%) did not use medication to manage their pain. Analgesic use was significantly less in patients with greater education levels (11% vs. 36%, p = 0.002), with a trend toward lower use by whites (16% vs. 32%, p = 0.082) and women (17% vs. 29%, p = 0.178). The reasons for not taking analgesics included healthcare provider not recommending medication (87%), fear of addiction or dependence (79%), and inability to pay (79%). Participants experiencing pain, but not taking analgesics, pursued alternative therapies for relief. Conclusions Many radiation oncology patients experience pain from their disease and cancer treatment. Most study participants did not use analgesics because of concerns of addiction, cost, or failure of the radiation oncologist to recommend medication. Healthcare providers should have open discussions with their patients regarding pain symptoms and treatment.
Evaluation of Consistency Between Physician Clinical Impression and 3 Validated Survey Instruments for Measuring Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Children

Purpose: Since many children with lower urinary tract symptoms are treated based on history and physical, it is important to know which symptom survey correlates best with the physician clinical impression. We evaluated 3 tools that have been demonstrated to predict severity of lower urinary tract symptoms, the Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score, the Akbal survey and the Nelson survey. Total scores from each survey were compared to clinical impression.Materials and Methods: Participants consisted of 36 males and 35 females referred to our pediatric urology center for lower urinary tract symptoms. A total of 37 children 4 to 10 years old completed the Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score with the help of their parents, and 34 of these parents completed the Akbal survey. A total of 35 children 11 to 17 years old completed the Nelson survey. Scores from the 3 instruments were compared to the clinical impression of a pediatric urologist using rank correlation (Kendall's tau-b test).Results: Mean total symptom...
Mercury and Selenium Content and Chemical Form in Human and Animal Tissue

The content, chemical form, and distribution of mercury and selenium were determined for selected samples of human and animal tissue by gas chromatography. Methylmercury averaged 38.7% of the total mercury content in homogenized human brain. For human heart, spleen, liver, kidney and placenta, methylmarcury comprised 40.2%, 57.0%, 39.6%, 6.0% and 57.1%, respectively, of the total mercury content. Similar results were obtained for the heart and liver of a whitetail deer. Methylmercury represented 9.1%, 62.9% and 24.1% of the total mercury content in seal liver, seal meat and deer meat, respectively. For all samples, s significant portion of the total selenium content, averaging 27%, was present as selenate (Se VI). Tissue selenium content did not correlate with the corresponding mercury content. In brain, heart and placenta, and in seal liver and meat, 53% to 80% of the total mercury content was water-extractable. For human kidney, liver and spleen, and deer meat, only 15% to 45% of the total mercury was extractable. On a percentage basis, inorganic mercury was more extractable than methylmercury, except for human kidney and liver, and deer meat. For all samples, except kidney, liver and deer meat, 55% to 76% of the total selenium content was water-extractable, Se VI being more extractable on a percentage basis than selenite (Se IV) and selenide (Se-II).
Assessing resilience and state-transition models with historical records of cheatgrass Bromus tectorum invasion in North American sagebrush-steppe

Summary 1. Resilience-based approaches are increasingly being called upon to inform ecosystem management, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This requires management frameworks that can assess ecosystem dynamics, both within and between alternative states, at relevant time scales. 2. We analysed long-term vegetation records from two representative sites in the North American sagebrush-steppe ecosystem, spanning nine decades, to determine if empirical patterns were consistent with resilience theory, and to determine if cheatgrass Bromus tectorum invasion led to thresholds as currently envisioned by expert-based state-and-transition models (STM). These data span the entire history of cheatgrass invasion at these sites and provide a unique opportunity to assess the impacts of biotic invasion on ecosystem resilience. 3. We used univariate and multivariate statistical tools to identify unique plant communities and document the magnitude, frequency and directionality of community transitions through time. Community transitions were characterized by 37–47% dissimilarity in species composition, they were not evenly distributed through time, their frequency was not correlated with precipitation, and they could not be readily attributed to fire or grazing. Instead, at both sites, the majority of community transitions occurred within an 8–10 year period of increasing cheatgrass density, became infrequent after cheatgrass density peaked, and thereafter transition frequency declined. 4. Greater cheatgrass density, replacement of native species and indication of asymmetry in community transitions suggest that thresholds may have been exceeded in response to cheatgrass invasion at one site (more arid), but not at the other site (less arid). Asymmetry in the direction of community transitions also identified communities that were ‘at-risk’ of cheatgrass invasion, as well as potential restoration pathways for recovery of pre-invasion states. 5. Synthesis and applications. These results illustrate the complexities associated with threshold identification, and indicate that criteria describing the frequency, magnitude, directionality and temporal scale of community transitions may provide greater insight into resilience theory and its application for ecosystem management. These criteria are likely to vary across biogeographic regions that are susceptible to cheatgrass invasion, and necessitate more in-depth assessments of thresholds and alternative states, than currently available.
In vivo Myeloarchitectonic Analysis of Human Striate and Extrastriate Cortex Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A primary goal of investigations into the organization of human cerebral cortex is to determine the functional specificity of architectonic regions. This includes the correlation of neurobehavioral deficits with neuropathological data for clinical diagnosis and treatment, and the identification of active brain regions using functional neural imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography, electroencephalographic and magnetoencephalographic (EEG and MEG) source localization algorithms, and direct cortical stimulation. Currently, the architectonic classification of a cortical region identified by these methods is inferred from the comparison of its cerebral topographic position to cytoarchitectonic brain atlases. However, substantial intersubject variability in the position of cytoarchitectonic regions with respect to cerebral topographic landmarks may lead to errors in this procedure. An alternative method is presented here, which uses magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to identify myeloarchitectonic regions of isocortex directly by estimating the relative concentration of myelin within cortical laminae. This high-resolution MR protocol is used to identify striate cortex (Brodmann's area 17) and extrastriate cortex in vivo. Correspondence of MR signal intensity with myeloarchitectonic data from a postmortem brain confirms this identification. As MR imaging technology improves, this noninvasive method has the potential to identify and discriminate among at least 50 cortical regions in the living human brain.
ROM/ACC realization of digital filters for poles near the unit circle

Two all-pole filter structures proposed by Agarwal and Burrus have small roundoff error and coefficient sensitivity for poles near the unit circle. Assuming equal word lengths for input and output, we first give expressions for the mean-squared noise-to-signal (N/S) ratios in these structures. We then consider implementation of the Agarwal-Burrus structures using multiplierless ROM-accumulator (ROM/ACC) arithmetic. The N/S ratios, including sensitivity considerations, are presented and shown to be small. In addition, limit cycle bounds are given and also shown to be small. An example demonstrates that the new realixations may require as little as one-half the ROM word length and operate at up to twice the word rate of direct form ROM/ACC realizations that achieve the same S/N .
Discussion of “Hysteria and Humiliation”: Commentary on Paper by Sam Gerson

This commentary describes certain differences in how Relational and Contemporary Freudian analysts approach both the conceptual dynamics of hysterical functioning and its clinical management. The discussion shows how, despite considerable agreement between these two groups concerning the critical importance of a receptive other for the successful buildup of virtually every aspect of mental life (not to be confused with the concept of co-creation), they also have quite substantial differences; differences that are rooted in contrasting basic assumptions about the ways in which fantasies, unconscious transference displacements, and self-regulating repetitive processes are set up in the mind. The discussion also illustrates how the clinical management of hysteria differs considerably depending on whether what is taking place in the consulting room is conceived of as an autonomous, repetitive process that the patient brings to the treatment and repeats (one way or another) over and over again, or whether it i...
The Quantitative International Comparison of Financial Structure and Development

The quantitative international comparison of financial structure and development involves three levels of problems: first, what is the purpose of such comparisons; second, given these objectives, what are the concrete features of the financial system to be compared; and, third, how are these comparisons to be carried out, that is, what data can be used and how should they be processed and arranged?
Transparent absorbing boundary (TAB) for the truncation of the computational domain

A new approach to domain truncation without reflection is proposed for finite methods. The open-space Maxwell's equations, along with boundary conditions, are transformed to an equivalent system with a homogeneous closed boundary; the latter is then solved numerically. Like the popular perfectly matched layer (PML), the new method is independent of frequency and incident angle. Its uniqueness is that it does not need the extra absorption region, since the field attenuation takes place in the domain of the subject.
Spatial Light Modulators For Signal Processing Systems

The basic functions and operating modes of spatial light modulators that might be needed in signal processors and computer interconnections are reviewed, and brief descriptions given of major recent developments and their motivations.
Study of the transient behavior of a tunable acoustic gradient index lens for laser processing

A tunable acoustic gradient lens is an adaptive optical system adequate for the processing of materials. In this study, the modulation in refractive index of the lens at the initial moments of operation is determined.
Is plate tectonics needed to evolve technological species on exoplanets

Abstract As we continue searching for exoplanets, we wonder if life and technological species capable of communicating with us exists on any of them. As geoscientists, we can also wonder how important is the presence or absence of plate tectonics for the evolution of technological species. This essay considers this question, focusing on tectonically active rocky (silicate) planets, like Earth, Venus, and Mars. The development of technological species on Earth provides key insights for understanding evolution on exoplanets, including the likely role that plate tectonics may play. An Earth-sized silicate planet is likely to experience several tectonic styles over its lifetime, as it cools and its lithosphere thickens, strengthens, and becomes denser. These include magma ocean, various styles of stagnant lid, and perhaps plate tectonics. Abundant liquid water favors both life and plate tectonics. Ocean is required for early evolution of diverse single-celled organisms, then colonies of cells which specialized further to form guts, appendages, and sensory organisms up to the complexity of fish (central nervous system, appendages, eyes). Large expanses of dry land also begin in the ocean, today produced above subduction zones in juvenile arcs and by their coalescence to form continents, although it is not clear that plate tectonics was required to create continental crust on Earth. Dry land of continents is required for further evolution of technological species, where modification of appendages for grasping and manipulating, and improvement of eyes and central nervous system could be perfected. These bioassets allowed intelligent creatures to examine the night sky and wonder, the beginning of abstract thinking, including religion and science. Technology arises from the exigencies of daily living such as tool-making, agriculture, clothing, and weapons, but the pace of innovation accelerates once it is allied with science. Finally, the importance of plate tectonics for developing a technological species is examined via a thought experiment using two otherwise identical planets: one with plate tectonics and the other without. A planet with oceans, continents, and plate tectonics maximizes opportunities for speciation and natural selection, whereas a similar planet without plate tectonics provides fewer such opportunities. Plate tectonics exerts environmental pressures that drive evolution without being capable of extinguishing all life. Plate tectonic processes such as the redistribution of continents, growth of mountain ranges, formation of land bridges, and opening and closing of oceans provide a continuous but moderate environmental pressure that stimulates populations to adapt and evolve. Plate tectonics may not be needed in order for life to begin, but evolution of technological species is favored on planets with oceans, continents, plate tectonics, and intermittently clear night sky.
Can We Have Our (Safe and Local) Cake and Eat It Too? Oregon Re-crafts Food Safety Regulations for Farm Direct Marketed Foods

Food safety regulations involve a tradeoff: the costs of regulatory compliance in exchange for a reduction in the risk of foodborne illness. But local food advocates point out that these costs have a disproportionate impact on small food producers, and that this impact threatens the viability and continued growth of the farm direct marketing sector. Oregon's farm direct marketers and local food advocates crafted new legislation to reform three areas of food safety regulatory affecting farm direct marketers: (1) licensing of the physical spaces where farm direct products are sold, (2) streamlining produce peddler licenses, and (3) deregulating specified low-risk producer-processed farm direct marketed products. Oregon's Farm Direct Marketing Bill, HB 2336, passed the Oregon legislature; it became effective January 1, 2012. The Oregon Department of Agriculture issued final administrative rules on June 1, 2012. After reviewing the narrow exemptions in the law and the unique characteristics of farm direct foods, it appears that Oregon's Farm Direct Marketing Bill preserves food safety while fostering the direct farm marketing sector.
Transport, phase reactions, and hysteresis of iron fluoride and oxyfluoride conversion electrode materials for lithium batteries.

Potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT) was applied to FeF2, FeF3, and FeO0.67F1.33 to gain insight into the transport-related aspects of the conversion reaction by quantitative analysis of Li+ diffusion and hysteresis. PITT derived diffusion coefficient measurements were benchmarked relative to values extracted by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). A reverse-step PITT methodology was used to evaluate true hysteresis by eliminating nucleation induced overpotentials. This method evaluates the minimum potential hysteresis and allowed an accurate representation of the potential required to move conversion reactions forward at C/1000 rates in both lithiation and delithiation. The high resolution PITT data were also used to gain further insight into reaction mechanisms involved in the reversible conversion reactions. Physical evidence, based on pair distribution function (PDF) structural analysis, and electrochemical evidence are presented regarding a new step in the reaction during t...
Monopolistic Competition,Interest Groups and Trade Wars

This paper analyzes the import and export policies executed by two large countries under monopolistic competition in the framework of the G-H Trade War Model(1995).Several results come from our analysis.The preferences of interest groups affect the optimal levels of tariffs in both countries.Both governments are inclined to keep the products of advantageous positions for domestic consumption,and set higher import and export tariffs for products of higher degrees of differentiation.Interest groups contribute to the occurrence of trade wars between the two countries,and the weight put by the government on political contributions and the competitiveness of a country's products drive up unilateral trade wars.Finally,higher degrees of product differentiation intensify trade wars.
Suboptimal Equilibria from Nominal GDP Targeting

We use a simple model to illustrate that nominal GDP targeting might produce a suboptimal equilibrium if there is a growth-maximizing rate of inflation. Following a shock, we find that targeting nominal GDP may result in lower real GDP growth than the economy could sustainably produce given its long-run potential. Importantly, our argument does not depend on problems with forecasting or implementation. We assume the monetary authority has no trouble hitting its nominal GDP target. So long as a growth-maximizing rate of inflation exists, the suboptimal outcome results under the best-case scenario where the rule is followed.
BAFF and B Cell Development, Homeostasis, and Selection

B lymphocytes develop in the bone marrow, undergo further maturation in the periphery, and differentiate to memory or antibody-secreting plasma cells following antigen encounter. Negative and positive selection of developing B cells, combined with homeostatic mechanisms that govern cellular lifespan, yield a preimmune B cell compartment of sufficient size and quality to generate effective adaptive immune responses. Selection is driven in part by B cell receptor signaling, but is integrated with homeostatic control governed by systemic levels of the survival cytokine B cell–activating factor (BAFF) (aka B lymphocyte stimulator) and its receptors. Moreover, during immune responses, BAFF produced by T cells influences germinal center B cell selection as well as the quality of the subsequent antibody response. Because BAFF and other members of this cytokine-receptor subfamily play key roles in B cell homeostasis, selection, and function, they are under intense investigation as therapeutic targets in autoimmune disorders.
Metabolomics in Schizophrenia and Major Depressive Disorder

Defining pathophenotype, a systems level consequence of a disease genotype, together with environmental and stochastic influences, is an arduous task in psychiatry. It is also an appealing goal, given growing need for appreciation of brain disorders biological complexity, aspiration for diagnostic tests development and ambition to identify novel drug targets. Here, we focus on the Schizophrenia and Major Depressive Disorder and highlight recent advances in metabolomics research. As a systems biology tool, metabolomics holds a promise to take part in elucidating interactions between genes and environment, in complex behavioral traits and psychopathology risk translational research.
Evaluation of published case reports' standards and notification

Purpose. Pharmaceutical postmarketing surveillance includes evaluation of reported adverse events and published case reports. We sought to evaluate the quality of case reports and the notification patterns of these reports. Methodology. Case reports entered into our safety database were evaluated for data completeness, and to determine whether the case was reported prior to publication. In addition, we reviewed authors’ instructions for the 10 most commonly cited medical journals. Results. Two hundred eighty-four case reports were identified. Forty-five percent of these reports had complete data. The company was notified prior to publication 24% of the time. Few of the most commonly cited medical publications provided guidance on case report content or notification. Discussion. Case reports often lack data necessary for thorough evaluation, and authors receive little guidance. Furthermore, drug manufacturers are seldom informed prior to case report publication. The guidelines from the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) V Working Group provide a minimum a standard for writing and publishing case reports.
Development of PIC-DSMC air breakdown model in the presence of a dielectric: Breakdown time sensitivity to self-absorption and photoemission

Electrical breakdown between electrodes in the presence of a dielectric cylinder is simulated using an electrostatic particle-in-cell (PIC) code that models particle-particle collisions using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. In this talk we will present recent work on sensitivity of the breakdown time delay to the dielectric photoemission yield and to inclusion of self-absorption of photons by the background gas. Validation of the simulation model is being performed against prior experimental data on breakdown across a 13mm rod-to-plane gap with a 10mm dielectric cylinder in the middle1. The dielectric cylinder provides both an electron source by photoemission from low energy photons and enhances the reduced field (thus changing the plasma radiation spectrum)2.
Systemic-to-pulmonary artery pressure ratio as a predictor of patient outcome following liver transplantation.

Systemic-to-pulmonary artery pressure ratio as a predictor of patient outcome following liver transplantation
Climate reconstruction using data assimilation of water isotope ratios from ice cores

Water isotope data from ice cores, particularly δ18O, have long been used in paleoclimatology. Although δ18O has been primarily interpreted as a proxy for local air temperature, isotope-enabled climate models have established that there are many nonlocal and nontemperature-related climatic influences on isotopic signals at coring locations. Moreover, recent observational studies have linked ice core isotopes to nonlocal patterns of climate variability, particularly to midlatitude atmospheric circulation patterns and to variations in tropical climate. Therefore, paleoclimate reconstructions may better utilize ice core isotope proxies by combining them with isotope-enabled climate models. Here we employ a data assimilation-based technique that fuses isotopic proxy information with the dynamical constraints of climate models. Through several idealized and real proxy experiments we assess the spatial and temporal extent to which isotope records can reconstruct surface temperature, 500 hPa geopotential height, and precipitation. We find local reconstruction skill to be most robust across the reconstructions, particularly for temperature and geopotential height, as well as limited nonlocal skill in the tropics. These results are in agreement with long-held views that isotopes in ice cores have clear value as local climate proxies, particularly for temperature and atmospheric circulation. These results also show that in principle nonlocal climate information may also be inferred from ice cores. However, the spatial range of this information is nonuniform and depends on skillful modeling of the proxy data within the reconstruction process.
Regionalization of radical cystectomy in the United States.

Abstract Purpose Radical cystectomy (RC) has become increasingly regionalized to high-volume hospitals. Our objective was to describe changes in regional market concentration and the distribution of RCs among hospitals, and examine how these changes affect patient travel distance to surgery. Materials and methods We used the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results-Medicare database to identify patients who had RC for bladder cancer from 2001 to 2011. We defined RC market concentration within each Hospital Referral Regions (HRR) in surveillance, epidemiology, and end results using the Hirschman-Herfindhal Index. We measured straight-line patient travel distance to the nearest cystectomy provider hospital and used linear regression to evaluate the effect of market concentration on travel distance for surgery. We performed a similar analysis on patients who had laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a comparator. Results We identified 10,802 patients with bladder cancer who had RC. From 2001 to 2011, 40% of HRRs had a statistically significant increase in Hirschman-Herfindhal Index, 53% had no significant change and 7% had a statically significant decrease. The median patient travel distance increased significantly from 10.4 miles (interquartile range: 2.6–30.2) to 16 miles (interquartile range: 6.3–40.4, P β = 37.5, P Conclusions Between 2001 and 2011, RC became increasingly regionalized to a small group of hospitals with a resultant increase in regional RC market concentration and patient travel distance. The clinical consequences on these changes to patients who require RC are uncertain.
Managing Complex Objects in R2D2

R2D2 — A Relational Robotics Database System with Extensible Data Types — is a joint project of the IBM Heidelberg Scientific Center and the University of Karlsruhe, Computer Science Department. It aims at the design and implementation of a data management system to support engineering (esp. robotics) applications. The management of complex objects in R2D2 is supported by the underlying database system AIM-P. In this paper we describe the AIM-P system in some detail, its data model and database language, and we emphasize the aspects of extensibility by user defined data types and functions.
EnGarde: Mutually-Trusted Inspection of SGX Enclaves

Intel's SGX architecture allows cloud clients to create enclaves, whose contents are cryptographically protected by the hardware even from the cloud provider. While this feature protects the confidentiality and integrity of the client's enclave content, it also means that enclave content is completely opaque to the cloud provider. Thus, the cloud provider is unable to enforce policy compliance on enclaves. In this paper, we introduce EnGarde, a system that allows cloud providers to ensure SLA compliance on enclave content. In EnGarde, cloud providers and clients mutually agree upon a set of policies that the client's enclave content must satisfy. EnGarde executes when the client provisions the enclave, ensuring that only policy-compliant content is loaded into the enclave. EnGarde is able to achieve its goals without compromising the security guarantees offered by the SGX, and imposes no runtime overhead on the execution of enclave code. We have demonstrated the utility of EnGarde by using it to enforce a variety of security policies on enclave content.
Discovery of Yellow-Bellied Marmots in the Pilot Range: Implications for Species Distribution Models in the Great Basin

Abstract. The array of island-like mountains that characterizes the Great Basin has long been a model system for studying the effects of past and present climate change on distributions of montane mammals. One of the smallest of these mountains is the Pilot Range (Nevada/Utah). This range has relatively few species of montane mammals, presumably because of its small size and the fact that it was isolated by the waters of Lake Bonneville during much of Pleistocene. One of the species previously assumed to be absent in the Pilot Range is the yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris). On 23 May 2016, I documented marmots living in the Patterson Pass area of the Pilot Range. This discovery shows how the use of high-resolution satellite images and geological maps combined with a good understanding of the species' habitat provides an excellent opportunity to confirm the presence or accurately infer the absence of a species in a remote, rugged location.
Estimating the formation age distribution of continental crust by unmixing zircon ages

Abstract Continental crust provides first-order control on Earth's surface environment, enabling the presence of stable dry landmasses surrounded by deep oceans. The evolution of continental crust is important for atmospheric evolution, because continental crust is an essential component of deep carbon cycle and is likely to have played a critical role in the oxygenation of the atmosphere. Geochemical information stored in the mineral zircon, known for its resilience to diagenesis and metamorphism, has been central to ongoing debates on the genesis and evolution of continental crust. However, correction for crustal reworking, which is the most critical step when estimating original formation ages, has been incorrectly formulated, undermining the significance of previous estimates. Here I suggest a simple yet promising approach for reworking correction using the global compilation of zircon data. The present-day distribution of crustal formation age estimated by the new “unmixing” method serves as the lower bound to the true crustal growth, and large deviations from growth models based on mantle depletion imply the important role of crustal recycling through the Earth history.
Scale-Dependent Pore and Hydraulic Connectivity of Shale Matrix

Shale resources have distinctive characteristics compared to conventional reservoirs, including microsized pores (IUPAC definition), ultralow permeability, several gas storage mechanisms, and compl...
Spectrometry of Chars-Structure Studies

Studies of the very complex processes involved in pyrolytic reactions can provide insight into the mechanisms of natural geological processes such as coalification. Of primary interest in such studies is (1) the actual identification of the pyrolysis products, or, in lieu of this, information on the types of structures present, and (2) the effects of variables such as temperature and length of pyrolysis time on the structures of the products. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons of the pyrolysis products can then be made with similar natural products. In investigations of the structure and origin of coals, parallel studies of pyrolytic materials have provided considerable information about the coalification process.
Brain Imaging Functional Consequences of Ethanol in the Central Nervous System

In recent years, sophisticated methods have been developed to view structure and function within the living brain. Functional imaging methods are used to visualize dynamic chemical processes that are linked to brain activity. Increased neural activity, for example, leads to greater glucose and oxygen consumption and greater regional rates of blood flow to meet elevated energy demands. Mapping these changes provides quantitative visual descriptions of localized changes in brain activity that result from behavioral or pharmacological manipulations. This chapter first describes several current methods and how they are used to study the effects of alcohol on brain function. In the second part, the effects of acute intoxication are discussed with emphasis on the complex nature of alcohol’s effects in the central nervous system, which depend on dose, time since administration, and environmental context. In the final part, the functional consequences of long-term exposure to alcohol as well as diseases ass ociated with chronic alcoholism are reviewed.
Smoking in patients receiving psychotropic medications: a pharmacokinetic perspective.

Many psychiatric patients smoke, and are believed to be heavier smokers than those without psychiatric disorders. Cigarette smoking is one of the environmental factors that contributes to interindividual variations in response to an administered drug. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in cigarette smoke induce hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylases, thereby increasing metabolic clearance of drugs that are substrates for these enzymes. PAHs have been shown to induce 3 hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes, primarily CYP1A1, 1A2 and 2E1. Drug therapy can also be affected pharmacodynamically by nicotine. The most common effect of smoking on drug disposition in humans is an increase in biotransformation rate, consistent with induction of drug-metabolising enzymes. Induction of hepatic enzymes has been shown to increase the metabolism and to decrease the plasma concentrations of imipramine, clomipramine, fluvoxamine and trazodone. The effect of smoking on the plasma concentrations of amitriptyline and nortriptyline is variable. Amfebutamone (bupropion) does not appear to be affected by cigarette smoking. Smoking is associated with increased clearance of tiotixene, fluphenazine, haloperidol and olanzapine. Plasma concentrations of chlorpromazine and clozapine are reduced by cigarette smoking. Clinically, reduced drowsiness in smokers receiving chlorpromazine, and benzodiazepines, compared with non-smokers has been reported. Increased clearance of the benzodiazepines alprazolam, lorazepam, oxazepam, diazepam and demethyl-diazepam is found in cigarette smokers, whereas chlordiazepoxide does not appear to be affected by smoking. Carbamazepine appears to be minimally affected by cigarette smoke, perhaps because hepatic enzymes are already stimulated by its own autoinductive properties. Cigarette smoking can affect the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of many psychotropic drugs. Clinicians should consider smoking as an important factor in the disposition of these drugs.
Some Lessons from the United States Experience with Legal Abortion

A decision of the U.S. Supreme Court made abortion legal throughout the U.S.A. in 1973 (Roe v. Wade, 1973). Prior to this time, only a few states, most notably New York, allowed legal abortion with few restrictions. In most states, legal abortions were limited to those women who could convince panels of physicians that their physical or mental illness was severe. In consequence, many illegal abortions were still performed (Legge, 1985).
Wendell Berry on Education: A Cultural Inheritance of Care.

Although recognized for his wisdom on issues of agriculture, ecology, economics, and theology, writer Wendell Berry has been largely ignored for his thinking on education. Yet the same good sense a...