cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Variation in the Absorption of Solar Radiation by Atmospheric Ozone at 9.6 Microns

A record is presented of the absorption of solar radiation by atmospheric ozone in the interval 9.2 – 10.1 microns. Seventy-two independent observations made on seventy days are scattered over the various months of the year. The data are suitable for a first examination of the seasonal trend of stratospheric ozone as revealed by an infrared band. The absorptions are reduced to a quantity proportional to the amount of ozone, and the curve of seasonal change in this quantity is strikingly similar to the seasonal trend in ozone as revealed by the long accepted method of ultraviolet absorption. This further usefulness of the 9.6 micron band of ozone as an atmospheric parameter is thus established.
On Spatial Features for Supervised Speech Separation and its Application to Beamforming and Robust ASR

This study integrates complementary spectral and spatial information to elevate deep learning based time-frequency masking and acoustic beamforming. Coherence and directional features are designed as additional input features for deep neural network training to remove diffuse noise and other directional interferences pervasive in real-world recordings. The diffuse and directional features are designed to be relatively invariant to the underlying target direction, number of microphones and microphone geometry. The estimated masks are then utilized to compute steering vectors and spatial covariance matrices for beamforming and robust ASR. Experiments on the CHiME-4 dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Comprehensive analysis of serum and innate immune cells revealed age-related alternations

Age-related alterations in immunity have been linked to increased incidence of infections and decreased responses to vaccines in the aging population. These immune dysfunctions, termed immunosenescence, have been linked to the intricate interactions between the innate and adaptive immune responses. The impact of aging on innate immunity remains an open question. We performed a comprehensive analysis of serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) isolated from healthy non-frail adults (≤ 40 years) and old individuals (≥ 65 years). The basal level of circulating inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were measured, as well as transcriptome data was analyzed for both ex vivo and agonist stimulated DCs and monocyte subsets. We observed that sorted DC (BDCA-1, -2, and -3) and monocyte (CD14 + CD16 − ,CD14 dim CD16 + , and CD14 + CD16 + ) subsets were primarily distinct and have unique transcriptional profiles. Under ex vivo conditions, innate subsets did not reveal significant age-related alternations; however, agonist stimulated-monocytes from adults and old subjects did show differences at the transcriptional and functional levels. After stimulation of TLR4 (LPS), TLR7/8 (CLO97), and RIGI (5′-pppRNA), we observed higher production of interferons, CCL8, CCL20, and IL1B in monocytes isolated from adults compared to old individuals. Pathway analysis revealed that innate agonists induced functional pathways in monocytes isolated from both adults and old subjects. Overall, our data reveals a wide range of potential age-associated alternations in pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) signaling and have implications for strategies to enhance the immune response in the context of infection or immunization.
Association between primary tumor site, perioperative CEA ratio, smoking status, and overall survival in patients with colorectal cancer.

e15156Background: There are differences in the incidence, clinical presentation, molecular pathogenesis and outcome of colorectal cancer (CRC) based on tumor location. Emerging research suggests th...
Tri-Comb Multidimensional Coherent Spectroscopy

We review tri-comb spectroscopy, a novel optical approach to nonlinear spectroscopy. This optical method that we have recently developed enables the measurement of comb resolution multidimensional coherent spectra in under one second. We show the improvement in resolution and acquisition speed by applying the method to Doppler broadened rubidium vapor. We also show how this method can be used for real-time chemical sensing applications.
Implementing a just-in-time collection development model in an academic library

Abstract This article describes the development of a system for changing a university library's collection development strategy from the traditional “just in case” model to a “just in time” approach. The reasons for such a change included a desire to be more responsive to user requirements, a need to be more flexible in acquiring interdisciplinary resources and new formats, and a substantial cut in the library's budget. The Collection Development librarians envisioned the collections as a service, using a simpler and more versatile accounting structure. The Access-Based Collection Development (ABCD) model emphasizes making materials available at the point of need rather than having them on hand in anticipation of use. ABCD has four overarching themes: to be sustainable, to be holistic and inclusive, to be flexible and scalable, and to use evidence for decision-making. The authors provide details of the implementation, outcomes, evaluation, and future of the model.
African International Relations, Genocidal Histories and the Emancipatory Project. Part 2

Silences in the discipline of International Relations on genocide amount to a form of genocide denial, which is one of the foundations of future genocide. The paper posits that in the era of militarized global apartheid, progressive scholars are challenged to critique and expose the past and current crimes against humanity that are occurring in Africa. Drawing from the consolidation of an alternative analysis in the context of the Bandung Project, the paper analyzed the contributions of the ideas that emerged out of the anti-apartheid struggles and the struggles for reparative justice. Struggles from the Global South had culminated in the World Conference against Racism (WCAR) process, elevating the anti-racist battles as a core challenge of Africa’s International Relations. This rejuvenation and energies coming out of the protracted struggle for bread, peace and justice took the form of the transition to the African Union leaving behind the concept of the noninterference in the internal affairs of states. The paper analyzed the ways in which afro-pessimism was being reinforced by the constructivist path in African International Relations. The contributions of radical African feminists are presented as one new direction where there is the coalescence of the progressive anti-imperialist intellectual traditions with radical feminisms. These two traditions open possibilities for an emancipatory project. This project has taken on extra importance in the period of the fragility of global capital when the precariousness of capitalism threatens new and endless wars and destabilization in Africa. Modern humanitarianism forms one component of the weaponization of everything and it is within this ensemble of ideas that scholars need to deconstruct the discussion of ‘failed states’ in Africa.
The unequal consequences of family structures for infant health.

Abstract Rapid changes in American families have reshaped inequalities in child well-being. This paper examines the unequal consequences of family structures for infant health, focusing on birthweight. Existing studies mainly address the average association between marriage (versus singlehood) and birthweight. I extend the literature by 1) explicitly considering cohabitation and 2) exploring the heterogeneous associations based on mother's likelihood of union formation at conception. Pooling nationally representative data from the National Survey of Family Growth 2011-17, I analyze a sample of recent births (N = 4,376) born to mothers aged between 20 and 49 years. Propensity score methods are used to address selections. Results show that 1) compared to single mothers, married mothers reap birthweight benefits, while cohabiting mothers do not; 2) married mothers with a higher likelihood to marry at conception (i.e., more advantaged) reap even larger birthweight benefits than their low-likelihood counterparts (i.e., less advantaged). Overall, the findings reveal important and nuanced roles of family structure in the reproduction of intergenerational inequality through infant health.
Testing for False Positives in Dynamic Economic Models with Applications to Monetary Policy

The result is false positive when it shows something is present when it really is not. In this paper, we develop a test for detecting false positives in dynamic economic models. We then apply this test to the New Keynesian model and the structural vector autoregression model with short-run restrictions. We simulate the alternative data where the monetary policy does not affect the economy and feed these data to both the SVAR and the New Keynesian model. We find two outcomes. First, surprisingly, both models counterfactually produce significant real sector response to a monetary policy shock. Second, for most variables, the impulse responses to monetary policy shocks in the actual data are similar to the impulse responses in the simulated data. We conclude both SVARs and a traditional New Keynesian model suffer from false positives, and neither can be used for policy analysis.
Camptocormia in a Patient with Valosin-Containing Protein (VCP) Mutation (P01.117)

OBJECTIVE: To report a novel clinical presentation, pathological findings, and genetic analysis of a patient with VCP related myopathy. BACKGROUND: Inclusion body myopathy associated with Paget9s disease of the bone (PBD) and frontotemporal dementia, or IBMPFD, is a multisystem degenerative disorder due to mutations in the VCP gene. Penetrance of the disease features is variable. Various patterns of muscle involvement have been described. Camptocormia may be attributed to central or peripheral nervous system disorders. To our knowledge, camptocormia has not been reported in IBMPFD. DESIGN/METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records, muscle biopsy, and genetic analysis. RESULTS: A 39 year old man presented with five years of progressive lower extremity weakness and need of walking bent over. For 2 years he had difficulties raising arms above his shoulders. There was a history of ALS in his mother, and myopathy in maternal grandmother, mother9s uncle, and mother9s sister. Clinical evaluation was significant for obesity, bifacial weakness, bilateral scapular winging and camptocormia. On strength examination, elbow and hip flexors were (R/L) 4-/4-; knee extensors, 4/5-; knee flexors, 4/4; elsewhere strength was 5/5. EMG showed fibrillations in upper and lower extremities proximal and distal muscles, myotonic discharges in the cervical paraspinal, biceps, and medial gastrocnemius muscles, and myopathic motor units more in proximal versus distal muscles. Biopsy of the quadriceps showed a severe myopathy with rimmed vacuoles and intranuclear and cytoplasmic IBM-type tubulofilamentous inclusions. CK varied from 1700 to 2,000 U/L (normal 49-397). PFT showed restrictive pattern. Plain thoracolumbar films showed minimal degenerative changes. Alkaline phosphatase was normal. FSHD genetic test was negative. Sequencing of the VCP gene revealed disease-causing heterozygous mutations: Exon 5, c.572G>A, resulting in p.Arg191Gln. CONCLUSIONS: Notable clinical features in this patient included scapulohumeral and proximal lower extremity weakness and camptocormia. At this time, FTD or PBD are not present. Disclosure: Dr. Fernandes has nothing to disclose. Dr. Oskarsson has received personal compensation for activities with Avanir Pharmaceuticals as a speaker. Dr. Thaisetthawatkul has nothing to disclose. Dr. McComb has nothing to disclose.
Modulation of Adipocyte Metabolism by Microbial Short-Chain Fatty Acids

Obesity and its complications—including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers—constitute a rising global epidemic that has imposed a substantial burden on health and healthcare systems over the years. It is becoming increasingly clear that there is a link between obesity and the gut microbiota. Gut dysbiosis, characterized as microbial imbalance, has been consistently associated with obesity in both humans and animal models, and can be reversed with weight loss. Emerging evidence has shown that microbial-derived metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—including acetate, propionate, and butyrate—provide benefits to the host by impacting organs beyond the gut, including adipose tissue. In this review, we summarize what is currently known regarding the specific mechanisms that link gut-microbial-derived SCFAs with adipose tissue metabolism, such as adipogenesis, lipolysis, and inflammation. In addition, we explore indirect mechanisms by which SCFAs can modulate adipose tissue metabolism, such as via perturbation of gut hormones, as well as signaling to the brain and the liver. Understanding how the modulation of gut microbial metabolites such as SCFAs can impact adipose tissue function could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity.
Formation of atmospheric halos and applicability of geometric optics for calculating single-scattering properties of hexagonal ice crystals: Impacts of aspect ratio and ice crystal size

Abstract In order to determine the threshold sizes at which hexagonal ice crystals begin to form atmospheric halos (i.e., 22° and 46° halos) and the applicability of the conventional geometric optics method (GOM), the single-scattering properties (i.e., phase matrix, asymmetry parameter g, and extinction efficiency Qext) of randomly oriented hexagonal ice crystals were calculated using the Amsterdam discrete dipole approximation (ADDA) and conventional GOM at a wavelength λ = 0.55 μ m . For these calculations, a width (W) of up to 36 μ m and a length (L) of up to 48 μ m of hexagonal ice crystals with aspect ratios (AR=L/W) of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 were used. Further, a halo ratio and power spillover index (Ψ) were used to quantify the intensity of 22° and 46° atmospheric halos as functions of sizes and ARs of hexagonal ice crystals. The phase matrixes, g, and Qext, calculated using ADDA and conventional GOM became closer as the crystal size increased for all six ARs. There was better agreement between ADDA and GOM simulations at smaller sizes for hexagonal crystals with compact shapes (e.g., AR=1.0) compared to that for crystals with either oblate (e.g., AR=0.1) or prolate (e.g., AR=4.0) shapes. The errors in the conventional GOM were ~1.2% (7.0%) for g (Qext) of hexagonal crystals with volume-equivalent-sphere size parameter (χveq) of 90 for all ARs, whereas they were ~0.8% (3.3%) for hexagonal crystals with χveq=100. It was shown that the lower size limit of the applicability of conventional GOM depends on particle shape. The 22° and 46° halos were produced at smaller crystal sizes and the intensity of a halo was more pronounced at a given size for crystals with a compact shape compared to those with more prolate or oblate shapes. The calculated 22° halo forming sizes of hexagonal crystals with AR=0.1 (0.25; 0.5; 1.0; 2.0; 4.0) were ~52 (60; 58; 49; 61; 77) for χveq: these halo forming sizes vary for different definitions of size parameter and were ~74 (72; 64; 53; 69; 93) for surface-equivalent-sphere size parameter (χseq) and ~103 (90; 68; 45; 91; 182) for conventional size parameter ( χ D ). The calculated 46° halo forming χveq of hexagonal crystals with AR=0.5 (1.0; 2.0) were ~58 (49; 92), ~64 (53; 112) for χseq, and ~68 (45; 223) for χ D . The intensities of the 22° and 46° halos increased with crystal size for all six ARs. The calculations of Ψ of 22° and 46° halos showed that hexagonal ice crystals with much larger sizes were required to produce well-defined 46° halos compared with 22° halos. However, large crystals tend to have preferred orientations that prevent formation of halos, which might be why 46° halos are much less frequent than 22° halos in the atmosphere.
Advanced analytics for the automation of medical systematic reviews

While systematic reviews (SRs) are positioned as an essential element of modern evidence-based medical practice, the creation and update of these reviews is resource intensive. In this research, we propose to leverage advanced analytics techniques for automatically classifying articles for inclusion and exclusion for systematic reviews. Specifically, we used soft-margin polynomial Support Vector Machine (SVM) as a classifier, exploited Unified Medical Language Systems (UMLS) for medical terms extraction, and examined various techniques to resolve the class imbalance issue. Through an empirical study, we demonstrated that soft-margin polynomial SVM achieves better classification performance than the existing algorithms used in current research, and the performance of the classifier can be further improved by using UMLS to identify medical terms in articles and applying re-sampling methods to resolve the class imbalance issue.
A genome-wide screen identifies a Bordetella type III secretion effector and candidate effectors in other species

Bordetella bronchiseptica utilizes a type III secretion system (TTSS) for induction of non-apoptotic cytotoxicity in host cells and modulation of host immunity. The identity of Bordetella TTSS effectors, however, has remained elusive. Here we report a genome-wide screen for TTSS effectors based on shared biophysical and functional characteristics of class I chaperones and their frequent colocalization with TTSS effectors. When applied to B. bronchiseptica, the screen identified the first TTSS chaperone-effector locus, btcA-bteA, and we experimentally confirmed its function. Expression of bteA is co-ordinated with expression of TTSS apparatus genes, BteA is secreted through the TTSS of B. bronchiseptica, it is required for cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells, and it is highly conserved in the human-adapted subspecies B. pertussis and B. parapertussis. Transfection of bteA into epithlieal cells results in rapid cell death, indicating that BteA alone is sufficient to induce potent cytotoxicity. Finally, an in vitro interaction between BteA and BtcA was demonstrated. The search for TTSS chaperones and effectors was then expanded to other bacterial genomes, including mammalian and insect pathogens, where we identified a large number of novel candidate chaperones and effectors. Although the majority of putative effectors are proteins of unknown function, several have similarities to eukaryotic protein domains or previously identified effectors from other species.
Approximating maximal cliques in ad-hoc networks

The capacity of an ad-hoc network is severely affected by interference between links, and several efforts to model this effect make use of 'clique' structures in the ad-hoc graphs. We propose a fully distributed heuristic algorithm to approximate cliques in such networks. We further propose methods to shrink the generated set of cliques to a set of maximal cliques. Simulation results verify the efficacy of the heuristic algorithms and also analyze their computation time.
Cercariform cells: Another cytologic feature distinguishing solid pseudopapillary neoplasms from pancreatic endocrine neoplasms and acinar cell carcinomas in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates†

BACKGROUND Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPPN) is a rare tumor of unknown origin that occurs predominantly in the body or tail of the pancreas in young women. The authors recently identified cercariform (Greek: tailed) cells, similar to those described in urothelial carcinomas, as a consistent cytologic feature in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) samples from SPPNs. The objective of the current multi-institutional study was to define the value of these cells in the differential diagnosis of SPPN with other neoplasms characterized cytologically by the presence of monotonous, uniform cells in pancreatic aspirates: pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (Pan-NETs) and acinar cell carcinomas (ACCs). METHODS The files of 4 academic hospitals were searched for SPPNs, Pan-NETs, and ACCs that were diagnosed by EUS-FNA. The slides were reviewed, and several cytologic features were recorded semiquantitatively to identify discriminating features between SPPNs, Pan-NETs, and ACCs. RESULTS From the analysis of 18 SPPNs, 4 ACCs, and 20 Pan-NETs, the following cytologic features were identified as common to all 3 neoplasms: single cells and rosettes/acinar cell groups, round-to-plasmacytoid cells, pale-to-granular cytoplasm, fine vacuoles, and binucleated cells. Papillary structures, cercariform cells, large cytoplasmic vacuoles, reniform nuclei, hyaline globules/magenta-colored material, and degenerative features (cholesterol crystals, calcifications, foam cells, or giant cells) were significantly more common in SPPNs. Prominent nuclear grooves were encountered in only 4 of 18 SPPNs. CONCLUSIONS The current results indicated that the presence of cercariform cells is another useful clue for the cytologic diagnosis of SPPN in challenging cases. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2013;121:298–310. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Clinical features of Behçet's disease. Report of four cases.

Behcet's disease is a multisystem inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. The unifying histologic reaction pattern is a leukocytoclastic vasculitis that affects predominantly the skin, oral mucosa, and eyes. Many other sites of involvement have been reported but are inconsistently found in individual patients. Early recognition and treatment of Behcet's disease may help prevent devastating permanent sequelae such as blindness. Because oral involvement is often the first manifestation of this disorder, dental practitioners are in a unique position to help these patients. We report four cases of Behcet's disease in North American patients. Diagnostic criteria and treatment options are reviewed.
Multidimensional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for biological discovery

Biological systems organize physiological functions and communications into collections of proteins. Multidimensional liquid chromatography (MudPIT) in combination with tandem mass spectrometry can be used to identify proteins in such structures. This data reveals potential roles for proteins in the context of the structures. Keywords: proteomics; MudPIT; 2D liquid chromatography; protein identification
In vitro and in vivo studies of antagonistic effects of human growth hormone analogs

A bovine growth hormone (bGH) analog, bGH-G119R, has been shown to act as a functional antagonist of GH activity both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, human (h) GH analogs with alterations in the third alpha-helix (G120A, G120R) and N terminus (I4A) were generated. These two regions have been reported to form binding site 2 in hGH, which is involved in in vitro dimerization of the GH receptor (GHR). The biological activities of these hGH analogs were tested in vitro by a radioreceptor assay and an assay to test the ability of the molecules to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of a 93-kDa protein in a human lymphocyte line, IM-9. The growth rate of transgenic mice that express different hGH analogs was used as an in vivo test of the activity of the molecules. The results demonstrated that G120R is a potent hGH antagonist both in vitro and in vivo. Transgenic mice expressing G120R demonstrated a growth-suppressed phenotype. However, I4A, which has been demonstrated to be a potent inhibitor of in vitro GHR dimerization, exhibited full growth promoting activity in transgenic mice. Thus, the ability of hGH analogs to induce GHR dimerization in vitro and the ability to promote growth in vivo are not directly correlated.
The visual claustrum of the cat. II. The visual field map

Physiological and anatomical methods were used to study the representation of the visual field in the cat's dorsocaudal claustrum. In one set of experiments, the visual receptive fields of claustral neurons were plotted in multiple electrode penetrations. In another set of experiments, the termination of the corticoclaustral pathway was examined autoradiographically after the injection of [3H]proline at retinotopically defined sites in the visual cortex. Results obtained by the two methods were in close agreement. The claustrum was found to contain a single, orderly map of the contralateral hemifield and a small part of the ipsilateral field. High elevations are represented caudally and ventrally, low elevations rostrally and dorsally. The surface of the claustrum represents the periphery of the visual field, while the vertical meridian lies more ventrally, where the visual claustrum abuts the non-visual part of the nucleus. Visual field lines (isoazimuths or isoelevations) are represented as planes in the claustrum. The map is unusual in that isoazimuth planes are strongly curved and nested within each other, with peripheral ones enclosing those closer to the vertical meridian. This arrangement permits an expanded representation of the periphery compared with what is seen in visual cortex. The inputs from areas 17, 18, 19, 21a, and PMLS (posteromedial lateral suprasylvian area) are convergent, each projection retinotopically to the entirety of the claustral map.
Orientation Selectivity and Its Modulation by Local and Long-Range Connections in Visual Cortex

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the models and data constituting a powerful argument for the proposal that orientation selectivity is generated and modulated by a combination of thalamocortical inputs to visual cortex (VI) neurons and intracortical processing. Cortical neurons are embedded in diverse circuitry: Each neuron receives not only excitatory thalamocortical inputs but also excitatory intracortical input from local neurons, inhibitory input from local interneurons, and excitatory long range input from distant neurons. A model involving iso-orientation intracortical excitation to amplify lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) responses at line ends is able to reproduce the subjective contour responses and representations within V1. These response properties include orientation selectivity, modulation of orientation selective responses by spatial context or surround stimuli, and modulation as well by temporal context or pattern adaptation. A linear feedforward model of orientation selectivity is adequate for explaining the simplest, first-order, responses of V1 neurons, at a time when responses to unitary stimuli presented within the receptive field center are regarded as the only significant property of V1 cells.
Impact of integrated vehicle health management (IVHM) technologies on ground operations for reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) and spacecraft

Incorporation of Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) technologies into launch vehicle and spacecraft designs offers the potential for significant savings in operations costs. IVHM has three basic objectives. First is more autonomous operation in flight and on the ground, which directly translates to reduced workload on the ground controller team through reduction of raw vehicle data into "health summary information." Next is reduced ground processing of reusable vehicles due to more performance of system health checks in flight rather than back on the ground as well as more automated ground servicing and checkout. Lastly is enhanced vehicle safety and reliability due to increased capability to monitor system health using modern sensing systems inside even the harsh environment of an engine combustion chamber as well as through prediction of pending failures. The "integrated" piece of IVHM is the total integration of flight and ground IVHM elements. The three elements of flight IVHM are advanced light weight/low power sensors, extensive real-time data processing and analysis and distributed data acquisition architecture with high-density mass storage. The two elements of ground IVHM are evolved control room architectures with advanced applications and automated ground processing systems. The status of current flight experiments on the Space Shuttle, Deep Space-1, X-33, X-34 and X-37 is presented.
National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)

The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a systematic assessment tool designed to measure the neurological deficits most often seen with acute stroke. It assesses level of consciousness, gaze, visual fields, facial weakness, motor performance of the extremities, sensory deficit, coordination (ataxia), language (aphasia), speech (dysarthria), and hemi-inattention (neglect). For all parameters, a value of 0 is normal; so, the higher the score, the worse the neurological deficit (the highest possible score is 42). The scale was designed to be done quickly and easily at the bedside to provide a rapid and standardized assessment of neurological function in the early periods after a stroke. It has been validated and has been shown to be reliable, even when performed by non-neurologists and non-physicians. Keywords: stroke scales; neurological deficit scales; NIHSS ; clinimetrics
Small-Mammal Consumption of Hypogeous Fungi in the Central Adirondacks of New York

Abstract Small mammals are generally known to consume and disperse subterranean (hypogeous) fungi, but accounts for this behavior are lacking for the northeastern US. We report on the use of these fungi by a sample of small mammals from the central Adirondack Mountains of New York. We analyzed 57 fecal samples from Peromyscus maniculatus (Deer Mouse), Myodes gapperi (Southern Red-backed Vole), Tamias striatus (Eastern Chipmunk), and Blarina brevicauda (Short-tailed Shrew) to determine whether they were consuming fungi in the central Adirondack Mountains. We found that fecal samples from Eastern Chipmunk (n = 12), Southern Red-backed Vole (n = 14), Short-tailed Shrew (n = 14), and Deer Mouse (n = 17) contained Glomus spp. (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) spores (33.3%, 35.7%, 21.4%, and 17.6% of samples, respectively) and Russulaceae spores (66.6%, 35.7%, 7.14% and 5.9% of samples, respectively). One sample from an Eastern Chipmunk also contained Gautieria spores.
An Index for Degree of Hysteresis in Water Retention

Direct characterization of hysteresis in water retention (WR) is typically cumbersome and time consuming. Thus, such data are scarce, and even when available are typically ignored in unsaturated flow modeling. One reason for disregard of this ubiquitous and significant feature of WR is lack of a universally applicable index for the degree of hysteresis that allows a priori assessment of its effect on flow In this note we show that the mismatch between the hydraulic capacity functions of the primary drainage and imbibition curves can serve as generalized index for degree of hysteresis (H), Moreover, we showed that hysteresis indices of a broad range of soils are linearly related with the natural-logarithm of the van Genuchten n parameter (r 2 = 0.73). This model allows predicting the degree of hysteresis and the missing hysteresis branch using only wetting or drying water retention data. The robusmess of the proposed index was illustrated by comparing it with error in simulated moisture redistribution in a horizontal column that arises from ignoring hysteresis.
Shock occurrence and survival in 241 patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of clinical characteristics on shock occurrence and survival in 241 patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS Two hundred forty-one consecutive patients underwent ICD implantation between November 1982 and November 1991 and were subsequently followed for 26 +/- 22 months (intention-to-treat analysis). Actuarial incidence of "appropriate" shocks was 13%, 42%, and 63%, and the incidence of any spontaneous shocks was 15%, 51%, and 76% at 1, 3, and 5 years of follow-up, respectively. Poor left ventricular function (ejection fraction < or = 30%) was associated with an earlier occurrence of both appropriate and any spontaneous ICD shocks (p = 0.001). Appropriate and any spontaneous shocks occurred significantly later in patients who presented with cardiac arrest and in patients in whom only ventricular fibrillation but no uniform ventricular tachycardia was induced during preoperative programmed stimulation. In addition, amiodarone treatment at implant was associated with later occurrence of any spontaneous shocks. Cumulative survival from all-cause mortality including perioperative mortality was 84%, 62%, and 57%, and survival from arrhythmic death was 97%, 89%, and 83% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Ejection fraction < or = 30% was the best predictor of both total arrhythmic death (p = 0.019) and total mortality (p = 0.003). Antiarrhythmic therapy with class 1 agents at implant was also associated with a higher total mortality during follow-up (p = 0.023) but not with total arrhythmic death. Age, sex, underlying heart disease, clinical presentation, and preoperative response to programmed stimulation did not predict long-term survival. In addition, survival curves were similar for patients with and without spontaneous shocks. CONCLUSIONS The majority of patients receive shocks during long-term follow-up. The occurrence of appropriate or any spontaneous shocks during follow-up is not associated with increased arrhythmic or total mortality consistent with effective prevention of sudden cardiac death with ICD therapy in this high-risk patient population. Although low ejection fraction is the strongest predictor of both shock occurrence and mortality during follow-up, no easy algorithm can be derived from the analyzed clinical characteristics to predict which patients will benefit most from ICD implantation.
Epithelioid sarcoma: the University of Washington experience.

Abstract Background Epithelioid sarcoma is a rare sarcoma with a high local recurrence rate that frequently metastasizes to lymph nodes. We reviewed our experience with adjuvant therapy in patients with this disease. Methods Between 1990 and 2003, we treated 11 patients with epithelioid sarcoma. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics were analyzed, and effect of treatment on survival was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Nine men and 2 women were treated. Tumors presented on the trunk, the upper extremities, and the lower extremities. Five patients developed nodal disease. All patients underwent surgery for the primary tumor, and 7 patients had nodal evaluation. Ten patients underwent adjuvant chemotherapy, and 9 underwent radiotherapy. Recurrence developed in 9 patients. Five-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 46% and 65%, respectively. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy did not impact disease-free survival. Conclusions Although surgery remains the primary treatment modality, multi-institutional trials are needed to develop more effective adjuvant therapy for patients with epithelioid sarcoma.
Subnormal serum testosterone levels in male internal medicine residents

The consequences of sleep deprivation and stress in residency training have not been quantified. In the course of assembling a control group for other studies, we unexpectedly observed a significant (P less than 0.005) and marked depression of serum testosterone levels in healthy male internal medicine residents (means = 11.8 +/- 1.1 nmol/L, n = 7) compared with other hospital personnel (means = 20.6 +/- 5.3 nmol/L, n = 18). Testosterone concentrations in the two groups were entirely nonoverlapping, while luteinizing hormone levels were not significantly different. We conclude that the stress of residency training leads to a quantifiable depression of gonadal function, and that gonadal steroid concentrations may be useful in evaluating measures intended to reduce that stress.
Shell-model calculations for the zinc isotopes

Shell-model calculations for the zinc isotopes have been carried out with active particles distributed in the 1p32, 0f52 and 1p12 orbits outside a closed “56Ni” core. The effective Hamiltonian used was one obtained by Koops and Glaudemans from a fit to Ni and Cu level energies. An average absolute deviation of 0.19 MeV between the calculated and experimental ground-state binding energies is obtained for the A = 62−68 Zn isotopes. Good agreement is also found between most calculated and experimental excitation energies and spectroscopic factors for single-nucleon transfer for the low-lying levels in these nuclei. Experimentally known B(E2) values are generally well reproduced by the present model with effective charges of 1.0 ± 0.1 and 1.6 ± 0.2 for the neutron and proton, respectively. Magnetic dipole as well as Gamow-Teller transitions are not well accounted for by these calculations and seem to be sensitive to excitations of the 56Ni core.
Bubbles, inertia, and experience in experimental asset markets

Abstract We find that irrational bubbles continue to form in an experimental assets market even though experience lessens specious market pricing. However, this irrationality may remain hidden from the customary observational perspective. Both price expectations and bubbles appear rational, passing both traditional and cointegration tests. Conventional statistical testing has difficulty distinguishing “irrational” inertia from “rational” market behavior. Yet, inertia provides a much better explanation of observed, experimental market prices than do the “fundamentals” Keywords: Inertia, Rational Bubbles, Experimental Markets, Econometric Testing.
Fermilab Power Monitor

Because of the complex price structure under which Fermilab buys its electrical power from the Commonwealth Edison Power Company, the Laboratory must carefully control its energy consumption rate. The rate has to stay below strict limits which vary from day to night and weekday to weekend. At the same time it is important to run as close to these limits as possible to derive the most benefit from the pricing structure. A description is given of the microprocessor system which compares site power with programmed limits, graphically displays relations and trends, informs operators of corrective actions if needed, and trips the major power load if limit violation is imminent.
Mechanical behaviour of ventricular aneurysms

A mathematical model describes the mechanical behaviour of ventricular aneurysms assuming a spherical geometry for the left ventricle. Employing pressure-volume data obtained from normal dog hearts 1–2 hours after infarction, conditions are obtained on infarct thickness and angle of damage for ventricular rupture to occur. The results indicate that rupture is more likely to occur in the early period following infarction and that the dominant factor is the per cent thickness of the infarct.
An approach for designing virtual environment training systems

We have developed a set of analytic tools to identify and develop virtual environment (VE) simulation training applications. Task selection criteria help identify tasks that might benefit from VE training; VE requirements matrices are used to derive VE training systemrequirements; and cost-effectiveness factors are used to judge the relative merits of VE and other training delivery technologies. The tools have been applied successfully in aircraft and space maintenance domains, and work is in progress to extend them to nuclear power plant maintenance.
NT-3 Attenuates Functional and Structural Disorders in Sensory Nerves of Galactose-fed Rats

The present study investigated the effect of NT-3, a neurotrophin expressed in nerve and skeletal muscle, on myelinated fiber disorders of galactose-fed rats. Adult, female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing complete micronutrient supplements and either 0% D-galactose (control) or 40% D-galactose. Treated controls received 20 mg/kg NT-3 and treated galactose-fed rats received 1, 5, or 20 mg/kg NT-3 three times per week by subcutaneous injections. After 2 months, sciatic and saphenous sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and sciatic motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were measured and the sciatic, sural, peroneal and saphenous nerves and dorsal and ventral roots processed for light microscopy. Treatment of control animals with NT-3 had no effect on any functional or structural parameter. Compared to control values, galactose feeding induced a sensory and motor nerve conduction deficit and a reduction in axonal caliber. Treatment with 5 and 20 mg/kg NT-3 ameliorated deficits in sciatic and saphenous SNCV in galactose-fed rats but had no effect on the MNCV deficit. NT-3 treatment also attenuated the decrease in mean axonal caliber in the dorsal root and sural nerve but not in the saphenous nerve, ventral root and peroneal nerve. These observations show that NT-3 can selectively attenuate the sensory conduction deficit of galactose neuropathy in a dose-dependent manner that depends only in part on restoration of axonal caliber of large-fiber sensory neurons.
AEROSOL FILTRATION IN GRANULAR MEDIA

Presented is a survey of recent studies aimed at a fundamental understanding of the important phenomena arising from the flow of aerosol suspensions through granular media. The results of these studies clearly indicate that in spite of the inherent complexities of granular aerosol filtration, studies on the subject can, indeed, lead, on a fundamental level, to results of significant value to practical problems.
Vegetative reproduction during development in Australian pygmy and tuberous sundews

Abstract To better understand the vegetative growth and vegetative reproduction of two types of Australian sundews, physiological and molecular approaches were taken. Tuberous sundews produce underground tubers while pygmy sundews make gemmae from leaves' stipules. The effects of Al, Mn and Mg in vitro and in vivo were examined to understand the basic role of these normal soil components on vegetative development. Surprisingly, Al promoted growth, and experiments using ionophores suggest that this was due to an inhibition of Ca uptake. In addition, tuber formation was induced using cytokinins in vitro as a first step in following tuber formation and knotted family genes, which may be involved in tuber formation, were detected by PCR. Tubers formed on detached leaves of Drosera peltata at concentrations of BA of 0.1–1.0 mg/L and PCR was used to demonstrate the presence of knotted family genes in pygmy and tuberous sundews.
Analysis of corn oil for total tocopherols

A method has been developed to overcome difficulties in the analysis of corn oil for tocopherol. The poor recovery of tocopherol added to corn oil prior to the Parker-McFarlane treatment does not occur with the present method, and the absorbance drift which occurs when crude corn oil reacts with iron and dipyridyl is largely eliminated.
Multi-objective flexible flow lines with due window, time lag, and job rejection

This paper presents a multi-objective flexible flow shop scheduling problem with limited time lag between stages. n jobs are available to schedule in a predetermined due window. A mixed integer linear programming model with the objectives of maximizing the total profit gained from scheduled jobs and minimizing deviation from the due date is introduced. Due to non-deterministic polynomial-time-hard complexity, the problem is solved with an efficient genetic algorithm. A heuristic mechanism is devised in every generation of the genetic algorithm to assure the solution feasibility. This heuristic also decreases the total solution time by reducing the search space. Computational results show that the presented approach finds solutions of good quality in reasonable runtimes.
Mining personalized medicine algorithms with surrogate algorithm tags

This paper demonstrates a method to identify keyword strategies to facilitate the search for articles containing decision support and clinical algorithms represented in the text by complex unsearchable items such as decision tree figures, pseudo code, or mathematical formulae. We use a text mining approach to generate 'Surrogate Algorithm Tags' (SRATs), i.e., keyword combinations highly associated with articles containing the algorithms of interest. In this project, we obtain an initial SRAT set from analyzing abstracts of publications available in PubMed with known warfarin dosing algorithms, gradually refine the SRATs by iterative optimization to improve precision or recall of the search, and then apply cut-off thresholds to terminate the optimization process and obtain optimal SRATs.
Channel Estimation and Detection for Single Carrier Systems

Block transmission techniques have received much research interest recently for their ability to eliminate the intersymbol interference problem associated with continuous transmission. Numerous detection schemes for single carrier systems have been proposed. While these schemes may be derived from different principles, they usually rely on some prior estimate of the channel. However, channel estimation is usually affected by errors and most of existing detection schemes are known to be sensitive to such errors. In this paper, we develop robust detection schemes that explicitly account for channel and covariance matrix estimation errors by optimizing the worst-case performance over two properly selected bounded uncertainty sets, that are centered on the prior channel and covariance matrix estimates. Numerical results show an improved performance using the proposed robust approaches over the ones that ignore the prior estimation errors.
Arizona porphyry copper/hydrothermal deposits I. The structure of chenevixite and luetheite

The crystal structure of chenevixite, Cu 2 M 2 (AsO 4 ) 2 (OH) 4 (where M = Fe 3+ or Al), pseudo-orthorhombic, monoclinic, a = 5.7012(8), b = 5.1801(7), c = 29.265(2) A, β = 89.99(1)°, V = 864.3(4) A 3 , space group B 12 1 1, Z = 4, was solved by direct methods and refined by least-squares techniques to R = 8.4% and a goodness-of-fit ( S ) of 1.37 for 1176 unique observed ( F ⩾4σ F ) reflections collected for a twinned microcrystal using graphite-monochromated Mo- K α X-rays and a CCD area detector. Vertex- and edge-sharing arsenate tetrahedra, Alϕ 6 octahedra, and Jahn-Teller-distorted Cu 2+ ϕ 6 octahedra [ϕ: O 2− , (OH) − ] form a framework unique from those in Cu 2+ oxysalt minerals. Chains of edge-sharing Cu 2+ ϕ 6 octahedra, with Alϕ 6 octahedra attached on opposing sides by the sharing of edges, are linked into layers parallel to (001) by sharing vertices with AsO 4 tetrahedra, and the layers are linked to form a framework by the sharing of polyhedral elements between adjacent Alϕ 6 octahedra, as well as between AsO 4 tetrahedra and Alϕ 6 octahedra.
Ligand and Anion Effects on the Morphology of Aqueous Substructures Entrained within One-Dimensional [CuL4X] Coordination Polymer Matrices (L = 2,4‘-Bipyridine, 4-Phenylpyridine; X = SO42-, SiF62-)

The one-dimensional (1-D) coordination polymers [Cu(2,4‘-bpy)4SO4]·6H2O (1), [Cu(4-phpyr)4SO4]·5H2O (2), [Cu(2,4‘-bpy)4SiF6]·4.5 H2O (3), and [Cu(4-phpyr)4SiF6]·4.5H2O (4) (2,4‘-bpy = 2,4‘-bipyridine, 4-phpyr = 4-phenylpyridine) have been prepared in aqueous solution and characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structures of 1−4 manifest zigzag 1-D chains constructed from interdigitated “X-shaped” CuL42+ cations and the relevant counteranions while entraining hydrogen-bonded supramolecular water substructures that serve to connect the 1-D coordination polymer subunits into pseudo three-dimensional (3-D) structures. In 1, 1-D aqueous tapes comprised of water molecule tetramers and individual water molecules are evident. Discrete zero-dimensional (0-D) water clusters are observed in 2, while discrete water molecule chains are manifested in 3 and 4. The markedly different morphologies of the respective aqueous substructures within this family of coordination polymers are dictated by th...
The use of a relational data base for holding molecule data in a molecular graphics system

Abstract An n -ary relational data base system has been used to hold the molecule data of a high-level molecular graphics system. The data base management sy