cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LvNotch signaling mediates secondary mesenchyme specification in the sea urchin embryo

Cell-cell interactions are thought to regulate the differential specification of secondary mesenchyme cells (SMCs) and endoderm in the sea urchin embryo. The molecular bases of these interactions, however, are unknown. We have previously shown that the sea urchin homologue of the LIN-12/Notch receptor, LvNotch, displays dynamic patterns of expression within both the presumptive SMCs and endoderm during the blastula stage, the time at which these two cell types are thought to be differentially specified (Sherwood, D. R. and McClay, D. R. (1997) Development 124, 3363–3374). The LIN-12/Notch signaling pathway has been shown to mediate the segregation of numerous cell types in both invertebrate and vertebrate embryos. To directly examine whether LvNotch signaling has a role in the differential specification of SMCs and endoderm, we have overexpressed activated and dominant negative forms of LvNotch during early sea urchin development. We show that activation of LvNotch signaling increases SMC specification, while loss or reduction of LvNotch signaling eliminates or significantly decreases SMC specification. Furthermore, results from a mosaic analysis of LvNotch function as well as endogenous LvNotch expression strongly suggest that LvNotch signaling acts autonomously within the presumptive SMCs to mediate SMC specification. Finally, we demonstrate that the expansion of SMCs seen with activation of LvNotch signaling comes at the expense of presumptive endoderm cells, while loss of SMC specification results in the endoderm expanding into territory where SMCs usually arise. Taken together, these results offer compelling evidence that LvNotch signaling directly specifies the SMC fate, and that this signaling is critical for the differential specification of SMCs and endoderm in the sea urchin embryo.
Happiness, Health, or Relationships? Managerial Practices and Employee Well-Being Tradeoffs

Although managerial practices are often structured with the explicit goal of improving performance by increasing employee well-being, these practices frequently create tradeoffs between different dimensions of employee well-being, whereby one aspect of employee well-being improves but another aspect of employee well-being decreases. We call attention to the multi-dimensional nature of well-being and highlight the importance and prevalence of these well-being tradeoffs. Our review sheds new light on the effects of managerial practices on employee well-being, and offers guidelines for managing and mitigating well-being tradeoffs.
Spectroscopic study of red light emission in porous silicon

Since bulk silicon does not emit light in the visible part of the spectrum, the discovery of visible luminescence from porous silicon has been quite surprising and has generated significant interest. This material differs from bulk silicon in one important way, in that it consists of interconnected silicon nanostructures, having very large surface to volume ratios. The first emission mechanism proposed involved carrier recombination within quantum size silicon particles, but more recent work has shown that surface emission models may be more likely. The problems with the quantum confinement model will be discussed in view of current data, and an oxygen center luminescence model will be discussed, with supporting experimental data. A direct correlation between the presence of these centers and the red photoluminescence in both as-made and oxidized PSi will be presented.
Results from the First Year of Implementation of CONSULT: Consultation with Novel Methods and Simulation for UME Longitudinal Training.

Author(s): Carter, Keme; Golden, Andrew; Martin, Shannon; Donlan, Sarah; Hock, Sara; Babcock, Christine; Farnan, Jeanne; Arora, Vineet | Abstract: Introduction: An important area of communication in healthcare is the consultation. Existing literature suggests that formal training in consultation communication is lacking. We aimed to conduct a targeted needs assessment of third-year students on their experience calling consultations, and based on these results, develop, pilot, and evaluate the effectiveness of a consultation curriculum for different learner levels that can be implemented as a longitudinal curriculum. Methods: Baseline needs assessment data were gathered using a survey completed by third-year students at the conclusion of the clinical clerkships. The survey assessed students’ knowledge of the standardized consultation, experience and comfort calling consultations, and previous instruction received on consultation communication. Implementation of the consultation curriculum began the following academic year. Second-year students were introduced to Kessler’s 5 Cs consultation model through a didactic session consisting of a lecture, viewing of “trigger” videos illustrating standardized and informal consults, followed by reflection and discussion. Curriculum effectiveness was assessed through pre- and post- curriculum surveys that assessed knowledge of and comfort with the consultation process. Fourth-year students participated in a consultation curriculum that provided instruction on the 5 Cs model and allowed for continued practice of consultation skills through simulation during the Emergency Medicine clerkship. Proficiency in consult communication in this cohort was assessed using two assessment tools, the Global Rating Scale and the 5 Cs Checklist.Results: The targetedneeds assessment of third-year students indicated that 93% of students have called a consultation during their clerkships, but only 24% received feedback. Post-curriculum, second-year students identified more components of the 5 Cs model (4.04 vs. 4.81, pl0.001) and reported greater comfort with the consultation process (0% vs. 69%, pl0.001). Post- curriculum, fourth-year students scored higher in all criteria measuring consultation effectiveness (pl0.001 for all) and included more necessary items in simulated consultations (62% vs. 77%, pl0.001).Conclusion: While third-year medical students reported calling consultations, few felt comfortable and formal training was lacking. A curriculum in consult communication for different levels of learners can improve knowledge and comfort prior to clinical clerkships and improve consultation skills prior to residency training.
Dynamic topography and vertical motion of the U.S. Rocky Mountain region prior to and during the Laramide orogeny

Dynamic topography of Earth’s surface occurs in response to hydrodynamic stresses due to mantle flow beneath a flexible lithosphere. Here, we compare the predicted dynamic topography from an inverse-convection model that includes flat slab subduction with the known geologic history of the western United States from Late Cretaceous through Paleocene time to evaluate the validity of the model results. Downwarping behind the evolving Cordilleran volcanic arc took place after its inception in Late Triassic time, culminating in the formation of the Western Interior Seaway in Late Cretaceous time. Subsidence behind arcs is a consistent prediction of most models of dynamic topography. A more-detailed convection model is evaluated here by comparing it to the geologic history of the central Rocky Mountain region from 100 to 50 Ma. The match of predicted and observed tectonic subsidence is good up until the time that local deformation by the Laramide orogeny begins. This is most likely due to local flexural effects of mountain building overwhelming regional dynamic effects. Maps for successive time intervals show that the model matches the geologic history quite well through time and space; in particular, the subduction of the previously postulated oceanic plateau—the conjugate Shatsky Rise—has a significant impact on surface movements. (1) From 95 to 88 Ma, the locations of most significant regional unconformities match the eastward migration of a zone of high topography. (2) From 90 to 85 Ma, the zone of maximum subsidence coincides with the motion of the leading edge of the conjugate Shatsky Rise. (3) From 78 to 60 Ma, the site of initiation of Laramide deformation migrates coincidently with the position of the center of the conjugate Shatsky Rise. (4) From 70 to 60 Ma, the time-transgressive deposition of thin fluvial conglomerate units in the southern part of the study area is generally coincident with surface uplift caused by the trailing part of the conjugate Shatsky Rise. These results suggest that the inverse model approximates the vertical motion history quite well. Synchroneity of the position of the center of the passing conjugate Shatsky Rise, the landward limit of the evolving Cordilleran volcanic arc, and the initiation of Laramide deformation suggests that the Farallon plate became coupled with the overlying North American plate as the subducted oceanic plateau passed beneath. Progressively enhanced mechanical coupling between the plates was likely the impetus for Laramide shortening. This comparison of model results with surface geologic history provides a means to validate, but not verify, predictions of dynamic mantle-flow models.
Coherent Charge Oscillations in Bulk GaAs

Recently, transistor-like three terminal (launcher-base-detector) devices with base regions of dimensions comparable to (or less than) typical mean free path lengths have been used to study transport in the near ballistic regime,1,2 and femtosecond techniques with temporal resolutions less than the mean scattering times have been used to investigate velocity overshoot3 and the nearly ballistic acceleration of electrons4,5. In addition, coherent oscillatory electronic wavepackets have been observed in coupled quantum-wells6, and Bloch oscillations have been observed in uperlattices7,8. Here, we report the first direct observation of coherent charge oscillations in a bulk semiconductor in the presence of a constant built-in field, and we confirm that these oscillations are the result of ballistic charge transport by separately demonstrating that they occur on a time scale short compared to the measured dephasing time.
The German Right from Weimar to Hitler: Fragmentation and Coalescence

As archival scholarship on National Socialism moved under way during the later 1960s, study of the Right's broader intellectual history relied on a small number of then canonical works—by Klemens von Klemperer (1957), Otto E. Schuddekopf (1960), Fritz Stern (1961), Hans-Joachim Schwierskott (1962), and Kurt Sontheimer (1962), shadowed by Armin Mohler's Die konservative Revolution in Deutschland 1918–1932. Grundriβ ihrer Weltanschauungen (1950)—soon to be joined by George Mosse (1964), Herman Lebovics (1969), and Walter Struve (1973). At this stage, with the exception of Fritz K. Ringer's The Decline of the German Mandarins (1967) and Reinhard Bollmus's study of Alfred Rosenberg's office and its opponents (1970), there was virtually nothing taking a broader social or institutional approach to the contexts of Nazi ideology and the sociology of knowledge under the Third Reich. Gerhard Kratzsch's Kunstwart und Durerbund. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Gebildeten im Zeitalter des Imperialismus (1969) stood very much alone as a nuanced, archivally researched case study alive to the complex ambivalences of cultural nationalism in the Wilhelmine years.
Lessons Learned from Negative Clinical Trials Evaluating Antithrombotic Therapy for Ischemic Heart Disease

The clinical trials that failed to demonstrate significant efficacy may not result in development of new therapy but contribute to better understanding of antithrombotic therapy for ischemic heart disease. Negative trials provide important messages about how to interpret and understand the results of clinical trials and apply these results to clinical practices. Although every aspect of clinical trials may influence the outcomes of trials and interpretation of their results, selection of study subjects, endpoints, and measuring risk/benefit are crucial to success of clinical trial. We will review the recent key negative trials on antithrombotic therapy for ischemic heart disease and discuss about their results and implications. The challenge in the future for the development of antithrombotic therapies is to leverage these "lessons learned" from negative clinical trials to improve the design, conduct, and interpretation of future randomized clinical trials.
urHL7: An HL7 parsing and manipulation library

With increasing pace, hospitals and other healthcare entities are adopting technology to assist with workflow and data handling. While many benefits can be realized from this, working with disparate legacy and emerging systems can be problematic. Most critical is the handling of information that is transferred between these many systems. Incorrect interpretation of data can lead to problems as “simple” as incorrect billing or as severe as those dealing with human life. Historically, message oriented middleware and the HL7 message format have provided the framework for the necessary information exchange. While this approach is robust, it is also cumbersome requiring many hours of very specific coding effort to solve even simple problems. This once-appropriate approach is inconsistent with our current needs for agility and flexibility in enterprise computing systems. Some tools and libraries have emerged to help address this situation, but each has limitations. In this paper we describe the landscape that necessitates these tools, examine some of the current tools, and offer an alternative that is an open-source library leveraging native Java objects and methods to: parse raw HL7 version 2 message data to internal data structures, provide an API to allow for the efficient and simple access and manipulation of underlying data elements in the HL7 version 2 data, minimize the complexity of standard I/O functions that are generally required when working with HL7 version 2 messages, and create a durable, reusable core library that can be expanded upon with extensions.
Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial: 6 Year Risk Factor Changes

The Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial completed the follow upwof the participants on February 28, 1982. This report describes the results of the changes in risk factors. Some of the data to be presented is still preliminary as final tabulations of the risk factor changes are being completed.
Divided Infringement and the Doctor-Patient Relationship

With its recent en banc decision in Akamai v. Limelight, the Federal Circuit has displayed its willingness to expand the scope of divided infringement liability for method claims under 35 U.S.C. § 271. Most of the cases to have considered the question of divided infringement thus far, including Akamai, have involved method patents relating to business methods or software. As such, it is unclear whether the courts will apply an identical analysis in the life sciences context. Specifically, there are important differences between the corporation-consumer relationship implicated in cases like Akamai and the doctor-patient relationship implicated in cases involving diagnostic method claims or method-of-treatment claims. This Essay will consider the role of the doctor-patient relationship within the divided infringement paradigm, considering the ways in which the courts both are likely to handle it doctrinally and should handle it as a more theoretical matter.
Achieving Therapeutic Gain

For the purpose of pursuing therapeutic gain, the client’s action in the session may be understood in terms of whether it aims at structuring the relationship in a way 1) that will permit expression and fulfillment at his emotional level or 2) that has no emotional significance. As a matter of narrative convenience, these two kinds of client actions will be referred to as approach and avoidance, respectively. The client’s emotional needs push him toward approach behavior; his painful experiences in the past-failure, disillusionment, humiliation—move him toward avoiding any effort to find emotional fulfillment in relationships with other people. The therapist’s actions that respond to the client’s avoidance behavior culminate in preparatory therapeutic gain; the actions that are directed toward the client’s approach behavior culminate in fulfilling therapeutic gain.
Scheduling with multi-level data locality: Throughput and heavy-traffic optimality

A fundamental problem to all data-parallel applications is data locality. An example is map task scheduling in the MapReduce framework. Existing theoretical work analyzes systems with only two levels of locality, despite the existence of multiple locality levels within and across data centers. We found that going from two to three levels of locality changes the problem drastically, as a tradeoff between performance and throughput emerges. The recently proposed priority algorithm, which is throughput and heavy-traffic optimal for two locality levels, is not even throughput-optimal with three locality levels. The JSQ-MaxWeight algorithm proposed by Wang et al. is heavy-traffic optimal only for a special traffic scenario with two locality levels. We show that an extension of the JSQ-MaxWeight algorithm to three locality levels preserves its throughput-optimality, but suffers from the same lack of heavy-traffic optimality for most traffic scenarios. We propose a novel algorithm that uses Weighted-Workload (WW) routing and priority service. We establish its throughput and heavy-traffic optimality for all traffic scenarios. The main challenge is the construction of an appropriate ideal load decomposition that allows the separate treatment of different subsystems.
Klaus Jarmatz,Literatur im Exil: Berlin: Dietz Verlag, 1966. Pp. 302

(1968). Klaus Jarmatz, Literatur im Exil. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 224-225.
Global static-priority scheduling of sporadic task systems on multiprocessor platforms

The multiprocessor scheduling of collections of real-time jobs is considered. Sufficient conditions are derived for determining whether a specified system meets all deadlines when scheduled by a static-priority algorithm. These conditions are used to obtain efficient schedulability tests for sporadic task systems scheduled using the popular Deadline-Monotonic real-time scheduling algorithm. Resource-augmentation bounds are provided that quantify the tightness of these schedulability tests.
Empirically-based modeling and mapping to consider the co-occurrence of ecological receptors and stressors

Part of the ecological risk assessment process involves examining the potential for environmental stressors and ecological receptors to co-occur across a landscape. In this study, we introduce a Bayesian joint modeling framework for use in evaluating and mapping the co-occurrence of stressors and receptors using empirical data, open-source statistical software, and Geographic Information Systems tools and data. To illustrate the approach, we apply the framework to bioassessment data on stream fishes and nutrients collected from a watershed in southwestern Ohio. The results highlighted the joint model's ability to parse and exploit statistical dependencies in order to provide empirical insight into the potential environmental and ecotoxicological interactions influencing co-occurrence. We also demonstrate how probabilistic predictions can be generated and mapped to visualize spatial patterns in co-occurrences. For practitioners, we believe that this data-driven approach to modeling and mapping co-occurrence can lead to more quantitatively transparent and robust assessments of ecological risk.
Advanced Otosclerosis: Stapes Surgery or Cochlear Implantation?

Diagnosis and treatment of advanced otosclerosis can be controversial. In 1961, House and Sheehy defined advanced otosclerosis as hearing loss in air conduction threshold by 85 dB with nonmeasurable bone conduction. Recently, the definition of advanced otosclerosis is mostly based on the decrease of speech recognition. There are some treatment modalities: stapes surgery and hearing aids, cochlear implantation, or direct acoustic cochlear implant. The authors propose a new algorithm for treatment. If the patient is treated with cochlear implantation, the surgeon should be cautious for facial nerve stimulation after surgery because it is the most prevalent complication.
Colonial Gothic Framework: Haunted Houses in the Anglo-Indian Ghost Stories of Bithia Mary Croker

This chapter considers how the Colonial Gothic functions as a comment on Indo-British relations during the British Raj. Bithia Mary Croker based several of her ghost stories in colonial India, and frequently uses haunted structures such as Indian palaces and Anglo-Indian bungalows as specific places of trauma and haunting. In “If You See Her Face” (1893), Croker explores the traditional figure of the nautch girl, a professional dancer who entertained both Indians and British audiences. Though the nautch girl was a contested figure in British literature and journalism in the nineteenth century, Croker chooses to foreground the woman’s ability to return the male gaze and enact retribution for her people through her presence as a vengeful revenant. The chapter then discusses “The Red Bungalow” (1919), a ghost story which concerns the danger of inhabiting a haunted bungalow where an unseen presence resides. This story also provides a comment on the dangers Anglo-Indian children faced within India.
Modelocking of a Wavelength Tunable High-Pressure CO2-Laser by Synchronous Modulation of a Broadband Intracavity Saturable Absorber

In recent years, both passive and injection modelocking has been applied to the multiatmospheric CO2-laser for generation of subnanosecond pulses of high power radiation at the 10.6 pm wavelength, thus taking advantage of the strongly pressure broadened bandwidth (1,2). On the other hand, continuous wavelength tuning over significant range from 9 to 11 μm of the freerunning laser can be readily obtained by operating the laser in the 10 atm pressure range. In spite of the many potential and attractive applications, for example to time-resolved spectroscopy of molecules, there appears to be no reported success of short pulse generation with such wavelength tunability. We have combined in a simple scheme elements of both forced and passive modelocking to provide a versatile source with good tuning characteristics. The difficulties with reliability in modelocking which are generally connected with the relatively high gain and its short lifetime in high pressure lasers were here reduced by additional external optical modulation of absorption losses in intracavity p-Ge.
Laser Photodisruptors: Damage Mechanisms, Instrument Design and Safety

Short-pulse neodymium:YAG clinical laser systems permit noninvasive incision of transparent intraocular structures. Selection and safe use of these photodisruptors, however, require a limited understanding of certain basic physical principles. These principles are reviewed and applied in a series of optical experiments designed to study the performance and safety of clinical, short-pulse laser systems. The results of these experiments are presented, in addition to an analysis of current and proposed photodisruptors.
Biosedimentological Processes That Produce Hot Spring Sinter Biofabrics: Examples from the Uzon Caldera, Kamchatka Russia

Though the majority of microorganisms in hot spring ecosystems fail to be preserved as bona fide (carbonaceous) microfossils, the presence of microbial biofilms on accretionary surfaces of hot spring sinters can influence the development of sinter fabrics. The extent of biological influence on a primary sinter fabric depends upon the behavior of the microbial community at the time the sinter accretes as well as on the input of sedimentary processes — chemical and physical — that occur during sinter growth. Our ability to recognize the influence of benthic microbial communities on the fabric of a hydrothermal deposit, whether on Earth or, potentially, another rocky planet like Mars, requires an understanding of the interactions between microbial communities, authigenic mineral deposition, and detrital grain accumulation during sinter formation. Examples of hot springs in Uzon Caldera, Kamchatka, Russia, are discussed to illustrate how changes in the relative input of biological, chemical, and physical processes contribute to sinter biofabric formation and preservation. The conclusions drawn from this comparison are relevant to the search for evidence of life in any type of hydrothermal deposit found on a rocky planet.
Computers in the Endoscopy Unit

The use of computers can provide significant benefits in the endoscopy unit. Administrative systems have been helpful in handling billing and scheduling. Clinical systems for report generation and data analysis still suffer from significant deficiencies. The future will likely see the emergence of intelligent systems intended for image analysis and assistant in clinical decision-making.
Inflammation as a Regulator of the Renin-Angiotensin System and Blood Pressure

Mechanisms facilitating progression of hypertension via cross stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and inflammation have been proposed. Accordingly, we review and update evidence for regulation of RAS components by pro-inflammatory factors. Angiotensin II (Ang II), which is produced by RAS, induces vasoconstriction and consequent blood pressure elevation. In addition to this direct action, chronically elevated Ang II stimulates several pathophysiological mechanisms including generation of oxidative stress, stimulation of the nervous system, alterations in renal hemodynamics, and activation of the immune system. In particular, an activated immune system has been shown to contribute to the development of hypertension. Recent studies have demonstrated that immune cell-derived pro-inflammatory cytokines regulate RAS components, further accelerating systemic and local Ang II formation. Specifically, regulation of angiotensinogen (AGT) production by pro-inflammatory cytokines in the liver and kidney is proposed as a key mechanism underlying the progression of Ang II-dependent hypertension.
Anxiety as a Main Cause of Church Conflicts Based on Bowen Family Systems Theory

I propose that an examination of churches with Bowen Family Systems Theory suggests that ineffective handling of anxiety within the church as a system is a main cause of conflicts within congregations. In this paper, by examining two case studies with Bowen Family Systems Theory, I demonstrate that inattention to anxiety within the church as a system is a main cause of conflicts within congregations. I will then propose pastoral strategies to address church conflicts.
Über die Supraleitfähigkeit ternärer β -Titanlegierungen

Die Elemente Sc bis Cu, Y bis Ag und La bis Au wurden in einerβ-Ti-Rh-Legierung gelost und das supraleitende Verhalten dieser ternaren Mischkristalle untersucht. Der Verlauf der Sprungtemperatur-Konzentrationskurven ist fur Elemente mit 3d-, 4d- und 5d-Elektronen weitgehend gleich und last sich an Hand der Matthiasschen Regel aus der Anderung der ValenzelektronenkonzentrationN erklaren. Mit zunehmender Valenzelektronenkonzentration erhoht sich die Sprungtemperatur der Legierungen, durchlauft zwischenN=4,4 und 4,6 ein Maximum von etwa 4°K und sinkt dann wieder. Lediglich Mn und Re, sowie in gewissem Sinne auch die Ru- und Os-Legierungen, weichen vom stetigen Verlauf derTc-N-Kurven ab, was sich aus den magnetischen Eigenschaften der betreffenden Elemente erklaren last.
HRI coordinates translation necessary for protein homeostasis and mitochondrial function in erythropoiesis

Red blood cells use a molecule called hemoglobin to transport oxygen around the body. To make hemoglobin, cells require iron to build a component called heme. If an individual does not get enough iron in their diet, the body cannot produce enough red blood cells, or the cells lack hemoglobin. This condition is known as iron deficiency anemia, and it affects around one-third of the world’s population. Researchers did not know exactly how iron levels control red blood cell production, though several proteins had been identified to play important roles. Heme forms in the cell's mitochondria: the compartments in the cell that supply it with energy. When heme levels in a developing red blood cell are low, a protein called HRI reduces the production of many proteins, most importantly the proteins that make up hemoglobin. HRI also boosts the production of a protein called ATF4, which switches on a set of genes that help both the cell and its mitochondria to adapt to the lack of heme. In turn, HRI and ATF4 reduce the activity of a signaling pathway called mTORC1, which controls the production of proteins that help cells to grow and divide. To understand in more detail how iron and heme regulate the production of new red blood cells, Zhang et al. looked at immature red blood cells from the livers of developing mice. Some of the mice lacked the gene that produces HRI, and some experienced iron deficiency. Comparing gene activity in the different mice revealed that in the developing blood cells of iron-deficient mice, HRI largely reduces the rate of protein production in both the mitochondria and the wider cell. At the same time, the increased activity of ATF4 allows the mitochondria to carry on releasing energy and the cells to continue developing. Zhang et al. also found that a protein that inhibits the mTORC1 signaling pathway needs to be active for the new red blood cells to mature. Overall, the results suggest that drugs that activate HRI or block the activity of the mTORC1 pathway could help to treat anemia. The next step is to test the effects that such drugs have in anemic mice and cells from anemic people.
Efficient 169 Yb high-dose-rate brachytherapy source production using reactivation.

Purpose To present and quantify the effectiveness of a method for the efficient production of 169 Yb high-dose-rate brachytherapy sources with 27 Ci activity upon clinical delivery, which have about the same dose rate in water at 1 cm from the source center as 10 Ci 192 Ir sources. Materials A theoretical framework for 169 Yb source activation and reactivation using thermal neutrons in a research reactor and 168 Yb-Yb2 O3 precursor is derived and benchmarked against published data. The model is dependent primarily on precursor 168 Yb enrichment percentage, active source volume of the active element, and average thermal neutron flux within the active source. Results Efficiency gains in 169 Yb source production are achievable through reactivation, and the gains increase with active source volume. For an average thermal neutron flux within the active source of 1 × 1014 n cm-2 s-1 , increasing the active source volume from 1 to 3 mm3 decreased reactor-days needed to generate one clinic-year of 169 Yb from 256 days yr-1 to 59 days yr-1 , and 82%-enriched precursor dropped from 80 mg yr-1 to 21 mg yr-1 . A resource reduction of 74%-77% is predicted for an active source volume increase from 1 to 3 mm3 . Conclusions Dramatic cost savings are achievable in 169 Yb source production costs through reactivation if active sources larger than 1 mm3 are used.
Effect of vitamin D supplementation on total and free 25 hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone. An analysis of two randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND It is questionable as to whether total serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (T25D) levels are lower in African Americans. We measured serum T25D, free 25hydroxyvitamin D (F25D) and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) in African American and Caucasian women and studied the effect of vitamin D dosing to determine if differences by race or age occur. METHODS Healthy young and older Caucasian and African American women who were vitamin D insufficient were randomized in two clinical trials to escalating daily doses of vitamin D from 400 to 4800 IU and placebo for 12 months. RESULTS Baseline F25D and T25D were significantly lower in young but not older African American compared to Caucasian women. At baseline, the rate of change, or slope, in F25D with T25D was significantly greater in younger women than in older women, but difference in the rate of change in F25D with T25D is similar in African American and Caucasian women. After vitamin D supplementation, there was an increase in F25D, and the dose response was not significantly different by age or race. The ratio of F25D/T25D decreased in all groups once T25D exceeded ~60 nmol L-1 . There was a progressive decrease in serum PTH with increasing vitamin D doses and the per cent change was similar for F25D and T25D. CONCLUSION Serum F25D and T25D are lower in younger African American women, and since dietary vitamin D is similar in the groups, it is likely that the cause of low serum 25OHD in African American women is due to reduced UV exposure and reduced skin production of vitamin D.
Granting Security? U.S. Security Assistance Programs and Political Stability in the Greater Middle East and Africa

U.S. security assistance programs are expected to increase the capabilities of partners in the Middle East and Africa by leveraging the provision of armaments and training through foreign aid. Can ...
Identifying Patient Readmissions: Are Our Data Sources Misleading?

Abstract Background The accuracy of data is vital to identifying hospitalization outcomes for clinical trials. Patient attrition and recall bias affects the validity of patient-reported outcomes, and the growing prevalence of Medicare Advantage (MA) could mean Fee-for-Service (FFS) claims are less reliable for ascertaining hospital utilization. Statewide health information exchanges (HIEs) may be a more complete data source but have not been frequently used for research. Design Secondary analysis comparing identification of readmissions using 3 different acquisition approaches. Setting Randomized controlled trial of heart failure (HF) disease management in 37 skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Participants Patients with HF discharged from the hospital to SNF. Measures Readmissions up to 60 days post-SNF admission collected by patient self-report, recorded by nursing home (NH) staff during the SNF stay, or recorded in the state HIE. Results Among 657 participants (mean age 79 ± 10 years, 49% with FFS), 295 unique readmissions within 60 days of SNF admission were identified. These readmissions occurred among 221 patients. Twenty percent of all readmissions were found using only patient self-report, 28% were only recorded by NH staff during the SNF stay, and 52% were identified only using the HIE. The readmission rate (first readmission only) based only on patient self-report and direct observation was 18% rather than 34% with the addition of the enhanced HIE method. Conclusions and implications More than one-quarter (34%) of HF patients were rehospitalized within 60 days post SNF admission. Use of a statewide HIE resulted in identifying an additional 153 admissions, 52% of all the readmissions seen in this study. Without use of an HIE, nearly half of readmissions would have been missed as a result of incomplete patient self-report or loss to follow-up. Thus, HIEs serve as an important resource for researchers to ensure accurate outcomes data.
A Remark On the FRTS realization and Drinfeld Realization of Quantum Affine Superalgebra $U_q(\hat {osp}(1,2))$

In this paper, we present the hidden symmetry behind the Faddeev-Reshetikhin-Takhtajan-Semenov-Tian-Shansky realization of quantum affine superalgebras $U_q(\hat {osp}(1,2))$ and add the q-Serre relation to the Drinfeld realization of $U_q(\hat {osp}(1,2))$ (math.QA/9712011) derived from the FRTS realization.
The LsVe1L allele provides a molecular marker for resistance to Verticillium dahliae race 1 in lettuce

Verticillium wilt caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae race 1 is among the top disease concerns for lettuce in the Salinas and Pajaro Valleys of coastal central California. Resistance of lettuce against V. dahliae race 1 was previously mapped to the single dominant Verticillium resistance 1 (Vr1) locus. Lines of tomato resistant to race 1 are known to contain the closely linked Ve1 and Ve2 genes that encode receptor-like proteins with extracellular leucine-rich repeats; the Ve1 and Ve2 proteins act antagonistically to provide resistance against V. dahliae race 1. The Vr1 locus in lettuce contains a cluster of several genes with sequence similarity to the tomato Ve genes. We used genome sequencing and/or PCR screening along with pathogenicity assays of 152 accessions of lettuce to investigate allelic diversity and its relationship to race 1 resistance in lettuce. This approach identified a total of four Ve genes: LsVe1, LsVe2, LsVe3, and LsVe4. The majority of accessions, however, contained a combination of only three of these LsVe genes clustered on chromosomal linkage group 9 (within ~ 25 kb in the resistant cultivar La Brillante and within ~ 127 kb in the susceptible cultivar Salinas). A single allele, LsVe1L, was present in all resistant accessions and absent in all susceptible accessions. This allele can be used as a molecular marker for V. dahliae race 1 resistance in lettuce. A PCR assay for rapid detection of race 1 resistance in lettuce was designed based on nucleotide polymorphisms. Application of this assay allows identification of resistant genotypes in early stages of plant development or at seed-level without time- and labor-intensive testing in the field.
III-Nitride ultra-wide-bandgap electronic devices

Abstract This chapter discusses the motivation for the use of Ultra-Wide-Bandgap Aluminum Gallium Nitride semiconductors for power switching and radio-frequency applications. A review of the relevant figures of merit for both vertical and lateral power switching devices, as well as lateral radio-frequency devices, is presented, demonstrating the potential superior performance of these devices relative to Gallium Nitride. Additionally, representative results from the literature for each device type are reviewed, highlighting recent progress as well as areas for further research.
Revisiting Jeffreys’ Example: Bayes Test of the Normal Mean

We revisit the classical problem of testing whether a normal mean is zero against all possible alternatives within a Bayesian framework. Jeffreys showed that the Bayes factor for this problem has a...
Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy: Applications in Isotope Geophysics

A quantitative understanding of processes in our global environment is to a large extent based on the analysis of isotope ratios. Isotopes of interest very often occur in natural samples such as air, water, ice, sediments or organic material only in extremely small concentrations and very sensitive analytical techniques are necessary to extract the information.
Circumventing surface tension: tadpoles suck bubbles to breathe air

The surface tension of water provides a thin, elastic membrane upon which many tiny animals are adapted to live and move. We show that it may be equally important to the minute animals living beneath it by examining air-breathing mechanics in five species (three families) of anuran (frog) tadpoles. Air-breathing is essential for survival and development in most tadpoles, yet we found that all tadpoles at small body sizes were unable to break through the water's surface to access air. Nevertheless, by 3 days post-hatch and only 3 mm body length, all began to breathe air and fill the lungs. High-speed macrovideography revealed that surface tension was circumvented by a novel behaviour we call 'bubble-sucking': mouth attachment to the water's undersurface, the surface drawn into the mouth by suction, a bubble 'pinched off' within the mouth, then compressed and forced into the lungs. Growing tadpoles transitioned to air-breathing via typical surface breaching. Salamander larvae and pulmonate snails were also discovered to 'bubble-suck', and two insects used other means of circumvention, suggesting that surface tension may have a broader impact on animal phenotypes than hitherto appreciated.
Clinical Versus Pathologic Laryngeal Cancer Staging and the Impact of Stage Change on Outcomes

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Evaluate the impact and accuracy of clinical laryngeal cancer staging. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. METHODS Two hundred sixty-five consecutive patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent total laryngectomy from 2001 to 2017 were studied. Clinical versus pathologic tumor (T) and nodal (N) categories were compared. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards analyzed the association of stage change with perioperative factors and outcomes. RESULTS Forty-seven patients (17.7%, accuracy = 0.969 ± 0.010 [standard error]) changed between T1-2 and T3-4. Sixty-four patients (24.1%, accuracy = 0.866 ± 0.020) had inaccurate N category. Salvage patients were less likely to have stage change (downstage: odds ratio [OR] = 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08-0.50, P < .001; upstage: OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.23-0.74, P = .003), but more likely to have inaccurate nodal category (39.8% vs. 11.7%, P < .001). Patients with stage change tended to have greater odds of positive/close margins (upstage: OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 0.91-3.5, P = .092) and chemotherapy (downstage: OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 0.80-6.14, P = .128; upstage: OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 0.85-4.11, P = .119). Stage change was associated with recurrence (P = .047) with downstaged patients less likely to recur (hazard ratio = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08-0.82, P = .021). Stage change was not associated with positron emission tomography scan, subsite, time to surgery, or mortality. CONCLUSIONS A third of laryngeal cancer patients were downstaged or upstaged after laryngectomy with 18% and 24% of clinical T and N categories inaccurate, respectively. Stage change was less common for salvage patients and associated with risk of recurrence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Laryngoscope, 131:559-565, 2021.
GCI: A GPU Based Transfer Learning Approach for Detecting Cheats of Computer Game

Cheating in massive multiple online games (MMOGs) adversely affect the game's popularity and reputation among its users. Therefore, game developers invest large amount of efforts to detect and prevent cheats that provide an unfair advantage to cheaters over other naive users during game play. Particularly, MMOG clients share data with the server during game play. Game developers leverage this data to detect cheating. However, detecting cheats is challenging mainly due to the limited client-side information, along with unknown and complex cheating techniques. In this paper, we aim to leverage machine learning based models to predict cheats over encrypted game traffic during game play. Concretely, network game traffic during game play from each player can be used to determine whether a cheat is employed. A major challenge in developing such a prediction model is the availability of sufficient training data, which is sparingly available in practice. Game traffic obtained from a few known players can be easily labeled. However, if such players are not a good representation of the population (i.e., other players), then a supervised model trained on labeled game traffic from these set of players may not generalize well for the population. Here, we propose a Graphics Processing Unit
The Enforcement Act of 1870, Federal Jurisdiction Over Election Contests, and the Political Question Doctrine

A lingering provision of a major Reconstruction Era law, the Enforcement Act of 1870, 28 U.S.C. § 1344, grants federal courts jurisdiction over election contests arising from alleged Fifteenth Amendment violations, except for the positions of presidential elector, member of Congress, and state legislator. Some courts have erroneously construed this provision as categorically denying the federal judiciary subject-matter jurisdiction over any constitutional challenges, including by voters, to the outcomes of presidential, congressional, or state legislative elections. This pernicious line of authority periodically re-emerges to preclude litigants from attempting to vindicate their right to vote in federal court. More broadly, § 1344 points to a fundamental indeterminacy at the heart of the electoral process. The Reconstruction Era Congress sought to preclude federal courts from adjudicating constitutional challenges concerning congressional and presidential elections because the Constitution grants the chambers of Congress themselves the authority to resolve them. Yet subsequent grants of subject-matter jurisdiction allow federal courts to adjudicate such disputes. Thus, different branches of the federal government may come to different conclusions as to whether the Constitution requires or forbids certain votes to be counted. Ultimately, it appears that the Constitution enshrines departmentalism, rather than judicial supremacy, in the realm of federal elections and voting rights. When federal courts conclude that the Constitution either requires or forbids the counting of certain votes in congressional or presidential elections, those rulings are not binding on the chambers of Congress. Furthermore, the political question doctrine acts as a modern replacement for § 1344’s jurisdictional restrictions with regard to federal elections. Once the chambers of Congress have initiated the process of exercising their constitutional prerogative to determine an election’s outcome, the federal judiciary should decline to get involved in all but the most extreme circumstances.
Azobenzene-Doped Liquid Crystals in Electrospun Nanofibrous Mats for Photochemical Phase Control

The encapsulation of liquid crystals (LCs) within semiflexible, nanoscale media has potential use for developing flexible photodisplays, electronic devices, and sensors. Here, coaxial electrospinni...
In vivo induction and characterization of polyploids in gerbera daisy

Abstract Cultivated gerbera (Gerbera hybrida; Asteraceae) is an economically important flower worldwide. It is also used as a model plant for studying flower development and understanding biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Genetic variation in cultivated gerbera is narrow; therefore, increased genetic variation is much needed for further improvement of gerbera. Polyploidization has played an extremely important role in the diversification, evolution, domestication and breeding of many plant species. In this study, tetraploids were induced by treating the apical meristems of gerbera seedlings with colchicine. The nuclear DNA content of tetraploid gerbera was increased to 10.41 pg/2C from 5.22 pg/2C. Induced tetraploids had larger, fewer stomata and wider, thicker leaves than diploids, resulting an increased leaf index. With tetraploidization, flower scapes became thicker, flowers were larger, ray florets became wider, and the center eye (composed of disc florets) was larger. Induced tetraploids showed lower but still high pollen stainability and are expected to be quite fertile and be able to serve as parents for production of triploids. Some of the morphological changes associated with induced tetraploidy, including larger flowers, thicker ray florets, larger eyes and/or thicker scapes, will be beneficial for gerbera flower quality and vase life, while other changes such as stomatal size and density and thicker leaves may change and improve gerbera tolerance to stresses. Induced gerbera tetraploids may be valuable for breeding, genetic research and increasing genetic diversity in gerbera.