cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling data manifold geometry in hyperspectral imagery

A new approach to modeling the nonlinear structure of hyperspectral imagery is developed. The new approach extracts a coordinate system that preserves geodesic distances on the high-dimensional data manifold. Extant algorithms for modelling nonlinear structure such as ISOMAP have been developed for other applications and are globally optimal but are practical only for small data sets because of poor computational scaling. We develop an approach to improve the scaling of manifold algorithms to large remote sensing scenes and illustrate our approach with hyperspectral imagery. We also show that the manifold approach leads to significantly improved compression over a widely used classical method, the minimum noise fraction
HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles and haplotypes in Zambian couples and their associations with heterosexual transmission of HIV type 1.

In 292 initially human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-serodiscordant and cohabiting Zambian couples HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 variants were associated with HIV-1 transmission events during a 7-year follow-up period. Initially seronegative partners with either DRB1*0301-DQB1*0201 (relative hazard [RH] 1.60; P = .009) or DRB1*1503-DQB1*0602 (RH 1.67; P = .03) showed accelerated seroconversion. Carriage of DRB1*1301 in initially seropositive partners led to delayed transmission of HIV to their spouses (RH 0.54; P = .05). The combined groups of seroprevalent and seroincident partners (n = 433) also differed from those who remained seronegative (n = 151) with regard to 2 commons haplotypes DRB1*1302-DQB1*0604 (relative odds [RO] 0.28; P = .003) and DRB1*1503-DQB1*0602 (RO 1.81; P = .02). Statistical adjustments for other host factors (age sex genital ulcer and index partners virus load) known to influence transmission of HIV-1 seldom altered the genetic relationships. Overall associations of HLA class II polymorphisms with both HIV transmission and acquisition are not as readily interpretable as are effects reported for other loci. (authors)
Is Voting Contagious? Evidence from Two Field Experiments

Members of the same household share similar voting behaviors on average, but how much of this correlation can be attributed to the behavior of the other person in the household? Disentangling and isolating the unique effects of peer behavior, selection processes, and congruent interests is a challenge for all studies of interpersonal influence. This study proposes and utilizes a carefully designed placebo-controlled experimental protocol to overcome this identification problem. During a face-to-face canvassing experiment targeting households with two registered voters, residents who answered the door were exposed to either a Get Out the Vote message (treatment) or a recycling pitch (placebo). The turnout of the person in the household not answering the door allows for contagion to be measured. Both experiments find that 60% of the propensity to vote is passed onto the other member of the household. This finding suggests a mechanism by which civic participation norms are adopted and couples grow more similar over time.
Tumor viruses and cell signaling pathways: deubiquitination versus ubiquitination.

In spite of differences among human oncogenic DNA viruses, there are some common characteristics. The viral genome persists in host cells and expresses latent gene products, and the strategy of cell transformation is generally the same: tumor viruses target cell signaling pathways. The goal of oncogenic viruses is obvious: to protract cell cycle progression and protect cells from apoptosis, thus perpetuating the virus genome. Therefore, the common cellular targets for tumor virus oncoproteins are the most important transcriptional factors involved in oncogenesis, such as c-myc, NF-B, AP-1, p53, and others (62). Because there are innumerable cellular pathways that can regulate the transcriptional machinery of the cell, there are many opportunities for tumor viruses to dysregulate them to the benefit of the virus. It would not be surprising if any cell signaling pathway implicated in oncogenesis could be corrupted by oncogenic viruses. For several years, the Wnt signaling pathway has been the object of intense attention in diverse biological areas. The classic Wnt pathway was initially characterized by its role in development; later came the realization that dysregulation of this signal transduction pathway plays an important role in
ANALYTIC SOLUTION FOR RETURN OF PREMIUM AND ROLLUP GUARANTEED MINIMUM DEATH BENEFIT OPTIONS UNDER SOME SIMPLE MORTALITY LAWS

Much attention has been focused recently on the issue of valuing guaranteed minimum death benefits embedded in annuity contracts. These benefits resemble a sequence of put options and their value should obey a differential equation similar to the Black-Scholes equation for simple put options. This paper derives a number of analytic solutions to this equation for a number of simple mortality laws.
The Effect of Formal Grammar Teaching: Still Peripheral

In my view, the data from White et al. does not tell us whether direct instruction resulted in acquired or learned competence. To show that learned knowledge "becomes" acquired or underlying competence, one must demonstrate an impact on tests that tap only acquired competence. Lightbown and Pienemann maintain that evidence from Spada and Lightbown (1993) shows that the oral test was indeed a test of acquired competence because children showed "no evidence of hesitation, mental searching, or distraction." This apparent fluency is indeed suggestive, and I have utilized similar observations in discussing monitor use (Krashen, 1991). But these observations are just that, observations, and are only suggestive. No comparison was made with the spontaneous speech of these subjects, nor was a comparison made between fluency in asking questions (the target structure) and using different kinds of sentences. Lightbown and Pienemann also maintain that the focus on form in class had not been excessive. In my view, 9 hours of direct instruction on questions in only 2 weeks is a lot of focusing on form, even if it was less than 20% of the total class time. In addition, afterjust completing 2 weeks of instruction on questions, and taking other tests that clearly focused the students on questions (White et al., 1991), and being prompted when they failed to produce wh questions ("When students did not spontaneously produce a wh question after two questions, the interviewer prompted them [e.g., Can you ask me a question with what?]" [Spada & Lightbown, 1993, p. 211]), it is reasonable to suggest
Widening Choices in Motherhood of The Future

The new biomedical techniques of reproduction either currently available or being researched, such as sex predetermination of offspring, sperm banking, test tube conception with embryo transplant, development of artificial wombs and human cloning, allow greatly expanded choices in methods of procreation. A survey of attitudes among 2,138 adults, most of whom are in the early to middle stages of reproductive decision making, shows varying levels of acceptance towards the use of such techniques and towards priority values they would assign to ongoing research to perfect specific technologies. Male-female variation in response patterns are analyzed along with racial and religious differences. Possible and probable impacts that widespread use of these new alternatives might have on the future of women in particular and on various aspects of society in general are discussed.
Early Maternal and Child Influences on Children's Later Independent Cognitive and Social Functioning

The present study examined whether parenting and child characteristics of 2- and 3 Ω -year-old children had common paths of influence on their 4 Ω -year independent cognitive and social functioning. Structural equation modeling was guided by hypotheses that assumed children’s later independence is facilitated by specialized parental support in early social interactions. To address the importance of variability in early development for understanding children’s later independence, we included 104 term and 185 preterm children, as they are known to differ in early skills. As predicted, mothers’ maintaining of children’s interests indirectly supported 4 Ω -year cognitive and social independence through a direct, positive influence on 2- and 3 Ω -year skills. Directiveness positively supported children’s early cognitive and responsiveness skills but by 3 Ω years, high levels of this behavior had a direct, negative influence on their cognitive and social independence at 4 Ω years. Whereas high levels of maintaining interests across these ages support later independence, directiveness needs to decrease in relation to children’s increasing competencies. Results support a theoretical framework that emphasizes the importance of the social context for understanding the origins of children’s later independent functioning.
New Era for Stool Screening Tests: Fecal Immunochemical Tests, DNA, and Beyond

Colorectal cancer screening with stool-based studies is a common screening modality with proven clinical effectiveness. However, guaiac-based fecal occult blood tests have significant limitations, most notably in lesion sensitivity and patient compliance. Recently increasing data and commercial development of fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) and stool tests based on molecular markers in feces has expanded the field of stool-based screening. FIT and stool-based DNA and RNA tests can improve detection of colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas, possibly expand numbers of patients screened, and may be the foundation of future population screening protocols. This article reviews the most important literature published on colorectal cancer screening with FIT, fecal DNA, and other stool-based molecular markers.
Effect of Stage of Maturity on the Nutritive Value of Atlas Sorghum Silage for Lactating Dairy Cows

Summary Atlas sorgo silages harvested at the milk, soft dough, hard dough, and mature stages have been compared as roughages for lactating cows. Two experiments were conducted, each using 12 cows in a switch-back design. With advancing maturity, consumption of dry matter increased and 4% fat-corrected-milk (FCM) per pound dry matter intake decreased; consumption of silage (as fed), milk fat percentage, and body weight change were not significantly affected by maturity at harvest. FCM production was slightly higher for the two more mature stages, but differences among maturities were significant only in the first experiment, in which the soft dough stage was inferior to the more mature stages. Since daily performance of the lactating cow was not appreciably influenced by the stage of maturity, it appears advantageous to harvest Atlas sorghum when acreage yields are near maximum, usually at the hard seed stage. At this station dry matter yields of Atlas sorghum increased 33% from the milk stage to the mature stage. Delaying harvest an additional ten days resulted in a 57% increase in dry matter yield, compared to that at the milk stage. The differences found in quality of the silage dry matter favoring early-cut silage appear insufficient to compensate for the usual yield advantage of harvesting Atlas after reaching maturity.
Modeling a grid-based problem solving environment for mobile devices

The paradigm of grid computing has been successfully applied in the domain of computationally-intensive applications supporting scientific research using server-class computers interconnected by wired network. The users of the existing and growing number of wireless mobile devices often demand more computational power than their devices can currently provide. We propose using the computational grid paradigm to build a problem-solving environment for wireless mobile devices.
Three-Dimensional, T1-Weighted Gradient-Echo Imaging of the Brain with a Volumetric Interpolated Examination

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: T1-weighted, 3D gradient-echo MR sequences can be optimized for rapid acquisition and improved resolution through asymmetric k-space sampling and interpolation. We compared a volumetric interpolated brain examination (VIBE) sequence with a magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MP RAGE) sequence and a 2D T1-weighted spin-echo (SE) sequence. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients known or suspected to have focal brain lesions underwent postcontrast studies (20 mL of gadopentetate dimeglumine) with VIBE, MP RAGE, and 2D T1-weighted SE imaging. Source and 5-mm VIBE and MP RAGE reformations, and 5-mm T1-weighted SE images were compared qualitatively and by using signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). SNRs in a gadolinium-doped water phantom were also measured for all three sequences. RESULTS: On the source images, SNRs for gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM), and CNRs for WM-to-GM and contrast-enhancing lesion-to-GM were slightly, but significantly higher for the VIBE sequence than for the MP RAGE sequence (P CONCLUSION: VIBE provides an effective, alternative approach to MP RAGE for fast 3D T1-weighted imaging of the brain.
WAGE POLICY IN AN OPEN‐ECONOMY KALECKI–KALDOR MODEL: A SIMULATION STUDY

This paper discusses a Post-Keynesian model of income, production and trade. The one-country, one-sector model features Kaleckian investment demand, Kaldorian productivity and a labor market module based on a wage–price spiral. The model is first presented for a closed economy with exogenous real wages; second, for a closed economy with endogenous real wages; third, for an economy open to trade with endogenous real wages. Simulations with different calibrations show key characteristics of the model. Monte Carlo simulations over reasonable parameter ranges shed some light on the effectiveness of wage policies in open economies.
Measuring the optimal exposure for single particle cryo-EM using a 2.6 Å reconstruction of rotavirus VP6

Microscopes allow us to visualize objects that are invisible to the naked eye. One type of microscope—called the electron microscope—produces images using beams of particles known as electrons, which enables them to produce more detailed images than microscopes that use light. There are several ways to prepare samples for electron microscopy. For example, in ‘electron cryo-microscopy’—or cryo-EM for short—a sample is rapidly frozen to preserve its features before it is examined under the microscope. This technique generates images that can be analyzed by computers to produce three-dimensional models of individual viruses, proteins, and other tiny objects. Unfortunately, the samples need to be exposed to high-energy beams of electrons that will damage the sample while the images are gathered, which results in sample movement and blurry images that lack the finer details. The contrast between the sample and its background is one of the factors that determine the final quality of an image. The higher the contrast, the greater the level of structural information that can be obtained, but this requires the use of longer exposures to the electron beam. To overcome this issue, researchers found that instead of recording a single image, it is possible to record movies in which the movement of the sample under the electron beam can be tracked. After the movies are gathered, the movie frames are aligned using computer software to reduce the blurring caused by the sample moving and can then be used to make three-dimensional models. Grant and Grigorieff improved this method further by studying how quickly a large virus-like particle called ‘rotavirus double-layered particle’ is damaged under the electron beam. These experiments identified an optimum range of exposure to electrons that provides the highest image contrast at any given level of detail. These findings were used to design an exposure filter that can be applied to the movie frames, allowing Grant and Grigorieff to visualize features of the virus that had not previously been observed by cryo-EM. This method was also used to study an assembly of proteins known as the proteasome, which is responsible for destroying old proteins. Grant and Grigorieff's findings should be useful for cryo-EM studies on many kinds of samples.
Correlates of Organizational and Professional Commitment The Case of Musicians in Symphony Orchestras

Survey data gathered from 65 musicians in an east coast symphony orchestra were used to examine the correlates of commitment to the organization and commitment to the music profession. The study results indicate that the two types of commitment are the product of different antecedent factors and have different implications for musicians' continued membership in the orchestra. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Endocrine function of the postmenopausal ovary

In light of recent evidence, it seems that the endocrine function of the postmenopausal ovary is more elusive and more variable than previously believed. Although the current authors believe that the postmenopausal ovary has lost a clinically significant estrogenic capability, a definitive conclusion regarding androgen production cannot be forthcoming.
Precipitation legacies in desert grassland primary production occur through previous‐year tiller density

In arid ecosystems, current-year precipitation often explains only a small proportion of annual aboveground net primary production (ANPP). We hypothesized that lags in the response of ecosystems to changes in water availability explain this low explanatory power, and that lags result from legacies from transitions from dry to wet years or the reverse. We explored five hypotheses regarding the magnitude of legacies, two possible mechanisms, and the differential effect of previous dry or wet years on the legacy magnitude. We used a three-year manipulative experiment with five levels of rainfall in the first two years (� 80% and � 50% reduced annual precipitation (PPT), ambient, þ50% and þ80% increased PPT), and reversed treatments in year 3. Legacies of previous two years, which were dry or wet, accounted for a large fraction (20%) of interannual variability in production on year 3. Legacies in ANPP were similar in absolute value for both types of precipitation transitions, and their magnitude was a function of the difference between previous and current-year precipitation. Tiller density accounted for 40% of legacy variability, while nitrogen and carry- over water availability showed no effect. Understanding responses to changes in interannual precipitation will assist in assessing ecosystem responses to climate change-induced increases in precipitation variability.
Responses of nanostructured sensing array to mixed VOCs: feature extraction and pattern recognition analysis

This paper investigates the response characteristics of a sensing array constructed from nanostructured thin films on interdigitated microelectrodes (IMEs). It also demonstrates the arrayiquests capability to identify and quantify gas mixtures. The films were prepared from dithiol (PRDT, PDT, ODT, NDT, and DDT) and mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) linked assemblies of 2-nm sized gold nanoparticles. These films exhibit sensitive responses to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The characteristics of the stationary response signals are studied. The static responses are extracted as the features for identifying VOCs by pattern recognition. The principal component analysis (PCA) shows the patterns of binary mixture presented in the static features are linear combinations of the individual analytes' patterns. Pattern classification based on the selected features is performed with artificial neural network (ANN), which shows satisfied detection and quantification performance.
Effect of axonal micro-tubules on the morphology of retinal nerve fibers studied by second-harmonic generation

Many studies suggest that the degradation of microtubules in the retinal ganglion cells may be an early event in the progression of glaucoma. Because reflectance and birefringence of the retinal nerve fibers arise primarily from microtubules, the optical properties have been intensively studied for early detection of the disease. We previously reported a novel nonlinear optical signal from axonal microtubules for visualizing the retinal nerve fibers, namely second-harmonic generation (SHG). We demonstrate the use of axonal SHG to investigate the effect of microtubules on the morphology of the retinal nerve fiber bundles. Time-lapse SHG imaging of ex vivo rat retinal flat mounts was performed during pharmacological treatment of nocodazole, and the intensity of axonal SHG and the changes in nerve fiber bundle morphology were monitored. We found that the microtubule disruption does not lead to immediate modification in the morphology of the nerve fibers. Our results indicate that microtubular SHG may provide a useful means for sensitive detection of axonal injuries. Since the intrinsic radiation depends on the regular architecture of the cytoskeleton element as maintained by active cellular regulations, the intensity of signal reflects the health of the retinal ganglion cell axons.
The Learning Style Preferences of ESL Students.

Following a review of the literature on learning styles and cognitive styles for both native speakers (NSs) and nonnative speakers (NNSs) of English, this article presents the results of a questionnaire that asked 1,388 students to identify their perceptual learning style preferences. Statistical analyses of the questionnaires indicated that NNS learning style preferences often differ significantly from those of NSs; that ESL students from different language backgrounds sometimes differ from one another in their learning style preferences; that other variables such as sex, length of time in the United States, length of time studying English in the U.S., field of study, level of education, TOEFL score, and age are related to differences in learning styles; and that modifications and extensions of ESL student learning styles may occur with changes in academic environment and experience. During the past decade, educational research has identified a
Spin-echo water suppression for the generation of pure-phase two-dimensional NMR spectra

A new approach is described for water suppression in one- and two-dimensional NMR, generating absorption-mode spectra that are free of baseline distortions. This method involves the use of a 1−1 hard pulse as a read pulse, followed by a 1−1 refocusing pulse which is phase cycled to obtain the greatest possible water suppression. Examples of this approach for water suppression are demonstrated for a 10 mg sample of the decapeptide LH-RH in 90% H2O by recording 2D NOE, 2D HOHAHA, and heteronuclear 1H15N shift correlation spectra.
If holm had used a Scanning Tunneling Microscope: What the nanoscientists are teaching us about electrical contacts

The invention in the 1980s of the Atomic Force and the Scanning Tunneling Microscopes and widespread use of these and other tools since then has led to an explosion in research into the characterization of contact interfaces at the atomic and molecular level, i.e., on the nanoscale. This paper reviews this research and points to areas where this nanoscale research has a significant impact of our understanding of electrical contacts. Areas of consideration include lubrication, surface films, contact resistance, adhesion, and friction.
Bortezomib in Systemic Light-Chain Amyloidosis

The treatment for immunoglobin light-chain amyloidosis has included high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation. This effective technique is only applicable to approximately 20% of patients. Standard dose chemotherapy has included melphalan with dexamethasone. This regimen results in response rates in excess of 50%. With the introduction of IMID therapy, the combination of thalidomide or lenalidomide with dexamethasone has produced respectable response rates, but tolerance of patients with amyloidosis to IMID’s is less than in patients with multiple myeloma. The introduction of bortezomib for the management of light-chain amyloidosis is reviewed in this chapter. Bortezomib is highly active both as a single agent and in combination with corticosteroids in the treatment of immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis, with high hematologic and organ response rates reported. The agent can be used with renal insufficiency, including dialysis dependence. The agent has not been extensively tested in patients with class 3–4 heart failure.
Composition of the gut microbiota modulates the severity of malaria.

Plasmodium infections result in clinical presentations that range from asymptomatic to severe malaria, resulting in ∼1 million deaths annually. Despite this toll on humanity, the factors that determine disease severity remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the gut microbiota of mice influences the pathogenesis of malaria. Genetically similar mice from different commercial vendors, which exhibited differences in their gut bacterial community, had significant differences in parasite burden and mortality after infection with multiple Plasmodium species. Germfree mice that received cecal content transplants from “resistant” or “susceptible” mice had low and high parasite burdens, respectively, demonstrating the gut microbiota shaped the severity of malaria. Among differences in the gut flora were increased abundances of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in resistant mice. Susceptible mice treated with antibiotics followed by yogurt made from these bacterial genera displayed a decreased parasite burden. Consistent with differences in parasite burden, resistant mice exhibited an elevated humoral immune response compared with susceptible mice. Collectively, these results identify the composition of the gut microbiota as a previously unidentified risk factor for severe malaria and modulation of the gut microbiota (e.g., probiotics) as a potential treatment to decrease parasite burden.
Acid Dependent Kinin-Forming System in Mammalian Malignant and Normal Tissue

Previous studies have demonstrated that a mammalian tumor (Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma) contains the following components of a vasoactive kinin-forming system: kininogen, a kinin-destroying enzyme, and a pre-kallikrein proenzyme capable of being activated by acetone (1). Levels of kininogen increased during tumor development as did kininase activity. Acetone-precipitated tumor extracts formed kinin when incubated with heated (80°C rat) or human plasma. This kinin-forming activity initially increased during tumor growth and then diminished to almost zero levels within 12–14 days following tumor transplant. The kallikrein activity was similar to that of rat plasma kallikrein with respect to pH profile, kinetics of kinin formation (using human plasma kininogen as substrate at pH 7.8), and action of plant, mammalian, and synthetic protease inhibitors.
Numerical Simulation of Air Vortex Interaction With Porous Screen

In this paper, numerical analysis of a two-dimensional vortex ring impinging through porous screen surface is investigated. The vortex ring is generated by a piston-cylinder assembly. The objective is to study the flow behavior of vortex ring when passing through porous screen and especially to obtain the values which are difficult to achieve in experiment method, such as kinetic energy and vorticity. A variety of parameters are set to be control groups, including porosity of porous screen (ϕ = 0.3, 0.6 and 0.8), Reynolds number of vortex ring (Re = 700 – 3000), piston diameter (D = 20mm, 34mm and 50mm) and gap between piston and porous screen (L = 50mm, 100mm and 150mm). The following results are acquired: (1) Porosity plays an important role on the vortex ring structure and flow behavior, (2) Reynolds number have notable influence on the vorticity evolution of vortex ring in the situation of low porosity, (3) Larger piston dimension results in slower progress of vortex ring transmission and sharper reduction of vortex ring kinetic energy, and (4) The gap length has significant effect on kinetic energy of vortex ring only in the situation of low porosity.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Technology recommendations for pre-screening of IAEA swipe samples

Argonne and Oak Ridge National Laboratories have prepared an analysis of recommended, possible, and not recommended technologies for pre-screening and prioritizing IAEA swipes. The analytical techniques listed under the recommended technology list are the most promising techniques available to date. The recommended list is divided into two sections: Argonne’s recommended techniques and Oak Ridge’s recommended techniques. This list was divided based upon the expertise of staff in each subject area and/or the instrumentation available at each laboratory. The following section, titled Possible Techniques, is a list of analytical techniques that could be used for pre-screening and prioritizing swipes if additional instrumentation and effort were provided. These techniques are not necessarily top priority, but should not be discounted for future or expanded efforts. Lastly, a list of not recommended techniques is provided to outline the analytical methods and instrumentation that were investigated by each lab but deemed not suitable for this task. In addition to the recommendation list, a short procedure is provided outlining the steps followed for destructive analysis by the Network of Analytical Laboratories (NWAL) for determination of uranium concentrations, isotopic content of sample and swipe. Swipes generated for this project will be given to ORNL’s NWAL laboratory formore » analysis after analysis by other techniques at both laboratories.« less
Outgoing Editor’s Statement: A Perspective on EP and Debates in Education

In this first issue of Educational Psychologist (EP) edited by Kathryn Wentzel, I am very grateful for this opportunity to share some reflections on my past term as Editor. This is an occasion to r...
Interlaboratory Test Comparisons of the Test Results of Available Element Content and Sterilization Effect of Chlorine Disinfectant among 5 Laboratories

Objective To explore the difference between the test results of available element content and sterilization effect of chlorine disinfectant among 5 laboratories.Methods 5 laboratories measured available chlorine content and sterilization effect complying with Technical Standard For disinfection(2002).The result of interlaboratory test was compared.Results The average available chlorine content was 47.1%.The standard deviation was 0.71.The killing log value of sterilization effect to Escherichia coli 8099,Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538,Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC15442 and Bacillus subtilis var.niger ATCC9372 were close between high-dose disinfectant groups,but were different significantly between low-dose disinfectant groups.Conclusion The available chlorine content of the same chlorine disinfectant detected in the 5 laboratories was identical.But sterilization effect detected in 5 laboratories was different.Some measurement should be taken to ensure the test quality.
Efficient splitting schemes for magneto-hydrodynamic equations

We present in this paper several efficient numerical schemes for the magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) equations. These semi-discretized (in time) schemes are based on the standard and rotational pressure-correction schemes for the Navier-Stokes equations and do not involve a projection step for the magnetic field. We show that these schemes are unconditionally energy stable, present an effective algorithm for their fully discrete versions and carry out demonstrative numerical experiments.
The Book of Job: a 2,500-year-old current guide to the practice of oncology: the nexus of medicine and spirituality.

Abstract Goals. To establish the role of ancient literature and religious tradition to the modern practice of oncology; foster awareness of practicing in a historical context resulting from different traditions; and propose a spiritual context for the practice of oncology and explore methods to highlight this perspective in cancer education. Method. Contextual and content analysis of a religious text shared by the most common religious traditions of the West (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam). Results. The origin of suffering eludes all logical explanations. All religious traditions affirm that the sufferer should be heard, cared for, and kept part of the human consortium, and under no circumstances blamed for the disease. In terms of oncology practice this means that the treatment should be negotiated with the patient according to his or her need; that physicians’ obligations for care continues after the treatment fails, and that patients’ lifestyles or poor compliance should not be blamed for poor outco...
Reproduction, Female: Hormonal Control of

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the hormonal control in reproduction process of female insects. The central process in female reproduction in insects, the production of eggs, is hormonally regulated. To reproduce successfully, females must coordinate egg production with other aspects of reproduction such as dispersal, the availability of resources, and selection of mates and oviposition sites. Environmental signals are effectively translated into physiological processes by networks of hormonal signals. Egg development in insects has become a model experimental system studied to understand the general principles of stage-, sex-, and tissue-specific responses to hormones. In insects, juvenile hormone (JH) and ecdysone typically play important roles in orchestrating egg development. The development of improved analytical methods has led to the elucidation of the roles of other key hormones, particularly a variety of neurosecretory hormones. Common themes in the hormonal control of egg production are becoming clearer, as are important differences between insect groups. Hormonal control of egg production is relatively well understood in a few insects because of its use as a model system for studying hormone action. The integration of hormonal controls with other aspects of reproduction is more complex and is less well understood.
What's new in the world of postmenopausal sex?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to describe new terminology for vulvovaginal atrophy and female sexual dysfunction and to highlight recent findings related to vaginal moisturizers, lubricants and prescription estrogen preparations. RECENT FINDINGS Sexual health is a marker for overall health. A minority (40%) of healthcare providers routinely ask about sexual problems and its impact on quality of life. New terminology by the American Psychiatric Association divides female sexual disorders into three categories: arousal/interest disorder, orgasmic disorder and genital pain and penetration disorder. First-line therapy for genitourinary syndrome of menopause includes over-the-counter vaginal lubricants and moisturizers, followed by topical estrogen formulations. Progesterones are generally not needed when topical low-dose estrogen is prescribed. A systemic selective estrogen receptor modulator, designed specifically for genitourinary menopausal symptoms, is an option for patients who do not tolerate local estrogen. SUMMARY Female sexual dysfunction is prevalent and causes distress, particularly among women at midlife. Although hypoactive sexual desire disorder may be the most prevalent dysfunction, dyspareunia and pain, particularly related to genitourinary and vulvovaginal atrophy, are also very common. Over-the-counter lubricants and prescription strength estrogen formulations are generally effective and well tolerated.
On the Discrepancies in Tropical Belt Expansion between Reanalyses and Climate Models and among Tropical Belt Width Metrics

AbstractThe arid subtropics are situated at the edges of the tropical belt, where subsidence in the Hadley cells suppresses precipitation. Any meridional shift in these edge latitudes could have significant impacts on surface climate. Recent studies have investigated past and future changes in the tropical belt width and have found discrepancies in the rates of expansion estimated with different metrics and between climate models and reanalyses. Here, CMIP5 simulations and four modern reanalyses are analyzed using an ensemble of objective tropical belt width metrics to reexamine if such inconsistencies exist. The authors do not find sufficient evidence to demonstrate this discrepancy between models and reanalyses, as reanalysis trends in the tropical belt width fall within the range of model trends for any given metric. Furthermore, only metrics based on the Hadley cells are found to exhibit robust historical and future expansion. Metrics based on the subtropical jet and the tropopause show no robust resp...
There will be blood: hematopoiesis control by mediator subunit MED12

Hematopoiesis is sustained by the presence of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that balance self-renewal and differentiation through controlled expression of enhancer-dependent transcriptional programs enforced by lineage-specific master transcription factors. The regulatory potential of these cardinal transcription factors is often realized with the assistance of Mediator, a conserved multiprotein interface between distal, enhancer-bound regulators and the RNA polymerase II machinery assembled on core promoters. Within Mediator, CDK8 and its partner Cyclin C (CycC) combine with MED12 and MED13 to form a 4-subunit kinase module that variably associates with a 26-subunit Mediator core (1). MED12, which anchors and activates CycC-CDK8 in Mediator, has previously been implicated in hematopoiesis through forward genetic and mutational screening in zebrafish embryos and human cancers, respectively, revealing links to both myelopoiesis and leukemia (2,3). However, the molecular basis for MED12 in these biological and pathological processes is unclear. Against this backdrop, the Aifantis laboratory recently undertook to more rigorously investigate the role of MED12 in the hematopoietic system (4).
The Temple of Jerusalem in Newton’s Thought

While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple; and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel for ever.” (Ezekiel 43:6–7)
Factors That Contributed to Gifted Students’ Success on STEM Pathways: The Role of Race, Personal Interests, and Aspects of High School Experience:

In this study, we conducted binary logistic regression on survey data collected from 244 past participants of a Talent Search program who attended regular high schools but supplemented their regular high school education with enriched or accelerated math and science learning activities. The participants completed an online survey 4 to 6 years after high school. This study examined how their demographics, high school experiences, and timing of and reasons for pursuing a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) pathway related to the probability of earning STEM college degrees. This study revealed two factors that were positively and significantly associated with the outcome of earning STEM college degrees: Asian or White ethnicity and students’ personal interest in STEM. Findings suggest that students’ success in earning STEM degrees may not be fully attributable to their high achievements or abilities, and that their experiences in the Talent Search and supplemental outside-of-school gifte...
Novel tumor-suppressor function of KLF4 in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common hematological malignancy in pediatric patients. Despite advances in the treatment of this disease, many children with T-cell ALL (T-ALL) die from disease relapse due to low responses to standard chemotherapy and the lack of a targeted therapy that selectively eradicates the chemoresistant leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) responsible for disease recurrence. We reported recently that the reprogramming factor Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) has a tumor-suppressive function in children with T-ALL. KLF4 silencing by promoter deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation in patients with T-ALL leads to aberrant activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase MAP2K7 and the downstream c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway that controls the expansion of leukemia cells via c-Jun and activating transcription factor 2. This pathway can be inhibited with small molecules and therefore has the potential to eliminate LICs and eradicate disease in combination with standard therapy for patients with refractory and relapsed disease. The present review summarizes the role of the KLF4-MAP2K7 pathway in T-ALL pathogenesis and the function of JNK and MAP2K7 in carcinogenesis and therapy.
Modulation of cyclin D1 and its signaling components by the phorbol ester TPA and the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor vanadate.

The mechanism by which 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) triggers cell-cycle progression at G1 phase in mouse embryonic fibroblast C3H 10T1/2 cells was examined. TPA treatment resulted in a temporary induction of cyclin D1 peaking at 9 h post stimulation. PD98059 (10 μM), the specific inhibitor of MAPK kinase, completely blocked TPA-stimulated cyclin D1 induction and DNA synthesis, confirming that MAPK activation plays an essential role in TPA-stimulated cell-cycle progression. Although both PKCα and PKCϵ are expressed in C3H 10T1/2 cells, inhibitor studies suggest that PKCϵ activation is required for the activation of MEK/MAPK signal transduction cascade. p70s6K, an important kinase involved in the regulation of protein synthesis and cell-cycle progression, has been reported to be activated through a PKC-dependent pathway (TPA-activatable) in addition to a PI3K-dependent pathway. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that TPA-stimulated MAPK activation is essential for the phosphorylation of several key residues involved in the activation of p70s6K, namely, thr389, thr421, and ser424. Vanadate, the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, triggered a sustained elevation of the level of active MAPK. However, corresponding to a rapid loss of cyclin D1 protein, vanadate treatment resulted in a significant shut out of 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA regardless of TPA cotreatment. Vanadate treatment also led to the increase of active MEK, increased phosphorylation of p70s6K at thr389, thr421, and ser424 yet without activation of PKB. These data suggest that vanadate can selectively perturb the activation of signaling components which raises the interesting issue as to how vanadate downregulates the cyclin D1 level. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Risk Factors for Suboptimal Utilization of Statins and Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients Undergoing Revascularization for Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease

Background The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for suboptimal medical therapy (defined as reported antiplatelet and statin use) among patients undergoing lower extremity bypass (LEB) and peripheral vascular interventions (PVIs) for symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Methods The Vascular Study Group of Greater New York (VSGGNY) database was used to identify all patients undergoing PVI or LEB for PAD (2011–2013). Bivariate analyses were performed to identify characteristics of patients who were not prescribed statins and/or antiplatelet agents before revascularization. Multivariate relative risk regression models were developed to identify patients at risk for suboptimal therapy, with regards to antiplatelet and statin therapy. Results About 1,030 patients underwent endovascular therapy (n = 822; 80%) or surgical bypass (n = 208; 20%) for symptomatic PAD (57.2% claudication; 15% rest pain and 27.8% tissue loss). Overall, preoperative statin use was observed in 59%. Preoperative antiplatelet therapy was observed in 79% of patients. Bivariate analysis revealed comparatively reduced statin use among patients without other cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension (63% vs. 39.3%; P Conclusions Patients with symptomatic PAD, but without an antecedent cardiovascular history, are less likely to be optimally managed with statins and antiplatelet therapy preoperatively. Given the established role of these medications in the optimal medical management of patients with PAD, this presents an opportunity for improvement in the overall vascular care of patients undergoing intervention for symptomatic PAD at VSGGNY centers.
Uncertainty analysis on droplet size measurement in dispersed flow film boiling regime during reflood using image processing technique

Abstract In the dispersed flow film boiling (DFFB) regime during the reflood stage of a postulated loss of coolant accident (LOCA), liquid droplets are entrained by a continuous vapor phase moving upward within the rod bundle. The liquid droplets may interact strongly with the vapor flow and the resulting thermal–hydraulic behavior of the two-phase mixture could significantly affect the evolution of peak cladding temperature (PCT). Therefore, a clear and comprehensive understanding of liquid droplet behavior is crucial for reactor safety analysis. As an attempt to visualize and quantify the droplet behavior during reflood, an advanced image processing technique is used in the present study to capture the distributions of droplet size and velocity at the RBHT test facility. In order to ensure that the experimental droplet data obtained is reliable as well as to better utilize the data for subsequent thermal–hydraulic analyses, the image processing based measurement uncertainties have to be investigated and analyzed. In this paper, various statistical methods are explored to determine the minimum droplet sample size required as a function of standard deviation at a given confidence level. Accordingly, an appropriate droplet count lower limit is selected. Based on this lower limit, the 95% confidence intervals are determined for two typical reflood tests. In addition, the repeatability in droplet measurement of Rod Bundle Heat Transfer (RBHT) reflood tests is carefully examined by comparing data sets from two identical tests. Results show that a lower required level of precision and a smaller scattering in the measured droplet data generally require a smaller sample size. For typical RBHT reflood tests, it is found that the droplet size measured downstream of a spacer grid near the peak power location always has better accuracy compared with that at the upstream location. For the tests investigated, the maximum relative error in the liquid droplet Sauter mean diameter is found to be generally smaller than 0.15 (15%) when the droplet count lower limit is 30. Comparison of the results from two identical tests indicates that the RBHT reflood test results are highly repeatable.
Harmonic suppression using optimised hexagonal defected ground structure by genetic algorithm

This study analyses the effects caused by a new hexagonal defect ground-plane (DGS) structure when it is applied to a rectangular microstrip antenna and studies its effectiveness to suppress higher-order modes. To improve the rejection characteristics of the analysed DGS, a genetic algorithm was used to optimise its parameters. Controlling higher-order modes of the fundamental operating frequency was successfully demonstrated, and the experimental results showed that optimising the hexagonal DGS could enhance the S 11 parameter of the fundamental mode while simultaneously suppressing or further attenuating higher-order modes. Such results are particularly important once DGS is applied for self-immunity of antennas against harmonic radiations by avoiding the use of a filter circuit.