cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Finite-time mean-square boundedness, H 2 , and H ∞ -properties of the discrete-time extended Kalman filter for systems with independent sensor failures

The discrete-time extended Kalman filter designed for systems with independent sensor failures is analyzed for its finite-time mean-square boundedness as a function of initial conditions and its ability to attenuate effects of finite-energy disturbances as a function of the disturbance magnitudes. In addition to this extended Kalman filter being designed as a locally optimal minimum variance estimator, this work proves that it also has local finite-time mean-square boundedness of the estimation error, stochastic H 2 , and H ∞ properties. Simulations are provided that analyze the effect of the initial estimation error and the disturbance magnitude.
Utility of Serum Inflammatory Markers for Predicting Microvascular Invasion and Survival for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Preoperative serum inflammatory markers have been correlated with outcome after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but studies have had conflicting results. This study aimed to evaluate the association of six inflammatory markers with recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and microvascular invasion (MVI), a well-known prognostic factor. This study investigated 370 patients who underwent resection of HCC from 1992 to 2016, retrospectively evaluating their inflammatory indices and individual components including their neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and aspartate aminotransferase-to-neutrophil ratio index (ANRI). Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate these markers for RFS, OS, and MVI. The median RFS was 23 months, and the median OS was 60 months. Factors independently associated with worse RFS were higher PLR and alpha-fetoprotein level, male gender, and the presence of MVI as well as multiple nodules. Factors independently associated with worse OS were higher PLR and international normalized ratio, male gender, older age, presence of MVI and multiple nodules, larger tumor, presence of cirrhosis, and absence of steatosis. The study identified MVI in 47% of the patients. Lower level of albumin, higher level of alpha-fetoprotein, and larger tumor on preoperative imaging were independently associated with MVI. This largest Western series to evaluate the utility of preoperative inflammatory markers in patients with HCC found that only PLR was associated with RFS and OS and that albumin was associated with MVI.
Góngora y la estética del borrón. Otra vez el soneto al Greco

espanolMaridaje de la filologia y la filosofia del arte, este trabajo tiene por objeto el estudio de la estetica del borron en la poesia de Gongora y la pintura del Greco, tomando como punto de partida el conocido soneto “Inscripcion para el sepulcro de Dominico Greco”. El trabajo esta dividido en cinco partes: 1) el repaso critico de la bibliografia dedicada al soneto, haciendo hincapie en la malinterpretacion sistematica del concepto de “suavidad” o morbidezza en el sintagma “pincel suave”; 2) el estudio detallado de la formacion del concepto de “borron” en la teoria artistica de Italia y Espana en los siglos XVI y XVII; 3) el estudio de la estetica del borron en el soneto al Greco de Gongora; 4) y la comparacion entre el sueno de Morfeo y la pintura de borrones. 5) La ultima seccion del trabajo rompe una lanza a favor de la estetica del borron y recomienda no leer a Gongora por encima de su balbuceo. Desde el punto de vista metodologico, el trabajo quisiera salvar la brecha insalvable que parece separar la filologia tradicional y la filosofia del arte. EnglishCombining philology and philosophy, this article analyses the aesthetics of formlessness in Gongora and El Greco taking as point of departure the well-known sonnet “An Inscription for the Tombstone of Domenikos Greco”. The paper is divided into five parts: 1) a critical review of the scholarship around the sonnet underlining the systematic misunderstanding of the specialized artistic term “softness” or morbidezza in the phrase “soft brush”; 2) a step-by-step explanation of the development of the concept of formlessness in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Italian and Spanish artistic theory; 3) an analysis of formlessness in Gongora’s sonnet; 4) and a comparison between Morpheus dream and the pittura di macchie. 5) The fifth and last section makes a plea on behalf of the aesthetics of formlessness and invites the reader not to interpret Gongora over and beyond his quasi-mystical babbling. From a methodological point of view, the paper would like to bridge the seemingly unbridgeable gap between traditional philology and aesthetics.
Recording of Diabetes on Death Certificates of Decedents With Type 1 Diabetes in DCCT/EDIC

Diabetes is frequently not recorded on the death certificates of decedents with type 2 diabetes (1). Less is known about the recording of diabetes for decedents with type 1 diabetes (2–4). We describe the recording of diabetes on death certificates for decedents with type 1 diabetes who participated in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT)/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) (ClinicalTrials.gov reg. nos. NCT00360815 and NCT00360893, respectively). We investigated whether the word(s) “diabetes,” “diabetes mellitus,” “type 1 diabetes,” “type 2 diabetes,” or their abbreviations appeared as the underlying cause of death (last listed cause of death in part I of the death certificate) or anywhere on the death certificate. We defined end-stage renal disease, chronic renal failure, and diabetic ketoacidosis as diabetes-related underlying causes of death. Covariates included age and duration of diabetes at death, sex, race/ethnicity, education, last recorded treatment group, BMI, and smoking status at baseline. Study coordinators at each DCCT/EDIC site determined whether the person who signed the death certificate was the decedent’s primary care physician (PCP). The t test and χ2 test were used to identify variables associated with recording diabetes. By April 2016, 134 DCCT/EDIC participants had died. Death certificates were available for 95 (71%), and 91 recorded a cause of death. The characteristics of the 43 decedents without death certificates did not differ from the 91 with death certificates that recorded a cause of death. The …
The effect of feedback timing on L2 Spanish vocabulary acquisition in synchronous computer-mediated communication:

The benefits of corrective feedback (CF) for second language (L2) learning are empirically attested, and multiple factors mediating CF effectiveness have been investigated. However, the timing of o...
A thermo-elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication modeling approach to the operation of reactor coolant pump seals

Abstract In a nuclear power plant, the thermal energy from the reactor chamber is transported out to the steam generators through a fluid called reactor coolant. Pumps circulating the reactor coolant in a closed loop have a multistage sealing system including a controlled leakage face seal. It is crucial to understand and predict the performance of this mechanical seal to prevent exposure of this radioactive fluid to the environment. This paper introduces a novel modeling approach that allows fast and accurate prediction of the operation of an axisymmetric seal. Thermal and mechanical parameters governing the performance of the seal have been shown to match well with previous experiments. The new model allows investigation of yet unexplored process variables.
Microbial activity, microarthropods and the phenomenon of positive, non-additive decomposition of mixed litter

Abstract Litter decomposition is a fundamental ecosystem process that is essential to nutrient cycling, to the flow of energy through the decomposer food web, and to soil carbon sequestration. For a given climate, litter quality is a major controller of decomposition via its impacts on the activities of decomposer communities, including those of microarthropods and microorganisms. In nature, litter quality can be strongly affected by the composition of mixtures of litter from different plant species or litter of varying age. In contrast with the decomposition of single litter types, the decomposition of litter mixtures may be non-additive, making its prediction difficult. Positive, non-additive decomposition may occur, for example, when microarthropod density is increased in one litter type due to the presence of a second litter type, or when microbial activity in one litter type is stimulated by the presence of a second litter type. We tested the involvement of microarthropod and microbial communities in positive, non-additive decomposition using a model clover litter - oat straw mixture. We found that positive, non-additive decomposition was not associated with changes in microarthropod density, but was associated with significant increases in microbial activity.
Newspapers' Content Policy and the Effect of Paywalls on Pageviews

Abstract This paper examines the impact of newspaper paywalls on daily pageviews, and how their impact varies across newspapers as a function of their content provisioning strategies. Our data consist of daily pageviews of 42 newspapers that introduced a paywall during the eight-year analysis period from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2017. We find that a paywall has a negative impact on daily pageviews for most newspapers, but that the impact varies significantly across them. Newspapers that publish proportionately more articles on politics, business/economics, sports, and general social news tend to perform better with a paywall than newspapers that publish proportionately fewer articles on those topics. Interestingly, the effectiveness varies substantially across news topics. For example, increasing the proportion of business/economics news by 1% is nearly 1.4 times more effective than increasing the proportion of general social news by the same percentage in mitigating the negative impact of a paywall. We also find that newspapers with proportionately more unique content and papers with a more liberal slant experience a smaller drop in pageviews. These results have important managerial implications for newspapers—especially pure-play online news publishers (for whom online advertising is the primary revenue source)—regarding how to develop and manage their content policy with paywall adoptions.
Preliminary results of the organ preservation of rectal adenocarcinoma (OPRA) trial.

4008Background: Organ preservation (OP) with a watch and wait strategy (WW) and total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) are new treatment paradigms for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. The saf...
The effects of novelty on food consumption in male and female rats

Abstract Novelty powerfully impacts feeding behavior and can override homeostatic and hedonic drives, because consumption of a new food could lead to illness or even death. New foods and new feeding environments can decrease or inhibit feeding, but how the two interact and whether there are sex differences has not been determined. The current study examined consumption of a palatable (high sucrose) novel food compared to a familiar food in adult male and female rats that were fed in a familiar or a novel environment. Rats were deprived of food for 20 h prior to each of eight tests. During the first test, male and female rats that were tested in a familiar environment showed robust taste neophobia, as they mainly consumed familiar food. Across repeated tests, these rats increased consumption of the novel food, which indicated that they habituated to the novel taste and developed a preference for the novel food. In contrast, all rats tested in a novel feeding environment ate very little of both foods during the initial test. Across repeated tests, male rats habituated to the novel food faster than females and by the fourth test ate more of the novel than familiar food. In contrast, females showed sustained, suppressed consumption across habituation tests. These results demonstrated robust differences in feeding behavior depending whether rats were fed at home or in a novel feeding environment, and robust sex differences in habituation to eating in a new environment. These findings suggest that novel context has a greater impact on female consumption than male consumption. This difference may be relevant to sex differences in avoidant behaviors in maladaptive circumstances and the development of psychopathology. Therefore, the behavioral profile outlined in this study for consumption under novelty provides an important starting point for investigation of the underlying neural substrates of novelty processing.
Abstract 134: Survival After Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest: The Role of Urban-rural Residence and Demographic Factors

Introduction: Survival to discharge after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) exhibits significant regional variability across communities in the US with differences in outcomes following arrest ...
Naloxone Continuous Infusion for Spinal Cord Protection in Endovascular Aortic Surgery Leads to Higher Opioid Administration and More Pain

Objective Compare total perioperative opioid use in patients receiving naloxone continuousinfusion (NCI) for spinal cord ischemia prophylaxis, versus patients not receiving NCI, in endovascular aortic repair. Design Single-center, retrospective cohort review. Setting Academic medical center. Participants Patients undergoing elective thoracic, thoracoabdominal, or abdominal aortic endovascular repair. Interventions Patients were separated based on the use of naloxone continuous infusion as part of a spinal protection protocol. Primary endpoint was opioid requirements, in milligram morphine equivalents (MME), during the first 48 hours or during NCI. Secondary endpoints included: postoperative pain scores during the same interval; opioid requirements during hours 48 to 72; and pain scores during hours 48 to 72. Measurements and Main Results Ninety-five procedures were included; 43 received naloxone continuous infusion and 52 patients were in the non-naloxone group. Opioid use from a linear mixed model was elevated across the entire continuum in the naloxone group (18 MMEs, 95% CI 13-24), with the greatest difference seen at the 24-to-48-hour interval (51 MMEs, 95% CI 26-75) after adjustment for age, incisions, and prehospital opioid use. In the naloxone group, pain score estimates were elevated at each postoperative interval of evaluation, with similar adjustment. Across the continuum this was 0.7 higher (95% CI 0.2-1.3); the zero-six-hour and six-to-12-hour intervals were 0.9 (95% CI 0.4-1.4) and 1.2 higher (95% CI 0.7-1.7). Conclusions Patients receiving anloxone continuous infusion to prevent spinal cord ischemia required greater quantities of opioids and had higher postoperative pain, compared with patients not requiring naloxone.
Anion binding studies of urea and thiourea functionalized molecular clefts

Two rationally designed 4-nitrophenyl-based molecular clefts functionalized with thiourea (L1 ) and urea (L2 ) have been synthesized and studied for a variety of anions by UV-Vis and colorimetric techniques in DMSO. Results from the binding studies suggest that both L1 and L2 bind halides showing the order: fluoride > chloride > bromide > iodide; and oxoanions showing the order: dihydrogen phosphate > hydrogen sulfate > nitrate > perchlorate. Each receptor has been shown to form a 1:1 complex with an anion via hydrogen bonding interactions, displaying distinct color change for fluoride and dihydrogen phosphate in solution. As compared to the urea-based receptor L2 , the thiourea-based receptor L1 exhibits stronger affinity for anions due the presence of more acidic thiourea functional groups.
To Jest or Not to Jest: How Conflicting Attitudes toward Humor in the Talmud Foreshadowed a Jewish Cultural Divide Today

Is humor an affront to God or a divine gift to humanity? Two Talmudic sages were known as jesters: Bar Kappara and Rabbi Yirmiyah. They both tried to get their teachers - who felt that one should be morose until Messianic times - to laugh. This debate over whether one should serve God with joy or be morose is still going on. The chassidic view, based on the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, is that one should serve God with joy. The misnagdim disagree and feel that one should refrain from levity and excessive joy. This paper examines conflicting attitudes towards humor in the Talmud in terms of a forerunner to some of the Jewish cultural conflicts of today.
A special kind of stress: Assessing feelings of decisional distress for breast cancer treatment decisions.

Abstract Objective Women with breast cancer need to make difficult treatment decisions and may experience decisional distress (worry, anxiety, and thought intrusion) associated with these decisions. This study investigated ways that decisional distress was both associated with and distinct from other variables regarding decisional process and life functioning, and it investigated the validity of a decisional distress scale. Methods A total of 263 women previously or currently diagnosed with breast cancer reported on initial treatment decisions regarding surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, or decisions involving oral endocrine therapy (either currently or retrospectively). Participants completed online measures of decisional distress, alliance and confusion in patient-practitioner relationships, positive and negative interactions in close relationships, financial and general distress, and decision satisfaction. Results Decisional distress demonstrated a unidimensional factor structure invariant across treatment context groups, a wide range of meaningful variation, significant correlations with all hypothesized variables (especially patient confusion), but also key distinctions from other variables. Conclusion Decisional distress is a meaningful construct that can be assessed with precision, and important for understanding medical decision-making processes and patient quality of life. Practice implications Assessing decisional distress is crucial for evaluating treatment decision outcomes. One key to reducing decisional distress may involve reducing patient confusion.
Study and Detection of Citrus Viroids in Woody Hosts.

Biological indexing is based upon the ability of certain plants, referred to as indicator plants or indicators, to produce specific symptoms when inoculated with a pathogen using mechanical means or grafting. In the case of citrus viroids, clonal indicators are grafted on to vigorous rootstocks such as rough lemon (Citrus × granulata Raf.). The 'Arizona-861-S-1' citron clonal indicator (C. medica L.) can detect and bioamplify all citrus viroids; however, for specific citrus variants of the hop stunt viroid (i.e., CVd-IIb and CVd-IIc), the clonal indicator 'Parson's special # 9' mandarin (C. reticulata Blanco) is preferred. Inoculation techniques and symptom expression are described in detail. Other supporting elements, such as greenhouse conditions and propagation techniques, are also presented.
Does the microenvironment regulate breast tumor progression

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 SY15-03 Increasing evidence suggests that changes in the cellular microenvironment contribute to tumorigenesis, but the molecular basis of these alterations is not well understood. We have characterized molecular alterations that occur during breast tumor progression using various comprehensive technologies including SAGE (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression) for gene expression profiling, SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) arrays and array CGH (Comprehensive Genomic Hybridization) for analyzing genetic changes, and MSDK (Methylation Specific Digital Karyotyping) for the characterization of genome-wide DNA methylation profiles. In addition to analyzing the tumor cells themselves we have also investigated all cell types that compose normal breast tissue and in situ and invasive breast carcinomas. Using these approaches we determined that gene expression and epigenetic changes are detected in all cell types during breast tumor progression, while clonally selected genetic alterations are restricted to tumor epithelial cells. By comparing the gene expression and genetic profiles of epithelial cells isolated from normal breast tissue, and in situ and invasive breast carcinomas, we determined that dramatic changes occur in the normal to in situ carcinoma transition, while we were not able to identify distinct in situ and invasive carcinoma molecular signatures. This finding, reconfirmed by several independent studies, suggests that progression from in situ to invasive cancer may be influenced by non-epithelial cells. Correlating with this hypothesis, a significant fraction of abnormally expressed genes encode secreted proteins and receptors implicating a role for abnormal autocrine/paracrine signaling in breast tumorigenesis. To test the hypothesis that cells composing the microenvironment influence breast tumor growth and progression we have used a xenograft model of human DCIS (Ductal Carcinomas In Situ) and primary cultured myoepithelial cells and various fibroblasts. Using this model we determined that fibroblasts promote tumor growth and the in situ to invasive carcinoma transition, while normal myoepithelial cells inhibit tumor growth and progression. We identified several paracrine factors potentially mediating these tumor promoting and suppressive effects of the fibroblasts and myoepithelial cells, respectively. Based on our findings we suggest that interactions among epithelial and stromal cells play a role in tumorigenesis and targeting these interactions may be exploited for cancer therapy and prevention.
Preprotein translocase of Escherichia coli: solubilization, purification, and reconstitution of the integral membrane subunits SecY/E.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the procedures to solubilize and purify a functional sec Y/E protein that, upon reconstitution, supports an authentic translocation reaction of precursor proteins. The sec Y/E protein is purified from octylglucoside-extracted membranes by the ability of the reconstituted enzyme to stimulate the ATP-hydrolyzing activity of the purified sec A protein in the presence of proOmpA. The chapter describes the reconstitution procedure and the various assays required to determine the activity of the reconstituted sec Y/E protein. Protocols used for the isolation and solubilization of E. coli inner membranes and the purification of the sec Y/E protein are described. The purified sec Y/E protein contains three major polypeptide species. These are identified by immunoblots with antisera to sec Y and sec E and by N -terminal sequence analysis. The largest polypeptide of the purified protein reacts with antibodies to the sec Y N -terminus and migrates on SDS-PAGE with an apparent molecular mass of 29 kDa. The use of glycerol and phospholipids with octylglucoside has a dramatic effect on the solubility of the sec Y protein.
Overtone Spectroscopy of Quadrupolar Nuclei

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Theory 3 Experiments 4 Conclusions 5 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
Radial migration of DNA molecules in cylindrical flow: III. Circles and the effect of non-gaussian polymer statistics

Abstract We have previously shown that DNA will migrate radially inward in a concentric-cylinder shear flow apparatus. We assumed gaussian chain statistics, and we considered only linear molecules. In. this paper, we extend the analysis to closed circular molecules, and we consider non-gaussian statistics for both linears and circles. We find that, in good solvents, the inward radial migration velocity is more sensitive to the molecular weight than M 5 2 , which we previously reported for gaussian chains. Furthermore, linears migrate radially inward 8 times faster than do circles of the same molecular weight. This suggests the possibility of separating linear from circular DNA in solution.
Voices of Silence: Foucault, Disability, and the Question of Self-determination.

In this paper I examine two controversialissues that occurred in two different centuriesbut that are inextricably linked with eachother – the 1835 murder committed by a Frenchpeasant, Pierre Riviere and documented byMichel Foucault and the 1990's debate regardingthe controversial methods of FacilitatedCommunication used with students labeledautistic in the United States. In this paper Iargue that both controversies foreground thecrisis of the humanist subject. In other words,I argue that both controversies are generatedby a seemingly simple question: Are personsidentified as mentally disabledcapable/incapable of representing themselves?In response to this question, I will use amaterialist analysis to explore theimplications that the poststructuralistdepiction of the humanist subject as a fictionholds for both the Riviere case and theFacilitated Communication debate.
PLANNER: a language for proving theorems in robots

PLANNER is a language for proving theorems and manipulating models in a robot. The language is built out of a number of problem solving primitives together with a hierarchical control structure. Statements can be asserted and perhaps later withdrawn as the state of the world changes. Conclusions can be drawn from these various changes in state. Goals can be established and dismissed when they are satisfied. The deductive system of PLANNER is subordinate to the hierarchical control structure in order to make the language efficient. The use of a general purpose matching language makes the deductive system more powerful.
Reacting Cotton Cellulose with Lignin-Based Polyurethane1

Chain-extended lignin was reacted with blocked isocyanate and the product, lignin polyurethane (LPU), was subsequently applied by padding to cotton print cloth at three add-on levels: 1.70, 3.45, a...
The Large-Scale Distribution of Baryons at High Redshift

Recent advances in high resolution spectroscopy together with the increasingly realistic cosmological simulations now available provide us with detailed insights into the nature of the high redshift universe. Observations of the Lyman a forest can be used to constrain the properties of the numerical models, with the aim of understanding the cosmic baryon distribution and measuring cosmological parameters. We discuss some aspects of the large-scale distribution and the physical state of baryons at high redshift, and describe a new measurement of Ωbaryon from observations of cosmic gas in absorption.
Revealing Structure and Dynamics of Telomere Maintenance Proteins on DNA: One Molecule at a Time

Telomeres play important roles in maintaining the stability of linear chromosomes. A specialized protein complex, called shelterin or telosome, binds to and protects telomeres at chromosome ends. Telomere maintenance involves dynamic actions of multiple proteins interacting with long repetitive sequences and complex dynamic DNA structures, such as T-loops. Furthermore, it was shown recently that in contrast to cohesion along chromosome arms, sister telomere association is a specialized process requiring a tighter association provided by the cohesin subunit SA1 in conjunction with specific proteins from the shelterin complex. To better understand the telomere maintenance pathways, we established complementary single-molecule imaging platforms: a newly developed Dual-Resonance-frequency-Enhanced Electrostatic force Microscopy (DREEM) technique capable of revealing DNA paths in protein-DNA complexes, fluorescence imaging of quantum dot-labeled proteins for tracking dynamics of proteins on DNA tightropes, and a nanochannel based imaging platform for studying protein-mediated DNA-DNA pairing/looping in real time. I will highlight our recent results on: 1) Revealing DNA paths inside TRF2 complexes during DNA compaction through DREEM. 2) Cohesin SA1 and shelterin protein TRF1 mediated sister telomere cohesion. 3) Dynamics of SA1 and TRF1 mediated DNA-DNA pairing inside nanochannels.
Interface cracks in anisotropic bimaterials

Abstract It is known that the displacement at the interface crack surface in a bimaterial under a two-dimensional deformation may be oscillatory. The existence of oscillation depends on the material properties and the orientations of the two materials on both sides of the crack-interface. We show in this paper that the existence of oscillation depends on the material properties only and is otherwise independent of the individual orientation of the two materials. This means that. if the crack surface displacement is oscillatory for one choice of orientations of the two materials, no other orientations obtained by rotating about the x3-axis can alleviate the oscillation. Conversely, if the crack surface displacement is not oscillatory for one choice of orientations of the two materials, no other orientations can generate oscillation. An exception is the Type B bimaterials defined in the paper for which the crack surface displacement is always oscillatory except for a particular Type B bimaterial at a particular choice of relative orientation. For bimaterials which consist of two different orthotropic materials, it is shown that whether the crack surface displacement is oscillatory or not depends on whether C 11 C 22 +C 12 of the two materials are different or not.
Hepatocyte growth factor–regulated tyrosine kinase substrate ( Hgs ) is involved in BMP signaling through phosphorylation of smads and TAK1 in early mouse embryo

Hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate that is encoded by Hgs promotes degradation of ubiquitinated signaling molecule in the early endosome. We previously reported that a targeted mutation in Hgs results in embryonic lethality soon after gastrulation in the mouse. Here, we report that downstream target genes for BMP signaling were highly down-regulated in the Hgs mutant embryos. We also showed that Hgs is required for phosphorylation of SMAD1/5/8 and TAK1/p38 to transduce BMP signaling. Furthermore, we found that HGS functions to localize TAK1 in early endosome for its activation. These results suggest that HGS is critical to localize TAK1 to early endosome for transducing BMP signaling for proper development. Our data revealed a new mechanism to modify BMP signaling by Hgs during early mouse development.
Pathophysiology of Obesity After Spinal Cord Injury

The accumulation of body fat by persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) has been underappreciated by clinicians and epidemiologists because of the failure to recognize limitations in the use of body weight and body mass index to characterize obesity in this special population. The purpose of this article is to more appropriately define adiposity in SCI, review the pathology of obesity, and discuss the factors that uniquely predispose persons with SCI to become obese. The link between adiposity and defining characteristics of the metabolic syndrome will be clearly demonstrated, including the role of central adiposity on dyslipidemia, vascular inflammation, hypertension, and insulin resistance.
Self-assembly of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate in aqueous solutions: Modulation of micelle structure and interactions by cyclodextrins investigated by small-angle neutron scattering

Abstract The modulating effects of α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) and hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) on micelles formed in water by the double tail surfactant sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (also known as dioctyl sulfosuccinate (DOSS) or Aerosol-OT (AOT)) have been investigated using small angle neutron scattering (SANS). SANS data were fitted to the core–shell oblate ellipsoid form factor and Hansen–Hayter-based structure factor in order to quantify the effect of cyclodextrins on the micelle structure and inter-micelle interactions. The results suggested that addition of cyclodextrins caused a sharp decrease in surfactant aggregation numbers, micelle dimensions and micelle charge. The micelle shape changed from elongated oblate to sphere upon addition of cyclodextrin at stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 CD:AOT for HP-β-CD and 2:1 for α-CD. HP-β-CD was found more effective than α-CD in influencing the micelle properties. For example, the decrease in surfactant aggregation number upon addition of 1 mM CD at constant total surfactant concentration was about double for HP-β-CD compared to α-CD. The results are consistent with the localization of small amount of cyclodextrins in the micelle, while the remainder stays in the solution pseudophase. The present study offers an improved understanding on the modulating effects of CDs on micelle structure and enables better design of emulsifiers or dispersants in formulations suitable for controlled release of actives.
Signal reconstruction processor design for compressive sensing

This paper presents a very-large-scale integration (VLSI) design to reconstruct compressively sensed data. The proposed digital design recovers signal compressed by specific analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Our design is based on a modified iterative hard threshold (IHT) reconstruction algorithm to adapt unknown and varying degree of sparsity of the signal. The algorithm is composed empirically and implemented in a hardware-friendly fashion. The reconstruction fidelity using fixed-point hardware model is analyzed. The design is synthesized using Synopsys Design Compiler with TSMC 45nm standard cell library. The post-synthesis implementation consumes 165 mW and is able to reconstruct data with information sparsity of 4%, at equivalent sampling rate of 1 gigasample-per-second (GSPS).
Phenomenological description of dynamic and static coherent optical effects using triple products.

A simple and straightforward application of the formalism of electronic holography to various classes of coherent optical effects is shown to confirm recently observed phenomena. Specifically, the formalism in the time domain is applied to illustrate dynamic and static pulse echoes as well as time-inverted and nontime-inverted recall of general signals, including a sawtooth and Gaussian pulse. The case of multipulse echoes, in which the echoes appear in odd order, is also explored.
Large and small radius in string theory

We consider a number of problems associated with the moduli spaces of classical solutions of string theory. In the case of the bosonic and heterotic theories, we show that duality transformations are often gauge transformations. This has implications both for our understanding of these theories and also for physical problems such as domain walls. As a byproduct we show that the four known Type II theories correspond to different ground states of the same theory. We also consider the dependence of the metric of the moduli space of (2,2) theories on the radius of the target manifold. While perturbatively the metric is independent of the radius it is modified by world sheet instantons.
Vibrational spectra and conformations of (bromomethyl)cyclopropane and epibromohydrin

Infrared and Raman spectra of (bromomethyl)cyclopropane and epibromohydrin have been recorded. Reversible spectral changes which accompany changes in temperature indicate the existence of an equilibrium mixture of gauche and cis conformers for (bromomethyl)cyclopropane. The gauche form is more stable, and from the variable temperature studies an enthalpy difference of 2.0±0.2 kcal mol−1 has been obtained for the liquid phase. For epibromohydrin, two non-equivalent gauche conformers have been identified, and the gauche-1 form is more stable than the gauche-2 by 0.80±0.20 kcal mol−1 in the liquid phase. Additionally there is evidence for a third conformer, presumably the cis form, but characterization of this conformer has been limited by the complexity of the spectra associated with the gauche-1 and gauche-2 forms. Consequently, only a lower limit can be given for the ΔH separating the cis and gauche-1 conformers. The results are consistent with previous observations for similar molecules.
The Scattering of Neutrons by Systems of Heavy Nuclei

It is shown that the scattering of neutrons by a system of heavy nuclei may, for neutron energies that are large compared with the level separation of the system, be described in terms of averages of simple two-particle operators over the initial state. Expressions are derived for the total and differential cross sections and for the first few moments of the energy transfer. The expression for the cross section can be explicitly evaluated even for complicated scattering systems and leads to an accurate representation of the energy dependence of the nuclear scattering. The results are applied to the problem of the detection of small electronic contributions to the cross section.
Haven Charter Schools: Separate by Design and Legally Questionable.

This article examines the legal and policy complexities involved with students who are self-selecting into haven charter schools. Haven charter schools are those that intend to create a safe place for students with complex histories who may have been intimidated by a dominant group in their former schools. For the purpose of this study, haven charter schools are grouped into the following three categories: (1) ability-focused charters schools (e.g., specials needs); (2) culture-focused charter schools (e.g., Native-American, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Latino); and (3) gender- or sexual orientation based charter schools. After providing relevant background information and examining related literature, this article analyzes how recent courts have addressed legal challenges to this form of de facto segregation in charter schools and how these court opinions may inform policy debates about haven charter schools.
Perceived Maternal Attitudes, Masculinity-Femininity of the Maternal Model, and Identification as Related to Incipient Psychopathology in Adolescent Girls

(1964). Perceived Maternal Attitudes, Masculinity-Femininity of the Maternal Model, and Identification as Related to Incipient Psychopathology in Adolescent Girls. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 70, No. 1, pp. 33-40.
Comparison of NIST and Wavelet Transform Test Point Selection Methods For a Programmable Gain Amplifier

A comparison of test point selection methods using a linear matrix model based on the National Institute of Standard method and wavelet transform to reduce the number of test points, and hence, the test time, for a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) was investigated. The concept of integral nonlinearity (INL) was used to predict the performance of the PGA. It was found that the NIST method retained the original properties of the INL of the PGA. As such, the NIST method is able to predict the test responses of the PGA much more accurately than the wavelet transform method, using only 3 test points instead of the 155 test points as required in a full test.
Joint MAX-SER-minimized DFE transceiver design with bit allocation for broadcast channels

This paper addresses the joint design problem of bit allocation and decision feedback equalizer (DFE) transceiver for multi-input multi-output (MIMO) broadcast (BC) channels. Channel state information (CSI) is assumed to be available both at the transmitter and receivers. The transceiver is designed by minimizing maximum symbol error rate (MAX-SER) under the total power and bitrate constraints. The bit allocation, precoder, feed-forward matrices and feedback matrices are the optimization variables. For the two-user case, a particular class of joint triangularization (JT) can be applied to obtain the optimal design for the problem, which is the optimal JT minimum Max-SER BC DFE transceiver (JTMMS). For arbitrary number of users, the suboptimal design, the QR BC DFE transceiver with bit allocation, is discussed. In the simulations, the Max-SER and average BER performance of the proposed systems are investigated.1
Mathematical theory of behavior— Individual and collective behavior of retardable elements

Abstract A mathematical theory of behavior which is intended to describe some features of animal behavior is developed. Individual and collective behavioral laws invariant with respect to the class of retardable elements are found. Theorems are proved, which make it possible to know the requirements for the collective to be “sensible”.
Cylindrical spark chamber array used for the measurement of angle, range and polarization in a study of K−-p interactions

A spark-chamber study on K-- interactions with protons at 700 to 1400 Mev/c is described. A Bevatron unseparated negative beam ( pi /sup -/ and K/sup - /) was used. Large solid angle and high angular resolution were obtained by surrounding a liquid Hs/bu 2/ target by a ten-gap cylindrical chamber. Techniques used to measure polarization of reaction products are described along with methods of defining the incident momentum for each event and procedures for establishment of various parameters. (J.R.D.)
Extreme Mortality in Nineteenth-Century Africa: the Case of Liberian Immigrants*

Several studies have examined the mortality of immigrants from Europe to Africa in the nineteenth century. This paper examines the level of mortality in Liberia of Africans who emigrated there from the United States. A life table is estimated from data collected by the American Colonization Society from 1820 to 1843. The analysis reflects the mortality experience of a population that is transplanted from one disease environment to another, more exacting, disease environment. The results of this analysis show that these Liberian immigrants experienced the highest mortality rates in accurately recorded human history.
Social support and cognitive functioning as resources for elderly persons with chronic arthritis pain

Objective: Arthritis pain and depression are prevalent physical and psychological disorders in late life and co-occur frequently. We explored the stability and covariation of arthritis pain and depressive symptoms. We also addressed the influence of cognitive functioning and social support on the relationship between pain and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older individuals.Method: This longitudinal study utilized a sample of 299 residents of Florida retirement communities who participated in a long-term panel study using yearly assessments across 4 years. Using multilevel modeling, we modeled the individual differences as well as stability in arthritis pain and depressive symptoms simultaneously. Further, we tested the role of cognitive functioning and social support in the association between arthritis pain and depressive symptoms.Results: We found substantial within-person variation in both pain and depressive symptoms (between 58% and 65%) across 4 years even after controlling for a time...
Histopathological alterations in Mya arenaria following a # 2 fuel oil spill in the arthur kill, Elizabeth, New Jersey

Abstract Following a 2270000-liter #2 fuel oil spill on 1 January 1990 studies were carried out to evaluate histopathological alterations in a population of Mya arenaria inhabiting an impacted tidal mud flat in the Arthur Kill, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Approximately 30 clams were collected 1 week after the spill and on a monthly basis thereafter. The lesion incidence found in M. arenaria following the spill was compared to a base-line incidence established at the same location during 1988 and 1989. There was an increased incidence of moderate and severe lesions of the digestive gland, gills, and mantle 1 week after the spill, returning to pre-spill levels by 1 month. During the first 3 months post-spill an increase in lesion incidence of the intestines was observed which returned to previous levels by 6 months post-spill. The heart and kidney showed a latent increase in lesion incidence 2 and 3 months following the spill, which by 4 months returned to previous levels. Examination of the gonadal development indicated that ova and sperm development were not adversely affected and spawning occurred both in late spring and late summer. The siphon, gill, stomach, foot muscle, and body epithelium were not found to be adversely affected.
At least three different RNA polymerase holoenzymes direct transcription of the agarase gene (dagA) of streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

Abstract Using a combination of gel filtration and anion exchange FPLC, three different RNA polymerase holoenzymes from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) have been separated. Each holoenzyme transcribes from only one of the four promoters of the S. coelicolor A3(2) dagA gene. Holoenzyme reconstitution experiments identified the sigma factors responsible for recognition of two of the promoters. The previously identified Eσ 49 transcribes from the dagA p3 promoter, whereas a novel species, Eσ 28 , recognizes the dagA p2 promoter. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the third holoenzyme, which transcribes from the dagA p4 promoter, is the previously identified Eσ 35 . This level of transcriptional complexity supports the idea that RNA polymerase heterogeneity may play a central role in the regulation and coordination of gene expression in this biochemically and morphologically complex bacterium.
SU‐E‐J‐78: Internal Target Volume Delineation for Lung Tumors in Patients Treated with Robotic Radiosurgery

Purpose: To compare different approaches for Internal Target Volume (ITV) delineation for patients treated with fiducial-free robotic radiosurgery for primary and metastatic lung tumors. Methods: Ten patients undergoing Lung-Optimized Treatment (LOT) for robotic radiosurgery were imaged with inhale and exhale breath-hold CT scans and 8-phase 4DCT scan. We evaluated the differences in internal target volume (ITV) delineated using three approaches: 1) maximum intensity projection (MIP) images reconstructed from 4DCT scan (ITV-MIP); 2) linear interpolation of Gross Tumor Volumes (GTV) segmented on inhale and exhale breath-hold scans (ITV-BH); 3) linear interpolation of GTV segmented on inhale and exhale phases of 4DCT scan (ITV-2Phase). All contours were independently generated by the same radiation oncologist using lung window settings. Patients had ITV-MIP volumes ranging from 1.5 to 146.9 cc (mean 36.8 cc) located in various parts of the lung. Volume overlap and matching index (MI) were calculated and compared. The MI between two volumes was defined as the ratio of their intersection to their union. MI of 1 indicates the volumes are identical; MI of 0 indicates that there is no overlap. Results: The three approaches generated very different results. The average (SD) MI for ITV-MIP and ITV-BH was 0.52 (0.24); for ITV-MIPmore » and ITV-2Phase it was 0.69 (0.13); and for ITV-BH and ITV-2Phase was 0.57 (0.21), (ANOVA, p=0.16). Relative to the ITV-MIP, the percentage of volume overlap was 72% (26%) and 90% (7%) for ITV-BH and ITV-2Phase, respectively (t-test, p=0.05). Conclusion: Differences between ITV-BH and ITV-MIP are due to inconsistent lung filling at breath-hold and nonlinear tumor motion. Therefore, methods to check breath-hold scanning against regular patient breathing patterns should be developed. Whenever possible, ITV-BH generated by the LOT workflow should be verified by 4DCT data.« less
Small males emerge earlier than large males in Dawson's burrowing bee (Amegilla dawsoni) (Hymenoptera: Anthophorini)

Females of Dawson's burrowing bee (Amegilla dawsoni) are receptive to the males as they emerge but have become unreceptive by the time they begin to nest. In addition, there is a single emergence period per year lasting about a month. These factors are predicted to lead to protandry and males of Dawson's burrowing bee do tend to emerge earlier in the annual flight season than females. Moreover, even during a single day, emerging males tend to precede females. The degree of protandry, however, is size-dependent, with smaller males tending to precede larger ones, both over the course of the flight season and on any given day. Because small males are at a disadvantage in the fights that occur for females, the earlier emergence of minor males may be a sexually selected response that reduces the likelihood that they will be displaced from potential mates by larger rivals.