cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Field Synopsis of the Role of Sex in Stroke Prediction Models.

Background Guidelines for stroke prevention recommend development of sex‐specific stroke risk scores. Incorporating sex in Clinical Prediction Models (CPMs) may support sex‐specific clinical decision making. To better understand their potential to guide sex‐specific care, we conducted a field synopsis of the role of sex in stroke‐related CPMs. Methods and Results We identified stroke‐related CPMs in the Tufts Predictive Analytics and Comparative Effectiveness CPM Database, a systematic summary of cardiovascular CPMs published from January 1990 to May 2012. We report the proportion of models including the effect of sex on stroke incidence or prognosis, summarize the directionality of the predictive effects of sex, and explore factors influencing the inclusion of sex. Of 92 stroke‐related CPMs, 30 (33%) contained a coefficient for sex or presented sex‐stratified models. Only 12/58 (21%) CPMs predicting outcomes in patients included sex, compared to 18/30 (60%) models predicting first stroke ( P <0.0001). Sex was most commonly included in models predicting stroke among a general population (69%). Female sex was consistently associated with reduced mortality after ischemic stroke (n=4) and higher risk of stroke from arrhythmias or coronary revascularization (n=5). Models predicting first stroke versus outcomes among patients with stroke (odds ratio=5.75, 95% CI 2.18–15.14, P <0.001) and those developed from larger versus smaller sample sizes (odds ratio=4.58, 95% CI 1.73–12.13, P =0.002) were significantly more likely to include sex. Conclusions Sex is included in a minority of published CPMs, but more frequently in models predicting incidence of first stroke. The importance of sex‐specific care may be especially well established for primary prevention.
Nurse Staffing and Allocation in Multistage Queuing Network Model with I~2 Patient Routing in Outpatient Department

A general multistage queueing network model with I2 patient routing is established to formulate the behavior of patient flow in an outpatient department( OD) in a hospital,proceeding from registration to diagnosis,chemical examination,referral,payment,and medicine-taking.The formula of performance indicators such as patient waiting time and probability of nurses being idle are derived from system parameters.Focusing on nurse staffing and allocation,a mathematical programming model is developed to determine how many nurses are needed and how to allocate nurses to each stage /division to minimize the total costs of patient waiting time and nurse idle time.A neighborhood search combined simulated annealing( NS-SA) with heuristic is developed.Optimal nurse numbers are derived from the enumeration method based on NS-SA.Numerical experiments are conducted to analyze the impact of patient arrival on the allocation of nurses and the ratio of patient waiting time and nurse idle time on the number of nurses needed.The bottleneck in the system is found.The research results can facilitate human resource decision making by hospital managers.
Application research of hierarchical control in water turbine governing system

It was the first time to study the application of hierarchical intelligent control in large-scale hydropower turbine governor system by hardware and software design. At first, the paper proposed the practicality of applying hierarchical theory to governor, and then based on software and hardware of PCC controller, from hardware configuration and functional configuration aspects explained this application, at last made a detail research with software structure design, functional portioning and system optimization. It hopes to provide a reference for research and design of large-scale hydropower turbine governor system.
WRN conditioned media is sufficient for in vitro propagation of intestinal organoids from large farm and small companion animals

Recent years have seen significant developments in the ability to continuously propagate organoids derived from intestinal crypts. These advancements have been applied to mouse and human samples providing models for gastrointestinal tissue development and disease. We adapt these methods for the propagation of intestinal organoids (enteroids) from various large farm and small companion (LF/SC) animals, including cat, dog, cow, horse, pig, sheep and chicken. We show that LF/SC enteroids propagate and expand in L-WRN conditioned media containing signaling factors Wnt3a, R-spondin-3, and Noggin (WRN). Multiple successful isolations were achieved for each species, and the growth of LF/SC enteroids was maintained to high passage number. LF/SC enteroids expressed crypt stem cell marker LGR5 and low levels of mesenchymal marker VIM. Labeling with EdU also showed distinct regions of cell proliferation within the enteroids marking crypt-like regions. The ability to grow and maintain LF/SC enteroid cell lines provides additional models for the study of gastrointestinal developmental biology as well as platforms for the study of host-pathogen interactions between intestinal cells and zoonotic enteric pathogens of medical importance.
Predictors of Multidimensional Functional Outcomes after Total Knee Arthroplasty

Multiple assessments are used clinically after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) including self-report, performance tasks, and physical activity levels. It is unclear if these different functional assessments are interchangeable or if they measure different constructs. The objective of this study was to characterize different functional measures before and after TKA. We characterized function before and after TKA using perceived function (KOOS ADL), physical performance (gait speed), and daily activity (steps/day via accelerometry); compared function in people undergoing TKA to age-matched healthy controls; and examined characteristics of those undergoing TKA for potential predictors of postoperative function. Prior to TKA, all three functional assessments were significantly lower for participants than those of healthy controls and each measure remained lower for participants than for controls postoperatively. All three functional assessments developed differently over time postoperatively. Each functional outcome had a unique set of predictors. Perceived function was predicted primarily by anxiety and depression, physical performance was most strongly predicted by age, and daily activity was chiefly predicted by BMI. Pressure pain threshold was a common predictor across all models. Functional limitations exist preoperatively and persist postoperatively across different measures in people undergoing TKA when compared to those measures in healthy controls. Functional outcomes after TKA are different depending on the functional measure utilized, implying that different constructs underlie each measure. Multiple functional measures should be assessed to provide a more comprehensive assessment of function after TKA. Further work should assess the impact of interventions designed to treat modifiable predictors of postoperative TKA function. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:2790-2798, 2017.
Socioeconomic Impacts of Roads

In theory, the economic benefit from road development accrues from the reduction in costs of both transport and travel. This allows several processes to take place that can have a positive impact on reducing poverty. Many factors can effect how the economic benefits of roads accrue to local populations and while there have been numerous studies to try to better understand this process many of these studies are flawed in different ways and do not lend themselves well to comparison. In Nepal results of some of these studies show varied and inconclusive results. One major study over a 20-year period showed very little concrete benefit from new roads. Other studies have shown that while new roads can benefit local populations they also can have unintended consequences, which may in the end negate some of the benefits. Finally, while roads are often touted as a solution to poverty alleviation the poorest of the poor usually benefit the least. Many of these effects can be seen along the Kali Ghandaki Highway in Mustang Districts where the highway has had impacts on diverse aspects of local economies including local tourism along the Annapurna Circuit Trail, religious pilgrimage practices at Muktinath, and changing land use and land values.
The Creole Debate

Creoles have long been the subject of debate in linguistics, with many conflicting views, both on how they are formed, and what their political and linguistic status should be. Indeed, over the past twenty years, some creole specialists have argued that it has been wrong to think of creoles as anything but language blends in the same way that Yiddish is a blend of German and Hebrew and Slavic. Here, John H. McWhorter debunks the most widely accepted idea that creoles are created in the same way as 'children', taking characteristics from both 'parent' languages, and its underlying assumption that all historical and biological processes are the same. Instead, the facts support the original, and more interesting, argument that creoles are their own unique entity and are among the world's only genuinely new languages.
Comparative effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants and warfarin in patients with cancer and atrial fibrillation

Randomized clinical trials comparing direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) to warfarin in cancer patients have not been performed. We evaluated the effectiveness and associated risk of DOACs vs warfarin, as well as comparisons of DOACs, in a large population of cancer patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Using the MarketScan databases, we identified 16 096 AF patients (mean age, 74 years) initiating oral anticoagulant and being actively treated for cancer between 2010 and 2014. Anticoagulant users were matched by age, sex, enrollment date, and drug initiation date. Study end points were identified with diagnostic codes and included ischemic stroke, severe bleeding, other bleeding, and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Cox regression was used to estimate associations of anticoagulants with study end points. Compared with warfarin, rates of bleeding (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) were similar in rivaroxaban (1.09 [0.79, 1.39]) and dabigatran (0.96 [0.72, 1.27]) users, whereas apixaban users experienced lower rates (0.37 [0.17, 0.79]). Rates of ischemic stroke did not differ among anticoagulant users. Compared with warfarin, rate of VTE (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) was lower among rivaroxaban (0.51 [0.41, 0.63]), dabigatran (0.28 [0.21, 0.38]), and apixaban (0.14 [0.07, 0.32]) users. In head-to-head comparisons among DOACs, dabigatran users had lower rates of VTE than rivaroxaban users; apixaban users had lower rates of VTE and severe bleeding than rivaroxaban users. In this population of patients with AF and cancer, DOAC users experienced lower or similar rates of bleeding and stroke compared with warfarin users, and a lower rate of incident VTE.
Active surveillance criteria in the age of targeted biopsies.

116Background: Many urologists are now using active surveillance (AS) to manage patients with low-risk prostate cancer. A variety of criteria have been proposed to select patients for AS. A key feature of these criteria is Gleason Group as determined by systematic or “random” biopsies (SB). In this study, we examined the progression of Gleason Group (GG) detected only on SB compared to patients with positive MRI-fusion or “targeted” biopsies (FB). Methods: A prospectively maintained database was queried for all patients who underwent an MRI guided FB and SB from 2007 to 2016 and chose AS as their primary management strategy. Patents with GG 1 or 2 were eligible. Patients were then followed with yearly PSA, exam, MRI and biopsy if warranted. FBs were reviewed to determine GG progression. We divided patients into those who had cancer detected on SB only and those who had positive FBs with or without a positive SB. Results: A total of 162 patients met our criteria with 73 having an initial positive FB and 89...
Structure-based Engineering of a Plant-Fungal Hybrid Peroxidase for Enhanced Temperature and pH Tolerance

Summary In an age of ever-increasing biotechnological and industrial demand for new and specialized biocatalysts, rational protein engineering offers a direct approach to enzyme design and innovation. Heme peroxidases, as indispensable oxidative biocatalysts, provide a relatively mild alternative to the traditional harsh, and often toxic, chemical catalysts, and subsequently, have found widespread application throughout industry. However, the potential for these enzymes is far greater than their present use, as processes are currently restricted to the more stable, but less catalytically powerful, subset of peroxidases. Here we describe the structure-guided, rational engineering of a plant-fungal hybrid peroxidase built to overcome the application barrier of these high-reduction potential peroxidases. This engineered enzyme has the catalytic versatility and oxidative ability of a high-reduction potential versatile peroxidase, with enhanced temperature and pH tolerance similar to that of a highly stable plant peroxidase.
Probabilistic error analysis of Gaussian elimination in floating point and logarithmic arithmetic

The probabilistic models for roundoff error in floating point and logarithmic arithmetic discussed in Barlow and Bareiss (1985) are applied to the error analysis of Gaussian elimination and some related algorithms. This new method of error analysis is compared to the standard deterministic error analysis given in Wilkinson (1963, 1965).
Ethical and social challenges of brain-computer interfaces.

Brain-computer interface technology presents a number of ethical and social challenges for physicians. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
205 Mb/s LED-Based Underwater Optical Communication Employing OFDM Modulation

In this paper, we present LED-based underwater optical communication in shallow water. We designed an underwater optical communication system, fabricated an underwater testing platform, and conducted experiments in Yehliu Harbor in Northern Taiwan. Using spectral-efficient orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation with bit-loading algorithm, we have achieved data rates of 158 Mb/s in daytime and those of 205 Mb/s in nighttime through a transmission distance of 10 m at a depth of 3 m.
Transformation Methods for Trigonometric Parallaxes

The idea of transforming a measured trigonometric parallax to some auxiliary variable when estimating distances and absolute magnitudes was suggested by Smith and Eichhorn in 1996 as a way to avoid the problems of bias and infinite variance with the distance estimates and as an essentially assumption-free alternative to Bayesian and modelling methods. At that time there were three major issues left outstanding: 1) improvement of the transformation for absolute magnitude; 2) satisfactory treatment of the uncertainties when combining estimates from the transformations; and 3) extension of the range of the transformation for distance. Subsequently an additional issue was raised, namely the possible effect of the stellar spatial distribution on the method. The progress made in resolving these issues is discussed, and some comments are made regarding the role of transformation methods within the larger framework of distance estimation and the calibration problem.
Healthy Lifestyle Through Home Gardening: The Art of Sharing:

This article offers a solution to promoting healthy lifestyle through home gardening and how gardening activities create social capital through social interactions among family members and people within communities, through sharing. This article begins by reviewing general social, psychological, and physical health benefits of home gardening followed by barriers associated with starting a garden that include lack of time, scarce resources, insufficient knowledge and skills, and inadequate space. This article argues that beyond the skills and knowledge, inspiration is the key in creating and sustaining a home garden. Through the idea of networking with families in a community and building these social relationships, it increases more opportunities to inspire and be inspired, fosters a greater sense of joy in gardening, encourages a chain reaction of sharing, and connects people together. As people share, it creates a pattern of social interactions and reciprocity among those who share and the recipients within the network that will then lead to increased social relationships, trust, and a social norm of sharing. Sharing itself also creates an opportunity for others to share back because in some situations, people do not know how to initiate the sharing process or have difficulty doing so. The article ends with a discussion on promoting a sustainable, active, and healthy lifestyle by engaging children in the process of gardening and sharing geminated plants/produce with their peers and other families, hence fostering a lifelong appreciation and consumption of plants they grow, learn, share, and heal together in the process.
Multi-View Large-Scale Bundle Adjustment Method for High-Resolution Satellite Images.

Given enough multi-view image corresponding points (also called tie points) and ground control points (GCP), bundle adjustment for high-resolution satellite images is used to refine the orientations or most often used geometric parameters Rational Polynomial Coefficients (RPC) of each satellite image in a unified geodetic framework, which is very critical in many photogrammetry and computer vision applications. However, the growing number of high resolution spaceborne optical sensors has brought two challenges to the bundle adjustment: 1) images come from different satellite cameras may have different imaging dates, viewing angles, resolutions, etc., thus resulting in geometric and radiometric distortions in the bundle adjustment; 2) The large-scale mapping area always corresponds to vast number of bundle adjustment corrections (including RPC bias and object space point coordinates). Due to the limitation of computer memory, it is hard to refine all corrections at the same time. Hence, how to efficiently realize the bundle adjustment in large-scale regions is very important. This paper particularly addresses the multi-view large-scale bundle adjustment problem by two steps: 1) to get robust tie points among different satellite images, we design a multi-view, multi-source tie point matching algorithm based on plane rectification and epipolar constraints, which is able to compensate geometric and local nonlinear radiometric distortions among satellite datasets, and 2) to solve dozens of thousands or even millions of variables bundle adjustment corrections in the large scale bundle adjustment, we use an efficient solution with only a little computer memory. Experiments on in-track and off-track satellite datasets show that the proposed method is capable of computing sub-pixel accuracy bundle adjustment results.
Get Smart on Information-Sharing in Social Networks

Social Networks now become popular and powerful platforms for people to share information. Everyone may share their interested information with their connections, or send messages to their friends. However, sharing information costs both computational and communicational resources, in addition to personal time/attention of both the sender and the receiver. Decision-making regarding which piece of information should be shared with whom, thus is important to individuals and the whole network. In this work, we study the effects of different information-sharing strategies using a social network simulator. This paper describes how social network is modeled, and the various factors relevant to the sharing decisions. We propose six information sharing strategies, and performed simulation experiments to examine their influences on individuals and the whole social network.
The Anti-Constitutional Culture of Class Action Law

Legal sub-fields aren't just collections of cases and doctrines. They are each animated by a set of commitments, shared among practitioners and academics, that might be described as a kind of legal culture. The culture of class action law is under assault from an unlikely rebel: Wal-Mart. The retailer is the target of the largest certified class action in history: Dukes v. Wal-Mart, a case consisting of two million punitive damages claims filed under Title VII. While it has lost at each stage in the lower courts, Wal-Mart has litigated the case with an eye to Supreme Court review, by arguing, at each juncture, that the Constitution forbids certifying a punitive damages class action of such an unwieldy size. Wal-Mart's innovative constitutional argument is significant because it implicitly challenges two under-examined commitments at the heart of class action culture: (1) that class actions, as a form of remedy, stand outside the scope of serious due process scrutiny, and (2) that Congress has delegated courts special quasi-legislative powers in the class context. In this nine page magazine article, I use Dukes as a backdrop to briefly critique these two commitments and show how they have obscured some broader constitutional arguments against large-scale public policy class actions. A successful Wal-Mart appeal in Dukes, I suggest, just might shake the faith of class action "culture" in both commitments - with potentially far-reaching, and welcome, results for class action law.
Lycopene Protects against Smoking-Induced Lung Cancer by Inducing Base Excision Repair.

Background: Oxidative stress plays a critical role in lung cancer progression. Carotenoids are efficient antioxidants. The objective of this study was to explore the efficacy of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and carotenoids in cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress within A549 human lung cancer epithelial cells. Methods: A549 cells were pretreated with 1-nM, 10-nM, 100-nM, 1-μM and 10-μM ATRA, β-carotene (BC) and lycopene for 24 h, followed by exposure to cigarette smoke using a smoking chamber. Results: The OxyBlot analysis showed that smoking significantly increased oxidative stress, which was inhibited by lycopene at 1 nM and 10 nM (p < 0.05). In the cells exposed to smoke, lycopene increased 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) expression at 1 nM, 10 nM, 100 nM, and 1 μM (p < 0.05), but not at 10 μM. Lycopene at lower doses also improved Nei like DNA glycosylases (NEIL1, NEIL2, NEIL3), and connexin-43 (Cx43) protein levels (p < 0.05). Interestingly, lycopene at lower concentrations promoted OGG1 expression within the cells exposed to smoke to an even greater extent than the cells not exposed to smoke (p < 0.01). This may be attributed to the increased SR-B1 mRNA levels with cigarette smoke exposure (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Lycopene treatment at a lower dosage could inhibit smoke-induced oxidative stress and promote genome stability. These novel findings will shed light on the molecular mechanism of lycopene action against lung cancer.
A Risk Score for Adults With Congenital Heart Disease Undergoing Heart Transplantation.

Background This study derived and validated a risk score for 1-year mortality in patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing registry identified patients with ACHD (≥18 years of age) who underwent OHT between 1987 and 2018. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality. Associated covariates (univariate P Results A total of 1388 recipients were randomly divided into derivation (66.7%, n = 950) and validation (33.3%, n = 438) cohorts. A 13-point risk score incorporating 4 pretransplant variables (age, dialysis dependence, serum bilirubin level, and mechanical ventilation) was created. The predicted 1-year mortality ranged from 14.6% (0 points) to 49.9% (13 points) (P Conclusions This 13-point risk score for ACHD is predictive of mortality within 1 year after OHT and has potential utilization in improving recipient selection for OHT in adult patients with CHD.
Emerging Characteristics of Isotonitazene-Involved Overdose Deaths: A Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVES Case reports of fatal overdoses involving the novel synthetic opioid isotonitazene have prompted the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to consider an emergency scheduling of the drug in June 2020. We aimed to epidemiologically characterize deaths involving isotonitazene. METHODS We conducted a case control study using publicly available mortality records from January 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020 in Cook County, IL and Milwaukee County, WI. Cases (all deaths involving isotonitazene) and controls (all deaths involving other synthetic opioids) were compared on demographic characteristics, number of substances involved in fatal overdose, and co-involvement of other substances. RESULTS We identified 40 fatal overdoses involving isotonitazene and 981 fatal overdoses involving other synthetic opioids. Isotonitazene deaths involved a significantly greater number of substances, and were significantly more likely to involve the designer benzodiazepine flualprazolam. DISCUSSION Isotonitazene was involved in a substantial minority of synthetic opioid overdose deaths in the first 7 months of 2020. Future studies characterizing its prevalence in other markets are warranted. Emergence of highly potent novel synthetic opioids underscore the need for comprehensive health services for people with opioid use disorder.
A New Dead Time Regulation Synchronous Rectification Control Method for High Efficiency LLC Resonant Converters

In low output voltage and high output current LLC resonant converter applications, a synchronous rectification (SR) is essential component for high efficiency and high power density. However, stray inductances in MOSFET package and printed circuit board (PCB) pattern make premature turn- off of SR gate and large SR dead time. To compensate the stray inductance effect and increase system efficiency, a hysteresis band dead time regulation control method is proposed. In the proposed control method, SR dead time is regulated to predetermined dead time target regardless of the stray inductances by using a mixed signal, which includes instantaneous drain voltage information and previous cycle dead time information. As a result, the proposed control method can provide lower conduction losses by the dead time regulation and better transient characteristic by the instantaneous drain voltage information. To verify the validity of the proposed control method, 234-W prototype is built and experimented with the proposed controller, which is implemented with 0.25- μ m BCDMOS technology.
CMOS-compatible GaN HEMT on 200mm Si-substrate for RF application

In this work, we successfully fabricated AlGaN/GaN HEMT on 8-inch GaN-on-Si wafer utilizing CMOS BEOL compatible process, and demonstrate an AlGaN/GaN HEMT with L g = 250nm reaching f t /f max = 50/44 GHz. By semi-automatic RF measurements mapping in complete 8-inch wafer area, results exhibit average f t = 48GHz with NU = 7.6% and average f max = 42GHz with NU = 5%, revealing the outstanding uniformity of 8-inch standard CMOS manufacturing tools.
Outside the Lines: Visualizing Influence Across Heterogeneous Contexts in PTSD

Open-world processes generate information that cannot be captured in a single data set. In fields such as medicine and defense, where precise information can be life-saving, a modeling paradigm is needed in which multiple media and contexts can be logically and visually integrated, in order to inform the engineering of large systems. One barrier is the underlying ontological heterogeneity that multiple contexts can exhibit, along with the need for those facts to be compatible with or translated between domains and situations. Another barrier is the dynamism and influence of context, which has traditionally been difficult to represent. This chapter describes a method for modeling the changes of interpretation that occur when facts cross-over context boundaries, whether those contexts are differentiated by discipline, time or perspective (or all three). We that processing Here, a new modeling environment is developed in which those transitions can be visualized. Our prototype modeling platform, Wunderkammer, can connect video, text, image and data while representing the context from which these artifacts were derived. It can also demonstrate transfers of information among situations, enabling the depiction of influence. Our example focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), combining psychological, neurological and physiological information, with a view to informing the aggregation of information in intelligent systems. These different forms of information are connected in a single modeling space using a narrative-based visual grammar. The goal is to develop a method and tool that supports the integration of information from different fields in order to model changing phenomena in an open world, with a focus on detecting emerging disorders. In turn, this will ultimately support more powerful knowledge systems for fields such as neurobiology, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence (AI).
Empirical Test of Affine Stochastic Discount Factor Model of Currency Pricing

In this note, I conduct an empirical investigation of the affine stochastic discount factor model proposed by Backus, Foresi and Telmer (2001), who showed that such a model might be able to explain the forward premium anomaly. Evidence presented here suggests that the model can reproduce the forward premium anomaly only by placing restrictions on the behavior of spot and forward exchange rates that are not consistent with the data. The model assumes that an increase in the forward premium must be accompanied by an increase in volatilities of the forward premium and of the exchange rate depreciation. I find that this assumption is not supported by the data. When I relax the model by allowing the forward premium to vary without necessarily affecting conditional second moments, the model no longer reproduces the forward premium anomaly. Thus, I conclude that the model can reproduce the anomaly only by forcing a linear heteroskedastic process that is not supported by the data.
Multimodal Data Fusion Using Source Separation: Application to Medical Imaging

The joint independent component analysis (jICA) and the transposed independent vector analysis (tIVA) models are two effective solutions based on blind source separation (BSS) that enable fusion of data from multiple modalities in a symmetric and fully multivariate manner. The previous paper in this special issue discusses the properties and the main issues in the implementation of these two models. In this accompanying paper, we consider the application of these two models to fusion of multimodal medical imaging data—functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), structural MRI (sMRI), and electroencephalography (EEG) data collected from a group of healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia performing an auditory oddball task. We show how both models can be used to identify a set of components that report on differences between the two groups, jointly , for all the modalities used in the study. We discuss the importance of algorithm and order selection as well as tradeoffs involved in the selection of one model over another. We note that for the selected data set, especially given the limited number of subjects available for the study, jICA provides a more desirable solution, however the use of an ICA algorithm that uses flexible density matching provides advantages over the most widely used algorithm, Infomax, for the problem.
P78-2 engineering overview

Data from the P78-2 spacecraft are being used in verifying and validating analytical tools being developed for the design of spacecraft, such as NASCAP, for updating Military Standard 1541, for investigation of materials contamination, and for a study of the physics of charging. The analysis of this data has already resulted in changes in laboratory testing procedures, in a better understanding of some properties of materials exposed to the space environment, and in some insight into the EMI caused by discharges on spacecraft in a plasma environment. Some examples of early results from the engineering experiments are presented.
Property's Ends: The Publicness of Private Law Values

Property theorists commonly suppose that property has as its ends certain private values, such as individual autonomy and personal security. This Article contends that property’s real end is human flourishing, that is, living a life that is as fulfilling as possible. Human flourishing, although property’s ultimate end, is neither monistic or simple. Rather, it is inclusive and comprises multiple values. Those values, the content of human flourishing, derives, at least in part, from an understanding of the sorts of beings we are ― social and political. A consequence of this conception of the human condition is that the values of which human flourishing is constitutive ― property’s ends― are public as well as private. Further, the public and private values that serve as property’s ends are mutually dependent for their realization. Hence, any account of property that assigns it solely to the private sphere, categorically removed from public values, is incoherent.
FDTD simulation of signal degradation in lossy and dispersive coplanar waveguides for high-speed digital circuits

The signal degradation stemming from the conductor loss and the substrate dispersion of coplanar waveguides for the high-speed digital circuits is analyzed by a combination of the original and frequency-dependent versions of the FDTD method. The metallic strips with the finite thickness are described by the equivalent Z-parameters. The backed conductor, if any, is modelled by the surface impedance. The dispersive property of the GaAs substrate is formulated by using the Kronig-Kramers relationship. The simulation results demonstrate the signal degradation due to modal dispersion, conductor loss, substrate dispersion and leakage effects in a conductor backed CPW structure.
Subarachnoid dissemination of intraventricular tumors following simultaneous endoscopic biopsy and third ventriculostomy.

Object Endoscopic biopsy with concomitant third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a well-established diagnostic and therapeutic maneuver in patients presenting with noncommunicating hydrocephalus resulting from a tumor of the pineal region or posterior third ventricle. Fenestration of the floor of the third ventricle theoretically provides a conduit for the subarachnoid dissemination of an intraventricular tumor. The aim of this study was to ascertain the rate of leptomeningeal dissemination following this surgical procedure. Methods The authors conducted a review of all patients for whom an ETV and simultaneous endoscopic biopsy procedure or tumor resection had been performed at their institutions between 1995 and 2008. Patients were divided into high or low risk groups by leptomeningeal metastatic potential based on pathology. All available postoperative clinical and radiographic data, including MR imaging of the brain and spinal cord, as well as CSF sampling were evaluated when available. A review of the litera...
Alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation of platelet-derived growth factor A-chain gene expression in rat aorta.

Sympathetic nerves and catecholamines exert growth-promoting trophic influences on arterial smooth muscle in vivo, but the molecular signals mediating these trophic effects are unknown. We report here that the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (PE) produced dose-dependent stimulation of platelet-derived growth factor A-chain (PDGF-A) gene expression in rat thoracic aorta via agonist occupancy of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Increases in aortic PDGF-A mRNA levels were rapid (maximal at 6 h, 10-fold) and transient. Among seven different tissues studied, PE evoked significant increases in PDGF-A mRNA levels only in the aorta. When periaortic fatty/connective tissues normally adherent to thoracic aorta were examined separately from the remaining aortic vessel wall (endothelium removed), stimulated PDGF-A gene expression was found only in vessel wall (presumably smooth muscle). The physiological alpha-adrenergic agonist norepinephrine also increased aortic PDGF-A mRNA levels. Angiotensin II or endothelin, despite producing blood pressure increases similar to PE, had little or no effect on PDGF-A mRNA abundance in rat aorta. PE-stimulated PDGF-A gene expression was accompanied by increased expression of other growth-related genes including c-fos, c-myc, and ornithine decarboxylase but not DNA synthesis. These results suggest a mechanism for previously described trophic effects of sympathetic nerves and catecholamines on arterial smooth muscle mass, i.e. regulation of growth-related gene expression via alpha 1-adrenergic receptors.
Lymphedema beyond breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Secondary lymphedema is a debilitating, chronic, progressive condition that commonly occurs after the treatment of breast cancer. The purpose of the current study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the oncology-related literature excluding breast cancer to derive estimates of lymphedema incidence and to identify potential risk factors among various malignancies. METHODS: The authors systematically reviewed 3 major medical indices (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library databases, and Scopus) to identify studies (1972-2008) that included a prospective assessment of lymphedema after cancer treatment. Studies were categorized according to malignancy, and data included treatment, complications, lymphedema measurement criteria, lymphedema incidence, and follow-up interval. A quality assessment of individual studies was performed using established criteria for systematic reviews. Bayesian meta-analytic techniques were applied to derive summary estimates when sufficient data were available. RESULTS: A total of 47 studies (7779 cancer survivors) met inclusion criteria: melanoma (n = 15), gynecologic malignancies (n = 22), genitourinary cancers (n = 8), head/neck cancers (n = 1), and sarcomas (n = 1). The overall incidence of lymphedema was 15.5% and varied by malignancy (P < .001): melanoma, 16% (upper extremity, 5%; lower extremity, 28%); gynecologic, 20%; genitourinary, 10%; head/neck, 4%; and sarcoma, 30%. Increased lymphedema risk was also noted for patients undergoing pelvic dissections (22%) and radiation therapy (31%). Objective measurement methods and longer follow-up were both associated with increased lymphedema incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphedema is a common condition affecting cancer survivors with various malignancies. The incidence of lymphedema is related to the type and extent of treatment, anatomic location, heterogeneity of assessment methods, and length of follow-up. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Gene Fusions of Signal Sequences with a Modified [beta]-Glucuronidase Gene Results in Retention of the [beta]-Glucuronidase Protein in the Secretory Pathway/Plasma Membrane

Signal sequences and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signals are known to play central roles in targeting and translocation in the secretory pathway, but molecular aspects about their involvement are poorly understood. We tested the effectiveness of deduced signal sequences from various genes (hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein [HRGP] from Phaseolus vulgaris; Serpin from Manduca sexta) to direct a modified beta-glucuronidase (GUS) protein into the secretory pathway in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). The reporter protein was not secreted to the cell wall/extracellular space as monitored using extracellular fluid analysis (low- or high-ionic-strength conditions) but occurred in membranes with a density of 1.16 to 1.20 g/mL. Membrane-bound GUS equilibrated with the plasma membrane (PM) and the ER on linear sucrose gradients with or without ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, suggesting that GUS associates with the ER and the PM. Confocal microscopy of fixed cultured cells prepared from GUS control and HRGP signal peptide (SP)-GUS-expressing plants suggested only cytosolic localization in GUS-expressing plants but substantial peripheral localization in HRGP SP-GUS plants, which is consistent with GUS being associated with the PM. Aqueous two-phase partitioning of microsomal membranes from HRGP SP-GUS and Serpin SP-GUS transgenic leaves also indicated that GUS activity was enriched in the ER and the PM. These observations, together with hydrophobic moment plot analysis, suggest that properties of the SP-GUS protein result in its retention in the secretory pathway and PM.
Using a Web camera

Describes the experience at Rollins College, of delivering live imagery to the Web. Outlines the steps taken, and the end result. Uses Web cams to deliver a temporary solution. Argues that real‐time video delivery is on the horizon.
Theory of giant magnetoresistance in magnetic granular films

It has been recently found that giant magnetoresistance can also be obtained in metallic films containing magnetic particles. Based on spin‐dependent scattering, we propose a model that allows us to explain various features of the magnetoresistance and to predict new features. The model is further extended to include the temperature dependence of the magnetoresistance.
RNA silencing in Aspergillus nidulans is independent of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases.

The versatility of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RDRPs) in eukaryotic gene silencing is perhaps best illustrated in the kingdom Fungi. Biochemical and genetic studies of Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Neurospora crassa show that these types of enzymes are involved in a number of fundamental gene-silencing processes, including heterochromatin regulation and RNA silencing in S. pombe and meiotic silencing and RNA silencing in N. crassa. Here we show that Aspergillus nidulans, another model fungus, does not require an RDRP for inverted repeat transgene (IRT)-induced RNA silencing. However, RDRP requirements may vary within the Aspergillus genus as genomic analysis indicates that A. nidulans, but not A. fumigatus or A. oryzae, has lost a QDE-1 ortholog, an RDRP associated with RNA silencing in N. crassa. We also provide evidence suggesting that 5′ → 3′ transitive RNA silencing is not a significant aspect of A. nidulans IRT-RNA silencing. These results indicate a lack of conserved kingdom-wide requirements for RDRPs in fungal RNA silencing.
Dysfunctional beliefs, self-monitoring, and marital conflict

Relationships among relationship beliefs, self-monitoring and conflict behavior were examined in 74 married couples. It was predicted that dysfunctional relationship beliefs would be negatively correlated with marital satisfaction and that high self-monitoring spouses would endorse more dysfunctional relationship beliefs and display more disagreeing and leadership conflict behavior. Dysfunctional beliefs were negatively correlated with satisfaction but low and high self-monitors did not differ in their conflict behavior. Discriminant analyses indicated that marital distress was a function of endorsement of dysfunctional relationship beliefs; decreased satisfaction with decisions; increased conflict relevance; and increased impression management reflected in high self-monitoring orientations among husbands and wives’ beliefs that their husbands were not behaving “normally.” The contribution of gender and impression management to marital distress is discussed.
Control of nitrogen and carbon metabolism in root nodules

Because legume root nodules have high rates of carbon and nitrogen metabolism, they are ideal for the study of plant physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology. Many plant enzymes involved in carbon and nitrogen assimilation have enhanced activity and enzyme protein in nodules as compared to other plant organs. For all intents and purposes the interior of the root nodule is O 2 limited. Both plant and bacterial components of effective root nodules have unique adaptive features for maximizing carbon and nitrogen metabolism in an O 2 -limited environment
Parallel evolution of genome structure and transcriptional landscape in the Epsilonproteobacteria.

Background Gene reshuffling, point mutations and horizontal gene transfer contribute to bacterial genome variation, but require the genome to rewire its transcriptional circuitry to ensure that inserted, mutated or reshuffled genes are transcribed at appropriate levels. The genomes of Epsilonproteobacteria display very low synteny, due to high levels of reshuffling and reorganisation of gene order, but still share a significant number of gene orthologs allowing comparison. Here we present the primary transcriptome of the pathogenic Epsilonproteobacterium Campylobacter jejuni, and have used this for comparative and predictive transcriptomics in the Epsilonproteobacteria.
Effects of DDE and food stress on reproduction and body condition of ringed turtle doves

Six trials with ringed turtle doves (Streptopelia risoria) explored the combined effects of food restrictions and DDE [1,1,-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene] on reproductive performance and body condition. In each trial, eight groups of eight breeding pairs were either exposed (four groups) or not exposed (four groups) to DDE and held on either 100, 90, 80, or 70% of normal food intake. Three performance trials and three condition trials were conducted. In each case, the three trials differed only in the time food was restricted—either 2 weeks before pairing, at pairing, or at egg laying. Performance trials assessed reproductive performance and were continued for about 42 days, the normal period required to fledge young. Condition trials were each terminated at the time most pairs failed in the corresponding performance trial. Pairs were then sacrificed to assess their body condition. In performance trials, treatments severely affected breeding success. Overall, in the three trials, productivity in clean birds was reduced 50, 85, and 100%, respectively, at food intakes of 90, 80, and 70% of normal. Effects were greater on DDE birds; productivity was lowered 23, 87, 98, and 100% at 100, 90, 80, and 70% food intake, respectively. The timing of food restriction was as important as its intensity. A 10% reduction in food before pairing had a greater effect on overall performance than a 30% reduction at egg laying. DDE effects were greatest in birds subjected to food restrictions before egg laying. Treatments affected females more than males. In performance trials, productivity was reduced by nonbreeding and by increased death of embryos and young due to inadequate brooding and care. In condition trials, body condition was not greatly affected by treatments. Losses in body weight and in fat and protein reserves were not as closely related to breeding performance as were reduced size of gonads and crop glands. Treatments apparently restricted breeding success by limiting the levels of hormones necessary to develop and maintain active gonads, adequate courtship and brooding behavior, and functional crop glands. Food is constantly a limiting factor for wildlife. Further reductions in food supplies caused by human activities along with chemical contaminants in the environment can be expected to adversely influence reproductive success and pose serious restrictions on avian populations.
Plackett-Burman technique for sensitivity analysis of many-parametered models

Abstract A method for sensitivity analysis of a simulation model is presented, together with an illustrative example. The Plackett–Burman technique allows the concurrent consideration of numerous parameters. The required number of model scenarios necessary for completion of the analysis is approximately twice the number of parameters. Advantages to the technique include simultaneously investigating all parameters, as well as acquiring information about two-way parameter interactions, by means of a relatively small number of scenarios. A drawback is aliasing among interactions, which may confound interpretation.