cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Because Life Is Open Book: An Open Internet Family Medicine Clerkship Exam.

Introduction A core principle of family medicine is information mastery, or application of principles of evidence-based medicine in clinical practice. While information mastery teaching and assessment are beginning to permeate postgraduate family medicine training programs, and while exciting literature on new open resource assessment methods is emerging, there are no prior descriptions of examinations that specifically assess medical students' information mastery competency. Methods To test information mastery competency, a novel final exam for the family medicine clerkship was developed, implemented, and evaluated. During the timed exam, the competency-based information mastery assessment (IMA) requires students to look up evidence-based information using web resources to answer case-based questions. Exam feasibility was tested with pilot examinees whose reactions were gauged. Student performance on the traditional closed book knowledge assessment (KA) was compared with performance on the open internet IMA. Exam performance was compared with preceptor ratings of students' clinical performance. Low performers were further analyzed for preceptors' ratings of specific student skills in information mastery and self-directed learning. Results An open internet IMA testing knowledge application and information mastery skills is not only feasible but can also be educational. Student performance scores on the open internet IMA do not differ from scores on the closed book KA. Students describe many positive features of this open internet IMA. Student performance on the competency-based IMA correlates with clinical ratings by preceptors and with preceptors' judgment of information mastery skills. Conclusions A novel approach to assessment in family medicine clerkships may be used to assess student competency in information mastery. Further research is needed for enhanced exam validation.
Guiding students to understand CS concepts and develop process skills with POGIL: pre-conference workshop

This workshop introduces Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) to CS instructors. In a POGIL classroom, teams of 3- to 4 learners work on activities with a particular structure based on learning cycles. Through scripted inquiry and investigation, learners discover concepts and construct their own knowledge. Using assigned team roles and other scaffolding, learners develop process skills and individual responsibility. The teacher is not a lecturer, but an active facilitator who helps all students to be engaged and achieve the learning objectives. POGIL is an evidence-based approach, and has been shown to significantly improve student performance. Workshop participants will work through POGIL activities as students, and work through POGIL meta-activities that are designed to help teachers learn core POGIL concepts, practices, and benefits. We will share POGIL materials for a variety of CS courses and concepts. We will also invite interested attendees to participate in IntroCS POGIL, a recently funded NSF project working to make it easier for CS faculty to adopt POGIL by disseminating high quality instructional resources and enhancing professional development practices. For more information, see http://cspogil.org and http://pogil.org, including activities for CS1, CS2, and other courses.
Champollion: A Robust Parallel Text Sentence Aligner

This paper describes Champollion, a lexicon-based sentence aligner designed for robust alignment of potential noisy parallel text. Champollion increases the robustness of the alignment by assigning greater weights to less frequent translated words. Experiments on a manually aligned Chinese  English parallel corpus show that Champollion achieves high precision and recall on noisy data. Champollion can be easily ported to new language pairs. Its freely available to the public.
Task-Correlated Cortical Asymmetry and Intra- and Inter-Hemispheric Separation

Cerebral lateralization is expressed at both the structural and functional levels, and can exist as either a stable characteristic or as a dynamic feature during behavior and development. The anatomically relatively simple olfactory system demonstrates lateralization in both human and non-human animals. Here, we explored functional lateralization in both primary olfactory cortex – a region critical for odor memory and perception- and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) – a region involved in reversal learning- in rats performing an odor learning and reversal task. We find significant asymmetry in both olfactory and orbitofrontal cortical odor-evoked activity, which is expressed in a performance- and task-dependent manner. The emergence of learning-dependent asymmetry during reversal learning was associated with decreased functional connectivity both between the bilateral OFC and between the OFC-olfactory cortex. The results suggest an inter-hemispheric asymmetry and olfactory cortical functional separation that may allow multiple, specialized processing circuits to emerge during a reversal task requiring behavioral flexibility.
The changing hydrology of a dammed Amazon

Developing countries around the world are expanding hydropower to meet growing energy demand. In the Brazilian Amazon, >200 dams are planned over the next 30 years, and questions about the impacts of current and future hydropower in this globally important watershed remain unanswered. In this context, we applied a hydrologic indicator method to quantify how existing Amazon dams have altered the natural flow regime and to identify predictors of alteration. The type and magnitude of hydrologic alteration varied widely by dam, but the largest changes were to critical characteristics of the flood pulse. Impacts were largest for low-elevation, large-reservoir dams; however, small dams had enormous impacts relative to electricity production. Finally, the “cumulative” effect of multiple dams was significant but only for some aspects of the flow regime. This analysis is a first step toward the development of environmental flows plans and policies relevant to the Amazon and other megadiverse river basins.
Opana ER (Oxymorphone)–Induced Thrombotic Microangiopathy: An Atypical Presentation in a Patient With Hepatitis C:

Oxymorphone is a semisynthetic extended release opiate used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain. The Food and Drug Administration approved the oral form of oxymorphone available as Opana and Opana ER (extended release) since 2006. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued warning against intravenous use of Opana ER. We are presenting a case report of a 37-year-old female with a history of active intravenous drug abuse who presented to our hospital with acute kidney injury. Urinalysis showed red blood cell sediments, many dysmorphic red blood cell casts along with nephrotic range proteinuria of 12 g/deal per day. Kidney biopsy showed microscopic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) involving glomeruli and vessels. Further workup was undertaken for TMA, and apart from mildly elevated lactate dehydrogenase of 380 (normal <243), active hepatitis C, and slightly low ADAMTS-13 (55%), there was no other laboratory evidence of TMA. On literature search, we found that intravenous injection of chronic Opana ER has been reported to cause TMA resulting in chronic kidney disease. Our patient also admitted to use of intravenous Opana ER abuse for the past 5 years. She had a normal platelet count and an absence of schistocytes, which makes it an atypical presentation of TMA resulting in chronic kidney disease in an opiate user. We strongly urge physicians to avoid prescribing opiates for chronic pain, especially Opana ER, which if injected intravenously for recreational purposes can lead to serious side effects like TMA. Treatment is mainly supportive and avoidance of drug in future.
The Microbial Ecosystem in Petroleum Waste Land Treatment

Microbial populations, microbial activity and environmental conditions in an operating petroleum waste land treatment facility were monitored for eighteen months. Seasonal influences are apparent for both bacterial and fungal populations. During the cooler, wetter seasons, microbe populations were smaller, less variable and inhibited by the adverse environmental conditions. The hotter, drier months supported large, active populations which experienced large swings in numbers and respiratory output. Microenvironments within aggregates were investigated. Analysis of various aggregate sizes revealed differences in population, activity and distribution of microorganisms. Optimization of waste biodegradation in treatment soils requires monitoring the factors affecting the microbial community at the system level and an awareness of the microenvironmental influences.
Analysis of Time–Domain Maxwell's Equations for 3-D Cavities

Time–domain Maxwell's equations are studied for the electromagnetic scattering of plane waves from an arbitrarily shaped cavity filled with nonhomogeneous medium. A transparent boundary condition is introduced to reduce the problem to the bounded cavity. Existence and uniqueness of the model problem are established by a variational approach and the Hodge decomposition. The analysis forms a basis for numerical solution of the model problem.
RSA bits are .732 + ε secure

Proving that a public key cryptosystem is bit secure (i.e. proving that guessing even one bit of the cleartext from the cyphertext is hard) is important because it guarantees that the cryptosystem does not leak any partial information. In addition, it also proves that the cryptosystem is suitable for sending 1-bit messages (e.g. a yes-no message). The issue of bit security is of even greater importance for the RSA [5] cryptosystem: a positive answer would yield a simple cryptographically secure pseudo random number generator [2, 6, 7]. With the advent of the RSA chip, it may be a practical generator.
Brainstem Diffuse Axonal Injury and Consciousness.

Background Severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI), commonly due to motor vehicle accidents may cause death and long-term disability especially when the acceleration-deceleration force on the brain is massive. This may cause shearing of the axonal connections within the cerebral cortex and brainstem in a process referred to as diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Extensive DAI has been postulated to be a poor prognostic indicator for neurological recovery. In our institution, several patients with Grade 3 DAI were observed to recover and achieve neurological outcomes greater than expected given the presence of brainstem injury. Methods MRI studies from 100 patients admitted to a large tertiary trauma center for TBI were retrospectively analyzed by two fellowship-trained neuroradiologists. The size of DAI lesions, location of injury within the brainstem, and the number of discrete DAI lesions were measured and recorded. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on arrival and at discharge was noted, as well as the presence of other neurological injuries. Results Of 20 patients initially noted to have DAI with lesions of the brainstem, eight of them were discharged with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 14-15. The 12 patients discharged with reduced consciousness (average GC 7.1) demonstrated a greater number of larger lesions, with a predilection for the dorsal pons. Conclusion These results suggest that large, numerous pontine lesions may indicate worse neurological outcomes in patients with these findings.
Characterization of Staphylococcal Adhesins for Adherence to Host Tissues

Studies assessing DNA—DNA reassociation kinetics have been used to define 32 staphylococcal species, approximately half of which are indigenous to humans.59 Although all staphylococci are opportunistic pathogens, the vast majority of human infections can be attributed to one of only three species.59,60 Staphylococcus epidermidis is a coagulase-negative species that can be universally found on the skin. Although relatively avirulent, it has a remarkable ability to colonize biomaterials and is a leading cause of infections centered on in-dwelling medical devices.60 In fact, S. epidermidis has been referred to as a “pathogen of medical progress” based on the almost direct correlation between its increasing incidence of infection and the increasing use of medical implants.109 Staphylococcus aureus is clearly the most prominent staphylococcal pathogen. In addition to its production of coagulase, S. aureus is distinguished from other staphy-lococcal species by its ability to produce a diverse array of virulence factors and the concomitant ability to cause a diverse array of infections.72,105 These range from relatively benign infections of the skin (e.g., folliculitis) to debilitating and even life-threatening disease (e.g., osteomyelitis, endocarditis). S. aureus also has a remarkable capacity to colonize biomaterials and is probably less prominent than S. epidermidis as a biomaterial-related pathogen only because it is a less common inhabitant of humans. Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a less prevalent pathogen than S. epidermidis or S. aureus but is a frequent cause of urinary tract infections, particularly in young, sexually active women.60
Analysis of online discussion boards for male infertility.

We aimed to identify what information patients and partners are seeking on male infertility forums. Online discussion boards were identified. Posts were analysed in three steps: open coding, axial coding and selective coding, to determine common themes. A total of 1,118 posts were analysed. The majority of posts (20.2%) were related to "Questions about male fertility diagnosis and testing", with 47.8% asking for assistance interpreting semen analysis results. About 15.7% of posts were about "Feelings associated with male infertility", with 26.7% expressing anger or frustration, 26.1% encouraging hope, 21% seeking hope and 12.5% expressing fear. About 15.4% of posts were about "Lifestyle factors to improve male fertility", 24.4% of which were about vitamins and 6.4% about intercourse timing. About 15.4% of posts were about "Male infertility conditions", with 43% about semen parameters. Other themes included "Questions about male factor treatments", "Questions about assisted reproductive technologies (ART)", "Relationship issues", "Asking for advice", "Financial concerns" and "Information sharing". About 63.6% of posts were written by female partners [t(1,117) = 9.451, p < .001]. The most common posts posed questions about male fertility diagnosis and testing. Users discussed feelings involved in infertility, and counselling should be integrated. About 63.6% of posts were by partners, highlighting the importance of partners having access to infertility information.
Judicial and prosecutorial decision-making: Assessing the effects of race, gender, and age on federal downward sentencing departures, 2013 – 2016

Downward sentencing departures in federal courts are generally either prosecutor-initiated (government-sponsored) or judge-initiated. This study examines the direct and joint influences of defendan...
Modeling Partially Surveyed Point Process Data: Inferring Spatial Point Intensity of Geomagnetic Anomalies

Many former military training sites contain unexploded ordnance (UXO) and require environmental remediation. For the first phase of UXO remediation, locations of geomagnetic anomalies are recorded over a subregion of the study area to infer the spatial intensity of anomalies and identify high concentration areas. The data resulting from this sampling process contain locations of anomalies across narrow regions that are surveyed; however, the surveyed regions only constitute a small proportion of the entire study area. Existing methods for analysis require selecting a window size to transform the partially surveyed point pattern to a point-referenced dataset. To model the partially surveyed point pattern and infer intensity of anomalies at unsurveyed regions, we propose a Bayesian spatial Poisson process model with a Dirichlet process mixture as the inhomogeneous intensity function. A data augmentation step is used to impute anomalies in unsurveyed locations and reconstruct clusters of anomalies that span surveyed and unsurveyed regions. To verify that data augmentation reconstructs the underlying structure of the data, we demonstrate fitting the model to simulated data, using both the full study area and two different sampled subregions. Finally, we fit the model to data collected at the Victorville Precision Bombing range in southern California to estimate the intensity surface in anomalies per acre. Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear online.
Technology/Sexting/Social Media

The exponential growth of technology has drastically changed the way society communicates. As a result, technology now plays a significant role in underage human trafficking. Traffickers use technology in their recruitment efforts to facilitate the sale of sexual services and to avoid detection. Therefore, understanding the role of technology in underage human trafficking may assist health professionals in improving their recognition of trafficking. Through analysis of a clinical scenario, this chapter highlights three major indicators of trafficking involving the use of technology and social media: the display of emotional vulnerability online, the use of social media by traffickers to identify, groom, and recruit victims, and the link between mobile devices and trafficking. The grooming of victims, in this context, can be defined as the process used by traffickers to manipulate someone into human trafficking. Through the grooming process, in which traffickers acquire the trust and loyalty of those they are trafficking, involvement in these illicit activities gains normalcy in the eyes of the victim. Additionally, this chapter discusses privacy concerns involved with communicating and sharing content online, as well as ways to protect adolescents from the dangers technology poses for being exploited for sex.
The impact of low-intensity blood flow restriction endurance training on aerobic capacity, hemodynamics, and arterial stiffness.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the effects of short-term low-intensity blood flow restriction (BFR) endurance training (ET) programs on measures of aerobic capacity, hemodynamics, and arterial stiffness in healthy young males. METHODS Thirty-nine healthy young recreationally active males participated in this short-term training study. They were randomly assigned to a high-intensity (HI; N.=11; trained at 60-70% of VO 2 reserve [VO 2 R]), low-intensity (LI; N.=8; trained at 30-40% of VO 2 R), low-intensity with BFR (LI-BFR; N.=10; trained at 30-40% of VO 2 R with BFR) or a non-exercising control group (N.=10). The exercising subjects completed a 6-wk training protocol on a treadmill. Assessment of aerobic capacity (VO 2max ), hemodynamics and arterial stiffness were done before and after training. RESULTS Statistical analyses revealed a significant condition main effect (P 2max , indicating significant increase (P 2max in LI-BFR group compared to control. There were no significant changes for resting heart rate (RHR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWV), and carotid-femoral PWV (P>0.05). However, femoral-tibial PWV decreased significantly (P<0.05) from baseline to post-training. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that the application of BFR during ET may cause faster and/or greater adaptations in one or more physiological systems resulting in improved cardiorespiratory fitness.
Assessing Market Risk for Hedge Funds and Hedge Fund Portfolios

The author suggests an empirical model to analyze the investment style of individual hedge funds and fund of funds. This approach is based on a mixture of the style analysis approach suggested by Sharpe [1988], the factor push approach used in stress testing, and historical simulation. The parameter estimates from this model are inputs in the Value‐at‐Risk analysis for a sample of 2,934 funds over the 1994–2000 period. The in‐sample and out‐of‐sample results suggest that the proposed approach is useful and may constitute a valuable tool for assessing the investment style and risk of hedge funds.
The metabolic landscape of RAS-driven cancers from biology to therapy

Our understanding of how the RAS protein family, and in particular mutant KRAS, promotes metabolic dysregulation in cancer cells has advanced substantially over the last decade. In this Review, we discuss the metabolic reprogramming mediated by oncogenic RAS in cancer and elucidate the underlying mechanisms that could translate to novel therapeutic opportunities to target metabolic vulnerabilities in RAS-driven cancers. Mukhopadhyay, Vander Heiden and McCormick review the metabolic landscape of RAS-driven cancers, the effects of RAS-directed metabolic reprogramming and opportunities for targeting these cancers therapeutically.
Healing of nanocracks by collision cascades in nickel

Abstract We use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interaction between collision cascades and pre-existing nanocracks in nickel (Ni). We find that collision cascades cause the cracks to heal whenever a cascade initiates a thermal spike whose core overlaps with the crack. Moreover, crack healing affects the distribution of radiation-induced defects generated during a collision cascade: defect clusters, such as dislocations and stacking fault tetrahedra, dominate in the presence of crack healing, while isolated point defects dominate in its absence. This work indicates that irradiation may reduce the number of pre-existing crack-like flaws in metallic components, potentially improving their mechanical resilience.
Primary Care Physicians and Capitated Reimbursement

Given the explosive expansion of capitated reimbursement for the services of primary care physicians, we conducted a national survey of a random sample of these practitioners to measure attitudes toward capitated payment and identify predictors of important attitudes. Descriptive, factor analytic, and regression techniques were used. The response rate was 54%. As measured by scales derived from factor analysis, perceptions were strong that capitation was costly to professional and patient relationships. Patients’ access to care was perceived as slightly reduced. Actual participation in capitation attenuated feelings of lack of access but not those of capitation’s costly effects. Physicians’ attitudes toward capitation remain negative, but participants perceive their patients’ access to appropriate care as reasonable.
Visualizing Liutex Core Using Liutex Lines and Tubes

Liutex is a vortex identification method which can be used to determine the absolute and relative strength of a vortex, the local rotation axis of a vortex, the vortex core center, the size of the vortex core, and the vortex boundary. A vortex core is defined as a concentration of Liutex vectors. It would be nice if we could visualize the Liutex core to gain a better understanding. In this paper, we will use the Liutex core lines and Liutex tubes to show the vortex structure by using pre-processed DNS data, which can help researchers studying fluid dynamics understand the turbulence physics. There is no reason to believe iso-surfaces can represent vortex structure, but it is more reasonable to demonstrate the vortex structures by using the Liutex core lines and Liutex tubes as Liutex is a new vector quantity to represent flow rotation or vortex.
Teaching CS Middle School Camps in a Virtual World

In this poster, we report our experiences with implementing two virtual computer science camps for middle school children. The camps use a two-part curriculum: One designed for 6th grade students using computer science concepts from familiar unplugged games, and the other targeted at 7th grade students using a domain-specific teaching language designed for programming board games. We use the camps to pilot the curricular material and provide teachers with practical training to deliver the curriculum virtually. Due to the teachers' commitment to finding successful strategies for delivering the curriculum online, the unplugged and programming activities worked surprisingly well in the remote environment. Overall, we found the use of well-known, unplugged games to be effective in preparing students to think algorithmically, and students were able to successfully code small programs for simple games in a new, functional, text-based language.
Water Quality Monitoring System using Internet of Things and SWQM Framework

The ordinary strategy for testing water quality is to assemble tests of water physically and send to the lab to test and break down. This strategy is tedious, wastage of labour, and not conservative. The water quality was estimating framework that we have executed checks the nature of water continuously through different sensors (one for every boundary: pH, Conductivity, Temperature, Turbidity) to gauge the nature of water. As a variety in the estimation of this boundary focuses on the presence of pollutants. The Wifi module in the framework moves information gathered by the sensors to the microcontroller and transfers the information to the smartphone/PC. This framework can keep an exacting mind the contamination of the water assets and have the option to give a situation to safe drinking water.
Sexual Reproduction in Higher Fungi

Sexual reproduction has two critical effects upon fungi: it provides the developmental mechanism to generate sexual spores and the potential during meiosis for changes (repair, recombination, and reassortment) to the genome and gene pool. Many other events are associated with sexual reproduction, as well. For mycologists, sexual reproduction provides a major traditional taxonomic character and a useful mechanism for studying the genome.
A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin due to the molecularly confirmed Lynch Syndrome

Patients with Lynch Syndrome are at high risk for developing a variety of cancers including cancers of the colon or rectum, small bowel, stomach, uterus, renal pelvis, ureter, biliary tract, ovaries, brain and pancreas (N Engl J Med 348: 919-32, 2003; Gut 57:1097-101, 2008; NCCN, Inc Guideline. Ft. Washington, PA. Online Version 2.2014). Lack of MLH-1 and MSH-2 expression commonly result from germline mutations in this inherited cancer syndrome. Here, we report the case of a patient with a molecularly confirmed germline mutation in MLH-1 along with a colon cancer showing lack of expression of MLH-1 as well as a squamous cell cancer of the skin from the abdominal wall also demonstrating lack of expression of MLH-1. This case appears to represent the second case report of a squamous cell skin cancer apparently due to the Lynch Syndrome and further supports a proposed relationship between Lynch Syndrome and these tumors.
Strain Rate Effects on Fragment Size of Brittle Materials

A one-dimensional (1D) analytic model was developed to study the fragmentation phenomenon of ceramics under dynamic loading. The model integrates the elastic stress wave propagation with the cohesive crark initiation and growth process. Both the average fragment size and the fragment size distribution can be calculated using this model. Rate-dependent fragment gize was calculated using the model. A scaling law was obtained to describe the size-strain-ratc relationship, which explains the available experimental observations.
Early utilization of flood-recession soils as a response to the intensification of fishing and upland agriculture: resource-use dynamics in a large Tikuna community.

The optimal use of Amazonian flood-recession soils in contexts of dense settlement is, according to many anthropologists, agronomists, and ecologists, the cultivation of proteinaceous cereals and legumes. Storable protein is thought to be necessary for nutritional security through the fish-poor season. Campo Alegre, a Tikuna floodplain community of over 1300 people, is one of the largest indigenous Amazonian communities in the contemporary ethnographic record. Furthermore, some two-thirds of its agricultural production is directed toward market sale. However, in the summers of 1994 and 1995, residents cultivated no proteinaceous crops on their extensive floodplain to store for later consumption. Their utilization of these soils, a relatively new resource for them, is best understood in relation to the intensification of two traditional resource bases—fisheries and upland soils, the resulting pressures on their production flows, and the desire to maintain them.
Transcriptional Channelopathies of the Nervous System

Recent studies have provided evidence for the existence of transcriptional channelopathies, which result from dysregulated expression of nonmutated channel genes. Examples of this new class of disorders are provided by peripheral nerve injury which triggers spinal sensory neurons to turn off some previously active sodium channel genes and turn on other previously silent sodium channel genes, a set of changes that can produce hyperexcitability of these cells, and by changes in sodium channel gene expression that may perturb cerebellar function in multiple sclerosis. Keywords: ion channel; gene transcription; neurological disease; voltage-gated sodium channel
Discrimination, Allocatory and Separatory, Linear Aspects

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the twin goals of linear discrimination, that is, allocation and separation. It reviews linearity in the mutivariate normal case and discusses the extent to which linearity is optimal. The exact linear theory is strictly appropriate for restricted sets of distributional assumptions, though the linear theory is somewhat wider than the logistic family. However, the linear theory gives reasonably robust, if less than optimal, solutions to many cases. However, there are situations where the linear theory should not be applied, for example, where two normal populations have the same mean but differ in their covariance matrices. In this situation, the linear discriminants will be quite inappropriate. However, the logistic model encompasses a variety of possible distributional assumptions. While presumably robust for its class when its parameters are estimated, it is not expected to yield as efficient a procedure when compared to one based on the true member of the class.
Photoaffinity-labeling peptide substrates for farnesyl-protein transferase and the intersubunit location of the active site.

--CAAX motif peptides, which are substrates for isoprenylation, were synthetically derivatized with the light-sensitive benzophenone (Bz) group in order to determine their potential use as catalytic site-directed covalent photocross-linking ligands for one of the enzymes catalyzing protein isoprenylation, farnesyl-protein transferase (FPTase). Bz-peptides could be synthesized with [3H]benzophenone and possessed eiter one or two benzophenone groups located at or near the peptide's NH2 terminus (e.g. the mono-Bz probes Bz-ACVIM and Bz-LPCVVM, and the di-Bz derivatized probe Bz-GY-(Bz)PCVVM, referred to as Bz2-GYPCVVM). Each type of derivatized peptide behaved as a substrate for farnesylation in vitro without irradiation, while under 366-nm irradiation each demonstrated covalent cross-linking ability as a catalytic site-directed photoaffinity ligand with tissue-purified or enriched but impure fractions from rat and bovine brain FPTase, as well as with a recombinant human FPTase variant, FPTase (beta alpha t) expressed in Escherichia coli. Without photoactivation, Bz-ACVIM yielded a Kd of 37 nM for the cloned variant of human FPTase. Pseudo first-order photolytic inhibition of FPTase preparations with Bz-peptides, as well as protection from photoinactivation by unmodified -CAAX motif peptides, supported the capacity of these Bz-peptides to serve as co-substrates and their specificity for seeking the catalytic site of the enzyme. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis subsequent to photolysis indicated that the mono-Bz-derivatized peptides (e.g. [3H]Bz-LPCVVM or 3H]Bz-ACVIM) became covalently cross-linked preferentially to the approximately 49-kDa beta subunit of the alpha beta dimeric FPTase. The farnesyl-PP cosubstrate bound equally well to unmodified and Bz-ACVIM-labeled enzyme. The di-Bz derivative, [3H]Bz2-GYPCVVM, in contrast, revealed exclusive photocovalent cross-linking with a species of molecular mass approximately 95-97 kDa, indicating that both FPTase subunits were tethered together covalently by the di-Bz probe. Similar differential SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis cross-linking patterns were obtained with homogeneous FPTases as well as with partially purified rat or bovine brain enzyme preparations. The absence of nonspecific photolabeling of any proteins in the partially purified rat or bovine brain enzyme preparations other than FPTase independently attested to the high efficiency of photocross-linking of the FTPase, and the selective catalytic site-seeking ability of these Bz-derivatized peptide substrates, verifying their potential as structural probes for the active site domain on the enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Comets: a Laboratory for Plasma Waves and Instabilities

The review discusses the various plasma waves and instabilities detected in the vicinity of comets. Particular emphasis is placed on nonlinear wave evolution, as well as the role of nonlinear waves in wave-particle interactions. Areas that need further research are identified to help persons who wish to contribute to the field.
A New Technique for Photographing Perineal Patterns of Root-knot Nematodes

Light microscopic examinations of the perineal pattern of female root-knot nematodes remain useful for routine identification of root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne species (Eisenback and Hunt, 2009; Eisenback et al., 1980; Hartman and Sasser, 1985). Unfortunately, conventional light microscopy often produces images that lack adequate contrast or reveal too much of the underlying tissues as a distraction to viewing the surface (Fig. 1 A). A new technique of illumination, utilizing an annulus in the stage condenser, produces images with increased resolution and enhanced surface morphology that are strikingly similar to those produced with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) (Fig. 1 B). We refer to this as annulus-enhanced illumination (AEI). Fig. 1 Light micrographs at the same magnification of a perineal pattern of a female of the southern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White, 1912) Chitwood, 1949. A) Brightfield. B) Brightfield image with the specimen illuminated with an ... Although the initial picture obtained by AEI appears similar to a photographic negative (Fig. 1D), through the use of image processing software and a computer, the final image is inverted into a photograph that resembles a positive (Fig. 1B). The colors of the digital photographs presented in Fig. 1. B and C were inverted with Adobe Photoshop® software using the menu lines: “image-adjustments-invert” (“command I” for Macintosh® computers and “control I” for computers utilizing Microsoft Windows®). An image taken with normal brightfield illumination and inverted has little effect on the appearance of the image (Fig. 1C). Annular rings are most often mounted in the stage condenser of a light microscope for phase microscopy. These rings can be purchased from a microscope distributor and installed in the condenser turret or they can be hand-made and placed in the condenser tray (Walker, 2004). They are necessary for phase and have been shown to increase resolution (Vainrub et al., 2006). This increase in resolution occurs from the coherent illumination (light waves that vibrate with constant phase relationships) produced by the annular aperture that is absent in the normal brightfield condenser. This coherent illumination contributes to the enhanced image of the perineal pattern by increasing the resolving power of the light, and it also increases contrast and enhances surface morphology, making the perineal pattern appear three-dimensional. Observation of perineal patterns with an annular ring in the stage condenser is useful for increasing the resolution of the image. These enhanced images emphasize the surface morphology and increase the details that can be seen. This new technique of illumination may increase the value of the observation of perineal patterns for identification of Meloidogyne species, as well as other surface structures such as visualizing surface morphology of cyst nematodes, en face views, lateral lines, phasmids and other sensory openings, lateral lines, etc.
Projectively flat Finsler metrics of constant flag curvature

Finsler metrics on an open subset in R n with straight geodesics are said to be projective. It is known that the flag curvature of any projective Finsler metric is a scalar function of tangent vectors (the flag curvature must be a constant if it is Riemannian). In this paper, we discuss the classification problem on projective Finsler metrics of constant flag curvature. We express them by a Taylor expansion or an algebraic formula. Many examples constructed in this paper can be used as models in Finsler geometry.
Process out-grafting: an efficient "out-of-VM" approach for fine-grained process execution monitoring

Recent rapid malware growth has exposed the limitations of traditional in-host malware-defense systems and motivated the development of secure virtualization-based out-of-VM solutions. By running vulnerable systems as virtual machines (VMs) and moving security software from inside the VMs to outside, the out-of-VM solutions securely isolate the anti-malware software from the vulnerable system. However, the presence of semantic gap also leads to the compatibility problem in not supporting existing defense software. In this paper, we present process out-grafting, an architectural approach to address both isolation and compatibility challenges in out-of-VM approaches for fine-grained process-level execution monitoring. Specifically, by relocating a suspect process from inside a VM to run side-by-side with the out-of-VM security tool, our technique effectively removes the semantic gap and supports existing user-mode process monitoring tools without any modification. Moreover, by forwarding the system calls back to the VM, we can smoothly continue the execution of the out-grafted process without weakening the isolation of the monitoring tool. We have developed a KVM-based prototype and used it to natively support a number of existing tools without any modification. The evaluation results including measurement with benchmark programs show it is effective and practical with a small performance overhead.
Reporting of cause-specific treatment effects in cancer clinical trials with competing risks: A systematic review

Abstract Background Separate analysis of cause-specific treatment effects is important for interpreting results of randomized trials. We sought to determine the extent to which cause-specific effects on primary events are reported in contemporary randomized controlled trials in oncology. Methods We screened 833 randomized trials published in eight leading medical journals between January 2006 and December 2009. We excluded prevention studies ( n = 52), secondary reports ( n = 100), and one retracted study. Analysis was further restricted to 116 trials in non-metastatic/recurrent cancer that used an event-free survival primary endpoint. For each study included in the analysis, we evaluated whether treatment effects on both cancer and non-cancer events comprising the primary endpoint were reported separately and whether statistical analysis was provided. Results Of the 116 randomized trials, 47 (40%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 32–50%) reported effects on both cancer and non-cancer events comprising the primary endpoint, with statistical analysis provided in 13 (11%; 95% CI, 7–19%). Twenty-six trials (22%; 95% CI, 15–31%) reported effects on cancer but not non-cancer events, with statistical analysis provided in 11 (9%; 95% CI, 5–17%). In 43 studies (37%; 95% CI, 28–47%), no effects on cancer-specific components of the primary endpoint were given. Of these, 33 studies (28%; 95% CI, 21–38%) did report effects on some cancer-specific event, while ten (9%; 95% CI, 4-16%) did not report effects of treatment on any cancer event. Discussion Many randomized trials in oncology do not report cause-specific effects on primary events. Increased specificity is needed in the design and reporting of cancer clinical trials.
The ACR appropriateness criteria: Translation to practice and research

The ACR Appropriateness Criteria (ACRAC) are now just about a decade old. Along with a continued commitment to update and add to these guidelines, the author advocates that the ACR undertake the task of converting the current text-based contents into a comprehensive, multipurpose relational database. A candidate structure for such a database is described, and several uses for it are articulated. The accompanying policy discussion advocates efforts to widely disseminate the resulting ACRAC database for use by payers in setting reimbursement and by hospitals in radiology order entry software. Also described are some ways that the ACRAC, formatted as a database, can be used for health services research.
Al2O3-based passive NOx adsorbers for low temperature applications

Abstract NOx storage on Pt/Al2O3 and Pt/La-Al2O3 in the temperature range 80–160 °C was investigated by means of microreactor and in situ DRIFTS experiments, to ascertain their suitability for passive NOx adsorber applications. Addition of 1 wt% La to Al2O3 resulted in the creation of new NOx storage sites and improved NOx storage efficiency. However, according to TPD measurements, Pt/La-Al2O3 exhibited slightly lower NOx desorption efficiency below 250 °C than Pt/Al2O3. During repeated NOx adsorption–desorption cycles, almost no benefit of La addition was observed after five cycles, due to the inability to regenerate the strong NOx storage sites associated with the La at 250 °C. DRIFTS measurements indicated that during NOx-TPD, nitrites and weakly bound nitrate species were initially removed from the surface of Pt/Al2O3 and Pt/La-Al2O3. NOx desorption at higher temperatures (>250 °C) was mainly associated with nitrate decomposition. DRIFTS measurements on Pt/Al2O3 revealed that NOx was mainly stored on the Al2O3 surface when oxidized Pt was present, although when a reductive re-treatment was applied NOx storage on reduced Pt sites became significant and total NOx storage efficiency was improved. However, compared to bare Al2O3, NOx desorption efficiency below 250 °C significantly dropped when Pt was present, and was even lower after pre-reduction in H2. Overall, the Pt-Al without pre-reduction showed the highest amount of NOx desorption below 250 °C.
Self-ratings of past, present, and future cognitive performance across adulthood

Age differences in self-ratings of present and projected past and future cognitive performance were examined across a variety of cognitive domains. Participants (N = 151) in their twenties, forties, sixties, and eighties completed a battery of cognitive tasks and rated their present performance, likely performance five years ago (past), and projected performance five years hence (future) for each task. Performance on fluid/speeded intelligence, memory, and reasoning tasks followed a progression of poorer performance with age. Age differences in self-assessment of projected past and future performance were found, as were age by time interactions. Self-ratings of participants in their twenties tended to reflect projections of continuing improvement from past to present to future, but self-ratings of participants in older age groups tended to reflect perceptions of increasing decline over time. These findings suggest that age differences in self-ratings of cognitive performance may be related to age specific implicit theories of cognitive development.
Heat capacity study of magnetoelectronic phase separation in La 1-x Sr x CoO 3 single crystals

We present a detailed investigation of the specific heat $(0.35lTl270\text{ }\text{K})$ and ordinary Hall effect (300 K) in ${\text{La}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\text{Sr}}_{x}{\text{CoO}}_{3}$ single crystals at 11 doping values in the range $0.00lxl0.30$. The data reveal a considerable amount of information on the nature of the percolation transition, the crystal and electronic structures, and, most significantly, the magnetoelectronic phase inhomogeneity that has attracted such attention in this material. The observations include a discontinuity in Debye temperature accompanying the insulator-metal transition, direct evidence for the percolative nature of this transition, and a large electron mass enhancement in the metallic state, likely due to strong electron correlation effects. The various contributions to the heat capacity are shown to provide a detailed picture of the phase-separated state and its evolution with doping and are discussed in light of prior neutron-scattering and heat capacity data. This doping dependence provides strong evidence that the phase separation is restricted to a well-defined doping range, $0.04lxl0.22$, in agreement with a recently proposed model.
Detrusor hyperreflexia inhibited by anal dilatation

Urge incontinence in 6 patients was found to be due to detrusor hyperreflexia. A cystometrogram was repeated during calibrated anal dilatation and showed increased bladder capacity and decreased hyperreflexia in 4 patients and a normal curve in 2 patients. The mechanism of this response is discussed.
Reference diatom assemblage response to restoration of an acid mine drainage stream

Abstract A prevalent legacy of coal mining within Appalachia and elsewhere is acid mine drainage (AMD), which drastically alters both the chemical and biological components of the receiving waters. Hewett Fork is one such affected stream. Although AMD treatment has reduced acidity considerably downstream, the ability of this stream to sustain a biological community compared to those found in reference conditions remains unclear. To assess this, tiles colonized with diatom assemblages from a reference stream were transplanted into Hewett Fork in 5 locations along a 6.9 km stream length and sampled after one, three, and six weeks. Diatom assemblage structure metrics, including species evenness ( J ’), species richness ( S ), relative abundance of dominant taxon, and Shannon diversity ( H ′), as well as chlorophyll a concentrations, Bray–Curtis dissimilarities, and Acid Mine Drainage Diatom Index of Biotic Integrity (AMD-DIBI) scores were calculated for each site and sampling time. One-way ANOVAs of structural metrics showed significant differences ( P ≤ 0.001) between the reference site and the 2nd and 3rd most upstream sites within the study reach for the duration of the study, with the exception of the relative abundance of dominant taxa at an intermediate site during the third week. Conversely, the most downstream Hewett Fork assemblage, located 11.6 km from the primary AMD input, did not differ significantly ( P > 0.05) from that of the reference assemblage for any structural metrics after the initial sampling period. Throughout the study, only three sites obtained “good” AMD-DIBI narrative class:the reference site (weeks 1, 3, and 6), the most downstream site (weeks 1, 3, and 6; 11.6 km downstream of primary AMD input) and the uppermost site (weeks 1 and 6; 4.7 km downstream of primary AMD input). Results suggested that after an initial one-week acclimation period, assemblages at the uppermost and most downstream sites along the reach were relatively similar to those found in reference conditions, while sites within the middle region continued to show signs of impairment, although the factor(s) causing this impairment remain unknown. These findings suggest that while treatment has been effective on a site-specific basis, the expected linear-response to treatment was not achieved due to underlying factors that are inhibiting reference-like biological communities from reestablishing within the affected stream reach.
Some applications of illfoundedness

It is possible to completely characterize which countable models generated by 0# exist inL. This in turn has applications in the study of analytic equivalence relations; for instance, ifE is∑ 1 1 and every invariant∑ 1 1 (0#) set isΔ 1 1 , thenE has at most ℵ0 many equivalence classes.