cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential Expression of a Putative CarD-Like Transcriptional Regulator, LtpA, in Borrelia burgdorferi

The availability of microbial genome information has provided a fruitful opportunity for studying regulatory networks in a variety of pathogenic bacteria. In an initial effort to elucidate regulatory networks potentially involved in differential gene expression by the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi, we have been investigating the functions and regulation of putative transcriptional regulatory factors predicted to be encoded within the B. burgdorferi genome. Herein we report the regulation of one of the predicted transcriptional regulators, LtpA (BB0355), which is homologous to the transcriptional regulator CarD from Myxococcus xanthus. LtpA expression was assessed in response to various environmental stimuli. Immunoblot and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analyses revealed that unlike many well-characterized differentially regulated Borrelia genes whose expression is induced by elevated temperature, the expression of LtpA was significantly downregulated when spirochetes were grown at an elevated temperature (37°C), as well as when the bacteria were cultivated in a mammalian host-adapted environment. In contrast, LtpA was induced at a lower culture temperature (23°C). Further analyses indicated that the downregulation of LtpA was not dependent on the Rrp2-RpoN-RpoS regulatory pathway, which is involved in the downregulation of OspA when B. burgdorferi is grown in a mammalian host-adapted environment. LtpA protein levels in B. burgdorferi were unaltered in response to changes in the pH in the borrelial cultures. Multiple attempts to generate an LtpA-deficient mutant were unsuccessful, which has hampered the elucidation of its role in pathogenesis. Given that LtpA is exclusively expressed during borrelial cultivation at a lower temperature, a parameter that has been widely used as a surrogate condition to mimic B. burgdorferi in unfed (flat) ticks, and because LtpA is homologous to a known transcriptional regulator, we postulate that LtpA functions as a regulator modulating the expression of genes important to B. burgdorferi's survival within its arthropod vector.
Symptom Experience in the Last Year of Life Among Individuals with Cancer

Individuals with cancer often experience many symptoms that impair their quality of life at end of life. This study examines symptom experience at end of life among individuals with cancer, and determines if symptom experience changes with proximity to death, or differs by depressive symptomatology, sex, site of cancer, or age. A secondary analysis of data from three prospective, descriptive, longitudinal studies (n = 174) was performed, using a three-level hierarchical linear model. Fatigue, weakness, pain, shortness of breath, and cough were the five most prevalent symptoms in the last year of life. The symptom experience in the last year of life was significantly associated with site of cancer, depressive symptomatology, dependencies in activities of daily living, and independent activities of daily living at the start of the study. These findings shed light on the symptom experience in the last year of life for individuals with cancer. With greater understanding of the symptom experience, intervention strategies can be targeted to achieve the desired outcome of increased quality of life at end of life.
The Pierce-Donachy ventricular assist device as a bridge to cardiac transplantation.

Abstract The Pierce-Donachy ventricular assist device (VAD) was used as an attempted bridge to orthotopic cardiac transplantation in 12 patients aged 13 to 55 years. Ischemic (4 patients), dilated (4 patients), acute viral (1 patient), postpartum (1 patient), and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (1 patient), along with a failed transplant (1 patient), were the causative factors of end-stage cardiomyopathy in these patients. All patients were candidates for orthotopic cardiac transplantation but sustained refractory cardiogenic shock (cardiac index 2 ). Left VADs were placed in all patients; 7 also required right VADs. Four patients died of hemorrhagic complications less than 24 hours after VAD insertion. Ventricular assist device stabilization was successful in 8 patients and support ranged from eight hours to 64 days. Seven patients successfully underwent orthotopic cardiac transplantation. One died postoperatively of hemorrhagic complications, 6 were discharged from the hospital, and 1 patient died at 3 months of cytomegalovirus infection. Five patients are long-term survivors. The Pierce-Donachy VAD is an effective means for supporting critically ill patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy and cardiogenic shock before orthotopic cardiac transplantation. Death is related to hemorrhagic, rather than infectious or thromboembolic, complications. Patients successfully stabilized with the VAD can undergo orthotopic cardiac transplantation with acceptable mortality and morbidity rates.
Neural systems supporting cognitive-affective interactions in adolescence: the role of puberty and implications for affective disorders

Evidence from longitudinal studies suggests that adolescence may represent a period of vulnerability that, in the context of adverse events, could contribute to developmental trajectories toward behavioral and emotional health problems, including affective disorders. Adolescence is also a sensitive period for the development of neural systems supporting cognitive-affective processes, which have been implicated in the pathophysiology of affective disorders such as anxiety and mood disorders. In particular, the onset of puberty brings about a cascade of physical, hormonal, psychological, and social changes that contribute in complex ways to the development of these systems. This article provides a brief overview of neuroimaging research pertaining to the development of cognitive-affective processes in adolescence. It also includes a brief review of evidence from animal and human neuroimaging studies suggesting that sex steroids influence the connectivity between prefrontal cortical and subcortical limbic regions in ways that contribute to increased reactivity to emotionally salient stimuli. We integrate these findings in the context of a developmental affective neuroscience framework suggesting that the impact of rising levels of sex steroids during puberty on fronto-limbic connectivity may be even greater in the context of protracted development of prefrontal cortical regions in adolescence. We conclude by discussing the implications of these findings for future research aimed at identifying neurodevelopmental markers of risk for future onset of affective disorders.
Gravitational-Wave Stochastic Background from Kinks and Cusps on Cosmic Strings

We compute the contribution of kinks on cosmic string loops to stochastic background of gravitational waves (SBGW). We find that kinks contribute at the same order as cusps to the SBGW. We discuss the accessibility of the total background due to kinks as well as cusps to current and planned gravitational-wave detectors, as well as to the big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN), the cosmic microwave background (CMB), and pulsar timing constraints. As in the case of cusps, we find that current data from interferometric gravitational-wave detectors, such as LIGO, are sensitive to areas of parameter space of cosmic string models complementary to those accessible to pulsar, BBN, and CMB bounds.
Effects of water flow on the infection dynamics of Myxobolus cerebralis

Myxobolus cerebralis, the myxozoan parasite responsible for whirling disease in salmonid fishes, has a complex life-cycle involving an invertebrate host and 2 spore stages. Water flow rate is an environmental variable thought to affect the establishment and propagation of M. cerebralis; however, experimental data that separates flow effects from those of other variables are scarce. To compare how this parameter affected parasite infection dynamics and the invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, dead, infected fish were introduced into a naive habitat with susceptible hosts under 2 experimental flow regimes: slow (0 x 02 cm/s) and fast (2 x 0 cm/s). Throughout the 1-year study, uninfected fry were held in both systems, the outflows were screened weekly for spores and the annelid populations were monitored. We found clear differences in prevalence of infection in the worms, prevalence and severity of infection in the fish, and host survival. Both flows provided environments in which M. cerebralis could complete its life-cycle; however, both the parasite and its invertebrate host proliferated to a greater extent in the slow flow environment over the 1-year study period. This finding is of significance for aquatic systems where the flow rate can be manipulated, and should be incorporated into risk analysis assessments.
Surgical management of large adrenal tumours: the University of Miami experience using liver transplantation techniques.

OBJECTIVE To report our experience in the surgical management of patients with large adrenal masses and describe the key steps in performing radical resections, which are especially demanding where thrombi extend into the inferior vena cava (IVC). PATIENTS AND METHODS From 2003 to 2007, 14 patients presented with large adrenal mass, and underwent surgical extirpation. In five patients thrombi extended into the IVC, causing Budd–Chiari syndrome in one. RESULTS The median (range) patient age was 48 (40–58) years. The excision was radical with negative tumour margins in all cases. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was required in one case with adherent intra-atrial thrombus. The mean blood loss was 500 (250–1500) mL except in the patient who required CPB. Morbidity included pleural effusion (three patients) and postoperative pneumonia (two), which responded to conservative management. All patients were alive and free of disease at a median follow-up of 12 (5–42) months. CONCLUSIONS Surgical extirpation of large adrenal masses requires technical experience to optimize outcome. Total tumour excision is the only therapeutic option in such cases and provides acceptable results in survival and quality of life.
A Practical Introduction to Borehole Geophysics

During 1986, the latest year for which data have been published, 57,036 deep wells were drilled in the United States and Canada in the search for oil and gas, and about 20,000 were drilled in the rest of the world. T he wells in North America penetrated some 46,328 miles into the Earth, providing access to an immense amount of otherwise invisible geology. Wells were also drilled for other reasons, such as the search for water, economic mineral resources, and even scientific information. Considering only the holes drilled for oil and gas, virtually every one has been logged with one or more geophysical surveys. In the last 40 years, several million such geophysical surveys have been run and are now preserved in various data libraries. This data base of geophysical surveys run in boreholes is perhaps the largest data base we have in the Earth sciences, and to date, it has been relatively little utilized for any purpose other than evaluating possible hydrocarbon content in suspected reservoir rocks. In the past decade there has been a growing interest in making more use of this data base, which may well explain the appearance of at least a half dozen books on geophysical well surveying over the last several years.
Towards a more international union: experience of establishing professional organizations for technical communicators in Europe and the Middle East

The article explores the challenges of establishing a chapter of a US based professional organization for technical communicators in an area outside of the United States. These challenges include: (1) registration of the profession; (2) registration of the organization; (3) delayed mail; (4) increased membership costs; (5) dollar-focused finances; (6) English-oriented activities; (7) limited support systems for technical communicators; (8) competition from other societies; and (9) US-centrism.
The relationship between self-reported sleep quality and reading comprehension skills

Inadequate sleep undermines many cognitive functions, including memory, concentration, and attention, which are vital in everyday activities. We hypothesized that poor quality or shorter sleep length may impair reading-related skills, resources, and outcomes, specifically verbal working memory span, verbal efficiency, and reading comprehension. Contrary to the hypotheses, neither short sleep length nor self-reported sleep quality were related to reading skills performance. However, longer sleep times were significantly related to lower verbal efficiency, and participants with the poorest sleep quality fared significantly better on the reading comprehension task than participants with moderate sleep quality. Given the paucity of research examining sleep and reading specifically, as well as these surprising data, more research in this area is warranted.
Phylogenetic Relationships Between and within Phacelia Sections Whitlavia and Gymnobythus (Boraginaceae)

Abstract Phylogenetic relationships between and within Phacelia sections Whitlavia and Gymnobythus are inferred based on nuclear ribosomal DNA [5.8S, and flanking internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2] and chloroplast DNA (rpl16 intron) sequences. These two sections share morphological characters and have been thought to be closely related. The purpose of this study is to test whether each of the two sections is monophyletic as well as whether they form sister clades. Our results indicate that section Gymnobythus is monophyletic, and members of section Whitlavia form two clades that correspond to subsections previously suggested by Gillett. In the ITS dataset, the two Whitlavia groups are not sister clades, but there is little support for their placement. The rpl16 and rpl16 + ITS combined datasets provide resolution and strong support for monophyly of both sections. Both datasets indicate hybridization or a recent divergence between Phacelia parryi and Phacelia minor, as well as a close alliance bet...
Structural and optical properties of axial silicon-germanium nanowire heterojunctions

Detailed studies of the structural and optical properties of axial silicon-germanium nanowire heterojunctions show that despite the 4.2% lattice mismatch between Si and Ge they can be grown without a significant density of structural defects. The lattice mismatch induced strain is partially relieved due to spontaneous SiGe intermixing at the heterointerface during growth and lateral expansion of the Ge segment of the nanowire. The mismatch in Ge and Si coefficients of thermal expansion and low thermal conductivity of Si/Ge nanowire heterojunctions are proposed to be responsible for the thermally induced stress detected under intense laser radiation in photoluminescence and Raman scattering measurements.
A Statutory Model for Corporate Constituency Concerns

The modern corporation by its nature creates interdependencies with a variety of groups with whom the corporation has a legitimate concern, such as employees, customers, suppliers, and members of the communities in which the corporation operates. Corporate governance involves a system of contractual and fiduciary duties that influence directors and officers to make decisions consistent with defined obligations. This system requires that directors consider shareholders' interests first and foremost in making corporate decisions because the share-holders are the, "owners," of the corporation. Over the past several decades, a number of states have implemented this policy by enacting constituency statutes. These statutes transform the obligations of corporate directors by expanding the groups to which boards of directors are accountable in decision making, greatly impacting the management decisions of business firms. Both legal and economic changes result from redefining the duties of corporate directors, ultimately transforming American business.This development has engendered a hot debate about the desirability of such a policy. This article posits that the best solution is to simply offer a choice to corporations, corporate management, shareholders, and stakeholders by enacting an opt-out statute. An opt-out statute would create a default rule that makes consideration of non-shareholder interests mandatory upon incorporation, but allows shareholders to amend the articles to favor themselves if they so choose. The article gives a description of both the shareholder primacy model and constituency statutes. However, because constituency statutes are relatively new and corporate law has historically been based on the shareholder primacy model, the article focuses primarily on the policies behind and justification for constituency statutes. While we provide a form of model corporate constituency statute, we do not advocate one position over another. Instead, we advocate the idea that corporations should begin as stakeholder-centered, but then have a choice to focus on the shareholder if they decide to do so.
Modeling complete removal of risk assessment questions in the USA predicts the risk of HIV exposure in blood recipients could increase despite the use of nucleic acid testing.

Background and Objectives The safety of the blood supply in a number of countries is achieved by interventions that include behaviour-based time-limited or indefinite deferrals and screening of donated units for transfusion-transmitted infections. The relatively high sensitivity of nucleic acid testing (NAT) used in blood donor screening has raised the question of whether such time-based deferrals can be eliminated in favour of individual risk assessment. Materials and Methods Data on the annual number of incident human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections associated with various behaviours and on the performance characteristics of NAT applied to donor screening were used to model the number of potentially infected units that might escape detection in the worst-case scenario in which individual risk assessment was implemented, but was not effective as a screening tool, and donors did not otherwise self-select for lower risk. Results In the absence of effective individual risk-based screening or donor self-selection, the model predicts that in the United States, an additional 39 (95% CI 35–43) HIV-infected units would escape detection by nucleic acid testing, potentially capable of exposing approximately 68 (95% CI 61–75) individuals to the risk of HIV infection through the administration of prepared blood components. Conclusion Despite some inherent uncertainty, the worst-case scenario of completely ineffective individual risk assessment, absence of donor self-selection and increased reliance on NAT for blood screening is estimated to be associated with an approximately fourfold increase in the risk of HIV exposure through transfusion in the United States.
Measuring Teachers' Effectiveness: A Report from Phase 3 of Pennsylvania's Pilot of the Framework for Teaching

In this report we analyzed data on two measures of teacher performanceâ€”one (the Framework for Teaching, or FFT) is based largely on classroom observations, and the other (value-added measures, or VAM) is based on student test scores. The data we analyzed cover 6,676 teachers from 269 districts in the state of Pennsylvania. Although FFT scores are overwhelmingly concentrated in the top performance categories, the positive correlations with VAM suggest that the FFT provides some meaningful differentiation and captures aspects of teacher skills related to student achievement growth.
Impaired Coronary Endothelial Vasorelaxation in a Preclinical Model of Peripheral Arterial Insufficiency

The present study was designed to determine whether adult swine with peripheral artery insufficiency (PAI) would exhibit vascular dysfunction in vessels distinct from the affected distal limbs, the coronary conduit arteries. Moreover, we sought to evaluate the effect of exercise training on coronary vasomotor function in PAI. Eighteen female healthy young Yucatan miniature swine were randomly assigned to either occluded exercise trained (Occl-Ex, n=7), or occluded-sedentary (Occl-Sed, n=5), or non-occluded, non-exercised control (Non-Occl-Con, n=6) groups. Occl-Ex pigs were progressively trained by running on a treadmill (5days/week, 12 weeks). The left descending artery (LAD) and left circumflex (LCX) coronary arteries were harvested. Vasorelaxation to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), bradykinin (BK), and sodium nitro-prusside (SNP) were assessed in LAD's; while constrictor responses to phenylephrine (PE), angiotensin II (Ang II), and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were assessed in LCX's. Vasorelaxation to ADP was reduced in LADs from Occl-Sed and Occl-Ex pigs (P<0.001) as compared to Non-Occl-Con pigs; however, Occl-Ex pigs exhibited partial recovery (P<0.001) intermediate to the other two groups. BK induced relaxation was reduced in LADs from Occl-Ex and Occl-Sed pigs (P<0.001), compared to Non-Occl-Con, and exercise modestly increased responses to BK (P<0.05). In addition, SNP, PE, Ang II, and ET-1 responses were not significantly different among the groups. Our results indicate that 'simple' occlusion of the femoral arteries induces vascular dysfunction in conduit vessels distinct from the affected hindlimbs, as evident in blunted coronary vasorelaxation responses to ADP and BK. These findings imply that PAI, even in the absence of frank atherogenic vascular disease, contributes to vascular dysfunction in the coronary arteries that could exacerbate disease outcome in patients with peripheral artery disease. Further, regular daily physical activity partially recovered the deficit observed in the coronary arteries.
Affirmative Action for Majority Groups in the United States

In the twentieth century white Americans benefited greatly from large-scale pro-white federal provisions in the New Deal's Fair Labor Standards and Social Security Acts, as well as in the Serviceman's Readjustment Act (the “GI Bill”). These policies deliberately excluded most blacks from benefits through two practices: disqualifying the industries where the majority of blacks were employed, and requiring that benefit decisions be made locally, so as to ensure heavily pro-white resource allocations in the southern states, where 75 percent of blacks lived. As a result of these sweeping affirmative action policies favoring whites, the vast majority of black Americans would end up being left behind during the nation's most important individual wealth-building developments of the twentieth century. Estimates adjusted for compound interest and inflation suggest that, through labor market discrimination alone, blacks were collectively denied as much as $1.6 trillion in revenue between 1929 and 1969. Keywords: affirmative action; African American; economics; inequality; racism
Winning In NCAA Womens Soccer: Does The Gender Of The Coach Matter?

While womens intercollegiate soccer has grown rapidly over the past three decades, men still hold nearly two-thirds of all head coaching positions in NCAA Division I womens soccer programs. This paper explores whether the gender of the head coach affects success in winning games. After considering various reasons why gender might matter, we undertake a multiple regression analysis using data from the 2001-2002 season to answer this question empirically. Controlling for other factors that would be expected to influence a teams success, including the quality of the head coach, the level of institutional support and the tradition of the program, we find that the head coachs gender, and also the head coachs age, have statistically significant effects on team success for schools in Divisions I-AA and I-AAA, but not for the major football schools in Division I-A. We close with possible explanations for these results.
Effect of External Potassium and Ouabain on Sodium Efflux from Frog Sartorius Muscle

SummaryUsing paired muscles from the same animal, the effect of external K, in concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 15 mM, on the efflux of 24Na from frog sartorius muscles (previously enriched in Na by overnight soaking at 5° in a K-free medium) was investigated. In agreement with the results reported by others, it was found that external K ions, over the concentration range studied, increased the rate of loss of 24Na from the muscle fibers. The ratio of the rate coefficient for 24Na efflux in high K media to that observed in a normal K medium (2.5 mM) was a linear function of external K concentration throughout the concentration range investigated. In media containing 2.5 mM K, ouabain (1 × 10-6M) completely inhibited the stimulatory effect of K on Na efflux. With 5 mM K in the medium, inhibition was incomplete and, in media containing 8 mM K or more, no significant inhibition by ouabain of the efflux of 24Na was noted. These results are compatible with a competitive inhibition by ouabain, at the concentr...
Toward a Unified Theory of Chain Shifting

Chain shifts play a major role in understanding the phonological history of English—from the prehistoric chain shift of Grimm’s Law that separates the Germanic languages from the rest of Indo-European, to the Great Vowel Shift that is often taken to define the boundary between Middle English and Early Modern English, to the ongoing chain shifts in Present-Day English that are used to establish the geographical boundaries between dialect regions. A chain shift may be defined as a set of phonetic changes affecting a group of phonemes so that as one phoneme moves in phonetic space, another phoneme moves toward the phonetic position the first is abandoning; a third may move toward the original position of the second, and (perhaps) so on. Martinet (1952) introduced the argument that chain shifts are caused by a need for phonemes to maintain margins of security between each other—so if a phoneme has more phonetic space on one side of it than on others, random phonetic variation will cause it to move toward the free space but not back toward the margins of security of phonemes on the other side. Labov (2010: chapter 6) gives a lucid exposition of the cognitive and phonetic arguments underlying this account of chain shifting. Despite their value as a descriptive device for the history of English, however, the ontological status of chain shifts themselves is a matter of some doubt. Is a OUP UNCORRECTED PROOF – FIRST-PROOF, 04/29/12, NEWGEN
Joint analysis of nonlinear heterogeneous longitudinal data and binary outcome: an application to AIDS clinical studies

ABSTRACTFinite mixture models are currently used to analyze heterogeneous longitudinal data. By releasing the homogeneity restriction of nonlinear mixed-effects (NLME) models, finite mixture models not only can estimate model parameters but also cluster individuals into one of the pre-specified classes with class membership probabilities. This clustering may have clinical significance, which might be associated with a clinically important binary outcome. This article develops a joint modeling of a finite mixture of NLME models for longitudinal data in the presence of covariate measurement errors and a logistic regression for a binary outcome, linked by individual latent class indicators, under a Bayesian framework. Simulation studies are conducted to assess the performance of the proposed joint model and a naive two-step model, in which finite mixture model and logistic regression are fitted separately, followed by an application to a real data set from an AIDS clinical trial, in which the viral dynamics ...
One Kind of Compatible Two Kinds of Models Side Bracket Mechanism

In welding process of automobile,bodyside must been preassemble,bodyside is surrounded by a buckle fitted to the body in car body,because there is no welding and subsequently in the transport process of body in white side wall from the body falling risk exists,so transport of BIW need tooling on side wall of lifts in the main welding line,to prevent the lateral confining drop. The thesis introduces a Qingdao automobile factory,in welding line on bodyside bracket design..
The role of a nurse telephone call to prevent no-shows in endoscopy.

Background and Aims Preventing missed appointments, or "no-shows," is an important target in improving efficient patient care and lowering costs in gastrointestinal endoscopy practices. We aimed to investigate whether a nurse telephone call would reduce no-show rates for endoscopic appointments, and to determine if hiring and maintaining a nurse dedicated to pre-endoscopy phone calls is economically advantageous. Our secondary aim was to identify predictors of no-shows to endoscopy appointments. Methods We hired and trained a full-time licensed nurse to make a telephone call to patients 7 days before their scheduled upper endoscopy or colonoscopy. We compared this intervention with a previous reminder system involving mailed reminders. The effect of the intervention and impact of other predictors of no-shows were analyzed in 2 similar preintervention and postintervention patient cohorts. A mixed effects logistic regression model was used to estimate the association of the odds of being a no-show to the scheduled appointment and the characteristics of the patient and visit. An analysis of costs was performed that included the startup and maintenance costs of the intervention. Results We found that a nurse phone call was associated with a 33% reduction in the odds of a no-show visit (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.91), adjusting for gender, age, partnered status, insurer type, distance from the endoscopy center, and visit type. The recovered reimbursement during the study period was $48,765, with net savings of $16,190 when accounting for the maintenance costs of the intervention; this resulted in a net revenue per annum of $43,173. Conclusions We found that endoscopy practices may increase revenue, improve scheduling efficiency, and maximize resource utilization by hiring a nurse to reduce no-shows. Predictors of no-shows to endoscopy included unpartnered or single patients, commercial or managed care, being scheduled for colonoscopy as opposed to upper endoscopy, and being scheduled for a screening or surveillance colonoscopy.
Seismic-wave attenuation beneath the central Aleutian Arc

Earthquakes beneath the central Aleutian Arc have been examined at stations in the Amchitka seismic network, including one station on the active volcanic island of Semisopochnoi [SSI]. Earthquakes between depths of 100 and 250 km, beneath and slightly north of SSI, show strong attenuation of both P and S phases while stations farther south on islands without active volcanoes show no attenuation. Shallow earthquakes [ < 25 km deep] near SSI show no obvious attenuation. The high-attenuation zone may correlate with a zone of low shear velocities beneath the Arc based on surface-wave studies [Jacob and Hamada, 1972] and a low-density zone suggested by gravity models [Grow, 1973]. Although the narrow frequency response of the Amchitka seismic network prevented an absolute measurement of Q by spectral methods, the complete attenuation of P and S phases from the deeper earthquakes, combined with lower than normal shear velocities, suggests that the zone has a Q lower than in a normal aesthenosphere. The low- Q zone does not appear to continue beneath the Bering Sea and is probably restricted to a narrow zone within 20 km north and south of SSI. Its upper boundary is not well defined and could lie anywhere between a depth of 25 and 125 km. The maximum depth of the low- Q zone could extend to the upper surface of the descending Pacific lithosphere, but the attenuation could also be explained by a smaller and more isolated magma chamber at intermediate depths.
Solar radiation forecast with machine learning

Renewable energy forecasting becomes increasingly important as the contribution of solar/wind power production to the electrical power grid constantly increases. Significant improvement in forecasting accuracy has been demonstrated by developing more sophisticated solar irradiance forecasting models using statistics and/or numerical weather predictions. In this presentation, we report the development of a machine-learning based multi-model blending approach for statistically combing multiple meteorological models to improve the accuracy of solar power forecasting. The system leverages upon multiple existing physical models for prediction including numerous atmospheric and cloud prediction models based on satellite imagery as well as numerical weather prediction (NWP) products.
DNA-based solar cells: Towards environmentally responsible approaches for solar light harvesting

G solvents, such as supercritical fluids (SCFs) and ionic liquids (ILs), have many unusual properties for developing green and efficient chemical processes. Efficient utilization of green solvents is an important topic in green chemistry. In recent years, we are very interested in physicochemical properties of green solvents and their applications in green chemistry, which include mainly: 1) Phase behavior and intermolecular molecular interaction in complex SCFs, ILs,CO2/IL systems; 2) Effects of phase behavior and intermolecular interactions on the properties of chemical reactions in SC CO2, ILs and CO2/ILs; 3) Colloid and interface science of green solvent systems, including chemical thermodynamics, microstructures, and functions. In this presentation, I would like to discuss some recent results.
Crafting Collaboricity: Harmonizing the Force Fields of Writing Program and Writing Center Work

Miley and Downs argue for a practice of programmatic relationships between administrators of writing centers and writing programs that is rooted in the interactions between people in the programs rather than in the projects they share. Examining the inadequacies of both the term “collaborate” and “reciprocity,” Miley and Downs propose a new term for interaction between directors of programs: “collaboricity.” Using the metaphor of force fields to theorize collaboricity, and drawing from their own institutional history as example, they describe the independence and interdependence of writing center and writing program work. Through “collaboricity,” they argue for programmatic relationships that focus on a mutual crafting of writing community, collaboration, and care for one another.
Shear axial modes in a PCTSCM. Part IV: Bandstop and notch filters

A bilayer comprising two matched layers of either piezoelectric or non-piezoelectric, continuously twisted, structurally chiral materials (PCTSCMS and CTSCMs) with opposite structural handedness is shown to reflect arbitrarily polarized, normally incident, plane shear waves almost perfectly in a certain frequency band. Applications as bandstop filters and notch filters for shear waves are envisaged.
SKETCHMINER: Mining Learner-Generated Science Drawings with Topological Abstraction.

Mining learner-generated sketches holds significant potential for acquiring deep insight into learners’ mental models. Drawing has been shown to benefit both learning outcomes and engagement, and learners’ sketches offer a rich source of diagnostic information. Unfortunately, interpreting learners’ sketches—even sketches comprised of semantically grounded symbols—poses significant computational challenges. In this paper we describe SKETCHMINER, an educational sketch mining framework that automatically maps learners’ symbolic sketches to topology-based abstract representations that are then analyzed with graph similarity metrics to perform automated assessment and misconception discovery. SKETCHMINER has been used to mine a corpus of symbolic science sketches created by upper elementary students in inquiry-based drawing episodes as they interact with an intelligent science notebook in the domain of physical science. Results of a study with SKETCHMINER suggest that it can correctly assess learners’ symbolic sketches.
Optical fiber distributed sensing for high temperature superconductor magnets

Over the last two decades, high temperature superconductors (HTS) have achieved performance and technical maturity that make them an enabling technology or an attractive solution for a number of applications like electric motors and generators, particle accelerators and fusion magnets. One of the remaining challenges that hinders a wide use of HTS and needs to be solved is quench detection, since conventional voltage based quench detection puts HTS magnets at risk. In this work we have developed and experimentally investigated the application of Rayleigh-backscattering interrogated optical fibers (RIOF) to the detection of normal zones in superconducting magnets. Different ways to integrate optical fibers into magnets are explored and the earlier detection of RIOF compared to voltage is demonstrated.
P19: Roux en Y gastric bypass in patients weighing over 500 pounds

(n 6) was 48% and 72% respectively. There were no deaths and 30 and 90-day morbidity was zero. Delayed complications included 1 band slip (2.7%), 1 port leak (2.7%) and 2 food obstructions (5.4%) requiring endoscopic bolus removal. Co-morbid conditions at initial visit: 26 dyslipidemia, 15 DM or IGT, 15 Back pain, 14 HTN, 14 OA, 12 GERD, 7 Obstructive Sleep Apnea, 6 Depression, 3 Asthma, 2 PCOS, 1 NASH, 1 Migraine and 1 Urinary Stress Incontinence (total 122). Total co-morbid conditions decreased to 39 at 6 months and 20 at 12 months. These were supported by improvements in clinical and laboratory values and decreases in medications taken. Conclusion: Patients with BMI 30-40kg/m can safely undergo LAGB surgery with an extremely low complication rate, excellent weight loss and significant improvement of obesity related illnesses. Long-term follow up will be continued to determine the durability of these outcomes. PII: S1550-7289(06)00359-5
Regular Markov Chains

Let P be the transition matrix of a regular Markov Chain. Since by the definition of regular, there is a k such that any two vertices are joined by a path of length k, it follows that P k has all positive elements. Recall that the powers of the adjacency matrix of a nonweighted digraph, A k , count the number of paths from the vertex u i to u i . The same argument works for P k .
Clinical Usefulness of Total Length of Gleason Pattern 4 on Biopsy in Men with Grade Group 2 Prostate Cancer.

Purpose:To our knowledge the ideal methodology of quantifying secondary Gleason pattern 4 in men with Grade Group 2/Gleason score 3 + 4 = 7 on biopsy remains unknown. We compared various methods of...
A caterpillar (Callopistria floridensis G. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)) accumulates arsenic from an arsenic-hyperaccumulating fern (Pteris vittata L.).

1. The consumption of arsenic is toxic to most biota. However, a noctuid caterpillar was recently reported feeding on a plant known to hyperaccumulate arsenic. 2. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of arsenic‐rich Pteris vittata L. consumption by Callopistria floridensis G., and measure differences in arsenic concentrations at various stages of development (larval and adult), and associated with exuviae and frass. 3. Callopistria floridensis accumulated extraordinary concentrations of arsenic. The relative accumulation of arsenic was highest in exuviae and larvae. Larvae invariably preferred P. vittata grown on low arsenic soil to P. vittata grown on higher soil arsenic concentrations, and appeared able to selectively forage on lower arsenic concentrations within each treatment. 4. These findings show that C. floridensis is tolerant of arsenic, and successfully develops to adulthood containing elevated concentrations of arsenic. Callopistria floridensis represents the only known terrestrial animal capable of accumulating arsenic, and may have developed novel physiological and behavioural adaptations to regulate the negative effects of arsenic.
In ALD, I feel the need for speed

In this issue of Blood , Orchard et al demonstrate the association of rapid absolute neutrophil count (ANC) recovery with resolution of posttransplant cerebral inflammation in 66 boys with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). 1
Graphene-semiconductor heterojunction sheds light on emerging photovoltaics

Electronic coupling of graphene atop a bulk semiconductor and the resultant interfacial energy-band reorganization create a light-sensitive junction only one atom below the front surface. Uniquely, this architecture leads to the surface being in extremely close proximity to the depletion region (typically buried several micrometres under the surface for a conventional wafer-based p–n junction solar cell), thus providing direct access to the photosensitive junction, which can be modified by surface functionalization and/or incorporation of plasmonic nanoparticles. The surface-based heterojunction, tunable carrier transport and relatively enhanced optical absorption in such 2D-layer-interfaced 3D semiconductor systems will have a transformative impact in the field of 2D optoelectronics, photovoltaics, photonics and nanoelectronics. Graphene-on-bulk semiconductors may enable new directions for ultrathin optoelectronics and photovoltaics.
Ridge regularization for Mean Squared Error Reduction in Regression with Weak Instruments

In this paper, I show that classic two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimates are highly unstable with weak instruments. I propose a ridge estimator (ridge IV) and show that it is asymptotically normal even with weak instruments, whereas 2SLS is severely distorted and un-bounded. I motivate the ridge IV estimator as a convex optimization problem with a GMM objective function and an L2 penalty. I show that ridge IV leads to sizable mean squared error reductions theoretically and validate these results in a simulation study inspired by data designs of papers published in the American Economic Review.
The Calculation of Energy Dissipation in Metal Oxide Varistors for Power Distribution Applications

Metal oxide varistors (MOVs) are used in power distribution engineering to suppress lightning and switching surges. Techniques from solid state engineering as well as laboratory experiments have been used to derive models for these devices. The models so derived are combined with circuit models for the distribution system to obtain an integrated, lumped parameter, nonlinear model. The model is used to assess the voltage and current waveshapes in the MOV and to evaluate the energy dissipated in the MOV. The application of such a calculation is illustrated to assess the “energy rating” of an MOV arrester for an electronically controlled distribution circuit. Comments on the switching time of the MOV are provided: the characteristic time of impact ionization events is typically on the order of femtoseconds to picoseconds.
NOE difference spectroscopy of some 5‐substituted and 5,5‐disubstituted hydantoins

The nOe difference (NOED) spectra of twelve 5-substituted- and 5,5-disubstituted hydantoins were recorded in deuteriochloroform. The nOe's observed from the interaction of substituents on C-5 with the proton on N-1 are more reliable than the chemical shift of the N-1 proton for structure determination.
Insulin/IGF Signaling and Vitellogenin Provisioning Mediate Intergenerational Adaptation to Nutrient Stress

Summary The roundworm C. elegans reversibly arrests larval development during starvation [ 1 ], but extended early-life starvation reduces reproductive success [ 2 , 3 ]. Maternal dietary restriction (DR) buffers progeny from starvation as young larvae, preserving reproductive success [ 4 ]. However, the developmental basis of reduced fertility following early-life starvation is unknown, and it is unclear how maternal diet modifies developmental physiology in progeny. We show here that extended starvation in first-stage (L1) larvae followed by unrestricted feeding results in a variety of developmental abnormalities in the reproductive system, including proliferative germ-cell tumors and uterine masses that express neuronal and epidermal cell fate markers. We found that maternal DR and reduced maternal insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling (IIS) increase oocyte provisioning of vitellogenin lipoprotein, reducing penetrance of starvation-induced abnormalities in progeny, including tumors. Furthermore, we show that maternal DR and reduced maternal IIS reduce IIS in progeny. daf-16/FoxO and skn-1/Nrf, transcriptional effectors of IIS, are required in progeny for maternal DR and increased vitellogenin provisioning to suppress starvation-induced abnormalities. daf-16/FoxO activity in somatic tissues is sufficient to suppress starvation-induced abnormalities, suggesting cell-nonautonomous regulation of reproductive system development. This work reveals that early-life starvation compromises reproductive development and that vitellogenin-mediated intergenerational insulin/IGF-to-insulin/IGF signaling mediates adaptation to nutrient availability.
CAN COMPUTERS REALLY IMPROVE SCHOOL MATHEMATICS

In school mathematics, the years 1955 to 1975 have come to be called the "new math" period. At the beginning of this pe riod and far into it, curriculum planners and developers promised a major revolu tion in the school mathematics curriculum. Early critics of the new-math movement predicted that the proposed changes, if brought about, would worsen, rather than better, the state of affairs in mathematics education. In retrospect, we find that the so-called new mathematics programs in schools have been neither a disaster nor an overwhelming success. Even though the more optimistic of the leaders in the new math movement promised more than they were able to deliver, new math has, in the final analysis, been evaluated as a modest success by its proponents and as a disap pointment by most of its critics. As is true of nearly all proposed innovations in edu cation, new math did not turn out to be an educational panacea. It proved to be an evolutionary development rather than a revolutionary innovation. During the new-math period, especially in the second half of this period, another curriculum development was occurring in school mathematics?the computer-en hanced learning phenomenon. Computers came to be used in schools in a variety of ways to aid teachers in their work and to assist students in learning mathematics. Al though some of the pioneers in computer assisted instruction promised that a com puter in the school would be tantamount to a private tutor of the caliber of Socrates for each student, this promise has not yet be come a reality. However, there have been some impressive successes in many places where computers are being used to help people learn mathematics.
Areole Changes During Bark Formation for Columnar Cactus Species

Bark coverage occurs on stems of more than twenty species of columnar cacti. This report documents characteristics of areoles and spines from central Mexico with bark coverage percentages on five columnar cactus species (Cephalocereus columna-trajani, Neobuxbaumia macrocephala, N. mezcalaensis, N. tetetzo, and Pachycereus hollianus). Older cacti (more than 4 m tall) had fewer original spines than younger cacti (less than 2 m tall). For cacti taller than 4 m, loss of the original spines was positively correlated with bark coverage. For three species, loss of the original spines occurred with about 75% for bark coverages. Four of the five species studied produced hair-like spines at areoles. Three of the five species produced emergent spines. Most emergent spines were associated with hair-like spines. The presence of hair-like and emergent spines (spines that emerged on mature cactus surfaces) was not well correlated with percentages of bark coverage. Hair-like spines have been noted previously, but no function has been attributed to them. This is the first report with a description of emergent spines on tall, long-lived columnar cactus species.