cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Severe chronic experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) of the C57BL/6 mouse induced by adoptive transfer of IRBP1–20-specific T cells

Experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) can be induced in susceptible mice by immunization with retinal antigens. The response to uveitogens is genetically restricted. B10RIII and B10A mouse are highly susceptible to IRBP-induced uveitis, whereas B6 mouse is less susceptible. Immunization to B6 mouse with IRBP only induced very mild disease with low incidence. However, the susceptibility can be enhanced by transferring activated IRBP-specific T cells. In this study, we show that a reproducible and severe uveitis can be induced in B6 mice by adoptive transfer of IRBP-specific T cells. The disease incidence, severity, and duration can be readily controlled by the number and activation status of the injected T cells. Both CD4(+)- and CD8(+) IRBP1-20-specific T cells were identified in vitro IRBP peptide stimulation. In addition, IRBP1-20-specific T cells were consistently detected in recipient mice for up to 2 months, but only detected in the acute phase of the disease in actively immunized mice, indicating that persistency of injected IRBP1-20-specific T cells in recipient B6 mice might be one of the mechanisms causing chronic and severe disease. Giving that a large number of transgenic and KO mice are available in B6 background, an improved uveitis model in B6 mouse should assist the determination of pathogenesis of disease and identify molecules that can be targeted by new therapies.
Role of SiO in the Photoluminescence of Porous Silicon

It has been proposed recently that localized excitations and recombinations in the silanone SiO bond is the source for the red photoluminescence (PL) observed for oxygen-exposed porous silicon (PS). One concern with this proposal is the expected low chemical stability of the SiO bond. By using quantum chemistry calculations and molecular clusters to simulate the PS surface, we show that the hydrated silanone bond is less stable than the hydroxylated Si(OH)2 surface species. However, we also determine there is a low barrier for the conversion of the hydroxylated Si to a hydrated silanone surface species. Our calculations suggest that the origin of the red PL for oxygen-exposed PS first involves the conversion of hydroxylated Si species, presumably by energy provided by the incident photon source, to a surface with a larger concentration of silanone groups. These metastable ground-state silanone groups would then be excited by additional photons to produce the observed PL.
Morphology of weld heat-affected zone liquation cracking in Ta-modified cast Alloy 718

Based on the above rationale, the present work was initiated in which Ta was substituted for Nb on a one-to-one atomic percent level. The objectives were to metallurgically characterize the base metal and weld zone structures of Ta-modified and standard heats of cast Alloy 718, compare their respective liquation characteristics and cracking morphologies, and investigate mechanisms responsable for these phenomena
Nanoparticle probes and mid-infrared chemical imaging for DNA microarray detection.

To date most mid-infrared spectroscopic studies have been limited, due to lack of sensitivity, to the structural characterization of a single oligonucleotide probe immobilized over the entire surface of a gold-coated slide or other infrared substrate. By contrast, widely used and commercially available glass slides and a microarray spotter that prints approximately 120-μm-diameter DNA spots were employed in the present work. To our knowledge, mid-infrared chemical imaging (IRCI) in the external reflection mode has been applied in the present study for the first time to the detection of nanostructure-based DNA microarrays spotted on glass slides. Alkyl amine-modified oligonucleotide probes were immobilized on glass slides that had been prefunctionalized with succinimidyl ester groups. This molecular fluorophore-free method entailed the binding of gold-nanoparticle–streptavidin conjugates to biotinylated DNA targets. Hybridization was visualized by the silver enhancement of gold nanoparticles. The adlayer of silver, selectively bound only to hybridized spots in a microarray, formed the external reflective infrared substrate that was necessary for the detection of DNA hybridization by IRCI in the present proof-of-concept study. IRCI made it possible to discriminate between diffuse and specular external reflection modes. The promising qualitative results are presented herein, and the implications for quantitative determination of DNA microarrays are discussed.
Evolution on a volcanic conveyor belt: using phylogeographic reconstructions and K-Ar-based ages of the Hawaiian Islands to estimate molecular evolutionary rates.

The Hawaiian Islands form as the Pacific Plate moves over a ‘hot spot’ in the earth’s mantle where magma extrudes through the crust to build huge shield volcanos. The islands subside and erode as the plate carries them to the north-west, eventually to become coral atolls and seamounts. Thus islands are ordered linearly by age, with the oldest islands in the north-west (e.g. Kauai at 5.1 Ma) and the youngest in the south-east (e.g. Hawaii at 0.43 Ma). K‐Ar estimates of the date of an island’s formation provide a maximum age for the taxa inhabiting the island. These ages can be used to calibrate rates of molecular change under the following assumptions: (i) K‐Ar dates are accurate; (ii) tree topologies show that derivation of taxa parallels the timing of island formation; (iii) populations do not colonize long after island emergence; (iv) the coalescent point for sister taxa does not greatly predate the formation of the colonized younger island; (v) saturation effects and (vi) among-lineage rate variation are minimal or correctable; and (vii) unbiased standard errors of distances and regressions can be estimated from multiple pairwise comparisons. We use the approach to obtain overall corrected rate calibrations for: (i) part of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene in Hawaiian drepanidines (0.016 sequence divergence/Myr); (ii) the Yp1 gene in Hawaiian Drosophila (0.019/Myr Kambysellis et al. 1995); and (iii) parts of the mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA and tRNA val in Laupala crickets (0.024‐0.102/Myr, Shaw 1996). We discuss the reliability of the estimates given the assumptions (i‐vii) above and contrast the results with previous calibrations of Adh in Hawaiian Drosophila and chloroplast DNA in lobeliods.
Integrating Prospective Longitudinal Data: Modeling Personality and Health in the Terman Life Cycle and Hawaii Longitudinal Studies.

The present study used a collaborative framework to integrate 2 long-term prospective studies: the Terman Life Cycle Study and the Hawaii Personality and Health Longitudinal Study. Within a 5-factor personality-trait framework, teacher assessments of child personality were rationally and empirically aligned to establish similar factor structures across samples. Comparable items related to adult self-rated health, education, and alcohol use were harmonized, and data were pooled on harmonized items. A structural model was estimated as a multigroup analysis. Harmonized child personality factors were then used to examine markers of physiological dysfunction in the Hawaii sample and mortality risk in the Terman sample. Harmonized conscientiousness predicted less physiological dysfunction in the Hawaii sample and lower mortality risk in the Terman sample. These results illustrate how collaborative, integrative work with multiple samples offers the exciting possibility that samples from different cohorts and ages can be linked together to directly test life span theories of personality and health.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis: present and future.

Purpose: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was developed more than a decade ago and aims to identify embryos free of genetic disease attributed either to gene mutations or chromosome errors. The purpose of this article is to provide an update on the current status and future prospects of PGD. Methods: Review of studies employing different strategies for the detection of single gene defects, and chromosome abnormalities, both structural and numerical in the context of PGD. Results: Amplification of several DNA fragments is feasible via multiplex PCR for the PGD of single gene disorders, whilst current FISH protocols employ up to 10 probes to identify embryos with a normal chromosome complement. New methods are being developed which will enable the assessment of the entire chromosome complement of embryonic blastomeres. Conclusions: PGD has come a long way since its first application, and has become very accurate and reliable. Technical advances in the field of preimplantation genetics mean that PGD holds great promise for the future.
Performance of the Lead/Liquid Argon Shower Counter System of the Mark II Detector at SPEAR

Although the cryogenic and electronic problems of a large lead/liquid argon shower system such as in the Mark II require considerable attention to detail during design, construction, and set-up, the performance of a large system equals that of small test systems and agrees well with reasonable expectations. The shower detector system of the Mark II has been mechanically, cryogenically, and electronically very reliable during eighteen months of normal operation at SPEAR. Performance has provided a good compromise among the various demands upon shower detection. The system has enabled physics measurements previously untenable to other e+e- detectors.
Belief in a just world and social dominance orientation: Evidence for a mediational pathway predicting negative attitudes and discrimination against individuals with mental illness

Abstract Prejudice against individuals with mental illness stems from multiple factors, including the personality traits of those harboring the prejudiced attitudes. However, little is known about the personality processes (as opposed to static correlates) leading to negative attitudes and discrimination toward individuals with mental illness. The present research tested a mediational model in which negative attitudes against such people and resulting intentions to discriminate are distally rooted in just-world beliefs, which predispose people toward higher social dominance orientation, a well-known proximal personality predictor of general prejudice. Participants completed measures of behavioral intentions, attitudes toward individuals with mental illness, social dominance orientation, and belief in a just world. The proposed mediational model was supported, and an alternative causal model was not. These results illuminate the personality-process antecedents of attitudes toward individuals with mental illness and provide a foundation for research targeting interventions intended to reduce prejudice and discrimination against this population.
RADIOACTIVE IODINE AS AN INDICATOR OF THE METABOLISM OF IODINE V. THE EFFECTS OF HYPOPHYSECTOMY ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF LABELED THYROXINE AND DIIODOTYROSINE IN THYROID GLAND AND PLASMA1

THE EFFECTS OF hypophysectomy in depressing thyroid gland activity have been known for some time. Very little, however, has appeared on the iodine metabolism of the hypophysectomized animal, and a description of the thyroxine and diiodotyrosine contents of the thyroid gland and other tissues of the hypophysectomizied animal is lacking. The information available on the hormone production of the thyroid gland of the hypophysectomized animal has been inferred largely from two sources, a), B.M.R. measurements, and b), histological examination of the gland. In previous reports, the conversion of I* to labeled thyroxine and diiodotyrosine in the tissues of the normal animal was compared with that in the animal whose thyroid gland had been made hyperactive by the administration of thyrotropic hormone. The present paper deals with the metabolism of I* and its thyroxine′like and diiodotyrosine′like fractions in tissues of animals in which the thyroid gland had been depressed by total hypophysectomy.
4,4'-Methylenedianiline Alters Serotonergic Transport in a Novel, Sex-Specific Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Rats.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a cardiovascular disorder characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressure as a result of arterial wall thickening. Patients are 3-4 times more likely to be women than men. This gender discrepancy demonstrates a need for an animal model with similar sex differences. 4,4'-Methylenedianiline (DAPM) is an aromatic amine used industrially in the synthesis of polyurethanes. Chronic, intermittent treatment of male and female rats with DAPM resulted in medial hyperplasia of pulmonary arterioles, exclusively in females, coupled to increases in pulmonary arterial pressures. Significant increases in plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and serotonin, but decreases in nitrite [Formula: see text], were observed in females treated with DAPM. A decrease was observed in the serum ratio of the estrogen metabolites 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE1)/16α-hydroxyestrogen (16α-OHE1). In females, ET-1,[Formula: see text] , and 2-OHE1/16α-OHE1 were significantly correlated with peak pressure gradient, an indirect measure of pulmonary arterial pressure. Expression of the serotonin transport protein (SERT) was significantly higher in the arteries of DAPM-treated females. In vitro, DAPM induced human pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and serotonin uptake, both of which were inhibited by treatment with the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 or the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine. DAPM also induced the release of serotonin from human pulmonary endothelial cells in culture, which is blocked by ICI 182,780. Taken together, this suggests that DAPM-mediated dysregulation of serotonin transport is estrogen-receptor dependent. Thus, DAPM-induced PAH pathology may be a new tool to clarify the sex selectivity of PAH disease pathogenesis.
The congenital absence of gall bladder

Anatomic anomalies of the biliary tract are common. A clear understanding of these conditions is indispensable to both the internist and the surgeon. Thirty-eight cases of congenital absence of gall bladder have been reported by Gross in 1936. I have added the records of two patients observed by Dr. Whipple and of two patients observed personally. Three of these patients had dilatation of the common bile duct and stones. Follow-up studies in these three patients showed no recurrence of symptoms. The fourth patient had had two operations, at neither of which was a gall bladder found. Dr. Hedblom also failed to find a gall bladder.
Selective Erasure and Nonstorage Writing in Direct-View Halftone Storage Tubes

A new type of direct-view halftone storage tube that can selectively erase as well as simultaneously display stored and nonstored information has been developed. Heretofore, incorporation of these features into direct-view halftone storage tubes has proved impractical because of the nature of the secondary-emission effect on which the writing and erasing of stored information depend. In this new tube, this limitation is overcome by the use of a dual-effects target. One effect, secondary emission, charges the storage surface positively, while the other, bombardment-induced conductivity, charges it toward the backing-electrode potential, wihch in this case is negative. Selection of the effect and, consequently, the charging direction, is determined by the incident beam energy. At low energies secondary emission predominates and the target is written on, i.e., charged positively. At high energies, the bombardment-induced conductivity prevails and the target is erased, i.e., the positively charged areas are discharged. The two effects cancel at an appropriate intermediate beam energy, thus permitting presentation of nonstored information without otherwise disturbing the display, by means of that portion of the beam current which passes through the backing electrode and strikes the viewing screen. A 5-inch, direct-view halftone storage tube that utilizes such a dual-effects target is described. At writing speeds between 10,000 and 15,000 inches per second, the stored resolution is 40 to 50 lines per inch. At erase speeds between 30,000 and 40,000 inches per second, the stored resolution is 100 to 120 lines per inch.
The integrated role of desferrioxamine and phenserine targeted to an iron-responsive element in the APP-mRNA 5'-untranslated region.

The Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein (APP) is the metallo- protein that is cleaved to generate the pathogenic Apeptide. We showed that iron closely regulated the expression of APP by 5'-untranslated region (5'- UTR) sequences in APP mRNA. Iron modulated APP holoprotein expression by a pathway similar to iron control of the translation of the ferritin-L and -H mRNAs by iron-responsive elements in their 5'-UTRs. APP gene transcription is also responsive to copper deficit where the Menkes protein depleted fibro- blasts of copper to suppress transcription of APP through metal regulatory and copper regulatory sequences upstream of the APP 5' cap site. APP is a copper- zinc metalloprotein and chelation of Fe 3+ by desferrioxamine and Cu 2+ by clio- quinol appeared to provide effective therapy for the treatment of AD in limited patient studies. We have introduced an RNA-based screen for small APP 5'-UTR binding molecules to identify leads that limit APP translation (but not APLP-1 and APLP-2) and amyloid Apeptide production. A library of 1200 drugs was screened to identify lead drugs that limited APP 5'-UTR-directed translation of a reporter gene. The efficacy of these leads was confirmed for specificity in a cell- based secondary assay to measure the steady-state levels of APP holoprotein rel- ative to APLP-1/APLP-2 by Western blotting. Several chelators were identified among the APP 5'-UTR directed leads consistent with the presence of an IRE stem-loop in front of the start codon of the APP transcript. The APP 5'-UTR- directed drugs—desferrioxamine (Fe 3+ chelator), tetrathiomolybdate (Cu 2+ chelator), and dimercaptopropanol (Pb 2+ and Hg 2+ chelator)—each suppressed APP holoprotein expression (and lowered Apeptide secretion). The novel anti- cholinesterase phenserine also provided "proof of concept" for our strategy to target the APP 5'-UTR sequence to identify "anti-amyloid" drugs. We further
Behavioral interactions between salamanders and centipedes: competition in divergent taxa

Red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus, use territorial advertisement in the form of agonistic displays and pheromonal scent marking as a mechanism for intraspecific interference competition. Although ecological and behavioral interactions among species of salamanders have been well studied, little is known about the interactions between territorial P. cinereus and other ecologically similar species, such as large predatory invertebrates. Our field data indicate that P. cinereus and a large syntopic centipede, Scolopocryptops sexspinosus, exhibit negative spatial associations in natural habitats, possibly indicating interspecific territoriality. Only seven instances of salamander/centipede co-occurrence were recorded from a field sample of 247 occupied cover objects. Cover object size was positively correlated with salamander SVL (tip of the snout to the anterior end of the cloaca), but there was no correlation of cover object size to centipede length. Data on the ability of P. cinereus to differentiate among chemicals on the substrate suggest that visual cues are not necessary to elicit a territorial response from intruding salamanders. Although in laboratory trials salamanders behaved similarly toward intruders of both species, biting was directed only toward centipedes. Salamanders spent significantly more time approaching centipedes than they did approaching other salamanders. Approach behavior was often associated with nose tapping and may be an investigative, rather than aggressive, behavior. We suggest that territorial P. cinereus respond similarly to intruding salamanders and centipedes, but that they escalate more readily to biting centipedes because S. sexspinosus is sightless and thus unable to respond to visual signals. Key words: aggression, centipede, Plethodon cinereus, salamander, Scolopocryptops sexspinosus, spatial distribution. [Behav Ecol 15:679–686 (2004)]
A profile of inactive information seekers on influenza prevention: a survey of health care workers in Central Kentucky.

Objective This study developed a profile of inactive information seekers by characterising how they are different from active seekers, identifying possible determinants of inactive seekers and understanding characteristics of frequently asked influenza-related questions. Methods A survey and follow-up interviews were conducted between December 2010 and January 2011. A total of 307 health care workers in three hospitals in Central Kentucky (USA) are included. Results Four study groups were formed based on their information-seeking and vaccination uptake status: (1) Inactive Seekers with Vaccination (N = 141); (2) Inactive Seekers without Vaccination (N = 49); (3) Active Seekers with Vaccination (N = 107); and (4) Active Seekers without Vaccination (N = 10). Inactive Seekers without Vaccination are found to be least responsive to health outcomes. Inactive Seeker groups do not prefer to use sources such as Internet or family/friends. In predicting inactive seekers, Information Needs and Knowledge Perception made significant contributions to prediction. The most frequently asked questions included information about survival duration of influenza virus (N = 25) followed by the incubation period for influenza (N = 24). Conclusion Profiling inactive seekers can serve as a way to better design customised influenza information sources and services for health care workers, thus giving hospitals through medical libraries additional tools to reduce the spread of influenza.
Letter from Haiti.

Never have the global inequities in the AIDS epidemic been more apparent than in the last few years. As AIDS death rates drop in the United States, they soar over the rest of the globe. As the number of infants born with HIV infection in this country plummets, thanks to widespread use of AZT in pregnancy, the corresponding numbers for developing nations grow more dismal by the day, because AZT prophylaxis is costly. To call attention to the wrenching situations physicians face in trying to stem the tide of the epidemic in these parts of the world, we are with this issue inaugurating a new feature for AIDS Clinical Care : periodic letters from overseas AIDS clinicians. This month, Dr. Paul Farmer writes to us from Haiti. Four months of the year Dr. Farmer, who is Associate Professor of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, is an infectious disease specialist at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. The rest of the year he spends mainly in rural Haiti at the Clinique Bon Sauveur, which he and his coworkers founded in 1985. Dr. Farmer, a recipient of the MacArthur fellowship, and his colleagues also founded Partners in Health, a nonprofit organization to support the Clinique Bon Sauveur and other medical projects in Haiti and South America (see address at end of article). -- Deborah Cotton, MD, MPH Founded in 1985, the Clinique Bon Sauveur serves the rural poor of Haiti's Central Plateau. Within a year of opening, we saw our first case of AIDS in a young man who presented with disseminated tuberculosis. In the intervening decade, we've cared for hundreds of patients, a majority of them women, and learned a great deal. We soon found, for example, that tuberculosis would be our leading opportunistic infection. We eventually discovered why …
Broadening the Path to Cybersecurity Profession in Predominantly Undergraduate and Liberal Arts Institutions (Abstract Only)

Cybersecurity is a broad, dynamic, and ever changing field that is difficult to be integrated into undergraduate Computer Science (CS) curriculum. In this poster, we will report our plan and progress on an ongoing NSF-funded three-year project. First, we develop manageable standalone course modules and labs to be integrated non-intrusively into the core Liberal Arts curriculum, and create two new Cybersecurity courses and a set of capstone projects for students motivated to pursue deeper Cybersecurity learning. With the Liberal Arts education in mind, these courses and modules will encompass law, policy, and societal impacts of Cybersecurity. Second, we use the Global Environment for Network Innovations (GENI) infrastructure in lab and project assignments to offer an active Cybersecurity learning experience for all students. This offers a solution to Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions that do not have the infrastructure or maintenance capability for sophisticated computer labs. This project is built on the collaboration between a Predominantly Undergraduate Liberal Arts college, Wofford College, and two primary research universities, Johns Hopkins University and University of South Florida that have well-known Cybersecurity programs.
Nanoporous Titanium Oxide Morphologies Produced by Anodizing of Titanium

A quick and dependable technique has been developed that allows us to selectively produce anodized TiO2 in the form of nanotubes. The process employs mild chemical conditions and ambient temperature. The method can consistently produce nearly 100% surface coverage of nanotubes within 10 min of anodizing. Anodizing in relatively high pH electrolytes for 1 hour permitted us to produce nanotubes of 2μm length. We attribute the repeatability of our results to a brief pre-anodizing etching step that consistently leads to excellent anodizing results. Without this etching step, we experienced very poor consistency in that only small patches of titania nanotubes were formed.
Electrochemistry at single molecule occupancy in nanopore-confined recessed ring-disk electrode arrays.

Electrochemical reactions at nanoscale structures possess unique characteristics, e.g. fast mass transport, high signal-to-noise ratio at low concentration, and insignificant ohmic losses even at low electrolyte concentrations. These properties motivate the fabrication of high density, laterally ordered arrays of nanopores, embedding vertically stacked metal–insulator–metal electrode structures and exhibiting precisely controlled pore size and interpore spacing for use in redox cycling. These nanoscale recessed ring-disk electrode (RRDE) arrays exhibit current amplification factors, AFRC, as large as 55-fold with Ru(NH3)62/3+, indicative of capture efficiencies at the top and bottom electrodes, Φt,b, exceeding 99%. Finite element simulations performed to investigate the concentration distribution of redox species and to assess operating characteristics are in excellent agreement with experiment. AFRC increases as the pore diameter, at constant pore spacing, increases in the range 200–500 nm and as the pore spacing, at constant pore diameter, decreases in the range 1000–460 nm. Optimized nanoscale RRDE arrays exhibit a linear current response with concentration ranging from 0.1 μM to 10 mM and a small capacitive current with scan rate up to 100 V s−1. At the lowest concentrations, the average pore occupancy is 〈n〉 ∼ 0.13 molecule establishing productive electrochemical signals at occupancies at and below the single molecule level in these nanoscale RRDE arrays.
Diagnosis of Iatrogenic Injury of the Endometrium Using Duplex Sonography

Iatrogenic endometrial arterial injury is a rare and life-threatening condition that can occur after dilation and curettage (D&C) procedures. A case is presented that describes the sonographic feat...
Self-Reported Property Crime Patterns in 30 Countries: Adventures in Multivariate Exploratory Data Analysis

In this article, we investigate the use of a multivariate exploratory data analysis technique, nonlinear principle components analysis (NPCA). The technique is presented as a means for thorough descriptive analysis in a multivariate setting and with data of varying levels of measurement. The technique includes a strong visualization component of the kind previously only available for only one- and two-variable situations. This multivariate technique makes possible more thorough pre-analysis examination of data, a step frequently overlooked in most quantitative research. The data examined are self-reported prevalence measures for property crime from the Second International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD-2). Our examination suggested that: (a) the property variable seems to group around two underlying dimensions (“Simple Object Dimension” and the “Complex Object Dimension”); (b) hacking proved to be a potentially very interesting but yet problematic variable due to interpretation of the item by the yo...
Determining cochlear implant users' true noise tolerance: use of speech reception threshold in noise testing

Objective The speech perception abilities of cochlear implant (CI) recipients have significantly improved over the past decade. At the same time, clinical test batteries to measure their performance in noise remain mostly unchanged, resulting in ceiling-level performance for the most successful recipients. The goal of this study is to determine the true noise tolerance abilities of CI recipients using adaptive speech reception threshold (SRT) in noise testing. Study design Prospective clinical study. Setting Tertiary care hospital; CI program. Patients Ten CI users, either unilateral or bilateral, with HINT scores that equaled or exceeded 80% when administered with a fixed +10 dB signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio (i.e., HINT(+10dB)). Intervention The HINT with adaptive SNR levels and QuickSIN test were administered to measure noise tolerance at speech thresholds where 50% of the stimuli were correctly perceived. Main outcome measure(s) SRTs were measured for both the adaptive SNR HINT (i.e., HINT(50%)) and the QuickSIN test. These SRTs were compared with the fixed noise level HINT(+10dB) scores as well as to CNC monosyllable word perception scores. Results Despite small variance in performance levels on the HINT(+10dB), results of the HINT(50%) (∼16 dB range) and QuickSIN (∼12 dB range) tests demonstrate significant differences in noise tolerance levels among these CI recipients. Conclusion For excellent CI users, use of adaptive speech threshold tests in noise better defines a user's actual ability to perceive speech than do fixed SNR level tests. SRT-in-noise tests have the advantage of being quick to administer, and the same stimuli can be used over a very wide range of performance levels. The use of adaptive SRT-in-noise tests should be considered a viable and valuable replacement of fixed SNR tests in the CI clinical test battery.
Data partitioning for distributed web service transactions

In this paper we propose a database partitioning method that provides efficient response times for distributed web services transaction executions. Our partitioning and allocation approach aims at finding the optimal response time by reducing the cost of distributed data accesses, the cost of data replication, and using parallel execution as a cost-savings technique. We also seek to make the strategy work with dynamic workloads and distributed environments. For this, we develop a framework with a three-phased approach, which we outline in this paper.
Sampling and Features: A Commentary on Condit-Schultz (2016)

In this commentary, I highlight some of the novel contributions of Nathaniel Condit-Schultz's "MCFlow: A Digital Corpus of Rap Transcriptions" and discuss issues of rhyme definition, sampling and corpus construction, feature representation, and historical narratives.
Impact of Interim Hospitalizations on Risk of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Recurrence: A Nested Case-Cohort Study

Abstract Abstract 1241 Background: Hospitalization (with or without surgery) is a major risk factor for incident venous thromboembolism (VTE); however, the contribution of interim hospitalization to risk of recurrent VTE is unknown. Objective: To estimate risk of recurrent VTE related to interim hospitalization by conducting a population-based longitudinal review of provider-linked detailed medical records. Methods: We performed a nested case-cohort study. The cohort consisted of all Olmsted County residents with incident VTE 1988–2000 and ≥1 day follow-up. Cases were cohort members with recurrent VTE. Subjects were followed for all interim hospitalizations and warfarin use from incident VTE until earliest of emigration, death, recurrent VTE, or 12/31/2005. Data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards and time dependent covariates to test for the effects of interim hospitalization and prophylaxis on VTE recurrence, adjusting for gender and age at incident VTE. Analyses were limited to subjects who survived free of death and recurrent VTE for ≥ 6 months. Results: Of 1262 incident VTE events (cohort), there were 309 VTE recurrences (cases). We randomly sampled 272 subjects from the cohort and 163 cases. Of the random samples, 210 incident events and 83 cases survived ≥ 6 months free of death and recurrent VTE and form our analysis population. The rate of secondary (interim) prophylaxis was approximately 50% for both incident events and cases, and was not predictive of recurrence (p=0.73). Male gender and interim hospitalization were associated with increased VTE recurrence even after adjusting for age at incident VTE and use of secondary warfarin prophylaxis. The hazard of recurrent VTE was nearly 10-fold higher for subjects with interim hospitalization versus those with none (HR: 9.6; 95% CI: 6.6, 13.8); men had a 1.5-fold increased recurrence rate compared with women (HR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.1). Conclusions: Our results, for the first time, show the importance of interim hospitalization as a predictor of VTE recurrence. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A Transformer-Based $V$ -Band SPDT Switch

This letter presents a novel transformer-based 58–85 GHz single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch structure, verified in a 65-nm CMOS process. A four-way transformer-based combiner implements the input impedance transformation resulting in significant chip area reduction to 0.015 mm2, which is smaller than one tenth of the conventional SPDT switch based on $\lambda $ /4 transmission lines. The designed SPDT switch achieves 1.8-dB insertion loss, 22–30 dB isolation and >10 dB return loss over 58–85 GHz band with input-referred P1dB compression point of 10 dBm at 66 GHz. The good performance validates the application of the newly invented structure for the challenging millimeter-wave frequency switches in integrated systems.
Selecting and Screening Recipients: Advanced Reproductive Age

An increasing number of women in modern Western society are choosing to delay childbearing in order to pursue vocational and educational goals. As a consequence, the number of first births to women of advanced maternal age (35 years old and greater) and advanced reproductive age (40 years old and greater) has been increasing. This broad trend toward older motherhood is occurring in all major US race and ethnic groups. In the USA today, one in seven babies is born to women 35 years of age or older. The number of babies born to mothers older than 35 years old was 603,113 in 2008 compared with 367,828 in 1990. This represents a 64 % increase in this older age group, while the total number of US births grew only 2 % during this same time period.
INVESTIGATION OF DIGITAL COMPUTER RELIABILITY UTILIZING INTERMITTENT OPERATION ON LONG MISSIONS

Reliability is of particular interest in the application of computers to control situations when the required period of operation is long and when the computers must run unattended. In a number of long missions it may be possible to operate the computer intermittently and still achieve the desired control of the system. This paper discusses the improvements in reliability that may be obtained in various modular redundant systems, assuming that improvements in component life are achieved as a result of power-off conditions in the equipment.
On the weak uniqueness of "viscous incompressible fluid + rigid body" system with Navier slip-with-friction conditions in a 2D bounded domain

The existence of weak solutions to the "viscous incompressible fluid + rigid body" system with Navier slip-with-friction conditions in a 3D bounded domain has been recently proved by G\'{e}rard-Varet and Hillairet in \cite{exi:GeH}. In 2D for a fluid alone (without any rigid body) it is well-known since Leray that weak solutions are unique, continuous in time with $ L^{2} $ regularity in space and satisfy the energy equality.In this paper we prove that these properties also hold for the 2D "viscous incompressible fluid + rigid body" system.
Research Joint Ventures in the United States: A Descriptive Analysis

This paper describes trends and characteristics of the membership of RJVs in the United States.
Medical Examination of the Digestive System Relevant to Purchase

Routine examination of the digestive system relevant to purchase includes gross examination of the feces, auscultation of the abdomen, and examination of the oral cavity and teeth for verification of age and identification of any gross abnormality. Further examination is indicated only when there is a history of diseases such as colic, especially colic surgery, or esophageal obstruction. Special procedures that might be indicated, depending upon the history and findings on the routine physical examination, include rectal palpation of the abdominal viscera; endoscopic examination of the esophagus; abdominal paracentesis; radiographs of the teeth, esophagus, or abdomen; and transabdominal or trans rectal ultrasound.
Mesoporous molecular sieve thin films

Mesoporous films of MCM-41 and transition metal oxides (Me-TMSl) were generated using pulsed laser deposition followed by a brief post hydrothermal treatment. In particular, the Nb-TMSl molecular sieves possess semiconductor properties and thin films of Nb-TMSl lend themselves to applications such a capacitive-type chemical sensors made using the Nb- TMSl films as the dielectric phase. The capacitance change of such mesoporous molecular sieve based chemical sensors is sensitive to the relative moisture level in their environment making them useful as potential humidity sensors. These sensors were also evaluated for the detection of volatile organic compounds such as methanol and acetone.
Modern Clock Distribution Systems

Modern clock distribution design continues to face challenges in spite of significant advances in the last decade. We can distinguish three primary challenges. The first is the need to support higher clock frequencies based on the strong correlation between frequency and chip performance. Figure 2.1 shows processor clock frequency trend suggesting a continuous exponential increase in clock frequency with variable rates. Second, process technology scaling allows higher level of integration and larger die size leading to higher clock loading and larger distances the clock network needs to traverse. The final challenge is that technology scaling leads to an increase in on-die variations that may degrade clock performance if not properly addressed.
Cesarean section versus vaginal delivery for the breech fetus weighing less than 1,500 grams.

Although previous studies have suggested that the breech infant weighing <1,500 gm benefits from cesarean section, the published results have not demonstrated statistically significant differences. We have evaluated pediatric outcome data for 240 breech infants and 525 vertex infants who weighed < 1,500 gm, to determine whether route of delivery affects infant morbidity and mortality. Twenty-nine percent of these very small breech infants who were delivered by cesarean section died, as compared to 58% of breech infants of similar weight who were delivered vaginally (p < 0.001). Comparable significant differences were found for the infants delivered at a university hospital as well as for those delivered at a group of nonuniversity hospitals. Apgar scores and the incidence and severity of intraventricular hemorrhage were not different for the cesarean section and vaginally delivered breech infants. Furthermore, the survival rate of the breech infants delivered by ceserean section equaled that of the vertex infants delivered either by cesarean section or vaginally.
Numerical simulations of sand migration during gas production in hydrate-bearing sands interbedded with thin mud layers at site NGHP-02-16

Abstract The geomechanical behavior of gas hydrate-bearing sands during gas production is complex, involving changes in hydrate-dependent mechanical characteristics and also redistribution of stresses carried by the hydrate. When an interbedded mud layer is present, the complex response of the hydrate-bearing sediments is more pronounced because hydrate dissociation tends to occur preferentially in the sands adjacent to the hydrate-free mud layer, which can act as a heat source. This leads to non-uniform sediment deformation and potentially to shearing deformation along the sand/mud layers. In addition, since the hydrate-bearing sand permeability becomes far greater than the mud permeability with hydrate dissociation, a greater hydraulic gradient may exist along the interface between the sand/mud layers. These two behaviors may contribute to sand migration and thus a thorough study on the effect of a thin interbedded mud layer on the extent of sand migration is necessary. This paper presents numerical sand migration modeling of sand/mud interbedded hydrate-bearing sediments found at Site NGHP-02-16, one of 25 sites drilled as a part of National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 02 (NGHP-02) in the offshore of India, subjected to depressurization. For a comparison and better understanding, simulation of homogeneous hydrate-bearing sediments is also conducted. It is found that greater sand migration occurs when the interbedded mud layer is present because of greater shearing deformation and greater pressure gradients at sand-mud interface.
Performance-Based Percent Embedment Limits for Chip Seals

Chip seal treatments are used by many state departments of transportation and counties to cover minor fatigue and low-temperature cracks, retard raveling by reducing the moisture infiltration, and ...
E-Resources Discussed in Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management Online Course

From February 25th to March 22nd 2019, I took an online course offered through ALCTS entitled “Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management.” During the course, I was able to connect with ...
Identification of the growth factor–binding sequence in the extracellular matrix protein MAGP-1

Microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1 (MAGP-1) is a component of vertebrate extracellular matrix (ECM) microfibrils that, together with the fibrillins, contributes to microfibril function. Many of the phenotypes associated with MAGP-1 gene inactivation are consistent with dysregulation of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling system. We have previously shown that full-length MAGP-1 binds active TGFβ-1 and some BMPs. The work presented here further defines the growth factor–binding domain of MAGP-1. Using recombinant domains and synthetic peptides, along with surface plasmon resonance analysis to measure the kinetics of the MAGP-1–TGFβ-1 interaction, we localized the TGFβ- and BMP-binding site in MAGP-1 to a 19-amino acid–long, highly acidic sequence near the N terminus. This domain was specific for binding active, but not latent, TGFβ-1. Growth factor activity experiments revealed that TGFβ-1 retains signaling activity when complexed with MAGP-1. Furthermore, when bound to fibrillin, MAGP-1 retained the ability to interact with TGFβ-1, and active TGFβ-1 did not bind fibrillin in the absence of MAGP-1. The absence of MAGP was sufficient to raise the amount of total TGFβ stored in the ECM of cultured cells, suggesting that the MAGPs compete with the TGFβ large latent complex for binding to microfibrils. Together, these results indicate that MAGP-1 plays an active role in TGFβ signaling in the ECM.
An overlooked Lomax-exponential connection

We make an observation that the distribution of a Lomax random variable multiplied by its shape parameter approaches an exponential distribution as the shape parameter approaches infinity. The resu...
Cell repopulation, rewiring metabolism, and immune regulation in cancer radiotherapy

Abstract Cancer radiotherapy (RT) demonstrates the benefit of local control with fewer side-effects compared to chemotherapy. To further improve the overall efficacy of RT and RT-combined therapies, studies revealing the mechanisms involved in tumor response to radiation are required. Accumulating new evidence has demonstrated that the microenvironment of solid tumors, such as cancers in lung, breast, and liver, holds a highly heterogenic population of tumor cells, an array of stromal cells with different functions, as well as non-cellular components. The observed tumor responses to cancer radiotherapy are pooled signals generated from the heterogenic cell populations such as the survival of radioresistant tumor cells and the infiltrated immune cells. Thus, further elucidation of key dynamics in irradiated tumor microenvironment (ITME), including repopulation of cancer stem cells, metabolic shifting, and radiation-induced tumor immunogenicity, will be necessary to significantly enhance the outcome of RT or RT-combined immunotherapy. This review summarizes the current experimental and clinical results of these three dynamics in ITME.
FDA Acceptance of Surrogate End Points for Cancer Drug Approval: 1992-2019.

This retrospective review assesses the frequency of surrogate measures used for the first time vs subsequent times in a cancer setting and the surrogate’s strength of correlation with patient-centered outcomes.
Activation of Dinitrogen by Polynuclear Metal Complexes.

Activation of dinitrogen plays an important role in daily anthropogenic life, and the processes by which this fixation occurs have been a longstanding and significant research focus within the comm...
Leveraging public harvest to reduce invasive hybridization in Yellowstone National Park: field identification and harvest of cutthroat × rainbow trout hybrids

Leveraging public harvest can be a cost-effective invasive species management tool, but target taxa must be correctly identified and removed at rates that achieve biological objectives. We explored the potential role of recreational anglers to curtail expanding hybridization between invasive rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss; RT) and native Yellowstone cutthroat trout (O. clarkii bouvieri; YCT) in the Lamar River watershed in Yellowstone National Park. We sought to (1) develop a hybrid identification key that could be used by anglers and (2) estimate angler participation, catch, and potential exploitation rates. We assessed seven morphological features of trout in the field (n = 251, 15 locations) and collected fin clips to estimate RT ancestry proportion using genetic analysis. An identification key was built using recursive partitioning to objectively distinguish YCT from RT and hybrids. A single-choice dichotomous key (white pelvic fin tip present/absent) correctly classified 93% of fish as native (YCT) or containing RT ancestry (RT or hybrid). Success increased to 97% when a second criterion was added (head spot count ≥ 6). Using angler surveys (2013–2017), we estimated that 10,000 anglers catch 50,000 trout annually. In a popular road-accessible area, most trout are probably caught and released ~ 5 times each year. The combination of high angler participation, substantial annual catch, and an accurate and easy to use identification method indicate that leveraging public harvest is a promising management tool. Invasive hybridization is a global conservation issue threatening many native taxa; this case study highlights some factors for resource managers to consider prior to implementing public harvest regulations and the benefits of standardized keys to distinguish hybrids in the field.