cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biotic resistance to invader establishment of a southern Appalachian plant community is determined by environmental conditions

Summary 1 Tests of the relationship between resident plant species richness and habitat invasibility have yielded variable results. I investigated the roles of experimental manipulation of understorey species richness and overstorey characteristics in resistance to invader establishment in a floodplain forest in south-western Virginia, USA. 2 I manipulated resident species richness in experimental plots along a flooding gradient, keeping plot densities at their original levels, and quantified the overstorey characteristics of each plot. 3 After manipulating the communities, I transplanted 10 randomly chosen invaders from widespread native and non-native forest species into the experimental plots. Success of an invasion was measured by survival and growth of the invader. 4 Native and non-native invader establishment trends were influenced by different aspects of the biotic community and these relationships depended on the site of invasion. The most significant influence on non-native invader survival in this system of streamside and upper terrace plots was the overstorey composition. Non-native species survival in the flooded plots after 2 years was significantly positively related to proximity to larger trees. However, light levels did not fully explain the overstorey effect and were unrelated to native survivorship. The effects of understorey richness on survivorship depended on the origin of the invaders and the sites they were transplanted into. Additionally, native species growth was significantly affected by understorey plot richness. 5 The direction and strength of interactions with both the overstorey (for non-native invaders) and understorey richness (for natives and non-natives) changed with the site of invasion and associated environmental conditions. Rather than supporting the hypothesis of biotic resistance to non-native invasion, my results suggest that native invaders experienced increased competition with the native understorey plants in the more benign upland habitat and facilitation in the stressful riparian zone.
Desperately Seeking an Identity Diasporic Cinema and the Articulation of Transnational Kinship

Not all constructions of home in the diaspora produce virulent forms of patriotism. Visual culture offers diasporic populations the opportunity to enable an identification with the homeland that emphasizes shared affiliations and identifications. Tapping into the warehouse of images offered by western and non-western popular culture, the diasporic imaginary builds a transnational community of sentiment forged through kinship networks and affective ties. Specifically, the article argues that these narratives deploy a diasporic optic, a sideways glance that looks constantly at two or more worlds and moves in different directions at once. The diasporic optic offers the possibility of negotiating identities across differences through the use of media images.
Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness: An assessment of student perception and motivation

Over the past century, student ratings have steadily continued to take precedence in faculty evaluation systems in North America and Australia, are increasingly reported in Asia and Europe and are attracting considerable attention in the Far East. Since student ratings are the most, if not the only, influential measure of teaching effectiveness, active participation by and meaningful input from students can be critical in the success of such teaching evaluation systems. Nevertheless, very few studies have looked into students' perception of the teaching evaluation system and their motivation to participate. This study employs expectancy theory to evaluate some key factors that motivate students to participate in the teaching evaluation process. The results show that students generally consider an improvement in teaching to be the most attractive outcome of a teaching evaluation system. The second most attractive outcome was using teaching evaluations to improve course content and format. Using teaching ev...
Roles of DnaK and RpoS in starvation-induced thermotolerance of Escherichia coli

DnaK is essential for starvation-induced resistance to heat, oxidation, and reductive division in Escherichia coli . Studies reported here indicate that DnaK is also required for starvation-induced osmotolerance, catalase activity, and the production of the RpoS-controlled Dps (PexB) protein. Because these dnaK mutant phenotypes closely resemble those of rpoS (ς 38 ) mutants, the relationship between DnaK and RpoS was evaluated directly during growth and starvation at 30°C in strains with genetically altered DnaK content. A starvation-specific effect of DnaK on RpoS abundance was observed. During carbon starvation, DnaK deficiency reduced RpoS levels threefold, while DnaK excess increased RpoS levels nearly twofold. Complementation of the dnaK mutation restored starvation-induced RpoS levels to normal. RpoS deficiency had no effect on the cellular concentration of DnaK, revealing an epistatic relationship between DnaK and RpoS. Protein half-life studies conducted at the onset of starvation indicate that DnaK deficiency significantly destabilized RpoS. RpoH (ς 32 ) suppressors of the dnaK mutant with restored levels of RpoS and dnaK rpoS double mutants were used to show that DnaK plays both an independent and an RpoS-dependent role in starvation-induced thermotolerance. The results suggest that DnaK coordinates sigma factor levels in glucose-starved E. coli.
Preoperative and surveillance MR imaging of patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy

MR imaging provides considerable advantages for imaging patients with peritoneal tumor. Its inherently superior contrast resolution compared to CT allows MRI to more accurately depict small peritoneal tumors that are often missed on other imaging tests. Combining different contrast mechanisms including diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI and gadolinium-enhanced MRI provides a powerful tool for preoperative and surveillance imaging in patients being considered for cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).
Bone mineral density changes over two years in first-time users of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate.

Objective To compare longitudinal changes in bone mineral density (BMD) among first-time depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) users to women using no hormonal contraception, and evaluate user characteristics associated with that BMD change. Design Prospective longitudinal study. Setting Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment. Patient(s) Women, aged 18 to 35, choosing DMPA for contraception (n = 178) and women using no hormonal contraception (n = 145). Main outcome measure(s) Hip and spine BMD measured, at three-month intervals for 24 months, by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Result(s) Mean hip BMD declined 2.8% (SE = 0.034) 12 months following DMPA initiation and 5.8% (SE = 0.096) after 24 months. Mean spine (L1–L3) BMD declined 3.5% (SE = 0.022) and 5.7% (SE = 0.034), respectively, after one and two years of DMPA use. Mean hip and spine BMD of control participants changed less than 0.9% over the same period. Among DMPA users, body mass index (BMI) change was inversely associated with BMD change at the hip, but not at the spine. Calcium intake, physical activity, and smoking did not influence BMD change in either group. Conclusion(s) Hip and spine BMD declined after one DMPA injection and this decline continued with each subsequent injection for 24 months. With the exception of increasing BMI among DMPA users, no user characteristics offered protection against DMPA-related BMD loss.
Comparison of the treatment implications of American society of hypertension and international society of hypertension 2013 and eighth joint national committee guidelines: An analysis of national health and nutrition examination survey

Multiple guidelines and statements related to hypertension have recently been published. Much discord has arisen from discrepant treatment and target systolic blood pressure thresholds for individuals aged 60 to 79 years of <150 mm Hg in the guideline published by members assigned to the Eighth Joint National Committee and <140 mm Hg in a statement by the American Society of Hypertension and International Society of Hypertension 2013. We sought to evaluate the public health implications of these differences using data from the 2005 to 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles. NHANES is an ongoing survey designed to allow characterization of the US population and subpopulations. We found that only .2.4% (95% confidence interval, 1.5.3.2%) of adults aged 60 to 79 years had indications for antihypertensive treatment under the more stringent American Society of Hypertension and International Society of Hypertension 2013 guideline but not under Eighth Joint National Committee. About 65.7% (95% confidence interval, 62.4.69.0%) of adults aged 60 to 79 years had indications for treatment under both guidelines. Furthermore, those with indications for treatment under American Society of Hypertension and International Society of Hypertension 2013 but not under Eighth Joint National Committee generally had higher systolic blood pressure and less favorable lipid profiles compared with those with indications for treatment under both guidelines. Importantly, a larger group, comprising 21.0% (95% confidence interval, 18.7.23.2%) of adults aged 60 to 79 years, had either untreated or inadequately treated hypertension and represents an important group for continued efforts.
The Influence of Caffeine Arousal on the Frequency of Task-Unrelated Image and Thought Intrusions

Based upon earlier studies relating task-unrelated image and thought (TUIT) frequency to circadian activity levels and to decreases with increased age in adulthood it was hypothesized that increased cortical arousal would result in greater TUIT frequency. In a double-blind study, six young men had arousal induced at two dosages of caffeine, 100 mg and 300 mg. When unintentional and deliberate TUIT frequency at the 100 mg and 300 mg dosages was contrasted with the placebo no significant effects were noted. Change in TUIT frequency between placebo and the 300 mg dosage was significantly correlated with the personality trait of Agreeableness. Lack of compliance, caffeine withdrawal influences, and insufficiently high arousal are discussed as possible sources of the lack of relationship obtained between caffeine dosage and TUIT frequency.
Designing and conducting participatory outcome evaluation of community-based organizations' HIV prevention programs.

Abstract With the increasing emphasis on evaluating the effectiveness of community-based organizations' HIV prevention programs, the needs, concerns, and strategies related to having stakeholders participate in designing and conducting an outcome evaluation need to be discussed. Stakeholders' participation in outcome evaluation ensures its relevancy and fairness. Participatory outcome evaluation starts with assessing the feasibility of conducting an outcome evaluation and determining whether stakeholders have a need for an outcome evaluation. If an outcome evaluation is possible and needed, the areas in which stakeholders can make important contributions to the evaluation are negotiated with the stakeholders. The article also discusses strategies to improve stakeholders' use of the results of outcome evaluation.
A new approach to quantifying spatial contiguity using graph theory and spatial interaction

Spatial contiguity is an important and fundamental landscape property in land allocation, habitat design, and forest management. The agreed upon notion of contiguity in the literature suggests shapelessness. However, existing approaches for measuring/promoting contiguity use proxies that either favour a particular shape or ignore inter-patch relationships in fragmented landscapes. We propose an unbiased relative measure of contiguity ranging from zero to one based on graph theory and spatial interaction. The new measure reflects intra-patch and inter-patch relationships by quantifying contiguity within patches and potential contiguity among patches. Empirical analysis suggests that this measure of contiguity is reliable, consistent, and insensitive to sub-region shape.
Why do melanomas get so dark

Cutaneous malignant melanomas often exhibit pigmented regions that are darker than the surrounding skin. While melanoma cells are the original source of the melanin, keratinocytes and melanophages also contribute to the tumor colour because they contain melanin obtained from melanoma cells. However, little is known of the origin of darkly pigmented melanoma cells or of the molecular pathways regulating their melanin production. Here we discuss observations that dark melanoma cells emerge from within populations of melanoma in situ and that, in addition to producing abundant dark pigment, they appear to be undergoing autophagy. Moreover, autophagy appears to be a common trait of invasive melanoma cells in the dermis. The underlying cause of this phenomenon may stem from aberrant production of glycosylation structures known as beta1,6-branched oligosaccharides. Our studies of dark cutaneous melanomas were prompted by analyses of experimental mouse macrophage-melanoma hybrids fused in the laboratory. Like melanoma cells in cutaneous malignant melanoma, experimental hybrids also displayed abundant dark pigment and autophagy, and had high levels of beta1,6-branched oligosaccharides. Whether or not darkly pigmented malignant melanoma cells originate from fusion with macrophages in vivo remains to be determined. In any event, pigmentation in melanoma, long considered as a secondary aspect of the malignancy, may be a visible warning that the cells have gained competence for invasion and metastasis.
Asparaginase Pharmacokinetics After Intensive Polyethylene Glycol-Conjugated L-Asparaginase Therapy for Children with Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Purpose: Asparaginase therapy is an important component in the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Polyethylene glycol-conjugated asparaginase (PEG-ASNase) has significant pharmacological advantages over native Escherichia coli asparaginase. We investigated the pharmacokinetics of PEG-ASNase, presence of antibodies to PEG-ASNase, and concentrations of asparagine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in combination chemotherapy for relapsed pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Experimental Design: Twenty-eight pediatric patients with relapsed medullary ( n = 16) and extramedullary ( n = 11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia were enrolled at three pediatric institutions and had at least two serum and CSF samples obtained for analysis. Patients received induction therapy (including PEG-ASNase 2500 IU/m 2 intramuscularly weekly on days 2, 9, 16, and 23) and intensification therapy (including PEG-ASNase 2500 IU/m 2 intramuscularly once on day 7). Serum samples were obtained weekly during induction and intensification. CSF samples were obtained during therapeutic lumbar punctures during induction and intensification. Results: Weekly PEG-ASNase therapy resulted in PEG-ASNase activity of >0.1 IU/ml in 91–100% of patients throughout induction. During intensification, PEG-ASNase on day 7 resulted in PEG-ASNase activity >0.1 IU/ml in 94% and 80% of patients on days 14 and 21, respectively. Serum and CSF asparagine depletion was observed and maintained during induction and intensification in the majority of samples. PEG-ASNase antibody was observed in only 3 patients. Conclusions: Intensive PEG-ASNase therapy in the treatment of relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia reliably results in high-level serum PEG-ASNase activity, and asparagine depletion in serum and CSF is usually achieved. Incorporation of intensive PEG-ASNase in future trials for recurrent acute lymphoblastic leukemia is warranted.
Local dispersal can facilitate coexistence in the presence of permanent spatial heterogeneity

Abstract In the presence of permanent spatial heterogeneity, local dispersal, especially short-range dispersal, can facilitate coexistence by concentrating low-density species in the areas where their rates of increase are higher. We present a framework for predicting the effects of local dispersal on coexistence for arbitrary forms of dispersal and arbitrary spatial patterns of environmental variation. Using the lottery model as an example, we find that local dispersal contributes to coexistence by enhancing the effects of environmental variation on scales longer than typical dispersal distances, which can be characterized solely by the variance of the dispersal kernel. Higher moments of the dispersal kernel are not important.
Coarse-to-Fine Image Search Using Neural Networks

The efficiency of image search can be greatly improved by using a coarse-to-fine search strategy with a multi-resolution image representation. However, if the resolution is so low that the objects have few distinguishing features, search becomes difficult. We show that the performance of search at such low resolutions can be improved by using context information, i.e., objects visible at low-resolution which are not the objects of interest but are associated with them. The networks can be given explicit context information as inputs, or they can learn to detect the context objects, in which case the user does not have to be aware of their existence. We also use Integrated Feature Pyramids, which represent high-frequency information at low resolutions. The use of multiresolution search techniques allows us to combine information about the appearance of the objects on many scales in an efficient way. A natural form of exemplar selection also arises from these techniques. We illustrate these ideas by training hierarchical systems of neural networks to find clusters of buildings in aerial photographs of farmland.
Vestibular dark cells contain the Na+H+ exchanger NHE-1 in the basolateral membrane

Vestibular dark cells and strial marginal cells transport K+ by similar mechanisms. We have shown that K+ transport in vestibular dark cells is sensitive to the cytosolic pH (pHi) (Wangemann et al. (1995a): J. Membrane Biol. 147: 255-262). The present study addresses pharmacologically the questions whether vestibular dark cells and strial marginal cells from the gerbil contain a Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) and in which membrane, apical or basolateral, NHE is located. Further, the study addresses the question which NHE subtype is present in vestibular dark cells. pHi was measured micro-fluorometrically with the pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bicarboxyethyl-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF), cell volume which is a measure of the net balance between ion influx and efflux was monitored as cell height (CH) and the equivalent short circuit current (Isc) which is a measure of transepithelial K+ secretion was calculated from measurements of the transepithelial voltage (Vt) and the transepithelial resistance (Rt). Changes in pHi were induced by 20 or 40 mM propionate. In the presence of propionate a transient acidification of pHi was observed in vestibular dark cells as well as a subsequent alkalinization to pHi values exceeding those under control conditions. The alkalinization of pHi in the presence of propionate was inhibited by the NHE blockers amiloride and EIPA. Propionate-induced swelling of vestibular dark cells was inhibited by amiloride. The NHE blocker amiloride caused in vestibular dark cells an acidification of pHi and a decrease in CH. Amiloride caused in both vestibular dark cells and strial marginal cells a transient stimulation of Isc when added to the basolateral side but not added to the apical side. Similar effects and pHi were observed in vestibular dark cells with the amiloride analog ethyl-isopropyl-amiloride (EIPA) and similar effects on Isc were observed with EIPA and the NHE blocker HOE694 when applied to the basolateral side of vestibular dark cell epithelium. The IC50 for these basolateral effects of EIPA, HOE694 and amiloride on Isc in vestibular dark cells were 2 x 10(-7) M, 8 x 10(-7) M and 4 x 10(-5) M. These observation suggest that vestibular dark cells and strial marginal cells contain NHE in their basolateral membrane, that K+ transport in strial marginal cells in pHi sensitive similar to K+ transport in vestibular dark cells and that NHE in vestibular dark cells consists of the subtype NHE-1.
Gender Differences in Fat Talk Among American Adults: Results from the Psychology of Size Survey

Vignettes were used to assess gender differences in likelihood of hearing others engage in and perceived pressure to join in positive, negative (fat talk), and self-accepting body talk. An age-representative sample of 4,014 adult women and men voluntarily responded to an emailed “Health and Wellness” survey from an internet polling company with whom they had pre-registered. Women reported more likelihood of hearing fat-talk scenarios and greater pressure to participate in them compared to men. Only a subset of participants reported frequent exposure to and pressure to join in fat talk. Demographic predictors of pressure to engage in fat talk were also examined. This was the first survey to examine body talk among older adults.
Naturalism’s Perils, Naturalism’s Promises: A Comment on Appiah’s Experiments in Ethics

In his Experiments in Ethics, Appiah focuses mostly on the dimension of naturalism as a naturalism of deprivation - naturalism’s apparent robbing us of aspects of the world that we had held dear. The aim of this paper is to remind him of that naturalism has a dimension of plenitude as well - its capacity to enrich our conception of the world as well. With regard to character, we argue that scientific psychology can help provide a conception of character as dynamic, in a way that may preserve many key aspects of eudaimonistic ethics from the situationists’ challenge. With regard to intuition, we address Appiah’s worry that naturalistic explanations of the sources of our intuitions may leave us feeling that those intuitions have been thereby debunked. We suggest that it may be that feeling of debunking that should itself be debunked.
Unifying configuration space and sensor space for vision-based motion planning

Visual feedback can play a crucial role in a dynamic robotic task such as the interception of a moving target. To utilize the feedback effectively, there is a need to develop robot motion planning techniques that also take into account properties of the sensed data. We propose a motion planning framework that achieves this with the help of a space called the perceptual control manifold (PCM) defined on the product of the robot configuration space and an image-based feature space. We show how the task of intercepting a moving target can be mopped to the PCM. This leads to the generation of motion plans that satisfy various constraints and optimality criteria derived from the robot kinematics, the control system, and the sensing mechanism.
Spatial pattern of pulmonary blood flow distribution is stable over days

Glenny, Robb W., Steven McKinney, and H. Thomas Robertson.Spatial pattern of pulmonary blood flow distribution is stable over days. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(3): 902–907, 1997.—Despite the heterogeneous...
Prevalence and Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in Growing Pigs in the USA

A decade of research of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in pigs shows that the prevalence and predominant genotypes (i.e., ST398, ST9, ST5) of MRSA vary widely geographically, yet knowledge of the epidemiology of S. aureus generally in swine remains rudimentary. To characterize S. aureus, including MRSA, in the US swine industry, we sampled 38 swine herds in 11 states in major swine producing regions. The herds sampled included pigs sourced from 9 different breeding stock companies, and the sample was likely biased towards larger herds that use regular veterinary services. Twenty nasal swabs were collected from 36 groups of growing pigs by 36 swine veterinarians, 2 more herds were sampled opportunistically, and a historically MRSA-positive herd was included as a positive control. S. aureus was detected on 37 of the 38 herds, and in 77% of pigs sampled. Other than the positive control herd, no MRSA were detected in the study sample, yielding a 95% upper confidence limit of 9.3% for MRSA herd prevalence. All but two (ST1-t127; ST2007-t8314) of 1200 isolates belonged to three MLST lineages (ST9, ST398, and ST5) that have been prominent in studies of MRSA in pigs globally. A total of 35 spa types were detected, with the most prevalent being t337 (ST9), t034 (ST398), and t002 (ST5). A purposively diverse subset of 128 isolates was uniformly negative on PCR testing for major enterotoxin genes. The findings support previous studies suggesting a relatively low herd prevalence of MRSA in the US swine industry, but confirm that methicillin susceptible variants of the most common MRSA genotypes found in swine globally are endemic in the US. The absence of enterotoxin genes suggests that the source of toxigenic S. aureus capable of causing foodborne enterotoxicosis from pork products is most likely post-harvest contamination.
The Celestial Pearl danio is a miniature Danio (s.s) (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae): evidence from morphology and molecules

The osteology of the miniature cyprinid Celestichthys margaritatus Roberts, type species of Celestichthys Roberts, is described in detail and briefly compared with that of other members of the Rasborinae (notably Danio (s.s), Danionella, Devario, Esomus, Microrasbora, Paedocypris and Sundadanio). Celestichthys margaritatus possesses an “A” stripe on the anal fin and two pigment stripes on the caudal fin (apomorphic features of Danio sensu Fang, 2003). In addition, C. margaritatus exhibits a median projection on the outer arm of the os suspensorium, a derived feature, present only in species of Danio (including D. erythromicron) amongst the Cyprinidae, and a lateral projection on the lateral face of the dentary (present only in Danio, Sundadanio and Paedocypris). Phylogenetic analysis of 1,494 bp of the RAG1 nuclear gene for 31 rasborine taxa, including 5 species of Danio, places C. margaritatus as the sister group to D. erythromicron, and part of a larger monophyletic group including all other species of Danio included for analysis. Based on characters of morphology and its position in a molecular phylogeny of the Rasborinae it is proposed that Celestichthys be placed in the synonymy of Danio, its only member referred to as Danio margaritatus new combination.
Dysfunctional activity of macrophages from tumor-bearing mice is reflected in a deficient production and decreased nuclear translocation of transcription factors NFκB and C/EBP

5309 Tumor progression is associated with the development of a profound state of immunosuppression in the host. In patients and animals bearing advanced tumors, both the innate and the adaptive immune defenses are impaired. Innate immunity represents the first line of protection against the development of tumors, and its actions are exerted through effector cells such as macrophages, polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes, and NK cells. Earlier work from our laboratory has shown that BALB/c mice bearing large D1-DMBA-3 mammary tumors exhibit decreased expressions of nitric oxide (NO) and IL-12, two relevant inflammatory molecules produced by macrophages that are involved in anti-tumor responses. We have previously shown that NO is a major mediator of macrophages’ tumoricidal function. On the other hand, IL-12 is the main inducer of IFN-γ production by T and NK cells, and the most important factor in Th1 development in CD4 + T cells, which, together with its anti-tumor properties, make this cytokine a crucial element in anti-tumor defenses. We have demonstrated a decreased expression of both iNOS and IL-12p40 genes in macrophages from tumor bearers. Two major transcription factors involved in the functions of the innate immune system and the inflammatory response, NFκB and C/EBP, show a decreased expression and binding activity to their respective promoter sites on the iNOS and IL-12p40 genes in macrophages from tumor-bearing mice. Importantly, a diminished nuclear translocation of these two transcription factors was observed, providing a molecular explanation for the dysfunctional production of iNOS and IL-12 in macrophages of tumor hosts in comparison to those from normal mice.
When Is Good Thinking

What is good thinking? To ask this is to pose one of the most venerable questions of scholarship. Aristotle’s (350 B. C. E.) analysis of syllogisms, Bacon’s (1620/1878) account of scientific inquiry, Kant’s (1785/1994) categorical imperative, Von Neumann and Morgenstern’s (1944) exposition of game theory, Inhelder and Piaget’s (1958) notion of formal operational thinking, Wertheimer’s (1945) formulation of productive thinking all set forth normative conceptions of various kinds of thinking. Contemporary work expands, ramifies, and refines the analysis into many particular kinds of thinking (e.g. Baron, 1985; Basseches, 1984; Case, 1992; Elgin, 1996; Langer, 1989; Paul, 1990; Toulmin, 1958).
"What are We Talking About? Words, Meanings, and Organizing"

Words are powerful in managerial and organizational life not only because they convey meanings, but also because words are critical for generating meanings. This symposium examines the role of word...
Signed Digraphs and the Energy Crisis

(1975). Signed Digraphs and the Energy Crisis. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 82, No. 6, pp. 577-594.
Abstract B237: CD105: A therapeutic target for sarcomas.

Purpose: Endoglin/CD105 is a homodimeric transmembrane glycoprotein that is expressed on the proliferating endothelium of solid tumors. TRC105, the chimeric IgG1 antibody with high affinity binding for human CD105, has recently undergone human testing. This exploratory study sought to validate CD105 as a potential therapeutic target in sarcomas. Methods: We performed immunohistochemical staining for CD105 expression in 146 retrospectively identified paraffin embedded sarcoma patient samples in our tumor registry, utilizing an anti-CD105 antibody (clone 4G11, Novocastra). The diagnoses were verified and samples were examined for CD105 expression in the malignant vasculature as well as tumor cells. Results: The vast majority of specimen expressed CD105 in the tumor vasculature, 134 of 137 evaluable cases. CD105 expression in the cells of the varied sarcoma histologies themselves were as follows: 19/20 angiosarcomas, 6/7 Ewing sarcomas, 8/20 undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas, 6/20 uterine leiomyosarcomas (LMS), 4/20 osteosarcomas, 3/20 non-uterine LMS, 3/20 synovial sarcomas. None of the 19 evaluated chondrosarcoma cells expressed CD105. Thirteen of 19 angiosarcomas showed CD105 expression in >50% of tumor cells, 3 of 19 showed CD105 expression in 25-49% of the tumor cells and 3 of 19 showed CD105 expression in 5-24% of tumor cells. Conclusions: CD105 targeting appears to be a rational antiangiogenic therapeutic approach in sarcomas, with particular emphasis on angiosarcomas. A clinical trial utilizing TRC105 in soft tissue sarcomas is currently under development. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):B237. Citation Format: Karen Fritchie, Steven Attia, Scott Okuno, Carola Arndt, Steven Robinson. CD105: A therapeutic target for sarcomas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B237.
Shared hidden state and network representations of interconnected dynamical systems

This paper demonstrates that the signal structure of an interconnected dynamical system, such as that represented by various dynamical graphical models, can be very different from the interconnection structure of its subsystems. These differences are revealed by considering the network semantics of each representation, characterized by the set of realizations consistent with each network structure. The reason these system networks can be so different is that subsystems never share hidden state, and thus subsystem structures partition the entire system state, while signal structures remain agnostic towards the presence of shared hidden state. Remaining agnostic towards the presence of shared hidden state make signal structures a weaker description of the underlying system structure, but it also gives signal structures a lower information cost for identification. Identifying a system's subsystem structure demands the identification of the correct partition of system states, which can be very expensive.
Histology in the diagnosis of reflux esophagitis.

SUMMARY Esophageal biopsy remains an important procedure for the diagnosis of RE, as well as for the identification of other causes of esophagitis. Although grasp biopsy specimens obtained by fiberoptic endoscopy are routinely performed for patients suspected of having reflux disease, they are infrequently oriented prior to their submission to the surgical pathology laboratory. Basal zone thickness and height of papillae, parameters considered by most pathologists to be useful for the diagnosis of RE, cannot be evaluated in unoriented sections. Hence, the search for intraepithelial neutrophils, and especially intraepithelial eosinophils, is critically important in grasp biopsy specimens. The finding of only a few intraesophageal eosinophils is sufficient for the diagnosis of reflux esophagitis (in the proper clinical setting) in both children and adults. In any biopsy specimen, the identification of eosinophils is easier and more reliable than the determination of basal zone thickness and height of papillae. The significance of finding only balloon cells in esophageal biopsy specimens from patients with suspected RE needs to be clarified by further study.
Adjuvant TKIs in NSCLC: what can we learn from RADIANT?

In the RADIANT study, no difference in disease-free survival was observed for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with erlotinib versus placebo in the adjuvant setting. Further biomarker studies are awaited to determine whether patients with NSCLC can benefit from adjuvant therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
To Have Seen Too Much: The 1960s and the Turning of the Camera

This chapter locates particular difficulties facing radical change in the twenty-first-century USA with both the placing of the 1960s in historical memory and specific moves made by the Counterculture. The Counterculture’s refusal to veil what it exposed caused the camera to turn away, starving post-1974 but pre-Internet social movements of abilities to reach and expand their audiences.
MOD-DR: Microgrid optimal dispatch with demand response

In the face of unprecedented challenges of upcoming fossil fuel shortage and reliability and security of the grid, there is an increasing interest in adopting distributed, renewable, energy resources, such as microgrids (MGs), and engaging flexible electric loads in power system operations to potentially drive a paradigm shift in energy production and consumption patterns. Prior work on MG dispatch has leveraged decentralized technologies like combined heat and power (CHP) and heat pumps to promote efficiency and economic gains; however, the flexibility of demand has yet to be fully exploited in cooperation with the grid to offer added benefits and ancillary services. The object of the study is to develop microgrid optimal dispatch with demand response (MOD-DR), which fills in the gap by coordinating both the demand and supply sides in a renewable-integrated, storage-augmented, DR-enabled MG to achieve economically viable and system-wide resilient solutions. The key contribution of this paper is the formulation of a multi-objective optimization with prevailing constraints and utility trade-off based on the model of a large-scale MG with flexible loads, which leads to the derivation of strategies that incorporate uncertainty in scheduling. Evaluation using real datasets is conducted to analyze the uncertainty effects and demand response potentials, demonstrating in a campus prototype a 17.5% peak load reduction and 8.8% cost savings for MOD-DR compared to the non-trivial baseline, which is on par with the Oracle for perfect predictions.
#Boycottautismspeaks: communicating a counternarrative through cyberactivism and connective action

A growing body of research is examining the role of cyberactivism in facilitating social movements. Yet, few have considered the interplay between cyberactivism and disability advocacy. Through a c...
Transport Characteristics of the Loop of Henle

The loop of Henle was early identified as a structure essential for the concentration of the urine, since it occurs only in birds and mammals, the two classes that produce urine with osmolality higher than the blood. Subsequent study of the loop of Henle has mainly involved its role in urinary concentrating mechanisms. The latter have been analyzed most satisfactorily in terms of mathematical models that integrate the loop of Henle with the vascular system and other nephron segments, such as the distal tubule and collecting ducts. Prerequisite to considering the specific models, however, is a knowledge of the anatomical relations of the loop of Henle and of the pertinent experimental findings. This information, outlined briefly in the following, is contained in several recent reviews(1–4) to which the reader is referred for further details and extensive bibliography.
Neonatal abstinence syndrome: Neurobehavior at 6 weeks of age in infants with or without pharmacological treatment for withdrawal

Use and abuse of prescription opioids and concomitant increase in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), a condition that may lead to protracted pharmacological treatment in more than 60% of infants, has tripled since 2000. This study assessed neurobehavioral development using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale in 6-week old infants with prenatal methadone exposure who did (NAS+; n = 23) or did not (NAS-; n = 16) require pharmacological treatment for NAS severity determined by Finnegan Scale. An unexposed, demographically similar group of infants matched for age served as comparison (COMP; n = 21). NAS+, but not NAS- group, had significantly lower scores on the regulation (p < .01) and quality of movement (p < .01) summary scales than the COMP group. The NAS+ and NAS- groups had higher scores on the stress-abstinence scale than the COMP group (p < .05). NAS diagnosis (NAS +) was associated with poorer regulation and quality of movement at 6 weeks of age compared to infants without prenatal methadone exposure from the same demographic.
Development Bridge Over Troubled Intellectual Property Water

This chapter captures the many valuable contributions Pedro Roffe has made in his three decades at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and a decade and a half at the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development. It focuses on three sets of development bridges that he has built and helped build in the intellectual property arena, drawing illustrations from the author’s personal encounters with him and his organizations. This chapter begins with bridges that allow us to revisit the past developments in the international intellectual property regime. It then turns to bridges that help provide a unique vantage point for taking stock of current developments and recognizing what is new and important in this regime. The chapter concludes with bridges that help advance the debate on intellectual property and global development while reorienting us towards a better future.
Sarcoidosis is not associated with BRAFV600E mutation

AbstractPurpose/Aim of the study: BRAFV600E is an oncogenic point mutation in the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, which is important for cell proliferation and migration. It has been found to be associated with several malignancies and has also been found in significant proportions of patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. A recent mouse model which introduces the BRAFV600E mutations only into dendritic cell precursors results in a clinical picture very similar to human sarcoidosis. We therefore hypothesized that somatic BRAFV600E mutations may play a role in granuloma formation and/or maintenance in all or a subset of patients with sarcoidosis. Materials and methods: 28 diagnostic lymph node samples and 1 diagnostic lung parenchyma sample of patients with confirmed sarcoidosis were identified. Paraffin sections including positive and negative controls were stained using pre-diluted Ventana Medical Systems anti-BRAF V600E (VE1) mouse monoclonal antibody and processed on an automated Ventana Benchmark Ul...
ERP Simulation Effects on Knowledge and Attitudes of Experienced Users

Best-in-class organizations recognize that knowledge management provides a competitive advantage. Opportunities to share knowledge enhance knowledge sharing attitudes. Organizations use training to...
Sparse High-Dimensional Linear Regression. Algorithmic Barriers and a Local Search Algorithm

We consider a sparse high dimensional regression model where the goal is to recover a $k$-sparse unknown vector $\beta^*$ from $n$ noisy linear observations of the form $Y=X\beta^*+W \in \mathbb{R}^n$ where $X \in \mathbb{R}^{n \times p}$ has iid $N(0,1)$ entries and $W \in \mathbb{R}^n$ has iid $N(0,\sigma^2)$ entries. Under certain assumptions on the parameters, an intriguing assymptotic gap appears between the minimum value of $n$, call it $n^*$, for which the recovery is information theoretically possible, and the minimum value of $n$, call it $n_{\mathrm{alg}}$, for which an efficient algorithm is known to provably recover $\beta^*$. In \cite{gamarnikzadik} it was conjectured that the gap is not artificial, in the sense that for sample sizes $n \in [n^*,n_{\mathrm{alg}}]$ the problem is algorithmically hard. We support this conjecture in two ways. Firstly, we show that the optimal solution of the LASSO provably fails to $\ell_2$-stably recover the unknown vector $\beta^*$ when $n \in [n^*,c n_{\mathrm{alg}}]$, for some sufficiently small constant $c>0$. Secondly, we establish that $n_{\mathrm{alg}}$, up to a multiplicative constant factor, is a phase transition point for the appearance of a certain Overlap Gap Property (OGP) over the space of $k$-sparse vectors. The presence of such an Overlap Gap Property phase transition, which originates in statistical physics, is known to provide evidence of an algorithmic hardness. Finally we show that if $n>C n_{\mathrm{alg}}$ for some large enough constant $C>0$, a very simple algorithm based on a local search improvement rule is able both to $\ell_2$-stably recover the unknown vector $\beta^*$ and to infer correctly its support, adding it to the list of provably successful algorithms for the high dimensional linear regression problem.
Defining Platelet-Rich Plasma Usage by Team Physicians in Elite Athletes.

Background:The indications for the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are vaguely defined despite the frequency of its use as a treatment for athletes. While select studies have advocated for its ef...
Linear Programming in Sparse Recovery

As it was pointed out in the Introduction, many important sparse recovery methods 3 are based on empirical risk minimization with convex loss and convex complexity 4 penalty. Some interesting algorithms, for instance, the Dantzig selector by Candes 5 and Tao [44] can be formulated as linear programs. In this chapter, we develop 6 error bounds for such algorithms that require certain geometric assumptions on 7 the dictionary. They are expressed in terms of restricted isometry constants and 8 other related characteristics that depend both on the dictionary and on the design 9 distribution. Based on these geometric characteristics, we describe the conditions of 10 exact sparse recovery in the noiseless case as well as sparsity oracle inequalities for 11 the Dantzig selector in regression problems with random noise. These results rely 12 on comparison inequalities and exponential bounds for empirical and Rademacher 13 processes.
Deep R/C Beams Subjected to Cyclic Loading

Deep reinforced concrete beams subjected to quasi-static loading have been studied both experimentally and analytically [1, 2]. The primary purpose of these studies has been to examine the behavior of such structures during earthquake. It is known that static analysis and static testing are not adequate in representing dynamic behaviors of structures. However, dynamic load cannot be easily simulated or measured in the laboratory. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to use general purpose computer programs to simulate the behavior of the deep R/C beams under dynamic loading. The information from this study will be used in the future study of R/C structures under seismic loading.
Fine-structure modeling of the psrf of a parallel-hole collimator yields improved recovery of activity within focal volumes

335 Objectives: For a Siemens Symbia SPECT/CT as an example, the center-to-center distance (CTOCD) for the holes of the medium-energy (4.1mm), ultra-high-energy (5.9mm), and high-energy (6.0mm) parallel-hole collimator is greater than the camera’s intrinsic resolution (3.9mm). With 512×512 sampling, the central part of the point source response function (psrf) of an appropriate radionuclide is composed of multiple peaks on a hexagonal grid. We will model this fine structure to improve the activity recovery for small objects to potentially obtain more accurate tumor dosimetry even without partial-volume correction. Methods: We measured the I-131 psrf at five depths ranging from 2.0 to 24.5cm using a Marconi camera and its high-energy collimator (CTOCD =5.5mm). The psrf at each depth was modeled via a least-squares fit that returned the amplitude and width of a rotationally-symmetric two-sided exponential (for septal penetration) and the location of the central peak, the size of the hexagon, and the amplitudes and width of all peaks. The dependence of each parameter on depth was found by further least-squares fitting and used to create a “fine-structure” model. The model was down-sampled to obtain 128×128 projection images to save reconstruction time. Projection data for a large cylinder containing either two or four spheres with sizes ranging from 200cc to 4.2cc was simulated analytically using the model with attenuation but no scatter. The data was reconstructed using 3D OS-EM with attenuation correction and either the fine-structure model or a low-frequency one (a single depth-dependent angularly-symmetric Gaussian plus two-sided exponential). Results: For the two-sphere phantom, the counts recovered using the fine-structure model were 95% of the true value in the 200cc sphere and 87% in the 11cc sphere but only 84% and 75% respectively using the low-frequency model. For the four-sphere phantom, the activity recovery coefficients (RCs) were 0.89 and 0.72 for the 11cc and 4.2cc spheres. These improve upon average experimental RC values using low-frequency models of 0.69 and 0.44. Further improvement can be expected with finer sampling of the projection space. Conclusions: Activity is better recovered with a fine-structure model of the psrf for a high-energy SPECT collimator.