cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of paclobutrazol injected into the soil on vegetative growth and yield of Vitis vinifera L., cv. Thompson Seedless.

SummaryGrapevines, cv. Thompson Seedless were treated with the plant growth regulator paclobutrazol in the spring of 1984. The treatments consisted of four soil application rates (including a zero control) of paclobutrazol on two phenological dates (budbreak and bloom). Vegetative growth, as measured by pruning weight, vine yield and fruit maturity characteristics, were determined in 1984 and in the next three growing seasons. There was no significant difference in vine yield between treatments at harvest in 1984; however, the fruit of vines receiving paclobutrazol at budbreak had accumulated less sugar at that time. Paclobutrazol application significantly (P < 0.01 ) reduced pruning weights in 1984 for all vines receiving paclobutrazol. Only the highest rate of paclobutrazol significantly reduced pruning weights in 1985. The number of clusters per vine and yield were significantly less for the treated vines than for the control ones in 1985 and 1986. Pruning weights in 1986 and yield in 1987 showed no si...
Technologies of the body, technologies of the self: House arrest as neo-liberal governance

In this chapter, we argue that the practice of electronically monitored “house arrest” is consistent with Foucault's insights into both the workings of “disciplinary power” and “governmentality” and with the self-governing notions of a conservative, neo-liberal ideology, and mentality. Our interpretive analysis of a set of offender narratives identifies a theme we call “transforming the self” that illustrates the ways in which house arrest is experienced by some clients as a set of discourses and practices that encourages them to govern themselves by regulating their own bodies and conduct. These self-governing capabilities include “enterprise,” “autonomy,” and an ethical stance towards their lives.
America under attack: The "10 Commandments" of responding to mass terrorist attacks

On September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks caused the catastrophic collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Approximately 40 minutes after the World Trade Center was attacked, a similar terrorist attack was perpetrated against the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Although the resultant physical devastation was beyond anything this nation has ever experienced, the psychological devastation may not be known for months, or even years. This paper discusses, not only a structure for understanding the phases of terrorism, but offers 10 recommendations for responding to acts of terrorism.
Gamete interactions in vitro.

A method was devised that allowed observation of individual sperm in vitro in the presence or absence of unfertilized eggs. Sperm traversing microcapillary tubes in the absence of eggs moved in linear tranjectories. Sperm in the environs of unfertilized eggs moved in erratic paths, owing to repeated adherence of the sperm head to the wall of the microcapillary tube. However, translational velocity was unaltered. Increased adhesiveness was not noted when sperm were exposed to unfertilized eggs following removal of the cumulus oophorus with hyaluronidase. Gamete interactions in vitro were also studied at varying sperm to egg ratios. When gametes were mixed at high sperm to egg ratios (approximately 10 6 :1) the cumulus oophorus was rapidly dissolved, and sperm became adherent to the zona pellucida. At low ratios (approximately 10 2 :1), the cumulus oophorus remained intact. Binding of sperm to individual cumulus cells was noted. A hypothesis is presented that cumulus oophorus plays a role in fertilization by selectively trapping mature sperm within the perimeter of the egg and, in so doing, extending the duration of time in which gametes remain within close proximity, thus increasing the likelihood of egg contact by capacitated sperm.
Long-term correction of genetic defect of liver function in rat by transplantation of liver cells after ultraviolet irradiation.

Allograft rejection limits the survival and function of transplanted hepatocytes obtained from allogeneic donors. Presentation of donor antigens by antigen-presenting cells that express class II major histocompatibility antigens (MHC) carried in the graft has been implicated in allograft rejection. Ultraviolet-B (u.v.-B, 280 to 320 nm) irradiation and short-term culture have been shown to modify the function of antigen-presenting cells. In this study, we used u.v.-B irradiation (600 J/m2) of donor hepatocytes isolated from normal inbred Wistar RHA rats, followed by 16 to 20 hours of culture prior to transplantation into histoincompatible genetically analbuminemic rats (Nagase analbuminemic rats, NAR) by intraportal infusion of 10(7) viable hepatocytes. Isolated Wistar RHA hepatocytes without u.v.-B irradiation and/or culture, or NAR rat hepatocytes, were used as control. Survival and function of the transplanted hepatocytes were monitored by serial immunoassay of serum albumin in the recipients. Serum albumin concentration did not increase after transplantation of NAR rat hepatocytes. In NAR rats that received Wistar RHA hepatocytes, serum albumin levels increased from pre-transplantation levels of 0.025 to 0.05 mg/ml to 8 to 10 mg/ml. When freshly isolated liver cells were transplanted with or without u.v.-B-irradiation, but without culturing, serum albumin levels reached a maximum in two weeks and then progressively declined to pretransplantation levels. When the cells were not irradiated but cultured for 16 to 20 hours, elevated serum albumin levels persisted for six weeks, and then progressively declined to baseline concentrations. In contrast, when the isolated normal liver cells were u.v.-B-irradiated and cultured for 16 to 20 hours before transplantation, serum albumin levels persisted at 8 to 10 mg/ml throughout the duration of this study (32 weeks). Immunocytochemistry using anti-rat serum albumin (rabbit) immunoglobulin of liver tissue from NAR rats without transplantation or after transplantation with NAR liver cells showed immunostaining in less than one in 1000 cells. Four to 16 weeks after transplantation of u.v.-B-irradiated and cultured normal allogeneic hepatocytes, one to two per 100 hepatocytes stained positive for albumin. The results indicate that u.v.-B-irradiation followed by short-term culture of allogeneic rat hepatocytes prior to transplantation results in prolonged and perhaps permanent allograft acceptance by NAR rats.
Chapter Four: Results

The findings of this study are reported in two sections: the results of the van Hiele Geometry pre-and post-test analyses and the results pre- and post-interview analyses. The results of the van Hiele geometry test analyses provide initial information of sixty-three primary pre-service teachers’ van Hiele levels of geometric thinking. The results of individual interview analyses reveal details of pre-service teachers’ geometric discourse at each van Hiele level. Both sections are aimed at investigating and describing changes in students’ geometric thinking in the context of quadrilaterals.
Numerical transport and diffusion methods in radiative transfer

A numerical discretization scheme, in both space and time, is considered for the equation of radiative transfer and its corresponding diffusion approximation. Numerical results are presented for radiation penetration into a cold slab driven by a constant incident surface intensity. A comparison of results is made among solutions obtained from the discretization of the radiative transfer equation, a flux-limited diffusion approximation, and the classical diffusion approximation. By numerically studying the properties of the flux-limited diffusion approximation, we conclude that the treatment of the nonlinearities in such a description can significantly affect the results. Different iteration strategies of such nonlinearities are discussed and benchmark data for the converged solution are presented in three different time regimes. Finally, we conclude from this analysis that flux limiting is an important factor in solving these types of problems and must be included in an diffusive description.
Framing Undergraduate Public Health Education as Liberal Education: Who Are We Training Our Students To Be and How Do We Do That?

The rapid development of the undergraduate major in public health over the past 15 years has led to a debate about the most appropriate framing for the degree. Should it be viewed as a liberal education degree (akin to academic disciplines like psychology and political science) or as a professional training degree (akin to disciplines like nursing and management)? This paper presents an overview of both the liberal education and the professional training degree approaches to the undergraduate public health degree. The reality of public health work in a modern era and the constraints on undergraduate-level training lead to our conclusion that the liberal education framing is a more optimal way to design the degree program. Such a framework optimizes career opportunities, especially long term opportunities, for graduates, acknowledges the reality of the complex and diverse career paths that one can take under the general umbrella of public health, and accounts for the important role of critical thinking skills in undergraduate education. Ultimately, the distinction between liberal education and professional training may be fuzzier than the debate often highlights — an intentional, well-designed and thoughtfully implemented undergraduate public health curriculum can address the range of student needs underlying both the liberal education and professional training approaches to the degree, thus optimizing both learning goals and career outcomes for undergraduate public health students.
Ipilimumab in acral melanoma: A retrospective review.

9056 Background: Ipilimumab (Ipi) improves overall survival (OS) in advanced melanoma. Retrospective studies suggest inferior outcomes for Ipi in atypical cohorts of melanoma (uveal, mucosal) compa...
The roles of learning strategies and motivation in online language learning: A structural equation modeling analysis

Abstract Students' active regulation of learning, through being motivated and a variety of cognitive and metacognitive strategies, is crucial to their online learning success. Despite the large numbers enrolled in online language courses, very little is known about students' motivation and strategy use in these learning environments, or how they may affect their online learning outcomes. This study helps fill this gap by examining students' motivation and learning-strategy use across a number of online language courses, and investigating the role of motivation and such strategies within the framework of self-regulated learning. Based on data about online language-learning strategies collected from 466 high-school-level online language students in a Midwestern virtual school, our findings indicated that online learning strategies operated at a moderate level in the process of foreign language-learning. Further analysis using structural equation modeling revealed that the use of online learning strategies predicted students’ online learning outcomes.
Hybrids in the chromatin

New genomic maps reveal that R-loop structures formed upon hybridization of nascent RNA transcripts to the DNA template are a common characteristic of Arabidopsis chromatin that may have a broad impact on gene expression.
Scripting Addiction, Constraining Recovery: Alcoholism and Ideology in Japan

Japan’s medical establishment relies heavily on the ideology of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) in treating the nation’s addicts and alcoholics. Japanese individuals diagnosed as ‘alcohol dependent’ an...
Quantum criticality: a glimpse of a Luttinger liquid.

The concept of a Luttinger liquid has recently been established as vital to our understanding of the behaviour of one-dimensional quantum systems. Although this has led to a number of theoretical breakthroughs, only now has its descriptive power been confirmed experimentally.
Intermittent Esotropia in 4 Patients With Allan-Herndon-Dudley Syndrome:

Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome is a rare X-linked neurologic condition caused by mutations in monocarboxylate transporter 8 ( MCT8), which leads to deficient thyroid hormone transport. Typical features include severe cognitive impairment, truncal hypotonia, spastic paraplegia, weakness, and speech difficulties. Minimal literature exists describing the ocular findings in patients with Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome. We describe 4 male siblings affected with Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome with a novel nonsense mutation (Q90X) in the MCT8 protein. All affected siblings presented with classic findings of Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome, and each of the siblings also developed intermittent esotropia. This group of affected siblings represents the first consistent documentation of strabismus in Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome, suggesting a possible association between this clinical finding and the neurologic syndrome.
Lifestyle Modifications and Policy Implications for Primary and Secondary Cancer Prevention: Diet, Exercise, Sun Safety, and Alcohol Reduction

Improved cancer treatments and cancer detection methods are not likely to completely eradicate the burden of cancer. Primary prevention of cancer is a logical strategy to use to control cancer while also seeking novel treatments and earlier detection. Lifestyle modification strategies to improve primary prevention and risk reduction for the development of cancer include choosing a healthy diet with an emphasis on plant sources, maintaining a healthy weight throughout life, being physically active, regularly using sunscreen and wearing protective clothing, limiting sun exposure during the hours of 10 AM to 2 PM, avoiding indoor tanning, and reducing or eliminating alcohol use. In addition to continued use of ongoing education of the public, health care providers, and cancer support communities, other policy and public health efforts should be pursued as well. Examples of supported and successful policy approaches are included in this article, including efforts to limit indoor tanning and improve community-...
A Tutorial on Probabilistic Topic Models for Text Data Retrieval and Analysis

As text data continues to grow quickly, it is increasingly important to develop intelligent systems to help people manage and make use of vast amounts of text data ("big text data''). As a new family of effective general approaches to text data retrieval and analysis, probabilistic topic models---notably Probabilistic Latent Semantic Analysis (PLSA), Latent Dirichlet Allocations (LDA), and their many extensions---have been studied actively in the past decade with widespread applications. These topic models are powerful tools for extracting and analyzing latent topics contained in text data; they also provide a general and robust latent semantic representation of text data, thus improving many applications in information retrieval and text mining. Since they are general and robust, they can be applied to text data in any natural language and about any topics. This tutorial systematically reviews the major research progress in probabilistic topic models and discuss their applications in text retrieval and text mining. The tutorial provides (1) an in-depth explanation of the basic concepts, underlying principles, and the two basic topic models (i.e., PLSA and LDA) that have widespread applications, (2) an introduction to EM algorithms and Bayesian inference algorithms for topic models, (3) a hands-on exercise to allow the tutorial attendants to learn how to use the topic models implemented in the MeTA Open Source Toolkit and experiment with provided data sets, (4) a broad overview of all the major representative topic models that extend PLSA or LDA, and (5) a discussion of major challenges and future research directions.
Utility of serial 12-lead electrocardiograms in children with Marfan syndrome.

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to assess the utility of serial electrocardiograms in routine follow-up of paediatric Marfan patients. METHODS Children ⩽18 years who met the revised Ghent criteria for Marfan syndrome and received a 12-lead electrocardiogram and echocardiogram within a 3-month period were included. Controls were matched by age, body surface area, gender, race, and ethnicity, and consisted of patients assessed in clinic with a normal cardiac evaluation. Demographic, clinical, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic data were collected. RESULTS A total of 45 Marfan patients (10.8 [2.4-17.1] years) and 37 controls (12.8 [1.3-17.1] years) were included. Left atrial enlargement and left ventricular hypertrophy were more frequently present on 12-lead electrocardiogram of Marfan patients compared with controls (12 (27%) versus 0 (0%), p<0.001; and 8 (18%) versus 0 (0%), p=0.008, respectively); however, only two patients with left atrial enlargement on 12-lead electrocardiogram were confirmed to have left atrial enlargement by echocardiogram, and one patient had mild left ventricular hypertrophy by echocardiogram, not appreciated on 12-lead electrocardiogram. QTc interval was longer in Marfan patients compared with controls (427±16 versus 417±22 ms, p=0.03), with four Marfan patients demonstrating borderline prolonged QTc intervals for gender. CONCLUSIONS While Marfan patients exhibited a higher frequency of left atrial enlargement and left ventricular hypertrophy on 12-lead electrocardiograms compared with controls, these findings were not supported by echocardiography. Serial 12-lead electrocardiograms in routine follow-up of asymptomatic paediatric Marfan patients may be more appropriate for a subgroup of Marfan patients only, specifically those with prolonged QTc interval at their baseline visit.
Erythropoietin production by a human testicular germ cell line

An established human testis germ cell line (1411-H) was found to produce significant amounts of erythropoietin (Ep), the primary regulator of erythropoiesis. Media conditioned by the 1411-H cells stimulated erythropoiesis both in vivo and in vitro. This activity was neutralized by anti-Ep. This continuous cell line provides a unique model for the study of the mechanisms of control of Ep biogenesis.
Optimal medical management before lower extremity bypass for claudication in the veteran population.

Abstract Objective Optimizing medical management through glucose control, smoking cessation, and drug therapy (ie, antiplatelet and statin agents) is recommended as first-line therapy for patients with claudication. The aims of this study were to determine how frequently veterans with claudication received optimal medical management (OMM) before undergoing elective open lower extremity bypass procedures nationwide and whether preoperative OMM was associated with improved surgical outcomes. Methods We reviewed all patients within the Veterans Affairs (VA) Surgical Quality Improvement Program database who underwent elective open lower extremity bypass procedures for claudication at nationwide VA medical centers from 2005 until 2015. We defined OMM as a claudicant's having documentation of receiving all of the following within 12 months before surgery: prescriptions for antiplatelet, statin, and smoking cessation therapy (if a smoker) and monitoring of hemoglobin A1c (if diabetic). Outcome measures included occurrence of any 30-day VA Surgical Quality Improvement Program complication, amputation-free survival, and 30-day and 1-year mortality. We used multivariate regression and Cox proportional hazards models incorporating inverse probability treatment weighting to analyze the effect of OMM on outcome measures after adjusting for patient-level confounding. Results Among 10,271 lower extremity bypass procedures performed, 2265 (22%) were undertaken in claudicants with a median age of 63 years (interquartile range, 58-68 years). Of claudicants, 839 (37%) were diabetic, and 1333 (59%) patients smoked within 12 months before surgery. OMM was achieved in only 581 (26%) claudicants before they underwent surgery, although adherence to individual components was variable: antiplatelet, 55%; statin, 63%; smoking cessation, 58%; and hemoglobin A1c monitoring, 92%. In risk-adjusted analyses, there were no statistically significant differences in complication rates, amputation-free survival, or mortality outcomes among patients who received OMM compared with non-OMM patients. Conclusions Only a quarter of veterans with claudication were documented as receiving OMM within the year before undergoing open lower extremity bypass across nationwide VA medical centers, highlighting the need for strategies to ensure that medical therapy is intensified before surgical revascularization. Nevertheless, our data showed that documentation of preoperative OMM did not lead to improved short- or long-term postoperative outcomes in these patients, suggesting that more objective measures of medical management are needed to ensure that peripheral arterial disease goals are achieved.
Electoral Consequences of Colonial Invention: Brokers, Chiefs, and Distribution in Northern Ghana

This article studies the effects of traditional chiefs—a common type of broker—on voters’ ability to extract state resources from politicians. Using original data from Northern Ghana, the author shows that chieftaincy positions invented by colonial authorities are especially prone to capture, leaving voters worse off compared both to more accountable chiefs whose authority dates to the precolonial period and to voters who lack formal chiefs who can serve as brokers. The latter comparison exploits exogenous assignment of ethnic groups to the colonial invention of chieftaincy in the late nineteenth century. The findings suggest that whether voters benefit from brokers amidst clientelistic electoral competition depends on the accountability relationship between brokers and their clients.
Two-Parameter Quasi-Ballistic Transport Model for Nanoscale Transistors.

We show that by adding only two fitting parameters to a purely ballistic transport model, we can accurately characterize the current-voltage characteristics of nanoscale MOSFETs. The model is an extension of Natori’s model and includes transmission probability and drain-channel coupling parameter. The latter parameter gives rise to a theoretical RON that is significantly larger than those predicted previously. To validate our model, we fabricated n-channel MOSFETs with varying channel lengths. We show the length dependence of these parameters to support a quasi-ballistic description of our devices.
Investigating the potential of using glass foam for an EMAS material to mitigate aircraft overrun accidents

An aircraft overrun occurs when an aircraft is unable to stop within the runway design length. Commercial airports are required to have a 305 m (1000-ft) runway safety area (RSA) at each runway end...
Thinking about the transfer of life skills: Reflections from youth in a community-based sport programme in an underserved urban setting

Research demonstrates that quality sport-based youth development (SBYD) programmes foster the teaching of life skills (e.g. leadership, self-control) and promote the use of these skills in youths’ ...
Transnational Mother Blame: Protecting and Caring in a Globalized Context.

ABSTRACTMexican women in both the United States and Mexico face uneven landscapes of benefits and discourses as they negotiate family members’ health. Building on two decades of ethnographic resear...
Substitution of Cu by Fe in the superconducting ceramic oxide EuBa 2 Cu 3 O y : Structure, electrical conductivity, and microwave response

A series of EuBa2(Cu1−x Fe x )3Oy (0.0⩽x⩽0.15) ceramics were prepared and examined by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, electrical resistance measurements, and a magnetically modulated microwave absorption technique. The oxygen content (y=6.98±0.03), determined by thermogravimetric analysis in a reducing atmosphere, was independent of the iron concentration forx⩽0.12. The introduction of iron into the EuBa2Cu3O y lattice, via substitution into copper sites, effects a progressive decrease in the superconducting transition temperature with increasing iron concentration. Normal-state conductivity similarly progresses from a low resistivity and negative temperature coefficient behavior, to a semiconducting-like response at the high iron concentrations. X-ray powder diffraction measurements indicate that material containing 6% iron and above is tetragonal, yet it remains superconducting with up to at least 12% iron.
FluB-RAM and FluB-RANS: Genome Rearrangement as Safe and Efficacious Live Attenuated Influenza B Virus Vaccines.

Influenza B virus (IBV) is considered a major respiratory pathogen responsible for seasonal respiratory disease in humans, particularly severe in children and the elderly. Seasonal influenza vaccination is considered the most efficient strategy to prevent and control IBV infections. Live attenuated influenza virus vaccines (LAIVs) are thought to induce both humoral and cellular immune responses by mimicking a natural infection, but their effectiveness has recently come into question. Thus, the opportunity exists to find alternative approaches to improve overall influenza vaccine effectiveness. Two alternative IBV backbones were developed with rearranged genomes, rearranged M (FluB-RAM) and a rearranged NS (FluB-RANS). Both rearranged viruses showed temperature sensitivity in vitro compared with the WT type B/Bris strain, were genetically stable over multiple passages in embryonated chicken eggs and were attenuated in vivo in mice. In a prime-boost regime in naive mice, both rearranged viruses induced antibodies against HA with hemagglutination inhibition titers considered of protective value. In addition, antibodies against NA and NP were readily detected with potential protective value. Upon lethal IBV challenge, mice previously vaccinated with either FluB-RAM or FluB-RANS were completely protected against clinical disease and mortality. In conclusion, genome re-arrangement renders efficacious LAIV candidates to protect mice against IBV.
Pushing and pulling optical pressure control with plasmonic surface waves

The basis for pulling a passive nanostructured material using laser light by establishing a transverse surface plasmon resonance on the back of a membrane is presented and supported with both theory and numerical simulations. The total force magnitude and direction can be regulated by electromagnetic resonant modes interacting with materials that can be adjusted using the material and geometry variables, and with plane-wave illumination under sinusoidal steady-state conditions. In the situations treated, the structured material is fixed in position and the force density and hence total force are determined numerically. Simulations indicate that a silicon nitride film coated with gold and patterned to produce a unit cell having a slot passing through both materials allows satisfactory surface wave control to facilitate a pulling force with visible wavelengths. When the plasmon surface wave on the back dominates, pulling occurs, and when the mode on the front has more energy, the result is pushing. It is also shown that pushing or pulling, regulated by varying the wavelength of the incident light, is possible, and an example is presented. This work motivates an experimental effort to investigate pulling with nanostructured media and offers a different paradigm in optomechanics.
Professional quality of life, sleep disturbance and health among nurses: A mediation analysis.

AIMS This study aimed to examine sleep disturbance as a mediator of the relationship between professional quality of life (compassion satisfaction, burnout, secondary traumatic stress) and health (physical and mental health) in nurses. DESIGN Descriptive, cross-sectional study. METHODS Three hundred eighteen Registered Nurses completed a web-based survey at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in the United States. Mediation analyses were conducted to test hypothesized relationships. RESULTS Nurses with higher levels of compassion satisfaction reported lower levels of sleep disturbance and better physical/mental health. Burnout and secondary traumatic stress were negatively associated with physical/mental health and positively associated with sleep disturbance. Sleep disturbance fully or partially mediated the relationships between professional quality of life and physical/mental health among nurses.
Local immunotherapy of cancer and metastasis

Abstract Cancer immunotherapy has improved the clinical outcomes of cancer treatment. In the context of immunotherapy, traditional chemotherapy also sees a new opportunity as a companion treatment. However, their optimal and safe delivery remains a challenge due to the systemic adverse effects. Local drug delivery systems can help reduce the systemic toxicity of immunotherapy by confining the immunostimulatory effects on tumors. Introducing immunoactive biomaterials and combinations of supporting agents, drug delivery systems further enhance the efficacy of local antitumor immunity and enable its translation to systemic effects against metastatic tumors. This chapter summarizes different types of cancer immunotherapy and introduces various drug delivery systems used for their local delivery, focusing on intervention therapies using immunostimulators and chemotherapy. We discuss the rationales, outcomes, and remaining challenges of current delivery approaches.
Can Knots Exhibit Both Chirality and Rotational Symmetry

Knots have been put forward to explain various physical phenomena due to their topological stability. Nevertheless, very few published works have reported on their unique combination of strong chirality and rotational symmetry. While conventional optically active materials are composed of chiral molecules, which usually lack symmetry, a meta-molecule that is intrinsically isotropic and simultaneously exhibits strong optical activity has not yet been reported. Here, we introduce a knotted meta-molecule that possesses both rotational symmetry and strong chirality. The chirality of the meta-molecule exhibits optical activity corresponding to a 90° polarization rotation of the incident waves. More importantly, arising from the continuous multi-fold rotational symmetry of the chiral torus knot structure, the observed polarization rotation behavior is found to be independent of the incident wave’s polarization state. Knots that possess such a unique and fundamentally important property have the potential for a wide range of applications in optical physics, chemistry, material science, and engineering.
Valvular Heart Disease

Variations in the acuity and severity of a few distinct valve lesions yield a wide variety of presentations among patients with valvular heart disease. While this can make valve disease seem confusing, a basic knowledge of the underlying physiology can actually make these conditions, including the presenting symptomatology, natural course, and treatment, more understandable. Such an understanding is essential since patients with severe valve disease may be critically ill, but are very treatable when the etiology is promptly recognized. Early recognition of mild or moderate disease is also essential since early treatment may allay complications and the need for risky mechanical intervention. In this chapter, we will systematically review the common etiologies, pathophysiology, natural course, diagnosis, and treatment for the most common valve lesions.
Managing pathogen contamination on the farm

Publisher Summary Infection with Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a very public, high-impact cause of human illness that can be acquired by ingestion of contaminated food or drinking water, via direct/indirect contact with cattle, or via person-to-person transmission. Cattle are considered to be a major reservoir of E. coli O157:H7, but the organism also has been isolated from other ruminants, dogs, horses, and birds. Although efforts to develop pre-harvest technologies have received less funding emphasis, scientists have slowly begun the process of studying ways to prevent proliferation of E. coli O157:H7 in and on live cattle. It is now clear that packing plant technologies for reducing prevalence of pathogenic organisms are overwhelmed by the ubiquitous nature of E. coli O157 in the environment and on live cattle entering commercial packing facilities. Of three total points of focus listed for the producer sector of the industry, one stated that it is necessary to evaluate adoption of interventions or Good Management Practices (GMPs) that have been scientifically validated and another suggested that systems that use a combination of interventions should be evaluated. Foodborne illness outbreaks associated with beef have received the lion's share of attention in the USA and beef pathogen prevalence has the most likely chance of being influenced by pre-harvest control strategies. This chapter focuses primarily on the evolution of pre-harvest strategies to prevent E. coli O157:H7 contamination of beef products.
Lipoxins as an Immune-Escape Mechanism

Here, we discuss the mechanisms of repression of signaling pathways that are triggered by Lipoxin (LX) and are responsible for control of pro-inflammatory response during chronic phase of Toxoplasma gondii infection. We also discuss this mechanism from the perspective of the pathogen, which pirates the host s lipoxygenase machinery to its own advantage as a probable immune-escape mechanism. Pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-12, IFN-y and TNF are essential in controlling parasite growth during T. gondii infection. However, it is clear that exacerbated production of these cytokines results in host tissue damage. LX, an anti-inflammatory eicosanoid, plays an important role in regulation of immune response to T. gondii.
Search-based Structured Prediction applied to Biomedical Event Extraction

We develop an approach to biomedical event extraction using a search-based structured prediction framework, SEARN, which converts the task into cost-sensitive classification tasks whose models are learned jointly. We show that SEARN improves on a simple yet strong pipeline by 8.6 points in F-score on the BioNLP 2009 shared task, while achieving the best reported performance by a joint inference method. Additionally, we consider the issue of cost estimation during learning and present an approach called focused costing that improves improves efficiency and predictive accuracy.
Dynamic topography of the ice‐covered Arctic Ocean from ICESat

[1] We construct the dynamic ocean topography (DOT) of the Arctic Ocean, for five ICESat campaigns (winter of 2004–2008), using sea surface height estimates in open leads. Results show that the mean winter DOT over the Arctic Ocean varies by ∼1 m and features a distinct dome of ∼40 cm over the Beaufort Sea. Standard deviation of the mean field is ∼20 cm. Spatial coherence between the five winter DOTs is consistently high (>0.9), whereas the coherence between the DOTs and the winter (DJFM) sea-level pressure fields over the Arctic Basin is variable. This suggests persistence of the underlying hydrodynamic processes at interannual time-scales compared to seasonal atmospheric forcing. Comparison of dynamic heights (DH) from hydrographic surveys and the DOT in 2008 shows a remarkable correlation of 0.92. The geostrophic velocity fields computed from the DOT and interpolated DH fields highlight the smaller scale oceanographic features in the satellite estimates.
Species, Temperature, and Current Distribution Mapping in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

Widespread commercialization of fuel cells will require significant improvements in power density, reliability, and cost, which can only be accomplished through improved understanding of the thermodynamic, fluid dynamic, and electrochemical processes within a fuel cell. To date, a wide range of experimental diagnostic tools have been developed to not only obtain a fundamental understanding of fuel cell dynamics and degradation but also to provide benchmark-quality data for modeling research. Herein, the latest advances are reviewed for three categories of diagnostics for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and stacks: species, temperature, and current distribution mapping. We identify species of interest within a fuel cell, while also reviewing the methodology, results, and design implications for each category of diagnostic tool. Capabilities and weaknesses of the techniques are discussed, while placing them within the broader context of fuel cell development.
The Relationship between a Credit and a Deduction for the Foreign Taxes of a Multinational Corporation

A credit for foreign taxes paid by a multinational company is usually described as fundamentally different from a deduction for foreign taxes. The credit has been criticized for eliminating the taxpayer's incentive to reduce foreign taxes, whereas a deduction is said to maintain that incentive. On the other hand, the credit is traditionally defended as a method of eliminating double taxation of cross-border income, whereas the deduction is often criticized for producing multiple levels of taxation (and is therefore not an acceptable method of dealing with double taxation under the standard international tax treaties). The argument of this note is that a credit and a deduction for foreign taxes paid by a multinational company are not as different as the foregoing assertions would suggest. Indeed, credits and deductions can be interchangeable, with the distinction only a matter of labels or nominal tax rates.
White Matter Disease in Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia Correlates with Risk-Taking Behavior (P6.220)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of white matter (WM) disease in risk-taking behavior in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). BACKGROUND: BvFTD, a clinical syndrome associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration, is characterized by changes in personality, social conduct, and executive functioning. Patients exhibit impulsive and inflexible behavior as well as impaired decision-making. The Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) assesses decision-making in a risk/reward paradigm. BvFTD patients have impaired performance on this task relative to healthy controls. While bvFTD patients have considerable WM disease, the relationship between BART performance and WM disease has not been investigated in bvFTD. DESIGN/METHODS: A modified version of BART was collected on 12 patients with bvFTD and 12 healthy seniors. In this computer-based task, subjects pump up balloons that pop at various levels of inflation. More pumps add more money to the subject’s bank total, but no money is earned for trials in which the balloon pops. An independent samples t-test was used to compare final bank totals between bvFTD and controls. Higher bank totals correspond with more successful decision making. 30-directional diffusion-weighted images were acquired for these bvFTD patients and 27 demographically-matched healthy seniors. Fractional anisotropy (FA) was assessed in bvFTD relative to healthy seniors and BART performance was related to FA in bvFTD using a regression analysis. RESULTS: BART bank total was decreased in bvFTD relative to behavioral controls. FA reductions were widespread throughout frontal and temporal WM in bvFTD relative to controls. Decreased BART bank total was associated with reduced FA in left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and sagittal stratum in bvFTD. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired decision-making and risk assessment in bvFTD is associated with damage to large-scale networks. WM disease in projections involving ventral frontal and anterior temporal regions that modulate risk-taking and decision-making contributes to behavioral impairment in bvFTD. Study Supported by: NIH Grant (AG043503, AG17586, NS44266, AG15116, AG32953, NS53488) and the Wyncote Foundation Disclosure: Dr. Powers has nothing to disclose. Dr. McMillan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Burkholder has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grossman has received personal compensation for activities with Allon Therapeutics.
In tribute to Albert Weideman, a man of many accomplishments : testimonials

I first met Albert Weideman in 1996 at the 11th World Congress of Applied Linguistics (AILA) in Jyvaskyla, Finland. Albert was one of the first South Africans I had ever encountered, and he proved to be a worthy representative. I have learned much from Albert over the years as I have watched him in his many accomplished roles. A self-described "philosopher," Albert Weideman is that. However, he also operates skillfully out of the ivory tower and in the world; he is, in short, a rare combination of an academic and an entrepreneur.
Analysis of In-vitro Neurite Extension for Neurotrophic Electrode Design

Stimulation of nervous tissue using implantable electrode systems has been suggested for a wide range of clinical problems including depression, migraine headaches, systemic pain, deafness, blindness, bladder function etc. Several of these problems would require the long-term implantation of multi-channel electrode systems in close proximity to the appropriate neural tissue within the central nervous system. In this work, we continue our attempt to apply and quantify neurotrophic tissue engineering techniques in an in-vitro test system that can guide the future functional improvement of implanted electrodes for clinical use. Our model system consists of cultured PC-12 cells and polyimide microtubes. The microtubes act as conduits to capture neurite extension. This is a model for the demonstrated neurite extension that occurs in known neurotrophic electrode systems such as the cone electrode developed by Kennedy et al. The tubes also can act as vessels for the transport of neurotrophic agents that could attract candidate neurons close to the electrode site. In this study, we quantify neurite extension induced via nerve growth factor (NGF). We show that NGFadsorbed gelatin sponges can be used to create an effective NGF gradient to induce directional neurite growth in this system
Biocomputing enters its adolescence

A report on the tenth Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing,Big Island, Hawaii, USA, 4-8 January 2005.
On smoothing average precision

On the basis of a theoretical analysis of issues around populations and sampling, for both topics and documents, and parameters with which we hope to characterise the effectiveness of different systems, we propose a modification to the traditional average precision metric. This modification involves both transformation and (in the estimation of the parameter) smoothing. The modified version is shown to have certain distributional advantages, on a substantial dataset. In particular, the distribution of values of the modified metric, over topics for a given system/run, is approximately normal.
A Correction Model for Word Alignments

Models of word alignment built as sequences of links have limited expressive power, but are easy to decode. Word aligners that model the alignment matrix can express arbitrary alignments, but are difficult to decode. We propose an alignment matrix model as a correction algorithm to an underlying sequence-based aligner. Then a greedy decoding algorithm enables the full expressive power of the alignment matrix formulation. Improved alignment performance is shown for all nine language pairs tested. The improved alignments also improved translation quality from Chinese to English and English to Italian.
Trial of Labor and Vaginal Delivery Rates in Women with a Prior Cesarean

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate evidence on trial of labor (TOL) and vaginal delivery rates in women with a prior cesarean and to understand the characteristics of women offered a trial of labor. Data Sources MEDLINE, DARE, and Cochrane databases were searched for articles evaluating mode of delivery for women with a prior cesarean delivery published between 1980 and September 2009. Study Selection Studies were included if they involved human participants, were in English, conducted in the United States or in developed countries, and if they were rated fair or good base on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) criteria. Data Extraction and Synthesis The search yielded 3,134 abstracts: 69 full‐text papers on TOL and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rates and 10 on predictors of TOL. The TOL rate in U.S. studies was 58% (95% CI [52, 65]) compared with 64% (95% CI [59, 70]) in non U.S. studies. The TOL rate in the U.S. was 62% (95% CI [57, 66]) for studies completed prior to 1996 and dropped to 44% (95% CI [34, 53]) in studies launched after 1996, p = .016. In U.S. studies, 74% (95% CI [72, 76]) of women who had a TOL delivered vaginally. Women who had a prior vaginal birth or delivered at a large teaching hospital were more likely to be offered a TOL. Conclusions Although the TOL rate has dropped since 1996, the rate of vaginal delivery after a TOL has remained constant. Efforts to increase rates of TOL will depend on patients understanding the risks and benefits of both options. Maternity providers are well positioned to provide key education and counseling when patients are not informed of their options.
Hispanic Students Face Barriers to Health Careers

Holyoke, Massachusetts was selected as the site of this study to identify barriers preventing Hispanic youth from entering the health occupations. The attitudes of students from the local high school towards selected health occupations were assessed. High school guidance counselors were interviewed to determine how they perceived these barriers. Health care agencies in the area were interviewed to determine the number of Hispanics currently in their employ and to assess their willingness to employ others. The most important finding is that Hispanic youth do not differ significantly from Non-Hispanic youth in either their attitudes or their aspirations towards careers in health. The finding is at variance with the perceptions of the majority of the guidance counselors. Health care agencies in the area expressed a willingness to hire trained Hispanics for health occupations. Four major barriers were identified. Recommendations for their removal are presented.
Carotid endarterectomy: perioperative and anesthetic considerations.

AROTID endarterectomy (CEA) is increasingly performed in the United States and worldwide. In 1992, more than 90,000 CEAs were performed in the United States at an average cost of about $15,000 per procedure. ~ Because this procedure is becoming more common, anesthesiologists can benefit from a review of current practice and controversies in this field that can guide anesthetic strategy. This review discusses the natural history of carotid artery disease, current treatment modalities, and important issues in preoperative evaluation, with an emphasis on the problems posed by the patient with both severe carotid artery disease and severe coronary artery disease. Intraoperative and anestheuc management for CEA, including potential methods of cerebral and myocardial protection and the relative merits of different anesthetic techniques, as well as immediate postoperative management, are considered. DEFINITION, PROGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OF CAROTID ARTERY DISEASE The most common cause of carotid artery occlusive disease is atherosclerosls, a systemic and progressive disease. It is bilateral in about half of all cases. The atherosclerotic plaque usually develops at the lateral aspect of the carotid artery bifurcation (Fig 1) and extends up into the internal and external carotid arteries (Fig 2). The plaque is composed of both cellular and acellular elements deposited in the subendothelial wall of the artery. Cellular elements principally consist of monocytes, fibrocytes, and smooth muscle cells; acel!ular elements are calcium, collagenous protein, lipids, and cholesterol. A fibrous cap develops at the interface between the blood and the antimal plaque. Disruption of the fibrous cap over a lipid deposiUon can lead to ulceration within the plaque. The embolization of thrombotic material or debris from the plaque can result in stroke or transient neurologic symptoms. The mechanisms of disease progression are not completely understood, but progressive disease is associated with increases in both cellular and acellular components of the plaque.